Grammar: Multitasking

Reported speech

1Read the sentences and complete the two people's opinions on multitasking. Use the correct form of the verbs. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

• 1The man said that 71% of teenagers had a television.

  2He also told us that the number of young people with mobile phones had increased.

  3He said that the majority of teenagers were multitasking while doing their homework.

  4He believes that teenagers who multitask too much will get lower grades.

  5The woman thought that teenagers were able to multitask better than adults.

  6She added that teenagers had grown up with technology.

  7She also said that the situation had been different twenty years before.

  8She said that technology was helping teenagers to learn.

Is multitasking bad for teenagers?

Seventy-one per cent of US teens 

¹

 

a television in their bedroom. The number of young people with mobile phones 

²

 

dramatically since 2004. The majority of them 

³

 

while doing their homework. I believe that teenagers who multitask too much 

⁴

 

lower grades.

In fact, I think that teenagers 

⁵

 

to multitask better than adults. Teenagers 

⁶

 

with technology. The situation 

⁷

 

different twenty years ago. Nowadays, technology 

⁸

 

teenagers to learn.

 

Reported speech

2Choose the correct words. 

• 1The shop assistant saidtold me that a netbook was lighter than a laptop.

• 2I saidtold that I didn't want a really small screen.

• 3My mum saidtold that I shouldn't get something too heavy.

• 4So the assistant saidtold that a small laptop might be best.

• 5We saidtold the assistant that I wanted a separate mouse.

Reported speech

3Rewrite the sentences as reported speech. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

Six good excuses for not doing your homework

1 'My pet ate it.'

2 'Someone has stolen it!'

3 'I don't understand it, and my computer isn't working.'

4 'I left it at home. I'll bring it in in the afternoon.'

5 'It was in my jacket pocket and my mum put it in the washing machine.'

6 'Aliens have taken it as a sample of human handwriting.'

• 1Maria said .

• 2Luke told the teacher .

• 3Hannah said .

• 4Robert told Mr Smith .

• 5Abdul said .

• 6Sophie said .

Reported speech

4CHALLENGE! Study the pie chart and read George's blog entry. Then complete the report. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

Poll results

Do you listen to music while you work?

Research shows that listening to music before you start work can help, but listening while you are working generally stops people from doing well. Our latest poll asked 'Do you listen to music while you work?'. We had a huge response: over 1,000 people voted!

Personally, I'm surprised so many people always listen to music while they are working. I've always liked listening to music, but sometimes it's distracting. I don't think it's a good idea if you are trying to concentrate. So, I agree with the 43% who said 'It depends on the situation'. I've had a few jobs in shops and cafés where they played music – so that meant I didn't have any choice. And 5% never listen to music. I suppose they don't like music, or perhaps they think if there's music on, they won't be able to work at all?

George said that he 

¹

 

surprised so many people always 

²

 

to music while they 

³.

 

He said he 

⁴

 

listening to music, but sometimes it 

⁵

 

distracting. He 

⁶

 

it was a good idea if someone 

⁷

 

to concentrate.

He added that he 

⁸

 

a few jobs in shops and cafés where they 

⁹

 

music, which meant he 

¹⁰

 

no choice.

Finally, he said that perhaps people who never listened to music 

¹¹

 

it, or they thought that they 

¹²

 

able to work at all.