2 Mastering languages

Grammar b Read part of a dialogue between two friends and

then complete the gaps with one of the phrases
Expressing purpose, reason and result from the box below.
1a Read this extract from a principal’s letter and then because of in case make sure means
complete the gaps with one of the phrases from the otherwise so
box below.

due to for this reason in order not to led to

so as to with the intention of with the result that

Allerton Moor
High School

Dear Parent,

As you know, we have recently reduced the length of Well, I’d better go now, Anna,
the school day and cut the length of breaks between (1) otherwise I’ll be late for
lessons (1) so as to maintain an orderly and my music lesson. Shall I call you
purposeful movement of pupils around the premises. later (2) we can
talk about where to meet up
I am pleased to report that, (2) the tomorrow?
pupils’ very positive response to the idea, the
transition to the new timetable has been accomplished
with the minimum of disruption. It has, in addition,
(3) increased concentration levels,
(4) most staff report a better learning
environment. (5) I feel that the changes
have been a complete success.

I would also like to emphasise that we introduced

this shorter school day (6) offering
a much wider choice of extracurricular activities,
including sport and music. I am therefore delighted to
report record enrolments for these activities. Finally,
(7) disappoint a few students who we
were unable to accommodate in the guitar class, we
are now offering an additional class on Thursdays. Yeah, do that. The drama
workshop in Birmingham has
Yours faithfully, been moved to a new venue
(3) the large
Dr Tim Mortimer number of people who want
Principal to go. It (4) an
early start for us. We should
(5) that we know
the times of the fast trains
(6) they’re not very
frequent.
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 Mastering languages

Vocabulary
Expressions with get
1a Match the two halves of the sentence.
1 I told my sister how urgent the situation was, a it’s very hard to get out of it!
2 Peter saw his boss to get some details straight b and after a while it really got on her nerves.
3 We’ve accepted the invitation for the party, c to get into the phone company records.
4 I’ll get back to you d but lack of time made him give it up.
5 I had flu for three weeks e but I couldn’t understand what he was getting at.
6 Once you’ve got into a difficult situation, f before he finalised the report he was writing to her.
7 A teenage hacker managed g so I’ll have to get a grip on myself before I go in.
8 I’m always really nervous about interviews h but she didn’t seem to get the point.
9 We need to get a few basic things straight i as soon as I can answer your query.
10 Steve sent me a really lengthy email yesterday j before we start working together.
11 Joe was determined to get into learning Japanese k and it’s great to get back to normal.
12 Anna found the music at the party way too loud l so we can’t get out of going to it now.

b Complete these sentences in your own words.

1 I often try to get out of
2 I’d never get into an argument about
3 I try to get out of difficult situations by
4 I usually get on well with

Word building
2a Write each of the suffixes below in the b Now make words by adding one of the suffixes in 2a to the
appropriate box. base words below. Put the new word in the correct circle.

broad centre class complex consider disappoint disturb

-able -(u)al -ance -(e)n
hard harm include instinct intuition maximum nation
-ence -ful -ical -ify
occur progress purpose refer relevant responsible
-(is)e -ity -ive -less -ment
scarce support thick

-able

Adjectives Nouns Verbs

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 Unit 2

Writing | Part 2 Reading and Use of English | Part 3

A report For questions 1–8, read the text below. Use the word
given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form
Read the paragraphs A–E below, written by an
a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an
exam candidate, and then put them into the correct
example at the beginning (0).
order, using the linking phrases to help you. Decide
on a heading for each paragraph. Then read each Becoming an independent
paragraph again and correct the spelling mistakes
(there are 14 in total).
language learner
The correct order is: In an (0) educational context, the term EDUCATE
1 2 3 4 5 ‘learner independence’ has gained
increasing importance in recent years. It is
REPORT ON OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE of particular (1) to language RELEVANT
A I also appreciated the fact that I was staying with a learning. While some people seem to
host family – it is a very good idea as there is more have an almost (2) flair for INSTINCT
time for practising language. Unfortunetely, however,
languages, there are in fact strategies that
I lived some distance from the school and there were
some unforeseen problems with the local transport. everyone can adopt to (3) their MAXIMUM
And one other comment I’d like to make is that what skills and learn a foreign language more
also needs improvment is the school cantean. There (4) . EFFECT
was remarkably little choice in what was on offer.
The main thing to remember is that
B On the whole, however, I must admit the course helped
me develop my language skills and I lernt a lot of becoming a truly independent learner
new language. I think, therefore, that in spite of some ultimately depends above all on taking
inconveniance such as transport or food problems, (5) for your own learning and RESPONSIBLE
which are issues the college should address if possible,
being prepared to take every opportunity
the course is very suitable for other trainees like me.
available to you to learn. You also increase
C In general, the course was well organised and the
your chances of success by learning
objectives fulfilled. What I appreciated most was
the oportunity to improve my speaking skills. The according to your own needs and interests,
teachers were very frendly and encouraged us to using all available resources.
use the language and, as a result, the course gave me
Research shows that learners who adopt
confidance. However, although I was pleased with my
progress, in my opinion there could have been some this approach will (6) manage DOUBT
more writting classes, as all of us needed these skills to (7) their language abilities BROAD
for our future use. considerably and as a result are more likely
D Following your request I am submiting a report on to achieve their (8) in the OBJECT
the English course I attended in April this year. The longer term.
aim of the course was to teach the participents English
vocabulary as well as to develop and improve all our
language skills.
E In addition, I think that the publisity about individual
study was misleading. The study centre was poorly
equipped, and the language laboratary frequently
broke down, so you could hardly rely on them as aids
for developing your listening skills. But what I did
benefit from was a computer room with programes
reinforcing the knowledge acquired during classes.

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 Mastering languages

Reading and Use of English | Part 4

For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar 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. Here is an example (0).

Example:
0 I’ve never been at all interested in learning to play a musical instrument.
SLIGHTEST
I’ve never had the slightest interest in learning to play a musical instrument.

1 Susan picked the baby up gently, because she didn’t want to wake him.
TO
Susan picked the baby up gently so him.

2 They were able to creep away unobserved because it was very dark.
OWING
They were able to creep away unobserved it was
very dark.

3 The car was redesigned and, as a result, sales rose rapidly.

RESULTED
The successful redesigning of the car in sales.

4 Despite improving his performance, Smith is still not in the top three for the 10,000 metres.
LED
The improvement in Smith’s performance in the top three
for the 10,000 metres.

5 You should make the sauce thicker if you want to improve the flavour.
THICKEN
You’ll order to improve the flavour.

6 After several years, heavy traffic caused the bridge to collapse.

DUE
The collapse several years of heavy traffic.

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 Unit 2

Listening | Part 3
03 You will hear an interview in which an Irish-Australian writer called Patrick O’Reilly is talking about
the Irish-Gaelic language. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to
what you hear.

1 Why is the Irish language significant to Patrick? Northern

A It was spoken to him when he was a child. Ireland
B It evokes city life in a particular era.
C It came close to disappearing at one time.
D It is a major part of his cultural heritage.

2 Which aspect of Irish has particularly impressed Patrick? Belfast

A its age as a language
B its suitability for song lyrics
C its success in the modern world Isle of Man
D its role in broadcasting
Dublin Irish Sea
3 Why was Patrick keen to learn Irish? Aran
A He lacked a strong identity as an Australian. Islands Republic of
B He was reacting against other people’s views. Ireland
C He was aware that it would broaden his horizons.
D He wanted to be actively involved in its revival.

4 According to Patrick, what makes Irish different from

other languages in Australia?
A It is impossible to show how it sounds.
B It is not a language published in Australia. Gaelic [IPA] / ˊgei.lik, gæl.ik/ noun
[U] a language spoken in parts of
C It is used as a second language.
Ireland, Scotland and, in the past,
D It has not gone through a process of evolution. the Isle of Man •Gaelic adjective
5 What reason does Patrick give for Irish becoming
fashionable?
a/w 02.03
A Speaking languages fluently has become a status
symbol.
B It is associated with the popularity of the country.
C It is seen as the language of well-known fairy tales.
D Many Irish-Australians now aspire to live in Ireland.

6 What does Patrick say about other people’s

explanations of why they are learning Irish?
A They may not reveal the whole truth.
B They show they are trying to reassure themselves.
C They reveal a lack of self-awareness.
D They indicate that people feel little need to justify
themselves.

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