A) In not more than 120 words, outline the factors that lead people to get into debt.

B) Advantages and disadvantages of living on credit. Provide your own ideas in not more than 200 words.

LANGUAGE FOCUS

Discussing ideas

21 You have been placed in charge of the planning of a sports centre which will be built in your area. You have extra funds of $ 300,000 to spend in one year.

A In pairs, use the information to discuss the benefits of each facility. Use the language in the boxes.

1. Synthetic aerobics flooring(comfortable, reduce risks of injury) $ 20.000

2. Soft drinks dispensers (10)(generate revenue)

$ 20.000

3. Digital telephone switchboard (all departments easily accessible) $ 30.000

4. Health food restaurant (attract diners, generate income)

$ 60.000

Medical centre, including part-time medical personnel

$ 170.000 (clients feel safe, first aid, treat injuries)

6. Swimming pool (attract families, offer swimming classes) $ 250.000

A: In my view, a swimming pool would bring more people to the centre.

B: Yes, but it is terribly expensive. What about spreading the money over more items?

A: I don’t think we should dismiss the swimming pool idea – it will attract families and generate a lot of revenue, which means that ...

B. Now get together with the rest of the class and try to reach a decision.

C. Discuss the following in groups. Use as much language from the boxes as possible.

Your student committee has $ 100,000 to spend this year. As members of the staff-student committee, discuss how this money would best be spent. The following suggestions are on the agenda:

· Buying 1,000 new titles for the library ($ 25,000)

· Building a student theatre ($ 65,000)

· Buying equipment for sports centre (10,000)

· Organising a trip to the London Stock Exchange ($45,000)

· Buying an extra 50 computers for use in the classrooms ($75,000)

· Building a student cafeteria ($20,000)

TALKING POINTS

22 Two newspaper items about people who won the pools follow. Before you read the articles, discuss the following questions:

· What sort of problems do you think they encountered through suddenly becoming very rich.

· How do you think you would react in similar circumstances?

· Would your attitude to your work or friends change?

· What about your lifestyle?

· Is there a moral difference between getting rich through chance, through inheritance or through personal effort?

23 Work in pairs. Each of you should read one article, then report the contents to the other and answer any questions from your partner about the text. Then the texts can be discussed with the whole class.

Article a

Win May Have Caused Death

Pools winner Harry Johnson died suddenly yesterday - just seven weeks after scooping a £751,735 jackpot.

He suffered a massive heart attack as he drove to work with his wife Mabel. And last night a leading expert on stress said: 'It is highly likely that the pools win was to blame.' Dr Malcolm Carruthers of the Maudsley Hospital, London, explained: 'It is a recognised syndrome for someone of this age undergoing an abrupt change of fortune to suffer a heart attack.'

Mr Johnson, a 59-year-old woodwork teacher known affectionately to his pupils as 'Bulldog' lived with his school­mistress wife in a small house in Hale, Cheshire. They decided to work until Christmas. Then they planned to buy a new car each, renovate their house and take a holiday. Mr Johnson's friend and deputy head, Ray Drinkwater said: 'Sadly, I don't think Harry got around to doing anything with the money.'

(Daily Star)

Article b

Husband Walks Out On Pools Wife Who Won £368,000

Lovestruck Ian Stenson has walked out on his wife, Janice, who won £368,000 on the pools. He left their luxurious four-bedroom home and moved into a terrace house with his lover. He is supporting himself with the help of a £40-a-week Government grant to run a new business.

Ian, 33, insisted: Our split was nothing to do with the win. I just found someone with whom I had more in common.

It was in October 1984 that secretary Janice became a Vernons winner. The couple moved into a £100,000 home in Birmingham. Ian bought a £25,000 Porsche sports car, and Janice gave up full-time work and did a part-time job instead. Two years later Janice discovered Ian was having an affair. He had kept on his job as a storeman with British Telecom. His new love, 22-year-old Jaquie Burgess, also worked for ВТ. Now Ian has set up his own company with a friend. The business specialises in fitting telephones and business systems, and has been launched with a Government £40-a-week enterprise grant.

Ian said: 'After the win life should have been a dream, but neither of us had the imagination to get off our behinds and do something. We had a nice house, nice car and everything to look forward to. I felt guilty about leaving, and I wish Janice all the best in future.'

(Daily Express)

Role-play

Work in groups of three.

One of you has just won a considerable amount of money by chance. The news is given to you on the telephone at work. One of you is a colleague who is told the news, and the third person is the boss of the winner.

Act out your reactions to the situation.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 827