English

A2.1 Summer
2019
Reading & Writing

Instituto Universita
Universidad d
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Contenido

UNIT 1: Special Places 2

Reading: My last trip 2
Audio-tale: Jack and the beanstalk 3
Grammar: Past Tense Form 5
Writing 1: My special places 9
Unit 2: Experiences 10
A song: Have You Ever… by Brandy. 12
Writing: Conversation 13
Story: A nice experience 14
Grammar 2: Present Perfect 15
Writing 2: Lessons Learned 19
Reading: Google 20
Reading: 30 million people invited to read books 6th January, 2015 21
Unit 3: Journey 22
Reading: Postcards 22
Grammar 3: Past Tense vs. Present Perfect 23
Writing: Journey / holiday 24
Vocabulary: Adjectives 25
Writing 3: Thank you letter 28
Unit 4: Future Plans 29
Reading: Future 30
Grammar: Future 32
Reading: Future 35
Writing 4: My Party 36
Unit 5: Reading & writing practice 37
Audio-Reading: A long and healthy life? 37
Audio-Reading: Live a longer and healthier life 40
Audio-Reading: If Statues could talk 45
Audio-Reading: Siberia's medical train 47
Answer keys: 50
Writing: Free writing 52

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UNIT 1: Special Places

Reading: My last trip
1. Complete with was or were:

My name is Ann. Last summer I was/were in Gran Canaria. The weather

was/were sunny, the palm trees was/were very beautiful. I was/were with my two
brothers: Mark and Harry. We was/were camping at the beach. I was/were twelve
years, my brother Mark was/were ten and Harry was/were ten too because they are
twins. It was/were fantastic to swim in the beach and make sandcastles in the sand.
My friends was/were very sad because the holidays was/were ending.

One day we went to the city, there was/were many places to visit. The supermarket was/were
very big and there was/were a school opposite the park. The children was/ were there. They was/were
in the park playing. The teacher was/were looking at them and we was/were happy because we
weren’t at school.

We was/ were in the museum, there was/ were some pictures and sculptures from Gran
Canaria. They was/were very nice. At eight o’clock we was/were in the camp again and the next day
we was/were at home, I was/were very sad and my brothers was/were too. My mother was/were in
the airport and my father was/were in the car waiting for us. They was/were very happy because we
was/were at home again.

Answer the questions

1. Where was Ann last summer?

2. What was the weather like?

3. How old were her brothers?

4. Where was the school?

5. Who was looking at the children?

6. Where was her mother?

7. What time were they in the camp again?

*Review: Past tense: Was - were

1. https://www.eslgamesplus.com/was-were/
2. Take notes: http://www.clafoti.com/Imagenes10/past_was.htm

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Audio-tale: Jack and the beanstalk

READING: Before you read.

1. Watch a short video about the story of JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/es/short-stories/jack-and-the-beanstalk

2. Read the text: circle the verbs and underline the new words.
Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother.
They were very poor. All they had was a cow. One morning, Jack’s
mother told him to take the cow to the market and sell her. On the way
Jack met a man. He gave Jack some magic beans for the cow. Jack took
the beans and went back home. When Jack’s mother saw the beans she
was very angry. She threw the beans out of the window. The next
morning, Jack looked out of the window. There was a giant beanstalk. He
went outside and started to climb the beanstalk. He climbed up to the sky
through the clouds. Jack saw a beautiful castle. He went inside. Jack
heard a voice “Fee,fi,fo,fum!” and ran into a cupboard. An enormous
giant came into the room and sat down. On the table there was a hen and
a golden harp. ”Lay” said the giant. The hen laid an egg-it was made of
gold. ”Sing” said the giant. The harp began to sing. Soon the giant was
asleep. Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the hen and the harp. Suddenly the harp sang
“Help, master!”. The giant shouted, “Fee,fi,fo,fum!”. Jack ran and started to climb down the
beanstalk. The giant came down after him. Jack shouted “Mother, help!”. Jack’s mother took an axe
and chopped down the beanstalk. The giant fell and crashed to the ground. Nobody ever saw him
again. With the golden eggs and the magic harp Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.
WRITING: Before you write.
1. Scan the text and order the pictures according to the story.

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Writing: Retelling a tale

2. Describe each picture with a sentence.

Picture 1. Jack lived with his mother in an old house.
Picture 2.
Picture 3.
Picture 4.
Picture 5.
Picture 6.
Picture 7.
Picture 8.
Picture 9.
Picture 10.

3. Write your version about JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.

Past tense practice:

1. http://www.clafoti.com/ImagenesABC/past_irr_1.htm
2. http://www.adelescorner.org/grammar/past_tense/past_regular.html
3. http://www.adelescorner.org/listening/last_weekend/last_weekend.html

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4. https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_(ESL)/
Listening_comprehension/Albert_Einstein_biography_listening_kt23546qj
5. http://www.clafoti.com/wq2/Marie_Curie.htm
Grammar: Past Tense Form

1. Was were:

2.
3.

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2. Was-were:

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3. Past tense:

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4. Past tense questions: Was -were - Did

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Writing 1: My special places

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Unit 2: Experiences
Listen and put the sentences in the right order.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Have you ever won the lottery ?

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:
  AUXILIARY SUBJECT AUXILIARY   MAIN VERB  COMPLEMENT
VERB VERB PAST
PARTICIPLE
+ I Have   Seen ET.
+ You Have   Eaten mine.
- She Has Not Been to Rome.
- We Have Not played football.
? Has He   found one hundred
dollars ?
? Have You  Ever watched Prison Break
? Have Mary and Carlos Seen a lion ?
Present perfect practice: http://www.clafoti.com/1.1/ppt1.htm

1. Write 5 questions and answer.

a. Have you ever found some money ? NO , I haven`t

Yes, I have. I have found twenty dollars. NO , I haven`t. . I have not found money.
B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

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PRESETNT PERFECT

1 2 3 4
ANTHONY My father and MARY and JACK My friend _______
brother

do the homework Watch TV Fly play

1. HE / Anthony has _______ the homework FOR three hours
2. They have _________TV SINCE yesterday
3. They have ______ for three hours
4. He has ________soccer since 2008

PRESENT PERFECT 1: FORM

For each gap in the text, put the verb in parentheses into the present perfect tense.
Jack (be) _______ _______ my friend for over 20 years. We (know) _____ _____ each other
since we were children. Recently, he and his family (move) ______ to a house near mine , and our
children play together almost every day.
For the last ten years, Jack and I (play) ____ __ _________ for the same hockey team every
Saturday. Jack is the best player, and he (see)______ _____ the doctor several times about his
knee, but the doctor doesn't know what is causing his pain. Jack (decide) _______ ______ to take
a break. It's going bad to the team without him
a) http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3365
b) http://www.adelescorner.org/grammar/pres_perfect/pres_perfect_1.html
c) http://www.adelescorner.org/grammar/pres_perfect/pres_perfect_neg.html

Past Participle
https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3365

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A song: Have You Ever… by Brandy.

Listen to the song: Have You Ever by Brandy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrNb397wS-A#t=35

1. Cross out (X) the extra words.

Have you ever loved – love – loft somebody so much?

It makes you cry…
Have you ever needed – need - needded something so bad ?
You can’t sleep at night
Have you ever tried – three -try to find the words ?
But they don’t come out right
Have you ever?, have you ever?

Have you ever been – be - bin in love ?

Been in love so bad
You’d do anything to make them understand
Have you ever had – hat - have - someone steal your heart away ?
You’d give anything to make them feel the same
Have you ever searched – searcht - shearch for words to get you in their heart ?
But you don’t know what to say……
And you don’t know where to start……
Chorus
2. Reorder the words.
(Have - loved –ever- you ) ___________________somebody so much?
It makes you cry…
( you – ever – Have - needed ) __________________________ something so bad ?
You can’t sleep at night
(tried - you – ever - Have) ____________________ to find the words ?
But they don’t come out right
( you - ever - Have ) ______________________?, have you ever?

3. Put the sentences in the correct order.

1.
a. Have you ever closed your eyes and
2.
b. You've dreamed of all of your life
3.
c. Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
d. Dreamed that they were there 4.
e. You'd do just about anything to look into their eyes 5.
f. Have you ever found the one 6.
g. Only to find that one won't give their heart to you 7.
h. And all you can do is wait for the day when they will care

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4. Complete the sentences.

Have you ever _______ somebody so much?

It makes you cry…
Have you ever ________ something so bad ?
You can’t sleep at night
Have you ever ________ to find the words ?
But they don’t come out right
Have you ever?, have you ever?
Oooooohh
Writing: Conversation
5. Write a conversation in Present perfect. Check your notes.
6. Record your conversation in pairs and check your pronunciation.
Students A Students B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Story: A nice experience

We’ve gotten along well since we met.

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Read: http://www.pearsonlongman.com/insync/pdfs/unit/in_sync3_unit05_lr.pdf
Well, I’ve been here in Seattle for exactly three months. It’s hard to believe because so much
has happened. I was pretty nervous before we left the U.K. but it’s been fine since my first day. I
think I’m lucky – I made friends with a girl at school named Polly. We take a lot of the same classes
and we’ve gotten along really well since we met. It feels as if I’ve known her for years! She’s
introduced me to other people, too, and that makes a big difference. Last week four of us decided to
go to the Pike Place Market – there are lots of cool shops and stands there. Then we took a tour on a
Duck – it’s a bus and a boat! It’s great here, but there’s one thing I really miss. I haven’t heard any
football news for a long time. Can you do me a favor and tell me the standings? OK, I have to stop
and do my science homework. My books have been in my bag since Friday and I’ve done nothing for
my test tomorrow.

2. Circle the correct choices.

1. Jenna is writing to friends in a) the U.S. b) the U.K.

2. She met Polly a) before she left the U.K. b) when she arrived in Seattle.
3. Jenna and her friends went a) skating. b) shopping.
4. She a) has b) hasn’t done any Science homework this weekend.
5. Jenna is a) happy b) unhappy in her new home in Seattle
3. Complete the chart and write some sentences
Since For
1988 Century

1988 • a century • three years • August • we were children • a long time • ages • five minutes • I
met you • last week • my birthday • a day • this morning • last Monday • ten o’clock • a month

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Grammar 2: Present Perfect

1. Present perfect:

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2. Present perfect:

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3. Since and For:

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4. Questions:

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Writing 2: Lessons Learned

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Reading: Google
1. Answer the questions :
a) Do you use the Internet a lot? Why?
b) What search engine do you usually use?
Since its start in 1998, Google has become one of the most popular search engines. It has grown from
a research project in the dormitory room of two college students to a business that now employs approximately
20,000 people. Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, met in 1995 when they were in their twenties
and graduate students in computer science at Stanford University in California. They realized that Internet
search was a very important field and began working together to make searching easier. Both Page and Brin
left their studies at Stanford to work on their project. Interestingly, they have never returned to finish their
degrees. Brin was born in Russia, but he has lived in the U.S. since he was five years old. His father was a
mathematician in Russia. Page, whose parents were computer experts, has been interested in computers since
he was six years old. When Google started in 1998, it did 10,000 searches a day. Today it does 235 million
searches a day in 40 languages. It indexes2 1 trillion Web pages. How is Google different from other search
engines? Have you ever noticed how many ads and banners there are on other search engines? News, sports
scores, stock prices, links for shopping, mortgage rates, and more fill other search engines. Brin and Page
wanted a clean home page. They believed that people come to the Internet to search for specific information,
not to be hit with a lot of unwanted data. The success of Google over its rivals3has proved that this is true.
Over the years, Google has added new features to its Web site: Google Images, where you can type in a word
and get thousands of pictures; Google News, which takes you to today’s news; Google Maps; and more. But
one thing hasn’t changed: the clean opening page that Google offers its users. In 2009, Forbes.com listed Page
and Brin as having net worth of $12 billion each, at 36 and 35 years old.
Source: https://ngl.cengage.com/assets/downloads/grcontext_pro0000000013/in_context_2_su.pdf
Note foots: 2To index means to sort, organize, and categorize information. 3Rivals are competitors.

1. Underline the present perfect tense in each sentence.

2. Answer the question. Are the sentence is true or false?
a) Google has become a very popular search engine.
b) Google has grown over the years.
c) Sergey Brin has lived in the U.S. all his life.
d) Larry Page and Sergey Brin have known each other since they were children.
e) Larry Page has been interested in computers since he was a child.
f) Brin and Page have returned to college to finish their degrees.
g) Brin and Page have become rich.7. The noun “Google” has become a verb.

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Reading: 30 million people invited to read books 6th January, 2015

1. Read and write True or False

The co-founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has launched what
could be the world's largest ever book club. Zuckerberg announced last week
that his New Year's resolution was to read a book every other week. He then
invited his 30 million followers to join him in his literary pursuit. He created
his own Facebook page called A Year of Books, on which he will announce
what his latest read is and ask people to discuss the book with him. He
explained the rationale for his initiative in a post, saying: "I'm excited for my reading challenge. I've
found reading books very intellectually fulfilling. Books allow you to fully explore a topic and
immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today."
Zuckerberg has already selected his first book, 'The End of Power' by Moises Naim. He
explained" "It's a book that explores how the world is shifting to give individual people more power
that was traditionally only held by large governments, militaries and other organizations. The trend
towards giving people more power is one I believe in deeply, and I'm looking forward to reading this
book and exploring this in more detail."
Zuckerberg takes on a challenge every year as away to broaden his perspectives and learn
more about the world, different cultures, beliefs, histories and technologies. A previous task was to
learn to speak Mandarin, which he has managed to do. (Sources: TIME / TechTimes.com /
Mashable.com)

4True / False

a) Mark Zuckerberg has launched the world's biggest book club

b) Zuckerberg said he would read a book every week for a year.
c) People will get the chance to discuss books with Zuckerberg.
d) Zuckerberg says reading books is intellectually fulfilling.
e) There is a competition to select Zuckerberg's first book.

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Unit 3: Journey
Reading: Postcards
a) Read two Postcards http://www.pi-schools.gr/books/gymnasio/aggl_b_arx/math/049-072.pdf

Dear Thanassis,

I am having a great time here with my brother in the west of England. I think it is the most
interesting place I have ever visited. As you know, Stephanos is at university here and so I am
staying with him. He has been here for three years and he says the town is not the same since he
first arrived here and things have changed. He says that when he first came here it was difficult to
get around but over the years that has changed and now they have started new bus routes. As for
my news, so far, I have been to the local museum and have learned a lot of things about natural
history and wild animals. The paintings in the different rooms were wonderful too. And it didn't
cost anything either! After walking around all the galleries, I had a soft drink and a snack. That
was good too. I haven't bought any souvenirs yet, but perhaps I will get some tomorrow. Anyway,
that's about all for now.

Dear Maria,
I have just been to an amazing exhibition in the Tower of London. The curators of the museum
have built a new room only for this exhibition. In fact, I have never seen anything like it before. It
is full of all kinds of objects and statues. This is the first time these objects have been outside
Russia until now. The exhibition includes priceless objects used in military processions. One of
these is the Tzar's Jerico Cap (helmet), which is richly decorated with gold, silver and precious
stones. Itis exactly as it was when the Tsar wore it and nothing has changed. Admission is included
in the price of a ticket to the Tower of London, so it's a good deal. Because I didn't want to queue
up for ages, I bought the ticket in advance from the Underground tube station. I saved myself í1.50
by doing this. Anyway, I must go. Speak to you soon!

1. Complete the sentences

*for ages *as you know *in fact *all the best *that's about all *as for * for now

a) ......................, I have never been to the Acropolis museum.

b) Simon has visited Paris but.............. his brother, I don't know.
c) I have nothing left to say so................................... ,
d) Let's go home. I have seen enough of this gallery....................
e) It has been good to talk to you............................

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f) Irene has never wanted to go to Paris. ............ she dislikes France

g) We haven't been to a museum................. .

Grammar 3: Past Tense vs. Present Perfect

1. Present perfect vs. Past tense:

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Writing: Journey / holiday

You are on holiday and have taken these photos. Use some of them to make your own postcard to
send to your friend. Tell your friend about your experiences: write about the places you have been to,
what you have seen, what you have done, what you have bought so far and anything else you want to
say. Remember to finish the postcard in a suitable way.

Example:

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Vocabulary: Adjectives

1. Adjectives:

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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2. Adjectives 2:

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

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9. Order of adjectives:

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Writing 3: Thank you letter

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Unit 4: Future Plans

I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8MIp2FOhc
Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gio5AeCWJ7QSClAui6W4g

1. I guess this time a) you're really leaving

2. I heard your suitcase b) lies bleeding
3. And as my broken heart c) it's suicide
4. You say true love d) a thousand rivers
5. You say you've cried e) say goodbye
6. And now you're swimming f) for the shore
7. You left me drowning g) me anymore
8. And you won't save h) in my tears

I'm praying to God you give me one more chance, girl

Order the sentences

a) These five words I swear to you 1
b) I'll be there for you 2
c) I want to be the air for you 3
d) When you breathe
4
e) I'd live and I'd die for you
f) I'd steal the sun from the sky for you 5
g) I'll be there for you 6
h) I'll be there for you 7
i) Words can't say what love can do 8
9

Complete with a word from the text

dirty own buy wanted know drunk promise thirsty

I know you ______ we've had some good times

Now they have their ______hiding place
I can ______you tomorrow
But I can't _____ back yesterday

And baby you know my hands are _____

But I _____ to be your valentine
I'll be the water when you get ______, baby
When you get _______, I'll be the wine
Match the sentences
1. I'll be there for you ____I'll be there for you
2. When you breathe I want to be the air for you ____These five words I swear to you
3. I'd live and I'd die for you ____I'll be there for you
4. Words can't say what love can do ____I'd steal the sun from the sky for you

And I wasn't there when you were happy
And I wasn't there when you were down
I didn't mean to miss your birthday, baby
I wish I'd seen you blow those candles out
I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
I'd steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what love can do

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I'll be there for you

Reading: Future

Will the homes of the future be located in tall skyscrapers like these in Dubai? And what will life
inside the home really be like?

A Picture this: You wake up in the morning. A soft light turns on in your room. You go into the
bathroom and the shower starts. The water is the perfect temperature. After your shower, you go into
the kitchen. Your favorite breakfast is already cooked, and it’s on the table, ready to eat. Now it’s
time to go to work. It’s a rainy day. You live alone, but you find that your umbrella and hat are
already by the door.
How is all this possible? Welcome to your future life!

B APPLIANCES THAT TALK

Technology will allow homes in the future to be “smart.” Appliances will communicate with each
other—and with you. Your stove, for instance, will tell you when your food is cooked and ready to
eat. Refrigerators will suggest recipes based on food items you already have.
The technology is possible because of tiny information-storing devices called RFID1 chips. People
already use them to keep track of pets and farm animals. Future RFID chips will store information
C about all the items in your cabinets.2 For example, they will record the date that you bought
each item. Other devices will “read” this information using radio waves. When you need more food,
your cabinets will tell you to buy it.

1 RFID is “radio-frequency identification.”

2 A cabinet is a type of cupboard used for storing medicine, drinks, and other items.

Houses THAT THINK

Are you tired of the color or pattern of your walls? In a smart home, you won’t have to repaint them.
The walls will actually be digital screens, like computer or TV screens. The technology is
D called OLED,3 and it’s here already. OLEDs are tiny devices that use electricity to light
things. You can find the same technology in today’s thin TV screens. OLED walls will become clear,
like windows, or display colors and patterns, like walls.
A computer network will link these walls with everything else in your house. Called “ambient4
intelligence,” this computer “brain” will control your entire house. It will also adapt to your
preferences. Your house will learn about your likes and dislikes. It will then use that knowledge
E to control the environment. For example, it will set the heat in the house to your favorite
temperature. It will turn on the shower at the right temperature. It will also darken the windows at
night and lighten them when it’s time to wake up.

Robots THAT FEEL?

But how about your cooked breakfast, and the umbrella and hat you found by the door? For those,
you can thank your robot helper. Futurologists predict that
many homes will have robots in the future.
F Robots already do many things such as building cars and vacuuming floors.
But scientists today are starting to build friendlier, more intelligent robots—ones that people will feel
more comfortable having around in the house.

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Sociable5 robots will be able to show feelings with their faces, just like humans. They will smile and
frown, make eye
G contact, and speak. These robots will do work around the house such as cooking and cleaning.
They will even take care of children and the elderly.
How soon will this smart home be a reality? There’s a good chance it will be a

H part of your life in 25 or 30 years, perhaps sooner. Much of the technology is

already here.

3 OLED means “organic light-emitting diode.”

4 Ambient refers to what is around you.
5 If you are sociable, you are friendly.

Reading Activities
| Understanding the Gist. Look back at your answer for exercise E on page 104.
Was your prediction correct?

| Identifying Main Ideas. Look back at the reading on pages 105–106. Match each main idea below to
a paragraph from the reading (A–H).

1. An electronic system called “ambient intelligence” will control an entire house.

2. RFID technology will allow parts of the house to communicate with us.
3. OLED screens will change the way your walls look.
4. Intelligent homes may be a part of our everyday life within 30 years.
5. Robots that act like humans will do housework and take care of people.

C | Identifying Key Details. Read each statement below. Then circle T for true and F for
false, according to the reading. Correct the false statements.

Appliances That Talk

1. Someday, kitchen cabinets will tell you it’s time to buy more food. T F
2. RFID chips are already used today for keeping track of children. T F
Houses That Think
3. People will change their wall patterns using RFID technology. T F
4. Darkening windows at night is an example of ambient intelligence. T F
Robots That Feel?
5. Scientists are building robots that can help take care of elderly people. T F
6. Robots will soon be more intelligent and sociable than humans. T F

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Grammar: Future

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1. Will and going to 1:

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2. Will going to 2 :

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Reading: Future

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Writing 4: My Party

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Unit 5: Reading & writing practice

Audio-Reading: A long and healthy life?

A. Previous Knowledge: Guessing the meaning

1. Match the words with their accurate definition

• Centenarian a) The careful study of something in order to learn facts about it

• Elderly b) Quite old, or very old

• Healthy f c) Someone who is older than 100 years old

• Disease d) A serious problem that affects someone's body and health

• Condition e) Someone who is between 90 and 99 years old

• Lifestyle f) strong and not ill, not sick

• Nonagenarian g) The state of your health; a physical problem

• Research h) The way that a person lives and the activities they do

B. Reading strategies

1.  Scan the article and choose the correct option

a) What two factors for long life do scientists usually investigate?

a) Where people live and what their lifestyles are

b) Genetic factors and environmental factors
c) People’s diet and activity when they were young

2. Interacting with the text.

a) Read the article and complete the sentences with the correct option

1. Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure …

a) Are common illnesses in elderly people.

b) Teach scientists a lot about old age and long life.
c) Are never found among a group of people in Ecuador.

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b) Choose the correct alternative to complete the idea.

1. According to the article … b

a) is the result of the interaction of different
2. The ‘wellderly’ …
factors.
b) scientists have found genes that might
3. Laron syndrome …
influence how long we live.
4. Laron syndrome is interesting to c) it shows that there is a genetic reason for old
scientists because …
age.
d) are over 80 years old and in good health.
5. Scientist think that healthy old age …
e) affects people's height.

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Reading: A long and healthy life?

How long will a baby born today live? 100 years? 120 years? Scientists are studying genes
that could mean long life for us all.
There are already many, many people who have passed the
landmark age of 100. In fact, there are now so many healthy,
elderly people that there’s a new term for them: the wellderly.
These are people over the age of 80 who have no diseases such as
high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes and have never taken
medicines for these conditions.
There have been many scientific studies of communities
where a healthy old age is typical. These include places like
Calabria in southern Italy and the island of Okinawa in Japan.
The small village of Molochio in Calabria has about 2,000 inhabitants. And of these, there are
at least eight centenarians. When researchers ask people like this the secret of their long life, the
answer is almost always to do with diet and is almost always the same: “I eat a lot of fruit and
vegetables.” “A little bit, but of everything.” “No smoking, no drinking.”
While in the past scientists have looked at things such as diet and lifestyle for an explanation
of long life, these days they are investigating genetics. One such researcher is Eric Topol, who says,
“There must be genes that explain why these individuals are protected from the aging process.”
The new research into long life looks at groups of people who have a genetic connection. For
example, one group of interest lives in Ecuador. In one area of the country there are a number of
people with the same genetic condition. It’s called Laron syndrome. The condition means that they
don’t grow to more than about one metre, but it also seems to give them protection against cancer and
diabetes. As a result, they live longer than other people in their families. Meanwhile, on the Hawaiian
island of Oahu, there’s another group of long-lived men, Japanese-Americans. They have a similar
gene to the Laron syndrome group.
Back in Calabria, scientists are trying to work out exactly how much of the longevity is due to
genetics and how much to environment. By checking public records going back to the 19th century,
researchers have reconstructed the family trees of 202 nonagenarians and centenarians. They
concluded that there were genetic factors involved. And they seemed to benefit the men more than
the women – a surprising result because generally in Europe, there are five times more women
centenarians than men.

So what really makes people live longer? It seems likely that it is an interaction of genes, the
environment and probably a third factor – luck.

Source: http://www.ngllife.com/long-and-healthy-life-0

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Audio-Reading: Live a longer and healthier life

A. Understanding details.

1. After scanning complete the sentences with the correct option.

Live a Longer and Healthier Life

Do you wish you could live to be 100 or older? Do you wish you could be in perfect health
your entire life? Well, you might just be able to get what you wish for! Recent scientific research has
shown that if people practiced just five simple behaviors, they could not only prolong their lives but
make them healthier as well. If you are willing to commit to leading a longer, healthier life, read on.

First, eat the right foods in the right amounts. Three-fourths of your plate should be filled with
fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you cannot give up eating meat, choose lean meats. Eat
poultry, fish, beans, and foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and sugar.
People who wish they could more easily control the amount they eat may find that using a smaller
plate will help.

Next, exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least three days a week. If you exercise five or
more days a week or at least 75 minutes each time, the results will be even better for you. Choose the
type of exercise you enjoy. If you don’t have 30 consecutive minutes, then you can break it into three
10-minute periods and get some of the same benefits. Exercise helps increase muscle, strengthen
bones, and improve balance. If you haven’t exercised in a while, you should see your doctor before
you begin a program. Not only will exercise improve your physical health, it also relieves stress and
fosters good mental health.

Third, find time to volunteer in your community. If you volunteer even just a few hours a
month, you will still get the benefits that helping others gives you. People who volunteer suffer less
from depression and are less likely to have heart
disease than those who do not volunteer. In addition, if you want to live longer and be healthier, be
sure to get
sufficient sleep. If you are over the age of 18, you probably need seven to nine hours of sleep each
night. If you cannot get that much sleep, take a short nap of 20–30 minutes per day.

Finally, it’s important to drink water. The body is between 55 percent and 75 percent water,
and water helps it metabolize fat and maintain muscle tone. You can get water through fruits and
vegetables, but if you really want to be good to your body, you could simply drink lots of water!

Sources: Skillful Reading and Writing book 2

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2. Matching the sentences

1. if you really want to
be healthier,
2. If you exercise to be
healthier,
3. If people volunteer,
4. If you like eating
meat, choose meats ...
a) they won´t suffer from sadness or a loss of interest
in activities once enjoyed.
b) that are popular amongst people following low
calorie and low fat diets.
c) you could drink lots of water
d) you should see your doctor to get some advice.

B. Relating reading to your personal experience

1. Answer the questions
1. Did you try another ways to be healthier?
2. Have you ever seen a 100 year old person? Give some details.
3. Do you wish to live longer? What will you do if you live more than 90 years?

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Writing: Healthy life

A. Relating reading to personal experience

B. Give your personal opinion about the article. No less than 50 words.

1. Write about healthy life.

2. Then record your voice and check pronunciation

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Reading & Writing

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 Reading & Writing

Audio-Reading: If Statues could talk

A. Previous Knowledge
1. Match the words with the definitions.

1. carve b 1. (v) if the weather, sea or wind erodes rock or soil, it cracks and breaks it so
2. curious that it is damaged
3. erode 2. (v) to make an object by cutting it out of a substance such as wood or stone
4. fragile
3. (v) if you weigh a particular amount, that is how heavy you are
5. inhabitant
6. land 4. (adj) interested in something and wanting to know more about it
7. power 5. (adj) easily broken or damaged
8. stare 6. (n) the inhabitants of a place or region are the people who live there
9. tool 7. (n) a simple piece of equipment that you hold in your hand and use to do a
10. weigh particular kind of work
8. (n) an area of ground, rather than the sea or the air
9. the ability of something to have a strong effect on things or people
10. (v) to look at someone or something for a long time

2. Reading for specific information

1. Complete the sentence.

1. The Easter Island statues … _______

a) are new constructions to attract tourists.

b) aren’t completely understood by archaeologists.
c) were destroyed by the islanders.

2. Read again and match the sentences.

1. The moai ... d

2. Studying the moai … a) ...can tell us about the people who lived on the

3. Hunt and Lipo think people island.

moved the statues using ...
b) ropes.
4. José Antonio Tuki …
c) is from Easter Island.

d) were made by José Tuki’s ancestors.

3. Relating to your experience

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1. Give your personal opinion about the article. 20-30 words.

If statues could talk

How did the Easter Island statues move? Archaeologists are still trying to work out how - and what their story
really means.

On a winter night last June, José Antonio Tuki, a 30-year-old

artist on Easter Island, sat on Anakena beach and stared at the
enormous human statues there – the moai. The statues are from
four feet tall to 33 feet tall. Some weigh more than 80 tons.
They were carved, a long time ago, with stone tools and then
they were moved up to 11 miles to the beach. Tuki stares at
their faces and he feels a connection. ‘This is something that
was produced by my ancestors,’ he says. ‘How did they do it?’

The first Polynesians arrived at Rapa Nui (Easter Island),

probably by canoe, hundreds of years ago. The island is 2,150
miles west of South America and 1,300 miles east of its nearest inhabited neighbour, Pitcairn. Nowadays 12
flights arrive every week from Chile, Peru and Tahiti. In 2011, 50,000 tourists – ten times the island’s
population – flew to Easter Island. Almost all of the jobs on Easter Island depend on tourism. And the tourists
go there for only one thing: the moai.

People around the world became curious about the statues after the Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl
made Easter Island famous, and there are different theories about how the statues were moved to the beach.
Many researchers think the statues were pulled along the ground using ropes and wood.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond has suggested that many people were needed to build and move the moai.
As a result, the island’s trees were cut down for wood and to create farming land. This open land was fragile
and it was soon eroded by the strong winds, so it was very difficult to grow food. The situation was an early
example of an ecological disaster, according to Diamond.

On the other hand, archaeologists Terry Hunt of the University of Hawaii and Carl Lipo of California State
University Long Beach have a more positive view of the island’s history. They suggest that the inhabitants
actually pioneered a type of sustainable farming – they built thousands of circular stone walls, called manavai,
and grew food inside them. And their theory about how the moai were moved is that they were ‘walked’ along
using a system of only ropes and a few people.

As José Tuki contemplates these enormous statues, he doesn’t mind that there are no definite answers about
the history of his island. ‘I want to know the truth,’ he says, ‘but maybe knowing everything would take its
power away.’

Source: http://www.ngllife.com/if-statues-could-talk

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 Reading & Writing

Audio-Reading: Siberia's medical train

A. Using previous knowledge

1. Match the key words with their meanings.

1. competence c a) a period of time in history

2. era b) something that makes you remember something else
3. fabric c) the ability to do something well
4. reminder d) cloth used to make clothes, etc.
5. Rhythm e) a regular, repeated movement or sound
6. snowy f) a story about things that may or may not have happened
7. tale g) with a lot of snow or covered in snow

Pre reading :
1. Skim the text and choose the correct alternative and complete the sentence

1. What kind of services does the Matvei Mudrov train a) is not equipped for surgery.
offer? b) mobile medical clinic with basic
2. Matvei Mudrov train is a....
equipment.
3. The Matvei Mudrov train...
c) Medical diagnosis and advice.

Read the article and choose the correct option.

1. Which word best describes the communities in the article?
a) over-populated
b) remote
c) urban
2. According to the article, which statement is true?
a) The Matvei Mudrov train carries over a dozen medical staff.
b) The Matvei Mudrov train has been running since the nineteenth century.
c) The Matvei Mudrov train is carried on the Trans-Siberian line.
3. The village of Khani ...
a) grew during the time of the Soviet Union.
b) is a short distance from a large city.
c) is unlike most places close to the railway line.

4. The doctor, Yelena Miroshnichenko, ...

a) also supplies her patients with food gifts.

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b) has met Mikhail Zdanovich before.

c) isn’t able to help Zdanovich with his problem.
5. The article suggests that the doctors on the train ...
a) are doing their final training.
b) only do one trip.
c) work on the route regularly.

Siberia's medical train

Some years ago, I lived in a place which had few doctors and only a basic hospital. But we did have
a fantastic book called, appropriately enough, ‘Where there is no doctor’. From this book, which I
read from cover to cover many times, we got two things: information and confidence. Information to
help us diagnose and treat disease, and confidence to feel that we’d be able to treat ourselves if we
got ill. When I read this article, I found myself remembering that book and wondering if the people
described here have a Russian version of it. (Helen Stephenson)

In Khani, a small village under the snowy peaks of

the Stanovoy Mountains in Russia, there is a queue of
patients waiting next to the railway line to see the doctor.
They are waiting for the Matvei Mudrov train – a mobile
medical clinic with basic equipment, examination rooms
and twelve to fifteen doctors on board.
The Matvei Mudrov runs along the 4,000
kilometres of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM), a railway
line parallel to but 650 kilometres north of the more
famous Trans-Siberian line. The Matvei Mudrov takes its name from a nineteenth century Russian
doctor. He was one of the first doctors to promote treatment of the patient as an individual, not just
the disease.

Khani is typical of settlements along the BAM, a reminder of the growth era of the Soviet
Union, but now with little access to specialist health care its community is dependent on the Matvei
Mudrov. Among the people in the queue is a man who has broken both ankles and a teenage girl
needing a post-operative check-up. She had appendicitis a month earlier and, luckily, was able to get
to a town three hours away for treatment. The Matvei Mudrov is not equipped for surgery, although
its doctors can offer a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment. The medical train is one of the
few points of contact those along the BAM have with the rest of the country.

The town of Berkakit is larger than Khani but similar in many ways. It was once home to as
many as 9,000 people. Today less than half remain. Mikhail Zdanovich is one of them. Now 61,
Zdanovich was sent to the BAM in 1976, when he had just finished Soviet military service. He

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married a woman who worked at the town bakery and they settled in the town.  Zdanovich’s right
arm is in a fabric sling: he is waiting for surgery on his shoulder in Khabarovsk, about 1,600
kilometres away. He wants to ask the doctors if he should work in the meantime. As soon as
Zdanovich goes into the office, the doctor, Yelena Miroshnichenko, cries ‘Oh, Mikhail Pavlovich, I
recognised your voice.’ Miroshnichenko writes a letter to say that he can’t work while he’s waiting
for his shoulder to be treated. He leaves, happy, and then he returns a few minutes later. He brings
freshly baked cabbage pies and a jar of goat’s milk. The patients treated on the train generally praise
the doctors for their honesty and competence.

Life on the Matvei Mudrov settles into a rhythm for the doctors on board: the green pines of
the surrounding forest, the rumble of the train’s engine, the hypnotic clop clop clop of the tracks
below. The cook is a 27-year-old jokester named Vitya who serves three meals a day. The doctors eat
standing up behind the counters in the dining car, amusing one another with tales of patients. The
train only visits each place twice a year, but after years of treating patients along the BAM, as Yelena
Miroshnichenko says, ‘You don’t just know the people, you even know the dogs.’

Source:  http://www.ngllife.com/siberias-medical-train-1

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 Reading & Writing

Answer keys:

A long and healthy life?

a) Match the words with their accurate definition

Centenarian c
Elderly b
Healthy f
Disease d
Condition g
Lifestyle h
Nonagenarian e
Research a

b) Scan the article and choose the correct option.

1. What two factors for long life do scientists usually investigate?

b. Genetic factors and environmental factors

2. Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure …

a) Are common illnesses in elderly people.

c) Choose the correct alternative to complete the idea.

1. According to the article … b

2. The ‘wellderly’ … d
3. Laron syndrome … e
4. Laron syndrome is interesting to scientists because … c
5. Scientist think that healthy old age … a
Live a longer and healthier life

a) that are popular amongst people following

if you really want to be healthier,
If you exercise to be healthier,
If people volunteer,
If you like eating meat, choose meats ...
low calorie and low fat diets.
b) you should see your doctor to get some
advice.
c) they won´t suffer from sadness or a loss
of interest in activities once enjoyed.
d) you could drink lots of water

If statues could talk

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 Reading & Writing

1. carve (v) to make an object by cutting it out of a substance such as wood or stone
2. curious (adj) interested in something and wanting to know more about it
3. erode (v) if the weather, sea or wind erodes rock or soil, it cracks and breaks it so that it is damaged
4. fragile (adj) easily broken or damaged
5. inhabitant (n) the inhabitants of a place or region are the people who live there
6. land (n) an area of ground, rather than the sea or the air
7. power (n) the ability of something to have a strong effect on things or people
8. stare (v) to look at someone or something for a long time
9. tool (n) a simple piece of equipment that you hold in your hand and use to do a particular kind of work
10.weigh (v) if you weigh a particular amount, that is how heavy you are

● Complete the sentence

The Easter Island statues … aren’t completely understood by archaeologists.

● Read again and match the sentences.

1. d 2. a 3.b 4.c

Siberia's medical train

● competence (n) the ability to do something well

● era (n) a period of time in history
● fabric (n) cloth used to make clothes, etc.
● reminder (n) something that makes you remember something else
● rhythm (n) a regular, repeated movement or sound
● snowy (adj) with a lot of snow or covered in snow
● tale (n) a story about things that may or may not have happened
Pre reading :
Read the article and choose the correct option.
1. Which word best describes the communities in the article?
remote
2. According to the article, which statement is true?
The Matvei Mudrov train carries over a dozen medical staff.
3. The village of Khani ...
grew during the time of the Soviet Union.
4. The doctor, Yelena Miroshnichenko, ...
has met Mikhail Zdanovich before.
5. The article suggests that the doctors on the train ...
work on the route regularly.

Writing: Free writing

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 Reading & Writing

1. Choose a topic you like and write a paragraph of no less 120 words.

Brainstorm

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