Report question and useful language

TASK

An international development agency has been looking into attitudes to aging around the world. The research director has asked you to conduct a survey and write a report. Your report should discuss how young people where you live feel about older people in the community and the prospect of growing older themselves. You have also been asked to make recommendations about how attitudes could be changed.

Write your report in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Reason for writing (Introduction)

·                     The aim/objective/purpose of this report is to compare/examine/evaluate/describe/outline (some suggestions)/analyse (some suggestions)/expose/present/give information on/regarding the/recommend/consider/suggest

·                     This report aims to... etc.

·                     Nouns: information (remember: not informations), ideas, suggestions, situations, conditions, comments

·                     in order to improve/decide

·                     In case of suvey/discussion: It is based on a survey conducted among/It is the result of a discussion which took place among

Body (2 paragraphs maximum)

·                     Headings from the task

·                     It should be considered, it is worth considering

·                     The first observation to make is (concerns)

·                     First of all/Firstly

·                     Secondly/ Furthermore/Moreover

·                     Lastly/Finally

·                     In fact

·                     According to (the majority of respondents)

·                     However, although, alternatively

·                     In spite of (the fact [that])/Despite (the fact [that]) + Noun, Pronoun or ...ing

·                     Predicting the future: The outlook for ... is (far from [+ing]) bright/optimistic/depressing/daunting

·                     The future looks bleak/remains uncertain/is promising

·                     This seems unlikely in the near/foreseable future

·                     It has been stressed that

Making/giving recommendations

·                     I would strongly recommend that ... should + bare infinitive

·                     In the light of the results of the survey I would advise against...

·                     I feel it would be to our advantage if...

·                     The best solution is/would be to...

·                     This will have an impact on + noun

Conclusion(s)

·                     As long as/provided that these recommendations are taken into consideration

·                     In conclusion...

·                     The reseach shows/demonstrates

·                     From the research/the evidence we conclude that

Model proposal

Introduction

This proposal is intended to outline common issues students have when studying abroad, and suggest ways that a course could help them to deal with these. The final section makes recommendations about what should be included in the course curriculum.

Problems when studying abroad

Interviews were conducted with 20 students who have recently completed a student exchange programme. The majority of students were of the opinion that overcoming the language barrier in their new country was the biggest challenge and nearly half also said that they experienced culture shock. Other problems cited included unrealistic expectations, loneliness and packing the wrong things - particularly being unprepared for a different climate.

Ways a course could address these

A course could prepare students for culture shock by raising awareness of the phenomenon and describing cultural differences that students may encounter in their host country. To aid participants with language, a course could include some useful phrases for the first days after arrival, in addition to some resources for language learning. The course could also include a discussion about combating isolation and adjusting expectations.

Recommendations

I would like to make the following recommendations:

§  Invite students who have previously studied abroad to share aspects of the culture they found surprising and give advice on what to take.

§  Provide a list of useful phrases, together with suggestions of useful resources for language learning such as websites, blogs or e-books.

§  Facilitate a discussion about engaging with people to avoid loneliness and isolation.

If these recommendations are implemented, young people are bound to feel more prepared for their experience.

[+/- 265 words]

Use of English Parts 1, 2 and 3

UOE Part 1

For questions 1 – 12, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

What we know about music and the brain

Work on the human brain has (0) …….. how different parts are centres of activity for different skills, feelings, perceptions and so on. It has also been shown that the left and right halves, or hemispheres, of the brain are (1) …….. for different functions. While language is processed in the left, or analytical hemisphere, music is processed in the right, or emotional hemisphere. (2) …….. of

music like tone, pitch and melody are all probably processed in different parts of the brain. Some features of musical experience are processed not just in the auditory parts of the brain, but in the visual ones. We don’t yet fully understand the (3) …….. of this. The tempo of music seems to be (4) …….. related to its emotional impact, with fast music often (5) …….. as happier and slower music as sadder. It is the same with the major biological rhythm of the body: our heart (6) …….. quickens when we’re happy, but slows when we’re sad. Military music may have (7) …….. from attempts to get us ready for (8) …….. by using fast drumming to (9) …….. our hearts into beating faster. Music is perhaps one of the most complex experiences the brain

(10) …….. with and it has become an absolutely (11) …….. part of our rituals and ceremonies. It has power beyond language to (12) …….. mood and co-ordinate our emotional states.

1 A amenable    B dependable   C responsible    D reliable

2 A Views            B Aspects            C Factors             D Pieces

3 A expectations             B implications    C assumptions  D propositions

4 A surely            B plainly               C evidently         D directly

5 A felt                 B endured          C encountered                 D touched

6 A pulse             B speed               C pace                  D rate

7 A evolved        B extended        C advanced        D elevated

8 A battle            B fight                  C quarrel             D struggle

9 A activate        B motivate         C stimulate         D animate

10 A manages   B copes                C bears                                D holds

11 A vital             B important       C compulsory    D dominant

12 A notify          B report               C associate         D communicate

Part 2 – Mosquitoes

According to the World Health Organisation, malaria, a disease spread (0) ........ mosquitoes, affects millions of people every year. Everyone knows how irritating the noise made by a mosquito, (13) …….. by a painful reaction to its bite, can be. It is astonishing that so (14) …….. is known about why mosquitoes are drawn to or driven away from people, given (15) …….. level of distress and disease caused by these insects. We know that the most effective chemical (16) …….. protecting people against mosquitoes is diethyltoluamide, commonly shortened (17) …….. deet. (18) …….. deet works well, it has some serious drawbacks: it can damage clothes and some people are allergic to it.

Scientists know that mosquitoes find some people more attractive than others, but they do not know (19) …….. this should be. They also know that people vary in (20) …….. reactions to mosquito bites. One person has a painful swelling while (21) …….. who is bitten by the same mosquito (22) …….. hardly notice. Scientists have (23) …….. discovered the reason for this, but they have carried (24) …….. experiments to show that mosquitoes are attracted to, or put (25) …….. by, certain smells. In the future, scientists hope to develop a smell that mosquitoes cannot resist. This could be used in a trap (26) …….. that, instead of attacking people, mosquitoes would fly into the trap and be

destroyed. For the time (27) …….. however, we have to continue spraying ourselves with unpleasant

liquids if we want to avoid getting bitten.

43 There were a lot of things that we had to think about before we could accept their offer.

OBLIGED

There were several things that we ………………..……………….. consideration before we could accept their offer.

44 Do you think you could help me to fill in this application form?

WONDERING

I ………………..……………….. me a hand filling in this application form.

45 I know that it was wrong of me to shout in front of the customers.

RAISED

I know that I should ………………..……………….. in front of the customers.

Writing a proposal tips

Paper 2 Part 2 - Proposal

PROPOSALS and reports have a similar layout (see reports in this same section). Reports are based on current circumstances or situations whereas proposals are action plans for the future. You give more space to the current situation in a report and more space to recommendations for future actions in a proposal.

Hints

First things first...

1. Begin by brainstorming ideas, in any order, and don't worry about language at this stage.
2. Group your ideas under headings for each section of your proposal.
3. Write a first draft, paying attention to the level of formality of the language.

Don't forget!

• Begin by stating the purpose of your proposal.
• Use an impersonal, semi-formal style.
• Use clear layout with headings.
• Express opinions and make recommendations in the last section of your proposal.
• Include a final sentence summarising your opinion.
• Use bullet points but not too many.

Useful language for a proposal

Stating the purpose of the proposal

• The principal aims/objectives of this proposal are to...
• This proposal is intended to...
• In this proposal I describe/evaluate/present/assess...

Background information

• Comments made at the end of the questionnaires suggest...
• Following a survey among families of young children...
• Concerned members of the local community were invited to attend...
• A number of concerns with regard to the most recent street party were expressed by locals...

Making recommendations and suggestions

• A working group should be set up by...
• There should be an enquiry into...
• I recommend that a larger survey should be conducted before a final decision is reached...

Final recommendations

• The results of the survey/questionnaire suggest that the introduction of heavier fines would seem to be the best option/choice/solution.
• If these recommendations are implemented, the situation is bound to improve.
• Unless these suggestions are implemented, it is unlikely that there will be any improvement in the short term.

Source: http://www.rubenvalero.com/english/content/cae-proposal

Use of English parts 1 and 2

Essay question on cultural heritage

Your class has attended a lecture on the action governments can take to make sure cultural heritage is preserved for future generations. You have made the notes below.

Priorities for governments aiming to preserve cultural heritage
• increase funding for museums.
• protect old buildings.
• teach the importance of cultural heritage in schools.

Some opinions expressed in the discussion
'Cultural heritage isn't just about buildings - it's about a way of life.'
'It's the responsibility of the older generation to pass on a cultural heritage to the next generation.'
'Museums are the best places to keep shared memories of a community.'

Write an essay for your tutor, discussing two of the priorities in your notes. You should explain which priority you think is more important, giving reasons to support your opinion.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion but you should use your own words as far as possible.

Write your essay in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.