1
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
UNIT OBJECTIVES
HUMAN’S ABILITIES
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
• Use vocabulary relating to the topic (senses,
special abilities, characteristics … )
• Pronounce the vowel /  / sound and word
stress.
• Develop listening, reading and speaking
skills via practical exercises relating to this
topic.
OVERVIEW
DURATION ( 12 PERIODS)
WARMING UP
• What can you do?
• Proverbs relating to the topic
GRAMMAR
• Modal verbs
• Kinds of modal verbs
• Must and have to
• Could and would
• Should, ought to, had better
,
need
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary about human’s
ablilities
PRONUNCIATION
Stress and the /  / sound

LISTENING
• Adventurers
• Someone you admire
READING
Special talents: Breaking
record,
Albert Einstein: the
world’s most famous scientist
SPEAKING
Talk about someone you
admire
KEY
WRITING
Write about your strength
and your weakness
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
A. Check on the picture that show what you could do when you were 5 years old.
B.
Following are some proverbs about human abilities. Could you add some more
proverbs in the list?

1
2
3
4
5
6
Play chess
Write
Play the piano
Read
Swim
Sing
EXAMPLE
1. Adversity produces human abilities, not necessarily wealth.
2. Life is finite, while knowledge is infinite.
3.
Modals are small verbs like can, must, and might, which give certain meanings to main verbs.
There are twelve modal verbs: Can, could, shall, should, must, ought to, may, might,
will, would, need (to), dare.
A.
General introduction about modal verbs
Form
+ S + modal + main verb
Positive sentence:
Example:
We should stay
–
S + modal + not + main verb
Negative sentence
Example:

We shouldn’t stay.
? Modal + S + main verb?
Question
Example:
Should we stay?
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
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Can, could, be able to
CAN
COULD (The past of CAN)
B.
Common modal verbs in English
FORM USE
(+) S + can + V.
W
e use Can to:
•
Talk about ability / possibility
Example:
They can control their own budgets.
•
Talk about inability / impossibility
Example:
She can’t speak three languages.
•
Ask for permission in a polite way
Example
: Can I smoke here?
•

Make request / ask for help
Example
: Can you help me?
(–) S + can + not
+ V.
can’t
(?) Can + S + V?
Yes, S + can.
No, S + can’t.
FORM USE
(+) S + could + V.
W
e use Could to:
•
Talk about past ability / past possibility
Example: She could walk when she was nine months old.
•
To ask for permission in the present and future.
Example: Could I borrow your phone for a second?
•
To make a polite request
Example: Could you carry these boxes for me, please?

(–) S + could + not + V.
Couldn’t
(?) Could + S + V?
Yes, S + could.
No, S + couldn’t.
Notes:
Be able to is sometimes used instead of can.

1. Can indicates future when used with a time word.
2. Be able to is used in all tenses (have been able to, had been able to, etc)

Example:
We can’t deliver your computer this afternoon, but we can deliver it tomorrow.
We use can in a negative question when we want to show that we are surprised
or upset by something.

Example: Can’t you do anything without my help?
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
BE ABLE TO
PRACTICE
Complete the sentences with Can and the words in parentheses
1. We the beach from our hotel. (not see)
2. your computer for a few minutes, please? (I/ use)
3. They to dinner tomorrow. (not come)
4. quiet for a second? (you/not be)
5. You tennis in this heavy rain. (not play)
6. the salt, please? (you/ pass)
7. She very quickly. (type)
8. I your writing. (not read)
9. me the money for a new match? (you/ not lend)
10. You well enough to be on the team. (swim)
FORM USE
(+) S+ am/ is/ are + able to + V.
W
e can use be able to in a number of tenses,

but never in continuous tenses.
We use be able to talk about:
• Ability
Example:
She is able to solve most computer problems.
•
Specific occasion when we managed
(or didn’t manage) to do something.
Example:
I was able to find a good parking spot this morning.
(–) S + am/ is/ are + not + able to + V.

(?) Am/ Is/ Are + S + able to + V?
Yes, S+ am/ is/ are
No, S + am/ is/ are
Notes:
To talk about past ability on a specific occasion, we use was/ were able to. Could
is not used for specific situations. In contrast, couldn’t can be used in both general
and specific situations.
Example: Matt was able to repair my computer yesterday. I tried but I couldn’t.
Notes:
With verbs of sense, we use could and not be able to.
Example: He could hear the wind whistling through the trees.
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
Write questions.
1. Have a look at that letter (could)


2. Leave work early this afternoon (could)

3. Water my plants for me (can)

4. Turn the music down (could)

5. Give me a lift to the station (could)

6. Stand under your umbrella (can)

Complete the sentences with the correct form of Be able to and the words in
parentheses.
1. Now that you , you can take me to work. (not understand)
2. tennis with us tomorrow? (you/ play)
3. He fast for a few years now. (not run)
4. He Spanish until he lived in Panama for two years. (not speak)
5. your boat last weekend? (you/ sail)
6. We the ski resort because all the roads were blocked by snow. (not leave)
7. They to the airport with us next Wednesday. (not come).
8. He a lot more since he retired. (travel)
MUST/ MUSTN’T
2
3
FORM USE
(+) S+ must + V
W
e use must to talk about:
•
Obligation
Example: You must give your name to the guard before you go in.

•
Necessity
Example: We must check the weather forecast before we go sailing.
•
We use must not to talk about prohibition
Example: You must not talk about your job to anyone.
(–) S + must + not + V
mustn’t
(?) Must + S + V?
Yes, S + must
No, S + mustn’t
Notes:
We do not usually use must in the question form.
The form mustn’t is rare in American English.
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
MUST/MUSN’T/ HAVE TO/DON’T HAVE TO
PRACTICE
Complete the sentences with Could, couldn’t or must
1. We leave the building because there is a fire on the sixth floor.
2. I swim very well when I was young so I never liked going to the beach.
3. You share this information with anyone.
4. you open the window, please?
5. We watch television last night.
6. They wait until the guard gives them permission to enter.
7. stay a little longer, please?
8. She remember my name?
Complete the sentences with the correct form of have to. Use the verbs in the box.
1. we these old magazines?

2. You at home for a few days until you feel better.
3. I early tomorrow because I’m on vacation.
4. We my cousin yesterday.
5. They the old photocopier tomorrow because the new one is broken.
6. She lunch yesterday because her husband took her out to eat.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of must, must not, have to or
don’t have to and the verbs in parentheses.
1. You outside. You can come in if you want. (wait)
2. He the report today. It’s her decision. (finish)
3. You sunglasses in this strong sunlight! (wear)
4. She the exam this year. She can wait until next year. (take)
5. You so many cakes because it’s not healthy. (eat)
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
MUST HAVE TO
Must usually expresses personal obliga-
tion. We use must when we express how
we feel.
Example: I must go to the dentist’s soon.
We use have to to talk about external
obligation and not our personal feelings.
Example: I have to work late tonight (Because my
boss has told me to)
MUST NOT DON’T HAVE TO
We use must not to talk about things that
we are not allowed to do.
Example: You must not drive a motorcycle without
a helmet (It’s not allowed).
Don’t have to means you can choose
whether you do something or not.
Example: You don’t have to come with us. (You

can decide)
1
2
3
go help keep make
not get up stay use
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
6. I these bills by next Monday. (pay)
7. He frequently because he’s a sales representative. (travel)
8. You to the post office. I bought stamps yesterday. (go).
9. We our house before winter arrives. (paint)
10. You special boots when you go into the factory. (wear)
Rewrite the sentences using the words given. Use between two and five words.
Example: Is it necessary for you to take your driving test so soon? (have)
→ Do you have to take your driving test so soon?
1. It’s against the rules to work alone in the factory. (work)
→ You alone in the factory.
2. I couldn’t contact him at all yesterday. (able)
→ I him at all yesterday.
3. It’s not necessary for us to stay in an expensive hotel. (have)
→ We in an expensive hotel.
4. It will not be possible for me to see you tomorrow. (be)
→ I see you tomorrow.
5. Was it necessary for him to drive all that way last night? (he)
→ drive all that way last night?
Should/Ought To, May/Might/Need To
SHOULD
OUGHT TO

• Ought to has the same meaning as Should. We use it to give advice
Example: You ought to join a gym if you want to lose weight.
• We do not use ought to in the question form. The negative form ought not to is rare in
American English.
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3
FORM USE
(+) S + should + V
W
e use should to:
•

Give advice
Example: You should go to bed earlier.
•

Ask for advice
Example: Should I ask my boss for more money?
(–) S + should + not + V
shouldn’t
(?) Should + S + V?
Yes, S + should
No, S + shouldn’t
Notes:
In reported speech, should is used instead of shall
Example: I ask if I should open the door
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
MAY/MIGHT
We use may and might to say that something is a possibility in the present or future.

Example: He may have the flu. Listen to that cough!
We might see you later.
NEED
PRACTICE
Find the mistakes in each sentence and rewrite the sentences correctly
Example: He should to visit the doctor regularly
→ He should visit the doctor regularly
1. That mustn’t be George. He’s in China.
→
2. We must eat out tonight, but we aren’t sure.
→
3. That should be Lisa’s twin sister. She looks exactly like her.
→
4. Ought to take a present when I visit them?
→
5. He shouldn’t be at home. His car isn’t there.
→
6. You might not eat so much food late last night.
→
Complete the sentences with Should or Shouldn’t. Use the verbs from the box.
Example: He should follow his doctor
’s advice.
1. You do much money on computer games.
2. He more if he wants to make the team.
3. We where to go on vacation before it’s too late.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
FORM USE
(+) S + need + V
W
e use need to:

Show that something is necessary be done.
Example: You need to close the door before going out.
(–) S + need + not + V
needn’t
(?) Need + S + V?
Yes, S + need
No, S + needn’t
1
2
buy call decide follow get practice
read spend throw wear drink
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
4. You plenty of water when it’s hot.
5. I the dentist now or wait until tomorrow?
6. She more sleep.
7. You a new toothbrush every month.
8. we .these old magazines away?
9. You other people’s letters.
10. I don’t think you jeans to the wedding.
Check (

) the correct sentence
Example: a. (

) You must see a doctor more often.
b. You must to see a doctor more often.
1. a. They could fix the car by five o’clock yesterday.
b. They were able to fix the car by five o’clock yesterday.

2. a. I don’t have to take his advice, but I will.
b. I must not take his advice, but I will.
3. a. Could you to understand the lecture yesterday?
b. Were you able to understand the lecture yesterday?
4. a. You hadn’t to do the housework for me.
b. You didn’t have to do the housework for me.
5. a. They weren’t able to save enough money to go on vacation.
b. They weren’t been able to save enough money to go on vacation.
6. a. Must you not see that I’m busy?
b. Can’t you see that I’m busy?
7. a. I haven’t been able to run that fast since I was a child.
b. I couldn’t be able to run that fast since I was a child.
8. a. You must remember to take your medicine at the right time.
b. You have to be able to remember to take your medicine at the right time.
The five senses
a. People have five physical senses – sight, audibility, taste, touch and smell. Which
of those senses do each of these verbs or adjectives go with?

Example: aromatic smell
3
A.
Senses
1
aromatic bitter deafen glimpse
peer pungent quiet spicy
stink grasp tap
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
b. Use all the words in the boxes to make ten true statements.
Example: Alice has won a holiday in Bali. She feels very excited.

The sixth sense
Match the phenomena on the left with an example of it on the right.
How multi-skilled are you?
How easy can you do these things? Rate your abilities using the numbers below. Add up
the numbers, and then look for interpretation of your score. Do you agree with the results?
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
1. Alice has won a holiday in Bali. She
2. Anna is going on a diet. She’s slim but she says she
3. Do you think he’s going to be sick? He
4. Have you heard about their trip to Nepal? It
5. Here comes the bride! She
6. I haven’t met Jill’s new teacher yet but she
7. I love stroking the car. It
8. I love this rose. It
9. No one has lived in this house for ages. It
10. They’ve put too much chocolate in this cake. It
11. This soup needs more salt and pepper. It
feels
looks
smells
sounds
tastes
very pleasant.
too sweet.
so soft.
very exciting.
fat.
a bit tasteless.
so fragrant.
wonderful.

rather green.
musty.
very excited.
2
1
1. Déjà vu
2. Intuition
3. Premonition
4. Sixth sense
5. Telepathy
a. Experiencing any of the phenomena in this exercise
b. Dreaming about an accident before it occurs
c. Thinking about a friend a second before she rings you
d. Walking into a place and feeling you’ve been there before
e. Sensing why a close friend is upset
B.
Human’s abilities
4 = impossible 3 = very difficult 2 = difficult
1 = fairly easy 0 = no problem
How multi-skilled are you?
Can you …?
Speak a foreign language Stop a watch from beeping on the hour
Surf the Internet Program a car radio to a new station
Send e-mail messages Type on a keyboard using all your fingers
Drive a car Thread a needle and sew on a button
Cook a meal for four people Program a VCR
Fix a flat tire on a bike Put up some shelves
Replace a camera battery Heat up milk in a microwave oven
Operate a washing machine Fix a leaky faucet
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
The interpretation of your quiz score is:
Special abilities
Character adjectives
The adjectives in the box below are all in the crossword. Read the clues and complete the
crossword with them.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
Score Interpretation
0 – 13 You’re so multi-skilled, it’s unbelievable! Is there anything you can’t do?
14 – 26 You can do many things. Be careful that other people don’t take advantage
of you and get you to do everything for them.
27 – 39 You’re a talented person who can do most of the things you need to do.
40 – 52 Although you’re good at doing some things, maybe you could learn to do
some more things that you find difficult.
45 – 64 It’s important that you learn to do some things yourself. Until then, don’t
live alone.
2
1
Talk to animal Climb to Everest
Speak many languages Travel around the world by bike
Travel to the moon Walk to the North Pole
Row across the Atlantic Predict the future
Create androids Read minds
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)

h)
i)
j)
C.
Characteristics
adventurous ambitious eccentric immature moody
nosy obstinate self-confident strict sympathetic
talented timid violent
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Positive characteristics
a. Work in pairs. Check these words in your dictionary if necessary.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
2
Across
1. They shouldn’t get married at eighteen. They are far too to take such
an important decision.
5. Clive is having another exhibition of his paintings. He’s also giving a concert next
week. He is a very person.
7. Tina is so If I have a problem, she always listens and tries to help me.
8. At the office party, she stood in a corner and didn’t speak to anyone. She’s very
quiet and
9. We’re given her lots of good advice but she won’t listen. She’s very
11. Jackie is so One minute she’s laughing and the next she’s sulking.
12. He’s a man. He was arguing with Tom last night and he ended up push
ing him against the wall and shaking him.
Down
2. My uncle cycles around town in a big red hat and long red boots. Everyone stares
at him because he looks so
3. She enjoys hot air ballooning and parachute jumping. She’s very

4. He wasn’t nervous about starting his new job. In fact he was very and
felt sure that he would do it well and enjoy it.
6. Michael already owns three restaurants but he intends to own a chain of them by
the time he’s thirty-five. He’s very
7. Her parents are quite She’s seventeen but she has to be home by ten
o’clock, even at weekends.
10. He’s always asking me questions about my family and job. He’s very
ambitious clear-thinking courageous determined talented
fair hardworking imaginative original tolerant
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
b. Which of things above should the people in the box be? Why?
c. Match the roles in exercise b with following qualities.
• Be a good leader
• Be a good team player
• Have strong principles
• Have a good sense of humour
• Stay calm in a crisis
• Have a lot of self-confidence
• Have a positive attitude
Decide whether the following things are discoveries or inventions and complete
the chart below using the information in the box.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
an actor a colleague
a manager a teacher
a political leader a scientist
a songwriter a top sportsperson
a parent a grandparent
D.
Discoveries and inventions

1
Larry Page and Sergey Brin
1996
Friedrich Miescher 1869 Logie Baird 1926
Alexander Fleming 1928 Humphrey Davy 1800 John Dalton 1808
Vint Cerf the 1970s Alexander Graham Bell
1876
Marie and Pierre Curie
1897
Invention Discovery By who/
when?
The telephone
Radium
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Write sentences using information above.
Television was invented by Logie Baird in 1926
Around each verb, one noun does not go with it? Which one?
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
Invention Discovery By who/
when?
Penicillin
Television
The Internet
DNA
The atom
The electric light
Google
2
1

E.
Verbs and nouns that go together
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Work with your partner. Choose a noun from each group, and write a sentence
using the verb. Read your sentences to the class.
BMW cars are made in Germany.
There are eight nouns that do not go with the verbs in exercise 1. Complete the
sentences with the correct verbs.
1. Paper was by a Chinese government official in AD 105.
2. I my homework very quickly, then I went out.
3. This is my father’s watch. He it every day until he died.
4. hello to your parents from me when you see them.
5. Are you the manager? We’d like to a complaint.
6. I was late for work because I the bus.
7. I’m not good at reading maps so we completely our way.
8. I’ve just a really good idea! Do you want to hear it?
You can use your dictionary to find the stress (strong syllable) in new words.
acquaintance /'kweintns/ n C someone you know, but do not know well
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
discover
the truth
a cure
gold
paper
DNA
make
a discovery
cars
homework

a phone call
$1,000
tell
a story
hello
the truth
a joke
a lie
give
a present
advice
information
a complaint
a lift
lose
weight
the bus
money
the game
the way
carry
an umbrella
a gun
a watch
passengers
a briefcase
keep
a diary
the peace
a secret

an idea
a promise
miss
the ball
the way
the family
the bus
school
2
3
A.
Stress and the / ә / sound
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Underline the stressed syllables in these words. Use your dictionary, if necessary.
Many weak syllables have the sound / ә /. Listen and circle the / ә / sound in
the words above. Which two words do not have an / ә / sound.
Practice saying the words, paying attention to the stress and / ә / sounds.
Listen and write the words in the correct column according to the word stress.
Practice saying the words, paying attention to the word stress.
Mark the stressed syllable on the words in the table below.
Example: success successful
Listen and check. Which words change their stress patterns?
Practice saying the words, paying attention to the stress syllables.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
1
1
2
2
3

3
4
5
average colleague cousin employee percent
father-in-law leisure neighbor parents pensioner
relative stomachache
B.
Word stress
•
•
•
•• •
•
•• •
•
•
astonished
success successful
jealousy jealous
intelligence intelligent
importance important
happiness happy
ambition ambitious
determination determined
imagination imaginative
confidence confident
possibility possible
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Focus on: Word stress patterns

Time: 15 minutes
Objective: to find a path from the entrance in the top left side of the maze to the exit in
the bottom right. You only can move across a square if it contains a word with the stress
on the first syllable (
•
••
).
READING 1
BREAKING RECORD
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
C.
Game – Stress Maze
D
o you think that younger people are
more active than older people? Kozo
Haraguchi doesn’t think so. Haraguchi may
be getting old, but he is still breaking
records. He set a new world record for the
100-meter race in the 95-to 99-year-old age
group. The race took place in 2005 in
Miyazaki, Japan. Haraguchi ran the race in
just 22.04 seconds. That’s fast for anyone.
It was his first time running on a rainy day.
After the race, Haraguchi told reporters,
“It was the first time for me to run in the
rain and as I was thinking to myself, “I
mustn’t fall, I mustn’t fall.” I made it across
the finish line.”
I
t may have

been the first
time Haraguchi
ran in the rain,
but it was not the
first time he
broke a record.
Five years
before, in 2000,
he broke the record for the 100-meter race
for men age 90 to 94. He ran it in only
18.08 seconds.
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Study these words from the article. Complete the chart. Write each word or
phrase next to the correct definition.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
1
active compete reporter
schedule stay in shape
1. To try to win
2. To keep in good health
3. A plan of what you will do and when you will do it
4. Doing a lot of thing
5 People whose job is to write or tell about events in a newspaper, on TV, or
on the radio
H
araguchi did not start to compete in
races until he was 65 years old. He
said he started running as a way to stay in
shape. In addition to running, he takes an

hour-long walk around his neighborhood
every day for exercise.
H
araguchi did not start to compete in
races until he was 65 years old. He
said he started running as a way to stay in
shape. In addition to running, he takes an
hour-long walk around his neighborhood
every day for exercise.
F
auja Singh, age 94, holds a world
record, too. He ran a marathon in just
5 hours and 40 minutes. That makes him
the fastest marathon runner ever in his age
group.
S
ingh started running only 11 years ago
after he moved from India to England
to live with his son. Since then he has run
five marathons in London, one
in Toronto, and one in New York.
Recently, he was part of the world’s oldest
marathon team in Edinburgh.
S
ingh’s training
schedule
includes a daily
10-mile walk and
run. “I run at least
10 or 12 miles on

the weekend, and
walk 10 miles every
day,” he says. He
also has a weekly training session with his
coach. In addition, he doesn’t smoke or
drink because he believes it is bad for his
health.
I
t seems that Singh gets faster as he gets
older. When he was 89 years old, he
completed his first marathon in 6 hours and
54 minutes. The next year, he got the same
time, which set a world record for 90-year-
olds. A year later, he ran even faster, taking
9 minutes off his record time. The follow-
ing year, he ran the London marathon in 6
hours and 2 minutes. His best time came in
the Toronto marathon, where he set a new
world record of 5 hours and 40 minutes at
the age of 92. That’s quite a record for
someone his age or any age.
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Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Match each fact with the correct person.
Scan the article for the answer to each question. Look for key words, numbers,
and names to help you find the information. Work as quickly as possible.
1. How fast did Kozo Haraguchi run the 100-meter race in 2005?

2. How fast did Haraguchi run the 100-meter race in 2000?


3. How many marathons has Fauja Singh run in New York?

4. How fast did Singh run the London marathon?

5. How old was Singh when he set a new world record in Toronto?

READING 2
ALBERT EINSTEIN: THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS SCIENTIST
A
Curious Child
Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. As a child, he was
very shy and quiet. He did not talk at all until age three. According
to one story, young Albert suddenly spoke at the dinner table one
night. He said, “The soup is too hot.” His parents asked, “Why
haven’t you ever said a word until now?” Albert replied “ Because
up to now everything was all right.”
Albert may have been quiet, but he was always thoughtful and very
curious. His limitless curiosity showed up in the questions he asked.
For example, at age five he asked, “Why does a compass needle al-
ways point in the same direction?” When he was fourteen he asked,
‘What would the world look like if I rode on a beam of light?” He
never lost his curiosity. As an adult he said, “The important thing is
to not questioning.”
Revolutionizing Science
In 1905, Einstein wrote four important papers. The ideas he wrote about revolutionized the
ways people thought about space and time. In 1915, he published his theory of relativity.
His famous equation, E=mc
2
, explains the relationship between energy and time. It became
one of the most important laws of physics. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921.

ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
3
2
1. was born in India a. Kozo Haraguchi
2. set a record for the 100-meter race
3. walks for an hour every day b. Fauja Singh
4. has a weekly training session with his coach
5. started competing in race when he was 65
6. ran a marathon in 5 hours and 40 minutes
20
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Life in the United States
Einstein immigrated to the United States in 1933 and became
a United States citizen in 1940. Einstein joined the Institute for
Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey. He lived a quiet life.
He enjoyed classical music and played the violin. One day, after
Einstein played with a group of musicians, one of them said,
“He’d be a good musician if only he could count!” This was a
funny thing to say about Einstein, because his life’s work involved
very complicated math.
Einstein kept his sense of humor throughout his life. A magazine called Scientific America
once had a competition for the best short explanation of the theory of relativity. Einstein
said, “I’m the only one of my friends who is not entering. I don’t believe I could do it.”
Albert Einstein died on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey. He had changed the world.
In 1999, Time magazine named him the “Person of the Century.”
Study these words from the article. Complete the chart. Write each word next
to the correct definition
Read these statements. If a statement is true, write T on the line. If it is false,
write F.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202

1. Uncomfortable meeting and speaking with other people
2. An extremely intelligent person
3. Wanting to know about or learn new things
4. Quickly and without being expected
5. Completely changed the way people think or do things
6. Came to live in a new country
2
1. Albert Einstein learned to talk at a very early age
2. Einstein was curious throughout his whole life
3. His theory of relativity changed physics
4. Einstein lived in Germany his entire life
5. Einstein had a good sense of humor
6. He had a very active social life
7. One of Einstein’s interests was playing the violin
8. Einstein won the Nobel Prize for physics
curious genius immigrated
revolutionized shy suddenly
1
21
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
Scan the article for the answer to each question. Look for key words, numbers,
and names to help you find the information. Work as quickly as possible.
a. Where was Einstein born?

b. When did he publish his papers about the theory of relativity?

c. What prize did he win in 1921?

d. What was his famous equation?


e. When did he become an American citizen?

f. When did Time magazine name Einstein “Person of the Century?”

g. When did he died?

Listen to two TV producers, Beth and Luke, discussing a new TV series. Answer
these questions.
a. What is Beth’s new TV series about?
b. Who is the first programme about?
c. Why didn’t this person become famous?
Listen again. Answer these questions.
a. Where did Beth get the idea for the series?
b. What did Harriet do in 1911?
c. When did she arrive in England?
A.
An adventurer
1
3
3
22
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
d. Why didn’t she fly on the Monday?
e. Did she know she was in France when she landed?
f. When and how did she die?
Work in small groups. How many of the people in the photos do you recognize?
Why do you think people admire them?
Listen to two people talking about someone they particularly admire. Listen and

note down details of each person’s life.
Listen again and note down why they admire each person.
Listen again and fill the missing words in the blanks.
SPEAKER 1:
The person I admire most in the world is Nelson Mandela. He was the
1
of South
Africa during the 1990s, but before that he spent more than
2
years, I think, in
prison. He was put in prison because of his political beliefs. He wanted to get
3
for
black people in South Africa, and the government put him in prison because of his political
views … um … he was a
4
before he went to prison and he represented himself
at his trial. Some of the things he said during his trial were amazing. They’re still
famous
5
, I think.
B.
Someone you admire
1
2
3
4
Nelson Mandela
Father
Nelson Mandela

Father
23
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
The reason that I admire him is that in spite of the fact that he spent such a long time in
prison he never changed his
6
. It would’ve been quite easy for him to perhaps stop
campaigning for the rights of black people, but he never did that. Right until the end of his
time in prison, he was still
7
. When I went to South Africa, I met somebody who
was in prison with him and it was amazing to hear about how they were. They found it so
easy to forgive the government and the people who’d put them in prison, they weren’t

8
or angry about it.
I think he’s really influenced the way people think about how they can make
9
,
political changes, by standing by what they believe in and stating their
10
very
clearly.
SPEAKER 2:
Okay, the person I admire is my father actually … and um … he was a
11
for thirty-three years and he was very successful in his job. And after thirty-three years of
working quite happily, he was suddenly made
12
. And at the age of fifty-two it

was actually very, very difficult for him to get another job. So he started thinking about what
he could do, and he remembered that he’d actually been very good at um… teaching me

13
when I was younger, and I’d had a lot of problems with maths and he’d got
me through my exams. So what he did was he went back to university, and he
14
as a maths teacher. And now I have to say that whenever I go back to my town to visit my
dad, I
15
into a lot of people in our road who he teaches and they say he’s one of
the best teachers that they’ve ever had, so that’s great!
The reason I admire him so much is because, you know faced with that kind of situation it
would be very easy to be depressed and feel sorry for yourself, and my dad showed just
how strong he was and how
16
and creative he can be and that makes me very
proud.
Talk about someone you admire.
You are going to give a short talk about a person you particularly admire (either personal or
a famous person).
Decide quickly who you will talk about. You will need to know some basic
facts about the person’s life.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
1
24
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
Spend a few minutes making notes about what you want to say. Ask your
teacher for any words or phrases you need.
Write an e-mail to a friend. Tell your friend what you could and couldn’t do when you

were a child and what you can or can’t do now. Then ask your friend questions about
what he or she can or can’t do.
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
2
Useful Language
Explaining why you admire someone
She’s the sort/kind of person who always (does what she thinks is right).
He’s someone who (has done a lot to help others).
She’s achieved so much …
He’s got very strong principles …
She’s exceptionally talented/creative …
I really admire the way he …
From:
To:
Subject:
Dear ,







Best wishes,

25
Unit 1: Human’s abilities
GRAMMAR
PRACTICE 1
1.

1. can’t see 2. Can I use 3. can’t come 4. Can’t you be
5. can’t play 6. Can you pass 7. can type 8. can’t read
9. Can’t you lend 10. can swim
2.
1. Could I have a look at that letter?
2. Could I leave work early this afternoon?
3. Cam you water my plants for me?
3.
1. aren’t able to understand 5. Were you able to sail
2. Will you be able to play 6. weren’t able to leave
3. hasn’t been able to run 7. won’t be able to come
4. wasn’t able to speak 8. has been able to travel
PRACTICE 2
1.
1. couldn’t 2. couldn’t 3. couldn’t 4. Could
5. couldn’t 6. must 7. Could 8. must
2.
1. Do we have to keep 2. have to stay
3. don’t have to get up 4. had to help
5. will have to use 6. had to make
3.
1. don’t have to wait 2. must finish 3. have to wear 4. don’t have to take
5. mustn’t eat 6. have to pay 7. has to travel 8. must go
9. have to paint 10. must wear
4.
1. You mustn’t work along in the factory 2. I wasn’t able to contact him yesterday.
3. We don’t have to stay in an expensive hotel. 4. I won’t be able to see you tomorrow.
5. Did he have to drive all that way last night?
ENG103_Bai 1_v1.0010112202
4. Could you turn the music down?

5. Could you give me a lift to the station?
6. Can I stand under your umbrella?