What would you change about the world?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
2. Have you ever signed a petition?
3. Do you think one person can make a difference?
4. Have you ever tried to change something in your community?
5. Which problem would you solve first?
6. Who inspires you to act?

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

Choose the word that fits.

1. A major change to a system or law, to improve it, is a .
2. A is something that you treat as more important than other things.
3. Governments need to problems such as poverty directly, not ignore them.
4. Charities often run a to persuade people to donate or to change their behaviour.
5. Leaders made a solemn to cut emissions by 2050.
6. Some activists a shorter working week, speaking about it in public.
7. A law is useless if the government fails to it properly.
8. A plan is if it can realistically be carried out.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. a reform is a major
   mealholidaychange
2. to tackle = to deal with a problem in a
   boring waysilent waydetermined way
3. a pledge is a serious
   promisemapquestion
4. to advocate = to
   publicly supportsecretly avoidquietly forget
5. to implement = to put a plan into
   actiona drawera box
6. feasible =
   possiblehiddentiny
   to do

Use these phrases to make proposals and to persuade.

• I would urge... to...Я б наполегливо закликав...I would urge governments to act now.
• I propose that we...Я пропоную, щоб ми...I propose that we start small.
• What we need is...Що нам потрібно — це...What we need is a long-term plan.
• The first step would be to...Першим кроком було б...The first step would be to raise awareness.
• If it were up to me,...Якби це залежало від мене,...If it were up to me, I would start with education.
• Imagine if...Уявіть, що...Imagine if every community adopted one idea.
• Let us...Давайте...Let us begin today.
• It is high time...Давно час...It is high time we acted.

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

1. The text says that the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in 2015.
   TrueFalse
2. The text says that all seventeen goals have already been achieved.
   TrueFalse
3. The writer would begin with education.
   TrueFalse
4. The writer says that only governments can bring about change.
   TrueFalse
5. The text suggests that many movements started locally.
   TrueFalse

1. Which single change would have the biggest effect?
2. Can small actions really change the world?
3. Who should pay for big reforms?
4. What stops good ideas from being implemented?

Common mistakes: I would urge + object + to-infinitive, I would recommend / propose that + subject + base verb, If it were up to me, I would…, Let us + base verb and It is high time + past simple. ✗ I urge that leaders to act → I urge leaders to act. ✗ I propose that we starting → that we start. ✗ If it was up to me, I will → If it were up to me, I would. ✗ Let we begin → Let us begin. ✗ It is high time we do → did.

1. I would recommend that the government
   introduceintroduces
   a new law.
2. I would urge leaders
   actto act
   now.
3. What we need
   areis
   a long-term plan.
4. If it were up to me, I
   will startwould start
   with education.
5. I propose
   that we startingthat we start
   small.
6. Imagine
   if every community adoptedif every community adopts
   one idea.
7. Let usLet we
   begin today.
8. It is high time we
   dodid
   something.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. I would recommend that the government introduces a new law. →
2. I would urge leaders act now. →
3. If it were up to me, I will start with education. →
4. I propose that we starting small. →
5. Let we begin today. →
6. It is high time we do something about it. →

Answer in detail. Use proposals and persuasion.

1. If it were up to you, what would you change first?
2. What would you urge your government to do?
3. What is the first step that you would take?
4. What do we need most in your community?
5. Imagine if everyone did one kind act a day. What would happen?
6. It is high time we... Finish the sentence.

Three people say what they would change. Compare them. Who is the most ambitious? Who is the most practical? Whose view is closest to yours?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: say what you would change about the world and why.
3. Part 2: use at least three proposal or persuasion structures (I would urge, I propose that, What we need is, The first step would be, Imagine if).
4. Part 3: finish with a call to action.

1. What would you change in your town?
2. Have you ever joined a campaign?
3. Would you sign a petition?
4. What cause do you care about?
5. Have you ever given money to a charity?
6. What is the biggest problem in your country?
7. Do you vote?
8. What would you change about your school or workplace?

1. Who in your life works for a good cause?
2. Who should lead change in society?
3. Who would you urge to act?
4. Who inspires you to help?
5. Who would you ask for advice on a campaign?
6. Who has changed your community for the better?

1. Can one person change the world?
2. Should governments or individuals take the lead?
3. Are protests effective?
4. Is it better to change things slowly or quickly?
5. Should rich countries help poor countries more?