GENERAL ENGLISH 1

A2

STUDENT WORKBOOK

SESSION 10 – 15
COURSE CONTENT

Session 10: Top 10 Cities

Session 11: The Future of Food
Session 12: School of Thought
Session 13: London for Free
Session 14: Life on Earth
Session 15: Final Test Review
Session 10: Top 10 Cities

What do you like about your town/city?

Is it a nice place to live in? Why/Why not?

Describing a city. Read sentences 1-12.

Are they positive or negative?
Discuss which three are most important for a city and why?

First most important:

Why:

Second most important:

Why:

Third most important:

Why:

Listening
Listen to the conversations. Which city does the speaker talk about? What do they think about it?

Speaker 1:
Good things:

Problems:

Speaker 2:
Good things:

Problems:

Speaker 3:
Good things:

Problems:

Listen again. Which city has these things?

Grammar: Uses of like

Match questions 1-5 with answers a) - e)

Match questions 1-5 above with the rules below.

Let’s practise!
Complete the conversations using questions with like.

Rewrite the questions by changing or removing the words in bold.

Work in pairs and create a dialogue. Ask and answer the questions.
A: I’ve never been to Poznan. What’s it like?
B: It’s a small city, so there isn’t a lot of traffic.

A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:

Speaking Practice
Choose two cities you know well. Write down three positive things and one negative thing for
each city.
City 1:
Positives:

Negative:

City 2:
Positives:

Negative:
What are the five ways to use like?
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Bonus activity/homework
1. A: What ___? B: It's beautiful in summer and there are a lot of famous beaches.
a. does Rio like
b. is Rio like
c. would Rio like

2. A: What ___? B: I like English. It's an amazing language.

a. language do you like
b. language would you like
c. does the language look like

3. A: ___? B: Yes please.

a. Would you like some coffee
b. Do you like coffee
c. What is coffee like

4. A: What ___ tomorrow? B: I think it’s going to be rainy and cold unfortunately.
a. will the weather like
b. will the weather be like
c. will the weather look like

5. A: What ___? B: He's tall and a little fat. I think he's handsome.
a. would your husband like
b. is your husband like
c. does your husband look like

6. A: What ___? B: It's very spicy and strong

a. do you like curry
b. would you like some curry
c. is curry like

7. A: I ___. B: Yes you do, you could be twins!

a. look like my sister
b. am like my sister
c. like my sister

8. A: What ___? B: She's very friendly and sweet.

a. is she like
b. does she like
c. does she look like

9. A: What ___? B: It was amazing! I want to go back.

a. would you like a holiday
b. was your holiday like
c. is your holiday like

10. A: I ___. B: Yes me too. I also like them.

a. !am like a Ferrari
b. like Ferraris
c. would like a Ferrari
Session 11: The Future of Food

How many types of food can you think of for each of the categories? Make a list.
Vegetables

Meat

Fruit

Deserts

Work in pairs. Look at the pictures and read the sentences about food. Do you think they are true
or false?

Complete the sentences and listen to check your answers.

Grammar: may, might, will
Read sentences a) - d) and answer the questions about the phrases in bold.

Let’s practise!
Match statements 1-6 with responses a)-f).
1. I'm hungry because I missed breakfast.
2. You eat too much junk food.
3. I'm just going out to get a snack.
4. The film was really good.
5. She looks a bit stressed.
6. We want to visit the museum this afternoon.
a) I won't be long.
b) I think she'll need a holiday soon.
c) We may not have time.
d) You might get fat.
e) I may have an early lunch.
f) I think my father might enjoy it.

Find and correct the mistakes. There is a mistake in each sentence.

1. I don't will know my exam results until August.

2. Will you to go to university next year?

3. Anna is very busy so she may not comes tonight.

4. The traffic is heavy so they may to be late.

5. Edson mights be the best player we have ever seen.

6. I might go not to the exercise class today.

7. We'll to be back at 6 p.m.

Next, write responses to sentences 1-7 below.
Use the prompts in brackets with might/might not, may/may Not or will/won’t.

Make a dialogue!
Work in pairs and take turns speaking during your conversation.
Try to continue the conversation and build your story.
A: Let’s have a picnic.
B: Oh, that sounds fun, but it might rain.

A: ____________________________________________________________________________.
B: ____________________________________________________________________________.
A: ____________________________________________________________________________.
B: ____________________________________________________________________________.
A: ____________________________________________________________________________.
B: ____________________________________________________________________________.

Share your opinions!

Work in pairs. Do you agree with sentences 1-8 below? Tick the four most interesting sentences.

Respond to the sentences and compare opinions with your group members.
Session 12: School of Thought
Read about some alternative schools of thought above. Match paragraphs 1-3 with the topics.
a) very young children learn to play the violin
b) a school where children can study at night
c) a school where children don’t do exams

24-hour teaching
One school in Hampshire, UK, offers 24-hour teaching. The children can decide when and if they come to
school. The school is open from 7a.m. to 10p.m., for 364 days a year and provides online teaching through the
night. The idea is that pupils don't have to come to school, and they can decide when they want to study.
Cheryl Heron, the head teacher, said 'Some students learn better at night. Some students learn better in the
morning.’ Cheryl believes that if children are bored, they will not come to school. 'Why must teaching only be
conducted in a classroom? You can teach a child without him ever coming to school.’

Learn by listening
Steiner schools encourage creativity and free thinking, so children can study art, music and gardening as well
as science and history. They don't have to learn to read and write at an early age. At some Steiner schools the
teachers can't use textbooks. They talk to the children, who learn by listening. Every morning the children have
to go to special music and movement classes called 'eurhythmy,’ which help them learn to concentrate. Very
young children learn foreign languages through music and song. Another difference from traditional schools is
that at Steiner schools you don't have to do any tests or exams.

Start young
A child learning music with the Suzuki method has to start as young as possible. Even two-year-old children can
learn to play difficult pieces of classical music, often on the violin. They do this by watching and listening. They
learn by copying, just like they learn their mother tongue. The child has to join in, but doesn't have to get it
right. 'They soon learn that they mustn't stop every time they make a mistake. They just carry on,’ said one
Suzuki trainer. The children have to practise for hours every day and they give performances once a week, so
they learn quickly. The parents must be involved too, said the trainer, or it just doesn't work.’

Read the text again. Discuss. Which of the ideas in the text do you think is the best? Which is the
worst idea?

Grammar: can, have to, must

Read sentences 1-6 and put the verbs in bold in the correct place in the table.
Complete the text with have to/don’t have to, must/mustn’t, can/can’t. There may be more than
one possible answer.

Do you think these statements are true or false?

Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.

Session 13: London for Free

Complete the word webs with the verbs in the box.

Listen to the first part of a radio programme. Complete the notes.

Listen to the second part of the radio programme and complete the notes below.

DOMINIQUE
6.30-7.15 pm: Art exhibition: Tate Modern
Price: ______________.
7.45-9.30 pm: ______________ at The King's Head.
Price: FREE. Drinks - £6.
10.00-10.45 pm: ______________ in Brick Lane.
Price: FREE.
Bus home. Price: £1.50
TOTAL: £7.50

ROB
6.00-6.45 pm: National ______________. Price: FREE
7.15-8.15 pm: Street Entertainers in Covent Garden. Price: ______________.
9.30-10.45 pm: Comedy Club. Price: ______________.
TOTAL: £8

Discuss:
What do you think of the two plans?
Which things would you like/not like to do?

Grammar: Present Continuous and be going to

Read the sentences and answer the questions

a) I'm going to see a free art exhibition.
b) I'm meeting some friends.
c) I'm going to watch some comedy.
d) I'm not having dinner. There isn't enough time.

1. Do the sentences refer to the present or the future?

2. Is there a definite time and place for the plans?

3. What tenses do the sentences use?

Present Continuous Formula

(+)

(-)

(?)
Be going to Formula
(+)

(-)

(?)

Examples:

Make sentences or questions with the prompts. Use the present continuous or be going to.

1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________
Tonight
A: _________________________________________________________________
B: _________________________________________________________________

This Weekend
A: _________________________________________________________________
B: _________________________________________________________________

Next week/month
A: _________________________________________________________________
B: _________________________________________________________________

Later this year/next year

A: _________________________________________________________________
B: _________________________________________________________________
Put the emails in the correct order.

Then, look at the emails again. Underline two phrases for inviting and two responses.
Inviting:
1.

2.

Responding:
1.

2.

Write emails with prompts

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

EXTRA ACTIVITY
Work in pairs. Choose an activity from Exercise 6 and write an email inviting another pair to the
event.

Hi ____________,
HOMEWORK
Complete the sentences with the present simple, present continuous or be going to.

1. Do you know Sharon's email address? I ________ to her about her wedding today.
a. am going to write b. write

2. Don't forget! We ________ an exhibition match in Liverpool next Friday.

a. playing b. are playing

3. Can you lend me the book? - I'm sorry, I can't lend it to you now. I ________ it soon.
a. am going to read b. read

4. School announcement: Easter holidays ______ on 12th April this year.

a. start b. are going to start

5. So you are flying to the Canary Islands tomorrow night. What time ________?
a. you leave b. are you leaving?

6. Why are you buying so many cakes and so much ice cream? I ______ a party.
a. I am going to have b. am having

7. Please, can you say hello to Peter? - Yes, of course. I ______ after lunch.
a. see him b. am seeing him

8. Look at that car. It is driving too fast! Oh, no, it ______!

a. is going to crash b. crashes

9. Excuse me, sir. What time ________ on Saturday and Sunday?

a. does the concert start b. is the concert going to start

10. Yes, I've bought two pizzas. And I ______ them on my own.
a. eat b. am going to eat
Session 14: Life on Earth

Divide the things above into two groups – living and non-living.

Now, try to give a few more examples of living and non-living things. What is the main difference
between them?

Answer the questions. Listen to check answers.

1. What do all the planets in the solar system have in common?

2. What makes Earth different from all the other planets?

Part A: Match the questions and answers.

Part B: Watch the first part of the video. Number the pieces of information in the order you hear
them in the video.

Part C: Read the summary. What kind of information is missing? Complete the answers from
memory, then listen to the recording again and check your answers.

Earth is the third of the ____________ rocky planets. The rocky planets are ____________ to the sun
and much ____________ than the four gas planets. Because of its ____________ from the sun, the
temperature on Earth is not too hot and not too cold. Earth is the only planet that has liquid
____________ and an atmosphere with ____________. The temperature, water and the air in the
atmosphere make ____________ on Earth possible. There are millions of species of plants and
animals on the blue planet. A day on Earth has 24 hours – it is how long it takes Earth to
____________ or spin once. A year has 365 days – it is how long it takes Earth to go around the
____________. Earth has ____________ because different parts of the planet are close to the sun at
different times during the year.

Part D: Replace the underlined words with the words given.

Study the illustration and read the statements below. Then watch the second part of the video and
decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. Trees and oceans are on the Earth’s crust.

2. Under the crust, there is the mantle.
3. The mantle consists of magma.
4. Magma is liquid, molten metal.
5. The centre of Earth is called the core.

Language focus: countable and uncountable nouns

1. What is the difference between the nouns in the two groups?

2. Which of the nouns can have plural forms?

Read the statements and decide if they are facts about countable or uncountable nouns.

1. They are usually names of substances that have no fixed shape and are difficult to count.
2. They can be easily counted.
3. They can have both singular and plural forms.
4. They have no plural forms.
5. They are usually used with no article.
6. They can be used with the word ‘much’.
Now, read the rules in the table and complete the examples with the nouns below.

Uncountable nouns have only singular forms. They cannot be counted. They are usually used with
no article.
In cold temperatures 1____________ freezes and becomes 2 ____________.
The atmosphere protects Earth from radiation from the sun.

Countable nouns can be counted. They have both singular and plural forms.
A 3 ____________ is a plant. Carrots are 4 ____________.

Only countable singular nouns can be used with the indefinite article (a/an)!
an 5 ____________, a bird, a moon, a 6 ____________.

Countable and uncountable nouns use different words related to quantity (called quantifiers).

Part A: Complete each sentence with a noun from the list. Add the indefinite article (a/an) where

necessary. moon mouse iron lava

oxygen rock water

1. Plants need ____________ and ____________.

2. ____________ orbits a planet.
3. The crust of Earth is made of ____________.
4. There is ____________ in the centre of Earth.
5. ____________ is a small animal.
6. ____________ is the molten rock that flows out of a volcano.

Part B: Circle the correct option.

1. Earth is the first planet when traveling from the sun to have a moon / moon.
2. Earth is the only place where a life / life exists.
3. There are millions of the plants / plants and animals on Earth.
4. The atmosphere consists mostly of nitrogen and an oxygen / oxygen.
5. A year / year is usually 365 days, and a day is 24 hours long.
Part C: Use the words provided to make true sentences.

Practice time!

Make a list of ten countable and ten uncountable nouns that you can find in your house.