English Speaking Exercises for A2 – Photo description and comparison

1. Look at the photos of a house in Germany after a burglary and a shop in London after a riot. Complete sentences 1-4 with must or can’t.

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1) The owners ____________ be away or at work.

2) The burglars ____________ speak some English.

3) He ____________ be the owner of the shop.

4) He ____________ be very happy about the riot.

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2. Listen to a student comparing the photos (A and B). Check your answers to exercise 1.

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3. Listen again. Complete the sentences about the similarities and differences between the photos.

1) _________ photos show a place where a crime has happened.

2) So the ____________ is crime.

3) In the second photo, there’s a man in the shop, ____________ the house in the first photo is empty.

4) Another ____________ is that the first photo includes some graffiti.

5) _________ the first photo, there are no horrible messages in the second photo.

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4. Look at the photos below and read the speaking task. Write notes for your answer.

Compare the photos and say what has happened in each one. What are the main similarities and differences?

Similarities: ________

Differences: ________

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Speaking Strategy

When you answer questions, try to use a variety of phrases for introducing your opinions, not just I think ___ . Use different phrases when you are less sure about your opinion.

5. Read the Speaking Strategy. Then listen to a student answering their teacher’s question and complete the extract from her answer.

Well, 1) _________ mugging is a serious crime because muggers steal people’s personal possessions. 2) _________, muggers often attack people and it must be terrifying. 3) _________, smuggling doesn’t really affect ordinary people. 4) _________ it’s true to say that it doesn’t really harm anyone.

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1) in opinion   2) What’s more

3) As I see it   4) I suppose

Transcript

Examiner Which is worse, in your opinion, mugging or smuggling? Tell me why you think so.

Candidate Um, it seems to me that mugging is worse.

e Why do you think that?

c Well, in opinion mugging is a serious crime because muggers steal people’s personal possessions. What’s more, muggers often attack people and it must be terrifying. As I see it, smuggling doesn’t really affect ordinary people. I suppose it’s true to say that it doesn’t really harm anyone.

6. Read the teacher’s questions. Write notes for your answers.

1) Which is worse, in your opinion: shoplifting or burglary? Why?

 ________.

 ________.

 ________.

2) Tell me about a crime you heard about on the news.

 ________.

 ________.

 ________.

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7. Now do the task in exercise 4 using your notes from exercise 6.

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