English for Exams Karen Kovacs

People and places 
7 3

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2 
Listen to Track 20 again.
20 
a 
What tense is used to describe how things were in the past?
CD2 
b What tenses are used to describe the current situation?
IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1
O
 
You are going to hear questions that are typical of Part 1 of the exam. Listen to each
21 
question and give your answers. Try to use the vocabulary you have learnt so far. Focus on 
CD2 
your use of tenses, particularly when talking about changes to your town or city.
Now listen to the sample answers.
Exam tip: 
It is perfectly acceptable to say negative things about your hometown or 
any other topic - for example, 
There is not m uch fo r young people to do
o r 
It used to be 
peaceful but now it's b u ilt up and congested.
However, focusing exclusively or alm ost 
exclusively on the negative in a ll your answers w ill affect the impression the examiner 
gains of you. Although you w ill not be judged specifically on your attitudes, it is probably 
better to present yourself as a predom inantly positive person.
Vocabulary: Suffixes
Exam tip: 
Suffixes are letters added to the end of a word to form another word, e.g. 
possibility. Possible
is an adjective and adding -/Yy turns it into a noun. Using suffixes 
allows you to make new words from words you already know, dram atically improving 
your ability to express yourself.
6
1
2
3
Add the follow ing suffixes to words 1-12 below to make nouns. Use each suffix twice.
-ness -ee -ism
-hood 
-m ent -ship
1 
m other____
5 alcohol____
9 disappoint____
2 forgetful____
6 craftsman.___ _ 
10 hero____
3 address____
7 aware____
11 leader____
U
treat____
8 employ____
12 neighbour____
W rite down at least two more words form ed using each suffix.
Example: -m e n t: management, understatem ent
Other noun suffixes include 
-encel-ance
(independence), 
-tio n /-s io n
(inform ation), 
-age 
[marriage), -y (efficiency), 
-[e )ry
(misery), and 
-a n t
(assistant).
Complete sentences 1-5 w ith the noun form of the words in brackets.
1 
There is a re a l______________of affordable housing in my town, (short)
2 Fortunately there is alm ost f u l l _____________ in this part of the country, [employ)
3 T h e _____________ of natural resources means we have to im port an awful
amount, (scarce)
U
______________is quite common when you're away from home fo r long periods.
(homesick)
5 I have a ______________for flats over bungalows, (prefer)