WRITING AN ARTICLE – B1 English Writing Test

1  What things are there in your town to help people keep fit? Discuss the ideas in the pictures and your own ideas.

2  Read the notice. Decide if the sentences are true or false.

Articles wanted!

It isn’t always easy to keep fit if you live in a busy town or city. We want to know what your town is like! What sports facilities are there? Are there lots of open spaces? Is it easy to walk or cycle?

Write an article answering these questions. We will publish the most interesting articles on our website.

1   You should write an article about keeping fit.

2   You should write about your own town or city.

3   You must answer two questions.

3  Read Zack’s article. Does he think his town is a good place to keep fit?

Do you like keeping fit? I think it’s really important, but it isn’t always easy for people. Luckily, my town is a great place to keep fit!

There’s an amazing gym near my house and it isn’t expensive. I go there two or three times a week. There’s also a popular sports centre. You can do about twenty different sports there! I’m going to join next year and learn how to play tennis. There are plenty of open spaces, like the big park in the town centre. Lots of people go there in the summer, to have family walks or play games. The main roads in my town all have cycle lanes, so lots of people cycle. The town centre is perfect for walking too, because cars aren’t allowed there.

I believe towns can do a lot to help people keep fit and my town is definitely one of the best! Why don’t you come and see it for yourself?

4  Read Zack’s article again. Answer the questions.

1   Does Zack answer all the questions in the notice?

2   What sports facilities does he talk about?

3   What open spaces does he mention?

4   How many paragraphs does Zack use?

5   Does his article have an introduction and a conclusion?

5  Complete the guidelines for writing an article.

When you write an article, the first paragraph should be an 1……………… . The 2……………… paragraph is the main paragraph and should answer all the 3……………… in the task. The final paragraph should by your 4……………… .

6  Look at the Key Language for articles. Find words in Zack’s article to complete it.

KEY LANGUAGE FOR AN ARTICLE

Adjectives to make your article interesting:

important, great, 1a _ _ _ _ _ g, expensive, popular, perfect

Exclamation marks for emphasis:

My town is a great place to keep fit!

Linking words:

and, 2………………, so, because

Talking to the reader directly:

Do you like keeping fit? 3……………………………… come and see it for yourself?

Your opinion:

I think, I 4………………, For me, …

7  In an article, you often use strong adjectives to make your writing interesting. Complete the table with the adjectives. Can you add any more?

8  Match the adjectives with their opposites.

9  We use linking words in an article, to join ideas together into longer sentences. Choose the correct linking words in the sentences.

1   Gyms are great places to keep fit, because / but they are often expensive to join.

2   Sport is good for your heart, so / and it’s fun, too!

3   There are lots of cycle lanes in my town, but / so a lot of people cycle.

4   A lot of people go to the park but / because it’s a great place to relax or do exercise.

10  Complete the sentences using a suitable linking word.

1   I’d like to join a sports club, ………………. there isn’t one near my house.

2   It isn’t safe to cycle in my town ………………. there aren’t any cycle lanes.

3   I play football every week ………………. I go running, too.

4   The gym near my house is too expensive, ………………. I don’t use it.

11  You are going to write an article in answer to the notice in Exercise 2. Use the information below to help you plan your ideas.

Paragraph 1: Introduction and general information about your town

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

Paragraph 2: Answer the questions

Question 1: What sports facilities are there?

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

Question 2: Are there lots of open spaces?

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

Question 3: Is it easy to walk or cycle? (remember to say why)

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

Paragraph 3: Conclusion

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

12  Write your article. Use your notes from Exercise 11.

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………