Top Readers 5: Tempest, The (B2)

Description: The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–1611, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where the sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skillful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to cause his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to believe they are shipwrecked and marooned on the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand.


Structures (Level 5):
• Past Perfect Progressive
• Future Perfect/Future Progressive
• Would rather/Had better
• Must/Could/May/Might/Would/Should + have + past participle
• Exclamatory sentences
• Clauses of concession

Top Readers aspire to involve students from Beginner to Upper-Intermediate in the study of literature and the exploitation of language through interesting texts. A multi-dimensional material which enables students to evolve as readers and listeners, but also speakers and writers. Famous classics, as well as intriguing original stories serve as stimuli both for students’ linguistic and emotional development.

The Student’s Book consists of the story and activities based on the story. The stories have been carefully adapted to suit the needs and knowledge of students of each level. Special care has been paid to the choice of vocabulary, grammatical structures, and text complexity so as to make the Reader appropriate for the students to handle. Each story is divided into 10 to 12 chapters followed by colourful, realistic illustrations which function as tools for stimulation and better understanding. There are two pages of activities for each chapter, including a variety of comprehension, vocabulary, speaking, and writing exercises. Students are asked to state their opinion on subjects posed by the text, predict what is going to happen in the following chapters, and work on interesting projects, enhancing their creativity and writing skills.

A separate, easy to use, multilingual glossary answers students’ questions about unknown vocabulary.

The Teacher’s Books includes factfiles with background information, summary, characters’ descriptions, and also ideas for projects and enjoyable games. A step-by-step approach on every chapter is also provided, with pre-reading, while reading, and after reading suggestions for teaching. Revision tests and key to tests are also included.

The Audio CD contains a fully dramatised version of the story with music and sound effects which make this material an interesting and useful experience for students while helping them develop their listening skills.