Unit 8. Review & Practice — Teacher’s Copy

The three writing types at a glance

Revision

The three writing types at a glance

Type	Reminder
Descriptive	Describe an experience/feelings OR how something has changed. Plan: scene → what happened / past → feelings / now → conclusion.
Balanced opinion	Two different views + your opinion. Plan: introduction → view 1 → view 2 → conclusion with YOUR opinion.
Advantages & disadvantages	Good points and bad points of a topic. Plan: introduction → advantages → disadvantages → conclusion (+ opinion).

Common mistakes to avoid

Copying whole sentences from the texts – always rewrite ideas in your own words.
Giving your opinion in the body of an advantages/disadvantages text – save it for the end.
Forgetting the conclusion – every text needs one.
Using the same linker again and again – vary them.
Writing fewer than 200 words – always check the length.

Teacher’s note – Review week

Each task can be any of the three text types. Marking focus: clear organisation (introduction, body, conclusion), correct linkers, and a relevant thesis or opinion where the task type needs one.

Writing task 1

Read, listen, take notes, write

Question: “What are the advantages and disadvantages of hand-made and machine-made products?”

Read the text and take notes. Listen to the recording twice and take notes. Then write your text using ideas from both. Minimum 200 words.

Read Take notes in the table.

Reading

People buy both hand-made and machine-made products every day. Hand-made products have several advantages. They are usually unique, made with great care, and often of high quality. Each one is a little different, which makes it special. By buying them, customers also support local artists and small businesses, and they help to keep old skills alive. However, hand-made products are often expensive and take a long time to make. Machine-made products, on the other hand, are cheap and quick to produce, so almost everyone can afford them. Factories can make thousands of the same product in a single day. The disadvantage is that they all look the same, and the quality is sometimes lower. Many machines also use a lot of energy and create pollution, which is bad for the environment. In the end, the best choice depends on what the customer wants: a special, hand-made object or a cheap, useful one. Many people today try to buy carefully. They choose machine-made products for everyday things that they use quickly, and they save their money for a few special hand-made items that will last a long time. In this way, they keep their costs low but still enjoy and support beautiful, hand-made work.

Listen Twice — add notes to the table.

Listening

Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.

Transcript

Six years ago I bought a hand-made leather bag from a small workshop in my town. It was expensive, and I had to wait three weeks, because the man makes every bag himself. I still carry it every day, and it looks better now than when it was new. I also like knowing that my money went to a local family who keep an old skill alive, and that no other bag in the world is exactly like mine. Naturally, I cannot buy everything in that way. Almost everything in my kitchen comes from a factory, because machine-made things are cheap and quick, and a factory can make thousands of the same product in one day. Without them, most of us could not afford the things we use. But two of my machine-made cups broke in the first year, they all look identical, and I have read that big factories use a great deal of energy and create pollution. So now I try to shop carefully. For everyday things that I use quickly, I choose the cheap machine-made version without feeling guilty. For two or three special items a year, I save my money and buy something hand-made that will last. For me, that is the sensible balance.

Take notes

Hand-made vs machine-made	Advantages	Disadvantages
Hand-made: quality
Hand-made: people
Machine-made: price
Machine-made: amount
Environment / choice

Hand-made vs machine-made	Advantages	Disadvantages
Hand-made: quality	unique, made with great care, often of high quality (the speaker’s leather bag looks better after six years)	expensive (the bag cost a lot)
Hand-made: people	supports local artists and small businesses; keeps old skills alive (a local family workshop)	takes a long time to make (the speaker waited three weeks)
Machine-made: price	cheap and quick, so almost everyone can afford them	the quality is sometimes lower (two cups broke in the first year)
Machine-made: amount	factories can make thousands of the same product in a single day	they all look the same
Environment / choice	choosing carefully keeps costs low: machine-made for everyday things, hand-made for a few special items that last	many machines use a lot of energy and create pollution

Now write your text Minimum 200 words.

0 / 200 words

Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.

Sample answer · 207 words

Hand-made or Machine-made Products?

Today, we can buy both hand-made and machine-made products. Each kind has its own advantages and disadvantages. This essay will look at both sides.

To begin with, hand-made products have several benefits. One major advantage is that they are often made with great care, so their quality is very high. Another benefit is that each one is special and a little different. For example, a hand-made leather bag can last for many years and still look beautiful. However, hand-made products are often expensive, and customers sometimes have to wait weeks for them.

On the other hand, machine-made products also have important advantages. One advantage is that machines can make many products quickly and cheaply. In addition, the price is usually much lower, so more people can buy them. However, one drawback is that these products are often all the same, and some break easily. Moreover, big factories use a lot of energy and create pollution.

In conclusion, both hand-made and machine-made products have good and bad points. In my opinion, hand-made products are best for special items that we want to keep, while machine-made products are better for everyday things that we need quickly and cheaply. Choosing carefully also helps us to spend less and waste less.

Writing task 2

Read, listen, take notes, write

Question: “Write about the advantages and disadvantages of online education and face-to-face education.”

Read the text and take notes. Listen to the recording twice and take notes. Then write your text using ideas from both. Minimum 200 words.

Read Take notes in the table.

Reading

Education today happens both online and face-to-face. Online education has many advantages. Students can learn from home, save travel time, and watch lessons again whenever they want. This is very useful for people who work or who live far from a school. Online courses are often cheaper too. However, online education also has disadvantages: students can feel lonely, lose motivation, and have problems with the internet or with old computers. Face-to-face education, on the other hand, allows students to meet their teachers and classmates in person. They can ask questions immediately and get help when they are stuck. They can also make friends, work in groups, and enjoy school life together. The disadvantages are that students must travel to school, follow a fixed timetable, and pay higher costs. Because both kinds of education have clear benefits, many schools and universities now use a mix of the two, which is sometimes called blended learning. Students do part of their studying online and part in the classroom. This gives them the freedom of online learning together with the support and friendship of face-to-face lessons.

Listen Twice — add notes to the table.

Listening

Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.

Transcript

Last year my course was half online and half in the classroom, so I saw both sides very clearly. I work in a café three afternoons a week, and the online lessons saved me. I watched them in the evening when my shift finished, and if I did not understand something, I simply played it again. I also saved almost two hours of travelling every day, and the online part of the course was cheaper. But my laptop is six years old, and one evening the internet stopped in the middle of a test. Studying alone in my room was harder than I expected as well. There was nobody beside me, I lost motivation in the third month, and some weeks I felt quite lonely. The classroom days were completely different. I could ask the teacher a question and get the answer immediately, we worked in groups, and I made real friends whom I still see. The difficulty was that I had to travel across the city, follow a fixed timetable, and pay more. If someone asked me which is better, I would say neither. The mixture is what worked. I studied the theory online at my own speed, and I used the classroom hours for questions, group work and the friendships that kept me going.

Take notes

Online vs face-to-face	Advantages	Disadvantages
Online: time & place
Online: lessons & motivation
Face-to-face: help & people
Face-to-face: travel & cost
Best answer (blended)

Online vs face-to-face	Advantages	Disadvantages
Online: time & place	learn from home, save travel time (almost two hours a day) and study whenever you want (after a café shift)	problems with the internet or with old computers (the internet stopped during a test)
Online: lessons & motivation	you can watch lessons again at your own speed; courses are often cheaper	studying alone, students can feel lonely and lose motivation (the speaker in the third month)
Face-to-face: help & people	ask questions immediately and get help; make friends and work in groups (friends the speaker still sees)	—
Face-to-face: travel & cost	—	students must travel to school (across the city), follow a fixed timetable and pay more
Best answer (blended)	study the theory online at your own speed	use classroom hours for questions, group work and friendship

Now write your text Minimum 200 words.

0 / 200 words

Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.

Sample answer · 209 words

Online or Face-to-face Education?

In recent years, many students can choose between online education and face-to-face education. Both kinds of learning have advantages and disadvantages. This essay will look at both sides.

To begin with, online education has several benefits. One major advantage is that students can learn from home and save a lot of travel time. Another benefit is that they can often choose when to study. For example, a student who has a part-time job can watch the lessons in the evening. However, one drawback of online learning is that students can feel lonely and lose motivation, especially when they study alone for months.

On the other hand, face-to-face education also has clear advantages. One advantage is that students can ask their teacher questions at once and get help quickly. In addition, they can meet their classmates, work in groups, and make friends. However, students must travel to school, follow a fixed timetable, and often pay more.

In conclusion, both online and face-to-face education have good and bad points. In my opinion, the best system is a mix of the two, so that students can enjoy the freedom of online study and the support of a real classroom. Blended learning, as it is sometimes called, uses the good points of both.

Writing task 3

Read, listen, take notes, write

Question: “Are there any benefits or drawbacks to print books and e-books?”

Read the text and take notes. Listen to the recording twice and take notes. Then write your text using ideas from both. Minimum 200 words.

Read Take notes in the table.

Reading

Many readers today must choose between print books and e-books. Print books have clear benefits. They are easy on the eyes, do not need a battery, and many people love the smell and feel of paper. It is also easy to write notes in them and to lend them to friends. They make nice gifts, too. However, print books are heavy and take up a lot of space, so they are not always practical for travelling. E-books have their own advantages. A single small device can hold hundreds of books, which is perfect for travelling. You can carry a whole library in your bag. E-books are often cheaper, and you can buy one in seconds and start reading at once. You can also make the letters bigger, which helps people with weak eyes. The drawbacks are that screens can tire the eyes after a long time, and a dead battery means no reading at all. For these reasons, many people enjoy both kinds of book. In the end, print books and e-books each suit different situations. Many readers keep print books at home for comfort and for the pleasure of holding a real book, and they use an e-reader when they travel. Whichever they choose, the most important thing is that people are still reading and enjoying good stories.

Listen Twice — add notes to the table.

Listening

Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.

Transcript

I took an e-reader on holiday for the first time last summer, and I was surprised. The whole device was lighter than one paperback, and it held about two hundred books. When I finished a novel at eleven o’clock at night, I bought the next one in seconds and started reading immediately. They were cheaper, too. My grandmother now uses one as well, because she can make the letters bigger, and she says that she reads more than she has for years. There are drawbacks, of course. After two or three hours the screen tired my eyes, so on the beach I usually went back to paper. One afternoon the battery died and I could not read at all, which would never happen with a real book. At home I still buy printed books: I write notes in the margins, I lend them to friends, and they make wonderful presents. The only trouble is that they are heavy, and my shelves are completely full. So I have stopped choosing between them. Print books stay at home for the evenings and for comfort, and the e-reader comes with me when I travel. In the end, the important thing is that I am reading either way.

Take notes

Print books vs e-books	Benefits	Drawbacks
Print: comfort
Print: using them
E-books: space
E-books: price & speed
E-books: reading

Print books vs e-books	Benefits	Drawbacks
Print: comfort	easy on the eyes; no battery needed; many people love the smell and feel of paper	—
Print: using them	easy to write notes in and to lend to friends; they make nice gifts	heavy and take up a lot of space, so not practical for travelling (the speaker’s shelves are full)
E-books: space	one small device holds hundreds of books (lighter than one paperback), perfect for travelling	—
E-books: price & speed	often cheaper; buy one in seconds and start reading at once (the next novel at 11 p.m.)	—
E-books: reading	the letters can be made bigger, which helps people with weak eyes (the speaker’s grandmother)	screens can tire the eyes after a long time; a dead battery means no reading at all

Now write your text Minimum 200 words.

0 / 200 words

Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.

Sample answer · 213 words

Print Books or E-books?

Many readers today must choose between print books and e-books. Both kinds of books have advantages and disadvantages. This essay will look at both sides.

To begin with, print books have several benefits. One major advantage is that they are comfortable to read, and they never need a battery. Another benefit is that many people love the feel and the smell of a real book. For example, a reader can enjoy a paper book at the beach without worrying about the screen. However, print books are heavy and take up a lot of space, so they are not always practical for travelling.

On the other hand, e-books also have important advantages. One advantage is that you can carry hundreds of books on one small device. In addition, e-books are often cheaper, and you can buy them in seconds. However, one drawback is that reading on a screen for a long time can tire your eyes. Moreover, if the battery dies, you cannot read at all.

In conclusion, both print books and e-books have good and bad points. In my opinion, e-books are perfect for travelling, but a real paper book is still the best choice for reading at home and relaxing. Many readers already use both, and that seems the most sensible answer.

Extra Practice 1 – Vocabulary Review

Units 2–7

Extra Practice 1

Vocabulary review

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the box. Change the form if necessary.

audiencetalentedperformancethrillingopportunityconfidentbalanced dietwastepollutionconvenientqualitydestinationsouvenirpeacefulcrowdedmysterychallengeovercomereliableexpert

1The singer gave a wonderful on stage, and everyone enjoyed the music.

performance — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

2At the end of the show, the stood up and clapped for a long time.

audience — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

3She is a very artist who can paint, sing, and dance very well.

talented — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

4Studying abroad was a great that I could not say no to.

opportunity — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

5After he won the prize, he felt much more about his future.

confident — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

6The roller-coaster ride was fast and ; my heart was beating quickly.

thrilling — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

7To stay healthy, you should eat a with fruit, vegetables, and protein.

balanced diet — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

8Plastic bottles in the sea cause a lot of and harm the fish.

pollution — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

9We should not water; we should use it carefully.

waste — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

10The new shop is very , because it is close to my house and open late.

convenient — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

11This phone is expensive, but the is excellent and it never breaks.

quality — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

12Paris is a popular holiday that millions of tourists visit every year.

destination — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

13I bought a small to help me remember my trip to Italy.

souvenir — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

14The village was calm and , with no noise and no traffic.

peaceful — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

15The train was so that there were no free seats at all.

crowded — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

16Nobody knows what happened to the ship; it is still a .

mystery — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

17Learning a new language is a real , but it is worth the effort.

challenge — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

18With hard work, you can almost any problem in life.

overcome — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

19He is a worker who always arrives on time and finishes his job.

reliable — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

20If you are ill, you should ask a doctor, because she is an on health.

expert — Read the whole sentence, then find a word in the box that fits its meaning.

Extra Practice 2 – Word Formation

Nouns and adjectives

Part A

Complete the table

Write the missing noun and adjective for each verb. A dash (—) means there is no common word.

Verb	Noun	Adjective
perform		—
decide		—
communicate
imagine
succeed
pollute
advise		—
educate
compete
rely	—
explore		—

Verb	Noun	Adjective
perform	performance	—
decide	decision	—
communicate	communication	communicative
imagine	imagination	imaginative
succeed	success	successful
pollute	pollution	polluted
advise	advice	—
educate	education	educational / educated
compete	competition	competitive
rely	—	reliable
explore	exploration	—

Part B

Use the right form

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in brackets.

1The band gave a great last night. (perform)

performance — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

2It was a difficult , but in the end, she chose the new job. (decide)

decision — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

3Good between team members is very important at work. (communicate)

communication — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

4Children often have a wonderful and love to invent stories. (imagine)

imagination — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

5He is a very writer who creates new worlds in his books. (imagine)

imaginative — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

6After years of hard work, her business was a real . (succeed)

success — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

7If you study every day, you will be in your exams. (succeed)

successful — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

8Cars and factories cause a lot of air in big cities. (pollute)

pollution — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

9The river is badly , so we cannot swim in it. (pollute)

polluted — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

10My teacher gave me good about how to learn English. (advise)

advice — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

11The museum offers many activities for schoolchildren. (educate)

educational — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

12Sport can be very , because everyone wants to win. (compete)

competitive — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

13We need a car that will not break down on the journey. (rely)

reliable — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

14The of the cave took the scientists three days. (explore)

exploration — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

15My new colleague is friendly and , so she talks easily with everyone. (communicate)

communicative — Do you need a noun (a thing) or an adjective (describing a person or thing)? Check your table in Part A.

✓

Answer key at a glance

Prints with the page

Extra Practice 1 — Answers	1 performance · 2 audience · 3 talented · 4 opportunity · 5 confident · 6 thrilling · 7 balanced diet · 8 pollution · 9 waste · 10 convenient · 11 quality · 12 destination · 13 souvenir · 14 peaceful · 15 crowded · 16 mystery · 17 challenge · 18 overcome · 19 reliable · 20 expert
Part A — perform	performance · —
Part A — decide	decision · —
Part A — communicate	communication · communicative
Part A — imagine	imagination · imaginative
Part A — succeed	success · successful
Part A — pollute	pollution · polluted
Part A — advise	advice · —
Part A — educate	education · educational / educated
Part A — compete	competition · competitive
Part A — rely	— · reliable
Part A — explore	exploration · —
Part B — Answers	1 performance · 2 decision · 3 communication · 4 imagination · 5 imaginative · 6 success · 7 successful · 8 pollution · 9 polluted · 10 advice · 11 educational · 12 competitive · 13 reliable · 14 exploration · 15 communicative