TRAVEL AND HOLIDAY

accommodation: a room or building in which you stay during holidays or live.

|e.g: While I’m travelling, my favourive types of accomodation are hotels.
all holiday: a time after you lost your job.He lost his job yesterday.
|e.g: Now it’s all holiday for him.
all-inclusive: a hotel deal where the price includes accommodation, meals and drinks at any time.
|e.g: I’ve never thought that hotels with all-incusive service are so comfortable! You can grab a piece of
cake at 6 a.m. or get a cocktail at midnight.
half-board (media pension): if you request ‘half-board’ at a hotel, breakfast and dinner would be included in
the hotel price (as part of the package).
|e.g: John and Lily liked their tour with half-board service. They spent breakfasts and dinners in the hotel
and bought lunches in the nearby cafes.
full-board: if you request ‘full-board’ at a hotel, that would include all three meals (breakfast, lunch and
dinner) in the price of your accommodation
self-catering: a holiday deal (oferta) where meals are not provided.
|e.g: Mary thinks that self-catering is neither pleasant nor efficient.
to book (something): to arrange and confirm a place on a flight, a room in a hotel or a ticket for an event in
the future.
|e.g: If you book your plane tickets in advance, they will be much cheaper.
breathtaking view: an amazing view.
|e.g: I’ve seen many breathtaking views during my journey to Paris.
busman’s holiday: when you spend your free time similarly to the time when you work.
|e.g: Unfortunately, many people spend a busman’s holiday nowadays.
charter flight: a cheap regular flight.
|e.g: Due to our modest budget, we had to take a charter-flight
check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage.
far-off destination: a distant place.
|e.g: Australia is a far-off destination, nonetheless (sin embargo) I want to visit it.
getting away from it all: escaping in order to rest from a daily routine.
|e.g: After I passed my exams, I wanted to get away from it all for at least (al menos) a couple of days.
go off the beaten track: to visit an uncommon place/In a place where few people go, far for roads and town.
|e.g: Unlike my brother, I prefer to go off the beaten track.
guided tour: a tour in which a group of people is guided by an expert.
|e.g: Guided tours are a great way to learn about different places of interest.
head for: go in a direction for.
|e.g: I’m heading for France for my next holidays.
holiday brochure: a publication with details of holiday.
|e.g: Our guide gave us a great brochure about our hotel.
holiday destination: where you go for a holiday.
|e.g: We chose New York as our holiday destination for the next summer.
holiday of a lifetime: a very special holiday, once in a lifetime.
|e.g: Last year me and my family had a holiday of a lifetime in Italy.
holiday resort (tourist resort): a place where lots of people go for a holiday.
|e.g: Last year my family went on a journey to London. We lived in a great tourist resort.
hordes of tourists: crowds (multitudes) of tourists.
|e.g: Hordes of tourist can be seen during summer near the city park.
in the middle of nowhere: in a place that is far away from where most people live.
|e.g: My grand-mother lives in the middle of nowhere, but she loves her old little village.
local crafts: thighs made in the region.
|e.g: My sister bought some amazing local crafts on her trip to India.
out of season: not within the main holiday period.
|e.g: I decided to go on a journey with my friends out of season.
passport control: a place where you get your passport checked.
|e.g: I spent a few hours waiting in line on a passport control.
package tour: a holiday at a fixed price in which the travel company arranges your travel, hotels, and
sometimes meals for you
|e.g: We bought a cheap package tour to Italy and stayed in a big hotel by the sea.
picturesque village: a nice, beautiful village.
|e.g: My grandparents live in a picturesque village.
places of interest: memorable and honorable places.
|e.g: My native city has a variety of places of interest.
short break: a little holiday.
|e.g: My father had a short break this year, I hope he’ll be able to relax some more.
stunning landscape: a beautiful countryside.
|e.g: Stunning landscapes are only one of many reasons why I want to visit Africa.
to go sightseeing: to go visiting sights of interest.
|e.g: Today we went sightseeing with my friends.
to travel on foot / horse
|e.g: When I’m in a small town I prefer to travel on foot.
to travel by bus / plane / car / bicycle / motorcycle
|e.g: Although I usually travel by car, when I decided to visit Paris I had to travel by plane.
tourist attractions: places which tourists tend to visit.
|e.g: Despite not being a tourist attraction, new fountain is very popular among the locals.
tourist trap: place with many tourists.
|e.g: We’ve visited many tourists traps lately.
travel agency: a shop that specializes in booking holidays.
|e.g: I’ve bought tickets for my trip through a travel agency.
wildlife safari: an observational holiday, mainly in Africa.
|e.g: I’d love to go on a wildlife safari sometime.
youth hostel: a cheap hotel.
|e.g: During our trip we stayed in a hostel, because we didn’t have enough money for a hotel
PART 1
- Do you like travelling?
Yes, definitely! I think seeing the world, from great historical monuments to white sandy beaches, is what life
is all about. It’s a very interesting way to learn about new cultures and explore new places.
- What is your favourite type of holiday?
I really like going to the beach, getting away from it all. Nothing relaxes me as much as beach… I am tired
of tourist traps. I would love to visit the Caribbean for its crystal-clear and warm waters. I thoroughly enjoy
spending time at the beach, indulging in delicious food and drinks. I adore summer because I appreciate the
warmth
- What do you do on holidays?
I prefer visiting various museums and places of interest. For instance, on my last vacation I was to Cordoba
and I visited some museums. It was fantastic! Of course, sometimes I go shopping with my boyfriend… But I
don’t find it near as exciting…
- Are there many tourists visiting your country?
Probably yes… My country has many different tourist attractions in many cities, especially the capital,
Cataratas del Iguazu and Calafete in the south of Argentina. All of them have whether, traditions and
breathtakings view very different from each other. That´s why have a lot of tourist attraction that are
interesting for both tourist and local citizens…

Part 2
Describe a tourist attraction you once visited. You should say:
– When and why you visited it
– Where is it situated and what you did there
– Who you went with and How you got there

and say what about it you like the most

A couple of years ago I went on a holiday to Paris with my parents… it is a very popular tourist destination,
since it has various places of interest, such as ancient museums and monuments… That’s why there are
always hordes of tourists… So we decided to go out of season in the autumn… Fortunately, the weather was
great, and we did not waste any days watching TV at the hotel… it was a memorable holiday … we
enjoyed breathtaking views from the top of the Eiffel tower and dined in cozy little restaurants. I would
certainly recommend visiting Paris, it is a picturesque city.
I would like to talk about a holiday I went on in the south of Vietnam just a few months ago. I went with my
parents to a town called …., which is a lovely coastal town, and we decided to go there so thay they could
experencie a different part of the country and see life by the beach.
We flew there from Hanoi, which is the capital of Vietnam. The flight took about 1 hour and on the whole it
went smoothly. We managed to be one of the firs on board and one of the first off when we landed. It was
certainly quicker and easier than going by train, which can take over 15 hours.
There was so much to do there that we only had a chance to do just a few things on our three day trip. We
took a cruise around the islands and also did some sightseeing inland as well. Taking part In a cookery course
was great fun, where we bought fresh ingredients at the local market and learned how to use a wok to fry
fresh fish and other seafood like crab and lobster.
We definitely enjoyed our trip and would go there again if we could. Seeing the colorful lifestyle of the locals
and having a chance to see spectacular scenary was something we will never forget. For my parents it was a
holiday of a life time and they´re still talking about it. If I could live there, I would.

Part 3

- Why do you think tourism is so developed now?

Well, because it is a lot easier to travel nowadays… you can choose charter flights and find various youth
hostels all around the world, so you don’t need to spend much money on the travelling. Moreover, you
can book a trip via the Internet, so you don’t even have to leave home.
- How people choose their destination?
There are a lot of ways. For instance, you can surf the internet for all the necessary information… Or you can
visit different travel agencies for more advice.
- What kind of transport do you prefer on holidays? Why?
It depends… I usually reach my holiday destination by plane if the destination is far, because it is the fastest
and the least dangerous way to travel. However, flying can be a bit uncomfortable… So I also travel by
car from time to time… I like to plan the trip by myself. That way I get to see and do exactly what I want and
spend as much time as I want at various stops.
- Do you prefer travelling alone or in tour groups? Why?
I definitely prefer travelling alone because I like to plan the trip by myself… When choosing a guided tour,
you should always conform to a set schedule… So if you are in India and, say, you want to spend an extra
hour at Taj Mahal, you simply cannot do that with a group tour… I like independent travel. That way I get to
see and do exactly what I want and spend as much time as I want at various stops.
- Why do some people prefer to travel abroad rather than in their own country?
Well, it can be for various reasons. One of them for example if you like beach and in your country haven´t
coast, or otherwise if you prefer mountains and haven´t got.
- Do you think traveling to another country can change the way people think?
Oh, really yes. I think It’s a very interesting way to learn about new cultures and explore new places. When
you travel, met a lot of people and is very enriching.
- Do you think it is good for children to experience life in a foreing country?
Yes, because when you are a child you have an easier time seeing and learning something strange, it attracts
your attention and it is easier to remember.
- How have holidays changed over the past few decades?
Today it is easier to travel because you buy a package tour or looking for internet flights, hotels, guided
tours, you can also compare prices, and if you have flexible dates or travel go out of season is more cheaper.
In addition, you can organized yours holiday brochure in a few minutes and very easily.
Do you think it is safer to travel now than in the past?
It possible, because nowadays you are more connected
- What are the most popular tourist attractions in your country?
The most popular tourist attractions in Argentina are in different parts to the country, Cataratas del Iguazu,
el Calafate, y Las Salinas Grandes en Salta.
- How do the types of tourist attractions that younger people like to visit compare with those that
older people like to visit?
I think the popular tourist attraction is visited by younger people as well as older people because they are
unmissable and have breathtaking view
- Do you agree that some tourist attractions (eg- national museums/galleries) should be free to
visit?
Mmm, I don’t now, because that implies that the government has to cover these payments, perhaps if I
agree that there are different types of tickets as there are in various places that distinguish between
children, older people and foreigners
- Why is tourism important to a country?
Tourism is important because it helps move the economy, and also allows the exchange of cultures, learning
and discovering new places.
- What are the benefits to individuals of visiting another country as tourist?
In mi opinion the benefits are many. In my opinion, the benefits are many, ranging from cultural exchanges,
getting to know extraordinary places and new people.
- How necessary is it for tourist to learn the language of the country they´re visiting?
I think is not really necessary because in the tourist attractions, tour guides usually speak several languages
altought obviously it would help to understand better other aspects for example do the shopping

FRIENDS
close friend: a very good friend.
enjoy each other’s company: to like spending time with each other.
| Steve and Noah are always together, they definitely enjoy each others company.
fair-weather friend: someone who is your friend only when you are cheerful and successful.
| A lot of John’s friends turned out to be fair-weather friends. They were with him when he was rich and left
him when he went bankrupt
friends are like second family: that is to say your friends love you and make you feel comfortable.
get in touch with somebody: to contact somebody.
| I plan to get in touch with my friends when I return home
near and dear to someone: very important to someone.
| Her parents are the only people who are near and dear to her.
shoulder to cry on: someone who is always ready to listen to your problems.
| I’m so glad my boyfriend is so kind and sympathetic, it’s good to always have a shoulder to cry on.
to be through thick and thin: to have some good times and difficult times together.
| Your parents are married for 15 years, they must have been through thick and thin together.
to be well-matched: to be similar to somebody in interests.
| They are well-matched.
to break up: to end a relationship.
| It is hard to believe that Jacob and Sarah broke up. They were dating since high school.
to drift apart: to become less close to someone.
| As years went by, school friends drifted apart.
to fall for someone (to fall in love with someone): to start loving somebody.
| They were childhood friends, and he fell for her!
to fall out with: to quarrel, to have a conflict.
| He left the party after falling out with his girlfriend.
to get on like a house on fire: people get on like a house on fire when they like each other’s company and
become friends very quickly.
| I like my new roommate! We have a lot of same interests and get on like a house on fire.
to get on well with somebody: to have a good relationship with somebody.
| I’m an outgoing person and I easily get on well with new people.
to get to know someone: to become acquainted with someone.
| I thought Jenna was selfish until I got to know her and understood her real character.
to have a lot in common: to have similar interests.
to have friends in high places: to have friends in powerful positions in business or government.
| Joe owes his fast career growth to his friends in high places.
to hit it off with somebody: to quickly become close friends with somebody.
| I could not imagine that Laura will hit it off with Dylan! They are so different.
to keep in touch with someone: to maintain contact with someone.
| I keep in touch with my friends from high school, although we graduated five years ago.
to lose touch with someone: to lose contact with someone.
| I lost touch with Mary since she moved to Canada.
to see eye to eye: to agree.
| I think it’s better to live in a big city, but my brother doesn’t see eye to eye with me about it.
to strike up (a conversation, a relationship): to start.
| I feel awkward when I strike up a conversation with unknown people.
ups and downs: a mixture of good and bad things that happen.
| We’re friends for almost 30 years! Surely we’ve had our ups and downs.

Part 1
- Do you have a lot of friends?
Not a lot, but I have a few very close friends … I think it is better to have one reliable friend that a
thousand fair-weather friends… Although it’s not easy to meet someone you have a lot in common with, I
think managed to do it.
- How often do you see your friends?
As often as I can… We enjoy each other’s company, so we see each other almost daily… What’s more, we
live very close to each other, so it’s easy for us to meet up
- Is there anything special about your friends?
Oh, that’s an interesting question… I guess there are lot of things… For instance, my best friend can draw
unbelievable art, good enough to sell. And my other friend is really keen on cooking… But most importantly,
they are people, who are near and dear to my heart.
- For how long do you know them?
I’ve known my friends since my childhood… We’ve been through thick and thin together… Probably that’s
why we’re so close now.

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe your friend. You should say:
– Who is he/she
– When did you meet
– Why is he/she so close to you
and say what do you like about your friend the most

Part 3
- Do you think friendship is important nowadays?
Yes, certainly! Without my friends I’d be very sad and lonely, but they cheer me up and help in every way
possible… Of course, all relationships have their ups and downs, but we should definitely try not to lose
touch with our friends.
- What do you think is the best time to get new friends?
Hmm… Probably, the best time to get new friends is your school and university years. You have many
possibilities to get in touch with different people… And it is easier to find friends with similar interests…
- Is it important to stay in touch with your friends throughout the years?
Yes, it very important not to lose touch with your friends… Surely, everyone changes and even close
friends can drift apart. But, in my opinion, friends are your second family and we should highly appreciate
them.

TECHNOLOGY
Budget: presupuesto
computer age: the period in modern history characterized by rapid technology development and widespread
computer use.
| Living in a computer age has many benefits.
computer buff: a user who is good at working with a computer.
| Mike is a computer buff. He got an A+ on his programming exam.
computer fatigue: a syndrome of tiredness resulting from long computer usage.
| About 60% of IT specialists are affected by computer fatigue.
cutting-edge: something innovational and leading.
| Cutting-edge technology.
desktop PC: a personal computer that remains on a desk.
| I have an old desktop PC that I use for surfing the net when I’m home.
digital editing: a process of changing digital materials like audio or video files.
| Being good at digital editing is essential in our time.
download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device.
| Yesterday I downloaded a few films that I plan to watch during the weekends.
essential: something you can’t imagine your life without.
| Internet is an essential piece of technology for many people.
gadget: an advanced piece of technology, like smartphone.
| Nowadays almost everybody owns a gadget.
geek: someone who is obsessed with technology, especially computers.
| My friend is a real geek. He owns a bunch of computers and other gadgets.
Investment: inversión
hold the line: wait a minute.
| She told me to hold the line, because she had to open the door.
large screen: a big-sized monitor.
| A few days ago I decided to renew my computer, so I bought a large screen for it.
light years ahead: very far away from.
| Modern computers are light years ahead of those which people used in 90s.
on the cutting edge: at the forefront of progress.Paul’s new laptop is on the cutting edge of technology.
operating system: the most important program that runs the computer.
| I chose to buy a laptop which is based on the Windows operating system.
out of steam: tired, exhausted.
| Due to today’s intense workday I am out of steam, so I won’t be able to work tomorrow.
rocket science: a very complicated subject for someone.
| Biology is a rocket science for me. I don’t understand anything in it.
send an attachment: send an email with an added file.
| My brother sent an attachment with his homework to the professor.
silver surfer: an old person, who uses the Internet.
| Uncle Bob is a silver surfer. He uses the Internet every day, although he’s almost 70.
social media: media used to interact with other people.
| Facebook is the biggest social media in the world.
time-consuming and inefficient: something that takes too much of your time and isn’t rational to do.
| I find watching football time-consuming and inefficient.
to access websites/email: to visit websites/email.
| John accessed his email today to see if he had received any letters.
to back up files: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem.
| I had to back up files on my computer, because I was going to reinstall my operating system.
to be stuck behind a computer: to use computer for a long period of time.
| A lot of teenagers are stuck behind their computers all day.
to boot up: to start a computer.
| I booted up my computer as soon as I got home.
to browse websites: to search for websites.
| I spent a few hours browsing the websites today, until I found was I was looking for.
to crash: to suddenly stop working.
| My computer crashed when I was writing my essay.
to go online: to use the Internet.
| Millions of people go online every day.
to navigate a website: to find what you need on the website.
| Navigating a website is not very easy, especially if the website is poorly designed.
to pull the plug: to end an activity.
| After being stuck behind a computer all day, I decided to pull the plug.
to push someone’s buttons: to do specific thing to irritate somebody (usually intentionally).
| I became so angry because he pushed my buttons by adding pepper to my ice cream!
to surf the web: to look through websites, searching for something you need, or simply for entertainment.
| I was surfing the web yesterday for three hours, because I had nothing else to do.
to upgrade: to renew a software or a piece hardware.
| Thanks to the new program for students, I updated my computer for free.
well-oiled machine: something that works perfectly well.
| My computer, despite being 7 years old, is still a well-oiled machine.
widespread computer use: that is to say people use computers very often.
Wi-Fi hotspots: a public place where you can access the Internet.
| Our university has a Wi-Fi hotspot. It is very convenient.
wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without using any cables.
| We have installed a wireless network at home.
word processing: writing, editing and producing words on a computer, using special programs.
| There are tons of word processing programs.

Part 1
- Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis (a diario)?
Yes, surely I do… Although I don’t consider myself a geek (adicta), I quite enjoy using all the new items like
laptops and smartphones… All in all, we’re living in the computer age and it’s impossible to ignore cutting-
edge technology.
- How often do you use Internet?
I use Internet every day… It helps me with my studies and it entertains me when I’m down… Surfing the
Internet is my hobby… I also frequently use World Wide Web for communication purposes… Though I don’t
like social media like Facebook, I often use video conferencing for talking.
- Do you own a computer? If so, how often do you use it and for what purposes?
Yes, I have a personal computer and a laptop… I use my laptop mainly for work… It is very light and fits in my
bag easily, so I take it with me to the job… Meanwhile, my PC has a large screen and convenient keyboard, so
I use it for word processing and browsing websites. It is an old, but still well-oiled machine…
- Do you enjoy using technology?
Well … I wouldn’t call myself a techie or a computer buff but I enjoy using computers … I’d like to find out
more about how they work … when my computer crashes I never know what to do.
- Do you use the Internet for your studies?
Yes … I’d be lost without it … I do lots of video conferencing, it's a good way to meet other students and do
homework or work and I like to browse website to find information
- Do you have your own computer?
… I have a Macbook Pro … I use it all the time … for work, browsing websites and catching up with TV
programmes I’ve missed.

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe your favourite gadget. You should say:
– What is it
– When did you get it
– How often do you use it
and say why is it so important to you

I don’t own many gadgets… I have a PC, laptop and a smartphone and I can’t imagine my life without either
of those… However, my laptop is the most important piece of technology for me… I got it as a birthday
present from my parents a few years ago and I use it nearly every day now. Although at first using it was
like rocket science for me, after a few weeks I was able to do everything I needed… From browsing
websites to reinstalling the operating system… What’s more, without my laptop I wouldn’t be able to do my
work… Also, I use it for surfing the Internet and finding whatever I want, whether it is a piece of code for my
project or a useful tip on how to cook a steak… Generally, my laptop became an essential device for me…

Describe an item of technology you have that is very important. You should say:
– what the technology is
– when you got it
– how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.

I don’t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and my mobile phone … but I’ll talk about my
computer as it’s so useful … it’s funny really … 2 years ago I was still learning to use computers … how to use
email … send attachments how to access websites … then I decided to do a digital editing course for video
and photography … and so I bought the laptop when I started the course … my husband had a desktop
PC but it was very slow so I decided to upgrade to a powerful one because we do a lot of video editing on the
course … it’s a high-spec laptop … very fast … the latest operating system … it boots up really quickly and it’s
fun to use so it makes working a pleasure … I’ve become a competent computer user now … if I didn’t have it
I daresay I’d have to spend more time at college using their computers … but on the positive side I suppose
I’d read a lot more if I didn’t have it … I probably waste a lot of time surfing the web … but hopefully I won’t
have to be without it …
Part 3

- Do you think we need to know much about computers?

Well… Not too much, but there is definitely a couple of essential things everyone should know. First of all,
you need to know how to enter a web address… how to navigate websites… It is very important nowadays
to be able to surf the net for the information you need…
- What is the most impactful piece of technology in our lives?
In my point of view, the Internet is the most important technological advance of our time… It gives us so
many new opportunities to discover anything we want about our world! You just need to boot up your
computer an go online… And with wireless networks at home and public Wi-Fi hotspots we can do it easily
and almost everywhere.
- How computers affect our everyday life?
In a positive way, certainly. They help with so many things, starting from writing and printing your own essay
and ending with developing advanced programs and digital editing… Without computers studying would
have been time-consuming and inefficient…
- How effective is the use of computers in the classroom?
Hmm… in my opinion, using computers in the classroom is very effective. I think it is important for
students to become competent in the use of computers to prepare them for the workplace … you know,
computers are used everywhere in the workplace now. But… I also think that having computers so easily
available gives teachers the opportunity to introduce students to the variety of information on the Internet.
- "Do you think traditional classroom education will remain relevant in the future?"
In my opinion, although traditional classroom education has been the norm for a long time, I believe we will
see significant changes in how teaching and learning are conducted in the future. With technological
advancements and access to online resources, more and more people are opting for online learning and
distance education. However, I still believe that classroom education holds value as it promotes in-person
interaction, teamwork, and the development of social skills. I think a combination of traditional and modern
approaches will be key for effective education in the future.
- What do you think are the important things people need to learn when they start using
computers?
Well … there are things like how to use the Internet … how to enter a web address … how to navigate
websites … that kind of thing but it’s also important to know how to back up your files in case your computer
crashes … and all about Internet security.
- What kind of technological developments have made the biggest impact on our lives?
In my lifetime it has to be the Internet of course but I also think wifi has made a huge difference to how we
interact with the Internet … wireless networks at home and public wifi hotspots mean we can go
online easily … access our mail … log into our work intranet and basically be connected wherever we are.
- Do computers make it much easier to study?
Definitely yes … researching information is much easier with the Internet. you can bookmark web pages for
future reference and writing essays is much easier … being able to cut and paste sections of text means you
can experiment with organisation … so yes … compared to years ago when you had a pile of books on your
desk and a pen and paper … it’s now much easier.
- Do you think technology has had a positive or negative impact on our lives? Because?"
In my opinion, I believe that technology has had both positive and negative impacts on our lives. On one
hand, technology has enhanced our communication, facilitating connections with people around the world
through social media and messaging apps. It has also simplified many daily tasks, such as online shopping or
accessing information within seconds. However, it has also created a certain dependency and reduced face-
to-face interaction. Additionally, technology can pose privacy and security issues. Ultimately, I believe it is
important to find a balance and use technology responsibly and consciously, leveraging its benefits while
being mindful of its potential drawbacks
- Do you think technological advancements are having a positive or negative impact on
employment?
In my opinion, technological advancements are having both a positive and negative impact on employment.
On one hand, technology has automated many processes and improved efficiency in certain industries,
leading to the creation of new technology-related jobs. On the other hand, technology has also replaced
certain jobs, especially those that are repetitive or routine. However, it has also created opportunities in new
areas, such as artificial intelligence and programming. I believe it is important to adapt to technological
changes and acquire relevant skills to remain competitive in the job market
- "What do you think is the influence of the media in today's society?"
In my opinion, the media has a significant influence on today's society. The media keeps us informed about
current events and provides access to a wide range of perspectives and opinions. However, it can also
influence the formation of stereotypes and the spread of misinformation if not used responsibly. It is
important for media consumers to be critical and willing to seek reliable and verified sources. Additionally,
the media also has a responsibility to promote positive values and contribute to constructive public discourse
- What do you think are the major challenges facing education today?
One of the major challenges in education today is ensuring equal access to quality education for all
individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background. Another challenge is adapting to the rapidly
changing technological landscape and incorporating digital literacy into the curriculum. Additionally,
addressing issues such as student engagement, teacher training, and inclusive education are also important
challenges that need to be addressed.
- What is your opinion on globalization and how it has affected different cultures and economies?
Globalization has undoubtedly brought various benefits, such as increased international trade, cultural
exchange, and technological advancements. However, it has also posed challenges to local cultures and
economies. While globalization has promoted cultural diversity and understanding, it has also led to cultural
homogenization and the loss of traditional practices. Economically, globalization has created opportunities
for growth, but it has also widened the gap between rich and poor nations. It is crucial to strike a balance
that allows for the positive aspects of globalization while preserving cultural diversity and addressing
economic inequalities.

FOOD
dine in: dine at home.
| We’re dining in tonight.
dine out: dine at a restaurant.
| We’re dining out tonight.
fussy eater: someone who is very picky about the food and doesn’t eat everything.
| My husband is a fussy eater, and he’s never pleased with my cooking.
home-cooked food: food cooked at home, usually implies that food is healthy.
| Preparing home-cooked food is a good way to make a balanced meal.
in a walking distance of: close to.
| I usually dine at a restaurant that’s in a walking distance of my home.
Italian cuisine: traditional Italian food. You can also say French cuisine, Russian cuisine, Chinese cuisine and
so on.
| I adore pasta, pizza and Italian cuisine in general.
more of a chore than a pleasure (más una tarea que un placer): something you do rather unwillingly.
| I think that cooking is more of a chore than a pleasure.
mouth–watering: delicious, appetizing.
my mouth is watering: that is to say you find something very appetizing. People use this expression when
they see/smell food that looks very delicious.
| My mouth is watering every time I think about my grandmother’s apple pie.
nutritious products: products rich in calories.
| A nutricious breakfast is a great way to start the day, as it gives your body the nutrients and you get
enough energy.
processed food: food that has been modified in an undesirable or unhealthy way to achieve its current state.
| Try to avoid processed foods like flavored nuts and cereal bars. It is much healthier to eat organic food.
quality justifies the bill: when a product is worth buying due its good quality, even if it’s expensive.
| I first thought those strawberries were too expensive, but when I tasted them I understood that their
quality justified the bill.
quick snack: a light and quick meal, usually unhealthy.
| Eating quick snack instead of main meal can be harmful for stomach.
ready meal: a meal that you buy already cooked, which only requires reheating to be eaten.
| I had no desire to cook, so I bought a ready meal in a nearby supermarket.
restrain one’s hunger: (Contener el hambre) to avoid eating when you really want to. Usually practiced during
diets.
| John couldn’t restrain his hunger anymore and went to the nearest fast-food restaurant.
slap-up meal: (comida rápida) a quick and fatty meal. To slap up means to cook something very quickly.
| I feel like making a slap-up meal tonight.
starving hungry: to be extremely hungry.
| I woke up starving hungry yesterday and ate the whole roast chicken.
take-away: a meal prepared in a café/restaurant and eaten at home.
| I’m going to ring the Japanese restaurant and order a takeaway.
the main meal: (comida principal) the most important meal of the day.
to be dying of hunger: an exaggerated way of saying you are really hungry.
| I haven’t eaten all day. I’m dying of hunger!
to be full-up: to eat to the point that you can’t eat anymore.
| Would you like more chips? – No, thank you, I’m already full-up!
to be ravenous (to have ravenous appetite): to be really hungry, starving, voracious.
| After working all day, I had a ravenous appetite.
to be starving hungry: an exaggerated way of saying you are very hungry.
to bolt something down: to eat a large amount of food very quickly.
| Don’t bolt your food down like that, it’s very rude!
to catch a snack: to eat a little portion of food very quickly.
to eat a balanced diet: to eat correctly and in time.
to eat like a horse: to always eat a lot.
| She’s so thin, yet she eats like a horse.
to follow a recipe: to cook a meal using instructions.
| Although she had never cooked a jugged hare before, she followed a recipe and made a fantastic meal.
to foot the bill: to pay the bill.
| You paid for dinner last time. Let me foot the bill for lunch today.
to grab a bite to eat: to eat something quickly.
| I won’t eat the whole cake, just let me grab a bite to eat
to have a sweet tooth: to enjoy eating sweet food.
| Dave eats candy all the time. He must have a sweet tooth.
to overeat oneself: eat too much, eat immodestly.
| If you overeat, you’re bound to get fat.
to play with your food: to push food around the plate without eating it.
to spoil your appetite: to do something that would hinder your desire to eat.
| Stop talking about the snails, you’re spoiling my appetite!
to tuck into: to eat something greadily and with pleasure.
| After not eating the whole day, he tucked into the ham like a savage.
to wine and dine: to banquet, to “entertain with good food”. If you wine and dine someone, you usually
take him out to dinner at a fancy restaurant.
| The company wined and dined us, hoping to convince us we should accept the job.
to work up an appetite: to do something that will lead to hunger.
| He must have worked up an appetite in the gym.

Part 1
- What kinds of meals do you like?
Oh, My favorite food is gnocchi; I absolutely love pasta! I enjoy it in all seasons, especially during winter…
My mouth is watering whenever I eat … However, I don’t like to cook… That’s why I often eat ready
meals and take-aways.
- Do you often dinner with your family or friends?
Well, I try to dinner with my family as often as possible… Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time for such
dinners due to my busy schedule…
- When do you usually eat dinner?
I usually have main meal at about 4 p.m. … I’m starving hungry by then and sometimes overeat myself…
- Are there any fruits or vegetables you don’t like? Why?
Yes, there are… I’m not a fussy eater, but I really hate onions and seafood… I try to avoid meals that might
contain these products…
- And what is your favourite cuisine?
Well, I love French cuisine for its versatility and flavorful ingredients…. French cuisine has a variety of dishes,
starting from their famous onion soup and ending with cheese fondue… Also, it rarely uses artificial
ingredients or flavors.
- Do you like to cook?
Yes I like … most of the time I eat ready meals and take-aways … that’s one of the reasons I love visiting my
mum … you can always guarantee lovely home-cooked food …
- What time do you usually eat dinner?
Michelle: We have our main meal at around 7.00 … I’m usually starving hungry by then … in fact I often grab
a bite to eat as soon as I get home from college … a sandwich perhaps … but not too much to spoil my
appetite …
- Are there any types of food you don’t like?
No not really … I’m not a fussy eater at all … actually I eat like a horse … I do a lot of sport and work up quite
an appetite …

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a place you like to eat at. You should say:
• Where is it
• What kind of food it serves
• Why do like its food
and how often do you eat there

I would like to talk about a nice little restaurant in a walking distance of my apartment called “La Pasta”… It
is situated on the ancient street in the old city centre… This restaurant serves various meals of Italian
cuisine that I enjoy… For example, they serve extremely delicious pasta, pizza and tomato soup… I
particularly love their pasta… It is very versatile food, and can be made in many ways… I general, I love Italian
food because it is all about fresh, flavorful ingredients… That’s why I eat in that restaurant every now and
then with my family and friends… Although it’s not cheap, its quality justifies the bill…

Describe a restaurant that you like to use. You should say

– where this restaurant is
– what kind of food it serves
– how often you go there
and say why you like eating there so much.
OK … this is a nice topic to talk about … there’s a restaurant just around the corner from where I live … it’s an
Italian restaurant so as you’d expect you can eat various pasta dishes and pizzas and I usually go there with
my family for a slap-up meal if we have anything to celebrate … it’s quite a posh restaurant … the kind of
place you would take someone if you wanted to wine and dine them … we usually order a 3-course meal …
a light starter then a main dish … and I have quite a sweet tooth so I always look forward to the dessert … I
usually order Tiramisu … it makes my mouth water just to think about it … I’m always totally full up by the
end … why do I enjoy it there … well … it’s not cheap … my parents always foot the bill and we couldn’t
afford to go there regularly so it’s always a nice treat …

Part 3
- How can we make people eat healthier food?
The best approach for this problem is to strike a balance between junk food and healthy food… You can eat
unhealthy ever so rarely, if you manage to eat nutritious products the majority of the time… I eat junk
food myself, by I try not to abuse my health…
- Do you think people enjoy what they eat on a regular?
I don’t really know, but I’m leaning towards a negative answer… People are often lazy when chosing their
meals… They try to catch a snack to restrain their hunger… But it is neither healthy nor enjoyable…
- Do you think that cooking is a pleasure a burden for most people?
I can’t speak for everybody, but I think that cooking is more of a chore than a pleasure… But it really
depends on a person… Some people might love cooking… If it is their passion or a beloved job, then it’s good
for them… But I’m not among those people… Personally, I prefer dining out.
- How can we encourage people to eat more healthily?
Anna: I think the best approach is to have everything in moderation … processed food won’t kill you if you
only eat it occasionally … but people should also be encouraged to eat a balanced diet… try to cook fresh
ingredients at home a few times a week …
- Do you think people enjoy their food as much as they should?
Florrie: I don’t know really … I suppose it’s true that people will often eat a quick snack because they’re
bored not because they’re dying of hunger … and often they just bolt it down and don’t savour it … so yes …
perhaps we could take more time over our food …
- Do you think cooking is a pleasure or a chore for people who have busy lives?
Julie: Well … whether you follow a recipe of make something up as you go along … I think cooking is a very
creative process … and cooking for other people is a particular pleasure … there’s nothing more satisfying
than seeing people you love tucking into something you’ve cooked yourself …

SPORT
active rest: a leisure time during which you exercise.
| Active rest between lessons helps children to study more effectively
athletics track (running track): a track for running, usually used for athletic races.
| The 9-lane running track is equipped to cope with competitions of all levels.
Barbell (barra de pesas): a weight-lifting gear.
blow the competition away: win easily the competition.
| After training for seven years, he blew the baseball competition away.
brisk walk (brisk walking): a sport in which people walk fast, but not as fast as a full run.
| Brisk walking is a great exercise for those, who want to lose weight.
to build muscle: to gain muscle mass.
| John was very skinny five year ago, but now he has built muscle and looks really strong.
fitness program: a timetable of activities to keep you in a good shape.
football fan: someone who adores football.
football pitch: the surface on which you play football.
football season: a period when football is played.
jogging: a form of running at a slow pace
keep-fit exercises: exercises that help you to keep your body in a good shape.
personal best: an achievement in sport that is better than anything you have achieved before.
| Today I’ve ran 100m in 12 seconds! That is my personal best.
personal trainer (sports coach): a person that helps you to train on a one-to-one basis.
| It’s much easier to train with a sports coach than alone.
sports centre (fitness centre): a specific building where people can do different sports.
| I practise fencing at a local sports centre.
sports facilities: the equipment and services needed to do a sport.
| I chose this gym because it offers a wide range of sports facilities.
sports meeting (athletics meeting): an event at which a number of athletic contests are held.
| The next athletics meeting will be held in November and will include javelin, pole vault, hurdles and
steeplechase.
squash/tennis/badminton court: the surface where you play these sports.
strength-training strategy: set of exercises to build muscles.
| My dad advised me a wonderful strength-training strategy.
strenuous exercise: exercise that needs a lot of physical effort.
| It is recommended to drink a lot of water after strenuous exercises.
strong swimmer: an experienced swimmer.
swimming pool: a place filled with water made specifically for swimming.
that’s the way the ball bounces: used to say that things don’t always go as planned, but there is nothing we
can do about it.
| Dave didn’t win the game as he expected, but he never minds – that’s the way the ball bounces
to be keen to do smth (to be keen on doing smth): to be very interested in doing something.
| I’m keen on cycling.
to be out of condition (to be out of shape): to be in bad physical condition, to lose strength.
| Lily hasn’t been training for years, she is out of condition now.
to be saved by the bell: to be saved from losing by a timely interruption.
| Evan would lose this round, if he wasn’t saved by the bell.
to build muscle: to gain muscle by working out.
to get into shape: to become fit.
| Paul started training in gym because he wanted to get into shape.
to keep fit: to stay in a good shape.
| I practise dancing to keep fit.
to run the marathon: to run a distance of 42.195 kilometres.
to set a record: to achieve the best result in a sport.
| A new record in pole vault was set two years ago.
to take up doing smth: to start doing something new (usually sport).
| I took up dancing last week.
to train hard: to train with effort and passion.
to warm up: to perform light exercises to prepare for a hard workout.
| A good warm-up readies your body for a hard training.
to work out: to exercise in gym.
treadmill: an exercise machine in the gym used for walking or running, while staying in the same place.
| Good treadmills provide a indoor workout experience as natural as the outdoors
trial-and-error method: a method of reaching a solution by trying various means until you succeed.
| I learned swimming by trial-and-error method, trying different moves until I figured out how to float on
water.
workout : session of exercises in gym. You can do a workout for chest, for legs, for losing weight etc.
| My trainer suggested me a workout for abdominal muscles.
Part 1
- What kind of sport do you prefer?
I don’t prefer a specific kind of sport, but I really like working out in the gym… That helps me to keep my
body in a good shape… A few years ago I had a sports coach, but now I developed my own fitness
program and train alone…
- Do you do any kind of sports during weekends?
Yes, sure! I have a lot of spare time during weekends and I do javelin on Saturdays… In summertime I also go
cycling with my friends… Generally, I don’t like staying at home all day… I prefer active rest…
- Tell me about your hobbies. Is there anything you like to do in your leisure time?
I used to play tennis as a hobby… But a few months ago my family moved to a new place, and there were
no tennis courts nearby… That’s why I took up wrestling… But I still play tennis every once in a while.
- Do you do any sports?
really … no … I always say I’m going to take up exercise and try to get into shape but I never seem to get
started … I sometimes wonder whether I should get a personal trainer … someone who will sort out a fitness
programme for me and make me train hard ….
- How do you spend a typical weekend?
I’m a big football fan and weekends always centre around a football match … I support FC Utrecht and
have a season ticket so I go to most of the home games and quite a few of the away games too … I’m really
looking forward to the new football season starting soon …
- Have you got any hobbies or interests?
Yes … I’m really keen on sports … I do funcional two days a week and play tennis in the summer … I think it’s
really important to keep fit … it makes you feel good and energised for work and your studies ….
- What is your favorite sport and why do you like it so much?
I'm not sure if I have a favorite sport as I have practiced different sports over the years. When I was younger,
I did artistic gymnastics for 10 years. After that, I tried tennis, hockey, swimming, and currently, I'm doing
functional training

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a place that you visit to keep fit. You should say:
• What is it
• When do you go there
• What do you do there
and say why do you like it

I would like to talk about my local gym that I visit three times a week… It’s a new sports centre with
the latest fitness equipment… It has everything you would ever need to keep fit: treadmills,
various dumbbells and exercisers for different muscle groups. Moreover, it offers a wide range of different
classes for every taste… I developed my own strength-building strategy, so usually I start with a
short warmup when I jog on the treadmill for a few minutes to sweat… Then, I go to the weights sections
and start doing lifting exercises… Finally, I end my workout with stretching… I try not to miss my trainings,
because they help me to relax and forget about the daily routine.

Describe a place you like going to in your leisure time. You should say:
– what this place is
– when you go there
– what you do there
and say why you enjoy it there so much.

I’d like to talk about my local sports centre … it’s a place I spend a lot of time in … it’s a new building with all
the latest sports facilities … I probably go there at least twice a week … sometimes more often … it’s a huge
place … there’s an outdoor athletics track and some football pitches … I play football so I’m often out there
… there are several indoor squash and tennis courts that I use occasionally … a big swimming pool …
although I don’t use that very often … I’m not a very strong swimmer … there’s a gym … lots of things really
… why do I enjoy going there … it’s just a really fun place to be … there’s a good social side to it all … you can
enter competitions … meet up with other people who want to do the same sports … and because there are
so many activities on offer it gets you interested in different things … for example I was listening to some
people talking about training to run the marathon and I’ve decided I might even think about that … I go
jogging a couple of times a week so it would give me something to aim for … so yes … the sports centre …
that’s the place I really like to visit …

Part 3
- Should people go in for sports more?
Yes, definitely… Sport should be an essential part of everyone’s life. Not only is it good for your health, but it
also helps you to be in a good mood… So people should certainly train more.
- Which sport is the best for people, who aren’t used to work-out?
In my point of view, everybody should start with light trainings, maybe jogging or brisk walk every day… It is
better to avoid strenuous exercises for the first couple of months, so powerlifting is definitely out of the
question…
- Why some people enjoy sports more than others?
It is a tough question… I would say, the main reason is it’s hard to find your perfect kind of sport… if you
don’t like football or basketball it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy cricket, for example… It’s important not to
fear trial-and-error method and you’ll inevitably find your ideal sport.
- Should people be encouraged (motivado) more to take up sport?Se deberia animar más la gente a hacer depor?
I think young people should be given the chance to discover which sport they might like … watching sport is
sometimes a good way to get people started … not on TV but actually getting out … take athletics for
example … they could go to an athletics meeting … there are so many different sports on show one might
interest them …
- Why do some people enjoy participating in sport more than others?
That’s a good question … I suppose some people are more concerned about their health … they can’t stand
the thought of being out of condition … other people might be driven to excel … they want to set records or
get personal bests …
- Which sports do you think are best for people who aren’t used to physical activity?
Well … I think people like this should avoid strenuous exercise so things like circuit training are definitely out
of the question … maybe just doing a brisk walk every day … or swimming is always a good way to get
started …

EDUCATION
humanities: studies about human culture, such as literature, languages, philosophy, and history.
| Chloe excels in humanities subjects. She’s adept at arts and languages.
sciences: studies about the world, such as physics, biology, chemistry, and maths.
| Mark doesn’t like scientific subjects, he’s just too lazy to learn formulas.
A for effort: a good mark, which is given someone for trying hard rather than for a success.
| Although I’m not the smartest in my group, I often get an A for effort, because I try hard.
bachelor’s degree: an undergraduate course which usually lasts 3 or 4 years.
| I will receive my bachelor’s degree in two years.
bookworm: a term to describe someone who really likes to read and spends a lot of time on it.
| I’m a real bookworm. I won’t stop until the book is read.
distance learning (e-learning): education that takes place remotely, usually via the Internet.
| Distance learning is more flexible than traditional education, because students don’t have to
attend classes and can schedule their timetables as they want.
eager beaver: an enthusiastic and hard-working person.
| My friend is an eager beaver. He studies everything with pleasure and gets great marks.
face-to-face classes: a traditional way of studying – in a classroom with a teacher.
| When I was a kid, face-to-face classes had no alternatives, but nowadays a myriad of
educational establishments offer online courses and individual tuition.
higher education: education that is followed after high school.
| I plan on getting higher education after finishing school.
hit the books: begin studying hard.
| I’m on my third year in the university, it is time to finally hit the books.
individual tuition (private tuition): instruction received individually or in a small group.
| Individual tuition is sometimes more effective than group work.
intensive course: a course that offers longer and more frequent classes.
| A few years ago I took an intensive French course in the university.
internship: a temporary position which students usually take to get work experience and practical
knowledge.
| Before I went into design industry, I took an internship in a company.
master’s degree: a graduate course, which follows after bachelor’s degree.
| Master’s degree is often important to find a job with a higher salary.
mature student: someone who’s older than others.
| Nowadays it’s not uncommon to face a mature student in the class. People often change
professions and get a second or third degree in their midthirties.
not the sharpest tool in the shed: a polite way of saying that someone isn’t very smart.
| Maybe John isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but he’s a good friend nonetheless.
public schools: exclusive independent schools in the UK.
| My friend finished a public school a few years ago.
schoolboy error: a very basic and stupid mistake.
| Sam made a schoolboy error on his English test.
single-sex schools: schools for either boys or girls.
| My brother studied in a single-sex school
small fraction: small part.
| A small fraction of students managed to pass this exam.
state school: a school which is paid for by the state or country.
| It is hard to find a good state school nowadays.
subject specialist: a person who is very talented in one specific field.
| My math teacher was a real subject specialist. Thanks to him math is my favourite subject now.
teacher’s pet: student whom teachers like the most.
| Hugo is a teacher’s pet, he attends all classes and manages to get good marks with poor
knowledge.
three R’s: basic educational skills (reading, writing, arithmetic).
| Pupils in a primary school study the three R’s.
to attend classes: to visit classes.
| In my college, students need to attend classes five times a week.
to fall behind with studies: to progress less quickly than others.
| Mary was ill for two weeks, so she fell behind with her studies.
to give feedback: to give some information or criticism on a subject.
| I launched a project a couple of days ago and I want my friends to give me some feedback.
to goof around: spend time doing nothing important.
| Sometimes I like to goof around, although my parents scold me for that.
to learn something by heart: to memorize something.
| Last year i had to learn a very big poem by heart for my literature class.
to meet a deadline: to finish something within a time limit.
| Unfortunately, we weren’t able to meet the deadline for our project.
to pass with flying colours: to pass easily and with excellent result.
| I’m studying hard and I will pass IELTS with flying colours.
to play truant: to skip classes without permission.
| During my school years I often played truant with my friends.
to pursue studying: to continue studying.
| Lora would like to pursue studying in the future to become a professor.
to set aside some time: to take some time.
| I need to set aside some time to collect my thoughts.
to sit an exam: to take an exam.
| Tomorrow I’ll have to sit a two-hour math exam.
to take a year out: to spend one year working or traveling before studying in the University.
| My friend took a year out and went traveling to the UK.
tuition fees: money you pay for your education.
| I had to pay tuition fees this summer.

Part 1
- Can you describe yourself as a good student?
Well, overall I think I am a good student. … I am not an eager beaver, nor the teacher’s pet… but
I’m good at artist subjects and, most importantly, I like studying.
- Do you study English now?
Yes, of course. I’ve taken an intensive course this year, where I’ve attend classes three times a
week… And I plan on pursuing my studies in the future, too…
- Did you enjoy/Do you enjoy studying at school?
I’ve never really liked school… I’m not a bookworm and a lot of science subjects seemed too boring
to me. However, the workload was not too big… The other good thing about school is being able to
see your friends. And fortunately, I had wonderful classmates.
- Are you studying English at a school?
Yes … I’m taking an intensive course at a local private language school … I attend classes three
times a week …
- Would you say you are a good student?
I’m OK I think … I’m pretty good at meeting deadlines and I’m keeping up with my studies… plus I
find it quite easy to learn things by heart which is useful when learning a language …
- When you were younger did you enjoy your time at school?
Yes … I liked school … it was public school … the teachers were great … I had lots of friends who
nowadays are close friends

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far. You should
say:
• When it was
• Why was it hard
• What you were doing at that time

I would like to talk about my last university year. It was really diffucult due to enormous
amounts of homework I had to do and all the exams I had to prepare for… Em, so I studied hard,
having no time to goof around … Moreover, I was worked part time … But despite the tough
preparation, I managed to set aside some time to rest and interact with my friends and
family… After all, my efforts were not in vain… I passed all the exams well and I am an architect.

Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed. You should say:
– when this period was
– where you were
– what you were studying at the time
and say why you were so happy.

One of the most enjoyable periods during my education was when I was studying architecture at
the university in Buenos Aires. This period lasted from 2016 to 2022, and it holds a special place in
my heart. I was truly happy during those years because I was pursuing my passion and studying
what I loved.
Being in Buenos Aires, surrounded by the vibrant city and its architectural wonders, added an extra
layer of excitement to my education. The university provided a stimulating environment where I
could explore my creativity and learn from experienced professors. I had the opportunity to engage
in various design projects, which allowed me to apply my knowledge and develop my skills.
Moreover, what made this period even more memorable was the support I had with my group of
friends. We formed a tight-knit community and worked together on assignments and projects.
Their encouragement and friendship made my time in Buenos Aires feel like a home away from
home, especially since I was far from my family.
Overall, studying architecture at the university in Buenos Aires was a fulfilling and joyful experience
for me. It allowed me to pursue my passion, immerse myself in a vibrant city, and build lasting
friendships. It was a period of personal and academic growth that I will always recorded.

Part 3
- What are some essential qualities every teacher should have?
As for me, every teacher should be able to catch student’s attention. It is very important to make
your subject interesting to the others… Also, teacher should be a subject specialist and a kind,
helpful person..
- What are some pros of studying on a distance learning course?
To be honest, I think it’s very advantageous to study in such way… It gives you more time flexibility,
especially if you have a job… Not to mention that it is fairly cheap, compared to face-to-face
classes… but you have to be very motivated and I would imagine more people fall behind with
their studies compared to face-to-face classes …
- Does everybody get equal opportunities to study?
Definitely not. I think it really depends on a country you live in… Moreover, it depends on
your financial capabilities… Some schools and universities are just too expensive… Only a small
fraction of people can afford to study there.
- What qualities do you think a good teacher has?
They should be patient … they should be subject specialists and be able to explain the subject
clearly … they should give feedback quickly …

WHEATER
Part 1
- What’s the weather in your country?
The weather in my country is very nice depends would do you like. We have a varied climate
depending on the place, where I live it is very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. It’s
quite changeable really … we have periods of time with clear blue skies then all of a sudden we’ll
have torrential rain.
- Does the weather affect your mood?
Yes… Cold, gloomy days put me in a bad mood. I love summertime, when it’s warm and sunny.
- Do you like rainy days? Does it bother you much when it rains?
Mm… depends, if I stay in my house and heavy rains, I love, however if I leave my house and need
walk in the street and I get caught in the rain and get drenched I don’t like it
- What is your favourite season?
Well, I think it’s spring… The weather is very pleasant and it’s nice to see everything come back to
life and blossom.
- Do you like winters?
No, not really… For me winter is the most depressing season, because where I live it’s freezing
cold in the winter. Moreover, the days are short and you can’t do a lot of outdoor activities.
- Which months have the best weather in your country?
Well … I suppose it’s a matter of personal taste really … I like it around the end of October and
November … I’m not fond of the heat waves we often get during the summer … it’s not freezing
cold during these months and we still get lots of sunny spells.

PART 2 –
Describe a time when you experienced extreme weather conditions. You should say
– when this was
– where you were
– what the weather was like
and say how you felt about the experience.

-One time I experienced extreme weather conditions was in Tornquist, the place where I live. It
happened when I was taking a walk in the outskirts of the city, surrounded by lush greenery.
Suddenly, the weather took a drastic turn, and it started pouring rain heavily.
The rain was pouring down in a very heavy and intense way. It was accompanied by strong winds
and it felt like nature was showing its power. The sound of the rain hitting the ground was very
loud, and it was quite a sight to see.
At first, I was surprised by the sudden change in weather. I had to find shelter under a tree to avoid
getting completely wet. Despite the inconvenience, I couldn't help but feel a mix of amazement and
excitement. It was impressive to witness such a strong display of nature.
Although it was challenging, I found beauty in the power of the rain. It reminded me of how small
we are in the face of nature. After the rain stopped, I continued my walk, feeling both a sense of
awe and gratitude for the experience.

-I was studying English in a language school a few years ago … we were in Cornwall in the UK …
we’d been enjoying lovely sunny days … not a cloud in the sky … when all of a sudden there was a
change in the weather … we were in town walking around the shops when it started to pour
down (empezó a caer)… I’d never seen such heavy rain before … within about 10 minutes the roads
were full of water … I think they call it a flash flood (inundación repentina) … it was like being in the
middle of a tropical storm … the water was almost up to my knees … the weather forecast
(pronostico del tiempo) hadn’t predicted it so everyone was taken by surprise … I’m not sure you could
call it ‘extreme’ weather as a few hours later it started to clear up … the sun came out and slowly
the water level went down … but a lot of people’s houses were flooded so it would have been
extreme for them … I found it all quite exciting … in my country we generally have a very mild
climate (clima templado) and don’t often get floods like this so it was quite an experience for me.

Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far. You should
say:
• When it was
• Why was it hard
• What you were doing at that time

One of the toughest times in my studies was during my second year of university. It was around
2018, and I was studying architecture.
During that period, I had a lot of difficult courses and assignments. The workload was
overwhelming, and I struggled to keep up. The topics became more complex, and I had trouble
understanding and applying them.
On top of that, I was dealing with personal issues, which made it even harder to focus on my
studies. I felt exhausted and unsure if I could handle everything. I remember feeling exhausted both
mentally and physically.
However, I didn't give up. I reached out to my professors and classmates for support, and they
encouraged me to keep going. It was a challenging time, but I learned a lot from it and became
stronger as a result.
Looking back, that experience taught me the importance of perseverance and resilience. It was a
difficult period, but I managed to overcome the challenges and continue with my studies.

Part 3
- Does air pollution affect the weather?
Yes, it does… It affects the overall temperature of the world, making the weather warmer. Also, it
often causes smog and gloomy weather.
- Do you think that weather affects people’s behaviour?
Yes, I think that people respond to bad weather… In my opinion, during cold and dull days people
are more depressed and irritated than usual… While bright sunshine and warmth (calor) makes us
feel good.
- Do you think the weather affects how people feel?
Absolutely … yes … I don’t mind the occasional cold spell but I think the winter months can make
you feel down. I hate having to leave the house in the winter … there’s often a thick fog every
morning and we sometimes get bitterly cold winds (vientos muy frios) … the winter certainly makes
me feel a little depressed … though having said that … it’s always nice to see the town covered in
a blanket of snow.
- Do you think the weather is changing due to global warming?
I don’t know if it’s due to global warming or not but the weather in my country is certainly changing
… we’ve been getting quite mild winters lately (inviernos suaves ultimamente) … the temperatures are
sometimes below freezing but only occasionally … and then during the summer it can get boiling
hot with a lot of older people even suffering from heatstroke (golpe de calor).
In which ways are weather forecasts useful? ¿De qué manera son útiles los pronósticos del tiempo?
Well … if you’re planning a trip or going on holiday it’s important to know whether you’ll need
to dress up warm or take an umbrella … farmers need to know what the long-range forecast
(pronostico a largo plazo) is so they can plan their work … I suppose people who organise outside
events need to know as well in case things get rained off.

MUSIC
music genre: a distinc type of music. Famous music genres include:
classical music: music that is thought to be a part of a long, formal tradition.
| My dad is fond of classical music. He listens to Mozart and Beethoven every day.
pop music: a genre of popular music.
| One of the most famous pop-singers in the history are Michael Jackson and Madonna.
rock music: music that is based around amplified instruments, especially the electric guitar and
electric bass, and is characterized by driving rhythms.
| My favourite music genre is rock. I adore such rock bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers and The
Beatles.
catchy tune: a tune or a song that’s easy to remember and that you enjoy singing.
| I heard a catchy song the other day and now it’s stuck in my head.
elevator music: music that is played in places like supermaket or family restaurant. Almost always is
very repetitive and annoying.
| Yesterday I heard a very annoying elevetor music in the local supermarket.
live music: music performance in front of an audience.
| I prefer listening to a live music than to a recording. It’s much more emotional and energetic.
music to one’s ears: something (often information) very pleasant and enjoyable to someone.
| When my teacher told me that I got the highest mark in the class for the assignment, it was like
music to my ears.
opera: a kind of performance in which actors sing during their play with music performed by an
orchestra.
| I often listen to classical music and go to opera.
ringtone: sound that a cell phone makes when someone is calling.
| I set my favourite song as a ringtone on my cell phone.
rock band: musicians that play rock music.
| Last week I was on my favourite rock band’s concert.
tone deaf: not able to discern the notes properly.
| Alhough I’m tone deaf, I’d like to learn to sing properly in the furture.
tuneful: pleasant and melodious music or sound.
| I heard a tuneful choir of birds yesterday morning.
Useful idioms:
to face the music: to have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
| If you commit a crime, eventually, you’ll have to face the music.
to ring a bell: to sound familiar.
| I think I heard this song somewhere. It definitely rings a bell.
to sound like a broken record: to repeat yourself again and again.
| Little children often sound like a broken record and it annoys most people.
to strike (hit) a false note: to do something wrong.
| I realised that I hit a false note on the exam when I received a 0 mark afterwards.
a catchy tune: a song that is easy to remember and makes you want to sing it
adoring fans: people who love a particular band or singer
background music: music that is played while something else is happening
classical music: music that is regarded as part of a long, formal tradition
to download tracks: to obtain music from the Internet
to have a great voice: to sing well
to go on tour: to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country
a huge following: a large number of fan
live music: music that is listened to while it is performed (not recorded)
live performance: (see live music)
a massive hit: a record that sells lots of copies
a music festival: music performances at a venue often over several days
musical talent: skilled at music
to be/sing out of tune: to not be in harmony/to sing the wrong notes
a piece of music: an item of music
to play by ear: to play without reading the musical notes
a pop group: a small group of people who play or sing pop music together

PART 1
- Do you like listening to the music on a regular basis?
Yes, without a doubt (sin dudas). I like different music genres and I listen to various tunes almost
every day… I do not like classic music, though… It makes me bored.
- Have you ever been interested in singing?
No, not really…, unfortunately, I am tone deaf, so I can’t sing very well…
- Can you say that music is a very important part of your life?
No, I can’t… Although I enjoy music and listen to rock national music every now and then, I’m not
obsessed with it…
- What kind of music do you listen to?
.I’m a big fan of rock national bands … but my boyfriend … their taste in music is completely
different … healways want to listen to his favourite classic music and I listen with him…
.My favorite music genre is national rock. I have been listening to it since I was a child, perhaps
influenced by my older siblings. I have been to several concerts throughout my life, and it has
always been an incredible experience

- Do you play any instruments?

No I don’t … I’ve always wished I’d taken up a musical instrument … I’d love to be able to play the
guitar … but I think I’m a bit tone deaf so perhaps I’d find it hard.
- Have you got any hobbies or interests?
I’m really into live music … I go to a lot of music festivals … I think a live performance always
sounds more exciting than a recorded version … as long as the performers can sing and play well of
course …

PART 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a band you enjoy listening to. You should say:
• How did you find them
• What kind of music do they play
• When do you listen to them
And say why you like them so much

I really enjoy listening to Maroon 5… I found this music band a few years ago, when I was looking
for some pop music on the Internet… And, immediately after listening to the few of their songs, I
fell in love with this awesome band… Their music is very catchy and tuneful at the same time. I
especially like this band for their driving rhythms… As of today, I have gone to a few of their
concerts and have their posters all over my wall. I listen to their songs when I’m upset or stressed
out… They always cheer me up… Also, one of their songs, namely “Payphone”, is set as
a ringtone on my phone.

Describe a song you like to listen to. You should say

– what the piece of music is called
– how long you have liked it
– when you like to listen to it
and say why you like it so much.

Well … I’m a little older than most students and when I was young Abba the Swedish pop
group were very famous … I don’t think it was cool to like them even though they had a huge
following but I think now people have realised what wonderful songs they wrote … one piece of
music in particular is called ‘Slipping through my fingers’ … it wasn’t a massive hit but I love it … it’s
a song for parents and it’s all about how quickly our children grow up … it’s a slow number and like
a lot of their songs it’s a very catchy tune … the two women in Abba had great voices and it’s the
kind of music you can also sing along to easily … even if you don’t have a great voice … I listen to
Abba when I feel like a sing-song … and I especially like to listen when I’m doing the housework … it
stops me thinking about the hard work …

PART 3
- Do you think music is getting better as time goes on?
No, quite the opposite. In my opinion, music was a lot better back in the day… I love music from 60s
and 70s… There are myriads of famous rock bands of that time that I really like… And nowadays
almost every pop-song sounds boring and dull (aburrida) to me…
- Where do you think people enjoy listening to music the most?
I my point of view, it all depends on a person… As for me, I enjoy listening to the music in my room,
where nobody can bother me… But a lot of my friends would prefer listening to the music while
travelling in public transport… This way their journey becomes more pleasant.
- Is it better to go to a live concert or to listen to a CD?
I think that nothing compares to a live concert! It’s just magical to be on a concert in a large group
of people like you, listening to the songs you know being played right in front of you… It’s
empowering, and completely unlike listening to recorded music.
- Do you like the same music as your parents?
Um… When I was a child I used to listen to the same music as my parents did… Probably, that was
because we were often driving in the same car … and my parents always turned on some jazz on
the radio. So I thought I was fond (aficionada) of jazz… But eventually I discovered other music genres
and understood that I like rock music and techno much more…
- Is the Internet a good or bad thing for the music industry?
On the one hand it’s good for marketing new musical talent or particular bands but it’s so easy to
share and download tracks for free I think it is costing the industry a lot of money …
- Should music be treated as seriously as subjects like maths or sciences at school?
I think it should … I don’t think it should be taught in a boring way … I mean making children read
music … but I do think they should be encouraged to play instruments and to play things by
ear perhaps … to keep the lessons fun …
- Where do people usually enjoy listening to music?
In lots of ways or places … as background music when they are doing something else … at concerts
when a band goes on tour … or in clubs or discos …

ENVIRONMENT

air quality: the cleanliness of the air we breathe (respirar).

| Due to the opening of a new factory nearby, the air quality here went down.
bio-diversity: a diversity in nature, among plants and animals.
| Nowadays, we suffer (sufrimos) the loss of bio-diversity.
endangered species: a category of animals or plans that migh become extinct.
| White rhinos are endangered species. There are only 5 white rhinos left in the world.
environmentally friendly: products that do not harm the environment.
| I try to use only environmentally friendly goods in order to preserve the nature.
exhaust fumes: gases, ejected from an engine as waste products.
| I bought an electric car to avoid producing exhaust fumes when I drive.
fossil fuels: energy resources like gas and oil.
| Gas is one of the most well-known fossil fuels.
global warming: an increase in temperature all-over the world, as a result of greenhouse effect.
| Global warming is a very serious problem that our society is dealing with.
greenhouse effect: heating of the atmosphere due to the carbon dioxide and other gases.
| Greenhouse effect causes global warming.
melting of glaciers: the process of icebergs’ melting (derritiendo).
| Melting of glaciers increases the sea-level.
natural disaster: an event like an earthquake, hurricane etc.
| I experienced a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake last year.
paper recycling: the processes of reprocessing waste paper for reuse.
| It was found that paper recycling causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than
making virgin paper.
poacher: one who kills or takes wild animals illegally.
| Poaching is considered a violation of hunting rules and impedes wildlife conservation.
toxic waste: poisonous rubbish, produced by industrial processes.
| Many factories in my city dump toxic waste into rivers and lakes.
Useful phrases:
to become extinct: to stop existing.
| Dinosaurs became extinct may centuries ago.
to be under threat: to be in danger of becoming extinct.
| White Rhinos are under the threat of becoming extinct.
to dry up: to have all the water drained away.
| The small river in my hometown dried up this summer due to the enormous heat.
to get back to nature: live a life that is closer to nature.
| My friend decided to leave his boring job and move to the countryside to get back to nature.
to litter: to throw rubbish in inappropriate places.
| I always try to find a garbage bin to throw my trash in. I don’t like to litter.

PART 1
- Do you think pollution is a big problem nowadays?
Yes, definitely. Air and water pollution are huge issues (grandes problemas) in the modern world… The
air pollution problem is especially grave due to the increasing amount of exhaust fumes, which are
produced by cars, and result into a poor air quality.
- What do you do to prevent our environment from pollution?
A lot of things… First of all, I don’t litter. Also, my family and me try to buy only environmentally
friendly goods whenever we can… And finally, I try to save trees… I print on both sides of every
sheet of paper I use and use any left over white space to scribble notes.
- Have you ever participated in any environmental events?
Yes, of course! Last year I participated in an event in my hometown, which was all about preserving
nature… We were taught about the greenhouse effect and I learned about many endangered
species in the world.
- Are there any environmental problems in your country?
Yes … we have a serious issue with pollution levels in some of our big cities … exhaust fumes from
cars and lorries are definitely one reason for the problem but we also have a lot of heavy
industry in some areas and this also results in poor air quality …
- Do you take an interest in nature?
Well … I’m a city person through and through and don’t get back to nature very often I’m afraid …
but like everyone else I’m fascinated by the natural world and I like watching documentaries
showing wild animals in their natural habitat …

PART 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe an environmental problem or event. You should say:
• What is it
• Where is it happening
• What problems does it cause

I would like to talk about global warming. In my opinion, it is a big, if not the biggest, problem that
we are facing nowadays. The main reason of global warming is the greenhouse effect … Nowadays
people are producing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, mostly by burning fossil fuels. These
gases let sunlight in, which warms the Earth, and then block that heat from leaving… That breaks
the delicate natural balance and causes our planet to warm… As global warming changes the
climate on the whole planet, it affects all countries in the world and causes many serious
problems… For example, global warming causes melting of glaciers, which in turn raises the sea-
level… Eventually, coastal areas are flooding and agriculture is damaged unless appropriate
measures are taken… As it is a worldwide problem, I think that only joint efforts will help us to
overcome (superar) this issue (problema).

Part 3

- In which way do people damage our planet?

In my point of view, we damage the Earth in many ways. Just take a look at all those factories that
empty toxic waste into rivers and lakes… People also destroy a great deal of natural areas in search
of fossil fuels. Not to mention poaching and endangering of wild animals.
- Do you think that the environmental situation will improve in the nearest future?
Yes, I would like to believe so… People are getting more and more aware of the major
environmental issues that we’re dealing with nowadays… I hope that we will get back to nature and
start caring about our planet more.
- What do you think is the main danger the world faces in terms of the environment?
Well … climate change is a real issue … in my country we have flash floods (inundaciones
repentinas) and heat waves on a yearly basis … so yes … I think global warming is the biggest issue.
- What examples are there of how we damage the natural world?
There are so many examples … there are factories that empty toxic waste into rivers and oceans
… oil spills (derrames de petroleo) that damage the coastline … the way we destroy vast areas of land
and rain forests in search of fossil fuels or to increase agricultural production …
- In which ways do we respond well to environmental problems?
Implementing conservation measures, such as reducing energy and water consumption, promoting
recycling, and preserving natural habitats, can help protect the environment and its resources for
future generations. Advancements in renewable energy, waste management, and eco-friendly
products can significantly contribute to mitigating environmental problems.
- "What do you think is the role of governments in protecting the environment?"
. In my opinion, governments play a crucial role in protecting the environment. It is the
responsibility of governments to establish strong environmental policies and regulations that
promote sustainable practices and mitigate negative impacts on the environment. Additionally,
they should invest in green research and technologies, as well as environmental education to raise
awareness among the population. However, it is also important for citizens and businesses to
actively collaborate with governments in environmental protection, as it requires a collective effort
. Yes, I strongly believe that it is important for governments to invest in renewable energy. The use
of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is crucial for mitigating climate change
and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Investing in renewable energy not only helps combat
environmental issues but also promotes sustainability, creates new job opportunities, and
enhances energy security. Governments should prioritize policies and incentives that encourage the
adoption and development of renewable energy technologies.

BOOKS AND FILMS

action-packed: full of action.
| My brother loves action-packed movies. Probably that’s why his favourite film is “Terminator”.
addictive: a book or film that you quickly become addicted to.
| “Harry Potter” series by Joanne Rowling are so addictive! I couldn’t stop after the first book and
read all volumes.
creepy: producing a sensation of uneasiness (inquietud) or fear (miedo), scary.
| Noah finds Stephen King’s stories creepy.
dreary: gloomy or depressing.
| I can’t stand dramas, thrillers and other dreary movies.
entertaining: funny and enjoyable.
| Comedies are very entertaining.
futuristic: telling about the future.
| “Star Wars” movie is futuristic and dynamic.
heartbreaking: that breaks your heart and evokes sad emotions.
| When my aunt watched “Titanic” she cried all day! It’s such a heartbreaking film.
inspirational: evoking inspiration.
intense: a book or film loaded with actions and emotions that evokes strong feelings.
| The play’s plot was very intense. Just a minute after a couple had a quarrel in the forest, the
secret lover appeared and started a fire-fight.
tear-jerking: tragic, making you cry.
| My sister is very emotional. I would rather watch a comedy with her than a tear-jerking movie!
thought-provoking: a book or film that makes you think of new ideas or that changes your attitude
to something.
| Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451” is deeply thought-provoking. I had to rethink my attitude
to legislation and censorship after I read it.
Advanced vocabulary:
action movie: film with fast moving scenes, often containing violence.
| Last week I saw a great action movie with my brother at our local movie theatre.
bedtime reading: a book you read in your bed before going to sleep.
| I’m really addicted to books! I can’t even fall asleep without an hour of bedtime reading
box office hit: a very successful movie, in terms of money.
| The new movie might be a box office hit, but I didn’t like it at all.
e-reader: a gadget for reading books.
| My e-reader broke a few days ago, so now I’ll need to fix it or buy a new one.
from cover to cover: from the first page to the last.
| I am a slow reader so it takes me a lot of time to read a book from cover to cover.
Hardcover (tapa dura): a book with hard cover. Opposite to softcover.
| My friend gave me a hardcover book as a present for my birthday.
page turner: (interesante) a book which is so good that you cannot stop reading it.
| My sister recommended me a great book. It was such a page turner that I read it in one day!
plot: a storyline of a book or film.
intricate plot: a very complex, labyrinthine plot.
| The famous Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” has a very intricate plot. It tells a story of five
different families and comprises of 4 volumes.
subordinate plot (subplot): a plot that is related to, but less important than the main plot of a
story.
| Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises” tells a love story of a man and a woman.
However, the book involves many subordinate plots that raise questions about physical and spiritual
affinity, trans-racial relationships and anti-Semitism.
threadbare plot: a simple, primitive plot.
| The movie’s plot was threadbare, but cutely disarming in its own way.
unravelling of the plot: the way in which a story develops over time.
| I first thought Jack London’s novel “Martin Eden” to be pretty straightforward. However, the plot
unravelled in a very unpredicted way.
Useful idioms:
don’t judge a book by its cover: a metaphorical phrase which means “you shouldn’t judge someone
or something by its appearance alone”.
| When I first met Sam I didn’t find him handsome. But, as people say, don’t judge a book by its
cover. He turned out to be the most interesting person I’ve ever met and we married soon!
to catch the latest movie: to see a movie that has just come out.
| We need to hurry up if we want to catch the latest movie.
to flick through: to look quickly through a book.
| I flicked through my notes to prepare for the exam as didn’t have time to study properly.
to know like a book: to know something extremely well.
| I live in this city for my whole life and I know it like a book.
to read between the lines: to understand the hidden meaning about something.
| When I broke up with my girlfriend, I didn’t want anyone to know that. But Tom saw us in the
different corners of the classroom and read everything between the lines. He’s very discerning.

Part 1
- Do you enjoy reading?
Yes, absolutely! A great way to relax to learn something new is to peruse a book… I’m so addicted
to reading that sometimes I can’t even fall asleep without an hour of bedtime reading.
- Do you like watching movies?
No, not really… If I have some free time, I’d rather read an interesting book… Books leave us a lot of
space for imagination, while in movies everything is spelled out for us… That’s why I find films
boring.
- What is the last book you read? And did you like it?
My favorite book is called 'Indias Blancas' by Florencia Bonelli, an Argentine author whom I find
fascinating. Her stories are based on Argentine history and intense romances. I have shed tears
multiple times while reading that book due to its captivating storyline
- How often do you go to the cinema with your friends?
Quite often, to be honest… I like catching the latest movies with my friends, so we go to the cinema
almost every week. I especially like action movies and sci-fi films.
- Do you like to read books?
Yes … I love reading … I like nothing more than to be engrossed in a good book … I regularly take
out books from the library and usually read them from cover to cover in no time … and I can’t go to
sleep at night without some good bedtime reading …
How often do you go to the cinema?
Unfortunately we don’t have a cinema near us so we have to go into the nearest town to catch the
latest movie
- Do you prefer reading books or watching films?
I’m not really a big reader … I find books quite heavy-going … so I much prefer to see a film …
perhaps it’s the special effects or the soundtrack … I don’t know … I just prefer a film …
Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a book or a film that had a strong impact on you. You should say:
• What was it
• When you read or saw it
• How it influenced you
And say if you liked it and why.

One film that had a strong impact on me is "The Notebook." I watched it a few years ago, during a
rainy weekend at home. The film tells a captivating love story between two individuals, Noah and
Allie, set in the 1940s.
"The Notebook" influenced me emotionally and made me reflect on the power of love and the
importance of cherishing special moments. It taught me that true love can withstand the test of
time and that relationships require effort and commitment.
I genuinely liked the film because of its heartfelt storyline and the strong chemistry between the
lead characters. The performances were compelling, and the beautiful cinematography added to
the overall impact. It left a lasting impression on me and reminded me to appreciate the people I
love and the precious moments we share.
Overall, "The Notebook" touched my heart and left me with a sense of warmth and appreciation for
the power of love.

PART 3
- Why do you think cinemas are still popular nowadays, even though people can watch
movies in their homes?
I believe that there are several reasons for it… First of all, watching a film on a big screen is a lot
more fun than watching it at home… Not to mention the fact that you won’t be able to see the
movie on the DVD as soon as in the movie theater… You’ll have to wait a couple of months for
the DVD release of the movie… Moreover, a lot of people like the atmosphere of cinema with its
half-light halls, popcorn and sound effects.
- What do you think about e-books?
In my opinion, a paperback or hardback books are much better… Reading a book from an e-
reader just doesn’t feel the same for me – I adore the sensation of turning pages and that special
smell of paper. I think that the look and feel of a book can never be replaced by an e-reader… But I
do understand usefulness of electronic books. It is very convenient to be able to carry hundreds of
books in your pocket and have a possibility to read them at any time… Also, e-readers
support keyword search, which paperbacks obviously do not.
- Is reading as pleasurable in digital format?
Personally I prefer reading a paperback or hardback … especially if I’m reading a classic which I
don’t think feels right as an e-book … but I can see it can be good for others … my grandmother has
an e-reader and she loves the way you can enlarge the text …
- Do you think bookshops will survive the digital revolution?
In my opinion, I believe that bookshops will continue to exist despite the digital revolution. While
the rise of digital books and online platforms has undoubtedly changed the way people consume
literature, there are still several reasons why bookshops can withstand this shift.
Bookshops offer a unique and immersive experience that cannot be replicated online. They provide
a physical space where book lovers can browse through shelves, flip through pages, and discover
new titles. This tactile experience and the opportunity to interact with knowledgeable staff create a
sense of community and enhance the joy of book buying.
Statistics show that visits to the cinema are up despite the availability of DVDs and online
downloads. Why do you think this might be?
-.I think it’s the whole experience that the cinema offers … going out to see a film when it goes on
general release … and seeing it on the big screen is more exciting than watching the film at home
on TV … especially if it’s an action movie … and watching it with others makes it even more special.
-. One possible reason for the increase in cinema visits despite the availability of DVDs and online
downloads could be the unique and immersive experience that cinemas offer. Going to the cinema
allows people to watch movies on the big screen with high-quality sound, creating a more engaging
and captivating experience compared to watching at home.
Additionally, cinemas often show the latest releases, allowing viewers to see movies right when
they come out. This sense of timeliness and anticipation can attract movie enthusiasts who want to
be part of the cultural conversation surrounding new releases.
Furthermore, watching a movie in a cinema can be a social activity. It provides an opportunity for
friends, family, or couples to spend time together, enjoy the shared experience, and discuss the film
afterwards. This social aspect adds another layer of enjoyment and entertainment to the cinema
experience.
In summary, despite the availability of DVDs and online downloads, the cinema continues to attract
audiences due to the immersive experience, the opportunity to see the latest releases, and the
social aspect it offers.

ACCOMODATION

(all the) mod cons: technology at home that makes jobs easier such as a washing
machine, dishwasher etc.
apartment block: a large building made up of smaller units of apartments
back garden: a garden at the rear of the house
detached house: a house that is not physically connected to another property
to do up a property: to repair an old building
dream home: a home you regard as perfect
first-time buyer: someone buying a property for the first time, especially when taking out a loan
(mortgage)
fully-furnished: a rented property with all furniture included
o get on the property ladder: to buy a property with the aim of buying another bigger or more
expensive one later in life
hall of residence: a college or university building where students live
home comforts: things that make a home feel comfortable to live in
house-hunting: looking for a property to live in
house-warming party: a party to celebrate moving into a new home
ideal home: a perfect home
to live on campus: to live on the university or college grounds
mobile home: a home that can be moved by a vehicle or one that has its own engine
to move into: to begin to live in a property
to own your own home: to have bought the property you live in
to pay rent in advance: weekly or monthly rent paid at the beginning of the week or month
permanent address: a fixed address
property market: the buying and selling of land or buildings
to put down a deposit: to pay an amount of money as the first in a series of future payments
rented accommodation: property owned by someone else and for which a person pays a fixed
amount to live in
single room: a room for one person
spacious room: a large room
student digs: student accommodation
the suburbs: a residential area on the edge of towns or cities
to take out a mortgage: to borrow a large amount of money, paid back over several years, in order
to buy a house
terraced house: a house connected on both sides by other properties

PART 1
- Do you live in a house or an apartment?
- Tell me about where you live.
- What kind of accommodation do most people live in in your city?
The most people live in big houses with lovely back gardens …
- What do you like about living there?
- Which is your favorite room in your home?
- Would you change anything about your home? Why/why not?
- Would you like to move to a different home in the future?
- What sorts of accommodation would you most like to live in?

Part 2 -style task

Describe a house or an apartment you would like to live in. You should say
– what kind of accommodation it would be
– where it would be
– who would live there with you
and say why you would enjoy living in this place.

I would like to live in a spacious apartment with a modern design and plenty of natural light. It
would have an open layout with a large living area, a well-equipped kitchen, and a cozy bedroom.
Ideally, the apartment would be located in a vibrant city neighborhood, close to amenities such as
restaurants, cafes, and parks. I would love to have a balcony or terrace overlooking a scenic view,
where I can relax and enjoy the fresh air. As for the company, I would live there with my partner.
We would enjoy the convenience of urban living, exploring the city together, and creating a
comfortable and stylish home that reflects our tastes. Living in such a place would offer a dynamic
lifestyle, easy access to entertainment options, and a vibrant community to engage with.

I’m going to talk about my favourite room in my house. I would have to say that my living room
is definitely my favourite. As for the size, although it is probably a small room really, it seems larger
because of the high ceilings and large windows. This is important to me because… In terms of the
furniture, there are several items. The biggest one is the black leather 3 seater sofa. It’s really
comfortable. The room also has… Finally, I’d like to give a couple of reasons why it’s my favourite
room. Firstly, there are so many activities I can do there, such as…
PART 3
- Is it better to own your own home or to rent?
I think both have their advantages … living in rented accommodation isn’t necessarily a bad thing …
you don’t have a huge debt like you do when you take out a mortgage but I suppose the property
market offers you an investment for the future … I’m sure that’s why most people prefer to own
their own home …
- What options are available to young couples looking for accommodation in your
country?
If they want to buy their own home it isn’t easy for first-time buyers … mortgages are hard to get
so most people live with their parents or in rented accommodation … but that can also be very
expensive … you often have to pay rent in advance … and if the accommodation isn’t fully
furnished you have the expense of buying furniture …
- What are some of the pleasures involved in making a home for ourselves?
I suppose it starts with house-hunting … finding your ideal home … some people enjoy doing up an
old property … giving a property that’s old and tired a new lease of life … others like making
wherever they live feel like home with some home comforts …

BUSINESS
to be self-employed: to work for yourself/to not work for an employer
to cold call: to make a sales call to someone without asking them for permission first
cut throat competition: when one company lowers its prices, forcing other companies to do the
same, sometimes to a point where business becomes unprofitable
to do market research: to do research into what potential customers would or wouldn’t buy
to draw up a business plan: to write a plan for a new business
to drum up business: to try to get customers
to earn a living: to earn money
to go bust: when a business is forced to close because it is unsuccessful
cash flow: the money coming in and going out of a business
to go into business with: to join another person to start or expand a business
to go it alone: to start your own business
to go under: (see ‘to go bust’)
to have a web presence: to have a website or social media profile that showcases your business
to launch a product: to start selling and promoting a new product
to lay someone off: when a company ends an employee’s contract of employment
lifestyle business: a business that is set up to bring in a sufficient income and no more
to make a profit: to earn more money than it costs to run the business
niche business: a business that serves a small, particular market
to raise a company profile: to make more people aware of a business
to run your own business: to have a business of your own
sales figures: a report of the income a company generates through sales of products or services
to set up a business: to start a business
stiff competition: strong competition from other companies in the same area of work
to take on employees: to employ people
to take out a loan: to borrow money
to win a contract: when a business gets legally-binding work with an individual or company
to work for yourself: (see ‘to be self-employed’)
PART 1
- What is your ideal job?
I don’t think I’d enjoy working for a big company … I think I’d like to go it alone and be self-
employed … I’m not sure what area of business it would be but I think I’d enjoy the process
of drawing up a business plan and seeing if I could be successful …
- Is your town a nice place to live?
It’s OK … the main problem we have is our local high street … it used to be a busy centre but lots of
shops have gone bust … it must be very difficult to make a profit when you have huge
supermarkets in the area and a lot haven’t been able to survive with such cut-throat
competition …

PART 2
Describe a business you know that you admire. You should say
– what this business is
– what the business sells
– how long you have known about the business
and say why you like it so much.

Actually I discovered a business very recently that I like so much I’d like to do something similar in
the future … it’s a small niche business that runs courses in how to cook … especially bread … the
owner uses his kitchen for the courses and went into business with a local community shop and
sells a lot of the bread and cakes they make in the shop … I first got to hear about the business last
year … my wife paid for me to do one of the baking courses and I got to know the owner during the
training … it’s a lifestyle business really … he doesn’t have plans to take on employees or expand
into new areas … he’s happy earning a living doing the thing he loves … I really admire what he
does and I’m sure a lot of people would love to do something similar … he has a web presence … in
fact that’s how we got to find out about his company … and he uses social media to raise the
company profile … but he’s the only person involved in running the business so he’s in complete
control of where the business goes … that’s something that must make it really satisfying … as long
as he’s managing to balance the books and the cash flow is healthy I’m sure he must be very
pleased with what he has achieved …

PART 3
- Why do some people decide to set up their own business?
I suppose it’s the idea of being in control of your own destiny … or of believing in a product or
service idea you may have … plus it must be very exciting … launching products …winning
contracts … and seeing your sales figures improving must be wonderful.
- What are some of the dangers involved in starting a business?
Well … obviously you need to have a good idea … some people say you need to do market
research beforehand so you know what the market wants … if you don’t do this you could go
under … and if it is a good idea the chances are someone else is doing the same thing so you could
end up facing stiff competition …
- What are some of things you have to do when running your own business that might not
appeal to everyone?
Personally i don’t like being in debt so taking out a business loan wouldn’t suit me at all … and I
know a lot of companies do cold calling to try and drum up business … that’s something I’d hate to
do … and laying people off if the business gets into trouble … that would be horrible …

CLOTHES Y FASHION

to be on trend: to be very fashionable

casual clothes: not formal
classic style: a simple, traditional style that is always fashionable
designer label: a well-known company that makes (often expensive) clothing
dressed to kill: wearing clothes that attract admirers
to dress for the occasion: to wear clothes suitable for a particular event
fashionable: in fashion
fashion house: a company that sells (usually expensive) new styles in clothes
fashion icon: a person who is famous for their sense of fashion
fashion show: an event where modals show off the latest in fashion designs
to get dressed up: to put on nice clothes, often to go out somewhere special
to go out of fashion: to not be in fashion any more
hand-me-downs: clothes that are passed down from older brothers or sisters to their younger
siblings
to have an eye for (fashion): to be a good judge of
to have a sense of style: the ability to wear clothes that look stylish
the height of fashion: very fashionabl
to keep up with the latest fashion: to wear the latest fashions
to look good in: to wear something that suits you
to mix and match: to wear different styles or items of clothing that aren’t part of a set outfit
must-have: something that is highly fashionable and therefore in demand
off the peg: clothing that is ready made
old fashioned: not in fashion any more
on the catwalk: the stage that modals walk along to show off the latest fashions
a slave to fashion: someone who always feel the need to wear the latest fashions
smart clothes: the kind of clothes worn for a formal even
to suit someone: to look good on someone
to take pride in one’s appearance: to pay attention to how one looks
timeless: something that doesn’t go out of fashion
vintage clothes: clothes from an earlier period
well-dressed: to be dressed attractively

PART 1
- Do you enjoy buying clothes?
I used to … yes … like most young people I was a bit of a slave to fashion and I’d always have to buy
that must-have shirt or pair of shoes … I’m not so bothered now though … I wouldn’t feel
comfortable wearing something old fashioned but I’m not as bothered as I used to be about what I
wear …
- What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
I prefer casual clothes actually … I hate getting dressed up for special occasions … personally I think
it’s possible to look good in a pair of jeans … but that’s my opinion … I don’t think my wife would
call me a fashion icon that’s for sure …
- Are there many clothes shops where you live?
Yes … there are lots in my town … apart from the big chain stores we’ve got a couple of really nice
shops that sell vintage clothes … old clothes but in a classic style that never really go out of
fashion … I love going there …

PART 2
Describe someone you know who dresses well. You should say
– who they are
– how you know them
– what kind of clothes they wear
and say why you like the way they dress.

I’d like to talk about one of my teachers … Miss Evans … she teaches us English in the school I go to
… we always look forward to seeing what she’s going to wear when our lessons start … she’s always
very well dressed and takes a lot of pride in her appearance … it’s not that she dresses in
very smart clothes … she doesn’t come to school dressed to kill or anything like that … but what
she wears really suits her … and she has a great sense of style as well … we often ask her where she
gets some of her clothes and most of the time they’re just off the peg … and she says she’s not
interested in designer labels or anything like that … she doesn’t seem too concerned about keeping
up with the latest fashion … she just wears clothes that are timeless… yes … Miss Evans is the
person I think looks great in the clothes she wears …

PART 3
- What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
It depends … where we are or where we’re going is a big factor … if you are going out to a club or
party you’re going to dress for the occasion … and then there are those who think it’s important to
look like they’re on trend … they’ll want to wear the latest fashions … there are lots of factors really
- What kind of things determine what is in fashion and what we should be wearing?
I suppose the big fashion houses and fashion shows must have an effect but the clothes you see on
the catwalk don’t always reflect what normal people wear … so I suppose it will be things like what
singers are wearing in videos or models are wearing in magazines … that kind of thing …
- Is it possible to look good without spending lots of money on clothes?
I’m sure it is … yes … I suppose it’s about having an eye for what looks good … knowing how to mix
and match different items of clothing that go well together … I think you can pick up great bargains
in charity shops … sometimes for youngsters even hand-me-downs can look good …

HEALTHS
ches and pains: (dolores y molestias) minor pains that continue over a period of time
to be a bit off colour: to feel a little ill
to be at death’s door: (informal) to be very ill indeed
to be on the mend: to be recovering after an illness
to be over the worst: to have got through the most serious or uncomfortable stage of an illlness
to be under the weather: (informal) to not feel well
a blocked nose: when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold
to catch a cold: to get a cold
a check-up: a physical examination by a doctor
a chesty cough: a cough caused by congestion around the lungs
cuts and bruises: (cortadas y moretones) minor injuries
to feel poorly: to feel ill
as fit as a fiddle: to be very healthy
to go down with a cold: to become ill
to go private: to choose to be treated by commercial healthcare rather than by services offered by
the state
GP: General Practitioner (family doctor)
to have a filling: to have a tooth repaired
to have a tooth out: to have a tooth removed
a heavy cold: a bad cold
to make an appointment: to arrange a time to see the doctor
to make a speedy recovery: to recover quickly from an illness
to phone in sick: to call work to explain you won’t be attending work due to illness
prescription charges: money the patient pays for medicine authorised by a doctor
to pull a muscle: to strain a muscle
a runny nose: a nose that has liquid coming out of it
a sore throat: inflammation that causes pain when swallowing

PART 1
Have you got a relation you’re particularly fond of (especial cariño)?
Yes … my granddad … he’s 94 years old but generally he’s as fit as a fiddle … we’re very close and
see each other a lot … whenever he goes down with a cold or is under the weather I make a point
of visiting him …
- Do you do any sport?
Yes … I’m keen on skateboarding … but I haven’t done it for a while … I had a bad fall recently
and pulled a muscle and had a few cuts and bruises … but I’m on the mend and hope to be doing it
again soon …
- Is there anything you’re particularly afraid of?
The dentist … I hate going to the dentist … I only ever go if I have a toothache so it usually means I
have to have a filling … I really don’t like it …

Describe a time when you were ill. You should say:

– when this was
– what your symptoms were
– how long the illness lasted
and say how it affected your life at the time.

This is a tricky one really as I’m usually quite healthy … I’ve never been seriously ill … like everyone
else I sometimes get a few aches and pains or catch a cold … I can remember a few months ago I
had to have time off work with a heavy cold … I had the usual symptoms … a blocked nose … sore
throat … it lasted quite a while … about 2 weeks I think though I didn’t have that much time off
work … for a few days I remember feeling poorly but I was over the worst of it after a few days and
went back to work … I always find it’s better to be active when you feel ill as it keeps your mind off
your symptoms … I think my family get a little fed up with me when I’m ill though … I tend to feel
sorry for myself and lie on the sofa all day as if I’m at death’s door … but as I said earlier … on this
occasion it was nothing serious and didn’t really cause me any problems …

PART 3
- What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
Well … people have to pay prescription charges which can be quite expensive … but fortunately
general healthcare is free … unless you want to go private of course and then you can pay a fortune
for your treatment …
- In your experience are people too quick to take time off work when they’re ill?
Yes .. I’ve got friends who have a day off work if they wake up with a runny nose … and in most
cases they seem to make a speedy recovery after they’ve phoned in sick …
- Do women pay more attention to their health than men?
I think so yes … women are more likely to see their GP for a check-up if they’re concerned about
something … men tend to avoid facing up to any health problems they have … my dad always
seems to have a very chesty cough but refuses to go to make an appointment to see the doctor …

HOLIDAYS
all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation
together
breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view
charter-flight: a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggag
departure lounge: where you wait for your flight to be called
far-off destination: somewhere a long way away
to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
guided tour: an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert
holiday brochure: a glossy publication with details of holiday packages
holiday destination: where you go for a holiday
holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
hordes of tourists: crowds of tourist
local crafts: objects produced locally
long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
out of season: outside of the main holiday period
picturesque village: very pretty village
passport control: the place where your passport is checked
places of interest: sites of interest to tourist
wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food
short break: a short holiday
to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites
stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside
travel agent: a shop that specialises in booking holidays
tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go
youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation

PART 1
- What kind of holiday do you like?
I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhere off the
beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a lifetime … a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.
- What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing and always sign up for guided
tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs … one of my hobbies.
- Do you have many tourists in your country?
Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists … most people
come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self-catering apartments.

PART 2
Describe a beautiful place you once visited. You should say:
– when you went to this place
– where it was
– who you went with
and say why you liked it so much.

A few years ago I went on a long weekend to the Lake District in the UK … it’s a very
popular holiday destination in the north of England … I went on my own and had a wonderful time
… I stayed in a youth hostel and met some really nice people … but the most memorable thing
about the holiday were the breathtaking views … and lovely picturesque villages … it can get very
busy with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn … the weather was
fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great holiday … it’s certainly not the kind
of short break for someone looking for a busy nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle
of stunning landscape I would certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake District.

PART 3
- What do you think has led to the growth in the tourist industry?
It’s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get cheap charter-flights or all-in
packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off destination.
- How do people tend to choose a destination?
The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel agents are still very popular …
that’s where I like to go to get holiday brochures for the place I’m interested in.
- People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel. Do you agree?
I’m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring … queuing up at the check-in desk … going
through passport control … sitting for ages in the departure lounge … then the flight itself can be
quite uncomfortable … no … I’m not sure I agree.

PERSONALITY
to be the life and soul of the party: a fun person, someone who is the centre of activity
to bend over backwards: to try very hard to help someone
broad-minded: prepared to accept other views or behaviours
easy-going: relaxed and not easily worried about anything
extrovert: an energetic person who likes the company of others
fair-minded: to treat people equally
fun-loving: to enjoy having fun
to hide one’s light under a bushel: to hide one’s talents and skills
good company: enjoyable to socialise with
good sense of humour: the ability to understand what is funny
introvert: someone who is shy
laid-back: see ‘easy-going’
to lose one’s temper: to suddenly become angry
narrow minded: opposite of ‘broad-minded’ (see above)
painfully shy: very shy
to put others first: to think of others before yourself
quick-tempered: to become angry quickly
reserved: shy
self-assured: confident
self-centred: thinks only of oneself
self-confident: believes in one’s own ability or knowledge
self-effacing: to not try to get the attention of others (especially in terms of hiding one’s skills or
abilities)
to take after: to be like (often another member of the family)
thick-skinned: not easily affected by criticism
trustworthy: can be trusted
two-faced: not honest or sincere. Will say one thing to someone to their face and another when
they are not present.

PART 1
- How would you describe yourself?
Everyone tells me I take after my mum as I’m quite laid-back … I think I’m good company but you
should ask my friends if they agree …
- In which ways are you similar to your friends?
I seem to be attracted to introverts … not people who are painfully shy but most of my friends are
a little reserved … and I think that’s what I’m like …
- Are you similar or different to your brother(s)/sister(s)?
I think my brother and I are very similar … I’d say we’re fun-loving and tend to be a bit extroverted
… my brother is certainly the life and soul of the party … I’m not sure that applies to me …

PART 2
Describe a teacher you once had who you enjoyed being taught by. You should say
– who this person was
– when they were your teacher
– which subject they taught you
and describe what it was about their character that you liked.

I’d like to describe my English teacher from school … Miss Thomas … this was a few years ago now
and she was my teacher at a time when I was getting a little bored with being at school … unlike
some of the other teachers Miss Thomas never lost her temper … she was very calm and easy-
going … she was also very broad-minded … we were able to ask her questions about lots of subjects
that some other teachers would refuse to discuss which made us respect her even more … she had
a great sense of humour too … she’d laugh at our jokes as well as making us laugh … and she would
also bend over backwards to help us with our work … she always put us first and often stayed
around at the end of class to talk with anyone who needed help … apparently she was highly
respected within her field but you would never know as she was the type that hid her light under a
bushel … she was very modest and self-effacing … so yes … Miss Thomas was a teacher I have fond
memories of …

PART 3
- Which personal qualities do you think we most want to pass on to our children?
I certainly would want my children to be self-confident and self-assured … I really believe that
people who feel good about themselves are in a good position to face what life has to offer them …
and I’d hope they wouldn’t be self-centred … but remembered to think about others …
- Which characteristics do you think are the least appealing in a person?
Marianne: Well … people who are very narrow-minded are difficult to get on with … it’s nice when
someone is open to other people’s opinion and willing to think about their own views … and people
who are two-faced can be a little irritating … relationships are built on trust and without honesty
there’s not much left …
- Which personality types do you think are less likely to suffer from stress or anxiety?
Probably people who are thick-skinned … who don’t let people or problems affect them too much
… and if you are fair-minded you’ ll be less likely to overreact to situations or be quick-tempered …

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
to bear a striking resemblance: to look very similar to
cropped hair: very short hair
disheveled hair: untidy hair
to dress up to the nines: to dress very smartly or glamorously
fair hair: light-coloured hair
to be fair-skinned: light skinned
to get done up: to dress smartly
to be getting on a bit: to be getting old
to go grey: to have hair that is turning grey
to be good looking: to be attractive
to grow old gracefully: to act in a way that embraces the fact you are getting older
to be hard of hearing: to find it difficult to hear
in his/her 30s/40s: to be 20/30 something
scruffy: dressed untidily
to look young for your age: to look younger than you are
to lose one’s figure: to have a figure that has lost its toned shape
complexion: natural skin colour and texture
make up: cosmetics
medium height: average height
middle-aged: approximately between 45-65
to never have a hair out of place: perfectly styled hair
to be overweight: to weigh more than is regarded as healthy
pointed face: the opposite of a round face
shoulder-length hair: hair that comes down to the shoulders and no further
slender figure: a figue that is tall and slim
slim figure: attractively thin
thick hair: a lot of hair
to wear glasses: to use spectacles
to be well-built: to be muscular
to be well-turned out: to look smart
youthful appearance: to look young

PART 1
- Do you look like any other people in your family?
No … not at all … take my brother for example … he has short cropped hair and has quite a pointed
face … he’s also quite fair-skinned compared to me …
- Tell me about your family.
My father’s getting on a bit … he’s in his 60s … but he looks very young for his age … he still does
lots of exercise and is quite well-built …
- What does your best friend look like?
She’s the same age as me … she has shoulder-length hair … fair hair … she has a slim figure and
is medium height …

PART 2
Describe a person whose appearance you like. You should say
– who this person is
– what their relationship is to you
– what they look like
and say what it is about their appearance you like.

OK … I’d like to talk about my aunt … her name’s Marta and she’s quite a character … she’s middle-
aged but has a very youthful appearance … she’s a little overweight I suppose but not too much …
she has a friendly round face framed by thick blonde hair … she has a lovely complexion and she’s
always well-turned out … she actually always looks like she’s going out for the evening to
somewhere special … there’s never a hair out of place … I’ve always thought she bears a striking
resemblance to someone on TV … I can’t remember the name now … she wears glasses and always
seems to have a different pair on every time I see her … I like the way she looks because she wears
clothes that are right for her age and manages to look glamorous without it looking like she’s too
done up … yes … I’ll be happy if I look like her when I’m her age …

PART 3
- Is it important to dress well whenever we go out?
It depends where you’re going … I know some people get done up just to go to the shops … but I
don’t see the point … you shouldn’t go out looking scruffy with disheveled hair but I really don’t
see the point in getting dressed up to the nines unless you’re going somewhere special …
- Do people worry too much about their appearance as they get older?
I´m sure they do … yes … but it happens to all of us doesn’t it … we all go grey eventually and
get hard of hearing … we start to lose our figure … that’s why plastic surgery is so popular …
personally I think we just need to grow old gracefully and not worry too much about how we look
- Is attractiveness a quality worthwhile aiming for?
I’d like to say no … it shouldn’t matter what we look like in terms of our physical appearance … but
unfortunately it seems women especially are taken more seriously if they are good looking with a
slender figure with perfect make up and so on …

RELATIONSHIP
to break up: to end a romantic relationship
to drift apart: to become less close to someone
to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone
to fall for: to fall in love
to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot
to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends
to get on like a house on fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests
to get to know: to begin to know someone
to go back years: to have known someone for a long time
to have a lot in common: to share similar interests
to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship
to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with
to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved
to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer
love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone
to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you
to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family
to strike up a relationship: to begin a friendshi
to tie the knot: to get married
to be well matched: to be similar to
to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone

PART 1
- Do you see your friends very often?
Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in common so we’re
always happy doing the same things and going to the same places.
- What do you like about your close friends?
I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out
with each other.
- Have you known each other long?
Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college
and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to when we were at
school.

PART 2
Describe a person you are very close to. You should say:
– who this person is
– when you met them
– where you met them
and say what it is about them you like so much.
I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4 years
ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good friends and used to go out in
a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in
touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that’s when
we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first sight as it had been
over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the time we got back to university in
September we were able to tell all our friends that we were in a relationship … what do I like about
Jose … well he’s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and we’re really well matched in
our interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve talked about getting married
and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children … we’ll just have to wait and see …

PART 3
- Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of commitment …
all relationships have their ups and downs …. but some people prefer to break up rather
than working at the relationship.
- What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first … decided if you want a career
… perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot… although if you fall head
over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten.
- Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both
partners should try not to lose touch with their friends … that’s the best way to have a healthy
relationship with your partner.

SHOPPING
advertising campaign: a series of advertisements to persuade people to buy something
big brand names: large well-known companies or product names
to be careful with money: to not over-spend
carrier bag: bags (usually plastic) supplied by shops
customer service: the degree to which customers are treated well
to get into debt: to owe money
to give someone the hard sell: to put pressure on someone to buy something
high street names: well-known shops
independent stores: small shops independent of large companies
local shops: community shops
loyalty card: a card issued by a shop to allow customers to save money on the basis of what they
spend
must-have product: a product that is very popular that a lot of people want to have
to be on a tight budget: to have a limited amount of money to spend
to be on commission: to pay someone in relation to the amount they sell
a pay in cash: to pay for something using coins or paper money
to pay the full price: to pay the full amount for something
to pick up a bargain: to buy something much cheaper than the normal price
to run up a credit card bill: to owe money on a credit card
to shop around: to try different shops to find the best deal
shop assistant: the person who serves customers
to shop until you drop: to do a lot of shopping
to slash prices: to reduce prices a great deal
to snap up a bargain: to buy something quickly that is being sold cheaply
summer sales: a period in the year when things are sold cheaply
to try something on: to see if an item of clothing fits or is suitable
to be value for money: to be worth the cost
window shopping: to visit a store to look at items without the intention of buying anything

PART 1
- Do you often go shopping for personal items?
When I can afford it yes … my college is in the city centre and I do a lot of window shopping … but
being a student I’m on a tight budget so I have to be careful with money …
- Are there many shops where you live?
We’ve got a few local shops nearby and a few independent stores but none of the big high street
names … I have to go into town for them …
- Do you enjoy shopping?
It depends … I hate it when the sales are on … crowds of people all trying to snap up a bargain … I
find it all a bit stressful … I also get annoyed when shop assistants try to give me the hard sell when
all I want to do is look around …

PART 2
Describe a time when you bought something for someone. You should say
– when this was
– what is was you bought
– who you bought it for
and say how you felt about buying it for them.

I’d like to tell you about the time … about four years ago … my husband and I bought a computer
for our daughter … she was about to go to university and we’d promised her we would treat her to
one … at the time there had been a big advertising campaign for the latest Apple Macbook and our
daughter was very keen to have one … she kept telling us they were value for money … even
though they seemed very expensive to us … anyway we tried to shop around to see if we could pick
up a bargain … this was in the middle of the summer sales and wherever you went prices were
being slashed on big brand names … but unfortunately not Apple products … we ended up
having to pay the full price … I remember my daughter justifying the cost by pointing out how nice
the Apple carrier bag was … but it was lovely to see her so excited and the customer service she’s
received during the four years she’s had it has been excellent … so it was value for money after all

PART 3
Do you think we will stop using paper money in the future?
I think it’s almost certain … at the moment it’s still possible to pay in cash but I’m sure this will
change … the problem is people are more likely to get into debt and run up a credit card bill when
this happens.
How do companies encourage the consumer to spend their money?
Well … a recent development in my country is something called ‘Black Friday’ where people are
encouraged to shop until they drop and buy the latest must-have products … then there are things
like loyalty cards to get the customer back in the store …
What do you think shops need to do to create a positive shopping experience?
The main thing for me is not being pressurised to buy … I appreciate that shop assistants are
probably on commission but if I’m looking for clothes for example I like to take my time … to try
something on … and to ask for help if I need it …

TOWN AND CITY

boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business
chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple citie
to close down: to stop doing business
fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops
to get around: to travel around
high-rise flats: multi-story apartments
inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where conditions are often poor
in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live
lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere
local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public
multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors
office block: a large building that contains offices
out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the town or city
pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement
places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitor
poor housing: housing that is not in good condition
public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public
public transport system: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at regular times on
fixed routes
residential area: an area where people live
run down: old and of a poor standard
shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops
shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres
sprawling city (ciudad en expansion): a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area
tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists
traffic congestion: heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city
upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops

PART 1
What is it like where you live?
I live in a residential area of a busy town in the south of Spain … we have all the facilities you need
… good public transport … a good shopping centre … it’s nice …
- Do you like living in the city?
Yes I do … I like going out with my friends and there are lots of lively bars and restaurants within
walking distance of my apartment … I’m a bit of a culture vulture as well so it’s great to have access
to art exhibitions and that kind of thing …
- Do you get many tourists visiting your area?
Not really no … I live in the inner-city and the area is a little run down … it’s basically a lot of high-
rise flats and many of the shops are boarded up … so nothing to interest tourists really …

PART 2
Describe an interesting town or city in your country that visitors might enjoy. You should say
– what the place is called
– where the place is
– what the facilities are like
and say why visitors might enjoy going there.

Anyone who comes to my country really should spend some time in Barcelona … it’sa beautiful
place … it’s not what you would call a sprawling city … it’s quite compact really and you could walk
across the city in a couple of hours … but there’s no need to do that as we have a fantastic public
transport system so it’s easy to get around … there are various districts all with their own character
… you have the upmarket shops in the centre … you’ll find lots of chain stores you’ll recognise from
your own country but also local brands as well … we have the narrow streets in the Gothic district
with lots of fashionable boutiques and tourist attractions … there’s the Olympic area and the
beaches along the coast … and dotted around the city are some lovely public spaces … parks and
squares in the city centre and on the outskirts of Barcelona where people relax with their friends
and family … and of course pavement cafes everywhere … all that and some great historical places
of interest … so a great destination for tourists …

PART 3
- What are the advantages of living in a city or big town?
I think it’s having access to local facilities really … local shops as well as access to larger shopping
malls in the city centre … and if you’re well-off you can afford to live in the suburbs away from the
busy traffic …
- In your experience are city centres usually attractive places?
Some can be yes … especially those with a historical interest … but sometimes they’re full of
ugly office blocks … multi-story car parks … and residents living in poor housing … it depends on
the city doesn’t it?
- What are some of the challenges facing towns and cities?
I suppose traffic congestion is a major problem … and the growth in out-of-town supermarkets and
retail parks mean lots of town centre shops are closing down … plus a shortage of good quality
housing … I think these are the major challenges …

WORK
to be called for an interview: to be invited to attend an interview
to be your own boss: to have your own business
a dead-end job: a job with no promotional opportunities
to do a job-share: to share the weekly hours of work with another person
a good team player: somebody who can work well with other peopl
full-time: the number of hours that people usually work in a complete week
a heavy workload: to have a lot of work to do
a high-powered job: an important or powerful job
holiday entitlement: the number of days holiday allowed
job satisfaction: the feeling of enjoying a job
manual work: work that requires physical activity
maternity leave: time off work given to a woman about to have a baby
to meet a deadline: to finish a job by an agreed time
a nine-to-five job: a normal job that consists of an 8 hour day (approximately)
one of the perks of the job: an extra benefit you get from a job
part-time: working less than full-time
to run your own business: see ‘to be your own boss’
to be self-employed: see ‘to be your own boss’
sick leave: time allowed off work when sick
to be stuck behind a desk: to be unhappy in an office job
to be/get stuck in a rut: to be in a boring job that is hard to leave
to take early retirement: to retire early (retire: to reach an age when you are allowed to stop
working for a living)
temporary work: work done for a limited time only
voluntary work: to work without pay
to be well paid: to earn a good salary
working conditions: the hours, salary and other entitlements that comes with the job
to work with your hands: to do manual work

PART 1
What do you do?
I do a job-share with a friend in a boutique … I enjoy it … I like working with customers …
unfortunately it’s only temporary work but one of the perks of the job is I get a discount on the
clothes …
Do you have any career plans yet?
Yes … I’d like to be my own boss one day … I’m interested in programming and I’d like to create
apps for myself or for other companies … I know being self employed would be a challenge but the
idea of doing a nine-to-five job doesn’t appeal to me at all …
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time?
I’d hope to be working … not a high-powered job … but I’m quite a creative person so something
where I can work with my hands would be nice … as long as I’m not stuck behind a desk doing
something boring in a dead-end job I’ll be happy …

PART 2
Describe your ideal job. You should say:
– what this job is
– whether you would need any qualifications
– whether it would be easy to find work
and say why you would enjoy this job in particular.

I’ve always loved watching wildlife programmes on TV and often thought how much I’d enjoy
working with animals … perhaps in a safari park … something like that … you’d probably need a
degree to have any chance of being called for an interview and whether there are many full-time
jobs I don’t know … I’m sure a lot of parks rely on voluntary work so it might not be easy … and it
probably wouldn’t be well-paid either but money isn’t everything … I’d get so much job
satisfaction … I can’t imagine it being the kind of job where you get stuck in a rut … and I think I’d
be good at it as well … I’d love to work with animals I enjoy manual work and I’m a good team
player … so even though the working conditions might not be the best I think that would be my
ideal job …

PART 3
- If there are a limited number of jobs available who should be given priority, young people
or older people with more experience?
Things are so different these days … a few years ago older employees would often take early
retirement or go onto part-time contracts and there were always opportunities for younger people
but now jobs are so scarce … I think younger people need to be given the chance whenever possible
…
- What are some of the important things a candidate should find out before accepting a
job?
Well… you’d need to know about your area of responsibility … and your salary of course and then
there are things like holiday entitlement … maternity or paternity leave … if you’re thinking of
having children … and what the situation is regarding sick leave … that kind of thing …
- What are the advantages of having your own business rather than working for someone
else?
Well … unfortunately being an employee at the moment is very stressful … people have very heavy
workloads … they’re always under pressure to meet deadlines … running your own business isn’t
easy … but I do think it would be far more satisfying …

ADVERTISING
advertising agency: a company that creates adverts for other companies
advertising budget: the amount of money a company decides to spend on advertising
brand awareness: how well people know a particular brand
brand loyalty: the degree to which people continue to buy from the same brand or company
buy and sell: often used to refer to the buying and selling of items between individuals
call to action: something that encourages someone to take a particular action, such as making a
purchase or clicking a link on a website
celebrity endorsement: to have a well-known person promote a product
classified ads: small advertisements often put in a newspaper or magazine by individuals
to cold call: to call someone with the aim of selling something without them asking you to do so
commercial break: the short period during TV programmes when advertisements are shown
commercial channel: TV channels that make money from showing advertisements
to go viral: to quickly become extremely popular on the Internet through social media
junk mail: unwanted promotional leaflets and letters
to launch a product: to introduce a new product
mailing list: a list of names and contact details used by a company to send information and
advertisements
mass media: large media outlets like TV, newspapers and magazines
niche product: a product that is aimed at a distinct group of peopl
to place an advert: to put an advert somewhere
press release: something written by a company for newspapers and magazines and websites to
share and publish
prime time: the time during the viewing schedule when most people watch TV or listen to a
broadcast
product placement: to advertise a product by using it as a prop in a TV show or film
sales page: a page specifically used to promote a product or service
to show adverts: to display adverts on TV
social media: websites that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social
networking.
spam email: unwanted, promotional email
target audience: the people a company want to sell their product or service to
word of mouth: recommendations made by individuals to other individuals about a product of
service

PART 1
Are there any TV channels in your country that don’t have adverts?
Loraine: No … they’re all commercial channels and show adverts all day long … too many really …
and there’s also a lot of product placement going on … especially in soap operas where they place
an item just behind the actors.
Do you enjoy watching adverts on TV?

No … not really … I hate commercial breaks during a film … it really spoils the flow … and
during prime time viewing they seem to squeeze even more ads in than usual … celebrity
endorsements also get on my nerves … everyone knows they’re only doing it because they’re
getting paid.
What are the best ways for ordinary people to advertise something they want to sell in your
country?
The simplest way is to place an advert in something like the classified ads section of a local paper …
or there’s the Internet of course … there are lots of sites like eBay where you can buy and
sell things online.

PART 2
Describe an advert you once saw that was very effective. You should say
– where this advert appeared
– when you saw it
– what it was advertising
and say why you thought it was so effective.

K … well this was about 4 years ago … I was looking for some software to create videos … one day I
got an email from a mailing list I’d signed up to … there was a link in it to a press release … a
company had written something about a new product that was similar to what I was looking for …
at the end of the press release there was a link to the sales page … I hadn’t heard of the company
but I was interested and clicked the link to the ad …. what caught my attention immediately were
the number of testimonials from people who had bought the software … I think testimonials are
like the online equivalent of word of mouth advertising and are really persuasive … anyway … when
I got to the bottom of the page there was a great big call to action button inviting me to buy … I was
totally persuaded and ended up making a purchase … what made it so effective I think was the
power of those testimonials … they’d been written by people very much like me … they’d had a
need and the software had obviously turned out to be just what they were looking for … when you
think that this was a newish company they wouldn’t have had any brand awareness at all … they
probably wouldn’t have had much of a budget for advertising … obviously you wouldn’t advertise a
product like this through the mass media on TV … they probably didn’t even have an advertising
agency to support them …and yet they’d managed to create a great deal of brand loyalty from
previous customers … I think that was really effective.

PART 3
- What is it that makes an advert effective?
Well … when a company launches a product they have to consider the Internet … especially how it
can be used to spread the word on social media … so in this context a video that goes viral is
probably the most effective type of advert you could make.
- What are the advantages to companies of advertising on the Internet rather than TV?
I’d imagine the main advantage is you can reach your target audience much more effectively … if
you bring out a niche product for example … or you have a tight advertising budget … you can
advertise on particular sites that the people you want to reach visit … that’s not something you can
do on TV.
- What things do advertising companies do that might give it a bad name?
For me the most irritating is cold calling … we must get two or three of these every day at work …
then there’s junk mail that gets posted through the letterbox … and of course the online equivalent
of this … spam emails … I think it’s this kind of advertising that tends to annoy people.

WORK AND STUDY

- Do you work or are you a student?

- Why did you choose this kind of work and studies?
- Do you like these job and your studies?
- What's the most interesting part in your work?
- What's the most difficult parts in your work and studies?
- What do you dislike about your work or studies.
- What was your dream job when you were a child?
- Have you changed your mind since then?
- What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
- Let's talk about studies. What do you studied? And where do you study it?
- Why did you choose that subject?
- If you had the chance, would you change the subject?.
- Is there something that helps you to study efficiently?
- What's more essential for you, lecturers, or friends?
At university? Well, I would definitely say the lecturers since they're the sort of founts of knowledge
I need to pass. But I have made friends who helped me out from time to time.
- Is there anything you want to change in your university?
Well, I could probably do without some of the social justice aspect, not because I don't believe in it,
but because I don't think it needs to be explained to people who are going into public service. Also,
when I get bored, I get quite mischievous.
- Do you plan to get a job in the same field as your subject?
Absolutely. Well, it's the only choice and the course is purpose-built for this. I'm really looking
forward to becoming a fully qualified teacher.
- And do you like your studies at the moment?
- What activities do you do?
- What is your favorite hobby and why do you like it so much?
- What is your biggest goal or dream in life and what are you doing to achieve it?
- What is your favorite place to travel and why do you like it so much?
- What do you often do in the evenings?
- Do you enjoy your job?
- Who do you live with at the moment?.
- Is your city a popular tourist destination?
My city is popular for tourists because there are many cultural … traditional buildings that they can
visit, as well as other old and historic places where they can learn about the culture and the way we
used to live.
- What did you enjoy doing in your free time when you were a child?
When I was a child, I liked to go and find my friends after school. We would sometimes go to the
shops and buy some fast food if we had enough money, but at other times we used to go down to
the local lake. We would chase the ducks and look for frogs and their babies.

FLOWERS
- Do you have a favourite flower or plant?
Yes, I have a favorite flower. It's the rose.
- What kinds of flowers and plants grow near where you live?
There are various kinds of flowers and plants that grow near where I live, such as tulips, daisies, and
sunflowers.
- Is it important to you have flowers and plants in your home?
Oh, really yes. Having flowers and plants in my home is important to me because they bring beauty
and freshness to the environment.
- Have you ever bought flowers for someone else?
Yes, I have bought flowers for someone else on special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.

REVIEW
Describe a review you read about a product or service
– where you read the review
– what the product or service was
– what information the review gave about the product or service
and explain what you did as a result of reading this review.

I read a review about a product on an online shopping website. The review was about a
smartphone. The review provided information about the phone's features, performance, and
durability. After reading the review, I decided to purchase the phone because the review was
positive and the product seemed to meet my needs. (parecía satisfacer mis necesidades)

PART 3
ONLINE REVIEWS
- What kinds of things do people write online reviews about in your country
People in my country write online reviews about various things, such as restaurants, hotels,
electronic devices, and online shopping experiences.
- Why do some people write online reviews?
Some people write online reviews to share their opinions and experiences with others, help them
make informed decisions, or express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with a product or service.
- Do you think that online reviews are good for both shoppers and companies?
Online reviews can be beneficial for both shoppers and companies. Shoppers can make more
informed choices, while companies can receive feedback and improve their products or services
based on customer reviews.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
- What do you think it might be like to work in a customer service job?
Working in a customer service job might involve dealing with various customer inquiries, providing
assistance, and resolving issues or complaints.
- Do you agree that customers are more likely to complain nowadays?
Yes, I agree that customers are more likely to complain nowadays due to easy access to online
platforms where they can express their opinions
- How important is it for companies to take all customer complaints seriously?
It is important for companies to take all customer complaints seriously as it shows their
commitment to customer satisfaction and helps maintain a positive reputation. Resolving
complaints can also lead to customer loyalty and repeat business.

PETS
- WHY PEOPLE HAVE PETS?
Pets provide love, affection, and companionship. They can be great sources of emotional support
and can help reduce feelings of loneliness and stress.
NEIGHTBORHOOD
- Do you live in a neighborhood or a city?
I live in a neighborhood within a city.
- What do you like most about your neighborhood?
The thing I like most about my neighborhood is the sense of community. People are friendly and
always willing to help each other.
- Are there any parks or recreational areas in your neighborhood?
Yes, there is a beautiful park nearby where people go for walks, picnics, and various outdoor
activities.

- How can neighborhoods contribute to the overall well-being of individuals?

Neighborhoods play a crucial role in promoting well-being by providing a safe and supportive
environment. They offer amenities such as parks, community centers, and local services that
enhance physical and mental health.
- What are some factors that make a neighborhood attractive for families?
Family-friendly neighborhoods usually have good schools, parks, playgrounds, and low crime rates.
Access to essential services and a sense of community are also important factors.
- How has the concept of neighborhoods changed in recent years?
In recent years, the concept of neighborhoods has evolved due to factors like urbanization and
technological advancements. People are now more connected digitally, but face-to-face
interactions within neighborhoods have decreased in some areas.

Describe a project you had to do as part of your studies.

You should say:
 what the project was about,
 who you worked with,
 how long it took you,
and explain what you learnt by completing this project.