OFFLINE ACTIVITY 2

VOCABULARY
Complete each sentence with the correct word from the box.

beneficial flexible mental trend virtual

community function powerful urban warn

1. My new computer is more ________________ than my old one. Now I can run bigger programs and
finish my work more quickly.

2. These days, companies are starting to be more ________________ about where people work because
many people want to work from home.

3. Some experts ________________ that spending too much time on social media can have a negative effect
on young people.

4. One ________________ that has experienced rapid growth is Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

5. According to the United Nations, around 56 percent of people in the world live in ________________
areas. In contrast, just 15 years ago, a majority of people lived in rural areas.

6. Spending time in nature is not only good for people’s physical health, but it’s also good for their
________________ health.

7. Studies suggest that knowing two languages is ________________. For example, bilingual people can
earn more money than people who speak just one language.

8. Getting enough sleep is very important. Tired people find it hard to ________________ at their best.

9. ________________ reality is the name for technology that lets people experience a place or situation
even though they are not really there.

10. Wearable technology, such as smartwatches, is becoming more popular, but it’s hard to predict whether
this ________________ will continue or not.

GRAMMAR
Choose the correct answer to complete the adjective clause in each sentence.

11. I want to live in a city _____ multicultural.

a. that is b. which are c. who is
12. I really enjoy reading the messages _____ me.
a. who my friends send b. my friends send c. that my friends they send
13. Websites _____ upload videos are very popular.
a. that lets people b. who let people c. which let people

14. I know some people _____ being alone, but I don’t like it.
 a. who they enjoy b. who enjoy c. that enjoys
15. My teacher gave me a homework assignment _____ finished yet.
a. that I haven’t b. who I haven’t c. hasn’t
16. I have several friends _____ bilingual. They find it useful in their jobs.
a. who are b. which are c. that is
17. The park _____ near the river is popular with children.
a. who is b. which it’s c. which is
18. A person _____ used to know 20 years ago just contacted me!
a. who b. who I c. which I

READING FOR MAIN IDEAS

Read the text and the first sentence of the summary. Then answer the question.

THE BENEFITS OF SOLITUDE

A As the famous English poet John Donne once wrote, no person “is an island entire of itself.”
Donne’s point was that people want—and need—to spend time with others. Because of this, the idea of
being alone may worry people; they feel scared of the idea and avoid being by themselves. But there are
also a number of benefits to solitude, or being alone.

B Spending time alone can have emotional advantages. Our bodies need sleep to stay healthy, and
in the same way, our brains benefit from periods without many things happening or many people talking
to us. Studies suggest that people who like being alone are happier and have less stress. Being alone helps
you build the mental strength you need to deal with the challenges of life, and it also gives you a chance
to know yourself better. It allows you to make better choices about things to do—and things to avoid
doing—in your life. Because mind and body are connected, a healthy mental state can also have a positive
effect on physical health.

C Being alone can also benefit your professional life. If there is nobody around to walk in and stop
you working, you will probably accomplish more in less time. And studies show that people are more
creative and find it easier to focus and think of new ideas when they are alone. In addition, in a group,
you may rely on others to remember important information. If you’re by yourself, you have nobody else
to rely on, which means you’re forced to remember things. You can also use time alone to plan your life
and think about your goals and dreams.

D Perhaps surprisingly, solitude can also have social benefits. That is, it can improve your
relationships with other people. For one thing, solitude can help you understand yourself better. And if
you understand yourself, you might also be able to understand other people, too. You might be able to
recognize or understand their hopes and fears, for example. Spending time alone can also make us miss
our friends and family so that when we see them the next time, we are more likely to truly enjoy our time
with them.

E Given all of these benefits, why does being alone worry some people? One reason might be that
people confuse the privacy of being alone with being lonely. Being alone is a choice and it lasts for a
limited time. In contrast, being lonely means being alone because you have no choice. People may even
feel that the solitude will never end. Doctors warn that loneliness has clear disadvantages, including deep
sadness and even physical illness.
 F Donne isn’t the only famous thinker to write about being alone. Thousands of years ago,
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher wrote that humans are social beings who want and need to be
with others. However, it’s also true that being alone can be beneficial. As a result, we should keep in
mind something else that Aristotle wrote: “To live the best life, do all things in moderation.” In other
words, it’s good to be with others, but also important to spend time alone occasionally.

SUMMARY
Many people worry about being alone, but solitude can actually be beneficial.
•
•
•

19. ________Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important
ideas in the text. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not
presented in the text or are minor ideas in the text.
a. Not having others to rely on is good as it boosts how well people function and remember.
b. Solitude and loneliness are different, though people often consider them to be the same.
c. Being apart from other others temporarily can help people do better at work and socially.
d. Poets and philosophers write about solitude because being alone worries people so much.
e. In general, it is not a good idea for a person who does not sleep well to spend time alone.
f. Spending time alone can have benefits for both a person’s mental and physical condition.

READING FOR DETAILS

Read the text. Complete each statement with TWO WORDS from the text.

THE BENEFITS OF SOLITUDE

A As the famous English poet John Donne once wrote, no person “is an island entire of itself.”
Donne’s point was that people want—and need—to spend time with others. Because of this, the idea of
being alone may worry people; they feel scared of the idea and avoid being by themselves. But there are
also a number of benefits to solitude, or being alone.

B Spending time alone can have emotional advantages. Our bodies need sleep to stay healthy, and
in the same way, our brains benefit from periods without many things happening or many people talking
to us. Studies suggest that people who like being alone are happier and have less stress. Being alone helps
you build the mental strength you need to deal with the challenges of life, and it also gives you a chance
to know yourself better. It allows you to make better choices about things to do—and things to avoid
doing—in your life. Because mind and body are connected, a healthy mental state can also have a positive
effect on physical health.

C Being alone can also benefit your professional life. If there is nobody around to walk in and stop
you working, you will probably accomplish more in less time. And studies show that people are more
creative and find it easier to focus and think of new ideas when they are alone. In addition, in a group,
you may rely on others to remember important information. If you’re by yourself, you have nobody else
to rely on, which means you’re forced to remember things. You can also use time alone to plan your life
and think about your goals and dreams.
 D Perhaps surprisingly, solitude can also have social benefits. That is, it can improve your
relationships with other people. For one thing, solitude can help you understand yourself better. And if
you understand yourself, you might also be able to understand other people, too. You might be able to
recognize or understand their hopes and fears, for example. Spending time alone can also make us miss
our friends and family so that when we see them the next time, we are more likely to truly enjoy our time
with them.

E Given all of these benefits, why does being alone worry some people? One reason might be that
people confuse the privacy of being alone with being lonely. Being alone is a choice and it lasts for a
limited time. In contrast, being lonely means being alone because you have no choice. People may even
feel that the solitude will never end. Doctors warn that loneliness has clear disadvantages, including deep
sadness and even physical illness.

F Donne isn’t the only famous thinker to write about being alone. Thousands of years ago,
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher wrote that humans are social beings who want and need to be
with others. However, it’s also true that being alone can be beneficial. As a result, we should keep in
mind something else that Aristotle wrote: “To live the best life, do all things in moderation.” In other
words, it’s good to be with others, but also important to spend time alone occasionally.

20. Spending time alone can bring several ________________________, such as being happier.

21. Knowing yourself well helps you make ________________________ about your life.

22. When people work in a group, they may expect other people to remember ________________________
instead of trying to remember it themselves.

23. Solitude differs from loneliness because it lasts for a ________________________ and is something you
choose.

24. Loneliness can make people physically sick or cause them to feel ________________________.

25. An ancient philosopher described humans as ________________________ who need others.

READING SKILL
Read the text. Choose the best answer for each question.

THE BENEFITS OF SOLITUDE

A As the famous English poet John Donne once wrote, no person “is an island entire of itself.”
Donne’s point was that people want—and need—to spend time with others. Because of this, the idea of
being alone may worry people; they feel scared of the idea and avoid being by themselves. But there are
also a number of benefits to solitude, or being alone.

B Spending time alone can have emotional advantages. Our bodies need sleep to stay healthy, and
in the same way, our brains benefit from periods without many things happening or many people talking
to us. Studies suggest that people who like being alone are happier and have less stress. Being alone helps
you build the mental strength you need to deal with the challenges of life, and it also gives you a chance
to know yourself better. It allows you to make better choices about things to do—and things to avoid
doing—in your life. Because mind and body are connected, a healthy mental state can also have a positive
effect on physical health.
 C Being alone can also benefit your professional life. If there is nobody around to walk in and stop
you working, you will probably accomplish more in less time. And studies show that people are more
creative and find it easier to focus and think of new ideas when they are alone. In addition, in a group,
you may rely on others to remember important information. If you’re by yourself, you have nobody else
to rely on, which means you’re forced to remember things. You can also use time alone to plan your life
and think about your goals and dreams.

D Perhaps surprisingly, solitude can also have social benefits. That is, it can improve your
relationships with other people. For one thing, solitude can help you understand yourself better. And if
you understand yourself, you might also be able to understand other people, too. You might be able to
recognize or understand their hopes and fears, for example. Spending time alone can also make us miss
our friends and family so that when we see them the next time, we are more likely to truly enjoy our time
with them.

E Given all of these benefits, why does being alone worry some people? One reason might be that
people confuse the privacy of being alone with being lonely. Being alone is a choice and it lasts for a
limited time. In contrast, being lonely means being alone because you have no choice. People may even
feel that the solitude will never end. Doctors warn that loneliness has clear disadvantages, including deep
sadness and even physical illness.

F Donne isn’t the only famous thinker to write about being alone. Thousands of years ago,
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher wrote that humans are social beings who want and need to be
with others. However, it’s also true that being alone can be beneficial. As a result, we should keep in
mind something else that Aristotle wrote: “To live the best life, do all things in moderation.” In other
words, it’s good to be with others, but also important to spend time alone occasionally.

26. ____How does the writer support the main idea in paragraph B?
a. with a citation b. with general research c. with a personal story
27. ____How does the writer support the main idea in paragraph D?
a. with general research b. with statistics c. with reason and examples
28. ____How does the writer support the main idea in paragraph E?
a. with a personal story b. with reasons and examples c. with specific references
29. ____How does the writer support the concluding idea in paragraph F?
a. with a citation b. with general research c. with statistics

CRITICAL THINKING SKILL

Read the text. Choose the best answer for each question.

THE BENEFITS OF SOLITUDE

A As the famous English poet John Donne once wrote, no person “is an island entire of itself.”
Donne’s point was that people want—and need—to spend time with others. Because of this, the idea of
being alone may worry people; they feel scared of the idea and avoid being by themselves. But there are
also a number of benefits to solitude, or being alone.
 B Spending time alone can have emotional advantages. Our bodies need sleep to stay healthy, and
in the same way, our brains benefit from periods without many things happening or many people talking
to us. Studies suggest that people who like being alone are happier and have less stress. Being alone helps
you build the mental strength you need to deal with the challenges of life, and it also gives you a chance
to know yourself better. It allows you to make better choices about things to do—and things to avoid
doing—in your life. Because mind and body are connected, a healthy mental state can also have a positive
effect on physical health.

C Being alone can also benefit your professional life. If there is nobody around to walk in and stop
you working, you will probably accomplish more in less time. And studies show that people are more
creative and find it easier to focus and think of new ideas when they are alone. In addition, in a group,
you may rely on others to remember important information. If you’re by yourself, you have nobody else
to rely on, which means you’re forced to remember things. You can also use time alone to plan your life
and think about your goals and dreams.

D Perhaps surprisingly, solitude can also have social benefits. That is, it can improve your
relationships with other people. For one thing, solitude can help you understand yourself better. And if
you understand yourself, you might also be able to understand other people, too. You might be able to
recognize or understand their hopes and fears, for example. Spending time alone can also make us miss
our friends and family so that when we see them the next time, we are more likely to truly enjoy our time
with them.

E Given all of these benefits, why does being alone worry some people? One reason might be that
people confuse the privacy of being alone with being lonely. Being alone is a choice and it lasts for a
limited time. In contrast, being lonely means being alone because you have no choice. People may even
feel that the solitude will never end. Doctors warn that loneliness has clear disadvantages, including deep
sadness and even physical illness.

F Donne isn’t the only famous thinker to write about being alone. Thousands of years ago,
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher wrote that humans are social beings who want and need to be
with others. However, it’s also true that being alone can be beneficial. As a result, we should keep in
mind something else that Aristotle wrote: “To live the best life, do all things in moderation.” In other
words, it’s good to be with others, but also important to spend time alone occasionally.
NARREND

30. ____Why does the writer mention John Donne in paragraph A?

a. to suggest that poets often spend time alone
b. to support a point that she wants to make
c. to argue that Donne’s point is no longer true
d. to give an example of a well-loved poet

31. ____Why does the writer mention sleep in paragraph B?

a. to give an example of a condition people worry about
b. to explain why being alone can make people tired
c. to argue that sleep is more important than solitude
d. to show a connection between sleep and solitude

32. ____Why does the writer say “That is, it can improve our relationships with other people” in paragraph
D?
a. to introduce an example that supports the main argument
 b. to show how one key idea contrasts with a point made earlier
c. to express a key point in a way that is easy to understand
d. to suggest that not everybody has the same idea about a topic

33. ____Why does the writer mention sadness and illness in paragraph E?
a. to explain how mental health can affect physical health
b. to remind readers of the words and ideas of John Donne
c. to emphasize the idea that solitude and loneliness never end
d. to give some examples of the negative effects of loneliness

WRITING SKILL
Complete each sentence with two phrases from the box.

body paragraph final thought thesis statement

concluding paragraph introductory paragraph topic sentence

34. The first part of an opinion essay should be a(n) ________________________ that gives background
information about the topic and includes a(n) ________________________, which is your specific
opinion.

35. Each ________________________ in an opinion essay needs a(n) ________________________ that

gives a reason for your point of view, as well as supporting evidence and examples. Well-written body
paragraphs have unity, which means that they focus on just one idea.

36. The final part of an opinion essay should be a(n) ________________________. This should summarize
your main idea and opinion, and may include a(n) ________________________ about the topic.

WRITING PRACTICE 1
Read each sentence. If it is correct, write C (correct). If the adjective clause is incorrect or in the
wrong position, write I (Incorrect). Then rewrite the sentence with a correct adjective clause for an
incorrect sentence.

37. The information who is in English-English dictionaries is often useful.

____________________________________________________________

38. People that live in rural areas often need a car to get around.

____________________________________________________________

39. Toronto, New York, and Singapore are all examples of cities which are very multicultural.

____________________________________________________________

40. Teachers and students know that writing and speaking that are very important are two skills.
 ____________________________________________________________

41. Companies are more likely to give jobs to people which have useful experience and skills.

____________________________________________________________

42. Many people use them to connect to the Internet every day who have smartphones.

____________________________________________________________