COUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 A talk about motivation Listen to the talk about motivation to practise and improve your listening skills Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (af) with the vocabulary (1-6). Vocabulary Definition 1, ...anincentive _a,_having many related parts; difficult to understand or solve 2. to motivate b. done by a machine or computer 3. ...apromotion —_c. something that encourages a person to do something 4. ue COMPLEX d. someone who studies how people behave in social situations 5. nm. automated e. to make someone want to do something 6. .....a Social f. the act of giving someone a job which is higher status than psychologist their current job Tasks Task 1 Are the sentences true or false? Answer 1. We try to motivate workers in the same way that we try to motivate our —‘ True False children. 2. In the Glucksberg experiment, the people who were offered a reward True False finished faster than people who were not offered one. 3. The people who were offered smaller rewards in Ariely's experiment True False performed better than those offered bigger rewards. 4. In Ariely's experiment, people were more creative when they were True False concentrating on achieving a goal. 5. In the future, jobs will require workers to be more creative. True False 6. People always work better when they start the day later and work into True —False the night.Task 2 Match the two parts of the sentences. First part 1... Glucksberg's experiment shows that people solve a problem faster when 2. su Ariely's experiment shows that people are less creative when .. The same results as Glucksberg’s experiment have been found when . An incentive works for people when . Incentives will no longer work for motivating people at work when 6. .... The example of the big tech companies shows that people work better when Discussion What motivates you in your job or studies? LearnEnglish Second part the experiment is repeated. they are not given an incentive. they can make choices about their work. they are doing a simple task. they are doing the jobs of the future. they are offered a bigger reward. mr eeaogeCOUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Business news Listen to the business news to practise and improve your listening skills Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (a-h) with the vocabulary (1-8). Vocabulary Definition 1. sou Fevenue a, the number of people who go to an organised event (such 2. an. turnout as an election) 3. a polling station _b. information about a group of people 4... demographics c. applace where people go to vote in an election 5. ua profit warning. when a company announces it will make less money than 6. ....a dividend expected 7. ashareholder €. money that a business receives over a period of time 8. __. gross margin 1. the difference between what something costs and how much it is sold for g. a part of a company's profits that are divided among the people who own it h. a person who owns part of a company Tasks Task 1 Circle the correct option to complete the sentences. 1. The election a. wasn't too important because it was just a local one. b. was very important for the whole country. c, was about development. 2. There was a voter increase of ... a. six per cent since the last election. b. 11 per cent since the last election. c. 54.5 per cent since the last election.COUNCIL LearnEnglish 3. ONK a. wants to go international. b. has almost achieved the results it forecasted. c. isa strong successful company with offices all over the world. 4, ONK posted quarterly revenue of... a. $148 billion b, $18.4 billion, c. $40.8 billion. 5. People want to a. carry smaller items when they leave their homes. b. carry fewer items when they leave their homes. c, owna smartwatch. 6. More and more retailers a. accept cashless payments. b. accept cash, c. don't accept cash. Task 2 Complete the sentences with words from the box. shareholders demographics more andmore _increasing trend Voter turnout growing interest _ profit warning revenue election cashless payment gross margin polling stations dividends 1. There will be a number of new (a). ‘opened in time for next year’s (b). The government is trying to increase (c). They specifically want to focus on increasing the number of people from certain @), , such as the 18-24 age group, or those from ethnic minorities. 2. Acompany's financial report The COMPANY (@)..vunnnmnnnneennn 8 GOWN SVEN per cent on this time last year as a result of not enough of our leading products being sold and rising costs. It is for these reasonsCOUNCIL Lea rmEnglish that the (b) has also fallen and the company has no choice but to issue a ©. swoon + This means that there will be freeze ON (arnsnsnnnrensin CO ©). until further notice. 3. There is an (a) number of people who don't like using cash to make payments, We have also seen that (b)..... snes PeOple prefer to use ©. options. Furthermore, there is (d). in completely removing cash from society. However, many small shop owners say that this ) will be bad for business Discussion Write a short overview of statistics, figures or trends that you are familiar with.COUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Creating a study group Listen to the conversation about creating a study group to practise and improve your listening skills. Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (af) with the vocabulary (1-6). Vocabulary Definition 1. sun to learn a. apiece of work given to someone, normally as part of their something by heart studies or job 2. um annoyed b. an agreement in which people in an argument reduce or 3. wu. go ahead change what they are asking for in order to agree 4. wu. an assignment ©. an informal expression used to give someone permission to 5, amoderator start doing something 6. ...acompromise Irritated, angry e to learn something so that you can say it from memory f. amanager of a public discussion Tasks Task 1 Circle the best answer. 1. There are____ who can do the first meeting of the study group. a. four students b, three students c. five students 2. They don't want to meet in their current place because a. they aren't allowed to be there b, they don't want to tak to other people. c. they might disturb other peopleCOUNCIL LearnEnglish 3. They decide to meet a. next to the cafeteria, b. in the library. c. next to the study hall 4, They have another seminar ... a. at the same time as study group. b. every week on a Thursday. c. every two weeks on a Thursday. 5. How long will their study group be? a. one hour b. one hour and a half c. two hours 6. Their final exam a. is very soon. b. has passed. c. isn't for some time. Task 2 Match the expressions with way (1-5) with their meanings (a-e). Expression with way Meaning Te owe find a way a. it’s impossible 2. un Way Off b. make something possible 3. sn there's no way c. leave 4. ue GO away d. very much 5. nx ina big way e. along time from now Discussion Have you ever created a study group? What are your tips?3 CGUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Film reviews Listen to the film reviews to practise and improve your listening skills Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (ah) with the vocabulary (1-8). Vocabulary Definition 1. sum a Character a. the second, third, fourth, etc. of a film or book 2. uw pace b. a person ina story 3. nu a Sequel c. the story 4. to set d. to locate a film or book in a place 5. mm @ poster e. a large picture to advertise a film 6. ..... special effects f._ to choose actors Teun tO Cast g. the speed of the events of a story 8... the plot h. computer graphics or other ways of making amazing scenes for films and television Tasks Task 1 Write the descriptions in the correct group. isthe second inthe —_was better than the has unrealistic The reviewer hated it. story reviewer expected characters The reviewer felt sympathetic towards the characters. made the reviewer was what the isa story a lot of feel like a child again reviewer expected —_people already know the first film the second filmTask 2 Are the sentences true or false? ‘Answer 1. The reviewer didn’t think she was going to enjoy the first film. True 2. The first scene of the first film is important for the rest of the film. True 3. The reviewer was glad the first film was set in a different country. True 4. There is another sequel planned for the first film. True 5. The reviewer had some doubts about the actors who were chosen for the True second film. 6. The second film made the reviewer think about her children. True Discussion What was the last film you watched? What did you think of it? COUNCIL LearnEnglish False False False False False FalseCOUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Getting advice Listen to someone getting advice from a friend to practise and improve your listening skills. Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (a-h) with the vocabulary (1-8). Vocabulary Definition 1... anxiety a. to fear something happening in the future 2. ue to dread b. a sudden feeling of intense fear which may include fast 3. wu. a symptom heart rate, sweating, shaking and being out of breath 4. @ panic attack c. confident and organised 5, um to hyperventilate d. an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry 6. ....a distraction e. asign you have an illness or health condition 7. on to spin f. to breathe too fast, causing too much oxygen to enter 8. ..... together the blood to turn very fast h. something that stops you from focusing on what you're doing Tasks Task 1 Circle the best answer. 1. What has made Clara check on Ben? a. He missed their class that day. b, He's missed a few classes. c. He has a lot of essays to write. 2. What does Ben do at the beginning of the conversation? a, He makes the problem sound more than it is. b. He makes the problem sound less than it is c. He is honest about the problem from the start.COUNCIL LearnEnglish 3. What is the main way Ben's anxiety is affecting normal life? a. He feels stupid. b. He can't remember what day it is. c, He doesn't want to go out. 4. What is the surprising thing about panic attacks, according to Clara? a. How many people have them b. That they make you feel so bad. c. That people keep their panic attacks private. 5. How does Clara recognise Ben's problem is panic attacks? a. She had the same problem in the past. b. She has the same problem now. c. She and Ben live together. 6. What does Clara warn Ben about the advice she will give? a. It will be difficult to hear. b. It won't be easy to follow. c. It isn't very practical. Wie number (1-6) to put the pieces of advice in the order they are mentioned. Do regular physical activity as part of your lifestyle. Do something to make your heart beat too fast. Do something to keep your mind busy. Talk to a doctor. Make yourself breathe too fast on purpose. Put yourself in a stressful situation. Discussion What makes you nervous or anxious?COUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Joining a gym Listen to the conversation about joining a gym to practise and improve your listening skills. Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the words in capital letters (af) with the definitions (1-6). Definition Vocabulary 1. san Fegistration a. Anew BUDGET airline has started flying to our city. 2... amount of money —_b, What is the daily RATE for renting a bicycle? 3. some Give c. There is a very small SIGN-UP fee. 4, am Create d. They ASSIGN each class a special room. 5. nm Come to e. We can DESIGN a personalised programme for you. 6. .... cheap f. Ifyou VISIT the shop, | can show you in person. Tasks Task 1 Are the sentences true or false? Answer 1. The man has only recently decided to join the gym. True False 2. The woman says the gym will make sure it has the lowest price in the city. True False. 3. The woman says that other gyms charge people when they leave. True False 4, The gym used to be open for 24 hours but it was too busy. True False 5. The personal trainer will tell you what and what not to eat. True False 6. The personal trainer doesn't cost anything at all True False 7. The man is not convinced at the end of the conversation. True False 8. The gym offers a sample visit. True FalseBRITISH @ COUNCIL Lea rmEnglish Task 2 Complete the sentences with words from the box. got that get don't Makes we bit of to know straight 1. Sure, course. 2. You've wn. some Fight, yes. 3. Sorry, what was that last ? 4, That's USEFUL .nnninnnnnnennnne 5. sense. 6. SUPE eennnnnnennnnnmnne AO, 7. Let me this 8. OK, why do that. Discussion What do you look for in a gym?COUNCIL LearnEnglish Listening: B2 Office party planning Listen to the conversation with an event planner to practise and improve your listening skills. Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises. Preparation task Match the definitions (ah) with the vocabulary (1-8). Vocabulary Definition 1. um to reassemble a. to find or locate something 2. nue to Source b. to take something apart 3. we to stretch c. to put something back together again 4... to be fixed on something d. to creatively think of new or interesting ideas 5. nue to hoist e. to raise or lift something up 6. ..... to dismantle f. to allow something that would not normally be 7. me to exceed allowed 8. .... to be inventive g. to go beyond a pre-defined limit h. to have already decided on something, without further flexibility Tasks Task 1 Are the sentences true or false? Answer 1. Ayako wants a baby grand piano for the Christmas party. True False 2. The baby grand piano will easily fit through the building doorway. True False 3. Sam suggests a solution for the problem True False 4. Ayako has around 50 per cent flexibility with the budget. True False 5. Ayako is fixed on the idea that it must be a baby grand piano. True False 6. Ayako accepts the upright piano when Sam suggests it. True FalseCOUNCIL LearnEnglish Task 2 Put the words in order to make sentences. 1. good That sounds like plan 2. idea this work, then. So won't 3. being 1 Sorry if wasn't clear. 4, an option? Would be this 5. it That might sounds work. like 6. of over Could some send it? me you _ photos 7. it and call ‘I'l you me about back. Let — think 8. I'l wait call. your for Discussion When was the last time you had to discuss a problem on the phone?