Archives for August 2019

Answers to Greenhouse Matching Headings Reading

Hi guys,

Below are the answers to the reading lesson based on matching headings about The Greenhouse Effect.

If you have not completed this reading lesson, please do it before look at the answers. Click here: Matching Headings Reading Practice

Below you will find the headings options and the answers.

Matching Headings Options

  • i Temperatures on Earth
  • ii. The Greenhouse
  • iii. Creating Global Warming
  • iv. Use of a Greenhouse
  • v. Our Choices
  • vi. Greenhouse Gases
  • vii. Earth’s Atmosphere
  • viii. Reversing the Damage
  • ix. Effects of Carbon Dioxide

Paragraph A = ii

Explanation: This first paragraph explains what a greenhouse is and how it works. The first paragraph does give information about the use of the greenhouse, such as planting (iv), but that is not the aim of the paragraph. The information about the use of the greenhouse is additional information. The paragraph actually explains a) what a greenhouse is b) what use it has and c) how it works day and night. If you list that information on paper, the best heading is “The Greenhouse” – the paragraph gives an overview of a greenhouse.

Paragraph B = i

Explanation: The second paragraph explains the changes in the temperatures on Earth and compared this to a greenhouse.

Paragraph C = iii

Explanation: This was a bit tricky. If you didn’t get this right, don’t worry. The aim of the paragraph is to explain how the global warming is created. This paragraph explains how the greenhouse gases function to cause global warming. There certainly is a lot of information about greenhouse gases (vi), but the reason for the information is to explain how global warming happens. To help you understand further, if the paragraph aim was about the gases, it should have more information about the gases such as what causes them. The information about Carbon Dioxide (ix) is just additional information.

Paragraph D = v

The first sentence opens up the debate of whether it is too late or not to change the effects of global warming. The paragraph aim is to present the three options that are open to us according to the specialist mentioned. Only options three is about reversing the damage (viii), but that is not the aim of the whole paragraph.

I hope you found this useful 🙂 From Liz. 

……

Subscribe to Get my New Posts in your Email Inbox

New Matching Headings Reading Lesson

Hi guys,

I’ve just made a new Matching Headings Reading Lesson for you.

Click here: Matching Headings Reading Lesson

I think this reading practice lesson gives you a challenge and will help you understand how to avoid difficulties with this type of question. I hope you find it useful 🙂

All the best

Liz

Answers for Uncountable Practice

Below are the answers for the practice lesson on uncountable nouns. If you have not completed this lesson, please do it before looking at the answers. To view the lesson, click here: Uncountable Noun Practice Lesson

I’ve also put a link to a list of Uncountable Nouns under the answer key below.

Answers

  1. Luck plays
    1. The word “lucky” is an adjective, not a noun. The word luck is uncountable and is never plural. With uncountable nouns the verb is always third person singular, which means you need an “s” (play =plays)
  2. advice
    1. This is uncountable.
  3. courage
    1. This is uncountable.
  4. Economics plays
    1. The noun is “economics”. The “s” is part of the noun and does not create a plural noun. “Economics” is a singular, uncountable noun but it is irregular because it contains an “s”. The other noun form is “economy” and that is countable. The word “economic” is an adjective. The other adjective is “economical”. As you see, this word can take different forms.
  5. wisdom
    1. This is uncountable.
  6. employment
    1. This is uncountable.
  7. equipment
    1. This is uncountable.
  8. News is
    1. This is another irregular uncountable noun because it contains an “s” in the singular form.
  9. pollution
    1. This is uncountable.
  10. hairs
    1. This word is both countable and uncountable.  In most cases, it is not possible to count how many hairs a person has on their head. This means it would be uncountable when referring to hair on people’s head. However, in this example, the person was almost bald. This means it was actually possible to count each individual hair. This made the noun countable. You could also see that the sentence contained the quantifier “a few” and this can only be used with countable nouns. It was a tricky question and don’t worry if you didn’t get it right. If you did get it right – well done 😊

Uncountable Word List

If you would like to learn more about uncountable nouns. See my comprehensive list, click here: Uncountable Noun List

…….

Subscribe to Receive my Free Lessons by Email

Practice with Uncountable Nouns

One of the most common mistakes people make with English vocabulary is being able to spot uncountable nouns and using the correct verb form to match. This lesson will test your ability to spot uncountable nouns and form correct sentences.

Questions 1-10: Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentences below. 

  1. Luck/Lucks  play/plays  a part in all exams, including IELTS.
  2. Grandparents often give excellent advice/advices.
  3. During the war soldiers had to display a lot of courage / courages.
  4. Economics/economic  play/plays  an important role in the development of a country.
  5. My grandfather had a lot of wisdom/wisdoms.
  6. It is hardly surprising that people struggle to find employment/employments in some cities where competition is high.
  7. Without state-of-the-art equipment/equipments, a company will not be able to compete in the current market.
  8. News is/are essential to keep abreast of.
  9. A lot of pollution/pollutions in city centres can cause health problems for people living and working there.
  10. My friend is almost completely bald. He has very few hair/hairs left on his head.

By the way, there is one question above that is not so easy. Pay close attention to the sentence and remember that some words can be both countable and uncountable depending on the context and wording in the sentence.

Answers

Answers are available below.

Click here: Answers for Uncountable Practice

………….

Subscribe to Receive my New Posts by Email

Just to let you know

Hi guys,

This is a quick email to let you know that my website is having technical work done Monday 5th Aug at about 7pm UK time. This might (or might not) cause disruption to my site.

Update: The technical work is now complete. Hopefully my website will be stable from this point onwards. Thanks for your patience and support.

I’ll post a new lesson on Thursday this week. If you don’t receive it by email, it means you need to check your spam folder and possibly subscribe again.

Thanks for your understanding.

All the best

Liz

IELTS Writing Task 2: Should I give my opinion?

Should I give my opinion in an IELTS writing task 2 essay? This is a common question that many students ask me. To know whether you should put your opinion in your essay or not, you should read the instructions given by IELTS very carefully for each task.

If you fail to give your opinion when it is asked for, it means you failed to complete the task. This will reduce your score significantly for Task Response which is 25% of your task 2 marks.

Opinion Tips

  1. don’t put your opinion unless you are asked to give it
  2. if the question asks what you think, you MUST give your opinion to get a good score
  3. don’t leave your opinion until the conclusion
  4. don’t sit on the fence – take a clear position
  5. keep the same position throughout your essay

Types of Essay Instructions

Here are examples of instructions that require you to give your opinion:

  • “….do you agree or disagree?” – it means you should give your opinion 
  • “…do you think…?” –  it means you should give your opinion
  • “… your opinion…? –  it means you should give your opinion
  • “…what is your view?” – it means you should give your opinion
  • “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” – this is asking for your opinion (your answer) not the opinions of other people
  • Are there more benefits or more drawbacks? – this is a paraphrase of the above instructions
  • “Is this positive or negative?” – this is asking for you to choose and explain your opinion
  • “Do you think this is a good thing?” – this is asking you to evaluate if something is good or bad

How to give your opinion. Follow the link to learn if you should use “I” or “my” in your IELTS essay.

When to Give your Opinion in an IELTS Essay

Below are some IELTS essay questions. Decide if you think you should give your opinion or not. Then check the answer.

Some people think that rich countries should support poor countries in terms of aid for health care and education. To what extent do you agree?

Answer
Yes, this task requires your opinion.

 

While some people think that the problem with education in poor countries is the teaching methodology used, others believe it is the lack of resources that is the real issue. Discuss both sides.

Answer
No, this task does not ask for your opinion. You are only required to discuss the two sides impartially.

 

With the development of modern transportation comes environmental problems. What possible solutions are there to these problems?

Answer
No, this task does not ask for your opinion. You are only required to offer possible solutions.

 

Some people believe that schools should not assess a student’s ability through exams but instead assess them by their course work and project work over the whole academic year. Do you agree?

Answer
Yes, this task requires you to give your opinion.

 

Having a year off before starting universities is becoming increasingly common. Do you think this is a positive or negative trend?

Answer
Yes, this task requires your opinion.

 

Many children no longer read books and instead spend their time using modern technology. While some people think this is a positive trend, others think it is a problem. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Answer
Yes, this task requires your opinion. You will need to discuss both sides impartially and also give your opinion. Put your opinion in the introduction – don’t just leave it for the conclusion.

 

Due to the low cost of flights, many people are choosing to holiday abroad rather than have holidays in their own country. What are the advantages and disadvantages to this?

Answer
No, this task does not ask for your opinion. You only need to state the advantages and the disadvantages.

 

IELTS Teachers or students can download a worksheet for these questions to use in their classroom: ielts-writing-task-2-giving-your-opinion.

For all my Free Lessons & Tips for writing task 2. Click here: Writing Task 2 Free Tips

…………..

Free Subscription to Receive my New Posts by Email

error: Content is protected !!