Objective Proficiency p 55. Keys and Vocabulary

Ex 3
Sample answer
I think that the person listening to music on an MP3 player is probably the most representative of the way people listen to music today. Since its introduction the iPod® and similar devices have really become popular as they mean that you can listen to whatever music you want, wherever you are, without annoying anyone else. At one time, it was possible to overhear a tinny noise when someone was using an MP3 player, but with the new types of earphone, this is no longer the case. I’m sure that even better devices will be invented very soon as well.


tinny: /ˈtɪni/ having a high thin sound like small pieces of metal hitting each other.

More vocabulary 

To talk about the atmosphere:

• Hushed: /hʌʃt/ quiet because nobody is talking; much quieter than usual. E.g. A hushed courtroom listened as the boy gave evidence.
• Electric: full of excitement; making people excited. E.g. The atmosphere was electric.
• Expectant: /ɪkˈspektənt/ hoping for something, especially something good and exciting. E.g. children with expectant faces waiting for the fireworks to begin. A sudden roar came from the expectant crowd.
• Conducive: / kənˈdjuːsɪv / conducive to something making it easy, possible or likely for something to happen. Sp. Propicio. E.g. Chairs in rows are not as conducive to discussion as chairs arranged in a circle. The soft lights and music were conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.  
• Free and easy: informal; relaxed. E.g. Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
• Rarefied: /ˈreərɪfaɪd/ understood or experienced by only a very small group of people who share a particular area of knowledge or activity. E.g. the rarefied atmosphere of academic life.

To talk about sound quality:

• Decibel: / ˈdesɪbel / a unit for measuring how loud a sound is. E.g. Noise from the disco reached 110 decibels. Gary's voice rose several decibels as he finally lost patience with them.
• Interference
• poor/ excellent sound quality

To talk about value for money:

• Extortionate: /ɪkˈstɔːʃənət/ (of prices, etc.) much too high. Excessive, outrageous. Sp. Abusivo. E.g. They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. The prices they charge are extortionate.
• a rip-off: something that is not worth what you pay for it. E.g. $70 for a T-shirt! What a rip-off!
• a bargain:  /ˈbɑːɡən/ a thing bought for less than the usual price. E.g. I picked up a few good bargains in the sale. The car was a bargain at that price. Bargain prices.

Ex 4

Suggested answers
a irritated 



b reproachful 
Reproachful: /rɪˈprəʊtʃfl/ expressing blame or criticism. E.g. a reproachful look. She was doing her best not to sound reproachful.


c irritated
 


d suggesting 



e worried 



f angry 

Ex 5
KEY
 
a I thought you’d gone home.
Yes, she/he has gone home.


 

b I thought you’d gone home.
No, he’s/she’s gone somewhere else.



 

c She’s an English teacher.
Yes, she teaches English (not Spanish).
 


d She’s an English teacher.
Yes, she teaches English; she’s not a student.
 


e I’m not buying a car.
No, he’s getting a bike, etc.
 


f I’m not buying a car.
No, he’s hiring one.
 


g She’s not pretty.
No, but she’s intelligent/friendly, etc. or possibly she’s ugly.
 


h She’s not pretty.
No, but her friend is.
 


i I had wanted to see the paintings.
No, he didn’t see them.
 


j I had wanted to see the paintings.
Yes, he saw them.