Steps in Speaking English (Шаги в разговорном английском). Е. В. Волкова

the text about smart agreements.

Love me forever… or pay 5 million dollars!

      No one with big money in California or New York these days gets married without a pre–nuptial agreement. This is particularly true for Hollywood actors, who agree, for example, that a husband or wife will receive $5 million if their partner is unfaithful. But these agreements are also becoming popular in European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. Australia, too, now accepts them.

      Bus driver Nick Palmer, from Perth, is delighted. His girlfriend Kate Brown has asked him to marry her. Nick has agreed but plans to sign a pre–nuptial agreement first. 'Kate mustn't cut her hair short and she mustn't stay out late,' he told us. 'Last year she forgot the anniversary of the day we met and then she lost her temper. She definitely mustn't do that again.' Kate thinks he's making a fuss over nothing. 'He'll have a good life. I haven't got a job so I can stay at home all day. In the agreement it says that he doesn't have to do much housework. He doesn't have to do the cooking. All he has to do is the washing up.' However, Nickolas has a surprise for Kate. And it was interesting for her to know about it. 'There's one thing in the agreement that she doesn't know about yet. Before I marry Kate, she has to … get a job!'

       Exercise 4. Read the article again and answer true or false.

      1. Nick asked his girlfriend to marry him.

      2. Nick likes short hair.

      3. Kate sometimes loses her temper.

      4. Kate wants Nick to do the washing up.

      5. Nick wants his wife to get a job.

       Vocabulary. Obligation or no obligation.

       Exercise 5. Make your own smart agreement, using words from vocabulary. Choose one of the situations below and discuss how to make them successful. Imagine that you are going to:

      1. marry a millionaire/ess

      2. go into business with a friend

      3. travel around the world with a friend

      4. share a flat with someone you don’t know well

      Example: OUR SMART AGREEMENT

      I have to:__________________________________________

      I don’t have to:_____________________________________

      I mustn’t:__________________________________________

      The other person has to:_______________________________

      The other person doesn’t have to:________________________

      The other person mustn’t:______________________________

       Exercise 6. Read the text.

      Would you do that for love?

       Exercise 7. Answer these questions.

      1. What would you do for love?

      2. What would you never do for love?

      3. What should people do for love?

      4. Have you ever done something unusual for love?

      5. Do you think it is necessary to do something extraordinary for love?

      6. What article do you like most of all?

      7. What do you think about the woman from Moscow? Was it stupid or romantic to do such things?

      8. What do you think about John Mason? Would you sell everything for love?

      9. What do you think about Sheila Porter? Do you understand her? Have you ever done something like this?

       Exercise 7. What do you think “speed-dating” is? Read the letter and check your answers.

SpeedDate

      Dear Nick,

      Thank you for booking a place at our next speed-dating event.

      What to expect:

      Speed-dating is a fast way to meet a new partner! There are twenty men and twenty women and you have just three minutes to talk to each person. After three minutes, if you like the person, put a tick by his or her name on your card. Then, move on and talk to the next person. At the end, give us your card. If you ticked someone who also ticked you, we will give you each other's email addresses.

      A few tips:

      Don't start every conversation with 'What do you do?' This gets very boring. And don't ask too many questions which can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'.

      Ask interesting questions, like 'How would your best friend describe you?' or 'What was the last CD you bought?'.

      When?

      Sunday 19th May. Arrive at 6.00 p.m

      Where?

      Attica Club, 20 Hawkley Street, London.

      Happy dating!

      Julia Honey

      Manager

       Exercise 8. Read the letter again and answer the questions.

      1. How many people are there at this event?

      2. How long do you get to speak to each person?

      3. What should you do with your card?

      4. Whose e-mail addresses will you get?

      5. What type of question shouldn’t you ask?

      6. What kind of questions should you ask?

      7. Is speed-dating typical for your country?

      8. Would you like to go on a speed-dating? Why? Why not?

      9. What questions would you ask on a speed-dating?

      10. What kind of dating is the best? (blind date12, online dating or

      Internet dating13, extreme date14, put a face to a name15, faceto-face date16, meet the parents17, romantic date)