REVIEW TEST 4 ● ANSWER KEY

Speaking

Teacher’s notes
Task 1
The students will discuss some different options and reach a decision together.
Prompt: Look at the diagram and read the instructions. Then discuss the questions together. Remember, you must agree
which is the best way for an individual to help the environment.

Task 2
Students discuss the questions in pairs.
Prompt: Now discuss the questions in pairs.
1 What can governments do to help the environment?
2 What could be done to make schools more eco-friendly?
3 What changes could be made in your town or city to make it more eco-friendly?
4 Do you think it is important to save endangered animals? Why?
5 Are there some parts of the world where tourism shouldn’t be allowed?

Sample answers and mark schemes

Can justify and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.

Task 1
Students A and B
A: Let’s start with this one – recycling rubbish. This is very important because we throw too many things away and this
causes lots of problems for the environment.
B: I agree. It’s really important to reduce the amount of rubbish that we throw away. Recycling is great for the environment,
and it can save people money. If you recycle old clothes, other people can use them.
A: That’s true. What about cycling or using public transport? That’s important, too, isn’t it?
B: Yes, I think it’s very important. There are too many cars in our towns and cities. They cause a lot of pollution.
A: I agree, and they also make towns and cities less safe for people walking around. But on the other hand, there are some
people who need to use their cars, for example people who are old or disabled.
B: Yes, you’ve got a point there. A lot of people can’t cycle or use public transport, so I guess there will always be some cars
in our towns and cities. But individuals who are fit can make a difference.
A: Yes, absolutely. What about travelling by train or boat, but not by plane? Do you think individuals can make a difference
there?
B: Hmm, I’m not so sure. Of course, travelling by plane is really bad for the environment, but if I decide not to go by plane,
the plane will still fly, so I’m not sure it would make much difference.
A: Yes, maybe you’re right. But on the other hand, if lots of people decide not to fly, they might reduce the number of planes.
It’s a difficult one.
B: Yes. What do you think about eating locally produced food? I think that’s something that individuals can definitely do.
A: I agree with you. Individuals can make a big difference by supporting farmers and companies that produce food in their
area. I’m not so sure about only going on eco-friendly holidays. Not everyone can afford to do that.
B: That’s true. They are often more expensive than normal holidays. And what about this last one – never use plastic bags?
A: I definitely think that’s something that individuals can do. Plastic bags are so bad for the environment.
B: I know. They can end up in the sea and cause a lot of harm to sea animals.
A: Yes, I agree with you. It’s terrible. So, what have we got? I would say either recycling rubbish or never using plastic bags.
Those are ways in which all individuals can help the environment. What do you think?
B: Yes. I think perhaps not using plastic bags is perhaps the most important, and it’s something that everyone can do easily.
A: Yes, you’re right. Let’s go for never using plastic bags.

© 2016 Pearson FOCUS 4 PHOTOCOPIABLE 1

 REVIEW TEST 4 ● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

The task is worth 10 marks. Award up to 2 marks for each section of the mark scheme, according to the descriptions below.

Marks Task achievement Spoken production Spoken interaction Range Accuracy

and fluency

0-1 Completes some Hesitates a lot and Does not engage Uses only very Lots of errors even
aspects of the task does not seem with their partner. basic vocabulary in basic language,
only. confident. Is not easy and grammar, which impede
to understand. with a lot of errors. communication.

1.5 Completes all or Speaks with some Engages with their Uses simple Generally accurate,
most aspects of the confidence and is partner, and makes vocabulary and but with some
task. comprehensible. an effort to basic grammar errors, especially in
Some hesitation, but communicate structures more advanced
not enough to impede effectively. Asks for accurately. Uses language.
communication. their partner’s some more
opinion and uses advanced
phrases for vocabulary and
agreeing and grammar
disagreeing. structures with
errors.

2 Completes all Speaks with fluency, Engages fully with Uses a wide A few mistakes in
aspects of the task with very little their partner, using range of more advanced
and adds more hesitation. Is clear gestures and vocabulary language
detail. and comprehensible. intonation to help appropriately, and structures, but
Uses some intonation express meaning. uses a wide range generally very
to add emphasis. Uses a wide range of grammar accurate.
of expressions to structures
ask for their accurately and
partner’s opinion appropriately.
and to agree and
disagree.

Task 2
Can justify and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.

Students A and B
1 I think governments can do a lot to help the environment. For example, they can charge higher taxes on cars that cause a
lot of pollution, and they can put up the cost of flying, so more people will choose to use other forms of transport. They can
also spend money on public transport, to encourage people to use it more. Governments can also try to educate people
about things like recycling – that’s important too.
2 I think schools could use less paper, for example students could do more work on computers. That would be good for the
environment. Schools could also have things like recycling bins to encourage people to recycle their rubbish. Some schools
are really eco-friendly and they grow vegetables in their garden for students to eat at lunch time. I think that’s a good idea.
3 I think the biggest change that could be made to my city is to have more cycle lanes. At the moment, cycling is quite
dangerous because there’s a lot of traffic. If there were more cycle lanes, I’m sure that more people would cycle, and that
would be more eco-friendly.
4 Yes, I think it’s important to save endangered animals such as polar bears and tigers. These are really beautiful animals,
and I think it’s wrong if we allow them to die because of what we’re doing to the planet. Of course, it isn’t easy to save all
endangered animals, but I think we should try because it’s important to respect animals and the environment.

© 2016 Pearson FOCUS 4 PHOTOCOPIABLE 2

 REVIEW TEST 4 ● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

5 Well, everyone loves travelling to exciting places, but the problem is that when a lot of people go to a place they disturb it,
and they can cause damage to the environment there. I think there are some places that are very special, like the Arctic, for
example. In my opinion, it’s important to keep these places special and wild, so I think that tourism shouldn’t be allowed.

The task is worth 10 marks. Award up to 2 marks for each section of the mark scheme, according to the descriptions below.

Marks Task Spoken production Spoken interaction Range Accuracy

achievement and fluency

0-1 Gives only short Hesitates a lot and Does not really Uses only very Lots of errors even in
answers to the does not seem engage with their basic vocabulary basic language,
questions. confident. Is not easy partner. Doesn’t and grammar, with which impede
Doesn’t develop to understand. respond to what a lot of errors. communication.
ideas and doesn’t their partner says.
express opinions.

1.5 Gives clear Speaks with some Engages with their Uses simple Generally accurate,
answers to the confidence and is partner to some vocabulary and but with some errors,
questions, and comprehensible. extent. Agrees or basic grammar especially in more
develops some Some hesitation, but disagrees, and may structures advanced language.
ideas with not enough to impede ask for the listener’s accurately. Uses
examples. Gives communication. opinion. some more
opinions. advanced
vocabulary and
grammar structures
with errors.

2 Gives very full Speaks with fluency, Engages fully with Uses a wide range A few mistakes in
answers to the with very little their partner, of vocabulary more advanced
questions, hesitation. Is clear responding to what appropriately, and language structures,
developing ideas, and comprehensible. their partner says uses a wide range but generally very
expanding Uses some intonation by adding to it or of grammar accurate.
through examples to add emphasis. contradicting. Asks structures
and expressing a questions and asks accurately and
range of opinions. for their partner’s appropriately.
opinion.

© 2016 Pearson FOCUS 4 PHOTOCOPIABLE 3