LISTENING

First Day of Class

Pre-Listening Exercise
What other information would you expect to hear during the first day of a
class besides the ones listed below?
1.
2.
3.

the name of the course

the teacher's name
the class grading system

HELPFUL TIP: Most college teachers pass out a syllabus at the beginning
of a new class. Be sure to ask any questions about the content of the
course because you will probably be responsible for everything in the
syllabus.
Instructions: Listen to the lecture. Then choose fill the spaces [1 to 5].
Teacher: Okay, Okay, let's begin. Hello, everyone. My name's Karl Roberts,
and I'll be your (1)____________ for this class, Intercultural Communication
(2)
___________________.
Uh, to begin with, please take a look at the (3)______________ in front of
you. As you all should know by now, this class meets on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:50.
We will be meeting in this room for the first (4) ________________ of the
course, but we will be using the research lab every other week on
Thursday in room 405 (5)_________________ the last two months of the
class.
Post-Listening Exercise
Imagine that you are planning your university class schedule for the
coming year. What are at least three things you consider when choosing a
particular class? What qualities do you look for in the ideal teacher? Do
you think attendance and participation should be part of the classroom
grade? Discuss these issues with a partner.

USE OF ENGLISH

WORD FORMATION

Affixes and roots

Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is
common in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front of the base
(like dislike), whereas suffixes are added to the end of the base
(active
activate). Prefixes usually do not change the class of the base word, but
suffixes usually do change the class of the word.
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are:
re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-. The most common suffixes are: -ise, -en,
-ate, -(i)fy. By far the most common affix in academic English is -ise.
Verbs

e.g. prefix + verb

Prefix

verb

Meaning

Examples

re-

again or back

restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild,

refinance

dis-

reverses the meaning of

the verb

disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect,

discontinue

over-

too much

overbook, oversleep, overwork

un-

reverses the meaning of

the verb

unbend, uncouple, unfasten

mis-

badly or wrongly

mislead, misinform, misidentify

out-

more or better than

others

outperform, outbid

be-

make or cause

befriend, belittle

co-

together

co-exist, co-operate, co-own

de-

do the opposite of

devalue, deselect

fore-

earlier, before

foreclose, foresee

inter-

between

interact, intermix, interface

pre-

before

pre-expose, prejudge, pretest

sub-

under/below

subcontract, subdivide

trans-

across, over

transform, transcribe, transplant

under- not enough

underfund, undersell, undervalue,

underdevelop

EXERCISE
Word Formation - Verbs
Complete the sentence using a verb made from the word in brackets.
1. The society may be __________ by such dealings, and experienced through
them. (symbol)
2. Berkeley's ideas were __________ early. (formula)
3. This conversion of sound symbols in time to __________ symbols in space was
the greatest single step in the quest for permanence. (visual)
4. In the second draft of this letter Marx says: "the archaic formation of society
reveals a number of different types which __________ different and successive
epochs." (character)
5. To __________ a rather complex historical phenomenon, it can be said that the
present political division between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael originates in
positions taken by opponents in that war. (simple)
6. Frederick's reforms, however, __________ a major flaw in the progressive
infatuation with scientific management. (example)
7. They __________ other flowers within the same fig. (pollen)
8. To _________ all reckless killings as murder might be too broad, but the point
remains that some reckless killings may be thought no less heinous than
intentional killings. (class)
9. The only miracle left in the nuclear dream is that more people have not
__________ to the fact that nuclear power is economically - and increasingly, in
that it takes much-needed funds away from renewable and efficiency - ethically,
redundant. (wake)
10. Some more theologically articulate members of the provisional movement
__________ violence on traditional Roman catholic ethical grounds, the theory
of the just war against the unjust oppressor. (just)
11. There remained a distinctive philosophy of liberalism, which could __________
the Liberals from other political parties. (differ)
12. In a black leather notebook __________ with a metal clasp, he wrote: Oswestry
July 18TH. 1829... (fast)
13. It seems probable that some doctors carry out mercy killings by administering
large doses of pain-killing drugs which __________ life significantly, and the law
may well protect them from liability. (short)

FCE Reading
Part One: Multiple Choice

Instructions You are going to read an extract from a writer's journal. For
Questions 1-8, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.

Extract
Six months ago I made a rash promise. The leader of the youth club in our village
had rung me in March saying, "We're thinking of running a children's playscheme
for a day in October half-term. Would you be prepared to help?" My response was
"Sure, why not?" In truth I was a little flattered to be asked, even though working
as a care assistant with old people hardly qualified me for the role. Still, I duly put
the date in my diary and of course I forgot all about it. I don't know if you've
noticed this but time has a habit of speeding along faster than a police car chasing
a robber and, before I knew it, the dreaded day was dawning.
I arrived at the youth centre that morning feeling full of trepidation. There was a
gang of 12 helpers including me, split into pairs, and each pair had been allocated a
particular age group. Mine was the 10 to 11 year olds. Even with the planning
meeting I had attended the week before, I worried about whether I was up to the
task. Why hadn't I read through the copious lesson plans we were given
beforehand? And wasn't the average 10-year-old more interested in the latest
electronic game than making things with paper and glue?
All too quickly the children began arriving. The look of relief on parents' faces as
they handed their offspring over to us was almost comical. A handful of the children
were already members of the club but the other forty five or so were from the local
primary schools. One or two looked tearful but the rest were in high spirits. Again I
asked myself why I had elected to spend a day with all these 'little monsters'
especially when I have two all of my own to contend with!
I needn't have worried of course as it turned out to be a marvellous day. We
watched entertaining dvd clips, learned 'action' songs, made clay pyramids,
kneaded bread, decorated biscuits, played memory games and spent some time in
quiet reflection. I say 'we' because I rediscovered my inner child and joined in all
the activities with glee.
The particular highlight for me was a rousing rendition of "He's got the whole world
in his hands" in the closing part of the day. The children already knew the words
and actions off by heart and sang so loudly it was almost enough to bring the roof
down. It's difficult to explain those moments; only that the body tingles with the
pleasure of having witnessed something so magical.

Of course there were also moments of great poignancy. I found it difficult to stop
thinking of one little girl, who mentioned oh-so-casually that her mum was in
hospital and would be there for a long time. It's easy for us adults to idealise
childhood and forget that some children have their own burden of anxieties and
concerns. When I got home utterly exhausted, still with modelling clay under my
fingernails, I reflected on what a privilege it had been.
There was one disappointment for the children and that was that the playscheme
was only running for a day, and not the whole week. As I said farewell to my group,
one of the children turned and said, "Can we do it again in the next holiday, Miss?"
My response was, "Sure, why not?"

Part One: Multiple Choice

1. When the offer of the job was made the writer
A. felt she had made a mistake to agree.
B. thought she had appropriate experience for the job.
C. believed she shouldn't have been asked.
D. gave the impression she wasn't sure about accepting the job.
2. When the day arrived the writer was surprised
A. that the day had come round so quickly.
B. because she'd forgotten to write down the date.
C. because she witnessed a car chase on the way.
D. that she woke up at dawn.
3. When the writer arrived to start her job, she
A. put the children into pairs.
B. realised she should have done more preparation.
C. felt confident she could deal with 10 and 11 year olds.
D. saw the children had brought their own electronic games to play with.
4. According to the writer, the parents were
A. happy to stay with their children all day.
B. worried about children from the other schools.
C. nervous that their children might not behave themselves.
D. glad to leave their children.
5. The writer needn't have worried because
A. the children were quiet during the day.
B. the children weren't doing messy activities.
C. she had fun herself.
D. the time passed quickly.
6. The writer's best moment
A. occurred in the middle of the day.
B. took her by surprise.
C. was hard to put into words.
D. was when the day was over.
7. According to the writer, adults
A. think that being a child is a privilege.
B. sometimes forget that children have worries too.
C. are usually exhausted by bringing up their children.
D. don't have a stressful life.

8. What is the writer's attitude by the end of the day?

A. She could imagine doing the job again next time.
B. She was sad to say good bye to the chidlren.
C. She was disappointed with the experience.
D. She hopes the playscheme will be longer in future.

FCE Use of English

Part One: Multiple Choice Cloze
For Questions 1-12, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C
or D best fits each space.
Example: (0) A situation

B place

C position

D site

Environmental Concerns
Earth is the only (0) __B__ we know of in the universe that can support
human life. (1) ... human activities are making the planet less fit to live on.
As the western world (2) ... on consuming two-thirds of the world's
resources while half of the world's population do so (3) ... to stay alive we
are rapidly destroying the (4) ... resource we have by which all people can
survive and prosper. Everywhere fertile soil is (5) ... built on or washed into
the sea. Renewable resources are exploited so much that they will never be
able to recover (6) ... We discharge pollutants into the atmosphere without
any thought of the consequences. As a (7) ... the planet's ability to support
people is being (8) ... at the very time when rising human numbers and
consumption are (9) ... increasingly heavy demands on it.
The Earth's (10) ... resources are there for us to use. We need food, water,
air, energy, medicines, warmth, shelter and minerals to (11) ... us fed,
comfortable, healthy and active. If we are sensible in how we use the
resources, they will (12) ... indefinitely. But if we use them wastefully and
excessively they will soon run out and everyone will suffer.

A Although

B Still

C Yet

D Despite

A continues

B repeats

C carries

D follows

A already

B just

C for

D entirely

A alone

C lone

D lonely

C either

D rather

C utterly

D completely

B individua
l
5 A sooner
B
neither
6 A quite
B
greatly
7 A development B
result
8 A stopped
B
narrowed
9 A doing
B
having
10 A natural
B
real
11 A hold
B
maintain
12 A last
B
stand

C reaction D product
C reduced D cut
C taking

D making

C living

D genuine

C stay

D keep

C go

D remain