Close-up p 5. Human Behaviour. Speaking

 


A) Read one after the other to check understanding
1. Have you ever witnessed anybody lashing out at somebody else? What happened?

 

lash out (at somebody/something)



to criticize somebody in an angry way.
E,g,  In a bitter article he lashed out at his critics.
 
2. What food you don't like to eat stone cold? What drinks you don't like to drink lukewarm?




stone-cold: /ˌstəʊn ˈkəʊld/ 
 
 
 
completely cold, when it should be warm or hot.
E.g. The soup was stone cold.
 
 
lukewarm:
 
 
 
/ˌluːkˈwɔːm/ slightly warm. Tepid. E.g. Heat the milk until it is just lukewarm. 
 
3. Can you tell us about a time when you saw somebody who looked shifty in your opinion? Would you describe yourself as trusting or mistrustful? What kind of people do you consider trustworthy that others may regard as untrustworthy?



shifty: 
 
 
 
seeming to be dishonest; looking guilty about something. Sp. sospechoso. 
E.g. shifty eyes to look shifty.
 
trusting  
 
 
tending to believe that other people are good, honest, etc. E.g. If you're too trusting, other people will take advantage of you. There is a need for a trusting relationship between student and teacher. 
 
mistrustful:
 
 
 
/ˌmɪsˈtrʌstfl/ having no confidence in somebody/something because you think they may be harmful; not trusting somebody/something. E.g. Since the accident he has become withdrawn and mistrustful.   
mistrustful (of somebody/something) 
E.g. Some people are very mistrustful of computerised banking. Voters are bound to be mistrustful of a government that has broken so many promises. I am mistrustful of teachers who assure me an assignment will be fun.


trustworthy
 
 
 
/ˈtrʌstwɜːði/ that you can rely on to be good, honest, sincere, etc.
E.g. Mitchell was a solid and trustworthy man. Many people do not see politicians as trustworthy. Women were seen as more trustworthy and harder working.
 
untrustworthy:  
 
 
 
/ʌnˈtrʌstwɜːði/ someone who is untrustworthy cannot be trusted. E.g. He is an utterly untrustworthy, unreliable man.



 4. If you were to see any lowlifes ready to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists, what would you do? Who would you describe as the scum of the earth? When was the last time you told someone that they were the salt of the earth?
 
lowlife: 
(plural lowlifes)
 
 
 
connected with people who are outside normal society, especially criminals.
E.g. He hangs out with lowlifes who cheat him at cards.
 
 
The scum of the earth 
 
 
 
the worst type of people that can be imagined. E.g. These men are the scum of the earth. 
 
 
the salt of the earth
 
 
 
a very good and honest person that you can always depend on. E.g. my favourite teacher at school was the salt of the earth 


5. What kind of procedures should authorities put in place in order to encourage  whistleblowers to report illegal activities in a company or in the government?



whistleblower: 





a person who tells someone in authority about something illegal that is happening, especially in a government department or a company.
 
6. Do you know of any internet hoax in which people have been cheated?  Have you ever fallen victim to any scam?



hoax: /həʊks/ 
 
 
 
an act intended to make somebody believe something that is not true, a plan to deceive someone, especially something unpleasant
E.g. a bomb hoax. hoax calls. The emergency call turned out to be a hoax. It is a cruel hoax, she said, to encourage people to think they have a real chance to win the lottery.
 
7. What do people often spar over at your place of work? 



spar (with somebody) (over something):  
 
 
 
to argue. E.g. Frank and Jill always spar with each other at meetings, but really they're good friends. Foreign ministers sparred over new defence proposals.


8. When was the last time you saw someone raging at somebody else?

raged at:   
 
 
 
to speak very angrily to someone.
E.g. He raged at (= spoke angrily to) us for forgetting to do the homework. He was sorry he had raged at her earlier.


9. Do you think that tent cities of displaced homeowners may spring up in the near future? What are the main reasons why people might be rendered homeless?
 
tent city: /ˌtent ˈsɪt.i/ 
 
 
 
a large group of tents that provide a temporary place for people to live, especially people who do not have a home.
 
displace somebody  
 
 
 
to force people to move away from their home to another place. E.g. Around 10 000 people have been displaced by the fighting. If the dam is built it will displace 100 000 people.

spring up

 

 

to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly. E.g. Play areas for children are springing up all over the place. Opposition groups are springing up like mushrooms.
 
render somebody/something + adj.
 
 
 
 
to cause somebody/something to be in a particular state or condition. E.g.  to render something harmless/useless/ineffective. Hundreds of people were rendered homeless by the earthquake.
 
 
10. Has a member of your family or a friend ever withheld information from you? How did/would you react? 
 
withhold: /wɪðˈhəʊld/ withheld, withheld. Withhold something (from somebody/something) (formal)  
 
 
 
to refuse to give something to somebody.
E.g. She was accused of withholding information from the police.

Payment was withheld until the work was completed.

The government was threatening to withhold future financial aid.
 
 
B) Now answer these questions:
 
1. Have you ever witnessed anybody lashing out at somebody else? What happened?
2. What food you don't like to eat stone cold? What drinks you don't like to drink lukewarm?
3. Can you tell us about a time when you saw somebody who looked shifty in your opinion? Would you describe yourself as trusting or mistrustful? What kind of people do you consider trustworthy that others may regard as untrustworthy?
  4. If you were to see any lowlifes ready to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists, what would you do? Who would you describe as the scum of the earth?
5. What kind of procedures should authorities put in place in order to encourage  whistleblowers to report illegal activities in a company or in the government? 
6. Do you know of any internet hoax in which people have been cheated?  Have you ever fallen victim to any scam?
7. What do people often spar over at your place of work? 
8) When was the last time you saw someone raging at somebody else? 
9) Do you think that tent cities of displaced homeowners may spring up in the near future? What are the main reasons why people might be rendered homeless?
10) Has a member of your family or a friend ever withheld information from you? How did/would you react? 
 
C) Discuss the issues portrayed in these pictures:
 

Shell game 
 

Lashing out at co-workers
  
 
Encouraging whistleblowers
 

Tent city and cruise liner in Nanaimo, Canada

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