Ex. I. Listen to the dialogue twice and role play it in class
Use the following phrases:
· How about…?
· How can I pay … back?
· What preconditions have to be fulfilled…?
· Up to what amount will I be able to…?
· How can I do this?
Tapescripts
Unit 1: The Seven Wonders of the World
In the second century B.C., the Greek poet Antipater listed the seven wonders of the world. These seven wonders were the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria. Almost all of these wonders have vanished during the long centuries from Antipater’s time up to the present day although, of course, the Egyptian pyramids remain. We know about the other six wonders only from ruins and from the written descriptions of travellers.
Antipater’s world was very much smaller than ours. The Greek sailed in their small ships along the coast of the Mediterranean and traded with other countries on its shores, but they learned very little about the lands stretching beyond those shores though they heard rumours of other countries and empires. When Antipater listed his seven wonders of the world then, he was selecting wonders from a small sampling of the buildings and creations of the rest of the world.
Today tourists are eager to visit the many wonders of the world that have become famous since Antipater’s time. In addition to the Egyptian pyramids, they visit wonders such as the Mayan pyramids in Mexico and Guatemala, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Taj Mahal in India, the Stupa of Borobudur in Indonesia, the Great Wall in China, the Great Buddha in Nara, the Parthenon in Athens, the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the World Trade Center in New York.
No tourist, however, has ever visited the greatest wonder of the world and no tourist ever will. The greatest wonder in the world is the human mind. These other wonders could not have been planned and created without the human mind. Always and everywhere the human mind has produced things of great beauty from the small ivory carvings of the Eskimos to the great buildings of the world.
Unit 2: The Day I Saw Five Loch Ness Monsters
"I didn’t have my camera," says Michael Thompson-Noel, who examines very carefully the evidence supporting Nessie’s existence.
“I was on the banks of Loch Ness the other morning sunning my long legs, when one of those Nessies — those plesiosaur-type monsters that inhabit the loch — surfaced in front of me.
She was 10 or 15 yards away. She had three or four humps and a greenish-brownish skin. A long, graceful neck. Peat coloured eyes. As silent as mist. Not at all threatening.
Within a few seconds, a second monster surfaced and bobbed beside the first one. Then a third and a fourth one — followed by a younger one. I suppose it was young, for it was smaller than the other four.
I reached for my camera, but it was in my car, hundreds of yards away. I couldn’t possibly reach it. So I have no evidence — let alone proof — that what I saw were five Loch Ness monsters”.
At any rate, around the world — Scotland to Canada, Russia to Central Africa and beyond — 265 lakes and rivers are reputed to harbor Loch Ness-type monsters. But there is no place on Earth with as many monster sites as Scotland, which has 24.
The most famous site of all is Loch Ness, which enjoys — because of Nessie, and because of its beauty — a great popularity and a top position among the world’s most famous tourist attractions.
The first recorded surfacing of Loch Ness monster in front of eye-witnesses occurred, allegedly in AD 565, when the Irish missionary-saint, Columba, is said to have met her and spoken to her.
Over the years, there has been a large amount of evidence — all of it disputed — for Nessie’s existence, including surface and under-water photographs and sonar contacts. But no piece of the monster, let alone a whole one, has ever been captured. No hair, skin, or skeleton. No proof whatsoever. Belief in the monster rests entirely on faith.
If you visit Loch Ness today, all you need to do to feel close to the monster is view the excellent audio-visual presentation at the visitors’ center. The presentation lasts half an hour and is balanced and neutral in tone. Visitors are given all the information they need and shown pictures — then invited to judge for themselves whether the creature in the loch is real or imagined.
Unit 3: Giving Excuses
When Henry asked Sheila to go to a dance with him last Saturday night, she responded by saying, “Oh, Henry, I’d love to go, but my Aunt Marion will be in town from New York, and I really have to take her out to dinner.”
When Albert showed up in his writing class without his composition, he said, “Dr. Tailor, you’ll never believe what happened to my paper. My dog chewed it up.”
When Jane’s grandmother invited her to the Senior Citizens Luncheon and Fashion Show on Saturday, Jane told her, “Oh, grandma, you know I wouldn’t miss out on it for the world, but I’ve just got to type up my term paper this weekend. I have to hand it in on Monday.”
What do these responses have in common? They all contain something we’ve all offered at one time or another to friends, relatives, teachers, police officers, or supervisors — excuses.
Could we go even a day without making some kind of excuse? It is highly unlikely. It would be difficult to give up excuses because we need them to help us get through the day. When we are asked to do something we don’t want to do or can’t possibly do, a plausible excuse is more gracious than a blunt no. Even if we make up an excuse, “tell a white lie” as we say, we may feel it is the right thing to do in order not to hurt someone’s feelings.
There are, of course, good excuses and bad excuses. A good excuse is easy and natural and has a ring of truth to it. A bad excuse is false and unbelievable. If you cannot get a paper in on time, it is probably a mistake to think up an excuse such as, “I spilled coffee all over it and was ashamed to turn it in in that condition”. If you don’t have a good solid excuse, such as a note from a physician, it might be better to say simply, “I’m sorry, but it just wasn’t possible for me to turn the paper in on time”.
Judith Martin, who writes the syndicated newspaper column “Miss Manners”, which offers advice on social etiquette to readers, would probably agree. She doesn’t believe in giving specific excuses in social situations. For example, when Aunt Ethel and Uncle Fred arrive in town unannounced and wake you up out of a sound sleep and invite you to meet them on the other side of town in a few hours, she suggests saying something like this: “Oh, we would have adored to see you and Uncle Fred — isn’t it rotten luck that the one time you were free is the time we simply can’t? Promise that next time you’re planning to come by you’ll remember to put us on the top of your advance notice list!”
Unit 4: A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed
This happened in Vienna at the beginning of 1922. I was slowly walking along one of the main streets of the city and though the day was warm and sunny everything seemed gloomy to me as I was out of work.
I had no idea whom to ask for help. Suddenly I remembered that a friend of mine, John Smith by name, had been working as an editor in Vienna for the last few months. I got in touch with him and we made an appointment for that evening.
When I told him my story he smiled and said happily, “I can help you. Listen…” The matter was that his boss, wishing to get greater profits, had decided to publish a number of detective novels which were to be translated from Spanish. They needed a man who could do it for them.
“So you will do it,” he finished.
“How can I do it? I don’t know Spanish.”
“It doesn’t matter,” answered he. “I dislike detective stories. Any translation will do.” I protested, he insisted, I protested, he insisted and at last he got me to agree to do it.
“Here is the novel, and some money in advance. The rest you’ll get after you have finished it. I guarantee good money,” he added. “I give you four days. Not more.” With these words he went away.
I was at a loss what to do. Then I went to a cheap restaurant where I found Hans. We all believed that he knew at least five or six languages including Spanish. I asked him to translate the novel. After some time he said, “You see I’ve been out of practice lately. But I’ll help you. I’ll take the novel, read it and then tell you its contents.” I liked the plan.
In some two or three days I wrote down the contents of the book and went to the editor. Smith was too busy to listen to what I wanted to tell him. “Here is your money. You earned it honestly. See you one of these days,” he said and went out. Later on I met Hans and gave him half of the money.
“I think I ought to study Spanish,” he said taking the money.
“But don’t you know it?” I asked him in great surprise.
“Certainly, I don’t,” he said. “I told you the contents of an English detective novel, I only changed the English names for Spanish.”
I immediately phoned Smith but could not get him on the phone. Some weeks later I met him and told him the truth. I expected him to get angry. He said laughing, “I’m glad I asked you to translate the book. It’s so terrible the people will never touch another detective story after they have read yours.”
Unit 5: Lost in the Post
Ainsley, a post-office sorter, turned the envelope over and over in his hands. The letter was addressed to his wife and had an Australian stamp.
Ainsley knew that the sender was Dicky Soames, his wife’s cousin. It was the second letter Ainsley received after Dicky’s departure. The first letter had come six months before, he did not read it and threw it into the fire. No man ever had less reason for jealousy than Ainsley. His wife was frank as the day, a splendid housekeeper, a very good mother to their two children. He knew that Dicky Soames had been fond of Adela and the fact that Dicky Soames had years back gone away to join his and Adela’s uncle made no difference to him.
He was afraid that some day Dicky would return and take Adela from him.
Ainsley did not take the letter when he was at work as his fellow-workers could see him do it. So when the working hours were over, he went out of the post-office together with his fellow-workers, then he returned to take the letter addressed to his wife. As the door of the post-office was locked, he had to get it through a window. When he was getting out of the window, the postmaster saw him. He got angry and dismissed Ainsley. So another man was hired and Ainsley became unemployed. Their life became hard, they had to borrow money from their friends.
Several months had passed. One afternoon when Ainsley came home he saw the familiar face of Dicky Soames. “So he had turned up,” Ainsley thought to himself.
Dicky Soames said he was delighted to see Ainsley. “I have missed all of you so much,” he added with a friendly smile.
Ainsley looked at his wife. “Uncle Tom has died,” she explained “and Dicky has come into his money.” “Congratulations,” said Ainsley, “you’re lucky.”
Adela turned to Dicky. “Tell Arthur the rest,” she said quietly.
“Well, you see,” said Dicky, “Uncle Tom had something over sixty thousand and he wished Adela never answered the two letters I wrote to her for him. Then he changed his will and left her money for hospitals. I asked him not to do it, but he wouldn’t listen to me!” Ainsley turned pale. “So those two letters were worth reading,” he thought to himself. For some time everybody kept silence. Then Dicky Soames broke the silence, “It’s strange about those two letters. I’ve often wondered why you didn’t answer them” Adela got up, came up to her husband and took him by the hand. “The letters were evidently lost,” said she. At that moment Ainsley realized that she knew everything.
Unit 6: Smart House
Computers and sensors linked by miles of wire and electronic adapters, enable the smart house to control security systems, entertainment centers, appliances, lights, blinds, heating and cooling systems, swimming pool systems, and other systems that can be activated by electrical apparatus. The goal of a smart house is to coordinate all domestic systems to minimize the expenditure of energy and maximize the comfort of its occupants. The central computer, called a controller, ties everything together. We interact with the home automation system via telephone, hand-held remotes, keypads, touch screen televisions, and voice commands.
Do you want your home warm and cozy when you return from a trip? Just head for the nearest phone booth, call your smart house’s controller, and tell it to turn up the heat. Do you want your washing machine to turn itself on at a time when electricity costs less? Just tell the controller when you want it to start.
In Japan, an experimental smart house has been built that seems warm and inviting — anything but technological. It, in fact, is filled with dozens of hidden sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, airflow, carbon dioxide, and even human presence in the house. Its sensors are part of a network linking three PCs with appliances, motor-driven windows and blinds, humidifiers, and so on.
There are lots of possibilities with a smart house. If the homeowner selects the “going out” mode on the master panel, the computer can arm the security system and adjust the lighting and ventilation systems. If it’s time to celebrate at home instead of going out, the “party” setting might close the drapes, adjust the lighting, and tune in background music — all from one switch in the living room. The controller can be programmed to create whatever mood you want.
Research in Holland reflects environmental concerns. On the roof of a smart house, a tunnel-like structure collects rainwater, which is sent to a holding tank. The water collected is used to flush the toilets and water the garden. It reduces the need to use costly drinking-quality water when rainwater is more appropriate.
A solar boiler heats washing and bath water in the smart house, and a row of photo-voltaic panels collects solar energy to change batteries for emergency power. Gas, electricity, and water meters are integrated with the controller so that utilities and homeowners can monitor consumption.
Smart house technology isn’t just a luxury for the wealthy. Those who are energy savers and environmentally minded will probably end up using at least some smart house features in their own homes.
Unit 8: Internet Technologies for Authentic Language Learning Experiences
With the focus on language communication, and culture for foreign language learning, foreign language teachers are continually searching for better ways for accessing authentic materials and providing experiences that will improve their students’ knowledge and skills in these target areas. As the Internet transforms communication around the world, it is natural that it should play a major role in the foreign language classroom.
The Internet enables computers throughout the world to communicate. To do this, each computer must have its own Internet address, be connected to the net, and be able to talk the same language, TCP/IP. Any kind of computer can be networked in this way. Internet applications are computer programs that know how to use the Internet to interact. What matters to the typical foreign language professional are not these technical details but the software that enables communication over the Internet and how it can enhance the classroom experience. The wide range of these programs (text, image, sound, video, multimedia) makes them powerful additions to the foreign language teacher’s repertoire. Internet applications that can be used to enrich the foreign language classroom include:
1. Electronic Mail. E-mail was in use before the Internet as we know it today, it is probably the most commonly used Internet application. With a single E-mail account, foreign language teachers can integrate email-based activities into their curriculum. For example, international keypal projects that enable students to correspond with native speakers of the target language are easily implemented where participants have the necessary access, equipment, and foreign contacts. Distance learning is another curricular area where email is being used.
2. Electronic Lists. Electronic discussion group or “lists” (sometimes referred to as “LISTSERVs”) use email to provide a forum where people of similar interests can participate in a professional dialog and share resources. Hundreds of lists of interest to language teachers are available on the Internet. When participating in discussions, certain rules and protocols referred to as netiquette should be observed. Following list guidelines and learning how to accurately express and gauge the tenor of a post or response (often by using smiley faces) are very important skills.
3. Electronic Journals. Several electronic journals target foreign language professionals. Generally, these journals are free, are published quarterly, and do not exist in paper form. There are a number of reasons for publishing a journal electronically. First, by using electronic communications technologies, electronic journals can reach a large and diverse audience in a timely manner. Second, the hypermedia nature of Web-based journals enables articles to include links to related background information located elsewhere on the Web. Third, many of these journals have a technology focus, and electronic dissemination illustrates many of the technologies treated in a given issue.
4. World Wide Web. Although it is only one of the various Internet applications, the Web browser may be the only one that many people know. The Web represents the broadest and most powerful Internet application. The multimedia nature of the Web and the use of the Web page as an interface to other services have greatly expanded the power of the Internet by making it possible to display information using a combination of formats. For some media formats, additional helper applications or plug-ins must be downloaded and installed to enhance the Web browser. In addition, sophisticated programming functions can turn a Web page into an interactive computer program.
5. Streaming Audio and Video. One way of connecting students with native speakers and authentic materials is by using the technologies of streaming audio and video. Students can hear live or pre-recorded broadcasts of music, news, sports, and weather from countries around the world or watch the nightly news from France or live TV program from Chile transmitted to their computer in real-time. This technology is in its infancy but is being developed and improved at a rapid rate.
6. Remote Access to Libraries and Databases.Many library catalogs, bibliographic resources, and other types of databases are available on the Internet. Gopher, Telnet, and the Web are all applications that enable users to access these databases on their own computers. The ERIC database is one example of an important resource accessible via the Web, making it easy for teachers to locate Digests, Minibibs, and articles of interest on-line.
Unit 9: Business Organization
Many businesses are owned and controlled by a single person (called a sole trader). There would not be much capital required and he would no doubt be given credit by his suppliers. This would give him the opportunity to sell goods to his customers before having to pay for them. He would no doubt turn to his bankers for temporary loans if, and when, these were required. If he wanted to increase the size of his business he would either turn to the bank for longer-term support or “plough back” some of his profits. The attraction for the sole trader is that he has maximum control over the business, making decisions without reference to others.
Other businesses are organized in a form of a partnership. Each partner provides a part of the capital, and the profits and losses are shared on an agreed basis. The amount of capital which can be raised is restricted by the personal wealth of the partners and is likely to be inadequate for the modern large-scale enterprises. Partnerships tend to remain relatively small, predominating in retailing and the professions. Solicitors’ practices are often in the form of partnerships, one of the partners concentrating on conveyancing, that is property sales, another on litigation, that is lawsuits, while a third deals with probate, that is wills and trusts.
The problem with partnerships is that all partners are liable for the debts of the firm, irrespective of the amount of capital they invested. So it would be possible for an extremely rich person to have a small stake in the enterprise, but to lose all his personal assets if the business fails.
A business which is drilling for oil or producing motor cars will obviously need extensive funding and they will be able to obtain money more easily from the public if they are in the form of a limited company. This is because if the company becomes insolvent the shareholders only stand to lose their original stake, the price they paid for their shares.
An enterprise requiring large amounts of capital would probably have its shares quoted on the stock exchange and this would give its shareholders the opportunity to dispose of their shares more easily, if they so wished. Different classes of shares may be issued but, in general, the ordinary shareholders have voting rights which give them power to elect the board of directors who will organize and control the company’s activities.
Unit 10: America Online
America Online (AOL) is a communications service that provides users with access to both the Internet and special AOL content. It offers 19 channels of content and features, covering topics such as news and entertainment. Members can obtain up to five email addresses per account, as well as 10MB personal home page space. Buddy Lists and instant messaging features are also included. With an AOL account, you can utilize a vast array of chart rooms, message boards, and online stores. Other features include online screening software, user profiles, and easy access to the Internet with AOL’s own browser. The installation utility simplifies setup by locating local dial-up numbers, finding your modem, and configuring your software. AOL provides hundreds of widespread dial-up numbers, many of which offer speeds of 56 kbps. Standard accounts cost $21.95 for unlimited access. Less expensive accounts may be acquired, but charge per hour after a time limit has been reached.
Unit 11: New Online Trading Information System Sees Early Successes
The rise of the Internet has transformed the markets of the world.
Long gone are the days of frantic floor-trading. In their place are the days of cyber-trading. Ukrainian traders are also doing business in cyber-space.
Under the direction of an American company called Unistar LLC, Ukraine’s Epsilon Corporation launched http://www.wallstreet.com.ua, an online trading system, in November 1999. In a few short months, the use of their system in the Ukrainian trading market has sky-rocketed.
“Shares in all the big companies, including the oblenergos and the Mykolayiv Alumina Plant, are traded via our system,” said Wallstreet.com.ua director Valery Baberza.
Unlike Western online trading sites, Wallstreet.com.ua is merely an information-based Web site allowing traders to post their offers and bids.
“For now, our Web site is only an information system,” Baberza said. “It’s not a full-fledged trading system as of yet. Most people in Ukraine don’t have the money yet to pay for such a system.”
Another problem is the high cost of an Internet connection in Ukraine. Unlike in many Western countries, in Ukraine, in addition to paying the Internet provider for basic services, you also end up paying for local phone calls when connecting to a server.
Unit 12: Staying Legal in Cyberspace
When it comes to the law it’s just not true that in cyberspace no one can hear your scream. Companies will have to walk a digital tightrope to ensure that their Web sites do not breach the laws of any country where they want to sell electronically.
Selling goods and services over the Internet is about to become a cheap and efficient way for many companies to reach a large group of potential customers. But those suppliers wanting to use the Internet as a way to attract customers from different countries face a vast array of different laws and regulations, from copyright and trade marks to advertising standards and even what constitutes decency. The idea of a “one size fits all” Web site may not be an option.
Online suppliers who have no interest in building long-term business relationships can probably avoid acting within the law. After making some quick money, they can easily shut down their business in one obscure jurisdiction which has little regard for enforcement of the law and transfer to another.
However, for the vast majority of suppliers the problem of Internet law should be a major concern. The fact is that a company Web page should not breach laws in any country of the world.
A directive from the EU Parliament should result in common laws throughout the European Union.
Once electronic orders start rolling in there is the question, of how different countries treat a transnational order. Who is liable and for how much, if security measures don’t work and money or goods are lost or stolen?
Could the product being supplied cause personal injury or death? If so liability for product defects could lead for huge law suits, particularly in some jurisdictions like the US. By selling over the Internet and agreeing to take orders from certain countries the companies may well be moving into new markets and need to increase insurance covers.
However, if the Web site makes it clear that all orders can be rejected by a supplier then it can reserve the right to keep out of certain countries if it thinks the legal exposure would be too high.
There can also be problems with the formation of contracts. Under English law, for example, there is no need for a contract to be signed to be valid. Agreements which are legally enforceable are made all the time by telephone or in meetings or by fax. E-mail is no different.
Clearly as with all other contracts a supplier needs to make sure its standard terms and conditions of sale are sent by some means to the buyer before the contract is made, but in some ways this is easier electronically than it is by fax. With faxes, sales departments can all too easily forget to fax the reverse of order confirmation forms where the all important conditions appear.
Companies need to consider where their main customers are located. If they are in a country where a contract must be signed to be valid, and local law overrides any law set out in standard terms, then the Internet may be a useless tool to form binding contracts.
Unit 13: Fiber Optic Cable
Very thin transparent fibers have been developed that will eventually replace the twisted-pair copper wire traditionally used in the telephone system. These hairlike fiber optic cables carry data faster and are lighter and less expensive than their copper-wire counterparts. Twisted-pair wire and coaxial cable carry data as electrical signals. Fiber optic cable carries data as laser-generated light beams.
The differences between the data transmission rates of copper wire and fiber optic cable are tremendous. In the time it takes to transmit a single page of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary over twisted-pair copper wire (about 6 seconds), the entire dictionary could be transmitted over a single fiber optic cable.
Another of the many advantages of fiber optic cable is its contribution to data security. It is much more difficult for a computer criminal to intercept a signal sent over fiber optic cable (via a beam of light) than it is over copper wire (an electrical signal).
Fiber optic technology has opened the door for some very interesting domestic applications. The high-capacity cable will service our telephone, our TV, and our PC. Fiber optic cable will unable us to see the party on the other end of the telephone conversation. As for TV viewing, we will be able to choose from hundreds of movies, including current releases, and we will be able to choose when we watch them. In the PC world, tapping into an information network will be an increasingly visual experience, with plenty of high-resolution color graphics. For example, instead of reading a buying service’s product description, we’ll be able to view a photo-quality display of it. However, we may need to wait a few years to enjoy these services. The expense of fiber optic cable may delay its wide-spread implementation in the home.
Unit 14: Offer for a Personal Loan
Brown How about the charges for an overdraft?
Lang The overdraft is rather favorable as there are no extra charges. Of course, interest has to be paid quarterly, however, only for the sum overdrawn.
Brown How can I pay the overdraft back?
Lang Oh, this is quite simple: either through a fixed amount every month or in large sums if you prefer this.
Brown What predictions have to be fulfilled before I can make use of it?
Lang Regular wages, a regular old age pension, or — as in your case — a regular income. In addition to this, you ought to have a fixed place of residence and a firm job.
Brown Will all this do as security?
Lang Well, you know, there is a banker’s saying: the safest credit is always the credit based on mutual trust.
Brown That really does sound fair. Up to what amount will I be able to overdraw my account?
Lang In view of the level of your income, and as it is a regular one, we will allow you an overdraft up to the amount of twice your monthly income. If this is not sufficient, I can recommend you to make use of a personal loan. May I ask what you need the money for?
Brown As a matter of fact, I would like to buy some new furniture and a TV set. Apart from that, I will need a new car in the near future.
Lang The personal loan we can offer is up to DM 30,000. However, in this case you would have to provide security.
Brown How can I do this?
Lang In your case, you would assign the documents of your car — isn’t that called a logbook in England? — for security which you would sign for in the bill of sale. Furthermore we will need a guarantor for this conditional guaranty. Besides, all the requirements necessary for an overdraft must be fulfilled in the case of the personal loan as well. Have you taken personal loans from other banks?
Brown No, not at all. Why do you ask?
Lang We do not want our customers to run too high debts which are then hard to pay back. The modern communication technologies allow the banks direct access to the Schufa terminal which provides information on the credits and loans taken by customers. This is, of course, strictly confidential.
Brown I see. So this serves as protection for the customers not to have too many debts as well as for the bank to be sure about his customers’ being able to deal with credits and loans. What are the terms for paying the loan back?
Lang The normal terms are 12 to 72 months. In addition to the interest we charge a handling fee of 2 per cent of the total amount.
Brown Very well, then. I would like to apply for a personal loan of DM 30,000.