NAME CLASS

American
8 Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation   A ENGLISH FILE 5

GRAMMAR 3 Is the sentence right or wrong? Write correct or

incorrect in the blank.
1 Complete the sentences with the gerund or the
infinitive form of the verb in parentheses. Example: I see some friends after class tonight.
incorrect
Example: It’s no use worrying (worry). You’ll just have
1 My parents are due to arrive at 7:00 tonight. Can you
to wait and see what happens.
help me clean? __________________
1 Our piano needs ________ (be) repaired because the
2 We’re to be make sure he’s there on time because
movers dropped it.
he’s usually late. __________________
2 We would rather ________ (have) gone to North
3 My sister-in-law is about to have a baby, so my
Carolina for Christmas.
brother is very nervous. __________________
3 I thanked your parents for ________ (have) helped
4 Will we be eating at the usual time? Your brother
me when I was in trouble.
wants to know. __________________
4 I’d like ________ (be) sitting in a café in Thailand
5 The President is going open the new mall down the
right now.
street on Saturday. __________________
5 By the time I’m 40, I hope ________ (have) started
my own company. 5
6 I’m tired of ________ (be) told to wait. I’ve been
standing here for three hours already! VOCABULARY

6
4 Underline the odd word(s) out.
Example: hailstorm flood drought mild
2 Underline the correct word(s). 1 a bruise a surgeon a blister a rash
Example: My bus to leave / leaves in five minutes. 2 a cold flu asthma a bandage
1 The team is due to / due arrive at six o’clock. 3 ineffective mainstream unproven useless
2 Bob’s will go / going to New York next week. 4 a rip-off an X-ray antibiotics stitches
3 Will / Are we be meeting outside the movie theater? 5 mild severe real prematurely
4 I’m about going / to go to the store. Do we need 6 across through on top of put
more milk? 7 breathtaking dull spoiled overcrowded
5 We ’re move / move into our new apartment next 8 delay postpone cancel put off
month.
8
6 You’re going getting / to get a new car next year,
aren’t you?

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 NAME CLASS
American
8 Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation   A ENGLISH FILE 5

5 Complete the words in the sentences. PRONUNCIATION

Example: We went on a package vacation to Greece 7 Match the words with the same sound.
last year.
1 If you go on a l________-haul flight, you should pull stub upon acupuncture
stretch and get up and move around as often as reflexology useless
possible.
Example: put pull
2 Don’t forget to t________ out travel insurance
before you leave. 1 up ________, ________
3 I really like to get off the beaten t________ when I go 2 along ________, ________
on vacation. 3 devalued ________
4 I don’t like vacations where the beaches are
5
o________. I like to be by myself on the beach.
5 She wants to take pictures of p________ scenery on
her next vacation, so she’s going to Yellowstone 8 Underline the stressed syllable.
National Park. Example: conventional
6 Sam and his wife disagree on what their next 1 below
vacation should be; he thinks her ideas are too
2 around
d________ and boring.
3 bandage
6 4 virus
5 system
6 Complete the sentences with one word.
5
Example: S
 he can be as stubborn as a mule. I can never
convince her of anything. Pronunciation total 10
1 My grandmother is as ____________ as a post. We
always have to shout when she’s around.
2 I hope this solution to the problem works like a
____________. We don’t have time to mess around.
3 She turned as white as a ____________ just before
she fainted.
4 Without my contact lenses, I’m as blind as a
____________.
5 Hop to it, little one! Quick as a ____________!
6 My uncle drinks like a ____________. I wish he’d
stop.

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 NAME CLASS
American
8 Reading and Writing   A ENGLISH FILE 5

READING ultra-high dilutions of histamine (a protein involved in

allergies) have an influence on cell activity in the body.
1 Read the article and check (✓) A, B, or C.
One of the most common tools of conventional medical
research is a test called an RCT. This is a comparative test
DOES COMPLEMENTARY to discover the effectiveness of, for example, a new drug.
AND ALTERNATIVE Some subjects are given the drug and others are given a

MEDICINE WORK? dummy pill. The subjects do not know whether they have
taken a real pill or a dummy one, known as a placebo.
The main point made by people who dismiss Researchers then look at whether the people who took the
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a real pill showed more improvement than the people who
pointless waste of time and money is that there is no took the dummy pill, or placebo. The same kind of test is
scientific evidence whatsoever that it works. For also carried out for CAM treatments, and it seems an
conventional medicine there is of course an enormous obvious thing to do in order to get evidence of their
amount of scientific research to back up the effectiveness effectiveness. However, a number of CAM practitioners feel
of medical treatments. This is because of the fundamental that these RCT tests are not appropriate for CAM
difference between conventional medicine and CAM. treatments. This is for two reasons.
Conventional medicine regards the body as a complex and
Firstly, they say, this is because CAM therapies are entirely
sophisticated machine and illness as a breakdown of one or
focused on each individual as a separate case. Treatment
more parts of the machine. Its aim is to get the machine
isn’t dictated by the specific medical problem the patient is
working properly again by removing the problem parts or
suffering from but by the need to restore to full power that
treating them so that they return to working order. CAM, in
individual’s natural force for maintaining health. So the
the form of such things as homeopathy, acupuncture, and
result of an RCT test for one person may be wholly different
medical herbalism, regards illness as a breakdown of the
for another, meaning that no general conclusion could be
body’s natural healing systems. It believes that there is a
drawn about a particular treatment. Secondly, the
natural, non-physical force in all of us that enables the body
practitioners say, a key factor in CAM treatments is the
to heal itself and its aim is to make that force powerful
relationship between the patient and the practitioner. Many
enough to overcome illness and restore health.
people, especially those with severe or long-standing
This natural, non-physical force, however, cannot be medical problems, opt for CAM treatments because they do
detected using the usual scientific techniques. So it is not want to take drugs for a long time or because they do
impossible to prove its existence scientifically, and this has not have faith in conventional medicine to improve their
led some people to reject the whole idea of CAM. With condition. Some of these people may feel that they get
conventional medicine, we can test scientifically whether benefits from CAM treatments and from their consultations
treatments have an effect on the body by looking for with CAM practitioners, even if the treatments do not work
changes in the body’s cells, nerves, organs, and systems as for their original problem. So CAM treatments may be
a result of treatment. With CAM, we cannot prove whether beneficial in ways that RCT tests would not reveal. Some
or not the natural force for restoring health exists. patients, for example, say that they prefer the holistic
However, it is possible to see what effects CAM treatments approach of CAM and feel that the decisions about
have had on the cells and structures of the body in order to treatment give them greater control over their own lives
assess their effectiveness. than conventional medicine. They like the feeling that they
One example of scientific evidence for the effectiveness are taking personal responsibility for their own health.
of CAM treatments is a study which showed that
homeopathic medicine had an effect on the brain activity
of sufferers of fibromyalgia, a painful muscle disorder. 1 The writer says in the first paragraph that criticism
Research also indicated that acupuncture was effective in of CAM is ________.
the treatment of patients suffering from Crohn’s disease, A based on ignorance ■
a painful disorder of the digestive system. Tests on their B understandable ■
digestive systems showed that they had less inflammation C increasing ■
after acupuncture treatment. Another study concerned 2 The writer says that the difference between CAM
the highly diluted solutions used in homeopathic medicines. and conventional medicine ________.
Skeptics claim that these cannot possibly have any effect A is a very great one ■
because they are so diluted and little or nothing of the B is not as great as people may think ■
original substance remains. But a study showed that
C is greater in some forms of CAM than others ■

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 NAME CLASS
American
8 Reading and Writing   A ENGLISH FILE 5

3 The writer’s point in the second paragraph is that 9 The second objection to the use of RCT tests for
________. CAM treatments is that ________.
A you can’t prove that CAM treatments have had A they cannot measure the effect of CAM
any effect ■ treatments on some patients ■
B you can’t prove that the main principle of CAM is B they do not work for the most common CAM
true ■ treatments ■
C you can’t use the same tests for CAM and C they may suggest that some ineffective CAM
conventional medicine ■ treatments actually work ■
4 The writer uses fibromyalgia and Crohn’s disease as 10 The writer’s purpose in the article is to ________.
examples of ________. A demonstrate why critics of CAM treatments may
A conditions that don’t respond to conventional be right ■
medicine ■ B recommend CAM treatments rather than
B conditions that CAM has been shown to conventional medicine ■
improve ■ C discuss whether or not the effectiveness of CAM
C how different kinds of CAM treatment can be treatments can be proved ■
compared ■
Reading total 10
5 The study of highly diluted solutions ________.
A disproved a common criticism of homeopathy ■ WRITING
B provided different results from previous studies
of them ■ Use the information below to write a report of
C showed that some solutions are more effective approximately 250 words.
than others ■ The company you work for has recently opened a gym
6 When describing what RCT tests involve, the writer for its employees. You have been asked by your boss to
says that ________. get feedback from all the gym users and to write a
A some people disapprove of their use in report detailing what they are positive about and what
conventional medicine ■ problems they have, and to make suggestions for
B they have proved the effectiveness of some CAM improving the facilities and getting more people to join.
treatments ■ You have made notes covering the views of the majority
C they appear suitable for testing CAM of people:
treatments ■
7 The first objection to the use of RCT tests for CAM People want gym open 24 hours, not just 7:00AM to
treatments is that ________. 7:00PM.
A the tests do not work for certain medical Gym facilities OK but almost everyone complained about
problems ■ the changing rooms (not enough showers, water not very
B tests on a single individual may produce very hot).
different results ■
C the tests do not produce a consistent pattern of People not very happy about some loud music. Some
results ■ instructors play more variety than others.
8 The writer says in the last paragraph that the attitude All classes, e.g. aerobics, very good but very crowded.
of patients to CAM treatments ________.
A depends entirely on whether the treatments are Writing total 10
effective or not ■
B is not necessarily connected with whether the Reading and Writing total 20
treatments are effective or not ■
C may make them think that a treatment has been
effective when it has not ■

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 NAME CLASS
American
8 Listening and Speaking   A ENGLISH FILE 5

LISTENING 4 What can you do in nature that you can’t in the city?
A Go to an art gallery
1 Listen to five people talking about various
B Go to the museum
alternative medicine treatments. Match the
speakers (1–5) to what they mention in connection C Go camping
with the treatments (A–H). 5 Why should everyone be happy with the final
Speaker 1 ■ destination?
A Someone who is unhappy can ruin the vacation
Speaker 2 ■ B Someone who is unhappy will spend the day at a
Speaker 3 ■ spa
Speaker 4 ■ C Someone who is unhappy will want to go
Speaker 5 ■ camping
A uncertainty about whether a treatment would be
5
worth trying
B conventional medicine not having any effect on a SPEAKING
problem
Student A
C changing from one alternative medicine treatment
to another 1 Ask your partner these questions.
D becoming ill after giving up a treatment 1 Which part of the world would you most like to visit?
E a treatment that seemed to work at first but was then 2 Which place in your own country would you most
ineffective recommend to visitors?
F fearing that a treatment might not have had the 3 Have you ever used alternative medicine?
desired effect 4 How healthy is your lifestyle?
G a treatment that caused a different problem to 5 What causes people to use alternative medicine?
develop
2 Now answer your partner’s questions.
H a treatment having no effect even after being
repeated many times 3 Now talk about one of these statements, saying if
you agree or disagree. Give reasons.
5 1 “Tourism does more harm than good.”
2 “I would use alternative medicine if modern
2 Listen to a talk about choosing the right vacation. medicine didn’t work.”
Choose the correct answer. 3 “It is very hard to have a healthy lifestyle in the
1 The first decision that needs to be made about the modern world.”
vacation is:
4 Now listen to your partner. Do you agree with
A who is going on the trip
him/ her?
B where you are going
C where you are staying Speaking total 15
2 Why do single people choose where they go before
inviting their friends? Listening and Speaking total 25

A They want to exclude their friends.

B They want to know that they can choose the
destination.
C They don’t have families to consider.
3 Why might people choose to go to a city?
A To visit museums and art galleries
B To go camping
C To visit a spa

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 NAME CLASS
American
8 Listening and Speaking   A ENGLISH FILE 5

Student B
1 Answer your partner’s questions.
2 Now ask your partner these questions.
1 What’s the best place you have ever visited?
2 What’s the most difficult journey you’ve ever taken?
3 What do you do to keep your family healthy?
4 What could you do to live in a healthier way?
5 How common is alternative medicine in your
country?
3 Listen to your partner. Do you agree with him/
her?
4 Now talk about one of these statements, saying if
you agree or disagree. Give reasons.
1 “Everyone should visit at least one foreign country
in their life.”
2 “I would like to live in a country I haven’t lived in
yet.”
3 “Alternative medicine is as useful as conventional
medicine.”

Speaking total 15

Listening and Speaking total 25

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