Issue 1

IS THIS TRUE?
The purpose of this chapter is to examine a number of common situations, which people have
strong opinions about, to see if they are actually true.

Express your opinion

I have heard it said time and time again that beautiful people die young. I have
also often heard that they cannot find happiness in marriage. These, I suppose ,
are the price of being beautiful. But is either statement true?
[Link] say a first love is never fulfilled. Why do they believe that? What is so
special about a “a first love’ that makes it such an impossible delusion? What
about you- do you think it is true? Why or why not?
[Link] to an old saying, there is no dutiful son in the face of his parents’ long
, hard-to-cure disease. By extension, this applies to a spouse as well. Do you
believe this to be true? Or are you critical of those who think so?
[Link] believe appearance is more important than character. I you dress up it
will make a better impression on other folks than if you dress casually. If you drive
a sedan, you will get better service at a hotel than if you drive a compact. And so
on. Do you agree?
[Link] talks. People who have a lot of it generally find it easier to gain social
advantage than those who are poor. Right? That is why it is said, ‘money can do
everything” even, “Money is everything.”. Money can buy anything, even love. Do
you agree?
[Link] you believe the old saying, “Easy come easy goes.” It means that something
that is easy to obtain is not easy to hold on to. If so, why? If not, why not?
6. “Nothing is impossible if you try.” How many times have you heard your
parents tell you this? Is this statement true? Or is it a myth, like the Santa Claus
story, which well-meaning people tell their children just to make them feel good.
Why or why not true.
ISSUE 2
LIFE STYLES
People have different attitudes toward living. Some seek self-oriented happiness,
without any consideration for others. To them, “happiness,” means wielding
political or economic power over others. But most of these people turn out to be
disappointed in their pursuit of happiness: since man’s desire is endless, nothing
can fully satisfy their needs.
Other people believe that the first step to attaining happiness is to restrict
personal desire. Priests, monks, and nuns are the most common representatives
of this group. By refraining from wordly passion, they think they are happy
because they live their lives in accordance with religious commands. But, can
anyone without personal autonomy be genuinely happy?
A third group consist of very ordinary people. They have no great wealth or
political authority. While they may have religious beliefs, they don’t turn their
back the world. But they treasure their families, they value the little things of
everyday life. They are happy if they have three meals a day, a car, a home, a
vacation, enough money to educate their children.
Which group of people is the happiest? Who knows? If you think you are happy,
then you are. Happiness is the result of what you think about the world and your
place in it.
Express yourself:
1. What of social activities do you engage in?
2. Do you think the quality of life is improving or getting worse?
3. What musical instrument can you play?
4. Have you ever done any volunteer work?
5. Are you usually on time on appointments?
6. How do you relieve your stress?
7. Are you forgetful? If so, how do you cope with it?
8. Do you think you are happy? Why or why not?
Explain the meaning of the following sentences:
1. The world is full of people making a good living but poor lives.
Many people make a lot of money but have a poor life, full of work, not
friends and family.
2. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.
Positive thinking usually results in a happier life, (if you think bad
thoughts all day, usually something 'bad' will happen. )
3. Some people treat life like a slot machine-putting in as little as possible
while hoping for the jackpot.
Many people expect great things without putting in much effort, such as
wanting the income from a doctors' degree, but quit school in high
school.
4. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
We 'earn' money, but we truly become whole by helping others and
enjoying their success and happiness.

ISSUE 3
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE, OR WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE
1. Many people believe that achieving success is solely a personal
matter. They think self- effort is more important than family
background or social relationship. On the other hand, some believe
that these external factors are all important in determining how well
one does. What do you think? Which is more important,” who you
know” or “what you know.”
2. Too many people are addicted to gambling, drugs, alcohol, etc. Social
scientists often claim that society at large is more responsible. Do
you think so? If so, then what is wrong with the society? What role
does personal responsibility play?
3. We live in a corrupt world that is convinced that money has the
almighty power to do anything. Even though bribery is illegal, and
givers and takers are equally culpable, the practice continues
unabated. Both parties are liable to equal punishment, but one
question still remains unanswered. Morally, who is the most
responsible, the bribe giver or the bribe taker?
4. We keep electing people to office who promise reforms but, once in
office, take full benefit of existing immoral practices. Who is more
responsible for this state of the affairs? The cynical politicians? Or
the naïve voters? Or is it the political system itself?
5. Whether or not sexual discrimination exist in professional life is the
subject of a major argument. Some say it does not, that the
appearance of discrimination is actually the result of longer male
experience on the job. Others, especially women, insist that
ingrained social prejudice is at work. If you think unreasonable
discrimination against female continues, who do you think is at fault,
men or women?
6. Any time a popular movie or sporting event comes around, some
people buy extra tickets in advance for resale at a much higher price.
The fans then have no choice but to buy these expensive tickets,
since all of the regular ones are sold. Even though scalping is illegal,
the practice continues because of supply and demand. Who is more
responsible for perpetuating this illegality, the scalpers or the
purchasers?

ISSUE 4 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION

In modern societies, cars have become indispensable for most
people. They are needed for commuting to work, for shopping, and
for leisure purposes. However, this widespread use also poses many
traffic-related problems. For example, since the roads are congested
most of the day, the meaning of rush hour is fast disappearing. A lot
of drivers complain that the police are more interested in collecting
 money from law-breaking commuters than in facilitating the traffic
flow. In addition, as more and more demand pressure is put on
gasoline supplies and as more taxes are added by the government to
regulate usage, prices are rising dramatically.
Worldwide, the automobile is probably the number one contributor
to air pollution, and policies designed to protect the environment
are expensive. So far, mass transportation systems such as subways
and buses- and electric or other alternatives to internal combustion
engines- have proved inadequate for solving the needs of
conveniently moving large numbers of people from place to place.
Express yourself:
1. If you were late for an appointment, would you violate the traffic
rules?
2. What traffic rules do you often break?
3. If you were stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation, what
would you do?
4. Have you ever tried to bribe a police officer?
5. If you knew you were only going to be someplace for 10 minutes,
would you pay for half an hour of parking or just park illegally?
Explain these sentences
1. Fewer accidents are caused by traffic jams than by pickled drivers.
2. Traffic tickets are like wives. No one complains about them until he gets
one of his own.
3. The way traffic is today, it is easier to star on Broadway than it is to cross it.
4. Fast transportation has made us all neighbors- but, unfortunately, not
brothers.
5. People seem to have thought up every solution to the traffic problem
except staying at home.
ISSUE 5 SURROGATE MOTHER
I’m in a dilemma. My husband and I have been happily married for 10 years. I am
30 and my husband is 38, and we have three beautiful children. I have agreed to
become a surrogate mother for a married woman who has unsuccessfully tried to
have a baby for 10 years. I have discussed this with my husband, and he is
agreeable. (the egg and sperm will be other couple’s- they are just using my body
as an incubator.)I will be paid $ 5,000 when my pregnancy is confirmed, and $
5,000 after the baby is born. All my pregnancies and deliveries have been
relatively easy. When I told my mother about this, she said, “Have you lost your
mind? If you go through with this, I don’t want to see you in that condition.” I told
her she could live her own life, and she should let me live mine.
What do you think?
1. Do you think she made the right decision?
2. Do you think $ 10,000 is enough for a surrogate mother?
3. Would you be willing to be a surrogate mother if you were well paid?
4. What would you say if your wife were willing to be a surrogate mother?
5. Do you think it’s natural for her mother to be angry or it is none of her
business?
6. Who do you think has more right to the baby if the surrogate doesn’t give
up the child, the surrogate mother or the natural parents?
7. Who do you think is most responsible if the child is less than perfect?