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Yes, I suppose so, but you must remember that she’s the only girl in the group, and she has to assert herself.

VI. Indicate that the following statements also apply to you.

Examples: I like carrots.	-	So do I.
I don’t like carrots.	-	Neither do I.

1.I think someone ought to tell her the truth.

2.I thoroughly enjoyed the last concert.

3.I don’t believe a word of what he says.

4.I wasn’t a bit surprised to hear she’s divorced.

5.I thought his arguments were rather feeble.

6.I’d give anything to see her face when she finds out.

7.I shouldn’t like to be in his shoes.

8.I wish I could play the guitar.

9.I like going to the cinema.

10.I’d like to spend a holiday in the Caucasus.

11.I can’t stand operetta.

12.I shan’t be here next weekend.

13.I hate washing up.

14.I’ve never been to Africa.

15.I don’t like to get up early.

16.I can type very quickly.

17.I’ve been very busy for the last few days.

18.I’m always nervous before an exam.

19.I can hardly understand a word of Spanish.

20.I never wear a hat in summer.

2. Disagreement, etc.

Mrs. Collins: I think living in a flat is much preferable to living in a house. Mrs. Taylor: Really? I’m afraid I can’t agree with you. I prefer houses, because

they generally have more rooms.

Mrs. Collins: That’s very well, but the rooms in houses are often smaller and

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less conveniently arranged than in a flat.

Mrs. Taylor: There’s something in what you say, of course, but modern houses are just as well laid out as flats. Besides, you mustn’t forget that most houses have a garden where you can relax and the children can play in safety. Living in a flat must be like living in a box.

Mrs. Collins: Nonsense, Sally! Modern flats often have balconies, and they are surrounded by lawns and gardens. Houses are all very well, but they are very much harder to keep clean than flats.

Mrs. Taylor: I disagree with you, but I won’t argue. I think the worst thing about flats is that they are so noisy.

Mrs. Collins: That’s simply not true. I think you are prejudiced against flats. Mrs. Taylor: Far from it. I just prefer houses, that’s all.

Additional formulas

Disagreement

I disagree.

I couldn’t agree more.

I disagree there / on that point.

(I’m afraid) I disagree with you (there / on that point). I refuse to accept that.

Nothing of the kind. Not at all. Rubbish!

I’m not so sure of that. I’m not convinced. On the contrary.

It’s just the other way round.

Come, come! (Used as a remonstrance when someone expresses an exaggerated or foolish opinion.)

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EXERCISES

I.Answer the following questions, using words and phrases from the dialogue:

1.Why does Mrs. Taylor consider houses to be preferable to flats?

2.What does Mrs. Collins say about rooms in houses?

3.What does Mrs. Taylor say about the layout of modern houses?

4.What does she say Mrs. Collins mustn’t forget?

5.What further disadvantages do houses have, according to Mrs. Collins?

6.What is the worst thing about flats, in Mrs. Taylor’s opinion?

II.Express disagreement with the following statements, using as many appropriate formulas as possible in each case.

1.He is terribly jealous.

2.I think we have to accept his decision.

3.There’s nothing we can do about it.

4.I’m absolutely certain she was telling lies.

5.She is a very impulsive sort of girl, isn’t she?

6.She always strikes me as being rather strict, whereas her husband is easy-going.

7.I think she’s more honest than he is.

8.I think it was a cowardly thing to do.

9.I don’t like her very much: I think she is snobbish.

10.Non-smokers are intolerant.

11.Women are terrible drivers.

12.Boys help more at home than girls.

13.You can’t change human nature.

14.You don’t need much education to be a good mother.

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III. Express your agreement, partial agreement, or disagreement with the following statements. Try to use as wide a variety of formulas as possible.

1.English is more difficult than Russian.

2.Cats are dirty animals.

3.Winter is the best time of year.

4.Children get too much money nowadays.

5.Drinking is more dangerous than smoking.

6.You eat too much.

7.Dogs make the best pets.

8.Women teachers shouldn’t wear trousers at school.

9.Boys are better at sport than girls.

10.People in Russia are friendlier than in Britain.

11.Women have achieved complete equality nowadays.

12.Buses are more convenient than trams.

13.Most of the married women who go out to work do so for financial reasons.

14.Football is the most popular sport in Russia.

15.Teachers are overpaid.

16.Life in the countryside is very boring.

17.Most films are not worth seeing nowadays.

18.Smoking is the sign of a weak character.

19.Students’ grants are too high.

3. Uncertainty, tentative opinions, doubt, disbelief

Mr. Baxter: Who are you going to propose for the annual prize?

Mr. Mann: I’m not at all sure. I’m in two minds about it. Who do you think ought to get it?

Mr. Baxter: I can’t make up my mind either, but I should have thought that John Fletcher was the most likely choice.

Mr. Mann: Do you really think so? There’s no doubt he’s done very well in the examinations, but he’s too one-sided for my liking.

Mr. Baxter: Really? In what sense?

Mr. Mann: Well, first of all, I’m pretty certain he’s one of those people who are

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simply good at passing examinations. Mr. Baxter: How can you be sure?

Mr. Mann: For one thing, the tutorial essays he wrote for the last term were rather superficial.

Mr. Baxter: Is that so? You surprise me. Maybe he wasn’t able to spend so much time on them.

Mr. Mann: Possibly, but I doubt whether the others had as much time as he did. He doesn’t seem to have any interests outside his own subjects. I don’t think one should encourage such a narrow approach.

Mr. Baxter: I dare say you’re right, but who have you got in mind for the prize? Mr. Mann: What about Sarah Blake? She did very well in the exams and,

what’s more important, she’s capable of really independent work. Besides, she’s made a great success of the Theatre Group. What do you think?

Mr. Baxter: I hesitate to pass an opinion because I don’t know her so very well, but doesn’t she tend to be rather erratic?

Mr. Mann: She used to be to some extent, but I think she’s overcome that now. Mr. Baxter: Well, you seem to make up your mind after all.

Mr. Mann: Yes, it looks very much like it, doesn’t it?

Additional formulas

(It should be born in mind that formulas expressing uncertainty, tentative opinions, doubt, disbelief and related notions, overlap and merge. The following classification is therefore intended as a practical guide and should not be treated too rigidly.)

Uncertainty

I don’t know exactly.

I’m not (quite) sure / certain.

I can’t say (at the moment).

I really couldn’t say.

Perhaps / Perhaps not.

Maybe / Maybe not.

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Possibly / Possibly not.

Perhaps / Maybe / Possibly I am / he can /we shall / etc.

Tentative opinion

I should think so. / I shouldn’t think so. I think so. / I don’t think so. / I think not.

I suppose so. / I don’t suppose so. / I suppose not. I suppose it is / he will / they can / etc.

Probably / Probably not.

I should / shouldn’t say so (on the whole). It seems / looks like it.

Doubt

I (very much) doubt it. I doubt it very much.

I doubt whether he is / we can / they will / etc. I’m not so sure of that.

Disbelief

Are you sure?

I find that (very) difficult to believe.

I find it (very) difficult to believe that …

I find it (very) difficult for you to believe that … Surely you don’t mean (to say) that …

I (just / simply) don’t believe it.

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EXERCISES

I.Reply to the following, expressing uncertainty. Use as many appropriate formulas as possible in each case.

1.Is his business plan worth discussing?

2.Are you going to carry out this experiment?

3.I don’t think he was telling the truth. And what about you?

4.Would you like to look through this information?

5.Do you think we should visit the meeting?

6.I think his report isn’t interesting. And you?

7.Are you going to take part in the conference?

8.Do you think we ought to postpone the meeting?

9.Is he the right man for the job?

10.I don’t think he’s improved very much. Do you?

11.I think everything will turn out for the best. Don’t you?

12.Do you think he’s well enough to start work again?

13.Was it his own fault?

14.Do you think we’ve made the right decision?

15.Is the article really as interesting as they say?

II.Reply tentatively to the following, using as many appropriate formulas as possible in each case.

1.Are you going to the meeting?

2.Don’t you think it’s very difficult to solve this problem?

3.They seem to be very capable. Don’t you agree?

4.Do you think we shall have to cancel the meeting?

5.I think he convinced them. Don’t you?

6.He seems to decline our proposal. Don’t you think?

7.Are you going to take part in this experiment?

8.Don’t you think it was a rather foolish thing to do?

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III. Reply to the following, expressing doubt. Use as many appropriate formulas as possible in each case.

1.Do you think we’ve passed?

2.I think this trouble will blow over. Don’t you?

3.Do you think he’ll make a good teacher?

4.I’ve heard she’s very ill. Do you think she’ll get over it?

5.Do you think he will get this grant?

6.Is it true that they have lost their fortune?

7.Is she the right person for this job?

8.Do you think we’ll have a good summer this year?

9.I think he will make a success of it. Don’t you?

10.Do you think he was perfectly frank?

IV. Reply to the following, expressing disbelief. Use as many appropriate formulas as possible in each case.

1.Someone told me that she’s leaving the country.

2.It looks as if someone has stolen my camera.

3.I’ve heard that he’s threatened to resign.

4.He said he hadn’t received an invitation to the meeting.

5.I was told he was drunk when the accident happened.

6.I’ve been told he’s in debt.

7.Someone told me he was expelled from university.

8.I think he copied from the boy next to him.

9.Drinking is more dangerous than smoking.

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PART IV. CHECKLIST

One’s Background

1.When and where were you born?

2.What school did your finish?

3.What can you say about your relatives?

4.What are the strong and weak traits of your character?

5.What are your interests?

6.What's your ambition?

7.What's your specialization?

8.Where are you going to work after graduating from university?

9.What are you busy with during your summer and winter vacations?

10.What degree were you awarded? Will you be awarded?

Higher Education

1.What degrees are awarded at universities?

2.What's the basic principle of national education in Russia?

3.Who is responsible for the students' progress?

4.What do you know about the tutorial system?

5.What are the specific features of the American system of higher education?

6.What is a college like in Great Britain? Is it similar to a Russian university?

7.What post-graduate courses does your University offer?

8.How many and what courses did you take at University? Were you free in selecting them?

9.What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting higher education abroad?

10.What's the difference between Russian and British systems of higher

education?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1.What are the countries of the UK and their capitals?

2.What's the statesystem of the UK?

3.Who's the Head of the state in the UK?

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4.When does a Bill become an Act of Parliament?

5.Which party is the government of the country formed by?

6.Who is the Head of the government in Great Britain?

7.Where are laws made in the country?

8.What do you know about British Parliament?

9.What are the main political parties in the country?

10.How is scientific research financed in the country?

The Russian Federation

1.Where is the Russian Federation situated?

2.What mineral resources is the country rich in?

3.What great Russians do you know?

4.Where are laws made in the country?

5.What House of Russian Parliament is elected by people?

6.What's the executive body in Russia?

7.What's the role of Russian Parliament?

8.What's the statesystem of the country?

9.How many political parties are there in the country and what role do they play in social life?

10.What can you say about the President's administration?

Science and Technology

1.What is the role of science and technology in our life?

2.What problems has the rapid scientific progress aroused?

3.What invention do you consider to be one of the greatest in the world? Why?

4.Why should a scientist gather as much information on his subject as he can before doing his own research?

5.What way can the 20th century be labelled in?

6.What do you know about fundamental and applied sciences?

7.What is referred to as 'scientific method'?

8.How does science influence the development of society?

9.Enumerate some important technical innovations of the last century?

10.What's the difference between synthetic and analytic problems of science?

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