UNIT 1

CREATIVITY AND ART

Are you a creative person (do you paint, build things,

write?) or do you prefer being entertained (watching films, reading books)?

Give the name of your favourite novel, author, play, dramatist, film, director,
musical composition, composer, painting and painter. Why do you like them? 18

Does your country have any well-known artists who are famous for cinema,
theatre, literature, ballet, opera, classical music or painting?

What are your top three art forms from the above list? Explain the reasons for
your preference.

Do you think that the tax payer should have to support the arts (the cinema, the
opera, museums)?

In what ways were you encouraged to appreciate the arts at home and at school?

Which country would you visit to appreciate the arts? What would you plan to
see?

What makes a work of art famous or expensive?

Why do people collect works of art?

Fold everything Reading

1 Look at the picture of a horse made using

origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper
folding. Answer the questions.
1 Do you do any kind of hand crafts? What are
they?
2 Have you ever tried origami? What did you
make?

2 Work in pairs. What are the basic principles of

origami? Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?
Read the first paragraph of the article and check
your answers.
1 You need more than one piece of paper.
2 The paper should be square.
3 You mustn't use scissors.
4 Sometimes you need to use glue.
3 Read the rest of the article and find the following.
1 two things used in space exploration that are folded using origami techniques
2 two origami-inspired devices that help to save lives
3 a use of origami that seems like a fantasy
4 a use of origami that can make machines more powerful

Almost certainly you have at one time in your life practised origami, even if it was just making a paper
aeroplane. Perhaps it was something more sophisticated like a paper crane. The chances are that as you
did it, you reflected on how ingenious this traditional Japanese art is. Animals, boxes, flowers, boats - all
can be created from a single square or rectangular sheet of paper simply by folding it - no cutting, no
pasting.

But did you ever stop to think how the same techniques might be applied to engineer equipment that
18
could be of real practical use? In fact, origami-inspired creations have already flown in space; in 1995,
Japanese engineers launched a satellite with solar panels that folded like a map. And very soon origami
engineering may well be seen in a host of other applications.

'It's now mathematically proven that you can pretty much fold anything,' says physicist Robert J. Lang,
who quit his engineering job in California eight years ago to fold things full-time. Lang, an origami
enthusiast since the age of six, advised a well-known car manufacturer on the best way to fold an airbag
into a dashboard. He is currently working on a space telescope lens that, if all goes to plan, should be
able to unfold to the size of a football pitch.

At the other end of the scale, researchers are also working on tiny folding devices that could lead to
breakthroughs in medicine and computing. These include origami stents that are inserted into arteries
and open up to keep the blood flowing. Computers of the future are likely to contain tiny, folded motors
or capacitors, which will mean faster processing and better memory storage.

There's no doubt that saving space has become important in our world, as the search for ever smaller
electronic components shows. But origami also meets the demand for things which need to be small
when transported and large when they arrive, like the everyday umbrella.

Applications for origami engineering go further than many of us might imagine. 'Some day,' says MIT's*
Erik Demaine, 'we'll build reconfigurable robots that can fold on their own from one thing into another,'
like Transformers. Too much like science fiction to be true? Maybe; though you certainly wouldn't bet
against it.

* MIT = Massachusetts Institute o f Technology

crane (n) /krein/ a large bird with long legs
ingenious (adj) /in'd3i:ni3s/ very clever
stent (n) /stent/ a thin rod used in medicine to support a cavity in the body

4 Work in pairs. Explain the following terms and expressions from the article.
1 How is a paper crane 'more sophisticated' than an aeroplane? (para 1)
2 What is meant by 'applications'? (para 2)
3 What 'plan' is referred to in the phrase 'if all goes to plan'? (para 3)
4 What scale is referred to in the phrase 'At the other end of the scale'? (para 4)
5 What does 'it' mean in the phrase 'you wouldn't bet against it'? (para 6)

Idioms partitives
5 Compare these two expressions. Which expression means 'some' or 'a piece of' and which
means 'a small piece'?
1 a sheet of paper
2 a scrap of paper
6 Look at the partitive expressions in bold and say which mean 'some' and which 'a small piece
or amount'.
1 I'm really thirsty. I haven't had a drop of water all day.
2 It was a stroke of luck getting those tickets. They were the last two available.
3 There's not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is life on other planets.
4 The latest figures offer a glimmer of hope that the recession is coming to an end.
5 She had a flash of inspiration. Why not use the principles of origami to make foldable
furniture?
6 There was a hint of disappointment in his voice, but he took the news very well.

Are schools killing creativity? Video

A writers group blue 4 Listening 18

You will hear five short extracts in which people talk about being in a writers group.
TASK ONE
Choose from the list what each speaker says about their own writing.
SPEAKER 1 A tends to avoid writing
SPEAKER 2 B panics under pressure
SPEAKER 3 C finds the process isolating
SPEAKER 4 D is satisfied with their own work
SPEAKER 5 E feels its a waste of time
F has been out of practice
G never finishes anything
H writes every day

TASK TWO
Choose from the list what each speaker says about their experience of being in a writers group.
SPEAKER 1 A enjoys the positive feedback
SPEAKER 2 B gets the enthusiasm they need
SPEAKER 3 C looks forward to the social aspect
SPEAKER 4 D doesnt like the group leader
SPEAKER 5 E finds the motivation to keep writing
F thinks the members are harsh critics
G minds the lack of constructive feedback
H struggles to find time to attend

Formal and informal English Style and register

A One of the most important areas to master in terms of register is the difference between formal
and informal English. Of course there are many degrees of formality, and most written English is situated
between the two extremes. Here is a list of the most characteristic features that differentiate formal and
informal English, followed by some preliminary exercises. Many further exercises to practise the use of
different registers, and particularly to distinguish between formal and informal usage, occur throughout
the rest of the book.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Formal Informal
Words of Latin/French origin Words of Anglo-Saxon origin
Single-word verbs Phrasal verbs, idioms with get.
Formal connecting words Informal connecting words
Impersonal constructions Active constructions
It is said that They say that

The price has been increased Theyve put the price up

One never knows You never know
Abstract nouns
Is happiness possible during
unemployment?
Not ending with prepositions; whom
To whom were you speaking?
Complex sentences
Inversion for conditionals and emphasis
Should you require further information,
please contact.........
No contractions in writing
I will
____________________________________________________________________________________
Modal verbs, adjectives, clauses...
Can people be happy when they havent got
a job?
Ending with prepositions
Who were you speaking to?
Simple sentences
Inversion sometimes for emphasis
Only then did I hear .................
Contractions in writing
Ill

18
B Why are some English words considered to be more polite or refined, whereas others which
mean the same thing are thought rude and vulgar?

English vocabulary comprises words taken from many languages, particularly Anglo-Saxon, French and
Latin. In 1066 the Anglo-Saxon inhabitants of Britain were conquered by the French-speaking Normans.
As French was the language of the ruling classes (and Latin the language of education), words derived
from French or Latin have been considered more formal than those derived from the language of the
Anglo-Saxons.

THE HISTORY OF
ENGLISH IN TEN
MINUTES (VIDEO)

The table below compares relatively

formal words of Latin/French origin with
their less formal alternatives, many of
Anglo-Saxon origin. It is an illustration of
a general tendency, not a conversion table:
the choice of vocabulary always depends
on the context. Supply the missing words.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Formal Informal Formal Informal
Verbs Nouns
to depart to go carnivore meat-eater
to retain ---------- putrefaction ----------
to cease ---------- deficiency ----------
to function ---------- vision ----------
to masticate ---------- residence ----------
to demonstrate ---------- respiration ----------
to reside ---------- somnambulist ----------
---------- to seem comprehension ----------
---------- to shorten perspiration ----------
---------- to end
---------- to help Adjectives
---------- to begin incorrect wrong
---------- to want amiable ----------
---------- to get vacant ----------
---------- to free insane ----------
---------- to eat inexpensive ----------
Adverbials ---------- lively
subsequently next/ later ---------- better
principally ---------- ---------- childish
---------- so ---------- enough
---------- at first ---------- whole
---------- in the end ---------- older
____________________________________________________________________________________

C Phrasal verbs and single-word verbs

Killing a parrot (a true story)

1.- Mr Lamprey and Mr Pear are neighbours. Mr Pear and his wife keep parrots. The noise made by the
parrots has finally made Mr Lamprey so angry that he has broken down the fence between their two 18
gardens and strangled one of the parrots. You are the lawyer defending Mr Lamprey, who is being sued by
Mr Pear for damage done to his property. The following is how your client describes the events to you.

This has been going on for three years, ever since the Pears came along and brought their
infernal parrots into the neighbourhood. The noise of the birds got on my nerves from the
very start so I did use to complain a bit. I finally gave up hope of getting used to it when
in the middle of the night I heard someone calling out my name. It was a trick hed put one
of his parrots up to, just to wind me up! In the morning I had it out with him, but he had
the cheek to say that the bird wasnt saying my name at all, and it wasnt his fault if the
birds love call sounded a bit like "Herbert". I didnt know what to do. I talked it over with
my mates at work, who suggested I get in touch with the City Council and maybe put in a
formal complaint. So I rang them up and they put me through to the Social Services. The
woman there said shed come and check out the parrots the next week, but she never
turned up. So we fixed up another time, and she stood me up again. They kept on putting it
off till one day, out of the blue, a bloke showed up. He left after five minutes, saying hed
pass the matter on to the Environmental Health Department.

Now you are speaking in court, before a judge and jury. Note that your account appears more concise and
less emotive than your clients. Fill the blanks by replacing the phrasal verbs and phrases with get in the
original with a single-word verb selected from the list below. Put the verb in the appropriate tense.

lodge irritate despair arrive contact refer

postpone visit become discuss provoke investigate
connect arrange come

Ever since the Pears (1)............................ in the neighbourhood three years ago my client, Mr
Lamprey, has been (2)............................ by the birds. He finally (3)............................... of
(4).................................. accustomed to the noise the night that one of the birds started to
call out his name. Mr Pear would appear to have taught the bird to say the name "Herbert"
with the sole intention of (5).................................... my client. Having (6)..................................
the problem with his colleagues, my client (7)............................... the City Council with a view
to (8).................................. a complaint. The switchboard (9)............................... him to the
Social Services Department where a woman promised to (10)............................ the matter the
following week. The woman never (11)............................... Another time was
(12)..............................., but again the woman failed to appear. In fact, this initial visit was
continually (13).................................. until six months later, when a council officer finally
(14)............................... After a brief inspection, the officer said he would
(15)............................... the case to the Environmental Health Department.
2. Now, reverse the process. The rest of the story is in your words. Read it, then complete Mr
Lampreys more informal version by filling each gap with a phrasal verb selected from the list below, or
with a phrase with get.

The prospect of another six months waiting angered my client. He told the council officer
he was no longer prepared to tolerate the situation; moreover, he felt it was the Councils
job to restore peace and quiet to the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, in the twelve months
that have elapsed since the officer came, the Council has taken no further action. Matters
deteriorated recently when Mr Pears wife, Dolores, entered the quarrel. My client had
previously enjoyed good relations with Mrs Pears, but all good will ended when it
transpired that Mrs Pears had been phoning the police, claiming that the Lampreys had
threatened to kill the birds. 18

make out turn out fall out bring back

join in get on with put up with go by

Well, I dont mind telling you that I (1)........................... pretty angry. I told him that if he
thought I was going to (2)............................... another six months of being messed about by
the City Council and taunted by screaming parrots he had another thing coming. I told him
it was his job to (3)......................... peace and quiet to the neighbourhood. Well, 12 months
have (4)............................. now and the council has not (5)............................ anything done about
it. Recently, things (6)........................... worse when Mrs Pear (7)......................... . We used to
(8)....................... her OK, but then we (9)................... when it (10)........................ she was the
one that kept phoning the police about us, (11).............................. we had threatened to kill
the birds.

Immortal words Reading

1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.

1 Who are the great writers in your country's history? Do
you know any famous quotations from their work?
2 Is Shakespeare well-known in your country?
3 What Shakespeare plays do you know the names of?
What do you know about them?
4 Do you know any famous quotations from Shakespeare
plays?

2 Read the article about the language of Shakespeare.

According to the author, why are Shakespeare's plays still
so popular today?

3 Read the article again and answer the questions.

1 What adjective describes what England was like in
Shakespeare's time? (para 1)
2 What new element did Shakespeare bring to play writing, according to Bloom? (para 2)
3 What two words describe how Shakespeare conveyed his observations about life? (para 2)
4 What expression tells you that Shakespeare created new words and expressions? (para 3)
5 What has happened to the phrase 'the be all and end all' over time? (para 4)
6 What two qualities have helped Shakespeare's words to survive? (para 5)
The 16th-century dramatist Ben Jonson
generously called his rival Shakespeare
a writer 'not of an age, but for all time'.
And so it has proved to be, for
Shakespeare's plays are still the most
translated and most performed of any
playwright's in the world. But if you ask
people what accounts for Shakespeare's
enduring popularity, you will get a
number of different answers. Some will
say that he was a great storyteller, others
that the magic lies in the beauty of his
poetry. Some scholars point out that he
was born in a very vibrant period in
England's history, a time both of great
national confidence and of cultural
activity, particularly in the theatre. As a
consequence, they claim, he was able to
produce an extraordinary volume of
work.
This last explanation seems rather
unsatisfactory. A more interesting
answer is put forward, albeit a little
over-enthusiastically, by Harold Bloom
in his book Shakespeare: The Invention
of the Human. Bloom argues that
Shakespeare gave us something in his
writing that the world had not seen in
literature before - characters with a
strong personality. These lifelike
characters give us a real insight into the
human condition: Iago, the trusted
advisor of Othello, whose jealousy of
others leads him to betray his honest
master; Rosalind, the heroine in As You
Like It, who remains true to her friends
and family in spite of the danger to
herself. Through the mouths of such
characters, we learn truths about life
that we can all identify. These truths are
made more moving and more
memorable by the way they are phrased,
both succinctly and poetically.
Shakespeare has been dead almost 400
years, but the words and sayings
attributed to him still colour the
albeit (conj) even if it is/was
English language today. His plays also
expanded on the audience's vocabulary.
So whether you are 'fashionable' or
'sanctimonious,' thank Shakespeare,
who probably coined the terms. In fact,
it is amazing just how great
Shakespeare's influence on everyday
language has been. Take, for example,
these phrases from Michael Macrone's
light-hearted book Brush Up Your
Shakespeare:
18
foregone conclusion
full circle
at one fell swoop
wear my heart upon my sleeve
seen better days
a sorry sight
neither here nor there
the world is (my) oyster
Macrone is more interested in what
Shakesperean language has survived
than the reasons for its popularity.
According to his research, some of
these sayings have strayed slightly from
their original meaning once taken out of
the context of the plays in which they
first appeared. For example, the phrase
'the be all and end all' is used today to
mean 'the most important thing', but in
Shakespeare's Macbeth, it means 'the
end of the matter'.
Regardless of such technicalities, it is
still remarkable that so many of
Shakespeare's words have survived the
large shifts in language between the
time that they were written and the
present day. The beauty of those words
is certainly one reason for this, but as
his fellow playwright Ben Jonson
suggested, it is the humanity and
enduring relevance of their message that
brings them to life and keeps them
current.
insight (n) new understanding
stray (v) wander

4 Look at the phrases in the article taken from Michael Macrone's book (listed after paragraph 3). Match
the phrases with the definitions (a-h).
a past its best f something sad to see
b show your feelings g in one single action
c anything is possible h arriving back at the
d unimportant starting point
e the result is obvious

Critical thinking developing an argument 18

5 The writer uses the views of other commentators to develop his argument about Shakespeare's enduring
popularity. What reasons, if any, do these commentators give for Shakespeare's popularity?
a scholars
b Harold Bloom
c Michael Macrone
d Ben Jonson

6 Work in pairs. Find evidence for what the author thinks about each of the commentators in Exercise 5.
7 What is the author's own conclusion and which commentator does he agree with most?

Word focus life

8 Look at the article again. Find two expressions with life that mean the following.
1 realistic
2 to animate or make alive

9 Work in pairs. Look at the expressions in bold with life and discuss what they mean.

1 I sold my old Citroen 2CV car last year for 300. Now I've just read that they have become really
collectable. Story of my life!
2 He was larger than life and would always light up a room with his presence.
3 Work stress is just a fact of life these days - you have to learn to deal with it.
4 It was a very interesting conference. There were people there from all walks of life - writers, students,
business people.
5 My daughter was worried about going to university, but actually she's having the time of her life.
6 Thanks for driving me to the station - it was a real life-saver. I'd have missed my train otherwise.

Speaking
Work in two groups of three. You are going to play a game called Call my bluff. Each group looks at a set
of words coined by Shakespeare and follows the steps below. For each word, rewrite the true definition in
your own words, then write two more false definitions. For each definition, write an example sentence.
Group A reads the three definitions and example sentences of the first word to Group B. Group B has to
guess which is the true definition. Now it is Group B's turn to read the three definitions of their first word
and for Group A to guess which is the true definition. Repeat until all the words have been read and
guessed.

Group A:.Look at the words and definitions.

1 misgiving (n) doubt or apprehension about something
2 spurn (v) reject
3 zany (adj) /'zeini/ eccentric and unconventional, even a little crazy
Group B: Look at the words and definitions.
1 howl (v) let out a long, pained cry like a dog or wolf
2 jaded (adj) bored with something, lacking enthusiasm
3 reprieve (n) a temporary delay in a punishment

Arts review 0.0

Listen to this radio interview. Two people are discussing a book, a play and a film.
Makes notes on which they thought was good and bad about each of them. Then
compare your notes with your partner.
18
Positive Negative
Book One Hot Summer

Play The Tempest

Film Suburban Blues

Checking understanding
Match the phrasal verbs in A with the definitions in B. If necessary, listen to the
interview again.

A B
1 to bring something out A to succeed, to be successful.
2 to make of someone / something B to have an impression of
someone/something
3 to go on C to reach an expected standard
4 to come off D to discourage someone from liking
something/someone
5 to turn out to be someone / something E to communicate or convey something
clearly
6 to put someone off someone / F to be understood clearly
something
7 to live up to something G to publish or introduce something onto
the market
8 to come across H to be discovered to be
someone/something (eventually)
9 to put something across I to happen
Practice

Rewrite the sentences below, using a phrasal verb from this unit. Make any necessary
changes to the structure of the sentences:

1. Susan Shaw published a slim volume of poetry last year

2. Our attempt to climb the mountain in winter didn't succeed.
3. Her behaviour was so strange that I didn't know what to think of her.
4. The author conveyed her ideas in very simple language.
5. I couldn't understand what was happening at the beginning of the film.
6. I thought the message of the play wasn't very clear. 18
7. The newspaper reviews discouraged people from seeing the play.
8. I expected the music to be wonderful, but it wasn't very good.
9. At the end of the film we discovered that the hero was an American spy.

Idiomatic expressions

1. What do you think the following expressions in italics mean?

The stage production was absolutely fantastic. It was out of this world.
I had mixed feelings about it. I loved the photography but the acting was dreadful.
Don't ask me what the film was about because I couldn't make head or tail of it.
You should remember this valuable rule of thumb: the most expensive actor is not
always the most suitable for the job.
Although her name may not ring a bell with English speaking viewers in the US,
her live audience talk show is among the top ten programs on US Spanish
language TV.
The young actress was a little nervous at the beginning and forgot some of her
lines. There were several times when she gave the impression that she was going to
throw in the towel.

2. Use the expressions above to complete the sentences in the following exercise:

a) "Total Recall" and "Back to the Future III" all made something around $100
million, which sounds like a lot of money, except that they all cost about $60
million to produce. And the ....................... in Hollywood is that you have to make
two and a half times your investment or you don't start to make a profit.
b) I have ......................... about the concert: the music was good but I didn't like the
orchestra.
c) When she switched from English to Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, the audience
couldn't ............................. what she is saying.
d) The music was fantastic and the photography was .......................... .

e) He had a heart bypass at 85! Can you imagine? If I were in his position at that age,
I'd just ............................ . Why go through all that just to live a normal life at
that age?
f) A: You've heard of Eddie Fisher, haven't you?
B: The name ................................. .
A: He married Liz Taylor.
B: Oh, yes, that Eddie Fisher.
Reviews Reading

How would you feel if you had bought a ticket to see a show but it turned out to be terrible
the actors forgot their lines, the sound was awful (you could hardly hear what was being said)
and the story was extremely dull? Probably fed up, but imagine that you only went because a
reviewer had said that it was very good. You might even feel angry then, especially if the
ticket was expensive.

Then you bought a book because all the reviews on the back said it was great, a tour de
force, unput-downable, a real page turner etc., only to find that it wasnt gripping at all,
in fact you couldnt even finish it. The plot was unimaginative and the writing was weak.

Finally, you read a great review in the paper about an expensive restaurant in town and so
18
decided to splash out and go there with a special friend. The reviewer recommended booking
because it was very popular so you reserved a table, and one with a good view. When you
arrived, however, there was no record of your booking and you were placed in a corner far
from any view. The dishes were as expensive as you had been told but the food, when it
eventually came, was very disappointing. The portions were small, the combination of tastes
rather strange, and it wasnt hot either. Every time you tried to ask for some more water or
bread the waitress was never around, and then she took ages to get anything. Feeling very
disappointed you decided not to leave much of a tip, but when the bill came (and it was the
most you have ever spent on dinner for two!) you were annoyed to find out that a 10% service
charge had already been added.

So how do you feel now? Put out because the experience was not nearly as good as you had
expected (and you write a letter of complaint to the newspaper editor), or do you feel that it
would have been inappropriate for the reviewer to have written an honest opinion of the
restaurant it might go out of business? The role of reviewers has been questioned in
Australia recently, particularly the role of food critics, after a restaurant took a newspaper to
court. They claimed that because the review in the paper was so bad, people cancelled
reservations and they lost all their customers. The restaurant had spent a million pounds
doing the place up before opening but, a few months after the review, it had to close down.
The staff lost their jobs, the owners lost their money and the restaurant lost its good
reputation all because of one review. The restaurant owners said customers had been put
off by the food critics strong words.

The review was indeed very scathing. The

reviewer criticized the taste of the food,
the price of the dishes and quality of the
service. He only awarded the restaurant
nine stars out of a possible 20. He said, If
restaurant staff do their job badly there is
no reason why I should do mine badly as
well.

The newspaper has defended their

journalist, who went to the restaurant
twice before writing his article. They say
that its important that reviewers are
honest thats what reviews are there for
and its what the readers expect. Their
purpose is to provide a guide for people
who dont want to spend an enormous
amount of money on a meal thats not that
good. The editor has suggested that if they
lose the case there are implications for
other reviewers, of theatre or books for
example. If a reviewer is worried about getting sued for giving their opinion there wont be
any point in having reviews at all.

Interestingly, some restaurant owners have said that a review, even a bad one, can help
them. Several have said that after a bad review they made significant changes which
improved their service, and they now have more customers than before. Others though feel
that a reviewer has a lot of power, perhaps too much, and criticism should always be fair and
constructive. A restaurant may need improving but it doesnt necessarily have to close down.

Do reviewers have too much power? Some food critics have certainly become quite famous for
their witty comments, and these do tend to be negative rather than positive remarks. It
seems to be easier to be funny while saying something bad rather than saying something kind.
In addition the rise of blogging means that there are many more reviews on the web, not just
about restaurants of course, and again these can often be hurtful, and even unjust. The 18
anonymity of the reviewers maybe encourages over the top criticisms and the need for a
balanced review gets lost.

Perhaps the punters overreacted to the review? If youre a regular customer of a restaurant,
presumably this is because you like the place, so you wouldnt stop going because of a bad
review or would you? For a restaurant to fail it must have been unpopular with all its
customers, not just one that has a newspaper column mustnt it? Lets see what answer the
Australian courts settle on.

Which of the three options is closer in meaning to:

Fed up : full up/ exasperated/ pleased

Gripping: exciting/ dull/ realistic
splash out: spend money/ save money/ invite a friend
put out: nervous/displeased/ worried
do up: hire people/ decorate/ do research
put off: discouraged/ alarmed/overexcited
scathing: lenient/ biased /severe
witty : ironic / funny/ accurate
punters: customers/ cooks/ experts

Reviews: Reading tasks

How swayed are you by reviews?
A favourite show / play of yours is in town and the tickets are expensive. Your friend went and
loved it, but the reviews have been bad. Do you go or not?
A film which stars an actor you really dislike has had some rave reviews. Do you decide to go
and see it or not?
You see a book by an author unknown to you. All the reviews on the back say that its
wonderful. Do you decide to buy it or not?
What do you think the role of a reviewer is?
1 To tell the truth whatever, thats what reviews are for.
2 To be diplomatic and not say if something was really bad.
3 To make something sound good, even if that is not the case.
One restaurant reviewer has said, If restaurant staff do their job badly, there is no reason why I
should do mine badly as well. Which role does he think he has?
Reviews
1. NOTES
A review is an article in a newspaper or
magazine in which someone gives their
views on a book, play, film, TV
programme... The purpose of a review is
firstly to give factual information about
it which will help the reader to decide
whether to buy the book, see the play or
visit the exhibition.
Reviews normally contain the three main
ingredients listed below. A review may
not always fall into these three neat
sections, however. The writer may decide
to describe one aspect of the subject
and comment immediately on strengths
and weaknesses, for example, before
going on to describe another aspect of
the subject.
1.1 Overview- a description of the
subject
Book- non-fiction:
What is it about? Who is it for? How
technical is it? How is it organised? What
topics covered? What special features
are there? How much does it cost?...
You may have strong positive or negative
feelings about the subject of the review
and this is no bad thing. A strong opinion,
clearly argued, is often more interesting
to read than a carefully balanced
assessment. Even so, try not to be
completely one-sided.
2 EXAMPLE
Crazy Plumber
If you have seen the advance publicity, you might imagine that this was a funny film.
Wrong. It is a film which tries to be funny and fails consistently. The story concerns a
plumber who is not very good at his job .When his customers desert, and he cant pay the
bills, he decides to turn to crime. He tries a little shoplifting (he is not very good at it, of
course) but then he gets involved in bigger things.
Composition
Book- fiction
What kind of book is it (thriller/
historical novel/ science fiction...)? Is it
different in any way from other books of
this type? Whats the story?
Play /Film / Programme
What is it about? Is there anything
special / unusual about the production? 18
Play/ Film: Where is it on? Are there any
well-known actors? Who is the director?
TV programme: Which channel? Is it
part of a series? Who is the producer?
1.2 Pros and cons- details comments
on the successful and
unsuccessful features of the
subject.
Your comments will probably include both
objective views and subjective views.
Make sure, however, that you give
reasons for your comments.
1.3 Verdict- summing-up and
recommendation
The last paragraph should sum up your
feelings and make it clear to the reader
whether you recommend the subject
without any reservations, recommend it
with one or two reservations, or dont
recommend it at all. In real life, readers
often look at the last paragraph of a
review first to see what the general
verdict is. Make sure your review gives a
clear verdict.
 Wayne Gibson, who plays the hero, has one or two good lines but most of the time he is
struggling with a terrible script. There are a few good moments - the car chase sequence
is memorable- but the story line is very slight and the director seems to have run out of
ideas very quickly. As the film progresses, the level of violence increases. Despite the
publicity, this is not a film for young children.

A great deal of money went into the making of Crazy Plumber but in the end, spectacular
effects are no substitute for real humour.

3. USEFUL LANGUAGE
a study of 18
Overview, pros and cons and verdict. survey
The book concerns history
film deals with __________________________________
programme shows
describes a chapter on
tells the story section

contains
includes

Each chapter focuses on

programme is devoted to

The story is based on

The book/script is/was written by

film/programme produced
programme presented
part played
costumes/set designed

BOOKS FILMS PLAYS PROGRAMMES

chapter plot/storyline scene episode
plot script act series
characterisation soundtrack scenery commentary
illustrations set costumes photography
design special effects cast studio
contents stunt stage broadcast

really extraordinary quite interesting really boring

fascinating amusing unimaginative
absolutely amazing fairly entertaining completely humourless
beautiful exciting hopeless
stunning informative awful
superb attractive amateurish
brilliant successful over the top
original unusual predictable
 Despite / in spite of + noun ....while....
Although + clause ....whereas....
....although / but + clause ....except that....
On the one hand....., on the other hand..... ....even if ....

All in all, In the last analysis In conclusion

In the end On balance To sum up,

EXCERCISE

Write a review of a film, play or musical show which you have found both entertaining and helpful to you
as a learner of English. In up to 150 words, you should give a brief outline of the story, explaining why
you like it and why you would recommend it as helpful to other English learners.

Marriage la mode Video

Good Shot Listening 08.43

A Listen to the opening section of Good Shot and then answer the questions below.

1. Who do you think the man is?

2. What does he pick up from the table?
3. How do you think the story will continue?

B Now listen to section 2 of the story. As you listen note down

anything you learn about the mans feelings.

C Work with a partner and listen to section 3. One of you should note
down what we can learn about Dorothy while the other one notes down
any information about Jim. Share your information and discuss the
following questions.

1. How old do you think Jim and Dorothy are?

2. What do you think their relationship to one another is? Give reasons for your answers.

D Now listen to section 4 and try to decide where Jim is and why he is there.

E She had become totally vindictive, seeming to delight in all the heartache and unhappiness shes
caused. This is an important line in the story. Think about all the information you have gathered from the
story so far and then discuss the following questions with a partner.
1. Who is the she referred to?
2. In what way has she affected Jims life?
3. How do you think the story will end?

F Listen to the final section of the story to see how it ends. Answer the following questions.
1. Who were the characters in the story?
2. Why did they behave as they did?
G Read the second part of the tapescript. Find expressions which mean:
1. be nervous
2. be confident enough to do something
3. not to know how many
4. conservative
5. not to have the qualities needed for
6. avoid publicity
7. to hold in mind a reconsidered opinion
8. not to worry any more

Choose two expressions and form sentences.

H Read the forth part of the tapescript. Rewrite each sentence so that it means the same.
It was essential that she remained ignorant of his presence.

She didnt ...................................................................................................................... there

How he wished things had been different.

He didnt like ........................................................................................................................ .

Standing up would also give him a much better vantage point.

If he wanted........................................................................................................................... .
Tapescript

There it lay- small, black, business-like - on the centre of the table, the red cloth forming a backdrop like
some exclusive window display. Light reflected off its shiny smooth contours. The mans fingers caressed
the surface, tracing its outline, marvelling at its functional lines and economy of design. He picked it up
and balanced it in the palm of his hand, enjoying the feel of it, and the way it adapted comfortably to his
grip. The compact object was lighter than he had expected. He pressed the catch that emptied it and then
reloaded once again. This was the first time hed used one but, now hed got the hang of it, it seemed
relatively simple. He was certainly getting better at each attempt. Satisfied, he finally slipped it into his
jacket pocket. It was a snug fit. He patted his coat, confident that it would not be noticeable to anyone
unaware of its presence.

He began to get cold feet, wondering whether he would actually have the nerve to go through with it.
Hed lost count of the times he had gone over it, visualising the possible snags. He recalled the feeling of
inspiration when the idea had first occurred to him, although its audacity had filled him with
apprehension. Set in his ways, he was perhaps a little old fashioned- he certainly wasnt cut out for this
sort of thing. He would draw attention to himself. Naturally reticent, hed always shunned the limelight-
going out of his way to avoid any kind of fuss or confrontation. But it was rather late in the day to
harbour second thoughts now. One thought outweighed the rest, helping him overcome his hesitation. Its
now or never, Jim - you wont get another chance. If he didnt grasp the opportunity, he would always
regret it. He must think positive. It was quite feasible that he would achieve his objective. And if he
didnt? If truth were told, he was past the point of caring. He would at least have the consolation of
knowing that he had tried. He fought the bitterness that threatened to overwhelm him. Why on earth
should he be placed in this position? Things should never have been allowed to get so out of hand. It
didnt seem fair. Life wasnt fair.

"Jim, could you pop into the library for me?" Dorothy was slowly coming down the stairs. Quickly he
checked the living room for any telltale evidence. He thought it was better that Dorothy didnt know. Her
health was failing rapidly and, on top of everything else, their son Davids breakdown had been the final
blow. Shed already suffered too much. If he pulled it off, shed know soon enough. He put on his
spectacles and studied his face in the mirror above the fireplace. The last eye test hed had resulted in a
prescription change and the thick rimmed frames had certainly helped to change his appearance a little.
As extra insurance, he picked up his cap and pulled it well down over his face. He mentally ticked off his
checklist. A growing anger helped to strengthen his resolve - he would do it for Dorothy. It was purely by
accident that he had found out what was going on.

He arrived early, but quite a large crowd had gathered outside. She was already there. Fortunately, he saw
her first and was able to dodge out of sight before she spotted him. The crush of people afforded him
plenty of cover. It was essential that she remained ignorant of his presence and what he planned to do,
otherwise his careful plan would be jeopardised. He found a seat towards the back, on the end of a row.

The interior of the hall was warm and there was a noisy buzz of conversation. His new glasses misted
over and he removed them to wipe the lenses. It was essential that he could see as clearly as possible. He
patted his pocket, reassured by the shape tucked away inside. A display of colourful pictures on the
nearest wall caught his attention and, for a moment, his thoughts started to drift. How he wished things
had been different. They could never have foreseen the outcome. She had become totally vindictive,
seeming to delight in all the heartache and unhappiness shed caused. He sighed. It was too late now for
regrets ... the damage was done. The lights dimmed. Once the interior was dark hed feel safe enough to
remove his cap. There was a strong smell of peppermint. A fat woman sat next to him chewing, an open
bag of sweets on her huge lap. She glanced at him and looked about to start a conversation. It was no
good, that was the last thing he needed. Hed have to move. Turning round he could see a small group of
people standing at the back theyd obviously arrived too late to get seats. He decided that perhaps it
would be better to join them. Standing up would also give him a much better vantage point. Anxious to
draw as little attention to himself as possible, he rose quietly and edged his way towards the back. She
was clearly visible, seated several rows back from the stage, her dark, wavy hair contrasting with the pale
cream collar of her coat. Was she conscious of his gaze? He used to joke that she had eyes in the back of
her head. Carefully he removed the expensive purchase from his jacket pocket. It had cost a lot of money,
more than he could really afford, but he considered it worth all the expense. It seemed an ideal solution to
the problem. He then checked his line of vision to ensure that nothing was blocking his line of fire and
tried to keep his hands as steady as possible. He aimed towards the stage area, his finger tensed.

The hall lights went out and the red stage curtains began to open. The moment he was waiting for had
arrived. Just for a second he thought he had fluffed it. His hands felt clumsy and wooden, and he nearly
dropped it. But then he regained his composure. A feeling of elation swept over him. He could do it. He
would do it. She was completely off her guard. And now it was too late - there was absolutely nothing she
could do to stop him. He pressed the zoom switch on the tiny camcorder and directed it at the brightly lit
stage. Pressing the record button on the miniature camera, he focused on his objective. It was a struggle to
contain his emotion. The bitterness and frustration were forgotten as the elderly man concentrated on the
actions of the children and, in particular, one small boy. The old mans heart swelled with pride. It was
Jamie, their beloved grandchild. Their only grandchild. Their estranged grandchild. Dorothy would be
thrilled when he showed her the recording. She would be able to see how much Jamie had grown. Shed
be so proud, watching his role in the end of term school play...