Unit 6 · Workbook

6B. Soundtracks — Workbook

Extra practice for home study · with answer keys

Apex English← Back to contents
Workbook illustration — notebook, cassette and headphones

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 — music & instruments

Choose the word or phrase that fits best.

  1. The band played two ___ at the end.

  2. She's a singer-___ — she writes everything she performs.

  3. It's such a ___ chorus — I've had it in my head all day.

  4. The tickets ___ within an hour of going on sale.

  5. He plays the ___ in a jazz quartet.

  6. The ___ went wild when the band played the opening riff.

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

2. Vocabulary — music verbs gap-fill

Complete each sentence with ONE verb from the box (correct form).

Word bank — drag or tap, then tap a gap
  1. The band is going to  drop  their new album next spring.
  2. She's been  drop  a song by Adele on the piano — it's beautiful.
  3. They  drop  every day for three months before the tour.
  4. He  drop  film soundtracks for a living.
  5. I always  drop  that song when I'm cooking, I don't even notice.
  6. The quartet is going to  drop  live at the theatre on Friday.
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

2b. Vocabulary — discursive writing

Write 120–180 words: 'To what extent does the commercialisation of music affect its emotional impact? Discuss with reference to live performances and the creative process.'

Check your writing

  • Use target lexis from the music and performance sections
  • Use varied C1-level grammar (e.g. participle clauses)
  • Ensure logical cohesion and smooth transitions
  • Maintain a formal or semi-formal academic register
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

3. Grammar — -ING or TO + infinitive?

Choose the correct form.

  1. I really enjoy ___ to jazz in the evening.

  2. She's decided ___ singing lessons next month.

  3. Would you mind ___ the volume down?

  4. We can't afford ___ to the festival this summer.

  5. He kept ___ the same wrong note all night.

  6. It's important ___ before the concert starts.

  7. Thanks for ___ me to the gig.

  8. ___ an instrument takes years of practice.

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

4. Grammar — verbs that CHANGE meaning

Complete each sentence with the -ING form or TO + infinitive.

  1. I remember (hear) ___ this song for the first time in 2003.

  2. Please remember (bring) ___ your ticket tomorrow.

  3. She stopped (play) ___ the guitar when she started university.

  4. On the way home he stopped (buy) ___ a coffee.

  5. I tried (call) ___ him three times, but no answer.

  6. Have you tried (play) ___ it a bit slower? It sounds better.

  7. I'll never forget (see) ___ them live in 2015 — magical.

  8. Don't forget (turn) ___ off the lights.

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

5. Grammar — put the words in order

Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence.

  1. enjoy / concerts / to / going / I / live

  2. learn / to / decided / the / I've / piano

  3. at / good / no / I'm / singing

  4. playing / really / love / I / guitar / the

  5. afford / can't / to / go / we / festival / the / to

  6. listening / mind / to / would / you / this?

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

6. Grammar — spot & fix the mistake

Each sentence has ONE mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

  1. I enjoy to listen to jazz.

  2. She's decided learning the violin.

  3. I'm interested in learn the drums.

  4. To play the piano is difficult at first.

  5. I stopped to smoke last year and I feel great.

  6. Remember buy milk on your way home!

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

7. Reading — true / false / not given

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

In 2011, a team at McGill University in Montreal scanned the brains of volunteers as they listened to their favourite music. They discovered that the moment a piece of music reached its emotional peak, the brain released dopamine — the same chemical produced when we eat something delicious or fall in love. The finding was striking because music, unlike food or shelter, has no obvious survival value. The team also noticed that people who regularly played an instrument had stronger connections between the two halves of the brain. Since then, dozens of follow-up studies have supported the idea that active music-making — not just listening — is unusually good for the developing brain.

  1. The study was carried out at Harvard University.T  /  F  /  NG
  2. The researchers scanned people's brains while they listened to music.T  /  F  /  NG
  3. Music released the same chemical as chocolate or falling in love.T  /  F  /  NG
  4. Music has an obvious survival value, according to the text.T  /  F  /  NG
  5. The average volunteer was under 25 years old.T  /  F  /  NG
  6. Later studies suggest active music-making is especially good for developing brains.T  /  F  /  NG
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

8. Writing — guided task

Write 80–100 words about a song, album or artist that has meant something to you. Use at least 3 verb + -ING structures, 2 verb + TO + infinitive structures, and 1 music vocab word from section 4.

Check your writing

  • 80–100 words
  • 3+ verb + -ING structures
  • 2+ verb + TO + infinitive structures
  • 1 music vocab word from section 4
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

9. Listening — interview with a film composer

Listen to the interview (journalist + composer — clearly different voices). Answer the questions. Play twice if you need.

🎧 Interview · film composer · ≈ 1:30
📄 Show transcript

A: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to 'Creative Minds'! Today we're joined by renowned film composer, Leo Rossi. Leo, thanks for being here.

B: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

A: So, starting at the beginning, how did you first get interested in music?

B: Oh, definitely through my mother's Sunday vinyl records. I used to guess the instruments before I could read. That was my first introduction.

A: Amazing! And which instruments did you play as a child?

B: I started piano from six, and then picked up guitar from ten. My poor parents!

A: What did you love about music then, and what did you hate?

B: I loved improvising; I hated practising scales with a passion. Still do, sometimes!

A: I think many can relate! Moving on to your work today, what is most of your daily work?

B: Honestly? Listening. Often to a scene, waiting for music to suggest itself. It's a lot of patience.

A: That’s fascinating. For many in our audience who might have given up an instrument, what are your two pieces of advice for them?

B: Firstly, leave the instrument visible in the room. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, stop trying to be 'good' – just enjoy the noise. Let go of the pressure.

A: Brilliant advice. If you had to describe music in one word, what would it be?

B: Actually, it's something to enjoy – not a competition. That's more than one word, I know, but it’s crucial to understand.

A: Perfect. Leo, thank you so much for your time and insights today.

  1. How did the composer first get interested in music?
  2. Which instruments did he play as a child?
  3. What did he love about music as a child — and what did he hate?
  4. What is most of his daily work today?
  5. What are his TWO pieces of advice for someone who gave up an instrument?
  6. How does he describe music in one word?
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

10. Dictation — key sentences

Listen again and complete each line with the missing words.

🎧 Film composer — key sentences
📄 Show transcript

A: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to 'Creative Minds'! Today we're joined by renowned film composer, Leo Rossi. Leo, thanks for being here.

B: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

A: So, starting at the beginning, how did you first get interested in music?

B: Oh, definitely through my mother's Sunday vinyl records. I used to guess the instruments before I could read. That was my first introduction.

A: Amazing! And which instruments did you play as a child?

B: I started piano from six, and then picked up guitar from ten. My poor parents!

A: What did you love about music then, and what did you hate?

B: I loved improvising; I hated practising scales with a passion. Still do, sometimes!

A: I think many can relate! Moving on to your work today, what is most of your daily work?

B: Honestly? Listening. Often to a scene, waiting for music to suggest itself. It's a lot of patience.

A: That’s fascinating. For many in our audience who might have given up an instrument, what are your two pieces of advice for them?

B: Firstly, leave the instrument visible in the room. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, stop trying to be 'good' – just enjoy the noise. Let go of the pressure.

A: Brilliant advice. If you had to describe music in one word, what would it be?

B: Actually, it's something to enjoy – not a competition. That's more than one word, I know, but it’s crucial to understand.

A: Perfect. Leo, thank you so much for your time and insights today.

  1. My mother used to old vinyl records on Sunday .
  2. I hated scales, but I loved .
  3. Most of my job is . I spend hours just to a scene.
  4. Leave the instrument in the room. And stop trying to be .
  5. Music isn't a . Just enjoy the .
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

11. 🔥 Challenge — sentence transformation

Rewrite the second sentence using 2–5 words including the KEYWORD.

  1. 1. She's a great pianist. → She's very good ___. (KEYWORD: PLAYING)

  2. 2. He wants to become a musician. → He's decided ___ a musician. (KEYWORD: BECOME)

  3. 3. I hate loud crowds at concerts. → I can't ___ crowds at concerts. (KEYWORD: STAND)

  4. 4. I remember it clearly — I heard the song at 15. → I remember ___ the song at 15. (KEYWORD: HEARING)

  5. 5. Buy the tickets — don't forget! → Remember ___ the tickets! (KEYWORD: BUY)

  6. 6. Playing the guitar isn't easy. → It isn't easy ___ the guitar. (KEYWORD: TO PLAY)

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

13. 🔥 Challenge — odd one out

Three items share a category. Pick the ODD ONE OUT.

  1. 1. Verbs that take -ING:

  2. 2. Verbs that take TO + infinitive:

  3. 3. Instrument names:

  4. 4. Positive adjectives for music:

Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

14. 🔥 Challenge — extended writing

Write a 130–160 word 'review of the best live gig you've ever been to (or wish you'd been to).' Use AT LEAST 4 verb + -ING structures, 3 verb + TO + infinitive structures, 1 -ING after a preposition, and 4 music vocab words from section 4.

Check your writing

  • 130–160 words
  • 4+ verb + -ING structures
  • 3+ verb + TO + infinitive structures
  • 1 -ING after a preposition
  • 4 music vocab words from section 4
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving

15. Self-check

Tick what you can now do confidently.

  • I use -ING after verbs like enjoy, avoid, mind, keep, finish.
  • I use TO + infinitive after verbs like want, decide, hope, refuse, promise.
  • I use -ING after prepositions (interested IN doing…).
  • I use -ING as the subject of a sentence (Learning music takes time).
  • I know that stop / remember / forget / try change meaning with -ING vs TO.
  • I can describe music, instruments and concerts with B2 vocab.
  • I can pronounce loanwords like cappuccino, karaoke, genre and ballet.
Important notes

Ask the teacher: Write down anything you want to remember from this section. Your notes are saved automatically.

Auto-saving