Consolidation

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 441.

Task 15

Complete the following short texts with the alternative that seems preferable to you.

a) Experimental psychology traditionally was interested in relationships between events.

As a matter of fact. . .

i) the forming of associations between one stimulus and another was defined by such psychologists as
learning.

ii) learning was defined by such psychologists as a matter of forming associations between one
stimulus and another.

b) People should use potassium bromide only under a doctor's direction because this form of bromide may cause skin rashes. It can also disturb the mind. . . .

i) Silver bromide is a form of bromide used in photography to make plates and film more sensitive to
light.

ii) In photography, a form of bromide called silver bromide is used to make plates and film more
sensitive to light.

c) Brocade designs are woven by hand or machine into cloth to make fabrics for bedspreads, curtains, etc…

i) Cloth that has designs woven into it with heavy yarns is called brocade,

ii) Brocade is a cloth that has designs woven into it with heavy yarns.

d) Bubble gum (. . .) is a major cause of tooth decay among children.
i) bubble gum is a form of chewing gum

ii) a form of chewing gum

A Study the expanded definition of 'civilization' below. Then write your own expanded definition of one of the following:
literacy science mechanics

economics medical ethics agriculture

Civilization has received many definitions, but is often associated with cities. The words civic, civil, and civilized come from the Latin civis (citizen) and relate to obligations of people in a civitas (city-state). Civilization implies complex government. Usually a civilization also uses metals. Finally, a civilization develops arts of some matur­ity and creates some form of writing.

B Define, in at least three sentences, an abstract concept (e.g. 'beauty', 'honour', etc.) that has some influence on the way you live. Show your work to a partner and work together to judge how far your ideas have been communicated successfully. Make any changes necessary to enable your partner to fully understand your text.

C Quoted below you will find a passage from a well-known British novel, Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, in which Humpty Dumpty gives his opinions on defining words.

1. Discuss Humpty Dumpty's ideas in groups of three or four. For example, can you use words in any way
you want? Are there some words which can be used in different ways? Do some groups of people
define particular words or groups of words in their own ways? If so, which words and in what ways?

". . . that shows that there are three hundred and sixty'four days when you might get un-birthday presents."

''Certainly/' said Alice.

"And only one for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!"

"I don't know what you mean by 'glory'," Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'"

"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argu­ment'," Alice objected.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

2. Write a text giving your own views on how words and their meaning(s) might be defined and organized.
What is meaning, anyway?