Unit 2 Beauty can be bought

II. Basic Listening Practice

3. Script

W: Did you hear? Helen got modeling job! Her dream was coming true.

M: Wow, that’s great! All that walking practice really paid off. And for once she won’t be complaining about being so tall.

Q: Why did Helen get modeling job?

4. Script

M: Julia, come and see the Miss America contest on TV. All those beautiful girls are walking around in bathing suits, so the judges can decide who has the best figure.

W: Bah! That’s the worst kind of exploitation. They are treating women like toys for people to enjoy. I would never take part in this kind of contest.

Q: What do the man and the woman think about the beautify contest?

3. Script

W: What shall I do? I’m fat. I want to be slim and beauty, but I’m fat. I’ve tried all the new diets, high carb and low carb, but nothing works.

M: Those diets are just fads, popular for a while and then forgotten. Just follow the usual diet with fruits, vegetables, fish, water, and get plenty of exercise. Before long you’ll see results.

Q: What has the woman tried?

4. Script

W1: I think Lily is really attractive. She’s half Spanish and has this really sultry look about her.

W2: That explains why she tans so well. I’ve always been jealous of her skin color in the summer.

Q: Which of following is true of Lily?

5. Script

M: Trust me, it was right there on the Internet: “Plastic Surgery Increasing at a faster rate among men”. Apparently more and more men are trying to improve their appearance.

W: I saw it too on the news. Face-lifts, nose jobs, and box to hide wrinkle are now very popular with men. Men say it’s for business reasons, but we know it’s vanity.

Q: What does the woman think the real reason is that men have plastic surgery?

 

III. Listening in

Task 1 How do women use cosmetics?

Susan: Rebecca, nice to run into you here. Shopping for anything special/

Rebecca: Yes, Susan, makeup. You know, there’s a new boy in my law class and I want to make an impression on him.

Susan: I’m the one who wears makeup, not you. I’ve always thought you looked very attractive without makeup—you know, sort of natural.

Rebecca: Well, thanks, Susan, but most girls wear makeup these days and I want to compete.

Susan: Maybe I can help. My suggestion is that you start with a good makeup base. Look here, this one is made from natural products from the Dead Sea, so it won’t irritate your skin.

Rebecca: Ok. A bit expensive, but I guess I’m worth it. What’s next?

Susan: You want to give a good overall impression. You have beautiful eyes, so you should highlight them with some mascara to make your eyelashes look fuller and thicker.

 Rebecca: I’ll buy this one—also made from natural products. How about eyeliner too?

Susan: Yes, but you want a subtle color to bring out the green in your eyes… without looking like a clown!

Rebecca: That’s what I want… to make other girls into green-eyed monsters. How does this one look?

Susan: Good choice. Now if we can add a bit of color to your cheeks, you will be the classiest of the class.

Rebecca: Thanks! But you haven’t said anything about lipstick. I’ll need a tube of that, too.

Susan: This color will perfectly complement to the rest of your makeup. You look elegant and classy.

 

Task 2: to be a clever beauty

Script

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you’ll find it interesting learning 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 wardrobe. Simply try the following suggestions on for size.

First, make seasonal purchases; that is, you should buy winter coats, leather jackets, bathing suits, and summer dresses 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, 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 another cheap way to buy stylish clothes. Many department stores have store brands, which offer current styles but are much cheaper than big-name brands.

To save money, an important principle is not to buy “outfits”. With the exception of suits, interchangeable pieces are more affordable.

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 shirt; you can wear them several times a week, paired with different accessories. Accessories such as nice shoes and fashionable bags make even the simplest outfit look polished.

Finally, a great haircut always helps. When your hair looks fabulous, you look more stylish and fashionable.

 

 

 

 

Task3: Beauty Contests

A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is based mainly, though not only, on the physical beauty of the contestants. But often is also includes personality, talent demonstration, and question responses as criteria of judgment.

The origin of modern beauty pageants can be traced to the Miss America pageant, which was first held in Atlantic City in 1921. This pageant eventually included preliminary eliminations, an evening gown competition, musical variety show, and judging by the panel. Still, the contests were at first shunned by middle-class society. Pageants did not become respectable until World War Two, when beauty queens were recruited to sell bonds and to entertain the troops. The Miss America Pageant is the largest provider of college scholarships for women in the world.

Many trade associations have multi-level beauty contests which select queens as ceremonial representatives. The queens may appear at official receptions to present awards, to represent the industry in festivals, to present consumer information to the public, or even to lobby for the industry. For example the South Carolina Watermelon Queen may do a tour of supermarkets to dot tastings of different varieties of watermelons. With the increasing popularity of beauty contests, winners have become role models for many young girls. They aspire to become a beauty queen one day.

However, there are also criticisms of beauty contest. Although some contests are not based purely on physical appearance, “unattractive” contestants are unlikely to win, no matter how talented, intelligent, kind-hearted and educated they are. In addition, since “beauty” in these pageants is usually represented by unusually thin woman, some people questions this concept of beauty. Worse still, if a pageants violates the religious or cultural practices of a country, it may cause protests and demonstrations.

 

 

IV. Speaking Out

MODEL 1  She’s having some cosmetic surgery.

Amy: Did you hear Nora’s off to Korea?

Bill:  why is she going to Korea?

Amy: She is having some cosmetic surgery.

Bill:  I’m floored! I thought she was beautiful already.

Amy: I know what you mean. She’s having her nose fixed.

Bill:  Was it broken?

Amy: No, stupid, she’s having it made smaller.

Bill:  If she wasn’t beautiful already, I could understand getting surgery. But she already has a nice nose.

Amy: But not a fashionable one. She’s also having her teeth straighten. She wants to have a perfect smile.

Bill:  What for?

Amy: She believes a better physical appearance will improve her chance of getting a good job.

Bill:  We won’t even recognize her when she gets back.

 

 

MODEL2   I think I need a face-lift.

Script

Susan: Hey!

Amy: Hi! Don’t you know anyone who’s had cosmetic surgery?

Susan: You mean like a liposuction? I don’t think that’s necessary. That’s not the way a woman should stay attractive.

Amy: Honestly, I won’t go as far as that. With surgery, I might look gorgeous, but it wouldn’t be the real me.

Susan: Yeah, people should be happy with the way they are.

Amy: I see your point. But I’m worried about the wrinkle around my eyes. I think I need a face-lift. Why can’t we go back to the way things were?

Susan: Because…I don’t know! But, Amy, you wouldn’t do that, would you?

Amy:  Darned right I would! I don’t expect my skin to be baby-smooth, but I should at least be young-looking.

Susan: Isn’t makeup enough?

Amy: Come on, Susan. Be open-minded! Look at my eyes! They’re puffy. And my lower lids are dark and loose, and full of lines and circles. I really hope surgery can wipe out the tired look.

Susan: But what would other people think?

Amy:  I don’t care other people think. I’m already for a lift.

 

 

 

 

MODEL3  How did you find the plastic surgery there?

Script

Susan: How was your trip to Korea? How did you find the plastic surgery there?

Nora:  It was all pretty scary at first.

Susan: As I see it, they certainly did a beautiful job for you. If I hadn’t recognized your clothes, I wouldn’t have known it was you!

Nora: Tanks, but underneath this surgery, it’s still the same old me.

Susan: Well, why did you want the surgery after all?

Nora: If I want to be competitive in the job market, I think this is indispensable.

Susan: How can you say that! You don’t need to change your looks to get a good job. Anyway, shall we get some lunch?

Nora: I’m not hungry, really I’m not.

Susan: Did you already have lunch?

Nora: I’m skipping lunch. I want to stay in good shape. I think I’m getting a bit too fat already.

Susan: Oh, Nora, don’t be so silly! You’re not fat at all, and you need to eat. If you don’t eat, you’ll get sick and wind up in hospital.

Nora: Ok, maybe I could eat a little. I do want to stay healthy.

 

 

 

VI.  Further Listening and Speaking

Task 1: A Friendly Stylist

Stylist: Morning, sir. This chair, please. What can I do for you?

Nick: A simple haircut: short on the back and sides.

Stylist: Very good. I can, of course, do something fashionable for only $60.

Nick: 60 dollars! That’s highway robbery—twice what I ordinarily pay.

Stylist: Perhaps, sir. But your haircuts haven’t been in harmony with your character. Your hair is at war with your soul.

Nick: I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Stylist: If I may say, I’m an expert at matching hairstyle to personalities. Believe me; you’re suffering a “disjunction”.

Nick: A disjunction? What the devil is a disjunction?

Stylist: Your hair does not match you.

Nick: This is utter nonsense. However, I’d like to hear how you’d solve this so-called problem.

Stylist: Your character is artistic, imaginative. But your hair is dull. I can correct that imbalance in seconds.

Nick: Okay, let me see what can you do about the…uh…disjunction, as you call it.

Stylist: We’re going to use scissors to create peaks, which we’ll keep in place with a liberal helping of gel….This tuft in the back we’ll braid into a pigtail. Now, it’s the new you!

Nick: I love it. It’s just like me: imaginative and artistic. Now what are you doing? What’s wrong? Don’t you see harmony in my new hairstyle?

Stylist: Something’s preventing your hairstyle from being a true fashionable statement.

Nick: For heaven’s sake, tell me what’s missing.

Stylist: Streaks. By putting in a few yellow streaks in your hair, it will become a work of art. Streaking will cost you more, but…

Nick: Do it. Forget the cost. But, by the way, what is the total getting to be? How much am I paying to avoid disjunction?

Stylist: That’s…$135. Sir? Sir, are you all right? Oh, he fainted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 2: Is it true beauty?

Script

John: There goes Camilla. She looks gorgeous today, doesn’t she? Her skin is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Her lips are a perfect Cupid’s bow. She must have dozens of admirers.

Becky: I wonder what she looks like without all makeup. She must out it with a spoon. It’s like a mask. I don’t understand what men find so attractive about her.

John:  Do I detect a hint of jealousy?

Becky: She has nothing for me to be jealous about.

John:  I’ll be you believe in those saying like: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Becky: True beauty comes from within. Natural materials should be enough to bring it out.

John: But do you always stick to those rules? When I went past your apartment last night, I saw you in the kitchen with some green substance smeared all your face.

Becky: They were cucumbers. They’re natural healers of the skin. Haven’t you heard people say on TV that they soften the skin, wipe out the roughness, and build strength and resilience?

John: Yeah, yeah, yeah! They wipe out lines and age signs. Blah, blah, blah! See, I can even recite that advertisement.

Becky: You’ve learned a lot, haven’t you?

John: Since you can keep your skin so young-looking and maintain your figure so well, you might as well as write a book on beauty secrets.

Becky: Don’t pull my leg. Anyway, you’d do well to try the cucumber treatment on yourself. Put some cucumber slice on your head. At least they’ll keep that bald spot from shining so brightly.

.

 

Task3: Smart Packing

Script

Susan: Hi, Rebecca, are you all excited about the big trip?

Rebecca: Hi, Susan. I sure am. Mix business and pleasure and travel on an expense account.

Susan: It looks as if I’ll have to pay extra for overweight luggage. How did you manage to fit everything into one suitcase?

Rebecca: You need to pack smart. First, I chose two clothes, and then built my wardrobe around them.

Susan: but we will need clothes for dress, causal wear, and sometimes sort of in-between “dressy casual”.

Rebecca: That’s all true enough, but I have a pair of black dress slacks, with black shoes to match. If I wear that with my turquoise silk blouse and a matching necklace and earrings, I will look dressed up.

Susan: sure you will, but that is only one outfit.

Rebecca: if I wear a T-shirt with the same slacks, I am more casual.

Susan: And you really have two outfits, don’t you?

Rebecca: Well, not really. I have three. If I bring a pashmina, or a dress scarf, I can dress up the T-shirt into casual chic.

Susan: three outfits? But your suitcase doesn’t look really that full!

Rebecca: Yes, and if I add a skirt that works with the blouse and the T-shirt, it increases the number of my wardrobe combinations even more.

Susan: and different accessories, necklaces and scarves, for example, will give you a different look again without adding much weight.

Rebecca: Now my suitcase will be half empty, with lots of room for shopping.