_______________________________________________________________________

UNIT 2
ADAPTABILITY
_______________________________________________________________________

33
 UNIT 2
ADAPTABILITY
SECTION 1

READING TIME

1. Take a close look at the following pictures and predict the content of the text
on the next page.

1 2

4
3

5 6

2. Read the following text and find a word/an expression/an idea that can
describe each picture

34
 ADAPTABILITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Adaptability is a skill that is in high demand today, but why is it important in the
workplace?

Employees who can adjust to new conditions at work and who can effortlessly,
confidently, and effectively make changes in what they do, are invaluable to your
organization. Having people who are willing and eager to acquire new skills will help your
business be more than just nimble and responsive. Adaptable employees can
proactively take advantage of opportunities and drive growth.

There are certain attitudes and character traits that are strong indicators of a
candidate's ability to perform well and contribute to the team in changing
circumstances. These are known as soft skills and include interpersonal, communication,
creative thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Being adaptable can be important when working on projects, developing strategies,

and implementing different approaches to meeting goals. By showing adaptability skills,
you reveal how motivated you are to try new things and learn new skills.

– REFLECTING TIME - In the text, you can read that ….

By showing adaptability skills, you reveal how motivated you are to try new things and
learn new skills.

3. Cross out the quality that does not describe an adaptable employee. Why do
you think so? Use information from the text.
o Active learner. o Able to motivate others despite setbacks.
o Creative problem-solver. o Afraid of adverse situations.
o Irritated with ambiguity. o Willing to learn new things differently or pursue
o Good communicator. new goals.
o Adaptable to change. o Favourable attitude to changing technologies.
o Able to work well in a fast- o Uncomfortable with criticism.
changing environment. o Open to ask for help.

35
 4. Read the following quotation and explain if you are
an adaptable person and why.

You may want to use these phrases to express your opinions.

PHRASES TO EXPRESS YOUR IDEAS

Use these phrases to express your opinions.
● In my honest opinion …
● I truly feel …
● From my perspective, …

5. Read the text “Adaptability in the workplace” and complete the blanks with
the following soft skills that contribute to making adaptability a soft skill.

1. Ability to learn 2. Teamwork skill 3. Curiosity

4. Communication skills 5. Organization skills 6. Resourcefulness

36
 ADAPTABILITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Adaptability is a soft skill that is useful for all work environments. Adaptability means
being flexible and adjusting to changing factors, conditions, or environments.

Being able to adapt to changing environments and work processes makes you a
competitive job candidate and a strong overall professional. Having adaptability skills
means you are open and willing to learn new things and take on new challenges.
Developing your adaptability can also mean developing other soft skills like
communication and interpersonal skills.

Types of Adaptability Skills

1. ……………………………………………………………………………….
Being resourceful means being innovative and creative while working toward your
goals. Your goals might be straightforward, but the journey isn't. You must have solid
problem-solving skills. When issues come your way, you need to know how to solve them.
And you need to be able to take the initiative to get started or know when to ask for
help.

2. ………………………………………………………………………….……..
You can learn independently or through collaboration. However, time and critical
thinking are often required. Learning is continuous, but it is essential to welcome
feedback as you receive it as it improves your learning opportunities.

3. …………………………………………………………………..…………..
Don’t underestimate the importance of this skill. It's also important to be a good, active
listener when others communicate with you. Your interpersonal skills and emotional
intelligence are also tested when talking with others.

4. ……………………………………………………………….…………………
This skill shows us where our resources are — from our contact lists to our availability. It
will show you what is necessary to achieve your goals or finish your work. In today’s
world, you’ll need to keep both your physical and digital space organized.

37
5. ………………………………………………………………….………………
When you work as a team, personality types, and opinions can clash. But that shouldn't
matter if everyone on the team sees the value of having diverse people and
perspectives at work.
Conflict may occur, but working as a team means you can resolve conflict with your
problem-solving skills and still produce great work. And an adaptable leader can inspire
a team to thrive under pressure with their calmness and sureness.

6. …………………………………………………………………………………………
It leads you to be open-minded about new opportunities and indicates a growth
mindset. You approach things with a positive attitude and take on new projects with
excitement. If you experience and explore this skill, you will probably take risks.

How to know if you’re an adaptable worker.

You might just be an adaptable worker already. If you aren't adaptable, that's OK
because this is a skill you can develop. Here are four signals that you are an
adaptable person:

1. You're a present person: Rather than dwell on the past or worry too much about
the future, you put mindfulness to the test and embrace change as it happens.
2. You love positive self-talk: Your attitude says "I know I can do this with hard work"
rather than thoughts of self-doubt and poor self-esteem.
3. You see the bigger picture: You can see your goals and identify why they're
important. When challenges arise, you don't forget and keep working hard.
4. You like to experiment: Doing things the same way forever doesn't level
you up, and it gets boring. You look for new ways of doing your work, and you
learn something in the process.

Adaptability doesn't just click and happens instantly. All types of adaptability skills take
time and, most importantly: patience.

38
 6. Re-read the text and identify the correct answer.
1. Adaptability is described as…
a. Flexibility. b. Inequity. c. Rigidity. d. Inelasticity.
2. Which of the following are characteristics of adaptable people?
a. Positivity b. Fear c. Disrespect d. Fairness

3. When an adaptable person faces a new problematic situation, he needs to ask

for help. By doing so, this person shows his/her …
a. Objectivity. b. Resourcefulness. c. Curiosity. d. communication skills.
4. If an adaptable person learns and accepts feedback, this person has …
a.curiosity b. the ability to learn c. organizational skills d. teamwork skills.

RECALLING TIME

Have a look at these sentences taken from the text. What do they have in
common?
a) If you aren't adaptable, that's OK because this is a skill you can develop.
b) If you experience and explore this skill, you will probably take risks.

USING SUPPOSITIONS

● When we want to talk about generally true things, especially rules, and
laws, we can use a conditional sentence type 0.
“If you aren’t adaptable, that’s OK because this is a skill you can develop.”

IF+SUBJECT+VERB (SIMPLE PRESENT), SUBJECT + VERB (SIMPLE PRESENT)

● To predict possible future events and their advantages, a type 1

conditional sentence is necessary.
“If you experience and explore this skill, you will probably take risks.”

IF+SUBJECT+VERB (SIMPLE PRESENT), SUBJECT+WILL+VERB (BARE INFINITIVE)

39
 ● When we want to refer to an imaginative present, we can use a
conditional sentence type 2 (unreal) to speculate about a
consequence that is unreal because we know it is impossible.

“If you weren’t patient, you wouldn't work in such fast-developing

environment.”

IF+SUBJECT+VERB (SIMPLE PAST), SUBJECT+WOULD+ VERB (BARE INFINITIVE)

REMEMBER: If you use the verb “to be” as the main verb of the If clause, it
should be conjugated “were” no matter the subject

TO WORK ON YOUR OWN

Choose the correct tense according to the type of conditional indicated in
brackets.
a. If you adapt / adapted, you are open /will be open to change. (Zero
conditional)

b. To adapt is to grow, to change, and to change you must forego what you
once believed to be “right”, classify it as “wrong”, and then adopt what you now
believe to be the new “right”. If you don’t / didn’t, you stagnate /will stagnate.
(Zero conditional). This is something that not only individuals but organizations
struggle with – habits that have defined their success in the past rather than
questioning whether or not those same habits will continue defining success in the
future. Chances are, they won’t. If they do /did, then Blockbuster, which failed to
adapt to a “new right” (i.e. new reality), will still be / would still be in
business.(Second conditional).
c. If people are not / were not ready to listen to others’ points of view, they will
be / are limited in their thinking, which means they will also be limited in their
adaptability. (First conditional)

40
 SPEAKING TIME
Elevator Pitch - an innovative strategy to give a successful speech.

How to adapt to new ways of communication in the present global professional work
environment

In Unit 1, we learned that an elevator pitch is used to describe a brief speech that
outlines an idea for a product, service, or project. The pitch will describe the “pain
point” or problem a team is attempting to solve, what approaches have already
been attempted to resolve the issue, and what the start-up has to offer that has not
been tried before. Moreover, the pitch is intended to explain the advantages, in
clear and direct terms, why the idea or product can succeed where other novel
concepts have not.

As seen, the elevator pitch includes the following elements: context, problem,
solution, and advantage. In this unit, we will focus on the context and the problem.

POSSIBLE STRUCTURE OF A PITCH

HOOK

Many speakers choose to open their pitches with a hook. So you can begin your
pitch with an attention-grabbing detail that should be captivating and relatable. This
opener might be a surprising statistic, a pain point that your audience can relate to,
or a thought-provoking question.

You can express your ideas using the following tenses and grammar structures:
● Simple Present
● Simple Past
● Present Perfect
● Passive Voice

41
 ● Conditional Sentences
● Relative Pronouns / Connectors
● Use of like, such as, for example, for instance, etc.

You can try these frequently used expressions:

● When was the last time you …
● Now,…
● Today,…
● Picture this:...
● Let's face it, …
● Have you ever (noticed)…?
● You know how…
● Is it me or…?
● You know that feeling when…
● Ever wished you could…
● Let’s be real here:...
● Did you know that….?
● What (would you say) if I told you…

Once you’ve made a splash with your hook, it’s time to reel the listener in by
explaining why you’re making this pitch.

CONTEXT

You can begin your context by

● introducing yourself, (name and surname), mentioning your profession, and
workplace;
● giving a brief summary of the background of the topic, including the most
relevant information such as eye-opening statistics examples and/or
comparisons. You can use the following expressions and phrases to cite the
source on which the current state of the topic is based:

42
 ● According to …, …
● In accordance with …, …
● Based on …, …
● Thanks to…, …

You can express your ideas using the following tenses and grammar structures:
● Simple Present
● Simple Past
● Present Perfect
● Present Continuous
● Conditional Sentences (Generally types 0 and 1)
● Relative Pronouns / Connectors
● Use of like, such as, for example, for instance, etc.
PROBLEM
You can begin your problem by defining and describing the pain point (weakness)
or problem you hope to address or value you can add. A pain point is an area of
difficulty or frustration that users experience with a product or service. The description
of the problem refers to the negative aspect/s of the topic.
The problem can be presented as a question or a statement and it may contain
information about:
● the people who it affects;
● its impacts;
● eye-opening statistics.

You can express your ideas using the following tenses and grammar structures:
● Simple Present
● Simple Past
● Present Perfect
● Passive Voice
● Conditional Sentences (Generally type 2)
● Relative Pronouns / Connectors

43
 ● Adjectives and Adverbs

You can try these frequently used expressions:

● I/We can see/say/... *¹
● I/We have found out/seen/… *¹
● It has been found out …*¹

*¹ To complete the idea you can use the following:

…that the (main) problem is ... (describe the pain point or problem).
Besides,/Moreover,/What's more,/ (provide more details). This affects ... (those
who are affected) because/as/due to/... (impact). Therefore, ...

WORK GROUP

A. Re-read the example pitch # 1 and complete the following chart with the possible
structures (see the previous chart) and the content of a pitch. In this case, the
hook is done as an example.

We've all heard that robots are taking over the job market but what if I told you
that retail and manufacturing aren't the only industries where robots are making a
splash?
Oceanography has been revolutionized with the advent of high-tech
observatories that allow people like you and me to see the ocean in ways that
people 50 years ago could only dream about. Today we have robots that dive
thousands of meters below the ocean surface and robots that can see a
centimeter from an orbit thousands of miles away.
Now, we don't always think of satellites as robots but they are and for
oceanography, they provide an unparalleled daily global snapshot of the world's
oceans. But when it comes time to validate the data from these multi-million-dollar
taxpayer-funded ventures, we fill a boat with people, fuel, and and scientific

44
instruments, we send it to the middle of the ocean to repeat the satellite's
measurements. Sounds expensive, or tedious?
I think there's a better way, one that uses the tools we already have. My research
explores using underwater robots, called gliders, to validate data from ocean-
observing satellites. Now gliders are already taking all the same measurements that
are taken on a satellite validation cruise at a fraction of the cost.
If we can use the resources we already have more efficiently, satellite
oceanography can rocket forward and leave the tedious jobs to the robots. Thank
you

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE CONTENT

PITCH
We've all heard that robots are taking
over the job market but what if I told
you that retail and manufacturing
aren't the only industries where robots
are making a splash?
HOOK Thought-provoking
question.
(Present Perfect: We've all heard
Present Continuous: are taking over /
are making
Expression: what if I told you that … )

CONTEXT

PROBLEM

45
 SECTION 2
VIRTUAL

SPEAKING TIME FOR THE NEXT FACE-TO-FACE LESSON

Getting ready to prepare your elevator pitch

ELEVATOR PITCH: MODELS

These are two different types of elevator pitches. Read them and work with the
activities below.

ELEVATOR PITCH # 1
A. Read pitch # 1 and answer these questions

1. Who prepared this pitch? An entrepreneur, a salesman, a project carrier, or a

researcher?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the main topic of the pitch?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

3. What idea is expressed to set the context of the pitch?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the problem expressed by the speaker?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMaHs2kFFds

Speaker: Ellie Martin, WEISS, Department of medical physics and

biomedical engineering

I'm Ellie Martin I am a research fellow in the department of medical physics and
biomedical engineering and I research therapeutic uses of ultrasound.
In the UK, one in six people have a neurological disorder of some sort so like
Parkinson's epilepsy or Alzheimer's.

46
 These are all horrible diseases, often treated with long-term drug use, and that can
leave patients with serious side effects and sometimes in the end the drugs stop
working.
People are also sometimes treated with brain surgery but that’s obviously very risky
and difficult to recover from.
So what if we had a drug-free surgery-free treatment for some of these diseases?
My research has currently focused on developing a device that can treat some
of these diseases using ultrasound. It has little or no side effects and without the
need for any surgery or drugs. Ultrasound is sound at a frequency above the pitch
of human hearing, and it's usually known for taking pictures of babies in the womb
where they're born but it can also be used to perform treatments in different ways
for lots of different conditions.
By focusing ultrasound through the skull, we can modulate the activity in the brain
suppressing some areas or increasing other areas, and treat some of these
disorders, this is called transcranial ultrasonic neuromodulation.

B. Re-read the pitch, underline the hook, if included, the context and the problem,
and complete the following chart with the possible structures (see chart on page 41)
and content of a pitch.
STRUCTURES
ELEVATOR CONTENT
PITCH # 1

HOOK

CONTEXT

PROBLEM

ELEVATOR PITCH # 2

47
C. Read pitch # 2 and answer these questions.

1. Who prepared this pitch? An entrepreneur, a salesman, a project carrier, or a

researcher?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the main topic of the pitch?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

3. What idea is expressed to set the context of the pitch?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the problem expressed by the speaker?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqIEE-g_-Uc

Speaker: Katie Sunday - Universidad de Dayton

Let's face it, sometimes men just don't understand women and that's okay.
We don't expect you to all the time, but it would be nice if a male who is
developing an iPhone app for us, understood us better.
Ten million female iPhone users have repeatedly shown interest in the app market
but there are two problems here.
One, not a lot of apps exist for women, and two the apps that do exist, kind of fall
short of the mark and that's mainly because men are developing them.
So our team, we believe that we can connect with this dissatisfied and under-
targeted market to bring very tailored apps, specifically for women.
We're seeking a 100,000 dollar investment in exchange for a 25 percent stake in
equity and a 10X return.
We'll roll out one app quarterly, starting six months from the initial investment.
We expect the break-even to occur by the end of year one.
We're MissApp, we're designing for women and it's because well, women like
technology too.

48
D. Re-read # 2 the pitch, underline the context and the problem, and complete the
following chart with the possible structures (see chart on page 41) and content of a
pitch.

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE CONTENT

PITCH # 2

HOOK

CONTEXT

PROBLEM

READING TIME

1. Look at the following text “Adaptability In The Age Of Digital Darwinism” and
complete it with the correct information.
A Author
B Date of Publication
C Title suggestion

2. Read the text quickly and decide which paragraph explains each of these
ideas
a. Workers’ worries about adaptability and what they do to cope with it.
b. Advantages and disadvantages of adaptability for companies that have joined
or are not in the process of change.
c. A challenging thought by well-known biologists.
d. New actions taken by human beings to adapt to their changing working
environment.

49
 e. Survivors in this world of change at a rapid pace.
f. Technological developments that are constantly inviting human beings to adapt
to their new digital-driven life environment.

3. Say whether these statements are true or false. When false, give the correct
version according to the text.

a. Technological change has the power to innovate companies but also to destroy
them.
b. Companies such as Netflix, Uber, Apple, Amazon, and Google could capitalize
thanks to adaptability.
c. In the future, all workers will need only social and emotional skills and creativity.
d. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation will
replace blue-collar workers but not white-collar workers.

INNOVATION

Adaptability Is Key to Survival in The Age of Digital Darwinism

Rob GondaForbes Council Member

Forbes Technology Council COUNCIL POST| Membership (Fee-Based)

POST WRITTEN BY Rob Gonda

Senior digital transformation executive. CIO/CTO/CDO who sold five companies and
led digital for Sapient, McDonald's, and Catalina Mktg.

May 24, 2018,09:00am EDT

Charles Darwin said in “On the Origin of the Species” that it is not the strongest or most
intelligent of the species that survives but the one that is most adaptable to change.

While we are a long way off from 1859, the idea is just as relevant as it ever was. We
are a species whose habitat is now ruled by technology, and it is changing at a rapid
pace. Connectivity, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things
are rapidly changing our world and environment.

50
Technological change has brought tremendous opportunity for innovative
organizations, but it is also driving to extinction companies that fail to adapt.
Companies that do not have a high level of adaptability will fade away through
dissolution. “Blockbuster” didn’t adapt to the shift to digital media. Kodak didn’t adapt
to the shift from film to digital. Meanwhile, organizations and entrepreneurs that have
embraced change and adaptability have been able to capitalize on it. Netflix, Uber,
Apple, Amazon, and Google are all perfect examples of adaptability. Companies
need to approach the idea of adaptability with structure, strategy, technology, and
culture to continually respond to the changing circumstances and the environment.

If this pace of change is scary for organizations, it is even more frightening for workers.
We can no longer use the same assumptions, and many of our traditional behaviours
have become outdated. Many workers focus on cultivating their emotional
intelligence to learn more about their own emotions and the emotions of others.

Like organizations, humans will also face obsolescence if they fail to adapt. Regardless
of their role, almost all workers will need to seek higher educational attainment and
spend more time on activities that require social and emotional skills, creativity,
cognitive capabilities, and other skills that cannot as easily be automated. The talk
about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation is
scaring many but exciting just a few. These technologies appear to be aiming to
replace some blue-collar workers and could soon do the same with white-collar
workers.

Those who ultimately survive in the coming years will be those who embrace change
and have the willingness and enthusiasm to adapt.

Adapted for pedagogical purposes. CREDIT: Adaptability Is Key To Survival In The Age Of Digital Darwinism, Rob
Gonda, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/05/24/adaptability-is-key-to-survival-in-the-age-of-
digital-darwinism/?sh=35d3ed3408c7

3. Complete the following ideas with information from the text.

a. Charles Darwin’s opinion implies that after 164 years our species is still surviving
thanks to …………………………………………………………………..…
51
b. Our world and environment are changing because of ……………………….
c. Companies will survive only if they …………………………………………………
d. Companies will reach adaptability with ………………………………………….
e. To avoid failure to adapt, humans will need to ………………………………..
f. Blue-collar workers, and soon, white-collar workers, are afraid of technologies,
such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation,
because…………………………………………….
g. The author of the article might have wanted the audience to think that
……………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Label these extracts of the previous text with the different parts of a pitch.
A- CONTEXT B. PROBLEM C. SOLUTION D. ADVANTAGE

Those who ultimately survive in the coming years will be those who embrace
change and have the willingness and enthusiasm to adapt.

We are a species whose habitat is now ruled by technology, and it is

changing at a rapid pace. Connectivity, data analytics, artificial
intelligence, and the Internet of Things are rapidly changing our world and
environment.

Companies need to approach the idea of adaptability with structure,

strategy, technology, and culture to continually respond to the changing
circumstances and the environment.

Technological change has brought tremendous opportunity for innovative

organizations, but it is also driving to extinction companies that fail to adapt.
Companies that do not have a high level of adaptability will fade away
through dissolution.

5 Imagine you are a digital marketer. The information from the previous activity
might help you to prepare a pitch to convince the CEO of a company to hire
your services. So, write the context and problem of your own pitch version. Use
the necessary expressions for each part, and be prepared to share it with your
classmates.

52
SPEAKING TIME

6 According to the text “Adaptability Is Key to Survival

in The Age of Digital Darwinism” give your personal
opinion about the following quotation.

53
 SECTION 3
LITERATURE
BRAVE NEW WORLD: Chapters 5 - 8

ADAPTABILITY IN BRAVE NEW WORLD

READING TIME

1. Have a look at these images

a. What do they make you think of?
b. Who can you see in the pictures?
c. What main differences can you mention?
d. Do they look like they are parts of a perfect world? Why (not)?

2. Based on your interpretations of what the pictures illustrate, in groups of five, give
your opinion on the following ideas. Remember to use the expressions for
exchanging ideas from Units 1 and 2.
a. Human beings are happier if they live in contact with nature.
b. Human beings live their life just as it is.
c. Technology always simplifies human life.
d. Family life is important for every person.

More phrases to express your opinion.

● As I see it…
● As I thought about this problem/issue/situation, I realized that…
● I’d like to point out…
● Based on my own experience, I find that…
● I don’t know about you, but I can say/but I think…
● I was wondering if it might be possible to…
● Maybe we could consider…

54
3. Match the following topics with their definitions.
Discrimination Disobedience Guiltiness Shame Bullying Abuse of
power

a) A feeling of worry or unhappiness because you have done

something wrong.
b) A misuse of power by someone in a position of authority who
can use the leverage they have to oppress persons in an inferior position or to
induce them to commit a wrongful act.
c) A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the
consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour.
d) The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of
people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability.
e) The behaviour of a person who hurts or frightens someone
smaller or less powerful, often forcing that person to do something they do notwant
to do.
f) The quality of being disobedient ( refusing to do what someone in
authority tells you to do).

GROUP WORK

4. In groups, debate the following extracts from the novel. Take into account the
following questions.

a. Where do these extracts come from?

b. What happened before and after each extract?
c. Which topics from the previous activity can you find in these extracts?
Justify.

Extract 1

…When they went to Amsterdam for the Sports, Bernard was miserable. He
wouldn’t talk to her friends. He refused the half-gramme soma ice cream that she
offered him.
“I’d rather be myself,” he said. “Myself and nasty. Not somebody else,
however happy. Soma makes you feel happy but it stops you thinking.”
55
Extract 2
… The young man pointed to the blood in the centre of the square. “I ought to
have been there,” he said. “Why wouldn’t they let me be the sacrifice? I would
have gone round ten times - twelve, fifteen. Palowhtiwa only got as far as seven.
They could have had twice as much blood from me. but they wouldn’t let me.
They dislike me because of my colour. It’s always been like that. Always.” Tears filled
the young man’s eyes; he was ashamed and turned away….

Extract 3
… Quickly, he changed the subject, “I wonder if you’d like to come back to
London with us?” he asked.
Listening to Linda’s story in her little house, Bernard had understood who the
father of this young savage must be. If he could take him to London he would be
able to defeat the Director. Bernard was not going to Iceland if he could help
it…

Extract 4.
…”Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me for interrupting your work like this. A
painful duty forces me to do so. The safety of Society has been endangered. This
man — he pointed accusingly at Bernard — this man who stands before you has
deceived me. He is an Alpha-Plus to whom much has been given and from whom,
therefore, much must be expected. but he has shown himself unworthy of the
trust we gave him. His opinions on Sport and soma are dangerous. He hardly ever
plays games and he does not often take soma. He has been thinking for himself. In
other words, he has refused to obey the teachings of Our Ford. He has refused
to behave off-duty “like a babe in a bottle”. Therefore, he is an enemy of
Society. Others might follow his terrible example. For this reason, I intend to dismiss him. I
shall transfer him from this great Centre to a Sub-Centre in Iceland. There, he will
have a small opportunity to mislead others by his unfordly example.

GROUP WORK

5. In groups, debate about the following task:

Find examples of the topics from the first activity fromchapters
5 to 8 and justify your choice.

56
 SECTION 4
VIRTUAL
LITERATURE
BRAVE NEW WORLD: Chapters 5 - 8

ADAPTABILITY IN BRAVE NEW WORLD

1. MFORM (Link will be sent by your teacher via MIeL)

Order these events. The first one is done as an example.

A Mustapha Mond ordered Bernard to take Linda and John to London.

B Bernard interrupted the Director’s judgement to introduce Linda and

John to the audience.

C Lenina swallowed a gramme of “soma” during her journey to the

Savage Reservation.

D John was happy to know that Lenina was not Bernard’s wife.

E After the first religious ritual, they met a handsome man, John.

1 F The Director told Bernard that he had gone to New Mexico with a
pretty Beta-Minus girl who had disappeared on the last day there.

G Lenina was disgusted with the scenario she was being part of.

H Bernard and Lenina met Linda in a dirty little house.

I The Director rushed out of the room after John called him “father”.

J Bernard and Lenina travelled to the Savage Reservation.

K Linda confessed she had given birth to John, and he was Thomas’s
son. Bernard knew that the Director was called Thomas.

L Linda saw the Director, ran forward, and hugged him.

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2. MFORM (Link will be sent by your teacher via MIeL)
BRAVE NEW WORLD
Hi, Fanny! Are you still mad about not going to New Mexico? I understand, I 1)
_________ (feel) the same if I 2) _________ (exclude) from the trip. However, if you 3)
_________ (give) me the opportunity to tell you how horrible it was, you 4) _________
(thank) the Director for not allowing you to go. I know that if you 5) _________ (listen)
to me, you 6) _________ (change) your mind. The experience was shocking! If 7) I
_________ (be) you, I 8) _________ (be) happy for not going. Please, don’t be mad at
me and let me explain. Believe me, If I 9) _________ (give) the choice of going again,
I 10) _________ (never accept) it. Fanny, don’t leave the room. Things 11) _________
(not get) better between us if we 12) _________ (not talk). I 13) _________ (want) to
describe it all if you 14) _________ (stay).

If you 15) _________ (see) all those nasty things, you 16) _________ (want) to take
more Soma than me! It was the worst experience in my life! The Savage reservation
is frightful. People are dirty, ugly, old, and ignorant.

There was a strange ceremony. A man started whipping a boy and he seemed to be
happy. I am sure that if somebody 17) _________ (ask) him to be whipped again, he
18) _________ (accept) it. Oh, I believe that If 19) _________ (not take) some Soma, my
head 20) ________ (explode).

Everything was a disaster. We met a woman, Linda, and her son. I assure you that she
21) ________ (scare) you if you 22) ________ (meet) her. If Bernard 23) ________ (be)
here, he 24) ________ (tell) you the same.

Well, there was only one good thing, Linda’s son. This guy John. Such a nice-looking
boy! If you 25) ________ (not know) that he is a Savage, you 26) ________ (think) he
belongs here. Bernard believes that it was a good idea to bring him back with us. He
is gorgeous! If he 27) _________ (attend) the Solidarity Services, I 28) ________ (have)
sex with him. My friend, if I 29) ________ (be) you, I 30) _________ (do) the same. He has
to be ours!

3. SPEAKING TIME FOR THE NEXT FACE-TO-FACE LESSON

Adaptability is another key point in “Brave New World”.

Justify your answer.

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