UNIT 3

LOOKING AHEAD

COMMUNICATIVE OBJECTIVES

Speaking

Talking about the future

Talking about the future in the past
Giving a talk

Listening

Listening to a conversation about future plans

Listening to a talk about failed predictions

Reading

Reading an extract from a novel

Reading an article about population trends

Writing

Writing an opinion essay

58
CONTENTS

READING GRAMMAR VOCABULARY

Looking for clues to infer Review of future verb forms Compound nouns
meaning Future Continuous and Future
Perfect Expressions with get
Reading topic sentences to get Be about to… / bound to… /
the general idea of an article sure to… / likely to… / due to…
Future in the past

LISTENING SPEAKING WRITING

Inferring information about Pausing, repeating and Structuring an opinion essay
speakers reformulating

Reading questions and

deciding what to listen for

INDEX
READING 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
COMPREHENSION CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
GRAMMAR 1: Review of future verb forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
GRAMMAR PRACTICE 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
VOCABULARY BUILDING 1: Compound nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
LISTENING 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
GRAMMAR 2: Future Continuous and Future Perfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
GRAMMAR PRACTICE 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
STOP AND SEND 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
READING 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
VOCABULARY BUILDING 2: Expressions with get . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
GRAMMAR 3: Be about to... / bound to... / sure to.../ likely to… / due to… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
GRAMMAR PRACTICE 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
LISTENING 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
GRAMMAR 4: Future in the past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
GRAMMAR PRACTICE 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
STOP AND SEND 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
SPEAKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
WRITING: Writing an opinion essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
STOP AND SEND 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
EXAM PRACTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

59
UNIT 3
READING 1
Reading strategy: Sometimes information is not explicitly stated in the text
but needs to be inferred from contextual clues. Read the text closely and look
for key words that give clues to the information.

1. Read the extract. What type of ship is the text describing?

a) a sailing ship
b) a warship
c) a spaceship

“When we start this work,” Arcot began next morning, “we obviously want to design the
ship for the conditions we expect to meet, and for maximum convenience and safety. I believe
I’ve thought about this trip longer than the rest of you, so I’ll present my ideas first”.

“Obviously, the main driving force will be the power units. These will get their energy from
the rays of the sun by absorbing them in copper discs about twelve feet in diameter–the ship
will have to be more of a disc than a cylinder. I think a ship a hundred and eighty feet long,
fifty feet wide, and twenty feet deep will be about the best dimensions. The power units will
be strung along the top of the ship in double rows–one down each side of the hull. In the
middle will be a series of fused quartz windows, opening into a large room just under the
outer shell. We’ll obviously need some source of power to activate the power tubes that run
the molecular motion power units. We’ll have a generator run by molecular motion power
units in here, absorbing its heat from the atmosphere in this room. The air will be heated by
the rays of the sun, of course, and in this way we’ll get all our power from the sun itself ”.

“Since this absorption of energy might result in making the ship too cool, due to the radiation
of the side away from the sun, we’ll polish it, and thus reduce the unlighted side’s radiation”.

“The power units will not be able to steer us in space, due to their position, and those on
the sides, which will steer us in the atmosphere by the usual method, will be unable to get the
sun’s power; they’ll be shaded. For steering in space, we’ll use atomic hydrogen rockets,
storing the atomic gas by the Wade method in tanks in the hold. We’ll also have a battery
down there for starting the generator and for emergencies”.

“For protection against meteors, we’ll use radar. If anything comes within a dozen miles of
us, the radar unit covering that sector will at once set the automatic machinery into operation,
and the rockets will shoot the ship out of the path of the meteor.”

All that day, Arcot and the others discussed the various pieces of apparatus they would
need, and toward evening Fuller began to draw rough sketches of the different mechanisms
that had been agreed upon.

(From ‘The Black Star Passes’ by John W. Campbell, Jr)

60
 COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Write answers to the questions.

1. Why does Arcot want to design the ship?

_____________________________________________________________________
2. Why are the power units important?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. What will the function of the copper discs be?
_____________________________________________________________________
4. What shape will the ship be?
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What will the function of the generator be?
_____________________________________________________________________
6. Why will the ship be polished?
_____________________________________________________________________
7. What will the power units on the sides do?
_____________________________________________________________________
8. How will the ship be steered in space?
_____________________________________________________________________
9. How will the ship avoid meteors?
_____________________________________________________________________
10. How long did the meeting last?
_____________________________________________________________________

2. Write what these words in the extract refer to.

Example: these (line 4) the power units

1. them (line 5) ______________________

2. its (line 12) ______________________
3. it (line 15) ______________________
4. those (line 16) ______________________
5. there (line 20) ______________________
6. they (line 24) ______________________

61
UNIT 3
GRAMMAR 1: Review of future verb forms

1. Match the rules to the examples.

1. We use will for spontaneous decisions.

__b__

2. We use going to for planned decisions.

_____

3. We use will for future facts and to make

confident predictions. _____

4. We use going to for predictions which

are based on present evidence. _____

5. We use I’ll for promises. _____

6. We use Shall I / we …? for suggestions and offers. _____

7. We use the present continuous for fixed arrangements. ______

8. We use the present simple for timetables. ______

a) Experts claim that we are going to run out of oil by the year 2050.
b) “There’s someone at the door.” – “I’ll go.”
c) I’m taking Debbie to the dentist at 4 pm.
d) It’s Susan’s birthday tomorrow. She’ll be 19.
e) My plane leaves at 8 am tomorrow.
f) They are going to use radar for protection against meteors.
g) Shall we go to a Thai restaurant?
h) I’ll give you a hand with the cooking when I finish this.

2. Write the negative form of the sentences.

1. I’ll return the books tomorrow.

2. She’s going to get married soon.
3. They’ll build a new school next year.
4. We’re going to move to a new house soon.

3. Make questions with the sentences below.

1. You will have time to finish the project.

2. They’re going to close the old cinema.
3. We’re seeing Aisha tomorrow.

62
 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 1

1. Circle the correct future forms.

Pete: What (1) are you doing / will you do at the weekend?
Lucy: (2) I’ll go / I’m going to the mountains with some friends. Are you free to come?
Pete: (3) I’m not sure. I’m going to / I’ll ring you on Friday and let you know.

Sue: (4) Are you going to / Will you join the football team next year?
Josh: (5) No. I shall start / I’m starting my degree so I won’t have enough time.

Lee: (6) I think we will / we’re going to need more paint for the bedroom.
Kate: (7) I’m going to / I’ll change and go to the DIY shop to get some more.

Ann: If you don’t hurry up, we (8) are going to be / are late.
Mike:Don’t worry, there’s no need to rush. The play (9) is starting / starts at 8.00. If the traffic isn’t
too bad, we (10) are going to / will be at the theatre by 7.30.

Camilla: Would you like something to drink?

Sophie: (11) I’m to have / I’ll have a coke, please.

George: (12) We’re giving / We’ll give Jane a surprise party for her birthday.
Leslie: (13) That’s a good idea. I’m going to / I’ll help you organize it.

2. Write a sentence with I’ll…, Shall I…? or Shall we…? for each situation.

1. You and a friend want to buy a present for another friend’s birthday.

“What shall we get him?”

2. The phone is ringing. Everybody else is busy.

“______________________________________________________________”

3. A friend has just arrived at your house. You know she likes tea. Offer to make some.

“______________________________________________________________”

4. You are tired. Suggest to your partner that you stay in and watch TV tonight.

“______________________________________________________________”

5. You see an elderly lady trying to lift a heavy suitcase.

“______________________________________________________________”

63
UNIT 3
VOCABULARY BUILDING 1: Compound nouns
1. Read the notes, then join the words to make compound nouns.

In English, we can put two nouns together to make a new noun. When we do this, the main
noun is the one at the end: a power unit (a unit that produces power), a copper disc (a disc that
is made of copper), the Wade method (the method that was invented by Wade), an oxygen tank
(a tank that contains oxygen), a sketch artist (an artist who specialises in drawing sketches).

Sometimes compound nouns are written as one word: a spaceship, sunglasses, an airport, a
raincoat, a backpack, the weekend.

1. home (a) clock 6. goal (f) jockey

2. credit (b) forecast 7. shopping (g) racket
3. dish (c) card 8. light (h) list
4. weather (d) work 9. disc (i) keeper
5. alarm (e) washer 10. tennis (j) switch

2. Write compound nouns from the definitions.

1. A place for people to park their cars: ____________

2. A room for people to wait before they see, e.g., the dentist: ____________
3. A place to carry your clothes when you travel: ____________
4. A small boat that goes very fast: ____________
5. What you put on your skin before you sunbathe: ____________

3. Complete the sentences with compound nouns from this page.

1. I didn’t want to pay cash, so I used my ____________.

2. The ____________ said it was going to rain.
3. She slept in because her ____________ didn’t go off.
4. I got burnt because I didn’t put on enough ____________.
5. A good ____________ can keep people dancing all night.
6. The ____________ saved a penalty in the last minute of the game.
7. He fell down the stairs in the dark because he couldn’t find the ____________.
8. She didn’t let the children go out until they finished their ____________.

64
 LISTENING 1
Listening strategy: When listening, sometimes we have to infer information about the
speakers, for example their age or attitudes.

1. Listen and mark the statements true or false.

1. One speaker is much younger than the other. T/F

2. Both speakers are about to retire. T/F
3. One of them owns a tropical island. T/F
4. The older speaker thinks he will have an easy life when he retires. T/F
5. Both speakers are sure they are going to win the lottery. T/F
6. The younger speaker has bought two lottery tickets. T/F

2. Listen again and number the expressions 1 to 14 in the order you

hear them.
(a) It'll all be over! (b) And how do you
(c) Thanks for reminding me!
expect to do all of that?

(f) What do you mean?

(d) I won't have money to throw around.

(e) The high life.

(g) Of course!
(h) Come on!
(j) Oh, yes...
(i) You seem very sure.

(l) Lucky you!

(k) I don't live on fresh air, you know!

(m) You'll be living the life of Reilly.

(n) Anyway, you don't have to worry.

65
UNIT 3
GRAMMAR 2: Future Continuous and Future Perfect
1. Read the examples and choose the
correct words in the rule.

Don’t phone this evening. I’ll be watching

the football match.
This time next week, I’ll be driving my new
car.

We use the Future Continuous to say that

an action will be (in progress / finished)
at a certain time in the future.

2. Fill in the gaps for the Future Continuous.

Positive: I / you / we / they + (1) _____+ be + verb + ing

Negative: I / you / we / they + (2) _____+ (3) _____ + verb + ing
Interrogative: (4) _____+ I / you / we / they + be + (5) _____ + ing?

3. Read the examples and choose the correct words in the rule.

I will have finished my degree by June.

They won’t have found a cure for many diseases by the end of the decade.

We use the Future Perfect to talk about an action that will be (in progress / finished)
before a certain time in the future.

4. Fill in the gaps for the Future Perfect.

Positive: I / you / we / they + (1) ______ + have + past participle

Negative: I / you / we / they + (2) ______ + (3) ______ + past participle
Interrogative: Will + I / you / we / they + (4) ______ + (5) ______ ?

NOTE

With the Future Continuous, we use time expressions like: this time next week, in
a month’s time.

With the Future Perfect, we use time expressions like: by this time tomorrow,
before the end of the year.

66
 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 2
1. Choose the correct form.

1. By the end of this week I (will have done / will be doing) my last exam so we can go out for a
drink.
2. If the exam starts at 4 pm and lasts for three hours, we (will have done / will be doing) it at 6 pm.
3. Hopefully, scientists (will have found / will be finding) a cure for a lot of diseases by the end of
the century.
4. I’m almost certain that cars (will have used / will be using) hydrogen very soon.
5. We (will have stopped / will be stopping) using fossil fuels by 2050.

2. Complete the sentences with the Future Continuous or the Future Perfect.

1. Sea levels __________ (rise) about 20 centimetres by the end of the decade. In some areas
many people __________ (lose) their homes because of flooding.

2. “This time tomorrow I __________ (fly) to Miami.”

“Lucky you! I __________ (sit) on the underground on my way to work.”

3. Do you think people ________ (live) in space stations in the near future?

4. I am having my flat redecorated. The painters _________ (finish) by the end of the month and I
_________ (have) a big party to celebrate!

3. Write sentences using the words given.

1. This time next month / my sister / travel / to Hawaii on her honeymoon.

___________________________________________________________

2. By next Friday / I / finish / the novel that you lent me.

___________________________________________________________

3. What / you / do / this time tomorrow?

___________________________________________________________

4. When / you / pay / for your new car?

___________________________________________________________

5. By the end of the century / many people / live / in the countryside.

___________________________________________________________

67
UNIT 3
STOP AND SEND 1
1. Answer these questions about you. Use a future form in your answers.
1. What are your plans for the weekend?
2. What will you be doing this time tomorrow?
3. Do you have any arrangements for next week? Look in your diary.
4. Will you be doing any sports soon?
5. Will you be seeing any friends?
6. Are there any films you are planning to see?
7. Is there anything (for example, a gadget or clothes) you are going to buy soon?
8. Are you going on a trip soon? What are your travel arrangements? What time does your
plane / train leave?

2. Write predictions about the future for your class blog.

1. Traffic / be banned / from city centres so bicycles / become / the most popular means of
transport.
2. We / stop / using fossil fuels. As a result / we / breathe / cleaner air in our cities.
3. People / drive / electric cars. They / recharge / them very cheaply.
4. Many beaches / disappear / global warming / sea levels / rise.
5. We / use / the internet for all types of shopping. Mobile phones / replace credit cards as the
most popular means of payment.
6. Pupils / use / tablets at school. They / stop / using textbooks.

3. What do you think your life will be like in twenty years’ time? Correct the sentences
below if you think they won’t be true for you.
1. I’ll be married and will have a family of at least two children.
2. I will have moved to the countryside and I’ll be living in a detached house.
3. I will be running my own company so I’ll be my own boss. I’ll be working nine to five.
4. I’ll be doing sports whenever I can. I’ll be playing football with my friends.
5. I won’t have a car. I’ll be using a scooter or a bike to move around.
6. I won’t have any pets.
7. I’ll be growing my own vegetables.
8. I will have very little technology in my house as I’m a bit of a technophobe.

68
 READING 2
Reading strategy: The first sentence in a paragraph is often the topic sentence. Topic
sentences indicate the ideas that will be developed in the paragraph. Reading the topic
sentence of each paragraph gives a general idea of the article.

1. Match the topic sentences to the paragraphs.

a) There is also an opposite trend.
b) Some writers think that the growth of population will exhaust the Earth’s resources and force us
to colonise other worlds.
c) The same problems are likely to affect developing countries eventually.
d) The rate of growth is not the same in all countries.

(1) __________________________. Whilst this may be science fiction, the real facts are
worrying. At the beginning of the last century, the world’s population stood at around 1.65 billion.
But by the beginning of 2000, it had got to 6 billion. This has placed enormous pressures on
countries to feed, house and clothe their populations. And according to the latest research, these
problems are about to get worse. At the current rate of growth, the world’s population is likely to
be higher than 9 billion by 2050 and will be increasing at the rate of 33 million annually.
(2) __________________________. Whilst the rate is around 1.3 percent globally, in the 49
poorest countries, it is 2.3 percent. In 31 countries, the population is likely to double by 2050.
The vast majority of these are less-developed countries, such as Afghanistan, Burkina Faso,
Niger and Somalia. They are also less equipped to deal with the demands of more people. In
2050, it is estimated that 7.9 billion people will live in countries categorised today as having
poorer, developing economies.
(3) __________________________. In 45 countries the population is likely to fall by 2050.
They include Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Korea and Ukraine.
This slower population growth in many developed countries has led to a higher proportion of
older people. In these economies, 22 percent of the population is already aged over 60, a proportion
projected to reach 33 percent in 2050. This is bound to raise concerns about economic sustainability
and the future of pensions.
(4) __________________________. At the moment, in most developing countries about half
of the population is aged under 25 and only nine percent of the population is aged 60 or more.
However, this is bound to change. By 2050, more than one fifth of their population will be aged
60-plus. By 2050, developing countries will surely face the same problems of an inverted
demographic pyramid.

2. Write what these numbers refer to in the text.

1. 1.65 billion ____________________ 4. 45 _________________________

2. 9 billion _______________________ 5. 22 percent ___________________
3. 2.3 percent ____________________ 6. one fifth _____________________

69
UNIT 3
VOCABULARY BUILDING 2: Expressions with get
1. Match the sentences with the meanings of get.

1. The population is getting larger. (a) to buy, receive or obtain something

2. He’s getting his hair cut. (b) to arrive
3. I’m getting an iPad for my birthday! (c) to be in the process of changing
4. The train gets in at 3. (d) to have something done by another person

2. Rewrite these sentences with get.

1. His girlfriend bought him a new watch.

____________________________________________________________
2. I won’t be home till late tonight.
____________________________________________________________
3. Yesterday it was 20 degrees, today it is 25 and tomorrow it will be 30.
____________________________________________________________
4. Some workers are painting Jane’s house.
____________________________________________________________

3. Match the definitions to the meanings of the phrasal verbs underlined.

a) recover from e) escape punishment

b) manage financially f) miss a deadline
c) spread g) avoid
d) have a good relationship with h) concentrate on

1. Having a larger family makes it difficult to get by.

2. He’s trying to get out of paying for the trip.
3. Some people get away with not paying their taxes.
4. Politicians have to get down to solving the world’s environmental problems.
5. Sue’s brother doesn’t get on with his mother-in-law.
6. Will you make sure the news gets round?
7. In times of economic crisis, people get behind in paying their mortgages.
8. William is just getting over the flu.

70
GRAMMAR 3: Be about to... / bound to... / sure to.../
likely to… / due to…
1. Read the explanations.

1. We use be about to + infinitive to say that

something is going to happen very soon.

NASA is about to launch a new Apollo

expedition.

2. We can also use be on the point of + gerund with the same meaning.

NASA is on the point of launching a new Apollo expedition.

3. We use be bound to / be sure to + infinitive to say that something is certain to happen.

When something is probable, we use be likely to + infinitive.

She’s bound / sure to find out sooner or later.

She’s likely to get very angry.

4. We use be due to + infinitive to say that something is arranged or expected.

My sister is due to arrive at 7.30. Can you meet her at the station?

2. Rephrase the sentences with the words in brackets.

1. The Academy is going to announce the Nobel Prize for Literature today. (due)

2. I’m sure John will be late; he always is. (bound)

3. They are very close to solving the problem. (about)

4. Car sales will probably go down this year. (likely)

5. I was going to leave when Karen phoned. (point)

71
UNIT 3
GRAMMAR PRACTICE 3
1. Complete the sentences about future trends with the words given.

1. Internet–equipped cell phones are likely to replace laptops for access to e-mail and websites.
(likely – replace)

2. Robots ___________ dangerous jobs such as repairing damaged nuclear power stations like
the one in Fukushima. (bound – take over)

3. Researchers _____________ ways to prevent and cure hereditary disorders by means of genetic
engineering. (point – discover)

4. Personal robots ______________ most household chores like cleaning and ironing. (due – take
over)

5. Bionics ____________ better artificial limbs and other organs in the next ten years. (likely –
produce)

6. Experts claim that nanotechnology ___________ therapies that will remove plaque from artery
walls and kill cancer cells. (due – create)

7. Cloning ___________ for the treatment of disease but not for producing identical human beings.
(bound – be used)

8. People ___________ longer and in better health so they will tend to have a longer working life.
(likely - live)

9. Smart car technologies ___________ deaths due to car accidents. (sure – reduce)

10. There ___________ new kinds of crime on the internet such as online fraud and identity theft.
(bound – be )

2. Rewrite the sentences using the words given.

1. Mark and Beth will probably break up. They are always arguing. (likely)

Mark and Beth are likely to break up.

2. House prices are going to fall as a result of the surplus. (bound)

_________________________________________________________________

3. The Prime Minister is going to announce his new cabinet this afternoon. (due)

_________________________________________________________________

4. Alistair White, the best-selling crime writer, is going to publish a new book in a few days. (about)

_________________________________________________________________

72
 LISTENING 2
Listening strategy: Remember to read questions carefully, decide what information you
need to listen for, whether names, dates or words, then concentrate just on that information.

1. Match the people to the predictions.

1. Lee Deforest, American radio pioneer

2. Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM
3. H.M. Warner, founder of Warner Brothers
4. Ken Olsen, President, Chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp

a) “I think there is a world market for maybe 5 computers.”

b) “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”
c) “A man-made voyage to the moon will never occur, regardless of all future advances.”
d) “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?”

2. Listen to check.

3. Write the year they made their predictions.

1. Thomas Watson: ________ 2. Ken Olsen: ________

3. Lee Deforest: ________ 4. H.M Warner: ________

4. Listen again and complete the phrases.

foot never wrong mark wrong business

1. Making predictions is a risky ________.

2. You can get it ________.
3. He put his ________ in it.
4. They were way off the ________.
5. You should never say ‘________’.
6. How ________ can you be?

73
UNIT 3
GRAMMAR 4: Future in the past
1. Read the explanation.

When we are talking about the past, we may want

to talk about something that was in the future at that
time, something that had not yet happened.

We call this use future in the past. We use the

structures we normally use to talk about the future
but in the past.

We make the same change as when using reported

speech.

“Look, that’s Sally. She’s going to get on a bus.”

The last time I saw Sally, she was going to get on a bus.

“I’m really nervous. I’m having a job interview in ten minutes.”

John was really nervous. He was having a job interview ten minutes later.

“I think I’ll stay at home. I’m not feeling very well.”

He told us that he would stay at home as he wasn’t feeling very well.

2. Rewrite the sentences from the point of view of the future in the past.

The future from the present…

1. We are meeting at 8 pm in front of the theatre.

2. I’ll try to get the tickets before they’re sold out.

3. I’m going to try to get an Erasmus grant in an English-speaking country.

The future from the past…

1. We __________________ at 8 pm but I never made it because of a traffic jam.

2. The plan was that John ___________________ before they sold out.

3. The last time I saw him, he ___________________ in an English-speaking country.

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 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 4
1. Put the verbs in brackets in an appropriate form to express future in the past.

1. Oh, dear! I forgot you __________ (come) for dinner. Shall we order a pizza?

2. I’m glad I left the job. I thought it __________ (get) better but, in fact, it got much worse.

3. We had arranged for the meeting to start at 10 am but I knew John ___________ (be) late.
He always is.

4. I left the party early as I ___________ (have) a job interview the next day and I wanted to feel
relaxed in the morning.

5. I __________ (tell) my colleague about my holiday in Thailand when I was interrupted by a

phonecall from my boss.

2. Rewrite the following failed predictions with a form of the future in the past.

1. “It will be years before a woman becomes Prime Minister” (Margaret Thatcher in 1974).
Margaret Thatcher said in 1974 that it would be years before a woman became PM.

2. “A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.” (The New York Times)

__________________________________________________________________________

3. “No ship will sail against currents with a bonfire under her deck.” (Napoleon when told about
the future of steamboats)

__________________________________________________________________________

4. “We’re not signing them. We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” (Decca
Recording Co. executives, rejecting the Beatles in 1962)

__________________________________________________________________________

5. “It won’t last. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.” (Darryl Zanuck,
movie producer, talking about the future of television in 1946)

__________________________________________________________________________

6. “Man will not fly for fifty years.” (Wilbur Wright, after a failed flight experiment in 1901)

__________________________________________________________________________

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UNIT 3
STOP AND SEND 2
1. Choose some of the topics below and write predictions about the future.

overpopulation – birth control - new sources of food – immigration - health –unemployment –

robots – space travel – cities in space – energy sources

– Two things that are likely to happen

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

– Two things that are about to happen

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

– Two things that are bound to happen

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

– Two things that are sure to happen

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

2. Complete the sentences in a suitable way using verb forms that express future in the
past.

1. We ___________________ when I realised I had left my trainers at home.

2. Just as I ___________________ they put up a sign saying that all the tickets had been sold
out.

3. I ____________________ a breakdown lorry because I couldn’t start my car when the

engine started.

4. The climbers __________________ when a rescue team found them.

5. I ________________ my piano lessons because I didn’t think I was improving but my teacher
convinced me not to.

6. The burglar ______________ the house with his loot when the alarm went off.

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 SPEAKING
Speaking strategy: When you have to speak for a longer period of time, it is OK to
pause (using sounds like …erm), to repeat words or phrases, and to reformulate (with
expressions like I mean… and you know…).

1. Listen and choose the best title for the talk.

a) An uncertain future
b) A dark future
c) A bright future

2. Underline and indicate pauses (P), repetition (R), or reformulation (RF).

As a scientist, a lot of people ask me what I (1) …erm… what I think the
world will be like in the next century and (2) to be honest, I have to say I’m not sure. What
I do know is the world is facing some pretty big challenges, (3) challenges that will require
incredible ingenuity and hard work on the part of (4) …erm… (5) on the part of the human race
to solve, (6) to sort out. Take global warming, (7) I mean, global warming isn’t going to go
away by itself. It’s going to take a concerted effort by everybody, (8) every country to reduce
greenhouse gasses and pollution. I’m sure that (9) …erm… new technologies will make this
possible, (10) you know… new forms of energy not based on fossil fuels, and if that happens
then that (11) …erm… those new technologies will impact on the way we live, (12) you know,
impact on the types of transport we have and the kind of cities that we live in. I think the cities
will look very different, (13) ….erm… much bigger and then, of course, technology will open
up space too, (14) I mean space travel. That will allow us to explore new worlds to exploit as
resources (15) …erm… resources here on Earth diminish, so we will have to travel greater
distances and that’s bound to change how we live, (16) you know, our lifestyle. I think there
are going to be space colonies en route to new habitable planets. Of course none of this is
certain, (17) I mean, the problems we face might overwhelm us completely and then, well, the
future would be very dark indeed, but I don’t know…erm… I think human history has shown
that we are a very adaptable species and that instinct, (18) you know… the instinct to
survive, I think that will save us.

3. Listen again and repeat.

LEARNER TIP To practise speaking for longer periods, choose a topic and set yourself a
one minute challenge. Try to talk about the topic for one minute.

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UNIT 3
WRITING: Writing an opinion essay
Writing strategy: In an opinion essay, use a four-paragraph structure. Introduce the
topic and state your opinion in the first paragraph. Then give your supporting arguments
in the following two paragraphs. The final paragraph should restate your opinion and
conclude.

1. Read the essay and write the letters of the paragraphs in the correct order.

__(b)__ _____ _____ _____ _____

(a)

Secondly, technology has given us longer and healthier lives. Advances

in medical technology have led to cures for many diseases and ailments.
In today's world, people live longer and are healthier.

(b)

Technology makes the world a better place. Do you agree?

(c)

For these reasons, I think technology makes the world a better place
to live. Not only does it create more leisure time but it also allows us
to enjoy better health.

(d)

Firstly, it has given us more time. Nowadays, machines do most of the

heavy manual jobs. In offices, computers make most tasks easier and
quicker. As a result, people have more time to spend on leisure activities
with their friends and family.

(e)

Technology is a vital part of the world we live in. In my opinion,

technology has made the world a better place. I have two main reasons
for thinking this.

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2. Find expressions and phrases in the essay for the following functions:

Introducing a personal opinion: 1. ______ ______ ______

2. ______ ______

Introducing a reason or reasons: 3. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Indicating a sequence: 4. ______

5. ______

Referring to the present time: 6. ______ ______ ______

7. ______

Introducing an outcome: 8. ______ ______ ______

Stating a conclusion: 9. ______ ______ ______

10. ______ ______ ……. ______ ______

3. Complete this opinion essay with the missing phrases.

Technology is everywhere in our lives, from our homes, schools and places
of work. (1) …………………., technology has ruined our quality of life compared
to before, when people lived closer to nature. (2) ……………………

(3) ………………….., technology has taken work from people. (4) ……………….,
machines and computers do most of the work. (5) ………………., there are higher
levels of unemployment and this creates social problems.

(6) …………………., technology has led to greater loneliness. Before computers

and mobile phone networks, people socialised face to face. (7) ………………..,
people only communicate on the internet and many people feel extremely
isolated.

(8) ………………., (9) ……………… technology doesn’t make the world a better
place to live. (10) ……………… does it put people out of work, but it also makes
them feel unhappy and lonely.

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UNIT 3
STOP AND SEND 3
Choose one of the titles and write an opinion essay.
a) In the future there will be one global culture. Do you agree?
b) Machines will gradually replace all humans in the workplace. Do you agree?
GUIDE TO WRITING: WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY
Follow these steps when you write your essay:

Step 1:
Read the title of the essay. Decide what your opinion is.

Step 2:
Brainstorm arguments to support this opinion.
Then choose the best two.

Step 3:
Organise your essay into four paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: Introduce the topic and give your opinion
- Paragraph 2: Supporting argument 1
- Paragraph 3: Supporting argument 2
- Paragraph 4: Restate your opinion and conclude

Step 4:
Write your essay. Remember to use a variety of linking phrases.

Step 5:
Read your essay and check:
- Is your opinion clear?
- Do you give good arguments to support your opinion?
- Have you used appropriate vocabulary?
- Are the grammar and spelling correct?

Step 6:
Write the second draft of your essay.

Step 7:
Check it again!

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 EXAM PRACTICE
Read the following text and then answer the five questions below.

Astrology is based on the theory that the position of the Sun, the Moon and other stars and
planets at the time of birth influence a person’s personality and the events in his or her life.
Some astrologers also claim that they can predict natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions.

Astrology has millions of followers and a very long history. It was practised in the Middle
East about 3,000 years ago, as well as in China, while in India, where people believe in
reincarnation, astrology has been used for over 2,000 years to guide people through their current
lives. The Greeks developed most of the principles of modern Western astrology and although
the rise of Christianity reduced its influence for a while, it became popular again during the
Renaissance, due to scholars’ interest in science and astronomy.

Astrologers claim that ‘astrology works’, and many famous people have believed them. Nancy
Reagan, the wife of then President of the United States Ronald Reagan, regularly gave her
husband advice based on what her astrologer told her. Successful banker J.P. Morgan once
famously said: “Millionaires do not use astrology, billionaires do.” Even Albert Einstein agreed
that astrology is a science.

Yet sceptics disagree. They say that astrologers’ predictions are often ambiguous. They
agree that sometimes there may be a connection between the position of the planets and certain
events on Earth, but point out that this does not indicate that the planets actually cause the
terrestrial events. They also say that many people believe in astrology because they want to
believe in it, and only look at the evidence that supports their belief, while ignoring all the facts
that do not fit.

Provide answers (5-10 lines) to the following four questions on the text using your own words:

1) (1.5 points) Provide a summary of the information presented in this text.

2) (1.5 points) What is the relationship between astrology and the planets?

3) (1.5 points) Why did astrology become less popular in Europe?

4) (1.5 points) What reasons do sceptics give for not believing in astrology?

5) (4 points) Write a composition of approximately 15 lines on the following topic: Why do you think
people believe in astrology?

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