Английский разговорный язык. Практическое пособие по развитию устной речи

An economic forecaster was known to have an horseshoe prominently displayed above the doorframe of his office. Asked what it was for, he replied that it was a good luck charm that helped his forecasts. But do you believe in that superstition? he was asked, and he said, «Of course not!» But then why do you keep it? «Well,» he said, «it works whether you believe in it or not.»

2

An econometrician and an astrologer are arguing about their subjects. The astrologer says, «Astrology is more scientific. My predictions come out right half the time. Yours can\'t even reach that proportion.» The econometrician replies, «That\'s because of external shocks. Stars don\'t have those.»

3

An economist is a trained professional paid to guess wrong about the economy. An econometrician is a trained professional paid to use computers to guess wrong about the economy.

4

Economic statistics are like a bikini, what they reveal is important, what they conceal is vital.

5

Forecasting is like trying to drive a car blindfolded and following directions given by a person who is looking out of the back window.

Слова и выражения:

argue – спорить, аргументировать

astrologer – астролог

astrology

– астрология

bikini – бикини ( тип дамского купального ансамбля )

blindfolded – с завязанными глазами

charm – очарование, чары

doorframe – дверная рама

external – внешний

guess – догадываться, строить догадки

horseshoe – лошадиная подкова

luck – успех, удача

prominently – на видном месте

proportion – пропорция

shock

– удар, потрясение, шок

superstition – предрассудок

vital – жизненно необходимый

good luck charm – талисман, притягивающий удачу

come out right – «получаться», «выходить»

guess wrong – строить неверные предположения, догадки

Exercise 7

Answer the questions:

1. What did the forecaster have the horseshoe displayed for?

2. How often are the astrologer\'s forecasts correct?

3. Why can\'t econometrics reach that proportion of correctness?

4. How do econometricians use computers in their guesswork about economy?

5. What do bikini… Well, I never…

How to Use Mathematics in Economics. The Equation of Earnings

Engineers and scientists will never make as much money as business executives. Now a rigorous mathematical proof has been developed that explains why this is true:

Postulate 1: Knowledge is Power.

Postulate 2: Time is Money.

As every engineer knows,

Work = Power х Time

Since Knowledge = Power, and Time = Money, we have:

Work = Knowledge х Money

Solving for Money, we get:

Money = Work / Knowledge

Thus, as Knowledge decreases, Money increases, regardless of how much Work is done.

Conclusion: The Less you Know, the More you Make.

Слова и выражения:

conclusion – заключение

decrease – уменьшаться

executive – исполнительный

increase – увеличиваться

postulate – условие ( постулируемое условие )

rigorous – строгий

solving – здесь : преобразовывая математическое выражение

business executives – управляющий производством

regardless of – вне зависимости от

Marxism