UNIT 1
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Hello, everyone. Today I invite you to join me in an exploration off the causes of depression. There ate many factors involved, but I believe some deserve special attention.
Heredity certainly plays a role. .The tendency to develop depression may be inherited; there is evidence that this disorder may run in families.
Physiology is another factor related to depression. There may be changes or imbalances in chemicals which transmit information in the brain called neurotransmitters. Many modern antidepressant drugs attempt to increase levels of certain neurotransmitters so as to increase brain communication. While the causal relationship is unclear; it is known that antidepressant medications do reliever certain symptoms of depression.
Researchers also study psychological factors. They include the complex development of one’s personality and how one has learned to cope with external environmental factors, such as stress. It is freeqently observed that low self-esteem and self-defeating thinking are connected with depression. While it is not clear which is the cause and which is the effect, it is known that sufferers who are able to make corrections to their thinking patterns can show improved mood and self-esteem.
Another factor causing depression is one’s early experiences. Events such as the death
of a parent, the divorce of the parents, neglect, chronic illness, and severe physical abuse can also increase the likelihood of depression later in life. Some present experiences may also lead to depression. Job loss, financial difficulties, long periods of unemployment, the loss of a spouse or other family member, or other painful events may trigger depression. Long-term stress at home, work, or school can also be involved.
It is worth nothing that those living with someone suffering from \depression experience increased anxiety which adds to the possibility of their also becoming depressed.
Depression-causing Problem Description Solution
Factors
Heredity It is inherited and run in families.
Physiology changes or imbalances in Antidepressant drugs
chemicals called relieve certain symptoms
neurotransmitters, which transmit of depression.
information in the brain
Psychological Factors Low self-esteem and Sufferers who make
self-defeating thinking are correction to their
connected with depression. thinking patterns can
show improved mood
and self-esteem.
Early Experiences Event like the death of a parent,
the divorce of parents, neglect,
chronic illness, and severe
physical abuse can increase the
likelihood of depression.
Present Experiences Job loss, financial difficulties,
long periods of unemployment,
the loss of a spouse or other
family member, or long-term
stress may trigger depression.
Living with somebody This causes increased anxiety,
with depression which adds to the possibility of
their also becoming depressed.
UNIT 2
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you’ll find it interesting how to be
fashionable without spending too much money.
Sure, some famous stars always look stylish. They have unlimited clothing budgets that put the latest looks at their fingertips! But you can also look amazing without spending lots of money on your wardrobes. Simple try the following suggestions on for size.
First, you should make seasonal purchases; that is, you should buy winter coats, leather jackets, bathing suits, ad summer dress at the end of the season. You’ll get
major discounts as you stock up for the next year.
If you want clothes to wear right now, you can go to discount stores. They may not be the place to buy an expensive evening dress, but they’re perfect for buying things like
T-shirts
There is yet another cheap way of you to buy stylish clothes. Many department stores have a store brand. It means they offer current styles but are much cheaper than big-name brands.
To save money, an important principle for you to follow is to not buy “outfits”. With
the exception of suits, interchangeable piece are more affordable—buying clothing in
separate.
Wear-with- anything pieces are always a good buy. For example, you can almost always wear a pair of black trousers and a white dress skirt; you can wear them several times a week, paired with different accessories.
If you can’t afford expensive clothes, you can spend money on accessories such as
nice shoes and fashionable bags. Such extras make even the simplest outfit look polished.
Finally, a great haircut always helps. When you hair looks fabulous, you look more stylish and fashionable.
Money-saving Methods Detailed Description
seasonal purchases You should buy things at the end of the
season. You’ll get major discounts, and
you’ll be stocked up for the next year.
discount stores They’re perfect for buying things like
T-shirts.
A store brand Stores offer current styles that are much
cheaper than big-name brands.
Don’t buy outfits Buying separates is much more
affordable.
Wear-with- anything pieces You can almost always wear a pair of
black trousers and a white dress skirt; you
can wear them several times a week,
paired with different accessories.
spend money on accessories Examples are nice shoes and fashionable
bags. Such extras make even the simplest
outfit look polished
a great haircut You look more stylish and fashionable
with a nice haircut.
UNIT 3
V. Let’s Talk
Script
A natural disaster is the consequence of a hazardous event, occurring when human activities are affected by adverse natural phenomena such as flood, drought, hailstorm, heat wave, forest fore, hurricanes or typhoons, tornado, tsunami, landsides and mudslides, or volcanic eruption. The resulting deaths or property damages depend on the human ability to resist the disasters.
Sometimes two seemingly different disasters may be related to each other. For example, an undersea earthquake may result in a tsunami. While there is a long dry spell in one area, there may be a great flood in another. It is necessary for human beings to understand and combat natural disasters.
A drought is a long-lasting weather pattern consisting of dry conditions with very little or no precipitation. During this period, food and water supplies can run low, and other condition, such as famine, can result. Drought can last for several years and are
particularly damaging in areas in which the residents depend on agriculture for survival.
A flood follows too much rain or water in a location, and could be the result of many different conditions. Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall from a storm, including thunderstorms, rapid melting of a large amounts of snow, or rivers which swell from too much precipitation upstream, causing widespread damage to areas downstream. Another possible cause of a flood is the bursting of man-made dams.
Description
Adverse natural phenomena such as
flood, drought, hailstorm, heat wave, Natural disaster
forest fore, hurricanes or typhoons,
tornado, tsunami, landsides and
mudslides, or volcanic eruption.
They are related to each other. An
undersea earthquake may result in a Relationship Between Two Disasters
tsunami. While there is a long dry spell I
none area, there may be a great flood in
another.
During a drought, food and water
supplies can run low, and other condition, Drought
such as famine, can result. Drought are
particularly damaging in areas in which
the residents depend on agriculture for
survival.
Floods can be caused by long rainfall
from a storm, including thunderstorms, Flood
rapid melting of a large amounts of snow,
or rivers which swell from too much
precipitation upstream, causing
widespread damage to areas down
stream. Another cause of a flood is the
bursting of man-made dams.
UNIT 4
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Lillian: Mr. Baxter, you have worked in the company for five years, and you manage
everything here smoothly, like a clock. Could you tell us the secret of your successful career?
Baxter: Just as the golden rule of real estate is location, location, location, the golden rule of work is relationships, relationships, relationships. Unfortunately, many workers focus so hard on the job at hand that they never develop useful relationships with people in other parts of their organization. Worse, when they do interact with colleagues in other departments, they may not treat then with respect. Lillian: Could you give more details?
Baxter: Let’s take Wendy as an example. She switched jobs several months ago in the company. In her first position, as a marketing manager, she frequently found herself in conflict with the financial department over her staff’s expenses. Her argument for
more funds usually ended in vain.
Then in her new job as training administrator, she wanted to launch an on-the-job training project. She needed the financial department to support her request for a budget. How did she convince them this time?
Although the financial department’s offices were located in another city, Wendy
decided to visit them in their offices and try to establish closer relationships. She believed she must first of all understand their mission and their own training needs. Then she found an ally in the company’s chief financial officer, who saw how her
group could help develop his staff. So the two forged a long-tern=m alliance, which led to a training program so successful that it has since been picked up by the company’s offices in Germany and Japan.
Winning allies throughout your organization has an additional benefit. These days, it’s
far too risky to expect your work to speak for itself. Having allies who speak well of you increases your reputation with the top management.
Positive Statements Negative Statements
The golden rule of work is relationships. Many workers never develop useful
relationships with people in other parts of
their organization. Worse, they may not
treat then with respect.
Wendy frequently found herself in
conflict with the financial department
over her staff’s expenses. Her argument
for more funds usually ended in vain.
She and the company’s chief financial
officer forged a long-term alliance, which
led to a training program so successful
that it has since been picked up by the
company’s offices in Germany and Japan.
Having allies who speak well of you
increases your reputation with the top
management.
UNIT 5
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Kathy: Well, now that everybody I here, let’s call the meeting to order. Today we
have to discuss the operation of our software development department. We’re
all aware that nowadays market competition is becoming more intense than
ever before. If we want to keep our competitive edge, the only way is to offer
excellent and considerate service to our customer and, at the same time,
lower our prices. So, what I’m thinking is, maybe we could outsource the
software side of out business to another company. But what impact will it
have on our engineers? It’s a big problem. Mm, I’d be interested to know
your thoughts, Warton.
Warton: I totally agree with you.
Kathy: Could you go into more detail about your opinion?
Warton: I think that outsourcing this part of our operation to another company
certainly makes a lot sense. Our software engineers ate getting a bit too old,
and their technology is a bit out of date. Worse still, their salaries are quite
high. Many professional software-designing companies are offering better
products at lower rates. With outsourcing, we can give some of the
engineers the sack.
Jennifer: Sorry to interrupt you. Coming from the PR department, I look at this issue
from a different perspective. I think we should consider all sides of this
issue before we make a decision.
Kathy: Jennifer, I’d be interested t o knot your view too.
Jennifer: I think as a large company we should consider not only customers and
prices, but also our employees. Our workers have contributed a lot to our
company. Some of them even started working here when our company
opened. I hope we can find a solution that won’t require us t o lay off our
loyal and trust employees.
Kathy: I’m very much impressed by what you said. We’d better give this issue more
careful consideration.
Maybe we could outsource the software side of out business to Kathy
another company. But what impact will it have on our engineers?
Our software engineers ate getting a bit too old, and
their technology is a bit out of date. Worse still, their Warton
salaries are quite high. Many professional
software-designing companies are offering better
products at lower rates. With outsourcing, we can give
some of the engineers the sack.
Our workers have contributed a lot to our company. Jennifer:
Some of them even started working here when our
company opened. I hope we can find a solution that
won’t require us to lay off our loyal and trust
employees.
We’d better give this issue more careful consideration. Kathy
UNIT 6
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Thanks, perhaps, to falling stock markets and unrest in the Middle East, Britons have become even more superstitious than usual, according to a report published today. “There has been a significant increase in superstition over the last month, possible as a result of current economic and political uncertainties,” stated Dr. Dick Armstrong.
He launched an Internet Survey of national superstition, and found it to be surprisingly high, even among those with a scientific background. Only more in ten of those surveyed claimed not to be superstitious at all. Three out of four people in Britain feel the need to touch wood, and 65% cross their fingers. It is interesting to note that lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the less lucky, worried about life, had a strong need for control, and could not tolerate ambiguity.
The survey also revealed some unexpected beliefs. For example, one respondent could not stay in the bathroom once a toilet had been flushed.
There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked, even, when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. They didn’t feel any luckier or more
stratified with their lives at the end of that week than when they started. Armstrong attempted to explain this phenomenon: “When students are preparing for
exams with a lucky charm, they may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision.”
Thanks, perhaps, to falling stock markets and unrest in the Reasons foe More
Middle East, Britons have become even more superstitious than Superstitions
usual
Lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take
constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, Who are more
superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the superstitious?
less lucky
There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked, even,
when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. Do superstitions
They didn’t feel any luckier or more stratified work?
When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm, they Explanation
may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision.
UNIT 7
V. Let’s Talk
Script
The notion of a weekly rest is ancient. Christian religions celebrate a day of rest known as the Sabbath, also called the Lord’s Day. It is on Sunday. The weekend as a
holiday is a rather modern invention. Before the industrial revolution the wage labor force was a small fraction of the population. The day of the Sabbath was viewed as one dedicated to God, not one of relaxation.
The early industrial period in Europe saw a six-day work week with only Sunday off, but some workers had no days off at all. Only the workers’ rights movements in the
late nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a five-day work week introduced as Saturday became a day of rest and relaxation. This movement began in England. In many ways this has been a great boon to the economy as it leads to a great increase in consumer spending on Saturdays as restaurant visits, motorcar journeys, or trips to the movies became common on Saturday. Many jurisdictions continued to enforce strict Lord’s Day laws on Sunday, which meant that most places of recreation, such as stores and theaters, were forced to close on that day. These regulations began to weaken in the years after the Second World War, and Sunday also became a day of recreation for many.
After centuries of development, the weekend is now a part of the week usually lasting two days in which most paid workers do not work. This is a time for leisure and recreation, and for religious activities.
Christian religions celebrate a day of rest known as the Sabbath, also called the Lord’s
Day. It is on Sunday.
Before the industrial revolution the day of the Sabbath was viewed as one dedicated to
God, not one of relaxation.
The early industrial period in Europe saw a six-day work week with only Sunday off.
Only the workers’ rights movements in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century
saw a five-day work week introduced as Saturday became a day of rest and relaxation
In many ways this has been a great boon to the economy as it leads to a great increase
in consumer spending on Saturdays.
After the Second World War, and Sunday also became a day of recreation for many.
The weekend is now a part of the week usually lasting two days in which most paid
workers do not work. This is a time for leisure and recreation, and for religious
activities.
UNIT 8
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Correspondent: In the U.S. what percentage of people support biotech crops? And do
those who support biotech crops also eat biotech foods? What
percentage of food on the market has genetically modified
ingredients?
Professor: U.S. consumers have been exposed to a very effective
anti-biotechnology propaganda campaign for the last few years, but
according to polls, over 70% support biotechnology. For example, in
a recent referendum in Oregon, voters rejected a proposal to require
special labels on all products containing biotech ingredients by an
overwhelming 73% to 27%. That’s probably because consumers
know that we have an effective administrative system. Many may
also know that 70-80% of the processed food products on
supermarket shelves contain one or more ingredients from biotech
crops. All Americans eat biotech foods unless they deliberately seek
out products that are labeled otherwise. Evidence suggests that this
is less than 5% of consumers.
Correspondent: Chinese scientists have used biotechnology to create a new type of
tomato, which contains the vaccine against hepatitis B. What’s your
take on this?
Professor: It’s a great example of how this technology can be used to save lives,
ease pain and suffering and improve the human condition. How can
anyone be opposed to that? My only hope is that the clinical trials of
this new tomato go well, and that it is quickly delivered to
health-care providers who will use it to vaccinate people against
hepatitis. By the way, please note that I do think that such new
pharmaceutical foods need to be handled as medicines by
professionals and not as conventional foods. You will never see
these tomatoes in the supermarket. In a sense, the tomato plant is
just being used to manufacture a vaccine in a very safe and
economical manner.
Over 70% of U.S.consumers support U.S. Consumer’s attitude to
biotechnology. Biotech
In a recent referendum in Oregon, voters rejected
a proposal to require special labels on all products Examples
containing biotech ingredients by an
overwhelming 73% to 27%.
Chinese scientists have used biotechnology to Chinese Progress in Biotech
create a new type of tomato, which contains the
vaccine against hepatitis B.
This technology can be used to save lives,ease Significance of the Progress
pain and suffering and improve the human
condition.
I do think that such new pharmaceutical foods
need to be handled as medicines by professionals The Professor’s Advice
and not as conventional foods.
UNIT 9
V. Let’s Talk
Script
Journalist: Professor Williams, some people argue that the GDP does not reflect the
true nature of the economy. What’s your opinion of the GDP
measurement?
Professor: The GDP is a core index in the calculation of a national economy. But it
shows only whether the economy has grown in a region or a country.
What isn’t taken into account is the price being extacted from our natural
resources and environment to support growth. China’s more than eight
percent annual GDP growth in the past depended a lot on high energy
consumption and uncontrolled discharge of wastes.
Journalist: Can“green GDP” solve the problems?
Professor: As a brand-new method of calculating a national economy, the“green
GDP” index system takes into consideration both the economy and
environmental costs. It deducts environmental costs from the traditional
gross domestic product. In other words, green GDP equals traditional
GDP minus the costs of resources and environmental damage. Green
GDP can be regarded as “the genuine GDP”, for it not only reflects
economic growth, but also shows the quality of that growth. Journalist: How will the“green GDP” influence enterprises?
Professor: The system will have direct and far-reaching influence on enterprises.