Bright Young People

Level: C2

How does the writer like to treat young people? People are always talking about ‘the problem of youth’. If there is one – which I take leave to doubt – then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings – people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a splendid future behind him: and maybe that is where the rub is. When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain – that I was a new boy in a huge school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity, and that is one of the things the young are busily engaged in seeking.

I find young people exciting. They have an air of freedom, and they do not have a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort. They are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to material things. All this seems to me to link them with life, and the origins of things. It’s as if they were, in some sense, cosmic beings in violent and lovely contrast with us suburban creatures. All that is in my mind when I meet a young person. He may be conceited, ill-mannered, presumptuous or fatuous, but I do not turn for protection to dreary cliches about respect of elders –  as if mere age were a reason for respect. I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with him, as an equal, if I think he is wrong.

From Out of the Air in The Listener by Fielden Hughes

Glossary

after all- used to say that something must be remembered or considered, because it helps to explain what you have just said

air- if someone or something has an air of confidence, mystery, etc., they seem confident, mysterious, etc.

ambition- a strong desire to achieve something

cliche- an idea or phrase that has been used so much that is not effective or does not have any meaning any longer

commitment- a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way

conceited- if you are conceited, you think that you are very clever, skilful, beautiful, etc.

devotion- the loyalty that you show towards a person, job, etc.

dreary- dull and making you feel sad and bored

engaged in- busy doing

fatuous- very silly and stupid; idiotic

fundamentals- the most important ideas, rules, etc. that something is based on

glorious- very beautiful or impressive; having or deserving fame, praise, and honour

ill-mannered- not polite and behaving badly in social situations

mere- used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is

presumptuous- doing something that you have no right to do and that seems rude

seek- to try to achieve or get something

social climber- someone who tries to get accepted int a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class

splendid- beautiful and impressive; magnificent

take leave- as for permission

the rub- the problem that is the reason why a situation is so difficult

Collocations

take leave to doubt

get down to fundamentals

difference between A and B

a glorious future

a splendid future

where the rub is

be pleased to be regarded as

be given a certain identity

be busily engaged in

find someone exciting

have an air of freedom

have a commitment to

a dreary commitment to

mean ambitions

love of comfort

anxious social climbers

have no devotion to

link A with B

in some sense

in (violent/lovely) contrast with

suburban creatures

turn to someone or something for protection

dreary cliches about

TV's Irreparable Harm

Level: C2

‘Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?’ How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilised pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the ‘goggle box’. We rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do anything, providing it doesn’t interfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.

Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn’t matter that the children will watch rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence – so long as they are quiet.

There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in pre-literate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.

Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences.  It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be a splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilisation. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.

Glossary

addicted- liking something so much that you do not want to stop doing it or having it

admit- to allow someone to enter

civilised- pleasant and comfortable

consume- to use

content- happy

cut off- to separate

demand- n. the need or desire that people have for particular goods and services; v. to ask for something very firmly

entertain- to invite people to your home for a meal, party, etc.

glued to- looking at something with all your attention

goggle box- (figurative) television

goggle- to look at something with your eyes wide open in surprise of shock

gulp down- to swallow large quantities of food or drink quickly

hypnotic- making you feel tired and unable to pay attention to anything else

interfere with- to prevent something from succeeding or from happening in the way that it was planned

irrelevant-  not useful or not related to a particular situation, and therefore not important

keep pace with- to change or increase as fast as something else

little by little- gradually; by degrees

maintain- to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before

obtain- 1. to get something that you want; 2. if a situation, system, or rule obtains, it continues to exist

occupy-  if something occupies your time, you are busy doing it

one-eyed monster- (figurative) television

pacifier- something that makes people calm

primitive- very simple and not modern

providing- if

regulate- to control an activity or process, especially by rules

rubbishy- silly or of a very low quality

sadism- behaviour in which someone gets pleasure from hurting other people or making them suffer

spare time- free time; leisure time

spectacle- an unusual thing or situation that you see or notice

splendid- beautiful and impressive

telly- (informal) television

tyranny- cruel and unfair control over other people

universal- true or suitable in any situation

will do anything- be enough or acceptable

Collocations

hear statements

admit someone into a place

occupy your spare time

enjoy civilised pleasures

have hobbies

entertain friends

go out for your amusements

something belongs to the past

your free time is regulated by

rush home

gulp down your meal

be in time for something

sit at a table

have a leisurely meal

exchange the news of the day

demand (absolute) silence/attention

obtain (absolute) silence/attention

addicted to something

it is now standard practice to do something

rubbishy commercials

spectacles of sadism and violence

maintain high standards

be reduced to something

conditions obtain

utterly dependent on

encourage passive enjoyment

become content with

second-hand experiences

cut someone off from something

prevent someone from doing something

totally irrelevant

The Evils of Smoking

Level: C2

If you smoke and you still don’t believe that there’s a definite link between smoking and bronchial troubles, heart disease and lung cancer, then you are certainly deceiving yourself. No one will accuse you of hypocrisy. Let us just say that you are suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking. This needn’t make you too uncomfortable because you are in good company. Whenever the subject of smoking and health is raised, the governments of most countries hear no evil, see no evil and smell no evil. Admittedly, a few governments have taken timid measures. In Britain, for instance, cigarette advertising has been banned on television. The conscience of the nation is appeased, while the population continues to puff its way to smoky, cancerous death.

You don’t have to look very far to find out why the official reactions to medical findings have been so lukewarm. The answer is simply money. Tobacco is a wonderful commodity to tax. It’s almost like a tax on our daily bread. In tax revenue alone, the government of Britain collects enough from smokers to pay for its entire educational facilities. So while the authorities point out ever so discreetly that smoking may, conceivably, be harmful, it doesn’t do to shout too loudly about it.

This is surely the most short-sighted policy you could imagine. While money is eagerly collected in vast sums with one hand, it is paid out in increasingly vaster sums with the other.  Enormous amounts are spent on cancer research and on efforts to cure people suffering from the disease. Countless valuable lives are lost. In the long run, there is no doubt that everybody would be much better off if smoking were banned altogether.

Of course, we are not ready for such drastic action. But if the governments of the world were honestly concerned about the welfare of their peoples, you’d think they’d conduct aggressive anti-smoking campaigns. Far from it! The tobacco industry is allowed to spend staggering sums on advertising. Its advertising is as insidious as it is dishonest. We are never shown pictures of real smokers coughing up their lungs early in the morning. That would never do. The advertisements always depict virile, clean-shaven young men. They suggest it is manly to smoke, even positively healthy! Smoking is associated with the great open-air life, with beautiful girls, true love and togetherness. What utter nonsense!

For a start, governments could begin by banning all cigarette and tobacco advertising and should then conduct anti-smoking advertising campaigns of their own. Smoking should be banned in all public places like theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Great efforts should be made to inform young people especially of the dire consequences of taking up the habit. A horrific warning – say, a picture of a death’s head – should be included in every packet of cigarettes that is sold. As individuals we are certainly weak, but if governments acted honestly and courageously, they could protect us from ourselves.

Glossary

accuse- to say that you believe someone is guilty of a crime or of doing something bad

admittedly- used when you are admitting that something is true

aggressive- very determined to succeed or get what you want

alone- only; just

altogether- completely

appease- to make someone less angry or stop them from attacking you by giving them what they want

associate- to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person to another

authorities- the people or organizations that are in charge of a particular country or area

better off- happier, improved, more successful, etc.

bronchial- affecting the bronchial tubes in the lung

campaign- a series of actions intended to achieve a particular result relating to politics or business, or a social improvement

commodity- a product that is bought and sold

conceivably- used to say something is able to be believed or imagined

concerned- worried

conduct- do; perform

conscience- the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong

consequence- something that happens or exists because of something that happened before

deceive- to make someone believe something that is not true

definite- that will happen in a way that someone has said

depict- to something or someone in writing or speech, or to show them in a painting, picture, etc.

dire- extremely serious or terrible

discreetly- carefully because you do not want to offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell secrets

do- used to say that something will be enough or be acceptable

drastic- extreme and sudden

entire- whole; all of

facilities- rooms, equipment, or services that are provided for a particular purpose

for a start- firstly; to begin with

for instance- for example

horrific- extremely bad, in a way that is frightening or upsetting

hypocrisy- when someone pretends to have certain beliefs or opinions that they do not really have

insidious- spreading gradually without being noticed, and causing serious harm

lukewarm- not showing much interest or excitement

measure- action

revenue- money that the government receives from tax

short-sighted- not considering the possible effects in the future of something that seems good now

shout about something- to speak about someone or something that is remarkable, noteworthy, or important

staggering- extremely great or surprising

take up- to start to do something

tax- to charge a tax on something

timid- not having courage or confidence

togetherness- the pleasant feeling you have when you are part of a group of people who have a close relationship with each other

utter- complete – used especially to emphasize that something is very bad, or that a feeling is very strong

virile- having or showing traditionally male qualities such as strength, courage, etc. – used to show approval

wishful thinking- when you believe that what you want to happen will happen, when in fact it is not possible

Collocations

a definite link between A and B

accuse someone of something

suffer from something

bad case of wishful thinking

be in good company

raise a subject

hear/see no evil

take measures (to do something)

appease someone’s conscience

puff your way to death

look far to see/find out/etc.

lukewarm reactions

reaction to something

to tax a commodity

a tax on something

point something out discreetly

it doesn’t do to shout too loudly about it

short-sighted policy

eagerly collect money

vast sums of money

enormous amounts of money

there’s no doubt that

drastic action

be concerned about

conduct campaigns

staggering sums of money

insidious advertising

cough up your lungs

that would (never) do

associate something with something else

utter nonsense

make efforts

inform someone of something

dire consequences

take up a habit

protect someone from something

Take Women Seriously

Level: C2

This is supposed to be an enlightened age, but you wouldn’t think so if you could hear what the average man thinks of the average woman. Women won their independence years ago. After a long, bitter struggle, they now enjoy the same educational opportunities as men in most parts of the world. They have proved repeatedly that they are equal and often superior to men in almost every field. The hard-fought battle for recognition has been won, but it is by no means over. It is men, not women who still carry on the sex war because their attitude remains basically hostile. Even in the most progressive societies, women continue to be regarded as second-rate citizens. To hear some men talk, you’d think that women belonged to a different species!

On the surface, the comments made by men about women’s abilities seem light-hearted. The same tired jokes about women drivers are repeated day in, day out. This apparent light-heartedness does not conceal the real contempt that men feel for women. However much men sneer at women, their claims to superiority are not borne out by statistics. Let’s consider the matter of driving, for instance. We all know that women cause far fewer accidents than men. They are too conscientious and responsible to drive like maniacs. But this is a minor quibble. Women have succeeded in any job you care to name. As politicians, soldiers, doctors, factory-hands, university professors, farmers, company directors, lawyers, bus-conductors, scientists and presidents of countries they have often put men to shame. And we must remember that they frequently succeed brilliantly in all these fields in addition to bearing and rearing children.

Yet men go on maintaining the fiction that there are many jobs women can’t do. Top-level political negotiation between countries, business and banking are almost entirely controlled by men, who jealously guard their so-called ‘rights.’ Even in otherwise enlightened places like Switzerland women hadn’t even been given the vote until a few years ago. This situation is preposterous! The arguments that men put forward to exclude women from these fields are all too familiar. Women, they say, are unreliable and irrational. They depend too little on cool reasoning and too much on intuition and instinct to arrive at decisions. They are not even capable of thinking clearly. Yet when women prove their abilities, men refuse to acknowledge them and give them their due. So much for a man’s ability to think clearly!

The truth is that men cling to their supremacy because of their basic inferiority complex. They shun real competition. They know in their hearts that women are superior, and they are afraid of being beaten at their own game. One of the most important tasks in the world is to achieve peace between the nations. You can be sure that if women were allowed to sit round the conference table, they would succeed brilliantly, as they always do, where men have failed for centuries. Some things are too important to be left to men!

Glossary

acknowledge someone- to accept, admit or recognise the existence of someone

be borne out- to be supported by hard facts

beat someone at their own game- to beat someone or fight back against them by using the same methods that they use

cling to- to hold to someone or something tightly, especially because you do not feel safe

conscientious- careful to do everything that is your job or duty to do

contempt- a feeling that someone or something is not important and deserve no respects

day in, day out- every day, repeatedly

enlightened- having sensible modern views and treating people fairly and kindly

for instance- for examples

give someone their due- to give someone what they deserve or something that is their right to have

inferiority complex- a continuous feeling that you are much less important, clever, etc. than other people’s

intuition- the ability to understand or know something because of a feeling rather than by considering the facts

irrational- not based on clear thought or reasonable

know in you heart- to be secretly sure about something although you may not admit it

light-hearted- not intended to be seriously

maniac- someone who behaves in a stupid or dangerous way

negotiation- an official discussion

preposterous- completely unreasonably or silly

progressive- supporting modern ideas and methods

put someone/something to shame- to be so much better than someone or something that it makes the other thing seem very bad or ordinary

quibble- an argument, complaint or criticism about small unimportant details

rear- to look after a person or animal until they are fully grown

second-rate- not of the very best standard or quality

shun- to avoid deliberately

sneer- to smile or speak in a very unkind way that shows you have no respect for someone or something

struggle- a long hard fighting

supremacy- the position in which you are more powerful or advanced than anyone else

tired- familiar and boring

Collocations

win independence

a long, bitter struggle

enjoy an opportunity

equal to someone or something

superior to someone or something

a hard-fought battle

a battle for recognition

win a battle

by no means over

second-rate citizens

on the surface

make a comment

sneer at someone or something

claim to superiority

the claim is borne out

cause accidents

drive like maniacs

a minor quibble

any (job) you care to name

succeed brilliantly

in addition to

bear and rear children

maintain the fiction that

jealously guard something

be given the vote

put an argument forward

exclude someone or something from

all too familiar

cool reasoning

arrive at decisions

be capable of something/doing something

prove your abilities

shun competition

achieve peace

Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Level: C2

Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular. It was rare for him to be up after ten at night, and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose in the morning. Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical laboratory, sometimes in the dissecting-rooms, and occasionally in long walks, which appeared to take him into the lowest portions of the city. Nothing could exceed his energy when the working fit was upon him; but now and again a reaction would seize him, and for days on end he would lie upon the sofa in the sitting-room, hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night. On these occasions I have noticed such a dreamy, vacant expression in his eyes, that I might have suspected him of being addicted to the use of some narcotic, had not the temperance and cleanliness of his whole life forbidden such a notion.

As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.

Excerpt from A Study in the Scarlet, Chapter 2: The Science of Deduction by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Glossary

invariably- always;

dissecting-room- place for cutting up a dead person, animal or plant in order to study them;

fit- a short period of very strong emotion;

utter- say;

vacant expression- expression showing that the person does not seem to be thinking of anything;

temperance- control of what you do or say;

strike attention- suddenly attract attention;

lean- thin and fit;

piercing- looking carefully to discover something;

torpor- state of not being active or having no energy;

allude- mention indirectly;

air- feeling or impression;

have occasion to do something- have a reason or cause to do something;

manipulate- use or control skilfully;