Part 2: Receptive Skills task design & rationale

Detail Task

Intensive reading for detail

Bengal nights
Mircea Eliade

Intriguing, captivating, emotionally charged, Bengal Nights takes you on a

journey to the exotic lands of India. It reveals the story of an impossible love
between Alain, a French engineer, and Maitreyi, a young Indian girl, the daughter
of his boss.

Alain lives with Maitreyis family and suspects her parents are trying to fix them
up. Initially averted to her appearance, Alain gradually becomes attracted to her
as he realizes his host family is actually trying to adopt him.

Maitreyi is torn between the newly-discovered passion and her cultures

traditions. Alain is enchanted by her innocent beauty, and realizes for the first
time in his life the magical power of love. He searches for a logical explanation of
his feelings, which provides abundant psychological analysis. Both Maitreyi and
Alain have to make their choices and face the consequences of their actions.

1. What makes Maitrey and and Alains relationship impossible?

They come from very different cultures. Maitreys cultural background in

particular doesnt allow her to to pursue a relationship with a man coming from
an environment other than her own.

2. What is Alans view of Maitrey when they first meet? Does his view
change over time? If so, how?

He doesnt really like her at first but then gradually starts to feel attracted to her
and becomes enchanted with her innocent beauty.

The World as I See it

Albert Einstein

To the majority of people Einstein's theory is a complete mystery.

Their attitude towards Einstein is like that of Mark Twain towards the
writer of a work on mathematics: here was a man who had written an entire
book of which Mark could not understand a single sentence. Einstein,
therefore, is great in the public eye partly because he has made
revolutionary discoveries which cannot be translated into the common tongue.
We stand in proper awe of a man whose thoughts move on heights far beyond
our range, whose achievements can be measured only by the few who are able
to follow his reasoning and challenge his conclusions.
 There is, however, another side to his personality. It is revealed in
the addresses, letters, and occasional writings brought together in this
book. These fragments form a mosaic portrait of Einstein the man. Each one
is, in a sense, complete in itself; it presents his views on some aspect of
progress, education, peace, war, liberty, or other problems of universal
interest. Their combined effect is to demonstrate that the Einstein we can
all understand is no less great than the Einstein we take on trust.

1. What do most people generally think about Einstein?

They are impressed with his unmatched intelligence, so much so that they
wont even try to see anything else past that; they just take him as a given
without really being able to understand him or his theories.
2. How does this book help us understand Einstein?
It focuses on Einstein the man and on a more accessible side of his
personality.
3. How is the Einstein we take on trust different from the Einstein
we can all understand?
For the Einstein we take on trust, the focus is on his discoveries, theories
and intelligence in general; all aspects we are unprepared to questions,
while the Einstein we can all understand refers to Einstein the human
being, his opinions on universal interest topics.

South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid

Nancy L. Clark

This is a fine, accurate and well-written account of 20th century South Africa.

The denunciations of apartheid and the cataloguing of its destructive effects on

the African majority provide the compelling context for understanding various key
issues of public health in post-apartheid South Africa.

One easily grasps how protein anemia, upper respiratory illnesses, TB, childhood
diarrhea, widespread malnourishment and the absence of clean drinking water
and improper disposal of human and animal waste were all among the lingering
effects of apartheid governance.

The perceptive reader will see how the lingering impact of 100 years of
segregation and harsh apartheid produced rampant ill health among Africans. If
you're looking for the roots of so-called "AIDS cases" in the Rainbow nation, you
need look no further.

1. How did the apartheid impact the African people?

It caused (among other things) very serious health problems among
Africans.
2. Were the effects of the apartheid easily and quickly dealt with?
 No, the negative effects on the African peoples health continued to be a
problem for a considerable period of time.

Europe Through the Back Door 2012

Rick Steves

Plan your itinerary and maximize your time. Pack lightand right. Find good-
value hotels and restaurants. Travel smoothly by train, bus, car, and plane. Avoid
crowds and tourist scams. Hurdle the language barrier. Understand cultural
differences and connect with locals. Save money while enjoying the trip of a
lifetime
After 30 years of exploring Europe, Rick considers this travel skills handbook his
lifes work. He shares his favorite off-the-beaten-path towns, trails, and natural
wonders. With this guidebook, youll experience the culture like a local, spend
less money, and have more fun.

1. Does this guidebook provide a subjective or objective approach to

travelling?
Subjective
2. What is the information in Europe through the back door based
on?
The authors personal experience.
3. What is one key point the author mentions more than once and so
making it a priority?
Money-how to spend less of it: save money; spend less money