The feel-good factor Use of English Open cloze (Part 2) > CB page 46 El Read the article. For questions 1-8, think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word for each gap. <= ae eon) I it's a state of mind Research undertaken into (0)......(f..... PUrSUit of happiness has produced some interesting ideas. Apparently, our level cof happiness depends on (1). much we invest in it. The hypothesis is that happiness resembles a skill and can therefore be learned ~ if people are willing to put time and effort (2) perfecting it. Meditation seems tobe a key factor and this (3) um Be scientifically demonstrated. MRI scans performed on people who meditated regularly showed raised levels of positivity inthe left-hand, side of (4) __.. brains, the part usually connected with happiness. At the same time, they managed to keep the more negative right side (5) _ check. Does this mean only specialist meditators can be happy? Apparently (6) nus 88 even people who only meditated occasionally demonstrated greater positivity. This could indicate that tweaking the (7)__ wwe channel our thoughts, modifying our perception of things around us, can 8) nnn @ big difference to our sense of well-being. If ‘true, isn't it worth putting in some effort?See : Grammar hypothetical meaning > CB page 49 [ complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. wish | __(oWn) a pet - Id probably fee! happier. Ifonly they (give) me the chance to organise the party next week - Id be good at it. It high time people _ __.(start) appreciating the good things in Ife wish |______ (go) to see that comedian in the theatre last week — the reviews were great. ifonly| _____ (not get) involved with the project! ‘Wish I... (Gan improve) my dancing technique but it’s hard, ‘id rather my brother_ loudly in the evenings Its high time we late for the party. (not piay) his music so (leave), otherwise well be Find and correct the mistakes in the sentences. There are mistakes in six of the sentences. | wish | work in London — there's not much to enjoy here in the evenings Ifonly he would stop taking so much - it really gets to me! | wish | wouldn't have to work so hard ~ fm getting really tired, It's high time someone takes action to improve the broadband service round here! Id rather he doesn't keep talking while m watching TV! | wish I could lose some weight — it's very hard, though. Did you rather we postponed our get-together until tamorrow? | wish my sister couldn't keep borrowing my clothes! Reading Multiple matching (Part 8) > CB page 50 About the exam: In Reading and Use of English Part 8, you match ‘questions or statements to sections of one text or several short texts, Strategy: + Read the text(s) quickly to get a general idea of the topic. + Read through the questions and underline key ‘words and phrases that may help you + Scan the text(s)to find parts with a similar meaning to what you have underlined Remember that the words will not be the same. Read the article. Match the titles (1-4) with the sections (A-D). Keep it ight. It started with the Brits What's the secret? Dont take yourself too seriously 1 2 3 4 Read the article again. For questions 1-10, choose your answers from the sections A-D. You may choose any of the sections more than once. In which section does the writer praise the quality of some more serious films? point out the value of feel-good films in difficult economic times? mention afm character who leams from his experiences? a explain how a director uses a film as a vehicle for his own opinion? ‘comment on the artistic merit of the cinema? ma talk about the importance of escapism in flms? fr mention a special technique used to ‘create a feel good reaction? fa) insist that lighter flms can also = be clever? fr] talk about films that make us reflect on life? (a refer to fims where ordinary people triumph over authority?eel-good films stretch back right into the early days of cinema, The Brits were pioneers of the form. Producer Cecil Hepworth’s Rescued By Rover (1905), [EIWINSOMELVAN about 2 dog retrieving 2 kidnapped baby, was an early example of feel-good film-making ‘What distinguished it was the tempo. The film-makers Used cross-cutting to crank up the tension, which is only finally, " teleased when the baby is found. The film ‘marks a key stage inthe medium’s development from an amusing novelty to the “seventh art” able to hold its own alongside literature, theatre, painting, music and other more traditional forms; claims the British Film Institute's Screenonline website. Film historians today continue to study Hepworth’s storytelling abilities but that ‘wasn't what interested! ‘They went because it was a feel-good film. B There has long been a tendency to sneer at feel-good films. Serious, self-conscious auteurs are often too busy trying to IBrESneMESERN 200 too posto wry about Keeping audiences happy. However, as Preston Sturges famously showed in his comedy Sullivan's Travels (1942), i youre stuck on a prison chain gang, you don’t necessarily want to watch, Battleship Potemkin. Sullivan's Travelsis about John t Sullivan, a glib and successful young Hollywood director of comedies, who yearns to be taken seriously. Sullivan dresses up as a hobo and. Sets off across America to learn more about the plight of the common man. He ends up sentenced to six years in prison. One Of the prisoners’ few escapes from drudgery is watching cartoons. A he sits among his fellow cons and sees their faces ORME with laughter ata piece of what he regards as throwaway Disney animation, he rapidly revises his own priorities. “After | saw a Couple of pictures put out by my fellow comedy directors, which Seemed to have abandoned the fun in favour of the message, wrote Sullivan's Travelsto satisfy an urge to tell them to leave the Preaching to the preachers’ Sturges recalled. _ ‘A few years ago there were a lot of ‘deep-dish’ movies. We had films about guilt, (Atonemend) about the all-American dream coming apart at the seams (Revolutionary Road) and even a very long account of a very ong life tived backwards (the deeply morbid The Curious Case OF Benjamin Button). Deep-dish, feel-bad films have plenty to recommend them. If you're not 3 teenager and you don't just want to see the next summer tent- pole blockbuster, you'll welcome movies that pay attention to characterisation and dialogue and don't just rely on CGI or the posturing of comic book heroes. However, as film-makers from Preston Sturges to Danny Boyle have discovered, there is no reason that a feel-good movie needs to be dumb. You can touch ‘on SORIGUBEVAHION 21 BRUEAUAGUBHIER: the trick is to do so Uithely and, if possible, with a little Naan humour. D Historically, the best feel-good movies have often been made at ‘the darkest times. The war years and their immediate aftermath saw the British turning out some entertaining fare alongside all the BABAR. The Age of Austerity was also the age of the classic Ealing comedies, perfect examples of feel- {good film-making. In the best of these films like Passport To Pimlico or Whisky Galore, a community of eccentric and mildly (BRBRRHIE characters would invariably come together to thwart the big, bad, interfering bureaucrats. Stories about hiding away a hoard of whisky or setting up a nation state in central London were lapped up by audiences. To really work, feel-good movies must have energy and spontaneity ~ a reckless quality that no ‘amount of script tinkering from studio development executives ‘can guarantee. The best take you by surprise. What makes the perfect feel-good movie? That remains as hard to quantify as ever — you only know one when you see one. i Vocabulary working out meaning from context > CB page 50 Bl Find words and phrases in the article that match meanings 1-10. marked something out as special (Section A) increase (Section A) keep its position against others (Section A) longs for something (Section B) boring hard work (Section B) unintelligent (Section ©) lightening, making less depressing (Section C) reactionary (Section D) wevaneunas enjoyed very much, couldn't get enough of (Section D) 10. making small changes to something (Section D) 37Grammar substitution and ellipsis CB page 52 il Replace the underlined words in the blog post with the words in the box. doingthat it one that (x2) them _they (x2) More than just a pet ‘Two of my friends recently adopted a dog. By (1) adopting ‘dog they have given me an insight into how animals can promote well-being. (2) My friends were happy enough before they brought Buster home but rarely have | seen ‘anything bring s0 much joy into a home as he has. Its unsurprising that greater health and happiness can come from caring for a pet. One research study tracked people ‘working in stressful jobs who adopted a cat or dog; caring for (3) theie new cat or dog lowered the person’s blood pressure more effectively than medicine. People who own dogs tend to get more exercise than people without (4) a dog, and (5) exercise is a guaranteed way of boosting your health and happiness. Having said (6) exercise is a quaranteed way to boost health and happiness, | would never suggest that families with young children should get a puppy or any similar pet; not because (7) getting a puppy is problematic in itself, but parents nowadays lead such busy lives that looking after a young animal is the last thing (8) parents want to worry about. But families can stil benefit from the love of animals by adopting lower-maintenance pets such as fish or by helping out with other people's animals. There is one word missing in each conversation. Add it in the right place. Are you going to buy that car? No, cant afford at the moment Do you think the trains will be busy this evening? : | expect because it’s always busy on a Friday. People all seem happier these days! Do you think? | hadn't noticed! Im going to Rome in the summer for a short holiday. Really? Sol! Maybe well be thereat the same time Please tell Sue that Il be late for the meeting. OF course What time will you get here? Iva difficult decision but | think I! turn the job down. I suppose means you can stay near your family, so that's good. Vocabulary prefix mis- and false opposites > CB page 53 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the verbs in the box. Use the prefix mis behave fortune BH led ost 1. That young boy is always behaving badly ~ he needs to be taught some manners. 2 She's had a lot of bad luck recently - she deserves better 3. didn't understand exactly what she wanted, so | bought the wrong thing, 4 | don’t trust that salesman — | don't think he always tells the truth. 5 Some advertising doesnt tell the whole truth — in fact, it quite often deceives people. 6 Itoften possible to not understand he correct meaning of a persons body language. sentence adverbs P CB page 54 ED complete the sentences with the adverbs in the box. happily hopefully sadly understandably unfortunately __.. the couple meet again years later and the love affair continues. 2 __._.., HOone sees the murder although it happens in a very public place, 3 _. there will be another series next year but nothing has been announced so far. 4 . the victim is scared of walking down that street again. 5 , |haventt seen the sequel, sol cant comment on it. 6 «the dog has to be put down at the end of the film.PROGRESS TEST | [0 complete the sentences with the correct [EJ] Read the article below and think of the word which form of the verb in brackets. best fits each gap. Use only one word for each gap. FU lyeh the papers eer scponig There is an example at the beginning (0). nothing but bad news. It's really depressing me. 2. ItShigh time you (start) taking more responsibility for your own well-being, 3. Ifonlyl...... _. ealise) the job was going to be so dificult | would never have accepted x it~ Id have kept my old job. Gettingsthe measure of the 4 [love it here but! sometimes wish it happiestman on earth senennnnen (OE FN) $O MUCH, FE, the happiest 5 Kfonlyl.. ns (G@t) Out of the habit of ae going to bed so late. I'm always so tired in the mornings. Id rather we. _.. (Not go) out tonight. Let's stay in and watch a movie. ED choose the correct option to complete the sentences. | results. 2 Much as Iliked the first candidate, ! do have | parts kn SOME. nnsnannn BDOut Offering her the job. | oe A misgivings C misinterpretations eas B misunderstandings _D_ misspellings [Ey Read the questions and choose the option that is 4 Some ofthe participants names had been ot hossiile in each response. oo in the conference programme. 1. Doyou thinkTina will come to the party? A misspelt € misled ‘A She might. B She might do, € She might doit B misunderstood misinterpreted 2. Are you and Max going to have a holiday this year? 5 The student representatives were fSRSESETSIN ‘A Wehope. B Wehopeweare. Wehope so _—----~ About the school director's 3. Would your daughter lke a drink? tefusal 5 See thes ‘A No, thank you. She's just ha it A eshuben: C disilusioned B No, thank you. She's just had one. B disgruntled © disincined € No, thankyou. She doesrit want one {The idea that breads fatening isa common 4. Wereyou thinking of coming into the office tomorow? sae ie epnaleds ‘A No,butlcan. B No,but|cando, © No, but! can be. A misconception misprint 5 Which of your brothers is it who works as a scriptwriter? A Theeldest. B Theeldestoneis. € The eldest one. 6 How many times have you been to Formentera? A Three, B Threetimes. © They arethree. B misinterpretation —D misgivingMultiple-choice cloze (Part 1) [| For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). Be a better listener Listening is the most important of all skills for successful Generally, people are very (1) listeners. The reason for this is that when talking to a colleague or a friend, they are often already preparing their (2) while the colleague or friend is still speaking. But effective listening requires that you listen |[ESIHOUGH there were nothing else! in the world more fascinating to you than what that person is saying. Even in the (3) of an extremely noisy party, the very best listeners seem to have (8) ne the gift of making the person who is speaking fee! life or she were the only person in the room. They do this by paying (5) attention and asking lots of questions. ‘One very useful technique to (6) the conversation going is to ask, ‘What do you mean, exactly?’ It's impossible for the other person not to ” more detail. You can then follow (8) with other open-ended questions and keep the conversation rolling along 0 A situations B locations € places —_D settings, 1 Afaing — Bpoor frail D hopeless 2 A-speech —B response C reaction expression. 3 Abeastt — B depth C middle peak 4 A possessed B achieved C received D acquired 5 Astrong B close Chard =D deep. 6 A awe B put C get D make 7 A provide B participate € contribute D attach 8 Aalong Bin Cup D after conversations at work, college or in social (0) A. situations. Open cloze (Part 2) [G For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word for each gap. There is. an example at the beginning (0). Failure leads to success Success takes time, patience and commitment. (0) Mn, the digital age of ‘overnight’ success stories, this hard graft is easily BYEHOORED, (1) often than not, success is the result of months and years of consecutive allnighters, involving trial and error, setback after setback. There is cften thing URS (2) NN Fal to make people strive harder for success. worrying trend in some schools is the pretence that there are (3) : winners or losers in school sports. It may be hard for children to accept failure but, equally, its unfair not to encourage and reward talent. This applies (4) — all subjects, including sport. Removing the competitive spirit from schools crushes the incentive to improve and does not prepare young people (8) aun the tials ahead, In school, let (6) reward thoselfiigh @ehievers but at the same time encourage those that (7) falled to do better. (8) we mustn't forget is that fe keen sting Gffellure can spur on greatness.Word formation (Part 3) [7 For questions 1-8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There an example at the beginning (0). Message in a bottle News that a bottle (0) .comaining..a message sent by two twelve-year-old French-Canadian girs has been found fon a beach in Ireland, eight years after it had first set sail rom Canada, has been he story has over the wor'd The girls threw the bottle into the St Lawrence River in Quebec while on holiday. [BUETHE hanes of it being picked up by ten-year-old Oisin Mille eight years later on the other side of the world were (3) . The message, which was placed in a tworlire Sprite bottle, was written in French and is still 4) Cisin made the (6) while walking on the beach near his home in County Waterford. His mother said Oisin was an (6) treasure-hunter but this was by far the most incredible find he'd yet made, She added that one of | the most (7) things about this story was the amount of media attention it has attracted from news (8) all over the world. CONTAIN AMAZE IMAGINE LiKE EXPECT DISCOVER ENTHUSIASM, REMARK AGENT Key word transformations (Part 4) 15) For questions 1-6, complete the second sentence so that it has a lar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given. 1 Isat down and immediately my mobile started ringing. ‘SOONER No. my mobile started ringing, 2. Sue understood the theory described in the lecture really well oop Sue the theory described in the lecture 3. lamembarrassed whenever a friend pays, mea compliment, FIND \ toreceive compliments from fiends 4 | wasils0 | couldnt go to the festival. PREVENTED tliness tothe festival 5. The vilagers were profoundly suspicious of strangers. HAD The villagers... of strangers. 6 Many people resent having to pay so much tax, WisH Many people ..t0 pay so much tax