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.
Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions. The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas and coal for their homes, factories and transport. The world is now about 1.2C warmer than it was in the 19th century – and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen by 50%.
Temperature rises must slow down if we want to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, scientists say. They say global warming needs to be kept to 1.5C by 2100. If nothing is done, scientists think global warming can exceed 4C in the future, leading to devastating heatwaves, millions losing their homes and irreversible loss of plant and animal species due to rising sea levels.
Task 2
Study the advertisement.
A memorable experience for all ages!
You are considering booking this cave tour 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:
- youth overnight adventures
- duration of the cave tour
- temperature inside the cave
- cave features
You have 20 seconds to ask each question.
Suggested answers
1. Do you offer youth overnight adventures as part of the cave tour?
2. How long is the cave tour?
3. What is the temperature inside the cave?
4. How much does a ticket for the cave tour cost?
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.
Audio Task 3
Tapescript for Task 3
Suggested answers
Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s Teenagers Round the World Channel. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss forms of entertainment. We’d like to know our guest’s point of view on this issue. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.
Interviewer: What do you do for entertainment?
Student: Personally, I find joy in both playing and listening to music. I also have a strong passion for online gaming – it’s a fantastic way for me to unwind.
Interviewer: What is your favourite form of entertainment?
Student: Playing musical instruments, especially the guitar, is my absolute favourite. For me, nothing compares to the sheer joy I feel when I create music and let my creative energy flow.
Interviewer: What types of entertainment do Russian teenagers enjoy?
Student: Russian teenagers are really into online gaming communities. They find it exciting and enjoyable to engage in interactive experiences with their friends through gaming. It’s a popular form of entertainment that brings them a lot of fun.
Interviewer: What are the advantages and disadvantages of online entertainment platforms for teenagers?
Student: On the plus side, online entertainment platforms give teenagers access to a lot of different content and make it easy for them to connect with friends. On the minus side, some concerns include excessive screen time, and reduced face-to-face interactions.
Interviewer: What role does social media play in shaping the entertainment preferences of teenagers?
Student: I think social media plays a significant role in shaping the entertainment preferences of teenagers. It allows them to discover and share content, influencing their choices.
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your interview.
Task 4
Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project “Group or solo learning”. 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 types of learning;
- mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two types of learning;
- express your opinion on the subject of the project – which type of learning you prefer and why.
You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12–15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.
Suggested answer
Hi Alex! I’ve found two photos to illustrate our project on group or solo learning. I’ll explain my choice of the photos and share some ideas in this voice message.
The first photo captures a group of students outside, engaged in a lively discussion. They are actively participating, taking notes, and exchanging ideas. They might be preparing for an exam or working on a project. The second photo is of a girl who is completely absorbed in her studies, with a pile of books in front of her. She’s studying alone, possibly for an upcoming exam. What’s really interesting is how these two photos show different types of learning environments. The first photo shows the power of group work, while the second photo depicts a learning environment centred around individual study.
Both types of learning environments have their advantages and disadvantages, and I suggest discussing them in our project. Learning with others can indeed be enjoyable and fun, but it can be distracting and may not be the best fit for every student.
On the other hand, studying alone helps a person concentrate better and learn in their own way. However, without friends or a group to study with, it can be harder to stay motivated.
When it comes to learning environments, I personally prefer group work because I find it a more effective and enjoyable way to learn.
Well, that’s it for now. What do you think about the photos? Let me know!