From: Vicky · I’ve got some amazing news! Last week my parents asked me what I wanted for my 18th birthday, and I told them I was dying to do something really different. 1 They’ve

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Reading

English plus Upper-Intermediate Extra fast finishers • Units 7–9

Extra fast finishers7–91 Read the email about a trip to the Caribbean. Five sentences have been removed

from the email. Choose from the sentences (A–F) the one which best fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A It reminds me of those documentaries about marine life under the sea that I used to love watching when I was younger!

B I hope it’ll be bright enough to see them because we won’t be using torches! C I’m a good swimmer, so I don’t reckon I’ll have any problems learning to scuba dive. D Well, you’ll never guess what!E All this is actually making me think about doing marine biology at university, if the

exam grades to get on the course aren’t too high. F That’s when I’ll learn to dive!

2 Read the email again and answer the questions in your own words.

1 Why is Vicky so surprised? 2 Why did Vicky go online?3 Does Vicky care about the environment? Explain your answer.4 What two activities is Vicky especially looking forward to?5 What four things does Vicky hope will happen?

From: Vicky

Hi Laura!

I’ve got some amazing news! Last week my parents asked me what I wanted for my 18th birthday, and I told them I was dying to do something really different. 1 They’ve arranged for me to go on a Marine Conservation Programme in the Caribbean this summer. I couldn’t believe it when they told me because I’m not used to getting such great birthday presents from them – quite the opposite, in fact! The really great thing is that I’m going to learn to scuba dive! I’m SO excited! I’ve already checked out some photos of the area where I’ll be going on the Internet, and under the sea there’s this huge mountain range which is full of stunningly beautiful coral and sea creatures. 2

I really think areas like this need to be looked after and protected, and it’s great that I’ll be playing a small part in this.

In total I’m going to be out in the Caribbean for three weeks. First of all I have to get to Martin Island, which involves taking two planes and then a boat! Once I arrive there, I’ll be staying on a yacht a couple of miles off the island with the five other people on the programme. 3 We’ll also be given lessons about the ecology of the islands and why it’s being threatened. After that, we sail to St Barts Island, where I’ll get hands-on experience of the conservation work that’s being carried out there. One really cool thing we’ll do is to help out on the sea turtle monitoring programme, which will mean spending time on the beach at night. 4

By the time I come home I’ll be a certified scuba diver, and I’ll know a lot more about marine conservation. 5

This might seem like a crazy idea, but do you fancy coming with me? It’d be so cool if you were there, too!Love,Vicky

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35© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • PHOTOCOPIABLE

Reading 1 Read the article about two archaeological discoveries. For questions 1–5,

choose the best answer (A, B, C or D).

1 According to the text, archeological discoveries A help to explain the present. B often put into question our ideas about the past. C have considerably improved our understanding

of the past. D have been puzzling historians for 100 years.

2 The Nazca Lines A can be seen from space. B were first discovered in 1927. C have been the subject of speculation for

decades. D form one huge circle when viewed from above.

3 The Nazca people A had contact with aliens. B probably invented the hot air balloon. C lived in southern Peru. D were the dominant culture in Peru.

4 The rock which Valerios Stais examined A was one of the last to be studied from the

shipwreck. B was found on the Greek island of Antikythera. C contained the Antikythera mechanism. D turned out to be relatively uninteresting.

5 The Antikythera mechanism is interesting because

A it was found on a shipwreck. B it was used to predict the movement of the

sun and moon. C it’s similar to modern computers. D it has forced experts to reconsider a particular

aspect of the history of technology.

2 Read the article again and answer the questions in your own words.

1 In general, how have experts reacted to the two discoveries?2 What two theories have the Nazca Lines generated?3 Why weren’t archaeologists originally interested in the rock that Valerios Stais examined?4 What was the the Antikythera mechanism possibly used for?5 Why has the Antikythera mechanism fascinated researchers?


Extra fast finishers 7–9

When archaeology makes you think TWICEThe more we find out about our past, the more remarkable and mysterious it turns out to be. In particular, two intriguing discoveries made approximately 100 years ago have been puzzling researchers ever since they first came to light.

The Antikythera MechanismIn 1902, Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais was examining a rock that had been brought up from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera two years earlier. Most of the other artefacts from the wreck had already been studied by archaeologists, but this piece of rock looked so uninteresting that it hadn’t attracted any attention. However, what Stais discovered stuck in the rock was something quite unexpected – a metal gear-wheel from a clockwork mechanism. More fragments of the mechanism were gradually found, and archaeologists eventually assembled enough pieces to reconstruct a complex instrument, known today as the Antikythera mechanism. The device, which has been dated back to around 100BC, is believed to have been used by astronomers to predict the movement of the sun and moon. The use of gears in this mechanism has fascinated historians for decades, as it used to be thought this technology wasn’t invented until 1,400 years later.

The Nazca LinesIf you fly from Nazca to Palpa in southern Peru, an amazing sight greets your eyes as you look down from the plane: carved into the desert below are long straight lines that are connected to huge drawings of plants, people, birds, animals and all sorts of geometric shapes. These are the famous Nazca Lines, which are believed to have been made by the Nazca culture about 1,500 years ago. Since the Lines came to the attention of archaeologists in 1927, they have given rise to many outlandish theories. Some people maintain, for example, that it would have been impossible to create such perfect forms when seen from above if the Nazca people hadn’t discovered how to fly, perhaps in hot-air balloons. Others have even speculated that the lines were landing strips for alien spacecraft!


36 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • PHOTOCOPIABLE

4 Complete the texts with the words and expressions from Ex.3. Sometimes more than one is possible.

5 Write an essay (200–250 words) on the topic Do you think entrance to all museums and art galleries should be free? Present arguments for and against the idea and provide a conclusion.

1 , teachers should be better paid 2 they do a very important job. 3 , some people 4 my father don’t agree with me at all. He thinks that compared to many people, teachers get a very decent salary. 5 , he knows what he’s talking about 6 his job: he’s a teacher!

Writing 1 You are going to read an opinion essay about professional footballers’ salaries.

For questions 1–10, write one word which best fits each gap.

Essay question: Do you think professional footballers get paid too much?

Professional footballers 1 Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo are among the most famous people in the world. They are also among the highest paid. However, 2 we justify paying people millions of pounds for just kicking a football around a pitch?

On the one hand, it seems absurd to pay someone a fortune simply 3 they are exceptionally good at playing football. People who are exceptionally talented in other fields 4 are much more important to society, such as medicine, teaching or social work, are paid a fraction of what professional footballers receive.

Despite this, whether we like it or not, we live in a market economy 5 the law of supply and demand rules. This means that if players are paid a lot of money, it must be because they generate even more income for their employers, the football clubs. In addition, sport has become a truly global phenomenon and nowadays top performers in 6 the most popular sports make astronomical amounts of money. So it could be argued that world-class footballers are not being paid more than stars in other sports. Furthermore, becoming a top-level footballer is incredibly hard. It requires both exceptional talent and unswerving dedication and those who make 7 certainly deserve to be richly rewarded.

In my opinion, professional footballers are paid so much because 8 football’s worldwide attraction. If we don’t like this, we 9 blame the footballers. We should blame all the people around the world who are crazy about football. If it 10 for them, professional footballers wouldn’t be immensely rich.


Extra fast finishers7–9

2 Read the essay again and write the information in your own words.

■ Arguments against paying professional footballers a lot of money

■ Arguments in favour of paying professional footballers a lot of money

■ Conclusion

3 Put the words in the box in the correct categories 1–5 below.

furthermore because of such as we should also however on the one hand

because like despite this in addition in my opinion

1 Giving reasons2 Expressing an opinion or recommendation3 Giving examples4 Expressing contrast5 Adding a new point


37© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • PHOTOCOPIABLE

Writing 1 You are going to read an email about a trip. Five sentences have been

removed from the article. Choose from the sentences (A–F) the one which best fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A I’ve heard it’s really beautiful up there.B I’ve been given the number by Jason.C Well, I was talking to Jason yesterday, and he told me that he’d gone

raspberry picking in Scotland last summer.D The people on the farm were really nice, and he made lots of friends.E Are you revising like crazy for the exams?F Anyway, we’re 18 now so we can do what we want, can’t we?

2 Put the following points in the email in the correct order.a Propose a solution.b Ask how the other person is.c Say goodbye.

d Ask for feedback.e Say why you’re writing.f Describe the problem.

3 What do the following words in the email refer to?

1 they (line 3)2 it (line 4)3 It (line 7)

4 when he was there (line 12)5 that (line 14)

4 You and your English friend want to do something interesting over the summer before you both go to university. Write an email to your friend (200–250 words) suggesting some ideas and asking for his/her opinion.

To: Jed Beamish

From: Darren Townsend

Subject: Trip plans

Hey Jed!

How’s it going? 1 I know that I am … or at least I should be! I’ll be so glad when they’re over! I’m getting in touch about the summer trip we’ve been talking about. I don’t know if you’ve had any more ideas about it, but I’ve come up with something that might be good.

The thing is, at the moment we’re both broke, so we won’t be able to do much unless we get some money together first! 2 It sounds good as he said that he didn’t have to pay for food or accommodation because he was working on a farm. What do you think about doing that for three or four weeks, saving up some money, and then travelling round Scotland afterwards? 3 I thought we might climb up Ben Nevis and then take a ferry out to one of the islands. It does rain quite a bit, but Jason said the weather wasn’t too bad when he was there.

Can you let me know what you think? It’d mean being away from home for quite a long time, but I don’t think my parents would mind that at all. 4

It’d be good if you could get back to me soonish (either by email or on the phone) because I’d like to contact the farm if you’re interested. 5

Right, that’s all for now!

Cheers!

Darren

5

10

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38 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • PHOTOCOPIABLEEnglish plus Upper-Intermediate Extra fast finishers • Units 7–9

Speaking Student A

1 Complete the fact file by asking Student B questions to find the missing information.

What and where is it? Why is it special? Other information

1 in Mauritania, in the Sahara Desert

It’s a circular rock structure in the desert that’s 50 kilometres across.

Scientists used to think 2 had landed there.

Now, scientists believe that it used to be a volcano.

Pammukale in Turkey

There are seventeen natural hot water springs at Pammukale where people can 3 .

Some of the water is too hot to bathe in – 100°C!

4 (the famous ancient Egyptian ruler) used to swim here.

Lake Retbain Senegal, north-west Africa

The water is a very beautiful 5 colour because of plants that grow in the lake.

You can easily float on the lake because the water is so salty.

6 used to finish at Lake Retba before it moved to South America.

Uyuni Salt Flat7

It’s the world’s largest salt flat (10,582 square kilometres)

Uyuni Salt Flat is in the Andes, at 8 metres above sea level.

There used to be a hotel made of salt in the middle of Uyuni Salt Flat.

2 Talk with Student B about which of the four places you think is most attractive. Then come to an agreement on which one you will visit together.

Student B

1 Complete the fact file by asking Student A questions to find the missing information.

What and where is it? Why is it special? Other information

The Eye of Africa in Mauritania, in the Sahara Desert

It’s a circular rock structure in the desert that’s 1 kilometres across.

Scientists used to think a big rock from space had landed there. Now, scientists believe that it used to be 2 .

Pammukale 3

There are seventeen natural hot water springs at Pammukale where people can relax.

Some of the water is very hot. It gets to 4 ºC. Cleopatra (the famous ancient Egyptian ruler) used to swim here.

5 in Senegal, north-west Africa

The water is a very beautiful pink colour because of plants that live in the lake.

You can easily float on the lake because 6 .The Paris–Dakar race used to finish at Lake Retba before it moved to South America.

Uyuni Salt Flatin south-west Bolivia

It’s the world’s largest salt flat (7 km2)

Uyuni Salt Flat is in the Andes, at 3,656 metres above sea level.There used to be a 8 in the middle of Uyuni Salt Flat.

2 Talk with Student A about which of the four places you think is most attractive. Then come to an agreement on which one you will visit together.

Extra fast finishers7–9

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39© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • PHOTOCOPIABLE English plus Upper-Intermediate Extra fast finishers • Units 7–9

Speaking Student A

1 Read the 10 Secrets of Success. Which do you think are the most important? Which aren’t so important? Number them from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important).

2 Compare your answers with Student B, giving reasons for your opinions. Decide together on which one idea is the most important.

Student B

1 Read the 10 Secrets of Success. Which do you think are the most important? Which aren’t so important? Number them from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important).

2 Compare your answers with Student A, giving reasons for your opinions. Decide together on which one idea is the most important.

Secrets of Success

10Follow this advice, and anything is possible!

• Never say ‘I can’t.’

• Work hard.

• Eat well and take plenty of exercise.

• Never stop learning.

• Write down your goals and dreams.

• Focus on time and money.

• Don’t just sit there waiting for something

to happen. Take action!

• Go to bed early and get up early.

• Do what you want to do with your life,

not what other people think you should do.

• Don’t worry about making mistakes.

Secrets of Success

10Follow this advice, and anything is possible!

• Never say ‘I can’t.’

• Work hard.

• Eat well and take plenty of exercise.

• Never stop learning.

• Write down your goals and dreams.

• Focus on time and money. • Don’t just sit there waiting for something

to happen. Take action!

• Go to bed early and get up early. • Do what you want to do with your life,

not what other people want you to do.

• Don’t worry about making mistakes.


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Documents

From: Vicky · I’ve got some amazing news! Last week my parents asked me what I wanted for my 18th birthday, and I told them I was dying to do something really different. 1 They’ve