two-minute English

2011-06-18T07:15:00.006+01:00

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Anecdote: Not Recommended

2011-06-17T06:05:00.000+01:00

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

The hotel guest waited in the restaurant for his lunch. He waited for twenty minutes. In the end, he became very angry. He asked the waiter:

“What’s the problem?”

The waiter replied: “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, sir. But the chef has just gone out for his lunch. He’ll be back in a minute.”

Answer

1. What did the guest wait for, and for how long?
2. Did he stay calm?
3. Was the chef in the kitchen?

Answer guide
1. He waited for his lunch for 20 minutes. 2. No. He became very angry. 3. No. He had just gone out for his lunch.

Frogman: Dialogue

2011-06-16T06:25:00.000+01:00

Mrs Ramsbottom is interviewed by a policewoman. What questions did the policewoman ask her?

1. Q.
A. I was taking the dog for a walk.

2. Q.
A. I thought it was a bird of some sort.

3. Q.
A. It was an old man.

4. Q.
A. He had his jacket on.

5.Q.
A. Yes. A man walking his dog.

Answer guide
1. What were you doing? 2. What did you think it was? 3. What was it? What did it turn out to be? 4. Why did you think it was a bit funny? 5. Did you meet anyone?

Review Test

2011-06-15T08:30:00.000+01:00

With reference to the reading passage, Frogman, read through and complete from memory. One word is missing in each case. Intermediate pass level: 75% Aim: 95%

Mrs Joyce Ramsbottom liked to take her dog (1).................... a walk (2).................... the local canal. One morning, she (3).................... her dog were enjoying their walk (4).................... Mrs Ramsbottom noticed something in the canal. As it was some distance (5)...................., Mrs Ramsbottom could not be sure (6).................... it was. She waited for the object to float nearer so (7).................... she could see it. She thought it might be a bird of some (8).....................

(9).................... a few minutes’ wait, her patience was rewarded. Mrs Ramsbottom saw that it was not a bird. (10).................... was an old man. He had his jacket (11)...................., was white-faced, and coughing and spluttering.

Mrs Ramsbottom continued to wait (12).................... the old man had floated out of (13)..................... Then she went (14).................... with her walk. She met a man who was (15).................... walking with his dog. They stopped and discussed dogs (16).................... a minute or two. (17).................... as she was moving away, Mrs Ramsbottom said:

“As you’re going that way, (18).................... if you can spot an old man (19).................... grey hair floating about. He passed me just now. I was wondering (20).................... it, because he had his jacket on.”

The man agreed with her that it was a bit funny for someone to be in the canal with his jacket on.

Answer guide
1. for 2. beside 3. and 4. when 5. away 6. what 7. that 8. sort 9. After 10. It 11. on 12. until 13. sight 14. on 15. also 16. for 17. Just 18. see 19. with 20. about

Elementary Proposition Review

2011-06-14T07:10:00.000+01:00

Read aloud, giving the missing prepositions:

1. Jim is............... the office.
2. His wife is............... home.
3. He is sitting................... his desk.
4. She is working.................. the kitchen table.
5. He has papers................. his desk.
6. She has a cookery book................... the table.
7. Jim goes................ the office................ eight.
8. His wife stays............... home................ ten: then she goes..................... the supermarket.
9. ..................... the supermarket, she buys groceries.

Answer guide
1. at 2. at 3. at 4. at 5. on (in) 6. on 7. to... at 8. at... until... to 9. At

Onomatopoeia: Sounds of Words

2011-06-13T07:10:00.000+01:00

Many words in English reflect the actual sounds they refer to. An obvious example is the "clip-clop" of a horse's hooves. Less obvious are the words in the sentence:
The old man in the canal was coughing and spluttering.
Why? Because he was drowning.
A list of similar words follows. Say the word, and perform the action!

Give short spoken answers. Why/When might someone...?

01. sneeze
02. sniff
03. hiccup
04. snore
05. wheeze
06. snort
07. retch
08. belch
09. puff
10. gasp
11. gargle
12. grunt

Answer guide
1. if you have a cold 2. if your nose is running 3. if you eat too quickly 4. if you sleep on your back with your mouth open 5. if you cannot breathe 6. if you don’t like something 7. if you are sick (vomiting) 8. if you drink too quickly 9. after you have run to catch a bus, putting out a candle 10. if you are surprised, if you have difficulty breathing 11. if you wash your mouth out 12. if you are hit in the stomach, if you are a weight-lifter

Vocabulary : Suffix -man

2011-06-12T10:03:00.000+01:00

Perhaps he was a frogman.

Some people have said it is wrong to use the word "man" as a suffix because, of course, women can also be divers. However, "frogwoman" would not be terribly flattering. Sometimes the "man" is omitted, and sometimes the word "person" is used. So, "chairman" becomes US "chairperson" and UK "chair". Frogperson?

Give at least eight more words which use the suffix "man".

Answer guide
(For example) policeman, fireman, gentleman, salesman, gunman, milkman, workman, horseman, doorman, foreman, barman, herdsman, headman, spokesman, superman, businessman...

Comprehension

2011-06-11T07:13:00.000+01:00

With reference to yesterday's reading passage, Frogman, give short spoken answers to the following quesstions.

1. Where did Mrs Ramsbottom take her dog?
2. Why couldn’t she see what the object was?
3. What did she think it might be?
4. What did it turn out to be?
5. Who did she meet?
6. What seemed a bit strange?
7. Why couldn’t he have been a frogman?
8. Who called on Mrs Ramsbottom?
9. What was the verdict of the coroner’s court?

Answer guide
1. Beside the local canal. 2. It was too far away/some distance away. 3. A bird of some sort. 4. An old man. 5. A man walking his dog. 6. The old man had his jacket on. 7. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. 8. A policewoman. 9. Death by drowning.

Reading Pasage: Not a Frogman

2011-06-10T08:16:00.001+01:00

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

Mrs Joyce Ramsbottom liked to take her dog for a walk beside the local canal. One morning, she and her dog were enjoying their walk when Mrs Ramsbottom noticed something in the canal. As it was some distance away, Mrs Ramsbottom could not be sure what it was. She waited for the object to float nearer so that she could see what it was. She thought it might be a bird of some sort.

After a few minutes’ wait, her patience was rewarded. Mrs Ramsbottom saw that it was not a bird. It was an old man. He had his jacket on, was white-faced, and coughing and spluttering.

Mrs Ramsbottom continued to wait until the old man had floated out of sight. Then she went on with her walk. She met a man who was also walking with his dog. They stopped and discussed dogs for a minute or two. Just as she was moving away, Mrs Ramsbottom said:

“As you’re going that way, see if you can spot an old man with grey hair floating about. He passed me just now. I was wondering about it, because he had his jacket on.”

The man agreed with her that it was a bit funny for someone to be in the canal with his jacket on.

When she got home, Mrs Ramsbottom asked her husband if he thought it was normal for a man to be in the canal with his jacket on. No. He didn’t think it was.

“Perhaps he was a frogman,” he suggested.

“I don’t think he could have been a frogman,” said Mrs Ramsbottom. “He wasn’t wearing a helmet.”

Some time later in the afternoon, a policewoman called on Mrs Ramsbottom. She asked if Mrs Ramsbottom had seen an old man in the canal while walking her dog. Mrs Ramsbottom indeed said that she had done so. The policewoman thanked her and left.

The verdict of the coroner’s court upon the man in the canal was death by drowning.

Answer
1. Did she take the dog for a run in the park?
2. Why couldn’t she be sure what it was?
3. What happened as she continued to wait?
4. What was rather strange and unlikely?
5. Why couldn’t it have been a frogman?

Answer guide
1. No. She took it for a walk beside the local canal. 2. Because it was some distance away. 3. The old man floated out of sight. 4. It was bit funny for someone to be in the canal with his jacket on. 5. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Vocabulary Development

2011-06-09T09:20:00.001+01:00

[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.

Anecdote: One Way to Slim

2011-06-08T07:48:00.000+01:00

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

A man could not stop eating. He ate all day long. He became very fat. At last, he went to his doctor for help.

“Doctor,” he said, “I want to lose weight. I eat too much. What can I do?”

The doctor examined him, and then gave him a big box of very small pills. He told him:

“Here is a box of pills. Do not swallow them. Do not take them internally. They are special pills for fatness. Three times a day, after meals, take the pills into your living room. Pour them all over the carpet. And then pick them up, all of them, one at a time.”

Answer

1. Did he want to gain weight?
2. Did the doctor give him something?
3. Did the doctor tell him to swallow the pills?

Answer guide
1. No. He wanted to lose weight. 2. Yes. He gave him a big box of very small pills. 3. No. He told him to pick them up one at a time.

Sentence Composition

2011-06-07T06:51:00.000+01:00

From the words given, give the full sentences, supplying the necessary structural words and making any necessary changes.

1. they live/village/north/Scotland
2. they/leave home/a visit/daughter
3. /police/arrive/it/1am
4. /animals/stand/stare/snarl/each other
5. /new owners/must/prepare/stay indoors/few days

Answer guide
1. They live in a village in the north of Scotland. 2. They left home to pay a visit to their daughter. 3. The police arrived at 1 am. 4. The animals stood and stared and snarled at each other. 5. The new owners must be prepared to stay indoors for a few days.

Dialogue

2011-06-06T08:20:00.000+01:00

With reference to the passage, Watchdog, you meet the Macgregors at the village shop. You ask them what happened. What are your questions?

1.Q.
A. We took it in and gave it a few scraps.

2. Q.
A. We went to Inverness.

3. Q.
A. About eleven.

4. Q.
A. It stood and snarled at us.

5. Q.
A. We called the fire brigade.

6. Q.
A. Until four in the morning.

Answer guide
1. What did you do with the dog? 2. Where did you go (that evening)? 3. What time did you get back? 4. What happened when you opened the front door? (Why couldn’t you get into the house?) 5. What did you do? 6. How long did it take (for you) (to get into the house)?

Review Test: Watchdog

2011-06-05T07:43:00.000+01:00

Read through aloud and complete. One word is missing in each case. Intermediate pass level: 75% Aim: 95%

Mr and Mrs Macgregor live (1).................... a village near Inverness (2).................... the north of Scotland. (3).................... morning, they found a dog in their garden, They took the dog (4)...................., give it some scraps of meat, and watched it go (5).................... a corner and go to sleep. They decided to let the animal stay overnight, and to look (6).................... its owner in the morning, Then they left home to pay a visit (7).................... their daughter in Inverness.

They came home about eleven. As they opened the front door, they were welcomed by a snarling boxer, standing (8).................... bared teeth. Any attempt to calm the animal met (9).................... furious barking. Soon. all the neighbours were awake, and came (10).................... to offer helpful advice.

Then the fire brigade was called. They arrived at midnight. But all their attempts only made the dog more savage. They couldn’t get (11).................... it. The fire brigade gave (12).................... and called the police. When they arrived, it was one in the morning, and nearly all the village was gathered in the Macgregor’s garden. The police thought (13).................... it, They advised that the dog should be shot.

However, someone went (14).................... an expert dog handler. This expert arrived at two in the morning with a huge alsatian. He said: “This won’t take long.”

But it did. The two animals stood and stared and snarled (15).................... each other. It was a draw.

Then a veterinary surgeon was sent for. (16).................... the time he arrived, it was four in the morning. The vet borrowed a rope, made a lasso, and threw it (17).................... the boxer’s head.
He dragged it (18).................... the garden, stuck a needle in it, and put it to sleep. The police removed it.

Mr Macgregor said: “This animal will make a wonderful watchdog. But the new owners must be prepared to stay indoors (19).................... a few days (20).................... the dog gets to know them.”

Answer guide
1. in 2. in 3. One 4. in 5. into 6. for 7. to 8. with 9. with 10. out 11. near 12. up 13. about 14. for 15. at 16. By 17. over 18. into 19. for 20. until

Preposition Review

2011-06-04T06:59:00.000+01:00

Read through aloud, giving the missing prepositions.

1. We must finish the work............. Friday.
2. We sleep.............. night.
3. We work............. day.
4. He died............. the age of 92.
5. We get up early................ the morning.
6. What time do we have to be............... the airport?
7. They live............. that house.
8. He lives.............. 24 West Street.
9. They live.............. New York.

Answer review
1. by (before, on) 2. at 3. by 4. at 5. in 6. at 7. in 8. at 9. in

Vocabulary: Animal Noises

2011-06-03T07:19:00.000+01:00

Dogs snarl or growl or bark; cats hiss.
In the same way, what are the typical sounds made by the following?

1. a horse
2. a cow
3. a pig
4. a lamb
5. a bee
6. an elephant
7. a lion
8. an angry dog
9. a contented cat

Answer guide
1. neigh 2. moo 3. grunt 4. bleat 5. buzz 6. trumpet 7. roar 8. snarl (growl) 9. purr

Comprehension: Watchdog

2011-06-02T06:28:00.000+01:00

With reference to yesterday's reading passage, give spoken answers to the following questions.

1. Where did the Macgregors find the dog?
2. What did they give it?
3. What did they decide?
4. Where did they then go?
5. How were they welcomed on their return?
6. Who were called first?
7. What did the police advise?
8. Did the alsatian win?
9. Explain how the vet got hold of the animal.
10. How did Mr Macgregor comment on the incident?

Answer guide
1. In the garden. 2. Some scraps. 3. To let it stay overnight. 4. To visit their daughter (pay a visit to...). 5. With snarls and bared teeth. 6. The fire brigade. 7. Shooting. 8. No. (It was a draw.) 9. He made a lasso, threw the loop over the dog’s head and dragged it into the garden. 10. The new owners must be prepared to stay indoors until the dog gets used to them.

Reading Passage: Watchdog

2011-06-01T06:59:00.000+01:00

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

Mr and Mrs Macgregor live in a village near Inverness in the north of Scotland. One morning, they found a dog in their garden, They took the dog in, gave it some scraps of meat, and watched it go into a corner and go to sleep. They decided to let the animal stay overnight, and to look for its owner in the morning, Then they left home to pay a visit to their daughter in Inverness.

They came home about eleven. As they opened the front door, they were welcomed by a snarling boxer, standing with bared teeth. Any attempt to calm the animal met with furious barking. Soon. all the neighbours were awake, and came out to offer helpful advice.

Then the fire brigade was called. They arrived at midnight. But all their attempts only made the dog more savage. They couldn’t get near it. The fire brigade gave up and called the police. When they arrived, it was one in the morning, and nearly all the village was gathered in the Macgregor’s garden. The police thought about it. They advised that the dog should be shot.

However, someone went for an expert dog handler. This expert arrived at two in the morning with a huge alsatian. He said: “This won’t take long.”

But it did. The two animals stood and stared and snarled at each other. It was a draw.

Then a veterinary surgeon was sent for. By the time he arrived, it was four am. The vet borrowed a rope, made a lasso, and threw the loop over the boxer’s head.

He dragged it into the garden, stuck a needle in it, and put it to sleep. The police removed it.
Macgregor said: “This animal will make a wonderful watchdog. But the new owners must be prepared to stay indoors for a few days until the dog gets to know them.”

Answer

1. Did they leave it outside?
2. Did they decide to keep it until the morning?
3. Did the neighbours tell them what they ought to do?
4. Did he put it to sleep?
5. Will it help keep away burglars and people?

Answer guide
1. No. They took it in. 2. Yes. They let it stay overnight. 3. Yes. They came out to offer helpful advice. 4. Yes. He stuck a needle in it 5. Yes. It will make a wonderful watchdog.

Vocabulary Development

2011-05-31T07:38:00.000+01:00

[scraps: bits and pieces, something left over, the left-overs, a scrap, a small piece; to snarl: to make threatening noises, showing anger, snarling; savage: the opposite of calm or peaceful or gentle; draw: a drawn game, the game ended in a draw]

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

scraps
When they had finished eating, they gave the scraps that were left over to the dog.
There was very little left, only a few scraps.

snarl
The angry dog snarled at them: it growled, showing its teeth.
Dogs snarl or growl or bark; cats hiss or spit.

fire brigade
There is a fire in the kitchen: call the fire brigade.

savage
The dog was angry and uncontrollable: it was savage.

draw
When a score is nil-nil, or one-one, or two-two, a football game is said to be a draw. It is a drawn
game.
In American English, a draw is called a tie; a drawn game is a tied game.

Answer

1. Was there much left?
2. Did the dog show its teeth and growl?
3. What should I do if there’s a fire?
4. Was it angry and beyond control?

Answer guide
1. No. There were only a few scraps. 2. Yes. It snarled at them. 3. Call the fire brigade. 4. Yes. It was savage.

Anecdote: Bad Luck

2011-05-30T07:46:00.000+01:00

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

Two middle-aged Englishmen were talking.
“Did you hear what happened to Smith?”
“No. What happened to him?”
“He died. He dropped dead. In the street. Just outside the pub.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Was he going in or coming out?”
“He was going in”
“Oh! Bad luck!”

Answer

1. Were the two men young?
2. Did he die suddenly?
3. Was he coming out of the pub?

Answer guide
1. No. They were middle-aged. 2. Yes. He dropped dead. 3. No. He was going into it.

Dialogue

2011-05-29T06:48:00.000+01:00

You meet a friend who has just returned from holiday. What questions did you ask in order to get the following answers? Say them aloud.

1.Q. .....................................................................................
A. I went to London.

2.Q. .....................................................................................
A. I quite enjoyed it.

3.Q. .....................................................................................
A. Quite close to the centre of the city.

4.Q. .....................................................................................
A. A week.

5.Q. .....................................................................................
A. I saw the Tower and the Palace. All the usual things.

6.Q......................................................................................
A. Yes. I went north to Scotland for a couple of days.

7.Q......................................................................................
A. Yes. There's still a lot of England I'd like to see.

Answer guide
1. Where did you go? 2. Did you like it? How was it? What was it like? 3. Where did you stay? 4. How long for? 5. What did you see? 6. Did you go anywhere else? 7. Would/Will you go (there) again?

Review Test

2011-05-28T07:57:00.000+01:00

Complete. One word is missing in each case. Intermediate pass level: 75% Aim: 95%

Jim White had worked hard (1).................... the past ten years. He thought it was time he had a holiday. So, that summer he closed (2).................... his shop in Victoria, British Columbia. He decided he needed to go (3).................... different, so he booked four weeks (4).................... romantic Paris.

But Jim did not have to wait (5).................... he arrived in romantic Paris before he fell in love. When he boarded the plane he found himself sitting (6).................... to Miss Veronica Bell. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t stop to think. It was love (7).................... first sight.

But Mr White was a shy man. He couldn’t bring himself to ask (8).................... question. So he gave the stewardess, Miss Sophie Lee, a note. He asked her to give it to the pilot, (9).................... she did. Some time later, (10).................... the middle of the Atlantic, the pilot, Captain Otis Shredd, sent this announcement (11).................... the intercom:

“Will the lady who is sitting (12).................... seat number C-27 be so kind (13).................... to accept a proposal (14).................... marriage (15).................... the gentleman sitting (16).................... the seat (17).................... her right?”

Miss Bell accepted Mr White’s proposal. Then the passengers drank several bottles of champagne, bought (18).................... the crew (19).................... celebrate.

(20).................... their honeymoon in Paris, the happy couple will return to Victoria, British Columbia, and live happily ever after.

Answer guide
1. hard 2. up 3. somewhere 4. in 5. until 6. next 7. at 8. the 9. which 10. over 11. over 12. in 13. as 14. of 15. from 16. in 17. on 18. by 19. to 20. After

Preposition Review

2011-05-27T08:37:00.000+01:00

Read aloud with the missing preposition. Lower intermediate.

1. I am leaving for Paris........... Tuesday.
2. The match starts........... three.
3. She is having a party............. her birthday.
4. We are going away................ Christmas.
5. They don’t work.............. Sundays.
6. The cinema opens.............. two.
7. We eat too much................ Christmas Day.
8. We have a holiday............... Saturday.
9. My birthday is................ May 10.

Answer guide
1. on 2. at 3. on (for) 4. for (at) 5. on 6. at 7. on 8. on 9. on

Expressing Dislike: Having To

2011-05-26T07:47:00.002+01:00

Example
Shy people do not like having to meet strangers.

In the same way, complete the following.

1. Children ................................................ homework.

2. On Friday evening a manager................................. late at the office.

3. An active person ....................................................... down all day.

4. A modern secretary ..................................................... cups of tea.

5. Most men ............................................. in the kitchen.

6. The average Englishman .............................................. at the office after 5pm.

7. The lazy woman ........................................ housework.

8. Mean people ......................................... money.

9. Impatient people .................................................... in supermarket queues.

Answer guide
1. do not like having to do 2. does not like having to stay 3. does not like having to sit 4. does not like having to make 5. do not like having to work 6. does not like having to work 7. does not like having to do 8. do not like having to spend 9. do not like having to wait.

Emphasis: Use of Up

2011-05-25T07:05:00.000+01:00

UP may be used for emphasis (of a completed action). It does not always indicate direction, as the opposite of "down".

Example of emphasis:
He closed up his shop. (see reading passage, Love at First Sight)
It was time to close. The barman called out: "Please drink up!" That is, empty your glass.

Give at least six similar verb + UP combinations.

Answer guide
For example: eat up, finish up, end up, open up, shut up, use up, clean up, wash up, dry up, break up, burn up, cut up, give up, settle up, pay up

Vocabulary: Antonyms

2011-05-24T06:55:00.000+01:00

With reference to the passage, Love at First Sight, give the words or phrases which mean the opposite of the following.

1. take it easy
2. get off, disembark
3. act quickly, rush in
4. some distance away
5. confident
6. the same old place
7. reject
8. leave

Answer guide
1. work hard; 2. board; 3. hesitate 4. next to 5. shy 6. somewhere different 7. accept 8. return

Passage: Love at First Sight

2011-05-23T06:53:00.000+01:00

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

Jim White had worked hard for the past ten years. He thought it was time he had a holiday so, that summer, he closed up his shop in Victoria, British Columbia. He decided he needed to go somewhere different, so he booked four weeks in romantic Paris.

But Jim did not have to wait until he arrived in romantic Paris before he fell in love. When he boarded the plane he found himself sitting next to Miss Veronica Bell. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t stop to think. It was love at first sight.

But Mr White was a shy man. He couldn’t bring himself to ask the question, so he gave the stewardess, Miss Sophie Lee, a note. He asked her to give it to the pilot, which she did. Some time later, over the middle of the Atlantic, the pilot, Captain Otis Shredd, sent this announcement over the intercom:

“Will the lady who is sitting in seat number C-27 be so kind as to accept a proposal of marriage from the gentleman sitting in the seat on her right?”

Miss Bell accepted Mr White’s proposal. Then the passengers drank several bottles of champagne, bought by the crew to celebrate.

After their honeymoon in Paris, the happy couple will return to Victoria, British Columbia, and live happily ever after.

Answer

1. Had Mr White taken it easy for a long time?
2. Did he think he ought to go to the same old place?
3. Did he hesitate to make up his mind he liked Miss Bell?
4. Did she agree to marry him?
5. Did the crew buy champagne in order to be unhappy?

Answer guide
1. No. He had worked hard for the past ten years. 2. No. He decided he needed to go somewhere different. 3. No. It was love at first sight. 4. Yes. She accepted his proposal. 5. No. They bought it to celebrate.

Vocabulary Development

2011-05-22T06:24:00.000+01:00

[book: book a seat at the theatre, book a table at a restaurant; board: board a bus, board a ship; hesitate: you hesitate before you cross a busy road; shy: too shy to speak, too shy to go into the crowded room; celebrate: you celebrate your birthday, you celebrate New Year, you have a drink to celebrate]

Read through the vocabulary, preferably aloud, and give spoken answers to the questions that follow. Lower intermediate.

book
If you want a seat, you must book in advance.
Seats at the cinema are not normally bookable.

board
The stewardess told them to board the plane.
The ship was about to sail. The cry went up, “All aboard!”
You can board the bus at that stop over there.

hesitate
He who hesitates is lost.
Don’t hesitate. Act. Do.
It is better to make the wrong decision than to hesitate.

shy
The young girl was shy: she didn’t speak to anyone, and if anyone spoke to her, she blushed.
Shy people do not like having to meet strangers.

celebrate
They had a cake to celebrate their birthday.
Scotsmen celebrate New Year. They drink a lot of whisky, and go from house to house, singing “Old Lang Syne”.

Answer

1. What must you do if you want a seat?
2. Where can I get on the bus?
3. Is it better to stop and think than to act quickly?
4. Why don’t they like having to meet strangers?

Answer guide
1. You must book in advance. 2. You can board it at that stop over there. 3. No. It is better to act quickly than to hesitate. 4. Because they are shy.

Dialogue

2011-05-21T07:22:00.002+01:00

With reference to the anecdote, Enterprise, you are chatting to Fred Harris. What questions do you ask him?

1.Q.
A. Three months.

2.Q.
A. I bought a platform ticket.

3.Q.
A. I hoped to get a quick snack.

4.Q.
A. To start serving lunches.

5.Q.
A. In an empty carriage.

6. Q.
A. Get on the first fast train that came by.

Answer guide
1. How long had you been unemployed? 2. How did you get on the train? 3. Why did you put on the waiter’s jacket? 4. What did the head waiter tell you to do? 5. Where did you sleep? 6. What would you do in the morning.

Anecdote: Enterprise

2011-05-20T05:48:00.000+01:00

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

Mr Fred Harris decided to leave home. He had been unemployed for three months. His wife was getting more and more angry. He could not go on any longer. So, one Wednesday morning, he packed a small suitcase and left his home in Newcastle. He went on to the railway station and, after buying a platform ticket for five pence, boarded the express train to London.

Fred was hungry, so he borrowed a waiter's jacket he found hanging behind a door in the dining carriage. He went into a lavatory and put on the jacket. Then he went back to the dining car. He hoped, he said, to get a quick snack.

However, he was seen by the head waiter, who said to him: “Where have you been? Get on with serving the lunches, will you!”

This opened a new life for Fred. He travelled backwards and forwards for six weeks, all over the country. Then the police caught up with him. They found him sleeping in a train compartment half way between Glasgow and London.

He explained that after he had begun the job, he found that he liked it. In fact, it was the best job he had ever had. At night he slept in an empty carriage. Got his head down, as he put it. In the morning, he got on the first fast train that came by. He thought he had earned his keep because he had done a good job as a waiter.

Answer

1. Did he take a trunk?
2. Did he want a three-course dinner?
3. Did he take a train all over the place?

Answer guide
1. No. He packed a small suitcase. 2. No. He hoped to get a quick snack. 3. Yes. He travelled backwards and forwards all over the country.