'A Sixth Sense'

4.
a ‘sixth sense’
Do you think you have a ‘sixth sense’?
Do the quiz with a partner and compare your answers. If you don’t agree with answer A or B, say what
you would do.
VOCABULARY Instinct and reason
a Look at these people’s statements. Would they be As or Bs according to the quiz?
1 I’m a very rational thinker.

2 On impulse, I married someone I’d only just met.
3 I think I know subconsciously when people are lying to me.
4 I think it’s important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages before you take action.
b Replace each expression in bold in the exercise above with a word or phrase in italics. Is the
meaning in each exactly the same?
deep down consider objective on a whim
Match the words and phrases in bold with their meaning.
1 I’m a very rational thinker.
2 On impulse, I married someone I’d only just met.
3 I know subconsciously when people are lying to me. a an intuitive feeling ×2
4 If I need to decide quickly, I always go with my gut b step by step, using reasons
instinct. c think carefully ×3
5 It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons before d without planning ×2
taking action. e without being aware
6 I had a hunch that I should resign, and I was right. f based on facts, not
7 I’m successful in business because I think logically. emotions
8 I’d always think twice before trusting a stranger.
9 I’ll need time to think it over before I decide.
10 I love taking spontaneous decisions. They’re more
fun!
READING
a Read the first part (the blue one, left below) of an article about gut instincts and talk about these
questions.
1 What is the author going to give readers advice about?
2 What are the roles of the left and right sides of the brain, according to researchers?
3 What does the writer suggest is a good way to make decisions?
b The article gives five pieces of advice (1–5). Match the headings (a–e) to the correct advice.
a I’m not sure about you.

b This is the one I’ve been waiting for!
c I’ve done this a million times before.
d I should try to help.
e I’m in pain.
c Look at the underlined parts of the article. Think of one possible example of what the writer means
in each case.
d Talk about these questions.
1 Do you agree with the five pieces of advice in the article? Are there any you disagree with? Why?
2 Can you think of situations where it might be better not to follow your gut instincts?
LISTENING
a You will hear a discussion about the way doctors diagnose patients. How much do you think
doctors rely on their gut instincts?
b Listen to the discussion. What do the speakers agree on? Choose 1, 2 or 3.

1 Doctors rely too much on their gut instincts and this can be a problem.
2 Unfortunately, doctors don‘t pay attention to their gut instincts.
3 Doctors often rely on their gut instincts and this is useful.
c Listen again and choose the best answer in italics.

1 When we have inner doubts, they are often / not usually just signs of worry.
2 Most doctors will admit to having / following gut instincts.
3 Ann Van den Bruel has done research into how often doctors use gut instinct / how accurate gut
instinct is.
4 Doctors‘ gut feelings about children’s infections often turn out to be correct / incorrect.
5 Margaret McCartney thinks that gut instincts are important / unscientific.
6 Doctors tend to follow their gut instinct when they are more / less sure about their diagnosis.
7 Doctors from different countries seem to have very similar / different experiences.
8 Doctors in general practice have to rely on their instincts less / more than hospital doctors.
Doubt and uncertainty

1 Complete the sentences with the words in italics.
bones feeling doubt fit worriers pattern jars anxieties
1 That uneasy ……………….. that you get when you think there is something that you should be doing.
2 More often than not these are groundless ……………….. that simply reflect that many of us are born
……………….. .
3 All may appear well on the surface, but you’re left with a nagging ……………….. that all is not quite as
it seems.
4 It’s almost like recognising that this person just doesn’t quite fit the ……………….. , but you’re not
quite sure in what way …
5 Other doctors will say that they feel it in their ……………….. that something’s just not right.
6 It’s just this idea that you get something that ……………….. ; something that just doesn’t quite
……………….. properly together.
2 Which words and phrases in bold are connected with these things?
a a feeling that things aren‘t OK

b worrying more than you need to
c not being able to make sense of things
d knowing something intuitively
GRAMMAR Noun phrases

a Match the noun phrases (1–6) from the article with their type (a–f).
1 a funny feeling in your stomach a noun + noun

2 that narrow parking space b noun + ’s + superlative + compound noun
3 humanity’s oldest survival mechanisms c article + adjective + noun + preposition +
4 an irresistible urge to ask possessive + noun
5 gut feelings d determiner + adjective + compound noun
6 commonly reported indicators e adverb + adjective + noun
f article + adjective + noun + to + infinitive
b Improve these noun phrases using the patterns in brackets.

1 a meeting which happens by chance (article + noun + noun)
2 the dreams of my friend who is close (possessive + adjective + noun + ’s + noun)
3 a day which you will remember (article + noun + to + infinitive)
4 a dream which is so vivid that it disturbs you (article + adverb + adjective + noun)
5 thoughts which are dark and secret (adjective + adjective + noun)
6 the capacity of humans to imagine things (article + adjective + noun + for + noun)

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4.

Do you think you have a ‘sixth sense’?

VOCABULARY Instinct and reason

a Look at these people’s statements. Would they be As or Bs according to the quiz?

1 I’m a very rational thinker.

a I’m not sure about you.

d Talk about these questions.

b Listen to the discussion. What do the speakers agree on? Choose 1, 2 or 3.

c Listen again and choose the best answer in italics.

Doubt and uncertainty

bones feeling doubt fit worriers pattern jars anxieties

a a feeling that things aren‘t OK

GRAMMAR Noun phrases

1 a funny feeling in your stomach a noun + noun

b Improve these noun phrases using the patterns in brackets.

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