THE LOST
WORLD
UNIT
1
GETTING READY
FOR COLLEGE
In This Unit You Will Learn
Listening : Listen to college Interview
Speaking : Answer Difficult Interview Questions
Reading : Read Interview Horror Story
Writing : Write a follow-up letter
1
Look at the photo and answer the following questions :
1. What is happening in the picture?
2. What are some reasons to be interviewed?
3. What are some common interview questions?
4. What advice would you give to someone preparing for an
interview?
2
A LISTENING
Listen to college interview
Vocabulary
1 Listen and Number
association award behalf capable
competitive institution strength weakness
2 Fill the blanks with the best vocabulary. change the form if necessary
strength
1. My greatest _______________________ is that I never get stressed about work.
institution
2. This _______________________ has been around for 200 years. It’s the oldest university in this city.
capable
3. I studied computer science in university, so I am very _______________________ of working for this
company.
behalf
4. On _______________________ of the whole team, I would like to thank you for your hard work.
5. The student _______________________
association is looking for new members.
6. Tom got a(n) _______________________
award for winning the writing contest.
7. This program is very _______________________.
competitive Only one in 100 applicants is accepted.
8. Ricardo’s _______________________
weakness is that he worries too much about little things
Conversation
3 Talk with your partner
Thanks for coming in, Billy. Please tell me a little about yourself.
Well, I was born in Chicago but grew up in New York City, where I attended George Washington
High School. I’m really interested in computer programming, and I want to be a game developer.
So, why are you interested in attending this university?
Well, I know you have one of the best engineering programs in the country. Also, I heard the
social life here is amazing.
Yes, I think we have both of those things. So, why do you want to major in engineering?
All the best game developers have a background in engineering, so it’s the best place to start if I
want to achieve my dreams.
OK, great. So, what are your strengths and weaknesses
My strengths are that I’m hard-working, honest, and punctual. And my weaknesses... let me
think..
3
Listen Up
4 Listen to the conversation and answer the questions
1. How long has Ms. Benitez lived in Boston? 2. What is one of Ms. Benitez’s strengths?
a. since high school a. She works hard.
b.since she was four b. She is narrow-minded.
c. all of her life c. She is very flexible.
3. What is true about Ms. Benitez? 4. What will Ms. Benitez likely do in two months?
a. She’s not too determined to reach her goals. a. check to see if she was accepted to the university
b. She was the president of a robotics association. b. enter a new robotics competition
c. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class. c. have another interview with Dr. Venkman
5 Listen again then answer the questions with your partner
1. Write down all of Dr. Venkman’s questions.
2. Summarize the woman’s answers.
3. Did the woman do a good job of answering the questions? Discuss.
4. How would you have answered the questions? Take turns asking and answering the
questions with your partner.
5. What other questions do you think Dr. Venkman could have asked? List two questions.
6 Look at the table
Additional Interview Questions
1. How do you plan to contribute to this institution / school / company?
2. Why are you a good fit for this institution / university / company?
3. Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
4. What do you plan to do after university?
5. Describe a time when you had a lot of stress. How did you overcome it?
6. Whom do you admire the most?
7. What is your greatest achievement?
8. In what ways are you unique?
Find a partner. Then practice asking and answering five of the questions from 6 .
7 Write down your answers and your partner’s
Question Your Answer Your Partner's answer
4
B SPEAKING
Answer Difficult Interview Question
Vocabulary
1 Read the words in the box. Then listen and write the vocabulary words you hear.
assume commit circumstance cope
intention tough sufficient repond
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
2 Fill the blanks with the best vocabulary. change the form if necessary
1. This assignment is too _______________________. I don’t think I can do it.
2. Theresa’s _______________________ was for everyone to do a different part of the presentation.
3. Stewart couldn’t _______________________ with all of the extra responsibilities. It was too much for him.
4. I don’t think I can _______________________ to the party this weekend. I have too many other things to do.
5. Our class didn’t have a(n) _______________________ number of students, so it was canceled.
Grammar
3 Look at the Table then answer the questions
The Usage of Present Perfect The Usage of Present Perfect Continuous
Talk about finished actions: Talk about unfinished actions:
The students have studied for two hours. The students have been studying since this morning.
Talk about long-term actions: Talk about temporary actions:
The students have studied math for 12 years. They have been studying in the library for an hour.
Emphasize the repetition of an action: Emphasize the duration of an action:
He has attended five interviews this month He has been writing the report for two hours.
1. Mitch has been learning karate since last year. 2. Steve has been to the library five times this week.
a. to emphasize the repetition of an action a. to emphasize the repetition of an action
b. to talk about a long-term action b. to emphasize the duration of an action
c. to talk about a finished action c. to talk about an unfinished action
d. to talk about an unfinished action d. to talk about a long-term action
3. Danielle has been walking her dog for half an hour. 4. My mom has been working at that company for 15 years.
a. to talk about a finished action a. to talk about a finished action
b. to emphasize the repetition of an action b. to talk about a temporary action
c. to talk about a temporary action c. to emphasize the duration of an action
d. to talk about a long-term action d. to emphasize the repetition of an action
5
Listen Up
4 Listen and complete the conversation with the words you hear.
Ms. Anderson : So, Mr. Hernandez, how long have 1. _________________________________ on going to our
university?
Mr. Hernandez: Let me think about that… I guess I’ve been planning to go here since I was a kid.
Ms. Anderson : Oh, really?
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah. It 2. _________________________________ to go here because it’s the same university my
parents and older sister attended.
Ms. Anderson : I see. And why do you think you would be a good fit for this university?
Mr. Hernandez: That’s an excellent question, but a little tough. I’m not quite sure how to respond.
Ms. Anderson : Take your time.
Mr. Hernandez: Well, I’ve always been interested in technology. In fact, 3. _________________________________
engineering classes at the community college since last summer. So, I think I’d be a good fit
because my interests match this university’s specialties.
Ms. Anderson : I see. So, then, how do you plan to contribute to this university if you are accepted?
Mr. Hernandez: To answer your question, I plan to commit my free time to the Robotics Association. And if I
have a sufficient amount of time left over, I’ve been planning to try out for the rugby team.
Ms. Anderson : Oh, you play rugby? Mr. Hernandez: Yes, I’ve been playing since I was in elementary school.
I’m pretty good at it.
Ms. Anderson : That’s great. Next question: What do you plan on doing after university?
Mr. Hernandez: 4. _________________________________ in the robotics field for a couple of years and then going to
graduate school if the circumstances are right.
Ms. Anderson : OK, then where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Mr. Hernandez: No one has ever asked me that before... In 10 years, I see myself working for a research
institution.
Ms. Anderson : Finally, what makes you unique?
Mr. Hernandez: I’ve never thought about that before. I’m as unique as everyone else, I guess. I do have a
talent for coming up with interesting ideas on how to use technology,
and I 5. _________________________________ quite well. Besides that, I don’t think I’m especially
unique. I’m just hard-working, and I have a passion to learn
Speak Up
Conversation Pauses
5 Look at the table. Find the conversation
pauses in 5 and underline them. Then
Let me think about that ...
practice using conversation pauses with
a partner.
That’s an excellent question …
6 Find a partner. Then read the interview
questions. Write two more. Then practice To answer your question …
asking and answering the questions with
your partner. No one has ever asked me that before…
Interview Questions I’ve never thought about that before…
1. Why should we hire / accept you over other candidates?
2. How would you benefit our company / university?
3. What is your greatest regret?
4. Tell me something impressive about yourself.
5. How much do you expect to learn / earn here?
6
C READING
Interview Horror Story
Vocabulary
1 Listen and Number
encounter
betray
collapse
occur
combination
abandon
reputation
suspicious
2 Match the words with the definitions.
1. collapse a. to hurt someone who trusts you by doing something wrong
2. abandon b. the opinion that people have about someone or something
3. suspicious c. a result or product of combining two or more things or people
4. encounter d. a brief meeting with another person
5. occur e. not trusting someone or something
6. reputation f. to fail or stop working suddenly; to break down completely
7. betray g. to happen
8. combination h. to leave and never return to someone or something
Pre-Reading
Look at the pictures of people in interviews. Describe what they are doing wrong
3 and what they should be doing. Talk with your partner
What they are doing Wrong? What he is doing Wrong? What he is doing Wrong?
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
What they should be doing? What he should be doing? What he should be doing?
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
7
Interview Horror Story
4 Read the story
Hi. My name is Marcus, and my first college interview, which took place at Arizona State
University’s College of Engineering, was a complete failure. The interviewer, who was also a
professor at the university, asked me normal interview questions. I answered all of his questions
truthfully. Everything was going fine. Then he asked, “So, how have you been preparing for an
education in engineering?” I had no idea how to answer his question. I got really nervous and
started sweating like crazy. Finally, I lied and told him, “Oh, I’ve been working part-time at a
company that makes electric cars near my house.” I could tell that he was suspicious because he
kept asking follow-up questions that I couldn’t answer. [a] The interview quickly collapsed. The
interviewer was furious with me for lying. He even told me that he could never admit someone
who did what I had done into his university. I’ll never forget that encounter!
I’m Clarice, and I had a really awkward college interview. The interview was conducted by a man
and a woman at the University of Georgia. Because of a combination of reasons, the interview
went downhill. First, I had an upset stomach and had to go to the bathroom a lot. I must have
eaten something that didn’t agree with me at lunch. In total, I went to the bathroom six times. By
the sixth time I went to the bathroom, the interviewers seemed pretty worried and annoyed. When
I came back after the last bathroom trip, the male professor got a phone call and started talking
on the phone. [b] After he hung up, the woman scolded him for answering the phone in the middle
of the interview. This started a long argument between the two professors. I felt so
uncomfortable. I was so happy when the interview was over.
My name is Antonio, and my friend Ricardo, whom I have known my whole life, attended the same
college interview as me. Our group interview was at the University of Canberra. [c] The interviewer
asked us to give him a copy of our application essays. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring mine with
me. I explained to the dean that I had emailed it to the university with my application. Suddenly,
Ricardo said, “I can’t believe you didn’t bring your essay. That’s so unprofessional!” He then
handed the dean his essay. I couldn’t believe what had just occurred! Why would my friend betray
me like that? My confidence started slipping away, but I didn’t abandon hope. Luckily, the
interviewer had my essay in his email. After the interview, I asked Ricardo why he did what he did.
He said that he wanted to improve his chances of getting accepted. [d] The whole situation totally
ruined our friendship. A few months later, I found out that I was accepted to the university, but
Ricardo wasn’t.
Comprehension
5 Circle the answers.
1. The university where Marcus interviewed is in ____.
a. Canberra b. Georgia c. Australia d. Arizona
2. What is true about Clarice?
a. Her interview made her have an upset stomach. b. She answered a phone call during her interview.
c. Her friend betrayed her during her interview. d. She felt uncomfortable during her interview.
3. What were the reasons for Clarice’s bad interview?
a. She was sick, and she answered her phone. b. The interviewers were sick and talked on their phones.
c. She was sick, and the interviewers argued. d. One interviewer was sick, and the other used the phone.
4. Where is the best place to insert the following sentence?
Both of us have wanted to go there since we were kids.
a. [a] b. [b] c. [c] d. [d]
5. What can be inferred about Antonio and Ricardo?
a. They are probably still friends. b. They are probably no longer friends.
c. They probably went to the same university. d. They probably hung out together after the interview
8
D WRITING
Write a follow-up letter
Vocabulary
1 Listen and Number
deliberate ideal relief overall
initially truly selection outstanding
2 Fill the blanks with the best vocabulary. change the form if necessary
1. The team ____________________ for three hours before it reached a decision.
2. The ____________________ process will take a long time because so many people applied.
3. ____________________, I was nervous, but I calmed down after a few minutes.
4. That was an incredible concert. The band members are all ____________________ great musicians.
5. Nasim got ____________________ grades in his finals, so he’s receiving a full scholarship to university!
6. Meg got the highest grades ____________________ by the end of the year.
7. My ____________________ vacation would be just relaxing on the beach.
8. I passed my test! What a(n) ____________________!
Grammar
3 Look at the table
Defining and Non-defining Relative Clause
Non-defining relative clauses give extra
Defining relative clauses give essential
information about a person or thing. It is not
information about someone or something:
necessary information. A relative pronoun (who,
information that we need in order to understand
which, whose, or whom) is always used to
what or who is being referred to. Relative
introduce a non-defining relative clause.
pronouns (who, that, which, whose, and whom)
Commas are used to set apart the non-defining
are used to introduce a defining relative clause.
relative clause.
Example :
Example :
My best friend, who lives next door, is called
They’re the people whom I met last night.
Jimmy.
Those are the houses that were flooded during
The red car over there, which belongs to Dirk, is
the storm.
10 years old.
The money was given to the boy whose bike was
That woman, whom I met last year, is talking to
stolen.
her friend
9
Listen Up
4 Combine the sentences so that they have the given clause: defining or non-defining.
Answers will vary.
Example :
Eric’s brother is coming home. Eric’s brother is a college student. (non-defining)
Eric’s brother, who is a college student, is coming home.
1. John has two sisters. He plays on the soccer team. (non-defining)
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Students prepare in advance. They tend to do well in interviews. (defining)
___________________________________________________________________________
3. That company makes sneakers. It has a factory downtown. (non-defining)
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Mehmet is standing over there. He has long hair. (non-defining)
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Schools have good facilities. They receive lots of applications. (defining)
___________________________________________________________________________
5 Read and fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Then listen and check your
answers.
which oerall deliberating that
outstanding selection who initially
To: Professor Ahmed Okhur
Subject: Thank You for the Interview
Dear Professor Okhur,
This note is to thank you for the interview 1. ________________ we had last week at Lewis and
Clark College. It was a(n) 2. ________________ experience, and I truly appreciate you taking the
time to interview me. I hope I successfully answered all of the questions that you asked me. To
tell you the truth, I was 3. ________________ a little nervous, but after we started talking, I became
more relaxed. It was such a relief.
I also really like the campus, 4. ________________ I toured after our interview. 5. ________________,
everyone I talked to was nice and helpful, especially the person 6. ________________ helped me
find your office. I have been thinking about it all week, and Lewis and Clark is definitely the
ideal college for me.
Anyway, I know that you will be 7. ________________ on which applicants to select over the course
of the next week. I hope that you can keep me in mind during the final 8. ________________. In the
meantime, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to email them to me or call
me directly. My phone number is in the application that I left with you. Thank you for your
time. Best Regards, Octavio Salamanca
Writing
6 Write a thank-you letter to someone who has recently helped you. Include at
least two defining and two non-defining relative clauses.
10
