Task 1
Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.
For years video games have been criticised for making people more antisocial, overweight or depressed. But now researchers are finding that games can actually change us for the better and improve both our body and mind.
Games can help to develop physical skills. Pre-school children who played interactive games have been shown to have improved motor skills, for example, they can kick, catch and throw a ball better than children who don’t play video games. Vision is also improved, particularly telling the difference between shades of grey. This is useful for driving at night, piloting a plane or reading X-rays. Interestingly, games also benefit a variety of brain functions, including decision-making. People who play action-based games make decisions 25 per cent faster than others and are no less accurate.
Task 2
Study the advertisement.
A thrill-seeker’s paradise
and an amazing place of contrasts!
You are considering going on safari and now you’d like to get more information. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask four direct questions to find out about the following:
- vaccinations
- recommended currency for exchange
- footwear and clothing
- accommodation options
You have 20 seconds to ask each question.
Task 3
You are going to give an interview. You have to answer five questions. Give full answers to the questions (2–3 sentences). Remember that you have 40 seconds to answer each question.
Tapescript for Task 3
Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s Teenagers Round the World Channel. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss volunteer work. We’d like to know our guest’s point of view on this issue. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.
Interviewer: Have you ever been involved in volunteer work or community service? Do you think volunteering can help gain valuable skills or experiences?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What do you think motivates young people to engage in volunteer work?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: How do you think volunteering can benefit your community or society as a whole? Are there any disadvantages to volunteering that you’re aware of?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What good volunteer opportunities for teenagers are there in Russia?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What do you think are some motivating reasons for young people to consider volunteering abroad?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your interview.
Task 4
Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project “Traditional hobbies”. You have found some photos to illustrate it but for technical reasons you cannot send them now. Leave a voice message to your friend explaining your choice of the photos and sharing some ideas about the project. In 2.5 minutes be ready to:
- explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences;
- mention the advantages (1–2) of the two hobbies;
- mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two hobbies;
- express your opinion on the subject of the project – which of the hobbies presented in the pictures you’d prefer and why.
You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12–15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.
