EF p 42. If You Want to Be a Good Lover, Be a Great Hater. Verb Form Gap Fill

Read the following text and fill in the gaps with the verb that best fits each space using the correct verb form of the verbs below. There are TWO extra verbs you will not need. The activity begins with an example (0).

 be, take, say, call, persuade, turn out, entertain, have, offer, indulge, strike, feel, look, revolt, find, date, 

A new app (0) offers to help single people (1) a partner by uniting them not with others who like the same things, such as opera, vegan sausages and pedigree cats, but with people who share their dislikes.

It (2) Hater and (3) me as quite brilliant. ‘Likes’ tell you nothing about anyone. ‘Good food, great music, and lively conversation…’. ‘Laughter, red wine, and French movies…’. Ugh. The idea that a romantic life together is about sharing your stupid hobbies is deluded and childish. Love is about making something completely new out of two separate individuals, not finding activities those two individuals can do together (4) their minds off how boring and unsexy the other one (5).

My wife and I have absolutely no interests in common. None. But we do love hating things together. From the moment she (6) in my eyes, she could sense that I (7) by theatre, motorcyclists, tall people, and (8) at home. Just as I knew from the first kiss that this was a woman who (9) no time for sandals on men, skiing, supermarket own-brand loo paper, or poached fish. Indeed, it later (10) that the main thing she liked about me was that I laughed when she was rude about our friends, whereas all her previous boyfriends (11), ‘Why can’t you just be nice?’

But being nice is meaningless. Liking things is weak. Our natural human hatred of things should (12) every day. Hating is natural and fine and people want to do it. Celebrate the things you dislike every day and you (13) much better – and probably find love.

 

 

KEY

 

 

1. find/ to find 

 

 

 

 

2. ’s called  

 

 

 

 

3. strikes 

 

 

 

 

4. to take 

 

 

 

 

5. is 

 

 

 

 

6. looked 

 

 

 

 

7. was revolted 

 

 

 

 

8. entertaining 

 

 

 

 

9. had 

 

 

 

 

10. turned out 

 

 

 

 

11. had said 

 

 

 

 

 

12. be indulged 

 

 

 

 

13. ’ll feel 

 

EXTRA VERBS: date, persuade 

EF p 47. History Brought To Life. Word Formation

A 

Gladiator, which won five Oscars, tells the story of a Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius, a favourite of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor in the second century AD. The Emperor wants Maximus (Russell Crowe at his best) to succeed him, but Commodus, the Emperor’s weak and (1)_______________ (TREACHERY) son ((2)____________________ (WONDER) played by Joaquin Phoenix), has other plans. Commodus kills his father and becomes Emperor himself, and arranges for Maximus and his wife and child to be executed. Maximus escapes, but cannot save his family. He is captured and sold as a gladiator, and eventually makes his way to the Colosseum in Rome, where he becomes a hero by (3)_________________ (ENGINEER) a spectacular victory against (4)________________ (OVERWHELM) odds. In this (5)_______________ (GRIP) scene, Emperor Commodus descends to the arena to congratulate him – not knowing his true identity. Maximus confronts the Emperor in one of the most (6)________________ (STIR) speeches in modern cinema: ‘My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the armies of the north, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my (7)________________ (VENGEFUL) in this life, or the next.’ And somehow, we just know he’s going to get it! 

B 

The Darkest Hour is set in May 1940, early in World War II. German forces are winning the battle for Europe, and British soldiers are trapped in northern France. Winston Churchill, the new Prime Minister, is faced with a (8)______________ (DESPERATION) decision – to continue the fight against Hitler and the Nazis, or to (9)______________ (NEGOTIATION) a peace treaty. 

(10)_______________ (ABILITY) to decide what to do, and under pressure from Parliament to reach an (11)_________________ (AGREE), Churchill decides that he needs to find out what the people want. For the first time in his life, he travels on the London Underground, where he asks his (12)_______________ (STARTLE) fellow passengers two questions. First, he asks, ‘What would you do if the enemy (13)____________________ (INVASION)?’ and they answer ‘Fight!’ Then he asks them, ‘Should I negotiate with Hitler?’ and their answer is a very clear ‘Never!’ Churchill is inspired by their (14)__________________ (CERTAIN), and goes on to use their words in one of his most famous speeches: ‘We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.’ 

This is the key scene in the whole film, but unlike almost all the rest of the film, it has been criticized for its historical (15)________________ (ACCURATE) – Churchill’s ride on the Tube never happened. The director, Joe Wright, has defended the scene as ‘a (16)__________________ (FICTION) of an (17)___________________ (EMOTION) truth’. Does it matter? Not to the awards committees, who gave the film two Oscars and (18)_________________ (NUMBER) other awards.

KEY

1. treacherous

treacherous: that cannot be trusted; intending to harm you.

E.g.

He was weak, cowardly and treacherous. 

lying, treacherous words

treachery: behaviour that involves hurting somebody who trusts you, for example by telling their secrets to other people; an example of this.

E.g.

an act of treachery 

He was punished for his treacheries.

2. wonderfully

3. engineering

engineer: to make something happen by skilful secret planning.

E.g.

powerful enemies who engineered his downfall 

Perhaps she could engineer a meeting between them?

4. overwhelming

impossible/overwhelming odds

making success seem extremely unlikely

E.g.

They face impossible odds simply trying to get an education. 

They face overwhelming odds in their struggle to preserve the park.

to fight against overwhelming odds

Sp. luchar con todo en contra

5. gripping

gripping: exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention. Sp. apasionante

E.g.

a gripping story 

His books are always so gripping. 

The film was absolutely gripping.

6. stirring

stirring: causing strong feelings; exciting. Sp. emocionante

E.g.

a stirring performance 

stirring memories 

listening to stirring accounts of their heroic history

7. vengeance/revenge

vengeance 

the act of punishing or harming somebody in return for what they have done to you, your family or friends.

Synonym: revenge 

E.g. 

a desire for vengeance

8. desperate

9. negotiate

10. Unable

11. agreement

12. startled

13. invaded

14. certainty

15. inaccuracy

16. fictionalization

17. emotional

18. numerous

EF C1.1 p 43. Share the Hate, Ruin the Date. Word Formation

Victoria Coren Mitchell

Hater promises to bond potential lovers over things they loathe. (1)____________ (TURN) the traditional cheery positives, Hater allows eager singletons to form relationships based on their mutual (2)_______________ (AVERT) instead. Boy, let's really get that negativity out there! More openly expressed (3)____________ (HATE) in the world- just what we need!

Nevertheless, like most apps, it would pass the time (4)___________ (HAPPY) enough at a bus stop. If someone else at the same bus stop were also on the app, (5)________________ (SIMULTANEITY) swiping their own (6)_______________ (LIKE) of cat calendars or people who walk too (7)______________ (SLOW) in the street, that would make a decent start for (8)________________ (FLIRT). 

And yet, and yet. One of the key dangers of the internet is that it (9)______________ (COURAGE) us to give everything an immediate verdict, a thumbs up or down (and usually down). It’s easy for our first thoughts on anything to be negative, and we forget to be kind. 

The search for love has always motivated us to make an effort; on first dates, we are usually our best selves. Our hair is at its (10)_______________ (CLEAN), our interest its (11)_______________ (SHARP), our smiles their (12)______________ (READY). That’s why dating (13)_______________ (QUESTION) (14)_______________ (TRADITION) list the things we enjoy: it’s a shop window for the happy life we are offering a (15)__________________ (PROSPECT) partner. And (16)_________________ (SURE), the longer you keep trying to be your best and most (17)_________________ (CHEER) self, the happier life will be? It can’t be wise to start (18)__________________ (COMPLAINT) before you’ve even had your first date. When it comes to finding a partner, (19)_____________ (COVER) the things you both love is a far (20)________________ (HEALTH) start. 

Adapted from The Guardian

KEY

1. Overturning

2. aversions

3. hatred

4. happily

5. simultaneously

6. dislike

7. slowly

8. flirtation

9. encourages

10. cleanest

11. sharpest

12. readiest

13. questionnaires

14. traditionally

15. prospective

16. surely

17. cheerful

18.complaining

 

19. discovering

20. healthier

EF C1.1 p 50. Mary Beard. Listening

Part 1 

Mary Beard believes that the use of (1)__________ and challenging literature excerpts does not catch people's attention.

If a place name ends with -chester or -caster, it means that it once had a Roman (2)__________ or military (3)__________ there.

People may lose interest when taught about (4)_________ literary writers, whom people consider (5)_______.  

In 63 BC there was a terrorist (6)_________ in Rome to (7)___________ the political leaders, to (8)_________ the city and to (9)_________.

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a great (10)___________ and (11)__________ of Roman culture.

No sooner had Cicero discovered the secret plan than he laid it (12)____________ the Senate. 

The leading (13)______________ are soon after executed without (14)____________, which is called (15)_______________.

Mary Beard compares this situation with present-day (16)_______________ to terrorism.

Mary Beard wonders where the (17)_____________ lies between national security and an individual's freedom. 

Part 2: T/F p 50

Part 3

Mary Beard complains that programme makers can be somewhat (18)____________ about accuracy.

Mary Beard's friend, who worked as an (19)____________ for a Roman film, was often called by the (20)__________. 

He thought that the film-makers were getting the whole of Roman history (21)__________ wrong.

Mary Beard loved Gladiator despite its (22)____________ plot.

One thing that history has got (23)_______________ is that the best stories are the true stories.

According to Mary Beard, non-fiction is a better (24)__________ than fiction. 

It's not always necessary to be (25)___________ serious about history.

If they show that history can be (26)___________, funny, surprising, and enjoyable, it will be all (27)_____________.
 

KEY

1. arcane

arcane: /ɑːˈkeɪn/ secret and mysterious and therefore difficult to understand.

E.g.

the arcane language of the law

the arcane rules of cricket

 

 

2. fort

fort: a building or buildings built in order to defend an area against attack.

E.g.

the remains of a Roman fort 

 

3. camp

4. remote

5. boring

6. plot

plot: a secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal.

E.g.

plot to do something  a plot to bomb the UN headquarters.

7. assassinate 

8. torch

torch: to deliberately make a building, vehicle etc start to burn. Set fire to sth.

Rioters torched several abandoned cars.

9. take over

take over: to take control of something.

E.g.

His only reason for investing in the company was to take it over.

 

 

10. orator

orator /ˈɒrətə(r)/ 

a person who makes formal speeches in public or is good at public speaking 

E.g.

a fine political orator

 

 

11. wit 

wit: a person who has the ability to say or write things that are both clever and humorous. Sp. persona ingeniosa.

E.g.

a well-known wit and raconteur

 

 

12. before

lay something before someone: To present some topic, issue, case, etc., to someone or some group. 

E.g.

The local government secretary laid the bill before parliament last week. 

13. conspirators

14. trial

15. summary execution

summary execution: an execution in which a person is accused of a crime and immediately killed without the benefit of a free and fair trial.

 

 

 

16. responses 

17. boundary

18. nerdish

nerdish: (also nerdy) boring and unfashionable.

 

 

19. advisor

 

 

20. crew 

crew: /kruː/ a group of people with special skills working together.

E.g.

a film/camera/TV crew

21. utterly

22. schmaltzy

schmaltzy: /ˈʃmɔːltsi/ too sentimental. 

E.g. a schmaltzy love song.

 

 

 

23. going for it

have (got) going for it: has to its advantage. If something has something going for it, there are certain advantages that will make the end result successful.

E.g. What does Rochester have going for it? Festivals and entertainment.

 

 

 

24. yarn

yarn /jɑːn/ 

1. thread that has been spun, used for knitting, making cloth, etc.

E.g.

    The sweaters are hand-knitted in cotton, linen or wool yarns.

    There's a knot in the yarn. 

A skein /skeɪn/ of yarn 

A ball of yarn

2. a long story, especially one that is exaggerated or invented.

    He used to spin yarns (= tell stories) about his time in the army. 

 

 

25. deadly

deadly: extremely 

E.g.

deadly serious/dull

 

 

26. larky

larky: full of or creating enjoyment and entertainment: The movie has its larky moments, but the dominant mood is melancholy, even dark. As larky and carefree as Poppy is, she's certainly no airhead.

 

 

27. to the good

be (all) to the good: used to say that something that happens is good, especially when it is in addition to or as the result of something else. Sp. para el bien.

E.g.

If further improvements can be made, that would be all to the good.

 

 

 

EF C1.1 p 48. Ex 5c. Spartacus and Braveheart. Sentence Completion Listening

Generally speaking, to decide whether a film is too historically inaccurate or not is a matter of (1)_______. However, problems may arise if the viewer doesn't know anything about a certain historical event and the film becomes the (2)____________ of the truth. A case in point would be if a film is (3)_____________ irresponsible or fantastic, which could be controversial.

For instance, Spartacus's friends standing up shouting 'I am Spartacus, ' which (4)____________ for freedom of individual choices, may never have happened.

Incidentally, Spartacus is a film that has had a (5)_________________ in current times.

Another example is the film Braveheart, which some viewers thought was pushing (6)__________ . As a matter of fact, it was felt that it was dealing more with the (7)______________ of independence than with the genuine history of what really happened.

 

KEY

1. taste 

2. received version

received: accepted by most people as being correct.     

E.g.

The received wisdom is that they cannot win.     

They challenged received ideas about education.

 

 

3. grossly

grossly: /ˈɡrəʊsli/ (used to describe unpleasant qualities) extremely.

E.g.

grossly overweight/unfair/inadequate     

Press reports have been grossly exaggerated

 

 

 

4. stands

stand for:  to support or represent something      

E.g.

I hated the organization and all it stood for (= the ideas that it supported)

 

 

5. resonance 

resonance /ˈrezənəns/  the special meaning or importance that something has for you because it relates to your own experiences. Significance, relevance.

E.g.

a tradition that has little resonance in the 21st century  

His words will have resonance for many musicians

 

 

 

6. the limits

push the boundaries/limits:      ​to attempt to go beyond what is allowed or thought to be possible.

E.g.

We aim to push the boundaries of what we can achieve.         

She pushes her physical limits through various endurance challenges 

 

 

 

7. notion 

EF p 44. Four Possible Ways of Meeting a Partner. Listening

3.5

Anna's friend told her that a bookshop would be a far more appropriate place to meet men than a (1)____________________.

Instead of obtaining the contact details of the men she met, Anna ended up with (2)___________________ on her shelves.

Hayley suggested she avoid using (3)________________________ like "Do you come here often?"

Anna managed to catch the attention of a man who was (4)_____________ a pint of beer. 

Anna thinks it's a good idea to experience something outside (5)__________________.

Despite sensing an (6)________________ atmosphere which was not only painful, but also (7)__________________, Anna (8)_________________ the courage and approached two men.

Anna asked her friends to (9)________ her (10)__________ with men she didn't know. 

Anna enjoyed finding out stuff from each other on (11)________________.

The Verdict (3.6)

Getting the attention of a total stranger gave Anna a real (12)____________.

Anna was astounded to see she had been able to (13)___________________ for the first time.

The texts messages with Rob and Tom have sadly (14)___________________.

Anna doesn't exclude face to face (15)__________________ from now on.

Despite finding the experience (16)___________________ she is not totally convinced yet.

Anna feels more comfortable knowing that the other person is looking for a (17)___________ too.

KEY

1. packed Tube train

2. more books to gather dust.

3. conventional chat-up lines

4. sipping

5. (of) your comfort zone

6. awkward 

7. embarrassing

 

 

 

8. plucked up 

pluck up (the) courage (to do something)      ​to make yourself do something even though you are afraid to do it. Sp. armarse de valor.

E.g.

I finally plucked up the courage to ask her for a date.

9. set

10. up

set somebody up (with) informal to arrange for two people to meet, because you think they might start a romantic relationship. Sp. arreglar una cita a alguien, poner en contacto

E.g.

  ‘How did you meet Nick?’ ‘A friend set us up.’

11. equal terms

12. buzz

buzz: a strong feeling of pleasure, excitement or achievement. Sp. entusiasmo

E.g.

a buzz of excitement/expectation     

She gets a buzz out of her work.     

Flying gives me a real buzz.     

You can sense the creative buzz in the city.     

The marketing campaign created extraordinary buzz

13. chat someone up

chat somebody up      ​(British English, informal) to talk in a friendly way to somebody you are sexually attracted to, perhaps hoping to start a relationship with them         

E.g.

She went straight over and tried to chat him up.         

John was in the bar chatting up the barmaid

14. dried up

dry up: if a supply of something dries up, there is gradually less of it until there is none left. Sp. agotarse.

E.g.

I found that offers of acting work started to dry up.     

Funds have completely dried up

15. flirting

flirt: to behave towards someone in a way that shows that you are sexually attracted to them, although you do not really want a relationship with them. Sp. coquetear, totear, ligar

E.g. flirt with  She accused him of flirting with other women.  She was flirting outrageously (=a lot) with some of the managers

16. confidence-boosting

boost something to make something increase, or become better or more successful.

E.g.

to boost somebody’s confidence/morale 

Getting that job did a lot to boost his ego (= make him feel more confident).

17. match

match: suitable partner. Sp. pareja