Unit 2

Talents
Introduction    page 21  6 C: Ron says the key to his training is to be distracted while
memorizing things; this gives his brain incredible focus.
1 For example, to become the USA Memory Champion he
POSSIBLE ANSWERS memorized cards while snorkelling.
Top left to bottom right: 7 A: Adam painstakingly taught Derek how to play
a Photo 1: gymnast – flexibility, athleticism, properly …
competitiveness 8 D: He performs all his feats without a safety net or harness.
Photo 2: surgeon – excellent hand-eye co-ordination, 9 B: His ambition was to become a professional bee-keeper
knowledge about anatomy, precise focus but instead he ended up becoming an academic.
Photo 3: model – good looks, tall and slim, poise 10 C: Ron currently teaches memory techniques to people all
Photo 4: singer – good voice, ability to perform for over the United States.
others, memory for words in songs
Photo 5: teacher – presentation skills, knowledge of Phrasal verbs: turn
subject, empathy for students
Photo 6: museum tour guide – presentation skills, 4
knowledge of art, enthusiastic personality KEY
b Students’ own answers. a  5  ​b  6  ​c  3  ​d  2  ​e  1  ​f  4

Reading and Use of English Over to you

5 Students’ own answers.
Part 7    page 22 
Exam skills Grammar (1)    page 24 
1
KEY
can, be able to
a accidentally: by chance, unintentionally 1
b ability: skill, talent KEY
c currently: presently, these days a Derek Paravicini is not able to read even Braille, but he
d cover (sth) up: conceal, hide has an amazing talent; he is able to play any piece of
e participate: be involved, take part music after only one hearing.
f pressure: demands, stress b He was able to play a toy organ when he was two.
2 2
KEY KEY
1 left school; was expelled from school; didn’t finish a There is no infinitive form of can.
school; dropped out of school (do not provide this b There is no present perfect form of can to talk about
unless students come up with it) ability.
7 had classes / lessons; was taught by somebody (do not
provide this unless students come up with it) 3
KEY
Exam practice: Multiple matching a He can run 100 metres in just over twelve seconds.
3 b When I was younger, I could run up a hill without
getting out of breath.
KEY
c They had eaten such a big breakfast that they couldn’t
1 C: A high-school dropout …
finish their lunch.
2 A: He does occasionally play the wrong note, but because
d He could probably touch his toes if he lost weight.
he is able to improvise, he can cover it up without anyone
e Even if I’d been stronger, I couldn’t have lifted those
even noticing.
heavy weights.
3 D: Eskil is well aware of the risks involved in what he does.
4 B: He acquired these skills after years of practice … 4
5 A: Derek Paravicini was born blind, with severe learning
difficulties and autism. He has limited verbal skills, KEY
poor short-term memory and cannot read even Braille It is not possible to use could in sentence c, because could
… at nine, Derek gave his first of many major public refers to a general ability in the past, whereas were able to
performances. refers to a specific event in the past. In sentence c we are

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 talking about a specific event in the past, not a general 2
ability in the past.
KEY
1  has  ​2  there  ​3  an  ​4  Because  ​5  to  ​6  need  ​
Other ability structures 7  order  ​8  however  ​9  what  ​10  many
5
Exam practice: Open cloze
KEY
3
We can use the past forms of manage to and succeed in for
sentences b and c. KEY
a We cannot use managed to or succeeded in in sentence 1  a  ​2  if / when   ​3  to  ​4  that / which   ​5  rather  ​6  for  ​
a because this sentence refers to a past, ongoing habit 7  while / whilst   ​8  be
(smoking). Managed to or succeeded in refer to a specific
event in the past, when something became possible. Over to you
b We can use managed to or succeeded in in sentence b 4 Students’ own answers.
because the sentence refers to a specific event in the
past, although the verb following succeeded in would
need to take the -ing form: Grammar (2)    page 26 
The doctors managed to save the woman’s life.
The doctors succeeded in saving the woman’s life. Comparatives and superlatives
c We can use managed to or succeeded in in sentence c 2
because the sentence refers to a specific event in the
past, although the verb following succeeded in would KEY
need to take the -ing form: as big as; higher; stricter; more severe; less extensive; as
After five hours, the firefighters managed to put out the effective as; the most interesting
fire. 3
After five hours, the firefighters succeeded in putting out
the fire. KEY
a longer, the longest / shorter, the shortest
6 b larger, the largest / later, the latest
KEY c flatter, the flattest / thinner, the thinnest
a didn’t succeed in finding d heavier, the heaviest / funnier, the funniest
b wasn’t able to complete / do / finish e more important, the most important / more
c succeeded in passing independent, the most independent
d managed to break in / enter f cleverer, the cleverest / narrower, the narrowest
e was(n’t) able to swim g better, the best / worse, the worst
f managed / has managed to get h better, the best / worse, the worst
g wasn’t able to fall i more quickly, the most quickly / more carefully, the
h succeeded in opening / uncorking most carefully
i Have / Haven’t (you) managed to lose 4
7 KEY
KEY The adjective or adverb takes its basic form – e.g. as quick
It is not possible to use could or couldn’t in sentences c, d, as, as quickly as / as beautiful as, as beautifully as.
f and i. 5
a couldn’t find g couldn’t sleep
b couldn’t finish h could open KEY
e could swim a  good  ​b  cheaper  ​c  younger; cleverer   ​
d  the unluckiest   ​e  better  ​f  hotter  ​g  more difficult   ​
Over to you h  less / more legibly   ​i  easier  ​j  faster; sooner
8 Students’ own answers. 6
KEY
a no difference: just (as … as); no
Reading and Use of English b a small difference: a bit; a little; slightly
Part 2    page 25  c a big difference: far / by far; much; a lot; not nearly (as…
as); considerably
Exam skills
1
KEY
b How different learners learn best

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 Over to you
7
SUGGESTED ANSWER
My brother is taller than me but not as tall as my husband.
I don’t think my brother is as witty as I am, because he
does not value sense of humour as much as I do. We both
had a lot of education, but I studied harder than him
at school and at university. I think I am kinder than my
brother, and he is a little bit moodier than I am, but he is
more sociable.
Speaking Part 2    page 27  • say when you would like to meet up / reschedule the
Exam skills
1 3
KEY
a Each candidate is given two photographs.
b Each candidate has to talk about his / her own photos
for about one minute.
c Next, each candidate answers a question about the
other candidate’s photo.
3
KEY
Contrasting words but, The main difference between … ,
unless, whereas, while
Words which give and, also, because
more information
Words which I’d prefer to do … than …, I find …,
express preference I imagine that …, I’d much rather …,
Personally
4 The informal features included in the first email are:
KEY
The words and expressions in bold are in the audioscript.
Ones not in bold are additional alternatives.
Contrasting words but, however, The main difference
between …, unless, whereas, while
Words which give and, also, because, in addition
more information
Words which I’d prefer to do … than, I’d much
express a rather …, I prefer to do … than …
preference / I prefer doing … to …, I find …,
I imagine that …, Personally
Long turn
8 Students’ own answers.
Writing Part 2 – Letter / email    page 28 
Exam skills
2
KEY
In the reply, you need to:
• say what happened to you last night
• provide an excuse for not showing up (and apologize)
meeting
KEY
Although both emails give a full response to Charlie’s
message and answer all his questions, the first reply
(on the left-hand side of the page) is more appropriate
because it is written in an appropriate style for an email
between friends. The other answer is far too formal for
an email to a friend, and the format / layout is more
appropriate for a formal letter.
Formal and informal language
4
KEY
a  INF  ​b  F  ​c  INF  ​d  F  ​e  F  ​f  INF  ​g  INF  ​h  INF
5
KEY
• short sentences, e.g. No, nothing’s wrong! (Note:
exclamation marks are more likely to be used in informal
writing.), instead of: In your email you enquire whether
anything is wrong and in response I must assure you that
no, nothing is wrong.
• contractions, e.g. nothing’s wrong instead of nothing is
wrong
• phrasal verbs, e.g. held up
• omitted words (e.g. pronouns), e.g. Sorry about last night
instead of I am sorry about last night
• the use of very simple words or slang, e.g. ’cos instead of
because

Pronunciation 6
5 KEY
KEY INF: Best wishes; Cheers; Good to hear from you!; Hello; Hi!;
a much Hiya!; How are things with you?; Jo; Thanks for your email;
b nearly You asked me about …
c just (an alternative stress pattern could be to put the F: Best wishes; Dear Sam; Dear Sir; I’m (I am) writing to …;
main stress on the word spell) Regards; Thank you for your email of 15/12; Yours sincerely;
d considerably Yours faithfully; Jo Hunter (Ms)
7
KEY
a  bit; lot   ​b  nearly; far   ​c  just; far; much   ​d  no

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 7 c an adverb because it is describing the action of the verb
in the phrase ‘pass the ball’
KEY
d an adjective because it describes the type of person you
a a snack e to inform you
need to be to get to the top in a sport
b attempted f because
c therefore g returned home 2
d sent you a text message h I do apologize
KEY
8 a  height  ​b  disagree  ​c  skilfully  ​d  ambitious
KEY 3
The second email uses delayed instead of held up and
arrive instead of get in because held up and get in are KEY
phrasal verbs and therefore preferably not used in formal -al arrival, refusal
writing. -ance performance
-er employer, performer, worker
9 -or predictor, protector
-ion prediction, rejection, protection, completion
KEY
-ation expectation, information
a My boyfriend refuses to back down even when he
-ity prosperity
knows I’m right.
-ment employment, improvement
b I wish people wouldn’t eat at their desks. I just can’t put
up with it.
c I wish you wouldn’t put me down in public – it’s really Exam practice: Word formation
embarrassing. 5
d I bumped into someone I was at school with yesterday.
e Have you heard about Tim and Jan? They’ve called off KEY
their wedding! 1  competitions  ​2  argument  ​3  disagree  ​
f My grandparents brought up five children on a very low 4  entertainment  ​5  sponsorship  ​6  hardly  ​7  unable  ​
income. 8  famous

Meanings of get Over to you

6 Students’ own answers.
10
KEY
Underline in the first email: get in, got changed, get you on,
Listening Part 2    page 31 
get it, got there
Formal equivalents in second email: get in = arrive home, Think ahead
got changed = changed, get you on = contact you on, get 2
it = receive, got there = arrived POSSIBLE ANSWERS
1 swimming lessons
Exam practice: Email 2 stress
3 many / both
11 4 a healthy diet / healthily / well
KEY 5 sick / unwell
a Talk about your classes + say whether your classes are 6 clubs / activities
interesting + describe the things you do in your classes 7 a few
+ say whether you are learning a lot from your classes. 8 neglecting / failing
b Sam is the target reader, and because he / she is your 9 the independence / the responsibilities
friend the style would be informal. 10 fun / relaxation
c & d Students’ own answers.
Exam practice: Sentence completion
Reading and Use of English 3

Part 3    page 30  KEY

1 basketball
2 stress
Exam skills 3 middle-class
1 4 the right foods
KEY 5 (frequent) headaches
a a noun because it follows an article 6 clubs / private-sector extra-curricular activities
b a verb because it follows a noun and is followed by a 7 four (4)
relative clause 8 letting down
9 the freedom
10 (free) play
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 Adjective prefixes: extra, hyper, over,
under
4
KEY
hyperactive; extracurricular; overindulgent; overoptimistic;
overpopulated, underpopulated; overpriced, underpriced;
hypersensitive, oversensitive; overstaffed; understaffed;
extraterrestrial; overused, underused; overvalued,
undervalued

5
KEY
a  hyperactive  ​b  overindulgent  ​c  hypersensitive  ​
d  understaffed  ​e  extraterrestrial

Unit 2 Review    page 32 

1
KEY
1  magicians  ​2  known  ​3  variety  ​4  throughout  ​
5  athletic  ​6  performance  ​7  dangerous  ​8  celebrity

2
KEY
a Could
b didn’t manage
c succeeded
d haven’t managed
e Can / Can’t
f didn’t manage to / couldn’t / weren’t able to
g could
h succeeded

3
KEY
a  out  ​b  back  ​c  down  ​d  to  ​e  into  ​f  up

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