2 READING AND USE OF ENGLISH – Part 6 Cross-text multiple matching

EXAM FILE p13

1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions. 4 What do you think ‘decision

1 What decisions do you remember making today? fatigue’ means? Read the texts on
p17 and check your ideas.
2 What’s the biggest decision you have made this week?
3 Do you find you make better decisions at different times of the day?
EXAM TASK
4 How difficult do you find it to make decisions about these things?
5 You are going to read four reviews
buying clothes what to eat what to post on social media when to exercise of a documentary about decision
when to message or call friends when to spend and when to save
fatigue. For questions 1–4, choose
from the reviews A–D. The reviews
2 2.2 Listen to three people discussing a question on a TV panel show. Which may be chosen more than once.
question from Ex 1 did the presenter ask? Which two speakers agree? Why? Which reviewer

EXAM FOCUS has a different opinion from

the others about the way the
Identifying contrasting opinions documentary was structured?
When identifying how writers’ opinions differ in texts, we need to: 1
Identify the section of each text that contains the relevant information: scan texts
to find references to the topic you need to compare.
shares C’s attitude to the
Consider use of contrasting linkers, or phrases: While I’m appreciative of the
credibility of the research for the
importance of … I feel that …
documentary?
Consider different ways opinions can be expressed:
2
• verbs of opinion: I don’t believe that … / … for me, it’s not worth considering
• statements that illustrate an opinion rather than give it directly: Instead of I think
the new design is terrible use I’m appalled at the new design for … , etc. has a different view to B regarding
the impact on viewers’ habits?
3
3 Read the Exam focus and answer the question.
Read the posts and decide which writer has a different opinion from the others
expresses a different opinion to D
about the value of seeking help when needing to make an important decision.
regarding their anticipation of a
Highlight the phrases that informed your answer.
subsequent programme?
A There are those crossroads we come to at various points when a decision can be
4
life-changing. On those occasions I would definitely advise running options past
someone, or some people, whose opinions you respect. Two heads are often
better than one and although you may not necessarily eventually follow what they
Speaking or writing
suggest, it can sometimes give you a new way of looking at the situation.
6 Discuss in pairs.
B Some people turn to others when they have to make an important decision;
they might ask a family member, a friend or even a teacher for advice. 1 Do you agree that people are
While I’m appreciative of the, at times, frightening responsibility of deciding unlikely to change their approach
something big, I feel that in the end, it is down to us as individuals, and we to making decisions because of
shouldn’t let ourselves be swayed by others’ points of view, however well- a documentary like this? Why /
meaning it might be. We need to trust our own judgement. Why not?
2 Are there any important decisions
C I was recently offered promotion at work, which entailed working abroad for six
you will have to make in the
months of the year. I spent ages chasing the pros and cons around in my head,
coming months? What will you
wanting to take the responsibility for making the decision myself. Eventually
need to consider? What might be
I opened up to a really good friend, who talked the whole thing through with
the potential consequences?
me. I truly believe that people who know you well, with no agenda of their own,
can help you look at things from different perspectives, and, while not making
7 Write a comment for the website
the decision for you, help you to decide what’s in your best interests.
about how decision fatigue
affects or doesn’t affect you.
EXAM BOOST p12 Give examples.

Complete Exam file SECTION A on page 12.

16
 2
IN TWO
MINDS?
Decision-making is something everyone has to do, every hour, I’d heard about decision fatigue before
A every day of their lives, so a programme that explains what C watching the documentary, possibly because it
can affect our ability to do this was both educational and had come up on a news programme at some point,
potentially helpful for those who watched it. The idea that our and I found the idea intriguing. However, I don’t think
brains only have a limited amount of energy to use on decisions the programme told us anything that was very new,
was well-explained through a carefully planned and well-filmed and certainly not life-changing for anyone. In my
sequence of interviews and podcasts from the general public, opinion the fact that our brains get worse at making
although I have to say that some of the claims weren’t really decisions as the day goes on, seems to me pretty
backed up by any real evidence. It was neither too serious nor too logical. On the other hand, I was impressed by the way
light, and I am sure it will be of help to many people, who, like the documentary was put together, and I think the
myself, sometimes leave things like essay writing until late in the producers got the basic ideas across very well with
evening and then sit looking at a blank screen for ages! I know full some pretty sound statistics to back up their theories,
well that if I leave it until the next day, the same task will take a in an entertaining way. The lack of an original
fraction of the time. I shall definitely try to alter my work pattern. approach has, unfortunately, put me off watching the
rest of the series, although I can understand why other
It had been billed as a documentary that could change the
B whole way we approach decision making, and was produced
viewers might think differently.
by an excellent team. As a result, I was expecting something rather It’s quite incredible that we take so many things
special and I have to admit that it didn’t disappoint. The attention D that our brains do for granted. Last night’s
to detail was impeccable. I followed up some of their survey excellent documentary on decision fatigue was a case
sources online and they were totally accurate, which cannot be said in point, and I am definitely looking forward to the
of all documentaries! As a writer, my whole day is spent making next instalment. It appears that after a lengthy period
decisions of varying complexity and importance, and I know that of making choices our ability to weigh up pros and
late in the day I can struggle to come up with ideas. cons wanes and we end up taking the easiest and
The documentary underlined very clearly, through a series of often most reckless options. Apparently when the
well-linked and logical stages, why this happens and I, personally, mental energy required to make decisions is depleted,
shall definitely take on board many of the suggestions. It will be so too are our self-control and our willpower.
interesting to hear what else they mention in the next So, that’s why we shouldn’t make important decisions
programmes. However, I would say that most people are so settled or go online shopping late at night – note to self!
in their own ways that although they may initially profess interest Great documentary, in spite of all the very technical
in the ideas put forward they will eventually fall back into bits, which I think should have come at the end,
old routines. rather than the beginning.

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