Attitudes and beliefs
Reading
Read the text that follows in stages - it's rather long - and note the language it offers you in the area of opinions, beliefs and attitudes.
Fifties people wore pointed shoes. Sixties people wore flowers in their hair. Seventies people dyed their hair pink. So what about the Eighties? Is this a fair picture of an Eighties couple or not? If not, why not?
A 1980s Couple
They are passionate believers in vegetarianism and regard people who eat meat as worse than criminals. (In their view, egg-eaters are really no better, as eggs are babychickens.)
I suspect, though, that part of them is sometimes dying for a nice big juicy steak.
They are suspicious of all frozen food, despise any product that contains additives, wholly disapprove of white bread, and reckon that consumers of 'poisonous' white sugar will nearly all die young.
I hope they're wrong.
They view things like whaling and seal-hunting with disgust, and find vivisection extremely distasteful. They are fierce opponents of fox-hunting and are also opposed to women accepting presents of fur-coats.
I dread to think what their views would be on those cosmetic firms which try out their products on poor, defenceless little rabbits.
For them, zoos are degrading; they refuse to accept that they serve any useful purpose whatsoever. On the other hand, they welcome the growth of wild-life parks and reserves.
I can't make up my mind where I stand on this. They know their own minds, as usual.
They feel strongly that most doctors are little better than drug-pushers, and are convinced that acupuncture is the medicine of the future.
I suppose they might have a point there.
They recommend natural childbirth for all mothers-to-be and reject the need for such things as induction, drips and painkillers, except in special circumstances.
I expect one or two ofyou mothers would disagree.
They are in favour of abortion being freely available, and I guess you don't need me to tell you their feelings on women's equality. They are against corporal punishment of any kind - I would imagine their attitude towards capital punishment is fairly predictable - and is pro voluntary euthanasia.
They take a keen interest in the fortunes of the Third World, and doubt whether any of the Western powers really care.
They are supporters of conservation in its broadest sense, back all tree-planting projects, and strongly approve of recycling waste paper and other rubbish.
I presume most people would share that particular viewpoint.
They would like to see solar energy taken more seriously and are fiercely anti-nuclear power.
My own feeling is that solar energy in Britain is rather a contradiction in terms.
They are under the impression that all politicians are either gangsters or fools.
I must admit, I'm afraid I'm tempted to agree.
They advocate prisons without bars and are of the opinion that 99% of serious criminals are in need of psychiatric help.
To my mind, pleas of insanity have become suspiciously common.
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Attitudes andbeliefs
They are prepared to accept that UFOs probably do exist, and they have no time for people who dismiss reincarnation out of hand.
It all seems a bit improbable to me.
They adore punk clothes, but can't stand the people. They rate Lennon above McCartney and are great fans of Stevie Wonder.
I've never understood their taste in clothes or trusted their judgement when it comes to music.
As far as they are concerned, tobacco is an unspeakable evil, but they support the movement for the legalisation of soft drugs. They are also for restrictions regarding the sale of alcohol.
Me? I don't mind much about the drugs thing, but I'm quite fond of my old pipe and rather keen on my brandy after dinner.
They consider that marriage should be a loose arrangement that ensures security for children, but maintain — insist even - that one balanced parent is preferable
to two who are always at each other's throats.
They're the sort of people who believe in the freedom of all people at all times, and think anyone with a different point of view must be crazy.
I wouldn't have thought that was a very liberal approach, but never mind. If you ask me, nobody's totally open-minded.
Oh yes, and they jog.
OK, so you may see eye to eye with them on some of those issues, but you should try being related to one of them, that's all!
Practice
Here are some names we give to people who have quite definite attitudes, views of behaviour:
a sadist |
h romantic |
о anarchist |
|||
b |
agnostic |
і |
optimist |
p |
perfectionist |
с racist |
j |
nationalist |
q |
disciplinarian |
|
d |
patriot |
k |
activist |
r |
philanthropist |
e |
cynic |
1 atheist |
s fanatic |
||
f |
idealist |
m pessimist |
t |
realist |
|
g |
fatalist |
n masochist |
u nonconformist |
||
Now, who might say which of the following statements?
1 I don't believe in God.
2I don't think I believe in God.
3I don't believe that anyone really believes in anything.
4Love makes the world go round.
5Face facts: love doesn't make the world go round — the sun does.
6Any player not on time for training will be fined £10 for every minute he's late.
7Me, emigrate? You must be joking. It would break my heart.
8I'm not a bad sort of person. I just happen to believe that my country is superior to and more important than any other.
9I'll concede that 99.9% is a good examination result. I just want to know why you failed to get 100%.
10Honestly, I've nothing against foreigners, as long as they don't come and live next door to me or try and marry my daughter.
11What will be will be.
12I don't know why you bother to talk about the next World Cup. There will probably have been a nuclear war by then.
13It's no good just sitting and talking about social injustice. The time has come to do something about it.
14We shall achieve our aims by any means available; if that includes bloodshed and suffering for innocent people, that's the way it'll have to be.
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Attitudes and beliefs
15I ran fifty kilometres in the midday sun today. Every kilometre hurt more than the last, so I feel really good about it. It must have done me good.
16You might not enjoy this, but I'm certainly going to enjoy watching you suffer.
17What did those politicians, lawyers and priests ever do for me? We should all follow our own ideas on government, law and the church.
18Just because you're losing 0-6, 0-6, 0-5 and 0-40 doesn't mean you're necessarily going to lose.
19I don't care what they say — palace or not, royalty or not, hundredth anniversary or not, I am not going to wear a tie.
20It's the moral duty of all of us to do what we can to reduce the amount of human suffering in the world. At least, that's the way I look at things.
21I am convinced that we are capable of creating paradise here on earth.
Discuss or write answers to the following questions.
1 What is your attitude to the issues mentioned in 'A 1980s Couple?
2 What is your opinion on a controversial issue in the news at the moment?
Act or write out short arguments between the pairs of people below, who are attacking each other's standpoints and attitudes. Start: The trouble with people like you is... .
1a vegetarian and a cattle farmer
2a doctor and a teacher
3a 'green' supporter and the director of a firm producing chemicals
4a fourteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old
Write part of your speech as a politician, in which you outline your views on defence spending, taxation, law and order and foreign policy.
Write in dialogue form the middle of an interview between a headmaster and a candidate for a job as a teacher. The questions are getting difficult. Start: So, Mr Brown, what is your attitude towards pupil power in schools? And how do you view the recent trend towards ... ?
Add here any other expressions about attitudes and beliefs as you meet them.
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Thinking, wanting and knowing
Reading
In this excerpt from a Scandinavian film script, note the variations we have on the work think.
Read the script silently or act it out in threes, taking the parts of Haro, Leni and the director.
Scene 246 from 'Brakbordsma' (Breakfast) by Ingmar Pintman.
Leni stares into her coffee cup, contemplating her life in the bottom of it.
Leni: Can you picture us in ...?
She breaks off. Haro looks up from his paper; their eyes meet briefly. Leni: Do you envisage us doing this for the rest of...?
Long pause. Haro is lost in thought, in a world of his own. He gazes out ofthe window, reflecting on the chances they have missed.
Leni: I can't imagine anything any more that will break the routine of...
The camera passes over Haro's meditating face.
Leni: It's become impossible to visualise a time or place in which we won't...
Pause. Suddenly she collects her thoughts, pulls herself together.
Leni: How's breakfast?
Haro is not concentrating, pre-occupied with the falling snowflakes. Haro: Cold. (Pause) Cold bacon.
Leni is dreaming of her childhood. Leni: I wasn't aware you liked it hot.
Haro continues to speculate on what might have been. Haro: I don't.
Long pause. They both have a lot on their mind.
Haro: If you weigh up both sides, balance the pros and cons, consider it from each angle, bear in mind every little detail, you begin to realize that the importance of hot bacon can be greatly exaggerated in one's mind.
Leni is inventing an excuse for not going with him this evening, making up a story on which to improvise later.
Leni: I was day-dreaming.
Pause. She has a sudden brainwave.
Leni: Suppose ... just suppose that there was another opportunity, another chance to...
Haro: I've been toying with the idea of cutting out the bacon ... at breakfast. Pause.
Leni: This evening ... you know, this evening, I'm sorry, but I'm ...
Haro: I'm seriously thinking of doing without it.
The word is going over and over in Leni's brain until she whispers it, almost inaudibly.
Leni: That's just make-believe.
Haro pretends not to have heard.
Haro: I've come to a decision. (Pause) This conclusion I've reached ... it's that...
His mind begins to wander. She is trying to guess what is going on in his head.
Haro: I've discovered certain things about myself in the last few weeks, you see ...
and I've decided...
He is suddenly miles away, his mind is a blank.(Pause) He tries again.
Haro: Yes, I've resolved ...
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Thinking, wanting and knowing
Leni thinks she understands; her mind is racing.
Haro: Made up my mind, you know ... I'm going to try sausages.
Leni: Why don't you sleep on it, think it over?
Haro: I never change my mind after breakfast. (Pause) On second thoughts,...
A flash of inspiration from Leni:
Leni: It strikes me that... they've been very foolish. Has it occurred to you that they might... reconsider?
She is confused.
Haro: What do you mean?
The camera tracks to the window and the falling snow. Leni: Nothing.
Jigsaw Reading
Here are some comments made by two people at various times in their working life - when they were 16, 26, 36, 46 and 56. Unfortunately, they have become mixed up. Read them and try to decide at which age each was spoken. Notice how many feelings, desires, hopes and fears are expressed. Which paragraph do you identify with most? Which person do you envy less, feel more sorry for?
My twelfth job in ten years; it was the last thing I wanted.
All I've ever asked for is a bit of security. I'm determined to keep this job with Button and Co. longer than the others, so I'm keen to make a good impression.
I'm between jobs again at the moment. I've forced myself to stop worrying about it. I'll be glad if I can keep finding work until I'm old enough to stop. I could do with three or four more long term temporary contracts. Of course, I wouldn't say no to a permanent one, but.... Quite frankly, I wouldn't mind
going abroad, but I should think foreign employers would be a bit reluctant to take on someone my age.
I'd rather not think about how many jobs I've had. I used to dream of making my way up to the top of some firm or other - a firm of accountants, perhaps. Instead, I've settled for odd jobs here and there, aimed for posts they didn't
even consider me for, compromised left, right and centre and made do with what came my way. At times I would have given my right arm for
I'd love to do something like teaching for a while, as a change from book-keeping. Teaching English to foreign students appeals to me; I really like the sound of it.
For two pins, I'd leave James, James and James and try a summer course at the Sunshine School of English just down the road. To be quite honest, I just don't feel like going into the office today -
or ever again. I'm in the mood for something completely different.
I'm undecided as to whether to go on to university or leave school now. I feel quite tempted to start work in the real world, but on the other hand I'd quite like three years doing nothing very much and give myself time to make a choice ofcareer. To tell the truth, I
don't really fancy getting tied down to one profession just yet.
I suppose I'm resigned to being an accountant with J, J and J until I'm 65.1 know it's too late to
have regrets, but I do wish I
had tried harder to make the break. I had every intention of doing so. There seemed to be so many options open once, so many alternatives to pick from, so many possibilities from which to choose. I recall how I flirted withjournalism, how I
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Thinking, wanting and knowing
a comfortablejob, regular salary, some sort ofprospects. And each time I accepted second or third best. I do so yearn for a second chance. Silly, isn't it?
I've just had my notice from Smith Bros. Ltd. I'm dreading having to look round for work again. I've given up being choosy. I'd be more than happy just to have any sort of job now. I'm desperate to find anything that's reasonable. I
really have no strong preference any more.
I can't wait to leave school.
I'm dying to start work. I mean to find a nice steady job in a well-established firm, and intend to work my way up from the bottom. I'm anxious to learn about all sides of the business, because I hope to be on the management side by the time I'm 40.
was once quite committed to becoming a social worker, how I turned my back on a teaching career. I hate to admit it, but I fear it's true. I'm longing for my retirement.
Well, I've made a resolution to leave the old firm within the next eighteen months. I'm really looking forward to a change. I couldn't face going on in accountancy until
I retire. I feel inclined to try publishing; I've got my eye on a company just down the road. I have half a mind to write to them today.
I didn't really plan to get into accountancy. I'm not sure I ever really wanted to work in the world of business, but there it is, here
I am. I suppose I was just drawn to it somehow, attracted to it like a magnet. I'm going to give it a few more years and then change. I rather like the idea of being a journalist; there is a newspaper office just down the road.
Practice
Rewrite the sentence given in each item four times, using each of the four words below it. For example:
I wouldn't like to be a millionaire. fancy / hate / pleasure / last
I wouldn't fancy being a millionaire. I would hate to be a millionaire.
Being a millionaire would give me no pleasure at all. A millionaire is the last thing I would want to be.
1I want to see him again very much, forward / dying / wait / longing
2I didn't intend to spend so long there, planned / mean / planning / intention
3I would like a holiday,
could / feel / mind / say no
4I want to go to London on Saturday, not Sunday, rather / prefer / preferable / preference
5I don't really want to move away from the coast, keen / reluctant / fancy / idea
Discuss or write the answer to this question.
How have your ideas, plans, feelings on the following subjects changed in the past five or ten years?
1 |
marriage |
3 |
bringing up children (present or future) |
2 |
career |
4 |
money |
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Thinking, wanting and knowing
Act or write conversations in which each of the people below is interviewed about their attitude to their work.
1 a young reporter recently taken on by a national newspaper
2a worker on an assembly line
3a pilot who has recently retired
4a 45-year-old actor or actress who is past his or her best
5an English teacher who's been teaching beginners for twenty-five years
Act or write out a conversation in which you discuss your holiday plans for next summer with two friends. See if you can agree on a holiday together, although you have very different ideas about what you would really like to do.
Write a goodbye note left by a runaway teenager for his parents.
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation which took place eighty years ago between a young man and his future father-in-law. The young man is trying to prove he will be a worthy husband for the other's daughter.
Add here any other words or expressions about thinking, wanting and knowing you maymeet.
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