The Thoughts of Lizzy

Ronnie Carter never treated her as an equal or even a real person, just as useful object. She knew if he had a male secretary, he would not be able to behave like that. She knew she was good at her job and she hated being patronized. In some way he seemed to think he was naturally superior to her and she wondered, not for the first time, what sort of relationship he had with his wife.

The company prided itself on offering equal opportunities to men and women, but only at management level, she thought sadly. There was definitely discrimination as far as promotion was concerned. No secretary had ever been promoted to executive level. Only last month, Charles Taylor’s secretary had been turned down because the Board had been too narrow-minded even to consider that a secretary could make a good executive.

It was difficult for her to suppress her natural inclination to say what she thought but, along with her colleagues who were very supportive, she had decided to try and open Ronnie’s mind to the fact that women were people and should not be automatically categorized as a sub-species. Everyone should be considered on their merits, not on their sex. Having preconceived ideas about anyone was just not acceptable in the 1990s. In the meantime, however, a girl couldn’t help imagining a bit of revenge!

 

b) Highlight an example in the text of each of the following:

 

1) information (something you didn’t know or realize before);

2) opinion (a point of view that made you pause and think);

3) social comment (a criticism of the way people behave);

4) empathy (something that made you share the main character’s / writer’s feelings);

 

Talk to your partner about other forms of prejudice (you have experienced in your life, if you have).

Discussion activity

XVIII. Highlight the following proverbs and match them to the given phrases; use them in the situations of your own:

a) Every bullet has its billet.

b) It is always darkest before the dawn.

c) Man proposes, god disposes.

d) Misfortune never come singly.

e) It never rains but it pours.

f) Nothing succeeds like success.

1) providence

2) coincidence

3) in luck/ out of luck

4) to try/ chance one’s luck at smth

5) a run of luck

6) a run of bad luck

7) your luck changes

 

XIX. Work in groups. Discuss these topics:

 

a) superstitions as a traditional belief;

b) kinds and role of the superstitions;

c) well-known superstitions foretelling good and bad luck;

d) whether and how prejudices are connected with people’s background;

e) what prejudices might arise from and what they might lead to;

f) forms of prejudices;

g) how prejudices can be eliminated or (at least) reduced;

 

 

XX. Make up an imaginary story about yourself, including the following words:

 

A black cat, a mirror, an empty pail, a horse-shoe, amulet.

 

XXI. Think of the situation from your own or your friend’s life experience connected with superstitions and prejudices.

XXII. Work in groups. Here are two statements. Discuss your reaction to them with your partners. Give your argument/ counterargument, using the expressions below.

a) Prejudices are convenient.

b) Most people even highly educated individuals, act superstitiously from time to time.

 

1) I agree + reason…:

That’s right, because….

That’s just what I think.

I couldn’t agree more…

Sure, because…

You’ve got the point there…

That seems reasonable…

Beyond all doubt.

I guessed as much.

 

b) I don’t agree or I partly agree + reason:

I can’t agree with you, there… That’s not quite the way I see it.

I see what you’re getting at, but… I’m afraid you’ve missed the point…

It’s just the other way round.

 

c) Avoiding giving an opinion:

Do you think so? I really don’t know, I’m afraid.

I’m not really sure. It’s difficult to say…

I suppose it depends on your point of view.

 

d) I doubt + reason:

It’s hardly likely/ most unlikely that…

Do you really mean? Are you serious?

Things do happen. I should say so.

I find it hard to believe.

Sounds promising /incredible/ highly

improbable, but…

You never know.

 

Unit 2. The Unexplained.

 

Discussion point.

In our life we often encounter some phenomena difficult to explain, they are often called paranormal.

- What are they?

- Can any of them be explained logically?

- What is the sixth sense?