MEH p 27. Back from the Brink. Written Mediation

You have been asked to give a presentation about cutting-edge environmentally-friendly city projects. In the introduction you would like to mention the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC's) findings about the effects of climate change in 100 years. You have found the infographic below on their website.

Write the introduction of your presentation using approximately 100 words.

 

IPCC Report

Climate Change in 2100

Melting ice at the poles

Sea level rise (88 cm)

Islands and coasts at risk

Threat to homes

MEH p 26. Be expressions. Grammar

 

Be about to

Be about to is used to talk about things which are going to happen very soon:

I’m about to eat. Can I phone you back?

It is often used with just:

We’re just about to set off for a walk. Do you want to come?

When used in the past, be about to can refer to things that were going to happen but didn’t:

I was about to complain but he came over and apologised.

We don’t use be about to with time expressions:

I was about to call you.

Not: I was about to call you in ten minutes.

See also:

• Be about to

Be able to

Abilities

Be able to is like can. We use it to talk about abilities. We often use it in places where it is not possible to use can. For example, it isn’t possible to use can after another modal verb:

She won’t be able to concentrate.

Not: She won’t can concentrate.

He should be able to work in a team.

Not: He should can work in a team.

Be able to is a more formal alternative to can:

I am very sorry but I am not able to give you that information. (or, less formal: I cannot give you that information.)

Past achievement: could or was/were able to?

We usually use was/were able to, not could to talk about past achievements in affirmative clauses. This is because they are facts, rather than possibilities:

Only one person was able to beat the record.

Not: Only one person could beat the record.

We use couldn’t or, more formally, wasn’t/weren’t able to in negative clauses:

We weren’t able to finish the marathon in under four hours. (or We couldn’t finish the marathon …)

Be due to

Be due to is used to talk about things that are expected or planned to happen at a certain time. We often use it with a time expression:

Are you due to hand in homework today?

The train is due to arrive at Glasgow Central at 12:12.

Be likely to

Be likely to is used to talk about how probable things are:

Are parents who have a lot of money likely to spoil their children?

It is often used to make comparisons with words like more and less:

I think men are more likely to spend a lot of money on food than women are.

A:

I liked Budapest as well.

B:

Yeah. I’m probably less likely to go back there than to Prague.

We also use it’s likely followed by that + clause:

It’s likely that sales will rise.

We form the negative of be likely to and be likely that either with not or with unlikely. Unlikely is more formal:

The company is not likely to make a profit in the second half of the year.

People are unlikely to listen to him now because they know he lied.

Be meant to

Be meant to is used to talk about what is desirable, expected or intended:

A:

It looks green to me.

B:

Oh, is it meant to be a different colour?

It was meant to be like a quiz and we were all in different teams and there was meant to be a fantastic prize.

Be supposed to

Be supposed to is used to talk about obligations and arrangements:

Where were you? You were supposed to be at the party!

You’re supposed to have an hour for lunch. That’s the law.

It’s also used to talk about people’s expectations or beliefs about something:

[talking about some medicine]

A:

Take some of this.

B:

What’s it supposed to do? (What does it do to you?)

And then I’m gonna get a train over to Brussels which takes all day as well. It’s supposed to be a nice route with forests and mountains and things. (gonna represents ‘going to’, as it is pronounced in informal speaking.)

MEH p 26. An Environmentally Sustainable Society. Voc Hub 3.1 p 143. Written Mediation

 

You have seen an infographic about some ways of being more eco-friendly. You decide to write a blog entry about it. 

How to Become More Environmentally Friendly.

Using alternative sources of energy

Preserving natural resources

Counterbalancing carbon emissions

Aiming to achieve net zero

Avoiding non-biodegradable materials

 

 

 

 

Sample answer:
Voc Hub 3.1 p 143

 

MEH p 26. The Environment. Speaking. Sample Answer. Word Formation Cloze

 

Share your opinions, experiences, and thoughts on the topic of climate change and environmental conservation.

Sarah: Hi Jack! How's it going?

Jack: Hey Sarah! I'm doing well, thanks. How about you?

Sarah: I'm fine, thanks. I was just reading an article about climate change. It's quite (1)____________ (CONCERN), isn't it?

Jack: Absolutely. It's a (2)________________ (PRESS) issue that we need to address (3)____________ (URGENT). What do you think we can do about it?

Sarah: Well, I believe raising (4)_________________ (AWARE) is crucial. We need to educate people about the impact of their actions on the environment. Don't you agree?

Jack: Definitely. Education plays a key role in fostering (5)____________________ (SUSTAIN) practices. Have you heard about the latest initiatives to reduce carbon emissions?

Sarah: Yes, I have! I think it's (6)____________________ (COMMEND) that companies are taking steps towards (7)__________________ (SUSTAIN). However, I believe government policies should also (8)_____________ (FORCE) stricter regulations.

Jack: I couldn't agree more. It's essential for governments to implement policies that promote environmental protection. By the way, have you ever participated in any eco-friendly activities?

Sarah: Yes, I've volunteered for beach clean-up events and recycling drives. It's rewarding to contribute to environmental conservation efforts. What about you?

Jack: That's impressive! I've been involved in tree planting campaigns and conservation projects in my community. It's (9)_______________ (FULFIL) to see the positive impact we can make together.

Sarah: You can say that again! It's inspiring to see people coming together to make a difference. (10)___________________ (INCIDENT), have you watched the documentary on sustainable living yet?

Jack: No, not yet. However, I've heard great things about it. Let's watch it together sometime and discuss our thoughts afterwards.

Sarah: That sounds like a plan! I'm really interested in learning more about practical solutions for a greener future.

Jack: Me too! It's important for us to stay informed and take action towards building a more sustainable world.

Sarah: Yes, indeed. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time.

Jack: I couldn't agree more, Sarah. Thanks for the (11)______________________(INSIGHT) conversation!

Sarah: Any time, Jack. Let's keep (12)__________________ (ADVOCATE) for positive change.

In this dialogue, Sarah and Jack engage in a discussion about climate change and environmental conservation. They express agreement, ask questions to understand each other's opinions, and show interest and empathy towards the topic. They use interesting phrases and discourse markers to keep the conversation engaging and meaningful.

 

 

KEY 

1. concerning 

 

 

2. pressing

pressing: needing to be dealt with immediately. synonym urgent.

E.g.

I'm afraid I have some pressing business to attend to. 

 

There is a pressing need for more specialist nurses. 

 

 

 

3. urgently

 

 

 

4. awareness 

 

 

5. sustainable 

 

 

6. commendable

commendable: deserving praise and approval.

E.g.

They always conduct their affairs with commendable honesty. 

She showed commendable loyalty to the family firm 

 

 

7. sustainability

 

 

8. enforce

enforce: to make sure that people obey a particular law or rule.

E.g.

enforce something It's the job of the police to enforce the law. 

 

 

9. fulfilling

 

 

 

10. Incidentally 

 

 

 

11. insightful 

 

 

12. advocating 

MEH p 26. Future Expressions. Key Word Transformations

1. He's aiming to attain a high English level.
INTENTION
He _________________________________ a high English level.
2.  He is planning to walk across America single-handedly.
THINKING
He _______________________________________________________________own.
3. The younger members of the Royal Family are going to start their own business.
TO
The younger members of the Royal Family _________________________ up their own business.
4. He's just on the verge of fixing the software problem.
ABOUT
He's just _________________________________________________ the software problem.
5. I've never smoked and I don't have the intention of starting now!
ABOUT
Never before _____________________________________________________________ now!







KEY 

1. He's aiming to attain a high English level.
INTENTION
He _________________________________ a high English level.

 

 
1. He has the intention of attaining a high English level.


2.  He is planning to walk across America single-handedly.
THINKING
He _______________________________________________________________own.

 

2. He is thinking of/about walking across America on his own.

3. The younger members of the Royal Family are going to start their own business.
TO
The younger members of the Royal Family _________________________ up their own business.

3. The younger members of the Royal Family are to/are going to set up their own business.

4. He's just on the verge of fixing the software problem.
ABOUT
He's just _________________________________________________ the software problem.

4. He's just about to fix the software problem.

5. I've never smoked and I don't have the intention of starting now!
ABOUT
Never before _____________________________________________________________ now! 

 

5. Never before have I smoked and I'm not about to start now!

MEH p 23. Art Critics. Listening

- Malcolm is impressed by the (1)_________________ use of colour

-  it is said to (2)____________  intense emotions. 

- According to Malcolm the shapes are expressing (3)_____________________ 

- The use of bold colours depicts how (4)______________the connections are.
- The brush strokes are so (5)________________ that it could very well be a comment on our current political situation. 

- According to Jake, the most important point is the (6)____________ it provokes.

 

KEY

1. provocative

flat white: a type of coffee that is made with espresso (= a small, strong, black coffee) and hot milk, which does not have much froth (= a mass of small bubbles) on top of it
Sp. café cortado

 

 

2. evoke

evoke something to bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind.

E.g.

    The music evoked memories of her youth.
    His case is unlikely to evoke public sympathy.

 

 

 

3. connectivity

 

 

4. superficial 

 

 

 

5. haphazard

with no particular order or plan; not organized well.

E.g.

    The books had been piled on the shelves in a haphazard fashion.
    The government's approach to the problem was haphazard. 

6. reactions

MEH p 22. City Design Festival. Listening

 - Camille wanted to create a surprise and (1)_____________ environment.

- Although people go there by (2)_______________, they may stay for over an hour.

- What makes London unique is its (3)_____________.  

- The installation looks like a (4)_____________.

- Tiles have traditionally been used in the (5)_________________ in your kitchen.

- London is bravely celebrating its (6)_______________.

 

KEY

 

1. playful

playful: intended to be fun rather than serious, or showing that you are having fun.

 

 

 

2. surprise

 

 

3. eccentricity 

4. bouncy castle

5.  splashback 

a surface behind a sink or cooker which protects the wall from liquids.

 

 

 

6. dominance

 

 

MEH WB p 22. The Cost of Progress. Pros and Cons. Word Formation Coze

From voice-activated speakers to (1)___________ (END) options for online socialising, sharing and posting, it's clear that many of us are enjoying the benefits of technology. At the same time, we're hearing more voices that raise concerns at the rate of technological (2)_____________ (DEVELOP) and our lack of forward thinking about the potential costs it may bring.

To consider the balance between benefits and costs, we looked at three areas of technological and (3)_______________ (SCIENCE) progress: communications, industry and medicine.

Many people can't live without their phones, the new computers in their hands. Smartphone users continue to increase worldwide. Phones (4)___________ (ABLE) us to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues with ease. But are these advantages perhaps superficial? Are they simply what people have always done but on a much larger scale? Well, not really- phone technology now does so much more, allowing us to navigate, shop, entertain ourselves, record our holidays and socialise in an endless stream of new ways. And many businesses couldn't function without this technology as rapid communication (5)____________ (BROAD) their area of operations, as well as speeding their business up.

But has anything been lost along the way? Having grown up in a world before mobiles, I'm (6)____________ (ACUTE) aware of the random strings of numbers still etched on my memory. The (7)_____________ (LAND) from my friend's parents, for example. I think I can live without this information but are we losing our capacity to memorise or do simple calculations? Even if this may not seem very dramatic, what if it is a symptom of a general loss of mental skills? Could it affect the whole learning process?

In medicine, technology has improved healthcare (8)_____________ (ENORMOUS). In some countries, it's now possible to see a doctor online if required. Operations can be performed by robots, guided by doctors at a distance. Research into diseases- aided by technology- has brought new medicines to combat and even prevent them, though at some expense. There's no doubting both the short- and long-term benefits for individuals in this case. And yet, increasing longevity does raise new concerns and issues. We need to address how to finance pensions and ensure adequate care for older people. We also need to consider any negative impact that healthier older people may have on the job market. If people work longer, will it limit opportunities for younger workers?

Technology has improved (9)_____________ (EFFICIENT) in industry. A by-product of machines doing the heavy and (10)_____________ (REPEAT) work is that people don't have to do this. However, this means that skills which have been handed down through the generations are slowly being lost. (11)_____________ (AUTOMATIC) is good for the economy of the country as a whole and sometimes allows governments to spend more on social and engineering projects. The (12)____________ (DOWN) is that more and more jobs being done by machines may mean more and more people out of work, unless we as a society are able to quickly adapt to the harsh realities of retraining or working a shorter working week.

The scientific and technological progress we see taking place today is awe-inspiring- both wonderful and frightening. While the benefits of technology are (13)_______________ (QUESTION) and life has improved for millions of people, we can't ignore the potential costs that progress brings. The need for more radical technological regulation could become greater in the future.

KEY

1. endless

 

 

2. development

 

 

3. scientific

 

 

4. enable

 

 

5. broadens

 

 

6. acutely 

acutely:

acutely aware/conscious noticing or feeling something very strongly.

E.g.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face.

 

 

7. landline

 

 

8. enormously

 

 

9. efficiency

 

 

10. repetitive

 

 

11. Automation

 

 

 

12. downside

 

 

13. unquestionable

MEH p 19. Inspiration. Listening

 - Mark's dissertation is not going well because he is (1)___________. 

- Simon is prone to share (2)______________ stuff.

- A fashion designer thinks that inspiration can (3)____________ at any time.

- No matter how small something might be, it can still (4)____________ an idea.

- An artist gets up at 4.00 a.m.in order to get into (5)_______________.

- A writer says you need to choose a time to work and (6)______________ to it.

- You should do something different so that you can be (7)_____________ and ready to be creative again.

- What also helps is to (8)_______________ ideas around with someone else.

- Celia likes to set herself a (9)________________.

- Despite not understanding completely what you are doing, you have to trust (10)____________ and run with it.

KEY

1. stuck

2. self-help

3. strike

4. trigger

5. the right state of mind

6. stick

7. refreshed

8. bounce

9. challenge

10 your insticts

MEH p 15. Las Meninas. Listening

 1. Since he painted in a Baroque style, his paintings are not only very (1)_____________ but they are also detailed and realistic.

2. No sooner had he been given a (2)_____________ position in the royal court than he painted Las Meninas.

3. The young Infanta is in the centre (3)_______________.

4. A royal official is standing in a (4)_______________ in the background.

5. The painting is like a photo taken behind the (5)_____________.

6. It was so original that it could be described as (6)_____________.

7. On first (7)_____________ the Infanta seems to be the subject of the painting.

8. The Infanta and her entourage are (8)_________________ watching the King and Queen.

9. As a matter of fact what we see is just the (9)________________ in a large mirror.

10. Caroline was so (10)_______________ when she first saw the painting that she decided to study art history

KEY

1. ornate

2. prominent

3. foreground.

4. doorway

5. scenes

6. groundbreaking

7. inspection

8. merely

9. reflection

10. astounded

MEH p 14. Art and Entertainment. Key Word Transformations

1. If this were not enough, the ad is terribly boring.
EXCRUCIATINGLY
On ______________________________________________________ tedious.



KEY
1. On top of all this, the ad is excruciatingly tedious.


 
2. Apparently the advert looks very attractive, but it is actually another slushy Christmas ad.
ALLURING
At _________________________________________ fact it is actually another corny Christmas ad.



 KEY


2. At first sight the advert looks very alluring, but in fact it is actually another corny Christmas ad.

3. Due to the unconvincing acting, you can give the advert a miss.
IMPLAUSIBLE
Owing ___________________________________________________ given a miss.



KEY
3. Owing to the implausible acting, the advert can be given a miss.

4. Notwithstanding the low budget, the film was completely absorbing from start to finish.
ENGROSSED
In __________________________________________________________ the film from start to finish.



KEY


4. In spite of the low budget, people were completely engrossed by the film from start to finish  




5. The advert's storyline was nowhere near as gripping as people had expected.
LIKE
The advert's storyline ________________________________________________ been expected. 


KEY



5. The advert's storyline was nothing like as gripping as it had been expected.  




6. The students found the book both highly informative and thought-provoking.
ENLIGHTENING
Not ___________________________________________________________ thought.



KEY


6. Not only did the students find the book highly enlightening but also food for thought.
 
 Write two more sentences using words and expressions from our last session:
7. ______________
8._______________

The friends would not have laughed so much if they had been bored

HAD

__________________________________________________loud

Had the friends been bored, they wouldn't have laughed out loud

She loves Christmas and she is a party animal

MAD

Not_____________________________________ she is also a party animal

Not only is she a mad Christmas enthusiast but she is also a party animal

As soon as the car engine stopped the baby started to whine

NO

________________________________________ to whine

No sooner had the car engine stopped than the baby started to whine

The whole speech was completely underwhelming

OVERWHELMING

All _________________________ at all

All the speech wasn't overwhelming at all