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EF p 117. Art and Entertainment

 

Meryl Streep Speech, 2023 Princess of Asturias Award for Arts. Listening

EF p 117. Art and Entertainment. Monologue. Speaking Sample

EF p 117. Art and Entertainment. Extra Speaking

EF p 117. Art and Entertainment. Monologue. Speaking Sample

Discuss these questions:

1. Films are a powerful form of artistic expression that can both inspire and educate. Discuss the impact of cinema on society, considering its influence on culture, values, and social change.

2. Is it fair to claim that some works of art hold greater cultural value than others, or should artistic value be determined by audience perception and appreciation? What truly gives art its value? 

3. How does art make our lives better? Think about its role in our emotions, culture, and society. Does art help us express ourselves, learn new things, or see the world differently? Would life be fulfilling in the absence of art?

Sample answer:

The Role and Value of Art in Society

First of all, I’d like to point out that films are a powerful form of artistic expression that influence our society in profound ways. It is generally accepted that cinema has the ability to inspire, educate, and provoke thought. For example, films can (1)____________ awareness of social issues, as seen in documentaries that highlight climate change or human rights violations. Moreover, they shape cultural values and reflect societal norms. A case in (2)___________ is how films from different eras portray gender roles, influencing how we perceive relationships and identity.

This (3)_____________ directly to my next point: how we determine the value of art. There can be no (4)_____________ that some works of art are considered more culturally significant than others. However, should this judgement be based on historical prestige, expert opinion, or public appreciation? To my (5)____________, art derives its value from its impact—how it resonates (6)__________ people, challenges perspectives, and stands the test of (7)____________. Besides, what is considered ‘high art’ today may not have been appreciated in its own era. Take Van Gogh, for instance; his work was largely dismissed during his lifetime, yet today, it is regarded (8)____________ invaluable. This raises the question: does cultural elitism protect or limit artistic expression? In my opinion, while it can preserve heritage, it also risks alienating innovative and accessible forms of art.

Speaking (9)___________ accessibility, let’s now take a look at the broader impact of art on our lives. Nobody will (10)____________ that art enriches our daily existence, whether through music, literature, painting, (11)____________ cinema. It is a fact that art allows us to express emotions, understand different cultures, and escape from reality. Furthermore, it inspires creativity, helping individuals find meaning and identity. In (12)_____________ to that, art has therapeutic benefits, as seen in art therapy, which helps people cope (13)_____________ stress and trauma. Could we live happily without art? Frankly, I don’t think (14)_____________. Even in the most practical aspects of life, from architecture to fashion, artistic influence is everywhere.

Finally, and perhaps most (15)______________, art serves as a bridge between past, present, and future, preserving heritage (16)____________ also shaping new ideas. All in (17)______________, its significance cannot be overstated. (18)____________ conclusion, I would say that art, in all its forms, (19)_____________ an essential role in society, culture, and personal development. To cut a long story (20)_____________, art is not just a luxury—it is a necessity.

KEY

1. raise

2. point

3. leads

4. doubt

5. mind/ knowledge

6. with

7. time

8. as

9. of

10. deny

11. or

12. addition

13. with

14. so

15. importantly

16. while

17. all

18. In

19. plays

20. short

EF p 100. Conditionals. Extra Grammar and Exercises

Conditionals. Grammar

EF p 100. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES WITH OTHER WORDS. Key Word Transformations

Ready for C1 p 38. Conditionals. Extra Key Word Transformations

Conditionals. Speaking

Conditionals: Grammar, Speaking and a Story

Conditionals and Regrets. Extra Exercise

Conditionals. Extra Exercise: Verb Tenses

Conditionals. Extra Cloze

Conditionals. Extra Multiple Choice Cloze

Conditionals. Extra Rephrasing

Conditionals. Extra Cloze

Conditionals. Extra Exercise: Complete

Conditionals. Extra Exercise: Match to Make Sentences

Conditionals. Extra Exercise: Choose the Correct Word or Phrase

 

Conditionals. Rudyard Kipling's If. Extra Listening

Brain Teasers. Extra Listening.

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars. Extra Song 

Conditionals. Extra Songs

EF p 100. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES WITH OTHER WORDS. Key Word Transformations

Rewrite the sentences using the word given. Use between three and five words.

1. They won’t achieve anything without popular support.
   UNLESS
   ____________________________, they won’t achieve anything.

2. I’m in favour of the idea as long as it’s not too expensive.
   PROVIDED
   I basically support the idea, _____________________ too much money.

3. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it, it doesn’t stop it happening. Does it?
   WHETHER
   It’s going to happen anyway, ____________________ not!

4. The problem with nuclear power is that if an accident happens, it could totally devastate the area.
   SUPPOSING
   ____________________________ at a nuclear power plant. Can you imagine the damage it could cause?

5. The economy’s still doing badly so it’s easy for the opposition to attract new supporters.
   LONG
   The opposition will continue to win new supporters _______________ fails to improve.

6. There’s no way the situation will improve without immediate action being taken.
   OR
   They need to do something pretty soon _______________ worse and worse.

7. I know opinion polls aren’t entirely reliable, but it doesn’t look like they’ll win an overall majority.
   ASSUMING
   ____________________________ reliable, they’re going to have to form a coalition with someone.

8. If Maria doesn’t come soon, we’ll have to go without her.
   NOT
   I hope Maria ____________________________ we’ll have to go without her.

9. Without your help, we wouldn’t have been able to deal with this.
   HAD
   If ____________________________ your help, we wouldn’t have been able to deal with this.

10. If lectures are boring, students will not want to attend.
    OTHERWISE
    Lectures ____________________________ students will not attend.

KEYS:

1. They won’t achieve anything without popular support.
UNLESS
____________________________, they won’t achieve anything.

KEY

Unless they win political support, they won’t achieve anything.

2. I’m in favour of the idea as long as it’s not too expensive.

PROVIDED
I basically support the idea, _____________________ too much money.

KEY

I basically support the idea, provided they do not spend too much money.

3. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it, it doesn’t stop it happening. Does it?
WHETHER
It’s going to happen anyway, ____________________ not!

KEY

It’s going to happen anyway, whether you like it or not!

4. The problem with nuclear power is that if an accident happens, it could totally devastate the area.
SUPPOSING
____________________________ at a nuclear power plant. Can you imagine the damage it could cause?

KEY

Supposing an accident happens at a nuclear power plant. Can you imagine the damage it could cause?

5. The economy’s still doing badly so it’s easy for the opposition to attract new supporters.
LONG
The opposition will continue to win new supporters _______________ fails to improve.

KEY

The opposition will continue to win new supporters as long as the economy fails to improve.

6. There’s no way the situation will improve without immediate action being taken.
OR
They need to do something pretty soon _______________ worse and worse.

KEY

They need to do something pretty soon or things will get worse and worse.

7. I know opinion polls aren’t entirely reliable, but it doesn’t look like they’ll win an overall majority.
ASSUMING
____________________________ reliable, they’re going to have to form a coalition with someone.

KEY

Assuming opinion polls are reliable, they’re going to have to form a coalition with someone.

8. If Maria doesn’t come soon, we’ll have to go without her.
NOT
I hope Maria ____________________________ we’ll have to go without her.

KEY

I hope Maria does not come late, otherwise we’ll have to go without her.

I hope Maria comes early, if not we’ll have to go without her.

9. Without your help, we wouldn’t have been able to deal with this.
HAD
If ____________________________ your help, we wouldn’t have been able to deal with this.

KEY

If it hadn’t been for your help, we wouldn’t have been able to deal with this.

10. If lectures are boring, students will not want to attend.
OTHERWISE
Lectures ____________________________ students will not attend.

KEY

Lectures should be entertaining, otherwise students will not attend.

EF p 99. Science and technology. Speaking

 TOPIC 5: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY                                Preparation time: 5 minutes

PART 1. CONVERSATION

Talk to each other about some or all of the following. (8 minutes approx.)

1. How has technology changed teaching and learning ? 

2. Is phubbing bad for our relationships?

3. Advantages and disadvantages of social media?

4. What will technology be like in the next 10 years?

PART 2. MONOLOGUE

Talk about at least two of the following ideas. (4 minutes approx.) The examiner may ask you further questions about the topic.

CANDIDATE A

1. Positive and negative effects of technology on people’s health.

2. At what age should children be allowed to have their first smartphones? Why?

3. What major technological breakthroughs do you think have had the greatest impact on society?

CANDIDATE B

1. In what ways has technology improved our lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

2. What are the pros and cons of AI?

3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of working from home via a computer?

EF p 196. A Discursive Essay: Do Smartphones Really Improve Our Lives? Cloze

Smartphones dominate the field of personal communications and nowadays virtually everyone owns (1)_____________. They have many clear benefits, (2)________ do they really make our lives better? 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of smartphones is that they (3)___________ us to access an incredible amount of information. They are not just phones – we can also use them (4)_________ maps, encyclopaedias, novels, entertainment systems, and much (5)____________. We live in an age of information, and smartphones help us to make the (6)__________ of it all. 

In (7)_____________, they allow us to live our lives spontaneously. (8)__________ you need a taxi, have to book a restaurant table, or want to identify stars in the night sky, you can do it straight away. 

(9)_____________, they keep us in touch with our friends and family, and the social role they play in a fast-moving society is hugely important. 

(10)______________, there are strong arguments to suggest that what appear to be the advantages of smartphones can also have downsides. One drawback is the cost – monthly contracts are (11)______________ from cheap and smartphones tend to become obsolete quickly, (12)_____________ people feel they need to buy the latest model. 

What is (13)______________, they are a constant distraction, (14)___________ they encourage people to spend hours checking social networking sites (15)____________ they could be doing something more useful. 

But perhaps the (16)____________ significant downside is for working people. (17)___________ the one hand, smartphones offer great convenience, (18)___________ they also mean that employees can (19)__________ contacted by their boss or by customers at any time, (20)________ while they are on holiday. 

On the (21)______________, smartphones are a wonderful tool, but they have both (22)_____________ and cons and they have to be (23)__________ wisely. It is very important that we control (24)___________, and not the other way (25)_____________.

KEY

1. one

2. but

3. allow

4. as

5. more

6. most

7. addition

8. Whether

9. Finally

10. However

11. far

12. so

13. more

14. as

15. when

16. most

17. On

18. but

19. be

20. even

21. whole

22. pros

23. used

24. them

25. round