Destination B2: Review 4

  1. few
  2. the
  3. to
  4. an
  5. +
  6. a
  7. +
  8. +
  9. into
  10. much

11. politicians
12. informative
13. journal
14. announcement
15. unwritten
16. disbelief
17. communication
18. humourous

19. is little difference between
20. was a great influence on
21. gave a description of
22. under the control of
23. is no point trying
24. is my view
25. is likely to make
26. in place of
27. to comment on

28. much
29. few
30. lots
31. some
32. little
33. most
34. many

35. D
36. B
37. A
38. D
39. C
40. A
41. B

Generation Parkour

«Generation Parkour» — ‘Parkour’ comes from ‘Parcours’, meaning ‘the way through’ or ‘the path’ in French. Watch how these young people find the fastest way through their urban environment by jumping and using obstacles to help them. And what do they think about this new phenomenon? Watch to find out!
Do the preparation task first then watch the short film and do the exercises to check your understanding.

Exercise I. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.

1. to grab-d. to take something in your hand suddenly
2. to scare someone-f. to make someone afraid
3. a rail-h. a metal bar that serves as a barrier
4. to challenge you-a. to test your abilities in an interesting and stimulating way
5. upside down-c. reversed so that the top is at the bottom and the bottom is at the top
6. stuff-b. things
7. your ankle-e. the part of your body between your foot and your leg
8. a skill-g. the ability to do something well, especially through practice

Exercise II. Write a number (1–6) to put these sentences in order.

2. The teacher encourages the children and gives them advice.
3. The voiceover tells us about the popularity of Parkour in the UK.
4. A boy is jumping next to a river and around a city landscape.
5. A boy shouts ‘Volcano’!
6. A boy jumps onto a branch of a tree.
1. Different people talk about what they like about Parkour.

Exercise III. Circle True or False for these sentences.


1. Parkour has been popular in the UK for a long time. True, False
2. The teacher encourages the children to help each other. True, False
3. Alex says you can learn a lot from Parkour. True, False
4. Arthur has mixed emotions when he’s doing Parkour. True, False
5. Arthur says he likes pushing people when he does Parkour. True, False
6. Kelda feels the same about Parkour as she does about her other hobbies. True, False
7. Kelda says she is better at Parkour than people think. True, False
8. Kelda liked hanging upside down from a building. True, False

Exercise IV. In 150-200 words or more, prepare your personal statement on the topic «Generation Parkour».
Here are some questions you can use to plan or develop an essay:
1. What does “Generation Parkour” mean?
2. Where did parkour originate?
3. How has parkour changed over time?
4. Why is parkour associated with younger generations?
5. How does parkour reflect modern youth culture?
6. What values or attitudes are connected to parkour?
7. What mental skills are needed for parkour?
8. How does overcoming obstacles in parkour relate to real life?
9. What can young people learn from parkour?
10. What dangers are associated with parkour?

“Generation Parkour” shows how young people overcome problems with both body and mind. Parkour started in France, and the word means “the way through.” Today many young people around the world enjoy this activity. Parkour changed from simple exercise into a popular sport and hobby. It is connected with young people because it is exciting, creative, and gives freedom. It also shows modern youth culture through confidence, courage, and self-expression. People need focus, balance, patience, and quick thinking to do parkour. In parkour, people jump over obstacles, and this is similar to real life because we also face difficulties and try to overcome them. Young people can learn confidence, teamwork, and never giving up. However, parkour can be dangerous because people can fall and get hurt if they are not careful or trained well.

Destination B2: Unit 8

  1. denied
  2. refused
  3. accepts
  4. has agreed
  5. headline
  6. heading
  7. feature
  8. article
  9. press
  10. media
  11. newsflash
  12. bulletin
  1. program
  2. tabloid
  3. columnist
  4. game
  5. an announcer
  6. broadcast
  1. turn
  2. fill
  3. put
  4. giving
  5. made
  6. look
  7. stands
  1. came out
  2. made up that story
  3. comes on
  4. go into
  5. flicked through the magazine
  6. bring that up
  7. see through
  1. D
  2. C
  3. B
  4. D
  5. D
  6. A
  7. A
  8. C
  9. B
  10. D
  1. as
  2. with
  3. in
  4. in
  5. to
  6. with
  1. to
  2. that
  3. about
  4. from
  5. to
  6. not
  7. about
  8. by
  9. to
  10. to
  1. unannounced
  2. communication
  3. editorial
  4. humour
  5. unwritten
  6. secondary
  7. journalism
  8. information
  1. discussion
  2. politicians
  3. journalists
  4. ridiculous
  5. disbelief
  6. powerful
  7. unconvincing
  8. believable
  9. communicatiors
  10. uninformed
  11. humorous

English April Flashmob

I. Choose the synonym of the highlighted word. There may be more than one correct answer.
disclaim: talk loudly, deny, refuse
Deny, refuse
deserve: stop serving, merit, serve
Merit
invaluable: of no value, of little value, of great value
Of great value
ghastly: spiritual, very bad, very good.
Very bad
to ponder: to think carefully, to add weight, to lay an egg.
To think carefully
 to subside: to go down, to give money, to reduce
To go down, to reduce
contiguous: without end, touching, long-lasting.
Touching

II. Can you sort out the missing colours in these sentences with common metaphors: each sentence with a metaphor is followed by its explanation in «normal» language?
black, blue, green, red, white 
They gave us the ________ light. They said we could continue
Green
I can’t pay for anything! I’m already in the ______.I can’t write a cheque, I have no money left!
Rad
You’ve always been a ________ sheep!You’ve always been different from everyone else.
Black
It came right out of the _______     It happened quite unexpectedly, without warning.
Blue
He looked as ________ as a sheetHe looked terrified.
White

III. Express your opinion on the statement
Some  people believe that modern technology is creating a less sociable world. Do  you agree? 
I partly agree with this idea. Today, many people use phones and computers a lot. Because of this, they talk less with family and friends in real life. They may spend more time online than talking face to face. But technology also helps people stay connected. We can easily talk to people who live far away by messages or video calls. In conclusion, technology can make people less sociable, but it can also help us communicate more if we use it in a good way.

How Habits Shape Our Lives

Topic: The Science of Habits

Exercise I. Answer in full sentences:

1. Do you think habits control our lives? Why or why not?
Yes, I think habits control our lives because we do many things without thinking. Habits help us decide what we do every day.
2. Is it harder to build a good habit or break a bad one?
I think it is harder to break a bad habit because we are used to it. It is difficult to stop something we do often.
3. What strategies have you used to change a habit?
I try to change a habit by doing it little by little. I also remind myself why I want to change and try to stay strong.

Reading Text: How Habits Shape Our Lives

Human behavior is largely driven by habits—automatic actions that are repeated over time. Although we often believe that our decisions are the result of careful thinking, research suggests that a significant portion of our daily activities is habitual.

Habits are formed through a psychological process known as the “habit loop,” which consists of three stages: a cue, a routine, and a reward. The cue triggers a behavior, the routine is the action itself, and the reward reinforces the habit, making it more likely to be repeated in the future. For example, feeling stressed (cue) may lead someone to scroll through social media (routine), which provides temporary relief (reward).

One reason habits are so powerful is that they reduce the need for conscious decision-making. This allows the brain to conserve energy and focus on more complex tasks. However, this efficiency comes at a cost. Once established, habits can be extremely difficult to change, even when they have negative consequences.

Despite this challenge, psychologists argue that habits are not fixed. By identifying the cue and reward, individuals can modify the routine while maintaining the same underlying need. For instance, instead of checking a phone when bored, a person might choose to take a short walk or read a few pages of a book.

Ultimately, developing awareness of our habits is the first step toward meaningful change. By making small but consistent adjustments, individuals can gradually transform their behavior and improve their overall well-being.

Exercise II. Match the words with their definitions:

1. Reinforce-b. To make something stronger or more likely to continue
2. Cue-a. A signal that triggers an action
3. Routine-c. Regular behavior or way of doing something
4. Conserve-d. To protect something from being wasted or lost
5. Awareness-e. Knowledge or understanding of a situation

Exercise III. Reading Comprehension: Answer in full sentences:

1. Do you agree that habits are more powerful than conscious decisions? Why?
Yes, I agree that habits are more powerful than conscious decisions because many of our actions happen automatically without thinking. Habits guide our daily behavior and save mental energy.
2. Can technology make our habits better or worse? Give examples.
Yes, technology can make habits both better and worse. For example, fitness apps can help people build healthy exercise habits, but social media can also create addictive scrolling habits that waste time.
3. Is it possible to completely eliminate bad habits?
It is very difficult to completely eliminate bad habits, but it is possible to replace them with better ones by changing routines and cues.

Exercise IV. A. Find examples in the text of:

1. A sentence with a relative clause
“a habit loop, which consists of three stages”
2. A sentence with a conditional idea
“By identifying the cue and reward, individuals can modify the routine…”
3. A sentence with a linking word (e.g., however, although, ultimately)
“However, this efficiency comes at a cost.”

B. Combine the sentences using appropriate connectors:

1. Habits are automatic. They can be changed.
Habits are automatic, but they can be changed.
2. He felt tired. He continued working.
Although he felt tired, he continued working.
3. You identify the problem. You can solve it
If you identify the problem, you can solve it.

Exercise V. Write a 200–250 word essay: Topic: «Are habits more powerful than motivation?»

Include:

1. A clear opinion
2. At least two supporting arguments
3. An example from real life
4. A concluding sentence

Habits are more powerful than motivation because they control our actions every day. Motivation can help us start something, but it does not last long. Habits, however, are automatic and continue even when we do not feel like doing something. For example, a student may feel motivated to study at the beginning, but only a habit of studying daily will help them succeed in the long term. Habits save time and energy because we do not need to think before acting. In conclusion, motivation is important, but habits are stronger and more useful for long-term success.

Infinitive or Gerund

Choose the most appropriate answer.

1. Don’t forget  …     some bread. We don’t have any left. 

buy,  buying,  having bought,  to buy

2. My doctor recommends  …     to a mountain resort. 

go, going, having gone, to go

3. I regret …      her about it. She told everyone. 

telling,  to have told, to tell, to be telling

4. He seemed  …     his job. Why did he quit?

 liking, having liked, to be liking, to like

5. I didn’t mean  …     you. Please forgive me. 

hurt, hurting, to have hur,t to hurt

6. He couldn’t help  …     at their suggestion. 

laughing, having laughed, to laugh, to be laughing

7. You were supposed …      the dishes. 

wash, washing, to be washed, to wash

8. Their house looks a little shabby. I think it needs  …     . 

paint, painting, having painted, to paint

9. Allow me  …     you. 

help, helping, to have been helping

 to help

10. He avoided …      their questions. 

answer, answering, having answered, to answer

Destination B2: Unit 7

  1. the evening
  2. cricket
  3. the bus
  4. a headache
  5. prison
  6. a waiter
  7. a taxi
  8. music
  9. chemistry
  10. in the 1920s

1. A
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. C
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. D
10. D

  1. the
  2. a
  3. an
  4. the
  5. a
  6. the
  7. a
  8. the
  9. an
  10. the
  1. are
  2. was
  3. are
  4. takes
  5. looks
  6. wasn’t
  7. is

1. an-some
2. informations-information
3. glasses-glass
4. was-were
5. hairs-hair
6. a jean-jeans
7. much-many
8. knowledges-knowledges
9. are-is
10. another-more

  1. were only a few
  2. gave the police a description
  3. is only a little
  4. joining the fire brigade
  5. was shocking and we
  6. are only a few
  7. only ate
  8. a lot of hats
  1. H
  2. F
  3. G
  4. B
  5. D
  6. A
  7. E
  8. C
  1. D
  2. B
  3. D
  4. D
  5. A
  6. D
  7. C
  8. B
  9. D
  10. A
  11. B
  12. C
  1. the
  2. a
  3. the
  4. the
  5. the
  6. the
  7. the
  8. an
  9. a
  10. the
  11. the
  12. the
  13. an
  14. the
  15. the
  1. We went to the theatre last night and saw a great play, although some of the acting was a bit poor.
  2. Give me a ring tomorrow before I go to work and we’ll arrange to meet at the office.
  3. The prime minister told a reporter that the government wanted to pas a law banning hunting.
  4. I asked the hotel manager where the pool was and she directed me to the seventh floor.
  5. They said on the news on the radio that Mount Vesuvius the volcano that destroyed Pompeii, could erupt again.
  6. The car has revolutionised transport and is absolutely vital to the economy of most countries.
  7. The judge read the jury’s verdict aloud and then sentenced the accused to five years in prison.
  8. A job in the media can be quite stressful because of the pressure you are under to do things on time.
  9. Very few people in the 19th century went to school or university and most started work at a very young age.
  10. I have a little free time since I gave up karate, so I’m thinking of trying a new hobby, like learning a musical instrument.

Units 5 and 6, review 3

1) Explanation
2) Introduction
3) Scientists
4) Possibillity
5) Building
6) Revolutionary
7) Discovery
8) Appearance
9) researcher
10) Importance

11-D
12-A
13-F
14-C
15-H
16-E
17-B
18-G

19. Looking forward to doing
20. With the introduction of
21. Finally managed to bring
22. I find it impossible to understand
23. Resulted in Fleming’s discovery of
24. Are sometimes known as
25. Reached the conclusion
26. Made an attempt to
27. As soon as we have

28-C
29-B
30-B
31-A
32-D
33-C
34-A

35-C
36-A
37-C
38-D
39-D
40-B
41-D