IELTS 4 LESSON PLAN

№ Topic Grammar Page

Cleft Sentences
1 Job and Work 2
Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Hedging Languages: Tend to

2 Family and Food 8
Gerund

3 Causes of Climate Change Using Present Continuous in a Speech 15

Grammar Revision:
4 Environmental Problems 21
Cleft Sentences

5 Childhood and Travelling Past Simple 26

6 Town and Country Present Perfect vs Past Simple 34

Hedging Languages: Be likely + to in nitive

7 Shopping/Clothes: online vs o ine 37
Present Perfect Continuous

Present Progressive
8 Mass Media Future Simple 42
Going to

Future Continuous
9 Healthcare 46
Future Perfect

Past Continuous
10 Money, Finance and Business 52
Past Perfect

11 Culture and Globalization Conditionals (0 and 1) 58

12 Politics and History Conditionals (2 and 3) 62

13 Crime and Punishment Passive Voice 66

14 Transport In nitive and Gerund 70

15 Animals In nitive vs Gerund 75

Adjectives
16 Describing a movie or a book 79
Adverbs

Comparative Adjectives
17 Weather 84
Superlative Adjectives

18 Photos and Favorite Events Tag Questions 88

19 21st Century Jobs Modal Verbs 94

20 Nuclear Tech / Technology Relative Clauses 99

Impersonal Report Structures

21 Bene ts of Being Bilingual 104
Articles

22 Free time / Relaxing / Genders Noun Phrases 110

23 Education Phrasal Verbs 115

24 Architecture From Simple to Complex 120

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 Lesson 1
Job, work

Collocations
Work is also a verb (v.)
 to work hard to work part time / full time
 work from home = to work remotely = I like working virtually
I have a well paid job / badly paid job
A white collar job = indoors, office job (banker)
A blue collar job = outdoors, manual job (mechanic)
I work shifts (work specific hours of the day).
As a doctor I sometimes have to work the night shift.
It’s arduous work = difficult / hard.
It’s rewarding work = you enjoy it and it is satisfying.

What job do you do?

 I work as a (teacher, builder, banker…)
 I work in (sales/ marketing/education …THE FIELD)
 I work in a (hospital, school, bank …PLACE)
 I work for (Amazon, a multinational company …)

I am a business consultant. I consult customers. Teachers consult us.

I advise people who want to set up a business.
Teachers give priceless advice (invaluable advice)
I deal with marketing/ teachers/ various subjects.
I am responsible for homework/ doing homework.
Being a teacher is rewarding.

Grammar
Use verb + ing after prepositions (at, for, in, with etc.)
I am good at driving a car. I drive a car well.
I am a manager. I manage the company. I run( organize, control) the
day to day business. I manage my budget. I control my incomes and expenses.
I have been working for 10 years/since I graduated from the university.

What do you like about your job?

 I love the fact that I can 
 Well, it’s good because I get to 

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Grammar
Using cleft sentences
A cleft sentence is derived from a simple sentence by dividing it into two
clauses: My parents give priceless advice. (simple sentence)→ It’s my parents
that give priceless advice. (cleft)

Clefts have the following structure: It + part of the verb to be (sing.) +

…. + who/that
Note that the verb is always singular (agreeing with subject it), even if the
complement is plural.
For example: My mum always supports me. It’s my mum who /that always
supports me.
And also there is another form of cleft sentences and it is Wh-cleft
sentences
Its structure: relative clause (subject) + part of the verb to be +
complement
For example: I want to enter the university.
What I want is to enter the uni.
Whoever broke the window is a liar.

I believe that . What I believe is

What I really like about my job is (an opportunity to interact
with many people)
What I want is to help you. (master, perfect, improve my practical
skills)
What he wants is to help you.
I trust my mum. Who I trust is my mum.
I would like to go on vacation to Italy. Where I would like to go on
vacation is Italy.
You need love. All you need is love.
I can’t stand his friends. It’s his friends that I can’t stand.
He’s always interrupting. It’s him that/ who is always interrupting.

What would be your ideal job? Why?

 My ideal / target / dream job is to work as a (carpenter,
astronaut …)
 I wish I worked 
 I would love to be a/an /
 I long to be a / an 

Grammar
I wish I Past simple
I wish I had more free time
3
 Why do you think people quit their jobs?
I think there’s probably a multitude of different reasons and obviously it
depends on the circumstances, but I would say for a lot of people, nowadays,
one of the main reasons they give up their job is because of the stress. You know,
lot of people are under stress. They have to work hard. They have to meet
deadlines, tight deadlines, so huge amounts of pressure on them and so a lot
of them will just give up the jobs because it’s not worth sacrificing your health
for the work that you are doing.
I can get stressed by work. What I do if I get stressed is talk to me best
friend.

Vocabulary
Personality description

 A competitive person always wants to win.

o take part/ participate in competitions/contests
o I’m competitive. It means when I take part in competitions, I always
try to win.
 An ambitious person wants to be successful in life.
o Set goals, achieve / accomplish aims
 A sensible person has common sense and is practical.
 A sociable person is friendly and enjoys being with other people.
 Independent people like doing things on their own, without help.
 Bossy people like giving orders to other people.
 A reliable person is someone who you can trust or depend on.
 A rebellious person doesn’t like obeying rules.
 A stubborn person never changes his opinion or attitude to something.
 A sensitive person can be easily hurt or offended.
 A moody person is happy one minute and sad the next, and is bad-
tempered.
 A charming person has an attractive personality and makes people like
him.
 Spoilt children behave badly they are given everything they want.
 Selfish people think about themselves and not about other people.
 Anxious people are often worried and stressed.

Additional words to remember

Generous, outgoing,
insecure, clever,
self-confident, talkative,
mean, hard working.

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Ambition (n.) countable
 I have many different ambitions
 I am ambitious (adj.)
 What is ambition? = a desire to do well, to achieve a goal and to succeed
 I have an aspiration to make a lot of money

Intention Goal Plan

 I want to + verb
 I want to be rich. I have an ambition to improve my English skills.
 I long to travel around the world (really want it) .I strive to be fluent in
English (try very hard) .I dream of being rich . I dream about having a
big house.

Common Collocations
 Personal ambition (run a marathon, have a big family, lose weight, visit
Paris…)
 Professional ambition (get a PHD, get a promotion, publish a book,
speak at a conference…)
 Lifelong ambition It’s a lifelong ambition of mine to .

Having a healthy ambition can lead to success. I have a burning ambition to

become a doctor. She is a person of driving ambition. You lack ambition.

Ambition: Good or bad?

Good Bad

It’s beneficial to have a If it can be bad, if you see things as

competitive spirit and to strive for
success. It helps you keep on track
with your goals. It’s good as long
as you don’t hurt others or stamp
on others
a zero-sum game (=a win - lose situation),
and if your success is at the expense of
others (=other must lose, so you can win).
So long as it is not at the cost of others. If
you have an arrogant ambition it can get
in your way, and make you lose time

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 Model Answers
Q: Do you have an ambition and what are your ambitions in life?
A: I wouldn’t say I am a particularly ambitious person, but yes, I do
have some ambitions, particularly, professional ambitions. I do dream about
writing a book and publishing a book and so right now I am actually going to
great lengths to write the script and start editing this idea I have for a book, and,
yes, that’s an ambition that I have.

Homework:
Exercise 1.
Choose the correct answer.

Pavel: What do you study / are you studying?

Elvira: Humanities.
Pavel: I do / I’m doing Fine Arts. Where do you come / are you coming
from?
Elvira: I’m from Salamanca, in Spain.
Pavel: And how many hours of classes do you have / are you having a week?
Elvira: It depends / It’s depending on the week, but usually about 20 hours.
Do you know / Are you knowing about the party tonight?
Pavel: Do you mean / Are you meaning the one for new students? I can’t go,
because I get ready / I’m getting ready to move into my flat tomorrow.
Elvira: Where do you live / are you living at the moment?
Pavel: I stay / I’m staying in a student hostel.
Elvira: What do you do / are you doing on Sunday afternoon? If you want /
are wanting, we could meet and look around the city.
Pavel: I’m busy in the afternoon, but what about Sunday morning?
Elvira Fine. Where shall we meet?

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

6
Tell me about one of your friends.

You should say:

 who the friend is and how you first met him/her

 what you enjoy doing together
 what her personality is like
 and explain why your friendship is special．

Take notes in order to create your own answer.

Name?
When where did we meet?
How often do we see each other?
What do we have in common?
His qualities
A memory
The future

Let me tell you about my best friend. His name is Jeff and we met in high-school where
we used to be classmates. Jeff is my best friend because I can really count on him: he's the
person I trust most. He's extremely considerate. He's very thoughtful. He always cares about
other people. We often get together to play basketball. We hang out on the weekend. We have
a lot of things in common. We both like sports; we both love to watch the NBA and especially
the Houston Rockets. We sometimes play online games too, or watch movies together. Jeff is
a very good listener. He's very enthusiastic and always optimistic. Whenever I have a
problem at school, he's always there to cheer me up. He's fun to be with!
Last year, we had to study hard for the college entrance examination and he helped me
with the science subjects. He's a hard-working student and he can be serious too because he
wants to become a lawyer, and he knows what his priorities are.
Next year, I will go to America to get a Bachelor's degree and Jeff will stay in
Kazakhstan, but I know that we will keep in touch through emails and messages. And even if
we don't get to see each other often, we both know we can rely on each other, and THIS is true
friendship!

VOCABULARY

A versatile person is someone who has a variety of skills and

abilities and who is able to change easily from one sort of activity to
another.
A convivial person is someone who is friendly and fond of eating,
drinking and goodcompany.
A vivacious person is someone (usually a woman) who is full of life.
A magnanimous person is someone who is very generous towards
other people(=unselfish).
An erudite person is someone who has studied a lot and is very
knowledgeable.

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 Lesson 2
Family and food

There are 3 of us. I have 2 siblings, an elder brother and elder sister. I am
an only child.
My close family (my partner and children).
My direct or immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings,
children).
My extended family (my direct family plus uncles, aunties, and cousins,
as well as in-laws).
I met my wife / husband / partner / spouse … I was working in Spain at
the time, I had been working there for several years.

Do you spend much time with your family?

Yes, I do. Note: It’s really natural English to answer this question with
‘Yes, I do’ / ‘No, I don’t’. Rather than just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
I like to spend quality time with them. During this lockdown period, I am
with them 24/7.
No, I don’t Note: You don’t want to just say ‘no’. Start to develop your
answers. For example… I am miles away from them actually, due to the
lockdown. I work in a different city, so I don’t get to see them much.

Do you prefer spending time with your family or your friends?

It depends, if I am going to a bar, then I’d like to hang out with friends,
but if I am going to see a movie, I’d rather go with family. I don’t spend as much
as time with my family as I should, because I live abroad, but I would like to see
them more frequently. I like both equally, I tend to spend an equal amount of
time with both friends and family. Probably more with my family, I think blood
is thicker than water.

Vocabulary
 a nuclear family
 the birth rate
 the mortality rate
 bring up/ up bringing/ raise
o my parents bring me up strictly
o parents bring up children.
 to keep in touch
 get on well with each other
 gather together
 close relationships
 to develop (build, establish) relationships

8
 I have strict up bringing. I was brought up by my grandparents.
The best environment for raising children is within a strong, loving,
supportive family. Building strong family relationships is essential.

Idioms about family in IELTS Speaking

 Like father, like son

o Dan is really kind and always gives his seat up for a lady. Like
father like son. (This implies that the father is also kind and also
gives his chair up…)
 It runs in the family = many people in the family have this trait/talent
o Blonde hair runs in the family. Artistic talent runs in the family.
 I followed in my Dad’s footsteps
o I took over my Dad’s business and followed in his footsteps.
 Blood is thicker than water = Family is more important than friends)
o A friend of mine invited me to the dinner, but instead of attending
the same, I went to my cousin’s wedding. Blood is thicker than
water, you know.
 She’s the breadwinner = She earns the money
o My mother is the breadwinner in our family
 She brings home the bacon = She earns the money
 The black sheep of the family = the naughty/bad one in the family
 Get on like a house on fire = get on extremely well with someone
 Keep / get / be / stay in touch with someone = contact with someone
 Have a soft spot for someone = feel a lot of affection for one particular
person

9
 Food

Balanced carbohydrates healthy overweight unhealthy

Calories fast put lose vegetarians

What you eat is very important for your health. Many people today have
an diet. They eat too much food (especially
take-away food) and processed food (tinned or frozen). A healthy,
diet should include proteins, , fats, and fresh fruit and
vegetables. You control the amount of fat and carbohydrates you eat if you don’t
want to on weight. If you are you can go on a diet to
weight, for example avoiding food with too many .
Many people today are and don’t eat any meat. This is a
diet if you make sure you eat enough protein from pulses (beans, etc.),
eggs and cheese.

Grammar
I avoid verb +ing I keep verb+ing
I avoid eating junk food. I keep going to the gym.

Most children enjoy eating fast food, but scientific tests have shown that
burgers and pizzas lack essential minerals and vitamins which are vitally
important for health and growth. These types of meals contain large amounts
of fat and cholesterol which can result in (lead to) obesity and heart problems.
Many children suffer from allergy since (because) they eat too much of the
wrong sort of food.
To maintain good health, limit your consumption of empty calories and
instead try to get your calories from foods that are rich in other nutrients.

Vocabulary

Balanced diet nutritious food

consume obese, obesity
consumption organic food
carbohydrates overweight
proteins
genetically modified food
minerals
proper nutrition

10
 Grammar
Hedging language /tend to

Women are better drivers than men.

It’s too general, subjective (based on opinion rather than facts) and it’s the
complete opposite of academic writing!

1. Subject + tend/s to + V1
Women tend to be more cautious when driving in built-up areas.
Women tend to cook.
I read books. I tend to read books.

Pronunciation:
 I tend to eat
o Pronounced “I tend to_(w) eat ”
 I tend to avoid
o Pronounced “I tend to_ (w) avoid ”

2. There is a tendency to+verb

There is a tendency to go to the gym.
There is a tendency for younger men to drive dangerously when they
have just passed their test.
There is a tendency to have a balanced diet.

3. Subject + have/has + a tendency to+verb

People have a tendency to blame the government.

Do you cook? (IELTS Speaking question)

Ways to answer:
 I am fond of cooking
 I love to cook, my signature dish is 
 I like to rustle up a pizza (= to make quickly) I like to rustle something
up in the kitchen
 I dabble in cooking every now and again
 I prefer to play it by ear = improvise (no plan) Or I like to wing it =
improvise (no plan) I often make it up as I go along
 I love to improvise when it comes to cooking

11
 o I like Chinese cuisine.
o I love Indian dishes.
o I like Italian food.
o My favorite dish is .
o My child is a fussy eater or a picky eater - This means they only eat the
food they like and won’t try new food.

Grammar

Present Simple Present Continuous

I cook/she cooks daily. I am cooking at the moment.
She grows tomatoes every year. She is growing cucumbers this year.
We face problems. We are facing problems this time.
He always cooks. He is always interrupting people.

Have
I have a shower (Possession). vs. I am having a shower (Action).

Think
 I think my mum is the best. (Opinion)
 I am thinking about my upcoming journey. (Action)
 I am thinking of buying a new car. (Plan)

Extra Speaking Activities

Describe a child that you know. You should say

– who this child is and how often you see him or her
– how old this child is
– what he or she is like [personality]
and explain what you feel about this child.

Family
In what ways can people in a family be similar to each other?
Do you think that daughters are always more similar to mothers than to
male relatives?
What about sons and fathers?
In terms of personality, are people more influence by their family or by
their friends? In what ways?

12
Relationships between parents and children
How much time do children spend with their parents in your country? Do
you think that is enough?
How important do you think spending time together is for the relationships
between parents and children? Why?
Have relationships between parents and children changed in recent years?
Why do you think that is?

Children’s free-time activities

What are the most popular free-time activities with children today?
Do you think the free-time activities children do today are good for their
health? Why is that?
How do you think children’s activities will change in the future? Will this
be a positive change?

Hometask
Answer these questions:
 Do you prefer a home-cooked meal or restaurant food? Why?
 Do you think children should learn how to cook? At what age? Why?
 When you want to celebrate something, do you go out, or do you cook?
Why?
 What’s your favorite restaurant? What things do you like about it?
 Do you enjoy cooking, or do you hate it? Why? What’s the most
complicated dish you can make?

Look at the following sentences. Each sentence contains a Present

Continuous Tense. Decide if the tense is used correctly in each sentence:
1. It is raining and snowing at the moment so I don’t want to go outside.
2. I have no idea why the children are behaving so badly.
3. I don’t know why you are never enjoying your work.
4. I’m preparing for my IELTS exam next week.
5. He’s looking for a job in advertising, but I think he would be
willing to consideranything.
6. I’m starting my new job next Monday.
7. You’re always telling me what to do and how to behave. It’s really
annoying!
8. You must be feeling really tired after your journey.
9. Arabic is becoming an increasingly important world language.
10. I am writing with regard to my university accommodation.

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

13
 Listening Practice
COOKERY CLASSES

COOKERY FOCUS OTHER INFORMATION

CLASS
EXAMPLE how to 1 ............... and cook ● small classes
THE FOOD with seasonal products ● also offers 2 ................ classes
…STUDIO… ● clients who return get a 3…………
discount

BOND’S food that is 4…………. ● includes recipes to strengthen

COOKERY your 5………….
SCHOOL ● they have a free 6................. Every
Thursday

THE 7…………. mainly 8 ............... food ● located near the 9…………

CENTRE ● a special course in skills with
a 10 ................ is sometimes available

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

14
 Lesson 3
Causes of climate change

The main human cause is probably the burning of fossil fuels, like coal,
oil, and gas, for electricity, heat, and transportation.
When we use cars, planes, and other forms of transport we burn fossil fuels
and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
The exhaust fumes from cars produce CO2
When we use electricity at home, we burn fossil fuels and so produce
greenhouse gases which cause global warming.
Deforestation is a major cause of climate change. Trees take in CO2 and
produce oxygen, so when we cut down trees this stored CO2 is released.
Also, as there are fewer trees, this balance of CO2 and oxygen is lost.
Tree roots hold the soil together and keep the soil fertile. Without trees the
land is less farmable, and also the soil moves leading to both landslides and
possible drought.
Farming, including raising livestock (e.g. cows, sheep, and goats)
produces harmful greenhouse gases because cows emit methane gas when they
fart (when they defecate).
When farmers use this as fertilizer, it is also emitting more
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Apparently, the fashion industry that pushes us to buy new clothes every
season, produces vast amounts of greenhouse gases.
These come from the processes needed to produce the fabrics, especially
man-made ones, and also the transportation needed for the complex supply
chains.
Did you know a shirt made of man-made polyester has twice the carbon
footprint of a cotton shirt?
Such consumerism also leads to huge amounts of waste and non-
biodegradable fabrics that damage the environment.

 Produce – Production
 Emit – Emission
 Consume – Consumption

Is Climate Change a problem?

In the past, the climate occurred in regular cycles and it used to rain
during a particular season but now, it rains heavily any time and this is leading
to floods.
The Ozone layer is being depleted due to daily increasing CO2 emissions.
Such gaps in the Ozone layer mean the sun’s harmful rays are doing more
damage to the planet.

15
 The polar ice sheet is melting (thawing out) and the sea levels are rising.
We are disrupting the balance in the ecosystem.
It leads to the melting of the polar ice sheets.
It leads to the destruction of wildlife and their habitats.
Some species are becoming extinct.
It might lead to sea-level rise which in turn causes damage to coastal
regions.
The earth is getting hot and hotter and so there are more droughts
which has a devastating impact on farming and the livelihood of local
communities.
At the same time, we are experiencing increasingly adverse and extreme
weather conditions. Floods and flooding are more and more commonplace.
When we have floods, contagious diseases can spread like wildfire.
Farmers face problems due to soil erosion and so use artificial
fertilizers which can cause water and air pollution.

Grammar
The world's population is increasing rapidly.
Nowadays, many people are using more and more public transports to
reduce greenhouse effect

How We Can Protect the Environment

When we talk about how we can protect the environment, we can use
phrases like the following:
 I am careful to 
o I am careful to recycle rubbish and waste at home
 I strive not to 
o I strive not to use disposable plastic, such as coffee cups in
Starbucks
 I make an effort to 
o I make an effort to turn taps off when possible

I pick up discarded rubbish sometimes OR …

 …From time to time
 …Once in a while
 …Every now and then
 …At times

I like to do my bit = to play my part = to contribute

We should steer clear of….. = to avoid
We should be wary of = be careful and cautious with.

16
 More ways to protect the planet include,
Save energy
Save water, by not leaving the tap running unnecessarily
Do some volunteer work
Run a campaign to raise awareness
Clean up beaches
Participate in a beach clean-up
Reduce plastic waste
Protect wildlife habitats

Solutions to Climate Change

 We can change the way we travel, opting for public
transport and avoiding travel by plane whenever possible.
 We can eat less meat, and so reduce the
demand for livestock and cattle.
 We can shop locally, so food supply chains do not need excessive travel
by train, boat, or plane.
 By and large, we should consume less, whether it be for electrical
appliances or clothes. We shouldn’t be a victim of fast fashion.
 We can also consume less electricity at home, by using energy-saving
bulbs and be more careful to turn off lights and save energy.

What do you think about climate change?

Well, for sure, climate change is a hugely controversial subject

nowadays and I think, it’s a problematic thing, it’s a problematic issue,
clearly because of the growing rise in the temperature, the global warming we are
experiencing, is having a huge impact on our lives, and on nature and the world
around us.
For example, climate change… the increase of the temperature that is
happening due to the emission of methane from cows or carbon emissions
fromtraffic, is leading to this increased temperature which in turn leads to the
sea level rise which is getting worse and worse, and that’s destroying habitats
for animals like the polar bear and penguin. But not only that, it’s having a
really detrimental impact on coastal cities and lower-level land. It can lead
to tsunamis, flooding in lots of areas around the world and that’s gonna have a
really bad impact. So, personally, I think climate change is a serious problem
{and} that we need to take radical action, right now. I go along with Greta
Thunberg saying we need to wake up to the reality around us. don’t really go
along with the skeptics who don’t believe it’s a serious problem. I think it is a
problem and we need to take some actions.

17
 Why is climate change important for you?
Well. It’s a very good question and I’d like to answer the question in two
parts. First of all, I think it’s important politically and I think it’s important
environmentally. Firstly, politically, this is an important agenda on any prime
minister or any president’s to-do-list; looking at the impact of climate change
around the world. So, yes it’s hugely important for countries and politicians, but
more importantly, moving on to the second point, it’s hugely important for our
environment because we are destroying the environment around us. We
are destroying habitats through the rise in the sea level. We are destroying
habitats through deforestation, cutting down trees across the world which in
turn leads to droughts, the growth of arid land which could no longer be used
for farming and droughts have a really, obviously, negative impact on
populations, especially in tropical areas. So, it’s a hugely important issue for all
of humanity.

What can we do to stop climate change?

Well, I think there is a number of things that we can do. First of all, as
countries, we can introduce policies that will prevent, for example,
deforestation. Policies that will encourage countries to take positive actions
towards climate change, but there is also things that we as individuals can
do. For starters, we can save energy at home, we can be turning off lights
when we don’t need them so we are using less electricity. We can take public
transport, so reducing our carbon footprint, so there are fewergreenhouse gas
emissions. We can also vote with our feet when it comesto consumerism,
and we can choose to buy fewer clothes so that we are not pushed by the
fashion industry to be consuming all of these fabrics that then are just left as
waste and are having a negative impact on the balance of the ecosystem as
well. So, I think both of these areas we need to address in order to tackle
climate change head-on.

Collocations for Climate

 Inhospitable (=not kind)

 severe
 mild (=not hot/not cold)
 hot
 tropical

18
Collocations for Weather

 Extreme
 changeable
 good
 beautiful
 atrocious
 awful
 dismal
 fair

We can also describe the weather as….

 nippy =cold
 chilly =quite cold
 bone dry =very dry

Global Warming – An increase in the global average temperature on earth

Climate Change – the change in general weather conditions on the earth over a
long period of time.
For example, we see more extremes weather nowadays, such as storms,
tornadoes, and floods than in the past.
Gas emissions – the production of gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane
(CH4).
The Greenhouse effect – greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the
atmosphere. The heat cannot escape and so the planet gets hotter.
Fossil fuels – non-renewable fuels, e.g. coal, carbon, oil, gas
Deforestation – the cutting down of trees on a large scale
Habitats – where animals and plants live
An ecosystem – a community of living things connected to their environment
A Carbon footprint – the number of greenhouse gases produced by any person
or organization’s activity.
I can reduce my carbon footprint by using less electricity at home.
Renewable energies – water (hydro), wind, sun (solar)
Try to solve / tackle / address climate change / global warming
We need to tackle climate change head-on (=directly)
Mitigate climate change (=reduce, alleviate, minimize)

 When it comes to answering questions, you can use the following

expressions to show off your language.
 I am by no means an expert, but…
 I don’t know a great deal about this but…

19
Homework
Fill in the blank spaces by using the words in the table.

SAVE/TRY/SELL/GET/ PROTEST/BE/VACUUM/LOOK/WATCH/ DO/WORK

1) The family the TV in the living room.

2) I in the garden, despite the fact that I can’t stand getting dirty.
3) We ready for the party and honestly, I can’t talk to you now.
4) Can you imagine how rude he to her? I could never imagine
he’ssuch an asshole.
5) Jack to cheat on the test but the professor right
athim.
6) His girlfriend the floor. But usually, she never does any
housechores. Well, can’t blame her!
7) A lot of people against racism on the streets of New York.
8) I money to buy a new PlayStation in winter.
9) I this exercise now and I’m so tired, but all this will pay off
when I speak English like a native, yo!
10) My folks half of their belongings and going on a world tour.

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

Now write a short essay to the question below:

“In many countries plastic bags are the main source of rubbish, causing
pollution on landand in the water, so many people think they should be
banned.”

Use the words that you’ve learned from the lesson.

20
 Lesson 4
Environmental Problems
Task 1:
 Can you talk about the environment and environmental problems in English?
 Look at the vocabulary list in the box. Explain the words with a partner.
 Why are the words divided into two groups – those in normal text and those in bold?

pollution deforestation climate change

recycling renewable public transport

energy

Task 2
Expressions of certainty

Look at these statements made by a scientist. How certain is he about each statement?

“There’s no doubt at all that the Earth is getting warmer”.

“It’s fairly certain that Earth will have heated up by 4 degrees.
“There will be many other effects”.
“The USA and Russia could suffer from drought”.

Put the expressions in the correct section of the table below:

100% sure it will

happen

50% sure

100 % sure it
won’t happen

Add these expressions to the table:

maybe will probably might

probably won’t I’m certain that... It’s possible that...

won’t definitely won’t I’m not sure if...

will definitely perhaps I doubt that...

21
Task 4. Discussion
Decide if you think the following ideas:

a) will happen in the next 50 years?

b) could happen?
c) won’t happen?

Mark the sentences a, b or c.

1. Most cars will be electric.
2. Alternative energy will be more important than coal and oil.
3. You will recycle all your bags, cans and paper.
4. Almost all the rainforests will disappear.
5. People will continue to sunbathe.
6. The climate will get worse.
7. The next generation will care more about the environment than the present one.
8. In elections, environmental issues will become more important than any other
issues.
9. Cars will be banned from cities.
10. People will destroy the Earth.

 Where will you place these in the table of certainty?

 Think about which expressions of certainty you can use to express your
opinion – e.g. I’m certain that most cars will be electric.

Grammar Revision
It is the job of governments and companies to deal with the huge environmental problems
which we face.
It is our responsibility to deal with those issues.
to deal with
We must deal with the situation before it gets out of hand.

It cannot be disputed that the world is experiencing an environmental crisis.

According to recent research, if nothing is done to tackle climate change in the near
future, our planet will face the devastating consequences of global warming.
Undoubtedly, it is the role of governments and corporate organizations to take
action. However, I strongly feel that individuals need to make a contribution to deal
with this pressing problem as well.

Climate change
Climate change, also called global warming, refers to the changes in the climate and a
rise in the average temperatures on Earth. 97% of scientists agree that climate change
is happening and the main cause is from an increase in greenhouse gases (like carbon
dioxide, methane and Nitrous Oxide) in the atmosphere. These trap the heat from the
sun, which is making the Earth hotter. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Over
the last few years, there has been more extreme weather events, like floods, droughts,
wildfires and heat waves.

Deforestation
22
Rainforests help to control global warming because they absorb carbon dioxide. In recent years,
larges areas have been destroyed, as trees are cut down for wood or burned to clear the land for
farming. The burning releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Many
rainforests grow on poor soils, so when they are cut down or burned the soil is washed away in
tropical rains, so that the area may turn into desert. Many plant and animal species that live
there can become extinct, and indigenous tribes can lose their homes.

Pollution

Air pollution and climate change are closely linked. Often it is the same gases that create the
poor air quality in cities especially which can cause serious health problems for people living
in urban areas.
Water pollution is a huge problem and unclean water is a major threat to human health. Water
pollution happens when dangerous chemicals from factories, farming and other industries are
allowed into rivers, lakes and oceans and into our water systems. Plastic waste is also a big
problem.
Soil pollution is also a big problem. The use of fertilizer and pesticides can contaminate land
and threaten food security.

Recycling

Recycling is the processing of used objects and materials so that they can be used again. About
60% of rubbish from homes and factories contain materials that could be recycled. Recycling
saves energy and also reduces damage to the countryside.
Glass, paper and aluminum cans can all be recycled very easily. Many towns have special bins
where people can leave their empty bottles and cans for recycling. A lot of paper bags, writing
paper and greeting cards are now produced on recycled paper. Even more effective than
recycling is choosing products that use a minimum of plastic and paper packaging.

Renewable energy

Up until now, most of the energy we used came from coal, oil and gas (fossil fuels). But these
will not last forever and burning them is a major cause of climate change.
Many countries are now choosing to use renewable sources for their energy needs. Solar energy
from the sun, wind power from turbines, hydroelectric energy from rivers and sea water, and
geothermal power, taking heat from the center of the Earth are the main sources of renewable
energy. Countries like Iceland and Costa Rica are leading the way, with Iceland getting 100%
of its energy from these renewable sources.

Public transport

Transport has a large environmental impact. People use cars more, especially in urban areas
and this is one of the largest growing sources of carbon dioxide in the world. Private transport
contributes to air pollution and global warming, and taking flights is also a big problem. As
more and more people fly, greenhouse gases increase. In fact, emissions from aviation in
Europe increased by 87% between 1990 and 2006.
By using public transport (buses, trains, metros) or cycling in cities emissions from urban
transport could be cut by more than 50%. Using trains for longer journeys as an alternative to
flying reduces the environmental impact often by as much as 90%, and for some journeys is
just as quick.

23
Task 2:

How much do you know about environmental problems? Take the quiz below:

1. What is the main cause of global warming?

2. What problems can fertilizer and pesticides cause?
3. What is the greenhouse effect?
4. How do rainforests help to control global warming?
5. What type of soil do rainforests grow on? Why is this a problem?
6. Which countries use the most renewable energy?
7. Why is taking the train better for the environment than planes?
8. What is more effective than recycling?

Idiom of the lesson:

a carbon footprint – the number of greenhouse gases produced by any person or
organization’s activity.
I can reduce my carbon footprint by using less electricity at home.

VOCABULARY - NATURAL RESOURCES

Answer the question in this quiz.

1. You decide to fly to an island 5,000 miles for a holiday. How many trees would you need
to plant to offset or make up for the CO2 emissions produced by the flight?
A) 0.2 B) 20 C) 2

2. Which is the most environmentally friendly way to clean your clothes?

A) Hand-wash the clothes in hot water.
B) Take them to the dry cleaners.
C) Machine-wash the clothes in cold water.

3. You are tidying up your house in the evening, going back and forth between the bedroom,
kitchen and living room, spending five to ten minutes in each room as you sort out the clutter.
What is the best way to make sure your lights aren’t needlessly wasting energy?
A) Keep the lights on as you go from room to room until the job is done.
B) turn the lights off every time you leave a room and then on again when you return.

4. You decide to cook a baked potato for lunch. Which is the most energy-efficient way of
cooking the potato?
A) Put it in an electric oven to cook slowly for an hour.
B) Quickly zap it in the microwave.

5. You want to really make a significant contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Which of these would be of the most benefit over the course of a year?
A) Taking the train instead of driving a car.
B) Hanging your washing out to dry rather than using the tumble dryer.
C) Working from home one day a week.

24
Write your answers in the blank space.

1. How do you write CO2 in full?

2. What do we call fuels such as coal and oil?
3. What are two names for the substance that comes out of the exhaust of a car?

4. What do we call fuels that can be produced at any time?

5. Name two types of alternative energy.
6. What is a turbine most similar to?
A) a large engine
B) a windmill
C) a car

Speaking practice

Do you recycle now? Why?

Yes, I do recycle but not too often. Instead, I reuse things like glass jars and
bottles, paper bagsor plastic bags to reduce the amount of waste thrown out. If I
have no idea about how to reuse it, I will sort things out and send them to the
recycling center.

Will you recycle in the future?

Of course, yes. Recycling is environmentally friendly. As I said, it helps to
limit the number of harmful pollutants that need to be disposed of. Besides, I
will also encourage my friends and family to recycle and reuse so as to keep our
environment clean.

What kind of things do you recycle?

Things made from non-biodegradable materials like plastic, glass, metal, … can
be recycled.

Homework

Answer these questions using as many new words and phrases from this unit as
you can.

1. Do you think that you waste too much energy in the home?
2. What can the government do to encourage people to save energy?
3. Why do you think people refer to drive a car instead of using public transport?
4. Do you feel optimistic about the future in terms of energy?
5. What changes do you think will happen in the next 20 years?

25
 Lesson 5
Childhood and travelling

Peak season / Low season

Definition: During holidays, festivals or summer festivals, tourist destinations often attract a
lot of tourists to play. These peak tourist seasons in English are called peak season, with the
adjective “peak” being the peak. In contrast, the low season for tourist, not many tourists is
called low season, where the adjective “low” indicates low state, not high.
For example:
Q: What is the best season to travel in your country?
A: According to my observation, spring and summer will be the two most ideal seasons to
travel in my country. The weather during these seasons is lovely and there are often seasonal
festivals held at these times. However, since these seasons are the peak season, many people
will flock to tourist spots to visit. Therefore, we like to travel in the low season because the
attractions are not often packed with too many tourists.

Tourist hotspot (s)

Definition: These collocations are used to refer to famous tourist attractions that attract large
numbers of visitors. This is a compound noun that combines the nouns “tourist” and the noun
“hotspot” (hotspot, attraction).
For example:
Q: What is the best place you have visited?
A: Well, this is a tough question since I have been to many wonderful places. But if I have to
choose my most favorite destination, I will definitely go for Eiffel Tower, the most well-known
tourist hotspot in France. Being able to explore the top of the world-famous tower was my
once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tourist trap
Definition: a dangerous or unpleasant situation which you have got into and from which it is
difficult or impossible to escape. Quite similar to this, “tourist trap” collocations are used to
refer to crowded attractions built with entertainment or souvenir businesses at an expensive
price to exploit money of visitors.
For example:
Q: What kind of places have you visited in your life?
A: I know about others, but as for me, I would prefer secluded areas which haven’t been
exploited much. These places always give me a great sense of comfort and peace, while
traveling to famous destinations can possibly cause anger since there are too many tourist traps.
My mom told me to ask local residents about tourist attractions so as to avoid tourist traps.

Have wanderlust
Definition: In English, “wander” refers to the act of wandering, while the noun “lust” refers to
desires. When combined, “wanderlust” is a noun that expresses a desire to travel. These
collocations to express the passion for traveling can use the phrase “have wanderlust”.
For example:
Q: Who do you often travel with?
A: I have a huge passion for traveling, and my travel mate is my father, who also has
wanderlust. What’s special about my father is that despite the fact that he is 30 years older than
me, he is always full of energy and always invigorates me when we travel.

26
Sample local cuisine
Definition: This is also a verb meaning to try a small amount of food and drink to see if you
like it. As such, these collocations only act to sample local cuisine.
For example:
Q: What would you recommend a foreigner to visit in your country?
A: One thing that I’ve always wanted to tell many foreigners is that apart from “Pho”,
Vietnamese cuisine is very diverse with the appearance of many other tasty dishes such as
spring rolls or Hue-style beef noodles. Therefore, sampling Vietnamese cuisine should be part
and parcel of their trips.

Holiday of a lifetime
Definition: The phrase “of a lifetime” is used to refer to amazing experiences, moments or
events as if it had only happened once in a lifetime. Thus, the collocations “holiday of a
lifetime” is a noun that refers to a beautiful, one-time vacation.
For example:
Q: Where was the last place you visited on holiday?
A: If my memory serves me right, the last time I travelled was one month ago during the
holiday. My family and I visited Singapore for 3 days and I have to say this trip was definitely
the holiday of a lifetime. The food was delicious, the view was outstanding and the local people
were extremely friendly.

Describe a tourist attraction once you visited

You should say

when you visited it
where is it situated
who you went with
and explain what about it you liked the most

So, one of the tourist attractions that I really remember is Ayers Rock or Ayers Rock, I
might be pronouncing it wrong. It's also known as Uluru in one of the indigenous languages
of Australia.
It's a big, big, massive stone rock or monolith, as we could say in the central part of
Australia, in the outback or the desert. And it's just a really remote area to get to. So, it took
about a week's worth of driving slowly to get up there from where I currently reside.
And it's just a really grueling and long adventure to get up to where this rock is situated.
And one of the cool things about the rock as its religious or maybe not religious, but its
sacredness to the indigenous population of Australia. And there are lots of historical
creationist stories that are told by the indigenous population, that are connected to this rock,
and so, I guess, is probably similar to maybe a Christian would consider a church being a really
important location to them.
Ayers Rock, or Uluru is similar to the indigenous population or the indigenous people of
Australia in that respect. And I just like to do the solemnity there, and it was really quiet. And
you just felt the strength and the gravity of this location. I really recommend going there if
you ever visit Australia, but it's really remote, so make sure that you figure out path or the way
you're going to travel because it's too difficult to get to sometimes.

27
 Childhood

 I'm originally from ....................... that's where I was born. (city, country)
 I was born and raised in .................... (place: city, country)
 I was born in ..................... (year)
 My parents decided to name me .................... (Peter/Kate, etc.)
 I was named after..................... (my grandmother/grandfather, etc.)
 I grew up in .................... (place: city, village, country)
 I spent most of my childhood in .................... (place: city, village, country)
 I was raised by .................... (my mother/father/grandparents)
 I was brought up by .................... (my parents/grandparents)
 They brought me up to be a good person.
 I was a bright child - always asking lots of different questions.
 I don't think I was spoilt as a child. | I don't think I was a spoilt child.
 When I was a child, I was quite stubborn, especially when my parents took me to the
shops.
 I was a difficult child and my parents didn't know what to do with me.
 I wasn't allowed to have a TV in my bedroom. | I wasn't allowed to eat too many sweets.
 My parents were very strict with me when I was young. | My parents weren't too strict
with me.
 My parents were comfortable with money, but not really well-off.
 I wasn't really born with a silver spoon in my mouth or anything like that.
 I'm from a normal family. (= financially)
 I come from a large/big/small family. (You can add how many brothers or sisters you
have.)
 In looks I take after my mother.
 My family used to say that I took after my mum. (= I looked like her.)
 I take after my mother, being short and fair, but my older sister has dark hair and he's
taller than me.

Vocabulary

a close/close-knit family (collocation) - spending a lot of time together and supporting

each other
name somebody/something (after somebody) (phrasal verb) - I was named after my
great-grandfather
grow up (phrasal verb) - It is used for talking about the things that happened while
you were a child
spend your childhood somewhere (collocation) - I spent (most of) my childhood
there
bring up (phrasal verb) [OFTEN PASSIVE] - to look after a child until he/she
becomes an adult
a bright child (collocation) – intelligent
a spoilt/spoiled child (collocation) - allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants,
and behaving badly
a difficult child (collocation) - difficult to deal with
.as a child (collocation) - when you were a child
comfortable with money - having enough money for a good standard of living - My
parents were not rich or anything, but they were quite comfortable (with
money). [You can use 'with money' if you wish or you can just say 'comfortable'.]

28
 a wealthy/rich/well-off family (collocation)
a poor/low-income/disadvantaged family (collocation)
born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth (idiom) - born into a wealthy
family, richfrom birth
a large/big/small family (collocation)
take after somebody (phrasal verb) - to look or behave like an older member of
yourfamily, especially your mother or father

If talking about the country, we can also say,

My motherland is

Phrases to talk about remembering

 I remember my childhood well

 I remember when I was a child, I used to….
 I recall 
 I have a clear/ vivid memory of 
 I have fond memories of my childhood, especially _ 
 I vividly remember 
 I often reminisce about my childhood

NOTE:
 The smell of the sea always reminds me of my childhood holidays
 Reminisce about (v.)
 Reminiscence (n.)
 Memory (n.)

Things you did as a child

 We usually played made-up games / pretend games.

 We would play on the swings and roundabout in the park.
 We often played hide and seek.
 If my memory serves me right, I used to play in the streets back then!
 As far as I can remember, we played football on most days.
 We often played chess.
 I ‘played house’ with my friends.
 We used to while away the hours playing games.

Past habits
 I used to go to the park with my friends.
 We would often sit there for hours, chatting away.
 It wasn’t uncommon for us to play football in the park and then hang out
until teatime.
 I often played outdoor activities with my friends.
 We got up to all sorts of things, like chasing mice, playing in the mud, and
thingslike that.
 To get up to = to be involved in (often surprising things)
29
How life was different for children in the past

Kids are certainly not safer nowadays due to…

…the increased crime rates
…more kidnapping
…an increase in cyberbullying
…excessive traffic leading to more kids getting knocked over
…high pressure which leads to mental health problems
Children are less willing/reluctant / to have dinner with their families
Children are not so enthusiastic about having dinner with their families There is less
communication within families because everyone is tethered to their mobile phone, leading
to fewer family meals.
Parents have less time for their children, and so children have less time for their parents!

Kids have fewer meals with their parents because there are fewer set
routines nowadays, so it is hard to have a fixed time for dinner when the whole family can sit
down together.
More women are in the workforce, so it is not uncommon for both parents of a nuclear
family to be working, leaving many children alone and feeling more lonely than before. Kids
spend so much time on their computers and may not be aware of how little time they are
spending with their friends.
Children are more aware of nutrition but are not necessarily eating more healthily
Children can get lots of information about health, but they are still attracted by fast food
because it is marketed so well to children.

And now answer these questions by using words and phrases that you’ve learned
from the lesson:

 Where were you brought up?

 Have you got any brothers or sisters, or are you an only child?
 Do you take after your mother or your father? How?

Grammar: Past Simple

+ V2 He worked for the police.

- did not + V0 She did not work for the police.
? did … V0 Did they work for the police?

We use the Past Simple

1) to talk about single past completed actions. Often the time is mentioned:
A few weeks ago, a woman called to report a robbery at her house.
But no time reference is necessary if it is already known:
How did the burglar break in without anybody hearing him?

30
2) to give a series of actions in the order that they happened:
The burglar came in through the front door, picked up the woman’s handbag, emptied it out
and stole her purse.

3) to talk about past repeated actions:

When her son got older he often went out to visit his friends after school. Notice that used to
and would can also be used.

4) to talk about long-term situations in the past which are no longer true: Bill Murphy worked
for the police force for over 17 years.

Hometask

Try to put the following sentences into the simple past:

 I play a lot of tennis.

When I was younger, I a lot of tennis.
 I usually do my homework as soon as I get home.
Yesterday, I my homework as soon as I home.
 I regularly lose my keys.
Last week, I my keys.
 I come to town at eight o’clock in the morning and go home at around four o’clock in
the afternoon nearly every single day.
Last Friday, I to town at eight o’clock in the morning and home at
around four o’clock in the afternoon.
 I have plenty of enthusiasm but I don’t have a lot of money.
 I plenty of enthusiasm but I a lot of money.
 I often buy new clothes but I don’t sell my old ones.
 Last month, I some new clothes but I _ my old ones.
 Many students don’t understand but prefer not to put up their hand and ask the
 teacher for help.
 Many students but not to up their hand and
 the teacher for help.
 The children who love school usually do better than those who detest it.
 In the past, the children who school usually better than those who
it.

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

31
Listening Practice
Questions 21 – 26
What did findings of previous research claim about the personality traits a child is
likely tohave because of their position in the family?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-H, next to Questions 21-26
Personality Traits
A outgoing
B selfish
C independent
D attention-seeking
E introverted
F co-operative
G caring
H competitive

Position in family
21 the eldest child ………….
22 a middle child ………….
23 the youngest child ………….
24 a twin ………….
25 an only child ………….
26 a child with much older siblings ………….

Questions 27 and 28
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

27. What do the speakers say about the evidence relating to birth order and
academic success?
A There is conflicting evidence about whether oldest children perform best in
intelligence tests.
B There is little doubt that birth order has less influence on academic achievement
than socio-economic status.
C Some studies have neglected to include important factors such as family size.

28. What does Ruth think is surprising about the difference in oldest children’s
academic performance?
A It is mainly thanks to their roles as teachers for their younger siblings.
B The advantages they have only lead to a slightly higher level of achievement.
C The extra parental attention they receive at a young age makes little difference.

Questions 29 and 30
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO experiences of sibling rivalry do the speakers agree has been valuable for them?
A learning to share
B learning to stand up for oneself
C learning to be a good loser
D learning to be tolerant
E learning to say sorry

32
 Questions for Speaking Practice:

 What is your most vivid childhood memory?

 Are you still in touch with your childhood friends?
 What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
 Is it important for children to have fun? Why?

Part 2 question
Describe a tourist attraction you once visited. You should say:
 When you visited it
 Where is it situated
 Who you went with
and say what about it you like the most

Follow up questions:

What kind of transport do you prefer on holidays? Why?

Do you prefer travelling alone or in tour groups? Why?

33
 Lesson 6
Town and country

 London is a truly cosmopolitan city. It is a melting pot for people from all
parts of the world.
 A modern metropolis needs a good integrated transport system.
 London suffers a lot from traffic congestion. It is especially bad during
the rush hour, when thousands of commuters try to enter or leave the
city.
 Poverty in the inner-city areas can breed crime. Drug abuse is also a big
problem.
 Cities around the world have seen a huge population explosion. Nowadays
there are more city-dwellers than ever before.
 Almaty has plenty of amenities. Shops, libraries, hospitals and
entertainment complexes are just few of them.
 A lot of people visit Paris for its cultural events. Chief among these are
concerts and exhibitions.
 Cities in poorer countries often lack basic infrastructures. Without them
they are unable to function properly as cities.
 The pressure of modern city life can be difficult to deal with. Stress related
illnesses are very common in cities like New York.
 The cost of living in some places can be very high. Prices in
London are particularly exorbitant.
 I love the urban lifestyle I lead. In particular, I enjoy the atmosphere that is
unique to the city.
 I enjoy a rural lifestyle. There isn’t much pollution if you live outside a town.

Advantages and disadvantages of living in big cities.

Singapore is a cosmopolitan city, with people from different parts of the world
living and working together. I enjoy the urban lifestyle I lead there and the most of the
superb amenities, ranging from the excellent shops to some of the best restaurants. In
the evenings and at the weekends there are always cultural events, it is difficult to get
bored. Perhaps most impressive is the remarkable transport infrastructure with
excellent roads, a swift and efficient bus service and a state-of the art underground
system which can whisk commuters from the suburbs straight into the heart of the city.
It is particularly important as the government banned private cars from entering from
the Central Business District at peak periods in order to reducecongestion on the roads
and pollution from the exhausts.
Living in a city like this has its disadvantages as well. For a start, the cost-of-
living can be very high – renting an apartment for example is very expensive.
As the city is expanding, there are plenty of building sites where new
apartments are continually being built to deal with the population explosion.
Fortunately, Singapore doesn’t suffer from problems that are common in many cities
such as drug abuse, which is partly the result of the government imposing very severe
penalties on anyone bringing narcotics into the country, so it is safe to walk streets at
night.
34
 Describing a house or a flat
I live in a cottage in the country, which is old and made of stone, and the rooms have
very low ceilings. There’s an open fire in the living room and it’s very cozy in the winter.
I live in a modern flat in the city center, which is spacious and very light with wooden floors
and big windows.
The flat is perfectly situated in the heart of Almaty’s central district. It’s a cozy 60
square- meter flat on the 5 floor of a new building, with a lift. It has one large double bedroom,
a spacious living room with a balcony, a modern well-equipped kitchen, and a bathroom.
There’s a spectacular view of the mountains from the windows. The living room has a big table
, which is ideal for having a meal with friends, and there’s also a large TV. The flat has wooden
floors, cable television, and Wi-Fi internet.
This district is a lively neighborhood in central Almaty with plenty of shops and cafes.
The flat is walking distance from Dostyk Plaza, which is famous department store. The flat is
15 minutes away from a subway station, so you can visit the city very easily.

Useful languages to describe a location

It is perfectly situated in …/
it is walking distance from…/
it is a 15minute walk from…/
it is a short drive from…
The neighborhood is safe/ friendly

Improve the description by replacing the word nice with one of the adjectives.

amazing ideal spacious

beautiful luxurious super
breathtaking magnificent
lovely perfect

Kusadasi is a nice (beautiful) holiday resort on the west coast of Turkey, 90 km south
of Izmir.
Our house is nice. It has three double bedrooms, a living room, a nice kitchen. All the
rooms have the air conditioning, and the bedrooms have their own balconies. There is a nice
terrace with a table and chairs, so you can eat outside. There are nice views of the beach and
the mountains. There is a nice garden and a communal swimming pool, which we share with
the other nearby houses. The house is near several nice beaches, where you can do lots of water
sports. It is also a short drive from the mountains, where you can go hiking.

Grammar
Present Perfect Tense

+ has/have + V3 She has seen the film.

- have/has not + V3 I have not seen the film.
? has/have … V3? Have you seen the film?

We use the Present Perfect Simple

1) to talk about a time period that is not finished (e.g. today, this week):
I’ve written a rough plan this morning. (It is still morning)

35
2) to show that something happened at some point in the past before now. We don’t
state when it happened:
I’ve collected plenty of information. (At some point before now and I will use it to write
my essay now or soon)
The following time expressions are often used: ever, never, before, up to now, still, so far. It’s
the longest I’ve ever had to write. (At any point before now)

Let’s compare Present Perfect and Past Simple to understand the difference:

Present Perfect Past Simple

✯ links the past with the present:
I’ve made quite a lot of notes. (at
some point before now and I may
make more notes)
✯ does not talk about a specific time
in the past:
Have you seen the poster? (at
some time before now.)
✯ uses time expressions that show
the time period is unfinished:
I’ve watched six episodes this
week. (the week isn’t finished)
✯ only talks about the past:
I made notes on the most important
things.(when I did the reading and I’ve
finished making notes)
✯ states a specific past time, or the time is
understood:
I saw the poster when I was in the
library. (I’m not in the library now and
the seeing is finished)
✯ uses time expressions that show the time
is finished:
I watched five episodes last week. (last
week has finished)

Hometask
Answer the questions below by using the words you’ve learned from the lesson
 Do you like the city you are living in now?
 Do you prefer the city or the countryside?
 What kinds of city do you like?
 Which city do you want to go to?

Circle the correct verb

Mike So, where shall we go for our honeymoon?

Gina I don’t know. Maybe somewhere in North Africa. Have you
ever (1) been / gone to Morocco?
Mike Yes, (2) I’ve been / I went there.
Gina I didn’t know that. When (3) have you been / did you go there?
Mike The year after I (4) have finished / finished university.
Gina What about Egypt?
Mike (5) I’ve been / I went there, too.
Gina Who (6) have you been / did you go with?
Mike With an ex-girlfriend. But we only (7) have been / went to Cairo. Let’s go there.
Gina No, let’s go somewhere else.

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

36
 Lesson 7
Shopping/ Clothes: online or offline

Hedging language

Be likely + to-infinitive

1. Prediction
It is likely to rain tomorrow. It will probably rain tomorrow.
They are unlikely to pass exams.

2. (synonym) Tend to
Women tend to save money.
Women are likely to save money.

Factories are likely to produce toxic gases by burning fossil fuels.

People, who are travelling a lot today, are likely to expand their horizon.

Grammar
Present Perfect Continuous

+ Has/have been + Ving I have been studying hard

- Has/have not been + Ving He has not been studying hard
? Has/have … been + Ving Have you been studying hard?

Compare the different uses of the Present perfect simple and the Present perfect
progressive:

Present Perfect Progressive Present Perfect Simple

emphasizes how long:
I’ve been reading for the past two weeks.
focuses on the activity itself (it does not
show whether the activity is completed or
not):
I’ve been writing my essay. (We don’t know
if the essay is finished or not)
says how many times: I’ve read three
articles.
focuses on the result or completion of the
activity:
I’ve written my essay. (The essay is
finished but we don’t know when)

 I live in Almaty many years. (Not correct)

 I have been living in Almaty for many years.
 I have been living in Almaty since I was born.

Present Perfect
1. no time
I have been to America. I have bought expensive clothes.
2. present time expressions
today, this week, this year
Today people have faced adverse consequences caused by coronavirus.

37
 3 verbs which are not used with -ing for/since.
Be, know, have
 I work as a manager for many years. (not correct)
 I have been working as a manager for many years.
 I am a manager for many years. (not correct)
 I have been being a manager for many years. (not correct)
 I have been a manager for three years.
 I have a car. I have had a car for 2 months.

Always
 I have always wanted to have this car.

Shopping

Bargains casual discount smart latest fashions department stores

designer clothes in and out of fashion mail order sales window shopping

Nowadays people buy clothes in many different ways, in , chain stores,

and smaller shops, or from catalogues, either by (buying by post) or on the internet.
In spite of the growth of on-line shopping, for many people, especially women,
(looking at things in shop windows) and buying the _ are still enjoyable activities.
Most larger stores sell a wide range of fashion, from clothes (for work or formal
occasions) to clothes (to wear in your free time). (made by well-
known fashion companies) ate the most expensive.
Clothes are also the items whose prices are most reduced during the ,
normally after Christmas and in the summer, when you can often find (things
which are good value for money). Some shops offer up to a 50% , or even more.
This is because they need to change the stock rapidly, as clothes quickly go
.

Essential Vocabulary
 To buy to purchase (formal)
 to pick up (informal)
 Cheap (adj.)
 inexpensive low-priced goods / food affordable goods / clothes
 Expensive (adj.) /costly
 A shop (n.) = A store (n.) (US)
 To shop (v.) To shop for clothes / food
 To shop around = to look for the best price
 To do the weekly shop / shopping = buy food for the whole week
 To go shopping for clothes / food

38
 Collocations
 A shopping mall / center
 To go window shopping = look in shops without buying
 A High-street shop (baker’s, butcher’s newsagents…) A Corner shop /Retail
shops = shops that sells to customers
 Wholesale shops = sells to businesses/shops
 A One-stop shop = one shop that sells everything you need
 To shop till you drop = to shop for hours

Enjoying shopping
o it tends to depend on…..
o That depends….
o I love browsing shops = going from shop to shop
o I’m an impulsive shopper = I buy things whenever I feel like it, without
planning
o I’m a shopaholic = I am (almost) addicted to shopping
o I like to window shop, as I don’t have much money to spend on clothes. I like
to see all the different things on display
o I prefer
o I lean towards (=I like/prefer)

Offline shopping versus online shopping

Bad Things
It’s an inevitable thing. It’s a shame that so many physical shops are disappearing, so
many companies are going out of business due to COVID.
<All of the following mean “to go out of business”: to close down, to go into
liquidation, to go bankrupt, to go belly up.>
Unfortunately, we lose the personal touch of chatting and socializing with other
shoppers and shop assistants when we shop online. It’s not a good thing as we don’t know
which sites to trust. I am always wary (=careful with) of online payments, Imean you hear of
so many scams (=dishonest attempts to get your money), so is it really safe and secure?

Good Things
The rise of online shopping means we can busy things from anywhere in the world, at
the click of a button (=immediately). Online shopping makes the purchase of most things
much easier and more convenient. Online shopping has been a lifesaver during COVID.
Online shopping saves time. It saves a ton of time. It depends on what I am buying.
I like physical shopping because I can try stuff on. (Clothes)
I like physical shopping because I can try stuff out. (Electronic things) I can actually
touch the products if I am in a real shop. Online shopping is much more practical and the
delivery is usually pretty quick. With the rise of companies like Amazon, then online delivery
is very fast nowadays. Online shopping is fun, if you like opening boxes. I shop online for
clothes a lot, but you never know if the size is going to fit, so there is always a bit of a risk.
Despite the convenience that comes with online shopping I still prefer offline shopping as it
enables me to inspect my goods before paying.

39
 Idioms about SHOPPING
o To cost an arm and a leg = to be expensive: My new bike cost an arm ’n' a leg
o I paid through the nose for this fabulous bag = I paid too much
o It was going for a song = it’s cheap: I like retail therapy, it cheers me up!
=shopping that makes you happy
o To talk shop = talk about your work (usually negative): He is so boring, he
isalways talking shop at parties.

Sample answer to a typical IELTS Speaking question:

What is the product which is consumed most in your country?

To be honest, I don’t know statistically speaking which is the most consumed product
in Britain, but I do know that British people buy and sell a lot of cheese. We love cheese. So,
there are many varieties of cheese that are sold across the country: mature cheese, blue cheese,
crumbly cheese, cheese spreads. It’s something that’s may be connected with our eating culture
and our culinary heritage. We like to have cheese on sandwiches. We often eat sandwiches at
lunch time. So, cheese with different sauces or different kinds of vegetables is a very, very
common thing for us to consume either at lunch time or at another time of the day, in the
afternoon. So, I’d say, yeah, cheese is one of the most popular, most widely consumed products
in my country.

Homework

Answer the questions. If possible, ask someone else the same questions.
1. How often do you shop in supermarkets? What do you think of them?
2. How often do you go to shopping centres? Do you like them?
3. How often do you go to street markets? Do you like them?
4. Do you haggle for things when you’re shopping?
5. Have you ever asked for a refund?

40
Complete the questions and answers with the Present Perfect Simple or the Present Perfect
Continuous and FOR or SINCE. Use contractions where possible.

1. A How long has he been waiting to speak to someone? (he / wait)

B He ’s been waiting for half an hour.

2. A How long their homework? (children / do)

B They it more than two hours.

3. A How long with Rob?

(you / go out)
B We we left school.

4. A How long single?

(Penny / be)
B I think she she broke up with Scott.

5. A How long your driving license? (you / have)

BI it ten years.

6. A How long to find a job? (Pete / try)

B He he left university last year, but no luck!

7. A How long to be a doctor? (your sister / want)

B She to be a doctor she
was seven years old.
8. A How long Terry?
(you / know)
BI him years. He’s an old friend of the family.

41
 Lesson 8
Mass media

The press

articles biased censorship front page headlines interview intrudes in objective

‘paparazzi’ serious press a story tabloid press make up fake

In Britain there are two kinds of newspapers (or papers), the 1 (newspapers
which focus mainly on sensational news) and the 2 (newspapers, which focus on
issues of general importance). The tabloid press generally uses bigger, more
dramatic 3 (especially on the 4 ) and shorter 5 . A good
newspaper should be 6 . Unfortunately, this is not usually the case, and editors
and journalists are often 7 _ (unfairly influenced) in favor of a particular political party.
Sometimes governments prevent a newspaper from publishing a story. This is called
8 .
Recently there has been a lot of controversy about the way press 9 the
private lives of famous people to get 10 . The so called
11 (photographers) wait outside their house for hours to try and 12 the
person. If they cannot find any real information, they simply 13 stories about them
which are not true. Nowadays they can even 14 _ photos, for example by re-touching
them.

advertise audience broadcast cable and satellite commercials listeners

standard of programs stations channels viewers

The arrival of 1 TV has meant a huge increase in the number of

TV 2 which 3 can watch.
TV channels compete to have the highest 4 (the number of people watching a
program). Private TV channels get their income from companies who pay to show
5 (or adverts) between and during programs to 6 their products. While
the variety of channels has gone up in recent years, the general 7 (quality) being
shown has definitely gone down.
Radio 8 can also choose between many different 9 , many of which
10 24 hours a day.

Barely a hundred years ago, if we wanted to stay informed about what was going in the
world, we had to rely on word of mouth or, at best, newspapers.
But because the communication technology was very basic, the news we received was often
days or weeks old.
We still have newspapers, television and radio. News broadcasts let us know about the
world events practically as they happen, while sitcoms, talk shows and documentaries,
especially on cable television keep us entertained and informed. There is also the internet where
we can access information from millions of websites around the world we can then download
onto our own computers.

42
 Collocations
Adjectives
 breaking news  great news
 latest news  tremendous news
 urgent news  unwelcome news
 updated news  devastating news
 out-dated news  traumatic news
 good news  fake news

Verbs
To get / receive news ~ To hear some news.
To catch up on the news ~ I want to catch upon all your latest news = get up to date

Do you think newspapers will be replaced by computers someday?

It’s an interesting question. To some extent, I think, newspapers have already been
replaced by computers. I think we are living in a digital world where more and more people
are accessing information online and so they would rather get the latest news through social
media, like Facebook, or through newspapers websites on the internet. So, I said to some
extent, because what’s also happening at the same time, is that the newspapers and the media
outlets are moving from the paper to the digital source. So, papers still exist and I think they
will always exist. I don’t think it’s black and white (=very simple). I don’t think we have to
choose from one or the other. I think it will be a blend of (=a mix of) paper, physical
newspapers and online newspapers. Yes, so, to be honest, I don’t think it’s a question of
replacing one by the other. I think both will continue to exist but people are more likely to
access the news through the computer, in the future.

Grammar

Present progressive (= present continuous)

1. We use the present progressive to talk about plans or definite arrangements for the future:
We’re staying in a small hotel. (we have made the arrangements)
Notice that time expressions are used or understood from the context in order to show that we
are talking about the future (and not the present):
The manager is having a party just after we get back. (time expression given) We’re playing
four matches there. (future time expression understood)

We use will

1. to make predictions, usually based on our opinions or our past experience:

I think it’ll be extremely hot there.

2. to talk about future events we haven’t arranged yet:

We’ll probably stay in some sort of mountain lodge there.

3. to talk about future events or facts that are not personal:

The best player on the tour will get a special trophy.
The prime minister will open the debate in parliament tomorrow.

43
4. to talk about something we decide to do at the time of speaking:
Tell me all about it and I’ll pass on the information to the rest of the team. We often use will
to make offers, promises or suggestions:
Don’t worry, I’ll let everyone know. (a promise)

+ will + V0 We will enjoy it.

- will not (won’t) + V0 He will not enjoy it. /He won’t enjoy it.
? Will … V0 Will they enjoy it?

Going to
Going to is often used in the same way as the present progressive and will.

We use going to
1) to talk about events in the future we have already thought about and intend to do:
We’re going to hire a bus. (we intend to go, but we haven’t made the arrangements yet)
We’re going to get a boat to a couple of the islands.

2) to make predictions when there is present evidence:

Well, we’re certainly going to have a varied trip. (I am judging this from what I know about
the plans)

+ Is/are/am + going to +V0 We are going to hire a bus.

- Is/are/am + not going to + V0 He is not going to hire a bus.
? Is/are/am … going to + V0 Are they going to hire a bus?

Grammar Extra: Making predictions using words other than will

In formal writing we often use expressions other than will to predict the future (e.g. be likely
to, be predicted to, be estimated to, be certain to):
The population is likely to increase to 22 million in 2011.
The average annual rainfall is predicted to be 10% lower than today’s figures.

Homework

Answer these questions by using the words that you’ve learned from the lesson.

 Do large media organizations have too much influence? (What makes you say that?)
 How important are newspapers? (What is their future in the age of the Internet?)

44
Put in ‘will’ or ‘be going to’:

1. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: I know. I get some from the shop.
2. A: We don’t have any bread.
B: Really? I get some from the shop then.
3. A: Why do you need to borrow my suitcase?
B: I visit my mother in Scotland next month.
4. A: I’m really cold.
B: I turn the heating on.
5. A: Are you going to John’s party tonight?
B: Yes. Are you going too? I give you a lift.
6. A: What are your plans after you leave university?
B: I work in a hospital in Africa. I leave on the 28th.
7. (The phone rings)
A: I get it!
8. A: Are you ready to order?
B: I can’t decide … Okay, I have the steak, please.
9. A: Are you busy tonight? Would you like to have coffee?
B: Sorry. I go to the library. I’ve been planning to study all
day.
10. A: Why are you carrying a hammer?
B: I put up some pictures.

45
 Lesson 9
Healthcare

Some people suffer from rheumatism. Pains or stiffness in the joints or

muscles can be very difficult to live.
More women than men are affected by arthritis. The painful
inflammation of a joint may require surgery.
Air conditioning units are often responsible for spreading infections
around the office.
Cardiovascular disease is becoming more common in Britain. Illnesses
which affect the circulation of blood are particularly common with people who
are overweight.
Too much exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
It is important not to eat too much food with a high cholesterol content.
This is deposited on the walls of the arteries and can block them.
Too many people today live a sedentary lifestyle.
People in positions of responsibility often have stress-related illnesses.
The pressure of a high-powered job can cause nervous strain which may require
taking medicine.
Premature babies are vulnerable to illnesses. The immune system is not
properly developed and can be easily hurt.
The National Health Service is suffering from cutbacks and
underfunding. The government has reduced its expenditure in this area.
The AIDS virus is incurable. But there are drugs which can slow down its
cell-destroying properties.

At the doctor’s
If you don’t feel well, you can make an appointment to see your family
doctor (GP) at the local health center. He will examine you and ask what
symptoms you have. He may take your pulse and temperature or take your
blood pressure. Then he will usually make a diagnosis and decide how to treat
you. He may prescribe you some medicine to cure your illness. You take the
prescription to the chemist’s or pharmacy, where the chemist will usually give
you some tablets/pills. Read the instructions carefully in case there are any side-
effects. The doctor may also tell you to have one or two days off to rest and
recover. With this treatment you will normally get better in a few days. If the
doctor is not sure what’s wrong with you, he may send you to see a specialist
or arrange you to have some more tests, for example X-rays. If you are seriously
ill you may need to go to hospital and have an operation. You may need several
weeks to get over the operation. It’s a good idea to have a medical check-up
once a year.

46
 Body and Health
Stress and fitness
Complete the text. Underline the stress in the words below. What do the
words/phrases in bold mean?

cold pains
headaches pull a muscle
hurt relax
illnesses stressed
keep fit stressful

Nowadays many people have very 1 lives. Doctors say that stress
can cause many 2 , and in some cases even heart attacks. If you are feeling 3
you are also more likely to get a 4 or flu, or suffer from
5
. You should try to rest and 6 and do exercise to 7
. But be careful! You should start slowly, or you could 8
your back or 9 . If you notice any 10 after doing exercise,
see a doctor.
What I do in order to stay in shape is to work out on a regular basis.
I tend to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and go to the gym frequently whenever I have time on
my hands.
I regularly work out as this really helps me to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Symptoms of illness

Look at the list of symptoms. Translate them. Do you have any at the moment?
I’ve got a cold
a cough
a sore throat
a temperature.
I’ve got a headache
an earache
a toothache
a stomach-ache
My back hurts.
I’ve got a pain in my leg.
I’ve hurt myself.

47
 COVID Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking
Here are some words and phrases you can use to talk about COVID
 I hate wearing a face mask.
 This vaccine can boost your immunity.
 Social distancing is really important.
 I don’t like taking pills, especially capsules.
 Lockdown or confinement have meant we have had to spend a lot
of time at home, without going out to socialize.
 Quarantine is needed for anyone coming into the country with a
fever.
 Some older people choose self-isolation to keep themselves safe.
 The Covid pandemic has changed our lives significantly.

Debates and Discussions about Medicine

How COVID has changed the way we live

Here are some nice phrases you can use to discuss this issue

 I cannot socialize as much as I used to.

 I have to stay isolated at home and I have become a couch
potato (=lazy).
 Many people have started working from home.
 A lot of people have been laid off or made redundant, and so lost their
main sources of income.
 I have started studying more online.
 My whole schooling has moved online.
 Before I could travel anywhere quite freely, no there are lots
of restrictions on travel, especially international travel.
 It has completely transformed my daily routine, now I feel I am in a bit
of a rut (=stuck in the same boring routine).
 It has turned my life upside down. Now I cannot visit my family due
to lockdown and so I feel quite lonely.
 It has forced my to wear a face mask all the time. I am really a lot more
cautious and careful about general hygiene now.
 It’s not only affected me personally, but the whole economy, so we are
heading for a recession now (=bad economic situation).
 COVID has killed off the livelihood of many people, learning them
feeling depressed.

48
 Alternative Medicines

The following are some of the more common and well known alternative medicines.
Most of them take a holistic approach to treating the body and also tend to focus
onpreventing disease rather than treating it after it happens.
 Herbal medicine – using plants
 Acupuncture – using needles to touch pressure points
 Ayurveda – ancient herbal-based medicine
 Homeopathy – lets the body cure/heal itself using tiny amounts of natural medicine
(plants and minerals)
 Chiropractic – aligning bones, muscles through manipulation
 Chinese medicine – (TCM) use of natural plants and herbs to prevent illness and
achieve a balance of energy or ‘Qi’ in the body. 

IN FAVOUR
 I actually trust these alternative approaches more than modern medicine; I
mean they have been around a long time and are tried and tested.
 I think they are great, as they take a holistic look at your body, so they make
sense to me.
 I suppose some of them are good, for example, I have done acupuncture and it
worked for me. Maybe they are a good complement to modern medicine.
 I think they tend to be more popular with the older generation, but younger
people tend to favor more modern approaches to medicine.

AGAINST
 To be honest, I am a bit skeptical, they don’t seem to be science-based to
me, so I don’t know if they really work.
 I think they are mumbo jumbo (=nonsense, I mean they is no scientific
evidence that they work.
 I am in two minds about it, some people swear by homeopathy, but I
wonder if it just works like a placebo (=a fake medicine that works because
you believe it is a real medicine.
 The only evidence that they work is anecdotal, I don’t think they are very
scientific.

Grammar
Future Continuous

+ will be + Ving I will be flying over China

- will not be + Ving He will not (won’t) be flying over Mongolia.
? will … be + Ving Will they be flying over Mongolia?

We use the future progressive

to describe or predict events or situations continuing at a particular point in the future or over
a period of time in the future:
I’ll be working on the report all next week.

49
Future Perfect simple

+ Will have + V3 I will have done it by then.

- Will not have + V3 We will not (won’t) have done it by then.
? Will … have + V3 Will you have done it by then?

We use the future perfect simple to talk about a future event that will finish before a specified
time in the future, often with before, by + fixed time, or in + amount of time:
By the end of the year I will have given the same talk at 6 conferences! I’ll have finished it
by next Friday.
In a week’s time I’ll have written the report.

Homework

Key Vocabulary

 keep fit/stay in shape/main form of exercise

 sports facilities/amenities/grounds/centers
 tennis/badminton/basketball/volleyball court
 parks/green spaces/botanical gardens/play grounds
 balanced diet/eat in moderation
 eat nutritious/healthy food
 limit/reduce sugar intake
 limit one’s intake of processed food/fast-junk food/trans fats
 overeating/eating disorder
 overweight/obesity
 plenty of sleep/not burning the midnight oil/insomnia
 avoid cigarettes/smoking/excessive alcohol

Fill in the gaps with the correct word from the key vocabulary above, or with the correct
form of the word in brackets, circle the correct word in bold, and then answer the
questions, using the structure provided but with information that is true for you.

1. What do you do to stay healthy?

In terms of keeping , my main form of is tennis, which I try to
play a few times a week, as it’s not only a/the good/well way to stay in , but
it’s also great (social).
(short answer + explanation + reason)

50
2. Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
Yes, as there are a lot of sports _ from swimming to tennis
and parks, where you can do all forms of . Probably, the
(hard) thing is having a/the (motive) to get out and do exercise.
(short answer + reason + two explanations)

3. Do you think more about your health now than when you were younger?
In the past, I never (think) too much about maintaining a healthy
, whereas, nowadays, I’m much more conscious of it given that I don’t want to
get since it can made/make life a bit (misery).
(contrast past and present + reason)

4. What could you do to have a healthier lifestyle?

I think if I (reduce) my sugar and ate more fruit and
vegetables, it would give me a/the much more balanced . Also, not burning the
oil but (get) a full eight hours would be (good)
for my health, too.
(short answer: if - situation & result + 2nd answer)

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 Lesson 10
Money, finance, and business

be worth borrow can’t afford charge

cost earn inherit invest lend owe save take out waste

1. My uncle died and left me 2000 pounds. I money from my uncle.

2. I put some money aside every week for my next holiday. I money every week.
3. I asked my brother to give me some money until next week. I some money from
him.
4. My brother gave me some money until next week. He me some money.
5. I often spend money on stupid things. I often money.
6. I don’t have money to buy that car. I to buy that car.
7. I had to pay the mechanic 100 $ to repair my car. The mechanic me 100 $.
8. I went to the cash machine and got 200$. I 200$ from the cash machine.
9. I bought a book, which was 25$. The book me 25$.
10. Jim gave me 100$. I haven’t paid it back yet. I _ Jim 100$.
11. I bought some shares in British Telecom. I some money.
12. I work in a supermarket. They pay me 2000$ a month. I 2000$.
13. I could sell my house for about 200000$. My house about 200000$.

Complete the blank spaces with a preposition from the list

By for (2x) from in into on to

1. Would you like to pay cash or credit card?
2. I paid the dinner last night. It was my birthday.
3. I spent $50 books yesterday.
4. My uncle invested all his money property.
5. I don’t like lending money friends.
6. I borrowed a lot of money the bank.
7. They charged us $60 a bottle of wine.
8. I never get debt. I hate owing people money.

Make a profit and make a loss

 Extravagant – someone who spends a lot of money
 Frugal/economical- someone who is careful with money
 A current account- a bank account from which you can take money at any time
 A deposit account-is a bank account which pays you interest if you leave money in it
for some time
 A loan is money which you borrow to buy smth
 A mortgage is a special kind of a loan for buying a house
 To deposit money is to put money into a bank account
 To withdraw money is to take money out of a bank account
 If you are broke, you have no money. If you are bankrupt, you are not able to pay
back money you borrowed.
 A discount and a refund
 Bargain, overpriced, exorbitant
 Worthless and priceless

52
 o Inflation is a state of economy where prices increase
o Deflation is a reduction of economic activity
o Income and expenditure
o Bank and building society
o I always put my money in a building society and not in a bank. The interest they pay
me is much higher.
o I can’t afford to buy a new car right now. Maybe I should consider getting one on
credit.
o I’ve been spending too much recently. It’s always so difficult to economise.
o I lost my job last month. Fortunately, I receive unemployment benefit.
o Prices are rising quickly everywhere. The cost of living seems to go up every day.
o I earn money 😁 (by working / by adding value)
o I win money 😁 (by gambling at a casino)

The following are more collocations and expressions you may use with ‘money’.

You can make money if you invest wisely

You can earn a fortune if you are lucky
You can donate money (to charity)

The following 4 expressions mean “He spends a lot”

 He is a spendthrift
 He spends money like nobody’s business
 She spends money like there is no tomorrow
 He has more money than sense
The following expressions mean “It was expensive”
 It cost an arm and a leg
 It cost a fortune
 I paid over the odds
 I paid through the nose
 They charged an exorbitant price
These expressions can be used to say something is cheap.
 It is going for a song
 It is dirt cheap (=very cheap)
 It is dead (=very) cheap
 It is cheap as chips

Buying Expensive Things

The following are all related to spending a lot of money

 I like to fork out on gifts
 I like to splash out on clothes
 I am happy to dig deep (into my pockets) and buy expensive things if they are
valued for money.
 I often splurge out on new books
 I tend to spend lavishly when it comes to clothes shopping

53
The following are all related to NOT spending a lot of money

 Yes, but I need to keep an eye on my wallet

 No, I can’t afford it
 No, I am a bit strapped for cash at the moment (= don’t have much money)
 I am on a tight budget at the moment
 I am on a shoestring budget (= don’t have much money)
 No, I am quite frugal/thrifty (=careful with money)

Expensive activities
What activities would you say are expensive?

 Some sports need pricey equipment, like golf, paragliding, scuba-diving.

 Travelling can be expensive, especially if you go to first class.
 International travel can cost a lot too.
 Taking a holiday can cost an arm and a leg, especially when you stay in 5-star
hotels
 Collecting things (e.g. classic cars, antiques in general…) can be expensive

Look at the words in bold which has an opposite meaning to the pink words

1. We have a limited supply of computer base units. demand for

2. Last year, our company made a huge profit loss
3. Our gross profits are up by almost 150% on last year. net
4. Banks across the country are reporting a sharp drop in borrowing. lending
5. The company will debit your bank account with £528 each month. credit
6. The wholesale market has experienced a downturn since the recession began.
retail
7. The government is encouraging short-term investors to put their money into the public
sector. private
8. Private enterprises are under a lot of financial pressure. State-owned industries
9. Skilled workers are demanding a 15% pay rise. Unskilled labourers
10. If this continues, we will have to lay off members of staff. take on
11. Blue-collar workers across the country are demanding improved working conditions.
White – collar
12. He works for a company which imports camera equipment. exports
13. A lot of people have benefited from the recent boom in the electrical industry.
bust/recession
14. The management refuse to compromise on the quality of their products.
employees/ workers/ staff
15. Overall revenue is down by almost 15%. expenditure
16. A fight broke out in the boardroom over terms and conditions of employment. (Note:
you will have to change the preposition in to on) shopfloor

Idioms about money in IELTS Speaking

The following are all idiomatic expressions or idioms on the topic of money.
Which of the following are true for you?

54
  I am a bargain hunter (= like looking for things that are good value for money)
 I love to splash out when I go shopping for clothes
 I like to save for a rainy day
 Right now, I know someone who is living on a shoestring
 I don’t have enough money to make ends meet (= to get by or to survive)
 We had to live from hand to mouth (=had little money)
 I am strapped for cash these days (=have little money)
 He’s rolling in it (=he is very rich/ he is loaded)
 I am going to splash/fork out on a new computer (=spend a lot of money)

Grammar
Past Continuous

+ was/were + Ving He was watching the news.

- was/were + Ving They were not watching the news.
? was/were …Ving Were you watching the news?

We use the Past Progressive

- to provide the background scene to an action or event (usually in the past simple).

We often use words like when, while and as:

It happened at five in the afternoon while she was watching the news on TV.
He was doing his homework in his bedroom when the burglar came into the house.

When we want to emphasize the activity without focusing on its completion.

For a while last year, I was working at the cinema, studying for my degree and writing
acolumn for the local newspaper.

Past Perfect

+ Had + V3 We had listened to his music.

- Had not + V3 I had not listened to his music.
? Had … V3 Had they listened to his music?

We use the Past Perfect Simple

- when we are talking about the past and want to mention something that happened
earlier:
His father was a composer and his grandfather had also been a musician. (Mozart’s
grandfather was a musician and then later his father became a composer) Sometimes we use
words like just or already. Notice that these adverbs go between the auxiliary and the main
verb:
By the time he was 17, Mozart’s reputation had already begun to spread through Europe.

55
Homework
Write your answers in the gaps.

1. We can’t to go on holiday this year, so we’re staying at home.

2. That ring can’t be €20,000. It looks like plastic!
3. Pete doesn’t have any money, so he has to _ his parents.
They pay for absolutely everything.
4. My brother didn’t very much his car. It was second hand.
5. How much do you think you’ll every month in your new job?
6. Sorry, but I can’t the money I owe you until the end of
the month.
7. Do you have any change for the supermarket trolley? I only have
a €10 .
8. Some people think it’s a really bad idea to borrow money
a close friend.
9. Why are you your money on things you don’t really need?
10. I used to have a money box when I was young. That’s how I learnt to
money.
11. Can I credit card?
12. Did the bank you the money to buy a new car?
13. Diana started spending a lot more money than she had in the bank.
She got into after six months.
14. Our gas was really high this month because we had the central heating
on all the time.
15. Our neighbour a beautiful house in the country when her
aunt Jane died.
16. How can the electrician us £200 for ten minutes’ work?
17. My grandmother’s afraid of using in the street. She
prefers to go into the bank to get money.
18. I’ve asked my bank for a because I want to buy a flat.
19. The government is going to put up on cigarettes and alcohol.
20. If you open an with this bank, you get an interest-free credit card for a year.

56
Listening test

SECTION 4 - Questions 31-40

Questions 31–35
Complete the summary below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A
NUMBER for each answer.

Managing Creativity in Your Business

Managing creative staff is a difficult task. They have creativity and (31), so
they need freedom. In the past, in factories, (32) was vital for making a high-
quality product. Nowadays, we hire staff to create new products and find new customers. But
their new ideas must be (33) if we want to make money from them. A
standard method for managing staff is setting (34) targets, related to
profits, products or new clients. This method has some problems, because staff might be
dishonest or break the law so that they can meet the company goals. These goals are often
tied in to (35) and this can make the problem worse.

Questions 36–40
Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Robert Simons’ Three (36)

The first: Develop a mission statement

Engage the workers with the company’s core Follow the company (37)
values examples:

 the best tools in the world

 the customer is no 1

The second: Don't tell your creative staff what to do;

The power of (38) tell them what they should not do, e.g.

 this product is not part of our company goals

 this behaviour is not OK

You need to set (39) to help control

creativity

The third: Be aware of and discuss external factors

(40)

 the competition
 the company profits and losses
 other new products in the market

You can see the answers from the “answers” page at the end of the book.

57
 Lesson 11
Culture and globalization

What is culture?

customs food a set of values

behavior literature rituals
traditions norms social events
language a set of norms
festivals values

Culture moulds peoples’ lives

Culture brings harmony and uniformity to some extent
Many countries have a fusion of cultures or a blend of cultures
Other useful expressions to talk about culture….

You can substitute the underlined words for any of the words above about culture.

o Culture is all about behaviour

o It’s a way of life related to food
o It’s the way of behaving It’s a set of behaviours
o Culture is connected to traditions It’s related to our customs
o Globalisation cancels local cultures
o Passed from one generation to the next
o It’s what makes us unique

Cultural diversity makes travel a rich experience.

o Cultural diversity = a mix of cultures and races in a country or organisation.
People often experience culture shock when they immigrate to different nations.
o Culture shock = confusion or anxiety
o A melting pot = a mix of cultures and races in a country or organisation.
It’s the custom in my country to get married in white.
o Custom = a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long
time.
The world has become more interconnected as a result of the Internet.
o Interconnected = with different parts or things connected or related to each
other.
He doesn’t conform to the stereotype of a German woman.
o Stereotype = An idea about something that most people have.
The country is known for its tolerance of different beliefs and religions.
o Tolerance = eagerness to accept behaviors and beliefs which are different from
the one you possess.
o Related words: tolerant (adj) intolerance (n) tolerate (v)

58
 Cultural diversity

For
 Variety is important in life.
 People will learn to be more tolerant of
other people’s beliefs.
 Children will learn that all people and
beliefs are equal.
 The world will become more peaceful
and homogeneous.
 Diversity means that society is rich and
interesting.
 Innovation can stem from new
perspectives and different cultural
outlooks.
 Society will become more integrated.
Against
 Society might start to lose its cultural
identity.
 Cultures might start compete against
each other for predominance.
 Cultural clashes might result in
violence.
 Some cultural groups may feel that
others are given preferential treatment.
 There may be a clash in religious
beliefs.

How can we learn about other countries?

We can learn from the Internet and also from reading books. When we visit another
country that is a chance to learn about that nation and its culture. At times, we may meet
nationals living or travelling abroad, and we can learn about their culture directly from
watching their behavior and listening to them. I learn lots about other countries by listening
to radio programs about those countries. Probably the most powerful way to learn about
another country is to live or work there. You pick up so much more when you are participating
in everyday life there.

Why do we have to preserve cultures?

This is an interesting question, because the question assumes we have to preserve
culture. You can disagree with this assumption, if you want! Don’t feel you have to agree with
the examiner!
For example: Well, I think there are several aspects of our culture that are well worth
preserving and some of those are traditional aspects. I think, you know, customs around
birthday celebrations, wedding celebrations, Christmas celebrations, the way that we bring
together family to celebrate certain days in our culture, is a really good thing to do, and one
that we should make an effort to preserve because I think it helps bring family unity and
stronger bonding within the society. At the same time, there are certain aspects of culture that
maybe we don’t have to preserve. It’s inevitable for me, I think culture is fluid and forever
changing, and to try and stick rigidly to tradition doesn’t really work either. So, we have to be
a little bit flexible in our approach to culture and not preserve things just for the sake of
preserving them.

How has globalization affected local culture over the years?

With general questions like this, it can help you to be very specific and to choose one
area to focus on.
Well, I think an interesting part of local cultures that has changed is food, and the whole
food industry. Globalization has created international food chains, lots of franchises of
restaurants such as MacDonald's and KFC, typically, kind of, not good quality food and these
have penetrated countries and local cultures all over the world, causing local people often to
opt for the globalized, international food rather than their local food, and so as cooking and
recipes used to get handed down from generation to generation, now, many local recipes are

59
disappearing. People are going to the fast-food restaurants and it’s having a really negative
impact on local cuisine and the whole culinary traditions around cooking and preparing food
in families in local cultures.

Grammar
Conditionals

0 conditional
If present simple, present simple
o When it rains, I stay at home.
o When I am ill, I go to the doctor.
o If I get a salary, I save some money.
If past simple, past simple
o When I was at school, I never cheated.

1 conditional
We use if+present to talk about possible situation and will/will not + infinitive to talk about
the consequences.
If present simple, future simple

o I will buy a house one day. When I will buy not correct.
o I will be happy When I will be happy not correct
o If you have a headache, you will take some medicine.
o If it rains, I will stay at home.
o When I am 25, I will get married.
o As soon as the lesson finishes, I will go home.
Until/ unless

Homework
Complete the sentences with the verbs in the correct form.

A: Ugh! The weather’s terrible! Unless it _ improves (improve) at the

weekend, we 2 (have to) cancel the party.
B: What? We can’t cancel it!
A: But we 3 (not able to) have a barbecue if it 4
(rain).
B: Well, if the weather 5 (be) still bad, we 6 (have) lunch
inside instead.

A: So, 7 (not forget) to phone me when you 8 (get) there.

B: Yes, Mum. I 9 (call) you as soon as I 10 (arrive).
A: And if anything, 11 (go) wrong, 12 (you / let) me know
straight away?
B: Yes, Mum. Stop worrying!

60
A: What time will you be home later?
B: Well, I have a meeting until about 6.00, but I 13 _ (leave) as soon as it 14
(finish).
A: OK, 15 (send) me a text when you 16 (be) on the train and I’ll
start making dinner.
B: All right. See you later.

Even though globalization affects the world’s economies in a very positive

way, its negative side should not be forgotten.

Discuss and write a short essay using the words that you’ve learned from the lesson.

61
 Lesson 12
Politics and History

The battle of Hastings

This battle, which took place in the 11th century, is one of the most famous events in
British history. The English king, Edward, had died, and his brother Harold was crowned king
of England. The real heir to the throne, however, was the Frenchman, king William of
Normandy. William decided to invade England to claim his kingdom. He crossed the channel
with his army and landed near Hastings. The French and English armies fought a terrible fight
which ended when Harold was killed by an arrow in his eye and the English soldiers ran away.
William, afterwards known as ‘the Conqueror’ became the next king who reigned for 20 years.

The English Civil War

arms Civil War dictator executed leader monarchy revolution rule

surrendered defeat

In 1642, Charles the first was the king of England, but he argued with his parliament,
who questioned the absolute power of the 1 . The result was the
English 2 , which divided the country in two. The king’s forces had more money
and 3 , but the Parliamentary army had a better 4 , Oliver Cromwel. The
war lasted four years and ended in victory for parliament and 5 for the king, who later
6 . King Charles was sentenced to death and 7 when his head was cut off
with an axe. Cromwel became Lord Protector, a kind of 8 , and his rule was one of
the strictest in English history. The revolution ended with his death when the monarchy was
restored and King’s son was crowned Charles II.

We live in democracy. (a country governed by freely elected representatives). Scotland

is aiming for independence in the next few years. The military junta abolished the
constitution and set up totalitarian regime (having total power and not allowing any
opposition or personal freedom). France is a republic with a president and prime minister. (a
system of government which is governed by elected representatives headed by an elected or
nominated president).
Governments often impose strict economic sanctions which abuse their power
(restrictions on trade with a country in order to try to influence its political development).

The American Congress is formed of the Houses of Representatives and the Senate.
Parliament passed a law forbidding the sale of cigarettes to children. (a group of
elected representatives who vote the laws of a country)

The British Parliament is divided into 2 houses. These are:

1. The House of Commons which is the most important one. It is the lower house
whichis made up of 659 elected members who are known as Members of Parliament.
2. The House of Lords, the upper house, which is made up of hereditary peers
andspecially appointed men and women.

62
Do you like history?
o I am into history.
o I am a history buff (=I like it).
o I don’t really like history.
o I am not overly interested in history.
o History is not my thing.
o History is not really my cup of tea.

‘History’ word family are:

o History (n.)
o Historic (adj.)
o Historical (adj.)
o Historian (person)
o Historically (adv.)

Useful phrases to talk about historical events:

o It took place in 1892.
o It goes back a long time...it happened in .
o It happened at the start of the century.
o It happened at the turn of the century.
o It dates back to 1917.
o It dates back to the last century.
o What happened was (add an explanation of what happened in the event).

Imagine I talk about an event hundreds of years ago. For example, there was a man, Guy
Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in Britain, but he failed!
I can imagine if history were different, saying:
If he had succeeded, he would have changed the course of history

Talk about a consequence in the present.

If he had succeeded, Britain would be very different today.

Grammar
Second conditional
If past simple, would + verb
If I had more money, I’d buy a car
If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for
me to call him).
I would go to the party, if I didn’t have to work.

Third conditional
If past perfect, would have done
Yesterday I got up late and missed my train. ( = the real situation)
If I hadn't got up late yesterday, I wouldn't have missed my train.
If I had gone to university, I would have studied medicine.
I could have won the game if I had tried harder.

63
 Homework:
1. If I more money, I would buy a car.
a) will have
b) had
c) have
2. If she how to speak French, she would not take lessons.
a) had known
b) knew
c) know
d) knows
3. If I had studied harder, I my exam.
a) will pass
b) would pass
c) would have passed
d) will passed
4. If he were older, he vote.
a) will be able to
b) will
c) could
5. I milk at the store last night.
a) should buy
b) should have buy
c) should have bought
6. Would you to live in a big house or a small house?
a) likes
b) have liked
c) like
d) liked
7. Who would you meet if you meet anyone in the world?
a) can
b) will
c) could
8. If you to the party, you would have seen me.
a) have gone
b) had gone
c) went
9. If he the opportunity, he could have gone.
a) had
b) has
c) had had
d) passes
10. I would have cleaned the house if I you were coming.
a) had known
b) have known
c) knew
d) had knew
e) know

64
 Writing exercise

Look at the sample answer to the question below and write a short essay or
storysimilar to it (a structure of your essay should be similar to the given answer).

Sample answer

What would you do if you won a lottery?

If I won a million dollars on a lottery, I would buy my dreamy car-Audi RS7. If I had
Audi, I would travel anywhere I want. If I travelled anywhere I want, I would make friends
from foreign countries. If I made new friends, I would practice my English. If I practiced my
English, I would get job in foreign country. If I got job in foreign country, I would meet
investors for my own business. If I met investors, I would set my own business. If I set my
own business, I would earn millions of dollars.

Now it’s your turn:

What would you do if you were rich?
If I had enough money, I would

65
 Lesson 13
Crime and Punishment

Crime Criminal Verb

Blackmail blackmailer to blackmail
Bribery ------ to bribe
Burglary burglar to break in/ burgle
Drug dealing drug dealer to sell drugs
Fraud ------ to commit fraud
Hijacking hijacker to hijack
Kidnapping kidnapper to kidnap
Mugging mugger to mug
Murder murderer to murder
Rape rapist to rape
Robbery robber to rob
Smuggling smuggler to smuggle
Terrorism terrorist to set off bombs
Theft thief to steal
Vandalism vandal to vandalize

A. a gang took a rich’s man son and asked the family for the money
B. she went to her ex-husband’s house and shot him dead
C. a passenger on a flight made the pilot land in the dessert
D. after the party the man made a woman have sex against her will
E. we came home from holiday and found that our TV had gone
F. someone tried to sell marijuana during a concert
G. when the border police searched his car, it was full of cigarettes
H. someone threw paint on the statue in the park
I. he said he’d send the photo to a newspaper if the actress didn’t pay him a lot of
money
J. an armed man walked into the bank and shouted,’’ hands up!’’
K. a man transferred company money into his own bank account
L. a builder offered the mayor a free flat in return for a favour
M. two men left a bomb in the supermarket car park
N. somebody stole my car last night from outside my house
O. a man held out a knife and made me give him my wallet

Manslaughter = killing somebody illegally, but unintentionally

Assassination = murder of an important person, usually for political reasons

arrested caught fine innocent jury life sentence

magistrate offence trial verdict

In the UK today if you are doing something illegal/ against the law, you
may be by the police and later charged (officially accused) with the crime. If

66
it is a minor , you will be sent to a magistrate’s court and the will
decide your sentence(punishment).
You may have to pay a , do community service, or go to prison/jail. If the
crime is serious you will be taken to a crown court where you will have
a consisting of 12 people. When the lawyers have presented all the evidence and
witnesses have been called, the jury will decide if you are or guilty. If the
is guilty you will be sentenced. If not, you will be acquitted. The most serious
punishment in the UK is a . Capital punishment was abolished in the 1950s.

Verbs connected with crime

o He was convicted and sent to prison.
o The police investigated the case.
o He didn’t have an alibi.
o He was arrested.
o Jim committed a crime.
o He went to court.
o He didn’t get away with the crime.
o They found some clues.
o He was accused of burglary.

Solicitor is a qualified lawyer who gives advice to members of public and act for them
in legal matters (an attorney in the US).

Power of attorney
o A law-abiding citizen is a person who obeys the law.
o It is not enough to just plead your client’s innocence.
o There were several witnesses and the evidence against him was overwhelming.
o Having all the proof they needed, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
o Unfortunately, prison fails to rehabilitate convicted, and after their release they
continue with their misdeeds.
o We all hope that the prisoner will benefit from society’s retribution, that a spell in
prison will reform/rehabilitate him and make him a better person.

We all hope when he is eventually released and let loose on the streets, he will be a
good character, the threat of another spell in jail can be a suitable deterrent which will stop
him from breaking the law again. The reality is usually different. The prisoner may be
released on parole, before the end of his sentence. He will try to re-enter the society. But then
he often becomes a victim himself, unable to find work and rejected by society. It is not long
before when he is back in prison again.
The death penalty is quite a controversial topic nowadays. Some people are in favour
of this practice, while others are against.
One of the most obvious arguments for the death penalty is that the threat of capital
punishment is a great way of deterring criminals from committing the worst crimes. If a
potential criminal realizes how severe it is, he might think twice before doing anything that
could result in the highest form of punishment. Another solid reason which is worth mentioning
is the fact that introducing death penalty is likely to reduce the expenses on keeping prisoners
which are ridiculously high. Sentencing someone for a life imprisonment means that a criminal
will be basically fed and given a shelter by the state’s taxpayers until he dies.

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 On the other hand, the justice system is considered to be prone to making mistakes.
There have been examples of unfair court decisions and wrongful imprisonments that led to
the death of innocent people. Furthermore, it is inhumane to take life of human being not
showing mercy. Who are we to decide whether a person will live or die? A prisoner can suffer
a worse fate by serving a life sentence.
Both sides of argument provide some sound ideas to support their point of view.

Grammar

Passive Voice
The active voice shows what something does. The passive voice shows what happens
to something. We make the passive with [be] + V3.

tense Passive form: [be] +V3 (+by+agent)

present simple The union is run by the students.
present progressive The union is being run by the students.
past simple The union was run by the students.
past progressive The union was being run by the students.
present perfect The union has been run by the students.
past perfect The union had been run by the students.
be going to The union is going to be run by the students.
will The union will be run by the students.

We use the passive

 when the object is more important than the subject and the agent is either obvious, not
important, or unknown:
All applications are processed on the spot. (it is obvious that it is the library staff who
process the cards)

 in formal writing to make it less personal:

You are advised to return the application form within three days. (impersonal) The active
voice is more direct and personal:
I advise you to return the application form within three days.

 when we describe a process:

The union is run by seven executive officers who are elected by students.

Further examples:
Children play football. Football is played by children.
People say/ People think/ People expect
It is said/ It is thought/ It is expected
Cars burn fossil fuels. It is known that cars burn fossil fuels.
Cars are known to burn fossil fuels.
Children do not read. It is believed that children do not read.
Children are believed not to read.
Cars are burning fossil fuels today. It is known cars are burning fossil fuels.

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Cars are known to be burning fossil fuels.
Prices will soon increase. It is expected that prices will soon increase.
Prices are expected to increase soon.
He committed a crime. It is known that he committed a crime.
He is known that he has committed a crime.

Homework:

Look at the following sentences. Try to re-write them using passive forms:

1. People often state that we, as a society, need to educate more engineers, surgeons and
psychiatrists and fewer dancers, painters and singers.
2. Most people accept that globalisation has benefitted some people but been distinctly
disadvantageous for others.
3. Everybody hopes that we can find a solution to the impending ecological crisis.
4. Literally millions worldwide play football. People first played it in ancient times and
people all over the world have played it since the middle of the twentieth century.
5. Some institutions of higher education have granted scholarships to undergraduates from
low-income families. The universities have realised that this is the only way they can
attract brighter students who are not rich enough to pay tuition fees.
6. In the current economic climate, many employers have asked their staff to take a pay-
cut. Other companies have cut their workers hours and in some extreme cases, firms
have dismissed employees.

You can see the answers by going to the “Answers section” at the end of the book.

Questions for IELTS Speaking

Do you think that young criminals should be sent to prison for serious crimes?
What do you think makes people commit acts of violent crime?
Do you think that video games encourage young people to commit crimes?

Crime and punishment IELTS essay

Some people think that offenders should be put in prison. Others, however, believe
that providing offenders with education and training is more effective than putting them in
prison.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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 Lesson 14
Transport

Public Transport Private Transport

(open to the general public - usually with (The personal or individual use of
schedules, regular routes and you pay a fee) transportation which are not available for
use by the general public)
 Buses  Car
 Trains  Bicycle
 Tramways  Scooter / moped / motorbike
 Subways / The Underground  Boat (own)
 Taxi - cab - über
 Rented Bikes
 Ferries, ships, boats

 Traffic in the area significantly improved thanks to the new overpass.

o a bridge that carries one road over another road
 I was stuck in a traffic jam on my way here.
o a large number of vehicles on a road moving very slowly or not at all
 In my opinion, governments are not doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from traffic.
o the amount of gas, heat, light that is sent out
 Electric cars are a more environmentally-friendly alternative.
o not harmful to the environment
 I commute to the city by bus every day.
o to travel regularly between work and home
o daily/every day commute, to commute from/to (place)

Collocations
Get stuck in the traffic =cannot move because there is a traffic jam.
.I hate being stuck in traffic.
I travel back and forth to somewhere (=go between 2 places many times).
.I live in Spain, but I travel back and forth to England twice a year.
I like to travel light = I don’t take many suitcases with me.

Delays when travelling

 I get (on) the train to Wales = take / travel by train
 The hassle of driving = the stress and trouble
 I was held up in traffic and missed the flight
 I missed the plane = I was late and didn’t catch it
 It was a disaster = a terrible thing
 I got my money back in the end
 Arrive in plenty of time = well before the necessary time
 Arrive with time to spare = well before the necessary time

It is now very easy to grab a taxi in Almaty.

To grab a taxi = to catch a taxi
Most travel companies in Kazakhstan nowadays offer door-to-door service to their customers.
People need to follow the traffic rules to reduce congestion during rush hours.

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Roads in many countries are chaotic during rush hours
..Chaotic = not orderly

1. What is the most popular kind of private transport in your country?

I’d say the car given that the public transportation is not terribly good since there is
no subway system, and, also, the weather can be rather atrocious as there is a
lot of rain, so people need protection from the elements.
(short answer + reason + 2nd reason + explanation)

2. How comfortable are trains in your country?

Generally speaking, they are pretty good since facilities are usually quite good
with cushioned seats, air conditioning, and there’s normally a buffet car, where you
can it down and have something to eat.
(short answer + reason + 2nd reason + explanation)

3. Are people using public transport more or less nowadays in your country?
There’s probably been a slight increase because the government has improved
rail services, by both upgrading the quality of the carriages and by extending the
number of stations in the inner city, so it’s easier and more convenient for people to
use it to commute to work or school.
(short answer + reason + explanation)

IELTS Speaking Topic: Transport in the future

Here are some phrases you can use to discuss this subtopic
 I suppose electric cars will be more popular
 I suspect cars running on gas will be a thing of the past.
 Electric vehicles = without gas or petrol
 With climate change getting worse, more and more transportation will run
on electricity.
 Everything is going in that direction.
 Driverless cars = cars without a driver
 Hire a car = rent a car
 Licences will become redundant – we don’t need them anymore.
 Manual cars = cars driven with a gearstick (opposite is automatic car)
 A pain in the ass = a big problem
 When it becomes mainstream – popular in everyday usage
 I might start using a driverless car, when they become mainstream.
 It would make all the difference = it would have a big impact.

What type of transport is very popular in your country?

It’s a good question. I think, in my country, I mean talking about England; probably the
trains are one of the most popular kinds of transport. Lots of people like to take the train,
the inter-city rail system. It’s relatively cheap although, unfortunately the trains are
notorious for (= famous for something bad) being late and I think that lack of
punctuality is a real downside for catching the train. Despite that, it’s still a very popular
way of getting around the country.

Idiom meaning example

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 bumper to bumper with very little space between
two cars in a line of cars
backseat driver a passenger in a car who gives
unwanted advice to the driver
hit the road to begin a trip
hitch a lift/ride to get a free ride in someone
else’s vehicle
beat the traffic to leave early to avoid traveling
when the roads are crowded
The traffic’s usually bumper to bumper all
the way to work.
My wife’s very much a backseat driver - she
always tells me to speed up or slow down.
I like to hit the road early when going on
long journeys.
After the festival, we hitched a lift back to
the city.
I always try to leave early in the morning so
I can beat the traffic on my way to school.

Grammar

Infinitive Gerund

to + verb verb +ing

I want to buy I practice to speak (not correct)

I practice speaking.

Infinitive is used after:

1. After certain verbs
Verbs + infinitives with to: be able to, afford to, agree to, arrange to, choose to, decide to,
expect to, forget to, help to, hope to, learn to, manage to, need to, offer to, plan to, pretend to,
promise to, refuse to, remember to, seem to, try to, want to, would like to.

2. After adjectives
It is bad to smoke to smoke is bad (not correct)

3. Express a purpose
I work to earn money.
I work in order to earn money.
I work so that to earn money.

4. With question words: where, why, when, what

I don’t know where to go

Gerund is used after:

1. Verbs + gerund( -ing): admit (stealing), avoid (driving), can’t stand, deny, dislike, enjoy,
feel like, finish, hate, imagine, keep, like, love, mind, miss, practice, prefer, recommend,
spend, stop, suggest.

2. Subject
Smoking is bad.
Walking at night is dangerous.
Smoking affects our health.
Waking up later at the weekend and
Drinking coffee in bed make me happy.

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3. after prepositions
For, at, in, to, by, with, without
I am good at driving.
He left and didn’t pay. He left without paying.

Homework

Circle the correct form

1) I am in charge of recruiting / to recruit new staff.
2) It’s important for me spending / to spend time with my family.
3) Applying / Apply to go to university abroad can be complicated.
4) I want to do / doing my shopping this morning.
5) My boss wants open / to open a new office.
6) Be careful not asking / not to ask her about her boyfriend – they’ve split up.
7) We went on working / to work until we finished.
8) Dave is very good at solving / to solve problems.
9) The best thing about weekends is not going / not to go to work.
10) Layla gave up modelling / to model when she had a baby.
11) I went on a training course to learning / to learn about the new software.

Describe a form of public transport that is available in your city

You should say:
• What it is
• If you ever use it and how often you use it
• What kind of people use this type of transport?
And explain the advantages and disadvantages of using this form of transportation.

Sample answer:
Ok, so the main form of public transportation in Almaty are buses. Personally, I don’t
use buses very often because the current bus system is not very efficient, and it is much more
convenient to ride a motorbike, however I have used them a few times in the past, and if the
government upgrades the system in the future, then I would definitely use them more often
asa way to get from A to B.
So, the types of people who use buses these days I guess are people who either can’t
afford their own private vehicle or people who don’t like to ride their own vehicle in the hectic
traffic of the city. But I would probably say that the majority of people who use buses in my
city are the elderly and children. So there’s a bunch of advantages and disadvantages when
it comes to catching the bus. Firstly, the key advantage is that it is quite a safe and
comfortable way to travel, providing you get a seat to sit on, because sometimes the bus is so
full that people have to stand up, which is one serious disadvantage. Another advantage is
that due to the ongoing problem of traffic congestion in the city, particularly during rush
hour, being on the bus lets you escape from the polluted air outside from all of the vehicles.
However, the disadvantage during rush hour is that because the bus is so big, it can’t move
very fast through the dense traffic, so if you’re in a rush or cutting it fine to get to school or
work, it could be a bad option.

73
 Choose the most suitable explanation or interpretation, A or B, for the following sentences.
Use the words and phrases in bold to help you.

1. People enjoy the mobility that owning a car gives them.

A. People enjoy being able to travel easily from one place to another.
B. People enjoy being able to drive very fast.

2. What’s your destination?

A. Where have you come from?
B. Where are you going to?

3. Congestion in the city center has increased dramatically.

A. It is now easier to drive around the city center than it was before.
B. It is now more difficult to drive around the city center than it was before.

4. The local council wants to reduce the risks to pedestrians.

A. The local council wants to make it safer for people to walk along the street.
B. The local council wants to make it safer for drivers and their passengers.

5. The pollution in my city is terrible.

A. The air quality in my city is very poor.
B. There is a lot of crime in my city.

6. Traffic-calming measures are becoming increasingly common throughout the country.

A. People have to drive more slowly because of the increased number of police in villages
and towns.
B. People have to drive more carefully through towns and villages because of specially-built
obstacles in the road.

7. The center of Camford has been designated a traffic-free zone.

A. You cannot take your car into the center of Camford.
B. You can park your car for free in the center of Camford.

8. Container lorries and other large vehicles dominate our roads.

A. There are a lot of large vehicles on the roads.
B. There aren’t many large vehicles on the roads.

9. Young drivers have a higher accident risk than older drivers.

A. Young drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in a crash.
B. Young drivers are less likely than older drivers to be involved in a crash.

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 Lesson 15
Animals

 I like giraffe X
o I like giraffes / dogs / elephants
 I adore cats
 I am into
 I am a big fan of
 I am a person
o I am a cat person

Pets
 I have a pet hate, people speaking whilst eating =something I hate a lot
 Biology is her pet hate.
 I was the teacher’s pet = the teacher’s favourite

Zoos
 There are many different species (n.) Capture (v.) - catch (v.)
 Animals are kept in captivity (n.)
 It’s sad to see caged (adj.) animals Cage (n.)

We can save endangered (adj.) animals. Tigers are an endangered animal.

To become / be extinct (adj.) = to disappear, so no longer exist
They are on the brink of extinction (n.) = about to become extinct
They are on the verge of extinction = about to become extinct
In a conservation / natural / safari park animals are allowed to roam (=to walk without
direction) freely.
We can protect animals from poaching (=illegal hunting).
Wild animals herbivores (n.) = animals that eat plants Cows, rabbits, horses…
 carnivores (n.) are meat-eating animals lions, tigers
 mammals (n.) are warm-blooded, and the young feed on milk… whales, dogs
dolphins, bears
 marsupials (n.) - the young live in a pouch (native to Australia)
Animals that eat other animals are called predators

With this kind of question ‘WHY DO PEOPLE _ ?”

I recommend you focus on 1 group of people, and then talk about them. This makes it
easier to answer because it is very specific, otherwise you may just give a very general,
‘surface-level’ answer. Also as you become more specific, you will find you use more specific
vocabulary which can boost your vocabulary score. For example,
 If we are talking about old people, I
think….
 If we are talking about disabled people,
they…
 When it comes to young people,
they….

75
More useful phrases
 For security
 For company
 For companionship
 They keep you company
 In today’s isolated life they want a companion
 Pets symbolize a sense of welfare / well-being
 To curb loneliness (=reduce, keep in check)
 Help us meet other people
 Pets give us a great chance to socialize with others

Zoos for and against

This is a hotly debated issue. If you are not sure about your opinion, you could say…
I am on the fence on this one =undecided
I am in two minds about this =undecided
Zoos are not a good thing because… Cages and living conditions are too cramped - wild
animals need liberty and freedom Animals lose their instincts (for example how to hunt) and
often become depressed
They might be good for people but if we think of animals, zoos limit their activities and
natural way of spending their life. By keeping animals cooped up (in a small cage), there are
more chances of extinction as they don’t get the conditions they need to mate and reproduce
By keeping animals in captivity, ecosystems can be badly affected. Some zoos abuse animals,
for example, training elephants for entertainment. Zoos pose a risk, if animals can escape, they
can harm people.
Zoos are a good thing because… They can help educate children Zoos can be good
for educational purposes to let children know about a wide range of animals. That said, we
should protect the natural habitats where the endangered species live. I think, if workers treat
animals kindly, zoos are good. well, It really depends how well zoos are managed, and how
much protection can be provided to the animals. It’s good to keep some of animals in zoos, as
otherwise their predators will eat them and their numbers will decrease. I think zoos are good
to provided favourable conditions to endangered species and so help save them. Zoos can help
us understand the biodiversity on our planet

Tell us about a time when you saw a wild animal

Well, it’s an interesting question because I live in the city, so I don’t get a lot of access
to wild animals, as you can imagine. But I do remember once, when we were out trekking in
the mountains, we went through a forest, it’s not far from where I live, actually. Whilst we
were going through the forest, suddenly out of the blue (=unexpectedly) we saw this fox and
I didn’t know there were foxes in that forest, but there you go, lo and behold, (=used to present
a new and surprising situation) there it was. It was a lot bigger than I imagined. As I mentioned
I live in a city so I don’t see many wild animals, but this fox was almost the size of a wolf and
what was interesting was, it was really scared of us. It was more scared of us than we were of
it. So, it kind of peeped up (=took a quick look) from behind the bush, it looked at us and
then scurried away (=ran away quickly), to run away and escape. Obviously, it was afraid of
humans. So, I felt surprised to see how big it was and how scared it was, but it was a really
interesting experience that time I saw a fox in the forest near where I live. Notice, my speech
is not in perfect sentences. If you write your answers out in perfect sentences, it will not sound
natural, it will sound like you are a book!

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 Do you think zoos are a good way to conserve wild animals?
Well, it’s an interesting question and I think I have two minds about this. I know that,
by and large, scientific research points in the direction - to suggest its not a good way to
conserve wild animals, because wild animals are kept in captivity, often in small cramped
places, they lose their instinct (=natural ability to do things), whether that be, how to hunt,
how to look after their young or how to socialise, and so they become depressed and they
change their behaviour and so really, they are not surviving as species. If we were to let them
out into the wild, they would die within a week. So, I think we really have to question whether
we are really conserving the wild animals, the species, for the long term. That said, there are
certain animals may be endangered animals on the brink of extinction that need more
protection, otherwise they will die out and so for those animals it may be plausible to put them
in captivity, preferably a natural park, where they can roam freely and be closer to nature and
so that yes, in that case, that may be a better way to conserve the species.

What wild animal do you like and why?

I am a big fan of elephants. I think, elephants are curious and amazing creatures. I have
seen elephants on the television, not in real life, where they are trained to do amazing things,
from almost acrobatics to painting with their trunk. I just think, they are lovely creatures and
they seem very sociable, and very friendly, although of course in the wild I am sure they are
much more aggressive, but they are typically an animal that humans like to tame (=to
domesticate) and I think they are wonderful.

On a farm.
Domestic animals: cockerel, cow, hens, lambs, sheep
In the UK, especially in the east of England, a lot of farmers grow cereals (for example,
wheat), vegetables, and fruit. Most crops are planted in the early spring and are harvested in
the summer. For instance, wheat is harvested in August. Soft fruits like strawberries are usually
ripe in June and July, and many farms invite people to come and pick their own fruit.

The time is ripe for action.

Ripe cheese, land ripe for development.

Gerund or Infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by -ing or to ... with a difference of meaning:

Remember
I remember doing something = I did it and now I remember this.
 You remember doing something after you have done it.
 I know I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it.
(= I locked it, and now I remember this)
 He could remember driving along the road just before the accident, but he couldn’t
remember the accident itself.
I remembered to do something =I remembered that I had to do it, so I did it.
 You remember to do something before you do it.
 I remembered to lock the door, but I forgot to shut the windows.
(= I remembered that I had to lock it, and so I locked it)
 Remember to buy some bananas. (= Don’t forget to buy them)

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Regret
I regret doing something = I did it and now I am sorry about it:
 I now regret saying what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.
 Do you regret not going to college?
I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you = I am sorry that I have to say:
(from a formal letter)
 I regret to say that we are unable to accept your offer.

Go on
go on doing something = continue doing the same thing:
 The president paused for a moment and then went on talking.
 We need to change. We can’t go on living like this.
go on to do something = do or say something new:
 After discussing the economy, the president went on to talk about foreign policy.

We use the following verbs with -ing or to ... with no difference of meaning: begin/
start/ continue/ intend/ bother
So you can say:
It started raining. or It started to rain.
Andy intends buying a house. or Andy intends to buy ... Don’t bother locking the door. or
Don’t bother to lock ...

Normally we do not use -ing after -ing:

It’s starting to rain. (not usually It’s starting raining)

Try
try to do = attempt to do, make an effort to do:
 I was very tired. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn’t.
 Please try to be quiet when you come home. Everyone will be asleep.
try something or try doing something = do it as an experiment or test:
 These cakes are delicious. You should try one. (= have one to see if you like it)
 We couldn’t find anywhere to stay. We tried every hotel in the town, but they were
all full. (= we went to every hotel to see if they had a room)
 a: The photocopier doesn’t seem to be working.
b: Try pressing the green button. (= press the green button – perhaps this will help to
solve the problem)

Homework
Answer to these questions using the words that you’ve learned from the lesson

 What are the main roles of animals in your country?

 Why is it important to conserve the world’s animal and plant species?
 Which species are endangered in your country? Why?
 What effects do you think humans have on wild animals?

78
 Lesson 16
Describing movie or a book

The Godfather
The film Godfather is based on the book by Mario Puzo. The film was by
Francis ford Coppola. It Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as his son,
Michael. The film won three Oscars in !973 for Best Actor (Marlon Brando), best Movie, and
Best Screenplay.
The film is about the Corleone Family. Vito, ‘The Godfather’ is head of one of the most
powerful criminal families in America. Don Vito is a fair but ruthless man, who runs his
business by doing favors and expecting favors in return. The Corleones get involved in a war
with other criminal families, because they don’t want to sell drugs. Don Vito is shot and he is
seriously injured. While Don Vito is in hospital, control of the family passes to his eldest son,
Sonny. Sonny is a hot-head, and with him in charge, the war between the various families
becomes more violent. Don Vito’s youngest son, Michael, has always stayed outside the family
business, but when Don Vito is shot, he returns home to do what he can to help the family. He
also takes his revenge against the people who are trying to kill his father. In the end, sonny is
shot and Michael becomes the new Godfather.
I strongly The Godfather. It has , drama, an unforgettable
, and an important message: that violence never really solves anything. The two
, The Godfather II and The Godfather III are also good, but the first film is definitely
my favourite.

Read the film review and complete it with the words in the list.

action based directed location recommend sequels set soundtrack stars

Useful language: describing a film

It was directed / written by …
It is set in …
It is based on the book …
It’s about …
It stars …
In the end …
My favourite scene is …
I strongly recommend (the film) because …

Vocabulary: Likes and dislikes

1. I quite like horror films.
2. I adore reading crime novels.
3. I am not bothered either way about classical books.
4. Most comedy films leave me cold
5. I’m obsessed with early-eighties film.
6. I can’t stand opera and ballet.
7. I’m not very keen on low-budget films.
8. I can’t get enough science fiction.
9. I don’t really have an opinion about detectives.
10. I am a big fan of independent, low-budget cinema.

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Complete the sentences with your own ideas relating to this theme
1. I quite like .
2. I adore .
3. I am not bothered either way about .
4. leaves me cold.
5. I’m obsessed with .
6. I can’t stand .
7. I’m not very keen on .
8. I can’t get enough .
9. I don’t really have an opinion about .
10. I am a big fan of .

Describing a book
It is difficult to find time to read books as I am up to my neck with deadlines.
Reading books is not my cup of tea.
I am not an avid reader.
My friend is a bookworm.
I tend to read e-books because they are environmentally friendly. You can find e-
books easily on the internet as they are searchable and cheaper than hardcover books. And
also, I find e-books easier on the eye to read.
Recently, I started reading a book which is called ’12 Rules for life’ written by Jordan
B Peterson. It is well-written book and I couldn’t put it down for many days. And also,
readers can find many well-crafted stories in this book which are engrossing and thought
provoking. As well as this the author of that book is a New York Time best-selling author
and well-known clinical psychologist in Canada.
The reason why I have chosen that particular book is because it has a great storyline
about how he managed to overcome difficulties on his own. That book provides a window to
the world of psychology and I think reading such types of books is a good way to broaden
your knowledge.

Children and reading

1. What types of comic books are popular with children in your country? Probably,
Japanese anime, and the one they particularly enjoy is Doraemon since most young
ones think he is a really cute little character.
(short answer + reason + example)
2. In what ways can teachers make children interested in reading?
While they can introduce different great story books to them, I think the best thing
they can do is give them time in class to actually read quietly or read to them, so they
can fully appreciate them.
(while + two different answers + explanation)
3. Do you think that children should not read comic books?
No, I totally disagree because I think getting children to read anything is beneficial as
that can create an interest in reading and lead to them reading other books like novels
further down the track.
(short answer + reason)

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Grammar

How adjectives are used

 We can use adjectives before nouns:
There are so many historic buildings.
It was well worth the trip, especially if you like local crafts.
 after the following verbs: be, become, get, seem, appear, look, smell, taste, feel
The mosques in particular are very beautiful.
They always seem pleased to see you.
 after find/make/keep + object:
Work hard on your research if you want to make your trip enjoyable and rewarding.
I found the insects rather frightening.
 with other adjectives or with other nouns to describe a noun:
a long, tiring boat ride (adjective + adjective + noun + noun)

Adjectives ending in -ed and -ing

Some adjectives connected with feelings are formed from verbs and have two possible
forms, usually -ed or -ing e.g. tired/tiring. We use -ed forms to talk about how we feel:
I was fascinated to see the extraordinary range of patterns. I was amazed at the variety of
wonderful animals.
We use -ing forms to describe the things or people that cause the feelings: It’s an
absolutely amazing city to visit.
India is a fascinating country.

Adverbs
Adverbs give information about verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Adverbs tell us how
(manner), where (place), when (time), how often (frequency), or how much (intensity)
something happens or is done. An adverb can be a single word (e.g. sometimes) or a phrase
(e.g. from time to time).

How adverbs are used

Adverbs which tell us about
 manner is often formed by adding -ly to the adjective form:
careful → carefully/ happy → happily
They usually come after the verb (and object, if there is one):
I plan my trips very carefully. WRONG I plan very carefully my trips
 place usually come after the verb:
It was the first time I had been there.
Try to stay near the old part of the city.
 time such as today, tomorrow, now, since 2003, for three minutes can go at the
beginning or the end of a clause:
I had a very memorable trip last year. (or Last year I had a very memorable trip.)
 frequency usually come before the verb but after be or an auxiliary verb: I often travel
for my job.
I have always enjoyed my visits there.
He’s never late.

Adverbs of degree
We often use an adverb of degree to modify an adjective or another adverb
He’s a little/quite/very lazy.

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He speaks a little/quite/very slowly.
This car’s far/much better than that one.

Put the adverbs in the chart

a bit extremely fairly incredibly rather really slightly

extremely dangerous

a little cold quite slowly very difficult

 rather is normally used with negative adjectives (rather boring, rather dangerous).
 a bit, really, and incredibly are more colloquial than the other adverbs.
 quite normally means ‘less than very’. However, it can sometimes mean ‘completely,
especially with sure, wrong, right, true, different, agree, understand: e.g. It’s
quite true. I quite agree.
 far is often used as an adverb with comparatives, meaning ‘much’.
This car’s far/much better than that one.

Homework

On a separate piece of paper, write answers to each of these questions which include plenty
of detail and avoid being too general.

1. What kinds of film or TV do you like watching?

2. Do you like watching any other types of film and TV?
3. When do you usually watch films?
4. Have the types of film and TV program you like changed over the years?
5. Do you prefer watching films on TV or in the cinema?
6. What kinds of book and magazine do you like reading?
7. Do you like reading any other types of books?
8. When do you usually read?
9. Have the types of books you like changed over the years?
10. Do you prefer reading books or newspapers and magazines?

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 Write a film review about a film you would recommend people to buy on DVD
or see at the cinema. Plan what you are going to write in the four paragraphs.

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 17 lesson
Weather
When talking about the weather, there are different ways we can express our ideas.
We can use ADJECTIVES
It’s in my country

VERY HOT Scorching, sweltering, boiling, baking

COLD cold, quite chilly, freezing cold
WET humid, soaking wet
NOT VERY BRIGHT bleak, gloomy, dull
UNSTABLE changeable

We can use NOUNS

We get a lot of
Sunshine, sunny spells
tropical storms, showers, downpours, heavy rain, torrential rain snow,
blizzards
wind, storms, hurricanes
heat waves
droughts (no rain for long periods)

We can use VERBS

It’s always where I live
It tends to where I live
Raining, pouring, pouring down, drizzling (=light rain), snowing, sleeting, hailing

Put the words and phrases in the right place

below zero breeze chilly cool damp drizzling freezing gale-force mild
pouring (with rain) scorching showers warm
1. It’s . (quite cold, not cold or hot)
2. It’s . (Unpleasantly cold)
3. It’s .
4. The temperature is . (-10°)

5. It’s . (pleasant and not cold)

6. It’s . (pleasantly high temperature)
7. It’s / boiling. (unpleasantly hot)

8. It’s . (a bit wet, but not raining)

9. It’s . (raining lightly)
10. There are . (short periods of rain)
11. It’s . (raining a lot)

12. There’s a (a light wind)

13. There are (very strong) winds.

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Sometimes in Shymkent, temperatures can get to/hit/reach 45 degrees.
We have clear blue skies in summers but in winter seasons it gets cloudy.
Weather definitely has an impact in our daily life. When the weather is good I feel uplifting
and revitalizing energy in myself.
We have changeable/variable weather in Almaty.

1. Be careful! The pavement’s very slippery.

2. You’re shivering.
3. I’m sweating
4. I got soaked this morning.
5. It’s very humid today.
6. The snow is starting to melt.
7. Don’t get sunburnt!

Complete the weather forecast with these adjectives.

Bright changeable clear heavy icy settled strong sunny thick

In the north of England and Scotland it will be very cold, with winds and
rains. There will also be fog in the hills and near the coast, though it
should clear by midday. Driving will be dangerous as the roads will be .
However, the south of England and the Midlands will have skies and
sunshine, though the temperature will still be quite low. Over the next few days
the weather will be , with some showers but occasional periods. It should
become more over the weekend.

What is the weather like in your country?

There are probably 5 main kinds of weather -
1. Hot
2. Mild (in between hot and cold)
3. Cold
4. Wet
5. Dry

The weather changes due to a number of different factors, including the following
• Changes in air pressure and wind
• Different Seasons
• Pollution
• Climate change

In order to answer this question, you can use comments like the following:
It depends which part of the country we are taking about and on the season.
In the north, it’s very wet. We get a lot of rainstorms and tropical storms. At times, on
the coast, there are typhoons as well.
In the south the climate is much hotter and dryer. We often get droughts that can last
for weeks or months.
In summer, it’s roasting hot. It’s so hot, you can hardly go outside for more than a few
minutes.
In the winter, it’s cooler but it never snows. I have never seen snow in my country.

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 Do you think the weather will affect certain types of jobs?
Yes, it will have an impact on farmers, floods might destroy their crops.
It will definitely affect fishermen, they may have to change their schedules if there are
high storms at sea.
Builders in the construction industry can certainly be affected. If the temperature is
below freezing, they can’t mix the concrete.
Taxi drivers might be hit by the rain. On the one hand, they will have more customers,
but on the other, it can make driving more dangerous.

Idioms about Weather

Come rain or shine = whatever happens.
I don’t even care if I am sick, I am going to my friends’ wedding come rain or shine.
It never rains, it pours = every happens at once.
I have been waiting for a job opportunity for weeks, and all of a sudden, I have got 5
in one day. It never rains, it pours.
To be on cloud nine = to be very happy.
I finally got the score I need on IELTS, I am on cloud nine!

Grammar

Look at these examples:

How shall we travel? Shall we drive or go by train?
Let’s drive. It’s cheaper.
Don’t go by train. It’s more expensive.
Cheaper and more expensive are comparative forms.

After comparatives you can use than:

 It’s cheaper to drive than go by train.
 Going by train is more expensive than driving.

We use more ... for longer words (two syllables or more):

 You’re more patient than me.
 The exam was quite difficult – more difficult than I expected.
 Can you walk a bit more slowly? I’d like to have a more reliable car.

Before comparatives you can use:

much a lot far (= a lot) a bit a little slightly (= a little)

I felt ill earlier, but I feel much better now. (or a lot better)
Don’t go by train. It’s a lot more expensive. (or much more expensive)
Could you speak a bit more slowly? (or a little more slowly)
This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
The problem is far more serious than we thought at first.

the...the...
You can say the sooner the better, the more the better etc.:
 What time shall we leave?
 The sooner the better. (= as soon as possible)
 What sort of bag do you want? A big one?

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  Yes, the bigger the better. (= as big as possible)
 When you’re travelling, the less luggage you have the better.

We also use the ... the ... to say that one thing depends on another thing:
 The sooner we leave, the earlier we’ll arrive. (= if we leave sooner, we’ll arrive
earlier)
 The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
 The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
 The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.

Another way of comparing two things is using as as structure:

He isn’t as rich as Sarah.
The town centre wasn’t as crowded as usual. (= it is usually more crowded)
I’m sorry I’m late. I got here as fast as I could.
Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.

Superlatives

 What is the longest river in the world?
 What was the most enjoyable holiday you’ve ever had?
 Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.
 The Louvre in Paris is one of the most famous museums in the world.
 She is really nice – one of the nicest people I know.
 What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen, and what’s the worst?
 How old is your youngest child?

Homework

Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much / a bit etc. + a
comparative form. Use than where necessary.

1. The problem is much more serious than we thought at first.

2. This bag is too small. I need something . (much/big)
3. I liked the museum. It was I expected. (a lot/ interesting)
4. It was very hot yesterday. Today it’s . (a little/ cool)
5. I’m afraid the problem is it seems. (far/complicated)
6. You’re driving too fast. Can you drive ? (a bit/ slowly)
7. I thought he was younger than me, but in fact he’s . (slightly/ old)

Describe your favorite season or time of the year

You should say:
 when this time is.
 what the weather is like at this time. 
 what you usually do at this time and explain why it is your favorite time of the year.

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 Lesson 18
Photos and favourite events

Possible questions related to the topic of “Event”

 Describe a happy day you would like to have

 Describe a colorful event that you enjoyed
 Describe a time you were with people and got bored
 A time you received bad service
 Describe a time you had to wake up early

Event is a point in time

What would you say:

 Setting = background story
 People
 Happened

Setting
Language to start:
 When I was living/working in .
o When I was working in New York that event happened
 I was living/working/travelling in X at the time,
 I used to live/ work in .
 I would always/often/usually .
Those are very simple languages to set up a setting (background story)

The usage of Past Perfect:

 The event happened in March of 2017.
 I was living/working/travelling in X at the time
 I had moved there a few years earlier.

People
Personality:
 He was so talkative, rude, thick-skinned, inconsiderable.
 She was quite quiet, polite, sensitive, considerate, thoughtful,
 She was witty, smart, quick on her feet, full of beans.
o witty (adj) = quick with spoken humor
o to be quick on your feet = you can think quickly
o to be full of beans = be full of energy
Happened:
Extend your grammatical rangy by using these grammatical structures:
 I was doing …, when X happened.
 I did A, I did B and then I did C (pattern of 3)
o I got a cup of tea, sat down and started to work.
 (regret) I wish I had known …, then I wouldn’t have gone.
o I wish I had known the restaurant was so filthy and I wouldn’t have gone.
o I wish I had known that concert was going to be rubbish and I wouldn’t have
gone.

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  Looking back, I wouldn’t do that again.

to kick off = to begin

to bump into someone = to meet by chance
Sample answer:
Describe a colorful event that you enjoyed

A while back, I went to see a show called the Lion King. I was travelling on holiday in
London at the time, with my family. I had heard about that show, so I decided to get tickets
for us all.
My daughter was dead excited about it. She was 7 at the time, so she was really into
animals. My wife was pleased as punch, because she had never been to a show in London
before. She said I had been very thoughtful and considerate buying tickets for us.
So, we arrived at the theatre, gave in our tickets, and sat down. We were struck by the size
of it. The hall was huge. The stage was closed by this large red curtain, and the auditorium had
these lovely golden arches in the galleries. Our seats were really comfy, with nice blue covers.
After a few minutes the show started, and it was wonderful. The costumes were striking, full
of different colors and textures. There was an array of lights, reflection the various colors of
Africa. You really felt like you were there.
We loved it, and if I had known it was going to be that good, I would have forked out a
bit more money to get seats closer to the stage.
 dead(adv) = very (adv) (U.K.)
 to be pleased as punch = be really happy
 to fork out (money) = to pay (Col.)

1. How people celebrate public events?

I would say a gathering with food, alcohol, friends, and family is the most common way to
celebrate an event across the world. More specifically, for events such as New Years, people
like to crowd a central area, such as the main square, usually for a concert or some sort of
speaker or count down. Furthermore, people tend to like using fireworks, bells, airhorns or
even just shouting when they feel excited about something.

2. Do you think it is important to celebrate events?

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I think it’s nice to celebrate events to have
something to look forward to (feel excited for) throughout the year, but I dislike the pressure
aspect of special events. For example, people tend to get so stressed about buying gifts and
decorating their homes during the Christmas season that they forget to simply enjoy their
time with family and friends. However, when I think about it, I couldn’t imagine life without
celebrating special events.

3. Should the event be prepared in advance?

I would say so. When we procrastinate (wait to do something until the last minute), it tends to
cause things to get pretty hectic (crazy) at the last minute. However, when we plan too far in
advance, it may not go as planned, as things tend to change. For example, maybe an
unexpected event arises which causes the plan to change. On the other hand, I don’t think we
should plan every detail in advance, as I’ve found that sometimes the spontaneous
(unplanned) moments are the most enjoyable. So, all in all, it’s about balance. I’d like to have
a rough plan (an idea but not a strict plan) of the event in advance, but not overly detailed nor
several months in advance.

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4. How can you prepare an activity?
Well, firstly, I would like to know the approximate number of guests and their ages.
Secondly, I would like to brainstorm (think of ideas) some different ideas of things that
would be appealing to the audience. After this, I would find an appropriate place to hold the
event, such as a home, a rented venue, outdoor area, etc and start to think about the type of
food and refreshments would be appealing (tasteful) for this event. After this, I would start to
officially send out invitations via mail or email and see how many RSVP (respond to event).
Upon obtaining the official numbers, I would either make the food and buy the drinks or hire
a catering company to take care of the party. As the event approaches, I would double-check
with the guests to see how many are coming. I’d say this plan would lead to a successful
event.

Vocabulary
Look forward: to feel excited for
Eg: His son was looking forward to a better job.

Procrastinate: wait to do something until the last minute

Eg: The boss of the company wants to procrastinate all his work.

Spontaneous: unplanned
Eg: Seema was a spontaneous dancer.

Rough plan: an idea but not a strict plan

Eg: They are having a very rough plan for the project.

Brainstorm: think of ideas

Eg: Brainstorming is necessary for the emergence of new ideas.

Photo

Common Collocations
 Take a photo of someone
 To shoot a photo
 To take some shots (n.)
 To snap a picture / photo (casual)
 To take a snap (n.)
 To pose for a photo
o I hate posing for photos, ‘cos I am just so not photogenic

 A digital photo
 Color photos / black and white photos
 A high resolution photo
 A photo opportunity
 Having all the family together for my birthday was a great photo
opportunity
 To capture the moment (to catch)
 Photo editing (n.)
 To crop a photo
 a photo frame / album

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  A photo session
 to be in focus
 to be out of focus

Photos you like to take

I tend to take
I like taking pictures of
I like to capture / shoot
I like to photograph (v.)
Landscape photos/ Portrait photos /Cityscape photos /Seascape photos /Panoramic views
/Picturesque views /Selfies /Group photos /Daily life photos.
Cities / nature / people / animals / spontaneous (=not planned) moments / everyday situations
/ food / different scenery / different scenic views.
I love to take photos and post them on social media. Everything and anything, it is all just one
click away.
I am camera shy (= I don’t like to be in photos).
Photos that give me good memories /bring back good memories.
I adore looking back at my wedding pics.
Screen shots of brand-new jewelry.

IELTS Speaking Tips

 Develop your answers.
 Choose one focus and develop that.
 Don’t plan too much - talk as naturally as possible.

Common Question Types

How has the way we take photos changed in recent years? You can break your answers into
three simple parts.
1. The past
2. The change
3. Now
4. Reason
5. Example

1. Well, in the past,

2. But recently there has been a huge change
3. Now, we can see
4. This change is due to
5. For instance

What kind of photos do you prefer taking?

Well, I am a bit of an amateur photographer and I really do like taking different kinds
of photos, but if I had to pick one kind, I think it would be different scenic views. Right?
Landscapes, I particularly like landscapes because I live near the countryside.
I am surrounded by nature. So, I love to get out into the countryside and to snap some
mountains or rivers, something natural. That’s the kind of photo I prefer taking.

How often do you take photos?

To be honest, I think I take photos most days. It’s so easy nowadays just to take out,
to whip-out your phone and to snap anything you see around you, whether it’s food in a

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restaurant or a spontaneous moment when you walking down the street, and, I love to capture
those moments. I always have my phone with me so, to be honest, yes, I am taking photos
most days.

Grammar
Tag questions
Question tags are short questions at the end of statements.
They are mainly used in speech when we want to:
 confirm that something is true or not, or
 to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to.

Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the
appropriate subject.

A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.

 Jack is from Spain, isn't he?
 Mary can speak English, can't she?

A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.

 They aren't funny, are they?
 He shouldn't say things like that, should he?

When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with do
/ does.
 You play the guitar, don't you?
 Alison likes tennis, doesn't she?

If the verb is in the past simple we use did.

 They went to the cinema, didn't they?
 She studied in New Zealand, didn't she?

When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag needs to
be positive
 He hardly ever speaks, does he?
 They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?

Intonation
When we are sure of the answer and we are simply encouraging a response, the intonation in
the question tag goes down:
 This is your car, isn't it?
(Your voice goes down when you say isn't it.)
When we are not sure and want to check information, the intonation in the question tag goes
up:
 He is from France, isn't he?
(Your voice goes up when you say isn't he.)

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 Homework

Describe an event that you attended recently

You should say:
 what and where the occasion was
 who were there
 what happened
and describe how you enjoyed

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 Lesson 19
21st century jobs

1. What types of jobs will we have in the rest of the 21st century?
Make a list of at least four 21st-century jobs and add a few words about what responsibilities
the job has and what you think its environmental impact is, if any. These may be:
a) jobs we have now that will not be replaced by technology.
b) new jobs that have just appeared in our societies.
c) new jobs that don’t exist yet, but that you predict we will need.

21st century jobs

Job title Responsibilities Environmental impact (if any)

Example:
Example: Example:
Can work from home – less travel.
Cyber security Working with organisations to protect their
Use a lot of data – that has an
specialist electronic data from hackers and viruses.
environmental impact.

2. What will be the structure and characteristics of work in the rest of the century?
Use the table below to describe the nature of 21st-century work, and the benefits
(environmental and other) of and challenges to your ideas. You will need to be creative and
think critically.

These may be:

a) issues that already exist in work.
b) ideas that you predict, or hope, will become common.

Structure and characteristics Benefits and challenges

Example:
Example:
Less travel – environmental benefits. Good connectivity is
Working from home.
not universal – some communities can’t work from home.

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Below are some vocabulary items and ideas that may help your discussions. Analyse them
What types of jobs will we have in the rest of the century? (There are definitions
next to some of the words).
 Artificial intelligence (AI) developers
 Big data analysts (specialists who look at data from different sources to find trends
and patterns)
 Caring and health sector jobs – we have an ageing population
 Environmental jobs – scientists or coaches
 Nanotechnologists (specialists in small tech devices)
 Robotic experts
 SEO (search engine optimisation) or social media specialists
 Transport planning or urban planning jobs – more and more people are now living in
cities
 Waste management engineers (experts in how we dispose of things we no longer
need)

The world of work in the rest of the century

 Will we see more good-quality jobs, with repetitive and hard physical jobs done by
machine?
 Can we hope for more sustainable jobs that build the local economy?
 Will workplaces be more environmentally aware?
 Will there be more equal opportunities for people to be recruited?
 Will we see tax-paying jobs that contribute to the local economy and reduce poverty?
 Will we see fewer people needing to travel abroad for jobs?
 As skills now become out of date quickly, are long-term careers now finished?
 The UN says 50 per cent of jobs will be automated in the next 15 years. What are the
implications of this?
 We will become more aware of our ‘transferable skills’ as the jobs market changes
very quickly. What are some examples of this?
 Will a guaranteed minimum income become common? Some countries are trying it
already.
 What is the future of outsourced working? This is where jobs are moved to ‘lower-
wage’ countries to save money.
 Will a four-day working week become standard?

You have been asked to write at least four ideas of at least three sentences each about
21st-century jobs and the world of work in the 21st century. In particular, you should look at
the environmental impact of the ideas. Here are three examples.

Working from home is becoming more and more common around the world, and this should
be reducing the impact on the climate of travelling to work. The problem is that many of the
most polluted locations are in countries where the work-from-home culture is not common.
Will we see a change in the near future?
There should be many more jobs in the health sector as we are living longer now. The
demand for these jobs will continue to grow over the years as the population ages.
Unfortunately, many of these jobs are usually poorly paid, and low-income economies often
suffer most from the results of climate change.

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 We may never see the return of jobs in heavy industry in the most developed countries in
the world, and this should have a positive impact on their environments. However, the jobs will
continue to exist in developing countries. This brings money to the economies, but at a huge
environmental cost. There ought to be stronger environmental protection laws in these
locations.

There are a lot of different ways of writing your four sentences, and please use your
critical-thinking and creativity skills to write them. Some modal verbs may be useful as well,
and here is a reminder of some of them for you.

 ‘Should’ is often used to describe the ideal or best thing to do. There should be many
more green jobs.
 ‘Must’ is used to describe something we see as necessary. There must be global action
on climate change now.
 'Can' is used to talk about general truths and tendencies. As a nation we can provide
better jobs for younger people.
 ‘There ought to be’ is used to describe something we want to happen. You can add
‘really’ for emphasis.
Governments really ought to tax the big polluters.
 ‘Should be’ plus ‘-ing’ is used to describe something we expect to happen. Global
temperatures should be falling in the next 15 years.
 ‘May’ can be used with a selection of adverbs such as ‘never’, ‘just’ or ‘only’. We
may only see the results of our climate change initiatives in 20 years.

Grammar

We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or that somebody has the ability
to do something. We use can + infinitive (can do / can see etc.):
 We can see the lake from our hotel.
 ‘I don’t have a pen.’ ‘You can use mine.’
 Can you speak any foreign languages?
 I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
 The word ‘dream’ can be a noun or a verb.

The negative is can’t (= cannot):

 I’m afraid I can’t come to the party on Friday.

We also use could for possible actions now or in the future, especially to make suggestions.
For example:

1. What shall we do tonight?

2. We could go to the cinema.
1. When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Sarah.
2. Yes, I suppose I could.

Something could have happened = it was possible, but did not happen:
 Why did you stay at a hotel? You could have stayed with me.
 David was lucky. He could have hurt himself when he fell, but he’s all right.

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I couldn’t do something = it would not be possible:
 I couldn’t live in a big city. I’d hate it. (= it wouldn’t be possible for me)
 Everything is fine right now. Things couldn’t be better.

We use may or might to say that something is possible. You can use may or might:
 It may be true. or It might be true. (= perhaps it is true)
 She might know. or She may know.

The negative forms are may not and might not:

 It may not be true. (= perhaps it isn’t true)
 She might not know. (= perhaps she doesn’t know)

We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future:
 I haven’t decided where to go on holiday. I may go to Ireland. (= perhaps I will go
there)
 Take an umbrella with you. It might rain later. (= perhaps it will rain)
 The bus isn’t always on time. We might have to wait a few minutes. (= perhaps we
will have to wait)

Additional grammar
It is more common to use can/could to talk about general ability in the present and past than
be able to:
Can you remember much, about it? (= Are you able to remember?)
He could speak French and Italian, but he couldn’t remember his name.
To talk about ability on one specific occasion in the past we use couldn’t, was(n’t)/were(n’t)
able to, but not could:
The police were able to find out that he could speak French and Italian.

can, can’t, be able to, manage to I can’t swim.

could, couldn’t, was/were able to, managed to
[have] been able to, [have] managed to
will be able to, will manage to
They weren’t able to find out his name.
Have you managed to finish the report
yet?
I won’t be able to meet you later.

The police could find out

He couldn’t remember who he was.
We sometimes use manage to to show that something is difficult to achieve:
I’ve finally managed to give up smoking after all these years! We use be able to or manage to
with perfect or future forms:
Apparently he’s been able to find his family.
Within a year he’ll probably be able to remember quite a lot.

Possibility
We use must, may, might, could, couldn’t, can’t when there is some evidence, information or
belief that something is probably or possibly true (or not true).The modal verb we choose
depends on the strength of the evidence we have to support our ideas.
Could, may, might express the same degree of possibility: He may/might/could remember
some things already.

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 Couldn’t expresses the same probability as can’t. It is usually used to talk about the past: The
police realised he couldn’t be Canadian.
(= it was very unlikely that he was Canadian)

Very likely must

Possible might, may, could, may not, might not
Very unlikely can’t, couldn’t

May not and might not do not express the same probability as couldn’t:
The supermarket may/might not be open today because it’s a Bank Holiday.
the supermarket couldn’t be open

Homework

Write a short essay about professions and job market in the 21st century.

Cover the following points:

1. Three jobs that you are interested in.
2. Why they are interesting to you.
3. Three jobs that you would never do.
4. Why they are not interesting to you.

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 Lesson 20
Nuclear tech/tech

Collocations

All of the following more or less mean ‘new’

 New technologies
 Latest technologies
 Emerging technologies
 Modern technologies

The following are also common collocations with ‘technology’

 Disruptive
o changing the traditional way that an industry operates, especially in a new and
effective way.
 Cutting edge
o the most modern stage of development in a particular type of work or activity.
 State-of-the-art
o very modern and using the most recent ideas and methods:
 Upcoming
o happening soon
 Old-fashioned
o not modern; belonging to or typical of a time in the past
 Out of date
o no longer considered to be modern or fashionable:

Introduce / adopt / develop / exploit / use new technologies

Word Family
Technology (n.)
Technical (adj.)
Technical skills / knowledge
It’s a bit technical (=difficult to understand)
Say it in layman’s terms (=simple English)

Emerging Technologies
Here are some of the newest emerging technologies that you can talk about in the IELTS
Speaking test. There is a brief explanation of each below.
 Artificial Intelligence (AI)
 Machine Learning
 5G
 The Internet of Things (IOT)
 Augmented Reality (AR)
 Virtual Reality (VR)
 Blockchain
 Biometrics
 Robotics
AI = the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like
humans and mimic their actions.

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 (VR) is a computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real
(e.g video games, pilot simulation.
IoT = refers to a system of internet-connected objects that are able to collect and transfer
data over a wireless network without human intervention (e.g. energy management, water
distribution, contactless payments, smart homes.
Biometrics identifies and authenticates individuals based on their physical or behavioural
characteristics. (e.g. Fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, face recognition)
Robotics – developing robots that substitute for (or replicate) human actions (e.g
Roomba vacuum, car manufacturing.

IELTS Speaking Tip

If you don’t know much about a certain IELTS Speaking Topic like technology, don’t
worry, you don’t need to be an expert. You just need to know enough about it to discuss it.
Here’s a nice tip, you can also use these phrases to still show off your English!
 Technology is not really my thing, but I think…
 I’m by no means an expert, but I would say…
 I’m a bit of a technology buff, and the way I see it…
 I’m far from an expert, but as I see it…

Technology: A good or a bad thing?

Here are some nice phrases you can use to talk fluently about this debate:
 On the positive side……
 It allows us to
 It means we have been able to
 It’s enabled us to
 …communicate more effectively
 …develop stronger economies
 …improve our quality of life

At the same time, there have also been

 side effects
 unexpected outcomes
 unwanted by-products
 undesirable consequences
 …such as pollution and the depletion of natural resources

Technology is great, but we might lose our privacy or

get unsolicited (=unwanted) advertisements, but maybe that’s the price we pay!

Idioms to talk about Technology

The technology behind a pen is not rocket science = It’s simple
My computer is running like clockwork (= working perfectly)
The iPhone was ahead of its time (=too advanced to be fully understood at that time in the
past)
You’ve hit the nail on the head (= you are exactly right)
I’ve no more ideas, I have run out of steam (= lost all energy and enthusiasm)
My boss has a screw loose = (crazy)
New technologies cost an arm and a leg (=expensive)
to hit the panic button =take emergency measures

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 Example of speaking part 1 questions

What type of technology do you use in your home?

Answer: We have a number of labour-saving devices including state of the art
technology in our kitchen. These appliances include an induction stove, a dishwasher, and
an Internet-enabled refrigerator. All are connected through the Internet of Things so we
can remotely control them.
 Labour saving device – An appliance that saves work
 State of the art technology – The best technology available
 Internet-enabled – Machines or appliances that have Internet access
 Internet of Things – A network connecting machines in a location so that
they can be remotely controlled
 Control remotely – To control technology from a distance

Are you comfortable using modern technology?

Answer: You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use technology today. It’s all
about booting up, logging in and then clicking on the icon that will take you to your
favourite application. On the single occasion that my computer crashed, I called someone in
to re-install the programs otherwise I’m comfortable.
 Not rocket science – It is not very difficult
 To crash – To stop working suddenly
 To Log in – To sign onto the computer

How do you keep your computer and data secure?

Answer: I always shut down the computer at night. I backup my files to a hard drive
and I always keep hard copies of important documents. I am very careful with my privacy
settings, especially in wireless hotspots.
 Shut down – Turn the computer off
 Back up your files – To save your data to another device
 Keep a hard copy – Keep a paper copy
 Wireless hotspots – A location where the Internet is available

Do you think men and women view technological devices differently?
Answer: Yes, I do. For starters, men are usually more obsessed with gadgets. They are
almost like children with the way they want to play with the latest games and learn all their
new functions. They are constantly fiddling around with their new toys. I also think that
gadgets are a kind of ego for men. I mean they often compare their new toys with each other
to see who has the best one. Women, on the other hand, are more down to earth and see devices
more rationally as a means to communicate with others or to perform a particular function. Of
course, this is pretty stereotyped but it seems to hold true for most men and women I know.
 fiddling around with something = playing with something
 down to earth = realistic, practical
 stereotyped = putting people into a group or categorizing them not based on fact

Nuclear Tech
The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides
cheap and clean energy.
The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 It is often argued that nuclear arsenals keep the world safe and that nuclear energy is an
inexpensive and environmentally friendly source of power. This essay totally disagrees that
these benefits outweigh the drawbacks because the downsides are the eradication of mankind
and the destruction of the planet.
Believing that major powers having nuclear warheads pointed at one another is a good
thing because it ensures super powers will not go to war is foolish. This is because it only takes
one mistake or a rogue commander to trigger a nuclear conflict and this is a conflict most of us
would not survive. For example, during the Cuban Missile Crisis the United States and the
USSR came extremely close to launching their missiles and this demonstrates that they are not
actually the ultimate deterrent and nuclear war is possible.
The idea that nuclear fission is a clean source of energy has been dispelled by numerous
high-profile accidents at nuclear power plants. These disasters show just how harmful and long
lasting a leak of nuclear material can be and the contamination is not worth it when other
sources of energy are available. For example, the Fukushima disaster has polluted huge parts
of the Pacific Ocean and it has been reported that fish as far away as California have dangerous
levels of radiation. To make matters worse, solar and wind energy could replace nuclear energy
tomorrow if there was the political will to do so.
In conclusion, this essay disagrees with the opinion that nuclear technology is beneficial
rather than dangerous because the consequences of using nuclear energy in the wrong way are
so catastrophic to both our species and the Earth itself.

Grammar
Relative clauses

We use who in a relative clause for people (not things):

 The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor. I don’t like people who complain
all the time.
 An architect is someone who designs buildings.
When we are talking about things, we use that or which (not who) in a relative clause:
 I don’t like stories that have unhappy endings.
or ... stories which have unhappy endings.
 Grace works for a company that makes furniture. or ... a company which makes
furniture.

Look at these example sentences

The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor. (or The woman that lives ...)
The woman lives next door to me who (= the woman) is the subject
Where are the keys that were on the table? (or ... the keys which were ...)
The keys were on the table that (= the keys) is the subject

You must use who/that/which when it is the subject of the relative clause. You cannot leave
out who/that/which in these examples.

We use whose mostly for people:

 A widow is a woman whose husband is dead.
(her husband is dead)
 I met someone whose brother I went to school with.
(I went to school with his/her brother)

Compare who and whose:

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  I met a man who knows you. (he knows you)
 I met a man whose sister knows you. (his sister knows you)

We use where in a relative clause to talk about a place:

 I recently went back to the town where I grew up. (I grew up there)
 The restaurant where we had lunch was near the airport.

Homework

Below are some common questions about technologies. Write your answers by
using the words that you learned from the lesson:
 What modern technological devices are most common in your country?
 Do you think modern technology is useful?
 Do you think people rely too much on technology?
 Do you think men and women view technological devices differently?
 Why do you think people spend so much money buying the latest devices?

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 Lesson 21
Benefits of being bilingual

Look at the statements below about being bilingual or multilingual and decide if
they are true or false.

1. Children whose parents speak to them in more than one language will speak both
languages badly.
2. Bilingual children do better at school.
3. Bilinguals are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
4. It is impossible to become fluent in another language once you are an adult.
5. With each language you learn, the process gets easier.

Read the text and check your answers

Some facts about bilingualism that may surprise you.
It is estimated that more than half the world’s population is bilingual, and, in an
increasingly globalised world, there are obvious benefits to speaking more than one language.
However, for many years, parents were discouraged from teaching their children to speak more
than one language from birth. Learning two or more languages simultaneously was believed
to cause confusion and slow down academic development. While it is certainly true that
children who are learning to speak more than one language as their mother tongue will often
mix the languages up or speak a little later, these are temporary problems, and no reason to
avoid teaching a child both their parents’ languages.
In fact, there are plenty of reasons to encourage your child to become bilingual from birth.
As well as the obvious benefits of being able to communicate with more people, and the
possibility of earning more money, children who speak more than one language have been
shown to score more highly in achievement tests at school. This is true for mathematics as well
as tests of verbal skills.
And in later life it has been found that bilinguals, on average, will tend to develop
Alzheimer’s disease five years later than monolingual speakers. Speaking three or more
languages offers even more protection. It seems that the increased number of connections
within the brain allows bilinguals to cope better with brain damage.
But is it too late if you haven’t already learned a second language in childhood? It used to
be thought that the adult brain was very fixed, but recent research has shown that we continue
to develop new connections in the brain throughout our lives, meaning that it’s perfectly
possible to learn another language to a high standard. Older learners are less likely to have
native-like pronunciation, but they are better at learning vocabulary as they are able to use far
more skills and strategies than children. And learning a language is like using a muscle – the
more you use it the stronger it gets, meaning that you will find your third language easier than
your second, and so on.

Did anything in the text surprise you? Tell your partner. What are your reasons for
learning a second (or third or fourth) language?

Look back at the text and underline the phrases which mean the same as the following
sentences.
1. People estimate that more than half the world’s population is bilingual.
2. People believed that learning two or more languages simultaneously caused
confusion.

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 3. Researchers have shown that children who speak more than one language score more
highly in achievement tests.
4. Researchers have found that bilinguals will tend to develop Alzheimer’s disease five
years later than monolingual speakers.
5. People used to think that the adult brain was very fixed.

Grammar
Impersonal report structures

When we want to report what people generally say or believe or what research has
found, we can use an impersonal report structure. There are two ways of doing this:

A) It + passive
e.g. It is believed that English is one of the easier languages to learn.

B) Subject + passive + infinitive

e.g. English is believed to be one of the easier languages to learn.

It is said that Tokayev speaks 5 languages.

Tokayev is said to speak 5 languages.

The passive form can, of course, be in any appropriate tense.

Now fill in the blank spaces by using the grammar structure that you’ve just learned.

1. People say that the best way to learn a foreign language is to live in the country.
Living in the country
2. People used to think that adults couldn’t lose the accent from their first language. It

3. People estimate that over 1,500 different languages are spoken in India. It

4. People estimate that only 20 per cent of Americans speak a second language. Only 20
per cent of Americans
5. A hundred years ago, people considered that talking to a baby in two languages was a
bad thing. A hundred years ago, talking to a baby in two languages

Why do people want to learn a foreign language?

Studying a foreign language is not only a hobby but also a trend in modern society due to
some undeniable advantages. Speaking more than one language can open up a world of
employment opportunities for job seekers, especially if that language is widely used in a
business context. You will be able to work for not only local but global corporates as well with
decent salaries. In addition, being bilingual or multilingual will help extend your
social network worldwide. You can establish deep connections and cross cultural friendships
with foreign co-workers or local people while travelling. Finally, your brain will benefit greatly
from the learning activity itself. Research has shown that studying another language will alter
your grey matter which helps to increase your brainpower.

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 Articles
Jobs
When we say what people's jobs are, we usually use a/an.
 He's an architect.
 She's a scientist.
 My grandmother was a teacher.

Singular nouns
Singular, countable nouns always have an article – a/an or the (or another determiner
– my, your, this, that, etc.).
We use a/an – the indefinite article – when we talk about something for the first time, or
something that is part of a group or type.
 I saw a good film yesterday.
 Do you want a drink?

We use a when the word that follows it begins with a consonant sound. We use an when
it's followed by a vowel sound. This makes pronunciation easier.
 She has a university degree.
 It took me an hour to get home.

We use the – the definite article – when the listener already knows which thing we are
talking about because it was mentioned before or because there's only one of them.
 I'm going to take the dog for a walk.
 Have you seen the car key?
 They go to the school next to the bridge.

Things in general
When we talk about things in general, we normally use a plural or uncountable noun with
no article.
 Birds eat worms.
 Water freezes at 0°C.
 Children need a lot of sleep.

Particular groups of things

When we talk about a particular group of things, we use the.
 We went to the zoo and saw the kangaroos. (These are the particular kangaroos in that
zoo – not kangaroos in general.)

Common phrases
We don't usually use an article in expressions with bed, work and home.
 go to bed / be in bed
 go to work / be at work / start work / finish work
 go home / be at home / get home / stay at home

We also don't normally use an article in expressions

 with school, university, prison and hospital.
 start school / go to school / be at school
 go to university / be at university
 be sent to prison / go to prison / be in prison

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  go to hospital / be in hospital

But we usually use the if someone is just visiting the place, and not there as a
student/prisoner/patient, etc.
 My son has started school now.
 I went to the school to meet his teacher.
 I went to the prison a lot when I was a social worker.
 I'm at the hospital. My sister has just had a baby.

Place names
We don't normally use an article for continents, most countries, cities, towns, lakes,
mountains or universities. So, we say:
 Africa, Asia, Europe
 India, Ghana, Peru, Denmark
 Addis Ababa, Hanoi, New York, Moscow
 Lake Victoria, Lake Superior, Lake Tanganyika
 Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus
 Cardiff University, Harvard University, Manchester University

Some countries are different. Country names with United have the. There are other
countries which are exceptions too. So, we say:
 the United Arab Emirates
 the United Kingdom
 the United States of America
 the Bahamas
 the Gambia

Seas and oceans, mountain ranges and rivers have the:

 the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Mediterranean
 the Andes, the Himalayas, the Alps
 the Nile, the Amazon, the Yangtze

Universities with of in the title also have the:

 the University of Cape Town
 the University of Delhi,
 the University of Tokyo

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 Homework

Write five sentences (about anything) using an impersonal report structure and a verb
fromthe box below. They can be true or false. Read the sentences to your partner. Can they
guess which sentences are true?

say think believe consider estimate show prove find

Some people say that being bilingual is a must in the modern world as its benefits
waymore outweigh the drawbacks that might bring.

Do you agree with this statement? If yes, then write a short essay including some
examples of advantages and give your opinion regarding to this statement.

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Listening Practice
Questions 31-35
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

31 Bilingualism can be defines as having an equal level of communicative in

two or more languages.
32 Early research suggested that bilingualism caused problems with and mental
development.
33 Early research into bilingualism is now rejected because it did not consider and
the backgrounds of the children.
34 It is now thought that there is a relationship between bilingualism and
cognitive skills in children.
35 Research done by Ellen Bialyslok in Canada now suggests that the effects of bilingualism
also apply to .

Questions 36-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

36 In Dr Bialystok’s experiment, the subjects had to react according to

A the colour of the square on the screen.
В the location of the square on the screen.
C the location of the shift key on the keyboard.

37 The experiment demonstrated the ‘Simon effect’ because it involved a conflict between
A seeing something and reacting to it.
В producing fast and slow reactions.
C demonstrating awareness of shape and colour.

38 The experiment shows that, compared with the monolingual subjects, the bilingual
subjects
A were more intelligent.
В had faster reaction times overall.
C had more problems with the ‘Simon effect’.

39 The results of the experiment indicate that bilingual people may be better at
A doing different types of tasks at the same time.
В thinking about several things at once.
C focusing only on what is needed to do a task.

40 Dr Bialystok’s first and second experiments both suggest that bilingualism may
A slow down the effects of old age on the brain.
В lead to mental confusion among old people.
C help old people to stay in better physical condition

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 Lesson 22
Free time / Relaxing / Genders

Relaxing
Useful adjectives for activities:
 Relaxing / calming / soothing
 Rewarding / satisfying
 Therapeutic / healing / soothing
 Enjoyable / pleasurable

Remember, you can make your answers much richer by adding adverbs.
The following adverbs can be used with most adjectives:
 really
 extremely
 incredibly

Useful verbs for activities:

We usually use the verb ‘to relax’ on its own. We rarely add ‘myself’ or ‘body’. It is
possible, but not very normal.
 I can relax when I am at home, away from the stress of work.
 I like to relax and go swimming.
 Swimming helps me relax.

We might add ‘body and mind’ at the end of a sentence, to emphasise the impact on the
body and mind.
 I find yoga can help me relax my body and mind

This is how we use the verb in a sentence.

 I like to relax with + noun
o I like to relax with a book / film / coffee / drink
I like to relax by + ING (gerund)
 I like to relax by reading a book
Other verbs we use with a similar meaning are;
 I like to kick back ’n’ relax
 I like to chill (out)
 I like to mellow out
 I often unwind
 I love to disconnect
 I need to destress

Idioms about Relaxing

 To take the weight off your mind = to get rid of a problem
o That conversation with you over dinner really took a weight off my mind
 To blow off steam – release energy or tension in order to relax (when stressed or angry)
o I can blow off steam when I play football on Thursdays.
 To loosen up = to relax
o I am so tense after that terrible meeting, I need a coffee to loosen up.
 To let your hair down = to relax
o I am going to let my hair down and go dancing

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  To release my pent up energy = to release tension
o I need to go jogging to release this pent up energy
 To put your feet up = to relax
o I am going to put my feet up and watch a film
 To take it easy = to relax
o I like to take it easy by reading a book
 To while away the time = to spend time in a relaxed way
o I like to while away the afternoon watching Netflix.

Genders

Look at the words and expressions in bold in the following sentences and decide if we
generally consider them to have a positive connotation or a negative connotation.

1. At the interview, the manager was impressed by her astute comments.

2. In the power struggle between men and women, neither side will win.
3. After the takeover, the staff hoped that things would improve, but the new manager
was just as ruthless as the man he replaced.
4. Some men believe that women are the weaker sex and should leave real work to men.
5. Our boss is a male chauvinist and believes that women should get less money than
men for the same job.
6. John doesn't consider women to be very intelligent. To him, they are just sex objects.
7. Our company is male-dominated; all the top management positions are occupied by
men.
8. Maureen is a multi-faceted worker. She is able to do a number of different jobs, often
at the same time.
9. He holds egalitarian views and believes that everybody should be treated equally.
10. The new management has taken steps to ensure equality in the office; from now on,
everyone will receive the same money regardless of their sex or age.
11. Militant feminists have thrown paint at a well-known television personality in order
to stress their views.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

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 Chris: Cleaning and cooking are a woman's job. After all, men are no good at household
management (we also use the expressions domestic chores or housework).
Terry: What rubbish! Thank goodness the Sex Discrimination Act exists to prevent men
from taking advantage of women.
Chris: Well, let's face it, in the workplace women never do as well as their male
counterparts.
Terry: And I suppose you think that women are only good for changing babies' nappies
and other tedious aspects of child-rearing.
Chris: No, but I do believe that in a modern household there should be a clearly-defined
role division. Men are good at DIY, for example. Most women aren't. And I'll always believe
that it's the man who should be the breadwinner (we can also use the expression financial
provider), providing food and shelter for his family.
Terry: Well, all I can say is that I'm glad your ideas of social convention are not shared
by most people.
Chris: Nonsense! A lot of people believe in traditional gender roles; the man goes out to
work; the woman stays at home. It's as simple as that.
Terry: Men at work and women at home? Come on dear, those are such typical
stereotypes. With people like you around, the battle of the sexes will always continue.
Chris: Oh, shut up dad.
Terry: Sorry Christine, but it's an issue I feel strongly about.

'Men and women are, and always will be, different in the way they behave and are treated'.
Do you agree with this statement?
A totally egalitarian society, in which sexual equality between men and women is the
norm, is still a long way off. This is certainly the case if you watch television, where men are
often portrayed as the breadwinner, bringing money home to the wife, whobis usually
depicted as the weaker sex, prone to extreme emotions and temper tantrums. But is this really
the case? Is it still fair to create stereotypes such as this?
After all, as more women go out to work and more men stay at home to look after the
house and the kids, it is quite clear that so-called gender roles are merging and disappearing.
Take the office workplace as an example. For years, businesses and companies were male
dominated the directors, managers and businessmen were always men, the secretaries and
personal assistants always female. This was probably because men have traditionally been seen
as more ruthless, more able to deal with the cut-and-thrust of business.
But now women are proving that they can be equally tough, while simultaneously being
more astute and caring. In fact, in many ways, women are more multi-faceted than men, a
vital aspect of modern business where you are expected to do more than just one job. And
thanks to the Sex Discrimination Act, women are paid the same as men. It would appear that,
in many cases, the male chauvinist is a dying breed.
At home, too, there is less evidence of role division. It is no longer the woman who does
all the cooking and cleaning and child-rearing. Such household management is now often
shared equally. Social convention no longer requires the woman to stay indoors all day while
the man stays out until all hours. Whether this is due to the struggle by the militant feminists
in the 1960s and 1970s, or whether it is due to a natural shift in attitudes is unclear.
What is clear, however, is that women no longer feel they need to be regarded as sex
objects, the underdogs in a power struggle with their male counterparts. In fact, many believe
that in the battle of the sexes, it is women who have come out on top.

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 Grammar
Noun phrases

Noun phrases can include:

 determiners: Those houses are very expensive.
 quantifiers: I've lived in a lot of houses.
 numbers: My brother owns two houses.
 adjectives: I love old houses.
These parts of the noun phrase are called premodifiers because they go before the noun.

Other parts of a noun phrase go after the noun. These are called postmodifiers.
Postmodifiers can be:

prepositional phrases:
 a man with a gun
 the boy in the blue shirt
 the house on the corner

–ing phrases :
 the man standing over there
 the boy talking to Angela

relative clauses :
 the man we met yesterday
 the house that Jack built
 the woman who discovered radium
 an eight-year-old boy who attempted to rob a sweet shop

that clauses. These are very common after nouns like idea, fact, belief, suggestion:
 He's still very fit, in spite of the fact that he's over eighty.
 She got the idea that people didn't like her.
 There was a suggestion that the children should be sent home.

to infinitives :
 I've got no decent shoes to wear.

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Homework:

Write your answers to these questions using the words that you’ve learned from the lesson:
 Do you think that women should be able to do the same sorts of jobs that men do?
 Should more women be encouraged to work in male-dominated fields such as science
and technology?

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 Lesson 23
Education

What you may need to have

1. qualifications (e.g degree, diploma)
2. experience (having done some work before)
3. skills (e.g. languages, IT)
4. a referee (a person who would be prepared to recommend you) and their contact details

What you may need to do:

5. look out for job vacancies
6. apply for a job (a work permit, a place on a course, a grant/scholarship = money that an
organization gives sb to help pay for education)
7. write a CV or a covering letter
8. attend an interview
9. get a job offer or an offer for a place on a course
10. work as an intern or a trainee

attend or assist
 attend = to be present at an event
o students must attend at least 95% of lectures to pass the course
 assist = to help sb to do sth
o Jac was happy to assist Peter with gathering information for the report

apprenticeship or trial period

 apprenticeship = a period of time working for an employer to learn the particular
skills needed for a job
o The apprenticeship to be an electrician lasts three years and there is an exam
you must pass at the end.
 trial period = a fixed period of time which tests the ability or performance of sb
before they are offered the job permanently
o They agreed to employ me for a trial period of three months.

'You are never too old to learn'. Do you agree with this statement?

Education is a long process that not only provides us with basic skills such as literacy
and numeracy, but is also essential in shaping our future lives. From the moment we enter as
small children, and as we progress through primary and secondary education, we are laying
the foundations for the life ahead of us. We must discipline ourselves to work hard so that we
can pass exams and gain the qulifications we will need to secure a good job. We must also
acquire valuable life skills so that we can fit in and work with those around us. And of
course, health education helps us to understand how we can stay fit and healthy.
For most people, this process ends when they are in their mid-to-late teens. For others,
however, it is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. After they finish school, many progress
to further education where they will learn more useful skills such as computer literacy or basic
business management. Others will enroll on a program of higher education at a university
where, with hard work, they will have the opportunity to graduate after three or four years with
a well-earned degree. After that, they may work for a while before opting to study for a higher
degree - an MA, for example, or a PhD. Alternatively, they may choose to attend an evening
class after work or, if they have a sympathetic employer, obtain day release so that they can

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study during the week. And if they live a long way from a college or university, they might
follow a correspondence course using mail and the Internet. In fact, it is largely due to the
proliferation of computers that many people, who have not been near a school for many years,
have started to study again and can proudly class themselves as mature students.
We live in a fascinating and constantly changing world, and we must continually learn
and acquire new knowledge if we are to adapt and keep up with changing events. Our
schooldays are just the beginning of this process, and we should make the best of every
opportunity to develop ourselves, whether we are eighteen or eighty. You are, indeed, never
too old to learn.

Commonly Confused Words

 To memorise
 To remember
 To remind

To memorise = to learn by heart

 I am good at memorising names.
 I have a good memory for names.
To remember = to recall
 I must remember to call my sister later.
 I can’t remember your name.
To remind (v.) someone to do something = to tell someone not to forget something.
A reminder (n.)
 I need to remind you to pick me up at 4pm tomorrow. 
 I always have to remind my students to hand in their homework on time.
 These are not the only group of words that are often confused. Here is another
set of words, that commonly get misused.

 To take / sit an exam – students take (=do) exams

 I took my IELTS exam yesterday
 To pass an exam = to do well in an exam (=not fail)
 I passed my IELTS exam 2 weeks ago, I am so happy!
 To give an exam = a teacher gives an exam to the students.

To cram for an exam = to study hard in a short space of time.

At school I used to cram for most of my exams. I was always studying at the last minute.

Here are some nice phrasal verbs that you can use in your IELTS Speaking
1) To buckle down = to do a task with determination
I’ve been procrastinating (=be lazy), but now it’s time for me to buckle down and start
studying seriously.
I need to buckle down for IELTS.

2) To pick up something new = to learn informally

Where did you learn to cook so well?
I picked it up by watching Youtube videos.

3) To brush up on = to improve an existing knowledge or skill

I haven’t spoken French for years.
I really need to brush up on it.

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 I need to brush up on my Italian.

4) To pore over = To study (books, documents) with a lot of attention

I have been poring over my French course book lately
.I have been poring over these reports for my boss.

Idioms about Education and Studying

 Run-of-the-mill (adj.) = ordinary, normal

o I was a run-of-the-mill student = a normal, average student.
 To burn the midnight oil = stay up late at night to study
o I used to burn the midnight oil the night before an important exam at university.
 To pass with flying colours = to pass with a very good score / mark / grade
o I did so well in my driving test, I passed with flying colours!
 To be a breeze = to be easy
o My biology exam was a breeze, I knew all the answers.
 To be a walk in the park = to be easy
o My IELTS test was not a walk in the park.
 To scrape a pass = to only just pass (almost fail, but actually pass)
o The pass mark was 70%, I got 71%, I just managed to scraped a pass.
 To go blank = when you can’t think of anything to say
o In the middle of my interview, I went blank. What a disaster!
 To rack your brains = to try and think of something
o I don’t know what to put in my presentation tomorrow, I am racking my brains,
but can’t come up with any ideas.

Linking words and phrases

Sequential order – говоря о котором simultaneously

Порядок while we're on the subject одновременно
firstly, secondly... пока мы затронули эту subsequently
во-первых, во-вторых тему впоследствии
to begin with on the other hand
для начала с другой стороны Uncertainty –
next at the same time Неопределенность
потом в то же время arguably
then возможно
потом Time – Время conceivably
finally after a while предположительно
наконец через некоторое время indeed
lastly after that на самом деле
последнее после этого likely
at the same time скорее всего
Topic Changers – Слова, в то же время perhaps
меняющие тему later может быть
by the way после possibly
кстати meanwhile возможно
incidentally тем временем presumably
кстати in the meantime по-видимому
on a different note в это время supposedly
о другом previously по общему мнению
speaking of which ранее

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Veracity – Правдивость предложения, чтобы Comparison – сравнение
absolutely придать эмоциональную
абсолютно окраску.
actually also
фактически Например: также
as a matter of fact equally
собственно говоря Amazingly, he has never равно как и
certainly tried jogging. in comparison
безусловно Ironically, he was the exact в сравнение
genuinely same person, who told me to likewise
неподдельно come back. также
indisputably Fortunately, I have a lot of similarly
неоспоримо friends all over the world. похоже
literally
буквально Поехали! Concession – уступка
surely
конечно amazingly Используется в
undeniably удивительно английском, чтобы
несомненно astonishingly противопоставить две
without a doubt впечатляюще части предложения или
без сомнения hopefully указать на неожиданный
с надеждой результат.
Addition – ideally
дополнение в идеале Например:
importantly Yeah, I loved rollerblades
above all важно when I was a child! Anyway,
прежде всего inevitably now I don't have time for it.
along with неизбежно
вместе с ironically Admittedly
as well as по иронии судьбы по общему признанию
так же как и justifiably after all
additionally справедливо в конце концов
дополнительно oddly anyway
besides как ни странно в любом случае
кроме того predictably besides
further предсказуемо кроме того
далее refreshingly in any case
освежающе в любом случае
furthermore regrettably still
более того к сожалению всё же
in addition sadly though
в дополнение грустно хотя
last but not least strikingly yet
последнее по порядку, но поразительно всё же
не по значимости surprisingly
moreover неожиданно Contrast –
более того fortunately противопоставление
not only... but also к счастью
не только... но и unfortunately although
what is more к несчастью хотя
более того reasonably but
разумно но
Assessment – unreasonably however
оценка. Такие слова не разумно однако
ставятся в начале conversely

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наоборот as an illustration грубо говоря
on the contrary как иллюстрация that is to say
напротив for example то есть
on the other hand например how shall I put it?
с другой стороны for instance как бы мне это сказать?
unlike например
в отличие от to illustrate this point
чтобы проиллюстрировать Summary –
Далее, ты увидишь этот момент Резюмирование
список Signposting to give you an example
Words – вид Discourse чтобы дать вам пример all in all
Markers, которые в целом
позволяют Reformulation – in brief
структурировать свою реформулировка вкратце
речь. in a nutshell
Используйте эти слова, вкратце
Попробуй выучить их и когда понимаете, что in conclusion
начать применять уже начали заумничать и в заключении
сегодня. хотите прояснить свою in general
Example – пример главную идею. в общем
in short
Например: in other words короче говоря
I have never been so другими словами in sum
depressed in my life... to in plain English суммируя
give you an example, I even простым языком to conclude
deleted my Instagram namely в заключении
account. а именно to sum up
specifically резюмируя
as an example конкретно on the whole
как пример strictly speaking в общем и целом

Homework

Answer to these questions by using the words that you’ve learned from the lesson

1. What are some essential qualities every teacher should have?

2. How are education priorities today different from those in the past?
3. How well do you think schools should prepare young people for working life?

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 Lesson 24
Architecture

Complete these sentences with an appropriate word or expression from A, B or C.

1. The building is . Its been ruined and abandoned for years.

A. destabilized B. derelict C. defunct

2. She lives on a large housing near the center of the city.

A. estate B. state C. estuary

3. There are several dirty districts inside the city, although most of these are
going to be replaced by high-rise apartments.
A. slumps B. scrums C. slums

4. The city council are going to the old church and build a new one in its place.
A. demobilize B. demote C demolish

5. You can't knock down that house; there's a illegal to destroy it.
A. preservation B. preservative C. presentable

6. Sir Richard Rogers is the who designed the Lloyds building in London.
A. architect B. architecture C. architectural

7. Some of the problems in our are drug related.

A. inter-cities B. internal cities C. inner-cities

8. The council hope to reduce crime in the town by introducing new so that
people have something to do in the evening.
A. sociable B. socialist C social

9. The cinema is going to be closed for two months while the owners it.
A. renovate B. remonstrate C. reiterate

10. If you want to add an extension to your house, you will need from your
local council.
A. planning B. construction C. plotting

Do you think it is good to preserve old buildings?

It depends on whether the building is worth preserving. Historical monuments, for example,
need to be saved because of their cultural significance. On the other hand, if a building is old,
ugly and has no importance then I don’t see why we should preserve it.

Are buildings now better than those in the past? Why?

Yes and no. The facilities are better, rooms are often fully equipped with whatever you may
need. And there are lifts and convenient stores so you don’t have travel much to get what you
want. But these buildings are also bad for the environment; their construction and operation
release a lot of waste and heat, which pollute the environment and contribute to global
warming.

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 Do you think the government should invest money in preserving old buildings?
If the buildings are really important to the country, yes. If they are well preserved, it will help
bring in income that would be spent on the maintenance.

Grammar
From Simple to Complex

In the box below, you will see a paragraph written by a hypothetical IELTS test taker
who has not been trained in IELTS techniques or complex structures.

Many people travel to work by car. They travel by car because it is quick and
convenient. Many cars can cause air pollution. The number of cars should be limited in city
centres. Limiting car use will reduce air pollution. People should use public transport. Public
transport needs to be improved. Better public transport will encourage people to use it.
The paragraph above is made up of mostly simple sentences. You can see that the
paragraph is basically a list of simple sentences put in one paragraph. Here you can see them
listed in order:
• Many people travel to work by car.
• They travel by car because it is quick and convenient.
• Many cars can cause air pollution.
• The number of cars should be limited in city centres.
• Limiting car use will reduce air pollution.
• People should use public transport.
• Public transport needs to be improved.
• Better public transport will encourage people to use it.

What are the problems with this?

1. Most sentences above are simple in formation and quite short.
2. There is a lot of repetition (words are repeated often).
3. The ideas are not connected. They are similar to a list of ideas written one after the
other rather than being a cohesive paragraph.

How will the examiner view this paragraph?

The sentences do provide ideas which are relevant, which means they fulfil, although
not well, the marking criterion of Task Response, which is 25% of your marks.
However, how is this paragraph viewed by the examiner based on the other marking
criteria: Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Response (i.e. vocabulary) and Grammatical Range
and Accuracy (i.e. grammar)?
• The examiner will notice the lack of linking words and this will adversely affect your
score for Coherence and Cohesion, which is 25% of your marks.
• The examiner will notice a large number of repeated words. There is also a limited
range of vocabulary for this topic. Both problems will reduce your score for vocabulary, which
is 25% of your marks.
• The examiner will notice a lot of simple structures and no complex structures. This will
lower your score for grammar, which is 25% of your marks.

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 How can this be improved?
Answer:
• Connect sentences with linking words.
• Reference using it, this, they, etc.
• Put more information in the sentences to achieve better in Task Response.
• Make the sentences more complex.
• Deploy a better range of vocabulary.

Complex Sentences
Now let's write this paragraph again using the right techniques: linking, referencing and
clauses. Below you can see the three paragraphs for comparison:

Simple Sentences: Unconnected sentences with repetitive vocabulary

Many people travel to work by car. They travel by car because it is quick and
convenient. Cars cause air pollution. The number of cars should be limited in city centres.
Limiting car use will reduce air pollution. People should use public transportation. Public
transport needs to be improved. Better and cheaper public transport will encourage people to
use it.

Simple and Complex: Connected sentences but only adequate range of vocabulary —
Many people travel to work by car because it is quick and convenient. Cars cause air
pollution so the number should be limited in city centres. By doing this, air pollution can be
reduced. Furthermore, public transport needs to be improved to encourage people to use that
mode of transport rather than private cars. This can be done by offering cheaper and better
public transport.

Complex Sentences: Fully connected with a flexible range of vocabulary

Many people commute to work by car simply because it is a quick and convenient way to
travel. As cars pollute the air with carbon emissions, it is advisable that the number of vehicles
should be limited, particularly in city centres. By reducing harmful emissions, air pollution will
most definitely return to safer levels which will be less dangerous for people's health.
Furthermore, as a step to reducing the use of private vehicles, the government ought to
encourage the use of public transport by offering the public a cheaper and more reliable public
transportation system.

Let’s have a look on another example

The benefits of mobile phones

Mobile phones are good for people. People can use mobile phones in all places. This is a
good thing for people and communication. It is also good for emergencies. Mobile phones are
quick to use. For example, if I send a text to my friends, they can reply in one minute.
Smartphones have internet access. People can go online and do banking or shopping with a
mobile phone. (68 words)

There can be no doubt that mobile phones are extremely useful. One advantage is that
mobile phones can be used wherever a person is. This is useful for better communication and
in case of emergencies. Another benefit is that mobile phones offer quick communication. This
allows people to communicate with each other by text or calling in just one minute no matter
where they are. The last plus point is that smartphones allow people to access the internet to
do their online banking or shopping, which is very convenient. (89 words)

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 Mobile phones have indeed changed the way we communicate and live. One obvious
advantage is that people are now able to be geographically mobile while calling or texting,
which is clearly beneficial in many cases such as emergencies. Furthermore, being able to
communicate with just a click has revolutionised the way business is conducted around the
world and has opened up a new era of instant communication. Another benefit is the multiple
functions of a smartphone which enable people to multitask with the convenience of using only
one device. For example, users are now able to do online banking or shopping as well as profit
from other features such as apps and cameras. (113 words)

Homework

Many old buildings protected by law are part of a nation’s history. Some people think they
should be knocked down and replaced by new ones.
Write a short essay about this statement and give your opinion.
And also use the words and phrases that you’ve learned from the lesson.

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 Answers

Lesson 1
I’m doing
Do you come
Do you have
It depends
Do you know
Do you mean
I am getting ready
Are you living
I’m staying
Are you doing
Want

Lesson 2
1) CORRECT: It describes something happening right now
2) CORRECT: It describes something happening right now
3) INCORRECT: We cannot usually use this tense to describe feelings
4) CORRECT: It describes something which is temporary, and which is happening at this
time
5) CORRECT: It describes something which is temporary, and which is happening at this
time
6) CORRECT: It describes future arrangements and plans
7) CORRECT: It is used with always to describe something which annoys the speaker
because it happens often
8) CORRECT: It can be used with some modal verbs to describe a temporary or current
situation
9) CORRECT: It can describe a continuing change which started before now and will
probably continue into the future
10) CORRECT: It can be used in letters when you would like to be quite formal but not
very formal
Listening test
1 choose
2 private
3 20 / twenty percent
4 healthy
5 bones
6 lecture
7 Arretsa
8 vegetarian
9 market
10 knife

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 Lesson 3
1) The family is watching the TV in the living room.
2) I am working in the garden, despite the fact that I can’t stand getting dirty.
3) We are getting ready for the party and honestly I can’t talk to you now.
4) Can you imagine how rude he is being to her? I could never imagine he’s such
an asshole.
5) Jack is trying to cheat on the test but the professor is looking right at him.
6) His girlfriend is vacuuming the floor. But usually she never does any house
chores. Well, can’t blame her!
7) A lot of people are protesting against racism on the streets of New York.
8) I am saving money to buy a new Playstation in winter.
9) I am doing this exercise now and I’m so tired, but all this will pay off when I
speak English like a native, yo!
10) My folks are selling half of their belongings and going on a world tour.
Lesson 5
 When I was younger, I played a lot of tennis.
 Yesterday, I did my homework as soon as I got home.
 Last week, I lost my keys.
 Last Friday, I came to town at eight o’clock in the morning and went home at
 around four o’clock in the afternoon.
 I had plenty of enthusiasm but I didn’t have a lot of money.
 Last month, I bought some new clothes but I didn’t sell my old ones.
 Many students didn’t understand but preferred not to put up their hand and ask
 the teacher for help.
 In the past, the children who loved school usually did better than those who
 detested it.
Listening test answers:
21 G
22 F
23 A
24 E
25 B
26 C
27 C
28 A
29&30 B, D

Lesson 6
Mike So, where shall we go for our honeymoon?
Gina I don’t know. Maybe somewhere in North Africa. Have you ever
been to Morocco?
Mike Yes, I’ve been there.
Gina I didn’t know that. When did you go there?

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Mike The year after I finished university.
Gina What about Egypt?
Mike I’ve been there, too.
Gina Who did you go with?
Mike With an ex-girlfriend. But we only went to Cairo. Let’s go there.
Gina No, let’s go somewhere else.

Lesson 10
Listening Test answers
31. imagination
32. standardisation
33. implemented
34. achievement
35. performance bonuses
36. control levers
37. motto
38. negative thinking
39. boundaries
40. interactive control

Lesson 13
1. It is often stated that more engineers, surgeons and psychiatrists and fewer dancers,
painters and singers need to be educated by our society.
2. It is usually accepted that globalisation has benefitted some people but been distinctly
disadvantageous for others.
3. It is universally hoped that a solution to the impending ecological crisis can be found.
4. Football is played by literally millions worldwide. It was first played in ancient times
and has been played all over the world since the middle of the twentieth century.
5. Some undergraduates from low-income families have been granted scholarships by
institutions of higher education. It has been realised by the universities that this is the
only way they can attract brighter students who are not rich enough to pay tuition fees.
6. In the current economic climate, staff have been asked by their employers to take a pay-
cut. Other workers have had their hours cut by companies, and in some extreme cases,
employees have been dismissed by firms.

Lesson 21
Listening Test answers
31. proficiency
32. learning
33. social (and) economic
34. positive
35. adults
36. A
37. A
38. B
39. C
40. A

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