IB ENGLISH B TEXT TYPES

STUDENT WORKBOOK
ANSWER KEY

How to Write
Series 2

AN EMBEDDED INTERVIEW
A Contented Being Resource

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 AN EMBEDDED INTERVIEW: Prompt Task

Read the following prompt and then respond to the questions about text selection.

Your school likes to celebrate the success of its students. One student, in particular, recently received a major
environmental award for innovation: she had invented a device to help clean plastic pollution from local rivers.
Write a text in which you interview the recipient of this award about the invention she created, the inspiration
for the invention and circumstances leading to the award.

Do not write a transcribed interview (= Question + Answer, Q+A, Q+A)

(450-600 words)

An Embedded Interview A News Report A Blog

TEXT SELECTION
Answer these questions as briefly as possible.

Why is a BLOG not a suitable text type for the given prompt?
The prompt suggests an interview with a specific person, and while a blog can deal with this
satisfactorily, the prompt provides two clues: interview and do not write a transcribed interview which
seem to suggest that an embedded interview is more appropriate.

Why is a NEWS REPORT not a suitable text type for the given prompt?
A news report would also be a suitable response but the wording of the prompt and its focus on three
specific interview areas suggest that an embedded interview is the better option.

Why is AN EMBEDDED INTERVIEW the most suitable text type for the given prompt?
AN EMBEDDED INTERVIEW is ideal as it allows you to share the newsworthy award with a school
audience whilst encouraging a focus on the three interview areas /aspects. Also, as it asks you to not
write a transcribed interview (just questions and answers), the implication is that an embedded
interview is required.

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 ANALYSIS TASK 1: Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. Some do not follow the order of the text.

1. Explain what is meant by ‘… a device that is … making waves’ (Line 6)

This is a play on words (pun). Making waves refers to something that is having an impact (figurative), and
the device probably does make waves (literal) when it is in the water.
2. Which phrase between lines 3 and 7 shows that Little Place High School has a history of celebrating the
success of its students?
A proud tradition
3. Which word between lines 3 and 8 means highly valued ?
prestigious
4. Circle the 3 true statements:
A. Jenny’s device has a clever name.
B. Jenny’s device only cleans the riverbed.
C. The device can detect if an object is a living creature.
D. The device is suitable for use in the ocean.
E. Jenny was upset by the levels of pollution in local rivers
F. Jenny hired experts to make the machine
G. Jenny asked her mother for help.
H. The device works best near rapids.

Find the words that complete the following sentences. (The words can be found between 23 and 35).
5. Although the students were just required to create a brochure … Jenny wanted to do more.
6. The local environmental agency invested in her invention … after witnessing its effectiveness over several
trials.
Which of the following statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)? Provide a justification (quotation from the
text).
7. Jenny’s first machine was the one that worked the best. (T / F ) = The first of many prototypes/ after much
trial and error
8. The device needs a lot of time to do its job effectively (T / F ) = In just under an hour

9. To what does its refer in line 33? The device / Jenny’s invention/ Jenny’s machine

10. The style of this text is:

A. formal
B. semi-formal
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 ANALYSIS TASK 2: Identifying Features

Label the features of this EMBEDDED INTERVIEW using these terms.

2ND MAIN QUESTION FOLLOW-ON QUESTION CONTEXTUAL INTRODUCTION FOLLOW-ON QUESTION BYLINE AND DATE HEADLINE

FOLLOW ON ANSWER 2ND MAIN QUESTION ANSWER INTERVIEWER 1ST MAIN QUESTION 1ST QUESTION ANSWER FOLLOW-ON ANSWER

RELEVANT CONCLUSION DEVELOPED DETAILS 3RD MAIN QUESTION 3RD QUESTION ANSWER

1. A True Inspiration HEADLINE

BYLINE AND DATE By Dan Strong, 16 February 2023

3. Little Place International School has a proud tradition of celebrating students who, inspired by the values of the IB
Learner Profiles, have gone on to become leaders inCONTEXTUAL
the field ofINTRODUCTION
innovation and invention. Such a student is Jenny
Flux who has recently won the prestigious County Environmental Innovation of the Year Award for her river cleaning
machine – a device that is already (if you’ll pardon the pun) making waves both locally and across the country. I
spoke with her shortly after she received her award at the Centre for Environmental Innovation last week.

1ST MAIN
8. I wanted to know more about her invention. “It’s a river cleaning device,” she said, “thatQUESTION
combines ANSWER
surface booms
INTERVIEWER 1 ST MAIN QUESTION
and suction pumps to collect and remove plastic waste from local rivers.” She went on to explain that the device can
remove both floating debris and other bits of pollution that might be stuck at the bottom of the river.

11. When asked about the danger of accidentally capturing fish and other lifeforms, she added: “Special sensors
attached to the device can detect the electrical impulses given off by living creatures; if they are identified, the
device turns itself off untilQUESTION
FOLLOW-ON they have moved away. Plus, I equipped the machine with
FOLLOW-ON tiny lasers that can recognise
ANSWER
the size and shape of specific garbage items made of plastic, metal, and paper. Once identified, they are then either
scooped from the surface or vacuumed from the riverbed.”

16. I wondered what would happen if the device were caught in the rapids near rocks and Jenny explained that the
FOLLOW-ON QUESTION
device could only work in parts of the river that were flowing slowly. “Most garbage gets carried along by strong
FOLLOW-ON
currents and then deposited in the still pools, so this is where the machine works best,” she said. ANSWER

19. So, what inspired her invention? INTERVIEWER 2ND MAIN QUESTION

20. “One of the IB English B themes is ‘Sharing the Planet’ and whilst learning about this theme, we were taken down
to two local rivers to see the impact of pollution first-hand.” What she saw saddened her greatly. “It was appalling,”
ND MAIN QUESTION ANSWER
she said. “I2couldn’t believe how such a pretty part of the county could be ruined by such thoughtlessness.”

23. Initially, the IB students were just supposed to write a brochure to educate people about the problem, but Jenny
wanted to do more. “Letting people know about the issue was just half of the problem. Something had to be done.”

25. Enlisting the expertise of her mother, an engineer, and the help of two students from
DEVELOPED Little Place University,
DETAIL
Jenny set about designing the first of many prototypes. “I spent many months researching what was already out
there. Some amazing inventions tackle plastic pollution in the oceans, but they are large and unsuitable for rivers.”

28. After much trial and error, Jenny’s machine was launched and all involved were very pleasantly surprised by its
effectiveness: in just under an hour, it had collected enough waste to fill a small canoe.

30. Inevitably, news of the device soon reached the local environmental agency which, after witnessing its
3RD MAIN QUESTION
effectiveness over several trials, subsequently decided to sponsor further development. I asked how she felt about
this.

33. “That’s when I got excited about its potential,” Jenny added. “Now we can make a differenceRDright across the
3 MAIN QUESTION
country.” ANSWER

35. Indeed, Jenny’s invention (which has yet to be named) will not just be effective on the waterways of our country
– it has the potential to positively impact river systems all across
RELEVANT the globe, too.
CONCLUSION

37. A well-deserved award, and inspirational proof that one individual really can change the world…

(599 words)

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 ANALYSIS TASK 3: Grammar Focus

Circle the correct response.

1. What part of speech is ‘tradition’ (line 3)?

a) adjective b) pronoun c) noun

2. What part of speech is ‘waves’ (line 6)?

a) noun b) verb c) participle

3. The sentence “I wanted to know more about her invention.” in line 8 is a …

a) simple sentence b) compound sentence c) complex sentence

4. The sentence “Enlisting...many prototypes” (Lines 25 and 26) is a …

a) simple sentence b) compound sentence c) complex sentence

4. Which of the following is an OPINION?

a) They are large b) We were taken to two local rivers c) It was appalling.

5. Identify the simple subject in this sentence:

Special sensors attached to the device can detect the electrical impulses given off by living creatures.
a) Special b) sensors c) device

6. Identify the simple predicate in this sentence:

Special sensors attached to the device can detect the electrical impulses given off by living creatures.
a) can b) detect c) can detect

7. What is the function of the ellipsis in line 37?

a) to suggest something more b) to provide extra info c) to add drama to the ending

8. What is the function of the brackets in line 35?

a) to provide an explanation b) to intro an example c) to provide additional information

9. Which of these is a coordinating conjunction?

a) but b) plus c) also

10. Which of the following is an example of an adjective?

a) amazing b) celebrating c) enlisting

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 ANALYSIS TASK 4: Vocabulary Inspection

Circle the correct response.

1. What word is closest in meaning to ‘device’ ? (Line 6)

a) contraption b) gadget c) utensil

2. What is a synonym for ‘debris ? (Line 10)

a) lumber b) refuse c) wreckage

3. Which word/s can suitably replace ‘impulses’ in line 12?

a) signals b) desires c) shocks

4. Which word means the same as ‘equipped’ ? (Line 13)

a) added b) prepared c) fitted

5. What is the meaning of ‘rapids’ ? (Line 16)

a) fast-flowing water b) waterfalls c) floods

6. Which word/s can suitably replace ‘deposited’ in line 18?

a) banked b) dropped c) accumulated

7. What is the antonym of ‘greatly? (Line 21)

a) slightly b) mightily c) marginally

8. What is the antonym of ‘expertise’? (Line 25)

a) experience b) frailty c) inexperience

9. What is the meaning of ‘tackle? (Line 27)

a) fishing gear b) deal with c) seize

10. What is the meaning of ‘potential’? (Line 31)

a) possibility b) probability c) capacity

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 ANALYSIS TASK 5: Paragraph Development

Make notes to show how sentences 2-5 develop the idea in sentence 1.

She goes on to explain

She defines what the
what it can do.
invention is.

I wanted to know more about her invention. “It’s a river cleaning device,” she said, “that combines surface booms
and suction pumps to collect and remove plastic waste from local rivers.” She went on to explain that the device can
remove both floating debris and other bits of pollution that might be stuck at the bottom of the river.

11. When asked about the danger of accidentally capturing fish and other lifeforms, she added: “Special sensors
attached to the device can detect the electrical impulses given off by living creatures; if they are identified, the
device turns itself off until they have moved away. Plus, I equipped the machine with tiny lasers that can recognise
the size and shape of specific garbage items made of plastic, metal, and paper. Once identified, they are then either
scooped from the surface or vacuumed from the riverbed.”

She explains the safety She expands upon the

features. She adds extra details information about how
about its features. it cleans the river.

Make notes to show how sentences 2-7 develop the idea in sentence 1.

Enlisting the expertise of her mother, an engineer, and the help of two students from Little Place Shows how the
University, Jenny set about designing the first of many prototypes.
design took a long
time to research.
“I spent many months researching what was already out there.

Some amazing inventions tackle plastic pollution in the oceans, but they are large and unsuitable for Develops the findings
rivers.” of her research.

After much trial and error, Jenny’s machine was launched and all involved were very pleasantly
surprised by its effectiveness: in just under an hour, it had collected enough waste to fill a small Expands upon the many
canoe. prototypes idea mentioned
earlier and introduces the
Inevitably, news of the device soon reached the local environmental agency which, after witnessing effectiveness of the machine.
its effectiveness over several trials, subsequently decided to sponsor further development.
‘Inevitably’ shows the
I asked how she felt about this. consequence of the success.

“That’s when I got excited about its potential,” Jenny added. “Now we can make a difference right
across the country.”
Jenny ends by being excited
about the future prospects for
her invention.

© 2023 Contented Being