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5th edition

Countries in the UK Elementary

Background 3 e  Ask students to listen to the languages and try to copy

the phrases.
The history of the formation of the United Kingdom is quite
complex. Wales became legally a part of England in the 4 Refer students to the table and ask them to answer the
16th century, and Great Britain was formed in 1707, when question individually or in pairs.
Scotland became united with England and Wales. In 1801, Answers
Great Britain and Ireland became united, but in 1922, the Da means good in both Welsh and Cornish.
Republic of Ireland split off and became a separate country, Madainn (Scots Gaelic) and myttin (Cornish) both mean morning.
leaving just Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.
In recent years, following nationalist movements in Scotland
5 Ask students to read the FactFile, map, and languages
and Wales, there has been a move to devolve more political
table, and check their answers to Exercise 1.
power back to these countries, with the formation of
the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly 6 e  Ask students to read the text about visiting the UK and
in 1998, and the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. decide if the sentences are true or false.
The relationship between the different countries within Answers
the United Kingdom is sometimes strained, especially in 2  False  3  False  4  False  5  True
Northern Ireland, where the population is divided into those
who want to remain part of the UK and those who would
7 Ask students to read the text again and choose the correct
like to be part of a united Ireland. There is a deep-seated
definitions for the words and phrases. Stronger students
English–Scottish and English–Welsh rivalry, which is evident
could then be asked to use each word in a sentence.
when the countries compete against each other in sporting
events. Whereas most people from England would consider Answers
themselves to be British, rather than English, people from 1  a  2  b  3  b  4  a  5  a
Scotland and Wales usually feel strongly Scottish or Welsh
respectively. Cornwall has never been an independent
8 Ask students to find the examples of the verbs in the text.
country, but there are campaigners who would like some
Check that students understand the different meanings
degree of independence for the region.
of spend and ask them to use each one in a sentence. Ask
Pronunciation students to say how they would translate the different
Cardiff /ˈkɑ:dɪf/ uses of take in their language. Discuss any interesting
differences between English and the students’ own
Edinburgh  /ˈedɪnbrə/
languages.
Cornwall  /ˈkɔ:nwɔ:l/
Gaelic  /ˈgeɪlɪk/ Answers
spend:
Newquay /ˈnju:ki:/ But don’t spend all your money at the shops = use money to buy
Snowdon  /ˈsnəʊdən/ or pay for something.
Holyrood  /ˈhɒliru:d/ Spend a whole day surfing = use time doing something or being
somewhere.
Balmoral /bælˈmɒrəl/
take:
Take some photos = use a camera to create pictures.
Take a train to Newquay = travel somewhere by using a particular
Notes on the unit form of transport.
The train journey from London takes five hours = the amount of
1 Ask students to answer the questions, either individually
time you need to get there.
or in pairs. Don’t check answers at this stage.
Answers
1 The United Kingdom What do you think?
2 1 b  2  d  3  a  4  c Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
3 Scotland
4 Four (English, Welsh, Gaelic, Cornish) PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
2 Ask students which of the four countries of the UK they it in class, working in pairs.
think the design on the £1 represents.
Answer
It represents the four countries of the United Kingdom, showing
the English rose, Welsh leek, Scottish thistle, and Northern Irish
shamrock.

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5th edition

Great British food Elementary

Background 3 Ask students to read the text again and match the
ingredients with the dishes.
Since the 1960s, traditional British food has gone out of
fashion somewhat, as more exotic ingredients have become Suggested answers
available to buy, and restaurants, cookery books, and TV 2 bacon, baked beans, eggs, sausages
programmes have introduced people to food from other 3 cream, custard, sponge cake, strawberries
parts of the world. In recent years, food has become an 4 roast meat, roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding
important issue in Britain, as large numbers of people are 5 fish, peas, potatoes, salt and vinegar
overweight or obese. The ready availability of fast food and
ready meals has led to a decline in traditional cooking skills, 4 Ask students to match the adjectives with the pictures.
and many young people in particular eat large amounts of
‘junk food’. There have been recent high-profile campaigns Answers
1  D  2  C  3  A  4  B  5  F  6  E  7  G  8  H  9  I
to educate young people about good eating habits, and
with this have come attempts to reinstate some traditional
British dishes. The common notion that food in Britain is 5 Ask students to complete the table, either individually or
of generally poor quality is not accurate, however. There in pairs.
is a significant minority of British people, often but not
Answers
always among the middle and upper-middle classes, who
meat: beef, lamb, steak, kidney, sausage, bacon
love good food, enjoy cooking it, and support high-quality fruit and vegetables: potatoes, onions, tomatoes, apple,
restaurants. But it is true that there are very large numbers strawberries, raspberries
of British people who see food as something to fill your sauces: gravy, custard, creamy sauce
stomach with rather than something to be appreciated for
its subtle flavours.
Pronunciation What do you think?
Yorkshire pudding /ˈjɔ:kʃə ˈpʊdɪŋ/ Students prepare their lists in groups, then discuss the
questions as a class.
steak and kidney pie  /ˈsteɪk ən ˈkɪdni ˈpaɪ/
trifle  /ˈtraɪfl/ PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
1 Discuss the questions as a class. it in class, working in pairs.
2 e  Ask students to read the text and write the correct
number next to each dish.
Answers
Left to right: 3, 5, 1, 4, 2.

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5th edition

Halloween Elementary

Background What do you think?

Halloween has become much more popular in Britain Ask students to make notes on another festival individually,
in recent years, and shops are full of Halloween items in then discuss in pairs. Hold a class discussion on other
October. Although adults sometimes hold Halloween festivals. Ask students to read the quotes about Halloween,
parties, and pubs will often have a special themed evening, then ask students what they like about their festival.
it is still mainly a children’s celebration. Young children PROJECT
often have Halloween parties, where they dress up and play
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
games. In schools, young children might read stories or
it in class, working in pairs.
produce pictures with a Halloween theme. Older children
dress up and go ‘trick or treating’. Some members of religious
groups object to the celebration of Halloween as they
consider it to be anti-Christian. This text points out that it
does in fact come from a deeply spiritual tradition.
Pronunciation
Halloween  /hæləʊˈi:n/
Celtic  /ˈkeltɪk/
Celts  /ˈkelts/

Notes on the unit

1 Discuss the questions as a class.
2 e  Ask students to read the text quickly to get an idea of
the general meaning.
3 Ask students to read the text again and write the headings
in the correct place.
Answers
1  g  2  h  3  e  4  c  5  b  6  f  7  d  8  a

4 Ask students to label the pictures.

Answers
(top row, left to right) skeleton, devil, bat, werewolf
(middle row, left to right) ghost, witch, pumpkin lantern, vampire,
owl, spider
(bottom row, left to right) mummy, candle

5 Ask students to read the text again and answer the

questions.
Answers
1 It means ‘holy evening’.
2 It was an ancient Celtic festival.
3 Because they wanted the spirits of the dead to feel welcome.
4 They dress up and go ‘trick or treating’.
5 Because it’s an important date for magic.
6 It means there’s a spirit in the room, according to an old
Halloween custom.
7 To keep bad spirits away.
8 It symbolises autumn and the things associated with it.

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5th edition

Bonfire Night Elementary

Background 4 Ask students to read the text again and answer the
questions.
Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night, is mainly a
celebration for children. Whereas 20 or 30 years ago, many Answers
families had a Bonfire Night party in their garden, with a 2 They take it around the streets to show people and they ask
small bonfire and some fireworks, most parents now choose for money to buy fireworks.
to take their children to an organized firework display. The 3 They put it in the middle of the bonfire.
demise of the traditional Bonfire Night party is partly due to 4 Because it is illegal to sell fireworks to children under the age
of 18.
the rising cost of fireworks, and partly due to concerns over
5 A banger makes a loud noise; sparklers are safe for children
safety. Bonfire Night remains an important festival, however, to hold.
and young children will learn the story of Guy Fawkes at
school. Many children will also learn the traditional rhyme:
Remember, remember the fifth of November 5 Ask students to find the words in the text.
Gunpowder, treason and plot. Answers
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason 2  barrels  ​3  cellar  ​4  blow up   ​5  soldier  ​6  suspicious  ​
7  arrest  ​8  torture  ​9  illegal
Should ever be forgot.
However, as the text makes clear, it would be a mistake
to think that this celebration reveals any remaining traces 6 Ask students to read the sentences and try to think
of anti-Catholic sentiment in the population. Britain is a of synonyms for each use of make. If they need help,
predominantly secular society, and most people have encourage them to use a monolingual dictionary.
forgotten Guy Fawkes’ motives in wanting to blow up Suggested answers
Parliament. In recent years, at public bonfires, it has actually 1  build  2  produce  3  force (Guy Fawkes to give)   4  declares
become popular to replace the traditional ‘guy’ on the
bonfire with one that resembles a modern politician!
What do you think?
Pronunciation
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
Guy Fawkes  /ˈgaɪ ˈfɔ:ks/
Robert Catesby  /ˈrɒbət ˈkeɪtsbi/
PROJECT
Francis Tresham  /ˈfrɑ:nsɪs ˈtreʃəm/ Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working in pairs.
Lord Monteagle  /ˈlɔ:d ˈmɒnti:gl/

1 Discuss the questions as a class.

2 e  Ask students to read the text quickly to understand
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
understand every word.
3 Ask students to match the lines of speech to the cartoons.
Answers
line 1 – frame 6
line 2 – frame 4
line 3 – frame 3
line 4 – frame 5
line 5 – frame 1
line 6 – frame 2
line 7 – frame 7

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5th edition

Christmas around the world Elementary

Background What do you think?

Christmas is the main family celebration of the year for most Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
people in Britain, and the vast majority of people spend PROJECT
Christmas with their extended family. It is also a time when
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
people send cards to maintain contact with old or distant
it in class, working in pairs.
friends who they may not see very often. Christmas is a huge
financial strain for many families, with parents feeling under
pressure to buy children expensive presents. Many families
now decide not to exchange presents at Christmas, or to buy
presents only for the children in the family. Some religious
people feel that the main reason for celebrating Christmas
has become obscured by excessive commercialism.
Traditionally, young children perform ‘Nativity Plays’ at
school, in which they enact the Christmas story, but in
recent years there has been a debate about whether this is
appropriate in modern multi-cultural Britain.
Pronunciation
Christmas  /ˈkrɪsməs/

Notes on the unit

1 e  Ask students to read the texts about Christmas in the
different countries, then discuss the questions as a class.
2 Ask students to look at the pictures and label them with
the words in the box.
Answers
1  present  ​2  card  ​3  lights  ​4  carols  ​5  cracker  ​
6  chimney  ​7  tinsel  ​8  decorations  ​9  stocking

3 e  Ask students to read the texts quickly to understand

the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
understand every word. Draw their attention also to the
information in the ‘Did you know?’ box.
4 Ask students to read the texts again and match the
sentences with the correct numbers.
Answers
1  b  ​2  f  ​3  g  ​4  c  ​5  d  ​6  e  ​7  a

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5th edition

Hogmanay Elementary

Background What do you think?

In Scotland, and especially in the north of Scotland, Discuss the questions as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and
Hogmanay is a more important celebration than Christmas. then as a class.
There are huge parties in every town and city, and PROJECT
traditionally a lot of alcohol is drunk. A lot of young people
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
from other parts of Britain choose to spend New Year’s Eve
it in class, working in pairs.
in Scotland to enjoy the parties. People do gather in the
streets for public events in the big cities in England, notably
in Trafalgar Square in London, and in recent years the
British have adopted the continental tradition of letting off
fireworks at midnight. Older people tend to celebrate New
Year’s Eve with a special meal with friends or a small party at
someone’s house.
Pronunciation
Hogmanay /ˈhɒgməneɪ/
Auld Lang Syne  /ˈɔ:ld læŋ ˈzaɪn/
Gaelic  /ˈgeɪlɪk/

1 Discuss the questions as a class.

2 e  Ask students to read Auld Lang Syne, then complete
the English version of the song with the words in the box.
Answers
remembered, my dear, my trusty friend, a very hearty drink

3 e  Ask students to read the text about Hogmanay and

answer the questions.
Answers
2 old Gaelic
3 For centuries, they were great trading partners. 
4 Auld Lang Syne 
5 It’s about the importance of friendship. 
6 A ‘first-footer’ is the first visitor of the new year. 
7 Because coal represents warmth for the coming year. 
8 Three days.

4 Ask students to match the verbs with the phrases.

Answers
1  f  ​2  a  ​3  d  ​4  g  ​5  e  ​6  c  ​7  b

5 Read the examples in the box with the class. Ask students
to complete the sentences.
Answers
1  on, at   2  on, on   3  at, on

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5th edition

Pantomime Elementary

Background 4 Ask students to find the words in the text to match the
meanings.
Pantomime has its origins in the Commedia dell’arte, a form
of popular theatre that arose in Italy and reached England Answers
by the 16th century. It also goes back to the Roman tradition 2  audience  ​3  participation  ​4  boo  ​5  hiss  ​6  warn  ​
of Saturnalia, and Twelfth Night, the day in early January 7  villain  ​8  shout  ​9  argue  ​10  stepmother  ​11  topical  ​
when all roles were reversed, and men and women dressed 12  kick
as each other. It is still extremely popular in Britain, and for
many people who are not regular theatre-goers, a trip to 5 Ask students to find the phrasal verbs in the text and
the pantomime might be their one visit to the theatre in match them with their meanings.
a year. The art of a good pantomime is a blend of slapstick
and basic humour to appeal to the children in an audience, Answers
with more sophisticated or political jokes to appeal to the 1  d  2  c  3  a  4  b  5  e
adults. As well as pantomimes in big theatres, thousands of
small amateur groups put on an annual pantomime in their 6 Ask students to number the sentences in the right order.
local community. Friends and relatives can enjoy coming to
watch people they know dressed in ridiculous costumes and Answers
Top to bottom: 3, 1, 4, 2
behaving in somewhat undignified ways.
Pronunciation
pantomime  /ˈpæntəmaɪm/ What do you think?
Cinderella  /sɪndəˈrelə/ Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
Aladdin /əˈlædɪn/ PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare it
in class, working in pairs.
Notes on the unit
1 Discuss the questions as a class.
2 e  Ask students to read the text quickly to understand
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
understand every word.
3 Ask students to read the text again and answer the
questions.
Answers
1 In theatres in most towns and cities in the UK.
2 At Christmas time.
3 From the middle of December until after New Year.
4 Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk.
5 The pantomime Dame, the Principal Boy, a ‘good’ character,
a ‘bad’ character, a pantomime horse or cow.
6 The Dame is a man dressed as a woman. The Principal Boy
is a girl dressed as a boy. There are two actors inside the
pantomime horse / cow.
7 Traditional stories; songs and topical jokes; audience
participation; slapstick humour; good and bad characters;
celebrities such as television personalities, comedians, actors and
pop stars.

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5th edition

An English village Elementary

Background 4 Ask students to read the texts.

Many people fear that traditional English village life is under 5 Ask students to cover the texts and tell a partner some
threat. House prices have been pushed up by the desire information they can remember about one of the sites.
of wealthier people to move out of towns and cities into Compile some answers from different pairs and compare
villages, from where they can commute to work. Other it with the original texts. Then discuss the question
village houses are bought by city people as second homes, about reconstructed towns and villages in students’ own
for weekends away from the city. The result of increased countries as a class.
house prices is that local people are often forced to move What do you think?
away from their village in order to buy a house. ‘Working
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
villages’, in which people live and work within their local
area, have become quite rare. On the other hand, many PROJECT
villages have thriving community lives, with a variety of Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
events organized throughout the year, from the Christmas it in class, working in pairs.
pantomime to summer fêtes (gatherings where food is sold
and games are played) and barbecues.
1 e  Discuss the questions as a class. Draw students’
attention to the information in the ‘Did you know?’ box.
Suggested answers
1 Over 1,000.
2 Advantages: safety, knowing everyone, being in touch with the
countryside safety, sense of community, neighbours will look
after your children
Disadvantages: children may have to travel to a school in a
nearby town; teenagers tend to see village life as very boring,
nothing to do in the evening, everyone knows what they are
doing

2 Ask students to read the text and label the places on

the map.
Answers
​2  the pub   ​3  the village hall   ​4  the shop   ​
5  the children’s playground   ​6  the primary school   ​
7  the church

3 Ask students to read the text again and answer the

questions.
Answers
2 An open, grassy area for sports and recreation.
3 At weekends in summer.
4 It’s the longest village green in England.
5 A cottage.
6 A house with a roof of straw or reeds.
7 The village pub.
8 900 years old.
9 For village clubs and for parties.
10 Basic items for the home, food, and newspapers.
11 A primary school.
12 Because they want a nice, quiet country life.

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5th edition
Two schools in India
and Pakistan Elementary

Background 4 e  Put students into pairs and ask them to decide who is
Student A and who is Student B. Ask students to read their
As is discussed in the text, India and Pakistan were both
text and make notes.
part of the British Empire until 1947. Both India and Pakistan
have maintained strong ties with Britain, remaining part of Answers
the Commonwealth (the group of nations that formed the Kendriya Vidyalaya Number 2 School
British Empire in the past). The legacy of British culture is 1 It’s in Delhi. It’s the largest of the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools.
still very relevant in both these countries, and students may 2 Yes, it’s for both boys and girls.
be surprised at the vast number of people there who use 3 Hindi.
4 Yes, you can choose to learn history, geography, maths, and
English in everyday life. Significant numbers of people from
science in English or Hindi.
both India and Pakistan have immigrated to Britain since 5 You can do yoga and singing; you can play basketball,
the Second World War, and there are well-established Indian volleyball, football, hockey, and ‘kho kho’. You can also do arts
and Pakistani communities in many British cities. Events and crafts, music and dance, and you can take part in the
that happen in India and Pakistan are regularly reported ‘Youth Parliament’.
in the British media, and the countries meet in sporting Crescent Model School
events such as the Commonwealth Games (an athletics 1 It’s in the heart of Lahore. There are two campuses, one for
competition involving Commonwealth countries) and boys and one for girls.
international cricket matches. 2 Yes, it’s for both boys and girls.
3 Urdu.
Pronunciation 4 You can learn history and geography in English or Urdu, but
India  /ˈɪndiə/ you learn maths and science in English.
5 You can do sports, including swimming.
Pakistan  /pɑ:kɪˈstɑ:n/
Delhi  /ˈdeli/
Lahore  /ləˈhɔ:/ 5 Ask students to work in their pairs to ask and answer the
questions.
Answers
Notes on the unit (see exercise 4)

1 Ask students the question, then ask them to read the text
to check their answers. 6 Ask students to make a list of the activities mentioned.
Discuss the question as a class, or first in pairs/groups.
Answers
Because they were once part of the British Empire. Answers
Kendriya Vidyalaya Number 2 School:
yoga, singing, basketball, volleyball, football, hockey, Kho kho,
2 Ask students to read the texts quickly to understand arts and crafts, music, dance, a youth parliament
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t Crescent Model School:
understand every word. debates, poetry competitions, sport, swimming
3 Ask students to read the text again and decide if the
sentences are true or false.
What do you think?
Answers
2  False  ​3  False  ​4  True  ​5  False  ​6  True Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working in pairs.

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5th edition

February festivals Elementary

Background 6 Ask students to find the phrasal verbs in the texts, then
complete the sentences.
As the text explains, many people in Britain maintain the
tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, even Answers
though it no longer has any religious significance. The 1  show up   ​2  Eat up   ​3  give up   ​4  use up
tradition of giving up something pleasurable for Lent has
also continued, even among non-Christians. Many people
see it as a useful opportunity to stop eating chocolate What do you think?
or sweets, and so lose a bit of weight! Valentine’s Day is Ask students to write the opinions in the correct column.
traditionally the day for lovers, when women expect their Discuss the opinions as a class.
partner to buy them a special gift, send red roses as a sign of
love, or treat them to a meal in a restaurant. Valentine’s Day is Answers
For: It keeps you in touch with the past. We all need to have fun
also a popular day for men to make a proposal of marriage.
now and again. Traditions are an important part of your culture.
Pronunciation Against: Most people aren’t religious any more, so there’s no
point. Some festivals are just an excuse for shops to make money.
Mardi Gras  /ˈmɑːrdi ɡrɑː/ You don’t need to have Pancake Day now because nobody fasts
New Orleans  /ˌnjuː ˈɔː.li.ənz/ for Lent.
Shrove Tuesday  /ʃrəʊv ˈtjuːzdeɪ/
krewes  /kruːz/ PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
1 Discuss the questions as a class.
it in class, working in pairs.
2 e  Ask students to read the texts quickly to understand
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
understand every word.
3 Ask students to find the words in the text and match them
with the definitions.
Answers
1  b  ​2  d  ​3  c  ​4  f  ​5  j  ​6  i  ​7  e  ​8  a  ​9  g  ​10  h

4 Ask students to read the text about Shrove Tuesday, Ash

Wednesday, and Lent again and answer the questions.
Answers
1 Pancake Day
2 Lent
3 The day after Shrove Tuesday.
4 Because ash symbolises the death of an old life.
5 Two of the following: They eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
They take part in pancake races. They give up luxuries such as
chocolate for Lent.

5 Ask students to read the text about Mardi Gras again and
write questions for the answers.
Answers
1 What is a ‘krewe’?
2 What happens at a ball?
3 How long is the biggest float?
4 What do the people on the floats throw?
5 How many ‘King Cakes’ do bakeries in New Orleans sell
each year?

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5th edition

A nice cup of tea Elementary

Background What do you think?

As explained in the text, in recent years, tea has fallen out Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
of favour with younger people, who generally prefer to PROJECT
drink coffee. This is largely a result of the spread of coffee
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
shops such as Starbucks and Costa, and the easy availability
it in class, working in pairs. You might want to review useful
of Italian-style coffee (before this, it was difficult to get a
language for report writing (increase, decrease, remain
decent cup of coffee in Britain). Despite this, the traditional
unchanged, a slight/sharp increase/decrease).
British ‘cuppa’ (cup of tea) still remains an important icon of
British life.
Pronunciation
Assam /æsˈæm/
Winston Churchill  /ˈwɪnstən ˈtʃɜ:tʃɪl/
Venetian  /vəˈni:ʃn/
Satan  /ˈseɪtən/

1 Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs, then

conduct a class discussion.
2 Ask students to read the text quickly to understand
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
understand every word.
3 Ask students to read the text again and decide if the
sentences are true or false.
Answers
2  False  ​3  False  ​4  True  ​5  False  ​6  True  ​7  False  ​8  False

4 e  Ask students to read the article quickly, without

worrying if they don’t understand every word.
5 Ask students to read the text again and complete the
timeline.
Answers
Late 1500s The Dutch brought tea to Europe.
1658 There was an advert in a newspaper announcing
that tea was on sale at a coffee house in the city of
London.
1785 The government decided to cut the tax on tea from
119% to 12.5%.
By 1888 Britain imported more tea from India than from
China.
1939 The British government took control of all tea
stocks.

6 Ask students to find the words in the text. Point out that
we can use the + adjective to refer to a group of people
(the rich, the young, the old etc.).
Answers
2  the rich   ​3  smugglers  ​4  colonists  ​5  the Prime Minister   ​
6  soldiers

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5th edition

A walk through London Elementary

Background 4 Ask students to find the words in the text and guess their
meaning.
London is a popular place for tourists, with over 15 million
people visiting the capital each year. As this text shows, Answers
although it is a huge city, many of the most popular tourist 1 the time when a king or queen is in power
attractions can be seen on foot. 2 a big show
3 was destroyed by fire
Pronunciation 4 say very quietly
Harrods  /ˈhærədz/ 5 metal rings joined together to keep something in place
6 won a war against
Kinghtsbridge  /ˈnaɪtsbrɪdʒ/
Daily Telegraph  /ˈdeɪli ˈteləgrɑ:f/
Buckingham Palace  /ˈbʌkɪŋəm ˈpæləs/ 5 Ask students to read the table and match the verbs and
phrases.
Houses of Parliament  /ˈhaʊzɪz əv ˈpɑ:ləmənt/
St Paul’s Cathedral  /seɪnt ˈpɔ:lz kəˈθi:drəl/ Answers
How do I get from Harrods to Big Ben, please?
Sir Christopher Wren  /sə ˈkrɪstəfə ˈren/
Go straight on towards Buckingham Palace.
Thames  /temz/ Turn right after Hyde Park.
Tate Modern  /ˈteɪt ˈmɒdən/ Stop on the corner by the Thames.
Shakespeare /ˈʃeɪkspɪə/
6 Refer students back to the map of London. Ask them to
1 Ask students to match the descriptions to the places. practice asking for and giving directions with a partner.
Don’t check answers at this stage.
Answers
What do you think?
a  4 (Big Ben)   ​b  3  ​c  1  ​d  8  ​e  7  ​ Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
f  4 (the Houses of Parliament)
PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
2 e  Ask students to read the text and check their answers it in class, working in pairs.
to exercise 1.
3 Ask students to read the text again and answer the
questions.
Answers
1 Sir Christopher Wren.
2 Londinium.
3 It burned down.
4 Garden parties.
5 The parliament buildings and Buckingham Palace.
6 Tate Modern.
7 The Houses of Parliament.
8 Harrods.
9 In the thirteenth century.
10 In 1666. 
11 On Sunday mornings.
12 To show his power. 
13 To see the crown jewels. 

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5th edition
Robin Hood – England’s most
famous folk hero Elementary

Background 4 Ask students to read the text.

As explained in the text, Robin Hood remains an extremely 5 Ask students to decide which film each statement
popular folk hero. His name has come to represent the refers to.
idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor, and, Answers
more generally, the idea of standing up to injustice and 1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
oppression. Numerous retellings of the Robin Hood 2 Disney’s Robin Hood.
stories are available for children, and there have also been 3 Robin Hood (2010).
numerous films and TV adaptations of the story, which have
made it well known around the world. 6 Ask students to find the adjectives in the text and match
Pronunciation them to the films they describe.
Robin Hood  /ˈrɒbɪn ˈhʊd/ Answers
Sherwood Forest  /ˈʃɜ:wʊd ˈfɒrɪst/ Disney’s Robin Hood: well-loved, animated, accurate.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: popular, action, comedy, modern.
Nottingham  /ˈnɒtɪŋəm/
Robin Hood (2010): true to life, incorrect, serious, entertaining.
Sheriff of Nottingham  /ˈʃerɪf əv ˈnɒtɪŋəm/
Friar Tuck  /ˈfraɪə ˈtʌk/
7 Ask students to look at the adjectives in exercise 6 again
Maid Marian  /ˈmeɪd ˈmærɪən/
and try to think of words with similar and opposite
Crusades  /kru:ˈseɪdz/ meanings. If they need help, encourage them to use a
monolingual/bilingual dictionary.
1 Discuss the questions as a class.
Suggested answers
Answers
1 El Cid, Ned Kelly, and Joan of Arc were real people. adjective synonym antonym
2 A folk hero is someone who the population, particularly the accurate correct inaccurate/incorrect
ordinary working people, tell stories about and admire for action exciting/entertaining boring
what he/she has done for them. Folk heroes may originally
have some basis in reality, but as the stories are told and retold animated cartoon live-action
with increasing imagination, they often end up as figures who comedy funny/amusing serious
are not real people.
entertaining fun boring
incorrect wrong/inaccurate correct/accurate
2 e  Ask students to read the text quickly to understand modern new historical/old-fashioned
the general meaning, without worrying if they don’t
popular well-loved unpopular
understand every word.
3 Ask students to read the text again and choose the correct serious humourless fun/entertaining
paragraph headings. true to life realistic/accurate unrealistic/inaccurate
well-loved popular unpopular
Answers
2 Fact or fiction?  ​
3 Life in the thirteenth century  ​
4 The outlaws What do you think?
5 Robin’s true love
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working in pairs.

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5th edition

New Zealand Elementary

Background 3 Ask students to find the words in the text and match them
with the meanings.
New Zealand was part of the British Empire, and still remains
part of the Commonwealth. The reigning British monarch is Answers
also the head of state in New Zealand. Ties between Britain 1  b  ​2  g  ​3  a  ​4  k  ​5  l  ​6  h  ​7  i  ​8  j  ​9  c  
and New Zealand remain strong, and there are regular ​10  d  ​11  e  ​12  f
cricket and rugby matches between the two countries.
Around 200,000 people emigrate each year from the UK, 4 Ask students to prepare their descriptions individually. Ask
and New Zealand remains one of the most popular students in turn to read out their descriptions, and ask the
destinations, so many British people have family members class to guess the activities.
in New Zealand.
What do you think?
Pronunciation
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
Maori  /ˈmaʊri/
haka  /ˈhækə/ PROJECT
kiwi  /ˈki:wi/ Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
tuatara  /tu:əˈtɑ:rə/ it in class, working in pairs.
Auckland  /ˈɔ:klənd/
Christchurch  /ˈkraɪsttʃɜ:tʃ/
Waitangi  /waɪˈtæŋɪ/
Otago  /ɒˈtɑ:gəʊ/
geyser  /ˈgi:zə/

1 Ask students to read the questions in pairs and see how

many they can answer. You could also do this as a class.
2 e  Ask students to read the text and check or complete
their answers.
Answers
1 It’s in the south Pacific Ocean.
2 4 million
3 Wellington
4 English and Maori
5 It’s temperate, neither very hot nor very cold.
6 Lord of the Rings, Prince Caspian
7 Because it has very dramatic countryside.
8 Fishing, hiking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking,
rock climbing, caving, windsurfing, white water rafting,
kite boarding, paragliding, sky diving, bungee jumping.
9 the All Blacks
10 It’s an ancient Maori war dance which the All Blacks do
before a game.
11 It’s a small black bird which can’t fly.
12 the Maori
13 The Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman.
14 the British

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5th edition

Allan Ahlberg – Two poems Elementary

Background 5 e  Ask students to match the words and phrases from

‘Please Mrs Butler’ to the definitions.
As explained in the text, Allan Ahlberg is a successful
children’s writer. He has written over 100 books, many Answers
of which are among the most popular of all time. The 1  g  2  d  3  c  4  i  5  h  6  e  7  f  8  a  9  b
majority of his stories for babies and young children were
illustrated by his late wife, Janet. Allan has also written two 6 Draw attention to the rhyming words at the end of the
prize-winning books of verses about school: Heard it in the lines in the example. Ask students to mark the rest of the
Playground and Please, Mrs Butler. rhyme scheme in the poems.
Pronunciation Answers
Allan Ahlberg  /ælən ˈɔːl bɜːg/ ‘The Supply Teacher’
supply teacher  /səˈplaɪ tiːtʃə(r)/ AABB
CCDD
Butler  /ˈbʌtlə(r)/ EEDD
guinea pig  /ˈɡɪni pɪɡ/ FFDD
‘Please Mrs Butler’
1 Discuss the questions as a class. -A-A
2 Ask students to read the text about Allan Ahlberg and -B-B
answer the question. -A-A
-C-C
Answer -A-A
Because he really seems to get into the hearts and minds of -D-D
primary school students; probably because he was once The rhyme and rhythm make each poem lively and fun to read.
a teacher himself.

7 Ask students to read the poems again and answer the

3 Ask students to look at the picture and label the classroom questions. After they have completed the activity, discuss
items. some ideas and opinions as a class.
Answer Answers
1 board ‘The Supply Teacher’
2 clay 1 The poem is written for students of primary school age.
3 guinea pig Students’ own answers.
4 paint 2 Students’ own answers.
5 rubber 3 Students’ own answers.
6 sink ‘Please Mrs Butler’
4 The teacher is feeling annoyed because the student keeps
complaining and she’s probably busy. We understand this
4 e  Ask students to read the poems. Tell students not to because she makes increasingly ridiculous suggestions and at
worry if they don’t understand every word at this stage. the end says, ‘don’t ask me!’
The purpose of the questions in exercises 4 and 5 is to 5 my lamb; love; my flower. Students’ own answers.
familiarise them with most of the key vocabulary. Ask
students to find the words and phrases in ‘The Supply
Teacher’. What do you think?
Answers Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
1  rule  2  flu  3  wander  4  feel like   5  forget  
6  lets  7  complain
PROJECT
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working in pairs or small groups.

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5th edition
Mark Twain – The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer Elementary

Background 6 Ask students to speculate on what they think is going to

happen before they read extract C.
Mark Twain grew up near the Mississippi River, and it is
thought that he based the character of Tom Sawyer on 7 e  Ask students to read extract C and answer the
himself. The novel Huckleberry Finn, in which the character questions.
of Tom Sawyer also appears, tells the story of two young Answers
boys who meet up with a runaway slave on the Mississippi 1 To make Ben think that he wants to carry on painting the
River. In the novel, Twain challenges views on slavery and fence and not let Ben do it. As Mark Twain writes in the original
morality that were accepted at the time. Both stories remain version: He had discovered a great law of human action, without
popular with children in Britain and the US, and there knowing it – namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a
have been several film and TV adaptations of the stories. thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.
Mark Twain was also fascinated by science, and one of his 2 They come to laugh at him.
3 To get the other children to want to paint the fence so much
novels, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, features
that they would give him things for doing it.
a machine, which has led some people to claim that he 4 Because everybody was happy.
invented the genre of science fiction.
Pronunciation 8 Ask students to find the sentences in the extracts and
Mark Twain /mɑ:k ˈtweɪn/ decide how they would translate them into their own
Tom Sawyer  /tɒm ˈsɔɪjə/ language. Discuss their answers as a class, and discuss any
Huckleberry Finn  /ˈhʌklberi ˈfɪn/ interesting difference between English and the students’
own languages.
doughnut  /ˈdəʊnʌt/
What do you think?
1 Discuss the question as a class.
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
2 Ask students to read the text about Mark Twain. Discuss
students’ answers to the question as a class. Suggested answers
3 e  Ask students to read the extract and answer the The first quote is an interesting reversal of the usual idea that
youth is the time for rebellion, which is when everyone expects
question.
it. Twain suggests that it’s easier, and perhaps more fun, to save at
Answer least some of your rebelliousness until later in life.
You learn that Tom lives with his Aunt Polly because his mother The second quote is a description of bankers that everyone will
is dead. He can be naughty but he’s also clever. He knows how to recognize.
get what he wants. The third refers to April Fools’ Day, and shows Twain’s frequently
Aunt Polly is an old lady. She loves Tom but she finds him difficult. expressed view that people are not as clever as they like to think
She tries to be strict with him but it doesn’t always work. they are.

4 e  Ask students to speculate on the questions before PROJECT

they read extract B to check their answers. Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working in pairs.
Answers
Tom is the boy on the right. He is painting the fence. He is doing
it because he has to, but wants to give the impression that
painting the fence is very important and enjoyable so that the
other boy, Ben, wants to do it.

5 Ask students to read extract B again and answer the

questions.
Answers
1 Because he wants to show the contrast between the lovely
day and the boring job that Tom has to do.
2 He feels very unhappy because it’s Saturday and he has to
work, painting the fence.
3 He perhaps feels sorry for Tom, or perhaps feels pleased that
Tom’s working and he’s going down to the river.
4 Because he wants Ben to think painting the fence is a special,
interesting job.
5 Because he wants Ben to think he’s enjoying painting the
fence.
6 His idea is to get other boys to paint the fence, by making it
seem like an opportunity to do something special.

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5th edition

Grace Nichols – Two poems Elementary

Background 6 Ask students to read the poems again and answer the
questions.
As stated in the text, Grace Nichols is a Guyanese poet who
moved to the UK in her late twenties. The influence of this Answers
combination of cultures is very present in the themes and ‘I am the rain’
language of her work, producing uniquely creative results. 1 play games, pretend, laughing, just love
Nichols’ first collection of verse, I Is a Long-memoried Woman 2 The indentation of the lines recalls raindrops falling from the
(1983) was awarded the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, and sky or running down a window.
‘Sun is laughing’
she continues to enjoy great popularity today.
1 First stanza: The sun’s mood is positive: happy / laughter /
Pronunciation brightening / shine / buttering up. Second stanza: The sun’s
mood is negative: bored / sulky / slammed / plunging / greyness
Grace Nichols  /ɡreɪs ˈnɪkɒls/ 2 The ‘grey sky-curtains’ are rain clouds. When they are ‘pulled
Guyana  /ɡaɪˈænə/ back’ it creates an image of the clouds parting to allow the sun
Caribbean  /ˌkærɪˈbiːə/ to shine.
3 Describing the sun as ‘moody’ shows its changing nature. The
1 Discuss the questions as a class. weather is often changeable in the UK, with short periods of
sunshine.
2 Ask students to read the text about Grace Nichols and
answer the question.
7 Ask students to identify the full rhymes and half-rhymes at
Answer
the end of the lines in each poem.
Grace Nichols’ work is different from other British poets because
she was born and grew up in Guyana. It is inspired by a Answers
combination of Caribbean and British influences. ‘I am the rain’
full rhymes: fall/all, clothesline/spines, shame/fame
half-rhymes: rain/games, sometimes/sides
3 e  Ask students to answer the questions, individually or
‘Sun is laughing’
in pairs, then discuss briefly as a class. Ask students to read full rhymes: bed/head, line/shine
the two poems quickly to get the general sense and feel half-rhymes: world/bored, praise/ways
of the verse, not worrying about understanding every
word.
4 Ask students to choose the correct definitions for the What do you think?
words from ‘I am the rain’. Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
Answers PROJECT
1  a  2  b  3  b  4  b  5  a  6  a  7  b
Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
it in class, working individually or in pairs.
5 Ask students to find words in ‘Sun is laughing’ which
match the definitions.
Answers
1  poked  ​2  spilling (over)   ​3  brightening  ​4  shine  ​
5  buttering up   ​6  warning  ​7  sulky  ​8  praise  ​9  slammed  ​
10  plunging

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5th edition
Oscar Wilde –
The Canterville Ghost Elementary

Background 5 Ask students to write short captions for each picture.

As well as the works mentioned in the text, Oscar Wilde also Suggested answers
wrote other novels for adults, including The Picture of Dorian B The twins began to shoot little balls of paper at the ghost.
Gray, about a young man whose painted portrait ages C The suit of armour was too heavy for the ghost.
while he himself retains a youthful appearance (featured in D The ghost stood at the top of the stairs and laughed.
New Headway Culture and Literature Companion Upper- E The ghost decided to wear a dead man’s shroud and large
black hat with a red feather in it.
Intermediate). He also wrote plays, including The Importance
F The ghost began to turn himself into a big black dog.
of Being Earnest (featured in New Headway Culture G Mr Otis called out: “Hold up your hands!”
and Literature Companion Intermediate). Oscar Wilde is H All the men ran downstairs.
remembered for his wit, and many quotations from his
works are familiar to English speakers.
6 Ask students to find words in the text which mean the
Pronunciation same as phrases 1–10.
Oscar Wilde /ˈɒskə ˈwaɪld/
Answers
Canterville  /ˈkæntəvɪl/ 1  frighten  ​2  hurried  ​3  softly  ​4  wild  ​5  scream  ​
Otis  /ˈəʊtɪs/ 6  terrible  ​7  turn (himself ) into   ​8  tricks  ​9  disappeared  ​
Hiram  /ˈhaɪrəm/ 10  shook

1 Ask students to read the text about Oscar Wilde. 7 Ask students to write a sentence for each of the words in
2 e  Discuss the questions as a class, or ask students to exercise 6, offering help as needed.
discuss them in pairs. Then ask students to read the
extract. What do you think?
3 Ask students to put the pictures in order, according to Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
the story. PROJECT
Answers Students can do this as homework, but could also prepare
1  C  2  H  3  B  4  G  5  D  6  A  7  F  8  E it in class, working in pairs. In the next lesson, students can
read their stories to the class.
4 Ask students to read the extract again to check the
meaning of the words, then find the things in the pictures.
Answers
a suit of armour – picture C
a bottle of medicine – picture A
pea shooters – picture B
a feather – picture E
a handgun – picture G
a shroud – picture E
a candle – pictures D, G, and H

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5th edition
Daniel Defoe –
Robinson Crusoe Elementary

Background 5 Ask students to read the extract again and answer the
questions.
Daniel Defoe (1669–1731) was an English writer who is
credited with helping popularise the English fictional novel Answers
in the form we know it today. 1 Because he is bored and his friends said it would make
First published in 1719, his novel Robinson Crusoe is the most them rich.
2 Because he had an easy, comfortable life in Brazil.
translated book in the world after the Bible. It documents
3 1659.
the adventures of a man who is shipwrecked on a desert 4 Twelve days.
island for 28 years, meeting cannibals, prisoners, and 5 Three.
mutineers. The book was immediately popular following its 6 Because the sea carried him to the shore.
release and remains one of the most published books of all 7 Thankful to be alive; tired and afraid.
time. 8 Because it was dark and perhaps there were wild animals.
Pronunciation
Robinson Crusoe  /ˈrɒbɪnsʌn ˈkrusəʊ/ 6 Ask students to choose the correct definitions for
the words.
Daniel Defoe  /ˈdæniːel dɪˈfəʊ/
Answers
1 Ask students to look at the pictures and match them 1  b  2  b  3  a  4  b  5  a  6  a  7  b  8  a  9  b  10  a
to the words and phrases in the box. Then discuss the
questions below the pictures as a class.
Answers
What do you think?
A  shipwreck  B  castaway  C  desert island   D  shelter Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
PROJECT
2 Ask students to read the text about Robinson Crusoe and For the first option, students could also prepare their list of
discuss the question as a class. ten items as homework if more time is needed. You may also
3 e  Ask students to read the extract. Then discuss the wish to bring a few real items into class as inspiration, e.g.
question as a class. string, first-aid kit, etc. At the end of the activity, each group
could present their list of ten things to bring to the island,
Answers
Crusoe’s journey to Africa, the storm and shipwreck, and his
and the class could vote on an overall top ten.
landing on the island. Students can do the second option as homework, but
could also prepare it in class, working individually or in pairs.
4 Ask students to read statements a–m and put the events
from the extract into the correct order.
Answers
1  b  2  h  3  l  4  d  5  g  6  i  7  j  8  m  9  f  10  a  
11  k  12  e  13  c

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5th edition

Bram Stoker – Dracula Elementary

Background 4 Read the rubric with the class and draw students’
attention to the sample answer. Ask students to read the
The novel Dracula captured the public imagination when
text again and answer the questions.
it was published in 1897, and it created a fascination with
vampires which has continued to the present day. The Answers
first Dracula film was made in 1931, and there have been 2 He wanted to buy a house in England and he needed
hundreds more on the theme of vampires since then. The Jonathan’s help.
original novel also remains popular in Britain. The Dracula 3 She’s Jonathan’s girlfriend.
story is associated with the northern coastal town of Whitby, 4 It was night time.
5 (We don’t know. The answer isn’t in the text.)
where the Count is said to have first landed.
6 His hand was very cold.
Pronunciation 7 He took him upstairs to a room with a fire.
8 (We don’t know. The answer isn’t in the text.)
Bram Stoker  /ˈbræm ˈstəʊkə/ 9 (We don’t know. The answer isn’t in the text.)
Dracula /ˈdrækjələ/ 10
In the evening.
Jonathan Harker  /ˈdʒɒnəθən ˈhɑ:kə/ 11
That it was near the church.
12
(We don’t know. The answer isn’t in the text.)
1 Ask students to read the text about Bram Stoker, then
discuss the question as a class. 5 Ask students to complete the sentences with the verbs,
2 Ask students to answer the questions, individually or in then check their answers in the text.
pairs. The aim is to use the students’ previous knowledge
of the Dracula story to highlight some of the key Answers
vocabulary. 2  laughed  ​3  opened  ​4  locked  ​5  burned

Suggested answers
1 Count Dracula 6 Ask students to decide which adjectives and nouns can
2 a large, old, dark castle go together.
3 He was very pale. He had black hair and sharp teeth. Answers
4 black strong man, strong fingers (less likely: strong teeth, strong wall)
5 wolves howling, owls hooting, cats screeching, dogs barking terrible teeth, terrible face, terrible man, terrible danger
6 He was a vampire who lived on the blood of young women. tall man
black teeth, black clouds, black man (less likely: black wall, black
3 e  Ask students to read the text and discuss in pairs face, black fingers)
which lines make it frightening. white teeth, white man (less likely: white wall, white face, white
clouds, white fingers)
Suggested answers long fingers (less likely: long teeth, long wall, long face)
I did not know then of the terrible danger which waited for me in high wall (less likely: high clouds)
Transylvania.
I could see nothing – but I could still hear the wolves.
… the driver laughed wildly. What do you think?
… I was alone in front of the dark, silent castle.
Discuss as a class, or first in pairs/groups, and then as a class.
… he was dressed in black from head to foot.
It was as cold as ice. Examples of vampires in popular culture include the Twilight
His face was very white, his ears were like the ears of a cat, and books and films, the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer
his teeth were strong like the teeth of an animal. There was hair and Angel, and films such as Interview with the Vampire, From
on his hands and his fingers were very long. When he touched Dusk Till Dawn, and Nosferatu.
me,
I was afraid.
PROJECT
… outside, the wolves were still howling. Students can do their project as homework, but could also
… so I shall be near the dead. prepare it in class, working in pairs. If students choose to
write a story, ask them to read their stories to the class.
D000613

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