C1 Advanced with Get Speaking English

Reading and Use of English - Part 1 For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. Not sure how to do this exercise? Check out this post here: https://t.me/C1_Advanced/46 Example: 0 A assessment B account C expression D estimate Answer: C Not sure how to do this exercise? Check out this post here: https://t.me/C1_Advanced/46 Dressing for success Whether you like it or not, when you go for a job interview your personal appearance will be judged as an (0) _______ of who you are. Just from looking at you, the interviewer will start (1) _______ an opinion about your capabilities, your attitude to work and how well you might (2) _______ their organisation. The right image is one that helps the interviewer (3) _______ you as one of their team and (4) _______ them that you could represent their company. So, find out about the company dress code prior to the interview, or see how people are dressed on their corporate website. However, even if you (5) _______ the image right, it may not (6) _______ be remarked on. The interviewer will just sense that you look right', and feel (7) _______ to being convinced that you are the right person for the job. But if you get it wrong, it can be very difficult to (8) _______ the negative impression you may already have made. 1 A shaping B making C creating D forming 2 A put up with B settle down to fit in with D live up to 3 A visualise B reflect C observe D foresee 4 A reassures B clarifies C encourages D supports 5 A put B get C hit D set 6 A significantly B necessarily C appropriately D strictly 7 A open B free C alert D aware 8 A overtake B overthrow C overdo D overcome Click to reveal the answers below: Part 1 1D 2C 3A 4A 5B 6B 7A 8D #RAUOE #RAUOEPart1

Reading and Use of English - Part 4 For questions 25-30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given. Here is an example (0). Example: 0 James would only speak to the head of department alone. ON James __________________ to the head of department alone. The gap can be filled with the words insisted on speaking', so you write: Example: 0 INSISTED ON SPEAKING Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet. Not sure how to do this exercise? Check out this post here: https://t.me/C1_Advanced/87 25 The other students don't mind whether you give your presentation on Thursday or Friday. DIFFERENCE It __________________ the other students whether you give your presentation on Thursday or Friday, 26 'What are you thinking of doing for the college's centenary celebration?' the tutor asked the students. MIND The tutor asked the students what __________________ for the college's centenary celebration. 27 Dr. Ramesh's colleagues regarded him so highly that they forgave his inability to remember people's names. HELD Dr. Ramesh __________________ by his colleagues that they forgave his inability to remember people's names. 28 As learning new languages had never been a problem for her, Katy didn't expect to have any difficulties when she went to live abroad. COME Learning new languages had __________________ her so Katy didn't expect to have any difficulties when she went to live abroad. 29 I think we owe this passenger an apology, as she was apparently given incorrect train times by our call centre staff. MISINFORMED I think we owe this passenger an apology, as she seems __________________ train times by our call centre staff. 30 If her party wins the election, which is unlikely, she'll become President. EVENT In the __________________ the election, she'll become President. Click to reveal the answers below: 25 makes no/little DIFFERENCE to OR does not / doesn't make any /a/ much DIFFERENCE to 26 they had (got) in MIND 27 was HELD | in such (high) regard / esteem 28 always | COME easily / naturally to 29 to have been | MISINFORMED about | over / regarding / concerning / on 30 unlikely EVENT of her party winning OR unlikely EVENT (that) | her party wins #RAUOE #RAUOEPart4

cont… B Studies in the emerging field of neuroaesthetics have already offered insights into many masterpieces. The blurred imagery of paintings of the impressionist era towards the end of the 19th century seems to stimulate a part of the brain which is geared towards detecting threats in our rather blurry peripheral vision. The same part of the brain also plays a crucial role in our feelings and emotions, which might explain why many people find these pieces so moving. Could the same approach tell us anything about modern art, the defining characteristic of which has been to remove almost everything that could be literally interpreted? Although such works often sell for vast sums of money, they have attracted many sceptics, who claim that modern artists lack the skills or competence of the masters before them. Instead they believe that many people claim to like these works simply because they are in fashion. C in an attempt to make sense of how we perceive art, scientists have designed experiments that play with volunteers' expectations of the pieces they are viewing. The volunteers viewed pairs of paintings - either creations by famous abstract artists or the doodles of infants, chimps and elephants. Then they had to judge which they liked best. A third of the paintings were given no captions, while the rest were labelled. The twist was that sometimes the labels were mixed up so that the volunteers might think they were viewing a chimp's messy brushstrokes, while they were actually seeing an abstract piece by a famous artist. Some sceptics might argue that it is impossible to tell the difference, but in each set of trials, the volunteers generally went for the work of the well-accepted human artists. Somehow it seems that the viewer can sense the artist's vision in these paintings, even if they can't explain why. Yet, the experiment did not explain how we detect the hand of the human artist, nor the reason why the paintings appeal to us. But how does the artist hold our attention with an image that bears no likeness to anything in the real world? Of course, each artist's unique style will speak to us in a different way, so there can be no single answer. D A few studies have tackled the issue of how people process images, a case in point being Robert Pepperell's attempt to understand the way we deal with works which do not offer even the merest glimpse of a recognisable object for the brain to latch on to. But they may instead catch our attention through particularly wellproportioned compositions that appeal to the brain's visual system. We may also be drawn in by pieces that hit a specific point in the brain's ability to process complex scenes, which, in turn, may be why certain artists use a particular level of detail to please the brain. According to one psychologist, if there is too little detail we find the work boring, but too much complexity results in a kind of perceptual overload. Click to reveal the answers below: Part 8 47 C 48 A 49 D 50 C 51 B 52 D 53 A 54 C 55 B 56 C #RAUOE #RAUOEPart8

Reading and Use of English - Part 8 You are going to read an article about scientific interpretations of modern art. For questions 47-56, choose from the sections (A-D). The sections may be chosen more than once. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. Not sure how to do this exercise? Check out this post here: https://t.me/C1_Advanced/148 In which section does the writer... [47]____] mention certain viewers being able to relate to what artists had in mind? [48]____] refer to a doubt about the merit of a piece of artwork? [49]____] highlight a need for artists to strike the right balance? [50]____] indicate a possible reason for difficulty in reaching a consensus? [51]____] state that people may have a shallow reason for liking a piece of art? [52]____] suggest that some artists are aware of how they can satisfy the brain? [53]____] refer to a shift in her own perception? [54]____] point out shortcomings in a specific piece of research? [55]____] mention the possibility of extending the scope of an existing research area? [56]____] describe a procedure employed in the gathering of some scientific data? A scientific view of modern art Kat Austen investigates scientific research on modern art and why we appreciate it A Standing in front of Jackson Pollock's Summertime: Number 9A one day I was struck by a strange feeling. What I once considered an ugly collection of random paint splatters now spoke to me as a joyous celebration of movement and energy. It was the first time a piece of abstract art had stirred my emotions. Like many, I used to dismiss these works as a waste of time and energy. How could anyone find meaning in what looked like a collection of colourful splodges thrown haphazardly at a canvas? Yet here I was, in London's Tate Modern gallery, moved by Pollock's work. So, why are we attracted to paintings and sculptures that seem to bear no relation to the physical world? Little did I know that researchers have already started to investigate this question. By studying the brain's responses to different paintings, they have been examining the way the mind perceives art, and how masterpieces hijack the brain's visual system. cont… #RAUOE #RAUOEPart8

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cont… Modern technology, which allows us to receive work messages whenever and wherever we are, has blurred the distinction between work and leisure time. The internet company apparently began their unlimited leave policy when their employees asked how this new way of working could be reconciled with the company's old-fashioned time-off policy. That is to say, if their employer was no longer able to accurately track employees total time on the job, why should it apply a different and outmoded standard to their time away from it? However, a potentially problematic corollary of having no set working hours is that all hours are feasibly working hours. Employees can never be sure whether or not their working hours are being monitored by their employer, causing them to internalise this scrutiny and become self-disciplining, with possibly destructive effects. Employment law exists for a reason. Workers are entitled to a minimum amount of statutory paid annual leave because periods of rest and leisure are critical to their mental and physical health. The increased morale, creativity and productivity which are cited as the desired results of the unlimited leave policy can all exist independently of worker well-being. I remain doubtful, therefore, as to whether being 'able to take as much holiday as they want' is either the true intention or the probable outcome of this policy. 31 What does the writer imply about the founder of the multinational corporation? A He is unwise to employ his daughter in his company. B He is dishonestly copying an idea from another company. C He is using his daughter to make a planned change appear more acceptable. D He is merely trying to increase his personal popularity. 32 Which phrase could correctly replace 'Setting aside' in line 5? A As an example of B Because we accept C If we ignore for now D Taking as a starting point 33 The writer compares the multinational corporation and the internet company in order to demonstrate that A unlimited leave is more likely to work in a more diverse company. B employees in a smaller company have more loyalty to each other. C it is difficult for workers to assess what is best for their company. D what works in one company may be unsuitable for another. 34 What does the writer state about the unlimited leave policy in the third paragraph? A It increases the employees' workloads. B It sets unreasonable criteria to consider before leave can be taken. C It could harm the employees' careers in the long term. D it makes them feel under an obligation to take leave at inappropriate times. 35 What generalisation does the writer make about office workers in the fourth paragraph? A They can often be unaware of their legal rights. B They can have a strong influence on each other's behaviour. C They tend to be more productive when there is a promotion on offer. D They prefer to have fixed guidelines regarding terms and conditions. 36 In the last paragraph, the writer questions whether A it was really the staff at the internet company who had the idea for an unlimited leave policy. B employees can be trusted to keep track of their working hours. C abolishing a fixed work timetable actually gives workers more freedom. D it is time to update the employment laws relating to paid leave. Click to reveal the answers below: Part 5 31 C 32 C 33 D 34 B 35 B 36 C #RAUOE #RAUOEPart5

Reading and Use of English - Part 5 You are going to read an internet article about a work policy of unlimited leave time. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. Not sure how to do this exercise? Check out this post here: https://t.me/C1_Advanced/53 Unlimited Time Off Work Barnaby Spence considers a new idea from the world of big business The founder of a multinational corporation recently announced that his company would no longer be keeping track of its employees' paid holiday time. The move was apparently inspired by an internet company which has instigated a similar policy. According to the founder of the multinational corporation, the idea came to him via a cheery email (reproduced in many newspapers) from his daughter. In it she sounds suspiciously like a copywriter from her father's media team [LINE 5]. Setting aside the fact that the means by which the announcement was made seems like a hollow attempt at 'humanising' what may turn out to be a less than generous policy decision, let us ask is the idea practical? The internet company and the multinational corporation are fundamentally distinct - the former has 2,000 employees and provides a single service, while the latter has 50,000 employees with dozens of subsidiary companies providing services as diverse as financial services, transport, and healthcare. The approach of "take as much time off as you want as long as you're sure it won't damage the business' seems better suited to a smaller company where employees have a better idea of each other's workloads and schedules, and so may be more comfortable in assessing whether their absence would harm the business - in any case a problematically abstract notion. The founder of the multinational has stated that his employees may take as much leave as they want, as long as they 'feel a hundred percent comfortable that they and their team are up to date on every project and that their absence will not in any way damage the business - or, for that matter, their careers.' Is it possible to be that sure? No matter how many loose ends you manage to tie up in advance of a holiday, there is always a mountain of work to come back to. That is simply the nature of leave you put your work on hold, but its accumulation is inevitable and beyond your control. Someone who follows these guidelines would likely not go at all, or at the very least, would feel overly guilty about going. Increased levels of guilt lead to stress and this, together with workers not taking sufficient leave, would lead to a decrease in productivity in the long run. The situation could be compounded by pressure from colleagues and office gossip concerning who was off when, and for how long. Such pressure already affects decisions such as when to start and end the working day. Particularly in the corporate sector, there is a culture of working late, and it is easy to see how this could translate into a 'no holiday' culture in a company with unlimited leave, where workers compete for promotion Similarly. If the feelings of safety and entitlement that statutory leave provides are removed, people may feel unable to take the leave they require for fear of appearing lazy. Essentially, they would no longer have their legal entitlement to fall back on. Perhaps then, the policy would result in a sort of paralysis, where workers did not feel able to take their entitled leave, or, they might continue to use their statutory rights as a guideline, leaving the policy obsolete. cont… #RAUOE #RAUOEPart5

How would you describe your favourite film, book, or TV show? Try using some of the vocabulary highlighted in this post! Feel free to leave your response as a comment or a voice recording and get some feedback on your English. 😎 #vocabulary #entertainment

Thanks so much to everyone who joined me for today's crossword! It was an easier crossword than yesterday's but still an awesome opportunity to review some good vocabulary. This is an awesome activity for students aspiring to reach C2 by the way as it offers us some opportunity to review lesser-known yet common vocabulary English speakers would know! We learned all sorts of interesting things today, including: - The difference between a rug and a mat - Different aches and pains in the body - Lots of words about family members - A useful word for describing bad tastes or smells - The word "peripheral" and some of its uses - Words we can use to describe annoying people - Something a musician might have - How to describe a common texture found in corduroy or knitted garments In case you missed it, you can watch a recap of today's puzzle in the video below. https://youtube.com/live/Z9oT0dzWVxg?feature=share You're more than welcome to join me for the next stream. Follow me on Telegram to find out when that will happen. Coffee & Crossword Stream ☕️ Come hang out with me and help me do crosswords! Learn some vocabulary and phrases in the process. Where to participate: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSpeakingEnglish Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/getspeakingenglish YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getspeakingenglish Be sure to check out the playlist on YouTube of previous Coffee and Crossword Streams too. Thanks and see you soon!

Hey everyone! I'm just about to go live to do today's crossword! Coffee & Crossword Stream ☕️ Come hang out with me and help me do crosswords. Review some vocab and learn some new things too! Where to participate: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSpeakingEnglish Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/getspeakingenglish YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getspeakingenglish And be sure to check out the playlist on YouTube of previous Coffee and Crossword Streams after.

Thanks so much to everyone who joined me for today's crossword! It was a tricky one filled with lots of great C1/C2 words - ones that native English speakers would know but not often use. We learned all sorts of interesting things today, including: - Different types of running - The word "inane" and how to use it - What it means to stun someone and incapacitate them - All about orbits and a word you've never heard of (unless you're into science) - What a fixture is in a house - Uses of the word "savage" and some collocations - Words about worrying - The word "origin" and related words - The name of a face you make when you're hurt - Grilling meat In case you missed it, you can watch a recap of today's puzzle in the video below. https://youtube.com/live/VJFBplfQNY8?feature=share You're more than welcome to join me for the next stream tomorrow at 13:00 UTC. Coffee & Crossword Stream ☕️ Come hang out with me and help me do crosswords! Learn some vocabulary and phrases in the process. Where to participate: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSpeakingEnglish Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/getspeakingenglish YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getspeakingenglish Be sure to check out the playlist on YouTube of previous Coffee and Crossword Streams too. Thanks and see you soon!

What do you think the future of music will be like? Do you agree with the opinion in the post? Let me know in the comments!

Hey everyone! I'm just about to go live to do today's crossword! Coffee & Crossword Stream ☕️ Come hang out with me and help me do crosswords. Review some vocab and learn some new things too! Where to participate: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSpeakingEnglish Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/getspeakingenglish YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getspeakingenglish And be sure to check out the playlist on YouTube of previous Coffee and Crossword Streams after.

Hey everyone! I'm just about to go live to do today's crossword! Coffee & Crossword Stream ☕️ Come hang out with me and help me do crosswords. Review some vocab and learn some new things too! Where to participate: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSpeakingEnglish Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/getspeakingenglish YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getspeakingenglish And be sure to check out the playlist on YouTube of previous Coffee and Crossword Streams after.