Imagine that you are discussing practical ways in which people can help to combat pollution. How effective is each of the five measures?
1. Read the task above and listen to two students doing the task. Answer the questions. Which three measures do the students agree will be particularly effective?
Answer
using more renewable energy, using public transport more often, using fewer pesticides and chemical fertiliser
Transcript
Examiner I’d like you to imagine that you are discussing practical ways in which people can help to combat pollution. How effective are each of the five suggestions?
Student 1 Shall we start with banning aerosol cans?
Student 2 OK. Personally, I would say that wouldn’t be particularly effective, because not many people use aerosol cans these days.
Student 1 Yes, I think you’re right. Although they damage the ozone layer in the atmosphere, I don’t think banning aerosols would make a huge difference. I’m of the opinion that using more renewable energy is a very effective measure because so much pollution is caused by burning fossil fuels to make electricity.
Student 2 Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. Personally, I’d say that banning cars from city centres is quite effective, but less so than using renewable energy.
Student 1 That’s not quite how I see it. I think the air in city centres can get really polluted, especially during the rush hour.
Student 2 Yes, good point, I suppose. I feel quite strongly that using public transport is very important because there would certainly be fewer cars on the road if we all took buses, trams, trains and so on.
Student 1 Yes, I think you’re right. We should all use public transport more often. The final measure is using fewer pesticides and chemical fertilisers. What do you think?
Student 2 That would definitely be a good measure, because they get into rivers and streams. Not only that, they can kill other plants and wildlife as well as the pests.
Student 1 I’m with you on that!
Examiner OK, thank you very much.
2. KEY PHRASES Match the sentence halves in each group below to make phrases.
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Starting a discussion |
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1 Shall we |
a with … , shall we? ◻ |
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2 Let’s begin |
b by talking about … ◻ |
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3 We could start |
c start with … ? ◻ |
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Expressing an opinion |
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4 I’m of the |
d chief consideration is … ◻ |
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5 For me, the |
e strongly that … ◻ |
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6 Personally, I’d |
f say that … ◻ |
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7 I feel quite |
g opinion that … ◻ |
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Adding an opinion |
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8 Not |
h only that, … ◻ |
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9 Yes, and another |
i also believe that … ◻ |
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10 Good point. And I |
j thing. … ◻ |
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Agreeing and disagreeing |
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11 Absolutely. I couldn’t |
k some extent. however, … ◻ |
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12 I’m with |
l agree more. ◻ |
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13 Yes, I think |
m you on that. ◻ |
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14 That’s true to |
n you’re right. ◻ |
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15 I’m not sure I |
o different view on that. ◻ |
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16 I take a rather |
p how I see it. ◻ |
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17 That’s not quite |
q agree. ◻ |
Answer
1 c 2 a 3 b 4 g 5 d 6 f 7 e 8 h 9 j
10 I 11 l 12 m 13 n 14 k 15 q 16 o 17 p
3. Listen again and tick the phrases in exercise 2 that you hear.
Answer
1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17
Transcript
See exercise 1.
4. Listen to students doing the second part of the task. Which two measures do they choose?
Answer
banning cars from city centres, using public transport more often
Transcript
Examiner Which are the two easiest measures to put into effect?
Student 1 In my opinion, banning cars from the city centres would be a very quick and easy measure. What’s your view on that?
Student 2 And the second easiest would be —
Student 1 Hang on a moment. What’s your view on banning cars, first?
Student 2 Oh. Yes, I agree with you. And the second easiest would be using more renewable energy.
Student 1 I take a rather different view on renewable energy. It is very expensive and isn’t always reliable because you rely on the wind and the sun. What if the sun doesn’t shine much or there isn’t much wind?
Student 2 That’s a good point. What do you think about banning aerosol cans?
Student 1 I think that would be very easy, although people might not like it! The other measure that would be easy to put into effect would be using public transport more.
Student 2 Yes, I agree. It could be made much cheaper or even free so that people are encouraged to use it.
Student 1 Using fewer pesticides and fertilisers isn’t so easy to put into effect, don’t you think?
Student 2 Yes, I agree. Until there are alternatives, I think it’s impossible to ban them.
Student 1 OK … We need to come to a decision.
Student 2 Can we agree that banning cars from the city centres is the easiest?
Student 1 Yes, I’m with you on that. And the second easiest is either using public transport more often or banning aerosol cans.
Student 2 Yes. Personally I’d go for using public transport.
Student 1 Me too.
Student 2 That’s settled, then.
Speaking Strategy
In a discussion, listen carefully and respond to what your partner says. Learn phrases for interacting with your partner so that you take turns and both contribute to the discussion.
5. KEY PHRASES Read the Speaking Strategy. Then complete the phrases with the words below.
agree Can come interrupt moment need
only reach settled think What view
Involving your partner
Would you 1……………………… with that? ◻
… , don’t you 2……………………… ? ◻
3……………………… we agree that …? ◻
What’s your 4……………………… on that? ◻
Interrupting
Sorry to 6………………………, but … ◻
Hang on a 7……………………… . I think … ◻
Yes, and not 8……………………… that, … ◻
Reaching an agreement
So, shall we 9……………………… a decision? ◻
We need to 10……………………… to a decision. ◻
We 11……………………… to decide what / which … ◻
That’s 12……………………… , then. ◻
Answer
1 agree 2 think 3 Can 4 view 5 What
6 interrupt 7 moment 8 only 9 reach
10 come 11 need 12 settled
6. Listen again and tick the phrases in exercise 5 that you hear.
Answer
3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12
Transcript
See exercise 4.
7. Look at the task in exercise 1 again and the options below. Write notes about how effective each measure is.
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
Answer
your own answers
8. Which two measures will you choose? Make a note of your choices and your reasons.
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
9. Now do the task using your notes from exercise 7 and 8.
Answer
your own answers
Extra exercises
Strategy
A situational role-play tests your ability to negotiate with a partner in order to reach an agreement. There will be times when you don’t agree with your partner, in which case, you need to disagree tactfully, e.g. I’m not sure about that.
1. Read the Strategy. Complete the useful phrases below for disagreeing tactfully with someone.
1 I don’t think that’s such a good …………………………
2 I’m not convinced that will …………………………
3 That might not be the right ………………………… to go about it.
4 I don’t ………………………… if that’s what we need here.
Answer
1 idea 2 work 3 way 4 know
2. Work in pairs. You and a friend have been asked to design a poster to publicise an environmental campaign among teenagers. Discuss and agree on the following points to decide what the poster should look like.
– topic
– image
– slogan
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