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November 24, 2009

Familiarity breeds contempt


What's the meaning of this proverb?
A prize for the one answering first!

You can read a text about this proverb that we'll do in class.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I suppose it’s similar to the Spanish proverb: “Donde hay confianza da asco”, which means that when people around you become familiar they demand more and more, and treat you worse.
Isn’t it?
Raquel

Unknown said...

Great, Rachel!!!
It's exactly that! "Contempt" is a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or something.

You'll have your deserved prize on Wed.

Unknown said...

Questions
1. Pre-Reading task. Match the following definitions with their words:

barbed wire
bloke
chimp
juggle
demeanor
laid-back
/’leɪdbæk/
ledger
vernacular

a. a book in which things are regularly recorded, especially business activities and money received or paid

b. a type of strong wire with sharp points on it, used to prevent people or animals from entering or leaving a place, especially a field

c. relaxed in manner and character; not usually worried about other people's behaviour or things that need to be done

d. a man, often one who is considered to be ordinary

e. a small, very intelligent African ape with black or brown fur

f. to handle or deal with usually several things (as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements

g. a way of looking and behaving

h. the form of a language that a regional or other group of speakers use naturally, especially in informal situations

2. What is the topic of this text?

3. Explain the metaphor in “barbed wire.”


4. Decide whether these sentences about the text are true or false.

a. As a child, the author never used a formal way of addressing people. ____

b. Americans and Europeans use different forms of address depending on who they are talking to. ____
c. The author is not American. ____
d. According to the writer, talking to the person next to you in an airplane is a good idea.__

e. The author is in favor of using two different ways of addressing people in America. ____

5. What advantages and disadvantages does the writer provide in the use of different forms of address?
Advantages Disadvantages

6. What type of text is it? Explain why.