Society and the future

UNIT 1

News and media

 

1. What types of media are popular with people of different ages (young, middle-aged, elderly)? Which are most often used in your family?

2. Which media do you get news from? Why?

3. Are young people in Russia interested in news and politics? What news do you choose to watch / read / listen to?

4. Which mass medium is the most efficient (the fastest and the most reliable)? Can we believe what we read on the Internet?

5. When surfing the Internet, which sites do you prefer – entertaining or educating?

6. What kind of TV or radio programmes do you enjoy? What is your favourite channel?

7. Do you watch any international channels or programmes? What are they? Why do you like them?

8. Why is advertising so annoying? Can media do without them? What are their positive and negative sides?

9. Which of these do you use if you need to get information or write a report: the Internet, reference books, encyclopedias? Why? How can we make sure that the information in them is accurate and reliable?

10. Have you seen any good films recently?  

Have you read any good books recently?

 

UNIT 2

Ways of communication

1. How do you keep in touch with your family and friends? What modern gadgets and

software do you use?

2. How often do you use your mobile / smartphone? Do you ever switch it off?

3. What are the advantages of using these modern technologies? In what way has our life been changed because of them?

4. How much time do you spend online? Which sites do you use most?

5. Do you enjoy socialising online? How important are online relationships for you?

6. Are you addicted to social networking sites? Do you ever read other people's profiles?

7. What are the disadvantages and benefits of using the Internet to socialise?

8. How did you meet your closest friends? Is virtual friendship similar to (or different from) real friendship?

9. Do you think we should ban the Internet at work or university?

10. How often do you use the Internet for your University homework? What search engine

11. do you use to look for information and why?

12. How do you think people will communicate in future?

UNIT 3

Life story

 

1. What great inventors and inventions do you know?

2. What does an invention need to become successful?

3. What dreams and ambitions do you have?

4. How can you become successful?

5. What intelligences do you think you have?

6. Would you say you are a competitive person?

7. Are you comfortable talking about your achievements?

8. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

9. What qualifications or skills do you need for your future job?

10. What do you need to start your own business?

 

UNIT 4

Natural disasters

 

1. How often do people have accidents in everyday life?

2. Why are some people more accident-prone than others?

3. What accidents and injuries might happen at home?

4. When was the last time you had an accident? What happened?

5. In what situations are you extremely cautious?

6. What natural events and disasters do you know?

7. What natural disasters have taken place in our country recently?

8. Have you ever seen an eclipse or the northern lights?

9. Does your country often experience forest fires or floods?

10. How do people cope with them?

UNIT 5

Dealing with money

1. Have you ever had a job?

When and where did you work?

2. How do you get money to live on? Who gives it to you?

3. Some people like to enjoy their money as they earn it. Others like to save their money to use sometime in the future. Which do you prefer?

4. Have you ever saved money to give a specific kind of present?

5. Do you find it difficult to keep to your budget or do you waste money?

6. They say “Money is the evil of the world”. How do you understand this statement? Do you agree with it? Give your reasons.

7. They say “Money makes the world go round”. How do you understand the statement? Give your reasons.

8. Have you ever given up something you enjoyed in order to save money?

9. If you had a lot of money, what would you spend it on?

10. Do you approve of gambling?

UNIT 6

People around you

1. Who is your nearest and dearest?

Can you say that you have taken after your parents? What qualities have you taken? Do you have much in common?

2. Who has been / is the greatest influence in your life?

3. Are there people around you that you can count on? Who are they? (parents, friends, etc.)

Why are they reliable?

4. What qualities should a person have so that you can trust him / her? Should his / her features of character be similar to yours or not?

5. Do you have a real friend you can rely on in any situation?

6. Who are more reliable ‒ boys or girls? Are you a reliable person?

7. Does appearance betray (change) a person’s character?

8. Are there any qualities you can’t stand in a person? What are they? Are there any features of your character you would like to get rid of?

9. What are some of the qualities of:

a) a good teacher

b) a good friend

c) a good parent

d) a good son or daughter

e) a good neighbour

f) a good marriage partner

g) A good co-worker

10. Do you find it difficult to meet new people? If yes, why then?

Are you shy or not sociable enough or something?

 

 

UNIT 7

 Problems and how to solve them

1. What are the most urgent problems in our life nowadays?

2. Can you call the problems that worry you most of all?

3. Are you addicted to modern devices such as a mobile phone or computer?

4. How much time do you spend on the Internet?

5. What can you say for and against social networking sites?

6. What are the most common problems that you face every day:

· the problem of misunderstanding in your family?

· problems with friends?

· the problem of choosing your future job?

· the problem of pocket money?

7. Do you share the opinion that solving certain problems can make you stronger?

8. Is it possible to solve your problems by yourself?

9. What measures should be taken to make Dubna a better place to live in?

10. In what tough situations do you usually ask for advice?

 

 

UNIT 8

 Things around you

1. What things are you surrounded by?

2. What are the most important things to you? Why can’t you do without them?

3. What role do modern devices play in your life?

4. Why do some people buy unnecessary things? Do you clutter your life?

5. Why is it sometimes difficult to get rid of useless possessions?

6. How do you get rid of old stuff: do you usually sell it, give it away, or throw it away?

7. What would you recommend your friends to do with clutter?

8. Is it a problem for you to throw unnecessary things away?

9. What is your favourite possession? How long have you had it?

What people or event does it remind you of?

10. In the event of fire which three things would you save and why?

 

UNIT 9

Golden opportunity

 

1. What would you do if you won a million dollars?

2. What would you say if the whole world were listening to you?

3. If you had a chance to meet a famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?

4. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

5. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

6. If you had an accident and you had to be at home to recover for a long time, what would you   do to relieve the boredom?

7. If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go?

8. If you were offered a job abroad, would you take it, assuming that the pay is not very good?

9. If you had 25-hour days, what would you do with the extra time?

10. If you were the President for a day, what would you do?

UNIT 10

Jobs and careers

 

1. Why do people work?

2. What are the most demanded professions in your country?

3. What would you like to be in the future, and why?

4. Do your relatives approve of this choice?

5. What traits are necessary for becoming a true professional?

6. Is it a good idea to combine work and studies? Why?

7. How can you earn money as a student?

8. Which is more important to you – a high salary or job satisfaction? Compare the two.

9. If you could start your own business, what would it be?

10. What advice can you give to those who wish to have a successful job interview?

 

 

UNIT 11

Rules and freedom

1. How are you supposed to behave in these places? (a workplace, a university, at home, in  a café or canteen) Do you try to think of others before yourself?

2. Where you live, what are the laws about these things? (road rules, speed limits, buying cigarettes or alcohol, smoking in public)

3. In your country, what laws are there to protect people’s health and safety?

4. Do you agree with the laws? Why? Why not?

5. If you had an opportunity, what new law would you introduce?

6. Do you follow the laws? Give examples.

7. In what situations can you break rules / laws?

8. What do you do if other people do not follow the laws?

What would you do if you saw someone stealing someone’s wallet or bag?

What would you do if you saw someone pushing an old man in the street?

What would you do if you saw someone robbing a shop or a bank?

9. Do you agree that "A law is a law, but laws can be interpreted differently"?

10. Have you ever regretted something that you have said or done? (think of any of these: buying things, education, work, friends and family)

· What did or didn’t you do?

· Why was it a mistake?

· What should or shouldn’t you have done?

· What could you have done differently?

 

 

UNIT 12

Society and the future

1. What have you heard on the news about recent developments?

2. Are your predictions about the future generally optimistic or pessimistic? What will Russia look like in 10 years’ time? Do you think we should expect glorious future?

3. What fields of science and technology look most promising?

4. What are the major problems in society today?

5. What areas need urgent changes? Why?

6. What improvements in social life do you look forward to? What would you do if you were the President of Russia? Do you think Russia should go its own original way or should not?

7. What changes will happen in the following years? (think about family life, education, medicine, robots and computers)

8. Do you agree that people in 2050 will be the "lucky generation"? Are you happy to study at Dubna University or would you prefer to study somewhere else? Why? What would you like to change, to make it one of the best Universities of our country?

9. What will change in the political sphere? Are we likely to have a new superpower?

10. What is going to happen in the field of space engineering and exploration?

11. What would you like to change in your life in the future?

 

 

UNIT 13