Page 47 - English Download B1+

Speaking

1 Ask and answer these questions with a partner.

• Do you enjoy shopping for clothes? Why/Why not?
• Do you prefer to buy locally-produced items or well-known brands?
• Which members of your family are difficult, or easy, to buy presents for?

2 When you give your advice about a situation, you need to be able to explain the pros and cons
(advantages and disadvantages) of each option before you make your choice. Look at the following
expressions and write A if they are introducing an advantage or D if they are introducing a
disadvantage.

1 Option A has the risk of ... 4 The benefit of option B would be ...
2 The problem with option B is that ... 5 Option A might not be the best idea because ...
3 However, on the plus side, option A ... 6 Option B avoids the danger of ...

3 Follow the instructions and complete the task with your partner. One of you will be Student A and the
other will be Student B. Use the words and phrases in the Language Bank to help you.

When it is your turn to ask
questions, your partner will
only tell you the disadvantages
of each option. It is up to you
to think of and talk about the
advantages of each, and then
explain which option you think
is the better choice and why.

Student A: Look at the pictures and use the information on page 189 to answer Student B’s questions.
Student B: Look at the pictures and ask Student A these questions to find out what the situation is.
You should ask:
• What is the problem?
• What are some possible solutions?
• What are the disadvantages of each solution?
Using the information you have learnt, give Student A your advice on what you think the best solution is and why.
Explain why you didn’t choose the other solution.

4 Now swap roles. Look at the Extra Practice on page 189 and follow the instructions.

5 Work in pairs to discuss these questions.

• Do you think online shopping will cause lots of smaller shops to close down?
• In your opinion, are boys more interested than girls in electronic gadgets?
• Do you think it’s important to spend money on birthday presents, or are there better ways of
celebrating with someone?

Contrasting advantages and disadvantages
Although ... has the risk of ..., the benefit would be ...
In spite of / Despite the problem of ..., it might be better because ...
Even though ... might cause ..., on the other hand it might ...
... would be risky/less risky. However, on the plus side ...
... avoids the danger of ..., but ...

UNIT 4 51