CAMBRIDGE CHECKPOINT ENGLISH, WORK BOOK9, GR.8, U10 • 1 • a There’s no need to bring up that subject again. We have said everything there is to say about it. • b They agreed to give up all their possessions and live a simple life, but when the time came they couldn’t bring themselves to go through with it. • c I don’t like the way the manager goes on all the time about how much harder we need to work. • d He was unconscious when they found him, but they managed to bring him round after a few minutes. • e She refused to go along with his suggestion that she should be paid less than the male workers. • f I will not do it! It goes against all my principles. • g Food left in the broken fridge had gone off and become mouldy. • h To be honest I don’t know how they brought off such a good deal. • i When he finally got down to it, it didn’t take him that long to tidy his bedroom. • j Change can sometimes be brought about very suddenly. • 2 • The order of Buddhist monks and nuns was founded by Gautama Buddha during his lifetime over 2500 years ago. Buddhism is the following of a path of spiritual development leading [1] to insight into the true nature of reality. Buddhists do not believe [2] in a creator god. The Buddhist monastic life grew [3] out of the lifestyle of earlier sects of wandering monks, some of whom the Buddha had studied [4] with. Buddhist monks and nuns are expected [5] to live simply with a minimum of possessions, and to be provided [6] for by the non-religious community around them, including the supply of daily food and shelter when needed. During the Buddha’s time, many retreats and gardens were donated by wealthy citizens for monks and nuns to stay [7] at during the rainy season. The monks and nuns are also required [8] to provide a good example for the rest of the community, and to focus [9] on meditation. Awareness, kindness and wisdom are the qualities that Buddhist practitioners aspire [10] to. • 3 • a perforate • b alternative • c dynamic • d alteration / hydration • e altercation • f unilateral • g dynamo • h unification • i hydraulic • j permission • 4 Example answers • a You must be joking. It can’t possibly be true. This is a prank, isn’t it? • b Show some consideration and don’t keep pressuring me. I need to be quiet for a while. • c If you don’t make haste, you will find yourself left behind, and then you will be sorry. • d It is your decision whether or not you turn up, but you would be thought well of if you did. • e The time has come to make all possible efforts. You have only one opportunity to do this and then it will be too late. • f You need to discuss this and make a joint decision, and you need to do it quickly before everything goes badly wrong. • g I am not very excited about it; it’s not really significant. I have already had this experience. • h You have unexpectedly put me in a very difficult situation. How can I now get out of the trouble I am in? • 5 Example answers • a coalminer – as pale-faced as a maggot; burrowing underground like a mole; winches winding and whirring; coal like a wall of jet; gleaming ivory teeth set in a face of ebony coal dust; claustrophobic caverns of compacted carbon; trucks towing, black diamonds glowing • b chef – sizzling, simmering and bubbling, like a witches’ cauldron; flashing knife blades catching the light; hubbub of voices calling out orders; rings of flame licking the bottoms of shiny pans; presiding like a priest in a tall hat; white figure conjuring food on to plates; king of the kitchen • c helicopter pilot – gyrating gracefully; slicing the sky with whirling blades; hovering like a dragonfly; landing on tiny squares like bordered handkerchiefs; centre of a whirlwind • d clock-repairer – in a minute world composed of tiny components; the terrible tick-tock of time passing; old father time; clockwork cogs and wheels; the pendulum swing of perpetual motion • e surfing instructor – balancing on a line where sea meets sky; rising, gliding, sliding; the crescendo at the crest of the wave; dashing, crashing and splashing; salty submersion in the surf; froth pounding the shore; the caps of the waves look like rows of white wool knitted into a blue sweater • 7 Example answer • Dear Sir/Madam, • I recently saw your advertisement in the Beijing Herald of 24th March 2013. I understand you are seeking someone for the position of full-time senior translator and interpreter in your company. • I would like to be considered for this position, which I feel I am eminently suited for. I have been looking for just such a post. My relevant experience is that I have worked at a more junior level in a similar company in the city. I am now looking for a more challenging and rewarding job at a higher level, involving more overseas travel. I have qualifications in English, Mandarin, and three European languages. I have been living in Beijing for five years and intend to stay for at least another five. I collaborate well with colleagues and enjoy mixing with people from all over the world. • I would be grateful if you would be kind enough to send me some more details of the terms and conditions of the post, including the commencement date. I am available to attend interview at any time, and I can provide more information about myself and my experience should you so wish. I look forward to having a chance to meet you in the near future. • Yours faithfully, • …
