I04 Unit 9

Should Marijuana be a medical option?

Proponents

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Complete the sentences using information from the Reading.

1. Some people feel that __________ cannot be avoided.

2. One-fifth of the world’s population earns less than __________.

3. Some social scientists think that __________ and __________ contribute to the growing anger of people in poorer societies.

4. Racism is the belief that one group is __________ to another; __________ is treating members of another group unfairly.

Opponents

Artwork description

• Safe and effective treatment the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions.

• Lacks FDA-approval
• Addictive
• Leads to harder drug use
• Impairs driving ability
• Interferes with fertility

• What does Ana have on her hands?
• What do you think they are talking about?
• What controversial article could have caught Ana's eye?
• Do they seem like they are discussing the matter politely or arguing about it?

What's your point of view on this issue?

Listening comprehension

• What's another expression to ask for someone's opinion?
• What are the expressions of approval and opposition?
• What about the ones that follow your point of view?
• What is the expression of disagreement?

• Who was the one who brought up the topic? Ana or Betty?
• Is Betty in favor of capital punishment? Why or why not?
• What does Ana believe about the issue?
• Do they find common ground on this matter?

CRITICAL THINKING

Based on the information in the article, check whether these statements are presented as a fact or an opinion.

1. FACT OPINION Each day, over a billion people in the

world lack basic food supplies.

2. FACT OPINION Power promotes corruption.

3. FACT OPINION Television and movies contribute to

growing anger.

4. FACT OPINION Racism and racial and ethnic

discrimination exist in many places.

5. FACT OPINION Genocides such as the European

Holocaust and the massacre in Sudan

have threatened to wipe out entire

peoples.

I consider that ...

I want you to answer these questions

1. Corruption: What are two common examples?

2. Poverty: What are some consequences of this problem?

3. Terrorism: What is a possible reason it might be increasing?

4. Racism: What are some consequences of this belief?

• Should there be a restriction on the films and books that we have at our disposal?
• How would you feel if it were mandatory for 18-year-old citizens to enroll the army?
• Do you think that a 16-year-old adolescent is responsible enough to drive a car?
• Are people who are 18 aware of the candidates they are voting for?
• What is the problem of smoking indoors?

How do you feel...?

• Do you think secondhand smoke could cause you to suffer lung cancer?
• Could content on movies persuade your children to become violent?
• Do government plans and propaganda convince you to vote for their candidates?
• Should the government encourage 18-year-olds to be part of the military?

5. Show by marking a paper or using a machine, etc., which person you want in a government position

3. A set of basic laws and principles that a country is governed by, which cannot easily be changed by the political party in power

govern

• Do you think tribes and people from the highlands feel left out by the government?
• How do criminals get hold of weapons and grenades?
• What can the government do with homeless people?
• Why are cops easily bribed?

vote

a constitution

a democracy

1. The group of people who govern a country state

a government

2. The art or science of government or governing

a constitution

4. An occasion when people vote to choose someone for and official position

"The only delinquent that doesn't commit an offense a second time is the one that is dead."

"Members of the government should not benefit from parliamentary immunity."

"It is inevitable that one who has power will become corrupt eventually."

"Our society has become more violent because of the lack of communication between parents and children, and the exposure children have to movies and video games."

"It is not fair that gay couples can't tie the knot. That is discriminatory."

"The entertainment media only cares about filling their pockets with money instead of the content they show."

politics

10. A country ruled by a king or a queen whose power is limited by a constitution

a government

an election

a dictatorship

maximize - do (x2) - use - work study - speak - have

a constitutional monarchy

9. Government by a ruler who has complete power

Listening Comprehension

7. A system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials

6. Lead or take part in a series of actions intended to win an election for a government position

a democracy

a monarchy

campaign

a dictatorship

vote

a democracy

8. The system in which a country is ruled by a king or queen

a dictatorship

a monarchy

• Are you someone involved in Politics?
• Why is it that people don't like talking about it?
• What could you say about our government?

Teenagers are difficult, especially when their parents force them ____ English. Teaching courses tell you ____ class speaking time by using pair work. However, if you permit teenagers ____ in pairs, you might as well invite them ____ a chat in Spanish. It doesn't matter how much you beg them ____ in English. I forbid them ____ their mobiles in class, but there's always one phone that starts ringing. I'd love them ____ their homework, but they always forget. I can remind them ten times or even beg them ____ it, but it doesn't make a difference.

1. Where is she? Why is she complaining? What should be done?

2. Does he prefer peace or war? What would happen if there were less soldiers?

3. What is the research about? Where did she find it?

4. What does he think it's ridiculous?

5. How does she feel about the content shown on TV?

Complete the sentences using the words in brackets

I couldn't agree more

• Did they think they were going to meet at the party?
• What type of advice does Sam need?
• What is Sam doing later?
• Where are San-chi and Mei Li from?
• What does Sam want to know?
• What does San-chi say concerning Taiwanese and politics?
• What is his advice? Why?

1. My boss (I/tell/do) ______ the reports before Friday.

2. My colleague (I/ask/send) ______ a fax to the customer.

3. Tom (want/I/help) ______ him prepare his presentation.

4. I (he/warn/not/drive) ______ too quickly because of the bad weather.

5. Please (I/remind/call) ______ Mr. Jones tomorrow morning.

6. Please (he/not/tell/smoke) ______ here - it's not allowed.

7. Marta didn't feel too good but we (persuade/she/come) ______ to the party.

8. Nobody wanted to go to the conference, but our boss (force/we/go) ______ to it.

9. I (she/ask/not/call) ______ so late in the evening. I go to bed early.

10. We (show/they/how/use) ______ the new equipment.

Verbs followed directly by an infinitive and verbs followed by an object before an infinitive

1. agree/you/that/on/with/I/one

2. have/agree/disagree/guess/I/to/to/we'll

3. better/have/couldn't/said/I/myself/it

4. afraid/don't/I'm/agree/well,/I

5. offense,/just/I/agree/no/but/can't

• Is our government doing a good job?
• Should our duty to vote be optional?
• Do you think an election could be manipulated?
• What do you think of the dictatorship in Venezuela?
• Should the constitution be changed to give more extreme penalties to criminals?
• Would you have liked to be born in country with a monarchy?

invite

seem

request

plan

permit

convince

persuade

appear

deserve

advise

allow

hope

artwork description

agree

decide

1. Which four words are systems of government?

2. Which three words are related to a democracy?

3. Which word means a set of laws?

4. Which word means a group of people who govern?

5. Which word means the art or science of governing?

• Do you think they are from the same nationality?
• What do you think they are talking about?
• Which would be some topics that you wouldn't bring up in a party? Why?

Compulsory military service

Controversial issue:

Cons

Writing: Opinion essay on a controversial issue

Pros

• Against your will
• Rebellious attitude towards authorities
• Poor conditions for soldiers

• Temporary place when in doubt
• Clarify options for future

• How many paragraphs are there in the essay?
• What is the writer explaining in each paragraph?
• Which language is being used to contrast ideas?

Opinion

The poor conditions offered to the soldiers won't make possible compulsory military service

Self-check

What are your thoughts on ...?

Contrasting ideas

• Are my arguments relevant, clear, well-developed, and effectively communicated?
• Is the piece of writing well-organized with a natural and very attractive flow of ideas?
• Are you using a varied and accurate range of lexical items and complex grammatical structures?
• Is the writing displaying outstanding spelling of words and lexical items. Is punctuation flawless?
• Has the writing achieved the task in terms of language quality, format, and content?

• Candidates being too liberal
• Teenagers voting for the first time
• Raising children in the twenty-first century
• Getting married when the divorce rate is increasing
• The role of men and women in today's society

I reserve my opinion

• House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be stagnating.
• England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst weather.
• This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude.
• I was in so much pain I didn't want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went to football practice as usual.
• Even though he lost his job as Arts Minister, he continued to serve in the government.

• Why are these topics controversial?
• Which of these topics do you prefer not to bring up?
• Have you ever argued with someone about any of these topics?

1. Would YOU say you're an independent?

2. Would you say YOU're an independent?

3. Would you say you're an indePENdent?

a. Other people say they are independent. But what about you?

b. I am surprised that you would consider yourself an independent, so I'm asking this question to confirm it.

something not acceptable to a particular person or a certain situation

c. Other people might say you're an independent, but what is your opinion-- would you say the same?

sticky question

something that deals with a subject that people might disagree about

touchy

something that might make the other person upset or angry

controversial

a question that might be uncomfortable to answer

inappropriate

abstract ideas

• Have you ever been put in an uncomfortable situation when asked a personal question?
• Why is it that people want to know what you think about certain controversial subjects?

• Do you agree with the phrase no news is good news?
• Will poverty always be an issue?
• Do you feel kids are exposed to information on the Internet which is dangerous?
• Can we believe that justice is done in Peru?
• What is wrong with education in Peru?

1. Did TOM buy a car?

2. Did Tom BUY a car?

3. Did Tom buy a CAR?

4. Did Tom buy a SPORTS car?

• What type of questions does he want to know?
• Do you think he brings up the subject nicely?
• What is the question about?
• What is the answer that he gets?
• What conclusion does he make?

I04 Unit 9