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Institute of English Speech and Drama Sri Lanka crest
Institute of English Speech
and Drama Sri Lanka

Expressing opinions: watch, practise and check

Advanced practice · Original video by English Lessons with Kate

Watch Kate’s original lesson

These are original EWS topic companions. They practise the stated topic; they do not reproduce the video transcript or its quiz.

Complete each worksheet before opening its separate answers. Then say your answers aloud and revise any mistake.

වැඩපත්‍රය කර අවසන් වූ පසු වෙනම පිළිතුරු පත්‍රය බලන්න.

Read the worksheets online

The same tasks are below. Answers stay on a separate page.

Open separate online answers
Worksheet 1: all 50 tasks

A. Choose the respectful reply

Choose A or B. You may disagree and still be respectful.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Opinion: "Students should read every day." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  2. Opinion: "Online lessons are useful." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  3. Opinion: "Group work helps learners." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  4. Opinion: "Schools should have more sport." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  5. Opinion: "Public transport needs improvement." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  6. Opinion: "Homework should be shorter." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  7. Opinion: "Libraries deserve more support." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  8. Opinion: "Learning a language takes regular practice." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  9. Opinion: "Students should learn to cook." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  10. Opinion: "Parks are important for towns." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.

B. Connect your ideas

Choose the word that fits the stated relationship.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. I prefer small classes ___ I can ask more questions. (reason: because / although)
  2. Online learning is convenient. ___, some students need face-to-face support. (contrast: However / Therefore)
  3. ___ my view, regular practice is essential. (In / On)
  4. I agree ___ your point about safety. (with / to)
  5. ___ I understand your concern, I support the plan. (Although / Because)
  6. The bus is unreliable; ___, many passengers leave early. (result: therefore / however)
  7. One advantage ___ group work is the chance to share ideas. (of / from)
  8. ___ example, students can record a short speech. (For / By)
  9. I am not fully convinced ___ this solution will work. (that / what)
  10. To sum ___, I support the change for two reasons. (up / out)

C. Soften a strong opinion

Rewrite with "In my view" or "I would argue that".

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Rewrite politely: Students should read every day.
  2. Rewrite politely: Online lessons are useful.
  3. Rewrite politely: Group work helps learners.
  4. Rewrite politely: Schools should have more sport.
  5. Rewrite politely: Public transport needs improvement.
  6. Rewrite politely: Homework should be shorter.
  7. Rewrite politely: Libraries deserve more support.
  8. Rewrite politely: Learning a language takes regular practice.
  9. Rewrite politely: Students should learn to cook.
  10. Rewrite politely: Parks are important for towns.

D. Add a supporting reason

Write an opinion and one relevant reason. Use your own ideas.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Respond to this topic: Students should read every day.
  2. Respond to this topic: Online lessons are useful.
  3. Respond to this topic: Group work helps learners.
  4. Respond to this topic: Schools should have more sport.
  5. Respond to this topic: Public transport needs improvement.
  6. Respond to this topic: Homework should be shorter.
  7. Respond to this topic: Libraries deserve more support.
  8. Respond to this topic: Learning a language takes regular practice.
  9. Respond to this topic: Students should learn to cook.
  10. Respond to this topic: Parks are important for towns.

E. Acknowledge another view

Write two sentences: acknowledge a view, then give your own.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Discuss: Students should read every day.
  2. Discuss: Online lessons are useful.
  3. Discuss: Group work helps learners.
  4. Discuss: Schools should have more sport.
  5. Discuss: Public transport needs improvement.
  6. Discuss: Homework should be shorter.
  7. Discuss: Libraries deserve more support.
  8. Discuss: Learning a language takes regular practice.
  9. Discuss: Students should learn to cook.
  10. Discuss: Parks are important for towns.
Worksheet 2: all 50 tasks

A. Choose the respectful reply

Choose A or B. You may disagree and still be respectful.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Opinion: "School uniforms are useful." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  2. Opinion: "Recorded lessons help students." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  3. Opinion: "Exams should include speaking." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  4. Opinion: "Young people should volunteer." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  5. Opinion: "Cities should have safer cycle routes." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  6. Opinion: "Students need breaks between lessons." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  7. Opinion: "Schools should teach digital safety." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  8. Opinion: "Reading fiction is valuable." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.
  9. Opinion: "Workplaces should offer English practice." A: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view. B: Only an idiot would think that.
  10. Opinion: "Local events bring communities together." A: Only an idiot would think that. B: That is a reasonable point, though I have a different view.

B. Connect your ideas

Choose the word that fits the stated relationship.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. I support uniforms ___ they can reduce clothing costs. (reason: because / although)
  2. Recordings are useful. ___, they cannot answer questions live. (contrast: However / Therefore)
  3. ___ my opinion, speaking practice should be regular. (In / On)
  4. I agree ___ you about the need for breaks. (with / at)
  5. ___ the plan has benefits, it may be expensive. (Although / Because)
  6. The route is safer; ___, more people may cycle. (result: therefore / however)
  7. A benefit ___ volunteering is meeting people. (of / at)
  8. ___ instance, students can help at a local event. (For / On)
  9. I would argue ___ digital safety deserves more attention. (that / which)
  10. Taking everything ___ account, I support the proposal. (into / onto)

C. Soften a strong opinion

Rewrite with "In my view" or "I would argue that".

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Rewrite politely: School uniforms are useful.
  2. Rewrite politely: Recorded lessons help students.
  3. Rewrite politely: Exams should include speaking.
  4. Rewrite politely: Young people should volunteer.
  5. Rewrite politely: Cities should have safer cycle routes.
  6. Rewrite politely: Students need breaks between lessons.
  7. Rewrite politely: Schools should teach digital safety.
  8. Rewrite politely: Reading fiction is valuable.
  9. Rewrite politely: Workplaces should offer English practice.
  10. Rewrite politely: Local events bring communities together.

D. Add a supporting reason

Write an opinion and one relevant reason. Use your own ideas.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Respond to this topic: School uniforms are useful.
  2. Respond to this topic: Recorded lessons help students.
  3. Respond to this topic: Exams should include speaking.
  4. Respond to this topic: Young people should volunteer.
  5. Respond to this topic: Cities should have safer cycle routes.
  6. Respond to this topic: Students need breaks between lessons.
  7. Respond to this topic: Schools should teach digital safety.
  8. Respond to this topic: Reading fiction is valuable.
  9. Respond to this topic: Workplaces should offer English practice.
  10. Respond to this topic: Local events bring communities together.

E. Acknowledge another view

Write two sentences: acknowledge a view, then give your own.

උදාහරණය තේරුම්ගෙන ඔබේ පිළිතුර ලියන්න.

  1. Discuss: School uniforms are useful.
  2. Discuss: Recorded lessons help students.
  3. Discuss: Exams should include speaking.
  4. Discuss: Young people should volunteer.
  5. Discuss: Cities should have safer cycle routes.
  6. Discuss: Students need breaks between lessons.
  7. Discuss: Schools should teach digital safety.
  8. Discuss: Reading fiction is valuable.
  9. Discuss: Workplaces should offer English practice.
  10. Discuss: Local events bring communities together.