Mr.

Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS 6.5 - READING

Unit 2: Exercise 1
In this unit, you will do an IELTS Reading multiple-choice task.
Read the information. Then skim read the paragraph. Choose the best summary.

In the IELTS Reading test, you may be asked to decide what the main idea of a paragraph is.
Remember that a paragraph usually contains one main idea. You can often get a good idea of
what the paragraph is about by reading the first sentence. However, you may need to read
further to understand what the writer’s main point is.

A history of ice cream

Although many people might consider ice cream a recent invention, dependent on
refrigeration technology and the dairy industry, there have been certain people eating frozen
desserts made by mixing ice with fruit flavours for thousands of years. We don’t know when
people started doing this, but we do know that Roman and Chinese emperors used to eat fruit
mixed with snow as far back as 2,000 years ago. However, most fruit grows in the warmer
months, and ice needed to be transported from distant mountain tops, or collected in winter
and stored in very expensive underground chambers. This meant that it was available only to
the people at the very top of society, and only on special occasions.

The main point of this paragraph is that

o A no one knows when ice cream was invented.
o B long ago, only wealthy, powerful people ate fruit mixed with ice.
o C storing and collecting ice is very difficult.
o D ice can be mixed with fruit to create a dessert.

Unit 2: Exercise 2
The main point in the paragraph is that a long time ago, only wealthy, powerful
people ate fruit mixed with ice.
Which parts of the paragraph give this main idea? Choose the three correct
options.

A history of ice cream

Although many people might consider ice cream a recent invention, dependent on
refrigeration technology and the dairy industry, there have been certain people eating frozen
desserts made by mixing ice with fruit flavours for thousands of years. We don’t know when
people started doing this, but we do know that Roman and Chinese emperors used to eat fruit
mixed with snow as far back as 2,000 years ago. However, most fruit grows in the warmer
months, and ice needed to be transported from distant mountain tops, or collected in winter
and stored in very expensive underground chambers. This meant that it was available only to
the people at the very top of society, and only on special occasions.
 A Although many people might consider ice cream a recent invention, dependent on
refrigeration technology and the dairy industry,
 B there have been certain people eating frozen desserts made by mixing ice with fruit
flavours for thousands of years.
 C We don’t know when people started doing this,
 D but we do know that Roman and Chinese emperors used to eat fruit mixed with snow
as far back as 2,000 years ago.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

 E However, most fruit grows in the warmer months, and ice needed to be transported
from distant mountain tops, or collected in winter and stored in very expensive
underground chambers.
 F This meant that it was available only to the people at the very top of society, and only
on special occasions.
Unit 2: Exercise 3
In a paragraph, the writer’s main point is usually supported several times, by
different sentences.
Read the paragraph below. The parts which relate to the main point are in bold.
Choose the best answer.
Not until relatively recently – the 1600s – did people begin mixing milk or cream with ice to
create what people today might recognise as ice cream. Ice cream desserts began to appear
in expensive cafés in Paris, and then in New York in the 1700s. In England, recipes for
making your own ice cream began to be published in the early 1700s. Indeed, the word
ice cream appeared for the first time in a dictionary in 1744. This all meant that ordinary
people might have heard about ice cream and understood what a frozen dessert was,
even if they couldn’t afford to buy one themselves.

Which idea best summarises the writer’s main point in this paragraph?
o A Ordinary people couldn’t afford ice cream until relatively recently.
o B People have not been mixing ice with cream for long.
o C Only rich people consumed ice cream in the 1600s and 1700s.
o D The idea of ice cream began to spread amongst ordinary people in the 1600s and
1700s.

Unit 2: Exercise 4
Read the information. Then choose the word which best shows the writer’s
opinion.

Sometimes, you may need to understand how the writer feels about something. Pay attention
to how the writer comments on facts. For example, by showing surprise, doubt or other
emotions.

In the 1700s, ice cream started to become popular in the USA. Adverts began to appear in
newspapers for a growing number of specialist ice-cream shops, which made and sold their own
frozen desserts. As before, however, ice cream was only affordable for society’s elite. The first
American president, George Washington, was known to enjoy ice cream. He spent an incredible
$200 on ice cream in just one year – the equivalent of at least $5,000 in today’s money.

o Popular
o Specialist
o Frozen
o Affordable
o Elite
o Incredible
o equivalent

Unit 2: Exercise 5
Read the paragraph again. Choose the best answer to the question below.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

In the 1700s, ice cream started to become popular in the USA. Adverts began to appear in
newspapers for a growing number of specialist ice-cream shops, which made and sold their
own frozen desserts. As before, however, ice cream was only affordable for society’s elite.
The first American president, George Washington, was known to enjoy ice cream. He spent
an incredible $200 on ice cream in just one year – the equivalent of at least $5,000 in today’s
money.
When the writer discusses the first ice-cream shops in the USA, he or she is surprised that
o A there were so many ice-cream shops.
o B anyone would spend so much on ice cream.
o C ice cream was so expensive in the 1700s.
o D the first American president liked ice cream.
Unit 2: Exercise 6
Read the information. Then read the question and answer options again. Complete
the sentences that explain why the options were right or wrong. Use words from
the paragraph.

After you have found the information you need in a Reading passage, it can be a useful check
to decide why the other options were wrong.

In the 1700s, ice cream started to become popular in the USA. Adverts began to appear in
newspapers for a growing number of specialist ice-cream shops, which made and sold their
own frozen desserts. As before, however, ice cream was only affordable for society’s elite.
The first American president, George Washington, was known to enjoy ice cream. He spent
an incredible $200 on ice cream in just one year – the equivalent of at least $5,000 in today’s
money.

When the writer discusses the first ice cream shops in the USA, he or she is surprised that
A there were so many ice-cream shops.
B anyone would spend so much on ice cream.
C ice cream was so expensive in the 1700s.
D the first president of the USA liked ice cream.
1. Option A is wrong. The writer doesn’t give any opinion about the____________ of ice-
cream shops. He or she only mentions that the quantity of shops was _____________ .
2. Option B is correct. The word _______________ means ‘impossible or very difficult to
believe’. The writer is adding a comment to a fact, to say how surprising it was that
someone spent such a large amount of money on something such as _______________ .
3. Option C is wrong. The writer doesn’t give any opinion about how expensive ice cream
was. He or she just mentions that it was only _______________ for the richest people in
society – the _____________ .
4. Option D is wrong. The writer talks about the first ___________________ , and says
that he used to _______________ ice cream, but the writer presents this as a fact. He or
she doesn’t express any surprise.
Unit 2: Exercise 7
In the IELTS Reading test, as well as identifying the writer’s opinion, you may be
asked to summarise a writer’s argument in a paragraph. In order to do this, you
need to read the whole paragraph carefully.
Read the paragraph and answer the question. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or
D.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Of course, when the right technology came along, ice cream became something that could be
easily produced. It was in the USA, in the mid-1800s, that the first small freezers appeared.
These were quite primitive compared to today’s machines, and were powered by steam.
Around this time, the first ice cream factory was set up in Pennsylvania, in the USA. From
there, ice cream was transported by train to different cities in the region. This was,
essentially, the beginning of the ice-cream industry. However, it was not until the beginning
of the 20th century that ice cream became a successful commercial product. By this time,
much cheaper methods of refrigeration had been developed, meaning that the technology to
create ice cream could be adopted in different countries around the world, and affordable
products became available to millions of ordinary people.

Which of the following statements best summarises the writer’s main point in this paragraph?
o A Ice cream became a popular product in the mid-1800s.
o B Ice cream became a popular product when the cost of making it became cheaper.
o C Early technology for creating ice cream was not successful.
o D Ice cream first became a popular product in the USA.
Unit 2: Exercise 8
Read the information. Then read the text and answer the questions. Choose the
correct letter, A, B, C or D.

• Try to spend no more than 20 minutes on this task.

• After getting a general idea of what the passage is about, read each question (but not
the options) and use the key words to help you find which section of the passage
contains the information you need. For this type of task, the questions will be in the
same order as in the passage.
• When you have found the right section, read it in more detail and then choose the best
option.
• Make sure you know why the other three options are wrong.

The history of chocolate

Why people first started eating chocolate and how it spread across the world
No one is certain which Mesoamerican* culture first farmed cacao trees. However,
archaeologists think the Olmec people of southern Mexico were one of the earliest to create a
drink using cacao beans. While the Olmecs left behind no written records, researchers have
dug up pots from this ancient civilisation that date back to 1500 BC. After the pots were
taken to a laboratory and analysed, it was discovered that they contained theobromine, a
chemical found in cacao beans. A small team of archaeologists has also been looking at a site
in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Here, they claim, is proof of another society making cacao
drinks even earlier. Not everyone accepts their evidence, so it seems further investigation is
necessary.
Each fruit of the cacao tree is full of white flesh, and inside this are about 60 brown seeds, or
beans. Some researchers theorise that early Mesoamerican cultures boiled the flesh for stews,
before discovering that the seeds could also be used. This seems highly likely, as the flesh is
sweet, but the seeds are incredibly bitter. It’s remarkable, in fact, that anyone would have
thought to dry out the seeds and then roast them in the first place. Perhaps what happened is
that someone was eating the fruit and spitting seeds into a fire. They might have then noticed
that the burnt seeds were producing a rich smell, and decided to experiment, but we can never
know for sure. More certain is the fact that the Olmecs turned the roasted beans into a thick
paste to make their drink, and into this was added chilli and vanilla.
Unlike the Olmecs, the Mayan people left behind paintings showing their use of cacao beans.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

From these pictures, we know that cacao beans and chocolate drinks had a special status in
Mayan society, and were often used in marriage ceremonies and other rituals. Later, when the
Aztecs ruled much of Mesoamerica, they wanted cacao beans for themselves, and would
trade with the Mayans to get them. Although other crops were important at the time, they
were nowhere near as valuable as cacao beans. This was partly because cacao trees could not
survive in the dry highlands of central Mexico, the centre of Aztec civilisation. Unusually for
plants, cacao trees depended on tiny swarms of flies for pollination, and these insects lived
only in a humid climate.
In Mayan society, we know that cacao beans were very valuable, perhaps so valuable that it
may have been worth creating ‘fake beans’. Archaeologists have discovered beans made of
clay in many Mesoamerican sites, and suspect that they were used by Mayans when they had
to pay a form of tax to the Aztecs. But it wasn’t just their economic value that made them
important in society. Like today, the Mayan people liked to prepare traditional dishes to share
with friends and family. Extended families would have come together to collect cacao beans
and slowly turn them into a rich drink, using the occasion to strengthen their social ties.
In the 16th century, the Spanish arrived in Mexico and noticed the way in which cacao was
central to the local diet. We still have records of the letters they sent home to Spain.
Expedition leader Hernán Cortés wrote to King Carlos I of Spain about a strange drink called
xocoatl, which he mistakenly believed the Aztecs, including their ruler, Montezuma, used for
medicinal purposes. One of Cortés’s officers even claimed to have seen Montezuma drinking
more than 50 cups of a chocolate drink per day, and thought he was doing this to improve his
health. That number is no doubt inaccurate, but even if it were true, the officer missed the
point. The Aztecs simply saw cacao as part of their diet and did not attribute any special
qualities to it. Nevertheless, the Spanish were soon exporting cacao beans back to Spain and
creating chocolate drinks for themselves, adding sugar and honey to sweeten them. The
demand for cacao soon spread across the rest of Europe.
Until 1828, it was only the wealthy that could afford these new chocolate drinks. It was in
this year that Dutch chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten invented the cocoa press, a
machine that could squeeze the natural oils from roasted cacao beans. The beans were then
crushed into powder, combined with alkaline salts, and sold as cheap blocks of cooking
chocolate. Later, in 1847 the first edible chocolate was created by Fry and Sons in England.
Unfortunately, its bitter taste was unpopular with consumers. In 1874, Swiss chocolate maker
Daniel Peter finally realised that milk was perfect for improving the taste and texture of
chocolate, and it has been a key ingredient ever since.
* Mesoamerica A region stretching from Mexico to Costa Rica in which several advanced
civilisations existed before the 1600s.
1. What are we told about research into the origins of cacao-based drinks?
o A Researchers have used written documents as evidence.
o B Researchers have failed to agree about the findings.
o C It was carried out in laboratories outside Mexico.
o D No more research is needed.
2. When the writer discusses the early use of cacao beans, he is surprised that
o A they were first eaten raw.
o B people preferred the flesh to the seeds.
o C people regarded them as something to throw away.
o D anyone had the idea that they could be eaten.
3. What problem did the Aztecs face in getting cacao beans?
o A The beans were destroyed by insect pests.
o B The Mayans asked increasingly high prices for the beans.
o C The local conditions were unsuitable for growing the cacao tree.
o D The Mayans were unwilling to trade with them for religious reasons.
4. Which of the following best summarises the writer’s argument in the fourth paragraph?
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

o A The Aztecs mainly appreciated cacao beans for their economic benefit.
o B The sharing of food is not as important now as it used to be in earlier societies
o C Cacao beans had a value which went beyond how much they were worth.
o D The use of artificial cacao beans meant that real ones lost their value.
5. The writer refers to the drinking of chocolate by the Aztec ruler Montezuma to show
how
o A the Spanish misunderstood why Aztecs drank chocolate.
o B the history of chocolate has not always been a peaceful one.
o C the Aztecs pretended their chocolate drink had powerful qualities.
o D people tend to make untrue claims about food and drink.
6. What is the writer doing in the final paragraph?
o A Highlighting why modern chocolate is less healthy than its original form.
o B Questioning whether modern chocolate is superior to older types.
o C Outlining the steps that led to the kind of chocolate we have today.
o D Explaining why rich people were prepared to pay more for chocolate.
7. According to the writer, what led to chocolate becoming a successful mass product?
o A The price of manufacturing chocolate became cheaper.
o B New machines were invented which made it easier to create chocolate.
o C A lot of the fatty oils were taken out of cacao beans.
o D The recipe was altered to reflect what consumers wanted.

Unit 2: Exercise 9
Read the information. Then read the extracts from the Reading passage and look at
the words in bold. Match the words on the left from the Reading passage with the
descriptions on the right.

It is very likely that an IELTS Reading passage will contain specialised words, or other words
you do not know. Often, you do not need to know what the word means in order to answer a
question. Sometimes, you can guess what a technical word means by reading around it in the
passage. Where this is not possible, the meaning of the word may be given in a footnote.

1. After the pots were taken to a laboratory and analysed, it was discovered that they
contained theobromine, a chemical found in cacao beans.
2. From these pictures, we know that cacao beans and chocolate drinks had a special
status in Mayan society, and were often used in marriage ceremonies and other
rituals.
3. Unusually for plants, cacao trees depended on tiny swarms of flies for pollination,
and these insects lived only in a humid climate.
4. The beans were then crushed into powder, combined with alkaline salts, and sold as
cheap blocks of cooking chocolate.
5. Later, in 1847 the first edible chocolate was created by Fry and Sons in England.
Unfortunately, its bitter taste was unpopular with consumers.

something that exists in chocolate

a set of fixed actions performed regularly, especially as part of a ceremony
to take pollen from one plant, or part of a plant, to another so that new plant seeds can be produced
a chemical that can be added to food to improve it in some way with a sharp, unpleasant taste

1. theobromine
2. rituals
3. pollination
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

4. alkaline salts
5. bitter

Unit 2: Exercise 10
Think about some of the skills you need when you approach the IELTS Reading
test.
Complete the summary of what you have learnt in this unit.

Argument comments main idea negative

personal opinion supporting points surprising
1. Each paragraph in a Reading passage contains a __________ . This is often, but not
always, introduced in the first sentence of the paragraph.
2. A paragraph contains many sentences. Some of these sentences will be ______________
related to the main idea. These might contain background information or information
which contrasts with the main idea.
3. Writers usually present facts if they are describing or explaining something. However, a
writer will sometimes give his or her ____________ on those facts.
4. Writers may do this by adding an extra word which _______________ on a fact. For
example, the word ‘remarkably’ shows that the writer finds the fact ________________
. The word ‘unfortunately’ shows that the writer thinks something is ________________
.
5. A writer may use a paragraph to present an _________________ (an opinion that the
writer would like to give reasons for). Sometimes, a writer may present background
information, only to contrast it later in the paragraph with what he or she really wants to
say.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS 6.5 - WRITING

Unit 2: Exercise 1
Look at the pie charts. Then complete the missing information in the pie charts
and the key. Use the numbers in the box.

2,131 26 5,268 6.5

A
B
C
D

Unit 2: Exercise 2
When comparing two charts, you need to carefully choose the most important
information.

• Look for high numbers, low numbers and equal numbers.

• Remember to look for trends and patterns.
• Look for noticeable differences.

Look at the sentences and decide what type of information they give.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

This is a key pattern as other numbers changed. This is a key trend.

This is a large increase. This is not a key piece of information – small changes are not significant.
This is not true – the percentage change was 7.2%.
This is not true – women in full-time employment was the greatest percentage change.
This is the highest number of employees in all the groups represented.
This is the most significant change.
This represents a key point – smallest and largest numbers are important.
1. All the numbers increased.
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Women in full-time employment rose by 3,214,000.
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Women working full-time increased by over 8%.
_____________________________________________________________________
4. The number of men in full-time employment was greatest in both years.
_____________________________________________________________________
5. The number of women in part-time employment rose very slightly.
_____________________________________________________________________
6. The greatest percentage change was in men working full-time.
_____________________________________________________________________
7. 26% of workers in 2012 were women in full-time employment.
_____________________________________________________________________
8. Men working part-time was the smallest percentage in each year.
_____________________________________________________________________
9. 13,794,000 men were working full-time in 2012.
_____________________________________________________________________
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Unit 2: Exercise 3
Look at the charts. Then put the sentences in the correct order to complete the
paragraph.

The pie charts show the numbers and percentages of men and women in both full-time and
part-time employment in the UK in 1988 and 2012.

Overall, we can see that all numbers increased but there were significant differences in the
proportions for each year.

These changes can be seen in the percentages of the total workforce; in 1988, women in full-
time employment made up only 18.8% of working people, but this increased to 26% in 2012.

As well as the number of people working full-time, the number of people working part-time
also increased, with women being the largest number in both years: 5,268,000 and 5,979,000,
compared with 1,550,000 and 2,131,000 for men.

Firstly, although the number of men in full-time employment was largest in both years, the
greatest change was in the number of women working full-time. This increased from
4,482,000 in 1988 to 7,696,000 in 2012.

In conclusion, apart from female full-time employment and male part-time employment,
percentage figures decreased between the two years. Most significantly, men working full-
time dropped below 50% to 46.6% in 2012.

1.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Unit 2: Exercise 4
It’s important to understand the information given and present the facts in a clear way.
Each sentence from the report covers one topic. Match the topics with the sentences.

Details of full-time employment figures. Details of part-time employment figures.

Details of the percentage of women working full-time. General description of the charts.
General information about the overall trends. Overview of the information in the charts.
1. ____________________________________________________________
The pie charts show the numbers and percentages of men and women in both full-time and
part-time employment in the UK in 1988 and 2012.
2. ____________________________________________________________
Overall, we can see that all numbers increased but there were significant differences in the
proportions for each year.
3. ____________________________________________________________
Firstly, although the number of men in full-time employment was largest in both years, the
greatest change was in the number of women working full-time. This increased from
4,482,000 in 1988 to 7,696,000 in 2012.
4. ____________________________________________________________
As well as the number of people working full-time, the number of people working part-time
also increased, with women being the largest number in both years: 5,268,000 and 5,979,000,
compared with 1,550,000 and 2,131,000 for men.
5. ____________________________________________________________
These changes can be seen in the percentages of the total workforce; in 1988, women in full-
time employment made up only 18.8% of working people, but this increased to 26% in 2012.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

6. ____________________________________________________________
In conclusion, apart from female full-time employment and male part-time employment, all
the other percentage figures decreased between the two years. Most significantly, men
working full-time dropped below 50% to 46.6% in 2012.

Unit 2: Exercise 5
Match the words with the definitions.
A chart a figure a percentage a trend an owerview details

1. an amount expressed in numbers:

2. a short description which provides general information about
something:
3. a general development or change in a situation:
4. an amount of something, expressed as a number out of 100:
5. a drawing that shows information in a simple way, often using
lines and curves to show amounts:
6. pieces of information about something:
Unit 2: Exercise 6
Complete the introduction. Use the words in the box. You won’t need to use all
the words.

Firstly Overall decreased details figures increased

largest number pie charts proportion significantly
The ______________ show employment _____________for both men and women in the
UK for the years 1988 and 2012. _____________ , the number of people in work
_____________ in that period, but the _____________of working women rose most
_____________ .
Unit 2: Exercise 7
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Read the information. Then look at the sentences. Select the word in each
sentence that matches the definition.
When comparing two charts, we need to find which numbers you can compare because they
are similar and which numbers you can contrast because they are different. Examples of this
are high and low numbers, and numbers which show little or no change.

1. looking or being almost, but not exactly, the same (adjective):

The percentages of women working part-time are similar.
2. (referring to) two people or things together (quantifier):
The numbers for both men and women in employment increased.
3. describing everything together (quantifier):
All numbers rose between 1988 and 2012.
4. an obvious difference between two or more things (noun):
In 1988, there were 12,539,000 men working full time, in contrast only 1,550,000 were part-
time.
5. important or noticeable (adjective):
There was a significant increase in women working full-time.
6. small in amount or degree (adjective):
We can see a slight increase in men working part-time.
7. exactly the same, or very similar (adjective):
The pie charts show identical information for 1988 and 2012.
8. compared with the fact that; but (conjunction):
The percentage of women working full-time increased, whereas for men it decreased.
Unit 2: Exercise 8
When you describe the information in two charts, you need to look for figures
and facts that are the same or different.
Look at the sentences and put them into the correct columns.
All numbers rose between 1988 and 2012.
The percentage of women working full-time increased, whereas for men it decreased.
The numbers for both men and women in employment increased.
The percentages of women working part-time are similar.
There was a significant increase in women working full-time.
In 1988, there were 12,539,000 men working full-time, in contrast only 1,550,000 were part-time.
We can see a slight increase in men working part-time.
The pie charts show identical information for 1988 and 2012.

figures/facts that are the same (or nearly the figures/facts that are figures/facts that are
same)
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Unit 2: Exercise 9
Look at the bar charts. Then choose the best words for the gaps.

All Both contrast identical significant similar slight whereas

1. The percentage of men in employment was ____________ in both years.
2. _______________ the percentages rose between the two years.
3. Women in _______________ to men showed much lower employment rates in all
countries.
4. The employment rate for Japanese men showed a ______________ increase.
5. The pattern was ______________ for all countries – an increase in percentages.
6. ______________ men and women were working more in 2015.
7. Numbers of Japanese and Australian working women increased greatly, ______________
in Ireland the change was smaller.
8. There was a ______________ gap between men and women in Japan in both years.
Unit 2: Exercise 10
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar charts below show the percentages of men and women in employment in three
countries in 2005 and 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Please add text into the Student post.

Student post:
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS Level 2 Skills Modules

Unit 2: Writing Exercise 10

WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The bar charts below show the percentages of men and women in
employment in three countries in 2005 and 2015.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

This model answer has been prepared by an examiner as a very good answer.
However, please note that this is just one answer out of many possible
approaches.

The two charts show the percentages of men and women in employment in
three countries in the years 2005 and 2015. In general, we can see that the
percentages of working people increased, with the proportion of women
showing the most significant rise.

In all of the countries covered, and in both years, the number of men in
employment was greater than the number of women. Japan has the highest
rate of male employment – approximately 75% in 2005, rising slightly to about
78% in 2015 – and Australia has the lowest – just over 60% in 2005 and 70% in
2015.

The proportion of women in employment was lower than men in all of the
countries covered over the two years. It was below 50% everywhere in 2005,
but the figures had risen by 2015. In Australia, over half of the women were
working, and in Ireland the figure was exactly 50%. In contrast, the number of
Japanese women who were working was only about 35% compared with a
percentage which was more than double for men at over 70%.

(178 Words)
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS 6.5 - LISTENING

Unit 2: Exercise 1
In this unit, you will practise the skills you need to understand a monologue in an
academic situation and complete short-answered and multiple-choice questions.
Read the information about Section 4 of the IELTS Listening test. Choose two
answers for each question.

In Section 4 of the IELTS Listening test, you will hear a monologue in an academic situation.
You will hear this only once. As usual, you will have 30–45 seconds to read the questions
before listening.

1. In this part of the test, what might you hear?

 One person talking for a long time, without stopping.
 Two or more university students trying to solve a problem.
 A lecturer talking about a specific subject.
 A manager giving advice to company workers about how to do something.
2. What might you be asked to do in this part of the test?
 Listen carefully for specific information.
 Decide what your opinion is on the topic.
 Make your own notes on the information you hear.
 Complete a summary of what you hear.

Unit 2: Exercise 2
Read the information. Then match the topics in the box with the introductory
sentences from the lecture.
A lecture is made up of several main points. A good lecturer will always introduce a new
main point. This makes it easier for the listener to understand what the lecture is about. The
lecturer doesn’t usually give important details in these introductory sentences, but listen
carefully, because they will help you to understand the general topic of the section.

Early forms of transport How New Zealand was affected by the introduction of trains
The future of steam trains The use of trains for personal transport
What the trains transported
1. Before the railways were built, transport could be slow and unreliable.
__________________________________________
2. But once the railways were built, everything changed: farmers could send their milk by
train. ________________________________________
3. Another thing we should think about is the impact that the development of the railways had
on the New Zealand landscape. _________________________________________
4. Now, one interesting difference between the railway in New Zealand and railways in other
countries is that New Zealand trains have always been used to carry more goods than people.
_______________________________________________
5. Many railway lines are no longer used, which is a great shame in my opinion, although the
government is still deciding whether it is possible to create a new network in the city centre, for
electric trains, of course. ______________________________________
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Unit 2: Exercise 3
Read the information. Then listen and choose if the statements are True or False.

After you know what to listen for, be careful! The speaker may mention several things which
might be correct, but there is only one correct answer. For example, for Question 1, you need
to listen for a place where goods can be transported. Even though the speaker mentions more
than one type of place, you need to choose the one that relates to the question.

1 Today we’ll be looking at the history and development of railways in

New Zealand. Let’s start by thinking about what a difference they made to
people’s lives – the people who were living in New Zealand in the 1800s.
Before the railways were built, transport could be slow and unreliable –
goods were often transported by sea for the first part of their journey, and
then up or down a river to their destination. Using the road to transport
heavy goods would have been impossible – there was too much mud and play.MP3
too many stones.
2 But once the railways were built – everything changed. Farmers could
send their milk by train. Wood and coal could get to the factory faster. And
the railway also meant that meat could get to the shops much more quickly,
and I’m sure that customers were happy to buy it fresh.

1. Before railways were built, people transported goods by road.

o True
o False
2. Railways were used to transport products such as milk, wood and coal.
o True
o False

Unit 2: Exercise 4
In this unit, you will hear one speaker talking about a topic related to transport.
This is a common topic in IELTS so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with
key vocabulary related to transport.
Match the words in the box with the correct definitions.
Commute construct goods impact
petrol stream transport unreliable
1. not able to be trusted or believed: ___________________
2. to build something or put together different parts to form something whole:
_____________________
3. an effect that something has, especially something new, on a situation or person:
_____________________
4. the hot gas that is produced when water boils: ________________________
5. to take goods or people from one place to another: _______________________
6. items for sale or possessions that can be moved: _______________________
7. a liquid used as fuel for cars or other forms of transport: ______________________
8. to make the same journey regularly between work and home: ___________________

Unit 2: Exercise 5
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Read the five extracts from Section 4 of an IELTS Listening test

quickly. Then decide what type of information should replace the gap (…) in each
extract.
Match the types of information in the box with the extracts. There are more types
than you need.
a place where goods can be transported a type of product a type of transport
something that is more expensive something that people build
something you eat somewhere people visit
1. Before railways were built, people transported goods by sea and on a
…____________________________________
2. Railways were used to transport products such as milk, wood, coal and …
______________________________________
3. In the 1900s, as railways were built, trees were cut down, and lots of … were built next
to the lines. ______________________________________
4. Because the price of … has gone up, trains are becoming more popular with passengers.
_______________________________________
5. Working steam trains can be seen at the …
______________________________________

Unit 2: Exercise 6
Listen and complete the notes.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
• Remember what type of information you need to listen for.
• The speaker may mention several of these types, but only one is correct.
• Complete each gap with a word that the speaker uses.
• Make sure your spelling is correct, and that you have only used one word in each gap.

Today we’ll be looking at the history and development of railways in New

Zealand. Let’s start by thinking about what a difference they made to
people’s lives – the people who were living in New Zealand in the 1800s.
Before the railways were built, transport could be slow and unreliable –
goods were often transported by sea for the first part of their journey, and
then up or down a river to their destination. Using the road to transport
heavy goods would have been impossible – there was too much mud and
too many stones.
But once the railways were built, everything changed: farmers could send
their milk by train. Wood and coal could get to the factory faster. And the
railway also meant that meat could get to the shops much more quickly,
and I’m sure that customers were happy to buy it fresh.
play.MP3
Another thing we should think about is the impact that the development of
the railways had on the New Zealand landscape. During the 1900s, many
forests were cut down so that railways could be built, and next to the
railway lines, it was then necessary to construct many towns. They were
created for the thousands and thousands of people who worked on the
railways, and their families.
Now, one interesting difference between the railway in New Zealand and
railways in other countries is that New Zealand trains have always been
used to carry more goods than people. In other countries, passengers use
trains to travel from city to city, or to commute to work, but this didn’t use
to happen so much in New Zealand. However, nowadays it is becoming
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

more and more expensive to buy petrol, so a greater number of people are
choosing to buy a train ticket instead.
Many railway lines are no longer used, which is a great shame in my
opinion, although the government is still deciding whether it is possible to
create a new network in the city centre, for electric trains, of course. If you
want to see some steam trains in action, I suggest you go to the museum. I
think it’s on the first Sunday of every month that the old steam engines are
started up and you can go for rides up and down the line.
1. Before railways were built, people transported goods by sea and on a
________________ .
2. Railways were used to transport products such as milk, wood, coal and
__________________ .
3. In the 1900s, as railways were built, trees were cut down, and lots of ______________
were built next to the lines.
4. Because the price of _________________ has gone up, trains are becoming more
popular with passengers.
5. Working steam trains can be seen at the __________________.

Unit 2: Exercise 7
In the next exercise you are going to listen to the next part of the talk.
Read the information. Then match the categories with the things which could be
included in those categories.
A category is a way of describing a group of things. For example, weather is a category.
Rain, sun, snow, etc. can be categorised as types of weather. Often, a lecture will be divided
into sections – each section talking about a different category.

mountains and dense bush diggers, carpenters, blacksmiths, mechanics iron, wood
economy, capital snow and fog arguments, unhappy councils, department

1. finance
2. type of land
3. material
4. workers
5. government
6. weather conditions
7. disagreements

Unit 2: Exercise 8
Read the information. Then listen and complete the sentences with the words the
speaker uses.
Notice how the speaker discusses each railway line in order. The speaker always introduces
each one, as a new topic, which helps the listener follow the talk.

1. _______________ ever railway lines to be built was the

Christchurch to Ferrymead line. It eventually opened in 1863,
and was only seven kilometres long.
2. At about the same time, ______________ was starting. This play.MP3
was the Invercargill to Makarewa line.
3. Local government __________________ to build a line
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

between Napier and Gisborne. They were making plans for this
in the mid-1920s.
4. _______________ ambitious project of all was the North
Island line – a distance of 680 kilometres in total.
5. __________________ line to construct was the Raurimu line.
You have to feel sorry for the workmen who were employed on
this line.

Unit 2: Exercise 9
Listen and decide which problem each of the following railway lines had.
Choose five problems and write the correct letters, A–G, next to the railway lines
1–5.

• Look quickly at the names of the five railway lines (1–5). The speaker will mention
these in order. (The place names may look difficult to pronounce, but you will be able
to recognise them when the speaker says them!)
• The speaker will talk about each railway line separately. Listen for key words in the
talk which match the categories in the list of problems (finance, type of land, material,
workers, etc.).
• Choose one problem for each railway line before the speaker moves on.

Of course, it wasn’t easy to build the railways. And sometimes, each

railway faced its own particular kind of problem. One of the first ever
railway lines to be built was the Christchurch to Ferrymead line. It
eventually opened in 1863, and was only seven kilometres long. However,
you need to remember that the population of New Zealand was relatively
low at the time, and even though the public were very keen for it to be
built, it was hard to find enough people to do it. To build a railway, you
need diggers, carpenters, blacksmiths, mechanics – and there weren’t many
of those in that area. So the project took longer than planned. At about the
same time, another project was starting. This was the Invercargill to
Makarewa line. Here, instead of using tracks made of iron, the local
government decided to use wood. This turned out to be a bad idea: when it
rained, the trains couldn’t move. And in the summer, in dry weather,
sometimes the hot sparks from the engines would set the track on fire.
Local government also wanted to build a line between Napier and play.MP3
Gisborne. They were making plans for this in the mid-1920s. However, the
economy of the country took a downward turn until the mid-1930s, and it
was only then that they had the capital to start work on the line. Probably
the most ambitious project of all was the North Island line – a distance of
680 kilometres in total. It would connect the capital, Wellington, to New
Zealand’s most populated city, Auckland. Although most people supported
the project, progress was very slow. The main reason for this was the fact
that engineers had to find a way through mountains and dense bush. All in
all, it took 23 years to complete. Another difficult line to construct was the
Raurimu line. You have to feel sorry for the workmen who were employed
on this line. Every day they had to face snow, and often fog – it was
continuous. It was a tough job and they worked extremely hard for their
money. Anyway, let’s look at …
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Problems
A a lack of finance
B the type of land
C unsuitable material
D a lack of workers
E lack of government interest
F terrible weather conditions
G disagreements between planners

Railway line
1. Christchurch to Ferrymead _______
2. Invercargill to Makarewa ______
3. Napier to Gisborne _______
4. North Island ______
5. Raurimu ______

Unit 2: Exercise 10
Think about what you have learnt in this unit.
Are the statements True or False? Choose the correct answers.

1. In Section 4 of the IELTS Listening test, you will hear one person talking, in an
academic context.
o True
o False
2. If it is a lecture, it won’t be clearly organised.
o True
o False
3. The lecturer will introduce what he or she wants to talk about.
o True
o False
4. An IELTS question might focus on types of a certain thing, and the speaker will give
examples of this type of thing.
o True
o False
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS 6.5 - SPEAKING

Unit 2: Exercise 1
What do you know about IELTS Speaking Part 3? Choose the correct answers.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you will be asked general discussion questions related to the topic
from Speaking Part 2.

1. Do you have any preparation time?

o Yes
o No
2. Do you have a conversation with the examiner?
o Yes
o No
3. Do you talk about yourself?
o Yes
o No
4. Does the examiner ask you several questions?
o Yes
o No
5. How long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?
o 3−4 minutes
o 4−5 minutes

Unit 2: Exercise 2
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you will be asked general discussion questions related
to the topic from Part 2.
Look at the common types of questions you may be asked. Match each of the
general discussion questions (on the left) with what the question asks you to do
(on the right).
Question asks you to describe something Question asks you to compare two things
Question asks you for your opinion Question asks you to explain something
Question asks you to compare the past to the present Question asks you about the future

1. Tell me about popular hobbies in your

country.
2. What do you think about school sports?
3. Is it better to play games to win or for
enjoyment?
4. What will the Olympics be like in 20
years’ time?
5. Why do people like team sports?
6. How have sports on TV changed since you
were a child?

Unit 2: Exercise 3
Read the information. Do you think the examiner might ask the questions below in
Part 3? Choose the correct answers.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you talk about your personal opinion on a topic. In Part 3, you
answer questions which are related to this topic, but you should give a general opinion.
Examples:
I like to play football. = personal opinion (Part 2)
People in my country like to play football. = general opinion (Part 3)

1. Do you think that playing sports is less important now than in the past?
o Yes
o No
2. What sport don’t you like?
o Yes
o No
3. Do you watch sports alone or with your friends?
o Yes
o No
4. What are the advantages of watching sports live rather than on television?
o Yes
o No
5. Do you think professional sportspeople will continue to get stronger and fitter in the future?
o Yes
o No
6. Who is your favourite tennis player?
o Yes
o No
Unit 2: Exercise 4
Read the IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and listen to the student’s answers.
Then match the student’s answers with the questions.

a.MP3 b.MP3 c.MP3 d.MP3 e.MP3 f.MP3

1. Do you think top sportspeople will continue to get stronger

and fitter in the future?
2. Do you think that playing sports is less important now than in
the past?
3. How can people be encouraged to take part in more sport?
4. Do people who watch a lot of sport also play a lot of sport?
5. Do you think that the way people watch sport has changed
much over the years?
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching sports
live rather than on television?

Unit 2: Exercise 5
Read the information. Then complete the table with the phrases in the box.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3 you should extend your answers, i.e. make them longer and more
complete. You can do this by giving an example, making a suggestion or using conversation
fillers, etc.
Look at the phrases in the table. You can use them to extend your answers.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

It might happen. My view is that ... That’s an interesting question. Should

alternatively, for instance, the reason is that ...

Giving an example: such as

for example, ----------------------------
Giving your opinion: In my opinion ...
I believe ...
----------------------------
Suggesting other opinions: or ...
if you look at ...
----------------------------
Offering an explanation: because ...
the explanation is ...
----------------------------
Making a suggestion or recommendation: I would recommend / suggest ...
We could ...
People ---------------------------
Considering possible outcomes: Maybe ...
It depends on ... (+ something / someone)
----------------------------
Conversation fillers: -----------------------------

Unit 2: Exercise 6
Complete the phrases for extending your answers. Use the words in the box.

As believe depends explanation is happen

instance is that opinion question suggest
1. For ________________ ,
2. In my _____________ …
3. the reason _______________ …
4. I would _________________ …
5. Such ________________
6. It _______________ on …
7. That’s an interesting _______________ .
8. It might _______________ .
9. I _________________ .
10. The _______________ .
Unit 2: Exercise 7
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you should extend your answers.
Read the conversation from IELTS Speaking Part 3 and complete the student’s
answers. Use the words in the box. Then watch the video and check your answers.

For example Maybe because have never thought about it just my opinion
should such as you look at ’ve never thought about it

Examiner: Do you think that playing sports is less important now than in the
past?
Student: I ______________ but I think it’s important ______________ play.MP4
students are shy about finding new friends. Playing sports, _______________
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

football which is a team sport, can help find new friendships … I don’t know,
it’s ________________ .
Examiner: How can people be encouraged to take part in more sport?
Student: Maybe they might be encouraged by their parents. Parents
________________ encourage them because playing sports gives you a better
lifestyle. _______________ some sports should be for free for some students,
otherwise students from poor families can’t afford to play.
___________________ , hockey is a really expensive sport so maybe the
government should subsidise it.
Examiner: Do you think top sportspeople will continue to get stronger and fitter
in the future?
Student: If ________________football players like Messi or Ronaldo, they still
work hard on their football skills and it doesn’t seem like they will stop and say
that they are good enough, and don’t need to train anymore.

Unit 2: Exercise 8
Read the examiner’s questions and complete the student’s answers with the extra
information. Use the phrases in the box.
Then watch the video and check your answers.
I’d say the disadvantage is that it takes away the feeling that you’re there.
Now we are more dependent on technology. Some people might think so.
others, for enjoyment and fun. whereas you can watch it for free on TV.

Examiner: Do you think that the way people watch sport has changed much
over the years?
Student: I think it has changed dramatically,
yes.______________________________
Examiner: Is it a good idea to watch sport on your mobile phone?
Student: It has its advantages and disadvantages.
_________________________________
Examiner: Is it more realistic if you watch it on a large screen?
Student: I think it depends on your personal
play.MP4
perspective._____________________________
Examiner: What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching sport live
rather than on television?
Student: Nowadays, going to watch a football match is
expensive,______________________________
Examiner: Do people who watch a lot of sport also play a lot of sport?
Student: Some people may watch sport just to compare their own
performance to the players, ___________________________________

Unit 2: Exercise 9
Read the extracts from the IELTS Speaking Part 3 conversation.
Then watch the video and complete the student’s answers to the examiner’s
questions. Use the words in the box.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Nowadays advantages believe compare dependent depends on

might others say whereas

Examiner: Do you think that the way people watch sport has changed much
over the years?
Student: I __________________ it has changed dramatically, yes. Now we
are more __________________ on technology.
Examiner: Is it a good idea to watch sport on your mobile phone?
Student: It has its ___________________ and disadvantages. I’d
________________ the disadvantage is that it takes away the feeling that
you’re there.
Examiner: Is it more realistic if you watch it on a large screen?
Student: I think it ________________ your personal perspective. Some
play.MP4
people ___________________ think so.
Examiner: What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching sport live
rather than on television?
Student: __________________ , going to watch a football match is
expensive, ___________________ you can watch it for free on TV.
Examiner: Do people who watch a lot of sport also play a lot of sport?
Student: Some people may watch sport just to ___________________ their
own performance to the players, ______________________ , for enjoyment
and fun

Unit 2: Exercise 10
You are going to do IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Listen to the examiner. Record your answers.. Play to hear your answers.

1.MP3 2.MP3 3.MP3 4.MP3 5.MP3 6.MP3

 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

Mindset for IELTS 6.5 – GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY

Unit 2: Exercise 1
Choose the two correct sports or events for each group.
1. team games:
basketball
volleyball
weightlifting
2. watersports:
canoeing
kickboxing
rowing
3. running events:
badminton
marathon
sprint
4. winter sports:
gymnastics
ice hockey
ski jumping
5. ball games:
hiking
hockey
table tennis
6. fighting sports:
boxing
karate
triathlon

Unit 2: Exercise 2
Read the information and look at the examples. Then complete the sentences. Use
the words in the box. You can use the words more than once.
You can use different adjectives to describe how much you do something or how much you
like doing something.
Examples:
I’m a keen musician. (= I enjoy playing music. / I'm very interested in playing music.)
I’m an avid musician. (= I spend as much time as possible playing music.)
I’m an amateur musician. (= I play music for fun / as a hobby, not for money.)
I’m a dedicated musician. (= I take my hobby very seriously; I do it as much as I can.)

Amateur avid dedicated keen

1. I enjoy gardening. I’m a ___________ gardener.
2. I’m extremely interested in bird-watching. I’m an _____________ bird-watcher.
3. I do photography for fun. I’m not paid for it. I’m an ______________ photographer.
4. I’m very interested in mountain-climbing. I’m a ________________ mountain-climber.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

5. I spend all my free time blogging. I’m a _______________ blogger.

6. I really like cycling. I’ve been told that I’m good enough to be a professional cyclist, but
I prefer to be an _____________ and cycle for fun.
7. Many people think that playing video games isn’t a real hobby. However, I take it very
seriously. You could say that I’m a ______________ gamer.
8. My friends say that I’m such a good cook I should enter a national competition for
______________ cooks.
9. I’m extremely interested in collecting stamps from across the world and have a book of
my collection. I’ve been an _____________ stamp collector since I was a child.

Unit 2: Exercise 3
Choose the correct prepositions to complete the sentences.
1. I’m keen about/in/on board games like chess, where you have to think a lot.
2. I’m good at /from/on most sports, but I’m terrible at tennis.
3. I’m interested for/in/of politics, so I spend a lot of time reading political newspapers and
blogs.
4. I’m passionate about/on/to the environment, and I’m a member of a local wildlife centre.
5. I spend all my free time building and fixing things like cars. I’m fascinated at/by/for anything
with an engine.
6. My hobby is dressmaking. I don’t spend a lot of time on / over/to it though – just a few hours a
week.
Unit 2: Exercise 4
Read the information and think carefully about the way like, love and prefer are
used in the sentences. What does each sentence mean? Choose the correct
answers.
Verb forms with like, love and prefer
• After some verbs (e.g. enjoy, finish), the next verb must be an -ing form.
Example: I enjoy swimming.
• After some verbs (e.g. want, decide), the next verb must be a to-infinitive.
Example: I want to go.
• After some verbs (e.g. like, love and prefer), both forms are possible, with a
small difference in meaning.
Example:
I like swimming. (= I enjoy the action or experience of swimming.)
I like to swim every day. (= Swimming is a habit or something I prefer to do.)
1. I like to go to the gym twice a week.
o The person has a lot of fun at the gym.
o The speaker feels positive about his/her routine.
2. I like going for long walks in the countryside.
o The person feels happy while he/she is walking.
o The person thinks it’s important to go for long walks.
3. Board games are OK but I prefer playing video games.
o The person is happier about the fact that he/she plays video games than board
games.
o The person thinks video games are more fun than board games.
4. I prefer to read a book before I watch the film version.
o The person enjoys reading books more than watching films.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

o The person thinks it’s better to read the book before watching the film version
of the book.
5. I love to get up really early and take photos of the sunrise.
o The person enjoys the process of getting up early.
o The person often gets up early, and enjoys being awake at that time of day.
6. I love playing football.
o The person has a good time when he/she plays football.
o The person is happy about the fact that he/she often plays football.

Unit 2: Exercise 5
Complete the conversation. Use the words in the box.

Active busy exhausted free relax running social stresful

A: Do you get a lot of __________ time?
B: Not really. I spend most of my time at work. I’ve got quite a ______________ job.
A: So what do you do to ______________ after a day at work?
B: I usually like to sit and watch TV. I’m always too _______________ to do anything else.
A: Maybe you should take up a sport or a hobby. Then you might have a bit more energy. For
example, I go _________________ twice a week, and now I feel great.
B: I know what you mean, but I’m too ________________ to find the time.
A: Well, that’s what I thought. But I prefer to be ________________ . It’s good to spend time
on something I actually enjoy. It’s even been good for my _____________ life. I’ve met some
really great people since I started.
B: Really? OK, you’ve convinced me. How do I sign up?

Unit 2: Exercise 6
Complete the conversations using the past continuous form of the verbs in
brackets. Use contractions (e.g. wasn’t), where possible. The first question has
been done for you.
1. A: Wow! Those are great photos. When did you take them?
B: While we were walking in the mountains. The views were amazing. (walk)
2. A: How did you hurt your back?
B: I ______________ at the gym this morning, and I think I did too much! (work out)
3. A: I saw David this morning. He was jogging in the park.
B: Really? Why ____________ ? He never goes jogging! (he / jog)
4. A: Why didn’t you answer the phone earlier?
B: Oh, sorry. I _____________ some decorating and I didn’t hear the phone ring. (do)
5. A: I saw a lot of your friends in the park earlier. I think they were fighting.
B: They _______________ , Mum. They were playing rugby. (not / fight)
6. A: I saw an eagle this morning while I was bird-watching.
B: Really? _______________ or was it on the ground? (it / fly)
7. A: I don’t know what to do. I didn’t hear the trainer’s instructions.
B: That’s because you ______________ when she was telling us what to do. (not /
listen)
Unit 2: Exercise 7
Each sentence has one mistake with the past simple or past continuous verb
form. Correct the mistakes. Use contractions (e.g. wasn’t), where possible.
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

1. Everything was going really well in the archery tournament until I completely was
missing the target.
2. Thousands of fans was in the stadium, singing and waving flags.
3. Lisa finished fourth in the race so she wasn’t winning a medal.
4. I was trying to take a photo while I was cycling, but I was dropping my phone.
5. My team scored an amazing goal, but I didn’t see it because I stood in a queue for a hot
dog.
Unit 2: Exercise 8
Read the information. Then complete the sentences with the comparative form of
the adjectives or adverbs in brackets.
Comparative forms of adjectives
• One syllable: add -er (e.g. strong → stronger; hot → hotter)
• One or two syllables ending in -y: change -y to -ier (e.g. dry → drier; happy →
happier)
• Most other long adjectives: add more (e.g. modern → more modern; difficult → more
difficult)
• Two irregular adjectives: good → better; bad → worse
Comparative forms of adverbs
• When the adverb has the same form as a short adjective (e.g. early, fast, hard, late,
soon), follow the same rules for adjectives.
• All other adverbs: add more (e.g. clearly → more clearly)
• One irregular adverb: far → further/farther

1. I wasn’t very fit before I started jogging, but I’m a lot ______________ now. (fit)
2. The gallery manager said I can’t have an exhibition until I can take _______________
photographs. (good)
3. I was much _____________ when I was younger, but now I don’t have much time for sports.
(active)
4. Of course you’ve got time to go to the gym. You just need to get up 30 minutes
______________ (early)
5. That was a _______________ race than the one last week. I'm exhausted! (demanding)
6. The team played well, but they need to pass the ball _____________ if they want to win next
time. (often)
7. We started playing well, but we got ______________ as the match continued. (bad)
Unit 2: Exercise 9
Read the information. Then complete the text. Use the words in the box.
caber (pronunciation: ˈkeɪ.bər)
= a long, heavy wooden pole (from the trunk of a tree) that people throw as a test of
strength in traditional sports competitions in Scotland.

As closer far less more popular straighter than

Throwing, or ‘tossing’, the caber is a very old and _______________ sport in Scotland. The sport
involves throwing a caber, which can be _______________ long as six metres. A lot of people think the
competitors have to toss the caber as _______________ as possible. However, it’s a lot more
interesting ______________ that. In fact, the aim is to throw the caber so that it turns over and
lands pointing in a straight line away from the thrower. The ______________ the caber is when it
lands, the _______________ points the competitor gets. The winner is the competitor whose caber is
 Mr. Hien's IELTS class

_____________ to the ‘12 o’clock’ mark on a clock face than the others. However, when you’re
throwing a caber that weighs around 80 kg, that’s a lot ______________ simple than it sounds!

Unit 2: Exercise 10
Read the sentences from the story. Each sentence has one mistake with either the
past simple, past continuous or comparatives. Correct the mistakes. You may need
to add a new word.
1. I wasn’t feeling confident before the race. I knew the other runners were faster and
experienced than I was.
2. But I still wanted to do my best and run the race as fastest possible.
3. When I heard the whistle to start the race, I wasn’t ready – I looked for my parents in the
crowd at the time.
4. So I got off to a slow start than the other runners.
5. Over the next 400 metres, I fell even far behind.
6. But then, just as I was starting to think the race was over, I was seeing my parents in the
crowd.
7. So I started running a little more fast and I noticed that I was catching up with the others.
8. I gradually got closer and closer to the other runners, who were a lot more tired that I
was.
9. Then, with less than 100 metres to go, I tried even hard, and I ran past the leader. I was
in the lead!
10. In the end, I was winning the race by two seconds! It was my best time ever.