2011 to Be Best Year Ever

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions predict 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is welcome news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people lifted out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with access to computers. One expert looked forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power plant and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more cool websites and applications for students to brush up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

It seems more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day poll, the top resolution is to spend more quality time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in front of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is get fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before giving up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of debt and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and stick to your resolutions.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) More poor people will no longer be poor.
b) A new solar-powered car called Tesla will go on sale.
c) The most common New Year’s resolution is to save money.
d) Experts believe many people will keep resolutions about getting fit until May.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) What are the predictions for the environment?
b) What do experts predict for people´s health?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) improve (par.1) b) survey(par. 2) c) keep (par. 2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) “Billions of people hope this year will be better than last year. “
They said that …………………………………………….
b) They will open a new solar power plant and launch good English learning websites.
A new solar ……………………………………………….
c) People will find it easier to study English since there will be good websites.
If there were ………………………………………………

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What will you do to make next year the best year ever?


Some useful vocabulary for your New Years’ Resolutions
Verbs and expressionsmake a resolution/ to resolve to do something
make a decision/to decide to do something
to make a promise/to promise to do something
to look forward to doing something
give up/stop
keep up/stick to a resolution
to keep your promise

Adjectivesrealistic unrealistic
ambitious not ambitious enough
achievable unachievable

Nounsgoal, ambition, intention


Blog with a video on how to make and keep resolutions
http://esolcourses.blogspot.com/2011/01/english-vocabulary-new-years.html