All rights reserved.

Materials available in this document are

protected by copyright law and are operated by LSS Learning
Systems Switzerland GmbH with its registered office in
Bern (jointly „LSS”). No part of this document, including
but not limited to text, graphics or logos, may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, in whole
or in part, without prior written permission of LSS.
ISBN 978-83-89322-31-9
 Performance key
Using your Student Book
Welcome back - You’ve studied your online lesson in the course, now it’s time
to consolidate with some practical information and exercises designed to fully
develop your English skills. Let’s go!

AIMS
Getting started
Start your Student Book lesson with the Aims. In this
section you will see the subjects to be covered and the
objectives for the lesson. This is what you are working
toward!

COMPREHENSION
Language in context
In your online study you have already practised using the
target language and structures in real life scenarios. Use
the Comprehension section to review them, and be sure
to pay attention to the spelling of words. English spelling
and pronunciation can sometimes be very different.
Want to see the Video Scenario again? Just read the QR
code with your mobile phone.

USE OF ENGLISH
How it works
Practice is essential to learning a new language, but
sometimes a practical explanation about language
structures and how they are used can help too. The Use of
English section is where you will find them.

2
WORK-OUT
Learn by doing…
In your online lesson you worked hard on your spoken
English. Now it’s time to write! The Work-out section
exercises will give you the practice necessary to consolidate
your skills and build your vocabulary.

decryption detect
pagan woven
dressage range overdose
shortlist gunpowder gather

WORD LIST community

peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
attend
overload
recognition
ban
trial

entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
Vocabulary is important engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin vet mutton
The Word List will help you to keep track of the new habit get promoted
too seafood
vocabulary you have been learning, with topic specific
worth lamb
starve herring
unlucky

groupings of the words. kiosk

gossip
desire

KEY
Work at your own pace
With the Key, you will be able to correct your work as soon
as you finish. This immediate feedback on your mistakes is
very important for learning. Be sure to take advantage of it!

3
 Index
UNIT 1 1
2
3
The search
Writing a CV
A case of the nerves
A career move 4 Getting through the interview

UNIT 2 1
2
3
The night out
Transport trouble
A complicated order
The art of fine dining 4 Constructive criticism

UNIT 3 1
2
3
A strange dream
A false memory
Being forgetful
Memory 4 The future of learning

UNIT 4 1
2
3
You’re relocating
Preparing for the move
Doubts about the move
Moving to a new town 4 Moving in

UNIT 5 1
2
3
Dating
The proposal
Planning for the big day
Tying the knot 4 The wedding reception

4
 7
Topic: The role of a lifetime
Skill: Emphasising a point, feeling, issue
Expressing attitudes and feelings precisely
Grammar: Present Perfect Continuous to explain something
Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous
Vocabulary: Expression ‘when it comes to…’
Collocation

55
Topic: The art of fine dining
Skill: Critiquing and reviewing constructively
Organising a group project
Grammar: Phrasal verbs, especially splitting
Prepositional verbs
Vocabulary: Expression ‘to manage’ something
Connector: Linking devices, logical markers

Topic:
Skill:
Memory
Defending a point of view persuasively
Sequencing past events
101
Grammar: Narrative tenses for experience, incl. passive
Go’ + gerund to talk about activities
Uses of ‘get’
Uses of ‘get used to’
Vocabulary: Colloquial language

149
Topic: Moving to a new town
Skill: Expressing reaction, e.g. indifference
Expressing shades of opinion and certainty
Grammar: Make vs. do
“Comparative, superlative and the use of large figures and percentages”
Vocabulary: Approximating (vague language)
Household tasks

195
Topic: Tying the knot
Skill: Expressing opinions tentatively, hedging
Grammar: Futures (revision)
Adjectives + prepositions
Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions
Expressions with put

5
The role of a lifetime
Topic: The role of a lifetime
Skill: Emphasising a point, feeling, issue
Expressing attitudes and feelings precisely
Grammar: Present Perfect Continuous to explain something
Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous
Vocabulary: Expression ‘when it comes to…’
Collocation
 The
search 1 lesson

1
unit
1 /1 Unit

Lesson

The search
Dissatisfied with his current job, Joe looks for a
new one on the Internet. A friend helps him with
his search, suggesting some job websites.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised the Present Perfect Continuous
and Present Perfect Simple and their multiple usages.

• How long have you been home?

• What’s this you’ve been writing?
• I have been getting really sick of the office lately.
• I’ve been getting kind of angry at work but I haven’t
mentioned it to anyone.
• I have done some great work for that company.
• Have you considered talking to someone about it?

8
 Lesson 1: The search

You have also learnt vocabulary connected with talking about your
job and some related to looking for a job.

• It’s starting to get me down.

• This is a serious recruitment company.
• My degree’s in Illustration.
• ‘Illustrator wanted. Must have two years’ experience, a
friendly and professional attitude and a degree in Illustration.’

Finally, you have learnt some idioms and collocations which make
it easier for to you to communicate your ideas and thoughts more
efficiently.

• I just have itchy feet. I want to change my environment.

• I think it’s finally got under my skin.
• I feel taken for granted.
• It may be that you’re stuck in a rut and you just need a
change.

9
Unit 1

Comprehension

How long have + past

participle are used to ask about 1 Character Dialogue
the duration of a situation. Lisa Hey, Joe! How’s it going? How long have you been home?
-ish is used to say How long have you played guitar? (1)
approximately. 2 Joe About two hours, since 3.30-ish (2) . We had a short day due
to some building works.
We can use ish with
adjectives too. 3 I’ll see you at 6pm-ish
The weather is warm-ish (3)
Have / has been + ing is used
much like the Present Perfect, only What’s this you’ve been writing? You don’t seem like yourself,
there is an emphasis on the event 4 Lisa
Joe. (4)
continuing into the future too.
I’ve been reading this book for a month and I’m only half way
through it.
My dog doesn’t seem herself today. Perhaps she is sick. (5)
Joe No, I’m alright.
Lisa That’s hard to believe. You can tell me you know?!
Joe Well, it’s just that... I’m looking for a new job. I have been get-
ting really sick of (6) the office lately. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve
To be not yourself means to
not act like you usually act. 5 had a good time there but now it’s starting to get me down.
I’m really sick of these white walls. I want to paint them red.
Don’t get me wrong (7), the meal was nice but it was too ex-
Sick of means bored of. 6 pensive
This bad weather is getting me down (8)
Don’t get me wrong means ‘I’m Lisa What’s been happening to make you feel this way?
not being unappreciative, but…’ 7
Joe Nothing is that different, really... I just... have itchy feet (9) .
I want to change my environment. Make my life a bit more
stress free.
Get me down means make me
unhappy. 8 I’ve had itchy feet for a while which is why I’m moving out of
the city.
Lisa Are you sure that’s the only reason you want to leave? I’m not
Itchy feet means that you want convinced.
to change something in your life. 9
Joe I don’t know. I’ve been getting kind of (10) angry at work but
I haven’t mentioned it to anyone and I think it’s finally got
under my skin.
Kind of means a little. 10 It’s kind of late; I think I should go to bed.
I don’t know why, but John really gets under my skin (11).
If something gets under my Lisa What’s been upsetting you?
skin it means that it annoys me
or angers me.
11 Joe I know for a fact that 3 people are getting promotions and I’m
not included. I feel taken for granted (12). I have done some
great work for that company and they don’t show me that
Taken for granted means that they appreciate me.
people do not recognize what 12 I left my husband because he took me for granted.
your qualities as a person.
Lisa Oh gosh! I didn’t realise you felt this way, mate (13). Have you
considered talking to someone about it, you know, to see if
Mate is used informally in the
you can work it out?
UK to mean friend. 13 Hello mate! I Haven’t seen you in a long time.
I’m terrible at maths. I need a calculator to work things
Work it out means to find a out. (14)
solution. 14
10
 Lesson 1: The search

Joe I’ve been having appraisals with my manager nearly every

week, but I really don’t feel like he cares that much as he’s
15
always so busy. I’ll feel like a burden (15) if I bring it up. A burden is something which makes
things difficult for other people.
Some people feel that old people are a burden on society.
I don’t want to bring this up, but you still owe me £100. (16)
16
Lisa Alright, so maybe it is time to move on (17). You have been there for a
Bring up means to mention a difficult
while. It may be that you’re stuck in a rut and you just need a change.
subject.
I’ve been in this job for a long time so its time to move on.
I ended things with Karen because we were stuck in a rut (18).
17
Joe Yeah, I think you’re right.
Move on means to leave a place and do
Lisa OK, let’s have a look at this, then. What have you found? something different.
What about this?
Joe No. That wouldn’t get me anywhere. It’s a position lower than 18
mine. Plus, I’ve done a similar job before so it wouldn’t feel
new to me. (19) Stuck in a rut means trapped in a
boring routine.
I’ve been learning Spanish for a year but I haven’t got
anywhere. I still can’t have a conversation.
You shouldn’t go to the party because you are working 19
tomorrow. Plus (20), it’s far away.
To not get anywhere means to not
Lisa I see. Oh well! So that one’s not for you. There’s plenty (21) make any progress.
more here...
I’ve got plenty of money so let’s go to this nice restaurant.
20
Joe Oh wait! Scroll back up a little. This one looks like something
Plus means also.
I’d be good at. High salary, short hours, it’s in this area.
Lisa But you need a degree in art history. What do you have again?
Joe Hmmm, I didn’t see that. My degree’s in Illustration. 21
Lisa Let’s have a look at more job websites. I’m sure we’ll find you Plenty means a lot.
a great job.
Joe OK, I’m not having much luck here.
22
Lisa Right. Jobs. Categories. Art, Local, within 10 miles?
If you don’t mind something then you
Joe Let’s say 15 miles as I don’t mind (22) driving if it’s a great job. don’t have a problem with it.
I don’t mind waiting for you to get home before we eat.
Lisa I don’t need to help you, you know. I do have other things I 23
can be getting on with. (23)
Do you have any homework to be getting on with? To get on with means to do.

Joe No, no. I’m sorry. I’m just being pessimistic. I think I’ve been
staring at the computer for too long.
Lisa I have a good feeling about this website. It’s a serious
recruitment company.
Joe The page certainly does look professional.
Joe Hey, look. Illustrator wanted. Must have two years’
experience, a friendly and professional attitude and a degree
in Illustration. That’s me!
Lisa I told you not to give up! Go on then. Apply!
Joe Thanks Lisa! I was really starting to lose hope, it’s taken me
so long to find something.
Glad I could give a helping hand (24). You might end up with
the best job in the world! Who knows!? 24
Painting the living room would have took a long time but my A helping hand is help from another
sister gave me a helping hand so we did it quicker. person.
Joe Imagine that. The highest salary, the shortest hours and the
friendliest manager!
Lisa Right. I’m going to make a cup of tea. 25
Joe Thanks, Lisa. You’re a star! (25) A star is a person who is very helpful
You’re such a star for lending me that money. or nice.

11
Unit 1

Use of English

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the Present Perfect Simple when we We also use the Present Perfect Simple to talk
want to show that a past action is somehow about the present result of a past action or
connected to the present moment. It’s about how many times an action has happened
different to the Past Simple which shows that up to the present moment.
the action is past and not connected to the
present moment. • I have had this problem several times
myself.
• I have broken my arm. • She has been here twice already.
My arm is broken now. • I have run 20 miles.
• She hasn’t done her homework. • We have made a lot of food for today’s
Her homework is not done now. party.

We show that an action is completed or

finished using the Present Perfect Simple.

• Have you done your homework?

– Yes, I have.
• I have finished! Can I go out now?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the Present Perfect Continuous • I have been running for 20 minutes.
when we want to talk about an action that • She has been sleeping for 20 hours
started in the past and is continuing up to the now. Go and wake her up!
present moment. We often connect it with the
information about how long the action has
been going on.

12
 Lesson 1: The search

Work-out
A
Match the beginnings with the endings.

1. They are renovating our office a. and I don’t think I’d enjoy it.
2. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a good b. are getting promotions and I’m not
time there included.
3. We had a short day c. at the computer for too long.
4. I know for a fact that 3 people d. it is time to move on?
5. Alright, so maybe e. so I have to work in the lobby.
6. It’s a position lower than mine f. but now it’s starting to get me down.
7. I think I’ve been staring g. due to some building works.

1. e  2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     

B
Put the words in each sentence in the correct order.

Example: us / to / an / They / going / are / send / e-mail

They are going to send us an e-mail.

1. I / really / was / to / lose / starting / hope

2. I’m / cup / to / a / of / dishes / and / tea / going / do / make / the

3. have / I / ‘greatjob’ / a / about / good / website / feeling / the

4. I’ ll / I / burden / feel / if / a / like / it / up / bring

5. get / that / me / anywhere / wouldn’t

6. realise / I / felt / didn’t / way / you / mate / this

7. you / I / give / to / not / told / up!

8. things / I / have / been / about / ages / other / for/ applying / for / thinking

13
Unit 1

C
Replace the underlined words with a suitable form of the expressions given below.

get me wrong / due to / hard to believe / sick of / let out / there’s no harm / end up /
work it out / don’t mind

Example: A s long as they are comfortable with staying in a hostel, then I can’t see
a problem.

As long as they don’t mind staying in a hostel, then I can’t see a
problem.

1. We had a short day because of some building works.

2. Have you considered talking to someone about it, you know, to see if you can resolve
the problem?

3. They are renovating our office so we were allowed to leave early.

4. Five times in two hours ! That’s almost impossible !

5. He never stops talking about himself. I’m fed up with him.

6. I suppose it can’t hurt to try.

7. I hope you don’t misunderstand me. I just want to help you.

8. If we don’t start discussing our problems, we’ll start shouting at each other.

D
Match the words to form collocations.

1. high a. hours
2. itchy b. job
3. long. c. staffed
4. get d. feet
5. short e. a career
6. to pursue f. salary
7. to gain g. a promotion.
8. part-time h. qualifications

1. f  2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     8.     

14
 Lesson 1: The search

E
Fill in the missing letters to make the names of professions.

A ou a t
Ar hi
S en st
Lawyer
S ge n
En n r
E no s
ur e

F
Choose the correct response.

Example: What’s been happening to make you feel this way?

I am really looking forward to it. / I’m not sure really.

1. Are you sure that’s the only reason you want to leave?
Well, not really. / I’m great. / I have to leave.
2. What’s been upsetting you?
I enjoy working with people. / I feel taken for granted. / Thanks.
3. Why have you been arriving late recently?
I have been having problems sleeping. / I have to leave early today. / Can you
help me ?
4. Have you considered pursuing a career as a musician?
It just seems too academic. / I would like nothing better! / I don’t have time.
5. When was your last appraisal?
November last year. / I don’t know how to ask him. / Where?
6. Maybe you just need a change?
No, not very often. / It’s been a while. / Yes, I think you’re right.
7. What do you like best about the job?
Honestly? The money. / The people are too noisy. / We all do.
8. Would you be happy to commute that far?
As long as I could listen to music. / We generally travel by train. / I would like to
be a manager.

15
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 1 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
desire
IDIOMS AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

be sick of
be stuck in a rut
be taken for granted
be yourself
have itchy feet
learn the ropes
pick up sticks
start to get somebody down

JOB VOCABULARY

appraisal
apprenticeship
bring up
burden
development
dream job
fulfil
pay rise
recruitment company
steep learning curve
trainee

GENERAL VOCABULARY

achieve
appreciate
due to
environment
grounding
long for
mate
out of the blue
within walking distance

16
r
al
n

Lesson 1: The search

Key
1. e 1. I was really starting to lose hope.
A 2. f B 2. I’m going to make a cup of tea and
3. g do the dishes.
4. b 3. I have a good feeling about the
5. d ‘greatjob’ website.
6. a 4. I’ll feel like a burden if I bring it up
7. c 5. That wouldn’t get me anywhere.
6. I didn’t realise you felt this way,
mate.
7. I told you not to give up!
8. I have been thinking about applying
for other things for ages.

1. due to 1. f
C 2. work it out D 2. d
3. let out 3. a
4. hard to believe 4. g
5. sick of 5. c
6. there’s no harm in trying 6. e
7. get me wrong 7. h
8. end up 8. b

accountant 1. Well, not really.

E architect F 2. I feel taken for granted.
scientist 3. I have been having problems sleeping.
lawyer 4. I would like nothing better!
surgeon 5. November last year.
engineer 6. Yes, I think you’re right.
economist 7. Honestly? The money.
nurse 8. As long as I could listen to music.

17
Writing
a CV 2 lesson

1
unit
1 /2 Unit

Lesson

Writing
a CV
Joe wants to apply for a job and needs to improve his
CV. A friend helps him to write a better one.

Aims
In this lesson you have further revised more the Present Perfect
Simple and Present Perfect Continuous e.g. to talk about your
job experience or to talk about past actions with present results.

• How have you been?

• I have just been working hard and looking for another job in
my free time.
• I have landed on my feet, haven’t I?
• I’ve completed the application section but my CV is outdated.
• I have been working on it for some time.

20
 Lesson 2: Writing a CV

You have learnt some collocations with make, do and get.

• I couldn’t make it on time.

• I’ll get you a cup of coffee.
• You’ve done really well.

Finally, you have learnt some new vocabulary connected with

writing a CV.

• past experience
• references
• relevant skills
• contact details
• credentials

21
Unit 1

Comprehension

How have you been? means

How have you been feeling? 1 Character Dialogue
Joe Thanks for letting me come over and use your laptop, Archie.
To hang something is to put it on It’s really kind of you.
a hook. 2 Archie That’s OK. I haven’t seen you for ages! How’ve you been? (1)
Hey Sarah, how have you been?
Joe Not bad. I have just been working hard and looking for
another job in my free time.
Archie I’ll hang (2) that in the cupboard.
You have some lovely pictures hanging on your walls
Joe Thanks.
Archie So, how come you’re after another job? (3)
How come the sky is blue?
How come? means why? 3 Joe It’s a bit of a dead end job. I need to get on the ladder, you
know!? Work my way up somewhere.
A dead end job is a job with no
future prospects. 4 I left school without any qualifications and I can only get
dead end jobs now. (4)
To get on the ladder means These days it’s difficult to get on the property ladder (5)
to achieve the first and easiest 5
step in the process of getting to Archie That’s what I did. And look at me now!
the top of something. Joe You have done really well though, Archie. Company car,
a health care package and it looks like a pretty (6) high salary
Pretty here means quite. 6 from where I’m standing.
From where I’m standing From where I’m standing (7) I think I did as well as possible.
means in my opinion. 7 Archie Haha! I have landed on my feet, haven’t I? But it hasn’t been easy.
I was where you are 3 years ago. Feeling a bit blue and going from
To land on your feet means to application to interview every few days. It does get easier.
find yourself in a good situation 8
without really trying. I landed on my feet when I got another job the day after
losing my other one. (8)
To feel blue is to feel sad or
depressed. 9 I always feel a little blue on Sunday evenings (9)
Joe Thanks for the encouragement, mate. I do have a good feeling
We use outdated for things
about this job, though. I’ve completed the application section
which are not current. 10 but my CV is just outdated (10) .
Giving flowers to a woman is a little outdated, isn’t it?
Archie Well, I can help you if you like!? Let me just get a cup of tea.
Have you eaten? Would you like anything?
Rather means quite too. 11 Joe Just a cup of tea, please. I’m rather (11) full from lunch.
It’s rather cold so wear a coat.
Crack on means to do Archie OK, I’ll be right back. You crack on (12) with the CV and I’ll
something. 12 come and have a look in a bit.
We need to crack on with this essay because it’s due on
Monday.
Joe Alright. Although I’m not sure how much you can help as it’s
just a CV.

22
 Lesson 2: Writing a CV

Archie Hey man! Sometimes a friend is the best person to help with
these things!
13
To sell yourself means to convince
Joe What do you mean?
someone that you can do something by
Archie Well, sometimes it’s hard to sell yourself. You need someone talking about yourself positively.
who knows you well to help you out.
The last candidate really sold herself so that’s why she got 14
the job. (13)
To help someone out is to help.
I need a place to stay tonight. Will someone help me out? (14)
Joe I see what you mean. I’m not very good at boasting (15) about 15
my skills.
To boast is to talk about how good you
Stop boasting! You are not as good at singing as you think are, but it is seen as negative.
you are.
Archie Well, you don’t need to boast as such, but when it comes 16
to presenting your attributes, it’s always wise (16) to have a
friend around. Wise means to be a good idea.

It’s wise to get a good night’s sleep before an exam

Joe Do you want to take a look at what I’ve got so far? I have been 17
working on it for some time. I had been writing it for a few Not quite means almost 100%.
hours before my laptop broke so it’s not quite (17) finished.
Your story is not quite true
Archie OK. So, punctual, team player (18), organised, interested in 18
caving?? A team player is someone who enjoys
The work got done quickly because there are a lot of team working as part of a team.
players in the company.
Joe Well. I’ve been caving a few times. 19
Archie When was the last time you went caving, huh? To scrap something means to not
Fair enough. You’re right. Scrap (19) that then. What can I re- develop an idea because it is impossible
Joe
to do or just not very good.
place it with? I need to include some sort of hobby or interest.
We were going to go to the park but we had to scrap that idea
because of the rain. 20
Archie Haven’t you been running the sign language society at the A credential is some kind of
university for a few years now? That’s a good credential (20) qualification which you can use to
to include. It shows you have committed to another project show others you are capable of doing
for a long period of time. a job.
Once I saw his credentials, I knew he was the right man for
the job.
Joe Yeah, I suppose I could include that. I had actually forgotten
about it. It’s just a part of my routine now.
Archie You see! This is why you need someone else to help point out
your good qualities.
Joe OK. So once I’ve changed that, do you think it’ll be OK? I’ve includ-
ed past experience, references, relevant skills and contact details.
Check and double check (21) your email address and phone
number as they are the most important. You don’t want to 21
make a silly mistake like that! To double check means to make
I’ve double checked the bedroom and your keys are not there! absolutely sure of something.

Joe That’s true. OK. [email protected]. 0 779 847 550

Archie Yeah! Looks great! 22
Joe So I’ll send this and then we can go for a drink. I’m paying! I If you say I owe you one it means
owe you one! (22) that someone has done something
nice for you and you now want to do
Thanks for driving me to the airport. I owe you one. something nice in return.
Archie That’s what friends are for, buddy (23). I hope you get the job!
Hey buddy, where are you going? 23
Joe Thanks. Buddy is an informal word for friend.

23
Unit 1

Use of English

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VS. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONTINUED

We revised the key differences between We never use the Present Perfect Continous
the Present Perfect Simple and the Present when we want to use a non-action verb, even
Perfect Continuous in the previous lesson. when we want to say how long.
There is one more thing that you really have to
remember: action and non-action verbs. • How long have you been married?
• I have been married for 22 years.
Non-action verbs are stative verbs. They talk • How have you been?
about states, not actions, e.g. like, love, hate, • She has liked helping her mother since
understand, know, belong, seem, be, believe she was a child.
etc.

FOR AND SINCE

Remember that when we want to say how long In the first sentence you say how long, and in
we have been doing an action, we can use two the second, since when you have been doing
forms in English. an activity.

• I have been learning English for 10

years.
• I have been learning English since 2002.

24
 Lesson 2: Writing a CV

Work-out
A
Write the nouns into the correct column to complete the collocations.

a point, redundant, down to business, well, overtime, the ball rolling, an

application, the books, through, a job, the sack, started, money, lunch, an effort,
business, your best, an appointment

make do get
a point

B
Rewrite the sentences using the prompts given.

Example: A lthough there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way for creating the perfect CV
there are a few rules that you have to follow. (While)
While there
 is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way for creating the perfect
CV there are a few rules that you have to follow.

1. In terms of his past work experience, he’s worked for numerous IT companies. (when it
comes to)

2. It’s important to mention that he speaks 3 foreign languages, including Chinese.

(it’s worth)

3. Why are you looking for another job? (how come)

4. He earned $10,000 a month but he left his job anyway. (although)

5. In my opinion he’s just lazy, not ill. ( from where I’m standing)

6. To answer your question whether I know any foreign languages, I do speak English and
French fluently. (regarding)

7. Regarding my IT skills, I am competent in Microsoft Office Software. (as for)

8. Can you elaborate on your work experience as an illustrator? (expand)

25
Unit 1

C
Fill in the gaps with an appropriate verb in the correct tense to complete the
sentences. Use idioms and expressions that you have learnt in this lesson.

Example: She’s a good candidate, however, she could improve on her language
skills.

1. After the initial failure with starting the business, Miranda eventually         on
her feet.
2. From where I        , he’s got the most mundane job in the word. He’s a junior
accountant in some huge company.
3. Before getting to the top of the ladder, he had to         his way up in the
company.
4. It’s not enough to list your qualifications and experience. You also have to        
yourself properly.
5. When I saw him waiting for the interview, I knew I had met him before, but I had
difficulty         a name to the face.
6. I’m fed up with being an errand-boy. I need to do something to finally         up
the ladder.
7. I         blue yesterday, I wasn’t in the mood for anything.
8. I’m nervous about Jeremy’s interview. If he         too much about his skills, he
will come across as big-headed.

D
Read the definitions below and write adjectives that match them.

Example: a person who is in charge of a certain thing in a company. responsible

1. a person who is always on time – a person

2. a person who knows how to work in a team - a
3. a person whose desk is always neat and tidy and his work done on time -
an person
4. something that is weak, e.g. relationship or connection - a connection
5. something that is unclear or difficult for people to understand – a
question
6. something that presents facts clearly and in a few words – a
summary
7. a person who is sure of their skills, capabilities and they know their value –
a person
8. an action or an experience that brings you satisfaction or benefits –
a experience

26
 Lesson 2: Writing a CV

E
Match the words to make collocations.

1. good a. rise
2. feel b. yourself
3. crack c. credential
4. sell d. the application
5. high e. salary
6. pay f. blue
7. complete g. car
8. past h. on
9. company i. experience
10. health care j. package

1. c 2.    3.    4.    5.    6.    7.    8.    9.    10.   

F
Find the elements of a CV.

X S R E F E R E N C E

H U D E A Y I W N G X

C R E D E N T I A L P

K N A U M A C S M G E

D A R C A Q U Z E P R

A M D A I D F J I X I

D E R T L G K P D N E

S S K I L L S L Q S N

S U J O J C Z A G F C

X L A N G U A G E S E

1.               
2.               
3.               
4.               
5.               
6.               
7.               
8.               
9. name           

27
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 1 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
JOB VOCABULARY desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

attributes commit to a project

background complement
be suited for crack on
commit to a project come in handy
company car disturb
contact details double check
credential encouragement
dead end job feel blue
feedback outdated
from where I’m standing to put a face to the name
get on the ladder regarding something
health care package rewording
land/fall on one’s feet scrap
layout smartass
market yourself tenuous
past experience when it comes to
references
relevant skills
sell oneself
work one’s way up

28
r
al
n

Key
make: 1. When it comes to his past work
A a point, redundant, an application, an B experience, he’s worked for
effort, money, an appointment numerous IT companies.
2. It’s worth mentioning that he speaks
do: 3 foreign languages, including
well, business, your best, overtime, the Chinese.
books, lunch 3. How come you are looking for
another job?
get: 4. Although he earned $10,000 a
down to business, the ball rolling, month, he left his job anyway.
through, a job, the sack, started 5. From where I’m standing, he’s just
lazy, not ill.
6. Regarding your question whether
I know any foreign languages, I do
speak English and French fluently.
7. As for my IT skills, I am competent
in Microsoft Office Software.
8. C an you expand on your work
experience as an illustrator?

1. landed 1. punctual
C 2. am standing D 2. team player
3. work 3. organised
4. sell 4. tenuous
5. putting 5. confusing
6. get 6. succinct
7. felt 7. confident
8. boasts 8. rewarding

1. c 1. credential
E 2. f F 2. skills
3. h 3. e-mail
4. b 4. education
5. e 5. surname
6. a 6. languages
7. d 7. experience
8. i 8. reference
9. g 9. name
10. j

29
A case
of the
nerves 3 lesson

1
unit

31
1 /3 Unit

Lesson

A case of
the nerves
Before his job interview, Joe is very nervous and
doesn’t know what to wear. A friend gives him a hand
and takes him shopping.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt how to make your language more
interesting by using some more advanced adverb + adjective
collocations. Now you know that by using these collocations, you
can express your attitude towards something or emphasise your
feeling.

• You must be joking! Wearing this dress to the party is utterly

ridiculous!
• Don’t wear a sweater, silly! It’s sweltering hot!

32
 Lesson 3: A case of the nerves

In addition to this, you have worked on communicating useful

phrases.

• When it comes to my work experience, I have been working

in show business for many years.
• Needless to say… I didn’t get that job.
• As long as you are happy, I’m happy

Last but not least, you have practised vocabulary concerning the
preparation for an interview, the do’s and dont’s, the clothes you
should wear at an interview.

• Come on! You can’t possibly show up at the interview

wearing a floral shirt.
• I have a lot of office wear, as I have to be smart for my
current job.

33
Unit 1

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Lisa I’m so pleased you have an interview for this job! Are you
excited, Joe?
Joe Oh, I’m excited but I’m more nervous than anything! (1)
Thanks.
I don’t mind that the room is small. It’s more cold than
anything.
Lisa Why are you nervous? You have all the credentials! The CV
you sent off was really professional. You just have to be
yourself (2) .
When you are on a date it’s important to just be yourself.
Joe What if I make a mistake... or say something stupid? That’s hap-
1 pened to me before. I was so nervous when I went for my last job
interview. I was repeating the interviewer’s name over and over in
Than anything with more + my head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Jackson, I’m Joe Smith.
adjective is used to say that that It’s great to meet you Mr Jackson, my name’s Joe Smith...”.
adjective is the most noticeable.
Lisa And, what happened?
2 Joe Well, I walked into the interview room, put my hand out to
shake his and said ‘It’s nice to meet you, Mr Smith, I’m Joe
To be yourself is to not try and act Jackson!”
differently from your true nature.
Joe Hey, don’t laugh at me! It was mortifying (3) . I had to
apologise, obviously, and re-introduce myself. Needless to
3 say, I did not get that job.
Mortifying is extremely It was mortifying when my housemate walked into the
embarrassing. bathroom while I was having a shower
I drank too much beer at the party last night. Needless (4) to
say, I feel bad this morning
4 Lisa These things happen, mate. When it comes to interviews,
Needless to say means obviously. none of us are experts, but I’m a great believer in fate. If it’s
meant to be, you’ll get the job.
Joe I don’t even know what to wear! I’m terribly (5) unprepared.
5
I’m terribly thirsty; do you have anything to drink?
Terribly means extremely.
Lisa OK. Clothes. This is my department! Let’s have a look at what
you’ve got.
6 Joe I have a lot of office wear, as I have to be smart (6) for my
Here, smart means well dressed. current job.
We’re only going to your sister’s barbeque so you don’t have
to be smart.
7
Lisa Well, that’s a good start. Hmmm. What about this?
Absolutely means extremely.
Joe Yes, it looks smart but no because it’s absolutely (7) sweltering
hot! I wore it to work last year and I looked like a tomato all
8 day. I have a thinner grey jumper somewhere...
Sweltering hot means extremely It’s absolutely freezing in here! Close the window!
hot.
It can get swelteringly (8) hot in the Middle East
34
 Lesson 3: A case of the nerves

Lisa Grey is a bit bland (9) anyway. You don’t want your first
impression to be dull. How about this?
9
Bland means boring.
I’m not enjoying this sandwich because it tastes a bit bland
Joe Lisa, are you serious? I wore that for a 70’s costume party
when I was at university! It’s utterly (10) ridiculous! 10
You are utterly crazy to think you can finish that huge meal Utterly is another way to say
extremely.
by yourself.
Lisa I think it’s nice, they would certainly (11) remember you if you 11
showed up wearing this!
Certainly means definitely.
I’ll certainly call you when I get home
Joe That’s true, but I think they’d remember me for the wrong
reasons.
12
That’s that means that something is
Lisa You have lots of professional looking clothes, Joe. Just finished.
choose your favourite and that’s that! (12)
First, you fry the onions, then you add the sauce and that’s
that. 13
Joe I know but none of them make me feel really confident. They As long as is used much like a
are all my usual boring clothes. I might go shopping. conditional.
Lisa Now that sounds like my kind of activity! Where do you want
to go? 14
Joe I think I’ll have some lunch and go into town. Do you want to The bee’s knees is the best.
come?
Lisa Yeah! I’m a fashion expert after all. 15
Joe Alright then. As long as (13) we don’t have any more floral To grab something is to get something
shirt suggestions. quickly.

As long as your happy, I’m happy

Lisa No, I promise we will make you look like the bee’s knees (14). 16
Wow! This bed is the bee’ s knees – I think I slept for a year! To have an eye for something is to
Joe OK, let’s grab (15) some food and get going! be able to see certain things others
may miss.
Do I have time to grab a coffee before the meeting?
Lisa What did I tell you? I have an eye for (16) bargains, don’t I? 17
George really has an eye for decorating. His home is
Try on means to put clothes on to see
wonderful. if you like them.
Joe You sure do! I’m really pleased. I can’t believe we got all of this
for one interview, though. Don’t you think it’s a bit excessive?
Lisa I suppose if you try it all on again and you don’t like some
18
things as much as you thought you did, then you can always To get your money back means to
go and get your money back. (17) have the money you spent on an object
returned to you by giving the object
After trying on several dresses, Jill decided to get the yellow back.
one
The phone didn’t work so I got my money back (18)
19
Joe That’s true! Well, thanks for your help, Lisa. I have really
enjoyed shopping with you. A hint is a way to say something
without actually saying it.
Lisa No problem. I always enjoy shopping. Now, who’s making the tea?
Joe Is that a hint? (19)
I hinted that I wanted a new computer for Christmas by 20
complaining to my father that my old one was too slow.
Cut down means to reduce the
Lisa Well, I think you owe me… amount of something you do.
Joe OK. Milk, two sugars?
Lisa 1 sugar please, I’m trying to cut down (20).
I’ve cut down on cigarettes. I wert from 20 a day to 10.
Joe OK. I’ll be back in 5 minutes.

35
Unit 1

Use of English

ADVERB + ADJECTIVES COLLOCATIONS

As you have learnt so far, some words The adjective hot collocates with numerous
go with others and some don’t. Those adverbs:
combinations of words are called collocations.
In this lesson, you have seen some adverb + baking, blazing, boiling, exceedingly,
adjective collocations but we can also talk exceptionally, extremely, incredibly,
about adjective + noun collocations, adjective insufferably, intensely, oppressively,
+ preposition collocations etc. They are scorching, stiflingly, swelteringly,
an extremely important aspect of learning unbearably, uncomfortably, unusually.
English, especially when you are as good as
you already are. Hot does not collocate with:

Let’s have a look at the example from the video. greatly, absolutely, hugely etc.

Lisa wanted Joe to wear a sweater to the job The same applies to every adjective. How
interview. Joe thought it was too hot to wear a do you learn collocations? Simply observe
sweater so he said: the language and learn collocations one by
one. When you hear one, try to remember it.
• Yes, it looks smart but no because it’s Collocations are often listed in English-English
sweltering hot! dictionaries or if you’re very interested, try a
collocations’ dictionary.
Joe wanted to emphasise his point. Saying It’s
hot! wouldn’t have had the same effect, would
it?

WHEN IT COMES TO

When you want to bring up a new topic in a

conversation, you can use ‘when it comes ‘Regarding,’ ‘as for’, and ‘with reference
to’. to’, are synonymous expressions to ‘when it
comes to.’
• When it comes to sport, I can watch it
on TV.
• When it comes to his rude behaviour, I
think there’s no justification for it.

36
 Lesson 3: A case of the nerves

Work-out
A
Match the adverbs to the adjectives to make collocations, then write them below
the table. Some of the adjectives may have more than one adverbial collocation.

1. swelteringly a. ridiculous
2. extremely b. peculiar
3. gainfully c. unprepared
4. freezing d. confident
5. really e. rich
6. utterly f. cold
7. particularly g. hot
8. stinking h. employed
9. terribly i. beautiful

Example: freezing extremely cold

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f. freezing really / extremely / terribly cold
g.
h.
h.

B
Match the ending of the collocations and idioms to their beginnings.

an eye for, my department, into the lion’s den, fun at somebody, the bee’s knees,
your money back, your way up, on your feet, yourself

Example: make a mistake

1. it’s
2. look
3. have
4. get
5. go
6. poke
7. work
8. land
9. be

37
Unit 1

C
Fill in the sentences with the idioms and collocations from the previous exercise.
Remember to use an appropriate verb form.

Example: You want to go shopping? I’ ll help you. It’s my department.

1. It’s your turn to             . I went to see the boss the other day.
2. You should have seen her before the interview. She             .
3. First and foremost, try not to pretend that you are a different person. Just   
          .
4. It took him a long time             but he became a successful CEO in the end.
5. It’s not funny! It’s my best outfit. Don’t              me.
6. His company had almost gone bankrupt, but luckily he             .
7. Second-hand clothes? Ask Ann to help you. She              good items.
8. It’s faulty. It’s normal if you should try to             .

D
Fill in the gaps with correct prepositions.

1. Have you heard about Jane?

2. What         her?
3. She gave         her previous job. And she’s got a new one!
Wow! How did it happen?
4. She was sick          that job. It was a dead end job, you know? She decided to
try her chances         the TV industry. It’s been a struggle, though. The other
day, she showed            at an interview for a weather presenter wearing a
colourful dress whereas everybody else wore grey, official clothes. They suggested she
was too fat to work            TV.
No way! That’s awful!
5. Isn’t it? But she didn’t lose hope. She went         a diet, cut         on the
amount of food she ate and lost 10 pounds in a month. I went shopping for clothes with
her, and can you imagine she tried          size M!
Stunning!

38
 Lesson 3: A case of the nerves

E
Find synonyms to the adjectives and do the crossword.

4
B
6
L
8
A
1 7
N

2 3

1. tolerant = o - 5. fast = r
2. stiff = t 6. nervous = s
3. formal = s 7. feared = d
4. dull = b l a n d 8. scary = m

F
Put the words in each sentence into the correct order.

Example: try / you / that / company / could / in / always / at / town / graphic design / new
You could always try at that new graphic design company in town
1. more / it / project / I’m / comes / when / than / tired / our / anything /to

2. that’s / we / down / get / and / that / business/ to / have / just / to

3. seriously / you / as / working / continue / it / as / here / long / can / you / taking / start

4. by the time / needless / exhausted / were / to / finished / they / had / say / they / work

5. taking breaks / prefer / when / and / relax / comes to / get / it / all the work / I /
to / done / then

6. past / about / experience / what / your / work ?

7. mortifying / for / is / a / interview / experience / people/ a / many / job

8. nervous / can’t / during / feel / I / and / sleep / often / interviews / night / before / I / the

39
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 1 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS desire

be yourself (to-)
cut down on (to-)
go into the lion’s den (to-)
have an eye for (to-)
it’s my department
look like the bees knees (to-)
poke fun at somebody (to-)
show up (to-)
that’s that
try on (to-)

GENERAL VOCABULARY

absolutely
bland
grab (to-)
hint
mortifying
open-minded
peculiar
rapid
skittish
smart
stiff
tense
terribly
utterly

40
r
al
n

Key
a) really / utterly ridiculous 1. it’s my department
A b) really / particularly peculiar B 2. look like bee’s knees
c) terribly / utterly unprepared 3. have an eye for
d) really / extremely confident 4. get your money back
e) really / stinking / extremely rich 5. go into the lion’s den
f) freezing / really / extremely / terribly 6. poke fun at somebody
cold 7. work your way up
g) swelteringly / terribly / really hot 8. land on your feet
h) gainfully employed 9. be yourself
i) extremely / really beautiful

1. go into the lion’s den 1. about

C 2. looked the bee’s knees D 2. about
3. be yourself 3. up
4. to work his way up 4. of / in / up / on
5. poke fun at 5. on / down / on
6. landed on his feet
7. has an eye for
8. get your money back

4
B 1. When it comes to our project, I’m
E L
6
S M A R T
F more tired than anything.
8 2. We just have to get down to business
M A K
1 7 and that’s that.
O P E N – M I N D E D
3. You can continue working here as
R D T R long as you start taking it seriously.
T T E 4. Needless to say they were exhausted
5
I R A P I D A by the time they had finished work.
F S D 5. When it comes to taking breaks, I
Y H
2
T E N
3
S E prefer to get all the work done and
then relax.
I D
6. What about your past work
N
experience?
G 7. A job interview is a mortifying
experience for many people.
8. I often feel nervous before interviews
and can’t sleep during the night.

41
 Getting
through the
interview 4 lesson

1
unit
1 /4 Unit

Lesson

Getting
through
the interview
At the interview, the company manager wants to know more
about Joe’s training and professional experience. Joe must
respond convincingly to his questions.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt vocabulary that will come in handy
when having a job interview in English. You have learnt formal
language and useful phrases.

• Water would be great, thank you.

• This has been an integral part of my work experience.
• I manage a small illustration team in a crafts department.
• I am a flexible worker. I enjoy both teamwork and working
alone.

44
 Lesson 4: Getting through the interview

You have also learnt multiple verb + noun collocations.

• lose your zest

• gain experience
• pitch an idea
• focus on individual projects
• face a difficult situation
• manage a team
• run errands

Grammatically you have revised talking about how long you have
been doing things using since and for. You have also learnt how
to use within.

• I studied Illustration at university 4 years ago and I’ve been

working in the industry since then.
• I have been working for my current employer for 2 years.
• I did start at the bottom of the ladder, running errands and
learning the basics but I progressed quickly and got to a se-
nior position within 3 years.

45
Unit 1

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Mr Johnson Hello, Mr Smith
Joe Hello there. Nice to meet you.
Mr Johnson You too. Sit down, please.
Joe This is a nice space.
1 Mr Johnson Yes, it’s a very pleasant (1) building to work in. Anyway,
Pleasant means nice. would you like a drink? Water, tea, coffee?
What a pleasant day. Would you like to go for a walk?
Joe Water would be great, thank you.
Mr Johnson No problem. Daniel. Please bring in two glasses of water.
2 Mr Johnson So Joe, I read your CV thoroughly (2) and it all looks good
Thoroughly means to do something on paper. Here at Illustrate Incorporate we have a strict
with a lot of focus and detail. It can hiring policy of people with 2 years or more experience.
also go with the verb enjoy to say that
Can you tell me about your previous jobs and the experience
you really enjoyed something.
you have gained?
3 The police searched the house thoroughly but found
nothing
On paper means that something
seems to be good when you look at I thoroughly enjoyed that film. I’d watch it again.
the information about it, but it might
not be true in reality. On paper (3) the house looked fine, but we discovered
some problems when we went to look at it in person

4 There is a strict no smoking policy within this building (4)

A strict policy is a rule which is very

important.

46
 Lesson 4: Getting through the interview

Joe Certainly. I studied Illustration at university 4 years ago 5

and I’ve been working in the industry since then. I did
start at the bottom of the ladder, running errands and We use since with Present Perfect
learning the basics but I progressed quickly and got to a Continuous to say at what past point in
time we began doing the action.
senior position within 3 years. I have been working for my
current employer for 2 years. This has been an integral
part of my work experience.
6
To run an errand means to do small
I’ve been working weekends since (5) the summer jobs, like going to the post office etc.
I can’t meet you for coffee now; I need to run an errand (6) .
I think if we keep working at this speed, we should have 7
the project finished within (7) the week Here, within means that something will
happen before the end of a specified
I’ve been living in this city for (8) 5 years time period.
Mr Johnson What are your responsibilities?
Joe I manage a small illustration team in a crafts department. 8
I have 4 people under me who report to me daily and I For is used with the Present Perfect
check their work. I am kind of like the quality control for Continuous to specify the length of
my department. I also head projects and design brands or time you have been doing something.
logos for customers.
How many people do you have under you? (9)
9
To have people under you means
This band kind of sounds like that band we saw last that they are people who work for you.
week. (10)
Mr Johnson I see. Can you tell me a difficult situation that you have 10
faced (11) at work and how you overcame it? Kind of like means that there are
When her husband died, Betty had to face life alone. some similarities between two things,
but they are not identical
Joe Hmmm, OK. There was a project recently for a popular
drinks company and one of my colleagues pitched (12) an
idea which wasn’t entirely appropriate for all age groups. 11
So before he went to the manager with his idea, I spoke to To face something means to have to
him one on one and asked him questions. I phrased them in deal with a problem or a hard situation.
a way which made him analyse his target audience and he
realised on his own that his idea could have been offensive 12
to some people.
To pitch an idea means to show your
I pitched the idea of going for a drink but everyone wanted idea to others so that they choose it
to stay in the house over other ideas.

The job isn’t entirely (13) bad – I do get weekends off. 13

If you want him to say yes, then you will have to phrase Entirely means completely. We usually
your request carefully (14) use it in the negative to mean not 100%.
Mr Johnson OK. Thank you.
Mr Johnson We focus a lot on individual projects and each designer has
14
their own deadlines. After working with a team how do Phrasing something means to
you think you’ll find adjusting to a more solo role? carefully choose the right words in
order to say what you mean.
The deadline (15) for the application is the 20th of March
When he moved to China, Richard found it difficult to 15
adjust (16) A deadline is a specific future date
which all work must be completed by.
You must skydive with an instructor many times before
you can jump solo (17).
Joe I am a flexible worker. I enjoy both teamwork and working
16
alone. I have done both types of projects in my career, so I To adjust means to become used to
can’t see it being a problem. something.

Mr Johnson Thank you. OK. Can I ask why you have chosen to leave
your current position?
17
Solo means on your own.

47
Unit 1

18 Joe I have enjoyed my time there and it has been a very

fruitful experience overall. However, there aren’t many
Fruitful means productive. opportunities to continue my professional development.
I have reached a point now where I know the job like
19 the back of my hand but, unfortunately, there aren’t any
To know something like the back
positions for me to move into and I don’t want to lose my
of your hand is to know it very well. zest for design.
When learning a language, it is fruitful (18) to go to that
20 country and speak with the locals
Unfortunately is used to say that When I was a child, I knew the forest like the back of my
something bad / unlucky has happened. hand (19)
21 I asked about the job but, unfortunately (20), it had already
been taken
Zest means enthusiasm and passion.
Tanya has a real zest (21) for life!
22 Mr Johnson Yes, that does happen in many of the smaller firms. Do you
Per means every. have any questions for me?
Joe Yes, I have some notes.
23
Joe I have been researching the industry over the past few
To impact on something means to years and your company produces the highest amount of
affect it, usually in a negative way.
illustrations for corporate businesses per (22) year. How
does this impact on the illustrators in terms of creativity
24 and how many projects would I be expected to produce
Turnover is the amount of something per week?
completed.
I smoke ten cigarettes per day
25 One book per person.
Innovative means new and modern. Having two jobs really impacts on my social life (23)
Mr Johnson Good questions. The turnover for production actually
26 creates a very innovative atmosphere in the office.
Brainstorming is when everybody sits The designers help each other with ideas and have
down and puts their ideas together brainstorming sessions every week. You get a team leader
to see what the best way to do assigned to you and they help you make your quota for the
something is. first few months. We do ease you in and the amount of
projects depends on the size.
27 (24)
Fast food restaurants have a high turnover of
The passive get + past participle is transactions
used when somebody does something
to / for you. I love the new design of the website – it’s very innovative (25)
How are we going to make this idea work? We need to sit
28 down and brainstorm it (26)
To ease into something means to I got given this pen by the company (27)
begin doing small amounts slowly in
order to build up your confidence. After my injury, I eased back into playing football slowly (28)
Joe Ah, I see! That’ll be useful, to have someone to help me
29 find my feet and get settled if I am a successful candidate.
To find your feet is to become It took me a while to find my feet, but now I love my new
confident in something.
job (29)
30 I wouldn’t want to move house now. I’m settled (30) here.
Settled means comfortable and Mr Johnson Well, I think you have answered all my questions. Thank
happy where you are. you for coming and we’ll be in touch shortly with a decision
either way. (31)
31 I haven’t been in touch with my father for many years.
To be in touch is to be in contact.
Joe Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward
to (32) hearing from you.
32
I’m looking forward to my birthday next week.
To look forward to something is to
think of it with positive expectation.

48
 Lesson 4: Getting through the interview

Use of English

FOR, SINCE AND WITHIN

When you are at a job interview, you might It can also mean during a period of time.
be asked to talk about your previous work
experience. To talk about how long you have • Ten new supermarkets have been
been doing things, remember to use ‘since’ opened within a month.
and ‘for’. We revised their usages in the • A whole department has been dismissed
previous lessons. Now look at ‘within’. within a week following the scandal.

‘Within’ indicates that something happened

or will happen before a certain period of time
passed. Look at the examples.

• I did start at the bottom of the ladder,

running errands and learning the basics
but I progressed quickly and got to a
senior position within 3 years.
• His cancer was serious and he died
within a few weeks.
• The report should be ready within an
hour.

49
Unit 1

Work-out
A
Match the nouns to the verbs to make collocations, then write them in the table below.
1. gain a. a problem
2. be b. your quota
3. meet c. luck
4. make d. your zest
5. overcome e. an idea
6. lose f. a team
7. pitch g. a deadline
8. wish somebody h. experience
9. manage i. a team leader

Example: . be a team leader

1. 5.
2. 6.
3. 7.
4. 8.

B
Correct the sentences if necessary. Tick any which are already correct.

Example: The turnover for production actually create a very innovative

atmosphere in the office.
The turnover for production actually creates a very innovative
atmosphere in the office.

1. The weather tends to be better in the summer.

2. We train you up so you have the skills to be confident on your own.

3. Your personality have a lot to do with what job you decide to do in life.

4. It’s useful to know a bit on the job before you go to the interview.

5. Have you had much experience working to children?

6. Apart from that I have worked like a teacher for the last 4 years.

7. Can you tell me a bit about your previous job?

8. I have worked as a salesman with the company since 5 years.

50
 Lesson 4: Getting through the interview

C
Replace the underlined word or phrase with a suitable form of the expressions
given below.

fruitful experience / competition / strict hiring policy / run an errand / bottom of

the ladder / under / integral / to face / solo role

Example: I feel that the time I have spent here on this course has been very helpful.
I feel that the time I have spent here on this course has been a very
fruitful experience.

1. How do you feel now that you are working on your own?

2. When I started this job 10 years ago, I had to do small jobs for all the senior workers
and managers.

3. The company I work for has a set of rules they follow when hiring people.

4. Now I am a father, I can’t run away from responsibility anymore. I simply have to accept
my problems and get on with it.

5. There are more than 100 employees working for me.

6. Coming to the school sometime before the interview to meet people will give you an
advantage over the other applicants.

7. I had to start by doing the most basics jobs in the company before I got promoted.

8. What my team does is absolutely crucial to the whole functioning of the place.

D
Match the beginnings with their endings.

1 I had up to 200 people a. to my manager about getting a raise.

2 So one day I had to talk b. and websites for ecological companies.
3 A flexible worker means someone c. I knew that something was not right.
4 I generally design logos d. working under me sometimes.
5 We need to consider e. to a deadline if necessary.
6 I am able to work f. who can adapt to different situations
7 I have worked with both g. children and adults so I don’t think it
would be a problem.
8 When I was called into the office h. who our target audience are.

1. d  2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     8.     

51
Unit 1

E
Fill in the sentences with ‘for’, ‘since’ or ‘within’.

Example: I have been preparing for my interview since 5 pm yesterday.

1. He must have been working here          the company first opened.
2. I have an auntie who has been living in America         over twenty years now.
3. I haven’t seen such a beautiful summer         1989!
4. I was able to finish my project         the time we were given.
5. They have been playing the computer         3 hours non-stop.
6. I should manage to get fit enough to run the marathon         a year.
7. I haven’t seen my brother         last summer and I am starting to miss him.
8. My friend was living in London         5 years before she found a good job.

F
Put the words in brackets into the Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect
Continuous.

Example: I have been researching (research) the industry over the past few years.

1. I am sure I will think of something else but, for now, you           (answer)
all my questions.
2. I            (reach) a point where I no longer need the book to tell me what I
need to do.
3. I            (live) with my current housemates for 4 years now.
4. I            (study) politics for 5 years now.
5. He            (tell) me what to do and how to do it since the day I started
working here.
6. Tell me about the experience you.            (gain) in your previous jobs.
7. So how long            (be) the manager here?
8. I            (enjoy) working here with you guys so much.

52
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
WORK RELATED VOCABULARY desire

run errands
pitch
integral
quality control
hiring policy
work your way up the ladder
work under someone
phrase something differently
target audience
deadline
solo role
flexible worker
zest
senior position
turnover
brainstorming
make a quota

GENERAL VOCABULARY

strict
innovative
find your feet
alter ego
kind-hearted
open-minded
shame
common sense
fruitful experience
in terms of
reach a point

53
Unit 1

Key
1. gain experience 1. Correct.
A 2. be a team leader B 2. Correct.
3. meet a deadline 3. Your personality has a lot to do with
4. make your quota what job you decide to do in life.
5. overcome a problem 4. It’s useful to know a bit about the
6. lose your zest job before you go to the interview.
7. pitch an idea 5. Have you had much experience
8. wish somebody luck working with children?
9. manage a team 6. Apart from that, I have worked as a
teacher for the last 4 years.
7. Correct.
8. I have worked as a salesman with
the company for 5 years.

1. How do you feel now that you are 1. d

C working in a more solo role? D 2. a
2. When I started this job 10 years ago, 3. f
I had to run errands for all the senior 4. b
workers and managers. 5. h
3. The company I work for has a strict 6. e
hiring policy when hiring people. 7. g
4. Now I am a father, I can’t run 8. c
away from responsibility anymore.
I simply have to face up to my
problems and get on with it.
5. There are more than 100 employees
working under me.
6. Coming to the school sometime
before the interview to meet people
will give you an advantage over the
competition.
7. I had to start at the bottom of the
ladder in the company before I got
promoted.
8. What my team does is absolutely
integral to the whole functioning of
the place.

1. since 1. I am sure I will think of something

E 2. for F else but, for now, you have answered
3. since all my questions.
4. within 2. I have reached a point where I no
5. for longer need the book to tell me
6. within what I need to do.
7. since 3. I have been living with my current
8. for housemates for 4 years now.
4. I have been studying politics for 5
years now.
5. He’s been telling me what to do and
how to do it since the day I started
working here.
6. Tell me about the experience you
have gained in your previous jobs.
7. So how long have you been the
manager here?
8. I have enjoyed working here with
you guys so much.

54
The art of fine dining
Topic: The art of fine dining
Skill: Critiquing and reviewing constructively
Organising a group project
Grammar: Phrasal verbs, especially splitting
Prepositional verbs

Vocabulary: Expression ‘to manage’ something

Connector: Linking devices, logical markers

1
The night
out
lesson

2
unit
2 /1 Unit

Lesson

The night
out
Two girls plan a night out for a group. They have to
choose a restaurant but it’s not an easy task due to
their friends’ different tastes and needs.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised and practised vocabulary connected
with food, eating out and dietary preferences.

• Penny can’t eat bread, she’s gluten-intolerant

• I’m so thirsty. I need a glass of water to quench my thirst
• We shouldn’t drink a lot of fizzy drinks.

56
 Lesson 1: The night out

You have also watched people arranging a night out in a restaurant

• What about a buffet, then?

• Something for everyone.
• So we are settled on this one.

Then you have seen phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs in

action

• How about if I send round an email and ask for suggestions?

• Hang on a second, I’ve got a new message. I need to check it

Finally, you have learnt about the verb manage to

• Have you managed to find a restaurant for the night out yet?

57
Unit 2

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Ruth Have you managed to find a restaurant for the night out yet?
Becca Not really. It’s pretty difficult to find somewhere that
1 everyone will be happy with, actually. I mean, you’re a
vegetarian and Martin’s gluten-intolerant (1) ...
Someone who is gluten-intolerant
cannot eat any food with the It’s a difficult task to find somewhere that everyone will be
ingredient gluten in it. happy with.
Ruth Dave doesn’t like anything spicy...
Becca Sarah doesn’t like anything that isn’t spicy...

2 Ruth What about a buffet, then? Something for everyone.

There’s a new one opened up on Mill Road by the library. If
Upmarket describes a fancy we go for that, you might get out of a difficult decision.
restaurant with expensive, delicious
food. Becca Hmm, you could be right, but Sarah wants somewhere a bit
more upmarket (2) . It turns out she has expensive tastes.
It ends up (3) she has expensive tastes.
3
Ruth So, what are you thinking?
Turns out and ends up at the same
thing in this kind of sentence. Becca Well, there are a couple of Italian restaurants that might
do. Between pizza, pasta and salad, there’s sure to be
something that most people can eat. Except...
Well, there are a couple of Italian restaurants that might work.
Ruth Yes?
Becca It’s not exactly adventurous, is it? I always like to try
something completely different when I go out. Something I
would never cook at home.
It’s a little bit boring, isn’t it?
Ruth Well, I think a lot of people want to know what to expect
when they go out for a meal. They want familiar flavours
and ingredients, a nice atmosphere, good company, and
someone else to take care of all the cooking and washing up.
Becca You might be right. I can’t help thinking it’s a bit boring,
though.

58
 Lesson 1: The night out

You might be right. I can’t help thinking it’s a bit boring

though.
Ruth How about a curry? Everyone likes that, don’t they?
Becca Apart from Dave. Last time we all went out, we had curry,
Dave ordered the mildest thing on the menu, then didn’t
manage to finish it. He couldn’t even speak until he’d had
about a litre of water, then he had the hiccups for the rest
of the night.
Ruth Oh yes, I remember hearing about it afterwards. Poor old
Dave. (4) 4
Becca I give up. How about if I send round an email and ask for
Poor old (person) is an endearing
suggestions? way to say that someone feels sorry
How about if I send out an email and ask for suggestions? for him or her.
Becca Oh, hang on. I’ve got an email here from Lucy. You know,
the new Area Manager? She says...
Ruth She wants you to try out a restaurant over in Greenvale,
and see if it’s suitable for entertaining visiting clients.
Greenvale... That’s a few miles away, isn’t it?
Becca Yes. It’s possible by bus, though. Lucy says the restaurant’s
just opened and she wants all of us to try it and review it for
her. Oh, I see. The manager’s her cousin. So if it’s any good,
we can let her know.
So if we approve, we can let her know.
Ruth There’s an attachment. Is that the menu?
Becca I think so. Let’s see. Yes.
Ruth Well, it certainly looks posh(5) enough for Sarah.
5
Becca There’s burgers, pizza, steak. All the usual for the
unadventurous. Posh means classy, fashionable, and
usually expensive.
Ruth Plenty of fish and veggie options for me, and look: some
dishes are labelled with chillies if they’re spicy, so Sarah can
pick them and Dave can avoid them.
Becca And there are plenty of options with rice or potatoes, so
Martin should be catered for, too.
So Martin should find something he likes as well.
Ruth Good idea. But the question is… Is there anything on the
menu that’s different enough for you, Becca?
Becca Well, I could always try the Moroccan lamb with apricots, or
the sushi platter.
Ruth If you say so. So, are we settled on this one?
Becca I think so. I’ll call up and make the booking.
I’ll call and book the table.
I’ll call and make the reservation.
Sergio Good afternoon, Nick’s of Greenvale.
Becca Hi. Can I make a booking for Friday evening at 7.30?
Sergio 7.30, Friday. For how many?
Becca For 5 people.
Sergio OK, for 5. We can manage that. What is the name please?
Becca Becca Talbot. That’s T, A, L, B, O, T.
Sergio And your phone number?
Becca 2990 8863
Sergio 2990 8863. Thank you.
Becca Well, I think that takes care of everything.

59
Unit 2

Use of English
PHRASAL VERBS

To cut down To give up

To limit (for example food). To stop or quit something (for example, a bad
habit).
• If you want to stay fit, you should cut
down on eating chocolate. • Considering a new lifestyle, you should
give up binge drinking.

To send round
To circulate (for example an agenda). To eat up
To consume the whole portion.
• I need to send round this memo so that
everybody knows about the proposed • Eat up your spinach or you won’t get
changes. any ice-cream.

To hang on To run out of

To wait a moment. To become exhausted or to become used up.

• Carl, can you hang on a second? I would • I’ll ask Claire to go to the shop as we’re
like to talk to you. running out of bread.

To try out To pick at

To test experimentally. To eat without appetite, barely eat.

• I need to try out this new Chinese • Karen was so tired she was picking
restaurant. It’s got so many positive at the food on her plate, and after 15
reviews. minutes she fell asleep.

To turn out
To prove to be the case.

• His accent misled us into believing he

was American but it turned out he was
from Australia.

IDIOMS CONNECTED WITH FOOD

This is not my cup of tea. To be chicken / to chicken out of something

If something isn’t your cup of tea, it means you If you’re a chicken, it means you’re a coward; to
don’t like it. chicken out of something means to avoid doing
something because of cowardice.
• A: Shall we go skiing this winter?
• B: To be honest, winter sports are not • Come on, jump with me. Don’t be a
my cup of tea. chicken!

To the bitter end To have egg on your face

To continue doing something to the end, even To be embarrassed or to feel stupid because you
though the situation is difficult or unpleasant. did something.

• Even though George knew he would • Tell your wife you’re cheating on her or
lose the game, he played to the bitter else you’ll have egg on your face.
end.

60
 Lesson 1: The night out

To spoon-feed someone To spill the beans

It means to give somebody assistance, to help It means to give away a secret or a surprise.
them.
• I was planning a surprise party for my
• Do you know the answer or do you girlfriend but her brother spilled the
want me to spoon-feed you further? beans!

To eat your heart out You can’t have your cake and eat it.
To suffer in silence, to be very sad. This idiom refers to a fact that two good things
or situations are not possible at the same time.
• Whenever Candy has a problem, she
eats her heart out. She never talks to us • Tom doesn’t know which girlfriend to
about it. date. He obviously wants to have his
cake and eat it.

61
Unit 2

Work-out
A
Put the words below into groups.

courgette / game / carbohydrates / shrimps / sour / bland / trout / liver / fibre / poultry
/ leeks / crayfish / aubergines / venison / proteins / minerals / brussels sprouts / mild /
savoury / lamb / beetroot

FISH &
MEAT VEGETABLES FLAVOUR INGREDIENTS
SEAFOOD
courgette

B
Complete the sentences using these words.

egg / upmarket / curry / for / expensive / on / adventurous / spicy

1. If you hang   on   for a second, I will go with you.

2. You’ll have          on your face if it comes out.

3. Usually, I don’t spend too much money on food but I like          coffee.
4. I don’t like going to the same restaurant every time. I like          eating out.
5. They like good products as they have          tastes.
6.          is a typical Indian spice.
7. Tim doesn’t like          food as he needs to drink a lot of water.
8. I think I’ll go          this set menu.

62
 Lesson 1: The night out

C
Rewrite the sentences below using the prompts given.

1. You can guess he’s suffering in silence whenever he bites his nails. (heart)
You can guess he’s eating his heart out whenever he bites his nails.    

2. Although football is popular all over the world, I’m not really much into it. (cup)
                                           
3. It’s impossible to have a well-paid job without having to work overtime. (cake)
                                           
4. I will tell you a secret but, please, don’t tell anyone. (spill)
                                           
5. Despite the fact that a lot of people quit on the way, John was determined to finish the
race. (end)
                                           
6. OK, no more hints. I will tell you who I’ve met! (spoon)
                                           
7. Even though he was very eager to do it in the first place, he finally decided not to.(chicken)
                                           
8. If your initial idea turns out to be ineffective, you’ll feel stupid. (egg)
                                           

D
Read the definition and complete the words that match them.

1. Manners usually associated with the upper class, liking luxurious and expensive objects
and places p o s h

2. A meal which contains a lot of different foods that everybody can help themselves to
b
3. A person who has a problem digesting gluten g -
4. To be able to do something, to succeed in accomplishing a task m
5. A large plate usually used for serving food p
6. Not new, boring, without any excitement or change u
7. A type of drink which is not good for your health and waistline f
8. To eat food very quickly g
9. Food which makes you put on weight c

63
Unit 2

E
Correct the sentences if necessary. Tick any which are already correct.

1. I need to send around this recipe since everybody is asking me about it.
I need to send round this recipe since everybody is asking me about it.

2. Eat out your dinner as the films starts in 30 minutes.

3. Children who don’t like eating usually pick at the food on their plates.

4. Katy had been talking on the phone for so long that she ran up of credit.

5. My dentist recommended that I cut down eating sweets.

6. The menu is so varied it will cater for everybody.

7. Hopefully, the restaurant will manage prepare a table for all of us.

8. The Dukan diet turned out to be difficult to follow, and she quickly gave it up.

F
Write about your eating habits and preferences.

FLAVOUR PREFERENCES:

DIETS (in the past or now):

COOKING AT HOME:

64
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
FOOD desire

bland
calorific
carbohydrates
be catered for
buffet
expensive taste
fibre
game
gluten-intolerant
gulp down
manage
platter
posh
protein
protein-based
quench
savoury
upmarket
venison

65
Unit 2

Key
Fish & seafood: shrimps / trout / 1. on
A crayfish B 2. egg
Meat: game / liver / poultry / venison / 3. upmarket
lamb 4. adventurous
Vegetables: courgette / leeks / 5. expensive
aubergines / brussels sprouts / beetroot 6. curry
Flavour: sour / bland / mild / savoury 7. spicy
Ingredients: carbohydrates / fibre / 8. for
proteins / minerals

1. You can guess he’s eating his heart 1. posh

C out whenever he bites his nails D 2. buffet
2. Although football is popular all over 3. gluten-intolerant
the world, it’s not my cup of tea. 4. manage
3. A well-paid job without having to 5. platter
work overtime is impossible. You 6. unadventurous
can’t have your cake and eat it. 7. fizzy
4. I will tell you a secret but please, 8. gulp down
don’t spill the beans. 9. calorific
5. Despite the fact that a lot of
people quit on the way, John was
determined to go to the bitter end.
6. OK, no spoon-feeding, I will tell you
who I’ve met!
7. Even though he was very eager to do
it in the first place, he chickened out.
8. If your initial idea turns out to be
ineffective, you’ll have egg on your
face.

1. I need to send round this recipe since Free answer

E everybody is asking me about it. F
2. Eat up your dinner as the films starts
in 30 minutes.
3. Correct
4. Katy had been talking on the phone
for so long that she ran out of credit.
5. My dentist recommended that I cut
down on eating sweets.
6. Correct
7. Hopefully, the restaurant will
manage to prepare a table for all of
us.
8. Correct

66
Transport
trouble 2 lesson

2
unit
2 /2 Unit

Lesson

Transport
trouble
A group of friends have arranged to meet in a restaurant for
dinner. Almost all of them have problems getting there on time
for a variety of reasons: a traffic jam, a broken down car… One
of them tries to fix things by organising a ‘phone order’.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised and practised vocabulary connected
with transport and travelling.

• We should get off the bus at the next stop.

• We had a great trip to Los Angeles. The city is beautiful.
• Train fares are more and more expensive nowadays.

68
 Lesson 2: Transport trouble

Then you have watched people solving a transport problem and

organising a group project

• How about I get in touch with Sarah to say we’re running

late?
• I’ll call Sarah again and keep her posted.
• Don’t you think they should call us?

Finally, you have seen phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs in

action

• Sarah was getting more and more excited as she was setting
out for Moscow the next day.
• Cindy had a big problem and she needed somebody to help
her sort it out.
• I’ve got to go. My battery’s almost run out.

69
Unit 2

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Ruth I’m really looking forward to this. It’s ages (1) since we’ve
1 been out together as a team. Have you decided what you’re
In this sentence ages means a really going to have yet?
long time.
It’s forever since we’ve been out together as a team.
Dave I haven’t decided what to have yet.
Dave Wait a minute, what’s going on?

2 Ruth Where’s (2) all this traffic come from?

Dave I think it’s a football night tonight. I’d forgotten. The
Remember, Where’s is where + has
not where + is. traffic’s going to be heavy like this at least until we’re past
the stadium.
There’s going to be heavy traffic at least until we’re past
the stadium.
Ruth Oh no! Is that going to affect the others? Sarah should be
OK – she’s walking.
Dave The other two might not have set out yet. They are driving
down together because they live in the same area. I’ll text
them to let them know.
The other two might not have started off yet.
The other two might not have left the house yet.
Ruth Good idea. How about I get in touch with Sarah to say
we’re running late?
Would you like me to get in touch with Sarah to say we’re
running late?
Dave OK.
Sarah Hello? Is everything alright?
Ruth It’s Ruth. Just to let you know, we’ve run into a whole load
of traffic. We’ll be late, sorry.
We’ve run into a ton of traffic, I don’t think it’s possible for
us to get there on time.

70
 Lesson 2: Transport trouble

Sarah OK, where are you now?

Ruth Um… We’re on Brewery Lane, we’re not moving at all .
Sarah Ah, OK then. I’m already at the restaurant.
Ruth Oh no, sorry!
Sarah It’s no problem. It’s my fault for being early, I guess. Keep
me posted on your progress, right? (3) 3
Ruth Will do. Bye. To keep (someone) posted means
to get in touch occasionally and keep
Sarah Bye. them apprised of the situation.
Ruth Sarah’s at the restaurant. Was that Martin?
Dave Yes. They’re still stuck at his place because his car’s broken
down. What are the odds of that, right? (4) They’ve called 4
a taxi, but it’s going to be late getting through to them What are the odds of that, right?
apparently. So all four of us will end up being late! Expresses that although it was a very
It looks like it. I bet Becca’s fuming – she hates delays. unlikely situation, it happened against
all odds.
Hopefully, she won’t wind Martin up the wrong way.
I bet Becca’s really angry, she hates delays.
Hopefully she won’t get Martin upset.
Dave Hmm.
Ruth What a mess. Do you reckon we could phone through what
we want to Sarah, and she could sort the order out for us
before we get there? It would save us having to wait around
for food later.
Dave Good idea. I printed out the menu at home. Here it is. And
Martin and Becca can look it up on his computer while they
wait for their taxi.
Ruth Alright. I’ll call Sarah again and you text Martin again.
Dave No problem.
Sarah Hey, how’s it going?
Ruth No progress, worse luck. And Martin and Becca are running
late too. They’ve got car trouble.
Sarah Oh no! You’re sure they’re not trying to get out of (5)
coming? Martin did say he was feeling run-down. 5
Martin did say he was feeling under the weather. To get out of (something) means
Ruth No no, it’s genuine. Anyway, we wondered if you could put to make up an excuse so that a person
does not have to attend a function or
our orders in for us all while we’re on our way? We’ve got celebration that they do not want to
copies of the menu, so we can sort all that out between us. attend.
Sarah Of course. I can take care of that. And I could find out about
the daily specials for you as well, maybe.
Ruth That’s great. OK, I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve got
everyone’s orders.
Sarah Fine. See you soon.
Dave Is Sarah happy to take the order? Martin and Becca have
already printed out the menu too, so they’ll make their
minds up, and then call Sarah.
Ruth Don’t you think they should call us? I told Sarah I’d manage it all
– you know, get everyone’s orders together, then call her myself.
Dave Well, if they have to call us and we call Sarah, then there’s
more possibility of everything getting mixed up, isn’t there?
If everyone just lets her know directly, it’ll be far simpler.
Ruth I guess so. I’ll text her the new plan.
6
Ruth Oh, maybe you should text her. Look, my battery’s almost They don’t last 10 minutes
sometimes, do they? is a sarcastic
run out. remark about how phone batteries run
Ha. They don’t last 10 minutes sometimes, do they? (6) out fast.

71
Unit 2

Use of English
Have a look at some of the phrases that have • Keep me posted on your progress,
been used in the video situation to reorganise right?
plans. • Do you reckon we could... (phone
through what we want to Sarah?)
• Wait a minute, what’s going on? • OK, I’ll get back to you as soon as...
• I can text them and let them know... (I’ve got everyone’s orders.)
(not to go this way.) • I guess so.
• Good idea. • Oh, maybe you should... (text her.)
• How about I... (get in touch with Sarah • Why don’t we... (text her.)
to say we’re running late?) • What about... (texting her?)
• Just to let you know, … (we’ve run into
a whole load of traffic.)

SOME PHRASAL VERBS CONNECTED WITH TRANSPORT AND TRAVELLING

To set out To wind up
To start a journey. To make someone annoyed when you didn’t
mean to.
• You’d better get ready, we’re setting
out in a few minutes. • My mother in-law is a good-hearted
person but she has a knack for winding
me up.
To sort out
To find a solution, to solve a problem.
To look sth up
• I need somebody to help me sort it out To check sth
as I need my computer.
• If in doubt, always look it up in a
dictionary.
To be run-down
To feel extremely tired, exhausted.
To run into
• I need some coffee, I’m run-down. To experience something you didn’t expect; to
bump into somebody.

To end up • We’ve run into heavy traffic on our way

To become finally, to find yourself in a different to the wedding ceremony.
situation than you expected. • Kate’s run into an old friend of hers, and
they’re sitting in a restaurant catching
• I planned on becoming a lawyer but I up with each other’s lives.
ended up as a waitress in a bar.

72
 Lesson 2: Transport trouble

Work-out
A
Here are some idioms connected with roads and travelling. Complete the idioms
using these words.

beaten / dead / crossroads / ground / road / road / mind / paths / ride

1. to hit the road

2. off the             track

3. to hope your             cross again
4.             end
5. to be at a
6. to be taken for a
7. to share common
8. to have one for the
9. travel broadens the

B
Write the idioms from the previous exercise next to their meaning.

1. It is a situation when you have your last drink before you leave a place
to have one for the road.                      

2. It is a situation when you have to make a difficult decision

                                          
3. It refers to the fact that the more we visit other countries, the more open we become
                                          
4. It is a situation when you have similar opinions or experiences as someone else
                                          
5. It is a situation when you hope to meet somebody again
                                          
6. It means to cheat or to swindle somebody
                                          
7. It is a situation when no progress or improvement can be made
                                          
8. It refers to places which are not often visited. For example by tourists
                                          
9. It means to start travelling
                                          

73
Unit 2

C
Use the idioms to complete the sentences.

1. OK, it’s time for us. We need to hit the road before the sunset so that we get to
Phoenix on time.

2. When Penny travels, she usually avoids crowded places and goes for places
                
3. OK, we’ll                  but then we need to go, the taxi’s waiting.
4. Sheldon was                  since he didn’t know whether to study
Physics or Microbiology.
5. This is a                  job, I will never be promoted.
6. Well, I’ve got to be leaving soon but I hope                  one day.
7. Raj was                  as he was supposed to have been paid $10
million but he finally got $5 million.
8. Although air fares are expensive, Jenny travels a lot as she believes that      
                 

D
Replace the words in bold with a suitable form of the expressions given below.

be run-down / end up / wind up / hit the road / set out / sort out / look sth up /
run into / text / dead-end

1. We wanted to go out and hit the town but we finally stayed at home.
We wanted to go out and hit the town but we ended up at home.

2. Jeremy thought he would repair the machine himself but in the end he needed a mechanic
to help him solve the problem.
                                          
3. We need to go now ; we’re in a hurry to get home before it gets too late.
                                          
4. Kate was not sure of their phone number so she checked it in the Yellow Pages.
                                          
5. Go to bed, we’re leaving for the airport early in the morning tomorrow.
                                          
6. I bumped into your friend the other day.
                                          
7. I wanted to cheer her up but actually I made her even more angry.
                                          
8. OK, I will send you a message to confirm I’m available at that time.
                                          
9. Jenny was so exhausted that she fell asleep in her bathtub.
                                          
10.It’s not a good offer. It will lead you nowhere.
                                          

74
 Lesson 2: Transport trouble

E
Rewrite the sentences using the prompts given.

1. I think I will inform them of the changes to the schedule.

How about I inform them of the changes to the schedule?      

2. Please inform me about how it’s all going, will you?

Please keep                                      
3. Hold on. What’s going on there, young lady?
Wait                                        
4. Is it possible for you to text them so that they know where we are?
Can                                         
5. Just to tell you about it, we need no more water.
Just to let                                      
6. Do you think we could go this way?
Do you reckon                                    
7. I think we could go to the cinema.
Why don’t                                      
8. Should we text her and let her know we’re running late?
How about                                      

F
Read the definitions and complete the words that match them.

1. This is what you do when at the petrol station f i l l u p

2. When you’re really excited, you’re t b

3. Something that is emotionally difficult to bear b
4. To be angry or furious f
5. To help somebody financially s
6. It is a situation when you pay a lot for something, you pay through the nose
h o p
7. To be sufficiently developed v
8. To think, informally r
9. To think, informally g

75
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 2 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
IDIOMS WITH TRANSPORT desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

hit the road be hard on the pocket

off the beaten track be thrilled to bits
hope your paths cross again burden
dead end fill up a car
be at a crossroads fume
be taken for a ride literally
share common ground load of traffic
have one for the road make amends
travel broadens the mind reckon
torment
subsidise
text
text message
viable
What are the odds?

76
r
al
n

Lesson 2: Transport trouble

Key
1. to hit the road 1. to have one for the road
A 2. off the beaten track B 2. to be at a crossroads
3. to hope your paths cross again 3. travel broadens the mind
4. dead end 4. to share common ground
5. to be at a crossroads 5. to hope your paths cross again
6. to be taken for a ride 6. to take somebody for a ride
7. to share common ground 7. dead end
8. to have one for the road 8. off the beaten track
9. travel broadens the mind 9. to hit the road

1. hit the road 1. We wanted to go out and hit the

C 2. off the beaten track D town but we ended up at home.
3. have one for the road 2. Jeremy thought he would repair the
4. at a crossroads machine himself but in the end he
5. dead-end needed a mechanic to sort out the
6. our paths cross again problem.
7. taken for a ride 3. We need to hit the road; we’re in a
8. travel broadens the mind hurry to get home before it gets too
late.
4. Kate was not sure of their phone
number so she looked it up in the
Yellow Pages.
5. Go to bed, we’re setting out for the
airport early morning tomorrow.
6. I ran into your friend the other day.
7. I wanted to cheer her up but actually
I wound her up.
8. OK, I will text you to confirm I’m
available at that time.
9. Jenny was so run down that she fell
asleep in her bathtub.
10.It’s a dead-end offer. It will lead you
nowhere.

1. How about I inform them of the 1. fill up

E changes to the schedule? F 2. thrilled to bits
2. Please keep me posted on how it’s 3. burden
all going, will you? 4. fuming
3. Wait a second. What’s going on 5. subsidise
there, young lady? 6. hard on the pocket
4. Can you text them so that they 7. viable
know where we are? 8. reckon
5. Just to let you know, we need no 9. guess
more water.
6. Do you reckon we could go this way?
7. Why don’t we go to the cinema?
8. How about texting her and letting
her know we’re running late?

77
A complicated
order 3 lesson

2
unit
2 /3 Unit

Lesson

A complicated
order
A girl sits in a restaurant, waiting for her friends. They are late
and she has to place the order for all of them.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised and practised more vocabulary
connected with food and eating

• No, I’d prefer a jacket potato.

• Can you leave out the cheese in the burger?
• Is the steak rare or well done?

80
 Lesson 3: A complicated order

Then you have watched a person ordering food in a restaurant

• Is it OK for me to place the order for everyone?

• Before I take your order, I just need to tell you we’ve run out
of salmon and duck.
• I’m afraid this fork isn’t very clean.

Also, you have seen language used to complain and apologise

• I’m afraid this fork isn’t very clean.

• I’m so sorry about that.

Finally, you have practised how to make uncountable nouns

countable

• a loaf of bread
• a pinch of salt
• a bar of chocolate

81
Unit 2

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Sarah Excuse me?
Sergio Can I help you, madam?
Sarah Yes, um, I’m waiting for the rest of my party to arrive. Is
it OK for me to place the order for everyone? They’ve all
decided.
Sergio Of course. Let me get a pad, OK? I’ll be right back.
1 Sergio Alright, madam. Before I take your order, I just need to tell
We’ve run out of salmon and duck you that we’ve run out of salmon and duck(1) .
means that the restaurant has no
salmon or duck left in stock. Sarah I don’t think that’s a problem.
Sarah No, that doesn’t seem to affect any of our orders.
Sergio And have you seen today’s specials on the board? Today
we have pear and celery soup, slow-roasted pork with
seasonal vegetables, seafood risotto, and a cheeseboard
with a selection of local cheeses.
Sarah Yes, I have, thank you. Er, most of us would like to order
from the set menu.
Sergio That’s 2 courses for £15, a starter and main or main and
dessert, or 3 courses for £18. Which would you like?
Sarah Is it OK to order starter and main, then decide later if we
want to add desserts?
Sergio Of course.
Sarah Alright then, we’ll do that. Do you want me to tell you
all the starters together then all the mains, or shall I go
person by person?
Sergio However you want, it’s fine.
Sarah Well then, I’d like the Thai fishcakes with sweet chilli dip
for my starter, then a Nick’s Ultimate burger with extra
chilli sauce for the main.
Sergio Is that with fries?
Sarah No, I’d prefer a jacket potato. And can you leave out the
cheese in the burger?
No, I’d rather have a jacket potato.
And no cheese in the burger, please.
Sergio Sure.
82
 Lesson 3: A complicated order

Sarah For the next person, can I check something about ingredients?
The garlic prawns, are they fried in breadcrumbs?
Sergio Yes, from our own bread.
Sarah OK, then he won’t want that. Forget the prawns. So, the
next person will have the sundried tomato salad, followed
by the steak and chips.
So, the next person will have the sundried tomato salad,
and then steak and chips for the main course.
Sergio Is the steak rare or well done?
Sarah Er, medium, I guess.
Sergio And any sauce?
Sarah The mushroom sauce, please.
Sergio And next?
Sarah The next person wants pear and celery soup, then the sushi
platter.
Sergio I have to tell you, pear soup and sushi are not in the 2 for
£15 deal.
Sarah That’s OK, she knows about that.
Sergio Alright.
Sarah And the fourth person would like garlic ciabatta, then the
stuffed peppers.
Sergio There’s no stuffed peppers tonight.
Sarah In that case, can you make it a baby vegetable risotto,
instead?
Oh. Well then she’ll have a baby vegetable risotto instead.
Sergio OK, and person five?
Sarah He’d like the basil and tomato soup, followed by a meat
feast pizza.
Sergio Right. So that’s 4 set menus with 2 courses, 1 main menu.
One fishcake, one prawns, one tomato salad, one pear soup,
one tomato soup, one Ultimate burger with chilli and jacket,
no cheese, one medium steak and fries with mushroom sauce,
one veg risotto, one meat feast pizza. Is that everything?
Sarah Wait a minute. I said we don’t want the prawns.
Sergio No prawns.
Sarah And I think you missed out the sushi platter too.
Did you include the sushi platter in there?
Sergio One sushi.
Sergio Any drinks?
Sarah Well, I guess we’ll want a bottle of house red for the
table, and a jug of tap water. If the others want anything
different, they’ll order it when they get here.
Everyone else can order whatever else they want when
they arrive.
Sergio One house red, one jug tap water.
Sarah Oh, and one more thing. I’m afraid this fork isn’t very clean.
Could I get a new fork, please? This one is a bit dirty.
Sergio I’m so sorry about that. I’ll replace it.
Sarah And there aren’t enough serviettes(2) . 2 people haven’t got 2
any. Could you bring over some more?
Serviettes are also known as
Sergio I’ll do that right away, darling. napkins.
Sarah Please don’t call me darling! I hate that.

83
Unit 2

Use of English
•
HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PHRASES THAT CAN BE USED TO COMPLAIN.

• Excuse me. I’m afraid... (this fork isn’t • I must say that ... is not satisfactory.
very clean.) (the service)
• I’m afraid I may have a problem here... • I regret to inform you that ... did not
(with my burger – it’s not well done.) meet my expectations. (the fridge I
• I’m sorry to bother you but... (this table bought at your shop)
cloth is dirty.)
• Excuse me, could help me with this?
(There aren’t enough serviettes.) The British often complain in an indirect way
(you should go beyond the literal meaning).

These are more formal ways to complain. • Don’t you think you’re driving too fast?
(Please, slow down.)
• I wish to make a complaint. • My beer is not cold enough. (Can I have
• I must admit I am not satisfied a colder one?)
with... (the quality of service in your • It’s a bit cold in here. (Can you close the
restaurant.) window? / Turn the heating on?)

PHRASES YOU CAN USE TO APOLOGISE.

• I’m (terribly) sorry, I will… (replace it • Please, accept my apologies. (very
with a new one.) formal)

HOW YOU CAN MAKE UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS COUNTABLE.

• a pinch of salt / sugar Piece and bit are often used to make
• a loaf of bread uncountable nouns countable. There is even a
• a slice of bread / ham / cheese / pizza phrase bits and pieces which can be used to
• a bar of chocolate refer to different small things.
• a dash of liquor
• a scoop of ice-cream • Before I start cooking, I need to clean
• a glass of milk / water / orange juice / these bits and pieces after breakfast.
wine
• a cup of tea / coffee ‘Bits and bobs’ is a similar phrase.
• a bottle of milk / water / orange juice /
wine
• a sip of tea / coffee / milk / water /
orange juice / wine

Other uncountable nouns that can be made

countable.

• an item of news / clothes

• a piece of advice / furniture /
information
• a puff of smoke
• a cloud of smoke
• a means of transport

84
 Lesson 3: A complicated order

Work-out
A
Make these complaints a bit more polite.

1. This burger is almost raw inside.

I’m afraid this burger is almost raw inside.             

2. I am writing because the service in your restaurant was awful.

                                           
3. This table cloth is really dirty.
                                           
4. There aren’t enough wine glasses on the table.
                                           
5. There is a problem with my wine. It’s white, and I wanted red.
                                           
6. I want to complain about these shoes I bought here last Friday.
                                           
7. The level of service we received is just not good.
                                           
8. I want to tell you that the dessert menu we got was in a sorry state.
                                           

B
Match the phrases on the left with the uncountable nouns on the right to make them
countable.

1. a pinch of a. bread
2. a dash of b. smoke
3. a piece of c. clothing
4. a slice of d. ham
5. a means of e. tequila
6. an item of f. coffee with milk
7. a loaf of g. water with lemon
8. a sip of h. salt
9. a cup of i. transport
10. a glass of j. hot coffee
11. a cloud of k. news

1. h 2.    3.    4.    5.    6.    7.    8.    9.    10.    11.   

85
Unit 2

Correct the sentences if necessary. Tick any which are already correct.

1. Anytime John needs an advice he asks his mother.

Anytime John needs a piece of advice he asks his mother.        

2. To prepare this salsa dip, you will need a pinch of salt and a dash of sugar.
                                          
3. And then he blew a smoke right into her face.
                                          
4. Could you please go to the shop? We don’t even have a bit of bread.
                                          
5. She never wants anything to drink and then she takes intakes from John’s coffee.
                                          
6. Before you go to bed, you’d better collect all these pieces and bits or your father will be
angry.
                                          
7. Can we have another roll of bread?
                                          
8. When Jim travels around Europe, a train is his favourite mean of transport.
                                          
9. Even though Kelly said she was stuffed, she had another slice of pizza.
                                          

Read the definitions and complete the words that match them.

1. A different word for a portion h e l p i n g

2. If you want your steak almost sautéed, you want it w d

3. A piece of wood or glass where you can cut vegetables c
4. Feeling sickly n
5. A kitchen utensil which can help you separate pasta from water s
6. A shapeless mass of something p
7. To cut into very small pieces. For example, meat m
8. To say you’re sorry a
9. A napkin which we use while eating s
10.This is what you do after boiling pasta d

86
 Lesson 3: A complicated order

E
Replace the words in bold with a suitable form of the expressions given below.

cut down on / run out of / cut out / turn up / pick at / give off / work out / eat
up / gulp down / turn down / take in

1. I need to inform you that we don’t have any salmon anymore.

I need to inform you that we’ve run out of salmon.          
2. If you don’t eat all of your dinner, you will not get any dessert.
                                          
3. Andy wasn’t really eating, she was just playing with the food.
                                          
4. If you want to lose weight, you should limit carbohydrates in your diet.
                                          
5. A good diet is not enough, you should also exercise at the gym.
                                          
6. He ate everything in a few seconds without even chewing.
                                          
7. Your diet is not very healthy. You should remove cigarettes from your daily life.
                                          
8. John looked suspiciously at the yoghurt which was emitting a very strange smell.
                                          
9. Even though she was invited to the dinner, Kate never arrived.
                                          
10.I don’t know how I could possibly believe his lie that it was a diet Coke.
                                          
11. Tom invited Jenny for a drink but her cruel heart made her reject the invitation.
                                          

F
Complete the sentences using these words.

list / course / ripe / table / side / room / today’s / helping / take / ingredients

1. I would like a table for five.

2. Can I           your order, madam?

3. What would you like for the main           ?
4. Can I check something about the           ?
5. Can I have the fries on the           ?
6. This avocado is not           enough, you need to wait a few days.
7. Have you seen          specials on the board? Maybe they’ll be of interest to you.
8. Would you like the wine          as well?
9. Can I have another           of chicken wings?
10.Do you have any           for one of our delicious desserts?

87
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 2 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
desire

baby vegetables grater oven sieve

be taken in by sth helping pulp strainer
breadcrumbs house red rare food label
cheese feast pizza grate read out sun-dried tomatoes
cheeseboard local cheeses seasonal vegetables turn up
chopping board nauseous serviette turn down
cooker medium set menu veg risotto
cut out mince slow-roasted pork well done
drain on the side

Key
1. I’m afraid this burger is almost raw 1. h / 2. e / 3. k / 4. d / 5. i / 6. c
A inside. B 7. a / 8. j / 9. f / 10. g / 11. b
2. I am writing because the service in
your restaurant did not meet my ex- 1. we’ve run out of.
pectations. E 2. eat up
3. Excuse me / I’m afraid this table 3. picking at.
cloth is really dirty. 4. cut down on.
4. Excuse me, could help me with this? 5. work out.
There aren’t enough wine glasses on 6. gulped everything down in a few
the table. seconds.
5. I’m afraid I may have a problem here 7. cut out.
with my wine. It’s white and I want- 8. giving off.
ed red. 9 turned up.
6. I wish to make a complaint about 10.be taken in by.
these shoes I bought here last Friday. 11. turn down.
7. I must say that the level of service
we received is not satisfactory. 1. I would like a table for five.
8. I regret to inform you that the dessert F 2. Can I take your order, madam?
menu we got was in a sorry state. 3. What would you like for the main course?
4. Can I check something about the
1. Anytime John needs a piece of ingredients ?
C advice, he asks his mother. 5. Can I have the fries on the side ?
2. Correct 6. This avocado is not ripe enough, you
3. And then he blew a puff of smoke need to wait a few days.
right into her face. 7. Have you seen today’s specials on
4. Could you please go to the shop? the board? Maybe they’ll be of in-
We don’t even have a slice of bread. terest to you.
5. She never wants anything to drink 8. Would you like the wine list as well?
and then she takes sips from John’s 9. Can I have another helping of chicken
coffee. wings?
6. Before you go to bed, you’d better 10.Do you have any room for one of our
collect all these bits and pieces or delicious desserts?
your father will be angry.
7. Can we have another slice of bread? 1. helping 6. pulp
8. When Jim travels around Europe, D 2. well done 7. mince
the train is his favourite means of 3. chopping board 8. apologise
transport. 4. nauseous 9. serviette
9. Correct 5. strainer 10. drain

88
Constructive
criticism 4 lesson

2
unit
2 /4 Unit

Lesson

Constructive
criticism
After dining there with her friends, an employee has to write a
report about the restaurant for her manager. It was a complete
disaster, but she has to express this diplomatically.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised and practised vocabulary connected
with criticising and making a complaint

• I would like to make a complaint.

• The standard of hygiene in your restaurant was unacceptable,
and I was utterly disgusted by its sorry state.
• Despite the spacious interior, the restaurant began to feel
crowded during the course of the evening.

90
 Lesson 4: Constructive criticism

Also, you have observed differences between formal and informal

register

• In general, with a little attention to staff training, the dining

experience would be greatly improved.
• In fact, I was utterly disgusted. I’d never go back there.
• It was a bit too adventurous, even for me.

Then, you have practised different linking devices

• Nevertheless, due to a more serious issue, I regret that I am

unable to recommend this place.
• We continued our journey, despite the bad weather
conditions.
• A lot of flights have been cancelled due to heavy snowfall.

and negative prefixes

• The menu was not entirely inaccurate in this respect.

• Although Candy passed the exam, the result was
unsatisfactory for her parents.
• I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service in
your restaurant.

Finally, you have practised adjective and adverb combinations used

to review and criticise

• pretty good
• utterly disgusted
• heavily criticised

91
Unit 2

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Becca Are you working on the restaurant feedback? Lucy wanted to
know if it was suitable for corporate entertaining, didn’t she?
Ruth Yes. I think my overall recommendation about that is pretty
straightforward.
Becca A big fat ‘NO’?
Hands down, it is a NO.
Ruth In a word, yes. I’m just working on how to say so diplomati-
1 cally, since the restaurant manager is her cousin after all. (1)
To say (something) diplomatically Becca Hmm. What have you got so far?
means to say it politely and without
insulting anyone. Ruth Let’s see. Introduction, blah blah blah: “The menu is varied,
making good use of local and seasonal produce, as well as
some more unusual ingredients...”
Becca Very unusual, in some cases!
Ruth I’ll get to that later. “A positive detail is the labelling of
dishes suitable for vegetarian or gluten-free diets, although
we later discovered that the menu was not entirely accurate
in this regard.”
Becca That’s pretty good so far – it’s important to include the
good points. What about the room and the atmosphere?
2 Ruth I’m going to say it was attractively decorated and so on, but
Which rose to uncomfortable got very noisy after that big party arrived. Hang on... “and
levels means that other people’s despite the spacious interior, the restaurant began to feel
conversations began to escalate
crowded during the course of the evening. This was largely
throughout the night and make the
restaurant an uncomfortable place to due to the volume of conversation from other diners, which
sit and chat. rose to uncomfortable levels(2) .”

92
 Lesson 4: Constructive criticism

...and despite the spacious interior, the restaurant began to

feel crowded as the evening went on.
Becca That’s fair. What else are you going to say?
Ruth “As regards the service, while our waiter was at all times
polite and attentive, it was felt by some members of our
party that his mode of address was overly familiar, which
gave a negative impression.”
Becca You mean when he kept calling us ‘darling’? I know that
that kind of thing always annoys Sarah. She finds it really
patronising. (3)
3
I’m sure he didn’t mean to be insulting
If someone says something
Ruth So do I, actually. patronising, it means that they are
Becca Maybe you could say something about the delay with the speaking to you as if you are inferior
or childish.
food. When the main courses were delivered, Sarah was
still waiting for her starter.
Ruth I could do, but I don’t want to end up costing someone their
job by what I write, so I might not mention all the little
things. I mean the big issue of the night wasn’t anything to
do with the service.
I could do, but I don’t want to cause someone to get fired
on account of what I write.
Becca Yes, I wondered when you were going to get round to that.
Although it was actually quite small, if we’re talking about size. (4) 4
Ruth Tiny! This part of the conversation
insinuates that something happened
Becca Poor little thing, it must have had the surprise of its life. during the evening and, literally
speaking, the issue was caused by
Ruth It was certainly the surprise of my life, I can tell you. When it
something tiny, like a mouse.
jumped out and ran over the table!
Becca And when I saw its little nose poking out of the chocolate cake!
Ruth And when Martin screamed! I don’t think he’ll be eating
cakes again in a hurry.
I don’t think he’ll be eating cakes again for a really long time.
Becca I know! The thing is, we can laugh about it now, but to serve
a dessert with a live mouse inside it is, is...
Ruth Completely unacceptable. In fact, I was utterly disgusted.
Becca Yes, I was too.
Ruth But how do we talk about the mouse in a way that’s…
Becca Constructive!
Becca Good question. Use some long words like ‘nevertheless’
and ‘consequently’, maybe.
Ruth Like “In general, with a little attention to staff training, the
dining experience would be greatly improved. Nevertheless,
due to a more serious issue, I regret that I am unable to
recommend Nick’s of Greenvale as a destination for corporate
entertaining, or indeed for any other kind of occasion”.
Becca Exactly.
Ruth Then I could say “There appear to be very serious lapses in food
hygiene which, on the occasion of our visit, led to the discovery
of a live mouse inside one of our desserts. Consequently, none
of our party will be returning to Nick’s of Greenvale in the
foreseeable future, and I understand that the restaurant has
already been reported to the Food Standards Agency.”
Becca Has been reported... by you.
Ruth Ssh! I don’t want Lucy to know that!
Becca Your secret is safe with me.

93
Unit 2

Use of English
ADVERBS / ADJECTIVES
There are two types of adjectives in English: You can’t say ‘deader’, ‘more hilarious’ or ‘the
hugest.’
• Gradable – adjectives which can
be graded, that is, you can make a For gradable and non-gradable adjectives, you
comparative and superlative form of will use different adverbs to modify them.
them.
• gradable – very / extremely /
Some gradable adjectives include: slightly / a bit (a bit angry / very small)
• non-gradable – totally / absolutely
- good - bad / utterly / entirely (totally hilarious /
- angry - important absolutely freezing)
- intelligent - cold • ‘really’ can be used for both
- hungry - small gradable and non-gradable
- beautiful - interesting adjectives (really important / really
huge).
This means that you can say ‘more intelligent’,
‘smaller’ or ‘the most interesting.’ There are also some fixed adverb-adjective
combinations which very often go together:
• Non-gradable – adjectives which
can’t be graded; they don’t take a • highly praised
comparative or superlative form; they • heavily criticised
express extremes. • painfully shy
• pretty good
Some of the non-gradable adjectives include: • attractively decorated
• absolutely right
- wonderful - freezing • utterly disgusted
- exhausted - genius • totally unbelievable
- awe-inspiring - disgusted
- starving - hilarious
- dead - huge

LINKING DEVICES
There are different linking devices in English ‘Due to’ and ‘because of ’ are followed by
which express different functions: gerund forms.

to express contrast you can use – but / • Due to being inexperienced, she was not
although / in spite of / despite / however / accepted for the position of chef.
nevertheless / whereas / while / even though
The remaining linking devices are followed by
‘In spite of ’ and ‘despite’ are followed by a full clause.
gerund forms.
• As she was inexperienced, she was not
• Despite being an only child, she never accepted for the position of chef.
grew to be selfish.
to express result, you can use - as a result /
The remaining linking devices are followed by caused by / therefore / consequently
a full clause.
All of these linking devices are followed by a
• Although she was an only child, she full clause.
never grew to be selfish.
• Angela was very patronising and, therefore,
to express reason, you can use – on the people didn’t like to do shifts with her.
grounds that / due to / because / because of / • Paul had a bad habit of picking his nose.
as / since / hence Consequently, people didn’t enjoy his
company.

94
 Lesson 4: Constructive criticism

NEGATIVE PREFIXES
To make an adjective negative, you usually add Adjectives beginning with ‘l’ usually take the
these prefixes: negative prefix ‘il’ (illegal.)

-in -im However, there are some exceptions to

-un -ir these rules (disloyal), and many adjectives
-dis -il don’t follow any rules (unsatisfactory /
inexperienced). This means it’s best to learn
them by heart.
Generally, adjectives beginning with ‘p’ or ‘m’
usually take the negative prefix ‘im’ (impatient
/ improbable / immature.)

Adjectives beginning with ‘r’ usually take the

negative prefix ‘ir’ (irregular / irresponsible.)

Work-out
A
Complete these sentences by adding collocating adverbs to adjectives to make them
stronger.

1. The film was praised for its special effects, which were spectacular.
The film was highly praised for its special effects, which were absolutely /
totally spectacular.
2. The room was decorated with beautiful flowers and plants.
                                           
3. After the few-hour run, Peter was hungry.
                                           
4. She wasn’t even interested in what the company could offer her.
                                           
5. This restaurant is often criticised for its slow service.
                                           
6. When I saw the steak I ordered was smelly, I was disgusted.
                                           
7. She was good. The restaurant she worked for noticed that and promoted her.
                                           
8. I need to complain about the product since I am not happy with its appearance.
                                           

95
Unit 2

B
Match adverbs on the left with the adjectives on the right to make typical combinations.

- very - disappointed
- absolutely - praised
- utterly - exciting
- painfully - shy
- heavily - important
- pretty - good
- highly - criticised
- really - disgusted
- slightly - right
- attractively - decorated

C
Combine the two sentences using the linking word in the brackets.

1. We were driving slowly. The road was covered with a thin layer of ice. (because)
We were driving slowly because the road was covered with a thin layer of ice.

2. The meeting was put off. Many people were absent from work. (due to)
                                          
3. John was very rich. He never showed he felt superior. (although)
                                          
4. Julie had problems keeping up with her classmates. She was making a lot of effort.
(despite)
                                          
5. We all believed Linda and Martin were happily married. They suddenly filed for divorce.
(when)
                                          
6. The company was planning to introduce a new cost-cutting scheme. A lot of workers
started to look through job ads. (consequently)
                                          
7. We have a little budget. We should renovate and refresh our flat a bit. (nevertheless)
                                          
8. Jenny helped John get out of this trouble by lying. He owes her a favour. (hence)
                                          
9. Terry is accused of bribing the judge. Somebody saw him handing in an envelope in a hotel
lobby. (on the grounds)
                                          
10.Tom wasn’t feeling well. He decided to phone in sick. (because of)
                                          

96
 Lesson 4: Constructive criticism

D
Write the negative forms of these adjectives.

1. in experienced 6.    qualified
2.    discreet 7.    satisfactory
3.    obedient 8.    satisfied
4.    sensitive 9.    efficient
5.    responsible 10.   predictable

E
Complete the sentences using the correct form of these phrases.

straightforward / cost sb their job / discrepancy / poke / beat about the bush /
patronising / overall recommendation / get round / attentive / diner

1. The waiter was very attentive and helpful so we gave him a big tip.

2. I’m not going to argue with the boss. It could                  .

3. Stop                   and tell us why you’ve organised this meeting.
4. Tom’s very                 and he didn’t manage to lie about that evening.
5. His                way of talking to people made him lose a lot of friends.
6. I’m not at my best today. I can’t                   to this project.
7. So what would you say your                   would be?
8. There’s been some                   in what the two witnesses said.
9. There were many              in that place so we decided to give it a try.
10.Tommy started crying as his little sister                him right in his ribs.

F
Complete the sentences using the negative forms of these adjectives.

responsible/ satisfied/ courteous/ satisfactory/ successful/ legible/ sufficient/ legal

1. It was very irresponsible of you to let her do it on her own!

2. His handwriting was totally            , and the teacher decided not to mark
his essay.
3. I was              with the standard of the hotel room.
4. Seeing the number of guests, Sheila decided that the food would be
             and she hurried to the kitchen to order some pizza.
5. Tax evasion is              in this country, and people who practise it are
punished.
6. Even though the first trial turned to be out             , he continued
experimenting.
7. It was very              of him to invite everybody but you.
8. The results of her test were             , and Katy didn’t pass the exam.

97
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 2 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
LINKING WORDS desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

contrast attentive
although beat about the bush
but completely unacceptable
despite corporate entertaining
even though cost sb their job
however entirely accurate
in spite of diner
nevertheless discrepancy
whereas foreseeable future
while get round to
reason lapse
as mode of address
because overly familiar
because of overall recommendation
due to patronising
hence poke
on the grounds that poke out
since poor little thing
result straightforward
as a result uncomfortable levels
caused by utterly disgusted
consequently
therefore

98
 Lesson 4: Constructive criticism

Key
1. The film was highly praised for its 1. inexperienced 6. disqualified
A special effects which were abso- D 2. indiscreet 7. unsatisfactory
lutely / totally spectacular. 3. disobedient 8. dissatisfied
2. The room was attractively decorated 4. insensitive 9. inefficient
with beautiful flowers and plants. 5. irresponsible 10.unpredictable
3. After the few-hour run, Peter was
very hungry.
4. She wasn’t even slightly / a bit interest-
ed in what the company could offer her.
5. This restaurant is often heavily criti- 1. The waiter was very attentive and
cised for its slow service. E helpful so we gave him a big tip.
6. When I saw the steak I ordered was 2. I’m not going to argue with the boss.
smelly, I was utterly disgusted. It could cost me my job.
7. She was really good, and the restau- 3. Stop beating about the bush and tell
rant she worked for noticed that and us why you’ve organised this meeting.
promoted her. 4. Tom’s very straightforward and he
8. I need to complain about the prod- didn’t manage to lie about that evening.
uct since I am not very happy with its 5. His patronising way of talking to
appearance. people made him lose a lot of friends.
6. I’m not at my best today. I can’t get
very - important round to this project.
B absolutely - right 7. So what would you say your overall
utterly - disgusted recommendation would be?
painfully - shy 8. There’s been some discrepancy in
heavily - criticised what the two witnesses said.
pretty - good 9. There were many diners in that place
highly - praised so we decided to give it a try.
really - exciting 10.Tommy started crying as his little
slightly - disappointed sister poked him right in his ribs.
attractively - decorated

1. We were driving slowly because the road 1. It was very irresponsible of you to
C was covered with a thin layer of ice. F let her do it on her own!
2. The meeting was put off due to high 2. His handwriting was totally illegible,
absenteeism. and the teacher decided not to mark
3. Although John was very rich, he his essay.
never showed he felt superior. 3. I was dissatisfied with the standard
4. Julie had problems keeping up with of the hotel room.
her classmates, despite her efforts. 4. Seeing the number of guests, Sheila
5. We all believed Linda and Martin decided that the food would be in-
were happily married when they sufficient and she hurried to the
suddenly filed for divorce. kitchen to order some pizza.
6. The company was planning to in- 5. Tax evasion is illegal in this country, and
troduce a new cost-cutting scheme. people who practise it are punished.
Consequently, a lot of workers start- 6. Even though the first trial turned to
ed to look through job ads. be out unsuccessful, he continued
7. We have a little budget. Neverthe- experimenting.
less, we should renovate and refresh 7. It was very discourteous of him to
our flat a bit. invite everybody but you.
8. Jenny helped John get out of this 8. The results of her test were unsatis-
trouble by lying and, hence, he owes factory, and Katy didn’t pass the exam
her a favour. / Jenny helped John get
out his trouble by lying. Hence, he
owes her a favour.
9. Terry is accused of bribing the judge
on the grounds that he had been seen
handing in an envelope in a hotel lobby.
10.Because of his bad mood, Tom de-
cided to phone in sick.

99
Memory
Topic: Memory
Skill: Defending a point of view persuasively
Sequencing past events
Grammar: Narrative tenses for experience, incl. passive
Go’ + gerund to talk about activities
Uses of ‘get’
Uses of ‘get used to’
Vocabulary: Colloquial language

1
A strange
dream
lesson

3
unit
3 /1 Unit

Lesson

A strange
dream
Two friends are talking and one of them explains a really
weird dream he had the previous night. The other seems
to know a little too much about the dream…

Aims
In this lesson you have revised narrative tenses for past events,
used for talking about past experiences.

• I had never been to that part of the country before.

• He was cycling up the mountain path when a truck appeared.
• They packed up and left as quickly as they could before the
storm came.

102
 Lesson 1: A strange dream

You have also looked at words connected with memory, and how
to talk about using and improving your memory.

• We had to memorise a whole poem for our literature class.

• Try to commit this to memory, then it will be easier for you.
• I have fond memories of summer holidays spent at my
grandparents’ house.
• I was supposed to go to the post office, but it slipped my
mind.
• When I look back, I think moving to London was a good
choice.

Finally, you have practised phrases for sequencing past events,

such as until then, after a while, by the time.

• By the time we got home, we were exhausted.

• After a while, I realised that he really intended to do what he
told me.
• Until then, I hadn’t understood the importance of family.

103
Unit 3

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Rupert Morning, Chris! You look like you could do with a good
night’s sleep!
Chris Yeah, I didn’t sleep at all well last night. I had a really weird
dream.
I had a really bad night’s sleep last night.
Rupert Really? What was it about?

1 Chris Well, don’t laugh but I was being chased by a group of

zombies around the London Underground! The weird thing
Batter is made from milk, flour and is… the zombies were covered in batter! (1)
eggs and is used to coat fish before
it is fried in the British dish fish ‘n’ Rupert In batter? Like the crispy batter that you get on fish and chips?
chips.
Chris Yeah, they were covered in the stuff!
Rupert So, what happened in the dream?
Chris Well, it was early in the morning and I was leaving my house
to go to work.
Rupert Not particularly strange so far!
That sounds quite normal.
There’s nothing strange about that.
Chris Will you wait for me to explain the whole dream? On my way
to the Underground station, I noticed that it seemed very
quiet and there was nobody else around.

104
 Lesson 1: A strange dream

Rupert Strange…
That’s starting to sound a bit strange.
Chris Although it was rush hour (2) , the trains weren’t running and
the station was completely empty.
2
Rush hour is the time in the morning
Rupert That sounds nice! I hate the underground when it’s busy in or early evening when most people are
rush hour. travelling to work. It is the time when
Chris Well, I was waiting on the platform wondering where everyone the roads, trains and buses are at their
busiest.
else was, when an empty train pulled up with no driver.
Rupert Was there anybody else on the train?
Chris No! I could hear someone or something moving about in the
next carriage (3). So I went to have a look and…
3
A carriage is one section of a train.
Rupert Don’t tell me! There was a zombie reading the morning
newspaper in the other carriage!
Chris Yeah, there was but it was covered in batter! I noticed
another zombie standing at the far end of the same carriage
and you’ll never guess what?
Guess what happened next?
You won’t believe what happened next.
Rupert It was listening to an mp3 player?
Chris Yeah, it was! Well, after that, (4) the train pulled into the next 4
station, so I thought I’d best get off but before I could, even
more battered zombies started to… He uses after that to signpost his
story and make clear the order things
Rupert Enter the platform from the ticket office area? happened in.
Chris Yeah, they were, so I decided it was best to stay on the train.
As I turned around, I could see that…
Rupert I know. They were entering through the door connecting the
two carriages?
Chris Look, did you have the same dream as me?
Rupert No, how could I? Come on. I really want to hear what happens
in the end.
I really want to hear how it ends.
I want to know the ending.
Chris I got off at the next station and went up the escalator.
Rupert Don’t tell me, there were loads of battered zombies at the top!
Chris You’re right! I was so scared that I fell down the escalator!
Rupert What happened in the dream then?
Chris I don’t know. I woke up because I had fallen off the sofa!
Rupert I’m just curious, though. You say you woke up on the sofa but
tell me, what were you doing before you fell asleep?
Chris Well, I had been working late last night so on the way home,
I stopped off to get some fish and chips. When I got home, I
5
just put the TV on and ate my fish and chips in front of it. (5) Notice how he uses the Past Perfect
to explain what he did before he had
Rupert And can you remember what you had been watching on TV? the dream, which also occurred in the
past.
Chris I’m not sure, maybe a movie.
I must’ve dropped off.
Rupert Well, I watched a film last night. It was called ‘Zombie
Invasion’ and it was all about zombies invading a city by
coming through the underground system!
Chris What? Just like what happened in my dream?
Rupert Yes, just like your dream but in the film they weren’t covered
in batter! I think that part is down to your fish and chips!
105
Unit 3

Use of English
NARRATIVE TENSES

Narrative tenses are used to describe past The Past Perfect Simple is also used to
events and are needed to indicate the sequence show that one event comes before another
that these events happened in, as well as how event in the past.
long they continued for.
• Before he went to France, he had never
If a sequence of events happens in been abroad.
chronological order, the Simple Past can be
used for all verbs.
The Past Continuous is used to describe what
• He woke up, got dressed, had breakfast actions were taking place at a point in time.
and went to work.
• She switched on her laptop, checked her • When she woke up, the birds were
emails and then made a cup of coffee. singing and the sun was shining.

If one of the events is not in chronological It can also be used together with the Past
order, then this must be shown using the Past Simple to show that one action interrupted
Perfect Simple. another.

• They got ready, drove to the cinema and • I was walking down the street when I
bought the tickets, but then realised met an old friend.
they had seen the film before.

SEQUENCING PHRASES

Sequencing phrases can be used to indicate

what the actual sequence of events in a story
was. These phrases very often appear at the
beginning of sentences, but can also be used
within a sentence.

• Until then, no-one had told me that I

was responsible for deliveries.
• It started slowly at first, but after a
while, it sped up.
• Previous to that, I hadn’t been to the
opera.

106
 Lesson 1: A strange dream

Work-out
A
Put the words in each sentence in the correct order.

1. Until / then / she / had / not / spoken / to / a / native / speaker.

She had not spoken to a native speaker until then.

2. town / he / a / lived / in / that / different / previous / to / had

3. had / by / sun / time / we / the / down / the / gone / arrived

4. there / a / while / was / I / with / that / a / problem / after / realised / the / computer

5. in / to / cheap / they / hostels / previous / had / only / that / stayed

6. finished / the / coffees / time / the / four / meeting / I / had / by / drunk

7. had / until / all / eaten / the / canteen / students / then / in / the

8. noticed / me / after / a / I / that / watching / someone / while / was

B
Choose the correct options to complete the sentences.

1. I walked up to the house, opened that door and looked inside.

had looked / was looking / looked

2. She suddenly realised she to the same place before.

was/had been/was being
3. They to a family party when the accident happened.
were driving/drove/had driven
4. When I got home, I found that someone into my flat.
was breaking/broke/had broken
5. He drove to the bank, took some money out and then a new jacket.
buy/bought/had bought
6. She in Paris when she met Robert.
lived/had lived/was living
7. When I turned the corner, I saw that the man outside the post office.
waited/was waiting/had waited
8. There was a car by the side of the road that .
broke down/was breaking down/had broken down

107
Unit 3

C
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the words below.

memorise / recall / remind / bring back / look back / slip my mind / forget / recite

1.Now, this photo brings back memories of when I was in India.

2. I can’t exactly, but I think it was about 420.

3. It takes a lot of practice to be able to long lists of names.
4. Can you me later to call John, please?
5. I didn’t buy any bread, I’m afraid. It .
6. When I on my schooldays, I think how lucky I was.
7. We had to the text in front of the whole class. It was terrible!
8. Where is he? I think he’s about our arrangement.

D
Make sentences by matching the sentence halves.

1. Don’t tell me a. happened after that.

2. OK. So this dream of yours, what b. I’d like to hear the rest.
3. Your own jacuzzi? Wow c. the best part yet
4. I’m curious what d. with a good night’s sleep.
5. Tell me the rest, I really e. was it about?
6. You look like you could do f. want to hear what happened.
7. Come on, tell me more, g. that sounds nice
8. Wait, you haven’t heard h. you lost your briefcase again!

1. h 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

108
 Lesson 1: A strange dream

E
Use the verbs in brackets in the correct tense to complete the sentences.

1. I didn’t recognise Katie because she had changed her hair. (change)

2. He in bed when he heard a strange noise downstairs. (lie)

3. The woman was cleaning her windows and a bucket of water onto the
street. (drop)
4. She played as well as she could, but she lost because she enough.
(not train)
5. They couldn’t come to the party because they to do something else.
(arrange)
6. I met Jo when I up the stairs to the library. (walk)
7. When I arrived, everyone round the table with drinks. (sit)
8. He was feeling a bit depressed because he his exam. ( fail)

F
Write in the words for the definitions below.

1. To try hard to do something, put a lot of effort into something.

To struggle

2. Strange. (two words)

3. A strange feeling that something has already happened to you.

4. A colloquial phrase which means to get used to (doing) something.

5. When you forget to do something, usually something not so important.

6. Moving stairs used for going between floors, often found in big shops.

7. When you really need or want something to happen, you are

8. To read out a poem or other text, often in front of a group of people

109
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 3 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

weird batter
stuff escalator
crash out struggle
mental note déja vu
come forward handcuffs
desperate hit on an idea
make sb’s jaw drop recite
reveal consequently
bizarre extract
roll your eyes check out
blockbuster take ages
get the hang of sth grab
dotted be agitated
gesticulate chant
slip your mind recite
profound head for numbers

Here are some useful phrases for talking about memory:

I made a mental note of the exact time. She's fantastic at Maths. She's got a head for
numbers.
I had this weird feeling of deja vu. I forgot to do it. Sorry, it completely slipped
my mind.
Commit this message to memory and destroy Try and recite this at home and you will
it. remember it better.
I have a lot of fond memories of my time in My grandparents often look back on their
Paraguay. youth.

110
 Lesson 1: A strange dream

Key
1. She had not spoken to a native 1. looked
A speaker until then. B 2. had been
2. He had lived in a different town 3. were driving
previous to that. 4. had broken
3. The sun had gone down by the time 5. bought
we arrived. 6. was living
4. I realised after a while that there 7. was waiting
was a problem with the computer. 8. had broken down
5. Previous to that, they had only
stayed in cheap hostels.
6. I had drunk four coffees by the time
the meeting finished.
7. The students had all eaten in the
canteen until then.
8. I noticed after a while that
someone was watching me.

1. Now, this photo brings back 1. h

C memories of when I was in India. D 2. e
2. I can’t recall exactly, but I think it 3. g
was about 420. 4. a
3. It takes a lot of practice to be able 5. f
to memorise long lists of names. 6. d
4. Can you remind me later to call John, 7. b
please? 8. c
5. I didn’t buy any bread, I’m afraid. It
slipped my mind.
6. When I look back on my
schooldays, I think how lucky I was.
7. We had to recite the text in front of
the whole class, it was terrible!
8. Where is he? I think he’s forgotten
about our arrangement.

1. I didn’t recognise Katie because she 1. To struggle

E had changed her hair. F 2. Weird / bizarre
2. He was lying in bed when he heard 3. Déja vu
a strange noise downstairs. 4. To get the hang of (doing) sth
3. The woman was cleaning her 5. To slip your mind
windows and dropped a bucket of 6. An escalator
water onto the street. 7. Desperate
4. She played as well as she could, but 8. To recite
she lost because she hadn’t trained
enough.
5. They couldn’t come to the party
because they had arranged to do
something else.
6. I met Jo when I was walking up the
stairs to the library.
7. When I arrived, everyone was
sitting round the table with drinks.
8. He was feeling a bit depressed
because he had failed his exam.

111
 2
A false
memory
lesson

3
unit
3 /2 Unit

Lesson

A false
memory
A girl has had a ‘déjà vu’ experience and talks about it
with a friend. She really believes such experiences are
real, but her friend disagrees with her. Both give lots of
scientific arguments to defend their points of view.

Aims
In this lesson you have looked at how to defend a point of view
persuasively using phrases such as these in the examples below.

• I believe there really is a logical explanation for it.

• There is clear evidence proving that eating vegetables does
improve your brainpower.
• I think you’ll find that the majority of studies show a very
strong link between the two.

114
 Lesson 2: A false memory

You have also revised the past tenses: Past Simple, Past Continuous
and Past Perfect.

• He visited his grandparents every day as a child.

• When she was talking to Joe, she had a strange feeling she
knew what he was going to say.
• I’d had the same experience before so I knew what to expect.

You have also practised words connected with déja vu

experiences and whether memories are real or false.

• It only lasted a split second, but it made me feel really

uncomfortable.
• I thought I was going to freak out; after all, no-one can
know what is going to happen.
• If you want to retain your memory, just follow these simple
guidelines.

Finally, you have learnt some colloquial phrases useful in

discussions when you have to defend your argument or you want
to question what another person is saying.

• Oh, come on, there’s no such thing as paranormal

experiences!
• It’s a bit far-fetched, isn’t it? Who believes in that sort of
stuff?
• Oh, for heaven’s sake, there’s no way the brain can do
something like that!

115
 Unit 3

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Rebecca You wouldn’t believe what happened to me this morning!
Fiona I don’t know. Tell me!
Rebecca My boss was lying in a sleeping bag, asleep under his desk!
Fiona Never! What do you think he was doing there?
No way! Why was he in a sleeping bag under his desk?

1 Rebecca Well, I had heard a little whisper that he and his wife were
having, you know, marital problems. But it looks like she may
To kick someone out means to ask have gone and kicked him out! (1)
someone to leave your home and go
and live somewhere else because Fiona What makes you so certain?
they have been bad or because the
relationship has ended.
Rebecca Well, I also noticed that he had been shopping and bought a
load of toiletries like deodorant and shaving stuff. And also
his alarm clock was on his desk!
Fiona You know what, I’ve got a really strange feeling that you’ve
told me this story before!
I’m sure I’ve heard this story before.
Rebecca Don’t be silly! I can’t have done, it only happened this
morning!
Fiona No, I’ve definitely had this ‘experience’ before.
I’m sure I’ve heard this story before.
Rebecca Are you trying to say I’m boring and I repeat the same old
stories over and over again?
Fiona No, I’m not saying that. What I’m trying to tell you is that I’ve
2 experienced this whole episode before. I think I’ve just had
déjà-vu! (2)
Déjà-vu is an expression meaning
that you feel that you have Rebecca Don’t be so silly! There’s no such thing as déjà-vu! Your brain
experienced exactly the same situation is tricking you!
somewhere before.
Fiona I believe it really does exist! In my experience, lots of people
get déjà-vu but are too afraid to admit it in case people think
they are a bit bonkers.
116
 Lesson 2: A false memory

Rebecca I don’t think you’re bonkers! I just think you’ve got a very
vivid imagination.
I don’t think you’re crazy!
I don’t think you’re mad!
Fiona I think you’ll find that medical research into the concept of
déjà-vu has proven that it does occur. They discovered that
it’s a reaction in the memory part of your brain.
Evidence shows that déjà-vu does exist.
Rebecca Oh, come off it! (3) Medical research could probably provide 3
evidence that the moon was made of cheese if enough people
were ready to accept it! Come off it means that the speaker
doesn’t believe what the other one is
Don’t be ridiculous! saying.
There’s no way that can be true!
Fiona I think you’re over-simplifying (4) the argument there. 4
Rebecca Maybe so, but you must admit it’s pretty far-fetched. Over-simplifying means trying
to find a simple explanation for a
You must admit, it is very hard to believe.
complex problem.
Fiona Obviously. I do believe that it’s an emotional response
to certain situations, and what your memory is doing is
attempting to make sense of it all.
Rebecca But that isn’t true déjà-vu then.
Fiona Déjà-vu is actually an involuntary reaction where you can’t
pick and choose which memory you want and when to
remember it.
Rebecca The way you were describing déjà-vu is that it is more of a
supernatural phenomenon like believing in ghosts or UFOs.
Fiona If these types of phenomena can be disproved by scientific
study then fair enough but, where’s the evidence that they
don’t exist?
Rebecca Well, where’s the evidence that they do exist?
Fiona That’s exactly my point!
That’s what I’m trying to say!
That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make!
Rebecca If that’s your argument then I could make any statement
and claim it was true because there’s no evidence to prove
otherwise.
Fiona In theory, yes
Rebecca Okay, the moon is made of cheese!
Fiona I think you’ll find there is very strong scientific evidence that
states the moon is definitely not made of cheese. There are
also a certain number of astronauts who have landed on the
moon!
Rebecca But how do we know the moon landings were real… what
scientific proof do you have?
What real evidence is there?
Fiona Oh, for heaven’s sake!
Rebecca They could’ve been made in a film studio for all you know!
Fiona Don’t be ridiculous! What strong evidence do you have that
your boss is having problems at home?
Rebecca Well, I noticed that he had bought a load of toiletries like
deodorant. Also, his alarm clock was on his desk and... Hold
on, I have a horrible feeling we’ve been here before. I think
I’ve just had déjà-vu!

117
Unit 3

Use of English
PERSUASIVE LANGUAGE

If you want to defend your argument

persuasively in a discussion, you can use
a variety of phrases such as the ones below.
Remember to stress the underlined syllables
to give your argument more weight.

• Evidence shows that this is possible in

theory.
• This is clear proof that some form of
power does exist deep inside the brain.
• If you think again, you’ll see that there
are a lot of good reasons why this is
dangerous.
• You must admit that there are a great
deal of unexplained phenomena all
around us.

PAST TENSES

As you have seen before, a variety of past It is often used together with a verb in the Past
tenses are used to describe different actions Simple to show that one event interrupted the
and events in the past. other, e.g. I was driving to work when I had an
accident; or to show that an event happened
The Past Simple is used to describe simple while the other one was still happening, e.g.
facts or events from the past, e.g. The car The mobile phone rang while the teacher was
stopped at the top of the hill. talking.

It can also be used to describe past habits The Past Perfect is used to show that an
or routines, e.g. They went on holiday to the action took place before another action in the
same place every year. past, e.g. When I opened the book, I realised
that I had read it before.
The Past Continuous is used to describe a
longer action in the past, e.g. They were lying
on the beach sunbathing.

COLLOQUIAL PHRASES

In everyday discussions, we often use a wide

range of colloquial phrases to help express
our feelings and emotions. Again, word or
syllable stress is important if you want to
use these phrases effectively.

• Don’t be ridiculous! Do you really

expect me to believe that we can
record our memories?
• Oh, come off it, that’s a bit far-
fetched, isn’t it?
• He must be bonkers if he thinks people
are going to believe that!
• What I’m trying to say is that there’s
still a lot we don’t know about the brain.
• You know what, I’m sure I’ve heard all
this before

118
 Lesson 2: A false memory

Work-out
A
Choose the correct response to each of the sentences.

a. Come off it! You must be joking! e. That’s exactly my point!

b. That fooled him! f. Don’t be silly, there’s no such thing!
c. That was it, word for word! g. Never! What did he do that for?
d. They must be bonkers! h. Go on, tell me.

1. Did you hear they’re going to try and delete some of people’s memories.
They must be bonkers!

2. I had a déja vu experience the other day.

3. Are you sure that’s what he said?

4. You wouldn’t believe what happened to me the other day!

5. Did you know you can control your mobile using only thought.

6. I heard he lost his memory and threw away all his books.

7. He thought I was going to leave early, but I stayed on.

8. Yes, but what I’m saying is we haven’t got the technology.

B
Replace the underlined words in the sentences with the correct words from the list
below.

reaction / exist / point / evidence / feeling / simplify / proof / admit

1. This is clear argument that the paranormal does exist. proof

2. But you must find that there are a lot of phenomena we don’t understand.
3. This research is strong point that shows we can use more of our brains.
4. What you’ve said is exactly the proof I was trying to make.
5. Déja vu experiences really do accept.
6. You need to notice the process to make it easier.
7. It’s just a happen of the memory part of the brain.
8. I had a really strange proof this morning at breakfast.

119
Unit 3

C
Using the word given, rewrite the sentences so that they have the same meaning. You
can change the word if necessary.

1. Why were you sure you had seen her somewhere before? (certain)
What made you certain you had seen her somewhere before?

2. You have to accept that it’s an interesting idea. (admit)

3. There’s nothing to say that it isn’t possible. (evidence)

4. You are making the argument too simple. (simplify)

5. They said that it was true. (claim)

6. They showed that this theory is wrong. (disprove)

7. You can’t make a selection which memory you want to keep. (choose)

8. What you say about déja vu simply isn’t true. (statement)

D
Find the words below in the word search. They all read horizontally left to right or
vertically top to bottom.

gradually / bunch / bonkers / senility / far-fetched / load / aspect / crystal clear / spooky /
random / distinct / decline

N X F N Y B U N C H L N D O

L O A D N V N X R N N Z I N

N N R N S Y N N Y N S N S K

Q N F N N G N A S P E C T N

N N E J V R X N T K N N I N

B H T Z N A N J A N I Q N X

O N C N N D K N L H L N C Z

N J H Q N U N B C N I V T N

K N E N N A N N L V T N J Q

E X D E C L I N E N Y N N N

R N B N N L N K A N N B N N

S P O O K Y N Q R A N D O M

120
 Lesson 2: A false memory

E
Complete the dialogue using words or phrases from the lesson. The first letter of
each word is given to help you.

Phil: By the way, what did you think of that documentary last night?

1. Allie: You mean the one about weird e xperiences , déja vu and all that?

2. Phil: That’s right. They had some fairly s evidence, I thought.

3. A llie: You must be joking! The main researcher seemed completely b . He
was on another planet!
4. Phil: Well, I think you’ll f that there’s a lot of scientific evidence behind
what he said.
5. Allie: Oh, c off it! He was saying things that are impossible to verify.
6. Phil: Maybe, but you must a that some of the experiments did prove a lot.
7. A llie: Well, I didn’t see any c proof that would convince me. Most of what
was said was pretty f
8. Phil: Really? Actually, I believe that déja vu does e Our brains are more
powerful than we think.
9. Allie: That’s true, but you could use that to c anything was possible

F
Correct the verb tense mistakes in the sentences below. Some of the sentences are
correct.

1. He worked in Berlin when he met his future wife.

He was working in Berlin when he met his future wife.

2. I didn’t know you two were meeting before

3. He ran down the corridor and turned the corner at the end.

4. They walked to the top and then had had a picnic.

5. I’d been to Egypt before, but this time I saw much more

6. When I looked into the garden, the dog was chasing a cat.

7. He asked me to marry him after we were knowing each other for four years.

8. The children played in the car park when the dog attacked them.

121
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 3 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

bunch freak out

download come off it
detect distinct
exploit word for word
implication bonkers
aspect far-fetched
random gradually
get rid of decline
head off retain
stop in your tracks senility
split second dip into
crystal clear current wisdom
spooky well-being
load of set in
relive

Some colloquial phrases:

Come off it! We'll have to head off soon.

That's a bit far-fetched! That really freaked me out!
He must be bonkers! That's a load of rubbish!
It stopped us in our tracks. Isn't that crystal clear?

122
r
al
n

Lesson 2: A false memory

Key
1. d 1. proof
A 2. f B 2. admit
3. c 3. evidence
4. h 4. point
5. a 5. exist
6. g 6. simplify
7. b 7. reaction
8. e 8. feeling

1. What made you certain you had N X F N Y B U N C H L N D O

C seen her somewhere before? D L O A D N V N X R N N Z I N
2. You must admit that it’s an N N R N S Y N N Y N S N S K
interesting idea. Q N F N N G N A S P E C T N
3. There’s no evidence to say that it N N E J V R X N T K N N I N
isn’t possible.
B H T Z N A N J A N I Q N X
4. You are over-simplifying the
O N C N N D K N L H L N C Z
argument.
N J H Q N U N B C N I V T N
5. They claimed that it was true.
6. They disproved this theory. K N E N N A N N L V T N J Q
7. You can’t choose which memory you E X D E C L I N E N Y N N N
want to keep. R N B N N L N K A N N B N N
8. Your statement about déja vu simply S P O O K Y N Q R A N D O M
isn’t true.

1. experiences 1. was working

E 2. strong F 2. had met
3. bonkers 3. correct
4. find 4. had
5. come 5. correct
6. admit 6. correct
7. clear / far-fetched 7. had known
8. exist 8. were playing
9. claim

123
 Being
forgetful 3 lesson

3
unit
3 /3 Unit

Lesson

Being
forgetful
A man recently back from his holidays, tries to tell
a colleague where he’s been and what he’s done, but has
trouble finding the right words. He seems to have suffered a
loss of memory.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised the construction go + gerund to
describe activities.

• I’d like to go windsurfing this holiday.

• They decided to go hiking so they set off early in the morning.
• She goes jogging every day because she’s trying to lose
weight.

126
 Lesson 3: Being forgetful

You have also practised the use of ‘get used to’ to talk about new
activities that you need to become familiar with.

• Laura is still getting used to having a baby brother.

• I just can’t get used to this new ticket system.
• He got used to the bells ringing every Sunday morning.

You have also seen different everyday uses of the very common
verb ‘get’ in phrases and phrasal verbs.

• I tried to call you many times, but I couldn’t get through.

• I don’t get it, what are you trying to say?
• They had a fantastic evening and didn’t get back until after
2am.

Finally, you have learnt some colloquial language frequently

used in conversation.

• I’ve been busy recently. You know, studies, work and all that
stuff.
• Be careful with that laptop, it cost me an arm and a leg.
• You’ll have to give me more of a clue than that.
127
Unit 3

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Walt Morning, Robert. Did you have a nice time in...? Where was
it that you went to?
Robert Yeah, thanks Walt. We had a lovely time. We went to that
place where it can sometimes get quite hot… Oh, you know….
Walt Errr… I think you might have to give me more of a clue than
‘that place where it can sometimes get quite hot’!
Robert You must know it! It’s that country where you can often wear
those big hats from…
Walt Really? Is that the best clue you can give me! Right. A big
hat… you went to Texas?
You must mean Texas.
Do you mean Texas?
Robert No, it wasn’t Texas. It wasn’t that far away! It’s where you
can sometimes get away with wearing socks and sandals
together on the beach.
Walt I’m not sure what you’re getting at but I’m guessing that it
definitely wasn’t Italy as they’re very fashion conscious there!
I’m not sure what you mean.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to tell me.
Robert No, of course it wasn’t Italy... I can’t remember that name!
What do you think I am! It’s where everyone goes to sleep in
the afternoon and then gets up and goes out in the evening.
Walt Oh, a siesta! You must have been in Spain!

128
 Lesson 3: Being forgetful

Robert Yes, that’s it. Spain, we went to Spain last week.

Walt How did you get there?
(1)
Robert We got one of those cheap budget
an arm and a leg.
flights that don’t cost 1
Notice the different meanings of get.
Walt So what did you get up to while you were out there?
What did you do while you were there?
What kind of things did you do on holiday?
Robert Oh, you know the usual stuff. We did that thing where you walk
around looking at famous places… you know, when you go…
Walt Sightseeing! You went sightseeing…
Robert That’s it! Sightseeing! We also went shopping (2) a couple of
times but we didn’t go inside. We just stood outside admiring
their wares. 2
We browsed the shops. Go + ing is used in a lot of holiday
Walt I think you’ll find that is called going window shopping. activities.

Robert Is it?
Walt What about the other days, did you get up to anything exciting?
Robert Well, on the second day, or was it the third? I can’t
remember exactly when but we did that thing where you go
swimming wearing a mask.
Walt Oh, you went scuba-diving.
Robert No, it was other one. The one where you have a tube in your
mouth.
Walt Snorkelling. You went snorkelling.
Robert Yeah, that’s the one!
Walt I’m sure I’m going to regret asking but did you do any other
activities?
Robert We also went out for a long walk on the fourth day…
Walt A serious walk with boots and everything?
Robert Yeah...
Walt OK, so you went hiking. What did you do in the evenings?
Robert Well, after eating at the local restaurant, we did that thing
you do to music… you know when you jump up and down
and wave your arms about…
Walt I think most people would say you went dancing but it
sounds to me like you were on fire…
Robert Oh, ha ha… very funny!
Walt Did you do anything special for your last night of the holiday?
Robert Well, funnily you should ask me that because I think I over-
celebrated somewhat by ordering too much wine.
I think I had a bit too much to drink.
Walt What happened?
Robert Well, you’ll probably find this quite hard to believe but I’m
finding it hard to remember very much after drinking the wine.
Walt What, you can’t remember anything?
You don’t recall anything?
Robert Well, I have been told by the hotel staff that I took all my
clothes off and ran into the sea.
Walt Ahh! So you went skinny-dipping.
Robert Is that what it’s called?

129
Unit 3

Use of English
‘GO’ + GERUND

As you have seen earlier, we use ‘go’ plus • He goes cycling every weekend.
the gerund to talk about activities that we • Let’s go sunbathing this afternoon, I’m
take part in, these usually involve some sort of too tired to walk round the shops.
physical exercise, but not always. • Would you like to go swimming this
afternoon?

PHRASAL VERBS WITH ‘GET’

‘Get’ is one of the most common verbs in English • It gets very hot there in the summer
and is used in many phrasal verbs. The meaning months.
of ‘get’ varies depending on the particle it is with. • Do you know what time the train gets
For example ‘to get hot - become’, ‘to get in - in?
arrive’, ‘to get back – return’, etc. • They don’t get back from their skiing
trip until next Tuesday.

EXPRESSIONS WITH ‘GET’

‘Get’ can also be used to replace a large number • I don’t get it. What do they expect us to
of verbs, taking the meaning of that verb in each do?
case. This is usually heard in informal speech, • Last autumn, I got flu and was off work
but can also appear in more formal situations. for 2 weeks.
• She gets a bonus for good performance
every Christmas.

USES OF ‘GET USED TO’

Get used to is used to talk about situations or Get used to can also be used in any of the
activities that we are unfamiliar with, and that tenses, both in simple and continuous forms:
are new to us.
The phrase can be followed by a noun: • I’m getting used to working late.
• He got used to his new home.
• I can’t get used to my new phone.

Or by a verb in the gerund:

• She got used to working on Saturdays.

130
 Lesson 3: Being forgetful

Work-out
A
Answer the questions using the form ‘go’ + gerund.

1. What do you want to do next weekend? (hiking)

I’d like to go hiking.

2. What did you do while you were in Italy? (sightseeing)

3. What are they doing in the summer? (sailing)

4. What have you been doing all morning? (shopping / bowling)

First
5. How often do you do sports? (running / swimming)
and
6. What does he do when he’s alone in the winter? (horse riding)

7. What shall we do this weekend, kids? (skating)

8. What did you do when you were in Croatia? (snorkelling / canoeing)

B
Put the words into the correct order to make sentences.

1. umbrella / no /I / the / left / train / my /Oh / on.

Oh no, I left my umbrella on the train.

2. can / clue / the / me / best / Is / you / give / that?

3. can’t / quite / tongue / I / it’s / on / my / tip / the / of / remember

4. find / called / I / you’ ll / that’s / sunbathing / it’s / think.

5. night / I / all / danced / been / that / I / on / the / told / have / tables.

6. that / Oh / called / what / really / is / it’s?

7. boat / did / that / a / behind / where / thing / you / go / We / on / board / a

8. European / definitely / guessing / it / I’m / wasn’t / a / country / that

131
Unit 3

C
Use ‘get used to’ in its correct form to complete the sentences below.

1. I only got used to my new job after six months.

2. When you the fact that you’re now an adult?

3. I driving on the left yet.
4. She still her new role as team leader.
5. How long did it take before you living alone?
6. I hope you it in the future.
7. Young people new situations very quickly.
8. We life in Africa, but it wasn’t easy.

D
Rewrite the sentences using the phrasal verbs below.

get through / get away with / get behind / get over / get up / get out of / get on / get up to

1. Will and I don’t have such a good relationship any more.

Will and I don’t get on well any more.

2. It took her a long time to recover from her illness.

3. Don’t try and cheat in the exam, you won’t avoid being punished.

4. I don’t want to look after their two kids. How can I avoid doing it?

5. I’ll never manage to finish all this homework!

6. So, what did you two do while we were away?

7. I’m working too slowly, I can’t do it fast enough.

8. She’s a typical teenager, she finds it hard to wake up in the morning.

132
 Lesson 3: Being forgetful

E
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

1. That doesn’t tell me much. Is that the best evidence / proof / clue you can give me?
That doesn’t tell me much, is that the best clue you can give me?

2. No, not on another continent, it wasn’t this / that / other far away.
3. To be honest, I don’t really know what you’re getting at / for / about.
4. I had to travel first class so it paid / value / cost me an arm and a leg.
5. She talked about all the usual discussion / stuff / story , being responsible, mature and
all that.
6. A: Do you mean that club on the corner of West Street? B: Yeah, this is / there’s / that’s
the one!
7. Well, funny / amusing / happy you should ask me that because I don’t remember at all.
8. B: We went swimming at midnight with no clothes on. A: What, you went silly- / skinny-
/ naked- dipping?

F
Find the mistakes in the sentences below and correct them. Some of the sentences
are correct.

1. She always get ill in the late autumn.

She always gets ill in the late autumn.

2. He got used to sleep only five hours.

3. The burglar stole three computers from a police station and got away with it!

4. How did you get know your flatmate?

5. I’m getting used to it slowly.

6. Why don’t you just get rid at all that stuff?

7. I got behind with my work and had to do it at the weekend.

8. She’s still getting about a bad attack of flu that she had last month.

133
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 3 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

hiking shade
stunning get up to
be burnt to a crisp get back
get along with get through
get it? be all ears
bodyboarding arm and a leg
snorkelling clue
wakeboarding fashion conscious
hang about cost an arm and a leg
lane wares
tribe admire
wander scuba-diving
head skinny-dipping
price-tag

Here are some expressions using ‘get’ in context sentences:

We don't get along with her. I just can't get through to her.
Do you get it? She got a prize for best essay.
What did you get up to? He got malaria when he was in Africa.
What time did you get back? You can't just get rid of all your old books!

134
 Lesson 3: Being forgetful

Key
1. I’d like to go hiking 1. Oh no, I left my umbrella on the
A 2. We went sightseeing most of the B train.
time 2. Is that the best clue you can give
3. They’re going sailing on the me?
Mediterranean 3. I can’t quite remember; it’s on the
4. First we went shopping, and then tip of my tongue.
we went bowling 4. I think you’ll find that’s it’s called
5. I go running every morning and I go sunbathing.
swimming once a week 5. I have been told that I danced on the
6. He goes horse riding tables all night.
7. Let’s go skating! 6. Oh,really? Is that what it’s called?
8. We went snorkelling and canoeing 7. We did that thing where you go on a
board behind a boat.
8. I’m guessing that it definitely wasn’t
a European country

1. got used to 1. Will and I don’t get on well any

C 2. will / get used to D more.
3. haven’t got used to 2. It took her a long time to get over
4. is / getting used to her illness.
5. got used to 3. Don’t try and cheat in the exam,
6. will get used to you won’t get away with it.
7. get used to 4. I don’t want to look after their two
8. got used to / have got used to kids. How can I get out of it?
5. I’ll never get through all this
homework!
6. So, what did you two get up to
while we were away?
7. I’m getting behind with work, I
can’t do it fast enough.
8. She’s a typical teenager, she finds
it hard to get up in the morning.

1. That doesn’t tell me much. Is that 1. She always gets ill in the late
E the best clue you can give me? F autumn.
2. No, not on another continent, it 2. He got used to sleeping only five
wasn’t that far away. hours.
3. To be honest, I don’t really know 3. The burglar stole three computers
what you’re getting at. from a police station and got away
4. I had to travel first class so it cost with it! correct
me an arm and a leg. 4. How did you get to know your
5. She talked about all the usual stuff, flatmate?
being responsible, mature and all 5. I’m getting used to it slowly. correct
that. 6. Why don’t you just get rid of all that
6. A: Do you mean that club on the stuff?
corner of West Street? B: Yeah, 7. I got behind with my work and had
that’s the one! to do it at the weekend. correct
7. Well, funny you should ask me that 8. She’s still getting over a bad attack
because I don’t remember at all. of flu that she had last month.
8. B: We went swimming at midnight
with no clothes on. A: What, you
went skinny-dipping?

135
The future
4
of learning
lesson

3
unit

137
3 /4 Unit

Lesson

The future
of learning
In a chat show discussion, a scientist gives his opinion
about the future of learning. He thinks memory won’t be
necessary in the future because technology will replace it.

Aims
In this lesson you have looked at words related to the topic of
memory and developments in the field of understanding our
brains.

• The book raises some quite contentious issues.

• We could store our memories in our own personal memory
bank.
• We may see chips being implanted into the brain in the near
future.

138
 Lesson 4: The future of learning

You have also had more practice using the verb ‘get used to’ in a
variety of tenses.

• I couldn’t get used to having something implanted inside my

body.
• They’re getting used to the idea of going to live with their
parents again.
• She got used to her new way of life very quickly.

Finally, you have learnt some more colloquial phrases used in

everyday conversation to ask questions and respond to other
speakers.

• So, what exactly is the crux of your argument?

• I’m getting the impression you don’t exactly like what I’m
saying.
• You can say that again!

139
Unit 3

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Jerry Hogan Hello and good evening to you all. Could you please
1 welcome to the show the eminent (1) psychologist, Dr
Eminent means important, respected Bennett.
and admired.
Dr Bennett Thank you, Jerry, it’s a real pleasure to be here.
Jerry Hogan Right, to start off with, I believe you mainly work in the
field of memory and in your latest book, ‘The Future of
Learning’, you put forward some very interesting and, I
may say, quite contentious issues about how people will
learn in the future.
Dr Bennett Do I? Oh, that’s right, I probably do!
I suppose I do.
I’m sure that other people think I do.
Jerry Hogan Well, I certainly think that some of the points you have
put across have caused controversy amongst educational
theorists. Some go so far as to say you’re a basket case!
Some theorists think you’re a bit crazy!
Dr Bennett It does seem that those who feel most threatened by my
theories are the ones who can never get used to change
and are very insecure about their own future incomes!
2 Jerry Hogan Quite! What is the crux (2) of your argument?
The crux of something is the most
important aspect of something. What is the most important part of your argument?
What is the main point of your argument?
Dr Bennett I assume when you say ‘crux’, you mean the most
entertaining bits! Well, I strongly believe that in the future,
when we want to learn new facts and store them in our
personal memory bank, otherwise known as our brain, we
will simply download the information, just like we presently
do for computers.

140
 Lesson 4: The future of learning

Jerry Hogan So does that mean that the days of me having to remember
everyone’s phone number will now be a thing of the past?
Dr Bennett What’s the point in learning useless information?
What’s the point in remembering things that you don’t
need to remember?
Why do you waste time memorise things that you have
stored in your phone?
Jerry Hogan Yes, of course… errr… I was just joking. Anyway, I can
understand why some of the experts in your field query
the actual logistics.
I can understand why some of your peers question the
applicability of your arguments.
Dr Bennett They may like to call themselves experts but I see them as
inexperienced amateurs, scared to open their eyes to what
the future may hold!
Jerry Hogan Quite! However, I think a few of them have questioned the
actual mechanics of how you envisage the process to work.
Correct me if I’m wrong but you’ve stated that a chip will
be implanted into the brain…
Dr Bennett Personal memory bank.
Jerry Hogan Yes, sorry. Personal memory bank. And then that chip
will be able to access all types of data wirelessly from a
computer anywhere in the world.
Dr Bennett Exactly! It’ll be a piece of cake!
It’ll be easy!
It’ll be as easy as pie!
Jerry Hogan What about the technophobes who already have trouble
getting used to today’s modern gadgetry? Surely they’ll be
left behind even further…
Dr Bennett It will serve them right for not keeping up with the times.
As they say ‘Standing still is the fastest way of moving
backwards in a rapidly changing world!’.
Jerry Hogan Says who?
Dr Bennett I’m not really too sure but I think it’s a very relevant quote
and that is why I said it.
Jerry Hogan So we won’t need to read books
Dr Bennett No. You’ll simply download them to your brain.
Jerry Hogan What if I really want to read it?
Dr Bennett Well, you can read it if you really want but you’d just be
wasting precious time…
Jerry Hogan Educational theorists have also raised doubts about doing
away with schools, as people learn behavioural aspects
such as making friends, working in groups and general
social interaction. How would you respond to this criticism?
Dr Bennett I would simply say to them that these things can be learnt
by downloading them to your personal memory bank. Look!
I’m getting the impression that you don’t really approve of
my ideas….
Jerry Hogan You can say that again!
Dr Bennett But it’s what I believe will happen in the future and you’d
better get used to it! 3
Jerry Hogan Alright. Hopefully I’ll have popped my clogs before these To pop your clogs is a humorous way
theories become a reality! Thank you to my guest, Dr Bennett. of saying to die.
I hope you can remember how to get home tonight! (3)

141
Unit 3

Use of English
USES OF ‘GET USED TO’

As you have seen before, get used to is used Get used to can also be used in any of the
to talk about situations of activities that we are tenses, both in simple and continuous forms.
unfamiliar with, and that are new to us. Here is Here are some examples of its use with modals
a reminder of the possible constructions. in both the past and present.

The phrase can be followed by a noun: • You should get used to the system fairly
quickly.
• I can’t get used to my new phone. • We might have got used to it sooner if
we hadn’t lived in a hotel.
Or by a verb in the gerund: • They have to get used to it; after all, it’s
their life now.
• She got used to working on Saturdays.

COLLOQUIAL PHRASES

Here are a few more colloquial phrases • Well, that just serves them right,
to help express your feelings and emotions. doesn’t it?
Remember, the word or syllable stress is • You can say that again!
important if you want to use these phrases • You’re just wasting my precious time!
effectively. • What’s the point in learning anything
these days?

142
 Lesson 4: The future of learning

Work-out
A
Make full sentences by matching the sentence halves.

1. I understand you mainly work a. to the discussion

2. We will be able to store memories b. data from anywhere we want.
3. I can’t envisage how the process c. in the field of memory.
4. We will be able to access all types of d. the logistics of the process
5. Surely, the social interaction between e. would actually work.
students
6. It’s possible that these theories f. in our own personal memory bank.
7. I’m not sure that this is entirely relevant g. will all become a reality.
8. Many experts have started to query h. will be lost if these changes take place.

1. c 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

B
Choose the correct option for each sentence.

1. You have to get used to a lack of privacy in this jungle community.

got used to / getting used to / get used to

2. Well, I think she should it by now!

got used to it / have got used to it / getting used to it
3. living alone is never easy.
Get used to / Have got used to / Getting used to
4. He can’t working at night.
get used to / got used to / to get used to
5. It took me a long time wearing glasses.
get used to / to get used to / got used to
6. She found it difficult eating late in the evening.
getting used to / get used to / got used to
7. the heat here yet?
Did you got used to / Have you got used to / Got you used to
8. I’m sure you the noise by the end of the month.
might get used to / getting used to / will get used to

143
Unit 3

C
Choose the correct response to sentences 1 to 8 from the phrases below.

a. Well, basically, I believe that the power

1. Thank you so much for coming today.
of our brains is practically unlimited.
2. So, what exactly is the crux of your b. I am. I believe that one day soon it will
argument? be possible.
3. What's the point in trying to argue with c. You can say that again!
her?
4. So, you don't approve of me going on d. Yes, I suppose I have.
that trip?
5. What would you say to your critics? e. T hat's true, she never listens to a word
you say.
6. Surely, you're not saying that it's certain f. I 'd simply say that nobody has yet proved
to happen. me wrong.
7. What about using our memory to solve g. It's a real pleasure to be here.
crimes?
8. You have put forward some very radical h. 
That's certainly a possibility. We may
ideas. remember details that could be important.

1. g 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

D
Answer the clues to complete the crossword.

Across 1. 2.

5. An adjective describing an idea D

or opinion that people disagree E
3. 4.

about. 5.
7. Somebody who is your equal, C
either in age or in position.
9. Extremely important or I
necessary.
10. No longer useful or needed. P
11. Breaking into many pieces, 6.
H
like glass. / Something which 7.
changes a situation dramatically E
8.
Down R
1. To work out a code or to read 9.

something that is very unclear.

2. To make certain that something
is done or that something is
possible or available.
3. Related to the topic you are 10.
currently talking about or
working on.
4. A negative aspect of something,
a disadvantage. 11.

6. To copy a pattern or a behaviour.

8. To imagine something in the
future.

144
 Lesson 4: The future of learning

E
Put the words into the correct order to make full sentences.

1. used The new children home got to fast their very.

The children got used to their new home very quickly.

2. it should used quickly get to You quite.

3. to I controls can’t these get new used.

4. time She’s needs used it getting she more but to.

5. got new Have to you your yet used school?

6. get few I’m it we’ll sure to in a used months.

7. France the Did to driving you used get on right in?

8. day I to the sleeping used got during.

F
Complete the dialogue using phrases you have practised in this lesson.

Madge: I heard that quite a few of the students are going to fail this year.

A rnie: Well, if you ask me, it serves them right. They should have worked harder during
the year.

Madge: Too right! And now we’ll have to

time testing them all again in the autumn.
Arnie: I that more and more are failing nowadays. What do you think?
Madge: Oh, definitely. They take it too easy and then wonder why they’ve been
the others.
A rnie: If they made a reasonable effort, then the end of year exams would be a
and they’d pass easily.
Madge: Yes, but of actually learning large numbers of facts are gone.
Arnie: So, exams will also become a , then?
Madge: Well, it’s possible. I suppose it might make our lives easier, so that’s one good
point!
Arnie: You ! Less essays to mark can only be a good thing!

145
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 3 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
starve
get promoted
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

eminent ensure
contentious array
basket case advent
insecure feasible
crux of an argument convey
thing of the past vital
query merely
envisage redundant
piece of cake peer
gadgetry bank of computers
be left behind decipher
serve you right guinea pig
relevant shattering
raise doubts pin down
get the impression downside
pop your clogs replicate

Here are some colloquial phrases in context:

It was a piece of cake! He's certainly greedy. You can say that again!
That serves you right, doesn't it? You can't take him seriously, he's a complete
basket case!
He popped his clogs last month. PC's are a thing of the past, in my opinion.
I can't pin down what I don't like about him. What's the point in doing that, anyway?

146
 Lesson 4: The future of learning

Key
1. c 1. get used to
A 2. f B 2. have got used to it
3. e 3. Getting used to
4. b 4. get used to
5. h 5. to get used to
6. g 6. getting used to
7. a 7. Have you got used to
8. d 8. will get used to

1. g Across: Down:
C 2. a D 5. contentious 1. decipher
3. e 7. peer 2. ensure
4. c 9. vital 3. relevant
5. f 10. redundant 4. downside
6. b 11. shattering 6. replicate
7. h 8. envisage
8. d

1. The children got used to their new serves them right / waste our precious
E home very quickly. F get the impression / left behind
2. You should get used to it quite piece of cake / the days
quickly. thing of the past / can say that again
3. I can’t get used to these new
controls.
4. She’s getting used to it but she
needs more time.
5. Have you got used to your new
school yet?
6. I’m sure we’ll get used to it in a few
months.
7. Did you get used to driving on the
right in France?
8. I got used to sleeping during the
day.

147
Moving to a new town
Topic: Moving to a new town
Skill: Expressing reaction, e.g. Indifference
Expressing shades of opinion and certainty
Grammar: Make vs. do
“Comparative, superlative and the use of large figures and percentages“
Vocabulary: Approximating (vague language)
Household tasks

You’re
relocating 1 lesson

4
unit
Unit 4

4 /1 Unit

Lesson

You’re
relocating
Two workers are offered a relocation and the manager
explains the relocation conditions to them. One of
them is promoted to office manager.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt how to express indifference by
means of expressions like

• I suppose so
• It’s all the same to me
• It makes no difference either way

How to show that you are positive when you hear some news by
means of phrases like

• It’s not such a bad…

• I’ve been to worse…

150
 Lesson 1: You’re relocating

About approximation and vague language

• sort of
• kind of and –ish
• about
• roughly
• more or less

Finally, you have explored the topic of moving to a new

town, relocating and learnt the vocabulary connected with it
(accommodate, condo, equipped, headquarters, high rise,
house owner, mover, refurbish, run an office, spacious,
relocation package, relocation allowance).

151
Unit 4

Comprehension
Character Dialogue
Mr Clark Good morning, Rebecca. Have a seat.
Rebecca Thank you.
Mr Clark Now, I’m going to be talking to both you and Lauren today.
I know you work closely together in the office. I have some
very exciting news for you.
Rebecca I’m intrigued! Tell me more!
That sounds interesting! I’m all ears!
Mr Clark Well. As you know, our company has been doing incredibly
well recently and profits are up. We’ve therefore decided
to expand the business.
Rebecca Great! Exciting times!
Mr Clark Indeed! We are opening a new office in Goattown,
Scotland and I’d like you and Lauren to be involved in
setting the office up. (1)
Rebecca Oh, right. Scotland. That’s quite a long way away. (2)

Mr Clark It’s only about 2 hours on the train from here. You’ll
receive a full relocation package. We’ve already arranged
an apartment for you which is, sort of (3) , in the town
centre. Will that be OK?
Rebecca Er… I suppose so. What’s the apartment like?
1 Mr Clark Well, it’s newish (4) and it’s roughly 80 square metres.
Setting up means starting from
scratch, organising and putting It’s biggish and it’s about 2 years old.
systems in place. It’s oldish and it’s quite big.
Rebecca 80 square metres? That sounds quite small (5) .
2
Oh, right shows that she is not overly
That sounds tiny!
happy about going to Scotland. 80 square metres is absolutely miniscule!
Mr Clark Oh. Will that be a problem?
3
Sort of means that the apartment
Rebecca No, it sounds fine. Big, small, it’s all the same to me.
is not really in the town centre but Old, new, it’s all the same to me.
close to it.
Big, small, I don’t mind either way.
4 Mr Clark You’ll also get a relocation allowance.
Adding ish to an adjective makes it All your moving costs will be paid for so you don’t need
more vague. Newish means not brand to worry.
new but not very old either.
Rebecca How much will that be?
Mr Clark Um, £5000.
5 Rebecca £5000? Will that cover all my expenses?
She is being polite using quite small.
What she really means are these Mr Clark More or less (6) . Does that sound OK to you?
alternative phrases… It might be a bit more, it might be a bit less.
Rebecca Erm… I suppose so.
6 Mr Clark Great. Now, you and Lauren will work together to set up
More or less means that the boss the office. You’ll have roughly 20 people under you. I need
doesn’t know for sure but £5000 is to appoint either you or Lauren as manager.
about the right amount.
I don’t have a strong preference.
I think you should choose.
Rebecca Um... I’ve always wanted to be a manager but Lauren
would make a great manager too!

152
 Lesson 1: You’re relocating

Mr Clark Oh. OK. Could you send Lauren in, please?

Rebecca Yes, of course. Thank you.
Mr Clark Hello Lauren, please have a seat.
Lauren Thank you.
Mr Clark I’ve already spoken to Rebecca this morning and I’m going
to give you exactly the same news. You’re relocating.
Lauren Oh wow!
Mr Clark I’d like you and Rebecca to relocate to Scotland and run
the new office for me. Can you do that?
Lauren Scotland. I used to go to Scotland a lot when I was young.
Whereabouts is the new office?
Mr Clark Goattown.
Lauren Goattown? That’s in the middle of nowhere! (7)
7
That’s out in the sticks!
Lauren doesn’t try to hide her
Mr Clark It’s roughly 50 miles from the nearest city but it has disappointment as much as Rebecca.
excellent transport links. How do you feel about moving
there?
Lauren Well, I’ve been to worse towns. (8) 8
I’ve seen worse films. Here, she tries to sound positive.
I’ve heard worse ideas.
Mr Clark Great. I think you’ll be really happy there. There’s lots to
do.
Lauren Really? I suppose it’s not a bad place to work.
I guess it could be a good place to work.
Mr Clark I knew you’d love it. Now, we’ve already found you an
apartment. It’s in a newish block.
Lauren Ooh, I love new apartments. Does it have a garden?
Mr Clark Um, I’m afraid not. Will that be a problem? The local park
isn’t far.
Lauren No, it’ll do. So, when do we move?
Mr Clark Next month.
Lauren That soon?
Mr Clark Yes. We’re keen to get started. You’ll receive all the details
in your relocation package tomorrow morning.
Lauren Great!
Mr Clark Oh, Lauren, there is one more thing.
Lauren Yes?
Mr Clark There’ll be about 20 new employees to take charge of. Are
you up for the challenge?
Do you think you could manage 20 people?
Do you think you would be able to cope with being the
manager?
Lauren Who, me? What about Rebecca? She’s been here much
longer than me!
Mr Clark She has, but I think you would suit the role better. You’ve
got a good head on your shoulders.
You are sensible and intelligent.
Lauren Oh wow! So, I’ll be the boss?
Mr Clark Not quite! You’ll be the office manager.
Lauren Well, that’s good enough for me! Thank you so much!

153
Unit 4

Use of English
‘I’m all ears!’ or ‘I’m intrigued!’ means that When you say ‘I have seen worse places’,
you are very interested in what somebody is ‘it’s better than nothing’, ‘It’ll do’ or ‘It’s
about to tell you and can’t wait to hear it. not such a bad place’ in reference to the
place somebody is talking about, you show
‘Setting up’ means starting from scratch, so that you are positive about the place.
from the very beginning. It means to start, e.g.
a business, organise it and put everything in its If you say that a place is ‘in the middle of
right place. nowhere’ or ‘it’s out in the sticks’, you
mean that it is a very distant place and far from
‘Oh, right’ doesn’t show enthusiasm about civilisation.
something. On the contrary – it shows that we
are not overly happy about something. If somebody says that ‘you’ve got a good
head on your shoulders’, they mean that
’80 square metres is absolutely miniscule!’ you are sensible and intelligent.
Miniscule means tiny, very small. See that we
say ‘absolutely miniscule’ not ‘very miniscule’,
we use a strong adverb with a strong adjective.

Expressions like: ‘it’s all the same to me’, ‘I

don’t mind either way’ or ‘I’m not bothered
about it’ show that you are indifferent to what
you hear and you don’t really care about what
will happen.

STRUCTURES

Approximation and the use of vague

language

We can use approximation and vague language Approximation and vague language are also
when we don’t want to be exact or direct used to estimate numbers:
about something:
If we don’t know if the apartment is exactly 80
• The apartment is sort of in the town square metres, we can say that:
centre. (This means that the apartment
is not exactly in the centre, but • The apartment is approximately 80
somewhere near it.) square metres.
• The office building is kind of new too. • The apartment is about 80 square
(This means that the building is not metres.
exactly new.) • The apartment is roughly 80 square
• The furniture is newish. (This means metres.
that the furniture not exactly new, but • The apartment is some 80 square
not old either.) metres.
• The apartment is more or less 80
The expressions we use to approximate square metres.
something are: • The apartment is around 80 square
metres.
• Sort of
• Kind of Notice that ‘approximately’ is more formal
than ‘about’, ‘roughly’, ‘somewhat’ ‘around’ or
We can also add the ending –ish to the adjective ‘more or less’.
we want to approximate:

• Newish (means ‘kind of new’)

• Oldish (means ‘kind of old’)
• Biggish (means ‘kind of big’)

154
 Lesson 1: You’re relocating

Work-out
A
Rewrite the sentences using the prompts.

Example: This is kind of a new chair. (-ish) This is a newish chair.

1.  The apartment is oldish.
(sort of)
2. The boss said that the office would be kind of big.
(-ish)
3. Approximately 70 per cent of the population never relocate.
(roughly)
4. It takes about 2 hours to get from London to Leeds on the train.
(more or less)
5. The amount of caffeine in one can of Cola is roughly equivalent to four cups of coffee.
(approximately)
6. The last earthquake of this size occurred approximately 60 years ago.
(some)
7. Jerry is rather short.
(-ish)
8. This soup is somewhat cold.
(-ish)

B
Put the verbs in brackets in the Present Perfect Simple, Present Perfect Continuous
or Past Simple.

Example: I (ask) you to come and see me today because we’re opening a new office.
I have asked you to come and see me today because we’re opening a
new office.

1. We (decide) to expand the business.

2. We (arrange) an apartment for you for some time now and it should be ready by next week.

3. I (want) always to be a manager!

4. I (rent) an apartment in New York last week so I’m able to move in right now.

5. Tim and Angie (own) this house since they (come) to Vegas.

6. How long you (work) in this department?

7. I (work) for Good Times Corporation since I (leave) college.

8. How many projects you (complete) successfully since you (start) working here?

155
Unit 4

C
Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

Example: What’s the apartment likes? What’s the apartment like?

1. I ’d like you to be involved in the set the office up.

2. We have arranged already an apartment for you.

3. T he condo he was talking about is very miniscule.

4. It’s all the same for me.

5. T he cottage is out in the stick!

6. T he rent is sort of $700 per month.

7. We’re keen to getting started!

8. I wanted to appoint Helen to the manager but she resigned.

D
Replace the underlined parts of the sentences with the correct form of expressions
given below:

suit the role of / whereabouts / keep this to yourself / have a good head on your
shoulders / all ears / relocate / set up / cope with

Example: Where is the station? Whereabouts is the station?

1. Sue is sensible and intelligent.

2. Tell me! I’m really intrigued!

3. I’m not sure if Kate will deal with that problem.

4. The boss said Mr Brown would be good enough to be a manager.

5. Nobody can hear about it, so don’t say a word.

6. Guess what?! The company wants me to move to Paris!

7. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak formed their first own business, which they named
‘Apple Computer Company’ in 1976.

156
 Lesson 1: You’re relocating

E
Use the following expressions to fill in the gaps in the text.

Up / setting / expanding / profits / exceptionally / managers / run / due / recently /

up / relocated / appointed

Dear All,

(1) Due to the fact that our company has been doing (2)
well (3)        , we are glad to inform you that our (4)        are
(5)        and we are (6)        the business. This means
(7)        new offices (8)       
in other parts of the country.
We are also pleased to inform you that some of you will be (9)          to our new
offices and (10)         as (11)         to (12)          them.
You will be informed about more details shortly,
Best regards,
Michael Borrows
Deputy HR Director

F
Read the definitions below and write the words or expressions that match them.

Example: Relocation allowance a special ‘ bonus’ you get from your employer
when you are being relocated which helps you finance accommodation expenses.

1.             all the materials with information you need before you relocate.
2. extremely small
3.   to repay a person who has spent or lost money
4.    curious and fascinated
5.   the action of deducing or subtracting something
6.   where
7.             in the middle of nowhere

157
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
Unit 4 spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
RELOCATION desire GENERAL VOCABULARY

accommodate approximately
accommodation bother
appoint sb. as bothered
condo cope with
equipped deduce
expand deduction
headquarters direct
high rise indifference
house owner indifferent
move intrigued
mover miniscule
outsourcing out in the sticks
redevelopment roughly
refurbished set up
reimburse somewhat
relocate straightforward
relocation allowance suit
relocation package vague
run an office whereabouts
seated
site
spacious
urban

158
r
al
n

Lesson 1: You’re relocating

Key
1. The apartment is sort of old. 1. We have decided to expand the
A 2. The boss said that the office would B business.
be biggish. 2. We have been arranging an
3. Roughly 70 per cent of the apartment for you for some time
population never relocate. now and it should be ready by next
4. It takes more or less 2 hours to from week.
London to Leeds on the train. 3. I have always wanted to be a
5. The amount of caffeine in one can of manager!
Cola is approximately equivalent to 4. I rented an apartment in New York
four cups of coffee. last week so I’m able to move in
6. The last earthquake of this size right now.
occurred some 60 years ago. 5. Tim and Angie have owned this
7. Jerry is shortish. house since they came to Vegas.
8. This soup is coldish. 6. How long have you been working in
this department?
7. I have been working / have worked
for Good Times Corporation since I
left college.
8. How many projects have you
completed successfully since you
started working here?

1. I’d like you to be involved in setting 1. Sue has got a good head on her
C the office up. D shoulders.
2. We have already arranged an 2. Tell me! I’m all ears.
apartment for you. 3. I’m not sure if Kate will cope with
3. The condo he was talking about is that problem.
absolutely miniscule. 4. The boss said Mr Brown would suit
4. It’s all the same to me. the role of a manager.
5. The cottage is out in the sticks! 5. Nobody must hear about it, so keep
6. The rent is approximately / about it to yourself.
/ roughly / more or less / around 6. Guess what?! The company wants
$700 per month. me to relocate to Paris!
7. We’re keen to get started! 7. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak set
8. I wanted to appoint Helen as the up their first business, which they
manager but she resigned. named ‘Apple Computer Company’
in 1976.

1. due 1. relocation package

E 2. exceptionally F 2. miniscule
3. recently 3. reimburse
4. profits 4. intrigued
5. up 5. deduction
6. expanding 6. whereabouts
7. setting 7. out in the sticks
8. up
9. relocated
10. appointed
11. managers
12. run

159
 Preparing
for the move 2 lesson

4
unit
4 /2 Unit

Lesson

Preparing
for the move
Two young office workers are relocated and talk about
their new destination. They are not very enthusiastic about
moving to Scotland, and the reason that one of them has
been promoted spoils their friendship.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt the difference between ‘ make and
do’ and got to know some useful expressions with them:

• Mr Clark made you the manager.

• You’ll make someone a great wife one day!
• I’ll do my best!
• It will do you good to spend more time outside.

162
 Lesson 2: Preparing for the move

Also you have revised and practiced vocabulary connected with

relocation and moving to a new town like:

• last minute arrangements

• short notice
• relocation package
• compact apartment
• start up a new office
• ready-made curtains
• a decorator
• do up

163
Unit 4

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Lauren So, we’re going to be neighbours in Goattown then?
Rebecca I’m so glad you’re going too. I really don’t want to move to Scotland
but, if you’re going to be there it won’t be so bad!
Lauren Don’t worry! It’s a bit of a shock for me too, but I’ve been to
Goattown before. It’s not so bad.
I’ve been to worse towns than Goattown.
It’s not as bad as it first seems.
Rebecca Not so bad? It’s miles away from anywhere!
Lauren Yeah, I know, but we’ll have fun though, right?
Rebecca You’re right. We’ll just have to make the most of it. It’s just such
short notice! We are moving in two weeks!
We’ll have to make the most of what is there. We’ll have to make
sure we make the best of the opportunities to have fun.
Lauren I know! They could’ve given us a bit more warning! Talk about last
minute!
Rebecca Now I’ve got to make all these last minute arrangements. I don’t
have time to breathe!
Lauren I’m more than happy to help.
Rebecca You must have enough on your plate. You’re going to be the new
manager!
You must have a long list of things to do!
You must be really busy with your new job as well!
Lauren I’m sorry about that. They should’ve made you the new manager.
You’ve been doing this job much longer than I have.

164
 Lesson 2: Preparing for the move

Rebecca I think you’ve made a much better impression on the boss though. I
should’ve made more of an effort over the last few years.
I should’ve tried harder over the last few years.
Lauren Nonsense! You’re a great colleague! Hey! Our new apartments look
amazing!
Rebecca They’re certainly very modern, if a little compact. I’m just worried
that all my stuff won’t fit in.
Lauren You’ll have to make room! Maybe you could throw some things away!
You’ll have to arrange your things carefully so that you create
enough room for everything.
Rebecca I’ll do my best!
Lauren I’m going to buy all new furniture with my new salary!
Rebecca Oh. You got a pay rise?
Lauren Erm… Yes, just a little one. It’s enough to make a living but I’m not
making a fortune, don’t worry!
I’m not making millions! It wasn’t a huge pay-rise, don’t worry.
Rebecca Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry or make you feel bad. You deserve it. You
are going to make an excellent boss!
Lauren Thanks Rebecca. Let me make something clear. Just because I’m the
boss, it doesn’t mean that you can’t help me make the decisions. I’m
sure I’m going to need all the help I can get. I can’t do it on my own.
Rebecca Of course! I’ll do my best to help you.
I will support you.
Lauren Thanks. I know you’re disappointed about not being made manager,
but I’ll make it up to you. I’ll be making the decisions on how much of
a pay rise everyone gets next year, don’t forget!
Rebecca I’ll make sure I hold you to that!
Lauren And I’ll make sure you get a good bonus too! What are your plans
for the bedroom?
I’ll ensure that you get a good bonus.
I’ll make certain that you get a good bonus.
Rebecca I’m going to make some new curtains and design some new
wallpaper too.
Lauren I wish I could make things like you. You’re so creative. I’m just going
to buy some ready-made curtains and pay a decorator to do up my
apartment. Yours will be much nicer though.
Rebecca I really want to make it my own and put my own stamp on it. I’ll help
you to make your apartment look nice too!
I want to create something individual that is unique to me.
Lauren Thanks, Rebecca! You’ll make someone a great wife one day too!
You the kind of person someone will be happily married to!
Rebecca I never want to get married! That’s the last thing I want to do!
Lauren Really! I can’t wait to get married! I think Carl might ask me to marry
him soon!
Rebecca Carl? Who’s Carl?
Lauren You know, Carl. Mr Clark’s son! We’ve been going out for nearly a
year now!
Rebecca What? So that’s why Mr Clark made you the manager. He made out that
you were the best person for the job. This won’t do, it won’t do at all…
He told me that he thought you were the best person for the job.
Lauren Rebecca!
165
Unit 4

Use of English
‘We’ll have to make the most of what If somebody wants to ‘put their stamp on
is there’ or, in other words - ‘we’ll have something’, they want to create something
to make sure we make the best of the individual that is unique to them and different
opportunities to have fun’. To make the most from others.
of something means to use something the best
you can, use it to the best advantage. It can also ‘It will do you good to spend some time
mean to represent something at its best: ‘He outside’ means that it will be good for
knows how to make the most of his features’. somebody and their health to exercise more.

‘You must have enough on your plate’ ‘I’ll do my best’ means that you will try your
means that you have a long list of things to do, hardest to do something.
you must be very busy.
‘I will have to make up some rules’ means
If somebody says: ‘I should’ve made more ‘I will have to create some rules’.
of an effort’ they want to say that they If somebody ‘makes a good boss, a good
should have tried harder to do something. wife or a good husband’, they are good
bosses, wives or husbands.
‘Make a fortune’ means to earn a lot of
money, to make millions.

EXPRESSIONS WITH MAKE AND DO

DO
We use DO to describe activities, or DO is also used with –ing to form nouns
things that have an effect on people. We when we talk about jobs and leisure
refer to general activities: activities:

· do homework · do the ironing / the washing / the

do a course cleaning / the cooking / the shopping
· do exercise / sport · do some skiing / reading / sightseeing /
· do housework swimming / walking
do a job
· do research
· do somebody an injury Some other common expressions with
· do somebody a favour DO are:
· do somebody good or bad
· do harm · do a crossword
· do a degree / an exam
· do business
In informal English, we can use DO instead · do up
of other verbs to talk about certain jobs: · do your best
· do your duty

· do your hair (= brush your hair)

· do the garden (= tidy the garden)

We use DO when we talk about very

general, not particular activities:

· do something / anything / nothing /

everything
· do a lot

166
 Lesson 2: Preparing for the move

MAKE

To talk about creating or building something, Some other common expressions with make
we use make: are:

· 
make clothes / curtains / things / · make a call / make a fire
a film · make a fortune / money / a profit / a
· 
make a sandwich / dinner / coffee / deal
a cake · make a journey / make a living
· 
make a plan / a model / a project / · make a mess / make a mistake
an appointment / a decision · make a noise / make a promise
· make an attempt / make an effort
· make an exception / make an excuse
We can use make to say how successful · make an impression
someone would be, or is, in a particular · make an offer
position or role: · make friends (with somebody)
· make it up to somebody
· make a good boss / a good wife / a · make out
good husband · make progress
· make room
· make something clear
· make sure
· make the bed
· make the most of something
· make up
· make war / peace

167
Unit 4

Work-out
A
Put the following expressions into the right category.

a speech / an omelette / jogging / the dishes / a test / an excuse / gardening / a

suggestion / a lot of noise / an excellent secretary / up an apartment / a comment /
harm / good / a discovery / business

DO MAKE
jogging a speech

B
Transform the sentences using the prompts and DO.

Example: I’ ll shop tomorrow. (the shopping) I’ll do the shopping tomorrow.

1. She washed her clothes yesterday.

(the laundry)
2. We enjoy cooking in our free time.
(some cooking)
3. I’ll iron when you finish hoovering.
(the ironing)
4. Will you wash up today?
(the washing up)
5. Tim often goes to the park to watch birds.
(some bird watching)
6. I hate writing letters.
(letter – writing)
7. Sue reads a lot in her spare time.
(a lot of reading)
8. We had to take a lot of notes when we went to Mr Brown’s lectures.
(a lot of note-taking)

168
 Lesson 2: Preparing for the move

C
Underline the correct option.

When you live abroad, part of the fun is doing / making mistakes when you try to communicate.
You may not do / make very well if you take things too seriously. When you do / make the
shopping in a supermarket, you don’t need to make / do much of an effort because everything is
there on the shelves. You might not understand everything, but you can usually make / do a guess
by reading the labels carefully. The problems arise when you need to do / make business abroad.
When a company depends, for instance, on how well you can make / do yourself understood.
That’s when you really need to do / make sure that you won’t do / make any mistakes.

D
Replace the underlined parts of the sentences with the correct form of the
expressions given below.

do up / indoorsy person / haven’t a clue / make up / make out / make sure / make
room / pry into

Example: I don’t know who they are and what they want.
I haven’t a clue who they are and what they want.

1. I will have to get somebody to refurbish my apartment.

2. They need to ensure if we really want to buy the house.

3. Why do you always have to inquire into my personal life?

4. My brother doesn’t like going out much.

5. Bob ‘s apartment is so cluttered that he would have to clear space to fit some new
furniture in.

6. Nobody can understand why you have been put in charge here.

7. She invented an excuse about having to look after the kids.

169
Unit 4

E
Match the beginnings with the endings.

1. I want to make a. everything they could to help us

with the move.
2. The children did b. a good book?
3. Steve is very smart and makes c. your nails?
4. You were simply doing d. curry for dinner today.
5. What makes e. a living.
6. Who does f. nothing all day!
7. My salary is not enough to make g. progress quickly.

1. d  2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     8.     

F
Fill the gaps with MAKE or DO in the correct form.

Example: I think he will make a very good friend.

1. His children didn’t                a good impression on us.

2. You’ve been               a really good job lately.
3. I’ll try to               my best.
4. Let me               something clear.
5. I didn’t mean to           any harm, but if I hurt you let me        it
up to you somehow.
6. She has           a promise and I’ll              sure I hold
her to that.
7. Sitting here and lamenting won’t               you any good.
8. She               me swear not to tell anybody about what I had seen.
9. It doesn’t               any sense!

170
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire

pry into
indoorsy person
short notice
have enough on your plate
compact
fit in
stuff
pay rise
hold sb. to sth.
ready-made
decorator
do up
make out
make up
haven’t a clue
clue
cluttered
interior
property
en-suite
utility room
parking permit
penthouse

171
Unit 4

Key
Do: jogging / the dishes / a test / 1. She did the laundry yesterday.
A gardening / up an apartment / harm / B 2. We enjoy doing some cooking in our
good / business free time.
3. I’ll do the ironing when you finish
Make: a speech / an omelette / an excuse / hoovering.
a suggestion / a comment / a discovery / 4. Will you do the washing up today?
a lot of noise / an excellent secretary 5. Tim often goes to the park to do
some bird watching.
6. I hate doing letter-writing.
7. Sue does a lot of reading in her
spare time.
8. We had to do a lot of note-taking
when we went to Mr Brown’s
lectures.

When you live abroad, part of the fun is 1. I will have to get somebody to do up
C doing / making mistakes when you try D my apartment.
to communicate. You may not do / make 2. They need to make sure if we really
very well if you take things too seriously. want to buy the house.
When you do / make the shopping in a 3. Why do you always have to pry into
supermarket, you don’t need to make / my personal life?
do much of an effort because everything 4. My brother is an indoorsy person.
is there on the shelves. You might not 5. Bob‘s apartment is so cluttered that
understand everything, but you can he would have to make room to fit
usually make / do a guess by reading some new furniture in.
the labels carefully. The problems arise 6. Nobody can make out why you have
when you need to do / make business been put in charge here.
abroad. When a company depends, for 7. She made up an excuse about having
instance, on how well you can make / to look after the kids.
do yourself understood. That’s when
you really need to do / make sure that
you won’t do / make any mistakes.

1. d 1. make
E 2. a F 2. doing
3. g 3. do
4. f 4. make
5. b 5. do / make
6. c 6. made / make
7. e 7. do
8. made
9. make

172
 Doubts
about
the move 3 lesson

4
unit

173
4 /3 Unit

Lesson

Doubts about
the move
Before moving to a new city, an office worker calls the tourist
information office to find out more about the place. The tourist
information officer gives her an accurate description of the town.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt how to express shades of opinion,
certainty and uncertainty:

• I’m having second thoughts

• Deep down I’m not sure
• I’m absolutely sure
• I’m positive
• You never know
• I can’t say for certain

174
 Lesson 3: Doubts about the move

You have learnt the use of comparatives and superlatives and learn
how to double them:

• More and more

• My English is getting better and better.
• The best of the best
• As expensive as
• The sooner we tell them the better.

Finally you have revisited vocabulary connected with relocation

and moving to a new town

• last-minute arrangements
• short notice
• relocation package
• compact apartment
• start up a new office
• ready-made curtains
• earmark
• visitor spot

175
Unit 4

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Joshua Good morning, Goattown Tourist Information Centre.
Rebecca Oh, hello there. I’m moving to Goattown and I’d like to know
1 what to expect. (1)
Rebecca is finding out more Joshua Certainly! You are coming to work in the new office, aren’t
information about the town she you?
is moving to.
Rebecca Erm - yes! How did you know?
Joshua Oh, it’s the talk of the town! We haven’t had any new people
move hear for 25 years! ... and now there are 20 new residents!
It’s the biggest population influx we’ve seen for a long, long
time!
Everyone is talking about it!
Rebecca Oh right! That doesn’t sound very reassuring! Why don’t more
people move to Goattown!
Joshua Oh, well, I’ve no idea! It’s such a wonderful place! In fact, it’s
the 451st most popular visitor spot in Scotland! Last year, I
spoke to 98% of the visitors to Goattown personally!
It’s the second least popular visitor spot in Scotland!
Rebecca That sounds positive. I have to admit, I’m having second
thoughts about moving to Goattown though.
I’m not so sure that moving to Goattown is a good idea.
I’m having some doubts about whether I should move to the
town.
Joshua Oh really? Why is that, dear?
Rebecca Well, I’m only 25. There doesn’t seem to be that much for me
to do!

176
 Lesson 3: Doubts about the move

Joshua Oh, I’m positive that you’ll love it here. 87% of our young peo-
ple never leave! There’s plenty to do. Did you know that there
are over 34,000 different footpaths and cycle paths in the
area? Do you cycle at all?
Rebecca Well, I was planning to buy a bike but they are becoming more
and more expensive these days and I have less and less free time.
I have less and less free time as the weekends seem shorter
and shorter these days.
Some things are becoming cheaper and cheaper these days
whereas others are becoming more and more expensive.
Joshua Oh, you’ll most definitely have plenty of free time in Goattown!
Rebecca I’m not sure I like the sound of that!
Joshua What I mean is, because we’re a small town here, you’ll spend a
lot less time travelling between the shops, work and home. The
less time you spend travelling around, the more free time you’ll
have!
The more time you spend in the town, the more you will find to do.
Rebecca Oh, I see. So, what do people my age do at the weekends?
Joshua There are all sorts of clubs and societies. I’m absolutely cer-
tain that you’ll find something that interests you!
You will definitely find something to interest you.
Rebecca That sounds promising. What kind of clubs are there?
Joshua Well, there’s the belly-dancing club, the street dance club, the
comedy club, the real ale society, the juggling group, the ex-
treme cycling group….
Rebecca Wow! Perhaps I won’t be bored after all! Is it easy to join
these clubs?
Joshua Yes, of course! The more the merrier!
The more people that come, the more fun the clubs are!
Rebecca Excellent!
Joshua You never know, of course. You might even meet the man of
your dreams in Goattown!
Rebecca Oh, I have my doubts about that!
Joshua I’ll have you know that Goattown men were voted the best loo-
king men in the UK! In my opinion, they are the best of the best!
Rebecca Ha ha… I’ll be the judge of that!
Joshua You never know what might happen!
Anything is possible!
Rebecca Seriously though, I’m still having some doubts. Deep down,
I’m just not sure it’s the right move for me.
In my heart, I’m not happy with the decision to move.
Joshua Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Goattown is about to be-
come a lot more interesting in the next couple of years.
Rebecca Really? How so?
Joshua Well, there are plans for a multi-million pound development on
the outskirts. A billionaire has decided to invest £45,679,934
in the town, £8,425,653 of which has been earmarked for a
new theme park!
The money has been set aside for a new theme park!
Rebecca Wow! Goattown just got a lot more interesting! Thanks, Jos-
hua, you’ve given me some food for thought there…
Joshua Glad to be of help. Feel free to call back anytime! Bye for now!
Rebecca Bye!

177
Unit 4

Use of English
‘It’s the talk of the town’ means, in other ‘I have my doubts about that!’ means ‘I
words - ‘Everyone is talking about it’. don’t think so!’
‘It’s the second least popular visitor spot
in Scotland’ means that it is not a popular ‘Deep down, I’m just not sure it’s the
visitor spot. right move for me’ means that, in her heart,
Rebecca is not happy with the decision to move.
If somebody says: ‘I’m having second
thoughts about moving to Goattown’, If somebody says that ‘some money has
they want to say that they are not sure that been earmarked for a theme park ’, it
moving there is a good idea. It’s the same means that some money has been set aside for
as ‘I’m having some doubts about moving to a theme park.
Goattown’.

‘The more the merrier’ means that the more

people that come, the more fun it is.

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Basic rules

ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

One syllable Adjective + er (+than) the + adjective + est
tall taller (than) the tallest
easy easier the easiest
big bigger the biggest
Two or more syllables more / less + adjective the most / least + adjective
(+than) the most expensive
expensive more expensive the least expensive
less expensive
Irregular
good better the best
bad worse the worst
old older / elder the oldest / eldest
far farther / further the farthest / furthest

INTENSIFYING AND WEAKENING

To intensify a comparative we can use:

To weaken a comparative we can use:
even / much / far / a lot / considerably /
substantially / significantly / a great deal a little / slightly / a bit / somewhat

· London is considerably bigger than · Glasgow is slightly bigger than

Glasgow. Edinburgh.
· His new book is even better than the · Mercedes is somewhat more expensive
previous one. than BMW.
· It’s a great deal more expensive to go
on holiday by car.

178
 Lesson 3: Doubts about the move

To intensify a superlative we can use: To weaken a superlative we can use:

by far / easily one of / some of / among

· London is by far the biggest city in · London is one of the biggest cities in
England. the world.
· Tom is easily the tallest student in the · Tom is among the tallest students in
class. the class.

COMPARATIVE PATTERNS

(not) as … as
Be careful! Compare:
When two things are (almost) equal, we can
use the pattern (not) as … as: · Tom isn’t nearly as rich as Sam.
(= Tom is considerably poorer than
· Travelling by train can be as expensive Sam)
as by plane. · Tom isn’t quite as rich as Sam.
(= Sam is slightly richer than Tom)

To underline that things are almost equal,

we can use: In informal language, we often use
nothing like as or nowhere near as:
just / about / almost / more or less / nearly /
quite
· Glasgow is nowhere near as big as
· Boston is nearly as big as Seattle. London.
(= they are almost the same size) (= London is much bigger than Glasgow)

DOUBLE COMPARATIVE

We can underline how something increases · Houses are becoming more and more
or decreases in intensity by doubling MORE expensive.
or the same comparative adjective with AND · I have less and less free time.
between the forms: · My English is getting better and
better.

THE … THE …

To describe how a change in one thing causes a · The sooner we tell them, the better for
change in another, we can use two comparative them.
forms with the: · The less time you spend on commuting
to work, the more free time you will
have.

179
Unit 4
31

Work-out
A
Put the words in each sentence in the right order.

Example: bigger / considerably / London / than / is / Warsaw

London is considerably bigger than Warsaw.
1. the more / the destination / The more / the holiday / exotic / expensive

2. becoming / It / more / is / popular / to / abroad / more / and / travel / holiday / on

3. the country / to / Her / soon / visits / became / and / rarer / rarer

4. The / better / decide / we / the / sooner

5. isn’t / Glasgow / large / as / quite / Aberdeen / as

6. nowhere / Glasgow / is / as / near / as / London / populated

7. slightly / is / further / London / from / than / Aberdeen / Glasgow

8. London / drier / is / somewhat / Aberdeen / than / July / in

B
Underline the correct words.

Example:  Bob is becoming most / more and more impatient.

1. Betty’s results were nearly not / not nearly as good as Bill’s.

2. His latest book isn’t as / isn’t like exciting as his first one.
3. Smart phones are getting more big and big / bigger and bigger.
4. The higher you climb, the further than / the further you will fall.
5. Carl is nothing / nowhere near as friendly as his brother.
6. The further you swim, the more cold / the colder the water gets.
7. I’m not as big a fan of The Rolling Stones than / as I was when I was younger.
8. The new car is slightly less / least reliable than the old one.

180
 Lesson 3: Doubts about the move

C
Finish the sentences using the prompts.

Example: The later the election, … (good for the Prime Minister)
The later the election, the better for the Prime Minister.

1. The higher the humidity, … (difficult to breathe)

2. The higher the prices of food are, … (little people spend on it)

3. The bigger the room, … (space we will have for the baby)

4. The more money they borrow from the bank, … (long they will have to pay it back)

5. The later you go to bed at night, … (difficult it is to get up early in the morning)

6. The longer you leave it, … (bad it will get)

7. The fewer new investments in the town, … (high the unemployment)

8. The more carbohydrates you eat, … ( fat you become)

D
Fill the gaps in the sentences with MUCH, MANY, LITTLE or FEW.

Example:  Jerry smokes as many as 40 cigarettes a day!

1. Susan doesn’t jog as             as she did when she was younger.
2. Mrs Hallway was disappointed that as             as 4 guests came to her
garden party.
3. John can pay as             as $2,000,000 for a new penthouse.
4. My cousin can’t make a living. He earns as             as $20 per week.
5. They don’t have many friends. Actually they have as             as 2 friends
only.
6. London has got twice as             banks as Glasgow.
7. There isn’t much milk left. In fact there is as             as 100 ml.

181
Unit 4

E
Match the sentences with their meanings.

1. It sounds promising. a. It takes place at the same time.

2. It sounds reassuring. b. It shows signs of future success.
3. It’s a big influx on the population. c. T hey live far from the city centre.
4. T heir wedding coincides with our holiday d. T hey designated a lot of money for
plans. cancer research.
5. They live on the outskirts. e. It removes my doubts and worries.
6. T he company earmarked a lot of money f. They made us think a lot.
for cancer research.
7. Your comments gave us plenty of food g. A lot of people arrive here.
for thought.

1. b 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

F
Look at the factsheet and write sentences using the prompts.

Luxury apartment in
Loft in Paris Penthouse in Berlin
Prague
Bedrooms 5 3 2
Floor area 270 m 2
170 m 2
100 m2
Price € 2,000,000 € 1,000,000 € 800,000
15 min to the city 10 min to the city
Location 10 min to the city centre
centre centre

Example:  Paris / Prague / bedrooms / considerably

The loft in Paris has got considerably more bedrooms than the
apartment in Prague.

1. Prague / nowhere near as / big / Paris

2. Paris / significantly / big / Prague

3. Paris / twice / expensive / Berlin

4. Prague / a great deal / cheap / Paris

5. Paris / by far / expensive

6. Berlin / close to the city centre / Prague

7. Paris / slightly / far from the city centre / Berlin

182
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire

by far
coincide
considerably
cycle path
earmark
food for thought
footpath
influx
nowhere near
outskirts
reassuring
resident
significantly
slightly
substantially
the more the merrier
turn up

183
Unit 4

Key
1. T he more exotic the destination, the 1. Betty’s results were not nearly /
A more expensive the holiday. B not nearly as good as Bill’s.
2. It is becoming more and more 2. His last book isn’t as / isn’t like
popular to travel abroad on holiday. exciting as his first one.
3. Her visits to the country soon 3. Smart phones are getting more big
became rarer and rarer. and big / bigger and bigger.
4. The sooner we decide, the better. 4. The higher you climb, the further
5. Aberdeen isn’t quite as large as than / the further you will fall.
Glasgow. 5. Carl is nothing / nowhere near as
6. Glasgow is nowhere near as friendly as his brother.
populated as London. 6. The further you swim, the more cold
7. Aberdeen is slightly further from / the colder the water gets.
London than Glasgow. 7. I’m not as big a fan of The Rolling
8. London is somewhat drier than Stones than / as I was when I was
Aberdeen in July. younger.
8. T he new car is slightly less / least
reliable than the old one.

1. T he higher the humidity, the more 1. much

C difficult it is to breathe. D 2. few
2. The higher the prices of food are, the 3. much
less people spend on it. 4. little
3. The bigger the room, the more space 5. few
we will have for the baby. 6. many
4. The more money they borrow from 7. little
the bank, the longer they will have to
pay it back.
5. The later you go to bed at night, the
more difficult it is to get up early in
the morning.
6. T he longer you leave it, the worse it
will get.
7. T he fewer new investments in the
town, the higher the unemployment.
8. The more carbohydrates you eat, the
fatter you become.

1. b 1. T he apartment in Prague is nowhere

E 2. e F near as big as the loft in Paris.
3. g 2. The loft in Paris is significantly
4. a bigger than the apartment in Prague.
5. c 3. The loft in Paris is twice as expensive
6. d as the penthouse in Berlin.
7. f 4. T he apartment in Prague is a great
deal cheaper than the loft in Paris.
5. The loft in Paris is by far the most
expensive.
6. The penthouse in Berlin is as close
to the city centre as the apartment in
Prague.
7. T he loft in Paris is slightly further
from the city centre than the pent-
house in Berlin.

184
Moving
in 4 lesson

4
unit

185
4 /4 Unit

Lesson

Moving in
One of the young workers has just moved and is cleaning the
house when her mother calls her. She wants to visit to help
her settle in, but her daughter is not keen on the idea.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt vocabulary related to household
tasks

• do the ironing
• do the polishing
• a scouring pad
• lime scale
• a screwdriver

186
 Lesson 4: Moving in

You have learnt a few new expressions which we use when we can’t
remember the name of somebody or something (whatshername,
whatsitcalled, thingamajig, etc)

• Can you ask whatshername to come and help you?

• Did you use a thingamajig?
• Did you use whatjumacallit?

Approximating and vague language like

• sort of
• kind of
• about
• approximately

Revised expressions with make and do

• make the beds

• do the washing up
• do the cleaning

187
Unit 4

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Rebecca Hello?
Mum Hi, Becki!
Rebecca Oh, hi Mum!
Mum Is everything OK? You sound tired.
Rebecca No, I’m fine! The removal men left a couple of hours ago.
Mum Is it clean?
Rebecca Cleanish.
Mum Do you want me to come and help you clean the place up?
Rebecca No, no! I’m fine! It’s all under control!

1 Mum Can’t you ask whatshername(1) to come and help you?

Whatshername is a word used when Can you ask that girl you used to be friends with to come
you can’t remember someone’s name. and help you?
Rebecca Who, Lauren? No way! I’m not talking to her! I haven’t
spoken to her since I found out that she was made manager
because she is dating the boss’s son!
Mum Oh dear. Listen, I’ll come up tomorrow and help you to get
the place sorted out.
I’ll come and help you to arrange your things and get
moved in.
Rebecca No, Mum, please don’t. There’s no need! I’m fine! I’ve cleaned
the bathroom so far. I had to bleach the shower as it was
mouldy and the taps were covered in lime scale. The floor was
filthy too! I’ve been on my hands and knees scrubbing!
188
 Lesson 4: Moving in

Mum No wonder you’re tired. Did you use a thingamajig? (2)

2
Did you use a whatjumacallit?
Thingummyjig is a word used when
Did you use one of those things you clean floors with? you can’t remember what something
is called.
Rebecca A what?
Mum You know… a scouring pad?
Rebecca Yes, of course! I’ve only got the kitchen, the living room
and the bedroom to do now and then I’m done.
Mum Well, how long is that going to take you?
Rebecca Well, I can probably do the dusting and polishing in about
three quarters of an hour, and the vacuuming will take
roughly 30 minutes or so. I’ll be done in 2 hours, give or
take a few minutes.
Mum Is that all?
Rebecca It’s a tiny apartment, Mum. There’s barely room to swing a cat!
There’s hardly any room to move around freely.
Mum Is there enough room for me to come and stay?
Rebecca Sort of. You’ll have to sleep in the living room.
Mum Oh, I’ll be fine. Do you still have that whatsitcalled that I
used to sleep on in your old flat?
Rebecca You mean the futon? No, I had to leave it behind. There
was no room.
Mum That’s a shame! That was one of the most comfortable
beds I’ve ever slept in!
Rebecca It was a good bed, wasn’t it?
Mum I had some of the best night’s sleep in my whole life on that
bed. Why didn’t you take it with you?
Rebecca Well, the mattress was getting softer and softer the more
people slept on it! It was too comfortable for its own
good!(3)
He was too clever for his own good.
3
This phrase really emphasises that
She was too quick for her own good. something was very comfortable, so
Mum Well… so, what are you going to have for dinner tonight? comfortable that it had a negative
impact.
Rebecca Oh gosh, I haven’t even thought about dinner. Once I’ve
finished cleaning, I have to make the bed, hang the new
curtains that I made, unpack all my cutlery and crockery,
give them a wash, and then do the ironing. I’ve got to be at
work tomorrow and all my clothes are still in my suitcase.
Mum Oh, Becki, I’m worried about you. I’m getting on the first
train tomorrow morning.
Rebecca Please Mum, I want to do this on my own.
I want to be independent.
I want to put my own stamp on my apartment, I don’t need
any help.
Mum Well, have you made any friends yet?
Rebecca Not yet! I’ve only been here for about 3 hours!
Mum That’s it. I can’t bear the thought of you all alone up there.
I’m coming up first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll stay for a
few weeks until you’re settled in and I’ll help you to make
some new friends.
Rebecca Mum! No!
Mum Sorry, Becki, but I’m worried sick. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Rebecca Mum!

189
Unit 4

Use of English
‘Can you ask whatshername to come If somebody says: ‘It’s a tiny apartment.
and help you?’ ‘Whatshername’ and There’s barely room to swing a cat’, they
‘whatshisname’ are expressions we use when want to say that there is hardly any room to
we have forgotten a woman’s or a man’s name. move around freely.

‘Did you use a thingamajig?’ ‘thingamajig’ ‘It was too comfortable for its own good’
is an expression which we use when we can’t means that something was very comfortable,
remember what something is called. We can so comfortable that it had a negative impact.
also say ‘Did you use whatjumacallit?’
‘I want to do this on my own’ means ‘I want
‘I’ve only got the kitchen, the living room to be independent’ or ‘I want to put my own
and the bedroom to do now and then I’m stamp on it, I don’t need any help’
done’ ‘I’m done’ means ‘I will have finished’.

HOUSEHOLD TASKS – MAKE and DO

In this lesson you have learned a few · do the washing up

expressions connected with the topic of · do the dishes
household tasks: · do the polishing
· do the dusting
· moving house · do the hoovering
· clean up · do the cooking
· bleach the shower
However, we have a few expressions frequently
The majority of household chores collocate connected with the household which collocate
with the verb do, not make: with make:

· do the ironing · make the bed

· do the cleaning · make a mess
· make order

VAGUE LANGUAGE

It frequently happens that we forget the name Hand me one of those red thingies over there.
of a thing or a person we want to mention.
Then, especially in colloquial English, we can · Is thingummy on the table? Where is it?
make use of expressions like: · I need to call whatshisname to cancel
the meeting.
whatshername (whatsername) – we use it · Have you seen whatshername recently?
when we don’t remember a woman’s name · He has got a lot of those thingamabobs
whatshisname (whatsisname) – we use it in his room.
when we don’t remember a man’s name

thingy / thingamabob / thingamajig / thin-

gummyjig / thingummy – all these can be used
interchangeably when we don’t remember the
name of a thing

190
 Lesson 4: Moving in

Work-out
A
Transform the sentences using the prompts.

Example:  I need to iron today. (do)

I need to do the ironing today.

1. The apartment is not exactly very clean. (cleanish)

2. I have to arrange my things and get moved in. (sorted)

3. Did you use one of those things you clean the windows with? (thingamajig)

4. I only have to dust the furniture and I will have finished. (done)

5. There isn’t enough room to move around here. (cat)

6. He was so clever that people thought he is arrogant. (good)

7. Becky said she wanted to do renovate her flat on her own. (stamp)

8. I should get the hoovering over with in roughly one hour. (give)

B
Make the numbers in these sentences less precise, using the prompts.

Example:  They bought 700 new computers. (about)

They bought about 700 new computers.

1. The company will invest $10.2 million in new technology. (approximately)

2. It will cost us $5,060 to redecorate the house. (roughly)

3. It could take six, seven or eight hours to drive to Glasgow, depending on the traffic.
(give or take)

4. 53 students passed the exam. (around)

5. The next meeting is in 13 days. (roughly)

191
Unit 4

C
Fill in the gaps in the sentences with the following expressions.

thingamajig / whatshername / whatsisname / whatsitcalled

Example: I need one of those red thingamajig for this – have you got one?

1. I gave the reports to             the new secretary.

2. Have you invited Mike             to the party?
3. Where’s the             that you change channels with?
4. Poor Ms             !
5. That’s the painting which was painted by Mr            !
6. Have you got that             we bought yesterday?

D
Read the definitions and write the words or expressions that match them.

l i
1.  m e s c a l e - a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler or on taps by the
evaporation of water containing lime.

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a sour liquid made by allowing wine or cider to become acid

3. _ _ _ _ _ _ a strong chemical used to kill harmful bacteria or to make coloured things
white
4. _ _ _ _ _ _ to rub the surface of something in order to make it shine
5. _ _ _ _ _ green, blue or white bacteria that grow on food that is kept fresh or on things
that are not kept clean and dry
6. _ _ _ _ _ _ very dirty
7. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a small piece of a rough substance, used for cleaning pans.
8. _ _ _ _ _ - a type of firm mattress used as a bed or sofa. se

9. _ _ _ _ - to clean or dry something by moving a cloth or something soft over it sp

b
e
10. _ _ _ - an object with a long handle and a mass of thick strings or a sponge on one
end, used for washing floors.
d

E
Match the beginnings with the endings.

1. to do up a. a nail into a board

2. to drill b. new heating in a house
3. to glue c. a flat
4. to grease d. pieces of a broken dish together
5. to hammer e. fire logs into smaller pieces
6. to install f. a valve into a water pipe
7. to saw g. creaking door hinges
8. to screw h. a hole in a wall

1. c 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

192
 Lesson 4: Moving in

F
Read the text and fill in the gaps with the words.

own / smoothly / repaint / DIY store / install / did / polishing / wrenches / scale /
scrubbing / do / tools

Last week we decided to do up our apartment. We wanted to do it on our         , so my

husband went to a            and bought all the necessary            like
hammers, drills, screwdrivers,            and pliers. We had to         the
walls, fix broken furniture,          new windows and refurbish the bathroom.
The work went off             , but afterwards we had so much cleaning!
I was on my hands and knees           the floors in the bathroom and fighting
lime            on our taps. My husband           the         and
hoovering. To my surprise he even cleaned the windows!

Word List
HOUSEHOLD TASKS

bleach hammer removal men tool

decryption detect clean up lime scale repaint hoover (v)
pagan woven
dressage range overdose creaking mattress saw hoover (n)
shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial deposit mop scouring pad vinegar
attend recognition
overload
badminton
entrepreneur drill mould screw water pipe
weird join
community swap
fee
dust mouldy screwdriver wipe
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
dust

filthy moving house scrub wrench

cue
sedan neighbourhood godson
spend enough redecorate
butcher wagon confused futon nail settle in vacuum
engaged generous
attentive
rude
polite sirloin vet mutton
habit
too
get promoted grease polish sort out vacuum cleaner
starve
worth lamb seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
desire

GENERAL VOCABULARY

give or take leave sth. behind whatshername whatsitcalled

head off) thingamajig whatshisname whatsitname

193
Unit 4

Key
1. The apartment is cleanish. 1. The company will invest
A 2. I have to get the place sorted out. B approximately $10 million in new
3. Did you use a thingamajig? technology.
4. I only have to dust the furniture and 2. It will cost us roughly $5,000 to
I’m done. redecorate the house.
5. There’s barely room to swing a cat 3. It could take seven hours, give or
here. take an hour to drive to Glasgow,
6. He was too clever for his own good. depending on the traffic
7. Becky said she wanted to put her 4. Around 50 students passed the
own stamp on her flat. exam.
8. I should get the hoovering over 5. The next meeting is in roughly two
with in one hour, give or take a few weeks.
minutes.

1. whatshername 1. lime scale

C 2. whatshisname D 2. vinegar
3. whatsitcalled / thingamajig 3. bleach
4. whatshername 4. polish
5. whatsisname 5. mould
6. whatsitcalled / thingamajig 6. filthy
7. scouring pad
8. futon
9. wipe
10. mop

1. c Last week we decided to do up our

E 2. h F apartment. We wanted to do it on our
3. d own, so my husband went to a DIY store
4. g and bought all the necessary tools like
5. a hammers, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches
6. b and pliers. We had to repaint the
7. e walls, fix broken furniture, install new
8. f windows and refurbish the bathroom.
The work went off smoothly, but
afterwards we had so much cleaning! I
was on my hands and knees scrubbing
the floors in the bathroom and fighting
lime scale on our taps. My husband
did the polishing and hoovering. To my
surprise, he even cleaned the windows!

194
Tying the knot
Topic: Tying the knot
Skill: Expressing opinions tentatively, hedging
Grammar: Futures (revision)
Adjectives + prepositions
Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions
Expressions with put

1
Dating
lesson

5
unit
5 /1 Unit

Lesson

Dating
Two friends are talking. One of them explains what
she liked and disliked about a first date she had
the night before.

Aims
In this lesson you have learnt how to voice your opinions in a more
delicate way, which is called voicing your opinions tentatively. You
can soften your opinions by using such modals as ‘could’, ‘would’
and ‘might’. By utilising them, you reduce the risk of offending
somebody by stating an opinion that is too honest or too harsh. You
also use this technique when you prefer to avoid giving opinions
altogether.

• He could be more honest.

• He might have been more outspoken.
• I wouldn’t wear that dress to the party.

196
 Lesson 1: Dating

You have also learnt how to express your opinions tentatively,

using a technique called ‘hedging’, which spares you the risk of
making definite on-the-spot decisions and always leaves you a
way out of the situation. While practising the hedging technique,
you will utilise such modal verbs as ‘may’ or ‘could’.

• Yeah, I may come to the party.

• I could help you with the exercise.

In addition, you have broadened your vocabulary and become

accustomed with some usual collocations between adjectives and
their corresponding prepositions. Proper use of adjectives and
prepositions is vital in facilitating communication and sounding
more like a native speaker during conversations.

• I’m totally crazy about surfing.

• I’m ashamed of your behaviour.
• I’m impressed with the service in this restaurant.
• I’m never jealous of my partner’s ex-partners.

197
Unit 5

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Nathan Tell me all about your date with Riley last night!
Ella I know you two are really close! I bet he phoned you as soon
as he got home!
Nathan Well, of course! But I want to hear what you thought!
Ella It was fun!
Nathan That’s it? Fun?
Ella Yes! It was interesting.
1 Nathan Interesting? Fun? Ella, you didn’t like him, did you? (1)
Sometimes, we use simple positive Ella Yes, I did. He’s a really nice bloke! It’s just that, he could
adjectives to be polite when we
really want to say something negative. have been (2) more polite!
He could have opened the door for me.
2 He could’ve said ‘please’ more often.
He could have been is politely Nathan He’s one of the most polite guys I know! Perhaps his nerves
and tentatively suggesting an got the better of him.
improvement. Ella Perhaps. I had a good time, though. He was very generous.
I was also very impressed with his political views.
Nathan Really? Usually he’s so ashamed of his politics.
Ella No, he was very outspoken about his beliefs. In fact,
I became a bit annoyed with him at the end of the night
because he wouldn’t talk about anything else! He could
have found out a bit more about me!
He could have shown more of an interest in me.
He didn’t seem at all interested in my life.
Nathan Well, perhaps he already knew enough about you. I’ve been
telling him all about you for weeks! I think you two are
3 perfect for each other!
The clock is ticking is an informal Ella I’m not so sure about that!
phrase to say that someone is getting Nathan Listen, he’s crazy about you and very eager for another
older and is not young anymore. date. Will you go out with him again? You’re not getting any
younger, you know? The clock is ticking! (3)

198
 Lesson 1: Dating

You need to meet the right man before you get too old!
You can’t wait for the right man to come along at your age.
Ella I’m not that old!
Nathan You’re 35! So, how about it? Will you go on a second date
with Riley?
Ella I may (4) do. I’m dating several guys at the moment. 4
I might be able to date him again.
May shows that she doesn’t want to
I’ll think about going on another date with him. commit.
Nathan Yes, but, Riley might be the one! (5) I think you should at
least go on a second date. 5
He might be Mr Right. The One means the man or woman
Ella I suppose I could arrange to see him again next month. you are going to marry or the love of
your life.
I might be able to arrange another date.
I could arrange another date if I decide that is what I want.
Nathan Next month! How many guys are you dating?
Ella Well, there’s Terry. He’s brilliant at making me laugh but he
could be more sensitive. Then there’s Bruce. He’s very good
looking, but I was disappointed with his personality. Plus,
he’s always busy with work.
Nathan An overly sensitive guy and a guy who is too busy to meet
up with you? You can do better than that!
Ella I think you might be right!
Nathan So, back to Riley. Do you think there is any chance of him
being Mr Right?
Ella Um. He may be ‘The One’ but then, what if he isn’t?
Nathan Tell me what you didn’t like about him and I’ll pass it on.
Ella I can’t tell you what I didn’t like about him! You’re his best
friend!
I can’t tell you that! It’s rude!
Nathan I don’t mind! I’ve known him since I was 7. I know he’s not
perfect.
Ella Well, perhaps he should (6) dress more casually on the next 6
date. He turned up suited and booted last night! He could
also use a little less aftershave; it was hitting the back of Should and Could here show that
my throat. she is trying to be polite and not say
something too negative.
He was dressed too smartly for the date.
He wore way too much aftershave.
Nathan Perhaps he was trying too hard! I know he’s fed up with
trying to find his ideal woman. What else?
Ella I just want him to be himself.
I just want him to act normal.
I want him to relax and not try too hard.
Nathan I’ll pass that on. So, if he’s himself, do you think it could
work out?
Ella I may be able to fall in love with him. It certainly wasn’t love
at first sight but there was definitely a small spark.
There was definitely something there.
There was definitely a bit of chemistry between us.
Nathan Excellent! I’ll get him to call you later!
Ella OK. But promise you won’t tell him what I said!
Nathan I’ll be subtle, I promise.

199
Unit 5

Use of English
GIVING OPINIONS TENTATIVELY USING ‘COULD’, ‘WOULD’ AND ‘MAY ’

Being able to provide tentative opinions is one • The junior sales assistant wasn’t
of the keys to success in both professional and experienced enough. = The junior
private lives. Tentative opinions are frequently sales assistant could have been more
used to express a strong opinion in a more experienced.
delicate and subtle way, thus being less • The boss said: ‘You did it in the wrong
offensive. way’. = The boss said: ‘’I would have
Please compare the following examples: done it in a different way.”
• The marathon runner was not skilled
• He is really rude to his parents. enough to complete the race. = The
• You’re doing it wrong. marathon runner may have needed to
• He is a slow learner. train more before entering the race.

If you want to express your opinion more

Voicing your opinion in this way may make you tentatively, you can also use such expressions
unpopular among people. Instead of being as: ‘’Dare I say…’’, ‘’I suppose…’’, ‘’I have got
offensive, try to express your opinions more the impression that…’’, ‘’You could consider…’’,
tentatively. Please, compare: ‘’You might want to…’’.

• He is really rude to his parents. = • He is too fat. = Dare I say he could lose
He could be more polite towards his some weight.
parents. • You do not possess the required abilities
• You’re doing it wrong. = I would do it in for the job. = You could consider
a different way. applying for training.
• He is a slow learner. = He might need • The headmaster was too strict. = I have
more time to learn something. the impression the headmaster could
have been more lenient.
• You are not dressed appropriately for
If you express an opinion concerning the past, the party. = I suppose you could have
remember to use the following construction: worn something slightly more modest.
A modal verb + have + Past Participle.

GIVING OPINIONS TENTATIVELY: HEDGING

Being able to implement the technique of Which of these options sounds safer to you?
hedging is extremely important, regardless of Using ‘may’ or ‘could’ leaves you the possibility
the situation when you use it. By hedging, you of changing your decision in case you want to do
voice your decisions in a very mild and vague way, it. While hedging, you can also implement such
which doesn’t limit your possibilities in the future words as ‘maybe’ or ‘perhaps’.
and is not overly restrictive. Compare:
• Perhaps the company could consider the
• I will come to the party. = I give you my possibility of merging.
word that I will turn up. • Maybe this might be the best solution to
• I may come to the party. I could come to the problem.
the party. = Well, I’m not entirely sure
about it. Let’s say I might turn up.

200
 Lesson 1: Dating

Work-out
A
Two answers are correct. One answer is wrong. Which 2 are correct? Cross out the
incorrect answer.

Example: Why don’t you just leave him?

I could do that, I suppose. / I might have done that in a few weeks. /
I might consider doing this.

1. What did you think about his behaviour during the last meeting?
He could have been more polite. / He might have drunk less alcohol. / He could
have behave better.
                                          
2. Were you satisfied with the presentation that I gave you?
You could call me before handing it in. / I wouldn’t have included so many pictures
in one slide. / I would have done some parts slightly differently.
                                          
3. The deadline is in a fortnight. How do you feel about it?
I might need more time. / I suppose I would have needed more time. / I could do
with a few extra days.
                                          
4. Were you pleased with the weather during the trip?
Dare I say it could have been slightly warmer. / I suppose the weather might have
been better next time. / Perhaps the weather might have been more pleasant.
                                          
5. What do you think about your last date?
I wouldn’t call it successful. / I dare say it could be better. / He might have been
too pushy.
                                          
6. Are your parents favourable of your new partner?
They told he’s just too quiet for me. / They claim he could do more around the
house. / They suppose it might be better for me to leave him.
                                          

201
Unit 5

B
Reply to these invitations using the hedging technique.

Example: Why don’t we dine together?

I suppose we could meet sometime in the week.             
1. Would you like to come to the party with me?
I might                                      
2. What about having dinner together?
I might                                       
3. Why don’t you stay with me for the night?
Perhaps                                      
4. Shall we go dancing this evening?
Maybe                                        
5. Will you call me again?
I could                                       
6. What would you say to a romantic trip to Paris?
I suppose                                       
7. Would you like to accompany me to the theatre?
I could                                       

C
Rewrite each sentence using the prompts given. Make sure to express your opinions
tentatively.

Example: This soup is terrible. You put too much salt into everything. (could)
You could put less salt into your food.

1. Their relationship was not meant to last. I knew they were not cut out for each other.
(might)
I suppose they                    been able to have a long-lasting
relationship.
2. I insist on you paying your fair share of the bill. (suppose)
I                     split the bill fifty-fifty.
3. I bet he won’t win the main prize. The clock is ticking and he doesn’t know the correct
answer. (would)
I                     quickly if I were him.
4. You should get involved in the new project. It’s a great opportunity that will enhance your
career in the future. (dare)
                    get involved in the new project.
5. Oh God, he smells horrible. Doesn’t he know too much aftershave is one of the worst
mistakes a man can make? (could)
He                     less aftershave.
6. Don’t talk to her about her brother. She always gets in a bad mood when he’s mentioned.
(might)
You                     to talk to her about her brother.

202
 Lesson 1: Dating

D
Complete the sentences using the prepositions below. You may use one preposition
more than once.

in / with / about / of / at / by /
Example: I’m really good at football.

1. Beforehand, the course participants were doubtful          mastering the

required skills; however, after the course, they became brilliant          utilising
the knowledge they possessed.
2. The participants of the meeting could be described as being dissatisfied         
any attempts to solve the problem in an amicable way.
3. The young man was not successful          creating the spark necessary between
two people on a date.
4. After being called back for a second interview, the candidate felt confident
having a good chance to get the job.
5. As a young parent, you mustn’t show your child you are frightened          their
tantrums.
6. The professor didn’t hide the fact that he was astonished          the student
dropping by at his house at such a late hour.
7. Their relationship began to suffer as the woman became more and more fed up
her boyfriend’s failure to meet her requirements.
8. Feeling incapable          tolerating her ex-boyfriend any longer, the woman
stormed off.
9. The girl’s father was pleased          his daughter’s choice of wedding date and
he passed the information on to his extended family.
10.“I can’t be involved          a relationship with somebody who blabs my secrets
to everyone she knows!’’, shouted the bloke as he slammed down the receiver.

E
Match the sentences from 1 to 8 with their logical continuations from a) to h).

1. You are excellent at foreign languages. a. Excessive bragging about your achieve-
ments is considered rude by many people.
2. He was slightly ashamed of turning up b. His friends were perplexed with his
at the party all suited and booted. behaviour. One man commented: ‘I’ve got
no idea what got into him.’
3. Do not feel too boastful about your c. I got accustomed to it while working
success. overtime during my apprenticeship.
4. The entire room was puzzled by his d. However, his wife was deeply outspoken
uncontrollable urge to sing opera about the necessity to save every penny
songs. for a rainy day.
5. The entire class was infuriated with e. However, the teacher seemed to be quite
the pupil who behaved rudely in the fond of the boy and didn’t punish him too
class. strictly.
6. I’m familiar with this system. f. I’m really impressed with your skills.
7. My grandfather was very generous g. Would it hurt to be sympathetic once in a
with his money. while, instead of pointing out my failures?
8. I’m sick of you putting so much h. He felt embarrassed because everyone
pressure on me. was a lot more casually dressed.

1. f 2.    3.    4.    5.    6.    7.    8   

203
Unit 5

Find mistakes in the use of prepositions and correct them in the following sentences.
Some sentences are correct.

Example: It’s typical about me to eat my breakfast late in the day.

It’s typical of me to eat my breakfast late in the day.      

1. I was unsure at the answer and as a result I didn’t select anything.

                                          
2. When his girlfriend told him they didn’t have a lot in common, he was quite upset.
                                          
3. It’s typical about him to complain about the English weather.
                                          
4. The first-year student wasn’t too anxious with the exam results.
                                          
5. Being eager for success can sometimes have a negative influence on your personal life.
                                          
6. The mother was annoyed with her child for being out of touch for so long.
                                          
7. The envy was clearly noticeable, even though the dancer denied feeling jealous of her rival
being the main performer during the final scene.
                                          
8. Stop being ashamed of your freckles. If anything, they add more charm to what you
already possess.
                                          
9. The workers were not happy of their wages and decided to go on strike.
                                          
10.He’d been absent of school far too often when the teacher finally took action.
                                          
11. I’m not too keen for classical music. I find it quite boring, really.
                                          
12. I’m really fond of biology and chemistry as I want to study medicine in the future.
                                          

204
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire ADJECTIVES AND PREPOSITIONS

spark between sb absent from

aftershave accustomed to
be out of reach annoyed with
beforehand anxious about
blab on about sb / sth ashamed of
bloke astonished by
dare say (verb) be fed up with
drop by (verb) be involved in
fail miserably boastful about
fortnight bragging about
get involved in sth brilliant at
have much in common with characteristic of
it was not meant to last confident of
master (verb) content with
my nerves got the better of me dissatisfied with
pass sth on doubtful about
put pressure on sb eager for sth
storm off excellent at
tantrum familiar with
the clock is ticking fond of
turn up suited and booted frightened of
uncontrollable urge generous with
willing to work overtime impressed with
incapable of
infuriated with
jealous of
keen on
moody about
outspoken about
perplexed with
pleased with
puzzled by
sick of
successful in
sympathetic with
unsure of
upset about

205
Unit 5

Key
1. He could have been more polite. / He 1. I might join you but I need to think
A might have drunk less alcohol. B about it beforehand.
2. I wouldn’t have included so many 2. I might be free; however, I need to
pictures in one slide. / I would have look at my diary first.
done some parts slightly differently. 3. Perhaps I could do that.
3. I might need more time. / I could do 4. Maybe I could be willing to do that.
with a few extra days. 5. I could do that, yes.
4. Dare I say it could have been slightly 6. I suppose we might go to Paris
warmer. / Perhaps the weather together.
might have been more pleasant. 7. I could agree. Will you give me a
5. I wouldn’t call it successful. / He moment?
might have been too pushy.
6. They claim he could do more around
the house. / They suppose it might
be better for me to leave him.

1. might not have 1. about, at

C 2. suppose we could D 2. with
3. would answer more 3. in
4. Dare I say you could 4. of
5. could use 5. of
6. might not want 6. with
7. with, at, about
8. of
9. with
10. in

1. f. 1. unsure of
E 2. h. F 2. sentence correct
3. a. 3. typical of
4. b. 4. anxious about
5. e. 5. sentence correct
6. c. 6. sentence correct
7. d. 7. sentence correct
8. g. 8. sentence correct
9. happy with
10. absent from
11. keen on
12. fond of

206
 The
proposal 2 lesson

5
unit
5 /2 Unit

Lesson

The proposal
A young man proposes to his girlfriend. She says yes,
but soon after they discover they have different ideas
about what their future life in common should be like.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised tenses used to express the future.
The future can be expressed using present tenses, such as Present
Simple and Present Continuous. You have also revised that the
Present Simple is used mainly to express timetables and schedules.

• The bus leaves at 3:30 pm.

• The course starts on Tuesday.
• The film is to be broadcast next week.

208
 Lesson 2: The proposal

You have also practised expressing the future by utilising the Present
Continuous for actions that are sure to happen in the future.

• Next week, I’m flying to London.

• In two days’ time, my boss is leaving for New York.

You can also express the future by means of the Future Simple and
the ‘to be going to’ construction. The Future Simple can be used in
a number of situations. For example, to express your predictions
about the future, promises or spontaneous decisions.

• In 2080, people will use only electronic cash.

• I will help you if you help me.

The construction ‘to be going to’ is used to express your intentions

or your predictions based on evidence.

• This year, I’m going to take up playing the guitar.

• The sky looks black. It’s going to rain.

In this lesson you have also been reminded of the Future Perfect
Simple, a grammatical tense used to talk about actions that will be
completed by a specified time in the future.

• By the time I finish working, I will have got a pay rise.

Finally, in this lesson, you have revised expressions and phrasal

verbs connected with the word ‘put’.

• I can’t put up with him any longer.

• Failure is very off-putting.
• Nobody likes people who put a damper on things.
• Why do you keep putting pressure on me?
• The meeting has been put off until next week.
• Brake hard – we’re going to crash!

209
Unit 5

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Riley Hey, Ella! I’m home! What are you looking at?
Ella I’m just looking at Nathan’s wedding photos.
Riley Great wedding, wasn’t it?! They looked so happy!
Ella I know. I’m so glad Nathan found his dream wife.
Riley Me too. He deserves to be happy.
Riley Talking about happy. Ella, are you happy?
Ella Yes, of course!
Riley But, are you really happy?
Ella Yes! I said so, didn’t I?
Riley Do you love me?
Ella Yes! I love you, Riley!
Riley That’s good.
Ella What’s wrong?
Riley Nothing. Well… um… actually… there’s something I wanted
to ask you, Ella. Will you marry me?
Ella Oh, my gosh! This is such a surprise! I don’t know what to
say!
Riley Say yes!
Ella Oh, gosh! It’s so unexpected! We’ve only being going out
for a year!

210
 Lesson 2: The proposal

Riley I know. But it’s been the best year of my life! Please, Ella.
Say yes.
Ella Erm…..gosh….I don’t know…..
Riley I know I’m a bit annoying sometimes but, can you put up
with me for the rest of your life?
Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?
Ella Erm….YES!....YES!
Brilliant!
Ella Wow! I’m engaged!
Riley We’re engaged!
Ella Yes, we’re engaged! Wow! I didn’t think I would ever get
married!
Riley I think we’ll have the perfect future together. We’ll have a
huge wedding and we’ll invite all our friends and family. It’ll
be wonderful! (1) 1
We’ll have such an amazing life together. They are using will here to make
future predictions.
We’ll be the happiest couple in the world!
Ella Oh. I always imagined that I would get married on a beach
somewhere.
We’ll get married in a church.
We’ll get married on a beach somewhere.
Riley OK. That would work too. We’ll get married abroad.
Ella Are you sure?
Riley Yes! I want you to be happy! Let’s talk about the future!
Ella Can’t that wait! I’m too excited to talk about the future!
Riley Yes but, it’s important to me!
Ella Oh.
Riley I don’t want to put you off, but it’s important that we agree 2
on certain things, isn’t it? (2)
To put someone off means to make
I don’t want to negatively influence you but…. them not want to do something.
I don’t want to make you change your mind about marrying
me but…
Ella Gosh, you really know how to put a damper on things, don’t
you?!
You really know how to bring my mood down. 3
You really know how to make me feel less enthusiastic! Going to is used here to express a
future plan.
Riley I’m sorry, but we need to make certain decisions.
Ella Like what?
Riley Well. Where are we going to(3) live for a start?
4
The going to form is used in the first
What car are we going to have? half of this sentence to state a ready-
Are you going to work or be a housewife? made plan that is more set in stone.
The Present Continuous can also
We’re moving into our new house next week.(4) be used to indicate that something is
more certain to take place.
We’re going on holiday next week. I’ve got the tickets here.
We are travelling to Wales next week.
Riley I don’t want my 4 children to grow up in a city. I want to(5) 5
live in a big house in the country. Here, want to is used to express
I want to be able to go on holiday every year. a future wish or dream.

I want to own a boat and go sailing every weekend.

211
Unit 5

Ella Who said anything about children? Four? I only want to

have one!
Riley Well, we can have one first and then decide later about the
rest!
Ella OK. Don’t put any pressure on me to have more children,
though. It’s my decision.
Riley I can’t wait to become a country bumpkin! This time next
6 year, I’ll be a farmer working my own land! (6)
Will is used to express a personal This time next year, I’ll be a millionaire.
promise and the Future Perfect
is used here to state a wish that it This time next year, I will have made enough money to
is hoped will have become true by retire.
a certain date in the future.
Ella A farmer! You didn’t say anything about a farm!
Riley Well, I can’t continue with my job and live in the country!
Ella They’ve got high-speed internet in the country, you know!
7 You’ll be able to work from home! (7)
Will is used here to state a future You’ll be able to make video calls from your home office.
prediction.
You’ll be able to run your business without travelling to the
office.
Riley But I’ve always dreamed of being a farmer.
Ella I’m not sure about this. I’m a city girl at heart. All this talk
8 about farming is very off-putting. I might(8) change my
Might is used here instead of will mind about marrying you soon!
to express a small possibility of I might not want to marry you after all.
something happening, rather than a
more certain prediction. Riley Ella! Don’t say that! Where do you want to live?
When I have a child, I’d like to live near my parents. It’ll be
very useful. They can come and babysit for us.
Riley I hadn’t thought of that. OK, we’ll stay in the city for now
and when we retire, we’ll go to the country.

9 Ella By then I’ll have made so much money that we’ll be able to
afford a country house and a city house. (9)
The Future Perfect is used here When I retire, I will have worked all over the world.
to express a prediction about their
situation at the point of retirement. Riley I don’t think so. You won’t have worked enough to make all
that money.
Ella What do you mean?
Riley You’ll have spent the last 20 years at home looking after
the children!
Ella That is not going to(10) happen, Riley. Not in a million years!
10
Ella I’m having second thoughts about this engagement already.
She switches to using going to We don’t seem to be on the same wavelength here at all.
because she is more certain of her
future prediction. We don’t seem to agree on anything.
We don’t seem to be thinking along the same lines at all.

212
 Lesson 2: The proposal

Use of English
PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS EXPRESSING THE FUTURE
The Present Simple expresses a future The Present Continuous is used for a future
that you do not have any influence on. This when your opinion is unchangeable. It is used
tense is usually used to express already with pre-planned events that will definitely
fixed timetables, schedules or broadcasting happen in the future and events where
regulations. preparations have already been made.

• The bus leaves in an hour. • Next summer I’m visiting Oslo. = I’ve
• The plane departs from Heathrow at already bought the tickets and arranged
7:45 am. some accommodation.
• The exam commences at noon. • You are meeting the deputy teacher in
• The performance starts in a minute. an hour, aren’t you? = You have already
• The play finishes at 6 o’clock. made an appointment with the deputy
teacher.
• The parents are meeting with their
The Present Simple is also used in time clauses child’s babysitter today at 5 o’clock. =
expressing the future after words like ‘when’, The meeting will definitely take place.
‘as soon as’, ‘after’, before’, and ‘until.’

• I’ll meet you when you are ready.

• He’ll call you as soon as he gets your
number.
• The meeting will commence after the
president makes his speech.
• Make sure you take your book before
you come to school.
• You won’t begin the course until you
pay for it.

FUTURE SIMPLE AND ‘TO BE GOING TO’

The Future Simple expresses a number of • Shall we go now?

situations. • Shall I help you?

• A promise, an offer or a threat (I will

help you. She will do the shopping for The construction ‘to be going to’ expresses
you. I will hurt you.) our intentions or ambitions that have not yet
• A spontaneous decision (I’ll open the become our fixed plans. Thus, ‘to be going to’
door. I’ll take the blue dress.) expresses a ‘stronger’ future than the Future
• A prediction not based on any evidence Simple but a ‘weaker’ future than the Present
(The world will become a safer place). Continuous. Please compare:
• An invitation (Will you go to the cinema
with me?) • Perhaps I will build a house next year.
• A very ‘weak’ future that is not yet a • This year, I’m going to start collecting
plan or an intention (This year, I will do money for the construction.
more housework.) • Next week, I’m meeting the credit
• After words such as ‘hope’, ‘think’, or advisor to discuss my credit rating.
‘suppose’ (I hope it will stop raining.
He thinks the bride won’t show up. I
suppose the prices will begin to increase ‘To be going to’ is also used to make
soon.) predictions based on evidence.

• Look at the sky. Tonight is going to be

In questions built with the first person singular freezing.
and the first person plural, we use the word • Slow down. You’re driving too fast.
‘shall’ to express an offer, an invitation or a You’re going to have an accident.
suggestion. • She looks so pale. Is she going to faint?

213
Unit 5

FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

The Future Perfect Simple is used to express • By the end of the month, the prisoner
an action that will be finished some time in the will have been executed.
future. It is essential to provide the time of • In 5 years’ time, I will have found my
completing the action. Very often, the Future true love.
Perfect Simple is used with expressions such • Before her 30th birthday, Katy’s sister
as: ‘by…’, ‘in… time’, and ‘before…’. will have travelled around the world.

• The government will have raised taxes

by the time the public starts to realise
what is going on.

EXPRESSIONS WITH ‘PUT’

‘Put’ must be one of the most universal • Put sb’s heart into sth – be
verbs in English. There is a huge number of committed to something. (I put all my
expressions and phrasal verbs that use it, heart into the competition and I still
many of which belong to slang and informal lost!)
English. Here are some of the most popular
examples with their definitions: • Put sth aside – save something for
later. (Have you put some meat aside
• Off-putting – slightly irritating, for Peter? He’ll be furious once he
confusing, worrying or unpleasant. comes back home and sees there’s no
(Even though he’s a little off-putting more food left).
when you meet him for the first time,
he can be a true friend once you get to • Put sth down to sth – explain
know him.) something; find a reason. (The doctor
put his patient’s paleness down to his
• Put a damper on sth – spoil something recent illness.)
or somebody’s mood. (My mother-in-
law put a damper on things by saying • Put sth forward – suggest something.
that the food was undercooked.) (Could I put forward one more idea?)

• Put pressure on sb – put somebody • Put sth off – postpone something.

under a considerable amount of stress (I’ve decided to put off the meeting
or have high expectations. (Stop putting until next Monday.)
pressure on me! I’m stressed anyway.)
• Put sth on – activate something;
• Put sb off – distract somebody. (Your switch something on. (Could you put
whistling is putting me off my work. on something more cheerful? I hate
Can you stop it?) depressing music.)

• Put sb on – deceive somebody. (I can’t • Put up with sth – tolerate something.

believe he’s been putting me on the (I can’t put up with this noise! Drilling
entire time. I’m never going to get this on Sunday morning? They must be
money back.) crazy!)

• Put sb’s foot down – demand

something; use somebody’s full
authority. (When your children don’t
listen to you, just put your foot down –
you’re the parent and they should know
it!)

214
 Lesson 2: The proposal

Work-out
A
Choose the correct option

Example: Can I help you? No need for that. I will do do it myself.

a) will do b) am doing c) will have done

1. John                 his driving license exam this Friday.

a) take b) is taking c) will have taken
2. I suppose the church representative                a stance in tomorrow’s
debate concerning in-vitro fertilization.
a) will take b) will have taken c) is taking
3.                 help you with the washing?
a) Am I going to b) Shall I c) Do I
4. There is no chance they                        the hotel room
before our arrival.
a) are preparing b) are going to be prepared c) will have prepared
5. Don’t you think Karen lacks potential? I reckon she                  it to
the top.
a) won’t make b) isn’t going to be made c) doesn’t make
6. The book will be ready on Friday unless the publishing house              
the layout.
a) will change b) will have changed c) changes
7. Get away from that tree.                   over.
a) It’s going to topple b) It will be toppling c) It topples
8. Before the term finishes, I                     more than ten exams.
I feel exhausted already and I dread to think how I’ll feel then.
a) will take b) will have taken c) am going to take

215
Unit 5

B
Answer the questions concerning the future using the prompts provided. Be creative!

Example: Are you willing to participate in the survey? (do / pay).

I will do it if you pay me.                 

1. Are you going to forgive him? (not until / apologise)

                                          
2. Will you have overcome the fear of flying after completing the training? (not enough
training / by / end course)
                                          
3. Will you have the guts to pop the question? (perhaps / go for it / next year)
                                          
4. What time does the exhibition open? (as soon as / the painting / arrive)
                                          
5. I can’t help feeling cross with you. When will you finally confront the CEO?
(see / in / hour)
                                          
6. Are there are restrictions on vehicles entering the premises?
(not allow / dusk)
                                          
7. When will the designer decide which model to employ for the runway?
(decision / before / the day / finish)
                                          

C
Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense expressing the future. Use Present Simple,
Present Continuous, be going to, Future Simple or the Future Perfect simple.

Example: Tomorrow I am meeting (meet) Jessica.

Tomorrow is a tremendously important day for me as I 1.              (defend)

my Master’s thesis. The examination 2.               (commence) at 11.00;
However, my name 3.                       (call out) until 1 o’clock
because two of my university mates 4.            (pass) the test as well and it
takes approximately one hour for the examination to run its course. I’m feeling optimistic. I
haven’t been slacking off and for the past two months, I’ve been practising and anticipating
possible obstacles and tricky questions. In the past, I considered postponing my defence until
September, but now I’ve got this gut feeling everything 5.            (turn out)
just fine. Hopefully, before the day finishes I 6.                  (become)
a graduate. After my friends and I 7.                ( finish) the exam, we
8.            (celebrate) in a local pub called Bjorungs. We’ve got a table booked
there and we 9.                      (curb) our enthusiasm.

216
 Lesson 2: The proposal

D
Write the words defined.

Example: An adjective describing cloudy weather. Overcast

1. An adjective describing feeling worried, anxious or stressed.               

2. A general word that describes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.           
3. To annoy somebody or upset them; to bother somebody.                 
4. An extremely stressful, troublesome or painful situation.                
5. A place, a meeting point or an area utilised especially for public events.           
6. An idiom used when you reveal somebody’s secret.                    
7. A priest stands behind this in a church.                         
8. Colloquially, to break up with somebody in a very sudden manner.             
9. A part of a road devoted entirely to pedestrians.                     

E
Match the phrasal verb with the correct definition.

1. To postpone an event until sometime in a. To put sb on

the future.
2. To suggest that something is caused by b. To put sth off
something else.
3. To insist on something. c. To put sth forward
4. To fool somebody, to trick somebody d. To put one’s heart in it
into something.
5. To suggest an idea. e. To put one’s foot down
6. To be fully committed to an action or a f. To put sb off
thought.
7. To distract somebody or to repel them. g. To put sth down to sth
8. To tolerate something. h. To put up with sth

1. b  2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     8.     

217
Unit 5

F
Replace the underlined words with a suitable form of the expressions or phrasal
verbs given below. Feel free to make changes to the sentence structure if they are
necessary.

put off / put aside / off-putting / put sth forward / put sth on / put sb on / put
pressure on sb / put up with sth / put a damper on sth / put sb off

Example: The noise distracted me and I wasn’t able to finish the test on time.
The noise put me off and I wasn’t able to finish the test on time.

1. Her fiancé has been trying to save some money for the wedding reception.
                                          
2. He called him a country bumpkin and told him to dress more appropriately for the occasion.
                                          
3. Even though the mother-in-law was glad at hearing the news, his father-in-law ruined
the mood of his party when he mentioned the outstanding tax that his son-in-law had
failed to pay off.
                                          
4. He found the idea of retirement rather unpleasant.
                                          
5. When Mary had second thoughts about marrying Ian, he pushed her into making a final
decision.
                                          
6. You might keep postponing getting a permanent job but remember that it will cost you a
lot in the long run.
                                          
7. Being on the same wavelength, Patrick realised that Sara would support whatever idea he
was going to come up with.
                                          
8. “I know I’m engaged to you. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to tolerate you drinking cider
with your ridiculously stupid mates,’’ Laura shouted to Ian.
                                          
9. We’re not on speaking terms anymore. Unfortunately, I’ve realised far too late that he’s
been playing me for a fool our entire relationship.
                                           

218
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
starve herring
unlucky
kiosk
GENERAL VOCABULARY gossip EXPRESSIONS WITH PUT
desire
anticipate off-putting
be cross with sb put a damper on sth
be engaged to put pressure on sb
be on speaking terms with sb put sb off
be on the same wavelength put sb on
beverage put sb’s foot down
cider put sb’s heart into sth
country bumpkin put sth aside
curb the enthusiasm put sth down to sth
devote put sth forward
dump sb at the altar put sth off
dusk put sth on
fear of commitment put up with something
fiancée / fiancé
glad at
go for it
harass
have a gut feeling
have second thoughts
have the guts to do sth
in the long run
mate
obstacle
ordeal
outstanding tax
overcast
pavement
permanent job
play sb for a fool
pop the question
postpone
premises
retirement
ridiculous excuses
slack off
spill the beans
tense
topple
venue
wedding reception

219
Unit 5

Key
1. b (Suggested answers)
A 2. a B 1. I won’t forgive him until he
3. b apologises to me.
4. c 2. I won’t have had enough training by
5. a the end of the course to overcome
6. c my fear of flying.
7. a 3. Perhaps I’ll go for it next year.
8. b 4. It will open as soon as the painting
arrives.
5. I’m seeing him/her in an hour.
6. Vehicles will not be allowed onto
the premises after dusk.
7. The designer will have reached a
decision before the day finishes.

1. am defending 1. tense
C 2. commences D 2. beverage
3. won’t have been called out 3. harass
4. are passing 4. ordeal
5. will turn out 5. venue
6. will have become 6. spill the beans
7. finish 7. altar
8. are going to celebrate 8. dump
9. aren’t going to curb 9. pavement

1. b. 1. put aside
E 2. g. F 2. put on more appropriate clothes
3. e. 3. put a damper on
4. a. 4. off-putting
5. c. 5. put pressure on
6. d. 6. putting off
7. f. 7. put forward
8. h. 8. put up with
9. putting me on

220
Planning
for the
big day 3 lesson

5
unit
5 /3 Unit

Lesson

Planning for
the big day
A couple is doing sums, trying to see whether they can
afford to get married. They don’t agree on the way they
should spend their savings.

Aims
In this lesson you have focused on revising a number of ways to
express the future. Now you know that the future can be expressed
by two present tenses: the Present Simple and Continuous

• The play begins at 9.

• I’m seeing the dentist tomorrow

the ‘be going to’ construction

• I’m going to give up smoking in the future

the Future Simple

• I hope the situation will improve soon.

• People won’t live on Mars

and the Future Perfect Simple

• It will have stopped raining by the end of our holiday.

You have also revised the Future Continuous tense, used to express
a continuous action in the future happening over a period of time.

• This time tomorrow, the singer will be performing at the

stadium

222
 Lesson 3: Planning for the big day

and focused on the difference between the Future Continuous and

Future Simple tenses

• I will be studying when you come back. I will study more

when I get all the necessary books.

Moreover, in this lesson you have revised one more future tense –
the Future Perfect Continuous, used to express actions that will
have started in the future and continue over a particular period of
time

• By the time I start my final year at university, I will have been

studying Civil Law for more than four years.

You will have also revised the difference between the Future
Perfect Simple, used for actions finished before a particular time
in the future.

• The cathedral will have been constructed by the end of the

summer

and the Future Perfect Continuous used for actions continuing in

the future

• The board will have been examining the construction plans

for two weeks before giving their final agreement to the
project.

Finally, in this lesson, you have added more expressions and

phrasal verbs by adding ‘put’ to your vocabulary.

223
Unit 5

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Ella It’s no good, Riley. These sums just don’t add up. We simply
1 can’t afford to get married next year. We’re going to have
to put off (1) the wedding!
Put off here means to postpone.
We’re going to have to postpone the wedding.
We’re going to have to get married at a later date.
Riley What? We can’t! It’s all planned! We’re seeing the vicar
next week and the invitations are being printed tomorrow!
Ella Well, you’ll have to cancel everything!
Riley Don’t be ridiculous! I’m sure we can sort something out.
Ella No. It’s impossible. We just don’t have the money. We are
cancelling our wedding!
We are not getting married at all!
The wedding is off!
Riley Well, I am going to put up a fight. We’ve both been dreaming
about this day for months! Here, let me have a look! You
must have made a mistake somewhere.
Ella Don’t put me down!
Don’t make me feel stupid.
Don’t criticise me.
Riley I’m not! I’m just checking the figures.
Riley Where’s all the money we’ve been putting away for the
past 12 months?
Where’s all the money we’ve been saving over the last 12
months?
Ella It’s in the savings account. We are using that money to pay
for the honeymoon.
Riley What, all of it?
Ella No! But I don’t want to start my married life with no
savings! What about all our future plans?
What about our future?
Riley What future plans?
Ella Four children, a big house in the country, not to mention
your love of classic cars. If we spend all our savings now,
we’ll still be living in this house in 20 years’ time.
Riley Yes, but at least we’ll have been married for 20 years!
We’ll have been happily married for 20 years.
We’ll have been living in poverty for 20 years.
Ella And we’ll have been arguing about money for 20 years too!
We may even have got a divorce over it!
Riley I can’t believe you are talking about getting divorced before
we’re even married!
Ella I’m sorry. I’m just worried that we’ll have no back-up funds
in case of emergencies if we waste a lot of money on just
one happy day.

224
 Lesson 3: Planning for the big day

Riley I suppose you’re right. We’ll regret it if we spend the lot.

We’ll regret it if we are not careful with our money now.
We’ll look back and wish that we hadn’t spent so much
money on a wedding!
Ella Exactly.
Riley I thought that, as well as the savings, we’d put aside
enough money to cover all our expenses.
Riley Well, we could get married in the garden!
Ella I am not getting married in our garden! It’s tiny!
Riley Perhaps there are other ways of saving money. Do we have
to go to New Zealand?
Ella If we are going on a honeymoon, we are going to New
Zealand. (2) 2
You’ll be eating dinner on your own if you don’t come home Will is used here to make a threat.
on time.
You’ll be living on your own if you don’t agree with me.
Riley Yes, but, we can put off the honeymoon until later.
Ella No, it won’t be a proper honeymoon if it’s not straight after
the wedding.
Riley We can’t just cancel everything, though. I’ve already put
down (3) deposits. 3
I’ve already paid the deposit. Put down is the phrasal verb used to
say that you have paid a deposit.
Ella You’ll have to phone people up tomorrow and try and get
our deposits back.
Riley They’re non-refundable.
Ella Well, you’ll have to try. We’re going to(4) need that money 4
in the future.
Going to is used to express future
Riley Ella, we both have good jobs and we both bring home plans.
decent salaries.
Ella It’s too risky. Anything could happen. We might lose our
jobs.
Riley Don’t be so dramatic! I don’t think we’ll be in the dole 5
queue anytime soon! (5)
Will is used for future predictions
I don’t think we’ll be short of money in the future. here.
I don’t think I’ll be out of a job in the future.
Ella It’s a risk I’m not prepared to take.
Riley Are you getting cold feet?
Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?
Are you having doubts about getting married?
Ella No! Of course not!
Riley I hope not. If you do get cold feet, you will tell me, won’t
you? I don’t want to be stood up at the altar. I’ll be a
laughing stock!
Ella No, I’d never do that to you.
Riley I know you’re worried about money, but I think you’re
over-reacting. Don’t forget, we’ll have been getting rent
from the holiday cottage for 6 months.
Ella Ah… I missed that bit! Look! Oh, thank goodness! We can
afford the wedding after all! Un-cancel the wedding!
Riley Oh, Ella! Why do I put up with you?!

225
Unit 5

Use of English
FUTURE SIMPLE AND FUTURE CONTINUOUS
While the Future Simple and Future future. Please compare:
Continuous both express events happening in
the future, the main difference between these Alright! I’ll clean the flat tomorrow. Alright,
two tenses is the duration of the actions. The I’ll be cleaning the flat tomorrow between 7
Future Simple predominantly expresses short and 8 pm. (= a longer action with a specific
actions and single events, which we can view as duration that will continue for a certain time
‘points’ in future time. When using the Future in the future).
Simple, you do not provide any information
about the duration of the action. The Future Continuous can also express a
pre-planned activity in the future, over which
• I suppose he will do it. we do not have a lot of influence.
• She won’t keep her word.
• It will get warmer soon. This time tomorrow, I’ll be having a job
• Will the judge sentence him if the jury interview. = The job interview will be a
finds him guilty? continuous action that will last over some
time in the future. Also, the decision to hold
it tomorrow is not necessarily the speaker’s.
The Future Continuous describes actions that Remember that the Future Continuous is
are going to be happening over some time in typically used with such expressions as ‘from…
the future. These actions, in contrast to the to’, ‘this time tomorrow’, ‘at ….’, ‘this morning…’.
Future Simple, are of a longer duration and All of these expressions convey information
cannot be described as short ‘points’ in the about the duration of the events and actions.

FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE AND FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

You already know that the Future Perfect While the Future Perfect Simple expresses
Simple is used to express actions that will be completion, the Future Perfect Continuous
finished some time in the future. Remember is used to talk about activities that, at some
that it is essential to provide the information point, will be in progress.
concerning the time of completion.
• He’ll be tired because by the time the
• The book will have been printed by the marathon finishes, he will have been
end of this week. running for more than four hours.
• The building crew will have finished the • The mother will have been preparing
renovation of the theatre by the time her divorce file for a week before going
the star arrives. to court.

226
 Lesson 3: Planning for the big day

Work-out
A
Choose the correct version.

Example: Will you help me? / Will you be helping me?

1. I’ve checked the figures and we can afford the taxi. It will be waited / will be waiting for
us right in front of the airport.
2. Should the CEO begin to worry or will his friends bail him out? / will his friends be
bailing him out?
3. This time tomorrow, many unemployed people will stand / will be standing in a queue in
a job centre to apply for the dole.
4. Don’t worry. I will mention / will be mentioning it to him. There’s no need for you to
call him personally.
5. If she insults me one more time, I will ignore / will be ignoring her and that will be the
end of our friendship.
6. I will still learn / will still be learning English this time next year.
7. The mass will start / will have been starting at 6 o’clock. Please, arrive on time.
8. Oh Goodness, not him again. The lecture lasts two hours and he will ramble / will be
rambling for ages about the collected works of Renaissance poets.
9. The bride will walk / will be walking down the aisle to the sound of Ave Maria.

B
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. Use the Future Perfect Simple or
Future Perfect Continuous.

Example: I will have done (do) the exercise by the time the lesson finishes.

How will your life look in 10 years?

Hopefully, in 10 years’ time I 1)                 (settle down) and 2)
               (start) a family. For many of my friends, having children
is not a priority; However, I do find it tremendously important and perhaps by the time I’m
40, I 3) (have) two or three children of my own. We
4)            (live) together for some years before my children will
decide to move out and create their own homes and that will be fine with me, as everybody
needs independence. Hopefully, in 10 years’ time, my partner and I 5)
    (get married) and 6)           (live) together for more
(we travel) to places that
than 15 years. 7)    
we’ve always dreamed of before our 40th birthday? I do hope so. By 2023, I 8)
               (learn) Japanese for long enough to finally go there on
holiday.

227
Unit 5

C
Correct the mistakes.

Example: If you’re going shopping anyway, will you have bought some toilet paper?
If you’re going shopping anyway, will you buy some toilet paper?

1. What will you do next Sunday between 7 pm and 10 pm?

                                          
2. Shall you help me with my homework?
                                          
3. The concert will have already been starting when we get to the venue.
                                          
4. The wedding will be off if the groom-to-be will continue to behave in this manner.
                                          
5. By the end of the season, most students will pass their exams.
                                          
6. The professor will have taught for more than thirty years before retiring.
                                          
7. I’m sorry, you can ask all you want but I won’t be doing this for you.
                                          
8. You’ll find me easily. I’ll have been standing by the entrance.
                                          
9. Don’t call me between 3:30 and 4. I will eat dinner then.
                                          

228
 Lesson 3: Planning for the big day

D
Match the underlined expressions with their suitable synonyms.

to express / to pay / to interfere / to stand up for sth / to be honest / to sympathise

/ to provide accommodation / to lock sb up / to hurt sb

Example: What are the procedures of putting out a bonfire? To extinguish    

1. You ask me why you can’t ever afford a decent vehicle. Well, to put it bluntly, you are
terrible at saving money.                              
2. Rick should have kept his mouth shut. His remark that Agnes was the laughing stock of the
party really put her down.                          
3. Don’t you hate it when your mother-in-law puts her nose in your daily life? It’s the last
straw for me.                                  
4. He was put away in prison for driving while intoxicated.                 
5. Come on, put yourself in my shoes. You might not understand my need for a lavish
wedding, but you shouldn’t oppose it so vehemently.                      
6. I don’t know how to put it, really. I guess I got cold feet and chickened out when Patrick
asked me to marry him.                               
7. He’d been eager to put up a fight to have a honeymoon in Bali; however, after some
deliberation, he realised it was no good trying to persuade his fiancée, who preferred to
travel to Australia.                                  
8. I can take a risk and put you up for the night, provided that you do not damage my dorm
room.                                           
9. If only I hadn’t put down a non-refundable deposit on the flat.              

229
Unit 5

E
Read the sentences and choose the logical replies.

Example: A: What does a bridesmaid have to do?

B: You just wait for the groom at the altar. / You conduct the wedding
ceremony. / You might help the bride with her dress.

1. A: The party’s wrapped up for now, so you can put your feet up if you want to.
B: Finally, I do need a rest. / Thanks, but I don’t want to exercise. / No problem,
I’ ll help you with the cleaning.
2. A: When will you put your back into it?
B: I’m sorry but I’m very interested in weight-lifting. / Give me a break! I’m trying
really hard here! / I’ d prefer not to show too much skin, I’m rather modest.
3. A: The project has been put on a back burner.
B: Awesome, I’m thrilled to participate. / You don’t say? I must say I’m relieved
to hear that. / Yeah, I’ve also heard it’s extremely significant for the company.
4. A: I honestly cannot believe what you’ve put me through.
B: Don’t worry. She’ ll pick up the phone when you call her again. / Faithfulness
is important for me too. / Aren’t you overreacting a little?
5. A: Why didn’t you put me straight during the presentation? I’ve just made a fool of myself
in front of everybody.
B: Why should I? Your posture is fantastic. / I was trying but you wouldn’t listen! /
Don’t worry, you didn’t block the screen. Everything was perfectly visible.
6. A: The vet’s told me we should consider putting Ringo down.
B: Oh no, I can’t imagine our home without him. / I agree, we should walk with
him more often. / Maybe… He does seem a bit overweight.

F
Choose the odd word out.

Example: chapel / theatre / cinema / opera

1. sort out / clear up / solve / worsen

2. cheerful / glad / merry / miserable
3. unimportant / considerable / worthless / irrelevant
4. cheap / pricy / inexpensive / affordable
5. praise / approve / whinge / compliment
6. forgettable / insignificant / trifling / memorable
7. widespread / rare / original / unique
8. sure / certain / tentative / absolute

230
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
starve
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
unlucky herring
kiosk
gossip
GENERAL VOCABULARY desire EXPRESSIONS WITH PUT

laughing stock I don’t know how to put it

aisle put an animal down
bail sb out put down a deposit
bridesmaid put sb away in prison
can’t afford put sb down
chapel put sb in sb’s shoes
check the figures put sb straight
chicken out put sb through sth
considerable put sb up
decent put sb’s back into sth
deliberation put sb’s feet up
dorm put sb’s nose in sth
eager to put sth on a back burner
faithfulness put sth out
get cold feet put up a fight
groom-to-be to put it bluntly
honeymoon
intoxicated
it’s no good
lavish
mass
memorable
miserable
mumble
non-refundable
on the dole
overreacting
pricy
relieved
significance
sort sth out
take the risk
tentatively
the last straw
the wedding’s off
vehemently
vehicle
whinge
whole-hearted
widespread
wrap sth up

231
Unit 5

Key
1. will be waiting 1. will have settled
A 2. will his friends bail him out? B 2. will have started
3. will be standing 3. will have had
4. will mention 4. will have been living
5. will ignore 5. will have got married
6. will still be learning 6. will have been living
7. will start 7. Will we have travelled?
8. will be rambling 8. will have been learning
9. will walk

1. What will you be doing next Sunday 1. To be honest

C between 7 pm and 10 pm? D 2. To hurt sb
2. Will you help me with my homework? 3. To interfere
3. The concert will have already started 4. To lock sb up
when we get to the venue. 5. To sympathize
4. The wedding will be off if the 6. To express sth
groom-to-be continues to behave in 7. To stand up for sth
this manner. 8. To provide accommodation
5. By the end of the season, most 9. To pay
students will have passed their
exams.
6. The professor will have been
teaching for more than thirty years
before retiring.
7. I’m sorry, you can ask all you want
but I won’t do this for you.
8. You’ll find me easily. I’ll be standing
by the entrance.
9. Don’t call me between 3:30 and 4. I
will be eating dinner then.

1. Finally, I do need a rest. 1. worsen

E 2. Give me a break! I’m trying really F 2. miserable
hard here! 3. considerable
3. You don’t say? I must say I’m relieved 4. pricy
to hear it. 5. whinge
4. Aren’t you overreacting a little? 6. memorable
5. I was trying but you wouldn’t listen! 7. widespread
6. Oh no, I can’t imagine our home 8. tentative
without him.

232
 The
wedding
reception 4 lesson

5
unit
5 /4 Unit

Lesson

The wedding
reception
At the wedding reception, the best man reveals a bit too much
in his speech, making the newlywed couple feel extremely
embarrassed.

Aims
In this lesson you have revised all of the tenses used to express
the future. Do you remember how many tenses you can use for
this purpose? There are six ways to talk about the future: two
present tenses (Present Simple and Present Continuous),
the ‘be going to’ construction, and four future tenses, two of
them simple (Future Simple, Future Perfect Simple) and
two of them progressive (Future Continuous, Future Perfect
Continuous).

234
 Lesson 4: The wedding reception

You have also learnt a number of idiomatic expressions that are

extremely essential for a fluent and native-like command of
English. So, next time you meet a native speaker out of the blue,
communicating with them will be nothing more than a piece
of cake. Idiomatic expressions are an Achilles heel for many
students – do not be afraid of them!

235
Unit 5

Comprehension

Character Dialogue
Riley Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! I hope you are all having a
good time. I’d like to introduce a very close friend of mine and
Ella’s, my best man (1) , Nathan!
Nathan Thank you, Riley. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,
girls and boys. I am indeed the best man and I’d like to begin
by first congratulating Riley and Ella on their nuptials. Now
I’d like to raise a glass to the bride and groom.
1
I’d like to congratulate Riley and Ella on their wedding.
A best man is usually the groom’s
best friend. Traditionally, they make a I’d like to congratulate Riley and Ella on tying the knot.
speech at the wedding.
Nathan Now, as some of you will know, Riley is a very old friend
of mine. We’ve known each other for donkey’s years.
Traditionally, the best man’s speech is meant to make fun
of the groom and embarrass him. However, I’ve also known
Ella since college and she is also a dear friend. So, I’ll start
by saying that... Ella, you look absolutely stunning today,
but, you can’t escape the reaches of my best man’s speech.
So, I apologise in advance for taking the mickey out of you
both but, when you get married, it comes with the territory.
I apologise in advance for making fun of you.
I’d like to apologise in advance for making a few jokes at
your expense.
Nathan I’m proud to say that I played a big hand in bringing them
together in the first place.
I played a big part in introducing them to each other.
If it hadn’t been for me, they might never have met in the
first place.
Nathan Ella took a bit of persuading to go on the first date with
Riley and, by all accounts, that first date was very nearly
also their last!
According to what other people have said, they nearly didn’t
go on a second date!
Nathan Riley thought Ella was as sound as a pound but Ella thought
Riley was a bit of an oddball. He turned up on their first
date in his Sunday best, drowning in aftershave! However,
he won her over with his political know-how and, after a
bit of a push, Ella agreed to a second date and they’ve never
looked back. Ever since then, marriage was always on the
cards.

236
 Lesson 4: The wedding reception

After their second date, marriage was inevitable.

Nathan Of course, many of you won’t know that this wedding
nearly didn’t get off the starting blocks. We all know that
money is the root of all evil and money came very close to
putting this wedding in jeopardy.
They very nearly didn’t get married due to a disagreement
over money.
Nathan They say that an Englishman’s house is his castle, and Riley’s
dream of a country mansion nearly put a spanner in the
works. When he suggested a cheap-as-chips honeymoon
in the UK to replace their New Zealand dream, it was very
nearly the final straw! However, worried that Ella would
do a runner and leave him hanging, Riley backed down.
Fortunately, they discovered some money from elsewhere
and the wedding was back on!
Riley ’s ambitions nearly stopped the wedding and
him suggesting a ver y cheap honeymoon made things
worse.
Nathan You can’t blame Ella for being cautious. After all, if you look
after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves. So
I’m pleased to say that they made it, we are all here today
and, this time tomorrow, they’ll be on a plane on the way
to New Zealand!
Nathan So, let’s look to the future. They’ll need to keep their wits
about them as they are planning to have four children.
They’ll need to be ready to think quickly and react to
difficult and unexpected situations.
Nathan That will keep them busy on the honeymoon and for many
years to come! I’m looking forward to being asked to be a
godfather four times over.
Nathan I’m also looking forward to their retirement. I can picture
it now. I’ll be sitting on the porch of their country mansion
while the children and grandchildren are working on the
farm.
Nathan So, what advice can I offer the happy couple on how to have
a long and fruitful marriage?
What advice can I give for a long, successful and productive
marriage?
Nathan Well, marriage isn’t easy. There may be teething problems
but I hope you both know that I’m always here for you.
There may be problems at the beginning of the marriage
because they are newly weds.
Nathan If things do go pear-shaped, remember to keep your chin
up and make sure that you give it a fair crack of the whip
before you consider divorce.
If things go wrong, stay positive and try your best to
keep the marriage going before you think about getting a
divorce.
Nathan So, I’d like to finish by saying that I truly believe that this is
a marriage made in heaven.
This is the perfect marriage.
Nathan And on that note, I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the
wedding. The disco starts with the first dance at 7.30.
After that, the dance floor is all yours, so have a riot!
Have a great time!

237
Unit 5

Use of English
FUTURE TENSES REVISION
Remember, you can express the future in a There are two simple future tenses:
variety of ways. Use two present tenses to
express pre-planned future: • Future Simple
(The house will be built this year)
• Present Simple • Future Perfect Simple
(The bus leaves tomorrow) (The house will have been built by the
• Present Continuous end of this year)
(She’s meeting her future business
partner on Thursday).
What sets them apart? The events expressed
by the Future Perfect Simple are always set
What is the difference between them? the against a particular time in the future by the
Present Simple expresses events which end of which the action will have happened
cannot be changed and which you do not have (before… , by the end…, by the time…). The
any influence on (timetables, schedules, etc.) Future Simple does not need this contrast.
while the Present Continuous can express There are two progressive future tenses:
planned events in the future.
You can express the level of your intentions • Future Continuous
using three different tenses. (I will be studying for two hours
tomorrow)
• Future Simple • Future Perfect Continuous
(Next year I will find a new job) (I will have been studying for two hours
• ‘be going to’ construction tomorrow before you come home)
(I’m going to do it when I’ve got more
free time)
• Present Continuous How do we distinguish between them? Both
(I’m flying to London tomorrow) the Future Continuous and the Future Perfect
Continuous are progressive tenses, meaning
that they focus on the duration of the action.
The Future Simple expresses the weakest level Thus, they always express prolonged actions.
of intentions. The ‘be going to’ construction is The difference between these two tenses is
utilised to express your stronger intentions; almost exactly the same as between the Future
However, you haven’t taken any steps towards Simple and the Future Perfect Simple. The
fulfilling them yet. The Present Continuous, Future Perfect Continuous is used to describe
on the other hand, expresses events that will a continuing action that will be taking place as
definitely happen in the future. or before a second action happens. The Future
Continuous does not need this requirement.

238
 Lesson 4: The wedding reception

Work-out
A
Match a grammatical tense with its function. In one situation, a function can be ex-
pressed by two different tenses.

1. Present Simple: a. to talk about a pre-planned activity on which you have

no influence
2. Present Continuous: b. to talk about timetables
3. ‘Be going to’ construction: c. to talk about a completed action before a particular time
in the future
4. Future Simple: d. to talk about a continuing action happening at a particular
time in the future before a different event takes place
5. Future Continuous: e. to express a pre-planned arrangement on which you
have an influence
6. Future Perfect Simple: f. to express your intentions
7. Future Perfect Continuous: g. to predict the future considering existing evidence
h. to talk about promises, offers, threats, refusals,
invitations, spontaneous decisions
i. to predict the future without any given evidence
j. to talk about an activity in progress, happening at a
particular time in the future
k. in time clauses after e.g. ‘when’ and in conditional
sentences after e.g. ‘if ’ or ‘unless’

1. b   2.      3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     

B
Rewrite the sentences using the prompts given.

Example: What are your intentions for tonight? (are) What are you doing tonight?

1. Are you thinking of leaving us soon? (be)

                       us soon?
2. I’m telling you, we won’t have the car ready in time for the party. (repair)
The mechanic                        before the party.
3. Petrol prices might decrease soon. (perhaps)
Petrol prices                        soon.
4. Do you want me to stay with you? (I)
                       with you?
5. I definitely refuse to wear this dress. (not)
I                        this dress.
6. The president has arranged to hold the meeting with his fellow MPs on Friday at 1 pm. (is)
The president                        on Friday at 1 pm.
7. Two of my best friends have reached the decision to get engaged this month. (are)
Two of my best friends                        this month.
8. The company will not have enough time to process the data by the end of the week. (not)
The company                        by the end of the week.

239
Unit 5

C
Rewrite the sentences using the prompts given.

Example: I / talk / to him / if / you / not want / do / this.

I will talk to him if you don’t want to do this.

1. He / direct / five films / before / reach / 30.

                                           
2. This time tomorrow / I / celebrate / with my friends.
                                           
3. I / definitely / see / Mary / on Tuesday.
                                           
4. I / carry / this suitcase / for you?
                                           
5. By next month / we / be / here / for seven months.
                                           
6. It / estimate / that /petrol prices / go down.
                                           
7. She / faint? She / look / so pale.
                                           
8. By next New Year’s Eve / I / work / in this company / for 2 years.
                                           

D
Read the sentences and choose the option that completes the idioms best.

Example: Remember to turn up in your Friday / Saturday / Sunday best.

This is an official meeting.

1. I cannot believe they are making / fastening / tying the knot tomorrow and I haven’t
been invited to the hen party. What an outrage!
2. Even though Patrick’s known Joan for cat’s / donkey’s / dog’s years, he was still
astonished when she decided to bankroll his wedding reception.
3. Do not pull / push / take the mickey out of him. He’s a bit of a nutter who might overreact
and throw a tantrum.
4. After a bit of a push / pull / shove, my family finally agreed to chip in towards my nuptials.
5. The news of their break-up was not a shock. Ever since they began to drift apart, their
divorce was on the game / cards / play.
6. His abrupt refusal to pay the deposit in advance has really put a spanner / screwdriver /
hammer in the works.
7. When I realized that the role of a best man was to make a wedding reception speech, I
almost did a runner / jogger / sprinter.
8. Well, let’s call it ends / quits / finishes and forget about this bizarre incident, shall we?
9. I was yellow / red / green with envy when I realised I would be staying in the dirty attic
room and my sister had been given the cosy one on the ground floor.

240
 Lesson 4: The wedding reception

E
Complete the idioms with one of the words provided below.

root / good / jeopardy / riot / towel / leg / oddball / teething / storm / block

Example: I was really disappointed when my idea didn’t get off the starting block .

1. His downfall after winning the lottery was inevitable. Didn’t he realise that money is the
               of all evil?
2. It was a splendid holiday. We all had a               .
3. The entrepreneur, who possesses business know-how and decisiveness, succeeded in
establishing his own company, despite having                problems.
4. ‘I do not tolerate adultery and infidelity. I’m leaving you for              ,’
said Katy to her spouse and slammed the door.
5. She’s a stunning girl, but a bit of an               . You won’t complain
about boredom when you meet her.
6. If one person doesn’t make the effort, they might put the entire undertaking in              
 
. So please, take this job very seriously.
7. ‘We all sense that a               is brewing. But bear in mind that even
if we undergo difficulties, we can always overcome them,’ said the motivational speaker
during the company meeting.
8. He was too fragile and not inquisitive enough to be a journalist and that’s why he threw in
the                and dropped out of his media studies.
9. Customarily, it’s not necessary for the guests to buy a wedding gift that costs an arm and
a               , so don’t worry about not having enough funds to buy
something really expensive.

241
Unit 5

F
Match the sentence halves to create a logical combination.

1. Remember that my house is a. my castle. Feel free to use the kitchen,

but don’t forget about the cleaning
rules we’ve established.
2. I must admit the test was a piece of b. more than he could chew when he asked
the young radical to explain his political
views.
3. You can look like a million dollars without c. a day and start again tomorrow. At
spending a lot of money on cosmetics. present, a solution will not appear out
Here are some of our products that are of the blue, so let’s not waste our time
as cheap as any longer.
4. You smoke like d. friend. When I was at my lowest, she
was nowhere to be found.
5. He was hoping for a fruitful conversation e. a pound and will not break down when
but he clearly bit off things go pear-shaped.
6. Even though the HR employee did not f. chips and extremely efficient at
see any potential in me, I tried hard and revitalising your skin. Try them and you
after a bit of won’t be disappointed!
7. Get your money’s worth and buy this car! g. cake for me. I was knowledgeable about
It’s as sound as the history of 18th century Germany
and didn’t find it difficult at all.
8. I can plainly see we are all tired. Let’s call h. persuading, she gave me a fair crack of
it the whip and decided to let me come in
for a job interview the following day.
9. Unfortunately, Patricia proved to be i. a chimney. Don’t you know that lung
only a fair-weather cancer is predominantly caused by
cigarettes?

1. a   2.     3.     4.     5.     6.     7.     8.     9.    

242
 shortlist gunpowder gather
attendance
esteemed abbreviation
ban
trial
community attend recognition
peaceful tattoo bleep
pierce
overload entrepreneur
sedan neighbourhood godson badminton
weird join
spend enough redecorate swap
butcher wagon confused fee
engaged generous
attentive
rude dust
cue
polite sirloin
Word List habit
too
get promoted
worth lamb
vet mutton
seafood
starve herring
unlucky
kiosk
GENERAL VOCABULARY gossip IDIOMATIC VOCABULARY
desire

abrupt after a bit of a push

adultery be a bit of an oddball
bankroll sth be a piece of cake
best man be as cheap as chips
bizarre be as sound as a pound
chip in be green with envy
cosy be on the cards
customarily bite off more than one can chew
decisiveness call it a day
downfall call it quits
drift away cost an arm and a leg
entrepreneur do a runner
fragile fair-weather friend
fruitful get off the starting block
hasty get your money’s worth
hen party give it a fair crack of the whip
inevitable have a riot
infidelity have teething problems
inquisitive know somebody for donkey’s years
know-how leave sb for good
knowledgeable about look like a million dollars
make the effort money is the root of all evil
nuptials my house is my castle
nutter out of the blue
pay in advance put a spanner in the works
plainly put sb’s life in jeopardy
predominant smoke like a chimney
splendid step by step
spouse take a bit of persuading
stunning take the mickey out of sb
undergo the storm is brewing
things go pear-shaped
throw in the towel
tie the knot
turn up in one’s Sunday best

243
Unit 5

Key
1. Present Simple: a), b), k) 1. Will you be leaving us soon?
A 2. Present Continuous: e) B 2. The mechanic won’t have repaired
3. ‘Be going to’ construction: f), g) the car before the party.
4. Future Simple: h), i) 3. Petrol prices will perhaps decrease
5. Future Continuous: a), j) soon.
6. Future Perfect Simple: c) 4. Shall I stay with you?
7. Future Perfect Continuous: d) 5. I will not wear this dress.
6. The president is holding the meeting
with his fellow MPs on Friday at 1
pm.
7. Two of my best friends are getting
engaged this month.
8. The company won’t have processed
the data by the end of the week.

1. He will have directed five films 1. tying

C before reaching / he reaches 30. D 2. donkey’s
2. This time tomorrow, I will be 3. take
celebrating with my friends. 4. push
3. I’m definitely seeing Mary on 5. cards
Tuesday. 6. spanner
4. Shall I carry this suitcase for you? 7. runner
5. By next month, we will have been 8. quits
here for seven months. 9. green
6. It is estimated that petrol prices will
go down.
7. Is she going to faint? She looks so
pale.
8. By next New Year’s Eve, I will have
been working in this company for
two years.

1. root 1. a.
E 2. riot F 2. g.
3. teething 3. f.
4. good 4. i.
5. oddball 5. b.
6. jeopardy 6. h.
7. storm 7. e.
8. towel 8. c.
9. leg 9. d.

244