English Today

Easily Confused Words 9

Here are a few pairs of words that are easily confused.

(a) plane and plain

plane (adj) = a flat or level surface

A plane surface is never curved.

plane (n) = aeroplane

James loves travelling by plane

plain (adj) = simple / easy to understand

Can you explain this in plain English, please?

She was wearing a plain dress at the party.

plain (n) = a vast area of flat land

The plains of central China take your breath away.

 

(b) popular, famous and folk

popular (adj) = loved and admired by many people

Helen is a popular girl. She's got many friends.

famous (adj) = loved and admired by many people all over the world

Tom Cruise is a famous actor.

folk (adj) = of the common people in a country

John enjoys folk dance and folk music.

 

(c) sympathy and affection

sympathy (n) = a feeling of pity

She has no sympathy with her mother's misfortunes.

affection (n) = love and tenderness

Nothing can match a mother's affection for her children.

 

(d) refuse and deny

refuse = say no

Mary kindly refused my invitation to dinner.

deny = say that something is not true

He denied having committed the crime

 

(e) scratch and scrape

scratch (v) = make lines on a surface, usually with something sharp

The cat scratched me.

scrape (v) = remove by pushing something rough along a surface

She had to scrape the sticky saucepan.

I tried to scrape some of the mud off my shoes.

 

 

 

IGCSE Past Exam Papers- Listening - November 2012

The Question Paper

Download IGCSE Listening - November 2012

The MP3 File

01 - Track 1

02 - Track 2

03 - Track 3

04 - Track 4

05 - Track 5

06 - Track 6

The Answer Key

Download IGCSE Listening - November 2012-Answer Key




Note
Slashes (/) are used to provide options accepted by the Examiner.

IGCSE Past Exam Papers - Reading and Writing - November 2012

The Question Paper

Download IGCSE Reading and Writing - November 2012

The Answer Key

Download IGCSE Reading and Writing - November 2012 - Answer Key

Notes:

• The use of the slash (/) indicates alternative options suggested by the examiner.
• Capital letters are underlined in Exercise 3 as capitalization is required for names and addresses to get your mark.
• In Exercise 5, all the relevant points have been provided. Any six out of these will give you the six marks for content ...but if expression hinders understanding you will lose all 10 marks.
• You will also be severely penalized for transferring chunks of text to your own summary or even worse for copying in extent. This is called plagiarism and you will lose all marks.
• You are expected to include all six relevant points in a paragraph of your own, using your own words as far as this is possible and providing effective linkers.  For more information take a look at IGCSE Summary Writing

IGCSE ESL Extended - Listening Tips

The IGCSE listening test is on May 17th, 2013 so let's review some main points about the exam:

1. Pre-listening is important! Before you listen take advantage of the time allowed to read the introduction to each question. This will give you a clue on the topic of the recording. Highlight keywords as shown in the example below including question words so that you know what to listen for. Remember, part of the skill of listening is to predict what might be said next.

Example:

Listen to the following interview about a recent motoring expedition and answer the questions below:

"Man and Machine for Nature" is the motto of the challenge. What is the aim of the challenge?

Ideally, you should provide the exact spoken words and the correct spelling. Remember that you can use the blank area on the paper to make notes while you are listening. You are allowed to use your own words provided you communicate the point / idea clearly. Yet, the listening exam is a test mainly of your ability to write down what you have heard. In case you fail to get the point, take a guess and provide an answer. But this should be your last resort!

In the example above : Protect nature by organising a motoring expedition is much better than leaving it blank as you may eventually get your mark.

2. You can make spelling mistakes and still get your mark if the misspelt word is close to the correct word.

Examples:

chanse instead of chance / realy instead of really / carefull instead of careful / theater(correct in American English) instead of theatre

But even though you provide the correct answer, you won't get your mark if the misspelt word:

- is very different from the correct word

bioutifoul instead of beautiful / rialli instead of really / tsianse instead of chance

- forms another recognised English word

plane instead of plain / site instead of sight / heals instead of heels / who's instead of whose

3. Bear in mind that where two points / answers are required for one single mark you will get your mark only if you provide both points correctly.

4. Pay attention to plurals! Thousands is not the same as thousand!

5. Answers concerning the cost of an item should provide the original currency spoken not just the numerical amount. And remember that £ (pounds) is not the same as $ (dollars)!

Example:

-How much did Nuria pay for the CD?

- five (wrong)

- 5 (wrong)

- five paounts (wrong)

- $5 (wrong)

- £5 (correct)

- five pounds (correct)

6. Answers concerning the time should also  specify whether it's in the morning / afternoon / evening.

Example:

- What time does the train leave the station?

- at 6:00 / at six (wrong)

- at 6:00 pm (correct)

- at six in the afternoon (correct)

- at 18:00 hours (correct)

7. Review and Practice. Many candidates wrongly believe that there is nothing to review for the IGCSE listening test. You should thoroughly review vocabulary and spelling paying close attention to the spelling of homophones or semi-homophones. Here are a few examples:

heard and herd

hare and hair

peace and piece

who's and whose

site and sight

brake and break

brash and brush

track and truck

mite and might

new and knew

tones and tonnes

fur instead of fair

And don't forget that practice makes perfect. In the remaining few days before the listening exam, take the good habit to listen to an English radio station for twenty minutes every day. Listen to interviews, talks, the news and make some notes while you are listening. In this way, you will train your ear to become more familiar with spoken English.

Good Luck to you all!

This post (edited) was originally published on May 16, 2010

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Reading and Writing - May/June 2004

The Question Paper

Download Igcse-june2004

Answer Key

Download Igcse-june2004-answerkey

 

Future Perfect Practice - Answer Key

Photo Credit


Grammar Reference

 

Put the verbs in brackets into either the future perfect simple or the future perfect continuous

1. By next June, she ----will have been working--------------(work) in a bank for ten years.

2. By the end of the year, we --will have been living-------- (live) in Athens for five years.

3. I --will have finished----------------- (finish) this book by tomorrow evening.

4.  When we reach Pireus, we --will have been sailing-------- (sail) for two days

5. By this time next year, I ---will have saved----------- (save) €600.

6. By next winter, they ---will have bought--------- (buy) a new car.

7. By the time we get to the party, everything ---will have been eaten----------- (eat).

8. When you come back, I ---will have finished------------- (finish) the housework.

9.  On the fourth of next month, he ----will have been--------- (be) in prison for ten years.

10.  At 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, Jane ---will have been sleeping----------- (sleep)  for eight hours.

11. If we don't hurry, the sun -will have risen------- (rise) before we reach the top.

12. I'll still be here next summer, but Bill --will have left-------- (leave).

13. In two weeks' time, we ----will have taken------------ (take) our exam.

14. The train --will have left----------- (leave) before we reach the station.

15. If I  stick on my diet, I ---will have lost------- (lose) 5 kilos by the end of the month.

16. I  suppose that these old buildings ----will have been pulled down---------- (pull down) in ten years' time.

17. All the rooms ----will have been cleaned----------- (clean) by the end of the day.

18. By the time I arrive in Paris, I ---will have been driving------------ (drive) for six hours.

19. On May 10th, Joanna and Tim --will have been married------------- (marry) for twenty-five years.

20. By the end of the week, a new government ---will have been elected-------------- (elect).

21. Promise me that by tomorrow morning you ---will have tidied up---------- (tidy up) your room.

22. By 7 this evening, all the preparations for the party -----will have been made--------- (make).

23. In twenty years' time, computers --will have become---------- (become) very sophisticated.

24. By the end of the term, Zoe -----will have been studying-------------- (study) the law for three years.

25. They ---will have already had---------- (already have) dinner when their friends arrive.

26. How long --will you have been travelling------------ (you /travel) by the time you reach Bath?

27.  She ---won't have finished----------- (not finish) her project by tomorrow morning.

28.  Anne ---won't have been-------------- (not be) here by the end of next week.

29. ---Will they have eaten---------------------- (they / eat) lunch by 2 p.m. ?

30. No, they ---won't have eaten--------------- (not / eat) lunch by then.

 

Future Perfect Practice

Photo Credit


Grammar Reference

 

Put the verbs in brackets into either the future perfect simple or the future perfect continuous

1. By next June, she ------------------(work) in a bank for ten years.

2. By the end of the year, we ---------- (live) in Athens for five years.

3. I ------------------- (finish) this book by tomorrow evening.

4.  When we reach Pireus, we ---------- (sail) for two days

5. By this time next year, I -------------- (save) €600.

6. By next winter, they ------------ (buy) a new car.

7. By the time we get to the party, everything -------------- (eat).

8. When you come back, I ---------------- (finish) the housework.

9.  On the fourth of next month, he ------------- (be) in prison for ten years.

10.  At 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, Jane -------------- (sleep)  for eight hours.

11. If we don't hurry, the sun -------- (rise) before we reach the top.

12. I'll still be here next summer, but Bill ---------- (leave).

13. In two weeks' time, we ---------------- (take) our exam.

14. The train ------------- (leave) before we reach the station.

15. If I  stick on my diet, I ---------- (lose) 5 kilos by the end of the month.

16. I  suppose that these old buildings -------------- (pull down) in ten years' time.

17. All the rooms --------------- (clean) by the end of the day.

18. By the time I arrive in Paris, I --------------- (drive) for six hours.

19. On May 10th, Joanna and Tim --------------- (marry) for twenty-five years.

20. By the end of the week, a new government ----------------- (elect).

21. Promise me that by tomorrow morning you ------------- (tidy up) your room.

22. By 7 this evening, all the preparations for the party -------------- (make).

23. In twenty years' time, computers ------------ (become) very sophisticated.

24. By the end of the term, Zoe ------------------- (study) the law for three years.

25. They ------------- (already have) dinner when their friends arrive.

26. How long -------------- (you /travel) by the time you reach Bath?

27.  She -------------- (not finish) her project by tomorrow morning.

28.  Anne ----------------- (not be) here by the end of next week.

29. ------------------------- (they / eat) lunch by 2 p.m. ?

30. No, they ------------------ (not / eat) lunch by then.

 

The Future Perfect Simple vs The Future Perfect Continuous

A. The Future Perfect Simple

Photo Credit

(a) Structure:

Active: will have + past participle

Examples:

Positive: I will (I'll) have worked , she will (she'll) have slept, they will (they'll) have eaten

Negative: I won't have worked, she won't have slept, they won't have eaten

Questions: Will you have worked? / Will she have slept? / Will they have eaten?

Passive: will have been + past participle

Examples:

Positive:  The messages will have been sent by the end of next week.

Negative: The messages won't have been sent by the end of next week.

Question: Will the messages have been sent by the end of next week?

(b) Use

We use the future perfect simple for an action which will be completed by a certain future time.

• By the end of the day, she will have sent ten emails. ( = she hasn't sent all the emails yet, but just before the end of the day all ten emails will be sent.)
• By next week, I will have taken my French exam. (= I haven't taken my French exam yet, but just before the end of the week, this action will be completed.)
• By Christmas, Myriam will have read six books. (Myriam hasn't read all the books yet, but just before Christmas she will finish reading them.)

B. The Future Perfect Continuous

(a) Structure:

will have been + present participle (-ing verb)

No passive form!

Examples

Positive: she will have been working / they will have been studying / I will have been learning

Negative: she won't have been working / they won't have been studying / I won't have been learning

Questions: Will she have been working? / Will they have been studying? / Will you have been learning?

(b) Use

We use the future perfect continuous for an action of duration that has already begun and will be still going on at a specific future time.

• By the end of June, we will have been living in London for eight years.
• I will have been learning English for five years by the end of the school year.
• At 10 o'clock tomorrow, John will have been working for three hours.

Time Expressions

By + future time: by Christmas / by the end of next week / month / year

At + future time: at 10 o;clock tomorrow, at 7:30 am next Friday

Reported Speech - FCE Practice - Answer Key

GRAMMAR REFERENCE 1

GRAMMAR REFERENCE 2

A. Rewrite each sentence in the Reported Speech, beginning as shown.

a) "You can't park here"

The police officer told Jack  -----that he couldn't park there------------ .

b) "I'll see you in the morning, Helen."

Peter told Helen -----that he would see her in the morning / the next morning------------------------------------------ .

c) "I'm taking the 5:30 train tomorrow evening."

Janet said ----that she was taking the 5:30 train the next / following evening---------------------------------------.

d) "The trousers have to be ready this afternoon."

Paul told the dry-cleaners -----that the trousers had to be ready that afternoon-----------------------------------.

e) "I left my umbrella here two days ago."

Susari told them ------that she had left her umbrella there two days earlier / before-------------------------.

f) "The parcel ought to be here by the end of next week."

Brian said ----that the parcel ought to be there by the end of the following week.

g) "I like this hotel very much."

Diana told me ---that she liked the / that hotel very much----------------------------------.

h) "I think it's going to rain tonight."

William said ---that he thought it was going to rain that night----------------------------------.

 

B. Rewrite each question in the reported speech, beginning as shown.

a) "What time does the film start , Peter?"

I asked ------Peter what time the film started----------.

b) "Do you watch television every evening, Chris?"

The interviewer asked ---Chris if he watched television every evening -------------------------------.

c) "Why did you apply for this job?" asked the sales manager.

The sales manager asked me ----why I had applied for that job-------------------------.

d) "Are you taking much money with you to France?"

My bank manager wanted to know ----if I was taking much money with me to France-------------------------------.

e) "When will I know the exam results?"

Maria asked the examiner ---when she would know the exam results----------------------------.

f) "Are you enjoying your flight?"

The stewardess asked me ---if I was enjoying my flight--------------------------------.

g) "How does the photocopier work?"

I asked the salesman-----how the photocopier worked-----------------------------------------.

h) "Have you ever been to Japan, Paul?"

Sue asked Paul ----if he had ever been to Japan----------------------------------------.

 

C. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

a) What time does the next boat leave?

Do you think you could tell me ----what time the next boat leaves--------?

b) Where can I change some money?

Could you please tell me -----where I can change some money----------------------------?

c) Where is the toilet?

Can you tell me----where the toilet is------------------?

d) How much does this pullover cost?

I'd like to know ---how much this pullover costs-------------------.

e) How do I get to Victoria Station?

Can you please explain ---how I get / to get to Victoria station-------------------------?

f) Does this train go to Gatwick Airport?

Could you tell me-----if this train goes to Gatwick Airport--------------------------------?

g) Where do you come from?

Can you tell me ----where you come from-------------------------------?

h) What do you think of London?

Could you tell me -----what you think of London------------------------------?

 

D. Complete each sentence with the correct form of say, tell or ask.

a) I ----told-------- you that you had to be on time. Why are you late?

b) When you ---asked------ her if she'd work late, what did she --say----- ?

c) I think that Alan ---told--------- us a lie about his qualifications.

d) When I --asked------him what he was doing there, he --told------- me it was none of my business.

e) I -said------ I'd help you, so here I am.

f) Did you hear what Sheila --said---------- about her new job?

g) What did Carol --tell------ you about her holiday?

h) There, you see! I -told-----------you the bus would be on time.

 

SOURCE - First Certificate Language Practice by Michael Vince

Reported Speech - FCE Practice

GRAMMAR REFERENCE 1

GRAMMAR REFERENCE 2

A. Rewrite each aentence in the Reported Speech, beginning as shown.

a) "You can't park here"

The police officer told Jack  -----that he couldn't park there------------ .

b) "I'll see you in the morning, Helen."

Peter told Helen ----------------------------------------------- .

c) "I'm taking the 5:30 train tomorrow evening."

Janet said -------------------------------------------.

d) "The trousers have to be ready this afternoon."

Paul told the dry-cleaners ----------------------------------------.

e) "I left my umbrella here two days ago."

Susari told them -------------------------------.

f) "The parcel ought to be here by the end of next week."

Brian said -----------------------------------------.

g) "I like this hotel very much."

Diana told me -------------------------------------.

h) "I think it's going to rain tonight."

William said -------------------------------------.

 

B. Rewrite each question in the reported speech, beginning as shown.

a) "What time does the film start , Peter?"

I asked ------Peter what time the film started----------.

b) "Do you watch television every evening, Chris?"

The interviewer asked -----------------------------------.

c) "Why did you apply for this job?" asked the sales manager.

The sales manager asked me -----------------------------.

d) "Are you taking much money with you to France?"

My bank manager wanted to know -----------------------------------.

e) "When will I know the exam results?"

Maria asked the examiner -------------------------------.

f) "Are you enjoying your flight?"

The stewardess asked me -----------------------------------.

g) "How does the photocopier work?"

I asked the salesman----------------------------------------------.

h) "Have you ever been to Japan, Paul?"

Sue asked Paul --------------------------------------------.

 

C. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

a) What time does the next boat leave?

Do you think you could tell me ----what time the next boat leaves--------?

b) Where can I change some money?

Could you please tell me ---------------------------------?

c) Where is the toilet?

Can you tell me----------------------?

d) How much does this pullover cost?

I'd like to know ----------------------.

e) How do I get to Victoria Station?

Can you please explain ----------------------------?

f) Does this train go to Gatwick Airport?

Could you tell me-------------------------------------?

g) Where do you come from?

Can you tell me -----------------------------------?

h) What do you think of London?

Could you tell me -----------------------------------?

 

D. Complete each sentence with the correct form of say, tell or ask.

a) I ----told-------- you that you had to be on time. Why are you late?

b) When you --------- her if she'd work late, what did she ------- ?

c) I think that Alan ------------ us a lie about his qualifications.

d) When I --------him what he was doing there, he --------- me it was none of my business.

e) I ------- I'd help you, so here I am.

f) Did you hear what Sheila ------------ about her new job?

g) What did Carol -------- you about her holiday?

h) There, you see! I ------------you the bus would be on time.

 

SOURCE - First Certificate Language Practice by Michael Vince