CAE Gold TB

C\IT -t Pushing the boundaries

Reading: gapped text (Part 2) pA6

Aim:

•to complete an exam-style gapped text reading

Exam information

In Paper 1, Part 2, candidates read a text from which six paragraphs have been removed and are required to re-insert the paragraphs in the correct place. This tests their understanding of the overall text structure. For this task, students will need to develop their awareness of cohesive devices such as link words, referencing devices and synonyms.

1 Use one or both of the questions to introduce students to the topic. You could also ask students if they know any sayings which express an optimistic or pessimistic point of view. Examples in English might be Everything happens for

the best versus If something can go wrong, it will.

2

Students skim the first paragraph and predict what the writer will say about Murphy'sLaw.

2Students first read the whole text, ignoring the gaps. Then they read the missing paragraphs A-G.

Now ask them to look again at the base text and underline any link words at the beginnings of the paragraphs such

as despite. These will link back to something in the content of the miSSing paragraphs. Ask if they can see any other words or phrases which they think must link back in this way (e.g. such examples In the paragraph after gap 4) Now ask students to work individually for about ten minutes to put each missing paragraph in the correct gap. They should read through the base text, stopping at each gap in turn to decide which paragraph is most suitable.

At the end, they should re-read the whole text through. Finally they compare their version with a partner.

(A detailed suggested procedure for this type of exercise is given in Unit 8)

3Students first do the exercise without looking at the text Then they refer to the context in the text

4Students discuss the equivalent of Murphy'sLaw in their own language, and go on to talk about their personal opinion.

ANSWERS

Ex. 2

2

1 C 2 E 3 D 4 G 5 B 6 A

Ex. 3

1 g 2 f 3 e 4 c 5 h 6 b 7 a 8 9 d

Listening: sentence completion (Part 2) pA7 .

Aim:

•to complete an exam-style listening task

1Ask students to read the introduction and the title. Then they read the gapped sentences. Check their understanding of what kind of information is required for each gap by asking questions (e.g. Which answer is a job?)

Then ask if they can predict any likely answers. Check students understand that they should not write more than one or two words for each gap. Then play the recording and students note the answers. They compare in pairs before listening again to check.

2 This may be just a brief discussion but in some groups it could lead to a longer discussion on the possibilities of genetic engineering and its problems

Exam information

In CAE Paper 4, Part 2, students listen to a talk and complete sentences which summarise the content. The gaps require them to understand specific information or occasionally stated opinion. Before they hear the recording, they should look through the sentences, thinking about what kind of information is needed in each gap and try to predict likely answers by considering the collocations and context.

ANSWERS

Ex. 1

8shellfish

~Recording script p.95

Vocabulary 2: word formation pA8

Aim:

•to complete an exam-style word-formation task

1Students read quickly about the four discoveries and try to identify them. If they do not know the name of the drug in text C, ask them which disease they think it cures.

2Students complete the exercise either individually or in pairs. You may wish to elicit word diagrams for some of the words here, especially botany, miracle, diagnosis and

photograph.