Cross-curricular extension unit 7

Language and literature: Word
building compound adjectives
1 Read the text about compound adjectives.
3 The meanings of compound adjectives are often
clear, but others are more difficult to understand.
Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

A compound adjective contains two or more cold-hearted middle-aged run-down

words. We use it like an ordinary adjective, i.e.
to describe a noun. Compound adjectives can
be formed in several different ways. Here are
two of the most common types:
a combination of an adjective and a noun +
-ed.
My brother is left-handed.
Its an old-fashioned house.
a combination of an adverb and a past
participle.
Maria is very hard working.
Ive got a badly paid job.
short sighted strong willed
1 He was a _____________________ man about
fifty years old.
2 A _____________________ person doesnt care
about other people.
3 My brother always does what he wants, even
when people think its a bad idea. Hes very
_____________________.
4 My grandmother is very _____________________

The first word of a compound adjective is
related to the word that follows it. When two
adjectives are used to describe something but
arent related, they dont make a compound
adjective.
4 Some novels describe societies where life is
a kind-hearted man (compound adjective)
a kind old man (2x non-compound adjectives)
but she doesnt want to wear glasses.
5 They lived in a _____________________ building
it was in terrible condition.
miserable. These books are called dystopian
novels. Match the verbs in the box to the
situations which are typical in these books.

2 Complete the second sentences with compound arrest betray release spy on
adjectives. Use the correct form of the bold
words.
The presidents wife always dresses well. Shes
always well dressed.
1 The woman wore the same uniform as everyone
else, but David noticed her dark hair. She was
_____________________.
2 They couldnt afford anything expensive or
luxurious, so they furnished their house very
simply. Their house was
1 ___________________ 3 ___________________
_____________________.
3 When the police found the thief he had already
dropped everything so his hands were empty.
He was _____________________.
4 The food for the workers is always cooked very
badly. Its always _____________________.

2 ___________________ 4 ___________________

 PHOTOCOPIABLE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1

5 Read the text. Then tick (9) the sentences which are correct about the text.
1 Its about a dystopian novel.
2 The novels main character is a bad person.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwells well-known dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-
Four, was published in 1949. It tells the story of Winston Smith,
a middle-aged man from Oceania in 1984. Oceania is one of
three states in the world. The others are Eurasia and Eastasia.
Oceania is ruled by its government, the Party, with Big Brother
as its leader.
Oceanias citizens are carefully controlled; Big Brother
watches them all the time. People eat badly cooked food, live
in run-down homes and do boring jobs. Every room in every
building or home has a two-way television screen which
broadcasts party propaganda, but also spies on the people.
Even thoughts against the Party are a crime, and the Thought
Police are everywhere, waiting to arrest anybody who doesnt
think correctly.
Winston hates the government, but pretends to respect it. He
starts writing a diary of his feelings against it. At work, he
becomes interested in a man called OBrien. Winston believes
that OBrien hates the government, too. He also falls in love
with a dark-haired woman called Julia. He begins to feel happy.
6 Read the text again. Then match 16 with af to
make sentences about the text.
1 The government
2 The people of Oceania
3 Winston doesnt
4 Winston believes that OBrien
5 Mr Charrington and OBrien
6 In prison, Winston
a tell people about his true feelings for the
government.
b betrays the woman he loves.
c controls everything its citizens do.
d is against the party, too.
e are shown party propaganda on their
television screens.
f want to punish Winston for his thoughts.
7 Answer the questions about the text.
1 Was Nineteen Eighty-Four written to describe a
society in the future or the past?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
2 How does the government spy on the population?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
 PHOTOCOPIABLE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
3 Winston isnt interested in making life better.
4 The novel has got a happy ending.
Winston and Julia start spending time together in a simply-
furnished room owned by one of the proletariat, Mr
Charrington. The proletariat, the poorest people, live more
freely than the rest of the population and most of them
havent got two-way screens.
In this room, Mr Charrington offers them privacy. There, they
read a book that OBrien gives them. Its about a plan to get
rid of the government. But the police find them and arrest
them. There is a hidden two-way screen in the room and they
discover that Mr Charrington is a member of the Thought
Police. Winston soon learns that OBrien is a member of the
Party.
Both Winston and Julia are arrested. Winston is tortured by
the cold-hearted OBrien until he starts to believe that the
Party is right. When Winston betrays Julia to the government,
he is released, but he is mentally destroyed. When he hears
of Oceanias victory in a war against Eurasia, he is happy and
has finally learnt to love the Party. His chance of a normal life
is gone.
3 What might happen if a person thinks something
bad about the party?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4 Why do Winston and Julia read OBriens book in
Mr Charringtons room?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
5 How does OBrien change Winstons opinion of
the party?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
8 Imagine that you live in a dystopia like Oceania.
Describe a day in your life. Use these questions
to help you.
1 What kind of news is there on television and in
the newspapers?
2 How much freedom is there? Are there police
everywhere?
3 How do you feel about your life there?
4 How do you try to have a nice time? What goes
wrong?
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