By: Tim Kreider
Published: June 30, 2012; The New York Times http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/?_r=0
Level of Difficulty: **
WATCH, LISTEN AND CONSIDER
WATCH, LISTEN AND CONSIDER
Thanks are due to my friend and colleague
Valerie Needham for this interesting text
BEFORE YOU READ
1.
Describe
the 20th century life style.
2.
How
does such a life style effect one?
3.
Is
this life style actually dictated by outside factors or is it self- imposed?
QUESTIONS
1.
People
who describe themselves as busy are actually feeling ………………………………………..
2.
Why
do people seem to voluntarily clutter up their lives and leave themselves no
breathing space?
3.
Read
the account of the telephone conversation in paragraph 3. Now describe in your
own words what it is that the writer’s friend is unable to do. What effect do
you think such an attitude has on people?
4.
What
does the phrase “those three hours” refer to? What can we surmise about how the
writer likes to live his life? Use your own words.
5.
Read
the account of the conversation with the friend in the south of France. Use
your own words to describe why she is so much happier.
6.
This
friend’s relocation to France not only affected her mood, stress levels and social circle; she also realised something rather important too. It was the fact that …………………………………………………………………..
7.
Why
exactly do we collectively force each other to be so busy?
8.
What
conclusion does the writer reach concerning work and its consequences in the
modern world?
9.
Why
exactly do people enjoy complaining that they are busy?
10.
What
was the writer’s rather unusual reaction to work overload?
11.
What
is the paradox when trying to write?
12.
Why
can idleness lead to creativity and innovation?
13.
What
goal of the modern world would the Puritans agree with?
14.
According
to what principle has the writer been living his life? You will need to tweak
the text.
WRITING TASK
Having read and discussed the text,
write a reaction essay on the topic. If you don’t remember how to write such an
essay, check out my paper on the topic: I will Shout It from the Rooftops;
alternatively, consult your teacher.
THE BUSY TRAP KEY AND TEACHER’S
NOTES
This text discusses a very topical issue and reaches some conclusions
that may not be immediately apparent. For this reason it, it should lend itself
to a reaction essay. The questions where students have to use their own words
are very important in helping them prepare for those multiple choice questions
they get on tests. Level wise, I thought it was ** but let me know if you don’t
agree.
1.
Tired,
exhausted
2.
Because
of their own ambition, drive or anxiety, addiction to busyness and dread of
what they might have to face in its absence.
3.
Make
a spontaneous arrangement to relax; to chill out; to spend time with a friend.
It makes people increasingly stressed and unhappy, it could lead to a host of
stress related illnesses.
4.
Three
hours of totally unstructured, largely unsupervised time every afternoon; he
likes personal time, he can’t bear to live a regimented life (possible answer).
5.
Possible
answer: She has slowed down and is, therefore, much more relaxed and much less
driven.
6.
Her
personality turned out to be a deformative effect of her environment.
7.
Busyness
serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness.
8.
It
is a form of institutional self delusion; histrionic exhaustion is a way of
covering up the fact that most of what we do doesn’t matter.
9.
It
makes them feel important, sought after and put upon.
10.
Fleeing
town to an undisclosed location.
11.
It
is hard to find anything to say about life…
12.
The
space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing
back from life and …
13.
Full
employment.
14.
Time
is more important than money.
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