Speaking Opinions

Respuesta correcta: A) In my opinion,

• A) In my opinion,The phrase introduces a personal view and is the standard way to open an opinion.
• B) Yesterday I bought,That phrase describes a past action and gives no signal that a view follows.
• C) The colour red means,That introduces a definition of a word, not an opinion about a policy.
• D) Run quickly and,That is part of an instruction, which gives a command rather than a view.

Respuesta correcta: B) because they distract everyone

• A) and then she leftThat reports a sequence of events and gives no justification for a view.
• B) because they distract everyone'Because' introduces the reason that supports the opinion just expressed.
• C) but the lesson was long'But' introduces a contrast, which is a different relationship between two ideas.
• D) in the same way'In the same way' introduces a comparison or an addition, not a cause.

Respuesta correcta: C) to practise it every day with someone else

• A) locked away in a cupboardThat is not something a speaker could defend as the best way to learn a language.
• B) written in large letters on a wallThat has no connection to language learning practice.
• C) to practise it every day with someone elseThis is a specific practice the speaker can defend as the most effective one.
• D) a heavy stone on the deskThat is unrelated to learning and could not follow a claim about methods.

Respuesta correcta: D) however,

• A) moreover,'Moreover' adds extra information that supports the previous point.
• B) therefore,'Therefore' introduces a result that follows from what was said.
• C) firstly,'Firstly' introduces an item in a list and marks no contrast.
• D) however,'However' signals that the next clause opposes what came before it.

Respuesta correcta: D) I see what you mean, but I think the opposite.

• A) That is completely stupid.An insult is aggressive rather than polite and closes the conversation.
• B) I completely disagree and you are wrong.This rejects the other speaker's view without any softening phrase.
• C) You never understand anything.A sweeping personal attack is neither polite nor focused on the point being made.
• D) I see what you mean, but I think the opposite.The opening phrase acknowledges the other speaker before presenting a different view.

Respuesta correcta: C) I believe the library should stay open later because students finish class at two.

• A) The library is a place with books in it.That is a definition of the building and takes no position on opening hours.
• B) I walked past the library on Tuesday.Reporting a past action gives no view about how long the library should open.
• C) I believe the library should stay open later because students finish class at two.The position comes first and 'because' supplies the reason that supports it.
• D) The library closed and the lights went off inside.That narrates two events and expresses no opinion about opening hours.

Respuesta correcta: B) Another reason is that the library is often crowded in the evening.

• A) The first reason was,That introduces the first point and would not signal a second one.
• B) Another reason is that the library is often crowded in the evening.The phrase signals an additional reason and introduces a new supporting point.
• C) But the floor was,'But' marks a contrast, so it would introduce an opposing idea rather than support.
• D) Because the door was,'Because' introduces a single reason, which would repeat the earlier justification.

Respuesta correcta: A) To introduce a result that follows from the reason given

• A) To introduce a result that follows from the reason givenThe phrase links a cause to its consequence, which is its function in speech.
• B) To introduce a completely unrelated topicSuch a connector would not be used to shift to an unrelated subject.
• C) To end the speaker's turn immediatelyIt introduces a further clause rather than closing the point.
• D) To repeat exactly the same words againIt adds the consequence rather than restating the reason word for word.

Respuesta correcta: B) So that is why I believe the change is worth making.

• A) Whatever, I am done talking.'Whatever' dismisses the discussion and sounds dismissive of the listener.
• B) So that is why I believe the change is worth making.The closing restates the view and links it to the reasons given earlier.
• C) I said it once and I will not say it again.This sounds irritated and does not close the argument politely.
• D) Now stop talking about it.An imperative of that kind shuts down the exchange instead of ending it kindly.

Respuesta correcta: D) Do you see it the same way?

• A) Why do you always disagree with me?The question assumes disagreement and sounds like an accusation.
• B) Don't you think I am right about this?The form leans on agreement and can sound confrontational rather than inviting.
• C) Do you ever listen to anyone else?That is a challenge to the other speaker, not an invitation to share a view.
• D) Do you see it the same way?The question invites the listener to share the opinion without pressuring them.

Respuesta correcta: C) I think a longer school day is unfair, because it leaves no time for sport.

• A) I think a longer school day is unfair, so I closed my eyes for a moment.The clause after 'so' should be a consequence, not an unrelated action.
• B) I think a longer school day is unfair, in the morning before lessons.The expression after the comma is a time, not a justification.
• C) I think a longer school day is unfair, because it leaves no time for sport.The opinion comes first and 'because' supplies the reason behind it.
• D) I think a longer school day is unfair, at the end of a long list.That trailing phrase adds nothing that explains the view.

Respuesta correcta: A) For these reasons, I still believe that the change is not justified yet.

• A) For these reasons, I still believe that the change is not justified yet.It ties the position to the reasons already given and leaves the argument settled.
• B) Anyway, you can do what you want with the decision.The phrase dismisses the discussion instead of concluding it.
• C) That was my point and there is nothing more to add to it.The sentence refuses to develop the argument any further.
• D) The next speaker should give the final answer instead of me.The speaker hands over the conclusion rather than reaching one.

Respuesta correcta: D) State the main idea and give the strongest reason you can

• A) Read the question again five times before you startRepeating the question uses time without adding content to the answer.
• B) Speak very quickly so that you finish everythingSpeed destroys intelligibility and the listener will not follow the content.
• C) Wait silently until more time is given to youSilence adds nothing to the answer and leaves the listener with no content.
• D) State the main idea and give the strongest reason you canDelivering the key content clearly is worth more than an unfinished set of points.

Respuesta correcta: B) For instance,

• A) Otherwise,The word introduces an alternative or a contrast, not an illustration.
• B) For instance,The phrase introduces a specific illustration of the preceding idea.
• C) Even so,The phrase signals a concession, which is a different relationship between ideas.
• D) Above all,The phrase marks the most important point, which is not the same as giving an example.

Respuesta correcta: A) I understand your point, but I read the data differently.

• A) I understand your point, but I read the data differently.It acknowledges the other view before offering a reasoned difference.
• B) Your reading of the data is completely wrong.The statement rejects the person rather than engaging with the argument.
• C) Nobody who understands the data agrees with you.The claim about other people adds pressure without giving any reason.
• D) You always get these things wrong in discussion.A repeated personal criticism damages the exchange instead of answering it.

Respuesta correcta: C) the ability to keep working with others through difficulty

• A) a large cupboard kept in the gym store roomThat is an object, not a quality, so it cannot complete the sentence.
• B) the heavy bag that was left in the corridorThe noun phrase names an object rather than a personal quality.
• C) the ability to keep working with others through difficultyThis names a specific quality the speaker can then support with reasons.
• D) a rule that only the captain is allowed to makeThat describes a privilege, not a quality that makes a good team player.

Respuesta correcta: B) It could perhaps be argued that the hours should be reduced.

• A) The hours must be reduced immediately without any doubt.The absolutes 'must' and 'without doubt' make the claim forceful rather than hedged.
• B) It could perhaps be argued that the hours should be reduced.The hedges soften the claim without removing the point being made.
• C) Nobody could ever claim that the hours should change.The absolute negative forces the point instead of softening it.
• D) Everyone knows perfectly well what should happen to the hours.The certainty of 'perfectly well' leaves no room for hedging at all.

Respuesta correcta: A) A short statement of the topic and the main point

• A) A short statement of the topic and the main pointIt tells the audience what the talk is about before the detail begins.
• B) A long anecdote that has no link to the subjectAn unrelated story leaves the audience unsure what the presentation is for.
• C) An apology for not having prepared the slidesAn apology at the start weakens the presentation without orienting anyone.
• D) A list of every detail that will be covered laterA detailed list before the main point delays the frame the audience needs.

Respuesta correcta: C) To repeat the main point in one short sentence

• A) To read every answer you have given from the beginningRepeating the whole answer wastes the listener's time instead of summarising.
• B) To apologise for taking up so much of the lessonAn apology is not a summary and gives the listener nothing to retain.
• C) To repeat the main point in one short sentenceThe repetition in brief form is exactly what a summary does for the listener.
• D) To translate your answer into another languageA translation changes the audience rather than condensing the content.

Respuesta correcta: D) What reason did I give for my view?

• A) Do you like hearing opinions from other people?That asks about their attitude rather than about your own content.
• B) Will you speak more often in the next discussion?It asks about future behaviour and checks nothing about understanding.
• C) Was my voice loud enough for you to hear me?It checks the volume rather than the content of what was said.
• D) What reason did I give for my view?The question asks the partner to retrieve the substance of the argument.