UNIT 6. Stormy weather.

TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER

VOCABULARY

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
2 READING

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
3 LISTENING

LISTENING 2
You are going to listen to two weather reports. Read statements 1-8 carefully and listen to the recording.
Choose the option (a, b or c) that best completes each statement.

WEATHER REPORT 1 WEATHER REPORT 2

1. The weather report takes place in… 1. The reporter is…
□ a) autumn □ a) in a helicopter
□ b) spring □ b) in the studio
□ c) summer □ c) outdoors

2. The day is… 2. During the night the temperature will…

□ a) clear □ a) drop to -7°
□ b) cloudy □ b) drop to -12°
□ c) cold □ c) reach 0°

3. The probability of rain today is… 3. Tomorrow it will feel very cold because of…
□ a) high □ a) the humidity
□ b) low □ b) the freezing rain
□ c) zero □ c) the wind

4. Tomorrow morning it’s going to… 4. This weekend skiers should…

□ a) be windy □ a) avoid the higher slopes
□ b) rain □ b) stay indoors
□ c) snow □ c) wear warm clothes

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
4 GRAMMAR: Future forms.
There are different ways to talk about the future in English, depending on what we want to express.

1. Be going to
 Future plans and intentions: We use be going to when we have already decided to do
something.
- I’ve been comparing prices and I’m going to buy a second-hand car.
 Predictions based on evidence: We also use be going to to make a prediction about
the future, especially when we have some evidence.
- Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.

2. Present continuous
 Arrangements: We often use the present continuous for future arrangements (specific plans).
- I’m having lunch with my sister on Saturday. (We’ve talked about it and decided the time
and the place).
 The difference between plans and arrangements is that arrangements are more
specific. Compare:
- We’re going to get married next year. (We’ve made the decision).
- We’re getting married on October 12th. (We’ve booked the church, the restaurant…)

Very frequently, we can use either form with very little difference in meaning.

 We often use the present continuous with verbs relating to travel arrangements, like
go, come, arrive, leave, etc.
- He’s arriving tomorrow and leaving on Thursday.
3. Will
 We use will / won’t for instant decisions, promises and offers.
- It’s hot in here. I’ll open the window. (Instant decision)
- I will always love you! (Promise)
- Those bags look heavy. I’ll help you. (Offer)
 We can also use will / won’t for predictions based on opinion (not fact) and to talk about
future facts.
- Don’t worry. You’ll get the job! (prediction based on opinion)
- I’ll be 50 next year. (It’s a fact)
 When offers and suggestions are questions, we use shall with I and we:
- Shall I help you with those bags? (offer)
- Shall we watch a movie tonight? (suggestion)
 We can also use will/won’t to talk about things that we think will probably or
definitely happen in the future:
- She’ll probably go abroad if she can’t find a job here.
- She’ll definitely find a job soon. She’s brilliant!

Note: Be careful of the word order.

“Definitely” and “probably” come after “will” (in positive sentences) and before “won’t” in negative sentences.
- She probably won’t have to go abroad.

4. Present tense
 We use the present simple tense for a timetabled event in the future, like public transport or
the start of a class:
- My train leaves at six tonight.
- His class starts at 9 am tomorrow.
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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
PRACTICE

5 WRITING: An informal email

a Read an email from Louisa to her daughter, María, who’s studying in Boston. be clean come do fix
What’s the main subject of the email? How does she feel about it? recommend send stay

b Read the email again and complete it with a verb from the list in the appropriate future form.

From: Louisa and Eric Barton

To: María Barton
Subject: May 1st – what happened to spring?

Hi María,

Thanks for your email. Glad you’re well, and hope that it’s not too cold in Boston!

When your father and I woke up this morning, we couldn’t believe what we saw! The calendar says it’s May 1st, but
the weather doesn’t agree. It’s been snowing for about 12 hours non-stop. Your poor father (1) _________________
the snow after breakfast so that we can drive to the supermarket later to buy some food. I’ve been watching the news
on TV. They say the storm (2) _________________ by tomorrow, so don’t worry too much about us.
ff
Besides the weather, nothing is new here. Dad (3) __________________ some repairs around the house this
weekend. He’s already bought a dozen new tools! He (4) ______________ the freezer, too – although I guess we
don’t really need it in the snowstorm!

I picked up a new novel at the library, “The Bostonians” by Henry James. I think I (5) _______________ it for the book
club. It made me think of you there in Boston. Have you read it? If you want, (6) ________________ it to you when I
finish it.

Guess what! Aunt Emma (7) ________________ to visit next Friday. She (8) ________________ for a whole week.
I’m really looking forward to seeing her.

Miss you lots. Write soon! Lots of love,

Mom

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
INFORMAL STYLE
Emails to friends or family members are usually written in an informal, friendly style.
Read the email again and find examples of the following characteristics of the informal style:

 Contracted verb forms

 Exclamation marks
 Informal expressions
 Phrasal verbs
 Sentences without a subject
 Using a dash (–) to separate parts of sentences

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Remember the typical expressions we learned in Unit 2:

Greetings
In a letter, start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails,
you can also start with Hello or Hi and the person's name: Dear Ben, Hello Ben, or Hi Ben,
Opening expressions
It’s ages since I’ve heard from you! Sorry for not writing earlier.
Thanks for your email / letter. Sorry that I haven’t been in touch for a while.
It’s great to hear from you. I hope you and your family are well.
Responding to news
Glad to hear (you’re all well). Good luck with (the new job).
Sorry to hear about (your exam results). Hope you feel better soon.
Closing expressions
Anyway, I must go and get on with my work. Take care,
Well, that’s all for now. Best wishes,
Hope to hear from you soon. Regards,
Give my regards / love to your family. Lots of love,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER KEY
VOCABULARY
1 WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?
a 1 It’s cool.
2 It’s chilly.
3 It’s freezing.
4 It’s below zero.
5 It’s mild.
6 It’s warm.
7 It’s boiling. It’s scorching.
8 It’s humid.

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.
9 It’s damp.
10 It’s drizzling.
11 There are showers.
12 It’s pouring.
13 There’s a breeze.
b 1 When the weather’s foggy or misty, or there’s smog, it’s difficult to see.
2 Mist isn’t usually very thick, and often occurs in the mountains or near the sea.
3 Fog is thicker and can be found in towns and in the country.
4 Smog is caused by pollution and usually occurs in big cities.
2 EXTREME WEATHER
a 1 heatwave 2 drought 3 hail 4 lightning 5 thunder 6 blizzard 7 flood 8 hurricane 9 monsoon
4th edition Student’s Book Answer Key
22 English File © Oxford University Press 2020
3 ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE WEATHER
a 2 heavy 3 thick 4 icy 5 clear 6 bright 7 changeable 8 sunny 9 settled

READING
a It’s about sharing stories about how climate change has affected people in different parts of
the world.
b Diana Maciaga is from Poland.
Umberto Crespo Palmarito is from Cuba.
Nadine Lefort is from Canada.
Harou Abass Hadiza is from Niger.
Efleda Bautista is from the Philippines.
Jordan Hamada is from the USA.
c 1 Efleda – They had one month’s rainfall in one or two days and everywhere was flooded.
2 Umberto – They used to say that 21st September was when the weather changed.
3 Jordan – Los Angeles and Manhattan will eventually be underwater – a scary thought.
4 Harou – The river used to be deep and green and they used to swim in it, but now it’s dusty
and dirty.
5 Diana – This is the period between winter and spring, which doesn’t really exist anymore.
6 Nadine – Many beautiful properties and parks on the coasts will disappear because of
erosion.

LISTENING 1
b 1 A meteorologist collects the data, and a weather presenter presents the information on
radio or TV.
2 Five to seven days
3 Not in detail, but they can give a general trend.
4 Thunderstorms
5 Because it affects everything they do, because the weather changes all the time.
6 He doesn’t think it has changed significantly – there’s a bit more extreme weather and it’s a
bit warmer.
7 Pessimistic
c 1 Low cloud at airports, knowing when it’s going to clear
2 The weather in the Arctic and the Indian Ocean can affect the weather in the UK.
3 You can see lightning moving inside the clouds, showing the shape of the clouds.
4 Driving to and from work, what to wear when we’re going out, putting the heating on, what’s
in the shops, how we feel
5 An intense heatwave
6 More extreme heatwaves, colder and longer winters, more rain and flooding
d Suggested answer
Yes because he’s very enthusiastic, almost poetic, about his favourite kind of weather
(thunderstorms), and about how the weather affects almost every aspect of people’s lives.

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.

LISTENING 2

Weather Report 1: This is CKNY and I'm Anita Pierce with weather. We couldn't ask for a
better day for the first day of spring. Right now it's fifteen degrees and clear. We're expecting
blue skies throughout the day. Though there is only a ten percent chance of showers, this good
weather can't last forever. It's raining cats and dogs up north, so we should see rain by
morning. Don't forget your umbrella tomorrow. Now, stay tuned for local news.
Answers: 1b 2a 3b 4b

Weather Report 2: Hi, I'm Jesse Williams. This is your weekend weather report. This morning
we're seeing sun with cloudy periods as well as a few flurries. Right now I am at the top of
Mount Raven where it is plus two and expected to rise to about six degrees by noon. Overnight
temperatures will probably drop to at least minus seven. Tomorrow's forecast calls for more
flurries with a high of zero and a low of minus twelve. With the wind chill factor, that could put
us at a record low of minus twenty. Conditions are perfect for skiing this weekend, but if you're
heading out to the slopes tomorrow, please remember to bundle up to avoid frostbite. We'll
go back to the newsroom now for a look at what's in sports.
Answers: 1c 2a 3c 4c

GRAMMAR PRACTICE
a 1 Shall 2 ’ll make 3f 4 Are you going to go 5 won’t tell 6 ’re visiting
7 will go down 8 f 9 Shall
b1 I promise I will / ’ll phone every day.
2 He is / ’s going to do a degree in engineering.
3 No, I am / ’m working late.
4 Yes, I will / ’ll have the prawns, please.
5 OK. Shall we get a takeaway?
6 No problem, I will / ’ll lend you some.
7 No, the weather forecast says it is / ’s going to rain / will rain.
8 Shall I pick you up from the airport?

WRITING
1 is going to clean (intention)
2 is going to end / will end (prediction)
3 is going to do (intention)
4 is going to fix (intention)
5 I’ll recommend (instant decision)
6 I’ll send (offer)
7 is coming (arrangement)
8 is staying (arrangement)

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 UNIT 6. Stormy weather.

EXTRA PRACTICE
VOCABULARY
 https://www.vocabulary.cl/english/weather.htm
 https://www.excellentesl4u.com/esl-weather-vocabulary.html
 https://7esl.com/weather-vocabulary/
 https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/weather-
vocabulary.htm
 Vocabulary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Vuws2GiB8
 Vocabulary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVOqjrC6B0

READING
 https://www.esleschool.com/weather-forecasting/
 https://www.esleschool.com/exercise-2-weather-reports/
 https://engexam.info/fce-reading-and-use-of-english-practice-tests/fce-
reading-and-use-of-english-practice-test-8/
 https://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_test2_reading3.htm

LISTENING
 https://www.englishclub.com/speaking/weather-report.htm
 https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/video-series/word-on-
the-street/indoor-sports/british-weather
 https://englishexamhelp.com/fce-listening/part-2/a/
 https://englishpracticetest.net/practice-fce-b2-listening-test-29-with-answers-
and-audioscripts/ (PART 2: Laura Armstrong: weather forecaster)
 https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/b1-listening/a-weather-
forecast

GRAMMAR
 https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/future-forms/
 https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/will-or-be-going-to.html
 https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/future-
forms
 https://www.woodwardenglish.com/lesson/will-vs-going-to/

WRITING
 https://oxfordhousebcn.com/en/how-to-write-a-b2-first-informal-email-letter/
 https://kseacademy.com/cambridge/b2-first-fce/writing/informal-email/
 https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b2-writing/informal-
email
 https://aprendeconadela.com/email-informal-how-to-write-an-informal-email/
 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rv7QvdvMAY
NOTE: Some of the activities in this unit have been adapted from material published and copyrighted by Oxford
University Press for the exclusive use of students in this course.

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