Module 07 —Word partners & Phrasal Verbs
Reading Part 5 recycle (multiple-choice gap-fill) · high-frequency word partners · dependent prepositions
PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral
Why this lesson now? Second pass at Reading 5 from Lesson 07.
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Get ready · 01
5 minGet talking
Which word goes with 'a decision' — take, do or make? What about 'progress'? What about 'a mistake'?
'She's interested ___ music.' Which preposition? Can you think of two more adjectives that need 'in'?
Tell your partner about a decision you made recently. Try to use 'make a decision' correctly.
Grammar for the Exam · 02
8–10 minWord partners and dependent prepositions
Learn words in pairs, not alone: 'make a decision', 'depend on', 'interested in'.
In Reading Part 5, most gaps do not test grammar rules — they test which word naturally goes with the words around it. English has thousands of fixed word partnerships called word partners (make a decision, do your homework, take a risk) and many adjectives and verbs are always followed by the same preposition (interested in, depend on, good at, arrive at). Native speakers do not think about these; they simply sound right or wrong. The best way to prepare is to always learn new vocabulary as a phrase, not as a single word, and to notice these patterns whenever you read.
→ I need to make a decision about university soon.
→ It depends on the weather whether we go.
→ She's really good at maths, but she's afraid of exams.
→ We arrived at the station just in time.
Question 1.'I need to ____ a decision.'
Question 2.'She's interested ____ history.'
Question 3.'It ____ on the weather.'
Question 4.'He's very good ____ chess.'
Question 5.'We arrived ____ the airport late.'
Quick check 1.What does a Reading Part 5 gap usually test?
Exam Vocabulary · 03
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
wanting to know more about something
What are you interested in outside school or work?
skilled / not skilled at something
What are you good at and what are you bad at?
to reach a place (at a building, in a city/country)
What time did you arrive at work/school today?
to feel happy about something that will happen
What are you looking forward to this month?
to have a good relationship with someone
Who do you get on with best in your family?
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Activation · Personalise · Recycle
Use the target word partners in full sentences about your own life.
Ask your partner
- What does your free time depend on?
- What subject are you most interested in?
- What are you good at that surprises people?
"I'm really looking forward to…"look forward to
Is it better to take a risk or play safe when making a big decision? Give a reason.
Give your answer + one reason.
Write 35 words about a time you ran out of something and had to solve the problem.
Pronunciation for Speaking · 04
3–4 minWeak forms of prepositions in word partners
Prepositions like 'at', 'on', 'in' are usually unstressed and said quickly: /ət/, /ən/, /ɪn/.
- • I'm interested in music.
- • She's good at tennis.
- • It depends on the price.
- • We arrived at six.
Reading Skills · 05
8–10 minReading Part 5 recycle — Learning a new skill
Learning a new skill as an adult can feel difficult, but experts agree it's never too late to start. The first step is to make a decision about what you actually want to learn, rather than choosing something because a friend suggested it. Motivation depends heavily on genuine interest — if you're not interested in the skill itself, you're unlikely to keep practising.
Once you've chosen a skill, it helps to set small, realistic goals. Instead of aiming to become an expert in a month, try to do your best each week and notice small improvements. Many people give up too early because they expect fast progress and run out of patience when results are slow.
It also helps to find people who share the same interest. If you get on well with a group of learners, you're far more likely to keep going, even when you feel like taking a break. Finally, don't be afraid to take a risk and make mistakes — they are simply part of learning anything new.
Question 1.What should you do before starting a new skill, according to the text?
Question 2.What does motivation depend on, according to the text?
Question 3.Why do many people give up early?
Question 4.Why does the text recommend finding other learners?
Question 5.What does the text say about mistakes?
Listening Skills · 06
8–10 minListening recycle — Talking about a new hobby
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Marta:I finally made a decision about my evening class — I'm doing pottery.
Ben:Pottery? I didn't know you were interested in that.
Marta:Neither did I, but I saw a course advert and thought I'd take a risk.
Ben:Good for you. Are you good at it so far?
Marta:Not really, but I'm doing my best every week and slowly improving.
Ben:That's the right attitude. Does it depend on buying your own equipment?
Marta:No, the studio provides everything, which is great because I'd already run out of money this month.
Ben:Ha, fair enough. Do you get on with the other people in the class?
Marta:Yes, really well actually — we're all beginners together.
Ben:Sounds fun. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make.
Question 1.What decision has Marta made?
Question 2.Why did Marta decide to try pottery?
Question 3.How does Marta feel about her skill level so far?
Question 4.Why is Marta glad the studio provides equipment?
Question 5.How does Marta get on with her classmates?
Exam Strategy · 07
5 minReading Part 5 — multiple-choice gap-fill
Test each option in the full sentence before choosing — the natural word pair, not the meaning alone, is usually the key.
Task
Read a short text with six gaps and choose the correct word (A, B, C or D) for each gap from four very similar options.
Example
'She's very ____ in learning languages.' A) interested B) interesting C) interest D) interests — the answer is 'interested' because 'interested in' is the fixed word partner.
Writing Task · 08
5 minPut it in writing
Q1.Complete: 'He's interested ____ photography.'
Q2.Complete: 'It all depends ____ the price.'
Write a short paragraph (35–45 words) about a decision you made recently, using at least three word partners from today's lesson.
Your writing draft
0 words SavedShow model answer & examiner comment
Last month I made a decision to start running. I wasn't sure I'd be good at it, but I decided to take a risk. Now I do my best every morning, and I'm really looking forward to my first race in June.
Examiner comment
| 5 | All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only. |
| 3 | Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding. |
| 1 | Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length. |
Speaking Task · 09
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
In pairs, talk for two minutes about a skill or hobby you're interested in, using as many word partners as possible.
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Use if the gap-fill practice finishes early. ~11 min total
Homework · 10
Take-homeTake it home
Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.
Complete five word-partner gaps, then write one sentence for each.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Gaps
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Read a short text and choose the correct word for each of five gaps.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Text
Options
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Record yourself talking for one minute about a decision you're looking forward to making, using at least four word partners.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Checklist
Recap · 11
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Learn vocabulary as word partners (make a decision) not single words.
- Common verb + noun pairs: make a decision, do your best, take a risk.
- Dependent prepositions to memorise: interested in, good at, depend on, arrive at/in.
- In Reading Part 5, test each option in the full sentence to check it sounds natural.