WRITING PAPERS FOR

CAMBRIDGE CPE
Example 1
The excitement of advertising
Outdoor advertising has to attract, engage, and persuade potential customers; it is the most important
way of grabbing customers' attention and outdoor media continue to undergo a transformation. At the
core of this transformation is the digital screen media, which encompasses everything from giant screens
to digital billboards. The technology is cheap and advertising agencies rave about the creative possibilities
for advertisements which entertain, amuse, inform, make the environment brighter and enliven the world
we live in.

Advertising: an undesirable business

Once upon a time outdoor advertising was straightforward. Posters were stuck up on anything from a bus
shelter to a motorway hoarding. Many people considered this kind of advertising to be fairly dull, a
harmless blot on the landscape and chose to ignore it. These people now regard commercialization: it
attracts a buzz simply because it is new. They feel that any advertising which targets children or
vulnerable adults is a dubious practice at the best of times, and digital advertising is, moreover, wasteful,
damaging to the environment and completely unnecessary.
Answer A:
Advertising has become one the most dynamically developing branches of our economy. Both texts
address its evolution and the controversy of whether it is useful or harmful for our society.

The first extract endorses the concept of electronically-enhanced vivid imagery to serve the purpose of
attracting customers to business. As well as its potential to provide information and entertain people.

In addition, the writer states that innovative methods of advertising come with substantial economical
advantages, considering their effectiveness to promote products and services. An example of these is the
wide range of products being developed by the industry of digital screen media.

The second extract, on the contrary, expresses potential dangers connected to the world of digital
advertising. According to he author, not only does it intrude upon our lives, but also victimises those
members of society who find themselves more susceptible to such an aggressive form of persuasion. These
people are rarely able to differentiate between what product they truly require as opposed to the one
the advertisement convinces them to purchases.

Instead of enriching our environment, the author also argues that digital billboards ruin our landscapes
in the name of consumerism. He states that he almost misses the days of run-off-the-mill, unimportant,
and discarded advertising posters.

As I see it, the world would surely be a better place to live in without constant flashy reminders of what
product should act as our next craving. Not to mention the obvious dangers of even glancing at a blinking
billboard and being momentarily blinded by it while driving.
Answer B:
In the following paragraphs, I will summarise and evaluate two texts related to advertising. While
both authors address its evolution in the digital era, one focuses on the excitement of the
business while the other criticises it.

On the one hand, outdoor advertising has always been the means to reach potential consumers.
With the evolution of technology, digital media has taken over and made advertising an
affordable opportunity to call potential customers' attention, entertain them, and keep them
informed. Huge digital plasma screens and billboards are now the key element for advertisers to
creatively persuade customers in a lively brightening environment.

On the other hand, what was seen as harmless outdoor publicity in the past, is now considered
overwhelming as a result of the digitalization of advertising. So much digital advertising pollutes
the environment causing disturbance on people who don't even want to be bombarded with such
brightness and distracting media.

From my perspective, digital advertising is proof of change, evolution, and liveliness. Technology
is a characteristic of the XXI century we just can't live without. Not taking advantage of it would
represent being stuck in time, not willing to keep up with the new advantages of the media and
remaining dull.

To conclude, digital advertising is something we need to learn to live with. We just can't stop
evolution from taking place, simply because it's human nature. Otherwise, we would still be living
in caves.
Example 2:
Tackling traffic congestion
Policy-makers employ a wide range of measures to tackle the problem of traffic congestion. Enforcement
schemes such as setting strict speed limits on major roads and the use of congestion charges in city centres are
two such examples as are vehicle exclusion zones or parking restrictions in busy pedestrian areas. However, it
also makes sense to encourage motorists to become less reliant on their car. This can be achieved by making
public transport more efficient and promoting the benefits of car-sharing with work colleagues, thus reducing
weekly fuel bills. And the increasing number of cycle lanes on many roads is further evidence of how to win the
hearts and minds of motorists in the fight against congestion.

The joy of motoring

Recent research into the attitudes of motorists shows we are still more than happy to get behind the wheel.
Despite rising fuel costs, insurance premiums, and frequent traffic jams, 9 out of 10 of us still enjoy driving.
Whether it's visiting friends and relations, talking the family for a day out or even commuting to work, the car
remains first choice for many people. Experts argue that unlike public transport, the car leaves us in charge of our
own destiny, giving us the freedom to travel when and where we want. The car also gives us the opportunity to
express ourselves. The kind of vehicle we drive tells the world something about who we are or what we aspire to
be. Cars are not simply a means of transport but also something we wear.
Answer:
The need of motor vehicles in the modern world is undeniable. But although the benefits of owning
a four-wheeled transportation device are numerous, cars can also generate a lot of problems.

On the one hand, automobiles are absolutely necessary for some people. For instance, in the US,
everybody needs a car to go to school or the office. With public transport being slow or simply
non-existent, having a car gives people a transport solution. Furthermore, travelling by car also
helps people avoid stressful situations. Owning a car means no more standing in crowded buses or
fighting with people in the subway.

On the other hand, all those cars in the streets mean facing traffic jams and of course pollution.
They create congestion and are one of the principal sources of contamination in the cities. As a
response to this situation, governments are implementing a series of strategies to motivate people
not to use their cars so often.

Some of these government strategies involve a car sharing and using bikes, while others fine
drivers who use their vehicles on certain days or at certain times; but this strategy does not seem to
be so efficient. Probably because doing something to avoid a fine, does not involve really
understanding the nature of the problem.

All in all, I am of the opinion that cars are indispensable in the current lifestyles and living
standards. We cannot disregard the impact they had on facilitating our existence, nevertheless it
is refutable that their numbers have reached levels where we must not hesitate to act in downsizing
them.
Example 3:

You have read the two extracts below in class. Your tutor has asked you to write an essay discussing the topic
computers - our best friend or worst enemy, responding to the points raised and expressing your own views.

Computers are the greatest invention ever. We have access to information on an incredible scale. We can also
contact people anywhere in the world. There are endless possibilities.
Computer technology is creating a society that is anti-social and lazy. The time will come when we will not
need to use our brains for anything because the computer will provide us with all the answers. The
consequences are frightening.
Answer:
Both texts deal with the role of computers in the life of modern people. However, each of them expresses
a different opinion.

The first text claims that computers are the most ingenious invention of all times. It states that
information from all over the world has become widely used and available for any user. From my point
of view it is one of the most valuable advantages for professionals. For example, computers make it
possible for businessmen to establish interstate and international relationships. This has a favourable
impact on the state of the economy of the country.

Regarding education, it is important to add that computers allow students to access a wide range of
information at a moment’s notice and to join on-line courses. It also enables students doing a semester
abroad to keep in touch with their families, as well as to keep up-dated to whatever is happening in
their countries. As a matter of fact, the latest statistics suggest that most people inform themselves
reading online news not newspapers.

The second text shows us the antithetic point of view. It claims that as computers let people obtain
responses to any question, the users almost stop thinking. Take for example the case of students googling
answers instead of figuring them out themselves. I suppose that I could agree with that statement to a
certain extent. There are also those who spend time in front of their computer only to play games. Which
may mean computers are a source of distraction instead of being a source of information. This problem is
widely spread among teenagers and their parents should pay attention to it.

On the whole, computers have advantages and disadvantages and it is up to us to determine their
influence on our lives.
Example 4:
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as
much as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.

A world without risk

Compared to what it used to be, the world has become a relatively safe place; life is no longer a dangerous
adventure. Instead it is dull, dull, dull. Now that many of us no longer face real danger, we pretend it is there. We
get our thrills from imagining the world is more dangerous than it is. Newspapers and news bulletins contribute
to this, giving people the impression that even as they huddle in their armchairs, they are really up against
raw and frightful threats.

Taking risks
We hear stories over and over again about the people who reach the end of their lives and regret the fact that
they never took any risks, that they never challenged life and stepped out and tried something that was beyond
their current existence. If people take care of every possible outcome of risk before they are willing even to take
it, they turn the risk into a calculated venture, and try to control it losing most of the potential benefit of taking the
risk. Risk can make us more mature, wiser, and stronger.
Answer:
The theme common to both texts is that humans need some risk in their lives.

In text 1, the writer observes that the element of risk and danger in life has been greatly reduced in
the modern world. To compensate for this, it argues, we actively seek risk and even invent it when it
isn't really there.

In my opinion, there is some truth in this. We do live in very safety-conscious times and our lives are very
regulated. So some people seek risk in, say, virtual games and extreme sports. But I must point out that
this depends very much on where one lives and there are many countries in the world where the threat
of violence and danger is only too real. People from these countries would not take the same view at
all, so I think this writer is very insular.

The writer's own view on risk isn't really explicit in the extract, but in text 2 there is a stronger authorial
voice. Text 2 goes further presenting a very positive view of risk as something we should all try to
experience as it is beneficial to us. It seems to imply that embracing risk can lead to richer life. It also
makes the point that some people are risk-averse, because they don't like to feel out of control.

Text 2 is more psychological. It seems to be urging people to let go and just see what happens to them
in their lives. I am not sure whether this is really appropriate advice, but I would agree to some extent,
because the times when I took a risk and did something adventurous have given me confidence in my life
and good memories.

On balance, therefore, text 2 seems more relevant to my own situation.

Example 5:
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far
as possible, and include your own ideas in your answer.

Shifting sands: behavioural change

Nowadays, in some cultures there may often be confusion between generations about what is acceptable
behaviour in certain situations. Older people sometimes complain, for example, about the real or imagined
rudeness of others, such as in the use of electronic devices in public places. However, the younger generations do
not regard electronic communication as intrusive, but rather as fundamental to their way of life. Only increased
mutual understanding is likely to resolve potential conflict or confusion in any society. In this case, as in all
others, it pays to be aware of other people's point of view.

Follow my leader?
Should we always aim to do what society expects of us? No, what society needs is individuality. Worrying about
what other people think inhibits enthusiasm and creativity. Nothing new is ever achieved by conforming to
expected social norms. This is not only true for society's innovators: everybody needs a strong sense of their own
worth as an individual. This is essential for psychological well-being and the ability to function effectively in
one's personal and professional life. Paying to much attention to society's conventions can be counter-productive
in these and other ways.
Answer A:
The over-arching theme of these two texts is social behaviours.

The first considers the fact that different groups of society have different ideas about what is
acceptable behaviour. What is normal for one set of people may appear rude to another group.
This text makes the point that is important to appreciate that others may have differing viewpoints,
claiming that such awareness can help to avoid social conflicts. The second text looks at the issue
from a contrastive angle. It argues against the desirability of behaving in socially acceptable ways.
Its contention is that being too concerned about social conventions stifles individuality and may even
have a negative effect on our own psychological health.

In my opinion, there is little to disagree with in the first text. It is an undeniable fact that
behavioural norms vary across generations, classes, and cultures and it is also true that
understanding and tolerance provide the soundest basis for our approach to social difference.

The second text is possible more contentious. While it may be the case that some people are over-
concerned about etiquette and unimportant social rules, I feel that some conventions for social
behaviour have a positive impact on everyone's lives. It all depends on the type of rule. I do not
feel that it is important to know which way you should tip your bowl when eating soup or when you
should or shouldn't wear gloves but I do think it is desirable to say please and thank you and to
behave in a considerate way towards one's fellows.

In other words, I think that basic social conventions serve a useful purpose, but that they should be
used to oil our interactions rather than becoming too much of an end in themselves.
Answer B:
How should we behave in society? Should we follow social norms or should we use our own individual
judgement to decide what is the appropriate way to conduct ourselves?

Some people find it very important to obey the rules of etiquette, to do what others consider proper.
There are people - often the older generation - who get very upset when others do not follow social
conventions, when they, for example, speak loudly on mobile phones in public places or lick their fingers
or queue jump.

However, it should be noted that the things that irritate people will vary from one society to the next; the
rules of queue behaviour, for instance, are very different in London, Moscow, and Istanbul, and how it is
acceptable to use a mobile phone differs considerably from one society to another. Similarly, it is
important to remember that social conventions change over time. It was once consider improper to eat on
the street, but now no one pays the slightest attention to someone walking along munching a sandwich
or an apple. The key to avoiding conflict, it seems, is imaginative empathy.

In general, it is counter-productive to worry too much about what the socially acceptable way to behave
might be in any given situation. It can stop you form thinking about what is the moral way to behave as
you may become more focused on what is proper rather than what is right. You can also start
suppressing your own important individuality and originality as you become unhealthily anxious about
what others might be thinking.

The rules that do not - and should not - change are those regarding behaviour that has an effect on
others. Dropping litter, for example or pushing someone out of the way should always be condemned as
inappropriate behaviour.
Example 6:
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far
as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

The financial costs of stress

Research carried out by the health and safety council estimates that stress and mental illness continue to be
neglected by many businesses, both small and large. And the economic impact of this is huge, costing employers
around 26 bn pounds a year. Stress at work can lead to a lack of concentration, fatigue, and low motivation, all of
which will cost the company in terms of low productivity, customer satisfaction, and very low reputation of the
company itself. Employers are being urged to become more "emotionally intelligent" and to improve the way they
deal with stress and mental illness.

Speak up about stress

Many people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, particularly if we're feeling weak or vulnerable. However,
when suffering from stress it's vital you seek help. It's important to feel you can talk honestly with a close friend, a
loved one, work colleague or doctor about what's going on. Stress is easily diagnosed and there is plenty you can
do to successfully treat and manage stress. One of the most effective of these is to share your feelings with those
you trust. Remember that accepting help and support is not a sign of weakness. Close relationships are vital to
help you get through this tough time.
Answer:
Both texts discuss the topic of stress at work. This essay aims to summarise and evaluate the impact of
stress at work at both company and individual levels.

The first text focuses on the consequences of stress at work from a company's perspective. It stresses the
financial impact, which at 26 bn pounds a year is enormous. It does mention that stressed employers
have a direct, negative impact on a company's productivity, customers’ satisfaction, and market
perception. It is also said that employers must urgently take the necessary actions to increase their
awareness of employees' well-being and tackle seriously the topic of stress and mental illness at work.
However, nothing is mentioned about how to do so. For instance, involving individuals in stress
management workshops could efficiently address this issue.

The second text deals with the importance for individuals to talk when they suffer from stress. The main
concern here is the well-being of individuals rather than the financial considerations of the first text. It is
recommended that sufferers talk with a family member or a trust-worthy professional, which seems
sensible advice. The text also made a point about the many ways to cope with stress once it has been
diagnosed and that accepting help and support to get through difficulties must not be seen as sign of
weakness. I completely agree with that and think at some point in our lives we need external support and
recognising this can only make things easier.

To sum up, I think stress at work should be tackled at the root i.e. at an individual level first. To do so,
effective training on how to deal with stress such as workshops could certainly help. Once a trustworthy
atmosphere allowing people to speak up about stress at work is created, then the time will come when
companies reap the benefits of taking care of their employees.
Example 7:
Write an essay regarding the following texts.

Unsustainable tourism
We are increasingly familiar with some of the worst effects of unthinking, unmanaged, unsustainable
tourism: previously undeveloped coastal villages that have become sprawling, charmless towns, their seas
poisoned by sewage, denuded of wildlife, their beaches stained with litter and tubes of sunscreen; in historic
towns, their streets now choked with traffic, their temples, churches, and cathedrals seemingly reduced to a
backdrop for holiday snaps that proclaim "Been there, Done that". Less appreciated, perhaps, is the social
dislocation unsustainable tourism can cause: once-cohesive communities disrupted as the holiday industry
replaces old crafts, turning fishermen into tow boat operators, and farmers into fast-food store waiters or hotel
cleaners.

Criticism of the tourism industry

Although its strongest critics view the tourism industry as a rapacious predator - moving on to fresh
conquests after one environment has been spoiled, and forever fuelling the desires of holidaymakers with the
prospects of a new paradise that must be enjoyed 'before it is gone'- there are many within the industry who
reject the claim. They are at least partly right. There are examples where the travel trade is doing better. Of
course, reforming initiatives often come after the damage has been done and in some cases for public relations
purposes rather than from a commitment to sustainability.
Answer:
The author of the first text points out the damaging effects of unsustainable tourism. The texts
states how undeveloped villages have been forced to replace traditional crafts and fishing with
more appealing entertainment from the tourist point of view. The statement 'Been there, Done
that' results in an arrogant approach to the so valued culture of people living in the villages. Seas
contaminated by sewage, vastly reduced wildlife, constant litter and air polluted by traffic are the
main concerns when it comes to unsustainable tourism.

The author of the second text talks about holiday spots where the damage hasn't been visible or
hasn't occurred at all, and those places have been reformed and better equipped to welcome
tourists. Unfortunately, in most cases, reforming came after the damage had been done. Reforming
in holiday spots has happened mostly for public relations purposes and not to commit to
sustainable tourism.

With human curiosity and tourist hunger to discover new holiday places, unsustainable tourism will
always cause problems for places newly open to tourism. The general need for holiday is growling
vastly, and the costs of holidays abroad are sometimes cheaper than holidays people can take in
their own countries. As most tourists are involved in sustainable tourism, the damage done to places
and local people will continue to happen and to spread. However, a genuine commitment to
sustainable tourism would bring benefits to the freshly discovered holiday spots in the long run.
Example 1:
Write your answer to the following question in an appropriate style.

You have read an article in an English newspaper about people's attitudes towards their neighbours in
different countries. You have decided to write a response describing how people interact with their neighbours
in your country. You should examine to what extent neighbours should work together and to what extent they
should maintain their distance.
Article:
Dear Sir/Madam.
I write in response to your recent article on neighbours. As a Spaniard living in Germany, I read your
article with interest and felt compelled to share my own experiences on this fascinating subject.

The characteristics that I believe best defines Spanish attitudes towards our neighbours is tolerance. We
Spaniards tend to live in apartments and our buildings are often poorly insulated for sound.
Nevertheless, we are relatively uninhibited when it comes to playing our music loudly or hosting guests
late into the night. We understand that tolerating noise from our neighbours gives us the right to expect
a similar level of tolerance in return.

It was, therefore, surprising for me, when I went to live in Germany, that people see silence as a right
and even call the police if their neighbours threaten this. Unaware of this cultural norm, it wasn't long
before I received a visit from the local constabulary while entertaining some fellow Spanish dinner guests
to draw my attention to the noise our footsteps were making on the wooden floor. The policemen politely
suggested we remove our shoes to prevent further disruption to our neighbours' peace. Once we
realized they were serious, we promptly complied.

Despite my taking time to adjust to a different set of values and an initial feeling that my freedom had
been curtailed, I would be lying if I said I haven't come to enjoy the peace and quiet of my adopted
homeland. I find activities such as reading much more absorbing without the disturbances of the
outside world. When I was last in Spain, I certainly noticed the noises around me much more than I had
before I left. Sometimes I just had to get out of the house to escape the racket from the neighbours’
apartments. Thankfully, leaving is a lot quicker when you already have your shoes on.
Yours faithfully,
xxx
Example 2:
You have recently attended a training course which was exceptionally good. Now you have decided to write a
letter directly to the course leader. Say why the course was exceptional, why it was particularly suitable for
your and how you are benefitting from it now.
Write your letter
Answer:
Dear Sir/Madam,

I trained with you in the spring on your in-house course for trainee travel representatives. The course
exceeded my expectations and has subsequently proved extremely useful to me, so I wanted to take
the opportunity to thank you personally.

After leaving college I attended training courses in other sectors and had been rather disappointed by
them. But this course has been very well thought out and presented, and the enthusiasm of the two
tutors was infectious. I would single out Sue Harper's module on administration for special praise - the
part on how to do reports and keep accurate computer records was first class.

As someone who had no relevant experience, I was rather nervous about the prospect of having to give
presentations to new guests. But the tutors reassured me that I could do it and gave me a lot of personal
attention to boost my confidence. Being recorded doing this in front of the other students was a great
idea and I learnt a lot about body language and voice control from seeing and hearing myself on screen.
I recall also doing some challenging role plays to simulate what can happen with difficult guests. At the
time this seemed a bit like acting, but this too has turned out to be very useful.

I'm happy to say that I've now completed my first full summer working at Travel Med's holiday complex in
Lagoa, Portugal, and have every intention of repeating the experience next year. The job was as varied
as I'd been led to expect and I found it really enjoyable to assist all the guests and answer all their
queries. Everything I learnt has been thoroughly useful, so thank you again for your excellent training
programme.
Yours faithfully,
xxx
Example 3:

You have read the letter below which was sent to a newspaper by a reader. Other readers were invited to give
their views in response. You decide to write to the editor giving your opinion about the points made:

I have just returned from a holiday to a destination that would once have been described as 'exotic'. Imagine
my dismay at being confronted with the kinds of shopping centres and fast-food outlets that I can find on my
own doorstep back home! Is it inevitable that different cultures merge into one or can we do more to ensure
that local traditions are kept?
Answer:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have read the letter entitled 'Merging cultures - can it be stopped?' which appeared in Monday's edition of
your newspaper and I was very pleased to see that other readers were invited to give their opinions on the
subject.

Although I am an eighteen-year-old student I have been all over Europe, and have heard the opinion of many
teenagers regarding this problem. It is obvious that American culture has gained popularity in the past fifty
years due to so many fields of activity that are being dominated by Americans. Nevertheless, European kids from
my generation are turning their back on American Culture and displaying a much greater enthusiasm for
European culture than their elders.

Home-grown youth culture is the unifying force of the new generation. People watch US films, but do not
consider the US or its culture the source of all inspiration. European kids listen to music, wear French and Italian
jeans and also enjoy the particularities of European culture. When they do look beyond Europe it is to the East or
the Orient. They seem to be extremely interested in the oriental culture. In this case it seems clear to me that there
is still hope for places with centuries-old cultural traditions.

On the other hand, there are already many spots - that were once considered 'exotic' - on the verge of
becoming a cultural desert. On one of my journeys - to the Middle East - I visited the city of Jeddah, a
wonderful combination of old and new, with a sense of history and rapid development. Surprisingly enough,
people here didn't just think of the city's modernization, they were also concerned with the preservation of the
old city. On one side there was the old town with its strange odours and sounds of the old shopping street, and
on the other there was this whole new occidental-like city with big shopping malls. It was just amazing to see it all
in front of your eyes, like history speeded up on one side and yet at the same time, much of the original
character had been retained. Surely there can be a wide range of cultural influences, but I cannot entirely
agree that cultures are merging into one. There is still that feeling of culture shock when visiting a foreign country.
Example 4:
You recently took a self-catering holiday in a luxury apartment, but the standard of the
accommodation was very poor. The holiday company that you booked with have offered you
some vouchers as compensation, but you have decided you would prefer a cash refund
instead. Write a letter to the company outlining the problems you experienced with the
accommodation and the action you want them to take.
Answer:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to complain about the poor standard of accommodation during my last holiday. I booked
this self-catering holiday last year with your travel agency. When I returned from my two-week
holiday last week, I immediately visited the agency to complain about my disappointing experiences.

Had I known that the accommodation would be so poor, I would have booked from the beginning a full-
service holiday. What I expected was a luxurious apartment with a small oven. Not only was the room
dirty and full of bugs, but the shower was broken and unusable.

To make matters worse, there was no oven which I had specifically requested. Never before have I
seen such a bad service at a self-catering holiday. You can imagine my anger when I had to eat out,
smelling like a...? Not surprisingly, I booked another room, which, although without an oven was at least
clean and with a working shower. Therefore, this room cost a lot more than the other one and I had to
eat out.

My purpose in visiting the agency was to ask for compensation. The young lady who served me
offered some vouchers as compensation. She advised me to take my time with the answer. I have
decided to ask your company for a cash refund. Would a refund of about 500 euros be too much to
expect? I would like to ask you to have a look on my enclosed accounts. Seeing how much money I had
to invest additionally will help you to decide what to do about the whole matter.

At the very least, I would like you to inform me of the action you will take with regard to the additional
expenses I have incurred. Unless adequate action is taken, I shall have no other option but to publish
this letter in the local newspaper.
Yours faithfully,
xxx
Example 5:
You have read a newspaper article about young people today, in which the writer criticizes today's youth for
spending their time watching TV and playing computer games rather than reading books or going out and
doing sports. The newspaper's editor has asked readers to respond to the article. Write a letter to the
newspaper addressing the points made in the article and giving your own views.
Answer:
Dear Editorial Staff,
I've read your article about young people very thoroughly and can't deny the truth of most facts you give, but what I
really dislike is how you blame our children for that.

It is true that children of today don't play football in the streets any more to get rid of all their energy or meet outside
to play with marbles, nowadays you are more likely to find them sitting in front of the computer or the television.
But consider the circumstances: It's much too dangerous to play outside; most of the parents sensibly decide.

However, children need to play. Lucky the ones that have neighbours that can come over whenever they like. But that
case is very rare and mostly the parents haven't got time to play with their children. TV and the computer are the best
way to keep them occupied and quiet. And here begins the vicious circle the TV and computer games present to
children the heart of materialism and imaginary worlds which are not only one child's but they can discuss them with
their friends at school. The ones who read books or have only their imaginations are out. They don't belong to the
multi-media children's group. This mechanism makes all children long for more and always the latest games, videos,
etc. And it spoils all efforts of the few parents that try to bring up their children without TV and computer games.

By the way many children read books as well, but that is not what rules their lives, they don't get attention for that
mostly. An exception is shown by J.K. Rowling and her 'Harry Potter' books. Maybe she found the key to even the
multimedia children's mind through a book, at least she made everyone read - until the Harry Potter books were read
on tape, and then made in to films.

That shows how our society forces everything to fit in the multi-media complex and that everybody's mind especially
children's are surrendered to it almost helplessly. The frightening thing is that most people don't realise what
generations of scientific and economic progress have created and what that leads to.

Your article may have helped at least to show some of that even though you blamed the wrong ones. It's everybody's
fault.
Yours faithfully,
Xxx
Example 1:
A newspaper that you read regularly is conducting a campaign to encourage schools to teach
more relevant subjects or "life" skills. Its editor has asked readers to write short articles based on
the following question:
What essential topics do you wish had been included in the school curriculum when you were a
pupil?
Answer:
Back in the day when I was in high school the curriculum was clear cut; it ranged from languages to economics
and mathematics with some sport activities in the middle. All were supposed to prepare you for what was to
come after graduation, grown-up life. But did they really? Who of you was truly ready for social interaction or
handling their personal finance not me I can tell you! No, if I had had a say in it, the subjects under discussion
in the classroom would have been much closer to life.

One thing I was not prepared for but which proved to be vital part of my entire adult life was how to handle my
personal finance. Some bits and pieces were touched upon during economics class but none of the teachers
really explained the pitfalls of a bank loan or a credit card, how to balance income and expenses each month
and what the effect of a variable interest rate is on your mortgage.

Another worldly subject which schools should spend more time on is social interaction. At school you are
surrounded by peers and teachers but that does not prepare you for things like your first job application. I still
have vivid memories of mine; I was totally under-dressed, way too cocky, and not nearly respectful enough to
the person conducting the interview. Needless to say I did not get the job! For this reason alone social behaviour
should be much higher on the agenda of schools.

But don't forget the other social events we have to deal with over and over again in life parties, business events,
etc. Who wouldn't want to be the centre of attention at a party? If only some lessons in small talk had prepared
us?

A final matter, and maybe the most important one, is our health. We have all read the global reports on
overweight children, adults dying of cardiac failure. The list goes on and on. So why is there no focus on a
healthy lifestyle at school already? Not only could it save thousands of lives, but it would also save millions in
healthcare annually. Just teaching kids to pay attention to their intake of fat, sugar, salt, additives, etc. would
mean a world of difference. In combination with sports this could hugely improve the lives of future generations,
and who knows, we might actually finally be able to become 150 years old! All thanks to a new and improved
curriculum.
Example 2:
You are looking through the alumni newsletter of a school that you once attended and you
see the following announcement.
What are your best and worst school memories? Write in and tell us and we will publish the
most interesting articles in our next newsletter.
Answer:
The improbable happened twice
When it comes to school years it is hard to point out only one or two memories. There are so many to choose; those were times of
joy, fun, and lots of adventures. I am going to tell you about my best and worst school memories.

Let us travel back to 1990.

When I was in 7th grade I used to sit at the back of the classroom, spending whole lessons talking, drawing, and daydreaming a
lot. Believe it or not I also had really good grades, and the appreciation of most teachers. In that year in particular a huge
contest was held where students would compete with others solving math marathons, geography projects and even gathering items
from anywhere in the town such as a special fruit or the oldest person (who had to be convinced to come to our presentation).
Some tasks would only be published on the last day and demanded a lot of team work, collaboration, and a little bit of luck. The
least probable result came with the announcement of the best cheer team, foreign language song audition and creative
presentation.
Although it was not expected, we beat the seniors brilliantly. "Equiperalta" made history and would never be forgotten.
My worst memory task place in my last high school year during preparation for the CEE (college entrance exam). We were having
the external games, and were hosting salesiano students from Recife. It was Saturday morning, when we had our boring English
Lesson that the great handball final between us and Recife took place.
How could I miss it? How could anyone dare not to be there? It was with no regret that I skipped the English Lesson not returning
from our break, and running straight to the stadium in order to cheer for them.
Our buddies playing against those conceited guys so fond of themselves, our most terrible rivals ever since. So I was there the
whole match, cheering. I saw the principal, the feared Mario Sergio on the other side, and he winked at me. I was trying to get out
among the crowd when I heard that ice-cold voice: 'what are you doing here? Don't you have lesson?' I smiled and replied: 'I guess
the same thing you are... cheering for our team.' He said: 'you must not come on Monday'. I tried to explain myself telling him it
was an English lesson but that just made things worse. He continued: 'So Ms Talita you are assuming you are skipping two lessons on
purpose. You are suspended for two lessons.' My world fell apart, I would miss the fearful chemistry mid-term test and would be
obliged to take it orally, that was just not fair.

Well, I had to struggle with chemistry a little bit, but it was worth it to see the game that we won in the last two minutes and I had
not learnt my lesson neither did I forget the Principal's ironic smile nor injustice. Many years after that I would again skip lessons at
college, those ones considered meaningless, to join a surfing contest. Do you want to know the consequences? I got first place.
Example 3:
You have recently read an article from a youth magazine on the problem of inactivity in young
people. The magazine has invited its readers to respond to the topic by writing a short article of
their own, which answers the following questions:
Why are our young people becoming couch potatoes, and what can we do to solve the problem?
You should focus on young people in your country (or a country that you know well).
Answer:
A packet of crisps lying on the floor, a half-eaten pizza on the coffee table, and lots of CDs, DVDs, and
videogames all over the place, is all that parents see every time we get home from work.

Although there was a time when parents used to worry about where their children would be, nowadays we
are more concerned about the fact that our teenager children spend so much time at home.

But why does a generation who should be thinking about playing truant, spending all day with their
friends and doing sports, decide to spend so many hours at home?

Here, we have to look at new technology. Not only have they been crucial in the development of medicine
or the motor industry, but they have also led to a change in youngsters' social lives. They are surrounded
by so many devices that can entertain them that why should they leave home? While previous generations
had just one TV set at home - two at the most, nowadays there is much variety of options that teenagers
would need a 25-hour day in order to enjoy their computers, CD-players, DVD-players, video games or
mp3 whatever they are.

However, is technology the one which should be blamed for this? I don't think so. First of all, parents have
all the responsibility in this matter. After a tiring working day it is much easier to let children be
educated by TV while we are having a bubble bath or drinking a glass of wine by the fireplace. But, hard
as it may be, we should try to do things with them in order to develop a liking for sports, and a healthy
life, which would be so important in their futures. Moreover, why not pay the registration fee for a sports
club for them instead on buying a Playstation when they get good marks at school?

Let's do something before it is too late...

Example 4:
A magazine has been running a series of articles under the title Pursuing a Dream in which
successful people describe how they achieved their ambitions, and the risks they had to take to do so.
The magazine has now invited readers to contribute articles with the same title, and you decide to write
one. Write your article, describing an ambition you have or had, this risks that you had to take or
would have to take in order to achieve it and your attitude to taking risks in general.
Answer:
It is said that dreaming is a wonderful thing. But much better - of course - when our dreams do not stay just wishes, but when they
come true. Well, some people, realising what is possibly could cost them, give up at the very beginning and remain in that sweet
state of consciousness trying to escape from reality.

I suppose I've always been a tough cookie since my early childhood. Poor mum. She was really happy when I gave up the idea of
being an electrician, and found my passion for art, but I found later that it wasn't the thing I was looking for. Something was still
missing. And suddenly, like a spark of fire, I realised what it was - music. I fell in love with my uncle's piano. His job was to repair
and tune the pianos. My parents took no notice of my suggestion to buy one for me. My mum icily said: 'No way. I know you. It
would be like with your famous painting. You'll give up after a while. All the stuff I bought for you is left in the corner of your room.
It cost me a fortune. And by the way, your fingers are too short for playing. Did I make myself clear?' I had a proper look at my
fingers. I wanted to cry. She was right. I was really stubborn. I pretended that my interest in possibly being a famous piano player
has left me but... I took up lessons after my school finished in the afternoon; passionately learnt the notes and slowly discovered
the secret of keys, tones, and chords. My passion grew more day by day, and kept me continuing. A friend of mine put her piano
at my disposal for I didn't have any at home, and I could go to my uncle's house just occasionally. We used to play and learn
together. Her parents were great. I used to say at home that we had had some games like football (believable enough for mum),
and basketball after school to keep us fit, and have some kind of interest - not just TV. My little secret was revealed when my mum
discovered my exercise book. She was speechless and couldn't believe her eyes. And later even her ears.

I was rather happy and immediately suggested: 'So now that you know (I emphasized) you can buy me a piano.' But she needed
proof of my ability. I was forced to go to my uncle's house and play for her. She was amazed. This happened two weeks before
my birthday. I had kept playing behind her back almost for two years. Quite stubborn, hm? On my birthday we had a
performance in the local theatre. I felt so happy. My parents sat among the other parents waiting to see their beloved child
performing on the stage. The concert itself was a great success. I played Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. My parents were so proud
of me and couldn't stop clapping at the end. When we returned home, a surprise waited for me in my room: a brand-new polished
piano. Tears appeared on my face. I remember kissing and stroking it like a pet.

I persisted in spite of the stubborn attitude of my parents and achieved what I had been dreaming of. And today, I just smile at
these memories while playing on my own piano. A strong passion can make miracles.
Example 5:
A college magazine has asked you to contribute to a series of articles in which people talk
about sports and leisure time activities for new students. The article should say briefly which
club activities you considered and opted for, and describe whether you think it is easy enough for
new students to find clubs and activities which interest them.
Answer:
I suppose I am quite a shy individual, and in my first couple of weeks at the college, it becomes clear to
me that joining a couple of clubs was a good way of meeting people. But not only that, it was also a
way of ensuring that I had another life outside studying. The obvious thing for me was choir, and I went
along to some practice sessions. However, it wasn't something you could do casually, and the
commitment required was quite a heavy one. I also went along to the hockey club trials, but didn't get
selected. By accident, really, I stumbled across a less competitive activity - the badminton and table
tennis society is much more a social thing, and two friends of mine introduced me to it.

My own experience of stumbling across something serendipitously is probably fairly typical. From
talking to others I've formed the view that there is no shortage of information for new students, but that
is all quite disparate. For example, I got information on activities from the college prospectus, the
freshman's fair, and the noticeboards. But many of the written notices aren't in the main location; for
example, the football club posts everything at its clubhouse. Of course most of the big clubs run
websites, and the information on these is very good, and very accurate, but there isn't a single, co-
ordinated web operation, where all contact details are in one place.

There has been much talk of developing a central website, but as yet it is not clear who should
undertake this time-consuming task. It would also be beneficial if the website gave some indication of
the kind of level and commitment required - this would lead to less trial and error for students searching
for a a suitable activity.
Example 6:
An international travel magazine is running a series of articles on alternatives to travelling by
plane. The magazine has invited readers to send in articles briefly describing a memorable long-
distance train or bus journey they have made. The article should explain the advantages of
travelling a long distance by train of bus, and consider whether in general travelling to your
destination more slowly may result in a more satisfying travel experience.
Answer:
Long-distance travel:
The Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, used to say that he travelled 'not to go anywhere, but to go'.
In other words he loved travelling for its own sake. Although I enjoy being at a new destination, I agree
that the journey can be the most exciting and rewarding part of any holiday.

Some years ago I studied Russian at university and used to travel frequently to Russia. I usually went by
train, by far the cheapest way to get there then. This involved a three day train journey across the
Channel, and then over the North European Plain through Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Belarus to
Moscow. The train from Ostend was a Russian one, and once on board you felt as if you were already in
Russia, especially as you poured yourself a glass of tea from the samovar at the end of each carriage,
and made yourself comfortable for the two nights you'd spend in your sleeping compartment.

I loved the sense of gradually making my way into a different world. Towns and villages became less
frequent, fields turned into forests as we chugged eastwards. The children who waved at the train as it
passed began to have high Slave cheekbones. Travelling slowly gives you time to savour the gradual
changes, to think about where you're going or where you've just been, to adapt to a new way of being.
This opportunity to reflect is immensely enriching.

These days it's cheaper to hop on a plane than a train and you can now get to Russia in three hours
instead of three days. Lunch in London and dinner in Moscow has become possible thanks to the jet
engine.

In many ways the journey could be seen as easier now. But in my opinion travelling by rail is still much
more satisfying, providing a real sense of the distance both geographical and social - between different
countries.
Example 7:
You have been asked to write an article for Job Prospects magazine, a publication for 18 - 30
year olds, on the following topic:
How taking a gap year can enhance your career prospects?
You should focus on the types of job, and leisure opportunities for young people taking a gap year
in your country (or a country that you know well), the types of skills that can be gained, and the
likely value of these to potential employers.
Answer:
Taking a gap year: a personal experience, and a career accelerator?

The trend of taking a gap year out from our current job or studies has grown hugely since the 20s. How come
that more and more people make the leap: what jobs do they go for and what benefits do they reap?

Waiters or cashiers in fast-food restaurants are common jobs picked for a gap year. It is a real opportunity to
gain customer-facing experience, to learn to work under pressure, and of course to save money for future
projects. A young and flexible workforce appeals to employers who expect a high turnover in that sort of job.
The experience can prove hard though as working conditions including a sustained pace and regular late shift
may be poor. Eventually, the range of skills developed will certainly help you to stand out when applying for
jobs in the service industry.

Volunteering for a charity, hospital or care home is another option for those looking for a more compassionate
experience. It can be personally very rewarding as you may learn a great deal about yourself in helping
others in need. If you intend to pursue a career in healthcare, it is also a real way of demonstrating your
motivation when applying to school or university. The drawback is on the financial side since volunteering work
is by definition not paid.
If a thirst for adventure is close to your heart, you might want to consider travelling. It doesn't have to be far,
we sometimes forget the travel experience can be right on your doorstep so it fits the bill for tight budgets.
Going for an abroad option means an extra financial effort, but you can get to know a different country, meet
different people, improve your language skills, and also more broadly learn how to get by in life. And most
recruiters certainly appreciate candidates able to speak a foreign language.

All options have their pro and cons, but in the end the best advisor is unmistakably yourself. Ultimately, you
probably won't regret taking a gap year simply because you will not only enhance your CV, but also gain
maturity, and many other useful life skills.
Example 1:
You have been asked to contribute to a local arts magazine on the following topic:
'The book I would most like to see made into a film.'
Write about a book that you have read that you would like to see made into a film. Describe the
book, and discuss some of the problems or issues that a filmmaker would encounter in making a
film from the book.
Answer:
The book I would most like to see made into a film is Alexandre Dumas' famous novel, the Count of
Mount Christo.

The plot of this fabulous novel begins when Edmundo Dante - the main character - is unfairly
imprisoned because of the betrayal of some friends. The story extends for at least three decades (circa
1815 - around 1838).

On the grounds that the book is set in France, Italy, and some Mediterranean Islands, searching for the
locations could be an extremely time-consuming assignment. Due to the great deal of time in which the
storyland unfolds, the filmmaker will also need a splendid make-up team to tackle the problem of the
cast characterization. In addition, taking into account the psychological complexity of Edmundo, the actor
who portrays this character should be carefully - chosen, which might present something of a challenge
for the casting director.

In terms of the length of the book itself, the number of pages surpasses easily the one thousand mark.
How might anyone summarize the content of the novel in a two-hour film? This is an absolutely crucial
aspect to consider, and the main reason why previous directors failed in the adaptation. Such a great
work did the author write that many of the dialogues can be translated literally to the big screen without
the necessity of updating them. From my point of view, one of the more dramatic scenes would occur when
Edmundo escapes from the Castle of If - his prison for around 13 years - there is every likelihood that
the director would have to hire a stunt-man to shoot this scene.

Life is about transformation. The main character goes through complete different periods, namely naivety,
depression, revenge, and redemption. If the film manages to convey half of the fantastic metamorphosis
of this character, it will be a blockbuster.
Example 2:
A TV listing magazine has invited readers to contribute a review of a television series that is
or was particularly popular. Write a review, explaining, and commenting on whether you
believe it deserves/deserved such popularity.
Answer:
I bet that when they first made 'Friend' the producers wouldn't have expected and dreamt that their new
'attempt to amuse' bored viewers - and with totally unknown actors 'from nowhere' - would earn such a
great success.

After many years of living a daily life with characters from Dallas, Bay watch, Dynasty, a new wave of
funny, clever, and witty entertainment came to people's attention. And obviously, people welcomed the
change very warmly.

'Friends' was full of diversity. Each of the main five characters was completely different, and brought to
the series something new. Despite their differences they created a perfect working jigsaw. They lived,
laughed, cried, and shared their fate together. You could feel some kind of oneness there, and that is a
vital thing in every friendship. Chandler - a sexist who couldn't live without women - with his ironic and
sharp, witty humour contrasted to a naive, a little bit dumb, but cute Joey, who had a vanity, and
irresistible smile in the role of an unsuccessful actor. Monica was a nagging perfectionist who often
quarrelled with frivolous and untidy Rachel. Ross was a worried palaeontologist who tried to come to
terms with the fact that his wife left him. Poor guy! And finally weird Phoebe, who refreshed almost every
episode with her 'fabulous' music which nobody could get. Oh yeah, she was quite odd, but everybody
loves her.

'Friends' was a great refreshment after a long exhausting day at work. It is no wonder that it was so
popular. People just loved it - from children to adults and older people as well. We need to laugh and
relax. The actors, producers and creators deserve appreciation and admiration for making such a great
show. People were waiting eagerly for new episodes all the time. And that's a sign of success. Not to
mention that 'Friends' was popular in every continent of the world. And that proves something.
Example 3:

A literary magazine is running a series of reviews of books that people enjoyed reading as
a child, and would recommend for children today. You decide to send in a review in which
you describe a book you enjoyed, and the attractions it had for you as a child. You should
also explain why you feel it remains relevant for children today.
Answer:
Childhood Book
One of my favourite childhood books is the 'Six Bullerby Children' written by Astrid Lindergren, a famous Swedish
author. The story is set in a three-farm remote village of Bullerby in Sweden.

The narrator is a seven-year-old girl, Lisa who, with her parents and two older brothers - Lasse and Bosse, lives in
one the houses. Lisa describes the daily life of the children in Bullerby which - contrary to what one might think
when imagining life in a small, remote village - is far from boring. The children have plenty of funny ideas, which
often lead to amusing adventures.

Although the book was included in the compulsory school literature when I was a child (which often meant long
boring reads), I have truly enjoyed the adventures of Lisa and her friends. Despites very limited resources (the
story is set in the 30s when children did not have many toys, least of all a TV or video games!), the children
always come up with exciting games or things to play with. This is something I admire and wished I could do when
reading the book.

Another thing which appealed to me as a child was the natural childlike way in which Lisa (or Astrid Lindgren, the
author) could tell the story connecting effortlessly with the young readers. Despite the fact that the environment in
which the children live nowadays has changed considerably since the 30s, children will always be children and if
the book has appealed to so many young generations since it was published, I believe it will retain its impact.

It can be more relevant today, when children are presented with things to play, instead of inventing games
themselves. Reading the book could definitely wake up their innate creativity.

'Six Bullerby Children' could, however, also be more relevant to adults who would like to either 'return' to their
childhood for a little while, or be able to connect with their own children a lot better.
Example 4:
A cultural magazine is running a series on the educational value of historical films. It
has invited readers to send in reviews of films which taught them about a period of
history. You decide to send in a review. Your review should briefly describe the film
and explain in what ways it interested you in the historical period concerned.
Answer:
If history isn't a particular interest or strong point for you, it may be that films can bring it to the light in
a way that will catch your attention. For myself this was certainly the case with the king's Speech. My
knowledge of British History in the 40s is poor: I recognize the names George VI, Edward VIII, and Mrs
Simpsons, also Winston Churchill; now having seen the film, I can tell you something about them.

The film tells the story of how the king overcame his stutter, thanks to the persistence of a highly
unorthodox therapist. Their growing friendship is the main interest in the film, but there is also a lot of
interest history in the background. It is essential the king should lose his stutter because he has to address
the British people in time of war - the first monarch to do so by radio. The film also brought home to me
how the British people wanted strong leadership from their monarch - we see huge crowds cheering him
outside the palace.

Elsewhere in the film we see George's father, King George V, in his final year of life. He comes across as
an irritable man unable to express his love for his two sons. The eldest son becomes kind Edward VIII, and
he is shown as a rather nasty individual who mocks his brother’s stutter. Soon afterwards, Edward
declares his intention to abdicate, as he wants to marry Mrs Simpson, an American divorcee.

So a king is needed - but he can't speak in public! As you would expect in a movie, there is some
exaggeration of character, and the film has been criticised over a historical fact. Apparently, in real life,
Prime Minister Churchill tried to convince Kind Edward not to abdicate. In the films, he is critical of Edward.
However, this does not spoil a wonderfully inspiring and educational film.
Example 5:
A magazine that you subscribe to is interested in reader reviews based on the
following topic: "what websites could you not live without?"
Write a detailed review of two or three websites that you use on a regular basis. You
should explain the reason why you visit the websites and comment on what you like
(dislike) about them.
Answer:
Time management is one of my priorities. Sometimes I have to try hard to save time for just a quiet
evening with a good book. I don't like traditional shopping very much, for me it's generally a waste of
time and a fight with vendors who try to impose something on you. Thank goodness we have such life-
hack websites as Ozon-ru and Bonprik.

"Ozon" used to be an internet bookstore, but now it's more of a mega mall where you can buy almost
everything. Apart from books, CDs, and DVDs there are shoes, clothes, cosmetics, food, and whatnot.
When I needed a new drill and a screwdriver, they delivered them to my door for free because I am a
loyal customer. A week ago I bought a healthy snack bar in the gym, which was quite expensive, but
then I found the same thing on Ozon.ru. It was a real bargain and I bought two boxes! Once I took a risk
and bought an item of clothing - the result was perfect. The shirt fitted, the colour suited, and I decided
to take the next step.

Bonprix is the website for clothes shopping. Some might consider buying clothes online too strange, but I
can assure you - you just need some experience. For me, the problem was to find plain, basic clothes.
The necessity to deal with vendors who are not much interested in your needs made me sick, and I took
the plunge. Now I just go to the Bonprix website, browse and pick. Sizes are correct most of the time,
but you can always return or exchange a piece of clothing if something is wrong. I myself have never
tried to do so though, I've never had to.

Both the websites provide a delivery to a Pickpoint postal machine. Those machines are everywhere, and
you can collect your order when convenient. So, I would encourage everyone to use those two
websites.
Example 1:
Your local community group is interested in the views that local people hold about
crime in your area. You have been asked to write a report for the chairman of the
community group. You should address the following points:
What crimes are the most worrying for young people? What steps can be taken to
make young people feel less afraid?
Write your report for the chairman.
Answer:
Maryland Heights Crime Situation
As requested, this is a report about crime rates in Maryland Heights and young people's attitude to the
problem. 200 young people aged 18-25 were asked to share their opinion on the current crime situation. The
results of the survey are presented below together with recommendations on how to solve existing problems.

Mugging and assault

Physical violence is the most frequent crime being committed in the area. 20% of those questioned reported
having been either assaulted or mugged. Young people complain of certain areas being particularly dangerous
due to the absence of proper lighting and reliable security. Therefore, it is advised that additional street lamps
and surveillance cameras should be installed and police patrolling the street should be organised.

Drug dealing and gangs

Another problem that the community is facing is that of drug dealing. It is rooted most likely in the gang activity
in the town. The members of the gang choose their targets among schoolchildren and students - 10% of the
latter confirmed either being offered drugs or having seen others being offered them. To stop it, we suggest
monitoring the gang more closely and making arrests whenever drug dealing is suspected of taking place.
Besides this, creating comfortable conditions for people to be able to report drug dealing safely and
anonymously could also help in eradicating the dangers.

Conclusion
The survey showed that on the whole young people are reluctant to consider the area safe, which means that
high crime rates and their causes should be investigated further for more sufficient details. Meanwhile, the
safety measures suggested above could be implemented to change the situation for the better as quickly as
possible. We hope that this report will receive your serious consideration and necessary steps will be taken in
the near future.
Example 2:
A job fair was recently held in your town for international organization and companies to promote
careers available for young people. You have been asked to write a report of the jobs fair for your
college website. You should briefly describe the event and identify two or three promotions of
particular interest and relevance. You should also evaluate the extent to which such events can
open young people's minds to new challenges and career opportunities.
Answer:
Recent jobs fair:
Last weekend there was a jobs fair in the town hall. Over 100 different international companies and
organisations had stands giving information about the careers they can offer young people. There were plenty
of people on each stand to answer questions and to give advice and there was also a wealth of promotional
literature available.
The fair also arranged a series of work-related talks, films, and other events in the course of the weekend.

Promotions of particular interest:

All in all, it was an excellent event. There were two stands that I personally found particularly interesting and
relevant. The first one was promoting opportunities for language teaching abroad. This is something that I and a
number of fellow-students have been seriously considering. We were able to find out about the qualifications
we would need, what kind of working conditions we could expect and where there might be interesting
vacancies for us to apply for.

The second stand that drew my particular attention was one for a charity offering young people opportunities
to gain experience of other countries and cultures while helping on a range of voluntary projects abroad. These
projects included medical, environmental, construction, and educational work in a number of different countries.
I was able to talk to several young people who had already participated in such work and gained a very
positive impression of the benefits of taking part.

Value of such events:

In my opinion, such events are a great benefit to young people. They inform us about opportunities that we
might not otherwise have known about. They expand on horizons in terms of what we can aspire to. Several of
my friends for example, left the event feeling that their career plans had been transformed by what they have
discovered during the jobs fair. We all agreed that our eyes had been opened to new opportunities in a very
valuable way.
Example 3:
You are employed as a researcher by a television company that is preparing a
documentary about the social problems in your area or country. You have been told to
write a report on the problems that you think the programme should cover. Write your
report listing the problems, and describing the causes and consequences of them which
you think the programme should highlight.
Answer:
Report social problems
I think that the programme should focus on these three main areas:

Crime:
Crime is a big problem that has been rising in recent times. There has been a big increase in the
number of burglaries, and also in muggings on the street. Some people seem to think that if they haven't
got as much in life as they want, they can just take it from somebody else. As a result, a lot of ordinary
people are fearful, and a lot of victims of these crimes are permanently affected.

Youth problems:
A lot of youngsters seem to feel bored, alienated from society or cynical about life. This leads some of
them to turn to crime, for example in the form of hooliganism. Vandalism is widespread, and we can
observe the results of that in many places. Besides causing a lot of damage, this makes a lot of people
worried about the future of society. The only way to turn this situation around is to try to prevent these
young people from continuing to have such negative attitudes by showing them how they can make a
positive contribution to society. They need to realise that doing so will make them feel better about
themselves.

Unemployment:
Whether it's because of inadequate education or just unfortunate circumstances, unemployment leads to
several problems, such as debts, depression, crimes, etc.

Unemployment creates a tense and agitated home environment. This affects children in a most
destructive way. Children need to feel safe. Their schoolwork and social development will suffer.
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR CPE
WRITING PAPER
The over-arching theme of these two texts While it is true that..., it may not always be...
is... Not only..., but also...
The aim of this paper is to... Conversely,...
The (first) text considers the fact that... The writer observes that...
The (x) text deals with the topic of... Personally, I feel that...
The (x) text focuses on... From my perspective, it seems to be...
It is vitally important to...
The (x) text stresses the fact that...
In my opinion, there is some truth in...
The (x) text looks at the issue from another
viewpoint... In my opinion, there is very little to disagree with...

Essay
It seems to imply that... As for the causes...
Its contention is that... One justification often given for... is that...
It is an undeniable fact that... What is often stated is that...
This raises the issue of whether... Those who object to (x)... often argue that...
I am convinced that... Another objection is that...
One of the drawbacks of... The problem often stems from...
As regards the causes for this, one suggestion The first step to be taken would be to...
would be... On balance, I tend to believe that...
 A significant proportion of those surveyed
In this report, I will said that...
describe/evaluate/present...
A small number felt that...
I spoke to several members of staff...
On the whole, I found that...
I interviewed several members of staff...
Although..., I should point out that...
I conducted a survey among (people)...
It is a fact that...
Most people expressed the opinion that...

Report

There is a number of...: 1., 2., ... Whereas (x) is..., (y) is ...

One of the main differences between (x) In the light of the results of my
and (y) is that... observations/questionnaire/survey, I would
recommend, therefore,...

Unlike (X), (Y) is... My recommendations are as follows...

So is this really true? It seems to me that...
*Tag questions* To start with...
So what are we really talking about? After that...
I'm sure you will agree with me when I say
that... The next thing that happened was
Let's look at the problem from two different
points of view...

Article

In the wink of an eye...

The next thing that I knew was... When I think back to what happened
It wasn't until much later that... then,...
While all this was going on... All of this leads me to the conclusion
All of a sudden... that...
All at once... On a personal note, I'd like to say that...
How fantastic would that be?
 The characters are completely believable...
The novel/play/story is set in... and tells the story of... in...
The characters are completely unconvincing...
It recounts events in...
The (book) examines the theme of... The dialogue is witty and natural...
The (book) introduces us to (Ulises)... The dialogue is stilted and artificial...
I found the plot rather The performance was absolutely brilliant...
conventional/predictable/bizarre/absurd...
The performance was verging on the incompetent...
The author has succeeded in creating an extremely
intricate plot... The cast is brilliant...
The author has succeeded in creating life-like characters...

Review

It is a master piece... What struck me most was...

The hero/heroine/villain is... It struck me as being...
I was impressed by... I would have no hesitation in recommending...
The plot was gripping... I would strongly advise you not to waste your
On reflection, I think it was... money on (this film)...
A particular strength of the production was... For those who enjoy (contemporary music), (this
A particular weakness of the production was... band) are not to be missed...
I am writing to draw your
attention to... I am writing with regard to...
I am writing to complain about... My most serious complaint is...
I am writing to express my Not only..., but also...
concern about...

Complaint letter

Firstly,...; Secondly,...; ...; Finally...

If I do not ..., I will have no
If this were not enough, ... choice but to...
Unless you ..., I have no option Otherwise, I will be forced to...
but to...
Thanks so much for your letter. It was really great to hear Give my love to...
from you...
Sorry not to have written for so long. (I've been really busy Speak to you soon...
lately)... I'm really sorry about what happened the other night...
Sorry not to have been in touch for such a long time... I'm terribly sorry about what happened the other night...
I thought I'd better write to let you know... I'm awfully sorry about what happened the other night...
I thought I'd better drop you a line to let you know... Sorry I couldn't see you last time I was in...
I think that's all my news for the moment. Do write soon and Sorry I didn't manage to see you last time I was in...
let me know what you've been doing... How about meeting up for a drink some time?
Once again, thanks very much for (being so nice to Susie...) How about coming over for a meal sometime?
Can't wait to see you on the 24th in Cambridge... Why don't we try to get together some time soon?
Can't wait to see you next week in Cambridge...
Don't forget to say 'hi' to... from me...
Informal letter
I was wondering if you might like to get together with the I was wondering if you happened to know anywhere we
rest of the old gang next time you're in town... could stay...
Thanks very much for inviting us to your party. We're If you've got a spare moment, do you think you couldn't
really looking forward to it... find out when the music festival is on this year?
I was really excited when I got your invitation... Do you remember that sports centre you mentioned in
your last letter?
Unfortunately, I've realised it's the same weekend as my
cousin's wedding so I won't be able to make it... You said in your letter that you were thinking of applying
for a scholarship...
I was really excited when I got your invitation...
Last time you wrote, you asked how (Tina) was getting
Unfortunately, I've realised it's the same weekend as my on...
cousin's wedding, so it doesn't look as if I'm going to make
it... You know that course I told you I had applied for? Well,...
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR CPE
SPEAKING PAPER
• I'm speaking English for my own satisfaction/ • The first picture tells me... whereas the other
for my job/ in order to improve my picture shows...
employment prospects... • Another important difference is...
• If you want to go ahead these days, you • Picture (A) doesn't show... as clearly as Picture (B)...
need to have a good command of English... • Picture (A) attempts to... but I think Picture (B) does
• I've always loved the sea... this more effectively...
• I'd love to visit places untouched by man... • All pictures are interesting, but Picture (C) gives a
• However, there's no place like home... stronger idea of...
• That's a big question! • It's difficult to tell from a photograph, but this
• I want to be a useful member of society... picture could have been taken in...
• I'm keen on... • I might be wrong, but I'd say that this picture...
• I'm an avid reader of psychology books... • I'd guess that this picture comes from...
• I haven't given it much thought until now... • Picture (A) is the best to show because...
• What strikes me about the first picture is the • To me, Picture (C) is essential for this kind of
fact that... publication...
• This picture reminds me of... • I'm surprised there is no picture showing...
• Judging from the photographer, (the • A picture of (x) would get the message across
children)... more effectively...
• The (man) appears to be... • The cover would be so much better if we had a
• From what we can see here, (he) must... picture of...
• There are many similarities between... • So, let's look at the alternatives...
• Both pictures depict... • The name for this escapes me at present, but it's
• Both pictures are quite similar in that they like...
show... • Up to the problem in question, I...
• When you give it a closer look it reveals... • The main problem centres around...
• It's my belief that...
 • I don't feel convinced...
• For my part... • That's one way of looking at it. On the other
• As I see it, ... hand,
• As I was saying, ... • Can you take a clear stand on that matter?
• I forgot to mention that... • It brings to the question/idea/problem of...
• I'm of the opinion that... • Perhaps we should put... first? What do you
• To my mind,... think?
• To my way of thinking, • A strong point in favour of... is that...
• I am convinced that... • What do you think should go next?
• I am inclined to believe that... • Are you happy with this order then?
• Don't get me wrong, but shouldn't • Do you go along with that?
we...? • Just following from what (x) was saying, I
• Judging by..., (they) must be... also feel...
• (This) is a separate issue... • While generally agreeing with (x), I must say
• Moving on to... that...
• Taking everything into account... • Adding to what (x) has just said, I think...
• I couldn't agree more... • I can sympathise with what (x) said, but...
• I agree up to a point... • One thing (x) didn't mention is...
• I think I see what you mean, but... • Surprising as it may seem, I don't support
• I'm in two minds about it... (x)'s view on...
• I'm ambivalent about... • Perhaps it should be also emphasized that...
• It should be pointed out that...
 Playing for a time
• I am not very familiar with the topic; however, the first idea/thing/point that springs to
mind is about...
• I am not very familiar with the topic; however, the first idea that pops into my head
stems from...
• I am not very familiar with the topic; however, the first idea that flashes through my mind
leads to...
• It's a tricky question to answer on the spot, probably because it relates to various issues,
like, for example...
• It's a tricky question to answer on the spot; however, speaking from my experience I'd
like to point out/highlight the significance of...
• Surprisingly, I've never thought of this before, yet I believe it's a moot question whether...
• Surprisingly, I've never thought of this before, yet my own preference is to favour...
• This is a really important topic today because it is closely connected with...
• People have been discussing this issue a lot recently especially in connection with...
• This question is relevant to my own life, because...
• This issue is significant in my own country at the moment because...
• It is generally accepted that...
• It is a common misconception that...
 Expressing full agreement

• I totally/completely agree with you on that point,...

• That's a fair suggestion...
• That seems reasonable...
• Exactly/ Absolutely/...
• You have a strong point here...
• I'd go along with that...
• I have to admit you are right...
• So do I...
• Neither do I, ...
• I could not agree more...
• That's just what I was thinking...
• I think so...
• I don't think so either...
• I think we can both agree that...
• I can only agree with you here...
• On second thought, I have to agree with you...
Expressing partial agreement: Interrupting:
• Excuse me, but I have a point to make about...
• Yes, I take your point, but let's think of...
• Sorry to interrupt, could I say something about...
• That's a very interesting point, I must say, • Excuse me for interrupting, but I think we should be aware of...
alternatively... • Could I make a suggestion?
• You have certainly raised an important issue, • If I could put a word here...
however don't you think... • I have a point I'd like to make...
• Yes, but there are other points to bear in mind... • You have a good point here, why don't we find out what (x) has to say...
• Could I just cut in for a second?
• Yes, I think I'd agree with you to a certain extent...
Personal point of view:
• True, yet, if we look at this from another angle... • In my experience,...
• Speaking from my own experience,...
Expressing disagreement: • As far as I am concerned,...
• I am afraid I have something different in mind... • Speaking for myself,...
• That's not exactly how I look at it... • In my opinion,...
• From my point of view,...
• I am afraid that doesn't work for me...
• I am convinced that...
• I am sorry to disagree with you, but... • I am quite certain about my opinion regarding...
• If you ask me,...
Asking for an opinion: • What I mean is...
• What would you say on that? Comparing/contrasting:
• What do you think of all that? • Equally,...
• Likewise,...
• Could you share your ideas on the point?
• Similarly,...
• What's your opinion on...? • By the same token,...
• What about...? • In the same manner,...
• How do you feel about...? • In comparison,...
• Perhaps, you could offer your ideas on... • Alternatively,...
• Perhaps, you could share your ideas on... • Conversely,...
• Otherwise,...
• Perhaps, you could share your views on...
• By contrast,...
• Don't you think...? • Despite this,...
• Can we agree on...? • Nonetheless,...
• Not only..., but also...
Changing subject: • In other words,...
• On the whole,...
• Above all,... • Consequently,...
• In addition,... • Bearing in mind...
• Furthermore,... • Taking into consideration...
• This may account for the fact that...
• In the first place,... And then..., Finally,... Comparing the pictures:
• On top of that,... • Whereas the people in the first picture are..., those in the second
• Most importantly,... picture are...
• The first picture shows a (workplace). Conversely, the second shows a
• Speaking of... (holiday destination)...
• Talking of... • The people in the second picture are... more than those of the third
• Turning to... picture who,
• Both pictures show people who are...
• As for... • To find similarities and differences, I'd say that...
• Regarding...
• That brings me to... Expressing opinion:
• It seems to me that...
• When it comes to... • What I think is...
• With reference to... • I think it's quite clear that...
• I feel quite strongly that...
• It appears to be that...
Summing up:
• Generally speaking,... Speculating:
• Broadly speaking,... • What I would probably say about the people is that...
• The people seem to me to be...
• In brief,... • Perhaps, they are feeling... because...
• To sum up,... • It's possible that they are ... since...
• To make a long story short,... • I'm really not sure, but I think that...
• I'm not completely sure, but I think that...
• Ultimately,... • They seem to be...
• To some extent,... • They appear to be...
• To put it another way,...
Organising your talk:
• To add to what I said about...
Places you've travelled to:
• On top of that, I'd say... • I've definitely got the travelling bug...
• Against that is the fact that... • The Eiffel Tower/the Chinese wall blew me away...
• I've never seen anything like that...
Where you live: • It was awe-inspiring...
• On the outskirts of the city... • It was breath-taking...
• Just round the corner from... • I couldn't believe my eyes...
• A stone's throw from...
• Just off calle...
• I couldn't believe my ears...
• A ten-minute walk from... • The first place that springs to mind is...
• A sleepy/peaceful neighbourhood... • I had the time of my life when...
• An old apartment block where everyone knows • I'll never get bored of...
everyone else... • Soaking up the culture...
• Bang splat in the middle of... • Soaking up the atmosphere...
• It's not much to write home about... • Going for din in the sea...
• Our place can be a bit chaotic...
• Towering skyscrapers...
Your aims for the future: • Mind-blowing skyline...
• I've got a burning ambition to... • Snowy peaks
• It might sound silly, but I've always wanted to... • Rolling hills
• Working in... kind of runs in our family... • Scorching heat
• With any luck/ hopefully, in... year's time I'll be... • Miles of golden sand
• I haven't got it all mapped out, but I'd like to... • Little secluded cove
• I have absolutely no clue about what I want to do,
perhaps something to do with...
• Crystal clear water
• Psychology is a field which interests me... • Golden sands as far as the eye can see...
• Provided the grades I get are enough, I'd like to be... • Sleepy villages/towns
• If all goes to plan, I'm going to... • Bustling towns/cities/market places
• Voyaging is definitely on my bucket list...
Your occupation: Preferences in the arts:
• I'm in the middle of my 2nd. semester of Master • I'm squeamish so I don't like horror films...
Training... • I'm easily scared so I don't like...
• I'm in the 2nd. year of a 3-year (psychology) • I make an effort to see (Melissa McCarthy)'s films as soon
degree... as they come out and I get the money that is rightfully
• I'm juggling my studies at Master Training with mine...
working at... • I'm into big blockbusters...
• I'm completely snowed under with coursework... • One artist I really look up to is...
• I'm up to my eyeballs in assignments... • I do my best to see (art/film) by whenever I get the
• It's nonstop at the moment... chance...
• It's a steep learning curve... Spare time activities:
• I'm getting a lot out of the course... • I'm a keen reader...
• It's not really living up to my expectations... • I'm an avid reader...
• I find it pretty challenging, but definitely • I dabble in thesis assessment and research papers...
worthwhile... • I'm an amateur researcher...
• I take several extra-curricular subjects such as... and... • I like nothing more that to travel and working in what I
on top of my studies... like to do...
• At the start it was tough, but I'm getting the hang of it • I'm really into yoga and mindfulness meditation...
now... • I've hardly got a spare minute these days, but when I get
• I'm working every hour of the day... the time I like to...
Learning language: • I can be a bit of a...
• I've been studying English for as long as I can • I sometimes burn the candle at both ends...
remember... • I live for the weekend...
• I've always had a knack for learning languages... • I like to go for a stroll around...
• I try to really immerse myself in the language... • I hang out with friends...
• Learning languages comes quite easily to me... • My guilty pleasure is...
• I've always had a curiosity for other cultures and • I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I'm a big fan of...
languages... • I'm doing evening classes in...
• I spent a year living in England... • I'm a bit of a bookworm...
Your personality:
• I'm not the most sociable person in the world...
• I can get a bit anxious randomly... likes/dislikes:
• At times I can be the typical moody teenager... • I'm into...
• I've got mild attention span... • I'm a keen researcher...
• I procrastinate a lot... • I'm an avid researcher...
• I'm a bit of perfectionist... • I go travelling to unwind, to escape the stresses and
• I'm a bit of a daydreamer... strains on my day to day life...
• I sometimes drift off into my own little world... • I like nothing more that to go voyaging...
• I tend to worry about things... • I'm itching to try snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea...
Family: Comparing/contrasting:
• I take after my mother... • Both pictures show...
• I'm the last child... • In this picture they look as though they are...
• My family's originally from... but my great grandad • Whereas/while in this picture...
settled her in... • In contrast...
Friends and social life: • On the other hand,...
• I prefer to keep myself to myself... Opinion:
• My social life is non-existent at the moment... • As far as I'm concerned...
• I confided in my classmates... • As I see it...
• Sometimes people drift apart... • From my point of view...
Media: • In my humble opinion...
• I'm completely hooked on (The Wheel of Time series) at • I'd say that...
the moment... Describing pictures:
• I can watch a whole boxed set in a weekend... • The first thing that strikes me about this picture is...
• I don't watch a lot of telly; I stream everything online • The thing that really jumps out of this picture is...
nowadays... • In this picture it looks as if they are...
• I like to keep up-to-date with the news... • They could/might/may be...
• I have to admit I watch a little trashy telly, shows like... • They could have just...
and... are my guilty pleasures... • I'm pretty sure that they're feeling...
• I'm trying to get into video blogging... • I'd guess that they are...
Agreeing:
• We see eye to eye here... Personalising:
• Speaking from personal experience...
• Yeah, I'd go along with that...
• For me personally...
• Absolutely... • This is topic that is particularly close to my heart...
• You took the words right out of my month... • It's funny I was just thinking about this the other day...
• I couldn't agree more... • My gut reaction is...
• You have a good point here... • My initial reaction is...
• I'm with you 100% on this one... • If I were to choose one of these situations, I'd go with...
Disagreeing: because...
• We don't see eye to eye here...
Impressive structures:
• I take your point but... • Another point I'd like to add about... is...
• I tend to disagree with you there... • It's also worth bearing in mind that...
• That''s not always the case... • Coming back to what (he/she) was saying about..., I'd
• I beg to differ... also like to point out that...
• Isn't it more a case of... • I think it's important not to forget that...
Starting to make a conclusion: • The vast majority of people tend to think that...
• At the end of the day...
• Let's get down to the nitty gritty...
• When all is said and done...
• The bottom line is that we have to choose one...
• It's a tough one, I'm torn between... and... Asking for repetition:
• Shall we go with...? • I beg your pardon...
• Asking for opinion: • I didn't catch that...
• What's your take on...? • Sorry, would you mind repeating that?
• Where do you stand on...? • Could you repeat the question, please?
• In my opinion..., would you go along with that?
• What are your thoughts on this?
• If someone comes to this republic, they'll obviously want to spend
time in...
• But I'd also recommend visiting...
• It's in the heart of...
Mentioning additional things:
• Not really, no... • Et cetera
• It's wrong to generalise...
• Speaking English is very important. Children learn it from an
• And so on
early age... • And so forth
• Many jobs require you to have an English qualification...
• They may want evidence that you can communicate in English
• And all like that
well... • And everything like that
• You were saying...
• You mentioned...
• And one more thing...
• That's a good point...
• You've got a point there...
• You've absolutely correct...
Criticising other speaker:
• Precisely! • You're getting off the subject...
• I see what you mean, but...
• I see what you're getting at but...
• That's not the point...
• But don't you think... • That's beside the point...
• Hardly a day goes by when we don't hear stories about...
• This is a really interesting topic, and one that I can relate to...
• That's beside the question...
• Turning to this... • That has nothing to do with it/what I'm
• The point (he/she) made about... was particularly interesting. In
my experience...
talking about...
• (he/she) raised some really interesting points. In my views... • That's not at issue...
• That's a good question...
• Well, let me think...
• That's irrelevant...
• It's funny you should ask... • That's another story...
• Well, to cut a long story short...
• Well, to be honest...
• It's difficult to say...
USEFUL COLLOCATIONS
 • So he tackled the problem and got rid of
Problems:
his enemies.
• I combated the problem long ago.
• You are a common problem, so I won't mind
• She came up against a problem.
you much.
• We must confront the problem.
• A major problem is that which involves my
• In facing the problem, you'll get the
control over life and death.
experience you need.
• In their eyes I am but a minor problem.
• To face up the problem is a good strategy.
• The potential problem it entails led me to
• Resolving a problem has always been a
decide that the project should be put off
boost.
for the time being.
• You would have to rise above the problem
• The attacks from the Northern invaders are
if you want to go on a cruise.
a recurrent problem.
• Unfortunately, they run into a problem that
• You are a serious problem.
proved to be the most difficult of their
• Although it was an unexpected problem, it
lives.
turned out to be anything but a trivial one.
• I need to sort out some problems I have
• Not being able to have power is what I
left.
called an urgent problem.
• Challenges and achievements: • Who can say that they have never met with failure.
• To accept the challenge is to face the many challenges it • This would result in failure.
may brought up in turn. • I stupidly believed that my burning ambition was to
• They posed a challenge despite my shady dealings with become a writer of fantasy novels.
the jury. • My greatest ambition appears to be to get enough
• I will present a challenge to you against which you have money to leave the many spheres I got myself into in
no opportunity. my folly.
• Eventually she will rise to the challenge and will prove to • Your main ambition was, as I recalled, become a self-
be the one that I saw in my viewings and dreams. sufficient person.
• Take up the challenge and don't argue with me. • I wish I had that as a personal ambition since the
• A high motivation is the fact that I will have enough beginning.
money and be able to leave this place, these people, • So my secret ambition is
these memories, this body at the end. • A daunting challenge that I take.
• You are the strongest motivation I've ever had. • Going to look for a job was an exciting challenge.
• A poor motivation is a low motivation. • This formidable challenge is by no means a reason
• Going outside of this city is a personal motivation. for giving up.
• His political motivation was nothing but an economical • We are a fresh challenge to that old professor who
motivation. has only been teaching according to the traditional
• Student motivation is paramount while teaching, standards.
especially something painful and extraterrestrial like • Learning French seemed to be a major challenge, but
quantum physics. now I am getting the hang of it.
• I admitted my failure long ago even then the remorse is • So I think learning German is my new challenge as
my everyday meal. well as a serious one.
• The company's efforts are doomed to failure since they • They needed to achieve this success otherwise it
forgot to apply some strategies regarding this would have been a disaster to see again.
population's ethos. • In order to use the one power you need to be
• When he compared with him he was immediately assured of success.
resigned to failure.
• So they ended in failure especially in their Truthsphere.
• He deserves success as long as the rules are
complied.
• I remember when I enjoyed what I thought was • I need to improve my motivation so as to be able
success. to go forth.
• They had guaranteed success. • If you want to forget your past in those terms it is
• You are bound to meet with success. a must to increase your motivation.
• It was a complete failure the last time it was • A lack of motivation is one of the main reasons
proved.
• A continued failure
why my mind got in such a bad state.
• It is wrong to say you are dismal failure unless you • To lose motivation main include the loss of your
want to get worse. life.
• You were an inevitable failure, but there is always • I decided to delete my memories in order to
suicide. strengthen my motivation.
• A total failure like that of the doctors who truly • I wanted to be a great or huge success.
want to keep someone alive. • He surprised everyone when he became an
• Learning meditation was a great achievement.
• But realising that I am the One is the major
overnight success.
achievement of my life. • She pays every effort for her daughter to be a
• Your outstanding achievement sent ripples to our resounding success.
community. • Instead, his mother cares very little for her children
• The fact to start negotiations with the Asian believing herself a roaring success already.
country was regarded as a remarkable • To achieve her ambition must have been a turning
achievement. point in her life.
• Population control was the major scientific
achievement in the times I lived.
• First you have to have an ambition and then you
• A sporting achievement comes at the end of what can think of fulfil that ambition.
I would consider important matters. • I was pursuing my ambition when I came to know
• My country's technological achievement wouldn't that you had realised an ambition long forgotten.
have been possible without our fratricidal war
against the eastern nation.
 • There is a (very)
• Possibility:
real/strong/distinct/good/realistic
• There is every
chance/possibility (of my dying on a
possibility/chance/likelihood (of the plan
cruise voyage)/ (that I will die on a
coming to fruition)/ (that the plan will
cruise voyage).
come to fruition).
• There is a (very) faint/slight/remote
• There is little
chance/possibility (of my staying in
possibility/chance/likelihood (of my
Peru)/(that I will not stay in Peru).
staying here lasting forever)/ (that my
• They have/stand every/a good/a fair
staying here will last forever).
chance of not being an obstacle to my
• There is no possibility/chance/likelihood
plans.
(of my becoming an old man)/ (that I will
• They have/stand a slim/an
become an old man).
outside/little/no chance of being an
• She is bound/certain/sure to do it...
obstacle to my plans.
• She is highly likely to do it...
• We are going to investigate/look into
• She may/might/could well does it...
the possibility that.../of...
• She could easily/conceivably do it...
• One cannot ignore/rule out/exclude the
• She is hardly likely to do it...
possibility that... /of...
• She's highly unlikely to do it...
• You should not overthink the possibility
• It is highly
that... /of...
likely/probable/unlikely/improbable
• In order to reduce the possibility that...
that she'll do it...
/of...
Changes - verbs and nouns:
• I brought about a change in relation to university making.
• She called for a change concerning the exclusion of men
into the project. • He wasn't able to change his mind.
• It was my unconsciousness that couldn't cope with change. • I want you all to change your tune when talking to
• The disaster introduce a change. me.
• So the whole matter led to a change in the perspective of • Or it would be great if you changed your ways.
everybody. • They decided to convert a building into a football
• It will do you little good to resist change. field.
• That is why it is advisable to welcome a change whenever • Later I realised that I had converted to my own
it happens. religion.
• I hope I can witness a change in our environment. • You'd better modify your behaviour and language.
• We adapted to change. • I was ordered to modify the initial design.
• I had to adjust to my new job. • It was easy to change the blame/responsibility for
• I spent the whole afternoon adjusting clothing. Ruan had this mess onto the less aware.
to adjust the volume of the fabric, and Leva tried to • It was always your habit to switch sides
adjust the height of my boots. unexpectedly.
• Nothing was able to alter my plans. • Being there meant I had to switch to a new currency.
• He used to make a living altering clothes. • I hate switching channels.
• I believed that altering my appearance would make feel • You had to transfer money to another account.
better. • I took long to transform my appearance and much
• The prime minister demanded the congress people to to transform her personality.
amend the law. • I have to remember myself to vary my diet.
• I amended the document despite their complaints about • You need to vary your routine since I won't put up
the legality of the act. Not knowing that it was perfectly with your nonsense.
possible to do since there was an emptiness in the law.
• So they had to change places.
• I didn't want to change the subject.
Changes-verbs and adverbs: • I put forward a change in policy.
• To adapt automatically/easily/effortlessly. • All we need is a change in the law.
• To adjust automatically/easily/effortlessly. • Unfortunately, there hasn't been a change in the patient's
• To alter completely/dramatically/slightly. condition.
• To change drastically/overnight/significantly. • I simply had a change in my fortunes.
• To modify • They have reported a change in the weather.
slightly/substantially/instantly/radically. • A change of address...
• To transform completely/instantly/radically. • A change of direction...
• To vary considerably/greatly/widely. • A change of government...
Change-Adjectives and nouns: • A change of heart...
• A dramatic change. • A change of luck is what I have experienced.
• Economic change. • A change of mind...
• A far reaching change. • A change of mood...
• A pleasant change. • A change of pace...
• The elderly sector seemed to have a political • A change of plan...
change. • A change of scene...
• This is a refreshing change after all the Information verbs:
continuous repetition. • I could access the information we so desperately needed.
• There is a significant change in how things are • You are forbidden to broadcast this information by any
going after the application of the procedure. means.
• Your coming was a sweeping change regarding • Start compiling the information immediately.
the balance of egos. • Having found the information...
• Prepositions and nouns: • I always loved gathering information despite the difficulty
• The change in my attitude has made them think involved.
that I can actually be their master. Well, it is not • To get information/ to give information related to the
very far from the truth. case is paramount.
• The change in government has led the various • To obtain information/ to provide information when not
minorities to form groups of discussion since their asked is severely punished.
growing numbers grant them a new power. • I had them publish the information.
Information adjectives:
• Whether it is accurate or inaccurate information
what you have printed it will go through testing. • I remembered the smell of lavender when passed by your
• There is always biased information coming from office.
that university. I seriously think of putting forward
an additional evaluating order. You know the stuff Smell adjectives:
we have been doing to close down deficient • An acrid smell of chemicals.
institutions. • The distinct smell of burnt meat.
• Comprehensive information will be given • A faint smell of your hair.
additional points. • The foul smell of the beast prevented me from entering
• You shouldn't publish it since it has confidential the room.
information. • A fresh smell...
• This is limited information you need to do more • When I put a foot into the bakery I got overwhelmed by
researching. a mouth-watering smell.
• This could be considered as misleading information. • There is a musty smell in the air.
On the other hand, this paper here contains what I • Your cologne has an overpowering smell.
assume to be relevant information. • It is an unpleasant smell.
• Since it came from you it is highly reliable • Rick's pungent smell guaranteed our being discovered.
information. • It has a rancid smell.
• Up-to-date information is required to give a full • He came home with a sickly smell.
account of things. • My bedroom had a stale smell after the scene had been
Smell verbs: cleaned with that substance.
• I detected the smell of apples in the room. • Your feet have a strong smell.
• You have to get rid of the smell of fish before • The sweet smell of rotting flesh.
coming. • I have an unmistakable smell when I am being attack
• Sometimes you give off the smell of bullshit. without my notice.
• Please, don't leave the smell of your feet.
• I noticed the smell of orange flowers recently
despite not being in spring.
Time verbs: • You are forbidden to be seen in the time allowed.
• You need to allocate time in order to set a • So I extended the deadline.
timetable. • I met the deadline, but he failed to meet the deadline.
• I am pressed for time at the moment. • Don't miss the deadline because I won't set another
• I always devote time to my learning of foreign deadline.
languages. • I work to a deadline.
• Find time to do it then. • I don't take time off work since I could get fired.
• They will need to free up time if they want a chance • I think time is against them.
of passing my examinations. • It is only a matter of time before my desire comes true.
• Invest all the time you can possibly get. • I have to make time for myself if I want my plans to
• I do this to kill the time. succeed.
• I managed time beautifully. • A slapdash account of things would bring about serious
• She is running out of time. problems, so I thorough account is advisable.
• If you wish, put aside some time for reading the • I adopted an enthusiastic/positive approach to my work.
reports. Presentation is for next week. • They saw me showing great
• My piano class takes up most of my time. potential/dedication/ability/patience while in action.
• You are a waste of time, you know. • I show/develop/display/possess the right personal
• In my spare time I usually am translating research qualities.
papers. • They lack the right personal qualities.
• With him in charge we have off-peak time every • I show strong leadership qualities.
day. • I have strong leadership qualities.
• Opening time is at 5 in the morning, closing time at • I have a helpful nature.
8 in the evening. I hope you are doing well while in • On the other hand, they have an outgoing nature. But it is
sale time. only Alessa who has a sensitive nature.
• At a specific time the tide comes. So a set time is • I used to have a strong tendency to be domineering.
necessary for our dealings. Our enemies have in turn • She has a strong tendency to take things to heart.
their own predetermined time for escape the tide. • We had a strong tendency to worry over detail.
• In the time allocated, you must come and do the • I have/acquired/developed really
thing. advanced/outstanding/the necessary computer skills.
 Adjectives and nouns collocations:
Adjectives to describe relationships: We had a heated argument after which I told them that I had
• A business relationship... always waited for the moment in which I could help put an
• It was a close relationship... end to the family and the country. Just help. Because it was
• A difficult relationship... obviously nonsense to think that I alone could do the
• Family relationship... appropriate harm to these groups that I hate so much. You
• Formal relationship... cannot imagine the hatred I feel towards them it is unending
• Friendly relationship... and the reason of such feeling is that they were responsible
• Intimate relationship... for my miscarriage in life. It is not as much, though, as the
• A lasting relationship... revulsion I feel for me. Fortunately, that is a bit easier to cure.
• I escaped from that love-hate relationship. I just need to make and call enough money in order to get me
• A personal relationship... some days travelling, being in a room, and of course having
• A professional relationship... the necessary ingredients for Death Configuration. You can
• Prickly relationship... imagine how much I desire for this situation to happen
• Relaxed relationship... already. Well, it is happening already. I just want to forget
• Rocky relationship... everything forever, to have the money I need to be self-
• We developed a solid relationship... conceited until the end, and of course to remember my desire
• A stable relationship... to die without having to be ill, disabled, injured or an old
• I broke a strong relationship. What does that person. It all I ask.
make me? • Suddenly a courting couple passed by smelling of roses.
This uneasy relationship has finally come to an end. • An elderly couple died together in a hotel room.
Unfortunately, for you there is nothing you can do to • A single-parent family is what I call the source of either
undo my dealings. If only you had thought about it criminality or virtue.
carefully you wouldn't be suffering all this disaster. • My inner feelings are focused towards the appropriate
However, there are a couple of things I would like you job I am getting.
to consider: Number one in the waves that cut the riff... • I have mixed feelings about these reports.
• It was a working relationship... • Her negative feelings were strong in comparison to his.
• A mutual friend is a powerful enemy.
I thought that I suffered from unrequited love, but it turned out to He always looked up to her before, but it all changed when she realised
be the wrongness that I was carrying throughout my life. It was the kind of person she had been. Guilt killed her immediately.
exhausting. I never loved anyone. I don't believe in love. It is for me So I put a great strain in the relationship without their suspicion.
any other feeling that helps you survive in a group. It was the social I took an instant dislike to them without knowing that the only thing that I
sphere that helped this feeling is. And I am sure I can destroy it dislike was my own ways. However I took an instant liking to writers'
after the Sea of Doom is implemented. I always wanted to see that movies something that has changed me thoroughly.
happening this earthly feeling I cannot get rid of. This hatred. This I decided to turn my back on him since this conflict would ensure the
ambition to be morally good and at the same time be egotist and maintenance of my plans.
separated. Like a sort of higher being. A god of old. Instead, according to my intelligence, he turned to Terrence for help and
There was heightened tension among us since there was no advice.
acceptance of certain people in the group. It was then that I realise that a relationship however sweet it might have
A rising social tension is building and has the unreal government on been can turn sour in a second literally.
high alert. The real government is actually behind the turmoil since
their objectives are changing under the new conditions. Intelligence and ability - adjectives and nouns:
They started to call me names. An accomplished dancer/pianist/singer.
To call someone by their first name is a token of being very close. I turned out to be a born artist/teacher/writer.
I wonder if he fell for me. As a competent driver/lawyer/skier you should start teaching.
I've fallen out with you enough times to know you want something He was an experienced journalist/manager/professional, and will be
from me. remembered as one.
We got on like a house on fire and that was enough for me to Although an expert cook/gardener/skier, his nauseous mood made it
enter into a state of undeath. Everything was lost in that second. Or difficult for anyone to enjoy working.
as I found later I earned the capacity to see what was right for me. I would have liked to be a gifted musician and student since the onset.
I still want to go. She was a gifted sportwoman, but her political career was a drawback.
It gets on my nerves. A proficient pilot he was someone to rely on when travelling to the
I had it in for them. southernmost country.
Since that moment I decided to keep myself to myself. But the As a proficient typist I got a salary of 500 soles.
memories kept coming and coming. So not only did I decide to They were regarded as promising athletes, but the accident doomed
remain alone, but also to enjoy healthily the ending of this world their careers.
that had come with me to be. And enjoying it meant travelling a I was at certain moment in my life a promising student.
dying while sleeping. When things don't work I called for the service of a skilled
He kept in touch with her despite her constant opinions regarding craftsman/technician/worker.
how worthless life was, and that being alive in her case was as I then imagined myself as a skilful diplomat, but seconds after I
much as asking for being torture without reason. remembered having wished for a good ending, and I wasn't going to
remake my wiring just for whim.
• All of the strong swimmers died early. Comparisons:
• A talented youngster, but with the wrong guide. • A considerable/huge/marked/slight difference.
• A wine expert told us that this substance had very little real wine. • A close/remarkable/striking similarity.
• They proved to be hopeless at typing, so they went to an intensive • This feature is common to all/both.
course. • This reality is dissimilar from the previous one due to the fact
• I am a brainy/brilliant/bright/gifted child... that there is no insurance.
• A whizzkid... • You are very much alike to them.
• A child prodigy is a student that has surpassed two levels of • He is unlike another thing.
accomplishment. • They bear a close/a striking/a strong/a slight/little/no
resemblance to each other.
Intelligence and ability-expressions: • It differs from our reports.
• I am an ace at my writing project. • The level of Real Student Performance compares
• I'm becoming an ace at earning money in a fast way. unfavourably/well/badly with the degree of plagiarism.
• He was a dab hand at painting but died recently. • These two theories develop along different lines/in a different
• I would like to say that I've always had a flair/gift for languages, way from each other.
but it is difficult to determine. It looks like an ambition rather than • They resemble each other.
anything else. • There is little to choose between them in terms of adaptability.
• I have an ear for accents. • There is a world of difference between their fantasy worlds.
• They had an eye for detail that I didn't have. • Yet there are obvious/striking similarities between their Hero's
• I used to think that you were born as someone who had a head for qualities.
figures, but I realised that it depended on how much you trained • Even then what sets Iowa's tales apart from Tolkien's is the lack
on that. of an utter good or an utter evil.
• He has a nose for a good news story.
• To have a good/poor memory... Sleep adverbs:
• To sleep
Intelligence and ability-adverbs and adjectives: badly/fitfully/heavily/lightly/peacefully/rough/soundly/well
• Academically/
Exceptionally/highly/intellectually/musically/naturally gifted Sleep Verbs and expressions:
people are given some support when they need it. • That man was a heavy/light sleeper.
• An enormously/exceptionally/highly/hugely/outstandingly • I was fast asleep.
talented professional. • I feel wide awake now.
• He was highly/incredibly/remarkably intelligent. • Curiously, now I am not able to just doze off/drop off/nod off.
• She was extremely/highly/very promising as a clerk. • He fell asleep.
• It is delicious to fall into a deep sleep.
• A dislocated jaw/hip/shoulder...
• That day I will get a good night's sleep.
• The doctor recommended rest for her sprained ankle/wrist.
• Do you actually get to sleep?
• After surgery I suffered the usual swollen lips/feet/glands,
• I was taking a nap when I heard in dreams that solitary sound.
which I later suspected had been caused by the ill nature of the
• I had a sleepless night.
surgeon who had taken a dislike towards me.
• I had the animal put to sleep.
• Your torn muscles/ligaments reported a different way of dying.
• That racket kept them awake.
So I decided to call in my colleague.
• Stay awake or you won't have the reward.
• He had an upset stomach last night.
• Yesterday, I lost sleep over the puzzle.
• His acute condition led him to an early grave.
• My arms and legs went to sleep.
• His chronic condition was a hell for this man to the very end. It is
• They sleep like dogs.
a wonder why he didn't kill himself.
• Let me sleep on it to get a solution. You have to trust me. It never
• The allergic reaction was brought about by the shrimp cocktail.
fails.
• A blinding headache is what it gave them.
• I slept through the night.
• A high/low blood pressure is determinant when making a
• Believe or not I slept through a storm.
diagnostic.
• Don't snooze in my class.
• The allergic reaction was followed by a high/low/mild fever.
• I stayed up regretfully.
• Back then it was considered a (highly) infectious disease.
• Since then I suffer from insomnia.
• Any medical complaint will be admitted by my secretary.
• I always toss and turn at 2 in the morning.
• It is unfortunately a serious illness.
• I woke up to the fact that I was finally going to leave the city
and all, and feel free.
Phrasal verbs:
• To break/come out in a rash...
Health- adjectives and nouns:
• A disease breaks out tomorrow. Be alert.
• I won't have aching joints/limbs/muscles since I won't be an old
• The void brought on a heart attack.
man.
• To bring you around...
• He had a blocked nose for month after surgery.
• I hope the illness clears up.
• They all had bruised ribs and thighs, but nobody cared much
• He carried out tests for diabetes.
about their condition.
• I came down with the flu.
• My chipped bones I owed to my mother who allowed a
• Against all odds, he came through a serious illness.
madman to take care of me, but my chipped tooth are there
• I had to come up with a cure/treatment otherwise we'd be all
because of a wrong calculation I made when running in the
dead by the morning.
jungle long ago.
• As the pain eases off, you will remain here.
• I got over an illness.
• I decided to get round to starting surgery.
• A medical condition flared up. • An overnight success is that in which the person fulfils the
• The infected passed on the illness. objective quickly and suddenly.
• The injured woman passed out. • The overseas enterprises I made contact with are demanding
• Since he picked up the illness, he started to behave in a miserable more information on the project.
way. •
• I put her condition down to an unfortunate set of genes ready to • Verbs with up, down, over, under:
mutate. • To downgrade a service is to apply the result of an
• When the effect of anaesthesia wore off, I woke up. I had, as I were assessment.
told, forgot all those memories that killed my soul. • Download the books you require for this.
More collocations: • I used to downplay my assets without knowing that it was
• To have an adverse/catastrophic/damaging/harmful effect on you... foolish of me.
• To have a beneficial/good effect on you... • The quantity of workers will be downsized due to the new
• To have a dramatic/far reaching/important/noticeable/significant regulations.
effect on you... • I overheard their conversation without wanting to.
• To have an immediate/lasting/limited/long-term/short-term/minimal • The governor's decision was overruled by the president.
effect on you... • So the President was overthrown by a coup d’état.
• To have a side effect on you... • Always look forward to updating your knowledge.
Adjectives with in, off, on, out, over: • I want to upgrade this programme.
• Being good at math is not always an inborn quality. • You have to uphold the institution that hired you.
• There is an incoming call from your psychologist. • The plants in these orchards were uprooted in a night.
• This inland position will help us see their advance completely. • I was upstaged by his performance, which was better than
• The personal off-duty was led to a new updating programme. mine to tell the truth.
• His relaxed and off-hand behaviour gave a negative impression to • The constitution was undercut by the new government.
the employer. • The nation underwent a transformation.
• The oncoming generation will have to learn to deal with the scourge • I had undertaken to learn German, but I found out that it was
of this new virus. going to be foolish of me not to find a job despite the hellish
• The on-going research will involve your every effort. conditions I was going through.
• Any outdoor activity is forbidden from 6 to 8 in the morning.
• Trump is the outgoing president.
• The outlying areas of the factory are those beyond reach on foot.
• In an overcast day the skies are full of clouds.
 Doing things alone-expressions:
• I am by myself nowadays.
Plans - adjectives: • You are on your own as well.
• An audacious plan... • I do my own thing.
• A bold plan... • I remember when I thought I was doing things single-handed.
• A brilliant plan... • In life you have to fend for yourself at every moment.
• A clever plan... • I went solo and realised that everything was an illusion.
• A controversial plan... • I always wanted to have a mind of my own, but my upbringing
• A daring plan... prevented me from doing so.
• A detailed plan... • She wanted to have the project to herself.
• A devious plan... • It is difficult to keep yourself to yourself when you are ignorant of the
• An elaborate plan... basics of mindfulness.
• An emergency plan... • If I had left her to her own devices, now she would have been in a
• An impracticable plan... better position.
• An ingenious plan... • I prefer my own company despite the fact that the hurtful memories
• An intricate plan... assail me pitilessly.
• A feasible plan... • Think for yourself, try to use your own reasoning.
• a(n) (un)viable plan...
• a(n) (un)workable plan... Anger-adjectives and nouns:
• It was a heated argument/debate/discussion.
plans - verbs: • The irate customer/letter/parent expressed only rejection.
• To abandon a plan... • It was a sudden outburst of temper.
• To announce a plan...
• To carry out a plan... Anger-expressions:
• To conceive a plan... • I became irate because of the things he said.
• To devise a plan... • I am cross/furious with her.
• To draw up a plan... • They all seemed to be seething with anger/indignation/rage.
• To jettison a plan (to get rid of a plan)... • I blew my top after that.
• To put forward a plan... • It is better if you calm down.
• To reject a plan... • He flew into a rage.
• To reveal a plan... • She got worked up about the ill-treatment her friend was going
• To scrap a plan... through.
• To shelve a plan... • I just went berserk/mad when I saw the pair of them hand in hand.
• To unveil a plan... • She let off steam.
• Don't lose your temper.
• If you want to remain here you have to maintain your • The mounting/growing criticism worried her not because of her
composure. hurt feelings, but because they could be right.
• What I heard made my blood boil. • I came in under severe/strong criticism despite my efforts.
• She screamed blue murder. • Unjust criticism is not the hardest of things I have experienced.
• The old man was actually shaking his fist at me. • He never felt guilt since he considered that his opinion was valid
• Later I stamped my feet in rage. criticism.
• As soon as she learnt of their escape, she threw a tantrum.
Describing rooms and houses-adjectives:
Criticism-verbs: • A bright and cheerful room/house...
• Your unusual behaviour aroused criticism among some of the • A cramped and cluttered room/house...
classmates. • A dark and dingy room/house...
• You seem to attract criticism wherever you go. • A light and airy room/house...
• I, on the other hand, am impervious to criticism. • A neat and tidy room/house...
• But I will teach you to be unmoved by criticism, and possibly • A spick and span room/house...
you'll be better than me. • A warm and cosy room/house...
• Once I was upset by criticism.
• Lee came in for/under/up against criticism. Describing rooms and houses-adverbs:
• Instead let's draw some criticism. • A badly/newly/poorly/solidly built house/room...
• Express your criticism in that article. • A lavishly/newly/richly/tastefully decorated house/room...
• The sudden change gave rise to criticism. • A comfortably/elegantly/simply/sparsely furnished
• We'll meet with criticism without doubt, but our results will talk house/room...
about our effort and efficiency. • A brightly/dimly/poorly/softly lit house/room...
• Overcome the criticism and try with another strategy. • A centrally/conveniently/ideally/pleasantly situated/located
• I responded to criticism by remaining silent. house/room...
• The press voiced their criticism.
Noise and sound-Voice, sound, and noise:
Criticism-adjectives: • A booming/loud voice could be heard from the backyard.
• You came up against considerable/widespread criticism. • My deep voice will help keep the students under control.
• Constructive criticism is what I called a secret friend in the • Your hesitant voice told me you didn't want to go on with this.
shadows. • A high-pitch voice is required for the concert.
• Despite the fierce criticism, she didn't stop writing.
• I understood everything despite his hoarse/rough voice.
• A hushed voice... other noises:
• As a child I had a very low/shrill/squeaky voice. • A deafening applause/cheer/explosion/music/roar/silence...
• The seller had a monotonous voice. • A piercing cry/scream/shriek/whistle...
• They lost their voices because of a rare disease. • A rowdy behaviour/crowd/fans/party...
• I suggest you lower your voice. • A bell chimes/rings/tinkles...
• Raise your voice and be clearer. • The door slammed shut/clicked shut/creaked open...
• I shouted at the top of my voice to be noticed. • Music blares out...
• The bee made a buzzing sound.
• From the street came a crashing sound. Sight:
• There were creaking sounds all over the place. • I gave him a(n) angry/blank/cold/knowing look.
• That distant sound told me that a multitude was coming my • She took a(n) close/critical/fascinating/in-depth look.
direction. • A(n) familiar/impressive/rare/welcome sight...
• Her distinct sound heralds the mayor. • A breathtaking/spectacular/superb view...
• The ball fell making a faint sound. • I had a blurred/double/poor/twenty-twenty vision.
• All I could hear was a muffled sound from the street. • A(n) clear/idealistic/realistic/terrifying vision...
• The river made a rumbling sound. • There was high/good/reduced/low/poor visibility.
• The leaves make a rustling sound. • To be hidden from view...
• While entering the room the bird made an unmistakable sound. • To be (in)visible to/with the naked eye...
• Use this if you want to detect a sound. • To catch a glimpse of sb/sth...
• The machine will emit this sound when it is finished. • To catch your eye...
• It'll make/produce/utter a sound suddenly. • To catch sight of sb/sth...
• There was some background noise that stopped my • To come into view...
concentration. • To have/take a look at sth...
• That banging noise disrupted the meeting. • To keep your eye on sb/sth...
• The sea waves make a (n) continuous/incessant noise. • To keep your eyes open...
• Excessive noise is punished. • To keep out of sight...
• A loud noise was heard yesterday. • To lose sight of sth/sb...
• Traffic noise is so boring. • At first sight/glance...
• As the noise dies down/fades away, let's chat about your wedding • in full view of sb...
day. • in the public eye...
• This noise will grow/increase as you enter into the chamber. • in sight/view...
• This noise reverberated. • on view/show/display...
Read and write:
• a(n) good/excellent/exciting read... Eating and drinking-verbs:
• A (n) avid/fast/slow/voracious reader... • Eating/drinking up before going to bed is not advisable.
• A freelance/prolific/struggling/talented writer... • The meal is finished off.
• distinctive/familiar/legible/neat handwriting... • I gulped the wine down.
• To read aloud/avidly/voracious/widely... Eating and drinking-adjectives and nouns:
• To write clearly/legibly/neatly/in rough/in plain • My favourite/side dish...
language... • A celebratory/soft drink...
• To put sth down in writing... • A big/fussy eater...
• To read sth out... • A ready/square meal...
• To read too much into sth... • A raging thirst...
• To read up on sth... Eating and drinking-further expression:
• To write a debt off... • To be famished/peckish/full up...
• To write off to sb for sth... • I could eat a horse.
• To write notes up... • To do something on a full/an empty stomach...
• To write out a cheque for an amount... • To eat into your time/money...
• To write sth into a contract or law... • To eat like a bird...
• • To eat your words...
Environment: • To eat sb out of house and home...
• air/noise/river/sea/traffic pollution... • To feel faint with hunger...
• Bottle bank... • To have sb eating out of your hand...
• A cigarette butt... • I lost my appetite.
• A dog mess... • I quenched my thirst drinking this beer.
• To dump rubbish/waste... • I'll satisfy my hunger.
• Exhaust fumes... • I know how to work up an appetite.
• The forest fire was the cause of so much death... • Deception-collocations:
• litter/rubbish bin... • Appearances can be deceptive.
• NGO (non-governmental organization) • Fraudulent claims/practices/trading...
• Natural habitat... • Misleading impression/information/statement...
• Ozone layer... • Deceptively easy/simple/straightforward...
• Recycling facilities... • To fraudulently obtain/use...
• Traffic congestion... • Misleadingly referred to a/termed/called...
• Wildlife conversation... • Credit card/electoral/tax fraud...
 Money:
Deception-verbs: • Some counterfeit money...
• They were all fooled/deceived/tricked by that person. • Some housekeeping money...
• He cheated at acquiring the degree. • Some pocket money...
• He deceived you into becoming a ludopath. • Some prize money...
• She fell for a trick. • Some ransom money...
• Now I see through your lies/promises. • Some redundancy money...
• They tried to swindle you out of it. • Some sponsorship money...
• I will take you for a ride.
• He took you in without your knowledge. • To pay for sth in advance...
• Just tell the lie. • To pay for sth in arrears...
• He will try to trick you into cheating in the exam. • To pay for sth in cash...
• He failed to trick me out of my objective. • To pay for sth in full...
• To pay for sth in instalments...
Deception-intensifiers: • To pay for sth on expenses...
• To be bitterly cold/disappointing/opposed/resentful... • To buy sth on impulse...
• To be deeply committed/concerned/moving/suspicious... • To buy sth on credit...
• To be desperately disappointed/keen/lonely/worried... • To buy sth on hire purchase...
• To be entirely different/free of charge/new/wrong... • to buy sth at auction...
• To be fully aware/hooked/clothed/equipped/justified... • To buy sth in the sales...
• To be highly gifted/influential/promising/talented... • To borrow heavily...
• To be hugely expensive/popular/successful/talented... • To pay generously/handsomely...
• To be perfectly acceptable/capable/clear/good/normal/safe... • To save carefully/hard/extravagantly/freely/wisely...
• To be seriously affected/ill/injured... • To invest foolishly/heavily/wisely...
• To be totally different/independent/unexpected/unnecessary... • To borrow an idea/a phrase/a word...
• to be utterly disgraceful/exhausted/opposed/ridiculous... • To pay attention/a compliment/one's respects/tribute...
• To be wholly • To save effort/energy/time...
inadequate/inappropriate/unacceptable/unexpected... • To lend assistance/credibility/support/weight...
• Owe sb an apology/an explanation/a favour...