B2 OXFORD ENGLIGH TEST

20 COMMON PHRASAL VERBS

FIND OUT – enterarse (recabar más información) / descubrir
I found out about your hotel thanks to a friend who stayed there last summer.
I will try to find out if there are still tickets available.

COME ACROSS – meet/find by chance

When I was tidying up my room I came across some old pictures of my childhood
I came across Josh in the supermarket. I hadn't seen him for ages.

TURN UP – aparecer (una cosa, una persona) de repente

I couldn't find my watch and it turned up in the washing machine.
Nobody expected her exboyfriend would turn up at the wedding.

PICK UP – recoger
If it suits you, I'll pick you up at 5
Dear Mrs Fernández, you can pick up your parcel in our shop Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 in the
morning.

EAT OUT – salir a comer por ahí

I'm saving up for my holidays so eating out is not an option
We could eat out

STAY IN – quedarse en casa

I don't feel like going out tonight. Why don't we stay in and rest?

GIVE UP – rendirse / dejar de hacer algo (fumar, jugar al tenis)

Never give up, even if your situation looks desperate.
I succeeded in giving up smoking without taking any pills or using any patches

TAKE UP – empezar a hacer una nueva actividad

If I had more free time, I would take up guitar lessons

TRY ON – probarse (ropa)

I hate to try on clothes in shops. That's why I prefer online shopping

TAKE BACK – devolver (un producto)

I bought a jacket but it definitely doesn't go with my top. I'll take it back tomorrow.

KEEP ON – go on, continue

What are telling me is so interesting, please keep on talking

PUT OFF – postpone

They'll have to put off the wedding because the bride-to-be was admitted to hospital yesterday.

CALL OFF – cancel

The match was called off due to bad weather conditions.
PUT UP – alojar
If you come to Pamplona you needn't book a hotel room, I'll put you up!

PUT UP WITH – aguantar / soportar

When you live in a flat you have to put up with your neighbours.

GET RID OF – deshacerse de

There are lots of old magazines in the living room, we need to get rid of them.

RUN OUT OF – quedarse sin

Let's pull over (parar el coche) at the next petrol station, we are running out of petrol.
The police asked them to pull over and get out of the car.

WORK OUT – entrenar (gimnasio) / arreglar / funcionar (un plan)

She's been working out hard and she's lost 15 kilos.
I tried to repair the toilet myself but it didn't work out. We had to call a plumber.

MEET UP WITH – quedar con alguien

I'm meeting up with some friends later, would you like to join us?

RING UP – llamar
I'm in a hurry but I'll ring you up later!

GET ON (WELL) WITH – llevarse (bien) con alguien

I don't get on with my coworkers, they are too posh.

END UP
Our plan was to eat out but we ended up ordering pizza.

30 COMMON IDIOMS AND PROVERBS

AS THE SAYING GOES … →COMO DICE EL REFRÁN...

1- All that glitters is not gold – No es oro todo lo que reluce

2- Every cloud has a silver lining – Toda situación mala tiene un lado positivo
3- An apple a day keeps the doctor away – Una dieta sana te hará estar sana
4- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – La belleza está en los ojos de quien mira
5- Honesty is the best policy – La honestidad es la mejor estrategia
6- A stitch in time saves nine – Más vale prevenir que lamentar
7- When the going gets tough, the tough get going – Cuando seguir adelante se hace duro, la gente
dura sigue adelante
8- Don't miss the boat – No pierdas el tren
9- No man is an island – Nadie vive solo/a, todos tenemos que vivir en sociedad, necesitamos de
los/las demás
10- People who live in glass houses should not throw stones – Si tú eres criticable, no critiques a los
demás
11- Hope for the best but prepare for the worst – Espera lo mejor y prepárate para lo peor
12- Better late than never – Mejor tarde que nunca
13- Birds of a feather flock together – Dios los cría y ellos se juntan
14- A picture is worth a thousand words – Una imagen vale más que mil palabras
15- There's no such thing as a free lunch – No hay nada gratis en esta vida
16- There's no place like home – En ningún sitio como en casa
17- Familiarity breeds contempt – La confianza da asco
18- Discretion is the greater part of valour – Una retirada a tiempo es una victoria
19- The early bird catches the worm – A quien madruga Dios le ayuda
20- Never look a gift horse in the mouth – A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente
21- You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs – No puedes hacer algo sin cabrear a
algunas personas o sin que algunas personas se opongan o te critiquen.
22- You can't always get what you want – No siempre puedes conseguir lo que quieres
23- A watched pot never boils – Una olla que miras constantemente parece que tarda mucho en
hervir. Ten paciencia y deja que pase el tiempo sin preocuparte todo el rato.
24- Actions speak louder than words – Hechos y no palabras
25- Practice makes perfect – La práctica hace la perfección
26- Easy come, easy go – Lo que rápido llega, rápido se va (dinero)
27- Beggars can't be choosers – Los mendigos no pueden elegir. Cuando estás en una situación poco
ventajosa, tienes que conformarte con lo que te dan. Por ejemplo, quieres vivir sola en un piso pero no
tienes dinero, entonces tu única opción es compartir piso con otras personas aunque no te apetezca.
28- If you can't beat them, join them – Si no puedes con ellos, únete a ellos
29- There's no time like the present –
30- You can't judge a book by its cover – No juzgues un libro por sus tapas
31- Don't put all your eggs in one basket – No pongas todas tus expectativas y opciones en una sola
cosa, persona, trabajo, etc..

VOCABULARY FOR VOICEMAIL MESSAGES

INFORMAL
Hi, it's Sonia here.

Congratulations on your...
Thanks for your
That sounds great
Lucky you!
Poor you!
That's good news

I wonder if you would like to...

I wonder if you could help me...
Would you like to join me for dinner?

If I were you, I would...

You should definitely...

Why don't we + inf...?

What about + ing..?
Shall we + inf...?
Are you free next...?
Call me back when you get my message.
Let me know when you get my message.
Give me a call
Text me

FORMAL
Good morning, this is Sonia Belanche speaking.

I'm awfully sorry but

I'm calling regarding...
I'm very dissatisfied/unhappy about...
I would be thankful if you could...
If possible, I'd rather + inf
I hope you can find a solution....
As far as I'm concerned,

If it suits you I would prefer to meet...

I'll be available on...
I'm awfully sorry but...
We could meet whenever it is convenient for you.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL 1 – formal

You took your car to the garage and you are not satisfied
– explain why
– propose a solution
– propose a date and time

Good Morning, this is Sonia Belanche speaking.

I took my car to your garage last Friday afternoon because I had a flat tyre. I picked it up on Saturday
morning but I've been driving it for two days and it doesn't feel stable at high speed.

I'm obviously worried because this might cause an accident. I'm sure the car worked perfectly last
week so I would be very grateful if you could check if everything is fine and test if the tyre was
properly changed.

If it suits you, I could take the car to your garage tomorrow morning. Please call me as soon as
possible. Thank you so much.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL 2 – Informal

You receive this message from a friend:

Hey Miley, i've been thinking about our birthday party. What about a fancy dress party? I think it
could be great if we went to a club called Red Cat it's near the stadium. Let me know if you agree or
perhaps you know a better place.

Hi Josh,

It's very kind of you.That sounds great but you know what? I don't feel like dressing up. I've never been
fond of fancy dress parties. On top of that the venue you've choosen is a bit far from the centre, don't
you think so?
Perhaps, we could ring up a club which is near the main square where you can rent a room and have
parties. They also offer group discounts on drinks. Why don't we go tomorrow and talk to the owner?
Call me when you get my message. See you.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL 3 – Informal

you had a problem at the airport. The air carrier lost you luggage and you need to stay a day in Madrid.
Call a friend and
– explain the problem to him/her
– ask him/her for help
– ask him about accommodation options

Hi Silvia, it's Sonia here.

You won't believe it but Ryanair lost my luggage and I'm here in Madrid waiting for a solution.
I know you travel a lot, what do you recommend? Should I stay here making sure I get my suitcase
back or are they trustworthy? On top of that I'm afraid I'll have to stay at the airport until tomorrow. Do
you know any affordable hotels in the area? Perhaps one of your friends could put me up and I would
pick up my suitcase tomorrow morning. Anyway, text me soon. Thank you.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL 4 – Formal

You bought a product and when you got home you realized that it had a defect.
Leave a voicemail message and explain
– who you are
– the product you bought
– the options you have

Good afternoon, This is Sonia Belanche speaking. Yesterday morning I went to your shop and I bought
some camping equipment for a trekking holiday.

Everything works perfectly except for the rucksack. Once at home I realized the zip doesn't work well
and I'm 100 per cent positive I didn't break it.

As you can imagine, I would like to take it back to the shop and I would be grateful if you could provide
some infomation about your return policy. I wonder if it is possible toget a refund or if you give credit
vouchers.

Please, call me back as soon as possible. Thank you.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL MESSAGE 5 – Informal

A friend of yours is looking for a job in your town. He wants information about the best options to get a
job, accommodation and free time activities.

Hi Jeremy,
That's good news! I'm sure you'll love Pamplona.
The easiest sector to get a job is the hospitality sector. There are lots of bar and hotels so you could
easily work there. Besides, as a native speaker you could become an English teacher in an academy.

About the accommodation I think the first months you should live in a hostel and then look for a shared
flat. The prices in the centre are not exactly cheap but if you don't mind living on the outskirts you'll
easily find something affordable.

As for leisure time options, we are close to the beach and the mountain so you could enjoy many
outdoor activities like trekking, surfing, cycling... And of course nightlife is great, too.
Call me if you need help. I hope to see you soon.

EXAMPLE VOICEMAIL MESSAGE 6 – Formal

You were asked to attend a job interview but you are now unable to attend
– say who you are
– explain why you are not able to attend the job interview
– suggest an alternative date

Good Morning Mrs Wallis, this is Sonia Belanche speaking. I'm calling regarding the appointement for a
job interview next Monday at 12. I am awfully sorry but I'm afraid I won't be able to attend it due to a
family issue. I need to take my son to the doctor and unfortunately it isn't possible to change the date. I
would be really grateful if we could arrange the interview for a different day and time. On Tuesday and
Wednesday morning I'll be available from 8 to 12. Please let me know whenever it is convenient for
you. Thank you so much.

WRITING

FORMAL EMAIL

DEAR MR /MRS SMITH,

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EMAIL

I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR SERVICE
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED
IT IS VERY KIND OF YOU TO CONTACT ME

FIRST
TO BEGIN WITH,
ABOUT THE DATE
AS FOR THE...
REGARDING THE TRANSPORT OPTIONS...

BESIDES,
ON TOP OF THAT
LET'S NOT FORGET

UNFORTUNATELY /FORTUNATELY
ANOTHER POSITIVE ASPECT WAS THAT

I WOULD SUGGEST + ING

I WOULD RECOMMEND + ING
IT WOULD BE COVENIENT/PRACTICAL/USEFUL FOR CUSTOMERS IF...

FINALLY

I HOPE YOU FIND MY SUGGESTIONS/PROPOSALS/IDEAS HELPFUL

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY
BEST WISHES / KIND REGARDS / YOURS SINCERELY / FAITHFULLY

EXAMPLE FORMAL EMAIL 1

Provide information about a trip you are organizing. The company which organizes the guided tours
needs some info.

Dear Mr Marshall

I would like to thank you for your prompt reply and I will be glad to provide the required information
about our trip.

First of all, we are a group of 20 people including some children. All of us understand English so if
there are not tours in Spanish available we could join a guided tour in English.

As for the lunch pack we thank you for the suggestion but I guess we will try to find a local restaurant
in order to taste new food as part of the experience.

Anf finally, our preferred dates and times would be the first or second week in May and morning
groups since we are planning to do some outdoor activities in the area in the afternoon.
I look forward to your answer

Best regards

EXAMPLE FORMAL EMAIL 2

Your boss/the school headmistress has asked you for help to hold the annual meeting of former
students-
– best date
– venue
– activites
Dear Mrs Dench

I am really proud that you offer me the opportunity to help with the arrangements of the annual
meeting and I will try to do my best to make interesting proposals.

Regarding the date, the beginning of June could be a good option. The students will have finished their
exams so the current teachers and school staff will be free and they could join our celebration without
feeling stressed. On top of that, the weather at this time of the year is usually sunny and warm and
perfect for outdoor activities.
As for the venue, the school has an impressive hall and a big playground area. They could be suitable
for the morning activities and the cocktail. Some banners, a litte decoration and a good catering
service would do the rest and this way the school would save the money of renting a room in a hotel or
a restaurant.

To finish, the activities could be varied and entertaining. Perhaps retired teachers could tell some
anecdotes, pictures of the former students could be projected on a screen in the hall, some games and
quizzes related to the school could be played in the playground and finally everybody could enjoy a
nice drink and a bite outdoors.

If you are interested we could meet whenever you are available and discuss the details

Best regards

WRITING INFORMAL EMAILS

Salutation or Greeting
•Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails, you can also
start with Hi (and the person's name). Dear Ben, or Hi Ben,
(Don't forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to and not Dear Mr John, which is never
used, or Dear Mr John Brown, which sounds too formal.)
•Informal letters sometimes have a comma after the person's name, and the letter starts on the line below.
The important thing is to be consistent with the style that you choose to use (so if you use a comma after the
person's name at the start of the letter, use a comma after the closing statement at the end).

Body
Openings

When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You would normally start with a
greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are replying. It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key
information given in the original letter too. You can also make a comment on your own reply.

Useful phrases for the opening

•How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.
•Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard.
•It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.
•I was so surprised to hear that...
•I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven't been in touch for such a long time.
•It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you're well / you and your family are well.
•How are things? / How are you? / How’s it going?
Other useful phrases
Referring to news

•Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

•Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …

•Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …
•I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …
•By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?
Apologies

•I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
•I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.
Invitations

•I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
•Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?
•I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.
•Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?
•Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
•Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …
Requests

•I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.
•I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
•I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?
•I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …
Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck

•I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.
•It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
•I really appreciated all your help / advice.
•Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!
•I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.
•Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.
•Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …
Making suggestions and recommendations

•Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?

 •You can’t leave New York without (...doing sth)
•I’m sure you will enjoy (...doing sth). If you like, we can …
•Do visit ... / Don’t forget to ...

Closing
The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of finishing an informal letter
or email.

•Give a reason why you're ending the letter: Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess it's time I
got on with that studying I've been avoiding.

•Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact: Give my love / regards to... / Say hello to... /
Anyway, don't forget to let me know the dates of the party. / I'll try and phone you at the weekend to check
the times. / We must try and meet up soon. / I can't wait to hear from you / Look forward to seeing you
again / Hope to hear from you soon / See you soon / Write soon

•Closing statement such as Love, Lots of love, All the best, Take care, Best wishes, should be written on a
new line. If you used a comma after the opening greeting, use a comma here too.

•Signing off: Your first name then follows on another new line.

WRITING REVIEW
Hints
•It is a good idea to give your review an interesting title.
•In the first paragraph, say what you are reviewing and try to get the reader's interest.
•Give your opinion of what you are reviewing linked to the question in the second paragraph. Remember a
review is not just a list of facts - it's largely your opinion.

•Give more details of what your are reviewing linked to the questions in the input in one or two more
paragraphs, but only focus on those you've been asked to develop.

•Summarise your view, using different words from the introduction, and include a recommendation.
•Remember.

•Use a personal or more neutral style, according to the target reader.

•It is important that you show a range of structures in the language of opinion, description and
recommendation.
•Add vivid language to add interest.

Useful language for a review

What I liked

•What I liked most was …..

•The thing I liked most was ….
•I was pleasantly surprised by …..
 •….. would appeal to …..
•If you get a chance to ….
What I disliked

•What I disliked most was …..

•I was disappointed by/with ……
Reviews of books

•main character
•is set in
•Fiction: science fiction / thriller / fantasy / mystery / historical / romance ...
•Non-fiction: cook book / travel book / textbook / manual / coffee-table book ...
•atmosphere / plot
•author
•written by
•chapter
•factual
•unbelievable
•bestseller
•ending
Reviews of concerts

•artist / band / musician / (bass/lead/rhythm) guitarist / (backing/lead) singer / drummer / soloist / trio /
orchestra
•auditorium / hall / venue / lyrics / (catchy) tune / score / gig
Reviews of exhibitions

•painting / sculpture / handicrafts / installation

•gallery / catalogue / display
Reviews of films

•lead role
•star role
•star
•star actor/actress
•starring
•secondary role
•He plays a …….
 •written by ….
•cast / director / producer
•is set in …..
•based on a true story …..
•believable
•true to life
•not very believable
•far-fetched
•(As for fiction books +): animation / adaptation / comedy
•Costumes / design / photography / script / special effects / soundtrack
•ending
Reviews of TV programmes

•Chat shows / current affairs programme / debate / documentary / series / soap opera/ sitcom (situation
comedy) / talent show / dating show / game show / quiz show
•Host / presenter / interviewee
Reviews of hotels, restaurants, etc

•location
•service
•setting
•attractive / disappointing setting
•owned by
•run by
•head chef (restaurant)
•waiters (restaurant)
•staff …….
•staff at reception …….(hotel)
•hotel facilities ….
•reasonable prices …..
•good/excellent/poor value for money …..
•(a bit/somehow) expensive
•overpriced
•not worth the money
•always fully booked
•book in advance
Criticism
 •The script seemed rather conventional/predictable to me.
•The plot struck me as completely bizarre/absurd/incomprehensible
•The characters are appealing and true to life
•The dancers were quite brilliant/amateurish
Recommendations

•Judging from this CD / show ...

•Overall, if you like ..., you'll love / you should ...
•Although some of ... he/she/it's still a great...
•You really must/should buy/see/read/visit ...
•I would definitely recommend seeing/visiting/reading/having a look at …
•You won't regret + ing

REVIEW SHOPPING WEBSITE

WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE GOING SHOPPING I JUST TURN ON MY LAPTOP AND TYPE ZALANDO.COM. IT IS A
GERMAN BASED ONLINE SHOP WHERE YOU HAVE THE WIDEST RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND OF COURSE
THE BEST DEALS.

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT IT IS THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF PICTURES OF THE ITEMS AND ALSO VIDEOS SO
YOU CAN SEE MANY DETAILS OF THE PRODUCT. CUSTOMERS WRITE REALISTIC REVIEWS TOO AND THAT
IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN ORDER TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE.

COMPARED WITH OTHER ONLINE SHOPS, ZALANDO IS THE CLEAR WINNER REGARDING PRICE,
CUSTOMER SERVICE,SHIPMENT EFFICIENCY AND RETURN POLICIES. EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO BE IN FASHION FOR A REASONABLE PRICE
AND FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR COUCH!

REVIEW NEWS WEBSITE

WHENEVER I WANT KEEP UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS I HAVE A LOOK AT WHATSGOINGOON.COM. IT
OFFERS A VARIETY OF VIEWPOINTS AND REALIABLE INFORMATION.

I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT DOING SOME RESEARCH FOR A UNIVERSITY PROJECT ON THE INTERNET SOME
YEARS AGO. THE BEST IS THAT EVERY SINGLE AREA OF THE WORLD IS COVERED AND FREELANCE
JOURNALISTS AND BLOGGERS OFFER NON-BIASED OPINIONS. IT IS REALLY USER FRIENDLY AND
VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE. THE CONTENTS ARE GOOD QUALITY AND THEY INCLUDE VIDEOS, GRAPHS, AUDIO
MATERIAL AND SPECIAL REPORTS ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES.

SOME SECTIONS COULD BE IMPROVED FOR EXAMPLE THE ONES RELATED TO MINORITIES AND MORE
WOMEN CONTRIBUTORS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST INFORMATION OUTLETS YOU CAN FIND NOWADAYS
AND IT IS WORTH CHECKING IT EVERY DAY SPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT FURTHER INFORMATION
ABOUT A CERTAIN ISSUE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY COVERED BY TRADITIONAL MASS MEDIA.

REVIEW OF AN ART GALLERY OR MUSEUM

What could you see there? What is special about the place?

WRITING ARTICLE

Hints
•Add a short title to catch the reader's attention. Make sure it is relevant. You can use the one in the question
or invent one of your own.

•Introduce the topic. Although you don't know the readers personally, you can address them directly and ask
them a rhetorical question. It helps to involve them.

•Divide your report into sections according to the input. One or two paragraphs will do.
•Develop the ideas in the task input. Remember .
•Use a personal or more neutral style, but not formal (you might use contractions).
•It is important that you show a range of structures.
•Give examples where appropriate to bring your article to life
•Use humour where appropriate.
•Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.

Useful language for an article

Involving the reader

•Just imagine...
•Have you ever...?
•How would you feel if ...?
•Are you one of those people who ...?
•If the answer is ..., you should....
•What would life be like if...
•...
Making the article lively and interesting
 •I was absolutely terrified when I realised...
•More importantly, it was something I...
•Not surprisingly, it's a good way of raising money.
•The tent was worryingly small for three people!
•It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.
•...
Developing your points

•Let's start with ...

•Another advantage of ...
•On top of that, ...
•...
Giving your own opinion

•I think that / In my opinion ...

•It seems to me that ...
•If you ask me, ...
•To my mind...
•...
ARTICLE – LIVING ON A DESERT ISLAND

How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can't imagine anything worse! I'd miss a lot of
things but most of all, I would miss my home.
My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about 50 years ago and has a small
garden. In the summer, our country gets very hot but our house is always cool. You'd probably think
our house is nothing special, but I have lived there all my life and all my friends live nearby. It's a
happy place, where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to coming back, lying on
my bed, reading a book and listening to my brother and sister arguing downstairs!

I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert island, I'd be away from the place I
love most: my home; and I would hate that.

ARTICLE – WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?

Have you ever dreamt of becoming rich unexpectedly? Just imagine what your life would be like!
However, some people who get rich quickly are very careless with their money and end up being
poorer than they were before.
That's why I'd be very careful. I wouldn't want a completely different kind of life, so I'd start by putting
some of it away, in case everything went wrong - set up a kind of "emergency fund". Then I would buy
my hard-working parents a new home. They deserve it because they have always provided me with
everything I've always wanted, even if it meant they had to go without. I would also give some money
away to needy people who are struggling in the world and have no food. It would not be right to just
spend the money on myself. Then I think I would take a year off from studying and travel round the
world in great comfort. I've spent most of my live travelling on a limited budget and sleeping in
hostels.

After that, who knows? I'll see, but I certainly won't be buying any luxury cars!

WRITING ESSAY
INTRODUCTION
NOWADAYS / CURRENTLY
IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE / THERE IS A CURRENT DEBATE ABOUT
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE
A GROWING NUMBER OF CHILDREN

FIRST PARAGRAPH
ON THE ONE HAND
ONE OF THE MAIN ADVANTAGES
ACCORDING TO RECENT RESEARCH
ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS / EXPERTS / POLITICIANS
ON TOP OF THAT
IN SPITE OF THAT
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CONSIDER THAT...

SECOND PARAGRAPH
ON THE OTHER HAND
REGARDING THE DISADVANTAGES
ABOUT + ING / NOUN
WHEN IT COMES TO + ING
WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION

CONCLUSION
AS A CONCLUSION
TO SUM UP

ESSAY– IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET ON WELL WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS?

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND, THE SAYING GOES. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES WE WOULD LOVE TO LIVE ISOLATED
FROM NOISE, NOSY NEIGHBOURS, CRYING BABIES AND MEETINGS OF OWNERS. ANYWAY, IT IS OBVIUSLY
ESSENTIAL TO GET ON WELL WITH THOSE WHO LIVE NEXT TO YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS YOU WILL NEVER
HAVE AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS IN THE LIFT AND IN CASE YOU RUN OUT OF SALT OR EGGS YOU WILL
RUN TO THEIR DOOR WITHOUT HESITATION.

ON TOP OF THAT, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THEY ARE THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO YOU SO IT IS
PRACTICAL TO KNOW THEM AND EVEN BE FRIENDS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THEM MANY TIMES BUT THEY WILL ALSO TOLERATE YOUR
CHILDREN SHOUTING OR LOUD MUSIC ON YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITHOUT CALLING THE POLICE. SO
EVERYBODY WINS.

ESSAY – SHOULD MOBILE PHONES BE BANNED AT SCHOOLS?

NOWADAYS, MORE AND MORE PARENTS DECIDE TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A MOBILE PHONE AT EARLY
AGES. SOME OF THEM CLAIM THAT SMARTPHONES CAN HELP THEIR KIDS DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND
ALSO WARN THEM IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. HOWEVER, TEACHERS' OPINIONS VARY FROM THOSE WHO
CONSIDER PHONES AS USEFUL TOOLS AND THOSE WHO REGARD THEM AS A SOURCE OF DISTRACTION
AND TROUBLE IN THE CLASSROOM.

ON THE ONE HAND, THESE DEVICES CAN HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP DIGITAL SKILLS IN AN INCREASINGLY
TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF APPS AND ONLINE RESOURCES WHICH CAN MAKE
LEARNING MORE ENGAGING AND ENTERTAINING. ON TOP OF THAT, ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY
NEED TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON A CERTAIN TOPIC IS JUST ONE CLICK AWAY. THEORETICALLY
SPEAKING, MOBILE PHONES COULD BE A REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION IF PROPERLY USED.

UNFORTUNATELY, ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY, 95 PER CENT OF STUDENTS USE THEIR PHONES TO
CHAT, WATCH FUNNY VIDEOS AND TAKE PICTURES WITH FRIENDS EVEN DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE INCREASE OF BULLYING RELATED ISSUES IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE MASSIVE
SPREAD OF MOBILE PHONES AND THERE IS ALSO A WORRYING GROWTH OF ATTENTION DEFICIT
DISORDER AMONG TEENAGERS.

AS A CONCLUSION, IT IS VERY UNLIKELY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE THAT STUDENTS STOP MISUSING
THEIR PHONES DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND A BAN ON THEM MIGHT BE HIGHLY INEFFECTIVE. PERHAPS
THE KEY IS TO USE PHONES AS EDUCATION TOOLS ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS WAY STUDENTS WILL GET
USED TO MAKING THE MOST OF THE AMAZING POTENTIAL OF THESE LITTLE TECHONOLOGICAL WONDERS.

VOCABULARY FOR THE 1' TALK – COMPARE TWO OPTIONS

COMMENT ON TWO OPTIONS
WHEREAS
INSTEAD OF
DESPITE +ING
ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND
NOT ONLY... BUT ALSO...
BESIDES
ON TOP OF THAT
I GUESS THAT SOME PEOPLE PREFER... , OTHERS PREFER...
ON THE CONTRARY
TO SUM UP
IN OTHER WORDS
HOWEVER
THE MAIN ADVANTAGE IS... /

ACCOMMODATION – A HOTEL AND A CAMPSITE

I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION. ON THE ONE HAND, A HOTEL IS THE
BEST OPTION WHEN YOUR AIM IS TO RELAX AND FORGET ABOUT HOUSEWORK. ON THE OTHER HAND, A
CAMPSITE IS PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
FRIENDS AND EXPERIENCE A NATURAL ATMOSPHERE. ABOUT THE PRICE, IT IS USUALLY THOUGHT THAT
CAMPSITES ARE CHEAPER BUT NOWADAYS THERE ARE GOOD DEALS FOR HOTELS. AS FOR THE
FACILITIES, IT DEPENDS ON THE PLACE. THERE ARE CAMPSITES WITH GREAT FACILITIES; DINING ROOM,
SWIMMING POOL, BAR, CHILDREN AREA AND SO ON AND SOME HOTELS THAT ARE REALLY BASIC

INVENTIONS: A LAPTOP AND A PLANE

I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT TWO INVENTIONS: THE LAPTOP AND THE PLANE
TO BEGIN WITH, LAPTOPS CHANGED OUR LIFE IN MANY WAYS. WE CAN WORK ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME.
WE CAN KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND WE ONLY NEED A SINGLE DEVICE INSTEAD OF
SEVERAL. BESIDES, WE CAN SURF THE INTERNET, MAKE VIDEOCALLS, SEND AND GET EMAILS, WATCH
FILSM, READ BOOKS, STUDY A UNIVERSITY DEGREE AND SO ON... ABOUT PLANES, THERE HAS BEEN A
REVOLUTION IN TRANSPORT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. COMMON PEOPLE LIKE US CAN TRAVEL ABROAD
MORE OFTEN, GET A JOB IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY OR VISIT FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND THE PRICE IS
NOWADAYS QUITE AFFORDABLE. TO SUM UP, BOTH INVENTIONS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED OUR LIVES.

JOBS – A WAITRESS AND FACTORY WORKER

I'M GOING TO COMPARE TWO DIFFERNT SECTORS; THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR AND THE INDUSTRIAL
SECTOR. FIRST OF ALL, JOBS IN FACTORIES ARE USUALLY MORE STABLE, WHEREAS JOBS IN BARS OR
HOTELS ARE NORMALLY TEMPORARY. ABOUT THE SALARY, FACTORY WORKERS GET HIGHER SALARIES
THAN WAITERS OR RECEPTIONISTS. BESIDES, THE TIMETABLE IN A FACTORY IS USUALLY FIXED
ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES PEOPLE WORK SHIFTS. IN BARS OR RESTAURANTS PEOPLE WORK LONG HOURS
AND SOMETIMES THE DO NON-PAID OVERTIME. FINALLY, THE TYPE OF WORK IS MORE REPETITIVE OR
MONOTONOUS IN A FACTORY ,WHEREAS WHEN YOU WORK IN THE PUBLIC EYE YOU DEAL WITH
CUSTOMERS AND YOUR TASKS ARE USUALLY MORE DYNAMIC.

FREE TIME ACTIVITES – WATCHING TV SERIES AND BUNGEE JUMPING

DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSONALITY, YOUR HEALTH CONDITION AND YOUR AGE YOU MAY CHOOSE MORE
QUIET ACTIVITIES LIKE WATCHING TV SERIES OR MORE ADVENTUROUS ONES LIKE BUNGEE JUMPING.
PERHAPS PEOPLE WHO WORK LONG HOURS NEED TO REST AND RELAX WOULD PREFER TO SIT ON THE
SOFA AND ENJOY INTERESTING STORIES BUT DURING THEIR HOLIDAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BREAK OUT
OF THE ROUTINE AND TRY MORE EXCITING HOBBIES. THOSE WHO FREQUENTLY CHOOSE ADVENTURE
SPORTS TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME ARE SEEKING THE THRILL OF