LESSON 4

Exercise 1
Highlight the right linker.

1. Even though / Despite she's working really hard, I don't think she'll be able to catch up.

2. We can't afford to have a holiday this year as/ so we've got an overdraft at the bank.

3. Could we rearrange my timetable so that/ in case I don't have so many classes on

Fridays?

4. I got to the interview on time due to/ in spite of the fact that my train was late.

5. The restaurant chain has had a very difficult year. Nevertheless/ As a result, they
haven't had to close any of their restaurants.

6. He gets a good salary though / since the job itself is quite monotonous.

Exercise 2
Join the sentences using the bold word(s), making any necessary changes.

Ex. We only use energy-efficient light bulbs. We don't want to waste electricity. so as

We only use energy-efficient light bulbs so as not to waste electricity.

1. Our seats were a long way from the stage. We enjoyed the play. (In spite)

We __________________________________________________________.

2. It took us ages to get there. The traffic was heavy. (because of)

It ____________________________________________________________.

3. I took the price off the bag. I didn't want Becky to know how much it had cost. (so that)

I _____________________________________________________________.

4. Keep the receipt for the sweater. Your dad might not like it. (in case)

Keep __________________________________________________________.

5. Susanna is an only child. She isn't at all spoilt. (Even though)

Susanna _______________________________________________________.

6. Prices have risen because production costs have increased. (due to)

Prices _________________________________________________________.

Exercise 3

Highlight the correct answer:

1) ___________ speaking 4 languages, John was turned down for a job at the United Nations.

A. Despite
B. Although
C. While
D. But

2) ________________ many people believe that having a high salary is the main reason why
people are happy at work, recent research has shown that having colleagues is a more
important factor.

A. Despite
B. Even though
C. However,
D. In contrast

3) _______________ the number of blue collar jobs in most societies is rising, the number of
people who are willing to do them is dropping.

A. While
B. In spite of
C. But
D. However,

4) ________________ the increase in life expectancy is obviously beneficial for mankind, it

can also have a number of difficult financial consequences.

A. Whereas
B. In spite of
C. Although
 D. But

5)________________ recent efforts by the government, the problem of unemployment

continues to affect the youth of today.

A. While
B. In spite of
C. Although
D. On the other hand,

6) Many people want to study at university ___________ don’t have the money to do so.

A. although
B. despite
C. but
D. while

7) I hate fish. _________ , I go to the sushi restaurant every week.

A. However
B. Although
C. Nevertheless
D. But

8) ________________ being the quickest way to travel, planes produce a lot of polluting
carbon dioxide.

A. Although
B. Despite
C. However
D. While

LISTENING PRACTICE
Multipotentialites

1. Watch the video

https://www.ted.com/talks/
emilie_wapnick_why_some_of_us_don_t_have_one_true_calling
 2. I blanked out some verbs and adjectives in the following extract. Try to fill them in
from memory first. Then watch again to check.

One: idea synthesis. That is, combining two or more fields and creating something new at the
intersection. Sha Hwang and Rachel Binx drew from their shared interests in cartography, data
visualization, travel, mathematics and design, when they founded Meshu. Meshu is a company
that creates custom geographically-inspired jewelry. Sha and Rachel came up with this unique
idea not despite, but because of their 1) _________________mix of skills and experiences.
Innovation happens at the intersections. That's where the new ideas come from. And
multipotentialites, with all of their backgrounds, are able to access a lot of these points of
intersection.

The second multipotentialite superpower is rapid learning. When multipotentialites become

interested in something, we go hard. We observe everything we can 2)________ our hands
______. We're also used to being beginners, because we've been beginners so many times in
the past, and this means that we're less afraid of trying new things and 3) ________________
out of our comfort zones. What's more, many skills are 4) _________________ across
disciplines, and we bring everything we've learned to every new area we pursue, so we're
rarely starting from scratch.

Nora Dunn is a full-time traveler and freelance writer. As a child concert pianist, she honed an
incredible ability to develop muscle memory. Now, she's the fastest typist she knows.

Before becoming a writer, Nora was a financial planner. She had to learn the finer mechanics
of sales when she was starting her practice, and this skill now helps her write 5)
___________________ pitches to editors. It is rarely a waste of time to pursue something
you're drawn to, even if you end up quitting. You might 6)_______________ that knowledge
in a different field entirely, in a way that you couldn't have anticipated.

The third multipotentialite superpower is adaptability; that is, the ability to 7)_______________
________ whatever you need to be in a given situation. Abe Cajudo is sometimes a video
director, sometimes a web designer, sometimes a Kickstarter consultant, sometimes a
teacher, and sometimes, apparently, James Bond.

He's valuable because he does good work. He's even more valuable because he can
8)_________ _______ various roles, depending on his clients' needs. Fast Company
magazine identified adaptability as the single most important skill to develop in order to
9)________ in the 21st century. The economic world is changing so quickly and unpredictably
that it is the individuals and organizations that can 10) ____________ in order to meet the
needs of the market that are really going to thrive.

Idea synthesis, rapid learning and adaptability: three skills that multipotentialites are very 11)
____________ at, and three skills that they might lose if pressured to
12)___________________ their focus. As a society, we have a vested interest in
encouraging multipotentialites to be themselves. We have a lot of complex, multidimensional
problems in the world right now, and we need creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to tackle them.

Now, let's say that you are, in your heart, a specialist. You came out of the womb knowing you
wanted to be a pediatric neurosurgeon. Don't worry -- there's nothing wrong with you, either.

In fact, some of the best teams are 13)__________________ of a specialist and

multipotentialite paired together. The specialist can dive in deep and implement ideas, while
the multipotentialite brings a breadth of knowledge to the project. It's a beautiful partnership.
But we should all be designing lives and careers that are 14)_____________________ with
how we're wired. And sadly, multipotentialites are largely being encouraged simply to be
more like their specialist peers.

Topic Vocabulary

❏ eclectic mix of skills and experiences - пестрое сочетание навыков и опыта

❏ get our hands on - освоить
❏ step out of our comfort zone - выйти из нашей зоны комфорта
❏ many skills are transferable across disciplines - многие навыки можно
передавать из разных дисциплин
❏ hone an incredible ability - отточить невероятную способность
❏ compelling pitches - убедительные презентации
❏ pursue something you're drawn to - заниматься тем к чему вас тянет
❏ apply that knowledge - применить эти знания
❏ adaptability - приспособляемость
❏ ability to morph into whatever you need - возможность трансформироваться во
все что вам нужно
❏ take on various roles - брать на себя различные роли
❏ to thrive - процветать
❏ pivot - вертеться
❏ are very adept at - очень искусны в
❏ pressured to narrow their focus - вынуждены сузить их фокус
❏ out-of-the-box thinkers - нестандартные мыслители
❏ are comprised of - состоят из
❏ are aligned with how we're wired - согласованы с тем как мы устроены
3. Learn the new phrases

https://app.memrise.com/course/5786181/general-english-b2-vocabulary/3/