Unit 1

Colour Matters
1 Complete the sentences. Then fill in the puzzle.

Across
1. Many businesses use the colour blue to represent them.

2. The colour green often symbolises safety .

3. In many countries, people think the colour red is good luck .

4. Bright colours often make us feel happy.

5. Blue jeans are coloured with indigo dye .

T 8

R
W
7
U
6
W A 2
S A F 10E T Y
1
R E P R E S E N T M
D N E
D 4
B R I G H T
I G
N E
3
G O O D 9
L U C K N
I C
G 5
D Y E
H
T
Down
6. In some countries, wedding dresses are red.

7. Red and yellow are used to warn people of danger.

8. When we trust someone, we often feel safe with them.

9. Violet is a light purple colour.

10. Emergency vehicles are often red.

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 2 Match the word to its definition. Write the letter on the line.
c 1. w
_____  arn a. to give information or a warning
a 2. signal
_____ b. to believe in someone or something
d 3. g ood luck
_____ c. t o say that danger is coming
b 4. t rust
_____ d. s omething good that happens

3 Listen. Circle T for True or F for False. 002

1. T F 4. T F
2. T F 5. T F
3. T F 6. T F

4 Listen again. Correct the false statements. 003

1. The colour red often symbolises danger. / The colour green often symbolises safety.
4. Annie Griffiths loves to use bright colours in her photos. / Annie Griffiths does not
like to use dark colours in her photos.
6. Yellow/Red/Orange is a colour often used in warning signs. / Green is a colour that
often makes people feel safe.
5 Look at the photos. Choose two and write a sentence about them. Use a word from the
box in each sentence.

signal  represent  danger  flag  luxury  colour-blind  warn

A car like this is a luxury.

Suggested answers: This flag represents India. This sign warns of danger.
A colour-blind person may not see the colours in India’s flag. A traffic light signals when
to stop or go.

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 Gr ammar
Comparatives and superlatives: Comparing two or more things

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Green is a common colour. Red is more common than Blue is the most common
purple. colour.

Fuchsia is a bright pink Hot pink is brighter than Magenta is the brightest
colour. fuchsia. colour.

Fish that live deep in the sea Bats have worse eyesight Moles have the worst
have bad eyesight. than deep-sea fish do. eyesight.

We use comparatives to compare two things. Use more before adjectives that have two or more
syllables. Add -er to adjectives that have just one syllable. With two-syllable adjectives that end
in y, both options are possible (tastier or more tasty). Remember to change y to i.

With a group of three or more things, we use superlatives to compare one thing in the group
to the rest. Superlatives always take the. Use most before adjectives that have two or more
syllables. Add -est to adjectives that have just one syllable. With two-syllable adjectives that
end in y, both options are possible (the tastiest or the most tasty). Remember to change y to i.

Some adjectives are irregular: good/better/best and bad/worse/worst.

1 Listen. Write the letter C when you hear a comparative and the letter S when you hear a
superlative. 004

C
1. _____ C
4. _____
S
2. _____ S
5. _____
C
3. _____ S
6. _____

2 Listen again. Re-write the comparatives as superlatives and the superlatives as

comparatives. 005

1. the best 4. the hardest

2. sweeter than 5. easier than

3. the most popular 6. more luxurious than

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 3
7 Fill in the blanks. Use the adjective, the comparative or the superlative form of the words
from the box.

bright common depressed light

nervous ordinary relaxed strong

1. Brighter colours often get stronger reactions than

lighter ones.

2. Light colours make us feel more relaxed than dark colours.

3. That’s why pale yellow and pink are more common than
black in schools and hospitals.

4. Dark colours tend to make people feel depressed .

5. The colour that makes people nervous is red.

6. Orange is one of the brightest colours.

7. Pink is a colour that is lighter than red.

8. A room without colour looks very ordinary .

4 Write. Choose at least two colours you really like. Write four sentences comparing the
colours and how you feel about them. Use either a comparative or superlative in each
sentence.
Possible answers: I like purple better than I like red.
I think green is a prettier colour than blue.
Green colours make me feel the safest.
Purple gives me the most energy.

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 1 Listen and read. As you read, think about the order of events. 006

Colour, Colour, Colour!

‘Colour, colour, colour!’ are the words of artist and illustrator Eric Carle. Eric is like
royalty in the world of children’s books. He has written over 70 children’s books. His most
famous book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is common on children’s bookshelves all over
the world. What most people don’t know is that Eric makes art for adults, too. A lot of people
do not know about Eric’s ‘ArtArt’. ‘ArtArt’ is what Eric’s work for adults is called. People
didn’t know about it, because he didn’t show it to the public until he was 84 years old!
Like Eric’s children’s books, his ‘ArtArt’ is full of bright, vibrant colours. He says that he
loves colour so much because he missed it during the war in Germany.
Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, but moved to Germany
with his family when he was six. When he was 10, World War II began.
He noticed that all the houses and buildings in his town were painted
grey, brown or dark green. It was a sad time, and it seemed like there
was no colour anywhere.
At the end of the war, ‘when colour came back’, Eric explains, ‘I
just loved it so much. I keep saying that I wish our eyes could see more
colour. Colour is a very important part of my work.’
Anyone who has seen Eric’s books can see how important colour
is to the artist. He paints bright colours on paper, cuts out shapes,
and then glues them onto another piece of paper. This is no ordinary
method – it is called collage. In fact, this method is what led Eric to his
‘ArtArt’. He never planned on making art for adults, but when he saw
all the extra pieces of colourful paper he had from cutting out shapes, he decided to make
something out of them.
Eric’s ‘ArtArt’ includes large collages as well as paintings, sculptures, photographs and
even costumes. In all these works, he uses a rainbow of colours – everything from purple
to light green to orange. Now that’s a lot of colour!

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 2 Read. Then tick T for True or F for False. Correct the false statements.
T F
1. Eric has created many books for adults. ✓

2. Most people know Eric’s ‘ArtArt’. ✓

3. Collage is a method of gluing coloured pieces of paper together. ✓

4. The colours used during the war represent sadness for Eric. ✓
1. Eric Carle has created many books for children.
2. Not many people know Eric’s ‘ArtArt’.

3
7 Read ‘Colour, Colour, Colour!’ again. Use the events below to fill in the order of events
and when they happened.

moved to Germany showed ‘ArtArt’ to public born

‘colour came back’ World War II began

Event When It Happened

born 1929
moved to Germany age 6
World War II began age 10
‘colour came back’ after war
showed ‘ArtArt’ to public age 84

4
7 Write. You have read about the history of purple and the artist Eric Carle. What is similar
about William Perkin’s and Eric Carle’s experiences while doing their work?
Answers will vary.

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 Gr ammar
The: Identifying general and specific things
My friend started a new company. The human eye can see over 10 million
The company is called Colour Works. colours.

The moon is glowing orange tonight. Can you pass me the green crayon?

We use the definite article the to refer to a specific noun. The noun is specific because

• it was mentioned before or it is known. • there is only one.

• we’re referring to it in general. • we’re providing information that makes it
specific.

Use the indefinite article a/an to refer to something for the first time (I bought a bright pink pen.) or
to refer to something that is not specific. (Do you have a colourful dress for the party?) You can’t
use a/an with plural nouns.

1 Read. Circle the correct word.

1. The / A back wall of this art room is neon pink.

2. What’s the / a name of this dark blue colour?

3. Our classroom has a / the colourful work station.

4. The / A moon is very bright in the night sky.

5. I bought a / the new pair of shoes. The / A colour of these shoes is light green.

6. Lucy wore an / the orange and green scarf. I didn’t know she had one.

7. In some countries, seeing the / a black cat is good luck.

2 Fill in the blanks. Use the or a/an.

1. The sign said to slow down, but Juan did not notice the warning.

2. Walking on green grass is a luxury for Linda because she lives in the desert.

3. Andi wants to start an online company that sells fabric dyes.

4. The wedding will be next Saturday afternoon. Ana is so nervous!

5. Have you ever seen violet clouds in the sky?

6. The French flag on the capitol building is very large.

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 3 Read Suki and Jake’s blog. Write your comments and advice. Make sure you use the
and a/an in your response.

Suki and Jake’s

Design Blog

Welcome to our blog! Some of you may have noticed that we want to
repaint the school’s art room. Mr Lee says he trusts us and gives the students
full control. Jake and I started a committee. As leaders of the committee, we
are nervous. We will make the final decision, but want to hear from the whole
student body.
So far, some of the students say they like the room as it is. They like
the bright colours and the fun photographs. But many others say we need a
new look.
A common idea among several students is to paint a mural. Everyone can
help. The question is, ‘What will the mural be?’ Another suggestion is that
students enter design ideas into a contest. The winner will design the large
side wall. And the runner-up will decorate the smaller front and back walls.
So, what will we do? Leave the art room as it is? Paint a mural? Create a
contest in which the winners design the walls? Or something else?

Sam
I like the mural idea. It could be of the school flag!

Lucy
I agree that the art room needs a new look. I think the contest is a good idea.

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 Writing
A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a paragraph. It says what the paragraph is going
to be about. It also makes readers want to know more. The topic sentence is usually the first
sentence of the paragraph, but it does not always have to be. It explains:
• what you want to say • why you are writing

Look at these examples of topic sentences:

In this article, I’m going to discuss the history of the colour orange.
When taking a photograph, it’s important to think about light and colour.
Each of the colours and shapes of the South Korean flag represents something specific.
Many people who are colour-blind cannot tell the difference between red and green.

1 Organise.
1. Your topic is Colour Matters. Look through Unit 1 in your book to get some ideas about
what colours you like, what connections you have to them, and how they make you feel.
2. Now fill in the idea map about the colour you chose to write about. Include the colour,
your connection to it, and how it makes you feel.

Connections How I Feel

Colour

2. Plan your writing. You’ll need to begin with a topic sentence. It should state your main
idea, why you are writing and what you want to say. Write your topic sentence here.

Then, you will write a few sentences about your connection to the colour. Finally, you will
write a sentence or two about how the colour makes you feel.

2 Write.
1. Go to page 21 in your book. Re-read the model and writing prompt.

2. Write your first draft. Check for organisation, content, punctuation, capitalisation and
spelling.

3. Check your final draft. Share it with your teacher and classmates.

10

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 Now I can ...
• talk about colours and why they are important. o Yes, I can!
o I think I can.
Give an example of a colour and what people usually associate it with. o I need more practice.
Sample answer: Red is associated with danger.
Write a sentence that describes how colour can make you feel.
Sample answer: The colour yellow makes me happy.

• use comparatives and superlatives to compare two or more things. o Yes, I can!
o I think I can.
Write a sentence with a comparative about two colours or things. o I need more practice.
Sample answer: Orange is brighter than green.

Write a sentence with a superlative about how one colour or thing is the most, the best,
and so on.
Sample answer: Blue is the most popular colour in the world.

• use the to identify general and specific things. o Yes, I can!

o I think I can.
Fill in the blanks with the and a/an. o I need more practice.

Sara bought an interesting painting. My favourite part of the painting is the sun.

The artist used the colour orange instead of yellow. It creates a happy feeling.

• write a paragraph about my favourite colour. o Yes, I can!

o I think I can.
Write a topic sentence about another colour you like. The topic sentence o I need more practice.
should include why you are writing and what you want to say.
Answers will vary.

you decide Choose an activity. Go to page 90.

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