[WRITING | LESSON 16]

LESSON 16. CAUSES

EXAM READING 1 | Categorize information
In which review are the following mentioned?
a central character who is said to be friendly 1
a character who is not honest with his relatives 2
a director with a part in his own film 3
a film which makes an sufficient impact on the eye 4
a lot of money being spent without many obvious gains 5
a production that would have been improved by being shorter 6
a son deals with problems with his parents in an unusual way 7
a story aim at the youth market 8
a particularly successful new version of a popular old movie 9
a true story of a search for a family member 10
a youngster who uses sport to overcome his difficulties 11
an aspect of the film has an educational element 12
the film might be understood to have a different meaning from what was intended 13
the acting rescues an otherwise problematic film 14
the film has it origins in a previously popular television drama 15

AT A CINEMA NEAR YOU THIS WEEK

There are a variety of films on general release this week. There should be something to appeal to most tastes and age groups.
(1) A. Bush Trials. This documentary follows the popular singer of the band Furry Monsters as he travels through
Australia in search of a long-lost relative, a fellow musician. In the process he acquaints himself with a small
community living in the outback. He stays with them for longer than he intended, forgetting about his relatives but
getting to know them and becoming involved in their life. He's a likable guide, chatting enthusiastically to local
(5) residents and joining them in concerts and table tennis tournaments in their village hall. The film is informative
about Australian history without being too heavy. Does he meet his relatives? Well, I recommend you to go and
watch Bush Trials and then you will find out.
B. Car Heroes. This film is intended as a proper action movie for today's youngsters rather than a nostalgia fest
for those of us who remember the 1980s television series. The film proudly shows up as distant from the original
(10) in an irreverent prolog in which the hero's trademark black van is disposed of in no certain terms. Even the fondest
fan would be hard put to argue that the TV show was a cultural landmark worthy of a preservation order and yet
I'm not convinced that this film has any right to be so pleased with itself. Its action scenes are, of course, a lot more
expensive than the TV shows brief shoot-outs but only one of these shows much imagination and so were hardly
worth the expense. Well, that’s how I felt at least.
(15) C. Acing It. For this high-budget remake of the 1994 film about a bullied boy who gets his own back by learning
Judo, the director has debt to the tried and tested plot while souping up the action to modern standards. The contest
that provides the climax to the film is now an event of Olympic scale and flamboyance and the fights it features are
certainly more dynamic than before even though the participants are younger, 12-year-olds rather than the original
film's car-driving, party-loving teenagers. The film generally provides decent entertainment. Its main weakness is
(20) that it drags in places and ends up rather more drawn-out than it needed to be. Nevertheless this is definitely a film
you should consider for a family outing.
D. Will Made In Scotland by the extraordinarily successful young Canadian director, Jack Fox, this film was not
deliberately made as a parody of cinema pretentiousness although it could certainly be interpreted as such. a
teenage boy escapes from his bad-tempered parents in their dark old castle in the Highlands by climbing into the
(25) surrounding trees and refusing to come down - a lifestyle choice he manages to maintain for several months. Apart
from a few striking moments showing the boy clambering through the forest, it lacks the shortness of visual
intensity that might have allowed the film to succeed despite other shortcomings. Far from seeming noble or
poignant, the boy’s tree life remains just as anti-social teenage sulk. He should be grounded.
E. Red Lake. The director of this film also plays its central character: a prison guard and family man, who means
(30) well but can’t help keeping secrets from his wife and kids. The big one is that the young ice convict that he has
taken under his wing is his son from a long-ago relationship, but, curiously perhaps, he's just as unwilling to reveal
his attending both acting and golf classes. Meanwhile, other family members have secrets of their own. The film
aims for a balance between life lessons, drama, and farce. This doesn't work particularly well. all the same, it is
(34) easy to watch, mainly thanks to the surprisingly powerful performance of the two main characters.
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EXAM READING 2 | MCQs
The Making of an Internet Sensation
In hospital and facing death, Chris Rea decided it was time to make the blues music he really loved. And it’s wonderful, says
Mark Edwards.
(1) I feel guilty as I approach Chris Rea’s studios. A couple of months earlier, his record company had sent me
his new album to give my feedback. It’s fantastic, I told them, the best thing he’s ever done. It’s fantastic, I told them,
the best thing he’s ever done - a collection of raw, powerful delta blues and gospel tunes that would make the world
reappraise their idea of Chris Rea. And then – almost as an afterthought, in case this all sounded too gushing – I added
(5) that it might benefit from being a little shorter.
After all, it was a radical change of direction from a man best known for soft-rock hits like On the Beach and
Road to Hell. Perhaps a slightly shaved running length would make it less daunting? Since then I have found out that I
had been sent only half of the tracks Rea wanted to release. He wanted the new album to be a double. His record
company, EastWest, didn’t. The disagreement proved final. Rea left EastWest and opted to release the new album,
(10) Dancing Down the Road, on his own label, Jazzy Blue.
As I neared his studios, I began to wonder if my throwaway comment had proved to be the final straw in the
mind of some EastWest executive that a double was out of the question; or -much worse - if someone had even told
Rea what I’d said. As our interview began, I confessed. To my surprise and immense relief, Rea laughed and thanked
me. After nearly a quarter of a century of dealing with major record labels, he was glad to be free.
(15) While just about every musician can chat about a list of complaints about their label, Rea’s label relationships
have led him to be trapped in what he terms “this horrible executive rock thing” for 25 years. A man fell in love with
the delta blues of Blind Willie McTell and saw a career for himself along the lines of guitarist Ry Cooder found
himself instead backeted for his vocals alongside Dire Straits and Phil Collins, following the huge success of high
early single Fool (If You Think It’s Over).
(20) ‘I had no ambition to be a singer,’ he says. ‘That was an accident, and I went along with it because it's better
than being on the dole in Middlesbrough. And you think, next time around I'll slip into what I really want to do … but
it never exactly happened.’ Once his record company knew that he would write middle-of-the-road hits, they wanted
more of the same. Rea doesn't blame them; he blames himself for being too compliant. ‘I always protest mitigating
circumstances: an instinctive working-class fear of the suit. It’s actually a falling of mine, not theirs. I've always been
(25) very keen to help get the job done. To do what's required.’
It took the prospect of his own death for Rea to finally make the album he’s been dreaming of all these years.
Rea has had a series of operations over the past eight years, the last of which he was told that he had little more than a
50/50 chance of surviving. As he was being wheeled into the operating theater, he thought, ‘ I've got to get through
this, I can’t die yet because the sound that the audience love when I play live hasn't actually got on record. That
(30) became the end when I came out. I don't know how many copies the new album will sell. But what I do know is that
I'll stamp my name on it.
Quite right too, Dancing Down the Stony Road is a marvelous mix of moaning blues, pleading gospel tunes
and raucous stomps. It’s the perfect setting for Rea’s gravelly voice and for his guitar playing. It’s easier to see Rea’s
connection to these songs. When the slide guitar and moans of the opening track give way to a huge, distant bass
(35) drum and an exquisite piano riff and suddenly Rea sings, ‘Come on easy rider; give me something for my pain,’ you
know he isn’t some rock star toying with the vocabulary of poor bluesmen. This is real pain he’s talking about. You
can also hear it in the unearthly guitar solo that rips the songs apart. ‘East Rider,’ explains Rea, ‘comes from the days
following the operation.’
Rea, however, believes he's always had the blues. ‘When you’re in Middlesbrough and your dad’s ice-cream
shop is four doors down from the unemployment exchange, and on a Wednesday afternoon the rest of the town shuts,
(40) but your dad won’t let you shut and you only get the drunks from the unemployment exchange …’ He shudders at the
memory. ‘I had this huge fear that I’d spend my life in that shop. I used to go upstairs to check the stock. And I’d sit
there playing the guitar and it would stop me from getting frightened.’ The idea of music as a way of exercising your
fears is revisited on Dancing the Blues Away, an upbeat track on the new album that - don’t tell EastWest - is
(44) surprisingly radio-friendly. Even playing the blues, it seems, Rea can’t help creating catchy tunes.
For questions 16-22, choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answers
in the corresponding numbered boxes you provided.
16. What was the writer’s first reaction to Rea's new album?
A. He preferred its length to that of his other work.
B. He likes the music but not the lyrics.
C. It would change public opinion about the musician.
D. It would appeal to a wide audience.
17. Before meeting Rea, the writer was concerned that
A. his remarks had adversely affected the musician’s career.

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B. the musician might have taken his remarks too seriously.
C. his opinions would be considered too superficial.
D. he might be accused of being hypocritical
18. What does a rider say about Rea’s music career?
A. Rea treated music like any normal job.
B. Rea felt it had become too business-oriented.
C. It gave Rea the chance to play with top musicians.
D. Rea was compared to musicians he had never emulated.
19. What do we learn about Rea’s relationship with his former record company?
A. He felt they were demanding too much of him.
B. He was always very critical of their approach to the music business.
C. They thought he was incapable of writing any other type of music.
D. He failed to impose his own will in his dealings with them.
20. What does Rea say about his new album?
A. It was recorded during a concert.
B. He wanted the title of it to be his name.
C. He is unsure of its potential for commercial success.
D. It was delayed because of his poor health.
21. What does the writer say about the new album?
A. The beginning is rather too loud and overdramatic.
B. Rea has adapted his voice to suit the style of music.
C. It contains material which is based on personal experience.
D. The lyrics are faithful copies of those used by early blues artists
22. The writer believes that ‘Dancing the Blues Away’
A. will have popular appeal.
B. is entirely different to the rest of the album.
C. is an attempt by Rea to come to terms with his past.
D. will not please his former record company.
EXAM LISTENING 1 | Gap-fill
Vegetarian chef
Angela first realized she was a good cook after making (23) ....................an apple pie............................................. for her
family,
Angela studied (24) ...................................childcare .............................. as well as cookery on her training course.
In Paris, Angela's training helped her to get work as a (25) ..............children’snanny ................................................... .
Angela stayed in Paris for a period of (26) ....................................................six months............. .
The first restaurant where Angela worked was located on a (27) ..............golf course................................................... .
In terms of international cooking, Angela likes (28) ............................indian..................................... dishes best.
Angela eventually went to work for a famous (29) ..............................fashion model................................... as her personal
chef.
The name of Angela's restaurant is (30) .................................green leaves................................ .
Angela's restaurant won an award for the quality of its (31) ..............services ................................................... .
Angela will have her own (32) ...............................................website ................. in the near future.
EXAM LISTENING 2 | IELTS
33. ‘'Extremophiles’ are life forms that can live in
A. isolated areas.
B. hostile conditions.
C. new habitats.
34. The researchers think that some of the organisms they found in Antarctica are
A. new species.
B. ancient colonies.
C. types of insects.
35. The researchers were the first people to find life forms in Antarctica
A. in the soil.
B. under the rock surface.
C. on the rocks.
36. Access to the sun’s heat can create a ............microclimate.................... for some organisms.
37. The deeper the soil, the higher the .........................concentration....... of salt.
38. Salt can protect organisms against the effects of ...............frost................. even at very low temperatures.
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39. All living things must have access to ......................liquid.......... water.
40. Salt plays a part in the process of ......supercooling.......................... which prevents freezing.
41. The environment of ............mars.................... is similar to the dry valleys of Antarctica.
42. This research may provide evidence of the existence of extra terrestrial life forms and their possible
.....................locations........... on other planets.
EXAM LISTENING 3 | Multiple-choice
43. The main purpose of Helena’s journey was to
A. establish precisely where Europe’s minority languages are spoken.
B. investigate the effects of climate and location on language.
C. calculate the exact number of minority languages in Europe.
D. assess the current condition of Europe’s minority languages.
44. One problem of living in the mobile home was that
A. there wasn't much space.
B. the children had nowhere to play.
C. it became very hot.
D. they all got bored with each other.
45. What does Helena say about the people she met?
A. Not all of them spoke a minority language.
B. Some were more willing than others to express their views.
C. Intellectuals gave more biased information than other people.
D. Older people had a rather unbalanced view of the situation.
46. We learn that people who were punished for speaking Provencal
A. did not take their punishment seriously.
B. felt they were treated unfairly.
C. were made to feel embarrassed.
D. regretted what they had done.
47. What point does Helena make about some local people in a tourist area?
A. They are not interested in preserving their culture.
B. They complain too much about tourists.
C. They sell their land in order to make large profits.
D. Their actions are not consistent with their opinions.
48. According to Helena, language
A. enables people to express their emotions.
B. is an expression of one’s identity.
C. is the key to integration.
D. makes everyone different.

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VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT |
Expressing links and connection between people and things
Nowadays, the term 'hacker' is synonymous with a criminal who attacks computer systems. Originally, the word referred to
a skilled programmer, and only later did it become associated with malicious attacks.
In humans and in chimpanzees, hand movements accompanied by speech or vocal sounds are made more often with the
right hand than the left hand. Taken together, the data suggest that this phenomenon may date back as far as 5 million years
ago.
In the 1980s, the wages of less-skilled US workers fell relative to those of more-skilled workers. The mutual influence of
the inflow of less-skilled immigrants and the growth in US imports are also important.
Scientists have found evidence of an animal that can shrink and then grow again. Galapagos marine iguanas seem to change
size, growing smaller or larger, possibly reflecting changes in the food supply.
The book examines the development of the bond between children and their parents. The relationship between individual
development and the strength of the bond varies between sons and daughters.
In questionnaire A, zero corresponds to 'disagree strongly' and 5 indicates 'agree strongly'. In questionnaire B, the reverse is
true, in that 5 is equivalent to 'disagree strongly'.
The prefix inter- indicates a link or relationship between things.
Interaction between learner and learning material is a defining characteristic of education. He studied the interrelated
effects of families and peers on African-American youths. The article is concerned with the interplay between emotions and
logical thinking.
Language for making causal connections
A cause of/ A reason for Một nguyên nhân / Một lý do cho
Affects/ influences Ảnh hưởng / ảnh hưởng
Another result is… Một kết quả khác là
As a consequence of ABC, XYZ takes plans / happens/shows Như một hệ quả của ABC, XYZ có kế hoạch / xảy ra / hiển
up, etc. thị, v.v.
As a result of/ As a consequence of Do kết quả của/ Do hậu quả của
As a result/ consequence/ consequently/ hence/ therefore/ Do đó
because of this
As a result/ Lead to the problem/ Can attribute to Kết quả là/ Dẫn đến sự cố/ Có thể thuộc tính
Be a result of/ be a consequence of/ follow from/ be due to Được tạo nên từ, gây ra bởi…
Because of/ Due to/ As a result of/ In view of Do…/ vì…
Because/ Since/ As Bởi vì/ Kể từ/ Như
Before… Now… Trước đó… hiện nay
Cause/ result in/ contribute to/ be the reason for/ be Gây ra, dẫn đến…
responsible for/ lead to
Consequently/ Thus/ Therefore/ Hence/ For this reason Do đó/ Do đó/ Do đó/ Do đó/ Vì lý do này
Due to this/ Because of/ Owing to/ Lead to Do điều này/ Bởi vì/ Sở hữu/ Dẫn đến
Leads to/ gives rise to/ brings about Dẫn đến/ làm phát sinh/ mang lại
Useful nouns when classifying
word example meaning
category Each of our students falls into one of three categories. a group that shares some significant characteristics
component Milk is an essential component of any young child's a part which combines with other parts to create
diet. something bigger
existence The existence of 'dark matter' in the universe was first the fact that something or someone is or exists
proposed in 1933.
feature Effective use of metaphor is a feature of the poet's typical part or quality
style.
hierarchy Humans can be described as being at the top of a system in which people or things are arranged
hierarchy with amoebas on the bottom level. according to their importance or power
nature The nature of her work means that she is under a lot type or main characteristic of something
of stress.

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structure In this unit we shall be looking at the structure of the the way in which the parts of a system are arranged
heart
type The lion is one type of large cat. group with similar characteristics, a smaller division of
a larger set
WRITING | Cause - Effect - Problem - Solution Paragraph
1. Illiteracy has traditionally been viewed as largely a third world problem. However it is becoming apparent that in
countries such as the USA and Australia, illiteracy is on the increase. Discuss possible causes for this and its effects
on society.
2. People in all modern societies use drugs, but today's youth are experimenting with both legal and illegal drugs, and
at an increasingly early age. Some sociologists claim that parents and other members of society often set a bad
example. Discuss the causes and some effects of widespread drug use by young people in modern day society.
3. Today more people are overweight than ever before. What in your opinion are the primary causes of this? What are
the main effects of this epidemic?
Causes → A → Effects (Problems)
Causes Effects
● inactive lifestyle (relying on cars instead of walking, ● physical health problems
fewer physical demands at work, inactive leisure ● loss of productivity
activities) ● depressions and mental disorders
● unhealthy eating habits (eating fast-food, drinking
high-calorie beverages, consuming large portions of
food, eating irregularly)

Causes: In my opinion, the foremost causes of obesity are inactive lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Today more and
more people rely on cars instead of walking, have less physical demands at work and prefer inactive leisure activities. This
results in burning less calories and gaining weight. Moreover, the problem is accentuated by the growing number of people,
who eat irregularly and consume large portions of high-calorie food. For example, about 50% of the adult population in
Europe with so-called disordered eating suffer from obesity
Effects: The possible effects of this problem include physical health problems and loss of productivity. First of all, obesity
results in incorrect functioning of the human body and contributes to the risk of developing some chronic illnesses. For
example, as body fat percentage increases, the person’s metabolism worsens, which in turn may result in diabetes or heart
diseases. Secondly, overweight people are very unhealthy and often suffer from stress and tiredness. This lessens their work
capacity and results in lower productivity. For example, it has been proven that an obese person needs to put more effort to
complete some task than a person with normal weight.

Transitions and Connectors Commonly Used in Cause-Effect Essays

Prompt
In many countries, very few young people read newspapers or follow the news on TV. What do you think are the causes of
this? What solutions can you suggest?

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