Vocabulary and reading skills

Example

The rich aren’t happier than the poor.

1 Look back at the news stories in Period 1. Then complete the table with nouns from the stories. The nouns are all made in the same way. Can you add two more verb/noun pairs similar to ⁦1 and⁩ 2?

VERB NOUN

1. react
2. predict

3

4

5. introduce
6. reduce
7. produce

2 Use nouns from the table to complete the sentences. Then write a sentence for each of the nouns you added to the table.

1. My is that the company will make a profit next year.
2. Oil is used in the ___ of plastic.
3. The to his speech has been generally positive.
4. You need to explain your aims in the ___ to the essay.
5. There has been a big ___ in the number of people who use desktop computers.

6

7

3 Look at the example. Then answer the question below.

What do the noun phrases the rich and the poor mean?

A some rich / poor people

B rich / poor people in general

4 Complete the sentences with a general noun phrase using the + an adjective in the box.

deaf homeless confused young careless blind*

• deaf = unable to hear **blind = unable to see

1. We are collecting money to provide guide dogs for ___ .
2. More houses are being built to help solve the problem of ___ .

3 Using social media as a way of communicating is most often used by ___ .

People in richer countries are reporting less, not more, satisfaction with their lives.

1. Would a lot of readers expect people in rich countries to be more satisfied or less?
2. Why does the writer use both less and its opposite more in the sentence?

A to make the difference between the two clearer

B to show that the reality may be surprising to some

6 Match the pairs of opposites in the boxes. Then use them to complete the sentences.

declining

the rich

poverty

happiness

depression the poor

wealth

increasing

1. Far from creating greater _ , money can actually cause _ .
2. Perhaps it is rather than ___ who need to change their lives.
3. In some countries, globalisation has created more _ , not more _ .
4. Instead of as we hoped, demand for the product is actually ___ .

7 Look at the example from the text in Period 4. Then answer the questions below.

The researchers reached the conclusion that … extra income is not associated with increased happiness.

1. Which three of the nouns below can also follow the verb reach?

destination agreement friendship decision result

2. Which one of these three nouns uses the literal meaning of reach?
3. Which two of the verb phrases below mean the same as reach and can also be used with the same nouns?

come to go towards arrive at

8 Complete the sentences with verb phrases and nouns from Activity 7, changing the form of the verb if necessary.

1. What time do you think we will ___ our ?
2. Have you a ___ about which car to choose?
3. The two sides talked for hours, but still couldn’t _ an _ about the terms of the takeover.
4. After a lot of thinking about the essay question, I finally _ a _ about what to write.

4. Using sign language is a way for ___ to communicate.
5. This simple and clear book is the perfect guide for ___ .
6. Only are likely to make this mistake.

5. Look at the example. Then answer the questions below.