Read

The sausage is a cunning bird

Its feathers long and wavy

It swims around the frying pan

And makes its nest in gravy

Read

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the King's horses and all the King's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again     

Read

Hey diddle diddle

The cat and the fiddle

The cow jumped over the moon

The little dog laughed to see such fun

And the dish ran away with the spoon 

Read

Doctor Foster went to Gloucester

In a shower of rain

He stepped in a puddle

Right up to his middle

And never went there again

Comprehension Check

Comprehension

Decide whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE

1 If Magda does well in her degree she will get a permanent job

2 Johnny is moving to Shanghai

3 Fadi doesn’t like his cousin

4 Harry has been offered a permanent job

5 Magda suggests that she and Sarah share a flat

6 The café is going to close down

Vocabulary & Grammar

Vocabulary one – Adjective + noun collocations

Match the halves to make common adjective + noun collocations

First	degree
Good	week
Permanent	decision
Master's	day
Big	job
Next	news

 

Vocabulary two - Colloquial expressions

Finish the colloquial expressions with a word from below

crossed / time / worry / up / sorry / shame

1 What a

2 Cheer

3 Fingers

4 Decision

5 Don’t

6 I’m

 

Grammar one - -ed and –ing adjectives

Complete the gaps with the correct adjective

1 Something ...... happened to me today (amazed / amazing)

2 Try not to be too ...... about the exam (worried / worrying)

3 It was an ...... situation (embarrassed / embarrassing)

4 She was ...... to hear the news (surprised / surprising)

5 What an ...... plan! (excited / exciting)

6 We are ...... because there are too many options (confused / confusing)

7 Is the film ...... ? (bored / boring)

8 The book was much more ...... (interested / interesting)

 

Grammar two – articles

Complete the gaps with a, an, the or / (no article)

1 I’ve had .... row with my boyfriend

2 I don’t get on with .... landlord

3 I’m going to be .... architect

4 The job is in .... China

5 That’s .... excellent news

6 I hated .... job so I left

Answers

Comprehension

1 True

2 False (he may move to Chongqing)

3 True

4 False (he has lost his job)

5 True

6 True

Vocabulary one

First day

Good news

Permanent job

Master's degree

Big decision

Next week

Vocabulary two

1 What a shame

2 Cheer up

3 Fingers crossed

4 Decision time

5 Don’t worry

6 I’m sorry

Grammar one

1 amazing

2 worried

3 embarrassing

4 surprised

5 exciting

6 confused

7 boring

8 interesting

Grammar two

1 a, 2 the, 3 an, 4 (/), 5 (/), 6 (the)

Glossary

A row (noun) A verbal argument or disagreement

We had a row about whose turn it was to clean the kitchen

Permanent (adjective) Long lasting, not temporary

After having six temporary jobs she was delighted to get a permanent one

Proper (adjective) Appropriate, conforming, correct

Now I am getting a proper salary instead of just some pocket money

A distinction (noun) marked superiority

She was an excellent student so it wasn’t a surprise to hear that she had got distinction in her exam

To miss (verb) To feel sorry about the absence of somebody or something

She missed her family a lot when she moved away to another town

A decision (noun) The act of deciding or making a judgement

It was a difficult decision to make but she had to choose a winner

Audioscript

Olivia: Hi Magda! How was your first day?

Magda: Fantastic!

Olivia: Really!? I’m amazed...

Sarah: Yeah, you were so worried about your new job...

Magda: Well, I had some good news...

Olivia: Yeah? What?

All: Hi Johnny!

Johnny: Hi! I’ve got some good news...

Sarah: Makes two of you then!

Johnny: At least I think it’s good news...I’m not really sure...

Olivia: Tell us!

Magda: Can’t I tell you my good news first?

Sarah: Wow, this is getting complicated...and I’m afraid I’ve only got some bad news...

Magda: Oh no...what a shame! What’s the problem?

Olivia: Yeah, go on, bad news first, then the good news will cheer us up!

Sarah: OK, well, I had a row with my landlord, finally! And I’m moving out...

Magda: Oh no!

Sarah: Oh yes! So, I need a new flat...

Olivia: Again!!!

Magda: Oh dear...

Olivia: What a shame. I hoped it was going to work out...

Sarah: Yeah, but I didn’t get on with the landlord.

Magda: Have you told Fadi yet?

Sarah: No...I’m worried what he might think. The landlord is his cousin, after all...

Olivia: Well, let’s just wait until he comes in. I was going to tell him you weren’t happy – now I’ll tell him you’re leaving!

Magda: Is it good news time yet?

Sarah: Yes! Go on! What’s your good news?

Magda: I’ve been offered a job!

Johnny: Me too!

Olivia: Hang on! Wait a minute! You’ve already got a job, haven’t you Magda?

Sarah: And you have too, Johnny, haven’t you? You talk about it all the time...

Magda/Johnny: But...

Magda: Go on...!

Johnny: No, you first, please...

Magda: I’ve been offered a permanent job, with the same company! I’ll be a proper architect!

Olivia: Wow! That’s fantastic!

Magda: But...

Olivia: There’s always a ‘but’...

Magda: I have to get a distinction in my master’s degree...

Sarah: Phew...that’s not easy...

Magda: No, but I’m doing well...

Olivia: Fingers crossed then...

Sarah: Let’s hope!

Johnny: That’s amazing – I’ve got the same news!

Olivia: What? You’re going to be an architect?

Johnny: No!

Sarah: You’re doing a master’s degree?

Johnny: No!

Magda: What then?

Johnny: A job...I’ve been offered a new job!

Olivia: Yes, you said...

Johnny: And there’s a ‘but’...

Olivia: I told you there was always a ‘but’...

Johnny: It’s not in London...

Olivia: You’d have to leave...

Johnny: Yeah...

Olivia: Well, where is it? New York?

Johnny: No...

Magda: Paris? Berlin? Where?

Johnny: It’s back in China.

Sarah: Oh...Beijing? Shanghai?

Johnny: No, it’s in Chongqing.

Olivia: Where?

Johnny: Chongqing!

Magda:: Where’s that?

Sarah: Southwest China. It’s a really interesting place...growing really quickly...

Johnny: Yeah, it’s a great opportunity...

Olivia: But?

Johnny: But I love it here so much. I’m not sure I want to go back to China yet – I’d miss all my friends...

Olivia: You’ll have to choose!

Sarah: It’s big decision time! Oh no...here comes Fadi....and Harry.

All: Hi Fadi! Hi Harry!

Fadi: How’s it going everyone?

Olivia: Don’t ask...

Magda: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – if I get a good degree!

Johnny: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – but I have to go back to China!

Harry: Wow! Busy day everyone’s having...I’ve got some news too...

Olivia: Oh no...

Harry: Oh yes – I’ve been sacked!

Magda: “Sacked”?

Harry: Yes – I’ve lost my job, been made redundant, unemployed, no longer working!

Magda: Oh no!

Harry: Don’t worry – I don’t care. I hated that job anyway. I’ll soon find another job. A man with my skills and abilities is always in demand!

Johnny: Somebody from my company sacked you? Why?

Harry: I told them I wasn’t going to work at the weekend – Saturdays and Sundays. If I worked on Saturday and Sunday, when could I play football!? So I said ‘no’, and they said ‘goodbye’...

Magda:: What will you do now?

Harry: I have absolutely no idea! The future is an open book...

Sarah: Very poetic!

Fadi: Well Sarah, at least you’re ok...with your new flat and everything...

Sarah: Oh...er...well...

Olivia: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that...cousin

Fadi: You wanted to talk to me?

Olivia: (whispering) Yeah, well, you see, Sarah’s a bit embarrassed...

Fadi: (whispering) What’s up?

Olivia: She wants to leave the new flat...she doesn’t get on well with the landlord...

Fadi: My cousin.

Olivia: Yes, your cousin.

Fadi: I’m not surprised!

Olivia: Eh?

Fadi: I said I’m not surprised! My cousin’s horrible! I can’t stand him!

Olivia: (laughs) Oh that’s a relief...

Fadi: Sarah – I’m sorry if I got you involved with my cousin...I thought you were desperate for a place to live...I know my cousin’s horrible!

Sarah: Oh, never mind Fadi – thanks for trying to help anyway...Now I need a new place to live though...

Magda:: If I get this job, I’ll have more money – we could get a place together...

Sarah: That’d be great...

Johnny: If I take the job in China, I’ll have to leave my flat...

Sarah: And we could move in...

Olivia: What a lot of ‘if’s’...

Sarah: It’s exciting...

Magda:: But also worrying...

Johnny: And confusing...

Harry: And that’s not all...

Fadi: What?

Harry: I’ve just been speaking to the owner of the café...

Olivia: And?

Harry: They’re closing down – next week!

All: What!!?? Oh…that’s terrible…no....what are we all going to do??

Instruction

Listen and complete the missing numbers.

Exercise

The Paralympic Games, for disabled athletes from all around the world, have been held since _______. This September, Beijing will host the ___________Paralympics, and it promises to be a spectacular event.

China will provide more athletes than any other country for the competition, and is now the world's top paralympic nation after winning _____ medals at the Athens games.

Answer

The Paralympic Games, for disabled athletes from all around the world, have been held since 1960. This September, Beijing will host the thirteenth Paralympics, and it promises to be a spectacular event.

China will provide more athletes than any other country for the competition, and is now the world's top paralympic nation after winning 141 medals at the Athens games.

Instruction

Listen, read and guess the famous athlete being talked about.

Exercise

China will hope to win gold medals in a large number of events in 2008, but none of its athletes will receive more attention than national hero, ___ _____.

When he came first in the 110 metre hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he became the first ever Chinese athlete to win the gold medal in a men's track event. His amazing time of 12.91 seconds equalled the world record which had stood for over a decade.

Answer

China will hope to win gold medals in a large number of events in 2008, but none of its athletes will receive more attention than national hero, Liu Xiang.

When he came first in the 110 metre hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he became the first ever Chinese athlete to win the gold medal in a men's track event. His amazing time of 12.91 seconds equalled the world record which had stood for over a decade.

Instruction

Ther are no capital letters in the text. Can you add them where needed?

Exercise

four years ago in athens it was "welcome home", and before that the sydney games asked us to "share she spirit". this year, "one world, one dream" is the official slogan for the 2008 beijing olympic games.

the beijing olympic committee looked at an amazing 200,000 suggestions for different slogans before deciding on this winner. this simple and poetic phrase reminds us of the true meaning of the olympic spirit and encourages the whole world to join together in sport.

Answer

Four years ago in Athens it was "Welcome Home", and before that the Sydney Games asked us to "Share The Spirit". This year, "One World, One Dream" is the official slogan for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Beijing Olympic Committee looked at an amazing 200,000 suggestions for different slogans before deciding on this winner. This simple and poetic phrase reminds us of the true meaning of the Olympic spirit and encourages the whole world to join together in sport.

Instruction

Listen and fill in the gaps.

Exercise

The 2008 Olympic Games have been called the ______ Olympics and one of the main themes of this summer's event is the __________. From the Bird's Nest stadium to the Olympic _________ the Chinese organisers have worked hard to ________ the use of clean technology and _________ materials.

There has also been a big _______ to improve ____________ in the city with thousands of buses and taxis being __________ by cleaner models. In total, ________ on environmental improvements in Beijing has reached about ___ billion US dollars.

Answers

The 2008 Olympic Games have been called the green Olympics and one of the main themes of this summer's event is the environment. From the Bird's Nest stadium to the Olympic Village the Chinese organisers have worked hard to ensure the use of clean technology and recyclable materials.

There has also been a big effort to improve transportation in the city with thousands of buses and taxis being replaced by cleaner models. In total, spending on environmental improvements in Beijing has reached about 13 billion US dollars.