II. Guess the meaning of the words and explain their meaning.

Nerve cells, vocal cord, to paralyze, to become a vegetable.

III. Make up derivatives.

Noun				paralyses (pl. -ysis)
Adjective		successful
Verb	to breathe		to inject

IV. Find the synonyms.

A. to make a decision, drugs, disease, to kill oneself, to keep on.

B. to go on, illness, to solve, to commit suicide, medicine.

V. Match the words with their definitions.

to enjoy	a piece of equipment which keeps a person alive when they are seriously ill
brain	the box in which a dead person is buried or burnt
coffin	the organ of the body in the upper part of the head
to bury	to cause someone who has broken the law to suffer
regardless of	to get pleasure from, like
to inject	to put a dead body into a grave
a life-support machine	to put (liquid) into someone with a special needle
to punish (for smth)	without worrying about or taking account of

VI. Translate from Russian into English.

Смертельная смесь алкогольных напитков; кот проглотил ласточку; тяжело дышать; это лекарство поможет от головной боли; новый аппарат для поддержания жизнедеятельности доставлен сегодня в больницу; повреждение (damage) головного или спинного мозга очень опасны; авария парализовала движение; он сделал укол и перестал дышать – его мечта о самоубийстве осуществилась; гроб из красного дерева (mahogany [mə`hogəni]) могут позволить себе только богатые люди; вы когда-нибудь хоронили родных?; их посадили в тюрьму на 20 лет; она страдала от боли, но продолжала любить; некоторые люди предпочитают умереть, чем становиться овощем; голландские доктора не наказываются за эвтаназию; дети умеют наслаждаться жизнью.

THE RIGHT TO DIE

Keoni Tabio has made a decision. Read the story and find out: Why does he want to end his life?

Keoni Tabido had planned how he will spend his final hours: He will have a party for his friends, with lots of food, drink and music. Later, he will spend time with his girlfriend. And then, at midnight, he will take a deadly mixture of drugs.

Mr. Tabido is not crazy. He is a 33-year-old businessman. He is very successful, has a lot of money and enjoys life.

But Mr.Tabido has a terrible disease. This disease kills the nerve cells in his brain and spinal cord, slowly paralyzing him. Gradually, it will be difficult for him to swallow and breathe. There is no cure for this deadly disease.

So, after a great deal of thought, Mr. Tabido has decided to kill himself. He has told his family and friends about his plan. He has even bought a wooden coffin in which he will be buried.

“I don’t want to become a vegetable, kept alive on a life-support machine,” Mr. Tabido says. “I can’t imagine anything worse. So I have planned my own death. I will do it while I can think and act clearly. I want to go out doing what I love best - having a good time”.

In Mr. Tabido’s country, it is against the law to help people die. If anyone, even a doctor, helps somebody to die, regardless of how sick or old that person is, they could be put in prison for 20 years.

Mr. Tabido is trying to make sure no one is punished for helping him die. “Two doctors have helped me,” says Mr. Tabido. “But I will never tell anyone their names. These doctors have given me the drugs and showed me how to inject myself. I will have only one chance, so I have to do it right the first time.”

“I know that some people think it is wrong to kill yourself, and for others to help you. But they don’t have a disease like mine. For me, there is no choice.”

I. Listen to (read) the text and say whether the statements are true or false?

1. Mr. Tabido is an unsuccessful businessman.

2. Mr. Tabido disease kills his blood cells and spinal cord.

3. There is no cure for this disease.

4. He didn’t tell his family and friends about his plan.

5. In Mr. Tabido’s country there is a law to help people die.

6. Mr. Tabido himself learnt how to inject drugs.

II. Answer the questions.

1. What is Mr. Tabido’s plan? Why?

2. What does his disease do?

3. Is he ready to kill himself?

4. Is the law in Mr. Tabido’s country for or against to help people die?