Ex 1: Read the text “To do rather than to think or feel...

”
The tendency of culture is, and will probably continue to be, towards science and away from art
and literature... I imagine that a hundred years hence every fairly educated person will know a good deal
of mathematics, a fair amount of biology, and a great deal about how to make machines. Education,
except for the few, will become more and more what is called “dynamic”, i.e. will teach people to do,
rather than to think or feel. They will perform all sorts of tasks of extraordinary skill, but will be
incapable of considering rationally whether the tasks are worth performing...
The daily press, presumably, will be killed by broadcasting. A certain number of weeklies may
survive for the expression of minority opinions. But reading may come to be rare practice, its place being
taken by listening to the gramophone, or to whatever better invention takes its place. Similarly, writing
will be replaced, in ordinary life by the Dictaphone.
If wars are eliminated and production is organized scientifically, it is probable that four hours’
work day will suffice to keep everybody in comfort. It will be an open question whether to work that
amount and enjoy leisure, or to work more and enjoy luxuries; presumably some will choose one course,
some the other. The hours of leisure will no doubt be spent by most people in dancing, watching football
and going to the movies. Children will be no anxiety, since the State will care of them; illness will be very
rare; old age will be postponed by rejuvenation till a short time before death. It will be a hedonist’s*
paradise, in which almost everyone will find life so tedious as to be scarcely endurable.

* A hedonist believes that gaining pleasure is the most important thing in life.

Ex. 2: Say whether the following statements are right or wrong according to Russell’s essay.
1. Bertrand Russell thinks literary education is doomed to disappear.
2. Practical and mechanical skills will become less important.
3. People will be much more apt to criticize and reason.
4. Fewer books and papers will be read.
5. Music and writing will both become things of the past.
6. Everyone will work fewer hours to spend more time looking after their families.
Ex 3: Classify Bertrand Russell’s predictions into three categories:
1. Those that have already come true.
2. Those that are likely to come true within the next few decades.
3. Those that have not yet come true and will probably never come true.
Ex 4: 1.Tell which of the author’s predictions you would like to happen and which not. Explain
your point of view.
Ex 5 : Give your opinion of the future of education, the media and our lifestyle. Project Work
a) Imagine that you are part of a group formed by representatives of the Ministry of Education and
teachers from different schools that is elaborating a plan for improving the educational system of
Moldova. Within your group make suggestions and write them down. When working on your
project, consider the following: subjects taught, conditions for studies, teachers’ role, parents’
role, etc. Use visuals (diagrams, drawings, etc.) to be more convincing.
Ex 6: Match the following words and expressions with their synonyms.
1. skill a. enter
2. educate b. ability
3. enhance c. competent
4. faculty d. department
5. qualified e. deepen
6. enroll f. teach
Exercise 7: Give antonyms to the following words and expressions.
Literate; experience; educated; to enter school; ignorant; capable; to do well at an exam; final exams;
absent; intelligent; to pass exams.
Exercise 8: Write nouns corresponding to the following adjectives.
Creative knowledgeable diligent polite hard-working victorious
Successful educated ignorant tasty diligent witty
Intellectual perseverant intelligent rough brave grumpy

Exercise 9: Unscramble the letters to make a word

Example: The Headmaster of a school is also called ____________________ (riipcnalp=Principal) .
1. The _____________ (hcoca) was upset because his team had lost the game.
2. Students went to the school ______________ (rfcetaeia) during their lunch hour.
3. We can watch films at our school _______________ (etaterh).
4. Students in the USA schools have ____________ (klcesor) where they can keep the textbooks.
5. The Physical Education classes are held at the __________________ (umygnsmiya) .
6. You use a _________________ (ihgigterhlh) to underline important information in the text.

Exercise 10: Describe how you saw learning in 2030?

Exercise 11: Answer each question with a word or word combination.

1. What does the student receive after successfully completing a school?
2. Who may pay for a student’s education?
3. What is the grant awarded to a student by the university called?
4. What is the person who examines a student during the exam called?
5. What would you say if a student didn’t pass an exam and has to repeat the course?
6. How can you describe an extraordinarily good student? (Give more adjectives.)
7. How would you describe a person who doesn’t give up in front of difficulties and seeks to reach the
goal?
8. How do you describe a person who manages to do a lot of things in a short period of time?
9. What kind of knowledge do you need before you study the advanced areas of a subject?

Exercise 12: What heights can an educated person with knowledge of English reach?

Knowledge of ignorance of English

English

Exercise 13: Draw an erudite person / uneducated person .

For me, an erudite person is… It goes without saying that – Безусловно,
I think … / I believe … / I guess … – Я думаю ... / Я считаю ... / Я полагаю ...
He must have such qualities as …..
He does not know …
It seems that ... – Кажется, что .
As far as I know … – Насколько мне известно ...
Frankly speaking – Откровенно говоря
To tell the truth – Говоря по правде
In my opinion … – По моему мнению ...