Introduction
1. Current trends in society.
2. Different factors that have contributed to a change in the relations between men and women.
3. No more male or female jobs or social roles?
4. Positive and negative consequences of the new shared responsibilities.
Body
A. Both men and women benefit from their new opportunities.
1. Women-continue in the career, have a full-time job, become a breadwinner.
2. ………………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………………
4. Men-share equally in the housework, feel free from the old stereotypes, get involved in bringing up the children.
5. ………………………………………………………………………………
6. ……………………………………………………………………………….
B. However, couples face serious challenges.
1. Dual role is still expected from mothers.
2. Woman might feel deprived of her natural role
3. …………………………………………………………………………………
4. ………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Men are likely to feel emasculated.
6. ……………………………………………………………………………….
7. ………………………………………………………………………………
Conclusion
On the whole, it seems evident that traditional family patterns have changed considerably providing men and women with both new roles and problems……. …………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
C. The language in argumentative essays is supposed to be objective and impersonal. Match each of the following phrases 1-10 with its function a)-c).
8. the underlying philosophy is that…
9. …is/are often considered to be…
10. this may be due to…
11. according to recent research,…
12. it would be wrong to suggest/claim that…
13. …is/are frequently regarded as…
14. it is sometimes suggested/pointed out/claimed that…
15. it seems unlikely that…
16. the idea behind this is that…
17. …this is open to question
a) explaining the reasons for something………….
b) reporting an opinion in an impersonal way………
c) disagreeing with an opinion, or suggesting that it may not be well-founded……
Practice 6
A. Improve the following text, which contains many short simple sentences. Combine sentences using different infinitive patterns, for example, the following:
to be known/supposed/expected/acknowledged+ to do
to seem/prove/turn out+to do
to be typical/characteristic of smb.+to do
to think it one’s duty+to do
to be likely/unlikely+to do, etc.
Women in Society
E.g It is an accomplished fact that women are a ‘mistake’. They are silly and superficial. It seems they have no depth or intelligence.
Women are acknowledged to be a ‘mistake’, as they are silly and superficial. They seem to have no depth or intelligence.
They can not get interested in anything but trivial things. They are full of empty, meaningless chatter. That is their characteristic. They have only one aim in life. They want to look decorative and appealing to men. They are very primitive. They are not able to solve ‘serious matters’. They are home-makers. Men have another duty. They think they should be wage-earners. That is why people usually believe women are the property of their husbands.”
Less than 100 years ago this was still a kind of prejudice. Forward-thinking women were up against it.
In the past a middle-class woman could do many things. She learnt to cook, sew, keep house and perhaps to sing and play a musical instrument. The family supposed she would attract a good husband. Then she would be handed over from one man to another like a parcel. There were a few ‘respectable’ jobs that women could do: looking after other people’s children or teaching. Society considered that singing and acting were immoral.
In Britain World War I marked a great change for women. Only they could fill in the places of men at war. Women proved they were as good as men, even at hard manual labour. But after the war they went back home. They had to take care of children and house. The same thing happened during WW II.
B. Improve the second part of the text which lacks transition signals and linkers. There is not just one correct way to insert them: there are several possible ways.
E.g (1) Women’s Lib grew in the 1960s. (2) Women struggled for equality with men.
(3) Words ‘feminism’ and ‘sexism’ became part of the language.
Women’s lib grew in the 1960, and, as women struggled for equality with men, words ‘feminism’ and ‘sexism’ became part of the language.
(4)Women began to be accepted into traditionally male areas(5)Now women are theoretically liberated.(6)They can vote and find work.(7)They have little social, political or economic power.(8)Few top jobs are held by women.(9)In some jobs they still receive less pay than men for the same work.(10)The upbringing of children is still the mother’s responsibility rather than the father’s.
(11)Things are changing.(12)What will things be like in another 20-30-50 years? (13)Some people argue that men and women are going to become more and more equal.(14)More and more new images have begun to appear in the media.(15)They show men taking care of the children and doing the housework.(16)They say this reflects what is happening in society.(17)They feel that this trend will continue.
(18)Many take the view that things are not going to change that much.(19)The booming women’s magazine industry still reinforces the fact that women’s interests are the same.(20)They are home, family, children, cooking, decoration, needlework, fashion, beauty -and of course, men.(21)They argue that many women will be happy to stay at home.(22)Their mothers and grandmothers did so in the past.
C. Write a for and against argumentative essay on the following topic using 200-250 words: The advantages and disadvantages of marrying young.
PART 2. EDUCATION
A. GERUND
(for grammar reference see “Coursebook for Upper Intermediate students” p.212-232)
Practice 1
Study the following text. Make the structure of some sentences more sophisticated using different infinitive constructions. Sometimes you will have to combine two sentences with the help of a linker.
E.g. (1)A study into family health conducted in California comes up with interesting conclusions.(2)Some people might not accept them.(3)It is difficult for them.
A study into family health conducted in California comes up with interesting conclusions which some people might find difficult to accept.
(4)The main conclusion is the following.(5)If a family wants to remain healthy, the
relationship between husband and wife will no doubt play a major role.(6)However, there is a perhaps surprising aspect of this research.(7)Statistically it appears that the healthy family is optimistic, church-going and led by a traditional male.(8)And what is perhaps not so surprising is that what promotes the health of the husband will not probably promote the health of the wife, and vice versa.(9)For example, emotions.(10)When it comes to expressing emotions, it is generally assumed that giving an outlet to feelings is healthy.(11)But according to the study, there may be benefits for one party but not for the other.(12)The wife may talk more than the husband does in these situations.(13)She gives him a feeling of guilt.(14)Then he will probably become depressed.(15)She may allow the husband to dominate the argument.(16)Then she in turn will certainly be the one whose mental state will suffer.(17)The study also found one more thing.(18)Men may dominate in domestic arguments.(19) In that case it may happen that they try to avoid the real issue, or become silent and withdrawn.(20)The effect of this is the following. (21)The wife feels anxious and depressed.(22)A person’s mental health is closely linked to their physical well-being.(23)It appears that the dynamics of family relationships determines health in general.
Practice 2
Improve the following passage by changing some clauses to the gerund or the gerundial complex. Sometimes you will have to use other words or verbs given in brackets. There are 13 places where such changes can be made.