Specialist Degree in European and International Studies

Università degli Studi di Trento

School of International Studies

Specialist Degree in European and International Studies

English Language I / a.a. 2005/2006
Kate Riley

Part One (00.00 – 08.36)

Listen to the first part of the lecture given by Anthony Giddens in 1999 and answer the following questions. You can listen to/watch the lecture at The transcript of the lecture is also to be found at this address. Please do the exercises without reading the transcript.

A CD of the lecture is also available at CIAL along with a hard copy of this work sheet and a copy of the transcript. All page and paragraph references refer to the copy of the transcript in CIAL, not that online.

1. / The fundamental changes occurring in people’s personal lives are the cause of widespread anxiety /

T F

2. / It is clear to see what the implications of these changes will be. / T F
3. / In all countries there is wide debate on questions of sexual equality and the role of the family. / T F
4. / Different countries are addressing different problems in different ways / T F
5. / In modern China marriage is seen more as an agreement between partners than a binding personal relationship / T F
6. / The more traditional marriages in China are those which tend to last. / T F
7. / The conflict occurring with the family in Western societies is worse tha that in China / T F
8. / The ‘traditional family’ has points in common in all cultures and countries. / T F

9. What is meant by the traditional family in western countries?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. What is meant by the traditional family in China?

Part Two

Please note that these questions were prepared by a group of your fellow students (not your academic year)

LECTURE 4 THE FAMILY: the listening comprehension and the vocabulary material is chosen from the second paragraph on page 2 (The traditional family was above all 08.37) to the end of the second paragraph in page 3 (...... as an economic contract).

1. Listening comprehension (pages 2,3):

Say if the following sentences are true or false:

2. Match the first part of the phrase from column A with its ending in column B:

3. Vocabulary - 08.37 – 10.10 (Paragraphs refer to page 2 of transcript).

3.1Listen for synonyms of the following words in the text (in the same order as the text):

- inherent, essential (Par. 2):

- make too much of, exaggerate (Par. 2):

- preserve, protect (Par.3):

- bring up (Par. 3):

- honourable (Par. 6):

3.2Crossword:

Horizontals:

Custom or convention
Gender of men
Not very kind
Double, with two interpretations
That thing that you live every day

12
8 / 10
2
3
9
7 / 11
4
5

4. Grammar

4.1Fill the gaps with the correct preposition (pag. 1 para. 2):

As ___ other aspects ___ the runaway world, we don’t know what the ratio ___ advantages and anxieties will turn out to be. ___ some ways, these are the most difficult and disturbing transformations ___ all. Most ___ us can tune out ___ larger problems ___ much ___ the time. We can’t opt out, however, ___ the swirl ___ change reaching ___ the heart ___ our emotional lives.

4.2insert articles in the gaps where necessary (pag. 1 para 7):

In ___ vast Chinese countryside, by contrast, everything is different. ___ marriage and ___ family are much more traditional – in spite of ___ official policy of limiting ___ childbirth through ___ mixture of incentives and punishment. ___ marriage is ___ arrangement between ___ two families, fixed by ___ parents rather than ___ individuals concerned.

___ recent study in ___ province of ___ Gansu, which has only ___ low level of economic development, found that ___ 60% of ___ marriages

5. Make sentences using the following words.

In the aftermath(page 1, paragraph 5)
Nod your head(1,8)
To turn out(1,2)
To tune out(1,2)
To care about(2,5)

In spite of(1,7)

Part three

16.09 – end

Listen to the rest of the lecture and make notes in preparation for writing a brief essay entitled:

“A return to the traditional family and traditional family values is the only way to rid modern society of many of its social ills”