Reading and Writing in English

An Interactive Text for Intermediate ESL Students

BOOK 2

Samples

High interest reading materials:

READING 1: A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE

READING 1: THE PERSONAL TOUCH

        Modern technology has brought incredible advances in many areas of our lives. We can travel to distant places in a short time. We can communicate with people far away over the telephone or the computer, even talking to people on different continents at the same time. We can be helped by medical personnel in ways that were not dreamed of in the past. All this progress has changed our lives in countless ways. Most of these changes are for the better. A few of them, however, are meeting with resistance.
        Computers are an important part of technology enabling us to make great advances, but they have replaced people in many areas. Traditionally, for example, a person has always gone to a teller in a bank or an agent in a travel agency. In recent years, employees such as these have been able to provide fast and efficient service with the help of computers. But now many businesses are taking this efficiency one step further: they are doing away with the people who serve customers. Clients have a choice, in some cases, of paying a fee to talk to a living human being rather than process something by machine. In other cases, there is only the machine to serve someone.
        Telephone communication is another area in which the human species, as far as customers are concerned, seems to be in danger of extinction. Voice mail can be convenient in certain situations, but frequently callers have specific questions to ask or points to discuss or private issues of concern, making it necessary for them to talk to a person, and frequently to a specific person. If that person is unavailable to talk and the caller cannot be available for a return call at a later time, the necessary communication may not take place. In addition to the frustration of not being able to resolve anything, the caller must also pay for the call, which accomplished nothing.
        The decreasing availability of people to help others goes hand in hand with the increasing difficulty people are experiencing finding jobs. Serious unemployment problems impact society negatively. Perhaps we should attempt to use advanced technology in the many ways it benefits us, but when human contact is better, we should keep the personal touch.

Engaging questions for discussion and writing, based on the readings:

Questions for discussion and writing

1. The reading brings up banks and travel agencies as types of businesses in which machines have replaced people in part. What other types of businesses and services have gone over to machines for some of the services previously provided by employees?
2. Have you or anyone you know ever lost a job because of mechanization?
3. Do you usually use ATMs or go into the bank? Explain.
4. Have you had negative experiences with mechanized service that you feel would have been avoided if a person had helped you? Explain.
5. In which types of businesses and services do you feel the personal touch is very important? Be specific.

Helpful vocabulary activities:

WORD FORMS

1-13.

Add the correct word in the proper form.

include, inclusion, including

1. The __________ of an answer key makes it possible for people to use the book on their own.
2. The total bill, __________ the beverages, came to less than $20.
3. People who __________ exercise in their daily routine may stay healthier.

organize, organization, organizing, organizer, organized

FOCUS ON WORDS

Even/Even though/Even if/Even so

Even has several meanings as an adjective.

A football field is even, but a golf course is not.
He has an even chance of winning the game.
All of the numbers on his license plate are even.

Even as an adverb generally adds emphasis to something.

He is so addicted to television that he does not want to miss even the commercials.
Even a small person can lift heavy weights.

Even though is a conjunction that has the contrast meaning of in spite of.

Even though she lived in Spain for eight years, she does not speak Spanish.
He is not going to the concert even though he likes that type of music.

Even if introduces a condition that will not make a difference in the outcome of something.

Even if he gets a driver's license, he will not drive much because he does not have a car.
Ten years from now they will be poor even if they win the lottery.

Even so indicates a result that occurred in spite of something else.

She lived in Spain for eight years. Even so, she does not speak Spanish.
He likes that type of music. Even so, he is not going to the concert.

6-8.	Add the correct expression with even in each of the following blanks.

1. The band played well. __________, their director was not happy with the performance.
2. __________ the band played well, their director was not happy with the performance.
3. The players are all __________ at this point.
4. He does not like sweets at all. He does not __________ like chocolate.
5. They are not __________ considering taking out a loan.
6. __________ she moves to Los Angeles, she will not go to the beach.
7. __________ she moved to Los Angeles, she did not go to the beach.
8. __________ he gets his own place, he will not become a responsible person.
9. __________ he got his own place, he did not become a responsible person.
10. __________ we start now, it will be difficult to solve our environmental problems.

6-9.	Sentence writing assignment: Working alone or with a group of your classmates, make sentences using a form of even.

IDIOMS IN ENGLISH

Break

To break means basically to separate into parts.
The verb break is also part of many expressions. Here are some common ones.

to break down: to stop functioning
to break in: to prepare for regular use
to break into: to forcefully enter
to break off: to detach, or to stop or cancel
to break up: to end the relationship of a couple, or to shatter

The noun break usually refers to the division between parts. It is also part of some other nouns that have their own meanings.

breakdown: failure to function
break-in: forceful entry
breakthrough: crucial step forward in the development of something
breakup: end of the relationship of a couple or an organization

1-16.

Add the correct form of the proper expression with break.

1. The invention of the laser made possible many __________ in science and technology.
2. After being together for over three years, Jim and Alice __________.
3. If they let that thief out of prison, he __________ another store soon.
4. Their car __________ often because they do not service it regularly.
5. People __________ new cars by not driving them up to speed limit for the first 500 miles.
6. We read in the morning paper about the __________ by thieves.
7. The countries __________ their negotiations twice this month.
8. A __________ on a freeway can be a very frustrating experience.
9. The __________ of many labor unions took place in the 1980s.

1-17.

Sentence writing assignment: Working alone or with a group of your classmates, write sentences using the preceding expressions with break. Create some sentences in the present, past, and future. Use different subjects for your sentences.

WORD COMBINATIONS

8-10.

Add a word where necessary.

1. He postponed his trip because __________ illness.
2. He postponed his trip due __________ illness.
3. Successful students attend __________ class regularly and listen carefully.
4. Immigrants must adapt __________ different ways of doing things.
5. Astronomers have attempted to contact __________ extraterrestrials.
6. According __________ experts in nutrition, it is better to have a low-fat diet.
7. The nutritionists were discussing __________ the effects on people of fat in their diet.
8. The nutritionists were having a discussion __________ dietary fat.
9. He cannot handle __________ pressure very well.
10. She is looking forward __________ hearing from her cousin on vacation.
11. The surgeon will operate __________ three patients this coming Friday.
12. She is familiar __________ food from many different countries.

8-11.

Sentence writing assignment: Working alone or with a group of your classmates, make new sentences with the above word combinations. Create some sentences in the negative and in the interrogative. Share your favorite sentences with the rest of the class.

OTHER WAYS OF SAYING IT

1-20.

Replace the words in boldface in each of the following sentences with the expression below that has the same meaning. Make any other necessary changes.

1. Jim took on several important tasks last year.
2. Some parents support their children in college.
3. It does not take money for parents to be supportive.
4. He finally realized that he had made a mistake.
5. He is a single parent taking care of three children on top of working full time.
6. After remodeling the store, the owner took home the extra materials.
7. Mel wanted to enroll in an organ class.
8. Most people dread any major operation.
9. Alice signed up for tutoring in order to do better in her math class.
10. His arguments against divorce are weak.
11. With present circumstances what they are, we should postpone our trip.
12. The price includes room and board.
13. The company must establish connections with several overseas businesses.
14. We are aware of the problem.
15. The stories of some daytime television dramas seem pointless.
16. Many teenagers learn responsibility from holding down a job.

line of reasoning meals to provide money for encouraging in a positive way   condition to set up to work to undertake

in addition to to sign up for conscious to understand senseless for the purpose of doing to fear greatly surplus

Helpful explanations of language structure:

ARTICLES: A, AN, AND THE

A singular count noun needs an article:

a (an before a vowel sound) for no particular one:

He bought a desk.
They wanted a dog.
She knows an electrician who does good work.

The for a particular one:

He bought the desk that was on sale.
They wanted the dog that their friends had found by the roadside.
She knows the electrician that works for most of the people in her neighborhood.

A noncount noun does not have an article unless it is used in a particular sense.

We all like music.
We all liked the music at the concert last night.

Only count nouns can be plural, and since a and an refer to one, a plural noun can only take the, indicating particular ones.

Cars have tires. [no particular cars or tires, so no articles]
The concerts they usually go to are nearly always sold out in advance.

3-3.	Add an article where necessary.

1. _____ houses have _____ windows.
2. _____ houses built by that contractor are very nice.
3. It is important for _____ children to play _____ games with other children.
4. _____ elephant has _____ trunk.
5. _____ teacher next door had _____ conversation with our teacher.
6. _____ worker may be paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
7. _____ workers in that factory are paid weekly.
8. I had _____ beef and _____ salad for dinner.
9. _____ chairs on _____ patio are made of _____ plastic.
10. He does not ask for _____ advice or _____ information when he buys _____ furniture or _____ equipment because he believes that he has all _____ knowledge he needs.

3-4.	Put the sentences in Exercise 3-3 into the interrogative form.

A presentation of academic writing, with examples:

A COLLEGE PARAGRAPH

        Life today presents some definite disadvantages. A first serious problem is that the overpopulation of the world is hurting us in many ways. With more than five billion people on Earth, our environment is being subjected to constant damage, with the ongoing use of new resources and the need to get rid of used materials. The resulting pollution is harming nearly all forms of life on our planet. Overpopulation is creating other problems as well, such as growing unemployment and the rise in crime. Another major disadvantage to life today is that we need to be informed about so many ideas. As people gain a greater understanding of scientific, technical, and social concepts, the general population is pressured to keep up with the breakthroughs. It has become difficult for a person to have a rewarding career or even to be a successful parent without keeping up with current issues. But to be well informed takes a great deal of time, creating a problem for individuals. A final problem with civilization today is that people more easily leave family and friends to take up life in another area. Such moves are often necessary in order for someone to have a decent job or to live in a more suitable climate. However, it then becomes difficult to spend time with loved ones. With the complexities of our interdependent modern world, many people today wish they could just go back to a simpler life.

What is the writer talking about in the above paragraph? What point is the writer making?
The paragraph above is an example of a typical college paragraph. It is about life today. The writer is making the point that it presents definite disadvantages. Some important disadvantages are given:

1. that the overpopulation of the world is hurting us
2. that we need to be informed about so many ideas
3. that people more easily leave family and friends

The writer brings up each disadvantage in the paragraph and explains it with details and examples before going on to the next disadvantage. The entire paragraph ends with a concluding statement.

A presentation of summary writing:

READING 6: SUMMARY WRITING

        Students in college classes are often called upon to write summaries. In addition to writing the ones that have been assigned by instructors, many students also prepare summaries of long textbook readings in order to have something shorter to review when they have to prepare for an exam. A carefully written summary, in fact, is a valuable reminder of important information.
The purpose of preparing a summary is to have a shorter version of a text that includes the most important information from the original text. To write one, a person reads the entire text first, or at least enough of it to see what the original writer's point is and which additional ideas are the most important ones. Then the person preparing the summary takes notes on the original or marks ideas in the text. These ideas are next put together logically and written up in sentence form, in the writer's own words-to copy the wording from the text being summarized is to plagiarize, or steal written material. Transitions-words connecting the individual ideas logically-should be added where they are needed. The resulting summary should be a collection of the most important information, put together smoothly, making a nice piece of writing by itself.

2-11.

Write a summary of approximately 5 sentences of Reading 5 in this chapter. Begin by reading the entire essay and determining the topic, the controlling idea, and the key supporting ideas. Then start your summary with a topic sentence-a sentence that states the topic and the controlling idea. Next, write sentences giving the key ideas-the major reasons for which so many women need a good job. Finish your summary with a concluding statement. Revise your sentences for transitions and for mistakes in wording, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Then share your summary with a group of your classmates, and make suggestions to one another on how to improve your summary writing.

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