LESSON1

Politely Ask Someone Not to Do Something

Community · city life · public conduct · polite objections

GOALPolitely ask someone not to do something
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Lesson Reference Pages

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Unit 5 preview page
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Sound Bites page
Show / Hide Conversation Snapshot and Grammar page
Conversation Snapshot and Grammar page
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Word Skills page
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Warm-up Activity

1. Where would you expect more traffic and crowds?

2. Which action is inconsiderate in a library?

3. Which phrase sounds polite?

4. What does “public conduct” mean?

A

Topic Preview · Community

UNIT5

Community

Experts predict major changes in the distribution of the world's population in the 21st century

city and country

The pictures compare city life and country life: heavy traffic and crowds in the city, and open green space in the country.

Estimated and Projected World Urban and Rural Population
1950–2030
UrbanRural
In 1950, only 29% of the world’s population lived in towns and cities. In the twenty-first century, urban population rises sharply.
rural area

Throughout human history, most people have lived in rural areas.

suburbs

In many developed countries, there has also been a migration from urban areas to the suburbs.

Preview Questions

1. Approximately how many people will be living in urban areas in 2030?

2. Approximately how many people will be living in rural areas in 2030?

3. In what period did the world's urban population surpass the rural population?

4. What migration happened in many developed countries?

D

Sound Bites · City Life

Audio 15 · Sound Bites

Read and listen to a conversation about city life.

DONHey, Kyle! So how’s the big city treating you?
KYLEFunny you should ask. Not great.
DONWhat do you mean?
KYLEWell, on my way here, I’m crossing the street and this guy in an SUV turns the corner and almost runs me over.
DONAre you serious?
KYLEYeah. The driver was in such a big hurry he didn’t even notice. I just can’t keep up with the pace here.
DONWell, you do have to learn to stay on your toes in the city.
KYLEIt really gets to me sometimes. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. I guess I’m just a country boy at heart.
STARTING POINT
Compare advantages and disadvantages of the country, the city, and the suburbs. Then explain where you would prefer to live.
the city and the country

In Other Words

1. “So how’s the big city treating you?” means...

2. “I just can’t keep up with the pace here” means...

3. “Stay on your toes” means...

4. “It really gets to me sometimes” means...

5. “I’m just a country boy at heart” means...

6. What almost happened to Kyle?

A

Conversation Snapshot

Audio 16 · Conversation Snapshot
LESSON1

Politely ask someone not to do something

Conversation Snapshot

ADo you mind my smoking here?
BActually, smoking kind of bothers me. I hope that’s not a problem.
ANot at all. I can step outside.
BThat’s very considerate of you. Thanks for asking.
Ways to soften an objection:
I hope that’s not a problem. · I hope you don’t mind. · I hope it’s OK / all right. · I don’t mean to inconvenience you.
smoking ashtray

Conversation Check

1. What does A ask permission to do?

2. How does B soften the objection?

3. What will A do?

4. What does “considerate” mean here?

B

Grammar · Possessives with Gerunds

public conduct cartoon

Grammar Explanation

Use a possessive before a gerund to show who performs the action.

Form: possessive + verb-ing
This kid’s singing was too loud. · Your constant arguing is getting on my nerves. · I object to their talking during the movie.

In informal spoken English, people may use an object pronoun before the gerund: I can’t accept them ignoring me. In formal writing, possessives are clearer: their ignoring me.

Grammar Practice

1. He plays his MP3 player in the library. I don’t appreciate that.

2. They smoke cigars in the car. My mother objects to it.

3. She’s talking on her cell phone. We don’t mind it.

4. My brother litters. I’m really annoyed by it.

D

Word Skills · Negative Prefixes

Audio 18 · Word Skills

Using negative prefixes to form antonyms

acceptable → unacceptable
considerate → inconsiderate
polite → impolite
proper → improper
respectful → disrespectful
responsible → irresponsible
Negative prefixes: dis-, im-, in-, ir-, un-

Word Skills Practice

1. appropriate →

2. courteous →

3. excusable →

4. imaginable →

5. honest →

6. pleasant →

7. rational →

8. mature →

✦

Conversation Starter

ROLE PLAY
Choose the best polite request. Use soft language to ask someone not to do something.

1. Someone is smoking in a restaurant.

2. Someone is making a call on a cell phone in public.

3. Someone is playing loud music on a bus.

4. Someone litters in a park.

★

Final Quiz

Choose the best answer. The progress bar moves forward when the answer is correct.

1. What does Kyle find difficult about the city?

2. Which place is connected with traffic, crowds, and fast movement?

3. Which sentence uses a possessive with a gerund correctly?

4. Which phrase is a polite way to ask someone not to do something?

5. What is the opposite of considerate?

6. What does “country boy at heart” mean?

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