"NorthStar, Fifth Edition is an integrated-skills English course that empowers adult and young adult English language learners to achieve their academic and personal goals. Current and thought-provoking topics promote language development and critical thinking skills.

Building on the success of previous editions, this new fifth edition engages and motivates students with new and updated content.

What is new in the fifth edition?
New and updated content with a new theme keeps students motivated.
The new design and imagery bring the activities to life.
Learning outcomes are created using the Global Scale of English (GSE) so students can track their progress more easily.
Every unit offers note-taking practice and writing skill development.
Scaffolded critical thinking activities are clearly marked to help students develop their academic skills.
Academic Word List words are highlighted to help students identify essential vocabulary.
New and updated activities in MyEnglishLab provide additional practice online.
ExamView Test Generator allows teachers to customize assessments.
Students can complete activities, listen to audio, and watch video on the go with the Pearson Practice English App." (Book Cover)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit 1 EXPLORING GENIUS
Listening 1: The Music in My Head -- Listening 2: Where Makes a Prodigy?
Inference: Inferring important ideas
Note-Taking: Taking notes with bullets and dashes
Listening: Recognizing emphasis
Grammar: Passive voice
Pronunciation: Contracting and reducing be and have
Speaking: Giving your opinion
Final Speaking Task: Discussion: anecdotes about child prodigies
Video: Child prodigies
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research a famous prodigy

Unit 2 PUSHING BOUNDARIES
Listening 1: Artist Opens Others' Eyes -- Listening 2: An Athlete's Inspiring Journey
Inference: Inferring the meaning of figurative language
Note-Taking: Taking notes using key words
Listening: Distinguishing main ideas from details
Grammar: Gerunds and infinitives
Pronunciation: Identifying and using thought groups
Speaking: Introducing a presentation
Final Speaking Task: Presentation to a group: report on a person who overcame obstacles
Video: A girl with autism
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Review a movie about overcoming obstacles

Unit 3 EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE
Listening 1: How Can Teenagers Get Enough Sleep? -- Listening 2: Get Back in Bed!
Inference: Inferring a speaker's assumptions
Note-Taking: Taking notes with symbols and abbreviations
Listening: Recognizing claims and evidence
Grammar: Present unreal conditionals
Pronunciation: Using contrastive stress
Speaking: Asking for clarification
Final Speaking Task: Role-play: a meeting about sleep deprivation in hospitals
Video: Sleep deprivation and health issues Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research and share causes / remedies for jet lag

Unit 4 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE
Listening 1: Who's Smart? -- Listening 2: What motivates Animals?
Inference: Inferring a speaker's attitude
Note-Taking: Avoiding non-essential words when taking notes
Listening: Identifying parts of oral paragraphs
Grammar: Reported speech
Pronunciation: Using intonation on yes / no questions with or
Speaking: Stating reasons and giving support
Final Speaking Task: Research presentation: a topic related to animal ethics
Video: Talking to animals
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: React to quotations

Unit 5 THE GOLDEN YEARS
Listening 1: The Longevity Project -- Listening 2: Tobey Dichter, Generations Online
Inference: Inferring a speaker's intention
Note-Taking: Taking notes with a diagram
Listening: Identifying and understanding relationships between ideas
Grammar: Comparing past forms
Pronunciation: Using word blends with you
Speaking: Making suggestions
Final Speaking Task: Discussion: different viewpoints on elderly care
Video: The long lives of the residents of Acciaroli
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research images of seniors in advertisements

Unit 6 GIVING TO OTHERS: WHY DO WE DO IT?
Listening 1: Why We Give -- Listening 2: The Mystery Donor
Inference: Inferring the degree of certainty
Note-Taking: Annotating your notes
Listening: Identifying the purpose of direct quotations
Grammar: Relative pronouns in adjective clauses
Pronunciation: Listening intonation
Speaking: Ranking ideas
Final Speaking Task: Presentation: a public service announcement (PSA)
Video: Philanthropy
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research and write a report on a philanthropist

Unit 7 WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE?
Listening 1: Water Shortage: Past the Tipping Point? -- Listening 2: Putting Water to Work
Inference: Inferring the purpose of questions
Note-Taking: Taking notes with handouts
Listening: Listening for multiple details
Grammar: Causal verbs
Pronunciation: Pronouncing stressed and unstressed vowels
Speaking: Referring to a Visual Aid
Final Speaking Task: Presentation with visual aid: water issues
Video: Water conservation in college dormitories
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research and write a report on water scarcity

Unit 8 VIDEO GAMES: FRIEND OR FOE?
Listening 1: The Darker Side of Video Games -- Listening 2: Truths and Myths in Gaming
Inference: Inferring contrasting information
Note-Taking: Taking notes with an outline
Listening: Identifying counterarguments
Grammar: Phrasal verbs
Pronunciation: Using stress with adverbial particles
Speaking: Making concessions
Final Speaking Task: Debate: pros and cons of video games
Video: Video games
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Write a report on a popular online game