Unit 6
Comprehension
Exercise 4 student's book page 45
4 Listen to and read the study’s findings again and answer the questions.
1. What change has recently taken place in some American schools, and why has this occurred?
They have started making the school year longer because they were one of the countries in which children were spending the least amount of time in school.
2. Who does more homework on average: students in the USA or students in Japan?
Students in Japan do more homework on average.
3. How many days a year do most students in the USA attend school?
Most students attend school 187 days per year.
4. Is it compulsory to do after-school activities in Japan and South Korea?
No, it isn't; it is optional.
5. What is interesting about Finland’s fewer and shorter school days?
Despite the shortness of the time pupils spend at school, they achieve top marks in subjects like Maths and Science, and can speak at least two, and often three, languages fluently.
6. Do you think that a longer school day would result in better grades for most students? Why/Why not? Justify your answer.
A longer school day, depending on how it was constructed, might improve students' grades. It would necessitate well-structured timetables, with time spent on individual study during the day and less homework at night. It would also need to include a lot of subjects such as Physical Education, Drama and Music, and even some activities that are seen as extra-curricular, such as crafts and creative writing.
Activity book/page 31
Exercises 1+2+3
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Vocabulary |
1 Replace the words and phrases in bold with words from the box. One word is not needed. The first one is done for you.
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compulsory contradictory developed nation tuition optional fluently |
1 A wealthy country is a country that’s economically and socially advanced.
developed nation
2 Is Maths a subject that you have to do?
compulsory
3 You don't have to stay after school for the chess club – it's your choice.
optional
4 Do you have music lessons at the weekend?
tuition
5 Those statements are on different sides of the argument.
contradictory
2 Use the extra word from exercise 1 in a sentence of your own.
I can speak French fluently.
3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets. The first one is done for you.
1. One of the most important things that we give children is a good education. (educate)
2. If you work hard, I'm sure you will succeed. (success)
3. Congratulations! Not many people achieve such high marks. (achievement)
4. My father works for an organisation that helps to protect the environment. (organise)
5. It's amazing to watch the development of a baby in the first year of life. (develop)
