2/ Comparing and contrasting ideas

Sometimes, the focus of a talk will be comparing or contrasting (saying what is the same or different about) several different things.

The information may be organised as a table that you need to complete.

2.1 You are going to do a table completion task. First, study the table and then answer questions 1-5 below.

1 Which of the following do you think you will hear?

A the names of all the plants, then all of their origins, then finally, a discussion of all the positives and negatives

B a full description of one plant that also contains some references to the other plants listed

C a complete analysis of one plant at a time, describing its origins, then finally its positives and negatives

2 What type of information will you need to write for Question 1?

3 In which column will the questions focus on the benefits?

4 In which column do the questions focus on the drawbacks?

5 What information will you need to listen for in Question 8?

Plants that changed the world

Plant	Origins	Positives	Negatives
potatoes	Central and South America Brought to 1…………. by the Spaniards in 16th century	It led to changes in 2………. people moving to another country to find new 3………..	In Ireland, the 4…………… became dependent on potatoes. Disease led to mass 5………….. .
tobacco	The Americas	It played an important role in US history. Known as the first 6………. crop in the US.	Led to increases in slavery Became a cause for 7……….
8………………	China	Helped bring about independence in the US.	The 9………….. imposed on it became a key event in American Revolution.
White Mulberry	China	It started 10…………. between East and West.	It led to increases in the spread of disease.

2.2 Listen and complete the table with ONE WORD ONLY.