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   Bella (tutor) Welcome to MicroEnglish. This B2 lesson starts with a flat
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   Bella (tutor) that seems perfect: bright rooms, big windows,
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   Bella (tutor) and space for your desk. Would you take it? Today
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   Bella (tutor) we'll use at first glance to describe that early impression,
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   Bella (tutor) before a closer look gives us more information.
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   Bella (tutor) You step inside and immediately imagine living here. At
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   Bella (tutor) first glance, the flat looks perfect. The phrase means
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   Bella (tutor) judging from a quick first look, before examining the details.
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   Bella (tutor) You're reporting an impression, so your words leave room for
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    Bella (tutor) something you haven't noticed yet.
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    Bella (tutor) Then you move a chair and spot damp on the wall. A
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    Bella (tutor) train passes just outside. At first glance, the flat
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    Bella (tutor) looked perfect, but now you're less sure. Notice how the
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    Bella (tutor) later evidence changes the judgement. The first impression
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    Bella (tutor) was understandable, but it wasn't the whole picture.
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    Bella (tutor) These are three stages of one judgement, not three meanings.
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    Bella (tutor) Start with what seems true, investigate, then decide
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    Bella (tutor) again. At first glance marks the first stage. It
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    Bella (tutor) often prepares listeners for a contrast, although your closer
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    Bella (tutor) inspection might also confirm what you originally thought.
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    Bella (tutor) Keep at first glance unchanged. The verb
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    Bella (tutor) carries the tense: seems now, seemed in the past.
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    Bella (tutor) You can put the phrase before the main statement or after it.
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    Bella (tutor) At the beginning, a comma usually separates it from the rest
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    Bella (tutor) of the sentence.
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    Bella (tutor) Listen to the whole thought: at first glance, it looks ideal.
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    Bella (tutor) Keep the opening phrase flowing, with a small pause before
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    Bella (tutor) the judgement. Don't add an article: at the first glance
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    Bella (tutor) isn't the usual form of this expression. Practise the three
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    Bella (tutor) words together.
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    Bella (tutor) A useful follow-up gives actual evidence. At first
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    Bella (tutor) glance, it looked ideal, but the walls were damp. But introduces
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    Bella (tutor) the contrast; on closer inspection can do the same job in
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    Bella (tutor) a separate sentence. You don't need both every time you use
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    Bella (tutor) the expression.
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    Bella (tutor) Compare at first glance with at first. At
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    Bella (tutor) first glance, the controls looked confusing describes a quick
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    Bella (tutor) assessment. At first, I kept pressing the wrong button describes
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    Bella (tutor) an early period of using them. Choose according to your meaning:
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    Bella (tutor) an initial impression or an initial stage.
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    Bella (tutor) The phrase also works with rules, plans and ideas.
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    Bella (tutor) At first glance, the rules seem complicated. Perhaps
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    Bella (tutor) reading one example makes them clear. It's neutral enough for
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    Bella (tutor) everyday conversation and work discussions. Use it when the
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    Bella (tutor) limited nature of your first assessment matters.
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    Bella (tutor) Now listen to four conversations. Focus on the first impression
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    Bella (tutor) and any evidence that follows. Choose what you can infer
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    Bella (tutor) from the speakers' words. Try without captions first;
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    Bella (tutor) after the explanation, you'll hear the same conversation again.
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    Bella (tutor) George and Alice are choosing furniture. Listen for the detail
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    Bella (tutor) that could affect their decision.
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    George What do you think of this desk?
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    George At first glance, it looks just right. But have you measured
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    Alice our doorway?
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    Alice Good point. The desk is wider than I thought.
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    Bella (tutor) Alice likes its appearance, but asks whether the doorway
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    Bella (tutor) has been measured. George realises the desk is wider than he
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    Bella (tutor) thought, so it might not fit through.
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    George What do you think of this desk?
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    George At first glance, it looks just right. But have you measured
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    Alice our doorway?
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    Alice Good point. The desk is wider than I thought.
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    Bella (tutor) Roger and Jessica are reviewing a chart at work. What detail
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    Bella (tutor) does Jessica notice?
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    Roger At first glance, sales look much
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    Roger better.
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    Roger Wait. This bar covers a month, but that one
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    Jessica covers two weeks.
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    Jessica Let's compare the daily figures instead.
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    Bella (tutor) The periods have different lengths. A full month and two weeks
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    Bella (tutor) aren't directly comparable, so the chart alone doesn't prove
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    Bella (tutor) daily sales improved.
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    Roger At first glance, sales look much
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    Roger better.
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    Roger Wait. This bar covers a month, but that one
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    Jessica covers two weeks.
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    Jessica Let's compare the daily figures instead.
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    Bella (tutor) Two friends are looking at a walking route. What changes
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    Bella (tutor) their view of the walk?
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    Alice At first glance, this route looks easy.
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    Alice Only five kilometres.
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    Alice Look at the hill, though. Half the route is a steep
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    George climb.
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    George Then we'd better allow more time.
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    Bella (tutor) A steep climb changes their view. The short distance seemed
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    Bella (tutor) manageable, but George points out that they will be climbing
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    Bella (tutor) for much of it.
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    Alice At first glance, this route looks easy.
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    Alice Only five kilometres.
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    Alice Look at the hill, though. Half the route is a steep
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    George climb.
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    George Then we'd better allow more time.
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    Bella (tutor) Jessica has reviewed Roger's event plan. Listen
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    Bella (tutor) for whether her opinion changed.
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    Roger Did you check my event plan?
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    Roger Yes. At first glance, it looked sensible.
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    Jessica I've checked the timing, and I still think so.
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    Jessica Great. I'll book the room.
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    Bella (tutor) Her positive impression was confirmed. The words still
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     Bella (tutor) think so show that checking the timing supported her first
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     Bella (tutor) judgement.
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     Roger Did you check my event plan?
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     Roger Yes. At first glance, it looked sensible.
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     Jessica I've checked the timing, and I still think so.
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     Jessica Great. I'll book the room.
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     Bella (tutor) Your turn. Finish this aloud: at first glance,
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     Bella (tutor) the café looked tiny, but... Imagine what you found inside.
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     Bella (tutor) You could mention a second room or a garden. Make the new
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     Bella (tutor) detail explain why your first impression changed.
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     Bella (tutor) Does the first impression have to be wrong? No.
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     Bella (tutor) Remember the event plan: checking supported it. Do
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     Bella (tutor) you need but? No, though a contrast is common.
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     Bella (tutor) And the phrase can describe an idea or proposal, as well
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     Bella (tutor) as something you physically see.
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     Bella (tutor) For form, remember at, with no article. The
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     Bella (tutor) tone is neutral. One nearby expression is at a
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     Bella (tutor) glance: a clear timetable lets you see departure times
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     Bella (tutor) at a glance. That emphasises seeing information quickly;
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     Bella (tutor) at first glance emphasises the initial impression.
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     Bella (tutor) Visit this lesson on MicroEnglish dot com for interactive
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     Bella (tutor) dictation: listen, type what you hear, and check the words.
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     Bella (tutor) The AI tutor can help with your own examples. Your first dictation
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     Bella (tutor) is free; further practice and tutor access depend on membership
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     Bella (tutor) and available credits.
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     Bella (tutor) Write a comment about something that surprised you after a
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     Bella (tutor) closer look. Use at first glance, then add
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     Bella (tutor) the detail that changed your mind. Ask any questions you have
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     Bella (tutor) about the phrase, too. Thanks for joining me today.

Elige tu respuesta en cada pregunta y luego abre la respuesta para comprobarla.

1. Pregunta 1

   Why does a speaker begin a statement with 'at first glance'?

   A To share an early judgment formed before examining details carefully. B To prove that they spent hours researching every aspect of the topic. C To state with absolute certainty that something is permanently broken.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
2. Pregunta 2

   Which sentence shows the correct comma usage when 'at first glance' appears at the beginning?

   A At first glance the instructions, look clear. B At first glance, the instructions look clear. C At first, glance the instructions look clear.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
3. Pregunta 3

   Which expression fits best: 'The technician glanced at the dashboard and could see ___ that the battery was disconnected'?

   A at a glance B at first C at first glance
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
4. Pregunta 4

   Where does the primary rhythmic stress fall when pronouncing 'at first glance'?

   A On the preposition 'at'. B Equally on every consonant sound. C On the noun 'glance'.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
5. Pregunta 5

   Which sentence uses the correct fixed form of the idiom?

   A In first glance, the apartment appeared vacant. B At the first glance, the apartment appeared vacant. C At first glance, the apartment appeared vacant.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
6. Pregunta 6

   Is a contrasting clause beginning with 'but' required every time you say 'at first glance'?

   A Yes, the phrase is grammatically incomplete without a contrasting clause. B Yes, because every initial impression in English is assumed to be false. C No, 'but' is optional; you can state a preliminary impression without changing your mind.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor