4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

1A Motivation and inspiration

1 READING & SPEAKING understanding implicit attitudes and opinions

b 1 B She had a difficult early life, but her one constant thing was singing, and she continued singing
and composing her own music until she met someone who shared her passion.
2 A His experience in African prisons brought him into contact with many people whose crimes
were simply a result of their poverty but who, given the basic healthcare and access to education,
have a better chance of making a success of their lives.

c Suggested answers
Annie Lennox: creativity (composing and singing her own songs), determination (keeping at it
despite not having any support), altruism (she supports women’s rights and AIDS awareness in
Africa).
Alexander McLean: altruism (his work with the African Prisons project), charisma (talking his
way into the prisons), determination and energy (he has succeeded in effecting change in a
challenging context and has continued this work since), people skills (he’s able to get through to
people from a very different culture and background).

d 1E 2C 3F 4D 5B 6A

e 1 from the beginning

2 stopped studying
3 to earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need
4 persuaded people to allow him to do something (get into a prison)
5 usually, typically
6 set apart from, not included in the main social group
7 how good people say you are
8 fail, make a mistake

2 VOCABULARY vague language

a 1 kind of thing 2 my own stuff
1 Because she doesn’t need to give a complete list of all the places where she lived.
2 Because she is probably referring to various things such as music, lyrics, etc.

Vocabulary Bank vague language

1 AVOIDING UNNECESSARY DETAIL

a 1 stuff 2 bit 3 thing
b 1 thing 2 bit 3 stuff

2 BEING IMPRECISE USING -ISH

1 kind of 2 roughly 3 a bit, quite

3 BEING IMPRECISE ABOUT QUANTITY AND TIME

b 1 around 2 so 3 odd 4 least 5 most 6 something

4 WHATEVER, WHENEVER, ETC.

b 1 Whenever 2 whoever 3 whatever 4 However 5 Whichever 6 Wherever
Meaning: any thing, time, place, person, object, way

1 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

4 GRAMMAR modal verbs (1): will, would, should

a Sts should circle the following sentences:
will – 1 would – 3 should – 2

b will
2 refusing
3 expressing annoyance at typical behaviour
4 supposing sth is true
would
1 past habit
2 hypothesizing about the present
4 expressing annoyance at typical behaviour in the past
should
1 a desirable or moral duty
3 a criticism of a past event
4 a formal instruction

Grammar Bank 1A

a 1 I don’t know what’s wrong with my scanner, but it won’t connect to my wi-fi.
2 I think I’d / would find it too stressful.
3 Ben will leave / shouldn’t leave his dirty dishes in the sink…
4 I’m assuming everyone will have done the homework…
5 When I was at primary school, anyone arriving late would be sent to see the headmistress.
6 I should be (shows reasonable expectation) (OR will / shall be – certain prediction) there,
although unfortunately I won’t / shan’t be able to stay long.
7 It’s no use phoning Mimi now – she’ll / will be taking her driving test.
8 I find it astonishing that the old theatre should have been demolished.
9 It’s vital that your password shouldn’t / should not be disclosed to anyone else.
10 I assumed the rules would have been / would be explained to you when you joined the gym.
11 I absolutely won’t apologize.
12 It would seem that your partner is not very well.
13 Most migrating birds will return to the same habitat year after year.

b 1 I won’t generally get up before ten o’clock at weekends nowadays.

2 My teacher suggested (that) I should choose a subject I was passionate about.
3 Of course she would deny screwing up.
4 Thanks for the offer of a lift, but to be honest, I’d sooner walk.
5 I’d have thought / I should think you could afford to buy a car if you start saving up now.

5 PRONUNCIATION contractions
a 1 would is contracted = ’d
2 have is contracted = ’ve
3 both would and have are contracted = ’d’ve

b 1 I will soon have been living here for 20 years.

2 If we had set off earlier, we would not have got caught in the rush hour.
3 They should have known that it would be a disaster.
4 It will be easier to choose the right place if you have already researched online.
5 If I were you, I would accept their offer.
6 You should not have left so late.

2 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

6 LISTENING
b 1 cautious
2 wanting the best for you
3 don’t want to be responsible for it
4 different aspect of an idea
5 making you feel pleased
6 don’t have
7 do things to make someone like you

c Suggested answer
If you need to motivate others, it is better to ask them for advice rather than to give them advice.

d 1b 2a 3c 4a

e 1 offering 2 dispensing 3 receiving 4 give 5 seek 6 ask, for

h Kathy
1 She’d been having trouble at work with a junior colleague.
2 From her boss: do what you think is right – it’s not important for everybody to like you.
3 Yes, she thought it was good advice. She has followed the advice throughout her working life.
Emma
1 She was listening to a podcast about body positivity.
2 The podcast: no one is actually looking at you, they’re more concerned about themselves.
3 She doesn’t say whether she has followed it, but she thinks it’s a good thing to live by and she
tries to think like that.
Cecile
1 shopping, looking for a present
2 Her sister: I think you should get the shoes, you’ll wear them loads.
3 Yes, because she’s worn them lots and they worked out cheap.

3 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

1B The parent trap

1 READING
b British parents are worried about their children having accidents, e.g. falling into canals; Dutch
parents worry about their children not being independent and self-confident.

c Moya 5 and 8
Zeb 1 and 12
Seegert 4 and 7
Emma 6 and 11
Ben 2 and 10

d Suggested answers
1 Your position in society isn’t so important
2 People don’t worry so much about other people knowing what they are doing
3 It’s a very relaxed way of teaching / teaching style
4 think freedom is more important than money / value freedom more than money
5 you’re not going to have a very rewarding life
6 It’s not considered a negative thing
7 There’s a programme to give students help and advice
8 learning to see both sides of something

2 GRAMMAR noun phrases

b a 1 life 2 having 3 Gathering 4 school 5 self 6 learning
b 1 Using the gerund 2 The first noun describes the second.

Grammar Bank 1B

a 1 ✓ but my is more formal

2 flower vase, kitchen cupboard
3 Not knowing
4 ✓ but The sending of money is more formal
5 missing
6✓
7 ✓ but Harry’s is more formal
8 the disposal of used plastic cups
9 ✓ but the infinitive is more formal

b 1 The introduction of a new system will speed up the process.

2 Their inability to understand what people want means that politicians are increasingly out of
touch.
3 The construction / building of a new library will improve the school’s facilities.
4 The reduction in entrance fees should attract a younger audience.
5 The closure of many small shops will ultimately give consumers less choice.
6 The demand for e-magazines has forced many print magazines to disappear.
7 The monitoring of the use of social media is aimed at protecting young people.
8 The shortage / lack of nurses is resulting in hospital waiting lists getting longer.

4 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

3 SPEAKING
a 1 Strict: They were very demanding about studying, but didn’t help with homework. Her father
would be angry if she didn’t do well in exams.
Liberal: Her parents were liberal about playing outside and wouldn’t know where their children
were or wouldn’t mind what time they got back as long as they didn’t miss meals.
2 Her father would be angry if she didn’t do well in exams, and her mother would be disappointed.
Her father tried to impose his tastes on her in music and sport. He was very controlling.

4 LISTENING understanding and assessing the evidence from research

b a Free-range parents: children have lots of freedom with not much supervision
Helicopter parents: parents hover over their children and control their every waking moment
Tiger parents: parents are very demanding and put a lot of pressure on children to achieve
b2

c 1 academic achievement
2 being very engaged with their children and giving them a lot of attention

d 1 strict, supportive 2 obedience 3 second-highest 4 discussing politics 5 focus better

f 1 Negates: ‘the authors of the book say that the evidence doesn’t really support that. …it’s about
finding a balance…’.
2 Supports: They are aiming ‘to shape children’s values and preferences so that the children appear
to be making those choices of their own accord.’
3 Supports: ‘So their children tend to acquire a good work ethic and resilience when they are faced
with challenges…’
4 Negates: ‘However, in the UK in the 1970s, when there was less difference between the lives of
the most and least successful, then, parenting styles were generally more relaxed, which was
appropriate at that time.’
5 Negates: ‘Both authors say they are almost certainly “helicopter” parents.’
6 Supports: ‘…they highlight the importance of having the right parenting style for your
circumstances.’
7 Supports: ‘…but these children, often those from countries where there is a huge focus on
academic achievement, such as Singapore and South Korea, have the most mental health and
youth suicide problems…’
8 Supports: ‘…they may also make the wrong decisions, or miss opportunities because their
parents aren’t involved enough.’

5 VOCABULARY phrasal nouns

a 1 incomes (money people earns from work, investing, etc.)
2 upbringing (the way in which a child is cared for and taught how to behave while it is growing
up)
3 outcome (result or effect)

Vocabulary Bank phrasal nouns

1 PARTICLE FIRST
b 2 in 3 out 4 down 5 after 6 out 7 down 8 after 9 out 10 in 11 up 12 out 13 after 14
out 15 out 16 up 17 down 18 up 19 in
The particle has the main stress.

2 VERB FIRST

5 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

b 2 climb 3 come 4 break 5 break 6 turn 7 mix 8 set 9 let 10 write 11 back 12 give 13
hold 14 turn 15 make 16 set 17 break 18 write 19 go 20 stand 21 melt
The verb has the main stress.

6 PRONUNCIATION short and long vowels

a 1a 2b 3a 4b 5b

c 1 /ɪ/ income, system, decide (no other possible spelling)

2 /iː/ obedience, achievement, stream; other spelling = ee (e.g. three)
3 /ʊ/ input, outlook, shouldn’t (no other possible spelling)
4 /uː/ approve, assume, view; other spelling = oo (e.g. food)
5 /ɒ/ equality, hover, knowledge (no other possible spelling)
6 /ɔː/ downpour, supportive, author; other spelling = al (e.g. bald), ough (e.g. thought), aw (e.g.
draw)
7 /ɑː/ demand, harm, laughter (no other possible spelling)
8 /ʌ/ tough, upkeep, accompany (no other possible spelling)
9 /e/ pleasure, intensive, friendship (no other possible spelling)
10 /ɜː/ term, turnout, learning; other spelling = or after w (e.g. world), ir (e.g. dirty)

7 WRITING a discursive essay

ANALYSING A MODEL TEXT
c Paragraph 1 Introduction
Definition of FRP – child-rearing approach where children experience outside world alone
Development of definition – backlash against over-protective parenting
Examples – walking to shops, playing outdoors, taking public transport
Paragraph 2 Advantages of FRP
Point 2 – become adaptable, resourceful, resilient
Point 3 – gain awareness of danger / staying safe
Point 4 – confidence and enthusiasm to explore
Paragraph 3 Disadvantages of FRP
Point 2 – lose self-confidence
Point 3 – real danger from traffic, gangs, criminals
Paragraph 4 Conclusion
Point 2 – world is safer place
Final statement – as long as not exposed to too much danger,
FRP helps prepare children for adulthood

d 1 punctuation > well-adjusted

2 register > children
3 preposition > engage in
4 singular / plural agreement > there are
5 wrong collocation > greater awareness
6 spelling > accusations
7 incorrect word (L1 interference) > safeguarding
8 article > free-range parenting
9 tense > is becoming
10 gerund / infinitive > develop
11 word order > and thus provide valuable preparation

USEFUL LANGUAGE
f Clearly, there are several advantages…
Advocates of this approach argue that…

6 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

A further potential problem is…

But perhaps the most compelling argument is…
Arguably, …

g Sts should have crossed out these words:

1 about is incorrect. Register: as to is more formal than of.
2 excited is incorrect. Connotation: lively suggests vigorous discussion; heated implies a level of
anger.
3 plusses of is incorrect. Register: arguments in favour of is slightly more formal than advantages
to.
4 put emphasis on is incorrect. No difference.
5 deep-seated is incorrect. No difference.
6 Believers is incorrect. Meaning: Advocates means people in favour; Opponents means people
against.
7 factual is incorrect. Register: the case is more formal than true.
8 Experts have investigated is incorrect. Meaning: Statistics are a specific numerical type of
evidence.
9 particular belief is incorrect. No difference.
10 According to me is incorrect. Meaning: I personally believe that stresses that it is a personal
opinion much more strongly than It seems to me that.

8 THE CONVERSATION
a 1 Syinat 2 Tim 3 Devika

b 1 Because his father was a bit distant with him.

2 Because they weren’t brought up in the digital age.
3 Because her mother always treated her as an equal.
4 Because she and her cousin were brought up in strict households.

d 1 to an extent 2 a little bit 3 that 4 definitely 5 more of a 6 quite 7 a very different

7 English File © Oxford University Press 2021

 4th edition

Student’s Book Answer Key

1 Revise and Check

USE OF ENGLISH

a 2 has been a dramatic increase

3 Would you rather go
4 has been a (significant) downturn
5 there will be many job losses
6 should have phoned
7 were 200 or so
8 outlook for next week
9 would / ’d sooner drive than
10 printer won’t turn on
11 keeps / will keep phoning me
12 would have been driving

b 2 should 3 thing 4 being 5 will / should 6 self 7 downs 8 wouldn’t

READING

1B 2D 3A 4C

8 English File © Oxford University Press 2021