Ready for C1 p 86. How Education Is Changing in the Modern World. Speaking Interaction

Alex:

Hi Maya, did you see that article about how education needs to change in the 21st century?

Maya:
Yes, I did! It really got me thinking. Honestly, I completely agree with the point about critical thinking. Learning by heart just isn’t enough anymore.

Alex:
Absolutely. It’s shocking how many schools still rely on rote learning. I mean, when was the last time knowing a list of dates really helped in real life?

Maya:
Exactly! It’s far more useful to teach students how to evaluate information and think independently. Especially with all the fake news and misinformation online.

Alex:
Totally. And speaking of that, I also think digital literacy should be a core part of the curriculum. It's quite surprising that it isn’t already in most schools.

Maya:
Isn’t it just? You’d think it would be standard by now. But I suppose some schools still lack the funding. Still, we can’t afford to ignore technology in education any longer.

Alex:
True. On the other hand, I do wonder if we’re relying too heavily on technology. I mean, don’t you think there’s still something valuable about face-to-face learning?

Maya:
That’s a fair point. Online learning has its benefits, but it can’t replace the human interaction you get in a classroom. There needs to be a balance.

Alex:
Exactly. And what’s your take on the idea of lifelong learning?

Maya:
I’m totally in favour of it. In fact, I’d say it’s essential. With everything changing so quickly, we really have to keep picking up new skills throughout our lives.

Alex:
I couldn’t agree more. Honestly, the idea that you stop learning when you graduate just doesn’t hold water anymore.

Maya:
Yeah, and it takes a lot of pressure off young people if they realise they don’t have to have everything sorted out by 18 or 21.

Alex:
That’s so true. It’s actually quite reassuring.

Maya:
Definitely. And it also encourages people to take ownership of their own development, which I think is really empowering.

Alex:
Totally agree. So, overall, do you reckon the education system is heading in the right direction?

Maya:
Well, there’s progress in some areas, but I think there’s still a long way to go. What do you think?

Alex:
Yeah, I’d say the same. Some schools are moving forward, but others are stuck in the past. Hopefully, more systems will start to adapt soon.

Maya:
Fingers crossed. If we want to prepare students for the future, the education system has to evolve, no doubt about it.

Ready for C1 p 175. Shopping and Consumerism. Speaking Interview. Cloze

 

Sample dialogue on online shopping:

Student A: I think online shopping has completely transformed my buying habits. The convenience is hard -1- resist - I can browse dozens -2- stores without leaving my couch! But I've noticed I definitely spend more money this way. Those personalized recommendations keep tempting me -3- things I didn't even know I wanted.

Student B: I agree -4- the convenience, but I've become more cautious about my online spending. Those flash sales and limited-time offers create this false sense of urgency -5- makes you buy things impulsively. I've started to resist those marketing tactics by keeping a wishlist instead -6- purchasing immediately.

Student A: That's smart. I'm terrible with impulse purchases, especially -7- I see free shipping offers. And those one-click ordering systems make it dangerously easy to spend money! I've actually had to unsubscribe from store emails -8- the constant promotional messages were too tempting.

Student B: Exactly! -9- have you noticed how physical stores are struggling to compete with online retailers? There's been a real decline in traditional shopping, which is sad in some ways. I miss the social aspect of going shopping -10- friends.

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Answers:

1. to




2. of

3. with

4. about

5. that

6. of

7. when

8. because

9. And

10. with

____________________________________________________________

1. How has online shopping changed the way we buy things? Do you think it makes us spend more money than shopping in physical stores?

2. What influences your decision when buying clothes - brand names, price, quality, or current trends? How do advertisers try to persuade you to buy their products?

3. Have you noticed how some products don't seem to last as long as they used to? Why do you think companies might design things to break or become outdated quickly?

Alex: So, shall we start with how online shopping has changed the way we buy things?

Sam: Absolutely. To be honest, it’s revolutionised shopping for me. Not only is it more convenient, but it also gives you access to a wider variety of products. Never before have I been able to compare so many options so quickly.

Alex: I couldn’t agree more. Had it not been for online shopping, I would have spent countless hours in crowded shopping centres. But don’t you think it’s made us spend more, almost without realising it?

Sam: That’s a good point. Because everything is just a click away, it’s easy to lose track. Plus, when you’re not physically handing over money, it feels less like you’re actually spending.

Alex: Exactly! If we were forced to use cash, we’d probably think twice before buying things we don’t really need. Also, have you noticed how websites use flash sales and countdown timers?

Sam: Yes! That creates this sense of urgency. It’s clever, though somewhat manipulative. Were they not using these tactics, I doubt people would buy as impulsively.

Alex: True. Moving on, what usually influences your decisions when buying clothes?

Sam: For me, it’s mainly quality and comfort. I mean, what’s the point in buying something trendy if it feels like sandpaper?

Alex: Ha! I totally get that. Although I have to admit, I do sometimes get drawn in by brand names—probably more than I’d like to admit.

Sam: Same here. To be influenced by branding is something I try to avoid, but it’s everywhere. And the way advertisers work—honestly, it's fascinating. They don’t just sell a product; they sell a lifestyle.

Alex: Right? They use celebrities, catchy slogans, emotional appeals… Sometimes it feels like they know us better than we know ourselves.

Sam: Speaking of which, have you noticed how certain products just don’t last like they used to?

Alex: Definitely. My phone started acting up just after the warranty expired. Coincidence? I doubt it.

Sam: I think companies deliberately design products to become obsolete. It’s called planned obsolescence, isn’t it?

Alex: Yes! If things lasted forever, people wouldn’t need to replace them. However, it’s incredibly wasteful. Not only does it affect our wallets, but it also harms the environment.

Sam: Couldn’t agree more. If companies prioritised sustainability over profit, we’d all be better off.

Alex: Well said. Let’s hope more people start demanding change—otherwise, this cycle will never end.

Ready for C1 p 104. Health and Medicine. Speaking Monologue. Sample Answer. Cloze

 1. To what extent should alternative medicine be integrated into conventional healthcare systems? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such integration?

2. Although mental health is just as important as physical health, it is often neglected. Why do you think this is the case, and what measures could be taken to address the imbalance?

3. With increasing access to online health information, many people are experiencing 'cyberchondria' — excessive health anxiety fuelled by internet searches. What are the causes and consequences of this trend, and how might it be managed?

Sample answer:

Health in the Modern World: A Holistic Approach

To begin (1)____________, health – in all its forms – is absolutely fundamental to our well-being, both as individuals and as a society. In today’s fast-paced and highly connected world, we’re no longer just focused on curing illness. We’re increasingly looking at how to integrate alternative therapies, prioritise mental health, and cope with the overwhelming (2)______________ of online health information. So today, I’d like to explore these three key aspects and how they interconnect.

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1. Alternative Medicine: A Complementary Approach?

First and (3)________________, let’s take a look at the integration of alternative medicine into conventional healthcare systems. It is generally accepted that treatments (4)________________ acupuncture, herbal remedies, and chiropractic care have grown in popularity in recent years. From my (5)_____________ of view, there is value in incorporating some of these therapies – but only when they’re backed by scientific evidence and properly regulated.

For example, mindfulness programmes and acupuncture are now used alongside traditional treatments for stress and chronic pain – a sign that collaboration can work. However, there can be no (6)______________ that many alternative therapies still lack the rigorous testing that conventional medicine requires. What’s (7)_________________, inconsistent regulation could lead to confusion or even exploitation of patients.

(8)____________ short, I believe we need a balanced approach: openness to new ideas, but always grounded in solid, evidence-based research.

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2. Mental Health: Ending the Stigma

(9)________________ examining that, let’s now (10)_______________ on to the topic of mental health – something which, as everyone (11)________________, is just as important as physical health, yet still often neglected.

Why is this the case? I strongly (12)______________ that the stigma surrounding mental illness plays a major (13)_____________. To my (14)______________, many people still feel embarrassed or even ashamed to seek help. On (15)_____________ of that, healthcare systems often prioritise physical conditions, leaving mental health services chronically underfunded.

So what can be (16)_______________? First of (17)______________, we must educate people from an early age – mental health should be (18)_______________ about as openly as physical health. Besides, governments need to invest more heavily in accessible support services. Let’s not forget workplaces either – they can play a crucial role in promoting well-being through supportive workplace practices and mental health days.

All things (19)___________________, a healthy society requires both body and mind to be equally (20)________________ for.

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3. Cyberchondria: The Perils of Dr Google

This (21)________________ directly to my next point – cyberchondria, or the anxiety caused by compulsively searching for symptoms online. Have you ever (22)______________ why something so simple can cause so much distress?

It (23)_______________ to me that the combination of easy access to information and a lack of medical training creates the perfect (24)______________. People want answers quickly, and the internet often shows the most extreme possibilities first. As a (25)______________, a mild headache can suddenly seem life-threatening.

The consequences are serious – unnecessary panic, self-diagnosis, wasted resources, and sometimes even delaying proper medical treatment.

So how do we manage this? Firstly, public education is vital – people need to learn how to distinguish between reliable and (26)_______________ sources. In (27)________________, healthcare providers should offer vetted online tools to help guide patients. And finally, tech platforms must take more responsibility (28)________________ how they present health content.

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Conclusion

All things (29)_______________, health today is about much more than medication or hospital visits. It’s about finding balance – between traditional and alternative approaches, between body and mind, and between knowledge and anxiety in the digital age.

As I (30)_____________ it, the future of health depends on three key principles: open-mindedness, critical thinking, and collaboration – between medical professionals, policymakers, and the public.

To put it simply: take care of your body, nurture your mental health, and use technology wisely – to empower us, not to overwhelm us.

To (31)_________________ up, health is no longer just a medical issue — it’s a human one. 

Well, I truly appreciate you (32)______________ the time to listen, it’s been a pleasure sharing these thoughts with you.

KEY

1. with

2. amount

3. foremost

4. like

5. point

6. doubt

7. more

8. In

9. After

10. move

11. knows

12. believe

13. role

14. mind

15. top

16. done

17. all

18. talked

19. considered

20. cared

21. leads

22. wondered

23. seems

24. storm

25. result/ consequence

26. unreliable

27. addition

28. for

29. considered

30. see

31. sum

32. taking

Ready for C1 p 77. Crime and Punishment. Interaction. Sample Answer

1. Conversation: Talk about the following questions with your partner for about 7 minutes. The pictures are there to help you.

1. Do you think the main aim of prison should be punishment or rehabilitation? Why? Can both be achieved?

2. Would you say cybercrime is becoming more widespread? Why or why not? What measures could be taken to prevent it?

3. Can you think of any real-life examples of phishing or pharming scams? How do they work?

4. Have you ever been deceived by a scammer or con artist? If so, what happened, and what did you learn from the experience?

Sample answer:

1. Do you think the main aim of prison should be punishment or rehabilitation? Why? Can both be achieved?

Alice: Before we get into the details, where do you (1)_________ on this issue, Ben? Should prisons focus more (2)____________ punishing offenders, or is rehabilitation the key?

Ben: Personally, I feel that rehabilitation should take precedence. Let me (3)____________ why. A prison system (4)_____________ prioritises reform over retribution can help offenders reintegrate (5)___________ society and reduce reoffending rates.

Alice: I see (6)___________ you're saying, but I’m inclined to believe that punishment also plays a crucial (7)_____________. Surely, it is completely unacceptable that dangerous criminals are given lenient (8)______________ in the name of rehabilitation.

Ben: (9)____________ nobody can deny that punishment acts as a (10)_____________ against crime, I would like to (11)___________ out that simply incarcerating people without addressing the root (12)____________ of their behaviour does little to tackle long-term reoffending.

Alice: That’s a fair argument. (13)_____________, don’t you think that some individuals, particularly repeat offenders or those convicted (14)__________ violent felonies, have little rehabilitating capacity?

Ben: Admittedly, some criminals may never change. However, on the (15)____________, a system that emphasises rehabilitation is (16)____________ more effective than one based purely (17)___________ punishment. (18)__________ fact, Scandinavian countries have demonstrated that a focus on reform significantly reduces reoffending rates.

Alice: That’s an interesting perspective. It should be noted that for petty offenders, imposing alternative sentences (19)____________ as community service could be a much more successful approach than incarceration.

Ben: Exactly! Besides, it beggars (20)_______________ how some individuals serve lengthy sentences for minor crimes, whereas white-collar criminals convicted of embezzlement or (21)____________ laundering often receive relatively light punishments.

Alice: That does seem unfair. (22)____________ balance, I believe both punishment and rehabilitation should work together to create a more efficient justice system.

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2. Would you say cybercrime is becoming more widespread? Why or why not? What measures could be taken to prevent it?

Alice: (23)____________ discussed the role of prisons, shall we now turn (24)_____________ the growing issue of cybercrime? Would you say online criminal activity is becoming more prevalent, and if (25)_____________, why do you think this is?

Ben: Oh, absolutely! It seems to me that cybercrime is (26)__________ the rise at an alarming rate. Have you ever (27)______________ just how easy it is for hackers to steal personal data these days?

Alice: Indeed, and what is particularly shocking is the sophistication of modern scams. Identity (28)______________, for example, has skyrocketed, leaving thousands of people vulnerable (29)____________ fraud.

Ben: It goes (30)_______________ saying that stricter regulations and international cooperation are needed to crack (31)____________ on cybercriminals. Nevertheless, enforcement is a major challenge (32)____________ hackers can operate from anywhere in the world, making prosecution incredibly difficult.

Alice: That’s a good point. I was extremely impressed by a recent case (33)_____________ authorities managed to dismantle a major phishing network operating across multiple countries. However, (34)___________ such efforts, new scams keep emerging.

Ben: Yes, and that’s (35)____________ individuals and companies must take responsibility as well. Presumably, stronger password policies, multi-factor authentication, and regular cybersecurity training could help (36)___________ hackers.

Alice: I couldn’t (37)___________ more. It is worth bearing in (38)_____________ that raising awareness is just as important as legal measures. An informed user is far (39)___________ likely to fall victim (40)____________ a scam.

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3. Can you think of any real-life examples of phishing or pharming scams? How do they work?

Ben: Speaking (41)___________ scams, can you think of any real-life examples of phishing or pharming that you’ve come across?

Alice: Oh, absolutely! Have you heard of those emails that appear to be from your bank, asking you to verify your login details? At first (42)_____________, they seem legitimate, (43)__________ in fact, they contain subtle errors that reveal they’re fraudulent.

Ben: Yes! That’s a classic phishing scam. And then there’s pharming, which is even more dangerous because users are redirected to fraudulent websites without their knowledge, where their personal details are stolen and used to steal money from them.

Alice: That’s terrifying! It (44)_____________ be true that technology has made our lives more convenient, but we must take into (45)____________ the risks that come with it.

Ben: Exactly! To sum (46)_____________, staying vigilant and verifying information before providing personal details online is crucial (47)___________ avoiding these scams.

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4. Have you ever been deceived by a scammer or con artist? If so, what happened, and what did you learn from the experience?

Alice: Shall we now (48)______________ on to something more personal? Have you ever been tricked by a scammer or con artist?

Ben: Well, I can speak (49)______________ experience when I say that scams can be incredibly deceptive. A few years ago, I nearly fell (50)__________ a phone scam where someone pretended to be from my bank.

Alice: Oh no! That must have been stressful. What exactly happened?

Ben: They told me there had been suspicious activity on my account and asked me to confirm my personal details. They sounded (51)____________ professional that I almost gave them the information!

Alice: That’s shocking! It seems unbelievable how convincing these fraudsters can be.

Ben: Indeed! Thankfully, I hesitated and decided to call my bank directly, which confirmed that it was a scam. (52)______________ to say, I’m much more cautious now.

Alice: That must have been a real eye-opener. In no (53)___________ would I agree that scams are always easy to spot—they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Ben: Absolutely! All in (54)__________, the best way to protect ourselves is through awareness, scepticism, and verifying information before taking action.

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Final Thoughts

Alice: This has been a fascinating discussion! (55)____________ and large, I think we both agree that (56)____________ punishment is important, rehabilitation is essential to reduce crime. As (57)___________ cybercrime, it’s clear that awareness and security measures are vital to tackle the issue.

Ben: Yes, and what is particularly concerning is how scams continue to evolve. We must acknowledge the fact that even the most tech-savvy individuals can be affected by fraud. On the (58)_____________, education and vigilance are the best defences.

Alice: Agreed! It’s been great debating these topics with you.

Ben: Likewise! Until next time

KEY

1. stand

2. on

3. explain

4. that/ which

5. into

6. what

7. role

8. sentences

9. While

10. deterrent

11. point

12. causes

13. However

14. of

15. whole

16. far, much, considerably, significantly, a great deal, a lot, way

17. on

18. In

19. such

20. belief

21. money

22. On

23. Having

24. to

25. so

26. on

27. wondered

28. theft

29. to

30. without

31. down

32. since

33. where

34. despite

35. why

36. deter

37. agree

38. mind

39. less

40. to

41. of

42. sight

43. but

44. may

45. account

46. up

47. in

48. move

49. from

50. for

51. so

52. Needless

53. way

54. all

55. By

56. while

57. for

58. whole