Grandma's Hands

core     understands  hand spank  swell   piece  church tambourine 

snakes  mother    picked   handy  heaven

 

 

Grandma's hands

Clapped in _________ on Sunday morning

Grandma's hands

Played a __________ so well

Grandma's hands

Used to issue out a warning

She'd say, Billy don't you run so fast

Might fall on a _________ of glass

Might be ___________ there in that grass

Grandma's hands

 

Grandma's hands

Soothed a local unwed ________

Grandma's hands

Used to ache sometimes and _______

Grandma's hands

Used to lift her face and tell her

She'd say, Baby, grandma __________

That you really love that man

Put yourself in Jesus' hands

Grandma's hands

 

Grandma's hands

Used to _________ me piece of candy

Grandma's hands

_______ me up each time I fell

Grandma's hands

Boy, they really came in ________

She'd say, Matty don' you whip that boy

What you want to __________ him for?

He didn' drop no apple ____________

But I don't have grandma anymore

 

If I get to ____________ I'll look for

Grandma's hands

Hmm-mmh

Grandma's hands

 

IELTS Writing Task 1 - sentence transformations

Prepositions

1. The percentage ______ women ______ the workforce is significantly lower than that ______ men, particularly in managerial and executive positions.

2. The number ______ international tourists visiting the country increased _____ 10% ______ 2018 and 2019, reaching a total _____ 5 million visitors.

3. The average temperature _____ the region fluctuated ______ 20 and 25 degrees Celsius t______out the year, ______ the highest temperatures occurring _____ the summer months.

4. The service sector accounted ______ over 70% ______ the country’s GDP ______ 2020, highlighting its dominance _______ the economy.

5. There is a strong correlation ______ higher levels ______ education and higher incomes, as individuals ______ advanced degrees tend ______ have more lucrative career opportunities.

6. The proportion ______ women ______ managerial positions ______ the company increased ______ 35% ______ 2018 _____ 45% ______ 2020.

7. The distribution ______ wealth ______ the country is highly unequal, ______ the top 1% owning more than 30% ______ the total wealth.

Sentence transformation

1. The number of car accidents across different regions varied significantly, with the highest rates occurring in urban areas.

_________ _________ __________ ___________ in the number of car accidents across different regions, with the highest rates occurring in urban areas.

2. There has been a steady increase in the sales of electric cars, over the past five years, with a projected market share of 10% by 2017.

The sales of electric cars _______ ________ ________ ________ over the past five years, with a projected market share of 10% by 2017.

3. There has been a shift in consumer preferences towards environmentally-friendly products, which has resulted in an increase in demand for electric vehicles.

There has been a shift in consumer preferences towards environmentally-friendly products, _______ ______ an increase in demand for electric vehicles.

4. While the number of marriages has declined over the past decade, there has remained a relatively stable rate of divorce.

While the number of marriages has declined over the past decade, the divorce rate ______ ________ ________ _______.

5. The population density in the city center is significantly higher than in the suburbs, due to the concentration of businesses and services.

_______ _______ _______ _______ ________ population density in the city center than in the suburbs, due to the concentration of businesses and services.

6. Despite unemployment rates having decreased, the average wage has not kept pace with inflation, leading to concerns about income inequality.

The average wage has not kept pace with inflation, ______ _______ _______ _______ unemployment rates, leading to concerns about income inequality.

7. There is a strong relationship between air pollution levels and respiratory illnesses, with high pollution levels leading to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory problems.

Air pollution levels and respiratory illnesses _____ _______ _______, with high pollution levels leading to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory problems.

8. The rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has increased by 25% over the past decade.

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has increased ______ ______ ______ _______ 25% over the past decade.

Word form

1. The number of new businesses established in the city has been STEADY INCREASE over the past five years.

2. The majority of the country’s population is concentrated in urban areas, with over 70% of the total population LIVE in cities.

3. The total amount of carbon EMIT accumulated by the INDUSTRY sector from 2010 to 2020 was 2.5 billion metric tons.

4. It is PROJECT that the demand for RENEW energy in Europe will increase by 50% by the year 2030.

5. The amount of time SPEND studying is PROPORTION to the students’ overall PERFORM , with higher study time RESULT in better academic outcomes.

IELTS Writing part 2

 

Write about the following topic: 

We often hear that new technology presents a threat to our traditions. In what ways however can new technology help maintain our traditions?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. 
Write at least 250 words. 

In what ways however can new technology help maintain our traditions?

 

Some ideas

 

never    devote   Now    a lot    result   argued   From  It   Therefore

1. The Internet is _____ an established provider of education

2. _____ a good website we can learn _____ about our past 

3. As a _____ of the Internet , and mobile phones , it has _____ been easier to inform people of upcoming events 

4. ____ could be ____ that modern technology saves us time 

5. _____ we should have more time to _____ to traditional activities

 

Talk about traditional activities in your culture

Give some examples

Talk about how technology (like IT) makes these activities more alive.

For example - In NZ, we can all speak a lot more Te Reo Maori than we used to, partly because of the Internet. It just makes the language much more accessible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which paragraph could open with these sentence openers:

Finally , it could be argued that

We often hear that

In conclusion , there would seem to be

A second way in which today's technology can

First of all , it seems that 

__ _____ ____ ____ ___ __________ __ __ ________ ____ ___ __________ . ___ ___ __ _________ ___ ___ . ___ _____ ___ ____ _______ __ _____ ___ __________ ___ ____ _______ ___ __________ ___ ____ ____ ____ _____ 

_____ __ ___  __ _____ ____ __________ ___ ____ ________ ___ __________ __ _________ _ _______ __ _________ ___ ____ ___ ________ ___ ________ __ ___ __ ___________ ________ __ _________ ____ _ ____ _______ __ ___ _____ _ ___ _____ ___ ____ ___ ___ __________  ____ ___ __ _______ __ __ __ ___________ ____ __ ___ _______ ___ ___________ ________ __________ _ ________ ______________________ __________ ___ __ ____ _________ __ ___ _______ __ _____ _____ ______  _

_ ______ ___ __ _____ _______ __________ ___ ____ __ __ _______ __ ________ ___ __________ ___ ____ _____ __ __ __________ __ _____ ____ ___ ___ _________ _________ __ _ ______ __ ___ ________ ___ ______ ________ ___ _____ ____ ______ __ ______ ______ __ ________ ______ ___ __ ______ ___ ____ __ _ _____ ______ __ ______ _______ _____ ___ __ ______ ______________________ _

_______ _ _____ __ ______ ____ ______ __________ _____ __ ____ _ ___ __ _ ___ __ _____ ____ ____ _______ ____ __ ___ ____ __ ______ _________ __ ______ ____ ____ ____ __ ______ __ ___________ __________ ______ __ ______ __ __ __ __ ___ _______ _____ ____ ___ __________ _______

__ __________ _____ _____ ____ __ __ _______ ____ __ _____ ___ __________ ___ ____ __ __ ________ ___ __________ ____________ __ _________ ___ _________ __ __ __ ____ _____ _______ __ ___ ____ _______ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ______ __ ______ ___ __________ __ ____ ___ _________ ___  

 

Review activity (model text)

Ghost Stories

Have you ever seen, heard or sensed a ghost?

Ghost Stories

For each story, stop after a the introduction and guess how the story will continue....

Story 1

Write down 5 key words from this story:

1._________

2._________

3._________

4._________

5._________

 

Now write the story very simply.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do you feel about this story?  

Scared  /   amused  /  unconvinced   /   creeped out   /   upset    /     disturbed    /   fascinated   / reminded of another story  /   anxious

  

Story 2

Write down 5 key words from this story:

1._________

2._________

3._________

4._________

5._________

 

Now write the story very simply.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scared  /   amused  /  unconvinced   /   creeped out   /   upset    /     disturbed    /   fascinated    

reminded of another story  /   anxious

Story 3

Write down 5 key words from this story:

1._________

2._________

3._________

4._________

5._________

 

Now write the story very simply.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do you feel about this story?  

Scared  /   amused  /  unconvinced   /   creeped out   /   upset    /     disturbed    /   fascinated    

reminded of another story  /   anxious

Story 4

_Write down 5 key words from this story:

1._________

2._________

3._________

4._________

5._________

 

Now write the story very simply.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do you feel about this story?  

Scared  /   amused  /  unconvinced   /   creeped out   /   upset    /     disturbed    /   fascinated    / 

reminded of another story  /   anxious

off the beaten track

casket

a tin lunch pail

nightstand

abandoned logging camp

a red plaid shirt

removed

away

ever

got

when

had

one

used to

 

So, my uncle and I, we were really close. He passed _______ when I was a little girl. And he ________ play Pretty Pretty Princess with me, which has these little plastic rings that you wear during the game. And I loved this one ring. And _______ he passed away, I put it in his casket with him. And, you know, I did it during the funeral. Everyone saw it in there. And _______ day, a few weeks after the funeral, I woke up one morning and the ring that I _______ put in his casket showed up on my nightstand. No one had _______ it from the casket. No one knew how it _______ there, but it was the exact same ring. And I was little and I didn't think anything of it, but my mom swears up and down that it is the spookiest thing that's _______ happened to her.

 

had

always

still

one

fall

over

too

wouldn't

would

 

Growing up, me and my sister, we shared a bedroom. _______ night in the middle of the night, I woke up and in between our bed was this guy in a pinstriped suit standing there with a fedora and a briefcase. And I was like obviously assuming that I'm having a dream or a nightmare. And he ________ turn or anything. He never looked. I never saw his face. I never looked at him, but he _______ just stare right out the window. And I threw the covers ______ my head and would freak out and then I would _______ back asleep. And so one morning after I saw him there, I turned to my sister cuz we _______ woken up at the same time. And I was like, "Jillian, I saw this guy last night and he was standing there with a pinstriped suit and she was like, "And a fedora and a briefcase." And I was like, "Yeah, and a fedora and a briefcase." And she was like, "I saw him,________ ." She's like, "I ________ see him." And I was like, "Wait." I was like, "Me, too." Right now, I can close my eyes and I can see it so perfectly and I sound like I'm making up the biggest lie in the world. But it's the weirdest thing. I don't know. Me and my sister _______ talk about it to this day.

Word formation

Practising word formation is super important for your fluency and accuracy. It's quite similar to studying and practising verb tense forms, but probably more difficult.

B1

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

C1

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

Word formation practice

Advanced quiz here:

 Word formation challenge

Telling a story

 

 

Mariska's story

Film Night 

By Mariska 

On arriving      That      though     One day       On the way     However     So       So     In the end 

1.___________ back in my home country, two friends and I planned a film night at my house. When we were texting about the plans, we decided we would first go to the supermarket to buy some snacks. _________, when the day of the film night finally arrived, my friends picked me up with the car and we drove to the supermarket. 2.___________, we decided we would buy some drinks and chips. Not that difficult, you may think, but when we were standing there in the supermarket in front of the chips, it looked like my friends had lost their ability to choose. 3.___________, it took us quite long to choose a chip flavour. In the end, we chose some drinks and some chips, we paid and were ready to go back.  

4.__________ , while we were walking back to the car one of my friends, who lives on a farm, suddenly came up with the idea to go to her house because she wanted to show us something. So instead of going back to my house, we went to her farm. 5._________, she led us to the sheep barn. It turned out they just had gotten lots of lambs, which she wanted to show us. We spent some time playing with the lambs and at some point I suggested it would be better to go back home, because we had a film we wanted to watch. So that was what we did.  

We drove back home and arrived there after a couple of minutes. While I was walking through our hallway, I suddenly noticed something suspicious. I could see some balloons hanging in our living room, and it also was a little dark. I walked another step that led me closer to the living room, and all-of-a-sudden, a big group of friends appeared! 6.__________ was a surprise. It was right then that I understood why we had been visiting the lambs at the farm and why it took my friends so long to decide about the chips.  

What I didn’t tell you in the beginning of this story, 7._________, is that this happened just a few days before I went off to New Zealand. You now maybe get why they wanted to surprise me. 8.__________ we all had a great time together. We enjoyed some delicious tompouces (and lots of other food as well) and we played a Kahoot game about New Zealand. 

Oh, and guess who won? 

Check

One day back in my home country, two friends and I planned a film night at my house. When we were texting about the plans we decided we would first go to the supermarket to buy some snacks. So when the day of the film night finally arrived, my friends picked me up with the car and we drove to the supermarket. On the way we decided we would buy some drinks and chips. Not that difficult, you may think, but when we were standing there in the supermarket in front of the chips, it looked like my friends had lost their ability to choose. So it took us quite long to choose a chip flavour. In the end we chose some drinks and some chips, we paid and were ready to go back. 

However, while we were walking back to the car one of my friends, who lives on a farm, suddenly came up with the idea to go to her house because she wanted to show us something. So instead of going back to my house, we went to her farm. On arriving, she led us to the sheep barn. It turned out they just had gotten lots of lambs, which she wanted to show us. We spend some time playing with the lambs and at some point I suggested it would be better to go back home, because we had a film we wanted to watch. So that was what we did. 

We drove back home and arrived there after a couple of minutes. While I was walking through our hallway, I suddenly noticed something suspicious. I could see some balloons hanging in our living room, and it also was a little dark. I walked another step that led me closer to the living room, and all of a sudden a big group of friends showed up! That was a surprise. It was right then that I understood why we had been visiting the lambs at the farm and why it took my friends so long to decide about the chips. 

What I didn’t tell you in the beginning of this story, though, is that this happened just a few days before I went off to New Zealand. You now maybe get why they wanted to surprise me. At the end we all had a great time together. We enjoyed some delicious tompouces (and lots of other food as well) and we played a Kahoot game about New Zealand. Oh, and guess who won?

Task

Write us a story about a coincidence or a surprise that happened to you.

Make it about the same length has Mariska's story.

Send it to me by email - I'll send back corrections.

When we're done we can share our stories in groups by reading them aloud.