The Chat Room English

BERLIN: WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?

ADVANCED SENTENCE BUILDING • WHAT-CLAUSES

YOUR CHALLENGE: Complete each sentence by writing the entire missing WHAT-clause. Use the clues to construct the correct sentence. Do not copy the words in the order shown: you must organize them grammatically.

GRAMMAR RULE: WHAT + VERB-S + THE REST OF THE CLAUSE

A WHAT-clause can act as the subject of a sentence. When WHAT means “the thing that”, the verb inside the clause normally takes the third-person singular form.

Example:
(make / Berlin / so fascinating)
What makes Berlin so fascinating is its combination of history, culture and creativity.

Remember: What makes, what attracts, what distinguishes, what encourages, what sets, what brings.

PART 1 — BERLIN: HISTORY AND IDENTITY

1. ______________________________ is its combination of historical landmarks and modern culture.

CLUE: (make / Berlin / so fascinating)

2. ______________________________ is the legacy of their different political systems and historical experiences.

CLUE: (distinguish / East Berlin / from West Berlin)

3. ______________________________ was the separation of families and friends for decades.

CLUE: (make / the Berlin Wall / so painful for many people)

4. ______________________________ was the possibility of a more open and peaceful future.

CLUE: (encourage / many Berliners / when the Wall fell)

5. ______________________________ is its enormous spherical structure and its position above the city.

CLUE: (make / the Berlin TV Tower / instantly recognizable)

6. ______________________________ is the combination of old architecture, cafés and a creative atmosphere.

CLUE: (make / Prenzlauer Berg / attractive to visitors)

7. ______________________________ is how dramatically the city has changed since reunification.

CLUE: (surprise / many visitors / about Berlin)

8. ______________________________ is its mixture of cultures, communities and creative ideas.

CLUE: (bring / Berliners and newcomers / together today)

PART 2 — THE BARN AND CAFÉ CULTURE

9. ______________________________ is its commitment to specialty coffee and careful sourcing.

CLUE: (set / The Barn / apart from many coffee chains)

10. ______________________________ is the careful selection and roasting of high-quality beans.

CLUE: (help / The Barn / maintain its coffee quality)

11. ______________________________ is its combination of craftsmanship, quality and a relaxed atmosphere.

CLUE: (attract / customers / to The Barn)

12. ______________________________ is the people, the atmosphere and the quality of the experience.

CLUE: (make / a café / memorable)

13. ______________________________ is the variety of independent cafés and different coffee traditions.

CLUE: (make / Berlin's café culture / so interesting)

PART 3 — SCORPIONS AND MILKY CHANCE

14. ______________________________ was its association with hope, political change and German reunification.

CLUE: (make / Wind of Change / historically significant)

15. ______________________________ is its message of hope and the possibility of a different future.

CLUE: (make / the song / meaningful to so many listeners)

16. ______________________________ is their blend of folk, pop and electronic influences.

CLUE: (make / Milky Chance / distinctive)

17. ______________________________ is often the combination of memorable melodies, meaningful lyrics and a distinctive sound.

CLUE: (attract / listeners / to a band)

18. ______________________________ is its ability to bring people together across borders and generations.

CLUE: (make / music / so powerful)

PART 4 — MORE COMPLEX IDEAS

19. ______________________________ is the way the city has turned a difficult past into a source of learning and cultural expression.

CLUE: (make / Berlin / an inspiring example of change)

20. ______________________________ is the contrast between its socialist-era landmarks and its modern creative neighborhoods.

CLUE: (make / Berlin's urban landscape / so distinctive)