Phobias

Do you know that about fifty per cent of the population of Britain say that they could not touch a snake? And another twenty per cent say they could, but not without feeling scared? Fear of snakes is one of the most common phobias of all. But there are many others. There is not a great range of things we are afraid of. Most are to do with open spaces, confined spaces, insects e.g. spiders, situations where there are a lot of people or too few people. Some of us are afraid of darkness. Especially little children can not stay alone in the dark room. Other people are frightened of water, they can not swim or go sailing. There are people who are afraid of height. Fear of dogs is also quite common and not only among little children.

Reactions vary from a minor feeling of discomfort which is easy to cope with, to an absolutely crippling fear which can destroy a person’s life. Some people break out in a cold sweat, they have shivers down their spines and begin to breath quickly, their heartbeat increases.

But of course specialists can help these people. Many fears are born of ignorance. People say they could not touch a snake because its skin is slimy. But it is not true! So to a certain extent knowledge helps to break down a phobia. Later specialists gradually let a person become more familiar with the object of his or her fear and try to accustom them to the realities behind the phobias. People must not let phobia ruin their lives.

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Задания к тексту «PHOBIAS»

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст.

II. Найдите английские эквиваленты в тексте:

Наиболее распространённая фобия, открытое пространство, замкнутое пространство, небольшое чувство дискомфорта, справляться с чем-либо, парализующий страх, бросать в холодный пот, мурашки бегут по спине, дышать, сердцебиение учащается, разрушить фобию, познакомиться с объектом страха.

III. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту (письменно):

1. What can people be afraid of?

2. Most people could not touch snakes, could they? Why?

3. What are little children afraid of?

4. What are the typical reactions when people begin to feel afraid?

5. What is the main cause of all phobias?

6. Can specialists help people suffering from phobias? How?

IV. Найдите в тексте все существительные, данные во множественном числе. Разбейте их на группы в зависимости от того, как произносится окончание множественного числа ([s], [z], [iz]). Образуйте от них единственное число.

V. Поставьте данные предложения в вопросительную и отрицательную формы.

1. Fear of snakes is one of the most common phobias of all.

2. Some people break out in a cold sweat.

VI. Поставьте вопросы к подчёркнутым словам.]

1. Some of us are afraid of darkness. (+ alternative question)

2. So to a certain extent knowledge helps to break down a phobia.

(+ disjunctive question)

VII. Дайте литературный перевод отрывка (письменно).

«Reactions vary from... their lives.»

Текст для домашнего чтения №6

Дата добавления: 2015-07-16