an article describing something
examination practice
writing
An international magazine has invited readers to contribute articles to a series entitled traditiona l ce remon ies
around the world. Readers should describe a ceremony they have attended and the customs related to it and say
how they felt on that occasion.
Write your article.
1. Discu ss
• What are some of the customs and traditions related to weddings in your culture?
• What do you consider to be the most memorable wedding you have ever attended?
• What was special about it?
• How did you feel?
2. Focu s on content and organisation
A. Read the rubric below and underline the key words/phrases in it. What two aspects of the ceremony
is the writer required to refer to?
an article describing something
B. Read the article and do the activities that follow.
Two years ago a very close Moroccan friend of mine,
Saed, decided to take the leap into marriage and
invited me to his wedding in Rabat. Initially, I thought
that weddings couldn’t be that different from culture to
culture, and nothing had prepared me for the colourful and
ritual-packed ceremony I was about to attend.
Although it was my first time in Morocco and I hadn’t
met Saed’s family before, when I arrived, everybody gave
me such a warm welcome that I felt as if I were a member
of the family. On the eve of the wedding ceremony, the
Henna Night took place at the home of the bride. This
is a traditional ceremonial cleansing in which the brideto-
be has her hands and feet painted with henna. She is
then dressed in her white bridal robes before being placed
behind a curtain symbolising her transition to a new life.
The next day brought the wedding itself, which made a
great impression on me. The bride and groom were treated
like king and queen for the day. They donned golden
wedding outfits made of exquisitely detailed brocade.
At one point of the ceremony, the bride and groom were
hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd and paraded
among their guests in royal style. The unique atmosphere
which was both earnest and solemn but at the same time
light-hearted and exuberant impressed me deeply.
The highlight of the evening was the wedding feast. We
were treated to delicious food and I tried all the local
delicacies with great enthusiasm. During the many hours
of celebration, the joy and delight on everybody’s faces was
genuinely moving. It was as if an oriental story had come
to life in front of my eyes.
It was an unforgettable experience and I thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of it. Although I come from a very different
cultural background, I felt a certain kinship to the whole
affair because a ceremony in which a couple make public
their commitment to live together is always very moving.
An Arabian Nights Wedding 1. Each of the following statements corresponds to one
of the paragraphs in the article. Write the numbers
1-5 in the boxes.
In this paragraph the writer:
a. describes how he felt when he first arrived and
refers to an event leading up to the wedding
ceremony.
b. describes his overall impression of the
experience.
c. gives general information about what led to the
occasion being described.
d. describes the wedding ceremony, the atmosphere
and his feelings.
e. describes the events after the wedding ceremony,
the mood people were in and how he felt.
2. Underline the words/phrases the writer uses to
describe his feelings.
98
3. Focu s on language and style
Paragraph 1
a. make an important
change in one’s life
b. at first
Paragraph 2
c. the day before
d. process of change
Paragraph 3
e. put on
f. very exciting and happy
Paragraph 4
g. the most exciting part
h. truly
Paragraph 5
i. relationship
A. Read the article again and find words/phrases
which mean the following.
...I felt as if I were a member of the family.
It was as if an oriental story had come to life in front of my
eyes.
B1. Look at the following extracts from the article.
What does the as if/though structure describe?
B2. Match the beginnings of the sentences 1-4 with the
endings a-d.
1. All the guests were treated as though
2. The streets were so crowded it was as if
3. She had never seen such opulence, but she
acted as if
4. The stars in the night sky sparkled as though
a. she was accustomed to it in order to blend in.
b. they were royalty.
c. they were diamonds on a black velvet curtain.
d. the whole town had come out to celebrate.
NOTE
Some other verbs that are commonly used with the
as if/though structure are act, sound, behave, treat,
look, taste and seem.
Copy and complete the outline below for your article.
Use the questions as a guide.
Write your article based on the outline you have made
(200-250 words).
When writing an article describing something, you should:
use a catchy title.
think about the purpose of the article and who will
read it in order to write in an appropriate style.
make an effort to use descriptive, emotive language
(verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and avoid using words
which are very common (e.g. nice, good, bad).
use a variety of grammatical structures (passive voice,
unreal past, emphatic forms).
say how you were affected by the event/occasion or
give your opinion.
6. writing task
5. outline
intr oducti on
Give general information about the event.
• What event are you writing about?
• When and where does it take place?
• What makes it special?
main part (2-3 paragraphs)
Describe the event.
• What are the important features?
• What can you see, hear, smell, taste?
Explain the significance of the event for you.
• What kind of an impression did it make on you?
• What makes it memorable?
conclu sion
Conclude by making a general comment or giving
a personal opinion.
• How would you sum up the event?
• How did it affect you personally?
Read the rubric below and discuss the questions below
in pairs.
4. Brainstorming
An English-language magazine is inviting readers to
contribute to a series of articles about festivals in their
country. You decide to write an article about a festival in
your country. Describe the festival, commenting on the
impression it made on you.
1. Is there any local festival that you are familiar with?
2. When and where does it take place?
3. What is special about it? Think about what happens,
the people participating and the general atmosphere.
99
A. Choose the word or phrase which most appropriately completes the sentence.
1. The football coach to his anger and disappointment and scolded the team for playing badly.
a. gave notice b. gave the sack c. gave vent d. gave ground
2. When the football match ended, the crowds quietly.
a. dispelled b. dispensed c. displeased d. dispersed
3. As the marathon runner crossed the finish line, he and fell from exhaustion.
a. hurtled b. stumbled c. lurched d. orbited
4. Tom waved to the captain as he from the ship.
a. disarmed b. disorientated c. disembarked d. dismantled
5. This art history course will you to truly appreciate art.
a. encode b. enclose c. engage d. enable
6. You should always make sure food taken from the freezer is thoroughly before you reheat it.
a. demotivated b. defrosted c. dehydrated d. decoded
7. Elderly people should be treated with the respect they .
a. conserve b. reserve c. preserve d. deserve
8. When I saw the mouse scuttling towards me, I nearly jumped out of my .
a. skin b. straw c. nails d. stomach
9. The beach is walking distance of the hotel so it’s very convenient.
a. off b. in c. on d. within
10. When his family stopped at the lion’s enclosure, the young boy in wonder at the fierce-looking animals.
a. glanced b. gazed c. glared d. glimpsed
B. Choose the word or phrase that produces a grammatically correct sentence.
1. I was packing our suitcases, when my husband the bad news to me.
a. had broken b. was being broken c. was to break d. broke
2. When I was young, I interested in travelling abroad, but now that I am older I dream of exploring the four
corners of the world.
a. didn’t use to be b. wouldn’t be c. use not to be d. wasn’t being
3. The police officer to my brother was very well informed and did his best to help sort out the problem.
a. talking b. who talking c. was talking d. talked
4. My cousin a lot before he decided to settle down and have a family.
a. was travelling b. use to travel c. travelled d. was about to travel
5. The town my grandparents live is known for its rich cultural and historical background.
a. which b. where c. that d. whom
6. the tickets, I began to prepare for my trip abroad.
a. To book b. Having booked c. Booked d. Having to book
7. As I was boarding the plane, I realised that I to take my mobile phone with me.
a. forgot b. was forgetting c. had forgotten d. had been forgetting
8. When my luggage got lost, I was in the dark as to to turn to for assistance.
a. whom b. that c. what d. which
9. The hotel I was staying at was in complete disrepair.
a. where b. in which c. which d. wherein
10. to Personnel Manager, Jack found that he had no time left to spend with his kids.
a. After promoting b. Having promoted c. After promoted d. Having been promoted
examination practice
100
C. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change
the word given. You must use between two and eight words including the word given.
1. We ate our meal at a quaint little restaurant perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a green valley. where
The quaint little restaurant on the edge of a cliff overlooking a green
valley.
2. I had my breakfast early in the morning and left the hotel to explore the city. having
Early in the morning, the hotel to explore the city.
3. They had access to the best resorts in the world because they were related to a well-known businessman who was not
only well-connected but also highly respected. whom
The well-known businessman was not only well-connected but also
highly respected, so they had access to the best resorts in the world.
4. My grandfather always told me stories about the adventures he had had as a sailor. would
My grandfather stories about the adventures he had had as a sailor.
5. In the past, meat was used sparingly in traditional dishes as people were very poor and it was hard to come by. to
In the past, people a lot of meat in traditional dishes as they were very poor
and it was hard to come by.
6. It was my intention to book a holiday at a tropical resort but then I heard that the monsoon season was near and opted to
go to a safer destination. about
I a holiday at a tropical resort but then I heard that the monsoon season was
near and opted to go to a safer destination.
7. First I visited Riyadh and then Jeddah. had
I went to Jeddah Riyadh.
8. The seaside resort where we stayed was known not only for its luxurious accommodation but also for its good
service. at
Not only was the seaside resort known for its luxurious accommodation but
also for its good service.
D. Read the text and complete the blanks with the correct form of the words in capitals.
If you’re planning your next holiday, why not consider South Africa? This (1) country
has a wide variety of things for people to see and do. Let’s start with a (2) of Cape
Town, a multicultural city with a diverse population descended from Europeans, Asians and Africans.
In the city, there are lots of street cafés and great restaurants which cater for all tastes. This will
(3) you to truly enjoy the culinary delights of a variety of ethnic cuisines. Few people
would (4) that Cape Town has much to offer keen shoppers but if you’d like to
experience the (5) of buying something typically African, Greenmarket Square is the
place! It’s a local outdoor market where people from all over Africa sell crafts and souvenirs. Cape Town
is by the sea so if you’d like to soak up the sun or do some water sports, then head out to Clifton, which
has lovely sandy beaches. There is also Bakoven Beach, a stunning beach which remains completely
(6) by tourism. If you plan to visit one of the smaller cities, make sure you go to
Nelspruit, a (7) place with a laid-back atmosphere. There is a range of accommodation
available to suit all budgets ranging from cheap hostels to more luxurious hotels. A trip to South Africa
would be incomplete without visiting one of the many (8) nature reserves; day trips
can be arranged at your (9) . Also, close to Nelspruit is the Kruger National Park,
which is one of the country’s major tourist (10) . All in all, there are plenty of great
things to do and see in South Africa.
EXCEPT
DESCRIBE
ABLE
AGREE
EXCITE
SPOIL
LIVE
SPECTACLE
CONVENIENT
ATTRACT
A trip to
101
Now I can...
use prepositional phrases related to location/distance
use verbs describing movement and sight
form nouns by using appropriate suffixes
use idioms related to feelings/attitudes
use phrases and idiomatic expressions with give
use verbs starting with the prefixes dis-, en- and de-
distinguish between words with similar spelling
and/or pronunciation
use the Past Simple, Past Progressive, Past Perfect
Simple and Past Perfect Progressive appropriately
use used to - would - was/were going to -
was/were about to
use defining and non-defining relative clauses
use participles and participle clauses
skim a text to identify its source/genre
use verbal and non-verbal cues to make predictions
about a text
identify the purpose of a text
understand the main ideas and supporting details in
a text
assess the truth of statements according to
information given in a text
guess the meaning of unknown words
listen to short monologues and understand the
main idea expressed by different speakers and their
attitudes
understand specific information mentioned by
speakers on a radio programme
talk about travel, holidays and different aspects of
culture
expound on a topic, take a long turn, express an
opinion and justify and comment on somebody
else’s opinion
sustain an interaction, exchange ideas, speculate,
evaluate and reach a decision through negotiation
write a semi-formal letter
write a descriptive article
examination practice
writing
An international magazine has invited readers to contribute articles to a series entitled traditiona l ce remon ies
around the world. Readers should describe a ceremony they have attended and the customs related to it and say
how they felt on that occasion.
Write your article.
1. Discu ss
• What are some of the customs and traditions related to weddings in your culture?
• What do you consider to be the most memorable wedding you have ever attended?
• What was special about it?
• How did you feel?
2. Focu s on content and organisation
A. Read the rubric below and underline the key words/phrases in it. What two aspects of the ceremony
is the writer required to refer to?
an article describing something
B. Read the article and do the activities that follow.
Two years ago a very close Moroccan friend of mine,
Saed, decided to take the leap into marriage and
invited me to his wedding in Rabat. Initially, I thought
that weddings couldn’t be that different from culture to
culture, and nothing had prepared me for the colourful and
ritual-packed ceremony I was about to attend.
Although it was my first time in Morocco and I hadn’t
met Saed’s family before, when I arrived, everybody gave
me such a warm welcome that I felt as if I were a member
of the family. On the eve of the wedding ceremony, the
Henna Night took place at the home of the bride. This
is a traditional ceremonial cleansing in which the brideto-
be has her hands and feet painted with henna. She is
then dressed in her white bridal robes before being placed
behind a curtain symbolising her transition to a new life.
The next day brought the wedding itself, which made a
great impression on me. The bride and groom were treated
like king and queen for the day. They donned golden
wedding outfits made of exquisitely detailed brocade.
At one point of the ceremony, the bride and groom were
hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd and paraded
among their guests in royal style. The unique atmosphere
which was both earnest and solemn but at the same time
light-hearted and exuberant impressed me deeply.
The highlight of the evening was the wedding feast. We
were treated to delicious food and I tried all the local
delicacies with great enthusiasm. During the many hours
of celebration, the joy and delight on everybody’s faces was
genuinely moving. It was as if an oriental story had come
to life in front of my eyes.
It was an unforgettable experience and I thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of it. Although I come from a very different
cultural background, I felt a certain kinship to the whole
affair because a ceremony in which a couple make public
their commitment to live together is always very moving.
An Arabian Nights Wedding 1. Each of the following statements corresponds to one
of the paragraphs in the article. Write the numbers
1-5 in the boxes.
In this paragraph the writer:
a. describes how he felt when he first arrived and
refers to an event leading up to the wedding
ceremony.
b. describes his overall impression of the
experience.
c. gives general information about what led to the
occasion being described.
d. describes the wedding ceremony, the atmosphere
and his feelings.
e. describes the events after the wedding ceremony,
the mood people were in and how he felt.
2. Underline the words/phrases the writer uses to
describe his feelings.
98
3. Focu s on language and style
Paragraph 1
a. make an important
change in one’s life
b. at first
Paragraph 2
c. the day before
d. process of change
Paragraph 3
e. put on
f. very exciting and happy
Paragraph 4
g. the most exciting part
h. truly
Paragraph 5
i. relationship
A. Read the article again and find words/phrases
which mean the following.
...I felt as if I were a member of the family.
It was as if an oriental story had come to life in front of my
eyes.
B1. Look at the following extracts from the article.
What does the as if/though structure describe?
B2. Match the beginnings of the sentences 1-4 with the
endings a-d.
1. All the guests were treated as though
2. The streets were so crowded it was as if
3. She had never seen such opulence, but she
acted as if
4. The stars in the night sky sparkled as though
a. she was accustomed to it in order to blend in.
b. they were royalty.
c. they were diamonds on a black velvet curtain.
d. the whole town had come out to celebrate.
NOTE
Some other verbs that are commonly used with the
as if/though structure are act, sound, behave, treat,
look, taste and seem.
Copy and complete the outline below for your article.
Use the questions as a guide.
Write your article based on the outline you have made
(200-250 words).
When writing an article describing something, you should:
use a catchy title.
think about the purpose of the article and who will
read it in order to write in an appropriate style.
make an effort to use descriptive, emotive language
(verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and avoid using words
which are very common (e.g. nice, good, bad).
use a variety of grammatical structures (passive voice,
unreal past, emphatic forms).
say how you were affected by the event/occasion or
give your opinion.
6. writing task
5. outline
intr oducti on
Give general information about the event.
• What event are you writing about?
• When and where does it take place?
• What makes it special?
main part (2-3 paragraphs)
Describe the event.
• What are the important features?
• What can you see, hear, smell, taste?
Explain the significance of the event for you.
• What kind of an impression did it make on you?
• What makes it memorable?
conclu sion
Conclude by making a general comment or giving
a personal opinion.
• How would you sum up the event?
• How did it affect you personally?
Read the rubric below and discuss the questions below
in pairs.
4. Brainstorming
An English-language magazine is inviting readers to
contribute to a series of articles about festivals in their
country. You decide to write an article about a festival in
your country. Describe the festival, commenting on the
impression it made on you.
1. Is there any local festival that you are familiar with?
2. When and where does it take place?
3. What is special about it? Think about what happens,
the people participating and the general atmosphere.
99
A. Choose the word or phrase which most appropriately completes the sentence.
1. The football coach to his anger and disappointment and scolded the team for playing badly.
a. gave notice b. gave the sack c. gave vent d. gave ground
2. When the football match ended, the crowds quietly.
a. dispelled b. dispensed c. displeased d. dispersed
3. As the marathon runner crossed the finish line, he and fell from exhaustion.
a. hurtled b. stumbled c. lurched d. orbited
4. Tom waved to the captain as he from the ship.
a. disarmed b. disorientated c. disembarked d. dismantled
5. This art history course will you to truly appreciate art.
a. encode b. enclose c. engage d. enable
6. You should always make sure food taken from the freezer is thoroughly before you reheat it.
a. demotivated b. defrosted c. dehydrated d. decoded
7. Elderly people should be treated with the respect they .
a. conserve b. reserve c. preserve d. deserve
8. When I saw the mouse scuttling towards me, I nearly jumped out of my .
a. skin b. straw c. nails d. stomach
9. The beach is walking distance of the hotel so it’s very convenient.
a. off b. in c. on d. within
10. When his family stopped at the lion’s enclosure, the young boy in wonder at the fierce-looking animals.
a. glanced b. gazed c. glared d. glimpsed
B. Choose the word or phrase that produces a grammatically correct sentence.
1. I was packing our suitcases, when my husband the bad news to me.
a. had broken b. was being broken c. was to break d. broke
2. When I was young, I interested in travelling abroad, but now that I am older I dream of exploring the four
corners of the world.
a. didn’t use to be b. wouldn’t be c. use not to be d. wasn’t being
3. The police officer to my brother was very well informed and did his best to help sort out the problem.
a. talking b. who talking c. was talking d. talked
4. My cousin a lot before he decided to settle down and have a family.
a. was travelling b. use to travel c. travelled d. was about to travel
5. The town my grandparents live is known for its rich cultural and historical background.
a. which b. where c. that d. whom
6. the tickets, I began to prepare for my trip abroad.
a. To book b. Having booked c. Booked d. Having to book
7. As I was boarding the plane, I realised that I to take my mobile phone with me.
a. forgot b. was forgetting c. had forgotten d. had been forgetting
8. When my luggage got lost, I was in the dark as to to turn to for assistance.
a. whom b. that c. what d. which
9. The hotel I was staying at was in complete disrepair.
a. where b. in which c. which d. wherein
10. to Personnel Manager, Jack found that he had no time left to spend with his kids.
a. After promoting b. Having promoted c. After promoted d. Having been promoted
examination practice
100
C. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change
the word given. You must use between two and eight words including the word given.
1. We ate our meal at a quaint little restaurant perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a green valley. where
The quaint little restaurant on the edge of a cliff overlooking a green
valley.
2. I had my breakfast early in the morning and left the hotel to explore the city. having
Early in the morning, the hotel to explore the city.
3. They had access to the best resorts in the world because they were related to a well-known businessman who was not
only well-connected but also highly respected. whom
The well-known businessman was not only well-connected but also
highly respected, so they had access to the best resorts in the world.
4. My grandfather always told me stories about the adventures he had had as a sailor. would
My grandfather stories about the adventures he had had as a sailor.
5. In the past, meat was used sparingly in traditional dishes as people were very poor and it was hard to come by. to
In the past, people a lot of meat in traditional dishes as they were very poor
and it was hard to come by.
6. It was my intention to book a holiday at a tropical resort but then I heard that the monsoon season was near and opted to
go to a safer destination. about
I a holiday at a tropical resort but then I heard that the monsoon season was
near and opted to go to a safer destination.
7. First I visited Riyadh and then Jeddah. had
I went to Jeddah Riyadh.
8. The seaside resort where we stayed was known not only for its luxurious accommodation but also for its good
service. at
Not only was the seaside resort known for its luxurious accommodation but
also for its good service.
D. Read the text and complete the blanks with the correct form of the words in capitals.
If you’re planning your next holiday, why not consider South Africa? This (1) country
has a wide variety of things for people to see and do. Let’s start with a (2) of Cape
Town, a multicultural city with a diverse population descended from Europeans, Asians and Africans.
In the city, there are lots of street cafés and great restaurants which cater for all tastes. This will
(3) you to truly enjoy the culinary delights of a variety of ethnic cuisines. Few people
would (4) that Cape Town has much to offer keen shoppers but if you’d like to
experience the (5) of buying something typically African, Greenmarket Square is the
place! It’s a local outdoor market where people from all over Africa sell crafts and souvenirs. Cape Town
is by the sea so if you’d like to soak up the sun or do some water sports, then head out to Clifton, which
has lovely sandy beaches. There is also Bakoven Beach, a stunning beach which remains completely
(6) by tourism. If you plan to visit one of the smaller cities, make sure you go to
Nelspruit, a (7) place with a laid-back atmosphere. There is a range of accommodation
available to suit all budgets ranging from cheap hostels to more luxurious hotels. A trip to South Africa
would be incomplete without visiting one of the many (8) nature reserves; day trips
can be arranged at your (9) . Also, close to Nelspruit is the Kruger National Park,
which is one of the country’s major tourist (10) . All in all, there are plenty of great
things to do and see in South Africa.
EXCEPT
DESCRIBE
ABLE
AGREE
EXCITE
SPOIL
LIVE
SPECTACLE
CONVENIENT
ATTRACT
A trip to
101
Now I can...
use prepositional phrases related to location/distance
use verbs describing movement and sight
form nouns by using appropriate suffixes
use idioms related to feelings/attitudes
use phrases and idiomatic expressions with give
use verbs starting with the prefixes dis-, en- and de-
distinguish between words with similar spelling
and/or pronunciation
use the Past Simple, Past Progressive, Past Perfect
Simple and Past Perfect Progressive appropriately
use used to - would - was/were going to -
was/were about to
use defining and non-defining relative clauses
use participles and participle clauses
skim a text to identify its source/genre
use verbal and non-verbal cues to make predictions
about a text
identify the purpose of a text
understand the main ideas and supporting details in
a text
assess the truth of statements according to
information given in a text
guess the meaning of unknown words
listen to short monologues and understand the
main idea expressed by different speakers and their
attitudes
understand specific information mentioned by
speakers on a radio programme
talk about travel, holidays and different aspects of
culture
expound on a topic, take a long turn, express an
opinion and justify and comment on somebody
else’s opinion
sustain an interaction, exchange ideas, speculate,
evaluate and reach a decision through negotiation
write a semi-formal letter
write a descriptive article
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