Expressing ability, possibility and obligation 1 Discuss these questions about extracts a-g from, Reading and Use of English Part 8. 1 Which extracts express ability, which possibilty and which obligation? 2 Do the extracts refer to the past, the present or the future? 2 It meant ! couldn't pop into town to de my shopping. bb [had narrowed down my options to ust three possibities, but | stil could not decide between them. € thon had to choose which fies: degree I should take before starting law school d | could become an engineer and apply maths at a practical level ¢ I needr't have worried {1 .. because in the end | didn't have to choose! 9g I'illbe able to start teaching as soon as | quality. 2. Read these pairs of sentences and decide ifboth in each pair are correct, If both are correct, discuss the difference in meaning between them. 1 a Ihave to finish this essey, s01 car't go out. 'b | must finish this essay. l realy want to do well 2a I didn't need to catch a taxi home from the airport My brother picked me up. bb I ncedn’thave cought s taxi home from the airport My brother would have picked me up. 3 a You don't have to go to the lecture this afteeoon It's optional bb You mustn't go to the lactute ths afternoon. It's only for first-year students. 4 a After a lt of effort, | could finally start the car engne. bb After a let of effor, I finally managedito start the cer engine. Word formation A different kind of education 5 9 Hecan stay for up to 90 days with this kind of visa if he wants to. b He could sty for up to 90 days with this kind of visa if ho wanted. 6 2 In tho future. we might not study in classrooms with other students. bb In the future, we could not study in classrooms with other students. 2 © Look at these sentences written by exam candidates, all of which contain mistakes in the use of modal verbs, Find the mistake in each ane and then correct it. cout 1 The bus got so hot that | felt lean breathe any more. 2 Ifyou live along way away, you are able to stay at the college hostel. 3. We don't have to forget how hard women fought to get the vote. 4am very sorry but | really couldn't be at the airport when you arrive 5. When we arrived at the college, we must find our own accommodation. {6 We couldnt wait to see you next week when you come tovisitus 7 I'm determined to work for the company for as long as Vilbe able 8 Alot of my friends have taken their driving test but only a few can pass it on the fst attemot. 4 The student study centre isn’t as goods thas to be, given the cost of the fees. 10 They wouldn't afford to buy new clothes except on rare occasions. ‘11 Ihave received your email and I'mhappy totell you | could help you with your dissertation, 12 You needn't to worry about the tickets as ve alteady bought them. ‘Alternative’ schools exist in most countries but they are in the () tia. have a particular focus. Many are (2) Qn which are (4). have few rales on (5) (nino). They are often privately funded and (residence), as children travel some distance to attend them. Some aim to encourage ~~~ (retive), with a large amount of time spent on subjects (ars) like music or performing arts. Some (attend) and allow children to decide for themselves how and when they study. This may result in children valuing and acknowledging the (6) along with a true (7) .... = be (8)... oth a (aware) of the range of (10)... (elenant) of education (willing) t0 learn but it may also (disaster). In mainstream schools there will be an ve (6ble) and Fevels OF 11) enn (ompatent) that can be expected from each student in each subject However, there is a more limited number of (12) (possible) available for offering specialised programmes as these schools usually have to follow a conventional curriculum and may not have insufficient funds.FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF LEARNER Peopic in this group adapt and integrate observations Into complex but logically sound theortes. They think probiems through in a vertical, step-ty-step logical way, assimilating dieparate facts into coherent theories, ‘They tend to be perfectionisis who won't rest easy until everything is tidy and forms part of a rational scheme. ‘They like to analyse and synthesise, and are keen on. basic assumptions, principles, theories, models and systems. Their philosophy prizes rationality and logic, so (questions they frequently ask are: ‘Does tt make sense?" ‘How does this go with that? and “What are the basle ‘assumptions?’ They tend to be detached. analytical and dedicated to rational objectivity rather than anything, subjective or ambiguous, approaching problems in a consistently logical manner. This is their “mental set’ and they rigidly reject anything that confllete with it. They prefer to maximise certainty and feel uncomfortable with subjective judgements, lateral thinking and anything that, treate the matter in hand with less respect than they feel medeserves, ‘These people are keen on trying out ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work in practice. They positively search out new ideas and take the frst opportunity to experiment with applications. They are the sort of people who return from courses brieaming with new ‘ideas that they want to try out In practice. They like to get on with things and act quickly and confidently on ‘ideas that attract them, and are lizble to resent any rules or regulations that may impede their implementation. ‘They also tend to be Impatient with discussions that ‘they believe are not gosl-orientated. and their attention soon begins to wander if they feel they are going round {in circles, They are essentially practical, down to earth people who like making practical decisions and solving problems. They sec problems and opportunities as a challenge, and their philosophy is: There ts always a better way’ and ‘fit works, t's good According to the psychologist, which kind of learner... likes to take into account what has happened in the past before they act? has litle interest in ensuring something remains effective once it hae become operational? feels the need to make sure different things fit into an overall pattern? may be irritated if they encounter obstacles to the introduction of innovations? ‘quickly loses intorast in conversations they believe to be pointless? manne People in thie group involve themeelves fully and without, bias in new experiences, they enjoy the here and now, and are happy to be dominated by immediate experiences. ‘They are open-minded, not eceptical, and this tende to make them enthustastic about anything new. Thetr philosophy is: “Ill try anything once”, so they tend to act first and consider the consequences afterwards. Thelr days are filed with activity and they tackle problems, by brainstorming. As soon as the excitement from one activity hae died down they are busy looking for the next. as they tend to thrive on the challenge of new experiences but are bored with implementation and longer term consolidation. They are gregarious people constantly involving themselves with others but, in doing so, they ‘eck to centre all activities around themselves. ‘Thece people like to stand back to ponder experiences and observe them from many different perspectives. “They collect data, both first hand and from others, and refer to think about thoronghly before coming to a conclusion. The thorough collection and analyais of data about experiences and events is whst counts so they tend ta postpone making definitive judements for as lon ts possible. Their philosophy ie to be cautious, never to make wild guesses or jump to conclusions. They are ‘thoughtful people who like to consider all posable angles ‘and implications before making a move, and willbe reluctant to become mvotved tn activities thal others put forward without having carefully considered the lkely cutoome, Thay prefer to take a back goat in meetings anc discussions, listening to others and getting the drift of the discussion before making their own points. They. tend to adopt «low profile and have a slighty distant, tolerant, unruified air about them. When they do something tis in response to earlier as well 2s current cents, and others observations as well an their own, prefers to avoid taking part in anything that has ‘not been sufficiently well thought through? dislikes it when people fail to take the subject seriously enough? enjoys participating in group activitios? needs to see the immediate relevance and usefulness of leaming something? would always be opposed te basing an opinion on insuificient evidence? an