EF p 77. The Chocolate Meditation. Listening

It is believed that mindfulness (1)_________________ the delights of everyday living. As a matter of fact, even the most insignificant experiences can become (2)________________ again.

Firstly, before (3)___________________ the chocolate bar, choose one you are not so familiarised with. It doesn't matter if it's dark and (4)___________________, organic, or (5)________________. It could be one you consume only (6)_______________.

As you unwrap it, become aware of how the (7)_____________________ feels.

While you are (8)_____________________ the aroma, let it (9)_________________ over you.

Having broken a piece off, let your eyes (10)______________/ ______________ its appearance at the same time that you also examine every (11)______________/ _____________/ _____________.

When (12)________________ it in your mouth, observe how the tongue receives it.

Pay attention to any attempts to (13)_____________ it.

In case your mind starts (14)_____________________ imagine gently (15)_________________ it back to the present moment.

While you are (16)_____________________ it let it (17)____________________ down your throat.

What do you (18)____________/_____________ the fact that it seemed to taste better?

If we weren't on (19)_____________________, we wouldn't miss so much of our everyday lives.

Mindfulness helps us to bring (20)______________________ to the ordinary tasks of daily living.

KEY

1. (greatly) enhances

2. captivating

3. unwrapping

4. flavoursome

flavoursome: having a lot of flavour 

E.g. The sauce was particularly flavoursome.

5. fair-trade

fair-trade: involving trade that supports producers in low-income countries by paying fair prices and making sure that workers have good working conditions and fair pay.

E.g.

We buy our bananas from fair-trade sources. 

a range of fair-trade foods

6. rarely

7. wrapping

8. inhailing

9. sweep 

sweep over: to move over and cover someone or something.

E.g. 

Floodwaters swept over the small town.

10. drink in

drink something in ​to look at or listen to something with great interest and pleasure. Sp. absorber.

E.g.

We just stood there drinking in the scenery.

11. nook and cranny

every nook and cranny every part of a place; every aspect of a situation.

E.g.

The wind blew into every nook and cranny. 

We looked in every nook and cranny. Sp. buscamos hasta el último rincón

She always explored every nook and cranny of a business deal.

12. popping

13. chew

14. wandering

wander: 

(mind) to move without much control to other ideas.

E.g.

Try not to let your mind wander.

15. escorting

16. swallowing

17. trickle

trickle: to flow slowly in a thin stream.

E.g.

Tears were trickling down her cheeks.

18. make of

make of something: If you ask a person what they make of something, you want to know what their impression, opinion, or understanding of it is.

19. autopilot

autopilot: /ˈɔːtəʊpaɪlət/ (also automatic pilot /ˌɔːtəmætɪk ˈpaɪlət/)

be on autopilot/automatic pilot ​to do something without thinking because you have done the same thing many times before.

E.g.

I got up and dressed on autopilot.

20. awareness

EF p 77. Being Busy. Mediation. Word Formation

TASK 1: 

You come across an infographic about people's addiction to being busy. You find it so interesting that you decide to write a blog entry about it.

Addiction to being busy

People struggle to juggle friends, family, work and fitness

Reasons for busyness:

Feeling anxious when missing an event.

To take your mind off your troubles.

To become successful.

Sample answer:

TEXT 1 

Are you (1)______________ (ADDICTION) to being busy? 

‘Let me check my diary and get back to you’, is a phrase we’ve all (2)_______________ (UTTERANCE). We are constantly on the go, trying to squeeze friends and family, work, and fitness into our (3)________________ (INCREASE) demanding lifestyles. And while we have all struggled with a jam-packed week at some stage, it’s possible some people have developed an actual addiction to ‘busyness’. 

Many busy people suffer from FOMO, which stands for ‘fear of missing out’, and is (4)______________ (DEFINITION) as anxiety, often caused by social media, that an exciting or interesting event is happening somewhere which they are not part of. Others pack their schedules in order to avoid dealing with other things in their lives. ‘When our mind isn’t occupied with a task, we are left with our thoughts and our emotions,’ says psychologist Jaimie Bloch. ‘This makes many people feel (5)______________ (COMFORT) and anxious. For example, those who have recently left relationships might use (6)________________ (EXCESS) activity as a way to keep their minds off the (7)_____________ (BREAK). Others may have a fear of being (8)_________________ (PRODUCE), so busyness feels like a way to achieve success. When these people aren’t busy, it’s a form of (9)_____________ (FAIL).’ Ms Bloch also says that in a society obsessed with (10)______________ (PRODUCE) and achievement, being busy can be a way to elevate your social status. ‘Being busy creates a sense of importance and value. The idea of relaxing, not doing anything, is linked to emotions such as (11)______________ (GUILTY) and shame.’

KEY

1. addicted

2. uttered

3. increasingly

4. defined

5. uncomfortable

6. excessive

7. break-up

8. unproductive

9. failure

10. productivity

11. guilt/ guiltiness

TASK 2: 

You come across an infographic about the effects of being busy on our health. You find it so interesting that you decide to write a blog entry about it.

Being busy and our health

Helps us live longer lives and sleep better

Keeps us physically and mentally stronger

Keeps us socially active

Prevents mental illness 

Don't retire early!

Do volunteer work!

Sample answer:

TEXT 2

What keeps you (1)____________ (HEALTH) is being busy, busy, busy! 

We all dream of leading a life of leisure. Often that dream just keeps (2)_____________ (RECESSION) from our grasp. Pension ages are going up, and smartphones and social media mean we’re never really ‘switched off’. But now, emerging (3)___________ (MEDICINE) research suggests that staying busy helps us to live longer, keeps us strong, and could even keep dementia at bay. 

(4)______________ (RECENT), American researchers revealed that we sleep better when we have lots of reasons to jump out of bed in the morning. (5)____________ (NEUROLOGY) in Chicago reported that people who are (6)_____________ (BUSY) purposeful − in particular, having a packed agenda of future plans − are less troubled by insomnia. And psychologists at the University of Texas reported that the busier people are, the stronger their mental powers, (7)___________ (REGARD) of age or education. 

It appears that keeping busy as we age is (8)____________ (PARTICULAR) beneficial – even if it means working beyond retirement age. Italian neuroscientists have warned that people aged over 50 who retire early are more likely to lose muscle (9)______________ (STRONG) and become ill. Last year, another report found that people who retired later were (10)_______________ (SIGNIFY) less likely to develop cognitive difficulties like loss of memory. Voluntary work has a similar effect. Professor Yannick Griep, a psychologist at Canada’s University of Calgary, says that seniors who volunteer are more  mentally, (11)__________ (PHYSICAL), and socially active, which helps to ward off dementia.

KEY

1. healthy

2. receding

3. medical

4. Recently

5. neurologists

6. busily

7. regardless

8. particularly

9. strength

10. significantly

11. physically

EF p 98. Clive’s Digital Detox. Listening

 

1. Being a journalist…

1. Clive needs to be available any time.

2. Clive gets to travel at all times.

3. he gets calls non-stop.

2. How would you rate Clive’s phone usage?

1. He’s hooked on his phone.

2. He’s more of a work-based phone user.

3. He’s a regular phone user with some game apps.

3.  During the first days of the challenge…

1. he would struggle in the evenings.

2. he forgot his phone at home.

c. he managed to control his football addiction.

4. As for his last days of the challenge…

a. he was bored as he was not working.

b. he desperately checked the news.

c. he admitted cheating for work purposes.

5. What did the experiment teach him?

a. It revealed a misconception he had.

b. He is more of a face-to-face person.

c. He realised he could control his phone.

6. How did the overall experience work?

1. He spent longer on his phone with less interruptions.

2. His phone time increased along with the frequency.

3. All in all, it was as successful as it could be.

KEY: 

1A 

2B 

3C 

4C 

5A 

6B

EF p 96. The School of Life. Listening

 

Fill in the gaps with the correct word from the listening.

1. We often think that something _____________ to find is likely to give us more pleasure.

2. The pineapple’s price has dropped and this has made it become _____________ .

3. We have an _____________ bias towards the cheap and ordinary stuff.

4. We _____________ that travelling in the Caribbean is bound to be more fun than cycling in the park.

5. Something striking and contradictory about pleasure is that it is _____________ .

6. Having a bath or _____________ in bed in the dark are examples of small pleasures in life.

7. The speaker highlights the importance of relying on our _____________ about what really matters.

KEY:

1. We often think that something hard to find is likely to give us more pleasure.

2. The pineapple’s price has dropped and this has made it become unremarkable.

3. We have an unhelpful bias towards the cheap and ordinary stuff.

4. We assume that travelling in the Caribbean is bound to be more fun than cycling in the park.

5. Something striking and contradictory about pleasure is that it is unpredictable.

6. Having a bath or whispering in bed in the dark are examples of small pleasures in life.

7. The speaker highlights the importance of relying on our instincts about what really matters.

EF C1.1 p 83. Pasta Evangelists. Listening

EF C1.1 p 83. (Audio 5.14 ) Listen to Alessandro Savellione, one of the co-founders of Pasta Evangelists, talking about the business and decide whether the following sentences are True or False.

1. Sfoglini is an Italian word that means “pasta artisans”.


2. Only Italians make fresh pasta.


3. Alessandro says that they go after quality and freshness of the produce rather than authenticity.


4. Alessandro raised money for their business on a TV programme.


5. Alessandro thinks that they don’t have any direct competitors.


6. Alessandro thinks that their competition is Italian restaurants.


7. Small villages are where they ship to the most.


8. They are hoping to grow outside of the UK this year.

KEY

Answer key:

1. Sfoglini is an Italian word that means “pasta artisans”. T

2. Only Italians make fresh pasta. T

3. Alessandro says that they go after quality and freshness of the produce rather than authenticity. F

4. Alessandro raised money for their business on a TV programme. F

5. Alessandro thinks that they don’t have any direct competitors. T

6. Alessandro thinks that their competition is Italian restaurants. T

7. Small villages are where they ship to the most. F

8. They are hoping to grow outside of the UK this year. F

EF p 78. Ex 5. The Timex Survey. Listening

EF p 78. Ex 5. You will hear an American journalist, Sam Greenspan, talking about the Timex survey. Choose the correct answer.

1. Given Sam’s experience on how people tend to behave before losing patience, the results of the survey…

1. All of them seemed about right

2. Some could be right but some were implausible

3. Seemed wildly unlikely

2. When waiting for people to stop talking at the movie theatre, the times vary depending on…

1. If you are in happy atmosphere

2. If you are watching a moving story  

3. It doesn’t really bug them at all

3. When it comes to waiting for a blind date…

1. Romantic comedies had created false expectations when it comes to this

2. People don’t seem to be bothered at all by waiting almost half an hour

3. He believes the survey got this one right 

4. If you have someone talking too loudly on the phone next to you, Sam recommends…

1. Make sure to use your face to express your discontent 

2. Let them know you are annoyed

3. Having more patience than him

KEY

1. B

2. B

3. C

4. A