Cover of the textbook Speakout Advanced - Students' Book

The key answer of exercise 6

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 2.4 - Chess master for the textbook Speakout Advanced - Students' Book with authors Antonia Clare and J. J. Wilson from Pearson Education

Question

  1. Listen to someone debating the role of nature versus nurture. Which side of the argument does she present? What examples does she give to justify her ideas?
  2. Listen again and tick the key phrases you hear.
  3. Which key phrases are used to.

Answer

a)

The speaker presents the 'nurture' side of the argument, suggesting that people do not inherit their abilities but that they develop them through experience. She uses the example that a child born with a natural ability for music will not develop into a good pianist unless he or she practises the piano.

b)

  • I'd like to begin by stating that ...
  • As I see it ...
  • I think it's ridiculous to suggest ...
  • I absolutely reject the idea that ...
  • So, to conclude I would have to argue that ...
  • Does anyone have a question ... ? / Are there any other questions?
  • That's a good question because ...

c)

Introduce the argument

  • I'd like to begin by stating that ...

Justify an opinion

  • As I see it ... / What I think is ...
  • I would say it depends on...
  • What you need to consider is ...
  • I think it's ridiculous to suggest ...
  • I absolutely reject the idea that ...

Conclude

  • So, to conclude I would have to argue that ...

Invite questions

  • Does anyone have a question ... ? / Are there any other questions?

Respond to questions

  • That's a good question, because ...