Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 48 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 10: The Future and Final Review

Where is the hottest place on Earth?

The highest air temperature ever recorded was 56.7 degrees Celsius in Death Valley. Learn to talk about the weather now and in different seasons with the Present Continuous and comparatives, compare three places, and plan with the forecast.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Weather and seasons

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What's the weather like today?
  2. What's your favourite season?
  3. What do you wear in winter?
  4. Do you check the forecast every day?
  5. What do you do on a hot day?
  6. What's the worst weather for you?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about the weather.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Let's check the weather .
  2. The in the room is 22 degrees.
  3. It's thirty today.
  4. Don't forget your .
  5. The broke some trees.
  6. It's in winter. Take a hat.
  7. It's in the desert.
  8. It's , so drive slowly.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. hot ↔
  2. freezing = very
  3. boiling = very
  4. winter ↔
  5. A dry place with sand is a
  6. The report about tomorrow's weather is the
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about the weather.

  • What's the weather like?Яка погода?What's the weather like in Lviv?
  • It's raining / snowing.Іде дощ / сніг.It's raining, so take an umbrella.
  • It's... degrees.Градусів...It's 30 degrees today.
  • It's hotter / colder than...Тепліше / холодніше, ніж...Today it's hotter than yesterday.
  • My favourite season is...Моя улюблена пора року — ...My favourite season is autumn.
  • The weather is getting...Погода стає...The weather is getting colder.
  • What's the forecast?Який прогноз?What's the forecast for the weekend?
  • Take a jacket.Візьми куртку.It's windy. Take a jacket.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The hottest place

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Where is the hottest place on Earth?

The highest air temperature ever officially recorded is 56.7 degrees Celsius. It was measured in Death Valley in California, USA, on 10 July 1913.

Death Valley is a desert below sea level, with mountains around it. Hot air stays in the valley, so it is one of the hottest places on Earth.

There are other very hot places. In the Lut Desert in Iran, satellites measured ground temperatures of about 70 degrees. But that was the ground, not the air.

Many tourists visit Death Valley in winter, when it is cooler. In summer it can be dangerous to walk there.

What's the weather like where you live?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The hottest recorded air temperature is 56.7 degrees Celsius.
  2. It was measured in Death Valley.
  3. It happened in 1993.
  4. The 70 degrees in the Lut Desert was a ground temperature.
  5. Tourists usually visit Death Valley in summer.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Could you live in a very hot place?
  2. How is the weather changing where you live?
  3. Which season is the best for travel?
  4. How does weather change your mood?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Present Continuous for weather

Use am / is / are + -ing for the weather now or around now.

It's raining. It's snowing. The sun is shining. Is it getting colder?

Comparatives and seasons

-er than / more... than. Use in + season.

Summer is hotter than spring. Winter is colder than autumn. I swim in summer. It's the hottest place.

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

going to for plans (L46) · will, might, probably (L47)

Common mistakes: It's raining now, it rains in general; hotter than. ✗ It rains now → It's raining now. ✗ more hot than → hotter than.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. It
    now.
  2. The sun
    .
  3. Summer is
    than spring.
  4. Winter is
    than autumn.
  5. I swim
    summer.
  6. it snowing?
  7. It's
    place on Earth.
  8. It
    rain.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. It rains now. →
  2. Summer is more hot than spring. →
  3. The sun shine today. →
  4. I like swim in summer. →
  5. It is snow now. →
  6. I swim on summer. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the Present Continuous for weather and comparatives.

  1. What's the weather like today?
  2. What's your favourite season? Why?
  3. How is the weather changing where you live?
  4. What do you do in winter and in summer?
  5. What is the weather like in your country in autumn?
  6. Which is better: hot or cold weather?
5

Three places and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three places

Three people describe the weather where they live. Compare the places. Which place is the hottest? Which is the coldest? Where would you like to go?

Person 1

Dasha, Odesa

  • Lives in the south
  • Summers are hot and sunny
  • It's 30 degrees now
  • Winters are warm and wet
Person 2

Taras, the Carpathians

  • Lives in the mountains
  • Winters are snowy
  • It's snowing now
  • Summers are cool
Person 3

Elsa, Stockholm

  • Lives in the north
  • Winters are dark and freezing
  • It's minus five now
  • Summers are bright and warm
5.2

Mini-talk: weather and seasons

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: the weather today and in your city.
  3. Part 2: your favourite season and why.
  4. Part 3: how the weather changes your plans and mood.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What's the weather like today?
  2. What's your favourite season?
  3. What do you wear in winter?
  4. Do you like rain?
  5. What do you do on a hot day?
  6. Do you check the forecast every day?
  7. What's the worst weather for you?
  8. Where would you like to be right now?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. What's the weather like where your parents live?
  2. Who in your family hates cold weather?
  3. Who loves snow?
  4. Who in your family always has an umbrella in their bag?
  5. What are your friends doing in this weather?
  6. Who plans trips by the weather?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is the weather changing in your country?
  2. Does weather change how we feel?
  3. Is hot or cold weather better for work?
  4. Should people check the forecast before a trip?
  5. Could you live in a very hot place?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Talking about the weather

You

Friend

A friend (your teacher) is visiting your city. Talk about the weather:
  • say what the weather is like now
  • say what it's like in other seasons
  • suggest what to wear
  • suggest what to do
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the Present Continuous and comparatives.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. What's the weather like?
  2. Is it always so cold?
  3. What should I wear?
  4. What can we do today?
7.2

Planning with the forecast

You

Planner

You and a friend (your teacher) plan a trip. Check the forecast:
  • ask what the forecast is
  • compare two days
  • decide what to take
  • decide what to do if it rains
You do most of the talking. Use: It's going to... · It's hotter than... · Let's... · Take...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Tomorrow is going to be sunny.
  2. Sunday is colder than Saturday.
  3. What should we take?
  4. What if it rains?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

forecasttemperaturedegreesumbrellastormfreezingboilingfoggy
  1. Let's check the weather .
  2. The in the room is 22 degrees.
  3. It's thirty today.
  4. Don't forget your .
  5. The broke some trees.
  6. It's in winter. Take a hat.
  7. It's in the desert.
  8. It's , so drive slowly.
H2

Block 10 review: choose the correct form

  1. It now.
  2. Summer is than spring.
  3. I swim summer.
  4. It rain.
  5. I think it cold.
  6. The sun .
  7. She travel.
  8. It's place.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 10 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. It's raining now.
  2. It rains now.
  3. Summer is hotter than spring.
  4. Winter is more cold than autumn.
  5. The sun is shining.
  6. I swim on summer.
  7. It's the hottest place on Earth.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. What's the weather
  2. It's raining,
  3. It's 30
  4. Today it's
  5. My favourite season
  6. The weather is
  7. It's windy.

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.