B1.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the two
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF best cures for anything. Irish proverb
SPEAKING IN GROUPS
- Do you worry about your appearance?
- Do you think looking good is important? Is it connected with success?
- Are people too obsessed with appearance nowadays?
- Have you undergone or would you undergo surgery to improve your
appearance?
- Do you think first impressions are important?
- Do you do exercise? Do you enjoy it?
- Is it easy to practice sport in your town?
- Should there be more hours of PE at school?
- Do you like watching sport on TV?
- Have you ever practiced any extreme sports? If you haven’t, would you like to?
EXAM PRACTICE
MONOLOGUE: In this part of the exam, you are going to give a short talk on a topic.
Discuss some of the ideas given below. The talk should last about 2.30 - 3 minutes.
APPEARANCE
- The importance of PHYSICAL EXERCISE
appearance - Physical exercise and
- The influence of social you
media - Fashionable sports
- Plastic surgery - Children and sport
- First impressions - Old people and sport
DIALOGUE: In this part of the exam, you are going to take part in a conversation about
an imaginary situation with the other candidate(s). The conversation should last about 4
- 5 minutes. In the exam, candidate A will start the conversation.
GETTING FIT
You and your friend (the other candidate) have decided that you need to get fit as
summer is round the corner. Think of a proposal to get your goal and use the prompts
given to discuss it with the other candidate.
- What to do
- Where to do it
- Frequency
- Cost
B1.2
LISTENING COMPREHENSION: You will hear five different people giving their reasons for
taking up a sport. For questions 1-5 choose from the list A-F what each speaker says. Use
the letters only once. There is ONE EXTRA LETTER which you do not need to use. You will
hear the recording twice.
A I was persuaded by other people. SPEAKER 1
B I was advised to take more exercise. SPEAKER 2
C I did it to raise money for charity. SPEAKER 3
D I wanted to give my family a surprise.
SPEAKER 4
E I needed to find a way to relax.
SPEAKER 5
F I wanted to prove to someone that I could do it.
READING COMPREHENSION: You are going to read an article about the importance of
appearance at work. For questions 1-9 decide whether they are TRUE or FALSE.
How Is Appearance Good for a Job?
By Kathryn Stanley, eHow Contributor
If you are about to have a job interview or have just got your dream job, keep in mind
that your appearance affects how others perceive you in the workplace. The majority
of Americans agree that physical appearance, including hair, clothing and cleanliness,
is important for conveying seriousness and productivity in the workplace. With first
impressions unavoidably being lasting impressions and appearances actually
influencing the size of your paycheck, it is important to consider how your appearance
affects your job.
First Impressions are Lasting Impressions
It's an unavoidable fact: first impressions are lasting impressions. A psychological study
conducted in 2011 found that first impressions stick because second or third impressions
are simply not as pervasive as that initial meeting. In cases in which the second or third
impressions contradict the first impression, people tend to go through the mental
gymnastics of justifying that initial impression. Instead of deciding that their initial
impression may have been wrong, people tend to instead hold onto that first impression
and make judgments based on it. These findings demonstrate the importance of
appearance in the workplace. Whether you are going into a job interview or have
already secured a job, it is important to maintain a certain level of appearance in the
workplace. How others perceive you, your abilities and your level of productivity will
actually be quite dependent on your appearance and their first impression of you.
Dress
Dress is an extremely important element of appearance for a job. Dressing
professionally demonstrates that you are highly capable, that you have a level of
B1.2
respect for yourself and that you are motivated. When your dress is neat and well
coordinated, people tend to associate you as being more productive and capable as
an employee. The opposite is true, too. For example, if you come to work or an
interview in a wrinkled shirt that has stains down the front, you will likely be perceived as
less ambitious and dedicated than you would have if you had presented yourself in a
more positive way.
Body Language and Eye Contact
Part of presenting a good appearance at a job is in body language and eye contact.
Approachable body language and strong eye contact demonstrate enthusiasm and
the ability to perform well in the workplace. These attributes also demonstrate an
eagerness to learn and improve, which employers and co-workers find admirable and
crucial in employees. The opposite --- body language that is distanced or disinterested,
as well as a lack of eye contact --- can demonstrate carelessness or a lack of ambition.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is just as important as appropriate dress and a positive attitude in making a
good impression at a job. Frequent bathing keeps people from smelling, improves the
appearance of skin and keeps hair from getting greasy. People with healthy skin and
clean hair appear healthier, so cleanliness is extremely important in maintaining a
positive appearance in the workplace. Proper care of fingernails and teeth are also
indicators of self-care and health, which contribute to people's impressions of each
other. Daily maintenance is beneficial, as it impacts your appearance and therefore,
how people at work perceive you.
T F
1. Americans think that attractive people are more serious at work.
2. Research showed that initial impressions are wrong.
3. Your appearance has an influence on how others perceive you.
4. You show respect for yourself if you pay attention to the way you
dress.
5. Your colleagues won’t like your ambition.
6. Accessible body language means you’ll probably do well at
work.
7. Making eye contact shows that you want to improve.
8. Not making eye contact can mean you are ambitious.
9. A positive attitude is less important than cleanliness if you want to
make a good impression.
INTERMEDIATE 2
SOME USEFUL VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT APPEARANCE
- I think physical appearance is very important in every aspect of your life.
- I don’t really care about the way I look. / I don’t pay much attention to what I
wear.
- My priority is to be comfortable.
- I think very carefully about what I’m going to put on. / I like knowing the latest
trends.
- A lot of young people suffer from eating disorders because they are obsessed
with the way they look.
- Young people are influenced by television. They want to look like models or
celebrities.
- I’m in favour of / against plastic surgery. / I would never go under the knife just
because I wanted a smaller nose or bigger breasts.
- I think cosmetic surgery can help people who have a psychological problem
because they have big ears, for example.
- Cosmetic surgery can be really helpful after having an accident, for example.
- There are lots of examples of celebrities who have used too much Botox.
SOME USEFUL VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND SPORT
- I really think physical exercise is part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
- I don’t usually drive, I walk everywhere. In my town everything is within walking
distance.
- I must admit I don’t do much physical exercise apart from a bit of walking now
and then.
- I try to work out at least twice or three times a week.
- As I can’t go to the gym, I do push-ups and sit-ups at home. / I need to do
exercise to feel good.
- When I do exercise regularly, I feel good, I have more energy, I sleep better, …
- If I don’t do exercise, I feel tired and I can’t sleep well.
- Apart from PE (Physical Education) classes, it should be compulsory for children
to practise at least one sport.
- I’m keen on all kinds of sports: tennis, football, basketball, swimming, athletics, …
- I really love / can’t stand watching sports on TV / I’m not a sports person.
- I’d like to be brave enough to try some extreme sports like bungee jumping or
bridge swinging. The adrenaline rush you get must be amazing.
EXTRA
https://www.ted.com/talks/meaghan_ramsey_why_thinking_you_re_ugly_is_bad_for_yo
u/transcript?language=en
