Unit 6

TAKING TURNS AND REFUTING ARGUMENTS

________________________________________________________

All roads lead to Rome.

TRAVEL

I. Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. Do you like traveling?

2. How often do you travel?
3. Do you prefer traveling with your family or your friends? Why?
1. Why do people travel to exotic places?
2. Do you like visiting historical places?
3. Can you remember being amazed by something when you traveled abroad?
4. What do you understand from the proverb ‘All roads lead to Rome’?
II. In small groups brainstorm the reasons why people travel.

Video

III. Before watching: Look at the pictures. Do you know anything about Machu
Picchu?

 Where is it located?

 Who lived there? When?

 IV. Watch the video and circle True or False for each statement. If false, correct the
statement.

TRUE/FALSE
1. Machu Picchu is located 50 miles from Cusco.
TRUE/FALSE
2. There are people living in this old city.
3. The American historian Hiram Bingham discovered the city in 1912. TRUE/FALSE

4. It is presumed that sacred food was grown in the terraces of an old city TRUE/FALSE

5. The only round building in the city was used for astronomic observations. TRUE/FALSE
SE
6. Scholars know why the city was built and why it was deserted.
TRUE/FALSE
7. The walls were not reconstructed. TRUE/FALSE
8. Spaniards came to the ancient city. TRUE/FALSE

V. Listen to the dialogues and complete the sentences. (Track 6)

1. – ______________________________________ Machu Picchu?

- Well, I think that’s a great place to visit! I’ve read a lot about it. It’s a 15th-
century Inca site located more than 2,000 metres above sea level!

- That’s right! It’s even considered to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the
World.

2. – _____________________________ the origin of Machu Picchu?

- ___________________________, it is a sacred religious site.

- ______________________________________ ?

- ___________. It has "sacred geography" because the site is built on and

around mountains that hold high religious importance in the Inca culture.
 - _________________________________an alternative theory says that it
was an agricultural place.

- ______________________________. ____________________________?

- Of course. They say that different types of crops could be tested in the many
different terraces.

- Oh, that’s quite interesting! I didn’t know that!

Useful Language for taking turns and refuting opinions

Taking Turns Refuting Opinions

What do you think about…? I completely disagree with you.

Can you give some examples of that? Yes, I see your point, but…

That may be true. What else? Wait a minute.

What’s your opinion about…? I don’t agree with you.

I see what you mean. Anything else? That’s not always true.

Sorry, but … No, I’m not so sure about that.

Excuse me for interrupting, but …

Can I add here that …

I’d like to comment on that.

Can I add something?

Can I say something here?

SPEAKING TASK 1

VI. Work in pairs and discuss at least one of the following topics below for at
least 5 minutes.

Speaker A – Agree with the statement in the topic.

Speaker B – Disagree with the statement in the topic.

Be sure to take turns and try to refute each other’s arguments. Try to use some of the
Useful Language Box on page 39.

1. What you experience in a country as a tourist never reflects the traditional lifestyle.

2. TV affects people’s attitudes to travel.

3. Tourism brings many benefits to a country.

4. These days it’s easier to be an ‘armchair traveller’.

VII. In pairs discuss the following famous proverbs.

 East or west, home is best.

 There is no place like home.

 When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

SPEAKING TASK 2

When people travel, they face different situations. Sometimes these situations may be
unpredictable.

VIII. Work in pairs and act out these situations.

SITUATION 1

You are travelling alone. Check in at a hotel and ask the hotel receptionist about facilities in this
hotel.

Use words and phrases:

a vacant room, a single room, a double room, 210 pounds for 3 nights, the service is
included, to use hotel facilities free, a room with a view, a room overlooking the lake, pay,
sign the register, key, WiFi.

SITUATION 2

You are at the airport. You are flying to Rome. Your suitcase is very heavy. In addition, you can’t
find your boarding gate. What will you do?

Use words and phrases:

suitcase, heavy, to carry, boarding gate, the flight to Rome, customs.

SITUATION 3

Your friend is afraid of travelling by air. Persuade him to change his opinion. Tell him about the
advantages of travelling by plane.

Use words and phrases:

to miss the train, to take the plane, comfortable, convenient, none of the dust and dirt of a
railway or car journey, none of the trouble of changing from train to boat and then to
another train.
FUN TIME!

ARE YOU A THRILL-SEEKER?

Choose the alternative that best describes your likes or dislikes, or the way you feel.

1.

a) I sometimes like to do things that are a little frightening.

b) Sensible people avoid dangerous activities.
c) I love being terrified!

2.

a) I enter cold water gradually, giving myself time to get used to it.
b) It’s fun to dive of jump right into the ocean or a cold pool.
c) I won’t go in the water unless it’s very warm.

3.

a) When I go on holiday, I want a decent room and a bed at least.

b) I like going camping and doing without the conveniences of everyday life.
c) I expect a bit of luxury on holiday.

4.

a) I think it would be really exciting to do a parachute jump.

b) Jumping out of a plane, with or without a parachute, is crazy.
c) I’d consider doing a parachute jump if I had proper training.

5.

a) People who ride motorbikes must have some kind of unconscious desire to hurt
themselves.
b) Riding a motorbike at high speed is one of the most exciting things you can do.
c) Motorbikes are just another means of transport.