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Developing English Competencies f or Grade XII of Language Programme
Didu : It’s just that? Transgenic maize has the same taste as common corn.
Tami : It’s not only the reason some fear that certain types of genetically engineered
crops will further reduce biodiversity in the cropland. Is that clear?
Didu : Yes, I see the point. By the way, what’s your opinion on GMO?
Tami : Let me just say that I oppose it, for any reasons. I wish we could insist on a ban
on GMO.
Dialogue 2 Nisa : Hi. I wonder if you would mind
answering a question for me. Maya : OK, what’s the question?
Nisa : Do you approve of genetically modi À ed
food? Maya : Well, I don’t think GM food is good for
us. Nisa : So your answer is “no”.
Maya : That’s right. I’m against it. Nisa : OK, thank you, Maya.
Maya : No problem.
Activities 7 and 8
Paragraph 1 Genetic engineering, genetic modification,
and gene splicing are terms for the process of manipulating genes in an organism. It has important
uses, but many people are worried by it. Paragraph 2
Proponents of genetic engineering argue that the technology is safe, and that it is necessary
in order to maintain food production that will continue to match population growth.
However, others argue that food distribution, not production, is the biggest problem.
Paragraph 3 Others oppose genetic engineering on
the grounds that genetic modification may have unforeseen consequences in the modi
À ed organisms and their environments. The ecological
and environment effects of transgenic plants are constantly being investigated.
Paragraph 4 Anti-genetic-engineering activists say that
with current recombinant technology there is no way to ensure that genetically modi
À ed organisms will remain under control, and the use
of this technology outside of secure laboratory environments carries unacceptable risks for the
future.
Chapter 3 Let’s Discuss Some Issues
Activities 2 3
N
adia :
1
I wonder what your opinion on abortion is.
Adi :
2
Let me just say that I oppose it for many reasons.
Nadia : So, is that why you voted for a president candidate who is pro-life?
Adi : Yeah.
3
I do hope the government won’t pass a law legalizing abortion.
Nadia : But I heard the House is discussing a bill to legalise abortion for medical
reasons. Adi : Really?
4
I wish the law won’t be misused by some irresponsible people.
Activity 4
Deni : Hey, Randi have you ever been mountain
climbing? Randi : Yeah. I went a couple of times a few
years ago. Why do you ask?
1
What’s the plan?
Deni :
2
Im planning on maybe going this weekend.
Randi : Really? Where? With whom? Deni : With Budiman and Heri?
3
They’re thinking of going to Mount Pangrango.
Randi : Humh. Well, be careful It’s been raining a lot. You’ve never been climbed before,
have you? Deni : No. I dont know the
À rst thing about it. Budiman and Heri are quite experienced,
though, I guess.
4
I would say well get to the top safety. After all,
5
we can speculate that the weather will be better
this weekend. Randi : Well,
6
I think it’s well grounded. It’s worth speculating. Yet, if the weather
gets worse,
7
would there be any possibility of changing the plan? Maybe
you can go camping. Deni : Hmm.
8
That’s one possibility.
Activity 5
Dialogue 1 Didu : Many people against GMO. I wonder
why? Tami : I think they don’t like the idea of
eating foods that have been genetically modi
À ed.
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Tapescript s
Paragraph 5 Some fear that certain types of genetically
engineered crops will further reduce biodiversity in the cropland.
Paragraph 6 Proponents of current genetic techniques as
applied to food plants cite the bene À ts that the
technology can have. Proponents like to cite golden rice that contains elevated vitamin A levels.
Paragraph 7 Many opponents of current genetic engineering
believe the increasing use of genetic modi À cation in
major crops has caused a power shift in agriculture towards biotechnology companies.
Activity 9
Just Say No to GMO
Chapter 4 Delivering a Speech
Activity 2
1. Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, …. 2. It is a great honour for me to speak in this
occasion, …. 3. Dear guests, thank you for coming to us today
to celebrate …. 4. Thank you for your kind attention, Ladies and
Gentlemen …. 5. Ladies and Gentlemen, today Im going to talk
about …. 6. Honourable guests, thank you very much for
giving a chance to speak .... 7. Everybody, on this occasion I would like to
say …. 8. Thank you very much for giving me a chance
to stand here to …. 9. Thats all Ladies and Gentlemen, this will be
the end of .... 10. Ladies
and Gentlemen, I would like to thank to....
Activity 3
Hello everybody, let me have a handful of minutes of your attention and congratulate our
À rst- born, Natalie, on her 17th birthday, and wish her a
couple of things. Well, to be frank, I am very glad to be here today and to see her celebrate her birthday
surrounded by friends and close people.
But À rst and foremost, Natalie is an amazing
person, and on her birthday Id like to wish her simple human happiness. May Natalies most cher-
ished dreams come true, as we stand up and raise our glasses for her birthday and happiness.
Activities 4 and 5
I believe that GM technology isn’t needed to feed the world, as
1
sustainable, organic farming methods can provide plenty without
the
2
excessive use of chemicals. Using sustainable and organic farming methods will allow us to
3
repair the damage done by industrial farming, reducing the excessive use of fertiliser,
4
herbicides and other man-made chemicals, and making GM
crops
5
redundant. The simple truth is, we don’t need GM technology.
If you want a future
6
free from GM food, help us make sure that companies
and governments around the world get the
7
message. This public
8
service ad is presented by Friends of Earth.
Adapted from www.greenpeace.org.uk; Foodwatch ,
2001
Let me start by saying that I am
1
very proud to be addressing you today as the
students of Toronto University for the last time. In some
2
moments we shall receive the diplomas and become the 2005
3
graduates of the Linguistics faculty, newly-
Á edged Master of Arts in Translation.
I
4
guess that after the strain of final tests, credits and
5
exams, not to mention the time–consuming graduation theses and its
nerve–racking presentation, most of us were
6
looking forward to this moment, when the
studying is over, the diploma is in your pocket and you are
7
free to do what you like. But I want
you to
8
look around you and remember this
moment. Look at your group-mates and
9
your teachers, because from now on life will scatter
us around
10
the world, and most of us will meet only at
11
alumni parties. Recall the best moments of studying that we shared.
232
Developing English Competencies f or Grade XII of Language Programme
So let me wish you luck and
12
perseverance. I wish you all
13
successes on you life path. I hope to hear about you well before the alumni party:
when I will be reading the
14
newspaper article about a breakthrough in translating studies or
about the new Presidents
15
interpreter, I will know whom to think of – one of us – graduates
2005.
16
Good luck to us all
Adapted from www.speechguru.com
Activity 6
Good morning everybody. Thank you very much for giving me a
chance to inform you this matter. Did you know that during the first six months of
Chapter 5 Let’s Have a Debate
Activity 2
Wawan : So, why are you doing this, Susan?
Susan : I told you, it’s for charity.
Wawan : I know - it’s a ‘Save the dolphin’
1
charity, isn’t it? Ratna
: No, it isn’t. Look, Wawan, it’s all written here.
Susan : It’s to raise money for a really old
temple in South America which was damaged by an
2
earthquake last year.
Joko : You’re collecting money for an old
building Wawan :
What about collecting money for people or animals?
Joko : If you fasted for people I would
sponsor you, but an old place ... Wawan
:
3
I agree , anyway, there are many people here in this country that
need help. Why South America? Joko
: Or what about the animals which were threatened by the drought in
Africa last month? Wawan :
4
I think if we give to charity we should help people or animals.
Susan : I can see that, but the point is ...
Activity 4
Proponents of animal
1
experimentation point to hundreds of years of medical advances
made possible by research on animals.
2
Treatments for heart disease provide just one example, including open-heart surgery,
in which circulatory functions are temporarily controlled by a heart-lung machine;
3
coronary bypass to improve blood
Á ow to the heart
5
muscle; and valve replacement of a defective heart valve. Techniques and
6
equipment for kidney dialysis were also developed through
animal experimentation. More than 30
7
drugs for treating cancer,
6as well as anticancer radiation
8
therapies, were
À rst tested on rats and
9
mice. Vaccines for diphtheria, measles, smallpox, and many
other previously feared
10
diseases were
developed through animal
11
research. Organ transplants, blood transfusions, microsurgery
to
12
reattach severed limbs—these and other
procedures that save thousands of lives an- were destroyed in attempt to stop the pandemic
of avian in Á uenza? Did you hear that United
Nations coordinator, Dr David Nabarro, estimated the number of possible human casualties as
5–150 million people? Are you aware that since its discovery in the 1990s the avian
Á u has been contracted by more than 100 people, and one half
of them died? The truth is that it wont cure an infected
individual, but it will prevent a disease. At the moment there is no treatment for the human
modi À cation of the avian Á u. The government
has already purchased some six million doses of vaccination, so if you apply for vaccination
at his very moment, you are most likely to be inoculated.
I highly advise that you take care of yourself right now. The global matters are actually in
the hands of every individual. If everyone will be immune to the disease, the pandemic wont
break in. You just need to be inoculated in order to prevent an infection that can kill 150 million
people. Your future and the future of the United States depend on your choice. Choose life before
it is too late. Choose vaccination. Thank you 2004, approximately 200 million birds died or
