Sleep (V. Evans, p. 30)

Scientists continually offer new interpretations and make new discoveries about the condition known as “sleep”. People are paid to sleep with various machines attached to them. These monitor changes in eye movement, heartbeat and body temperature, among other things. This information is fed into a computer and, after a few calculations, the scientist can establish the depth and quality of sleep. It is still unclear how successful these experiments are in establishing exactly what goes on between losing consciousness and awakening. However, one’s behavior the following day is dependent upon how satisfactory the previous night’s sleep was.

4. Listen to the dialogue, put stress-tone marks on the second part of it. What nuclear tones are used in this dialogue most of all? How do they sound? Practice reading and then learn the dialogue by heart.

A Visit to the Doctor

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

ˏWell,| what’s the ˈmatter with ˋyou, Mr. ˌWalker?|| You’d ˈbetter ˈask me what is ˎnot the ˌmatter with me, ˌdoctor.|| I ˈseem to be ˈsuffering with ↑all the ˈillnesses iˎmaginable:| inˏsomnia,| ˏheadaches,| ˏbackache,| ˈindiˏgestion,| ˈconsti͵pation| and ˈpains in the ˎstomach.|| To ˈmake ˈthings ↑still ˏworse| I’ve ˈcaught a ˏcold,| I’ve ˈgot a ↑sore ˏthroat| and I’m ˋconstantly ˌsneezing and ˎcoughing.|| To ˈcrown it ˏall,| I had an ˋaccident the other ˏday,| ˈhurt my ˈright ˏshoulder,| ˈleg and ˏknee| and ˈnearly ˈbroke my ˎneck.|| If I ˈtake a ˈlong ˏwalk,| I ˈget ˙short of ˎbreath.|| In ˏfact,| I ˈfeel ˈmore ˏdead| than aˎlive.|| I’m sorry to hear that. Anyhow, I hope things aren’t as bad as you imagine. Let me examine you. Your heart, chest and lungs seem to be all right. Now open your mouth and show me your tongue. Now breathe in deeply through the nose… There doesn’t seem to be anything radically wrong with you, but it’s quite clear that you’ve run down, and if you don’t take care of yourself you may have a nervous breakdown and have to go to hospital. I advise you first of all to stop worrying. Take a long rest, have regular meals, keep to a diet of salads and fruit and very little meat, keep off alcohol. If possible, give up smoking, at least for a time. Have this tonic made up and take two tablespoonfuls three times a day before meals. If you do this, I can promise you full recovery within two or three months. And if I don’t, doctor? Than you’d better make your will, if you haven’t yet done so. I see. Well, thank you, doctor. I shall have to think it over and decide which is the lesser evil: to follow your advice or prepare for a better world.

5. Read and translate the following text. Use your own intonation patterns with the Rise-Fall where possible. Lay stress-tone marks according to the rules and practice reading it. Transcribe the words in bold.

The Benefits of Exercise (V. Evans, p. 75)

Working full-time can be a very stressful experience for most people; long hours and the pressure to be successful in a competitive society both contribute to the build-up of anxiety. If you are feeling nervous, there’s no better way to relax than to exercise. However, many people return to work too exhausted to move. People are criticized for being lazy and inactive, and for watching too much television which is not beneficial to our health. Taking regular exercise can be both relaxing and pleasant and people who feel healthy often also feel more confident. You don’t need to be especially energetic to take up a sport; simply choose one that is suitable to your character.

6. Listen to the dialogue. Fill in the gaps with the missing pronouns and verbs. Find sentences where the High Fall is used. What additional meanings does it give these sentences? (Headway, p. 8) Practice the dialogue with a partner.