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THE BLUE TREE
Learn Words
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below.
| You want to buy a present for a friend. How easy or difficult is it for you to pick something for them? |
TRANSCRIPT
It really depends on the person. If I know them well, I can usually pick something out quite easily because I know what they like. But if it’s someone I don’t know that well, I find it really hard to decide on the right thing. I tend to shop around for ages, comparing different options, and I often end up going for something safe like a gift card. I wish I were more creative with gifts.
| Some people take ages choosing their food in a restaurant. How is it with you? |
TRANSCRIPT
I’m actually one of those people, unfortunately. When there are too many things to choose from, I just can’t settle on anything quickly. I read the whole menu, go back to the beginning, and then change my mind at the last moment. My friends find it amusing, but it can be a bit embarrassing. I think the problem is that I’m too fussy — I always worry I’ll pick the wrong dish.
| When making a decision about buying something expensive, how do you approach it? |
TRANSCRIPT
I’m quite particular about how I spend my money, especially on bigger purchases. I usually shop around first and compare prices, reviews, and features before I opt for anything. I never buy the first thing I see. Sometimes I take so long that the thing I wanted is no longer available, which is annoying. But I’d rather take my time and select something I’m happy with than rush into a decision I’ll regret.
part one
LANGUAGE OF CHOICE AND CHOOSING
Study the language of choice and choosing using the mind-map below.
Make sure to check the comments and note down any new words and expressions.
PRACTICE DIALOGUES
Read or role play these short dialogues. They present the language from the mind-map in some context.
Two friends shopping for a jacket
Kate: You’ve been trying things on for an hour. Just pick one!
Liam: I can’t decide. I keep going back and forth between the black one and the navy one.
Kate: They look almost the same. Just go for the black — it goes with everything.
Liam: You’re right. I’ll go for the black. I’m way too fussy about these things.
Two colleagues deciding on a venue for a team event
Sophie: Have you had a chance to look at the options for the Christmas party?
Dan: Yeah, I’ve narrowed it down to three places. I think we should settle on something soon — they’re getting booked up fast.
Sophie: What about that Italian place on King Street? A few people have already said they’d opt for that one.
Dan: Works for me. Let’s go with it before someone else takes the last Friday slot.
A married couple choosing a holiday destination
Anna: So, have you decided where you want to go this summer?
Tom: Not yet. There’s so much to choose from — Portugal, Croatia, Greece… I can’t make up my mind.
Anna: You always take forever. Just pick somewhere and book it before the prices go up.
Tom: Fine. Let’s go for Greece. But I’m going to be very particular about the hotel. Last year’s place was awful.
Anna: Deal. You choose the hotel, I’ll sort out the flights.
A manager and an employee discussing a promotion
Rachel: We need to appoint a new team leader by the end of the month. Have you looked at the candidates?
Mark: I have. Three people have been shortlisted — Davies, Kowalski, and Chen. They’re all strong.
Rachel: Chen was singled out by two department heads as the most experienced. That says a lot.
Mark: True. I think we should go with Chen. Shall I set up a meeting to confirm?
A parent and a teenage daughter choosing a university course
Mum: Have you decided on a course yet? The deadline is next week.
Lily: Not really. I’ve been going back and forth between psychology and marketing.
Mum: Well, you need to select your top three choices on the application. You can’t keep putting it off.
Lily: I know, I know. I think I’ll go for psychology as my first choice. I just had to take my time — it’s a big decision.
Mum: I’m glad you’ve finally settled on something. Now let’s pick out the other two.
Two co-founders discussing a design agency for their startup
Nadia: We’ve been looking at design agencies for weeks now. I think it’s time we narrowed it down and made a decision.
Jake: I know, I know. I’ve been dragging my feet on this one. It’s just that every agency we’ve seen has something different to offer.
Nadia: True, but we can’t keep putting it off. What about GreenLine Studio? They came hand-picked by our investor — that has to count for something.
Jake: Actually, yeah. Their portfolio was impressive. Let’s go with them.
part two
FILL IN THE GAPS
Complete these activities below.
Three people are describing how they made an important choice. Read their stories and complete each text by dragging the missing expressions into the correct gaps.
PART 1
Buying a car (Jake)
I'd been thinking about getting a new car for months, but I kept putting off the decision. There were so many models to that I felt completely overwhelmed. I spent weeks , visiting different dealerships and reading reviews online. At first I was quite about the colour and the interior, but in the end I realised I was overcomplicating things. I finally a silver Škoda — nothing flashy, but reliable and within my budget. I'm glad I something practical rather than trying to impress anyone.
PART 2
Choosing a holiday (Maria)
Every year it's the same story — my husband and I can never agree on where to go on holiday. He always wants to a beach resort, while I prefer city breaks with museums and good food. This year we decided to approach it differently. We each three destinations and then tried to find one that appeared on both lists. Surprisingly, we both had Lisbon. It didn't take long to the dates after that. I think the trick is not to be too every little detail — sometimes you just have to compromise.
PART 3
Picking a subject to study (Daniel)
When I was seventeen, I had no idea what I wanted to study at university. My parents thought I should law because it leads to a stable career, but I wasn't convinced. I spent months going back and forth between different options, trying to something that felt right. A career adviser at school my strong results in economics and suggested I look into that. In the end, I business and economics, and it turned out to be a great choice. I'm glad I didn't just the first thing other people recommended.
PART 4
Starting a business (Nadia)
When my partner and I decided to open a café, we had to make hundreds of decisions in a very short time. Some were — like choosing the name — but others took much longer. Picking a location was the hardest part. We couldn't stop between two streets on opposite sides of town. My partner kept , so in the end I just a last-minute offer on a corner unit near the station. Sometimes you just have to stop overthinking and commit.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ
Complete the quiz below.
LEADERBOARD
Check how your score compares with other players.
| Rank | User | Correct Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | 93 |
| 2 | None | 73 |
| 3 | Łukasz Nowiński | 66 |
| 4 | Mariusz | 13 |
| 5 | Mariusz | 13 |
DISCUSSION
Answer the questions below using the vocabulary you just learned.
 | Why do some people find it so difficult to settle on just one option? What makes choosing hard? |
| Do you think having more options to choose from makes life better, or does it just make decisions more stressful? |
| Some people are very particular about what they eat, wear, or buy. Is being fussy a positive or a negative trait? |
| When companies need to appoint someone to an important position, what do you think matters more — experience, personality, or connections? |
| In what situations is it better to shop around and compare, and when is it smarter to just go for the first good option you find? |
MY ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Add new and interesting words from this lesson to your English dictionary.
Store your words and expressions in this handy dictionary. You can create groups and play games based on your entries. There is also a practical importing feature.
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