Unit 4 Today’s Trends

 

Listening and Speaking

Audio Track 2-4-1

A: Graph A shows that many married women go out and work today.

B: Yes, that’s true. Only 15 percent of them now stay at home.

A: Graph D shows that only one-third of children aged 3 to 5 are taken care of at home. It’s unbelievable.

B: It’s not uncommon. In today’s society, most mothers and fathers mare busy with work. They have no choice.

 

Audio Track 2-4-2/Audio Track 2-4-3

Interview 1

Interviewer: So, tell us a little about yourselves.

Dan: Well, I’m Dan Preston.

Courtney: And I’m Courtney Preston. We live in Phoenix, Arizona.

Interviewer: OK, great. Do you have any children? Courtney: Yes, we have a baby. He’s thirteen months old.

Interviewer: How nice. … Courtney, you must be busy!

Courtney: It’s not so bad. I’m a manager at a bank. Dan stays at home with the baby.

Interviewer: Really?

Dan: Yep. I’m a “househusband.” I take care of the kid while Courtney works.

Interviewer: That’s unusual!

Dan: Well, it’s a growing trend. There are more and more househusbands every year. Interviewer: How interesting!

Interview 2

Interviewer: Where are you from?

Jamal: We live in Toronto, Canada.

Interviewer: How big is your family?

Jamal: Well, there are four of us. I’m Jamal, my wife is Tia, and we have two girls.

Interviewer: Who takes care of them?

Tia: We both do. We both stay at home with the girls.

Interviewer: Well, who works then?

Jamal & Tia: We both do!

Interviewer: What do you mean? I don’t understand.

Jamal: We’re both writers. We work at home during the day.

Interviewer: Oh, I see.

Tia: We’re always here when the girls come home from school at 2:30.

Interviewer: That’s great.

 

Audio Track 2-4-4/Audio Track 2-4-5

Interviewer (Int): Hi. What’s your name?

Gio: Gio.

Int: Hi, Gio. Where are you from?

Gio: Milan, Italy.

Int: Welcome to New York, then!

Gio: Thank you.

Int: Where are your clothes from?

Gio: My brother. I’m always borrowing clothes.

Int: How would you describe your style?

Gio: Casual, I guess. I’m not very innovative. I just wear the same thing all the time.

Int.: Good evening. What’s your name?

Vicki: Vicki.

Int.: You look beautiful.

Vicki: Thank you.

Int: That dress is very stylish.

Vicki: My mother gave it to me. It was tailor-made!

Int.: Wonderful. Where are you from, Vicki?

Vicki: I’m from Hong Kong.

Int.: How would you describe your personal sense of style?

Vicki: Classic, I suppose. I like to dress up.

Int: Hi, there.

Elena: Hi!

Int: Who are you?

Elena: I’m Elena.

Int: And where are you from?

Elena: I’m from right here in New York.

Int: A hometown girl. And your clothes are from …?

Elena: A store in my neighborhood. There was a sale.

Int.: Great! How would you describe your personal style?

Elena: Retro. It’s fashionable now.

Int: It looks old-fashioned … in a good way, of course.

 

Audio Track 2-4-6/Audio Track 2-4-7

1.

A: I’m new in town and I’d like to make some friends. What should I do?

B: You ought to join a sports club.

A: But I don’t like sports.

B: You could look for friends on the Internet.

2.

A: I don’t know what to wear to the party tonight. What should I wear?

B: You could wear your new jeans or your black pants.

A: It’s a formal dress party.

B: Oh, then you shouldn’t wear pants after all. You definitely ought to wear a dress.

3.

A: I still don’t understand this grammar. What should I do?

B: You had better get some help or you will fail the test. It’s on Thursday.

A: Maybe I could take the test on Friday. That would give me extra time.

B: Well, you had better not delay. There’s not much time!

 

Audio Track 2-4-8

1. I’m a salesclerk in a woman’s clothing store. My boss is great, but she has a very strict dress code. We have to wear long skirts, black shoes, no jewelry, and on and on. It’s really boring, so I’m planning to dye my hair red. What do you think? — Lana

2. I love my girlfriend, but she complains a lot about my clothes. She doesn’t want to go anywhere with me because I always wear old jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t care about looking like a fashion magazine. I just want to be comfortable! What’s your advice? — Dave

 

Audio Track 2-4-9

1. I’m a salesclerk in a woman’s clothing store. My boss is great, but she has a very strict dress code. We have to wear long skirts, black shoes, no jewelry, and on and on. It’s really boring, so I’m planning to dye my hair red. What do you think? — Lana

2. I love my girlfriend, but she complains a lot about my clothes. She doesn’t want to go anywhere with me because I always wear old jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t care about looking like a fashion magazine. I just want to be comfortable! What’s your advice? — Dave

Expert’s opinion: I think you ought to have a serious talk with your girlfriend and explain how you feel. We all have our own style and taste. In my opinion, she thinks too much about appearances.

 

Audio Track 2-4-10/Audio Track 2-4-11

Today I started my new part-time job as a trendspotter. I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Well, guess what? It was a lot of fun! I’m telling all my friends, “You should think about becoming a trendspotter, too!” On Saturday morning, we had to report to a recording studio by 10 a.m. The “Trends Coordinator,” Mandy, explained the schedule. Then she gave us a tour. That was really cool!

Next we sat around a big table in a room. They gave each person three cards. One card said “Yes — All the way!” Another said, “It’s OK.” The third one said, “No way!” We listened to about 10 different songs. After each song we had to hold up a card. They played some hip hop, rock, heavy metal, and dance music. The heavy metal was “No way” for me!

Do you know the rock group called “Gifted”? They’re really popular right now. Well, they have a new CD coming out. We saw six different CD covers. I guess they are trying to choose one. This time, we didn’t have any cards. Instead, we just talked about the covers we liked. Mandy asked us questions: “Which ones do you like?” “Why do you like them?” “Would you buy a CD with this cover?”

We finished at 12:30. We will meet again next week at a boutique downtown. We will look at some new fashions. Each week we go to a different location. Oh yes, we also received a free CD for our work. This “job” doesn’t pay, but we get free stuff!

 

Audio Track 2-4-12

1. All of the families live in big cities.

2. None of the students study German.

3. Some of the people don’t agree with me.

 

Audio Track 2-4-13

1. Most of the young children are in day care.

2. Some of their parents work two or three jobs.

3. All of my friends grew up in the same town.

4. None of my classmates like to study.

 

Audio Track 2-4-14

Moderator: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our debate. Mr. Taylor, please begin.

Mr. Taylor: We have a big problem. Too many children are in day care centers. This is not good.

Moderator: Ms. Marin, what do you think?

Ms. Marin: I’m a mother and I work. In today’s society, most mothers and fathers are busy with work.

Moderator: So, they don’t have a choice? They need day care?

Ms. Marin: Exactly. And it’s very expensive.

Moderator: What can we do about this situation?

Mr. Taylor: We should encourage mothers and fathers to stay at home with their children.

Ms. Marin: I don’t agree. I think we should offer cheaper day care.

 

Audio Track 2-4-15

Moderator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this debate on whether it is better to rent or to own a home. Miss Ying, please begin.

Miss Ying: As far as I’m concerned, owning a home is far better than renting one. Actually, I feel quite troubled by the idea of living in a rented apartment.

Moderator: Can you further explain that point?

Miss Ying: Of course. The sense of security I get from home ownership would not exist in a rented apartment.

Moderator: Mr. Chen, what are your thoughts?

Mr. Chen: Well, I think it’s better to rent a home than to own one. I just can’t afford to purchase a home, and I don’t know if that will ever change. At the moment, the cost of even a small city center apartment is out of most people’s reach.

Miss Ying: I see your point, but I still think, it’s better to own a home than to rent one in the long run. Although buying a home is expensive, I think most people can apply for a mortgage or join with their families to invest in a home.

Mr. Chen: Yes, that’s quite true, but I feel bothered by the idea of owing so much money. I think it’s better to save for a home rather than get a mortgage. I believe people should spend only the money that they have earned or saved.

Moderator: Some excellent points. Thank you both for taking part in the debate.

 

Video Course

Video Track 2-4-1

Yelena: In Ukraine people get married very early.

Lourdes: In Colombia people usually marry in their late 20s.

Paula: In Brazil people get married around 25. Usually husbands and wives both work.

Calvin: I guess in a traditional family … traditional Korean family … you know, it is usually the males who work. There are a lot of parents who both have full-time jobs.

Kumiko: In Japan, nowadays, people usually get married around 30. Husbands and wives both work until they have babies. And the wife stays at home with her children.

Alejandra: Children in Argentina live with their parents until they get married. Usually both the husband and the wife work, but if they have children, then the wife stays at home to take care of the children.

 

Video Track 2-4-2

Kumiko: In Japan, nowadays, people usually get married around 30. Husbands and wives both work until they have babies. And the wife stays at home with her children.

Alejandra: Children in Argentina live with their parents until they get married. Usually both the husband and the wife work, but if they have children, then the wife stays at home to take care of the children.

 

Video Track 2-4-3

Dave: I really admire my sister’s style because she’s very independent.

Calum: One person whose fashion I admire is my friend Alex. He wears really nice clothes.

Dayanne: I have a friend that always wears cowboy boots to go to work. I think that she should wear something more stylish.

Dennis: The person I most admire is Robert Redford. I like the way he moves, the way he stands, the way he carries his clothes … his hair …

Woo Sung: I’ve had this hair for a while and I think it’s definitely time for a change. I need a haircut.

Dayanne: To improve my appearance, I should have a haircut and lose weight.

Calum: I think I could improve my appearance by wearing contact lenses instead of glasses.

 

Video Track 2-4-4

Mike: I told you — I don’t like to go running.

Roberto: You ought to get more exercise, Mike. It’s good for you. You know, I think there’s a definite trend. More and more people are starting to exercise.

Mike: You’re just saying that because you think I should exercise more. The majority of the people I know don’t exercise.

Roberto: Well, in my opinion, I really think more people are exercising nowadays.

Mike: What makes you say that?

Roberto: Well, when I came to New York five years ago, almost no one in my office exercised. Then, a few years ago, some people started going to the gym. And now, I just read in my office newsletter that 28 percent of the people in my office go to the gym three or more times a week. That’s almost one third of the employees.

Mike: Just because some of the people in your office go to the gym, doesn’t make it a trend. Maybe 28 percent go, but that means that 72 percent don’t.

Roberto: Not necessarily … there’s more ways to get exercise than going to the gym.

Mike: Such as?

Roberto: Some people walk to work … some people play golf … some people jog in the park . . .

Mike: Yeah, that’s true …

Roberto: Look around you. Don’t you see all the people exercising?

Mike: Well, how many of them are enjoying it? None!

Roberto: Oh come on, Mike. All of them are enjoying it.

Mike: Not all of them …

Roberto: Well, most of them …

Mike: Maybe some of them … but not this one. I’m exhausted. I think we ought to go home.

Roberto: Yes, I think we’d better. And we’d better get you something to drink, too.

Mike: Hey, you know what?

Roberto: What?

Mike: I think we should get some ice cream, too.

Roberto: What?

Mike: Yeah! You know, I read somewhere that 33 percent of all famous athletes recommend eating ice cream after a heavy workout.

Roberto: Yeah, right.

Mike: No, I’m serious. I read it in a magazine!

 

Video Track 2-4-5

Mike: I told you — I don’t like to go running.

Roberto: You ought to get more exercise, Mike. It’s good for you. You know, I think there’s a definite trend. More and more people are starting to exercise.

Mike: You’re just saying that because you think I should exercise more. The majority of the people I know don’t exercise.

Roberto: Well, in my opinion, I really think more people are exercising nowadays.

Mike: What makes you say that?

Roberto: Well, when I came to New York five years ago, almost no one in my office exercised. Then, a few years ago, some people started going to the gym. And now, I just read in my office newsletter that 28 percent of the people in my office go to the gym three or more times a week. That’s almost one third of the employees.

 

Video Track 2-4-6

Mike: Just because some of the people in your office go to the gym, doesn’t make it a trend. Maybe 28 percent go, but that means that 72 percent don’t.

Roberto: Not necessarily … there’s more ways to get exercise than going to the gym.

Mike: Such as?

Roberto: Some people walk to work … some people play golf … some people jog in the park …

Mike: Yeah, that’s true …

Roberto: Look around you. Don’t you see all the people exercising?

Mike: Well, how many of them are enjoying it? None!

Roberto: Oh come on, Mike. All of them are enjoying it.

Mike: Not all of them …

Roberto: Well, most of them …

Mike: Maybe some of them … but not this one. I’m exhausted. I think we ought to go home.

Roberto: Yes, I think we’d better. And we’d better get you something to drink, too.

 

Video Track 2-4-7

Mike: Hey, you know what?

Roberto: What?

Mike: I think we should get some ice cream, too.

Roberto: What?

Mike: Yeah! You know, I read somewhere that 33 percent of all famous athletes recommend eating ice cream after a heavy workout.

Roberto: Yeah, right.

Mike: No, I’m serious. I read it in a magazine!