IGCSE-FLE-Workbook-3rd-Edition

9

a impenetrable; inscrutable intention; gloom ofovershadowed distances; you lost your way;
bewitched; cut offfor ever

b mob; unrestful and noisy; overwhelming realities; implacable force; brooding; vengeful aspect

10 facts fictions
• belongs to the god Isis
• essential to support life • pharaohs controlled it with magical
• covers 4o/o of country
• most Egyptians live on its banks powers
• provides water for crops and cattle • inhabited by half-human, half-fish
• floods every July
• 7000 km long creatures
• river mouth in Cairo • owned by djinns
• contains crocodiles • snakes created from its mud
• source discovered mid 19th century • leisure boats have polluted it
• transport for building of pyramids
• mentioned in the Bible
• used for book and film settings
• attracts tourists
• polluted by chemicals
• continuous building along banks

11 similarities differences
• Amazon carries more water
• very long • Nile does not receive much rainfall
• floods seasonally • different altitude
• contains vicious animals • different climate zone
• flows through jungle • inhabitants depend on Nile
• has elusive source • Nile has been literary inspiration
• Nile attracts mass tourism
• Nile is polluted
• source of Amazon discovered only recently

Unit 6

2
a become popular; leave the ground; remove
b provide the money; prepare a body for burial; arrange on a page
c accompany; match; have a relationship; agree to a proposal
d knock down with a vehicle; review a plan
e raise; display; provide overnight accommodation

Answers 145

3

a above, for example superlative, supermarket
b below, for example subject, submarine
c half, for example semi-final, semicolon
d small, for example miniature, minimum
e foot, for example pedestrian, pedal
f into, for example introvert, introspective
g against, for example antipathy, anti-clockwise
h forward, for example promotion, proposal

4 Driving tests for those aged 17 and above were introduced in 1935, as were speed limits and
pedestrian crossings. Two years later, dipped headlights were made compulsory, followed by rear-
view mirrors in 1941. However, in 1940, when there were one million cars on British roads, there
were twice as many deaths as there are now, when there are 20 times more cars. This was partly
because of the blackout requirements of the Second World War. The death toll has fallen by more
than a third since 1960, when vehicle testing began, as a result of education, an anti-drink-drive
campaign, increased safety features in cars, and a decrease in the number of pedestrians.

6 d replaced e predict f results
k crowded I observe m area
a dividing line b completely new c almost
g alter h improvements i notice j exact
n speed o crash

9 These points should be included: falling asleep, hitting a pedestrian, collision, flying through
windscreen, hitting dashboard, speeding, skidding, poor visibility, lane-crossing, tipping over,
over-steering, falling asleep, information overload

Unit 7

2

a surveyed b in complete agreement c deep d hazardous, dangerous e exposed
f integral, essential g future generations h irreversibly i deconstruct, take to pieces

reducing, decreasing

3 b removed c reciprocal d resist e restitution f rewound
h repatriation i retrograde j resources
a reunited
g relocation

4 For a completed and dated action in the past we use the simple past, whereas for an action which
began in the past but which is not yet completed we use the present perfect. The past perfect tense
is used when an action occurred before another action in the past. The past continuous shows
that an action was already occurring when another action interrupted it.

146 Answers

s

a I visited the exhibition, which I heard about on the radio.
b I read about the man who had stolen the statues.
c I bought a book which was about the history of Greece.
d I met Lord Byron, who had written a poem the previous day.
e We have not visited Greece, which we have heard is a beautiful country.
f I spoke to a woman in the gallery(,) whom I had met previously.
g It is difficult to find the people who are responsible for the damage.
h This is the Museum Director, who is against the return of the marbles.
i They didn't find the sculpture(,) which was buried by an earthquake.

You should have interviewed Lord Elgin, whom I introduced to you.

10 b about c to d of e on (about) f from g of h on

a into

11 Note that there are possible variants for the use of full stops, semicolons and commas: optional
commas are in brackets; full stops and semicolons are interchangeable.

Standing in Miracle Square(,) in the Tuscan town of Pisa(,) is the 54.5-metre-high, 12th-century
monument world-famous for its lean of 4.5 metres off the perpendicular. The leaning tower of Pisa
has been stabilised by earth extraction(,) but it will take 300 years to get it back to where it was
in 1990; even then it was very close to falling over. It has worn a steel corset for most of the past
decade. In 1990 the bells were silenced for fear of destabilising vibrations. Tourists have not yet
been re-admitted to the tower; when they are, it is likely that only 30 will be allowed at a time.

12

a vocabulary and imagery suggest attack - fears, threatens, danger, overwhelm, relentless, eating into
emotive language evokes pity- drowning home, schoolchildren
priceless conveys the irreplaceable loss of the art treasures
the use of statistics shows how real the threat is - the population has dwindled by 100,000 in 50
years to 70,000; Bo cm; 5 million dollars; 50 times a year

b unpredictability means that Venetians cannot be properly prepared for the high tides
uncertainty and disagreement make finding a solution difficult - constant debate, no agreement,
without any apparent trend, halfa century
the aggravating factor of subsidence makes matters seem worse
the hugely expensive cost is an obstacle to finding an acceptable solution - 200 times a year

the consequences could be adverse - experts have warned, environmental effects upon the lagoon

13 Every winter we are afraid that our city will be drowned by the high tides. These are destroying the
buildings and forcing Venetians to leave the city, or to move from the ground floor to a higher one.
It is frightening not to know when the next high water will come, and we fear for our children's
safety. Not only historic buildings but also art treasures are being damaged, which will affect
tourism. The city is losing a lot of money because of citizens not being able to get to work when the
water level is too high. The sea continues to rise, but no one really knows how we can save our city.

Answers 147

Unit 8

2 Note that variations are possible with the punctuating of parentheses and full-stop versus semi-
colon usage.
This is a curious story: a doctor in Athens who examined a 33-year-old woman, after she
complained of headaches, removed a spider which had made its home in her ear. Doctor
Evangelos Zervas showed the video footage he had recorded of the spider inside the woman's ear.
When he examined the patient, he was surprised to find a spider's web - and then he saw that
there was movement. The woman drove a motorcycle; it appears that this is when it entered her
ear. (Because the temperature is ideal, there it stayed.)

3 Trained dogs can rescue victims of avalanches and earthquakes, as well as guide the blind.
Recently it has been discovered that they can detect serious disease by smell. They can also
predict and give warning of epileptic seizures and diabetic comas, fetch medication and summon
aid. Their ability to perform a variety of household tasks enables the disabled to lead a fuller life.
By reducing stress and encouraging exercise, dogs can extend the lives of all dog-owners.

5 Surgeons have proved it is possible to conduct/perform operations across thousands of miles
using remote-control devices. These are controlled by surgeons transferring movements by means
of high-speed telephone lines via cameras which have been inserted into the patient's body.
Previous trials/experiments have been performed on animals. It has taken a quarter of a decade to
perfect the technology. Although the cost at present is excessive/prohibitive, it is expected that all
hospitals in the future will have such equipment/facilities.

6
a There is a small group of usually two-syllabled words which have a slightly different spelling for

the verb form and the noun form. We spell the word with an 's' when we are referring to the verb,
but with a 'c' when we are using the noun.
Note that American English use of 's' and 'c' in these words is different.
b enrol, patrol, extol; refer, prefer; emit, omit, permit, submit, admit
Note also travel - travelling; jewel - jewellery; pedal - pedalling
Note that American English does not double the consonant in the last three and other similar
cases.
c preferred, offering, transference, reference, referral, deterrent

7 • 4000 miles and six time zones create idea of distance
• reference to Lindbergh emphasises uniqueness of event
• Bo people on hand makes clear that an emergency was prepared for
• had to be kept constant and the precision of 200 milliseconds stress the small margin for error
allowed
• technological data in paragraph 6 emphasises scientific expertise required
• reference to animal experiments suggests that it was considered a risk for humans

148 Answers

9 I am very pleased and relieved that today's operation on a woman in Strasbourg was successful
and without incident. The medical team was not sure that such a procedure would be possible,
although keyhole surgery is now well established, because it has never been achieved on humans
before at such a distance. The difficulty was in keeping the time delay constant and very short,
and it has taken several years to create a powerful enough fibre optic telephone line. Many staff
were available at both ends in case there was a problem, but it all went according to plan. I think
this was the first of many such operations.

Unit 9

4 There are three types of joke: wordplay, mockery and surrealism. Men use humour more than
women, and prefer a different type, which concerns physical action rather than word play. From
ancient Greek times humour has been used as a weapon against evil, as a disguise for seriousness,
or as a way of gaining superiority. It releases tension and can reduce conflict, because it acts as
a unifying agent. Laughter is an automatic reflex involving many facial muscles. Many mammals
display laughter, but artificial intelligence cannot. Laughing and crying are connected, as humour
simultaneously involves the contradictory emotions of fear and relief.

6
a usual, normal b stimulates, promotes c surpass(ed), defeat
d accepted, acknowledged e higher, increased f phobia, panic

7 The writer makes fun of firewalking and those who do it by using humour and by not showing
sympathy for their injuries. The single inverted commas around team-building draw attention
to the trendiness of the concept and that it is not to be taken seriously. The bluntness of ifyou
walk on hot coals you burn your feet, following the long, abstract, pompous quotation, satirises
US corporations and their spokespersons. The surprise contrast of hospital and wheelchair with
the previous words positive and confidence is ironically amusing. A joke is made about managers
becoming burgers, and there is wordplay on grilling and gruelling, emphasised by the question
mark. By describing firewalking disparagingly as a circus trick, the writer reveals a sceptical
attitude. The overall tone conveys mockery rather than concern.

8 Colons have two uses: the first is the way in which it has just been used, which is before a further
explanation; the other usage is to introduce either a guotation or a list.

9 Acouple of hunters are out in the woods, when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to
be breathing and his eyes have rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his mobile phone
and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator, 'My friend is dead! What can I do?'
The operator, in a soothing voice, says, 'Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's
dead.'
There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says, 'OK, now
what?'

Answers 149

Unit 10

3 The first conditional uses the present simple tense with the future tense for events which are
probable. Second conditionals, which use the simple past followed by would plus the infinitive
(without to), signify an event which could happen but which is improbable. Third conditionals,
formed with the past perfect tense followed by would have plus the past participle, mean that the
event is impossible because it is too late. There are also zero conditionals, using simple present in
both clauses, which refer to permanent truths.

5 The writer addresses the reader directly, creating the impression of a conversation by using you,
Yes as a response at the beginning of paragraph 3 and you say, and by the question in paragraph
5. The style is informal, with jokes (for example, sane, snail-mail), sentences beginning with So or
And, and the exclamation at the end of the passage.

6
i saves time
ii allows me to research from home
iii is an extensive source of information

iv permits online banking
v gives access to expert advice
vi lets me keep in regular contact with friends
vii reduces phone bills
viii can send photos and documents
ix saves money on purchases
x offers convenience of online shopping

9 Examples of persuasive vocabulary and syntax include:
• triples/lists
• statistics
• facts followed by interpretations
• emotive vocabulary, for example: staggering, voyeurs, exploited
• metaphors, for example: intrusive eye, dangerous beast
• repetition, for example: It in final paragraph
• references to and quotations by experts
• antithesis, for example: real people and celebrities, grief and celebration, at worst ... at best
• use of inclusive subject pronoun we

150 Answers

10 for against
• range of choice of programme • takes up too much time
• link with friends and colleagues • confuses understanding of reality
• lets us see things beyond our environment • makes us immoral
• inspiration for unusual activities • substitute for genuine personal experience
• informative • addictive
• entertaining • reduces communication in families
• national and international cohesion • reduces concentration span
• channel for emotion • lowers standards
• provides role models • means of commercial exploitation
• encourages appreciation of wildlife and its • promotes violence
threats • promotes dissatisfaction
• degrades viewers

Unit 11

2

a moving fast b favoured with c suffering from d supreme achievement
e from the beginning f going towards g more than h say no to i best part

difficult to improve on

6 Questions, exclamations and direct speech convey the drama of the situation and Sam's panic.
(Polar bears have already been mentioned on 23rd April as something to cause frissons offear.)
The action is interspersed with description of the bear to slow the narrative pace; mist and light
are mentioned to create mysteriousness, as if the bear has supernatural power; short paragraphs
convey the idea of events happening quickly and out of control; live ammunition is referred to,
and even the cracker shells are enough to kill a person; the bear is moving aggressively towards
them (charged) with real purpose. The fact that the bear was hungry, didn't scare easily, and was as
big as they get - a full-grown male bear - all add to the threat posed by the animal.

7 Was the temperature a problem?
Did you feel lonely?
What did you have to eat?
What were the dangers?
What was your most frightening experience?
How has global warming affected the Arctic?

9

a Sam enjoyed the peacefulness of the place, the beautiful scenery and the magnificent wild life, as
well as the company and skills of the Inuit.

b He was concerned about the effects of global warming in the area, which include a high rate of
UV radiation, the melting ice, hungry animals (because of the population decline of the prey and
increased competition among predatory species), and the threat to both the livelihood of the Inuit
hunters and to the planet as a whole.

Answers 151

Unit 12

2 Single inverted commas are used in texts when attention is being drawn to an ironic usage, a
fashionable term or a quotation in common use. All three are being used here, in this order.

4 These repetitions are for rhetorical effect. They emphasise how unknown and confounding the
reasons are for one person to impersonate another for no obvious gain.

8 Just 54o/o of 11-year-olds achieved the expected level in writing in last summer's national tests,
compared to 78o/o in reading. Researchers' findings are that traditional letter-writing will be of no
more use later in children's lives than the history lessons they learn in school. The head of the
largest teachers' union says that students will always want a language that excludes grown-ups
because for them it's a necessary assertion of a teenager's right to privacy.

9 The title of the article is a giveaway as it implies that people who join social networking sites

are being controlled. Extreme, emotive and sarcastic language is used to attack the practice
of social networking: suck us in, addictive, more gainfully spent actually meeting people, more
excitable prophets, juvenile, hooked, soak up ever more time. There are military metaphors: throes,
impact and fallout. The trendy phrases at the end of paragraph 6 are ridiculed by their being
in single inverted commas. The phrase You'd think in the final sentence appeals to the reader
to join the writer in disapproving of something which has novelty value and nothing else, and
this is reinforced by the use of not - yet, meaning it will inevitably happen that people will tire
of this form of entertainment. Sequence also reveals viewpoint: leaving they say until the end

of the sentence in paragraph s makes the previous comments seem like facts, and the final, and

therefore telling, comment in the article is a critical one.

11 Pros Cons
• keeps you in touch with former friends • such sites make it possible to have one's
• allows you to join networks
• connects fans to their idols identity stolen
• allows freedom of thought and speech to • impersonators damage genuine
prosper
• opens people up to new communities relationships
• parents can monitor their children's • no legal protection against identity theft
relationships • some people feel pressurised into joining
• makes you feel better
just because others do it
• users are being manipulated for

commercial purposes

• wastes work time
• addictive
• lost productivity for businesses
• reduces opportunity to have real contact

with people

• can harm existing friendships
• future damage cannot be predicted
• advertisers gain information for targetting

customers
• reduces privacy
• encourages obsession with fame

152 Answers



i.

\·

-------~·-· --