A shortage of timber worldwide is causing a dearth in supply and major problems for the housing and construction industry. The decrease in the availability of timber has caused a sharp spike in the prices of newly built homes around the world. In some countries, the price builders pay for timber has shot up by about 25 per cent. One of the reasons builders are struggling to get supplies is because people have been repairing or reforming their homes during lockdown. Another reason is that post-lockdown construction and additional DIY projects have created “extraordinary demand”. A timber trade federation said suppliers were “working around the clock” but are “struggling to keep up”.
Some people like to watch films. Others like to attend concerts. Which activity do you prefer to do? Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
STEP 1 |Organizing 解答の組み立て|Ask yourself the following questions and organize your ideas.
1 Do you prefer to watch films or attend concerts?
2 Why do you enjoy doing this activity?
3 What features of films or concerts are so attractive to you?
1 My preferred activity ____________________________________
2-1 First reason ___________________________________________
1.As for me, I prefer watching films to attending concerts.
2- 1. First of all, watching films is a very relaxing activity.
3- 1. They usually last around two hours, so, during that time, I can forget about what is going on in my life and get lost in the movie, especially if it is an action movie, which I love.
2-2. Secondly, I think of films as artwork, so I try to appreciate them as works of art when watching them.
3-2. When they come together successfully, like in Citizen Kane, for example, I realize I am watching something more than a movie.
解答例 B
1 I would say I prefer attending concerts rather than watching films.
2-1. One of the main reasons is that there are so many different genres of music I like.
3-1. In the past few months, I have attended concerts performed by musicians in three different genres, thereby enabling me to hear some of my favorite songs performed live.
2-2. Another reason why I like attending concerts is that the music is much better when I hear it performed live.
3-2. My family went to a classical music concert recently.Attending the concert in person was so much better than listening to the same music on a CD.
STEP 2 |Response 解答文作成| Make your response using the above information.
As for me, I prefer _______ One of the main reasons is ________________
STEP 3 |Speaking 解答| Now say your response out loud, and record your time. While you are speaking, do not look at the written response
Response time: 45 seconds Your speaking time: ___ seconds
STEP 4 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
解答例 A films
As for me, I prefer watching films to attending concerts. First of all, watching films is a very relaxing activity. They usually last around two hours, so, during that time, I can forget about what’s going on in my life and get lost in the movie, especially if it’s an action movie, which I love. For example, no matter how many times I watch movies like Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean, I get lost in the stories and forget about the outside world. Secondly, I think of films as artwork, so I try to appreciate them as works of art when watching them. For example, the acting, camerawork, lighting, and many other aspects of a film are all important. When they come together successfully, like in Citizen Kane, for example, I realize I’m watching something more than a movie. This makes me appreciate watching the film even more.
解答例 B concerts
I’d rather travel in a group than alone. To begin with, traveling in a group is safer than traveling alone. If I were alone, I might have some problems, yet no one could help me, especially in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language. If I’m with a tour group, the leader almost always speaks the local language. In addition, traveling with a group can give you and your travel partners man shared experiences and lots of good memories from the trip. Since it’s more interesting to travel with others, you can get memories from your trip that will last a lifetime. That is why I prefer traveling with a group of people.
The U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims to “level up” opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was spoken in the area around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK’s “elite” private schools but only 2.7% of state schools. Williamson said: “Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject, which is reserved for the privileged few, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that divide.” He added: “Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages.”
When we think of expensive liquids, quality champagne or French perfumes come to mind. You might be surprised to discover that printer ink is one of the world’s costliest liquids. A survey from the U.K. consumer watchdog “Which?” revealed that some printer ink that is sold by tech companies is pricier than many champagnes. It reported that printer ink from printer makers can be up to 286% more expensive than alternative ink from companies that do not make printers. The watchdog said that some branded printer ink can cost as much as $846 a litre. A consumer rights expert from Which? said: “Printer ink shouldn’t cost more than a bottle of high-end champagne or Chanel No 5.”
Some people take trips by themselves. Others take trips with groups of people. Which kind of trip do you prefer and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your preference.
STEP 1 |Before you start(1)|Listen to the dialogue. Then, answer the questions to get some ideas about the subject.
スクリプト
W: What are you going to do for your spring break vacation, Henry?
M: I haven’t made any plans yet.
W: There’s a group from our dorm going skiing in Vermont.
M: Sounds good. Who’s going?
W: Let’s see, I think ten people. David, Alan, Joe, Steve,Tom …
M: Tom? No way. I’m not going anywhere with him.
W: Why not?
M: He’s cheap and never wants to spend his money. Besides, he can never make up his mind about anything. Anyway, in a group that size, there’s bound to be a problem.
W: Maybe you’re right. So what are you going to do?
He doesn’t want to go because of Tom’s character and because the group is too big.
Yes, he enjoys skiing because he said it sounded like a good idea.
STEP 2 |Before you start(2) | Now listen to the lecture. Then, answer the questions to get some ideas about the subject.
スクリプト
Tourism is big business all over the world. The package trip with a tour group is the most popular way to travel for the elderly, with almost 85% of tour group travelers being 50 years and older. Many hotels give discounts of up to 20% for large groups. On the other hand, for young travelers, backpacking remains popular, especially in Europe. Some travel alone while others go with friends, but young travelers almost never join tour groups. In a recent survey, the main reasons for not joining tour groups were the cost and desire to have a flexible schedule. However, young travelers, especially women, are advised to travel with others to avoid dangers.
1 Which two groups of people does the lecturer compare?
STEP 5 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
解答例 A by myself
Of the two options, I would choose to travel alone than in a group. Firstly, by traveling alone, I can decide where to go and what to do. I don’t have to agree to do something just to make others happy. Also, I can be more flexible and change my mind. My trip can be more exciting and interesting than it would be if I had to follow a tour group’s set schedule. Secondly, I may not get along with the other people I’m traveling with. Everyone has different personalities. Some are lazy or cheap, and others can never make up their minds. If we have an argument, it could ruin the trip or even our friendship. So, I prefer to travel alone.
解答例 B with groups
I’d rather travel in a group than alone. To begin with, traveling in a group is safer than traveling alone. If I were alone, I might have some problems, yet no one could help me, especially in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language. If I’m with a tour group, the leader almost always speaks the local language. In addition, traveling with a group can give you and your travel partners man shared experiences and lots of good memories from the trip. Since it’s more interesting to travel with others, you can get memories from your trip that will last a lifetime. That is why I prefer traveling with a group of people.
Germany’s leader has expressed her fears about climate change after visiting the devastation caused by the severe flooding in Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was horrified by the destruction across swathes of her country. She visited some of the hardest-hit areas in Germany and listened to accounts of the disaster from local residents. She told reporters: “It’s shocking. I can pretty much say that the German language does not have words to describe the destruction that has been wreaked.” Ms Merkel said the world had to escalate its efforts to tackle the climate crisis. She said: “We must hurry. We have to be faster in the fight against climate change.”
The UK is considering several measures to help people eat more healthily. The government asked a food expert to come up with some ideas. The expert is Henry Dimbleby, the founder of a chain of restaurants. Mr Dimbleby created the National Food Strategy and presented it to the UK government earlier this week. The strategy included two main ideas. One is a tax on food containing salt and sugar, which the media have called a “snack tax”. The second idea is to give vegetables to poorer people for free. Mr Dimbleby warned that what we eat, and how it is produced, is doing “terrible damage” to the environment and to our health. Poor diet leads to 64,000 deaths a year in England and puts great pressure on hospitals.
❶ They help me stay focused on what I am studying.
❷ They help me gain a wider perspective on the subject.
STEP 3 |Response 解答| Make your response using the above information.
Example : I like studying in groups better than studying alone. First, when I am in a group, everyone can correct one another when we make mistakes. Second, we can explain the things that we do well to others. So, if I am good at something but some other members are not, I can explain it to them to help them understand.
Your Response _________________________________________________
STEP 4 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
To tell the truth, I really prefer studying in groups. As a matter of fact, I often have trouble focusing when I study alone. But, when I study in a group, I can focus much better. And another thing is that if you study in a group, you can hear more opinions about the subject at hand. So the group helps me gain a wider perspective on the issue I am studying.
Climate scientists have warned that many parts of the world will experience more extreme heat. The experts are from Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth Observation Programme. Its meteorologists analysed world temperatures from satellites, aircraft, weather stations and other databases from around the world. The scientists reported that their figures indicated a high likelihood of an escalation in extreme temperatures. They said: “It was the second warmest June on record for Europe….Heatwave conditions persisted over western North America, where many temperature records were broken. Arctic Siberia also experienced high temperatures.”
