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Unit Twenty-three: Challenges of the New Century
Lesson 1
The last century in retrospect
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• talked about some aspects of the last century
• read a passage about the last century
• written about some positive and negative aspects of the last century
A What do the following words mean?
a decade, a century, a millennium
Say what decade, century and millennium it is now. When did each begin, and when will it end?
B In pairs discuss and note down 3 positive and 3 negative things that have happened during the last century.
C Read the following passage carefully.
The last century is over, but it will not be forgotten. Many events have taken place during these years that have embellished and enriched human life. There have been significant advances in scientific achievement and technological development including immense progress in medical science. Lately, a revolution in information technology has taken the world by storm.
In ideological terms, the twentieth century has been marked by the independence of many former European colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America: The struggle for democracy in different parts of the world including Bangladesh has been momentous. It saw the division of Germany after the second World War, and its subsequent reunification in the eighties. The process of reunification evident here has also been echoed in other regions. The century also witnessed the rise of socialism, and the creation of super powers opposed in ideologies. However, the end of the cold war and the collapse of socialism have eased the major powers into a unipolar position.
On the other hand, conflict has deepened. The world has experienced some of the worst events in history during this time. Misuse of atomic energy has wreaked destruction. Two World Wars have recorded the worst sufferings in human history - Hiroshima and Nagasaki bear testimony to this. Conflict and strife worldwide has increased. It has seen the Vietnam war, the Gulf war, the war in Lebanon, and in many parts of Africa causing widespread death and destruction. Terrorism too is sadly on the rise.
Indeed several other things have also caused endless human misery. Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, uncontrolled population growth and high mortality rates have been common features in the poorer countries. Environmental pollution, global warming, contaminated drinking water and the AIDS epidemic are many of the major problems that we have inherited from the decades that have gone by. And yet, despite these dark aspects, the last century will remain memorable in terms of positive human achievement.
In pairs discuss :
1 What according to the passage are some of the beneficial achievements of the
century?
2 The passage refers to "immense progress in medical science". Give some examples of this progress. Is there anything you yourself have benefited from?
3 The second paragraph refers to the independence of former colonies. Name at
least 3 European colonial powers.
4 What do you understand by the "cold war"? Now is it different from real war?
5 What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
6 What do you understand by a) war, b) battle, c) conflict, d) strife?
7 Discuss in groups of three and identify which you consider the 'best' and which the 'worst' thing that has happened in the last century. Give reasons for your answer.
8 Make two columns under 2 headings 'positive' and 'negative'. Now note down as many events as you can identify in the text under each.
D Bangladesh is a relatively poor country. What are some of the things it has inherited from the last century that may have contributed to this problem of poverty? Discuss in groups and then write in about 100 words your views on this.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading,
intensive,
speaking,
writing. Functions.
Describing,
commenting on past
events.
Grammar/Structure.
Complex and compound sentences,
present perfect.
Vocabulary.
Unforgettable,
glimmering,
embellished,
widespread, global.
This text will be replaced
Unit Twenty-three: Challenges of the New Century
Lesson 1
The last century in retrospect
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• talked about some aspects of the last century
• read a passage about the last century
• written about some positive and negative aspects of the last century
A What do the following words mean?
a decade, a century, a millennium
Say what decade, century and millennium it is now. When did each begin, and when will it end?
B In pairs discuss and note down 3 positive and 3 negative things that have happened during the last century.
C Read the following passage carefully.
The last century is over, but it will not be forgotten. Many events have taken place during these years that have embellished and enriched human life. There have been significant advances in scientific achievement and technological development including immense progress in medical science. Lately, a revolution in information technology has taken the world by storm.
In ideological terms, the twentieth century has been marked by the independence of many former European colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America: The struggle for democracy in different parts of the world including Bangladesh has been momentous. It saw the division of Germany after the second World War, and its subsequent reunification in the eighties. The process of reunification evident here has also been echoed in other regions. The century also witnessed the rise of socialism, and the creation of super powers opposed in ideologies. However, the end of the cold war and the collapse of socialism have eased the major powers into a unipolar position.
On the other hand, conflict has deepened. The world has experienced some of the worst events in history during this time. Misuse of atomic energy has wreaked destruction. Two World Wars have recorded the worst sufferings in human history - Hiroshima and Nagasaki bear testimony to this. Conflict and strife worldwide has increased. It has seen the Vietnam war, the Gulf war, the war in Lebanon, and in many parts of Africa causing widespread death and destruction. Terrorism too is sadly on the rise.
Indeed several other things have also caused endless human misery. Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, uncontrolled population growth and high mortality rates have been common features in the poorer countries. Environmental pollution, global warming, contaminated drinking water and the AIDS epidemic are many of the major problems that we have inherited from the decades that have gone by. And yet, despite these dark aspects, the last century will remain memorable in terms of positive human achievement.
In pairs discuss :
1 What according to the passage are some of the beneficial achievements of the
century?
2 The passage refers to "immense progress in medical science". Give some examples of this progress. Is there anything you yourself have benefited from?
3 The second paragraph refers to the independence of former colonies. Name at
least 3 European colonial powers.
4 What do you understand by the "cold war"? Now is it different from real war?
5 What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
6 What do you understand by a) war, b) battle, c) conflict, d) strife?
7 Discuss in groups of three and identify which you consider the 'best' and which the 'worst' thing that has happened in the last century. Give reasons for your answer.
8 Make two columns under 2 headings 'positive' and 'negative'. Now note down as many events as you can identify in the text under each.
D Bangladesh is a relatively poor country. What are some of the things it has inherited from the last century that may have contributed to this problem of poverty? Discuss in groups and then write in about 100 words your views on this.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading,
intensive,
speaking,
writing. Functions.
Describing,
commenting on past
events.
Grammar/Structure.
Complex and compound sentences,
present perfect.
Vocabulary.
Unforgettable,
glimmering,
embellished,
widespread, global.