EOI B1&B2 Module 7 Reading & Tips & Practice

The "Word Match" Trap: Warn students that if an option contains the exact same words as the text, it is likely a distractor. Correct answers at B2 level always paraphrase. For example, if the text says "honing their craft," the answer might say "developing their skills."
Identify the Writer's Tone: Questions often ask about the author's opinion. Look for "opinion verbs" or "adjectives." In Question 6, the author uses the word "reflect," which signals a critical recommendation rather than a simple fact.
The "Not" and "Only" Danger: Pay close attention to restrictive words. If an answer says "Only actors become famous," but the text mentions "musicians and athletes," that option is false.

Fixed Idioms: In Gap (6), students must recognize the idiom "vicious circle." They might be tempted by "bad" or "long," but "vicious" is the only one that creates the fixed meaning of a problem that repeats itself.
Collocation with "In": In Gap (5), the word "interested" is followed by "in." Remind students that they should always check the preposition after the gap before choosing a verb or adjective.

Time Prepositions: Gap (1) uses "for" because it refers to a duration of time (for over twenty years). This is a core B1-B2 distinction.
Dependent Prepositions: In Gap (5), the verb "deal" is always followed by "with." Encourage students to learn these pairs as a single unit.
Preparatory "It": Gap (6) ("find it hard") is a common B2 structure where "it" acts as a placeholder before the real subject.

Abstract Nouns: Moving from the adjective "Popular" to the noun "Popularity" (Gap 4) or "Famous" to "Fame" (Gap 1) requires knowing specific noun suffixes.
The Negative Prefix: In Gap (5), the context discusses the loss of privacy, so the word "Appearance" must become "Disappearance." If the student forgets the prefix "dis-", the sentence won't make sense.

Passive Voice: Question 2 ("is being followed") is a Present Continuous Passive. This is a very common way to test B2 grammar.
Past Regrets: Question 5 ("wish I had met") tests the use of WISH + Past Perfect to express a regret about something that didn't happen in the past.
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Logical Anchors: In Gap (4), the sentence F ("The next stage of his life...") is an "anchor" because it signals a transition in time, which fits perfectly after the description of his childhood fame.
The "This" Rule: Remind students that words like "This," "That," or "These" at the start of a sentence must refer to the specific idea mentioned in the sentence immediately before the gap.

Specific Keyword Search: Instead of reading everything, tell students to scan for synonyms. If the question asks about "freedom," they should scan for Marcus (B) and the word "cage." * Professional Identity: Questions often link an opinion to a person's job. If a question mentions "talent" vs "popularity," they should look at the Social Critic (D).