Review Lab 04 —Describing people & places, open cloze
there is/are + quantifiers · have got/be for people and places · open-cloze grammar families · polite requests. Revision only · recycles Modules 7–8 — no new language.
A2 Key parts in this lesson
Why this lesson now? Last check-up before the Exit Test — every A2 Key part comes back one more time.
Your level · You are here
Exam Boost · Performance Session
A progress checkpoint, not a test.
Practise the language from this part of the course again. Try challenges, mini-tasks and longer speaking turns. Do not worry about small mistakes. You can replay any part.
Get ready · 01
5 minGet talking — no pressure
Without naming them, describe a classmate's appearance using 'have got' or 'be'. Can the group guess who it is?
In 30 seconds, list as many of the six open-cloze grammar-word families as you can: article, preposition, auxiliary, pronoun, linker, quantifier.
Pick ONE target: describing people/places, open-cloze speed, or polite requests. Tell your teacher.
Grammar recap · 02
8–10 minthere is/are + quantifiers, and have got/be for people and places (Modules 7–8 recycle)
Places: There's/There are + a lot of/some/any. People: has/have got + feature, or is/are + adjective.
- 1Modules 7–8 built two closely linked descriptive tools: there is/are with a lot of, some and any to describe what a place has, and 'have got'/'be' to describe a person's appearance and personality.
- 2This lab reactivates both at speed — no new forms, just faster, more accurate description under timing.
There are a lot of shops in the middle of my town.
There isn't any parking near the flat, but there's a bus stop next to it.
She's got curly hair and she's very talkative.
My neighbourhood is quite crowded, but it's friendly.
Is there a park on the corner of your street?
Challenge 1.____ a lot of cafés in the middle of town.
Challenge 2.There isn't ____ parking near my flat.
Challenge 3.My brother ____ short, curly hair.
Challenge 4.She's quite ____ — she talks to everyone.
Challenge 5.____ there a shop on the corner of your street?
Challenge 6.Our new flat is small, but it's ____.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Which sentence correctly describes a PERSON?
Quick check 2.Which sentence correctly describes a PLACE?
Vocabulary recap · 03
5–7 minRecycle your toolkit
describing how busy or calm a place is
Is your neighbourhood crowded or peaceful?
a polite way to ask for something
Ask politely for the bill using this phrase.
What to do
- 1.Revision only — every word here comes from Modules 7–8.
- 2.Match each one with its meaning.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
What to do
Sort the recycled words by the module where you first met them.
Activation · Personalise · Recycle
Reactivate Modules 7–8 language out loud — nothing new here, just faster recall.
Ask your partner
- Is your neighbourhood crowded or peaceful?
- What's in the middle of your town?
- Where do you often have to queue?
"Describe a cosy room you know."cosy
Which polite request phrase from Module 08 do you still forget under exam pressure?
Write 25–35 words about a shop or café visit using BOTH recycled phrases.
Pronunciation polish · 04
3–4 minPolite request intonation
Requests with Could I…? rise gently at the end — this sounds polite, not sharp.
- • Could I have the bill, please?
- • Would you mind waiting a moment?
- • Is there a queue for this till?
- • There's a lot of noise outside — could you close the window?
Reading challenge · 05
8–10 minReading Part 3 — A new neighbourhood
Read along — listen to the text
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
When I moved into my new flat, the first thing I noticed was the neighbourhood. It's in the middle of the city, so it's quite crowded, but it's also really friendly. There are a lot of small shops on the corner of my street, and the man who owns the bakery already knows my name.
The flat itself is small, but it's cosy. There isn't a garden, but there's a nice little balcony. My neighbour is an elderly woman with short, curly hair, and she's very talkative — she tells me all the local news!
At first I thought a crowded street would be too noisy, but actually I've got used to it. In the end, I'm really glad I moved here.
Challenge 1.Where is the writer's new flat?
Challenge 2.What does the writer say about the neighbourhood?
Challenge 3.How does the writer describe the neighbour?
Q1.The flat has a garden.
Q2.The writer has got used to the noise.
Q3.The neighbour is quiet and never talks.
What to do
- 1.Reading & Writing Part 1 — Read each notice and choose A, B or C.
- 2.About 5 minutes.
Card machine out of order today. Cash only, please.
1.What does the sign tell customers?
SERVICE DESK
Long queue at ticket desk. Buy tickets online to save time.
2.What does the notice suggest?
3.What does the landlord ask?
4.Why should the customer keep the email?
QUIET STREET
This is a peaceful, residential street. Please keep noise down after 10pm.
5.What does the poster ask residents to do?
Listening challenge · 06
8–10 minListening — Booking a table and changing your mind
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Waiter:Good evening. Could I help you?
Customer:Yes, could I have a table for two, please? Somewhere quiet, if possible.
Waiter:Of course. We've got a small table near the window, or a bigger one in the middle of the room.
Customer:The one near the window sounds nice — actually, on second thoughts, is there anywhere further from the door? It's a bit crowded there.
Waiter:Yes, there's a cosy corner table, away from the queue at the entrance.
Customer:That would be great, thanks. In the end, that sounds perfect.
Challenge 1.What does the customer ask for first?
Challenge 2.Why does the customer change their mind about the window table?
Challenge 3.Which table does the customer finally choose?
What to do
Tick every recycled Module 7–8 word or phrase you hear in the dialogue.
Skills challenge · 07
5 minOpen cloze — naming the grammar family, then correcting your own answer
Name the family first (article/preposition/auxiliary/pronoun/linker/quantifier), write your answer, then read the whole sentence back to check it sounds natural.
Task
- 1Modules 8 trained learners to spot the six grammar-word families behind open-cloze gaps, and to correct their own answers by reading the completed sentence aloud.
- 2This lab rebuilds both skills together, at exam speed.
Example
I haven't seen her ____ Christmas. → family: preposition of time. Candidates: for / since. With a fixed point in time → since. Reading it back: I haven't seen her since Christmas sounds natural — keep it.
Writing challenge · 08
5 minShow what you can do
Q1.Type ONE word, then check by reading the sentence aloud: 'There ___ a lot of shops nearby.'
Q2.Type ONE word: 'Could I ___ a table for two, please?'
Q3.Type ONE word: 'My street is quite peaceful, ___ it's a bit far from the shops.'
Q4.Type ONE word: 'Is there a café on the corner ___ your street?'
Reading & Writing Part 6 (short message, 25+ words). A friend is visiting your neighbourhood. Reply, describing your street and one place nearby, and politely invite them for coffee.
Your writing draft
0 words SavedShow model answer & examiner comment
Hi! My street is really cosy — there are a lot of small shops in the middle, and it's quite peaceful in the evenings. There's a lovely café on the corner. Would you like to meet there for coffee on Saturday? See you soon!
Examiner comment
| 5 | All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only. |
| 3 | Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding. |
| 1 | Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length. |
What to do
- 1.Reading & Writing Part 6 — Reply to this message in 25 words or more.
- 2.Cover ALL three notes.
Hi! I heard you moved. What's your new street like? Is there anything nice nearby? Could I come and visit? Priya
Your reply must cover:
- Describe the street
- Name something nearby
- Politely confirm or decline the visit
Show model answer
Hi Priya, my new street is really peaceful and there's a nice bakery on the corner. Would you like to come next weekend? That would be great, thanks for asking! Alex
Communication lab · 09
10–15 minTalk it out
Speaking Part 1/2 — In pairs, roleplay a customer and a shop or café worker. Use polite requests and offers from Module 08, and describe the place using there is/are.
Useful phrases
What to do
Choose the most natural, polite answer.
- WaiterAre you ready to order?
- Candidate_______________
- WaiterWould you like me to bring the bill now?
- Candidate_______________
What to do
- 1.Speaking Part 1 — the examiner asks short personal questions about where you live (about 3–4 minutes total).
- 2.Answer naturally, then add one extra detail.
Phase 1 — short factual questions
1.Examiner: "What's your name?"
2.Examiner: "What's your neighbourhood like?"
Tip: Use crowded/peaceful or spacious/small.
3.Examiner: "Is there anything you like near your home?"
Tip: Use 'there's a…' plus a reason.
4.Examiner: "Can you describe someone in your family?"
Tip: Use has got / is + adjective.
Phase 2 — extended question (aim for 3–5 sentences)
Examiner: "Tell me about the street where you live."
Tip: Say what's there, how it feels, and one detail.
Show model extended answer
I live on a fairly quiet street in the middle of a small town. There are a few shops nearby, including a bakery on the corner that I really like. It's quite a peaceful neighbourhood, although it gets a bit crowded on market days. My neighbour is a friendly old man with grey hair, and he always says hello.
What to do
Speaking Part 2 — Describe your photograph for about 1 minute, using there is/are and have got/be where possible.
Picture A
Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
- • What can you see?
- • What's the place like — crowded or peaceful?
- • Can you describe one of the people?
- • Would you like to be there?
Picture B
Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
- • What can you see?
- • Is there anything nearby?
- • Can you describe what someone has got or is wearing?
- • Have you been somewhere similar?
Useful phrases
- • In the picture I can see…
- • There's a…/There are a lot of…
- • He's/She's got…
- • It looks…
Show model 1-minute description
In the picture I can see a busy street. There are a lot of shops, and there's a small café on the corner. One woman has got short hair and she's carrying some bags. The street looks quite crowded, but it also looks friendly.
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Run this lab as a brisk, communicative checkpoint — not a test. ~26 min total
Keep it going · 10
Take-homeExtend it at home
Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.
Grammar mix — complete each gap with 'there is/are', 'some/any', or 'has/have got'.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Sentences
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Open-cloze self-correction — complete the 6-gap text, then read it aloud and correct any answer that doesn't sound natural.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Text
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Speaking Part 1 mock — record 4 answers about your neighbourhood, each with one extra detail.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Questions
Listening recycling drill — read the café dialogue aloud twice, focusing on polite intonation.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Dialogue
Wrap-up · 11
2–3 minWhat you can now do
- Review Labs are memory practice, not tests.
- there is/are + some/any/a lot of describes places; has/have got and be describe people.
- Open cloze = name the grammar family, write ONE word, then read the sentence back to check it.
- Polite requests rise gently at the end: 'Could I…?'
- Listening for the whole answer catches changes of mind (actually, on second thoughts, in the end).
Need more practice?
Optional · your lesson progress stays the sameDetail, gaps and cohesion
Practise this exam skill
Checking your writing
Practise this exam skill
How to attack each paper
Practise this exam skill