1 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
1 What devices do you or your friends use to play computer games?
2 What is good about each one?
3 What problems or disadvantages does each have?
2 Read Eva’s review of a smartphone. Does she mention any of your ideas from Exercise 1?
1 I’ve just got a new Triton 15X phone for my birthday. It has all the features of a normal smartphone, but I chose it because it’s excellent for gaming.
2 Playing games on this phone is an amazing experience! One good thing about it is that the screen is bigger than most other phones, and it’s also really bright and clear. The images in some of my favourite games look stunning! It’s also more powerful than a lot of other phones, so everything moves fast when you’re gaming. It’s light and comfortable to hold, too. Another great feature is that it stays cool and doesn’t get too hot, even when you play for a long time.
3 There are a few things about it that are a bit annoying. It’s disappointing that the battery life isn’t great. If you play games a lot, the battery only lasts about 15 hours. On the other hand, it’s quite quick to charge, so you can soon start using it again. It’s also slow to start up after you’ve switched it off.
4 Overall, it’s a really exciting phone to use for gaming, and I’d recommend it to anyone who plays a lot of games on their phone. You won’t be disappointed!
★★★★✩
3 Read Eva’s review again. Make notes in the table.
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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|
|
4 Match each paragraph in Eva’s review to its function.
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
A conclusion and recommendation
B advantages
C introduction
D disadvantages
5 Look at the style of writing in Eva’s review. Tick (✓) the sentences that are true.
1 Eva writes about her own experiences with the phone.
2 She uses full forms of verbs to make her writing formal.
3 She uses extreme adjectives to show how positive or negative she feels about the phone.
4 She gives other people’s opinions of the phone.
5 She uses exclamation marks to emphasise her opinions.
6 She says who she would recommend the phone to.
6 Look at the Key Language for a review. Find words in Eva’s review to complete the words and phrases.
KEY LANGUAGE FOR A REVIEW
Talking about advantages
One 1………………. about it is … Another great 2………………. is …
It’s also got …
Talking about disadvantages
There are a few things about it that are a bit 3……………….,
It’s 4………………. that … I don’t like the … One disadvantage is that …
Extreme adjectives
excellent, amazing, great, 5 st……………….
Descriptive adjectives
bright, clear, powerful, light, comfortable, fast, slow
Making a recommendation
I’d 6………………. it to anyone who … You won’t be disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend this device because …
7 Match the words for features of a device to the meanings.
1 screen
2 images
3 battery life
4 charge
5 start up
A the length of time a battery lasts before it runs out of power
B start working
C the part of a phone that you look at
D put more power into a battery
E pictures
8 Complete the sentences from reviews with the correct words. Check your answers in Eva’s review and the Key Language box.
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bright charge disadvantage gets got images lasts like thing |
1 One good …………………. about this console is that the controls are very easy to use.
2 I don’t …………………. the screen because it’s quite small and dark.
3 The …………………. look stunning on this tablet – really and clear!
4 It’s also …………………. a powerful battery that …………………. for around 20 hours.
5 One …………………. is that it …………………. hot if you play for too long.
6 It’s quite quick to …………………. . It only takes about an hour before you can use it again.
9 Write the adjectives in the table. If possible, add one or two more positive or negative adjectives to describe devices.
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amazing annoying awful disappointing excellent powerful stunning terrible |
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Positive |
Negative |
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10 You are going to write a review of a device that you use for gaming. Answer the questions to make notes.
Plan your review
What device is it?
What good features does it have?
What disadvantages does it have?
What adjectives can you use to describe it?
Would you recommend it? Why? / Why not?
11 Write your review. Use your notes from Exercise 10 and the paragraph plan in Exercise 4.
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
12 Work in pairs. Swap reviews with a partner, read your partner’s review and answer the questions.
1 Is it positive or negative?
2 Does it follow the paragraph plan?
3 What phrases from the Key Language box does it use?
Answer
1 2
Students’ own answers.
3
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Big screen Screen is bright and clear Images look stunning Powerful, so everything moves fast Light and comfortable to hold Doesn’t get too hot Quick to charge |
Battery life isn’t great Battery only lasts 15 hours Slow to start up after you’ve switched if off |
4
1 C 2 B 3 D 4 A
5
Sentences 1, 3, 5 and 6 are true.
6
1 good thing 2 feature 3 annoying
4 disappointing 5 stunning 6 recommend
7
1 C 2 E 3 A 4 D 5 B
8
1 thing 2 like 3 images, bright
4 got, lasts 5 disadvantage, gets
6 charge
9
Positive: amazing, excellent, powerful, stunning
Negative: annoying, awful, disappointing, terrible
10 11 12
Students’ own answers.