Discuss the following questions with a partner. Share your ideas with the class when finished

1. Do you think it is your responsibility to report unethical behavior to your boss?

2. Could you quit a job for ethical reasons?

3. If you and two other members of a five-person team did all the work on a project, would you tell management about this? Is it okay to put the other co-workers in a negative light?

4. What are the values of the company you would like to work for?

II. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Unit 1. Technological progress in the contemporary world

Do you agree with the following statements? Explain why you agree.

1. Men have enough reasons to be proud for their unique achievements.

2. Scientific and technological progress is the foundation of social progress.

3. Progress is always for the better.

4. Technology should be reduced as much as possible because it is contrary to nature (it is produced at the expense of nature) and to humanity (we behave like machines).

Match the following word combinations with their definitions.

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

In the course of his historic development man learned to use the forces of nature and created our civilization. He changed the earth beyond recognition. Man also created the innumerable spiritual treasures: the wonderful works of art, literature and science. All this became possible thanks to man’s labor, his ability to learn and explain different phenomena of the material word.

It was a long and a hard way. First man learned to use the energy of fire, wind, water and steam, and later – of electricity. The steam engine worked a revolution in production. The discovery and use of electricity brought about the industrial revolution. Lots of machines – mechanical, steam and electrical – began to do man’s difficult and complex work. But human brain still controlled the machines doing the work.

The second half of the 20th century began an entirely new era – the era of the scientific and technological revolution. Science became a direct productive force that continuously revolutionized technology. Technology, in turn, stimulated scientific progress by raising new tasks and by providing science with precise and sophisticated experimental equipment. Scientific and technological progress became the foundation of social progress.

People invented machines and electronic computers which freed the worker not only of all production operations but even of control. All-round automation determines the social consequences of the scientific-technological progress and relieves man of much of mental work, leaving him time for creativity. The current information and telecommunications technology (ICT) revolution has enabled the globalization, yet its full transformative impact on society is still not defined.

Technology sometimes may have disastrous effects. Catastrophes in Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants, explosions of nuclear power in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are only some of the well-known outcomes of technological innovation. Technology still is the most mighty tool but if a wrong person uses it, on purpose or not, it can damage millions of citizens.

Say if you agree with the following statements. Discuss them with your partner.

1. Technology increases efficiency and gives us safer machines which will not affect nature badly.

2. Technology should be reduced as much as possible because it is contrary to nature (it destroys nature) and to humanity (it makes us greedy and selfish).

3.Technology may be dangerous as there are a lot of processes which scientist can`t control and next mistake could destroy ecosystem of whole planet.

4. Progress in technology is not bad because it gives us communication, medical breakthroughs and good economical position.

5. Green energy solutions are possible thanks to technology.

Discuss the following statements.

1. Technological progress and innovations are bringing humans into a new era of prosperity and well being (economy, healthcare, telecommunications).

2. Technological progress is detrimental to our lives.

Unit 2. Global Problems

1. What are global problems?

2. According to you, which is the most important global problem? And the least important? Why?

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

Globalization is a process of interaction between people, companies and governments of different nations. It is driven by international trade and the development of information technology. It has great influence on our environment, culture, political and economic systems. Globalization can be described as a process by which the people of the world are unified into a single society and function together. Of course it’s impossible to define whether globalization is good or bad. Some people believe that free trade between countries offers prosperity and economic growth for all nations. Others think that globalization threatens the environment as well as national cultures.

Global problems are those which affect the whole mankind. As the world grows smaller, events in one area have a greaterimpact on other parts of the world. These problems can’t be solved in one day and require organized efforts of the world community. Some of the global problems that affect the modern world are pollution, resource issues, overpopulation, famine, and others.

Currently the environment is so contaminated that urgent measures should be taken. A single person cannot be blamed for the world pollution; however everyone should take care of their habitat. It is vital that environmental issues are treated internationally. Joint efforts can help to avoid global environmental disaster. For instance, governments should offer support to companies and organizations, involved in manufacturing, industry or agriculture in order to find environment-friendly approaches.

At present millions of people live in poverty. They are deprived of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water. They don’t have access to education, information, health care and employment. Poverty in some areas affects other areas because of migration and its impact on the world economy.

Another problem is overpopulation. The world’s population increases faster than the food supply. Each year a lot of people die from starvation. Only few countries are able to produce more food than their people need. For the rest of the world, hunger and malnutrition are common.

If these problems are not recognized, and the appropriate actions are not taken to slow down or put an end to them, the consequences can be extremely serious. Not only the government, but also all people are in charge. People and the governments should get together and try to solve these problems in order to make this planet a safe place to live.