VASS JUDIT

ZSIBBASZTÓ
ANGOL

nyelvvizsgára
és érettségire készülőknek
 Vass Judit

AJÁNLÁS

Learning is hard work ( unless you are a genius).

Miért Zsibbasztó?

Így hívom az iskolában a magolós feladatokat. Ahogyan a mottó is elárulja,

nem hiszek a könnyű tanulásban, egy nyelv elsajátítása fáradságos feladat,
hacsak nem anyanyelvi környezetben ragad ránk. Ha iskolában tanuljuk,
egész mondatokat, szószerkezeteket kell “bezsibbasztanunk”, hogy idővel
folyékonyan tudjunk beszélni. Ebben kívánok segítséget nyújtani ezzel a
könyvvel.
A Zsibbasztó Angol 26 közép- és felsőfokú társalgási témát dolgoz fel
párbeszédes formában, illetve minden témához kínál levelet vagy esszét. (Miért
éppen 26? Nem tudom.) A szószedetek és a Zsibbasztó feladatok segítenek az
új kifejezések, szerkezetek elsajátításában.

Bizton állíthatom, hogy aki ezt a könyvet megtanulja, könnyedén leteszi a

középfokú nyelvvizsgát, számos diákomnak a felsőfok is sikerült.

Enjoy your studies!

Vass Judit

PS: Ez a könyv a digibumm előtt született, néhány témaköre frissítésre

szorul. (Social media e.g.) Ha lesz időm, energiám, megteszem. It’s never
too late (to die). 😊

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Contents

1. Arts ..................................................................................................................................
2. Character and Personality.............................................................................................
3. City Life, Country Life ..................................................................................................
4. Crime and Punishment ..................................................................................................
5. Crises in Life ...................................................................................................................
6. Education ........................................................................................................................
7. Environmental Problems ...............................................................................................
8. Family Life ......................................................................................................................
9. Fashion ............................................................................................................................
10. Food .................................................................................................................................
11. Free Time Activities .......................................................................................................
12. Global Problems .............................................................................................................
13. Health and Illnesses ........................................................................................................
14. Holidays ...........................................................................................................................
15. Household........................................................................................................................
16. Human Life .....................................................................................................................
17. Jobs ..................................................................................................................................
18. Literature ........................................................................................................................
19. Media ...............................................................................................................................
20. Politics .............................................................................................................................
21. Science .............................................................................................................................
22. Shopping..........................................................................................................................
23. Sports ...............................................................................................................................
24. Theatre ............................................................................................................................
25. Tourism ...........................................................................................................................
26. Transport ........................................................................................................................
27. One minute to talk ..........................................................................................................

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1. Arts

• ‘Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.’ (Anonymous, quoted by Oscar Wilde)
A: Do you play any instruments?
B: Yes, I do. I have been playing the guitar for 6 years.
A: Unfortunately, I don’t. I have no ear for music. As a child, I used to take piano lessons to the
horror of our neighbours. Can you play the paino?
B : No I can’t, but I like listening to my brother playing the cello. He’s been playing it for years
and can play by ear. It takes a lot of practising to become a good musician.
A : It is a pity I didn’t learn music at school, it can be relaxing to play a nice piece of music after a
busy day.
B : Do you ever go to classical concerts?
A : My parents often go to the Opera House; they are just mad about operas. For my part, I enjoy
listening to classical music, but I am no judge of it. My favourite of all the composers is Mozart.
B : To tell you the truth, I don’t take delight in classical music at all. Have you got any favourite
pieces of classical music?
A: Oh yes, I adore The Magic Flute by Mozart. And you?
B: It is Carmina Burana, which I like best. It always cheers me up.
A : What kind of music do you prefer?
B : Apart from classical music, I like listening to rock music as well. I cannot do without music. I
always learn with my headphones on.My mum keeps saying that it’ll do harm to my hearing. My
father goes mad, whenever I listen to my Discman at top volume.
A : What was the last concert you went to?
B : I went to a concert of my favourite group last Friday. They played all their hits. It was
disappointing, though. Something had gone wrong. I was sad to realise that the soloist was singing
out of tune.
A : What famous buildings have you seen abroad that you liked best?
B : When I went to England we visited The Cathedral in Canterbury. I have also been to St Paul’s
Cathedral in London. Was it Christopher Wren, who built it? I don’t know for sure.
A: Any sculptures that you can remember?
B : Of course, there are. I have seen David, the masterpiece by Michelangelo. I was also impressed
by Rodin’s sculptures in France.
A: What’s the difference between a statue and a sculpture?
B : A statue is a memorial to a famous person or event, usually placed on a square, while a
sculpture is normally displayed in museums or galleries.
A : Do you ever go to exhibitions?
B : Yes I do. I am a fan of paintings. The greatest exhibition I have ever been to was a collection
of Chagall’s.
A : Do you have to pay for admission into museums?
B : Well, it varies from country to country. If I’m not mistaken, in England you can visit most of
the museums free of charge.
A: In Hungary, admission is free to some museums provided you have a student’s card.
B : Did you take art lessons at school? .
A : Yes, we were taught drawing techniques and a short history of fine arts. My teacher says, it is
worth trying my hand at painting.
B : Are there any art programmes on TV you can watch?
A : Yes, there are. There is a series nowadays that introduces the most famous paintings from all
over Europe. I try not to miss any parts of it.
B : Could you explain what an auction is?
A : An auction is a special exhibition where you can buy works of art, antique furniture and such.
The exhibits go to the highest bidders. I’ve heard that an early sketch by Picasso fetched $100 000
at an auction.

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Words and Phrases

a great success nagy siker

a masterpiece by Michelangelo Michelangelo mesterműve
a piece of music zenemű
a series sorozat
accept elfogad
Admission to the museum is free. A múzeumba ingyenes a belépő.
admit, admission to the museum beenged, múzeumi belépő
adore csodál, imád
All went wrong. Minden balul ütött ki.
ancient ősi, ókori
apart from classical music a klasszikus zenén kívül
apply alkalmaz
archaeologist régész
architecture, architect építészet, építész
as a child gyermekként, gyermekkoromban
as usual mint mindig
at top volume teljes hangerővel
attitude to life az élethez való viszony, világszemlélet
auction aukció
audience közönség
broadcast közvetít (rádió, tv)
browse in books könyvekben böngészik
by comparison ehhez képest, ezzel szemben
collection gyűjtemény
collector gyűjtő
compared to the past a múlthoz viszonyítva
construct szerkeszt, épít
contemporary art kortárs művészet
cultivated művelt
deliberately szándékosan
disappointing kiábrándító
display, on display kiállít, kiállították
Do you play any instruments? Játszik valamilyen hangszeren?
documentary dokumentumfilm
event esemény
exhibition, at an exhibition kiállítás, kiállításon
fabulous, fable mesés, mese
fetched $ 100 000 100 000 dollárért kelt el
folk music népzene
for my part ami engem illet, a magam részéről
free of charge ingyen
from all over the world a világ minden részéről
fund támogat (pénzzel)
He can play by ear. Kotta nélkül tud játszani.
His works impressed me much. A művei nagyon tetszettek.
history of fine arts a képzőművészetek története
I always read with my glasses on. Mindig szemüvegben olvasok.
I am no judge of it. Nem értek hozzá.
I cannot do without music. Nem tudok meglenni zene nélkül.
I don’t know for sure. Nem tudom biztosan.
I have ever heard amit valaha hallottam
I have no ear for music. Nincs zenei hallásom.
I like it best. Ezt szeretem a legjobban
I try not to miss any parts of it. Igyekszem egy részt sem kihagyni.

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I used to take piano lessons. Azelőtt zongoraleckéket vettem.

I was impressed by his works very much. A művei nagyon tetszettek.
I was sad to realise szomorúan vettem észre
I’m thinking of studying architecture. Fontolgatom, hogy építészetet tanuljak
if I’m not mistaken ha nem tévedek
impressed by tetszik valami, hatással van valakire
interior, exterior épületbelső, külső
introduce bemutat
irritate − This music irritates me. Irritál − Idegesít ez a zene.
it cheers me up feldob, jó kedvem lesz tőle
It is worth trying your hand in painting. Érdemes megpróbálkoznod a festészettel.
it may seem chaotic kaotikusnak tűnhet
it takes a lot of practising sok gyakorlásba telik
It took him some time to be accepted. Időbe telt, míg elfogadták.
it varies from country to country országonként változik
it’ll do harm to my ears károsítja a hallásomat
it’s a pity kár, hogy…
judge bíró, szakértő
keeps saying azt hajtogatja
memorial to a famous person híres ember emlékműve
mix well with the surroundings jól belesimul a környezetébe
movement mozgalom
my father goes mad apám megőrül
of fall the composers az összes zeneszerző közül
one of the finest examples az egyik legszebb példa
only to realise hogy rájöjjek, de rá kellett jönnöm
orchestra zenekar
original eredeti
out of tune hamisan
period korszak
pianist zongorista
poisonous mérgező
preface előszó
provided you have a student’s card feltéve, ha van diákigazolványod
purpose of célja valaminek
queue to be admitted sorban állni, hogy beengedjék
represent képvisel
sculptor, sculpture szobrász, szobor
should be open to anyone nyitva kellene, hogy legyen mindenki előtt
sketch vázlat
sniff at sg szimatol valami körül
Something had gone wrong. Valami baj volt.
surroundings környezet
symphony szimfónia
take delight in örömét leli valamiben
term fogalom, szó
the highest bidder a legtöbbet ígérő (aukción)
The Magic Flute Varázsfuvola
They are just mad about operas. Egyszerűen megőrülnek az operákért.
to tell you the truth az igazat megvallva
to the horror of our neighbours a szomszédjaink rémületére
Was it built by him? Ő építette?
Was it him, who built it? Ő építette?
we were shown megmutatták nekünk
We were taught literature. Irodalmat tanítottak nekünk.
What does the title refer to? Mire utal a cím?
which I like best amit a legjobban szeretek
with my headphones on a fülhallgatómmal a fejemen

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Zsibbasztó

Játszik hangszeren? ....................................................................................................................................

6 éve gitározom ..........................................................................................................................................
Sajnos nem zenélek ....................................................................................................................................
Gyermekként zongoraleckéket vettem .......................................................................................................
A szomszédok rémületére ..........................................................................................................................
Tud zongorázni? .........................................................................................................................................
Kotta nélkül tud játszani .............................................................................................................................
Sok gyakorlásba telik .................................................................................................................................
Kár, hogy nem tanultam zenét ....................................................................................................................
Jár klasszikus koncertekre? ........................................................................................................................
Megőrülnek az operákért ............................................................................................................................
A magam részéről.......................................................................................................................................
Szeretek klasszikus zenét hallgatni ............................................................................................................
Az igazat mondva .......................................................................................................................................
Nem élvezem a klasszikus zenét ................................................................................................................
Zenemű .......................................................................................................................................................
Amit a legjobban szeretek ..........................................................................................................................
Mindig felvidít............................................................................................................................................
Milyen zenét kedvel?..................................................................................................................................
A klasszikus zenén kívül ............................................................................................................................
Nem tudok meglenni zene nélkül ...............................................................................................................
Teljes hangerővel .......................................................................................................................................
Jár kiállításokra? .........................................................................................................................................
A legjobb kiállítás, amit valaha láttam .......................................................................................................
Országonként változik ................................................................................................................................
Ha nem tévedek ..........................................................................................................................................
Ingyen .........................................................................................................................................................
Ingyenes a belépés ......................................................................................................................................
Feltéve, hogy van diákigazolványa ............................................................................................................
Mostanában megy egy sorozat ...................................................................................................................

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Dialogue
At an Exhibition

Daughter: Now…what’s your impression, mum?

Mother: Well…I’m a bit embarrassed… Look, what’s that? I cannot make it out.
Daughter: Which one?
Mother: That stuff in the corner.
Daughter: Let’s get closer…well, the title says, ‘Sunset in Rome’
Mother: Really? I would call it a frying pan burning with oil. And where is Rome, by the
way?
Daughter: Oh, mum, you are a diehard conservative. This is not a romantic landscape;
this is contemporary art.
Mother: Don’t call me names, and don’t teach me, please. I’m not against modernism.
But I see no reason why I should enjoy this sunless and Romeless nightmare. Does it
appeal to anyone?
Daughter: Mum, you simply don’t get the message…
Mother: The message? The mess, if that’s what you mean. I didn’t know you were such a
snob… come on, I’m just pulling your leg.
Daughter: Don’t you mum…you mustn’t touch the exhibits.
Mother: Don’t panic…I just wanted to know if it was paint or plastic. All right, let’s
move on, I’m getting really interested in contemporary art. Oh, that one…I bet this is
supposed to be a sculpture.
Daughter: Yeah, it says, ‘A portrait of Shakespeare’.
Mother: Really? Nobody has ever told me that Shakespeare was a fridge made out of a
bicycle.
Daughter: Mum, don’t be so difficult. You cannot expect a modern portrait to look like
Michelangelo’s David.
Mother: Well, actually, I have no expectations whatsoever…I wonder, what message do
you get from this stuff.
Daughter: Mum, don’t be so loud…everybody is listening.

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At home

Father: Well, darling? How about the exhibition?

Mother: Thought provoking, I would say. By the way, can you remember the sunset we
were admiring in Cyprus?
Father: Oh, I’ll never forget it. It was like ..was like a huge kettle on fire. Yeah, it was.
Mother: Well… I didn’t know you had such an up-to-date imagination…

Words and phrases

admire csodál
appeal to tetszik valakinek
call sy names csúfolódik
contemporary art kortárs művészet
diehard conservative nyakas konzervatív
Don’t panic ne pánikolj!
embarrassed zavarban van
exhibit kiállítási tárgy
expect elvár
expectation elvárás
get the message fogni az üzenetet
I bet lefogadom
I see no reason why i should enjoy Nem látom be, miért kellene élveznem
I’m just pulling your leg csak tréfálok.
imagination képzelet
impression benyomás
kettle on fire lángoló teáskanna
landscape tájkép
make it out kivesz, kibogoz, megért
mess szemét
nightmare rémálom
paint festék

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plastic műanyag
stuff anyag, izé
sunless, Romeless “naptalan”, “rómátlan”
sunset naplemente
supposed to be feltehetően
thought provoking gondolatébresztő
up-to-date korszerű
whatsoever bármi is, akármi

Description

My Favourite Painting

My favourite picture belongs to the 16th century genre painting, which was a characteristic
style of Dutch and Flemish artists. It was painted by Pieter Bruegel and is titled ‘Hunters in
the snow’. Like most of his masterpieces, it depicts a typical scene from everyday life. In
the foreground there are hunters and their dogs just arriving home from hunting, while in the
background there are frozen lakes with skating people and the snowy peaks of mountains
against a dark sky. The dominating colours are black and white that make the atmosphere
rather gloomy, partly because all the people are shown from the back. It is rich in detail,
though not in a naturalistic way. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the original; I only know it by
reproductions. As a child I used to spend hours admiring Bruegel’s painting; for me it was a
mixture of reality and imagination as if it had been taken from a folk tale. It still appeals to
me and recalls the winter days of my childhood, whenever I look at it.

Words and Phrases

a characteristic style jellemző stílus

a mixture of keveréke valaminek
a typical scene from everyday life egy tipikus jelenet a mindennapi életből

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as if it had been taken from a tale mintha egy meséből vették volna
dominating colours a hangsúlyos színek
Dutch holland
Flemish flamand
from the back hátulról
frozen lakes befagyott tavak
genre painting zsáner festészet (életkép)
Hunter vadász
Hunting vadászat
I only know it by reproductions. Csak reprodukciókról ismerem.
in the background a háttérben
in the foreground az előtérben
It still appeals to me. Még most is tetszik.
like most of his paintings mint legtöbb festménye
make the atmosphere a bit gloomy kicsit borússá teszi a légkört
mountains against a dark sky hegyek, mögöttük a sötét éggel
partly because részben azért, mert
recall felidéz
rich in detail részletekben gazdag
skating people korcsolyázó emberek
snowy peaks havas csúcsok
whenever I look at it amikor csak ránézek

An Essay

Is art fading away?

It is often said that we live in the era of information. The latest invention of our technical
civilization, the Internet can be regarded as the strongest argument in supporting the idea that

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information has evolved into real power. So far, so good. We all want to know as much as
possible about our world.

On the other hand, at least I think so, information is becoming an inferior substitute for
knowledge. By knowledge I mean a creative type of understanding which can be acquired in a
long process of education based on a wide range of approaches to the world and man as such.

Art, more exactly teaching arts has always served as a means to develop a deeper
understanding or perception of the world. Art not only makes us enjoy beauty, but also helps
to exercise our intellect. Information can give you power, but it is certainly the most short-
sighted policy to exhort people to put a priority to it, namely to consume a growing amount of
information instead of ‘digesting’ it, that is making distinctions between relevant and
irrelevant data or contemplating on them.

I think that there is still hunger in man for art and real knowledge, I am sure there is still
enough time to enjoy them, but people are misled by the preferences of an information-
stricken period, which is just as ephemeral as everything in our history of ideologies.
I do believe, although it seems to come second nowadays, that art will win in the long run.

Words and Phrases

a wide range of széles választéka

acquire megszerez
amount mennyiség
approach megközelítés
argument érv
at least legalábbis
come second csak másodiknak számít
data adatok
digest megemészt
distinction különbség
ephemeral kérész életű, rövid ideig tartó

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era korszak
evolve into fejlődik valamivé
exercise gyakorol
exhort sarkall
hunger éhség
idea eszme, ötlet, felfogás
in the long run hosszú távon
inborn velünk született
inferior kisebbrendű
information-stricken információ sújtotta
intellect intellektus
irrelevant lényegtelen
mislead félrevezet
namely nevezetesen
perception felfogás
preference preferencia, előnyben részesítés
put a priority to előnyben részesít
regard as tekint valaminek
relevant lényeges
serve as a means eszközként szolgál
So far, so good. eddig rendben is volnánk.
substitute pótlék
support támogat

Zsibbasztó

A szöveg segítségével fordítsa le és tanulja meg a kifejezéseket!

gyakran mondják ..........................................................................................................................

az információ kora ........................................................................................................................
a technikai civilizáció kora ...........................................................................................................

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ez tekinthető a legerősebb érvnek ................................................................................................

mindenki támogatta az ötletet ......................................................................................................
az információ hatalommá vált ......................................................................................................
annyi információt, amennyit cask lehetséges ...............................................................................
legalábbis én így gondolom..........................................................................................................
tudás pótlék ..................................................................................................................................
alacsonyabb rendű pótlék .............................................................................................................
a megértés kreatív típusa ..............................................................................................................
a tanulás hosszú folyamata alatt sajátítható el ..............................................................................
a megközelítések széles választékára épülő oktatás .....................................................................
az ember mint olyan .....................................................................................................................
a fejlődés eszközéül szolgált ........................................................................................................
a világ felfogása/megértése ..........................................................................................................
velünk született adottságok ..........................................................................................................
esztétikai igények .........................................................................................................................
a művészet segít az intellektus megmozgatásában .......................................................................
próbáljon különbségeket tenni az adatok között ..........................................................................
lényeges és lényegtelen adatok ....................................................................................................
az embereket félrevezetik .............................................................................................................
mit részesít előnyben? ..................................................................................................................
információ sújtotta világ...............................................................................................................
roved életű ideológiák ..................................................................................................................
cask második helyen áll................................................................................................................
hosszú távon győzni fog ...............................................................................................................

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2. Character and Personality

• ‘The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face’
(William Thackeray: Vanity Fair)

A : Can we judge people by their looks?

B : I don’t think so, but eyes can say a lot about one’s character. I cannot explain why,
but they are really the mirrors of our souls. For my part, I wouldn’t judge anyone by
his or her looks. I don’t think that our appearance reflects our character. On the other
hand, I do believe that our personality can influence our facial features. For example,
there are plain people with charming characters, and that is why we don’t find them
ugly.
A : Yes, as the saying goes, ‘beauty is only skin-deep’. There are a lot of stereotypes and
prejudices − just think about the blonde jokes.
B : Do you believe that our fortune is written in the stars?
A : I don’t believe in horoscopes at all. They’re all rubbish. I think that our life is shaped
by our deeds, sometimes by good or bad luck.
A : However, some say that the constellation at your birth influences your future.
B : I might be mistaken, but it is only ignorant people who believe in horoscopes. On the
other hand, I do believe that we have so called inborn qualities.
A: I believe in horoscopes, astrology has been a serious science since Egyptian times
B : How would you characterise yourself?
A : To begin with, I am an outgoing type; I like socialising and having people around. My
parents taught me to be determined and never to lose heart. I am quite ambitious and
hardworking as I want to succeed in life. I am also reliable; my friends can depend on me.
What about you?
B : Well, I’m rather reserved, and I hate speaking about myself in public. Although I like
socialising, I don’t easily make new friends. My mum keeps saying that I am too shy and
touchy. Which is not quite true; I am not shy but cautious. You know, ‘better safe than
sorry’.
A: You are absolutely right. I don’t think one should speak his mind all the time; I like
being considerate. I was taught not to hurt others’ feelings. As a child I was rather plump
and the boys used to call me names, which often made me cry.

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B : As far as I’m concerned, I have an energetic nature, I cannot sit still, I’m always on
the move. As a child, I was rather naughty and disobedient, but I calmed down.I think, I
have got an open-minded and friendly character. I’m not a daydreaming type, I am rather
down-to-earth and sober minded. My friends can trust me, I was taught to be responsible
and helpful.
A : I have inherited my father’s character; I tend to be stubborn just like him.
B: I’m just the opposite of my mother, unlike her, I like lazing about sometimes.
A: How would you characterise your best friend?
B : I really envy my friend; he is so carefree with no serious problems. I trust him
because he is so truthful and never tells lies. He is extremely strong-willed and usually
gets what he wants. What about your friend?
A: He is as stubborn as a mule − once he has made up his mind, he won’t change it. In
spite of that he is not an aggressive type, he is just eager to succeed. He is extremely
calm and tolerant; nothing would upset him.
B : My best friend has always been loyal to me and has never let me down.She is so
sensitive and is easily moved to tears by a good novel. She is so modest; she wouldn’t
show off her knowledge or success.
A : What negative qualities do you hate in people?
B : What annoys me most is selfishness; I cannot put up with it. I like ambitious people
as long as they are not self-important. I hate arrogance, people who are always
blowing their own trumpet.
A: I cannot stand pretentious people; I like the unassuming (ones). I try to avoid bossy
and domineering people; I hate being told what to do. I have a classmate who likes
finding faults with everybody. She is getting on my nerves with all her gossips and
intrigues.
B: Have you got any weaknesses that you would change?
A : Oh yes, like most people, I have my own deficiencies. For example, I can be
quarrelsome at times. I easily lose my temper, so I wouldn’t pass for a teacher. And
you?
B : I tend to be indecisive and hesitant, which drives my friends mad sometimes. I simply
cannot make up my mind when it comes to serious decisions. On the other hand, I am
said to be quick-witted, but I haven’t got enough perseverance. And I can be really
naïve at times and easily fall for what I am told.

19
 Vass Judit

A : Are you familiar with any idioms describing characters? Yes, for example, ‘ He is
as cool as a cucumber’. ‘She is as gentle as a lamb’, or ‘He is as stubborn as a mule.’
B : What qualities do you expect a teacher to have?
A : I expect a teacher to be tolerant but able to keep order in the class. A good teacher is
always just, at least tries to be as fair as possible. He or she sets high standards and a
good example to the students at that.
B : What makes a good doctor?
A : A good doctor is highly qualified and keeps up with the development of science. He
has to be dedicated; this applies to everybody who deals with people. He or she has to be
able to make decisions quickly in emergency. It is essential that a doctor should have a
pacifying nature to calm down worrying patients.

Zsibbasztó

Megítélhetjük-e az embereket a külsejükről? ...............................................................................

nem hiszem ...................................................................................................................................
a szemek sokat elárulnak ..............................................................................................................
a szem a lélek tükre ......................................................................................................................
a magam részéről ..........................................................................................................................
senkit nem ítélnék meg a külseje alapján .....................................................................................
a megjelenésünk nem tükrözi a jellemünket ................................................................................
a személyiségünk hat az arcvonásainkra ......................................................................................
vannak csúnya, de elbűvölő emberek ...........................................................................................
ezért van az ...................................................................................................................................
nem találjuk őket csúnyának ........................................................................................................
ahogy a mondás tartja ...................................................................................................................
a szépség csak felszín ...................................................................................................................
sok az általánosítás és az előítélet ................................................................................................
gondolj csak a szőke nős viccekre................................................................................................
néhányan azt mondják ..................................................................................................................
a sorsunk meg van írva a csillagokban .........................................................................................
nem hiszek a horoszkópokban......................................................................................................
csupa ostosbaság ..........................................................................................................................
a sorsunkat a tetteink formálják ...................................................................................................

20
 Vass Judit

jó vagy rossz szerencse ................................................................................................................

a csillagok állása a születéskor befolyásolja a jövőnket ..............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
lehet, hogy tévedek .......................................................................................................................
csak a tudatlan emberek hisznek a horoszkópokban ....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
vannak velünk született tulajdonságok .........................................................................................
az asztrológia komoly tudomány..................................................................................................
hogyan jellemeznéd magadat? .....................................................................................................
először is .......................................................................................................................................
társasági lény vagyok ...................................................................................................................
szeretek társaságba járni ...............................................................................................................
szeretem, ha emberek vesznek körül ............................................................................................
a szüleim arra tanítottak, hogy elszánt legyek ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
soha nem keseredem el .................................................................................................................
elég törekvő és szorgalmas vagyok ..............................................................................................
szeretnék sikeres lenni az életben.................................................................................................
megbízható vagyok ......................................................................................................................
a barátaim számíthatnak rám ........................................................................................................
elég zárkózott vagyok...................................................................................................................
nem szeretek magamról nyilvánosság előtt beszélni....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
bár szeretek társaságba járni .........................................................................................................
nem könnyen barátkozom ............................................................................................................
anya azt hajtogatja, hogy túl félénk és érzékeny vagyok .............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
ami nem teljesen igaz ...................................................................................................................
nem félénk vagyok, hanem óvatos ...............................................................................................
jobb félni, mint megijedni ............................................................................................................
teljesen igazad van .......................................................................................................................
szerintem az embernek nem kell mindig kimondania, amit gondol .............................................
......................................................................................................................................................
szeretek tapintatos lenni ...............................................................................................................

21
 Vass Judit

arra tanítottak, hogy ne sértsem meg mások érzéseit ...................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
gyerekkoromban elég duci voltam ...............................................................................................
a fiúk gúnyoltak ............................................................................................................................
ami gyakran megríkatott...............................................................................................................
ami engem illet .............................................................................................................................
energikus természetem van ..........................................................................................................
nem tudok nyugton ülni................................................................................................................
mindig nyüzsgök ..........................................................................................................................
szerintem nyitott és barátságos vagyok ........................................................................................
nem vagyok álmodozó típus .........................................................................................................
inkább gyakorlatias, józan típus vagyok ......................................................................................
a barátaim bízhatnak bennem .......................................................................................................
felelősségtudatra tanítottak és egítőkészségre ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
apám ternmészetét örököltem.......................................................................................................
akárcsak ő, én is makacs vagyok ..................................................................................................
anya ellentéte vagyok ...................................................................................................................
vele ellentétben szeretek lustálkodni ............................................................................................
igazán irigylem őt .........................................................................................................................
olyan gondtalan élete van .............................................................................................................
hűséges, és soha nem hazudik ......................................................................................................
erős akaratú, és megszerzi, amit akar ...........................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
olyan makacs, mint az öszvér .......................................................................................................
ha egyszer elhatározott valamit ....................................................................................................
meg nem gondolná magát ............................................................................................................
ennek ellenére ...............................................................................................................................
nem erőszakos típus .....................................................................................................................
egyszerűen csak nagyon szereti a sikeret .....................................................................................
különösen nyugodt és toleráns .....................................................................................................
a barátom mindig hű volt hozzám ................................................................................................
soha nem hagyott cserben ............................................................................................................
olyan érzékeny..............................................................................................................................

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 Vass Judit

könnyen könnyekre fakad egy jó regénytől .................................................................................

nagyon szerény .............................................................................................................................
soha nem hencegne a sikerével ....................................................................................................
Milyen rossz tulajdonságokat utálsz ? ..........................................................................................
ami a legjobban bosszant, az az önzés .........................................................................................
nem tudom elviselni .....................................................................................................................
szeretem a törekvő embereket ......................................................................................................
feltéve, hogy nem önteltek ...........................................................................................................
utálom a hencegőket .....................................................................................................................
utálom a megjátszós (sznob) embereket.......................................................................................
a természeteseket szeretem...........................................................................................................
kerülöm a dirigálósokat ................................................................................................................
utálom, ha megmondják, mit tegyek ............................................................................................
van egy osztálytársam, aki mindenben hibát keres ......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
idegeimre megy a pletykáival .....................................................................................................
Van rossz tulajdonságod, amit megváltoztatnál? .........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
mint minden embernek .................................................................................................................
megvannak a gyengeségeim .........................................................................................................
néha veszekedős vagyok ..............................................................................................................
könnyen elveszítem a türelmemet ................................................................................................
nem lennék jó tanár ......................................................................................................................
határozatlan vagyok......................................................................................................................
ami az őrületbe kergeti a barátaimat ............................................................................................
egyszerűen nem tudom elhatározni magam .................................................................................
amikor komoly döntésre kerül sor ................................................................................................
azt mondják, éles elméjű vagyok .................................................................................................
de nincs bennem elég kitartás.......................................................................................................
másrészt naiv tudok lenni .............................................................................................................
könnyen bedőlök annak, amit mondanak .....................................................................................
hideg, mint a márvány ..................................................................................................................
ártatlan, mint a ma született bárány..............................................................................................
makacs, mint az öszvér.................................................................................................................

23
 Vass Judit

milyen legyen szerinted egy jó tanár? ..........................................................................................

egy jó tanártól azt várom, hogy toleráns legyen ...........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
legyen képes fegyelmet tartani .....................................................................................................
egy jó tanár mindig igazságos ......................................................................................................
legalább is igyekszik az lenni, amennyire lehetséges ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mi teszi a jó orvost? .....................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
a jó orvos magasan képzett...........................................................................................................
lépést tart a tudomány fejlődésével ..............................................................................................
elhivatott .......................................................................................................................................
ez mindenkire igaz, aki emberekkel foglalkozik ..........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
fontos, hogy az orvosnak megnyugtató személyisége legyen ......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
hogy lecsillapítsa az aggódó beteget ............................................................................................

24
 Vass Judit

Words and Phrases

ambitious törekvő
arrogance arrogancia, nyers, lekezelő modor
as far as I am concerned ami engem illet
as long as feltéve, hogy
as the saying goes ahogy a szólás tartja
at times időnként
Better safe than sorry. Jobb félni, mint megijedni..
blowing his own trumpet a saját dicsőségét zengi, henceg
bossy, domineering uralkodótípus, erőszakos
brain agy, ész
calm down lenyugszik, lenyugtat
carefree gondtalan
cautious óvatos
characterise jellemez
charming elbájoló
conscious mind tudatos én
considerate tapintatos, megfontolt
constellation csillagok állása
cool hűvös
cucumber uborka
daydreaming álmodozó
deal with people emberekkel foglalkozik
dedicated elhivatott
deed tett
deficiency hiányosság
determined határozott
development fejlődés
disobedient, obedient engedetlen, engedelmes
down-to-earth józan, földön járó
depend on függ valakitől, számít valakire
eager to izgatottan várja

25

easily moved to tears
emergency
energetic nature
envy
extremely
facial features
fair
fall for
find faults with
fortune
gentle
getting on my nerves
good luck, bad luck
gossip
hardworking
he speaks his mind
highly qualified
hurt others’ feelings
I am said to be friendly
I cannot sit still.
I cannot stand him.
I changed my mind.
I do believe = I believe
I don’t think we should do that.
I don’t think so.
I doubt it.
I hate being told what to do.
I like having people around.
I made up my mind.
I might be mistaken
I tend to be lazy
I was taught to be tolerant.
I wouldn’t pass for a teacher.
26
Vass Judit
könnyen könnyekre fakad
sürgős eset
energikus természet
irigyel
különösen
arcvonások
korrekt
bedől valaminek
hibát keres valamiben, valakiben
szerencse, sors
gyengéd
idegeimre megy
jószerencse, balszerencse
pletyka, pletykálkodik
szorgalmas
kimondja, amit gondol
magasan képzett
sérti mások érzéseit
Azt mondják, barátságos vagyok.
Nem tudok nyugton ülni.
Ki nem állhatom.
Meggondoltam magam.
igenis hiszem, de hiszem
Nem hiszem, hogy azt kellene tennünk.
Nem hiszem.
Kétlem.
Utálom, ha megmondják, mit tegyek.
Szeretem, ha emberek vesznek körül.
Eldöntöttem.
lehet, hogy tévedek
Hajlamos vagyok a lustaságra
Arra tanítottak, hogy toleráns legyek.
Nem lennék jó tanár.
 Vass Judit

ignorant people tudatlan emberek

in public nyilvánosan
in spite of that annak ellenére
inborn qualities velünk született tulajdonságok
influence befolyásol, hatás
inherit örököl
intrigue intrika, ármánykodás
It is essential that he should know. Lényeges, hogy tudja.
judge sy by his appearance megítél valakit a külseje alapján
just igazságos
keep order in the class fegyelmet tart az osztályban
keep up with lépést tart valamivel
keeps saying azt hajtogatja
lamb bárány
lazing about lustálkodik
let sy down cserben hagy
like him, unlike him mint ő, vele ellentétben
like most people mint a legtöbb ember
looking-glass tükör
looks külső, kinézet
lose heart elkeseredik
lose one’s temper elveszti a türelmét
loyal to lojális, hűséges valakihez
make decisions döntéseket hoz
make new friends új barátokat szerez, barátkozik
modest szerény
mule öszvér
naughty csibész
on the move mozgásban van, nyüzsög, csinál valamit
on the one hand, on the other hand egyrészt, másrészt
open-minded nyitott gondolkodású
opposite ellentét
outgoing type társasági lény

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 Vass Judit

pacifying nature megnyugtató természet

perseverance állhatatosság, kitartás
physical features külső vonások
plain people nem szép emberek
plump kövér, duci
prejudice előítélet
pretentious magát megjátszó, sznob
put up with elvisel valamit, valakit
quality minőség, tulajdonság
quarrelsome veszekedős
quick-witted gyors felfogású
reflect, reflection tükröz, tükörkép
reliable, rely on sy megbízható, megbízni valakiben
reserved visszafogott
responsible felelős
rubbish szemét, ostobaság
science tudomány
selfish, selfishness önző, önzés
self-important öntelt
sensitive érzékeny
set a good example to sy jó példát mutat valakinek
set high standards magasra állítja a mércét
shape forma, formál
show off henceg
shy félénk
skin-deep „bőrmélységű’, csak felszín
so called úgynevezett
sober minded józan gondolkodású
socialise társaságba járni
some say that… néhányan azt mondják, hogy
state of mind lelki állapot
stereotype sztereotípia, általánosítás
strong-willed erős akaratú

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 Vass Judit

stubborn makacs
subconscious mind tudatalatti én
succeed in life boldogulni az életben
that is why ezért van az, hogy
this applies to everybody ez mindenkire igaz
to begin with először is
tolerant toleráns, türelmes
touchy sértődékeny
trust sy bízni valakiben
truthful őszinte, megbízható
ugly csúnya
unassuming természetes, őszinte
upset ideges, felidegesít
weakness gyengeség
what annoys me most ami leginkább bosszant
when it comes to serious decisions amikor komoly döntésre kerül a sor
which made me cry ami megríkatott

Dinner Debate

M=Mother F=Father D=Daughter

F: How is life at school?

D: Oh, we’ve had a fantastic Biology lesson today!
F: Really? I didn’t know you were interested in Biology.
D: Actually, I’m not very keen on it, but today’s subject made everybody eager to discuss it.
M: It’s nice to hear there is something you are not against to pick up at school. The young
generation don’t seem to care much about knowledge.
D: Oh, mum! This is unfair. You shouldn’t call us ignorant just because we are young.
M: All right, then. So what was it?
D: Genetics.
F: Oh, that’s great! Now, could you explain to me what a gene is?
D: Don’t, please! You know I hate being examined. Anyway, I’m not a child any more.
F: You have always been touchy just like your mum. Is it in your genes?

29
 Vass Judit

D: That’s exactly what we were discussing in the class. Look, mum, the question is, whether
we have inborn qualities? What do you think about it?
M: To my best knowledge, one can inherit both physical and mental qualities. I’m sure we did
our best to pass on to you only good genes. That is why you are so beautiful and intelligent.
But I cannot account for your bad habits.
F: Now, darling, let us be serious just for a change. What did your teacher say?
D: Well? He says, apart from physical features, there are some inborn abilities in man.
M: Could you give us an example?
D: Well I’m not going to speak about instincts that are undoubtedly born with us. Mr Skull
says, your genius is born with you. However, this doesn’t mean that it works without
cultivation or practice. And he also added that a lot of talent is wasted all over the world and
there are a lot more geniuses among people than one might expect.
F: There’s much truth in what he says. By the way, did you know that the words ‘genius’ and
‘gene’ were closely connected?
D: Good point, pa! Yes, he explained it too. Then he put a question that raised a rather heated
debate in the class.
M: I wonder what the question was?
D: Well, the question is, whether we are genetically predetermined or free to shape ourselves.
The class got divided into two groups. There were the fatalists and those who voted for free
will.
M: That’s a rather philosophical question, isn’t it?
F: It is. But I wonder what your opinion is?
D: I really don’t know pa. There were strong pros and cons on both sides. All in all, I don’t
think we are predetermined in any way.
M: And what did Mr Skull say?
D: Oh, we didn’t finish it. We’ll be discussing genetic engineering next week.
F: Yeah, that’s another important issue that is worth discussing.

Words and Phrases

add hozzáad / tesz

all in all mindent egybevetve
any more többé már nem

30
 Vass Judit

bad habit rossz szokás

both physical and mental abilities mind testi, mind szellemi tulajdonságok
closely connected szorosan összekapcsolódnak
connect to / with sg összekapcsol
cultivation kiművelés
debate vita
divide into groups csoportokra oszt
don’t seem to care much about knowledge úgy tűnik, nem sokat törődnek a tudással
eager to − i am eager to know it. izgatott − Nagyon várom, hogy megtudjam.
fatalist fatalista (hisz a kikerülhetetlen végzetben)
free to choose szabadon választ
free will szabad akarat
gene, genetics gén, genetika
genetic engineering génmanipuláció
genetically genetikailag
genius, geniuses zseni
he also added that azt is mondta még, hogy…
how is life at school? Mi van az iskolában?
I am not a child any more. Már nem vagyok gyerek.
I cannot account for it. Erre nem tudok magyarázatot adni.
I don’t think we are predetermined. Nem hiszem, hogy eleve elrendeltek lennénk.
I hate being examined. Utálom, ha vizsgáztatnak.
I’m not very keen on it. Nem nagyon érdekel
I wonder what the question is. Kíváncsi vagyok a kérdésre.
I wonder what your opinion is. Kíváncsi vagyok a véleményedre.
I wonder who they are. Vajon kik ők?
important issue fontos kérdés, dolog
instinct ösztön
Is it in your genes? A génjeidben van?
It’s nice to hear there is something you are Jó hallani, hogy van valami, ami nincs
not against. ellenedre.
it is worth discussing érdemes megvitatni
just because we are young csak azért mert fiatalok vagyunk

31
 Vass Judit

just for a change a változatosság kedvéért

made everybody eager to discuss it mindenkit vitára sarkallt
on both sides mindkét oldalon
pass on to sy továbbadni valakinek
pick up felszed, megtanul
predetermined eleve elrendelt
pros, cons érvek, ellenérvek
raise felemel
raise a heated debate heves vitát vált ki
His words raised a heated debate. A szavai heves vitát váltottak ki.
skull koponya
talent is wasted elveszik a tehetség
than one might expect mint amire számítanánk
that doesn’t mean that… nem jelenti azt, hogy…
that’s exactly what were discussing pontosan erről vitatkoztunk
There is much truth in it. Sok igazság van ebben.
to my best knowledge legjobb tudomásom szerint
today’s subject a mai anyag / téma
undoubtedly kétségtelenül
vote for sg szavaz valamire
we did our best. Megtettünk minden tőlünk telhetőt.
whether = if vajon, -e?
worth sg / doing sg megéri
This book is worth the money. Ez a könyv megéri a pénzt.
This book is worth buying. Ezt a könyvet érdemes megvenni.
You have always been touchy. Mindig is sértődékeny voltál.
You shouldn’t call us ignorant. Nem kellene tudatlannak nevezned minket!

Pillow Talk

Wife: Have you heard what happened to Peter?

Husband: No, I haven’t. What is it again with him? Tell me the worst.
Wife: Well, he bumped into his neighbour’s fence while turning the corner yesterday.
Husband: Oh that’s typical of him! The clumsy old chap. Did he manage to pull it down?

32
 Vass Judit

Wife: Don’t be so sarcastic. The fence is all right, there is only a slight cracking on it; at least
Lizzie says so. But the owner made such a fuss about it, as if it had been totally destroyed.
They had a terrible row.
Husband: Oh, so you have heard it from Lizzie? That makes a difference!
Wife: What are you aiming at? You just can’t stand Lizzie, can you? You are picking on her
and are finding fault with her all the time.
Husband: I am not picking on her, why should I? She simply enjoys spreading fishy stories.
She would do that, wouldn’t she? She had better mind her own business…or broomstick, if
you see what I mean.
Wife: Now, you are being wicked.
Husband: Me? Is it my witchcraft that makes the dog whimper at nights? It’s been doing it
ever since she looked after it, while we were on holiday. As for Peter’s neighbour, Mr…well,
his name escapes me now…
Wife: Shakefist is the name.
Husband: Oh, yeah. Good old Mr Shakefist. No wonder he made such a fuss about the fence.
He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I had a couple of words with him the other day.
Poor thing…to have such a trouble and strife*!
Wife: What’s wrong with his wife?
Husband: Well… ‘But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue!’
Wife: Oh no! So, you’ve been making a fool of me for the whole time, haven’t you?
Husband: Darling, it’s just because you fall for any gossip you hear.

*cockney English; a cockney is a person born in the East End of London. They speak a
special accent and a humorous, rhyming slang. ‘trouble and strife’ = wife, ‘mince pies’ =
eyes, ‘plates of meat’ = feet, ‘loaf of bread’ = head

Words and Phrases

a couple of words néhány szó

aim at céloz valamire
as if it had been totally destroyed mintha teljesen lerombolták volna
at least she says so legalább is ezt mondja
broomstick seprűnyél

33
 Vass Judit

bump into belemegy (pl. autóval)

But break my heart, for I must hold my „De törj meg, szívem, mert nem szólhat a
tongue. száj.”
(Hamlet) Arany János ford.
chap fickó
clumsy ügyetlen, esetlen
cracking repedés
escape elmenekül, eltűnik
ever since she looked after him amióta ő vigyázott rá
fence kerítés
fishy story gyanús történet
He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Az idegösszeomlás szélén van.
He’s been doing it ever since. Azóta csinálja ezt.
His name escapes me now. Nem jut most eszembe a neve.
if you see what I mean ha érted, mire gondolok
make a fool of sy a bolondját járatja valakivel
make a fuss about sg cirkuszt csinál valamiből
No wonder he had made such a fuss about it. Nem csoda, hogy akkora cirkuszt csinált.
Don’t make such a fuss about it. Ne csinálj ekkora ügyet ebből!
Mind your own business. Törődj a magad dolgával!
nervous breakdown idegösszeomlás
owner tulajdonos
pick on sy pikkelni valakire
poor thing szegény pára
pull down lebont
row veszekedés
sarcastic szarkasztikus, gúnyos
shakefist (see: shakespeare) „ökölrázó” („lándzsarázó”)
She had better mind her own business. Jobban tenné, ha a saját dolgával törődne.
She would do that, wouldn’t she? Jellemző rá, nem?
slight enyhe, kicsi
So you have been making a fool of me. Szóval a bolondját járatod velem!
Don’t make a fool of me. Ne járasd velem a bolondját!

34

spread
Tell me the worst.
That makes a difference.
Does it make any difference?
This doesn’t make any difference.
That makes the dog bark.
That makes me cry.
His joke made us laugh.
He tried to make us learn.
That’s typical of him!
the other day
They had a terrible row.
What are you aiming at?
What is it again with him?
What’s wrong with his wife?
When we were on holiday
himper
while turning the corner
Why should i?
wicked
witchcraft
You are being wicked.
She is being friendly.
You are picking on her, aren’t you?
You cannot stand her, can you?
You fall for any gossip you hear.
Vass Judit
terjeszt
Ne kímélj!
Az persze más!
Számít ez? Nem mindegy?
Ettől nem változik semmi. Ez nem számít.
Attól ugat a kutya.
Az megríkat.
A vicce megnevettetett minket.
Próbált rávenni minket a tanulásra.
Ez jellemző rá!
egyik nap (a múltban)
Rettenetesen összevesztek.
Mire célzol?
Mi van már megint vele?
Mi a baj a feleségével?
amikor üdülni voltunk
nyüszít
miközben befordult a sarkon
Miért tenném?
gonosz
boszorkányság
Most gonoszkodsz! (általában nem gonosz)
Megjátssza a barátságost. (általában nem az)
Ugye pikkelsz rá?
Ugye nem tudod elviselni?
Bedőlsz minden pletykának, amit hallasz.
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 Vass Judit

3. City Life, Country Life

• A tourist cannot find his way in Dublin, so he turns to the first passer- by: ’Excuse me, could you tell me
the way to the main station, please?’ The man pauses for thought, then he says, ‘I certainly could, but if I
were you, I wouldn’t start from here.’ (An Irish joke)

• A farmer rides his cart along a country lane while a young man walks ahead. As the cart passes by, the
farmer nods to the young man to jump into the back of the cart. So they bump along the lane for a while,
when the young man asks, ‘Master, is it far to the town?’ ‘Aye’, says the farmer, ‘a long way ahead.’
The young man falls asleep and when he wakes up two hours later, he asks again, ‘Still ahead?’ ’Nay’,
says the farmer, ‘a long way behind.’ (A Hungarian joke)

A : City life has changed a lot, hasn’t it?

B : Yes, urban life has changed a lot considering all the aspects of everyday life. Let us
take public transport, for example. One hundred years ago only the rich had cars,
nowadays almost everybody possesses one.
A : Oh, yes. At the beginning of the 20th century trams and coaches were pulled by
horses. Nowadays the underground and elevated trains make it possible to get from the
suburbs to the city very fast. On the other hand, these days, cities suffer from smog due to
the exhaust fumes.
B : What’s more, population is growing at a terrible rate, on a weekday you can hardly
push your way through the crowd in busy streets. As a result, those who can afford it,
move to the green belt in the suburbs or outside the city .
A : Suburbs are OK., however, slums are a distressing sight with their dirty streets and
houses that are in bad condition. I think councils should rehabilitate these areas.
B : City councils and the police try hard to cope with huge problems, such as growing
violence, traffic jams, and homeless people begging in the streets.
A : What would you do to help the homeless?
B : Well, that’s not an easy question. There are temporary hostels run by city councils or
charity organizations. In these hostels they can sleep, wash and have meals. However,
there aren’t enough of these shelters.
A : It is said that a lot of homeless people are not willing to go there, because they are
afraid of being robbed or bullied, so they sleep in a park or in a subway instead. I think we
should raise money for charity to build safe homes for them.

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 Vass Judit

B : Do you ever give money to beggars?

A : Well, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. When the beggar is pushy, I’d rather not
give him anything. Some say, it’s no use giving them money, because there are criminals
in the background who hire the beggars, and take the money from them. What about you?
Do you give them money?
B : Yes, I always do. It is our duty to help the poor.
A : There are a lot of advantages of living in a city, aren’t there?
B : Yes, there are. There are more services and better chances for jobs compared to a
village. In addition to this, there are more places of entertainment such as theatres,
cinemas, clubs, and sports centres. There is a great variety of shops where you can buy
anything you might need. All in all, city life is more exciting and comfortable at that.
However, it’s good to get away from the rat race now and then and spend your holiday
somewhere in the country, off the beaten track.
A : Country life has changed too.
B : Yes, it has changed considerably. Traditional, rustic villages are disappearing due to
the migration to towns and cities. Young people tend to migrate to towns in search of a
better job or life. The remaining villages are turning into town-like places. These modern
villages have paved roads, piped water, electricity, gas or central heating.
A : What do you mean by a modern village?
B : In a modern village you can enjoy all the comforts you might need at home. The
population of a modern village consists of farmers and villagers who go to work in a town
or a city, but are not willing to live there. In the past, villagers earned their livings by
growing crops and breeding animals. A modern farm is well equipped with up-to-date
machinery, stables and irrigation pipes.
A : Nevertheless, nowadays there is a great demand for organic foods that are produced
without chemicals. A friend of mine took up organic gardening; he grows vegetables and
fruit without chemical fertilizers just to provide his own family. He says gardening is hard
work and fun at the same time.
B : Yes, people living in a block of flats are eager to have a garden to grow flowers and
vegetables because in the city they miss nature and healthy exercise. The great advantage
of rural life is that you are close to nature, breathe in fresh air and can get rid of all the
stresses of city life. And don’t forget about the scenery. City sights don’t compare with
the fields, hills and rivers you can enjoy in the country.

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 Vass Judit

A : But there are disadvantages of living in the country.

B : Yes, you are right. First of all, when the village is small, it cannot maintain a school or
postal service, so you have to go to the nearest town. As for your cultural needs, you
won’t find theatres, museums or cinemas in a small village, so you cannot do without a
car. Another disadvantage is that you have to depend on coach or train services in case
you haven’t got a car. In winter, villages are exposed to bad weather; snow can cut them
off the world for days. As for shopping, you have to depend on the supplies of the nearest
town, as small villages normally have a grocery and that’s all.
A : Are there any prejudices against country people on behalf of town folk?
B : There used to be in the past, but nowadays the old stereotypes such as ‘country
bumpkin’ are not typical. Town people don’t sneer at rural accents any more, except for
the uneducated. Living in the country no longer means a backward mind.
A : Where would you prefer to live in the future, in a city or in the country?
B : I’d prefer to live in the city. I was born here and I won’t be able to get accustomed to
another lifestyle.
A : As far as I’m concerned, I’d prefer to escape from the city, though not too far from it.
I’d like to take advantage of everything that the city can offer, but I don’t want to live in
it. I’d prefer to live in a village or a small town where I can build a house to my taste. It’d
be nice to have a garden, not too big, though, and plenty of fresh air. I wouldn’t mind the
inconveniences. You know, nothing compares with nature.
B : I really don’t know. I have always lived in the city; probably I would feel cut off in the
country.

Words and Phrases

a great variety of shops üzletek nagy választéka

advantage of előnye
afford, I cannot afford to buy a car. megengedheti magának
afraid of being bullied fél, hogy bántalmazzák
afraid of being robbed fél, hogy kirabolják
animal and crop husbandry állat- és növénytermesztés
anything you might need bármi, amire szüksége lehet
as a result következésképp

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 Vass Judit

at a terrible rate szörnyű sebességgel / gyorsan

backward mind elmaradott gondolkodású ember
beg, begging in the street koldul
breed animals állatokat tenyészteni
charity, charity organisation jótékonyság, jótékonysági szervezet
chemical kémiai, vegyszeres
chemical fertiliser műtrágya
cities don’t compare with villages a városok nem olyan szépek, mint falvak
coach távolsági busz
compare with összehasonlít valamivel
concerning all the aspects figyelembe véve minden szempontot
condition, in bad condition állapot, rossz állapotban van (pl épület)
cope with megbirkózni valamivel
country bumpkin „falusi bunkó”
criminal bűnöző
cultural needs kulturális igények
cut off elvág ( a külvilágtól)
definitely biztosan, határozottan
demand igény, követelés
There is a great demand for such shoes. Az ilyen cipők nagyon keresettek.
depend on függ valamitől
disadvantage of hátránya valaminek
disappear, appear eltűnik, megjelenik
distressing sight lehangoló látvány
due to , due to exhaust fumes valaminek köszönhetően, a gázok miatt
duty − This is our duty to help them. kötelesség
earn one’s living megkeresni a betevőt
elevated train magasvasút
escape from elmenekül valahonnan
except for ( them, me, you) kivéve
exhaust fume kipufogó gázok
exposed to ki van téve valaminek
Farmers are exposed to bad weather. A gazdák ki vannak téve a rossz időjárásnak.

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 Vass Judit

get away from the rat race kiszállni a mókuskerékből

get rid of sg megszabadulni valamitől
green belt zöld övezet
grocery élelmiszerbolt
grow crops gabonát termeszteni
He earns his living as a farmer. Mezőgazdaságból él.
healthy exercise egészséges (test)mozgás
homeless, the homeless hajléktalan, a hajléktalanok
hostel szállás, ifjúsági hotel
hostel run by the city council a városi önkormányzat által fenntartott hotel
I would feel cut off. Elszigeteltnek érezném magam.
I would prefer to live in the city. Szívesebben élnék városban.
in addition to this ezen túl, ezen kívül
in search of a better job egy jobb állás reményében
irrigation öntözés
It would be nice to have a garden. Jó lenne, ha kertünk lenne.
it’s no use giving them money nincs értelme pénzt adni nekik
it’s no use going there nincs értelme odamenni
maintain fenntart
make sg possible lehetővé tesz valamit
method módszer
migration, migrate elvándorlás, el/kivándorol
no longer means többet már nem jelenti azt, hogy…
Nothing compares with nature. Nincs a természetnél szebb.
off the beaten track „távol a világtól’ nem a kitaposott ösvényen
offer ajánlat, ajánl
organic food biotermék
paved road aszfaltozott út
piped water vezetékes víz
places of entertainment szórakozóhelyek
plenty of (fresh air) sok ( friss levegő)
possess, possession birtokol, tulajdon
postal service postai szolgáltatás

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push one’s way through the crowd átverekedi magát a tömegen

pushy erőszakos (követelőző)
raise money for charity jótékonyságra gyűjtenyi
rat race „mókuskerék”
rate arány
rehabilitate, restore rehabilitál, helyreállít
remain marad
rural life vidéki élet
rustic rusztikus, nyers, faragatlan, falusi
scenery táj
service szolgáltatás
set up a project tervet kidolgoz
shelter menedék
sneer at sy gúnyolódik valakin
stable istálló
suburb külváros
subway aluljáró
supply ellátás, készlet
take advantage of előnyt kihasznál
taste, a house to my taste ízlés. ízlésemnek való ház
temporary ideiglenes
town-like városszerű
traffic jam forgalmi dugó
up-to-date machinery korszerű gépek
variety változatosság
violence erőszak, bűnözés
well equipped jól felszerelt
willing to − He is not willing to work. hajlandó valamire ⎯ nem hajlandó dolgozni.

Zsibbasztó

Ugye nagyon megváltozott a városi élet? ..............................................................................

Ami a mindennapi életet illeti ................................................................................................

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Száz évvel ezelőtt csak a gazdagoknak volt autója ................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
Manapság majdnem mindenkinek van ...................................................................................
Régen a villamosokat lovak húzták ........................................................................................
A metró és a magasvasút lehetővé teszik ...............................................................................
Hogy gyorsan a városba érjünk a külvárosból .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A városok szenvednek a szmogtól .........................................................................................
A kipufogó gázoknak köszönhető ..........................................................................................
Sőt...........................................................................................................................................
A népesség szörnyű sebességgel nő .......................................................................................
Alig lehet átverekedni a tömegen ...........................................................................................
Ennek eredményeképpen........................................................................................................
Aki megengedheti magának ...................................................................................................
A zöldövezetbe költözik .........................................................................................................
A városon kívül ......................................................................................................................
A nyomornegyedek lehangoló látványt nyújtanak .................................................................
A házak rossz állapotban vannak ...........................................................................................
Az önkormányzatnak rehabilitálnia kellene ezeket a körzeteket ...........................................
................................................................................................................................................
A rendőrség mindent megtesz, hogy megbirkózzon a problémákkal ....................................
................................................................................................................................................
Úgymint a növekvő erőszak ...................................................................................................
Az utcán kolduló hajléktalanok ..............................................................................................
Mit tenne a hajléktalanok megsegítésére? ..............................................................................
Vannak ideiglenes szállások, amiket a városi önkormányzat tart fenn ..................................
................................................................................................................................................
Ezeken a szállókon alhatnak, mosakodhatnak és ehetnek......................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Ezekből a szállásokból nincs elég ..........................................................................................
Azt mondják, hogy .................................................................................................................
Sok hajléktalan nem hajlandó odamenni ................................................................................
Félnek attól, hogy kirabolják vagy bántalmazzák őket ..........................................................
................................................................................................................................................

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Inkább az aluljárókban alszanak ............................................................................................

Szerintem pénzt kellene gyűjtenünk ......................................................................................
Szokott pénzt adni a koldusoknak? ........................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Ha a koldus erőszakos, inkább nem adok neki semmit ..........................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Nincs értelme pénzt adni nekik ..............................................................................................
A háttérben bűnözők állnak....................................................................................................
Kötelességünk segíteni a szegényeket ....................................................................................
Sok előnye van a városi életnek .............................................................................................
Több a szolgáltatás .................................................................................................................
Jobb esélyeink vannak állásra ................................................................................................
Összehasonlítva a faluval .......................................................................................................
Ezenkívül ................................................................................................................................
Több a szórakozóhely.............................................................................................................
Az üzletek széles választéka található ....................................................................................
Mindent megvehet, amire szüksége lehet ..............................................................................
Mindent egybevetve ...............................................................................................................
A városi élet izgalmasabb és kényelmesebb ..........................................................................
Jó kiszabadulni a mókuskerékből ...........................................................................................
A szabadságot vidéken tölteni ................................................................................................
Nem járt utakon ......................................................................................................................
A vidéki élet is megváltozott ..................................................................................................
Jelentősen megváltozott .........................................................................................................
A hagyományos falvak eltűnőben vannak .............................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A városba irányuló migrációnak (elvándorlásnak) köszönhetően .........................................
................................................................................................................................................
A fiatalok a városba vándorolnak jobb állás reményében ......................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A modern falvakban betonút van, vezetékes víz, gáz- vagy központi fűtés ..........................
................................................................................................................................................
Mit ért modern falu alatt? .......................................................................................................
Minden kényelmet élvezhet, amire szüksége lehet ................................................................

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................................................................................................................................................
A múltban a falusiak növénytermesztéssel és állattenyésztéssel keresték a kenyerüket .......
................................................................................................................................................
Egy modern gazdaság jó felszerelt korszerű gépekkel...........................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Istállók és öntöző csövek........................................................................................................
Ennek ellenére ........................................................................................................................
Manapság nagy a biotermékek iránti igény............................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Vegyszerek nélkül termelik őket ............................................................................................
Egy barátom rákapott a biokertészetre ...................................................................................
Zöldséget termeszt és gyümölcsöt..........................................................................................
Műtrágya nélkül .....................................................................................................................
Hogy ellássa a családját..........................................................................................................
A kertészkedés egyszerre jó mulatság és kemény munka .....................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A városban hiányoljuk a természetet .....................................................................................
Az egészséges mozgást ..........................................................................................................
A vidéki élet nagy előnye .......................................................................................................
Hogy friss levegőt szívunk .....................................................................................................
És megszabadulhatunk a városi élet stresszétől .....................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Ne felejtsük el a tájat !............................................................................................................
A városi látnivalók nem érnek fel a mezőkkel .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
De a falusi életnek vannak hátrányai is. .................................................................................
A kis falvak nem tudnak iskolát fenntartani...........................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A legközelebbi városba kell menni ........................................................................................
Ami a kulturális igényeket illeti .............................................................................................
Egyáltalán nem lehet meg autó nélkül ...................................................................................
A távolsági buszra és a vonatra szorulunk .............................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Abban az esetben, ha nincs autója ..........................................................................................

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Télen a falvak ki vannak téve a rossz időjárásnak .................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
A hó napokra elvághatja őket a világtól .................................................................................
Ami a vásárlást illeti ...............................................................................................................
Vannak-e előítéletek a vidéki emberekkel szemben? ............................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A városlakók részéről .............................................................................................................
Falusi bunkó ...........................................................................................................................
A városiak már nem gúnyolódnak a vidéki akcentuson .........................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Kivéve a műveletleneket ........................................................................................................
Vidéken élni már nem jelent elmaradottságot ........................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Hol szeretne élni, városban vagy falun? .................................................................................
Inkább városban élnék ............................................................................................................
Itt születtem ............................................................................................................................
Nem lennék képes más életstílust megszokni ........................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Szeretném kihasználni a város adta előnyöket .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Ízlésem szerint való ház .........................................................................................................
Jó lenne, ha volna kertem .......................................................................................................
Nem bánnám a kényelmetlenségeket .....................................................................................
A természettel semi sem versenyezhet ...................................................................................
Mindig is városban éltem .......................................................................................................
Valószínűleg elszigeteltnek érezném magam falun ...............................................................

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An Informal Letter

Dear Mum and Dad,

Sorry for not having written for days, but I always get home late at night when my
only wish is to drop and sleep. I am having a great time here, the country is much
more beautiful than I expected. The people are nice and hospitable, my host
family are eager to make me enjoy my stay here.
I‘ve been through rather busy days. So far I’ve been shown around in the city,
which is full of magnificent historical sights (I am attaching some photos I have
taken). I have also seen the countryside, which is a bit different from that of
England. The country folk tend to build their homes in a strange fashion, they
prefer detached houses with strongly built fences, mostly wrought-iron ones
instead of hedges.
Today we have been to the most south-western part of the country, which is a long
drive away from Budapest. It took us four hours to cover the distance, but the
scenery made up for the inconvenience. This part of the country is hilly with
flower- covered valleys and vineyards on the slopes.
The county we’ve visited is called “Őrség”; the name refers to the mission of the
region in the past. They were supposed to guard and defend the western border of
Hungary.
We were shown around in an open-air village museum in ‘Pityerszer’, the
importance of which is that the farmhouses are the original ones built about 600
years ago. One can only wonder how they remained in such a good condition
considering the fact that they had been built of adobe, you know, dried mud mixed
with straw, as you can see in my photos. You can also discover that they had used
thatched roofs similar to those in Cornwall. The guide said it had had the
advantage of keeping the houses warm in winter and cool in summer. My host
added that nowadays rich people like applying this kind of roof, but it costs a
fortune, so he said.
Unlike typical Hungarian farmhouses these buildings have no fence around them,
because the houses are scattered on the hilltops. The houses that cluster on a

46
 Vass Judit

hilltop belong to one family separated from the others with valleys. That’s why the
settlement looks really romantic.
The guide told us how they had communicated with each other. When a hostile
army had been approaching, they had lit fires on the hilltops one by one, and thus
they had sent the message to the royal court, which had been about 300
kilometres away. Guess, how long it had taken the message to get to the king?
One and a half hour! Great, isn’t it? I have bought souvenirs in the little shop that
sells all kinds of things typical of local folk art; I hope you’ll like them.
I am glad I’ve come here, and I really got interested in Central Europe, and have
already made up my mind to visit Slovenia next year. I hope Mike will like the
idea.

Are you OK? Send me an email about how things are going on at home.

Love, Julie

Words and Phrases

adobe vályog
a long drive away hosszú út kocsival
approach megközelít
cluster csoportosul
considering the fact that… figyelembe véve a tényt, hogy…
country folk, town folk vidéki emberek, városi emberek (bizalmas)
county megye
cover the distance megteszi a távolságot
detached house, semi-detached house családi ház, ikerház
discover felfedez
drop elejt, összeesik
dry mud mixed with straw szárított sár szalmával keverve ( vályog)
fence kerítés
flower-covered virág borította
guide idegenvezető

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 Vass Judit

hedge sövény (kerítés)

hospitable vendégszerető
host family vendéglátó család
hostile army ellenséges hadsereg
in a good condition, in bad condition jó / rossz állapotban van
in a strange fashion furcsa stílusban
inconvenience kényelmetlenség
it costs a fortune egy vagyonba kerül
keeps the house warm / cool melegen / hűvösen tartja a házat
late at night késő éjjel
make up for kompenzál, kárpótol
mission küldetés
my stay here itt tartózkodásom
one can only wonder… csak csodálni lehet, hogy…
open-air village museum falumúzeum ( szabadtéri)
refer to utal valamire
The title refers to the contents of the book. A cím utal a könyv tartalmára.
What does this refer to? Mire utal?
region körzet, régió
royal court királyi udvar
scatter szétszór
separate from sg / sy elválaszt valamitől
settlement település
similar to hasonló valamihez
slope lejtő
so he said, so he says így mondta, így mondja (ahogy ő mondja)
sorry for not having written. Bocsánat, hogy nem írtam.
than i expected mint amire számítottam
thatched roof zsúptető
the most south-western part of the country az ország legdélnyugatibb része
typical of local folk art a helyi népművészetre jellemző
vineyard szőlőskert
we were shown around körbevezettek minket

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wrought-iron fence kovácsoltvas kerítés

Zsibbasztó

Bocsánat, hogy sokáig nem írtam ................................................................................................

Mindig késő este érek haza ..........................................................................................................
Egyetlen kívánságom, hogy aludjak.............................................................................................
Nagyszerűen érzem itt magam .....................................................................................................
Sokkal szebb, mint vártam ...........................................................................................................
Az emberek vendégszeretők.........................................................................................................
Zsúfolt napokon vagyok túl..........................................................................................................
Körbevezettek a városon ..............................................................................................................
A város tele van csodálatos történelmi nevezetességgel ..............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Voltam vidéken is.........................................................................................................................
Egy kicsit különbözik az angliaitól ..............................................................................................
A vidékiek ....................................................................................................................................
Furcsa stílusban ............................................................................................................................
Erős kerítés ...................................................................................................................................
Sövény helyett ..............................................................................................................................
Az ország délnyugati része ...........................................................................................................
Messze van autóval Budapesttől ..................................................................................................
4 órába telt megtenni a távolságot ................................................................................................
A táj kárpótolt a kényelmetlenségért ............................................................................................
Virágok borította völgyek ............................................................................................................
Szabadtéri museum ......................................................................................................................
A házakat 600 évvel ezelőtt építették ...........................................................................................
Az ember csak csodálkozik ..........................................................................................................
Jó állapotban maradtak meg .........................................................................................................
Figyelembe véve a tényt ...............................................................................................................
Amint a képen láthatod ................................................................................................................
Zsuptetőt alkalmaznak..................................................................................................................
Hasonlót a cornwalliakhoz ...........................................................................................................

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 Vass Judit

Télen melegen tartja a házat .........................................................................................................

Nyáron hűvösen tartja a házat ......................................................................................................
Egy vagyonba kerül ......................................................................................................................
A házak körül nincs kerítés ..........................................................................................................
A házak a dombtetőkön vannak szértszórva ................................................................................
Egy családé ...................................................................................................................................
Völgyek választják el a többitől ...................................................................................................
A település romantikusnak tűnik ..................................................................................................
Tüzet gyújtottak a dombtetőn .......................................................................................................
Üzenet a királyi udvarba ..............................................................................................................
Találd ki, mennyi időbe tellett! ....................................................................................................
Nagyszerű, nem? ..........................................................................................................................
A helyi népművészetre jellemző ..................................................................................................
Remélem, tetszeni fog ..................................................................................................................
Örülök, hogy eljöttem ide.............................................................................................................
Elhatároztam, hogy jövőre Szlovéniába megyek .........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Hogy mennek otthon a dolgok? ...................................................................................................

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 Vass Judit

4. Crime and Punishment

During the trial of a corruption case the prosecution attorney turns to the witness: ‘Isn’t it
true that you got ten thousand to compromise this case? The witness pretends not to have
heard the question. The judge leans over and says: ‘May I ask you sir, to answer the
question?’ ‘Oh, says the witness, I thought he had put the question to you.’
(Lawyer Jokes )

A : Could you explain what we mean by the law?

B : The law is the legal system of a country, a set of rules that all citizens must obey.
Laws are passed by the parliament. Most people are law-abiding citizens, but there are
lawbreakers as well. If one breaks the law he or she will be punished depending on the
crime committed. For example, burglary is a crime, while breaking the Highway Code is
an offence.
A : What is the legal procedure like in case of a serious crime, let us take robbery?
B : After the robbery has been reported to the police, they start investigations into the
case. Investigation means questioning the victims or the witnesses to the robbery. When
there is enough information about the offender, the police start pursuing the suspect and
arrest the person. Sometimes it is only the witnesses’ memory that the police can depend
on; in these cases they circulate an E-fit of the wanted person that is made by using a
computer. The judge can release the suspect on bail, which means that the offender can go
free until the trial.
A: What happens afterwards?
B : After the police investigation the case is brought to the law court for trial. During the
trial the accused has the right to employ a barrister to handle his defence. During the trial
the accused is charged with robbery, and it is the judge’s duty to decide if the accused is
guilty or not. The judge can convict or acquit the accused on the basis of the facts and
testimonies given by the witnesses. There are different legal systems in the world; in some
countries it is the jury that gives the verdict. The jury is a group of citizens (jurors) who,
during the trial, listen to the facts of the case. According to the law the jury normally have
to return a unanimous or majority verdict. The jury have the right to give the verdict, but it
is the judge, who passes the sentence. The culprit can be sentenced to imprisonment for

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years or life imprisonment in case of murder for example. In the past, extremely
dangerous criminals were sentenced to death and executed; this is called death penalty or
capital punishment. Capital punishment is abolished in many countries. To my best
knowledge, in some states of the U.S.A. it is still legal. The execution is carried out by an
electric chair.
A : Do you believe in lie detectors?
B : There has been a debate whether a lie detector is reliable or not. For my part, I cannot
decide, actually I don’t know how it works.
A : Are you for or against death penalty?
B : I am against death penalty, because I think no one has the right to take away
anybody’s life. In my opinion capital punishment is a legalised murder. It is said that
death penalty has a deterrent effect on criminals, but according to criminologists, this is
not true. Some think death penalty should be reintroduced regarding the increasing
violence in the world. I am in two minds about it. Whenever I think of the victims who
were murdered, little children in particular, I suppose it is only death penalty that equals to
the crime. On the other hand, there were tragic cases, when innocent people had been
executed, and only later pardoned.
A : What are the most frequent crimes that threaten people?
B : Burglary, which means that criminals break into your home and steal your valuables.
Sometimes burglary goes together with murder, when the victims try to confront the
offenders. Unfortunately, bank robbery has become an almost everyday crime, in spite of
the safeguards and the alarm systems, video cameras that are installed in the banks. Rape
and child abuse also belong to serious crimes that are committed. Those who are charged
with these crimes often turn out to be insane and perverted people. Since 11 September
2001 terrorist attacks have become a worldwide threat against citizens. Governments have
taken strict safety measures at airports, around embassies and other important public
places. Hijacking is another worrying issue; hijackers take control of a plane and force the
pilot to land at another airport. They usually have political aims; they want to blackmail a
certain government by taking hostages in exchange for imprisoned terrorists or money.
There are other hostage-takers, who capture somebody, normally rich people or important
personalities and demand for their release ransom.
A : What do you think is the reason for the increasing juvenile delinquency?
B : Most people put it down to parents’ negligence or the liberal education at schools.
Others say, the reason for it is that children can see too much violence on TV or videos.

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A : And here are some more useful sentences referring to crimes and offences.
1. He had been shoplifting for a long time when he was finally caught red-handed.
1. There are certain bus lines that are infested with pickpockets.
2. It is not advisable to walk in an empty street late at night because you might be
mugged.
3. She was mugged and stabbed while going home late at night.
4. The lorry was searched and it turned out that the driver was smuggling heroin.
5. Our house was broken into a year ago.
6. He was accused of murdering his wife.
7. He was found guilty of bribery.
8. They were found guilty of fraud.
9. His appeal was rejected.
10. He was arrested for spying and giving away state secrets.
11. He was brought to court and charged with murder.
12. The judge dropped the case and he was acquitted.
13. During the trial he confessed to having murdered his wife.
14. The suspect denied everything but all the evidence was against him.
15. When you are arrested it is best not to say anything until you have consulted your
solicitor.
16. After the insulting article he sued the newspaper for libel.
17. The newspaper had to pay libel damages.
18. There was an arson attack on the factory last night.
19. Police should do something to stop yobs insulting people.
20. During the riots yobs set a lot of cars on fire.
21. There are sophisticated methods to counterfeit banknotes.
22. Cashiers have a special device to check the banknotes.
23. It is advisable to install a burglar alarm in every shop.
24. You can keep a weapon, provided you have a licence from the police.
25. Unfortunately drug abuse has been increasing among young people.
26. A lot of people die of drug overdose.
27. As to the drug question, I think prevention is most important.
28. There are a lot of drug-related crimes, such as smuggling, dealing.
29. If you are found guilty of tax dodging, you might be sentenced to prison.
30. The suspect denied robbing the bank.

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Words and Phrases

abolish eltöröl, megszüntet

accuse sy of sg, the accused vádol valamivel, a vádlott
admit doing sg beismer
aim cél
appeal fellebbezés
arrest warrant letartóztatási parancs
arson attack gyújtogatás
bail óvadék
bank robbery bankrablás
barrister ügyvéd
blackmail zsarol/ás
reak , broke, broken (into the house) betörni (a házba)
bring a civil action against sb polgári peres eljárást indítani valakivel
szemben
burglar betörő
capital punishment halálbüntetés
carry out elvégez
charged with vádolják valamivel
child abuse gyermekbántalmazás
circulate köröz (pl. képet)
civil law polgári törvény
commit a crime bűntényt követ el
confess bevall
confront sy szembeszáll valakivel
counterfeit pénzhamisítás
crime, criminal bűntény, bűnöző
criminologist kriminológus
culprit tettes
custody, take sy in custody őrizetbe vétel, elzárás
death penalty halálbüntetés
defence védelem

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 Vass Judit

defence attorney védőügyvéd

deny doing sg tagad valamit
depend on függ valamitől
deterrent elriasztó
deterrent effect on elriasztó hatással van valakire
drop the case ejti az esetet
drug abuse drogbűnözés
drug-related crimes droggal kapcsolatos bűntények
e-fit fantomkép
electric device elektromos eszköz
employ alkalmaz
enquiries into the case az este vizsgálata
evidence bizonyíték
exceeding the speed limit a sebességhatár túllépése
execute, execution kivégez, kivégzés
fatally ill halálosan beteg
force sy kényszerít valakit
fraud csalás
frequent gyakori
government kormány
handle one’s defence védeni valakit (bíróságon)
he pleaded not guilty ártatlannak vallotta magát
he was accused of murdering his wife azzal vádolták, hogy megölte a feleségét
he was acquitted szabadon engedték
he was arrested for spying kémkedésért tartóztatták le
he was brought to court bíróság elé vitték az ügyét
he was caught red-handed tetten érték
he was charged with murder gyilkossággal vádolták
he was executed kivégezték
he was found guilty of bribery bűnösnek találták vesztegetésben
he was released from prison kiengedték a börtönből
he was sentenced to life imprisonment életfogytiglanira ítélték
hijack géprablás

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 Vass Judit

hostage, take hostages túsz, túszokat szedni

hostage-taker túszszedő
I am in two minds about it. nem tudok dönteni.
in case of valaminek az esetébe
in exchange for cserében valamiért
infested with pickpockets nyüzsögnek a zsebtolvajok
insane elmebeteg
install a burglar alarm riasztót beszerelni
insult inzultál, sért, bántalmaz
investigate kivizsgál
investigation into the case az ügy kivizsgálása
it is advisable tanácsos, ajánlott
it turned out kiderült
jury esküdtszék
juvenile delinquency fiatalkori bűnözés
kidnapper gyermekrabló
lean, leaned vagy lent hajlik
legal procedure jogi eljárás
legal system jogrend
legal, illegal törvényes, törvénytelen
legalised murder törvényesített gyilkosság
libel rágalmazás (sajtóban)
libel damages kártérítés rágalmazásért
lie detector hazugságvizsgáló
might be mugged kirabolhatják (utcán)
offence, offender szabálysértés, tettes
offender tettes, elkövető
on the basis of valaminek az alapján
overdose túladagolás
pass the sentence kimondja a büntetést
perverted perverz
prevention megelőzés
procedure eljárás

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prosecution attorney vádló ügyvéd

provided feltéve, ha
pursue követ, üldöz
put down to sg betud valaminek, valamivel magyaráz
ransom váltságdíj
rape megerőszakol
reaction to reagálás valamire
reason for sg oka valaminek
regarding tekintetbe véve
reintroduce újra bevezet
reject elutasít
report to the police feljelentést tenni a rendőrségen
right, have the right joga
riot utcai zavargás
search átkutat
search warrant házkutatási parancs
set cars on fire autókat gyújt fel
she was stabbed megkéselték
shoplifting áruházi lopás
slander rágalom
smuggle csempészik
soft drugs, hard drugs lágy drog, kemény drog
some argue néhányan azt mondják
sophisticated methods kifinomult módszerek
special device speciális szerkezet
state secrets állami titkok
steal, stole stolen lop
sue sb for sg keresetet nyújt be valaki ellen
suspect him of murder gyilkossággal gyanúsítják
take control of hatalmába kerít
tax dodging, tax evasion adócsalás („elkerülés”)
testimony tanúvallomás
the jury found him innocent az esküdtszék ártatlannak találta

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threaten, threat fenyeget, fenyegetés

Trial bírósága tárgyalás
unanimous verdict, majority verdict egyhangú ítélet, többségi
until you have consulted your solicitor amíg nem beszélt az ügyvédjével
valuables értékek
verdict ítélet
Wife-battering a feleség bántalmazása
witness szemtanú
yobs huligánok

A Film Review

One of my favourite films is Twelve Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda. The picture was
directed by Sidney Lumet in 1954. In a sense this is not a detective story, because the plot
reaches beyond the popular version of the genre.
The film starts at the end of a trial in court. The suspect is a young boy belonging to a national
minority, who is charged with murdering his father. There are two witnesses to the events,
one of them is an elderly woman living opposite the building in question. According to her
testimony, while lying in her bed late at night, she saw, through the windows of a passing el-
train, the boy stab his father. The other witness is an old man living downstairs, who heard the
boy shouting at his father and threatening him: ‘I will kill you!’ The old man also says that he
heard the father cry out and a thump, probably the body falling on the floor, and shortly
afterwards, the boy rushing down the stairs. The boy pleaded not guilty.
In the opening scene the judge turns to the jury that have heard all the facts and testimonies to
retire and return a unanimous verdict. As he says: ‘a man is dead and another man’s life is at
stake’.
Thus the jury retires to a small room that they cannot leave until they reach a verdict. There
are twelve jurors; all of them are white male citizens, young, middle-aged and old ones who
represent almost every layer of society, ranging from manual workers through clerks and
businessmen to well-educated people. During the film we get a picture of their mentalities,
prejudices, weaknesses or honesty. The film could have been shot in any country at any time,
because these people embody eternal characters with their typical attitudes to life. Some of

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them are good-willed people, but, as usual, they sit on the fence and vote with the majority.
Among the others we find die-hard conservatives, even racists and those who are disinterested
or concerned about the boy’s future.
This is a hot and suffocating afternoon, they are all tired and want to finish their job quickly.
One of them says, that the case is ‘open-and-shut’ and they decide on an immediate and open
vote. The jurors, all but one, vote for ‘guilty’. Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) votes for ‘not guilty’.
The others get angry with him and ask for his motives. He says, he voted so, not that because
he is convinced of the boy’s innocence, but because the boy had a hard childhood and the
testimonies are not convincing enough to raise his hand and send the boy to death. He
suggests reconsidering the facts. He promises that if the second vote ends with the same
result, he will not prevent the jury from returning a verdict of ‘guilty’. However, the second
vote, now a secret ballot, ends with 10 to 2, which means one of the members has changed his
vote. This turns out to be a fair-minded old man who wants to give a chance to Juror 8 to
speak his mind. And here starts a heated discussion, during which Juror 8 gradually convinces
the majority that the two witnesses’ testimonies are contradictory. The questions come up:
How could the woman see the murder? Was she lying in her bed with her glasses on? She
appeared for the trial with no glasses but with red marks on her nose typical of those who
permanently wear glasses.
How could the old man, at the same time, hear the shouting upstairs, when the el train was
just passing by with a deafening noise? How could he see the boy running down the steps? He
had a stroke the year before, and drags one of his legs. Juror 8 proves that he couldn’t have
reached the front door in 15 seconds as he said. He manages to convince the jurors about the
uncertainties of the case and reminds them about their great responsibility: the boy’s life is at
their hands.
Only one juror (3) remains unmoved and strongly opposed to acquit the boy. While arguing,
he works himself up to such a point where he loses his self-control and says ‘They’re born
liars’, meaning sons in general. He is extremely biased against the boy for personal reasons.
He himself is estranged from his son who doesn’t care about him, probably because of the
harsh treatment he got from his father. In the end, Juror 3 collapses with remorse, and, while
crying, he says: ‘not guilty’. So the boy will be acquitted. Conscience has won.

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Words and Phrases

’open-and-shut’ “világos, mint a nap”

all but one egy kivételével
angry with sy haragszik valakire
at stake, a man’s life is at stake kockán forog, egy ember élete forog kockán
at their hands ( his life is at the jury’s kezükben van
hands)
bias, biased against sy / sg elfogult valakivel szemben
clerk hivatalnok
collapse összeomlás
collapses with remorse magába roskad a bűntudattól
concerned about érdekli valami, aggódik valamiért
conscience lelkiismeret
contradictory ellentmondásos
convince, convinced of meggyőz, meggyőződött valamiről
cry out kiáltás, segélykiáltás
deafening noise fülsüketítő zaj
decide on valami mellett dönteni
direct − the picture was directed by Lumet a filmet Lumet rendezte.
disinterested in közönyös valami iránt
drag one’s legs húzza a lábát
embody Megtestesít
estranged from elidegenedett valakitől
eternal characters egyetemes jellemek
fair-minded igazságos
for personal reasons, for various reasons személyes okokból, különböző okokból
get a picture of képet alkot valamiről / valakiről
good-willed jó szándékú
gradually fokozatosan
He pleaded guilty / not guilty. bűnösnek/ártatlannak vallotta magát.
honest, honesty becsületes, becsület
immediate azonnali

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in a sense bizonyos értelemben

in any country at any time bármely országban, bármikor
in the opening scene a nyitó jelenetben
juror esküdt
layer of society társadalmi réteg
manage to convince sikerül meggyőznie
manual worker fizikai munkás
mentality szellemiség, felfogás
minority, majority, national minority kisebbség, többség, nemzeti kisebbség
motive for sg motiváció, ösztönzés
not that because nem azért, mintha
oppose to ellenez, helytelenít valamit
passing el train az elhaladó magasvasút
permanently állandóan
plot cselekmény
the plot takes place in New York a cselekmény New Yorkban játszódik.
popular version of the genre a műfaj népszerű változata
prevent sy/sg from doing sg megakadályoz valamiben
prove bebizonyít, bizonyul valaminek
this was proved long ago. Ezt már régen bebizonyították.
racist rasszista, idegengyűlölő
ranging from…to kezdve valamitől valameddig
reach beyond Felülmúl vmit, szétfeszíti a kereteit
reconsider újragondol, mérlegel
red marks piros foltok
rush down the stairs lerohan a lépcsőn
secret ballot titkos szavazás
self-control önuralom / fegyelem
shortly afterwards nem sokkal ezután
sit on the fence kivár, ingadozik
suffocate, suffocating fojtogat, fojtogató
Suggest Javasol
He suggested going there. Azt javasolta, hogy menjünk oda.

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He suggested that we should go there. Azt javasolta, hogy menjünk oda.

He suggested that we go there. Azt javasolta, hogy menjünk oda.
He suggested that we went. Azt javasolta, hogy menjünk oda.
the building in question a szóban forgó ház
thump zuhanás, ütés
uncertainties Bizonytalanságok
unmoved, remain unmoved érzéketlen, közönyös
until they reach the verdict míg meg nem hozzák az ítéletet
vote, open vote szavazás, nyílt szavazás

An Essay

Juvenile Delinquency

Growing juvenile delinquency is a poignant issue that has raised anxiety in the public in
recent decades. News and reports convey appalling incidents that involve youth crimes day by
day. Just think about the massacres committed by armed students in schools. No wonder
people are getting more and more worried about the antisocial behaviour on behalf of teens.
A juvenile delinquent is not necessarily a criminal. He or she might have broken cultural
norms or has been charged with status offence such as truancy or caught with alcohol.
However, there are more serious cases which are extremely difficult to tackle. For example
yobs violating social norms and frightening passers by in the street with their provocations or
thugs that reach their gun if you happen to send a disapproving glance at their antisocial
manner or behaviour. Law-abiding citizens are intimidated and expect the government to be
tough on youth crime.
In most countries juvenile delinquents are treated differently than adult offenders on the basis
that they have no control over their families, schooling or the community they are associated
with. They are not fully responsible for their deeds.
There are various theories on juvenile crime and the different motives that drive a child to
break the law. Among the key factors we can find poor parenting or abandonment. A child
born into a family that sets bad examples, the tendency to violent behaviour, child and wife-
battering for example, is extremely vulnerable and easily falls prey to aggressive influences. It
has been proved that children with strong family or social ties are unlikely to commit crime.

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According to the psychological approach to the question, the reason for juvenile crime lies in
the lack of self-control which is to be acquired in the family at an early age before social
control starts working. Balanced personality can also be created by caring parental guidance
the lack of which plays a great role in the unhealthy development of a child. Teens with their
undeveloped character are exposed to peer's pressure that can provoke defiant and provocative
behaviour. According to the sociological approach, poverty and crime are closely connected
which is indicated in statistics.
Governments and the police try hard to cope with the problem and launch prevention
programmes that include family counselling, parenting education, psychological treatment
and youth sheltering. There is no denying that education has a significant role in the process.
(398 words)

Words and Phrases

abandonment elhagyás, magára hagyás

aggressive influence erőszakos befolyás
antisocial behaviour antiszociális magatartás
anxiety, anxious aggodalom, aggódó
approach megközelítés, közeledik
armed fegyveres
balanced personality kiegyensúlyozott személyiség
caring gondoskodó, szeretetteljes
control over valami feletti kontrol
convey közvetít
counsel tanács
cultural norms kulturális normák, szabályok
deed tett
defiant kihívó, dacos
defy dacol, ellenszegül
delinquency bűnözés
disapproving helytelenítő
drive ösztönöz
expose to kitesz valaminek

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 Vass Judit

fall prey to áldozatul esik

family counselling családi tanácsadás
family ties családi kötelékek
glance tekintet
intimidate megfélemlít
is / are unlikely to do sg nem valószínű, hogy megtesz valamit
juvenile fiatalkori
juvenile delinquent kiskorú bűnöző
launch a programme programot indít
manner mód, stílus, viselkedés
massacre tömeggyilkosság
motive motiváció, ösztönzés
on behalf of valakinek a részéről
parental guidance szülői irányítás
parenting education szülő oktatás
passer by járókelő
peer pressure az egykorúak nyomása, befolyása
poignant fájdalmas
poor parenting szülői hanyagság
prevention megelőzés
provocation provokáció
provoke, provocative provokál, provokatív
self-control önuralom
set an example példát mutat
shelter menedékhely
significant jelentős
social control társadalmi kontrol
social ties társadalmi kötelékek, kötődések
sociological szociológiai
status offence szabálysértés
tackle kezel (problémát)
thug bűnöző
tough on kemény valamivel szemben

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truancy lógás
undeveloped fejletlen
youth sheltering fiatalkorú elhelyezése, kivétele a családból

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5. Crises in Life

‘Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?’
(Shakespeare: Hamlet)

A : Have you ever had hard times in your life?

B : Like everybody I’ve had my ups and downs in my life.
A : Can I ask you what kind of difficulties you’ve had so far?
B : I went through a serious crisis, after my parents had divorced. They were really hard
times, the family fell apart, and everything went wrong. My achievement at school got
worse and worse. To make matters worse, I didn’t want to share my problems with
anybody, so it was even harder to cope with them. It took me almost a year to get over the
crisis.
A : What other crises can one come to in life?
B : We might come to various crises in our life: to emotional, psychological, financial or
family crises. Adolescence is normally a hard time, when we are extremely vulnerable.
Children in this period tend to be sensitive and touchy. For my part, I was always
dissatisfied with my appearance, I used to find myself ugly..I think there is no life without
hard times, it is advisable to prepare children for them. For example, your lover can
abandon you and you feel depressed. A friend of yours might betray you and you get
disappointed. Anyone can come to an financial crisis. You might lose your job and have
no prospects of getting a new one. Unemployed people suffer from anxiety, because they
cannot keep up their families. You can have problems at work too, for example your boss
doesn’t appreciate your work. There might be misunderstandings between you and your
colleagues. Sometimes there is a fierce competition for promotion which spoils the
atmosphere. You might come to a family crisis, for example you get divorced. Your child
might get into a bad company or take to drugs. One of your family members can develop a
fatal illness and you become desperate. One might run into debt and be unable to pay off a
loan.

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A : How do crises influence our everyday life?

B : Crises normally affect people’s state of mind and relationships. Bad mood or
depression affects your achievement and personal contacts.During a crisis some people try
to avoid company and turn in on themselves.Others tend to make their problems public
and complain about them whoever they meet. Crisis can influence people in different
ways: some people keep their problems to themselves. Extremely vulnerable people might
commit suicide. Others try to find help by speaking about them to their friends.Your
reaction to a crisis depends on your character. In serious cases people should see a
psychologist to be treated. In a crisis you might develop inferiority complex. You feel
useless and helpless. In a crisis some people become addicted to sedatives or alcohol.
A : What advice would you give to a friend in a crisis?
B : It depends on the nature of the crisis. Sometimes a good piece of practical advice can
help. It is always good to appeal to the person’s common sense, however this doesn’t
always work. You can tell him or her what you would do in his or her case; that might be
helpful or not. Whatever crisis you are going through, you mustn’t lose heart. The best
you can do is seek company and ask for advice. As the saying goes, ‘A friend in need is a
friend indeed.’ The point is that you should have someone to share your problems with. It
is good to have a friend to depend on. As the saying goes, ‘A trouble shared is a trouble
halved.’ Another saying goes, ‘It’s no use crying over spilt milk.’, which is actually true,
but not a big of a help. As time goes by, people usually come over their troubles.There are
wounds that never heal; one has to reconcile oneself to it. Life goes on.
A : And here are some more useful expressions.
1. How is life? How are you getting on?
2. Is anything the matter? You seem worried.
3. I don’t know what it is with him; he seems to be downhearted.
4. I didn’t know, you have been ill lately.
5. Are you any better?
6. How things are going on at home / at work?
7. I just feel under the weather.
8. What happened to you? Did anything happen to you?
9. Nothing special, I’ve just been busy these days.
10. You had better not ask. I’m broke.
11. Well, just the usual. You know, we don’t seem to get on well with my husband
nowadays.

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12. Well, I’m worried about my son. He hardly ever speaks to us.
13. I think I need your advice. What would you do in my case?
14. I would hate to interfere in your life, but can I put a personal question to you?
15. I would hate to be inquisitive, but I’m really concerned about you.
16. It’s most kind of you to care.
17. If I were you, I wouldn’t worry so much; try to take it easy.
18. If I were you, I would consult a doctor.
19. What about having a face-to-face talk with your son?
20. Let me cheer you up!.
21. It is easier said than done.

Words and Phrases

‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ Az igazi barát bajban ismerszik meg.

‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved.’ “A megosztott probléma megfeleződik”
abandon elhagy
achievement teljesítmény
addicted to alcohol / drugs alkohol / drogfüggő
he is addicted to alcohol alkoholfüggő
adolescence, adolescent kamaszkor, kamasz
advice, a piece of advice tanács, egy tanács
affect befolyásol, hatással van
the crisis affected his family life a válság a családi életét is megrontotta
anxiety, anxious aggodalom, aggódó
appeal to the common sense a józan észre hivatkozni
appreciate értékel
I really appreciate your help. Igazán értékelem a segítségedet.
Are you any better? Jobban van?
as time goes by az idő múltával
avoid sy / doing sg elkerül valamit
He tried to avoid snakes. Megpróbálta elkerülni a kígyókat.
He avoids meeting snakes. Kerüli a kígyókkal való találkozást.

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betray, betrayal elárul, árulás

come over a crisis túljut a válságon
come to a crisis válságba jut
commit suicide öngyilkosságot követ el
competition, compete with sy verseny, versenyez
crisis, crises válság /ok
desperate kétségbeesett
develop an illness betegsége alakul ki
he has developed cancer. rákos (lett)
difficulty nehézség
disappoint, disappointed csalódást okoz, csalódott
dissatisfied with elégedetlen valamivel
downhearted lehangolt, szomorú
emotion, emotional érzelem, érzelmi
existential crisis egzisztenciális válság
face-to-face, heart-to-heart talk őszinte párbeszéd
fall apart szétesik
fierce vad
financial pénzügyi, anyagi
get on well with sy jól kijön valakivel
hard times nehéz idők
He hardly ever speaks to us Szinte soha nem szól hozzánk.
heal begyógyul (seb)
helpless elesett
I am broke. “egy vasam sincs.”
I didn’t know you have been ill lately. nem tudtam, hogy betegeskedtél.’
I feel under the weather kicsit nyűgös vagyok.
in different ways különbözőképpen
inferiority complex kisebbségi komplexus
inquisitive kíváncsiskodó
interfere in beleavatkozni valamibe
Is anything the matter? valami baj van?
it is advisable tanácsos, ajánlott

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it is easier said than done „könnyebb mondani, mint csinálni.”

just the usual csak a szokásos
keep up the family eltartani a családot
life goes on az élet megy tovább
Don’t lose heart. elkeseredik
seek company keresi a társaságot, társaságra vágyik
misunderstanding félreértés
mood, bad mood hangulat, rossz hangulat
pay off a loan adósságot / hitelt törleszteni
practical advice gyakorlati tanács
prospect of kilátás valamire
psychology, psychological, psychologist pszichológia / i , pszichológus
reaction to reagálás valamire
reconcile oneself to sg belenyugszik valamibe
run into debt eladósodik
We have run into debt. eladósodtunk.
sedative nyugtató (gyógyszer)
share the problems with sy megosztani valakivel a problémát
so far eddig
state of mind lelki állapot
take it easy nem veszi a szívére
take to drugs / alcohol rászokik a drogra / alkoholra
the nature of the crisis a válság természete
to make matters worse tovább rontva a dolgot
treat sy gyógyít (kezel)
turn in on oneself magába fordul
ups and downs jó és rossz időszakok
useless fölösleges
vulnerable sérülékeny
wound seb
you had better not ask. jobb, ha nem kérdezi.

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Letter Writing

Agony Column

Dear Doctor Help,

I have been a regular reader of your column, but it has never occurred to me that I will
ever need your advice.
I am deeply worried about my family, my husband and my teenage son in particular. My
daughter does not seem to care about our troubles, but she has always been easy-going.
To cut a long story short, it all started when my husband lost his job a year ago. He’s
been on the dole and seeking a new job. He goes to the Labour Exchange every week, but
nothing has turned up so far.
He used to be a teetotaller, but has taken to alcohol lately, which worries me most. You
know, how is it with the unemployed. At first they are optimistic about their prospects then
they begin feel useless and get depressed. Much as I try, I cannot assure him of my
concern and love, he looks as if he has given up. He is not an alcoholic yet, but I fear he
will be one if it continues like that. Whenever I make the slightest comment on his drinking
too much, he gets furious and starts using bad language, which he never did before. He
seems to become irritated at everything at home.
As for my teenage son, he has been suffering from the tense atmosphere in the family. I
know he is ashamed of his father, and since my husband lost his job none of his friends
have come along, presumably because my son does not invite them. When he arrives from
school, he just shuts his door and never comes out until supper. We used to have jolly
good talks in the past! But these days supper means a real trial for me. My husband tends
to provoke our son with embarrassing questions about school, and tells him off whenever
he is unwilling to answer. Yesterday they had a terrible row, and haven’t spoken to each
other ever since. My son’s achievement at school is getting worse and worse, though he is
a highly intelligent and smart boy.
I am at a loss what to do. Would you be so kind as to give me some sound advice that
could help me through these hard times?

Yours sincerely,
Anne Desperate

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Dear Anne,

I was sad to read your complaints and I really sympathise with you and feel sorry for your
son. As you are a regular reader of this column, you might have realised that your case,
unfortunately, is not a rare one.
In your letter you do not mention your husband’s former job or qualification. It seems a
bit strange that during a year he did not manage to find a new job. Do not you think that it
is because he insists on a similar place he had before? If I were you I would persuade him
to accept any job that is offered. Anyway, it is better to have one that does not suit him for
the time being than none at all. He might get a suitable occupation later. The sooner he
gets back to work the better. This is the only solution to your troubles. Have you tried a
heart-to-heart with him, yet? What about going for an outing together and settle your
misunderstandings in a relaxed atmosphere? You should have a try.
As to your son, I am sure he would recover from his present depression if he learnt that
his parents behaved like before. Your husband might treat him harshly because of the
natural complexes typical of unemployed people.
Do not lose heart and try to restore your ‘jolly good’ atmosphere. But you must not make
comments on your husband’s drinking. It would spoil everything. He will drop alcohol as
soon as he feels active again.
Best wishes,
Doctor Help
Words and Phrases

accept elfogad
He would accept any job. bármilyen állást elfogadna.
active aktív
anyway végül is
as soon as amint
I’ll ring you as soon as i arrive home. Felhívlak, amint hazaértem.
ashamed of szégyell valamit

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He is ashamed of his father. Szégyenli az apját.

assure biztosít valakit valamiről
This is the truth, I can assure you. Biztosíthatlak, hogy ez az igazság.
bad language csúnya beszéd
become irritated at sg ingerült lesz valamitől
He becomes irritated at everything. mindentől ingerült lesz.
behave like before úgy viselkedik, mint azelőtt
come along meglátogat
complaint, complain about panasz, panaszkodik valamiért
comment on sg megjegyzés
He made sarcastic comments on his Gúnyos megjegyzéseket tett a szomszédra.
neighbour.
concern együttérzés
doesn’t seem to care úgy tűnik, nem érdekli
dole, he is on the dole munkanélküli segély / en van
drop alcohol abbahagyni az ivást
easy-going könnyed
embarrassing kínos
fear fél, félelem
feel sorry for sajnál valakit
for the time being egyelőre, most
former előbbi
furious dühös
I am at a loss what to do tanácstalan vagyok.
if it continues like that ha így folytatódik
in particular, especially különösen
insist on ragaszkodik valamihez
invite, invitation meghív / ás
it all started when… mindez akkor kezdődött…
jolly good csoda jó
labour exchange munkaügyi központ
learn megtudja
mention említ

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much as i try bárhogyan is próbálom

none at all egyáltalán semmi
none of his friends egyik barátja sem
occur előfordul, eszébe jut
optimistic optimista
outing egynapos kirándulás
persuade rábeszél
presumably feltehetőleg
qualification végzettség
rare ritka
recover from felgyógyul betegségből
regular rendszeres
restore felújít, visszaállít
settle the misunderstandings eloszlatni a félreértéseket
similar (to) hasonló valamihez
slight, slightest kicsi, enyhe, a leghalványabb, legkisebb
smart 1. elegáns 2. okos
solution to the problem a probléma megoldása
sound advice jó tanács
suffer from szenved valamitől
suit sy megfelel valakinek
sympathise with együttérez valakivel
teenage son kamasz fia
teetotaller absztinens, bornemissza ember
tense atmosphere feszült légkör
the sooner the better minél hamarabb, annál jobb
through hard times nehéz időkben
to cut a long story short hogy rövidre fogjam
treat sy harshly durván bánik valakivel
turn up 1. megjelenik 2. felmerül
Would you be so kind as to close the Becsukná kérem, az ajtót?
door?
you might have realised talán észrevette

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6. Education

‘It is adding insult to injury as the parrot said, when they not only took him from his
native land, but also made him speak the English language afterwards’
(Dickens: The Pickwick Papers)
A: What kind of school do you attend?
B: I go to a four-grade grammar school / high school. I specialise in English, which means
I have two extra classes a week. I also take extra classes in History to acquire the
necessary knowledge for the matura exams.
A: Do your teachers set high standards at school?
B: The majority of teachers are highly qualified and rather strict but fair. At school we
have quite demanding lessons, which is useful, however, I have hardly any free time. It
takes long hours to prepare for the next day.
A: How many lessons do you have a day?
B: I have 6 lessons on average.
A: Have you got a favourite teacher?
B: I cannot name just one. I have several good teachers.
A: What makes a good teacher?
B: A good teacher is tolerant but is able to keep order in the class. In addition to this, he or
she is highly qualified and gives interesting lessons. A teacher must be just, at least as fair
as possible. It is also good if a teacher has a sense of humour.
A: What subjects do you prefer?
B: I take delight in learning languages, but I am not really keen on science. Although I’m
not very good in Physics, I try to do my best. Writing essays is something that I hate most,
unless the topic is exciting. It is a pity, we only have three PE lessons a week. If I had my
way, I would make it 4 or 5. At school I like doing creative things, but I hate memorising
data or definitions. I don’t mind learning poems as long as they are interesting. All in all, I
am quite satisfied with the school.
A: What is your classmates’ attitude to learning like?
B: Well, they are doing quite well; most of them are hardworking but some of my them
don’t like learning and lag behind. I like catching up with the best students.
A: Do you ever cheat at school?
B: I never cheat during a test; I’d rather fail it. Using cribs means deceiving yourself. To
tell you the truth, it happened once, but I’m not that type.

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A: What about school life? Do you like the atmosphere?

B: I do. There is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere at our school. There are rather strict
rules, e.g. students are not allowed to smoke in the school. Those who break the rules are
punished in different ways, e.g. with a note. If you skip lessons, you can be expelled from
the school. If you are absent you have to hand in a note from your parent or a doctor’s
certificate.The first lesson starts as early as half past seven in the morning. I really envy
English students who start at 9 in the morning.
A: Have you ever been late for school?
B: I don’t like being late for the lessons − it is so embarrassing. Sometimes I am late for
the lessons because of the heavy traffic.I know this is not an excuse, but I cannot help it.
A : What subjects did you chose to take at the Matura exams?
B: I took Maths, Literature at O level, History and English at A level.
A: Did you find the written exams difficult or easy?
B: Well, it depends. Maths was rather easy, but I found the essay part of Literature quite
hard.
A: What about your A levels?
B: I could have achieved more, because the exams were fair, but I wasn’t at my best. I
was quite nervous before the exam. It is really difficult to overcome stage fright.
A: Which part of English did you have difficulties in?
B: One of the reading comprehension tasks was difficult, I don’t think I was able to figure
it out. Listening was awful; there were some sentences I simply couldn’t catch.
A: Where do you intend to continue your studies?
B: I applied for admission to the university. I’d like to study History. I also applied to the
Tech. If I am not admitted to university, I will do a 2-year training course of accounting.
A: Are you supposed to pay tuition fee there?
B: Sure. And rather a big sum at that. If I am admitted to university I’ll have to ask for a
loan to be able to finance my studies.
A: And here are some more useful expressions.
1. There were times when physical punishment was a natural part of education;
nowadays it is out of question.
2. I graduated from ELTE University and have my BA degree. (Bachelor of Art)
3. After graduation he went on to get his PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy)
4. What does MA stand for? (Master of Art)
5. In order to get your degree you have to pass two language exams at intermediate level.

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6. Since our country joined the EU we have been entitled to study abroad.
7. It would be nice to get a scholarship somewhere in the EU
8. At universities students have to pay tuition-fee, a considerable sum.
9. My parents cannot afford to pay for my studies, so I’ll try to get a part-time job.
10. He is a patient teacher and never loses his temper.
11. It is often said that my generation read much less than the elder ones.
12. Unfortunately lots of students hate home reading / compulsory literature, but I am an
exception.
13. I take delight in reading fiction, poetry and plays.
14. In learning it is essential that you should enjoy it, otherwise its just drudgery

Words and Phrases

accounting könyvelés
acquire elsajátít
admit felvesz
I’ve been admitted to the university. Felvettek az egyetemre.
You are not allowed to smoke here. Itt nem szabad dohányozni.
apply for admission to university felvételizni az egyetemre
Are you supposed to pay tuition fee? Kell tandíjat fizetned?
You can take the car as long as you return it. Elviheted az autót, feltéve, hogy
visszahozod.
ask for a loan hitelt felvesz
at that ráadásul
attend látogat intézményt
awful szörnyű
BA(bachelor of art) bölcsész (3 éves képzés)
break the rules megszegi a szabályokat
calm down megnyugszik
cannot catch nem ért
Sorry, I couldn’t catch what you said. Bocsánat, nem értettem amit mondott.
catch up with sy lépést tart valakivel
cheat csal

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classmate osztálytárs
compulsory literature kötelező olvasmány
considerable sum jelentős összeg
continue folytat
creative kreatív
crib puska
data adatok
deceive becsap
definition definíció, meghatározás
degree, diploma diploma
demanding lesson nehéz óra
doctor’s certificate orvosi igazolás
drudgery „rabszolgamunka” , nyűg
engineer mérnök
entitle sy to do sg feljogosít valamire
We are entitled to vote. Jogunk van szavazni.
excuse kifogás
That’s not an excuse. Ez nem kifogás.
expel from kizár valahonnan
He was expelled from the school. Kicsapták az iskolából.
extra class, take extra classes plusz óra, több órát felvenni
figure out megért, kihámoz
finance fizet, finanszíroz
four-grade grammar school négy osztályos gimnázium
graduate from diplomázik valahol
He graduated from Cambridge University. Cambridge-ben diplomázott.
hardly any alig valaki, szinte senki
He is doing well at school. Jól tanul az iskolában.
high standard, set high standards magas színvonal, magasra teszi a mércét
highly qualified magasan képzett
home reading házi olvasmány
I cannot help it nem tehetek róla.
they couldn’t help laughing. Kénytelenek voltak nevetni.

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I could have achieved more Többet is elérhettem volna.

I don’t mind learning Nincs ellenemre a tanulás.
I should have achieved more. Többet kellett volna elérnem.
I wasn’t at my best. Nem voltam jó formában.
I’d rather fail it. inkább megbukom / egyest kapok
I’m not that type Nem vagyok az a típus
if I had my way ha rajtam múlna, ha tehetném
in order to azért, hogy
I was sent to help you. azért küldtek, hogy segítsek.
injury sérülés
intend, intention szándékozik, szándék
invest befektet
it depends attól függ
it is a pity kár, hogy
It is essential that you should enjoy learning. Fontos, hogy örömmel tanulj.
it is often said gyakran mondják
join the EU csatlakozik az eu-hoz
keen on sg érdeklődik valami iránt
lag behind lemarad
language exam at intermediate level középfokú nyelvvizsga
listening comprehension hallás utáni értés
ma (master of art) magiszter
memorise bemagol
much less than sokkal kevesebb, mint
native land szülőföld
necessary szükséges
nervous ideges
note, a note from the parents jegyzet, figyelmeztetés, szülői igazolás
otherwise különben, másképp
You should work harder otherwise you’ll fail. Többet kellene tanulnod, különben
megbuksz.
out of question szóba sem jöhet
part-time job részmunkaidős állás

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pedagogy pedagógia
phd (doctor of philosophy) bölcsészdoktor
physical punishment testi fenyítés
qualify minősít
reading comprehension szövegértés
satisfied with elégedett valamivel
scholarship ösztöndíj
skip kihagy
skip lessons unjustified igazolatlanul hiányzik
that I hate most amit nagyon utálok
specialise in valamire specializálódik / tagozatos
stage fright lámpaláz
starts as early as már olyan korán kezdődik
strict rules szigorú szabályok
take delight in sg / doing sg örömét leli valamiben
take english at A level angolból emelt szinten vizsgázik
take maths at O level matekból középszinten vizsgázik
tech(nological universitate) műszaki egyetem
two-year training course kétéves tanfolyam
topic téma
What does MA stand for? mit jelent az “ma”?
writing skills íráskészség
written exam, oral exam írásbeli vizsga, szóbeli

Zsibbasztó

Milyen iskolába jár? .....................................................................................................................

Négy osztályos gimnáziumba járok .............................................................................................
Angol tagozatos vagyok ...............................................................................................................
Hetente két plusz órám van ..........................................................................................................
Plusz órám van történelemből is ..................................................................................................
Megszerezni a szükséges tudást az érettségire .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A tanárok magasra teszik a mércét ...............................................................................................

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A tanárok magasan képzettek ...................................................................................................... .

Nehéz óráink vannak ....................................................................................................................
Alig van szabad időm ...................................................................................................................
Órákba telik felkészülni másnapra ...............................................................................................
Hány órája van egy nap? ..............................................................................................................
Átlagosan hat órám van ................................................................................................................
Van kedvenc tanára? ....................................................................................................................
Nehéz választani. ..........................................................................................................................
Milyen a jó tanár? .........................................................................................................................
A jó tanár toleráns ........................................................................................................................
A jó tanár rendet tud tartani..........................................................................................................
Érdekes órákat tart ........................................................................................................................
A jó tanár igazságos .....................................................................................................................
Mely tárgyakat kedveli? ...............................................................................................................
Szeretek nyelveket tanulni ...........................................................................................................
Nem lelkesedem a reál tárgyakért ................................................................................................
Nem vagyok jó fizikából ..............................................................................................................
Igyekszem megtenni, ami tőlem telik ..........................................................................................
Az esszéírást utálom .....................................................................................................................
Hacsak nem érdekes a téma .........................................................................................................
Kár, hogy csak három testnevelés óránk van ...............................................................................
Ha rajtam múlna ...........................................................................................................................
Az iskolában a kreatív dolgokat szeretem ....................................................................................
Utálok adatokat magolni ..............................................................................................................
Szívesen tanulok verseket ............................................................................................................
Elégedett vagyok az iskolával ......................................................................................................
Hogyan tanulnak az osztálytársai? ...............................................................................................
Elég jól tanulnak...........................................................................................................................
A többségük szorgalmas...............................................................................................................
Néhányan nem szeretnek tanulni..................................................................................................
Lemaradnak (hátul kullognak) .....................................................................................................
Szeretek lépést tartani a legjobbakkal ..........................................................................................
Szokott puskázni? .........................................................................................................................
Egyszer előfordult, de nem vagyok az a típus ..............................................................................

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......................................................................................................................................................
Milyen a légkör az iskolában? ......................................................................................................
A légkör barátságos és kellemes ..................................................................................................
Elég szigorúak a szabályok ..........................................................................................................
A diákok nem dohányozhatnak ....................................................................................................
Aki megszegi a házirendet, megbüntetik .....................................................................................
Ha lóg valaki az óráról, kizárhatják .............................................................................................
Ha hiányzik az ember, igazolást kell adnia ..................................................................................
Igazán irigylem az angol diákokat ...............................................................................................
Késett már az iskolából? ..............................................................................................................
Nem szeretek késni, ez olyan kínos .............................................................................................
Tudom, ez nem kifogás ................................................................................................................
Nem tehetek róla ..........................................................................................................................
Miből érettségizik? .......................................................................................................................
Nehéz volt az írásbeli? .................................................................................................................
Az irodalom esszé része elég nehéz volt ......................................................................................
Jobban is teljesíthettem volna ......................................................................................................
A vizsga korrekt volt ....................................................................................................................
Nem voltam a legjobb formámban ...............................................................................................
Vizsga előtt elég ideges voltam ....................................................................................................
Nehéz legyőzni a lámpalázat ........................................................................................................
Mit talált nehéznek? .....................................................................................................................
A szövegértés nehéz volt ..............................................................................................................
Nem tudtam kibogarászni.............................................................................................................
Voltak mondatok, amiket nem hallottam jól ................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Hol kíván tovább tanulni? ............................................................................................................
jelentkeztem az egyetemre ...........................................................................................................
Történelmet szeretnék tanulni ......................................................................................................
A Műszaki Egyetemre is jelentkeztem .........................................................................................
Ha nem vesznek fel az egyetemre ................................................................................................
Két eves könyvelői tanfolyamra fogok járni ................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Kell tandíjat fizetni? .....................................................................................................................

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Ha felvesznek az egyetemre hitelt veszek fel ...............................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Finanszírozni a tanulmányokat.....................................................................................................
Testi fenyítés ................................................................................................................................
Szóba sem jöhet ............................................................................................................................
Az ELTÉ-n végeztem ...................................................................................................................
Diploma után PhD-zett .................................................................................................................
Mit jelent az MA? ........................................................................................................................
Középfokú nyelvvizsga ................................................................................................................
Amióta csatlakoztunk az EU-hoz .................................................................................................
Jogunk van külföldön tanulni .......................................................................................................
Jó lenne külföldi ösztöndíjat kapni...............................................................................................
A szüleim nem tudják fizetni a tanulmányaimat ..........................................................................
Próbálok részállást keresni ...........................................................................................................
Türelmes tanár ..............................................................................................................................
Soha nem veszíti el a türelmét......................................................................................................
Gyakran mondják .........................................................................................................................
A fiatalok sokkal kevesebbet olvasnak ........................................................................................
Utálja a kötelező olvasmányokat..................................................................................................
Kivétel vagyok .............................................................................................................................
Szeretek szépirodalmat olvasni ....................................................................................................

Story Writing

Child Psychology

When I was in my third year at University, back in the Middle Ages, I had to pass an exam in
child psychology, which was a rather sophisticated one. After passing with good results, I
made my way home.
It was early summer with an unbelievably blue sky above me, and incredibly nice people
passing by. To cut a long story short, I was in a cheerful state of mind.
When I was walking down our street I passed the playground where children aged 4-5 years
were playing Indians. Their colourful feathers sparkled in the sun, their little faces were
painted blue and red − they really looked frightening.

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Within a few seconds, I heard them screaming, ‘Scalp her!’ Scalp her!’ I pretended not to
hear them and rode off at a good gallop with the bloodthirsty tribe behind me.
When they were in shooting distance, I turned round in the saddle and raising my hand as a
gun, pointed it at the Chief and fired: ‘Bang! Bang!’
The Chief startled back and stopped. He pushed his brilliant feathers back on his forehead
and turned to his redskin brother: ‘Isn’t she stupid?!’

That’s how I became a teacher.

A Descriptive Essay

The Portrait of a ‘Difficult’ Student

If you happen to be a teacher at a secondary school, you are supposed to be the leader of
children at the most awkward age from childhood through adolescence to the threshold of
adulthood.
I had a school-leaving class with 40 students 10 years ago. They had been ‘handed over’ to
me when they had been only 14 and in less than two months I was to part with them and I
could hardly believe that they had grown to be adults like me. I could not help considering
them ‘my children’ regardless of the evident changes in their appearance and behaviour.
Yes, they do remain my children. Each of them is a whole and unique world and you cannot
approach them in the same manner. Sometimes it requires all your empathy to find the key to
their personalities.
‘M’ was one of the most difficult cases, although he seemed to be an easy one at first. I
remember the opening class when I called their names to check the list. He was sitting in the
first row and after a few minutes I became aware of his embarrassed childish eyes. ‘What is
the matter, my boy?’ ‘Miss…you have omitted my name.’
Thus happened that his name was the first to be remembered and to be repeated most
frequently afterwards.
He looked like an angel at that time, he would smile all the time, his eyes would sparkle with
excitement. He was hardworking, full of energy, talented and witty, aspiring to play the main
role not only in the lessons, but also in the life of the class. Sometimes it became dangerous,
even caused some frictions as there were others wishing to dominate like him and claiming

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attention too. He was undoubtedly one of the brightest students and all we teachers foresaw
his future advancement. (We were not mistaken; he has become a dedicated doctor.)
The second year in the life of a class, when they are 15-16, is always crucial because of the
well-known agitation of adolescence. In this period some of them have a tendency to argue, to
revolt, and as a rule, to annoy their parents or teachers who, on the contrary, try so hard to
‘tame’ the wild little creatures’.
We went through stormy times with ‘M’ in the second and third year. Being the brightest and
the most difficult one at the same time, and seeking conflicts whatever the reason be, for the
sake of training his own strength, he caused a great deal of trouble these two years.
Not that he was bad or offending, apart from some mischievous tricks he never did anything
serious or wrong. He simply could not stop wiggling and sit still, could not resist the
temptation of teasing others, arguing ‘l’art pour l’art, claiming the punch line all the time − in
a word, forcing the world around him to concentrate on him. Meanwhile he wasted most of
his energy, and became less diligent, looking for the easiest ways to survive at school.
Hardly anyone knew what pains he was concealing from the world while he was rebelling
against it. His mother had been dying of cancer and no treatment could help her. ‘M’ asked
me not to tell it anyone and I kept my promise respecting his wish not to be pitied. It was a
terrible paradox; on the one hand he was deeply self-controlled, on the other hand, there was a
complete lack of self-command in class leading sometimes to impudence. I myself had
conflicts with him on several occasions, when he forgot himself, and it was most difficult to
be severe and not to show sympathy.
In the last year he calmed down, no signs of previous harshness or rebellious gestures could
be found in him. He had never had such good marks, never had written such brilliant essays
before. I became suspicious about his unusual stoical mood but asked no questions knowing
his reserve.
His grandmother called me one afternoon and told me what had happened, asking not to tell
anybody.
His mother had died three weeks before and I was under the pledge not to speak about it.
If you happen to be a teacher you are bound to take an adventurous journey every day. You
make a journey full of beauty and dangers through the labyrinth of sophisticated human soul
and nature, and you must watch your step never forgetting the children following you through
the darkness groping for the light.

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Words and Phrases

adulthood felnőtt kor

afterwards azután
agitation izgatottság, zavartság
annoy, annoyance bosszant, bosszúság
approach közelít
as a rule következésképp
aspire aspirál, szándékozik, pályázik valamire
awkward kínos
behaviour, self-conduct magatartás
bound kell
bright student, smart student okos tanuló
call their names nevükön szólít
claim, claim attention igényel, állít, figyelmet igényel
conceal eltakar, rejteget
concentrate on sg koncentrál valamire
creature teremtmény (ált.: gyerekek, állatok)
crucial jelentős, nagyon fontos
dedicated doctor elhivatott orvos
diligent szorgalmas
dominate uralkodik (a környezetén)
embarrassed zavart, zavarban lévő
empathy empátia, beleérző képesség
excitement izgalom
for the sake of training his strength az erejét kipróbálandó
force sy to do sg kényszerít valamire
forget oneself elfeledkezik magáról
frequent, frequently gyakori, gyakran
friction súrlódás, konfliktus
go through sg keresztül megy valamin
great deal of trouble sok gond
grope for keres, tapogatózva megy

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hand over átadni

hardly anybody knew szinte senki sem tudta
his wish not to be pitied vágyát, hogy ne sajnálkozzanak rajta
I could hardly believe alig tudtam elhinni
I couldn’t help crying. sírnom kellett
I was to part with them el kellet válnom tőlük
if you happen to be a teacher… ha ön történetesen tanár
I happened to meet them yesterday. Tegnap véletlenül találkoztam velük.
impudence szemtelenség
in less than two months kevesebb, mint két hónap (múlva)
keep one’s promise megtartani az ígéretét
lack of sg valaminek a hiánya
main role főszerep
manner mód, stílus
in the same manner ugyanúgy
mischievous tricks csibészség
No signs of harshness could be found. A nyersességnek nyoma sem volt
occasion, on several occasions alkalom, számos alkalommal
offending sértő
omit kihagy
on the contrary ellenkezőleg
pain fájdalom
paradox paradoxon, képtelen ellentét
pity szán valakit
Everybody pitied the victims. Mindenki szánta az áldozatokat.
pledge, I was under the pledge ígéret, eskü; az adott szó kötött
previous előző
punch line poén
rebel against lázadozik valami ellen
rebellious gestures lázadó gesztusok
regardless of tekintet nélkül valamire
require igényel
reserve visszafogottság

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resist the temptation ellenállni a kísértésnek

Respect tisztel, tisztelet
revolt lázadozik
row sor
school-leaving class végzős osztály
self-command önuralom
severe komoly
sign jel
sit still nyugton ülni
soul lélek
stoic mood sztoikus hangulat, beletörődő, nyugodt
survive, survive at school túlél, kevés tanulással megélni
suspicious about sg gyanakszik valamire
He is suspicious of his neighbour. Gyanakszik a szomszédjára.
tame megszelídít
tease sy, pulling one’s leg piszkálni valakit, tréfálni
the easiest ways a legkönnyebb mód
the first to be remembered az első megjegyzendő
Columbus was the first to reach America. Elsőként Kolumbusz ért Amerikába.
threshold küszöb
thus happened, that… így történt, hogy
undoubtedly kétségtelenül
unique páratlan
unusual szokatlan
waste (v) elveszteget
watch your step nézzen a lába elé, vigyázzon
whatever the reason be bármi legyen is az ok
wiggle, he cannot stop wiggling nyüzsög, izeg-mozog
witty elmés

The Portrait of a ‘Difficult’ Teacher

‘I wonder if the history of the Roman Empire survives the next election’ was the languid
comment made by a colleague of mine, when he had run through the latest ‘unbiased’ history

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book for secondary schools. ‘And, he went on grumbling, how on earth, they think, I can
recapture Buda in 45 minutes after 150 years of Turkish rule?’
I enjoy the dialogues between our History teachers immensely. Here are two of my favourites
that I heard:
‘Have you come down from the tree?’
‘No, we haven’t. ‘Z’ (a dull student) prevented us from landing in civilisation.’

‘Have you quelled the peasants’ revolt?’

‘Oh, I didn’t have to resort to force, I silenced them with some questions to the point, and
they put down their weapons.’

As a student, I had an old History teacher who was famous for his ‘cruelty’. He would never
explain new lessons, he would make us read out the book and learn it by heart, throwing
several devastating comments on every mistake we had made, whether it be omitting a word
or bad intonation, not to mention our ‘negligent behaviour’ in general. Never had we been so
awe-stricken in any other lessons. Well before the bell we would sit silently in our classroom,
then stood up the moment he turned the corridor invariably 5 seconds to the beginning of the
class. He never was late or absent − he was always sure to come like a frightening harbinger
of Doomsday.
One might assume from what I have written that we hated him. We did − for 2 or 3 weeks,
then our hatred began to turn into a kind of ‘Let’s do him justice, he is strict but fair’
philosophy, which soon developed respect for him. As time passed, we ended up in
worshipping him, because he was like Providence itself. I myself never trusted any of my
teachers so much as I believed him, though I have to admit, I always was lucky, I usually had
wonderful teachers.
Not only did we learn History in his lessons but also something more important: to be
‘strong’, I use this word for want of a better one. He would never make or let us peach on
anybody, one had to take responsibility, he would stop any attempt to make an elusive
answer, and, what made him most furious was ‘verbose nonsense’ as he would put it. I think
‘dignity’ is the best word for what he had taught us.
Whenever I am late for my lesson, whenever I am casually dressed at school, I feel guilty.
Whenever I speak more than is needed, I cannot help remembering his principle: ‘If you use
more words than needed you are capable of anything.’ Which was intended to be a joke, but
proved to be true, as I grew older.

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Unfortunately he taught us only in the first year.

I saw him a month ago from the bus. He must be over 80 now. He was walking with his
stately steps, neat and clean-shaved as he had always been, erect and dignified – an
uncorrupted hero of our changing history. God bless him.

Words and Phrases

as he would put it ahogy mondani szokta

as time passed idővel
attempt kísérlet
awe-stricken rettegő („félelem sújtotta”)
capable of anything bármire képes
casually dressed lezseren öltözött
clean-shaved frissen borotválkozott
cruelty kegyetlenség
devastating megsemmisítő
dignified méltóságteli
dignity méltóság
Doomsday végítélet
dull student gyenge tanuló
election választás
elusive answer kitérő válasz
end up in valahová kilyukad, végzi valamivel
erect egyenes (tartású)
furious dühös
grumble morog
harbinger hírnök
hatred gyűlölet
how on earth … hogy a fenében…
I cannot help remembering him. Óhatatlanul rá emlékezem.
I use this word for want of a better one. Jobb híján használom ezt a szót.
immense, immensely nagy, nagyon
intonation hanglejtés

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nnvariably változatlanul (mindig ugyanúgy)

land földre száll, landol
languid comment beletörődő, bágyadt
learn by heart kívülről megtanul
let’s do him justice legyünk igazságosak (vele)
neat ápolt
negligent behaviour hanyag magatartás
Never had we been so frightened. Soha nem voltunk olyan rémültek
one might assume az ember azt feltételezné
peach on sy árulkodni valakire
peasants’ revolt parasztlázadás
principle elv
prove to be true igaznak bizonyul
providence gondviselés
quell elfojt (lázadást)
question to the point „találó” kérdés, „jól irányzott kérdés”
read out a text felolvassa a szöveget
recapture, capture visszafoglal, elfoglal
resort to force erőszakhoz folyamodik
silence csend, lecsendesít
stately steps méltóságteli léptek
take responsibility vállalja a felelősséget
unbiased elfogulatlan
unconscious / ly öntudatlanul
uncorrupted romlatlan, tiszta
verbose nonsense szószátyár zagyvaság
weapon fegyver
well before jóval valami előtt
whether it be legyen az bár…
worship imád (vallásos áhítattal)

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An Essay

Can you spell your name?

Do you find this an insulting question? Then you belong to the happy literate who are not
shocked when it comes to filling in an application form or reading the leading article of a
newspaper, not to mention instructions to a gadget. You may find these tasks self-evident
ones, and probably assume that we have done away with illiteracy for ever, at least in the
civilised world. Now, you have got it wrong.
Comparing the gloomy statistics of the developed countries in Europe and overseas, one can
only wonder. One in five adults on average lacks the literacy skills that are needed to be a
competent citizen. According to an American survey, at the beginning of the 21st century, an
estimated 15 million adults were functionally illiterate, which means they were able to write
and read in their native language, but did not understand printed materials, and had serious
difficulties in communication.
How could it happen to our societies? What has gone wrong? The question comes up, whether
our much praised educational system fails to enable students to acquire the basic skills?
Children are assessed several times during their studies, reading comprehension has become a
crucial part of exams. Nevertheless, teachers have been complaining about the inability of
their students to understand basic literary texts or catching the main points of a history lesson.
There has never been such a great variety of teaching materials and study books; vast amounts
of money are spent on psychological and methodological research – to no end, one might
arrive to the conclusion.
Those who are concerned about teaching, interpret the inefficiency of schooling in various
ways. Some put the blame on the mostly liberal education, arguing that teachers do not make
their students work hard. Or do not dare? Others trace the failure back to parental fault,
claiming that adults do not pay enough attention to their children’s development. They are too
permissive and do not supervise their studies.
It has become a stereotype that children spend much time watching TV or surfing the Net
instead of reading books; that is why they remain functionally illiterate. Whatever the reason
be, we must not turn a blind eye on the phenomenon.
(359 words)

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Words and Phrases

acquire elsajátít, megszerez

an estimated 15 million adults 15 millióra becsült
arrive at a conclusion következtetésre jut
assess, assessment felmér, felmérés
assume, assumption feltételez, feltételezés
at least legalábbis
basic skills alapképességek
citizen állampolgár
compare to, comparison összehasonlít, összehasonlítás
competent kompetens, hozzáértő
concerned about aggódik valami miatt
dare merészel
do away with sg leszámol valamivel, megszabadul valamitől
educational system oktatási rendszer
efficient, efficiency hozzáértő, hatékony, hozzáértés
enable képessé tesz
estimate felbecsül
fault hiba
functionally illiterate funkcionális analfabétizmus
gadget szerkentyű
have sg wrong nem ért valamit
illiteracy, illiterate analfabétizmus, analfabéta
inability képtelenség valamire, a képesség hiánya
inefficient, inefficiency nem hatékony, nem megfelelő
instruction to (használati) utasítás
insult, insulting sért, sértés, sértő
interpret tolmácsol, magyaráz
lack sg hiányzik valamije, nincs birtokában
literacy skills írás-olvasás készség
literate írástudó
methodology, methodological módszertan, módszertani

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much praised sokat dicsért

nevertheless azonban
on average átlagosan
one can only wonder csak csodálkozunk
overseas tengeren túl(i)
parental szülői
put the blame on hibáztat valakit
reading comprehension szövegértés
research kutatás
schooling oktatás
self-evident magától értetődő
study books tankönyv
teaching material tananyag, oktató anyag
to no end eredménytelenül
trace back to visszavezet valamire
turn a blind eye on úgy tesz, mintha nem látná

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7. Environmental Problems

‘Science is an edged tool, with which men play like children, and cut their own fingers.’
(Sir Arthur Eddington)

A : What environmental problems does our world face?

B : One of the crucial questions of our time is the pollution of the environment.It has
been proved that exhaust fumes are responsible for global warming. If we go on like
this, we might totally destroy our natural environment.
A : What should we do to reduce pollution?
B : Governments should take immediate measures to decrease air pollution. We
should ban cars from the city centres and improve public transport instead. Factories
should install filters not to emit chemicals. Because of air pollution some areas suffer
from acid rain.
A : More and more people are becoming environmentally conscious.
B : Yes, most people are aware of the dangers of pollution but do nothing to prevent it.
A : Oil and gas supplies are diminishing, so we have to find new energy
resources.
B : You are absolutely right, sooner or later we should replace fuels with renewable
energy resources such as solar power or geothermal energy. Another means is
producing organic energy from corn and other crops.
A : Are you for or against nuclear energy?
B : Some scientists argue that nuclear power stations are the solution to the energy
question, but I disagree. Nuclear waste is a huge problem. Since the explosion in
Tsernobil the majority of people have been against nuclear power stations. It caused a
massive destruction. A lot of people died or became fatally ill in the area. It has been
proved that thousands of citizens developed cancer. The number of miscarriages and
stillborn children has increased.
A : What other environmental problems could you mention?
B : Apart from pollution, there is the issue of endangered species. A lot of species lose
their habitat due to human intrusion into nature. Endangered species face extinction in
the near future. The destruction of the rainforests can be disastrous later on as trees
produce oxygen. Pollution of the environment brings about changes in the climate.

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Apparently, the average temperature of the Earth has been rising. There have been
natural disasters all over the world in the past few years. New Orleans was hit by a
tremendous hurricane that caused massive destruction in the area. In recent years,
there have been several floods in Europe. Thousands of people were forced to leave
their homes. Our rivers and seas are contaminated with industrial and domestic waste.
Big cities are threatened by an increasing amount of litter.
A : Any ideas to solve these problems?
B : One solution to the litter issue is selective garbage collection, which is introduced
in many countries. Recycling is a good means to decrease the huge amount of rubbish.
We should act now before it is too late. The point is that we should teach children how
to protect the environment.
A : What can you do at home to protect the environment?
B : Well, the first and the most important thing is to use environmentally friendly
wrappings instead of plastic bags and cans. The point is that we should use such
washing powders, liquids and detergents that don’t contaminate the soil. A lot of
people do the washing up in running water, which is a sheer waste of clean water. It is
also advisable to buy organic products the waste from which doesn’t pollute the
environment. And of course, we have to apply garbage selection at home too, i.e.
separating plastic, glass and paper waste.

Words and Phrases

according to valami / valaki szerint

acid rain savas eső
advisable tanácsos, ajánlott
air pollution légszennyezés
amount mennyiség
apart from valamin túl, kívül
appreciate értékel
area terület, körzet
argue, some argue that… vitatkozik, néhányan azzal érvelnek, hogy
as early as már (olyan korán)

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aware of tudatában van valaminek

ban betilt
break with szakít valamivel
bring about changes változásokat hoz
can konzerves doboz
cause okoz
charity organisation jótékonysági szervezet
chemical vegyszer
clean-up project takarítási akció
climate éghajlat
consciously tudatosan
consumerism fogyasztói szemlélet
contaminate megfertőz, megmérgez
corn kukorica
crops termény
crucial question fontos kérdés
curb gátat vet valaminek
dam gát, töltés
damage kár
danger veszély
decrease csökkent (t)
deny tagad
destroy lerombol
destruction rombolás
detergent tisztítószer
develop cancer rákja alakul ki
diminish eltűnik
disaster katasztrófa
disastrous katasztrofális
due to valaminek köszönhetően
edge, edged tool éle valaminek, éles szerszám
emerge feltűni/emelkedik
emit kibocsát

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endangered species veszélyeztetett fajok

energy resource energiaforrás
environment, environmental környezet, környezeti
environmentally conscious környezettudatos
environmentally friendly környezetbarát
exhaust fumes kipufogó gázok
explosion robbanás
explosive robbanószer
expose to kitesz / kiszolgáltat valaminek
extinction kipusztulás, eltűnés
face szembesül valamivel
factory gyár
fatally ill súlyosan beteg (halálosan)
fertility termékenység
filter szűrő
flood árvíz
force, were forced to… kényszerít, kényszerültek valamire
fortify megerősít
fuel üzemanyag
genetic engineering géntechnológia
genetically engineered food génmanipulált étel
geothermal energy geotermális energia (pl. hévíz)
global warming globális felmelegedés
government kormányzat
habitat lakóhely (állatoké)
harm, to do harm kár, kart okoz
heavy rain nagy esőzés
hit by sújtott valami által
hold demonstrations (demo) tüntetést tart
immediate azonnali
improve javít, fejleszt
increase növekszik, növel
industrial ipari

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initiative, take the initiative kezdeményezés, átvenni a kezdeményezést

install beszerel
instead helyett(e)
introduce bevezet
intrusion into beavatkozás valamibe
issue dolog, ügy
keep to valamihez tartja magát
launch a campaign kampányt indít
liquid folyadék
litter szemét
local helyi, helybéli
majority többség
massive hatalmas
means, another means is… mód, másik módja
miscarriage elvetélés
natural environment természeti környezet
needs szükségletek
nuclear energy atomenergia
nuclear power station atomerőmű
nuclear waste nukleáris szemét
organic energy bioenergia
phenomenon jelenség
planet bolygó
plastic bag műanyag táska
pollution szennyezés
post-war háború utáni
prevent megelőz
produce termel
prohibit megtilt
protect megvéd
prove bizonyít
public transport tömegközlekedés
rainforest esőerdő

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reach beyond valamin túl nyúlik /terjed

recurring visszatérő
recycle, recycling újrafeldolgozás
reduce csökkent
renewable megújuló
replace helyettesít, lecserél
responsible for felelős valamiért
reusable újra felhasználható
rubbish szemét
satisfy kielégít
scatter around szétszór
science, scientist tudomány, tudós
selective garbage collection szelektív hulladékgyűjtés
separate szétválaszt
set up a project tervet kidolgoz/ felállít
sheer igazi
soil talaj
solar power napenergia
solution to the question a kérdés megoldása
solve the problem megoldani a problémát
sooner or later előbb vagy utóbb
stillborn child halva született gyermek
suffer from szenved valamitől
suggest javasol
supply készlet
sustainable development fenntartható fejlődés
take measure intézkedést hoz
The point is that we should act. A lényeg, hogy cselekedjünk.
theory elmélet
threaten fenyeget
totally teljesen
tremendous hatalmas
volunteer önkéntes

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washing powder mosópor

water supplies vízkészletek
wrapping csomagolóanyag

Zsibbasztó

Milyen környezeti problémákkal néz szembe világunk? ................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Korunk egyik fontos kérdése...........................................................................................................
A környezetszennyezés ...................................................................................................................
Bebizonyosodott, hogy ....................................................................................................................
A kipufogó gázok felelősek a globális felmelegedésért ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Ha így folytatjuk..............................................................................................................................
Lerombolhatjuk a természeti környezetet .......................................................................................
Mit kellene tennünk .........................................................................................................................
Csökkenteni a szennyezést ..............................................................................................................
Az autókat ki kellene tiltani a városközpontokból ..........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A tömegközlekedést kellene javítani...............................................................................................
A gyáraknak szűrőt kellene felszerelni ...........................................................................................
Hogy ne bocsássanak ki vegyszereket ............................................................................................
A légszennyezés miatt .....................................................................................................................
Néhány körzet a savas esőtől szenved.............................................................................................
Egyre több ember válik környezettudatossá ....................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A legtöbb ember tisztában van a veszélyekkel ................................................................................
De semmit sem tesz, hogy megakadályozza ...................................................................................
Az olaj és gázkészletek eltűnőben vannak ......................................................................................
Új energiaforrásokat kell találnunk .................................................................................................
Tökéletesen igaza van .....................................................................................................................
Előbb vagy utóbb ............................................................................................................................
A fűtőanyagokat megújuló energiára kellene cserélnünk ...............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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Úgymint napenergia és geothermális energia .................................................................................

Másik mód .......................................................................................................................................
Bioenergia termelése kukoricából ...................................................................................................
Ön helyesli vagy ellenzi az atomenergiát? ......................................................................................
Néhány tudós az állítja ....................................................................................................................
Az atomerőművek jelentik a megoldást az energia problémára .....................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nem értek egyet ..............................................................................................................................
A nukleáris szemét hatalmas probléma ...........................................................................................
A csernobili robbanás óta ................................................................................................................
Az emberek többsége .....................................................................................................................
Ellenzi az atomerőműveket .............................................................................................................
Hatalmas pusztítást okozott .............................................................................................................
Sok ember meghalt vagy súlyosan megbetegedett ..........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Polgárok ezrei lettek rákosak ..........................................................................................................
A vetélések száma nőtt ....................................................................................................................
Milyen más problémát tudna említeni? ...........................................................................................
A szennyezésen túl ..........................................................................................................................
Ott van a veszélyeztetett fajok kérdése ...........................................................................................
Sok faj elveszíti lakóhelyét .............................................................................................................
Az emberi beavatkozásnak köszönhetően .......................................................................................
A veszélyeztetett fajok a kihalással szembesülnek .........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A közel jövőben ..............................................................................................................................
Az esőerdők pusztítása ....................................................................................................................
Katasztrofális lehet ..........................................................................................................................
Mivel a fák oxigént termelnek ........................................................................................................
A környezetszennyezés változást hoz az éghajlatban .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A föld átlaghőmérséklete nyilvánvalóan emelkedik .......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az elmúlt pár évben természeti katasztrófák voltak .......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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New Orleanst egy hatalmas hurrikán pusztította.............................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Az elmúlt években ...........................................................................................................................
Számos árvíz volt Európában ..........................................................................................................
Emberek ezrei kényszerültek elhagyni az otthonaikat ....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A vizeinket szennyezi az ipari és a háztartási szemét .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A nagy városokat fenyegeti a növekvő szemét mennyisége ...........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Van-e ötlete, hogy hogyan oldjuk meg ezeket a problémákat? .......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A szemét kérdésének megoldása a szelektív szemétgyűjtés ...........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az újrafeldolgozás jó módja a szemét csökkentésének ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Most kell cselekednünk, amíg még nem késő. ................................................................................
A lényeg, hogy ................................................................................................................................
Meg kell tanítanunk a gyerekeket, hogyan védjék a környezetet ...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mit tud otthon tenni a környezetvédelemért? ..................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Környezetbarát csomagolóanyagokat használok ............................................................................
Műanyag táskák helyett ...................................................................................................................
Olyan mosóport használok, ami nem szennyezi a talajt..................................................................
Nem mosogatok folyóvízben ..........................................................................................................
Tiszta vízpazarlás ............................................................................................................................
Tanácsos biotermékeket venni ........................................................................................................
Különválasztom a műanyagot, az üveget és a papírt ......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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A Street Survey
I= interviewer
P= person in the street

I: Excuse me? We are doing a survey on how much people are aware of environmental
problems, and what they do to protect their surroundings or community. Could I ask some
question?
P: Certainly. What are you interested in?
I: Well, my first question is… what is your attitude to the environmental issues in general?
P. I suppose, this is the crucial question of our time. Whatever paper I read this question is
always dealt with, because some scientists and conservationists treat it as the most important
issue of our time. As far as I’m concerned, I’m mostly worried about global warming. There
are controversial views on it. I’m strongly convinced that the reason for it is the damage we
are doing to the air with all our cars, industrial and domestic waste and so on.
I: Some predict that in the near future we’ll have to pay for clean air as we do now in the case
of water. Don’t you find it a pessimistic opinion?
P: Well, I’m not sure…you know I’m not an expert but it might happen if we go on like this. I
mean using traditional energy sources such as gas and oil, which, as it is common knowledge,
are diminishing resources, so we have to apply new methods.
I: Have you got a car?
P: Yes, I have.
I: Do you use it every day?
P: No, I usually use it when it is absolutely necessary, e.g. visiting my relatives in the country,
or doing the shopping for the week. But I very seldom go to work by car, because it is more
convenient to use public transport, which is excellent in our town.
I: Are there any problems in your town with environmental protection?
P: Yes, there are some. For example a great per cent of the people in our community doesn’t
select their domestic waste just because it would take some time to use different bags and to
take them to selective containers. Outside the town there is an illegal rubbish dump, and the
council don’t seem to care much about it. Sometimes schools launch clean-up campaigns, but
this is not the solution to the problem.

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I: You seem to be an environmentally conscious person. What do you do at home to protect

the environment?
P: Well, I take the different types of domestic waste to the selective containers, but the baby’s
nappies cause a lot of problems, because there are no special places for them, so I must admit
I empty them with the other waste that accumulate a day. I also try to do the washing up with
as little running water as possible, but I sometimes forget about it. What’s more, we try to use
such washing powders and detergents that do not contaminate the soil much.
I: Thank you for you kind attention.
P: Thanks, it was my pleasure.

Words and Phrases

absolutely abszolút, teljesen

accumulate felhalmoz(ódik)
apply alkalmaz
as far as I am concerned ami engem érint
common knowledge köztudott
community közösség
conservationist környezetvédő
container tartály
controversial ellentmondásos
convenient kényelmes
convince meggyőz
council önkormányzat
deal with foglalkozik valamivel
empty kiürít
environmental protection környezetvédelem
expert szakember
general, in general általános, általában véve
illegal törvénytelen
method módszer
nappy pelenka

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per cent százalék

pessimistic pesszimista, borúlátó
predict jósol
rubbish dump szemétdomb
seldom ritkán
surrounding környezet
survey, to do a survey on felmérés, felmérést készít valamiről
treat sg as kezel valamiként
view nézet

Zsibbasztó

Felmérést készítünk ......................................................................................................................

Tisztában van a környezeti problémákkal? ..................................................................................
Védjük a környezetünket és közösségünket .................................................................................
Mi érdekli Önt? ............................................................................................................................
Hogyan viszonyul a környezetvédelmi kérdésekhez általában? ..................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Korunk egyik alapvető kérdése ....................................................................................................
Bármelyik újságot olvasom ..........................................................................................................
Ezzel a kérdéssel mindig foglalkoznak ........................................................................................
Néhányan a legfontosabb kérdésként kezelik ..............................................................................
Ami engem illet, aggódom a globális felmelegedés miatt. ..........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Ellentmondó nézetek vannak erről. ..............................................................................................
Erős a meggyőződésem ................................................................................................................
A kár, amit a levegőben okozunk .................................................................................................
Ipari és házi szemét ......................................................................................................................
Néhányan azt jósolják, hogy a közeljövőben fizetnünk kell majd a tiszta levegőért ...................
......................................................................................................................................................
A víz esetében ..............................................................................................................................
Nem találja ezt borúlátó véleménynek? .......................................................................................
Tudja, nem vagyok szakember .....................................................................................................

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De megtörténhet, ha így folytatjuk ...............................................................................................

Amint az köztudott .......................................................................................................................
Új módszereket kell alkalmaznunk ..............................................................................................
Csak akkor használom, ha feltétlenül szükséges ..........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nagyon ritkán megyek autóval dolgozni .....................................................................................
Kényelmesebb a tömegközlekedést használni .............................................................................
Vannak problémák a környezetvédelemmel? ..............................................................................
Az emberek nagy százaléka nem szelektálja a szemetet ..............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Csak, mert időbe telne .................................................................................................................
Elvinni a szemetet a szelektív gyűjtőkbe .....................................................................................
A városon kívül van egy illegális szemétdomb ............................................................................
Úgy tűnik, az önkormányzat nem nagyon törődik vele ...............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az iskolák néha takarítási kampányt indítanak ............................................................................
Ez nem megoldás a problémára ...................................................................................................
Környezettudatos embernek tűnik ................................................................................................
Különböző típusú háztartási szemét .............................................................................................
A pelenkák sok problémát okoznak .............................................................................................
Be kell vallanom...........................................................................................................................
A többi felhalmozódott szeméttel együtt ürítem ki ......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Olyan kevés folyóvízzel, amivel csak lehet .................................................................................
Néha elfeledkezem róla ................................................................................................................
Sőt, olyan mosóport használok, ami nem szennyezi a talajt ........................................................
Köszönöm a kedvességét .............................................................................................................
Örömömre szolgált .......................................................................................................................

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Dialogue
Climate change

T: Teacher
S: Student

S: Mr Collins, have you read the UN’s report on climate change yet?
T: Yes, I have…I mean some parts of it that are available on the Net.
S: Do you, as a Geography teacher believe in the dark scenario they predict in the near future?
T: Well, there’s no denying that climate change is unfolding before our eyes. Suffice it to
mention melting ice in the Arctic, melting glaciers that cause some rivers to overflow. On the
other hand , due to the raising global temperature, some other waters tend to evaporate faster
than before, which leads to devastating draughts in certain areas.
S: Can the natural disasters that have occurred during the past years be put down to climate
change?
T: Yes, they can be interpreted as the aftermath of climate change, but you must not forget
that natural disasters are not a new phenomenon on the Earth. It will take thorough scientific
research to reveal the exact causes.
S: Some scientists say that there are more disasters in the pipeline. There are so many
scaremongers nowadays, one can never know whom to believe.
T: Well, there have always been prophets of doom in our history, you mustn’t fall for all
gossips. However, we really must take climate change seriously, as it is inevitably the
feedback of human activities. At least to some extent. Green house effect has been a scientific
fact for a century, for example. Since climate change has much to do with our civilisation, it is
our responsibility to prevent it from causing damage on a global scale. I’m sure we can
manage by joining our forces.
S: Are you convinced that the changes are reversible?
T: No, I wouldn’t risk giving you an almighty answer. There might be irreversible processes,
but we most surely can curb the trends by passing laws that are to be applied and watched in
the industrial countries. I mean reducing emission, introducing clean fuel technologies etc.
And we must act before it is too late.
S: Some forsee immense draughts in Europe that would, so they say, lead to a Sahara-like
climate. What do you think of it?

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T: Oh, I wouldn’t venture as far as that. What is more, the Earth Summit in 1992 and the
Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which has already come into force make me rather optimistic about
the question. The leading powers seem to have given a serious consideration to the matter,
which is a big step, I think.

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8. Family Life

‘A woman with fair opportunities, and without an absolute hump, may marry whom she
likes.’ (William Thackeray: Vanity Fair)

‘Everything has its drawbacks, as the man said, when his mother-in-law died and they came
upon him for the funeral expenses.’ (Jerome K. Jerome: Three Men in a Boat)

A : How has family life changed in the last one hundred years?
B : During the last century, family life underwent big changes.Traditional family seems to
be falling apart. A lot of couples live together without getting married. When you come of
age you can marry without your parents’ consent. Nowadays there is a tendency to get
married later, at the age of 30. Young people prefer having a successful career before
getting married. In the past, men were supposed to be the breadwinners in the family,
women were expected to do the housework and look after the children. Due to
emancipation, women are no longer second-rate citizens. Unfortunately, the number of
divorces has been increasing. A lot of children are brought up in one-parent families. In
my opinion, a child needs both his father and mother. The lucky few have a caring
stepfather or stepmother. It is a great responsibility to start a family and bring up children.
Parents are responsible for their children’s well fare and healthy development.
A : How many of you are there in the family?
B : There are 3 of us in the family. I don’t have any sisters or brothers. I am an only child.
It would be nice to have a sister or a brother
A : What is your relationship with your parents like?
B : I get on well with my parents; they are really understanding and caring. Sometimes we
quarrel, but we always make it up. Now and then my mum tells me off when it serves me
right. My parents have never treated me harshly. I can always rely on them and share my
problems with them. I know they would never let me down.
A : Nowadays children are given much more freedom than before. What do you
think about it?
B : Yes, nowadays there is a tendency to treat children as equals. I am not sure if it is
good. Anyway, a child needs guidance. My parents have never been too strict; I would
call them rather liberal. As a child I was mostly obedient, though sometimes mischievous.
Not until I was 18 did they let me stay out late. At that time I was angry with them, but

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now I see they were right. Of course, there is a generation gap between my parents and
me, but it is just natural. Too permissive parents can do a lot of harm to their children.
Children who are spoilt might have difficulties in their studies or work. They will be
unable to cope with their problems later on.
A : Who do you take after in the family?
B : I take after my mother, but I inherited my father’s character.
A : When do you intend to get married?
B : I would like to get married in ten years’ time. I wouldn’t like to get married until I
finished my studies.
A : And here are some more expressions
1. He proposed to her but she turned him down.
2. This year my parents celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary.
3. Nowadays young people start having sex earlier than before.
4. I don’t believe in ideal marriages, there is no life without conflicts or crises.
5. Jealousy can be disastrous sometimes. He is jealous of his wife.
6. The point is that you should understand and respect your partner’s views.
7. She is pregnant. She is expecting her first child.
8. She had a miscarriage, which was a traumatic experience for her.
9. She had an abortion − she should have taken contraceptives / the pills.
10. She had a stillborn child, which depressed the whole family.
11. He is so childish and immature. He is not mature enough to get married.
12. As for women’s equality, I think there is still much to do.
13. Feminism is a new tendency among women. They fight for equal rights.
14. However, some feminists can be really extremists.
15. They call men ‘male chauvinistic pigs’, which is not nice to do.
16. Violence in the family e.g. wife-battering is one of the most appalling crimes.
17. He inherited a lot of money. He came into a lot of money.
18. In his will he named his heirs.
19. We have lots of relatives and there are big family reunions at Christmas time.
20. Yesterday we had an argument.
21. They had a terrible row, and haven’t spoken to each other ever since.
22. It is difficult to tell the twins apart.

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An Essay

Changing Times, Changing Values

In the course of history, there has been an incredible amount of changes in every field of
life. As time went by, man’s world underwent significant transformations including individual
life and social system. These changes have brought about new phenomena that have both
advantages and disadvantages.
To begin with, let us have a look at our homes. In the developed countries a family home is
well equipped with everything we need to make our everyday life comfortable and
convenient. Housework has become much easier than it used to be, you do not have to spend
your precious time toiling at washing or cleaning, labour saving devices save you a lot of
trouble. If you are cold you just turn on the heating, if you want to get in touch with your
friends you simply dial a number or send an email. Due to the TV and the Internet you can
have access to any information you might need from all over the world ─ the Earth has turned
into a big village.
As for family life, it has also undergone big changes. There were times when a marriage
was a question of the mutual consent of the parents; nowadays you do not have to have your
parents’ consent if you want to start a family. Young people choose their partner on their own,
what is more, they may decide on having children without getting married. In Europe,
traditional family seems to be falling apart, the number of divorces and one-parent families
has been increasing for decades, and, as a result, fewer children are born and due to the low
birth-rate, European societies are becoming older and older. The crisis of the traditional
family has a harmful impact on children. There’s no denying, that a child needs both his
father and mother and it is a real trauma to lose one of them.
As to children’s position in the family, there has been a tendency to treat them as equals, to
be liberal with them. Nowadays children are given much more freedom than before. Physical
punishment is out of question, which is good, on the other hand, extremely permissive parents
can also do harm to their children. A child without discipline is extremely vulnerable; he
might have difficulties in his studies, and might lack the strength to cope with problems in the
long run. What has not changed is the generation gap, which has always been a natural part of
family relationships and most probably is here to stay. The elder generation will always
complain about their children showing less respect than they are supposed to, and children
will always complain about being misunderstood or ignored.

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The most significant changes that influenced family life are those concerning gender roles.
Due to women’s emancipation during the 20th century, traditional male and female tasks and
duties have changed considerably. In the past, men were supposed to be the breadwinners of
the family while women were expected to do the housework and look after the children. In
our days, as most women work and thus contribute to the family budget, these tasks should be
shared equally. Women are no longer second-rate citizens.

Zsibbasztó

a történelem során ........................................................................................................................

változások voltak ..........................................................................................................................
hihetetlen mennyiségű változások………………………………………………………………
a világ változásokon ment át ........................................................................................................
idővel ............................................................................................................................................
jelentős változások .......................................................................................................................
társadalmi berendezkedés .............................................................................................................
a történelem változásokat hozott .................................................................................................
új jelenség .....................................................................................................................................
jól felszerelt mindennel ................................................................................................................
ez kényelmessé teszi az életünket ................................................................................................
sokkal könnyebbé vált ..................................................................................................................
ne vesztegesse a drága idejét ........................................................................................................
nem szeretek a mosással bajlódni.................................................................................................
a gépek sok fáradságtól kímélnek meg ........................................................................................
próbáltam érintkezésbe lépni vele ................................................................................................
az Internetnek köszönhetően ........................................................................................................
az esős idő miatt ...........................................................................................................................
bármilyen információhoz hozzáférhetünk ....................................................................................
a föld egy nagy faluvá alakult át ..................................................................................................
ami a családot illeti .......................................................................................................................
ami a vizsgákat illeti .....................................................................................................................
voltak idők ....................................................................................................................................

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ez kölcsönös megegyezés kérdése................................................................................................

ez pénz kérdése.............................................................................................................................
a szüleim beleegyeztek .................................................................................................................
elhatározták, hogy összeházasodnak ............................................................................................
anélkül, hogy összeházasodnának ................................................................................................
a hagyományos család ..................................................................................................................
a könyv esik szét ..........................................................................................................................
szétesett ........................................................................................................................................
a válások száma ............................................................................................................................
a válások száma megnőtt ..............................................................................................................
a munkanélküliség folyamatosan nő ............................................................................................
következésképp ............................................................................................................................
kevesebb gyerek születik ..............................................................................................................
alacsony születési arány ...............................................................................................................
káros hatással van a gyerekekre ...................................................................................................
nem kétséges ................................................................................................................................
mind az apa, mind az anya ...........................................................................................................
igazi megrázkódtatás volt .............................................................................................................
a gyerekek helyzete a családban...................................................................................................
mostanában az az irányzat, hogy ..................................................................................................
a szülők egyenrangúként kezelik a gyerekeket ............................................................................
sok szabadságban van részük .......................................................................................................
testi fenyítés..................................................................................................................................
ez szóba sem jöhet ........................................................................................................................
engedékeny szülők .......................................................................................................................
túlságosan engedékeny szülők .....................................................................................................
sok kárt okozott nekünk ...............................................................................................................
fegyelmezetlen gyermek ..............................................................................................................
különösen sérülékeny(gyenge) .....................................................................................................
nehézségei lehetnek a tanulás során .............................................................................................
megbirkóztam a problémákkal .....................................................................................................
hosszú távon .................................................................................................................................
ami nem változott .........................................................................................................................
nemzedéki ellentét ........................................................................................................................

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családi kapcsolatok .......................................................................................................................

nagy valószínűséggel....................................................................................................................
az idősebb generáció ....................................................................................................................
mindig panaszkodik a gyerekeire .................................................................................................
kevesebb tiszteletet mutat, mint kellene .......................................................................................
arra panaszkodik, hogy félreértik .................................................................................................
a legjelentősebb változások ..........................................................................................................
a változások hatással voltak a családra ........................................................................................
hatott rá a környezete ...................................................................................................................
nemi szerepek ...............................................................................................................................
a nemi szerepeket érintő változások .............................................................................................
a nők egyenjogúsítása...................................................................................................................
a hagyományos női feladatok .......................................................................................................
ez a kötelességed ..........................................................................................................................
jelentősen megváltozott ................................................................................................................
napjainkban ..................................................................................................................................
hozzájárult a költségekhez ...........................................................................................................
családi költségvetés ......................................................................................................................
ezeket a feladatokat meg kellene osztani .....................................................................................
a nők nem másodrangú állampolgárok.........................................................................................

Words and Phrases

abortion abortusz, terhesség megszakítás

access to hozzáférés valamihez
an only child Egyke
anyway végül is, egyébként is
appalling Felháborító
as a result Következésképp
as for family life ami a családi életet illeti
as time went by Idővel
as to family life ami a családi életet illeti
breadwinner kenyérkereső, családfenntartó

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bring about magával hoz, okoz

budget Költségvetés
citizen Állampolgár
come into money pénzt örököl
come of age nagykorú lesz
concerning vonatkozólag, illetőleg
consent egyetértés, beleegyezés
considerable, considerably jelentős / en
contraceptive Fogamzásgátló
contribute to hozzájárul valamihez
crisis, crises válság, válságok
developed countries fejlett országok
discipline Fegyelem
drawback hátrány
due to valaminek köszönhetően
elder brother Báty
emancipation emancipáció, egyenjogúsítás
equal, equally egyenlő / en
equipment, a lot of equipment!!! felszerelés, nincs többes száma!
ever since azóta is / sem
expect a child várandós
extremists szélsőségesek
fair opportunities jó lehetőségek = gazdag
fall apart szétesik
family reunion családi összejövetel
fight for equal rights egyenlő jogokért harcolnak
funeral expenses temetési költségek
gap szakadék (tesztben üres hely)
gender roles nemi szerepek
generation gap nemzedéki ellentét, különbség
get in touch with sb érintkezésbe lép valakivel
get on well with sb jól kijön valakivel
guidance irányítás

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had a terrible row szörnyen összevesztek

had an argument vitatkoztak
has an affair viszonya van valakivel
has impact on sb hatással van valakire
heating fűtés
heir örökös
How many of you are there? hányan vagytok?
hump Púp
I am not sure if it is good Nem vagyok benne biztos, hogy ez jó.
ignore figyelmen kívül hagy
immature éretlen
in every field of life az élet minden területén
in ten year’s time tíz év múlva
in the course of history a történelem folyamán
in the long run hosszú távon
increase növekedés, növekszik
individual egyéni
inherit örököl
interest érdek
it serves me right megérdemlem
jealous of féltékeny valakire
jealousy féltékenység
later on később
liberal liberális, engedékeny
let sb down cserbenhagy
lived happily afterwards és boldogan éltek, míg meg nem haltak.
low birth-rate alacsony születési arány
make it up kibékül
male chauvinistic pig „soviniszta hím disznó”
mature érett
mischievous csibész
misunderstand félreért
mutual kölcsönös

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not until I was 18 18 éves koromig

obedient engedelmes
one-parent family csonka család
open marriage Nyílt házasság
out of question szóba sem jöhet
permissive engedékeny
phenomenon, phenomena jelenség / ek
physical punishment Testi fenyítés
precious értékes, drága
prefer successful career előnyben részesíti a sikeres karriert
pregnant terhes
propose to megkéri a kezét
quarrel veszekszik
relative rokon
rely on sb számít / támaszkodik valakire
reason for oka valaminek
responsibility felelősség
responsible for felelős valamiért
save you trouble fáradságot takarít meg
second-rate másodrangú
she turned him down kikosarazta
significant jelentős
sin erkölcsi bűn
spoil elkényeztet
stay out late sokáig kimaradni otthonról
start having sex szexuális életet kezd
stepfather mostohaapa
strict szigorú
take after hasonlít valakire
tell apart megkülönböztet
tells me off Letol, megszid
tendency irányzat
the lucky few az a néhány szerencsés

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the point is that you should understand a lényeg, hogy megértsd

there are 5 of us. Öten vagyunk
there is still much to do Még sok a tennivaló
there’s no denying kétségtelen, hogy…, tagadhatatlan
thus ekképp, így
toil at washing nyűglődni a mosással
transformation átalakulás
trauma megrázkódtatás, trauma
treat as equal egyenlőként kezelni
treat harshly durván kezel
trust sb megbízik valakiben
turn into változik valamivé
turn to sb valakihez fordul
undergo changes változásokon megy át
value érték
violence in the family erőszak a családban
vulnerable sebezhető, gyenge
wedding anniversary házassági évforduló
well fare Jólét
well equipped jól felszerelt
which is not nice to do Ami nem szép dolog
wife-battering a feleség bántalmazása
will végrendelet

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9. Fashion

‘She wears her clothes, as if they were thrown on her with a pitchfork.’
(Jonathan Swift: Polite Conversation. )

A man at work one day notices that his male co-worker is wearing an earring. The
man knows his co-worker to be normally conservative fellow, and is curious about his
sudden change in “fashion sense”.
‘Yo, Bob, I didn’t know you were into earrings.’
‘Oh, yeah, sure’, says Bob sheepishly.
‘Really? How long have you been wearing one?’
‘Ever since my wife found it in our bed!’ (English Joke)

A : Are you fashion conscious? (Do you follow fashion?)

B : I’m not really fashion conscious; I don’t care much about fashion. I like wearing
fashionable clothes as long as they suit me. I don’t think one should follow fashion for
fashion’s sake. In clothing you have to take into consideration your age as well as your
figure. Some women follow every fashion regardless of their age or figure. A woman at
50 dressed like a teenager only makes herself ridiculous. Fashion designing centres dictate
what you should wear. Fashion changes from year to year because it’s a big business. Top
models have a great influence on women; they all want to look like them. If you buy your
clothes in one particular fashion, you risk looking ridiculous next year.
A : What kind of clothes do you prefer wearing?
B : On weekdays I prefer wearing loose-fitting, casual clothes. I don’t feel comfortable in
extremely tight jeans or skirts. At the theatre I prefer wearing an elegant one-piece
dress.At work I prefer wearing a two-piece costume. Hip jeans and short tops are not to
my taste. I don’t think one should go to work half-naked.
A: What is in fashion nowadays?
B : Nowadays you can wear any style from mini skirts to long dresses, whatever you
want. Some women like wearing flashy dresses to attract attention. To my mind, flashy
dresses indicate vulgar taste.
A: What do you mean by a flashy dress?
B : Well, bright coloured dresses with too many accessories, for example. But, as the
saying goes, ‘There’s no accounting for taste’.

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A : What accessories are fashionable these days?

B : These days piercing is trendy, but I cannot imagine myself pierced on the tounge or in
the nose. It can be really unhealthy. I am mad about bracelets, whatever they are made of.
I have plenty of them.
A : For my part, I only wear a necklace and a ring, that’s all. Is that true that clothes
make the man?
B: To some extent it is. Of course, it is your character that counts, however you must pay
attention to what you wear. There are people who don’t care about their clothes and look
shabby all the time. I think a civilized person never looks shabby, not even at home. The
point is that you should always look clean and neat.
A : Do you think that schools should impose wearing uniforms on the students?
B : No I don’t, although uniforms have unquestionable advantages. For example, uniform
prevents students from showing off their wealth and thus making the poor feel inferior.
A : And here are some more useful expressions
1. I’d like a pair of jeans. Do you have them in my size?
2. Which size are you? 38? Oh, sorry, we’ve run out of them
3. Can I try this blouse on? Sure. The changing room is to your right.
4. I need a handbag to match my costume.
5. You look nice in this dress; blue colour matches your eyes.
6. I don’t think these shoes will fit me.
7. Do you have them by one size bigger?
8. Do not wash woollen pullovers in hot water otherwise they will shrink.
9. T-shirts tend to stretch when washed.
10. It is advisable to give a good rinse to the clothes after washing them.
11. I’ve lost considerable weight so I have to take in my skirts.
12. I’ve put on so much weight that my skirts have to be let out.
13. I prefer buying my clothes at the sales; they are much cheaper then..
14. I don’t like buying my clothes in second-hand shops.
15. Do you ever buy clothes off the peg?
16. I prefer wearing tailored clothes, though they are more expensive.
17. I have a sewing machine, and my hobby is to make clothes for my family and me.
18. I am not too vain, but I really hate wearing dresses ‘oncoming’ in the street.

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Words and Phrases

accessories kiegészítők
any style bármilyen stílus
at the sales leárusításkor
bracelet karkötő
bright coloured dress rikító színű ruha
care about törődni valamivel
casual clothes lezser ruha
conscious tudatos
fashion conscious divat orientált
feel comfortable kényelmesen érzi magát
fits me jó rám (méretben)
for fashion’s sake a divat kedvéért
for my part a magam részéről
from year to year évről évre
have influence on sb befolyásol
indicate mutat, bizonyít
let out around the waist derékban kiengedni
loose-fitting laza, bő
match színben illik
naked, half-naked meztelen, félmeztelen
neat ápolt
not to my taste nem az én ízlésem (szerint való)
one-piece dress egyrészes ruha
particular, particularly egy bizonyos, különösen, főleg
pay attention to figyelmet szentel valaminek
regardless of tekintet nélkül valamire
rinse öblít (és)
risk kockáztat
second-hand shop használt áruk boltja
shabby szakadt
showy dress rikító, feltűnő ruha

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shrink összemegy mosásában

stretch kinyúlik
suit me jól áll nekem
take in around the waist derékban bevenni
take into consideration figyelembe venni
there’s no accounting for taste Ízlések és pofonok.
tight jeans feszes farmer
to my mind szerintem
two-piece costume kétrészes kosztüm
vulgar taste közönséges ízlés
whatever you want amit csak akar

Zsibbasztó

Divattudatos .................................................................................................................................
Követi ön a divatot? .....................................................................................................................
Nem nagyon törődöm a divattal ...................................................................................................
Szeretek divatos ruhákat hordani .................................................................................................
Feltéve, hogy illenek hozzám .......................................................................................................
A divat kedvéért ...........................................................................................................................
Figyelembe kell venni ..................................................................................................................
Tekintet nélkül a korára................................................................................................................
Úgy van öltözve, mint egy tizenéves ...........................................................................................
Nevetségessé teszi magát .............................................................................................................
Évről ever változik .......................................................................................................................
Nagy hatással van a nőkre ............................................................................................................
Úgy akarnak kinézni, mint a modellek.........................................................................................
Milyen ruhákat szeret viselni?......................................................................................................
Laza, lezser ruhák .........................................................................................................................
Nem érzem magam kényelmesen .................................................................................................
Elegáns, egyrészes ruha................................................................................................................
Kétrészes kosztüm ........................................................................................................................

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Nem az én ízlésem szerint való ....................................................................................................

Félmeztelenül ...............................................................................................................................
Manapság bármit lehet viselni......................................................................................................
Mini szoknyától a hosszú ruháig ..................................................................................................
Amit csak akar ..............................................................................................................................
Figyelmet felkelteni......................................................................................................................
Szerintem ......................................................................................................................................
A rikító ruha közönséges ízlésre vall ...........................................................................................
Túl sok kiegészítő.........................................................................................................................
Ahogy a mondás tartja..................................................................................................................
Ízlések és pofonok ........................................................................................................................
Mi divatos ma? .............................................................................................................................
A piercing van divatban ...............................................................................................................
Megőrülök a karkötőkért ..............................................................................................................
Sok van belőle ..............................................................................................................................
A magam részéről.........................................................................................................................
Cask egy nyakláncot hordok ........................................................................................................
A ruha teszi az embert ..................................................................................................................
Bizonyos mértékig........................................................................................................................
A jellem számít.............................................................................................................................
Figyelmet kell szentelni a ruháknak is .........................................................................................
Nem törődik az öltözékével..........................................................................................................
Szakadtan néz ki ...........................................................................................................................
Civilizált ember soha nem néz ki szakadtan ................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Még otthon sem ............................................................................................................................
A lényeg, hogy mindig tiszták és ápoltak legyünk .......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az egyenruhának van előnye .......................................................................................................
Henceg a gazdagságával ...............................................................................................................
Kisebbrendűségi érzése van .........................................................................................................

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A Letter of Complaint

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to you to complain about the dress I bought a week ago by way
of online shopping.

I found the article in your catalogue (D235), which says it is supposed to be

washed in lukewarm water only. I did accordingly. However, the dress
shrunk considerably, and no longer fits me, but it really looks nice on my
cat. I even thought to buy a handbag for her to go with it.

To make matters worse, I ordered a nice checquered flannel shirt for my

husband, you know he is mad about this type of wear. One might assume, a
flannel shirt must be washed in the wool programme of the washing
machine to prevent it from shrinking. I was cautious enough to do so.To my
greatest horror, when my husband put it on, he seemed to have shrunk and
looked like a real scarecrow in the shirt which, at variance with all
expectations, stretched so much that it can pass for a nice blanket on a
double bed.

Apart from joke, I would be grateful if you could replace the dress and the
shirt with ones that are washable, or give me a refund.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully
Anne Shrink

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10. Food

Harris proposed that we should have scrambled eggs for breakfast. …It
seemed, from his account, that he was very good at doing scrambled eggs…He
was quite famous for them. People who had once tasted his scrambled eggs,
…never cared for any other food afterwards…He had some trouble in
breaking the eggs − or rather not so much trouble in breaking them exactly as
in getting them into the frying- pan when broken, and keeping them off his
trousers, and preventing them from running up his sleeve;… Whenever he
went near the pan he burned himself, and then he would drop everything and
dance around the stove, flicking his fingers about and cursing the things…We
thought at first that it was a necessary part of culinary arrangements.
(Jerome K Jerome: Three Men in a Boat)

A : What is the staple food in your country?

B : Potato, paprika, cabbage, lettuce, carrot, onion i.e. we grow all kinds of vegetables.
A : Have you got a favourite dish?
B : I cannot name just one, but I like fried potatoes with well-done steaks. I also like
mushroom prepared in different ways, e.g. cabbage stuffed with it.
A : What are the ingredients and how do you prepare it?
B : First I wash the cabbage and remove its leaves then I stir it in boiling water for a few
minutes. Meanwhile I prepare the mushroom. I put diced onion into two-spoonful oil and
heat it until it’s soft. Then I add the sliced mushroom with some salt, red pepper and stew
it. I take a big pan and make several layers by putting cabbage leaves and the mushroom
mass into it in equal proportions. It takes about 30 minutes to get ready in the oven. I
serve it with sour cream or grated cheese. And it tastes great.
A : Have you ever tried English dishes?
B : Sure. I tried sheperd’s pie and it really tasted delicious. It is made of minced lamb,
potato, tomato puree, celery, carrot, butter and a lamb stock. First you boil the peeled and
diced potatoes until they are tender, then fry onion in a frying pan and add the vegetables
to it and keep on frying them until they are soft. You have to stir in tomato puree and
Worcestershire sauce. It is seasoned to taste before leaving to simmer for five minutes.

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Finally top it with mashed potato and put it into an ovenproof dish for 20 minutes. I also
like fish and chips, though I very seldom eat the latter.
A : Do you ever eat out?
B : Well, once or twice a month. We have a favourite restaurant run by a friend of us. We
like this restaurant, because they make a great variety of delicious dishes. They also lay
the table with good taste, and the staff are very helpful and friendly. They hire a pianist
who plays good melodies, which makes the atmosphere relaxed. The spacious room is
divided into smoking and non-smoking parts.
A : We very seldom eat out, because restaurants are quite expensive. My husband and me
sometimes go to an Irish pub, which is an impressive place with good music and excellent
beer. Now and then we go to a bar after the theatre to have a drink and discuss the play we
have seen.
B : What do you think about child obesity, which is a worrying issue in the developed
countries?
A : I suppose that the main reason for it is that they eat too much junk food. In addition to
this, they don’t do enough exercise and do not have enough PE lessons. What’s more, a
lot of parents do not pay enough attention to what they give their children to eat. Junk
food contains a lot of fat and sugar not mentioning the huge amount of sweets that
children eat instead of healthy food. It is the parents’ responsibility to accustom their
children to healthy food from an early age. A lot of parents spoil their children’s eating
habits by giving them chocolate as a present.
B : What do you mean by healthy food?
A : To begin with, vegetables, fruit and such dishes that are made of fibrous things.
Fibrous food is also essential to have a good digesting system. I also think that school
canteens and buffets must be controlled by the authorities. Those who don’t take packed
lunch, I mean sandwiches with some natural juice, will buy only junk food or sweets in
the school. I think governments should take serious measures to ban junk food from
school buffets.
B : What is your attitude to vegetarianism?
A : I believe in vegetarian foods, I think they are much healthier than meat. However, I
think that there has been a cult of vegetarianism, which misleads people. Anyway, man
has always eaten meat, and I do think we need animal protein too. I used to be a
vegetarian for two years, but I must confess that I terribly missed meat, so I forgot about

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vegetarianism for good. I believe in a balanced diet that contains vegetables and meat as
well.
B : Some people have anorexia among young women in particular.
A : Yes, the mania for anorexia stems from psychological motives. They deliberately
torture themselves with slimming cures because of the fear of being fat.
B : What are your eating habits like?
A : Well, for breakfast I usually have some cereals with milk and a glass of orange juice.
B : I always have a big breakfast, ham and eggs for example and a glass of tea. My
husband never has breakfast, he only drinks a cup of coffee, he has his first meal at noon.
A : I always have lunch at my workplace where there is a good restaurant with reasonable
prices. The main meal in our family is dinner, which is usually cooked by my mother. My
mum is an ingenious cook; we all adore her dishes.

Words and Phrases

account összefoglaló, magyarázat

accustom to hozzászokik-szoktat valamihez
add hozzáad
adore imád
afterwards utána
anorexia anorexia
arrangement elrendezés, művelet
at noon délben
authority hatóság
balanced diet vegyes étrend
boiling water forrásban lévő víz
burn odaéget
canteen ebédlő
care for szeret, kíván valamit
celery zeller
confess, I must confess bevall, be kell vallanom
contain tartalmaz
control irányít, ellenőriz

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culinary konyhai
cult kultusz
curse átkozódik
deliberately szándékosan
delicious finom, ízletes
developed country fejlett ország
diced onioin kockára vágott hagyma
digesting system emésztő rendszer
dish edény, étel
divide into feloszt
drop elejt, abbahagy
eat out étteremben enni
eating habits étkezési szokások
equal egyenlő
essential lényeges, életbevágóan fontos
evaporate elpárolog
exactly pontosan
fat zsír
fear félelem
fibre, fibrous rost, rostos
first course, main course első fogás, fő fogás
flick csettint
for good örökre
fried potatoes sült burgonya
fry süt (olajban)
frying pan lábas
gourmand ínyenc
grated cheese reszelt sajt
healthy food egészséges táplálék
heat felhevít
hire alkalmaz
impressive szép
in addition to this ezen túl

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in particular különösképpen
ingenious cook zseniális szakács
ingredients hozzávalók
It takes 30 minutes to get ready. 30 perc alatt készül el.
keep on frying folytatja a sütést
keep sg off távol tart valamit
lamb stock bárány csülök
latter, tha latter utóbbi, az utóbbi
lay the table megteríti az asztalt
layer réteg
leaf, leaves levél
mashed potato burgonyapüré
mass massza
meanwhile eközben
melody dallam
mention említ
minced lamb darált bárányhús
mislead félrevezet
miss hiányol
motive motiváció
non-smoking part nem dohányzó rész
now and then időnként
obesity, obese kövérség, kövér
ovenproof dih tűzálló edény
packed lunch csomagolt ebéd
pay attention to figyelmet szentel valaminek
peeled potato hámozott burgonya
prepare elkészít
present, as a present ajándék, ajándékként
prevent sg/sy from doing megakadályoz valakit/valamit valamiben
proportion adag, arány
propose javasol
protein fehérje

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psychological lelki
rather not inkább nem
reasonable price elfogadható ár
relaxed atmosphere kellemes légkör
remove eltávolít
restaurant run by a friend egy barát által vezetett étterem
sauce szósz
scrambled eggs tojásrántotta
seasone to taste ízlés szerint fűszerez
serve felszolgál
simmer lassú tűzön süt, főz
sleeve ruhaujj
sliced mushroom szeletelt gomba
slimming cure fogyókúra
soft lágy, puha
sour cream tejföl
spacious room tágas terem
spoil elront
spoonful kanálnyi
spring salad tavaszi saláta
staff személyzet
staple food alapvető étel
starter előétel
steak, well-done steak sült hús, jól átsütött
stem from ered valahonnan
stew párol
stir kavar
stove tűzhely, gázfőző
stuff megtölt valamivel
taste ízlés, ízlik, kóstol
tender puha
to begin with először is
tomato puree paradicsom püré

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top with a tetejére rak

torture kínoz
trouble baj
variety of, a great variety of dishes választék
worrying issue aggasztó dolog

Zsibbasztó

Van kedvenc étele?.......................................................................................................................

Nem tudok választani ...................................................................................................................
Szeretem a sült burgonyát sült hússal ..........................................................................................
Különbözőképpen elkészített gomba ...........................................................................................
Először megmosom a káposztát ...................................................................................................
Leszedem a leveleit ......................................................................................................................
Forró vízbe teszem pár percre ......................................................................................................
A kockára vágott hagymát két kanál olajba teszem .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Míg meg nem puhul .....................................................................................................................
Egyenlő adagokban ......................................................................................................................
Kb. 30 perc alatt kész ...................................................................................................................
Tejföllel tálalom ...........................................................................................................................
Kóstolt már angol ételt? ...............................................................................................................
Igazán finom volt .........................................................................................................................
Darált bárányhúsból készül ..........................................................................................................
Ízlés szerint fűszerezzük...............................................................................................................
20 percre tűzűlló edénybe tesszük ................................................................................................
Kedvenc éttermünket egy barátunk vezeti ...................................................................................
Az ételek nagy választékát kínálják .............................................................................................
A zongorista kellemes légkört teremt...........................................................................................
Időnként bárba megyünk ..............................................................................................................
Mit gondol a gyermekkori elhízásról? .........................................................................................
A fő oka, hogy túl sok gyorsételt esznek .....................................................................................
Ezenkívül ......................................................................................................................................
Nem mozognak eleget ..................................................................................................................

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A gyorsételek sok zsírt és cukrot tartalmaznak ............................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
A szülők felelőssége .....................................................................................................................
Sok szülő elrontja a gyermek étkezési szokásait ..........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mit ért egészséges étel alatt? ........................................................................................................
Először is zöldségeket ..................................................................................................................
A rostos étel fontos a jó emésztési rendszerhez ...........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A kormányoknak intétkedniük kellene ........................................................................................
Hogy kitiltsák a gyorsételeket az iskolai büfékből.......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Vegetáriánus kultusz van .............................................................................................................
Ami félrevezeti az embereket .......................................................................................................
Állati fehérjére is szükségünk van ...............................................................................................
A vegyes étrendben hiszek ...........................................................................................................
Elfogadható áron ..........................................................................................................................

Dialogue

A: Hello, we haven’t met for ages.

B: Nice to meet you again. How is life? It has been rumoured that you have started running a
restaurant.
A: Yeah, I inherited some money and decided to do something creative instead of staring at
the computer in the office.
B: Let’s have a drink, shall we?
A: OK, that’s a good idea.
B: Meanwhile you can tell me everything about your business. I don’t even know where your
restaurant is.
A: Well, it’s in the suburb, you know, I couldn’t afford to buy or rent a place in the city. My
wife and me decided on a little restaurant that can provide a safe benefit. If we can make
enough money, we’ll start a bigger one.
B: Judging by what you are saying this must be a small restaurant.

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A: It is. We can place only 20 people at a time.

B: Forgive my word, but I can imagine neither you nor your wife cooking.
A: Yeah, that’s out of question. Cooking is beyond my competence. But we hired an excellent
cook with an apprentice, a nice young chap, and they do their best to make really delicious
food. I’m really satisfied with them.
B: Do you employ waiters?
A: There’s no need to do that. My wife and me wait at the tables. It’s a jolly good adventure,
although a bit tiring. Some guests can be quite capricious or fussy, but I am getting
accustomed to it. The point is that you should be friendly and polite all the time. And this job
is rewarding too, you cannot imagine how happy we are when they express their satisfaction
and praise the dishes we serve.
B: Congratulations! I wouldn’t be able to take such an adventure at your age.
A: This is most kind of you, old boy, to mention my age. By the way, you are 2 years older
than me, aren’t you? How about coming round for a dinner at any time that suits you. And
you will be served the most delicious snake salad that you have ever tried.
B: Oh, I wouldn’t miss it. Put away your wallet. It was my round.

Words and Phrases

adventure kaland
afford, I can’t afford to megengedi magának, nem engedhetem meg
apprentice segéd
at a time egy időben
at any time bármikor
benefit haszon
beyond túl valamin
capricious szeszélyes, válogatós
chap srác, fickó
come round eljön, meglátogat
competence, beyond my competence alkalmasság, nem vagyok rá alkalmas
creative kreatív
do their best megteszik, ami tőlük telik
employ alkalmaz

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express satisfaction kifejezi az elégedettségét

forgive megbocsát
fussy akadékoskodó
get accustomed to hozzászokik
inherit örököl
jolly good csudajó
judge, judging by what you are saying ítél, szavaidból ítélve
mate pajtás, barát
neither…nor sem…sem
praise dicsér
provide biztosít, ellát valamivel
rent bérel
rewarding job hálás munka
rumour, it has been rumoured szóbeszéd, azt beszélik, hogy…
safe biztonságos
satisfied with elégedett valamivel
snake kígyó
stare at bámul valamire
suit megfelel
tiring fárasztó
wait at the table kiszolgálni az asztalnál
wallet pénztárca

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11. Free Time Activities

‘To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization.’

(Bertrand Russell: The Conquest of Happiness)

A: How much free time have you got?

B: On weekdays I am rather busy, I hardly have any free time. I spend my afternoons
preparing for the next day. It normally takes long hours. At weekends I have got more time
for recreation.
A: What free time activities do you prefer?
B: There are various ways to spend your free time. Some people like outdoor activities, such
as sports, hiking or gardening, while others enjoy indoor activities, such as card games,
reading books etc. A lot of people have special hobbies, such as collection building,
handiwork, pottering and so on. Some people take delight in extreme sports, but I would hate
to risk my health or life just for fun’s sake.
A: Do you have any special hobbies?
B: Well, I used to be a couch potato and a TV addict, but I realised that it wouldn’t do and
started a new way of life. Two years ago I took up hiking and I have been to many places
since then. Every fortnight, at weekends I go hiking with my friends to the mountains. We
start early in the morning, spend the whole day wandering in the mountains. It is so relaxing
to be in the fresh air exploring the beaty of nature. We usually take packed lunch with us, but
sometimes we set fire and cook our meal somewhere in a field. It is really romantic. Nothing
compares with nature. Ever since I took up hiking I have been healthier. Apart from hiking I
go cycling on weekdays. Riding a bike is not only fun but also a good exercise.
C: In my leisure time I like doing odd jobs in the house. You know, I am a DIY fan. I follow
my father’s example, who is able to repair anything in the house, he is a jack-of-all-trades. I
also like gardening, which is not only fun but also useful as you can provide your family with
vegetables. Three years ago I took up producing organic food. Gardening is a good way of
spending your free time actively. Apart from gardening I take delight in cooking. I like
preparing exotic dishes.
D: I like doing handiwork, such as knitting and sewing. It is relaxing and useful at the same
time. I enjoy designing and making my own clothes. I am also interested in folk art and I
never miss Crafts Fair where you can enjoy basketry, ceramics, jewellery, pottery. You can
get a lot of ideas at a fair. I like giving handmade presents. They are so nice.

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E: My favourite pastime is reading books, listening to music, going to the theatre and
concerts. I prefer romantic novels and history books as I am really interested in the past. I
have got a nice collection of classical CD-s, although I don’t mind listening to rock music as
well. Once a month I go to the theatre or to the opera with my family or friends. It is really
enjoyable to discuss the play we have seen. I also like doing crosswords, which is a good way
to check your knowledge and is entertaining at that.

Words and Phrases

adapt adaptál, alkalmaz

addict szenvedélybeteg
adolescent kamasz
amateur amatőr, műkedvelő
amounts to 80 pieces 80 darabot tesz ki
annoyed about bosszús valami miatt
as a result következésképpen
at that ráadásul
basketry kosárfonás
bid, bidding fogad, fogadás
break down elromlik
breathe belélegez
bungler kontár
ceramics kerámia
chest of drawers sublód, fiókos szekrény
cloth anyag, szövet
coin érme
compete versenyez
consider tart valaminek
continue folytat
couch potato aki állandóan a tv ellőtt ül (és eszik)
cover könyvborító
Crafts Fair kirakodóvásár
crochet hook horgolótű

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crocheting horgolás
cue dákó
cuisine konyhaművészet
curriculum tanterv
daily routine napi rend
deprive sy of sg megfoszt valakit valamitől
dexterity kézügyesség
DIY (do it yourself) csináld magad
doll baba
enable képessé tesz valamire
entertaining szórakoztató
enthusiastic about lelkesedik valamiért
equal egyenlő
expose to kitesz, kiszolgáltat valaminek
fanatic fanatikus, túlbuzgó
follow an example példát követ
for a change változatosság kedvéért
frequently gyakran
gamble hazárd játékot űzni
get tired of belefárad, megun
handiwork kézimunka
home affairs, foreign affairs belföldi hírek, külföldi hírek
horserace lóverseny
hunt points pontokra vadászni
I happen to have történetesen van
including beleértve
indulge oneself in belemerül valamibe, átengedi magát
valaminek
insist on doing sg ragaszkodik valamihez
intricacy finomság, bonyolultság
involve együtt jár valamivel
it won’t do ez nem lesz jó
jack-of-all-trades ezermester

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jewellery ékszerkészítés
keep saying mondogatja, hajtogatja
knit, knitting köt, kötés
lack hiányzik, nincs valamije
lazing about lustálkodás
leather bőr
leisure time szabadidő
make out kivesz, felfog, kiigazodik
mentally demanding szellemileg igényes
metal fém
nasty videos gusztustalan videók
needle tű
odd jobs apró munkák, ez-az
offer ajánl, kínál
outing egynapos kirándulás
pastime időtöltés
perseverance kitartás, állhatatosság
pottering agyagozás
pretty well nagyon jól
proud of büszke valamire
publish kiad (könyvet)
put an emphasis on hangsúlyt fektet valamire
radical change radikális változás
recreation felfrissülés, szabadidő eltöltése
repairman szerelő
rewind, rewound visszaforgat
rocking horse hintaló
running track futópálya
scan, scanning átolvassa a lényeget
schooling iskoláztatás
score points pontot szerez
screen-based entertainment képernyő alapú szórakozás
sew varr

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snooker biliárd
so that azért hogy
spare time szabadidő
specialty különlegesség
stands to reason magától értetődik
take delight in kedvét leli valamiben
take photos fényképet készít
take the pledge megesküszik, megfogad valamit
take up rákap valamire, elkezd valamivel
foglalkozni
target-driven teljesítmény-orientált
teacher’s training tanárképzés
toy játék
traffic fumes kipufogó gázok
train watching vonatszámlálás
try one’s hand at doing sg kipróbálja magát valamiben
unique egyedi, különleges
unless hacsak nem
virtual games virtuális játékok
watercolour vízfesték
way of life életmód
wearable art ruhaművészet
willpower akaraterő
woodworking fafaragás
wool gyapjú, fonal
workout edzés

An Essay

As If You Were Alive

Tired of the rat race? Exhausted by the workload? Bored with the TV? Why not take up a
hobby just for a change? Recreation does not mean hanging about or doing nothing. Let us
take Mendeleyev for example, the father of the periodic table, who, in his free time, used to

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sew leather suitcases. Once someone asked him why he would do that and he answered:
‘Well, a man of sense must have a serious vocation.’
There is a wide scale of free time activities ranging from collecting unique objects to
gardening. It is high time you tried your hand in some of them. They do not take an expert to
engage in them; however, you surely cannot do without prior studies. You do not even have to
follow the example of those who get totally absorbed in their hobbies or are obsessed with
them. Never do anything in excess. If you want to experience real pleasure, take it easy and
seriously at the same time.
Should you be a clerk or a teacher, your best choice would be some kind of outdoor
activity during which you could air your head and have some healthy exercise. Nevertheless, I
would dissuade you from jogging, unless there is a park or recreational centre nearby. On
busy streets you would only breathe in fumes and provoke unflattering comments from your
fellow citizens who enjoy sneering at the ‘weird’. Gardening or trekking are the best ways to
enliven yourself, in case you definitely want to relax.
If you happen to be a blue collar, you might need intellectual challenges that you can find
in reading books or learning to play a musical instrument, which is not only fun but elevates
your mind and soul. The point is not that you should be a gifted artist, but with some
industrious enthusiasm you can entertain yourself and your family or your friends at that.
Should you have a monotonous work, you had better go to a Crafts Fair and you will be
enchanted by the diversity of creative pursuits you could follow like pottery, woodwork etc.
No doubt, they need some dexterity, but with perseverance you can achieve good results not
mentioning the fact that you will be able to give unique presents to your beloved.
Whatever may you choose as a diversion, let it be a change from your everyday life so that
you can be active as if you were alive.

Words and Phrases

blue collar fizikai munkás

clerk hivatalnok
dexterity kézügyesség
dissuade sy from doing sg lebeszélni valakit valamiről
diversion kikapcsolódás
diversity sokszínűség

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elevate felemel
engage in elfoglalja magát valamivel
enthusiasm lelkesedés
for a change a változatosság kedvéért
in excess túlzásba víve
industrious szorgalmas
it does not take an expert nem kell szakembernek lenni hozzá
man of sense értelmes ember
periodic table periódusos táblázat
pottery agyagozás
prior előzetes
pursuit elfoglaltság
sneer at gúnyolódni valakin
the weird a furcsák, különcök
trekking gyaloglás
try one’s hand in kipróbálni magát valamiben
unflattering nem hízelgő
unique egyedi
vocation szakma
workload munka-terhelés

Zsibbasztó

Belefáradt a mókuskerékbe? ........................................................................................................

Kimerült a munkában? .................................................................................................................
Unja a TV-t? .................................................................................................................................
Miért nem fog bele egy hobbiba? .................................................................................................
A változatosság kedvéért ..............................................................................................................
A pihenés nem jelent lézengést ....................................................................................................
Valaki megkérdezte, miért csinálja azt ........................................................................................
Egy értelmes férfinek kell, hogy legyen komoly szakmája .........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A hobbik széles skálája ................................................................................................................
A kertészkedéstől a bélyeggyűjtésig ............................................................................................

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Ideje, hogy kipróbálja magát az egyikben ....................................................................................

Nem kell szakembernek lenni ......................................................................................................
Hogy elfoglalja magát valamivel .................................................................................................
Nem lehet meg előzetes tanulmányok nélkül ...............................................................................
Teljesen elmerült a könyvében .....................................................................................................
Mániákusan olvasott .....................................................................................................................
Soha ne vigyen semmit túlzásba ..................................................................................................
Ha igazi örömöt akar átélni ..........................................................................................................
Ha ön hivatalnok vagy tanár.........................................................................................................
A legjobb választás valamilyen szabadtéri elfoglaltság lehet ......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mindazonáltal, lebeszélném önt a kocogásról..............................................................................
Csak kipufogó gázokat szívna be .................................................................................................
Gúnyos megjegyzéseket provokálna ............................................................................................
Polgártársai részéről .....................................................................................................................
Akik szeretnek gúnyolódni „az őrülteken” ..................................................................................
A kertészkedés és a gyalogtúra a legjobb módja, hogy felélénküljön .........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Abban az esetben, ha tényleg pihenni akar ..................................................................................
Ha ön történetesen kétkezi munkás ..............................................................................................
Szellemi kihívásra lehet szüksége ................................................................................................
A zenélés szellem- és lélekemelő .................................................................................................
Nem az a lényeg, hogy tehetséges művész legyen .......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A szorgalmas lelkesedés fontosabb ..............................................................................................
Szórakoztathatja magát és a családját ..........................................................................................
Ha egyhangú munkája van ...........................................................................................................
Jobb, ha elmegy a kirakodó vásárba.............................................................................................
Kétségtelenül szükség van kézügyességre az agyagozáshoz .......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Kitartással jó eredményeket érhet el ............................................................................................
Bármit választ is időtöltésül .........................................................................................................
Legyen az eltérő a mindennapoktól .............................................................................................

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12. Global Problems

Two goldfish in a bowl talking:
Goldfish 1: Do you believe in God?
Goldfish 2: Of course, I do!
Who do you think changes the water?
(English Jokes)

A man wanting to borrow another man's newspaper asks,

"Are you finishe(d)?"
The other man replies, "No, I'm Norwegian."
(English Jokes)

A: We live in the era of globalisation, what is your attitude to it?

B:Globalisation is a controversial process. On the one hand, it offers solutions to some
global economic or political problems.On the other hand, some fear that globalisation
threatens national interests.There is no denying, that we need worldwide cooperation to
solve global problems such as air pollution etc.There have been numerous demos against
globalisation all over the world.There is a fierce struggle for economic markets and
energy resources.Economic competition is closely connected to politics.
A:What other global problems can you think of?
B: Our world is full of political, economic and environmental problems.To begin with,
there is a widening gap between the developing and the developed countries.The Third
World faces serious problems.It is hit by poverty, overpopulation, famine, malnutrition,
and tribal conflicts.They also suffer from different epidemics such as AIDS. A lot of
people migrate to the developed countries in search of a better life. Many of the
immigrants are unemployed, because they don’t have the necessary education. Many of
them live in ghettos, under poor conditions.Sometimes there is an apparent racism on
behalf of the natives against the immigrants.In certain countries, there is an obvious
discrimination against national minorities.
A: What can we do to solve these problems?
B: I think governments should take political measures to protect minorities and give them
equal rights.Present Europe is no longer means the white race only. Western civilisation
has to reconsider its policy including its attitude to minorities.Sooner or later we have to
give them their due, which is, in my view, cultural and political autonomy. Minorities

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must be entitled to have their own schools and the natural right to practise their own
traditions.Due to the 20th century peace treaties after the World Wars a lot of people
became second-rate citizens because of the new borderlines.These peace treaties caused a
lot of tension among the majority and the minorities and as a result, induced nationalism
on either side.
A: Any other global questions you might think of?
B: Another threatening issue nowadays is international terrorism.The biggest terrorist
attack hit the USA on the 11 of September in 2001.The two towers of the World Trade
Centre were attacked and destroyed by two airplanes hijacked by terrorists.The US
administration announced a war against terrorism.This campaign has been supported by
influential countries, but some of them have backed out of it, partly because of the fear of
being attacked by terrorists.Apart from the New York tragedy there have been several
terrorist attacks in England, in Russia and Israel and in a lot more countries.Some people
attribute it to the differences between Eastern and Western culture, which is a narrow-
minded reaction to the problem.There are a lot of military conflicts in different parts of the
world for example in the Middle East. Apart from the political and economic problems,
we have to face the diminishing energy resources.It’s high time we found and applied
renewable and environmentally friendly energies such as solar power.There is another
global problem that is related to education.However strange it may seem, there is a
growing number of functionally illiterate people in the so-called developed world.They
can write and read but do not understand the world around them and do not comprehend
the intricacies of politics for example.That is why in many countries education experts put
priority to reading comprehension.

Words and Phrases

a means, the only means mód, az egyetlen módja

administration adminisztráció, kormányzat
adopt a child gyermeket örökbe fogad
announce bejelent, kihirdet
apparent látható, nyilvánvaló

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attack támadás
attribute to tulajdonít valaminek
autonomy autonómia, önállóság
awareness tudatosság
back out of kihátrál
borderless határok nélküli
borderline határ
claim követelés
competition verseny
comprehend megért, felfog
comprehension megértés
condition, under poor conditions feltétel, rossz körülmények között
connected to kapcsolatban van valamivel
controversial ellentmondásos
cooperation együttműködés
cultural kulturális
developing countries fejlődő országok
difference különbség
discrimination megkülönböztetés
economic gazdasági
either side mindkét oldal
entitle feljogosít
epidemics járványok
equal rights egyenlő jogok
era korszak
famine éhség
fierce vad, kiélezett
free movement of labour a munkaerő szabad áramlása
from all aspects minden szempontból
functionally funkcionálisan
ghetto gettó
give sy his/her due megadni valakinek, ami jár neki
globalisation globalizáció, egységesülés

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illiterate írástudatlan, analfabéta

immigrant emigráns, bevándorló
induce okoz, előhív
influential befolyásos
make sense értelme van
malnutrition alultápláltság
market piac
Middle East közel-kelet
military conflict katonai konfliktus
minority kisebbség
moot points vitatott kérdések
narrow-minded szűk látókörű
national interests nemzeti érdekek
nationalism nacionalizmus
no longer means többé nem jelenti azt, hogy…
numerous számos
obvious nyilvánvaló
on behalf of valakinek a részéről
overpopulation túlnépesedés
overwhelming túlnyomó
peace treaty békeszerződés
policy politikai irányvonal
politics politika
poverty szegénység, nyomor
practise gyakorol
present jelen (kori)
process folyamat
put priority to elsőbbséget ad valaminek
race faj
racism rasszizmus, fajgyűlölet
raise emel
reaction reakció, válasz
reconsider újragondol

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related to kapcsolatos valamivel

so-called úgy nevezett
struggle küzdelem
support támogat
tension feszültség
there is no denying nem kétséges
threatening fenyegető
tribe, tribal törzs, törzsi
unemployed munkanélküli
western civilisation nyugati civilizáció
widening gap szélesedő szakadék
worldwide világméretű

An Essay

Pros and Cons for Globalisation

Globalisation is a controversial process. On the one hand, there are a lot of pros because
globalisation offers positive changes in many aspects of life. The term refers to the necessary
worldwide cooperations such as economic, cultural and political ones.
Civilisation has reached the point where globalisation seems to be irrevocable. All the
developed countries are interdependent and are responsible for the economic, political and
cultural life on a worldwide scale. Golbalisation is a good means to join our forces to cope
with economic and political problems. Joining the European countries is a big step to a
globalised world. Let us be sincere: nothing compares with a united Europe, where there are
no borders, you can settle wherever you want and you can pursue your studies abroad,
without losing your national identity. The EU is a united but colourful world.
Those who vote for globalisation mostly have in mind economic aims. They claim that
economic prosperity will lead to social prosperity too. They also think that it is only a
globalised western world that can solve the problems of the Thirld World for example.
Those who are against globalisation claim that the process has to be curbed, because it
threatens national interests, small enterprises cannot survive in a globalised market. They also
fear that human rights will be ignored for the sake of economic or political reasons.

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Moreover they predict a fast cultural assimilation, diminishing cultural autonomy among
national minorities. There have been countless demos against globalisation all over the world
on behalf of civil organisations and Greenpeace. No less at stake, whether globalisation can
answer the crucial questions of our times including environmental problems on a worldwide
scale, growing unemployment and last but not least, whether multiculturalism is the way to a
better understading.

Words and Phrases

aim cél
assimilation asszimiláció, beolvadás
claim állít
con valami ellen szóló érv
curb gátat szab valaminek
enterprise vállalkozás
for the sake of valaminek a kedvéért
human rights emberi jogok
identity önazonosság, identitás
ignore figyelmen kívül hagy
interdependent egymástól függő
irrevocable visszavonhatatlan
join forces egyesíti az erőket
lead vezet
moreover továbbá
on a worldwide scale világméretekben
pro valami mellett szóló érv
prosperity virágzás, fellendülés
pursue studies tanulmányokat folytat
reach elér
reason ok
refer to utal valamire
settle letelepedik
sincere őszinte

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survive túlél
term fogalom, szó
vote for szavaz valamire

Zsibbasztó

Ellentmondásos folyamat .......................................................................................................

Egyrészt, másrészt ..................................................................................................................
Sok érv szól mellette ..............................................................................................................
Pozitív változásokat kínál.......................................................................................................
A fogalom a szükséges együttműködésre utal .......................................................................
A civilizáció elérte azt a pontot ..............................................................................................
A globalizáció visszavonhatatlannak tűnik ............................................................................
Az országok egymástól függenek ..........................................................................................
A fejlett országok világméretekben felelősek a fejlődésért ...................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A globalizáció jó módja, hogy egyesítsük erőinket ...............................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Meg kell küzdenünk a gazdasági és politikai problémákkal ..................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Legyünk őszinték ...................................................................................................................
Ott telepedhet le, ahol akar .....................................................................................................
Külföldön is folytathat tanulmányokat ...................................................................................
Anélkül, hogy nemzeti identitását elveszítené .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Többnyire gazdasági célokra gondolnak ................................................................................
Azt állítják, hogy a gazdasági virágzás társadalmi fellendüléshez vezet ...............................
................................................................................................................................................
Akik ellene vannak .................................................................................................................
Azt állítják, hogy gátat kell szabni a folyamatnak .................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
Szerintük a globalizáció fenyegeti a nemzeti érdekeket ........................................................
................................................................................................................................................

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A kis vállalkozások nem tudnak fennmaradni a globalizált piacon .......................................

................................................................................................................................................
Attól is félnek, hogy az emberi jogokat figyelmen kívül hagyják .........................................
................................................................................................................................................
Gazdasági és politikai okok kedvéért .....................................................................................
Gyors kulturális asszimilációt jósolnak..................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
A nemzeti kisebbségek eltűnő kulturális autonómiáját ..........................................................
................................................................................................................................................

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13. Health and Illnesses

• ‘I have… a general disinclination to work of any kind. What I suffer in that way no tongue can tell.’
(Jerome K. Jerome: Three Men in a Boat)

A : Are you a healthy nation?

B : Surveys indicate that a large per cent of the population is in poor health.
A : What is the reason for this distressing phenomenon?
B : It might be the lack of exercise or unhealthy eating habits. Addiction to alcohol or
smoking can also account for poor health. A lot of people suffer from heart diseases,
rheumatism, cancer and diabetes. Cancer takes its heavy toll every year.High blood
pressure causes a lot of strokes among people.
A: How does the National Health Service work in your country?
B : Under the current system everybody has to pay a certain per cent of their income into
the Health Insurancce.National Health Service is on the verge of collapsing. Most
hospitals are in a bad state of repair. Doctors and nurses are overworked and underpaid.
A : Have you ever had a serious illness?
B : Fortunately, I haven’t. I had the flu several times, but that’s all. And you?
A : I had appendicitis, which was rather painful, I was in agony fo hours. On my arrival at
the hospital I was immediately operated on. In the operating theatre I was anesthetized so
I cannot remember anything. When I recovered consciousness in the ward I had a big
bandage on me. What are the symptoms of the flu?
B : When one catches the flu, one normally has high temperature and a sore throat which
goes together with a bad cough.
A : Has anybody in your family had a serious illness?
B : Yes, unfortunately my grandpa had a brain tumour and was operated, but died a year
later.My grandma had ulcer, but she has recovered from it.
A : What do you do when you feel unwell?
B : It depends. If it’s nothing serious, I mean the flu for example, I do not go to a doctor. I
take a big dose of vitamin C for a couple of days. When I feel really unwell, I go and see
my GP.

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A : Do you have to arrange an appointment with the doctor?

B : Yes, it is advisable to arrange an appointment so that you don’t have to wait long in
the surgery.
A : Do you have an efficient GP?
B : Yes I have. He is a highly qualified expert and has a cheerful character. The job of a
GP is extremely demanding and stressful. After or before the surgery hours he has to visit
patients who are unable to go to the surgery, for example disabled people.
A: Have you ever had an accident?
B: Yes, I have. Two years ago I fell off a ladder and broke my arm. First it was X-rayed
then the doctor put it into plaster. I had to wear it for 6 weeks.
A : So your GP examines you. What does it mean?
B : He asks me what the problem is and then examines me. I tell him my complaints for
example, ‘I have had this terrible cough and running nose for a week.’He takes my blood
pressure, listens to my lungs to learn if I have bronchitis or not. Once I had pneumonia,
which goes together with high temperature and weakness.
A : What do you think of plastic surgery?
B : It depends, when it comes to curing someone it is a great tool. However, a lot of
people turn to a plastic surgent for aesthetical reasons, for example they want to enhance
their breast or fill their wrinkles, it is crasy. One has to reconcile to one’s age and natural
looks.
1. And here are some more useful sentences to learn.
2. My GP gave me a prescription for antibiotics.
3. It took me a week to recover, but I still feel a bit off-colour.
4. Are you any better? Oh, no I’ve had a relapse.
5. When you break your bone, it has to be X-rayed and then put into plaster.
6. She had a serious operation but her condition is satisfactory.
7. In the morning she had her blood pressure taken and was sent for a blood test
8. The doctor examined me carefully and said, there was nothing wrong with my lungs.
9. My grandma has never been seriously ill; she is as fit as a fiddle.
10. It is advisable to eat healthy food full of vitamins.
11. When there is an epidemic a lot of people become infected.
12. When you are infectious or unable to work the GP puts you on the sick list.
13. Bird flu comes from the Far East, and there is no real cure for it.
14. Thousands of people become disabled in accidents or due to illnesses.

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15. It’s high time we did more for the disabled.

16. He got disabled in an accident and has been confined to the wheelchair ever since.
17. More and more people are suffering from depression.
18. I wonder what the reason is for such a big number of depressed people?
19. Another issue that worries doctors is child obesity.
20. In my opinion, junk food and the lack of exercise are responsible for it.
21. I have such a terrible headache, no painkiller helps.
22. I feel feverish, I think I’ll take an aspirin.
23. More and more people are developing various allergies.
24. I have pollen allergy; I need to take antihistamine.
25. Some people are allergic to different foods for example flour, which is a serious
illness.
26. The child looks bad; we’d better take his temperature.
27. When there is something wrong with one’s heart he or she is examind by ECG
(electrocardiogram).
28. ECG shows your heart rate or any disorder.
29. What does AIDS stand for?
30. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which can be caught mainly
by sexual intercourse or infected blood transfusion.
31. The has been an intense scientific research to treat AIDS, but no absolutely safe cure
has been found.
32. It is important that your immune system should work well, otherwise you are exposed
to various diseases.
33. There are different diseases of the digesting system, for example tumours or ulcer.
34. Tumours can be benign or malignant, in both cases surgents remove them.
35. If the tumour is malignant the patient receives chemotherapy.
36. What I hate most, is going to the dentist. I cannot stand the sound of the drill.
37. Most of my teeth are in order but I have two filled.
38. My tooth was incurable so it had to be pulled out.
39. I take good care of my teeth because I do not want to have dentures when I grow old..

Zsibbasztó

A felmérések azt mutatják ............................................................................................................

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A lakosság nagy százalékának gyenge az egészsége ...................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Mi ennek a lehnagoló jelenségnek az oka? ..................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A mozgás hiánya ..........................................................................................................................
Rossz étkezési szokások ...............................................................................................................
Alkoholfüggőség ..........................................................................................................................
Sokan szenvednek szívbetegségben .............................................................................................
A rák szedi az áldozatait...............................................................................................................
A magas vérnyomás szélütést okoz ..............................................................................................
Egészségügy .................................................................................................................................
A jelenlegi rendszerben ................................................................................................................
A jövedelme egy bizonyos százalékát ..........................................................................................
Egészségbiztosítás ........................................................................................................................
Az összeomlás szélén áll ..............................................................................................................
A legtöbb kórház rossz állapotban van ........................................................................................
Az orvosok túlterheltek és alulfizetettek ......................................................................................
Volt valaha súlyos betegsége?......................................................................................................
Többször voltam influenzás .........................................................................................................
Vakbélgyulladásom volt, ami elég fájdalmas ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Órákig kínlódtam..........................................................................................................................
Azonnal megoperáltak..................................................................................................................
Amikor magamhoz tértem ............................................................................................................
Torokgyulladás, ami köhögéssel jár együtt ..................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nagypapámnak agydaganata volt.................................................................................................
Felgyógyult belőle ........................................................................................................................
Attól függ .....................................................................................................................................
Beveszek egy nagy adag C vitamint ............................................................................................
Tanácsos időpontot kérni .............................................................................................................
A rendelési idő után......................................................................................................................
Aki nem tud elmenni a rendelőbe ................................................................................................
Volt balesete? ...............................................................................................................................

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Leestem a létráról .........................................................................................................................

Először megröntgeneztek .............................................................................................................
Megméri a vérnyomásom .............................................................................................................
Mit gondol a plasztikai sebészetről? ............................................................................................
Az embernek bele kell nyugodnia a korába .................................................................................
Egy hétbe tellet, míg meggyógyultam ..........................................................................................
Jobban vagy? ................................................................................................................................
Az állapota kielégítő.....................................................................................................................
Elküldték vérvételre .....................................................................................................................
Semi baja a tüdőmnek ..................................................................................................................
Egészséges, mint a makk ..............................................................................................................
A háziorvos betegállományba veszi az embert ............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Sokan válnak mozgássérültekké...................................................................................................
Egyre többen szenvednek depressziótól .......................................................................................
Nem segít egyetlen fájdalomcsillapító sem ..................................................................................
Jobb, ha megmérjük a lázát ..........................................................................................................
Mit jelent az AIDS?......................................................................................................................
Másképp az ember ki van téve betegségeknek .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nagyon vigyázok a fogaimra .......................................................................................................

Words and Phrases

a large per cent of nagy százaléka

account for megmagyaráz valamit
addiction to alcohol alkoholfüggőség
afford to megengedheti magának
antihistamine allergia elleni gyógyszer
Are you any better? Jobban vagy már?
as fit as a fiddle egészséges, mint a makk
blood test vérvétel
burden teher

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catch the flu elkapni az influenzát

child obesity gyermekkori kövérség
condition állapot
cough köhög/és
cure for gyógymód
develop high temperature magas hőmérséklete lesz
diabetes cukorbaj
disabled, the disabled mozgássérült, a mozgássérültek
disagree about nem ért egyet valamiben
distressing phenomenon lehangoló jelenség
eating habits étkezési szokások
epidemic járvány
examined me carefully alaposan megvizsgált
feel feverish rázza a hideg, lázas
feel a bit off-colour gyengélkedik
GP (general practitioner) háziorvos
health insurance egészség biztosítás
health service egészségügyi ellátás
heart disease szívbetegség
high blood pressure magas vérnyomás
I wonder what the reason is? Vajon mi az oka?
in a bad state of repair felújításra szorul
in order to abból a célból, hogy…
income bevétel, fizetés
increase növel
infect, infected fertőz, fertőzött
infectious fertőző
lack of exercise mozgáshiány
medical treatment orvosi kezelés
on the sick list betegállomány
on the verge of a határán van valaminek
overworked túlterhelt
painkiller fájdalomcsillapító

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pneumonia tüdőgyulladás
pollen allergy pollen allergia
poor health rossz egészség
prescription for orvosi recept
privatise privatizál, magánosít
put into plaster gipszbe tenni
reason for oka valaminek
recover meggyógyul
relapse visszaesik, visszaesés
rheumatism reuma
running nose nátha
satisfactory kielégítő
she had her blood pressure taken megmérték a vérnyomását.
sore throat torokgyulladás
stroke szélütés
suffer from szenved / beteg valamitől
surveys indicate felmérések azt mutatják
take one’s temperature megmérni a lázát
takes its heavy toll nagy áldozatokat szed
the current system a jelenlegi rendszer
there’s nothing wrong with your lungs a tüdejének semmi baja
tip borravaló
underpaid alulfizetett
X-ray röntgen

Story Writing

Emergency Room

Nothing will ever be the same.

There is no way to recall what has faded, no chance to revive the past. Things have changed
their identity; all that once was so familiar have turned into their mere likeness only
pretending to be the same betraying the senses.

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No sooner had I closed the door behind me than the phone rang. I even hesitated for a
moment whether to answer it. After an extremely busy and tiring day my only wish was to lie
down, do nothing, speak to nobody, just watch the world go by. Reluctantly though, I picked
up the receiver.
‘Nurse...hospital...your father…asked’ I only remember my numb fingers on the phone, cold
sweat dropping from my forehead.
I do not know how I got on the bus I can only recall the rushing city, the faceless and dark
multitude pushing around me, then the blinding whiteness of never ending walls, the choking
smell of chloroform chasing me along the labyrinth leading to the door 401. Four hundred and
one... I stopped to regain consciousness.
The moment came when I began to realise what had happened. ‘Please, do not get frightened.
Your father is in our hospital, he is all right now and asked me to phone you, he has had a
heart attack...’
I paused for a minute in front of the door, I felt my fingers trembling and could not touch the
handle. „What to do? How to behave? Of course with composure, but I can’t help shivering, I
can’t enter like this.“
There lay my father. I knew it was him. Every feature resembled him, his well-known
wrinkles, his little brown eyes, everything exactly like him. Yes, it was my father winking and
smiling at me, alive as me and wordless like me. I clung to him with both arms like the little
girl long, long ago, rebelling violently to be carried on his neck.
But there was something strange about him. At first I could not figure out what it was, then
calming down and looking at him attentively I understood that it was his smile which gave a
new expression to his face or eyes, I still don’t find the correct word.
He was in an unexpectedly cheerful state of mind, I even wondered if he was aware of what
had happened to him. The other patients joined our conversation teasing him with hospital
jokes, like: ’Are we going to the disco tonight? We have bribed the matron to let us out. Shall
we take the battle axe with us?’
The world has irrevocably changed since that afternoon. Much as I try, I cannot recall what it
was like before, because my father only reminds me of himself with this new smile on his
face.
Nothing will ever be the same.

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Words and Phrases

alive élő
attentively figyelmesen
battle axe csatabárd ( a főnővér beceneve)
behave viselkedik
betray elárul, becsap
blinding vakító
bribe megveszteget
carry on one’s neck a nyakában visz
chase üldöz
cheerful state of mind derűs hangulat
choke, choking fojtogat, fojtogató
cling, clung csüng
composure önfegyelem
consciousness eszmélet, tudatosság
faceless arctalan
fade elhalványul
familiar ismerős
figure out megért
frighten, get frightened megijeszt, megijed
handle kilincs
heart attack szívroham
hesitate tétovázik
labyrinth labirintus, útvesztő
likeness hasonlóság
mere a puszta, csak
much as I try bárhogy is próbálom
multitude tömeg
no sooner…than alig…máris
numb fingers dermedt ujjak
pause for a minute megállni egy percre
rebel lázad

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recall felidéz
receiver kagyló
regain visszanyer
reluctantly vonakodva
remind sy of sy/sg emlékeztet valakire
resemble emlékeztet
revive újraéleszt
rush rohan
senses érzékek
shiver rázza a hideg
sweat izzad (ság)
tease ugrat valakit
tremble remeg
turn into átváltozik
unexpected / ly váratlan
violently erőszakosan
watch the world go by csak nézni, ahogy az élet megy tovább
wink hunyorog, kacsint
wonder csodálkozik
wordless szótlan
wrinkle ránc

An Essay

Should We Ban Abortion?

To begin with, let us define the term ‘abortion’. It refers to the removal of an embryo
resulting in its death. Abortion can be spontaneous; this is called miscarriage, and can be
induced by chemical or surgical interference, preferably at an early stage of pregnancy.

Artificial abortion has caused a rather heated debate during the centuries. In some countries
it is still illegal, and is subject to criminal law. Although most of the developed countries
legalised surgical means long ago, it has been a crucial question ever since abortion law

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divided public opinion into Pro-choice and Pro-life activists. There are strong pros and cons
on either side.
Pro-choice activists vote for legalisation on the basis of the liberal concept of human rights
including women’s right to decide whether to give birth to the conceived child or not. They
argue that unwanted pregnancy either caused by rape or the lack of contraceptives entitle the
mother to choose abortion instead of bringing up a child against her will. They put priority to
individual freedom of choice.
At variance with them, Pro-life activists argue that the foetus is a human being with a
fundamental right to life and no one has the right to take it away. They regard abortion as a
legalised murder. Most of these activists take into account the moral or religious aspects of
the question. These diverse attitudes to abortion are based on the colliding concepts of life and
human rights.
There have been several opinion polls all over the world, and the results vary from country to
country. A certain per cent of the polltakers votes for prohibition or restrictions. For example
they would only permit abortion in case it saves the mother’s life. People are divided whether
the biological father should have the right to consent or object to abortion. All in all, there is
no consensus of opinions on the issue, the public is divided; and, as a result, parliaments have
to decide on their own to pass a liberal or restrictive abortion law.
As far as I am concerned, I think it is the woman’s responsibility to have safe sex in case
she does not intend to have a child. There are several means to avoid unwanted pregnancy and
it is our task to raise awareness in the young generation, to inform them about the possible
consequences of an abortion.
(395 words)

Words and Phrases

against her will akarata ellenére

artificial mesterséges
at an early stage korai szakaszban
at variance with them velük ellentétben
chemical kémiai
colliding, collision ütköző, ütközés

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conceive, conception felfog, megfogan, megfoganás

concept (of) felfogás, elmélet
consensus (of opinions) megegyezés, kiegyezés, konszenzus
consent to beleegyezik valamibe
consequence következmény
contraceptive fogamzásgátló
define meghatároz
defining meghatározó
definitely bizonnyal, határozottan
definition definíció, meghatározás
diverse, diversity nagyon különböző, különbözőség
divide into feloszt, megoszt
embryo embrió
foetus magzat
fundamental, basic alapvető
illegal, legal törvénytelen, törvényes
induce kivált, okoz, indukál
intend to szándékozik
intention szándék
interfere with beleavatkozik valamibe
interference beavatkozás
lack of hiánya valaminek
legalise legalizál, törvényesít
liberal law liberális, megengedő törvény
miscarriage vetélés
moral aspect erkölcsi szempont
object to ellenez valamit
opinion poll közvélemény kutatás
permit, permission megenged, engedély
polltaker a közvélemény kutatásban résztvevő
preferably lehetőleg
pregnancy terhesség
pregnant terhes

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pro-choice a választás szabadságáért kiálló

prohibit, prohibition megtilt, tiltás
pro-life az élet mellet kiálló
put priority to előnyben részesít, első helyre tesz
raise the awareness növelni a tudatosságot, ismereteket valamiről
rape, rapist nemi erőszak, elkövető
regard sg as tekint valaminek
remove, removal eltávolít, eltávolítás
restrict, restriction korlátoz, korlátozó
restrictive law korlátozó jog
result in eredményez valamit
spontaneous spontán, önkéntelen
subject to alá van vetve valaminek
subject to criminal law a büntetőjog tárgya
surgical sebészeti
take into account figyelembe vesz

‘A friend in weed is a friend indeed’ ?

Statistics indicate that the number of adolescents using drugs has been increasing at a
terrible rate. What are the reasons for this distressing phenomenon? How does one become a
drug addict? How do drugs affect the brain and the personality? Is drug addiction curable? Is
there any effective prevention policy?
To begin with, there are numerous views on the issue ranging from die-hard conservative
to extremely liberal ones. Hard liners consider drug abuse a serious crime and would send
everybody concerned to prison. At variance with them, neo-liberals suggest that light drugs
should be legalised. They deny that using light drugs leads to addiction. While there is a never
ending debate between the two sides, thousands of youngsters fall prey to drugs and are in a
real danger of growing into helpless addicts.
But why is the increasing number? Has something gone wrong with the younger
generation? The question emerges: who is responsible? Does the reason for drug abuse lie in
the lack of parental guidance or liberal education? Why does a child take to drugs instead of
doing sports or taking up healthy free time activities?

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It has been proved that in most cases there is an emotional crisis behind drug abuse
whether it be a family problem or difficulties in studies, the causes are countless. One thing is
sure: a child with a happy family background is not likely to become an addict. He might have
a try just for adventure’s sake, but will not go further as long as he or she can depend on the
parents. However, there are those who are easily influenced and smoke marijuana for the sake
of the company, the easy-going ones who are not aware of the real danger they are exposed to.
All in all, the most vulnerable are those with a serious problem. Since drugs induce an
intense feeling of pleasure, they voluntarily use them to ease their mind, to experience
happiness or ‘artificial paradise’ as Baudelaire wrote. Drugs affect one’s brain and cause
physical changes in it. If you are accustomed to them, your brain starts to crave for drugs due
to the biochemical process they induce. When the effect is over, the person sinks into
depression and longs to another dose and thus the vicious circle goes. Drug abuse leads to
self-destruction in the long run. Many drug addicts die of overdose.
As far as I am concerned, I am strongly convinced that the growing number of drug abuse
can be put down to parental negligence and the inefficiency of education. Traditional family
seems to be falling apart, children walk their way without guidance, they grow to be adults
too early as they are let loose, because it is easier to let them do what they want to than to say
‘no’ and spend enough time with them sharing their problems and answering their questions.
Drug addiction, though treatable, is incurable. Drop light drugs before it is too late.
(491 words)

Words and Phrases

artificial paradise mesterséges paradicsom

biochemical process biokémiai folyamat
consider sg sg tekint, tart valaminek
countless, numerous számtalan, számos
crave for sóvárog valami után
curable, incurable gyógyítható, nem gyógyítható
die-hard conservative vaskalapos konzervatív
distressing phenomenon lehangoló jelenség
dose, overdose adag, túladagolás

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drug abuse drogozás

drug addict drogfüggő
drug addiction drogfüggőség
ease one’s mind könnyít a lelkén
effective hatékony
emerge felmerül, kiemelkedik
everybody concerned minden érintett
experience happiness megéli a boldogságot
expose to danger veszélynek tesz ki
fall prey to áldozatul esik
family background családi háttér
for adventure’s sake a kaland kedvéért
for the sake of valaminek a kedvéért
grow into valamivé válik
hard liner keményvonalas
have a try megpróbál
indicate jelez
induce előidéz, okoz
inefficient, inefficiency nem hatékony, eredménytelenség
intense intenzív, erős
is / are accustomed to hozzászokott valamihez
it has been proved bebizonyították
let loose szabadjára enged
likely to become an addict valószínűleg függő lesz
long to vágyakozik valamire
neo-liberal neoliberális
parental guidance szülői irányítás
parental negligence szülői nemtörődömség
policy politika
prevent megelőz
prevention megelőzés
process folyamat
prove bizonyít

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put down to betud valaminek

self-destruction önpusztítás
sink, sank sunk süllyed
statistics statisztika
take to drugs rákap a drogokra
take up a sport sportolni kezd
the reason lies in the fact that az ok abban rejlik, azon alapul
treatable kezelhető
vicious circle ördögi kör
views on the issue a témáról vallott nézetek
voluntary, voluntarily szándékos, akarattal
volunteer önkéntes

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14. Holidays

’A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell’

George Bernard Shaw: Parents and Children

A : What are the bank holidays in your country?

B :We have several bank holidays such as Easter, Whitsun, which is on the seventh
Sunday after Easter .We also have winter holidays, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and
Carnival, but the letter is not a bank holiday. On these days, people do not work and send
greeting cards to their relatives and friends.
A : How do you celebrate Easter?
B : The celebration varies from country to country. Originally Easter is a religious holiday
when Christian people remember Jesus’s Passion. The Friday before Easter Sunday is
called Good Friday on which we commemorate the Crucifixion of Christ. On Good Friday
religious people go on a fast, which means they do not eat meat. There are several Easter
related folk traditions; in certain countries parents buy their children an Easter rabbit.
There is another custom for example in Hungary; on Easter Monday men visit their
female relatives or friends to sprinkle them with perfume.Boys and men get a painted egg
in exchange for their visit.
A : What Christmas traditions do you have in your country?
B : Just like Easter, Christmas goes back to Christian traditions. On Christmas Day we
celebrate the birth of the Messiah. On Christmas Day we put a pine, called Christmas tree
in the room and decorate it with different handmade ornaments. We sing Christmas carols
then everybody receives their presents that are put under the tree. On the second day of
Christmas we hold family reunion
A : How do English people celebrate Christmas?
B : English Christmas is a bit different from that of ours. The night before Christmas Day
Santa Claus arrives on a sleight pulled by reindeers and hides the gifts into the socks hung
by the fireplace or the bedside. English people decorate their rooms with mistletoe, and
there is a custom to kiss under it.Christmas pudding is another characteristic feature of the
feast.
A : What is special about it?

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B :You are supposed to prepare the pudding a month before Christmas to let the mixture
mature.The pudding is made of flour, bread crumbs, orange, dried fruit, cinnamon, candid
peel and nutmeg and you add a tablespoonful of treacle to it.You serve Christmas pudding
flamed at the table. You add some whisky to it and set alight.
A : How do you celebrate New Year?
B : New Year is celebrated all over the world on the 31st of December and on the1st of
January. On New Year’s Eve people throw parties to say farewell to the Old Year and
greet the New one.At exactly Midnight they drink Champaign and normally sing the
national anthem.They also entertain themselves with fireworks, and the Head of State
delivers a solemn speech addressed to the nation.
A : When is Carnival held?
B : Carnival is a two-week period before the Christian fasting of Lent, which lasts 40 days
before Easter. During the Carnival people throw parties and hold masquerade, which
means that the guests are supposed to wear fancy dresses and masques.At schools they
also have competitions the winner of which is the child wearing the nicest fancy dress.
A : What Anglo-Saxon celebrations are you familiar with?
B : Guy Fawkes Day, for example which is held on the 5th of November. That day English
people commemorate the great gunpowder plot in 1605.During this day they light bonfires
and burn the effigy of Guy Fawkes. Another Anglo-Saxon holiday is Thanksgiving Day,
which originates from Canada and during the 19th century became a festive day in the
U.S.A Thanksgiving Day is related to the Pilgrim Fathers who, after separating from the
English Church, sailed to America in search of freedom of religion The name refers to its
original meaning, i.e. being grateful for what one possesses and is closely connected to the
harvest feast. This is a secular holiday during which families have a large dinner shared
among friends. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.
Halloween is another festival in North America held on the 31st of October.Several groups
of children put on weird clothes, dressed like ghosts for example and go door-to-door to
collect candy. It is advisable to give them gifts if you do not want to be tricked. After
knocking on the doors they shout ‘Trick or Treat’ This day children make a jack-o-lantern
which is actually a pumpkin made frightening by putting candles into its interior which is
cut out.

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Zsibbasztó
Melyek az állami ünnepek? ..........................................................................................................
Az ünnep országonként változik ..................................................................................................
A húsvét eredetileg vallási ünnep.................................................................................................
A keresztények Jézus Passiójára emlékeznek ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nagypénteken a vallásos emberek böjtölnek ...............................................................................
A karácsony is keresztény hagyományokra megy vissza.............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az angol karácsony kicsit más .....................................................................................................
a Mikulás szánkón érkezik ...........................................................................................................
az angolok fagyönggyel díszítik a lakást......................................................................................
Mi a különleges benne? ................................................................................................................
Egy hónappal előbb kell elkészíteni .............................................................................................
Lángolva tálaljuk ..........................................................................................................................
Az Új Évet világszerte ünneplik...................................................................................................
Az emerek partikat rendeznek ......................................................................................................
Az államfő ünnepi beszédet mond ...............................................................................................
A vendégeknek jelmezt kell viselniük .........................................................................................
A nagy puskaporos merénylet ......................................................................................................
Örömtüzeket gyújtanak ................................................................................................................
Kanadából ered .............................................................................................................................
A Zarándok Atyákkal kapcsolatos ...............................................................................................

Words and Phrases

Anglo-Saxon angolszász
annual évenkénti
anthem himnusz
attract vonz
bank holiday állami ünnep
bonfire örömtűz

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bread crumbs kenyérmorzsa

candid peel szárított édesség
candle gyertya
candy édesség, cukorka
capture elfog
Carnival Farsang
celebrate ünnepel
characteristic feature jellemző vonás, elem
Christmas carol karácsonyi ének
cinnamon fahéj
commemorate megemlékezik valamiről
connotation többletjelentés
contact kapcsolat
crucifixion keresztrefeszítés
custom szokás
dearly beloved szerettei
decorate díszít
definition meghatározás
dragon sárkány
Easter Húsvét
effigy képmás
English Church Anglikán Egyház
entertain szórakoztat
familiar with ismer
fancy dress jelmez
Farewell, take farewell búcsú, elbúcsúzik
fast böjt
feast ünnep, lakoma
festive day ünnepnap
flame, flamed láng, lángoló
flour liszt
flourish virágzik, virul
gift ajándék

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goes back to ered valahonnan

Good Friday Nagypéntek
grateful hálás
grave sír
greeting card üdvözlőlap
gunpowder puskapor
Halloween Mindenszentek napja
handmade kézzel készített
hang, hung akaszt
Hanukkah Hanukkah
harvest feast aratási ünnep
Head of State államfő, köztársasági elnök
hold, held ( celebration) tart (ünnepet)
Holy Temple Szent Templom
in exchange for valamiért cserébe
in search of valaminek a reményében
interior belső
jack-o-lantern töklámpa
Jesus’ Passion Jézus Passiója
Jewish zsidó (melléknév)
last tart valameddig
lent böjt
light, lit meggyújt
look forward to nagyon vár valamit
masque álarc
masquerade jelmezbál
mature megérik
Menorah Menóra, gyertytartó
Messiah Messiás
midnight éjfél
mistletoe fagyöngy
mixture keverék, massza
originally eredetileg

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originate from származik valahonnan

perfume kölni
perpetual állandó
Pilgrim Fathers Zarándok Atyák
pine fenyőfa
plot, plotter összeesküvés, összesküvő
possess birtokol valamit
pumpkin tök
rabbit nyúl
receive kap
rededication újraszentelés
reindeer rénszarvas
related to kapcsolatos valamivel
religious vallásos
reunion, family reunion újraegyesülés, családi összejövetel
rhyme rím, vers
secular világi (nem vallásos)
separate from különválik valamitől
set alight meggyújt
sleight szánkó
spiritual world szellemvilág
sprinkle meglocsol (húsvétkor)
Thanksgiving Day Hálaadás napja
throw a party partit rendez
treacle melasz
treat megkínálás
trick trükk, tréfa
‘Trick or Treat!’ “trükk vagy ajándék”
vary from country to country országról országra változik
weird furcsa
Whitsun Pünkösd
witch boszorkány

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An Essay

The Importance of Having Holidays

Imagine your life without holidays, and you will understand what a rat race it would be.
The word ‘holiday’ has three meanings; on the on hand, it means the period off work for
example winter or summer holidays, on the other hand, we use this word for those days
when we commemorate important historical events or religious ones. These are called
bank holidays, because on these days banks are closed. Holiday can also be referred to as
a celebration of family events, for example birthday or wedding anniversary.
The importance of holidays lies in the fact that now and then people need some rest from
work i.e. recreation. Without holidays our life would be terribly boring. We all need some
changes from everyday life, whether it be connected to religious rituals or secular events.
Unfortunately holidays became ‘exploited’, because well before them, factories and
companies set up their production to sell more products i.e. to make people buy as many
presents as possible. Consumerist attitude deprives holidays of their original meaning and
serves as a means to make a big business for those who produce gifts.
As far as I am concerned, I won’t be fooled into replacing emotions with impersonal
presents. Whenever there is a family holiday or the birthday of a friend I always give
handmade gifts or buy something funny instead of investing much money into presents
that might embarrass the receiver. A set of cups or a vase as presents does not express
your feelings or gratitude. When I run out of ideas I buy a good book, CDs or just flowers
in case of women. I know, there are people who like giving and receiving practical
presents, but there is no accounting for tastes.
Furthermore, holidays are a good way for contemplating, for reconsidering your life and
turn a new leaf if it is needed. Holidays are a good opportunity to visit your friends or
relatives, to revive your relationships with them.
When there is a holiday put on your best clothes and dress in your best heart.

Words and Phrases

as far as I am concerned ami engem illet

consumerist attitude fogyasztói szemlélet

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contemplate on elgondolkodni valamin

deprive sy of sg megfoszt valamitől
embarrass zavarba hoz
emotion érzelem
exploit kizsákmányol, kihasznál
fool sy into doing sg bebolondít
furthermore továbbá
gratitude hála
impersonal személytelen
invest befektet
lie in ered, van valahol
off work szabadság (munkahelyen)
opportunity lehetőség
period időszak
receiver aki kapja az ajándékot
ritual szertartás
run out of kifogy valamiből
serves as a means eszközként szolgál valamire
set of cups pohárkészlet
set up production növeli a termelést
turn a new leaf új lapot nyitni
whether it be legyen bár…

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15. Household

‘Throw the lumber over, man! Let your boat of life be light, packed with only
what you need ⎯… someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and
a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear and a little more than enough to
drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.’
(Jerome K Jerome: Three Men in a Boat)
‘A falling object will always land where it can do the most damage.’
(Murphy’s law)

A :How have households changed during the last one hundred years?
B :Households have changed considerably. A modern household is well equipped with
everything that you might need. Labour saving devices save you a lot of trouble.You don’t
have to toil at washing any more.There are also household related services such as
laundry, dry cleaner, and food delivery for example. Internet has become a great help for
housewives, because they can do online shopping.
A : Who is in charge of the household in your family?
B : The boss is my mother, but we all share the tasks as she goes out to work and wouldn’t
be able to do evevrything. We, I mean my brother and me were taught to help with the
shopping from an early age.It is our duty to tidy our rooms, do the everyday shopping at
the grocery’s nearby.Once a month my parents drive to a shopping plaza to supply our
household with everything that we might need. As we grew older my mum taught us how
to cook our meals, that is why we never eat junk food. And we were always taught to do
the washing up after the meal.
A : Does your father help with the household?
B : As for my father, he is a great help at home because he can fix anything that breaks
down. He is a DIY fan, and really enjoys repairing and mending. A month ago we decided
on a full restoration of our house, which was done mostly by my father. First we laid new
tiles in the kitchen and the bathroom, then replaced the old parquet. These were the
hardest of all the tasks during the restoration. I forgot to mention, that my father replaced
the old waterpipes as well. He also changed the taps in the bathroom because the old ones
had been dripping. No sooner had we finished tiling than my father said it was high time
we redecorated the rooms. We painted the rooms white except for my parents’ bedroom
that needed wallpapering. Finally we painted all the doors and windows through sheer

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hard work. When everything was ready my mum decided on refurnishing the drawing
room. We hired an upholsterer to change the covers of the armchairs and the sofa. Mum
also insisted on buying a new cupboard and chairs for the dining room. With all the things
done we hired a cleaning service to remove all the mess that goes with restoration. It took
us a month to restore the house, but it was worth the effort, because the flat looks as if it
had been built anew.
1. And here are some useful sentences to learn.
2. There is so stuffy here, let’s air the room, shall we?
3. There is something wrong with the oven, let’s call a gasfitter.
4. Don’t touch that socket, you might get an electric shock.
5. Let’s call an electrician to replace it.
6. The roof is leaking, it’s high time we had it mended.
7. I think we should call a repairman because the washing machine sounds like a rattling
truck.
8. How about throwing a party when the restoration is done? That’s a good idea. Who
shall we invite?
9. I suggest inviting only the best friends and making a barbecue.
10. What shall we do in case it rains? We could gather in the dining room and lay the table
with all kinds of salads, cakes,and drinks of course.
11. Then we have to buy some bottles of wine because our supply is not enough to go
round.
12. I think we haven’t met before. My name is Thomas Cheer.
13. I see. So you are a relative here. I am just a friend of the Cheers.
14. Are you enjoying the party?
15. O, yeah. Everybody is so nice, and I have already had amusing conversations with
some guests.
16. There are several household-related accidents.
17. Yesterday I scalded my hand while pouring hot water into the washbasin.
18. I cut my fingers while chopping vegetables.
19. It was bleeding hard so I had to put a sticking plaster on it.
20. There were several burglaries in our neighbourhood, so we decided to install an alarm
system
21. I think flowers need watering, becasue the last time I did it was two weeks ago.
22. I haven’t spoken to my plants for a month, that is why they seem to wither.

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23. We need to buy a new broom, because its stick has broken and I cannot work with it.
24. Have you scrubbed the kitchen yet?
25. No, it doesn’t need scrubbing, a little sweeping will do.
26. I have to go to the pharmacy to buy some painkillers.
27. Don’t worry about that, I’ll see to it.
28. Whose turn is it to hoover the carpets?
29. I think this is my turn, but I’d rather do the ironing if somebody does the hoovering for
me.
30. O, I am so thirsty. Don’t move, I’ll fetch some water for you
31. I didn’t know you have moved to a new house.
32. Yes we decided to have a bigger one so that the children can have rooms of their own.
33. I have just read an article that gives sound advice how to furnish children’s room.
34. In the new house everybody has their little nook.
35. This was a real bargain, though we had to paint all the rooms.
36. Then you are lucky. We have just bought a cottage in the country and we had to pay
through the nose for it.
37. But your house is a real mansion! Everybody envies you.
38. Oh, no. It’s just the facade that makes it so impressive.
39. The interior is in bad condition, we have to ask for a loan to restore it to our taste.
40. Fancy having dark wallpapers everywhere, it is so depressing; but the beautiful garden
makes up for the rest.
41. That is a marvellous cake. Help yourself to it.
42. Could you do the shopping for me, because I’m going to the hairdresser to have my
hair cut.
Words and Phrases

air the room kiszellőzteti a szobát

amusing szórakoztató
anew újra
barbecue piknik
bargain jó üzlet, olcsó vétel
bleed hard erősen vérzik
broom seprű

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charge, in charge feladat, felelős valamiért

charwoman házvezetőnő
cleaning service takarító cég
considerably jelentősen
convenience kényelem
conversation társalgás
cover huzat
deep freezer fagyasztó
depressing lehangoló
dishwasher mosogatógép
drip csöpög
drudgery rabszolgamunka
dry cleaner vegytisztító
electric shock áramütés
envy irigyel
façade homlokzat
fetch elmegy valamiért, elhoz
fix megszerel
fixed to their home házhoz kötve
food delivery ételszállítás
food mixer konyhai robot
furnish bútoroz
gasfitter gázszerelő
go out to work eljár dolgozni
go round (food or drink) jut mindenkinek
grow older öregszik
Help yourself to it. vegyen belőle!
hoover porszívózik
household chore házimunka
I’ll see to it majd én megcsinálom.
in spite of ellenére
iron, ironing vasaló, vasalás
it is high time ideje, hogy

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it is worth the effort megéri az erőfeszítést

It’s my turn. rajtam a sor
labour saving device háztartási gép
laundry mosoda
lay lefektet, lerak
leak szivárog, beázik
lumber teher
make up for the rest kárpótol a többiért
mansion palota, kúria
mend megjavít
mess szemét
move to a new house új házba költözik
nook zug
online shopping internetes vásárlás
oven sütő, tűzhely
paint the room white fehérre festi a szobát
parquet parketta
pay through the nose sokat fizet valamiért
pharmacy patika
plant növény
product termék
rattle zörög
redecorate szobát újrafest
refurnish újrabútoroz
repair megjavít
restoration felújítás
roof tető
rooms of their own saját szobáik
save a lot of trouble sok fáradságtól kímél meg
scald leforráz
scrub felmos
share the tasks megosztja a feladatokat
sheer igazi

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shopping plaza bevásárló központ

socket konnektor
sound advice jó tanács
stick bot, rúd
sticking plaster sebtapasz
store raktár (oz)
stuffy fülledt
supply ellát, felszerel, készlet
sweep söpör
tap csap
taught, we were taught arra tanítottak minket
thirst szomjúság
through sheer hard work kemény munkával
tidy takarít
tile csempe
toil at kínlódik valamivel
truck traktor
upholsterer kárpitos
vacuum cleaner porszívó
wallpaper tapéta
washbasin mosogató
water pipe vízvezeték
well-off gazdag
Whose turn is it? ki van soron?
will do jó lesz
with all the things done miután minden kész volt
wither hervad

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An Advertisement

House for Sale

Are you eager to have an adventure? Are you a DIY fan?

If yes, you should definitely buy our cottage, which is within easy reach of the town. The
house is in such a condition that you have to prove all your skills to make it habitable since
we didn’t insure it.
You should start restoration from the top as the roof is leaking and the ceiling is mildewed
with falling plaster wherever you go in the place. The house has not been plastered for 40
years and looks like a sloughing animal.
Something about the interior that might interest you. All the place needs renovating; the gas
cooker and the gas heater do not work due to the fact that gas service has been cut off for half
a year, because we didn’t pay the bills. Furthermore, the house is also mortgaged, since we
borrowed a considerable amount of money from a bank to set everything right, but then
decided not to torture ourselves with all the inconvenience that goes with restoration, so we
changed our mind and would like to sell the house instead.
However, we do not want to cheat, that is why we confess that all the taps are dripping, the
parquet needs to be re-laid and polished. As for the kitchen, you will learn that you haven’t
seen such a mess in your life, because we hardly ever tidied it. Apart from the dripping taps
you will face a fridge out of work, but never mind, it may come in handy if you use it as a
cupboard. To tell you the truth, we have not got any cupboards at all. We used to have built-in
ones until they ‘flew’ off the wall while my husband tried to install a filter above the gas
cooker, which was a total failure. No filter, no cupboards. The house is a two-storey one, and
if you go upstairs, you will find how shaky the stairs are. It is a real miracle that nobody has
fallen off them. As far as the bathroom concerned, we must not hide the fact, that the bath is
rusty all over, and there is not any hot water due to the gas service being cut off.

PS.: Should you be interested in the bargain, pay a visit to this impressive house to let us
show you round before it is too late. I strongly advise you to get a life insurance before
coming here, because the house is haunted at nights. Pay a deposit of £500, and you might be
the lucky one.

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Words and Phrases

adventure kaland
borrow kölcsönvesz
built-in cupboard beépített szekrény
ceiling plafon
confess bevall
cupboard szekrény
cut off lezár, kikapcsol
definitely határozottan, bizonnyal
deposit előleg
failure kudarc
fly off lerepül
habitable lakható
hardly ever szinte soha
haunt kísért
hide lerejt
it may come in handy még jól jöhet
life insurance életbiztosítás
mildew penész
mortgage jelzálog
plaster vakolat
polish lakkoz
relay újrarak
rusty rozsdás
set right rendbe tesz
shaky ingatag
should you be interested ha esetleg érdekelné
since mivel
sloughing vedlő
two-storey house kétszintes ház
within easy reach közel van

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Zsibbasztó

Kalánd után sóvárog? ...................................................................................................................

Mindenképpen meg kellene vennie a házunkat ............................................................................
A ház közel van a városhoz ..........................................................................................................
Minden képességét bizonyítani kell .............................................................................................
Ha lakhatóvá akarja tenni a házat .................................................................................................
Felülről kell kezdenie a felújítást .................................................................................................
Mivel a tető szivárog ....................................................................................................................
A plafon penészes és úgy néz ki, mint egy vedlő állat .................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A ház 40 éve nem volt vakolva ....................................................................................................
Valamit a házbelsőről, ami érdekelheti önt. .................................................................................
A gázszolgáltatást kikapcsolták ...................................................................................................
Mert nem fizettük a számlákat .....................................................................................................
A házon jelzálog van, mert nagy összeget vettünk föl a banktól .................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mindent helyre akartunk hozni, de meggondoltuk magunkat ......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Elhatároztuk, hogy nem kínozzuk magunkat a kényelmetlenséggel ............................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Amivel a felújítás együttjár ..........................................................................................................
Nem akarjuk becsapni ..................................................................................................................
Bevalljuk, hogy az összes csap csöpög ........................................................................................
A parkettát újra kell rakni és lakkozni .........................................................................................
Még életében nem látott akkora koszt ..........................................................................................
Szinte soha nem takarítottuk ........................................................................................................
Ne törődjön vele, még jól jöhet ....................................................................................................
Az igazat megvallva .....................................................................................................................
Azelőtt beépített szekrényeink voltak ..........................................................................................
Amíg le nem repültek a falról ......................................................................................................
A férjem egy szűrőt próbált felszerelni ........................................................................................
Ez teljes csőd volt .........................................................................................................................

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Meg fogja látni, milyen ingatag a lépcső .....................................................................................

Igazi csoda, hogy még senki nem esett le ....................................................................................
Ami a fürdőszobát illeti ................................................................................................................
Nem titkolhatjuk el a tényt ...........................................................................................................
A fürdőkád tiszta rozsda ...............................................................................................................
Ha esetleg érdekelné ez az olcsó vétel .........................................................................................
Látogasson el ebbe a szép házba ..................................................................................................
Mielőtt nem késő ..........................................................................................................................
Melegen ajánlom, hogy legyen életbiztosítása .............................................................................
A házat éjszaka kísértet járja ........................................................................................................
Fizessen 500 £ előleget, s ön lehet a szerencsés nyertes ............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Pillow Talk

W: wife
H: husband

W: Darling, you’d better give in. Jenny keeps complaining about not having a pet. She is
yearning to keep a cat.
H: A cat? Oh, no! Cats are nasty creatures! I am not going to live together with a self-centred
individual that pokes its nose into my plate.
W: Now, you are being a grumpy old man. Cats are endearing and loveable especially when
they lie in your lap and purr. I have read somewhere that they have a positive impact on your
health, their purring I mean. They calm your nerves.
H: To my best knowledge, doctors were invented long ago to cure your disorders. I would
hate to have a cat around with all its fur on the furniture. Disgusting. By the way, I have read
somewhere that keeping a cat enhances the danger of developing asthma.
W: That’s not an excuse. Jenny is in perfect health, there’s no danger whatsoever for her to
get ill. And don’t forget that looking after a pet improves a child’s sense of responsibility. I’m
sure it would do good to Jenny’s character.
H: I bet it wouldn’t do good to me. It is always the parents who take the burden in the end.
You are supposed to do everything, feeding, cleaning up and taking the nuisance to the vet.

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W: Don’t be so difficult. Jenny is old enough to arrange these things. It is just because you
have a strong aversion to cats. I am convinced she would cope.
H: Listen, I’d rather have ten noisy parrots than a cat. Cats tend to roam at nights and they
will come back with torn ears or ten pussies. They are egotistic. You simply cannot teach a
cat or train it to behave. It will go its own ways.
W: Ok then. Let’s buy a puppy.
H: Are you aware of the troubles a little puppy goes together with? It takes much time to train
it to be an orderly fellow. Who is going to take it to the training school? Appart from it, a dog
makes you busy all day. It has to be taken for walks at least twice a day, even in the rain. If
you have a dog you are fixed to the flat or forced to ask your neighbours to look after it when
you are away on holiday.
W: Then why did you marry? A family goes together with troubles, you know.
H: Ok, I give in. What breed do you have in mind?
W: Perhaps a Labrador?
H: Oh, no! Cannot you think of a less aristocratic dog? A Labrador makes you feel badly
dressed.
W: You are kidding. Labradors are the most intelligent breed. The police like keeping them.
H: Am I to catch up with a Labrador? I mean mentally?
W: I hope you don’t mean to buy a mongrel. How about a Spaniel?
H: Yeah, that would be great. I adore Spaniels. There is something humanlike in their eyes.

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16. Human Life

‘No man is an Island, entire of itself.’ ( John Donne: Meditation XVII )

’I don’t speak about the crucial questions; I want to contemplate on them in my grave.’
( Füst Milán: The Story of my Wife )

A: I come from a large family; there are 6 of us living together in a detached house.My
ancestors had lived in the country, until my grandparents moved to the city.The history of
my family goes back to the 16th century when my ancestors from Italy settled here.My
uncle and his family immigrated to the USA after the World War II. My parents met at a
party, and it was a love at the first sight. They had been going out for a year when they
decided to get married. My mother comes from a religious family so my father, though
being an atheist, consented to a church wedding.On the wedding day she really looked
fantastic in her gorgeous white dress.The wedding ceremony in the church lasted an hour
and ended in a prayer.Nowadays most couples decide on a civil wedding, which is held in
a registry office.Their first child was christened Thomas. She gave birth to twins, whom
you cannot tell apart.She has been on maternity leave for two years.
B: Unfortunately my sister couldn’t give birth to children, so they adopted a child.It is
better to live with adoptive parents than grow up in an orphanage.One of my classmates
was brought up in an orphanage; I always pitied him.
A: My sister got married, had two children, but to my greatest surprise, got divorced after
6 years of marriage.After her divorce she remarried and now has two stepsons.
B: I really had a happy childhood; my best memories are associated with my grandpa
playing with me hide-and-seek. In the first year at school I was enthusiastic, later on I
didn’t enjoy learning that much.My school career is nothing special − I have always been
a disciplined child doing my best.I wanted to be a doctor from an early age.I never
regretted choosing this profession; it really inspires me.
A: To my sorrow, my father died at the age of 40. He died of cancer.There is nothing
more depressing than a funeral – it simply breaks one’s heart.
B: My poor nephew became an orphan at the age of 12, when his parents died in an
accident. His aunt brought him up treating him as her own child.

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A: After my grandpa had died, my grandma lived as a widow by herself. As my grandma

grew older, her health became poor, and we took her to our place to take care of her. Her
wish was to be buried in the same grave where my grandpa rests in peace.
B: I think the most important things in one’s life to find the right partner to live with and
the right job in which one can succeed. I do believe human life makes sense only if you
have strong believes and principles.It doesn’t make any difference whether you are a
believer or an atheist; the point is that you should live a meaningful life.
A: Man is a social being and cannot do without his fellow creatures. For various reasons, a
lot of people suffer from loneliness.It is a great thing to have friends you can rely on.
Though sometimes we need solitude to get away from the rat race.
B:There are workaholics who are totally absorbed in their jobs and neglect their families.
It doesn’t make sense to risk your health for money or a higher position.

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Words and Phrases

absorbed in belemerül valamibe

adopt a child örökbe fogad
adoptive parents nevelő szülők
ancestor ős, előd
associated with kapcsolódik valamihez
at the age of 40 40 éves korában
belief, believes hit, hitek
believer hívő
bring up felnevel
bury, buried eltemet
christen megkeresztel
civil wedding polgári esküvő
concept elmélet, felfogás
consent to beleegyezik valamibe
crucial questions végső kérdések
depressing elszomorító, lehangoló
derive from származik valahonnan
devote sg to szentel valaminek
died of cancer rákban halt meg
disciplined fegyelmezett
do one’s best megteszi a tőle telhetőt
enthusiastic lelkes
entire egész, teljes
evolution fejlődés, törzsfejlődés
fellow creatures embertársak
for various reasons különböző okokból
from an early age kora gyermekkorától
funeral temetés
give birth to gyermeket szül
go out with sb jár valakivel, udvarol
goes back ered, kezdődik

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gorgeous pompázatos
got divorced elváltak
grave sír
grow older megöregszik
grow up felnő
her health became poor megromlott az egészsége
hide-and-seek bújócska
higher position magasabb állás
I never regretted choosing this profession Sohasem bántam meg, hogy ezt a foglalkozást
választottam
I wish my dreams came true Bárcsak valóra válna az álmon!
I wish my dreams had come true Bárcsak valóra vált volna az álmom!
immigrate to emigrál
inspire ösztönöz, inspirál
it doesn’t make any difference mindegy, nem számít
it doesn’t make sense nincs értelme
love at the first sight szerelem első látásra
makes sense van értelme
maternity leave gyed
meaningful life értelmes élet
meaningless értelmetlen
move to elköltözik
my best memories legkedvesebb emlékeim
neglect elhanyagol
nothing special semmi különös
orphan árva
orphanage árvaház
pity sb szán, sajnál
prayer ima
principle elv
registry office házasságkötő terem
religious vallásos
rely on támaszkodik valakire

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remarry újraházasodni
rests in peace békében nyugszik
sacrifice sg for sg feláldoz valamiért
social being társasági lény
solitude egyedüllét
stepson, stepdaughter, stepmother nevelt fia, lánya, mostohaanya
suffer from szenved valamitől
take care of sb gondoskodik valakiről
tell apart megkülönböztet
that much annyira, nagyon
the point is that you should… a lényeg, hogy…
there are 6 of us living together hatan élünk együtt
third-rate harmadrangú
though being an atheist bár ateista (istentagadó)
to my greatest surprise legnagyobb meglepetésemre
treat sb as kezel valakit valahogyan
waste elpazarol
wedding ceremony esküvői ceremónia
workaholic munkoholista

An Essay

Dreams

“Freudism or psychoanalysis is an interesting invention by Prof. Sigmund

Freud, Vienna, who, after 30 years of research, had come to the sensational
conclusion, that if one dreams about sausages means that one feels like
eating sausages. According to the theory, man has a conscious as well as a
subconscious mind but no brain. The recognition of this, it is said, can cure
nervousness.”
(Karithy Frigyes: Lexicon Naïve)

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Realising that I had most probably spent half of my foreseeable life-span without becoming
an orderly dream-conscious person, I took a solemn oath to come to terms with myself, before
it was late. I need hardly say, like every well-educated mind, I am familiar with the
rudimentary works of psychology such as The Book of Dreams by Gyula Krúdy, not to
mention Freud’s renown dream interpretations. I must confess, I never seriously considered
their relevance to my own existence.
‘Now’, said I to myself, ‘It’s high time you brought to the surface your suppressed ego’ so I
decided on an uncompromising self-dissection. As a last warning Oscar Wilde’s words came
to my mind: ‘Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.’, but I determined not to
be a flincher and took a bit of paper to make a list of my recent dreams. And then it began to
dawn on me that I very seldom had dreams, at least I managed to recall only two recurring
ones: walking in the air, kind of hovering over the streets and a strange one, rambling in the
Scottish Highlands. (I have never been to the Highlands.)
‘It won’t do’ said I.
The point is that my dreams when I have any, are usually terribly boring. No thrilling
nightmares, a rather frightening momentum regarding my daytime fears, no idyllic scenes, not
even a glimpse of Him. What I usually have is totally trivial events with absolutely unfamiliar
faces against an absolutely alien background.
It is said that our dreams, however strange they may seem, are derived from our reality. I do
not know where my dreams stem from, but their petty realism begins to hurt me. Or rather…
what if they are derived from another life, hm…what if they are not my dreams? Anyway,
what an offending thing it is, that I with my deeply rooted romantic promptings, with my
embedded and cherished complexes should have such prosaic dreams! It is unfair.
‘Why do I dream about Scotland? Am I a reborn Scottish shepherd?’ Krúdy knows nothing
about Scotland.
‘And what is that stupid walking in the air?’ I checked it in Freud. I anticipated he would
provide some sexual connotation for my ‘walking in the air’, but I did not expect it to be such
a formidable explanation. What I could make out was that I had a strong aversion to my
father’s blowing his nose in public, it also says something about my great-grandfather’s
wheelbarrow, but I am not sure about the message.
The long and the short of it is that something is acutely wrong with my ego. I was happy to
learn it. Not that it was a new revelation, I had been suspicious about myself for a long time.
But it was a pleasure to become legally entitled to join the majority of mankind.
As for my ‘nightdreams’ I can feel safe now, as to my ‘daymares’, well, I am not sure.

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Words and Phrases

acute heveny, akut (betegség)

against an alien background egy idegen háttér előtt
anticipate megérez, előre lát
Aversion to ellenérzés
beneath alatt
blow one’s nose fújja az orrát
brain agy, ész
bring to the surface felszínre hoz
cherish dédelget
come to terms with tisztába jön valamivel
complex komplexus, gátlás
conclusion következtetés
conscious mind tudatos én
cure gyógyít
dawn on sy derengeni kezd, megvilágosodik
daytime nappal (i)
determine elhatároz
dissection boncolás
dream-conscious álomtudatos
embed beágyaz
existence létezés
flincher aki meghátrál, gyáva
foreseeable előrelátható
formidable bonyolult
glimpse pillantás, villanás
highland felvidék
hover lebeg
I need hardly say aligha kell mondanom
idyllic idillikus
interpretation magyarázat
invention találmány

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it won’t do ez nem lesz jó

life-span életkor
mankind emberiség
message üzenet
momentum mozzanat
most probably nagy valószínűséggel
nervousness idegesség
nightmare rémálom
offending sértő
orderly rendes
peril veszte
petty kisszerű
promptings késztetés
prosaic prózai, száraz
psychoanalysis mélylélektan
ramble kószál
realism realizmus
reborn újjászületett
recognition felismerés
regarding tekintve
relevance érvényesség
renown ismert
research kutatás
revelation felfedezés, felismerés
rudimentary alapvető
scene jelenet
sensational szenzációs
sexual connotation szexuális többletjelentés
solemn oath ünnepi eskü
stem from ered valahonnan
subconscious mind tudatalatti én
suppressed ego elnyomott ego (személyiség)
suspicious gyanakvó

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the long and the short of it egyszóval

thrilling izgató
trivial kisszerű
uncompromising tántoríthatatlan
unfair nem igazságos
unfamiliar ismeretlen
wheelbarrow talicska

Dialogue
Euthanasia

Daughter: Pa, there is a headline in the paper ‘Euthanasia’. Do you know what it means? I
guess this is a Latin word.
Father: No, my child, this word is of Greek origin with the meaning of “good death”.
Daughter: Good death? How can be anybody’s death good?
Father: Yes, the translation is a bit misleading. Actually, there is another way of putting it,
which is ‘mercy killing’.
Daughter: This sounds terrible. What do they mean by it?
Father: Look this is a rather sophisticated issue that has caused a lot of heated debates all
over the world. By mercy killing we mean letting somebody die that is withdrawing life
support, necessary treatments in order to terminate his or her life.
Daughter: But that is murder!
Father: Yes, those who are against Euthanasia argue that it is legalized murder. However,
there are pro-activists who claim that people have the right to decide when to die. They say
that a person suffering from a fatal illness that cannot be cured must be entitled to choose
Euthanasia that is dying instead of being treated in vain.
Daughter: Now I see what it is. I am for Euthanasia! It is much better than letting somebody
agonize without the hope of recovery.
Father: This is not so simple. In most countries, Euthanasia is illegal or subject to criminal
law.
Daughter: But why? I sea no reason why should they prevent people from dying if they want
to? It is cruel to make somebody suffer.

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Father: Have you ever heard of The Oath of Hippocrates?

Daughter: Yes, I know this is a swearing ceremony of graduated doctor’s, isn’t it?
Father: Yes, you’re right. In this solemn oath they take the pledge not to give anybody
deadly medicine even if they are asked to do so. They also swear to keep on struggling for
their patient’s life till the end. As you can see, Euthanasia is against this oath.
Daughter: I am sure, humanism is much more important than any oath.
Father: But you have to take into account other aspects as well. What about patients who
have been in coma let us say, for years? Would you give the right to the relatives to decide
whether to remove the feeding tube in order to let him or her die? There was a case in the
USA, a man, I cannot remember the name just now, was fighting for years to let his brain
damaged wife in coma die. In the end he won, but there was a great scandal on behalf of pro-
life activists who called him murderer. Poor man had to face threats day by day. You know,
religious people in particular tend to oppose the liberalisation of the current law which
prohibits Euthanasia.
Daughter: I see what you mean…relatives can have hidden motives, I mean the desire of
getting rid of a troublesome patient or even worse hoping to get the inheritance. Hm…this is
really sophisticated.

Words and Phrases

another way of putting it a megnevezés más módja

brain damaged agysérült
coma kóma
entitle sy to do sg feljogosít valakit valamire
Euthanasia eutanázia, kegyes halál
feeding tube táplálócső
heated debate heves vita
hidden motive hátsó szándék
hide, hid, hid rejt
issue dolog, kérdés
mercy killing kegyes halál

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misleading félrevezető
oath, The Oath of Hippocrates eskü, hippokratészi eskü
origin, of Greek origin eredet, goörög eredetű
prevent sy from doing sg megakadályoz valakit valamiben
pro-activist aktivista valamilyen ügy mellett
pro-life activist életvédő
recovery felgyógyulás
solemn komoly, ünnepélyes
sophisticated bonyolult, kényes
struggle for küzd valamiért
take the pledge megfogad (ünnepélyesen)
terminate megszüntet, véget vet valaminek
withdraw visszavon, megvon

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17. Jobs

‘Work is the curse of the drinking classes.’ (Oscar Wilde)

(The original saying goes: Drinking is the curse of the working class.)

‘I can’t sit still and see another man slaving and working. I want to get up and
superintend, and walk round with my hands in my pockets, and tell him what to do. It is
my energetic nature. I can’t help it. (Jerome K. Jerome: Three Men in a Boat)

A : What kind of job do you fancy having in the future?

B : The point is that the work should be creative and rewarding. Of course, it would be
great if it were well paid, however, creativity comes first. I would prefer to work
freelance, as I would hate spending long hours in the same place day by day. Furthermore,
as a freelancer, you can do work of your choice. On the other hand, such work, I mean
freelance, is rather scarce.
A : I’d rather have a job that involves meeting new people, as I like having people around
me. And it would be nice if it involved a lot of travelling. I fancy having a private
enterprise, most probably running a shop or trading in books, which I find really exciting.
C : I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. It has been my dream from an early age. I can’t
imagine anything else more rewarding or useful. I’m aware of the fact that it can be tiring,
but it’s worth the effort as you can save people’s life.
A : Where can you find a new job?
B : Jobs are advertised in newspapers and on the Internet. There are newspapers the
profile of which to advertise jobs. You can also turn to the Labour Exchange, they might
find you a suitable workplace.
A : What is the procedure of applying for a job?
B : When applying for a job, one has to send a CV and an application letter. Your CV
should contain your particulars, studies, qualifications and experience in the field you are
supposed to work. If the employee becomes interested in you, you will be asked to a job
interview. At an interview the candidate’s personal qualities are also tested. It is important
that you should convince the interviewer that you are suitable for the job. At an interview
you have to prove your real interest in the work and also your positive attitude to working
hard.
A : What are the FAQs (frequently asked questions) at an interview?

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B : May I put a question concerning my future salary? Am I supposed to work overtime?

How much overtime payment do you pay? Can I expect any bonuses or extra money apart
from the salary? Does the firm pay for my travel expenses? Do I have to work in shifts?
Will I have any chances of promotion in the future?
1. And here are some more useful sentences
2. How much income tax do you pay?
3. How many per cents of your salary do you pay into social insurance?
4. He was made redundant as the firm closes down.
5. The number of unemployed people has been increasing for years.
6. My father has not got a job; he is on the dole.
7. She is not working at the moment; she is on maternity leave.
8. If you do not meet the requirements at your work, you can be fired.
9. He had been late for work regularly, and got the sack finally.
10. Last week he got a promotion and became a senior accountant.
11. Trade union workers announced a strike. They won’t go back to work until they get a
reasonable pay rise.
12. The government started negotiations with the strike leaders
13. The negotiations were put off without reaching an agreement.
14. I wouldn’t be a politician; they are always in the public eye.
15. Small enterprises are hit by heavy taxations.
16. A lot of private enterprises have folded recently because of the heavy taxation.
17. A lot of graduates have to face unemployment.
18. Women should be paid on equal terms with men.
19. Unemployed people over 40 have no real prospect of getting a steady job.
20. If you are a woman with children your chances to get a job are not as good as that of a
man of your age.
21. Employers prefer male employees because they do not go on maternity leave and do
not stay at home when their child is ill.
22. There are a lot of sexist advertisements in which they seek only male candidates for
the job that can be carried out by a woman too.
23. The advantage of being self-employed is that you are your own boss.
24. A doctor’s job is good in terms of money; however it is extremely hard work.
25. Less and less people want to be teachers because of the low prestige of the work.
26. A lot of people do not appreciate teachers’ work.

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27. It can be discouraging when your boss doesn’t appreciate your effort.
28. My boss finds fault with everything I do; it is so humiliating.
29. My parents have to work a lot to make ends meet.
30. Most people’s salaries are paid into their bank accounts.
31. My grandma’s pension is not enough to live on.
32. After three years of enterprising he finally went bankrupt.

An Application Letter

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to you in order to apply for the job of a secretary advertised on your
website.
I think I have the necessary qualifications, skills and enough experience in office work,
and I find myself suitable for the job.
At school I learned computing and passed the ECDL exam with good results. I can use
the Word, Excel and I am familiar with the Internet. I speak German fluently and I am
also good in business English.
As you can see in my CV enclosed, I have been working as a secretary for 5 years and I
have good references that I attached to my CV. I am satisfied with my present job;
however, I need to find a new place because my family is moving to London next
month.
I am dedicated and hard working and do not mind working overtime when required.
I think I have good communication skills and I am on good terms with my colleagues,
because I never lose my temper, which is essential in this field.
I would be grateful if you could send me further information about the job itself and the
working conditions at your company.
I hope you will be interested in my application and I am looking forward to hearing
from you soon.

Yours faithfully
Julia Willing

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Dialogue

Hard Talk

Anne: Mum?
Mum: Yes, dear?
Anne: I’d like to talk to you about something really important. You know, it’s high time I
handed in my application to the university. The deadline is next Monday.
Mum: Are there any problems with it?
Anne: Mum, I know, you and pa expect me to be a lawyer, but..er..well, I don’t really fancy
being one.
Mum: Do you mean, you have changed your mind?
Anne: Actually, I have. I’d like to be a correspondent. That’s the right work for me.
Mum: You should have warned me earlier. I bet, your father will hit the roof if you tell him
what you want. He has always wanted you to take over his firm when he retires.
Anne: Yeah, I know he’ll be disappointed, but it was him who told me a hundred times that
one should choose such work that is really inspiring.
Mum: But what made you change your mind? You surely have what it takes to be a good
lawyer. And don’t forget about the advantages…your pa will be able to help you to get your
foot in the door. And being a lawyer is rather a prestigious thing.
Anne: I know, but believe me, I gave it a serious consideration and I realised that I would hate
studying law. You know, memorising law rules and such. It is not my cup of tea.
Mum: Well, nowadays everybody wants to be a journalist. It is so trendy, isn’t it?
Anne: It’s not that, mum. I am really interested in this work. Anyway, isn’t it great to inform
people about the world they live in?
Mum: Are you aware of the hardships of this profession? You’ll be expected to work irregular
hours, and if you are successful you’ll spend your time travelling from one place to another.
Anne: Oh, that’s what inspires me, I mean, meeting new people, interesting personalities,
getting acquainted with other cultures. I would only benefit from this work. I am enthusiastic
about it.
Mum: But bear in mind, in the long run it can be so stressful and tiring. You might regret
choosing such a hard job. Very few husbands would tolerate a wife, whose whereabouts
cannot be predicted.
Anne: Oh, mum, don’t exaggerate. Anyway, I’m not going to be an astronaut.

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Mum: Well, you know best. I won’t object to your choice. But it is you, who is supposed to
convince your father. You’ll need all your communication skills to win him.
Anne: Oh, I’m sure, he won’t be a problem.

Words and Phrases

am I supposed to kell-e? elvárják-e tőlem?

announce bejelent, meghirdet
application pályázat
appreciate értékel, megbecsül
as that of a man of your age mint az önnel egykorú férfié
astronaut űrhajós
attach to csatol valamihez
attitude to viszony valamihez
bank account folyószámla
benefit from hasznára válik
bonus jutalom, részesedés
candidate jelentkező, pályázó
cannot be predicted nem lehet megjósolni
carry out elvégez, teljesít
chances of promotion az előléptetés esélyei
change one’s mind meggondolja magát
communication skills kommunikációs képességek
computing számítástechnika
concerning valamit illetően
contain tartalmaz
convince meggyőz
correspondent tudósító
creative kreatív
creativity comes first a kreativitás a legelső / legfontosabb
curse átok
CV (curriculum vitae) önéletrajz

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dedicated elhivatott, lelkes

disappointed csalódott
discouraging elkedvetlenítő
doctors are paid much more money az orvosok sokkal több pénzt keresnek
dole, I am on the dole munkanélküli segély
don’t exaggerate ne túlozz!
don’t mind working overtime nem bánja, ha túlórázni kell
employment agency munkaközvetítő
enclose mellékel
enthusiastic about lelkesedik valamiért
essential lényeges
expect me to be a lawyer azt várják tőlem, hogy jogász legyek
expectation elvárás
expenses költségek
experience tapasztalat
face unemployment munkanélküliséggel néz szembe
familiar with jól ért valamihez
fire elbocsát, elküld (munkahelyről)
gave it a serious consideration komolyan megfontoltam
get acquainted with other cultures megismerkedik más kultúrákkal
got the sack kirúgták
graduate diplomás
hardship nehézség
hit the roof falra mászik, megüti a guta
humiliating megalázó
I am aware of the fact tisztában vagyok a ténnyel
I bet lefogadom
I can’t help it. nem tehetek róla
I can’t sit still nem tudok nyugton ülni
I don’t fancy being a lawyer nem szeretnék jogász lenni
I would prefer to work freelance jobban szeretnék szabadúszó lenni
in order to abból a célból
in terms of money pénz szempontjából

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in the field you are supposed to work a területen, ahol dolgoznia kell
in the public eye a nyilvánosság előtt
income tax jövedelemadó
inspiring ösztönző
interviewer kérdező
involve magába foglal, együtt jár valamivel
it is so trendy, isn’t it? ugye ez most a divat?
it is worth the effort megéri az erőfeszítést
it is you, who is supposed to convince neked kell meggyőzni apádat
him
it’s high time I handed in ideje, hogy benyújtsam
it’s no that nem arról van szó.
job interview állás interjú
law rules törvénycikkek
long hours, work long hours sok óra, hosszú munkaidő
low prestige of the work a munka alacsony presztízse (megbecsültsége)
make ends meet kijönni a pénzből
male férfi, hímnemű
meet the requirements megfelelni a követelményeknek
memorise magol
negotiation tárgyalás
not enough to live on nem elég a megélhetéshez
object to ellenezni valamit
office work hivatali munka
on equal terms with men a férfiakkal egyenlő mértékben
on good terms with jó viszonyban valakivel
one should choose az embernek választani kell
overtime payment túlóradíj
particulars személyi adatok
pay rise fizetésemelés
personal qualities are tested a személyes tulajdonságokat vizsgálják
predict megjósol
present job jelenlegi állás

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prestige presztízs, rang

prestigious rangos, elismert
privacy magánélet
private enterprise magánvállalkozás
promotion előléptetés, támogatás
prove bizonyít
qualification végzettség
reasonable elfogadható
redundant, I have been made redundant fölösleges, elbocsátottak
reference ajánlás
require, when required megkíván, ha szükséges
retire nyugdíjba vonul
rewarding hálás (munka)
run a shop üzletet vezet
satisfied with elégedett valamivel
scarce ritka
senior accountant főkönyvelő
sexist általában nőket hátrányosan megkülönböztető
slaving rabszolgaként dolgozik
social insurance társadalombiztosítás
steady job biztos állás
stressful stresszes, idegfeszítő
suitable for the job alkalmas az állásra
superintend felügyel
take over the firm átveszi a céget
that’s not my cup of tea ez nem az én világom
that’s what inspires me ez az, ami inspirál
the negotiations were put off a tárgyalásokat félbeszakították
to get your foot in the door elindulni a pályán
tolerate tolerál, elvisel
trade in books könyvekkel kereskedni
trade union szakszervezet
What made you change your mind? miért gondoltad meg magad?

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whereabouts valakinek a holléte

without reaching an agreement anélkül, hogy megegyeztek volna
work in shifts különböző műszakokban dolgozni
work irregular hours kötetlen munkaidőben dolgozik
work of your choice kedve(d) szerinti munka
work overtime túlórázni
working conditions munkakörülmények
you have what it takes to be a good jó jogász lenne belőled
lawyer
You know best. te tudod.
you might regret choosing this job megbánhatod, hogy ezt a munkát választottad
you should have warned me figyelmeztethettél volna

Zsibbasztó

Milyen állást képzel magának a jövőben? ..............................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
A lényeg, hogy kreatív legyen ................................................................................................
Jó lenne, ha jól fizetnék ..........................................................................................................
a kreativitás a legfontosabb ....................................................................................................
szeretnék szabadúszó lenni.....................................................................................................
utálnék sok órát tölteni egy helyen .........................................................................................
az ember maga választhatja meg a munkáját .........................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
szeretem, ha emberek vesznek körül ......................................................................................
magánvállalkozást szeretnék ..................................................................................................
amit igazán izgalmasnak tartok ..............................................................................................
mindig is orvos szerettem volna lenni ....................................................................................
kisgyermekkorom óta ez az álmom ........................................................................................
tudom, hogy fárasztó ..............................................................................................................
de megéri az erőfeszítést ........................................................................................................
fordulhat a munkaügyi központhoz is ....................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
amikor állásra pályázunk ........................................................................................................

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az életrajznak tartalmaznia kell a végzettséget ......................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
fontos, hogy meggyőzze a kérdezőt az alkalmasságáról ........................................................
................................................................................................................................................
a munkához való pozitív viszony ...........................................................................................
Kell túlóráznom? ....................................................................................................................
Számíthatok bónuszokra? .......................................................................................................
Fizeti a cég az úti költségeimet? ............................................................................................
Mennyi személyi jövedelemadót fizet? ..................................................................................
Elbocsátották ..........................................................................................................................
Nő a munkanélküliek száma ..................................................................................................
Munkanélkülin van .................................................................................................................
Gyesen van .............................................................................................................................
Ha nem felel meg a követelményeknek .................................................................................
Végül kirúgták ........................................................................................................................
A szakervezeti tagok sztrájkot hirdettek ................................................................................
A kormány tárgyalásokat kezdett ...........................................................................................
Egyre kevesebb ember akar tanár lenni ..................................................................................
Ha a főnöke nem értékeli a munkáját .....................................................................................
Mindenben hibát talál .............................................................................................................
Végül csődbe ment .................................................................................................................

At a job interview

I: Interviewer
A: Applicant

I: Good morning, Mr Eager! Do sit down.

A: Thank you.
I: Well, you have sent us an impressive CV. Would you mind my putting some questions to
you?
A: Oh, not at all. I am ready to answer all your questions.

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I: I see you have quite a big experience in commerce. Could you just summarize your overall
impression of the field?
A: Oh, yes I have been working in foreign trade for 15 years for different companies. It has
always been a challenge to me to deal with overseas partners. Trading widens your scope as
long as you try hard to keep up with the latest economic trends. I am an ambitious type and
enjoy working assiduously.
I: So you like doing good business, do you? Can I ask you why you want to abandon your
present job?
A: Well, the company I am working for has been doing quite well and I enjoy the tasks I have
been commissioned so far. The problem is that they want to shift to an Asia oriented trade,
which I am not very keen on. I would prefer to go on with European and American business.
That is why I have applied for this job.
I: I see. What languages do you speak?
A: French, German and I can manage in Russian too.
I: That is great. Are you ready to work flexible hours?
A: Oh, yes. I am accustomed to working in the small hours as well and I do not mind
travelling frequently. My wife sides with me in my career.
I: Would you mind living abroad and working as a consultant?
A: Oh, not at all. I’d love to. Me and my family got used to moving house now and then. I
find it inspiring to work abroad.
I: I suppose you would like to put your own questions concerning the job, wouldn’t you?
A: Oh yes. I was wondering which country I am supposed to work in.
I: It is France. There we have a vacancy as our latest consultant decided to retire. So we are
looking for an efficient person to take over his job.
A: Does that mean that the new consultant has to leave presently?
I: It does. Suppose your application has been accepted, are you ready to start next month?
A: That is no problem. Could you tell me when I will be informed about your decision?
I: Oh, in due course. Perhaps within a week.
A: Thank you.

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18. Literature

‘It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature’ (Henry James: Hawthorne)

A: Do you agree with the statement that reading is an excellent pastime?

B: Yes, I do. Most of my leisure time I spend reading books. Reading is not only fun but
also a good way to expand your knowledge about life.
A: What kind of books do you prefer reading?
B : I prefer reading fiction both classical and modern. Apart from fiction I also take
delight in reading history books, because I’m interested in the past.
A: What is your idea of a good book?
B : In my opinion a good book contains true-to-life characters and situations. A good
piece of writing draws your attention to the important questions of human life.
A : What literary genres do you know?
B : Well, short story, novel, poem, drama, play, tragedy, comedy, detective story and
romance.
A: Have you got a favourite play by Shakespeare?
B : Of course, I have. I think his best tragedy is Hamlet.
A : May I ask you to summarize the plot and characterize the main figures?
B : Certainly. The plot takes place in Denmark in the late Middle Ages. Old Hamlet, King
of Denmark is dead but haunts the castle at midnight. When he meets his son, young
Hamlet, he takes his pledge to revenge his father’s death. He says, he was murdered by his
brother Claudius. Hamlet swears to his father to take revenge on Claudius.However, at the
end of the first act, he says: ‘Time is out of joint; − O cursed spite, / That ever I was born
to set it right.’ His words reveal his character; his duty is beyond his true nature.The
whole play is based on the
contrast between Claudius and Hamlet. While Hamlet is a renaissance humanist, Claudius
a real tyrant and a corrupt man. Hamlet delays the revenge because he wants to get enough
evidence against Claudius, while the latter does everything to get rid of Hamlet. Hamlet is
a philosophical tragedy as it is shown in the famous monologue: ‘To be, or not to be’ The
play is a parabola about the tragedy of virtue in an immoral surroundings.
A: Which is your favourite English novel?
B: My favourite is Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The plot takes place during the
second world war, un an uninhabited island. A party of schoolboys suffer a plane crash

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and land on a desert island. The boys, led by Ralph and Piggy try to set up a democratic
society, but they fail, because Jack, the savage boy takes over the leadership. He is a real
dictator and under his rule terror begins to prevail. Two boys are killed, most of the boys
turn into a bloodthirsty tribe. At the end of the novel a rescue officer appears and
civilization is restored. The novel reveals the dark side of man, the savage instincts that is
hidden behind the civilized mask.
Words and Phrases

account beszámoló
all of a sudden hirtelen
applies a metaphor metaforát alkalmaz
ascend felemelkedik, felszáll
assume the throne elfoglalja a trónt
attitude to life az élethez való viszony, értékrend
bay öböl
beyond his true nature igazi jellemét meghaladja
bitter keserű
bodiless testetlen
by heart kívülről, szó szerint
catch sight of megpillant
characterize jellemez
cite idéz
cloud felhő
compared to valamivel összehasonlítva
condensed metaphorical language sűrített metaforikus nyelv
contain tartalmaz
contrast ellentét
coprruption romlottság
corrupt romlott
daffodil tűzliliom
deepen elmélyít
delay elhalaszt
description leírás

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draw one’s attention to felhívja a figyelmét

ecstasy eksztázis, önkívület
elavated mood emelkedett hangulat
elevate felemel
expand novel
experience élmény
fiction fikció, szépirodalom
genre műfaj
get rid of megszabadul valamitől
gifted writer tehetséges író
hidden meaning rejtett jelentés
high-spirited emelkedett, fennkölt
image kép, imázs
imaginary elképzelt, fiktív
immoral erkölcstelen
improve fejleszt
individual experience egyéni élmény
ingratiate himself with sy behízelgi magát
inner world belső világ
insight betekintés
inspiration ihlet
it is suffice to mention elég megemlíteni
last but not least utoljára, de nem utolsónak
late Middle Ages késő középkor
lonely magányos
Machiavellistic machiavellista (zsarnoki)
man as such az ember mint olyan
meditative elmélkedő
metphysical metafizikai, filozófiai
miracle csoda
mood hangulat
morale erkölcs
motive ösztönzés, kiváltó ok, motiváció

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mystery misztérium, titok, csoda

nevertheless ennek ellenére
novel regény
parabola példázat
plot cselekmény
poem vers
recognize felismer
regime rezsim, rendszer
reluctantly though vonakodva bár
restore visszaállít
reveal felfed
revenge bosszú
romance szerelmi történet
satire szatíra
self-awareness öntudatosság
self-portrait önportré
set the scene bemutatja a helyszínt
short story elbeszélés
spiritual energy lelki energia
spy on kémkedik valaki után
starry sky csillagos ég
statement állítás
style stílus
subject matter téma
subservient szolgalelkű
summarize összefoglal
surroundings környezet
swears to megesküszik
symbol szimbólum, jelkép
takes his pledge megfogad
topsy-turvy fejére állított
true-to-life character élethű jellem
tyrant zsarnok

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universal experience egyetemes élmény

universe világegyetem
usurp the throne bitorolja a trónt
virtue erény
vision látomás
wander sétál

A Book Review

Emily Brontë :Wuthering Heights

The novel was published in 1847. The story is narrated by Lockwood and Mrs Dean who had
witnessed the lives and destinies of the owners of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross
Grange. The events are set in motion by the arrival of Heathcliff, picked up in the streets of
Liverpool by Mr Earnshaw.He takes him home to bring him up as one of his children. Bullied
and humiliated after Earnshaw's death by his son Hindley, Heathcliff finds consolation in his
friendship with Catherine. Their friendship develops into an intense attachment, but
Heathcliff, overhearing Catherine tell Nelly that she cannot marry him because it would
degrade her, leaves the house. He returns three years later to find Catherine married to Edgar
Linton. Heathcliff is determined to take revenge on Hindley and Edgar Linton. He is
responsible for the total destruction of Hindley; and then with an evident ill will he marries
Edgar's sister Isabella only to treat her brutally. After a mutual confession in love with
Heathcliff, Catherine dies in childbirth. Her daughter, Cathy is brought up by her father and
Mrs Dean. Edgar Linton dies after trying in vain to prevent a friendship between Cathy and
Heathcliff's son, Linton. Heathcliff forces Cathy to marry Linton in order to secure the Linton
property. Linton dies very young. Affection is gradually developed between Cathy and
Hareton, Hindley’s son, for whom she does her best to educate him. Heathcliff, after
revenging himself, longs to die hoping to be reunited with Catherine whose ghost has haunted
him since she died.

Emily Bronte's masterpiece inevitably is one of the most popular novels in the world. Its
popularity is due to the exciting plot as well as to the deep psychological insight into human
nature. Although, it carries some traits of the Gothic novel (e.g. haunting ghost, mystery, the
touch of the supernatural) the story reaches far beyond the Gothic tradition and represents in

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itself an early psychological novel. Bronte offers a sharp-sighted exploration of different

attitudes to life as such through eternal characters and situations in a microworld that,
however, shows the amplitude of ancient tragedies.
The novel follows the destinies of two generations: the first causes chaos; revenge and
irrationality consumes their lives, it is embodied in Heathcliff's son who is sickly and dies
young. The two worlds become reconciled in Cathy's and Hareton's love in the end.

Words and Phrases

affection érzelem
after revenging himself miután megbosszulta magát
amplitude nagyság
ancient ősi, ókori
arrival megérkezés
attachment vonzalom
brutal brutális, kegyetlen
bully erőszakoskodik, bántalmaz
carries some traits of magány viseli valaminek a nyomait
chaos káosz, zűrzavar
childirth gyermekszülés
confession vallomás
consolation vigasz
consume felemészt
degrade lealacsonyít
destiny végzet
develop into valamivé fejlődik
embody megtestesít
eternal characters egyetemes jellemek
evident nyilvánvaló
exploration felfedezés, feltárás
ghost szellem
Gothic novel rémregény

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gradually fokozatosan
humiliate megaláz
ill will rossz szándék
in vain hiába
inevitably nyilvánvalóan
intense intenzív, erős
irrationality irracionalitás
long to sóvárog valami után
microworld mikrovilág
mutual kölcsönös
narrate elbeszél
overhear meghall véletlenül
owner tulajdonos
pick up felszed
property tulajdon
psychological novel lélektani regény
reconcile kibékül
represent képvisel
reunite újra egyesül
secure biztosít
set in motion mozgásba lendül
sharp-sighted éles szemű
sickly beteges
supernatural természetfölötti

Zsibbasztó

A regény a 19. században jelent meg ...........................................................................................

A történetet Lockwood meséli el .................................................................................................
Tanúja volt az életüknek és végzetüknek .....................................................................................
Az események Heathcliff megérkezésével lendülnek mozgásba .................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Magához veszi, hogy saját gyermekeként nevelje fel ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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Hindley bántalmazta és megalázta Heathccliffet .........................................................................

A Catherine-nel való barátságban talál vigaszt ............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Barátságuk erős érzelemmé fejlődik ............................................................................................
Heathcliff meghallotta, amikor Catherine azt mondta Nellynek, hogy nem mehet hozzá
feleségül .......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Három év múlva tér vissza, amikor Catherine már feleségül ment Edgarhoz .............................
......................................................................................................................................................
Heathcliff elhatározza, hogy bosszút áll Hindley-n .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Ő felelős Hindley teljes tönkretételéért ........................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nyilvánvaló rossz szándékkal feleségül veszi Edgar húgát, Isabellát .........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Hogy azután kegyetlenül bánjon vele ..........................................................................................
Catherine gyermekszülésben hal meg ..........................................................................................
Heathcliff arra kényszeríti Cathyt, hogy menjen feleségül Lintonhoz.........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Cathy és Hareton között fokozatosan vonzalom szövődik...........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Miután megbosszulta magát, Heathcliff a halál után sóvárog .....................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Azt reméli, hogy a halál után egyesül Catherine-nel
......................................................................................................................................................
Catherine szelleme kísérti a házat, amióta meghalt .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Brontë mesterműve az egyik legnépszerűbb regény ....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Népszerűsége az izgalmas cselekménynek köszönhető ...............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
És annak a mély betekintésnek, amit az emberi természetbe nyújt .............................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A rémregények néhány vonását viseli magán ..............................................................................

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A történet szétfeszíti a gótikus hagyományt ................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
A remekmű a lélektani regény korai változata .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Brontë éles megvilágításba helyezi a különböző magatartásformákat .........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A regény két generáció sorsát követi végig .................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az irracionalitás felemészti az életüket ........................................................................................
Ez testesül meg Heathcliff fiában, aki beteges és fiatalon meghal ..............................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A két világ Cathy és Hareton szerelmében békül ki ...................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Dialogue
J: Journalist
T: Teacher

J: Mr Cheer, for the past years teachers have been complaining about their students getting
more and more uninterested in high culture, in literature in particular. What is your personal
experience regarding children’s reading habits?
T: Well, there is a tendency among students not to read literature any more. If you ask them
why, they only shrug their shoulders, muttering something like ‘boring’ or ‘rubbish’. It is
really sad to watch whole generations grow up with no intentions of reading novels or poetry.
Of course, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part, children tend to entertain
themselves with other hobbies. I use the word ‘hobby’ for want of a better one, because
surfing the Net is not a hobby in the traditional sense of the word. Engaging in a hobby
normally requires an active mind.
J: What do you think is the reason for not reading at large? Can it really be put down to the
the Internet? Would it be so simple?

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T: Oh, no. The problem is much more complicated. There are several aspects to be taken into
account ranging from psychological reasons to cultural ones. We simply don’t have enough
time to enumerate all the possible reasons. One thing is sure, with the advent of the Internet
there has been an inevitable decline in reading. However, I would not risk stating that it is
only the Internet that is responsible for the phenomenon. The Internet is a great tool in
learning and it is not necessarily to blame for neglecting books in general. On the other hand,
it is common knowledge that there have been fundamental changes in popular culture. People
tend to entertain themselves with screen-based things including the TV for example. Since
films are available on DVDs, moreover you can download them from the Net, it is just natural
that people are inclined to take the advantage. It has also been proved that children who are
exposed to visual impulses only, lack the patience to read longer texts because they are
accustomed to quickly shifting pictures. Well, it can account for the decline in reading, but I
am strongly convinced that it is not the single factor of the problem. Anyway, I suppose, as
time goes by, the Internet will cease to be the only source of entertainment for many. Now it
attracts people because it is relatively new, but it will take its proper place in our lives in the
long run. As far as I’m concerned, I blame current teaching for the growing ‘illiteracy’, if you
don’t mind my putting it this way. Our children are not the less intelligent than we were at
their age, we only have to apply new methods in teaching, new approaches so to say, in order
to convince them about what they can gain from reading.
J: It is often said, that the younger generation want action and only appreciate dynamic plots
in films and texts. Can teaching catch up with these expectations? How would you change
the curriculum?
T: Well, the answer would take another programme. I only want to encourage my colleagues
to spend more time talking to their students about the questions they are interested in, and if
we draw their attention to literary works that deal with these questions, we might succeed
with much tolerance. The task is immensely difficult, we will need all our perseverance and
zest to achieve good results.

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19. Media

‘Try your luck on Bumpex Fruit Juice. Most people detest it. You may be
an exception.’

‘Granfield chocolate is rather nourishing. Never mind the taste.’

‘Drink Danford’s beer. It’s dirt cheap and you can get used to it.’

( George Mikes: On Advertisement. in How to be a Brit)

A: What do we mean by ‘media’?

B: The word refers to all the printed newspapers, the TV and the radio.
A: What does a daily newspaper look like?
B: There are tabloids often referred to as lowbrow newspapers, broadsheet or quality
newspapers that are regarded as highbrow ones. Lowbrow means uneducated people who
are not interested in high culture. Highbrow means an educated reader who normally reads
quality newspapers. Although in tabloids you can find the coverage of the main political
issues, their real profile is to issue a lot of pictures and stories about famous personalities.
Sometimes such news prove to be hoaxes and the people concerned sue the paper for libel
i.e. for hurting his or her good reputation.
A: What can you read about in a daily paper?
B : A daily newspaper covers the most important home and foreign affairs in the News
section. Apart from news they also deal with other issues such as sport, entertainment etc.
There are several columnists who contribute to the paper with leading articles.
Newspapers also employ correspondents living abroad to send important information
about the country in question.
A: Do you ever read the ads in the papers?
B : No, I am fed up with all the best anti-wrinkle creams, washing powders that out-
perform the traditional ones. However, media cannot do without advertisements; most of
the money they make come from advertising. There are a few exceptions where they do
not interrupt films with ads for example the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation),
which is maintained by the national budget and the public.
A: Do you subscribe to any newspapers?

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B : I subscribe to a right / left wing newspaper. However, I always read left / right wing
papers on the Net, to be familiar with the other side as well.
A: Do you think that all the newspapers are biased?
B : I do not believe in unbiased newspapers, even the so called independent ones can
manipulate the readers.
A: What kind of articles are you interested in?
B: I always read the leading articles, reports and the reader’s comments.
A: Do you ever read the Agony Column?
B : I do sometimes. I am interested in people’s problems and even more in the answers of
the psychologist.
A: What other sections does a daily paper have?
B : You can get a picture of different cultural events, it also contains obituary through
which you are informed about people’s death and their funeral. Moreover newspapers
issue official announcements, deal with economic questions, and you can put your
advertisement into them.
A : How often do you watch TV?
B: I watch TV every day two or three hours on average. OR I only watch the News and
good feature films
A: How many channels or satellite programmes havre you got?
B: Well a hundred or more, but I prefer watching special channels, namely those that
broadcast documentaries. Documentaries are my favourite genre on TV because they deal
with worldwide problems or introduce interesting personalities. I like watching
programmes about animal life nature.
A: Any dislikes on TV?
B: Oh, there are plenty of them. What I hate most are the soap operas, they are doing my
head in. Soap operas are based on stories full of intrigues taken from everyday life.
However, the characters are not lifelike and everything is artificial in these films. Besides,
I hate reality shows. The situation itself, I mean closing a group of people into one place,
disgusts me. Reality shows have nothing in common with reality.
A : TV is often referred to as the ‘Bible of the Poor’. What do you think of it?
B: I agree with the idea more or less. With the help of TV you can have access to a lot of
information from all over the world without paying too much for it. In the Middle Ages it
was only the Bible that was available for the poor, now it is the TV that plays that role.

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Words and Phrases

access to hozzáférés
achieve elér, teljesít
ad, advertisement hirdetés
advertise hirdet
agony column panasz oldal
anti-Semitic antiszemita
anti-wrinkle cream ránctalanító krém
artificial mesterséges
as such mint olyan
aspire to be filmed arra aspirál / törekszik, hogy lefilmezzék
available elérhető
award díj
bedtime story esti mese
beneficial hasznos, profitot hozó
benefit from advertising hasznot hajt a hirdetésekből
besides
bias, biased elfogultság, elfogult
broadcast közvetít (tv, rádió)
broadsheet nagy formátumú, minőségi újság
cage ketrec
cannot do without nem lehet meg nélküle
cartoon rajzfilm
Chariots of Fire Tűzszekerek
child bearing gyermeknevelés
columnist vezető újságíró
come up with előállni valamivel
commercial channel kereskedelmi adó
concept of good or bad a jóról és a rosszról való felfogás
condemn megvet
confuse összezavar
contract szerződés

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contribute to the newspaper az újságba ír

correspondent tudósító
cover home affairs belföldi eseményeket közöl
coverage of the events az események közlése, tálalása
deal with foglalkozik valamivel
detest utál
dignity méltóság
disgust undorít
documentary dokumentumfilm
except for kivéve
exception kivétel
feature film játékfilm
fed up with elege van valamiből
fifth power ötödik hatalmi ág
finance finanszíroz, fizet
for run’s sake a futás kedvéért
foreign affairs külföldi események
get a picture of képet alkot valamiről
get irritated bosszús lesz
get used to hozzászokik
Glory of God isten dicsősége
goal cél
gripping magával ragadó
highbrow newspaper minőségi újság
hoax kacsa, álhír
home affairs belföldi hírek
honour becsület
humiliating megalázó
in moral terms erkölcsi értelemben
independent független
influence befolyásol
inspire inspirál, ösztönöz
interrupt félbeszakít

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intrigue intrika, ármánykodás

issue kibocsát, kiad
Jew zsidó
leading article vezető cikk
lifelike életszerű, élethű
lowbrow newspaper bulvár lap
maintain fenntart
manipulate manipulál, befolyásol
marital harmony házastársi harmónia
more or less többé-kevésbé
national budget költségvetés
nothing in common with reality nincs semmi köze a valósághoz
nourishing tápláló
obituary gyászjelentés
official announcement hivatalos közlemény
on average átlagosan
out-perform felülmúl
pause for ads megállítani a hirdetések miatt
people concerned az érintett emberek
point of view nézet, felfogás
Presbyterian presbiteriánus, skót protestáns
prophet Elisha illés próféta
quality newspaper minőségi újság
reader’s comments az olvasók megjegyzései
record the film on video videóra veszi a filmet
right wing, left-wing newspaper jobboldali, baloldali újság
sacrifice feláldoz
section szekció, rész
shoot, shot a film filmet forgat
soap opera szappanopera
subscribe to a newspaper újságra előfizet
subsidise állami támogatásban részesít
tabloid bulvárlap

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they’re doing my head in bosszantanak

unbiased elfogulatlan
uneducated műveletlen
view szemlél

An Essay

Couch Potatoes, Stand Up!

Why did we grow into couch potatoes and armchair travellers? Does our laziness really
stem from the ‘harmful impact’ of the Telly and the Internet?
It is said that the TV has become the ‘Bible of the poor’, the only source of entertainment
for many. There is much truth in it; however, it is not only the poor who are glued to the
screen. Educated people often speak about soap operas and reality shows with contempt or
condescension, but it often turns out that they also do watch the programmes only to ‘be
familiar with’ the ‘junk culture’ they are surrounded with. In fact, everybody spends a
considerable time sitting in front of the box, shifting from one channel to another while
ashamed of doing so.
Why is this hypocrisy? What is wrong with the TV? There is nothing wrong with it. Channels
offer diverse programmes that can satisfy the most sophisticated minds. Should you be
interested in high culture, you will definitely find outstanding feature films, documentaries on
art or science, not to mention theme channels that broadcast a wide range of informative and
exciting films on nature or history. All in all, we have the choice. You are not supposed to
watch rubbish if you do not want to. Nobody forces you to entertain yourself with makeover
shows or foolish commercials; it is up to you to choose the programmes to your taste.
Some argue that TV has a harmful impact on children; they see too much violence on it and it
deprives them of healthy mental development. Let me ask: where are the parents while their
children are watching the twentieth action film of the week? Did they ever read them tales,
did they teach them songs or take them for outings regularly? How much time do they spend
playing with their offspring or talking to them about the things they are interested in? It is
easier said than done. Couch potatoes bring up couch potatoes. If parents spend their evenings
in front of the telly watching all kinds of programmes, regardless of their value, the child will
do the same.

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Exhaustion is not an excuse. Couch potatoes, stand up, and have a walk with your children
in the fresh air discussing the novel you gave them to read. Or just have a nice chat about life.
And do not put the blame on TV. You can switch it off.
(401 words)
Words and Phrases

armchair traveller karosszékben utazó, virtuális turista

commercial reklám műsor
condescension leereszkedés, lenézés
contempt megvetés
couch potato tv függő
deprive sy of sg megfoszt valamitől
diverse nagyon különböző
easier said than done könnyebb mondani, mint tenni
excuse kifogás
exhaustion kimerültség
feature film játékfilm
glue ragasztó
glued to the screen hozzá van nőve a képernyőhöz
harmful impact on káros hatás valakire
hypocrisy képmutatás
informative informatív, sok információt tartalmazó
is / are ashamed of sg szégyell valamit
makeover show átváltozó show
mental development szellemi (lelki) fejlődés
offspring utód
put blame on hibáztat, okol
shift to vált valamire
sophisticated kifinomult, bonyolult
sophisticated mind kifinomult lélek
source forrás
stem from ered valahonnan
theme channels tematikus csatornák

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Zsibbasztó

Miért lettünk tohonyák? ...............................................................................................................

Azt mondják .................................................................................................................................
Hogy a TV “a szegények Bibliája” ..............................................................................................
Az egyetlen szórakozási forrás .....................................................................................................
Sok igazság van benne .................................................................................................................
Akik a képernyőhöz vannak ragadva ...........................................................................................
A művelt emberek megvetéssel beszélnek a szappanoperákról ...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Gyakran kiderül ............................................................................................................................
A “kultúrmocsok”, ami körülvesz ................................................................................................
Váltogatva a csatornákat ..............................................................................................................
Mi a baj a TV-vel? .......................................................................................................................
Nincs vele semi baj ......................................................................................................................
A csatornák különböző programokat kínálnak.............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Kielégítheti a legfinnyásabb lelkeket is .......................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Nem kell szemetet néznie, ha nem akar .......................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Átváltozó showk és ostoba reklámok ...........................................................................................
Öntől függ ....................................................................................................................................
Néhányan azt mondják, hogy a TV káros hatással van a gyerekekre ..........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Túl sok erőszakot látnak ...............................................................................................................
Megfosztja őket az egészséges fejlődéstől ...................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az értéküktől függetlenül .............................................................................................................

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20. Politics

‘We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created
equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights
inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.’ (The American Declaration of Independence)

‘It may be your own personal view that two and two make four, but you must
not state it in a self-assured way, because this is a democratic country and
others might be of another opinion.’
(George Mikes: How to Be a Brit)

A: Are you interested in politics?

B1: Yes, I am. I am keen on reading newspapers, watching the news on TV or listening to the
radio while driving to work.
B2: I am not. I became disappointed at politics many years ago.While there is a political
campaign prior to elections, politicians promise nice things just to manipulate the voters.
When it comes to governing the country, they seem to have forgotten their promises. Much as
I try I cannot find real differences between the competing parties.When in power, politicians
don’t seem to care much about the real problems.
A:Could you explain the difference between the words ‘politics’ and ‘policy’?
B:Politics is a special field of public life pursued by politicians who govern political and
economic life of a country. Policy has a restricted meaning; it is a plan of concrete actions.
A: What is the political system like in your country?
B: Our country is a republic based on a multiparty system. According to the liberal concept of
the state, the political power is divided into four parts: Head of State, Government, Parliament
and Jurisdiction. The Head of State has mainly ceremonial role for example meeting VIP
guests from abroad. He also delivers solemn speeches to the nation on the most important
holidays.He is supposed to sign and announce the laws passed by the Parliament.When there
is doubt about a law, the Head of State turns to the Constitutional Court for supervision.The
Constitutional Court supervises the legal procedures and has the right to annihilate or reassure
a law. Every four years general elections are held to elect new MPs (Member of

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Parliament).MPs are responsible for passing or rejecting the laws initiated by the government
or the opposition.
A: What is the procedure of the voting like ?
B:We have a secret voting system, there are voting booths for the electors to chose the
candidate whom they want to be their representative.The party that wins the election becomes
entitled to form the new government.The government is responsible for ruling the country.It
is led by the Prime Minister appointed by the Head of State.After the candidate has got the
majority of the votes starts the swearing-in ceremony during which the Prime Minister
promises to be loyal and perform his duties .Sometimes none of the parties gain enough votes,
in which case they establish a coalition government.Those parties that don’t get enough votes
to form the government, represent the opposition.There are little parties that do not even enter
the Parliament because they cannot get the necessary per cent of votes .
A: How do MPs vote in the Parliament?
B: In most cases they use the voting machine by pressing the button ‘yes’ or ‘no’ The result of
the vote appears on an electric display showing how many members voted for or against and
the number of abstentions as well.Sometimes there is an open vote on request of a group of
MPs.Open vote is arranged by way of showing of hands.It is common knowledge, that there
are heated discussions in the Parliament. It is the chairperson’s duty to maintain law and order in the Parliame
State owned channels always broadcast Parliament debates.
A: How many ministers are there in the government?
B: I’m afraid I cannot give the right number, I know that there 10 or so ministries.The most
important figures are the The Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Misnister of Home Affairs, and
several others who are responsible for a certain field of life, such as agriculture, health,
jurisdiction.
A: What are the rights of the opposition?
B: The parties in opposition have the right to put questions to the Prime Minister or any other
ministers.They are supposed to hand in their questions before the next session so that the
minister can have time to elaborate his answer.The oppositional parties represent their
electors’ interests and try to influence the government’s decisions. There is no real chance for
them to alter the governing parties’ policy, because the majority always vote for
it.Nevertheless, the opposition can put pressure on the government by way of the media or
demonstrations against its policy.Demos are to be announced to the police in advance,
otherwise the activists can be put into custody for breaking the law.
A: May I ask you about your political preferences?

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B: Yes, that is not a secret. I am a ‘liberal conservative’, which may sound strange. I share the
‘liberal minimum’ which is laid down in the Human Rights i.e. in the American Declaration
of Independence.I am a liberal because I think everybody should be given the basic rights:
the freedom of speech and thought, freedom of religion and assembly.On the other hand, I am
conservative, because I am for traditional values, such as the sanctity of marriage, national
traditions and a strict school teaching, just to mention a few points.
A: What are the government’s duties?
B: First of all they have to ‘run’ the country with a safe policy.As I have already mentioned
the government is given a chance to rule the country to the satisfaction of the citizens.The
Government initiate laws that are discussed and passed in the Parliament. They are also
responsible for maintaining law and order in the country.
A: Would you like to be a politician?
B1: Not under any circumstances. A politician is always in the public eye.He or she doesn’t
have privacy because the media ‘hunt’ them wherever they go.
B2: I wouldn’t mind being one, because they earn a fortune compared to my salary.A
politician carries much burden, and has a rather stressful life.VIPs are exposed to blackmails,
terrorism and to their wives’ anger because they hardly ever go home in time.
B1: I wouldn’t pass for a good politician , because I’m not a persuasive type.In addition to
this, I wouldn’t have the guts to take so much burden.

Words and Phrases

abstention tartózkodás (szavazásnál)

agriculture mezőgazdaság
alter megváltoztat
anger düh, harag
annihilate megsemmisít
announce kihirdet, bejelent
appoint kinevez
assent egyetértés
blackmail zsarolás
burden teher
candidate jelölt

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ceremonial role ceremoniális szerep

chairperson elnök (pl. a parlamentben)
coalition koalíció
Constitutional Court alkotmánybíróság
councillor tanácstag, önkormányzati képviselő
decision határozat, döntés
declaration nyilatkozat
deliver a speech beszédet intéz
dim view, take a dim view sötét színben lát
disappointed at / by / in csalódott valamiben
editor, chief editor szerkesztő, főszerkesztő
elaborate kidolgoz
elections választások
elector választópolgár
electric display elektromos kijelző
entitled to jogosult valamire
establish megalapít, létrehoz
gain nyer, elér valamit
general elections országgyűlési választások
guts, have the guts van mersze valamire
heated discussion parázs vita
in advance előre
inalienable elidegeníthetetlen
inherent inherens, bennrejlő, elválaszthatatlan
initiate kezdeményez
jurisdiction jogalkotás, igazságszolgáltatás
keen on lelkesedik valamiért
laid down in le van fektetve valahol
lead, led, led vezet
liberal concept of the state az állam liberális elmélete
loyal hűséges
maintain law and order fenntartani a törvényt és a rendet
Minister of Home Affairs belügyminiszter

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Minister of Foreign Affairs külügyminiszter

MP (Member of Parliament) országgyűlési képviselő
multiparty system többpárt-rendszer
not under any circumstances semmilyen körülmények között
on request kérésre
opposition ellenzék
overrule felülbírál
pass for megfelel valaminek
perform one’s duty teljesíti a kötelességét
persuasive meggyőző
political campaign politikai kampány
political preferences politikai meggyőződés
precarious kétes
preservation megőrzés
Prime Minister miniszterelnök
prior to valami előtt
pursuit of happiness a boldogság keresése
put pressure on nyomást gyakorol valakire
reassure megerősít
reject elvet
represent képvisel
representative képviselő
republic köztársaság
restricted korlátozott
rule irányít, kormányoz
sacred szent
self-assured magabiztos
session ülésszak
sign aláír
state állít
state owned channels állami csatornák
supervision felülvizsgálat
swearing-in ceremony eskütétel

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undeniable tagadhatatlan
VIP (very important person) fontos személy
vote for / against szavaz valamire vagy valami ellen
voter szavazó
voting booth szavazófülke
wage fizetés
withdraw visszavon, visszavonul

A Press Conference
Or how to say nothing

C= Correspondent
P= Mr Politician

P: Welcome everybody, I am ready to answer all your questions provided they are
answerable.
C: Mr P, can I put a rather personal question to you?
P: It depends. You know, I never talk about my private life in public on principle.
C: Oh, I really did not want to intrude on your privacy…I just would like to know how a man
with your intelligence and good taste can put on such a flashy tie.
P: What’s wrong with it?
C: Actually it doesn’t match the serious negotiations you have just finished, if I am not
mistaken.
P: I see no reason why I should put on a black tie for example. This redish-blue just matches
the topic we have discussed.
C: Would you be so kind as to sum up briefly the topic of the negotiation?
P: Well…to start with, I must assure you, that we took into serious consideration every aspect
of the issue we were talking about regardless of the side effects the conclusion might have in
the near future.
C: I see…could you be a bit more explicit?
P: Certainly. As we didn’t want to jump to conclusions we decided on a two-month
contemplation on the subject on either side. It would be inconsiderate of us to take serious
measures when there is no need to do that.
C: Well, much as I try I cannot see the point.

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P: All right then. I’ll try to keep to the point. After a 5-hour negotiation with some heated
discussions we decided to give them their due in due course.
C: Mr P, before the negotiations you announced that without a serious result you wouldn’t
leave the place.
P: And I have kept my promise.
C: Does that mean that you have found solutions to the problems?
P: I can assure you that we did our best to find the most suitable ways and means not to lose
our way to the solution, which is agreeable for both of us.
C: Don’t you find this way a bit off the beaten track?
P: Good point. This is the only question we couldn’t answer. That is why we are going to
continue our debate this time next week. Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your coming
and I hope that my answers satisfied your curiousity.

Words and Phrases

agrreable elfogadható
answerable megválaszolható
aspect szempont
assure biztosít
briefly röviden
conclusion konklúzió
contemplation elmélkedés, meditáció
curiosity kíváncsiság
either side mindkét oldal
explicit világos, érthető
give sy his or her due megadni valakinek, ami jár
I see no reason why I should do… nem látom be, miért tenném
in due course kellő időben
inconsiderate megfontolatlan
intrude on one’s privacy behatolni valakinek a magánéletébe
it depends attól függ
jump to conclusion elhamarkodott véleményt mondani
keep one’s promise megtartja az ígéretét

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keep to the point a lényegről beszél

principle, on principle elv, elvből
provided feltéve, hogy
redish-blue vöröses kék
side effect mellékhatás
sum up összefoglal
take into consideration figyelembe vesz
take measures intézkedést hoz
ways and means utak és módok

Zsibbasztó

Kész vagyok válaszolni a kérdéseikre ..........................................................................................

Feltéve, hogy megválaszolhatók ..................................................................................................
Feltehetek egy személyes kérdést? ...............................................................................................
Attól függ .....................................................................................................................................
Elvből nem beszélek a magánéletemről .......................................................................................
Nyilvánosság előtt ........................................................................................................................
Nem akartam betörni a magánéletébe ..........................................................................................
Egy férfi az ön intelligenciájával és ízlésével ..............................................................................
Mi a baj vele? ...............................................................................................................................
Komoly tárgyalások .....................................................................................................................
Ha nem tévedek ............................................................................................................................
Nem látom be, miért vennék fel fekete nyakkendőt.....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Összefoglalná röviden a tárgyalások témáját? .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Biztosítanom kell önöket ..............................................................................................................
Komolyan megfontoltunk minden szempontot ............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Tekintet nélkül a mellékhatásokra................................................................................................
Nem beszélhetne egy kissé világosabban? ...................................................................................
Nem akartunk elhamarkodott véleményt mondani ......................................................................
Egy kéthónapos gondolkodás mellett döntöttünk ........................................................................

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Mindkét fél részéről .....................................................................................................................

Meggondolatlan lenne a részünkről .............................................................................................
Komoly intézkedéseket hozni, amikor nincs szükség rá ..............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Bármennyire próbálom is, nem értem a lényeget .........................................................................
Megpróbálok a lényegről beszélni ...............................................................................................
Egy ötórás tárgyalás után .............................................................................................................
Elhatároztuk, hogy megfelelő időben megadjuk nekik, ami jár ...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Komoly eredmény nélkül .............................................................................................................
Megtartottam az ígéretemet ..........................................................................................................
Biztosíthatom afelől, hogy megtettük, ami tőlünk telik ...............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Megtaláltuk a legmegfelelőbb utakat és módokat ........................................................................
Ami mindkettőnk számára elfogadható........................................................................................
Jövő héten ilyenkor folytatjuk a vitát ...........................................................................................
Remélem, a válaszaim kielégítették a kíváncsiságukat ................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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21. Science

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

Albert Einstein:Science, philosophy and Religion,

A: What sciences did you learn at school?

B: My favourite was Biology and we were also taught Physics, Chemistry, Geography.
A: Why do you prefer Biology?
B: Because my Biology teacher was an outsdanding one and he made us eager to learn his
subject. I am interested in the natural world mostly in human biology.
A: Did you take the A evel in Biology?
B: Yes, I did. And the written exam wasn’t too difficult for me, thanks to my teacher’s
excellent work. I also took Physics at A level, because I want to be a doctor in the future.
A: Can you name the most important scientific achievements or inventions that
changed our world?
B: Modern civilisation started with the steemboat constructed by Robert Foulton in 1807.
This is said to be the beginning of industrial revolution. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the
Printing Press by Gutenberg . His machine made it possible to make printed books and
thus enlarge the number of readers. Science and art owe a lot to the printing press because
it helped cultivate more people. Nowadays making books is totally computerised. We
mustn’t forget about Bell, who invented the telephone and opened the door for other
inventions such as the radio, fax and the Internet. It was the Wright brothers, who
revolutionised transportation by inventing the first aeroplane. Benjamin Franklin is
unquestionably one of the greatest inventors. He is responsible for the light bulb, and the
phonograph. But for the phonograph, we wouldn’t have recorded folk songs. The greatest
invention in the 20th century was the Internet, which revolutionised communication.
Computers have changed our world considerably; they influenced scientific research and
education too.
A: Are there any Nobel Prize Winners among your scientists or writers?
B:There are about ten Nobel Laureates among the scientists of Hungarian origin. In 2002,
Kertész Imre won the Literary Nobel Prize for his novel “Sorstalanság”, which was
translated into English with the title of ‘Fateless’
A: By the way, what do you know about the Nobel Prize and its founder?

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B: Alfred Nobel was a chemist, engineer and an inventor, who in his will trusted a large
sum to The Swedish Royal Academy to award outstanding scientists.The selection board
names the recipients in October every year. The Prize is awarded by the Swedish
Acadamy at a solemn ceremony. The Nobel Prize goes with a gold medal, a diploma and a
great sum of money. Some recipients donate the money to charity.
A: Did you learn computing at school?
B: At school we learnt computer science, so I can use the word processor, Excel and I can
make a website. Nowadays you simply cannot do without computers.When there is a job
advertised, they surely require at least the basic knowledge of computing.
A: What are the good and bad points of the Internet?
B: Like all inventions that changed our world the Internet has its advantages and
disadvantages. No doubt, we live in a computerized world; due to the Internet the Earth
has turned into a big village. Through the Internet you can have access to any information
you might need.Suffice it to mention timetables, accommodations, and foreign
newspapers.Online shopping saves you a lot of trouble provided you have chosen a
reliable partner. I’d rather buy the necessary products in a shop to make sure of their
quality.With the help of the Internet you can download music, films, literary works etc.
Internet is a great tool in learning, while surfing the Net you can find additional materials
to different subjects. For example, while writing an essay you can add pictures and other
illustrations to your work. However, Internet has its drawbacks as well, just think about its
harmful effects on children. A lot of children become addicted to the Net, and there is a
real danger of developing eyesight problems.E-mail and chatting groups are a good means
of communication and making new friends.However, there is a real danger of making
virtual friends instead of real ones. There are websites for adults which, if visited by
children, can be harmful; I mean pornographic ones for example. What annoys me most,
is the thousands of stupid ads, you simply cannot avoid.It can be dangerous to open an e-
mail, the sender of which is unknown; it might contain viruses. Another crime committed
by way of the Internet is hackers’ intrusion into your documents.Parents should teach their
children not to give their personal data / particulars to any of their chat friends. One can
never know what they want the information for.

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Words and Phrases

access to hozzáférés
accommodation szállás
achievement vívmány
additional material kiegészítő anyag
annoy bosszant
avoid elkerül
award megjutalmaz
blind vak
Carpathian Basin kárpát-medence
charismatic karizmatikus
chemist vegyész
computerised kompjúterizált
construct épít, szerkeszt
cultivate kiművel
donate pénzt ajándékoz
download letölt
draw one’s attention to felhívja a figyelmét
drawback hátrány
enlarge megnövel
eyesight problem látási probléma
fateless sorstalan
founder alapító
hacker számítógép feltörő
harmful effect on káros hatás
human emberi
industrial revolution ipari forradalom
intrusion into behatolás
invent feltalál
invention találmány
light bulb villanyégő
medal érem

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Nobel Laureate Nobel díjas

outstanding kiváló
owe tartozik, köszönhet valamit
phogograph fonográf, hangfelvevő
printing press nyomda
recipient díjazott, aki kap valamit
reliable megbízható
religion vallás
require megkíván
research kutatás
revolutionise forradalmasít
scientific tudományos
selection board választó testület
sender feladó
solemn ceremony ünnepélyes ceremónia
steemboat gőzhajó
supervise felügyel
surely biztosan
thus ekképp
transportation közlekedés, szállítás
trust rábíz, ráhagy
unquestionably vitathatatlanul
virtual virtuális

Zsibbasztó
Milyen reáltárgyakat tanult az iskolában? ....................................................................................
A biológia tanárom kiváló volt.....................................................................................................
Érdekel a természet és az emberi biológia ...................................................................................
Emelt szinten érettségizett? ..........................................................................................................
Az írásbeli nem volt túl nehéz ......................................................................................................
Fel tudná sorolni a legfontosabb tudományos felfedezéseket? ....................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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Azt mondják, ez az ipari forradalom kezdete ...............................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Növelni az olvasók számát ...........................................................................................................
A tudomány sokat köszönhet a nyomtatásnak .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A könyvkészítés teljesen kompjúterizált ......................................................................................
Más találmányok előtt is megnyitotta az utat ...............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Franklin kétségtelenül az egyik legnagyobb feltaláló .................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A fonográf nélkül nem lennének felvett népdalaink ....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az internet forradalmasította a kommunikációt ...........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A végrendeletében nagy összeget hagyott a kiemelkedő tudósok díjazására ..............................
......................................................................................................................................................
Ma nem lehet meglenni számítógép nélkül .................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az internetnek megvannak az előnyei és a hátrányai ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az interneten bármilyen információhoz hozzáférhet ...................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Elég, ha csak a menetrendeket említjük .......................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az online vásárlás sok fáradságtól kímél meg .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az internet kiváló eszköz a tanulásban ........................................................................................
Sok gyerek válik netfüggővé ........................................................................................................
Ami a legjobban bosszant ............................................................................................................
Amit nem tud elkerülni ................................................................................................................
Vírust tartalmazhat .......................................................................................................................
Az ember sohasem tudhatja..........................................................................................................

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An Essay
‘Can I Have a Gene Tonic?’
The title was written by Kolejanisz Tamás,
10.d, 2005. Teleki Blanka Gimnázium

In the course of the 20th century there was an upsurge of new scientific achievements
including genetic modification and cloning. Both of them were confronted with widespread
criticism, even demonstrations on behalf of Greenpeace. The reason for the strong unease in
the public stems from the fact that genetic engineering, along with cloning represent radical
interference in natural and biological processes.
The term ‘genetic engineering’ refers to the process during which the DNA of a living
organism is manipulated in order to create a new species with modified characteristics. For
example new crops that are resistant to chemical fertilisers. Those who are against the new
method have several counter arguments. Firstly, they argue that we know very little about the
possible impacts of GMO on the environment and human health. Secondly, they foresee a
dark scenario that GE crops, while interbreeding with conventional ones, can deprive them of
their habitat, thus causing irretrievable damage to the environment. In addition to this,
Greenpeace activists claim that biodiversity is threatened by GMO-s and can lead to the
extinction of natural species. Those who advocate GE, on the contrary, believe that the new
method helps to produce more food and eliminate famine in the world.
All in all, as there are still ambiguities about the consequences of genetic engineering, most
governments took restrictive measures against GE products. For example, in the EU it is
prohibited to produce or market such food.
Cloning has provoked downright outrage in the public. Poor Molly, the first clone served as
a strong argument against the new science threatening with creation of biologically defective
individuals. A lot of people, religious groups in particular, say that cloning should be
prohibited. They regard it as an irresponsible ‘meddling with creation’ and strongly oppose
human experiments. According to these views, life begins at the moment of conception and
no one has the right to interfere in the embryo. Researchers, on the other hand, argue that with
the improvement of the new method several illnesses could be cured. There are strong pros
and cons on either side, just like in the case of new scientific achievements in the past.
However, as the outcome is still uncertain, human cloning is prohibited at present.
(371 words)

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Words and Phrases

advocate patronál, támogat

along with valamivel együtt
ambiguity bizonytalanság
ambiguous bizonytalan, kétértelmű
at present jelenleg
biodiversity biológiai sokszínűség
characteristics jellemző vonás
chemical fertiliser műtrágya
claim 1. állít 2. igényel
cloning klónozás
conception fogantatás
confront szembeszegül
consequence következmény
conventional hagyományos
counter argument ellenérv
creation teremtés
criticism kritika, bírálat
defective hibás
deprive sy of sg megfoszt valamitől
DNA DNS
downright egyenes, őszinte, kétségtelen
eliminate megszüntet
experiment kísérlet
famine éhínség
foresee megjósol
genetic modification génmódosítás
GMO (genetically modified organism) génmódosított szervezet
habitat élettér
impact on hatás valamire
in order to azért, hogy, abból a célból
in the public a közvéleményben

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individual egyén, egyed

interbreed kereszteződik
interfere in beleavatkozik
interference in beavatkozás
irresponsible felelőtlen
irretrievable visszavonhatatlan
manipulate manipulál, befolyásol
market piac, piacra dob, terjeszt
meddle with belekontárkodik
modify módosít
on behalf of valakinek a részéről
on the contrary ellenkezőleg
oppose, opposition ellenez, ellenzés
organism szervezet
outcome eredmény, kimenetel
outrage felháborodás
process folyamat
prohibit megtilt
radical radikális, gyökeres
regard sg as tekint valaminek
represent képvisel, van valami
researcher kutató
resist sg ellenáll valaminek
resistant to ellenálló valamivel szemben
scenario forgatókönyv
scientific achievement tudományos vívmány
served as an argument érvként szolgált
stem from ered valahonnan
unease szorongás
upsurge feltörés
widespread széles körben elterjedt

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22. Shopping

‘Always be polite to shop assistants. Never talk back to them; never argue;
never speak to them unless spoken to. If they are curt, sarcastic or rude to you,
remember that they might be in a bad mood’
( George Mikes: How to Be a Brit )

A: It is said that we live in a consumer society. Is that true?

B: Yes, absolutely. There has never been such a great variety of products to sell as
nowadays.Modern industry deliberately produces such goods that do not last long.Thus
customers are forced to replace their domestic appliances more often than before.A 3-
year-old computer is considered an outdated one.Companies have been boosting their
production to market as many goods as possible.They spend a fortune on advertisements
to make people buy their new products even if they do not really need them.Consumerist
attitude does a lot of harm; just think about the huge amount of industrial and domestic
waste we produce day by day.If we do not want to destroy our environment we should
reconsider our real needs.
A:What is the cause of the fast spread of shopping centres?
B: The advantage of a shopping centre is that you can find all kinds of goods in one
place.Shopping plazas have changed people’s shopping habits.A lot of people like going
to plazas only to spend their time window-shopping. In fact, most of them find something
to buy in the end.
A: What are the advantages or disadvantages of shopping in plazas?
B : Shopping plazas are popular with the customers, because they sell goods at a lower
price. They attract young people as well, because they offer places of entertainment . A
shopping centre is like a city; apart from shops you can find there cinemas, restaurants,
fitness clubs as well.As to their disadvantages, well, they outdo small shops and firms.As
a result, a lot of people become jobless and firms that cannot compete with plazas go
bankrupt.Just look at the markets, the number of farmers is getting fewer. A lot of farmers
dropped growing vegetables or fruit because they cannot sell them at a good price.
A: Do you know what VAT stands for?
B: Sure. It means value added tax which varies from product to product. VAT is a kind of
tax you pay whenever you buy something or ask for a service.

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A: Do you ever do shopping in plazas?

B : I prefer buying my clothes in small shops instead of plazas; because they are of better
quality.I prefer buying vegetables and fruit in a traditional market rather than in a plaza
where you do not always know where the product comes from.There is something fishy in
their low prices.A customer should always make sure that the product is not expired.
A: Once a month we go to the nearest shopping centre to fill our food supply.It is much
more convenient than doing the shopping every day. Are you a regular customer in any
shops?
B : Yes, I have my favourite shops where I buy my clothes for example.They sell such
clothes that appeal to me.These are private shops with trendy supplies and I can find
whatever I need.
A: I am not a regular customer in any shops.I don’t like spending much money on clothes
that is why I buy them in second-hand shops.

Words and Phrases

a great variety of nagy választéka

appeal to sy tetszik valakinek
appliance készülék
bargain jó üzlet, alkudni
black economy fekete gazdaság
boost felfuttat (termelést)
browse böngészik
consider valaminek tart
consumer society fogyasztói társadalom
consumerist attitude fogyasztói szemlélet
contract szerződés
curt udvariatlan
customer vásárló
deliberately szándékosan
entrepreneur vállalkozó
expire lejár a szavatossága
folder mappa

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goods áruk
market research piackutatás
mood hangulat
offshore adóparadicsom
outdated elavult
outdo felülmúl, leköröz
property tulajdon
receipt csekk, számla
reclaim visszaigényel
retail kiskereskedelem
rude durva
smuggle csempészik
stationery papír- írószer bolt
talk back felesel
taxation system adórendszer
trick sy into sg bebolondít
VAT (value added tax) áfa, áruforgalmi adó
whiten kifehérít
wholesale nagykereskedelem
wholesale dealer nagykereskedő
window-shopping kirakat nézegetés

Zsibbasztó

Soha nem volt ilyen széles választéka a termékeknek .................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
Nem tartanak sokáig .....................................................................................................................
Egy hároméves számítógép öregnek számít .................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Piacra dobni annyi terméket, amennyit csak lehet .......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Vagyont költenek a hirdetésekre ..................................................................................................
Hogy vásárlásra ösztönözzék az embereket .................................................................................

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......................................................................................................................................................
Még ha nincs is rá szükségük .......................................................................................................
A fogyasztói szemlélet sok kárt okoz ...........................................................................................
A hatalmas mennyiségű ipari szemét ...........................................................................................
Ha nem akarjuk lerombolni a környezetünket .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mi az oka a bevásárlóközpontok gyors terjedésének? .................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mindenféle árut megtalál egy helyen ...........................................................................................
Cask azért, hogy nézelődjenek .....................................................................................................
A bevásárló központok népszerűek a vásárlók körében...............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Szórakozóhelyeket kínálnak .........................................................................................................
Az üzleteken kívül ........................................................................................................................
Ami a hátrányukat illeti ................................................................................................................
Ennek következtében....................................................................................................................
Sokan munkanélkülivé válnak .....................................................................................................
A gazdák száma csökken..............................................................................................................
Nem tudják jó áron eladni ............................................................................................................
Mit jelent az Áfa? .........................................................................................................................
Árunként változik .........................................................................................................................
Job minőségűek ............................................................................................................................
Job szeretek hagyományos piacon zöldséget venni .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Gyanúsak az alacsony áraik .........................................................................................................
Megtalálom, amire cask szükségem van. .....................................................................................

Online Shopping

M=Mrs Mug A= Apprentice

A: Hullo, could I speak to Mrs Mug*, please?

M: Speaking.

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A: Ah, good morning Mrs Mug. My name is John Cheat, I am the apprentice of Mr
Conman**. I am phoning to tell you that the chest of drawers you ordered last month is ready
and is being delivered.
M: Oh, do you mean right now?
A: Sure...it must be there in a few minutes.
M: But ...um, well, I thought you would send it next week, not earlier ... and you know I was
about to leave...
A: Don’t worry, Mrs Mug. It really won’t take long...um...have you emptied the room yet?
M: Pardon? ...are you sure you’ve got the right number?
A: Ah yes,...so please empty the room so that...
M: But why should I?
A: Look, Mrs Mug...you ordered a dark brown oak chest of drawers, 1 metre high and half a
metre wide with 6 drawers, didn’t you?
M: Yes, I did.
A: That’s it...um I mean...the trouble is that we only have chests of larger size 3 by 2 metres
with 20 drawers...suppose you have standard doors?
M: Doors?
A: Oh, yes...you see...we simply cannot move it into your flat through standard doors. That is
why there are five workers with the lorry, which is to arrive soon, and they are going to build
the chest of drawers for you on the spot. By the way, the men didn’t have anything for
breakfast, we were in such a hurry...
M: But look...I do not want that monster of yours!
A: Sorry to hear that, but it is the only size we have. Nevertheless, I’m sure you’ll like the
colour. It is dark pink...sort of Bourbon style.
M: Oh, God...it’s hair-raising!
A: Oh, Mrs Mug, don’t lose heart, it is such a beautiful piece of furniture.
M: Now listen! If you dare to approach my standard door with your monsterous dark pink
Bourbon, I’ll call the police. Take my word for it!

mug is somebody who can be tricked easily, **con man = confidence man, who gets money
from people by assuming a pious manner and thus gains their confidence

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Words and Phrases

3 by 2 metres 3-szor 2 méteres

assume felvesz valamilyen modort
chest of drawers fiókos szekrény, sublód
con man csaló
confidence bizalom
dark pink sötét rózsaszín
don’t lose heart ne csüggedjen!
gain megszerez
hair-raising hajmeresztő
I was about to leave éppen indulni készültem
is being delivered éppen most szállítják
it won’t take long nem tart sokáig
lorry teherautó
monster szörnyeteg
monsterous szörnyű, szörnyeteg
mug balek
nevertheless ennek ellenére
oak tölgyfa
of larger size nagyobb méretű
on the spot a helyszínen
order megrendel
pious manner szenteskedő modor
sort of Bourbon style egyfajta bourbon sítlus
standard door átlagos ajtó
Take my word for it. Szavamat adom rá.
which is to arrive soon ami hamarosan meg fog érkezni

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An Essay

Shopaholics

Do you want to show off your money, to keep up with the Joneses? If yes, replace your
three-year-old car, regardless of it is being reliable without the slightest scrap on it. Do you
easily fall for ads? If yes, rush to apply the latest anti-wrinkle stuff that makes you look ten
minutes younger for half an hour. Never mind the price. It is worth the money as long as you
believe in it.
Consumerist attitude has done a lot of harm to our world. Just pause for a moment and have
a vision of the scrap heaps and rubbish dumps that spoil the outskirts of our cities. Where do
they vanish? They go into the soil or in the air polluting the environment excessively.
Recycling cannot compete with all the waste we produce day by day. We go on with our
overconsumption and garbage with no regard to the right of our offspring to have a habitable
world.
The time has come to reconsider our real needs and values. Consumerists argue that our
whole economic life is based on the libertarian concept of free market that is controlled by the
needs of the consumer buyer and is supported by advertising to induce extra needs in the
population. A large per cent of workers earn their living by producing luxuries or advertising
these goods. Do we really want to make them redundant? Of course, we do not. However,
there are moral aspects to take into account. We have inherited a miraculous world which we
are responsible for. How long would it take us to cease to destroy it with our irresponsible
attitude?
Another side of the coin is also worth contemplation. What has happened to our concept of
values? Have we become the slaves of our luxurious needs? Are we to spend our life window-
shopping in plazas or being fooled into purchasing the latest signalling trainers, just because
the classmates of our child have already got ones? Are they really necessary for his or her
happiness, or do you buy them just because you do not dare to say ‘no’? Consumerist
behaviour is deliberately encouraged in the teens by advertising companies because they
represent a huge market and are potential shopaholics in the long run.
We live in a product-stricken society. If you do not want to live in modern slavery, bring up
your children to appreciate good books instead of fashionable clothes and let them enjoy

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music instead of worshipping the appliance that plays it. Try to pass on to them real values
that improve our world.
(429 words)

Words and Phrases

anti wrinkle ránctalanító

appliance készülék
appreciate értékel, megbecsül
cease to do = stop doing sg abbahagy valamit
coin érme
compete with versenyez
concept felfogás, elv
concept of values értékrend, felfogás
consumer buyer fogyasztói vásárló (’l’art pour l’art vásárló)
consumerism, consumerist fogyasztói szemlélet, azt támogató
consumerist attitude fogyasztói szemlélet
consumerist behaviour fogyasztói magatartás
contemplate meditál, elgondolkodik
contemplation meditálás, elmélkedés
dare merészel
deliberate, deliberately szándékos, szándékosan
encourage ösztönöz, bátorít
excess, excessive, excessively túlzás, túlzó, túlzottan
fall for bedől valaminek
fool into bebolondít, rászed
free market szabad piac
habitable lakható, élhető
induce előidéz, okoz, ösztönöz
keep up with lépést tart valakivel
libertarian, liberal libertinus, liberális, szabadelvű
luxurious luxus (melléknév)
luxury luxus, luxuscikk

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moral aspect erkölcsi szempont

outskirt külső széle
overconsumption túlfogyasztás
pass on to sy továbbad
pause szünetet tart, megáll
potential lehetséges, potenciális
product-stricken áru sújtotta
purchase vásárol
reconsider újragondol, átértékel
recycling újrafeldolgozás
represent képvisel, van valami
rubbish dump szemétdomb
scrap ócskavas
scrap heap roncstelep
shopaholic mániákus vásárló
show off henceg
signal, signalling jelzés, jelez, jelző
slave, slavery rabszolga, rabszolgaság
support támogat
take into account figyelembe vesz
value érték
vanish eltűnik
vision látomás, látvány
with no regard to tekintet nélkül valamire
worship vallásos áhítattal imád

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23. Sports

‘The secret of long life is the total lack of sport’

(Sir Winston Churchil)
A: Do you do any sports?
B: I have been doing different sports from an early age.I used to go swimming but I gave
it up because the pool was always overcrowded. I have been playing handball for 6 years.
A: I used to do sport but I dropped it because I wanted to concentrate on my exams. Is
there any point in doing sport?
B: Sport is healthy, relaxing and a good way of entertainment. Doing exercise every day
can be beneficial to your health. If I were you I would take up a sport to be fit both
physically and mentally. 20 minutes of exercise helps produce endorphins, the so-called
‘hormones of happiness’.
Sport gives you a lot of energy that helps you to cope with difficulties in life.
A: Do you have any chances at school to do sports?
B: At school we have only two PE lessons a week; if I had my way, I would make it 5.
Sports facilities and equipment at our school are not the best, but there is the City Park
nearby where we can run in the fresh air. In PE lessons we do running, jumping, climbing
the bars, throwing weights etc.
A: I hate PE lessons because I am clumsy and always feel embarrassed. I am always
ashamed of performing jumps for example with the others staring at me. If I were the
Minister of Education I would ban teachers from giving marks for performances.I would
only mark the effort not the results. What is the difference between professional and
amateur sport?
B: Professional sportsmen have a rather stressful and monotonous life.They go training
every day and are forced to improve their results day by day. However, it must be
fantastic to get the gold medal and listen to the national anthem played for you. I prefer
being an amateur sportsman rather than torturing myself to death for the better results.
A: What are the main sport events in the world?
B: Olympic Games are the most prestigious sport events, every sportsmen wants to win an
Olympic medal. Olympic Games are held in every four years, and countries compete for
the chance to organise them. I rarely watch sports programmes, but I definitely wouldn’t
miss the Olympic Games. Apart from the Olympic Games, the most popular sport events
are the World Championships. Now and then some athletes fail the dope test because they

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use illegal drugs to enhance their strength. It is a nice tradition to award a sportsman for
his fair play.
A: Have you got a favourite sport or sportsman?
B: I have. I am mad about handball and wouldn’t miss any matches of my favourite team.
My favourite team is called ‘Gold Hands’; they won silver medal in the last European
Championship.My favourite sportsman is Freddy Ball whose style amounts to art. This
year in the semi-finals Freddy Ball scored 3 goals but in the finals he got injured and was
withdrawn from the field.
A :Do you ever watch football?
B: I am not really enthusiastic about football; I’d rather watch basketball or volleyball.
What disgusts me most is football hooliganism. Sometimes the fans go mad and behave
like gangsters in the street frightening everybody with their behaviour.
A: What is your attitude to extreme sports? Could you name some of them?
B: There are adventurers who take delight in extreme sports such as rafting,
paragliding,and rock climbing etc. I find it a foolish thing to risk your life just for fun.
Sport is good as long as you don’t overdo it. People regard jogging as a good way to be
fit, however you can have a heart attack if you overdo it. I wonder why some people go
jogging in a busy street; they only breathe in traffic fumes.
A: Apart from handball, which is your favourite sport?
B: I am a tennis fan and always watch the matches on Eurosport.
A: What are the rules of tennis?
B: Tennis is played either by two or four people depending on the game being single or
double. If you want to play tennis first you should buy the necessary equiment such as a
racquet, tennis balls, and suitable clothes. It has been traditional for the players to wear
white shorts or skirts with white T-shirts. It is advisable to buy such clothes that don’t
prevent you from free movements. The place where the game takes place is called (tennis)
court with a net in the middle. The net is stretched on either side and the point is that your
ball shouldn’t bump into it The judge sits high on a special chair to be able to supervise
the match .The game usually starts with tossing up a coin to chose the left or right side of
the court. The players serve one by one and try to score more points than their opponent.
This may sound easy, but there are several aspects you should take into account. First you
should learn the proper grip of the racquet to return a serve. The server has to stand behind
the baseline and push off the ball with all his or her might. Each player is given three
chances to serve.When the ball hits the net and lands outside the line, it is fault, and you

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lose points. It is a recurring scene that players start to argue with the judge whether the
ball was out or not. Serving and receiving the serve are equally difficult. To win a match
you have to score more points and win more games than your opponent does.

Words and Phrases

adventurer kalandor
amounts to art művészettel ér fel
ashamed of szégyell valamit
ban sy/sg from doing sg megtiltani valakinek valamit
bars korlát
baseline alapvonal
behaviour magatartás
beneficial hasznos
bump into beleütközik
concentrate on összpontosít valamire
disgust utálattal tölt el, undorít
effort törekvés, szorgalom
endorphin endorfin, boldogság hormon
enhance megnövel
equipment felszerelés
extreme sport extrém sport
fail the dope test megbukik a dopping teszten
fair play sportszerű játék
fault hiba
final döntő
grip fogás, megragadás
improve fejleszt
jogging kocogás
lack of hiánya
mentally szellemileg
monotonous monoton, egyhangú
net háló

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oppononet ellenfél
overcrowded túlzsúfolt
overdo túlzásba visz
paragliding siklórepülés
performance teljesítés
physically fizikailag
pool medence
prestigious rangos
prevent sy from sg megakadályoz valamiben
proper megfelelő
racquet teniszütő
rafting vadevezés
reconcile to belenyugszik valamibe
recurring scene visszatérő jelenet
risk kockáztat
rock climbing sziklamászás
score goals gólt lő
score points pontot szerez
semi-final elődöntő
serve szervál, adogat
sports facilities sportlétesítmények
strength erő
stretch nyújt
take into account számításba vesz
throw weight súlyt dob
torture kínoz
toss up a coin pénzt feldob
with all his might teljes erőből
withdraw visszavon

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Zsibbasztó

Sportol? ........................................................................................................................................
Kora gyermekkoromtól sportolok. ...............................................................................................
Azelőtt úsztam. .............................................................................................................................
Az uszoda mindig zsúfolt volt. .....................................................................................................
Hat éve kézilabdázom. .................................................................................................................
A tanulásra akartam koncentrálni .................................................................................................
Van értelme sportolni? .................................................................................................................
A sport jó szórakozás ...................................................................................................................
20 perc torna segít, hoyg fitek legyünk ........................................................................................
Megbirkózni az élet nehézségeivel ..............................................................................................
Cask két tornnaóránk van .............................................................................................................
Ha rajtam múlna ...........................................................................................................................
Nem a legjobbak...........................................................................................................................
Mindig zavarban vagyok ..............................................................................................................
Miközben a többiek engem bámulnak .........................................................................................
Ha én lennék az oktatási miniszter ...............................................................................................
Csak a szorgalmat osztályoznám..................................................................................................
A profi sportolóknak stresszes az élete ........................................................................................
Naponta javítani az eredményeiket ..............................................................................................
Nagyszerű lehet aranyérmet szerezni ...........................................................................................
Halálra kínozni magam ................................................................................................................
Az Olimpia a legrangosabb verseny.............................................................................................
Négyévente tartják........................................................................................................................
Ritkán nézek sportközvetítésket ...................................................................................................
Biztosan nem hagynám ki az Olimpiát ........................................................................................
A stílusa művészetttel ér fel .........................................................................................................
A döntőben megsérült ..................................................................................................................
Nem lelkesedem a fociért .............................................................................................................
Néha megőrülnek a szurkolók ......................................................................................................
Mit gondola az extrém sportokról? ..............................................................................................
Ostoba dolognak tartom kockáztatni az életet a szórakozás kedvéért .........................................
......................................................................................................................................................

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A teniszt ketten vagy négyen játsszák ..........................................................................................

A szükséges felszerelés ................................................................................................................
Hagyomány, hogy ........................................................................................................................
Tanácsos, hogy .............................................................................................................................
Érme feldobása .............................................................................................................................

An Interview

R= Reporter
Ch (Robert) = Champion who has just won the 100-metre sprint. He is sweating heavily and
panting, apparently on the verge of collapsing.
R: Welcome everybody here, in the Mostest Stadium, which is such a stunning place, we can
only congratulate the architect on his imagination. Here with us Robert Runy who has just
won the 100-metre sprint. We caught him on the hop, didn’t we, Robert? He-he. How are
you?
Ch: (Panting loudly) Fine…thanks…
R: Robert, I noticed, that at the start you sort of withheld yourself. I thought you must have
done it on purpose to spare energy for the last metres. Am I right?
Ch: (Still panting) Well…I didn’t…I just wanted… a good start…
R: Oh, I see. There was a short press conference before the race and your trainer said you
were at your best both physically and mentally. That is why I still wonder why you chose that
risky start, I mean staying behind. Were you sure the tactics would work?
Ch: Sorry…hm…what tactics…I just wanted…
R: Oh, I know you have been training hard for a year for this race in particular. What method
did you apply in training? It must be really exciting to build a year-long programme for a few-
second race.
I’m convinced very few people would have the perseverance to do that.
Ch: Sorry…what is …the question…
R: It has been rumoured that you want to resign and get married. Don’t you think it a rather
early withdrawal from sport at your age? It has also been said that it is your wife-to-be who
persuaded you to drop professional sport.
Ch: Well, I’ve …got no idea…

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R: Don’t worry, I am not trying to intrude into your privacy. Anyway it is advisable to finish
when one is at the top. Any other ideas for the future apart from starting a family?
Ch: Look, I have just won the world championship and broken the world record at that. You
would see it if you turned your pretty eyes to the display. Thank you for congratulating me on
my greatest achievement. By the way, I am a happy husband and the father of two children,
and it didn’t even cross my mind to drop sports. Now I am going on a holiday with my
family, and then I’ll start training hard for the Olympic Games. Thank you.

Words and Phrases

catch sy on the hop futtában elkap, készületlenül ér

cross one’s mind megfordul a fejében
on the verge of collapsing az összeesés szélén
pant zihál
sweat izzad
withdrawal visszavonulás
withhold visszafog

An Essay

Stir!

How much time do you spend staring at the monitor or the TV screen? How often do you go
to see your GP to ask for a prescription for an effective painkiller? Are you on multivitamins
in order to be fit? Are you torturing yourself with a zero calorie slimming cure to lose the
extra weight you have put on during the last ten years? How long do you intend to go on with
this self-deception?
Do not deceive yourself – all your troubles including your never ceasing backache, the
disorders of your digesting system, your tendency to sweat and pant after climbing a short
flight of stairs, the moroseness with which you start every day can be put down to the lack of
healthy exercise. Do not you think, it is high time you turned a new leaf and started moving
your limp muscles so that they can be stiff and firm again?

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It is common knowledge that physical fitness goes together with a vigorous mind and
resilience. It transforms negative energies into positive ones and thus helps cope with
difficulties. The cause is simple: it has been proved that 20 minutes of exercise produces
endorphins, the hormones that are responsible for our mental and psychological balance. In
colloquial terms, it is referred to as the hormone of happiness.
Doing sport can be beneficial from various aspects. No only does it help to cope with
problems, to be efficient at your work or in your private life, but also good in moral terms as
well. I do not have individual sport in mind, or those who are obsessed with blowing their
muscles in a gym with the false idea of masculinity, but activities that are done with partners.
Sport has an edifying character; it develops and improves the sense of fairness. You are taught
to respect your opponent while fighting him or her. Sport is the best of games, enjoyable and
useful.
However, Physical Exercises as a subject has been lagging behind in the National
Curriculum, which focuses on academic subjects, i.e. on the education of the mind. We
predominantly teach science trying to stuff our students’ heads with as much information as
possible, forgetting about their basic needs for experiencing physical challenges. Another
discouraging point is that in PE lessons teachers estimate their students on the basis of their
results instead of their effort. They should take into account that students are not professionals
longing to beat records. Unless the preferences are modified there will not be any
improvement in the poor health of the younger generation.
(430 words)

Words and Phrases

stir 1. kever 2. mozdul, moccan
academic subject elméleti tantárgy
backache hátfájás
balance egyensúly
beneficial jótékony
cease abbahagy
colloquial style társalgási stílus
digesting system emésztőrendszer
discourage, discouraging elbátortalanít, elkedvetlenítő
disorder rendellenesség

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edifying erkölcsnemesítő, nevelő hatású

effective hatékony
effort erőfeszítés, szorgalom
estimate felbecsül, értékel (pl. osztályzattal)
experience megél valamit
firm szilárd, erős
flight of stairs lépcső
from various aspects különböző szempontból
have sg in mind gondol valamire
in colloquial terms hétköznapi nyelven
in moral terms erkölcsileg
individual sport egyéni sport
it is common knowledge köztudott
it is referred to as úgy nevezik, hogy
lag behind lemarad
limp muscles petyhüdt izmok
lose weight lefogy
masculinity férfiasság
modify módosít
morose, moroseness mogorva, mogorvaság
National Curriculum Nemzeti Tanterv
obsessed with megszállottan tesz valamit
obsession mánia, megszállottság
painkiller fájdalomcsillapító
pant zihál
physical fitness jó erőnlét
poor health rossz egészségi állapot
predominantly túlnyomóan
preferences preferenciák, amiket előnyben részesítünk
prescription for orvosi recept
put down to betud valaminek, visszavezet valamire
put on weight meghízik
resilient, resilience rugalmas, rugalmasság

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self-deception önámítás
sense of fairness igazságérzet
stare at bámul valamire
stiff feszes, kemény, merev
sweat izzad
take into account figyelembe vesz
torture kínoz
transform átalakít
vigorous eleven, életerős
zero calorie slimming cure nulla kalóriás fogyókúra

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24. Theatre

'the purpose of playing...both at the first and now was and is, to hold as 'twere
the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image,
and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.' (Shakespeare
: Hamlet, Act 3)

A :Are you a theatregoer?

B: To my mind, going to the theatre is the best way of entertainment. I am a real
theatregoer and I always check the repertory of the best theatres at the beginning of the
theatrical season. There are a lot of prestigious theatres in Budapest with highly talented
casts. If you want to watch a play, it is advisable to book the tickets in advance otherwise
you can find that all the tickets have been sold. You can get your tickets in a box office.
Once I had the opportunity to watch a rehearsal, which was quite interesting.
A: What plays are you interested in?
B: I prefer watching classical plays but I don’t mind going to modern ones as well. I am
interested in both tragedies and comedies. I prefer plays that introduce true-to-life
characters. My favourite playwright is Shakespeare and I never miss any of the
performances. When the audience enjoys the performance very much, there follows a loud
applause and several curtain calls. The success of a performance lies in excellent acting
and directing. More than 10 years ago, on my visit to London I had the chance to watch
King Lear in a small suburban theatre. At the beginning I felt embarrassed because I
couldn’t catch up with the actors’ speech. Then I realized that they spoke 16th century
English and built such a stage that reminded the audience of the Globe.
A: Could you explain the ever lasting popularity of Shakespeare?
B :The reason for his popularity lies in his genius. That is first. Secondly, he created true-
to-life characters by showing their virtues and deficiencies as well. Last but not least, he
staged such dramas that happen to us regardless of the time and place we live in. Briefly,
we are mirrored in his characters, and are enchanted by his witty style.
A: Have you ever dreamed of becoming an actor / actress?
B: I wouldn’t be an actor, as I cannot overcome stage fright. I wouldn’t pass for an actor,
because I don’t have the gift or skills that are indispensable. I used to play in the school
theatre but it was just a hobby. I would not be able to learn such long texts by heart.

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A: What was the last play you saw?

B: The last play I saw was ‘Tartuffe’, a comedy by Molière. This is a comedy in 5 acts
and is written in verse.The plot takes place in the 17th century France during the reign of
Luis XIV. The main character is a man who pretends to be pious. He is trying to hide his
real motives that are quite base. Tartuffe wants to seduce his host’s wife and to get his
property. In order to get what he wants he ingratiates himself with Orgon, who believes
him. All the other family members are aware of the fact that Tartuffe is a creep. Orgon
becomes so enchanted by Tartuffe that he disinherits his family . It is the wife, who forces
Orgon to face reality that is Tartuffe’s base intentions. She pretends to accept his
courtship while Orgon is hiding under the table. In the end, Tartuffe is unmasked and is
arrested. I think the play is about hypocrisy and fanatics. The acting was marvellous, but
the setting was quite unimpressive.
A: Who works in the theatres?
B: Apart from the actors and directors a lot of other people contribute to the
performances. There are a lot of people working in the wings: the stagehands, stage-
designers, make-up artists etc.
A: What makes a good actor?
B: To begin with, an actor must have empathy for various characters, i.e. he has to know
people very well. He is supposed to be a good psychologist in a sense. There are practical
skills that an actor has to acquire during his studies. A good actor is always articulate, and
never mutters. It can be really irritating when the audience cannot catch the text because
of the inarticulate words of the actors. In addition to this, an actor has to be familiar with
body language. Sometimes a gesture says more than many words.
A: Where can we find the repertories of the theatres?
B: The easiest way is to search the Internet, but you can also be informed by
advertisements. In England there is a popular paper called Evening Standard, which is a
cultural guide and contains the repertory of London theatres. Furthermore the paper gives
a detailed description of the theatres, and gives useful advice to the readers.From the
Evening Standard you learn where you can park your car, or where you can have a drink
or supper after the performance.

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Words and Phrases

all kinds of characters mindenféle jellem / szerep

apart from valamin kívül
applause, applaud taps, tapsol
arrest letartóztat
audience közönség
base intentions alantas szándékok
book the tickets in advance előzetesen jegyet venni
box office jegyiroda
classical plays klasszikus darabok
contribute to hozzájárul valamihez
courtship udvarlás
creep talpnyaló
curtain calls visszatapsolás
enchanted by elbűvölve valakitől
enchanting varázslatos
face reality szembesül a valósággal
fanatic fanatikus, vakbuzgó
force sb to do sg kényszerít
gifted tehetséges
highly talented cast nagyon tehetséges színtársulat
hypocrisy képmutatás
leading part főszerep
lies in rejlik valamiben
make-up artist sminkes
opportunity to lehetőség valamire
otherwise másképp, különben
overcome stage fright legyőzni a színpadi lázat
pious jámbor, szenteskedő
playwright drámaíró

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prestigious theatres rangos színházak

pretend to be színlel valamit
property tulajdon
real motives igazi szándékok
rehearsal színházi próba
repertory repertoár, műsor
seduce elcsábít
setting díszlet
stage-designer díszlettervező
stagehands színpadi munkás
the best way of entertaining a szórakozás legjobb módja
theatregoer színházkedvelő
theatrical season színházi évad
true-to-life character valósághű jellem
unimpressive hatástalan, unalmas
unmask leleplez
written in verse versben íródott

A Description

A Witch from Macbeth

All of a sudden the trap-door swings open and a ghastly-looking creature ascends through it.
She has an ubelievably rugged countenance with furrows around her eyes and a toothless
mouth, grumbling, mumbling all the time. Several hairy warts are scattered around her chin
and forehead making her skin rocky and ugly beyond description. Her harpy-looking eyes are
staring at the spotlights as if she were blind. Her long, thin, grey hair is greasy and matted,
covered by cobwebs obscuring her face.
There is scarcely any body under her rags; a skin and bone jade with withered limbs and
humped back. Her hands are trembling and resembling the claws of an eagle. With her black
fingernails she keeps scratching her itchy palms and grasping at something invisible in the
air. She is holding a rust covered crown in her hand.

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She is wrapped in faded old rags, in an ash-coloured, tattered old cloak with blood-stains on
it. It is tied around her body and fastened to her waist by a mildewed rope. Being barefooted,
her dirty, muddy feet are shuffling on the stage making a terrible noise.

Words and Phrases

all of a sudden hirtelen

as if she were blind mintha vak lenne
ascend felmegy
ash hamu
barefooted mezítláb
blood stain vérfolt
claw karom
cobweb pókháló
countenance tekintet, arckifejezés
eagle sas
fade elhalványul
fasten odaerősít
fingernail köröm
furrow mély ránc
ghastly-looking szörnyű kinézetű
grasp kapkod valami után
greasy zsíros (haj)
grumble morog
hairy szőrös
harpy-looking hárpia kinézetű
hump púp
invisible láthatatlan
itchy viszkető
jade gebe
limb végtag
matted csapzott

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mildew penész
mumble motyog
obscure elhomályosít
palm tenyér
rag rongy
rugged érdes, viharvert
rust covered rozsda fedte
scarcely alig
scratch vakar
shuffle csoszog
skin and bone csont és bőr
spotlight reflektor
swing open kinyílik, kicsapódik
tatter rongy, cafat
trap-door csapóajtó
ugly beyond description leírhatatlanul rút
unbelievably hihetetlenül
waist derék
wart szemölcs
withered elhervadt, aszott
wrap becsomagol, fed

Story Writing

A Remarkable Performance

In many of the old theatres there are bad conditions, drab and dark dressing rooms full of fleas
and marching mice but with no running water.
No wonder if an actor tries to make his entrance long before his cue and delays his departure
as long as he can. As Thomas Wit did when he was so depressed by the backstage conditions
that he decided to stay on stage at all costs.
He played the part of a gardener that night. In a scene he only had to say: “Very good,
milady” and go out. But to the great astonishment of his partners and to the greater delight of

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the audience his one-line sentence became the longest scene in the play turning the drama into
a real farce.
At first he pretended not to hear the question and asked for it to be repeated several times.
Then he began to admire the set pulled the handle off the door so that he could not open it.
Then a new idea came to his mind. There was a gin bottle with water in it standing on the
cocktail cabinet. Thomas took the bottle and began to drink while waiting for his scene. To
make the thing more realistic he started to behave as if he was drunk. Some other thirsty
members of the staff followed his example and tried to reach the bottle as there was no
drinking water in the dressing rooms.
Meanwhile the leading actors pretended not to take notice of this unusual scene and went on
acting as though none of this was happening.
Finally, Thomas realised that the only way he could stay on stage was as a corpse. All of a
sudden he grabbed his throat, rolled his eyes and shouted: “Milady, I’ve been poisoned!”
Then he began to agonise, staggering around the stage for 3-4 minutes before falling down
and lying dead by the fireplace, as there was no heating in the dressing rooms.
This unexpected development in the plot caused a bit of a shock among the others on stage. It
took some minutes for them to recover and improvise. No sooner had they calmed down than
new characters turned up in the play.
When the leading actress took a cigarette, a flea jumped out of the case and right into her
gown. At the same time a mouse emerged from the jacket of her partner and began to climb
up his shoulder.
No audience have ever seen such an exciting scene which now followed. No artists have ever
been so animated.
But the flea and the mouse were at their best and to the greatest admiration of the spectators,
they upstaged the actors.
The mouse even joined them for the curtain calls, but the actress thought “enough is enough”
and stamped on it while bowing and smiling sweetly.

The text was inspired by Oliver Prittchet, The Daily Telegraph

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 Vass Judit

Words and Phrases

admiration csodálat
admire csodál
agonise haldoklik
animated eleven
astonishment megrökönyödés
at all costs minden áron
audience nézőközönség
backstage színpad mögötti
bow meghajol
case tárca
cocktail cabinet bárszekrény
corpse hulla, holttest
cue végszó
delay elhalaszt
delight öröm
departure távozás
development fejlemény
drab szürke, komor
dressing room öltöző
emerge kiemelkedik
farce bohózat
flea bolha
gown ruha
grab megragad
handle kilincs
heating fűtés
improvise rögtönöz
leading actress vezető színésznő
make his/her entrance színpadra lép
march marsírozik
mouse, mice egér

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no wonder nem csoda

poison méreg, mérgez
pretend tettet, úgy tesz, mintha
reach elér, nyúl valamihez
realistic realista, valósághű
recover felgyógyul, magához tér
roll one’s eyes kidülleszti a szemét
set díszlet
shoulder váll
stagger vánszorog, tántorog
stamp rátapos
take notice of észre vesz
throat torok
turn up feltűnik, megjelenik
unexpected váratlan
upstage lelép valakit ( jobban játszik a színpadon)

Zsibbasztó

Az öltözőben nincs folyóvíz .........................................................................................................

Nem csoda, hogy jóval a végszó előtt színpadra lépett ................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Halogatta a távozást, ameddig csak tudta.....................................................................................
Elkeseredett volt a kulisszák mögötti körülmények miatt ...........................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Elhatározta, hogy mindenáron a színpadon marad .......................................................................
Partnerei nagy megrökönyödésére ...............................................................................................
A közönség még nagyobb örömére ..............................................................................................
Egysoros mondata a leghosszabb jelenet lett ...............................................................................
A drámát bohózattá változtatta .....................................................................................................
Úgy tett, mintha nem hallaná a kérdést ........................................................................................
Többször megismételtette ............................................................................................................
Elkezdte csodálni a díszletet ........................................................................................................
Lehúzta az ajtóról a kilincset ........................................................................................................

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Új ötlete támadt ............................................................................................................................

Inni kezdett, míg a jelenetére várt ................................................................................................
Úgy kezdett viselkedni, mintha részeg lenne ...............................................................................
A színészek úgy tettek, mintha nem vennék észre .......................................................................
Tovább játszottak, mintha mindez nem történne meg..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az egyetlen módja, hogy színpadon maradjon, ha holttest lesz...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Hirtelen a torkához kapott ............................................................................................................
Megmérgeztek ..............................................................................................................................
Elkezdett haldokolni, tántorogni a színpadon ..............................................................................
Halottan feküdt a kandalló mellett ...............................................................................................
Ez a váratlan fejlemény kisebb sokkot okozott ............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Pár percbe telt, míg magukhoz tértek ...........................................................................................
Alig nyugodtak meg, amikor új szereplők jelentek meg a darabban ...........................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Amikor cigarettát vett elő .............................................................................................................
Egy bolha ugrott ki a tárcából ......................................................................................................
Egy egér jött elő a partnere kabátjából .........................................................................................
Közönség még nem látott ilyen izgalmas jelenetet ......................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Soha még színészek nem voltak ilyen elevenek...........................................................................
A nézők legnagyobb csodálatára ..................................................................................................

Dialogue

A: Hello, we haven’t met for donkey’s years…how are you getting on?
B: Oh, hello. Nice to see you again. Fancy meeting you here! You look really elegant. Where
have you been?
A: I’ve been to the theatre. You know, I like putting on my best clothes for the theatre and I
really don’t see the reason why people should wear casual clothes in the evening, in the
theatre in particular. At least this is the tendency nowadays. It is so vulgar.
B: Oh, I see you haven’t changed a bit. By the way, what play did you watch?

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A: Waiting for Godot.

B: Oh, really? I didn’t know you were keen on absurd theatre. I thought you had a taste for
classical plays.
A: No, you are mistaken. I do like the absurd provided it is well written.
B: Well, to tell you the truth, I hate this play. Once I saw it and was rather disappointed.
There is no real plot in it, the dialogues unfold nothing, all in all it strikes me as a deeply
nihilistic view of life.
A: Well, you cannot expect a modern play to draw on Shakespeare. Godot is not a naturalistic
play, it is supposed to convey the idea how absurd our life has become.
B: It depends. But do you really think that absurdity goes together with boredom?
A: Now you are exaggerating. It is not boring the least bit. Rather it is mentally challenging to
follow the dialogues.
B: Well, I don’t know. I expect the theatre to elevate me from everyday life. Anyway a play is
supposed to entertain, to enchant so to say. I like admiring the set, sympathizing with the
characters, in a word experience catharsis. And to be frank, I detest this new fashion among
actors to mutter instead of speaking articulately. And you know, at least it seems to me so,
contemporary playwrights tend to create mere types instead of flesh and blood characters.
You simply feel estranged from the play. If I were an actor I would hate working without the
demand for impersonation.
A: Well, I see you are against modernism. You know, the days of old William are gone for
good.
B: I’m not sure. And I am not against experimental theatre at all. A month ago I saw Romeo
and Juliet. I was afraid of watching it, because according to the reviews the director had
staged it with modern settings and costumes. But it was a revelation! I don’t normally like
modernized classics, but it was really marvellous. Both the acting and directing was superb. It
was a new translation very different from the one we read before. It was a bit provoking to
listen to today’s language, slang sometimes, but I enjoyed it immensely. Yeah, it was so life-
like full of vitality. It is not the jeans that can spoil Shakespeare but poor art.
A: We agree on this point.

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25. Tourism
‘For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. ‘
(Robert Louis Stevenson: Travels with a Donkey)

A: What kind of destinations do attract tourists?

B: Every summer, millions of people set off on a trip abroad or to explore their own
country. During the winter holidays, thousands of skiers invade the mountains just to
have a broken bone. Some go on a two-week voyage only to become seasick on the
very first day. Others flock to places of historical interest to take photos of
magnificent sights. Many people visit the Acropolis only to have a Hamburger in a
local McDonald’s afterwards. As the saying goes, ‘Travel broadens the mind.’ Some
people seek adventure and go rafting or scuba diving for example.
A: What benefit do we get from tourism apart from entertainment?
B: While abroad, you can get acquainted with other cultures and customs. Wherever
you go in Europe, you will find the breathtaking beauty of nature. And there are
thousands stunning historical sights. In every country you can find places that are
worth visiting. Travelling abroad is a good means to expand your knowledge about the
cultural heritage of the world. Before setting off, it is advisable to read a guidebook
about the country you are going to. While abroad, you should get acquainted with the
natives to get a picture of their way of life and traditions.
A: There is a proverb saying, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Do you
agree?
B: I don’t think one should follow this advice. Anyway, you are not supposed to ape
the natives. On the other hand, you should be aware of their customs, otherwise you
can get into embarrassing situations. I think, both the tourist and the native should
respect each other and be tolerant.
A: Where do you like staying when you are abroad?
B :I’d rather stay at a campsite than at a hotel − it is so romantic to get soaked to the
skin. While camping you are free to chose your programmes. Nothing compares with
a camp fire surrounded by singing people. It stands to reason that you are exposed to
changes in weather. In case of a heavy rain you have nowhere to hide.
A: I am a comfort loving person, so I’d rather stay at a hotel than suffer from
mosquitoes and other annoying things that go with camping. A prestigious hotel offers
various services to make your stay as comfortable as possible. For example you can

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have your clothes cleaned, they rent a taxi for you and so on. If you want to stay at a
hotel you should book a room in advance. Booking a room has become much easier
thanks to the Internet.
B: I’d prefer to stay at a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) because I like spending the whole
day sightseeing. As a student I used to stay at youth hostels, because that’s the
cheapest of all accommodations. We are taken to agritourism and like staying in a
cottage somewhere in the country. More and more urban people chose agritourism
because it offers a real change from everyday life.
A: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a package tour?
B: I prefer package tours to individual ones – everything is organized for you by a
travel agency. Like everything, package tours have both advantages and drawbacks.
The main advantage that you only have to chose your destination and everything will
be arranged for you by a travel agency. They provide you with accommodation and
meals and various programmes at that.Briefly, this is the most comfortable way of
spending your holiday. There are so called last minute tours to help busy people who
do not have enough time to arrange their holiday. Package tours have their drawbacks
as well. For example you have to keep to the schedule even if you are not interested in
a particular place included in the programme. While travelling individually, you can
take your time, you don’t have to hurry. In addition to this, you don’t have to rush
through five museums and three churches within a few hours. No doubt, travelling
individually can be more expensive but the freedom of choice makes up for the
inconveniences.
A: What arrangements do we have to make before going on holiday?
B: Well, it depends. If you intend to travel individually, your task is more difficult, as
you have to arrange everything on your own. Having chosen your destinations, you
have to plan your route provided you want to go by car. If you want to travel by plane
or train you should book the tickets in advance. Should you spend your holiday in the
high season, it is advisable to arrange accommodation well in advance otherwise you
can get into difficulties It is also most useful to read a guide book about the places you
are going to visit in order to get a picture of the sights that are worth visiting. Packing
the things that you might need is another problem. You have to prepare for all kinds of
weather and pack your suitcase with a reasonable amount of clothes. Fortunately,
nowadays you do not have to spend your precious time queuing for visa at embassies,
you just take your passport or identity card and set off.

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Words and Phrases

accurate pontos
agritourism falusi turizmus
ape majmol
arrange elrendez
breathtaking lélegzetelállító
broaden szélesít
civilized civilizált
continental breakfast európai reggeli
destination úti cél
disciplined fegyelmezett
eccentric különc
economy gazdaság
expand növel
explore felfedez
expose to kitesz valaminek
farmyard gazdasági udvar
flock to seregestül megy
freedom of choice a választás szabadsága
generalization általánosítás
get a picture of képet alkot valamiről
get acquainted megismerkedik
get rid of megszabadul valamiről
heritage örökség
How much do you charge? mennyibe kerül?
include magában foglal
individual egyéni
intend szándékozik
invade letámad
keep to the schedule a menetrendhez tartja magát
largely főleg
make up for the inconveniences kárpótol a kényelmetlenségekért

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mosquito szúnyog
native helybéli
on request kérésre
otherwise különben, másképp
package tour társas utazás
places of historical interest történelmi nevezetesség
prejudice előítélet
proverb közmondás
reserved visszafogott
respect tisztel
scuba diving búvárkodás
seek keres
seasick tengeri beteg
set off elindul
skier síző
stereotype sztereotípia, általánosítás
stunning lélegzetelállító
Take your time. ráérsz
travel agency utazási iroda
vacancy üres hely, szoba, állás
voyage tengeri út
worth visiting megéri meglátogatni
xenophobia idegengyűlölet

Zsibbasztó
Milyen úticélok vonzzák a turistákat? ..........................................................................................
Emberek milliói kelnek útra .........................................................................................................
Síelők ezrei szállják meg a hegyeket ............................................................................................
Kéthetes tengeri út ........................................................................................................................
Történelmi nevezetességű helyek.................................................................................................
Ahogy a mondás tartja..................................................................................................................
Az utazás szélesíti a látókört ........................................................................................................
Mi a turizmus haszna? ..................................................................................................................

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Amíg külföldön vagyunk .............................................................................................................

Más kultúrákkal ismerkedünk meg ..............................................................................................
Bárhová is megy Európában ........................................................................................................
A természet lélegzetelállító szépsége ...........................................................................................
A helyek, amelyeket érdemes felkeresni ......................................................................................
Mielőtt elindul ..............................................................................................................................
Tanácsos elolvasni egy útikönyvet ...............................................................................................
Hogy képet kapjunk az életükről ..................................................................................................
Nem kell majmolnia a helybelieket ..............................................................................................
Másképp kínos helyzetbe kerülhetünk .........................................................................................
Mind a turista, mind a helybeli.....................................................................................................
Hol szeret megszállni külföldön? .................................................................................................
Szívesebben szállok meg kempingben ........................................................................................
Olyan romantikus bőrig ázni ........................................................................................................
Az ember szabadon választhat programot ....................................................................................
Nincs jobb, mint a tábortűz ..........................................................................................................
Magától értetődik .........................................................................................................................
Ha nagyon esik .............................................................................................................................
Nincs hova bújni...........................................................................................................................
Kényelemszerető ember vagyok ..................................................................................................
Egy rangos hotel különböző szolgáltatásokat nyújt .....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Kimosathatja a ruháit ...................................................................................................................
Jobb, ha előre lefoglalja a szobát .................................................................................................
Szeretem a napot városnézéssel tölteni ........................................................................................
Egyre több városi választja a falusi turizmust ..............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A társas utakat kedvelem..............................................................................................................
Biztosítják a szállást és az étkezést ..............................................................................................
És programokat ráadásul ..............................................................................................................
A társas utaknak megvan a hátránya is ........................................................................................
Igazodni kell a programhoz ..........................................................................................................
A választás szabadsága.................................................................................................................
Mindent egyedül kell elrendezni ..................................................................................................

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Miután kiválasztotta az úticélt......................................................................................................

Ha főszezonban nyaral .................................................................................................................
Mindenféle időjárásra fel kell készülni ........................................................................................
Nem kell a drága időt sorbanállással tölteni.................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

A Letter of Complaint

Jeremy Fury
23 Fed Street, London VYG 76

14. 06. 2007.

Mr Oliver Fist
The Manager of Dream Hotel
3 Smelly Road, Fishtown, XBC

Dear Mr Fist,

I am writing to you in order to congratulate on the thrilling experiences we were provided at

your hotel while staying there. These days, I can assure you, will always be memorable for us.
But I anticipate. Let us start from the beginning.

On our arrival at your hotel we sadly realised that the sliding doors were out of order, so we
got soaked to the skin as it was raining heavily. Not until a grumpy old man emerged from
nowhere did we realise that there was a side door through which we could have enetered the
building, if there had been any signs to indicate it. In the lounge the man aforesaid turned out
to be the receptionist and pushed the register under my nose saying, ‘No messy handwriting,
please!’ , which used to be the last sentence of my teacher before starting an essay. Being a
disciplined person, I filled in the register and humbly asked for the key which was given, more
exactly thrown to us. As the lift was not working we had to toil up the stairs while the porter
was staring at us without the slightest intention of helping with the luggage.
So much about hospitality. On entering our room, the handle came off the door. There being

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no hands around, I had to fix it myself. Then we decided to have a shower only to learn that
hot and cold water were not to be mixed, so we could choose between freezing cold and
scalding hot. The next evening we were due to a party and since my white shirt needed
cleaning, I put it in the laundry basket only to get it back blinding grey. I almost forgot about
our first dinner in your restaurant. We sat half an hour at our table when it began to dawn on
us that the staff did not seem to care much about guests. Rather they were absorbed in a
seemingly amusing conversation full of giggles and cries of delight. We gave it up and went
for fish and chips.

Hereby we regret to inform you, that your hotel did not meet our demands and we are not
looking forward to spending another night at it.

Yours sincerely
Jeremy Fury

Words and Phrases

absorbed in Elmerül valamiben

aforesaid Az Előbb említett
anticipate Előreszalad, előrevetít
blinding grey Vakító szürke
congratulate sy on sg Gratulál
cry of delight Örömteli felkiáltás
dawn on sy Dereng valakinek
experience Élmény
fist Ököl
freezing cold Jéghideg
fury Düh
giggle Vihogás
grumpy Zsémbes
hand Segítség

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hereby Ezúton
humbly Alázatosan
indicate Jelez
intention Szándék
memorable Emlékezetes
messy handwriting Rendetlen kézírás
mix Összekever
out of order Nem működik
register Nyilvántartó (napló, jegyzék)
regret to inform you Sajnálattal közöl
scald Leforráz
sliding door Tolóajtó
smelly Büdös
so much about it Ennyit erről
toil Veszkődik
turn out to be Kiderül róla, hogy

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26. Transport

‘Three games for bus drivers…2.Hide and seek. Whenever you

approach a request stop hide behind a large lorry or another bus and when you
have almost reached the stop shoot off at a terrific speed. It is very amusing to
see people shake their fists at you. It is ten to one they miss some important
business appointment’ (George Mikes: How to Be a Brit)

A: What means of public transport are offered in the city?

B: There are several means of transport to move around in the city. The fastest way of
getting from one place to another is the underground. Budapest underground was the first
to be built on the continent.Under the ground there are no traffic jams and the trains go
frequently. In addition to this, underground trains do not pollute the environment.
A: Are you satisfied with public transport?
B: I am not satisfied with the bus service in the city. In the rush hours the vehicles are
crowded and rather slow. In the morning and in the afternoon there is always heavy traffic
in the streets. Another bad point is that travelling in the city is extremely expensive.
People complain about the dirty vehicles. If I had my way, I would privatise public
transport. It’s no use subsidizing public transport that produces deficit. They are raising
ticket prices every year, whereas the service is getting worse and worse. On weekdays,
traffic in the city is a disaster. It takes ages to get to the city from the suburbs. Suburban
trains are a popular means of transport. A large per cent of people commute to the city
every day. The disadvantage of living outside a city is that you have to commute every
day. This is partly because the motorway around the city has not been completed.
A: How long does it take you to get to your workplace?
B: Oh, it takes ages. First I have to take the bus to the underground by which I go two
stations, and then I have to change for a tram. All in all, it takes me 40 minutes to get to
work. It’s no use going by car, because it would take even longer.
A: How much do they charge for the service?
B: Many people buy monthly tickets/ pass instead of buying single ones every day. In this
way they save a lot of money. Students and pensioners are entitled to buy monthly tickets
at a cut price. There’s no denying, that fare dodging is increasing because of the high
ticket prices. If you travel without a ticket you can be fined.
A: What do you need to do to get the driving licence?

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B: If you want to get a driving licence first you should pass the driving test. Before
enrolling in a driving course you have to get the doctor’s certificate that you are not
disabled in any way. You have to pass the eye-test. Then you have to learn the Highway
Code and how to give first aid. During the driving exam you have to complete different
things such as reversing, parking, and overtaking.
1. And here are some more sentences.
2. I hate driving on busy roads.
3. The main reason for so many accidents is careless driving.
4. For example, people don’t drive according to the weather conditions.
5. Speeding is another cause of accidents.
6. There is a certain speed limit in the city that you mustn’t exceed.
7. Disco accidents usually happen on Saturday nights after young people have drunk
alcohol or taken drugs and lose control of the car.
8. I wouldn’t get in a car if the driver drank alcohol, ‘better safe than sorry’.
9. It is compulsory to wear safety belts even in the back seat.
10. He ran into the oncoming car while he was overtaking a van.
11. He was run over by a car and was taken to hospital.
12. Three people died in the frontal collision.
13. I think it is a good system in England that you mustn’t drive alone under the age of 21.
14. I think police should monitor traffic more often.
15. Nowadays most people either buy an old car or lease a new one.
16. Maintaining a car is rather an expensive thing.
17. You have to have your car serviced regularly and validate your licence too.
18. If you break the Highway Code, you’ll be fined.
19. In serious cases you can even be deprived of your licence.
20. In case of an accident you should give your insurance card to the other driver.
21. If you are not insured you will pay a fortune for the damage.
22. Sorry for being late, but I got stuck in the traffic.
23. Excuse me, could you tell me how I can get to the station?
24. Take the bus number 7 and get off in the fourth stop.
25. Go along this road and take the second turning on the left.
26. Go as far as the church, cross the square and there you’ll see.

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Words and Phrases

another bad point másik hátránya

amusing szórakoztató
appointment találkozó, megbeszélés
approach megközelít
at a cut price csökkentett áron
at a terrific speed, at top speed teljes gázzal, nagy sebességgel
better safe than sorry. (proverb) jobb az elővigyázatosság.
break the highway code megszegni a KRESZT
bus service busz szolgáltatás
busy roads forgalmas utak
careless driving gondatlan vezetés
change for a tram átszáll villamosra
commute ingázik
complain about panaszkodik valamire
complete befejez, elkészít
compulsory kötelező
damage kár
deficit veszteség
deprive of megfoszt valamitől
disabled mozgássérült
doctor’s certificate orvosi igazolás
driving licence jogosítvány
driving test vezetői vizsga
either…or vagy…vagy
enrol in a course beiratkozik egy tanfolyamra
exceed meghalad, túlmegy valamin
extremely különösen, nagyon
eye-test szemvizsgálat
fare dodging bliccelés
fine pénzbírság
force kényszerít

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frequent, frequently gyakori, gyakran

frontal collision frontális ütközés
go along this road menjen ezen az úton
go as far as the church menjen el a templomig
have nothing to do in the city nincs semmi dolga a városban
have one’s car serviced megvizsgáltatni/javíttatni az autót
he ran into the oncoming car belerohant a szembe jövő autóba
he was overtaking a van éppen egy teherautót előzött
he was run over by a car elütötte egy autó
heavy traffic nagy forgalom
hide elbújik
hide and seek bújócska
highway code KRESZ
How long does it take? Mennyi időbe telik?
I got stuck in the traffic dugóba kerültem
in addition to this ezen kívül
in case of an accident balesetnél
in the back seat a hátsó ülésen
in the peak hours csúcsforgalomban
increase növekszik
insurance card biztosítási kártya
insured biztosított
it is ten to one tíz az egyhez
it takes ages sok időbe telik
it would take longer több időbe telne
it’s five minutes’ walk öt perc séta
it’s no use going by car nincs értelme kocsival menni
lease a new car új autót lízingelni
lorry kamion
lose control of elveszti az uralmát valami felett
means of transport közlekedési eszköz
monitor ellenőriz, megfigyel
monthly ticket havi bérlet

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motorway autópálya
on the spot ott helyben
partly részben
pay a fortune egy vagyont fizetni
privatise privatizál, magán kézbe ad
produce termel
public transport tömegközlekedés
reason for oka valaminek
request stop feltételes megálló
reversing tolatás
safety belt biztonsági öve
satisfied with elégedett valamivel
shake their fists rázzák az öklüket
shoot off kilő, hirtelen gyorsít
single ticket vonaljegy
speed limit sebességkorlátozás
speeding gyorshajtás
subsidize, subsidy támogat, állami támogatás
suburb külváros
suburban train külső kerületekbe járó vonat (hév)
subway station aluljáró
take the bus felszállni buszra
take the second turning on the left forduljon balra a második sarkon
the fastest way a leggyorsabb módja
ticket inspector jegyellenőr
traffic jam közlekedési dugó
validate érvényesít
vehicle kocsi, jármű
was the first to be built elsőnek épült fel
whereas míg, miközben, míg ellenben

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Zsibbasztó

Sok közlekedési eszközzel lehet utazni a városban .....................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
A leggyorsabb a metró .................................................................................................................
A budapesti földalatti volt az első a kontinensen .........................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
A földalatt nincsenek dugók .........................................................................................................
A kocsik gyakran járnak ...............................................................................................................
A kocsik nem szennyezik a környezetet ......................................................................................
Nem vagyok elégedett a buszjáratokkal .......................................................................................
Csúcsforgalomban ........................................................................................................................
Elég lassúak a járművek ...............................................................................................................
Másik gond, hogy drága a közlekedés .........................................................................................
Én privatizálnám a tömegközlekedést ..........................................................................................
Évente emelik a jegyárakat ..........................................................................................................
Sokáig tart bejutni a városba a külvárosokból .............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Az emberek nagy százaléka ingázik.............................................................................................
Mennyi időbe telik, míg a munkahelyére ér? ...............................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Mindent egybevéve 40 perc .........................................................................................................
Sokan vásárolnak bérletet.............................................................................................................
Sok pénzt takarítanak meg ...........................................................................................................
Csökkentett áron ...........................................................................................................................
Kétségtelen ...................................................................................................................................
A bliccelés egyre gyakoribb .........................................................................................................
Meg kell tanulni a KRESZT.........................................................................................................
Ha jegy nélkül utazik, megbüntethetik .........................................................................................

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Story Writing

Magic

‘Have you ever witnessed a miracle?’

‘Miracle?’ Do you mean meeting the supernatural?’
‘Kind of. There was one yesterday in our street at daybreak. It took the locals by
surprise…no, that’s not the proper word for it. We got shocked, I would say, we were caught
on the hop.’
‘Don’t be so enigmatic. What happened, for God’s sake?’
‘At daybreak I left as usual, hopeless and ready to spend ages in the stop…and then, I don’t
know how to put it…well, the bus came.’
‘I can’t see any miracles in it.’
‘You must be living in a fairyland then. It was a miracle. When it turned the corner, nobody
took it seriously, we didn’t even bat an eyelid, as if convinced, it would rush by without
stopping. But it wouldn’t…it slowed down, pulled at the stop, kind of hovering above the
road, and stopped. It opened its doors indicating a humble intention to take us. And there we
were standing stiff with fright and disbelief, miserable mice caught in a trap, not knowing
what to do. And, all of a sudden, it dawned on us that it was a bus, a heaven-sent chariot to
take us, if you see what I mean. (English people call it ‘service’) Girls screamed, elderly
women tried to hide their tears; a shabby-looking teacher began to check his clothes like a
priest before entering the sanctuary. And we got in. What it was like, no tongue can tell. It
was given a wide coverage in the local rag. A scholar living next door tried to give rational
explanations to the mystery, but failed. Finally he came to the conclusion, that the bus was
just an apparition of some poor victims of public transport, because there is no such thing as a
‘bus in time.’

Words and Phrases

a bus in time pontosan érkező busz

all of a sudden hirtelen
apparition látomás
as if convinced mintegy meggyőződve

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at daybreak hajnalban
caught in a trap csapdába esve
come to the conclusion arra a következtetésre jut
disbelief kétely
enigmatic rejtélyes
fairyland tündérország
heaven-sent chariot mennyei hintó
hover lebeg
How to put it hogy mondjam
humble intention alázatos szándék
indicate jelez
it dawned on us megvilágosodtunk
it took the locals by surprise meglepte a helybelieket
it was given a wide coverage sokat írtak róla
miracle csoda
miserable nyomorult
mystery csoda
nobody took it seriously senki nem vette komolyan
not bat an eyelid szeme sem rebben
priest pap
proper word megfelelő szó
pulled at the stop beállt a megállóba
Rag újság
rational explanation to sg ésszerű magyarázat
Rush by without stopping elszáguld megállás nélkül
sanctuary szentély
scholar tudós
shabby-looking szakadt kinézetű
Stiff merev
stiff with fright a rémülettől megkövülve
the supernatural természetfölötti
there’s no such thing as olyasmi nem létezik, hogy…
turned the corner befordult a sarkon

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victim áldozat
we were caught on the hop váratlanul ért minket
witness szemtanú

Dialogue

Husband: Oh, we still have 150 kms to do. Are you fine?
Wife: I am, though I’m not sure, this is the speed we are supposed to do on this road.
Husband: Don’t worry, we’re doing 200, it is OK on this motorway.
Wife: There you are! This is not a motorway; it is just a country road. Slow down!
Husband: Is it? I am sorry. I thought we were still on that fine motorway.
Wife: How many times am I to tell you to be on your guard? You simply missed the board
that indicated the end of the motorway. We are lucky not to have been stopped by the police.
Husband: Oh, you are exaggerating as usual. You’d better sleep on.
Wife: But I wasn’t sleeping.
Husband: You were, darling, and it was really inconsiderate of you. You know pretty well
that a sleeping person in the car has a bad impact on the driver. You really made me sleepy.
Wife: But the radio is on…you said it helps you keep awake.
Husband: It does...Oh, that idiot!
Wife: Pete! Why aren’t you watching?
Husband: I was watching, but that bastard didn’t indicate overtaking…
Wife: That’s no reason for using such language…
Husband: Sorry, darling, I’ve sort of lost my temper. I wonder how these bunglers get their
licence. I bet he is drunk.
Wife: People tend to be careless nowadays, don’t they? I would impose zero alcohol
tolerance, I would. And I wouldn’t allow anybody to drive under 21 not even with parental
guidance. Most rollovers are caused by young drivers who are under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Pete! What are you at?
Husband: Should you always shout like a harpy? I am just reversing: We have missed the
turning.
Wife: Do you really mean reversing here? But you mustn’t do that!
Husband: Do you really expect me to go as far as the next village to turn round?

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Wife: Backup collisions are most frequent nowadays. We could have run into another car or
run over somebody.
Husband: But honey, this is a totally empty road. You read too much statistics, do you?
Wife: Look! We’ll be fined for speeding!
Husband: Oh, that’s not a policeman, just a hitch-hiker.
Wife: But you have almost hit him!
Husband: Oh, no! You’re driving me mad! Will you…oh, no!
Wife: That’s rich! OK, I’ll take it over.
Husband: All right, and I’m going to comment on each move of yours.

An official letter

Dear Mr Amok,

With regard to your letter 2 Oct. 2007, we regret to inform you that your
appeal for returning your driving licence has been rejected.

A thorough investigation into your case revealed that on 15th Sept. 2007 you
managed to prove that you lack all the necessary skills and knowledge that
are required of a careful driver. Unless you want to cause massacres on the
roads, you will have to retake the driving exam along with a test of the
Highway Code.

According to the witnesses’ testimonies, on the above day you broke almost
every possible traffic laws. While pulling out, you ‘gently’ pushed a garbage
container which, while rolling over, hit a cyclist who fell onto the pavement.
As you did not even stop, you started your first drive with a hit and run
offence, which is subject to criminal law. Further on you exceeded the speed
limit which is 50kmh in the town as you probably know. Not only did you
speed but also drove regardless of the weather conditions and as a
consequence, your car skipped on the wet surface and you ran into a parking

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van in Lucky Street, turning the vehicle into a total write-off. On your arrival
at your workplace you cleared up the parking area while reversing. Let me
draw your attention to the fact that your car has a rear view mirror for such
cases. It is most fortunate that you did not cause any injuries apart from the
damage you did to three cars on the spot. On driving home in the afternoon,
you jumped the lights twice, threatening pedestrians to death as the photos
taken by the police clearly show it.

All things considered, we are not in the position to return your licence
regardless of the fact that you have paid the penalty and was acquitted as the
cyclist aforesaid withdrew his report.

Yours sincerely

Adam Mock
Chief Inspector

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28. One minute to talk

Learning foreign languages

In our era of globalization speaking foreign languages is indispensable. You simply

cannot do without knowing another language provided you want to pass for a
cultivated person. Apart from this, you gain much from acquiring a language. It
widens your scope in terms of culture; you will be able to read foreign newspapers and
novels for example. Reading literary works in the original language is a real pleasure.
Speaking one or two modern languages enlarges your chances to get a suitable job, as
nowadays countries are more interdependent than before. So you need good
communication skills to meet the requirements in most jobs. The best way to acquire a
language is to spend at least a year in native environment. This is the quickest way to
pick up a good knowledge. However, not everybody can afford to send their child to
spend a whole academic year abroad. The rest have to depend on language school
training or self-study, which is becoming easier as there are plenty TV channels that
broadcast foreign programmes. It is essential that at school we should put an emphasis
on language teaching in order to enable children to speak foreign languages efficiently
as early as possible. It has been proved that children at an early age learn faster than
adults. It is no secret any more that English has become a lingua franca in many parts
of the world, however, that does not mean forgetting about other languages. I do not
share the fears of those who predict that globalisation will lead to the extinction of
native languages.

Learning English

I have been learning English for years but I still have much to acquire. As a beginner,
I was quick on the uptake, I had the feeling that English was by far the easiest
language; you should only put words together to get a sentence that makes sense. I
was happy to realise that there were no sophisticated declinations and conjugations
like in many languages including Hungarian, which is thought to be one of the most
difficult languages in the world. Later on, when it came to the tenses, present perfect

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in particular, I got quite bewildered. It was so difficult to make distinctions between

past activities that are expressed with past tense and present perfect. To make matters
worse, verbs in present perfect are normally translated into Hungarian with past tense;
you cannot help confusing things at the beginning. In English they have twelve tenses
altogether, which is totally different from that of Hungarian grammar. We only have
three tenses: past, present and future. It is really demanding and takes a considerable
time to learn the intricacies of English tenses. Another formidable issue is reported
speech. We too have this grammatical item in Hungarian, but the logic, especially in
reported questions is absolutely different, that is why students tend to make mistakes
while using it. Phrasal verbs represent a difficult stage in learning English, though an
enjoyable one. Just imagine all the variations of the verb “put” with different
prepositions and thousands of meanings! What is most strange in English is
punctuation. Let’s have an example. In Hungarian we always put a comma between
the clauses in a compound sentence; it is really hard to get accustomed to another
logic.

School traditions

In Hungary, we have several traditions that represent the landmarks of school life. If
you are admitted to a grammar school or a university you will be invited to the
‘Freshers’ Camp’ which is normally organised by senior students to inaugurate their
new mates. The ceremony is a humorous one, during which freshers have to carry out
tricky tasks in the form of a competition in order to get acquainted with their new
friends and, of course, to have fun.
School-leaving classes have two celebrations before taking their final exams. During
the Carnival season, schools organise a farewell party at which students who are in
their last year receive blue ribbons to wear on their clothes up to the Matura exams.
These ribbons indicate the beginning and the ending dates of their school career. After
the solemn ceremony there follows a ball with school-leaving classes perfoming
dances to the great delight of the audience. The ball usually begins with waltz for
which students are dressed in classical costumes and tail coats. This is followed by
various performances including traditional or folk dances, though nowadays there is a
tendency to perform modern dances as well.

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On the last day of their studies school-leaving classes take part at the school-leaving
ceremony. On this occasion junior classes decorate the building with flowers, the
headmaster makes a solemn speech in which he recalls the most memorable moments
of the past four years. After the ceremony school-leavers walk around in the school
hand in hand and sing traditional farewell songs.

Matura exams

In Hungary, we have a two-level exam system consisting of O and A levels. Formerly

there was another type, the so called GCSE exam (General Certificate of Secondary
Education), which was followed by entrance exams to universities and colleges.
What has not changed is the requirements that is, you have to take 5 subjects at the
Mature exam either at O or A level. According to the Bolognese process the
government have changed the structure of education in order to introduce
Euroconform and standardised exams. Those who aspire to continue their studies at
univerisites take the A level which is an equivalent of the previous entrance exam. To
acquire the necessary knowledge for A level, students can take extra classes at
secondary schools or can enrol for prep courses held by leading teachers or
universities. Your maximum score is counted on the basis of your marks at secondary
school and the matura exams which fall into written and oral parts. You can gain extra
points by passing language exams at intermediate or advanced level and also if you are
among the winners in a subject of the National Competition for Secondary Schools.
All in all, it is quite difficult to be admitted to universities. On the other hand, the new
system has come into much criticism, some say that the exams have been dumbed
down and they represent a lower standard than required. As the new matura exams are
relatively new they are bound to be modified according to the requirements in the near
future.

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Education or training

With the advent of liberalism traditional schooling went through essential

transformations. Students are regarded as partners in teaching rather than educational
objects like before. Physical punishment was abolished long ago; teachers must
respect their students’ human rights. Children are given much more freedom;
educational authorities put priority to training instead of education. In the traditional
sense of the word education meant teaching the mind and soul that is schooling went
along a strict moral code. Nowadays schools are regarded as service centres where you
are offered the necessary knowledge that is required of an efficient citizen. New
curriculums focus on creativity and competence at variance with the old fashioned
science-based teaching. Liberalisation of schooling has come into much criticism.
Teachers tend to complain about the low standards of education, the growing
functional illiteracy among the students. They also claim that they are actually
deprived of the right to discipline their pupils who are inclined to be impudent with
the teachers. Another complaint is that parents take the lenient line and are not willing
to cooperate with the teachers in teaching their children to behave and work hard. The
number of drop-outs has been increasing that is why most governments raised the
compulsory school age up to 18 years. To my view, we ought to maintain the balance
between liberal values and teaching basic morale. Love and strictness can go together;
they are not contradictory at all. These are the two fundamental approaches that are
indispensable both at home and at school.

Health risk

According to some research, computers, lap tops and mobiles represent a substantial
health risk for children in particular. Certain scientists argue that being exposed to
constant radiation of these objects may enhance the dangers of developing different
illnesses including cancer or disorders of the nervous system. Others claim that up-to-
date electronic devices emit low radiation that cannot do harm to our health. Listening
to these diverse opinions one cannot help being at a loss whom to believe.

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Nevertheless, nobody throws away his or her handy or gives away the computer that
has become a member of the family. We simply cannot imagine our lives without
them. Civilisation is not to be rewound; some trends are irreversible, much as we hate
them. Prior to industrialisation people were not the less healthy. Do not forget the
lethal epidemics that exterminated a great per cent of the population. Or let us take
simpler examples. Nowadays a bad tooth is just an unpleasant nuisance that you can
get rid of with the help of a dentist; moreover the treatment is not necessarily painful
any more. Two hundred years ago thousands of people died of inflammation caused
by a decayed tooth. And there is the birth rate for example. Centuries ago it was not
rare for a family to lose two or more newborn babies because of the lack of medical
care that is evident these days. Changing times bring about new phenomena that we
ought to deal with. Science has been developing at a fascinating rate and I am sure, it
will manage to reduce the health risks caused by new inventions.

Epidemics

Every age has its epidemics that decimate the population. During the Middle Ages the
most frightening epidemic was plague, in other words the Black Death, which
frequently depopulated whole regions. For centuries, infectious child diseases were
incurable, such as scarlet-fever, smallpox, measles and several others that resulted in
the death of thousands of children. During the 20th century these epidemics vanished
altogether, thanks to the vaccines that protect the body from different diseases. In the
developed world children are vaccinated against these epidemics at an early age.
These days the world faces other poignant challenges such as AIDS and Bird Flu that
have evolved into pandemics threatening everybody. AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome) represents an infectious disease, the damage to the immune
system caused by the virus HIV. These days an estimated 40 millions of patients are
infected. It can be caught in different ways, through sexual intercourse, blood
transfusion, contaminated needles, during any exposure to the virus.
Intense scientific research invented different treatments that can slow the virus;
however, there is still no real cure for it. Since AIDS appeared in Europe,
governments have taken strict safety measures including compulsory blood tests and

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making doctors apply non-reusable needles. There have been awareness raising
campaigns to inform people about the possible ways of protection for example using
condom. Bird Flu or Avian influenza caused public unease and fear all over the world,
though confirmed human infections by the virus have been rare since the first cases
were reported. In fact, the risk of human infection is rather low to most people. Bird
flu spreads among wild birds that can infect chickens, geese, duck and turkeys. During
the past years, millions of domestic poultry have been killed in order to prevent them
from contaminating humans.

Smoking

A young man is staring at the warnings on a packet of cigarettes, saying: “Smoking

can cause impotence”. He turns to the shop assistant: ‘Can I have another one with
death warning?’
For most people who make up the passive smokers’ community, smoking is a nasty
habit that should definitely be banned. Chain-smokers tend to sneer at warnings that
remind them about the possible dangers of dying. They like coming up with cases
when the patient used to be a non-smoking person but died of lung cancer. They turn a
blind eye on the scientific facts that smoking not only causes diseases of the
respiratory organs but can inevitably result in lung cancer which is for the most part
incurable. So this is not a laughing matter at all. Smoking is harmful from several
aspects; it contains an addictive stimulant that is nicotine, which affects the brain and
the nervous system. It certainly causes temporary alertness and elevated mood but,
like any other drug it can increase your anxiety and restlessness and you develop both
physical and psychological dependence, to cut a long story short, you become fatally
addicted. Addiction in any forms of it is irrational; there is no point in trying to appeal
to the common sense of the smoker. He will light another cigarette all the same,
however hard you try to convince him or her. They cannot help it. Fortunately, there
are restrictions introduced in many countries, including the ban on cigarette
advertising, the prohibition of smoking in public places. At most workplaces, at least
in Europe and North America, smokers are confined to a separate room where they
can indulge in their obsession without risking others’ health. I don’t believe in total

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ban, anyway, it wouldn’t be fair to prohibit smoking while millions of cars are free to
pollute the air with lethal fumes.

Alcohol

A man stopped by the police is scrutinizing the breathalyser without the intention of
blowing into it. The policeman gets irritated and says: ‘Look you’d better blow it,
because if I blow, you’ll be sentenced for 5 years.’
Consuming alcoholic beverages in excess on a regular basis can lead to addiction
which goes together with serious consequences. Let us take the psychological ones at
first. It has been proved that most alcoholics suffer from depression which they try to
ease by drinking spirits to elevate their minds. As a result, the aftermath of
drunkenness is a deeper misery that induces the desire to drink more. Apart from the
psychological consequences there are the biological ones, such as reduced judgement,
trembling hands and the inability to carry out simple everyday tasks. An alcoholic is
likely to lose his or her job, which normally leads to financial problems and in some
cases can be the reason for criminal acts, such as drunken driving or bad behaviour in
public. Being intoxicated hinders you from thinking clearly and your personality turns
inside out, and, as a consequence, you expose yourself to the contempt of others.
Alcoholics have serious impact on their families, the ugly scenes between the parents,
domestic violence can do a lot of harm to the children’s psyche. They tend to develop
inferiority complexes and lose the respect for their parents. Tapering-off cures can
temporarily help, but in most cases after a period of detoxication there follows a
sudden relapse. Alcoholism is the most costly drug abuse in most countries causing a
far reaching series of problems.

Marriage

Marriage in the traditional sense of the word has undergone essential changes during
the last one hundred years. In the past, marriage was preceded with a long period of

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courtship, during which an ‘eligible’ young man courted a young lady after he had
asked for the consent of her father. Having gained the consent of both parties, that is
of their parents, they became engaged and were recognised as betrothed to each other
and they were allowed to make public appearances together. It was acceptable to kiss
but premarital sex was against the general moral code. It was traditional to ‘name the
day’ and issue an official announcement of the wedding in the newspapers. The
marriage was declared by a wedding ceremony performed in a church, during which
the new couple took a solemn oath to be faithful to each other till death would divide
them. With the advent of liberalism and emancipation at the end of the 19th century,
divorce became officially recognised along with a civil wedding which is normally
held in secular places, in registry offices for example. Nowadays church and civil
weddings coexist as equally acceptable forms of marriage declaration. Since the
sexual revolution in the 1960s in the western world, it has been socially accepted to
have sexual relationship before marriage. Centuries ago, if a woman gave birth to a
child without getting married, she was punished publicly and excommunicated by the
community as it is shown in Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. For centuries there
existed clearly distinguished gender roles and women were regarded as inferior to
men. Nowadays there are no gender-based discriminations, at least in the developed
countries, wives and husbands are supposed to share family related tasks and
responsibilities. As a new phenomenon, same-sex marriage has been legalised in some
countries.

Raising children

For the past decades in Europe, birth-rate has dropped considerably. One might
assume that in well-off societies people are likely to have more children, as the
relatively high living standards allow to raise them under good conditions. At variance
with our expectations, young people tend to start a family later than before. Most of
them prefer establishing a successful career before getting married. Even then the
majority decide on a single child to raise. Some put it down to extreme individualism
and egoism on behalf of the young generation. They are often blamed for being self-
centred, disinclined to take any burden that goes together with family life.

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Bringing up children is by far one of the most demanding tasks. It requires such skills
that we are not trained for but most of the part we act instinctively or follow the
patterns of our own upbringing. Parents are the basic role models for a child who will
develop the same attitude to life and behave in the same way as they do. That is why it
is important to set a good example for them. What a child needs is unconditional love
and permanent support so that he or she can grow into a self-assured and happy adult.
Parents with unbalanced character, those who easily lose their temper will only
frustrate a child who, as a consequence, will be prone to get lost in society. In bringing
up children you cannot do without teaching them discipline. Setting strict but
reasonable expectations does not necessarily mean suppressing their egos. While
teaching discipline you enable the child to learn acceptable and unacceptable values or
manners thus helping him or her socialise in wider communities. If you are consistent
in your words and deeds the child will respect you and will likely to go along parental
guidance. Apart from giving as much love as possible, you should spend enough time
with your children, constantly paying attention and showing interest.

Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism represents a new policy along with the unfolding globalisation that is
based on the concept that the times of nation-states are gone. The idea emerged as a
response to the increasing number of immigrants to America and Britain at the
beginning of the 20th century. Multiculturalism contrasts with nationalism and
advocates pluralistic societies that will be made up of diverse ethnic and cultural
groups with equal rights. Pro-activists argue that multiculturalism leads to a better, a
more humanistic world where cultural exchanges will teach citizens to be more
tolerant. They hope that in multicultural societies old prejudices and racial
discriminations will disappear for good. Supporters advocate the equality of cultures
and decline the demand of the majority to force minorities to assimilate. Opponents of
multiculturalism regard it as something that is contradictory to Western civilisation.
They are concerned about the integrity of European countries and fear that it will
result in the destruction of national identities. They also argue that certain groups of
new immigrants do not fit in European culture and are likely to live in ghettos that
undermine national unity. It is a question of the future whether Judeo-Christian or

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secular values of the Western civilisation and Islamic traditions will coexist peacefully
in Europe.

Nuclear power stations

Since the explosion in Chernobyl there has been a growing unease in public
concerning the safety of nuclear power plants. In 1986, there was a devastating
accident, when one of the blocks of the power station exploded and resulted in
radioactive fallout that spread over Europe. Thousands of people were evacuated and
the immediate aftermath of the catastrophe proved to be a disastrous one. Apart from
the death casualties, a lot of people including small children developed cancer; the
number of miscarriages and stillborn children has increased in the area.
Nuclear energy is a controversial issue; it divided scientists and the public. Proponents
claim that up-to-date power plants meet the demands of the strictest precautions; new
technology reduces the risks of further accidents. They also argue that a nuclear plant
releases less radioactive waste than coal power for example.
Opponents, on the contrary, state that nuclear power stations are uneconomic as they
only produce a small per cent of the world’s energy. In addition to this, they represent
a considerable health hazard and are the source of political conflicts as some countries
develop nuclear weapons that are a huge threat to the whole world. In this debate I
side the green movements that fight for the closing down of the power stations. I think
we should apply renewable energy instead of nuclear power of fossil fuels.

Adolescence

Adolescence is often referred to as “the awkward age” when most teenagers tend to be
difficult to handle. Adolescence is a transitional stage between childhood and
adulthood during which people go through substantial biological, psychological and
mental changes. These changes are reflected in their clothing, speech and life style in
general, because teenagers have a strong desire to differ from adults. At this stage our
mental abilities develop rapidly. Teenagers start viewing the world around them

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critically, they often question the authority of their parents and teachers, which leads
to several conflicts. Even the most self-controlled or obedient child tends to argue with
his or her parents. Adolescents eagerly search for their true identities, dislike being
treated as children, while the adult environment tries to teach them sociably acceptable
behaviour and values. A child with a happy family background with caring and
understanding parents is unlikely to fall prey to the dangers of this period, negative
peer’s pressure, drug abuse etc. Parents and teachers have to lead them with much
empathy avoiding unnecessary pressure. However, there are a lot of families in which
children are deprived of their basic rights to healthy development. Violent behaviour
on the parents’ side or the lack of parental guidance may lead a child to rebel against
adult society, in most difficult cases it can be the reason for juvenile delinquency. As
far as I am concerned, I had a quiet adolescence thank to my parents’ wise behaviour.
Like most adults I used to have mood swings, I also had a tendency to argue,
especially when my parents did not let me stay out late at night. My parents were strict
but fair and tolerant. They never violated my self-esteem, I could always share my
problems with them and rely on them.

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