SESSION 12: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 12: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES.

THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

1.1 TRUE/FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):
a. People who study the future predicted this year will be great.
b. More poor people will no longer be poor.
c. One expert predicted very bad things for the environment.
d. A new solar-powered car called the Tesla will go on sale.
e. The most common New Year’s resolution is to save more money.
f. Many of us will try not to text or use mobile phones when with family.
g. Experts believe many people will keep resolutions to get fit until June.
h. Studying English more is an important resolution for many people.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. experts ........ a. anticipated
2. predict ........ b. appeared
3. access to ...... c. specialists
4. awaited ....... d. survey
5. brush up on ... e. forecast
6. poll ............ f. instead of
7. rather than ... g. improve
8. resolve ........ h. (the) use of
9. featured ...... i. keep
10. stick to ...... j. decide

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. This is welcome ..................................... a. applications
2. a greater number of people with access ........ b. will resolve to do
3. the world's largest solar ........................... c. of debt
4. cool websites and .................................. d. our New Year’s resolutions
5. brush up ............................................. e. to computers
6. It seems more of us will keep .................... f. on spelling
7. spend more quality ................................ g. news
8. The second most popular thing we .............. h. time with family
9. many of us could ................................... i. power plant
10. getting out ........................................ j. keep this promise

1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:

ACCESS - COOL - LIFTED - BRUSH - PREDICT - PLANT - LOOKED - WELCOME

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions ____________ 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is ____________ news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people ____________ out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with ____________ to computers. One expert ____________ forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power ____________ and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more ____________ websites and applications for students to ____________ up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

QUALITY - DEBT - SEEMS - GET - STICK - POLL - GIVING - FRONT

It ____________ more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day ____________, the top resolution is to spend more ____________ time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in ____________ of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is ____________ fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before ____________ up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of ____________ and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and ____________ to your resolutions.