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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:03.03]Growing pains [00:05.10]Word power [00:06.80]American English VS British English [00:10.00]American English and British English differ in many small ways. [00:14.56]All English speakers understand each other, but it is helpful to know about some of the differences. [00:20.95]Grammar [00:22.03]American [00:23.32]British [00:24.81]Sam just went home. [00:27.04]Sam's just gone home. [00:29.79]That skirt fit badly. [00:32.20]That skirt fitted badly. [00:35.65]Hello, is this Wang Li? (on the phone) [00:39.03]Hello, is that Wang Li? (on the phone) [00:42.26]I live on Zhenning Road. [00:44.46]I live in Zhenning Road. [00:47.13]Call me at 5555 5678. [00:52.03]Call me on 5555 5678. [00:57.68]Vocabulary [00:59.35]American [01:00.65]British [01:02.06]pants [01:03.02]trousers [01:04.29]candy [01:05.36]sweets [01:06.55]garbage [01:07.74]rubbish [01:08.82]soccer [01:09.82]football [01:11.08]vacation [01:12.49]holiday [01:13.87]restroom /bathroom [01:15.95]toilet/WC [01:19.18]Spelling [01:20.55]American [01:21.48]British [01:23.30]center [01:24.30]centre [01:25.31]color [01:26.16]colour [01:27.20]traveler [01:28.54]traveller [01:29.54]behavior [01:30.77]behaviour [01:32.07]organize [01:33.33]organise /organize [01:34.89]program [01:36.04]programme [01:37.64]Use the information from above to change the underlined words and phrases from American English to British English. [01:45.32]Then, practise the new dialogue with a partner. [01:49.04]Colloquialisms [01:51.08]A colloquialism is an informal expression used in spoken English. Colloquialisms are often used in conversations. [02:00.44]A [02:01.29]Read these colloquialisms and look at the matching pictures. Choose the correct meaning for each one from the box below. [02:09.91]joke with someone [02:12.06]something easy to do [02:14.66]boring/afraid to have fun [02:18.15]listening carefully [02:20.53]B [02:22.39]Guess what the following italicized expressions mean and then look them up in a dictionary. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.93]Growing pains [00:05.01]Grammar and usage [00:06.98]Preposition + which and preposition + whom [00:11.97]1 [00:13.25]We use a preposition to begin an attributive clause when the relative pronoun (which or whom) is the object of the preposition. [00:21.64]object of preposition [00:23.96]We could expect good decisions from you. We thought you were such a person. → [00:29.19]We thought you were a person from whom we could expect good decisions. [00:34.54]object of preposition [00:36.89]You were to buy dog food with the money. The money is gone. → [00:40.91]The money with which you were to buy dog food is gone. [00:44.73]2 [00:45.77]In informal English, the preposition is usually at the end of the attributive clause. [00:52.13]The Maths teacher is the person whom I got an 'A' from. [00:56.90]Literature is a subject which I know little about. [01:01.01]3 [01:02.08]If the preposition is at the end of the attributive clause, whom and which can be replaced by that, [01:09.23]and whom can also be replaced by who. [01:13.16]Dad is a person whom/that/who I can easily talk to. [01:19.33]Is this the play which/that you were talking about just now? [01:24.01]4 [01:24.97]We often leave out which or whom in an attributive clause when the relative pronoun is the object of the preposition [01:32.87]and when the preposition is at the end of the attributive clause. [01:37.00]The subject (which) Eric is interested in is Physics. [01:42.04]Daniel is the person (whom) I want to make friends with. [01:46.87]5 [01:48.40]We use that or in which to begin an attributive clause after way. In this case, that or in which can also be left out. [01:59.28]We had a good laugh over the strange way (that/in which) Matt solved the problem. [02:05.78]I didn't like the way (that/in which) she talked to me. [02:10.79]The way (that/in which) he teaches English is interesting. [02:15.76]A [02:16.98]Match each sentence with an ending. Write the correct letters in the blanks. [02:23.26]B [02:24.07]Look at the following pictures. Complete each sentence using an attributive clause. [02:30.46]Relative adverbs: when, where and why [02:35.90]1 [02:36.88]We often use the relative adverb when to begin attributive clauses after nouns like time, moment, day, season and year. [02:47.58]Do you remember the day when we left you in charge? [02:51.08]I often think of the moment when I first saw her. [02:54.56]I remember the time when Eric won that speech competition. [02:58.84]2 [02:59.88]We often use the relative adverb where to begin attributive clauses after nouns like place, house, city, country and world. [03:11.19]The police searched the house where the terrible accident happened. [03:15.75]Mike wants to work in a country where there are a lot of forests. [03:20.78]Is Shanghai the city where he was born? [03:24.28]This is not a family where bad behaviour can be tolerated. [03:28.39]3 [03:29.46]We use the relative adverb why to begin attributive clauses after reason. [03:35.59]I don't know the reason why the house is so dirty. [03:39.50]I won't listen to the reason why you didn't do your homework. [03:44.07]4 [03:45.02]In more formal English, where, when and why can sometimes be replaced by a preposition + which. [03:54.13]The study is the place where/in which I often have talks with my father. [04:00.09]This is the reason why/for which my parents got home earlier. [04:05.82]It rained the whole day when/on which he travelled with his family. [04:11.48]Read the following conversation between two friends outside the library. [04:16.17]Fill in the blanks using the words and phrases from the box below. More than one answer is possible for each blank. [04:24.48]when [04:25.57]why [04:26.76]where [04:27.78]for which [04:28.86]on which [04:30.08]in which |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.99]Growing pains [00:05.02]Task Writing a letter of advice [00:08.49]Skills building 1: asking for and giving advice [00:13.28]1 [00:14.34]When asking for advice, you should keep these points in mind: [00:18.61]·State the problem clearly and give only the necessary information. [00:23.91]·You should ask clearly for help. This is often done using modal verbs, such as can or should: [00:30.40]What can/should I do? [00:32.80]How can/should I...? [00:34.90]Should I...? [00:36.50]2 [00:37.25]When giving advice, you should keep these points in mind: [00:40.53]·You can ask questions to make sure you fully understand the problem. [00:44.98]·Before you give advice, it is often good to show sympathy to the person you are talking with: [00:51.06]I'm sorry to hear that. [00:52.76]I hate it when that happens! [00:54.83]I know just what you mean! [00:57.50]·Advice often uses modal verbs such as should or must, phrases such as make sure, or imperatives: [01:06.13]You should/must talk to your mother about this. [01:09.34]You must make sure to study hard for the exam. [01:12.93]Eat plenty of vegetables! [01:15.67]Listen to five people asking for advice. What problems are they asking advice for? [01:22.24]Complete the sentences below with words from the recording. [01:26.80]1 [01:28.39]What's wrong? [01:29.76]My best friend has just started playing on the school football team. [01:34.78]Why is that a problem? [01:36.78]Well, now he seldom has time to see me. I feel quite lonely. [01:42.07]Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. [01:46.38]2 [01:47.72]What's the matter? [01:49.20]My father wants me to study maths and science, and work in a big company when I grow up. [01:56.52]Well, that sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? [01:59.94]Yes, but I want to be an actress. [02:03.24]I see. You should talk to him about this. [02:08.97]3 [02:10.55]Why are you so sad? [02:13.32]Oh, it's my daughter! [02:15.40]Is she having difficulty with her lessons again? [02:19.00]No. She just refuses to do anything I tell her any more. What should I do? [02:27.42]4 [02:29.18]My father makes me so angry! [02:32.22]What's the matter? [02:33.67]Well, he never listens to anything I say! [02:36.67]I hate it when that happens! [02:39.01]Then he shouts at me when I don't listen to him. [02:42.52]I know just what you mean! [02:46.82]5 [02:48.43]Why are you calling me so late? [02:51.04]I have an exam tomorrow. [02:53.24]So? [02:54.07]Well, I'm feeling worried and can't go to sleep. It makes me so upset! [02:59.94]Me too! [03:01.19]Why? What do you mean? [03:04.04]I have a big exam tomorrow and you just woke me up! [03:09.24]Step 1: listening to a radio programme [03:13.65]A [03:14.98]Listen to a radio talk show and write the names of the callers in the blanks below. [03:21.41]Christina [03:23.00]Shirley [03:24.42]William [03:25.71]Adam [03:26.99]Richard [03:28.19]Jane [03:29.84]Welcome to Talk Time. This is George. Tell me your name and problem. [03:36.73]My name is Christina and I'm calling about my mum. [03:41.31]She often sighs and sometimes even cries, and then says we don't spend enough time together. I love her, but I have things I want to do in my life. [03:53.52]How can I still have fun and let my mum know I love her? [03:58.96]Invite your mum to join you doing the things you like. That way you can have fun and see your mum at the same time! [04:08.12]Good luck, Christina! Hello, next caller, how can I help you? [04:14.19]Hi, my name is Richard. My mum bought me some new clothes, but I don't like what she got me. Should I tell her? [04:22.35]Richard, you should be honest, but let her know you are happy that she thought of you. [04:28.16]I'm sure she won't mind if you change them for something different. Good luck. Who is my next caller? [04:37.31]Hello, Talk Time? This is Jane. I called last week about my grandma. [04:45.18]Yes, Jane, you wanted to tell her that you want to live with your other grandparents, right? [04:51.69]Yes, I took your advice and told her how I feel. You were right. She understood! Thanks so much! [05:02.94]Glad to help! We've got time for one more call. [05:07.44]My father always shouts angrily at me. He says, ‘William, turn off that TV and go outside!' [05:15.21]But I don't want to go outside! How can I make him stop shouting? [05:20.47]Well, you shouldn't spend so much time watching TV. It isn't good for your eyes. [05:26.71]Join a sports team. You'll feel better and your father will stop shouting at you. [05:32.14]Thanks for calling in! Listen to Talk Time again next week at this time. [05:40.50]B [05:41.47]Here is the advice that the radio talk show host gave to his callers, but some words are missing. [05:48.51]Listen to the radio talk show again, and complete the notes below. [05:53.60]Skills building 2: reading for the main point [05:58.71]The most important part of reading is to be able to understand the main point. [06:04.03]Often only a few words are used to make the main point, and the rest of the writing is supporting information. [06:11.48]Good readers learn to quickly get the main point of what they read. [06:16.84]Read the diary entries below. Underline the main point of each entry. [06:22.34]Step 2: reading a letter asking for advice [06:26.99]An advice column in a magazine received the following letter from Liu Zhen. [06:32.27]Read the letter, and then answer the questions below. [06:36.92]Dear Dr Fang [06:38.57]I am writing to ask for some guidance about my 15-year-old son. [06:43.35]At the moment, he refuses to do almost anything his mother and I ask him to do. He is our only child and we treat him very well. [06:52.92]His grandparents buy him many things, and yet he is still rude to them. [06:58.14]He refuses to spend time with us or do as we tell him. Sometimes he acts as if he doesn't love us at all. [07:06.21]Recently, he has been refusing to do his homework, and instead insists on wasting his time watching DVDs and listening to foreign music. [07:16.33]I cannot understand that music, and I don't like it. [07:20.78]He also spends too much time in Internet cafes, where he either plays games or chats on the Internet. [07:28.03]He is wasting valuable time during this important period in his life! [07:32.77]What am I to do? At present, to prevent upsetting his mother with an argument, I am allowing him his freedom. [07:40.69]However, I am worried that if I keep allowing him to do what he wants, he may fail at school, or worse. [07:47.98]How can I help my son without harming our relationship? [07:52.22]Best regards [07:53.50]Liu Zhen [07:54.45]Skills building 3: planning a letter of reply [07:59.41]Whenever you receive a letter asking for advice, it is important to plan what you are going to write. [08:05.75]This will help you understand what to write and how to write it. With planning, your letter will be much easier to write, and more useful. [08:15.57]Here are some suggestions to help you in your planning. [08:19.61]· Find the main points of the letter asking for advice. [08:23.87]· Answer each of these points directly. [08:27.13]· Do not give advice for points not discussed in the letter. [08:31.49]· Offer comfort and support. Do not find fault with the person you are writing to. [08:37.55]· Use modal verbs such as should or must, phrases such as make sure, or imperatives to give your advice. [08:47.85]The following letters of advice were written in reply to Liu Zhen's letter in Step 2. [08:53.64]Compare the two letters with the suggestions above, [08:57.52]and then discuss with your classmates which letter is better and why. [09:02.99]Dear Liu Zhen [09:04.57]What kind of parent are you to allow your son to be rude to his grandparents? [09:09.90]You must be a terrible father! Shame on you! [09:13.51]As for the foreign music, I guess it depends upon what kind of foreign music he is listening to. [09:19.62]Some kinds of foreign music, such as rock, are really terrible. However, if he is listening to pop music, maybe it would not be so bad. [09:28.83]It is also foolish of him to eat so many sweets. It seems that every teenager these days is eating too much dessert and drinking too much soft drink. [09:38.93]You can allow him to eat normal food, like an adult. [09:42.26]Best regards [09:43.26]Dr Fang [09:44.89]Dear Liu Zhen [09:46.37]Many parents find that their children do not listen to them. [09:50.18]This is a common problem that is a result of growing pains. Be patient. Most children soon grow out of this time. [09:58.87]I agree that your son needs to keep up with his studies, because this will influence the rest of his life. [10:05.04]You should insist that he do his homework. [10:08.44]Take your son to a restaurant he enjoys, and have a quiet talk with him. Try to find out why he is acting this way. [10:16.79]You should be prepared to listen to him and hear his side of the story. [10:21.95]Both being a teenager and being a parent can be very difficult. However, don't give up. [10:28.74]With a little bit of patience and communication, many of these problems can be solved. [10:34.18]Best regards [10:35.33]Dr Fang [10:36.96]Step 3: writing a letter of advice [10:40.61]A [10:41.77]Read the following letter from Liu Zhen's son, who is asking for advice about his father. [10:47.57]Dear Dr Fang [10:49.17]I read your magazine every month. I myself am a teenager, almost 16, and have some problems at home that I hope you can help me with. [10:59.50]The main problem is that I can't get along with my father. [11:03.02]Whenever I want to do something or suggest an idea, such as a restaurant we can go to for dinner, he doesn't listen to me. [11:11.29]Then, when I refuse to listen to him, he shouts at me angrily. [11:15.72]He and my mother always make me do things I don't like, such as playing the piano and doing housework. [11:22.86]Then, whenever I have some spare time and want to be alone, they call me selfish and distant! [11:29.44]My father gets annoyed if I play foreign music. [11:32.74]Also, every time I watch a DVD he sends me to bed or tells me to spend more time studying. [11:39.80]He even forbids me from chatting with my friends in the Internet cafe! [11:44.83]I love him a lot, but I don't understand why he is so hard on me and will not respect the things I want to do. [11:52.83]He was once a teenager—he should understand me better than he does. [11:57.83]Best wishes [11:58.80]Liu Xiaowei [12:01.19]B [12:02.82]Write a letter of advice to Liu Xiaowei. Use the skills you have learnt in Steps 1 and 2, [12:09.02]and the second example from Skills building 3 to help you. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:03.03]Growing pains [00:05.13]Project Writing a report on growing pains [00:10.04]A great thinker once said, 'Know yourself.' How much do you know about the time period you are going through? [00:18.89]You may be surprised by what you know, and by what you don't know. [00:23.98]A [00:25.25]Before you write your report on growing pains, read the following article. [00:30.31]It will help you understand what growing pains are all about. [00:34.87]Growing pains [00:37.60]Many teenagers feel lonely, as if no one understands them and the changes they are going through. [00:45.39]Day by day, everything seems different, yet the same. [00:49.75]Life never seems to be going fast enough; yet, in other ways, like a race car, life seems to be rushing too fast and even going out of control. [01:01.08]Has anyone else ever felt this way? [01:04.79]These feelings are a common part of adolescence—the time of life between child and adult. [01:12.06]And, though it may sometimes be difficult to believe, you are not alone-—every adult has gone through adolescence, [01:20.56]and your friends are going through it right now along with you. [01:24.50]It is common for teenagers to feel lonely and misunderstood. [01:29.53]These feelings can be thought of as growing pains—the difficulties that teenagers face as they grow to adults. [01:39.45]As teenagers grow, it is normal for them to become confused with the changing world both inside and outside of them. [01:48.69]During adolescence, teenagers go through great physical changes. [01:53.63]They grow taller and their voices get deeper, among many other developments. [01:59.66]Along with these physical changes, there come many psychological changes. [02:05.93]Boys and girls tend to be different in this regard. [02:10.04]Many boys become risk-takers—they want to find their own limits and the limits of the world around them, [02:16.95]but may not have the wisdom to make good choices in their behaviour. [02:21.52]At the same time, girls often want someone—anyone—to talk to, as they try to deal with their strong feelings. [02:31.07]In the social world, as teenagers get older, they struggle to depend on themselves. [02:37.25]They may badly want and need their parents' love, yet feel distant; [02:42.69]they may want to be part of the group, yet desire independence. [02:47.76]Since teenagers have difficulty balancing these needs, they often question who they are and how they fit in society. [02:57.50]The good news is that these kinds of growing pains do not last. [03:02.62]In the end everything turns out OK-the teenager becomes a healthy adult, [03:08.93]and this period of change and challenge is traded for the changes and challenges of grown-up life. [03:17.30]B [03:18.37]Work in your group to write a report on growing pains. Below are some steps for you to follow. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.96]Growing pains [00:05.58]Self-assessment [00:07.71]A [00:08.67]Rank your confidence level with the following skills. Write 1 to 5 in each box. Then work out your percentage. [00:17.67]B [00:18.47]If you are not confident about some of the items above, make an action plan so you can improve on them. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.93]Growing pains [00:04.81]Language practice [00:07.14]A1 [00:08.38]Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form, tense or part of speech of the words in brackets. [00:16.74]A2 [00:17.85]Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions. [00:22.50]B1 [00:23.59]Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the words in brackets. [00:27.44]B2 [00:28.44]Fill in the blanks with words or phrases in the box below. Change the form where necessary. [00:34.66]at the same time [00:36.46]make a choice [00:37.70]out of control [00:39.09]go through [00:40.18]along with [00:41.22]depend on [00:42.44]confused [00:43.73]balance [00:44.79]tend to [00:46.07]normal [00:47.25]C1 [00:48.28]Fill in the blanks with proper relative words. [00:51.89]C2 [00:53.56]There is one mistake in each sentence below. Circle it and write the correct word above it. [00:59.86]Cross out the extra word with 'X' or add the missing word using '∧'. [01:05.68]D1 [01:06.71]Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words below. [01:10.63]teenager [01:11.65]vacation [01:12.69]surprise [01:13.88]chance [01:14.86]refuse [01:16.04]clinic [01:17.06]mess [01:18.22]treat [01:19.32]rude [01:20.48]why [01:21.97]D2 [01:23.00]Translate the following sentences into English. Use the words in brackets. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.94]Growing pains [00:04.81]Reading [00:06.17]A [00:07.04]This article is from a web page for the world-famous American TV comedy, Growing Pains. [00:14.93]Growing Pains—An American TV Show [00:20.13]Growing Pains was on television from 1985 to 1992. [00:26.74]This was a total of seven years, and it told over one hundred and sixty different stories. [00:34.19]During its history, the show had over forty writers. [00:39.02]The programme was about a family of six who lived on Long Island, near New York City. [00:46.49]The parents were a working couple. [00:49.19]The father was a doctor and the mother was a writer at a newspaper. [00:54.84]They had four children. [00:56.90]The oldest child was Mike. [00:59.03]He was the major reason for the programme's huge success. [01:04.16]From the start of Growing Pains, Mike was always getting into trouble. [01:09.61]He was caught by the police for driving a car too fast. [01:13.98]He promised his parents that he would never ride a motorcycle, but then he hurt himself riding one. [01:21.18]However, in the last year of the programme, he helped a young boy who had no home, and asked his family to help him care for and support the boy. [01:33.00]Though his parents were upset because he often broke his promises, the way he cared for this boy made them proud to have him as their son. [01:44.23]These stories are good examples of the two sides of Mike's nature. [01:49.58]He sometimes did wrong things, but also cared for others and was a warm person. [01:56.92]Mike became very popular. [01:59.36]His face was in every magazine for teenagers, and young girls bought photos of him to hang on their bedroom walls. [02:08.61]Perhaps another reason why the programme was popular in America is that most of its stories were about normal family problems. [02:17.93]Many of the people watching the programme had the same problems. [02:22.89]Like Mike's parents, many parents who work often worry about their children and have difficult decisions to make about them. [02:32.33]Even now the show still appears on American TV. [02:36.86]Since it was also shown in other countries, people all over the world have come to enjoy this great show. [02:45.43]Answer the following questions about Growing Pains. [02:49.97]B [02:50.75]David is telling his friend Thomas about the day when he realized how much his father loved him. [02:57.52]My father is in the army, so he wasn't at home much when I was young. I saw him very little. [03:05.75]Did you miss him? [03:07.42]I don't think I did. When he was at home, he always made me do things like cleaning my shoes or making my own breakfast. [03:16.48]My mother usually did all of that when he wasn't home. [03:20.60]Did he tell you any stories? [03:23.49]That was another problem. He almost never spoke to me, and, when he did, it was always about how I should learn to look after myself. [03:34.73]Every day he would say the same things over and over: 'Stand on your own two feet' and 'Always think of others'. [03:45.65]He spoke to me like he was a stranger, not my father. [03:50.17]Perhaps that's part of being an army man. [03:54.24]Yes, but back then I didn't realize that my dad's job is so dangerous and that every day he has to think about other people's lives. [04:05.06]Now you seem so close. [04:07.51]Well, one thing showed me how much he loves me and helped me understand him better. [04:13.97]What happened? [04:15.21]One day in December, I was looking for my Christmas presents. [04:19.98]I wanted to see them before Christmas Day. [04:23.73]I went into my parents' bedroom when no one was watching, and I looked under their bed. [04:30.42]I didn't find any presents, but instead found an album. [04:35.51]So? [04:36.70]The photos inside were all of me, from when I was a baby until middle school. [04:43.91]At first, I thought they were my mother's photos, but when I looked at the writing by each photo, I realized they were my father's. [04:54.33]By one photo, my father had written, 'David looks like me. He is growing up to be such a good person, and I am so proud of him!' [05:06.11]So, what did you learn about your father? [05:09.43]That his love for me is deep and strong, but it's hard for him to talk to me about it. [05:17.95]Answer the following questions about David and his father. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:02.95]Growing pains [00:05.31]Listening [00:07.07]A [00:07.92]Leo's teacher wants each student to write a letter to his or her parents for a class project. [00:15.64]Below is a list of the points that Leo wants to make about his mum. [00:20.33]Listen to him talking to his friend and complete as much of the notes as possible. [00:26.26]My mum just doesn't understand me! She only wants me to study for exams, attend a famous university and find a good job. [00:38.43]She never thinks about fun things like sport. [00:42.37]Yesterday, she told me to stop watching TV. [00:46.90]I told her that I was watching Yao Ming playing basketball and that it was a very exciting game, but she didn't care. [00:56.32]She just wanted me to do my homework. [00:59.45]Later, she found me reading my sports magazine. She was angry. [01:05.12]Well, I have been too busy to read any sports magazines this month, so I just wanted to read all the new stories, but my mum wouldn't let me. [01:16.90]She said I had to go to bed because I had to get up early for school the next day. [01:23.34]I can't do anything I want to! [01:27.63]B [01:28.56]Leo remembers a conversation between him and his mum when making the list. [01:34.53]Listen to their conversation and complete the notes above. [01:40.07]You're late. Where have you been? [01:43.68]Nowhere. [01:44.59]I hope you didn't buy any computer games. [01:47.95]Oh, Mum! It's hot today so I did not want to hurry. [01:52.78]Well, dinner is ready. So, wash your hands and get ready. [01:57.80]I can't have dinner right now. I have to do my homework. [02:02.07]You can have dinner first and then do your homework. [02:06.07]Mum, you always say you want me to do my homework, but when I want to do it you won't let me. [02:13.88]OK, show me the homework right now. I want to see it. [02:19.32]Why? [02:20.02]I want to see it. Let me look in your bag. [02:24.16]What are these? Computer games! [02:27.22]I don't see any homework in here. [02:30.15]Your father will talk to you later! [02:34.46]C [02:35.73]Leo is writing the letter to his mum. Help him finish it. [02:40.20]The information can be found in the notes above. |
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[00:01.69]Unit 2 [00:03.07]Growing pains [00:05.03]Writing [00:06.01]A [00:07.04]When we express opinions, it is important that we back them up with clear arguments. [00:12.82]Read the following article and see how the writer presents his arguments against smoking. [00:19.40]Many people who smoke say that it helps them to think better. [00:23.11]However, I am afraid I cannot agree with them. [00:26.26]I am strongly against smoking. [00:28.93]First, smoking is bad for one's health. [00:32.01]People who smoke often develop and even die from different illnesses and diseases. [00:37.96]Second, smoking pollutes the air. [00:40.97]People cannot work or study well in a room full of smoke. [00:45.17]Third, smoking wastes money. [00:48.13]Every year, millions of dollars are spent treating diseases caused by smoking. [00:53.97]As we can see, smoking does more harm than good, and students should not pick up the habit. [01:01.17]B [01:01.87]Your class had a discussion today about mums who work outside the home. [01:06.68]Some students agree with the idea, but others want their mums to stay at home. [01:12.25]Write a report for your school newspaper entitled, ‘Do you agree with mums working outside the home? ' [01:19.37]Use the table below for information, and add your opinions at the end. |
