Discuss the questions.
• What does a history-making individual mean?
• Should strong leaders be feared or admired?
• Do you think that a strong leader needs fasces? <...> A: I suppose a history-making individual is an outstanding person because…
B: I completely disagree with you because all people have an equal
opportunity to become a political leader. <...> Every day we see young men and women all
over the country – in high schools, colleges, civic groups and local governments
– who demonstrate their leadership abilities…
Listening
2. a. <...> You are going to listen to some information about important criteria
which can be applied to characterize a good leader. <...> Before listening, discuss
the following in pairs.
• Look at the bar chart and put a dot on each bar according to your opinion. <...> Tell the class what features of character a good leader should possess.
contumelious
docile
alluring
compliant
impulsive
eloquent
pleasing
obstinate
cautious
expressive
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• How do these features of character can help him/her? <...> A: In my opinion, a good political leader should be a contumelious person,
because he should know what to do. <...> Tell
your partner.
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong but not rude, be kind but not
weak, be bold but not bully, be thoughtful but not lazy, be humble but not timid,
be proud but not arrogant, have humor but without folly” (Jim Rohn).
“The real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way” (Henry
Miller).
c. The following words and phrases appear in the passage. <...> How do you think
they will be related to the theme of the passage?
●to move beyond appearances ●a containable situation ●to show poise ●a
perilous situation ●to make it through ●being articulate and compelling ●to be
persuasive in communication ●to acquire charisma
d. <...> Discuss in groups.
• Do you agree with the suggested criteria?
• Which is better for a country to have a routine leader or a charismatic one? <...> What do you think the message of the
article is? <...> Read the article below and say whether you consider repulsive features of
character to be an integral part of a political leader <...>
XX_century_events_and_faces.pdf
МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РФ
ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ
УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ
ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ
«ВОРОНЕЖСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ
УНИВЕРСИТЕТ»
ХХ CENTURY: EVENTS AND FACES
Учебно-методическое пособие для вузов
Составители:
Н.В. Ильичева,
А.А. Махонина
Издательско-полиграфический центр
Воронежского государственного университета
2010
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Contents
Unit 1. Leaders and Leadership ............................................................................ 4
Unit 2. Harry Truman and the Beginning of the Cold War ................................ 21
Unit 3. U.S. President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis ........................... 33
Unit 4. General Charles de Gaulle and his Politics of Grandeur ........................ 47
Unit 5. Willy Brandt and his Ostpolitik .............................................................. 62
Unit 6. The World Leader in the Era of Globalization ....................................... 76
Appendix 1. Tapescripts...................................................................................... 90
Appendix 2. Word Lists ...................................................................................... 99
Appendix 3. Functional Bank ........................................................................... 107
Appendix 4. Hints for Speaking Activity ........................................................... 112
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d. Discuss in groups.
• Do you agree with the suggested criteria?
• Which is better for a country to have a routine leader or a charismatic one?
Reading 1
3. a. Look at the title of the article. What do you think the message of the
article is? How far do you agree with it?
b. Read the article below and say whether you consider repulsive features of
character to be an integral part of a political leader.
If You're a Liar, a Bully or a Cheat,
then You Too Could Be a Great
World Leader
If you want to get ahead, be egotistical, stubborn and disagreeable. And a
bit of untidiness will help too.
The research presented yesterday to the American Psychological
Association conference in Washington, examined the traits of the most
successful men in the US history — all 41 Presidents — and compared them to
more average individuals.
The truth is that being nice gets you nowhere — not to the White House or
Number 10 or even on to a parish council.
The researchers discovered that the great Presidents were low on
straightforwardness, vulnerability and order. "The very characteristics which
mark people out as an unattractive choice as a spouse or a neighbour make them
successful as leaders", said Rubenzer. "One real surprise was that people who are
a little disorganized do a bit better. Abraham Lincoln was notoriously untidy, and
it certainly seems to be an asset".
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The psychologists asked 100 biographers and historians to help them fill in
questionnaires and then scored them on different characteristics. Forcefulness,
the willingness to flatter and manipulate, egotism and assertiveness all seemed
to help push Presidents up the ladder of greatness.
"As far as UK goes, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher fit right into
our model. Stubborn, assertive and socially often obnoxious — just the right stuff
to make them great figures in history", said Ruberzer.
The team further categorized the Presidents into seven personality types —
innocents, autocrats, introverts, actors, philosophers, extroverts and maintainers.
Innocents: too nice for their own good, these people make it to the top
through a fluke. In Britain John Major and the late Alec Douglas-Home, a Tory
Prime Minister in the sixties, are in this category.
Autocrats: the disagreeable, bossy bullies. Using the rules applied by the
researchers, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill and the US Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt and Richard Nixon are in this group.
Introverts: erratic, anxious and tense, like British PMs Ramsey MacDonald
and Anthony Eden, and US President Herbert Hoover.
Extroverts: publicity-hungry, assertive, dominant, but somehow low on
organizational skills. Bill Clinton — destined for the history books if only for
his sex life, say researchers — and Tony Blair are examples.
Actors: similar to extroverts but less open. They have low concentration.
Ronald Reagan and Harold Macmillan are examples.
Philosophers: their interests are wide and they are not afraid of change —
like Clement Attlee, Labour's post-war election victor.
Maintainers: traditional, holding family values and not open to new
experiences. George Bush and Harry Truman are in this group.
(Tracy McVeigh, the Observer)
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c. For questions (1-6), choose the best answer (A, B or C).
1. According to the research, if a person is pleasant to deal with, kind and
friendly
A it won’t do him/her any good.
B it is necessary for him/her to conceal these features of character.
C it will bring some positive result in the future.
2. Leaders who don’t have good and effective organization
A will never gain a high position in life or their job.
B are destined to succeed.
C can become leader easier than others.
3. Psychologists evaluated all leaders according to
A their influence on other people.
B the number of points they got for their qualities.
C the proportion of their negative features to the positive ones.
4. Presidents were classified on the grounds of
A their attitude to success.
B their nature and character.
C personal opinions of biographers and historians
5. Autocrats and extroverts show similarities in
A their behaviour in their private life.
B the way they treat weaker people.
C their abilities to organize.
6. Philosophers and maintainers represent an opposition because
A they regard everything new differently.
B they have different experience.
C other people don’t share their values.
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