esson 1 Grammar: inversion

What is inversion?
Inversion is a changed order of things.
There are two types:
1.Subject-verb inversion
New word order becomes verb + subject
E.g. On the clouds, floated an angel dressed in white gold.
Why?
This is a common literary technique used to give emphasis to the
sentence and to make it sound special or unusual.

esson 1 Grammar: inversion

2. Subject- auxiliary inversion
New word order becomes auxiliary + subject (+verb)
E.g.
1. On no account must you smoke indoors.
Why?
In this example we use inversion for emphasis and power after
adverbial and time expressions such as; on no account, never, no
sooner, hardly, barely.

esson 1 Grammar: inversion

2. Did you see that?
Why?
In this example inversion is used to form a question. This is an
obligatory use.
3. Had I known this before, I wouldnt have come.
In this example we use inversions in conditional sentences without
if. It is used to sound more formal or polite.

esson 1 Grammar: inversion

Lets practise using inversion. Underline the correct answer.
1. _________ had I left than I heard him talking about me.

no sooner
only when
2. ____________ at the party, I would have had fun too.
I were

Were I

3. What _________ is completely wrong.

are you saying you are saying

4. Now _________ to escape from him and so she jumped
energetically onto the train.

was the time the time was

esson 1 Grammar: inversion

Using inversion, rewrite the sentences using the words given:
Example:
I have seldom walked more than 10 miles at a time.
Seldom have I ever walked more than 10 miles at a time
1.I have never climbed Ben Nevis.
Never ___________________________________________________________
2. I turned up and she started laughing.
No sooner
___________________________________________________________

esson 1 Grammar: inversion

3. If I had more money, I would buy everything I desired.
Had I ___________________________________________________________.
4. If something should happen, call me.
Should
___________________________________________________________.
5. You cant smoke in here at any time.
At no time
___________________________________________________________ can
you smoke

Reading and vocabulary - health

Perceptions of Eastern and Western Medicine
An interesting study took place in China in 2007. The idea was to find out about
customers perceptions of both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western
Medicine (WM). Basically, in Eastern medicine, the mind and body are united
whereas in western medicine they are two separate entities. China has a pluralistic
approach to medicine where both types, TCM and WM exist side by side and have
done so for more than 200 years. Both forms are respected and hence the analysis
of patients perceptions in China is one of interest to a lot of people in the medical
field.
WM is called the scientific approach which views all medical phenomena as a
cause-effect sequence that relies on drugs, radiation and surgery to alleviate
symptoms and aid in treatment. CTM is called the holistic approach which works
on restoring the balance between yin and tang. These forces make up the vital
energy, chi, which is seen as a life-sustaining substance. The treatments involved
in this approach include; herbal remedies, acupuncture and massage.
The patients perceptions were analysed and it was found that CM was favoured for
things such as rheumatoid arthritis and insomnia whereas WM was the favourite
approach for the common cold, heart disease and diahorrea. The patients seemed
to match the goal with the product they chose. If it was a quick fix they were after,
they chose western medicine.

Reading and vocabulary - health

But after analysing these perceptions, negative results resonated in the
researchers minds. If people chose western medicine for a quick fix then it may
change the attitude to their illness or problem. Patients taking pills for their high
blood pressure for example may well be less inclined to go for a run or do
exercise because their western medicine choice is covering up their problem, letting
them forget about it. Or for people who are taking cholesterol-reducing tablets may
not be motivated to reduce their fat intake because the risks are seen as
manageable.
This lead the researchers to conclude that TCM may be the healthier choice
because it is seen as just a supplement persuading people to make healthier
choices first. The Chinese proverb He who takes medicine and neglects to diet
wastes the skills of his doctors could certainly contain more than a grain of truth.

Reading and vocabulary - health

1. What do you think the words in bold mean? Explain to your teacher or use a
dictionary.
a) alleviate
Improve
b) aid
Exist
c) Restore
Borrow

worsen

e) Arthritis
Pain in the joints

an eye problem

help

f) Insomnia
Inability to dream

inability to sleep

return

d) life-sustaining
Life altering life maintenance

g) Diahorrea
Always going to the
not going to
Bathroom
the bathroom
h) A quick fix
Quick solution

quick break

Reading and vocabulary - health

2. Which word(s) or expression in the text means the same as
Paragraph 1:
a) Bodies
______________
b) Area
______________
c) Simultaneously ______________
Paragraph 2
d) Treatments

______________

Paragraph 3
e) end desire

______________

Paragraph 4
f) Hide

______________

Paragraph 5
g) An additional thing ______________

Reading and vocabulary - health

3. What did the researchers find out about patients perceptions in terms of:
a) Traditional Chinese medicine
________________________________________________
b) Western medicine
________________________________________________
4. What negative conclusions did they make?
________________________________________________
5. Can you explain what the Chinese proverb means?
________________________________________________

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Giving your opinion

In my eyes
I am of the opinion that
I dare say that
I am under the impression that
To my mind

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Showing agreement
I share your view.
Thats just it!
Youve hit the nail on the head there!
Fair enough.
Youre quite right.

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Showing disagreement
I think otherwise.
I doubt that very much.
Rubbish! (informal) Nonsense! (a little bit more formal)
I take a different view.
I dont share your view.

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Can you complete the sentences?

Giving your opinion
1.In my _________ .
2.I _________ say that
3.I am _________ the impression
4.To my _________.
5.I am _________ the opinion

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Showing agreement
1. I share your _________ .
2. Thats _________ it!
3. Youve hit the nail on the _________ there!
4. _________ enough.
5. Youre _________ right.

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Showing disagreement
1.I _________ otherwise.
2.I _________ that very much.
3. Rubbish! (informal)

_________! (a little bit more formal)

4. I take a different _________.

5. I dont _________ your view.

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Use these ways of giving an opinionh

In my eyes
____________________________________________________
I am of the opinion that
____________________________________________________
I dare say that
____________________________________________________
I am under the impression that
____________________________________________________
To my mind
____________________________________________________

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Answer these questions related to the text in the reading and

practise using the opinion phrases
1.What is your opinion on western medicine ?
In my eyes.. _______________________________________.
2. What do you think about acupuncture?
I am under the impression that
_______________________________________.
3. How can people motivate themselves to live healthier?
I dare say that. _______________________________________.

esson 2 -

Functional language: opinions and arguments

Read the statements about the text and decide on a

response that best matches your opinion then give a
justification or an example.
1. Chinese medicine is much better than western medicine.
I doubt that.

I share your view.

2. The study was conclusive.

Rubbish!

Youre quite right.

3. Chinese medicine doesnt work.

I dont share you view.

Youve hit the nail on the head there!

istening Corner health opinions

Listen to a man and woman giving their opinions and
challenging arguments on the topic of Western Medicine
(WM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Listen once and summarise each opinion and then listen
again to answer some specific questions.

istening Corner health opinions

Transcript
Man: My view is that TCM doesnt get a person anywhere, well at
least it never got me anywhere. I was told to give acupuncture a
go a few years because of all the reported benefits. My friends and
friends of friends got me to do it really. Id never given it the
time of day before and my friends called me ignorant. One very
good mate of mine said it had even helped to get his wife
pregnant when they thought she wasnt going to be able to. They
said it helped reduced her stress and helped her in the process.
Now on hearing this I changed my view somewhat and wondered if
it wouldnt do the trick for my arthritis pain. In actual fact, three
sessions later I felt nothing but more awareness of my pain. I dont
know, maybe I dont have the right attitude or maybe Im not
relaxed enough for TCM. I tried and now Im as good as done
with it.

istening Corner health opinions

Transcript
Woman: I dont share your view at all. The experience Ive had
with TCM has been very different. I dont quite agree with what
you said about focusing more on your arthritis pain. Youve only
had 3 sessions and quite honestly, you have to have a little more
patience if you want it to have long-term benefits. Maybe the
problem is your attitude you need to relax and believe in
possibilities more rather than see TCM as some sort of quick fix
which it isnt. So I used TCM a couple of years ago to see if I could
alleviate the problems Id been having with my shoulder. It was a
very strong muscular pain and after several weeks of Asian
massage therapy I really got somewhere. After maybe five or
six hours of massage my shoulder pain became a lot less
bothersome and I rarely have trouble with it anymore. Ive also
recently tried acupuncture for some headaches and I must say the
days have lessened in frequency. I recommend this type of
medicine to anyone and urge them to try it.

istening Corner health opinions

Listen again and answer these questions.
1.What did the mans friends think of him?
A: He was ignorant
B: He was irritated
2. What is the mans problem?
A: His wife cant get pregnant

B: He has arthritis

3. How many sessions did the man receive?

A: doesnt say
B: three

istening Corner health opinions

Listen again and answer these questions.
1.What does the woman say to express her disagreement with the
man?
A: I take a different view.
A: I dont share your view.
2. What does she believe the mans problem to be?
A: His attitude
B: His lack of motivation
3. What two problems has the woman had?
A: shoulder pain and back pain B: Headaches and shoulder pain

istening Corner health opinions

1.What do these words or expressions from the listening
mean?
Man
2.It never got me anywhere
A: to not help
B: to not hear of something
2. Id never given it the time of day
A: to see
B: to give something a chance
3. Im as good as done with it
A: to be happy about it B: to be finished with it

istening Corner health opinions

What do these words or expressions from the listening
mean?
Woman
1.Quick fix
A: speedy solution

B: long solution

2. I really got somewhere...

A: to look for a benefit B: to have a good end result
3. became a lot less bothersome
A: to hurt less
B: to worry less

Talking Point
1. Do you agree with the man or woman?
2. Do you think that attitude has a lot to do with health? Why,
why not?
3. Do you think 3 sessions of acupuncture is enough to know if it
works?
4. What kinds of TCM have you heard of? Have you tried any? If
so, what was the outcome? If not, would you consider it in the
future?

esson 3

Pronunciation: common advanced errors

Some word stress changes depending on its part of

speech. Listen to the following words related to health.
Concrete noun

Abstract noun

Adjective

Scientist

Science

Scientific

Medic

Medicine

Medicinal

Motivator

Motivation

Motivational

Developer

Development

Developmental

esson 3

Pronunciation: common advanced errors

Listen again and decide which syllable the stress is in.

Type 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on the syllable.
Scientist

___ Science

___

___

Medicine

Motivator

___

Motivation ___

Motivational ___

Development ___

Developmental ___

You can see a shift in the word stress.

Medicinal

___

Medic

Developer ___

___

Scientific
___

esson 3

Pronunciation: common advanced errors

Choose the correct form of the word from the list and then
practise saying them with the correct stress.
Motivate
develop
science
Medic
1.The doctor was very ________________ when he talked to me
about changing my diet.
2. In my eyes there is no strong ________________ evidence in
favour of TCM.
3.I am of the opinion that Western ________________ is much more
successful.
4. Pharmaceutical companies try to ________________ new drugs all
of the time.

esson 3

Pronunciation: common advanced errors

Read this take on Western medicine and respond with your

opinion and challenge the argument.
In my eyes, Western medicine never works. It doesnt matter if its
surgery or drugs - they will always have bad side effects and they
dont always work 100%.
___________________________________________________________________
_______
___________________________________________________________________
_______
___________________________________________________________________
_______
___________________________________________________________________