Hue University College of Foreign Languages Department of English

HUE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
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NGUYEN VAN TUAN
SPEAKING 4
HUE - 2007
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Chapter 1: PERSONAL ISSUES
Unit 1 : PERSONALITY TYPES
Reading:
Everyone has his own personality, as well as his unique looks. Psychologists often divide
people into two groups: Type A and Type B. A Type-A person is competitive, time-conscious,
active, and often cynical. He gets angry easily.
By contrast, a Type-B person is non-competitive, easygoing, laid-back, and generally

optimistic. He does not get angry easily. He accepts life as it is. He rolls with the punches and
doesn't worry.
Almost 75% of successful American businessmen are Type-A. They are hardworking, driven
by the desire to be number one. They do not accept defeat easily. As a result, Type-A people
tend to have more heart attacks than Type-B people.
Another system for typing people is the enneagram (pronounced "any-a-gram"). It is a Greek
word meaning "nine drawings." It divides people into nine types: 1. the Perfectionist; 2. the
Giver; 3. the Performer; 4. the Romantic; 5. the Observer; 6. the Questioner; 7. the Epicure
(cheery and childlike); 8. the Boss; and 9. the Mediator. Which type are you?
Opposing Views: Study the opinions below.
Type-A advocates Type-B advocates
1. Competitive people are most successful. Competitive people become stressed out.
2. Extroverts get more accomplished. Introverts are deeper intellectually.
3. Time is money, so be time-conscious. Time is to be used for whatever you
decide to do.
4. Life is best when well planned in advance. Life should be taken day by day, step by step
5. Cynicism means you're a realist. Optimism means you're an idealist.
6. Anger shows power. Anger shows immaturity.
7. Type-B people are boring. Type-A people are overbearing.
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Substitution Practice:
A: What sort of person is Brenda?
B: She's quiet and shy.
A: Do you like girls that are quiet and shy?
B: No. I prefer outgoing girls.
1. Debbie/ cute and funny/ serious

2. Masako/ drop-dead gorgeous/ normal looking
3. Peggy/ smart and clever/ average
4. Tomoko/ excitable and emotional/ analytical
C h e c k (V) O n e :
Are you afraid of . . . ? yes, a l o t yes, a little not at all

1. loneliness
2. enclosed spaces
3. insects
4. snakes
5. airplanes
6. meeting people
7. speaking in public
8. losing your job
9. not being popular
10. what people think of you
11. heights
Paired Practice: Give your own opinion in the blanks below.

A: Do you know_____________________ ?
B: Yes. Why do you ask?
A: What do you think of him/ her?
B: I think he's/ she's__________________________ .
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Conversation :
Misato: Have you seen Doug lately?

Greg: Yeah. He has a new sports car, a convertible
Misato: He sure has a nice life.
Greg: Yes, but I don't envy him. He's always on the go-a real playboy.
Misato: You don't like partying and discos, do you, Greg?
Greg: No, I'm a home person. I like reading and watching TV.
Misato: So do I. I like to spend my evenings quietly at home.
Greg: Is Doug still dating Carol?
Misato: No, they broke up. He's now seeing Sally Rogers.
Topics for Discussion :
1. The kind of person I would like to date
2. It is better to be a realist than an idealist.
3. My phobia
Unit 2: SPORTS & MUSIC
Vocabulary:
Match similar expressions.

1. fans a. shown
2. displayed b. for the purpose of raising money
3. boob tube [slang] c. those who are enthusiastic about sports
4. quarterback d. with sounds in the form of numerical digits
5. nope [slang] e. musical work
6. digital f. a position in football
7. trend g. TV
8. composition h. worth nothing
9. charity i. style, vogue
10. waste of time j. no
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Reading:
Sports are popular in all countries, but not all sports. Baseball is popular in Japan and the United
States but not in Europe. Soccer is popular in Latin America and Europe but not much in the
States.
Some who criticize sports do not like the violence in boxing and American football. They do not
like the high salaries paid to professional American players. They do not like the superstar status
of certain players. Nor do they approve of the emotionalism displayed by fans at European soccer
games and American basketball games. They find sports lacking in intellectual content. Sports
fans, on the other hand, say that sports are fun and relaxing.
Opposing Views:
Study the opinions below.
Those favoring sports Those against

1. Sports are fun. Sports are boring.
2. Most people like sports. Most women don't like sports.
3. Sports require great skill. Most players are not very bright.
4. Certain sports are graceful Ballet is graceful, not sports
5. Many people watch sports on TV. The "boob tube" is generally without
merit.
6. People will pay big money to watch sports. Sports have been corrupted by the big
money paid to players.
A: Who's Andre Agassi?
B: You really don't know who he is?
A: Nope, I don't.
B: He's a famous American tennis player.
1. Alexi Lalas/ Italian soccer player
2. Norihiro Komada/ Japanese baseball player
3. John Friesz/ American football quarterback
4. Masashi Ozaki/ Japanese golfer
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Check (V) One:

Do you like ... ? yes, a lot yes, a little not at all
1. country and western
2 Vietnamese folk songs
3. pop music
4. Bach and Vivaldi
5. Italian opera
6. disco music
7. New Age music
8. jazz
9. musicals
10. classical music
11. rock and roll
12. karaoke
A: What kind of music do you like?
B: I like____________________ .
A: Who's your favorite singer?
B:____________________ is.
A: I like_________________ .
Conversation:
Seitaro: Jo Ann, do you collect cassette tapes or compact discs?
Jo Ann: I switched to CDs two years ago.
Seitaro: I did, too. I like the clear sound of CDs.
Jo Ann: Some new songs can't even be found on cassette now.
Seitaro: Yeah. The trend is toward digitalization.
Jo Ann: I think our lives are going to be controlled by computers one day.
Seitaro: I hope not. Say, Jo Ann, what's that CD on your desk?
Jo Ann: It's Takio Ito. Do you like him?
Seitaro: Yeah. But I prefer Yukari Kaneko.
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Reading 2 : PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
There are two kinds of sports, "amateur" and "professional." Amateur athletes do not receive money for
competing in sports. Olympic athletes, for example, are amateurs. They do not receive money.
Professional athletes, on the other hand, do earn money. Some professional athletes earn a million
dollars ($1,000,000) or more a year.
Professional athletes need money to support themselves. Professional sports give great athletes the
opportunity to play sports to earn their living. They earn enough money to support themselves and save
money for their future. We, the spectators, have the opportunity to watch wonderful performances by
our favorite athletes for the price of an admission ticket.
There is a bad side to professional sports, however. Sports are supposed to encourage good character
and "sportsmanship." In other words, sports are supposed to make a contribution to society. Professional
sports and professional athletes do not always do this, however. In fact, sometimes they cause very
serious problems for society.
In 1985 and 1986, the newspapers and magazines in the United States were full of articles about pro-
fessional baseball and basketball players. They were using illegal drugs. A lot of young people looked
up to professional athletes as heroes. When athletes use drugs, they set a bad example for young people.
In addition, there is sometimes an atmosphere of violence in professional sports. In other words, spec-
tators may get into fights and hurt each other at a professional sports event. For example, on May 29,
1985, a terrible tragedy occurred at Heizel Stadium in Brussels before the European Cup Finals. An
English soccer team was playing an Italian soccer team for the European championship. The English
fans started a fight with the Italian fans. One of the stadium walls collapsed. More than 50 people were
killed. Why did this happen? What caused this terrible violence? We still do not completely understand
the answers to these questions.
Professional sports are more like businesses than sports for pleasure. Everything is money, money,
money. Teams have to win a lot of games to keep their fans happy, or the fans won't come to their
games. Then, the team can't earn enough money to pay its expenses. This causes a lot of pressures on
the players. They have to win, win, win. Winning becomes more important than anything else. In sports,
there is an old saying: "It is not important if you win or lose; what is important is the way you play the
game." In professional sports, this saying is not true. Winning is the most important thing in
professional sports.
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Discussion Questions :
Discuss these questions in small groups..
l. Are you a sports fan? What is your favorite sport and what is your favorite team? Why do you
like this team? Win or lose, do you like your team? Explain.
2. Some athletes have trouble with drugs. Do you know about an athlete who had a drug
problem? Who was this person? What sport did she or he play?
Reading 3 : PEOPLE AND PLACES IN SPORTS
As we said before, sports are popular everywhere in the world. Most people know about their
country's most famous athletes and teams. Some athletes are world famous. People all around the
world know these athletes.
PELE
Soccer (football) is the most popular team sport in the world. When we think of soccer, we must
think of Pele, the world's greatest soccer player. Pele was born in Brazil in 1940. His real name
is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but nobody calls him by this name. Everywhere in the world, he
is "Pele."
Pele grew up with soccer. His father was a soccer player. At the age of ten, Pele stopped going to
school, and he began to play soccer seriously. At the age of 15, he was playing for a professional soccer
team in Santos, Brazil.
When Pele was only 18, he became famous throughout the world. He led Brazil to the World Cup
championship in 1958. Pele developed his own special playing techniques. He was able to score goals
against every team. Pele and his Brazilian team won several more world championships. Pele played
for his Santos team until his retirement in 1974. He had a record of more than 1,200 goals in his
professional career. In 1975, Pele came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos of the
North American Soccer League. The Cosmos paid Pele $7 million dollars to play for their team for
three years. Pele again set a new world record when he became the highest paid athlete in the world!
SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS

San Pedro de Macoris? What's that? If you are a serious baseball fan, you know the answer. San Pedro
de Macoris is a town in the Dominican Republic, and it has produced more professional baseball
players than any other city or town in the world.
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San Pedro de Macoris has a population of 80,000. The town is in the area of the Dominican Republic
that produces sugar cane. What do the boys in San Pedro de Macoris do every day? They play baseball
for at least five hours a day from Monday through Friday. The sugar cane companies in San Pedro de
Macoris hire baseball instructors to teach the boys how to play baseball. More than 10,000 boys play
baseball in San Pedro de Macoris. All of these boys have one dream: they want to become professional
baseball players in the United States.
We can see how important San Pedro de Macoris is by looking at professional baseball in the United
States. In the United States, there are two levels of professional baseball-the major leagues and the
minor leagues. The major leagues are the highest level for the top baseball players, and the minor
leagues are the second level. In 1985, there were 14 major league and more than 250 minor
league players from San Pedro de Macoris! Boys in San Pedro de Macoris watch their heroes
playing professional baseball in the United States. They think, "Someday I'll be there too!"
KORBUT AND COMANECI

In the 1970s, gymnastics became one of the most exciting sports in the world. People were able
to see the sport so clearly on television. They could see the great technical skill, grace, and beauty
of the performers and the performance for the first time.
Olga Korbut of the Soviet Union was the first great female gymnast of the 1970s. Girls all over
the world loved Olga Korbut. They dreamed of being like her. Millions of people around the
world admired her performances. Partly because of Olga Korbut, gymnastics soon became one of
the most popular sports in the world.
Olga Korbut was extremely popular around the world, but she was never an Olympic champion.
The champion of the Olympic gymnastics was Nadia Comaneci from Romania. In 1976 at the
Montreal Olympic Games, Nadia Comaneci became the overall Olympic Champion at the age of
14. Nadia was European gymnastics champion three times before she retired in 1984.
Nadia Comaneci had a tremendous effect on the hopes and dreams of young girls around the world.
Remember, women did not participate in the early Olympic Games. They didn't watch the early Games
as spectators. Think how thrilling it was in 1976 to see a young girl-only 14 years old-win the Olympic
championship in Montreal! Nadia Comaneci's message was clear: You do not have to be the biggest to
be the best. And more important, Nadia Comaneci sent a powerful message to girls around the world:
Girls can be champions, too!
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Discussion Questions:
Discuss these questions in small groups.
1. What athlete do you admire most? What sport does this person play, and why do you admire
her or him?
2. Do you think it is important for people to have sports heroes to look up to? Why or why
not? 3. What can people learn from athletes?
4. This passage says that Nadia Comaneci had a great effect on millions of girls around the
world. She showed them that girls could win, too. Who has had a strong influence on you?
Who encouraged you to do something difficult? Who was this person, and what did you learn
from this person?
5. What effect do you think television has on sports? What are the advantages of watching a
sports event on television?
QUOTATIONS :
Read these quotations and explain what they mean.
"I always believe in my heart that through sport one day all the people will be together. Through
the political way we can never come together. I always felt that if I were on the political side I
could never get the same treatment in Russia or Red China or in Japan or South America. But as I
was involved in soccer I had the open door -everyplace."
Pele
"Football today is far too much a sport for the few who can play it well; the rest of us, and too
many of our children, get our exercise from climbing up the steps in stadiums, or from walking
across the room to turn on our television sets. And this is true for one sport after another."
John F. Kennedy
"I do not think that winning is the most important thing. I think that winning is the only thing."
Bill Veeck, Chicago White Sox President
1. My favourite kind of music
2. The Olympics are (not) important.
3. Sports and music are (not) a waste of time.
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Unit 3 : ANIMAL RIGHTS
Vocabulary:

1. activist a. set of moral principles
2. vivisection b. take advantage of
3. (to) torture c. drug that relieves pain
4. veterinarian (vet) d. inflict pain
5. ethics e. removal of an organ from one person or animal to another
6. cruel f. surgery on living animals for scientific purposes
7. (to) exploit g. inhumane
8. transplant h. very rare animal
9. endangered species i. protester i. some important features
10. anesthetic j. animal doctor Reading:
Reading:
The word vivisection comes from the Latin vivus (alive) and the English section. It is an old
tradition. It was practiced as far back as the 2nd century A.D. by the physician Galen in Rome.
Galen operated on living animals to learn about their arteries, brain, nerves, spinal cord, and
pulse. Today, 90% of animals used in vivisection are mice and rats. The use of monkeys, cats,
and dogs is less common. Without this research, some say that we would know less about the
human body, human organs, and hereditary characteristics.
Another related issue is the use of animal organs for transplants in humans. Is it morally
acceptable to kill animals for their organs? Do animals have the same rights as human beings?
These are the questions animal-rights activists are asking.
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Opposing Views:

animal-rights activists their opponents
1. Vivisection is barbaric. Vivisection is an old, accepted practice.
2. Vivisection is cruel; it is torture. With anesthetics, it is painless.
3. Animals have no way to protect them- In the U.S., the Animal Welfare Act of
selves. 1966 protects the well-being of animals.
4. There is no one to regulate how animals Most countries have regulatory agencies
should be treated in laboratories. for this purpose (e.g., the National
Research Council in the U.S.).
5. Animals are lovable. They are dumb; they cannot reason.
6. Humans and animals should have equal Humans are far more intelligent than
rights. animals
7. It is wrong to kill animals for donor organs. Humans need animal organs to live.
8. Bullfights and cockfights are cruel. These are cultural events.
A: Do you have a pet?
B: Yes. I have a dog.
A: What's its name? B: Max. It's 3 years old.
1. cat/Yuki/2
2. rabbit/ Charlie/ 1
3. parrot/ Polly/ 7
4. turtle/ Takeshi/ 4
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Check (v) One:

What do you think of killing . .. ? wrong okay don't know
1. elephants for ivory

2. rhinoceroses for their horns
3. chickens for food
4. bulls in a bullfight
5. rats in a laboratory
6. alligators for handbags
7. mink for their fur
8. monkeys for their organs
9. dogs as a sport (dogfights)
Paired Practice:
Choose your answer from the box below.

A: What do you think of vivisection?
B: Well, I_______________(1)
A: Why's that?
B: I think it____________(2). What about you?
A: Personally, l_____________(3)because it____________(2)
1. am against it/ am for it
2. is necessary for medical progress/ is very cruel/helps doctors find new drugs/ puts
animals in great pain
3. think it's wrong/ think it's okay
Conversation :
Kimiko: I'm against the torture of animals.

Jim: I am, too. But we need animals for medical research.
Kimiko: In China, they drain the bile from bears to make medicines.
Jim: I know they cut off bears' paws for soup.
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Kimiko: Recently, I read that an amusement park in Kyoto keeps a fox tied up to
attract tourists.
Jim: I agree that's wrong. Did you read about the rattlesnake in this morning's
newspaper?
Kimiko: No. What happened?
Jim: In Elkton, Virginia, a man bit off the head of a rattlesnake.
Kimiko: Really? How cruel!
Jim: I don't think it was cruel. The snake bit the man first.
Topics for Discussion:

1. Vivisection is ( not) necessary to find new medical cures.
2. Animals need to be protected.
3. Organ transplants are the wave of the future.
Unit 4 : EATING WELL
Reading:
There are people who live to eat and those who eat a lot to live. The former are sometimes
called gourmet and the latter gourmand. Eating well, then, is not important for everyone.
Take lunch, for example. Some people are happy to drop by a fast-food restaurant and eat a
quick hamburger. Others, however, seek out a good restaurant where they can enjoy a fine
meal. For dinner, some people choose to warm up a TV dinner or pop something into the
microwave oven. Others will prepare a meal from scratch, with fresh ingredients like fish and
vegetables.
As for beverages, the wine connoisseur will carefully choose a wine to go with the meal. But
others are content to wash the meal down with a glass of water or a soft drink. People are
different, and so are their eating habits.
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those who like to eat well those who don't care
1. Food is an important part of our lives. Food is unimportant.

2. Eating well is good for our health. Foods are basically the same.
3. A good diet is important. People worry too much about diet.
4. Fresh foods are healthier than canned ones. Fresh foods are a bother to prepare.
5. Fine cooking is an art. Cooking is a waste of time.
6. Men want to marry good cooks. Women should not be forced into
cooking.
7. Cookbooks are proof of the importance of Cookbooks are a waste of money.
eating well.
8. Expensive restaurants are popular. Fast-food restaurants are popular.
Do you.........................?
1. like to eat well
2. watch your weight
3. count calories
4. like eating at fast-food restaurants
5. eat desserts
6. enjoy cooking
7. eat red meat
8. like vegetables
9. prefer fish to meat
10. exercise to keep trim
11. buy health foods
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Paired Practice :
A: Do you watch your diet?

B: _____________________ .
A: Are there any foods you don't like?
B: Yes. I can't stand______________________.
A: I know what you mean. I don't like eating_______________________.
Conversation:
Shinji: Barbara, how do you keep so trim?

Barbara: I starve myself.
Shinji: But that's no fun.
Barbara: Uh-huh. Tell me about it!
Shinji: Do you jog or do aerobics?
Barbara: Yes. I do aerobics twice a week. How about you, Shinji?
Shinji: I belong to a health club. I swim and lift weights.
Barbara: My brother Harry does, too. Shinji: Is he the teacher?
Barbara: No, that's Danny. Harry's a stockbroker.
Topics for discussion:

1. Good looks are (not) everything in life.
2. Eating well is a habit to cultivate.
3. A good diet leads ( does not lead) to good health.
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Unit 5 : LIFESTYLES
Reading:
There are various lifestyles. Most people prefer to get married and raise a family. They like
being at home and doing things with their spouse and children. Some couples, however, choose
to live together without getting married. They cohabit.
Other people like the singles' lifestyle. They want independence and freedom. They are often
called swingers. They don't want the responsibility of a spouse and children. They like
spending their money on themselves. They want to have a good time.
A small number of people are dedicated to their careers. They do not get married because they
are married to their job. They live very quiet, private lives. They are not lonely because they
have friends and hobbies.
So, as the saying goes, different strokes for different folks. People are different, and so are their
lifestyles.

those favoring marriage those against
1. Marriage is normal. Marriage is forced on people by society.
2. Men and women want to be parents. Some men and women do not want chil-
dren.
3. Women want to be homemakers. Many women want a career outside the home.
4. Marriage gives men and women an identity. Some men and women enjoy being swing-
ers; others want to be alone.
5. Love naturally leads to marriage. Love has many forms.
6. Sex outside marriage is wrong. This is an old-fashioned idea.
7. Every society encourages marriage. Cohabitation and same-sex relationships are

more and more common.
8. A woman should take her husband's surname A woman should keep her own surname
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Check (V) One:

I want to marry a person who is... yes/ n o don't care
1. rich
2. well educated
3. good-looking
4. creative
5. sports-minded
6. witty and funny
7. quiet and shy
8. competitive and ambitious
9. fluent in English
10. a non-smoker
11. a homebody
Paired Practice : choose your answer from the phrases below.
A: What do you want to do after graduation?

B: I hope to_________________________ . How about you?
A: I want to _________________________.
work and get married/travel around the world/remain single and enjoy life/start making
money/buy a house/live it up/settle down and have children
Conversation:
Mamoru: Nancy, you and Bob live together, don't you?

Nancy: Yes, we do. We've been together two years now.
Mamoru: Do you plan to get married?
Nancy: Yes, when we're ready. Right now we're busy with our careers.
Mamoru: Few Japanese live together outside marriage.
Nancy: Why's that, Mamoru?
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Mamoru: Family and company pressure, I guess.

Nancy: Companies play a big role in the lives of employees, don't they?
Mamoru: Yes. Some even provide housing. How about in America?
Nancy: Workers separate their job and family more than in Japan. People want to be at home
on weekends.

1.The ideal lifestyle
2. Children need both parents.
3. Divorce is sometimes necessary.
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Chapter 2: CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
Unit 6 : FREE TRADE

Reading:
After the Second World War, Japan used protectionism (mercantilism) to build up its economy.
The United States encouraged this protectionism for political reasons. It wanted to make Japan a
strong, democratic nation. The plan worked. Japan became a powerful, democratic nation.
Today, however, the Cold War is over. America's foreign policy has become economic policy.
America can no longer overlook Japan's closed markets and domineering bureaucrats. It wants
the Japanese government to stop subordinating consumers to producers. It wants more
competition and more balanced trade. Japan, on the other hand, wants America to stop
complaining and stop overspending.
O p p o s i n g V i e w s : Study the opinions below.
those in favor of free trade those against
1. Free trade helps all nations Free trade hurts poor nations.
2. A consumer-led, free-market society is best. Who says so? America?
3. Competition is always good. Competition is threatening.
4. Lower prices are good for consumers. They can destroy national industries
5. Economic reforms lead to a stronger They can hurt a country's culture.

economy.
6. Tariffs and quotas hurt world trade. All countries have some.
7. Protectionism results in trade wars. It is practiced by all nations.
8. GATT favors free trade. GATT favors economically strong

nations.
9. If Japanese mercantilism were adopted by Japanese mercantilism works
other nations, Japan would be the first to suffer. well for Japan.
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A: What's France t r y i n g to protect?

B: Its banana imports from Africa.
A: Why's that?
B: It wants to help its former colonies.
1. Canada/ wheat market/ doesn't want American wheat coming in
2. the U.S./ copyrights/ wants other countries to pay for copyrighted products
3. Japan/ rice market/ wants to protect Japanese farmers
4. Korea/ electronics/ wants to sell more, not less
Would you support free trade if it ... ? yes no
1. helped some Japanese industries

2. hurt some Japanese industries
3. made foreign computers and cellular phones
cheaper to buy than Japanese ones
4. opened Japan's rice market to foreign imports
5. led to more foreign companies in Japan
6. replaced some department stores with giant
American-style discount stores
7. forced Japan to change its business culture
8. cut into Japan's trade surplus
Paired Practice : Give your own opinion in the blanks below.
A: What do you think about free trade?

B: I'm all for it because_______________________. And you?
A: I'm against it if ____________________________.
Conversation :
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Judy: I'm glad GATT was finally adopted.

Keizo: Why's that, Judy?
Judy: It will reduce tariffs and lead to more world trade.
Keizo: Yes. It will also provide special treatment for poor nations.
Judy: GATT's successor is now the World Trade Organization, or WTO.
Keizo: What will it do?
Judy: It'll enforce trading rules. It will also look at labor standards and workers' rights. Keizo:
Will this hurt Japan?
Judy: Not if Japan's markets are open.
Keizo: It all sounds good to me.

1. Each nation should have its own trade system.
2. In Vietnam the consumer should be the king.
3. Developing countries need to adopt free markets.
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Unit 7: FAMILY CHOICES
Before You Begin
Discuss these questions with your class. What problems will we face in the future? Will
overpopulation (too many people) be one of the problems in the future? Discuss family size-
families with many children or only one or two.
How many children should people have? Who should decide how many children people should
have? The government? Religious leaders? The parents?
Reading 1: FUTURE PROBLEMS: OVERPOPULATION
Many people wonder about life in the next century. Life will certainly be different. But how?
What kind of problems will we face then? Will they be different from the ones we face now?
How can we overcome these problems? Nobody knows the answers to these questions exactly.
But certainly one of the important concerns will be the problem of overpopulation.
WHAT IS OVERPOPULATION?
The population of the world is growing faster than the supplies of food, shelter, and fuel. In other
words, there will soon be too many people in the world. There won't be enough food, housing,
electricity, and fuel (gas, oil, etc.) to meet our needs. Everybody knows overpopulation is one of
the great problems of the future. However, the causes of this problem and its solutions are not
simple.
LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM
First, let's look more closely at the problem itself. What causes overpopulation? We could answer,
"That's easy. People have too many children." But we need to examine the problem more carefully.
Why do people have large families?
People had large families in the past, too. As a matter of fact, people in most cultures had larger families
in the past than they do today. There is nothing new about having a lot of children.
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Today, however, people generally have better health care. Therefore, the infant mortality rate is going
down. Not as many babies and young children die now because mothers and children get much better
nutrition and health care.
In the past, one of the reasons people had a lot of children was the high infant mortality rate. Many
babies and young children died of various diseases. And, people had more children to make up for those
deaths. For example, a family often had five or six children, and only three of the children would sur-
vive. That means only three would live to be adults.
Secondly, the population of the world is growing larger because people in most cultures have better
nutrition and health care. People eat better food today. They have medicines to protect them from
illnesses and disease. Therefore, they live longer lives.
We can see, then, that two positive factors-better nutrition and general health conditions-contribute to
overpopulation. People are healthier; they live longer. The result is overpopulation.

1. How many children do most people have in your country?
2. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Is your family larger or smaller than average?
3. Is overpopulation a problem in your country? Why? or why not? Will it be a problem in the future?
Why? or why not?
4. What kind of people have the largest families in your country?
5. Why do these people have large families?
Reading 2: FAMILY SIZE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Poor people often have larger families than middle class and upper class people. And people in
underdeveloped countries have more children than people in developed countries. More and
more, experts in population growth see the strong relationship between family size and economic
development.
In some areas, government family planning services may not be available to poor people due to
geographic location. For example, people in rural areas may live too far away from family
planning services. Therefore, they don't receive information about ways to control family size. In
general, people in urban areas have much more information available to them than people living in
24
rural areas. Urban people have help with family planning, and they have smaller families. So we can say
that geography where people live -plays a part in determining family size: Urban families are smaller
than rural families.
What are the other reasons? Economic development of families and, on a larger scale, of nations, is an
important factor in determining family size. People with a lot of money have fewer children. On the
other hand, poor people in underdeveloped countries choose to have many children. Why? Because they
have to depend upon their children to take care of them in their old age. They have no insurance, pen-
sions, or government help. When they grow old, where can they get help? The answer is simple. They
can and will turn to their children. Their children will be adults then, and they will be working. The
children can all share the costs and other responsibilities of taking care of their parents. For many poor
people, a large family is a way of planning and preparing for the future. We could say that a large family
is insurance for old age in some societies.
1. In your country, do poor people have larger families than middle class and upper class people?
Explain your answer.
2. In some underdeveloped countries , poor people depend upon their children to take care of them
in their old age. Does the government in your country have programs to take care of old people
(Social Security, pensions, etc.)? Explain.
3. Should children support their parents in their old age? Do you plan to support your parents
when they get old? Do you want your children to support you in your old age?
Please explain your answer.
4. Do you think the government has the responsibility to take care of old people? . Please explain
your answer and give examples.
5. Can the government do anything to encourage poor people to have smaller families? Please
explain your answer.
25
Reading 3: THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN

POPULATION PLANNING
Most people admit that overpopulation is a big problem. At least, it is going to be a big problem
in the future. But there is no consensus about what can and should be done. This means that
people cannot agree on what to do. Some people think that each couple should decide how many
children to have. They think the government should not interfere. Other people, however, think
that the government must take care of the overpopulation problem.
LEAVING POPULATION PLANNING UP TO INDIVIDUALS
Most people around the world think family planning should be a personal choice. In other words,
they think people should decide how many children to have without any advice or control by the
government. Some people feel this way because of religious reasons.
Others object to having government or religious leaders involved in family planning and
population control. They want the freedom to make their own personal decisions.
THE ARGUMENT FOR GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT
Why should the government control population planning? Many people say there is no other
realistic possibility because people will continue to have too many children. They will not limit
themselves to just one or two children. They have not limited themselves in the past. Why
should they limit themselves in the future? Unfortunately, they say, it does not work to
leave family planning completely up to individuals. The only choice, according to these
people, is for the government to take an active role in population planning.
What role should government play? This is a very controversial issue. People do not agree
on how governments should be involved.
Should governments tell people exactly how many children they can have (usually one or
two)? Should they force people to limit themselves to this number? How could the
government enforce such population control policies? The government could not give ben -
efits (free education, health care, etc.) to parents of larger families. Or it co uld fine the
parents. In other words, parents of larger families would have to pay some money to the
government.
At the other extreme, many people think governments should only try to show people the
advantages of small families and the disadvantages of large families. They say, "People are
26
intelligent enough to do the best thing with no government control or interference." But this may be
the real problem. Many people believe a large family is the only way to have good care in the future.
They may have no other choice. First, governments must offer people other ways of planning for
security in their old age. They must give them social security and health benefits. Then, people may
want to have small families.
Discussion Questions
1. Should the government be involved in family planning? Why? Please explain.
2. Should individuals be able to decide for themselves how many children to have? Why? Please
explain.
3. What are the problems when the government does family or population planning?
4. On the other hand, what are the problems when people make their own decisions about family
size?
5. What should we do to control population in the future?
INTERVIEW PRACTICE:
Interview a classmate about a future problem for society.
Planning the interview.
Write out the following questions. Work with a partner to get ideas for more questions. Leave
space on your paper for the answers.
1. May I ask you some questions about problems our society will face in the future?
2. What is the most important problem for the future?
3. Why is it a serious problem?
4. How will the problem affect people? All people?
5. What are people doing about it now?
6. What should we do?
27
Unit 8 : EDUCATION
People all around the world value education because a good education means a better life. Everyone
agrees with that. However, people in different countries want their schools to teach different things.
Each culture has its own values, and people want their schools to teach the values of their culture.
What do we mean by "values"? "Values" are people's ideas of the good and important things in their
culture. For example, your culture may value hard work. That means in your culture, it is important to
work hard, and people value hard work more than many other qualities. Or perhaps your culture values
honesty above all. That means it is important to tell the truth. And telling the truth all the time may
cause some difficulties. We all know that!
Some of the same values are important in different cultures. There are, however, many differences be-
tween cultural groups. Within each culture, schools usually teach the values of that culture. In other
words, children learn the cultural values of their country in school.
The United States is a democracy. Everyone in the United States has the opportunity to have free edu-
cation. Local, state, and federal governments pay for the public schools. Everyone, rich or poor, can go
to school. There are also many private schools. People in private schools have to pay tuition. The state
does not pay for private education.
Some people say that American schools try to do too much for too many people. It is
impossible, they say, to give a good education to everyone. The American educational
system, they think, should educate only the most intelligent people in the society. Instead, it
tries to educate everyone.
However, most Americans want everyone to have a chance to go to school. It is important

for a democratic country to have educated people. In a democracy, people choose their
government's leaders. They need to be able to think clearly to make these choices. They
need a good education to be good citizens in a democracy.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES
Elementary school: Most children in the United States start school when they are five years old.
They go to kindergarten for a year and then start first grade when they are six. The first school is
called "elementary school," or "grade school." American children usually start to read when they
are in the first and second grade. They also begin to learn arithmetic and simple science and
history.
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Age Grade School

5 Kindergarten
6-10 1-5 Elementary School
11-13 6-8 Middle School or Junior High
14-17 9-12 High School
18-22 Freshman, Sophomore, College or University Junior, Senior
23+ Graduate Student University Graduate School
Junior high school: After elementary school, children go to "junior high school" (sometimes it is
called "middle school"). In most school systems, junior high school includes seventh, eighth, and
ninth grades, but sometimes it is only the seventh and eighth grades. Junior high school students
are usually 12 to 14 years old.
High school: High school (grades 10, 11, and 12) comes after junior high school. Students
usually graduate from high school when they are 17 or 18. There are different kinds of high
schools. Some high schools prepare students to go to college (collegepreparatory high schools).
Other high schools prepare students for various kinds of work (vocational high schools). Many
high schools have both college preparatory courses and vocational courses.
Higher education: When students graduate from high school, they may go on to college or a
university. There are more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Some private
colleges and universities are very expensive, but most state universities cost very little. Financial
aid (money from the government) is often available to help students pay at least part of their
tuition. Some form of higher education is available to every high school graduate.
ISSUES IN AMERICAN EDUCATION: BILINGUAL EDUCATION
The United States is a country of immigrants. These immigrants come from all over the world.
They speak many different languages. In the past, new immigrants had a hard time in American
schools. They could not understand their school work in English, so they often became discouraged
and dropped out of school. They were not able to get good jobs without a good education.
Now, many schools in the United States have bilingual programs. ("Bi" means "two" and "lingual"
means "language".) For example, a school with many Spanish-speaking students might have a
bilingual program. The Spanish-speaking students study their subjects in both English and Spanish.
A school with a large Chinese population might have an EnglishChinese bilingual program.
Students in bilingual programs continue their general education and learn English at the same time.
After a period of time, they can take all of their classes in English with English-speaking students.
29
Bilingual education is "controversial." This means some people like it, and other people do not like
it. The people in favor of bilingual education say, "It helps students to understand their school work
in history, mathematics, science, etc., at the same time, they are learning English." These people say
bilingual education helps students succeed in school. They can get better jobs and be better citizens
after graduation.
The people against bilingual education say, "It's a waste of time and government money. English is
the national language of the United States." Everyone living in the United States, they say, should
learn to speak English as quickly as possible. They say, "Bilingual education is too expensive." In
other words, the government spends too much money on bilingual education. They want to put the
money for bilingual programs into English programs. In such programs, everyone will learn
English a lot faster. At least, those against bilingual education think so.
1. When do children start school in your country?
2. Do most children go to kindergarten? Is kindergarten in your country one year or longer?
3. How many years are children in elementary school? Do you have a junior high school in your
country? How many years are children in junior high school? How many years is high
school?
4. What subjects do children study in elementary school? How many hours do they go to school
each day? How many days do they go to school each week? Which days do they go to school?
Reading : EDUCATION IN SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia is a large Middle Eastern nation. It is one of the world's biggest producers of oil. Saudi
Arabia exports more oil than any other nation. The money from this oil makes Saudi Arabia a very rich
country. Saudi Arabia has about 8,853,000 people. Almost all of these people are Arab Muslims. In
other words, they are followers of the Islamic religion. Saudi Arabia is a religious nation. The king of
Saudi Arabia is both the political leader and one of the religious leaders of the country. The government
laws are Islamic law (Muslim religious law), and the national language is Arabic.
The Islamic religion is very important in the Saudi educational system. Before 1950 almost all
education in Saudi Arabia was religious education. Students studied the Koran, the Islamic holy book.
They tried to memorize as much as possible from this book. There were no colleges or universities
before 1949 and only a few elementary and secondary schools.
30
In 1953, the Saudi government established the Ministry of Education. This was really the beginning
of the modern educational system in Saudi Arabia. When engineers discovered oil in Saudi Arabia,
the country started to become very wealthy. Saudi leaders realized that Western technology was
necessary for the country to develop. The leaders still believed that religious education was very
important, but a modern country could not develop technologically with only a traditional, religious
educational system. They decided to add other subjects to the educational system. They wanted to
combine traditional religious education with modern technological education from the West.
Religion is still an important part of Saudi education. Now, however, Saudi students study all kinds
of other subjects too: languages (especially English), history, science, mathematics, computer
technology, etc. Before 1950, there were about 20,000 students in Saudi Arabia. In 1982, there
were 1,780,000 students. The educational system has grown faster in Saudi Arabia than in almost
any other country in the world. All schools in Saudi Arabia are free.
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN SAUDI ARABIA
Elementary school: There are six years of elementary school in the Saudi Arabian educational
system. Most children start school at the age of six. About one-third of the time in elementary
school students study religion. The rest of the time they study general subjects.
Intermediate school: After elementary school, students go to intermediate school for three years.
Students can choose some of the subjects that they want to study. For example, they can choose
science or literature.
High school (secondary school): High school is three years. Students can choose to go to an
academic high school (college-preparatory high school) or a vocational school. Students in
the academic high school can choose to study either a science program or a literature
program. The science program is very popular. It leads to the greatest number of school and
career opportunities. Students continue to study religion in high school.
Higher education: In 1957, Saudi Arabia had one college with only 25 students. However,
by 1980, there were 60 colleges and seven universities in Saudi Arabia-and more than
50,000 students! The Saudi government spent about two-and-a-half billion dollars ($2.5
billion) on higher education from 1980 to 1985. The Saudi government is trying to
encourage as many people as possible to go to college and university. The country needs
highly trained people to work in business and government. Colleges and universi ties are
free. The government also gives money to students in colleges and universities to encourage
them to go to school. Sometimes, a Saudi student wants to take special courses. The courses may
not be available in any of the colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia. Then the government will
send the student to another country to study. The government will pay all expenses and give the
student some additional spending money as well.
31
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia is developing quickly. There are many career opportunities for people with a good
education. Every graduate of a college or university gets a good position in business or the
government. Therefore, Saudi students never have to worry about getting a job after graduation.
The Saudi government encourages education a great deal. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia still does not
have enough well-trained people to fill all of the jobs in business and the government. The Saudi
government invites many well-trained people from other countries to come to Saudi Arabia to work
in all kinds of jobs in business and government. Of course, the government prefers Saudis in these
jobs. However, there are just not enough well-trained Saudis yet.
ISSUES IN SAUDI EDUCATION: SEGREGATED SCHOOLS
In Saudi Arabia, the schools are sexually segregated. This means that boys and girls (and later, men
and women) do not go to the same schools. Some elementary schools have mixed classes (boys and
girls together) in the lower grades. However, the schools are completely segregated after the first
years. The schools are segregated because of the Islamic religion. According to Islamic tradition,
girls after the age of nine or ten years old must not be with boys or men outside of their own
families.
The Saudi government started the first school for girls in 1956. Saudi Arabia needed well-educated
women and men to help develop the country. At first, religious leaders did not like the idea of
education for women. Education for women, they said, could have a bad effect on the family and
the society. Therefore, to get the religious leaders to accept education for women, the government
placed women's education under the direction of the country's religious leaders.
Women attend women's colleges or special university departments for women. They have women
teachers. There are not enough women teachers, so the government allows men teachers to teach
Saudi women on television. First, the women watch the lectures on television, and then they can
talk with the teacher on a special telephone to ask questions. They never see each other face to
face.
After graduation, Saudi women have many job opportunities, like the Saudi men. They work as
teachers, doctors, social workers, and scientists and in many other professions. With very few
exceptions, the workplace is also segregated. In other words, women and men do not work
together except sometimes in hospitals. Saudi women want to have more job opportunities. But
some of them may not wish to work with men. In a recent article in a magazine called The Middle
East, some Saudi women students said, "We don't really want to work alongside men."
32
1. Religion is an important part of education in Saudi Arabia. Is religion important in the educational
system in your country? Please explain and give examples. Do you think religion should be a required
part of education? Why? or why not?
2. In Saudi Arabia, the government encourages young Saudis to go to school. They pay all educational
expenses and give students spending money in addition. Does the government in your country
encourage people to go to school? How does it encourage them?
3. Women in Saudi Arabia have many educational opportunities now. Therefore, they have good
career opportunities later. Do women in your country have the opportunity to get a good education?
Please explain: Does the government in your country encourage women to get a good education?
How does it encourage them? Or, why doesn't the government encourage them?
4. The schools in Saudi Arabia are sexually segregated. Is this true in your country? What do you
think about it?
5. What are some of the changes in education in your country in the last 20 or 30 years?
Unit 9: DRINKING & SMOKING

Reading:
Alcohol and nicotine in cigarettes are both drugs. Thus, they are addictive. The Surgeon
General of the U.S. has declared cigarettes harmful to one's health. Some people with lung
cancer are now suing cigarette manufacturers. Smoking is not allowed in most public
buildings, and there is no smoking allowed on domestic flights in the U.S.
Traffic police treat drinking and driving as a serious offense. Alcohol impairs judgment and
coordination. Drunken driving (and drugged driving) can cause serious accidents. Drunk
drivers face arrest, the loss of their driver's license, and a large fine. The penalties are getting
greater and greater.
Of American high school seniors, 87% have used alcohol while 62% have smoked cigarettes.
These youths are a part of those spending $44 billion on alcohol products and $37 billion on
cigarettes annually. Drug use is a persistent problem that health officials are committed to
fighting.
33
those against drinking/ smoking those in favor
1. Drinking and smoking are harmful to good They are real pleasures. health.
2. People should be encouraged to stop

drinking and smoking People should be free to do as they choose.
3. The sale of alcohol and cigarettes is morally The sale of these products brings in
wrong. much needed tax revenue.
4. The use of alcohol and tobacco can harm an This happens only rarely.
unborn child.
5. Drinking and smoking are serious addictions. They can be stopped voluntarily.
6. Most societies prohibit young people from Young people will drink and smoke drinking
and smoking. regardless of what adults say.
7. Smoking is banned in many public areas. Smoking is a right.
A: When did you start drinking?
B: I started at 14.
A: Why then?
B : P e e r p r e s s u r e , I gu e s s .
1. smoking/ 16/ Something to do
2. driving/ 18/ The legal age
3. taking drugs/ 21/ It seemed sophisticated
4. riding a motorcycle/ 17/ 1 liked the idea
34
Check One:
What do you think of ... ? fun dangerous no opinion

1. drinking
2. smoking
3. driving fast
4. bungee jumping
5. stock-car racing
6. driving a motorcycle
7. spelunking
8. hang gliding
9. sky diving
10. inline skating
11. riding a jet ski
12. body surfing
P a i r e d P r a c t i c e : Give your own opinion in the blanks below.
A: Do you have any dangerous hobbies?
B: Well, I like to_____________________. What about you?
A: I enjoy___________________________.
Conversation:
Anne: Have you ever gone hang gliding, Hiroshi?
Hiroshi: No. Isn't it kind of dangerous?
Anne: Yes. My brother Frank does it.
Hiroshi: I've seen it done near Hakone.
Anne: Where's that?
Hiroshi: Hakone is south of Tokyo. There are mountains there.
Anne: Frank told me the sport originated in California in the late 1960s.
Hiroshi: Is it the same thing as sky surfing?
Anne: Yes, it is.
Hiroshi: I could never do hang gliding or bungee jumping.
Anne: Why's that?
Hiroshi: I don't like heights!
35

1. My hobby
2. Smoking will some day disappear.
3. Some hobbies are very dangerous.
Unit 10: EXECUTIVE SALARIES
Vocabulary:
1. all-time a. shareholder
2. CEO b. a worker can choose his own work hours
3. winner-take-all c. exceeding all others
4. investor d. be in the amount of
5. (to) lay off e. impossible
6. (to) come to f. chief executive officer
7. (to) cap g. one person gets all the money
8. flex time h. a large final payment (or bonus)
9. no way i. establish a ceiling (or upper limit)
10. golden parachute j. fire, let go
Reading:
In 1994, the chairman of Walt Disney, Michael Eisner, made a salary of $203 million. This was
an all-time record. His salary comes to $78,000 an hour. And the company? Its net income fell by
63%!
Americans want reform to correct such excessive salaries. They do not believe any executive is
worth this much money. The Congress even put a special tax on executive pay over $1 million a
year. Some companies tie an executive's bonus to profits. Meanwhile, shareholders want to know
exactly how much is being paid to top executives. They have declared a war against greed.
The average American CEO makes 149 times as much salary as the average factory worker. Is
this fair? Is anybody worth $203 million a year? Aren't many people responsible for corporate
profits, too? Should there be a winner-take-all market?
36
Those in favor of high salaries Those against
1. High profits mean high salaries. Low profits often mean high salaries.
2. A creative genius is worth millions of dollars No one is worth this much money.
3. Salaries are determined by supply and demand This principle has been greatly abused.
4. Salaries are relative. When salaries are too high, they are
unfair.
5. CEOs don't set their salaries; the directors Directors set a high salary for the CEO
do so they will be paid a high fee.
6. Most investors don't complain if the The greed of investors is equal to the
company is doing well. greed of executives.
7. Executives must sometimes lay off workers Workers should not be laid off when
to protect their high salaries. executives are given a pay raise.
A: How much money did Murata make last year,

B: About V10,000,000.
A: Do you think that's a good salary?
B: I sure do.
1. Iwayama/ Y3,000,000/ don't, actually
2. Edwards/ $2,500,000/ think it's too high
3. Johnson/ $9,000/ would say it's too little
4. Akashi/ Y60,000,000/ wish I earned as much
37
Check (V) One:

Do you think..........? yes no
1. a salary can be too high
2. workers should be unionized
3. executives' salaries should be limited
4. anyone is worth $10 million a year
5. workers should be able to choose flex time
6. Japan's seniority system is good
7. lifetime employment is good
8. a worker should be able to change jobs easily
9. a worker should be able to disagree with the boss

A: What is your goal in life?
B: I want to____________________. And you?
A: I hope to______________________.
B: Do you think some people make too much money?
A:_______________________________________.
Conversation :
Sandra: Do you have super-rich people in Japan, Takashi?
Takashi: Yes, we do. But ,they work for themselves, like landlords. They're not appointed
company executives.
Sandra: What would a top Japanese CEO expect to make?
Takashi: Oh, probably about $600,000.
Sandra: But not $15 million?
Takashi: No way.
Sandra: Do you have a pay cap in Japan?
Takashi: What's that?
Sandra: American companies cannot deduct salaries over $1 million as an expense. A pay cap
is meant to keep salaries under $1 million.
Takashi: Do you think that's a good idea?
Sandra: I do. But many companies ignore the cap. They prefer to pay higher taxes.
38

1. Executive salaries should (not) be capped.
2. Flexi time should be adopted by more Vietnamese companies.
3. A worker's private life is (not) as important as his job.
Unit 11: ENDANGERED SPECIES
Reading:
In 1994, the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in
Brussels condemned China and Taiwan. What had they done? They were continuing to trade in
rhinoceros horns and tiger bones to make Chinese medicines. The Environmental Investigation
Agency showed proof that both animal parts were still on sale in pharmacies in Taiwan and
China. Does this trade matter?
Yes, it does. The world does not have many wild tigers and rhinos left. If this illegal trade
continues, both animals could become extinct. The rhino, in particular, is special. It has no
other close relative. When an insect becomes extinct, there are other insects to replace it, but
not the rhino. Its loss would be a serious matter to most people.

Environmentalists Their opponents
1. The environment must be protected. The environment is in good shape.
2. Endangered species must not be lost. It doesn't matter if a few animals disappear.
3. The earth's ozone layer is being destroyed. There is no proof of this.
4. Water and air pollution are a threat to man. This issue is exaggerated.
5. The Amazon's rainforest is disappearing. This rainforest can be safely exploited.
6. Harmful chemicals can be found in our food This is nonsense.
7. Nuclear energy is dangerous. Nuclear energy need not be dangerous.

39
A: Aren't you concerned about the hooded crane?
B: Where does it live?
A.: In Japan. It's an endangered species.
B: I don't believe it.
1. giant panda/ China/ I read that it's increasing in number.
2. gray whale/ the North Pacific/ I think it should be protected.
3. bluefin tuna/ the Western Atlantic?/ We can eat other fish.
4. gila trout/ Arizona/ It's not that important.
Check (V) One:

How fast can a ... run? 1-18 km/h 19-51 km/h 52-88 km/h 89-112 km/h
1. lion
2. giraffe
3. elephant
4. snake
5. zebra
6. man
7. cheetah
8. chicken
9. rabbit
10. antelope
A: What environmental issue concerns you?
B: I'm concerned about
A: In what way?
B: Well, I think
A: As for me, I'm concerned about
40
Conversation:
Larry: Did you read this article on Brazil's rainforest?
Chiyoko: No. What's it say?
Larry: Smugglers are cutting down the Amazon's mahogany trees.
Chiyoko: Who are these smugglers?
Larry: They work in the area's sawmills.
Chiyoko: Doesn't the government have inspectors?
Larry: Yes, but there are not enough of them.
Chiyoko: Who buys this mahogany?
Larry: The U.S. and Britain mainly.
1. Endangered species must be protected.
2. Vietnam has pollution problems.
3. My environmental concerns
Unit 12: ABSTRACT ART & MOVIES

Reading:
People usually have strong opinions about modern abstract art. There are those who like it and
those who hate it.
Abstract expressionism began in the 1940s in America. It emphasized form and color. It was
nonrepresentational. The act of creating was as important as the object created. Jackson Pollock
and William de Kooning splattered paint on their canvases.
Then came pop art at the end of the 1950s. It was a reaction to the seriousness of abstract
expressionism. Pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol depicted comic strips, soup
cans, and Coke bottles.
Op art, or optical painting, began in the mid-1960s. It depicts geometrical forms that create an
optical illusion. Victor Vasarely is an artist from this school.
The controversy arises when fans of abstract art say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
They deny there exist fixed standards for judging "good" art. All art is equal, they say.
41
Opposing Views:
Fans of abstract art Foes of abstract art
1. Modern art has many movements. Most of these movements have produced
bad art.
2. The beauty of abstract art is in the eye of Those who like abstract art have poor
each individual. eye sight.
3. Famous modern artists are well paid. Their works will lose value (e.g., Andy
Warhol's works have already lost value.)
4. Modern art has no standards. Good art meets certain standards.
5. Modern art allows painters to express Modern art is inferior to traditional art.
new ideas.
6. Modern art is beautiful. Modern art is mostly kitsch.
A: What do you think of surrealism?

B: You mean painters like Dali and Ernst?
A: Yes.
B: I think it's imaginative.
1. cubism/ Picasso and Bracque/ think they're great
2. expressionism/ Van Gogh and Rouault/don't care much for them
3. Dada/ Duchamp and Arp/ think they're ridiculous
4. collage, or assemblage/ Gris and Jasper Johns/ kind of like it
42
Check (V) One:
What do you think of... films? like very much like a little don't like
1. mystery
2. action
3. comedy
4. romantic
5. historical
6. Walt Disney
7. sad
8. documentary
9. old, classic
10. TV drama
11. Spielberg

A: Do you ever rent a video tape?
B: Yes. Two nights ago I watched ________________________.
A: Last week I saw___________________________.
B: How much do you pay to rent a video tape?
A: I pay about _________________________.
Conversation :
Jenny: I called you last night, Hisashi, but you weren't home.
Hisashi: I went to 'a movie.
Jenny: What did you see?
Hisashi: I saw True Lies, starring Schwarzenegger.
Jenny: Did you like it?
Hisashi: No, not much. Next week is the Elton John concert. Are you going?
Jenny: Yes. Mayumi and I have tickets.
Hisashi: I tried to get one, but they're sold out.
Jenny: Too bad. I'll give you a report.
43

1. Abstract art is (not) great art.
2. My favourite film stars
3. The best movie I have ever seen
Unit 13: GUN CONTROL & THE DEATH PENALTY

Reading:
Gun violence in America is out of control. The problem is not accidental shootings. It is armed
robberies and cold-blooded killings. Often this violence is tied to illegal drug trafficking.
How serious is this problem? An estimated 67 million handguns are owned by private citizens in
America. Each year more than 700,000 violent crimes are committed with handguns. Handguns
account for half of all murders in the U.S. Soon, handguns will claim more lives than motor
vehicles. The four most dangerous cities in the country are Washington, D.C., New Orleans,
Atlanta, and Detroit.
Opposing Views:
Gun-control advocates Pro-gun advocates
1. Guns kill. People, not guns, kill.
2. Americans fear guns. Americans enjoy hunting and firearm practice.
3. Guns make criminals. A breakdown in morals makes criminals.
4. Guns result in a high suicide rate. Guns are rarely used in suicides.
5. The police favor strict gun control. The police want to limit our freedom.
6. Most countries ban handguns. The American Constitution guarantees

every American the right to own a gun.
7. The solution is a total ban on handguns. The solution is better screening,

licensing, and safety training.
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A: May I ask you a question'?

B: Sure. What's on your mind`?
A: What does "felony" mean?
B: It's a grave offense, like murder or burglary.
1. "misdemeanor"/ an offense less serious than a felon

2. "homicide"/ a murder, or killing t"
3. "larceny"/ a theft, or stealing
4. "arson"/ setting fire to a building
Check One:
How do you feel about death by ... ? barbaric a little cruel okay
1. hanging
2. a firing squad
3. the gas chamber
4. the electric chair
5. lethal injection
6. decapitation
Paired Practice:
Give your own opinion in the blanks below.
A: What are your feelings about gun control?

B: I strongly________________________. How about you?
A: I______________________________.
B: What about the death penalty?
A: Well. I guess I'm__________________________.
45
Conversation :
Kiyoshi: Diane, you're from Canada, aren't you?
Diane: Yes, from Toronto.
Kiyoshi: Does Canada have the death penalty?
Diane: No. We abolished it.
Kiyoshi: And your murder rate?
Diane: It went down, interestingly.
Kiyoshi: Why did you get rid of capital punishment?
Diane: We didn't feel it was fair. It didn't make us feel safer.
Kiyoshi: What do you mean by fair?
Diane: The poor can't afford good lawyers. The rich can.

1. Gun control is a matter of common sense.
2. Death penalty should (not) be abolished.
3. Hunting should (not) be banned.
46
Unit 14: POPULATION CONTROL
Reading:
In September of 1994, the United Nations sponsored the International Conference on Population
in Cairo. This was the third such meeting, held every 10 years. The purpose of the Cairo
conference was to discuss the world's fast-growing population, estimated to double to 10 billion
by the year 2040. Most countries fear overpopulation because they cannot provide the jobs and
services necessary for their growing numbers of young people. But the Catholic Church and anti-
abortionists oppose abortion. They fear a breakdown of family values. Abortions are legal,
nevertheless, in most of the world's 189 countries.
The primary focus of the Cairo conference was the empowerment of women. Many delegates
believe that better educated women in Third World countries will produce ewer unwanted babies.
The subject of adolescent sexuality was also very controversial, as was who should pay for the
new family-planning programs.
Opposing Views:
Those favoring population control Those against
1. The world's population is growing too fast. New estimates show a slowing
population growth.
2. A billion people are added to the world You can't predict population growth. every
12 years.
3. People are living longer. A longer life span is a good thing.
4. Africa and parts of Asia won't be able to New strains of crops make feeding
feed themselves in the future. people easier.
5. There are already starvation and China and India are now self-sufficient
malnutrition in parts of the world. in food.
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6. The World Bank favors population control. The World Bank is prejudiced against
poor countries.
7. Fertility rates are too high. Fertility rates have fallen in Bangladesh
and Kenya.
8. Abortion should be more widely practiced. Abortion is morally wrong.
9. The Malthusian theory is right. The Malthusian theory is wrong.
A: There seem to be too many people in the world

B: What about America ?
A: Its population is now 260 million.
B: And in 30 years?
A: It could be 334 million.
1. Africa/ 720 million/ 1.6 billion

2. India/ 900 million/ 1.4 billion
3. Nigeria/ 137 million/ 240 million
4. Brazil/ 155 million/ 205 million
Check (V) One:
What will stabilize the world's population? very important not so important
1. abortion
2. family-planning programs
3. contraceptives for adolescents
4. parental guidance
5. migration of the poor
6. better educated women
7. better child care
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Paired Practice: Choose your answer from the box below.

A: Are you concerned about overpopulation?
B:_____________________________(1)_.
A: What do you think about the issue?
B: I think ________________________(2).
1. Yes, I am./ No, I'm not./ I haven't thought about it really.

2. the problem is real/ there's no real problem/ the situation is out of control
Conversation :
Hideki: Abortion in the U.S. is sometimes a political issue, isn't it, Gladys?
Gladys: Yes. The Republican Party tends to be more conservative than the Democratic
Party.
Hideki: Why's that?
Gladys: Women and minorities are often Democrats. They generally believe in a woman's
right to an abortion.
Hideki: And the Republicans believe in the right to life Gladys: Exactly. It's pro-choice
versus pro-life. What about Japan?
Hideki: Most Japanese seem to be pro-choice. There is no religious opposition that
strongly opposes abortion.

1. The world has become overpopulated.
2. Everyone should (not) have children.
3. Abortion is (not) wrong
49
Unit 15: ASSISTED SUICIDE
Reading:
The issue of doctor-assisted suicide is being discussed a great deal in the media these days,
especially in the U.S. and Europe. In 1993, the Netherlands became the first country to regulate
mercy killing, or euthanasia. Dutch doctors are expected to follow certain guidelines when
helping a terminally-ill person to die. For example, the person must ask repeatedly to die. The
number of mercy killings has been rising in Dutch hospitals.
In the United States, the state of Oregon has approved doctor-assisted suicide, and Michigan is
considering the same legislation. The patient must be 18 or older and expected to die within six
months. Dr. Kevorkian of Michigan assisted 20 people in taking their lives. A jury found him
not guilty of murder.

Right-to-life advocates Their opponents
1. Assisted suicide is murder. It shows mercy and compassion.
2. Only God can take a life. Each person should have the right to
choose the time and place of his own death.
3. The terminally ill cannot think properly. The terminally ill know what they want.
4. Doctors are sworn to respect life, not Doctors must respect the wishes of the
destroy it. terminally ill.
5. Active euthanasia can lead to Proper guidelines will prevent

indiscriminate killing. indiscriminate killing.
6. Hospices are an alternative to assisted Hospices only prolong suffering and

suicide. death.
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7. Pain can be controlled. Pain is rarely controlled.
8. Palliative care, or comfort care, is Palliative care is almost nonexistent.

the solution.
9. Eliminate pain and you eliminate The terminally ill can be out of pain and
the desire to die. still want to die.
Check (V) One:
What do you think of . . . ? wrong okay don't know
1. keeping dying patients alive

with machines
2. doctors who won't give
sufficient painkillers
3. a terminally-ill person who
wants to take his own life
4. someone who helps
a dying friend end his life
5. the hospice movement
6. a woman who has an abortion
A: How do you feel about doctor-assisted suicide?

B: I think it's__________________. And you?
A: I think it's___________________________.
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Conversation :
Janet: Do you have hospice care in Japan, Yohei?
Yohei: What's hospice care?
Janet: A program that offers care and comfort to the terminally ill.
Yohei: I'm not sure. I guess so.
Janet: The movement began in England with Dr. Cecily Saunders.
Yohei: What did she do?
Janet: She founded St. Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967.
Yohei: Isn't Mother Teresa in India involved in this movement?
Janet: Yes. She cares for the sick and dying in Calcutta.

1. Doctors should (not) be able to help terminally patients die.
2. Euthanasia is not morally wrong.
3. Every person should have control his own life.
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Chapter 3: BEHAVOURAL ISSUES
Unit 16: WHAT 'S FOR DINNER?

Dr Heidi Cornfield, a professor of food science, is being interviewed about her new book,
What's for Dinner? Read the interview and find out: What does she think is wrong with the
American diet?
Interviewer: You have very strong ideas about what Americans eat. Professor Cornfield.
Could you tell our audience about some of them?
Cornfield.: I'd be delighted. First, I think that Americans eat too much meat. We can get
protein from other types of food, not just meat. For example, tofu is rich in
protein. We really don't need to eat meat to live.
Interviewer: Maybe, but some of our listeners really like nice thick juicy hamburgers.
They might not need them, but they sure like them.
Cornfield : I agree with you. But there are health reasons to stop eating meat.
Interviewer: What do you mean, Professor?
Cornfield : Eating meat, especially beef, can cause heart disease. Thousands of Americans
die from heart disease every year.
Interviewer : That's interesting. Are there other reasons why we should stop eating meat? Cornfield :
Yes. Did you know that eating meat hurts, even destroys, the environment? Interviewer: I don't
understand. How?
Cornfield : It is a fact that rain forests in Central America are being destroyed to produce
cheap beef to export to other countries, including the United States. And that
hamburger you like so much-well, it takes 20 square meters of rain forest for
each burger!
Interviewer : Oh, no. But I don't like to eat tofu.
Cornfield :' That's OK. There are other good foods to eat.
Interviewer : Well, we're almost out of time. Do you have any final comments?
Cornfield : There are many more interesting facts in my book. Think about this one before
you order your next burger: In the last 300 years, Americans have cut down
over half of their trees to get land to grow food to feed cattle-all because
people think they need meat.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Which opinions do you agree with?
Check as many as you want.
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I think Americans eat too much meat, Humans should give up eating meat.
but people in other countries also eat more That way we get healthier, and we don't
meat than before. I don't think it's good. destroy the environment.
It's impossible for me to give up meat. We should avoid eating animal products
I enjoy eating hamburgers like beef, pork, milk and eggs. It's better
for us to eat just fish and vegetables
Maybe people should eat

less meat, but I don't think we
have to give it up completely .
Now exchange your ideas with a classmate.
LOOKING AT THE ISSUE
If you had to give up food made with animal products, which ones would you give up?
What are your reasons?
Would you give it up? Why or why not?
hamburgers yes / no
steak yes / no
bacon yes / no
ice cream (milk, eggs) yes / no
pancakes (eggs, milk) yes / no
ham yes / no
chicken yes / no
pizza (cheese) yes / no
your idea: yes / no
54
Unit 17 : LAST CHANCE
This is a science fiction story about a woman from the year 2500. She is talking to the
leaders of the United Nations.
Read the story and find out : w h y d i d s h e come to speak to them?
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming here and listening to my story.
Let me begin by telling you how I came to be here: I came in a time machine. In the year 2500,
we are able to travel through time to any year in the history of the earth.
I have returned to this year to tell you something important: This year is your last chance to
change your lifestyle to save the earth! I will explain.
Beginning in the middle of the 20th century, a few people were worried about polluting the
earth's water and air. They talked about the dangers of pollution, but most people did not listen
and did not change their way of life. Instead, they continued to dump dangerous chemicals and
other waste into lakes and oceans, to drive more and more cars and trucks and to cut down trees.
By the year 2200, the earth's water was completely polluted. People could no longer drink water,
and they had to use other types of liquids. This forced a change, but it was not enough. Scientists
warned about overpopulation and said that in the future there
might be too many people on the earth. But not enough was done.
So, by the year 2300, there were so many people that food became scarce. There was no
water to grow food and all of the fish in the lakes and oceans died because of pollution. Terrible
wars broke out between the wealthy and the poor. People started to think about finding another
place to live. Scientists were working very hard to find another planet in space where humans
could live. By the year 2400, the air was too polluted for humans to breathe. So we had to leave
earth. But only the very wealthy were able to leave. Where did we go? Nowhere. And
everywhere. You see, scientists did not find another safe planet, so now we must travel around
the universe in our space ships. We are still looking for a place to call our home.
So, it is up to you to change history. There is still hope. You must change your lifestyle now,
before it is too late.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What do you think about our modern lifestyle?
Check the opinions you agree with.
We should definitely change our I understand that we need to change,
lifestyle. We should think about the but I don't want to give up the comfort-
environment more. able and convenient life I have now.
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To tell the truth, I don't care. I won't We don't have to worry. Scientists
be around in the future. always find answers to our problems.
We have to start changing

the way we live, little by little.
Let's think about what we can do today.

LOOKING AT THE ISSUE Here are suggestions for changing our lifestyle.
Do you think they are possible?
Suggestion Yes, that's easy to do. That's hard to do. No, that's impossible to do.
Use less gasoline.
Use solar or electric cars.
Use less electricity (for example,

don't stay up late at night).
Eat less meat (this uses

less forest land for cattle).
Stop using disposable products.
Recycle more.
Control the population.
your idea:
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Unit 18: TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN
Paulo Umberto is one of the world's best soccer players. Read the story and find out. why is he
thinking of moving to a new team?
Paulo Umberto is a lucky man. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have three
healthy, happy children. He is also the best soccer player in his country. This past season he led
his team, the Eagles, to the championship of his country.
The sportswriters say that the Eagles are the best teary in the history of the country,
and probably one of the best teams in the world. The Eagles do everything well-defense, passing
and scoring. Most people believe Paulo Umberto is the main reason for the success of the
Eagles.
But Paulo is thinking of leaving. His contract with the Eagles will end soon. So Paulo
has been talking with the four owners of the team about a new contract. The four owners, all
brothers whose family is very famous in the country, want very much to keep Paulo on the
Eagles.
At the same time, the owner of a famous English football team wants Paulo to play with his
team. He has offered Paulo a lot of money much more than he earns now. If he signs with the
English team, in five years he would make more money than he would earn in his lifetime
playing in his country. He would be so rich that he would never have to worry about money
again.
Paulo wants to continue to play for the Eagles and live in his own country. He really doesn't
want to change his lifestyle and move to England. He doesn't speak English. His wife and his
children want to stay in their country. He likes his teammates and the owners. He knows that they
have offered him the best contract they can afford. No one is very wealthy in his country.
But the contract with the English team is very attractive. Paulo could help make
that team the best in Europe, and maybe the world. And he would be very, very rich.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you think Paulo should "go for the money"?
When there's a big chance, you should Money and fame are exciting. If you
take it. Don't hesitate. You may never can get them both, why not! have a
second big chance!
I think you have to go for Peace and harmony are the most
the money. You can never have important things in life . If you have
too much money. peace and harmony in your life, don't
change, even for money.
Happiness is more important than money.

You can't buy that with money.
If you received a lot of money, what would you do? List three things.
1. 2. 3.
If you became very famous, how would you feel or what would you do? List three things.
1. 2. 3.
Are there things money can't buy? List three things.

1. 2. 3.
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Unit 19: LEARN ENGLISH
Jin Lee has studied English for a longtime. Read the story and find out :How does he feel about
learning English?
I am a fourth-year student at a good university in Korea. I will graduate in four months and tae a
job with a company in a small town near Seoul. I have spent almost 10 years learning English.
And let me tell you, it has been a waste of time.
To begin with, I will probably never use English in my work. My job will be with a taxi
company. Everyone speaks Korean. The owner of the company is Korean and all of the
employees are Korean, too. The taxi drivers themselves do not need to speak English because
there are very few foreign visitors in our small town.
I don't need English in my free time, either. If I want to read about what is happening in foreign
countries, I can read Korean newspapers and magazines. I can learn all about other countries by
reading in my native language, not English.
And of course all the television stations carry international stories, so I don't have to watch the
news in English in order to understand what is happening all over the world.
I think of the many hours, days, weeks, even years that I spent in school and at home studying
English. Just think of what else I could have studied instead of English. I could have studied more
history, so that I could understand my country better. Or I could have read more literature, to help
me understand the great writers of my country.
Instead, I spent so much time studying English. And for what reason? So I could pass
examinations? What a terrible waste of time. I really can't understand why people need to study
English for so many years.
59

"English is the most important international language.

We should all study it until we're good at it,
even if it takes several years."
"If you need English for work or travel,

you should learn it.
But not everybody needs to learn it-for a lot of people,
it's just a waste of time and energy. "
"You may think you don't need English now, but who knows?
You might need it in the future. So, it's better to be prepared."
"I think learning a foreign language is very important.

But it doesn't have to be English. Other languages are important, too,
especially the languages of neighboring countries."
"We should study English but not for so long.

The people who really need it can continue
to study it if they want."
LOOKING AT THE ISSUE Here are some reasons for learning English.
Can you think of an argument against each reason?
For
If you know English, you can travel anywhere
You can watch American movies.
English is the language for computers.
You can get a good job.
60
You can have international friends.

your idea:
Against:
Not really. There are many places where English is not used.
Unit 20: F0REVER SINGLE
Hope Hamilton doesn't want to get married. Read this story and find out why.
Hope Hamilton should be excited. Her boyfriend, Bob, asked her to marry him. But after thinking
about it very carefully, Hope has decided she does not want to get married.
Hope, an attractive 32year-old Los Angeles computer salesperson, says she loves her boyfriend.
They have lived together for one year and they are happy together. Bob is
well-educated, intelligent and kind. He has a well-paid job. And he shares housework with her. In
short, he seems to be the perfect husband.
"But marriage is for fools and dreamers," says Hope. "I mean, who in their right mind would
willingly give up their freedom for another person?"
Marriage changes people, Hope believes. Husbands and wives begin to take each other for granted.
Bob helps with the shopping and cooking now, but Hope thinks that this might change if they get
married. She might have to do much more of the traditional woman's work-cooking, shopping and
housework. If she gets married, Hope believes that she will change, too. She says she is very
different from when she was 22 years old, and will be a different person in 10 more years. So she
wonders if she can remain happy with Bob.
Hope simply feels that marriage is not the best relationship. "Hey, almost half of all marriages end
in divorce. And many people who do stay married may not be happy. I have a lot of married friends
whose marriages are not very good."
Hope also thinks that marriage will die out in the next century. "So many people all over the world
live together now without being married. There is really no need for marriage to continue," she
believes.
"Don't get me wrong," Hope explains, "I am not a crazy person who wants to live a life separated
from other people, especially men. I love people, and that's another reason why marriage is not the
61
best relationship. There are too many cool people in the world. I do not want to be tied to just one
person all of my life. I enjoy being free."
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What do you think about marriage?

"I don't like marriage because

it means "giving up freedom."
"Maybe marriage is not a good idea.

It's difficult to live happily with one person all your life.
People change."
"Marriage is important. It keeps society together.

It's really necessary."
"When you meet the right person,

you'll want to get married. It's natural."
"If you want to have children, marriage is important.

Children need a stable home."

Should a person stay single or get married?
What are some good reasons for each one?
Staying single is good because...
- many marriages end in divorce anyway.
-when you get married, you have to give up your freedom.

62
-people change. You can't love one person forever.
-your idea:
Getting married is good because...
-If you meet the right person, you will live happily together.
- Marriages keep society together.
- It's important to bring up children with a mother and father.
Unit 21: TRAFFIC JAM
In many countries, almost everyone drives a car But this means terrible traffic Jams
and air pollution. Read this story and f i n d out: Why doesn't Singapore have a car
problem?
In many big Asian cities, such as Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo, there is a flood of cars, trucks and
buses on the streets. This has caused terrible traffic jams that pollute the air.
One large city, Singapore, is an exception. There are no traffic jams. Its air is clean-free from
pollution. It only takes fifteen minutes to drive from the city to the airport.
This happy situation' is no accident. It is the result of a government program to fight air
pollution and t r a f f i c j a m s The ' government has simply made it very expensive to' own and
drive a car in Singapore. The program' requires anyone who wants a car to buy a permit.
A 10-year permit to own a car can cost as much as US$75,000. And when yo u add sales and
import taxes of 195 per cent to the cost of buying a car, residents of Singapore might pay over
US$250,000 to get a car and a permit.
In addition to the cost of owning a car, drivers in Singapore must pay to enter downtown on
weekdays. And there is a big tax on gasoline.
As nice as this sounds, it might not work in other places.
63
Think about your city. Think about how many people own their own cars and use them for work
and pleasure. How would everyone feel if it became too expensive to own and drive cars?
There might be other problems. Would the public transportation system the b u s e s and trains
be able to handle all of the people who used t o drive their own cars? And are the buses
and trains convenient for everyone ?
Clearly, something m u s t be done to change people's lifestyles in the w o r l d ' s large cities.
Pollution from cars and trucks has already caused serious damage to the earth's environment and
it will get worse and worse perhaps Singapore has the right answer after all.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think about the car problem in large cities
"Other large cities should do

what Singapore has done." "What Singapore did is
crazy. It's impossible to do in our city."
" We should do what Singapore has done "We should develop solar or
but only gradually, step by step." electric cars. Then the problem of
pollution will be gone."
"I understand the problem,

but I just can't live without a car"

64

Work with a partner. Ask your partner these questions:
Can you drive? Do you have a car? Does anybody in your family have a car? How do you
go from your home to these places ?
Car Bus Taxi Train Subway Walk Bicycle
school
work
hospital
shopping
movies
station
post office
Unit 22: THE UNBORN CHILD
A wife and husband have to make a difficult decision. Read the story and find out. What
are they trying to decide?
Sia and her husband, Ashat, have to make a very difficult decision. Sia, 38 years old, and
Ashat, 42, have always wanted a child. They have been married for 10 years and tried for a
long time to have a baby.
Now Sia is three months pregnant. Their doctor just told them that the fetus's brain is not
developing properly. If Sia gives birth, the baby will be badly handicapped, both mentally and
physically. It will always need special care and special schools.
Sia is depressed and confused. She is against abortion and she really wants to have a baby now.
Three years ago, Sia was pregnant but lost the fetus in the fourth month. This pregnancy may
be her last chance. She thinks she can love and take care of the baby, no matter how
handicapped it might be.
While Ashat has always been opposed to abortion, he is having second thoughts. Ashat has a
good job, and the health insurance from his company will pay for Sia's pregnancy. But it will
not pay for all of the costs of the special care and schools that the child will need.
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Ashat is worried about the future, after the baby is born. He wonders what kind of life it can
have. Ashat also wonders how a badly handicapped baby will change their lives. Finally, he is
very worried about money. They will not have enough money for the special care and schools.
What should they do? Should Sia have an abortion? Or should she have the baby and face the
future then? But she must consider the feelings of her husband. Together they somehow must
make a decision.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is abortion the right decision in this case?
" I think so. The baby has no future. "Yes. Doctors don't know everything.
Both the child and the parents will Perhaps Sia will be able to have
only suffer." another baby."
"No, Sia should have the baby. All "No, an abortion is not the answer. This
children, handicapped or normal, might be their last chance to have a
have the right to be born." baby."
"Miracles can happen.

Maybe this baby will be fine.
They should have the baby. "
Is abortion legal in your country?
completely legal legal in some situations completely illegal

In what situations should abortion be allowed? Check all that you agree with.
When the mother does not want the pregnancy
When the parents do not want the pregnancy
When the mother's health is in danger
When the pregnancy is because of rape
When the parents are very young
When the baby is going to be handicapped
It should never be allowed, regardless of the reasons.
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Unit 23: FAMILY HARMONY
Mae and her brother Chew are very close, and they usually agree on everything. However, they have a
disagreement now. Read this conversation and find out. What do they disagree about?
Mae: I just don't understand how you can think like that, Chew! It isn't like you at all. Chew: My
wife and I simply want to send our daughter to a private school. That's all.
And you act like I've killed someone! What's the problem?
Mae: What about my daughter? You know my husband and I don't have the money to
send Wai to a private school. She'll have to go to public school.
Chew: And why don't you have the money? Both you and Kuo have good jobs, just like
my wife and I do.
Mae: You know why. We just bought a new house. All of our money went to buy that
new house
Chew: Fine. If buying a house is more important to you than education, that's your
choice. We want our daughter to have the best education possible.
Mae: But think how Wai will feel when her cousin Shu-Ling goes to private school.
Those two girls are very close to one another.
Chew: Yes, and I like that. But they'll still be close, even though they won't go to the
same school.
Mae: It's not that simple. Your private school is much better than the public school Wai
will go to.
Chew: That's the reason we saved our money-so Shu-Ling can go to an excellent school. Mae:
But think what will happen to the two girls. Now, because they're in the same class,
they go to school together, take school trips together and do their homework
together.
Chew: That's right. Why didn't you think of that before you bought your new house? Mae: Chew,
listen to me. Don't send Shu-Ling ; to private school. Don't separate them.
Wai will be crushed.
Chew: Perhaps, but she'll get over it.
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I think family harmony is important. Each family should make its own deci-
You should give equal treatment to your sions. They shouldn't worry about what
children and close relatives. heir relatives say.
If you don't get along with your close Cousins don't need to be so close.
relatives, you will be sorry. They'll They'll have different lives later, anyway.
talk about you all the time.
Life is hard, and we need our relatives to help us.

We should do everything we canto stay close to them.

Here are some cases in which people feel they are not treated fairly. What do you think?
It's fair. It's not fair.
Case 1: My older brother goes to a private university. My parents say I have to go to a public
university because they don't have enough money for my education. But I want to go to a private
university. It's not fair.
Case 2: My parents make me wash dishes, but my older sister gets out of it. Her job is taking out
the trash, but that's much easier to do. My parents say she has more homework to do, so she
shouldn't work too hard. I think it's unfair.
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Case 3: My grandparents live with us. On New Year's, my cousins come to my house and at that
time my grandparents give them more gift money than they give me. They say it's because they
don't see my cousins very often. I think this is unfair.
Case 4: When my sister and her husband built their house, my parents gave them a lot of
financial support. Now I want to buy a new condominium, but my parents say the can't help me
financially. They say my sister has three children and needs more support, but I'm single and
don't have a family. It's not fair.
Do you know any other examples like these?
Unit 24: FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN
Wali Abunit has not been healthy recently. Read his conversation with his doctor and find out: What
is making him feel so bad?
"Wali, the results of the tests show that your blood pressure is high... too high for a man of your
age. What's wrong?" asks Dr. Netaka.
"I don't know. Well, you know, I just don't feel happy. I'm depressed. Is that strange?"
"No, not at all. Unfortunately, many people are like that. Do you have any idea what's causing your
depression?"
Wali hangs his head and stares at the floor. He is embarrassed. He starts to say something, but
stops.
"Hmm," says his doctor. "I think you know what's wrong. You can tell me. I won't tell anyone else,
not even yourwife, Fionia.
"My wife.. . Fionia. It's funny that you should mention her name," says Wali. "Actually, l think my
marriage is the problem. Did you know we've been married for 15 years? Fifteen Ion, years," Wali
sighs. "Our marriage is terrible. We fight and argue all the time. We can never agree on anything.
It's hard for me to live with her. I guess ...I don't love m wife anymore."
"What about your two children? Do you love them?" asks Dr. Netaka.
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"Yes, very much. And that's part of the problem. I'm afraid to get a divorce because of
the children. I think Fionia and I will have to stay married for the sake of the children."
Dr. Netaka thinks about this for a minute and then asks Wali, "Why? Why do you think you have to
stay with your wife because of your children?"
"Everyone knows that children suffer when their parents get divorced. I don't want my children to
suffer and be unhappy and confused. And I don't want to lose them. If I divorce Fionia, she will
probably keep the children. I would only be able to see them every now and then. I couldn't bear
that. I would miss them too much."
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What do you think about divorce?

Children don't want to see their When parents get divorced, they
parents unhappy or fighting all the time. should explain to their children that the
So divorce may help the children, not divorce is the parents' problem and that
hurt them. the children are not to blame.
Divorce is wrong. Husbands and With or without children, it's doesn't

wives should try hard to stay together matter. When love ends, the marriage
is over.
It's OK to get divorced if

you don't have children. But if
you do have kids, you should never get divorced.

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In Many countries, the divorce rate is getting higher and higher.
Is there a way to lower it? Check the ideas you like.
The government gives money as a reward to couples who have been married for a long time.
Divorce is not allowed, except in certain situations, such as terrible mental illness.
The government charges a high tax on divorces.
The government hires marriage counselors to give advice to people.

Couples live together for a few years before they decide to get married.
Couples live together but don't get married.
What are your ideas?

1._____________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________
Unit 25: TAKING CARE OF MOTHER

Toshi is worried about his 78-year-old mother. Read Toshi's conversation with his wife,
Midori, and find out. What do they want to do for his mother?
Toshi: We have to face the facts. Mother is too old to live alone.
Midori: Yes, you're probably right. She is getting older, and since your father died, she
seems very forgetful.
Toshi: Mother will need someone to take care of her in the near future.
Midori: Perhaps we could hire a nurse. You know, someone who could come in during
the day, clean the house, cook some meals, make sure she takes her pills.
Toshi: But nurses don't do all of those things. You're thinking of a nurse and a
housekeeper. Who would pay for that? It will be very expensive!
Midori: Well, Toshi, what are you thinking?
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Toshi: Since I'm the only child, we have to take care of her. She can come to live with us. Midori:
Here? In this tiny house? There are only two bedrooms. We can't move our two
daughters out of their small bedroom.
Toshi: What else can we do? We can't afford to hire a nurse and a housekeeper. I'm her
only child. Her husband, brother and sister are all dead. We have to take care of
her.
Midori: Maybe we could look for a bigger house.
Toshi: In Tokyo? You know that's impossible. We tried looking last year and everything
in this area of Tokyo is too expensive.
Midori: Let's move away from the city. Someplace cheap.
Toshi: But then I would be far away from my office. It might take me two or three hours
on the train. I hate to commute. No, the only solution is for Mother to live with us
here.
It's too expensive to take care of old Taking care of elderly parents is the
people. I think the government should be child's duty. So the child should not
responsible for taking care of them. depend on other people or on the
government for help.
Your parents should live with you If your mother or father suddenly comes
when they are old, even if your your house to live, it will cause a lot
house is small. of problems.
Elderly people should live in special homes.

They shouldn't bother their children.
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Many older parents live with their children.
Can you think of reasons for and against this arrangement?
Older parents should live with their Older parents should not
children because... live with their children because...
It's more fun with more members in My small house would be crowded. the family.
Unit 26: A R E W A R D OR A BRIBE
Kimo and Makana have two boys, aged 10 and 14.They are having a difficult time getting the boys
to help around the house. Read their conversation and find out: What are they planning to do?
Kimo: I'm so tired of asking Kam and Tasama to do their tasks. They never do anything.
They say they forgot or they were too busy with homework.
Makana: I know what you mean. Yesterday, I was so mad at Kam because he didn't make
his bed that I almost hit him.
Kimo: Not a good idea! We've already discussed hitting the children, and neither of us
believes that it's a good idea.
Makana: I know, but what else can we do?
Kimo: I asked my brother for his advice this morning. He suggested that we pay the
children to work around the house.
Makana: What? Pay them for doing what they should do? Never!
Kimo: Well, that was what I thought, But my brother told me about a plan that has
worked in other families.
Makana: How does it work? I'm willing to try almost anything.
Kimo: First we make a list of things that the boys have to do each day and during the
week. You know, keep their room clean, make their beds, take out the trash, and
so on. We put it on the refrigerator so everyone can see it.
Makana: OK, what next?
Kimo: Then we tell Kam and Tasama that they'll get a certain amount of money each
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week if they do all of their tasks. But if they don't do all of the tasks, then they'll
get no money. Nothing at all.
Makana: Do you mean if the boys miss one task, they get no money?
Kimo: Right. Then they wouldn't have any money for going to the movies or buying
comics or anything.
Makana: Well, I don't know. That plan seems like a bribe to me.
Kimo: Think of it as a reward!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Which opinions do you agree with?
Children should do some things for Parents should pay their children to do
free, like cleaning their own room. housework. And that should be the only
But they should be paid to do other money they get. That way, they
tasks like washing dishes. learn to be responsible.
Helping around the house is something Paying the children to do housework

children have to do. They shouldn't get is a bride. Don't do it. They'll start
paid for it. asking for money for everything.
Giving money for doing housework is a reward.

Children need rewards for doing things.

74

In your house, who does the following tasks?
me brother/sister mother father my grandparent(s)
cleaning the house
cleaning your room
laundry
washing dishes
shopping for food
taking out the trash
75
Chapter 4: RELATIONAL ISSUES
Unit 27: FRIENDS & LOVERS
Keiko and Akira have been friends for a long time. But something has happened, and they might not
be friends any longer. Read the story and find out. What has happened to hurt, and maybe even end,
their friendship?
Akira and Keiko leave the university library after several hours of studying together, something
they do often. Suddenly, Akira tries to kiss Keiko. Keiko is shocked.
"What are you doing, Akira?" Keiko asks, hardly able to speak. "You're my best friend. We've
been friends for five years. You're closer to me than my brother. And now you want to kiss me?"
Akira explains, "I want our friendship to be even closer."
"No, no, no! I don't think of you in that way. You're my friend. Best friends don't act that way."
Akira looks confused. "I don't understand. Don't you see me as a man?"
"Of course I do," replies Keiko. "You're a handsome man. But you're a special man ... my best
friend. So we can't do this. Now do you understand?"
"No, not at all. Here is how I see it. You're a woman and I'm a man. We like each other very
much. We're very close. So let's do what is natural in any male-female relationship."
"Natural? I think our friendship is natural. I thought I understood you. Maybe I was wrong,"
cries Keiko.
Akira's face is red. "So you really don't like me at all. You just want someone to talk to." He
turns and walks quickly away.
Keiko's anger turns to sadness. In her heart, she thinks Akira is wrong-men and women can be
friends without being lovers. But now she's not sure. What if all men think like Akira?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Can a man and a woman be close friends without being lovers?
76
Sometimes they can be friends, but Maybe not. If a man and a woman
usually friendship between a man and are close friends, they will naturally
a woman is difficult. become lovers.
Yes, they can. I know a lot of cases It's impossible because men always
like that among my friends. want to have sex with women they like
Of course they can. I have some good men friends.

And we're just friends.

• What is your best friend like? Use three adjectives.
For example, tall, kind, talkative.
She (He) is____________, ____________and _______________.
• Why is that person your best friend?
For example, She helps me when I'm in trouble.
We have a great time talking together.
1.___________________________________.
2. ___________________________________.
3.___________________________________.
• Is your best friend a man or a woman?
77
Unit 28: AN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
Sachiko is a 22-year-old Japanese student who is spending her senior year at an American
university in Los Angeles. She has met a special man named Amir. Read her diary and find
out: What is she trying to decide?
Reading :
Dear Diary,
Tonight Amir asked me to marry him! I knew he would. I love him so much. It is hard to believe
that we have known each other for only eight months.
But as much as I love him, I don't know what to do. My parents would be angry with me for
marrying a man from India. They want me to marry only a Japanese man. My mother has told me
that good Japanese marry only Japanese.
And that's not all. There are so many other problems. I mean, where would we live? I think it would
be very hard for me to live in India. Would I fit in to Indian society? I don't speak any Indian
languages. I would have a difficult time finding a job. And I don't want to be just a housewife!
That's for sure.
I don't think Amir would fit in to Japanese society, either. He doesn't speak Japanese. He sounds so
funny when he tries to say a single Japanese word! It would be impossible for him to find a job in
Japan. Besides, he doesn't even like Japanese food!
Maybe we could stay in the United States. Both of us will finish our studies in May.
I wonder if we could get work visas here. That might be difficult. But even if we could stay here, I
don't know if I want to live away from Japan. I would miss my family and friends and everything.
And what about our children? Children of mixed marriages might have a difficult time. Would
they be Japanese? Indian? What? It is all so confusing.
The more I write to you, ,' dear diary, the more problems I see. I know that marriage is difficult.
More and more marriages end in divorce. And I think that international marriages are even more
difficult! Oh, I am SO confused.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What should Sachiko do?
Check the responses you agree with.
78
They shouldn't make a decision about She should marry Amir and live in the
marriage right now. They should visit U.S. That's fair for both Amir and her.
each other's country. There is a lot of Both of them could visit their home
time to think about what to do. countries sometimes.
Sachiko should marry Amir and try living Sachiko should break up with Amir .
in India. It could be a real good There are too many problems to
experience for her. continue the relationship.
She should marry Amir and live in Japan. More and more
foreign people are living in Japan, so Amir will be accepted.
What are some of the advantages of an international marriage?

1.________________________________________________.
2. ________________________________________________.
3.________________________________________________.
What are some of the problems with an international marriage?
1. ________________________________________________.
2. ________________________________________________.
3._________________________________________________.
79
Unit 29: 20 YEARS OF PAIN
Abi and Moon had been married for 20 years. They had four children. Then one day, Abi killed
Moon. Read the story and find out : Why did she murder her husband?
Abi L. is a small woman with a gentle smile. She speaks quietly and politely. She seems like the
nice woman who lives next door, not the kind of person who is in prison for murdering her
husband. Abi tells her story carefully, how the problem began, how after 20 years of pain she
finally killed her husband.
Abi explains: "Before we were married, Moon was the nicest, most gentle man I had ever met.
Maybe that is why I married him. He was so kind. The first two years were wonderful. But then
something happened. He started working late, not coming home, and drinking a lot."
She continues, speaking softly, `At first, when he was angry, he just pushed me. Then later he
kicked me or slapped my face a few times. After a while he started to beat me badly. Once he
choked me so hard I thought I was going to die."
Abi looks down at her hands. They still have scars from the time her husband pushed her through
a window. The hands are small but strong enough to reach for a kitchen knife and stab her
husband to death. This is what Abi did last June when her husband began to beat her, again.
Wife-beating happens more often than most people know. Not just here, but all over the world. In
some societies, men believe it is their right to beat their wives. And though there are laws against
attacking people, most men who hurt their wives are not punished.
The reason? Most women say nothing when beaten. Abi did not tell her relatives or friends. She
did not even call the police. Abi explains: "The police do nothing. If a woman calls the police, her
husband can just give them money, and they'll leave. Then he'll beat his wife more and more."
Abi is now in prison, awaiting trial for murder. Her friends say she should go free. They believe
she killed Moon in self-defense. Others say she must pay for her crime with her own life. Abi's
eyes are sad and tired. "I don't know what will happen now. All I know is that I killed my
husband because I didn't know what else to do."
WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

What do you think should happen to Abi? Check the opinions you agree with.
80
She suffered a lot, but it is wrong to kill She killed her husband in self-defense,
a person. She should stay in jail for the rest so she should not be punished.
of her life.
She suffered long enough. It was right for her to kill her husband.
She should go free. He deserved to die.
It's simple. Abi killed her

husband, so she should pay with her life.
Which of these ideas can help to stop violence by men against women? Which will not?
Why or why not?
will help won't help
There should be strict laws to protect women.
Women need to learn how to defend themselves.
They need to fight back when they are beaten.
Men who beat women should go to jail for a long time.
Men need to be educated about violence to change

their thinking and behavior.
We need to stop violence all over the world,

not just between husbands and wives.
How can we reduce violence in the world?

For example, stop showing violent scenes on TV
1.________________________________________________.
2.________________________________________________.
3.________________________________________________.
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Unit 30: HAPPILY EVER AFTER
This is a story about two people, Jasmine and Samuel. It has three endings. Read and find
out: What happens to them? Which relationship do you like?
The Beginning: At a party one night in March, a friend of Jasmine's introduces her to Samuel.
Samuel and jasmine fall in love and get married.
Relationship 1: Jasmine and Samuel both have interesting and exciting jobs. Early in their
relationship they decide not to have children. Instead, they spend all of their time on their work
and careers. Over time, they are both very successful and very rich. They spend very little time
together, finding happiness in their work. They enjoy having large and expensive parties in their
big home. They live happily ever after.
Relationship 2: Samuel is an accountant in an office near their small house. He earns a good
salary, but they will never be wealthy. But Samuel and jasmine don't care. They are not interested
in money. They don't have children, but that doesn't matter. All they need is each other. When
Samuel is finished with work, he goes straight home, where jasmine is waiting for him. Jasmine
doesn't work outside the home. She spends her time housekeeping and cooking and helping her
husband. As time goes by, jasmine and Samuel remain deeply in love. They live happily ever
after.
Relationship 3: Both Jasmine and Samuel want a lot of children, even though his job as an office
clerk doesn't pay much money. So they have six children. Jasmine and Samuel are wonderful
parents. They spend all the time they can with their children and with each other. Samuel was
offered a promotion to office manager, but he refused. He thought it would take too much time,
and he wanted to be with his wife and children as much as possible. They have very little money
and very few things. But they have each other and their children. They live happily ever after.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Which relationship do you like?

Check the idea you agree with.
It is important for each It is important for couples to have

person in a relationship to have a happy marriage and children.
an interesting job and do well. Money or jobs are not important.
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Everything else is unimportant, including children.
It is important for couples to love each other deeply and to find happiness in their
relationship. That is enough Money , children and jobs are not important.
What is important for your ideal marriage or relationship?

Check as many as you like. Then add some of your own ideas.
love no children
a good income one or two children
being wealthy three children or more
an interesting job a big house
success in my job living in one place
both partners having jobs living in different places
a good family life having a lot of friends
being/having a full-time housewife having a lot of parties
your own ideas:
1._______________________________________________.
2._______________________________________________.
3._______________________________________________.
4._______________________________________________.
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Unit 31: GROWING APART
Okenoy is having problems with his best friend. Read the story and find out. What is
causing the problems?
Kwan is my best friend. I mean, he and I have always been very close. We're the same age, 21.
We went to the same high school and now attend the same university. We are both English
majors and want to be English teachers after we graduate. When we were growing up, we
always did a lot of things together-baseball, music lessons and club activities in high school.
Even more important, we always talked to each other, sharing our highs and our lows, our fears
and our secret wishes. I will always remember and treasure that closeness.
But something has changed. Kwan and I are not as close as before; I think we are slowly growing
apart. I tried to talk to Kwan about it, but he said there was no change. Actually, he really didn't
want to talk about it and cut me off.
And it's not just that. His behavior has changed. Now he stays out late at night and does* get
home until 3 or 4 in the morning. Of course, this means that he sleeps late and often misses
classes. I know we don't have much homework, but I don't see him studying at all. And he has
missed the last five meetings of the English club.
I'm worried, really worried. A friend of ours hinted last week that Kwan was in trouble. I
questioned him about it, but he didn't want to tell me anything. I begged him to tell me, and
finally he said that maybe Kwan is taking drugs.
I was shocked! I got angry and told my friend he was wrong and that he should stop telling lies
about Kwan. But later I cooled down and thought about what he had told me. And the more I
thought about it, the more I realized what he said could be true. I mean, Kwan has been acting
very strange.
I wish I knew what to do.
84
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What would you do if you were Kwan's friend?
Check the best answer.
I wouldn't worry. Maybe Kwan has a I would talk to Kwan again. I would
girlfriend who keeps him out late. tell him, "I'm really worried about
you."
I would ask Kwan if he's taking drugs and see his reaction.
I would not do anything at this point.
I would wait and see what happens.
I would talk to my parents and ask them what to do.

LOOKING AT THE ISSUE What can best friends do? Check your answers.
Lend each other money

Borrow money from each other
Lend each other books
Lend their cars to each other
Introduce boyfriends or girlfriends to each other
Invite each other to their homes
Tell each other secrets
Talk about sex
Share a drink from the same glass
Ask for advice on a serious problem
your ideas:
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Unit 32: DOING THE RIGHT THING
Yumi needs advice about a problem involving her father. She has written to Dr. Aoki, a
famous medical counselor. Read the story and find out: What does Yumi want to tell her
father?
Dear Dr. Aoki,

My name is Yumi. I'm a 19-year-old college student. Something terrible is happening and I don't
know what to do. Please help me.
My father is dying. According to his doctor, he has only three more months to live. He has
stomach cancer, which has now spread to other parts of his body. Because the cancer has spread,
it is too late for an operation. The doctor says there is nothing we can do.
I am heartbroken. But what is more painful to me is that my father does not know about his
disease. His doctor told him that he has an ulcer. My mother is trying to hide the fact as well.
They are both lying to him.
I think they are wrong. I think my father has the right to know about his disease. He should be
informed. But when I told my mother that we should tell my father the truth, her eyes filled with
tears. She said, "I don't think so, Yumi. If we tell him that he is going to die soon, he will be so
shocked, depressed and upset that it might even shorten his life. We should not take hope away
from him.",
I understand that. However, I still think my father should know what's happening to him. It's his
body. It's his life. Of course he would be shocked at first. But I'm sure he has things he would like
to do before he dies, and he should be able to use whatever time he has left.
What do you think I should do? Should I persuade my mother to change her mind? Should I talk
to the doctor? If they don't thane their minds, should I tell my father? Or is my mother right after
all? Please, please tell me what to do. I love my father very much and I want to do the right thing.
Sincerely,
Yumi Sato
WHAT DO YOU THINK? If a patient is dying, should the doctor inform him or
her? Check the ideas you agree with.
86
No. You can't tell someone he or she is It depends. If the patient is mentally
going to die. The patient will be too shocked. strong, he or she should be informed.
You shouldn't take away their hope.
It depends. The doctor should ask Yes. The patient should be

the patient's family. able to use whatever time he
or she has left.
Yes. The patient has the right to know

about his or her disease.

What rights do you think patients should have? Do patients have these rights in your
country?
Should have? Patients should have the right... In my country?
Yes/No Yes/No
to be informed about their disease.

to see all of their medical records.
to have an explanation about how the doctor
will treat their disease.
to know the doctor's name and background
to get a second opinion from another doctor
to change doctors or hospitals.
to be involved in the decision on how to
treat their disease
not to be informed about their disease.
87
Unit 33: THE RIGHT TO DIE
Keoni Tabido has made a decision. Read the story and find out. Why does he want
to end his life?
Keoni Tabido has planned how he will spend his final hours: He will have a party for his friends,
with lots of food, drink and music. Later, he will spend time with his girlfriend. And then, at
midnight, he will take a deadly mixture of drugs.
Mr. Tabido is not crazy. He is a 33-year-old businessman. He is very successful, has a lot of
money and enjoys life.
But Mr. Tabido has a terrible disease. This disease kills the nerve cells in his brain and spinal
cord, slowly paralyzing him. Gradually, it will be difficult for him to swallow and breathe. There
is no cure for this deadly disease.
So, after a great deal of thought, Mr. Tabido has decided to kill himself. He has told his family
and friends about his plan. He has even bought a wooden coffin in which he will be buried.
"I don't want to become a vegetable, kept alive on a lifesupport machine," Mr. Tabido says. "I
can't imagine anything worse. So I have planned my own death. I will do it while I can think and
act clearly. I want to go out doing what I love best -having a good time."
In Mr. Tabido's country, it is against the law to help people die. If anyone, even a doctor, helps
somebody to die, regardless of how sick or old that person is, they could be put in prison for 20
years.
Mr. Tabido is trying to make sure no one is punished for helping him die. "Two doctors have
helped me," says Mr. Tabido. "But I will never tell anyone their names. These doctors have given
me the drugs and showed me how to inject myself. I will have only one chance, so I have to do it
right the first time."
"I know that some people think it is wrong to kill yourself, and for others to help you. But they
don't have a disease like mine. For me, there is no choice."
88
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you think what Mr. Tabido and his doctors are
doing is right? Check your opinion.
In this case, I think suicide is all right. If someone wants to die, that's their business.
But his doctors should not help. And if they need a doctor's help, Doctors should
cure people, not kill them!
Yes. Suicide is OK in this No. It's wrong to take your

kind of situation. It's cruel to own life. Mr. Tabido shouldn't give up.
stop it.
Well, we have to respect Mr. Tabido's

decision, even if we don't agree with it.
Suppose some scientists invent medicine to help people live forever. One day they come to you
and say, "If you take the medicine in this bottle, you will never get old and you will never die."
Would you take it? Why or why not?
.
Yes, I would take it because_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
No, I wouldn't take it because:______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
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Chapter 5: HUMAN CHOICES
Unit 34: ALIVE OR DEAD?
Toby is in the hospital recovering from a bicycle accident. Read her conversation with her
husband and find out :What does she remember about the accident?
Ellis : Toby, do you feel like talking now? You've been in the hospital for three days
without saying much.
Toby: I know, Ellis. I've been afraid to say anything I'm afraid everyone will think I'm
crazy or that my brain has been damaged or something like that.
Ellis: What do you mean? You're fine. All of the tests show that you're OK. You broke
your leg, but otherwise no permanent damage.
Toby: Yes, I know. But something strange happened to me. If I tell you, will you promise
not to tell anyone else?
Ellis: Of course, honey. I'll keep it a secret.
Toby: OK, here goes: I remember being hit by the car. Then I was floating, weightless,
about five meters above my body, looking down at my poor broken body. I
didn't feel any pain Actually, it was a very pleasant sensation.
Ellis: Wow! That is strange. What happened then?
Toby: I could see a crowd looking at my body. A man began to breathe into my mouth,
trying to get me to breathe. I heard the wail of an ambulance as it arrived at the
scene. Just then, the man who was breathing into my mouth stopped, stood up, and
shrugged his shoulders. He had given up. I was dead.
Ellis: And you saw all of this, from above your body ?
Toby: Yes, but I felt no emotion. That dead body on the road had no connection with me.
I had left it behind and was free. I watched as one of the men from the ambulance
opened his bag and pulled out a needle and filled it from a bottle. Then he injected
it straight into my heart. The next thing I knew I was back in my body, feeling the
terrible pain and weight of a smashed body. The man shouted, "It worked! She's
breathing! She's alive!"
Ellis: Oh, my gosh. Yes, they told me that. They said you were very near death. Well, it's
OK now. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you believe Toby's story? Check your opinion.
Yes. This is a typical near-death experi- No! It's total nonsense. Maybe Toby's
ence. I know someone who had an expe- brain was damaged in the accident.
rience like this.
I'm not sure. I don't understand

how it could happen.
No. Toby's probably confused
because of the drugs and medicine she was given.
Yes. I've heard stories about the same experience,

and I believe them.

What do you think happens when a person dies? Why do you think so?
When a person dies, that's it. There is nothing else. Life is over.
When a person dies, he or she will come back to life in a different form: as an insect, an animal or
another person.
When a person dies, the body is dead but the soul is alive and goes to a different world.
I don't agree with any of those ideas.

Here's what I think happens:
1_______________________________________________
2_______________________________________________.
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Unit 35: SHOULD THE DEAD HELP THE LIVING?
Three doctors from different countries discuss using the organs of dead people. Read the
story and find out: Who is in favor of this? Who is opposed?
Dr. Jones: In my opinion, the dead must help the living. There is no question about it.
When people die, they no longer have any use for their organs. If we don't use
their healthy hearts or lungs, we miss the chance to save the lives of other
people who need healthy organs. In fact, it is so important to do this that I
believe we must do it all of the time. Every time there is a death, we should use
all the organs we can, even if the person did not give permission before death.
Dr. Tesfaye: I understand your position, Dr. Jones. But in my country, we have the
opposite point of view. We believe that it is wrong to cut up a dead body,
take out the heart and then put it into someone else's body. Taking out parts
of a dead person's body is a terrible thing to do. When you do that, you vio
late that person's body. When I die, I want my body to be treated with
dignity and respect, and not cut open so that my organs can be put into other
people.
Dr. Houte: As you two show, using organs from the dead to help the living is a difficult
question. There are good reasons both to do it and not to do it. In my country,
we believe that it is all right to use organs from the dead but only under two
conditions. First, the dead person must have given permission in writing,
before he or she dies. Second, the person has to be dead. Sometimes this is
clear. But many times it is not. We all have heard stories of near-death
experiences-when we think someone is dead, but he or she comes back to life.
And what about the so called "brain-dead"? There are many people who are
kept alive by machines-machines that breathe for them. But their brains are
dead. What should we do with them? Turn off the machines and let them die
so that we can use their healthy organs? I wonder if that isn't just the same as
killing them. So we must be very careful before making any decisions.
92
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Which opinions do you agree with? Check as many as you want.
Well, organ donation is OK, but we If people want to donate organs after
have to be sure the person is dead! We they die, it's wonderful. But they should
have to make this clear before we can talk give permission before they die.
about donating organs.
I like the idea that the dead should Maybe it's OK to donate
help the living. I don't mind giving some organs, but not organs
my organs if that helps people. like the heart and the brain!
I don't like the idea of cutting

up my body after I die.
I'm sorry, but I can't help you!
What would you do to help someone stay alive?
Would you... Yes, No,
I'd do it I wouldn't do it.
give blood?
give a kidney to a dying family member?
give your body to science after you die?
register as a bone marrow donor?
register as a donor at an eye bank?
allow your doctor to transplant your organs after you die?

Why or why not?
93
Unit 36: HOSTAGE
Ali has taken Flight 144 many times. It was always long and boring. But this time, something has
happened. Read his story and find out: What has happened on the flight?
I check my watch just after takeoff and see that the flight is about 10 minutes behind schedule.
That's nothing new, but the pilot always manages to land on time, in about five hours. So I close
my eyes to rest a bit before the meal service.
Suddenly, loud shouts from the front of the plane startle me out of my nap. I hear more 'shouts,
angry and threatening, and then a scream. I start to go forward to see what's wrong when a
masked man waving a gun runs down the aisle, screaming at everyone to stay seated.
A hijack! The plane has been taken over by terrorists! The terrorists are telling everyone to stay
calm. They say that nothing will happen to us if the pilot flies the plane to another country. They
say that they do not want to kill innocent people.
After three long, terrible hours, the plane lands in the country where the terrorists want to go. But
then nothing happens. We sit in the hot plane for hours, waiting to be released.
The pilot announces that the terrorists have two demands. First, the government must free some
prisoners. Second, they want another plane so they can fly to a secret location. At first, I am
happy, thinking that we will all be free shortly. But the pilot says the government will not do that.
The terrorists have made a mistake and have landed in a country whose government refuses to
talk to terrorists. Its president says it will never yield to criminals and terrorists.
Our chances do not look good. There is no way that we can overpower the terrorists. They are
heavily armed and watch us carefully. It is impossible to escape from the plane.
So here we sit, hostages in a life-or-death situation. The terrorists don't care about our lives. They
are threatening to kill us, one by one. But the government says it will never talk to terrorists. They
don't seem to care about our lives, either.
Will I get out of this situation alive?
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What do you think is the best thing to do?
Check the views you agree with.
94
The government should never give in. The plane should be allowed to fly to
If they give in to the terrorists, more some other country whose government
hijackings will occur in the future. will talk to the terrorists.
The government should Another organization, like

talk to the terrorists. The passengers' the United Nations, should
lives are the most important thing. talk to the terrorists.
The police or army should

secretly attack the plane and
kill the terrorists.
In our society there are many kinds of threats. What should we do? For each case, decide what to
do.
1. You are the president of a large company. A man phones you and threatens you. He says if you
don't pay him $100,000 he will bomb the company building. What would you do?
pay him tell the police ignore him other:
2. You are in an elevator with a big man. He tells you to give him your money. He doesn't seem to
have a gun or knife. What would you do?
give him your money try to get out of the elevator ignore him other:
3. You are the prime minister of your country. One of your ministers was kidnapped by terrorists.
They say the government must free 10 people from prison or they will kill the minister. What
would you do?
free the prisoners try to talk to the terrorists ignore them other:
Do you know any other situations like these?

95
Unit 37: HELPING OTHERS
Is helping strangers a good idea? Read the story and find out: What happened to this taxi
driver when he tried to help?
A crazy man with three swords took over a city bus with 15 passengers and drove it wildly
through the streets. But taxi driver Dal Chong Yang did not stop to think.
Driving his taxi as fast as possible, he caught up with the bus. He then drove in front of the bus
for three kilometers, honking his horn and warning people to get out of the way. The bus hit his
taxi five times, as the crazy man tried to kill Mr. Yang. Finally, the bus hit a tree and came to a
stop with all of its passengers safe. The crazy man was arrested by police.
Mr. Yang's action helped save many lives, police said. They believe that the crazy man wanted to
run down as many people as he could with the bus.
The taxi driver, Mr. Yang, is now a hero. Everybody knows his name and praises his courageous
act. "I was afraid, of course," said Mr. Yang. "But I knew I had to do it or a lot of people would
be hurt, maybe killed."
But some believe that what Mr. Yang did was wrong. "Ordinary people should not be trying to
stop runaway buses and robberies," says the chief of police. "They really do not know how to do
that, and they can get themselves injured or killed." In fact, Mr. Yang was injured and nearly
killed when the bus hit his car. He spent four months in the hospital and two months at home.
Now he is back driving his taxi. But he can drive for only four or five hours each day because of
the pain from his injuries, not like the 14 hours a day before his good deed.

I really believe we should help others People should never help strangers
friends or strangers. If we don't, how for any reason. It's not a good idea.
cold and depressing this world would be!
Ordinary people should not We should help others, but

96
stop crimes. It's too dangerous. there's a limit to how much we should help.
Why help others? We're all

busy and have enough problems ourselves.

Are you willing to help strangers? Read these situations and check your answers.
Case 1: You are walking down the street. A woman suddenly screams, "Help! A thief!
Somebody get him!" and you see a man running away with the woman s purse.
You decide to:
run after the thief and try to catch him

call the police
scream, "Help! A thief!"
ignore the whole thing and keep walking
other:
Case 2: You are driving your car and see somebody on the roadside with a car problem.
You decide to:
stop and help, but only if it's a woman

stop and help, but only if it's a woman or an old man
stop and help, no matter who it is
drive by without helping
phone the police
other:
97
Unit 38: A WOMAN'S PLACE
Professor Max Karlov has some controversial ideas about the role of women in
society. Read this interview and find out. What message is Professor Karlov
trying to give to the audience?
Interviewer: Congratulations, Professor Karlov, on your new book, A Woman's Place.

I just finished reading it, and you really have strong ideas.
Professor Karlov: Yes. But my ideas are based on facts. Societies all over the world are
in trouble. Now, you have to think, why are societies in trouble?
Interviewer: According to your book, Professor Karlov, you think the difficulties in
today's world are caused by a change in the natural order. Could you explain
that for our audience?
Professor Karlov: With pleasure. By a change in the natural order I mean the thanes in
our society in the roles and responsibilities of men an women. As
everyone knows, what women do in society their roles and
responsibilities-has changed a great deal in the past 50 years.
Interviewer: OK, I think everyone would agree with that. But so what?
Professor Karlov: Women in many societies no longer stay at home and take care of children.
They have jobs outside the home. This means they no longer have the time
to take care of their children. In today's world, children grow up with so
many problems. They drop out of school, they take drugs, they steal.
Today's children are lazy and confused. They need the guidance, love and
support that only mothers who are in the home can give. Women should
return to raising and educating children. They are naturally suited to do so.
Men should continue to have the main responsibility for earning money for
the family. We know from history that men are suited for leadership and
women are suited for raising children.
A woman's place is in the home, raising the children and keeping the home.
A man's place is outside the home, working to support the family. I know
this is an old-fashioned, or out-of-date, belief. But it is the one that fits the
natural order.
98
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What is your view of women's and men's roles?
I think raising children and house- Men are naturally good at working
keeping should be done by both men outside the home and making money.
and women.
If women stayed home, Women are naturally

society would be much better. good at housekeeping and
raising children.
Today, to support a family,
both the husband and wife need jobs.
Here are some of Professor Karlov's ideas.
For each of them, state an opposite or different idea.
Professor Karlov's Idea Opposite Idea
Societies are in trouble because Men have caused much of society's

women have jobs outside the home. problems because most leaders are men.
Women are naturally suited to raising

children.
Men are natural leaders.

A man's place is outside the home,
working to support the family.
Children need the help,

love and support that only mothers
who are in the home can give.
99
Unit 39: TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL
Arafat, an employee of a large paper company, has made a shocking discovery. Read
this letter to his brother and find out: What is happening at his company?
Dear Mohammed,
Thanks for the phone call yesterday; it was good to talk with you. You asked me if something
was wrong, and I said no. But you were right, older brother-something is bothering me, troubling
me greatly.
After talking to you yesterday, I decided to write you a letter. Writing often helps me organize
my thoughts and see life more clearly.
I accidentally discovered that my company is dumping a chemical into a river near one of its
factories in the countryside. At first, I wasn't concerned about this. I knew that the owners of the
company were fine men and would not do anything illegal.
But then I read a story in the newspaper about factories illegally dumping chemicals into rivers
and how many of these chemicals are harmful. One chemical is very dangerous to humans
because, over time, it can cause cancer. And this is the same chemical that my own company is
dumping into that river!
I was puzzled at first. So I checked carefully and found out that I was right. The company has
been dumping this deadly chemical for about 18 months, and the owners know about it!
Well, Mohammed, I am confused and upset. Of course, I could tell my boss. But then he might
tell the owners and they would fire me, the troublemaker. Should I talk to officials of the govern-
ment? The owners are powerful men and might bribe the officials, and then I would lose my job.
Perhaps I could talk to the journalist who wrote the story in the newspaper.
As you know, I plan to retire in four more years. I am too old to quit and find a new job. Besides,
I like my . work. Well, I used to like my work. Now I am feeling very strange. It is getting
difficult to continue my work as if nothing were wrong.
Please help me, older brother. I don't know what to do.
Yours,
Arafat
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If you were Arafat's older brother, what would you tell him?
Check the responses you agree with.
Don't be afraid of losing your job. Be Send unsigned letters to the people
loyal to the community. Just think of the who live near the river and explain
terrible danger to the people what's happening. Then they will
especially the children , who start a protest.
play and fish in the river.
Don't say anything. Your job Talk to the journalist who

is too important. At your age, wrote the story in the newspaper.
you'll never find another one. Tell her everything. But
make sure they keep your name secret.
Keep your mouth shut.
You should be loyal to your company.
• Do you think it's cowardly to send an unsigned or anonymous letter?
Yes No It depends
• In the following situations, would you give your name or remain anonymous? Why?
1. You have witnessed a car accident. Some people are seriously injured. You call the ambulance
and the police.
Give your name Remain anonymous Why:
2. You have witnessed a robbery in a store where you are shopping. You call the police.
3. You are writing a request card to a radio music program. Your name might be announced all
over your country.
4. You donate a lot of money to charity. They want to list donors' names in the local newspaper.
101
Unit 40: WHY DON'T YOU ACCEPT US?
Wing and jay have a all relationship that they must keep secret. Read the story and find out:
Why can't they tell anyone?
Let me tell you about Wing. He 's the funniest person I know-he can always make me laugh,
even when I feel blue. He works hard at his job, and all his co-workers think he's great. He's
interested in movies and tennis and politics, just like me. He's the perfect partner-only I cant tell
anyone
Wing and I are a couple -a homosexual, or gay, couple. We've been together for almost six
years. That's a lot longer than some marriages last. We try to spend as much time together as we
can, but because we are gay, there is always a problem.
When we go to parties, I cant introduce Wing as my partner. I have to say, "This is a friend of
mine." We never go to the same restaurant more than once or twice together because people
might notice us. We can't live together, as other couples do. No one wants to live near a homo-
sexual couple.
I cant even tell my family about Wing. My parents don't know that I'm gay. They think
there is something wrong with homosexuals, that we're not "normal." So my mother is always
asking me, "When are you going to find a nice girl and get married?" I wish I could tell her that
I've already found the right person for me. But my parents would never speak to me again. They
would worry so much about what their friends would think of their homosexual son.
I know in some countries, like the United States, this is not such a big problem. But it is here.
I wonder why society isn't more understanding. Why can't people accept us? It's not fair. There is
nothing wrong with Wing or with me. We are just like everyone else. We don't have a disease
that other people might catch. We are normal, ordinary people who would like to be treated with
respect.
Wing and I don't want any special treatment. We don't. want to change the world. We just want to
be together without hiding all the time. What's wrong with that?
102
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should people like Wing and Jay be able to live openly as a homosexual couple?
Check your opinion.
Sure. Gay people have the same right I don't know. I just don't think
as everyone else to find a partner and society is ready to accept gay
be happy.
I say no. It makes me really I say yes. If more gay couples

uncomfortable to be around lived openly, it would be easier
people who are homosexuals. for society to accept them.

• What are some reasons for society to accept gay couples?
Homosexuals deserve to have partners and be happy.
• What are some reasons for society not to accept gay couples?
Many people think homosexuality is wrong.

103
Unit 41: FINDERS & KEEPERS
David always thought that he was an honest person. But something happened to him to
make him wonder. Read the story and find out: What happened?
Suddenly it was raining money. Money was falling from the sky and beginning to cover the
ground like green snow.
David thought he was dreaming. He saw $100 bills everywhere. All he had to do was reach out and
take a handful. He did. He did it again. And again. Soon he had more $100 bills than he could hold.
David saw an empty paper bag on the ground. He filled it up with more
$100 bills.
He looked up and saw, on the bridge over his head, an overturned truck. The truck had smashed
into another truck. The accident was so bad that all of the money the truck was carrying spilled into
the road. The wind was blowing hard, so the bills were floating all over.
David saw people running from everywhere. They were shouting to each other to hurry up. They
were gathering money and putting it in purses and bags. He had never seen people working so
quickly.
David then heard the sirens and saw the flashing lights on the police cars as they raced to the acci-
dent on the bridge. He left quickly.
When he got home, David counted the money he had picked up-almost $25,000. He had never seen
so much money. And it was his! It belonged to him!
Or did it? David began to think about that. Did it really belong to him? If it wasn't his, then whose
money was it? Well, thought David, it might belong to the bank. It was the banks truck that
crashed, and the money came from that truck.
But the money was just floating around. He had not robbed a bank or stolen the money from
somebody. What he had done was different. And nobody knew him. Nobody could say that he had
picked up the money. And then David thought of all of those other people who were picking up the
money, just like he had done.
But David was worried. He wondered if he should return the money.

104
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should David keep the money or return it?
Check your opinion.
He should keep it. I think the bank had Of course he should return it. It's not
insurance on the money, so nobody actually his money. It's actually stealing, and
lost any money. So why not keep it? stealing is wrong!
He has to return it. He should keep it. Nobody
Otherwise he will feel guilty. will know. He was lucky!
Maybe he should return

half of the money, just in case
somebody saw him there.
If you found cash on the street, would you take it to the police? Or does it depend on the
amount?
I would take the cash to the police if it were ______or more, but I would keep it if it
were less than that.
I would take it to the police whatever amount it was.
What would you do in the following situations? Would you be honest?

Or would you be "silent"?
I'd be "silent." I'd be honest.
105
Your paycheck is suddenly $1,000 more than usual.
The clerk at a supermarket gives you change for a

$100 bill, but it was actually a $50 bill.
The waiter in a restaurant forgets to add $20

to your check for the bottle of wine you ordered.
Your friend gives you $100 and says,
"Thank you for lending me the money the other day.
" But you don t remember lending any money.
One morning you find $1,000 cash in an envelope

in your mailbox. Nothing is written on the envelope.
Unit 42: A MOTHER'S STORY
Have you ever wished that another person were dead? This mother did Read the story and
find out: Why did she want a man to die?
My heart jumped with joy when he was dead. I knew then, when the electricity was sent into that
man's body, that I would finally have peace.
Am I a monster? Am I thirsty for blood? Do I get excited when people are killed? No, no,
no! I am not a monster. I am a mother whose 18-year-old son was killed during a robbery.
Before Wang was killed, I had not thought much about capital punishment. Maybe I thought it
was wrong. After all, killing someone who has killed someone else really doesn't help much. The
other person is still dead, and killing the murderer just adds to the violence.
But that all changed when my only son was killed. It happened five years ago. Wang was
working at a grocery store. He had just finished high school and was going to go to a good
university in a month. He was working to earn money to help pay for his education.
Two men entered the store. They told my son to take all the money from the cash registers and
put it in a bag. He did this. Then they ordered Wang t open the safe. Wang told them that he did
not have the key. One of the men had a gun and threatened to shoot Wang. My son pleaded with
106
him and told him that only the owner had the key. The gunman then shot him five times in the
face and heart. My son died instantly.
Both robbers were captured. The one who shot my son was sentenced to death in the electric
chair. I asked to see him die. I wanted to be there. I needed to be there. My son's death had to be
repaid.
So I watched when they strapped him in. I saw him begging for his life. Good, I
thought, beg all you can. You must die for what you did.
I think about capital punishment often now. Killing is wrong. But if you kill, you should pay
with your own life. It's the only way we can stop all the violence.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Which opinions do you agree with? Check as many as you want.
If you kill someone, you have to die, too. People who kill are crazy, insane. No
That is your punishment. The only excep- one in his right mind would kill another
tion to capital punishment is self-defense. person. That's why I think murderers
should be put in mental hospitals.
Capital punishment is wrong. Capital punishment is necessary.

We should never kill anyone, It helps prevent murder.
no matter how terrible the crime.
Life in prison is the

right sentence for a murderer.

107
In which situations do you think it is OK to use the death penalty?
Criminal A kidnapped and killed a young child.
Criminal B set fire to a house, and the fire killed three people and injured many
others.
Criminal C broke into a house, killed the two residents, and stole their money.
Criminal D went into a school yard and fired a machine gun, killing many
schoolchildren.
Criminal E set a bomb to explode in an office building, killing many people.
Criminal F raped and killed several women.
Criminal G had her husband killed so that she would receive a large sum of
insurance money.
The death penalty should never be used in any situation.

108
Unit 43:
Focus
What is an "arranged marriage"? In which countries or cultures is this type of marriage
common? Do you know anyone who has had an arranged marriage?
REAL-LIFE COUPLES
Sarita and Ranjit Sharma talk about their arranged marriage
How was the marriage arranged ?
Sarita: I was studying in America at the time. A friend of my family told us there was
this man living in Britain who was looking for a suitable girl. My dad liked the
sound of him. We made some enquiries - his education, what he did, that kind
of thing. The news was very encouraging. Ranjit was a good catch.
Ranjit: The first I knew about Sarita was the day before she arrived here! My father
organised the whole thing. I was happy to meet Sarita but I knew I could
always say no if I didn't think we'd be right together.
What were your first impressions of each other?
Sarita: Good. Although there wasn't a great surge of attraction, I remember thinking,
"He seems nice." The atmosphere that day was quite intense because our
families were watching us, so Ranjit suggested we go out for a drink on our
own.
Ranjit: I liked Sarita. I found her attractive, but there wasn't that spark you get if you
see someone you fancy at a party. It was more mental attraction.
How did you decide on each other?
Sarita: We met up three more times over the two weeks before I returned to America -
by then I'd decided that Ranjit was right for me.
Ranjit: There was pressure from my family after the very first meeting. I'd seen three
109
girls before Sarita, but she was the first I was interested in. So I said yes after
those first three meetings.
Do you love each other now?
Sarita: Yes we do. I couldn't pinpoint an exact time when love began, but it was about
two years into the relationship.
Ranjit: Love came into our relationship after a while. I didn't wake up one morning
and think, "I love this woman." The love we now have is warm, deep and lasting.
Read the story again. Write T (true), F (false) or ? (don't know) in the boxes next to these
statements.
a Sarita and Ranjit had known each other as children.
b Sarita's mother liked Ranjit a lot.
c The first time Sarita and Ranjit met, their families were present.
d They were very physically attracted to each other when they met.
e Sarita and Ranjit agreed to get married after knowing each other for just two
weeks.
f They fell in love with each other about two years after their marriage.
Notes:
liked the sound of him liked what he heard about Ranjit

a good catch a good person to marry for reasons of social status
a great surge a sudden, powerful feeling
spark emotional flash
fancy find attractive
pressure strong persuasion
lasting going to continue for a very long time
Roleplay the conversation between Sarita and Ranjit when they go out for a drink on their own,
the first time they meet.
Write a short dialogue between Ranjit and his father after Ranjit's first meeting with Sarita. His
father is putting pressure on him to agree to the marriage. Then act the dialogue to the class.
110
Why do you think Sarita and Ranjit's parents like the system of arranged marriages?
Imagine your parents are arranging a marriage for you. What questions would you like them to
ask about your future husband/wife?
Now that you have read the article, what is your opinion of arranged marriages?
Look at these results from a recent newspaper survey of children's attitudes to divorce. Do a
survey of attitudes in your class.
Compare your results with the results of the newspaper survey.
Children with Children with parents

DIVORCE- parents together divorced/separated
THE SIDE-EFFECTS Agree Disagree Agree Disagree
Marriage should be forever 76% 9% 71% 18%
Children's parents should stay

together even if 30% 56% 19% 69%
they are unhappy
It is better for children to live

with both parents 77% 10% 59% 22%
rather than one
It should be made more

difficult to get divorced 43% 36% 30% 47%
In Britain, people can get married at 16 if their parents agree. They can marry at 18 without their
parents' agreement. What age can people marry in your country? Is it right or wrong to get
married young? In your opinion, what is the ideal age to get married?
111
Before their wedding, actress Brooke Shields and tennis star Andre Agassi made a contract. They
agreed how they will share their £50 million, how much time they will spend in their four houses
and how many tennis tournaments Brooke will attend a year).
Do you think it is a good idea to discuss practical details with your future wife/husband before
you get married? Why/why not? Make a list of points that you would include in a marriage
contract.
112
REFERENCES
Alexander, L.G and R.H Kingsbury. I Think You Think. Longman
Clark, A. 1976. The Secret Of The Andes. Penguin Group, Maryland, USA.
Grisham, J. 1999. A Time To Kill. Penguin Readers Ltd Original Publishing House, Maryland,
USA.
Hailey, A. 1999. Airport. Penguin Books, Maryland, USA.
Hawthorn, N. 2000. The Scarlet Letter. Penguin Group, Maryland, USA.
Hutchinson, T. 1997. Lifelines (Intermediate). Oxford: OUP
Johnston, O. 1998. Ideas & Issues. Macmillan Languagehouse, London, UK
Jones Leo and Victoria Kimbrough. 1992. Great Ideas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Lawrence, D. 1999. British And American Short Stories. Penguin Ltd, Maryland, USA.
Leonard, T.J. 1996. Talk, talk: American Style. Tokyo: MacMillan Languagehouse Ltd.
Lowry, L. 1989. Number The Stars. Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Maryland, USA.
Richard, R. 1998. Impact Issues.Longman Asia ELT, Hongkong.
Richard, R. 1998. Impact Topics. Longman Asia ELT, Hongkong.
Shelley, Mary. 1988. Frankenstein. Oxford University Press, London, UK
Spack, R. 1999. International Story. Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House, HCM City, Vietnam.
Thomson, A. 1989. A Practical English Grammar. Oxford University Press, London, UK

CONTENTS
Chapter 1: PERSONAL ISSUES 1
Unit 1: Personality Types 1
Unit 2: Sports & Music 3
Unit 3: Animal Rights 10
Unit 4: Eating Well 13
Unit 5: Lifestyles 16
Chapter 2: CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES 19
Unit 6: Free Trade 19
Unit 7: Family Choices 22
Unit 8: Education 27
Unit 9: Drinking & Smoking 32
Unit 10: Executive Salaries 35
Unit 11: Endangered Species 38
Unit 12: Abstract Art & Movies 40
Unit 13 Gun Control & the Death Penalty 43
Unit 14: Population Control 46
Unit 15: Assisted Suicide 49
Chapter 3: BEHAVOURAL ISSUES 52
Unit 16: What’s for Dinner? 52
Unit 17: Last Chance 54
Unit 18: Take the Money and Run 56
Unit 19: Learn English 58
Unit 20: Forever Single 60
Unit 21: Traffic Jam 62
Unit 22: The Unborn Child 64
Unit 23: Family Harmony 66
Unit 24: For the Sake of the Children 68
Unit 25: Taking Care of Mother 70
Unit 26: A Reward or a Bride 72
Chapter 4: RELATIONAL ISSUES 75
Unit 27: Friends & Lovers 75
Unit 28: An International Relationship 77
Unit 29: 20 Years of Pain 79
Unit 30: Happily Ever After 81
Unit 31: Growing Apart 83
Unit 32: Doing the Right Thing 85
Unit 33: The Right to Die 87
Chapter 5: HUMAN CHOICES 88
Unit 34: Alive or Death 88
Unit 35: Should the Death help the Living? 91
Unit 36: Hostage 93
Unit 37: Helping Other 95
Unit 38: A Woman’s Place 97
Unit 39: To Tell or not to Tell? 99
Unit 40: Why Don’t You Accept Us? 101
Unit 41: Finders & Keepers 103
Unit 42: A Mother’s Story 105
Unit 43: Real-Life Couples 108
References 112
Thông tin về tác giả của giáo trình:
- Họ và tên: Nguyễn Văn Tuấn
- Sinh năm: 1963
- Cơ quan công tác: Tổ Biên-phiên dịch, Khoa Tiếng Anh, Trường Đại học Ngoại
Ngữ Huế
- Địa chỉ email: tuannguyen11863@yahoo.com
Phạm vi và đối tượng sử dụng giáo trình:

- Giáo trình Speaking 4 chủ yếu sử dụng để dạy cho sinh viên ngành Tiếng Anh,
chuyên ngành Sư phạm và Biên phiên dịch. Giáo trình này còn có thể dùng để dạy
hoặc dùng như nguồn tham khảo cho sinh viên ngành Quốc tế học, Việt Nam học.
- Giáo trình có thể dùng cho các trường Đại học ngoại ngữ, Đại học sư phạm ngoại
ngữ.
- Yêu cầu kiến thức trước lúc học môn này:
Để học tốt môn này, người học cần có trình độ tiếng Anh từ Intermediate trở lên.
Ngoài ra người học cần phải có kỹ năng nói tiếng Anh tương đối tốt, có kiến thức
và những lập luận về các vấn đề liên quan đến cuộc sống hằng ngày, văn hóa, xã
hội, chính trị và khoa học.
- Các từ khóa để tra cứu:
Personal issues, personality type, sports & music, animal rights, lifestyles,
controversial issues, free trade, overpopulation, education, behavoural issues.
- Giáo trình chưa được xuất bản, nhưng được sử dụng làm giáo trình giảng dạy
trong chương trình đào tạo cử nhân sư phạm tiếng Anh của Đại học Sư phạm Huế
và chương trình elearning của Đại học Huế.

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HUE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

NGUYEN VAN TUAN

Chapter 1: PERSONAL ISSUES

Unit 1 : PERSONALITY TYPES

By contrast, a Type-B person is non-competitive, easygoing, laid-back, and generally

Opposing Views: Study the opinions below.

Type-A advocates Type-B advocates

1. Debbie/ cute and funny/ serious

Are you afraid of . . . ? yes, a l o t yes, a little not at all

Paired Practice: Give your own opinion in the blanks below.

Misato: Have you seen Doug lately?

Unit 2: SPORTS & MUSIC

Match similar expressions.

Study the opinions below.

Those favoring sports Those against

Check (V) One:

Reading 2 : PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

Reading 3 : PEOPLE AND PLACES IN SPORTS

SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS

KORBUT AND COMANECI

Unit 3 : ANIMAL RIGHTS

Match similar expressions.

Study the opinions below.

1. Vivisection is barbaric. Vivisection is an old, accepted practice.

2. Vivisection is cruel; it is torture. With anesthetics, it is painless.

8. Bullfights and cockfights are cruel. These are cultural events.

Check (v) One:

1. elephants for ivory

Choose your answer from the box below.

Kimiko: I'm against the torture of animals.

Topics for Discussion:

Unit 4 : EATING WELL

Opposing Views: Study the opinions below.

those who like to eat well those who don't care

1. Food is an important part of our lives. Food is unimportant.

A: Do you watch your diet?

Shinji: Barbara, how do you keep so trim?

Topics for discussion:

Opposing Views: Study the opinions below.

5. Love naturally leads to marriage. Love has many forms.

6. Sex outside marriage is wrong. This is an old-fashioned idea.

7. Every society encourages marriage. Cohabitation and same-sex relationships are

Check (V) One:

Paired Practice : choose your answer from the phrases below.

A: What do you want to do after graduation?

Mamoru: Nancy, you and Bob live together, don't you?

Mamoru: Family and company pressure, I guess.

Topics for Discussion:

Chapter 2: CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

Unit 6 : FREE TRADE

2. A consumer-led, free-market society is best. Who says so? America?

3. Competition is always good. Competition is threatening.

5. Economic reforms lead to a stronger They can hurt a country's culture.

7. Protectionism results in trade wars. It is practiced by all nations.

8. GATT favors free trade. GATT favors economically strong

A: What's France t r y i n g to protect?

Would you support free trade if it ... ? yes no

1. helped some Japanese industries

Paired Practice : Give your own opinion in the blanks below.

A: What do you think about free trade?

Judy: I'm glad GATT was finally adopted.