How does it work?

TASK 1. Listening
Pencil sharpener
a) Label the different parts of this device with:
Sharpener / blades / wood / gear / pencil
holder / pivot / bucket
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________
d. _______________________
e. _______________________
f. _______________________
g. _______________________

b) Listen and complete the script:

A How _______ you _________ it
____________?
B You _______________ put a pencil in the
holder and then you just ___________ for
bad weather.
A Bad weather?
B Yes, when it ______________, the bucket
________________ with water. The wood is
a lever, so if you
________________________ on one end,
the other end ____________________.
A So the bucket ____________________
heavy, the wood _______________, and it
____________ the pencil.
B Yes.
A What’s that little thing above the pencil?
B A pencil sharpener. When the pencil
__________________, it _____________
inside.
A And the wind __________________ the
blades at the top _______________?
B That’s right. They ___________________ the
gear and it ______________ the sharpener
_______________________.
 c) Answer the following questions:
1) What’s this device for?
2) What sort of climate can you see it in?
3) What happens when it rains?
4) What makes the pencil rise?
5) What causes the blades to rotate?
6) What makes the pencil sharpener spin?
d) In the dialogue, what is the tense used? Why?

TASK 2. Language tips: sequencing the stages or steps in a process and expressing cause and effect.

1. Adverbs and conjunctions:

Adverbs of cause Adverbs of consequence Conjunctions of cause
Because of As a result, As
Due to Consequently, Because
Owing to Hence, Since
Thanks to Thereby,
On account of Therefore,
Thus,

2. –ing clauses:
a) ‘by’ + vb-ing: The man sharpens his pencil by using a creative device.
b) the effect clause is preceded by a comma (,) in writing, and by a slight pause when speaking: (cause)
The platform tilts up, (effect) rising the pencil.

3. Putting events in sequence using a ‘which’ clause: The man fills in the bucket, which makes the wooden
board tilt.

4. Time clauses introduced by when (only if it has the meaning of “whenever”): When (Whenever) the
wind blows, the blades start to spin.

5. Situate the event in time:

Time Relation Time Marker
Before: Before (+ vb. –ing), Beforehand, Prior to (+ vb. –ing), Previously, Until…
After: After (+ vb. –ing), Afterwards, As soon as, Later on, Next, Once, then…
Simultaneously: At the same time, During (+ n.), In the meantime, meanwhile, When, While, As…
Sequence: First, First of all, Second(ly), third(ly)…, Eventually, Finally, Lastly…
Whenever, Each time, Every time (that), Once, Twice, Three times, Often,
Frequency:
Usually, Sometimes, Rarely, Seldom, Hardly ever, never…
In the first place, The first step/stage is to…, The first step consists in + -ing, The
Order:
initial step, Initially, The following step is…, The last/final step is…
In addition: Besides, Moreover, What’s more, In addition...

6. Prepositions of place and movement:

7. Phrasal verbs used in technical and scientific English. For each sentence, choose the best answer to fill
in the gap. Make sure you search the meaning on www.thesaurus.com.

1. Recently, scientists have ___________ that the meteorite which wiped out the dinosaurs might have
also resulted in an ice age.
A carried out B pointed out C cranked out D thinned out
2. Researchers at the University of Bedminster have been ____________ a study to determine the most
efficient way to peel a banana.
A pointing out B carrying out C figuring out D thinning out
3. Sacks of rubbish illegally dumped at the site have been __________ strong-smelling vapours and were
eventually found to contain highly toxic chemicals.
A giving up B giving out C giving off D giving over
4. For decades, great minds have tried to __________ what shape the universe is and finally, it seems,
someone has come up with an answer.
A point out B figure out C carry out D turn out
5. Today a network of virus-infected computers, which for months has been ____________ billions of
spam emails, has finally been shut down.
A carrying out B figuring out C giving out D cranking out
6. With the recent introduction of electric cars, it is hoped that petrol-driven vehicles can be __________
by the end of the next decade.
A carried out B given out C phased out D cranked out
7. At the moment electric vehicles _______ for fewer than one tenth of a percent of all vehicles on UK
roads.
A add B sum C account D make
8. Some people think that nuclear war would ____ out all life on our planet, but actually some species
like cockroaches and mosquitoes would probably survive.
A kill B end C carry D wipe
9. Environmentalists are working hard to ___ across the message that our modern way of life is not
sustainable.
A talk B give C get D carry
10. The UK government is planning to phase ___ all petrol-driven cars by the year 2015 but I think this is a
bit over-ambitious.
A away B out C off D back
11. British scientists have ____ up with a unique way of carrying shopping without using plastic carrier
bags.
A gone B brought C come D given
12. Many British people are calling ___ a ban on circuses using wild animals to entertain the public.
A for B up C to D off
13. Because our population is so densely concentrated, a new disease like bird flu can ______ out very
quickly after the first case has appeared.
A pass B spread C fill D reach