Worksheet

3.4 Bias in ‘On another planet’

Student’s Book Discuss the following question with a partner. Then match each of the highlighted
Q4 phrases to one of the labels (one has been done for you) and use the grid below to
plan an explanation.
How does the inclusion of this information support his bias against space
tourism and make private space travel sound:
 threateningly close to taking place
 like the ridiculous sport of the superrich.

negative noun
phrases The warped dreams of the armchair astronauts may now be a little more
attainable. The Artemis Project […] promises that, within the foreseeable
future, it will be shuttling tourists between the Earth and its satellite.

This scheme's backers may be living on another planet, but less ambitious
prepositional
phrases space tourism ventures are beginning to look feasible. The notion of
orbiting the earth for fun, once the domain of sad techno-fantasists, is
now the province of sad techno-realists. A consortium of millionaires
called the X Prize Foundation has offered a $10 million reward to the first
adjectives
and adjective company to build a passenger craft capable of flying in orbit
phrases
From an article in The Guardian by George Monbiot, 13 November 1999

Technique Example How does this make space tourism sound

threateningly close to taking place or like the
ridiculous sport of the super-rich?
prepositional ‘within the foreseeable Talking about the foreseeable future makes
phrases future’ it non-realistic

negative noun ‘warped dreams’ makes space tourism sound like the
phrases ridiculous sport of the super-rich, it shows
that it wouldn’t happen.

adjectives and ‘beginning to look feasible’ Feasible makes space tourism sound
adjective threateningly close to taking place, shows
phrases that it is easily possible.

adjectives and ‘more attainable’ This makes space tourism sound

adjective threateningly close to taking place, it shows
phrases that the warped dreams of the armchair
astronauts can be achievable.

48 • Chapter 3 Arguing: Presenting a point of view © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020