Make yourself at home

Additional upper-intermediate exercise on Upstream

Begi
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Speaking
Task 1. Answer the following questions.
What kind of home do you live in? Where is it located?
What do you think life would be like without modern

appliances?
Has modern technology improved our life style? In what ways?
If you could change three things about your home, what would
they be? Why?

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Compare the pictures.

What are they doing? Where are they in? What differences
do you see?

What

Click here to see

example

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Describe the picture

Would you ever consider

Click here to see useful

words and examples

living underground?
What would the
advantages/disadvantages be?
Where is the house located in?
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Analyzing a letter making

suggestions

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Check
answers

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to 1) the recent Ideal Homes Exhibition

and to 2) . One or two suggestions for next year.
3) . The ideas for living rooms where 4) .. Impressive. Perhaps
in future years we could see as similar emphasis placed on other rooms
in the house.
Secondly, 5) .. The ideas for protecting the environment were
very well presented, I think it would be a good idea to include a feature
about gardens.
6) . I recommend that you extend the duration of the exhibition
of reduce the cost of the tickets. If you were to remain open for a
minimum of one week, more people would
be able to visit it.
a. although
Yours faithfully,
Emma Brown

b.
c.
d.
e.

really
make
firstly
Say how much
I enjoyed
f. finally

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Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to 1) say how much I enjoyed the recent Ideal Homes

Exhibition and to 2) make One or two suggestions for next year.
3) Firstly, the ideas for living rooms where 4) really impressive.
Perhaps in future years we could see as similar emphasis placed on
other rooms in the house.
Secondly, 5) although the ideas for protecting the environment were
very well presented, I think it would be a good idea to include a feature
about gardens.
6) Finally, I recommend that you extend the duration of the exhibition
of reduce the cost of the tickets. If you were to remain open for a
minimum of one week, more people would be able to visit it.
Yours faithfully,
Emma Brown

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

although
really
make
firstly
Say how much I enjoyed
finally

Back

Read the questions below. What is the differences

between it?
It's beautiful, isn't it?
You can, can't you?
He will come, won't he?

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Underline the correct question tags

1. Youre Suisan, are you/arent you?
2. She works for her father, doesnt she/does she?
3. Dont eat too much, wont you/will you?
4. Lets go to the gym, shall we/shant we?
5. Im not late, arent I/am I?
6. This is Chinese food, isnt it/ isnt this?
7. Everyone is here, isnt everyone/arent they?
8. He never dances, does he/doesnt he?

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Read the rubric below and answer the questions that follow.
You recently went to an exhibition entitled Ideal Homes. You enjoyed the
exhibition and you have some suggestions on how to make the next one even
better. Read the advertisement and write a letter to the organizers, giving your
opinion on what you saw and making your suggestions
Ideas Home Exhibition

Come and see the latest in designs for modern living

Theres so much to see and do including
Over 300 living room ideas
Environmentally friendly ideas
The date this year is:
Fri. 16thth. Sun 18thth. May
Entrance fee $16.00
Click here to see
plan

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Thank you very much

Plan
Dear + ( the surname of the person)

Introduction
(Para 1)
Main Body
(Paras 2-3)

Conclusion
(Para 4)

The introduction should mention the problems / causes /

effects

The main body should contain suggestions / recommendations /

advise in separate paragraphs and the extended results of each
suggestions

The conclusion should summarize points mentioned in the

main body, encourage the readers to take action, etc.,

Yours sincerely + (full your

name)

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In the first picture we cab see a group of people sitting under a big

tree. It looks like the summer and everyone looks very relaxed.
In the second picture there are lot of people sunbathing on the
beach. In the background we can see lots of apartments. The
beach is really crowded.
Comparing: obviously, both photos were taken in the summertime
and maybe the common theme is about what people like doing in
holidays.
Contrasting: The scene in the first photo looks very peaceful. On
the other hand, beach scene looks very noisy and chaotic.
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What is in the picture?

In the picture I can see ...
Theres / There are ...
There isnt a ... / There arent any ...
Say what is happening with the present continuous
The man is ...ing
The people are ...ing
Where in the picture?
At the top/bottom of the picture ...
In the middle of the picture ...
On the left/right of the picture ...
Example:
A: I would think living underground might be less noisy.
B: Yes, but it could also be extremely dark, dont you agree?

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