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Uniform for…

Most important thing

Why?

Alternative?

Schoolteacher

Students

Train driver

Soldier

Bank clerk

Nurse

• skirt
• lipstick
• stiletto shoes
• hair band

• wedding dress
• pink trousers
• designer handbag
• T-shirt with bows, ribbons & sequins

a.

All Swedish train drivers (male and female) must wear skirts to work.

T / F

b.

Male drivers are allowed to wear skirts but not shorts.

T / F

c.

Drivers have never been allowed to wear shorts.

T / F

d.

The WHO says 25 degrees is best to work in.

T / F

e.

The train company has no problem with men wearing skirts.

T / F

f.

The company said smartness to the public was most important.

T / F

g.

A train driver said he disliked people staring at his skirt.

T / F

h.

The rail company will not talk about its dress code again.

T / F

1.

come up with

a.

rather than

2.

novel

b.

tolerate

3.

instead of

c.

considers

4.

instilled

d.

correct

5.

deems

e.

original

6.

proper

f.

gaze

7.

discrimination

g.

implemented

8.

stare

h.

rules

9.

put up with

i.

thought of

10.

code

j.

prejudice

1.

come up with a novel

a.

the list

2.

staying

b.

at you a little

3.

they do not appear on

c.

operations in January

4.

after it took over

d.

cool

5.

The mercury in the drivers' cabin

e.

up with it

6.

communications

f.

code

7.

one should look decent

g.

way

8.

people stare

h.

and proper

9.

you just have to put

i.

can reach 35 degrees

10.

dress

j.

manager

Male train drivers in Sweden have come (1) ____________ with a novel way of staying cool (2) ____________ the summer heat after their company banned the wearing of shorts. The men are (3) ____________ wearing skirts to work as they do not appear on the list of banned clothing that (4) ____________ the uniform code for rail staff. The drivers' employers, the transportation company Arriva, instilled the (5) ____________ on shorts after it took over operations in January. Drivers had (6) ____________ worn them for years when conditions got hot in the summer. The mercury in the drivers' cabin can (7) ____________ 35 degrees, which is ten degrees above what the World Health Organisation (8) ____________ to be a comfortable working environment.

reach
forms
deems
in
ban
up
previously
instead

Arriva's communications manager Tomas Hedenius told a local newspaper that the company did not (9) ____________ men wearing skirts. He said: "Our thinking is that one should look (10) ____________ and proper when representing Arriva and the (11) ____________ uniforms do that. If the man wants to wear a skirt, then that is OK." He added: "To tell them to do something else would be (12) ____________." Driver Martin Akersten said his passengers didn't seem to have any problems with his uniform. He said: "Of course people (13) ____________ at you a little when you are on the platform, but you just have to put (14) ____________ with it….So far no-one has said anything." He added:  "I don't mind as it's more about (15) ____________." Arriva is set to discuss its dress (16) ____________ again later this year.

up
decent
comfort
discrimination
stare
mind
code
present

1)

Male train drivers in Sweden have come ______ of staying cool

a.  up with a novel way
b.  uppity with a novel way
c.  upped with a novel way
d.  ups with a novel way

2)

the list of banned clothing that forms ______

a.  the uniformed code
b.  the uniformly code
c.  the uniform code
d.  the uniforms code

3)

instilled the ban on shorts after it ______

a.  took over operation
b.  took over operations
c.  took over operational
d.  took over operatives

4)

The ______ drivers' cabin can reach 35 degrees

a.  mercurial in the
b.  mercury in the
c.  miracle curry in the
d.  mercenary in the

5)

the World Health Organisation ______ comfortable working environment

a.  seems to be a
b.  teems to be a
c.  means to be a
d.  deems to be a

6)

the company did ______ wearing skirts

a.  not mend men
b.  not mined men
c.  not mind men
d.  not minder men

7)

Our thinking is that one should ______ when representing Arriva

a.  look decent and properly
b.  look decent and proper
c.  look decent and propeller
d.  look decent and prosper

8)

To tell them to do something else would ______

a.  be discrimination
b.  be discriminating
c.  be discriminatory
d.  be discriminated

9)

Of course people ______ little when you are on the platform

a.  glare at you a
b.  stare at you a
c.  swear at you a
d.  spare at you a

10)

Arriva is set to discuss its ______ later this year

a.  dressed code again
b.  dresses code again
c.  dress code again
d.  dressing code again

1.

What adjective described the way of staying cool?

2.

What list is a skirt not on?

3.

When did the ban on shorts come into effect?

4.

For how long had drivers been wearing shorts in summer?

5.

What does the WHO say is a good working temperature?

6.

What does Arriva think of male drivers in skirts?

7.

How should drivers look, according to Arriva?

8.

What would it be if Arriva said no to men in skirts?

9.

What do some passengers do when they see a male driver in a skirt?

10.

What will the company discuss later?

1.

What adjective described the way of staying cool?

6.

What does Arriva think of male drivers in skirts?

a) noble
b) novel
c) knowledgeable
d) newish

a) it wants all male drivers in skirts
b) it said skirts must be black
c) it doesn't mind
d) it said OK, but no miniskirts

2.

What list is a skirt not on?

7.

How should drivers look, according to Arriva?

a) a poll of comfortable work clothes
b) a shopping list
c) things a man can wear
d) the list of banned clothing

a) comfortable
b) modern
c) very professional
d) decent and proper

3.

When did the ban on shorts come into effect?

8.

What would it be if Arriva said no to men in skirts?

a) after January
b) last week
c) March
d) 2011

a) discrimination
b) a waste of time
c) a matter for the courts
d) embarrassing

4.

For how long had drivers been wearing shorts in summer?

9.

What do some passengers do when they see a male driver in a skirt?

a) 3 months
b) two-and-a-half hours
c) years
d) a lifetime

a) stare
b) smile
c) whistle
d) look away

5.

What does the W.H.O. say is a good working temperature?

10.

What will the company discuss later?

a) 35 degrees
b) 25 degrees
c) 30 degrees
d) 20 degrees

a) selling male skirts
b) its dress code
c) special skirts for men
d) a new timetable

Role  A – Happy male train driver

You don't care about the ban on shorts. Tell the others three reasons why. The most important ting for you is to be cool in the summer heat. You think a skirt is much cooler than shorts and are happy to wear a skirt. You will also follow the company dress code. Tell the other driver he is over-reacting.

Role  B – Angry male train driver

You are furious that your company has banned male drivers from wearing shorts. Tell the others three reasons why. You want all men to go on strike until shorts are not banned. You can't believe the other driver is happy. Tell the rail boss the company is harming your human rights.

Role  C – Rail company boss

You think ban on shorts is perfectly acceptable. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the angry driver that a skirt is cooler in hot weather than shorts. Tell him bank workers and other professionals do not wear shorts to work.  Tell the passenger wearing shorts is not a human right.

Role  D – Human rights passenger

You are angry with the rail company for banning shorts. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the boss (s)he does not care for the health of the drivers. Other workers wear shorts in hot weather. Shorts are smart and professional looking. Encourage a drivers' strike to bring back shorts.

shorts

skirt

• up
• appear
• January
• conditions
• 35
• WHO

• manager
• look
• tell
• seem
• stare
• code

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'ban'?

c)

What do you think about what you read?

d)

Why do you think the company banned shorts?

e)

Will the drivers be cooler in skirts?

f)

Do you think it's OK for male train drivers to wear skirts?

g)

Should the company make special skirts for men?

h)

How might skirts for men and women be designed differently?

i)

What looks smarter, a skirt or trousers?

j)

In what other jobs might it be better for a man to wear a skirt?

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Who decided skirts are for women and trousers for men?

c)

How "revolutionary" was it for women to start wearing trousers?

d)

What might be beneficial for men wearing a skirt?

e)

If a man was told "no skirt" in another job, would it be discrimination?

f)

Why did women start wearing skirts way back in history?

g)

Are skirts more practical than trousers?

h)

Will men wearing skirts become common in the future?

i)

What questions would you like to ask one of the drivers?

j)

What do you think his answers might be?

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

1.

(a)

over

(b)

down

(c)

in

(d)

up

2.

(a)

a

(b)

its

(c)

not

(d)

the

3.

(a)

distilled

(b)

instilled

(c)

tilled

(d)

milled

4.

(a)

operatives

(b)

operation

(c)

operations

(d)

operational

5.

(a)

Mars

(b)

earth

(c)

mercury

(d)

solar

6.

(a)

deems

(b)

teems

(c)

reams

(d)

seems

7.

(a)

mend

(b)

mind

(c)

matter

(d)

figure

8.

(a)

proper

(b)

prosper

(c)

prosperous

(d)

properly

9.

(a)

do

(b)

be

(c)

act

(d)

appear

10.

(a)

stair

(b)

store

(c)

stare

(d)

star

11.

(a)

on

(b)

down

(c)

up

(d)

all

12.

(a)

get

(b)

met

(c)

let

(d)

set

Paragraph 1

1.

a vleon way of staying cool

2.

men are neasdti wearing skirts

3.

the rnfuoim code

4.

spyivlrueo worn them for years

5.

the myeucrr in the drivers' cabin

6.

working oteirnmnevn

Paragraph 2

7.

mticaionmsucno manager

8.

one should look ndecte and proper

9.

something else would be ntocasdniriimi

10.

rgesessapn didn't seem to have any

11.

people sreta at you

12.

it's more about ofocmtr

(    )

previously worn them for years when conditions got hot in the summer. The mercury

(    )

deems to be a comfortable working environment.

(    )

in the drivers' cabin can reach 35 degrees, which is ten degrees above what the World Health Organisation

(    )

on the list of banned clothing that forms the uniform code for rail staff. The drivers' employers, the transportation

(  1  )

Male train drivers in Sweden have come up with a novel way of staying cool in the summer heat after their company

(    )

proper when representing Arriva and the present uniforms do that. If the man wants to wear a skirt, then

(    )

company did not mind men wearing skirts. He said: "Our thinking is that one should look decent and

(    )

company Arriva, instilled the ban on shorts after it took over operations in January. Drivers had

(    )

anything." He added:  "I don't mind as it's more about comfort." Arriva is set to discuss its dress code again later this year.

(    )

people stare at you a little when you are on the platform, but you just have to put up with it….So far no-one has said

(    )

his passengers didn't seem to have any problems with his uniform. He said: "Of course

(    )

banned the wearing of shorts. The men are instead wearing skirts to work as they do not appear

(    )

Arriva's communications manager Tomas Hedenius told a local newspaper that the

(    )

that is OK." He added: "To tell them to do something else would be discrimination." Driver Martin Akersten said

1.

with     way     cool     up     novel     staying     Come     a     of.    

2.

wearing     their     of     company     shorts     banned     the     After.    

3.

The     skirts     men     to     are     work     instead     wearing.    

4.

for     them     worn     previously     had     Drivers     years.    

5.

The     the     can     in     cabin     35     mercury     drivers'     reach.    

6.

mind     The     men     company     wearing     did     skirts     not.    

7.

is     decent     that     one     Our     should     thinking     look.    

8.

Of     you     course     a     people     little     stare     at.    

9.

I     more     don't     about     mind     comfort     as     it's.    

10.

later     Arriva     is     set     to     discuss    its    dress    code     again.    

MaletraindriversinSwedenhavecomeupwithanovelwayofstayingcoolinthe
summerheataftertheircompanybannedthewearingofshorts.Themenare
insteadwearingskirtstoworkastheydonotappearonthelistofbannedclothing
thatformstheuniformcodeforrailstaff.Thedrivers'employers,thetransportation
companyArriva,instilledthebanonshortsafterittookoveroperationsinJanuary.
Drivershadpreviouslywornthemforyearswhenconditionsgothotinthesummer.
Themercuryinthedrivers'cabincanreach35degrees,whichistendegreesabove
whattheWorldHealthOrganisationdeemstobeacomfortableworking
environment.Arriva'scommunicationsmanagerTomasHedeniustoldalocal
newspaperthatthecompanydidnotmindmenwearingskirts.Hesaid:"Our
thinkingisthatoneshouldlookdecentandproperwhenrepresentingArrivaand
thepresentuniformsdothat.Ifthemanwantstowearaskirt,thenthatisOK."He
added:"Totellthemtodosomethingelsewouldbediscrimination."DriverMartin
Akerstensaidhispassengersdidn'tseemtohaveanyproblemswithhisuniform.
Hesaid:"Ofcoursepeoplestareatyoualittlewhenyouareontheplatform,butyou
justhavetoputupwithit….Sofarnoonehassaidanything."Headded:"I
don'tmindasit'smoreaboutcomfort."Arrivaissettodiscussitsdresscodeagain
laterthisyear.

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

1.

come up with

a.

thought of

2.

novel

b.

original

3.

instead of

c.

rather than

4.

instilled

d.

implemented

5.

deems

e.

considers

6.

proper

f.

correct

7.

discrimination

g.

prejudice

8.

stare

h.

gaze

9.

put up with

i.

tolerate

10.

code

j.

rules

1.

Novel

2.

The list of banned clothing

3.

Some time after January

4.

Years

5.

25 degrees

6.

It doesn't mind

7.

Decent and proper

8.

Discrimination

9.

Stare a little

10.

Its dress code

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b