CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
INTRODUCTION
UNIT
1. COUNTRY AND PEOPLE
UNIT
2. GEOGRAPHY, NATURE, ENVIRONMENT
UNIT
3. HISTORY: THE FIRST COLONIES IN NORTH AMERICA
UNIT
4. HISTORY: THE EARLY USA
UNIT
5. HISTORY: THE RISE OF THE USA
UNIT
6. HISTORY: THE MODERN USA
UNIT
7. LANGUAGE
UNIT
8. POLITICS OF THE UNITED STATES
Unit
9. THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
UNIT
10. RELIGION
UNIT
11. EDUCATION
UNIT
12. THE MEDIA
UNIT
13. TRANSPORT
UNIT
14. ECONOMY
UNIT
15. TRADITIONS AND HOLIDAYS
UNIT
16. FOOD AND DRINKS
UNIT
17. SPORTS
UNIT
18. ENTERTAINMENT
APPENDIX
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
|
UNIT 1. QUALITY
PLANNING
Reading: Planning
for Quality
Video: Quality
Planning Techniques
Grammar: Active
Voice
Career Skills:
Introducing yourself
Dilemma: Good and
Ideal Quality Planning – How to plan for your project?
Keynotes:
Quality management is a method for ensuring
that all the activities necessary to design, develop and implement a product
or service are effective and efficient with respect to the system and its
performance. Quality management can be considered to have three main
components: quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement.
Quality management is focused not only on product quality, but also the means
to achieve it. Quality management therefore uses quality assurance and
control of processes as well as products to achieve more consistent quality.
Preview:
1. Discuss the questions with a partner.
1. What does the category of quality mean?
2. What quality parameters do you know?
3. What role does quality play in project success?
2. There are four levels on which we determine that something has
or is lacking quality. Match the levels of quality in column A with their
characteristics in column B.
The Facets of Quality
A
|
B
|
1)
Universal
|
a) Many styles and forms are agreed on by groups of
people economic or social classes, ethnic groups, families, or groups of
friends that are smaller than a whole culture but larger than the
individual. Styles may last a season, years, or even decades, but not
centuries.
|
2)
Cultural
|
b) Some cultural value systems create agreements
about what is beautiful that last for centuries. For example, to those who
grow up learning to appreciate classical music whether it
is of China, India, or Europe that sound is wonderful. Yet the rules for
each are different. Chinese music uses a five-tone scale, while Western
music uses eight tones per octave. Chinese music and Western music always
have rhythm, but Indian classical music includes a form that has no rhythm
no set beat or timing. To anyone trained in one tradition,
the music is beautiful and deep. But the traditions alien
to us, although alluring, are strange enough to be
uncomfortable.
|
3)
Social
|
c) There are some purely personal
preferences regarding what matters, what has value, what is quality. As the
French say, chacun a son gout, each to his own taste. Or, as the
Romans put it, de gustibus non disputandum est, there is no
disputing matters of taste. Or, in English, to each his own. So it is
universally recognized that there is a valid personal
element to taste, that there is no logical argument one can put
forth to say what someone else should or should not like.
|
4)
Personal
|
d) We are all awed by a night sky or a
beautiful sunrise. All of us are relaxed by a swim in the sea and nourished
by fresh water.
|
Reading:
1. You are going to read a text about quality planning. Before you
read, check that you understand these important words. Match the words to the
definitions.
1.
to consist
|
a) the amount of goods or work produced by a person,
machine, factory
|
2.
selection
|
b) to try to make or change an agreement by discussion
|
3.
output
|
c) something that is needed or demanded
|
4.
to modify
|
d) helpful or useful
|
5.
to negotiate
|
e) to be formed or made from two or more things
|
6.
requirement
|
f) a particular part of a situation, especially
something that affects how you think or feel
|
7.
beneficial
|
g) when someone or something is chosen
|
8.
frequency
|
h) when someone or something uses time and energy well,
without wasting any
|
9.
dimension
|
i) to change something in order to improve it
|
10.
efficiency
|
j) the number of times something happens in a particular
period, or the fact that something happens often or a large number of times
|
How to Plan for Quality?
The first step in a quality improvement
programme is planning which in itself also consists of four
major steps which are discussed below.
1) Product or service selection. The first step in planning
for quality is to identify and select the product or service that needs
improvement.
2) Output definition. Output is a product or service that
you produce regularly and pass on to another person or department
that uses it.
3) Identify the customer-supplier chain. In quality
management, a customer can be both internal and external.
The user of your output is your customer who may modify your
output before passing it on to another person or department for further
modification on and on like that until the final product or service ends up
in the hand of the end user.
4) Negotiate the customer requirements. In
order for a product to be usable and beneficial to your
customer, there may be specific requirements which make the output useful to
them. Except a product satisfies their requirements the product will not
provide customer satisfaction.
Developing a quality product requires understanding the overall purpose of
our customer's need for the product by answering questions such as: How will
it be used? Who will be using it? What will be the ultimate use and who will
be the end user?
Besides the plan should include the following parameters: quantity (how
many), time (date, time, frequency), costs (budget, allowed
expenses), size (dimensions), efficiency (to what degree).
2. Discuss these questions in pairs.
1. What major steps of planning do you know?
2. What does product or service selection?
3. How do we call a product or service that you produce regularly and pass on
to another person or department that uses it?
4. Why is it important to know the customer’s needs and requirements?
5. What additional parameters should you discuss planning for quality?
Speaking:
Make a report on one of these topics:
1. Practical models and systems of quality management in Europe.
2. Practical models and systems of quality management in the USA.
3. Japanese experience of quality management.
4. Complex systems of quality management in the USSR.
Video: Quality Planning Techniques
1. You are going to watch a film about quality planning
techniques. After watching the film, answer the questions below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e51NolpZKVU
1. What is the first step of quality planning?
2. What does continuous improvement mean?
3. Who was the founder of this concept?
4. What cycle did W. Edwards Denning promote?
5. What is the difference between PTCA and PTSA?
6. What quality planning concepts are mentioned in the film?
2. Fill in the gaps to make phrases used in the video.
1. customer __________ questions.
2. __________ upgrade.
3. everything you do must be of __________ __________.
4. this represents a __________ of standards.
5. __________ designed to improve quality.
6. frequent __________ are required.
7. CMMI __________ for Capability Maturity Model Integration.
8. emphasis to __________ attained quality processes.
9. making the process more __________ and _________.
10. a huge danger of __________ CMMI and Agile.
Grammar: Active Voice
1. Work individually. Study the information below.
Grammar Tenses
Present Tenses
Tense
|
Meaning
|
Time
expression
|
Grammatical
forms
|
+
|
?
|
-
|
Present
Simple
|
a
common fact
|
usually
every day
in the morning
sometimes
never
|
V
Vs.
|
Do
Does…V?
|
Don’t
Doesn’t
|
![](Untitled-1_clip_image002_0002.png)
|
+V
|
Present
Continuous
|
a
process
|
now
at the moment
constantly
|
am
is
are
|
|
V -ing
|
Present
Perfect
|
priority
|
recently,
just
lately, already,
yet, ever
|
recently,
just
lately, already,
yet, ever
|
Have
has
|
![](Untitled-1_clip_image002_0002.png)
|
V
ed (or 3 form)
|
Present
Perfect
Continuous
|
priority +
a process
|
for
a long time
since
these few days
|
for
a long time
since
these few days
|
Have
has
|
![](Untitled-1_clip_image002_0002.png)
|
been
+ V- ing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Read the description of the Present Tenses and do exercises
afterwards.
Present Simple
permanent situations or states
|
He goes to school every day.
|
permanent truths or laws of nature
|
Water freezes at 0°
|
repeated / habitual actions especially
with always, usually, etc
|
He goes fishing every weekend.
|
timetable / programmes with a future
meaning
|
The train leaves at 5.00 pm
|
reviews / sports commentaries
|
Jared Leto acts superbly in “Alexander”.
|
Present Continuous
Temporary situations;
|
She is reading a book at the moment.
|
frequently repeated actions with always,
constantly expressing annoyance or criticism;
|
You are always leaving the entrance door open.
|
actions happening at or around the moment of speaking;
|
They are playing a cricket now.
|
fixed arrangements in the near future.
|
I'm going to a movie theatre tomorrow.
|
Present Perfect
Recently completed actions;
|
She has finished watering the lawn.
|
completed past actions connected to the present
with stated or unstated time reference;
|
I have cooked my dinner.
|
personal experiences or changes which have happened.
|
He has just gone out. She has mastered her English.
|
Present Perfect Continuous
Actions which started in the past and continuing up to
the present;
|
He has been waiting for her for an hour.
|
past actions of certain duration having visible results
or effects in the present;
|
He has been running. His shirt is wet.
|
expressing anger irritation, annoyance,
explanation, criticism;
|
He has been reading my diary. (annoyance)
|
putting emphasis on duration.
|
They have been doing their homework since10 o'clock
|
3. Using the words in brackets, complete the sentences below with
the appropriate tenses of Simple Present or Present Continuous.
- Usually, I (to work)
as a secretary at the quality management department, but this summer I
(study) Italian at a language school in Rome. That is why I am in Rome.
- I'm sorry I can't hear
what you (to say) because everybody (to talk) so loudly.
- Edward (to write)
currently a book about hot tips on resume writing. I hope he can find a
good publisher.
- Shhhhh! Be quiet! Mary
(to work).
- Gerry: Can you help me
with monitoring the credit and debit accounts
tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (to
go) to a theatre tonight with some friends.
- Every month, Sally (to
prepare) a tax report.
4. Using the words in brackets, complete the sentences below with
the appropriate tenses of Present Perfect or Present Continuous or Present
Perfect Continuous.
- They (to test) their
products lately.
- John (to work) for
Tesco since he graduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he (to
enjoy) his work, but now he (to talk) about retiring.
- Lucy: How long (to be)
in Paris? Sean: I (to study) here for more than two years.
- Tim: What is that
sound? Nancy: A car alarm (to ring) somewhere down the street. It (to
drive) me crazy – I wish it would stop! It (to ring) for more
than twenty minutes.
- John: Where is Larry?
Sarah: He (to study) at the library for his chemistry test on Wednesday.
In fact, he (to review) the material for the test every day
during the last week.
- Where have you been?
We (to wait) for you since 2 PM.
- I (to observe) Lora
for more than five years and during that time I (to notice) many changes
in her personality.
5. Read the description of the Past Tenses and do exercises
afterwards.
Past Tenses
Tense
|
Meaning
|
Time
expression
|
Grammatical
forms
+
?
--
|
Past
Simple
|
a
common fact
|
ago
yesterday
last week
in 1990
|
Ved
(V2)
|
Did
…V1?
|
Didn’t
+V1
|
Past
Continuous
|
a
process
|
-
at that moment yesterday
- from 6 p.m. till 7p.m
while
as
|
was
were
|
![](Untitled-1_clip_image001_0003.png)
|
V
-ing
|
Past
Perfect
|
priority
|
before
by 7 o’clock
by that time
|
Had + V ed (or 3 form)
|
Past
Perfect
Continuous
|
priority
+
a process
|
for
since
|
Had
+been + V- ing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Past Simple
past actions which happened one immediately after the
other
|
He reached the window, opened it and put the flower on
the window sill.
|
completed actions or events which happened at a stated
past time
|
She washed her car a minute ago.
|
past habits or states
|
He used to eat porridge when he was a child.
|
complete past actions not connected to the present with
a stated or implied time reference
|
Chinese invented gunpowder.
George Washington went to school for 7 or 8 years, and his favorite
subject was arithmetic.
|
Past Continuous
actions in the middle of happening at a stated past time
|
She was writing letters this time last Wednesday.
|
two or more simultaneous past actions of certain
duration
|
I was watching TV while my sister was playing computer
games.
|
a past action in progress interrupted by another past
action. The longer action is in the Past Continuous, the shorter action is
in the Past Simple
|
I was learning grammar rules when my friend came.
|
Past Perfect
an action which happened before a stated time in the
past
|
He had pained a roof by six o’clock in the evening.
|
an action which happened in the past before another past
action. The action which happened earlier is in the past perfect, and the
action which happened later is in the past simple
|
He had tested the package before he left the
laboratory.
|
Past Perfect Continuous
we use the Past Perfect Continuous to denote an action
in the past that was in progress up to or near a time in the past. It’s
often used with for and since.
|
Jack gave up smoking one year ago though he’d been
smoking since 2005.
|
6. Using the words in brackets,
complete the sentences below with the appropriate tense of Past Simple, Past
Perfect, Past Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous.
1. A: When I (to call) you yesterday afternoon you (not to be) in your
office. Where (you to be)?
B: I (to have) lunch with my boss.
2. We had a tradition. Each worker (to go) to his boss once a week to report
about the progress he (to do) for a previous week.
3. When I (to walk) through the corridor I (to think) about the necessity to
keep costs low and material use to a minimum.
4. After I (to finish) the financial report I (to give) it to my boss.
5. I (list) my seasonal jobs and then I (start) to write about my job objective.
6. This time yesterday Kevin (to prepare) goods for shipment to supermarkets.
7. He (to study) for 4 years before he (to get) a Bachelor’s Degree.
8. I (to get) an invitation for the job interview a week ago.
9. A: Did he work at that agency before she retired?
B: Yes, he did.
A: How long (to work he) there before he retired?
7. Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous
I'm sorry I left without you last morning, but I told you to meet me early
because the meeting started at 8:00 and I didn't want to miss it. By the time
I finally left the reception room where we were supposed to meet, I (to
check) documentation once again and I (to wait) over an hour. I had to leave because
I (to arrange) to talk to Mr. Luther before the meeting.
When
I (to come) into the conference room, Mr. Luther (to talk) to the
council already and he was waiting for us. He was really angry because he (to
wait) for more than half an hour.
8. Read the description of the Future Tenses and do exercises
afterwards.
Future Tenses
Tense
|
Meaning
|
Time expression
|
Grammatical forms
+
?
--
|
Future
Simple
|
a common fact
|
tomorrow
in two days
|
will +V1
|
Future
Continuous
|
a process
|
- at that moment tomorrow
- from 6 p.m. till 7p.m
while
as
|
will + be + V -ing
|
Future
Perfect
|
priority
|
before
by 7 o’clock
by that time
|
will + have +V ed (or 3 form)
|
Future
Perfect
Continuous
|
priority +
a process
|
for
since
|
will + have + been + V- ing
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Simple
to express a simple future action
|
They will go to Moscow tomorrow.
|
to make a spontaneous decision at the time of speaking
|
The telephone is ringing. I'll pick up the phone.
|
to express a prediction based on certain conditions or
concessions or to give a warning
|
If you pass the test, we’ll celebrate it.
|
to express willingness or refusal to do something
|
I won't let you teat him that way again.
|
Future Continuous
when we know that something will be in progress at a
certain time in the future
|
Don’t come to me at midday tomorrow. I'll be playing
footballt with my friends.
|
to suggest that something has been pre-arranged
|
This time next week, we will be correcting budget
accounts.
|
Future Perfect
is used when we talk about an activity that will be
completed by a certain time in the future.
|
By this time next year I will have finished my degree
course.
|
Future Perfect Continuous
We use the Future Perfect Continuous when we talk about
an activity that will have begun and will still be in progress by a certain
time in the future.
|
By this time tomorrow we will have been discussing a new
package design for two hours, so do call me if you want to know the result
of our negotiations.
|
9. Using the words in brackets, complete the sentences below with
the appropriate Future Tense (in several cases you’ll have to use one of
Present Tenses).
- Right now, I am
interviewing new candidates. Tomorrow at this time, I (to interview) new
candidates as well.
- Tomorrow after
classes, I (to go) to my grandmother.
- I am going on a
vacation to St. Anton. While you (to do) paperwork and (to talk) to
annoying customers on the phone, I (to ski, to snowboard). Are you
jealous?
- Suppliers are going to
come tomorrow. If James (come) up, while we (to discuss) the problems, I
(not to be able) to talk to him personally.
- While the entire
Project team (to develop) design of a package, Mary (to try) to get her
boyfriend to the phone.
- When tomorrow I (to
get) to work, Sam and Don (to file) papers, Sue (to make) photo copies,
John and Mark (to talk) about computers, and Marsha (to talk) to
somebody on the phone. They are always doing the same things. They are
so predictable.
- When you (to get) off
the train, I (to wait) for you.
- I am sick of testing
this products for a thousand time! I hope, when we (to do) final testing
tomorrow morning, we (to celebrate) it.
- If you (to need) my
help next week, I (to be) in the office in San Francisco.
- If you (to want) to
become a package engineer, you (to have to) study hard.
- If you (not to turn
off) that music, I (to call) police.
10. Define what Grammar Tense the description belongs to.
Ex: general truths or facts - Present Simple
- to express the future
for plans or facts connected with timetables or schedules;
- implies that the
action was unfinished and was still going on at a specific time in the
past;
- to express the future,
especially for personal plans arranged in advance.
- can refer to an action
or situation which began in the past and continues to the present. “For”
and “since” tell us how long something has continued;
- is not connected to
the present because the action began and ended in the past. Specific
time expressions are “ago”, “yesterday”, “last week”, “when I was a
child”;
- is used when to talk
about an activity that will be completed by a certain moment in the
future. This time is indicated by the use of expressions such as “by the
time”, “in 2001”, etc.;
- to make a spontaneous
decision about some future actions at the time of speaking;
- to express a
prediction based on certain conditions or concessions or to give a
warning;
- refers to actions
which were completed in the past but still have relevance in the
present. The exact time of the action is unknown or unimportant. We are
interested in the result or effect of that action on us now;
- to talk about habits
or customs;
- refers to an action
that was happening before a definite time in the past, and which
finished before the time. It also tells us how long something had
continued before another activity took place;
- incomplete action
happening at the moment of speaking (usually a temporary activity);
often with “now”, “at the moment”, “right now”;
- incomplete actions
that are taking place, but not necessarily, at the moment of speaking;
- when we know that
something will be in progress at a time in the future;
- to express a simple
future action;
- is used to refer to an
activity that happen before another activity or time in the past. In
order to emphasize the fact that the activity was completed earlier, we
use time words like “when”, “after”, “before”, “by the time”;
- refers to an activity
which began in the past and continues to the present. It is often still
going on in the present. We can emphasize the duration of this activity
with time expressions such as: “for”, “since”, “all day”.
11. Analyze the following sentences and define their Grammar
Tenses. The first is done for you.
Ex: The sun rises in the east. - Present Simple (The verb “rises” is in
the first form. It has the ending “-es” because it comes with the noun “sun”
- third person, singular.)
- Michael went to Moscow
last year.
- We are discussing the
problem right now.
- She has broken her
leg.
- She has been waiting
for the last two hours.
- The lawn was wet
because the gardener was watering the grass.
- We had been diving for
one hour when we ran out of oxygen.
- When I had finished
all my work, I went home.
- Someone's at the door.
I'll get it.
- Meet me at 7.00
tonight. I'll be waiting at the entrance of the cinema.
- By this time next year
I will have finished my degree course.
12. Circle the letters of the correct verb forms the complete the
sentences.
1. Before Mr. Smith took the position of a manager, Mr. Fisher _______
development of protective packaging containers.
A.
plans
|
B. planned
|
C. had planned
|
D. will plan
|
2. Lucy is a Package Designer. She _______ fond of her job.
A.
is
|
B. be
|
C. was
|
D. were
|
3. James is a student now. He _______ of becoming a Package Engineer since
he was a child.
A
dreams
|
B. has been dreaming
|
C has dreamt
|
D is dreaming
|
4. Susan _______ a report now.
A.
writes
|
B. has written
|
C. is writing
|
D. has been writing
|
5. Mr. Collin is looking for you. He _______ your advice on
packing procedures.
A.
is needing
|
B. needed
|
C. need
|
D. needs
|
6. They _______ innovations in packaging materials all day yesterday.
A.
were discussing
|
B. discussed
|
C. are discussing
|
D. have discussed
|
7. I suppose we _______ specifications of the product by 5 pm tomorrow.
A.
will analyze
|
B. will be analyzing
|
C. will have analyzed
|
D. are analyzing
|
13. Compose sentences out of the words from the columns. Use as
many Grammar Tenses as you can.
Ex: Our Project Team Leader is representing the designed package at
this moment.
customer
|
to design
to determine costs
to draw up contracts
to plan and direct
to analyze engineering drawings
to represent a designed package
to negotiate
to go by plane
to miss
to celebrate
|
at this moment
sometimes
never
since midday
yesterday
in a week
by 7 o’clock tomorrow
already
from 5 till 7
every day
|
Career skills: Introducing yourself
When we meet business contacts for the first time, we usually give
information about ourselves, for example, name, nationality, job title and
company. We may also need to ask people for information about themselves.
Look at the following examples.
1. Match the questions 1-4 with the responses a-d .
1 What's your name?
2 Where are you from?
3 What do you do?
4 What company are you with?
a I'm (an IT manage).
b I'm (Tom Allen).
e I'm (from the UK) I'm (British).
d I'm (with Alcoa).
2. Work with a partner. Use the information on the business cards
to introduce yourself to your partner and ask questions.
Student
A
1 live / Sweden / six months (past simple)
2 No - but / study marketing / university (present perfect - past simple)
3 work in design / manage team projects (present simple)
4 Yes - really like it (present simple)
5 work / design / 2006 (present perfect)
6 go swimming (and give real information about yourself) (present simple)
(think of your own
reasons)
|
Student
B
1 live / Brazil / two years (past simple)
2 Yes - work / quality manager / three years (present perfect - past
simple)
3 manage staff of 12 (present simple)
4 Yes - really like it (present simple)
6 go / the cinema (and give real information about yourself (present
simple)
7 (think of your own reasons)
|
Dilemma: Good and
Ideal Quality Planning – How to plan for your project?
Process
Task: Imagine that you are a project manager and you need to make up a
Quality Management Plan.
The name of the
company:______________________________
Address:
________________________
Types of
Production:_______________________________
The Quality
Management Plan:
- Quality objectives
- Key
project deliverables and processes to be reviewed for satisfactory
quality level
- Quality standards
- Quality control and
assurance activities
- Quality roles and
responsibilities
- Quality tools
- Plan
for reporting quality control and assurance problems
Purpose
The purpose of developing
a quality plan is to elicit the customer’s expectations in terms of quality
and prepare a proactive quality management plan to meet those expectations.
The Quality Management
Plan helps the project manager determine if deliverables are being produced
to an acceptable quality level and if the project processes used to manage
and create the deliverables are effective and properly
applied.
Result
Quality Management Plan
segment of the Project Plan
Word List
Agreement
alien
alluring
beneficial
consistent quality
control of processes
customer-supplier chain
department
dimension
external
frequency
internal
output
product quality
purely
quality assurance
quality control
quality improvement
quality management
requirement
selection
timing
to appreciate
to awe
to consist of
to modify
to negotiate
to nourish
to put forth
valid
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соглашение
чужестранец; иноземец; иностранец
привлекательный
выгодный
стабильное качество
управление процессами
цепь клиент-поставщик
отдел
размеры; величина; измерение
внешний
частота
внутренний
выход
качество продукции
чисто
гарантия качества
контроль качества
улучшение качества
управление качеством
требование
выбор
сроки
ценить
внушать страх; внушать благоговение
состоять из
изменять
вести переговоры
питаться
выдвигать
действительный
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