12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.

12.4 Speaking and writing

Speaking agreeing and disagreeing advantages and disadvantages

essay
1a 12.3 ))) Listen to three short conversations at an advertising
agency. Choose the co rrect option s to complete the 2a Read the essay and choose the best title.
sentences.
What are the advantages of selling our clothes online?
Conversation 1
2 Should we shop for clothes online or not?
1 The two speakers are talking about a n advert for ...
3 Are clothes online better than those in the high street?
a a skirt. b a pair oftrousers.
2 In the end, the two speakers .0. These days, more and more people are buying their clothes on
a agree. b disagree. the internet rather than in the high street. Obviously. this is
Conversation 2 bad news for high-street shops. But is it also somethin g that
1 The two speakers a re talking about an advert for ... we. as consumers. should think more carefully about before
a a watch. b a necklace. we click on the basket icon and make our purchases? Are there
1disadvanlages as well as advantages to buying clothes online?
2 In the end, the t wo speakers ,',
There a re. of course. 2a number of advantages to shoppi ng
a agree. b disagree.
online, 3A significant advantage is that it is quick and easy.
Conversation 3 4A further ad\'antage is t hat it tends to be much cheaper
1 The three speakers are talking about an advert for ... because we can shop arou nd to find a bargain. Online retail sites
a a n ew lip stick. b a n ew toothpaste. also have lewer costs than hi gh-street shops. so they can keep
2 In the end, the three speakers .0. their prices la\\',
a agree. b disagree. On the other hand. there a re sa number of disadvantages
to buying everyth ing online. 6A signific.mt disadv.mtage
b 12.3 ))) Listen again a nd tick the two phrases that the speakers is that YOll can't tryon clothes when you shop on line, so you
use in each conversation . might choose the wrong size or colour. or lind out that an
Conversation 1 item of clothin g doesn 't su it YOll once it arrives. 1A further
dis<ldvant<lge is that by shopping online you miss out on the high
Asking if someone agrees
street experience. which. for many people, is a leisure activity.
a Wo uld you agree? _ Going to the city centre with friends. trying on clothes a nd buying
b Don't you agree? _ new things is much more fun than shopping at home by yourself.
c What's your view? _ 80vcra ll. buying clothes on lin e is obviously a useful way of
d Wouldn't you say ... ? _ adding to ollr wa rdrobes. However. there is still a place for the
Conversation 2 high-street shop,
Disagreeing
a I'm not sure about that. b Read the essay aga in, Match phrases a- h to the phrases in
b Yes, but I can't h elp thinking .. . bold in the essay 0 -8) that have a similar meaning,
c Well, I agree up to a point, but .. . a one major problem ~
d 1 totally disagree. b both problems and ben efi ts to 1

Conversation 3 c one major positive _3

Agreeing d several problems with 5
a I couldn't agree more. e another benefit 4
b That 's a good point. _ f broadly speaking _8
c That's just what I was thinking. g severa l benefit s 2
d You might be right. _ h another drawback 7

I can ... ve ry well Quite well More practice

use verbs and dependent prepositions. o o 0
agree and disagree with SOmeone. o o 0