Your November 3 seminar homework is ex. Reading / p. 54 in your Coursebook + the following grammar review:

Furthermore, I would like you to listen to the below recording The future of the pencil  about an eight-generation family firm Faber-Castell which shows how innovation need never stop.

While listening, prepare the following tasks for the November 3 seminar:

Compulsory tasks:

1. What did Ulysses Grant, Otto von Bismarck and Vincent van Gogh use the Faber-Castell pencil for?

2. How long has the pencil been produced and where?

3. Why is the task of improving the Faber-Castell pencil referred to as daunting?

4. What is the impact of the computer age on the sales of the pencil?

5. Comment on the sales of the pencil in different markets.

6. Make a list of all the innovations mentioned in the recording (6-7).

Optional task:

7. Write a summary (100 -150 words) of the listening. Your teacher will correct it for you.