Unit 5 · Workbook

5A. What if… — Workbook

Extra practice for home study · with answer keys

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How to use this workbook

  • Try each exercise on paper first — don't peek!
  • Tap Show answer on a single item, or use the big button above to reveal everything.
  • Re-do anything you got wrong the next day.

1. Vocabulary — feelings (mild → strong)

Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

  1. She was absolutely ___ when she got the scholarship — jumping up and down.

  2. After a 12-hour shift, I'm just ___ — I need to sleep.

  3. He was really ___ that his best friend didn't invite him to the wedding.

  4. I always feel a bit ___ speaking English in front of my boss.

  5. They were ___ when they found out the flight was cancelled again.

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2. Vocabulary — feelings collocations

Complete each sentence with ONE feeling from the box.

Word bank — drag or tap, then tap a gap
  1. I was so  drop  by his speech that I nearly cried.
  2. She's a bit  drop  of her sister's new flat — it has a garden.
  3. I feel  drop  that I didn't call my grandmother more often.
  4. I'm completely  drop  by all these emails — I don't know where to start.
  5. He was  drop  when he heard he'd missed the last train by 30 seconds.
  6. I was so  drop  when the doctor said everything was normal.
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3. Vocabulary — discursive writing

Discuss the psychological impact of 'hypothetical thinking'. Does imagining alternative realities help us grow, or does it lead to unnecessary suffering?

Check your writing

  • Use at least 4 feelings vocabulary items
  • Maintain a formal, discursive register
  • Use cohesive devices to link your arguments
  • Check for varied C1-level grammatical structures
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4. Grammar — second conditional form

Choose the correct form.

  1. If I ___ you, I'd apologise.

  2. If she ___ more time, she'd start a business.

  3. We ___ so happy if you visited us next month.

  4. If I knew his number, I ___ him right now.

  5. You ___ better if you slept eight hours a night.

  6. If he ___ so much, he wouldn't be so stressed.

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5. Grammar — first or second conditional?

Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.

  1. If it (rain) ___ tomorrow, I'll take the bus.

  2. If I (be) ___ taller, I'd play basketball.

  3. We (go) ___ hiking if the weather is nice on Sunday.

  4. If I (have) ___ a million euros, I (buy) ___ a farm in Tuscany.

  5. Call me as soon as you (arrive) ___ .

  6. If she (know) ___ the truth, she (leave) ___ him tomorrow. (she doesn't know)

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6. Grammar — put the sentence in order

Put the words in the correct order.

  1. I / were / would / if / apologise / I / you

  2. call / had / I'd / your / if / I / number

  3. wasn't / cold / it / would / go / if / so / we / swimming

  4. won / do / lottery / would / the / you / if / what / you

  5. were / here / know / she / would / what / if / she / to / do

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7. Grammar — find and fix the mistake

Each sentence has ONE mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

  1. If I would have time, I would help you.

  2. If she will be here, she'd know what to do.

  3. I would call you if I have your number.

  4. If I would win the lottery, I'd quit my job.

  5. What would you do if you find a wallet in the street?

  6. If I was you, I'd apologise. (make it formal)

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8. Reading — true / false / not given

Read the short text and mark each statement T, F or NG.

A recent survey of over five thousand adults in twelve countries asked one simple question: 'If you could restart your life at 18, what would you do differently?' The answers were surprisingly consistent. Nearly seventy per cent said they would travel more before settling down. Just over half said they would choose a completely different career. Only twelve per cent said they wouldn't change a thing. Interestingly, people over sixty were the most likely to say they wished they had spent more time with family — and the LEAST likely to say they would have earned more money. The single most common regret across all countries was 'I wish I hadn't cared so much what other people thought.'

  1. The survey included more than 5,000 adults.T  /  F  /  NG
  2. Half of the people surveyed would choose a different career.T  /  F  /  NG
  3. A majority (over 50%) said they wouldn't change anything.T  /  F  /  NG
  4. People over 60 wished they had earned more money.T  /  F  /  NG
  5. The survey was carried out in exactly 20 countries.T  /  F  /  NG
  6. The top regret was caring too much what others thought.T  /  F  /  NG
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9. Writing — guided task

Write 80–100 words: 'If I could live one day of someone else's life, whose would it be — and why?'. Include at least 3 second conditionals, 1 'If I were…' construction, and 2 feelings adjectives.

Check your writing

  • 80–100 words
  • 3 second conditionals
  • 1 'If I were…' construction
  • 2 feelings adjectives (thrilled, exhausted, moved, grateful…)
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10. Listening — happiness researcher interview

Listen to the short interview. A reporter and a happiness researcher — two clearly different voices. Answer the questions. Play it twice if you need to.

🎧 Interview · happiness researcher · ~1:20
📄 Show transcript

A: Hello everyone, and welcome back to 'Mind Matters'. Today we have Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading happiness researcher, joining us. Dr. Vance, thanks for being here.

B: My pleasure! Always happy to talk about ways to boost our well-being.

A: Fantastic. Let's dive right in. For our listeners wondering how they can feel happier, what two things do you typically recommend?

B: Well, if you want to feel happier, the most impactful things are surprisingly simple: sleep more, and see your friends more often.

A: Sleep and friends. Not what some might expect! Now, a common misconception is that money equals happiness. Why doesn't money make people happy, according to your research?

B: It's interesting. Above a modest income, more money barely helps — rich countries still have high depression rates. We adapt quickly to new financial situations, and then the boost fades.

A: That makes a lot of sense. Onto a practical tip: What small daily habit do you suggest we try?

B: A really powerful one is writing down three things you are grateful for, every night, for a month. It truly shifts your perspective.

A: I'll definitely be trying that! Many people face big life decisions, and fear can be a huge barrier. What do you say about fear before making a big change?

B: Fear is absolutely normal. In fact, if you weren't a little afraid, the change wouldn't matter to you. It means you care.

A: That's incredibly insightful. Finally, Dr. Vance, if you could have one wish for all our listeners today, what would it be?

B: My one wish is that everyone would CALL — not text — one person they miss.

A: Why call and not text? What's the significance there?

B: Because that single act would change more lives than any book she has ever written. The human connection, the voice, is profoundly impactful.

  1. What two things does the researcher recommend if you want to feel happier?
  2. Why doesn't money make people happy, according to her?
  3. What small daily habit does she suggest?
  4. What does she say about fear before making a big change?
  5. What is her one wish for listeners today?
  6. Why call and not text?
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11. Dictation — key second-conditional forms

Listen again and complete each line with the missing verbs.

🎧 Happiness researcher — key structures
📄 Show transcript

A: Hello everyone, and welcome back to 'Mind Matters'. Today we have Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading happiness researcher, joining us. Dr. Vance, thanks for being here.

B: My pleasure! Always happy to talk about ways to boost our well-being.

A: Fantastic. Let's dive right in. For our listeners wondering how they can feel happier, what two things do you typically recommend?

B: Well, if you want to feel happier, the most impactful things are surprisingly simple: sleep more, and see your friends more often.

A: Sleep and friends. Not what some might expect! Now, a common misconception is that money equals happiness. Why doesn't money make people happy, according to your research?

B: It's interesting. Above a modest income, more money barely helps — rich countries still have high depression rates. We adapt quickly to new financial situations, and then the boost fades.

A: That makes a lot of sense. Onto a practical tip: What small daily habit do you suggest we try?

B: A really powerful one is writing down three things you are grateful for, every night, for a month. It truly shifts your perspective.

A: I'll definitely be trying that! Many people face big life decisions, and fear can be a huge barrier. What do you say about fear before making a big change?

B: Fear is absolutely normal. In fact, if you weren't a little afraid, the change wouldn't matter to you. It means you care.

A: That's incredibly insightful. Finally, Dr. Vance, if you could have one wish for all our listeners today, what would it be?

B: My one wish is that everyone would CALL — not text — one person they miss.

A: Why call and not text? What's the significance there?

B: Because that single act would change more lives than any book she has ever written. The human connection, the voice, is profoundly impactful.

  1. If people (choose) one thing to feel happier, I would tell them: sleep more.
  2. If money (make) us happy, rich countries wouldn't have such high depression rates.
  3. If they (write) down three things they were grateful for, they'd notice a difference.
  4. If you (not / be) a little afraid, the change wouldn't matter to you.
  5. I wish everyone (call) one person they miss.
  6. That single act (change) more lives than any book I've written.
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12. 🔥 Challenge — sentence transformation

Rewrite the second sentence to mean the same, using 2–5 words including the KEYWORD.

  1. 1. I don't speak Chinese, so I can't work in Shanghai. → If I ___ Chinese, I ___ in Shanghai. (KEYWORDS: SPOKE / COULD WORK)

  2. 2. I'm not you, but my advice is: apologise. → If I ___ you, I ___ apologise. (KEYWORDS: WERE / WOULD)

  3. 3. I don't have your number, so I can't call. → I ___ call you if I ___ your number. (KEYWORDS: WOULD / HAD)

  4. 4. It's raining, so we won't go to the beach. → If it ___ raining, we ___ to the beach. (KEYWORDS: WASN'T / WOULD GO)

  5. 5. I need to imagine the situation. → Imagine ___ you ___ a million euros tomorrow. (KEYWORDS: IF / WON)

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13. 🔥 Challenge — word stress

Mark the STRESSED syllable in each adjective by writing the syllable in CAPITALS.

  1. 1. excited

  2. 2. disappointed

  3. 3. embarrassed

  4. 4. incredible

  5. 5. unbelievable

  6. 6. wonderful

  7. 7. fascinating

  8. 8. overwhelming

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14. 🔥 Challenge — odd one out

Three share a category. Pick the ODD ONE OUT.

  1. 1. Very happy:

  2. 2. Anxious / worried:

  3. 3. Second-conditional signals:

  4. 4. Openers for hypotheticals:

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15. 🔥 Challenge — extended writing

Write a 130–160 word 'letter to your younger self at 15'. What would you tell them? Use AT LEAST 4 second conditionals, 1 'If I were you' construction, and 3 different feelings adjectives.

Check your writing

  • 130–160 words
  • 4+ second conditionals
  • 1 'If I were you…' construction
  • 3+ different feelings adjectives
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16. Self-check

Tick what you can now do confidently.

  • I can form the second conditional accurately (if + past, would/could/might + infinitive).
  • I use 'were' — not 'was' — after 'if I / he / she' in formal writing.
  • I use hypothetical openers naturally: 'Imagine if…', 'Suppose…', 'What if…'.
  • I can use 15+ B2 feelings adjectives (thrilled, overwhelmed, gutted, moved…).
  • I stress 3- and 4-syllable adjectives on the correct syllable.
  • I can write a short reflective letter using unreal conditionals.
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