The document discusses noise pollution and its effects on concentration in work and study environments. It lists common noises that can interrupt focus, such as mobile ring tones, personal phone calls, keyboard tapping, eating sounds, and background music or noise. The document also addresses pronunciation of consonant clusters and use of modal verbs to describe sounds and speculate about their sources. It suggests businesses should pay attention to how they sound, as constant background noise can cause stress and reduce productivity.

1. ‘Noise is the most impertinent of all forms
of interruption’ -
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philospher

2. Sounds and human voice
How noisy is it where you
work/study? What noises can you
hear? Do any of these noises effect
your concentration ?

3. It Drives me mad!!!
 Source: New English File Advanced, OUP

4. The most Irritating sounds
Mobile ring tones
Personal Phone Calls
People slurping tea an coffee
People Tapping the keyboard of their computer
The boss’s voice
The crunch of people eating crisps
The ‘hold’ music on the telephone
The hum of the air conditioning

5. Pronunciation
Consonant Clusters – at the beginning of a word
Two sounds
• Click
• Slam
• Crash
• Slurp
• Drip
• Snore
• Stammer
Three sounds
Screech
Scream
Splash

6. At the end of the word
Two sounds
Shouts
Sniffs
Yelled
hummed
Three sounds
Crunched
Mumbled
Crisps
Rattled

7. Listening
Listen to Julian Treasure, an accoustician, talking on the
BBC Radio 4 Today programme about noise pollution.
Tick the best summary of what he says:
a.Companies need to pay attention not only to how
they look, but also how they sound.
b.Businesses and organizations should stop playing
background music. Silence is much more relaxing
c. It is more important for restaurants and shops to have
the right background noiise than it is for offices

8. Answer the questions
1. What does the book Sound Business claim?
2. What are some of the noises he complains about in
the shop?
3. According to the reporter, what are the three most
annoying noises?
4. How many people he stopped seemed positive
about background music?
5. What is the problem with the way businesses are
using sound at the moment?
6. What do experts think is the right kind of sound to
have in a public place?

9. Work with a partner. What kind of sounds/music
do you think you should have....?
In bars and restaurants
In class at a language school
In an office
In a hotel reception
At the hairdresser’s
In a supermarket
In a clothes shop
On public transport
In the weights room of a gym

10. Speculation and deduction
1. That sounds like the neighbours’ dog
-- It can’t be/mustn’t be. They’ve gone away for the
weekend and they’ve taken the dog with them.
2. There’s no sound coming from his room. He probably
hasn’t /hasn’t probably woken up yet.
3. Did you hear that bang in the middle of the night? It
woke me up.
---Yes, I did. It must be/must have been the wind.
4. Can you turn the music down? If we make too much
noise the woman upstairs will likely call/is likely to
call the police.

11. Modal Verbs
MUST
MAY
MIGHT
CAN’T
SHOULD

12. Which is more certain ?
A.I ‘ll answer the phone. It could be my mother.
B. That must be my mother. She said she’d call at five.

13. A.It can’t be Jim. He is coming
tomorrow.
B.It might not be Jim. He did not say
exactly when he is arriving.

14. A.Ruth could have sent this package but
there wa no return address.
B.Ruth must have sent this package
because it is her address on the back.

15. A.It couldn’t have been Tricia who rang
because she’s away.
B.It may not have been Tricia who rang.
Trevor also wanted to speak to me.