contrastive analysis

MAX

There are three dimensions in which a linguistic enterprise can be classified into:

First, we have a particularist approach and a generalist approach. Particularists focus on individual languages, while generalists consider the general phenomenon of human language.

Along the second dimension, languages can be studied in isolation, meaning attending to the specific features or particularities of a single language. On the other hand, they can be studied in a comparative basis, proceeding from the assumption that all languages have enough in common to be compared and classified into types.

Finally, the third dimension is that used by De Saussure: synchronic and diachronic. He explains it as "everything that relates to the static side of our science is synchronic; everything that as to do with evolution is diachronic."

                                  MAX

Now, our next topic of discussion is "Interlanguage study," which just as Phonetics or Dialectology, it is another branch of Linguistics that studies human language.

According to the notes we have, Interlanguage study is interested in the emergence of the language that comes into being when two languages are involved. In other words, what we are talking about here is a combination or blending between two languages; a language called interlingua. [MAX It usually happens when someone is learning a second language, as characteristics of the first are inadvertently incorporated into the second one. Another context where interlingua thrives is translation theory, where in the process of converting the source text into the target text some parts - whether it is words, grammar structures, etc - have traces of the source text - again inadvertently - passed into the target text.]

Vida e Instituciones de UK y EU

Set 1

Country and People

[1.1] Geographically Speaking

In the north-western part of Europe there are two large islands and many other small ones. One of the two large islands (the largest) is Great Britain and the other one is Ireland.

[1.2] Politically Speaking

There are two states governing the two big islands and the many tiny ones around them. One of these states is officially called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it has authority over the whole bigger island and a small piece of the north of the smaller one. The remaining part of the smaller island is governed by the other state, which is called The Republic of Ireland.

[1.3] The Four Nations

Even though there's one single state governing the whole country, Great Britain is made up of four nations with specific and different cultures and lifestyles. These nations are England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland.

In terms of the culture and lifestyle these nations had, the Celtic and the Germanic models were the most prominent ones. Thus, Ireland, Wales and Highland Scotland was inclined towards the Celts, whereas England and Lowland Scotland took the Germanic culture as their own.

[1.4] The Dominance of England

The reason why England is the most dominant and influential of the four nations is because it's been able to impose its will through a superior economic and military power.

Today, there are many easily recognizable aspects that accounts for the dominance of England over the other Nations, as for example the fact that English is the most widely spoken language throughout Britain. Furthermore, there's a tendency to consider England as the norm and other parts of Britain as special cases, so when something involves England it is taken for granted and therefore not mentioned, but when it regards Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland it always is.

[1.5] National Loyalties

Even though the majority of the British live in England, not all of them feel loyalty to this nation. This is because England has been for the most part of the latest centuries the destination of millions immigrating from not only the three other nations, but also from south Asia and the Caribbean. Therefore, people who were born outside Britain, or even whose parents or grandparents are of foreign origin, tend to feel more attached and loyal to the country they come from rather than to England.

This is particularly noticeable in sporting contests. When England competes against for example, Scotland, English citizens with Scottish ancestry will most likely support Scotland. But if England competes against Mexico these same people will support England.

Identity

[1.6] Ethic Identities

In the book, the term identity is dealt by taking into consideration the ethnical characteristics, and the sense of consciousness of belonging in a group that individuals have. This is the reason why people whose roots lay beyond Britain and Ireland have a stronger sense of national identity. As opposed to English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish, people from Asia or America look different to the majority in Britain and this make them knit together and develop a stronger sense of identity.

[1.7] The family

There's a sense of attachment and union within families in the UK, but in comparison with other parts of the world it is rather weak. As a matter of fact, it is uncommon to hold family gatherings with people that are outside the household unit. Generally, a family unit will be made up of the parents and the children, and very seldomly will the grandparents live with the first. 

However, this stereotypical family structure is little by little becoming less common as now roughly 40% of births happen outside marriage and single-parenthood is a phenomenon very present nowadays.

[1.8] Geographical identity

There's practically no sense of attachment to the place of birth, but local pride does exist if the place when people live is nice and pleasant (regardless of whether they were borned there or not). What is more common is to come across with a feel of identity associated with a county. People from Liverpool are proud to belong to that city; people from Newcastle feel that way too, as well as people form Manchester, London, Glasgow, etc. Going beyond the limits of cities, there's a division in England between northeners and shoutheners. The former see themselves as a more honest and warmer-hearted than the unfriendly shoutheners. 

[1.9] Class

Social classes in Britain can be divided in three different groups: the working class, the middle-class, and then the high-class people. There are clear differences among them which range from daily habits, the food they eat, topics of conversation, pastimes, sports, to values and demeanor. 

However, what's most interesting is that it's not money bring these different classes apart, it actually is accent. In fact, there's this accent called Received Pronunciation which is used by people belonging to the high society, and then there's the non-standard English accent which the lower classes use. 

In addition to all this, another thing worthy of consideration is the phenomenon that's come along over the past few decades: the inverted snobbery. This is a tendency in which people from the high classes  act or speak like the working class do on the grounds that they are more honest and all around better people.

[1.10] Men and women

Britain adheres to the tendency of putting women on the same level as men, and the fact the it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex is proof that this does happen. However, often unconsciously, women are expected to fulfill roles and behave in ways that differ with what men are expected to. For example, no one will bat an eye if a man looks untidy, but when it comes to women it's not very well seen. Also, it feels kinda awkward if a man cries, but not quite so if a women does.

[1.11] Religious and political identity
With the obvious exception of Northern Ireland and some people in Scotland, neither religion nor politics have important implications in people's sense of identity. They just don't care who you support or what you worship. Not even in a proposal of marriage or friendship does religion have in important role.

[1.12] Social en everyday contacts
For many people networking is an important part of their identity and their lives. Having social connections with people with the same interests, favorite sports or pastimes is quite important for them.

[1.13] Identity in Northern Ireland
There's a clear-cut division in Northern Ireland's society. On the one hand there is half a nation who want Ireland to remain part of the UK, and on the other side there are the people who support the idea of Ireland being part of the Irish Republic.

In this setting it's rare for people from the opposing communities talk with each other. Kids are sent to different schools and it is on the university that many times they cross paths for the first time.

[1.14] Being British
Most British people would much rather feel a patriotic sentiment towards their nation than towards Britain. This has been accounted for in many pools, like, for example, one conducted in 2002 in which almost half of the respondents said that the national flag had little, if any, importance to them.

However, there's one moment in particular when British patriotism is arose, and this is when their identity is threatened from the outside. For example through the activities of the European Union.

Attitudes
[1.15] Stereotypes and change

[1.16] English versus British

[1.17] Multiculturalism

[1.18] Conservatism

[1.19] Being different

[1.20] Love of nature

[1.21] Love of animals

[1.22] Public spiritedness and amateurism

[1.23] Privacy and sex

Set 2

Prehistory

[2.1] The Roman Period (43-410)

Even though the Romans occupied Britannia (most of what nowadays is England and Wales) for almost four hundred years, they uncharacteristically left very little behind. During their rein, however, they succeeded in imposing their ways over a part of the Celt population. The Scots and the Picts, who were enemies of the Romans, were the other part of the Celts. They lived up in Scotland, off the scope of the Roman power and influence. The group of Celts that experienced the influence of the Romans are called Britons, and the ones that didn't are called Gaels.

[2.2] The Germanic invasions (410-1066)

The first Germanic invasion was carried out in the fifth century by the Angles and the Saxons, and the south-east of the country was soon part of their rein. By the end of the sixth century their way of life predominated in nearly all of present-day England, especially in the countryside where they had a greater influence.

Another wave of Germanic invasion was executed in the eighth century by invaders from Scandinavia known as Vikings, and via armed conflict the north and east of the country was all they were able to conquer.

At this stage, with the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings having already made Christianity their religion, and with not many cultural differences, they soon were united under a same political state. It was the United Kingdom.

[2.3] The medieval period (1066-1458)

In 1066 the Normans successfully invaded and became the rulers of England. Then the Norman soldiers were given the ownership of pieces of land along with the people living on it. This later triggered the foundation of a hierarchy-based feudal system coming all the way down from the peasants (which where the English speaking Saxons), to the Normandy French-speaking lords, to the great nobles or barons, and finally to the almighty king.

Regarding the politics in this period, in the next 250 years the powerful Anglo-Norman kingdom extended to parts of Ireland and the entire territory of Wales. Only Scotland did manage to remain independent but was occasionally obliged to fight for it. At the level of culture though, it was the language of the Anglo-Saxons and not French the one that prevailed.

Other important events during the medieval period are:

_The survival and even the strength the Welsh culture remain with. The language and the typical song and poetry festivals were never endangered.

_The switch to the Gaelic language and culture by the The Anglo-Norman lords even though it was prohibited.

_In spite to its independence, the gradual switch to English in Scotland.

By the end of this period, there was a division between the lowlands and the highlands. In the former the way of life was similar to that of England and in the second the Gaelic culture prevailed.

[2.4] The sixteenth century: the tudors

In the sixteenth century there was a series of events with a significant level of repercussion.

The Bubonic plague which had been around for three centuries had its toll in the sixteenth-century Great Britain. It killed thousands of blue-collar workers and as a consequence the ties between lords and peasants were weakened. This favored monarchs as it increased their power. Also during the Tudor dynasty (1485 - 1603) The Lords and the Commons in the Parliament were no longer of equal importance as the monarchs were heavily represented by the Commons and therefore this party had much more power.

It is also in this century when Protestantism sprung up and established in England. Another important event was the exploration of America, which introduced the new notion that Great Britain wasn't a perimeter country but rather a central one. Last but not least, this is also the time where Shakespeare came along and had an enormous influence in the English language.

[2.5] The seventeenth century and the Civil War

In the midst of the standardization of English in Scotland and the union of this nation with England, the tension between religion and state arose. Some kings were killed for not being Catholic enough, and funnily enough some other for being too Catholic. In addition, ideological Protestantism grew in England as vocal detractors to Catholicism.

All this plus the conflict between the royalist and the parliamentarians led to the Civil War which the parliamentary forces won. However, after the leader of the parliamentary army, Oliver Cromwell, took over the government of Britain and Ireland, he failed to impose his system of government.

[2.6] The eighteenth century and the industrial revolution

When the Act of Union was passed, Scottish members of the parliament joined the English and Welsh parliament giving birth to the "United Kingdom of Great Britain." In this new setting, traces of past battles showed up as supporters of the old parliamentarians, the Whigs, were against the Tories (pro monarchy people). This led to the beginning of the party system in Britain.

Arguably the most important event of this century was the industrial revolution, which caused millions to move from the rural areas to cities. Most of them migrated to the industrial center of Great Britain located the northern areas of England. In the south of England, in turn, London was the business capital.

[2.7] The nineteenth century: queen Victoria

In the beginning of this century Britain lost its authority over The United States, and was busy trying to maintain other colonies while at the same time being involved in a war with France. Nevertheless, as the century progressed Britain's rule over several colonies spread out around the world was unprecedented. All Canada, Australia, New Zeland, India, large parts of Africa, and islands in the Caribbean belonged to the British empire.

Previous to this growth of the empire, colonization was a matter of commerce, but at point in time it was seen in a different light, something like the course of destiny. Along with the imposing economic development Great Britain was going through, a new sentiment of arrogance and supreme confidence arouse in the British society. Therefore, the country deemed it as a duty to spread their culture and civilization around the world.

In the industrial society of this century there were many great changes in the social structure. The holders of power were now tradespeople and professionals and not landowners and before. These powerful people made their riches off cheap labour done by people working in horrendous conditions.

Queen Victoria: In a new era when the monarchy held very little power, she was regarded as a symbol of Britain's success. Her hard-working spirit won her a very good public image and was deemed as the personification of the morals of the time.

[2.8] Imperialism

[2.9] The twentieth century: the birth of the labour party

The twentieth century kicked off in Britain with a series of problems that shook the whole country. It was not longer the world's riches country, women were standing up for their rights, the army wasn't completely satisfied with some policies of the government, and the House of Lords was struggling to survive.

By the 1920s these problems had been sorted out, but following this dramatic period Britain was starting to loss control over its colonies. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa started to act separately from Britain. Even Ireland became a independent country. At this point, the world wasn't as Britain-centered as before, and in 1962 when the Cuban missile crisis broke out it was resolved without need for Britain's involvement.

On a different note, politics was also going through changes. The working class gained enough power to have a say in Britain's future, and from the 1930s to the 1980s the Trades Union Congress thrived as a political force, but has since faded down.

[2.10] The World Wars

Set 3

Political Life

[3.1] The Public Attitude to Politics

The British don't usually go so far as to say politicians are thieves, but they do look on them as dishonest people, and lairs. In a satirical way, people say that the first rule of politics is never believe anything until it's been officially denied, implying that the truth is exactly the opposite to what they claim. Furthermore, the British are generally indifferent to politics, and rarely become passionate about it. Politics is for them a boring topic of conversation. This lack of enthusiasm is reflected in the general ignorance of who they are.

[3.2] The Style of Democracy
In many aspects of life the British manage with a relatively small set of laws, so there are few rules telling people what they must or must not do and thus, few rules telling the government what it can or cannot do.

A distinctive characteristic of the English democracy is the traditional idea that people and government should leave each other alone as much as possible, which is why people are not obliged to vote at elections. Additionally, people are not really involved in governing and lawmaking, and the government can make drastic changes without having to ask them for it. In Britain, democracy never meant that people were involved in the running of the country, but rather that they only had to choose who is to govern the country, and then let them get on with in.

[3.3] The Constitution
As opposed to almost all modern countries, Britain does not have a constitution. However, this does not mean that it does not have rules, principles or procedures, but that there's not a single written document which can be considered as the highest law.

Instead, the principles, procedures and people's rights come from other sources. Some of them are written down in laws agreed by Parliament, some have been spoken and written down (for example judgments made in a court), and some others have never been written down at all, but are effectively set by custom and practice.

[3.4] The style of politics
Politics in the UK are conducted in a rather informal way. Important decision are preferably made at lunch and over some drinks rather than at official meetings.

However, the parliament is run with a greater degree of formality as its member are obliged to proceed honoring some ancient traditions of procedure.

Another distinctive feature of politics in the UK is that politicians are very often cooperative among each other. They see the advantages of this and even when they support different parties, they are always open to cooperate if there's mutual benefit.

[3.5] The party system
There are two big dominating parties in the political scene in the UK: the conservative party and the Labour party. A third option is the Liberal Democratic party but it has lost relevance over the last decades, time during which the Labour party replaced the Liberal party as the second most popular party. The labour party, as opposed to the other two, was created outside the parliament when an increasing urban proletariat needed a political force to represent their interests.

Out of the two most important parties, the one that doesn't control the government often presents itself as an alternative government, ready to step up at any time it is needed. In order to keep up this appearance of readiness they try to keep their disagreements in secret, and when there isn't a reelection of the leading MP, argument and disagreement are arisen.

[3.6] The monarchy
The monarchy hasn't had for a very long time the authority it used to rule with centuries past. Its head, the Queen, has very little power and involvement in the decision-making of the country.

But even though in reality the Queen has no control in the running the politics in the UK, there's a willingness to glorify the royal family and make it seem as if the Queen was actually the most important person in the government. There's even the custom to pretend that the rule of the country is very undemocratic and that  it's "her" country rather than the "people's". Furthermore, she is supposedly qualified to dismiss anyone from the government and choose anyone she likes to fulfill any kind of official duty.

In this context we come to ask ourselves what, then, is the Queen's role? Three roles are often mentioned. First, she's the symbolic representation of the government. It's as representative of the UK as the country's flag. Second, in the event of the transition to a dictatorial country via the passing of an undemocratic bill, she has the authority here to disapprove the law. Third, she can lead ceremonial duties on behalf of the government allowing the real one get on with the actual job of running the country.

Now, regarding the future of the monarchy, there's nothing yet indicating that it will cease to exist any time soon. People are either vaguely in favour or indifferent, and generally she's widely admired by British people.

RRL: Google Hangout

1. Do you like doing housework? 

     A. Which task do you like/hate the most? 

     B. In what way do you think housework is connected with bring in shape? 

     C. In what way has technology influenced housework (household appliances) 

     D. Would you hire a cleaning lady?

2. What subjects were you bad at school?

3. Do you like listening and telling jokes? Do you know any joke in English?

4. What would be some of the issues that would concern you about emigrating?

5. What do you think of hunting? Would you eat an animal that you killed yourself?

6. I gained a lot of weight in last few years. I want to lose at least 10kg. What should I do?

7. Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?

8. Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?

9. What is your proudest accomplishment so far this year?

10. What is your best memory of childhood?     

11. Do you like being busy?

12. Is there truth in advertising?

13. What is one of your favorite animals?

14. When do you usually listen to the radio?      

15. Do you think the future will be better or worse for your grandchildren? In what ways?

16. When out walking or shopping in the city, do you accept advertising fliers or free samples that are offered to you?

17. Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?

18. Do you think there are too many ads in television? Why/why not?

19. Have you ever fainted?

20. When was the last time you watched a soccer match?

21. What is the greatest movie from the past year?

22. What's the most disgusting food you ever ate in a restaurant?

23. How could public transportation in your city be improved?

24. What are the gestures for "I don't know", "You are crazy", "money" and "come here" in your country?

25. What do you think is the most dangerous form of transportation? Why?

26. Who is the most interesting person you ever met? why?

27. Where in the world would you most like to visit? why?

28. What has been the most life-changing experience you've ever had?

29. What is the most spontaneous thing you've you ever done?

30. Who's had the biggest influence on your life? why?

31. What thing that you haven't yet done would you most like to do?

32. What is the best quality you've inherited from either of your parents?

33. From which person have you learned most in your life?

34. What historical figure do you most identify with? why?

35. If you could go back to another time and place, what time and place would you choose and why?

36. Do you have any tatoos? If so, tell about how you got them. If not, would you ever consider getting a tatoo? Why or why not?

37. Who's the most adventurous person in your family? Describe what they do.

38. If you were offered a trip on the space shuttle, would you go? Why or why not?

39. Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? If so tell about it.

40. How much is life an adventure?

41. Tell about a road trip that you've taken.

42. Have you ever tried any of the following: bungee jumping, snowboarding, parachuting, hanggliding? If so, tell about it.

43. Would you want to climb Mt. Everest? Why or why not?

44. What's the most exciting thing you've ever done? Tell about it.

45. Are cats better pets than dogs or are dogs better pets than cats? Why?

46. If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?

47. Do you think it's morally acceptable for scientists to do genetic experiments on animals? Why or why not? What about other types of medical research?

48. Do you have any pets? If so, tell about them.

49. What's the most interesting animal you've ever eaten?

50. What wild animals do you find most interesting? Why?

51. If you could observe an extinct animal for an afternoon, which one would you choose and why?

52. Would you like to go on an African safari? Why or why not?

53. How are humans like other animals? How are they different?

54. How many different pets have you had over your lifetime? Which was your favorite?

55. What do you like most about going to the zoo? What about least?

56. How can pets help people emotionally?

57. Tell about the last time you visited a museum. What did you see? Who did you go with?

58. When eating out, what's more important to you: the way the food looks or tastes? Why?

59. What is traditional art from your country like? How much do you know about it?

60. How have science and technology changed what crimes are committed? How about the way we solve them?

61. Should users of illegal drugs be put in jail? Why or why not? What about the people who sell them?

62. Do you think it's possible to prevent certain kinds of crimes? If so, which ones and how?

63. Why do you think that there have been so many school shootings at high schools in the United States?

64. What do you think are reasonable penalties for people who commit environmental crimes*?

65. How much does the media cover crime in your country? Do you think that they should spend less time or more time on it?

66. Do most people in your country prefer traditional medicine, modern medicine, or a combination of the two?

67. Do you think that teas and natural herbs can be just as effective or more effective for treating certain illness than modern medicine?

68. Should doctors be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose of medicine to patients who want to end their lives?

69. Do you consider alcohol a drug? Do you drink?

70. Should doctors be allowed to prescribe marijuana? If so, to whom and for what reasons?

71. Why do you think so many famous people use drugs?

72. What do you usually do on the weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans for this weekend?

73. What types of music do people listen to in your country? Is there any type of music that you can only hear in your country?

74. What's the last movie you saw? When did you see it? What was it about? Did you like it?

75. What do you do for entertainment when you're on vacation that you don't usually do?

76. How often do you drink? What's your favorite drink? Where do you usually drink it?

77. What's the worst party you've ever been to? What made it bad?

78. Would you rather go to a bar, a party, or a nightclub? Why?

79. Do you think you have a generally healthy diet? What have you eaten so far today?

80. If you could only eat three meals for the rest of your life, what would they be?

81. What's the last meal you cooked for yourself? How do you make it?

82. What's a big holiday in your country? What foods do people typically eat on this holiday?

83. What foods do you think are most romantic? Why are they romantic?

84. What foods do you eat when you feel sick or depressed?

85. Are there any foods that you would not eat as a child that you now like? Why do you think this is?

86. Do you think that old buildings are more beautiful than new ones? Why or why not?

87. How important are monuments (like Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty) in defining a nation?

88. Describe your dream house.

89. What languages have you studied? How well can you read, write and speak each of them?

90. How do people who come from different regions of your country speak differently?

91. Do you think it's ever possible to speak a language like a native? Explain your reasons

92. What do you find most difficult to learn in English?

93. Why do you want to improve your English? For example: work, travel, pleasure.

94. How is your personality different when you speak another language? For example, are you more or less outgoing?

95. In what major ways is English grammar different from the grammar of your native language?

96. At what did you begin studying a second language? Do think age affects a person's ability to learn a new language?

97. What's the best way to learn a language?

98. Do you think you learn more English inside or outside the classroom? What do you on your own to improve your English?

99. What is the worst movie you have ever seen? Why was it so bad? What would have made it better?

100. Do you think movie stars should be paid millions of dollars? Do you think they are more or less entertaining than sports stars?

101. Which actor or actress do you think is the most overrated in Hollywood today? Which is the most underrated?

102. Do you listen to music on the radio? How often? Do you have a favorite station? Why do you like this station?

103. Why do you think English language music is so popular? Can a band be a worldwide hit if they don't sing in English?

104. Do you ever like to listen to loud music? When?

105. How has your opinion of good music changed over your lifetime? Is there anything you liked years ago that you would not like now?

106. In your opinion, how much should governments contribute to university education?

107. What type of information--if any--do you think a government should keep from its citizens?

108. What do you think is the most important political issue right now? Why is it important?

109. Tell about an important political event in your country's recent history.

110. Do you think it's important for a country to have a strong military? Why or why not?

111. What do you think of President Barrack Obama?

112. Who is the most famous scientist from your country? What did he/she do?

113. In what ways, if any, has science had a negative impact on society?

114. What do you think about evolution and other theories of natural selection?

115. What natural disasters occur in your country? Explain why they happen.

116. How do you feel about cloning? Do you think it's ethical for scientist to clone animals? What about human organs?

117. How has science influenced the way detectives investigate crimes?

118. What's your favorite branch of science? (For example, biology, physics, astronomy.)

119. Do you know how your computer works? If so, explain how.

120. How have you personally benefitted from developments in modern medicine?

121. What do you think will be the greatest medical breakthrough in the next ten years?

122. In your opinion what has been the most important scientific discovery ever? Why?

123. When do you think scientists will develop a cure for AIDS?

124. What was the last thing you bought for yourself? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

125. What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

126. What's your favorite place to shop? Why?

127. Are you a price conscious shopper? What is your opinion of discount stores?

128. Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?

129. How important is it for you to be up to date with the latest fashions?

130. What kind of clothes do you like best? Do you have a favorite type of fabric? Are a lot of your clothes one color or pattern?

131. Do you usually remember your dreams? Tell about a recent dream you remember.

132. Do you think that animals dream? Why or why not?

133. Have you ever slept outside for an entire night? If so, tell about the experience.

134. Are you a light sleeper or can you sleep on airplanes, trains, and buses?

135. Do you prefer to go to sleep late or wake up early?

136. Have you had dreams in other languages? How often do you dream in English? Would you like to?

137. Describe a nightmare that you remember from childhood.

138. How did your parents meet?

139. Describe your best friend from when you were a child.

140. How many friends have you kept from childhood? Tell about them.

141. In your language, is there more than one word for friend? If so, how are these words different?

142. When do you think people will visit Mars? What do you think they will find there?

143. If you could take a vacation to the moon, would you? Why or why not?

144. Would you like to be an astronaut? Why or why not?

145. Do you think people will ever communicate with intelligent aliens? Why or why not?

146. What can we learn about the earth from studying other planets?

147. Can you name the planets in English? Try.

148. What invention do you think has had the greatest impact on society? Why?

What do you think the world will be like a hundred years from now?

149. In what ways has technology improved our lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

150. Which of the following do you own: a VCR, a DVD player. a microwave oven, a computer, a cell phone, and an electronic dictionary? Which do you use most often?

151. Do you turn off the water when you brush your teeth?

152. In your opinion, what can cities like Sao Paulo and Los Angeles do to improve their air quality?

153. How often do you read the paper or watch the news on TV? How importantis it for you to keep up with current events?

154. In your opinion, what has been the single biggest news item from this pastyear? How did the media cover this event?

155. How do you feel about censorship? Are there times when the news shouldbe censored?

156. What's happening in the news right now, both in your country and abroad? Where did you hear about it?

157. Do you believe in ghosts? What are they? Have you ever seen or felt one?

158. What numbers are lucky in your country? Unlucky? Do you have a lucky number? Unlucky?

159. What do you for good luck? Do you think it works?

160. What sign are you? Do you think your personality reflects this?

161. Do you read your horoscope? If so, how seriously do you take it?

162. Have you (or anyone you've heard of) ever had an out of body experience? Do you believe there are people who can see things hidden from view?

163. Describe the best trip you ever took. Where did you go? Who did you travel with? What did you do?

164. Where did you spend your last vacation? What did you do?

165. What three countries would you most like to visit? Why?

166. Do you prefer winter vacations or summer vacations? Why?

167. Have you ever taken a package tour? If so, tell about this experience?

168. Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, where were you and how was this experience?

169 What three countries would you least like to visit? Why?

170. What's your ideal job? Why?

171. How has technology changed business? Do you think it's created more work or less?

172. Is it typical for men and women to have the same jobs in your counrty?

173. Do you think office romances can be successful? Why or why not? Do you know of any couples who have met at work?

174. Describe the first job you had for money.

175. In your opinion, which jobs are most prestigious? Why?

176. What three things are most important for you in a job? Why?

177. If you could own your own business, what would it be?