Grammar U1 Grammar U2

Complete the text with the correct form of Complete the text with the correct form of
the verbs in in brackets. Sometimes more the verbs in in brackets. Sometimes more
than one answer is possible. than one answer is possible.

Childhood memories Broken dreams?

Today, I went to the village where I (1) Fracturing a bone is bad enough, but when you
(grow up) as a child. I got really excited when I break your leg, the road to recovery can seem
saw the sign that (2)            (read) especially long and tedious. It was a few years
‘Midsummer 6 miles’. Soon I (3)            ago when my brother got injured in a football
(pass) the leisure centre where my mother took match and was taken to hospital, only (1)
me swimming at weekends. All my childhood (find out) that he had fractured three bones. He
memories came flooding back- everything from was devastated and thought it would change
building sand castles on the beach to my first his life dramatically. We all tried (2)
day at school - and then suddenly I (4) (encourage) him to stay positive and helped
(pull away). him in his recovery; although we feared (3)
(go) back to professional football could
become an unattainable dream for him. He
I saw a cyclist who (5)            tried (4)            (not worry) too much
(probably/go) to the leisure centre. I could see and instead focused on (5)           
his tennis bag which (6)            (firmly, (keep) active to improve his health both
tie down) to his bike. physically and mentally.

I (7)            (come) to see Mrs Perry my Following the incident, he had three operations
piano teacher. I always called her Mrs Perry and a long recovery period. Six weeks after his
because that was the way I (8)            last operation, he began (6)           
(bring up); in those days we (9)            (take) regular exercise to strengthen his
(never/call) our elders by their first name. muscles. We were told that the usual healing
time for a minor fracture was six to eight weeks
but as he turned out (7)            (break)
When she answered the door it took her a three bones he should expect (8)           
minute before she recognised me. Once inside (have) his leg in a cast for at least 16 weeks. I
we had a lot to catch up on - everything that recall him (9)            (get up) early to
(10)            (go on) over the years. I told exercise every morning. His doctor suggested
her how I (11)            (give up) having (10)            (see) a physiotherapist
piano lessons because I (12)            three times a week, but he decided (11)
(really/stop) making progress. When I left I (13) (train) every day. (12)            (endure)
(promise) that I (14)            (come pain was difficult for him but he refused (13)
back). (give) in. He kept (14)            (say) ‘I am
prepared (15)            (do) whatever it
I will go back some day and take my children takes to go back to professional sport’ and
with me to show them round the village where I that’s exactly what he did.
(15)            (live) as a child.
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Vocabulary U1
Complete the sentences with the correct Vocabulary U2
words. The first letter of each word is given.
Read the sentences and complete the gaps
16 As part of the course, we will discuss how with one word only.
to write a m           plot twist that your
readers will not see coming! 16 He is a great team player but has a
17 We need a f           shift in how we negative outlook most of the time and tends
to see the            half empty.
think about the value of a holiday. Everyone
thinks it’s purely a luxury but that’s not the 17 Camogie is a full-body contact team sport
case. played only by women and is not for the
18 To keep your mind active and ; you have to be tough.
e           , you should read actively 18 Recovery from my broken leg, which
happened mid-season, has been a roller
and try to learn new things such as a
coaster ride, but I am            there.
foreign language.
19 Treat a m           task such as 19 The last game was tough but the team rose
to the            with an outstanding
drafting a report as a chance to practice
mindfulness rather than feeling bored and performance, winning a well-earned bronze
burdened. medal.
20 I was told that the movie was very unique 20 After a disappointing season, we knew we
and w           , but I was disappointed had to cut our            , so we made
by the lack of originality and humour in the the difficult decision to pull out of the
plot. competition.
21 The research was f           by funding 21 His advice on how to improve my
negotiation skills has made a huge
from the British Research Council. Had it
difference to me so now I always
not been for their funding, the research
onto every word he says.
could never have gone ahead.
22 From the coach’s perspective, the deal was
22 I am in p           agreement with the
a            situation for both the club
author’s comments in which he invites us to
and the player.
accept the current situation and be tolerant.
23 All that hope to win the trophy for the 9th
It’s often easier said than done.
time was gone in a split-second, just a
23 I love the quote by Maya Angelou that ‘you
moment of self-doubt and it was all over.
can only become truly a           at
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something you love’.
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Use of English
U1 Task 1
Use the word given in capitals at the end of some lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the
same line.

Memory in children
Most of us don’t have any memories from the first three to four years of our lives. When we do

try to think back to our (31)            memories, it is often unclear whether they are the real
EARLY

thing or just (32)            based on photos or stories told to us by others. Pre-schoolers,
COLLECT

on the other hand, can remember events that go years back. It’s (33)            whether
DEBATE

long-term memories at this early age are truly autobiographical, – that is (34)           
PERSON

relevant events that occurred in a specific time and place. Of course, memory (35)           
CAPABLE

at these ages are not adult-like – they continue to mature until adolescence. In fact,

(36)            changes in basic memory processes have been put forward as an
DEVELOP

(37)            for childhood amnesia, and it’s one of the best theories we’ve got so far.
EXPLAIN

It’s important to remember that, even if we can’t explicitly remember (38)            events
SPECIFY

from when we were very young, their accumulation nevertheless leaves (39)            traces
LAST

that influence our behaviour. The first few years of life are paradoxically (40)           
FORGET

and yet powerful in shaping the adults that we become.

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U1 Task 2
Read the text and complete the gaps with one word only.
Keeping your mind active
There is little doubt that aging gracefully affects our mental ability and agility. (41)            ,
studies have shown that people (42)            engaged in actively ‘exercising’ their brain often do
not suffer (43)            the same mental decline. There are numerous ways that you can do this
in order to keep your mind active. Reading engages your brain (44)            words as you try to
understand them and apply them to areas of existing knowledge or experience. (45)           
affects brain functions at many different levels. Don’t get caught (46)            in the past. Try
meditating for five to ten minutes every day and learn (47)            to focus on the present.
Meditation has the power to strengthen the brain. Find a physical activity that you are interested in and
enjoy, as your brain gets encouraged (48)            the exercise to work at its optimum capacity.
Taking up a new hobby (49)            as learning a new language or playing a musical instrument
stimulates the brain and (50)            the mind sharp. A strong brain can last you decades and
make your later years fulfilling and pleasurable.

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U2 Task 2
Read the article and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

A great comeback
While (41)       disappointed after his defeat at Wimbledon last year due to an injury, the world’s
number one decided to undergo an operation; a decision heavily (42)       by his support team.
People believed that they had to reset their expectations quite (43)       , but he proved them all
wrong. The world number one had a big year ahead to prove himself after his failure to (44)       his
ranking last year, but he came back at a great level. He admitted he was fearful about his operation
derailing his campaign on the tour this year, but instead we saw a (45)       change in his game. He
competed extremely well considering the (46)       and didn’t get (47)       by the event; his eyes
were focused on the ball and his opponent and he won point after point masterfully. The Spanish
tennis star admitted that winning the match today was (48)       to convince the world and himself
that reports of the end of his era were (49)       exaggerated and he (50)       for excellence in
his performance.

41 A finally B bitterly C immediately D specifically

42 A conflicted B believed C influenced D convinced
43 A systematically B suitably C automatically D dramatically
44 A maintain B include C achieve D deflect
45 A rigorous B cutting-edge C tremendous D partial
46 A sequences B circumstances C approaches D moves
47 A involved B reflected C confronted D side-tracked
48 A brilliant B crucial C outstanding D exhausting
49 A greatly B positively C cleanly D largely
50 A reached B strived C challenged D slammed
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