Arakin 4 kurs new 001 176. indd

4. Below are opinions on folklore, traditions and customs 
a) Read them first
1. The most widely acknowledged form of Art — Folklore, that is 
verbal, musical and material (traditional handicrafts), is almost com-
pletely devoid of anything that could be called bad taste or poor 
imitation.
Why? (What makes me say so?)
I think it is especially due to the fact that national Art is created 
by everyone and for everyone within the bounds of centuries old 
traditions. There is a common theme of Beauty in everything that 
people did or made. (Academician Likhachev)
2. No, I am not at all against those rituals which are inseparable 
from our everyday lives.
We should preserve those customs, rites and ceremonies that have 
become part and parcel of our existence. In addition new ones should 
be created and developed.

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But in what we have and in what we will have let’s try and see the 
moral, political and social meanings. And the things which contradict 
those meanings should probably be rejected. (Yu. Solomonov)
b) Spend a few moments individually thinking of further arguments you will 
use to back up the opinion
c) Now discuss the opinions with your partner
5. When people talk about something they are bound to make mistakes. (To 
err is human.) But not everyone is able to correct these mistakes in a delicate 
way without hurting other people’s feelings
a) Read this dialogue. Note down the expressions in bold type the characters 
use in correcting other people’s misconceptions, wrong statements, mistakes. 
Please, remember that correcting what people say and do involves variety of 
communicative functions including disagreeing, making suggestions, expressing