Cover of the textbook Speakout Upper-Intermediate - Students' Book

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 5.4 - Genius for the textbook Speakout Upper-Intermediate - Students' Book with authors Frances Eales and Steve Oakes from Pearson Education

Question

  1. -
  2. Watch the DVD and check your ideas. What did the show add to Dan's idea to make it work?
  3. Look at the sentences from the clip and underline the alternative you think they say. Then watch the clip again and check.
  4. Look at these ideas from the programme. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each one? Which ideas are just silly? Which is the most 'genius' idea?

Answer

b)

  • The idea is a 'piano choir" which is controlled by the keys of a piano.
  • Each member of the choir is linked to a different key on the piano.
  • Added by the show → Each member of the choir holds a candle-shaped electric light, which is wired to the appropriate key on the piano; when the light goes on, the chorister sings their note.

c)

  1. most potential; work out; make of
  2. essentially; to
  3. happen to
  4. worthy of investigation
  5. at random
  6. give it a go

d)

Sell socks in threes

  • Benefits → if a sock got lost in the wash, you'd still have a pair.
  • Drawbacks → you could end up with a lot of extra socks that you don't need.

'Democrobus'

  • Benefits → could cut down bus journeys because the bus wouldn't stop unnecessarily.
  • Drawbacks → time could be wasted discussing/arguing about where the bus should go.

Mini-elephants

  • Benefits → they would eat less and cause less damage.
  • Drawbacks → there could be many other genetic weaknesses. It could damage eco-systems if they escape.

Food via pipes

  • Benefits → would save a lot of time and effort.
  • Drawbacks → would have to be a soft or liquid consistency that could go through a pipe.