The Road to El Dorado: B2 English & Grammar

You're Not a God

Tulio and Miguel argue while another person challenges the identity they have been pretending to have.

Watch for: Which parts of the disagreement are genuine, and which help a shared plan?

Clip A quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What does the challenger say about the two men?They have never met each other.They are not gods.They are trained doctors.

2. What does Tulio criticise Miguel for doing?Losing every musical instrumentRefusing to speak to anyoneActing too much like a god

3. Which future does Miguel favour in the argument?Opening a shop in SpainReturning immediately to their old workStaying in the city

4. What do the men do with responsibility for their problems?They blame each other.They ask a child to decide.They accept an identical explanation at once.

5. How do they speak about continuing together?They threaten to go separate ways.They calmly renew a long-term contract.They say they have never disagreed.

6. What shows that they can still coordinate?They stop speaking for the rest of the story.They act together against the challenger.They forget who the challenger is.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteC1 · A past condition with a current continuous result

“we'd both be sailing out of here with a mountain of gold if you had just listened to me”

Clip 1, quotation excerpt

Had listened describes an unreal past action; would be sailing describes its imagined result in progress now. Inverting had omits if without changing that mixed time relationship.

Useful English

We are arguing about two different things.

You say: Separate a deadline problem from a design choice.

One possible response

We are arguing about the deadline and the design as if they were the same problem.

What can we still agree on?

You say: Ask for one shared aim after a disagreement.

One possible response

What can we still agree on?

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

Can an argument contain both performance and real frustration?
Help me start
Yes, because…
Show an example
Yes, because a staged disagreement can expose a real concern.
What helps separate two problems in a discussion?
Help me start
Name each…
Show an example
Name each problem and decide which one to solve first.
Find one point of agreement after a disagreement.
Help me start
We disagree about… but…
Show an example
We disagree about the design, but we both need a readable poster.

Finally, We're Connecting

A visitor interprets Tulio’s distracted remarks as agreement with his own proposal.

Watch for: Why does the conversation appear clearer to the visitor than it really is?

Original source

Clip B quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What does the visitor assume about Tulio’s responses?That Tulio is asking for a new language lessonThat Tulio agrees with his viewThat Tulio wants to cancel the meeting immediately

2. What makes Tulio’s attention incomplete?A written examinationA noisy train announcementA separate interaction with Chel

3. How does the visitor try to align himself with Tulio?By flattering him and criticising othersBy admitting every earlier mistakeBy asking only about the weather

4. What serious proposal enters the conversation?Building a public libraryChanging a restaurant menuUsing sacrifice and fear

5. Does apparent agreement prove that the proposal was understood?Yes; because both use long sentences.No; the speakers attach different meanings to the exchange.Yes; any nod proves full understanding.

6. Who does Tulio say he needs to consult before continuing?The visiting priest’s assistantThe guard at the entranceMiguel

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · Arranging a passive result for an object

“do you wish to have your victims bound to an altar?”

Clip 2, quotation excerpt

Have your victims bound has an object followed by a past participle. The victims receive the binding; the construction does not make them the people binding someone else.

Useful English

Which part are you agreeing with?

You say: Ask whether someone approves the date or the whole plan.

One possible response

Are you agreeing with the date or the whole plan?

That was not what I meant.

You say: Correct the idea that you agreed to pay.

One possible response

That was not what I meant; I agreed to help organise it.

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

Which response could have prevented the misunderstanding?
Help me start
A question such as…
Show an example
A question asking Tulio to explain what he was approving.
When can a brief yes be unclear?
Help me start
When there are…
Show an example
When there are several different requests in the conversation.
Correct an agreement that has been misunderstood.
Help me start
I agreed to… not…
Show an example
I agreed to check the draft, not to approve the final version.

Mastery: use your English

Apply language and ideas from both clips in new situations.

Mastery: 6 questions

Use the English in a new situation. Choose one answer for each question.

1. Separate a date agreement from approval of a plan.I agreed to Tuesday, not to the full proposal.Tuesday has always been a popular day.I agreed, so no detail needs discussion.

2. Check apparent agreement.Why have you never liked any proposal?Which part of the proposal are you approving?Shall I assume you approve every future change?

3. Find common ground without claiming complete agreement.We disagree on the method, but share the deadline.We disagree, so no shared aim exists.We share a deadline, so every method is acceptable.

4. Correct a mistaken interpretation politely.You should know my meaning without asking.The draft exists, so the final copy is approved.That was not what I meant; I was referring to the draft.

5. Complete: I was ___ by another conversation and missed the request.shareddistractedapproved

6. Ask for action that demonstrates understanding.Could you say yes more loudly?Could you agree before hearing the details?Could you summarise what you will change?

Put it all together: speaking

Use English from both clips. Start with the two short questions, then take a private role each. On your own, practise both roles.

What connects the argument and the apparent agreement?
Help me start
Both show that…
Show an example
Both show that the words alone may hide different aims.
What needs to be explicit before a team proceeds?
Help me start
The task, limits and…
Show an example
The task, limits and who has actually approved what.
Can you reach a workable outcome together using the two private role cards?
Private Role A
You approved the colour of a poster, not its publication. The venue address is still wrong. Your partner thinks everything is approved. Clarify without blaming them.
Private Role B
You thought the organiser’s brief yes approved publication. You have not sent the poster yet, but the printer needs it in ten minutes. Ask exactly what can proceed.
Open only your own role card. Share its information by speaking, without showing the card.
Help me start
Discover the missing information; explain your constraint; respond to your partner; agree on a practical next step. Use language from both clips.
Check your conversation
- Complete the practical goal on both role cards.
- Use at least three target items naturally, including language from each clip.
- Ask a relevant follow-up and respond to information you did not know.
- End with a clear agreement, next step or summary.
Show an example
A: I agreed to the colour, not the final poster. B: Thank you for clarifying. Which detail is still wrong? A: The address. B: Then I’ll hold the file. Could you check the corrected version before I send it?
Try again: The correct address changes the layout. Agree whether to delay printing or use a verified simpler version.

You're Not a God

Useful English

Finally, We're Connecting

Useful English

Mastery: use your English

Put it all together: speaking

Check your conversation