XIII. 1) What is prejudice?

2)What is the difference between prejudice and superstition?

Vocabulary Development

XIV. A) Match these definitions to the following words:

available; distort; eliminate; tolerance; encourage; sustain; background; conflict with; predetermine; suppress; pride oneself on smth; preconceived; consider on one’s merits; ageism.

1. to believe that people of certain age are lazy, stupid, emotionally unstable, etc.;

2. able to be got, obtained, used, seen;

3. to fix unchangeably from the beginning;

4. to twist out of natural, visual or original shape or condition;

5. to give confidence or hope (to someone);

6. to remove or get rid of;

7. to be in opposition (to another or each other); disagree;

8. formed in advance without (enough) knowledge or experience;

9. the ability to suffer pain, hardship, etc.;

10) a person’s family, experience and education;

11) to keep strong; to keep (in existence) over a long period;

12) to prevent from appearing, to crush (esp. an action or state) by force;

13) to be pleased and satisfied with (oneself about);

14) to take into account the quality of deserving praise, reward, etc. personal worth;

b) Fill the gaps in these sentences with suitable words from the list below:

1. She… her ability to speak eight languages.

2. Do British laws… any international laws?

3. He has no… to cold.

4. The colour of a person’s hair is often… by that of his parents.

5. He owed his success to his wife’s… .

6. He is a man of excellent… .

7. She tried… her feelings of anger.

8. He couldn’t… his interest.

9. My … opinion about John was proved wrong when I actually met him.

10) He gave a …account of what had happened.

11) I’m sorry, but the doctor is not… now.

12) Everyone should…, not on their sex or age, or race.

( to suppress; preconceived; to pride oneself on; background; tolerance; available; to sustain; to predetermine; encouragement; to conflict with; to consider smb on one’s merits; distorted)

XV. Work in pairs. Discuss with your partner the following points:

1. what preconceived ideas people may have;

2. what people should have tolerance to (in relationship with others);

3. what an individual can pride oneself on;

4. whether people are always considered on their merits, if not, why.

Reading

XVI. A) Read the article and find the answers to the following questions in it:

1. What is prejudice?

2. What might an unfavourable opinion lead to?

3. How does prejudice arise? What may contribute to prejudice?

4. How is prejudice sustained?

5. How can prejudice be reduced or even eliminated?

Text 3 Prejudices

Prejudice is an opinion formed without taking the time or care to judge fairly. Such an opinion may be favourable or unfavourable and is held without regard to the available evidence. In this article, prejudice refers to an unfavourable opinion held in this way about the members of a particular social group. Prejudiced individuals tend to twist, distort, misinterpret, or even ignore the facts that conflict with their predetermined opinion. For example, a prejudiced person might believe that all individuals of a certain age, national origin, ethnic group, religion, sex, or region of a country are lazy, violent, stupid, emotionally unstable, or greedy.

Because of prejudice, millions of people have been denied equal chances for jobs, housing, education, and participation in government. In Nazy Germany, extreme prejudice led to the killing of millions of Jews, Gypsies and other members of minority groups during World War II (1939-1945).

A number of elements may contribute to prejudice. These elements include (1) competition, (2) religious ideas, (3) fear of strangers, and (4) extreme nationalism. Prejudice may develop when one group fears that competition from another group will deprive them of prestige, privilege, political power, or economic opportunities. Religious ideas – especially a lack of tolerance for religions other than one’s own – have contributed to prejudice against certain ethnic and religious groups. Some people have suggested that prejudice arises from a natural fear of strangers. Extreme nationalism may cause prejudice by encouraging people to regard foreign characteristics as inferior.

Prejudice may be passed from generation to generation. Many children learn prejudice from their parents and teachers. Institutions, laws, and customs that discriminate against certain groups of people sustain prejudice. However, not all people accept the prejudices of their communities. Social scientists have learned some people are more likely to form prejudices than other people are. This difference depends on variations of individual experiences and background. Education, certain types of contact between groups, institutional change may help reduce prejudice. Education helps correct false generalizations that form the basis of prejudice. Contact between groups is most likely to reduce prejudice when the groups work together for a common cause. Changes in institutions, and customs to reduce discrimination might eliminate some prejudice.

( From “Worldbook”)

b) Referring back to the text agree or disagree with the following points. Give your reasons:

1. Prejudice refers to unfavourable opinion.

2. Prejudice may develop from fears.

3. Prejudice is not passed from generation to generation.

4. It is impossible to eliminate or at least reduce prejudice.