Listen to the recording and complete the script with the missing information.

I admit that I'm not very good at 1. _________. When I'm with friends, I can just shoot the 2. ______ all day long. But when I talk to a stranger or someone I don't know very well, I'm always casting about, searching for something to talk about. 3. ______ and religion are definitely 4. _______ subjects, at least here in the United States. But you have to 5. ________ about something, otherwise there are these uncomfortable silences.

So we end up talking about‚what else? The weather. This usually begins with something like, "So, 6. ______ weather we've been having!" or "It sure is a 7. _______ one out there today". Of course, we have to comment on the 8. _________. My favourite is, "It's not the heat that's so bad, it's the 9. ______!" Actually, I think that's true‚ I hate it most when it's 10. ______ outside.

Back in my home state of Minnesota, everyone is obsessed with the weather_________! Every TV station has its own 11. ________ with a high-tech radar giving you the 5 day 12.________. They tell you when the temperature is rising or falling, what kind of clouds are moving in, and how cold the 13._______ chill is. My favorite quote about the weather comes from Mark Twain, who once said, that everybody talks about the 14. _______, but no one does anything about it!

CULTURAL CORNER

TABOO TOPICS

Some topics may be considered taboo in some cultures. In the UK, many people avoid the topic of religion. This may be because Britain is a country where religion has a relatively minor role, or it may be because British people regard someone’s religious beliefs as very personal. A stereotype of the Americans is that they ask you how much money you earn quite soon after meeting you. This is certainly not generally true. However, Americans tend to be more open about money and its importance. Death is taboo subject in many cultures; people reluctantly discuss anything connected with the end of their lives! Politics also can be a delicate subject in some parts of the world.

39. Do you know what topics are considered taboo in Ukraine? Write a short paragraph for a foreign partner which topics it is better for him to avoid in a conversation with Ukrainians.

Module 4

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14