Unit 1 Lessons for

life
A Tuareg tribesman prays at twilight, Libya
Photograph by Bobby Model

FE A T U R E S 1 Work in pairs. Look at the photo and the Tuareg proverbs.

What do these tell you about the Tuareg outlook on life?
10 Learning from the Bet er to walk without knowing where than to sit doing nothing. In
past
life, it is always possible to reach agreement in the en .
The lessons we learn from
experience and from others 2 1.1 Listen to two people talking about important lessons
they have learned in life. Answer the questions.
12 Who do you think
1 What lesson have they tried to follow?
you are? 2 What experience illustrated the importance of the
Understanding what lesson?
defines who we are 3 Which lesson is similar to one of the Tuareg proverbs?

14 Immortal words 3 1.1 Complete the phrases the speakers use to describe life
lessons. Then listen and check.
The language of 1 The most lesson anyone has ever taught
Shakespeare me … principle for me …
2 That’s become a sort of .
18 Arctic 3 It’s me in very good .
wisdom 4 Here’s a good rule of than .
5 But it’s a lot easier of not reacting too quickly to
A video about how Inuit 6 I always make a
elders pass on their things I disagree with.
knowledge 4 Think of an occasion when you learned an important lesson.
Describe what happened to your partner. What did you do
about it? What principle do you now try to follow?

TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY BLUFF  PRESENTING YOURSELF 9
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
 reading words of wisdom • language focus time phrases • speaking your favourite saying

1a Learning from the past

Reading
1 Work in pairs. Read the quotation. Do
you think this is good advice? Is it
easy to act on? Discuss with
your partner.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t
live long enough to make them all yours lf.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Diplomat

2 Read the article. Match the people with

the types of lesson they taught (a–
c). There is one extra type of lesson.
1 Confucius
2 Nelson Mandela L E A R N I N G F
a. a lesson that is difficult to act on
b. a lesson that has been
R O MT H E P
misinterpreted A S T
c. a lesson that has been forgotten

3 Read the article again. According to the Why do we never seem to learn the lessons of the past? e
text, are the sentences true (T) or false actions of others could point the way for us in the future. But
either we forget these lessons or we deliberately choose to
(F)?
misinterpret them, or knowing them, we simply fail to act on
3 Sometimes people don’t want to them.
understand the lessons of the past.
4 A lot of Chinese people feel that their Because of the
traditional economic
values boom in China, its government has
of harmony,
society has turned its back on the past. becomeand
respect worried
hard in recent
work years
have beenabout sel sh motives
5 China’s rapid development has begun overtaking
lost.years
few So a ago society. Many Chinese have been‘Consideration
the government saying for some
time that the
focused attention again on the for others is the
to slow down.
6 Nelson Mandela wanted the two sides teachings
Confucius,ofthe ancient basis of a good
in South Africa to stop fighting. philosopher.
Prior to the 1990s, Confucianism life,good
a
7 Mandela was not opposed to violence had
not been fashionable, but now, in a society.’
in principle. country which is currently developing at a dizzying speed, it o
8 The writer suggests that most people ers a sense of stability and order. e Confucian saying that
are too selfish. nowadays sums up the government’s philosophy is ‘harmonious
society’.
4 Find expressions in the article for these
definitions. Sometimes it is d i cult to learn from the past because the
9 show the right direction standards of the ‘teacher’ are so high. is is certainly the case
with Nelson Mandela, who preached the message of
(paragraph 1)
reconciliation to two sides in South Africa who hated each other
10 summarises an idea or approach
deeply.
committed to peace, and while he was
(paragraph 3) ‘If you want to
Mandela
living had always
in prison, been ideologically
he became
11 work hard towards a goal
determined
that reconciliation was the only way make peace
(paragraph 5) to
unite his divided
12 copy someone’s behaviour with your
country:
(paragraph 5) All those who strive for peace know enemy,
have to workyou
paying
13 WORDBUILDING
attentionsuffix -ness
to danger that in the long term they will have with your
We(paragraph
can add -ness to5)the end of an adjective to make to
begin this dialogue. Yet few are able to
nouns describing human qualities. kindness,
enemy.’
follow the example set by Mandela, because it requires such a
thoughtfulness, unselfishness high degree of unsel shness. It seems that heeding this warning –
For further information and practice, see
not to be sel sh – is perhaps the hardest lesson of all for people to
Workbook page 11. learn.
dizzying (adj) /ˈdɪziɪŋ/ very fast and confusing
reconciliation (n) /ˌrek(ə)nsɪlɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ making peace and re-
establishing relations

10
 Unit 1 Lessons for life

Language focus time phrases 7 Complete the sentences by writing facts

about yourself. Then exchange this
5 Look at the article. Identify the verb that accompanies these information with your partner.
time phrases and name the tense used in each case.
1 Currently I …
1 in recent years 5 currently 2 A few years ago, I …
2 for some time 6 nowadays 3 I … for several years.
3 a few years ago 7 while 4 Sooner or later I …
4 prior to the 1990s 8 in the long term 5 Generally I …
 TIME PHRASES Currently I’m looking for a new job.
Certain time phrases are commonly (but not always) used with certain
tenses.
Present simple 8 Work with a new partner. Tell your
often, never, every week, generally new partner two interesting facts
Present continuous you learned about your
now, at the moment, this week first partner.
Past simple
three days ago, last week, at the time
Speaking
Past continuous
while, at the time 9 Match the two parts of these English
Present perfect simple sayings. Use the time phrases to
already, just, recently, so far, over the last two years, how long, for, since, ever, help you, where
never
necessary.
Present perfect continuous
how long, for, since 1 The only easy day was …
Past perfect simple and continuous 2 You always …
already, before that, up to then 3 It will all be OK …
will, going to and present continuous for future 4 No one has ever …
next week, in three days’ time, soon, on Friday 5 Don’t sweat …
a. … become poor by giving.
For further information and practice, see page 157. b. … yesterday.
c. … have a choice.
6 Work in pairs. Look at the language focus box. Choose the d. … the small stuff.
10 Work
e. … in
in groups.
the end. Discuss your favourite
correct time phrase to complete the sentences. Then compare sayings. Follow these steps:
answers with your partner. Sometimes there is more than one
answer. • Think of a saying from your country
or from English that you like or has
at the moment at the time before that ever helped you in life.
for some time in the coming years nowadays • Write the saying on a piece of paper.
often over the last 25 years 50 years ago • Put all the sayings in a pile in the
middle.
a Military service was compulsory in the UK • Take turns to take a paper and read
1
. But 2 young people the saying.
have to go to the
don’t
army. I think this will change • Together discuss the meaning and
3
because there is a feeling that young people guess whose favourite saying it is.
need the discipline that military service gives you. Ask the person why they chose it.
b 4 people have definitely become more greedy.
I’ve been arguing 5 that it is not
acceptable for the president of a bank to earn 150 times
what a cashier earns.
c People 6 complain that young people don’t
show respect to their elders anymore. I’m having the same
debate with my daughter 7 . She says you
can’t just demand someone’s respect; you have to earn it.
d When I was 40 I decided to stop working so hard.
8
, I was working 60 hours a week and
I was exhausted. It was the best decision that I have
9
made. 10 I had had no
to spend with mytimefamily or just to enjoy life.

TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY BLUFF  PRESENTING YOURSELF 11
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
 listening defining who you are • idioms irreversible word pairs • pronunciation linking in idiomatic phrases •
language focus the perfect aspect • speaking personality types

1b Who do you think you

are?

A Paris painter next to his self-portrait

Photograph by Bruno Schlumberger

Listening 4 1.2 Listen again and choose the correct

option (a–c) to complete the sentences.
1 Work in pairs. Look carefully at the photo
1 Anne’s friends feel … about her commitment to animal
and caption. Discuss the questions.
rights.
1 Did the painter want his photo taken? a surprised b angry c defensive
Explain why / why not. 2 Children are defined by their … qualities.
2 What image of himself is the painter a individual b adult c shared
projecting through his self-portrait? 3 Teenagers like to define themselves by
what … .
2 Which of the following factors are most a they like b their friends like c
important in defining who you are? they don’t like
Discuss with your partner. 4 For John the important thing about his job is that it is
a. your friends … . a comfortable
a eating habits b b secure c cwork
society independent
tasks
b. your interests/hobbies 56 Jack
Sarahfinds
studies Bonoboto…commit
it difficult . to … .
c. your work a relationships b new environments c his work
d. your cultural background
e. your outlook on life Idioms irreversible word pairs
f. your beliefs and values
g. your life experiences 5 Look at these three irreversible word pairs from the talk.
Choose the correct option.
3 1.2 Listen to a talk by a
sociologist describing how we define 1 What defines them foremost and first / first and foremost is
ourselves. Tick (✓) the factors in the fact that …
Exercise 2 the sociologist mentions. 2 He picks up work as and when / when and as he can.
Which is the most important, according 3 He has been doing pieces and bits / bits and pieces of
to him? carpentry and building work.

12
 Unit 1 Lessons for life

6 Work in pairs. Look at the irreversible word pairs in bold 9 Work in pairs. Look at the language
in the sentences (1–4) and match them one with these focus box. Then explain the difference in
definitions. meaning between these pairs of sentences.

all one’s efforts basic control of crime in general 1 a I’ve travelled a lot in my time.
nowadays objections small things a state of calm b I travelled a lot in my 20s.
2 a I’ve been wondering whether to
1 The builders still have a few odds and ends to finish off, join the Red Cross.
but by and large they’ve done a great job. b I am wondering whether to join
2 After three days of unrest, law and order has been the Red Cross.
restored and there is peace and quiet on the streets 3 a By this time next year I will have
again. retired from teaching.
3 Sorry, no ifs and buts. We’ve decided to sell the b This time next year I will retire
company. You can’t be sentimental in this day and age. from teaching.
4 It’s a rough and ready film, made on a small budget, 4 a When I left school, I had decided
but the actors put their heart and soul into their to become an actor.
performances. b When I left school, I decided to
7 Pronunciation linking in idiomatic phrases become an actor.

a. 1.3 Listen to the word pairs in Exercise 6. Note a) how 10 1.4 Choose the most
the words are linked and b) the pronunciation of and. appropriate option to complete these
sentences. Then listen and check.
1 odds ‿ and ‿ ends
1 Oscar’s a dreamer. Each evening he
b. Work in pairs. Practise reading the sentences in Exercise has been spending / spends hours
6. reading astronomy magazines, hoping
to become an astronaut one day.
Language focus the perfect aspect 2 Kate’s a worrier. When I first met her,
she had just left / just left her job and
8 Look at the sentences from the talk (1–4) and match them has been wondering / was wondering
with the times they describe (a–d). what to do with her life.
1 Sarah has visited Central Africa many times to study 3 Ben’s a free spirit. I imagine he will
Bonobo apes. have settled / will settle down one day.
2 Frank has been collecting coins since he was a boy. But he will have done / will do a lot
3 Jack will have been just about everywhere by the time more than the rest of us by then.
he’s 60. 4 I like to think of myself as a doer.
4 Anne had never even owned a pet before she joined the I have written / wrote eight books so
Animal Defence League. far and now I have been working / am
a. look back from now at something that started in the past working on my ninth.
and is still continuing 5 Harry’s a joker. For a long time he'd
b. look back from a point in the future to a completed action been joking / he was joking about joining
c. look back from a point in the past to an earlier event the army, so his friends were shocked
d. look back from now to a completed action at an to hear he actually had.
indefinite time in the past

 THE PERFECT ASPECT Speaking

‘Aspect’ describes not the time of an event but the speaker’s perspective. In the 11 Work in groups. Look at the expressions
perfect aspect the important thing is the time the speaker is looking back from. to describe types of people. Discuss their
Present perfect simple meaning.
He hasn’t committed to another relationship since they split up.
Present perfect continuous a chatterbox a a control freak a doer a
He has been moving from place to place, doing various jobs. dreamer drifter a fighter
Past perfect simple a free spirit a a go-getter a joker
He had run his own business before he joined Microsoft. planner an outgoing type a
Past perfect continuous worrier
She had been waiting a long time for such an opportunity.
Future perfect simple
12 Choose expressions that describe you, a
Three years from now, he will have left school. friend or a member of your family. Give
examples of behaviour that support this.

People often describe me as a chatterbox because I

For further information and practice, see page 157.
can’t stop talking!

TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY BLUFF  PRESENTING YOURSELF 13
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
 reading the language of Shakespeare • critical thinking developing an argument • word focus life •
speaking call my bluff

1c Immortal words
Reading Word focus life
1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions. 8 Look at the article again. Find two expressions
1 Who are the great writers in your country’s with life that mean the following.
history? Do you know any famous quotations 1 realistic 2 to animate or make
from their work? alive
2 Is Shakespeare well-known in your country?
3 What Shakespeare plays do you know the names 9 Work in pairs. Look at the expressions in bold
of? What do you know about them? with life and discuss what they mean.
4 Do you know any famous quotations from 1 I sold my old Citroen 2CV car last year for
Shakespeare plays? £300. Now I’ve just read that they have
2 Read the article about the language of Shakespeare. become really collectable. Story of my life!
According to the author, why are Shakespeare’s 2 He was larger than life and would always
plays still so popular today? light up a room with his presence.
3 Work stress is just a fact of life these days –
3 Read the article again and answer the questions. you have to learn to deal with it.
1 What adjective describes what England was like 4 It was a very interesting conference. There
in Shakespeare’s time? (para 1) were people there from all walks of life –
2 What new element did Shakespeare bring to play writers, students, business people.
writing, according to Bloom? (para 2) 5 My daughter was worried about going to
3 What two words describe how Shakespeare university, but actually she’s having the time
conveyed his observations about life? (para 2) of her life.
4 What expression tells you that Shakespeare 6 Thanks for driving me to the station – it was
created new words and expressions? (para 3) a real life-saver. I’d have missed my train
5 What has happened to the phrase ‘the be all and otherwise.
end all’ over time? (para 4) 10 Work in groups. Think of a personal example for
6 What two qualities have helped Shakespeare’s
two of the phrases in Exercise 9.
words to survive? (para 5)
Not doing well in exams has been the story of
4 Look at the phrases in the article taken from Michael my life!
Macrone’s book (listed after paragraph 3). Match
the phrases with the definitions (a–h).

a. past its best f. something sad to see Speaking

b. show your feelings g. in one single action
11 Work in two groups of three. You are going to
c. anything is possible h. arriving back at the
play a game called Call my bluff. Each group
d. unimportant starting point
looks at a set of words coined by Shakespeare
e. the result is obvious
and follows the steps below.
Group A: Turn to page 153. Look at the words and
Critical thinking developing an definitions.
argument Group B: Turn to page 154. Look at the words and
5 The writer uses the views of other commentators definitions.
to develop his argument about Shakespeare’s • For each word, rewrite the true definition in
enduring popularity. What reasons, if any, do these your own words, then write two more false
commentators give for Shakespeare’s popularity? definitions. For each definition, write an
a. scholars c. Michael Macrone example sentence.
b. Harold Bloom d. Ben Jonson • Group A reads the three definitions and
example sentences of the first word to Group
6 Work in pairs. Find evidence for what the author B. Group B has to guess which is the true
thinks about each of the commentators in definition.
Exercise 5. • Now it is Group B’s turn to read the three
definitions of their first word and for Group
7 What is the author’s own conclusion and which A to guess which is the true definition.
commentator does he agree with most? • Repeat until all the words have been read and
guessed.
14
 Unit 1 Lessons for life

The 16th-century dramatist Ben Jonson generously called Shakespeare has been dead almost 400 years, but the
his rival Shakespeare a writer ‘not of an age, but for all words and sayings attributed to him still colour the
time’. And so it has proved to be, for Shakespeare’s plays English language today. His plays also expanded on the
are still the most translated and most performed of any audience’s vocabulary. So whether you are ‘fashionable’
playwright’s in the world. But if you ask people what or ‘sanctimonious,’ thank Shakespeare, who probably
accounts for Shakespeare’s enduring popularity, you will coined the terms. In fact, it is amazing just how great
get a number of different answers. Some will say that he Shakespeare’s influence on everyday language has been.
was a great storyteller, others that the magic lies in the Take, for example, these phrases from Michael Macrone’s
beauty of his poetry. Some scholars point out that he was light-hearted book Brush Up Your Shakespeare:
born in a very vibrant period in England’s history, a time
foregone conclusion seen better days
both of great national confidence and of cultural activity,
full circle a sorry sight
particularly in the theatre. As a consequence, they claim,
at one fell swoop neither here nor there
he was able to produce an extraordinary volume of
wear my heart upon my the world is (my) oyster
work.
sleeve
This last explanation seems rather unsatisfactory. A
more interesting answer is put forward, albeit a little Macrone is more interested in what Shakesperean
over-enthusiastically, by Harold Bloom in his book language has survived than the reasons for its
Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. Bloom argues that popularity. According to his research, some of these
Shakespeare gave us something in his writing that the sayings have strayed slightly from their original
world had not seen in literature before – characters with meaning once taken out of the context of the plays in
a strong personality. These lifelike characters give us a which they first appeared. For example, the phrase ‘the
real insight into the human condition: Iago, the trusted be all and end all’ is used today to mean ‘the most
advisor of Othello, whose jealousy of others leads him to important thing’, but in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it means
betray his honest master; Rosalind, the heroine in As You ‘the end of the matter’.
Like It,to who
true her remains
friends Regardless of such technicalities, it is still remarkable
‘But love is blind, and
and family in spite of that so many of Shakespeare’s words have survived the
lovers cannot see.’
the danger to herself. large shifts in language between the time that they were
The Merchant of
Through the mouths Venice written and the present day. The beauty of those words
of such characters, we is certainly one reason for this, but as his fellow
learn truths about life ‘There is nothing either good or playwright
relevance ofBen
theirJonson suggested,
message that it is the humanity
that we can all identify bad, but thinking makes it so.’ and enduring
brings them to life and keeps albeit (conj) /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/
with. These truths are them current. even if it is/was
made more moving Hamlet insight (n) /ˈɪnsaɪt/
new understanding
and more memorable ‘Talking isn’t doing. It is a kind stray (v) /streɪ/ wander
by the way in which of good deed to say well; and
they are phrased –
yet words are not deeds.’
both succinctly and
Henry
poetically. VIII

Imm or t
w o
TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY
BLUFF
 PRESENTING YOURSELF 15
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
 real life presenting yourself • speaking skill keeping going • pronunciation rhythm

1d Tell me about yourself

Real life presenting yourself
1 Work in pairs. Read the definition of brand below
and answer the questions.
1 What brands can you think of?
2 Which are your favourite brands and why?

brand (n) /brænd/ 1 a particular name of a product or a

manufacturer; 2 a particular set of characteristics to identify a
product or manufacturer

2 What do you think a ‘personal brand’ is? Discuss

with your partner. Then read the text below and
compare your ideas.

Just as a company promotes a consumer brand to 5 What other strategies do you use to keep talking
customers through advertising, so an individual can when you feel nervous or under pressure? Discuss
promote themselves through their CV, their profile on with your partner.
a social networking site, their own website, and at
interview. This is known as ‘personal branding’. 6 Pronunciation content words
Successful personal branding involves recognising your
particular characteristics and skills, and then shouting a. 1.6 Look at the first three sentences of Katy's
about these. Here are five tips for creating your personal introduction. Think about what the content words
brand: are, i.e. the words that carry the meaning. Then
1 Identify your most important qualities. They listen and underline the content words she stresses
don’t have to be spectacular (sociable, a and slows down for.
good explainer, etc.).
‘OK, so I’m Katy. I’m 24 years old and I’m a very
2 Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be something you active person. I don’t just mean that I play a lot
are not.
of sports – although I do run and go to the gym
3 Show passion. We are all passionate about several times a week. What I mean is that … I’m a
something (computer games, knitting, person who likes to get involved in things.’
etc.).
4 List your achievements. You may not be so b. Work in pairs. Practise reading the sentences with
interested in your past, but others are. the same stress and rhythm.
5 A brand is an image, so present yourself as you
would like to see yourself. 7 Work in pairs. Read the description of the charity
and prepare to present yourself as a potential
3 1.5 Listen to an extract from an interview for employee. Roleplay the interview. Use the notes in
a job with a housing charity. The candidate, Katy, Exercise 2 and the phrases in the box to help you
presents herself to the interviewer. How well does keep going.
she follow the guidelines in Exercise 2?

4 Speaking skill keeping going

1.5 Katy paused at one point to think about
Oxtail Housing
Passionate about communities | Diversity at work champion
what she was going to say next. Listen again and
say which phrases in the box she used to deal with We own and manage over 12,000 properties, providing
this pause. accommodation and care services to vulnerable
people: the elderly, disabled and young.
 KEEPING GOING We have a wide range of career opportunities in
Sorry, let me just look at my notes … Ah, yes … all aspects of housing management and
Excuse me, I’ll just take a sip of water … maintenance, marketing, business management
Sorry, I lost the thread … Sorry, and care services roles. Interested? Give us a call.
I’ll begin that again …
Now, where was I? Ah, yes … So,
as I was saying …

16 TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY BLUFF  PRESENTING YOURSELF
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
writing a covering letter • writing skill fixed expressions Unit 1 Lessons for life

1e A letter of application
Writing a covering letter
1 Work in pairs. Read the letter of
application. Find and underline the
Dear Mr Fairburn
following key elements of a
covering letter. Compare In response to your advertisement in last Tuesday’s
your answers. Guardian newspaper for a Trainee accounts
1 the job applied for manager, please find enclosed my CV. The job
2 where and when it was attracted me because it emphasised that your
advertised company had great opportunities for people who
3 the candidate’s current situation were keen to learn. I also know that your company is
4 why the writer is a good a world leader in the creation of innovative products.
candidate
5 where and when the candidate can As a recent graduate from university, I am well aware
be contacted that I still have much to learn and it is exactly this kind
6 thanks for their time of challenging environment that I am seeking. You will
also see from my CV that I am someone who believes
2 Look at the statements about a covering
1 Keep it short. The letter should in getting results. My two proudest achievements are
letter. Using the letter as a model, raising over £15,000 for a local charity and finishing
basically just refer the reader to your
are the statements true (T) the London Marathon.
CV.
or false (F)?
2 Show interest in the reader and
Regarding the other requirements you mention, I think
knowledge of the organisation you
are writing to. I am a suitable candidate as:
3 Just mention your general suitability • I have a degree in Economics
for the job. The letter should not • I am flexible about where in the south-east I work
respond to specific requirements the • I have good organisational skills, acquired when I
company has listed.
4 The letter should give a personal was
touch to your application. Treasurer of the Student Social Committee
I am available for interview at any time. Thank you
3 Writing skill fixed expressions for considering this application and please do not
The writer follows the conventions hesitate to contact me at any time by phone or in
of letter writing by using certain writing if you have questions about any of the above.
fixed expressions. Find words and I look forward to hearing from you.
expressions in the letter with the
following meanings. Yours sincerely
a. I am looking for P M
b. I am sending
Philip Morrissey
c. a good person to consider for the job
d. I am free to come
e. the things you say you need 5 Exchange letters with your partner. Look at their letter as if
f. I am writing to apply for the post you were the employer. Use these questions to check your
advertised letters.
g. please feel free to
• Is it well organised? Does it include all the key points?
h. I was interested in the job
• Is it grammatically correct and without spelling
4 Write a covering letter to Oxtail mistakes?
Housing, the company described on • Does it use appropriate fixed expressions?
page 16. • Do the skills offered match the needs of the
organisation?
• Is it interesting and does it have a personal touch?
• Would you call this person for an interview?

TALK ABOUT  YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING  PERSONALITY TYPES  CALL MY BLUFF  PRESENTING YOURSELF 17
WRITE  A COVERING LETTER
 1f Arctic wisdom

The phrase 'Respect your elders' is very

alive and well in Iqaluit.

18
 Unit 1 Lessons for life

Before you watch 6 Watch the third part of the video (03.40 to end)
and answer the questions.
1 Look at the photo and the map. Then choose the
1 What has happened to the Iqaluit population
options (a or b) that you think best describe this
in recent times? Why?
environment as a place to live. Give your
reasons.
1 a mild weather conditions 2 Name two things the woman mentions when
b harsh weather conditions talking about the key to a happy life.
2 a calm people
b stressed people 3 Why does she have a communication problem
3 a a traditional way of life with the younger generation?
b a modern way of life
4 a a population that’s getting younger 4 What is significant about the number 23?
b an ageing population
5 a a cut-off area 5 What was the main characteristic of the culture
b an area with good communication of the Inuit in the past?
links
2 Work in pairs. You are going to watch a film in 6 What does the narrator say is the key to these
which Inuit elders talk about their society and their people’s future?
relationship with the younger generation. Think of
three things they might say about modern life and
the younger generation.
After you watch
While you watch 7 Roleplay a meeting of generations
3 Watch the video and check your ideas from Work in groups.
Exercise 2.
Imagine you come from a small fishing
4 Watch the first part of the video (to 02.24) featuring community in a remote area in northern Canada.
an interview with the Mayor of Iqaluit. Answer An oil company wants to build a refinery near
the questions. your town. It will employ some local people but
also bring in a lot of workers from outside. You
1 What has happened to the elders in a short have a village meeting to decide if you should
time? oppose this idea or not. Divide into two groups.
Think about the effects the new oil refinery will
2 What is important about the elders? have on your community.
3 What phrase is alive in Iqaluit? Group A: Imagine you are the elders. Think about
the following.
4 How did the elders’ parents live? • preserving traditions
• the effect of newcomers on community life
5 How were traditions passed down between • looking after the older generation
generations? • the effect on the environment
Group B: Imagine you are the younger generation.
5 Watch the second part of the video (02.25 to 03.40) Think about the following.
and complete the summary. • preserving traditions
In the past, elders were 1 for the others • job opportunities
in
the community. Each one was an 2 on • opportunities to meet other people
aparticular area, helping the community to • the effect on the environment
3
: on the weather, on the environment,
Act out the meeting to discuss your feelings about
on different kinds of 4 . Inuits were
this proposal.
happy with the 5 . The woman’s mother
told her daughter that she would see many 8 Work in pairs. Are the advice and wisdom of
6
, but she said, ‘Never 7 elders highly respected in your society? Is this as
you are.’ who it should be? Why ? / Why not?

disproportionate (adj) /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃ(ə)nət/ unexpected or out of Iqaluit /ɪˈkæluːɪt/ the capital city of the Canadian territory of proportion (of a
number or amount) Nunavut
elders (n) /ˈeldəz/ the elder or senior members of a community pass on (v) /ˈpɑːs ɒn/ transfer from one person to another
infant mortality (n) /ˈɪnf(ə)nt mɔːˈtælɪti/ the rate of death self-esteem (n) /self ɪˈstiːm/ the opinion you have of yourself among children
aged 0–2 years

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 UNIT 1 REVIEW
Grammar Vocabulary
1 Read the article. What is a griot? What lesson did 4 Complete these idiomatic expressions.
the writer take away from his visit to
1 Jack is a than life character.
Timbuktu?
2 There was a great mix at the conference: people
2 Work in pairs. Choose the correct tense to from all of life.
complete the article. 3 I loved being at university. I had the
of my life there.
3 What stories did you read as a child that told you 4 Learning lessons from the past is easier said
lessons about life? Describe one to your than .
partner. 5 If you are annoyed with someone, a good rule
of is to speak to them, not write.
6 I have one guiding principle in life: don’t sweat
the stuff.

5 Work in pairs. Put the irreversible word pairs in

the correct order.
1 soul / and / heart 4 quiet / and / peace
2 large / and / by 5 day / and / age
3 first / and / foremost

6 Choose two of the word pairs in Exercise 5 and

make sentences about life.
I CAN
describe lessons in life
use irreversible word pairs
Some years ago I 1 visited / have visited Timbuktu in Mali.
Generally, people 2 are thinking / think of
Timbuktu as a desert town somewhere at the end of the world. Real life
But it 3 hasn’t always been / hadn’t always been this way. Once
7 Look at the phrases used for keeping going when
upon a time, Timbuktu 4 was / has been a thriving city and key
talking. Complete phrases b–e.
trading post, a place in Africa with a long history, rich with tales.
In the marketplace you get a sense of this: women in brightly a. I’ll begin that again.
coloured clothes selling produce of all kinds: peanuts, shoes, rice, b. I was saying, …
buckets. But my attention was drawn to a very old man who 5 c. I’ll just take a of water.
had sat / was sitting in a corner. A few others 6 have already d. I the thread.
gathered / had already gathered around him, so I joined them. He e. me just look at my notes.
was a griot, or traditional storyteller.
8 Match the underlined phrases with a phrase from
Griots 7 sing / have sung about kings and magicians, wars and
Exercise 7 (a–e) that has a similar meaning.
journeys. This is how Malians 8 learned / have learned about their
history for generations. He poured me a glass of tea and then I 9 9 Now where was I? ...
listened / have listened to him tell the story of King Mansa and 10 Sorry, I just need to check my facts …
the golden age of Timbuktu, a story he10 was telling / had told 11 Sorry, I forgot what I was about to say ...
countless times before. 12 I’d better rephrase that.
At the end, the griot 11 quoted / has quoted an old Mali saying: ‘To 13 Sorry, I just need to have a drink.
succeed you need three things – a brazier, time, and friends.’ The
9 Work in pairs. Present yourself briefly to each
brazier is to heat water for tea. Time and friends are what you need
other as if you were answering the question at an
to share stories. It’s a lesson that 12 will stay / will have stayed with
interview: ‘So tell me a little about yourself.’
me for a long time.
I CAN
present myself as if at an interview keep
going when I feel under pressure

I CAN Speaking
combine time phrases and tenses
10 Work in pairs. Talk about a successful or
use the perfect aspect to look back at events and actions unsuccessful interview you’ve had. Why did it
work out this way? What did you do right or
wrong?

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