Article

Reference

Common mistakes

1. In this article I will talk about phones. → How long could you survive without your phone?
   start with a hook
2. Very formal and impersonal → A personal, lively voice
   articles are not essays
3. Simple sentences only → Not only did I…, but I also…
   show a range of structures
4. No ending → Why not give it a try this weekend?
   finish with impact

Article — Exercises

What makes a C1 article work?

Circle the correct answer.

1. Which is the best opening for an article? (How long could you survive without your phone? / In this article I will write about phones. / Phones are a topic.)
2. Which register suits an article? (semi-formal and lively, with a personal voice / formal and impersonal, like a report / very informal slang)
3. _____ did I miss my messages, but I also lost track of time. (Not only / Only not / Not just only)
4. _____ struck me most was how calm I felt. (What / That / It)
5. Which is the best ending? (Why not give it a try this weekend? You might be surprised. / Thank you for reading my article goodbye. / Yours faithfully)
6. Which title is most effective? (The Day I Switched Off / Article About My Phone / Text)

Complete the article phrase

Write the missing word or words.

1. I must  , the first few hours were uncomfortable.
2. By the afternoon, however, something had  .
3. I even struck   a conversation with a stranger.
4. They are   useful.
5. I'm not   we all throw our phones away.
6. You might be pleasantly  .

Write the article

An international magazine is publishing articles called An Experience That Changed My Mind. Write your article. Write 220–260 words.

Article — Answer Key

What makes a C1 article work?

1. How long could you survive without your phone? — A hook that involves the reader.
2. semi-formal and lively, with a personal voice — Articles have a personal voice.
3. Not only — Inversion for effect → Not only did I…
4. What — Cleft for emphasis → What struck me most…
5. Why not give it a try this weekend? You might be surprised. — End with impact — a question or suggestion.
6. The Day I Switched Off — Short and intriguing.

Complete the article phrase

1. admit
2. shifted
3. up
4. undeniably
5. suggesting
6. surprised

Write the article

1. Model answer: The Day I Switched Off How long could you survive without your phone? A day? An hour? Last month, I decided to find out, and what I discovered genuinely surprised me. The first few hours were, I must admit, uncomfortable. I kept reaching into my pocket for a device that wasn't there, and every silence felt strangely empty. Not only did I miss my messages, but I also had no idea what time it was, since I hadn't worn a watch in years. By the afternoon, however, something had shifted. Instead of scrolling on the bus, I watched the city go by and noticed details I had walked past a thousand times: a mural on a bridge, an elderly couple feeding pigeons, a tiny bookshop I never knew existed. I even struck up a conversation with a stranger, which led to a recommendation for a café that has since become my favourite. What struck me most was how much calmer I felt. Without constant notifications, my thoughts had space to wander, and I finished a novel I had been meaning to read for months. I'm not suggesting we all throw our phones in a river. They are undeniably useful. But switching off, even for a single day, reminded me that the most interesting things are often happening right in front of us. Why not give it a try this weekend? You might be pleasantly surprised.