“Fears of
civilization-wide idleness are based too much on the downsides of being
unemployed in a society premised on the concept of employment”
By: Ilana E. Strauss
Published: The
Atlantic, 28 June 2016, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/would-a-world-without-work-be-so-bad/488711/
Level of Difficulty: ***
BEFORE YOU READ
·
The power of play https://prezi.com/uvcwam-wknpc/the-power-of-play/
·
The power of play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58P8JU5p_Z4
WATCH AND CONSIDER
·
The power of play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMP8h7fPpoY
·
The decline of play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg-GEzM7iTk
QUESTIONS
1.
Which of
the subtitles below could best cover the first two paragraphs of the text?
·
Lack of work equals greater inequality
·
Lack of work equals complete purposelessness
·
Lack of work equals too much free time
·
Lack of work equals an unmitigated disaster
2.
Why is the above mentioned negative view not
necessarily true?
3.
It is implied in the text that in the current
world, people make time / don’t make time for hobbies or interests and they
could if………………………………….
4.
What does “this attitude” in the phrase “perhaps
as a result of this attitude” refer to?
5.
Go to the following site and study the 30
photos: http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/30-italian-villages-and-small-towns-14660/
Now decide which ones would not promote
socialization and communal activities preventing unemployment from being a
problem.
6.
Gray says “Sometimes people retire from work but
don’t know what to do”. Why this the case? There are two answers; find both.
7.
The Piraha are presented as an example of a
society which is…………………….Why?
8.
It is implied in the text that depression and
purposelessness in modern societies can be linked to………………………………………..(Think
back on the text thus far and use your own words)
9.
We understand from the text that expecting
children to put away childish things at some point is necessary/ unavoidable/
depressing/unnecessary/realistic/ unrealistic.
10.
It is implied in the text that being self-
employed enabled people to…………………
11.
The three factors altered the above state of
affairs are:…
12.
It is indicated in the text that all the changes
in social life experienced after the industrial revolution were due
to………………………………….
13.
The writer thinks the lifestyle of the 17th
century aristocrats should be available to everyone. True or false?
14.
Read the paragraph beginning “It is unlikely
that…” and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
·
Play is important in terms of entertainment
·
Play is important in terms of cognitive
development
·
Play is important in terms of cooperation
·
Play is important in terms of socialization
·
Play makes people less self centered
·
Play makes people live closer together
15.
Why might formal schooling disappear all
together in a work-free world?
16.
Why would people participate in public life
more? Use your own words.
17.
Why would people be happier in a work free
world?
WRITING TASK
Write an essay in which you discuss the benefits of
increased leisure time.
WOULD A WORK-FREE
WORLD BE SO BAD? Key and teachers’ notes
This is a very
interesting text as it stresses the importance of play which is very important
in a world where people can die of overwork.
1. Lack
of work equals an unmitigated disaster (It is the most general and covers
everything)
2. Because
in the absence of work, a society designed with other ends in mind could yield
strikingly different circumstances for the future of labor and leisure
3. Don’t
make; they didn’t have to work
4. Viewing
people who don’t work as leeches and parasites (Warning: you have to re-word
the answer to fit the reference)
5. 30. Civita di Bagnoregio, 19. Pienza 16. The Langhe, Treiso
6. They
have lost the ability to create their own activities; training which starts in
school eventually drills play out of many children who grow up to be…
7. Work free, They think of work as fun
7. Work free, They think of work as fun
8. Possible
answer: the emphasis on the concept of employment; the idea that work is the
essence of life and similar answers
9. Unnecessary
10. Mix
work and play in their daily activities
11. Factory
owners, clocks and religious leaders
12. The
physical separation of families (you need to reorganize the phrase to fit the
grammar of the sentence)
13. False
14. All
are true except for the last one
15. Because
the primary purpose of the educational system is to teach people to work
16. Possible
answer: they wouldn’t have to work to earn a living
17. Because
they would be less isolated from each other and having close relations is the
number one predictor of happiness
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