15 Expand your vocabulary: Predicting the future An optimist is making a prediction about the future of families. Complete the sentences. LANGUAGE 5 Remember that certain expressions are followed either by a noun, a verb or a gerund. Read the text below and choose which word fits better into the sentence. Over the next years, the percentage of married couples in Britain is due to (1) decrease / decreasing. According to recent statistics, they are likely to (2) have / having 1.8 children and (3) share / sharing a household. Overall, Europeans are having fewer children, so Europe’s population is on the brink of (4) reach / reaching a new low. As a consequence, the societies of EU countries are about to (5) change / changing in the future. One could say we are on the verge of a revolution! 6 Expand your vocabulary: Formal and informal register Look at the expressions below. Which would you use to talk about your experiences during a school exchange with a friend (informal – I), and which would you use when speaking to your headteacher (formal – F)? Write the correct letters next to the phrases. Talking about … LANGUAGE 7 “In the future, families are (1) b to be more flexible. Smart devices are (2) c to connect family members all over the world, making it much easier to stay in touch, even if you move to a different continent. We are on the (3) p of realising long-haul flights that only take an hour, so children can easily visit their parents and go to work the next day. New technology is (4) s to improve family lives all over the planet!” 1 … a school project during the exchange: What a pain! It was quite difficult. I thought it was rather challenging. Gotta say, it was way too much work. 2 … a meal at the cafeteria: It was gross. The food was crap. Lemme tell you, it was rubbish. I’m afraid I didn’t really enjoy it. 3 … a guided tour of a museum: It was dead boring. To be honest, it wasn’t inspiring. Total waste of time. Personally, I did not find it enjoyable. 4 … the weather: The heat was very unpleasant. It was so hot, I was boutta melt. Shoulda worn sunscreen! The weather sucked! Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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