single-minded = focused
doesn’t give up = persistent
brave = courageous
willing to accept ideas/suggestions = open-minded
looks at the positive = optimistic
really wants to be successful = ambitious
won’t let anything stop him/her doing sth = determined
A: I believe that it’s really important to be determined and persistent if you want to achieve something because if you don’t give up, you will succeed in the end.
В: I agree. I also think it’s important to be courageous because there are many risks involved when you are trying hard to achieve something; if you want to start a business for instance.
A: That’s right. So it’s important to be risk-taker, too.
В: Yes. Do you think it’s important to be relaxed, too?
A: I’m not sure about that. If you’re too relaxed, you’ll never achieve anything!
B: That’s true, but on the other hand stress can be really unhelpful.
A: I agree. Still, I believe we often think more clearly when we’re relaxed.
B: Maybe. I think you have to be really organised to succeed.
A: Hmm … That depends on what you want to achieve. Creativity is more important for some life goals.
B: That’s true, and the same for being clever. Some people weren’t top of the class at school, but they are still successful. I think ambition, optimism and determination are the most important characteristics. What do you think?
A: I agree. A positive attitude helps a lot, and if you have ambition you are usually really determined.
B: The same goes for confidence. If you believe you can achieve something, I think you probably will eventually.
A: I think so, too.
doesn’t give up = persistent
brave = courageous
willing to accept ideas/suggestions = open-minded
looks at the positive = optimistic
really wants to be successful = ambitious
won’t let anything stop him/her doing sth = determined
A: I believe that it’s really important to be determined and persistent if you want to achieve something because if you don’t give up, you will succeed in the end.
В: I agree. I also think it’s important to be courageous because there are many risks involved when you are trying hard to achieve something; if you want to start a business for instance.
A: That’s right. So it’s important to be risk-taker, too.
В: Yes. Do you think it’s important to be relaxed, too?
A: I’m not sure about that. If you’re too relaxed, you’ll never achieve anything!
B: That’s true, but on the other hand stress can be really unhelpful.
A: I agree. Still, I believe we often think more clearly when we’re relaxed.
B: Maybe. I think you have to be really organised to succeed.
A: Hmm … That depends on what you want to achieve. Creativity is more important for some life goals.
B: That’s true, and the same for being clever. Some people weren’t top of the class at school, but they are still successful. I think ambition, optimism and determination are the most important characteristics. What do you think?
A: I agree. A positive attitude helps a lot, and if you have ambition you are usually really determined.
B: The same goes for confidence. If you believe you can achieve something, I think you probably will eventually.
A: I think so, too.
a)
I know that Thomas Edison was an American inventor who was born in the 19th century. He is best known for inventing a working light bulb.
b)
I think that Thomas Edison must have been an extremely clever person. I also think he must have believed in working really hard to achieve your dreams.
I know that Thomas Edison was an American inventor who was born in the 19th century. He is best known for inventing a working light bulb.
b)
I think that Thomas Edison must have been an extremely clever person. I also think he must have believed in working really hard to achieve your dreams.
a)
1 F (he had a hand in many more things … recorded music, electrical systems, the telephone, the alkaline battery, x-rays and an early cinema projector)
2 C (too slow to learn … many of his inventions failed)
3 G (absolutely refused to give up … He wasn’t afraid of failure)
4 A (Pushing himself to reach his goals … He set himself a target…)
5 H (take time out to relax … relaxation and short naps cam improve our concentration and creativity)
6 D (4 million pages of Edison’s notes)
7 E (what are you waiting for? Get busy achieving your dreams)
b)
The author’s purpose in writing this article was to persuade the reader to believe in something and do their best to make it come true. By using Thomas Edison’s life as an example, the writer is trying to persuade the reader that they should work hard and be persistent in order to achieve their dreams in life.
1 F (he had a hand in many more things … recorded music, electrical systems, the telephone, the alkaline battery, x-rays and an early cinema projector)
2 C (too slow to learn … many of his inventions failed)
3 G (absolutely refused to give up … He wasn’t afraid of failure)
4 A (Pushing himself to reach his goals … He set himself a target…)
5 H (take time out to relax … relaxation and short naps cam improve our concentration and creativity)
6 D (4 million pages of Edison’s notes)
7 E (what are you waiting for? Get busy achieving your dreams)
b)
The author’s purpose in writing this article was to persuade the reader to believe in something and do their best to make it come true. By using Thomas Edison’s life as an example, the writer is trying to persuade the reader that they should work hard and be persistent in order to achieve their dreams in life.
1 none
2 a little
3 much
4 hardly any
5 a lot of
6 All
7 Both
8 Few, many
9 several
10 many
11 a great deal of
12 either
13 any
Examples in the text: Most people, many more things, many of his inventions, we all, a few tips, Many of life’s failures, All our mistakes, under a little pressure, you’ll be amazed by how much, with several small metal balls, many new ideas
countable nouns: every, a few, few, many, several uncountable nouns: a little, much, little both: none, a small amount of, hardly any, a lot of, all, either, both, a great deal of, or, any
2 a little
3 much
4 hardly any
5 a lot of
6 All
7 Both
8 Few, many
9 several
10 many
11 a great deal of
12 either
13 any
Examples in the text: Most people, many more things, many of his inventions, we all, a few tips, Many of life’s failures, All our mistakes, under a little pressure, you’ll be amazed by how much, with several small metal balls, many new ideas
countable nouns: every, a few, few, many, several uncountable nouns: a little, much, little both: none, a small amount of, hardly any, a lot of, all, either, both, a great deal of, or, any
1 practical
2 long-lasting
3 reach
4 contributed to
5 out
6 fell, deep
7 on
2 long-lasting
3 reach
4 contributed to
5 out
6 fell, deep
7 on
had a hand in = participated in
give up = stop trying
stepping stones = a way to make progress
I ntolerant of = not willing to accept/put up with
try taking a leaf out of Edison’s book = behave the same way as Edison
effective = successful
drift off to sleep = slowly fall asleep
scribble down = write down quickly
stuck on = unable to do
wander = move from topic to topic
tap into = make use of
give up = stop trying
stepping stones = a way to make progress
I ntolerant of = not willing to accept/put up with
try taking a leaf out of Edison’s book = behave the same way as Edison
effective = successful
drift off to sleep = slowly fall asleep
scribble down = write down quickly
stuck on = unable to do
wander = move from topic to topic
tap into = make use of
“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” – To achieve something truly amazing requires a good idea or a small amount of creativity, but mostly it’s down to a lot of hard work.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.” – People often fail in life because they give up too soon. “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up and we can start anew.” – Disasters aren’t necessarily bad. They erase your mistakes and you have the chance to start again.
I find the first quote the most inspirational because it suggests that everyone has the potential to achieve something really great if they are willing to put in the effort.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.” – People often fail in life because they give up too soon. “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up and we can start anew.” – Disasters aren’t necessarily bad. They erase your mistakes and you have the chance to start again.
I find the first quote the most inspirational because it suggests that everyone has the potential to achieve something really great if they are willing to put in the effort.
Thomas Edison was a genius, but his success came because he never gave up trying, even after failing many times, and he tried to see his failures in a positive way. He also worked extremely hard and set targets for himself.
He understood the importance of relaxing to improve his concentration and creativity. Finally, he kept journals in which he wrote down all his ideas. All this inspires me to feel more confident about being able to achieve my dreams in life because Edison clearly believed that everyone is capable of reaching their goals.
He understood the importance of relaxing to improve his concentration and creativity. Finally, he kept journals in which he wrote down all his ideas. All this inspires me to feel more confident about being able to achieve my dreams in life because Edison clearly believed that everyone is capable of reaching their goals.
Thomas Edison was a very curious child and was always asking questions. He was a poor student however as his mind often wandered. He built his first lab at the age of only 10 and used all his spare money to buy chemicals for experiments. Around age 12, Edison lost almost all his hearing, but he saw it as an advantage as it helped him concentrate on his experiments better. In 1869, when Edison was only 22, he got his first patent for a vote-recording machine. Unfortunately it was never used, so from that point on Edison only invented something if there was a need for it. Edison had various jobs during his early life such as a telegraph operator and a printing machine mechanic, then he set up an ‘invention factory’ in New Jersey. He said, 7 never quit until I get what I’m after. Negative results are just what I’m after. They are just as valuable to me as positive results.” Edison worked long hours and expected a lot from his employees.
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