2 Lesiure Time
2 Lesiure Time
2 Lesiure Time
Words
Words Definitions
1 . anticipate A. n . • area
2. athlete B. n. , a movement
3. blur c. n .. how well a person or machine does
4. boundary something
17. scan
0. n., something not seen clearly
18. tolerate
P. n . , the ability to see; sight
19. unconsciously
Q. v. , to cause to be more cUfficult
20. vision
R v. • to center attention on one object;
concentrate
s. adj ., taking attention away from something
1 BrE: manoeuver
2 BrE: sport T. v., to show; model
3BrE: organise
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Reading
1 BrE: centre
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
of a second per bUnk, interferes with the athlete's vision. Normal, natural
blinking means the eyes are closed for two and half seconds out of evety
minute, and more than that if the athlete is anxious. This is added to the
rapid blurs that occur as the athlete's eyes move in and out of focus on
speciftc objects. These nonvisual moments can be somewhat compensated
for if the athlete thoroughly tunes in to the game. Anticipation, a learned
and practiced2 art, can serve the athlete well in many ways.
Questions 1-7
2. Focusing our eyes on one object only will cause that object
to look indistinct.
2BrE: practised
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
My Words
Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the dictionary
and write their deftnttions.
Words Definitions
Word Families
40
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
around the court or field is very important. The athlete also needs to
have good 4. . . . . . . . abilities. She needs to be able to see what is happen-
. .
ing around her so that she can respond to the other players' maneuvers.
She has to be 5 . . . . . . . . of activity around her without losing her ability
. .
to focus on her own part in the game. Finally, she needs to be a fast
thinker. 6 . . . . . . . can occur in any game, and the athlete needs to be
. . .
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Dictionary Skill
Parts of Speech
Focus can be either a noun or a verb. Blur can also be either a noun or
a verb.
Read the dictionary definitions below. Then read the sentences and
write the letter of the correct deftnitionfor each sentence.
QUESTIONS 1-2
fo-cus [FO-kus]
A noun. the center of attention
B verb. to center attention on one object: concentrate
QUESTIONS 3-4
blur [BLUR]
A noun. something not seen clearly
B verb. make unclear
Listening
actions of the rest of the players. They don•t think about this; they do
it 4 ...... . ...... .
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Writing
Do you believe that professional athletes make good role models for
young people?
Support your opinion with reasons and examples from your own lmowl
edge or experience.
Speaking
Do you focus better on your studies or work when you are in a quiet
environment, or do you prefer to have activity going on around you?
What kinds of things are distracting to you when you study or work?
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Words
Words Definitions
1 . ancient A. v . , to make something smaller
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Reading
1 BrE: travelling
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
pretend to fall off their horses and then go stumbling after them. Shortly
after Astley's death, the circus spread to America.
During the early 1 800s, the United States took to the circus quickly
after learning of its popularity in Europe. Joshua Brown, an American
businessman, introduced the circus tent in 1 825. The use of portable
tents allowed him to take his act all over the country. His traveling cir
cus was a massive success as a business enterprise and loved by audi
ences everywhere. Most circuses today are variations of Brown's circus.
Questions 1-4
___
4. took place in a massive venue
Questions 5-7
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
My Words
Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the di.ctionary
and write their definitions.
Words Defmitions
48
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Word Families
41
ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
I BrE: popularlse
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
the idea spread to other countries. The circus has 5 . . . . . . . . . the test
.
our hearts.
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Dictionary Skill
Dljferent Meanings
Many words have more than one meaning.
Read the definitions below. Then read the sentences and write the
letter of the correct deftnttionfor each sentence.
QUESTIONS 1 -2
found [FOWNDl
A verb. to start or establish an institution
B verb. past tense and past participle of the verb find
QUESTIONS 3-4
band [BAND]
A noun. a small group
B noun. a strip of cloth
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Listening
3 . What
kinds of animals begin the show?
A Exotic
B Trained
C Massive
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Writing
In your opinion. why is the circus still a popular form of entertainment in
the modem electronic age?
Support your opinion with reasons and examples from your own knowl
edge or experience.
Speaking
Are you talented in any performing arts? What talents do you have
that you would Uke to develop more?
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Words
Look for the joUowtng words as you read the passage. Match each
word with its correct deftni.ttDn.
Words Definitions
1 . acknowledge A. adj . • not active
2. authority B. adv., only
3. chunk c. n. , a strong feellng such as anger
4. crucial or love
. 5. deliberately D. n a large piece
.•
17. physical
0. adj easy to see , clear
.•
18. rejuvenate
P. v., to experience something cWllcult
19. reluctant or painful
20. suffer Q. adj related to the body
.•
R adj., hardworking
s. n., constant sadness
T. n., the condition of being very
overweight
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Reading
A
Although it may seem that people are working more, studies show that
we have more leisure time than ever before. Yet researchers are report
ing higher levels of both stress and obesity . These reports appear to be
a sign that we are not using our leisure time to our best advantage.
B
Health experts agree that the best way to restore body and mind is to
spend time in nature pursuing a comfortable level of physical exercise.
Spending time in natural surroundings is especially crucial now
because, for the first time, a majority of the world's population live in
cities. Recent studies show that intellectual function weakens as a
result of the energy expended simply sorting out the oveiWhelming sttm
uli of city life. Tests demonstrate that people suffer decreases in atten
tion span, memory, and problem-solving ability after taking a short walk
on a busy city street or merely seeing pictures of city life. Tests also
show that time spent in the city results in a decreased ability to concen
trate and to control emotions and impulses. On the other hand, spend
ing time in the country produces the opposite effects.
c
Unfortunately, as society becomes more centered 1 on city life, we have
to rejuvenate ourselves in nature deliberately rather than as a matter of
course. Yet research shows that we are not spending our leisure time
rejuvenating ourselves. Around the world, the most popular way to
spend free time is watching television. This, the most passive of pas
times, is how Americans spend more than half their leisure time. Glob
ally, the next most popular is using the Internet, also passive, and it
ranks as the most favored2 among the billions in China. The third is
shopping, �hich may be slightly more active but is stlll as far from
nature as possible. Modem shopping malls remove shoppers from every
thing natural, leaving them to experience the outdoors only between the
paved parking lot3 and the mall doors.
1 BrE: centred
2BrE: favoured
3BrE: car park
UNIT 2 : LEISURE TIME
D
Children are most negatively affected by city life. Parents are reluctant
to let children play freely in the city, fearing for their health and safety,
and nature is something many children in the city may never have a
chance to expertence. Childhood obesity and depression are reaching
epidemic levels. Authorttles have begun to acknowledge the problem,
and innovative programs4 that gtve children an opportunity to spend
time in nature are being introduced in countries around the world.
E
Vacatlons5 are the most obvious chunk of leisure time. The countries
with the most vacation time are Italy, with an average of forty-two days
a year, and France, with thirty-seven. The industrious Amertcans have
the least: thirteen days. Yet the country most satisfied with their vaca
tions are not the Italians but the Brttish. The Brttish usually divide up
their vacation time, taking it in pieces throughout the year rather than
all at once. Of all nationalities, the British spend the most time vacation
ing outdoors in their national-trust parks, where they engage in a com
fortable level of physical activity. The British report the greatest
satisfaction with their leisure time. Perhaps the rest of the world would
do we11 to fo11ow their lead .
Questions 1-3
4BrE: programmes
5BrE: Holidays
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE JELTS
Questions 4-6
My Words
Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the dictionary
and write their definitions.
Words Definitions
58
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Word Families
1 BrE: authorise
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
10
UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
I
Choose the correct wordfamily memberfrom the list below to
complete each blank.
our minds and bodies so that we can feel rejuvenated when we return to
work and can do our jobs more 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Some people enjoy 3 . . . . . . . . . .
pastimes; other people choose different sorts of leisure-time activities.
The key is to be 4. . ... .
. . . . about choosing a pastime that ts active rather
than passive. Many people feel 5 . . . . . . . . . . to be physically active after a tir-
ing week at work. However, 6 . . . . . . . . tell us that this is actually the best
. .
Dictionary SJdll
Different Meanings
Many words have more than one meaning.
Read the dejlnttions below. Then read the sentences and write the
letter of the correct definition for each sentence.
QUESDONS 1-2
en-gage [en-GAYJ) .
A verb. to participate
B verb. to hire
__
2. Every afternoon, the children engage in outdoor activities.
QUESTIONS 3-4
in-dus-try [IN-dus-tree)
A rwun. hard work
B noun. production and sale of goods
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UNIT 2: LEISURE TIME
Listening
®
Usten to the talk. Complete the rwtes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.
�------�
Research on Leisure
People engaged in 1 . . . . . . . . . . pastimes don't
feel rejuvenated.
Popular Pastimes:
2 . . . . . . . . . . Activities
• Sports
• Playing with children
• Gardening
3 . . . . . . . . . . Activities
• Reading
• Playing computer games
• Doing puzzles
• Using the Internet
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Writing
1l1e numbers below show basic information about uses of leisure ttme
anwng dYferent age groups.
Putlmea by Ale
(mlnutea per weekend clay)
Speaking
What are some of your favorite pastimes? Why do you enjoy them?
1 BrE: summarise