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UNIT 8
NATURAL WORLD
C. LISTENING
Exercise 1. In this unit, you will practise the skills you need to complete an IELTS Listening
note completion task. You will also hear a talk connected with the topic of transport. This is a
common topic in IELTS, so it is a good idea to think about some vocabulary you might hear.
Match the words in the box with the correct definitions.
destination elevator fare hire lane route sign
traffic underground vehicle
1. a railway system in which trains travel through tunnels below a city: underground
2. something that gives travel information to drivers and other road users: sign
3. a particular way or direction from one place to another: route
4. a special part of a road that can only be used by certain kinds of transport (e.g. buses or taxis): lane
5. car, buses and other kinds of transport moving along a road: traffic
6. a machine, usually with wheels and an engine, used for transporting people or things, especially on
roads: vehicle
7. to pay use something for a short period of time (e.g. a car): hire
8. The money that you pay for a journey (e.g. on a bus or a train): fare
9. the place where someone is going or where something is being sent or taken: destination
10. something that moves up and down, carrying people or things to different floors of a building:
elevator

Exercise 6. Match the words and phrases on the left to the correct synonyms and paraphrases
on the right.

1. ask for one helpful

● ●
2. best for come out of
● ●
3. check recommend
● ●
4. exit (verb) go and see
● ●
5. planning to perfect method
● ●
6. suggest make sure
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7. useful thinking about

● ●
8. visit pick one up
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D. SPEAKING
Exercise 1. Before the IELTS Speaking test begins the examiner will ask you some questions.
Complete the questions, using the words in the box. Then watch the video to check.
(·Unit 8_Video 1)
call full identification
1. Good afternoon. My name is Maggie Scott. Can you tell me your full name please?
2. And what shall I call you?
3. Can I see your identification please?

Exercise 2. In the IELTS Speaking test the examiner is checking your lexical resource. This
means you should use a range of vocabulary related to the topic. Read the IELTS Speaking
Part 2 task card. Then match the the words you might use to talk about this topic with the
definitions.

Describe a place you visited where the air was very clean and fresh.
You should say:
Where this place was
When and why you visited this place
Who you were with
And explain how you felt visiting a place where the air was so clean and fresh.

atmosphere clean condition countryside factories fresh (air)

green industry peaceful pollution
1. Not dirty clean
2. Covered with grass or other plants green
3. The state that something or someone is in condition
4. The air you breathe in a place atmosphere
5. The companies and activities necessary to produce goods for sale, especially in factories
Factories

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6. Clean and cool fresh (air)

7. Quiet and calm peaceful
8. Damage caused to water, air etc. By harmful substances or waste pollution
9. Land not in towns or cites that is used for farming or is left for forest etc. Countryside
10. A buildings or groups of building where large amounts of products are made using machines
Factories
Exercise 3. Look at the pictures. Then put the letters in the correct order to make words
relating to the topic of nature and the environment. You could use these words to show the
examiner lexical resource.
1.

a i a e n n a t n o g r
m u (two words)

à a mountain range
2.

a r t e d e s
à a dessert
3.

a n s f a o i r e t r
à a rainforest

4.

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p o n t l l u i o
à pollution
5

The r n y u e o c s i t d
à the countryside
6.

a f i r e o s t c
à factories
7.

l e l f I I d w
à wildlife

8.

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a l o f d o
à a flood
9.

a l v e a r y r e v l i ( two words)
à a river valley
10.

the E h t a r
à the Earth
Exercise 4. For the IELTS Speaking Part 2 task card below, you need to speak in the past
simple. Watch the student doing the task and notice the grammatical errors she makes. Then
correct the seven errors. (·Unit 8_Video 2)

In the IELTS Speaking test the examiner is checking your grammatical range and accuracy.
This means you should use a variety of tenses and types of sentences, and try not to make
mistakes.

1. I have been there in February last year. à went

2. There is a lot of clouds and a lot of mountains. à were
3. Some people who guide us can speak Korean and Japanese. (2 mistakes) à
guided/ could
4. It is a very safe area, so we can have a walk alone at night. (2 mistakes) à
was/ could
5. When I go to Cusco I was with my friends. à went
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Exercise 5. Choose the correct articles to complete the conversation from IELTS Speaking
Part 3
Examiner: Now we’ve been talking about a/the environment and I’d like to discuss with you one or
two general questions related to this. Let’s talk about living in a/the countryside. What are a/the
disadvantages of living in a/the countryside?
Student: In general, living in a/the countryside might be inconvenient because a/the public transport
there is not very good. For example, people need to use taxis or take the bus, because there’s no
special transportation such as the underground. I think that is a/the disadvantage for living in a/the
countryside. Other possible disadvantages are…
Exercise 6. Watch the student doing IELTS Speaking Part 3. Then put the questions that the
examiner asks in the correct order. (·Unit 8_Video 3)
In the IELTS Speaking test the examiner is checking your fluency and coherence. This means
you should try to speak without a lot of pauses, and discuss your ideas clearly in logical order.

Examiner: Now, we’re been talking about the environment and I’d like to discuss with you one or
two general questions related to this. Let’s talk about living in the countryside.
What are the disadvantages of living in the countryside?
Is it possible for people to have a high standard of living without seriously damaging the
environment?
Do you think humans can live in a completely unnatural or artificial environment?
What are some ways people change or affect the environment when they live in countryside?
Do you think people damage the environment more when they live in a town or when they live in
the countryside?
Answer:
What are the disadvantages of living in the countryside?
What are some ways people change or affect the environment when they live in countryside?
Do you think people damage the environment more when they live in a town or when they live in
the countryside?
Is it possible for people to have a high standard of living without seriously damaging the
environment?
Do you think humans can live in a completely unnatural or artificial environment?
Exercise 7. Match the examiner’s questions with the student’s responses.
Examiner: Do you think humans can live in a completely unnatural or artificial environment?

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Examiner: Do you think people damage the environment more when they live in a town or when
they live in the countryside?
Examiner: Is it possible for people to have a high standard of living without seriously damaging the
environment?
Examiner: What are the disadvantages of living in the countryside?

Examiner: What are some ways people change or affect the environment when they live in
countryside?
1. Examiner: What are the disadvantages of living in the countryside?
Student: One main disadvantage of living in the countryside might be that it’s inconvenient
because public transport isn’t very good.
2. Examiner: What are some ways people change or affect the environment when they live in
countryside?
Student: In my opinion, people affect the environment if, for example, they buy themselves a
car.
3. Examiner: Do you think people damage the environment more when they live in a town or when
they live in the countryside?
Student: I think, in general, people who live in a town have more of an effect on the
environment. This is because a lot of people live in towns and, as a result, there is a lot of
traffic and rubbish on the streets.
4. Examiner: Is it possible for people to have a high standard of living without seriously damaging
the environment?
Student: I think it’s possible, although it depend on where you live. For example, you might
be able to afford a car, but you might choose to cycle to work or to school instead.
5. Examiner: Do you think humans can live in a completely unnatural or artificial environment?
Student: I think in some areas people already live in these kinds of conditions. However, I
don’t think it’s a good idea to live without any nature.
Exercise 8. You are going to practise the full IELTS Speaking test. You will need some paper
and a pencil.

Describe a place you visited where the air was very clean and fresh.
You should say:
Where this place was
When you were with
Who you were with
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