CONFRONTATION CULTURE

Published: bbc.co.uk/news

Level of difficulty:*** ( Int. Quarter 2 level)

BEFORE YOU READ

§  How would you describe yourself; hotheaded, laidback and easy going or something in between?

§  How easily do you lose your temper?

§  When did you last lose your temper?

§  In hindsight, were you right or wrong to lose your temper on that particular occasion?

§  Do you think people are more bad-tempered than they used to be?

§  What might the reasons for this be?

NOW READ DOWN AS FAR AS BIG BROTHER

1.      The incident that takes place at a supermarket is provided to prove that __________________________________________________________.

2.      Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a similar altercation? Explain.

___________________________________________________________.

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED BIG BROTHER

3.      What leisure time activity is claimed to influence the confrontational attitude we have developed in recent years?

________________________________________________________________

4.      The Big Brother show is structured in a certain way. How exactly is it structured? Answer in your own words.

_________________________________________________________________

5.      Dr. Cassidy says he didn’t want anything to do with the show because he didn’t feel anything that was being done was right. What was he ultimately worried about?

___________________________________________________________________

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED RETAIL RAGE

6.      In the first half of this section, the writer defends shows like Big Brother. How exactly does he try and show that such shows may not in fact be as harmful as we currently think?

____________________________________________________________________

7.      How does Paul Clarke support his opinion concerning the connection between reality television and public behavior?

_____________________________________________________________________

8.      At the end of this section the writer poses a question. What do you think the answer is?

____________________________________________________________________

NOW READ THE SECTION TASTE THE DEFERENCE

9.      At the beginning of paragraph three, the writer says “this shift”. What is he referring to? Be very specific.

____________________________________________________________________

10.  What do you think the phrase flip-side means in this context?

_____________________________________________________________________

11.  Sir Allan Steer, whose opinions are given in this section, seems to find young people’s “loud and exaggerated behavior” perfectly normal for two reasons. What are they?

a) __________________________________________________________________

b) __________________________________________________________________

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED I’LL SCREAM AND I’LL SCREAM

12.  In this section Ben Page lists some of the reasons why we are getting worse in our public behavior. What are they?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13.  In the text, it is stated that the institute’s research also revealed some double think. What does the latter phrase mean in this context? Explain.

_____________________________________________________________________

OPTIONAL FREE WRITING

To what extent do you agree with the reasons provided in this text to explain our worsening public behavior? State your views clearly and support them. Remember to reach a logical conclusion.

CONFRONTATION CULTURE

This innocent looking text is furnished with some serious comprehension questions that make it a challenge. Could be done as a follow up to Tempering Toddler Tantrums. The level of difficulty:***

BEFORE YOU READ

§  How would you describe yourself; hotheaded, laidback and easy going or something in between?

§  How easily do you lose your temper?

§  When did you last lose your temper?

§  In hindsight, were you right or wrong to lose your temper on that particular occasion?

§  Do you think people are more bad-tempered than they used to be?

§  What might the reasons for this be?

NOW READ DOWN AS FAR AS BIG BROTHER

1.      The incident that takes place at a supermarket is provided to prove that we are becoming addicted to confrontation.

2.      Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a similar altercation? Explain.

Answers will vary.

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED BIG BROTHER

3.      What leisure time activity is claimed to influence the confrontational attitude we have developed in recent years?

watching television

4.      The Big Brother show is structured in a certain way. How exactly is it structured? Answer in your own words.

Arguments fights and personality clashes are engineered on purpose and the people in the show act up accordingly (or something similar).

5.      Dr. Cassidy says he didn’t want anything to do with the show because he didn’t feel anything that was being done was right. What was he ultimately worried about?

We learn from others if people… / or this has a knock on effect…. But if they find this alternative there is a good chance they don’t understand what it means so make sure to stop and explain.

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED RETAIL RAGE

6.      In the first half of this section, the writer defends shows like Big Brother. How exactly does he try and show that such shows may not in fact be as harmful as we currently think?

But since it was invented… The Big Brother show may be something similar.

7.      How does Paul Clarke support his opinion concerning the connection between reality television and public behavior?

People blur what they see on television with the real world.

8.      At the end of this section the writer poses a question. What do you think the answer is?

Answers will vary. Such discussion questions interspersed among the questions help break the monotony and refocus attention.

NOW READ THE SECTION TASTE THE DEFERENCE

9.      At the beginning of paragraph three, the writer says “this shift”. What is he referring to? Be very specific.

The shift from a more accepting society … to a more democratic culture.

10.  What do you think the phrase flip-side means in this context?

the bad side

11.  Sir Allan Steer, whose opinions are given in this section, seems to find young people’s “loud and exaggerated behavior” perfectly normal for two reasons. What are they?

a) you model bad behavior  

b) young people are impressionable

c) programmes being pitched at the young

NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED I’LL SCREAM AND I’LL SCREAM

12.  In this section Ben Page lists some of the reasons why we are getting worse in our      public behavior. What are they?

People expect the world to revolve around the axis of their egos/ people are less inhibited/ 1960’s liberalism / 1980’s me first culture/ increase in affluence/ stress/ long working hours/ alcohol consumption / people feel they have a right to express themselves they don’t care what people think.

13.  In the text, it is stated that the institute’s research also revealed some double think. What does the latter phrase mean in this context? Explain.

People both condemn and secretly enjoy confrontations. / Open ended.

OPTIONAL FREE WRITING

To what extent do you agree with the reasons provided in this text to explain our worsening public behavior? State your views clearly and support them. Remember to reach a logical conclusion.

.

THE ORIGINS OF THE SWASTIKA

Published: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm
BEFORE YOU REeAD
What is the swastika?
What does the swastika mean for you?
NOW WATCH THE BBC VIDEO
The story of the swastika https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_reuMKpgow
READ THE SUBTITLE OF THE TEXT

3. What exactly has the EU done?
4. Why?
5. Do you agree or not
6. Which of the words below does not mean “association”?

1. link      b.  connection      c.  relationship     d.  meaning

NOW READ THE FIRST SECTION OF THE TEXT DOWN TO THE SUBTITLE

7. What is an icosagon or 20 sided polygon?
8. What surprising information does the text provide concerning the origin of the swastika?
9.    The swastika points in all four directions. What additional quality does this give the swastika?
10.  How widespread is the swastika as a cultural symbol? Does it surprise you that you’ve never heard of these roles of the swastika? Why do you think you only know the Nazi   association?
11. . Why did Rudyard Kipling remove the swastika from the dust jacket of his books?
12.  Which of the words below does not mean the same as ‘inappropriate’? (p.5)  a.  unsuitable       b. unnecessary      c. incorrect       d. improper

13. The swastika has appeared on medals presented by two countries. Whereas
   ______________ removed the symbol, _________________________still retains it.
14.  Which attitude do you agree with? Justify your answer.

  NOW READ THE SECOND HALF OF THE TEXT

 15. What geographical place has the name of swastika? Why do you think the name has not been changed?
16.   Which of the words below does not mean ‘resident’?
   - citizen,  - dweller, - inhabitant,  - official, - occupant
17.   Were the Nazis the first to use the swastika as a racist symbol? 
18. What does the word Aryan mean to you? Who, in fact, were the early Aryans?
19.  How do you feel about all you’ve read in the text? Discuss your reaction. How would you feel if you were a Hindu?

THE ORIGINS OF THE SWASTIKA KEY

This is a simple yet original text suited to preintermediate students quite early in the year.

BEFORE YOU READ

      A Nazi symbol

      It reminds me of the persecution of the Jews, concentration camps …

READ THE SUBTITLE OF THE TEXT

Banned the swastika

      because of its associations with hate and racism

      Answers will vary   
      d.  meaning

NOW READ THE FIRST SECTION OF THE TEXT DOWN TO THE SUBTITLE

      A swastika

      It means “good to be” and was made on people and objects to give them    

     good luck.

           stability

           very widespread. Answers will vary.

          The rise of Nazism made it inappropriate.

          b. unnecessary      

          Britain removed the symbol, Finland (the Finnish airforce ) still retains it.
       Open ended

NOW READ THE SECOND HALF OF THE TEXT

  A small mining town in Northern Ontario

   Open ended.
   official, -

   No. The Austrian Pan German followers of Schoenerer used it first.
 Open ended; an Indian race

 Open ended

SCIENCE REVIEW OF 2011:THE YEAR'S BIGGEST STORIES

By Robin McKie ; Published: The Guardian, Saturday 17 December ,2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/dec/18/science-discoveries-review-2011/print

Level of difficulty: ***

The task you are about to tackle is a tough search reading – or a careful search reading or even a convoluted search reading. You should allow 3 minutes per question ideally, giving you a total time of 45 minutes.

QUESTIONS

1.       Which of the quality of graphene holds the greatest potential?

2.       Why did most scientists think that the initial experiment involving the firing of neutrinos was wrong? You will need to partly reword the answer yourselves.

3.       What is the misconception concerning Homo sapiens and Neanderthals? What discovery proved that this view was, indeed, wrong?

4.       The ultimate purpose of the research conducted by Professor Komisaruk  was …………………

5.       The major problem presented by “Earth’s twin”, which has been recently discovered, is that it is …………………………………………………….. Use your own words.

6.       State in your own words why the decision to give Ralph Steinman the Nobel Prize was not retracted.

7.       What conclusion can be drawn concerning the testing of medical treatment intended for humans on animals from the information on stem cell research? Use your own words.

8.       What is “the curse of Mars probes”?

9.       What quality do Archeopteryx and Xiaotingia zhengi share? What is their role in the evolution of birds?

10.   What is the Higgs boson and what have scientists achieved in their efforts to prove its existence?

SCIENCE REVIEW OF 2011: THE YEAR’S 10 BIGGEST STORIES

By: Robin McKie; Published: The Guardian, Saturday 17 December 2011

KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This wonderful, factual text, which would normally be a straightforward search reading exercise, lends itself to some seriously tricky questions which require close reading of sections of the text with an eagle eye if you will. It is not recommended that teachers walk into class without looking to see what, exactly, those tricks are so that they can help the students with clues should the latter get stuck. The task does, however, provide the kind of mental challenge that will help students on tests. The task will provide practice in paraphrasing, text organization and analysis as well as serious cognitive skills.

1.       Its versatility.  The students need to know the meaning of the word potential and relate it to the text.

2.       Because they didn’t believe the neutrinos could have been travelling faster than the speed of light. This is one of the hardest questions in the bunch and requires in depth understanding and an ability to read between the lines; a challenge that students now face on tests.

3.       Homo sapiens arrived in Europe around 35.000 – 40.000 years ago… Bones and teeth found in Italy and England that pushed back… After finding the misconception, they need to look back at the beginning of the text to see what the reason is, which will help teach students reasoning skills

4.       Help both men and women who cannot reach sexual climax. This question involves a simple lexical trick.

5.       Far away. This answer is not openly stated but one would have to be blind not to see the clues. This type of question – which I love – is becoming much more commonplace on tests so practice will make perfect; fingers crossed.

6.       The committee was unaware of his death or impending death when they reached their decision. Again, although there is no phrase such as this in the text, that this was, in fact, the reason is stated in a different way. The students will need to paraphrase to answer the question and where is the harm in that?

7.       What works for animals doesn’t always work for humans. Or, animals and humans react differently to the same medical treatment.  This is an inference question. The students will need to draw an obvious conclusion but they will need to use their own words, all of which means thinking.

8.       Of the 38 Mars missions, 19 have suffered some kind of major flaw, a failure rate of 50%.

9.       They belong to the same group called deinonychosaurs; they are part of the Earthly experimentation on how to build birds.

10.   An entity which gives all other particles their mass; they have noted evidence of a particle at a mass of around 125 GeV

HOW LUTHER WENT VIRAL

“Five centuries before Facebook and the Arab spring, social media helped bring about the Reformation” The Economist, December 17^th, 2011; http://www.economist.com

Level of difficulty:****

BEFORE YOU READ

·         What are the positive effects of social media on an individual?

·         What infamous 20^th century event was instigated partly via the media?

·         In what 21^st century events did the social media play a crucial role?

·         Do you believe that this role of the social media is a relatively new phenomenon or not?

·         Read the title and subtitle of the text. How do you imagine the social media could have been responsible for the spread of Luther’s words in the 16^th century?

QUESTIONS

1.       Read the first two paragraphs of the text and state clearly what feature the Arab spring and the Reformation share?

2.       What does the phrase “this long running debate” at the beginning of paragraph 4 refer to? Use your own words and be very precise.

3.       What qualities of a marketing campaign did Tetzel’s behavior exhibit? How did Luther describe his actions?

4.       What consequence of the writing of the “95 Theses” surprised Luther? Why did this consequence come about?

5.       What qualities did the media campaign in Luther’s day share with its modern day counterpart?

6.       What conclusion can be drawn from the information in paragraph 9?

7.       What measure of popularity do items printed in Luther’s day and current items in social networks share? Use your own words.

8.       Who did Luther seem to have more respect for; Tezel or Mazzolini? Why?

9.       What completely novel social consequence did this rapid flow of pamphlets from rival camps have?

10.   What was one of the main purposes of the news ballads?

11.   What was the second way in which Luther sought to reach the illiterate? How did he defend this medium?

12.   What tactical error did the defenders of the Pope make?

13.   Why did censorship of Luther’s material fail?

14.   Read the section “From Wittenberg to Facebook”. Now state clearly what advantage the use of the social media provided both during the Arab spring and during the Reformation?

15.   Which sentence in the last paragraph best expresses the conclusion that can be drawn from the whole text? There are two synonymous sentences that serve this purpose; find them both.

WRITING TASK

Write an essay either discussing the effects of social media in bringing about change or turn to the writing files and write the essay discussing the effects of Facebook.

HOW LUTHER WENT VIRAL / TEACHER’S NOTES AND KEY

This beautifully organized and written text is worth examining closely not only for the content but more importantly, for the brilliant planning and essay writing technique. There is a tidy four paragraph introduction including the main thesis and transition to the development where this thesis is analyzed. The essay is rounded off with a brilliant conclusion which the development seems flow into if you will. The last paragraph includes the concluding statement which in turn ties back to the introduction. This superb planning needs to be analyzed with the students either while working on the text or when the task is complete. The topic is one hitherto unexplored so there is novelty value and a wow factor. This, it is hoped, will help the students tackle the questions – which have turned out to be quite challenging comprehension questions. The whole activity needs to be rounded off with a writing task either about the effects of social media in implementing social change or the writing activity concerning Facebook on this blog, in the writing files.

KEY

1.       The protestors’ message spread through social networks making it impossible to suppress and highlighting the extent of public support for revolution. The word “viral” needs to be left out if both movements are to be covered. Or the combination of improved……

2.       Whether printing or preaching and other forms of oral transmission was more important in the Reformation.

3.       He was selling indulgences to raise money to fund a pet project by the Pope; Hand over your money…. , As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, so the soul from purgatory springs/ Luther felt this was an example of “the pious defrauding of the faithful”

4.       The rapid spread; To ensure that his words were intelligible from Rhineland to Saxony.

5.       It was a decentralized system whose participants took care of distribution deciding collectively which messages to amplify through sharing and…

6.       A popular pamphlet would thus spread quickly without its author’s involvement.

7.       How much they are shared. Although this idea is clearly expressed, no phrase in the paragraph will cover both times.

8.       Tetzel because he quoted scripture.

9.       It gave people a thrilling and unprecedented sense of participation in a vast distributed debate.

10.   To spread the words even among the illiterate (through the practice of communal singing)

11.   Woodcuts; without images we can neither think nor understand anything.

12.   They wrote in impenetrable Latin

13.   Material printed elsewhere still flowed into the city.

14.   They were a collective signaling mechanism; people became aware of how others felt or a similar answer.

15.   Social media are not unprecedented; rather they are the continuation of a long tradition. Or today’s social media systems do not just connect us to each other; they also link us to the past.

EXAMS IN SOUTH KOREA

THE ONE SHOT SOCIETY

Published: The Economist, December 17, 2011; http://www.economist.com

Level of difficulty: ***

BEFORE YOU READ

·         What do you know about the various systems of entering university in countries around the world?

·         What is the system like in your own country?

·         What effects does this system have on students in the short term?

·         Are there any long term effects you can think of or not?

·         What do you expect the system in South Korea to be like? Better? Worse? Or about the same?

QUESTIONS

1.       How does the day the students take the university entrance exam in South Korea compare to the same day in your own country?

2.       How does what the above exam stand for compare to your own country? Use your own words.

3.       Now read paragraphs 3 and 4. What are the three advantages of Korea’s university entrance system?

4.       Read the story of Min-sung. What seems to be unnatural about the life he leads? And what is the irony of it all? Use your own words.

5.       Now read as far as Seoul Children. What surprising and tragic reaction to the system is observed among students?

6.       The irony is that there is a negative correlation between……………………………………………………

7.       It is stated in the text that “Korea’s rigid social model aggravates the nation’s extreme demographic problems”.  What will the ultimate consequence of this upset of balance be?

8.       What radical changes in hiring policy does the president want to implement?

9.       There are two changes that have recently taken place concerning children’s education and upbringing. They are: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10.   There are two reasons why the tradition of lifetime employment is losing its importance. They are: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

11.   Why do Korean employees wish to go on working for the same companies although they feel they aren’t valued as individuals?

12.   What disadvantages does the Chaebol’s employment policy have for the companies?

13.   Read the stories of Richard Choi and Charles Pyo to the end. Why are these two people’s companies spurned?

14.   Read the conclusion of the text and state clearly what kind of a conclusion it is and why it works for the text?

WRITING TASK: PROBLEM / SOLUTION ESSAY

Write an essay in which you suggest solutions to the twin problems of higher education and employment in Korea using the information in the text and your own opinions. Use the plan below.

In your introduction: Describe the kind of country Korea is and introduce some of the problems that are beginning to emerge. Explain that preventing the situation from getting worse will mean radical changes in two areas: education and employment policies.

In the first developmental paragraph: Address education. Suggest solutions and support your views.

In the second developmental paragraph: Address employment policies. Suggest solutions and support your views.

In the conclusion: Write a summary or restatement.

EXAMS IN SOUTH KOREA: THE ONE SHOT SOCIETY / TEACHER’S NOTES AND KEY

This text is a beautiful analysis of a society of overachievers and the effects of this attitude on individuals and society. I have given it three stars assuming that you have been working on serious comprehension questions as of day one in simpler settings. If this is not the case, however, you may need to tread more carefully. Not all the questions are the same level of difficulty and I have some questions where students will need to use their own words as I believe the latter is the best way to teach the requisite reasoning skills. The text is one the students ought to be able to relate to.

KEY

1.       South Korea goes silent (the shortest and most direct answer)

2.       In South Korea, it is more a matter of life and death.

3.       It is efficient; the exam’s importance prompts students to pay attention in class and their parents to hound them about homework; Korea’s educational results are the envy of the world.

4.       He has no free time; he wants to be an agent for sports stars for which he doesn’t need a degree.

5.       A fifth of Korean middle and high school students said that they felt tempted to commit suicide and in 2009, a tragic 202 did so.

6.       The number of university graduates and the possibility of finding a job.

7.       Korea will age and shrink into global irrelevance.

8.       Make merit count more than academic background; urging Korean firms to recruit people with a wider range of experiences.

9.       Local authorities have been allowed to limit hagwon hours and fees; many young people are beginning to question whether the old rules about how to live one’s life will make them happy.

10.   Cash strapped companies are backing away… ;Many young people don’t want to be chained to the same desk for years.

11.   Because of the difficulty of switching employers.

12.   They fail to get the best out of Korean women; they miss clever people who are not much good at exams and late developers; they shunt older people into retirement when they still have much to offer.

13.   People care too much about other people’s expectations. Incidentally, they are not Samsung won’t do at all. What about all those other globetrotting companies? Samsung is just one example and students should see that.

14.   A summary