Nam Đỗ Blog

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will cause some pollution, but I have a special licence for my fireplace, so no one can 
object to that. I’ve noticed also that the university has a garden bin, for the smaller items 
— leaves and sticks and bark, and so on, so we can dispose of material in that, also. You 
do have some waste piles out the back, but a proper garden bin means that the material 
will be recycled, and that’s better for the environment, so you can rest assured 
we will use that. 
 
SECTION 3 
You will hear three students, Steve, David, and Susan, discussing the different courses 
they attend. 
Susan: Well gentlemen, we’ve almost finished our second semester at this university. 
What do you think of all the courses we attend? 
David: On the whole, I’d say they’re quite good, apart from Social History, which I find 
to be a little too inexact. 
Steve: Yes, the lecturer’s style is also very very dull. 
Susan: I certainly agree with you there, although I would say that the textbook is more 
interesting. ‘Welfare State’. The subtitle says, ‘An examination of social development in 
the 20
th
century.’ 
David: Yes, ‘Welfare State’ is a good book, but look how many pages it has. 458! 
Steve: I agree. It’s just too long to be easily read. Far too long, although it’s certainly well 
written in parts. 
David: Yes, and if you compare it to the textbook for Cultural Studies—what’s it called? 
Susan: ‘Inner Views’, I think. 

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David: No, that’s the book for Media Studies, and we finished that subject last semester. 
The book you’re thinking of is ‘In Perspective’. 
Susan: Sorry, you’re right. ‘In Perspective’. And the subtitle says, ‘A comparison of 
social groups.’ Somewhat interesting, wouldn’t you say? 
David: Well, mildly so, as is the subject, dealing as it does with such a wide variety of 
issues, but the book itself certainly oversimplifies a very complex subject. 
Steve: I agree. I also got annoyed at its constant oversimplification. Life is more 
complicated than what it suggests. 
Susan: Yes, but what you call ‘oversimplifying’ may well be considered ‘clarifying’. 
Look at this other textbook, ‘Government in Action’. Some may say that it also 
oversimplifies, but it must do so in order to present a coherent picture of an equally 
complex subject. 
David: ‘Government in Action’? Which subject...? 
Susan: It’s the textbook for ‘Political Theory’. 
Steve: Oh, I hate politics. That’s why I don’t like the ‘Active Leadership’ subject, either. 
And most of the stuff in that ‘Political Theory’ textbook is based on the American 
system. You see, it’s written by Americans, so it’s not even relevant to us here. 
David: I’d agree with you there — it’s not relevant to us at all, since our government uses 
the Westminster system. 
Susan: Yes, I suppose that is a problem. 
Susan: Well, it seems we all have certain criticisms about the textbooks we’re using, but 
at the same time, we all like some elements, at least, of the subjects we’re studying. 
What’s your favourite subject, David? 
David: I’m not sure. I like Political Theory, but... 

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