FUTURE FORMS
EXPRESSIONS OF CERTAINTY
THE INFOGRAPHIC
ECONOMIST'S COMMENTARY (Listening Comprehension)
SPEAKING & OPINIONS
100

Which future form is used in this sentence: "I'm speaking at the conference on Tuesday."

What is a future arrangement? (Present Continuous for a fixed plan)

100

Which expression means 100% certain and is used in the text as: "It's a ______ conclusion."

What is 'foregone'? (A foregone conclusion)

100

According to the infographic, which country is the MOST optimistic about their generation having a better life than their parents?

What is China?

100

The economist describes the statistics as just a "______" of how people feel at the moment.

What is a 'snapshot'?

100

In the speaking activity, you are asked if you think you will be ______ or ______ off than your parents. 

What are 'better' and 'worse'?

200

Which future form is used in this sentence: "In thirty years, things will have got worse."

What is the Future Perfect? (Describes a completed event at a specific future time)

200

Complete the expression from the text: "We are all ______ to face problems in the future."

What is 'bound'? (Bound to + infinitive)

200

According to the infographic, which two groups are compared in the data (the two bars shown)?

What are 'Respondents of all ages' and 'Respondents under 30'?

200

The economist says Western economies will not rely on ______ industries in the future. 

What is 'manufacturing'?  (or 'industrial/sector industries' - accept either)

200

The questionnaire asks: "Do you think that having a lower income necessarily means a ______ quality of life?"

What is 'worse'?

300

Which future form is used in this sentence: "Western economies certainly won't be doing the same things they are doing now."

What is the Future Continuous? (Describes an ongoing action in the future)

300

Which expression from the textbook means 0% probability and is the opposite of 'very likely'?

What is 'highly unlikely'? (or 'It's by no means certain' - accept either)

300

Name THREE of the countries shown in the infographic that appear to be pessimistic about the future.

What are Japan, Russia, and South Korea? (Accept any 3 from the pessimistic list)

300

According to the economist, future Western economies will be based on ______ and ______. 

What are 'thinking' and 'technology'?

300

Create a sentence using 'will have become' to answer this question: "Do you think the world will be a better place in 50 years?"

 What is: "I think the world will have become a better/worse place"? (Accept any logical Future Perfect answer)

400

Which future form is used to describe a change in the very near future, as in: "I'm not saying that things are about to change."

What is 'be about to' + infinitive? (Immediate future)


400

The textbook lists 'It's highly unlikely to happen' (A), 'It may well happen' (C), and 'It's bound to happen' (D). Which expression belongs in position B (between 50% and 75%)?

What is 'very likely'? (or 'In all likelihood' - accept either)

400

According to the infographic, are younger respondents (under 30) generally more or less optimistic than the overall population?

What is 'more optimistic'? (In most countries, the under-30 bar is higher)

400

The economist says this change will result in a better quality of ______ for everyone.

What is 'life'?

400

Use an expression of certainty from the textbook to express 80% confidence about this statement: "The global population will reach 10 billion.

"What is: "In all likelihood, the global population will reach 10 billion" or "It's very likely to happen"?

500

Identify the future form and explain its function: "If we are to progress, the post-industrial economy will have to evolve."

What is 'be to' + infinitive? (It describes a pre-condition or necessary requirement for a future prediction)

500

The textbook lists eight expressions of certainty. Which TWO expressions express maximum uncertainty (around 0-20% certainty)?

What are 'It's anyone's guess' and 'It's by no means certain'? (Accept 'It's highly unlikely' as a third option)

500

Based on the infographic and the economist's commentary, why does China have exceptionally high optimism?


What is because China, Brazil, and India are industrialized/emerging economies with rapid growth, whereas Western economies are post-industrial and facing stagnation?

500

The economist describes China, Brazil, and India as one type of economy, and the US, Spain, and France as another. What are the TWO terms he uses?

What are 'industrialized countries' (or 'emerging economies') and 'post-industrial economies'? (Accept reasonable equivalents from the text)

500

Combine a Future Continuous tense with an expression of uncertainty to respond to this: "Will drivers crash more often in the future?

"What is: "It's anyone's guess whether drivers will be crashing more often, but with self-driving cars, it may well decrease"? (Accept any logical sentence using Future Continuous + an uncertainty expression)