Exercise 6. Listen to the interview with Larry West. Find typical phrases to describe visuals. Reproduce the dialogue with a partner.
Interviewer:
Many scientists advise us to get out of our cars if we want to help reduce global warming. Could you explain us the situation in the U.S.?
Larry West:
Take a look atthis table. Here you can see the rising environmental cost of driving alone in the U.S. The first line shows that transportation accounts for more than 30 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. The next two lines give us figures according to the American Public Transportation Association. As you can see, public transportation saves approximately 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline and about 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. And the last line explains that 88 percent of all trips in the United States are made by car – and many of those cars carry only one person! I'd like you to focus your attention to the fact that only 14 million Americans use public transportation daily. I think the conclusion to be drawn from this table is clear to us.
Interviewer:
And how can public transportation help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Larry West:
Please look at this chart. It represents some benefits of public transportation. I’d like to point out some interesting details. If one in ten Americans used public transportation daily, U.S. reliance on foreign oil would decrease 40 %. Riding a train is 79 times safer than riding in an automobile. People who use public transportation regularly tend to be 50 % healthier than people who don’t. And finally, families that use public transportation can reduce their household expenses by $6,200 annually.
Interviewer:
That’s interesting. But which mode of transport is most efficient?
Larry West:
Have a look at this slide. This picture gives us some information about public transportation system in the U.S. Train systems are the most efficient in many ways, typically emitting less carbon and using less fuel per passenger than buses, but they are often more expensive to implement. Also, the traditional advantages of trains can be mitigated to a large extent by using hybrids or buses that run on natural gas. Another promising alternative is bus rapid transit, which runs extra-long buses in dedicated lanes.
I'm sure the results of my presentation are obvious. If you live in an area with good public transportation, do something good for the planet today. Park your car, and take the subway or the bus.
Exercise 7. Study the typical phrases to describe visuals. Divide them into three categories a, b or c:
a) note which parts of the visuals are important,
b) explain why,
c) check understanding of the results.
Introduction and explanation
1. Have a look at this chart (British). / Take a look at this diagram (American).
2. I'd like you to look at this drawing.
3. Here we can see …..
4. The graph represents ….
5. The picture shows/gives information about…
Marking out and comments
1. I'd like us to look at this part of the graph in more detail.
2. I'd like you to focus your attention to the significance of this figure here.
3. I'd like to point out one or two interesting details.
4. As you can see ……
5. I'd also like to draw your attention to ……..
6. If you look at it more closely, you'll notice …….
Checking understanding and interpretations
1. I'm sure the results of this…. are obvious.
2. I think the conclusions to be drawn from this…. are clear to all of us.
Exercise 8. Make a presentation about environmentally sustainable future of urban transport. Use visuals. Ask a partner to translate your speech for the Russian guests. Change the roles.
