Impulse 1 Model Writing and Speaking

UNIT 1
1.8 Writing
p17, ex5

Hi José,
How are you? I’m on holiday in my grandparents’ village, and I have lots of time for streaming television
shows.
This week I’m watching Shadow and Bone. I find it really exciting to watch, but it also has funny and
moving moments. It’s a fantasy series based on the popular books by Leigh Bardugo. The show gets very
good reviews.
The main character, Alina Starkov, is a map-maker. She discovers that she has special powers and that
she can help save the universe. My favourite character is Mal. He and Alina are very close, but he has
doubts about her powers. They have a difficult but amusing relationship.
Now I’m planning to read the books. I know you’re a big fan of fantasy, so you must watch this series.
Then we can read the books together and compare notes.
Write soon!
XYZ

1.9 Revision
p19, ex8

Student A: It was very nice of you to invite me to your home. Do you think we can keep in touch on
social media after I leave? I love Facebook.
Student B: I’m not really keen on it because there is so much silly stuff, but it does have a good live chat
option.
Student A: Yes, you’re right. I’m a big fan of Instagram, though, because the people I admire upload a lot
of photos and videos. I’m mad about ballet, you know, and all of my favourite dancers use the platform.
You can live chat on Instagram, too.
Student B: I don’t normally visit Instagram. In general I don’t use social media much.
Student A: Do you have a favourite film or series that you watch online?
Student B: I’m a big fan of The Witcher series. It’s exciting and sometimes it’s moving too. I also watch a
series called The 100. It’s a science fiction series about a group of one hundred young people who have
to start a new civilisation.
Student A: That sounds interesting! I usually watch films about ballet, including performances by the
important dance companies. When I want to relax, I watch romantic comedies, and I’m keen on
documentaries too.
Student B: I often watch documentaries, too! It’s a really interesting way to learn new facts.
Student A: What do you think about using technology for practical purposes?
Student B: Well, we certainly have experience using live video technology for school! I’m not really a fan
of doing online classes, though. It’s just not the same as being in the classroom with other students.
Student A: That’s true. I’m really into doing virtual dance classes, though. You can learn from teachers in
different parts of the world, and when you do YouTube classes, you can repeat difficult things.
Student B: It’s obviously a great way to practise languages too.
Student A: I know! How about making a film of us talking about our school exchange in English and
uploading it to social media?
Student B: I think that’s a great idea! I’m quite good at film-making, and I think people are keen on
seeing how other students get on in a different language.
Student A: I agree. We can share our stories with the world and we can get feedback too.
Student B: I get a little nervous on camera, though. I don’t want to make a lot of mistakes and create a
sitcom instead of a serious discussion.
Student A: Don’t worry. I think it’s a brilliant idea.

UNIT 2
2.8 Writing
p31, ex5

Hi Sylvie,
What’s new? I’m writing because I need your help with a problem.
Do you remember Kieran? His uncle owns a restaurant and Kieran is suggesting having our class meeting
there. I think his suggestion is wrong for several reasons.
First, it’s not the sort of place any of us normally go to. The food is more expensive and the atmosphere
isn’t very relaxed or fun. The place is also small, so we wouldn’t be comfortable there.
I believe going to a pizzeria or a café would be a much better idea. I’m sure we could make a reservation
for twenty people in my favourite Top Café!
What do you think I should do? I don’t want to offend Kieran, but I think I should say something. I hope
you can give me some advice.
Thanks in advance!
XYZ

2.9 Revision
p33, ex9

When deciding where to buy a funny T-shirt for my cousin, I would definitely choose the second option.
Shopping online gives you more choices, so it’s easier to find exactly what you want and it’s often
cheaper. There are even some sites that let you design your own T-shirts, so I can create something
more interesting than what you find in shops and it will be really unique and special.
I wouldn’t choose the shop in the first photo because it has too many items on display and I don’t see
clothes at all. I also don’t want to buy a poor quality T-shirt and my impression of this shop is that it sells
poor quality souvenirs for tourists.
I have also decided against the shop in the third photo. My first impression is that it’s probably an
expensive department store and I would have to spend too much money there. Secondly, I doubt that
they sell the type of funny T-shirts that my cousin prefers. It looks like a place where you would find
more usual types of items that everyone else has.

2.9 Revision
p33, ex10

Hi John,
How are you?
I’m writing because I need your advice. It’s my brother’s birthday next week.
He’s turning eighteen and I want to buy him something really special. I’m asking you because you and
Pavel have similar interests. He’s an even bigger football fan than you are and he also loves rock and hip
hop music.
Unfortunately, I only have about 150 zl to spend. I’d like to buy him a season pass to local football
matches, but that is more expensive than I can afford. I also considered giving him a gift card for music
downloads, but that’s not very special.
I saw some English football clothes and accessories for sale in shops here which he might like. I’ve also
seen adverts for a concert he may enjoy and I could afford the cheaper seats.
Let me know your opinion. I really need your help to make the best choice!
Write soon.
Bye,
XYZ

UNIT 3
3.8 Writing
p45, ex6

I understand your problem because I had to make the same decision recently. A volunteer group asked
me to work with an outdoor youth club. It wasn’t easy to decide! Volunteer work has its pluses and
minuses.
The good thing about volunteering is that you can share your skills and knowledge. What’s more, you
certainly feel good about helping others and you can meet new friends!
One possible problem is that volunteering can take up a lot of free time, so you have to be sure you can
manage. Another problem is that you start to feel responsible for the people you help, so it’s difficult to
quit.
If I were you, I would try it for one day and make a decision then. You could also talk to your friends and
parents about it. In my case, I agreed to volunteer and I'm happy I did!

3.9 Revision
p47, ex9

From the three after-school activities in the photos, the second one – the surfing club – looks the most
interesting to me. I love water sports of all kinds and learning new skills with a group of people seems
like a lot of fun. We could also have the chance to take part in competitions with other schools and that
is just the sort of thing I enjoy.
The first photo looks like a robotics club or some other activity related to technology. Although I enjoy
playing online games, I’m not very interested in the technical side of it. I also don’t find it very relaxing
to deal with complicated machines.
The third option is a painting class, which is also something I wouldn’t choose to do. Although I love
visiting museums and galleries, I don’t really believe I have the talent or patience to sit and paint
pictures.

UNIT 4
4.8 Writing
p59, ex6

Hi Steven,
How are you doing? I’d like to ask you for some information. My parents and I are planning a trip to
Scotland. We arrive on 3rd August and are staying for two weeks. Is there a hotel near your house? We
need two rooms.
Can you tell me if there is good public transport around Glasgow or do you think we should hire a car? I
also wonder how bike-friendly the city is, since all of us enjoy cycling.
Is it possible to take a trip to Loch Ness? We’d love to see it. Do you know how much a day trip costs?
The last thing is that we’d really like to listen to traditional Scottish music and there’s a folk concert on
7th August in Glasgow’s cathedral. Could you book three tickets for us, please?
I’m really looking forward to our trip and hope to hear from you soon.
Take care.
XYZ

4.9 Revision
p61, ex9

Student A
In the photo, I can see several cyclists in a bike path on a city street. In the background, there are quite a
few cars travelling in the same direction as the cyclists, some buildings and trees. The cyclist in the
foreground is wearing a helmet, a grey T-shirt, a backpack and plain black shorts. There is a lot of traffic,
especially on the car side of the road, so it might be time when people go to work or come back home.
1 I don’t think it is hard for the cyclist to get around the city for several reasons. In the first place, there
is a bike path, which means cyclists don’t have to worry about problems with cars and other vehicles. It
also looks like the cyclist is well-equipped, with a helmet and gear to make him more visible to drivers,
so he should be safe.
2 I get to school by train, and I have several reasons for this choice. To begin with, I go to a high school
which is on the other side of the city from where I live. Cycling or walking takes far too long and is
difficult in bad weather. The second thing is that I have a discount for train tickets, so it doesn’t cost a lot
to travel by train. I also like the train because I can read a book or even get a little extra sleep!
3 Last summer, when I was staying in my grandparents’ village, some friends and I decided to take a bike
trip to a nearby lake. The weather was perfect, as it wasn’t too hot, and we had planned our trip
beforehand to avoid busy roads, so we felt safe and relaxed. When we got to the lake, we ate the food
we took with us and we even had time to go for a swim. The ride back felt very long because we were
tired, but it was a very enjoyable day.

Student B
In the picture, two teenaged girls are posing for a photo. In the foreground on the left, we can see
somebody who is taking the photo with a smartphone. In the middle, in front of the girls, there is a tray
with drinks, French fries and some other food. The girls are wearing casual clothes and they both have
long hair. It looks as if they are trying to be funny so as to make the photo amusing. They seem to be in a
school cafeteria or fast food restaurant which is very crowded.
1 It seems to me that the people are enjoying the meeting very much. They have happy expressions on
their faces and they are showing a very positive energy. Perhaps they are friends who haven’t seen each
other in a while, or else they are close friends who simply enjoy each other’s company.
2 I usually choose to eat out in fast food restaurants or in restaurants where you can get food like pizza,
Chinese or Thai dishes, or other dishes that we don’t usually get at home. As a student, I tend to avoid
expensive restaurants since I don’t normally have a lot of money to spend, but for special occasions like
a birthday or graduation I might save some money and then spend it on something more expensive.
3 I once decided to prepare an Indian meal as a surprise for my friends. I got a curry recipe from the
Internet, bought all the spices and other ingredients and spent hours preparing the dish according to the
instructions. I have to say that the food looked lovely and smelled delicious, but when we tried to eat it,
it was so spicy that it was impossible to swallow! My friends were impressed by my effort, but we ended
up eating takeaway for dinner.

UNIT 5

5.8 Writing
p73, ex5
Hi Bill,
How are you? You won’t believe this: I have a new hobby. I’m learning to do gymnastics! Why? Because
Leszek Blanik visited our school as part of our ‘Celebrating Sports’ week and he gave an inspiring talk.
Leszek is an Olympic gold and bronze medallist and he’s also the first Polish Olympic champion in
gymnastics. He even has a technique named after him!
Leszek’s dad, who used to play football, taught him to love sports and Leszek started to train when he
was in primary school. When he was fourteen he suffered from depression, but thanks to his first coach
he continued training. He didn’t give up and thanks to very hard work he became an incredible gymnast.
He’s now visiting other schools to encourage sports participation. I asked him for his email address and
he sent me some encouraging words.
I can’t wait to hear your news.
XYZ

5.9 Revision
p75, ex8

Hi Sebastian,
What’s new? You won’t believe that I met Maciej Musiał yesterday! He came to our community theatre
to watch a performance. Afterwards, he chatted with us and told me that I was awesome in my role!
Maciej is a young Polish actor who already has many successes. His parents are also actors and he
started his career in Polish TV series like Days of Honour. He’s a star and producer of the Netflix series
1983 and he even appeared in The Witcher!
I loved watching Maciej in Rodzinka.pl when I was younger, so it was incredible to meet him and talk
with him. This made me more determined to try and become a professional actor.
My days are quite different now. Instead of playing football, I’m taking acting classes and trying out for
more roles in local theatres.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Yours,
XYZ

UNIT 6
6.8 Writing
p87, ex6

Hi everyone,
I’d like to tell you about my situation. Soon I’m moving house with my parents and I’d like to share my
feelings about it.
It will be a big change for us as we live in the countryside and we’re moving to a city. The new
neighbourhood is very central, which means there will be lots of useful facilities and I’ll be closer to
school.
We’ll live in a spacious modern flat. I love the fact that it’s on the seventh floor because it means I’ll
have fantastic views from my bedroom window.
There’s something I’m concerned about, though. Now, I can go for walks and bike rides easily and the
quiet and clean air relax me. I’m afraid I won’t be able to adapt easily to city life.
Were you ever in a similar situation? Was it difficult to get used to new surroundings? Thanks for your
comments and for following my blog!

6.9 Revision
p89, ex9

Student A: Since we’re going to share a flat, I think we’ll need to make some decisions about how we
live. I want to have an ecological lifestyle and I hope you agree that we should do everything we can to
save energy and reduce waste.
Student B: Hmm, first let me hear what sorts of things you have in mind.
Student A: Firstly, I think we should try to save water. Taking a bath is really wasteful, so I’m only going
to take showers. And since the flat has a dishwasher, I think it’s a good idea to fill it up and do the
washing-up that way. A full dishwasher uses far less water.
Student B: That’s a good point. Right now I normally wash each dish after I use it, but using the
dishwasher makes sense. I don’t agree about never taking baths, though. I get really sore from running,
and a hot bath helps me recover. I won’t do it often, though.
Student A: That sounds reasonable. The second thing I want to talk about is saving energy. Most people
don’t realise how much energy they waste by leaving devices on all the time, not to mention leaving
lights on. I think we should limit the amount of electricity we use.
Student B: I agree. It’s a good way to save money too. We should also think about the heating. What do
you think about setting the thermostat at a lower temperature?
Student A: I absolutely agree. So, the third point I want to discuss is waste sorting. There’s no point
putting everything into the rubbish when many items can be recycled. I’m going to get different
coloured bins for the kitchen and then it will be easy to separate the recyclable items.
Student B: I’m OK with that. I’ve been a bit lazy about sorting rubbish at home, but I think it will be fun
… and I’ll feel better about my environmental impact.
Student A: Great! The last thing is responsible shopping. I think it’s not only important to take your own
bags, but also to buy items with the least amount of packaging. I actually buy almost everything from
the market because there’s no packaging and a lot of it is organically grown.
Student B: I often buy packaged food, but I’m willing to change. Maybe we could make shopping lists
together? Then either one of us can do the shopping and we’ll know we’re getting the right things.
Student A: Good idea. And maybe I’ll be able to give you some tips on shopping and preparing food.
UNIT 7
7.8 Writing
p101, ex5

Hi, I’m writing this post because I need advice about taking on a holiday job.
I’ve decided to work in the summer because I’m planning to buy new headphones. My parents have
offered me a job in their shop and my friends think it’s foolish to turn it down, but I’d rather do
something new.
I’ve sent my CV to several companies and I’ve received two offers so far. Both are far away from my
hometown. The first is from a holiday camp; they need kitchen help. The other is from a lakeside hotel
that is hiring cleaners.
I’m worried about two things. I’ve never lived away from home before, which makes me nervous. Also,
these aren’t my ‘dream jobs’!
Have you ever taken a holiday job? What was it like? Should I accept one of these or wait for something
more suitable? Thanks for your comments!

7.9 Revision
p103, ex8

Hi,
I’m writing this post because I need your advice. I’d like to get a weekend job.
I’m looking for something I could do on Saturdays and Sundays during the day. I was thinking of
delivering shopping by bike or working as a waiter.
I’ve sent my CV to some companies and received two offers. The first one is for a food preparer in a food
truck. The other one is for a kitchen help in a restaurant. Both offer good pay, but they want someone
who can work evenings too.
My parents think I should focus on studying, but I don’t agree. I’d like to be more independent
financially and I think some work experience would be a good thing.
I feel quite confused and I’m not sure what to do. Have you ever had a weekend job? Did it interfere
with your studies or social life? Let me know what you think!

UNIT 8
8.8 Writing
p115, ex6

Hi Matthew,
Just to let you know that we’ve got home and all’s well. Well, almost! Many thanks for organising the
camp and for the great skiing lessons. I feel way more confident thanks to your help and patience!
BTW, have you seen my diary? When I arrived home, I realised that it wasn’t in my luggage. It has a red
cover, it’s about four by six inches and has a pen attached. I think I left it on the table by my bed, or
perhaps in the common room. Could you please have a look? I had it on Sunday when I wrote about my
day, so it must be there somewhere.
This diary was a birthday gift from my mother, so it’s quite special. If you find it, can you send it back to
me? I’m really anxious to have it back soon.
Thanks,
XYZ

8.9 Revision
p117, ex9

Student A
In the photo there are three young women at a large wooden table in a living room. All of them are
wearing casual clothes and each of them has a piece of clothing in front of them. They seem to be doing
a presentation in front of a camera which is in the foreground on the right. They are probably recording
a video blog which gives fashion or shopping advice to its viewers. In the background I can see a blue
sofa and some shelves on the wall.
1 I believe the young women are telling their viewers about some new fashion items. They could be the
designers of the items, or perhaps they are recommending other designers’ clothes. The woman who is
standing seems very enthusiastic.
2 I look for advice on clothes and fashion from print magazines and fashion video blogs. Video blogs are
also useful because the people who host them have usually worn the clothes themselves and they can
give information about the quality, how they fit and if they are worth the price.
3 My older sister got married last year and I had to get a dress to wear to the wedding party. It was quite
difficult to find the right dress because it was a formal occasion so it had to be something really special,
but at the same time I wanted a dress that I could wear again in the future. I went to a number of shops,
and also looked online, and I finally found the right dress at a local boutique. It was fairly affordable, a
good colour for me and they had exactly the right size. My sister liked it too, which was a good thing!

Student B
The photo shows a model walking the catwalk at a fashion show. She is wearing a short black dress with
a big belt and black high heels. On the left in the foreground, there are some audience members. They
are looking with great interest at the clothes the model is wearing. The photo is probably from one of
the many international fashion week events which take place around the world.
1 I don’t believe the woman feels her natural self in the situation. Models in fashion shows can’t really
show their personalities or feelings, so she is probably concentrating on looking serious and a bit
neutral.
2 Some people think that a model just has to be tall and slim and to have an attractive face to be
successful, but I believe there is much more to it than appearance. You have to be able to control your
emotions and to be calm and confident. You also need to feel comfortable with people staring at you as
you walk down the catwalk.
3 A time when I didn’t feel good in the clothes I was wearing was when I got an award from a local
charity. They had a formal ceremony and I had to wear a brand-new suit and a tie. I generally wear very
casual clothes, like jeans, a T-shirt and a hoodie, so I felt like a different person. It was a very hot day in
summer, so I was sweating a lot. It wasn’t comfortable at all.