also called her vital statistics, are around 34-24-34 inches (or 86-61-86 centimeters). Models should also be at least 5 feet 8 inches (or 1.73 meters) tall. It is believed that a good body shape is a sign of good health and reproductive ability.
Today, many people think that the emphasis of the media and fashion industry on thinness and an ideal female body shape is harming the health of young women, as this emphasis gives rise to excessive dieting and results in eating disorders. This alarming trend focuses on thinness above fitness and has caused some organizers of fashion shows to even turn away models judged to be too thin.
1. What kinds of models are mentioned in the passage? 2. Which of the following is true of glamour models?
3. According to the passage, what is a sign of good health and reproductive ability?
4. According to the British Association of Model Agents, what are the ideal chest-waist-hip
measurements of a female model?
5. Which of the following is a result of the emphasis of the media and the fashion industry on
thinness?
1. D 2. A 3. C 4. B 5. C
V. Let?s Talk The Miniskirt
Mary Quant was a famous dress designer in the 1960s. Her main contribution to fashion history was the miniskirt. During the 1960s many young people were starting to think women could do more in life than be wives and mothers. Clothes became a weapon in the battle between generations. Anything different and daring was soon popular. During this period miniskirts attracted the world?s attention. It was teenagers and very young girls who bought short shirts that displayed their legs. Ms. Quant said that at her fashion shop, young women began demanding shorter and shorter skirts. “If I didn?t make them short enough, the girls that had wonderful legs would take scissors and shorten the skirts themselves.” She said. Eventually, Ms. Quant?s skirts, which arrived in the United States in the mid-60?s, were reduced to about five inches. In parts of Europe and North America the miniskirt represented loose morals. Members of the older generation believed good girls would never appear in miniskirts. But in Ms. Quant?s opinion, short skirts worn with heavy pantyhose would make the girl look childlike. Lately, feminists have come to see mini as a symbol of women?s liberation, as a powerful weapon against the traditional stereotype of the woman simply as wife and mother.
1.different and daring 2.Teenagers 3.their legs 4.shorter and shorter 5.five inches
6. loose morals 7. never appear 8. look childlike 9. women?s liberation 10. traditional
VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking Task 1: A Model?s Description of Her Work
Before the fashion show started, we had a rehearsal. In a small room we were each given a space. A dresser got us into the fashion clothes, then an assistant checked that the style was right—the correct number of buttons undone, the trousers pulled to the right height. Once dressed, we queued up in order by the door. The fashion designer checked that the clothing was as he wanted. The music started, and we went out. We posed for the photographers, turned and walked back. It was a breeze. I walked back into the room, too excited to realize I was meant to hurry. In the few steps
from the door you can throw off quite a few layers of clothing. By failing to do so, I almost missed my next turn.
At 8:30p.m., with the audience in place, we were back in the clothes. We went out again, to a full house. The music was loud, but clear. You could hear the talking—fashion shows are not theatre, and people don?t keep quiet. Journalists were discussing what to write about; buyers asking each other whether they could make a profit from the clothes. And although you have been chosen for our looks, which are suitable for certain dresses, as a model, we are just a form of advertisement for the designer. So you walk through conversations, unable to stop or react. You are not creative human being, just smiling dolls. 1.T 2.F 3.T 4.F 5.F
Task 2: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini She was afraid to come out of the locker She was as nervous as she could be She was afraid to come out of the locker She was afraid that somebody would see One, two, three, four, tell people what she wore
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini That she wore for the first time today. An itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini So in the locker she wanted to stay. Two, three, four, stick around we?ll tell you more
She was afraid to come out in the open And so a blanket around her she wore She was afraid to come out in the open And so she sat bundled up on the shore
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore… Task 3: Paying for the New Clothes
Daughter: Mom, I need some new clothes. Everything I have is out of date. The new semester will be starting soon—can we go shopping?
Mother: You have a closet full of clothes that are still in very good condition. Your father and I already have to pay you university tuition…and there?re the books too.
Daughter: But everyone else will be wearing the latest Levis. And I will look stupid wearing the same old skirts I wore in high school. They are so long. People will think I came form the middle ages.
Mother: But…
Daughter: Maybe I could get a part-time job to help pay for the new clothes.
Mother: No, you need to study. But university is a new experience…maybe we can look for something not too expensive.
Daughter: Wonderful, at least we can have a look.
The daughter wants to buy new clothes, but the mother disagrees, saying she still has a closet full of clothes in good condition and the parents have to pay for the university tuition. The daughter argues that she needs clothes in fashion, so as not to look as if she has come form the Middle Ages. The daughter then suggests getting a part-time job to cover the expenses. Not wanting to affect the daughter?s studies, the mother finally agrees to buy new clothes that are not too expensive. Speaking
Buying an Expensive Dress
Nancy: Your new low-cut dress is wonderful.
Jill: Thank you, Nancy. I just bought it on sale. It was marked d9own 50%. Nancy: Where did you get it?
Jill: Lane Crawford. They had a year-end sale that was too good to pass up. Nancy: I heard about this store. They have all the high-end stuff. Jill: Nothing good in life is cheap.
Nancy: Well, let?s go shopping then. And don?t forget to bring it. Jill: Bring what? Nancy: Your credit card.
Unit7
II. Listening Skills
1. W: How much money is the rent for an apartment in this neighborhood? M: Your rent should be about a quarter of that. Q: How much should be the woman?s rent be?
2. M: I paid $3,500 for this digital camera. It was on sale at a 30$ discount. W: It?s a real bargain.
Q: How much did the camera cost originally? 3. M: What?s the rate for an economy car? W: The daily rate is $32, unlimited mileage.
Q: How much will the man pay if he rents the car for a week? 4. M: I?ll take these sweaters. How much do they cost?
W: They are $180 each and four makes a total of $720. But today we are offering a 20% discount.
Q: How much does the man have to pay? 5. W: What an old car you?ve got!
M: Well, it had run 12,000 miles when I bought it second hand. And it?s covered 3,080 miles since then.
Q: How many miles has the car run? 1.B 2.A 3.A 4.D 5.B
III. Listening In
Task 1: It?s time to buy.
Mike: Hey, Robert, where are you off to?
Robert: I?m going to talk to a banker about a loan.
Mike: You are short of money? I thought you were the saving type. Robert: There?s a time to save and a time to spend.
Mike: I know all about spending. What?s the loan for? I have a few bucks I could… Robert: I?m considering getting a mortgage to buy some property.
Mike: Do you think property is a good investment? I mean, it?s a lot of money.
Robert: Well, Mike, as you know, property values have been going through the roof. If I had bought an apartment two years ago, its value would have gone up by 30 percent today. Mike: And from what I know, interest rates are low now. Robert: Exactly. Sounds like a good time to buy.
9. abanker aloan 10. saving save spend 11. amortgage property 12. property values 13. risen/gone up/increased by 30 percent Task 2: Can I have my change please?
Tom was down on his luck and felt he needed a few drinks. He went to a bar and had several drinks. When he was done, he stood up and walked toward the door. The barman shouted after him, “Hey mister, are you going to pay for those drinks?”
Tom turned around and replied, “I have already paid you,” and then walked out of the bar. Almost immediately he saw one of his friends Richard and told him about the barman, “Just go in there and drink all you want, then get up and leave. When the barman asks you to pay the bill, just tell him you have already paid.”
This sounded easy enough, so Richard went in and has several drinks. The barman went to him and said, “Before you came in, another man was here. When I asked him to pay his bill, he told me he?d paid, but I don?t remember him paying me.”
Richard said, “I would love to stay and hear your story, but I don?t have time. Can I have my change please?”
1. A 2.B 3.D 4.C 5.C Task 3: Can Money buy happiness?
W: The professor asked us an age-old question \people dream of buying a bigger house, designer clothes and a luxury car. Obviously, the answer is yes.
M: I disagree. The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil, so money can't buy you happiness.
W: Look, we spend so much time in our lives trying to make money. We must believe it's going to bring us happiness.
M: Most people don't marry for money; most people don't pursue careers simply for money. For example, there are a lot of teachers who won't trade their job for a sales position to make more. So we vote with our feet.
W: But just look at those people out there, with yachts, planes, big houses... They have all the toys, and they do look happy. I think we want those things too.
M: A recent survey tells us about the jobs that make people the happiest. They aren't the jobs that pay the most but those like teachers, social workers, firefighters... not necessarily highly-paid jobs. W: As far as I know, quite a number of people who went from rags to riches say they have finally found happiness.
M: Now, listen, what about health? Can you buy good health with money? Also, having good relationships with other people, having a lot of close friends, having a good marriage—these are the things that can't be bought by money.
W: Talking about health, I must point out money CAN help you keep healthy. Money can give you access to good health care.
M: Well, if we can't convince each other, let's agree to disagree.
1.F 2.T 3.F 4.T 5.F
V. Let?s Talk Story of a Miser
There was a miser who loved money more than anything else. Just before he died, he said to his wife, “Now, listen. When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me.”
He made her promise with all her heart that when he dies, she would put all the money in the casket with him. Then he died. He was laid in the casket, his wife was sitting there wearing black, and her friend was sitting next to her.
When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got already to close the casket, the wife said, “Wait a minute!” She had a box with her. She came over with the box and put it in the casket.
Then the undertakers locked the casket down, and they rolled it away. He friend said, “Girl, I know you weren?t fool enough to put all that money in there with your husband!”
She said, “Look, I can?t go back on my word. I promise him that I would put all the money in the casket with him.”
“You mean you really put that money in the casket with him!?” “I surely did,” said the wife. “I wrote him a check.”
1. money 2.all his money 3.promise 4.in the casket 5.sitting 6.next to 7.close 8.box 9.locked 10.foolish all that money 11.go back on her word 12.put the money 13.a check
VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking Task 1: Giving Money to a Beggar
Susan: Hey, Robert, you gave that beggar some of your hard-earned cash? Robert: I know. He looked as if he needed help.
Susan: Buy you?re always so careful with your money.
Robert: Yeah, I guess so, but I like to help when someone?s in need.
Susan: I just wonder why the guy doesn?t get a job and make his own living.
Robert: It?s just not that simple, Susan. Some people have a hard time of it in life.
Susan: Maybe they waste all their money. If you give them money, they will just go on wasting it. Robert: Life has been good to me, Susan, and I?d like to share some of my luck.
1.the beggar 2.needed help 3.careful 4.a job 5.a hard time 6.waste 7.good luck Task 2: An Introduction to Credit Cards
Credit cards are plastic cards issued by a bank or other financial institutions allowing the holder to buy goods and service without using cash. Many American don?t like to carry much cash. For them the cards are convenient and safe to use.
Credit cards are gaining popularity, even for buying small items. They are accepted almost everywhere, though not at fast food restaurants.
Credit cards allow you to purchase things that you may not currently have the money to buy. When you use a credit card, the credit card company that issued the credit card pays the store. Later, a bill will be mailed to you by your credit card company for the amount you purchased. At that time, you can either pay the bill in full, or only pay a minimum amount, and wait till later to