SUPPLEMENTARY READER

Text 1. Read and translate the text. Remember as many details as you can. Reproduce the texts.

Should parents ever worry about Minecraft?

In the space of a few years, the computer game Minecraft has come to dominate the spare hours of millions of children, and has even entered the classroom. But is this an entirely good thing, asks Jolyon Jenkins.

If I want to irritate my 13-year-old son, Joe, I refer to Minecraft as “digital Lego”. He grew out of Lego a long time ago.

But that’s what Minecraft is – a computer game in which you build things using cubic blocks. But it’s Lego on steroids. You never run out of blocks and they never topple over. You can walk among your own creations, and play online with other people who are in the same world.

Sometimes, monsters come out after dark to try to kill you, which is never pleasant, but compared with games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, Minecraft is innocent, peaceful, and pretty wholesome.

So why does it drive so many parents to distraction?

“It’s all consuming,” says Gabrielle Wacker, of her 11-year-old son Arthur. “It’s become a way of life. He would be on it before school given the chance. I’ve had to hide the device in the morning.”

Her biggest worry, she says, is that it reduces his interest in the real world. “He doesn’t do any clubs any more. At weekends, one of the first things he says when he gets up in the morning is, ‘We’re not going anywhere, are we?’ because clearly he wants to be at home where he has got access to the devices.”

Parenting websites are full of such stories. If not actually playing Minecraft, parents report that their children watch videos of other people playing it.

The statistics are astounding – one group of Minecraft gamers, Yogscast, based in Bristol, is watched for 37 million minutes every day, and they are not the biggest.

The stars of Minecraft, like “Stampy Longnose” are to this generation of children what John Noakes was to mine, except Blue Peter was only on twice a week, whereas Stampy is viewable all day, every day, a permanent uninvited guest in some households.

Brief history of Minecraft

Developed in Sweden by Markus Persson and his company Mojang – officially released in 2011.

Company has sold 33 million copies of game in different formats.

Bought by Microsoft for $2.5bn (£1.5bn) in September 2014.

I hesitate to use the word “addicted”, but for some children it seems to fit. Dr Richard Graham, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs a technology addiction unit at the private Nightingale Hospital in London, sees

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children with a serious Minecraft habit. He talks about the game’s “hyperreality” which he says makes the external world “slower, paler, less stimulating”.

My son Joe has his own server, where 20 or so like-minded friends have been creating their own world for the last couple of years. Most of them are in America, and he has never met any of them. Their creations are impressive, but still – is it right for kids to be shunning the real world for this virtual, low-res, blocky universe?

The moves in this argument are as well-rehearsed as a 17th Century gavotte. Minecraft’s champions say that it’s very creative and that I should just look at the things kids are making on it.

I concede the point but say that it’s two-dimensional, and that children should be exercising more than their mouse fingers. The other side asks why it’s any worse than reading for hours at a time.

Because, I say, reading allows you to imaginatively inhabit other minds. The opposition implies that this is just the latest moral panic, and that Stone Age elders probably thought the world was going to the dogs when people stopped just staring at the fire and started telling each other stories.

But then there’s the “griefing”. Because Minecraft is a world with private property but no police force, children are, at least on public servers, in a world that philosopher Thomas Hobbes would have recognised – a state of nature where all are at war with all.

“Griefers” are people who deliberately make trouble, destroy property, and then sometimes post videos of their exploits to amuse everyone.

Even Joe, on his well-ordered server, has had his property stolen by a Russian member. He doesn’t know where his stuff went, but suspects it was disposed of in molten lava. When parents think of online bullying, they probably don’t think of hard-earned virtual property being trashed, or their children being digitally mugged.

Joe’s nine tips to bluff your way in Minecraft

1.Diamond is the best material for pickaxes because it breaks blocks the fastest and lasts the longest.

2.Players can tame wild wolves by feeding them a few bones, and ocelots with fish.

3.Throwing an Ender Pearl like a ball allows you to teleport to where it

lands.

4.With redstone, you can create complex mechanisms. Some people have even recreated computers.

5.The only blocks in the game which are affected by gravity are sand, gravel, and anvils.

6.Creepers are green creatures which will sneak up behind you and try to blow you up. Skeletons try to shoot you with bows.

7.Cows and sheep can be bred by feeding them wheat, pigs with carrots and chickens with seeds.

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8.You can play music to nearby players with a music disc, which are created when a skeleton shoots a creeper.

9.A trapped chest will give off a redstone signal when opened, meaning you can create all sorts of traps to fool your friends.

It was in a bid to deal with griefers that Amanda Osborne set up her own server where her son Callum could play in relative safety. Callum, aged nine, is autistic, and finds it easier to interact with people in the Minecraft world than in the real one.

Now, children with autistic spectrum disorders from around the world are logging on to Amanda’s server and making amazing, inspiring creations that impressed even Joe when we paid an online visit.

For some autistic children who have trouble with complex social interactions, Minecraft is clearly a good fit with its lack of intricate social cues and simple environment. But for many parents, the absence of that complexity, in a world where their children spend so much time, might be a reason to be wary.

But Minecraft is unstoppable. You might think that at least school provides a few hours of Minecraft-free time a day, but the game is coming to classrooms, as education experts enthuse about its ability to engage and capture the imagination of children who are hard to reach through traditional teaching methods. Even the British Museum is getting volunteers to recreate the building and its exhibits in Minecraft.

Worst of all, Lego has brought out its own Minecraft set. What this means for the next generation of engineers brought up in a world where nothing ever falls over, I dare not imagine.

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earn money earn one's living

efficient housewife engagement

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keep house

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I. Family relations close –

distant relations – immediate relatives –

nuclear family – a family which consists of a mother, a father and children extended family – a large family group living together, includes not only parents and children, but also other close relations

one-parent (single-parent, single-headed) family

Relations by birth – : parents, father, mother, sister,

brother, siblings = brother(s) and sister(s) (also: sibs, inf), cousin, son, daughter, Mum (Mom), Dad, Daddy, aunt, uncle, twins, grandparents, grandmother, grandma, granddad, grandpa, great-granddaughter, great-aunt, etc.

Relations by marriage – : husband, wife,

spouse, couple, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, son- in-law, daughter-in-law, stepmother, stepfather, stepchildren (brother, sister, daughter, son), half-brother, half-sister.

an orphan –

to adopt/to be adopted

to be taken into care (= into a home run by the government or a local council) adoptive parents –

a guardian –

foster parents =/= КНШpЭТЯО pКЫОЧЭЬ (ЬОО МЮХЭЮЫКХ ЧШЭО “ПШЬЭОЫ”)

kin ( RE: old use or formal, AmE: informal), pl.-ЭСО ЦОЦЛОЫЬ ШП ШЧО’Ь ПКЦТХв, ШЧО’Ь ЫОХКЭТЯОЬ. We are near kin”= we are closely related

kith and kin, pl – pОШpХО ШП ШЧО’Ь ШаЧ ПКЦТХв, МШЮЧЭЫв ОЭМ. “Вou can’t refuse to

to start a family – to get a child. “We аon’t start a familв until аe’ve been mar- ried a few years.”

to be in the family way (old use) – to be expecting a child to be with child (old use, bibl) – to be pregnant

maternity home –

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to marry into smth – to become a member of smth by marriage (to marry into a wealthy family, to marry into money). “She made a good marriage аith a

wealthy family.”

to marry money – to marry a rich man

to marry smb off to smtb – to find a husband or a wife for smb

“She married off her daughter to a вoung diplomat” to marry for (out of) love marriage for love/for money

arranged marriage – a marriage, where parents choose a wife or a husband for their child, usually on grounds of religion, social class, etc

marriage of convenience – a marriage contract agreed for social or political

free marriage (civil marriage)

plural marriagef – polygamy – Ant.: monogamy

marriage bureau – an organization which brings together people who are looking for a husband or a wife (also: a dating agency) marriage vows, to exchange the vows big day – a wedding day

a bachelor – a man who has never been married

a spinster (old-fash.) – an unmarried woman who is no longer

an old maid (derogatory) – young and who seems to be unlikely to get married

a family man 1. a man who has a wife and children; 2. a man who is fond of home life. “He is not a family man” – He is not likely to get married.

a date – a planned social meeting

a blind date – К ЬШМТКХ ЦООЭТЧР ЛОЭаООЧ К ЛШв КЧН К РТЫХ аСШ СКЯОЧ’Э ЦОЭ ЛОПШЫО

to date (AmE) = to go out on dates (inf)

“Does вour mother let вou go out on dates?” to be in love (with smb)

to fall in love (with smb) – Ant: to fall out of love love at first sight

love-birds (inf) – two people who are clearly in love with each other calf love, puppy love – К вШЮЧР ЛШв’Ь ШЫ РТЫХ’Ь ХШЯО ПШЫ ЬШЦОШЧО, аСТМС pОШpХО do not re-

gard as serious

unreturned love/unrequited love (fml)

to propose to smb – to make an offer of marriage

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a newly-wed couple, newly-weds, young marrieds (ini) – honeymoon –

to honeymoon, to be on honeymoon

К СШЧОвЦШШЧ МШЮpХО, ЭСО СШЭОХ’Ь СШЧОвЦШШЧ ЬЮТЭО wedding – a marriage ceremony

wedding reception – a large official party with a meal

wedding breakfast – a meal after a marriage ceremony (actually a lunch or dinner) white wedding (esp BrE) – a wedding at which the bride wears a long white dress and which takes place in a church

wedding cake

For more information about weddings in GB and US-ЬОО ПОКЭЮЭО “АОННТЧРЬ” ТЧ the Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture

III. Divorce

a divorce , to get a divorce from smb: “Their marriage ended in divorce.” to divorce smb: She divorced him after years of unhappiness.”

to get divorced from smb – to be divorced from smb –

to sue for a divorce (formal) – to obtain a divorce –

a divorcee – a man or a woman whose marriage ended in divorce

maintenance (Br E), alimony, child support (Am E) – money paid by a divorced person to his/her former partner to help financially or support their children

to pay maintenance/alimony/child support widow –

widower –

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IV. Names

family name = surname = last name (AmE) –

maiden name – the family name a woman had before marriage (also: nee /Ч i/ –

: Mrs Smith, nee Brown) christian name = first name – ,

middle name – 1. second name, a name coming between the first name and the surname; 2. (informal) К ЦКТЧ pКЫЭ ШП ШЧО’Ь МСКЫКМЭОЫ: “Generosity is her middle

pet name – nickname –

pen-name, pseudonym –

V. People’Ь age

– АСКЭ’Ь вШЮЫ КРО? / HШа ШХН КЫО вШЮ?

–I am seventeen (years old) (I am under/over/nearly 17)

– What ages are your children?

–We have a five-year-old daughter and a teenage son.

She is a baby/toddler/child – ЬОО МЮХЭЮЫКХ ЧШЭО “CСТХН” ТЧ ЭСО Longman dictionary of English language and Culture

She is a teenager

She is in her early/mid/late teens.

She is still in her teens (from 13 to 19). She is just out of twenties.

She is twenty odd.

She is an adult (i.e. over 18 or 21). She is no longer young.

She is in her early/mid/late thirties (i.e. between 29 and 40). She is well over/into/below fifty.

She has turned sixty.

She is on the wrong (bad)/right (good) side of forty. She is a middle-aged person.

She is in the prime of (her) life. She is an elderly person.

She is a pensioner/She has retired. She is two years my senior/junior.

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She is two years older/younger than me. She is two years senior/junior to me. She is my senior by two years.

She is my elder sister, (only attribute, only about members of one family) to be the same age

At the age of... he... = When he is/was/will be...: “Young men join the army at

–Have you come of age yet?

–No, but in three months I’ll come of age.

to be under age = ЭШ ЛО ЭШШ вШЮЧР ПШЫ ЬЦЭС: “You can 7 drive a car yet, you are under age. ”

to be over age / to pass the age = to be too old for smth: “He won 7 be called up

beautв).”

VI. Professions and occupations

ЭШ НШ ШЧО’Ь ХТЯТЧР КЬ ЬЦЛ

to learn/make/gain/get living as smb What does he do for a living?

What is he?

АСКЭ’Ь СТЬ ШММЮpКЭТШЧ/ pЫШПОЬЬТШЧ?

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to make a career out of smth –

Worker (mechanic, electrician, turner, locksmith, plumber, gold/silversmith, blacksmith, miner, carpenter), farmer, engineer, designer, architect, builder (building contractor, AmE), teacher, child-minder, baby-sitter, nanny, accountant, teller (esp. Am), book-keeper, driver, taxi driver, engine-driver, hairdresser, barber, dressmaker, tailor, fashion-designer, fisherman, sailor, seaman, soldier, serviceman, officer, ensign, private, airline (civil) pilot, flier/flyer, harbour pilot, navigator, doctor, nurse, surgeon, dentist, physician, chemist, pharmacist, physicist, psychiatrist, psychologist, scientist, research worker, typist, secretary, clerk, computer specialist, librarian, lawyer, judge, actor, actress, painter, artist, writer, poet, playwright, journalist, photographer, editor-in-chief, musician, conductor, pianist, composer, singer, salesman, saleswoman(shop-girl), shop-assistant, merchant, businessman, drawer (draughtsman BrE, draftsman AmE), postman/woman, bouncer, firefighter, policeman/police officer, pensioner, housewife.

VII. Family relationships

We are not a large family.

There are four members in our family. = There are four of us in the family. (inf) = We are four in the family.

We are a united family.

to keep in touch with – Ant: to lose touch with a family reunion

to get isolated from to get scattered

Э live close to smb to see less of smb

to become more independent to look for/get more freedom

to take care of smb/smth-to take the responsibility for protecting or looking after smb, to look after smb

to take care = to be careful: Take care! (used as a way to say good-bye, especially to family and friends)

to care about = to be worried, anxious (= to think that smth/smb is important):

“She doesn’t care about moneв.”

to care for: 1. ЭШ ХТФО (ТЧ ЧОРКЭТЯО ЬОЧЭОЧМОЬ КЧН qЮОЬЭТШЧЬ): “I НШЧ’Э ЫОКХХв МКЫО foЫ ЫОН аТЧО.”

2. (ХТЭОЫ) ЭШ ХШШФ КПЭОЫ (ОЬp. ЬШЦОШЧО аСШ ТЬ ШХН ШЫ ЬТМФ): “АСШ аТХХ МКЫО ПШЫ ЦО аСОЧ I КЦ ШХН? ”

to take up room to afford smth.

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to get bored/crossed with smb.

to help with running the household to be tolerant of smb/smth

divorce rates

to be born outside marriage to support the family

to bring up children, but: up-bringing of children to be involved in smth – to neglect (Ant)

to share events, opinions, impressions, etc

day-care centre (Am E), kindergarten, nursery school (Br E) flexible work hours for working parents

to have a full-time/part-time job to juggle job and family

to be aware of smth

the latest fads and fashions to give a good background a generation gap

sibling rivalry an only child

curfew = time for a teenager to come home at night

peer pressure = influence on a person by the people of the same age group to face problems/pressures

to try to escape reality

to turn to alcohol/drugs/crime drug habit/addiction

teen pregnancy

УЮЯОЧТХО НОХТЧqЮОЧМв/ НОХТЧqЮОЧЭ to commit a crime/a suicide abuse – 1. wrong use of smth

2. bad or cruel treatment of children motor vehicle accidents

to join anti-drug programmes, organizations to solve problems

to keep problems from getting too big to

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4.http://www.telegraph.co.uk.

5.http://www. livescience.com.

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А

INTRODUCTORY READING AND TALK……………………………………………… 3

HOME……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

FAMILY LIFE………………………………………………………………………………………..… 17

AN ONLY CHILD……………………………………………………………………………….…… 22

BOND OF BROTHERLY HATE………………………………………………………….…… 23

ONLY CHILDREN…………………………………………………………………………………… 24

A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE……………………………………………………...…. 27

EXERCISES…………………………………………………………………………………………...… 33

LISTENING……………………………………………………………………………………………… 44

WRITING…………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 45

APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………………………………….… 47

SUPPLEMENTARY READER……………………………………………………………….… 59

TOPICAL VOCABULARY…………………………………………………………………….… 62

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