1 A family affair

Grammar
Present perfect simple and continuous
1 Read this email and put the verbs in brackets into the most appropriate
form (present perfect simple or continuous).

To: Stephanie

Hi Stephanie
How are you? I (1) ’ve been having (have) a lovely time here in Spain. Sorry I (2) (not write)
to you for ages but I (3) (work) hard here in Spain since I arrived six weeks ago. The family
I’m living with are very kind and I (4) (met) some really nice Spanish people of my age. They
(5) (take) me out a few times. I think my Spanish (6) (improve) a lot
because I (7) (not have) the opportunity to speak much English since I arrived, except to the
children. My job is to look after the children, who are 5, 8 and 11. I’m normally not supposed to work at weekends
but the parents (8) (go) to Madrid this weekend. I think the mother is missing the children
a lot – she (9) (phone) six times already! The children (10) (play) in the
garden since breakfast though and they’re quite happy so I (11) (write) emails all morning. I
(12) (send) six so far!
I won’t see you now until the end of September because I (13) (change) my flight so that I can
go travelling before I come home.
I (14) (wonder) what you (15) (do) since I left! Write back soon and tell
me all your news.
Love Emily

Asking questions (present perfect simple and continuous)

2 A week later, Stephanie phones Emily and asks her some questions. Use the
prompts to write her questions using the most appropriate form (present
perfect simple or continuous) in the speech balloons.
1 you visit / Madrid yet? 4 you learn / how to cook Spanish food?

Have you visited Madrid yet?

2 you get up early / every day? 5 How many times / you eat / paella?

3 you buy / anything? 6 where / you decide / to go travelling?

4
 Unit 1

Vocabulary Phrasal verbs

Collocations with make and do 3 EP Complete each gap with a phrasal verb which
means the same as the word(s) in brackets. Use the
1 EP Complete each of the sentences below with the verbs in the box in their correct form.
correct form of make or do.
1 Don’t worry about the exam. You can only do your clear up do up go for go on pick up wear out
best.
2 Carla dropped a whole bottle of olive oil and it When my cousin comes to stay in the holidays she shares
a mess. my room. Last summer I thought I’d give her a surprise and
3 Everyone was asleep when I came home so I tried not (1) do it up (decorate it) before she came. First of all, I
to a noise. had to (2) (tidy) and that took ages because it
4 I wanted to teach art but I didn’t have the right was a real mess. In fact, I was so (3) (tired) that
qualifications so I decided to a course. I had to have a rest before going to the shop to buy the
5 I needed to have my hair cut so I rang to an paint. I couldn’t decide whether to (4) (choose)
appointment. green or blue but in the end blue seemed best. When
6 The fridge was empty because I’d forgotten to I came out of the shop, I realised I couldn’t carry all
the shopping. the stuff I’d bought so my mum had to come and
7 William didn’t want to send the original document so
(5) (collect me). Then I only had a day to get it
he a copy.
all done. I (6) (continue) painting nearly all night.
8 The sink was full of dirty dishes so I the washing
The annoying thing was my cousin didn’t even notice when
up.
9 I only have a week’s holiday and there are so many she arrived.
places I want to go, it’s difficult to a decision.
10 We were all hungry so Andrea offered to a meal.
Writing | Part 2 An article
Adjectives Read part of an article written by a student for a
magazine and correct the spelling and punctuation.
2 EP For each of the sentences below, make an There are 15 mistakes. The first one has been
adjective from one of the words in the box. Some corrected for you.
gaps need a negative adjective.

aggression criticism enthusiasm organise Being a teenager

patience rely understand
definitely
1 It’s important not to be too critical when children I definately think that teenage year’s should be the best
make mistakes or they will lose confidence. in everyones life because you can have fun and you have
2 Although Charlie wanted to see the show, he was too fewer problems than adults teenagers know how to have a
to stand in the queue for half an hour. good time. Most teenagers have a lot of freinds and they
discuss things that they are interested in. Teenagers have
3 Most animals will get if they feel their
young are being threatened. to be in fashion wearing up-to-date cloths and listening to
modern music. They also like to do sports and compete in
4 Mark’s family are so they can never find
matchs. But teenager’s parents sometimes have a difficult
anything they need.
time and they dont understand why? Wouldnt you feel angry
5 When Petra explained why she was late, her boss if someone went into your room without permission. So do
wasn’t very and got angry with her.
teenagers. Teenagers stop thinking like children as they
6 Stacey is really . She promises to do grow up and their believes and their interests change. My
things but often changes her mind.
opinion is that teenage years are magical and Id like to stay
7 I thought you’d be really excited about going to a teenager forever.
Amsterdam but you don’t seem very .
5
 A family affair

Listening | Part 3
02 You will hear five short extracts in which teenagers are Exam advice
talking about a family day out. For questions 1–5, choose from
the list (A–H) what each speaker says about the day. Use the Read A–H and listen carefully to each speaker. The
letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do words you hear will be different from those below.
not need to use.
A I got bored with what we were doing after a while.
Speaker 1 1
B I enjoyed the day more than I had expected.
C I had a better time than some members of my family. Speaker 2 2
D I was disappointed about something.
Speaker 3 3
E I was annoyed about a change of plan.
F I didn’t have time to do everything I wanted. Speaker 4 4
G I regretted a decision I made.
Speaker 5 5
H I was relieved that the day was a success.

Reading and Use of English | Part 7

You are going to read a newspaper article about people who have
Exam advice
no brothers or sisters. For questions 1–10, choose from the people
(A–E). The people may be chosen more than once. Read the questions, then quickly read the texts.
When you find the part of a text which matches
the question, underline it.
Which person
realises that the positive relationship they had with their parents isn’t shared by all only
1
children?

thinks people make a judgement about only children which is mistaken? 2

thinks they developed a better understanding of adults because of being an only child? 3

finds their present circumstances a challenge? 4

says that only children have needs which can be difficult for others to deal with? 5

realised at a particular point that they were happy being an only child? 6

was unaware that their reactions to being an only child were not unique? 7

had problems as a child because they lacked a necessary skill? 8

says they accept their situation because they don’t know anything different? 9

mentions a positive benefit of spending a lot of time alone? 10

6
 Unit 1

Being an only child

“What’s it like to spend a lifetime without brothers and sisters?” asks Joanna Moorhead.

A Sam Thompson, aged 10

When my mum’s friend had a baby, it made me think about being an only child for
the first time. I thought, would I like to have brothers and sisters? But to be honest,
my friend’s sister looked quite annoying – he was always having to watch her and I
decided I was better off on my own. There are lots of good things about being an only
child. I have privacy, and I like that; some of my friends have to share a bedroom and
I know that will never happen to me. Plus I get time on my own with Mum and Dad,
and that’s very special.

B Bethany Shaw, aged 15

One of the bad things about being an only child when you’re young is the reaction you
get from other people. They think you’re spoilt – you see that look in their eyes. And
then you have to prove you’re not spoilt, although you know you’re not and nor are
most only children. In general, I think the negatives outweigh the positives, but on the
other hand it’s all I’ve known and I’m OK with it.

C Leah Mitchell, aged 29

I went away to school when I was seven, and the hardest thing I found was making
friends. Because I was an only child, I just didn’t know how to do it. The thing is that
when you’re an only child, often there aren’t any other children at a gathering. I found
being an only child interesting, in that it gave me a place at the grown-ups’ table and
gave me a view into their world that children in a big family might not get. And I know
it has, at least partly, made me into the person I am: I never like the idea of being
one of a group, for example. I’m not comfortable with being one of a gang.

D Laura Arnold, aged 36

I know some only children feel stifled by their parents’ constant demands and
worries, but that wasn’t my experience. I found being an only child enriching, which I
think is mainly because we get on so well. I’ve got two children now and I do find that
scary. The problem is I’ve absolutely no experience of this kind of situation; nothing in
my past has prepared me for having to divide myself between the needs of these two
little people, and the guilt is hard when I feel I’ve not been there enough for one of
them. And on a practical level, things like sibling rivalry are going to be a whole new
ball game.

E Jasmine Weller, aged 49

I always felt a little odd, and assumed it was something about me. It was only in my
30s, when I was training to be a psychotherapist, that I found myself with a group
of only children, describing our experiences. It was a revelation because it made me
realise that other people felt many of the same things. Growing up in a small unit
means we need time to ourselves, which can cause problems with partners and
friends, who might misinterpret it as rejection. There are pluses too. Being on your
own helps you to become resourceful, and develop your imagination and creativity.