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Listening: B2

A business interview Listen to the business interview to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6). Vocabulary

Definition

1. …… a remote area

a. someone who starts a business

2. …… pre-approved

b. many

3. …… the founder

c. already officially recognized and accepted

4. …… a predicament

d. far away from towns or other populated places

5. …… numerous

e. a difficult or challenging situation

6. …… obvious

f. easy to understand or notice

Tasks Task 1 Choose the correct answer. 1.

Anna … a. didn’t start the company but manages it now. b. started the company and manages it now. c. started the company but doesn’t manage it any more.

2.

The app … a. is for parents to learn from. b. is for students to learn from. c. is for students who want to find a tutor.

© 2019 British Council

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3.

Many parents … a. don’t have the time or knowledge to help with their children’s homework. b. think that schools should help with their children’s homework. c. don’t want to help with their children’s homework.

4.

The app … a. has student exercises on it. b. is only for people in remote areas. c. offers live online support from tutors.

5.

On the app, tutors who live in remote areas … a. often charge lower rates. b. often charge higher rates. c. don’t like to work too much.

6.

The app … a. is new and not many people know about it. b. is already popular. c. is not very successful. d.

Task 2 Match the verbs (1–6) and nouns (a–f) from the interview. Verbs

Nouns

1. …… to solve

a. funding

2. …… to come up with

b. a need

3. …… to meet

c. a problem

4. …… to speak for

d. itself

5. …… to secure

e. the range of services

6. …… to expand

f. an idea

© 2019 British Council

www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Listening: B2

A design presentation Listen to the presentation about a new product design to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8). Vocabulary

Definition

1. …… to unveil

a. interesting or attractive

2. …… appealing

b. a small and useful machine or tool that does something specific

3. …… a phase

c. to show people something or tell them about it for the first time

4. …… target market

d. something that is designed to look like something else

5. …… a Gantt chart

e. to bring a new product or service to the market

6. …… to launch

f. a stage within a process or project

7. …… an imitation

g. a table which shows the different stages of a project

8. …… a gadget

h.the group of consumers that a product is aimed at

Tasks Task 1 Are the sentences true or false? Answer 1. They have redesigned an old product.

True

False

2. The product is aimed at men and women aged 18–40.

True

False

3. The new design means you don’t need two hands to use it.

True

False

4. There’s only one size now. Another one will follow in a few months.

True

False

5. They will make a Gantt chart for the project next month.

True

False

6. He finished the presentation with enough time to take some questions.

True

False

© 2019 British Council

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Task 2 Write the useful phrases next to the tips.

I’d like to talk you through the following (three) points

Finally, I’m going to talk to you about …

Firstly, … / Next, … As you can see …, / You’ll notice that … As you know, …

Do you have any questions?

1. Refer to the audience’s knowledge 2. Refer to what images you are showing 3. Tell them the structure of your presentation 4. Use signal words to help them follow you 5. Tell them when you’re moving on 6. Show them when you’re near the end 7. Tell them the main points one last time 8. Open up the discussion

I’d now like to tell you about … In summary, …

As you know, … ……………………………………………………………………………… As you can see …, / You’ll notice that … ……………………………………………………………………………… I’d like to talk you through the following (three) points

……………………………………………………………………………… Firstly, … / Next, ……………………………………………………………………………… … I’d now like to tell you about … ……………………………………………………………………………… Finally, I’m going to talk to you about… ……………………………………………………………………………… In summary, … ……………………………………………………………………………… Do you have any questions? ………………………………………………………………………………

Listening: B2

© 2019 British Council

www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

A digital detox podcast Listen to the podcast about doing a digital detox to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task Write the words in the correct group. screen

show an alert

laptop

browse websites

display

smartphone

access the internet

buzz

satnav

monitor

show a notification

interact on social media

devices

things a device does to get your attention

laptop

satnav

show an alert buzz show a notification

things you do with a device

parts of a device

smartphone

browse websites access the internet interact on social media

© 2019 British Council

screen display monitor

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Tasks Task 1 Circle the best answer. 1.

The radio host says that a digital detox … a. means we are in front of screens all the time. b. is something younger people are trying more. c. is important for our health.

2.

Which sentence is not true about Amanda Vince’s job? a. She is online a lot of the time. b. She follows fashion on social media. c. She uploads her own videos to social media.

3.

What is the name of the book that influenced Amanda? a. Log Off: How to Stay Connected after Disconnecting b. Log Off: How to Disconnect and Stay Disconnected c. Log Off: Advice for the Digital Detox

4.

The first step in a digital detox is to get rid of distractions, such as … a. noises the phone makes. b. screens in your home and workplace. c. the bright colours on your phone.

5.

Amanda removed notifications from … a. her close family and friends. b. everything except important people in her life. c. everything except very important work-related things.

6.

The book also suggested that … a. we replace digital distractions with real-world ones.

© 2019 British Council

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b. we think about the reason we are looking at our phones so much. c. we try to be more polite with our phones around people. 7.

Amanda and her partner … a. tried a two-day digital detox first. b. found it impossible to completely disconnect. c. found it very easy to do a digital detox for a weekend.

8.

Amanda believes that a digital detox … a. is not a good idea if you have a lot of work. b. is better if it’s for a week, not just a weekend. c. is something everyone will enjoy.

Task 2 Put the words and phrases in order to make sentences. 1. ever Have you would be wondered what ✓ Have you ever wondered what it would be like? 2.

that?

by

mean

do

What

like?

it

you

✓ What do you mean by that? 3.

confess,

I

too.

have to

that

to me

happens

✓ I have to confess, that happens to me too. 4. to the I’m that. first admit ✓ I’m the first to admit that. 5. drastic. sound doesn’t

This

✓ This doesn’t sound too drastic. 6. the next to ready You’re

too step.

take

✓ You’re ready to take the next step.

© 2019 British Council

www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish