Reading.

Speaker:

Pre-reading activity:

You have just described some responsibilities you could fulfill in different cases in life. Express your idea on the questions:

Did you choose the responsibility freely?

Was the responsibility imposed on you?

Did you assume the responsibility without consciously thinking about doing so?

Reading activity:

Responsibilities may come from a variety of sources. The may develop as a result of our jobs, our school, the law, or our moral principles. Some responsibilities may come from only one source, others from two or more sources. Read the text about nine categories of responsibility, think which of them you fulfill rather often (seldom), regularly.

1. UPBRINGING. People take on responsibilities as a result of the influence of their parents, family members, and others close to them, such as friends and teachers. Obligations such as helping with household chores, taking care of younger children, and obeying family rules are typical responsibilities for many young people. Families also can pass to their children religious and moral beliefs that call for the performance of certain duties.

2. PROMISES. When we make promises to others, we are expected to fulfill them, to live up to our word. We understand from an early age that a promise should be kept. That is why very young children can be heard complaining, but you promised! Promises may be stated explicitly or they may be implied. A promise may be a private verbal agreement, such as a pledge to help a friend, or a written legal contract such as an agreement to repay a loan.

3. ASSIGNMENT. Whether you are going to school or working at a job, others will most likely assign certain responsibilities to you. For example, in school your teacher may assign homework or give you the responsibility to develop a computer program; in a job, your boss might assign you the responsibility or cleaning the shop or managing other employees.

4. APPOINTMENT. In some instances, people are appointed to positions that carry certain responsibilities. For example, the president of the United States appoints people to serve as ambassadors to foreign countries; a club president might appoint a member to take minutes at a meeting. Appointments differ from assignments in that they can usually be refused without penalty.

5. OCCUPATION. Each job carries certain respon­sibilities. For example, an auto mechanic is responsible for repairing automobiles expertly and efficiently. A police officer is responsible for enforcing the law and protecting people’s safety. A legislator is responsible for representing his or her constituents and working for the general welfare.

6. LAW. The legal system imposes many responsibilities on us, including the obligation to attend school, serve on a jury, obey traffic laws, and pay taxes. The Constitution – the supreme law of our land – also places a number of responsibilities on members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our government.

7. CUSTOM. Many responsibilities come from custom. Traditions that have been followed for a long time often become obligations. Examples include waiting in line in public places, taking turns, and observing religious holidays.

8. CIVIC PRINCIPLES. Our society places on citizens obligations that include voting, serving on juries, serving in the armed forces in case of national emergency, and obeying the law. As citizens we are responsible for keeping informed about public issues and for monitoring the conduct of political leaders and governmental agencies, to ensure their compliance with constitutional values and principles.

9. MORAL PRINCIPLES. Some of the strongest obligations that people feel come from their moral principles. Such principles may be based on personal values or religious beliefs. Examples include the responsibility to treat others as you would like to be treated, to avoid telling lies, to refrain from cheating, and to respect others.

After-reading activity:

Pair-work

Having read the information from the text fill in the given charts with the facts you have found out. Discuss them with a partner. Give some examples.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02