Thursday 9 June 2011

Vocabulary Development

[canal: the Suez canal, the Panama canal; notice: take notice, notice something; distance: a few metres is a short distance, a hundred kilometres is a long distance; float: the opposite of sink; patient: willing to wait]
 

Read through the vocabulary and give spoken answers to the questions that follow.  

canal  
It wasn’t a river; it was a canal. It was man-made.
Barges were used to transport goods on the canal.


notice
If you keep your eyes open, you might notice something.
Don’t pay any attention; don’t take any notice.
Did you notice the funny man with the rolled umbrella and the black hat?


distance
Is it far? Is it a long distance?
No. It’s only a short distance down the street.
Use a map to measure the distance.
What’s the distance from here to Glasgow?


float
Lead sinks: it doesn’t float.
Ships float. Wood floats.
Icebergs float south in the North Atlantic, and threaten shipping.
 

patient
The flight is delayed. We’ll have to wait and be patient.
Don’t lose your temper: be patient.
A mother with young children needs a lot of patience.
 

Answer

1. Should I pay attention?  
2. Is it a long way?  
3. When do icebergs in the North Atlantic threaten shipping?
 4. Why shouldn’t I lose my temper?
   





 Answer guide
1.  No. Don’t take any notice.   2.   No. It’s only a short distance down the street.   3.   When they float south.   4.  Because you should be patient.