Agree with the statements of your partner. €

Example:

– Every society, whatever its size, must call its members together once a year for an annual general meeting.

– Yes, you are quite right. It’s necessary to call the members of every society together for an annual general meeting.

	The main purpose of a conference is to provide a forum for experts of diverse disciplines to come and exchange information and ideas. Is it true?
	The conferences contribute to stimulating cross-fertilization of fresh ideas and accelerating progress in the field of science and technology. What do you think of this?
	Everyone attending the conference is required to register and pay the appropriate fee. Is it true?
	The speakers should be brief, factual and avoid personal opinion. Do you think it’s right?
	The organizing committee should be careful not to allow an overlap of the conference dates. Am I right?
	Scientific discussions are always useful because they contribute to general scientific advance. Are you of the same opinion?
	The problem under investigation is of great importance. Do you agree with that?
	The sessions were concerned with important present-day problems, weren’t they?

2. Disagree with the statements of your partner:

Example:

– The chairman should always sit to address the meeting.

– I’m afraid you are mistaken. The chairman should always stand to address the meeting.

	Minutes are an approximate record of what takes place at a meeting. Am I right?
	A conference is an entertainment from a daily research routine, isn’t it?
	The first duty of a chairman is to make a report. Is this right?
	At the conference with numerous participants the papers are read at one section one after another. Am I right?
	The agenda can’t be carefully timed and overcrowding avoided. What do you think of it?
	If am not mistaken the opening ceremony was followed by a banquet. Is it so?
	This conference was attended by very few delegates. Is this right?

Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your arguments to support your viewpoint.

Example:

– I know you like to attend scientific conferences.

– Yes, you are right. Besides, I also like to be a member of the organizing committee.

– No, I see you are misinformed. I think attending conferences is a waste of time.

	Several delegates had come long before the session began.
	The seminar will be held in room 6.
	The majority of the participants were accommodated in hotel “Belarus”.
	The discussions were exceedingly lively.
	The greatest part of the material has been verified experimentally.
	Over 50 papers and reports were submitted.
	There will be many participants at the conference sponsored by our department.
	There are very many unsolved problems in this field.
	This paper was published in the latest issue of the journal.

Answer the questions below.

Example:

– I regularly attend international conferences. And what about you?

– I don’t have the possibility to take part in international conferences abroad but I am a regular participant of different international conferences in our country.

	A conference is a very important event in a researcher’s life. What do you think of it?
	I usually submit my papers in Russian but this time I’ll do it in English. And what about you?
	I like to take part in the poster sessions which constitute the usual short communications of recent research data. What is your idea of this?
	The organizing committee has accepted my paper to be included in the programme for the conference. And what about your paper?
	I have just registered as a member of congress at the congress office. And have you done the same?
	I have already received an invitation to the international conference? And you?
	I’ll make a report on research in progress at our laboratory. Do you think I should?