In conversation II - Klett Sprachen

© Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH, Stuttgart 2011 | www.klett.de | Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten.

In conversation IILösungen zum Konversationskurs Englisch B1 / B2A08007-50155601

1

Hier finden Sie die Lösungen zu den Topics und Files.

First things first

1Photo 1: Scottish HighlandsPhoto 2: San FranciscoPhoto 3: Netherlands / HollandPhoto 4: beautiful beach anywhere

Some possibilities:1. We would fly / go by bus / travel by train / go by car.2. We want to stay in a 5-star hotel / on a campsite.3. – We would like to go hiking in the mountains.

In the evening we want to go to a village pub. – We would like to walk over the Golden Gate

Bridge, if the weather permits. We want to go out for dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf.

– We want to visit the Van Gogh museum. In the evening we would like to go to the theatre.

– We plan to go to the beach every day and do a lot of sports. We would like to have a barbecue in the evening.

2 a, 2 b and 2 cPersonal answers

3Students’ own input


Topic 1 No time to lose – enjoy yourself now!

11. Personal answers2. Possible other reasons: I meet my friends there and

we talk. / I think it’s good for my health. / I enjoy being outside. / I like learning new things. / I want to be able to speak English when I’m on holiday.

3. Personal answers

2 aSome possibilities:1. basketball, baseball, football, rugby, soccer, table

tennis, tennis, volley ball2. kite surfing, car racing, paragliding, rock climbing,

surfing3. the forest, the countryside, gym, museum, town4. a timetable, book, clothing tags, diary, magazine,

newspaper, website5. jogging, biking, crosswords, gardening, reading,

sunbathing, swimming, yoga6. documentaries, films / movies, news reports, soap

operas, sports events7. jewelry making, crocheting, knitting, origami,

pottery, quilting, sewing, silk painting, woodwork8. birdwatching, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain

biking, skiing

2 bStudents’ own input


4 a1. Name of the game: ultimate frisbee2. Special features of the game: there is no referee;

‘spirit of the game’ attitude; players respect each other

In conversation IILösungen zum Konversationskurs Englisch B1 / B2

2© Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH, Stuttgart 2011 | www.klett.de | Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten.


3. Origin of the game: the US in the 1970s4. Number of players on a team: seven players on a

team (plus substitute players)5. Equipment needed: a frisbee and a soccer field

4 bsimilar– you have to run a lot– you can make a point by getting the disc or ball in

the opponent’s end zone– it is a fast and competitive game– it is played at school by boys and girls– you don’t need a lot of equipment– there are regional leagues, national leagues and

world championships

different– soccer is played with a ball, ultimate frisbee is

played with a disc– in soccer the ball can only be touched with the foot,

except by the goalkeeper– in ultimate frisbee there are only seven players per

team on the field at one time; in soccer there are eleven players per team

– there is no referee in ultimate frisbee and players call the fouls themselves (they must agree with each other)

– soccer is a well-known old game; frisbee is relatively new

4 c1. Personal answers2. Some possibilities: You can learn how to deal with

other people and to understand their feelings and emotions. You can meet new people who enjoy the sport too. You can learn how to deal with winning and losing.

3. Students’ own input4. Some possibilities: I saw a report about mega ramp

skateboarding on TV. / I know someone who plays ultimate frisbee. / I’ve read about a sport called ‘bossaball’.

5 aTrue: 2, 3, 6False: 1, 4, 5



Topic 2 My space

1 a and 1 bStudents’ own input

2Some possibilities:1. to live in; to work in; for education (a school,

college or training centre); for shops or offices; for leisure purposes (cinema, sports centre); as a hotel / conference centre / holiday home; for storing things in

2. last century; in the 1990s; in the eighteenth century; very recently / a few years ago

3. Personal answers

3Some possibilities:– If a building is light, people perhaps feel better.

A dark building can make people feel afraid.– People find it easier to communicate if there is a big

space in the middle of a building.– Colours can be important.– It’s nice to be able to look out of a building, so I

think windows are important.

4True: 1, 2, 5False: 3, 4




8Personal answers

Topic 3 Modern life

1 a1 h), 2 b), 3 a), 4 j), 5 g), 6 c), 7 d), 8 i), 9 f), 10 e)

1 b1. book stores, music stores, newspapers, travel

agencies, personal letters, birthday cards2. lunch break, professional journalists, memory, our

ability to spell and use proper grammar, maps3. Some possibilities: written invitations, magazines of

all sorts, small speciality shops




3 aWe have to think about how modern technology changes the way we communicate

3 b[2] a), [3] b), [5] c), [1] d), [4] e)

41. Personal answers2. Some possibilities: Don’t talk on your cell phone

while using public transportation. If you must make or take a call in a restaurant, leave the table and go outside. Switch off your cell phone during the night.

3. Personal answers4. Students’ own input5. Some possibilities: I don’t answer the phone when

friends are visiting. I want them to know that they are most important. I like to concentrate on the people I’m with. I never have my cell phone on at work for personal calls – if someone wants to reach me, they can send a text message.

Topic 4 Unusual childhoods

1Personal answers

2 a[1] Commercial exploitation[3] Disabilities[4] Gender inequality[5] Violence[2] Dirty water and no sanitation

2 b1. Angela: disabilities2. Paula: commercial exploitation3. Luis: dirty water and no sanitation4. Fernando: violence5. Hoa: gender inequality

3 adifferent: Marina Silva came from a large family, she helped with the housework and she grew up in the rainforest; the Schürmann children sailed around the world and they grew up on a boatsimilar: the children in both stories had very unusual childhoods; none of the children attended a regular school


4Some possibilities:1. agree: children play a lot; children don’t have to do

housework; children spend all their time playing games

disagree: many parents think their children should tidy their own rooms; children help with housework

2. agree: children spend a lot of time on the computer; kids like socialising with their friends

disagree: my children have to do a lot of homework; kids only play all the time if adults let them

3. agree: kids always want to buy the latest things; children are too interested in fashion and celebrity

disagree: kids have always wanted to have nice things; when I was young I wanted clothes and records all the time; children are taught at school to recycle things

5 aStudents’ own input

5 b[4] a), [1] b), [5] c), [2] d), [3] e)

61. Students’ own input2. Some possibilities: positive: you have fewer responsibilities; you can

play a lot negative: you are dependent; you can’t travel on

your own3. Students’ own input4. Some possibilities: to be responsible; to respect

others; to be honest; to show solidarity

Topic 5 Summer holidays – then and now

1 a1. Sightseeing trip to a city2. A hiking trip in the mountains3. A seaside holiday4. A staycation – staying at home and enjoying things

in the area5. Camping holiday

1 bPersonal answers



2 aSome possibilities:‘My seaside holiday’ 1. seaside holiday 2. mum and dad, aunt and uncle, cousin and the dog,

Fluffy 3. by train / rail 4. at grandmother’s B&B (bed and breakfast) in

Devon on the south coast 5. the day was spent playing on the beach 6. lunch: cucumber sandwiches and sand; evening:

wonderful teas consisting of salads, peas and lovely sweets, trifle, scones with strawberry jam and cakes; they enjoyed going to the pub, where they had cherry squash and crisps; they were allowed to have chips

7. they stayed for one week 8. nice weather; rain sometimes, not really important 9. more freedom to play10. she was disappointed when she went back years

later

‘Caravan holidays – fun for the whole family’ 1. camping holiday 2. grandparents, parents and friends 3. they drove and pulled their caravan 4. caravan (near grandparents’ home) 5. played on the beach, built castles and dams, went

fishing and hiking; there were contests for singing, fancy dress and all sorts of sports at the caravan site

6. grilled sausages, ice cream cones, fish and chips 7. doesn’t say how long they stayed 8. it rained sometimes, but it didn’t matter so much 9. doesn’t say, but it sounds like they had more

freedom10. nothing is mentioned


3True: 2, 4, 6, 7, 8False: 1, 3, 5

41. Personal answers2. Some possibilities: Travel has become less

expensive, so people travel all around the world now. When I was a child, my parents couldn’t afford to take us all to a hotel, so we visited friends or went on weekend camping trips. People didn’t have so many days off.

3. Personal answers

4. Some possibilities: Children like to go where they can play and have a lot of freedom outdoors in my experience. Teenagers often enjoy visiting grandparents on their own, or going on holiday with youth groups. Adults tend to enjoy a relaxing holiday or they like to go to a new place and learn about another culture.

5. Personal answers

Topic 6 Shop till you drop?

1Personal answers

2Judie criticizes the fact that people like to change their mobile phones for more modern models as often as possible. She records her favourite TV programmes so that she can avoid watching adverts. Judie likes the internet because she can get the information she wants without all the adverts. She doesn’t care about brands.

3Personal answers

4 aPersonal answers

4 bFile 7, page 481. Students’ own input2. Some possibilities: on paid cable TV; in schools; on

planes; in hospitals 3. Some possibilities: some adverts today are

intelligent and make you think; others show quite a lot of humour; cigarettes are not advertised any more


5 b[3] a), [5] b), [4] c), [6] d), [7] e), [1] f), [2] g)

6Some possibilities:1. Yes, do you know many people whose bedrooms

are red? People prefer more ‘peaceful’ colours for a place where they are going to rest. The colour of food makes it more or less attractive to people.



People often associate colours with certain things; for example, white for weddings, black for funerals.

2. and 3. Personal answers4. – a steak restaurant where the decoration and the

walls are blue: normally restaurants are painted with ‘hot’ colours, such as red, orange, yellow or a combination of these colours; these are colours that have been proved to make people hungry

– a black muesli package: people don’t normally associate black with cereals, breakfast or early morning meals

– a purple moisturising cream: it might give the impression you are making yourself dirty rather than making your skin look healthier

– an orange fridge: could be interesting for decoration purposes but the colour orange isn’t really associated with ‘somewhere cold where you keep your food’

Topic 7 Music in the air

11. Some possibilities: Photo 1: He could be a folk singer. I think he is

playing an acoustic guitar. Photo 2: It looks like a boy group. They may be

playing rock or punk music. Photo 3: It looks like a violin playing in an orchestra.

They might be playing classical music or classic pop. Photo 4: I think this is a (military) brass band

playing traditional marches or maybe they are playing jazz tunes.

Photo 5: This looks like a gospel choir, probably singing religious songs.

2. Photo 1: acoustic guitar Photo 2: electric / bass guitar and the drums Photo 3: violin Photo 4: trumpet3. and 4. Personal answers


3Some possibilities:1. blues: melancholic, spiritual2. classical music: calming, inspiring, powerful3. gospel: inspiring, jazzy, powerful, spiritual, stirring,

uplifting4. heavy metal: annoying (if you don’t like it),

danceable, powerful, rockin’5. jazz: jazzy, lively, soothing6. pop music: cheerful, danceable, upbeat

7. rock: danceable, lively, rockin’, upbeat 8. rock ’n’ roll: danceable, lively, rockin’, upbeat 9. swing: cheerful, danceable, jazzy, lively, upbeat10. traditional folk: cheerful, lively, melancholic,

stirring

4 a[4] a), [3] b), [1] c), [5] d), [2] e), [6] f)

4 bStudents’ own input (see File 9 on page 49 for some ideas)

5 a(1) sit(2) glasses(3) mend(4) wool(5) blue(6) law(7) saw(8) wear(9) fail(10) clothes(11) ale(12) health

5 bSome possibilities:1. They were proud of their work. The song says that

everyone needs clothes, so people depend on the weavers, no matter what their profession.

2. doctors; teachers; politicians; health care workers; mechanics/engineers; scientists; government workers / civil servants; people in other countries who make our clothes and produce our food; people involved in producing, supplying and delivering goods

3. We value animals for food. But perhaps we place an even higher value on animals, especially pets, for providing us with companionship and comfort.

4. The printing and publishing industry have greatly changed as a result of new technology.

5. Students’ own input



Topic 8 Contemporary neuroses

1 aFear of– getting disorganized: speakers 3 and 6– contamination: speaker 2– losing control: speaker 1– the unknown / unexpected: speaker 4– being ill: speaker 5– making mistakes: speaker 7

1 bSome possibilities:1. Speaker 1: What? You can’t be serious! Speaker 2: I think you need some help. Speaker 3: Are you off your head, or what? Speaker 4: Have you seen the doctor about this? Speaker 5: You must be out of your mind to think

that! Speaker 6: I beg your pardon? Speaker 7: Are you serious about that?2. Some of the ‘problems’ described don’t seem to be

too harmful or worrying for the people who talk about them.

3. Personal answers


3 aWoody Allen

3 b1. The weather: he prefers rain to sunshine; rain is

important in his movies; rain means people will get involved

2. The future: he doesn’t have much hope for the future

3. The risk of contamination: he is afraid of disease; he washes his hands for a sufficient amount of time / as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice

4. His thinking ability: intellectually, he has given up5. His work: he says he’ll do anything to save a film

from being an embarrassment; he’s happy when the film is not an embarrassment

3 cFile 10, page 491. through2. out3. of4. for5. from6. by

4Some possibilities:1. Yes, there are many stressful situations in people’s

lives that can make them neurotic, for example being available 24 hours a day on a mobile phone, having to meet deadlines, managing your financial life, etc.

2. fear of contamination / fear of open spaces3. Yes, big cities are a source of stressful situations.

You are more likely to be surrounded by people you don’t know and there is a higher risk of terrorist attacks, food contamination, etc.

4. Neuroses are not linked to age but to personality, so you may find that neuroses can affect people of all ages.

5. Neuroses are a reflection of lifestyles and how people see and cope with everything around them. So one may say that neuroses change with the times – a businessman in the twenty-first century won’t have the same neuroses as a farmer in the eighteenth century because the threats and insecurities in each of the centuries are different.

6. Personal answers

5File 11, page 49Some possibilities:You can overcome fears by seeing the situation in a different way. It’s only by facing your fears that you can overcome them. Friends are the only ones who can help us overcome our fears.

Topic 9 Food for thought


2 aPhoto 1: paragraph CPhoto 2: paragraph DPhoto 3: paragraph BPhoto 4: paragraph APhoto 5: paragraph EPhoto 6: paragraph F

2 bSome possibilities:1. ‘Salsa’ is wrong because it is a sauce made of

different ingredients and not a single flavor.2. ‘Politician’ is wrong because he or she does not

have anything to do with producing food.3. ‘Junk food’ does not belong because the other

words can be used to describe healthy food.



4. ‘Soft drinks’ is false because it is a drink and possibly not very healthy.

5. ‘Nanny state’ does not belong because the other words refer to people and not to a government policy.

3 aSome possibilities:1. and 2. Students’ own input3. Yes, I think they can. My children’s nursery school

didn’t allow sweet drinks or sweets of any kind. They cooked a vegetarian meal once a week with the children and taught them which foods were good for their bodies. I think it is important to start when the children are very young. Teachers can make sure that only healthy food is sold at school.

4. Yes, I think the government should label ‘unhealthy’ foods. Most food producers mainly think about their profits and not about people’s health. This is why the government can and should warn consumers about dangerous products. / I don’t think that it is the government’s responsibility to label foods. The consumers should decide for themselves which foods they consider to be good or bad for them.

5. A lot of men cook these days. The food scandals have gotten people thinking more about what they eat and where they buy it. People are getting more into growing their own veggies.

3 bFile 12, page 501. Students’ own input2. Some possibilities: I don’t think it is necessary.

On the other hand, it is good to know how many calories there are in a portion. I think the ingredients should be mentioned on the outside of the package.

3. and 4. Students’ own input

4True: 2, 4, 6False: 1, 5Not mentioned: 3

5Personal answers

Topic 10 Celebrate

1 aPicture 1: graduationPicture 2: EasterPicture 3: baptismPicture 4: Valentine’s Day

Picture 5: HalloweenPicture 6: weddingPicture 7: birthday

1 bSome possibilities: (some holidays can be put into two or three categories)– religious celebrations: baptism, Christmas,

confirmation, Easter, …– personal celebrations: birthdays, house warming

party, wedding, …– holidays I don’t like: my own birthday sometimes– holidays I like: Halloween, New Year’s Eve,

Christmas– fun holidays: Labor Day, 4th July, Valentine’s Day,

St. Patrick’s Day– national days: 4th July, German Unity Day, Queen’s

Birthday– secular holidays: President’s Birthday, Martin Luther

King Day, Thanksgiving Day (not religious in the US)

1 cStudents’ own input


3 a[2], [4], [6], [7], [8]

3 b– evil spirits: noisemakers were tied to the back of

the couple’s carriage in order to scare off the evil spirits; bridesmaids were thought to confuse the evil spirits and protect the bride from them; the white wedding dress was thought to protect brides from evil spirits

– lucky things: ‘something old’ means that the old friends will stay with the couple; ‘something new’ is a wish for good health, happiness and success in the future; ‘blue’ is considered a lucky colour

– shoes: in Victorian times shoes were thrown at the couple’s carriage and it was lucky if they hit the carriage

– wedding cake: a simple cake was eaten in Roman times; today the three-tiered cake is widespread (made after a famous church in London, St. Bride’s Church)

– wedding dress: white wedding dresses were made popular by Queen Victoria; ‘white’ is a symbol of purity and virginity and it also scares away the evil spirits




41. Students’ own input2. Some possibilities: they remind us to take care of

our health; they encourage us to do something for our community or the environment; they remind us to thank the people that do things for us every day

3. Students’ own input

Topic 11 Feeling good

1Some possibilities:1. Some people feel happy when they go shopping.

Usually holidays are connected to being happy. Some people believe that having lots of money may lead to happiness. Spending quality time with the family is a source of happiness for some people.

2. Yes, pictures of happy people or a happy scene can influence your own idea of happiness.

3. In general, yes. / No, some advertising is for things that are important but not expensive, like soap or toilet paper.

2 a[1], [4], [5], [6]


3 aSome possibilities:Reasons why people in a country might be happy or unhappy:– sense of being safe– economic stability of the country– having access to health care– trusting institutions / politicians– levels of pollution– having well-kept green areas in your town– the weather

3 b– highest levels of trust in their governments, the

police and the justice system– trusting people around them– having lots of friends and acquaintances– the quality of our social interactions with others– how much we trust our country’s institutions

4Personal answers

5Some possibilities:1.–3. Students’ own input4. if you trust people around you, you certainly put less

focus on being cheated and having to be ‘ready’ to react all the time

5. having a family; having money; being in a stable relationship; taking a holiday or simply some time off; being at peace with oneself

Topic 12 Changing gender roles

1 aSome possibilities:Picture 1: bored, depressed, educated, gentle, kind-hearted, lonely, sensitive, shy, timid, unsurePicture 2: capable, carefree, kind-hearted, relaxed, self-confidentPicture 3: capable, carefree, energetic, respected, self-confidentPicture 4: different people: some seem bored, capable, hard-working, nervous, stressed out, timid, unsurePicture 5: capable, energetic, self-confident, she might be stressed out

1 bSome possibilities:1. Picture 1: The woman is reading a book. I think she

has servants and maids to do the housework and cooking for her.

Picture 2: The father is teaching his son how to prepare a salad.

Picture 3: The women work in a manufacturing plant and seem to be very proud of their skills / job.

Picture 4: Everyone works hard and has a special skill. They all work to make life a little easier.

Picture 5: This is superwoman – she can do everything, but one wonders if she is not tired and depressed some of the time.

2. There are still some women who have a lot of money and a maid, but they are usually educated and work outside the home. Fathers have a bigger role in childcare than they did years ago. During the war many women worked doing jobs that were traditionally men’s jobs. Today many women are expected to both work outside the home and have children.

3. Personal answers




3 aSome possibilities:1. Some men still don’t like their wives to work outside

the home.2. and 3. Students’ own input4. People are not as prejudiced towards working

mothers as they used to be.5. I couldn’t say who has benefited most from the

changes. Maybe society in general has gotten less role-oriented and that is a good thing.


3 c1. working women: working women are acceptable

today, although many women would like to work less

2. life goals: both men and women consider health and financial security very important; over half would like to have a family

3. wives who earn more than their husbands: doesn’t seem to matter to most couples

4. working mothers: normal now for moms to work5. stay-at-home moms: half of the people think it is

better for young children to have their moms at home

6. stay-at-home dads: not so easy for them because they don’t have the social contacts that women do; there are not as many stay-at-home dads

7. housework and childcare: all agree that women do more housework and are mainly responsible for the children

8. what women and men want: better childcare facilities at work; more flexible schedules; more paid vacation time

4Some possibilities:1. I think that men and women will have a wider

choice of careers. There won’t be typical men’s jobs or women’s jobs. I hope there are going to be more male teachers in primary schools. I hope it will be easier to combine work with having a family.

2. Students’ own input3. I’m afraid that the next generation will have to work

longer. I think that there will be all sorts of new jobs that we can’t even imagine today. I hope employees in the social services will get higher incomes and more respect.

Topic 13 Being offline




4 a[3] a), [2] b), [1] c)

4 b1. year.2. are getting more and more comfortable with the

internet.3. Chinese.4. spend more free time online than anybody else in

the UK.5. meet people online, and later often meet them in

person.6. helps increase brain power.7. benefit from using the web.

5 aFile 17, page 51Some possibilities:agree1. – it would save students’ time – it would be a step into the future where

everything will be done online – it would offer students endless possibilities about

how and what to learn2. – people should have free access to information – people pay taxes, and Wi-Fi for free in public

spaces should be one of the benefits people get for the money they pay

– people increasingly need access to the internet wherever they are

3. – the internet is an open forum for anyone to express themselves

– you can learn a lot from what people have to say on the internet

– freedom of expression is an important democratic principle

4. – there are excellent blogs written by different kinds of professionals on the internet

– you can find complete scientific works uploaded on the internet

– newspaper and magazine articles are often freely available on the internet



5. – you can never trust a source on the internet because sometimes it’s difficult to track down who’s behind a site

– there are people who deliberately post false information online

– you should always mistrust what you read, whether it’s online or not

disagree1. – students need face-to-face interaction with other

colleagues – teachers’ face-to-face guidance is really important – not everyone has or wants to have an internet

connection at home2. – free Wi-Fi doesn’t offer a secure connection for

users – free Wi-Fi signals are not always strong – if people want or need 24-hour internet access

wherever they are, they should be prepared to pay for it

3. – there should be freedom of speech but spreading rumours and insulting people shouldn’t be allowed

– there should be some kind of censorship on the internet

– most areas of social behaviour have rules to follow and the internet should be no exception

4. – only books can help you learn in-depth about something

– if you want to learn in-depth about something, join a course at a university

– you can easily lose your train of thought when you research a topic on the web

5. – there are lots of people who mean well and are prepared to share quite a lot on the internet

– it really depends on the site where you are getting the content from

– it is often possible to crosscheck the information that you find online


Topic 14 What’s in your shopping cart?

1 aPicture 1: reusable shopping bagPicture 2: loyalty cardsPicture 3: ATM (BE: cash dispenser)Picture 4: debit cardPicture 5: cash (bills and coins)


2 aSome possibilities:– He is probably single because he buys the frozen

Meals for One. But who knows?– He seems to be a little overweight. I don’t think he’s

very athletic. – I think he may be slightly awkward. He’s definitely

not very health-conscious – he doesn’t buy any vegetables, not even a bag of salad!

– I don’t think he’s easy-going. He seems to be self-conscious and a little nervous.

2 bSome possibilities:1. I’m not sure about how reliable the ‘Distinctive

Shopping Fingerprint’ is. He may be buying things for another person (for example, his invalid aunt) and himself. He may shop at other places for things he needs.

2. The store knows what items to order regularly and which brands are popular.

3. It is not really important for the customer except for the fact that he or she may have a loyalty card. Then customers can get discounts on certain things or points that they can use to pay for airline flights, for example.

4. It deduces that he doesn’t have a large income, that he doesn’t have a cat anymore and that he doesn’t buy cleaning supplies often. He doesn’t go on long vacations and would like to lose weight but has not been successful. Some of the conclusions may be accurate, but I’m not sure.

5. Yes, to a certain extent. I buy a lot of food on weekends mainly because we usually have company. I like to try new items, but I don’t buy frozen foods, except for frozen berries.

2 cFile 18, page 51Some possibilities:1. and 2. Students’ own input3. No, I would hate a job like that. Maybe some

customers would like a reminder, but I would rather give a sample shopping list.

4. To a certain extent, what we wear says who we are. I imagine you could deduce some information from the kinds of things a person buys at the store or what they choose at a restaurant. So maybe it’s true.

5. Well, I’m not sure if we can recreate ourselves with food. Maybe, if you are thinking of a diet, but I think you have to make a decision to change your lifestyle



and then choose the diet that corresponds to the lifestyle. I don’t think it happens the other way around.

3Some possibilities:Yes, I think if your medical records are public it might make getting a job more difficult. In my opinion, most young people don’t mind posting personal information online. I don’t think they are aware of the consequences it could have.

4 1. type of magazine2. single, because she doesn’t seem to be buying

enough food for a family3. who shop every day4. staying healthy – she has fruit and vegetables in

the cart5. a good job, if she can afford to buy organic food6. party or a candlelight dinner with a boyfriend


Topic 15 A less cluttered life


1 b(1) like / use(2) have(3) use / like(4) find(5) how to use(6) broken(7) bring back

2keep; recycle

3 a1. Some possibilities: the objects they keep bring good

memories; they think it’s a waste to throw things out; they don’t realize they’ve accumulated so much stuff over the years; they’re messy; they don’t care

2. and 3. Students’ own input

3 bSome possibilities:1. – living room: bills, clothes, cutlery, decorations,

toys

– bedroom: books, clothes, electronic gadgets, magazines, school material, toys

2. – magazines: take them to a library – CDs: take them to a library or a second-hand

shop; swap them with friends; sell them at a flea market

– books: take them to a library or a second-hand bookshop; sell them at a flea market; swap them with friends; leave a copy on a park bench for anybody to pick up

– videos / DVDs: take them to a library or a second-hand shop; swap them with friends; donate them to an old people’s home; sell them at a flea market

– furniture: take it to a second-hand shop; donate it to an orphanage, an old people’s home or any charity

– clothes: donate them to an institution, an orphanage, a hospital or an international organization for helping people around the world

3. Personal answers

4 aSome possibilities:1. To my mind we are always encouraged by

advertising to buy more things. / Yes, but obviously you can’t deny that lots of people now try to live with fewer things.

2. It’s important to remember that magazines and TV always suggest that it’s rich people who are happy. / There are lots of films where poor people are shown to be happy.

3. As far as I’m concerned messy places reflect messy minds. / There are lots of things in my flat and I’m perfectly happy.

4. If you don’t, you end up needing more wardrobe space. / To my mind you should only throw old clothes away when you don’t wear them any more, not because you’ve bought new ones.

5. Yes, twelve months suggest you don’t need the thing any more. / I’m afraid I disagree strongly. Even after a year you might want to use something another time.

4 bFile 19, page 52[1], [4], [5], [7], [8]

4 cFile 19, page 52[4] a), [1] b), [8] c), [7] d), [5] e)



5Some possibilities:– It’s not so difficult to accumulate things nowadays

because consumerism has increased everywhere.– People don’t have much free time to dedicate to

organizing their own homes, so that’s why there’s so much cluttering.

– how to get rid of things: recycling; donating; selling to a second-hand shop or at a flea market; finding a new use for something old

Topic 16 Who cares?

1Personal answers

2[1] e), [2] d), [3] f), [4] c), [5] a), [6] b)

3 aSome possibilities:Brenda: If Brenda needs help getting dressed and undressed, maybe a nurse or carer could visit in the morning and evening. If she needs help getting her meals, maybe someone in the village can help or can bring her something to eat. James: If James is lonely perhaps he could join a volunteer group and help someone else. Perhaps he needs someone to talk to – a friend, a neighbour or a trained therapist. Roy: Perhaps Roy could ask a social worker to talk to his mother about a care home. If his mother can’t look after herself, perhaps he can get some care in her own home. There might be a day centre where she could go and meet other people.


3 cSome possibilities:1. People might need help after an accident, when

a close friend or relative has died, when someone is disabled, after the birth of a baby or if a young person is having problems at school or with their parents.

2. It’s difficult to be patient and to listen to other people’s problems. You have to do enough but not too much so people don’t feel useless. You may have to do things in the way they want, not in the way you want. Sometimes you have to make someone do something they don’t want to because it’s good for them.

3. and 4. Personal answers

41. Laura’s mother couldn’t get upstairs.2. Her mother was angry when Laura first suggested a

care home.3. Laura’s family visited her mother in the care home

at the weekends. 4. Mike’s sister didn’t want his mum to go into a care

home.5. Mike wanted to pay for carers. 6. His mother had quite a lot of money in the bank.7. The radio station would like listeners to make

comments.

5 aFile 21, page 531. Belinda cares for Alex because he has severe visual

disabilities which means he can hardly see.2. Belinda spends 24 hours a day with Alex. She never

gets a day off.3. Nobody helps her – she helps Alex to do everything

for himself. 4. She sleeps.5. She is trained to do this so it may be OK. But

perhaps someone could take her out for a walk sometimes without Alex or take her to meet other dogs or play with children.

File 28, page 571. Gemma cares for her mother because she is

severely disabled and can’t look after herself.2. Gemma spends two hours in the morning and

most of her time after school with her mum. In the evenings and at weekends she does things her mother can’t do like cleaning and shopping.

3. She doesn’t get any help. Perhaps her father helps when he is at home.

4. She goes to school.5. I think it must be difficult for her but she says she

doesn’t want help. Maybe someone could come and sit with her mother sometimes so that she isn’t alone. Then Gemma could go to activities after school or go out with her friends. Perhaps there is a family member or a friend who could come and help sometimes.

5 b and 5 cStudents’ own input

6Some possibilities:1. You need to be flexible / not mind working in the

evenings / have a car / have training as a nurse / like working with elderly or disabled people / be looking for a full-time job.



2. You need to be looking for a full-time job / like working with elderly people / understand people who are ill / be able to be understanding and patient / not have a family that needs you at weekends.

3. You need to be willing to work in a village / maybe have a car / like working with children / understand children with disabilities / like dogs / like the countryside / be not too young.

7 aSome possibilities:Age Concern; Amnesty International; Friends of the Earth; Greenpeace; Handicap International; NABU; Oxfam; RSPCA; Shelter; UNICEF; WWF

7 b and 7 cStudents’ own input

Topic 17 Is it really taboo?

1a and 1 bWhat? Why?

[4] Divorce She thinks that anything about divorce is very personal and private.

[3] Nothing is taboo

He thinks most things are talked about openly in one forum or another these days.

[5] Abortion He thinks that the topic involves religion and personal values, and any discussion about it can easily turn into an argument.

[2] Drug abuse

She had problems with drugs in the past and finds it difficult to talk about it.

[1] Health problems

She feels uncomfortable with health problems.


3File 22, page 53[4] a), [3] b), [2] c), [1] d)

4 a1. [P], 2. [P], 3. [I], 4. [I], 5. [I], 6. [P], 7. [P], 8. [P], 9. [P], 10. [P/I]

4 bSome possibilities:1. say: ‘I beg your pardon?’ / ‘Sorry, but that’s a really

rude thing to say.’ react: get upset / find it funny / avoid talking to the

person again2. say: ‘Sorry?’ / ‘I beg your pardon?’ / ‘That’s none of

your business.’ react: get upset / be offended3. say: say nothing / ‘Sorry, I’d prefer to keep it to

myself.’ / ‘Sorry, that’s a bit personal.’ react: change the subject / smile / look surprised4. say: ‘I’d rather not answer that.’ / ‘Sorry, I prefer to

keep it to myself.’ react: get upset / feel embarrassed / smile

awkwardly


6Some possibilities:1. Personal answers2. they were brought up in an environment where

people use them; they belong to a group of people who use them; they find it a strong way to express themselves

3. they find it unnecessary to use them; they were not brought up in an environment where people use such words; they don’t like the literal meaning of the words or expressions; they have certain religious beliefs

4. Personal answers5. Yes, if students raise the topic, there’s no reason

not to talk about it. / No, schools are not a place to encourage the use of such words.

Topic 18 Baby boomers and centenarians


1 b[3] a), [1] b), [4] c), [2] d)

1 cSome possibilities:1. Advantages: They have experience and have made

contacts with people in the company and they know their customers. Disadvantages: They may get sick more often or they may not be as motivated as younger workers.



2. Yes, I think a lot of companies force people to retire early. It is very difficult for someone over 50 to get a job.

3. It will be a problem for the health system and the state pension system. Probably people will have to work longer, but they will work fewer hours.

2Photo 1: Harold SpitzPhoto 2: Banana BillyPhoto 3: Lilly Mae GravesPhoto 4: Dorothy JohnsonPhoto 5: Rosy Waters

The text about Harold Spitz is not true. The distance between San Francisco and New York is around 4,500 km – it is impossible to cycle such a distance within four days.

3File 23, page 54(1) discount(2) movie theater(3) drinks(4) passengers(5) chains(6) reservations(7) less(8) benefit(9) assumption(10) fair(11) retirement(12) unemployed

4 a[2], [3], [6], [8]



Topic 19 Can anyone cope with 300 friends?

1Some possibilities:1. good points: meet people; be in contact with

friends who otherwise you wouldn’t keep in touch with; find friends from the past by doing a name search

bad points: time consuming; addictive; people don’t have much to say in social networking sites

2.–5. Students’ own input6. should: name / place where you live; personal

opinion about world events or events around you shouldn’t: tell people about future personal plans;

expose details about your private life; talk about your daily routine; make personal details about your family public; post politically incorrect opinions

2[3] a), [6] b), [1] c, [5] d), [8] e), [7] f), [4] g), [2] h)

3Some possibilities:agree1. find old friends from school / university days again;

stay in contact with relatives who live far away; meet people who share the same interests as you

2. because of that your social network can be larger than in real life; there’s a greater exchange of ideas

3. depending on the video you post, you reach hundreds or even millions of people who can watch it; there’s a nice feeling of ‘wow my video is being watched all over the world’; everyone likes their 15 minutes of fame

4. human beings are ‘social animals’, i. e. they like being with other people; online friendship will never substitute face-to-face interaction with other people

5. real presence is more important than virtual presence; virtual friends are not real; you can exchange a lot more with someone when you’re really talking to them

6. by doing that you can make yourself more available to people; people can know exactly who you are

disagree1. you don’t really ‘connect’ to people because it’s all

superficial contact in the end2. it’s much better to meet friends of friends in real

life, then there can be a real exchange of ideas over common interests

3. it can actually be time-consuming to post a video on YouTube, so you could be doing something else rather than wasting time on that

4. online social networking provides contact by enhancing the number of people you can be in constant touch with

5. nowadays it’s more difficult to find time to meet your friends, everyone is really busy; it’s easier to find quality time with friends over the computer because you can ‘meet’ them wherever you are or whenever you have a free moment



6. making aspects of your life publicly available can be dangerous: you never know who will be accessing a piece of information and what for

4 aSome possibilities: Teenagers are not adults yet, so they have no idea about the implications of sharing aspects of their private life with people they sometimes don’t know well or don’t know at all. Texting on the phone can be expensive.

4 bSome possibilities:Teenagers can put too much emphasis on non-face-to-face communication and that can make it difficult for them to form social skills. Because of the way they communicate now, they might find it difficult to relate to other people when they become adults. Teenagers get used to saying whatever they want to when they’re in online social networks, but it’s not always possible to do that in face-to-face communication. You have to use more ‘filters’ in face-to-face communication than in online chatting or texting, and you’ve got to practise that from an early age.

5[5] Running a business without a mobile phone[2] Blogging and texting[6] Signing up for Twitter and Facebook[10] Sending and getting postcards[8] Using cordless phones[3] Booking a hotel[4] Writing letters to friends[7] Having a GPS[9] Talking to people rather than doing everything on

the internet[1] Realizing that so many changes have happened in

a short period of time



Topic 20 A penny for your thoughts

1Some possibilities:Quote 1: It is not only the parents that are important in raising a child, it is also the whole community and the services that are provided.

Quote 2: It is more important to live your beliefs than to just talk about them. Children learn by example, not lectures.Quote 3: Someone who stands up for their rights or expresses their opinion has more influence than someone who is stronger, but stays silent.Quote 4: I think this means that it’s better to stay calm when you are in an argument, because getting very angry and aggressive will probably get you in more trouble.


2 bSome possibilities:Non-violent Dad: I wouldn’t punish a child that was not my own.Cheated: I wouldn’t worry about the poster because I gave it away in the first place.Guilty Conscience: I would feel a little guilty buying the jeans, but I would do it anyway.Between Cultures: I wouldn’t hire her. I might give her family some money, so she could go to school.


2 d1 b), 2 a), 3 b), 4 a)

2 eStudents’ own input


4Some possibilities:You might try reading an easy reader at the B1 / B2 level. It is always better to read something that is not too difficult. It is no fun if you have to look up every word.

In conversation II - Klett Sprachen

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