LET’S START!

Marcus wants his brother

UNIT 2
Problems
Eric to give up his bad
habits. Can you identify
Eric’s bad habits?
He ...

& solutions

E
PL
M
SA

UNIT OBJECTIVES
Unit 2: Problems & solutions

 Read letters asking for advice

 Write a letter of advice
 Talk about bad habits people
have
 Talk about difficult situations
17
 Give advice
Work in pairs. Can you think of any other bad
 Make a poster
habits?
 2 Lesson 1

READING
A Skim the letters and answer the question.
1 What kind of letters are they? Circle the correct answer. READING STRATEGY
a love letters b letters of complaint c letters asking for advice Skimming is looking
through a text quickly
to find the main ideas.
Skimming saves time
Morning Star Tuesday 11 November because you can find
the main ideas quickly.
Dear Alice
by Alice Jacobs
You don’t need to read
every word.
Want to help but no longer can
Dear Alice: I study health and fitness at university and work weekends at a local gym. I used to
enjoy working at the gym because I like helping people get fit and healthy. Customers come to
the gym to change their life, to have a better lifestyle, and it’s great helping people who want to
improve their bodies.
The problem is that I have a new manager who only gives me boring jobs, like cleaning and
picking up dirty towels. I hate working there nowadays, and want to leave, but I need the extra
money and work experience. What should I do? — Frustrated Jasmine

E
PL
Morning Star Wednesday 12 November

Dear Alice
by Alice Jacobs

How to help unhealthy brother

M
Dear Alice: I’m worried about my brother Eric because he suffers from bad health. For one,
he’s a junk food addict. I’ve told him that he should have a healthy diet, but he doesn’t listen
to me.
On top of this, he’s addicted to smoking. Again, I’ve asked him to stop before it’s too late to
repair the damage, but he just doesn’t listen.
SA

Sadly, I know these bad habits are affecting his mood as well. Please give me some advice. How
can I help him break the bad habits? — Worried Marcus

COMPREHENSION CHECK
B Read the letters. Then circle T (true) or F C Read the answers and write the
(false). questions.
1 Jasmine works part-time at a gym. T / F 1 When does Jasmine work at the gym?
2 Jasmine is working at the gym because Jasmine works weekends at the gym.
she wants to get fit. T / F 2 
3 Jasmine doesn’t like working for her new The new manager makes Jasmine clean
manager. T / F and pick up dirty towels.
4 Marcus isn’t worried about his brother’s 3 
habits. T / F Because Jasmine needs the extra money
A2.3

5 Eric ignores the advice that Marcus gives. and work experience.
18 T/F
4 
6 Marcus thinks Eric’s bad habits make him
Eric’s a junk food addict and he’s addicted
moody. T / F
to smoking.
 2

D Complete the sentences with the people’s names.

1 wants to help his brother.
2 is suffering from bad
health.
3 is a university student.
4 should see a doctor.
5 thinks the bad habits are
affecting his brother’s moods.
6 used to enjoy her job.
7 doesn’t take care of his health.
8 thinks his brother should listen
to him.
9 is saving money.

VOCABULARY CHECK
E Match the words to make phrases. F Work in pairs. Make
sentences with the
1 have • • a the damage phrases from E.
2 suffer • • b a person’s mood

E
3 change• • c the bad habits
4 is • • d from bad health
5 break •
PL
• e fit and healthy
6 repair • • f addicted to
7 get • • g your life
8 affect • • h a better lifestyle
M

WRITING
G H Work in pairs. Think of
SA

Complete the letter of advice with the words in the box.

advice to give Jasmine
difficult fit friends lifestyle normal or Marcus.
overweight perfect people
I Now write your letter of
Dear Upset Lydia, advice.
Going to college is a (1) __________ experience for many young

(2) __________. You need to let your son know that this is
(3) __________. 

At the same time, being (4) __________ isn’t healthy. Why 

don’t you encourage your son to get (5) __________ and make 
new (6) __________ at the same time? This could be the (7)

__________ time for him to change his (8) __________.
Unit 2: Problems & solutions


Yours truly,
Alice 


J Work in a group. Read your letters to each other. Is the
advice good or not? Why?  19


 2 Lesson 2

WORD BUILDER
A Complete the sentences with the correct form of verbs.

complain drink drink eat exercise forget spend study wake up waste watch

1 2 3 4 5

May Harry Clara Ron Ivy doesn’t

late. too much money. too much TV. too much fast
food. enough water.
6 7 8 9 10

E
Arthur always Helena Ravi doesn’t Juan Amy doesn’t
things. too much coffee. enough. too much. enough.
He too
PL much time.

B Track 7 Listen and tick (✔) the problems the people have.
1 £ doesn’t drink enough 4 £ spends too much 7 £ doesn’t exercise enough
water money
M
8 £ drinks too much coffee
2 £ forgets things 5 £ complains too much 9 £ watches too much TV
3 £ wastes too much time 6 £ eats too much
SA

C Complete the sentences with not enough D In pairs, think of advice to give to people
or too much. who have these problems.
1 My friend spends all her time at the gym. People who ... Should ...
She exercises .
2 I could eat chocolate all day. In fact, wake up late
my friends say that I eat it
spend too
chocolate. much money
3 Joe likes computer games. He says
there’s time for studying. watch too much TV

4 My mum went shopping for herself all eat too much

afternoon, and now there’s fast food
money left to buy me new shoes.
don’t exercise
5 I have a classmate who is addicted to enough
watching TV. She spends don’t study
time in front of the TV. enough
A2.3

20 E Tell the class your advice.

We think that people who wake up late should use an alarm clock.
 2

GRAMMAR BUILDER

Relative clauses (that and who)

I buy things that are too expensive. I’m someone who spends too much money.

He doesn’t eat food that makes him fat. She isn’t a person who wastes time watching TV.

They listen to music that helps them relax. They’re people who don’t exercise enough.

F Circle the correct words.
1 Jack is someone who
/ that likes eating fast
food.
2 I enjoy playing computer
games who / that have
human characters.
G Use the prompts to make sentences with that.
1 Karen / not eat food / have a lot of fat
Karen doesn't eat food that has a lot of fat.
2 Ivan and Lance / read books / be about the future


E
3 Holly / take exercises classes / help her stay fit
3 My parents are people
who / that hate 
spending money. 4 Ronald / be addicted to a computer game / be about
PL
4 Alice likes to drink coffee words
who / that is very sweet. 
5 Luis is a person who
/ that spends a lot of 5 Oscar and Lena / not buy clothes / be expensive
money. 
M
6 We like watching TV
shows who / that are
about doctors.
SA

H Connect the sentences with someone who or people who. I In pairs, talk about bad
This is Joe. He wastes This is Hannah and Marco. This is Tess. She likes
habits using relative
too much time online. They always eat healthy food. outdoor activities. clauses with that and
who.
1 2 3
I’m someone who eats
too much fast food.

Joe is someone   My brother is always

who wastes too
much time online.
playing the video
 
games that are violent.
 
Unit 2: Problems & solutions

This is Gina and Dawn. This is David and Alex. They This is Tammy. She
They complain too much. don’t waste time watching TV. drinks too much coffee.

4 5 6

21
  
  
  
 2 Lesson 3

COMMUNICATION
A Look at the pictures in B. Then tick (✔) the phrases you think you will hear.
£ break a bad habit £ get fit £ spend too much money
£ drink too much coffee £ have a healthy diet £ wake up late
£ eat too much fast food £ not study enough £ waste too much time
£ forget things £ not exercise enough £ watch too much TV

B Track 8 Listen and tick (✔) the correct pictures. C Track 9 Listen
and circle the correct
1 answers.
1 Marie is __.
a losing weight and
feels tired
A A2.3 2-12 A A2.3 2-13 A A2.3 2-14
b overweight and
2 feels tired
c overweight and
moody

E
2 Marie likes to eat __.
A A2.3 2-15 A A2.3 2-16 A A2.3 2-17 a chocolate and
3 sweets
PL b burgers and fries
c pizza and burgers
3 Diana is __.
A A2.3 2-18 A A2.3 2-19 A A2.3 2-20 a healthy
4 b overweight
M
c thin
4 Marie and Diana will
go for walks __.
a in the mornings and
SA

A A2.3 2-21 A A2.3 2-22 A A2.3 2-23

5 afternoons
b in the mornings and
evenings
c in the afternoons
A A2.3 2-24 A A2.3 2-25 A A2.3 2-26
and evenings
6 5 Marie and Diana will
eat __.
a lots of meat,
vegetables and fruit
A A2.3 2-27 A A2.3 2-28 A A2.3 2-29
b no meat and lots of
fruit and vegetables
c some meat and
D Track 10 Listen and complete the conversation.
lots of fruit and
A: Hi Marie. How are you? vegetables
B: Hi Glenda. I’m feeling (1) ____________ thank you.
A: You’re looking very (2) ____________.
B: That’s because I don’t eat (3) ____________ fast food these days. And I (4) ____________ more too.
A: Good for you. You’ve really (5) ___________ your lifestyle.
B: Yes, my neighbour Diana and I decided to get (6) ____________ together.
USEFUL
A2.3

A: Maybe I should join you and work on having a better (7) ____________.
I definitely don’t exercise (8) ____________. EX PRESSIONS
22
B: Sure. Join us. We go jogging every (9) ____________. And we cook You’re looking very …
together in the evenings. Usually something with lots of (10) ____________. Goo d for you …
A: Sounds great. I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe I should …
 2

E Complete the conversation with the words in the box.

addicted advice bad break difficult doctor quit slowly smoking

A: Hi Leo. Can I ask for your (1) ____________?

B: Sure. Go ahead.
A: I want you to give up (2) ____________, but I don’t know if I can.
B: Do you think you’re (3) ____________ to smoking?
A: Absolutely.
B: Well, I know it’s (4) ____________ but you can. People (5) ____________ smoking all the time.
A: It’s a really (6) ____________ habit. Do you really think I can (7) ____________ it?
B: Of course. You could try to give up (8) ____________. And you should ask your (9) ____________
for some advice.
A: OK, I’ll do that. Thanks, Leo.

F G

E
In pairs, role-play the
PL
Now write your own conversation. Then role-play it with a
conversation in E. partner.


M



SA




H Interview your classmates. Ask them about their bad habits. Then work in a group and think
of ideas for breaking the habits.
Bad habit Who Ideas for breaking the habit
Unit 2: Problems & solutions

I Tell the class the bad habits and your advice. 23

I think people who … should … They can also try to …

 2 Lesson 4

WORD BUILDER
A Track 11 Listen and tick (✔) the situations you hear.

1 2 3 4 5

£ solve the £ argue with £ talk about the £ fight with £ listen to
problem someone problem someone someone

6 7 8 9

£ complain £ share the £ decide on a £ keep it to

about problem solution yourself
something

E
B Match the words to make phrases. C Complete the sentences with the correct
PL form of the words in the box.
1 keep • • a to someone
2 decide • • b the problem argue complain decide discuss
3 discuss • • c with someone keep share solve
4 listen • • d about something
1 Jack was very angry when his sister broke
M
5 fight • • e it to yourself
his laptop. He about it to
6 complain • • f on a solution
his mum.
2 Harry told Mark that he was having
SA

D Look at the problems below. Think of problems completing his project. They
more problems. Then work with a partner sat down to the problem
to discuss solutions to the problems. together.
3 My parents are thinking of moving to
Sally found a hair in the sandwich London. They will it with us
she bought at the café. What before deciding.
should she do? 4 I have a classmate who always wants to
be right. He with everyone.

difficult 5 Leona couldn’t think of a way to solve her

b e e n given a n’t
s e does
Karl ha
problem. She decided to it
c t a t work. H finish it by
proje e to with her best friend.
ough tim do?
have en hat should he
.W 6 Some people can solve problems quickly.
himself
Others take a long time to
leave on a solution.
in e w ants to hould
Ma x
w o r k . What s 7 Ricardo doesn’t want to tell anyone about
o
school t
A2.3

she d o ? his problem. He wants to

it to himself.
24

E Tell the class your solutions from D.

 2

GRAMMAR BUILDER

had better (not)

I feel very angry with my friend. What should I do?

You’d better discuss the problem with him. I’d, you’d, he’d, she’d,
You’d better not fight with him. we’d,
Their hotel room was smelly and dirty. What should they do? they’d better (not)
They’d better complain to the manager.
They’d better not stay there another night.

F Put the words in the correct order.
1 better / soon / stop / you’d / smoking

G Give advice to each person using had
better or had better not. Then share your
answers with a partner.
1 My classmate copies my work in class.

E
2 problem / the / they’d / solve / together / You'd
 better tell the teacher.
better
2 He eats too much fast food and is getting

PL fat.
3 it / you’d / fight / better / not / about 

3 Their pizza arrived an hour late.
4 advice / to / he’d / good / listen / better / 
the
M
4 My sister argues with me all the time.


5 better / he’d / with / classmates / argue /
5 Sally’s teacher is always telling her how to
not / his
SA

improve her work.




H Tick (✔) the most useful advice for each situation. I Interview your
classmates about
1 I want to get healthy. problems they have
£ You’d better change your lifestyle. had. Then work in a
£ You’d better start drinking more coffee. group to give advice
2 Amy wants to be on time for her exam tomorrow morning. with had better or had
£ She’d better set her alarm. better not.
£ She’d better stay up late revising.
I love my homestay
3 Paul wants to talk to his parents about studying abroad.
Unit 2: Problems & solutions

family, but they have

£ He’d better ignore what they say and just do it. two dogs and they
£ He’d better discuss what he wants to do with them. smell terrible.
4 They can’t decide who should pay for repairing the
computer. You’d better
£ They’d better complain to the boss and let her decide. suggest that they give
£ They’d better discuss and solve the problem together. the dogs a bath.
25
 2 Lesson 5

PRE-TASK
A What problems do students have at school? Match the following problems to the pictures.
Then think of other problems.

1 not understand the work 3 not enough money to go out

2 no friends 4 too much homework

Other problems for students:

 

E
 
PL
B Here are some ways that students deal with problems. Tick (✔) the solutions that you think
are useful. Then add your own solutions.
M

1 £ talk to a teacher 4 £ complain to the head teacher

2 £ argue with your classmates 5 £ ignore the problem and hope it will go away
3 £ discuss with your friends 6 £ fight with a teacher
SA

 
 
 
 

C Work in a group. Discuss the problems and solutions in A and B. Write the problems and
solutions here.
Problems Solutions
A2.3

26
 2

TASK
D You are going to design a poster for one of the problems in C. Work in a group. Think about
what information you need for the poster and how to make it attractive.

Problem: Solution:

Poster title: Slogan:

E
Other text:
PL Pictures to use:
M
Colours: Others:
SA

Unit 2: Problems & solutions

POST-TASK
E Hang your posters on the wall. Talk about which posters you like best. 27

I like the poster about … because … This one is interesting. The pictures are very …
 2

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

in the real world Blended learning

A Ask a couple of local people with similar
jobs how they feel about their current
lifestyles. Is there anything about them
they would like to change/add/stop
doing? Why? How do their answers
compare? Are they different or similar?
What do you think is the most interesting
aspect of their answers? Why?
B What did you learn about pronunciation
in the PowerPoint lessons this week?
What do you find the easiest thing about
English pronunciation? And the hardest?
Make a list of five things you can do this
week to improve your pronunciation.
Compare your answers with a partner.
Now do those things over the next week.

Just for fun Ra

E
C In pairs, write a story. One student should use the words in the first section of the wordlist
and the other student should use the words in the second section of the wordlist. Do not
change the order of the words! When you have finished, compare your stories and find a way
PL
to join them. Now read the class your completed story.
M
SA

Wordlist
addict someone / people who …
be addicted to watch too much TV
get fit spend too much money
get healthy waste too much time
body eat too much fast food
change your life drink too much coffee
eat a healthy diet doesn’t study enough
break a bad habit don’t exercise enough
have a better lifestyle wake up late
repair the damage forgets things
suffer from bad health argue with (someone)
affect your mood fight with (someone)
damage your hearing complain about (something)
harm your relationships solve the problem
A2.3

too much neighbour

28 not enough classmate