HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

GENERAL ENGLISH · IELTS COURSE · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER
GAMES

QrrkoD Scan to review worksheet

Expemo code:
1D3X-242L-58DC

1 Warm up

You are going to listen to some students talking about the history of computer games. Match these
words with their meanings.

1. gamepad a. A type of electronic entertainment for people to play in a public place like
a bar.
2. joystick b. A unit with the software instructions for playing an electronic game.

3. arcade game c. A very large and powerful computer that many people use together.

4. cartridge d. You put this into a machine to play an electronic game.

5. mainframe e. You use this to control a computer game by moving a stick in different
directions.
6. console f. You use this to control a computer game by pressing buttons.

Complete the sentences with a word from the box. The * symbol marks academic vocabulary.

format* / franchise / genre / preliminary* / surplus

1. I can’t wait for the next film in the Marvel Superhero to come out!
2. The only music that I can’t stand is heavy metal.
3. The shop had a of winter coats, so this one was a real bargain!
4. This report has a strong visual which makes it easy to understand.
5. We need to do more research, but our findings show that the drug works.

What do you know about the early history of computers and computer games?

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 1/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER GAMES

2 Before you listen

You are going to practise an IELTS exam listening task with matching and multiple-choice questions.
First, read the information about this section and the tips for answering these question types.

Information: Section 3 of the IELTS listening exam

• This is a conversation between two or three people in an academic setting. You are being
tested on how well you follow the ideas being discussed.
• On the exam, you only hear the recording once.
• On the day of the exam, you will have ten minutes at the end of the listening to record
your answers on the answer sheet.

Tips:

• Get ready by looking through the instructions and questions and listening to the
introduction.
• Matching questions - the list of numbered questions follows the order of the information
in the recording. You will often be listening for detailed information.
• Multiple choice questions – these questions often test your understanding of detailed
factual information, as well as attitude and opinion.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 2/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER GAMES

3 IELTS Listening Section 3

Which of these early computer games did these people develop? Choose five answers from the box
and write the correct letter next to questions 1-5.

Part 1

Early computer games

A) Asteroids E) chess

B) Pac Man F) Knights of the Old Republic

C) Pong G) Space Invaders

D) Spacewar H) Tennis for Two

1. Alan Turing
2. William Higinbotham
3. Bob Saunders
4. Allan Alcorn
5. Tomohiro Nishikado

Part 2 Choose the correct letter, a, b or c.

1. The earliest arcade games ...

a. could also be played at home.

b. didn’t show much diversity.
c. were designed for women and girls.

2. In 1983, the games industry crashed because ...

a. companies couldn’t supply enough games to customers.

b. people were tired of playing computer games.
c. many games weren’t very good.

3. After the crash, the games industry ...

a. brought out games with stronger storylines.

b. introduced joystick controls.
c. provided text-based adventure games.

4. Parents became concerned about ...

a. how violent some story-driven games were.

b. the amount of time their children spent playing games.
c. whether the games would affect their children’s eyesight.

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 3/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER GAMES

5. The students notice that today’s popular computer games ...

a. share a few similar features with early games.

b. use the same basic design and characters as the early games.
c. are completely different to early games.

4 Language in context

Read these sentences from the listening and choose the best option to explain the meaning of the
phrases in bold. The * symbol marks academic vocabulary.

1. In parallel* with the development of multi-player shooting games in the 1970s, people like Will
Crowther and Dan Woods were working on text-based adventure games.

a. as a reason for
b. as a result of
c. happening at the same time

2. These games developed in lockstep with improvements in graphics and memory.

a. at the same time and speed

b. by the same people
c. in the same way

3. We could say something about how the basic building blocks of the early games are still being
used by their descendants.

a. the cause or reason for something

b. the first type of something
c. the most important things that combine to make something happen or exist

5 Speaking

Part 1: You are going to practise an IELTS exam speaking task. First, read the information about this
section and the tips for answering these question types.

Information: Part 3 of the speaking exam

• The examiner asks you questions about a topic related to the short talk you gave in
Part 2.
• This is meant to be a discussion between you and the examiner.
• This stage lasts 4-5 minutes and you might answer 6-8 questions.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 4/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER GAMES

Tips:

• Listen carefully for the topics and themes of the questions.

• Give reasons and examples, and if you can, try to explore contrasting ideas as well.
• Remember that the exam is about your English level, not about how much you know
about a subject.

Before you speak, read the five questions below and decide which could relate to the theme of
change.

Speaking part 3

1. Do you think playing computer games is a good way for people to spend their time?
2. How has your own use of computer games changed over time?
3. Do you think that violent computer games contribute to violence in society?
4. What can young people learn from playing computer games online?
5. How can we use computer games in education?

Now, answer the questions above, using your own ideas and words/phrases that express change
where appropriate.

Remember to explain your opinions using reasons and examples and explore other points of view
where you can.

When you finish speaking, think about how you could do better next time. Choose one area from the
box that you want to improve. Then answer the questions again, making that improvement.

• Content: include better ideas or develop them more.

• Vocabulary: include more relevant vocabulary related to the topic or the theme of
change.
• Grammar: be more accurate with structures.
• Pronunciation: be clear enough to understand.
• Self-presentation: make eye contact, use confident body language or speak more
fluently.

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 5/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

COMPUTER GAMES

6 Optional extension

Section 3 of the Listening sometimes tests your understanding of attitude and opinion. Read this
set of alternative questions which relate to the conversation you heard earlier. Can you recall the
answers? Listen again to check your ideas.

Choose the correct letter, a, b or c.

1. Tony thinks that Space Invaders is ...

a. a game that he’d like to play again.

b. a classic game.
c. a game that he’d like to try.

2. How does Miriam respond when Becca mentions the North American video game crash?

a. She says that she was going to explain this.

b. She doesn’t know anything about it.
c. She asks what it’s about.

3. Tony thinks that text-based adventure games are ...

a. difficult to write.
b. out of date.
c. boring.

4. Tony and Becca agree that ...

a. adventure games need good stories.

b. adventure games need good graphics.
c. adventure games use a lot of computer memory.

5. Tony suggests concluding the report by using information ...

a. from his own research.

b. from Miriam and Becca’s research.
c. from Miriam’s research.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 6/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in ANTHONY School's lessons.