a swirly coat in Whistles

ex.4 p. 51

Becky:

a swirly coat in Whistles

black high-heeled boots from Pied a Terre

black skin from French Connection

a plain white T-shirt from Knickerbox

little angora cardigan which I got from M&S but looks like it might be Agnes b

new square-toed shoes from Hobbs

gorgeous new matching knickers and bra with embroidered yellow rosebuds

a midnight-blue Jasper Conran suit

sheer tights

a pair of suede high heels

a wonderful cashmere Nicole Farhi coat

blue, black, pink, pin-striped, cream, green suit

my nicest black suit (Jigsaw sale, two years ago)

a white T-shirt (M&S)

knee-high black suede boots (Dolce & Gabbana)

a pair of tortoiseshell glasses (with clear glass)

Elly Granger:

an orange chiffony shirt over a pair of white cotton trou­sers, espadrilles, and a big wooden necklace

Luke Brandon:

inky blue suit with a faint purple stripe, single-breasted, with proper horn buttons

wondering if it’s by Oswald Boateng, and whether the jacket’s got a silk lining in some stunning color

an immaculate dark suit

Alicia:

baby-blue suit

silk Hermes scarf

matching baby-blue shoes

a suntan

a gorgeous Louis Vuitton bag

Eric Foreman:

an old-looking jacket over a dark red shirt with no tie

sneakers

ex.5 p.51

A dumbing-down effect is an effect that certain TV programs produce. It means the content of the program is simplified as much as possible in order to let the figures sink into the audience’s mind. Zelda apologized for it because she thought that a financial expert like Becky must feel really frustrated by it. But the truth was the more dumbed down the better since Becky wasn’t an expert at all. She was afraid of tricky questions an expert could be asked.

ex.6 p. 52

The strategy of Becky differs from the strategy of Luke. Luke made an impression of a genius, prepared-to-everything man whereas Becky looked like a confident and businesslike woman outside but inside she was afraid and frightened. Luke’s arguments were typical for a prepared man: nobody’s entitled to a windfall, a case of deception etc. Becky’s arguments are typical for an unprepared man: wait a minute, correct me if I’m wrong, come on etc. Becky’s strategy was simple: to owe the minds of the public, to attack, to prevent an enemy from saying a word if possible, to catch at the words… to my mind it’s a strategy of a winner. No wonder that Luke surrendered at the end of the debate. He looked miserable, destroyed and his answers didn’t confess the public.

ex.7 p. 52

In the last episode Becky “overdid” a bit her outlook. She looked too businesslike for a date. Yes, it was a date because Becky didn’t want to look too attractive (and she did) so she decided to add some business gadgets to her look. She bought a copy of FT, took a pair of a pair of tortoiseshell glasses (with clear glass) and her friend gave her a laptop. Such non-verbal means of communication influence a lot on the way people treat you, especially if your look has the opposite effect (e.g. the look is attractive and the gadgets are businesslike). No wonder Luke was confused when he saw Becky because he was certain that Becky would dress for a date. Once again, the place of the meeting is important as well and if Becky had visited that restaurant before she would have known it was a date. To sum it up I should say that if you want to be treated right choose your non-verbal means of communication discreetly. If you are going for a meeting – wear a suit and have a laptop with you and if it’s a date – wear anything attractive and some accessories like watches, chains, rings and so on.

ex.8 p.52

Celebrities are usual people with a good look (usually) and a high salary. That’s my point of view and this gives us a following thought: they are all different like the other people do. Some of them are weirdo, some of them are not very intelligent (Rory), some of them like to eat delicious food (Elisabeth Plover) and they all are only human after all. Take Emma March for instance. Yes, she is a celebrity and nevertheless she’s dying for a wee after the debate like a simple man. Or Elisabeth Plover who is keen on croissants or maybe she’s worrying before show and food helps her to lessen the worry. I mean, look… aren’t those natural habits and instincts of a human? In my opinion they are. We all sometimes want to pee, to eat, to cry and to do many other things celebrities do as well.

ex.9 p.52

Becky is a kind of person that adapts to his communication partner. When she speaks to some intelligent and serious people like Luke or Alicia, she didn’t try to impress them and only answer their questions in a simple way or just nodding to show that she is listening to them and that she agrees. When she speaks with the Websters and Suze she can be herself (for the most part of it) yet even though she is afraid of saying something intelligent. The same thing we can observe in the communication with Eric Foreman and the hosts and guests of the TV show. She is not self-confident, always mumbles and always afraid of being misunderstood. My advice for Becky is a simple one: she should be more self-confident (e.g. the way she behaved at the debates). She controlled the situation and sounded persuasive. Her inner world was going mad of course but this was simply the first occasion. The more she practices the better it will be the following time.

ex.10 p.52

The problem of Becky is that she had concentrated on the Tom’s house in conversation with the Websters. She knew that it was a bad idea yet she didn’t know anything else to talk about. To lie about the telephone number would be a good thing if this reply didn’t sound like another saucy double entendre. In addition to that her farewell words sounded the same way: like some saucy double entendre. What Becky should’ve done was: to speak about the weather, about the work, about some people finally but not about Tom’s house. The second tip is to say simply “Good bye and greetings to Tom” or “See you and say hello to Tom”. Anything like that would be perfect and would sound appropriate. And a final tip: not to lie until you are certain that it helps. Mix all the tips and the conversation with the Websters would have gone the different way.

ex.3/1 p.52

People choose a career in a weirdo ways: those who are intelligent and self-confident have no problems in choosing any profession they like whereas those who are not very intelligent and always hesitate do the same thing. The difference is that the first know what they’re doing and the second don’t. The first are canny, discreet and precise whereas the second are expecting a windfall or some jostle that would help them to promote. What you should take into consideration when thinking over your job prospects is your personality and character. To be more exact your skills, experience and outlook. Becky took into consideration nothing but the outlook and a sad thing is, she was almost right because a lot of jobs require nothing but a smart look (which is far from actually being smart) and nodding plus some primitive organization skills. But don’t you worry: we’re all different and there are different kinds of jobs nowadays so suit yourself. Want a simple’n’easy job – here you are, want a demanding and high-paid job – you are welcome.

ex.3/2 p.52

Becky is a good example of a person who got a career he or she didn’t want to. We can’t say that she hates her job but she didn’t like it either. So it’s clear that she’s expecting a sort of windfall: a better job like a freelancer. If I had to take up a career I didn’t want I would have felt the same way. I wouldn’t like to visit conferences and meetings like Becky did and I would dream about another job I might have received. But I wouldn’t certainly do what Becky was doing if I were to work in a sphere I know nothing about. What Becky did was pretending to be smart, businesslike and literate person. What I would do was an attempt to become smart, businesslike and literate person and if this was not possible or if I didn’t have any interest at all in the sphere I work, I would have quit. Otherwise I would have felt a twinge of guilt and felt a shame of being constantly outperformed by my colleagues. Becky didn’t have a poignant interest to her job and that’s why she didn’t feel anything like that whereas I’m a kind of person who can’t do the job I dislike.

ex.3/3 p.52

If you want to write a good article you should pay a close attention at the Becky’s article about the Websters. The main thing the journalist should take into consideration in order to outperform is to wriggle into audience’s favour. To achieve this there are some gimmicks. The first gimmick is a simple one: write about stuff that is eligible for a lot of people (e.g. money, food, fashion). Use a simple language in order not to be misconstrued. Try and sound persuasive and don’t be discreet about it because the heavier you’re denouncing somebody who is guilty for doing something the better. By the way, another gimmick: write a story in which there are two confronting sides and it’ll be a good thing if one side fooled another. Such occasions usually find a negative response among the audience and this will help you to make the audience listen to you. Just remember: don’t be afraid to use some poignant words or to speak about some poignant situation. People always care and high-powered companies always have a twinge when broad masses are stunned by some outstanding occasion in which such companies are guilty.

ex.3/4 p.52

It’s difficult to debate not to mention to win the debates. However, Becky managed to do it yet she wasn’t ready and prepared for the debates. What is her secret? I suppose it’s a simple one: to owe the minds of the public by wriggling into audience’s favour. There’s an expression “Who owes the information owes the World”. In Becky’s case it can be turned into “Who owes the situation via persuasion owes the World”. If you want to make a good impression on public and to control them, all you have to do is to “attack” your opponent (if you have one) and don’t be canny in general. Actually, the more weirdo you and your actions are the bigger the effect. If you are being asked questions don’t discreet to interrupt the asker halfway. Behave yourself like a supercilious big cheese and people will be awe-stricken and stunned by your presence. Once you can’t say something intelligent put it in a simple way (like Becky compared investment and a coat). A final gimmick: denounce anyone else but not yourself.

ex.3/5 p.52

-Hello and welcome back to our show “Contradicting sides”. Today we’re having an interesting case: in the red corner we have a typical shopaholic Paul. In the blue corner we have a very economical person Lisa. Money spending against money saving. Brandy things against “made-in-china” stuff. So what’s it gonna be? Let’s meet our guests. Paul, tell us about you.

-Hi everyone, my name is Paul, I’m thirty and I work as an IT-manager. I’m fond of shopping and different kinds of sport.

-OK, and now let’s greet your opponent – Lisa!

-Good day. My name is Lisa. I’m thirty-two years old. I work as a travel consultant. I’m fond of cooking and drawing.

-Right. The rules of our show are as simple as possible. We give you one, just one contradicting question. The question is chosen via voting of our viewers. And then you are free to go: quarrel, simply talk, accuse each other, do whatever it takes except fighting to make your opponent surrender. The question is: “Guys, what’s the matter with you? Why Paul is fond of a new brandy stuff and Lisa is not?”

-I don’t know why people buy new things. Old things…

-Well, I do. People buy new things to receive new feelings and to keep up with the progress. Take a mobile phone for instance. How many of us would like to use some old SIEMENS instead of a new Iphone? It’s nonsense.

-I’m sorry to interrupt you but may I continue? Old things remind us…

-Well I’m sorry either. I’m sorry for you. What you are trying to say is that old things help us to remember about old times or people we met, right? You know what? There is such a device which is able of taking pictures. Now, how is it’s called… oh yes, a camera! Photographs are the best way of reminding about people you’ve met or places you’ve been. Not your flags, souvenirs and other stuff.

-Very kind of you for finishing my thought. I do think that photos help you in such situations but let me put it that way. Let’s say you have an uncle who is really sick and who wishes to give you something to remember him. Is he going to give you a photo or some watches?

-He is going to give you a hundred quid or a new Ipod. I would do that if I were him. Come on now, what century are you living in? Maybe a hundred years ago it was OK to give a watch or anything, but not now. Welcome to the XXI century, woman!

-How dare you! Such things are almost sacred! And your Chinese Ipod will break in a month. Or a week!

-I wish I can afford myself to build a time machine and send you back to the XIX century. Because you’re not suitable for the XXI century. It’s better to have a Chinese Ipod than a Chinese car.

-How did you…

-Wow, I was right! Look who is talking now! You’ve bought a piece of Chinese crap and accusing me of buying a Chinese Ipod for my imaginative uncle?

-Yes, it’s Chinese, but it’s cheap and it’s brand new! Not like used pieces of crap like 10 years old Mercedes, BMW, Audi…

-Darling, and if we compare your rubbish car with a brand new BMW, Mercedes or Audi? What would you say then?

-Screw you. Compare the value of my car and the value of those. Can’t you see…

-Well I see. I see that if we compare the reliability of BMW for example and of your CAR…

-Gee whiz! He was able to afford a new BMW! Feeling yourself proud and a big cheese? You’ve had a good run for your money?

-Is this some sort of twinge? Or are you simply jealous?

-Oh my Gosh! What on Earth have made me to participate in this stupid show? I’m not going to prove anything to someone like you. I’m outta here.

-This was a contradicting battle between Paul and Lisa. See you next week! And now…

ex.5 p. 57

a pair of ancient paisley pyjamas

new acid green shell case

battered old canvas bag

embroidered cutoffs from Oasis

slingbacks with the glittery heels

fabulous pair of shoes

gorgeous lilac sandals, all delicate and strappy, with a tiny little blackberry by the toe

frisson of delight

a purple bag with the jet beading

the most exquisite sandal I’ve ever seen

a pale, creamy orange colour

strappy shape

a lurch of desire

the most darling shoe I’ve ever seen

warm and scented

full of gorgeous things

chrome wire racks

glass etched coasters

mauve leather notebooks

purple tweed photo frames

a zing of excitement

cheery smile

kitten heel

a pair of deep brown pumps

those are divine

a swoop of excitement

stare longingly at the display

to have a quick little look at smth.

to catch a glimpse

magnificent place of worship

to feel almost sick with anticipation

the elegant art deco paneling

the high, airy ceilings

the foliage everywhere

gorgeous designer handbags

a beautiful Kate Spade bag in tan leather

a shabby foyer furnished with plastic chairs

a tidal wave of smth.

a stack of Prada bags

a rail full of fabulous coats

a fantastic buttermilk leather coat

a really gorgeous printed chiffon top

display of marbled wrapping paper

decoupage box

amazing beaded ribbon

the arrangements of beautiful wrapping paper adorned with dried flowers, raffia and bows

handmade creations with twinkly flowers and witty collages

fantastic abstract print

painted velvet dresses

a plain white shirt with a plastic hood

a skirt made out of corduroy and newspaper

very tight trousers, completely silver apart from the crotch, which is denim

a purple jumper with a fun

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