1 In pairs or small groups, discuss the questions.
1 Why do you think the people in the photos are wearing the same clothes? Why might this be important?
2 What other examples can you think of where people choose to, or have to, wear the same thing?
Answers
1 Suggested answers: Top photo: important because they need to recognise other people from the police force and be recognised as police offi cers. Bottom photo: wearing a dark colour means that the audience isn’t distracted from the music.
2 Suggested answers: emergency services, security guards; in some workplaces; doctors and nurses; schools; sports teams
2 8.6 Listen to Austin and Henry talking about the dress code at their sixth form college and make a list of points they make in favour of and against the dress code.
Answers
In favour: just about looking smart; preparing students for the world of work; people might turn up wearing jeans, etc.
Against: has spent a long time wearing a uniform, now old enough to choose what to wear; many jobs now don’t ask for a suit and a tie anyway; universities don’t ask for smart business wear; buying smart clothes is expensive and not everyone can aff ord it; it’s hot and uncomfortable.
3 8.6 Study the Speaking box and tick the phrases in the box you hear.
| SPEAKING | Hyperbole and understatement |
|
Hyperbole Using extreme numbers/amounts □ I’ve spent about a million years wearing school uniform. □ This thick jacket weighs a ton! □ I’ve been there tons of times! □ It cost my parents a small fortune. Using extreme adjectives □ gigantic (rather than big) □ ancient (rather than old) □ ravenous (rather than hungry) □ soaked (rather than wet) □ incinerated (rather than burnt) Using superlatives □ the tiniest diamond you’ve ever seen Using the word literally (when something isn’t true) □ It’s literally the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Understatement Using ‘softeners’ □ a bit/slightly/kind of/rather … Using phrases with not/no □ not exactly/terribly/entirely □ not the most/not the … -est □ no big deal |
Answers
Hyperbole
Using extreme numbers/amounts:
• I’ve spent about a million years wearing school uniform. ✓
• This thick jacket weighs a ton! ✓
• It cost my parents a small fortune. ✓
Using the word literally (when something isn’t true):
• It’s literally the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! ✓
Understatement
Using ‘softeners’:
• a bit/slightly/kind of/rather … ✓
Using phrases with not/no:
• not exactly/terribly/entirely ✓
• not the most/not the … -est ✓
4 Rewrite the sentences in two ways: making them hyperbolic and understated. In pairs, compare your ideas.
1 It’s hot today.
It must be the hottest day in history. (hyperbole)
It’s not exactly cold today, is it? (understatement)
2 The lake is deep.
3 It was a bad idea to say that.
4 He knows a lot about science.
5 The food is burnt.
6 I live a long way away.
7 She has a lot of friends.
8 You shouldn’t eat cake for breakfast.
Answers Suggested answers:
2 The lake is about a thousand miles deep. / The lake isn’t exactly shallow, is it?
3 That was the worst thing you could possibly have said. / Saying that wasn’t exactly the best idea.
4 He’s the world’s biggest expert on science. / He knows a little bit about science.
5 The food is completely incinerated. / The food is just slightly overcooked.
6 I live about a hundred miles away. / I don’t exactly live close.
7 She has tons of friends. / You could say she has one or two friends.
8 It’s a gigantic mistake to eat cake for breakfast. / Eating cake for breakfast isn’t exactly a good idea.
5 In pairs, make a list of some of the things that are allowed or not allowed in the situations in the box.
| at your school or college in traffic at the airport in a football match in your home |
Answers Students’ own answers
6 In pairs, talk about the following questions. Try to emphasise your points using hyperbole or understatement.
1 Why exactly is it important to follow the rules in the situations in Exercise 5?
2 In which two situations given is it most important to follow the rules? Say why
Answers Students’ own answers
