Unit 11: Making Choices

A. Complete each paragraph. Answer each question. Use the words in the box.

1. I live in a rural part of the country. There are a lot of trees and rivers and even some small mountains where I live. I love the natural beauty here.

There is this one very scenic place that is near my house. It has a river and a lot of green space. The local people like to go fishing and swimming in the Rever there.

And many families even go on picnics there during the summer. It's really peaceful and a lot of fun. There’s a lot of discussion about this place right now.

Some people want to build a factory on the river. I don’t understand how anyone would want to do that. I’m very worried about what is going to happen to the environment —the river, the animals, the trees.

I have learned that the factory will probably create a lot of pollution in the area.

people probably won’t be able to swim or fish in the river anymore. And a lot of the trees will be cut down.

I guess I’m a conservationist because I don’t want to see the area destroyed. Some people want the factory because they say that it will generate jobs and more money for the area.

They say that the factory is going to be a big benefit to everyone in our town. I don’t agree.

Would you choose for the factory or against it?

I'd choose against the factory because the pollution will destroy the environment.

2. Daniel is a very social person. He likes having friends and enjoys hanging out with them. He is intelligent, but sometimes he has too many things to do at one time.

For example, next week he has extra football practice, he has to volunteer at the youth center, and he wants to hang out with his friends and go skiing.

That is already a lot to do, but he also has a very important test in history. He needs to get a good grade on it.

Daniel likes to fit in with his friends, so hanging out with them, wearing the right clothes, and playing sports are important.

But getting into a good college is important, too, so he needs to focus on studying more and getting better grades.

He just can’t do everything, but he thinks he can. He got a crazy idea—to cheat on his history test.

If he does that, he thinks that he’ll be able to pass it without studying for it.

If Daniel tells his friends about his idea, what will they say?

Study for your history test. Don't cheat on it. Be honest.

B. Complete the conditional sentences about facts. Use the present and future forms of verbs.

1. If I sleep (sleep) in class, the teacher won’t be happy. But if I don’t study until midnight, I won't pass (not pass) the exam.

2. If it rains (rain) a lot this week, the team won’t be able to practice for the big game. If the weather is nice, the team will practice (practice) every afternoon.

3. If the temperature drops below zero, rain changes (change) to ice and snow. But if the temperature stays above zero degrees, rain doesn't freeze (not freeze).

4. If I decide (decide) on King Saud University, I’ll move to Riyadh next fall. I will be (be) happy there if I make (make) friends quickly.

5. If I tell (tell) my parents that I didn’t do well on the test, they will be (be) angry. If I don't tell (not tell) my parents the truth, they will be (be) angry, too!

6. If you drop an apple, it falls (fall) to the ground. If you drop (drop) a feather, it floats (float) to the ground.

7. If Sultan gets (get) the job, he will move (move) to Dhahran. But if he moves (move) to Dhahran, he probably won't see (not see) his friends and family very often.

8. If Mahmoud makes (make) his hotel reservation now, he will be (be) guaranteed a room. If Mahmoud doesn't go (not go) on vacation, he will have (have to) cancel his reservation.

C. Write sentences about facts and possibilities. Use the information in the lists provided below.

1. The garden club loves trees. If the city doesn’t put a modern sculpture in the square, the garden club will plant trees instead.

2. The square isn’t very pretty right now, and some sculptures are really beautiful. If the city puts a modern sculpture in the square, the square may be more beautiful than it is now.

3. The city wants more tourists to visit the square, but sculptures aren’t really big tourist attractions. If the city puts a modern sculpture in the square, more tourists may not visit the square.

4. People have their own ideas about what good art is. If the city puts a modern sculpture in the square, some people may not like the modern piece of art.

5. There are a lot of birds in the square. If the city puts a modern sculpture in the square, the birds will have a new place to sit.

D Write sentences about situations in your life. Say what will/might happen.

1. If I stop eating junk food, I may start going to the gym.

2. If I get more sleep, I won't be so tired in the morning.

3. If I practice more, I'll be able to speak English better.

4. I save money, I might buy a computer.

E. Answer the questions. Use I’d rather.

1. Kevin is reading his favourite book in the park. Would you rather study math or read your favourite book in the park?

I'd rather read my favourite book than studying math

2. David is camping in the mountains. Would you rather go camping in the mountains or stay in a hotel at the beach?

I'd rather go camping than staying in a hotel.

3. Charles is going to visit England and Scotland on vacation. Would you rather go on vacation to another country or stay at home during vacation?

I'd rather go on a vacation than staying at home during vacation.

4. Tom plays on his school’s football team. Would you rather play on your school’s football team or play on its basketball team?

I'd rather play on my school's football team than play on its basketball team.

5. My brother and his friend went hiking in France last year. Would you rather go hiking across another country or take a train?

I'd rather go hiking across another country than take a train.

6. I have a little cousin who loves to go fishing. Would you rather go fishing or play video games?

I'd rather play video games than go fishing.

7. That’s my Uncle Bill. He went to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Would you rather visit the Grand Canyon or visit New York City?

I'd rather visit the Grand Canyon than visit New York City.

F. READING

Complete the sentences. Use the information in the text.

1. Teenagers have to make decisions about college and their careers.

2. Teenagers’ friends are the most important influence when they buy things.

3. Teenagers often go to their parents for advice on more serious matters.

4. Many teens think that it is a good idea to make decisions with the help of parents and friends.

5. To some teens, it is OK to sometimes make mistakes when they make decisions.

G. Read about these two situations.

Choose one situation. List some ideas for and against your choice.

I'd like to support people who help the environment.

If I see that there is pollution, I will write about that.

A reporter's job is to be honest and report what is happening.

H. WRITING

Now write a paragraph about your choice. Write what you will do and explain your choice.

I am against factories that pollute the environment. But there is a question about this factory. Is it polluting the river with chemicals?

I'm not 100 percent sure. I'd rather be 100 percent sure before I write an article about it. So if I'm not sure about the pollution,

I won't the article. And if I am 100 percent sure that the factory is polluting the environment, I will write about that as well as the protest march.