Showing posts with label vocabulary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vocabulary. Show all posts
Monday, 13 June 2011
Onomatopoeia: Sounds of Words
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
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Vocabulary : Suffix -man
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...
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.
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.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Vocabulary: Animal Noises
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
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
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Vocabulary Development
[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.
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.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Vocabulary: Antonyms
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)