Reading: B1
Digital habits across generations
Read an article about how people at different ages use computers and smartphones to
practise and improve your reading skills.
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Match the definitions (1–8) with the vocabulary (a–h).
Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… to miss out on a. websites and apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
2. …… addiction b. in a funny or strange way because it’s unexpected
3. …… constantly c. different from
4. …… to be cut off from d. to not get the benefits of
5. …… unlike e. needing something too much or in an unhealthy way
6. …… social media f. people who are the first to buy or use new technology
7. …… ironically g. all the time without a break
8. …… early adopters h. to have no access to
Reading text: Digital habits across generations
Today’s grandparents are joining their grandchildren on social media, but the different
generations’ online habits couldn’t be more different. In the UK the over-55s are joining
Facebook in increasing numbers, meaning that they will soon be the site’s second biggest
user group, with 3.5 million users aged 55–64 and 2.9 million over-65s.
Sheila, aged 59, says, ‘I joined to see what my grandchildren are doing, as my daughter posts
videos and photos of them. It’s a much better way to see what they’re doing than waiting for
letters and photos in the post. That’s how we did it when I was a child, but I think I’m lucky I get
to see so much more of their lives than my grandparents did.’
Ironically, Sheila’s grandchildren are less likely to use Facebook themselves. Children under
17 in the UK are leaving the site – only 2.2 million users are under 17 – but they’re not going
far from their smartphones. Chloe, aged 15, even sleeps with her phone. ‘It’s my alarm clock
so I have to,’ she says. ‘I look at it before I go to sleep and as soon as I wake up.’
Unlike her grandmother’s generation, Chloe’s age group is spending so much time on their
phones at home that they are missing out on spending time with their friends in real life.
Sheila, on the other hand, has made contact with old friends from school she hasn’t heard
from in forty years. ‘We use Facebook to arrange to meet all over the country,’ she says. ‘It’s
changed my social life completely.’
Teenagers might have their parents to thank for their smartphone and social media addiction
as their parents were the early adopters of the smartphone. Peter, 38 and father of two
teenagers, reports that he used to be on his phone or laptop constantly. ‘I was always
connected and I felt like I was always working,’ he says. ‘How could I tell my kids to get off their
phones if I was always in front of a screen myself?’ So, in the evenings and at weekends, he
takes his SIM card out of his smartphone and puts it into an old-style mobile phone that can
only make calls and send text messages. ‘I’m not completely cut off from the world in case of
emergencies, but the important thing is I’m setting a better example to my kids and spending
more quality time with them.’
Is it only a matter of time until the generation above and below Peter catches up with the new
trend for a less digital life?
Tasks
Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?
Answer
1. More people aged 55 or more use Facebook than people aged 65 or True False
more.
2. Grandparents typically use Facebook less than their grandchildren. True False
3. Sheila feels grateful to social media. True False
4. Peter found his own smartphone use affected how he felt about how True False
much his children used their phones.
5. Peter has changed how much he uses his phone during the working day. True False
6. Peter feels that the changes make him a better parent. True False
Task 2
Write the phrases in the correct group.
are returning to older like to keep their phones near
are less keen on Facebook
technology them
use social media to find old were the first generation to feel lucky to have the internet
friends get smartphones in their lives
Teens Grandparents Parents
Discussion
Who uses their phone the most among your family or friends?
Reading: B1
Encyclopedia entry
Read an encyclopedia entry on the Taj Mahal to practise and improve your reading skills.
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).
Vocabulary Definition
1. …… a fountain a. a rounded roof with a circle-shaped base
2. …… a pathway b. valuable stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds
3. …… a dome c. a narrow track for walking on
4. …… an archway d. a structure in a garden or park that pushes water into the air
5. …… precious stones e. a type of hard smooth stone that is often used for decoration
6. …… marble f. a curved structure, often over an entrance or passage
Reading text: An encyclopedia entry
The Taj Mahal (pronounced /tɑːdʒ m'hɑːl/) is a famous mausoleum next to the river Yamuna in
the Indian city of Agra. A mausoleum is a building where people bury the dead. The name Taj
Mahal means ‘the crown of palaces’.
1.
The most famous part of the Taj Mahal is the large white dome in the centre. It is 35 metres
high and is surrounded by four smaller domes. The rooms inside the building are decorated
with beautiful archways and precious stones in the walls. The buildings are surrounded
by gardens with pathways, pools, fountains and green gardens.
2.
The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and finished in 1653. It was built with materials
from all over India and Asia, but the main material is white marble. Historians believe that the
materials were transported by over 1,000 elephants for the construction.
3.
The emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a burial place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
According to legend, he wanted to build another Taj Mahal in black on the other side of
the river, but this never happened. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many parts of the Taj
Mahal were damaged by British soldiers, who took some of the precious stones from its walls.
Over the years, the Taj Mahal has suffered from environmental damage, and there have been
many government attempts to conserve its beauty.
© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish
4.
The Taj Mahal is one of India’s most famous landmarks. There are millions of visitors to the
mausoleum every year. The Taj Mahal is almost always included in lists of famous buildings to
visit and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is also a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
5.
Encyclopedia Britannica article on the Taj Mahal: https://www.britannica.com/topic/
Taj-Mahal
Official site of the Taj Mahal: https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/
UNESCO Profile of the Taj Mahal: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252
Tasks
Task 1
Match the paragraphs (1–5) with the best paragraph headings (a–f). One heading is not
needed.
Paragraph Heading
1. …… a. History
2. …… b. Gallery
3. …… c. Architecture
4. …… d. Construction
5. …… e. Tourism
Not needed …… f. References
Task 2
Are the sentences true, false or not mentioned?
1. The Taj Mahal is constructed of white marble and a small amount of black marble.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
2. There are water features in the gardens of the Taj Mahal.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
3. The construction of the Taj Mahal never finished.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish
4. The materials for the Taj Mahal are not all from India.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
5. There was a black Taj Mahal on the other side of the river.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
6. The British destroyed the Taj Mahal in the 20th century.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
7. The Indian government is trying to protect the Taj Mahal.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
8. The Taj Mahal is the most visited building in India.
a. True b. False c. The text doesn’t say.
Reading: B1
Planning an event
Read a dialogue where three people negotiate who does what to achieve a task.
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Match the words (1–8) with the definitions (a–h).
Word Definition
1. …… a guest list a. arranging the furniture and decorations in a room
2. …… catering for an event
3. …… an emcee b. to continue with a plan without changing it
4. …… room set-up c. to be thinking of choosing someone for a job
5. …… an announcement d. the people making and serving the food for an event
6. …… to stick to something e. a message to tell people about something, e.g. an
event
7. …… to take over something
f. to do something that someone else was doing
8. …… to have someone in mind
g. a list of the people coming to the event
h. a Master of Ceremonies: the person who presents
and introduces speakers onto the stage
Reading text: Planning an event
Mike, 14:41
All right, so I’ve divided up the tasks among the three of us planning this
event like this:
@Jen: make guest list, schedule social media announcements, arrange
room set-up, organise musicians
@Ed: book catering, send out invitations, design posters, book speakers
@Mike: reserve rooms, design invitations, write and publish blog post,
get emcee
But please don’t feel like we need to stick to this. If you prefer to do
something else, feel free to say so.
Jen, 14:50
Yeah, I was thinking, as you are project leader @Mike, maybe it’s
best you make the guest list? I’ve got experience in graphic design
so I’m happy to design the invitations.
Ed, 14:55
@Jen, do you mind designing the posters too? I’m not very good at
designing.
Jen, 14:56
Sure, it’ll be fun. If I take the poster design off you @Ed, do you
think you can organise the musicians?
Ed, 14:58
Absolutely, I know some really good musicians that do events like
this one. And I also know a really good emcee. Do you want me to
take over getting the emcee too?
Mike, 15:01
@Ed I actually already have an emcee in mind, so I think I’ll
handle that. I’d appreciate it if you could write and publish the
blog post about the event though.
Ed, 15:01
That’s not a problem. I quite enjoy online marketing tasks.
Jen, 15:03
If that’s the case @Ed, do you want to schedule the social media
announcements too?
Ed, 15:04
I can do that ... if someone books the speakers.
Mike, 15:08
I’ll book the speakers. And since I’m making the guest list, I should
send out the invitations too. @Jen, are you still OK with arranging
the room set-up?
Jen, 15:09
Yes, let me do the room reservations as well.
Mike, 15:10
Good idea. That would work nicely.
Tasks
Task 1
Match the tasks (a–l) to the person that will do them.
Person Task
a. Book rooms
Mike b. Create a post for a blog
c. Create invitations
…………………………
d. Create posters
e. Decide who to invite
Jen
f. Find emcee
………………………… g. Invite guests
h. Organise live music
Ed i. Organise the food
j. Plan room set-up
………………………… k. Plan social media communication
l. Reserve the speakers
Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?
Answer
1. Mike is the project leader. True False
2. Mike wants Jen and Ed to follow his original plan. True False
3. Jen enjoys doing the designing tasks. True False
4. Ed is happy to cook for the event. True False
5. Ed wants to be the emcee for the event. True False
6. Mike would like to be the emcee for the event. True False
Discussion
How are tasks usually divided in your project teams?
