These people are all talking about other people’s characters. Match the names they mention with the descriptions in the box.

ABOUT MYSELF

 

 

ABOUT MYSELF

Vocabulary

Active Vocabulary

Nouns and Noun Phrases

spirits	/'spIrIts/	настроение
~ to be in high spirits	быть в хорошем настроении
~ to be in low spirits	быть в плохом настроении

Verbsand Verbal Phrases

argue	/'a:gju:/	спорить
admit	/qd'mIt/	допускать, принимать, соглашаться
bear	/beq/	терпеть, выносить
resemble	/rI'zembl/	походить, иметь сходство
take after	/'teIk'a:ftq/	походить на к-л.

Adjectives

anxious	/'xNkSqs/	озабоченный, обеспокоенный
articulate	/a: 'tIkjqlqt/	ясный, отчетливый
attractive	/q'trxktIv/	привлекательный
average	/'xvqrIdZ/	средний
cheerful	/'CIqfl/	веселый, жизнерадостный
crude	/kru:d/	грубый
curly	/'kE:li/	кудрявый
generous	/'dZenqrqs/	щедрый
hospitable	/'hPspItqbl/	гостеприимный
impatient	/Im'peISnt/	нетерпеливый
irritable	/'IrItqbl/	раздражительный
moody	/'mu:di/	угрюмый, невеселый; в плохом настроении
reserved	/rI'zE:vd/	сдержанный; замкнутый, необщительный
shy	/SaI/	застенчивый; робкий, нерешительный
slim	/slIm/	тонкий, стройный
self-confident	/'self'kPnfIdqnt/	самоуверенный, самонадеянный
smart	/sma:t/	нарядный, модный
stocky	/'stPki/	приземистый, коренастый
stout	/staVt/	полный, тучный

 

Passive Vocabulary

Nouns and Noun Phrases

abuse	/q'bju:s/	оскорбление, плохое обращение
lobe	/lqVb/	мочка (уха)
wrinkle	/'rINkl/	морщина

 

Adjectives

arrogant	/'xrqgqnt/	высокомерный, надменный
jealous	/'Gelqs/	ревнивый
mean	/mi:n/	скупой, скаредный
offensive	/q'fensIv/	оскорбительный, обидный
regrettable	/rI'gretqbl/	заслуживающий порицания
ridiculous	/rI'dIkjqlqs/	смехотворный, смешной, нелепый
trustworthy	/'trAstwE:Di/	заслуживающий доверия, надежный
vivacious	/vI'veISqs/	Живой, оживленный

Verbs

appreciate	/q'pri:SieIt/	оценивать, понимать, принимать во внимание
recognize	/'rekqgnaIz/	узнавать
restrain	/rI'streIn/	сдерживать

Adverb

succinctly

/sqk'sINktlI/

кратко, сжато

 

I. 1. Look through the statements and try to outline the problems to be discussed.

1. Like father, like son.

2. It’s not necessary to be beautiful to be liked by people.

3. It takes all kinds to make a world.

4. Children must be taught to respect their parents.

 

2. You’ve got some information about Steve Clark. Describe his appearance and character to your partner. Replace the words in bold with synonyms given in the box.

My name is Steve Clark. I was born on August, 25. I am in my teens. I come from Manchester, England. I take after my mother. I am of a medium height with her regular features and dark hair and build a bit stocky but strong with it. I have a straight nose and a wide humorous mouth. They say I’m incredibly handsome.

I inherited my father’s grey eyes and character. I am quite shy, I look calm, but actually I am rather nervy. I think I am kind, but sometimes I am bad-temperedlike my father.

I have long, curly hair. It is fashionable at the moment for men to grow their hair. It nearly reaches my shoulders. My mother is always telling me to get it cut. I don’t take much care for my appearance, so I often look quite untidy – it doesn’t matter how much money, time and energy I devote to my appearance.

My mum is usually well-dressed. She is the sort of a person who always looks smart. But I am the exact opposite. I hate having to wear a tie. I like comfortable clothes such as T-shirts and jeans. I don’t care what I look like.

I don’t have many interests and hobbies. I spend much time at my computer. In my opinion the computer is the greatest invention in the world. Actually if your computer is connected up to the Internet you can get any information you want, you can send letters all over the world in no time. I mean the service called e-mail. The second thing I’ m interested in is tennis. It gives me energy and puts me in high spirits. I always spend my spare time on the tennis court. I’ve won a few local tournaments and I’d really like to turn professional.

 

pay attention contrast in fact timid

amazingly contests quiet average

resemble good-looking wavy irritable

am keen on thickset in a good mood elegant

 

3. Look at the words in the box and say what relation is:

your mother’s sister to you

your father’s brother to you

your sister’s son to you

your brother’s daughter to you

your aunt’s son to you

your sister’s husband to you

your brother’s wife to you

your parents’ parents to you

your grandparents’ parents to you

your husband to your parents

your brother’s wife to your mother

your sister’s son to your mother

your mother’s son from the first marriage to you

your stepmother’s daughter to you

 

grandson daughter-in-law brother-in-law great grandparents

aunt nephew grandparents sister-in-law

cousin son-in- law half brother

uncle niece stepsister

 

4. Tell your partner about uncle Desmond choosing the correct word.

My uncle Desmond is the kind of person everyone likes. In fact, he is so sociable/sociability that neighbors and friends visit him constantly. Luckily, he enjoys other peoples’/people’s company.

Almost everyone finds Desmond charming, and as far as I can tell his charm lays/lies in the fact that he always takes a positive view of life. In fact, many people find his optimism infection/ infectious. I’ve seen people who are really anxious/anxiety suddenly forget all their terribly/terrible worries and become full of life. Last week one woman became so careful/carefree that she started dancing on the table, which amused Desmond.

Another thing I like about Desmond is that he is very broad-minded about everything from religion through food/meal to nationality. I have rare/rarely met anyone with so few prejudices/superstitious and so much enthusiasm/enthusiast for life.

Not surprising/surprisingly, although Desmond lives alone, he always has company, so he never feels lonely/alone. On another/the other hand, he doesn’t seem to need the help of anyone, although/in spite of being over 80, and lives a very independent life.

 

5. Interview your group-mates:

1. Do your relatives take a positive view of life?

2. Why is it important to be a broad-minded person?

3. Which of your members of the family has much enthusiasm for life?

4. Have you ever felt lonely? Why?

 

Amrita

I’m an active and a)... person – I b)... just sitting around doing nothing. It just makes me c)... and restless. But I know what I want, and I think I’ve got what it takes to achieve my d).... Does that make me sound horribly e)... and selfish? I hope not!

 

goals impatient can’t bear ambitious energetic

Kevin

I’m the kind of person who knows how a).... I suppose you would call me b)..., but it’s more than that. I actually believe in a calm, cool, c)... approach to life and I can’t bear unnecessary d) … and pressure. I believe in being e)... and taking life as it comes….

 

anxiety fun-loving to have a good time sociable easy-going

 

Larry

My problem can be summarized in one word: a).... I just don’t have enough. I’m b)... with other people, who must think I’m boring and stupid sometimes. c)... of confidence also makes me d)...: I spend days trying to make up my mind what to do about quite simple things. I’m told I sometimes look e)..., but in fact I like being with other people....

 

indecisive shy self-confidence moody lack

Сathy

How do I see myself? Well, I’m a)... and disorganized – some would say b)...! But I’ve got quite a lot of c)..., really, and I’ve got ideas. I’m a hardworker too when I’m doing something I’m interested in. I’m not very d)... when it comes to public speaking but I quite enjoy being e)..., and I don’t get in the least bit f)....

 

absent-minded articulate nervous forgetful the centre of attention willpower

 

11. Find and read those parts of the text which express the following viewpoints:

1. When the author heard the Frenchmen insulting the American tourists he decided to interfere because they were unfair to them.

2. The Europeans had a high opinion about American tourists.

3. The author admits that 70 percent of American tourists are blameworthy.

4. The author objects to those who says that 100 percent of a certain nationality behave in a certain way because it is not true to the fact.

5. The author seems to suggest that not all people of the same nationality have the same ‘national character’.

 

The ways of tourists are strange, and one afternoon as I sat in the Plaza Mayor, I heard some Frenchmen at the next table tearing Americans apart. To the first barrage of criticism, I could not logically protest: Americans were uncultured, lacked historical sense, were concerned only with business, had no sensitivity and ought to stay at home. The second echelon of abuse I did want to interrupt, because I felt that some of it was wide of the mark: Americans were all loud, had no manners, no education, no sense of proportion, and were offensively vulgar in dress, speech, eating habits and general comportment, but I restrained myself because, after all, this was a litany one heard throughout Europe, here expressed rather more succinctly than elsewhere.

Sitting as quietly as my French companions would permit, I tried to discover what my true feelings were in this matter of honest description. In my travels, I had never met any single Americans as noisy and crude as certain Germans, none so downright mean as one or two Frenchmen, none so ridiculous as an occasional Englishman, and none so arrogant as some Swedes.

But in each of the national examples cited I am speaking only of a few horrible specimens. If one compares all English tourists with all Americans, I would have to admit that taken in the large the American is worse. If some European wanted to argue that seventy percent of all American tourists are regrettable, I would agree. If he claimed ninety, I suppose I wouldn’t argue too much. But when like the Frenchman on my left he states that one hundred percent are that way, then I must accuse him of being false to the facts.

James Michener Iberia 2

 

Culture shock

Penny, a friend of mine, has just got back from a trip to Japan. She had a very...(1) time but there were occasions, she says, when the rather...(2) behaviour of her hosts led to moments of cultural confusion, and at times she even felt embarrassed by some of the mistakes she made. For example, it is...(3) for Europeans to call each other by their first names, but this is not the...(4) way of addressing people to Japan. Now, because Penny was...(5) to show everyone how friendly she was, she called everyone by their first name. Most people were...(6) because she was obviously a foreigner but some became quite...(7) and show little sympathy.

At first, Penny found bowing to people quite...(8) – she is, after all, an actress – but after a while it became a bit...(9) having to bow to everyone you met.

Penny is not at all...(10) – she loves meeting new people – but after the first few misunderstandings she was...(11) to open her mouth in case she offended someone. I myself am quite an experienced traveller, but I would feel...(12) about putting my foot in it in Japan because there even...(13) people observe the most elaborate rules of social behaviour – silence for example is nothing to be...(14) of in Japanese culture, but in the West we get very...(15) if there are even short periods of silence at social gatherings.

 

13. Match these nationalities with the ‘stereotype’ pictures.

the Germans the French the Japanese the Italians the Scottish the Americans the Spanish the British

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing Section

II.1. Study the application form carefully and fill it in.

Eurasian Undergraduate

A. Witnesses

Yesterday you visited a local bank. At the entrance you were nearly knocked down by a strange man. At the bank you learnt that a large sum of money had been stolen and one of the criminals had managed to escape. The police want you to give a description of this person. You have 3 minutes to look at the picture (see page 22). Discuss in your group how to describe him.

 

Useful words and phrases:

1. Age: elderly, middle-aged, young, under 30, past 40...

2. Height: tall, short, over 5 feet 6 inches, of middle height...

3. Build: slim, stout, broad-shouldered...

4. Face: long, round, thin, wrinkled, oval...

5. Hair: long, straight, curly, blond, bald-headed...

6. Eyes: close-set, dark-eyed, small...

7. Nose: straight, hooked,...

8. Ears: stick out...

9. Distinctive marks: freckles, a mole on his right cheek, beard, moustache...

 

B. Police officers

Yesterday criminals stole a large sum of money from a local bank. One of the robbers had managed to escape. You know that he ran into one of the clients when he/she was entering the bank. In your group get ready with the questions you will ask the witness. Think about his age, height, build, face, hair, eyes, nose, ears, distinctive marks.

 

C. Witnesses

Yesterday you visited a local shop. At the entrance you were nearly knocked down by a strange man. At the shop you learnt that a large sum of money had been stolen and one of the criminals had managed to escape. The police want you to give a description of this person. You have 3 minutes to look at the picture (see page 22). Discuss in your group how to describe him.

 

Useful words andphrases:

1. Age: elderly, middle-aged, young, under 30, past 40...

2. Height: tall, short, over 5 feet 6 inches, of middle height...

3. Build: slim, stout, broad-shouldered...

4. Face: long, round, thin, wrinkled, oval...

5. Hair: long, straight, curly, blond, bald-headed...

6. Eyes: close-set, dark-eyed, small...

7. Nose: straight, hooked,...

8. Ears: stick out...

9. Distinctive marks: freckles, a mole on his right cheek, beard, moustache...

 

D. Police officers

Yesterday criminals stole a large sum of money from a local shop. One of the robbers had managed to escape. You know that he ran into one of the customers when he/she was entering the shop. In your group get ready with the questions you will ask the witness. Think about his age, height, build, face, hair, eyes, nose, ears, distinctive marks.

 

Work in pairs: one person from group A (a witness) and one person from group B (a police officer).

The police officer should interrogate the witness and make a video image.

The witness should decide if it is the man he/she had seen at the local bank/shop and if necessary correct the video image synthesized by the police officer.

Useful words and phrases:

Make the face thinner (more round)...

Try to add bushy eyebrows...

He was wearing a cap/eyeglasses/a

beard

 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Dialogue 1

A: If you are not too busy, come one evening and have dinner with us. I’ll introduce you to all my people.

B: Is your family large?

A: Yes, our family is quite a big one. There are eight of us. I have two sisters andthree brothers.

B: Are your sisters as pretty as you are?

A: Oh, they are both prettier than I am. Ruth is the prettiest girl I know. They both have long fair hair, but Ruth's hair is longer and fairer than Margaret's. Margaret is fatter than Ruth. She doesn't like you to say she is fat; and we tell her she will get thinner when she gets older.

B: Tell me about the others in your family, Freda.

A: Well, the youngest and the smallest one is Fred; heis the baby of thefamily. He is only four. Then there are Hans and Peter, the twins. They are exactly as old as each other, thirteen, and exactly as tall as each other, and they are so much alike that people can hardly tell one from the other.

Dialogue 2

N answers the door and shows in her friend, Ann.

N: Ann, meet the aunts and uncles, grannies and grandpas, the nephews and nieces, and all the rest.

A: Pleased to meet you all, I'm sure. My dear, what a big family you are!

N: This is only the immediate family. You're the only outsider here now. You will sit next to the oldest member of family present — my great-grandfather. Grandpa, dear. I’m going to put my friend in this seat near you.

GR.-GRANDF: The pleasure is all mine. Please sit down, my dear. Make yourself at home. So, Nadya must give me away at once and tell my age.

A: You don't look your age at all. So don't mind her.

GR.-GRANDF: A person is as old as he feels, they say. Still...

A: Nadya is your great-grand-daughter, isn't she? She's the exact image of you (there's a strong family resemblance between you) — of course, taking the difference in age into consideration.

GR.-GRANDF: Does she really look like me so much? I'm flattered. She's a good-looking girl, isn't she?

A: How wonderful it must be for you to look round the table and see four generations of your descendants!

GR.-GRANDF: We are a long lived family. Only your dear granny died young.

N: (to A) She was 50 when she died.

A: Your family, it seems to me, are very much attached to each other.

N: Well, more or less, I suppose.

 

Notes:

1. A guest is shown into the house; afterwards he is shown (seen) out of house;

2. one’s immediate family – семья, состоящая только из ближайших родственников

3. The pleasure is all mine – I’m very pleased.

Dialogue 3

Interview with Mother

Interviewer: What's it like being a parent?

Mother: Bringing up children is very difficult. You always worry about them. You have to be very patient and put up with a lot - like noise and even criticism. And you can't always get throughto them - sometimes they just won't listen. But the advantages of being a parent outweigh the disadvantages. The main thing is to enjoy your children while they are young because they grow up so quickly nowadays.

Interviewer: How strict are you with your children?

Mother: I suppose I'm reasonably strict. They can't do what they like and get away withit, and I tell them offwhen they do something wrong.

Interviewer: And what is the secret of being a good parent?

Mother: I think you have to give them confidence and let them know you love them. And you have to set a good example through your own behaviour; otherwise they won't look up to you.

Interviewer: And what do you want for your children in the future?

Mother: I want them to be happy, and I want them to look back ontheir childhood as a very happy time in their lives.

 

Dialogue 4

(Twoyoung people, George and Ann, meet after a lapse of some years)

G: Did you receive my letter, Ann?

a: Yes, I did.

G: I wished to see you very much, Ann. I hope you'll not be displeased with me.

A: No, I'm very glad to meet you. It's a long time since we met last.

G: It is indeed. You have changed, Ann.

A: Have I? Am I like what you expected me to be?

G: No, you are much more beautiful than I thought.

A: Am I?

G: Yes, but do you know last night I was trying to fancy you as a…

A: Not a fat, blond girl, with round blue eyes and pigtails dangling down at the back of my head?

G: No, Ann,but as a tall girl with a mop of hair tied up in a bundle, with rouged cheeks…

A: Oh, yes! That's just like me, isn't it? You must have seen me before yon came here? Well go on. You're describing me so well.

G: Oh Ann, don'1 jeer at me. You can't imagine how glad I am to be mistaken. Your fair heavy braids are…

A: You know, George, when I got your letter I also tried to fancy you.

G: And is there any likeness between me and what you've fancied?

A: Yes, and a very striking one, I should say. I’ll tell you some time later.

 

Dialogue 5

A: How doyou like your co-workers?

B: One of my co-workers is an exceptional person. She always has a nice word for and about everyone. She is often the last person to leave the office and when she is at work she works at a steady and constant pace; but is always pleasant, nevertheless. She is very unassuming and tries hard not to inconvenience her co-workers.

A: But are they all so nice?

B: Not really! There's a former sea captain who works with us. He’s a complete waste of time. Even when he's sober we just keep talking past each other. It's like he's still on the bridge of a ship and I'm down in the engine room and the communication tube is broken. We just don't hear each other.

A: Sounds interesting. Any other characters?

B: The boss is an interesting old guy. Very European, very conservative and formal. He always sounds gruff and looks forbidding; but he’s really a very soft-hearted guy and very fair when evaluating his employees. But he does have his pet peeves.

A: Yes? What are they?

B: He really hates two things: he hates tardiness. He doesn't make us work veryhard, but he does want us there on time. The other thing he hates is seeing the women in the office wearing slacks. He says “viva la difference”.

 

Dialogue 6

Missing Person

Police officer: Police Department. May I help you?

Woman: I'd like to report a missing person - my grandmother.

Police officer: Your grandmother? OK.

Woman: Yes, she went out at three o'clock this afternoon. It’s already past midnight and she hasn't come back.

Police officer: Uh-huh. What's her name, please?

Woman: Mrs. Rose Baker.

Police officer: And... how old is she?

Woman: She's seventy-eight.

Police officer: OK. Now can you describe her?

Woman: Yes, she's about five feet tall.

Police officer: Five feet, uh-huh.

Woman: She has curly gray hair and she wears glasses.

Police officer: And what is she wearing?

Woman: Let me see. A red dress and a white jacket.

Police officer: A red dress and a white jacket.

Woman: Oh, and a little with flowers on it.

Police officer: All right. We'll call you...

Woman: (Clock strikes three) Oh, Grandma, it's you! I was so worried about you. It's three o'clock in the morning.

Grandma: Why were you worried? I was out on a date.

Woman: A date? With who?

Grandma: Mr. Franklin - my new boyfriend. He's only eighty-three!

 

To Role play:

 

 

 

 

ABOUT MYSELF

 

 

ABOUT MYSELF

Vocabulary

Active Vocabulary

Nouns and Noun Phrases

spirits	/'spIrIts/	настроение
~ to be in high spirits	быть в хорошем настроении
~ to be in low spirits	быть в плохом настроении

Verbsand Verbal Phrases

argue	/'a:gju:/	спорить
admit	/qd'mIt/	допускать, принимать, соглашаться
bear	/beq/	терпеть, выносить
resemble	/rI'zembl/	походить, иметь сходство
take after	/'teIk'a:ftq/	походить на к-л.

Adjectives

anxious	/'xNkSqs/	озабоченный, обеспокоенный
articulate	/a: 'tIkjqlqt/	ясный, отчетливый
attractive	/q'trxktIv/	привлекательный
average	/'xvqrIdZ/	средний
cheerful	/'CIqfl/	веселый, жизнерадостный
crude	/kru:d/	грубый
curly	/'kE:li/	кудрявый
generous	/'dZenqrqs/	щедрый
hospitable	/'hPspItqbl/	гостеприимный
impatient	/Im'peISnt/	нетерпеливый
irritable	/'IrItqbl/	раздражительный
moody	/'mu:di/	угрюмый, невеселый; в плохом настроении
reserved	/rI'zE:vd/	сдержанный; замкнутый, необщительный
shy	/SaI/	застенчивый; робкий, нерешительный
slim	/slIm/	тонкий, стройный
self-confident	/'self'kPnfIdqnt/	самоуверенный, самонадеянный
smart	/sma:t/	нарядный, модный
stocky	/'stPki/	приземистый, коренастый
stout	/staVt/	полный, тучный

 

Passive Vocabulary

Nouns and Noun Phrases

abuse	/q'bju:s/	оскорбление, плохое обращение
lobe	/lqVb/	мочка (уха)
wrinkle	/'rINkl/	морщина

 

Adjectives

arrogant	/'xrqgqnt/	высокомерный, надменный
jealous	/'Gelqs/	ревнивый
mean	/mi:n/	скупой, скаредный
offensive	/q'fensIv/	оскорбительный, обидный
regrettable	/rI'gretqbl/	заслуживающий порицания
ridiculous	/rI'dIkjqlqs/	смехотворный, смешной, нелепый
trustworthy	/'trAstwE:Di/	заслуживающий доверия, надежный
vivacious	/vI'veISqs/	Живой, оживленный

Verbs

appreciate	/q'pri:SieIt/	оценивать, понимать, принимать во внимание
recognize	/'rekqgnaIz/	узнавать
restrain	/rI'streIn/	сдерживать

Adverb

succinctly

/sqk'sINktlI/

кратко, сжато

 

I. 1. Look through the statements and try to outline the problems to be discussed.

1. Like father, like son.

2. It’s not necessary to be beautiful to be liked by people.

3. It takes all kinds to make a world.

4. Children must be taught to respect their parents.

 

2. You’ve got some information about Steve Clark. Describe his appearance and character to your partner. Replace the words in bold with synonyms given in the box.

My name is Steve Clark. I was born on August, 25. I am in my teens. I come from Manchester, England. I take after my mother. I am of a medium height with her regular features and dark hair and build a bit stocky but strong with it. I have a straight nose and a wide humorous mouth. They say I’m incredibly handsome.

I inherited my father’s grey eyes and character. I am quite shy, I look calm, but actually I am rather nervy. I think I am kind, but sometimes I am bad-temperedlike my father.

I have long, curly hair. It is fashionable at the moment for men to grow their hair. It nearly reaches my shoulders. My mother is always telling me to get it cut. I don’t take much care for my appearance, so I often look quite untidy – it doesn’t matter how much money, time and energy I devote to my appearance.

My mum is usually well-dressed. She is the sort of a person who always looks smart. But I am the exact opposite. I hate having to wear a tie. I like comfortable clothes such as T-shirts and jeans. I don’t care what I look like.

I don’t have many interests and hobbies. I spend much time at my computer. In my opinion the computer is the greatest invention in the world. Actually if your computer is connected up to the Internet you can get any information you want, you can send letters all over the world in no time. I mean the service called e-mail. The second thing I’ m interested in is tennis. It gives me energy and puts me in high spirits. I always spend my spare time on the tennis court. I’ve won a few local tournaments and I’d really like to turn professional.

 

pay attention contrast in fact timid

amazingly contests quiet average

resemble good-looking wavy irritable

am keen on thickset in a good mood elegant

 

3. Look at the words in the box and say what relation is:

your mother’s sister to you

your father’s brother to you

your sister’s son to you

your brother’s daughter to you

your aunt’s son to you

your sister’s husband to you

your brother’s wife to you

your parents’ parents to you

your grandparents’ parents to you

your husband to your parents

your brother’s wife to your mother

your sister’s son to your mother

your mother’s son from the first marriage to you

your stepmother’s daughter to you

 

grandson daughter-in-law brother-in-law great grandparents

aunt nephew grandparents sister-in-law

cousin son-in- law half brother

uncle niece stepsister

 

4. Tell your partner about uncle Desmond choosing the correct word.

My uncle Desmond is the kind of person everyone likes. In fact, he is so sociable/sociability that neighbors and friends visit him constantly. Luckily, he enjoys other peoples’/people’s company.

Almost everyone finds Desmond charming, and as far as I can tell his charm lays/lies in the fact that he always takes a positive view of life. In fact, many people find his optimism infection/ infectious. I’ve seen people who are really anxious/anxiety suddenly forget all their terribly/terrible worries and become full of life. Last week one woman became so careful/carefree that she started dancing on the table, which amused Desmond.

Another thing I like about Desmond is that he is very broad-minded about everything from religion through food/meal to nationality. I have rare/rarely met anyone with so few prejudices/superstitious and so much enthusiasm/enthusiast for life.

Not surprising/surprisingly, although Desmond lives alone, he always has company, so he never feels lonely/alone. On another/the other hand, he doesn’t seem to need the help of anyone, although/in spite of being over 80, and lives a very independent life.

 

5. Interview your group-mates:

1. Do your relatives take a positive view of life?

2. Why is it important to be a broad-minded person?

3. Which of your members of the family has much enthusiasm for life?

4. Have you ever felt lonely? Why?

 

These people are all talking about other people’s characters. Match the names they mention with the descriptions in the box.

a someone you can really rely on

b someone who is very concerned for and generous to others

c someone with a lot of energy and enthusiasm

d someone with a very high opinion of himself/herself

e someone who talks too much

f someone who is very quiet but seems sure of himself/herself

g someone who is very timid

h someone who loses his/her temper quickly

7. Say what you’ve learnt about Frederick’s occupation. Supply the missing replies.

A:....

B: Oh, er, Janet. Janet Parker.

A:....

B: Oh. What do you do, er, Fred?

A:....

B: Oh, yes? Where do you work, then? Are you based in London?

A:....

B: Oh, yes?

A:....

B: Oh, have you?

A:....

B: It must be terribly interesting. All that travelling. All those famous people.

A:....

 

- Oh, no. I live in Paris. Paris and California. But I travel all over the world. - Before that, I was in Venice for the film festival. In a few days, I’ll be in Tokyo for a fashion show. It’s a busy life, you know. A busy life. - Oh, yes? I’m Frederick Getty Onassis. But my friends call me Fred. - Oh, no. Famous people – they’re all the same, really... - Hello, then. What’s your name? - I’ve just got back from Washington. I’ve been photographing the President for “Time” magazine. - Oh, I’m a photographer. I photograph famous people: film stars, pop singers, people like that.