Wellman Guy the Heinemann Elt Wordbuilder

The Heinemann English

Wordbuilder

The Heinemann English

Wordbuilder
Guy Wellman

HEINEMANN

Heinemann English Language Teaching
A division of Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Limited
Halley Court, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8E J
OXFORD MADRID FLORENCE ATHENS PRAGUE
SAO PAULO MEXICO CITY CHICAGO PORTSMOUTH (NH)
TOKYO SINGAPORE KUALA LUMPUR MELBOURNE
AUCKLAND JOHANNESBURG IBADAN GABORONE
ISBN 0 435 28556 4
First published 1989 in association with ELA
© Heinemann International 1992

Design by Arc Design
Illustrations by Laura Potter and Richard Wileman

Printed in Great Britain by
The Bath Press, Avon
96

97

98

10

9

8

Contents
Introduction
Names
Age
Family relationships
Marital status
Countries, Nationalities
Location

8
10
13
15
17
21

Build
From the neck up
From shoulder to
fingertips
From the bottom down
Inside and outside the torso
Compound adjectives using
parts of the body

25
26
29
31
32
34

The senses
36
Character and personality
39
Attitudes and beliefs
43
Thinking, wanting and knowing 46
Moods
50
Attitudes and relationships
53
Expressing oneself
Reacting to events
Sounds people make
Gesture, mannerism and
body language
Posture and movement
Actions and activities

67
71
74

The universe
Physical geography
The plant world
The animal world
Food and drink

77
78
80
82
87

Buildings and rooms
Furniture and household
Vehicles
Clothes

56
62
65

91
94
101
107

Size, quantity, dimensions
and measurements
Shapes
Substances, materials and
textures
Colours
The condition things
are in
Parts and components
What things do
Noises things make
Births, marriages and
deaths
Work
Earning and spending
money
Health and illness
Sport and games
Entertainment
Games and hobbies
Music and the Arts
Cooking, eating and
drinking
Travelling
Business, industry and
agriculture
Law and order, crime and
punishment

110
114
116
119
122
125
127

132
134
140
146
149
154
159
163
168
173
178
181
185

Quality
Time
Numerals and proportions
Rise and fall
Normality and regularity
Probability, necessity and
free will
Cause and effect

188
191
196
199
201
203
206

Index

208

Key

259

Introduction
Why
This book is designed to help the student of English whose only weapons in the battle
against vocabulary have, until now, been a dictionary and a dog-eared note-book with
lists of unconnected words, approximate translations alongside. I felt a book which
would help students to build their active vocabulary, while at the same time helping
with the recognition of less common or important words, would be a useful tool with
which they could work their way deeper into the language.

Who
The book is designed to be used by a class of students, a couple of friends or an
individual working alone. It is particularly useful for students who are not living in
an English-speaking country, and so are not exposed to the everyday expressions
that are presented and practised in this book.
The level is post-intermediate, which means it should be useful for students who
have met the basic structures of English at least once, but have a relatively narrow
vocabulary range. It is particularly good practice for users who wish to improve their
speaking or writing, or for those who are preparing for a national exam or for the
Cambridge First Certificate. Even Cambridge Proficiency exam candidates and other
advanced users and students of English will find that there is a lot they can learn in
the Heinemann English Wordbuilder.
Because this is a book about language, some of the sections will be most beneficial if
the user can argue, experiment and practise with someone else, but users working
alone at home can greatly improve and broaden their use of English through the
presentation and written practice provided.

What
The Heinemann English Wordbuilder is made up of 60 units. Each unit focusses on
one vocabulary area. It starts with a reference section which shows you the words (in
bold print) at work, that is to say in context. This is followed by a practice section of
exercises and ideas for further written or spoken practice with space for you to add
any other expressions you know or meet. The Index at the end of the book contains
every word and phrase and so acts as a quick reference guide for you. Some words
have a star beside them. You should be careful how you use these. A brief note on
each is included in the Key at the back of the book.
You will find there are passages to read, some long, a few quite difficult, and many
full to the brim with the target vocabulary. There are often checking exercises after
them to make sure the words have 'gone in', that is to say that you have remembered
them. There are other exercises, too: matching, gap-filling, defining, ordering, etc.
many of which have the answers on the page, which you are asked to cover. The
advantage of this is that you can do the exercises again and again if you like, to check
how your vocabulary is growing. There are games and quizzes, not really to test your
general knowledge but rather to motivate you to study the language under review. (I,
personally, would rather be asked to guess - or work out from given data — when,
why or in what order certain things happened in Siberia than just read a page of
historical facts, for instance. Wouldn't you?)

None of the material is 'authentic' English. You would have to read hundreds of
extracts from other sources before you met the thirty or forty words and expressions
that you will find grouped in each section here. You should, of course, read widely in
addition to this book, to improve your reading skills and to see the vocabulary you
have learnt in this book at work.

How
There are three main ways in which you can use the Heinemann English
Wordbuilder in class or on your own: by looking up a particular word or expression in
the Index and then working on that particular unit; by finding a unit of interest and
working through it systematically; by working through all the units one by one.
If you are working alone, and you wish to use the book to increase your vocabulary
range, work through at a reasonable pace. If you come across a section which you
think is of no importance to you or in which you feel your vocabulary is already very
strong, leave it out, perhaps returning to it later. Some parts are easier than others.
Never spend too long on one particular section. Treat the book as a cross between a
manual and a collection of short stories, not as a novel which you want to read quite
quickly from cover to cover. Sometimes refer to it to check a word you're not sure of
or need to use; sometimes browse through it and pick a section to read and study, just
because it's of interest or perhaps an area of English you have never really
considered before. And keep coming back to it, as you would a story you have just
enjoyed. Each time you look at a particular section, you will find your vocabulary
seems stronger, more refined, more elastic than the time before.
At the end of nearly every unit, there is a Practice section which asks you to
incorporate the new and old vocabulary you have studied in a series of speaking or
writing activities. They are an important part of the book. There is little point in
having thirty thousand words in your head if you are only able to call up about five
hundred when you find yourself in a particular situation. The Practice sections will
help you to start using the vocabulary more or less automatically and without too
much hesitation. These sections will also help your speaking and writing skills in
general. There is enough here to give Examiners quite a surprise when they read
your compositions and hear your answers to Interview questions.
The book contains a lot, we hope most, of the essential vocabulary within the topics
covered. However, if you are a keen reader of or listener to English, you will
occasionally come across items that are not included here. You might like to use the
'Add more words ...' sections in each unit to note these down and to make the
Wordbuilder very much your own book.

The Key
At the end of the book, you will find a Key. Here we have given the answers to
exercises. Look at the title of the unit you are working on and the page number. Then
find these in the Key in order to check your work or find words you didn't know.
When the answers depend on general knowledge or are particularly difficult, you will
find them in the unit itself. Only refer to the Key when you have done a task. No
cheating!
Note that in the practice sections there are some activities suggested which are
better done with other students, so that you can speak together in small groups. You
have been given the choice between speaking and writing, however, in case you are
working on your own.
I hope you enjoy using the book. Writing it made me realise again what an
interesting language English is. I hope you'll find you agree.
Guy Wellman

Names
Surname
Forename(s)

Quiz
See how easily and quickly you can find the missing names in the sentences below.
The answers are printed after the exercise to help you.
1
2
3
4
5
6

William F. Cody (1846 - 1917) was nicknamed . . . .
Mozart's Christian names were ....
Queen Elizabeth's youngest son is called . . . .
The Idlewild Airport in New York was renamed ... after this man's death.
...'s real name is Richard Starkey.
A Swedish actress by the name of Greta Gustaffson adopted the screen
pseudonym of... .
7 Bach's initials, J.S., stand for . . . .
8 Mrs Mark Phillips' maiden name was . . . .
9 The newest airport in Paris is named after . . . .
10 Most Englishmen have pretended at some time in their life to be William Younger,
alias . . . .
11 Samuel Clemens' pen-name was . . . .
12 The stretch of coastland between Toulon in France and Spezia in Italy is known
as . . . .
13 The tallest building in Paris takes its name from the engineer, ....
14 Someone christened Adolph Schickelgruber became world-famous under the
name of... .
15 The film recognised as the first 'talking picture' was entitled . . . .
16 During the seventies a certain Cassius Clay changed his name to . . . .
Answers
1 Buffalo Bill 2 Wolfgang Amadeus 3 Prince Edward 4 Kennedy
International Airport 5 Ringo Starr 6 Greta Garbo 7 Johann Sebastian
8 Princess Anne (Windsor) 9 Charles de Gaulle 10 Billy the Kid 11 Mark
Twain 12 The Riviera 13 (Alexandre Gustave) Eiffel 14 Adolf Hitler-the
best known false name in the world? 15 The Jazz Singer 16 Mohammed AH

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1
2
3
4
5
6

What nicknames have you had, if any? Why did people choose them?
What will you call or have you called your children? Why?
What's the derivation of the most popular surnames in your country?
How has the fashion in first names changed in your lifetime?
How important do you think a good name is for pop and film stars?
How important is a good name for commercial products like shampoo, soap, cars or
cigars? Can you think of any examples of names which have ruined a product's
success?

Names

Write a dialogue between a husband and wife as they try to agree on names for their
expected child.
Add any other expressions about names as you meet them.

Age
Date of birth

/

Age . . . . (years)

/ 19 ..

(months)

Reading
Read through these expressions relating to how old we are and what age does to us.

1900
a new-born baby, 10 Ibs. 3 ozs. at birth
ten months old
nearly eighteen months old
a toddler
four next birthday
coming up to school age

at infants' school
a schoolgirl

1910
all those in the 9-11 age group
he had a happy childhood
he's a nice kid
a teenager
in his youth

the agonies of adolescence
still a minor, legally speaking
a juvenile delinquent

congratulations on your coming of age

1920
you have to be over 21
Miss June Hoskins, aged 22, of 35 Stanfield Road
in his mid-twenties
in his prime

at the age of 26 she got married
by the age of 26 she had lived in five different countries
an adult
a grown-up

1930
don't be so childish
he's turned thirty
thirtyish
not a youngster any more
not as young as she was
36 years of age
approaching middle-age
the Under 40s Social Club

1940
on the wrong side of forty
beginning to look his age
an ageing playboy
beginning to feel her age
I prefer mature people
10

Age

she's still got her girlish sense of humour
in his late forties
she's older than she looks

1950
still playing his schoolboy tricks
in her early fifties
he's aged a lot lately
he's getting on (in years)
one of the older generation
I'm twice your age, young man!
the same age as her husband
heading for retirement
1960
he's over the hill *
Sunday Excursion for the Over 60s
growing old gracefully
a pensioner (an old age pensioner, OAP)
he's coming up to seventy
you're old enough to know better

you're as old as you feel
an elderly lady

1970
a septuagenerian
Help the Aged
she's still going strong
in her seventy-fifth year
his elder brother's death
her eldest sister's death
becoming senile
old age comes to all of us
1980
his eightieth birthday
an octogenarian
he's as old as the hills*
in her second childhood
he's got one foot in the grave*
he'll soon be pushing up the daisies*
she's kicked the bucket*
she's passed away / on

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 How has your relationship with your parents and other members of your family
changed as you have grown older?
2 At which age would you most like to stop the world for ten years so you could enjoy
it? Has that age passed or is it still to come?
3 Some people say there are a lot of similarities between childhood and old age. Do
you agree?
4 Do you think young people are growing up faster these days? If so, give examples.
5 Do you agree or partly agree with the saying 'Life begins at forty'?

11

Age

Write on one or more of the following topics.
1 a dialogue between a psychiatrist and a middle-aged man who is worried about his
age and getting old.
2 a section of your speech at a public meeting in support of the vote for teenagers.
3 the approximate age at which you normally think of or remember these people, as
in the examples.
Winston Churchill
in his mid- to late sixties
Olga Korbut
in her early teens, just after adolescence
1
2
3
4

James Dean
Ronald Reagan
Elvis Presley
Mahatma Gandhi

5
6
7
8

Marilyn Monroe
Marlon Brando
Joan Collins
Mozart

Add any other expressions about age as you meet them.

12

Family relationships
Next of kin.....................

Brain teaser
Try this little brain-teaser when you have five or ten minutes to spare. Alternatively,
just note the names we give to the various members of our family.
Each of the fourteen people below is married to one of the others. From the
information you are given, find out who is married to whom. Note there are three
generations here. The answers are on page 14.
Alan is Caroline's nephew and Larry's cousin.
Barbara is Larry's mother and Maggie's sister-in-law.
Caroline is Edward's daughter and Maggie's sister-in-law.
David is Gordon's brother-in-law and Alan's uncle.
Edward is Ingrid's grandfather and Maggie's father-in-law.
Fanny is Caroline's mother and Alan's grandmother.
Gordon is Helen's son-in-law and Nigel's brother-in-law.
Helen is Barbara's mother-in-law and Larry's grandmother.
Ingrid is Gordon's niece and David's daughter-in-law.
John is David's father and Gordon's father-in-law.
Karen is Gordon's daughter-in-law and Maggie's daughter-in-law.
Larry is John's grandson and David's son.
Maggie is Larry's aunt and Fanny's daughter-in-law.
Nigel is Ingrid's father and Fanny's son-in-law.

Practice
1 Choose the most suitable word or phrase to complete the sentences below. The
answers are on page 14.
1 Mrs Jones had ....
a a trio b a treble с triplets
2 Mrs Vine had had ... the week before.
a quarts b quads с a quartet
3 Twins often seem to ... a generation.
a hop b skip с jump
4 There was a case of... twins in our town recently.
a Japanese b Chinese с Siamese
5 There's a ... of twins in our family — on my father's ... .
a story
b geography
с history
d tree
e side
f line
6 I was ... child, though. •
a an only b a missing с a single
7 All the members of our football team are related ... marriage,
a by b to с on
8 When Mother remarried, her second husband, my ..., gave me a new bicycle.
a forefather b stepfather с grandfather
9 He said to me, 'Look, I know you're not my own ..., but let's be friends.'
a flesh and blood b blood and guts с skin and bones
10 My ... originated from a tribe of Red Indians.
a ancestors b ancients с antiques
11 Not many of my own ... relatives are still alive.
a blood b skin с heart
13

Family relationships

12 My ... -grandfather fought at the Battle of Waterloo.
a grand grand grand
b great grand grand
с great-great-great
13 My brother-in-law inherited £500,000 in his uncle's ... .
a will
b testament
с wishes.
14 I was left £50 and a cat by ... relative; I believe it was a ... cousin - or perhaps it
was a... -aunt.
a a distant
b an unclear
с a long-distance
d double
e second
f dual
g grand
h great
і large
15 Peter is an orphan; he was ... at the age of two.
a adjusted b adapted с adopted
16 Paul comes from a broken home; he has lived with a number of... parents.
a loan b foster с second-hand
17 Mary was from a single-parent family; now she's looked after by her ....
a keeper b warden с guardian.
18 I'm off to have Sunday lunch with my ... now.
a outlaws
b by-laws
с in-laws
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 In what ways do you take after members of your family, in appearance and
character?
2 How close are you to the various members of your family?
3 What sort of presents do you normally receive from your relatives?
4 Do most people you know get on with their in-laws?
5 What is the system of adopting and fostering in your country?
6 I wouldn't like to be / have been an only child. Do you agree?
Write on one or more of the following topics.
1 Write a paragraph from a short story describing a wedding or a funeral.
2 Write an imaginary page from the diary of a foster-parent whose foster-child is
leaving tomorrow.
Add any other expressions about family relationships as you meet them.

Answers
The married couple are: Ingrid and Larry, Edward and Fanny, Helen and John, Alan
and Karen, Gordon and Maggie, David and Barbara, Caroline and Nigel.
1 triplets 2 quads 3 skip 4 Siamese 5 history my father's
side 6 an only child 7 by marriage 8 stepfather 9 flesh and
blood 10 ancestors 11 blood relatives
12 great-great-greatgrandfather 13 will 14 a distant relative, second cousin, great-aunt
15 adopted 16 foster-parents 17 guardian 18 in-laws
14

Marital status
MARITAL STATUS (tick as appropriate)

single
engaged
married
separated
divorced
widowed (if a widow or widower, please state which)

Reading
Note how various relationships are described in the letter from Hollywood below.
188 Beverley Hills,
Hollywood,
Nr. Los Angeles,
California
13th July 1985
Dear Fiona,
Thanks for all your news. Things are very much as normal here. Harry and I have
split up - we both felt we had had enough of each other. He's dating a girl who was
going steady with Paul when you were here -1 think they're quite serious - and I'm
seeing a film producer called Harvey who's waiting for his divorce to come through.
We're more than 'just good friends' but I don't know how long it will last. My late
husband's former mistress is marrying his first wife's third husband on Saturday.
In fact, it's going to be a double wedding because her second son by her first
marriage is getting married to the girl he's been sharing a flat with for the past six
months. You remember? That's her half-brother's ex-fiancee, the one who was going
out with Jason back in January.
Anyway, how are you? Still the ideal couple over there in Eastbourne, are you? Do I
hear wedding bells?
Lots of love for now,
Mandy

Practice
1 Choose the best words to complete the short conversations below.
1 A Excuse me,..., can I see your driving licence?
a Mr b sir с mate
В I'm sorry,..., I don't seem to have it on me.
a sir b policeman с constable
2 A ... ! Can I have a menu, please?
a Sir b Mister
с Waiter
В Here you are,....
a madam b Ms с Mrs
3 A Did you understand the question,... Smith?
a Sir b Madam с Miss
В Yes, I did, my ....
a master b lord
с majesty
15

Marital status

Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 Do you think the idea of getting engaged is old-fashioned?
2 Why do you think divorce is nearly as popular as marriage in some countries but
not others?
Write on one or both of the following topics.
1 Write, and act out if you wish, a typical conversation between a middle-aged
married couple who are planning their typical weekday evening at home.
2 Write part of the letter that you write, angrily or sadly, to a newspaper, after
reading the headline 'Hollywood Movie Star's Sixth Marriage Ends'.
Add any other expressions about marital status as you meet them.

16

Countries,
Nationalities
Country of origin...................
Nationality ................

Quiz
Below is a series of competitions for you to try in groups. Its main aim is not to test
your geography, but to help you study and practise your English.
Only look at the left-hand column. Cover the words on the right.Try to answer the
questions. Then check your answers by looking at the words in the right-hand
column.
Which countries have borders with the following groups of countries given below?
1 Guatemala
El Salvador
Nicaragua
2 Algeria
Niger
Chad
Sudan
Egypt
3 Colombia
Costa Rica
2

Honduras

Libya

Panama

Now, the reverse: which countries border those on the left below? And what
nationality are most of the people in them?
1 Switzerland (five)
Italy
Liechtenstein
France
Austria
West Germany
2 Bolivia (five)
Brazil
Peru
Argentina
Paraguay
Chile
3 England (two)
Scotland
Wales

Swiss
Italian
Liechtensteiner
French
Austrian
German
Bolivian
Brazilian
Peruvian
Argentinian
Paraguayan
Chilean
English
Scottish
Welsh

Travelling between the cities below, by the shortest possible land route, which
countries would you pass through? And what nationality of people would you see
most of? Name four countries for each journey.
1 From Tel Aviv to Ankara

Israel
The Lebanon

Israeli
Lebanese
17

Countries, Nationalities

2 From Kabul to Katmandu

3 From Bucharest to Dresden

4 From Lusaka to Entebbe

Syria
Turkey
Afghanistan
Pakistan
India
Nepal
Romania
Hungary
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Zambia
Zaire
Tanzania
Uganda

Syrian
Turkish
Afghan
Pakistani
Indian
Nepalese
Romanian
Hungarian
Czech(oslovakian)
East German
Zambian
Zairean
Tanzanian
Ugandan

Which countries have the currencies listed below? And what nationality are most of
the people who have that kind of money in their pockets?

6
7
8
9

rand
yen
renminbi
rial
markka
zloty
drachma
baht
guilder

10 rouble

South African
South Africa
Japan
Japanese
China
Chinese
Iran
Iranian
Finnish
Finland
Poland
Polish
Greece
Greek
Thailand
Thai
Holland
Dutch
(The Netherlands)
Russia
Russian
(The Soviet Union)
(The USSR)

Don't worry if you're finding them difficult; the idea is not to get them all right. I had
the advantage of an atlas and encyclopedia.
Which countries have these cities as the capital? And what nationality are most of
the people living in them?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Caracas
Sofia
Nairobi
Seoul
Montevideo
Lagos
Addis Ababa
Amman
Harare
Riyadh
Baghdad
Reykjavic

Venezuela
Bulgaria
Kenya
South Korea
Uruguay
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Jordan
Zimbabwe
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Iceland

Venezuelan
Bulgarian
Kenyan
South Korean
Uruguayan
Nigerian
Ethiopian
Jordanian
Zimbabwean
Saudi (Arabian)
Iraqi
Icelandic

In which countries do cars with these signs on them probably start their journeys?
And what nationality are their drivers likely to be?

1
2
3
4
5
6
18

CDN
МЕХ
MA
L
E
YU

Canada
Mexico
Morocco
Luxembourg
Spain
Yugoslavia

Canadian
Mexican
Moroccan
Luxembourger
Spanish
Yugoslavian

Countries, Nationalities

7 IRL
8 USA
9 NZ

Ireland/Eire
The USA
(The United States)
New Zealand

Irish
American
NewZealander

In which countries would you find these dishes most often? And what nationality
would most of the people eating them be?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

satay sauce
couscous
kebabs
smo'rgos
white chocolates
brown cheese
kangaroo-tail soup
chicken livers in port
pastries with nuts and dried fruit

Indonesia
Morocco
Turkey
Sweden
Belgium
Norway
Australia
Portugal
Denmark

Indonesian
Moroccan
Turkish
Swedish
Belgian (Flemish)
Norwegian
Australian
Portuguese
Danish

English is an easy language, so most of the words in the third columns above, except
those ending -ish or -ese can be used as an adjective or as a noun: She's Italian or
She's an Italian — He's Israeli or He's an Israeli. This is always true of those words
ending -an or -i.
But there are some special cases, such as the form a Dutchman, an Irishman, an
Englishman, a Frenchman, a Welshman. People from Scotland can be rather
complicated. We can call them Scottish or Scotsmen. If you want to make them
angry, you can call them Scotch. Alternatively, we can say He's (She's) a Scot.
Using He's a ..., see if you can give the nationality of the following people:
1 Alan Wells, sprinter
2 Lasse Viren, long-distance runner
3 Bjorn Borg, tennis player
4 Hans Christian Andersen, story-teller
5 Lech Walesa, trade union leader
6 Kemal Ataturk, national hero
7 Pablo Picasso, artist
8 Alexander Dubcek, one-time party leader
9 John Walker, middle-distance runner

a Scot
a Finn
a Swede
a Dane
a Pole
a Turk
a Spaniard
a Czech
a New Zealander

Game
To finish, a word-association game.What do you think of when you hear the word
Danish? Danish bacon? Danish butter? Danish cheese?
Write or say the word you think of first to go with each of the words below. Possible
answers are given on the right. See how often you think of the same word as the one
printed in the book.
1 Danish
2 German
3 French
4 Irish
5 Japanese
6 American
7 Greek
8 New Zealand
9 English
10 Russian

bacon
beer
perfume
whiskey
motor bikes
football
islands
butter
weather
dolls

19

Countries, Nationalities

11 Argentinian
12 Egyptian

beef
pyramids

2 Now, play the game the other way round. Write or say the nationality you associate
with the things listed below. Are they the same as those in the book?

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

cigarettes
cheese
carpets
coffee
tortillas
silk
shoes
rugby
goulash
tulips
11 cigars
12 guitar
13 restaurants

Turkish
Swiss
Persian

Brazilian
Mexican
Thai
Italian
Welsh
Hungarian
Dutch
Cuban (Havana)
Spanish
Chinese

Add any other words or expressions about countries and nationalities as you meet
them.

20

Location
Address

(number, road)
(town)
(county)
(post-code)

Reading
Here are some typical English and American addresses. Which do you like — or
dislike — the sound of?
Apartment 2, Marigold Mansions
The Grange, West Hill Drive
21 Wellington Gardens
10 Rillington Place
365 Churchill Avenue
18 Newtown Crescent
33 Sunset Boulevard
28 Poplar Terrace
12AThe Promenade
322AWaite'sWalk
1 The High Street
8 Chestnut Grove
1 Tin Pan Alley
24 Lincoln Lane
130 Hovis Hill
48 Cannery Row
21 The Arcade
4 The Square
8 Park Close
Look at the letter to Santa Claus. How would you write your address?
Cover the right-hand column. Then read and become familiar with the directions in
the left-hand column. When you can use the phrases on the left with ease, study the
right-hand column. It contains expressions of location and the names of places
associated with each line on the left. Learn to use a few at a time.
Well, it's situated in
central Germany or rather,
the centre of
West Germany.
It's almost exactly
due west of Prague,
mid-way between
Luxembourg and
East Germany.
It's about 100 miles
from the Belgian
and French
borders.
It's roughly

in the Far East, in the Middle East
in the North of Spain, in southern Portugal
inside the Arctic Circle, in S.E. Asia
near the Antarctic, within the tropics
at the South Pole, on the Equator
on the same line of latitude as Peking
longitude 8 degrees East
on the other side of the Andes from Lima
50 miles to the north of Oslo
just over the border from El Paso
approximately 40 kilometres from the coast
some 30 miles from the nearest big town
10 miles along the coast from Valencia
100 miles down river from Khartoum
three hours by car from Rio
21

Location

22

half an hour's
drive from Frankfurt,
which is in
turn an hour's
flight from
Berlin.

a three-day journey by train from Algiers
a five-day voyage from Perth
four hours by plane from Singapore
eight hours by air
two days by ship
twenty-four hours by sea

It stands on
the Rhine, just
above where the
Rhine meets the
Main, at the
southern tip
of the most
picturesque stretch
of the river.
It is set in
the middle of
one of the world's
finest wine-producing
areas.
It is built on the
edge of the Taunus
forests and is surrounded
to the north and west
by trees.

it lies on the coast
near the mouth of the Ganges
on the banks of the Nile
deep in the interior
in the Loire valley
miles from anywhere
in the most northerly part of Sweden
the southernmost London district
the furthest point west
the south-east corner of Switzerland
on the fringe of the agricultural region
just below the industrial heartland
in the centre of a holiday resort area
on the slopes of the Himalayas
at the foot of the mountains
on the side of a hill
on a long, thin peninsula
on an island
beside a lake

It lies on the other
side of the river from
the city of Mainz and
stretches several miles
in the direction
of Koblenz.
Approaching it from
the north, by car
or by train,
I always used
to travel down
the west bank
of the river

a few miles from the mainland
directly opposite the port of Southampton
extends over an area of 80 square
kilometres
it can be reached by road or rail
coming from the highlands
drive down the motorway
travel cross-country
keep to the minor roads
go via Lyons

The district
is some
distance
from the
city centre,
in one of
suburbs lying
to the south and
running adjacent
to the Rhine.

on the far side of town from the beach
quite a long way from the bus station
a bus journey from the town centre
just a stone's throw from, the airport
quite a way out of town
on the outskirts of the town
in one of the outlying villages
in a very remote part
parallel to the canal
a few miles inland

To find it from the
Centre Station, you
turn left out of the
main gate, follow the
main road up the hill,
across the traffic
lights, over the next
crossroads and then
through a long tunnel.

to get to it from the ferry terminal
bear right
go straight on
cross over
follow the pavement round
through a pedestrian precinct
up and down the hill
across the fields
along a country lane

Location

To get to the street,
it's left at the next
lights, under the
railway bridge, second
turning on the right
then third left.

take the left fork at the junction
over a railway crossing
through a little wood
leave the cathedral on your right
follow the signs to Endgate
head for the spire in the distance

There is a short
cut through
the back streets
but the long
way round
is easier.

it's about two miles as the crow flies
quite a lot further by road
half-an-hour's walk
about forty minutes on foot
a ten-minute bus ride
quarter-of-an-hour on the underground
twenty minutes by taxi

The street is
one of the
turnings off
to the right.

two blocks away from the hospital
the third exit off the roundabout
a sharp turning to your left
a one-way street
a no-through road
a cul-de-sac

You can't miss it.
The house is
at the far end
of the street,
the third or
fourth from the
end on the right,
just down from
a little pizzeria.

halfway along on the left
towards the end of the street
on a bend in the road
the last one in the street
on a corner, opposite a florist's
just across the road from a telephone kiosk
next to an Indian restaurant
just past a pillar box
with a bus-stop right outside

It's a five-storey
building and the
flat is on the
second floor.
It's self-contained
and has

a (semi-) detached house
a terraced house
a skyscraper
a tower block
a bungalow
a maisonette
a bed-sitter (bed-sitting room)

its own entrance
down a little
alley that
runs along the
side of the
building.

Ignore the steps
leading down to
the basement and
go up the first
flight of stairs,
through the door
at the top, a
few yards along
the passage, then
up the staircase
to your right.
Go through the hall.
To your left is
the second bedroom.
The kitchen's

a long drive leading up to the house
parking space at the front
a green front door
a side entrance
over a shop
take the lift up to the third floor
a spiral staircase leading to the attic
a revolving door
a sliding door
a few steps along the landing
through the French windows
out on to the balcony
the master bedroom
the spare room
the bathroom

23

Location

on your right.
Then go along
another passage
leading off to
the left.
The lounge,
which looks out
on to the street,
is the second
door on the
left.

the toilet
the lavatory
the WC
the loo
the larder (a food cupboard)
the living room
the sitting room
the dining room

On your right
as you go in,
behind the door,
there's an armchair;
at least there
was ten years ago.

just inside on the left
to the left of the fireplace
along the wall opposite
on the right as you look at it
directly in front of you
under the window
next to the piano

it faces south

That was where she was
sitting when I left the
room ten years ago. If
she's still there, give
her my regards, will you?

Practice
Look at the map of the world. Plan your ideal journey round the world.
Describe the layout of your home and where the furniture is in each room.
Explain how to get from your house to the nearest railway station.
Add any other words or expressions about locations you meet.

24

Build
Reading
Where do you belong below?
he's a giant (of a man)
she's an Amazon
extremely tall
tallish
above average height
medium build
he's / she's got a good figure
he's / she's well-built
stocky
petite
plump
thin
corpulent
skinny*
built like a barrel*
like a pipe cleaner*
he's as square / big round as he's tall
there's nothing of her
obese*
like a lamp-post*
overweight
puny-looking*
squat
slight and slender
muscular
slim
below average height
on the short side
short
tiny
a midget
knee-high to a grasshopper / an ant

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 Which of the above adjectives and phrases would suit a student in your class or a
member of your family?
2 Do you think your build sometimes determines your character? If so, how?
3 What sort of build should gymnasts, footballers and weight-lifters have?
4 Which word in each pair of words would you prefer people to use about you? Why?
1
2
3
4
•

skinny / slim
well- built / corpulent
overweight / obese
all skin and bones / there's more fat on
a chip

5 plump / stocky
6 short / below average height
7 a midget / knee-high to an ant

Add any other expressions about your or other people's build as you meet them.

25

From the neck up
Reading
Think about hair first. Notice the different descriptions of hair in the two life stories
below. Then read the advertisements.

Him

Her

at birth:
aged 3:

thick (jet) black hair
curly brown hair

at 13:

a crew cut
- an early skinhead
long sideboards, spikey
shoulder-length hair
wavy, swept back, with
a side parting

a few mousy strands
hair in bunches fastened with
slides, grips and ribbons
hair in plaits, otherwise
completely straight
in a bun
back-combed, with a ponytail
January: she's a blonde
March: she's a brunette
May: she's a redhead (she's got
auburn hair)
July: she's ash-blonde
October: she's dyed it pink
frizzy, slightly streaked
combed forward, a few highlights
she's greying
her hair's thinning, so she's
experimenting with a wig
her hair's going white fast
the wig's matted,
unmanageable, so
she has a blue rinse

at 16:
at 19:
at 23:

at 28:
at 35:
at 40:
at 45:
at 50:
at 55:

neat style with a fringe
a few grey hairs
his hair's receding
distinguished, but he's
balding
he's trying a toupee
completely bald

CLOVER
SHAMPOO
for dry, normal and greasy hair
gets rid of split ends
flyaway hair will be a thing of the past
fights dandruff
gives your hair body
5 good reasons to start using CLOVER!

AHEAD OF TIME
Unisex Hair Salon
Trim
Cut and Blow Dry
Perm(anent Waving)
Razor cutting
Highlights from

£6.50
£16.00
£87.50
£2.50 extra
£85.00

Practice
Now look at facial features. On the left are some adjectives often used to describe a
particular part of the face or head. Cover the right-hand column and see if you can
tell which part in each case.
1
2
3
4
5
6
26

high, lined
rosy, hollow
double, pointed
false, long
bushy, pencil-thin
snub, hook (or Roman)

forehead
cheeks
chin
eyelashes
eyebrows
nose

From the neck up

7 cauliflower, pierced
8 piercing, hazel
9 square, upper
10 thick, cherry
11 wide, mean

ears
eyes
jaw
lips
mouth

And here you can see most of these features in these two pictures.

Demonstrate the actions listed below and explain when you would use them.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

smack your lips
raise your eyebrows
prick up your ears
mouth something
flutter your eyelashes
purse your lips
blow your nose
puff out your cheeks
turn your nose up

Keep the right-hand column covered. On the left are some definitions of facial
features. Write or say what they are.Then find the appropriate word on the right.
1 openings in the nose
2 the soft lower parts of the ears
3 flat parts on the side of the face above the cheek-bones
4 hair that grows on the chin and jaw
5 the bony case that protects the brain
6 the tissue our teeth are in
7 the passage from the mouth towards the stomach
8 the semi-poetic name for the forehead
9 the colour and state of the skin on the face
10 hair that grows above the upper lip
11 the movable skin which opens and closes the eyes
12 the organ used for tasting, swallowing and speech

the tongue
eyelids
a moustache
the complexion
nostrils
the brow
a beard
gums
lobes
temples
the throat
the skull

Study the words and the picture. Then cover the words and test your memory while
looking at the picture.
1 lines, wrinkles
2 a wart
3 bags under the eyes
4 a beauty spot
5 freckles
6 a mole (a birthmark)
7 a(cold) sore
8 a stye
9 spots, pimples
10 dimples
11 aboil
12 a scar
27

From the neck up

When do you get problems with your head, neck and face? Match the accidents 1-13
below with their causes in the right-hand column.
You can still have all sorts of problems even when you are enjoying yourself.
1
2
3
4
5
6

a stiff neck
a sore throat
bloodshot eyes
eyestrain
a headache or migraine
toothache, sore gums or

7 an ulcer in the mouth
8 a runny nose or
9 a blocked-up nose
10 a black eye, swollen lips and
11 a nosebleed
12 feeling giddy or dizzy
13 concussion

from swimming underwater a lot
from diving headfirst into an empty pool
from eating too many sweets
after that early morning swim
from watching the Wimbledon doubles final
after refusing to leave the night-club
from trying to read in the dark
from staying too long in the disco
from shouting too much at the football match
from dancing too many Viennese waltzes

I had a pretty bad week myself last week. (These columns are in the right order.)
On Monday, I singed my eyebrows
On Tuesday, I grazed my chin and scratched
my cheek

while trying to light the gas-cooker.

on a revolving door,
when I walked into a door,
On Thursday, I chipped one of my front teeth
when I fell on the ice.
On Friday, I knocked the other front tooth out when I fell on the ice again,
with my shaving water,
On Sunday, I scalded my face
eating one of my wife's rock-cakes,
split my lip open
because of something I'd eaten
came out in a rash
for some reason or other.
and had earache
On Wednesday, I banged my head

Find and cut out photos of people from newspapers and magazines. Label the facial
features which stand out.
Describe the face that comes to mind when you imagine a typical:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

headmaster / headmistress
boxer
second-hand car salesman
air-force officer
English king
Chinese girl
pop drummer.

Write a short police 'Wanted' notice regarding one of the 'criminals' in your class or
family. Draw an accompanying picture if you can.
Add any other expressions about these parts of the body as you meet them.

28

From shoulder to
fingertips
Game

Cover the right-hand column. Which parts of the picture above - or things associated
with a particular part of the picture - would these people be most concerned with?
1 a fortune teller
2 a bridegroom
3 a driver who notices a student hitching a lift
4 a karate expert
5 a boxer
6 a detective searching for clues
7 a policeman carrying handcuffs
8 a manicurist
9 a soldier on rifle parade
10 passengers on a crowded tube train
11 someone keen to see if you're ticklish
12 a mother whose son has been in a fight
13 a Mr Universe judge
14 someone trying to see what you're pointing at
15 a pianist playing top notes

the client's palm
his bride's ring finger
the student's thumb
his opponent's forearm
his opponent's fists
some fingerprints
the suspect's wrists
the client's fingernails
his shoulder
other people's elbows
your armpit
his knuckles
the contestants' biceps
your index finger
(forefinger)
the little finger
on the right hand

Practice
1 Many parts of the body are verbs as well as nouns. Demonstrate or write a
description of these actions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

thumb through a book
thumb a lift
hand someone a pen
palm someone off with something second-rate
elbow your way through the crowd
shoulder responsibility
finger a document
29

From shoulder to fingertips

Act or write an interview in the doctor's surgery. The patient describes the pains he
or she keeps getting in his/her arm. The doctor does some tests, tries to decide what's
wrong and suggests what should be done.
Add any other expressions about these parts of the body as you meet them.

30

From the bottom
down
Reading
Read the excerpts from little Johnny's composition below. Make sure you know which
sections of the diagram he is referring to.
13.1.90

My Christmas Holiday

As a special treat, my Mummy and Daddy took me on a
winter sports holiday this year. We all went to the Swiss Alps
for a fortnight. I enjoyed the first few days, but skiing was
more difficult than I thought. On the third day, I twisted my
knee, bruised my shin, sprained my ankle, damaged a
tendon in the back of my foot - my Achilles tendon, I think
it's called - got cramp in my calf, squashed my big toe, got
corns on my heels and hard patches of skin on the soles of
my feet, pulled a muscle in my thigh, and rubbed all the skin
off my instep. On the fourth day, I was unfortunate ... as we
were getting on the bus to the airport, I tore a hamstring.
(My broken leg and fractured pelvis happened after I got
home.)

Practice
Make sure you understand the idiom in each of these questions, then think of a
possible answer. Write it down or compare your ideas with a partner.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Why was the teacher rocked back on his heels?
How did you put your foot in it with your neighbour?
Why was the teacher on her knees after the lesson?
In what ways do students have to toe the line?
Why haven't you got a leg to stand on concerning your homework?
Why have you got to be on your toes in that teacher's lesson?
How did your parents cramp your style at the disco?
When should parents make children stand on their own two feet?

Discuss or write the answers to these two questions.
1 What exercises do you know of that are designed to keep the different parts of the
leg in good shape? Explain how to do them.
2 What problems do people have with the different parts of their legs, through
accidents, age or lifestyle? What can they do about them?
Add any other expressions about these parts of the body as you meet them.

31

Inside and outside
the torso
Reading
Look carefully at the two pictures below and the list of words under each of them.
Then test yourself on the names of things by covering the lists of words and trying to
identify each number and letter in the pictures.

Note the following.
1 Her bust is 38", his chest is 40".
2 She's got a 24" waist. His waist is 32".
3 She measures 40" round the hips. His inside leg measurement is 32".
4 I've got a stomach-ache,
5 a bad back,
6 and a pain in my abdomen.
7 Hasn't he got a fat belly?*
8 Were you breast-fed as a baby?
9 Let the baby sit on my lap.
10 My bottom aches from sitting down all day.
11 The belly-dancer had a bare stomach except for the pearl in her navel (tummy
button).
32

Inside and outside the toiso

Practice

[Ij What's where inside us? Study the words below, then test yourself with the help of
the picture.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

collar bone
spine or backbone
a vertebra (vertebrae)
heart
arteries
liver
intestines

8
9
10
11
12
13
14

ribs
pelvis
appendix
lungs
veins
kidneys
bladder

Now describe where each organ or bone in Exercise 1 is found in the body.
Write a simple description of the function of each of the items in Exercise 1.
Add any other words or phrases about these parts of the body you meet here. (If you
are still curious, you can consult a bi-lingual dictionary for further organs.)

33

Compound adjectives
Study and practice
There a lot of compound adjectives in English. Here are some common ones which
are formed from parts of the body. For example, heart gives us warm-hearted,
kind-hearted, hard-hearted etc.
Look at the list of similar compound adjectives below and guess what they mean.
Then read sentences 1 - 10. Complete each sentence with the appropriate
adjective(s).
left-handed
big-headed
sour-faced
light-fingered
dark-skinned

double-breasted
pot-bellied
cross-eyed
strong-willed
fair-haired

narrow-waisted
red-faced
knock-kneed
bow-legged
broad-minded

cold-blooded
round-shouldered
slim-hipped
empty-handed
right-footed

1 My boss is terribly ... , walking around as if he were holding his salary cheque
between his knees. His wife's quite the opposite: ... , as if she had just got off a
horse.
2 I used to wear ... suits until I decided that one button was far more suitable for ...
people such as myself.
3 My sister is so ... and ... she reminds me of one of those long thin wine bottles.
4 He's Scandinavian, so he's ... and ... , and looks far better in jeans than I do.
5 It looked as if United were going to return home ... until Bradfield scored with an
incredibly powerful... shot from outside the penalty area.
6 Off we go on holiday with visions of returning ... and beautiful, forgetting that we
always come back ... and with peeling backs.
7 Hoskins, if you go on staring at that magazine any longer, you'll go .... Now either
be ..., dear boy, and put it away or give it to me until the end of the lesson.
8 My boss is so ..., always looking as if he knew tomorrow was going to be the end of
the world. And his wife is so ... ; I have to keep a careful eye on my things when
they come round to the house, or they just disappear.
9 Most... tennis players seem to win more easily against right-handers. Talking of
tennis players, aren't those professionals a ... bunch, shouting all the time about
how great they are?
10 A lot of liberal,... people find it difficult to accept that there is such a thing as ...
murder.

Practice
1 Complete each sentence with the appropriate word from the list below. Note that
they are all adjectives made from parts of the body, and that bloody is a frequently
used and not very rude swear word.
hairy
nosey
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
34

cheeky
hearty

bloody
skinny

leggy
heady

handy
chesty

... congratulations on your success!
I could watch those ... women high jumpers for hours.
That sounds like a rather ... cough you've got.
The shops are quite ... — only two minutes' walk.
No, you can't borrow my girlfriend for the evening! Don't be so ...!
It's nothing to do with you what we're doing tonight! Don't be so ...!
She's so ... that when she turns sideways, she's almost invisible!

Compound adjectives

8 Did you know he's got a ... chest? Like a doormat, it is!
9 I reckon you'd have to be a ... fool to want to learn this ... stupid language!
10 I feel quite ... after getting all those right. Or perhaps it's the champagne.
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 Which elements of your body - from split ends to toenails - do you wish were
different in some way?
2 What are the necessary physical attributes of the following types of athlete?
Use the phrases: You have to be I have ...; You need ...; You can't... without ... .
1 a swimmer
2 a skier
3 a tennis player
4 a footballer
5 a sprinter
3 How important do you think physical appearance is for a happy or successful
life?
Write a paragraph on one of the following topics.
1 A description in your diary of how your body felt when you suffered from and slowly
recovered from frost-bite or bad sunburn.
2 Continue this paragraph: 'Suddenly the door opened and the strangest-looking man
I have ever seen seen came into the room. ...'
3 A description from your short story of the people in the waiting room of a marriage
guidance bureau.
Add any other adjectival expressions about the body as you meet them.

35

The senses
Dialogue
Read the conversations below. Note these patterns used to talk about the five basic
senses.

A Look at that!
В I can't see anything.
A It looks like a boat.
В Where?
A Over there! It's clearly visible.
It's just come in sight
It's just come into view.
В You must have good eyesight.
You must have sharp eyes.

A Listen to that!
В I can't hear anything.
A It sounds like a cry for help.
В Where's it coming from?
A Over there! It's clearly audible.
It's a very clear sound.
В Your hearing must be good.
You must have good ears.

A Smell this!
В I can't smell anything.
A It smells like stale fish.
В Does it?
A Yes, it's quite a strong smell.
You must have a very sensitive nose.
You must have a keen sense of smell.
A Taste this!
В I can't taste anything wrong.
A It tastes like vinegar.
В Really?
A Yes, it's got quite a strong
(after-)taste.
В You must have a very sensitive
palate.
Your sense of taste must be very good.

A Touch (Feel) this!
В I can't feel anything.
A It feels as if it's vibrating.
В Where?
A Here. It's quite a strong
sensation.
It's a very funny feeling.
В You must have very sensitive
fingers.
You must have a special sense
of touch.

Remember: taste can also relate to artistic and social life.
Is your bedroom tastefully decorated?
Don't you think that joke you told at the party was in rather poor (bad) taste?
The vicar certainly thought it was tasteless.
Note too:
That darts player has a good eye.
That musician has a good ear.
And also:
It's out of sight, out of earshot, and out of reach.
36

The senses

There are more than five senses, aren't there? Have a look at this short conversation.
A Something tells me you could do with another drink.
В You must be psychic. Thanks.
A I can sense that you probably love tea. Is that so?
В Great. You must have extra-sensory perception.
A And I feel it in my bones that it's China tea. Am I right?
В Fantastic. We must be telepathic.
A My intuition says it's green tea.
В What an instinct you have!
A small cup, is it?
A No, a large one, please.

Practice
Often our five senses don't work as well as they might.
Cover the right column, and then the left, and try to recall the equivalent expression
from the other column.
to be short-sighted / long-sighted to be hard of hearing
to go blind
to go deaf
to wear glasses / contact lenses
to wear a hearing aid
to be as blind as a bat
to be deaf as a post
to read Braille
to lip-read
to use sign language
to be colour blind
to be tone-deaf (of music)
to visit an oculist
to go to an ear specialist
Look at the list of words formed from the word sense. Complete the sentences with an
appropriate word from the list or the word sense, which you will use three times.
sensible
senseless
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

sensitive

sensation

sensational

sensual

sensuous

What should you say? You'll just have to use your common ... .
The news of the scandal caused a ....
I've always found the buzzing of bees has a very ... attraction.
I think the ... thing to do would be to stop now and get a good night's sleep.
In one ... I think you're right, but not completely.
Kleindorf's defeat of Real Madrid in the European Cup was ....
It's ... trying to argue with him; he never listens to a word anybody says.
She's very ... on the subject of divorce, so be careful what you say.
I felt a ... of 'deja vu' when I was turned down for the job the second time.
The cashier at the bank has incredibly ... hands.

A hundred British people were asked to complete the phrase a sense of. These were
the most popular choices. Do they tell you anything about the British?
Complete each sentence 1-9 with an appropriate phrase.
a sense of humour
a sense of fairness
a sense of discipline

a sense of duty
a sense of adventure
a sense of fun

a sense of power
a sense of timing
a sense of balance

1 Having a little red button not far from his desk must give a President an enormous
2 Without a ... you'll never be able to hit the ball correctly.

37

The senses

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Some people say that a ... is the only thing that makes difficult situations bearable.
He went ahead and arrested his uncle through a ....
One of the major tasks of parents should be to give their children a ....
His inborn ... led him to the slopes of the Himalayas.
At high altitudes one is apt to lose one's ... .
His ... is so strong, he protests to umpires on behalf of his opponent.
Personally, I don't call putting dead fish in friends' beds a sign of a healthy....

Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 What ten things would you miss most if you were blind or deaf? In other words,
what are your favourite sights and sounds?
2 What evidence have you heard of people who are deprived of one sense having
unusually well-developed other senses?
3 Do you believe in a sixth sense? Have you heard of any cases of ESP (extra-sensory
perception)?
4 Goethe said that a meal should please the eye before it pleases the stomach. How
important do you think this is?
Write a paragraph on one or all of the following subjects.
1 Your sensations (visual, aural and personal) while watching a forest fire. This will
be part of your short story.
2 A page from your diary, recording your feelings and sensations as you looked at a
room the morning after a party.
3 Part of a letter to a friend telling him or her about a lovely long walk you had one
spring morning.
Add any other words about the senses as you meet them.

38

Character and
personality
Game
Are we the kind of people we are because of the time of the year we were born? See if
you can complete the adjectives below at home over the next day or so. Each one has
a clue beside it to help you and a dot for each letter that you need to add.
ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20)
You won't find him in the corner at the party.
That's her doing the can-can on the table.
She has no problems.
He never frowns.
She tells no lies.
He has few secrets.
He'll tell you if he doesn't like your make-up.
She'll tell you if she doesn't like your after-shave.
He's the person to ask for that five pounds you are owed.

o.tg.i.g
ex...v.rt
c.. ef.ee
l...t-h.a.t.d
t.u.hf..
o..n
c.n.id
f...k
e..y-g...g

TAURUS (Apr 21 - May 20)
He knows what he wants and he usually gets it.
She never gives up without a
fight.
He knows he's good.
She knows she's as good.
She likes to be the boss, the one on top.
He wants to be even bigger, even better — the best
and expects high standards of performance from others.
He works 18 hours a day, jogs,and plays squash.
She hates to lose, in business or at tiddlywinks.

s.r.n.-wi..ed
d.t.r.i.ed
s.l.-as.u..d
s.l.-co..i..nt
d.m.n.nt
am..t.o.s
d.m.n.i.g
e.e.ge..c
c.mp...t..e

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20)
She thinks she's good.
He thinks he's superior to everyone.
'As the most experienced and sensible person
present, I...'
'Of course, I could have beaten him even more
easily, but I wanted to give him a chance.'
She won't share her presents with her sister.
He spends half the day in front of the mirror.
She thinks the whole world revolves around her.
He thinks he's the centre of the universe.
She looks down on anyone who hasn't got a
heated indoor swimming pool at home.
CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
She seems to enjoy finding fault with others.
He'll take off marks if you don't dot your i's.
She can only ever see one side of things.
He always likes the fat taken off his bacon.
He's like a donkey.
She's like a mule.
He loves money, loves having 'things'.

p.o.d
a.r.g..t
p.mp..s
b..stf.l
s..f..h
v..n
s..f-c.n.r.d
e.oc..t..c
s.o.b.Ji
c.it...l
P-t.y
na...w-m.n..d
f.s.y
s.u.b.r.
o.s.in.t.
m.t.r.a.i.t.c
39

Character and personality

40

Oh yes, he'll help you - if you make it worth his while.
She never lets her husband out of her sight.

m.r.en.ry
p.ss.ss..e

LEO(Jul21-Aug21)
You never know what he's going to do.
He never knows what he's going to do.
There are two things I don't like about her - her face!
Be careful what he's saying about you behind your back.
Be careful what she's doing while your back is turned.
He behaves like the weather in April.
She behaves like the proverbial primadonna.
He says what I want to hear, not what he thinks.
He never does all the things he says he'll do.

u.p.ed.ct.Je
i.d.c.s.ve
t.o-f...d
h.po.r.t.c.l
d.sh.n..t
cha.g.a.le
t.mp.r.m..t.l
i.s.nc.r.
u.r.l.a.l.

VIRGO (Aug 22 - Sep 22)
Other people's points of view always impress him.
She'd believe you if you told her pizzas grew on trees.
She lacks will-power.
He lacks courage.
He doesn't do much — he just sits back and watches.
She'll do what she's told.
You never know what he's thinking.
'It was an honour just to be on the same court as McEnroe.
How I beat him 6-0, 6-0, 6-0? It was just luck.'

i.p.e.s.on.Je
g.lLble
w..k-w....d
c.w..d.y
p.s..v.
ob.d...t
s.cr.t..e
h.mb.e
m.d..t

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22)
He uses his common sense.
She never does silly things under pressure.
She's like the Libran symbol of the scales.
She'd solve all the problems on a desert island,
and nothing would upset her.
He'd be a good judge or referee.
She's got both feet on the ground and is really down-to-earth.
His heart rarely rules his head.
I think, therefore I am. That's my approach.

s.n.i.le
l.v.l-h..d.d
w..l-b.l.n.ed
p.ac..c.l
c..m
f..r-m..d.d
r.aL.t.c
r.t..n.l
l.g.c.l

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 22)
Keep out of her way when she loses her temper.
He's always the first one to put his fists up,
and he's quick to use them - to the full.
He may even add a boot or two for good measure.
She won't let anything stand in her way.
He has no principles about hurting other people.
He almost seems to enjoy causing trouble.
She's a strong believer in an eye for an eye,
and a tooth - or, in her case, teeth - for a tooth.

a.gr..s.v.
v. J.nt
b.u.al
v.c.o.s
r..hl..s
u.sc.u.u.ous
m.l.c.ous
sp.t...l
v.n.i.t.ve

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 20)
Those with some Latin blood in their veins.
They are fiery and emotional.
She's not afraid to go mountain climbing,
or to join a mountain rescue team.
He wants to go to wild and unexplored places.
They're vivacious, like champagne bubbles.
She puts her heart and soul into her profession.
On the sinking ship, the dog never left its master's side.
These friends do not desert you in a crisis.

p.s.i.n.t.
h..- bl..d.d
b.a.e
c.ur.g...s
a.v.nt.r..s
l.v.l.
d.d.c.t.d .
d.v.t.d
l.y.l

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19)
He'd always stop to help a disabled person across the road.
That's her on the beach wiping oil off the sea-birds' feathers.

c.ns.d....e
t.nd..

Character and personality

She wouldn't hurt a fly.
He leaves £10 tips.
He wouldn't mind if she dyed her hair green.
She lets him sleep when he gets back from a hard day's work.
He defends her in any argument.
She kisses him on the cheek every minute or so.
She always sends a card on her parents' anniversary.

g.nt..
g.n.r..s
t.l.r..t
u.d.rst.n.i.g
p.o.ect.ve
a.f.c.i.n.te
th..g.tf.l

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
If she likes you, she'll fling her arms around you and say so.
He jumps into the bath without testing the water.
Lose your way with her in the car? You'd better not!
He's constantly like a child on Christmas Eve.
He's a typical 'angry young man'.
She's Trotsky, Castro and Guevara all rolled into one.
He's got a memory like a sieve.
He thought a double brandy would help the baby sleep.
If she gets an idea in her head, there's no stopping her.

i.p.l.i.e
i.p.t.ous
i.p.t.e.t
ex.i.abl.
r.b.l.i.us
r...lut.o..ry
fc.g.tf..
i.res...s.ble
u.c.n.r.l.a.l.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
There she is, over there, on her own in the corner.
He's afraid that the whole world is looking at him.
She peeps round her front door like a mouse.
He's always the last to introduce himself.
Be careful not to upset her. It's easily done.
He can see beauty in a pile of rubbish.
He can then turn the pile of rubbish into a work of art.
I was moved to tears by the beauty of his sculpture.
He doesn't know who he is, where he is, what to do or why.

s.y
s.l.-c..s..ous
t.m.d
r.s..ved
s.n.i..ve
i..gin....e
c.e.t.v.
em.t.... 1
u.sta.le

Practice
Ladies and gentlemen, which of these traits of character do you most dislike in a
partner? Place them in order.
vanity
hypocrisy
pomposity
stubbornness
obstinacy
selfishness
dishonesty
pettiness
arrogance
snobbishness
timidity
possessiveness
shyness
meanness
rashness
aggressiveness
Ladies and gentlemen, which of these qualities is most important for you in a
partner? Place them in order of importance.
compassion vivacity
tolerance
patience
sincerity
imagination
modesty
sensitivity

frankness
generosity
passion
courage

self-assurance
ambition
humility
creativity

Discuss or write down the personal characteristics (good and bad) that you would
expect to find in these people.
1
2
3
4
5

a nurse
the chairman of a multinational company
an actor
a politician
a teacher

41

Character and personality

Discuss or write answers to these questions.
1 How would you say your national character is different from that of people in the
immediately neighbouring countries?
2 How do you think your character has changed or developed over the years? Are
there any aspects of your personality you still don't like?
3 Write a sentence to describe the character of each of your fellow students or family.
Then read the sentences to them. See if they can identify each person.
4 Choose two of the star-signs and write a paragraph for each, as if for a magazine,
analysing personality. Use the adjectives in those sections to give you some ideas.
5 'The weaker sex? The fairer sex? Not any more!' Write an article of 250 - 300 words
contrasting the image of women today with that of a few hundred years ago.
Add any other expressions about personality and character as you meet them.

42

Attitudes and beliefs
Reading
Read the text that follows in stages - it's rather long - and note the language it offers
you in the area of opinions, beliefs and attitudes.
Fifties people wore pointed shoes. Sixties people wore flowers in their hair. Seventies
people dyed their hair pink. So what about the Eighties? Is this a fair picture of an
Eighties couple or not? If not, why not?
A 1980s Couple
They are passionate believers in vegetarianism and regard people who eat meat
as worse than criminals. (In their view, egg-eaters are really no better, as eggs are
baby chickens.)
I suspect, though, that part of them is sometimes dying for a nice
big juicy steak.
They are suspicious of all frozen food, despise any product that contains additives,
wholly disapprove of white bread, and reckon that consumers of 'poisonous' white
sugar will nearly all die young.
I hope they're wrong.
They view things like whaling and seal-hunting with disgust, and find vivisection
extremely distasteful. They are fierce opponents of fox-hunting and are also
opposed to women accepting presents of fur-coats.
I dread to think what their views would be on those cosmetic
firms which try out their products on poor, defenceless little rabbits.
For them, zoos are degrading; they refuse to accept that they serve any useful
purpose whatsoever. On the other hand, they welcome the growth of wild-life parks
and reserves.
I can't make up my mind where I stand on this. They know their
own minds, as usual.
They feel strongly that most doctors are little better than drug-pushers, and are
convinced that acupuncture is the medicine of the future.
I suppose they might have a point there.
They recommend natural childbirth for all mothers-to-be and reject the need for
such things as induction, drips and painkillers, except in special circumstances.
I expect one or two of you mothers would disagree.
They are in favour of abortion being freely available, and I guess you don't need me
to tell you their feelings on women's equality. They are against corporal
punishment of any kind - I would imagine their attitude towards capital
punishment is fairly predictable - and is pro voluntary euthanasia.
They take a keen interest in the fortunes of the Third World, and doubt whether
any of the Western powers really care.
They are supporters of conservation in its broadest sense, back all tree-planting
projects, and strongly approve of recycling waste paper and other rubbish.
I presume most people would share that particular viewpoint.
They would like to see solar energy taken more seriously and are fiercely
anti-nuclear power.
My own feeling is that solar energy in Britain is rather a
contradiction in terms.
They are under the impression that all politicians are either gangsters or fools.
I must admit, I'm afraid I'm tempted to agree.
They advocate prisons without bars and are of the opinion that 99% of serious
criminals are in need of psychiatric help.
To my mind, pleas of insanity have become suspiciously common.
43

Attitudes and beliefs

They are prepared to accept that UFOs probably do exist, and they have no time
for people who dismiss reincarnation out of hand.
It all seems a bit improbable to me.
They adore punk clothes, but can't stand the people. They rate Lennon above
McCartney and are great fans of Stevie Wonder.
I've never understood their taste in clothes or trusted their
judgement when it comes to music.
As far as they are concerned, tobacco is an unspeakable evil, but they support
the movement for the legalisation of soft drugs. They are also for restrictions
regarding the sale of alcohol.
Me? I don't mind much about the drugs thing, but I'm quite fond
of my old pipe and rather keen on my brandy after dinner.
They consider that marriage should be a loose arrangement that ensures security
for children, but maintain — insist even - that one balanced parent is preferable
to two who are always at each other's throats.
They're the sort of people who believe in the freedom of all people at all times, and
think anyone with a different point of view must be crazy.
I wouldn't have thought that was a very liberal approach, but
never mind. If you ask me, nobody's totally open-minded.
Oh yes, and they jog.
OK, so you may see eye to eye with them on some of those issues,
but you should try being related to one of them, that's all!

Practice
Here are some names we give to people who have quite definite attitudes, views of
behaviour:
a
b
с
d
e
f
g

sadist
agnostic
racist
patriot
cynic
idealist
fatalist

h
і
j
k
1
m
n

romantic
optimist
nationalist
activist
atheist
pessimist
masochist

о
p
q
r
s
t
u

anarchist
perfectionist
disciplinarian
philanthropist
fanatic
realist
nonconformist

Now, who might say which of the following statements?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

44

I don't believe in God.
I don't think I believe in God.
I don't believe that anyone really believes in anything.
Love makes the world go round.
Face facts: love doesn't make the world go round — the sun does.
Any player not on time for training will be fined £10 for every minute he's late.
Me, emigrate? You must be joking. It would break my heart.
I'm not a bad sort of person. I just happen to believe that my country is superior to
and more important than any other.
I'll concede that 99.9% is a good examination result. I just want to know why you
failed to get 100%.
Honestly, I've nothing against foreigners, as long as they don't come and live
next door to me or try and marry my daughter.
What will be will be.
I don't know why you bother to talk about the next World Cup. There will probably
have been a nuclear war by then.
It's no good just sitting and talking about social injustice. The time has come to do
something about it.
We shall achieve our aims by any means available; if that includes bloodshed and
suffering for innocent people, that's the way it'll have to be.

Attitudes and beliefs

15 I ran fifty kilometres in the midday sun today. Every kilometre hurt more than the
last, so I feel really good about it. It must have done me good.
16 You might not enjoy this, but I'm certainly going to enjoy watching you suffer.
17 What did those politicians, lawyers and priests ever do for me? We should all
follow our own ideas on government, law and the church.
18 Just because you're losing 0-6, 0-6, 0-5 and 0-40 doesn't mean you're necessarily
going to lose.
19 I don't care what they say — palace or not, royalty or not, hundredth anniversary
or not, I am not going to wear a tie.
20 It's the moral duty of all of us to do what we can to reduce the amount of human
suffering in the world. At least, that's the way I look at things.
21 I am convinced that we are capable of creating paradise here on earth.
Discuss or write answers to the following questions.
1 What is your attitude to the issues mentioned in 'A 1980s Couple?
2 What is your opinion on a controversial issue in the news at the moment?
Act or write out short arguments between the pairs of people below, who are
attacking each other's standpoints and attitudes. Start: The trouble with people like
you is... .
1
2
3
4

a vegetarian and a cattle farmer
a doctor and a teacher
a 'green' supporter and the director of a firm producing chemicals
a fourteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old

Write part of your speech as a politician, in which you outline your views on defence
spending, taxation, law and order and foreign policy.
Write in dialogue form the middle of an interview between a headmaster and a
candidate for a job as a teacher. The questions are getting difficult. Start: So, Mr
Brown, what is your attitude towards pupil power in schools? And how do you view
the recent trend towards ... ?
Add here any other expressions about attitudes and beliefs as you meet them.

45

Thinking, wanting
and knowing
Reading
In this excerpt from a Scandinavian film script, note the variations we have on the
work think.
Read the script silently or act it out in threes, taking the parts of Haro, Leni and the
director.
Scene 246 from 'Brakbordsma' (Breakfast) by Ingmar Pintman.
Leni stares into her coffee cup, contemplating her life in the bottom of it.
Leni: Can you picture us in ...?
She breaks off. Haro looks up from his paper; their eyes meet briefly.
Leni: Do you envisage us doing this for the rest of...?
Long pause. Haro is lost in thought, in a world of his own. He gazes out of the
window, reflecting on the chances they have missed.
Leni: I can't imagine anything any more that will break the routine of...
The camera passes over Haro's meditating face.
Leni: It's become impossible to visualise a time or place in which we won't...
Pause. Suddenly she collects her thoughts, pulls herself together.
Leni: How's breakfast?
Haro is not concentrating, pre-occupied with the falling snowflakes.
Haro: Cold. (Pause) Cold bacon.
Leni is dreaming of her childhood.
Leni: I wasn't aware you liked it hot.
Haro continues to speculate on what might have been.
Haro: I don't.
Long pause. They both have a lot on their mind.
Haro: If you weigh up both sides, balance the pros and cons, consider it from
each angle, bear in mind every little detail, you begin to realize that the
importance of hot bacon can be greatly exaggerated in one's mind.
Leni is inventing an excuse for not going with him this evening, making up a
story on which to improvise later.
Leni: I was day-dreaming.
Pause. She has a sudden brainwave.
Leni: Suppose ... just suppose that there was another opportunity, another chance
to...
Haro: I've been toying with the idea of cutting out the bacon ... at breakfast.
Pause.
Leni: This evening ... you know, this evening, I'm sorry, but I'm ...
Haro: I'm seriously thinking of doing without it.
The word is going over and over in Leni's brain until she whispers it, almost
inaudibly.
Leni: That's just make-believe.
Haro pretends not to have heard.
Haro: I've come to a decision. (Pause) This conclusion I've reached ... it's that...
His mind begins to wander. She is trying to guess what is going on in his head.
Haro: I've discovered certain things about myself in the last few weeks, you see ...
and I've decided...
He is suddenly miles away, his mind is a blank.(Pause) He tries again.
Haro: Yes, I've resolved ...
46

Thinking, wanting and knowing

Leni thinks she understands; her mind is racing.

Haro: Made up my mind, you know ... I'm going to try sausages.
Leni: Why don't you sleep on it, think it over?

Haro:

I never change my mind after breakfast. (Pause) On second thoughts,...

A flash of inspiration from Leni:

Leni: It strikes me that... they've been very foolish. Has it occurred to you that
they might... reconsider?
She is confused.
Haro: What do you mean?
The camera tracks to the window and the falling snow.
Leni: Nothing.

Jigsaw Reading
Here are some comments made by two people at various times in their working life when they were 16, 26, 36, 46 and 56. Unfortunately, they have become mixed up.
Read them and try to decide at which age each was spoken. Notice how many
feelings, desires, hopes and fears are expressed. Which paragraph do you identify
with most? Which person do you envy less, feel more sorry for?
My twelfth job in ten years; it
was the last thing I wanted.
All I've ever asked for is a bit

of security. I'm determined to
keep this job with Button and
Co. longer than the others, so
I'm keen to make a good
impression.

I'd love to do something like
teaching for a while, as a change
from book-keeping. Teaching English
to foreign students appeals to me;
I really like the sound of it.
For two pins, I'd leave James,
James and James and try a summer
course at the Sunshine School of
English just down the road. To be
quite honest, I just don't feel
like going into the office today or ever again. I'm in the mood for
something completely different.

I'm between jobs again at the
moment. I've forced myself to
stop worrying about it. I'll be
glad if I can keep finding work
until I'm old enough to stop. I
could do with three or four more
long term temporary contracts.
Of course, I wouldn't say no to a
permanent one, but.... Quite
frankly, I wouldn't mind
going abroad, but I should think
foreign employers would be a bit
reluctant to take on someone my
age.

I'm undecided as to whether to
go on to university or leave school
now. I feel quite tempted to start
work in the real world, but on the
other hand I'd quite like three
years doing nothing very much and
give myself time to make a choice
of career. To tell the truth, I
don't really fancy getting tied
down to one profession just yet.

I'd rather not think about how
many jobs I've had. I used to
dream of making my way up to the
top of some firm or other - a firm
of accountants, perhaps. Instead,
I've settled for odd jobs here and
there, aimed for posts they didn't
even consider me for, compromised
left, right and centre and made do
with what came my way. At times I
would have given my right arm for

I suppose I'm resigned to being an
accountant with J, J and J until
I'm 65.1 know it's too late to
have regrets, but I do wish I
had tried harder to make the break.
I had every intention of doing so.
There seemed to be so many options
open once, so many alternatives to
pick from, so many possibilities
from which to choose. I recall how
I flirted with journalism, how I
47

Thinking, wanting and knowing

a comfortable job, regular salary,
some sort of prospects. And each
time I accepted second or third
best. I do so yearn for a second
chance. Silly, isn't it?

was once quite committed to
becoming a social worker, how I
turned my back on a teaching
career. I hate to admit it, but I
fear it's true. I'm longing for my
retirement.

I've just had my notice from
Smith Bros. Ltd. I'm dreading
having to look round for work
again. I've given up being
choosy. I'd be more than happy
just to have any sort of job
now. I'm desperate to find
anything that's reasonable. I
really have no strong preference
any more.

Well, I've made a resolution to
leave the old firm within the next
eighteen months. I'm really looking
forward to a change. I couldn't
face going on in accountancy until
I retire. I feel inclined to try
publishing; I've got my eye on a
company just down the road. I have
half a mind to write to them today.

I can't wait to leave school.
I'm dying to start work. I mean
to find a nice steady job in a
well-established firm, and
intend to work my way up from
the bottom. I'm anxious to
learn about all sides of the
business, because I hope to be
on the management side by the
time I'm 40.

I didn't really plan to get into
accountancy. I'm not sure I ever
really wanted to work in the world
of business, but there it is, here
I am. I suppose I was just drawn
to it somehow, attracted to it like
a magnet. I'm going to give it a
few more years and then change. I
rather like the idea of being a
journalist; there is a newspaper
office just down the road.

Practice
Rewrite the sentence given in each item four times, using each of the four words
below it. For example:
I wouldn't like to be a millionaire.
fancy / hate / pleasure / last
I wouldn't fancy being a millionaire.
I would hate to be a millionaire.
Being a millionaire would give me no pleasure at all.
A millionaire is the last thing I would want to be.
1 I want to see him again very much,
forward / dying / wait / longing
2 I didn't intend to spend so long there,
planned / mean / planning / intention
3 I would like a holiday,
could / feel / mind / say no
4 I want to go to London on Saturday, not Sunday,
rather / prefer / preferable / preference
5 I don't really want to move away from the coast,
keen / reluctant / fancy / idea
Discuss or write the answer to this question.
How have your ideas, plans, feelings on the following subjects changed in the past
five or ten years?
1 marriage
2 career
48

3 bringing up children (present or future)
4 money

Thinking, wanting and knowing

Act or write conversations in which each of the people below is interviewed about
their attitude to their work.
1
2
3
4
5

a young reporter recently taken on by a national newspaper
a worker on an assembly line
a pilot who has recently retired
a 45-year-old actor or actress who is past his or her best
an English teacher who's been teaching beginners for twenty-five years

Act or write out a conversation in which you discuss your holiday plans for next
summer with two friends. See if you can agree on a holiday together, although you
have very different ideas about what you would really like to do.
Write a goodbye note left by a runaway teenager for his parents.
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation which took place eighty years ago between a
young man and his future father-in-law. The young man is trying to prove he will be
a worthy husband for the other's daughter.
Add here any other words or expressions about thinking, wanting and knowing you
may meet.

49

Moods
Reading
Here are some of the most common adjectives we use to describe the way we feel.
Each one has a clue with it, to help you understand the mood, and to allow you to
test yourself later. Some of the clues contain useful phrases about the weather.
Have you ever had a year like this? Read on.
JAN
1
7
10
16
23
31

Another year gone, never to return.
I suppose none of us is getting any younger.
To think nearly half the world is white with snow today.
The snow never seems as white as it used to be.
Oh, for the spring!
Love Story on TV again tonight - super!

FEB
3
Another grey, cloudy day.
7
Yet another day of drizzle and fog.
12
Heavy storms and a few sunny periods.
13
Everyone got a rise in salary except me!
21
Why, oh why can't I seem to do things right?
27
Another series of repeats on telly - oh no!

50

melancholic
pensive
thoughtful
nostalgic
full of longing
sentimental
bored
miserable
moody
resentful
frustrated

fed up

MAR
4
9
14
17

Showers and rainbows.
Umbrella or parasol?
Who am I? What am I?
Can I? Could I? Dare I?

24
30

Oh, sit still, will you!
I think the rain's going to ease off.

confused
uncertain
introspective
unsure of
oneself
restless
hopeful

APR
2
5
8
9
16
25

Sleet and biting winds.
Frosty mornings and icy roads.
You won't have any fingernails left.
OK, OK, don't bite my head off!
I heard a cuckoo. Did you hear it?
The sun's coming out.

edgy
touchy
nervous
irritable
alert
cheerful

MAY
1
6
11
19
22
26

I think it's going to clear up.
I've booked the holiday, so you can't say no.
Just six more weeks and we'll be there.
How about a ten-mile walk tomorrow?
Oh, I loved it! Adored it! Fantastic!
You mean I've really won the Best Office Boy title?

optimistic
positive
excited
active
enthusiastic
thrilled

Moods

JUN
5
13
16
19
24
28

UK Best Office Boy Competition? No problem!
Not a breath of wind.
A cool breeze, a cloudless sky.
I could lie here forever.
It's too hot to move.
Oh yes, this is the life!

confident
calm
refreshed
relaxed
idle / lazy
content

7
10
18
28

She smiled at me! She actually smiled at me!
She said she'd come to dinner!
Now I know how the winner must have felt.
Jumping for joy!
Pinch me to let me know I'm not dreaming.
Paradise must be like this.

exhilarated
elated
triumphant
on top of the world
up in the clouds
ecstatic

AUG
2
6
9
14
19
24

I know I don't know you, but you can still marry me!
It's so close and heavy today, no air at all.
Sticky, thundery heat.
No energy, no emotion.
She's gone. I've got nothing left.
And it was going to be so good!

wild / rash
weary
drained
exhausted
empty
disappointed

SEP
1
4
11
18
24
29

And she was so, so nice.
That's the last holiday romance I'll ever have!
The days are closing in.
It's going to be a long hard winter.
Why bother? Why care?
I just don't understand.

heart-broken
disillusioned
gloomy
depressed
disheartened
bewildered

ОСТ
2
8
12
17
24
30

An overcast sky.
Why did you have to mention her name?
The rain's set in for the day.
Why are there no new people to meet?
I don't want any new faces round here, thank you!
Hailstorms and icy winds.

dejected
easily upset
distressed
lonely
hostile
bitter

NOV
1
2
8
15
16
17

Redundant, maybe? And thrown out of my flat? All alone.
To be or not to be?
Nextdoor's music is really getting on my nerves!
It's brightening up. I don't believe it.
It can't be true. I don't know what to say!
Come on, let's fly to Paris for breakfast.

insecure
suicidal
easily annoyed
astonished / amazed
overwhelmed
light-headed

DEC
6
9
12
18
24
31

Fancy dress parties and drinks round at our place.
Snowball fights.
I must be the happiest man alive.
Skating on frozen puddles and falling over laughing.
Champagne bubbles and laughter.
I haven't done so badly this year after all!

sociable
playful
over the moon
frivolous
merry
self-satisfied

JUL
1

4

You will notice that amongst the clues above you have the most common expressions
relating to the weather - an important topic in England!

51

Moods

Practice
1 There are six people in the Bracewell family:
grandfather, aged 86.
Mr and Mrs Bracewell.
Jenny, their 21-year-old daughter.
Tommy, their 19-year-old son.
Timmy, their 14-year-old son.
Imagine how each member of the family felt on these six days of a week at the end of
last year. Write one or two adjectives to describe each person's mood per day.
On Monday, Grandfather felt sad but pleased for his grandson.
Mr Bracewell was depressed and easily annoyed.
Mon: Tommy announced he was going to Australia for a few years to find work.
Tues: It was the second anniversary of Grandmother's death.
Wed: Mrs Bracewell came back from a shopping spree during which she had bought
half the local fashion store's stock.
Thur: Mr Bracewell admitted that he'd lost his job.
Fri:
Timmy showed his (very bad) annual school report to the rest of the family.
Sat:
Jenny announced that she was getting married.
2

Discuss or write the answer to this question.
How do the items below affect your moods?
1
2
3
4
5

the weather and temperature
your health
work
the world situation
the time of day or week or year?

3

Describe to a partner or in writing, in as much detail as you can, how you have been
feeling over the past few days. Think in terms of hours, minutes, even seconds,
rather than 24-hour periods.

4

Describe a typical year's weather in your country for someone who has never been
there. Comment on each season and particular months.

5

Write an article with the title: 'People with stable temperaments are boring".

•

Below you might like to note:
1 other adjectives or expressions you meet which describe our moods.
2 further words or expressions about the weather.

52

Attitudes and
relationships
Reading
Read through the text below to check on some of the language we use to describe our
feelings for other people — from adoring them to tolerating them to hating them.
Tim and Lenny can't stand each other. They
loathe each other, hate the sight of each
other. Lenny seems to envy Tim his stripes
and Tim is envious of Lenny's spots.
We all have great respect for Leo; respect
mingled with fear.
Sammy frightens everyone. Even Tim and
Lenny keep out of his way, and Leo admits
to being slightly afraid of him. The chickens
are terrified of him and the rabbits are
petrified; they nearly have a heart attack
if you just go up behind them and hiss.
Clarence always seems to have a chip on his
shoulder - as if he has a grudge against the
whole animal kingdom. The others ignore
him.
Everyone looks up to George.
Zoe and Pat are very close. They seem to
enjoy each other's company and get on
very well together. I suppose they have a lot
in common, same taste in clothes etc. Penny,
who has a love-hate relationship with Pat,
is getting jealous, though.
Percy makes everyone feel a bit uneasy;
none of us can really relax in his company.
We all remember past pricks and so are wary
of him.
Nobody trusts Charlie; they say you never
know what he's thinking.
Dear Henry is amused by everything and
* everybody.
Everyone keeps their distance from Ronny.

53

Attitudes and relationships

Everyone admires hardworking Sarah. She
impressed us all last autumn particularly.
Oswald is very badly treated. Everyone
looks down on him; even wise old Orville
regards him with contempt. The poor
chap, he's developed quite an inferiority
complex, just because he can't fly.
There's general sympathy for Harry. I'm
not sure whether we pity him for his
ugliness or feel sorry for him having to
carry all that weight around.
We're all very fond of Donna, but she
seems quite indifferent to us. (I get the
feeling that she's only in love with herself,
just sitting around all day singing protest
songs about Love and Peace and things.) It's
difficult to get through to her.
Gordon is fascinated by the butterflies,
absolutely captivated. They seem to find
him pretty intriguing, too.
To a man, we're all bored stiff by, fed up
with and sick to death of Polly, who goes
on all day about nothing in particular.
We detest and despise Valerie for giving us
all a bad name.
Everybody despairs of Lou and his friends,
throwing themselves off cliffs like that.
We resent Bruin's and Bunny's popularity
with children; their dressing up in people's
clothes is definitely frowned on.
Secretly, I think we all still miss Dudley.

Practice
Use each of the expressions below to say or write a true statement about the way you
relate (or have related in the past) to people you know or to particular groups of
people. You will need to add a preposition with each expression.
be in love
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

54

I've been in love with Carlos since we were children.

feel sorry
be terrified
can't get through
get on well
be fascinated
be fed up
look up

8
9
10
11
12
13
14

hate the sight
have great respect
be wary
have a lot in common
feel indifferent
be very fond
look down

Attitudes and relationships

Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 How did you feel towards the members of staff (individually) in your last school?
2 What are some of the problems that often occur between teenage children and their
parents?
3 What problems can occur between management and workers in a big company?
4 'Most divorces are avoidable.' Do you agree?
Write part of a letter to a friend, describing how a close friend and you have fallen
out. Explain what went wrong and why. Say how you felt about it.
You are a lawyer in a divorce case. Write part of your final speech, explaining why, in
this case, a divorce should (or should not) be granted.
Add any other words about relating to other people as you meet them.

55

Expressing oneself
Reading
Read this man's speech. See how soon you can tell what he is talking about. In it he
includes over fifty variations on the words say and speak. See how many of them you
can incorporate into your own use of English.
'Ladies and Gentlemen!
I hope you will excuse me for butting into your conversations in this way. I know
nobody likes being interrupted at such a time, but I have been asked to say a few
words, make a speech if you like, on this extra-special occasion. And may I say
first what a pleasure and honour it is to have the opportunity to address you like
this, this afternoon.
You know, ever since you first hinted to me that something of this sort might be on
the cards, I have been debating with myself constantly as to how I could best
express the sentiments I want to convey to you, here, this afternoon. And then
when you actually broke the news and announced a date, I began to consult
friends and acquaintances who have been in this position, discussing the subject
with them at length and in detail.
I can reveal today, however, that the problems of phrasing my message have not
been solved. I suppose if I were an actor, I could recite a relevant speech of
Shakespeare's. Were I a priest, I might preach to you, but I fear it would be a poor
sermon. As a politician, I could read out a prepared statement and then go on
repeating 'No comment'. If you were a class of students, I might give you a
lecture. Were you secretaries, I could dictate what I have to say. If we had more
time, we could chatter and gossip together for hours. But you and I are none of
these things, so I shall have to put my message across in more ordinary terms.
I suppose I could simply declare that this is one of the happiest days of my life and
claim that I never thought I could be as happy as I am today. Or I could just state a
few useless facts and figures and leave it at that. I could, on the other hand,
refer to what great men — and women - have said or written on this theme, and just
quote a few famous lines. I might also mention my own experience, reminisce a
little, recount a few anecdotes, tell a few stories and make some significant
comment on young people today.
Standing here, I can assure you, my main fear is not that I shall 'dry up' - I have
already uttered too many words on this theme to be at a loss for words now — but
that I shall, in a rash moment, blurt out what I have to say, gabble away for a few
seconds and leave too much unsaid, unspoken. Then again, while I stand here
thinking aloud, arguing with myself, contradicting myself perhaps, you will no
doubt be thinking, 'Why's the old man rambling on like this without getting to the
point?' Why doesn't he just come out with it?' you'll be saying. 'Spit it out!' I hear
you cry.
Well, time marches on, and I can see that you have no need of explanations or
illustrations from me; no account of my own life is required, no descriptions or
recommendations. I shall not bother to sum up what I have said so far. All I
should like to add on this — how shall I put it? - extra-special occasion is: I hope
you'll both be very happy.'

Dialogue
The items in italics on the next pages are what people actually say. Below each of the
items in italics is a statement about the way in which that person is expressing him
or herself. The key words are left out and are in the Key at the back of the book. Try
to complete each statement. Then check your answers.
56

Expressing oneself

PART ONE
1 Hello. How are you doing? Nice to see you again. Haven't seen you for ages. How
are you?
He's simply ... an old friend; it's quite a
warm, friendly
2 This is Franqoise. She's over here -er - staying with me for a few weeks. She's
from Paris.
Now he's ... a third party to his friend a normal sort of... .
3 Look, would you like to join us? We're just going down the road to the Steakhouse
for a bit of dinner.
He's ... his friend to join them for dinner.
(For some reason, I don't get as many ... as I used to.)
4 Well, er, that's very nice of you. Yes, I'd love to.
She has ... the invitation; an informal
..., of course - nothing on paper.
5 Oh no, I've just remembered. I have to meet Harold -you remember Harold? - at
eight, so I'd better not come with you. Thanks all the same.
Oh dear, now she finds she has to ... the
invitation, because of a prior arrangement.
6 Well, why don't we get together tomorrow, the three of us, and go for a picnic,
something like that?
He's ... a picnic tomorrow; a good ...
in this weather.
7 Look, I'll pick you up at your place, so you won't have to get a bus.
He's ... to pick her up in his car; a
gentlemanly....
8 Well, er, I don't know, er, I mean, er, it's, er...
She's clearly very ...,... over every
word like that. I wonder what could be behind her ...
9 Oh come on, you must come, really you must! We won't take no for an answer.
He's ... that she comes with them tomorrow;
he's very....
10 Well, all right then. Fine, OK.
Ah, good, she's finally ... to go. Thank goodness.
11 Look, I'm sorry, but you won't pass this exam if you go on wasting time the way
you have been these past few weeks.
The teacher is ..., her student not to take
things easy; a friendly ... this time — maybe
next time it will be harsher.
12 If I were you, I'd try and read twenty pages every day; write one or two
compositions a week, and spend some time every evening just going through
your notes.
Now she's ... him as to how he can make
progress; but will he listen to her ...?

57

Expressing oneself

13 You're right. I'm sorry. I know I've let you down. I don't deserve to have a teacher
like you. I really am dreadfully sorry.
He's ... for not doing much work as he might
have done; it sounds like a sincere ..., but it's
easy to be ... when it suits you, isn't it?
14 Oh come on now. It'll be all right. You'll do well. I'm sure you'll pass as long as
you keep your head.
She's ... him now that he will pass.
15 James, things'll get better for you, I'm sure they will. Don't worry. Don't be upset.
I do feel for you.
Now she's .... with him, trying to ... him.
She's certainly a very ... teacher, but I'm
not so sure he deserves her .... Male students of
thirty-five shouldn't need this sort of... .
16 Excuse me. Is this the customer service section here?
She's ... as to whether she's in the right
place; she's probably at the .... desk.
17 Well, look! I'm not satisfied with this jumper I got here last Saturday. I washed it
once and you can see for yourself what's happened to it.
She's ... about the garment she bought; the
girl probably hears hundreds of... like this
every day.
18 What do I want? I want my money back, of course. And I want it now!
She's ... her money back; it sounds like a
pretty forceful....
19 Look, if you don't give me that money this instant, I'll make life so uncomfortable
for you that you'll wish you'd never set foot in this store.
Now she's ... the poor girl; that's quite
a violent....
20 You, you stupid little girl, you're a fat lot of use!
That's unfair, madam, if you don't mind my
saying so. I just work here.
Now she's ... the girl, who sounds rather
offended. I'm not surprised. That was a nasty ... .
21 Can I help to sort things out here? I'm the manager. We don't like to see our
customers upset in any way - especially the young ladies and especially the
beautiful ones - and especially the well-dressed, elegant ones.
He's ... the woman on her appearance a big ..., as she's over seventy.
22 So if you'd like to choose another jumper from our range, we'll happily exchange
this one for it, even if the one you choose does cost more. All right?
What he's ... sounds very fair - unless
someone can come up with a better ....
23 Congratulations, Marlon. Marvellous performance. Best Hamlet I've seen. I don't
know how you do it.
They're ... the actor on his performance; they're offering/
giving him hearty....

58

Expressing oneself

24 Well, I'm very grateful. You're very kind. I appreciate that.
He's ... them for their kind words; he's offering /
giving them heartfelt....
25 Fantastic show. We were wondering - The way you expressed your - We thought
perhaps you might get us - Incredible performance! Er, any chance of some free
tickets for our friends?
Ah, it was all...; they were ...
him in order to get some free tickets.
PART TWO
26 Comrade Stalin was the finest leader we have ever produced. He did more for
our nation than any other. He deserves to be ... .
It's 1953, and Comrade Khrushchev is ...
Comrade Stalin; generous ... indeed.
27 Comrade Stalin was a criminal. No-one in the history of our great country has
done more to destroy
It's 1956 and Khrushchev is ... Stalin as a
criminal.
28 Right, now where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? What
was his name?
This is an ... ; the police are ...
the suspect,... him about his activities at the
time of the crime.
29 Look, come off it, Dad. I'm twenty-one. Stop treating me as if I was a baby!
Oh no, it wasn't a policeman; it was a father. The
daughter is ... that she's not a baby any more;
youthful....
30 Come on, tell me. You'll feel better once you've told me. Don't be shy.
She's ... her husband to tell her the
latest bit of gossip. He seems to need ... .
31 Do tell me. Really, you ought to. You've got to. Look, come on. Tell me, for
goodness' sake.
She's ... him to tell her now — as if it
was terribly ....
32 No, no. And, for the last time, no!
Oh dear, he has ... to tell her; a stubborn ... .
33 Oh please, Winston, please. Don't keep things from me - please!
Now she's ... with him, ... him to
tell her - on her knees perhaps.
34 Look, I won't tell anyone, not a soul. I won't really.
She's ... to be discreet; but will she keep her
... or break it?
35 Well, all right then. The thing is - and you mustn't mention a word of this to
anyone - the thing is, you know Tom's got this new secretary called Belinda?
Well,...
Well, he's given in and is ... in her —
on this very ... matter; I suppose a husband
really should have ... in his wife, though,
shouldn't he?

59

Expressing oneself

36 I propose ... (What about the unemployed?) (How would you like to live on £38 a
week?) (Give us back our jobs!) I propose ...
A few of the crowd are ... the politician.
Some ... are welcomed by politicians - it gives
them the chance to show how clever they are.
37 As / was saying, I propose to increase basic income tax along the following lines.
Ah, this politician has completely ...
the heckling.
38 It was all your fault. If you hadn't opened your big mouth, neither of us would be
in the mess we are in now.
It seems one man is ... the other for the
trouble he's in - it's not clear whether he's to
.... or not.
39 Yeah, OK. I realise that it wasn't so clever of me. I know I shouldn't have...
Ah, now he's ... that it wasn't the cleverest
thing to have done - an honest....
40 And there's something else, I'm afraid. Er - when I told you I'd written to the tax
people, well, I hadn't. I lied. The whole story was a lie.
Now he's going further, actually ... that he
had lied - quite a serious ..., really.
41 How could you? I mean, we agreed that the only way we were going to succeed
was if we were both completely honest with each other. And now this!
He's ... the other one now for what he did.
His eyes are ... and his voice full of... .
42 Oh, so you got ten per cent in the exam, did you? You genius! You must be so tired
after all the work you did for it!
He's ... his poor friend, ... of him,
... him as brothers do. Perhaps he's only joking,
though, simply ... the other boy's ....
43 I got 99% myself. Of course, I expected to do well. After all, I'm obviously the
brightest student in the class.
Now he's ... about how clever he is, the
little horror.
44 You only got so many because you cheated. I saw you looking at Sarah Nicholls'
paper, all the way through the exam.
Ah, now his friend's ... him of cheating quite a vicious ....
45 What do you mean? I didn't. I didn't do anything of the sort.
He's ... that he cheated - a fairly
forceful....
46 Look, for Heaven's sake, you two; try and behave like sixteen-year olds, not
six-year olds.
Their mother's ... both of them,...
them off quite firmly.
47 Now get upstairs, both of you. And get that mess tidied up in your room. Go on,
get upstairs.
Now she's ... them upstairs to clean up
their rooms.
60

Expressing oneself

48 It is my considered opinion that the defendant has not got one ounce of decent
human feeling in his whole body ...
The judge is ... the defendant as 'a pretty
nasty piece of work'. A strong ..., don't you think?
49 Please excuse me, your Lordship, but could I possibly have a quick word with
you?
The clerk is ... a moment of the judge's time
- a very polite ....
50 It's just that, you won't forget, will you, that your wife asked you to pick up a few
things from the supermarket on your way home, and it's very nearly quarter
past five, so...
He's ... the judge about certain other
duties he has to perform - a timely ....

Practice
Describe how you used to get on with members of your family when you were
younger.
Write or relate two conversations you have heard in which people were being
particularly kind, unkind or rude to each other.
Compare English and your language. Write or discuss the ways in which people seem
to express their feelings towards each other in each language.
Write on one of the following topics.
1 A letter apologising to a friend following the big row you had last week and how
rude you were to him or her.
2 'People don't really mean most of the things they say.' How far do you think this is
true?
Add any other words about how we express ourselves as you meet them.

61

Reacting to events
Reading
Read through the following texts, noting the rather strong idiomatic language we can
use to describe our reactions to slightly unusual events.
Some moments from our family scrap-book, when we were all:
surprised.
... We all got the shock of our lives last Christmas. We were sitting round the fire,
forcing third helpings of Christmas cake into our mouths, when the doorbell rang. It
made everybody jump. Auntie Jane nearly jumped out of her skin. I was pretty
startled myself, I must admit. Anyway, there at the door — believe it or not - was
Uncle Mac, with an armful of presents. (It was the first time in living memory that
he had ever given anything to anybody.) Everyone caught their breath when they
saw him. No-one could really believe their eyes. Poor Aunt Flossie actually
fainted, and Uncle Bill kept blinking, as if he had seen a ghost. And Granny,
who had been talking non-stop since breakfast, was absolutely speechless. I thought
her eyes were going to pop out of her head. I reckon you could have knocked
all of us over with a feather.
emotional.
... I looked across and saw that tears were already trickling down Mum's cheeks.
I must confess a lump had come to my throat, and I was having to swallow hard.
When the priest started speaking, Julia burst out crying, and that was the signal
for Mum to break down; she was completely overcome. By this time tears were
rolling down several faces - including Dad's - and I had a horrible feeling that I
was going to burst into tears. The priest's few words were very touching; I think
he was almost moved to tears himself. I'm not surprised. They made such a lovely
couple and Maggie looked great in white.
angry.
... I think it was Dad's side of the family that started it, when Uncle Mac started
calling Uncle Bill names. Auntie Jane took offence immediately and then Granny
joined in. She made Aunt Flossie lose her temper and soon after that Dad blew his
top. That led to Mum going berserk — I've never seen her so livid. It wasn't long
before Maggie, for some reason, started insulting Uncle Tom and then it was his
turn to see red; he really went mad — 'furious' isn't the word for it. It was about
then that Grandad, who had obviously been seething for some time, hit the roof.
Things quietened down a bit after that and Granny dealt the next hand of cards.
afraid.
... Well, naturally most of us were scared stiff. Only Maggie kept cool throughout.
Mum went as white as a sheet and even Dad panicked a bit. Auntie Jane's hair
stood on end and Uncle Bill ran a mile. I must confess that my heart missed a
beat or two. I mean, it's not every day that a tax inspector comes to your front door,
is it? All the time he was with us, Uncle Mac was twitching as if he had an army of
ants inside his shirt collar. Whenever the phrase 'failure to declare earned income'
62

Reacting to events

came up, Aunt Flossie winced and Mac's hand started shaking so much he couldn't
light his pipe. It was obvious that Granny was trembling too when she tried to pick
her cup of tea up — three times. Everyone shuddered visibly when the man said he
would be back - everyone except Maggie, that is. She didn't flinch once, didn't turn
a hair. She's either a very good actress or extremely honest.
embarrassed.
... I could see that Julia was dying of embarrassment - not surprisingly, in the
circumstances. I bet the incident is still on her conscience. Anyway, I could feel
that I was blushing, and the other chap was as red as a beetroot. Julia had a
terribly guilty look in her eye, or rather, she had guilt written all over her
face. She started stammering something about feeling tired and having come up for
a rest. I didn't know where to put myself, I can tell you. I've never felt so small in
all my life; about two foot tall, that's how I felt. I stood there for a few seconds
hoping a hole would open up in the floor and swallow me. In the end I just
gulped and backed out of the room.
amused.
... Well, everyone burst out laughing, of course. Uncle Bill laughed his head off,
and Auntie Jane nearly died laughing. And you should have seen Granny; she was
in hysterics. Even Uncle Mac couldn't help laughing when he realized what the
cause of their laughter was. The vicar was the only one who didn't see the funny
side of things; completely straight-faced, stony-faced he was. Granny was still
hysterical long after Uncle Mac had turned round, chuckling to himself, and put
the matter straight.

ractice
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
1 I couldn't ... my ears when they told me.
a hear b believe с feel d accept
2 The Prime Minister was ... with rage.
a wordless b silent с shivering d speechless
3 Poor girl, there were ... running down her face.
a tears b lumps с shudders d cuts
4 I must admit, I nearly ... my sides laughing.
a cut b broke с split d swallowed
5 I can tell you, my heart nearly skipped a ....
a beat b moment с break d turn
6 Everyone ... out laughing.
a broke b burst с jumped d popped
7 They had joy ... all over their faces.
a placed b arranged с poured d written
8 My ... stood on end when I saw him.
a hair b head с heart d eyes
After a little thought, tell a partner or write about a memorably embarrassing,
frightening or funny experience you have had.
Tell your partner or write the plot of a horror film you have enjoyed and still
remember, or a comedy that amused you, or a thriller that kept you on the edge of
your seat. Tell them about how you felt while you were watching it.

63

Reacting to events

4 Write, for your college or company magazine, a review of a ghost story you have read.
•

64

Add any other words about our reactions to events as you meet them.

Sounds people make
Reading
In the following passages, you will meet about fifty of the noises we humans make,
many of them without producing words. Read the passages and then do the exercises
that follow.
Read the passage and decide whose thoughts are being described.
I'm awake, lying here moaning, and nothing's happening at all. Oh well, better start
crying properly. Still no reaction. Right, they've asked for it. Here we go with a real
scream. Ah, now I hear something next door. Must go on sobbing, so they realise
it's serious. Here she comes, muttering to herself. Why is it always her? Never him?
Ah, a bottle. Excuse me, but it's difficult to suck a bottle without making sucking
noises, you know. Oh no,I've got hiccups again. Sometimes I seem to spend half my
day hiccupping. Over the shoulder I go again. Oh dear, a burp. Pardon. Back to
bed. Ah, I like it when she hums that song to me. Oh dear, we're both yawning.
Time to sleep again. I can hear him snoring next door. 'Not a murmur now', she
says to me, the same as always. There's no need to sigh like that, you know. You
were a baby once.
It's been a hard day's night, as they used to say. My boss made my life hell today.
Read the passage and find out what my job is.
I've never known a boss like him; you hardly ever hear him talking normally. He
starts as soon as he comes into the office in the morning. If I'm two minutes late, he
starts shouting at me. And you should hear him on the phone, yelling at some poor
junior. When he asks you to do something, he just barks — like a fierce dog. And
when he finds a mistake in your work, he roars like a lion. When someone asks him
a question, he nearly always just grunts, like that. He'll sit for hours grumbling
about the weather, the business, his colleagues, the market. And he will mutter!
Half the time you can't understand a word he's saying. The worst thing is his
dictation. He just mumbles all the way through the letter; I have to guess every
other word. Then he bites my head off when I've written something he didn't want.
I just start stammering and stuttering, and get out of the room as soon as possible.
The third group of noises come from a theatre. Read the text and find out what is
happening on stage.
You can hear the audience whispering excitedly. Some of them are clearing their
throats. Could they be nervous? Something's happening. The audience are
clapping; polite applause at the moment. Two of the audience are being invited
onto the stage. The rest of them are cheering and calling out things. Now
something is happening on stage; you could hear a pin drop. The two members of the
audience are doing exactly what they are told and the chairs they are sitting on are
beginning to rise into the air. The audience are gasping. Oh dear, what's happened?
They've suddenly fallen to the ground and look most upset. The audience are booing
loudly. It hasn't worked. Now they're whistling. The whistling has changed to
hissing, but there's nobody on stage except the two members of the audience. Now
they're chanting that they want their money back. The manager's coming out on
stage. Listen to them groaning.

Sounds people make

The fourth group of sounds comes from when I was ill last week. I really wasn't well
at all. Find out what was wrong with me.
It started on Monday. I really wasn't well at all. I was sniffing all day. On Tuesday I
hardly stopped blowing my nose and sneezing. By Wednesday I had a pretty bad
cough. I tried gargling with salt water but it didn't seem to do much good. If I had
to go upstairs, I'd reach the top stair panting like a thirsty dog, and I'd still be
wheezing five or ten minutes later. By Friday I'd lost my voice almost completely.
I was croaking like a frog all day at the office.
The fifth group of sound-words, shows how different people reacted to the same joke.
Lady Thackeray-Smythe laughed politely. Her husband was chuckling minutes
afterwards. A class of schoolgirls giggled. A class of schoolboys sniggered. An
American TV audience shrieked and howled with laughter. Lady
Thackeray-Smythe's maid tittered. Billy Bloggs laughed like a drain.

Practice
To see how many of these words you have remembered, arrange the verbs in each of
the columns below according to how loud they normally are: the loudest number 1,
the softest number 6. Then write a sentence of your own for each verb to show what
it means, or discuss your lists with a partner.
mutter
hum
hiss
sigh
groan
pant
scream
boo
howl
yell
whisper
chuckle
whistle
roar
sob
gasp
mumble
sniff
What noises made by other people annoy you most, and in what situations? If you
think of other noises which have not been mentioned in this unit, try to find the
words for them in a dictionary and write them in the space provided for your notes at
the end of the unit. For example, I hate the sound of people making the bones in their
fingers click and people singing out of tune.
List the sounds you would expect to hear in the situations below.
1
2
3
4

in a football stadium on a Saturday afternoon
on a crowded beach in summer
in the maternity ward of a hospital during the evening
at the scene of a major disaster

Write or act out your commentary for Radio South as you report on the tour of your
town by members of the British royal family.
Write the middle paragraph of an article for the Daily Sensation. Describe the scene
outside the tower block in which a terrorist bomb has just gone off.
Add any other words describing the noises we make.

Gesture, mannerism
and body language
Picture story
Look at the picture story below and notice the way we describe the two cats' gestures.
Then cover the words and see if you can recall them.

He's licking his lips.

She's smiling, grinning.

He's staring (leering) at her.

She's frowning, maybe scowling.

He's winking at her.

She's pouting.

He's raising his eyebrows,
pointing at a glass.

She's shrugging her shoulders,
grimacing, making (pulling) a face.
67

Gesture, mannerism and body language

He's nodding.

She's shaking her head.

He's blowing her a kiss.

She's sneering.

He's beckoning to her.

She's poking her tongue out at him.

He's scratching his head.

She's waving (goodbye).

Practice 1
Check that you know the meaning of each of the verbs below. They all describe
different ways of looking. Then choose the appropriate verb to complete each
sentence. Finally, make sure you understand the other words and phrases in bold
print in the sentences.
glanced

gazed

peeped

peered

stared

1 He... intently at the piece of paper in front of him, wringing his hands in despair.
2 He stretched to his full height and... over the wall to see what Lady
Thackeray-Smythe's daughter was doing.
3 We... through the fog, blinking, trying to catch a glimpse of a moving light.
4 She stopped fidgeting and fiddling with her dress. She just sat, absolutely still,
and .. .out of the window, miles away, just occasionally pursing her lips, then
biting them hard.
5 The referee... at his watch again, made a sign to the linesmen, then blew the
final whistle.

68

Gesture, mannerism and body language

Hungry? Thirsty? Feel like a cigarette? Before you do anything, just connect the two
halves of these sentences correctly. To do this, decide which verbs go with which
objects.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

He chewed
She licked
He puffed
She nibbled
He sipped
She swallowed
He blew
She sucked

a smoke-rings.
b his cigar.
с the sweets to make them last longer.
d the tablets so as not to have to taste them.
e the tough meat before digesting it.
f the chocolate biscuits to avoid eating too many.
g the ice-cream and then her lips.
h the brandy.

Now match the two halves of this group of sentences.
1 My stomach was rumbling
2 We breathed in deeply
(took a deep breath)
3 My teeth were chattering
4 When the meal arrived, the dog
started drooling
5 I was sweating (perspiring)
6 My heart began to beat faster
7 My arm was itching

a so I scratched it.
b like a dribbling baby.
с and tossing and turning all night.
d and my mouth was watering.
e and then exhaled fully.
f and I was shivering.
g and my blood pressure went up.

Reading
Here is a selection of verbs concerned with the physical contact people can have.
Read through the two short texts and then do the exercise that follows.
[1] When I was a boy, I couldn't stand:
being tickled on the soles of my feet.
being patted on the head by my parents' friends and told I'd grown.
being smacked by my father for something I hadn't done.
having my hair pulled and my ear flicked by a sadistic teacher of ours.
being scratched (on the cheek, arm, back, leg) by the girls in the class above.
being pinched.
being kicked and stamped on, having my fingers trodden on and my face
stepped on in the annual Girls v Boys football match.
having my hair stroked by my grandma, as if I was a cat. They were terrible like
that, our family, always caressing each other. I never understood the need they had
to touch people - most embarrassing I found it.
2 An interview with a boxer:
Well, half the time he was just slapping me, with the open glove; that's illegal, you
know - and he poked me in the eye several times with his thumb - it was awful pushing and shoving me he was; he even tried to wrestle with me - punches? He
can't punch. He tapped me, that's all he did - he hardly touched me with a proper
blow - when he knocked me out? Let me tell you, he didn't really hit me even
then, not properly - he butted me with his head, like the bull he is - next time I'll
knock him out in the first round, believe me.
Now use the words in the text to describe what is going on in the playground of a
very bad school.

69

Gesture, mannerism and body language

Practice 2
The verbs on the right are in the wrong order. Decide which to use to complete each
of sentences 1 — 6.
1
2
3
4

The freed hostages ... their family and friends.
The US President... the Prime Minister.
I... my mother-in-law on the cheek.
Charles ... her hand reassuringly as they stepped
forward together to the altar.
5 The Pope ... the President.
6 Jack and Jill... each other to keep warm.

shook hands with
sat cuddling
squeezed
embraced
hugged
kissed

If you are working alone, write a paragraph about the signs and gestures used in
your country. If you can, compare them with the signs and gestures used for similar
purposes in other countries.
If you are working in class, demonstrate and discuss the signs and gestures we make
to express ourselves. In an international class, you may be surprised to discover how
much body language varies from country to country.
Write or act out a conversation with a friend about one of the topics below.
1
2
3
4

how lovely and peaceful the park was last Sunday afternoon
how horrible the station was during the rush-hour on your way home this evening
how unpleasant a bar was at closing time last Saturday night
how moving it was to see some hostages reunited with their families

Write the page from your diary in which you describe the candidates' behaviour as
you were all waiting to be called in for your oral exam. Begin: There were five of us in
the room...
Add here any other words about body language, mannerisms and gestures that you
may meet.

70

Posture and
movement
Reading
Look carefully at the picture and read the text below it. Note how we describe the
different positions the people are in. Then identify the people in the picture from
what they say.

When England won the World Cup Final, I was ...
A sprawled on the floor, lying half on my stomach and half on my side, knees
bent and with my feet in the air, one hand propping up my chin.
В standing on tiptoe, hands behind my back, chest out, chin up, shoulders
back, stomach in.
С perched on the arm of the settee, my legs dangling over the side, with the cat
curled up on my lap.
TT

Posture and movement

D crouching, leaning back against the wall, arms folded and swaying from side
to side as the play moved from end to end.
E standing, feet apart, hands in pockets, stooping a bit and twisting my neck

to see the screen.
F kneeling with my head bowed, hands on hips, waiting for the stupid match to
finish.
G sitting forward with hunched shoulders and arched back, my elbows
resting on my thighs and my hands clasped in front of me.
H sitting astride a chair, arms outstretched, rocking to and fro.
I reclining on the settee, legs crossed, head back, fast asleep.

2 Read the text illustrating people's movements from one place to another. The verbs
are in a column on the left, so afterwards you can test yourself by covering the left
column.
I remember .... Do you?
skipping
hopping
rolling
racing
stumbling
falling headlong
hobbling
rushing
skating
gliding
crashing
climbing
swinging
clambering
crawling
sliding
bouncing
tiptoeing
creeping

for hours in the back yard, with a worn-out rope,
races with one leg tied behind us,
down those slippery slopes, getting covered in mud.
home after school as fast as we could,
over the kerb,
on our knees, then
home like wounded soldiers, pretending we had broken
our legs, then
upstairs to be first in the bath.
in the winter,
gracefully to the middle of the pond, then
into someone.
Farmer Staple's apple trees,
on the branches,
over hedges,
through bushes.
down the bannisters when our parents were out,
up and down on their bed as if it was a trampoline,
downstairs early Christmas morning to see the presents
underneath the tree, then
back upstairs, so as not to be heard.

3 In this report of a football match, the verbs have been lifted out of the text and placed
on the right. Read the text, guessing the meaning of the verbs that have been left
out. Check that you can complete each sentence correctly and then test yourself by
covering the right-hand column and trying to complete the text without its help.
Match Report
They looked superb as they ... on to the field,
battalions of green and orange. After only five minutes,
however, the United number 9 ... to head the ball,
... with a goal-post and ... off the pitch with
blood pouring from his forehead. A few minutes later,
their number 8, who had done too much pre-match ...,
was ... towards the goal-line when he ...
with cramp. He had just managed to ... to the touchline before the number 7 ... into a corner flag and
... flat on his back. The City number 10 went next,
... over the United goalkeeper and doing a ... into
the net. The United number 9 ... back on, suffering
from concussion, just before half-time, but he was
72

trotted
dived,
collided, staggered
jogging,
galloping, collapsed
limp
bumped
fell
tripping, somersault
wandered

Posture and movement

... off again.
At half-time, a streaker,... on to the pitch. Five
old ladies ..., a few were seen ... up and
down. Ten policemen ... after him and ...
him for five minutes or so, until he ... over a
barrier and ... in the crowd.
After 63 minutes, the 43-year-old City winger ...
towards the United goal. Up went the ball. The number 9
... and thought he was going to ... like a
bird towards it. Instead, he ... into the mud like
a champion freestyle swimmer starting a race, not
noticing that the opposing number 5 had accidentally
... on his right boot. The weary referee ...
towards the scene of the accident and gave a penalty.
Immediately eight orange figures ... on top of him
and he ... to the ground.
Five minutes later, the City number 8 ... forward
to take the penalty but while ... up to the ball he
... on a patch of ice. About then, hundreds of
spectators ... on to the field. The United number 5 was
... and ... to the ground. The referee finally
... his way out of the crowd and ... off like a
defeated general leaving the battlefield, never to ... .
It was just another Saturday afternoon.

escorted
sprinted
fainted, jumping
dashed, chased
leapt
disappeared
ambled
stretched, soar
plunged
trodden, strolled
sprang
sank
stepped
shuffling
slipped
surged
pushed, shoved
elbowed, marched
return

Practice
Write about or discuss the topics below.
1 the moments in sport that excite you the most (as a spectator)
2 the series of instructions that you, as a keep-fit instructor, give your class as they do
a particular exercise
3 the radio commentary you give as people of all ages, shapes and sizes cross the
finishing line in a charity marathon race
4 the way people sit, move and react in an office on Monday morning at nine,
compared with the way they sit, move and react on Friday afternoon at four.
Write a paragraph from your short story, describing a nightmare in which you were
being chased.
Write a section of the film script for the most action-packed scene you can remember
seeing in the cinema.
Write part of a letter to a newspaper complaining about some of the ridiculous things
you or a relative of yours were forced to do on an organised sporting holiday.
Have you stood, sat or moved in any other way in your life? Can you think of any
other ways in which people move without the aid of animals or vehicles? If so, write
the appropriate words or expressions here.

73

Actions and activities
Reading
In this section we look at a series of everyday, non-technical actions. Read the texts.
1

Dear Cinderella,
Your jobs for tonight:
sweep the chimney, scrub the floors,
beat the carpets, hoover the stairs,
dust the furniture, polish the silver,
make the beds, change the sheets,
tidy the house, dig the garden,
clean out the fireplace, empty the rubbish,
wash our underwear, mend the socks,
darn the shirts, iron the laundry,
cook the supper, do the washing-up,
dry the dishes, put them away.
Don't wait up for us. We might be late home.
The Ugly Sisters

2

Interior decorating
It was my first go at decorating. Everything started well enough. Scraping the old
wall-paper off was great fun and didn't take us long because we were able to peel off
quite big strips. What did take a long time was rubbing with sandpaper the walls to
be painted and papered. Our walls were so smooth in the end that Dad went round
scratching them to make sure the paint would go on all right. He was a great
organizer, Dad. Throughout the day he gave us useful tips like: 'Just dip your brush
in the paint' and 'Don't squeeze out the paint from the brush before you apply it/
and 'Just dab the paper with a wet sponge'. He also made us wipe each brush when
we'd finished with it, then soak it in white spirit, wash it in soapy water and finally
rinse it under a tap. A real perfectionist he was.
There was great excitement late in the morning when we started unwrapping the
rolls of wallpaper and unpacking the tins of paint. I got the job of shaking all the
tins, levering them open and stirring the paint. Meanwhile Uncle Mac and
Grandad were mixing the paste, unrolling the paper and spreading the paste on
the back. I watched admiringly as they folded the paper, carried it to the wall,
hung it delicately (with the two ends stuck lightly together) from the top, then
pressed down gently and smoothed out the lumps and bumps. I was terribly
impressed.
It's difficult to say when exactly things started to go wrong. I think it was while I was
dragging some of the rubbish downstairs that Uncle Jack started flicking his brush
at Uncle Mac because he wouldn't let him have the stepladder. I got back in time to
see Uncle Mac drop the ladder and fling a dirty cloth at Jack. Jack picked it up
and threw it back. Then it got out of hand. Grandad grabbed a brush and tossed it
straight at Uncle Bill, who went over and tipped a bucket of paste all over
Grandad's back. Grandad then seized the empty bucket and stuck it on Bill's head.
Uncle Mac came and poured a bucket of cold water over Dad's head. Dad snatched
a brush from my hand and scrawled some rude words on the paper that Mac had

74

Actions and activities

just put up. Not satisfied, he went over and hurled a half-full tin of paint at
thesame wall. Still not satisfied, he climbed up the ladder, knocking over the
other brushes and spilling another pot of paint as he went, tugged at the paper on
the only remaining clean wall and tore it into shreds as it came away in his hands.
After that, things went from bad to worse.
A Golf Lesson
Right! Now, place the tee in the ground - that thing in your left hand - yes, push it
down a bit more - no, pull it out a bit - no, put it back in -~uow, just press it into
the ground - go on, just slide it in - stop! Good. Very good. Right now, rest the ball
on the tee - try again - and again. Good. Well done. Fantastic. Now, here's your club
- take it in your left hand - no, your left hand - hold it quite firmly — no, don't grip
it like that - let go of it - just grasp it like this, not too firmly - relax. Wonderful.
Right, now wrap the fingers of your right hand round here - can you tuck your scarf
into your jacket? We don't really want that round the club, do we? - good, well done.
Now move your hands backwards and forwards a little - wiggle your fingers a bit relax. Right, stand here and bring the club back over your shoulder - no, the other
shoulder - come on, swing it back, relax, twirl it round a bit - now, in a moment,
bring it down fast and try to hit the ball right here in the middle. Try and strike it
just - ouch! Yes, try and wait until I've taken my hand away next time - right,
better insert the tee again - it's over there - good. Pop the ball on the tee. Good. Get
hold of the club again. Good. Now, don't lift your head - raise your right elbow a
fraction - keep your eye on the ball - right now, go! - O.K., well, you go and fetch
the club from those bushes and I'll try and replace this piece of grass.'
Notes

You might like to add some more similar verbs here, but remember that many
further action words appear in other sections.
Remember, too, that as soon as you have the name of a tool in English, hammer,
screw, measure etc., you probably have a perfectly good verb as well: to hammer,
to screw, to measure.

Practice
[1] Write or give oral instructions to a partner on how to do the following things.
1
2
3
4
5
6

put up wallpaper
put an electrical plug on a lead
serve in tennis
ski
bowl a ball in ten-pin bowling
shave or make up

[2] Write or tell your partner how easy it was for you to do the following things
yesterday.
1
2
3
4
5
6

plant those seeds in your garden
clean out the fireplace
get your car started
make a desk for yourself
paint the top floor windows
clear the drains

[3] Discuss or write about the jobs around the house that you really hate doing.
75

Actions and activities

Write the part of a letter to a friend in which you describe how your try to lay some
concrete, or build a little garden shed, or make yourself a new summer dress, but it
all went disastrously wrong.
You have just produced a new tube of super-glue that you are about to market. Write
the instructions for use that you will put on the packet.
Add any other words about other actions and activities as you meet them.

76

The universe
Quiz
True or false? Decide whether you agree with these statements or not. The answers
are printed below the quiz.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Our galaxy is called the Milky Bar.
Our solar system has nine principal planets.
Earth is thought to have the highest density of all the planets.
A constellation is another word for star.
A meteor is sometimes known as a shooting star.
Meteorites can be bigger than meteors.
Asteroids are orbiting rocks found between Mars and Jupiter.
An astrologer would know more about the surface of Venus than an
astronomer.
9 Halley's Comet was expected to appear in the 1990's.
10 UFO stands for unidentified flying object.
11 Pluto was first discovered during the twentieth century.
12 Saturn is further from the Sun than Uranus.
13 Mercury is the hottest planet.
14 Neptune is the nearest planet to the Sun.
15 A light year is nearly six thousand million miles.
Answers: 1 No, The Milky Way 2 Yes 3 Yes 4 No, a group or cluster of
stars 5 Yes 6 Yes 7 Yes 8 No, the other way round 9 No. As
expected, it arrived in the 1980s 10 Yes 11 Yes 12 No 13 Yes 14 No,
Mercury 15 No, nearly six million million miles

Practice
[1] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 How much do you know about each of the planets in our system?
2 How far do you think man will get in space discovery in the next hundred years?
3 Do we really need to know what other planets and systems are like?
[2] You are an astronaut reporting back to earth from outer space. Describe what you
can see as you float through space.
[3] Write part of a letter to a newspaper in which you argue space travel is (not) a waste
of time and money.
•

Add any other words or expressions about the universe in the space provided.

77

Physical geography
Game
There follows a selection of words describing a range of geographical features.
Read each set of notes and see if you can guess which country is being described.
The answers are given below.
1 - а peninsula bounded by a large mountain range in the North - a wide
plateau extending to the ocean in the South — unpredictable monsoon
climate - population (approximately 720,000,000) concentrated in the
northern plains 2 — enormous forest areas in the interior - coastal mountains in the West numerous islands off the north coast - lowlands in the North - continental
climate, severe inland, more moderate by the sea - total area: 3,851,809
square miles —
3 — a wide variety of land and climate — a huge river basin in the North thickly forested - a vast plateau in the South - densely populated in
coastal belt to the East - relatively underdeveloped in central areas
beyond the highlands in the South-East — lies on the Equator 4 - consists of four main islands — mountainous and hilly - many active
volcanoes - subject to earthquakes, typhoons and tidal waves - extends
through many degrees of latitude - the climate, therefore, is very diverse 5 - located round the mouth of the Rhine and opposite the Thames estuary - a
long coastline - most of the country flat and low-lying - large areas in the
West and North below sea level - subject to floods - complex network of
canals 6 - mountainous with numerous lakes — varied climate according to altitude,
ranging from tropical to temperate to cold - highest point over 18,000 feet
(nearly 6,000 metres) - desert in the West - half of the country lies inside the
Tropic of Cancer 7 - to the North the southern slopes of a gigantic mountain chain - tropical
forests and jungle - highest peak 8,845 metres - fertile valleys for
agriculture in central zone 8 — most highly developed country in its continent - rich in mineral deposits
and other natural resources - large industrialised urban areas round
coasts - rural in the interior - rich vegetation, good irrigation Answers: 1 India 2 Canada 3 Brazil
7 Nepal 8 South Africa

4 Japan

5 Holland

6 Mexico

Note the following rather tricky uses of the words north, south, east, west and the more
general terms northern, southern, eastern, western.
The South of France
South Africa (a country)
The North Pole
West Berlin
East Germany
South-East Asia
South America
South / North Korea
the south bank of the river

78

southern France
southern Africa (a region)
the southern hemisphere
western Europe
eastern culture
southern Europe
the southern States of America
Northern Ireland
Eastern block countries

Physical geography

Practice
Make or find an outline map of your country or a country you know well and describe
its physical geography, drawing in the key features.
Write or discuss the answers to the following questions.
1 Which country or countries might you choose to live in if you had to emigrate? Give
the reasons for your choice.
2 What influence can a country's physical geography have on the lifestyle, standard of
living and quality of life of the population?
3 Write out a page or two from the diary you kept during your solo flight around the
world.
Write the opening of your speech at a conservationist 'Friends of the Earth' meeting,
complaining about the ways in which man is interfering with and destroying his
natural environment.
If your country couldn't be well described using the words and phrases given in this
section, add any others you would need below.

79

The plant world
Reading
Read through these two pieces of homework, noting some of nature's key words.
20.4.89

How Plants Grow (Biology Homework for Mr Chambers)

Of all the year's four seasons, it's Spring I like the best,
When Nature's clothes are not yet on, except its pants and vest.
The twigs are growing stronger, the tree-trunks stand up proud,
And on their sprouting branches the birds all sing aloud.
There's blossom on the cherry trees and acorns on the oak,
The ash and elm and beech look fresh, and everyone drinks coke.
The hedgerow is a lovely sight, it's getting on for June,
The flowers are in their tiny buds, they'll be in bloom soon.
And then we'll see their petals on top of healthy stems.
To me they are as precious as the most expensive gems.
There are nettles by the river, there are rushes by the lake,
There's masses of moss and thousands of ferns, the thistles and thorns are awake.
There are needles on the pine trees and beginnings of their cones,
And fruits growing on the bushes, the heavy shrub, it groans (under the weight,
sir)
I know all the plants will wither, they'll fade and then they'll die,
The clover will be over, and I always wonder why.
And then in late September, oh dear, here comes the autumn.
The coloured leaves blow off the trees, last year I ran and caught them.
No, this will not do. Our lessons are concerned with biology, not English verse. You
will do this again, and give it to me on Friday!
24.4.89

How Plants Grow (Biology Homework for Mr Chambers)

Plants can be divided into ten categories, including bacteria, fungi, algae and less
common and much longer Latin names. One of these comprises all flowering
plants, crops, trees and most other natural vegetation on land.
Plants grow by a process called photosynthesis, which nobody really understands,
including me. The leaves (or foliage) absorb carbon dioxide from the air when the
pigment in them called chlorophyll is exposed to sunlight. Meanwhile, the roots
absorb water and mineral salts from the soil and somehow send them up the
shoot.
There is something poetic about the reproductive process in 'higher' plants. Every
cell contains two sets of chromosomes, each with a lot of genes arranged in pairs. I
think this is important. The flower is the reproductive part of the organism. It has
four main parts: sepals on the outside, then petals, then stamens which hold the
pollen grains or male cells, and inside the style, containing ovules in ovaries basically the female seeds. Then the bits of pollen are carried by the wind or insects
to the female part, two cells come together, pollenation has taken place, and the
thing is fertilised. This is a brief summary of how plants grow. Perhaps the picture
will help:
Better work, but I think we could
probably do without the artistic
illustrations thank you. Our lessons are
concerned with biology.
80

The plant world

Practice
Only try to learn the following words if you are a real nature-lover. On the other
hand, it might be worth being able to recognise them.
Try to find the answer to each question from the words printed below it.
1 Which one of these is not an evergreen tree?
a cedar

a cypress

a holly tree

a laurel

a willow

a fir tree

a yew

2 And which of these is not deciduous?
a (silver) birch
a yew

a sycamore

a horse-chestnut

a poplar

a plane tree

3 There are, of course, hundreds of different flowers: some wild, some cultivated,
some both (like a daffodil). Which of these are normally garden flowers, and
which wild? Mark them G or W respectively.
iris
carnation hyacinth bluebell daisy marigold
orchid
lily dandelion pansy rose narcissus crocus snowdrop
primrose poppy

The following sentences are broken up into three sections, which have been mixed
up. Try to rearrange them, so that they make more sense. They are describing where
certain plants are usually found.
There was / were:
1 waterlilies
2 seaweed
3 a ring of toadstools
4 heather and gorse
5 reeds
6 coral
7 long creepers
8 moss
9 ivy
10 cacti and palm trees

climbing up the walls

in the jungle.

in a clearing
in the marshland

of the old house.

on the pond
clinging to the bark
near an oasis
on pebbles in rock pools

all over the reef
on the heath
among the undergrowth

and the sea bed.
on the seashore.

in the middle of the meadow.
in the forest.
and moorland.
in the desert.
and swamps.

of the trees in the wood.

[3j Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 How do you feel schoolchildren can best be introduced to nature and the natural
sciences?
2 How would you arrange, if you could, a garden of a hundred square metres?
[4] Write part of an enthusiastic letter to a friend explaining why this present season is
your favourite one.
Write an article for your local magazine entitled: 'City-dwellers don't know what
they're missing'. Try to convince the reader of the joys of the countryside.
Add any other words about plants and flowers as you meet them.

81

The animal world
Quiz
Here's an animal quiz which will refresh your memory on some key words as well as
the names of about 150 animals. There are a lot of words in bold print here. Don't
despair! Your own language may help you a lot, and you only need to remember those
words that you may need to use. You just need to recognise the other ones. Try to
learn the most general terms, in particular.
Select the correct answer to each question.
PART ONE (not very difficult)
1 Which is the largest of the ape and monkey families, full-grown?
a chimpanzee b orang-outang с gorilla
2 Which of these is not a mammal?
a whale b porpoise с shark
d dolphin
3 Which of these is a marsupial?
a kangaroo b camel с panda
4 Which of these hasn't got a shell on its back?
a snail b tortoise с turtle d crab e octopus
5 Which of these hasn't got tusks but has got whiskers?
a elephant b walrus с seal
6 Which of these hasn't got horns?
a rhino(ceros) b hippo(potamus) с bull d goa^,.^ e deer
f antelope
7 Which of these has spots rather than stripes?
a zebra b leopard с tiger
8 Whose fur might you expect to pay most for?
a fox b mink с rabbit
9 Which member of the snake family is this?
a viper b boa constrictor с cobra d python e rattlesnake
10 Which of these animals is not carnivorous?
a hyena
b reindeer
с polar bear
11 Which of these insects doesn't sting?
a ant b wasp с bee d ladybird
12 Which won't bite you?
a mosquito b flea с butterfly d fly
13 Which of these beasts hasn't got a hump?
a bison b ox с camel
14 Which of these birds can fly?
a penguin b ostrich с goose d emu e kiwi
15 Which of these birds has the most impressive tail?
a peacock b pigeon с sparrow d budgerigar
16 Which of these animals does not normally hibernate?
a bear b squirrel с dormouse
d rat
17 Which of these has most legs?
a spider b scorpion с centipede d beetle e worm
f piranha fish
18 Which of these birds' feathers aren't black?
a blackbird b crow с raven d blue tit
19 Which of these creatures is not extinct?
a mammoth b dinosaur с pterodactyl d buffalo
e brontosaurus

82

The animal world

20 Which birds are these?
a the symbol of peace?
b the announcer of spring?
с supposed to be very wise?
d with perhaps the most beautiful singing voice?
PAET TWO (more difficult)
21 Which member of the cat family is this?
a cheetah b panther с lion
22 Which of these is not a fabulous creature?
a dragon b unicorn с chameleon
d mermaid
23 Which of these reptiles is not an amphibian?
a crocodile b iguana с alligator d newt
24 Which of these is not related to the dog?
a wolf b jackal с yak
25 Which breed of dog is this?
a Alsatian b terrier с spaniel d Pekinese e poodle
f foxhound
g labrador
h greyhound
і bulldog
26 Which of these is not nocturnal?
a moth b badger с bat d koala bear
27 Which of these creatures has got gills?
a lizard b toad с lobster d dragonfly
28 Which of these runners would win a 5000 metres race?
a gazelle b elk с wildebeest
29 Which of these would win the high jump?
a frog b grasshopper or cricket с giraffe
30 Which of these four is a cross between two of the others?
a horse b ass с donkey d mule
31 Which of these animals has hooves as opposed to paws and claws?
a stag b hare с otter d racoon
32 Which rodent is this?
a beaver b guinea-pig с hamster d mole
33 Which of these is not a bird of prey?
a hawk b falcon с vulture d woodpecker e eagle
34 Which of these is not a wading bird?
a stork b flamingo с swan
35 Which of these does not normally migrate?
a robin b swallow с thrush
36 Which is this species of vermin?
a weasel b skunk с stoat
37 Which of these birds has the longest wings?
a albatross b seagull с humming-bird
38 Which of these creatures is not prickly?
a hedgehog b porcupine с cockroach
39 Which of these cold-blooded sea creatures has tentacles and no fins?
a jellyfish b swordfish с stingray d flying fish
40 Which bird:
a starts the day with its cry?
b is a bit of a petty thief?
с is found in the expression: to learn something ...-fashion?
d is found in the expression: as dead as a ...?
Answers: 1с 2с За 4e 5c 6b 7b 8b 9c lOb lid 12c 13b 14c 15a 16d 17c
18d 19d 20 dove cuckoo owl nightingale 21c 22c 23b 24c 25h 26d 27c
28a 29b 30d 31a 32a 33d 34c 35a 36a 37a 38c 39a 40 cock(erel)
magpie parrot dodo

83

The animal world

Practice
In the case of some pets, farmyard animals, and even some wild ones, we don't
stop at giving them a basic name. The male and the female are given different
names. Whereas we don't often have to ask, 'Is that a man or a woman?' when it
comes to animals, 'Is it a he or a she?' is a fairly common question.
If you think these words may be useful to you in future, try to decide which of these
pairs is male and which female.
mare
stallion

fox
vixen

duck
drake

goose
gander

buck
doe

dog
bitch

cow
bull

lion
lioness

ewe
ram

tiger
tigress

hen
cock

cat
tom(cat)

We also have a number of specific names for various animals' young. Match the
grown animals, birds and insects (on the left) with their young (on the right).
dogs
sheep
cows
pigs
horses
butterflies
cats
goats
hens
lions
insects

kids
lambs
chicks
larvae
puppies
caterpillars
cubs
foals
calves
piglets
kittens

Then, of course, all animals have got to live somewhere. Work out which animals live
where.
cows
pigs

dogs
bees

lions
horses

tame rabbits
wild rabbits

canaries
most birds

a sty
a hive

a nest
a cage

a hutch
a kennel

a den (or lair)
a shed (or stall)

a hole (or burrow)
a stable (or stall)

If you've learnt all those words, you must be a real animal-lover. Who knows when
you might want to describe a hundred swans high above you, or two hundred buffalo
charging or three hundred cattle stampeding towards you? If you do, you will
need the words used to describe a group of animals. Match the group words below
with the correct kind of wildlife.
a herd of
a pack of
a flock of
a swarm of
a shoal of

a
b
с
d
e

fish
bees
wolves
cattle, elephants
sheep, birds

Note but do not try to learn (unless they are of particular interest to you) a pride of lions,
a school of whales and other rarer group nouns.
[5] There are words for the particular noises that animals make. Read the poem on the
next page. It should help you to remember them. Then think of an animal and test
yourself by trying to remember the word for the noise it makes.
84

The animal world

In Praise of Fish
Cats purr
As they lick their fur;
Horses neigh,
Donkeys bray;
Hounds bay
At the bloody ground
Horrible sound,
Barking hounds,
Snapping and yapping,

Tails wagging.
Lions roar
If they hurt their paw.
Hawks squawk

If they hurt their claw.
But fish don't talk,
Thank the Lord.
Mice squeak,
Sheep bleat So do goats;
A frog croaks.
Most birds cheep,
Some screech,
But fish can't speak,
Thank Heavens.
Unlike fish,
Snakes hiss,
And like it or lump it,
Elephants trumpet.
Pigs grunt,
Flies hum,
But fish are dumb,
Thank God.
Wolves howl,
Dogs will growl
With a vicious snarl
If you steal their meal.
Piglets squeal
So you know they feel
While their mothers snort
As they're brought to the slaughterhouse.
Fish don't buzz,
As a queen bee does.
Ducklings quack,
And bulldogs snap
At the postman's boots.
Owls hoot,
But a fish is mute
Thank Goodness.

85

The animal world

Below you see a list of parts of animals' bodies. Take each word and find a creature in
this unit which has it as part of their body.

a tail
hind legs
stripes
spots
udders
horns
tusks
a mane
wings
claws
paws
tentacles

hooves
a trunk
fins
a hump
fur

scales
whiskers
a pouch
a shell
webbed feet
feelers or antennae
a beak

Write or discuss the answers to questions 1-6.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Which animals make the best pets?
What, if anything, does keeping a pet teach a child?
Would you like your children to be brought up on a farm?
Why are we happy to eat certain animals and not others?
Which animals would you rather not touch? Can you say why?
Children get to know a lot of animals through books and toys. Think of about ten
animals found in children's books. What image does each of them normally have?

Write part of a letter to a friend describing the afternoon you took a group of young
children to a zoo or safari park.
Write the opening of your speech at an 'Animal Liberation' meeting, attacking the
way animals are used and abused by human beings: in sport, circuses etc.
Add any other words about animals as you meet them.

86

Food and drink
Study
Which of these vegetables can you find in the picture? Label each vegetable in the
picture with the appropriate number.

1
2
3
4
5
6

onion
7
peas
8
asparagus
9
parsnip
10
courgette
11
brussel sprouts

potato
beans
carrot
turnip
mushroom

12
13
14
15
16

cabbage
beetroot
broccoli
swede
watercress

17
18
19
20
21

lettuce
tomato
chicory
leek
spinach

22
23
24
25

celery
cauliflower
artichoke
marrow
26 radish

Now try and do the same with the different fruit below. Then mark your favourite
fruit and vegetables by putting a ring round the number beside each of them.

1
2
3
4
5
6

apple
apricot
rhubarb
melon
nuts
pawpaw

7
8
9
10
11

orange
peach
blackberry
grapes
coconut

12
13
14
15
16

cherry
strawberry
grapefruit
pineapple
currants

17
18
19
20
21

pear
22
raspberry 23
banana 24
fig
25
mango
26

plum
gooseberry
lemon
date
lime

Practice
Meat
This is a short section, in case you are a vegetarian! Most cuts of meat are spoken
of in English which comes from 'polite' Norman French. The parts that fall off or out
of the animal when it is cut up (offal) tend to come from Anglo-Saxon. Which of these
meats are your favourites? Which wouldn't you eat for a million dollars?
a joint of beef
beefsteak
stewing beef/ steak

oxtail
ox tongue

87

Food and drink

a fillet of beef
veal cutlets
veal escalopes
a shoulder of veal
lamb chops
a shoulder of mutton
a leg of pork
pork sausages

calf's liver
calf's heart
calf's foot
lamb's brains
sheep's head
pig's kidney
pig's blood

Note that the pig is also responsible for providing us with cured and smoked meat:
ham, gammon and bacon.
Poultry
These are birds which can be eaten but are not hunted with a shotgun. Read the
questions and select or write the appropriate answer for each of them.
1 Which of these five birds is white in the northern hemisphere but can be black in
Australia?
a chicken b turkey с swan d goose e duck
2 What is eaten with each of the above types of poultry in your country?
Game
Game is the group name for the wild animals and birds which are hunted and then
eaten (rabbits, hares etc). Select or write an answer for each question.
1 One of these meats is not from a bird. Which is it?
a pheasant b venison с partridge d pigeon e grouse
2 How popular is this type of food in your country?
3 Should shooting game as a sport be encouraged or discouraged?
Fish
Read the questions and select the appropriate answer(s) for each of them.
1 Which of these would you describe as white fish and which is oily?
a sole b cod с plaice d trout e haddock f salmon g eel
h mackerel і herring
2 Some of the above fish are freshwater fish, that is to say they spend all or most of
their life in a river. Some are sea fish. Underline the freshwater fish.
3 Ring your favourites in the list of fish in question 1. Then select how you like each
of them cooked.
a grilled b fried с baked d smoked e in a sauce f in a soup
g in a stew
4 One of these is not an example of shellfish (seafood). Which one?
a crab b lobster с shrimp d prawn e oyster f cockle
g mussel h kipper
Cereals and grasses
Match the list of cereals 1- 6 with statements a - f.
1 wheat

2 maize

3 rye

4 barley

5 oats

6 rice

a Most porridge is made of it. It is also used to feed horses.
b It is the staple diet in the East.
с It provides corn on the cob, a lot of cornflour, and American whisky.
d It is used to make black bread, cattle feed and some kinds of American whisky.
e It is used a lot in brewing and soups and malt is made from it.
f It is used to make white bread and most pasta.

88

Food and drink

Pasta
Talking of pasta, below are a few of the approximately thirty types that are most
commonly eaten. Ring those that you like most.
a spaghetti

b macaroni

с noodles

d ravioli

e lasagne

Herbs and spices
[1] Which of these herbs do you like to use in your cooking? What sort of food do you use
them with?
1 garlic
2 marjoram
3 mint

4 parsley
5 rosemary
6 sage

. 7 thyme
8 bay leaf
9 oregano

[2] Which of these spices would you find it difficult to live without?
1
2
3
4

black or white pepper
cayenne pepper
vanilla
ginger

5
6
7
8

nutmeg
cinnamon
pimento (paprika)
chilli

[3] Do you agree that if the ingredients of the meal have the proper taste you don't
need all that seasoning?
What our food contains
Look at the advertisement on the next page, which lists for you some of the elements
in the food we eat, for example protein, carbohydrates etc. Ask yourself how much
you eat of each in a typical day's diet.
Food in general
[1] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1
2
3
4

How careful are you about having a well-balanced or a calorie-controlled diet?
How healthy do you think healthfoods really are?
We should all 'eat, drink and be merry'. Do you agree?
What (in detail) are your favourite restaurant meals at about these prices:
a £2.50? (cheap)
b £5.00? (quite reasonable)
с £10? (average)
d £20 - 25? (expensive)

[2] Write or act out a conversation with a waiter. You are ordering one of the meals you
listed above. Remember the sort of restaurant you're in and be prepared to choose an
alternative if what you ask for is unavailable.
[3] Write a page from your diary. It is the fifteenth day that you have been on a really
strict diet.
[4] Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between a butcher and a regular customer
who does not find any of the meat in the window particularly attractive or good
value.

89

Food and drink

IT'S HERE!
At Last The Pill You've All Been Waiting For! The Pill To End All Pills!

THE PILL TO END ALL OTHER FOOD!

N U Т R I X™
FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOD SUBSTITUTES AND ASSOCIATED CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES INC.

N U Т R I X™
We are proud to announce that we have started full production of this revolutionary new pill
which will turn your eating habits upside down and turn your life-style inside out.

N U Т R I X™
I is guaranteed to provide a well-balanced daily diet with all the nutrients of
conventional food, and a whole lot more.
I is rich in body-building protein - as much as in half a dozen eggs, and has
an equally high iron content.
I has as many vitamins as you'd find in 6 pints of milk, 5 pints of yoghurt and
20 pints of beer; it contains as much vitamin E as a fridge-full of margarine.
I allows you a carefully-controlled intake of carbohydrates, starch, sugars etc.
and a concentrated source of energy through fats equal to that found in 6
pounds of cottage cheese and 2 whole pounds of cream. Now with the
cholesterol problem eliminated!
I contains all essential minerals like calcium and iodine (as much as in 25
family-size packets of salt and vinegar-flavoured crisps).
I still has, believe it or not, fewer calories that 5 kilos of suet or lard.
As part of our promotion for this exciting new product, we are offering one free pill
when you buy one each from our range of eight tempting flavours:
HONEY STRAWBERRY JAM MARMALADE SOYA SAUCE HAM TOFFEE
MALTED MILK BEEF EXTRACT

N U Т R I X™
CRUNCH IT, MUNCH IT LIKE A DIGESTIVE BISCUIT

or

CHEW IT LIKE GUM

or

DISSOLVE IT IN 100 MLS. OF WATER

N

U T R I X™

IT'S AVAILABLE, IN YOUR SHOPS, NATIONWIDE, NOW!
Add any other words about food and drink as you meet them.

90

Buildings and rooms
Games
[1] Cover the right-hand column.
I have a room in a small semi-detached house. Two of my friends live in
mansions. What sort of accommodation do (did) these people have, or what might
they be living in at the moment?
1 a queen
2 an eskimo
3 a Red Indian a hundred years ago
4 a monk
5 a nun
6 an eighty-year-old with no living relatives
7 a soldier
8 a cowboy
9 a travelling sales representative away from home
10 a forester in Canada
11 skiers in the mountains
12 holiday-makers who find hotels too big or
expensive - or both
13 a well-off couple holidaying in the South of France
14 a camper
15 a successful advertising executive
16 a tramp - if he's lucky

a palace or castle
an igloo
a wigwam or tepee
a monastery
a convent (or nunnery)
an old people's home
barracks or living quarters
a ranch(-house)
a motel
a (log-)cabin
a chalet
a guest house (or
boarding house)
a villa
a tent (or caravan)
a penthouse (suite)

a hovel, garden shed,

an old hut

Cover the right-hand column again.
I spend a lot of time in my bed-sitting room (bedsitter). In which room might it be
a good idea to look for these people?
1 an artist
2 a dentist
3 a novelist
4 a carpenter
5 some sailors
6 a secretary
7 some teachers
8 a prisoner
9 a dentist's patients before their appointments
10 a rugby player after a match
11 some factory workers at lunchtime
12 a gardener
13 some toddlers
14 a photographer busy developing photos
15 some off-duty soldiers
16 a swimmer after her swim
17 a street-market trader
18 a secret wine-taster
19 a pilot, mid-flight
20 a corpse

a studio
a surgery
a study
a workshop
a cabin
an office
a staffroom
a cell
a waiting room
a changing room
a canteen
a shed or greenhouse
a playroom or nursery
a darkroom
a mess(-room)
a changing cubicle
a stall
a (wine-)cellar
a cockpit
a mortuary (morgue)

91

Buildings and rooms

Practice
Note the areas, rooms and sections in the buildings shown below. Answer the
following questions.
1 Which buildings are they?
2 What happens in the various parts of them?
3 Where would you expect to find the people listed below?
an usherette
a surgeon
a headmaster
a guard
the cast
a congregation

92

7
8
9
10
11
12

a librarian
a sales assistant
a prompter
the defendant
a sister
a local councillor

Buildings and rooms

Two of the buildings on the previous page were, of course, shops. Shopping habits,
like everything else, have changed a lot in the past twenty years. It was not long ago
that names like Hypermarket, Department Store, Boutique, Cash and Carry,
Discount Store, Do-It-Yourself Supplies, Takeaway Food had little or no place
in our high streets.
My grandfather still refuses to shop in any of these places. Cover the right-hand
column and say where you think he would go to buy the following things.
1 a nice piece of cod
2 a dozen blue envelopes
3 a box of soft-centred chocolates
4 a copy of Time magazine
5 a dozen pink carnations
6 a bar of perfumed soap
7 a cauliflower or some broccoli
8 a three-piece suit
9 half a dozen wholemeal rolls
10 an ounce of pipe tobacco and a box of matches
11 a couple of pork chops
12 a packet of one-inch nails
13 a goldfish
14 a sack of coal
15 a seventeenth-century grandfather clock
16 a pair of sheets and pillow cases

a fishmonger's
a stationer's
a confectioner's
a newsagent's
a florist's
a chemist's
a (green)grocer's
a tailor's
a baker's
a tobacconist's
a butcher's
an ironmonger's
a pet shop
a coal merchant's
an antique dealer
a draper's

[3J Write or act out what you would say while showing the people mentioned around the
buildings below.
1
2
3
4

new students around a boarding school
new guests around a hotel
new employees around a factory
new prisoners around a prison

[4| You have an empty building about sixty metres by forty, and you have just made a
fortune. Plan and draw the layout for using it for each of the following purposes.
1
2
3
4

a new supermarket
a sports centre
a library
a youth club

[i5] Write a paragraph for a travel brochure on a castle, church or cathedral which you
particularly like.
[6j Write an article for your school, college or workplace magazine entitled: 'The only
sensible way to shop nowadays is in big stores'.
[7j Write part of your letter to the sports centre, complaining about how confusing the
signs are outside and just inside the building.
•

Add any other words about buildings and rooms as you meet them.

93

Furniture and
household
Reading
Over the next day or two, read through this rather strange application form, noting
how the couple describe the house in question and its furniture. As you read, answer
the question below.
If the couple decided to sell the house next month, which of these features could they
say that it had?
1
2
3
4
5

two bathrooms
polished wooden floors
a slate roof
attractive wallpaper throughout
double glazed windows

6 three bedrooms
7 a spacious garden shed
8 excellent period fireplaces
9 a mature vegetable garden
10 a modern kitchen

Application Form XYB / 43Z Sect. 51
To Join The Yuppies' (Young Upwardly-Mobile) Neighbourhood Scheme
Remarks:
(Please state briefly below any qualifications and/or
experience you have to support your application.)
When my wife and I moved into our present house, it was little better than a slum,
completely unfurnished apart from a few bits алеї pieces which the former occupant
had either forgotten to or - more likely - decided not to take with her. (These included
an enormous sideboard that weighed a ton, a chest of drawers with its only
remaining door hanging off, an ugly bookcase with all its panes of glass cracked, and
a broken nineteenth-century piano stool.)
The floors then were just bare boards with one or two mats and strips of lino. We now
have fitted carpets in every room except the bathroom (where we have special
long-lasting tiles at over £20 per square foot,) and the kitchen (polished parquet
floor), plus several sheepskin rugs in the reception rooms. On arrival, we found most
of the interior decorated with faded, flowery-patterned wallpaper, peeling at the
picture rail. We have painted throughout in magnolia (windows and sills wine-red or
stripped pine) except in the lounge, where we have had hessian hung. A few tasteful
reproductions and a number of old German prints (all expensively framed ) are on
the walls, along with some carefully selected posters in the children's rooms.
Numerous structural alterations have been carried out, notably the conversion of
the old garden shed into a second bathroom, complete with bath, basin, bidet and
W.C. (lambswool-covered lavatory seat and press-button flush) and the extension of
the conservatory to make a sun lounge - with window seats all around it — leading
on to the newly-laid patio. The roof, meanwhile, has been completely renovated,
slates giving way to tiles, double glazing has been fitted on all windows, and the old
fireplaces have been blocked up, except in the lounge which has retained its grate
and mantlepiece for the old-world image it creates. In terms of heating, we have
graduated from electric fires to gas fires, convector heaters, storage heaters and
recently to full gas-fired central heating with extra-large boiler and double radiators,
each with its own thermostatic control.

94

Furniture and household

We have also made dramatic improvements in the kitchen. The old installations were
ripped out last year and in their place came: a new sink unit with mixer tap and
double drainer, a line of smart cupboards all along one wall and two rows of shelves
along the other, a split-level cooker, eye-level grill, double oven - you name it, I
think we've got it. Upstairs, the old iron double bed we inherited has been replaced by
elegant twin beds with interior-sprung mattresses and continental quilts (duvets),
of course. Our children, Alexandra and Charles, have recently moved out of their
bunk beds and into single beds in separate rooms; these have been specially equipped
with a desk, blackboard and easel, and toy chest. All bedrooms have built-in
wardrobes now and my wife has her own personal dressing table.
Our more expensive purchases, apart from the above, include:
a leather upholstered lounge suite comprising a four-seater sofa - or should we say
settee? - and two armchairs. (We remember with horror the year we had to make do
with a studio couch plus a few pouffes and cushions.)
a solid wood table and set of matching dining room chairs, plus a microwave oven.
a new shower unit in the master bathroom, plumbed in of course, so that no
unsightly pipes are visible.
new stereo equipment, colour TV, a video recorder, home computer and cocktail
cabinet.
It may interest you to know, finally, that we have made a formal complaint about the
ghastly tallboy and divan that our neighbours have had standing in their back garden
for nearly six months. (Our garden, incidentally, has been recently landscaped and
completely transformed: gone is the vegetable patch; in its place a neat lawn and
flower-beds.) All our (new) friends say we have done a wonderful job on our
property. One or two have invited us to join the amateur dramatic society and they
are even giving us the names of private schools in the area.
I hope you will consider our application favourably.
Signature:
Date:

Practice 1
Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 What do you like and what don't you like about the place where you live?
2 What things would you like to have done to improve your room, flat or house?
Describe, in as much detail as possible, the most beautiful bedroom you can imagine.
Describe the poorest-looking house you remember being in.
Write or act out the conversation in a furniture shop between you and the sales
assistant, as you try to decide what to buy for your new flat.
Write instructions to leave with the removal men who are helping you to move house.
Tell them where everything is at the moment and where you would like it in your
new home. Warn them about any particularly important or fragile articles.
Write the opening of the speech that you make as a tourist guide showing groups of
visitors around the state room(s) of a palace, castle or large country house near your
home.

95

Furniture and household

Write the opening paragraph of your latest short story, in which you describe your
feelings as you revisit the house in which you grew up, now much changed.

Game 1
Cover the right-hand column. On the left are listed the uses of some rectangular
pieces of material that no household should be without. Guess what they are and
then check your answers in the right-hand column.
1 things to sleep between
2 something to clean and polish table tops
3 something to wash your face with
4 and to dry it with
5 something to wipe your mouth with after eating
6 something to put round baby's bottom
7 things to keep you warm in bed
8 something to blow your nose with
9 something to wash up with
10 and dry the dishes with
11 something to cover the table before laying it
12 something to put hot dinner plates on
13 something to clean the floor with
14 things to stop people peeping through the
windows at you

(a pair of) sheets
a duster
a flannel
a towel
a serviette or napkin
a nappy
blankets (bedspread/duvet)
a handkerchief (tissue, hankie)
a dishcloth or scourer
a tea-towel or teacloth
a table cloth
a table mat
a floor cloth
net curtains (or blinds)

Practice 2
Think for a moment about how important some of our household gadgets and
devices are to us.
1 If you had to live without two of the following, which ones would you choose to leave
behind?
a fridge (refrigerator)
a dishwasher (washing-up machine)
a hoover (vacuum cleaner)
a washing machine
a dryer (spin or tumble dryer) a freezer
2 And which three of these?
an iron
a mixer
a toaster
a liquidiser

a sewing machine
an electric kettle
a coffee grinder
a hairdryer

3 Which of these do you prefer to be electric? All of them or not?
a drill
a screwdriver
a saw
a sander
a razor
a lawnmower
a toothbrush
a whisk (to beat eggs etc.)
a typewriter
curling tongs (or hair curlers/rollers)

Game 2
Look carefully at the pictures on the next page. In them there are tools, appliances,
items of crockery and cutlery. Under each of them are four names. Only one of
them labels the picture correctly. Decide which it is.
Then make sure you know the other words given in each group as well. Draw each of
them and then try to give the English word for each drawing without looking at the
book. Alternatively, write a sentence to show the meaning of each word.
96

Furniture and household

a garden fork
a spade
a rake
a hoe

a pair of shears
a shovel
a scythe
a sickle

a nail
a bolt
a screw
a nut

a mop
a broom
a carpet sweeper
a brush

a hammer
a chisel
a spanner
a plane

a pair of scissors
a pair of nail clippers
a pair of tweezers
a pair of pliers (pincers)

a spatula
a corkscrew
a tin opener
a garlic crusher

a strainer
a grater
a peeler
a colander

a
a
a
a

a teaspoon
a ladle
a soup spoon
a dessert spoon

a mug
a teacup
a tumbler
a wine glass

a salt cellar
a sieve
a pepper mill
an eggcup

a casserole dish
a baking tray
a mixing bowl
a thermos flask

a breadboard
a chopping board
a draining board
an ironing board

carving knife
penknife
cheese knife
fish knife

97

Furniture and household

Answer the questions. Then make sure that you know the meaning of all the words
that are not the correct answer.
1 Which of these four instruments wouldn't be of much use to a carpenter?
a vice a stethoscope a set square a saw
2 Which of these tools wouldn't interest a metal worker?
a tuning fork a file a wrench a lathe
3 Here are four instruments we can look through:
a telescope

binoculars

opera glasses

a microscope.

Which would you use:
a to see more clearly what that ballerina looks like?
b to study the markings on the leopard over there?
с to have a good look at Venus this evening?
d to examine a drop of your blood?

Leaving aside mysterious inventions like lie-detectors, the test tubes and bunsen
burners of the chemistry laboratory, the surgeon's scalpel, the dentist's drill and
the fireman's hose, here is one more picture. What is this? Is it:
a a pencil sharpener?
d a cigarette lighter?

b a pair of compasses?
e a bottle- opener?

с a torch?
f a rubber?

Study and practice
Here are some more instruments and gadgets that measure things for us. Cover
the right-hand column, and see if you can give their names. Then check your
answers.
What is it that tells you:
a speedometer
1 how fast you're driving in your new sports car?
2 how much more air you need to pump into your tyres? a pressure gauge
3 which way you're travelling in the desert?
a compass
4 what your temperature is?
a thermometer
a (pair of) scales
5 how heavy you or the potatoes are?
6 how many centimetres you are round the waist?
a tape measure
7 how much electricity or gas you've used this quarter? a meter
8 how much you've spent at the supermarket?
a cash register (till)
9 how fast to play the piece of music?
a metronome
10 approximately how much oil you've got in the car?
a dipstick
11 how long a line is?
a ruler (metal rule)
12 how fast you've just run the hundred metres?
a stopwatch
13 when your line or surface is exactly level?
a spirit level
a barometer
14 about the atmospheric pressure?
a protractor
15 how many degrees there are in an angle?
16 how much alcohol there is in your blood according
a breathalyser
to the police?

98

Furniture and household

[2] Finally, in this section, let's think about containers and holders. It's amazing how
many there are in and around a house. On the left below you will see a list of them.
On the right are examples of their different types. Some of them combine into one
word, others remain as two words. Cover the words on the right and try to think of as
many as you can for each container. Then check your answers.
BOX
BAG
BOWL
PAN
BASKET
CASE
CAN
TANK
POT
RACK
RAIL
STAND
HOLDER
BIN
JUG

matchbox seedbox toolbox musical box
handbag carrier bag shoulder bag paper bag
sugar bowl fruit bowl soup bowl goldfish bowl
saucepan frying pan dustpan
laundry basket wastepaper basket shopping basket
picnic basket
suitcase bookcase pencil case pillow case
briefcase
oil can watering can petrol can
oil tank water tank fish tank
flowerpot
mustard pot coffee pot teapot
pipe rack cassette rack luggage rack
towel rail handrail picture rail
umbrella stand hat stand microphone stand
pen-holder
cigarette holder
microphone-holder
dustbin rubbish bin litter bin pedal bin
milk jug measuring jug water jug

Remember that we might put:
flowers in a vase.
candles in a candlestick.
water in a bucket.
money in a purse, wallet, safe or piggybank.

Practice 3
Write or give a partner detailed advice on each of the following situations.
1
2
3
4

His/Her garden looks a complete mess.
Не/She has no idea what to take with him/her on his/her camping holiday.
None of his/her doors close properly because of the carpets.
Не/She has always kept all his/her crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils in one big
cupboard. Не/She has just bought some new kitchen units and has no idea where
to put things so that they are easy to find.

Explain which odd jobs around the house you enjoy and which you hate. Give your
reasons.
Describe how housework and people's attitudes to it have changed over the past
thirty or forty years.
What bits and pieces are elderly peoples' houses full of in your country? Describe in
some detail the objects in their sitting room, the spare room, the loft, the garden shed
etc.
Write a letter of complaint to the shop where you bought a set of tools recently,
almost none of which work properly.
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation in a furniture shop between an inquisitive
customer and a knowledgeable assistant.
99

Furniture and household

[7] Write the list of wedding presents you want to circulate in advance to your guests.
(This 'ordering" of gifts is customary in Britain. It avoids your being given six toasters
and a hundred and ninety-two wine glasses.)
•

100

Add any other words about furniture and household appliances as you meet them.

Vehicles
Study and practice
Щ Study the words for the parts of the car illustrated below. Then test yourself by
covering the words and trying to recall them.

1 bumper
2 wheels
3 tyres
4 bonnet
5 exhaust pipe
6 petrol cap
7 headlights
8 sidelights

9 number plate
10 boot
11 aerial
12 bodywork
13 wing mirror
14 windscreen
15 roof-rack
16 radiator grille

1 dashboard
2 choke
3 horn
4 ignition
5 speedometer
6 panel
7 gear (stick / lever)

8
9
10
11
12
13
14

handbrake
heater
windscreen wipers
accelerator
(foot)brake
clutch
indicators
101

Vehicles

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

engine
fan belt
carburettor
battery
distributor
dipstick
radiator
(sparking) plugs

Fill each gap in the sentences below with one of the words you see illustrated above.
1 It won't start; either the ... is flat, or the ... are dirty.
2 It's got a nice spacious ... for your luggage, all-weather ... to reduce the risk of
skidding in wet weather, and a ... showing you everything from the time you've
been travelling to the ... you should be in at any given moment.
3 Fortunately the ... wasn't damaged when he drove into the back of me, but the ... is
quite badly bent.
4 The first thing you do for an emergency stop is take your foot off the ... and press
both feet down on the ... and the ....
5 If you have the ... out for too long, the ... will be flooded with petrol.
Draw your own pictures with parts of the car missing or in the wrong place. Write
under each picture what is wrong with it and how it should be drawn, or ask a
partner to explain this to you.
Would you prefer to travel by bicycle? Take a look at the parts of the bike shown
here; then test yourself by covering the words.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

handlebars
bell
pedals
mudguard
tyre
valve
chain
saddle
crossbar
spokes
inner tube
pump

See if you can explain the difference between the following types of vehicle.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

102

a tandem, a normal bicycle
a wheelchair, a push-chair
a scooter, a moped
a trolley, a pram
a sleigh, a toboggan
an estate car, a hatchback
a tricycle, a three-wheeler
a lorry, a truck, a van
a bus, a tram, a coach

Vehicles

Reading
Now read this advertisement.

PAN-ANGLO RAIL
We've come a long way since John and Mary were here!
TODAY WE OFFER YOU:
INTER-CITY SERVICES AT REGULAR INTERVALS
HIGH-SPEED LOCOMOTIVES
UP-TO-DATE CARRIAGES
LUXURIOUS COMPARTMENTS
BUFFET CARS
RESTAURANT CARS

PLUS:
EFFICIENT FREIGHT SERVICES IN PLACE OF THE OLD GOODS TRAINS
COMPUTERIZED CO-ORDINATION IN PLACE OF OLD SIGNAL BOXES
A VAST NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND TRAINS
REGULAR CONNECTIONS TO ALL MAJOR STATIONS

Oh yes, we've come a long way since John and Mary were here!

Practice 1
[1] Write an angry letter to Pan-Anglo Rail. Compare what they say in their
advertisement with what you personally experienced during an unbelievably
unpleasant journey.
[2] Do you agree that the vehicles on this and the next page are in the right order to
show how dangerous they are? Write or say what you think.
racing car
motorcycle (motorbike)
juggernaut
motorbike and sidecar
sports car
(touring) caravan
car with trailer
police car
hearse
103

Vehicles

ambulance
saloon car
steamroller
taxi (cab)
tractor
milk float
horse and cart
invalid car
[3] Note the parts of the strange-looking boat — or is it a ship? - below. Then draw three
different kinds of boat and label each drawing.
1 oars
2 rudder
3 mast
4 sail
5 deck
6 hull
7 keel
8 funnel
9 porthole
10 cabin
11 port
12 starboard
13 stern
14 bow
15 propeller

Quizl
Match each of the vessels below with a definition.
ark
tug
lifeboat
houseboat

raft
rowing boat
powerboat
trawler

punt
launch
lightship
dinghy

ferry
paddle steamer
yacht
submarine

galleon
barge
canoe
liner

1 Коп-tiki was a famous one.
2 Some people like to make their home in one.
3 One might be transporting coal up or down the Rhine.
4 Noah would have had problems without one.
5 A small boat, often made of rubber.
6 Full of brave men who go out to sea in all sorts of weather to help other people.
7 A fishing boat that drags a net along the sea bed.
8 A participant perhaps in a sailing race or regatta.
9 A boat to carry people and their things from one point to another - and back.
10 Didn't they used to travel down the Mississippi in one of these?
11 The Spanish Armada was composed of a number of these.
12 The QE2 is one.
13 An English form of gondola - propelled by a pole.
14 The river police might chase a suspect in one.
15 A Red Indian would have felt at home in one.
16 This one will take part in a very fast race.
17 You won't get far without oars in this one.

104

Vehicles

18 A stationary vessel that will guide and direct others.
19 You won't see it very often but it might see you through its periscope.
20 A little boat that will pull a much bigger one.
Serious mariners might make a note of any further marine vocabulary here:

Study
Try to learn any of the words below that you feel might be useful in a future flying
career.

1
2
3
4
5
6

tail
wings
cockpit
flaps
undercarriage
window

7
8
9
10
11

wheels
nose
fuselage
ejector seat
parachute

Quiz 2
Cover the right-hand column and try this little quiz. On your own or in teams, see if
you can guess the year when these flying objects first appeared in the sky. (One point
for the team nearest the actual date.)
a hot-air balloon
a helicopter
an earth-orbiting satellite
a manned spacecraft

1783
1936
1957
1961
105

Vehicles

an aeroplane
a jet plane
a hovercraft
the first supersonic manned
a jet airliner

flight

1903
1941
1959
1947
1949

Add here any other words you meet concerning aeroplanes.

Practice 2
Talk in small groups about the following:
1
2
2
3
4

cars you (or your parents) have had and how good they were.
tips you know about how to run your car as economically as possible.
unpleasant journeys you have had by land, sea or air.
the problems for cyclists on the roads and what can be done about them.
airport and aeroplane security: can it be achieved?

Act out the following situations with a partner.
1 have a conversation in which one of you is a customer and the other a car salesman
pointing out all the good things about his/her product(s).
2 give the other his/her first driving lesson, pointing out where everything is in the
car and what it does.
Explain in detail:
1 how to mend a puncture on a bicycle.
2 how to change a wheel on a car.
Write a long list of things not working properly in your car for the mechanic to have a
look at during its service.
Write a paragraph from a leaflet advertising your company's latest car, motorbike or
bicycle.
Write the script for a commercial advertising your company's airline or cross-channel
ferry service.

106

Clothes
Game
See if you can complete this crossword with the help of the clues that follow. The
clues and the answers include most of the items of clothing you are likely to wear or
see worn. The answers are on page 109.

Clues Across
2 The sewing round the bottom of a
skirt, blouse, slacks etc. (3)
4 When you've undressed, youll
probably be this. (5)
6 A military jacket, but quite
fashionable. (5)
9 A fastener that needs a hole. (6)
11 You may hear 'brassiere', but most
people call it this. (3)
12 A knitted woollen jacket. (8)
15 An anorak is an example of one. (4)
17 Part of a three-piece suit. (9)
19 What a dress often used to be called
and still occasionally is. (5)
21 You won't see it too often; it'll be under
a shirt or top. (4)
23 If you haven't got 9 Across, this will
help you to keep things together. (3)
27 Put in front of 15 Across to make one
word that'll keep you warm. (4)
29 They used to be called 'knickers', but
this word is taking over. (7)

31 The sole is the front part of 51 Across;
this is the back. (4)
32 You'll hear people call it a sweater, a
jersey and a jumper as well. (8)
35 A bathing costume (bikini for ladies,
trunks for men) is now often referred
to as a swim ... . (4)
36 A cardinal's robe is often .... (3)
37 A corset and a girdle are examples of
... wear. (5)
39 Apart from on the finger, you might
find a ring on the ... . (3)
41 The part of the jacket to grab if you're
angry with someone. (5)
42 Black arm-... are worn as a sign of
respect for the dead. (5)
43 Tight trousers and bootlace ties
were in vogue over thirty years
... .(3)
44 Hamlet was probably wearing
breeches and a chemise when he
said to himself: 'To ... or not to ... .' (2)

107

Clothes

45 An important part of gentlemen's
morning dress. (3-3)
46 One of a pair that children often wear
on their hands. (6)
48 The currency you'd probably use to buy
a 64 Across. (3)
49 If you haven't got buckles, you may
need these to keep your shoes on. (5).

a tiara would be too informal. (5)
16 The number of red shirts in a full
Manchester United strip, not
counting substitutes' kit. (3)
18 You'll often hear a suit and ... . (3)
20 A robe worn by men of the church. (7)
22 Along with check, the most popular
pattern on clothes. (7)

51 A word for a plimsol, clog or sandal.
(4)

24 A fold on a skirt, dress or gym slip.
(5)

52 To look like a he-man, you might need
... shoulders for your jacket. (6)
54 A top Roman wouldn't be seen in public
without one. (4)
58 It stretches from the cuff to the
shoulder. (6)
59 Wear it with a 22 Down T-shirt to look
like a French onion-seller. (5)
61 Another way of saying'a piece of
clothing". (1-7)
64 An oriental robe, usually worn
barefoot. (6)
65 Similar to a petticoat, it's another
example of 37 Across. (4)
67 Polish and varnish are for furniture,
but also for these. (5)
68 A lady who wears a habit. (3)
69 Something for Hindu ladies to wear,
with or without a veil. (4)
70 The sergeant-major on parade might
wear one over his uniform. (4)
72 Like a slide and a ribbon, something
for ladies to put in their hair. (4)
73 In America they cover a man's legs; in
England they don't. (5)
74 Something like a shawl. (5)
75 If the woman wears the ... at home, it
means she's the boss. (8)

25 What dungarees can do outside the
kitchen, this will do inside. (5)
26 Something else you could put on
instead of dungarees: an over... . (3)
28 A silk fabric, handsome jackets were
made of it in 30 Down times. (6)
29 It's used on a tie or a baby's nappy. (3)
30 We describe costumes and outfits at
the time of King Edward as ... . (9)
31 You might wear one in a game of
cricket; you must wear one on a
motor-bike; you would probably have
worn one with a suit of armour. (6)
33 It helps you to know which way round
to wear certain articles of clothing
- stops you wearing them back to
front or inside out. (5)
34 If you've got an ....-neck shirt on, you
won't need an 18 Down. (4)
38 You might wear one in preference to
pyjamas. (10)
40 Many soldiers' wives wore chastity
belts during the Middle ... . (4)
47 To a large extent they have replaced
stockings and suspenders. (6)
50 Worn on a horserider's heel to keep his
horse going. (4)
53 An abbreviation for 5 Down. (2)
55 Often worn at the same time as a
dressing gown. (8)
56 You don't see many people over sixty
wearing blue ... . (5)
57 A form of 56 Down, named after a man
called Strauss. (5)
59 It's part of a car, but a woman might
wear it on her head. (6)
60 An engagement or a diamond one? (4)
62 The university professor may have to
slip it on quite often. (4)
63 Headwear for the jockey and maybe
the worker. (3)
64 What does a Scot wear under his ... ?
(4)
66 If your trousers are this, use a belt. (5)
69 She was wearing a beautiful Japanese
... scarf. (4)
71 It'll cover the head; it is often part of a

76 It will often be worn over a pair of
shorts: a ...-suit. (5)
Clues Down

1 It often follows the words: cowboy,
Wellington, football. (4)
2 It might be a boater, a bowler, a
trilby, a fez, or even a turban. (3)

3 A colloquial name for a raincoat. (3)
4 An artistic form of 4 Across. (4)
5 That rather smart suit could well be a
... jacket. (6)
7 A collar goes round this part of you. (4)
8 An informal but quite elegant
variation on 9 Down and 18 Down. (6)
9 You can wear one with 53 Down. (3-3)
10 You can't get much more elegant than
these, gentlemen. (5)
11 This will look good with 8 Down in the
clubhouse after the game. (6)
13 Something to protect the hands of a
boxer, housewife or skier. (5)
14 Something for the queen to wear when

108

duffel coat. (4)
73 Take off your dress, put it on a

hanger; take off your coat, put it on
this. (3)

Clothes

Answers
(Across) 2 hem 4 naked 6 tunic 9 button 11 bra 12 cardigan
15 coat 17 waistcoat 19 frock 21 vest 23 zip 27 over(coat)
29 panties 31 heel 32 pullover 35 suit 36 red
37 under(wear) 39 ear(ring) 41 lapel 42 bands 43 ago 44 be
45 top hat 46 mitten 48 yen 49 laces 51 shoe 52 padded
54 toga 58 sleeve 59 beret 61 a garment 64 kimono 65 slip
67 nails 68 nun 69 sari 70 sash 72 grip 73 pants 74 stole
75 trousers 76 track(suit)
(Down) 1 boot 2 hat 3 mac 4 nude 5 dinner (jacket) 7 neck
8 cravat 9 bow tie 10 tails 11 blazer 13 glove 14 crown
16 ten 18 tie 20 cassock 22 striped 24 pleat 25 apron
26 (over)aU 28 velvet 29 pin 30 Edwardian 31 helmet
33 label 34 open(-neck) 38 slippers 40 Ages 47 tights
50 spur 53 DJ 55 slippers 56 jeans 57 Levis 59 bonnet
60 ring 62 gown 63 cap 64 kilt 66 loose 69 silk
71 hood 73 peg

Practice
[1] Write or discuss the answers to the questions below.
1 What (exactly) did you wear to the last three parties you have been to?
2 What (again exactly) would you wear on each of the occasions listed below?
a an open-air rock concert
b a formal garden party
с a new discotheque's first night
d a summer afternoon on the river
e a quiet evening at home
f a barbecue on the beach
3 In which periods of history do you think men and/or women dressed especially
attractively? Describe what you like about these clothes.
4 What clothes have you seen in the street or in shops recently that really appealed to
you?
5 What clothes have you bought over the past year? How often have you worn them?
Do you still like them? What condition are they in now?
[2] Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between a teenager (claiming the freedom to
wear modern styles and colours) and his/her grandmother (complaining about a loss
of elegance).
[3] Write out the shopping list of all the clothes you need for your new baby.
[4] Write a (full) list of clothes to take with you on a four-week holiday touring the
United States.
Add here any other words or expressions that you meet to do with clothes.

109

Size, quantity,
dimensions and
measurements
Reading 1
There are a lot of quite common expressions in this text. Make a special effort to
remember them and to use them regularly in your English.
As you read:
1 Write out the list of food and drink the writer's father-in-law made before the
wedding celebrations. Don't panic! He was very rich!
2 Note down the phrases which are clearly exaggerated.
There was, quite simply, masses of the stuff— enough to feed an army, or
sufficient to keep a largish family going for a year at least — and it wasn't only the
staggering quantity. There was an enormously wide range of dishes, ranging
from huge stuffed olives to king-sized prawns, from giant-sized crabs to quite
massive crepes.
The guests - and there were millions of them all over the place - had a choice of a
thousand and one different cheeses, no fewer than fifty different salads, dozens
of pates and scores of little savouries.
The meat - literally tons of it - had been cut into exceedingly large slices, an inch
thick, and broad enough to overhang any normal-sized dinner plate. There was
also plenty offish, including a monumental pile of smoked salmon and an
immense dishful of sea-food, plus an abundance of poultry and game.
There was an excessive amount of alcohol: two containers of giant proportions
brimful of punch, (their combined volumes must have exceeded a hundred
cubic feet), countless magnums of champagne and innumerable three-litre
bottles of sparkling wine. There were gallons of the stuff.
The fruit salad was served in a colossal dish, several feet in diameter. Into it had
gone enormous cherries almost the size of oranges and gigantic oranges as big as
footballs, bananas nearly a foot in length and mammoth melons like footballs. A
substantial quantity of liqueur brandy had also found its way in.
The cake was a mountain, consisting of a large number of sections, each
providing ample portions for a couple of rugby teams. Altogether it was over
three metres in height and getting on for a metre in width. The layers of cream
on each block were some three centimetres thick.
Despite numerous predictions that far too much food had been prepared, very
little was left at the end. True, a fair amount of cheese remained - a reasonable
proportion of which was fortunately still usable - but apart from that, hardly
anything: a few crumbs of cake, one tiny piece offish, a minute portion of
ham, a negligible amount of jelly, a teeny-weeny drop of punch, but not a trace
of the fruit salad in the bottom of the bowl.
There was a great deal of lengthy speculation as to the astronomical sum total
of the cost; it was never disclosed. A spokesman for my new father-in-law said, 'It
wasn't small', and my mother-in-law still reminds me occasionally that it was
'quite a few pounds' worth'.

110

Size, quantity, dimensions and measurements

Game
The size, strength or capacity of things can be measured in many different ways.
Cover the column on the right and complete the following sentences with an
appropriate word or phrase of measurement or size.
1 It's just a normal family car: a five-... .
2 He's bought himself a new 750 ... Kawazaki.
3 My old van has a maximum ... of just over
50...
4 We really need another 100-... bulb.
5 We could also do with an extra 13-... plug.
6 This 25-year-old whisky is 85% ....
7 Her wedding ring is 24-... gold.
8 It's over 85 ... Fahrenheit in the shade today.
9 We sailed across the Atlantic in a 20,000-... liner.
10 The ship was travelling at an average speed of 28 ... .
11 Winds of gale ... 9 were reported.
12 The Krakatoa explosion (1883) happened too long ago for the
intensity of its sound to be measured in ....
13 The recent earthquake gave a reading of point 7 on the
Richter....
14 The Empire State is a 102-... building.
15 My parents live in a two-... flat.
16 The Government has a 24-... overall majority in Parliament.
17 The town has a ... of 24,000.
18 We have our own 60-... orchestra.
19 The article in the newspaper ran to four ....
20 Hong Kong has the highest... of population of any country in
the world.
21 My girlfriend's
are 38 25 38.
22 She passed her final exams with a ... 3.
23 The Tower of Pisa leans at an ... of several
... to the vertical.
24 .Rank in the services is usually indicated by the number of...
on one's sleeve.
25 Parts of the Pacific Ocean are known to be well over 30,000
feet in....
26 Britain has a two-... system of central government
consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
27 The people voted to remain in the Common Market by a ... of
two to one.
28 Redundancies are being announced now at a ... of a thousand
a day.
29 Most symphonies have four ....
30 Songs that have more than four ... are often too
long to be recorded commercially.
31 A number of rock-groups now own their own 16 or 24-...
recording equipment.
32 The man thought to have been the heaviest ever is reported
to have been over 70 stone in ... .
33 The final of the tennis championship — men's singles-was
the best of five . . . .
34 The 800 metres is normally a two-... race.
35 The duke and duchess'farm extends over an ... of 640 acres.
36 After doing that exercise I feel in need of a
... whisky rather than a ....

seater
c.c.
speed
m.p.h. (miles
per hour)
watt
amp. (ampere)
proof
carat
degrees
ton
knots
force
decibels
scale
storey
bedroomed
seat
population
piece
columns
density
vital statistics
grade
angle
degrees
stripes
depth
tier
ratio
rate
movements
verses
track
weight
sets
lap
area
double, single

111

Size, quantity, dimensions and measurements

Reading 2
Many quantities are set for us by the way various products are prepared or packaged
for sale. Read through the shopping list, then test yourself on the words by covering
first the right-hand column then the left-hand one.
Who said you don't get much for your money nowadays? For less than £300 you could
buy a whole case of best-quality champagne. Or you could buy all of the following
and still have some change.
a string of
a bar of
a family-size tube of
a sample sachet of
a loaf of
a carton of
a 500g tin of
a packet of
a bunch of
a pack of
a few sheets of
a pair of
a pad of
a roll of
a box of
a bundle of
a sack of
a bottle of
a barrel of
a can of
a crate of
a few sticks of
a jar of
a 51b bag of
a 50p book of
a giant-sized block of
a set of

imitation pearls
soap
toothpaste
shampoo
wholemeal bread
low-calorie yoghurt
baked beans
salt and vinegar flavoured crisps
grapes
eight different breakfast cereals
greaseproof paper
sheets
writing paper
toilet paper
matches
firewood
coal
cognac
English beer
Australian lager
brown ale (24 bottles)
celery
pickled onions
potatoes
stamps
ice-cream
spanners

Practice
The words sort, kind and type could be used to complete many of the questions
below. Naturally enough, though, we have a number of other words which might be
used. Use one of the eight words listed below to complete the sentences.
brand
branch

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

112

family
species

model
style

race
group

What... of astro-physics is Aunt Sally studying?
Which ... of reptile would you least like to have in your bedroom?
Which Fiat... is supposed to be the most economical to run?
What... of music was popular before The Beatles?
Which ... of soap-powder do you usually use?
What age-... are most of the unemployed in?
What... of people did the English descend from?
What... of animals does the cheetah belong to?

Size/ quantity, dimensions and measurements

Here are eight more words and eight more sentences for you to complete.
form
make
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

category
breed

part
department

grade
bracket

What... of speech is the word 'down'?
What... of dog is least trouble to look after?
Which ... of petrol do you use, two star or four star?
What salary-... do most teachers fall into?
Which ... of your branch are you working in at the moment?
What... of car would you say is the most reliable?
What... of corporal punishment do you personally hate most?
What... of book would you list War and Peace under: fact or fiction?

Think of a big city that you know or have seen photographs of in books. Describe the
impression it made on you when you first arrived there.
Discuss why English is in some ways so easy and in others so difficult.
Imagine you had a dream last night which involved a horrible creature of gigantic
proportions. Describe the monster.
Imagine you are taking part in a meeting to discuss the siting of a new airport near
your home. Consider the possible effects of the noise and the traffic on the local
population and the countryside. Write a statement which clearly expresses your
feelings and views.
You have just visited a Third World country with appalling problems. Write a
one-minute speech for a radio news programme on the country's limited resources
and enormous needs.
Write down, after discussion with a partner if possible, a list of all the things
(including food) that you will need to put in the nuclear fallout shelter you have just
built.
Write the first minute of your Olympic Games Opening Ceremony commentary in
which you describe the scene in front of you.
Add here any other words or expressions you may meet.

113

Shapes
Game

Decide which of these shapes describes each chocolate. Then look at the picture and
try to describe the shape of each chocolate without the help of phrases 1 - 14.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

pyramid-shaped
spherical
a perfect cube
crescent-shaped
a spiral
pear-shaped
conical, a cone

8 oblong, with a convex top
9 rectangular, with a concave top
10 round, with a serrated edge
11 semi-circular, half-moon shaped
12 square, with an uneven surface
13 cylindrical, log-shaped
14 triangular, three-sided

Practice
And now some sophisticated work on the English alphabet. Which word (in capital
letters) is being described below? Describe other words in the same way. When you
can do this, you are doing very well with the vocabulary of this unit.
First letter

One full-length perpendicular line is joined at the top and at its centre point
by two parallel lines, the former slightly longer that the latter, extending to the
right horizontally.
Second letter

A symmetrical, wedge-shaped figure: two straight but oblique lines slanting
down to the base from a common point at the top; these are bisected by a single
horizontal line.
Third letter

A long vertical line is connected at two points - at the top and halfway down
- to a curved, semi-circular line running to the right. From the centre
intersection a sloping line drops to the baseline at an angle of 45 degrees to
the perpendicular, again to the right.
114

Shapes

Match the adjectives on the left with a suitable noun on the right.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

hollow
rough
pointed
oval
triangular
sloping
sharp
spiral

skin
roadsign
swimming pool
shoes
roof
cheeks
staircase
blade

Discuss or write the answers to these two questions.
1 Do you like modern art? Can you describe any modern works of art that you either
really liked or strongly disliked when you saw them?
2 Where have all the curves gone - from cars, cups, watches, buildings, phones,
bottles and clothes? How true is it that circles and curves are disappearing and
giving way to more angular shapes? Give examples of this trend and any
exceptions that you can think of to support your argument.

Game
Finally, a drawing game. Try to draw each of the items below, spending a maximum
of three seconds on each.
1 a dotted line
2 a crooked line
3 an octagon
4 a pointed chin
5 a jagged edge
6 a hollow tree

7
8
9
10
11
12

a rough sea
a steep hill
a bumpy road
a sharp bend
a gentle curve
a smooth surface

13
14
15
16
17
18

rolling hills
\vavy hair
a meandering river
undulating countryside
a calm sea
an oval face

Add here any more words about shapes as you meet them.

115

Substances, materials
and textures
Quiz
[1] Even if chemistry lessons are a thing of the (distant) past for you, try this exercise on
elements, metals and gases. Cover the column on the right and see if you can say
which elements, metals and gases these symbols stand for. Each one has a simple
clue beside it to help you.
Ag
Zn
Al
U
Au
Sn
Ca
S
CO
Pu
Fe
Pt
H
P
Hg
Ni
О
N
Cu
NaCl

a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary
a bluish-white metal
light to carry and silvery to look at
named after a planet
an Olympic winner
a can is made of it
think of your teeth
think of matches
breathe out
nuclear power can come from this
the most widely used metal of all
describes a particular type of blonde hair
think of the bomb
gives out light in the dark
used in thermometers
and an American coin
life-supporting
80% of the air
maybe the first metal used by man
commonly known as salt

silver
zinc
aluminium
uranium
gold
tin
calcium
sulphur
carbon dioxide
plutonium
iron
platinum
hydrogen
phosphorus
mercury
nickel
oxygen
nitrogen
copper
sodium chloride

Does that bring back memories of acids, alkalis and smelly experiments? If you're in
good form, try these. What alloys or other substances will you get if you mix the
following? (Keep the right-hand column covered.)
copper and tin
copper and zinc
iron and carbon
lime, clay, sand and water
the above plus gravel

3rd place medal
a band
knives
brick walls
for a path

bronze
brass
steel
cement
concrete

Practice
In a recent nightmare, my grandson was saying to his girlfriend: Tour hands are like
vinyl, the skin on your face is like purest acrylic and your hair is like real
polystyrene'.
How do you feel about recent changes in the materials that things are made of? Read
the text on the next page. Decide which of the items in the right-hand column have
their advantages and which items in the left-hand column you really prefer. Give
your reasons.
116

Substances, materials and textures

The old

The new

lace handkerchiefs
satin bed-linen
cotton pyjamas
tweed jackets
woollen cardigans
flannel trousers
leather shoes
feather (preferably down) beds
velvet curtains
marble floors
solid wood funiture
(of teak, pine, mahogany, oak)
cast iron pots and pans
china tea-service
porcelain dinner plates
steel cutlery
brown paper
wooden boats

paper tissues
nylon sheets
polyester shirts
denim tops
acrylic sweaters
cord(uroy) slacks
suede uppers, man-made soles
polyurethane-foam pillows
vinyl upholstery
formica worktop, polystyrene tiles
chipboard units
hardboard shelves
stainless steel saucepans
smoked-glass cups
enamel mugs
plastic spoons
polythene bags
fibreglass yachts

[2] Most materials are happy to act as adjectives as well as nouns.
Sheffield produces a lot of steel. It has quite a large steel industry. I need a steel
bar to put across this cage-door.
Most materials, however, can also add a letter or two to make another adjective
with a different, more figurative meaning.
He gave me a steely look, (a bit like steel)
Cover the second and fourth columns below. Choose nouns to go with the two lists of
adjectives, then see how many of yours are the same as the ones the book suggests.
1 a leather
2 rubber
3 a glass
4 a silk
5 a grass
6 a mud
7 a stone
8 a skin
9 a tin
10 an ice
11 a wire
12 an oil
13 a silver
14 a meat
15 a gold
16 a metal
17 a milk
18 a smoke
19 a wooden
20 a grease
21 a soap
22 a woollen

jacket
gloves
eye
scarf
skirt
hut
wall
disease
drum
cube
coat-hanger
well
chain
pie
tooth
container
bottle
signal
leg
gun
bubble
jumper

a leathery
rubbery
a glassy
silky
a grassy
muddy
a stony
a skinny
a tinny
an icy
a wiry
an oily
silvery
a meaty
a golden
a metallic
a milky
a smoky
a wooden
a greasy
soapy
a woolly

steak
lips
look
hair
slope
boots
silence
person
sound from a cheap radio
stare
marathon runner
rag
hair
discussion
opportunity
voice
complexion
room
actor
rag
water
argument

Note the two exceptions: a wooden leg, a wooden actor (unnatural); a woollen jumper, a
woolly argument (vague, confused).

117

Substances, materials and textures

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 Are precious metals and stones — diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, etc.
— as beautiful as their prices suggest?
2 How have materials for clothes, household goods, furniture etc. changed during
your lifetime? In what ways are these changes for the better and in what ways are
they changes for the worse?
3 What is being done in your country to counter the dangers of certain materials in
use today: asbestos, lead, DDT, nuclear waste, nicotine?
2 Write a paragraph from your latest short story in which the hero, blindfolded,
stumbles through a cardboard box factory in an attempt to escape from his
pursuers. Describe his feelings as he comes into contact with various substances
and surfaces during the chase.
Add here any more words about substances as you meet them.

118

Colours
There are an enormous number of words and expressions describing colours in
English. A lot are mentioned in this unit. Try to remember and begin to use those of
particular use to you.

Game
[1] You and your partner have been invited to attend a dinner in aid of charity. It is not
an occasion for a suit and an evening dress, but you can't go in jeans and a T-shirt.
Below, for each garment you are going to wear, you are given a choice of four colours.
Choose an outfit for both of you which you think will look attractive.
For him
jacket:
trousers:
tie:
shoes:

navy blue
royal blue
multi-coloured
reddish

white
khaki
yellow
buff

dark brown
fawn
bright orange
peach

crimson
sea green
emerald green
black

For her
skirt:
blouse:
jacket:
tights:
shoes:

deep blue
salmon pink
olive green
flesh-coloured
rust-coloured

russet
tangerine
mauve
tan
violet

lavender
lilac
rose
bright pink
greeny-blue

pale blue
pearl
yellowish
turquoise
jet black

You and your partner are going to decorate two of the rooms in a flat. From the
alternatives below, choose a colour scheme for each room.
The kitchen
ceiling:
walls:
tiles:
woodwork:

pure white
brick red
whitish
reddish-brown

greyish
sandy-coloured
pitch black
coffee-coloured

light green
amber
steel blue
lemon
shocking pink brownish
smokey-grey
scarlet

The bedroom
ceiling:
brilliant white
copper
walls:
woodwork purple
carpet:
mottled blue and

off-white
dazzling white
cream-coloured
golden

lime green
beige
bronze
maroon

sky blue
chocolate
straw-coloured
charcoal grey

curtains:

silvery grey

indigo

gingery red

green
bottle green

Practice
Colours love to be used idiomatically. Cover the column on the right and complete
each sentence with the appropriate colour.
1 He was ... with envy as he watched his friend riding his
new bike.
2 When his father told him later he couldn't have a new bike,
he went... with rage.
3 I'm all... and ... after being in that crowded underground train
for half an hour.

green
purple / white
black, blue
119

Colours

4 The student went as ... as a beetroot when the lecturer
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

14

gave her one of his famous ... looks.
You can be sure to find quite a few ... movies
in that... light district.
I can't really believe that Nero was
as ... as he is painted.
I felt sorry for those ... recruits, getting Sergeant
'Squash 'em' Sanders on their first day.
You're ...! You're just afraid of what your wife will do
to you if you do.
I feel so ... when I see you, hand-in-hand with
another man.
My fingers were ... with cold and I imagine my face
was as ... as a sheet.
I'll need your resignation in ... and ... of course.
She came out of that... comedy about making pies
from murder victims with her face a ghastly shade of....
You've got to stop looking at the world through ...
tinted spectacles, stop considering these matters in
terms of... and ..., and start realising there's a
huge ... area in between.
My father-in-law was hundreds of pounds in the ...
after paying for our splendid ... wedding.

red
black
blue
red
black
green
yellow
blue
blue
white
black, white
black
green
rose
black, white
grey
red
white

Each of the concepts on the left can be expressed with a word or phrase that includes
the colour given. Cover the right-hand column and see if you think of each idiom.
Black
1 a person who refuses his union's instructions to strike
2 a member of the family who fails to live up to the
others' standards
3 illegitimate trading, perhaps of goods in short supply
4 a number of people under suspicion, or in danger of
unfavourable treatment
Red
5 caught in the act, in the middle of a crime
6 a special, very important occasion
7 an excessive amount of bureaucracy
8 a very special welcome for a very special guest

Blue
9 very, very rarely
10 suddenly and unexpectedly
11 those doing manual, not clerical or administrative
work
12 someone of noble birth, an aristocrat
Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 Which of the following do you prefer? Why?
a sunrise or sunset?
b April or October?
с black and white photos or colour ones?
d pastel colours in rooms or strong, bright colours?
e paintings by six-, eleven- or sixteen-year-olds?

120

a blackleg
a black sheep
the black market
a blacklist
caught red-handed
a red-letter day
red-tape
the red carpet
once in a blue moon
out of the blue
blue-collar workers
someone with blue blood

Colours

[4] What is your favourite colour - and be as precise as you can - for each of the items
below?
a
b
с
d
e
f

cars
team sports kit
soap
personal writing paper
front doors
armchairs

g sheets
h handbags
і swimming costumes
j dinner plates
k toothbrushes
1 ink in a felt-tip pen

[5] Write, in dialogue form, a conversation in a shop.A customer is trying to get the
assistant to mix exactly the shade of paint that he or she wants to decorate the
sitting room walls.
•

Add here any other words or expressions about colours as you meet them.

121

The condition things
are in
Reading
Most of the things around us are not in perfect condition. They're in some way
defective, flawed or damaged. Here is an undiscovered masterpiece by
singer-songwriter Dod Billion to help you with the vocabulary on this subject:
Without-you-it's-just-impossible Blues
Music and lyrics by Dod Billion
Our toothpaste tube is leaking,
My razor blades are blunt.
The hot tap keeps on squeaking
And the cold one's back to front.
The bathroom door won't lock
And the windows are all stuck.
The water-pipes are blocked
And the basin's full of muck.

All our food's gone stale
And the fruit's all squashed.
The dishwasher's failed
So the plates are unwashed.
The kitchen table's split
And the saucers are all chipped,
And the curtains are twisted
And the table-cloth is ripped.

All our records are scratched,
One or two have been smashed,
All our glasses are cracked,
And my homemade beer's flat.
The cutlery is tarnished
The liquidiser's faulty,
The shelves are still unvarnished,
They're beginning to warp, you see.

All the woodwork is rotten,
And the metalwork's rusty.
Believe me, I've forgotten
What it's like under the dust.
The car doesn't go,
It just splutters and jerks,
And the battery's very low
So the lights don't work.
122

(Chorus)
I don't know what to do
Without you.
I don't know how to do it.
Without you it's
Just impossible Blues.

I don't know what to do
Without you.
I don't know how to do it.
Without you it's
Just impossible Blues.

I don't know what to do
Without you.
I don't know how to do it.
Without you it's
Just impossible Blues.

The condition things are in

The windscreen is shattered
And the bodywork is dented.
The seats are in tatters
And the steering-wheel's bent.

I don't know what to do
Without you.
I don't know how to do it.
Without you it's
Just impossible Blues.

My favourite white shirt
Is marked and stained.
You can't see it for dirt
And the dirt's ingrained.
My socks have got holes in them,
And most of them are torn.
My shoes have got no soles on them,
The heels are badly worn.
My trousers are creased
And my jacket is faded.
It's covered in grease;
And I feel so jaded.
I don't know what to do
Without you.
I don't know how to do it.
(Extra verse)
Without you it's
My life's in a mess
Just impossible Blues.
It's all twisted and tangled.
I feel so depressed
As if I'd been mangled.
I'm absolutely shattered.
I feel so beaten and battered.
My dreams are in tatters;
The only thing that matters Is that I'm not with you,
And I don't know what to do.
I don't know how to do it.
Without you it's
Just impossible Blues.

Practice
[1] Apart from the things that Dod sings about in the song, what other things could be
described with the following adjectives? Try and think of four items for each.
leaking a pen, a bottle, a tap, a roof
1 blunt
2 split
3 rotten
4 torn

5
6
7
8

chipped
tarnished
dented
creased

9
10
11
12

twisted
faulty
bent
faded

13
14
15
16

blocked
warped
stained
tangled

[2] Many of the words in this unit do not only describe physical states and conditions.
Decide what they mean in each of the sentences below. Then write a similar sentence
of your own to illustrate the meaning of each word.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

This defeat has dented United's hopes of the championship.
You've shattered all my illusions about him.
There seem to be leaks of official information nearly every day.
Hopes of finding any survivors have faded.
Her reputation has been tarnished for ever.
He's got a rather warped and twisted sense of humour.
My German's a bit rusty, I must confess.
I got a bit stuck on number 3 in this exercise.
123

The condition things are in

[3] Write or talk about topics 1 and 2.
1 the state of three possessions of yours which are not in perfect condition
2 the untidiest person you know
[4] Write or act out a conversation in which you, as a guest at a hotel, complain to the
manager about the appalling state of your room.
[5] Write a letter to your landlord. Complain that everything in the flat you rent from
him is still in the same poor condition as it was the last time you asked for some
improvements to be made.
•

124

Add here any other words or expressions about conditions of things as you meet
them.

Parts and
components
This unit has two functions. It is both a quick revision of numerous items already
mentioned in this book and an introduction to some more bits and pieces that go to
make up a number of everyday objects.

Quiz
1 Below you see groups of four words. In each case, the words are all parts of an
everyday object. Decide what each object is.
1 dial
2 handlebars
3 tap
4 bowl
5 lens
6 knob
7 plug
8 hands
9 buckle
10 lining
11 petal
12 flap
13 keys
14 roots
15 neck
16 handle
17 wing
18 boot
19 lid
20 cuff

receiver
pedals
plug
cistern
shutter
aerial
socket
winder
laces
hem
stem
slot
ribbon
trunk
top
latch
tail
clutch
handle
sleeve

mouthpiece
chain
overflow
flush
flash
screen
lead
face
tongue
seam
seed
drawer
golf ball
twig
cork
hinges
nose
gears
spout
button

hook
valve
pipes
seat
meter
switch
wires
strap
stitching
pleat
leaf
tray
cover
branch
label
frame
fuselage
brake
brim (or rim)
collar

2 Guess what is being described in each of the paragraphs below.
1 It is composed of two thin metal arms welded at one end to a short rod. The
rod allows the two metal strips to move together and away from each other. One
arm is some twelve centimetres in length and ends in a pin with a sharp point.
The other is shorter and is joined at the end to a thick metal ring which has a
hole through it and a thread around the inside. A small disc or wheel can be
screwed over it.
2 Well, for one thing, there should be a plastic cover clipped on to the base here,
and more important, this spring, the coil here, is broken. So when you press this
plate here, the two bars go down into the holes, but they don't come back up
again.
3 Right, I've got all the poles, the pegs are in that bag plus the extra brackets and
the clips for the flaps, you've got the ropes there, haven't you? I think we're
about ready to go.

125

Farts and components

Practice
Decribe three everyday objects so accurately that somebody listening to you or
reading your paragraphs could guess what you are talking about. Use item 1 in the
exercise above to get some ideas.
List all the things you can think of that are missing or need repairing around your
house. Work out how much it would cost you to replace or repair them all.
Write a list of contents to put in a do-it-yourself plumber's kit.
Write instructions on how to put together a self-assembly piece of furniture.
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between an angry customer who is taking
back a three-month-old dress or suit. It is in a terrible state. The assistant has to try
and make excuses for the state of the hem, the seams, the lining, the cuffs, the
button-holes and so on.
If you come across any more words about parts of everyday objects, make a note of
them here:

126

What things do
There are over a hundred verbs - mainly intransitive - in this unit. You may need to
work on the unit in small chunks or else come back and do it again several times in
order to remember most of the new vocabulary well enough to use it in conversation
or in writing.

Reading 1
Read this dramatic text on destruction, bombs, smoke and fire.
The first bomb went off at 2.36. The explosion wrecked three stores just off the
main square, destroying several vehicles and rocking even the tallest building in
the city. The pedestrian precinct caught fire at once, bursting into flames, as if
someone had set fire to it with a giant torch, and sending clouds of smoke shooting
up into the sky. We could hear, rather than see, a number of other houses
crumbling.
The fire began to spread. Smoke was soon pouring out of the buildings in the next
block, hovering over the skyscrapers and then drifting away towards the sea. We
saw one huge office block collapse at the base and then quite simply fall apart.
The smoke was just beginning to clear and the flames die down when the second
bomb exploded. Immediately the air thickened again as clouds of even blacker
smoke billowed out of a hotel nearby.
When the smoke finally disappeared, half the city had vanished. Hours later the
fire was still smouldering and tiny wisps of smoke were rising from the ashes.
The city lay in ruins. Then Robert Redford and Jane Fonda appeared, and you knew
that everything was going to be all right.
Now have a look at this 'light-filled' letter.
Dear Roland,
What do you think of this?
Shot One (5 sees.)

The sun is shining - the mountainside is bathed in sunshine.
The freshly-fallen snow is glistening.
A couple are standing in ski-clothes, cheeks glowing.
The woman is smiling, teeth gleaming.
Narrator: A ray of sunshine.
Shot Two (7 sees.)

Moonlight. The stars are twinkling.
The rippling water of the lake is shimmering.
The same couple are in fur coats, standing by the lake, reflected in water.
The woman is still smiling - a dazzling smile, teeth gleaming.
Narrator: A radiant smile.
Shot Three (8 sees.)

Picadilly Circus with the flashing neon lights of the advertisements.
Camera moves through the glare of car headlights into the interior of a Rolls Royce.
The same couple are sitting in back, their eyes dancing.
127

What things do

The woman is wearing a sparkling diamond necklace, her teeth still gleaming.
Narrator: A ray of hope.
Shot Four (10 sees.)
The couple are at a table in a high-class restaurant, illuminated by glittering
chandeliers and flickering candles.
The woman has a beaming smile on her face, her teeth still gleaming.
Narrator: Now ... New! Improved! Whoosh! For you! Yes, for you! Now! New! Whoosh!
The toothpaste of the stars! n
See you for the filming on Saturday. Don't forget to ask Robert and Jane.
Regards, Harvey
Read this extract from a diary. As you read, guess where the writer was at the time.
Monday
It's been pouring with rain all day.
Tuesday
It's been bucketing down again from morning to night.
Wednesday
Another rainy day. It hasn't stopped once. I got drenched when I ran across the road
to the corner shop. My clothes were absolutely soaked; soaked to the skin I was.
Thursday
This is quite a storm! The water has come up so far, it's beginning to lap around
people's doorsteps. It's already covering all the pavements and swirling round the
blocked-up drains.
Friday
It's like a river outside. Water is streaming through the streets, cascading over
buses and cars, sweeping everything along its path. Earlier I noticed a kitchen sink
floating past; it sank within a few seconds, though.
Saturday
Water is gushing into the ground floor of people's homes and spraying the upstairs
windows. Aaron phoned to say that his roof was leaking, that enormous raindrops
were splashing onto his window-sills and dripping on the carpet, and that water
was trickling down all his walls. I would have liked to help, but...
Sunday
It's still drizzling, even now. When I think of the trouble waiting for those people horrible brown mud oozing under their doors and submerging all their furniture I'm glad I saw that advertisement for this ark.

Practice 1
Which of the words below do you associate with items a - d?
a destruction b water
с light
d fire
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
128

trickle
drenched
crumble
shimmer
drizzle
smoulder
wrecked
soaked

9
10
11
12
13
14
15

ripple
glow
glisten
cascade
splash
float
collapse

What things do

Study and practice
The fourth and last text is on what cars do, or at least, what my car does. Read the
text and try to guess the meaning of the verb that should be in each of the gaps. Then
look at the list of verbs below the text and choose one to fill each gap.
I don't really mind my car ... two or three times every morning when it's cold,... after
a few miles so that I have to stop and let the engine cool down,... every month or two
around town, only ... fifteen miles to the gallon,... to the right every time I brake,
... whenever the roads are wet,... oil and ... the rain in, but I do object to it... of
petrol on the motorway, in the middle of nowhere. I'm seriously thinking of getting
rid of it and getting another one.
letting overheating losing stalling
skidding veering running out

breaking down

doing

Practice 2
Tell a partner or write about a road accident that you have been involved in or a
witness to.
Write or act out a conversation in which you and a friend both insist that your car is
worse and more unreliable than the other's. (How many times has it broken down
this year? How many new parts have you had put in? How much has it cost? What
faults has it still got?)

Game
Have a look at the way this verb-game works. Read down the columns. (Notice how
flexible in meaning a lot of English verbs are.) Then try to play the game yourself,
starting with one of the verbs in this unit.
Things move
The earth moves
The earth rotates
Wheels rotate
Wheels spin
The earth spins
The earth revolves
Some doors revolve
Some doors slide
Land slides sometimes
Land subsides
Noise subsides
Noise grows
Flowers grow
Flowers fade
Colours fade
Colours run
Buses run
Buses stop - sometimes
Clocks stop
Alarm clocks go off
Cakes go off-ugh!
Cakes rise - or should
The sun rises
The sun sets
Jellies set
Jellies wobble

Buildings wobble
Buildings fall down
Leaves fall
Leaves turn red
The tide turns
The tide comes in
Fashions come in
Fashions change
The wind changes
The wind gets up
A storm gets up
A storm breaks
Waves break
Waves erode land
Rust erodes metal
Rust spreads
Butter spreads
Butter congeals
Blood congeals
Blood flows
Water flows
Water evaporates
Liquids evaporate
Liquids freeze
Rivers freeze
Rivers meander
Roads meander

Roads bend
Rubber bends
Rubber burns
Flames burn
Flames dance
Dancers dance
Dancers rock and roll
Ships rock and roll
Ships sink
Metal sinks in water
Metal expands
Our lungs expand
Our lungs contract
Metal contracts
Metal cools
Coffee cools
Coffee spills
Liquids spill
Liquids solidify
Some gases solidify
Gas can escape
Heat can escape
Heat melts snow
Snow melts
Snow thaws
Ice thaws
Ice cracks
129

What things do

Ceilings crack
Celings leak
Pens leak
Pens write
People write
People move
Things move

Practice 3
What do these items do? Match each thing with an appropriate verb from the
right-hand column. Be careful! The verbs are not in the right order.
1 a clock
2 a volcano
3 a kettle
4 a bell
5 a ball
6 a violin string
7 a toilet
8 a pendulum
9 a river
10 elastic

rings
flows
bounces
flushes
erupts
swings
stretches
boils
strikes
vibrates

[2] How do the items on the left start - as far as we are concerned? As above, match left
with right, one verb per noun.
1 a bird
2 an aeroplane
3 a flower
4 a plant
5 a ship
6 day
7 a problem
8 night
9 a war
10 the moon

sets sail
conies out
arises
takes root
falls
breaks
takes off
breaks out
conies up
hatches

Practice 4
Describe the sights and sounds you experienced as you witnessed the following
natural disasters. Keep your English simple and clear.
1 an avalanche
2 an earthquake

3 a hurricane
4 a tidal wave

Explain the processes below as if you were talking to a six-year-old. Remember to
keep your English clear and simple.
1 how electricity works
2 how the earth moves round the sun
3 how blood moves around our bodies
4 gravity
Describe the plot of a disaster movie you remember seeing, mentioning some
particularly memorable scenes in greater detail.
130

What things do

Discuss or describe in writing the rather special qualities required by reporters and
correspondents who are sent here, there and everywhere to cover the world's trouble
spots.
Write an entry for your diary as you crossed the Atlantic in a small boat and the
weather turned nasty.
Write a paragraph from your first romantic novel, in which you describe sunrise in
the mountains.
In your new capacity as reporter on the local newspaper, write an article on the
warehouse fire you were sent out to cover last night.
Write part of the letter you write to a newspaper to complain about the sensational
and undignified way in which tragedies and disasters are presented on TV news
programmes.
Add here any other verbs you meet which describe what things do.

131

Noises things make
Game
We frequently find it difficult to describe a sound precisely. Notice how often English
speakers say: There was a sort of bang or I heard a kind of crack. However, there
is clearly a difference between a thud and a squeak, a rattle and a roar. One thing
which will also help you is that most of the words of this kind can act as both a noun
and a verb.
Try, in each section often items below, to find a sound on the right that can be caused
by each item in the left-hand column. (Most of these words can be used as nouns and
verbs, which is something!)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

sack of potatoes falling from a great height
bacon frying in the pan
a loose floorboard or door that needs oiling
leaves in the breeze
a clock
keys in a pocket
a bomb
wind through the trees
a well-tuned Rolls Royce engine
tyres when one brakes suddenly

creak
rustle
bang
screech
thud
tick
sizzle
purr
jingle
whistle

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

kettle boiling
wine glasses or little bells
knives being scraped together
a sugar lump dropped into the tea
something heavy dropping into the sea
something's loose under the car bonnet
the quiet, background sound of a fridge
the old jailer's keys
champagne corks coming out
a light being switched on

plop
grate
hum
splash
pop
jangle
click
tinkle
rattle
hiss

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

the high-pitched sound of a factory machine
rain on the roof
wood burning on the fire
a tap that can't be turned right off
a whip or a bone breaking
curtains in a draught
little pigs or again tyres after sudden braking
lions or a powerful engine
mice or the chair leg moving on the floor
a car going into a wall

crackle
squeak
swish
squeal
crash
whine
roar
crack
drip
patter

Practice
Щ

List other things or events which might cause each of the noises and sounds listed
above.

[2j

Explain what causes noise pollution in our society and suggest some remedies if you
can.

132

Noises things make

Describe the sounds and noises around us that you hate most and that you find
attractive.
If you are working in a group, act out a meeting at which two of you are factory
managers and the other two are representatives of the workforce who are unhappy
about their working conditions in the factory.
If you are working alone, write what you would say at this meeting. Choose whether
you wish to be a manager or an employee.
The main grievances are the number of hours worked without a break, the volume of
noise in the factory and the lack of anywhere relaxing to spend one's time off.
Write a paragraph from your new novel, A Ghost Story, in which the heroine is
woken up at three in the morning by (the ghost of your choice).
Branching out into screenplay work, write a scene (without any dialogue) for your
new horror movie. It's set in an old country house at midnight, during a thunder
storm.
Write an article on one of the following topics.
1 the experiences of a soldier (in the trenches) during the First World War
2 what you could hear when you stood still and listened at a funfair
More noises exist. If you hear any, note down the words for them here.

133

Births, marriages and
deaths
Reading 1
Read the text several times over the next day or so, doing the exercise following it
each time. This will help you to remember and use the key words in the text.
Having a baby
The day I got the results of the pregnancy test - positive, 'pregnancy
confirmed' -1 was over the moon. I sat down and made out a shopping list
straightaway.
List for Baby
cot (or crib)
pram and pushchair (and a carry-cot)
2 dozen nappies
safety-pins
high-chair
bib
dummy
rattle
toys and dolls (and a teddy-bear)
potty
masses of cotton wool

for baby to sleep in
to transport him or her
for him or her to wear (underneath)
for his or her nappy
for him or her to sit in at meal-times
round his / her neck when he's / she's eating
for him or her to suck
for him or her to shake
for him or her to play with
for him or her to sit on to avoid nappies
as soon as possible
for general cleaning and wiping

I couldn't believe it: me a mother-to-be! Actually pregnant! Expecting! 'An
expectant mother' - that was my favourite description of me. My friends all joked
about me being on some kind of fertility drug, conceiving as I did so soon after our
wedding.
I had the customary morning sickness for a while, but after that, no trouble. I went
along to the ante-natal clinic every fortnight and started doing all the proper
breathing exercises like an excited child.
And I read! Book after book on the subject of childbirth: how big the foetus is in the
womb at the various stages, the pros and cons of confinement at home, how 15% of
pregnancies end in miscarriage, the dangers of this and that. Some of it wasn't
very pleasant reading, I can tell you.
The feeling of relief was indescribable when, at the beginning of the fifth month, the
doctor said he could hear the baby's heartbeat. He was a fully-trained
gynaecologist, by the way - or was he an obstetrician? -1 can't remember. A few
days later I felt the first kick, and that was a pretty exciting moment, too.
It was in the twenty-eighth week that things began to go wrong. I had had several
blood tests before, but after this one I was told my blood pressure was far too high
— there was a risk of blood poisoning — and I would have to go into hospital. There
followed a period of heartburn, cramp, vomiting and insomnia. I kept
overhearing bits of conversations: 'may have to induce labour', 'if the baby is
134

Births, marriages and deaths

premature, we'll...' etc. My mind was filled with visions of incubators, induction,
Caesarian operations and appalling complications. And the baby wasn't due for
another six weeks!
When the time came, I was in labour for twenty-three hours. I remember shouting
through a haze as they took me into the labour ward: 'No drip! No drugs! No
stitches! Please!' I came out having had them all, and in the end it was a forceps
delivery - or so I'm told.
After all that, I just looked forward to the simple joys of motherhood. When they
told me I couldn't breast-feed and she would have to be bottle-fed, my post-natal
depression really started. Some nights I would lie awake mumbling 'Never again'.
It's been pretty well the same story each time, but after the fifth I gave up saying
'Never again'. I really do think that the stork system of having babies has a lot of
advantages.*

Practice 1
Find all these figures and places in the text. Then show how they are relevant, as in
the examples.
15%
That's how many pregnancies end in miscarriage.
masses
That's how much cotton wool she bought.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

28th
23 hours
at least 5
2 dozen
the ante-natal clinic
every 2 weeks
the labour ward

Add any further vocabulary that you feel is relevant to babies here.

Reading 2
There are two stories below, one about marriage, and one about divorce. Start in the
middle column, which both stories have in common. Then read each story. When you
have finished, cover the left-hand and right-hand columns in turn and try to
remember the marital expressions.
For the six months of our
engagement, we

trial separation, I
seemed blissfully happy, so

we

I

decided to go ahead and
get married.

get a divorce.
There were lots of decisions
to make: whether to
135

Births, marriages and deaths

have a civil marriage
in a registry office
or marry in church and
have a white wedding. We

sue on the grounds of
incompatibility or his
cruelty or his
adultery. I
finally decided on the latter.
After that, it was mainly
a question (I thought) of

where to have the
reception and where
to go on our
honeymoon.

how much alimony he
should pay and how much
maintenance for the
children.
The night before,

he had a stag party
organized by his best man
while I had a hen party
with some girlfriends.

I spent hours recalling
all our anniversaries and
going through
correspondence with my
solicitor.
When we arrived at the

church,

divorce court,
we made a strange trio,
I must say: me as

the bride,

the plaintiff,
Richard as

the (bride-) groom

the respondent,
and my little sister as

my bridesmaid.
The vicar (priest)

the co-respondent.
The judge (magistrate)
had a lot to say and

the service

the case
took ages.

'Gwendoline Mary, do
you take this man,
Richard Percy, in holy
matrimony, to...?

'I hereby dissolve' - or
did he say 'annul'? this marriage ... and
award a decree nisi to...
My father

gave me away,

was in court with me,
and cried.
It seemed very strange
for a few days to say,

Tm a married woman.'

'I'm not a divorcee, but
I will be in six weeks' time
when I get a decree
absolute.
But I never regretted it
Well,...

Add here any other words about marriage that you meet.

136

Births, marriages and deaths

Reading 3
Look through these thoughts on death over the next few days, noting some of the
many words and expressions that may be required on this delicate subject.
1 Most of our relatives are dead. It's a big subject. We all die.
The priest says we have gone to meet our Maker — gone to a better place.
Close relatives say we have passed away. Schoolboys say someone has kicked the
bucket. Legally speaking, we are referred to as deceased.
There are a hundred and one ways to die. Most people would like to die from natural
causes - of old age. Many don't, as you can see below.
2 Causes of Death among US males aged 25 to 44
1
2
3
4
5

Accidents
Heart Diseases
Cancer
Homicide
Suicide

19,744
10,628
7,690
7,369
6,868

Notes
1 Accidental death covers many things, of course. A fair proportion of those above
will have been knocked down in a road accident, many will have died at the
wheel of their car. A few will have died in plane crashes, some will have
drowned at sea. Some will have been burnt to death in a fire, a number
gassed, rather more electrocuted. A lot no doubt suffocated or were
asphyxiated in an airless room or fire, one or two will have choked to death on
a fish-bone.
4 There are a hundred and one ways of being killed. If you are an important
celebrity, you can be assassinated. Remember the assassination of JFK and the
subsequent murder of his suspected assassin? You can be stabbed to death
with a sword or knife. You can be shot with a gun like Bonnie and Clyde. You can
be poisoned with something you didn't order in your dinner. You can be
strangled with a piece of string or scarf. The Boston Strangler might ring a bell?
3 War brings with it a language of its own: missing, presumed dead; fatally
wounded; he laid down his life for his country; she sacrificed herself for the
sake of her comrades. In wartime, and even sometimes in peacetime, one hears of
massacres and slaughter, with hundreds of victims and often no survivors.
4 There are other ways of being killed, apart from being murdered or being killed in
action. Capital punishment is one of them. Many countries still retain the death
penalty for serious offenders. If you are sentenced to death and are not
pardoned or reprieved at a later date, then you will be executed; perhaps
hanged - with a rope, or electrocuted - in the electric chair, or guillotined remember the French Revolution, or shot - by a firing squad, or garotted or
beheaded or ... But enough is enough, I hear you cry. Agreed. If I could just remind
you, though, that a couple of thousand years ago you might have been crucified - on
a cross, or stoned to death, like some Christian martyrs.
5 There are a hundred and one ways of committing suicide. Many of the horrors
above you can do to yourself, but the most popular method is to take an overdose of
drugs like Marilyn Monroe and too many others.
Is euthanasia murder? Is voluntary euthanasia the same as suicide? Are they all
crimes or do you believe that mercy-killing can bring welcome release?

137

Births, marriages and deaths

The statistics deal only with men aged twenty-five to forty-four. Twenty-five is very
young, but death can come earlier. The infant mortality rate in some countries is as
high as one in three. Despite the advances in medical science, many babies are
stillborn, and the number of inexplicable cot deaths continues to give cause for
alarm.
For many people, all these figures are somewhat overshadowed by the fact that
millions are dying of hunger, starving to death. Some are dying of thirst, many
more of malnutrition. Is there a bloodbath waiting round the corner, do you think?
A holocaust waiting for the spark?
A lot of things have to be done after death. An inquest may have to be held to
determine how we died. This might involve a post-mortem or autopsy. Then, most
of the arangements are made by a firm of funeral directors - or undertakers.
Much depends on whether we have chosen to be buried or cremated. For burial,
we will be concerned with a coffin, in which to place the body, a hearse, in which to
transport it, a grave, in which the coffin will finally be placed, and a cemetery (or
graveyard), in which the grave will be dug. For cremation, more simply, an urn to
hold our ashes, and a crematorium to hold the service. In either case, one might
expect wreaths to be brought to the funeral service and an epitaph to be
engraved on our headstone. Then it will be time for the will to be read; death
duties may have to be paid; our heir will inherit our estate; our widow or
widower will no doubt be in mourning for a long time to come.
We are unlikely to have a tomb. Napoleon has a tomb in Paris, but that honour is
reserved for people like him. Nor will our corpses be laid to rest in a mausoleum. It
is extremely unlikely that someone will compose a requiem in our honour or build
a statue to our memory, and almost certain that we shall not lie in state for even
a day. An obituary in The Times would be asking a lot. No, I think the most we can
hope for is that someone might recognize our talents posthumously and dedicate
something to us then. RIP, as we say, or rest in peace.

Practice 2
Below you will find definitions of some of the important words in the text. Try to give
the word for each of them. If you cannot remember it, read the text again to find it.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

a person who murders someone important
a large decorative grave with a space inside
be unable to breathe air; dying or killing in this way
to kill by pressing on the throat with the hands
someone put to death for their beliefs
poor condition of health resulting from lack of (good) food
to burn the body of a dead person at a funeral ceremony
an arrangement of flowers such as those given at a funeral
a statement of how you want your things to be be shared after your death
a piece of music written for a dead person

Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 What poems, plays and films have you read and seen which deal with the subject of
death? What was your reaction to them?
2 How would you summarise modern thinking about the way babies should be born?
Do you agree with these theories?
3 What needs to be done to make a wedding ceremony successful?
Write or act out a conversation in which you ask someone how her recent pregnancy
went and how the baby is doing.
138

Births, marriages and deaths

Debate or write an article on the following subject: If the institution of marriage
breaks down, so will our society. Take five minutes to think of your ideas, arrange
your arguments, consider your strategy. Then argue!
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between a parent and his or her child of five
who has just asked what happens to us when we die.
Write an article for your local paper describing the funeral of a national hero or
heroine in your country.
Write a part of your letter to a friend describing how everything went wrong at
another friend's recent wedding.
Add here any words to do with death that you meet.

139

Work
Game
First, a game to test you on the words for some jobs and professions. Cover the
column on the right. Who would you contact or call on in the situations below? Then
look at the column on the right. Try to find the appropriate person for each situation.
Be careful! They are not in the right order.
1
2
3
4

a filling has come out of one of your back teeth
you think your eyes need testing
you find you have an ingrowing toe-nail
your back hurts and your doctor can't help
(Find four people.)

a chiropodist
a broker
a dentist (dental surgeon)
a vicar (priest)
a hairdresser (hair stylist)
a bookmaker
an architect
5 your fringe is getting a bit too long
an osteopath
6 you want a portrait photograph of yourself
a driving instructor
7 you have decided to sue somebody
a solicitor
(who might refer you to another lawyer)
a barrister
8 you fancy a holiday in the sun
a (dog) breeder
9 you want advice on investment or insurance
a (garage) mechanic
10 your grand piano isn't sounding quite right
a photographer
11 you want to find a 400-year-old grandfather clock a piano tuner
12 you are planning a church wedding
a chiropractor
13 your car won't start
an optician
14 you want to place a bet on the 3.45 race at Ascot a masseur (masseuse)
15 someone in the family has just died
a building contractor
(builder)
16 you want to learn to drive
an antique dealer
17 you want to buy a pedigree alsatian
a travel agent
18 you have decided to sell your house
a scrap metal dealer
(merchant)
19 you want plans drawn up for a new house
a physiotherapist
20 you want to go ahead and have the new house
an undertaker (funeral
built
director)
21 you are moving house and have a furniture
problem
an electrician
22 you have lots of old iron you want to get rid of
an estate agent
23 you want new windows put into the house
a maintenance engineer
24 your new fridge is leaking
a glazier (and a carpenter)
25 you like the idea of new wallpaper throughout
the house
the fire brigade (firemen)
26 water is gushing from your kitchen taps even
when turned off
a psychiatrist
27 all the lights in your house have fused
a social worker
28 you think your neighbours just might be
neglecting their little child
a removal firm
29 your house is on fire
a plumber
30 you think you are going crazy
an interior decorator

140

Work

Practice 1
[1] The jobs below are grouped according to the results of a survey on average weekly
earnings in Britain. Group A earn the most, Group J the least.
1 Look through the groups to find the following:
employers, employees
white-collar (office) workers, blue-collar (factory and manual) workers,
manufacturing industries (factories), service industries (other), professions,
skilled workers, semi-skilled workers.
2 Note any jobs that you think are in the wrong group. Which group would you put
them in?
3 Decide how fair you think earnings are in Britain.
Group A

medical practitioners (doctors, etc.) pilots specialists in finance,
insurance / tax inspectors university lecturers
Group В

police inspectors fire-service officers prison officers sales managers
marketing executives company secretaries personnel / industrial
relations officers
Group С

ship's officers advertising executives public relations officers
journalists (reporters) electrical / electronic engineers local
government administrators
Group D

mechanical engineers civil engineers computer programmers
systems analysts accountants teachers in further education
metallurgists
public health inspectors
production engineers
policemen
Group E

industrial designers
surveyors
draughtsmen
ambulancemen
technical sales representatives welfare workers primary / secondary
school teachers
Group F

toolmakers and fitters furnacemen welders (skilled) security officers,
guards and detectives laboratory technicians sales supervisors bus /
coach drivers sheet metal workers
Group G

lathe operators train drivers and signalmen motor mechanics (skilled)
bricklayers postmen mail sorters catering supervisors joiners
shipping and travel clerks telephonists
Group H

packers, bottlers, canners, fillers chefs and cooks plasterers
hotel / pub / club managers midwives and registered nurses painters
and decorators refuse collectors (dustmen) bakers and confectioners
hospital porters storekeepers
Group I

shop assistants, salesmen, shelf-fillers caretakers bus conductors
bleachers and dyers gardeners butchers barmen
Group J

road sweepers general farm workers
auxiliaries waitresses

kitchen hands

nursing

141

Work

Work is obviously more than just having a job. Here is some union business for you to
consider. You will probably meet quite a lot of this language again some time in your
career.
1 If you are working alone, go straight to task 2. If you are working in a group,
roleplay a part of the meeting with the following agenda. (Choose the points that
look most interesting.) Before you start, allocate roles. You'll need at least two
employers, possibly a full board, then three or four representatives of the
workforce, each preferably with some special responsibility. Have a few minutes
in your two camps now before you begin the meeting, to discuss strategy.
2 Write the Directors' reply to some written requests from the union. You will make
some concessions, of course, but will want to reject some of the proposals.
Agenda for Works Council Meeting with Employers 19.03.89 14.30
1 Minutes of Meeting of 18.03.89
2 Plans for more job stability: supplementary pensions
sickness benefit schemes
Disputes Procedure
Renegotiation of 'Hiring and Firing1 Procedures
(motion for the reinstatement of Shop Steward
Jack Hartley, dismissed 18.03.89)
Redundancy Agreement
3 Recruitment, Promotion and Transfer of Personnel
Training Requirements
Hygiene, Comfort and Amenities at Workplace
4 Classification of Jobs, Responsiblity Allowances
5 Negotiations for Annual Wage Increase
Provision to relate all Pay to Government's Retail Price Index.
Please add below any other points that you would like to be raised.
6 Time and a half and time off in lieu of Bank Holiday working
7 Special rates for overtime and unsocial hours
8 Double time after lunchtime Friday
9 Review of Working Conditions + canteen, rest room facilities
10 End of time and motion studies
11 Increase in uniform allowance
12 Flexi-time proposals
13 Workers' representation on the Board
14 Reduction in Hours of Work, Increase in Holiday Entitlement
15 Minimum Compensation for Industrial Injury
16 Incentive Bonus Schemes
17 Productivity Deals!!!
18 Danger Money!
19 Proposals for Profit-Sharing Systems
20 Plans for Setting up of Workers' Co-operative - w.e.f. next Monday!

Study
An important aspect of work is our position, our status.
Here are some of the ranks in the three British armed services.
Navy
admiral of the
lieutenant
able seaman
petty officer
cadet

142

fleet

Army
Air Force
commanding officer (C.O.) air marshal
colonel
wing commander
warrant officer
pilot officer
brigadier
flight
lieutenant
sergeant
squadron leader

Work

commander
captain
commodore
First Sea Lord
leading seaman

lance corporal
private
commander-in-chief
major
captain
general

marshal of the air force
flight sergeant
air commodore
group captain

Practice 2
Now look at various ranks and positions you can have in the following places.
There are eight gaps. Read items 1-8 and write the appropriate number in each.
1
2
3
4

Sergeant
Shop steward
Staff nurse
Vicar

Police
Commissioner
(Chief) Superintendent
(Chief) Inspector
Constable

5
6
7
8

Countess
Earl
Housemaster
Secretary of State

Politics
Prime Minister
Junior Minister
Back-bencher
Parliamentary Private
Secretary
Mayor
Councillor

Company
Chairman
Director
Shareholder

Priory
Abbot
Prior
Friar
Canon
Monk

Hospital
Matron
Sister

School
Headmaster/ -mistress
Principal
Director of Studies
Deputy Head
Head of Department
... /-mistress
Senior Teacher
Supervisor of Studies

Aristocracy
King
Prince
Duke
Marquis
... / Count
Viscount

Convent
Mother Superior
Abbess
Sister
Novice

Catholic church
Pope
Cardinal
Bishop
Deacon
Priest

Protestant church
Archbishop
Dean
Canon

Aristocracy
Queen
Princess
Duchess
Marchioness

Union
Union Leader
Member of the Executive
Branch Secretary
Conference Delegate

Parson
Curate

Orderly

Viscountess

Reading
Not everybody has a regular, steady job with a fixed income. Some are
self-employed and work for themselves, some work part-time, some work
irregular shifts, some are unemployed. Some have a job, but it isn't what it
should be. Some are apprentices, earning very little while they are being trained.

143

II
Work

Read the words of the song below, noting how many people there are who are not
Number One. The key-words have been printed on the right so that you can test
yourself later.
I know you've always got to have a kind of...
who will throw all the balls back into play.
And you couldn't really do without a ...
longing for the manager's holiday.
And the company will always need a ...
praying for the chairperson's death.
It's clear that somebody has got to be the ...
and someone has to make do with ....

substitute

Someone must accept that he's the ...
waiting impatiently to play in the team.
Someone's got to act as the ...
typing out ream after ream.
Someone's got to be the magician's ...
holding the maestro's gloves.
And someone's got to work as the ...
wishing she was one step above.

twelfth man

I suppose there'll always be a place for the ...
turning the pianist's pages.
And you're always going to find a ...
who'll clean out the animals' cages.
And can the cast do without the poor ...
fidgeting in the wings?
Can the golfer get around without his faithful.
carrying his clubs and things?

failed musician

I know that someone's got to be the ...
getting on everybody's nerves.
And there'll always be a need for a ...
aware that she was ...
And it's no disgrace to be a plumber's ...
carrying the boss's tools,
Or the temporary relief, a ...,
A stranger in a hundred schools.

student dentist

I guess there'll always be a job for the ...
Peeping through the restaurant door.
You can't have a fight without a heavy-weight,
Landing in a heap on the floor.
And you'll often hear the stories of the ...
Who never quite made it to sea.
I know all that, but I can't help wondering
why it's always got to be me.

deputy manager
vice-chairperson
second string
second best

trainee secretary
assistant
auxiliary junior

would-be trainer
understudy
caddy

stand-in speaker
first reserve
mate
supply teacher
commis waiter
challenger
stand-by sailor

Practice 3
[1] Describe the structure of a company that you know or of a typical company in your
town. Mention the number of employees, the working conditions, the chances for
promotion, the directors, etc.
[2] Describe how you think work will have changed in 15, 30 and 45 years' time. What
new jobs will there be? What jobs will have disappeared? What will most people's
working conditions be like?
144

Work

[3] Write or act out an interview between a candidate and his or her prospective
employers from the point where the interviewee is invited to ask questions.
[4] Write an enthusiastic letter to a friend or your parents after the first week in your
first job.
[5] Write the first two paragraphs of a magazine article that has the headline: Is any job
better than no job at all?
•

Add here any other words about employment you may meet.

145

Earning and
spending money
Reading
Look, everyone, I think we ought to try and economise a bit this month -go carefully
on our spending money, cut out a few luxuries, just generally cut down a bit. OK?
Below is an English family's budget in pounds sterling for next month. Look at it to
see where their money is coming from and how much is going out. Note down how
you think they could save money and any differences between this budget and a
family budget in your country.
Income

Outgoings

Basic salary (gross
380, after tax):
335.00
Overtime payment:
56.50
Productivity bonus:
10.00
Royalties on 'Son of Jaws': 35.50
Son's wages (4 x 45 net):
180.00
His tips and commission: 25.00

National Insurance
Contributions:
46.00
Mortgage payment:
175.00
Rates (Direct Debit)
39.50
Gas and Electricity Quarterly Bills:
164.00
Alimony - maintenance
money to ex-wife:
173.50
HP instalment on car:
88.00
Road Tax:
80.00
Speeding
fine:
35.00
Life Insurance premium: 48.00
Deposit on new washingmachine:
45.00
Accountant's fees
(3 months overdue):
25.00
Repayment on Credit Company
loan (Standing Order):
60.00
Interest on overdraft on
current account:
45.00
Other bank charges:
10.00
Subscription to
magazines
10.00
Donation to 'Help the
Aged':
5.00
Contribution to Labour
Party funds:
7.50
Jenny and Jim's pocket
money:
60.00
Stake money for football
pools and horse-racing:
18.50
Church Collection:
1.00

Basic Earnings:
plus extras:
Jim's college grant
(240 - 3, tax-free):
Freda's scholarship
(120-3):
Child Benefit
(7.50 x 2 x 4):
Dad's pension:
Ted's dole money unemployment benefit:
Dad's dividend on his
BP shares:
Interest on Mum's savings
(bank deposit account):
Tax Rebate (Tax year
1980 - 81):
Winnings on the Derby:
Total extras:

642.00

80.00
40.00
60.00
136.00
146.00
13.00
3.50

4.50
2.50
485.50

Total Income (all sources): 1127.50

Total Expenditure:

Balance: -£8.50

146

1136.00

Earning and spending money

Practice
[1] Act out or write a conversation between various members of this family, discussing
how perhaps they could cut down and save a little money.
[2] Below are a number of ways of saving or making money. Note down which you
think are sensible and which you would not recommend. If you are working in a
group, discuss your notes. If you are working on your own, write a brief summary of
them.
1 buying in bulk to beat inflation

2
3
4
5

looking out for genuine reductions and real bargains in the sales
buying supermarket brands rather than brand-name products
buying economy-size packets and tins of things
collecting packet tops that offer discounts on the next purchase, have '5p off'
labels on them or contain forms for special offers

6
7
8
9

looking out for special HP (hire-purchase) deals at good rates of interest
delaying payment of bills until the final demand
taking your holidays out of season at cheap rates
buying second-hand clothes in jumble sales or charity shops

10 buying products that offer trading stamps or gift vouchers or competitions
with once-in-a-lifetime prizes
11 using the telephone at off-peak, cheap-rate times
12 shopping only at places where money can be refunded rather than goods
exchanged
13 changing your foreign currency when the rates of exchange are favourable
14 checking your bank statement and cheque counterfoils to make sure there are
no errors
15 looking after receipts and guarantees

[3] Which expression from the list of comments below would you use about yourself at
the moment? Notice how many expressions we have for rich and poor, reflecting our
obsession with money, and how we often refer to pence as p in everyday conversation.
He's a multi-millionaire.

She inherited millions (an oil-heiress).
They won a fortune.
She's got more money than sense.
They're made of money.

He's a very wealthy businessman.
She's extremely well-off.
You're looking very prosperous.
They say we're living in an affluent society.
He's comfortably off.

Money doesn't buy happiness, but it helps.
I'm a bit hard up at the moment, actually.
I'm down to my last ten p.
He's broke.
They're on the breadline.
I haven't got a penny to my name.

I'm afraid we're bankrupt, gentlemen.
Now I know what it's like to be poverty-stricken.
I'm running into debt.

I owe money everywhere.
I'm heavily in debt.

I'm a few thousand in the red.
I'm up to my ears in debt.

I wonder if it's true that crime doesn't pay!
147

Earning and spending money

Note down the various ways in which shops and firms in your country encourage you
to buy their products.
Act out or write a conversation between a friendly bank manager and a
newly-married couple. They are asking for advice on financial matters: how to
manage their salaries, savings, monthly outgoings, etc.
Act out or write an interview between an employer and an employee who is trying to
explain how difficult it is to 'make ends meet' on his or her salary and is therefore
asking for a rise.
Write a reply to your bank manager's letter enquiring about your £200 overdraft.
Explain why you have one and what you're going to do about it.
Write the opening of your speech to a meeting of your town's Young Socialists on the
inequality in present-day society and the unfair distribution of wealth.
Write the first paragraph or two of a brochure announcing that you have set up as a
financial adviser. Outline the services you will be offering, the benefits that
clients will receive etc.
If you meet any other words to describe your finances, add them here.

148

Health and illness

r

Reading 1
Study the 'case history' below. Then write ten headlines for the President's ten-day
illness, from President taken ill to The nation holds its breath.
'You're in perfect health ... as fit as a fiddle ... there's nothing wrong with you.'
'I feel a bit off-colour ... rather under the weather ... I do feel funny ... I really
don't feel well... I think I'm sickening for something ... I feel feverish ... like
death warmed up.'
'He's been taken ill... he's in a coma ... fighting for his life ... still critically ill...
in a very critical condition ... no change ... still seriously ill... still hasn't
regained consciousness ... is responding to treatment... off the danger list...
showing signs of coming round ... making progress ... his condition is
satisfactory... he's come out of the coma ... he's as well as can be expected ...
comfortable ... no change ... he's turned the corner ... he's on the mend.'
'We all wish you a speedy recovery ... get well soon ... we're glad you're over it.'
'The worst is over ... he's almost completely recovered ... he's practically
cured ... he's convalescing ... coming along nicely ... he'll be on his feet again
soon ... he'll be out and about again in a few days.'
'He's had a relapse ... he's no better ... he's getting worse ... his condition is
deteriorating ... he's getting weaker ... he's slipping away ... fading fast... his
life is hanging by a thread ... it's just a matter of time ... he could go at any
second!'
'He's made a miraculous recovery ... he's as good as new ... as right as rain ...
he'll live till he's a hundred.'
After all that, do you feel well enough to read on? Note the ways that illnesses can be
spoken of and reported in the text below.
Examination Fever
For most of the year, most of us had been allergic to work; apparently there had
been a history of such allergies in the school.
Throughout the spring there had been quite a few cases of 'Exams are stupid', which
proved highly contagious among friends.
Then in late May, one or two of us suffered a mild attack of 'Gosh, is it really next
month?' and we seemed to give that to the others rather rapidly. You could tell how it
was spreading from improved attendance at lessons.
An even more serious outbreak was that of the very infectious 'I don't know a
thing" two weeks before. At about the same time everyone seemed to catch 'You're no
good!' from the teachers. Then there was a bout of'I don't really care' followed by a
few chronic cases of 'My parents will kill me'. This again proved very catching;
half the class was down with it in the week leading up to the exam itself, and it
had reached epidemic proportions by the Friday before.
By this time, those who had been suffering from 'It'll be easy for me' had made a
total recovery.
That Friday there was a 'What if I'm suffering from amnesia?' scare, and this had
developed by Monday into a touch of 'I can't even remember my own name'.
There were also, of course, the normal isolated cases of 'My pen doesn't work' and
several pupils had a sudden fit of 'Where's the toilet?'
Afterwards there were a couple of complaints of'I know I've failed', but generally
the worst seemed to be over. Such diseases are rarely terminal. And after all, we
had a convalescence and recuperation period of six and a half weeks to follow.

149

Health and illness

Practice 1
Without looking back at the previous two texts, try to supply the missing word that
completes these expressions:
1
2
3
4
5
6

under the ...
it's just a ... of time
... the mend
suffer... hayfever
to go ... with 'flu
turn the ...

7
8
9
10
11
12

as ... as a fiddle
a bit...- colour
fighting ... his life
allergic... dust
as right as ...
just a ... attack of nerves

Here, on this rather unpleasant page, are some of the best-known and least-wanted
diseases and conditions, arranged according to where they strike or what causes
them. However, in each group there is one that should not be there. Can you identify
it?
The heart and blood vessels
poor circulation
high blood pressure
a stroke
heart attack
jaundice
cardiac arrest
heart failure

The liver
gallstones
cirrhosis of the liver
hepatitis
cancer of the liver
coronary thrombosis

The stomach and intestines
appendicitis
stomach ulcer
polio
a hernia
constipation

The blood
anaemia
pneumonia
leukaemia
a haemorrhage
a blood clot

Infectious

Food poisoning

7

c

fevers

measles
chickenpox
German measles (rubella)
smallpox
pleurisy
glandular fever
yellow fever
scarlet fever
whooping cough
influenza
leprosy
malaria

The lungs and respiratory system
diphtheria
catarrh
sinusitis
tonsilitis
laryngitis
asthma
angina
cholera
bronchitis
tuberculosis (ТВ)
lung cancer

150

typhoid
dysentery
diarrhoea and vomiting
salmonella
mumps

The joints
rheumatism
enteritis
arthritis
fibrositis

The nervous system
migraine
epilepsy (epileptic fits)
Parkinson's disease
multiple sclerosis
muscular dystrophy
Mental disorders
schizophrenia
manic depression
neurosis
paranoia

Health and illness

This is a section on symptoms, possible diagnosis and remedies. These six
exchanges between doctor and patient have been mixed up. Decide which response
should follow which question.
1 I've been suffering from insomnia
lately. Do you think I might be
heading for a nervous breakdown?

a Possible. Try this lotion for a few days
to stop the itching, then start putting
on this powder at night.

2 I seem to have some sort of stye or
infection in my right eye. Do you
think I might have conjunctivitis?

b Unlikely, but I'll let you have some
cough mixture to relieve the
symptoms. You can get yourself some
lozenges, if you like.

3 I can't stop scratching this place on
my foot. Do you think it's athlete's
foot?

с I would doubt it. Here, rub this cream
in for the next few nights to help
reduce the swelling.

4 I've got a rather sore throat, and I
keep feeling a bit flushed. Do you
think it could be 'flu?

d No, of course not. But I'll prescribe
some barbiturates - sleeping pills to help you get a good night's rest. OK?

5 I've got a big bump on the back of
my head. Do you think it might be
more than a bruise?

e I wouldn't have thought so. But I'll
give you a prescription for some
drops to try and clear it up.

6 I keep getting shooting pains down
my shin and ankle. Is it possible that
I've broken or sprained something?

f Well, the X-ray didn't show anything.
If it's so painful, you'd better have
some crutches to walk with and some
painkillers to ease the pain.

Rearrange these six paragraphs in the same way.
1 I've got a dull ache in my arm and
occasionally I get a spasm. Could
it be a minor fracture, a chipped
bone or something?

a Mm, sounds a bit like it. I'll make
you out a prescription for some
penicillin, and some menthol
inhalations might speed up the
recovery.

2 I've got these tiny little bumps
all over the back of my neck.
Do you think it might be gland
trouble?

b It's just possible. I'll strap it up
anyway and put it in a sling. That
should reduce your discomfort quite
a lot.

3 I've come out in a rash on my chest.
Do you think it could be a skin
disease like impetigo or
dermatitis?

с Oh, I shouldn't think so, but I think
perhaps you ought to start taking
these tranquillisers, to at least get
your blood pressure down.

4 I keep getting short of breath. Is
there any way I could be suffering
from asthma?

d Oh no, no, no. You'd know if it was. I'll
give you some ointment to rub in to
get rid of the inflammation.

5 I think I've got an ulcer in my mouth.
Do you think it could be a sign that
I'm run down?

e Probably not. I'll put you on a course
of tablets to prevent them from
spreading. They should go soon.

6 I feel so feverish, and I'm sure I've
got a temperature. I'm so afraid
that there's something wrong
with my heart.

f It might well be. I'll put you on
antibiotics for a while anyway, to
lessen the risk of serious infection.
151

Health and illness

Reading 2
Observations of a Hospital Porter
Ambulance siren,
Brakes squealing,
Screeching. Bleeding.
Stretchers wheeling.
Anaesthetic.
Operations.
Amputation.
Blood transfusion.
Every hour
A siren blares
Another night
At St Mary's.

Practice 2
A Nurse's Lament
Complete the text below by filling each gap with one of the following verbs:
dressing setting giving taking saving fitting sterilising taking out
transplanting taking off performing.
Well, don't you think it's unfair? There they are upstairs,... bones,... skin grafts,
... pacemakers,... organs,... lives and exciting things like that. And here I am
spending the whole of my day ... people's pulse,... injections,... bandages,
... stitches, ... wounds and ... bottles. And to think they earn four times as much
money for all the fun they have!

Reading 3
Prevention is better than cure.
HIS LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS

Beautiful, isn't he? The sort of child any parents would be proud of.
Hard to imagine that until a few months ago this little boy was in mortal danger and
nearly lost his life.
Without proper vaccination he was at the mercy of every germ, virus, bacterial
disease around.
Don't take the risk!
Make sure your child is fully inoculated. Today!
GIVE YOUR CHILD A FAIR CHANCE - TO LIVE!

152

Health and illness

Practice 3
Щ

Write or act out conversations in a doctor's surgery - rather longer than the ones you
read earlier - in which a doctor, a patient and the patient's mother, wife or husband
discuss how the patient should recover from the operation he or she is about to have.

[2] List and give reasons for five golden rules for keeping healthy.
[3] Debate or write about the topic: Nobody wants to live till they're a hundred and ten.
Organise your thoughts carefully before you begin.
[4] Describe the remedies or treatments you have heard of for the complaints and
accidents listed below.
1 a bad burn
2 nosebleed
3
frostbite
4 hiccups
5 a hangover

6 a fish-hook in the finger
7 a cold
8 a person who's fainted
9 a person who's nearly drowned

щ Write a letter to a friend from your hospital bed, describing your way of life for the
past few weeks, before and since your operation.
[6J Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between a GP (General Practitioner or family
doctor), a parent and a very spotty child.
•

Add any more words you need to describe any further illnesses you may catch or hear
of.

153

Sport and games
Jigsaw reading
These extracts from sporting commentaries were in pairs, but they have been mixed
up. Decide which extract goes with which. Then guess which sport is being referred
to in each extract. The answers are given at the end of this unit to help you.
1 ... and now, just when it looked as if Wallburger was going to win the bout on
points,...
2 ... at this stage, with the recent loss of Scherzo's bishop, knight and both rooks,
we can only be a couple of moves away from mate ...
3 ... and in pole position on the grid, on his favourite circuit, with its short
straights and tight bends, is Marconi Libido — three times winner here and
currently leading the championship table ...
4 ... then her legs shooting out in front of her, landing feet apart in the pit - a
beautiful leap ...
5 ... Frankfurter has produced a left hook from nowhere, midway through the
thirteenth round, to put him on the canvas. And it doesn't look as if he's going to
beat the count...
6 ... so it looks as if it's going to be the fast finishers who can sprint to the line who
are in with the best chance. Down the back straight,...
7 ... a forehand drive return of service - fine shot - Lumbago can't get it. It's in!
8 ... you can see it again now in slow motion; her foot hits the board, perfect
take-off - the cycling movement she performs in mid-air ...
9 ... his king is now virtually defenceless. And in fact it's all over. Scherzo has
resigned, his...
10 ... and also crossing into the inside lane from lane number two ...
11 ... so, a free kick just outside the United penalty area! ffipov dummies over the
ball. Hansov takes it - across the goal. Pizov goes up for it but he's fouled by
Robson. It's a penalty in injury time.
12 ... That's it! Game, set and match to Andante ...
13 ... And they're off. Down goes the flag and they're away on the first of eighty laps.
14 ... so, the first lap in 53.4 seconds. There's the bell and at the moment, the Kenyan
is out at the front, leading by a couple of metres, and it's a slow time ...
15 ... and this is her third attempt with the bar at 1 metre 81...
16 ... a red flag, his third no-throw in a row, so he's out of the competition ...
17 ... Two-one, and now a dramatic chance for an equalizer. Remember, if the match
ends in a draw at full-time, it will be decided on penalties ...
18 ... and the Russian team are disqualified for handing on the baton too late ...
19 ... steps into the circle, composes himself, spins rounds - oh dear!...
20 ... slow approach, up and she's over, and at a new record height...

Game 1
Look at the groups of four words below. Try to decide in which sport all four words
would be used. Then try to add a word of your own to each group. In one or two cases,
more than one sport may be associated with the four items. These answers are also
given at the end of the unit.
1 table
net
bat
backhand
154

5 course
hole
flag
clubs

9 mat
horse
bars
beam

13 ring
ropes
corner
bell

Sport and games

2 court
baseline
serve
volley

6 reins
10
fence
whip
winning post

3 pool
7
butterfly
breaststroke
turn
4 foil
epee
sabre
hit

bow
arrow
target
bull

8 boat
rope
ramp
tricks

table
pocket
cue
red

14 board
square
pawns
queen

11 track
15 racket
pedals
shuttlecock
handlebars
smash
lap
lob
12 corner
16 rink
goal-kick
puck
striker
stick
goalkeeper
goal

[2] Below are three other short games for you. Don't worry if you don't win; they are only
games to help you remember the words.
1 Here are some of the men's world records that existed in 1987 in certain
athletics events (outdoor as opposed to indoor). Cover the column on the right
and see if you can guess which event goes with which record.
1 2.42m.
3 2.13m.
5 8.90m.
7 17.97m.
9 22.64m
11 74.08m.
13 84.74m.
15 104.80m.

2
4
6
8
10
12
14

9.93secs.
high jump, 100 metres
12.93 sees.
pole vault, 100m. hurdles
37.83secs.
long jump, 4 by 100m. relay
43.86 sees.
triple jump, 400 metres
8 mins. 5.4 sees.
shot, 3000m. steeplechase
2 hrs. 7 mins. 13 sees, discus, marathon
8847 points
hammer, decathlon
javelin

2 Now look at the column on the right and select the appropriate instrument used by
each of the officials on the left. The name of the official's sport is given to help you.
football
the referee's
the linesman's
the trainer's
boxing
the judge's
the second's
athletics
the starter's
the timekeeper's

gun
scorecard
watch
whistle
chair
sponge
towel
flag

tennis
the umpire's

3 And now, who wears what? Cover the column on the right. Which sportsmen /
women would you expect to find wearing these clothes and accessories?
1 helmet, thigh and shoulder pads, boots
2
3
4
5

cap, goggles, trunks
shorts, vest, spikes
shorts, gloves, gumshield
mask, breastplate, gym shoes

speedway rider or American
footballer
swimmer
sprinter
boxer
fencer

155

Sport and games

Reading
For many people, sport is a question of winning or losing. Note the numerous
expressions concerning sporting success and failure in the text that follows.
The Village Sports
The sports were held as usual on the recreation field, next to the glove factory.
Officials outnumbered spectators, but there were more competitors than ever
before.
Maggie was the star, as always. Apart from winning the women's sprints and tying
for first place in the long jump, she was champion again in the (approximately)
50 metres freestyle, retaining her title for the fifth time. She led from start to
finish in the running - the others didn't stand a chance - and she was in a class
of her own in the swimming; it was a walk-over, completely one-sided. She was
across that pond and back before some had reached the other side.
Dad did well too. There was a field of fifteen for the 400 metres - to the bicycle
shed and back - and Dad was an outsider before the race because he's unfit; but he
excelled himself and came second. Was he proud of his runner's-up medal? You
should have seen him!
Our family were reigning champions in the Five-a-side football competition
and hot favourites to win the cup again. We did, but only just. The final - against
our old rivals, the Lavenders - finished in a draw, despite two own-goals by Uncle
Mac, and we kept the trophy on goal difference from earlier rounds.
After that, things began to go wrong and we suffered a number of defeats. Uncle
Mac and little Donald were in a photo finish for last place in the father-and-son
race - or would have been if someone had had a camera. They were just about
overtaken on the line by old Mr Grey with his fifty-year-old son on his back; it was
probably a dead-heat actually.
Then we were outclassed in the boxing. Uncle Bill was a beaten finalist at
middleweight, but Uncle Mac was knocked out in the second round at
heavyweight and at lightweight I was stopped in the first round. (I swear that
Bobby Lavender is over 50 kilos.)
Because of my disappointing performance in that event, I was relegated to the
substitutes' bench for the tug-of-war and Aunt Flossie was promoted to our first
team. I felt so ashamed. Our opponents in the first heat were the butcher's family
from Number 15 and they slaughtered us.
Then things went from bad to worse. Granny was well beaten in the over 70s'
200-metres handicap. She was towards the back of the field for most of the race
and failed to finish the course in the end. Then Auntie Jane had all kinds of
problems in the sack-race and was just an also-ran. She did get a consolation
prize for finishing - two minutes after the others — but we had been hoping for a
victory in that event. And then, worst of all, Grandad was disqualified in the
egg-and-spoon race for having stuck the egg to the spoon. What's more, he's been
banned from entering the competition for five years.
I've noticed over the past few years how the village sports have been getting more
and more serious. It's a pity, really. I blame television ... for everything.

156

Sport and games

Practice 1
As further practice of some of the vocabulary in that text, answer the questions
below.
1
2
3
4
5

Who is the reigning Wimbledon women's singles champion?
How many spectators does your country's largest football stadium hold?
Why might you bet money on an outsider?
Who were the beaten finalists in the last football World Cup?
Whose athletes are usually hot favourites to win most gold medals in an Olympic
Games?
6 Who was the runner-up in last season's Formula One Drivers' Championship?
7 Are there heats for a marathon?
8 When might you be disqualified in a 100 metres sprint?
9 Who gets the gold medal when there's a dead heat?
10 Why might someone be banned from taking part in a sport for a period of time?

Riddle
Answer this question. If you need help, the answer is printed at the end of the unit.
Question: In sport, what one thing can you hold, set, break, smash or equal?

Game 2
And finally here's a little game - to add a few more words to your vocabulary and test
your knowledge of sport. In each of the items below, something is wrong. See if you
can spot each mistake.
1 So Miss Cupido finally wins six - love, seven-six (after the tie-break) seven five.
2 Stravinski gets the white flag at the end of this year's Monte Carlo Grand Prix.
3 The Russian gymnast, Nelli Navelikova, now on the rings ...
4 And now they're coming to the last fence of this year's Derby ...
5 Another basket for Hooper; that puts Canada into the lead for the first time in
the match: 38 to 35.
6 So with this 6 - 2, 6 - 3 victory, Abdul Kabul becomes the new squash singles
champion, taking over from his doubles partner, Sadiq Khan.
7 Two more gates, two more poles, he's through them, round them. Nothing can
stop him now becoming the new downhill ski champion of the world.
8 Such a talented athlete, strong swimmer, powerful cyclist, a first-class
shot, he would be almost sure to win the Modern Pentathlon if he was a better
rider.
9 Uwakana, in the slightly darker shorts, Japanese judo champion for the past
four years, facing his team-mate, Onawawa ...
10 After three rounds of golf, we have a three-way tie between the three Americans
all on a total of 148, with Juan Carlos one shot behind.
11 In this 4 by 100 individual medley, at the end of the third leg, as they change
from backstroke to freestyle, Allegro is leading by a metre from ...
12 And that's very good marks for the Olympic ice-dance champions; two 9.7s,
one 9.8, two 9.9s and a 9.6.

157

Sport and games

Practice 2
[1] Explain the rules of at least two of the following sports. Then give any tips you can
think of about how to do each sport well.
1
2
3
4
5

polo
baseball
croquet
rugby
cricket

6
7
8
9
10

weightlifting
netball
squash
volleyball
bull-fighting

[2] Describe your sporting heroes, both now and when you were a child. Explain why you
admire(d) them.
[3] Describe, in as much detail as possible, a match, competition or race that you will
never forget.
[4]

Discuss what you think are the main problems facing international sport today.

[5] Discuss your attitude - angry, enthusiastic or indifferent - towards sports that:
a use animals.
b use machines.
с involve physical violence between contestants.
[6] Write a paragraph from your novel in which the hero, after months of hard training,
goes out on the track for the 1500 metres final.
[7] Sport divides more than it brings together. Write part of a magazine article that you
submit on this theme.
•

Add here any other words about sport that you may come across.

Answers
Jigsaw reading: 1, 5 boxing 2,9 chess 3,13 motor racing 4,8 long jump
6,14 800 metres race (running)
7,12 tennis
10,18 relay race
11,17
football 15,20 high jump 16,19 throwing the discus (field event)
Game 1:1 table tennis 2 tennis 3 swimming 4 fencing 5 golf
6 horse-racing 7 archery 8 water-skiing 9 gymnastics
10 snooker (or billiards) 11 cycling 12 football 13 boxing (or
wrestling) 14 chess 15 badminton 16 ice hockey
Riddle: a record

158

Entertainment
Reading 1
Spend some time trying to absorb the language of the theatre and stage contained in
this text.
Confessions of a would-be actor
After playing Joseph in a nativity play at the age of five and a half, -1 can still
remember the three lines I had - my theatrical career really took off. I was chosen
to be the back end of the pantomime horse in our school end-of-term Chrismas
show. Success there, or rather lack of it - the horse's seams came apart soon after
our first entrance - led to my being given the job of stagehand for all future
productions. Even scenery falling over in the middle of an Italian light opera and
last-minute panic over the missing set for an ancient Greek tragedy failed to
persuade our drama teacher that I would be less of a risk on stage than off. (That,
in fact, is not strictly true. I did have a walk-on part once in a French bedroom
farce - as an apparently dumb police constable - but to everyone's horror I tried to
exit with the wrong character at the end of the wrong scene, stage left instead of
stage right.)
On leaving school, I joined an amateur dramatic society, full of enthusiasm but
rather short on experience, technique and timing. For some years, I was
restricted to bit parts in sketches, satirical revues and one or two slapstick
comedies. My finest hour came when I had to stand in for a member of the cast
who had been taken ill -1 was the general male understudy - and take the part of
the villain in a Victorian melodrama; lots of overacting and asides to the
audience. I had only a very short rehearsal beforehand and I thought my
performance was reasonably competent. The producer, however, suggested that I
took up some less public hobby, like pottery or rug-making.
Not deterred, I joined a repertory company as stage and costumes manager,
also responsible for props and make-up. And I was their prompter as well. During
my time with them I wrote a number of scripts, most of which were rejected, but one
of which was accepted and performed. It turned out to be the most terrible flop. I
didn't do much acting there -just one part, if I remember rightly, in the chorus of a
musical, a revival of West Side Story. Nobody 'discovered' me. What I had always
wanted was to play the hero in something like Romeo and Juliet or to have a
leading part in an Oscar Wilde comedy of manners. When I turned fifty, however,
I began to accept that it was probably not going to happen.
You can imagine my surprise and delight, then, when some nights ago I learned that
I had landed the title role in Shakespeare's classic play Macbeth with the Royal
Shakespeare Company. I couldn't believe my luck. Macbeth: that superb monologue
before Duncan's murder, the passages with the witches on the heath, that fantastic
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow speech in Act Five, Scene 5. The dress
rehearsal, with co-stars Olivier and Glenda Jackson, was a dream. And with the
first night to follow — ten curtain calls — bouquets — reviews the next day: 'Smash
hit!' 'Don't miss it!' 'A box office winner!' 'Triumph for new Macbeth!' 'A Star is ...'.
And then that horrible ringing sound in my ears ...

159

Entertainment

Practice 1
[1] On the right are some of the ways we classify films. On the left are some film titles.
Match each title with the most appropriate kind of film from the column on the right,
1 Last Days of the Black Rock Gang
a cartoon
2 Bridge over the Seine
a western
3 John loves Mary loves Tom loves Judy
a science fiction movie
4 Born to be a Star
a disaster movie
5 Light Years from Yesterday
a travelogue
6 The Blood of the Innocents in White
a documentary
7 The London to Glasgow Express
a war film
8 Avalanche
a (Hollywood) musical
9 Goldilocks at the Teddy Bears' Picnic
a horror film
10 Wildlife and the West
a blue movie
11 Bonaparte and Alexander
a thriller
12 Casablanca to Cape Town in 20 days
a historical film
13 Life begins at Midnight in Amsterdam a romantic comedy
[2] In what situation might you say the following? Match each question with one of the
situations on the right.
1
2
3
4
5
6

What's on?
Who's in it?
What's it about?
Where's it on?
What time does it start?
Where shall we sit?

You want to know whether the actors are any good.
You can't see a free seat anywhere.
You need to know what time to get to the cinema.
You're thirsty.
You're leaving the cinema with a friend.
There are three cinemas in town and you don't know
which is showing the film you want to see.
7 Where's the bar?
You haven't a clue what to go and see.
8 What did you think of it? It might be a horror film and you wouldn't enjoy that.

[3] Here are some of the categories for the annual Academy Award Winners. Each
winner gets an Oscar. Look back over the past few years - not just this year - and
note down who you would give your awards to for as many as you can of the
categories below. If you don't know the name of the person involved, then just give
the name of the film. If you are working in a group, compare and discuss your notes
with a partner.
Best film
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay (script)
Best Screen Adaptation
Best Cinematic Photography
Best Editing
Best Special Effects
Best Original Score (music)
Best Costumes / Wardrobe
Best Title Sequences / Credits
Best Short (film)
Special Award for Services to the Cinema Industry, the motion picture business,
the dream factory, the movie world

160

Entertainment

Game
There are, of course, more aspects to film-making than those listed above. Match
each person (1 - 5) with what they would say (a - e).
1 Director
2 Producer
3 Continuity Girl
4 Clapperboard Man
5 Cameraman
Can't you get on with the shooting? This is costing me money.
Scene 24. Take 25!
Your make-up's thicker and you're wearing a different dress.
Clear the set! This is supposed to be a film studio! Get those damned extras out
of here! Action! Cut!
e Rolling!

a
b
с
d

Reading 2
Finally in this unit - leaving aside nightclubs and floor shows, variety shows
and puppet shows, music-hall and carnivals, fairgrounds and fashion
parades, a song about the circus:
The whole thing's fake. The sawdust's like cake.
The tent itself's unsafe, and it tilts.
The singer's songs don't rhyme. The band can't keep in time.
And the chap can never climb on to his stilts.
But the one saving grace in this fifth-rate place The only act that's guaranteed to please —
The only reason that I go to this rotten awful show
Is that tiny little girl on the trapeze.
The juggler drops the balls. The tightrope walker falls.
And performing fleas are always such a pain.
The fire-eater's bald. And the audience are appalled
As the lion-tamer's mauled yet again.
The clowns aren't funny. It's a total waste of money.
I don't know why they have shows like these.
The only thing worth seeing in the whole performance being
That young twenty-year-old girl on the trapeze.
The ventriloquist moves his lips. The acrobat always trips.
And the conjuror's got no tricks left up his sleeve.
The high-diver's head is like a square loaf of bread.
I wouldn't be seen dead in there, believe me.
If it wasn't for the fact that there's this super little act
That gets me going weak at the knees,
I think you know the reason why I come back every season:
It's that middle-aged girl on the trapeze.
The ringmaster stutters. The comedian mutters.
And the strong-man splutters in despair.
The midget's five foot five; I'm surprised he's still alive
Because the knife-thrower's knives go everywhere!
161

Entertainment

The Russian sword-swallowers have lost all their followers;
So many knives they've borrowed stay below.
And the disappearing rabbits with their rather special habits,
Keep appearing just as rapidly as they go.
So even now, I must confess, the thing I like the best I don't know if there's anyone who agrees —
I've really just come back for that one three-minute act It's that elderly artist on the trapeze.

Practice 2
[1] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 Which clip from a particular film would you never tire of seeing?
2 What trailers have you seen recently that really made you want to go and see the
film?
3 Can you think of any scenes from films you think should have been cut? Or can you
think of any entire film you think should have been banned?
4 Which of these features do you, in general, like a film to have:
a a happy ending?
f larger than life or true-to-life characters?
b a complicated plot or a
g (in the case of foreign films) subtitles or
simple storyline?
dubbed dialogue?
с lots of action?
h lots of close-up shots of people's faces?
d a political or social message?
і long sequences of desert, jungle, etc?
e totally naturalistic dialogue?
j a fair number of stars or a cast of 'unknowns':
5 What can the cinema offer that the theatre can't - and vice versa?
6 Which plays have you seen which you have also seen the film of? How did the two
versions compare?
7 Would you let your ten-year-old son go off to Hollywood to be in a film, with or
without you there?
[2] Write a favourable review for a play you have seen.
[3] Write an unfavourable review for a film you didn't like.
[4]

Write part of a fan letter from a young teenager to an actor or film star.

•

Add here any other words that you meet about the theatre, cinema or circus.

162

Games and hobbies
Reading
Have a look through the following extracts from a scrapbook. In it, the writer gives
us an impression of the various pastimes and hobbies that he enjoyed at different
times in his life.
As you read, ask yourself how his interests and activities compare with yours at
each stage of your life. Decide what you and the writer have in common and how you
differ. Also identify the words for the things in the illustrations.
0 to 5
Nursery Rhymes
with Mummy and Daddy
Jack and Jill
went up the hill
and Fairy Tales
with Uncle Bill
Once upon a time
there was a handsome prince.
Dummies and rattles
and big soft toys
teddy bears, dolls
that walked and talked
abacus, bricks
and jigsaw puzzles
crayons, plasticine,
paints and chalk.

Swings and roundabouts
climbing frame
see-saw, slide
and playground games
castles in the sandpit
bucket and spade.
'Jennifer pushed me.'
'He called me names.'

6 to 10
Feet stuck
on the rocking horse
toes squashed
on the tricycle
knees grazed
coming off the scooter
bottom sore
from the bicycle.
163

Games and hobbies

Model aeroplanes
sticky fingers
missing bits
and breaking things
train sets
and making pastry
cut-out shapes
and rolling-pins.

Keeping pets
like mice and hamsters
rabbits in their hutch
and snakes in jars
puppies and kittens
in kennels and baskets
canaries in cages
with budgerigars.
On Sundays, we went to Sunday School. 'Well, you're going, whether you like it or
not. Whatever would Jesus say?' Before that, we usually managed half an hour of
skipping in the garden. I still think giving my little sister my treasured
three-year-old skipping rope was my most generous juvenile act. Afterwards, there
was hopscotch on the pavement — were we really as blind to traffic as children are
today? - or, if it was raining, 'doctors and nurses' indoors.
And then, every now and then, horror of horrors, a party with party games like
pass the parcel and musical chairs. I am convinced that my present unease in the
company of ladies can be traced back to the afternoon when, as a seven-year-old and
as a forfeit — or was it a prize? -1 was required to leave the party room with a
gigantic ten-year-old girl and plant a kiss on one of her cheeks.
Boy Scouts
and Girl Guides
uniforms, badges
passwords, camps.
Collecting coins,
the future numismatist.
The would-be philatelist,
collecting stamps.

Reading comics,
first Mickey Mouse
then Roy of the Rovers
every week.
Adventure stories like
The Secret Seven,
marbles and dominoes,
hide-and-seek.

164

Birds' eggs
and garden insects,
wild flowers
carefully placed on
scrapbook pages
or under mattresses.
No-one had heard of
conservation.

'My turn'. 'I wasn't ready'
'You cheat!' 'That's not fair!'
'You were looking!' 'No, I wasn't!'
Tm not playing any more!'

Games and hobbies

11 to 15
Life became slower. My friend Mary went off for hours:
knitting - huge needles, dropped stitches, uneven rows, 'Aren't I clever?'
sewing -1 swear it took her half an hour to thread the needle every time.
doing embroidery - she managed one flower on a cushion cover in seven and a half
months.
doing crochet — 'Now I'm really grown-up!'
We got involved with:
chemistry sets - the smell of rotten eggs, the sound of breaking glass.
and flying my kites in the April winds.
I didn't see her so much after that, except for our board games together:
progressing from Snakes and Ladders — Your go.' 'Pass the dice.' - to Monopoly,
to draughts, to backgammon, to chess.
She never liked card games, but we did finally graduate from snap to whist, to
canasta, to bridge. We stopped short of poker; poker came later.

ace of spades king of hearts queen of clubs jack (knave) of diamonds
'You shuffle the cards, she can cut them, and I'll deal them. Perhaps I can deal
myself a good hand. It's about time I won some tricks.'
She got bored by my riddles - 'What will go up a chimney down but won't come
down a chimney up?' 'Don't know.' 'An umbrella.' 'Huh!'
and made paper aeroplanes with my romantic poetry - 'You and the Daffodils,' to
Mary, love George.
She went to ballet lessons and then tap-dancing classes. I was sent to ballroom
dancing lessons. Does anyone know the difference between a tango and a
quickstep, a waltz and a foxtrot, a samba and a cha-cha? 'Take your partners for
a military two-step,' I hated every minute of it.
16 to 20

We got interested in cookery - 'The recipe said it would rise like bread, but it's as
flat as a pancake!'
I took up photography - expensive camera, telephoto lens, light-meter built in,
hours in the darkroom, developing and printing, photos of thumbs and backs of
heads.
Then came her crosswords — Clues: 1 Across: see 23 Down. (Solution below) and word games and puzzles.
And then, all of a sudden, hi-fi:
Mon:
Tue:
Wed:

check circuits on amplifier / tuner.
replace leads and jackplugs on all microphones.
overhaul cassette recorder, clean and demagnetise heads.

Thurs:
Fri:
Sat:

fit new record deck and stylus.
sort out balance of speakers; correct distortion on left channel.
strip and check wires leading to phono input sockets; test all
connections.
Sun:
play some music.
And nine months later, motorcycle maintenance:
oily rags and dungarees; stripping engines, decoking, tuning, changing wheels,
plugs, pistons, oil; sweating.
165

Games and hobbies

Then there were outdoor activities like:
skiing, skating,
surfing, canoeing,
horse-riding, wind-surfing,
parachuting, hang-gliding,
mountaineering, pot-holing,
roller-skating, skateboarding,
water-skiing, hiking,
camping and shooting.
My friends all told me they were great fun. I enjoyed the occasional picnic but my
favourites were indoor activities like:
fruit machines and pin-tables,
table football and video games,
pool, darts,
skittles and bowling.
We can't all be outdoor types.
21 to 25
Once we went hunting together, all red and white red for the jacket, the fox, the blood,
white for the teeth, the trousers, her face.
That started her on a year or two of anger and protest:
meetings, demonstrations, placards and posters:
'Down with whatsisname,' 'Stop the whatsit',
'Hands off thingummy,"Soandso out!'
Meanwhile, I began gambling:
£20 bets at fantastic odds of 10 to 1,
winnings of £200 plus my stake money back, if the horse that I'd bet on had won.
She then gave up politics for dress-making 'You can't go wrong if you follow the pattern.'
I flirted with gardening - fun for a week 'Sow in boxes, in moist compost, plant out carefully, water daily.'
Then I turned to alcohol, brewing my own beer,
distilling my own whisky, making my own wine.
She did basket-weaving, then pottery for a while:
handleless jugs and unusable vases,
while I tried my hand at carpentry.
I was in danger of becoming a do-it-yourself fanatic when,
suddenly and gloriously, I fell in love with cars.
After my love-affair with cars, what else was there left?
On and off, there was:
fishing - apparently the most popular outdoor pastime in Britain. Happiness for
millions is a rod and a line, a good catch on the hook.
playing bingo - a strange phenomenon, a party game with gambling, and lots of
prizes.
newspaper competitions — 'And this week, YOU can win any or All of the Prince's
wedding presents!'
yoga, jogging and keep-fit classes - 'Touch your toes! Don't bend your knees!'
Cartwheels, forward rolls, somersaults, press-ups.
Anyone who can do all that must be made of rubber.
And, of course, TV
and ante-natal classes, and then:

Nursery Rhymes
with Mummy and Daddy
Humpty Dumpty
sat on a wall,
and Once upon a time
there was a boy called Hansel.
Fairy Tales
with Uncle Paul.
166

Games and hobbies

Practice
[1] Note down the hobbies and activities you enjoyed from the age of five to the age of
fifteen.
[2] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 What hobbies do you now regret not taking up when you were younger? Include any
hobbies that you gave up too soon.
2 What activities will you encourage your children to enjoy? Are there any you will
discourage them from?
3 Is there any reason why both girls and boys shouldn't be actively interested in any
of the pastimes listed above?
[3] Practise giving instructions on how to do your favourite hobby or at least three of
activities 1-6.
1 play a card-game
2 dance a dance
3 look after hi-fi equipment properly

4 make wine
5 catch a big fish
6 develop photos

[4] Write a few paragraphs of a speech, in which you complain that girls and boys are
treated very differently from an early age and therefore grow up with very different
roles in society.
[5] Write, in dialogue form, a conversation between a bored teenager and a parent who's
trying to interest him or her in some worthwhile hobby.
[6] Write a reply to a friend who has written asking for your advice on how to keep her
six-year-old twins amused during the long summer holidays.
Add here any other activities that you know or hear of:

167

Music and the Arts
Study
Arrange the instruments below so that they are in a more normal orchestral
formation.

Practice 1
List the instruments in the orchestra that you would most like to play well. Also note
down any that you would never like to learn and why.
Imagine that you are going to form your own supergroup, inviting famous pop
stars and other musicians to join you. Choose the instrument that you would like to
play from the list of instruments and types of singer below, in the line up for the
recording session for this pop group or rock band. Then note down the
instrument or vocals of your choice from each line and who you will invite to play
them or to sing.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
168

lead vocals
lead guitar (electric)
acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, sitar
bass guitar, backing vocals
drums
extra percussion, tambourine, maracas, bongos
keyboards, organ, electric piano, synthesiser
mandolin, steel guitar, electric fiddle (violin)
harmonica, mouth organ, Jew's harp, kazoo
saxophone, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Music and the Arts

The arrangements, production, sound engineering and mixing are still to be
organised. Think of the records that you have got at home. Choose a recording
company or label that you would write to, in the hope that they will help you to find
a studio and market your record.
Now you've got your latest single release recorded, when are you going to go out on
the road and do some live concerts? Note down the five venues that you would
choose for a European tour.

Game
Look at some more instruments on the right that we can strike, blow, shake,
strum or pluck. Which of each pair below is the one in the picture?
1 banjo or ukelele?
2 harpsichord or spinet?
3 accordion or bagpipes?
4 cornet or bugle?
5 recorder or xylophone?
6 castanets or tom-tom?

Now, a variation on a BBC radio game. You're being sent off to a desert island
tomorrow with a toothbrush, bottle-opener and record-player. Make a list of the
pieces of music that you are going to take with you. You're allowed some or all of
the following:
2 symphonies
2 concertos or sonatas
1 choral or orchestral work: oratorio, cantata, etc.
1 opera: (grand, light, comic or operetta)
1 additional piece or set of classical music: a rhapsody, overture, collection of
nocturnes, serenades, studies, etc.
1 jazz LP: (modern or traditional)
1 album: folk, soul or blues
1 LP by a group: (pop or rock)
1 solo album: male or female vocalist
1 other selection of your choice: brass band music, a film score, nursery rhymes,
electronic music, pub sing-songs
[3J In this short quiz, answer each of the questions.
1
a
2
a
3
a
4

Which of these is not normally religious?
a hymn b a psalm с a carol d a ballad
Which of these would normally make the least noise?
a round b a lullaby с an anthem d the refrain of a madrigal
Which of these is the odd one out?
a duet b a triplet с a quartet d a quintet
Which order should these be in, starting from the top, that is to say the voice that
can sing the highest notes?
a baritone b bass с tenor d contralto (alto) e soprano (treble)
5 In what order, chronologically, did these names become popular?
a a jukebox b a record deck с a phonograph d a gramophone
e a record-player f a musical box
169

Music and the Arts

Reading
Read through the text below and see how many of the musical terms contained in
these reminiscences can be of use to you.
Try it again
I spent nearly six years studying and practising the piano at school; that's to say,
four years playing scales and arpeggios, then eighteen months let loose on actual
pieces of music.
My teacher, Mr Pearson, was the sort of person who thought that anyone who didn't
have perfect pitch was educationally subnormal and as for pupils - like me - who
had difficulty in reading music and never really began to master sight-reading,
well, there was really no hope in life.
Looking back, I can see that he was not particularly modern or enlightened in his
approach. There were weekly tests along the lines of:
'How many flats are there in the key of A flat major? '
'How were Bach's ideas on melody, harmony and counterpoint significant?'
'What was the opus number of Mo/art's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik?'
and lots of unanswerable questions about bass clefs and treble clefs, etc.
Still, we persevered together for those six years, despite my numerous handicaps.
For a start, my sense of rhythm - especially for anything syncopated - was
virtually non-existent.
'How many beats in the bar, Haskins?'
'Three, sir.'
Then kindly stop trying to squeeze in five.'
Then, being so small, neither of my hands could span a full octave which meant that
keys were rarely struck by the finger recommended and that, particularly on the
black notes, the little finger fell short of expectations.
'Is there normally а В flat in а В major chord, Haskins?'
'No, sir.'
'Right, then spare us it, will you?'
It wasn't that I didn't try. On the contrary, I had visions of one day performing in
concerts and recitals, if not as a soloist, at least accompanying guest singers
and instrumentalists. Somehow, the visions became fainter and fainter.
'I think if Beethoven had wanted a minor chord just there, Haskins, he would have
written one. Don't you?'
So the years went on, endless variations on a single theme, dozens of
arrangements of one basic tune, which I swear he composed himself.
I must admit there were times when I thought of changing instruments - going
back to the woodwind class, where I had bitten through three oboe reeds in one
session, or the strings department, where I kept dropping the viola bow, or the
percussion wing, where I had snapped two drumsticks inside ten minutes, or the
brass class, where I had nearly swallowed a trumpet mouthpiece. But I didn't. I
stayed with Mr Pearson and his finger exercises, the wrong notes, the missed
entrances, the 'Try it again's'. I suppose I was lucky that you can't play the piano
out of tune. I'm sure if it was possible to play flat, I would have done.
'What's the difference between an F sharp and an F natural, Haskins?'
'A semitone, sir.'

'Correct. Now, if you could remember that while you're playing, you might not make
such a pig's ear out of one of the most beautiful melodies Brahms ever composed.
Try it again.'

170

Music and the Arts

[2] Read this contents page from a new book on the visual arts.
ART FOR BEGINNERS

Part One
An Introduction to Art through the Ages
Chapter 1
Page 4
Early Beginnings Stone Age cave drawings
classical Greek sculpture
Byzantine art
Flemish tapestries
Gothic architecture
Chapter 2
Page 36
The Golden Age the Renaissance period
the Baroque age
the Romantic era
the Neo-Classicists
Chapter 3
Page 81
Recent
Impressionism
Developments
the Symbolists and Expressionism
Cubism to pop art
Part Two
How to be an Artist
Chapter 4
Page 123
Choosing a Style still life
portrait painting
landscapes
abstract art
mosaics and murals
Chapter 5
Page 159
Choosing your
sketching and engraving
Medium
watercolours
oil-painting
Chapter 6
Page 180
Choosing
form, colour and tone
a Subject
perspective
balancing foreground with background
Appendix One
Art Galleries of the World
where are the masterpieces? the most famous collections?
the best exhibitions?
Appendix Two
Building a Collection
originals and reproductions, restoring, framing, hanging
171

Music and the Arts

Practice
Choose the part of the above book that you would like to read first. Give your
reasons.
Describe two of your favourite paintings and why you like them. If possible, find
them in a book so that you can refer to them or show them to other people. If you
can't, then sit and look through a book of famous works of art and decide which ones
you like and which ones you don't. Consider whether you would want all, any or some
of them in your sitting room.
Describe your experience of learning to play a musical instrument or give the reasons
why you never did so.
Discuss or write notes on the improvements in sound quality on records and tapes
during your lifetime. Does the excellence of production nowadays disguise a lack of
musical quality, technique or interest?
Choose a song or piece of music and explain what you like and don't like about it.
Then compare it with a similar piece of music of your choice.
Describe how you would arrange a popular folk song for recording with the singers
and instruments of your choice.
Write a magazine review of a recently released record you have heard - classical or
modern.
Write, in dialogue form, a minute of conversation during one of Haskins's typical
lessons with Mr Pearson.
You have been asked to speak at a discussion evening on the subject of'Snobbery in
Music'. Write the notes that will help you in your speech to express your opinions.
Add here any other words about music and the arts as you meet them.

172

Cooking, eating and
drinking
Reading
1 Look carefully below at the different things that can be made in the kitchen.
Why it should be me that goes out to work: an extract from the diary of a frustrated
and indecisive housewife or -husband.
08.30

11.00

'Bye, bye. Have a nice day! ... Now what can I do for their dinner
today? Something simple but nourishing, tasty but not too 'hot'
or spicy, not too exotic but not too plain.... I've got a few eggs;
I could give them to them poached — on toast — or scramble them,
or fry them, or ... no, they don't like boiled eggs. I suppose I could
make an omelette ... or a souffle - they'd like that. The trouble
is, my souffles never rise. Besides, I'd really been planning to use
those eggs in a cake — a nice vanilla sponge. I've got lots of flour,
butter, sugar, vanilla essence and icing sugar to dust it; and for
a filling I could use those blackcurrants from the garden. Lovely!
Then again, those blackcurrants are so nice and fresh, it seems a
pity to put them in a cake. Better to have them raw after dinner.
Or perhaps I ought to stew them; they'll probably need a bit of
sweetening. I could put them into a fruit salad, or perhaps a
trifle - we haven't had one for a long time.... But I did say that I
was going to bottle them this year, preserve them, or make jam
with them; you can even make chutney from blackcurrants.

12.30

This is not helping towards dinner. Concentrate! ... How about a
blackcurrant tart for dessert? The pastry would be no problem;
puff pastry, perhaps, I can manage that. I could make a flan - that
would make a nice change. And while I'm making pastry for the
base of the flan, I might as well double the amounts and use the
rest for a few savoury vol-au-vents and perhaps a round of
shortbread. If there's any left over, I could always use it up on
some biscuits or macaroons — the kids would love that. In fact,
I could really go to town and make a quiche for all of us, or
fish and chips — basic pancake batter, nothing to it, really.

14.30

No, I've got it! Forget the flan. A meat pie! A gigantic meat pasty,
perhaps. I've got some beef in the freezer, and some kidneys. Steak
and kidney pie. ... It's not their favourite, of course. They often say
they prefer their meat roast. But that meat's no good for roasting. I
could braise it, I suppose, but that takes such a long time.... I could
mince it and then ... No. Perhaps if I made it into a stew — a big
casserole; that's easy enough. ... But if I don't do pastry, I'll have to
cook some potatoes. Roast potatoes wouldn't go. Jacket potatoes
are easiest, but the ones I've got are so small. We've had them
boiled for the past five nights. They can't stand them mashed or
creamed. Croquettes would take me all afternoon. Chips don't
really go with stew.... Unless I change the stew to kebabs. ... No.
Perhaps I'd better try and bake those little ones after all.
173

Cooking, eating and drinking

16.30

Come to think of it, I've gotall I need to do some real baking: flour
- plain and self-raising - and yeast for the dough. They'd
appreciate some oven-warm bread. I could manage a few buns
or scones, and they love those little croissant-type rolls I make for
their birthdays. If they have some nice bread, they probably won't
want more than a soup to go with it - a thick vegetable soup - that's
it. I've got some carrots to go in and one or two other ingredients.
Though I must say I prefer carrots raw, shredded in a salad....
In fact, a salad wouldn't be a bad idea. I've got oil, vinegar
and mustard for a dressing. Talking of mustard, why don't I...

17.30

Oh hello. Have a nice day? What would you say to a nice
Chinese takeaway this evening?'

Read the next entry from the diary and the menu that follows. Note down all that
you think needs to be done in order to serve the meal. Then read the list of things to
be done and amend or complete your notes.
The proof that cooking isn't for me: a further extract from the diary of a person who
is about to go out to work.
After several weeks of Chicken Chow Mein for dinner, I decided that things had
gone far enough. After all, there couldn't be that much to preparing a simple
four-course meal once a day. We sat down together to plan a menu, then a
programme of attack, adding a theatrical flavour for extra spice.
Our first menu
Asparagus Soup - for starter
Dover Sole

Roast Chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas - main dish
Peach Flan - for dessert

Our first performance
Act One

scrub asparagus stems
strip away the base
cut out woody parts
scale the fish, bone and fillet it

cut off head and tail
peel and wash potatoes
top and tail carrots
shell peas

thaw frozen chicken
skin peaches and remove stones
Act Two

chop up asparagus or shred it
place fish on greased foil
slice potatoes
dice carrots
crack two eggs for the flan
separate them

Act Three

scald marrow bones for stock
brown them in oven
put in large pan; add other ingredients
bring to boil and simmer to extract juices

strain through sieve or muslin
brush fish with melted butter

174

Cooking, eating and drinking

stuff the chicken
cover the breast with bacon rashers
season and rub with lemon juice
cook in middle of pre-heated oven
sift flour and salt into bowl for pastry
cut up butter, rub into flour, mix or blend
add water, sprinkling evenly over surface
beat egg-whites and fold them into mixture
knead gently, then chill for 30 minutes
Act Four

pour stock over asparagus and boil
allow to bubble for an hour, stirring regularly
dress the fish
place in hot oven
steam vegetables
baste the chicken
roll out pastry

bake in oven
whip or whisk cream for topping
Act Five

Finale

warm the plates
skim the soup to remove fat, etc.
garnish the fish
coat with pre-prepared sauce (oh!)
drain vegetables
make gravy from stock
carve meat
grate nutmeg over flan
leave to cool
Serve

Epilogue

freeze left-overs

The next day I read the plan of action ... and went out to find a job. Chicken Chow
Mein is OK, even though it has this rather strange after-taste.

Practice 1
Read the list of foodstuffs and the list of verbs .Note down what you can do to each of
the foodstuffs by listing the appropriate verbs. Then take each verb and say which of
the foodstuffs it can be used with.
1 eggs
2 potatoes
3 meat
4 pastry or dough
5 fish
6 cream
7 vegetables
roll
scramble
chip
crack
carve

scale
mince
knead
blend
grate

whip
stew
bone
steam
peel

dice
beat
stuff
baste
mash

braise
chop
poach
whisk
shred

175

Cooking, eating and drinking

Study and practice
To complete this unit, a look at drinks and the drinking habit. Note down the
beverages below that you have tried. Beside each, put whether you like it or not and
when you would normally drink it.
The cocktail you couldn't mix
It's funny, isn't it, how your friends never seem to get on well together? Let me
introduce you to some of mine. They're nice people, all of them, but put them in a
room together and the silence is shattering. I just don't understand it. I should have
known they wouldn't get on, though, from their drinking habits.
Retired Colonel, William Smythe-Johnson, MBE:
double gins at his club with just a dash of tonic and a slice of lemon
claret at dinner and brandy, French cognac, after dinner
always has a cup of tea at four o'clock sharp
His wife, Wilhelmina:
dry martini most of the time
champagne cocktail when entertaining - vintage champagne
Will Smythe, bank manager:
scotch and bourbon, usually with ice, occasionally soda, mainly at home
goes mad with duty-free schnapps after annual skiing holiday
German light white wine with clients
sometimes treats himself to a glass of port after dinner
His wife, Helen:
Bacardi or other white rums with various mixers, most often coke
insists on a glass of medium dry sherry before evening meal
they share freshly ground coffee (never instant) at breakfast and offer the
children pure, natural, unsweetened, nothing-added whole fruit juice
W. P. Smytheson, university professor:
a teetotaller - greatest love (after books) a cup of cocoa or drinking chocolate
in the comfort of his rooms
drinks mineral water at the functions he has to attend
Helena Johnson, fashion designer:
occasionally a few vodkas in the lounge bar
vermouth - Cinzano, Dubonnet, etc. - at home
enjoys a good sparkling wine as an aperitif
Willy Johns, one of my best friends, a teacher:
Guinness (draught, not bottled) in the saloon bar
a lot of orange squash after cross-country runs with the boys
Billy Johns, unemployed at the moment:
either lager in the saloon bar or rough cider in the public bar; has had to cut
down on drinking lately
Bill Smith, labourer:
drinks mild (dark beer) or bitter (brown beer) in the public bar
if he's won on the horses, he'll have a bottle of light ale and a whisky
His wife, Minny:
drinks milk stout, which makes her quite tipsy, or - less often - shandy (beer and
lemonade), which doesn't.
keeps an undrinkable blackcurrant cordial (she calls it a liqueur) for when visitors
come - visitors don't come very often
176

Cooking, eating and drinking

Practice 2
[1] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 What do you think a typical evening meal would be for each of the people in the text
about drinking habits?
2 What are the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of cooking for you?
3 Do you think, with the growing popularity of fast food, convenience food, junk food
etc., we are losing forever the art of fine cooking and good eating?
4 How serious would you say alcohol(ism) is in your country and/or any other
countries you have visited?
[2] Imagine you are an experienced barman or barmaid. You are showing a new
employee around the bar. Write or act out your conversation, in which you talk about
how the bar is run, the prices of drinks, what to give a customer if she/he asks for X,
which glasses to use for what, where everything is, and so on.
[3] Write a detailed recipe for a dish you know how to cook well, perhaps with a few
personal tips.
[4] Write a letter to a friend, describing the absolute disaster when you cooked dinner for
your fiance(e).
[5] Write out the menu for the annual dinner dance of a club you belong to. It is quite a
formal occasion, so choose a really nice four-course meal.
•

Add here any other words about food and drink that you may meet.

177

Travelling
Reading
Read through this rather long text over the next day or so, noting some of the key
words concerned with trains, boats, cars, coaches and planes. As you read, note
down the details of each of the six journeys described.
Travel Broadens the Mind
June 29th ... June 30th ... July 1st. And they're off. Suitcases packed. Notes left
for the milkman. Arrangements made for the budgerigar to be looked after. They're
all off.
Uncle Bill and Auntie Jane are on the quayside at the cross-channel port of
Dover - the first stage of their Mediterranean cruise — 'the voyage of a lifetime'
their travel agent called it. They've been through customs (half an hour's delay
while suitcases were emptied in search of missing passports) and they'll be
embarking soon. When they go aboard, Bill will finally be allowed to take those
boarding cards out of his mouth.
Granny's at the coach station armed with her special old-age pensioner's season
ticket — a kind of awayday, runabout, extended period, half-price ticket rolled
into one. Today she's off on a one-day sightseeing excursion to Stonehenge,
Blackpool Tower and Canterbury Cathedral.
Julia's with her boyfriend at the airport, kicking their cases through the
departure lounge of what they hope is Terminal 3 and the right place to be for the
package holiday charter flight that their tour operator assured them would be
leaving sometime this morning. To their right, the 1st class passengers are sipping
champagne cocktails; to their left, those in economy and tourist class are drinking
coffee from the machine and, under their feet, those on stand-by, are looking
hopefully up from their sandwiches.
Mum and Dad are already on the open road. They decided to make an early start
on their touring holiday through the Loire valley. "Your turn to drive now. Come
on, let's get moving. Switch on, then. OK, it's all clear. Pull out, there's nothing
coming. Well, take the handbrake off. Right, indicate. Come on, drive away. At
last! Right, keep over. Keep to the right. Change gear, then. Come on,
accelerate!'
'Porter!' 'Sir?' 'How much?' '50p.' 'No thanks; I'll manage my own luggage.' Uncle
Mac is about to board the 10.40 inter-city express to Glasgow for a fortnight's
holiday back in the homeland. 'Do I have to change?' 'No, it's a through train, sir,
non-stop all the way.' It looks as if quite a few expatriates have had the same idea.
The compartments all look full - especially the non-smokers - and the buffet car
already sounds like Glasgow on the night of a Celtic-Rangers football match.
My brother's on the slip road of the Ml motorway at Junction 14, a rucksack on
his back containing sleeping bag, biscuits and a change of underwear. He's been
there for an hour and a half with his homemade sign saying 'Anywhere', trying to
thumb a lift. There are no hostels or transport cafes in sight. The rucksack is
getting heavier and the sky is getting darker. It's not much of a life sometimes,
hitch-hiking.

178

Travelling

Oh dear. Granny's coach has got stuck in a traffic jam, a queue of cars as far as
the eye can see. OK, so central Birmingham is on the direct route from Blackpool
to Canterbury. But during the rush-hour? With thousands of commuters heading
for home? Not a good plan. After all, what are bypasses and ringroads for? 'Right,
you can overtake this one. There's no speed limit here. Oh, a diversion. You'd
better turn off the main road. Pull across to the middle. Now keep in the right
lane. I mean the left lane. I mean ...'
Crashes at take-off, mid-air collisions, flight recorders never recovered, no
survivors ... 'This is your captain speaking'wakes Julia's boyfriend up. Another
nightmare over. The stewardess is smiling down at him. 'Fasten your seat-belts,
please.'
Uncle Bill and Auntie Jane have settled into their cabin, unpacked their things
and have gone up on deck. The sea is calm, the sunset is out of this world, and
Uncle Bill is beginning to feel just a little bit seasick. They are due to set sail in
half an hour.
Traffic is still crawling along behind and in front of Granny's coach. You can see
the casualties by the side of the road, in lay-bys and on the grass verges - bonnets
up, overheated engines, steaming radiators. The guide is into his second hour
on the history of Canterbury Cathedral. 'Toilets 1 mile!' the cry is heard. There is
great happiness.
'Right, here's a garage. 'Essence' must mean petrol station. We'd better pull in.
Come on, slow down. Now, what's French for 'fill up the tank' and 'top up the
battery'and...?'
Brother got a lift half an hour ago — for five miles. He was dropped at the next exit
off the motorway and is now trying his luck on a minor road. There's a four-star
hotel on his left (full board £35 a night for a single room), a guesthouse on his
right (£15 per person for bed and breakfast) and a long road ahead of him.
Granny's having her packed dinner and gazing at the silhouette of Canterbury
Cathedral against the night sky. No matter. She can sleep on the return journey
(reclining seats and air-conditioning on the coach), and tomorrow's another day.
There's a trip to the local brewery; that sounds much better.
Uncle Mac is sitting on his cases in the corridor outside the guard's van,
surrounded by a ring of miniature bottles of scotch.
Julia's plane has landed. Her boyfriend's wondering whether to try and save
something from the bottles of duty-free spirits he's just dropped. Julia's more
interested in the connecting bus that's supposed to take them to their final
destination.
Uncle Bill is on the bridge with the captain, asking him if there's any chance of
being put ashore before the sea gets any rougher.
'Well, it's about time we found a bed for the night, don't you think? You see that
motel on the left? There! There, where I'm pointing! There, the one with the ... Hey,
pull up! Pull up! Oh dear, pull over. I wonder what the French is for 'I'm sorry, we
appear to have dented your bumper'.

179

Travelling

Practice
Which form of transport — train, car, boat or plane — do you associate with each of the
words and phrases below?
1
2
3
4
5

set sail
6 fast lane
a cruise
7 to indicate
traffic jam
8 sundeck
compartment 9 commuter
bonnet
10 take off

11 quayside
12 mid-air collision
13 departure lounge
14 buffet car
15 pull in

16 charter flight
17 to disembark
18 express

19 bypass
20 guard's van

Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 What, for you, are the pleasures and horrors of modern driving?
2 Look at the aspects of travel listed below. What are they like in your country? How
are they different in any other country you have been to?
a roads and car-drivers
b airports
с train services
d hitch-hiking possibilities
What's the furthest you have travelled in one 24-hour period? Describe the journey.
Think of films or film sequences - disaster movies, car chases, train adventures,
sinking ships — that involve travelling. Describe in detail the ones that impressed
you most.
Write or act out a conversation in a car. A driving instructor is taking a learner
driver out for their first lesson. The learner knows absolutely nothing about cars.
Write, in dialogue form, a conversation in which three friends argue about how they
should travel to a distant city for a long weekend. One thinks it would be best to go
by car, the second is for going by train, and the third would prefer to go by coach.
Write a circular letter to parents on the travel arrangements for a school's weekend
excursion from London to the North of France, which you have organised.
Write a dramatic paragraph from your latest novel, as the hero tries desperately to
get to the airport in time to catch his plane to Prague. It begins: Jackson jumped into
his waiting Porsche and...
Add here any other words or expressions that you meet on your travels.

180

Business, industry
and agriculture
Study
See how many of the words and expressions highlighted below you can have ready for
your future economic or financial discussions.
An A to Z of Economics: A Layman's Guide
A is for automation: bringing widespread, full-scale unemployment as the need
for manual labour decreases.
В is for balance of payments: the discrepancy between the amount of money paid
for imports and the amount of money received for exports.
С is for cost of living index: the system of measuring the annual rate of inflation.
An index-linked pension scheme is not a bad thing to have on your side.
D is for devaluation: (The last resort? A panic measure?) an attempt, by reducing
the value of one's currency, to increase the volume of exports compared to
imports.
E is for expansionist policy: reflationary, pumping money into the economy,
boosting investment and employment.
F is for fiscal matters: anything to do with the Treasury, particularly its revenue,
especially through taxation.
G is for GNP or gross national product: the sum total of the money earned through
a nation's goods and services.
H is for health, hospitals, housing: three outlets for government expenditure
on public services. Other large items of public expenditure include defence,
roads and communications, industry and trade, environmental services
and social security benefits.
I is for interest rates: a weapon in the Government's armoury, used to deflate,
stimulate or stabilise the economy.
J is for jobs: a key ball in the economist's juggling act. Are full employment and a
low inflation rate mutually exclusive?
The labour force in Britain can be divided into three categories:
1 primary industries (agriculture, fishing, mining, quarrying, forestry)
2 production industries (construction, gas, electricity, water, transport
and manufacturing, etc.)
3 services (distributive trades, financial, business, professional and
scientific, catering and tourism, national and local government).
К is for key industries: those essential to the economic welfare of a nation, such
as oil in OPEC countries, precision engineering in Germany, grain in
Canada, textiles in South East Asia, electronic goods in Japan.
L is for liquidity,: gold and foreign exchange reserves are known as
international liquidity, supervised to some extent by the IMF (International
Monetary Fund).
M is for monetarism: Professor Milton Friedman's brainchild, concentrating on the
control of money supply to conquer inflation.
N is for nationalised industries: state-owned corporations, struggling in Britain
to break even and cover their costs, often having to be propped up by the
Exchequer. Though often natural monopolies, they sometimes face
competition from the private sector. During the eighties, several nationalised
industries in Britain were privatised.
0 is for output: the output per employee multiplied by the number of employees
181

Business, industry and agriculture

gives a company or a nation's productivity. Britain's low rate of increase in
this respect (often hardly any growth) used to be blamed on many things: poor
industrial relations, the Common Market (EEC), world recession, and,
most of all, on old capital equipment that the too slowly expanding workforce
had to use. There was some improvement in the eighties, however.
P is for protectionism: a policy restricting free trade, encouraging the purchase
of domestic products by imposing some form of import control or duty
(tariffs).
Q is for import quotas: import restrictions. This is one way to reduce the deficit
on current account, and regulating the volume of imports allowed in.
R is for pay restraint: some kind of incomes policy attempting to limit the size of
wage increases or, in a wage freeze, to stop them completely. Which is fairer: a
percentage increase across the board or a fixed sum for everyone?
S is for the Stock Exchange: the source of most long-term credit in Britain, as it is
the centre for the buying and selling of stocks and shares. Some of these are
fixed interest loans with dividends, some are gilt-edged securities. This can
be a risky way to save if there is a stock market crash.
Т is for taxation: the Government's main means of regulating its budget. Direct
taxation concerns people's income; indirect taxes are levied on goods and
services.
U is for underemployment: the overmanning of a plant, the result of restrictive
labour practices still common today. Higher efficiency means fewer jobs.
V is for visible trade, as opposed to invisible trade. Visible exports are goods;
invisible exports are services which are the basis of an international
transaction.
W is for: Why bother about X, Y and Z?

Practice 1
The Commercial See-saw
Cover the column on the right. See if you can find the usual partner for each of the
terms on the left.

buying

export
supply
revenue
net
profit
in the red
borrowing
credit
wholesale
stocks
boom
the private sector
stated-owned industry
management
the boardroom
skilled labour
blue-collar workers
take on new staff

182

selling

import
demand
expenditure
gross
loss
in the black
lending
debit
retail
shares
slump, recession
the public sector
private enterprise
workers, employees, staff
the shop floor
unskilled (or semi-skilled) labour
white-collar workers
lay off staff, make staff redundant

Business, industry and agriculture

A Businessman or Businesswoman's Day
Note down the day-to-day business that is referred to in the diary below. You know
he/she has to go to another meeting at 10.00. Rearrange his/her day, leaving one hour
for lunch.

09.00

In-tray / Out-tray; Dictate correspondence
Memo to staff re salary negotiations for 1 990
Replies to Zurich re Consumer Association conference |

10.00

Discuss finishing touches to next year's brochures
with HJ from advertising agency

11.00

See Managing Director: check VAT figures with head
of Accounts Department.

12.00

Meeting with Van Braun re Amsterdam deal.
N.B Phone bank re delay on bridging loan for new
plant transactions

13.00

Working lunch with Chief Buyer from Swan &? Sons
(J. WhiteXtake catalogues, etc. and file)

14.00
15.00

Conference with Marketing Division Executives (raise
questions on expense accounts for Sept.)
Telex Tokyo customers re latest order.

16.00

interview applicants for position of Personal
Secretary - Miss Johnson, Ms Greer
Issue Press Statement denying rumours of merger
with J & J

17.00

Rocket for Smythe re disappointing sales figures have ready latest balance sheets plus competitors'
recent results: circular for all other sales reps.

18.00

Emergency Board Meeting on takeover bid by James
& James - prepare agenda

19.30

Shareholders' annual cocktail party

|

~1

20.00
A Farmer's Year

Below are some of the jobs a British farmer has to do during the course of a year.
Help him to plan his diary. Read the activities. Then look at the planning chart on
the next page. Write beside each season the months of the year that apply in your
country. Then match each activity with a season, or even a month if you can.
To be done this year
grape-picking
reseeding
calving
replanting
wood-collecting
pruning, cutting back
bringing the sheep in
putting cattle out for
grazing

peak season for milking
rearing of calves
lambing
feeding
sheep-shearing
and dipping
silage-making
harvesting, gathering in
the crops, reaping

mating of sheep and rams
lambs to slaughter
ploughing
sowing
crop-spraying
fattening-up of calves
insemination of cattle
haymaking

183

Business, industry and agriculture

Season
Spring

Month

Activity

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 What are the key industries in your country? Are they declining or growing?
2 What are some of the good and bad aspects of advertising: on the screen, on paper
and in the street?
3 How do you imagine (or know) farming methods have changed over the past
twenty-five years. How may they change in the next twenty-five years?
You are an investment expert. Write or act out a conversation in which you give a
client advice on how he or she might invest £70,000 redundancy money.
Write a day's diary for either a bank manager or a farmer.
Write a letter to your MP, attacking the government's handling of either the current
or a recent economic crisis.
An expert economist is giving a talk in your town this evening. Write down five
questions you will want to ask him: five things you have never really understood
about economics.
Add here any further expressions about business and employment you may meet.

184

Law and order, crime
and punishment
Study and practice
Below you see the story of an extraordinary case in British legal history. The affair
started in 1949 and was finally closed in 1966.
At the moment, there are a number of gaps in the story. Use the words below to
complete it.
trial
convicted
arrested
pardon
suspect

confessed
enquiry (x 2)
innocent
judges
tried

court
sentenced
charged
plea
executed

custody
jury
appeal
apprehended
statements

guilty
execution
dropped
hunt
denied

The story began when a man called Timothy Evans was ... for the murder of his wife
and baby. He was ... with the double murder, but a short time later one of the charges
was ... and he was ... for the murder of his daughter only. During the ... Evans
accused the man whose house he had been living in, John Christie, of the crimes, but
no attention was paid to him. The ... found Evans ... and he was ... to death. An ...
was turned down and and he was ... in 1950.
Some time later, more women's bodies were discovered in Christie's house: two,
three, four, five, six. John Christie was the police's chief... and they started a
nationwide ... for him. He was soon .... Alleged ... by Christie while he was in ... cast
doubt on the Evans hanging. When he went to ... , Christie ... that he had murdered
Mrs Evans, but in private it was said that he ... to that crime. His ... of insanity with
regard to other murders was rejected and he was ... of killing his wife.
Soon afterwards there was an ... into the ... of Timothy Evans. The ... decided that
justice had been done and Evans had been rightly hanged. It was only in 1966 that
another ... was set up. This time it was decided that Evans had probably been ... and
he was given a free .... Better late than never, as they say.

Quiz
Now a quiz on some points of law — English style. The answers may well be
different in your country. Simply answer the questions Yes or No. The answers
according to English law are printed at the end of the quiz.
1 Is it a crime to try and kill yourself?
2 Is it illegal to help somebody to commit suicide?
3 Can you be executed for murdering a policeman?
4 If, after a murder, all the victim's relatives plead: 'Please don't prosecute!' can
charges against the suspected culprit be dropped?
5 If two armed thieves break into a house, guns in hand, and one of them shoots
and kills the house-owner, is his accomplice guilty of murder?
6 If I surprise an intruder in my lounge at night stealing my millions, have I a legal
right to assault him with a weapon?
7 If I set a trap - a fifty-kilo weight just above the front door — for any burglars who
might try and enter the house, am I breaking the law?
8 After a divorce or legal separation, can a wife be required to pay alimony to her
ex-husband?

185

Law and order, crime and punishment

9 If I promise to marry my girlfriend and then change my mind shortly before the
wedding, can she take me to court?
10 If you said to your teacher in the middle of one of his lessons: You don't know the
first thing about teaching!' could he bring a civil action against you?
11 Would I be in danger of committing an offence if I put an advertisement for my
school in the paper saying: 'Male white teacher required'?
12 If, as a defendant (or the accused), I am not satisfied with the way my
barrister has handled my defence, can I sue him?
13 If you were in my house - uninvited - and the ceiling, which had had a large crack
in it for some time, caved in and broke your leg, would it be a good idea to
consult your solicitor?
14 Can a person suspected of and charged with rape be allowed bail?
Answers
1
2
3
4

No, not any more.
Yes, even mercy-killing (euthanasia) is against the law.
No. Capital punishment was abolished in the 1960s.
No. Murder is a crime against society (this involves criminal law) and not just
a civil matter between individuals.
5 Yes. Joint guilt. In the eyes of the law, both are guilty,
6 No - at least, only in self-defence.
7 Yes.
8 Yes.
9 No, not now. Some years ago she could have sued me for breach of promise.
10 Yes, he could claim it was slander (or libel, if you wrote it in a newspaper). He
probably wouldn't, though, because of the legal costs.
11 Yes, because of the Sex Discrimination Act and the Race Relations Act.
12 No.
13 Yes. You could sue me for negligence and I would probably have to pay damages.
14 Yes.

Practice 1
There are many crimes and offences apart from the few mentioned above. Explain,
define or give examples of the offences listed below.
blackmail
kidnapping
arson
trespassing
manslaughter
smuggling
forgery
bigamy
baby- or wife-battering
conspiracy
fraud

driving without due care and attention
mugging - robbery with violence
drug peddling
espionage - spying
shoplifting
treason
hijacking
obscenity
bribery and corruption
petty theft

Which of the above would or could involve the following?
1 counterfeit money 4 a ransom
2 pornography
5 heroin
3 hostages
6 a traitor

186

7 state secrets
8 contraband
9 a store detective

Law and order, crime and punishment

2 Here is the story of a very unfortunate, irresponsible man called Mr N.E. Body.
Imagine that he was stopped by the police at each and every point of the drama.
Read about what happened and, after each piece of information you receive, decide
what punishment he deserves.
Here are some of the sentences you might wish to hand out:
You might feel the death penalty is in order, or life imprisonment, even solitary
confinement. You could put him on probation, give him community service or
impose a fine - anything from £10 to £1,000. You might consider corporal
punishment (a short, sharp shock), a shortish prison sentence or, of course, you
could make that a suspended sentence. You might make him pay compensation,
or would you like to see him banned from driving? No? Well, his licence could be
endorsed. Or would you dismiss the case, find him not guilty of any crime,
acquit him, find the case not proved?
1 Mr Body drank five pints of beer and five single whiskies in a pub, got into his car
and drove away.
2 He did not drive dangerously but exceeded the speed limit as he wanted to
catch up with a friend who had left his wallet in the pub.
3 As he was driving along, a little girl ran into the road and he knocked her down.
4 There was no way he could have stopped, drunk or sober.
5 The little girl suffered only bruises and superficial injuries.
6 Mr Body's wife had left him two days before.
7 Six months later, it was clear that the little girl was to suffer from after-effects of
the accident and would stutter for many years.
8 Mr Body had never previously received any summons for traffic offences.
9 The little girl admitted that it was all her fault.
10 The passenger in Mr Body's car was killed outright as he went through the
windscreen.
[3] Write or discuss the answers to these questions.
1 Which aspects of the law seem unsatisfactory to you?
2 What punishments would you, as a judge, give for the crimes in Practice 1?
You may need to specify cases and give particular instances.
3 How have criminals been portayed in films you have seen recently? Were the
criminals portrayed as heroes, idiots or evil individuals?
4 What - in detail — would happen to you in your country if you were caught:
a speeding in your car?
b in possession of soft drugs?
с with a gun in your pocket?
d breaking into a house?
[4] Write a judge's summing up after a trial, reminding the jury of the witnesses'
testimony and advising them on how to reach their verdict.
[5] You have just read an article supporting corporal punishment with the headline 'A
short, sharp shock is the only answer for most of today's criminals'. Write to the
newspaper, putting the opposite view and criticising what was probably in the
article.
Add here any other words or expressions about crime, punishment and the law that
you may meet.

187

Quality
This unit is in the form of six passages, each of which deals with the good, the bad
and the ugly; complimentary and uncomplimentary words, from the
unbelievably beautiful to the indescribably horrible. Over 150 adjectives are
included, so don't read all of them at once.

Reading 1
First, notice the contrasts in these excerpts from a letter.
Dear Helpful Hatti,
I am writing to you about my sister and all the problems I - .
She has got exquisite features - a classic profile - a scintillating smile - a
stunning figure - an attractive personality - and a marvellous sense of humour.
I have got a very plain face - very ordinary feature - (according to my friends)
a rather ugly smile - a nondescript figure - a shallow and unappealing
character - and a coarse sense of humour. What should I do?
She is a sparkling conversationalist - a fabulous dancer - a graceful mover super-efficient at her job — a talented sportswoman - and a gifted musician.
I am a very dull conversationalist - a clumsy dancer - an awkward mover - an
incompetent fool in the office - useless at sport - and hopeless at all musical
instruments. What advice would you give me?
She is always well-dressed, smart, elegant — extremely ladylike — very refined exceptionally well-mannered - and invariably polite to everyone.
I always look shabby and scruffy — I tend to be rough - common - vulgar - and
rude. What can I do about it?
She is very cultured — well-educated - well-read.
I was always backward at school - semi-literate - and am now very ignorant.
She is bright - intelligent- witty - and clever.
I am slow - dim - 'daft', my mother says - 'thick', says my father. Please help me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Now read excerpts from two reviews of the same film.
- an absorbing film - a fascinating insight into — a well thought-out plot brilliant acting - superb photography - delicate direction by - many dazzling
moments - a powerful climax - thoroughly enjoyable - totally satisfying - a
memorable
film.
\
- an exceptionally tedious film — an excessively slow and boring look at life in a chaotic story-line - exceedingly poor performance by - awful, amateurish
camerawork - under the heavy-handed direction of- embarrassingly weak
script - horribly unnatural dialogue — an anti-climax - an ending that was
ludicrous - absurd - laughable - ridiculous - totally nonsensical dreadfully disappointing - a waste of time - absolutely worthless - pointless
- stupid.
What do you think these two people are disagreeing about on this and the next page?
A '- a spectacular occasion
- exciting movements sensational colour thrilling speed - a gripping
climax - tremendous fun 1

В

'-a senseless 'sport'
- mindless violence - brutal
- primitive - savage and
degrading - inhuman a disgraceful exhibition -

Quality

an enthralling spectacle a rewarding experience!'

a scandalous abuse of innocent
animals - revolting!'

Practice 1
Choose the most suitable of the four given words to complete each of the sentences
below.
1 He's not only tedious, he's also ...
a boring b incompetent с super-efficient d brilliant
2 Despite its director's high reputation, the film was ...
a extraordinary b gripping
с embarrassing
d powerful
3 Can't always be elegant; sometimes I enjoy wearing ... clothes.
a scintillating b scruffy с shallow d rude
4 Finally at the end, things hotted up; the ending was really ....
a gripping b delicate с chaotic d ludicrous
5 Not all film stars are beautiful; some are quite ....
a exquisite
b stunning с vulgar
d plain
6 We need someone well-educated and ....
a illiterate b dim с coarse d well-read
7 He's an extremely ... pianist.
a graceful
b gifted
с exceptional
d refined
8 It wasn't exactly exciting, but it was certainly ....
a enthralling b absorbing с thrilling d gripping

Reading 2
1 Read these two opinions of the same holiday resort.
Excerpts from the tour operator's brochure:
Come to sunny Sandshire ... magnificent views ... unforgettable scenery ... a
splendid cathedral, well worth visiting ... and many other impressive buildings ...
quaint little villages ... picturesque harbours ... enchanting bays ... gorgeous
beaches ... pleasant climate ... colourful night-life ... stimulating atmosphere ...
delightful for a holiday ... ideal for all the family ...
What George Grumbleweed had to say:
Well, the whole area's rather drab and unwelcoming ... the cathedral is a
monstrosity, absolutely hideous ... most of the other buildings are pretty
grotesque, too ... the villages are all colourless and characterless ... at night
they're completely dead ... by the sea it's really ghastly ... the water's filthy and
there's a frightful smell... the coastline's very bleak ... it's a horrible place ...
totally unsuitable for holidays ...
p.

|2] And now two post cards from the same resort:

189

Quality

And, lastly, a musical disagreement:
A What a lovely song!
В Do you think so?
A Don't you think it's beautiful?
В I think it's terrible.
A Very catchy.
В Monotonous.
A Tuneful.
В Repetitive.
A Original.
В Corny.
A Effective
В Idiotic.
A Quite moving.
В Rubbish.
A I've heard worse.
В Have you? Poor you.

Practice 2
Act out or write a conversation in each of the situations below.
1 You are with a friend, on your way home from a cabaret that you have both enjoyed
enormously.
2 You are with a friend, on your way home from a terribly boring conference that you
have had to sit through for the past eight hours.
3 You have just seen a film which you thought was great and your friend hated.
4 You have just seen a TV programme that you thought was disgusting. You phone
the BBC and speak to the Complaints Manager.
Think of a view that you used to love but now find really unattractive. Describe how
what you can see has changed.
Write a description for one of your short stories of the most unpleasant person any of
us are likely to have the misfortune to meet.
/

Write, in dialogue form, a conversation in which two people disagree about the merits
of some paintings as they walk together around an art gallery.
Add here any other words or expressions about quality that you may meet.

190

Time
Reading
Let your eye run over the following lists over the next day or so, to remind you of a
range of time expressions.
Life was hard
in prehistoric times
in olden times
back in the fifth Century
in the dim and distant past
before the Industrial Revolution
at the turn of the century
in those days
a few generations ago
between the wars
in the late forties
when I was little
in the early sixties
from 1960 to 1965
when I was in my teens
between 1965 and 1970
in the mid-eighties
this time last year
until this year.
Life has been hard
for as long as anyone can remember
ever since the war ended
over the past twenty years
from the late sixties until now
for the past few years
during the last couple of months
lately.
Life is hard
nowadays
these days
at present
as things stand
at the present time
at this moment in time
at this point in history.
Life is going to continue to be hard
from now on
for the next few months
during the next few years
over the next decade
until the present situation changes
for the foreseeable future
for the time being.

191

Time

But things are bound to improve
in the coining years
before long
as time goes on
sooner or later
in years to come
within the next twenty years
in the 1990s.

And life will be much better
one day
this time next year
when we're old and grey
in another twenty years' time
decades from now
by the time our children grow up
by the end of this century
when we're all dead and gone
in the far-distant future
sometime in the twenty-fifth century
light years from now.

Reading
Now follow the adventures of a very busy lady.
Albert proposed to me
Bernard asked me
Colin did
David did his best
Edwin, too
Freddy tried
I think George did
I seem to remember Harry did
Ian did it with roses
Jock did it with chocolates
Kevin did it by letter
Larry sent a telegram
Martin mentioned something about it
Nevil thought we 'might make a go of it'
Oliver thought 'we'd make a good couple'
Peter did it on his knees
Robert referred to the possibility
Sam has asked me
Thomas left a note on my desk
Ulysses came out with it
Valentine shouted through the window
William brought the subject up on the phone
And Zac popped the question
I'm thinking it all over
I haven't got an answer
Zac obviously wants an answer
He's standing in front of me
I really can't give anyone an answer
I know Zac's going to ask me again
And William's going to shout down the phone
I think I might give Valentine a shout
I'll have to face Ulysses
I'm afraid Thomas will be back for a decision
192

ages and ages ago.
a long, long time ago.

once, many years ago.
a few years back.
not so long ago.
in the spring of '82.
the year before last.

at the end of January.
a short time ago.
a month or so ago.
one day quite recently.
a little while ago.
the other day.

about a fortnight ago.
the Friday before last
(or was it the previous Friday).
one afternoon last week.
earlier today.
within the last few hours.
an hour or so ago.
a couple of minutes ago.
just now.
just a moment ago.
a split-second ago.
now.
at the moment.
here and now.
at this very moment.
this minute.
any moment now.
at any moment.

in a second or two.
in a couple of minutes.
in an hour's time.

Time

Sam will want an answer
I might phone Robert
I really must contact Peter
I've promised to give Oliver an answer
I'll leave a message on Nevil's answer-phone
To Larry I'll send a telegram
I'll get in touch with Martin,
I'll have to reply to Kevin's letter
I'll inform Jack
And I'll let Ian know
I'd better check whether Harry really did
George will have to be told
Freddy said he'd want an answer
I'll get round to telling Edwin
David can be told
I'll probably drop Colin a line
Eventually I'll have to say no to Bertie,
And Albert? I might say yes to Albert,

within the next few hours.
later today.
one evening next week.
next Friday
(or was it the following Friday?)
(or was it the Friday after that?)
the week after next.
a fortnight tomorrow.
but not in the immediate future.
some day soon.
before too long.
one of these days.
sometime.
in the not too distant future.
next autumn.
but Heaven knows when.
the Christmas after next.
in a year or two.
but not for ages yet.
if I ever see him again.

Brain teaser
Here's a little problem for you to solve. The answer is at the end of the book.
I always set my alarm-clock ten minutes fast - so that I have more time than I think
in the mornings.
I keep my grandfather clock in the lounge, set at the correct time - to the
second.
I set my non-digital watch fifteen minutes slow - so that I'm pleasantly surprised
when it's time to finish work.
My alarm-clock gains fifteen minutes every twenty-four hours.
The grandfather clock keeps perfect time.
My watch loses fifteen minutes every day.
I set all three timepieces at midnight, by the BBC radio news, and wind them up.
At what time of day or night do all three show the same time?

Reading
Finally, have a look at this traditional rhyme and the text on the time of day and
the time of year.
Thirty days has September,
April, June and November.
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone
Which has twenty-eight days clear
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
The Ideal Day?

It would depend, of course, on the season. Endless days in late summer, in
scorching July and baking August, cannot be compared with those short days in
mid-winter, in frosty January and foggy December, in those weeks leading up to
Christmas. Though the temperature in autumn, say early October when the
days are closing in, may be similar to that in the middle of March and the rest of
spring, their character is completely different. Now if you asked about May, well,...
I would get up well before dawn. Daybreak, just before and after sunrise, is a
much-neglected part of the day. By first light, I would want to be on the terrace
taking my first sip of coffee and second bite of toast. Everything is so peaceful in the
193

Time

early morning, long before the horrors of the rush-hour. Newspapers at
breakfast-time, then I would go inside and play the piano for an hour or so. At
about nine I would take to my study and continue with the next chapter of my
memoirs, taking a mid-morning break for 'elevenses'. At half-past eleven
sharp, I would stroll down to the village pub for my first drink of the day and then
follow that, at about midday, with cocktails at a club in the company of friends.
That would bring me up to lunchtime.
After a modest luncheon and during the hottest part of the day, I would take a
walk in the forest, then possibly go for a drive. By mid-afternoon I would no doubt
be feeling rather tired, so around teatime I would go back to bed for a couple of
hours. I would come down again in time to watch The News at a quarter to six,
then in the early evening - with some time on my hands until sundown -1 might
play records and read. At dusk, to catch the colours of the twilight hours, I would
go outside and paint.
At nightfall, I would go inside to eat. (If I had some spare time beforehand, I
would have a swim in my indoor heated swimming pool.) After dinner, towards
ten o'clock, I would go out to meet friends at a discotheque then, at closing time or before, around midnight anyway —join a party going down to the beach. After
a(nother) swim and a few glasses of wine, I would be driven home to bed in the
early hours.
о
How about you? What would your day be like?

Practice
[1] What - in full - is your answer to the question above: what would your ideal day be
like?
[2]

How have your attitudes to the following changed over the past ten years?
a
b
с
d
e
f

[3]

work
relationships
family
happiness
the future
growing old

Choose five major inventions or events of the twentieth century. How has life been
different since they were invented?

[4] Write or act out three conversations with a friend in which you are telling him or her
about three of the situations below:
1
2
3
4
5
6
[5]

194

how an acquaintance of yours became more and more dependent on drugs.
how a relationship of yours grew and grew and then went sour.
how a car of yours went from being your pride and joy to a heap of useless metal.
how your children went from being babies to secondary school pupils.
how you went from beginner level to advanced in English.
your ambition to reach the top in the company you've just started working for.

Write a passage from your political speech, in which you describe the state of the
nation eight years ago, the events of the past eight years, the situation now and
prospects for the future.

Time

Write a paragraph from your latest novel, in which the heroine remembers autumn
and looks forward to the spring. She's probably sitting looking out of the window,
isn't she?
Add here any other words about time that you may meet.

195

Numerals and
proportions
Reading
Read the dialogue below, paying attention to the words and expressions that refer to
part, but not all, of something.
A Well, how did the meeting go?
В The meeting?
A Yes, the voting meeting.
В Oh, that meeting!
A Mm. Full attendance, was there?
В Yes, there was. 100 per cent turnout and not one empty seat.
A Good. What proportion of them voted for me? All of them?
В No.
A Oh, a few went over to the other side, did they? Yes, you always get these little
splinter groups, exceptions to the rule, people who want to be different from
the masses. Still, an overwhelming majority for me, I suppose?
В Not really, no.
A Oh dear. Still, no doubt I got the bulk of the votes. What did they call the
majority? Large?
В No.
A Substantial?
В No.
A It was closer than I expected. Only a small majority for me, then?
В Actually, no.
A Good Heavens! Half and half, was it? Equally divided? Equal shares of the
votes? 50 - 50 split? Incredible!
В No.
A You mean I didn't get elected? That's amazing! Oh well, I suppose I got a very
large minority? A reasonable percentage of the votes?
В Not exactly that, no.
A Only a small number, eh? A small but loyal section. A fraction of the total but a
significant fraction. It's a partial success, isn't it?
В They were in complete agreement.
A Complete agreement?
В They were unanimous.
A The entire group?
В Every single one.
A The total population of the school?
В Each and every one.
A But I got the odd one or two votes, surely?
В No.
A A fair number of abstentions, though. Several protest votes registered.
В Not one.
A None?
В Zero.
A You mean nobody ... ?
В No-one.
A Not anybody?
В Not a soul.
A Funny. I thought everybody liked me.
196

Numerals and proportions

Practice
1 Which word or phrase is missing in each of the sequences below? Complete and
continue each sequence.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

one two three four five six seven
first second third fourth sixth
once three times four times five times
one a half a third a fifth
solo trio quartet quintet
a baby twins quad(ruplet)s quin(tuplet)s
think of a number double it quadruple it
a double whisky a triple (or treble) whisky

nine

ten

Now see how quickly you can find the answer to this rather long sum. The answer is
at the back of the book.
Four add two, divide by three, subtract one, multiply by eight, take away four,
times three, plus two, minus four, halved, equals what?
Of all these numbers, 0 presents the most linguistic problems.
Try to read out loud the following expressions including various words for the
figure 0. Then work out the answer to questions 9 and 10. Look up the answers in the
answer Key if you find this exercise difficult.
Manchester City 0, Manchester United 0
5,4,3,2,1,0! '
0.1% of the air
Tel. 01 906 3002
4+2-6=0
6-0,6-1,6-0
8 the temperature is below 0°
9 What's left from £40 if you deduct four amounts of £5 and five sums of £4?
10 How many fingers have you got on your feet?
4 Now think about the number 2. Read the text. How much of the language would
change if Daniel found himself a third girlfriend?
Well, take my friend, Daniel. He has two girlfriends. He likes both of them and they
both like him. He plays tennis - mixed doubles - with one of them, and goes
pairs-skating with the other one. They look very much like each other; the one
could be the other's double. Obviously, he can't marry both of them but he could,
he thinks, be happy with either of them. Unfortunately, neither of them knows
about the other girl in his life. So far he hasn't proposed to either of them. I don't
think he wants to be part of a married couple yet, anyway. Almost as a protest, he
hasn't even got a matching pair of socks.
For further practice of expressions describing numbers, give an example of each item
below.
1 an odd number
2 a three-figure sum

5 an even number
6 a fraction

3 three consecutive numbers

7 a number with 5 digits after the decimal point

4 a multiple of 49

8 an equation

197

Numerals and proportions

There are several prefixes which indicate number in English. Try to find a word in
the right-hand column which matches each definition 1—21.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

being able to speak two languages very well
a period of ten years
a creature with about a hundred legs
a child's three-wheeled vehicle
half a pair of glasses
to copy a document
one thousand watts
a tenth of a centimetre
the process of making a country completely one
describing a decision that had 100% support
a very large number of people as a crowd
the state of having rather a lot of husbands or wives
at once
13 a system in which the only digits used are 1 and 0
14 describing a system like: 12 inches in 1 foot
15 the 0/\2 •in /~*/~ч2
16 a road consisting of two parts with traffic
going in one direction only
17 half-yearly
18 a group of eight musicians
19 one-sided, the sort of nuclear disarmament that
pacifists would be happy with
20 a longish passage spoken by one person
21 a more romantic speech

unification
monologue
soliloquy
binary
biannual
octet
dioxide
duodecimal
unilateral
unanimous
polygamy
dual
carriageway
tricycle
millimetre
kilowatt
multitude
monocle
duplicate
bilingual
decade
centipede

There has been a survey of 300 people of both sexes and all ages in your town, in
which they were asked the following questions. How do you think they responded?
Remember how many ways you know of expressing proportions! If you are working
in a group, then conduct a survey of your own and report your findings back to the
group.
a
b
с
d
e
f

What do you usually do in the evenings?
What would you do with £100,000?
Who is your favourite show business personality?
Do you like Shakespeare?
Which country would you emigrate to if you had to leave this one?
Do you wish you had been born the other sex?

Have numbers any special associations for you? Have you got a lucky one? An
unlucky one? What are some of the beliefs and superstitions about numbers in your
country? Write a short paragraph answering these questions.
Add here any other words or expressions about numbers that you may come across.

198

Rise and fall
Reading
Notice all the nouns here describing change in quantity and quality. When you
have read the text, try to make similar comments about education in your country
using the verbs given on the next page. Some of these verbs will be happy to operate
intransitively; some will prefer a passive construction.
Twenty Years of British Education
We have seen:

a dramatic increase in the number of comprehensive schools
a steady decrease in the number of privately-owned secondary schools
a constant rise in the number of university students
a sharp fall in the number of foreign students at universities
a general improvement in teaching standards
a deterioration in pupil-teacher relationships
the growth of pupil-power
a decline in discipline
the strengthening of parent-teacher organisations
the weakening of teachers' authority
a tightening up on hygiene and safety regulations
a relaxation in terms of pupils' and teachers' dress
the raising of minimum standards and qualifications for prospective careers
the lowering of the school starting age
the build-up of technical and scientific departments
the running-down of history and geography departments
the expansion of sociology faculties
the contraction of modern language facilities
the extension of day-release schemes from factories and offices
the shrinking of Classics departments
a widening of the gap between Further Education and Higher Education
a narrowing of the gap between polytechnic colleges and universities
the introduction of Sixth Form Colleges
the phasing out of the eleven-plus examination
the establishment of post-school opportunities schemes
a reduction in the number of post-school jobs
the enlargement of physical education equipment and facilities
cuts in amenities like free milk and school dinners
marked progress in the development of specialised skills
a drop in ability level relating to traditional skills
the opening of many new nursery schools
the closure of numerous primary and preparatory schools
a broadening of pupils' political awareness
a lessening of interest in the arts
an upward trend in terms of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering
a downward trend in terms of religious instruction and literature
and countless changes - for the better and for the worse - in terms of
examinations, mathematics subjects - arithmetic, algebra, geometry etc. degree courses, remedial studies for slow learners, streaming, corporal
punishment, correspondence courses, adult education.

199

Rise and fall

Verbs
increase
decrease
rise fall
improve
drop
deteriorate grow relax
raise
expand contract decline strengthen
weaken tighten up lower build up run down
extend widen narrow introduce establish close
open phase out reduce enlarge cut shrink progress
broaden lessen change

Practice
Discuss or write the answers to these questions.
1 What do you feel were / have been the good and bad aspects of your own education?
2 What changes have you seen / did you see while at school yourself?
3 What significant changes have there been over the past twenty years in these areas
a
b
с
d
e

work and jobs?
love and marriage?
transport and communications?
entertainment?
crime?

Write an elderly person's letter to a newspaper regretting the drop in moral
standards he or she has witnessed in his or her lifetime.
Add here any other similar words that you may meet.

200

Normality and
regularity
Game
Answer this questionnaire to see how young (or old) at heart you are. And note the
expressions it contains relating to frequency / infrequency, normality /
abnormality.
Cover the column on the right. Choose one answer to each question.
Are you middle-aged?
1 How often do you worry about money?
a daily, hourly or constantly
b from time to time, once in a while
с seldom or never
2 Do you tend to
a write short notes to friends?
b write exceptionally long letters?
с forget to write?
3 How frequently do you find yourself saying: 'They don't write
songs like they used to'?
a every now and then
b regularly
с never
4 Are you inclined to think that teenagers having green, orange
or purple hair is
a perfectly normal, nothing out of the ordinary?
b inexplicable, beyond belief, really weird?
с slightly odd, a bit peculiar, rather strange?
5 How often does it cross your mind that thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds
should have the right to vote?
a occasionally, but generally not for long
b hardly ever
с repeatedly, and usually for long periods
6 Are you apt to give dinner parties?
a once in a blue moon
b on special occasions
с as a regular habit, normally on Fridays
and Saturdays
7 How regularly do you watch the mid-evening News on TV?
a without fail
b more often than not
с rarely
8 How common is it for you to ask your partner if she/he can see
any 'new' grey hairs on your head?
a unheard of
b not that common
с a daily event that's taken for granted

3
2
1
2
1
3
2
3
1
1
3
2
2
3
1
1
2
3
3
2
1
1
2
3

Now count up the numbers (on the right) that you scored. What's your total? Read
the next page to see what your score tells you.

201

Normality and regularity

If you scored:
10 or under:
11 to 16:

17 to 22:
23 or over:

You have no worries; you're young, still a baby.
You're pretty reasonable about the whole thing but you show
occasional slight signs of ageing before your time.
An average score, but you really ought to stop worrying. Enjoy
yourself while you can.
You're showing the standard symptoms of middle-age; whether
you're four, fourteen or twenty-four, you certainly think like a
forty-year old. Oh dear!

Practice
Note down or tell a partner about ways in which you consider yourself to be:
a average and normal.
b unusual and rather eccentric.
Discuss with a partner or in writing whether it is boring to be normal.
Find out from your partners whether you are significantly different concerning the
frequency with which you do each of the following.
1 visit your dentist
2 see your parents
3 get very depressed
4 go to the bank
5 feel ashamed of yourself
6 cry
Write a questionnaire similar to the one in this unit to focus on one of the following
topics.
1 whether the reader loves their partner or not
2 whether the reader will be rich one day
3 whether the reader is a good person to have as a friend or not
Add here any other words about the normal or the abnormal that you may meet.

202

Probability, necessity
and free will
Reading
[1] Notice the numerous variations on must and needn't in the following scene. Guess
what they are talking about.
Mother
Father
All
Brother
Other Brother
Cousin
Uncle
Other Uncle
Mother
Ml
Brother
Other Brother
Father
Other Uncle
Uncle
Brother
Father
Mother
Other Brother
Cousin
Uncle
Mother
Uncle
Father
Luigi
All
Luigi
Grandfather

We're not going to force you, Luigi.
Nobody's going to compel you to do it. Are we boys?
No. No. Of course not. No way.
No-one's going to make you do anything you don't want to.
Right. You tell him, dad.
You make up your own mind.
The choice is yours.
It's your decision.
It's up to you.
Right.
You don't have to do it if you'd rather not.
There's no need to do it if you'd prefer not to.
You're under no obligation at all.
It's a free country.
A man's allowed to change his mind, isn't he?
Sure. Breach of promise is not prohibited by law any more , is it?
Oh no, not forbidden by law. On no.
No, the law can't stop you doing whatever you like.
That's right. The law permits you to do as you see fit...
To do what you feel your duty is ...
As your conscience dictates.
So you please yourself.
After all, you've got an option.
You've got a clear alternative.
I have?
Why yes. Sure. Of course. You bet you have.
And if I don't?
We'll kill you.

[2] This is the way job advertisements used to look.
PACKERS / SORTERS / SHELF-FILLERS WANTED
Owing to a shortage of staff in our Liverpool branch
following recent mergers, we are looking for:
10 packers
15 shelf-fillers
20 sorters
Previous experience desirable, but not necessary.
Lack of qualifications not necessarily a disadvantage.
References optional.
Applicants should be in good health.
Good salaries and prospects.
Apply: J. Mills and Son, Mersey Street, Liverpool 4.
203

Probability, necessity and free will

How long will it be before we read adverts like this in our newspapers?
VACANCY OF XTJB/25 TYPE - LONDON
TLB pic are in urgent need of a button-pusher for their new AXK mobile
hypermarket complex.
Minimum 10 years' experience with buttons vital.
M.Sc., Ph.D. plus two other post-graduate qualifications essential, preferably 1st
Class.
15 good references indispensable.
Applications must be accompanied by a 10,000-word thesis on a subject of
candidate's choice.
The successful candidate will be required to attend work between the hours of
09.00 and 09.10 and again between 17.55 and 18.00 two days a week.
He or she will have to write up full reports on each pushing.
Participation in in-service training schemes is compulsory, attendance at all
lectures and seminars obligatory.
This position is restricted to those in the 35 to 38 age-group; voluntary
redundancy may be taken at the age of 40, when the worker appointed will be able
to draw a full pension - type Y2a.
Deadline for applications: 31.12.01
[4j Finally, read this extract from the British news and note some of the degrees of
probability it deals with.
'Good morning, and here is the 8 o'clock news, here on Radio Sunshine, for today,
April 1st.
•
Hopes were fading last night of a peaceful settlement of the border dispute
between North and South Wales. A long, bitter struggle now looks inevitable after
the predictable breakdown of yesterday's talks.
Fears are growing for the lives of the fifteen people whose boat capsized and sank
off the Isle of Wight early yesterday morning. A diver at the scene said: "There's
really not the remotest chance of any of them being found alive now'. The accident
was almost certainly caused by the unexpected change in weather conditions at
that time and may have happened as close as twenty metres from the shore.
The safety of the 250 passengers hijacked late yesterday afternoon was still in the
balance last night. The ten billion dollars had definitely not been paid by the
midnight deadline, and it seems unlikely that it will be in the foreseeable
future. What the hijackers' next move will be is anybody's guess.
Prospects of an end to the three-month-old strike of Public Service Employees still
look slim. A union spokesman is quoted as saying: 'There's no possibility of any
progress while the Government remain so stubborn. There's no way we'll accept
two and a half per cent'. A Government Minister commented: 'An increased offer is
absolutely out of the question, certainly this year and most likely for some years
to come.'
It looks as if unemployment figures, interest rates and inflation are all certain to
continue rising. Cabinet Misisters now admit there is very little likelihood of any
improvement before the end of the decade. Meanwhile BP have announced that in
all probability they will be forced to put up their petrol prices by 15% from next
month. It is thought that their competitors are bound to follow suit. A further
increase before the end of the year has not been ruled out, while heavier taxation on
petrol is still very much on the cards.

204

Probability, necessity and free will

Sport, and the eight-day cricket match between Canton Bern and Canton Zurich
seems set to be a draw. After three days of heavy snow, it is extremely doubtful
whether either side can force a result.
And finally, the weather: - today is sure to be wet and windy again; some areas
might have thunderstorms and there could be some snow in the north. However,
there is a distinct possibility that the sun will break through in some parts at
tea-time, for a short period.
The time is five past eight. And now over to ...'

Practice
[l] In what ways do you think the next few decades will bring the following to each
individual?
a less freedom
b greater freedom
[2] What do you think is the most likely future for each of the following items?
a the Olympic Games
b nuclear arms
с marriage
d books
e the Aids virus
f the ozone layer
g the whale
h space exploration
[3] Write a letter to your local council complaining about the inconvenience you had to
put up with while your road was dug up for new water pipes to be laid — and again
for them to be laid properly — and for a third time while they were laid in the right
place.
Add here any other words about the concepts discussed in this unit that you may
come across.

205

Cause and effect
Reading 1
Notice some of the ways in which the following single sentence can be added to and
commented on.
I'm going to continue with my English,
because
because of
owing to
on account of
in case
in order to
so as not to
so that
whether
wherever
whatever
whichever
however
regardless
even if
whenever
if
providing
provided that
unless
although
even though
in spite of
despite
but
whereas
unlike
as opposed to
so
which
considering

I like the language.
this book.
its importance in the world of business.
what my teachers have told me.
I need it one day.
take Proficiency next year.
forget what I've learnt.
I can work in the States one day.
you think it's a good idea or not.
I go.
happens.
country I go to next.
difficult the next stage is.
of my slow progress so far.
I have to give up all my other interests.
I can.
it's possible.
I can find a teacher.
someone agrees to teach me.
you persuade me that Chinese is more useful.
I know I'm not the most gifted linguist.
I'm a very busy person.
the cost of these lessons.
what you've said about my slow progress.
I think I'll give up Russian.
everyone else in the class is giving up.
the others, who are stopping.
my Japanese.
you'll see me again next term.
is a bit silly, I suppose,
I live on a desert island.

Practice
What do you think of English now? Which of these statements apply to you? (Notice
how cause and effect are expressed.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
206

A lot of my problems stem from trying to translate from my language.
My hesitation in speech is caused by a lack of vocabulary.
Some basic errors can be traced back to the way I learnt English at the beginning.
My large vocabulary is a direct consequence of knowing two other European
languages.
Most of my problems have their roots in grammatical uncertainty.
Studying vocabulary has led to a better understanding of how English works.
More vocabulary means more fluency.
Learning a lot of words can result in confusion.

Cause and effect

Reading 2
Notice, in this final and more difficult section, how a sentence can be added to,
strengthened or balanced.
The illogical nature of much of English grammar makes it an unfortunate choice as a
world language, let alone the leading one.
Consequently, many non-native speakers resent having English forced upon them.
All possible attempts should be made, therefore, to further the cause of Esperanto.
For this reason, we should all try to ensure that French is not lost as an
international language.
In spite of this - or because of it, perhaps - English has been the vehicle for much
of the world's greatest literature.
It does, however, prove to be a relatively easy language for most people to learn, at
least in the early stages.
On the other hand, no other language can boast the richness and versatility that
English has acquired over the centuries.
Furthermore, its vocabulary is impossibly imprecise, its preposition usage totally
ridiculous, not to mention the absurdity of its spelling rules.
Moreover, it has lost so much of its charm over the past few decades that it no
longer represents a satisfying subject for study.
What is more, the language has diversified into so many forms that most English
speakers the world over would have difficulty in understanding each other.
Besides, who really wants a world language anyway? In fact, who needs language?
• From now on, you will no doubt meet other ways of connecting two ideas. Make a
note of them with examples below.

207

Index
a certain 8
a couple of 110
a couple of hours 194
a fair amount of 110
a few 110, 196
a few generations ago 191
a few years back 192
a fortnight tomorrow 193
a little 147
a little while ago 192
a lot of 110
a month or so ago 192
a short time ago 192
a thousand and one 110
abacus 163
abbess 143
abbot 143
abdomen, pain in one's 32
ability level 199
able seaman 142
able to, be 204
abnormality 201
abolished 186
about 100 miles from 21
about a fortnight ago 192
about midday, at 194
about nine, at 194
about two miles 23
about, out and 149
above average height 25
above, just 22
abroad, go 178
absolute, decree 136
absolutely hideous 189
absolutely worthless 188
absorbing 188
abstract art 171
absurd 188
abundance of 110
Academy Award Winner
160
accelerate, to 178
accelerator 101
accept 48, 57
accept, be prepared to 44
accept, refuse to 43
acceptance 57
accessory 155
accident 137
accidental death 137
accommodation 91
accompany 170
accomplice 185
accordion 169
account 56
account of, on 206
account, current 146
account, deficit on
current 182
208

account, deposit 146
accountant 141
accusation 60
accuse 60
accused, the 186
ace 165
ache, dull 151
Achilles tendon 31
acorn 80
acquit, to 187
acre 111
acrobat 161
across 165
across the board 182
across the fields 22
across the road from,
just 23
across the traffic lights 22
acrylic 116
act 159, 161
Act, Race Relations 186
Act, Sex Discrimination 186
action 161
action, bring a civil 186
action, killed in 137
actions and activities 74-76
active 50
active volcano 78
activist 44
activities, actions and 74-76
activity 163
actor 160
actor, supporting 160
actress 160
actress, supporting 160
adaptation, screen 160
add 56, 174-175, 197
address 21
adjacent to, run 22
administrator, local
government 141
admiral of the fleet 142
admire 54
admission 60
admit 48,60
admit, must 43
adolescence 10
adopt 14
adore 44, 53
adult 10
adult education 199
adultery 136
adventure story 164
adventure, sense of 37
adventure, train 180
adventurous 40
advertising 184
advertising executive 141
advice 57
advise 57
adviser, financial 148

aerial 101, 125
aeroplane 106
aeroplane, model 164
aeroplane, paper 165
affectionate 41
affluent society 147
Afghan 18
Afghanistan 18
afraid of 53
Africa, South 78
Africa, southern 78
after dinner 194
after next, the Christmas
193
after next, the week 193 '
after sunrise 193
after tax 146
after that, the Friday 193
after-taste 36,175
again, if I ever see him 193
against the law 186
against, be 43
against, have nothing 44
age 10-12
age group 10
age of, at the 10
age of, by the 10
age, Baroque 171
age, coming of 10
age, feel one's 10
age, look one's 10
age, old 11, 137
age, same 11
age, school starting 199
age, twice one's 11
age, years of 10
aged 10-11
agenda 142
agent, estate 140
agent, travel 140,178
ages and ages ago 192
aggressive 40
aggressiveness 41
aging 10
agnostic 44
ago 109
ago, a few generations 191
ago, a little while 192
ago, a long, long time 192
ago, a month or so 192
ago, a short time 192
ago, a split-second 192
ago, about a fortnight 192
ago, ages and ages 192
ago, just a moment 192
ago, many years 192
ago, not so long 192
agree 57
agree, be tempted to 43
agreement, in complete 196
agreement, redundancy 142

agricultural region 22
agriculture 78, 181
agriculture, business,
industry and 181-184
aid, wear a hearing 37
aim for 47
air commodore 143
air force, marshall of the
143
air marshall 142
air, by 22
air, with one's feet in the 71
air-conditioning 179
airliner, jet 106
airport 22,178, 180
albatross 83
album 169
album, solo 169
alcohol 177
alcoholism 177
ale, light 176
alert 50
algae 80
algebra 199
Algeria 17
alias 8
alimony 136, 146,185
all clear 178
all I've ever asked for 47
all of them 196
all probability, in 204
all skin and bones 25
allergic to 149
allergy 149
alley 21
alley, down a little 23
alligator 83
allow to bubble 175
allowance 142
allowance, child 146
allowed to, be 203
almost certainly 204
almost completely recovered
149
alone, let 207
along a country lane 22
along a passage 24
along the coast from 21
along the landing from 21
along the passage 23
along, halfway 23
aloud, think 56
Alsatian 83
also-ran 156
alteration, structural 94
alternative 47
alternative, clear 203
although 206
altitude 78
alto 169
altogether 110
aluminium 116
amateur dramatic
society 159
amateurish 188
amazed 51
Amazon 25

amber 119
ambition 41
ambitious 39
amble 73
ambulance 104
ambulance siren 152
ambulanceman 141
amenities 142, 199
America, South 78
American 19
American football 155
amnesia 149
amount of 110
amount of money 181
amount of, a fair 110
amp(ere) 111
amphibian 83
ample 110
amplifier 165
amputation 152
an inch thick 110
anaemia 150
anaesthetic 152
analyst, systems 141
anarchist 44
ancestor 13
ancient Greek tragedy 159
and ..., between ... 191
anecdote 56
angina 150
angle 46, 111
angle of 45 degrees to the
perpendicular, at an 114
animal world, the 82-86
animal, farmyard 84
animal-lover 84
ankle 31
anniversary 136
announce 56
annoyed 51
annual 181
annual wage increase 142
annul 136
anorak 107
another twenty years'
time 192
ant 82
ant, knee-high to an 25
Antarctic 21
ante-natal class 166
ante-natal clinic 134-135
antelope 82
antennae 86
anthem 169
anti-, fiercely 43
antibiotics, put someone
on 151
anti-climax 188
antique dealer 93, 140
any moment now 192
any second, at 149
anybody's guess 204
anybody, not 196
anything, hardly 110
anywhere, miles from 22
apart from 110
apart, fall 127

apart, standing feet 72
apartment 21
ape family 82
aperitif 176
apologetic 58
apologise 58
apology 58
appalling state 124
appeal 185
appeal to 47
appearance, physical 35
appendicitis 150
appendix 33
applause 65
apple 87
appliance 96
apply 74
apprehended 185
approach 44, 154
approach from 22
approach middle age 10
approve of, strongly 43
approximately forty km
from 21
apricot 87
April 193
apron 109
apt to 201
Arabia, Saudi 18
Arabian, Saudi 18
arcade 21
archbishop 143
arched back 72
archery 158
architect 140
architecture, Gothic 171
Arctic Circle 21
area 22, 111
area, holiday resort 22
area, total 78
area, penalty 154
areas, forest 78
areas, urban 78
Argentina 17
Argentinian 17
argue with 56
arise 130
arithmetic 199
ark 104
arm 69, 107
arm, give one's right arm for
47
armchair 95
armed thief 185
armour, suit of 108
armpit 29
arms folded 72
arms outstretched 72
arms, metal 125
army, enough to feed an 110
around midnight 194
around teatime 194
arpeggio 170
arrangement 170
arrangement, make an 178
arrest, cardiac 150
arrested 185

Index

209

arrogance 41
arrogant 39
arrow 155
arson 186
art gallery 171
art, abstract 171
art, Byzantine 171
art, pop 171
art, visual 171
artery 33
arthritis 150
artichoke 87
article of clothing 108
arts 199
arts, music and the 168-172
as big as 110
as black as one is painted
120
as blind as a bat 37
as dead as a dodo 83
as far as I'm concerned 44
as fit as a fiddle 149
as good as new 149
as opposed to 206
as red as a beetroot 63, 120
as right as rain 149
as square as one is tall,
be 25
as the crow flies 23
as things stand 191
as time goes on 192
as you go in 24
asbestos 118
ash 80
ash-blonde 26
ashes 138
ashes, rise from the 127
ashore, put 179
Asia 21
Asia, South-East 78
aside, an 159
ask me, if you 44
asked for, all I've ever 47
asleep, fast 72
asparagus 87
asparagus soup 174
asphyxiated 137
ass 83
assassin 137
assassinate, to 137
assassination 137
assault, to 185
assistant 144
assistant, shop 141
assure 56
asteroid 77
asthma 150-151
astonished 51
astride a chair, sit 72
astrologer 77
astronomer 77
astronomical 110
at a quarter to six 194
at about midday 194
at about nine 194
at an angle of 114
at any moment 192
210

Index

at any second 149
at closing time 194
at least 207
at length 56
at nightfall 194
at one end 125
at present 191
at the age of 10
at the correct time, set 193
at the end of 192
at the far end of the
street 23
at the foot of 22
at the front 23
at the moment 192
at the present time 191
at the southern tip of 22
at the top 23, 114
at the turn of the
century 191
at the wheel of one's
car 137
at this moment in time 191
at this point in history 191
at this very moment 192
atheist 44
athlete's foot 151
athlete, talented 157
athletic event 155
atlas 18
attack of, suffer a mild 149
attack, heart 150
attendance, full 196
attention, drive without due
care and 186
attic 23
attitude towards 43
attitudes and beliefs 43-45
attitudes and relationships
53-55
attracted to 48
attractive 188
attractively 94
attributes, physical 35
auburn 26
audible 36
audience 159, 161
August 193
aunt 13
aunt, great 14
Australia 19
Australian 19
Austria 17
Austrian 17
authority, teachers' 199
automation 181
autopsy 138
autumn 193
auxiliary junior 144
auxiliary, nursing 141
avalanche 130
avenue 21
average height, above 25
average height, below 25
average speed 111
award a decree nisi 136

Award Winner, Academy
160
aware of, be 46
awareness, political 199
away, keep 178
away, pass 137
away-day 178
awful 188
awkward 188
В

baby 197
baby, new-born 10
baby-battering 186
Bacardi 176
back 43, 191
back garden 95
backon one's heels,
be rocked 31
back on, turn one's 48
back street 23
back to front 108,122
back, a few years 192
back, arched 72
back, bad 32
back, hands behind one's
71
back, head 72
back-bencher 143
back-combed 26
backbone 33
backgammon 165
background 171
backhand 154
backing vocals 168
backstroke 157
backward 188
bacon 88
bacteria 80
bacterial disease 152
bad 188
bad back 32
bad taste, in rather 36
badger 83
badly treated 54
badly worn 123
badminton 158
bag 112
bag, carrier 99
bag, paper 99
bag, shoulder 99
bagpipes 169
bags under the eyes 27
bail 186
bake, to 173, 175
baked 88
baker 141
baker's 93
baking flour 174
baking tray 97
balance 146, 165
balance of payments 181
balance the pros and cons
46
balance, in the 204
balance, sense of 37

balcony, out on to the 23
bald 26
balding, be 26
ball 161
ball, golf 125
ballad 169
ballet lesson 165
balloon, hot-air 105
ban from driving 187
ban, to 156
banana 87
band 109,161
band, brass 169
bandage, take off a 152
bang 132
bang one's head 28
bang, a sort of 132
banjo 169
bank charges 146
bank manager 148
bank of the river 78
bank of the river,
down the west 22
bank statement 147
bankrupt 147
bar 125, 154, 170
bar of, a 112
bar, lounge 176
bar, public 176
bar, saloon 176
barbiturate 151
bare boards 94
barefoot 108
bargain 147
barge 104
baritone 169
bark 65,81
bark, to 85
barley 88
barman 141
barometer 98
Baroque age 171
barracks 91
barrel 112
barrel, built like a 25
barrister 140, 186
base 114,125, 173
baseball 158
baseline 114,155
basement 23
basic salary 146
basin 94
basin, river 78
basket 157
basket, picnic 99
basket-weaving 166
bass 169
bass clef 170
bass dram 168
bass guitar 168
bass, double 168
bassoon 168
baste, to 175
bat 83,154
bat, as blind as a 37
bath 94
bath, blood 138

bathed in sunshine 127
bathing costume 107
bathroom 23, 94
bathroom, master 95
bathroom, second 94
batter, pancake 173
battered 123
battery 102
battery, top up the 179
bay leaf 89
bay, to 85
be 109
be as old as you feel 11
be coming up to 11
be on one's toes 31
beach 22
beak 86
beam 154
beaming 128
bean 87
bear 82
bear in mind 46
bear right 22
bear, koala 83
bear, polar 82
bear, teddy 163
beard 27
beat 74,170
beat faster, one's heart
begins to 69
beat inflation 147
beat the count 154
beat, heart miss a 62
beat, to 175
beaten 123
beaten finalist 156
beaten, well 156
beautiful 188, 190
beauty spot 27
beaver 83
because 206
because of 206-207
beckon to 68
bed and breakfast 179
bed, bunk 95
bed, double 95
bed, single 95
bed-sitter 23
bed-sitting room 23, 91
bed-spread 96
bedroom 23, 94
bedroom, master 23
bedroomed 111
beds, make the 74
beds, twin 95
bee 82
beech 80
beef, fillet of 88
beef, joint of 87
beef, stewing 87
beefsteak 87
beetle 82
beetroot 87
beetroot, as red as a 63, 120
before 191
before dawn 193
before last, the Friday 192

before last, the year 192
before long 192
before sunrise 193
before too long 193
beforehand 194
beg 59
begins to wander, one's
mind 46
behead, 137
behind one's back, hands 71
behind the door 24
beige 119
being, for the time 191
Belgian 19
Belgium 19
belief, beyond 201
beliefs, attitudes and 43-45
believe in 44
believe it or not 62
believe one's eyes 62
believer in 43
bell 102, 154
bells, wedding 15
belly, fat 32
below average height 25
below sea-level 78
below, just 22
belt, chastity 108
belt, coastal 78
bench, substitutes' 156
bend in the road, on a 23
bend, a 154
bend, to 129
benefit 148
benefit scheme, sickness
142
benefit, unemployment 146
benefits, social security 181
bent 123
bent, knees 71
beret 109
Berlin, West 78
berserk, go 62
beside a lake 22
besides 207
best man 136
best of, the 111
bet 166
bet on, to 166
better place, go to a 137
better, for the 199
better, no 149
better, old enough to
know 11
between ... and ... 191
between the wars 191
between, mid-way 21
beverage 176
bewildered 51
beyond 78
beyond belief 201
biannual 198
biceps 29
bicycle 163
bidet 94
big as, as 110
big toe 31
Index

211

big-headed 34
bigamy 186
bikini 107
bilingual 198
bill 147
bill, quarterly 146
billiards 158
billow, to 127
bin, litter 99
bin, pedal 99
bin, rubbish 99
binary 198
bingo 166
binoculars 98
biology 199
birch, silver 81
bird 82-83
bird of prey 83
bird, wading 83
birth, date of 10
birthday 11
birthday, four next 10
birthmark 27
births, marriages and
deaths 134-139
biscuit 173
bisect 114
bishop 143, 154
bison 82
bit off-colour, a 149
bit part 159
bit peculiar, a 201
bitch 84
bite one's head off 65
bite one's lip 68
bite, to 82
biting wind 50
bits and pieces 125
bitter 51, 176
black and blue 119
black and white, in 120
black as one is
painted, as 120
black comedy 120
black eye 28
black hair, thick 26
black look 120
black market 120
black pepper 89
black sheep 120
black, in the 182
black, jet 119
black, pitch 119
blackberry 87
blackbird 82
blackboard 95
blackleg 120
blacklist 120
blackmail 186
bladder 33
blame 60
blank, one's mind is 46
blanket 96
blazer 109
bleacher 141
bleak 189
bleat, to 85

212

Index

bleeding 152
blend, to 175
blind 96
blind as a bat, as 37
blind, colour 37
blind, go 37
blink 62,68
block 112
block up 94
block country,
Eastern 78
block, tower 23
blocked 122
blocked-up nose 28
blocks away from 23
blonde 26
bloodbath 138
blood pressure 134, 151
blood pressure goes up 69
blood pressure, high 150
blood relatives 13
blood transfusion 152
blood vessel 150
blood, blue 120
blood, pig's 88
blood clot 150
blood poisoning 134
blood test 134
bloodshot eyes 28
bloody 34
bloom, in 80
blossom 80
blouse 107
blow 69
blow a kiss 68
blow dry 26
blow one's nose 27, 66
blow one's top 62
blow the whistle 68
blow, to 169
blue 120
blue blood 120
blue moon, once in
a 120, 201
blue movie 120, 160
blue tit 82
blue with cold 120
blue, black and 119
blue, deep 119
blue, navy 119
blue, out of the 120
blue, pale 119
blue, royal 119
blue, sky 119
blue, steel 119
blue-collar worker 120,
141, 182
bluebell 81
blues 169
blunt 122-123
blurt out 56
blush 63
boa constrictor 82
Board 142, 154-155
board, across the 182
board, chopping 97
board, draining 97

board, full 142,179
board, ironing 97
board, to 178
board game 165
boarding card 178
boarding house 91
boardroom 182
boards, bare 94
boast 60
boastful 39
boat 155, 178
boat, fishing 104
boater 108
body 26, 138
body language, gesture,
mannerism 67-70
body, compound adjectives
about the 34-35
bodywork 101
boil 27
boil, bring to the 174
boil, to 130,175
boiled 173
boiler 94
Bolivia 17
Bolivian 17
bolt 97
bomb 127
bone, chipped 151
bone, collar 1
bone, set a 152
bone, to 174
bones, all skin and 25
bones, feel it in one's 37
bongo 168
bonnet 101, 109, 180
bonnet up 179
bonus scheme, incentive
142
bonus, productivity 146
boo 65
book 112
bookcase 94, 99
bookmaker 140
boom 182
boost investment 181
boot 101, 109,125,155
bootlace tie 107
border 17, 21
border from, over the
21
bored 50
bored stiff 54
boring 188
borrowing 182
both 197
bottle 112, 176
bottle green 119
bottle, sterilise a 152
bottle, to 173
bottle-fed 135
bottle-opener 98
bottled Guinness 176
bottler 141
bottom 32
bottom down, from the 31
boulevard 21

bounce 72
bounce, to 130
bound to, be 204
bounded by 78
bourbon 176
bout 154
bout of 149
boutique 93
bow 104,155, 170
bow one's head 72
bow-legged 34
bow tie 109
bowl 125
bowl, fruit 99
bowl, goldfish 99
bowl, mixing 97
bowl, soup 99
bowl, sugar 99
bowler 108
bowling 166
box 112
box office 159
box, match 99
box, musical 99, 169
box, seed 99
box, signal 103
boxer 155
boxing 158
Boy Scout 164
bra 109
bracket 113,125
Braille, read 37
brain, lamb's 88
brainwave, have a
sudden 46
braise 173
brake 101,125
branch 80, 112, 125
branch secretary 143
brand 112, 147
brand-name product 147
brandy 176
brass 116,170
brass band 169
brassiere 107
brave 40
bray, to 85
Brazil 17
breach of promise 186
bread, oven-warm 174
bread, white 88
breadboard 97
breadline, on the 147
break down 62
break down, to 129
breakeven 181
break into 185
break into a house 187
breakout, to 130
break the law 185
break the news 56
break, mid-morning 194
break, to 129-130,151,157
breakdown, to head
fora 151
breakfast, bed and 179
breakfast-time 194

breast-fed 32, 135
breastplate 155
breaststroke 155
breath of wind 51
breath, catch one's 62
breath, short of 151
breath, take a deep 69
breathalyser 98
breathe in deeply 69
breathing exercise 134
breeches 107
breed 113
breed of dog 83
breeder, dog 140
breeze, cool 51
brew, to 88,166
bribery and corruption 186
brick 163
brick red 119
bricklayer 141
bride 136
bridegroom 136
bridesmaid 136
bridge 165
bridge, on the 179
bridge, under the
railway 23
briefcase 99
brigade, fire 140
brigadier 142
bright 188
bright pink 119
brighten up 51
brilliant 188
brilliant white 119
brim 125
brimful of 110
bring a civil action 186
bring back 75
bring down 75
bring to boil 174
broad enough to 110
broad-minded 34
broaden, to 200
broadening 199
broccoli 87
broke 147
broken home 14
broker 140
bronchitis 150
brontosaurus 82
bronze 116, 119
broom 97
brother-in-law 13
brow 27
brown paper 117
brown, to 174
brown hair, curly 26
brownish 119
bruise 151
brunette 26
brush 97
brash, to 174
brussel sprout 87
brutal 40, 188
bubble, allow to 175
buck 84

kick the bucket 99
kick 11
bucket and spade 163
bucket down 128
bucket, kick the 11, 137
buckle 108, 125
bud 80
budgerigar 82
budget, regulate the 182
buffalo 82
buffet car 103,178,180
bugle 169
build 25
buildup, to 200
build, medium 25
build-up 199
builder 140
building contractor 140
building, five-storey 23
buildings and rooms 91-93
built like a barrel 25
built on the edge 22
built-in wardrobe 95
Bulgaria 18
Bulgarian 18
bulk of 196
bulk, buy in 147
bull 82, 84,155
bull-fighting 158
bulldog 83
bump 72, 151
bumper 101
bumpy 115
bun 174
bun, in a 26
bunch 112
bunches, hair in 26
bundle 112
bungalow 23
bunk bed 95
bunsen burner 98
burglar 185
burial 138
burn 153
burn, to 129
burner, bunsen 98
burnt to death 137
burp 65
burrow 84
burst into flames 127
burst into tears 62
burst out crying 62
burst out laughing 63
bury 138
bus conductor 141
bus driver 141
bus journey from 22
bus ride, ten-minute 23
bus station 22
bus, connecting 179
bush 80
bushy 26
business 181
business, industry and
agriculture 181-184
business, motion picture
160

Index

213

bust 32
but 206
butcher 141
butcher's 93
butt into 56
butt someone 69
butter 173
butterfly 82, 155
button 109, 125
buy in bulk 147
buying 182
buzz, to 85
by the name of 8
by air 22
by car 21
by first light 193
by mid-afternoon 194
by one's first marriage 15
by plane 22
by road 23
by sea 22
by ship 22
by taxi, twenty minutes 23
by the age of 10
by the end of 192
by the sea 78
by the time 192
by train 22
bypass 179-180
Byzantine art 171

С
c.c. Ill
cabbage 87
cabin 91, 104,179
cabinet, cocktail 95
cactus 81
caddy 144
cadet 142
Caesarian operation 135
cafe, transport 178
cage 84
cake 173
calcium 116
calf 31,84
calf's foot 88
calf's heart 88
calf'sliver 88
call someone names 62
call, curtain 159
call out 65
called, be 8
calm 40, 51, 115
calving 183
camel 82
camera 165
cameraman 161
camping 166
can 112
can be reached by, it 22
can't help laughing 63
can't stand 44
can't wait to 48
can, oil 99
can, petrol 99
can, watering 99

214

Index

Canada 18
Canadian 18
canal 22
canals, network of 78
canasta 165
cancer 137, 150
Cancer, the Tropic of 78
cancer, lung 150
candid 39
candidate 145
candlestick 99
canner 141
cannot get through 54
cannot stand 53
canoe 104
canoeing 166
canon 143
cantata 169
canteen 91, 142
cap 109, 155
capital 18
capital equipment 182
capital punishment 137,
186
captain 143, 179
captain, group 143
captivated 54
car 166, 178
car chase 180
car, at the wheel of
one's 137
car, buffet 103, 178, 180
car, by 21
car, invalid 104
car, police 103
car, racing 103
car, restaurant 103
car, saloon 104
car, sports 103
car-driver 180
carat 111
caravan 91,103
carbon 116
carbon dioxide 80, 116
carburettor 102
card game 165
card, boarding 178
cardboard 118
cardiac arrest 150
cardigan 109
cardinal 143
cards, on the 204
care 43, 45
care and attention, drive
without due 186
career, prospective 199
career, theatrical 159
carefree 39
caress 69
caretaker 141
carnation 81
carnival 161
carol 169
carpenter 140
carpentry 166
carpet sweeper 97
carpet, fitted 94

carpet, red 120
carriage 103
carriageway 198
carrier bag 99
carrot 87
carry 74
carry out 94
carry, cash and 93
cart, horse and 104
carton 112
cartoon 160
cartwheel 166
carve, to 175
carving knife 97
cascade, to 128
case 136, 149, 178
case history 149
case, chronic 149
case, dismiss the 187
case, in 206
case, isolated 149
case, pillow 99
cash and carry 93
cash register 98
casserole 173
casserole dish 97
cassette rack 99
cassette recorder 165
cassock 109
cast 159
cast iron 117
castanets 169
castle 91
cat 84
cat family 83
catarrh 150
catch 166
catch a fish 167
catch a glimpse of 68
catch fire 127
catch one's breath 62
catch red-handed 120
catch, to 149
catching 149
catchy 190
category 113
catering 181
catering supervisor 141
caterpillar 84
cathedral 23
cattle 84
cattle feed 88
cauliflower 27, 87
cause and effect 206-207
cause of death 137
causes, natural 137
cayenne pepper 89
cedar 81
celery 87
cell 80,91
cellar, salt 97
cello 168
cement 116
cemetary 138
centipede 82, 198
central 21
central areas 78

central heating, gas-fired 94
centre 21, 114
centre point 114
centre, in the centre of 22
century, at the turn of
the 191
cereals 88
certain to 204
certain, a 8
certainly 204
certainly, almost 204
cha-cha 165
Chad 17
chain 102,125
chain, mountain 78
chair 155
chair, dining-room 95
chair, sit astride a 72
chairperson 144
chairperson, vice- 144
chairs, musical 164
chalet 91
chalk 163
challenger 144
chameleon 83
champagne cocktail 176
champagne, vintage 176
champion 156
champion of the world 157
champion, downhill ski 157
champion, Olympic
ice-dance 157
champion, reigning 156
champion, singles 157
championship table, lead
the 154
chance, not the remotest
204
chance, stand a 156
change 74,199
change a wheel 165
change gear 178
change one's mind 47
change one's name (to) 8
change, no 149
change, to 129, 178, 200
changeable 40
changing room 91
channel, left 165
chant 65
chaotic 188
character 159,162
character and personality
39-42
character, national 42
characterless 189
charcoal grey 119
charge, drop a 185
charge, to 84
charged 185
charged with rape 186
charges, bank 146
charity shop 147
charter flight 178,180
chase 73
chase, car 180
chastity belt 108

chatter 56
chattering, teeth are 69
cheap rate 147
cheat 164
check 108
check a circuit 165
check, to 165
cheek 26
cheek, scratch one's 28
cheeks, puff out one's 27
cheeky 34
cheep, to 85
cheer 65
cheerful 50
cheese knife 97
cheetah 83
chef 141
chemise 107
chemist's 93
chemistry 199
chemistry set 165
cheque 147
cherry 27, 87
cherry tree 80
chess 158, 165
chest 32
chest of drawers 94
chest out 71
chesty 34
chew 69
chick 84
chicken 88
Chicken Chow Mein 174
chicken, roast 174
chickenpox 150
chicory 87
chief inspector 143
chief superintendent 143
child, only 13
childbirth 134
childhood 10
childhood, second 11
childish 10
Chile 17
Chilean 17
chill, to 175
chilli 89
chimney, sweep the 74
chimpanzee 82
chin 26
chin up 71
chin, graze one's 28
chin, prop up one's 71
China 18, 117
Chinese 18
chip 173
chip a front tooth 28
chip on one's shoulder, have
a 53
chipboard 117
chipped 122-123
chipped bone 151
chips, fish and 173
chiropodist 140
chiropractor 140
chisel 97
chlorophyl 80

chocolate 119
chocolate, drinking 176
choice 204
choice is yours, the 203
choice, make a 47
choke 101
choke to death 137
cholera 150
choose 47
chop up 174
chop, lamb 88
chopping board 97
choral work 169
chord, major 170
chord, minor 170
chorus 159
christen 8
Christian name 8
Christmas 193
chromosome 80
chronic case 149
chuckle 63, 66
church 136
church, in 136
chutney 173
cider 176
cigarette lighter 98
cigarette holder 99
cinema industry 160
cinnamon 89
Cinzano 176
Circle, Arctic 21
circuit 154
circuit, check a 165
circulation, poor 150
circus 161
cirrhosis 150
cistern 125
city centre 22
civil action, bring a 186
civil engineer 141
civil marriage 136
civil matter 186
claim 56
clamber 72
clap 65
clapperboard 161
claret 176
clarinet 168
clasped, hands 72
class of one's own, in a 156
class passenger, first 178
class, ante-natal 166
class, economy / tourist 178
class, keep-fit 166
classic 188
classic play 159
classical music 169
classical sculpture 171
classics 199
classification of jobs 142
claw 86
clay 116
clean out 74
clean, to 165
cleaner, vacuum 96
clear alternative 203
Index

215

clear one's throat 65
clear something up 151
clear up 50
clear, all 178
clear, to 127
clearing 81
clef, bass / treble 170
clerk, shipping / travel 141
clever 188
click 66, 132
climate 78
climate, continental 78
climate, varied 78
climb 72, 75
climbing frame 163
clinic, ante-natal 134-135
clip 125, 162
clock, grandfather 193
clog 108
close 14,21,53
close in, the days 51, 193
close, to 200
close-up shot 162
closing time, at 194
closure 199
cloth, floor 96
cloth, table 96
clothes 107-109, 155
clothing, article of 108
clothing, piece of 108
cloudless 51
clouds, up in the 51
cloudy 50
clover 80
clown 161
club 75, 154,176
club manager 141
clubs 165
clue 165
clumsy 188
clutch 101, 125
co-operative, workers' 142
co-respondent 136
co-star 159
coach 178-179
coach driver 141
coach station 178
coal merchant's 93
coarse 188
coast 78
coast, approximately
forty km from 21
coast, off the 78
coastal belt 78
coastal mountains 78
coastline 78
coat 109
coat, duffel 108
coat, to 175
cob, corn on the 88
cobra 82
cock 84
cock(erel) 83
cockle 88
cockpit 91, 105
cockroach 83
cocktail cabinet 95
216

Index

cocktail, champagne 176
cocoa 176
coconut 87
cod 88
coffee grinder 96
coffee pot 99
coffee, freshly ground 176
coffee, instant 176
coffee-coloured 119
coffin 138
cognac 176
coil 125
coins, collect 164
coke 176
colander 97
cold 78, 153
cold, blue with 120
cold-blooded 34, 83
cold sore 27
collapse 72
collapse, to 127-128
collar 125
collar bone 33
collect coins 164
collect one's thoughts 46
collect stamps 164
collection 146, 169, 171
collector, refuse 141
college 199
college grant 146
College, Sixth Form 199
collide 72
collision, mid-air 179-180
Colombia 17
colonel 142
colossal 110
colour 171
colour blind 37
colour TV 95
colourful 189
colourless 189
colours 119-121
column 111
coma, come out of a 149
coma, in a 149
combed forward 26
combined 110
come along nicely 149
come in, 129
come out 130
come out in a rash 28
come out in a rush 151
come out of a coma 149
come out with something 56
come out, the sun 50
come round 149
come second 156
come to a decision 46
come up, to 130
come, in years to 192
comedian 161
comedy of manners 159
comedy, black 120
comedy, romantic 160
comedy, slapstick 159
comet 77
comfort 142

comfortable 149
comfortably off 147
comic 164
comic opera 169
coming from 22
coming of age 10
coming up to school age 10
coming up to, be 11
coming years, in the 192
coming, nothing 178
commander 143
commander, wing 142
commander-in-chief 143
commanding officer 142
comment 56
commis waiter 144
commission 146
commissioner 143
commit an offence 186
commit suicide 137,185
committed to, be 48
commodore 143
commodore, air 143
common 188
Common Market 182
common point 114
common, have a lot in 53-54
common, how 201
common, not that 201
communications, roads
and 181
community service 187
commuter 179, 180
company secretary 141
company structure 144
company, credit 146
company, enjoy someone's
53
company, recording 169
company, relax in someone's
53
company, repertory 159
compartment 103, 178,180
compass 98
compasses, pair of 98
compassion 41
compel, to 203
compensation 142, 187
competition 147,156
competition, enter the 156
competition, face 181
competition, newspaper 166
competitive 39
competitor 156
complain 58
complaint 58, 149
complete agreement, in 196
completely dead 189
completely recovered,
almost 149
complex, inferiority 54
complexion 27
complications 135
compliment 58
complimentary 188
components, parts and
125-126

compose 170
compose, to 170
composed of 125
compost 166
compound adjectives about
the body 34-35
comprehensive school 199
compromise 47
compulsory 204
computer programmer 141
concave 114
concede that 44
conceive, to 134
concentrate 46
concentrated in 78
concerned, as far as I'm 44
concert 170
concert, live 169
concerto 169
conclusion, reach a 46
concrete 116
concussion 28
condemn 60
condemnation 60
condition 149
condition things are in
122-124
condition, in perfect 122
condition, poor 124
condition, satisfactory 149
conditions, working
142, 144
conductor 168
conductor, bus 141
cone 80, 114
confectioner 141
confectioner's 93
conference delegate 143
confess 60
confessed 185
confession 60
confide 59
confidence 59
confident 51
confidential 59
confinement 134
confinement, solitary 187
confirmed 134
confused 50
confused, be 47
congeal 129
congratulate 58
congratulations 58
conical 114
conjunctivitis 151
connected, be 114
connecting bus 179
connection 103
connection, test a 165
conquer inflation 181
cons, balance the pros
and 46
conscience 203
conscience, on one's 63
consecutive 197
consequently 207
conservatory 94

consider 44, 47
considerate 40
considering 206
consisting of 110
consolation 58
consolation prize 156
console 58
conspiracy 186
constable 143
constant rise 199
constantly 201
constellation 77
constipation 150
constrictor, boa 82
construction 181
consult 56
consult one's solicitor 186
contact lenses, wear 37
contagious, highly 149
contain 89
container 99
contemplate 46
contempt, with 54
content 51
continent 78
continental climate 78
continental quilt 95
continuity girl 161
contraband 186
contract, to 129, 200
contraction 199
contractor, building 140
contradict 56
contralto 169
contributions, national
insurance 146
control of money supply 181
control, import 182
control, thermostatic 94
convalesce 149
convalescence 149
convector heater 94
convent 91
conversion 94
convex 114
convey 56
convicted 185
convinced, be 43
cook 74, 141
cook, to 173, 175
cooker, split-level 95
cookery 165
cooking, eating and drinking
173-177
cool breeze 51
cool, keep 62
cool, leave to 175
cool, to 129
copper 116, 119
coral 81
cord(uroy) 117
cordial 176
cork 125
corkscrew 97
corn on the cob 88
corner 154-155
corner, on a 23

corner, turn the 149
corner of, south-east 22
cornet 169
cornflour 88
corny 190
coronary thrombosis 150
corporal punishment 187,
199
corporal, lance 143
corporation 181
corpse 138
corpulent 25
correct distortion, to 165
correct time, set at the 193
correspondence course 199
corridor 179
corruption, bribery and 186
cost of living index 181
Costa Rica 17
costs, cover one's 181
costs, legal 186
costume 160
costume, bathing 107
costumes manager 159
cot-death 138
cotton 117
couch, studio 95
cough 66
cough mixture 151
could 205
could do with 47
council, works 142
councillor 143
count 143
count, beat the 154
counterfeit money 186
counterfoil 147
counterpoint 170
countess 143
countless 110, 199
countries, nationalities
17-20
country lane, along a 22
country of origin 17
country, Eastern block 78
county 21
couple 197
couple of hours, a 194
couple of minutes ago, a 192
couple of, a 110
couple of, in a 192
couple, married 14
courage 41
courageous 40
courgette 87
course 154
course of tablets 151
course, correspondence 199
course, degree 199
course, fail to finish the 156
court 155, 185
court, divorce 136
court, take to 186
cousin 13
cover 125
cover one's costs 181
cover, plastic 125
Index

217

cover, to 128,175
cow 84
cowardly 40
crab 82,88
crack 132
crack, kind of 132
crack, to 129, 174
cracked 122
crackle 132
cramp 134
cramp one's style 31
crash 72, 132, 179
crash, plane 137
crash, stock market 182
crate 112
cravat 109
crawl 72
crawl, to 179
crayon 163
creak 132
cream 151
cream-coloured 119
creamed 173
creased 123
creative 41
creativity 41
creature 82-83
creature, fabulous 83
credit 182
credit company 146
credit, long-term 182
credits 160
creep 72
creepers, long 81
cremate, to 138
cremation 138
crematorium 138
crescent 21
crescent-shaped 114
crew cut 26
cricket 83,158
crime 185
crime against society 186
crime and punishment, law
and order 185-187
crime doesn't pay 148
criminal law 186
crisis, economic 184
critical 39
critical condition 149
critically ill 149
croak 66
croak, to 85
crochet 165
crockery 96
crocodile 83
crocus 81
croissant 174
crooked 115
crop 80
crop-spraying 184
crops, gather in the 184
croquet 158
croquette 173
cross over 22
cross, crucify on a 137
cross-channel port 178
218

Index

cross-country, travel 22
cross-eyed 34
crossbar 102
crossed, legs 72
crossing, over a railway 23
crossroads, over the next 22
crossword 165
crouch 72
crow 82
crow flies, as the 23
crown 109
crucify on a cross 137
cruelty 136
cruise 178
crumb 110
crumble, to 127-128
crusher, garlic 97
crutch 151
cry 65
crying, burst out 62
cub 84
cube 114
cubic feet 110
cubicle 91
Cubism 171
cuckoo 83
cuddle 70
cue 155
cuff 108, 125
cul-de-sac 23
culprit, suspected 185
culture 78
cultured 188
cup, win the 156
cupboard 95
cupboard, food 24
cured, practically 149
curl up 71
curlers 96
curling tongs 96
curly brown hair 26
currant 87
currency 18, 181
currency, foreign 147
current account 146
current acount, deficit on
182
curtain 96
curtain call 159
curved 114
cushion 95
custody 185
customs 178
cut 26, 161, 199
cut cards 165
cut down 147
cut of meat 87
cutoff 174
cut out 174
cut up 175
cut, to 200
cut-out shape 164
cutlery 96
cutlet, veal 88
cutting back 183
cutting, razor 26
cycling 158

cyclist, powerful 157
cylindrical 114
cymbal 168
cynic 44
cypress 81
Czech 19
Czech(oslovakian) 18
Czechoslovakia 18

D
dab 74
daft 188
daily 201
daily event 201
daisies, push up the 11
daisy 81
damaged 122
damages, pay 186
dance 167
dance, to 129
dancing, eyes 127
dandelion 81
Dane 19
danger list, off the 149
danger money 142
danger, in mortal 152
dangling, legs 71
Danish 19
dark-skinned 34
darkroom 91, 165
darn 74
darts 166
dash 73
dash of, a 176
dashboard 101
date 15,87
date of birth 10
daughter 13
daughter-in-law 13
dawn, before 193
day, at the hottest part of
the 194
day, one 192
day, part of the 193
day, red-letter 120
day, the other 192
day, time of 193
day-dream 46
day-release scheme 199
daybreak 193
days close in 193
days, in those 191
days, these 191
dazzling 127, 188
dazzling white 119
DDT 118
dead 137
dead and gone, when
we're 192
dead as a dodo, as 83
dead, completely 189
dead, missing, presumed
137
dead-heat 156
deadline 204
deaf as a post 37

deaf, go 37
deal 147
deal cards 165
deal of, a great 110
deal, productivity 142
dealer, scrap metal 140
dealer, antique 93, 140
dean 143
death duties 138
death penalty 137,187
death warmed up, feel
like 149
death, accidental 137
death, burnt to 137
death, cause of 137
death, choke to 137
death, sick to 54
death, stab to 137
death, starve to 138
death, stone to 137
deaths, births, marriages
and 134-139
debate with oneself 56
debit 182
debit, direct 146
debt, heavily in 147
debt, run into 147
debt, up to one's ears in 147
decade 198
decades from now 192
decathlon 155
deceased 137
December 193
decibel 111
decide 46
deciduous 81
decimal point 197
decision, come to a 46
decision, it's your 203
deck 104
deck, on 179
deck, record 165
deck, sun 180
declare 56
decline 57, 199
decline, to 200
decoke, to 165
decorated 94
decorator 141
decorator, interior 140
decrease, steady 199
decrease, to 200
decree absolute 136
decree nisi, award a 136
dedicate, to 138
dedicated 40
deep blue 119
deep breath, take a 69
deep in the interior 22
deeply, breathe in 69
deer 82
defeat 156
defective 122
defence 181
defence, handle the 186
defenceless 154
defendant 186

deficit on current
account 182
definitely 204
deflate, to 181
degrading 188
degree 111
degree course 199
degree of latitude 78
dejected 51
delegate, conference 143
delicate 188
delightful 189
delinquent, juvenile 10
delivery, forceps 135
demagnetise 165
demand 58, 182
demand, final 147
demanding 39
demarcation 142
demonstration 166
den 84
denial 60
denied 185
denim 117
Denmark 19
denounce 59
densely populated 78
density 111
dental surgeon 140
dented 123
dentist 140
dentist, student 144
deny 60
department 113
department store 93
department, geography 199
department, head of 143
department, history 199
department, technical 199
departure lounge 178, 180
deposit 146
deposit account 146
deposits, mineral 78
depressed 51, 123
depression, manic 150
depression, post-natal 135
depth 111
deputy head 143
deputy manager 144
derivation 8
dermatitis 151
description 56
desert 78
desert, in the 81
designer, industrial 141
desirable 203
desire 47
desk 95
despair of 54
desperate to, be 48
despise 43, 54
despite 206
dessert 173-174
dessert spoon 97
destination 179
destroy 127
destruction 127

detached house 23
detail, in 56
detective 141
detective, store 186
deteriorate 149, 200
deterioration 199
determination of status 142
determined 39
determined to, be 47
detest 54
devaluation 181
develop photos 167
develop, to 165
developed, highly 78
device 96
devoted 40
diagnosis 151
dial 125
dialogue 162
dialogue, dubbed 162
diameter, several feet in 110
diamond 118
diamonds 165
diarrhoea 150
dice 165
dice, to 174
dictate 56
die 80, 137
die down 127
die laughing, nearly 63
die of embarrassment 63
die of hunger 138
die of thirst 138
diet, staple 88
difference, goal 156
differential 142
digit 197
dim 188
dim and distant past, in the
191
dimple 27
dinghy 104
dining room 24
dining-room chair 95
dinner, after 194
dinner, packed 179
dinner, school 199
dinner jacket 108-109
dinosaur 82
dioxide 198
dioxide, carbon 116
dip 74
diphtheria 150
dipstick 98,102
direct debit 146
direct route, on the 179
direct taxation 182
direction of, in the 22
directly in front of you 24
directly opposite 22
director 142-144, 160-161
director of studies 143
director, funeral 138, 140
dirt 123
disadvantage 203
disagree 43
disappear 73, 127
Index

219

disappearing 162
disappointed 51
disapprove of, wholly 43
disaster 180
disaster movie 160
disc 125
disciplinarian 44
discipline, sense of 37
discomfort 151
discount 147
discount store 93
discover 46
discover, to 159
Discrimination Act, Sex 186
discus 155
discuss 56
discussion, economic /
financial 181
disease 149
disease, bacterial 152
disease, heart 137
disease, Parkinson's 150
disease, skin 151
disembark, to 180
disgraceful 188
dish, casserole 97
dish, main 174
dishcloth 96
disheartened 51
dishful 110
dishonest 40
dishonesty 41
dishwasher 96
disillusioned 51
dismiss 44
dismiss the case 187
dismiss, to 142
disputes procedure 142
disqualify, to 156
dissolve 136
distance, in the 23
distance, keep one's 53
distance, some distance
from 22
distant future, in the not
too 193
distant past, in the dim
and 191
distant relative 14
distil 166
distinct possibility 205
distinguished 26
distortion, to correct 165
distressed 51
distribution of wealth 148
distributive trade 181
distributor 102
district 22
district, red light 120
distrophy, muscular 150
divan 95
dive 72
diverse 78
diversion 179
divided by 197
divided, equally 196
dividend 146, 182
220

Index

dividends, pay out 182
divorce 15, 185
divorce court 136
divorce, get a 135
divorced 15
divorce/e 136
do 129
do as one sees fit 203
do the washing-up 74
do with, could 47
do with, make 47
do-it-yourself 166
do-it-yourself supplies 93
doctor 141, 151
doctors and nurses 164
documentary 160
dodo, as dead as a 83
doe 84
dog 83-84
dog breeder 140
dog, breed of 83
dole money 146
doll 163
dolphin 82
domestic product 182
dominant 39
dominoes 164
donation 146
donkey 83
door on the left, the
second 24
door, behind the 24
door, front 23
door, revolving 23
door, sliding 23
dormouse 82
dotted 115
double 26, 111, 197
double bass 168
double bed 95
double drainer 95
double gin 176
double glazing 94
double oven 95
double time 142
double wedding 15
double, to 197
double-breasted 34
double-glazed window 94
doubles 197
doubles partner 157
doubtful whether, extremely
205
dough 174
dove 83
Dover sole 174
down 117, 165
down a little alley 23
down from, just 23
down on, look 54
down river from 21
down the west bank of the
river 22
down to one's last 147
down with 166
down with something,
be 149

down, half-way 114
down, knock 137
down, up and 22
downhill ski champion 157
downward trend 199
dozens of 110
drab, rather 189
drag 74
dragon 83
dragonfly 83
drain, laugh like
a 66
drain, to 175
drained 51
drainer, double 95
draining board 97
drama teacher 159
dramatic increase 199
dramatic society, amateur
159
draper's 93
draught Guinness 176
draughts 165
draughtsman 141
draw 156
drawer 125
drawers, chest of 94
drawing 171
drawn to, be 48
dread 48
dread to think 43
dreadfully disappointing
188
dream factory 160
dream of 46-47
drenched 128
dress 107-108
dress a wound 152
dress rehearsal 159
dress, morning 108
dress, to 175
dress-making 166
dressing 174
dressing gown 108
dressing table 95
dribbling 69
drift, to 127
drill 96,98
drink, to 176
drink, food and 87-90
drinking chocolate 176
drinking habit 176
drinking, cooking, eating
and 173-177
drip 132, 135
drip, to 128
drive 21-22
drive away 178
drive down 22
drive leading up to the
house, long 23
drive without due care
and attention 186
drive, forehand 154
drive, to 178
driver, bus / coach 141
driver, learner 180

driver, train 141
driving instructor 140, 180
driving, ban from 187
drizzle 50
drizzle, to 128
drool 69
drop 199
drop a charge 185
drop of 110
drop, to 74,200
dropped 185
drops 151
drown, nearly 153
drown, to 137
drug 135
drug peddling 186
drug, fertility 134
drags, soft 187
dram 168
drum, bass 168
drum, kettle 168
drum, side 168
drumstick 170
dry 74
dry hair 26
dry martini 176
dry sherry, medium 176
dry up 56
dry, blow 26
dryer 96
dryer, tumble / spin 96
dual 198
dubbed dialogue 162
Dubonnet 176
duchess 143
duck 84,88
due 135
due care and attention,
drive without 186
due west of 21
duet 169
duffel coat 108
duke 143
dull 188
dull ache 151
dummy 163
dungarees 108
duodecimal 198
duplicate 198
during 191
during the hottest part of
the day 194
during the next few 191
dust 74, 122, 173
dustbin 91,99
duster 96
dustman 141
dustpan 99
Dutch 18
Dutchman 19
duties, death 138
duty 203
duty, import 182
duty, sense of 37
duty-free 176, 179
duvet 95
dye 26

dyer 141
dying for, be 43
dying to, be 48
dysentery 150
dystrophy, muscular 150

E
EEC 182
each and every one 196
each other 197
eagle 83
ear 27
ear specialist 37
ear, a good 36
ear, flick someone's 69
earache, have 28
earl 143
earlier today 192
early fifties, in one's 11
early hours, in the 194
early morning 194
early October 193
early sixties, in the 191
earning and spending
money 146-148
earnings, basic 146
earring 109
ears in debt, up to one's 147
ears, prick up one's 27
earshot, out of 36
Earth 77
earth-orbiting satellite 105
earthquake 78, 130
ease off 50
ease the pain 151
easel 95
easily 51
East German 18
East Germany 18,78
East, Far 21
East, Middle 21
East, to the 78
eastern 78
Eastern block country 78
easy-going 39
eating and drinking, cooking
173-177
economic crisis 184
economic discussion 181
economic welfare 181
economist 181
economy 181
economy class 178
economy, stabilise / deflate /
stimulate the 181
economy-size 147
ecstatic 51
edge, built on the 22
edge, serrated 114
edgy 50
editing 160
education 199
education, adult 199
education, further 141, 199
education, higher 199
Edwardian 109

eel 88

effect, cause and 206-207
effective 190
effects, special 160
efficiency, higher 182
efficient 103
egg 173
eggcup 97
egocentric 39
Egypt 17
Eire 19
either 197
ejector seat 105
El Salvador 17
elated 51
elbow 29, 73
elbow one's way 29
elbows on one's thighs,
rest one's 72
elder 11
elderly 11
eldest 11
electric fiddle / violin 168
electric fire 94
electric guitar 168
electric kettle 96
electric piano 168
electrical engineer 141
electrician 140
electricity 146,181
electrocuted 137
electronic engineer 141
electronic goods 181
electronic music 169
elegant 108, 188
elephant 82
elevenses 194
elk 83
elm 80
embark 178
embarrassingly weak 188
embarrassment, die of 63
embrace 70
embroidery 165
emerald 118
emerald green 119
emotional 41
employee 144, 182
employee, output per 181
employer 142
employer, prospective 145
employment 181
employment, full 181
empty 51, 74
empty seat, not one 196
empty-headed 34
emu 82
enamel 117
enchanting 189
encourage 59
encouragement 59
encyclopaedia 18
end of the street, towards
the 23

end of, at the 192
end of, by the 192
end, at one 125
Index

221

end, hair stands on 62
ending 162
endorse a license 187
ends meet, make 148
ends, split 35
energetic 39
engaged 15
engagement 135
engine 102
engine, overheated 179
engine, strip an 165
engineer, civil 141
engineer, electric / electronic
141
engineer, maintainance 140
engineer, mechanical 141
engineer, production 141
engineering 199
engineering, precision 181
England 17
English 17
Englishman 19
engrave 138
engraving 171
enjoy someone's company
53
enjoyable, thoroughly 188
enlarge 200
enlargement 199
enormous 110
enormously 110
enough to feed an army 110
enough to, broad 110
enquire 58
Enquiries 58
enquiry 185
enter the competition 156
enteritis 150
enterprise, private 182
entertainment 159-162
enthralling 189
enthusiastic 50
entire group 196
entitle 8
entitlement, holiday 142
entrance 159, 170
entrance, its own 23
entrance, side 23
envious of, be 53
environmental services 181
envy 53
envy, green with 119
epee 155
epidemic proportions,
reach 149
epilepsy 150
epileptic fit 150
epitaph 138
equal 157
equal share 196
equal, to 197
equally divided 196
equation 197
Equator 21, 78
equip with 95
equipment 199
equipment, capital 182
222

Index

equipment, stereo 95
era, Romantic 171
erode, to 129
erupt 130
escalopes, veal 88
escape, to 129
escort 73
espionage 186
essence, vanilla 173
essential 204
establish, to 200
establishment 199
estate 138
estate agent 140
estuary 78
Ethiopia 18
Ethiopian 18
Europe, southern 78
Europe, Western 78
euthanasia 137, 186
euthanasia, voluntary 137
evaporate 129
even if 206
even number 197
even though 206
event 155-156
event, athletic 155
event, daily 201
event, indoor 155
event, outdoor 155
events, reacting to 62-64
ever see him again, if I 193
ever since 191
ever, hardly 201
evergreen tree 81
every intention of, have 47
every now and then 201
every one, each and 196
every single one 196
everybody 196
ewe 84
ex-fiancee 15
exaggerate in one's mind 46
examination 199
exceed the speed limit 187
exceedingly large 110
exceedingly poor 188
excel oneself 156
excellent 94
exception to the rule 196
exceptionally 201
exceptionaUy tedious 188
excessive 110
excessively slow 188
exchange, rate of 147
Exchange, Stock 182
exchange, to 147
Exchequer 181
excitable 41
excited 50
exciting 188
excursion, sightseeing 178
excuse, invent an 46
execute 137
executed 185
execution 185
executive, advertising 141

executive, marketing 141
executive, member of
the 143
exercise, breathing 134
exercise, finger 170
exhale 69
exhaust pipe 101
exhausted 51
exhilarated 51
exit 179
exit off the roundabout,
third 23
exotic 173
expand, to 129, 200
expanding workforce 182
expansion 199
expansionist 181
expect 43
expectant mother 134
expected, as well as can
be 149
expecting 134
expenditure 182
expenditure, government
181
expenditure, public 181
expenditure, total 146
experience 159, 204
expert, investment 184
explanation 56
explode 127
explosion 127
export 182
export, invisible 182
exports 181
exports, volume of 181
express 56, 180
express, inter-city 178
expressing oneself 56-61
Expressionism 171
exquisite 188
extend over 22
extend through 78
extend to 78, 114
extend 200
extended period 178
extension 94, 199
extinct 82
extra 161
extra percussion 168
extra-sensory perception 37
extract, to 174
extras 146
extremely doubtful whether
205
extremely tall 25
extremely well-off 147
extrovert 39
eye 27
eye on, have got one's 48
eye on, keep one's 75
eye with, see eye to 44
eye, a black 28
eye, a good 36
eye, have a guilty look in
one's 63
eye-level grill 95

eyebrow 26
eyebrows, raise one's 27, 67
eyebrows, singe one's 28
eyelash 26
eyelashes, flutter one's 27
eyelid 27
eyes dancing 127
eyes of the law, in the 186
eyes pop out of one's head
62
eyes, bags under the 27
eyes, bloodshot 28
eyes, not believe one's 62
eyesight 36
eyestrain 28

F natural / sharp 170
fabric, silk 108
fabulous 188
fabulous creature 83
face 48,69,125
face competition 181
face south 24
face, have guilt written all
over one's 63
face, make / pull a 67
face, scald one's 28
facilities 142, 199
facility 199
fact, in 207
factory, dream 160
facts and figures 56
faculty 199
fade 80, 129
fade fast 149
faded 94, 123
fading, hopes are 204
fail 122
fail to finish the course 156
fail, without 201
failed 144
failure 156
failure, heart 150
faint 73
faint, to 153
fair amount of, a 110
fair number of, a 196
fair-haired 34
fair-minded 40
fairground 161
fairness, sense of 37
fairytale 163
falcon 83
fall 72
fall apart 127
fall down 129
fall headlong 72
fallout 55
fall, rise and 199-200
fall, sharp 199
fall, to 130,200
false 26
false name 8
family 112
family relationships 13-14

family, ape / monkey 82
family, cat 83
family, members of the 13
family, single-parent 14
family, snake 82
family-size 112
fan letter 162
fan of, a great 44
fan belt 102
fanatic 44
fancy, not really 47
far as I'm concerned,
as 44
Far East 21
far end of the street, at the
23
far side of town, on the 22
far too much 110
far-distant future, in the
192
farce 159
farm worker, general 141
farming methods 184
farmyard animal 84
fascinated 54
fascinating 188
fashion parade 161
fashionable 107
fast 193
fast asleep 72
fast lane 180
fast, fade 149
fasten one's seat-belt 179
fastener 107
faster, one's heart begins to
beat 69
fat belly 32
fat on a chip, there's more
25
fatalist 44
fatally wounded 137
father 13
father-in-law 13
fattening-up 184
faulty 122-123
favourite, hot 156
fear 47-48
fears are growing 204
feather 82, 117
feather, knock someone over
with a 62
feature, geographical 78
February 193
fed up 50,54
feed an army, enough
to 110
feed, cattle 88
feed, to 88
feeding 184
feel 36
feel a bit uneasy 53
feel as if 36
feel feverish 149
feel funny 149
feel inclined to 48
feel indifferent 54
feel it in one's bones 37

feel like, not 47
feel one's age 10
feel quite tempted 47
feel sorry 54
feel sorry for 54
feel strongly 43
feel well 149
feel, be as old as you 11
feelers 86
feeling 36,43
feelings 47
fees 146
feet apart, standing 72
feet in diameter,
several 110
feet in the air, with
one's 71
feet, cubic 110
feet, on one's 149
feet, over 18,000 78
feet, stand on one's
own two 31
female 84
fence 155
fencer 155
fencing 158
fern 80
ferry 104
ferry terminal 22
fertile valley 78
fertility drug 134
fertilize 80
fetch 75
fever, glandular 150
fever, scarlet 150
fever, yellow 150
feverish 151
feverish, feel 149
few generations ago, a 191
few hours, within the next
193
few words, say a 56
few years back, a 192
few years, for the past 191
few, a 110, 196
fewer jobs 182
fewer than, no 110
fez 108
fibreglass 117
fibrositis 150
fiction movie, science 160
fiddle 68
fiddle, as fit as a 149
fiddle, electric 168
fidget 68
field of fifteen 156
field, recreation 156
field, towards the back of
the 156
fields, across the 22
fierce opponent of, a 43
fiercely anti-... 43
fifth 197
fifty-fifty split 196
fig 87
fight for one's life 149
figure 114
Index

223

figure, good 25
figures, facts and 56
file 98
fill up the tank 179
filler 141
fillet of beef 88
fillet, to 174
filling 173
film 162
film score 169
film studio 161
film, historical 160
film, horror 160
film, short 160
film, war 160
film-making 161
filthy 189
fin 83,86
final 156
final demand 147
finalist, beaten 156
finance 141
financial 181
financial adviser 148
financial discussion 181
financial matters 148
find someone not guilty 187
find, to 43
fine 146
fine, impose a 187
finger exercise 170
finger print 29
finger, index 29
finger, little 29
finger, to 29
fingernail 29
fingers, tread on someone's
69
fingertips, from shoulder
to 29-30
finish the course, fail to 156
finish, from start to 156
finish, to 156
Finland 18
Finn 19
Finnish 18
fir tree 81
fire 127
fire brigade 140
fire to, set 127
fire, catch 127
fire, electric 94
fire, gas 94
fire, hire and 142
fire-eater 161
fire-service officer 141
fireman 140
fireplace 24, 94
firing squad 137
firm, removal 140
first 197
first-class passenger 178
first floor, on the 21
first light, by 193
first night 159
first place 156
first place, tie for 156
224

Index

first reserve 144
First Sea Lord 143
first violin 168
first wife 15
first-class shot 157
fiscal matter 181
fish 88
fish and chips 173
fish knife 97
fish tank 99
fish, catch a 167
fish, flying 83
fishing 166, 181
fishing boat 104
fishmonger's 93
fist 29
fit a pacemaker 152
fit as a fiddle, as 149
fit with 94
fit, epileptic 150
fit, sudden 149
fit, to 165
fitted carpet 94
fitter 141
five 197
five times 197
five-a-side football 156
five-storey building 23
fixed income 143
fixed interest loan 182
fixed sum 182
flag 154-155
flag, white 157
flames, burst into 127
flamingo 83
flan 173
flan, peach 174
flannel 96, 117
flap 105,125
flash 125
flash of inspiration 47
flashing 127
flask, thermos 97
flat 21, 23, 78, 170
flat, play 170
flat, share a flat with 15
flatter 59
flattery 59
flawed 122
flea 82
flea, performing 161
fleet, admiral of the 142
flesh and blood, my own 13
flesh-coloured
119
flexitime 142
flick someone's ear 69
flick, to 74
flickering 128
flight 22
flight lieutenant 142
flight of stairs 23
flight recorder 179
flight sergeant 143
flight, charter 178, 180
flight, manned 106
flinch 63
fling, to 74

flirt with 47
float, to 128
flock 84
flood 78
floor 94
floorcloth 96
floor show 161
floor, on the first 21
floor, on the second 23
floor, parquet 94
floor, polished wooden 94
floor, shop 182
floor, third 23
flop 159
florist's 93
flour 173
flour, baking 174
flour, plain / self-raising 174
flow, to 129-130
flower 80
flower pot 99
flower-bed 95
flowering plant 80
flowery-patterned wallpaper
94
'flu 150-151
flush 94, 125
flush, to 130
flushed 151
flute 168
flutter one's eyelashes 27
fly 82
flying fish 83
flying object,
unidentified 77
foal 84
foetus 134
fog 50
foil 155
fold 74,108
fold, to 175
folded, arms 72
foliage 80
folk 169
follow 22
follow the main road 22
follow the pattern 166
follow the pavement
round
22
follow the signs to 23
follower 161
following Friday, the 193
fond 54
fond of, be quite 44
fond of, very 54
food and drink 87-90
food cupboard 24
food, take-away 93
foot 31
foot in it, put one's 31
foot in length 110
foot in the grave,
have got one 11
foot of, at the 22
foot, about forty minutes
on 23
foot, athlete's 151

foot, calf's 88
foot, webbed 86
football 158
football, five-a-side 156
football, table 166
footballer, American 155
footbrake 101
for an hour or so 194
for as long as one
can remember 191
for the better / worse 199
for the forseeable future
191
for the next few 191
for the past few 191
for the time being 191
for them 43
for this reason 207
for two pins 47
forbidden by law 203
force 111
force oneself to 47
force, labour 181
force, to 203
forceps delivery 135
forearm 29
forefinger 29
foreground 171
forehand drive 154
forehead 26
foreign currency 147
foreign exchange reserves,
gold and 181
foreign student 199
forename 8
foreseeable future, for
the 191
foreseeable future, in
the 204
forest 22,81
forest areas 78
forest, tropical 78
forested, thickly 78
forestry 181
forfeit 164
forgery 186
forgetful 41
fork at the junction, left 23
fork, garden 97
fork, tuning 98
form 113, 171
Form College, Sixth 199
former mistress 15
formica 117
forties, in the late 191
fortune, win a 147
forty minutes on foot,
about 23
forward roll 166
foster 14
foster parent 14
four 197
foul 154
four hundred metres 155
four times 197
four-course meal 174
four-seater sofa 95

four-star hotel 179
fourth 197
fourth on the left 21
fox 82,84
foxhound 83
foxtrot 165
fraction 197
fraction of 196
fracture 151
frame 125
frame, to 171
frame, climbing 163
framed 94
France 17
France, South of 78
France, southern 78
frank 39
frankness 41
fraud 186
freckle 27
free country, it's a 203
free milk 199
free trade, restrict 182
free will, probability,
necessity and 203-205
freestyle 156-157
freeze, to 129, 175
freeze, wage 182
freezer 96
freight service 103
French 17
French windows, through
the 23
Frenchman 19
frequency 201
frequently, how 201
fresh 173
freshly ground coffee 176
friar 143
fridge 96
fried 88
friends, just good 15
frighten 53
frightful 189
fringe 26
fringe of, on the 22
frivolous 51
frizzy 26
fro, rock to and 72
frock 109
frog 83
from ... to ... 191
from now on 191
from shoulder to fingertips
29-30
from start to finish 156
from the bottom down 31
from the late ... until... 191
from the neck up 26-28
from time to time 201
from, a few miles 22
front door 23
front of you, directly in 24
front tooth, chip a 28
front, at the 23
front, back to 108, 122
frostbite 153

frosty mornings 50
frown 67
frowned on 54
fruit 80,87
fruit bowl 99
fruit juice, whole 176
fruit machine 166
fruit salad 173
frustrated 50
fry, to 173
frying pan 99
full attendance 196
full board 142, 179
full employment 181
full height, stretch to
one's 68
full of longing 50
full-grown 82
full-length 114
full-scale 181
fun, make 60
fun, sense of 37
Fund, International
Monetary 181
funds 146
funeral director 138, 140
funeral service 138
fungi 80
funnel 104
funny, feel 149
funny side of things,
see the 86
furious 62
furnaceman 141
furniture and household
94-100
further education 141, 199
further, quite a lot 23
furthermore 207
furthest point 22
fuselage 105, 125
fussy 39
future, for the
foreseeable 191
future, in the
far-distant 192
future, in the
foreseeable 204
future, in the
immediate 193
future, in the
not too distant 193

G
gabble 56
gadget 98
gadget, household 96
gain, to 193
galaxy 77
galleon 104
gallery, art 171
gallon, miles to the 129
gallons of 110
gallop 72
gallstone 150
gamble, to 166

Index

225

game 88
game, playground 163
game set and match 154
game, video 166
game, card 165
games and hobbies 163-167
games, sport and 154-158
gammon 88
gander 84
gap, narrowing of the 199
gap, widening of the 199
garage 179
garage mechanic 140
garden fork 97
garden shed 91, 94
garden, back 95
garden, vegetable 94
gardener 141
gardening 166
gardens 21
gargle 66
garlic 89
garlic crusher 97
garment 109
garnish, to 175
garotte, to 137
gas 146, 181
gas fire 94
gas-fired central heating 94
gasp 65
gassed 137
gate 157
gather in the crops 184
gauge, pressure 98
gaze 68
gazelle 83
gear 125
gear stick (lever) 101
gear, change 178
gene 80
general 143
general farm worker 141
general improvement 199
general sympathy 54
generally 201
the older generation 11
generation, skip a 13
generation, older 11
generations ago, a few 191
generosity 41
generous 41
gentle 41, 115
geographical feature 78
geography 17
geography department 199
geography, physical 78-79
geometry 199
germ 152
German 17
German measles 150
Germany, East 78
gesture, mannerism and
body language 67-70
get a divorce 135
get married 15, 135
get on (in years) 11
get on well 53-54
226

Index

get rid of 151
get the shock of one's life 62
get through to 54
get through, cannot 54
get to the point 56
get to 23
get up 129
get weaker 149
get well 149
get worse 149
get your blood pressure
down 151
getting on for 110
ghastly, really 189
ghost, see a 62
giant of a man 25
giant proportions 110
giant-sized 110, 112
giddy 28
gift voucher 147
gifted 188
gigantic 110
giggle 66
gill 83
gilt-edged security 182
gin, double 176
ginger 89
giraffe 83
girdle 107
Girl Guide 164
girl, continuity 161
girlish 11
give 149
give an injection 152
give it a few more years,
be going to 48
give one's right arm for 47
give someone a lecture 56
give someone away 136
give up 48
glad if, be 47
glance 68
gland 151
glandular fever 150
glare 127
glass 117
glass of 176
glass, pane of 94
glasses, opera 98
glasses, wear 37
glassy 117
glazier 140
gleam, to 127
gleaming 127-128
glide 72
glimpse of, catch a 68
glisten, to 127-128
glittering 128
gloomy 51
glove 109, 155
glow, to 127-128
GNP 181
go 149, 165
go aboard 178
go as white as a sheet 62
go berserk 62
go blind 37

go deaf 37
go in, as you 24
go mad 62
go off 127, 129
go on in one's head 46
go out with 15
go over and over 46
go stale 122
go steady with 15
go straight on 22
go to a better place 137
go to meet one's Maker 137
go via 22
go white 26
go wrong 55
go of, let 75
go, the car doesn't 122
goal 155
goal difference 156
goal-kick 155
goalkeeper 155
goat 82
goes on, as time 192
goes up, blood pressure 69
goggles 155
going to give it a few more
years 48
going to, be 47
gold 116-117
gold and foreign exchange
reserves 181
golden 117,119
goldfish bowl 99
golf 158
golf ball 125
gondola 104
gone, when we're dead
and 192
good 188
good as new, as 149
good ear 36
good eye 36
good figure 25
good marks 157
good friends, just 15
goods and services 181,18!
goods train 103
goods, electronic 181
goose 82, 84, 88
gooseberry 87
gorgeous 189
gorilla 82
gorse 81
gossip 56
got a leg to stand on,
haven't 31
Gothic architecture 171
government administrator,
local 141
government expenditure
181
government, local /
national 181
gown 109
gown, dressing 108
GP 153
grab 74

graceful 188
grade 111, 113
grain 181
grain, pollen 80
gramophone 169
grand opera 169
Grand Prix 157
grandfather 13
grandfather clock 193
grandfather, great-greatgreat- 14
grandmother 13
grandson 13
grant, college 146
grape 87
grape-picking 183
grapefruit 87
grasp 75
grass verge 179
grasses 88
grasshopper 83
grasshopper, knee high
to a 25
grassy 117
grate 94, 132
grate, to 175
grater 97
grave 138
grave, have got one
foot in the 11
gravel 116
graveyard 138
gravy, make 175
graze one's chin 28
grazing 184
grease 117, 123
greased 174
greasy 117
greasy hair 26
great aunt 14
great deal of, a 110
great fan of 44
great-great-greatgrandfather 14
great respect for,
have 53,54
Greece 18
Greek 18
Greek tragedy, ancient 159
green 120
green with envy 119
green, bottle 119
green, emerald 119
green, light 119
green, lime 119
green, olive 119
green, sea 119
greengrocer's 93
greenhouse 91
greeny-blue 119
greeting 57
grey 50
grey, charcoal 119
grey hair 26
grey, when we're old
and 192
greyhound 83

greying, be 26
greyish 119
grid 154
grill, eye-level 95
grille, radiator 101
grilled 88
grimace 67
grin 67
grinder, coffee 96
grip 26, 75, 109
gripping 188
groan 65
grocer's 93
groom 136
gross 146, 182
gross national product 181
grotesque, pretty 189
ground coffee, freshly 176
group 112
group captain 143
group, entire 196
group, little splinter 196
grouse 88
grove 21
grow 129,200
grow old 11
growing, fears are 204
growl, to 85
grown-up 10
growth 182, 199
grudge against, have a 53
grumble 65
grunt 65
grunt, to 85
guarantee 147
guard 141
guard's van 179-180
guardian 14
Guatemala 17
guess 43, 46
guess, anybody's 204
guest house 91, 179
guide 179
Guide, Girl 164
guillotined 137
guilt written all over
one's face, have 63
guilt, joint 186
guilty 185
guilty of murder 185
guilty, find someone not 187
guilty look in one's eye,
have a 63
guinea-pig 83
Guinness, draught /
bottled 176
guitar, bass 168
guitar, electric 168
guitar, lead 168
guitar, rhythm 168
guitar, steel 168
guitar, twelve-string 168
gullible 40
gulp 63
gum 27
gums, sore 28
gumshield 155

gun 155
gush, to 128
gym shoe 155
gym slip 108
gymnast 157
gymnastics 158
gynaecologist 134
H

HP instalment 146
habit 108
habit, as a regular 201
habit, drinking 176
haddock 88
haemorrhage 150
hailstorm 51
hair in bunches 26
hair in plaits 26
hair stands on end, one's 62
hair stylist 140
hair, grey 26
hair, not turn a 63
hair, pull someone's 69
hair, stroke someone's 69
hair, thick black 26
hairdresser 140
hairdryer 96
hairy 34
half 197
half a mind to, have 48
half an hour's walk 23
half and half 196
half, time and a 142
half-brother 15
half-moon shaped 114
half-past eleven sharp 194
half-price ticket 178
half-yearly 198
halfway along 23
halfway down 114
halved 197
ham 88
hammer 97, 155
hammer, to 75
hamster 83
hamstring 31
hand 29, 71, 125, 165
hand rail 99
hand someone, to 29
hand, kitchen 141
hand, on the other 207
hand, out of 44
handbag 99
handbrake 101
handbrake off, take the 178
handicap 156
handkerchief 96
handle 125
handle the defence 186
handlebar 155
handlebars 102, 125
hands behind one's back 71
hands clasped 72
hands in pockets 72
hands off 166
hands, time on one's 194

Index

227

hands with, shake 70
hands, wring one's 68
handy 34
hang 74
hang, to 137, 171
hanger 108
hang-gliding 166
hanging by a thread,
life is 149
hangover 153
hankie 96
happen 204
happy to, be more than
48
hard of hearing 37
hard up 147
hard winter, long 51
hard-hearted 34
hardboard 117
hardly anything 110
hardly ever 201
hare 83, 88
harmonica 168
harmony 170
harp 168
harp, Jew's 168
harpsichord 169
harvesting 184
hat 109
hat stand 99
hatch, to 130
hate 53
hate the sight of 53
have a guilty look in
one's eye 63
have a lot in common 53-54
have a heart attack,
nearly 53
have a lot on one's mind 46
have a point 43
have a sudden brainwave
46
have earache 28
have every intention of 47
have got one foot in
the grave 11
have got one's eye on 48
have great respect 53, 54
have guilt written all over
one's face 63
have half a mind to 48
have never understood 44
have no strong preference
for 48
have no time for 44
have nothing against 44
have regrets 47
have to 204
have to, not 203
hawk 83
hayfever 150
haymaking 184
hazel 27
he, a 84
head 165
head back 72

228

Index

head for a nervous
breakdown, to 151
head for, to 23, 178
head of department 143
head off, bite one's 65
head off, laugh one's 63
head, bang one's 28
head, bow one's 72
head, deputy 143
head, eyes pop out of
one's 62
head, go on in one's 46
head, scratch one's 68
head, shake one's 68
head, sheep's 88
head, to 178
headache 28
heading for retirement,
be 11
headlight 101
headlong, fall 72
headmaster 143
headmistress 143
headstone 138
headwear 108
heady 34
health 181
health and illness 149-153
health inspector, public 141
health, in perfect 149
hear 36
hearing 36
hearing aid, wear a 37
hearing, hard of 37
hearse 103, 138
heart 33, 150-151
heart attack 150
heart attack, nearly have
a 53
heart disease 137
heart failure 150
heart miss a beat 62
heart, calf's 88
heart-broken 51
heartbeat 134
heartburn 134
heartland, industrial 22
hearts 165
hearty 34
heat 51, 156
heater 101
heater, convector 94
heater, storage 94
heath 81
heather 81
heating, gas-fired central 94
Heaven knows when 193
heaviest 111
heavily in debt 147
heavy storms 50
heavy-handed 188
heavywight 156
heckle 59
heckler 60
hedgehog 83
hedgerow 80
heel 31, 109

heels, be rocked back
on one's 31
height, above average 25
height, below average 25
height, new record 154
height, over three meters
in 110
height, stretch to one's
full 68
heir 138
heiress 147
helicopter 105
helmet 109,155
help laughing, can't 63
hem 109,125
hemisphere, southern 78
hen 84
hen party 136
hepatitis 150
herb 89
herd 84
here and now 192
hernia 150
hero 159
heroin 186
herring 88
hesitant 57
hesitate 57
hesitation 57
hessian 94
hi-fi 165
hi-jacking 186
hibernate 82
hiccup 65, 153
hide-and-seek 164
hideous, absolutely 189
high 26
high blood pressure 150
high jump 155
high-diver 161
high-speed locomotive 103
higher education 199
higher efficiency 182
highest peak 78
highest point 78
highlands 22, 78
highlight 26
highly contagious 149
highly developed 78
hijacking 186
hiking 166
hill 21
hill, over the 11
hill, up and down the 22
hill, up the 22
hilly 78
hind legs 86
hinge 125
hint 56
hip 32
hippo(potamus) 82
hire and fire 142
hire-purchase 147
hiss 65, 132
hiss, to 85
historical film 160
history department 199

history of 149
history of, be / have a 13
history, at this point in 191
history, case 149
hit 69,75
hit the roof 62
hit, smash 159
hit, to 155
hitch-hike 178
hitch-hiking 180
hive 84
hobbies, games and 163-167
hobble 72
hobby 163
hoe 97
hold 75
hold, to 157
holder 99
hole 84, 107, 123, 125, 154
holiday entitlement 142
holiday resort area 22
holiday, package 178
holiday, touring 178
Holland 18
hollow 26, 115
holly tree 81
Hollywood musical 160
holocaust 138
holy matrimony 136
home, broken 14
home, old people's 91
homicide 137
Honduras 17
honest, to be quite 47
honeymoon 136
honour, in one's 138
hood 109
hoof 86
hook 26, 125, 154, 166
hoot, to 85
hoover 74, 96
hop 72
hope 43,47,56
hope a hole would open up
in the ground and
swallow me 63
hope to 48
hope, ray of 128
hopeful 50
hopeless 188
hopes are fading 204
hopscotch 164
horizontal line 114
horizontally 114
horn 86, 101,168
horrible 189
horrible, indescribably 188
horribly unnatural 188
horror film 160
horse 83, 154
horse and cart 104
horse, rocking 163
horse-chestnut 81
horse-racing 158
horse-riding 166
hose 98
hospital 23, 181

hospital porter 141
hostage 186
hostel 178
hostile 51
hot 173
hot favourite 156
hot-air balloon 105
hot-blooded 40
hotel manager 141
hotel, four-star 179
hottest part of the day,
during the 194
hour, miles per 111
hourly 201
hours of work 142
hours, a couple of 194
hours, in the early 194
hours, twilight 194
hours, unsocial 142
house 23
house, (semi-)detached 23,
91
house, break into a 187
house, guest 91
house, terraced 23
houseboat 104
household gadget 96
household, furniture and
94-100
housemaster 143
housing 181
hovel 91
hover, to 127
hovercraft 106
how common 201
how frequently 201
how often 201
how regularly 201
however 206-207
howl 85
howl with laughter 66
HP 147
hug 70
huge 110
hull 104
hum 65, 132
hum, to 85
humble 40
humility 41
humming-bird 83
humour, sense of 37
hump 86
hunched shoulders 72
hundred, a 198
hundred metres, a 155
hundred, live till one
is a 149
hundred percent
turnout, a 196
Hungarian 18
Hungary 18
hunger, die of 138
hunt 185
hunting 166
hurdles 155
hurl 75
hurricane 130

husband, late 15
hut 91
hutch 84
hyacinth 81
hydrogen 116
hyena 82
hygiene 142, 199
hymn 169
hypermarket 93
hypocrisy 41
hypocritical 40
hysterical 63
hysterics, in 63

ice 117, 176
ice-dance champion,
Olympic 157
ice hockey 158
Iceland 18
Icelandic 18
icing sugar 173
icy 51, 117
idea of, like the 48
idea, toy with an 46
ideal 189
idealist 44
idiotic 190
idle 51
if 206
if you ask me 44
if, even 206
igloo 91
ignition 101
ignorant 188
ignore 53, 60
iguana 83
ill, critically 149
ill, seriously 149
ill, taken 149
illegal 185
illness, health and 149-153
illuminated 128
illustration 56
imagination 41
imaginative 41
imagine 46
imagine, would 43
IMF 181
immediate future,
in the 193
immense 110
impatient 41
impetigo 151
impetuous 41
import 182
import control / duty 182
import quota 182
import restriction 182
imports 181
imports, volume of 182
impose 182
impose a fine 187
impressed 54
impression, be under the 43
impressionable 40

Index

229

Impressionism 171
impressive 189
imprisonment, life 187
improve 200
improvement, general 199
improvements, make 95
improvise 46
impulsive 41
in a bun 26
in a class of one's own 156
in a coma 149
in a couple of 192
in a mess 123
in a sauce 88
in a second or two 192
in a soup 88
in a stew 88
in a world of one's own 46
in a year or two 193
in all probability 204
in an hour's time 192
in another twenty years'
time 192
in bloom 80
in case 206
in church 136
in complete agreement 196
in detail 56
in fact 207
in favour of, be 43
in his late forties 11
in his mid-twenties 10
in his prime 10
in hysterics 63
in labour 135
in love with 54
in mortal danger 152
in mourning 138
in olden times 191
in one's early fifties 11
in one's honour 138
in one's seventy-fifth
year 11
in one's teens 191
in one's view 43
in order to 206
in perfect condition 122
in perfect health 149
in possession of 187
in prehistoric times 191
in rather poor / bad taste 36
in sight 36
in spite of 206-207
in the 1990s 192
in the balance 204
in the black 182
in the centre of 22
in the coming years 192
in the desert 81
in the dim and distant
past 191
in the direction of 22
in the distance 23
in the early hours 194
in the early sixties 191
in the eyes of the law 186
in the far-distant future 192
230

Index

in the foreseeable future
204
in the immediate future 193
in the jungle 81
in the late forties 191
in the mid... 191
in the mood for, be 47
in the most northerly part
of 22
in the North 78
in the north of 21
in the not too distant
future 193
in the red 120, 147, 182
in the shade 111
in the South 78
in the spring of 192
in the valley 22
in the West 78
in those days 191
in time 194
in urgent need of 204
in vogue 107
in width 110
in years to come 192
in-laws 14
incentive bonus
scheme 142
inch thick, an 110
inclined to 201
inclined to, feel 48
income 146, 182
income, fixed 143
income, total 146
incomes policy 182
incompatibility 136
incompetent 188
increase, annual wage 142
increase, dramatic 199
increase, low rate of 182
increase, percentage 182
increase, to 200
increase, wage 182
incubator 135
indecisive 40
indescribably horrible 188
index, cost of living 181
index finger 29
Index, Retail Price 142
index-linked 181
India 18
Indian 18
Indian restaurant 23
indicate 178, 180
indicator 101
indifferent 54
indifferent, feel 54
indirect tax 182
indispensable 204
individual medley 157
Indonesia 19
Indonesian 19
indoor activity 166
indoor event 155
induce labour 134
induction 135
industrial designer 141

industrial heartland 22
industrial injury 142
industrial relations 182
industrial relations
officer 141
industrialized 78
industry and agriculture,
business 181-184
industry and trade 181
industry, capital-intensive
182
industry, cinema 160
industry, key 181
industry, labour-intensive
182
industry, manufacturing
141
industry, nationalised 181
industry, primary 181
industry, production 181
industry, service 141
industry, state-owned 182
inevitable, look 204
inexplicable 201
infant mortality 138
infants' school 10
infection 151
infection, serious 151
infectious 149
inferiority complex 54
inflammation 151
inflation rate, low 181
inflation, beat 147
inflation, conquer 181
inflation, rate of 181
influenza 150
informal 108
infrequency 201
ingrained 123
ingredient 89, 174
inhalation 151
inherit 14, 138,147
inhuman 188
initials 8
injection, give an 152
injury, industrial 142
inland 22,78
inner tube 102
innocent 185
innumerable 110
inoculated 152
input socket, phono 165
inquest 138
insecure 51
insemination 184
inside and outside the
torso 32
inside leg 32
inside out 108
inside the Tropic of
Cancer 78
inside, just 24
insincere 40
insist 44, 57
insistent 57
insomnia 134, 151
inspector 143

inspector, insurance 141
inspector, police 141
inspector, public health 141
inspector, tax 141
inspiration, flash of 47
installation 95
instalment, HP 146
instant coffee 176
instep 31
instinct 37
instruction, religious 199
instructor, driving 140, 180
instrument 98, 168, 170
instrumentalist 170
insult 58,62
insurance contributions,
national 146
insurance inspector 141
insurance premium 146
intelligent 188
intend to 48
intensity 111
intention of, have every 47
inter-city express 178
inter-city service 103
interest 146, 163
interest in 199
interest loan, fixed 182
interest, rate of 147
interest, take a keen
interest in 43
interior 78,94
interior decorator 140
interior, deep in the 22
interior-sprung mattress 95
international liquidity 181
International Monetary
Fund 181
international transaction
182
interrogate 59
interrogation 59
interrupt 56
intersection 114
intestines 33
into the lead 157
into view 36
intriguing 54
introduce 200
introducing 57
introduction 57, 199
introspective 50
intruder 185
intuition 37
invalid car 104
invent an excuse 46
investment expert 184
investment, boost 181
invisible export 182
invitation 57
inviting 57
Iran 18
Iranian 18
Iraq 18
Iraqi 18
Ireland 19
Ireland, Northern 78

iris 81
Irish 19
Irishman 19
iron 74,96,116
ironing board 97
ironmonger's 93
irregular shifts 143
irresponsible 41
irrigation 78
irritable 50
island 78
island, on an 22
islands, main 78
isolated case 149
Israel 17
Israeli 17
issue 44
Italian 17
Italy 17
itch 69
itching, stop the 151
ivy 81

jack 165
jackal 83
jacket 107
jacket potatoe 173
jacket, knitted woollen 107
jacket, military 107
jackplug 165
jaded 123
jagged 115
jam 173
jam, traffic 178, 180
jangle 132
January 193
Japan 18
Japanese 18
jar 112
jaundice 150
javelin 155
jaw 27
jazz, traditional /
modern 169
jealous 53
jeans 109
jelly-fish 83
jersey 107
jet airliner 106
jet black hair 26
jet plane 106
jet black 119
Jew's harp 168
jigsaw puzzle 163
jingle 132
job 181, 199
job stability 142
job, regular 143
job, steady 143
jobs, classification of 142
jobs, fewer 182
jog 72
jogging 166
joined, be 114
joiner 141

joint guilt 186
joint of beef 87
Jordan 18
Jordanian 18
journalist 141
journey, return 179
judge 136, 155, 185
judge's summing up 187
judgement 44
jug, measuring 99
jug, milk 99
jug, water 99
juggernaut 103
juice, whole fruit 176
jukebox 169
July 193
jumble sale 147
jump 73
jump out of one's skin 62
jump, high/ long 155-6
jump, make someone 62
jump, triple 155
jumper 107
junction 178
junction, left fork at the 23
June 193
jungle 78
jungle, in the 81
junior minister 143
junior, auxiliary 144
Jupiter 77
jury 185,187
just a matter of time 149
just a moment ago 192
just a stone's throw from 22
just above 22
just across the road from 23
just below 22
just down from 23
just good friends 15
just inside 24
just now 192
just past 21,23
juvenile delinquent 10
К

kangaroo 82
kazoo 168
kebab 173
keel 104
keen interest in, take
a 43
keen on 44
keen to, be 47
keep a pet 164
keep cool 62
keep in the right lane 179
keep one's distance 53
keep one's eye on 75
keep out of someone's
way 53
keep over 178
keep perfect time 193
keep the trophy 156
keep to the minor roads 22
keep to the right 178

Index

231

keep-fit class 166
kennel 84
Kenya 18
Kenyan 18
kettle drum 168
kettle, electric 96
key 125,170
key industry 181
keyboards 168
kick 69, 134
kick the bucket 11, 137
kid 10,84
kidnapping 186
kidney 33
kidney pie, steak and 173
kidney, pig's 88
kill 137
killed in action 137
kilometres, square 22
kilowatt 198
kilt 109
kimono 109
kin, next of 13
kind 112
kind of 132
kind-hearted 34
king 143, 154, 165
king-sized 110
kipper 88
kiss 70
kiss, blow a 68
kit 108, 126
kitchen 23,94
kitchen hand 141
kite 165
kitten 84
kiwi 82
knave 165
knead, to 175
knee 31
knee-high to a grasshopper /
an ant 25
kneel 72
knees bent 71
knees, on one's 31
knickers 107
knife, carving 97
knife, cheese 97
knife, fish 97
knife-thrower 161
knight 154
knit, to 165
knitted woollen jacket 107
knob 125
knock down 137
knock out a tooth 28
knock out 156
knock over 75
knock someone out 69
knock someone over
with a feather 62
knock-kneed 34
knot 111
know better, old enough
to 11
know one's own mind 43

232

Index

know what one is thinking,
never 53
know where to put
oneself, not 63
knowing, thinking, wanting
and 46-49
be known as 8
knuckle 29
koala bear 83
Korea, South 18
Korea, South / North 78
Korean, South 18

LP 169
label 109, 125
label, recording 169
laboratory technician 141
labour force 181
labour practice, restrictive
182
labour ward 135
labour, in 135
labour, induce 134
labour, manual 181
labour, semi-skilled /
unskilled 182
labour, skilled 182
labrador 83
lace 109, 117, 125
lack of 203
Ladders, Snakes and 165
ladle 97
ladybird 82
ladylike 188
lager 176
lair 84
lake 78
lake, beside a 22
lamb 84
lamb chop 88
lamb's brain 88
lambing 184
lamp-post, like a 25
lance corporal 143
land 78
land, on 80
land, to 154, 179
landing, a few steps
along the 23
landing from the bathroom,
along the 21
landscape 171
landscape, to 95
lane 21
lane, along a country 22
lane, fast 180
lane, keep in the right 179
language, sign 37
lap 32, 111, 155
lapel 109
lard 90
larder 24
large 78, 196
large minority, very 196
large number of 110

large, exceedingly 110
larger than life 162
largish 110
larva 84
laryngitis 150
lasagne 89
last few hours, within
the 192
last one in the street 23
last place 156
last thing one wanted,
the 47
last week, one afternoon
192
last year, this time 191
last, down to one's 147
last, the Friday before 192
latch 125
late forties, in his 11
late forties, in the late 191
late husband 15
late summer 193
late ... until... , from
the 191
lately 191
later today 193
later, sooner or 192
lathe 98
lathe operator 141
latitide, degree of 78
latitude, line of 21
laugh 66
laugh like a drain 66
laugh one's head off 63
laughable 188
laughing, burst out 63
laughing, can't help 63
laughing, nearly die 63
laughter, howl with 66
launch 104
laundry 99
laurel 81
lavatory 24
lavatory seat 94
lavender 119
law and order, crime and
punishment 185-187
law, against the 186
law, break the 185
law, criminal 186
law, forbidden by 203
law, in the eyes of the 186
law, point of 185
law, prohibited by 203
lawn 95
lawnmower 96
lay down one's life 137
lay off staff 182
lay-by 179
lazy 51
lead 118, 125,165
lead guitar 168
lead off to 24
lead on to 94
lead the championship table
154
lead vocals 168

lead, into the 157
lead, to 156
leader, squadron 142
leader, union 143
leading by a metre from,
be 157
leading down, steps 23
leading part 159
leading seaman 143
leading up to the house, long
drive 23
leaf 80, 125
leaf, bay 89
leak, to 122-123,128, 130
lean back 72
leap 73, 154
leap year 193
learner driver 180
learner, slow 199
least, at 207
leather 117
leather upholstered 95
leathery 117
leave it at that 56
leave on one's right 23
leave to cool 175
leave unsaid / unspoken 56
Lebanese 17
Lebanon 17
lecture, give someone a 56
lecturer, university 141
leek 87
leer at 67
left at 23
left channel 165
left fork at the junction 23
left of, to the 24
left, fourth on the 21
left, on the 24
left, stage 159
left, third 23
left, to one's 23
left-handed 34
left-overs 175
leg 31, 82, 157
leg of pork 88
leg to stand on,
haven't got a 31
leg, inside 32
leg, pull someone's 60
legal costs 186
legal right 185
legal separation 185
leggy 34
legs crossed 72
legs dangling 71
legs, hind 86
legs, a hundred 198
lemon 87, 119
lemon, slice of 176
lemonade 176
lending 182
length, a foot in 110
length, at 56
lengthy 110
lens 125
lens, telephoto 165

lenses, wear contact 37
leopard 82
leprosy 150
lessen the risk 151
lessen, to 200
lessening 199
lesson, ballet 165
let 129
let alone 207
let go of something 75
letter, fan 162
lettuce 87
leukaemia 150
level, ability 199
level, spirit 98
level-headed 40
lever 74
Levis 109
levy, to 182
libel 186
Libya 17
license, endorse a 187
lick 69
lick one's lips 67
lid 125
lie in ruins 127
lie in state 138
lie on 22, 78
lie on one's stomach 71
lie to the south of 22
lie, to 78
lie-detector 98
Liechtenstein 17
Liechtensteiner 17
lieu, time off in 142
lieutenant 142
lieutenant, flight 142
life imprisonment 187
life is hanging by a
thread, one's 149
life, fight for one's 149
life, get the shock of one's
life 62
life, lay down one's 137
life, lose one's 152
life, save a 152
lifeboat 104
lift 179
lift, take the 23
lift, thumb a 29, 178
light ale 176
light green 119
light opera 159, 169
light year 77
light years from now 192
light, by first 193
light-fingered 34
light-headed 51
light-meter 165
lighter, cigarette 98
lights, across the traffic 22
lightship 104
lightweight 156
like a lamp-post 25
like death warmed up 149
like the idea of 48
like the sound of 47

like to see, would 43
like, whatever you 203
like, would quite 47
likelihood, little 204
likely, most 204
lilac 119
lily 81
lime 87, 116
lime-green 119
limit, exceed the speed 187
limit, speed 179
limit, to 182
limp 72
line 27,114, 166
line of latitude 21
line, base 114
line, horizontal 114
line, overtaken on the 156
line, toe the 31
line, vertical 114
lined 26
linen 117
liner 104
lines 159
linesman 155
lining 125
lino 94
lion 83-84
lion-tamer 161
lioness 84
lions, pride of 84
lip open, split one's 28
lip, swollen 28
lip-read 37
lips 27
lips, bite one's 68
lips, lick one's 67
lips, purse one's 27, 68
lips, smack one's 27
liqueur 176
liquidiser 96
liquidity 181
liquidity, international 181
list, off the danger 149
listen to 36
literature 199
litre 110
litter bin 99
little 110
little finger 29
little likelihood 204
little splinter group 196
little, a 147
little, very 110
live till one is a hundred
149
live concert 169
lively 40
liver 33, 150
liver, calf's 88
livid 62
living index, cost of 181
living quarters 91
living room 24
lizard 83
loaf 112
loan 146

Index

233

loan, fixed interest 182
loathe 53
lob 155
lobe 27
lobster 83, 88
local government 181
local government
administrator 141
located 78
location 21-24
lock, to 122
locomotive, high-speed 103
log-cabin 91
log-shaped 114
logical 40
lonely 51
long 26,114
long ago, not so 192
long as one can remember,
for as 191
long creepers 81
long for 48
long jump 155-156
long tunnel, through a 22
long way round 23
long, before 192
long, before too 193
long hard winter 51
long long time ago, a 192
long, quite a long way
from 22
long-sighted 37
long-term credit 182
longing, full of 50
longitude 21
loo 24
look after 14,167
look as if 204
look at 36
look at it, on the right
as you 24
look down 54
look down on 54
look for 203
look forward to 48
look inevitable 204
look like 36
look one's age 10
look out on to 24
look slim 204
look up 54
look up to 53
look, black 120
look in one's eye, have a
guilty look 63
loose 109
Lord, First Sea 143
lose 129, 156, 193
lose one's life 152
lose one's temper 62
lose one's voice 66
loss 182
loss for words, be at a 56
lost in thought, be 46
lot in common, have a 53
lot of, a 110
lot on one's mind, have a 46
234

Index

lotion 151
lounge 24
lounge bar 176
lounge suite 95
lounge, departure 178, 180
love with, in 54
love-hate relationship 53
lovely 190
low 122
low inflation rate 181
low rate of increase 182
low-lying 78
lower, to 200
lowering 199
lowlands 78
loyal 40
lozenge 151
ludicrous 188
luggage 178
luggage rack 99
lullaby 169
lump come to one's
throat 62
lunchtime 194
lung 33
lung cancer 150
Luxembourg 18
Luxembourger 18
M
mph 111
mac 109
macaroni 89
macaroon 173
machine, fruit 166
machine, sewing 96
machine, washing 96
machine, washing-up 96
mackerel 88
mad, go 62
made of money 147
madrigal 169
magistrate 136
magnificent 189
magnum 110
magpie 83
mahogany 117
maiden name 8
mail sorter 141
main dish 174
main islands 78
main road, follow the 22
main road, turn off the 179
mainland 22
maintain 44
maintenance 136
maintenance engineer 140
maintenance money 146
maintenance, motorcycle 165
maisonette 23
maize 88
major 143,170
major chord 170
major station 103
majority, overall 111

majority, overwhelming 196
majority, small 196
make 113
make a choice 47
make a face 67
make a miraculous
recovery 149
make a resolution to 48
make a sign 68
make a speech 56
make a total recovery 149
make an arrangement 178
make do with 47
make ends meet 148
make fun 60
make improvements 95
make money 147
make progress 149
make someone jump 62
make staff redundant 182
make the beds 74
make up a story 46
make up one's mind 43, 47,
203
make wine 167
make, to 166,203
make-believe 46
make-up 159, 161
Maker, go to meet one's 137
malaria 150
male 84
malicious 40
malnutrition 138
malt 88
mammoth 82,110
man, twelfth 144
man-made 117
management 182
manager, bank 148
manager, costumes 159
manager, deputy 144
manager, hotel / club /
pub 141
manager, sales 141
manager, stage 159
mandolin 168
mane 86
mangled 123
mango 87
manic depression 150
manned flight 106
manned spacecraft 105
mannerism, gesture,
mannerism and body
language 67-70
manners, comedy of 159
mansion 21, 91
manslaughter 186
mantlepiece 94
manual labour 181
manufacturing 181
manufacturing industry 141
many years ago 192
maracas 168
marathon 155
marble 117
marbles 164

march 73, 193
marchioness 143
mare 84
marigold 81
marine 105
mariner 105
marital status 15-16
marjoram 89
marked 123
marked progress 199
market crash, stock 182
market, black 120
Market, Common 182
marketing executive 141
marks, good 157
maroon 119
marquis 143
marriage, be related to by
13
marriage, by one's first 15
marriage, civil 136
marriages and deaths,
births 134-139
married 15
married couple 14
married woman 136
married, be 13
married, get 15, 135
marrow 87
marry 15, 136
Mars 77
marshall of the air
force 143
marshland 81
martini, dry 176
martyr 137
marvellous 188
mashed 173
mask 155
masochist 44
massacre 137
masses of 110
masseur 140
masseuse 140
massive, quite 110
mast 104
master bathroom 95
master bedroom 23
masterpiece 171
mat 94,154
mat, table 96
match box 99
match, game set and 154
matching 95
mate 144, 154
materialistic 39
materials and textures,
substances 116-118
mathematics 199
mating 184
matrimony, holy 136
matron 143
matted 26
matter of time, just a 149
matter, civil 186
matter, fiscal 181
matters, financial 148

mattress, interiorsprung 95
mature 10, 94
mausoleum 138
mauve 119
maximum speed 111
May 193,204
may I say 56
mayor 143
me, seem to 44
meadow 81
meal, four-course 174
mean 27
mean to 48
meander 129
meandering 115
meanness 41
measles 150
measles, German 150
measure, tape 98
measure, to 75, 98
measuring jug 99
meat 117
meat, cut of 87
meaty 117
mechanic, (garage) 140
mechanic, motor 141
mechanical engineer 141
medical practitioner 141
meditate 46
medium 171
medium build 25
medium dry sherry 176
medley, individual 157
meet 22
meet one's Maker, go to 137
meet, make ends 148
meeting, minutes of the 142
meeting, protest 166
Mein, Chicken Chow 174
melancholic 50
melodrama 159
melody 170
melon 87
melt 129
melted 174
member 83
member of the executive
143
members of the family 13
memorable 188
memory, to one's 138
mend 74
mend, on the 149
mention 56
mention, not to 207
menu 174
mercenary 40
merchant's, coal 93
Mercury 77, 116
mercy-killing 137,186
mermaid 83
merry 51
mess(-room) 91
mess, in a 123
message 56, 162

message across, put
one's 56
metal 117
metal arms 125
metal dealer / merchant,
scrap 140
metal ring 125
metal rule 98
metal strip 125
metal, precious 118
metallic 117
metallurgist 141
meteor 77
meteorite 77
meter 98,125
methods, farming 184
metres, 100 155
metronome 98
Mexican 18
Mexico 18
microphone 165
microphone holder 99
microphone stand 99
microscope 98
mid-..., in the 191
mid-afternoon, by 194
mid-air 154
mid-air collision 179-180
mid-morning break 194
mid-twenties, in one's 10
mid-way between 21
mid-winter 193
midday, at about 194
middle age, approach 10
Middle East 21
middle of, set in the 22
middleweight 156
midget 25
midnight, around 194
midwife 141
might 205
migraine 28, 150
migrate 83
mild 176
mild attack of, suffer a 149
mile, run a 62
miles away, be 46
miles from anywhere 22
miles per hour 111
miles to the gallon 129
military j acket 107
military two-step 165
milk 117
milk float 104
milk jug 99
milk stout 176
milk, free 199
milking 184
milky 117
Milky Way, the 77
mill, pepper 97
millimetre 198
millions 110
mind begins to wander,
one's 46
mind is a blank, one's 46
mind, bear in 46
Index

235

I

mind, change one's 47
mind, exaggerate in
one's 46
mind, have a lot on one's 46
mind to, have half a
mind 48
mind, know one's own 43
mind, make up one's 43, 47,
203
mind, to my 43
mind, wouldn't 47
mindless 188
mineral deposits 78
mineral salt 80
mineral water 176
minimum 204
minimum standard 199
mining 181
minister, junior 143
minister, prime 143
mink 82
minor 10
minor chord 170
minor road 179
minor roads, keep to
the 22
minority, very large 196
mint 89
minus 197
minute 110
minute, this 192
minutes of the meeting 142
miraculous recovery, make
a 149
mirror, wing 101
miscarriage 134
miserable 50
miss 54
miss a beat, heart 62
missing, presumed dead
137
mistress, former 15
mitten 109
mix 74
mix, to 175
mixer 96, 176
mixer tap 95
mixing bowl 97
mixture 175
moan 65
mock 60
model 112
model aeroplane 164
moderate 78
modern 94
modern jazz 169
modern language 199
modern pentathlon 157
modest 40
modesty 41
mole 27,83
moment in time, at this 191
moment now, any 192
moment, at any 192
moment, at the 192
moment, at this very 192
monastery 91
236

Index

monetarism 181
Monetary Fund,
International 181
money into, pump 181
money supply, control
of the 181
money than sense,
more 147
money, amount of 181
money, counterfeit 186
money, danger 142
money, dole 146
money, made of 147
money, maintenance 146
money, make 147
money, pocket 146
money, redundancy 184
money, save 147
money, stake 146
monk 143
monkey family 82
monocle 198
monologue 159, 198
Monopoly 165
monopoly, natural 181
monotonous 190
monsoon 78
monstrosity 189
monthly 148
monumental pile of, a 110
moods 50-52
moody 50
moon, once in a blue 120,
201
moon, over the 51
moonlight 127
moorland 81
mop 97
more money than sense 147
more often than not 201
more than happy to, be 48
more, what is 207
moreover 207
morgue 91
morning dress 108
morning, early 194
morning-sickness 134
mornings, frosty 50
Moroccan 18-19
Morocco 18-19
mortal danger, in 152
mortality, infant 138
mortgage payment 146
mortuary 91
mosaic 171
mosquito 82
moss 80-81
most likely 204
most northerly part of,
in the 22
motel 91, 179
moth 83
mother 13
mother superior 143
mother, expectant 134
mother-in-law 13
mother-to-be 134

motherhood 135
motion picture business 160
motion, slow 154
motion, time and 142
motor mechanic 141
motor-cycle maintenance
165
motorbike 103
motorcycle 103
motorway 22,178
mottled 119
mountain 110
mountain chain 78
mountain range 78
mountaineering 166
mountainous 78
mountains, coastal 78
mourning, in 138
moustache 27
mousy strands 26
mouth 27, 78
mouth organ 168
mouth of, near the 22
mouth, to 27
mouthpiece 125,170
move 75, 154
move into 94
move, to 129-130
moved to tears 62
movement 111
movement, gesture
and 71-73
movie world 160
movie, blue 120, 160
movie, disaster 160
movie, science fiction 160
moving 190
much, far too 110
muck 122
mud 117
muddy 117
mudguard 102
mug 97
mugging 186
mule 83
multi-coloured 119
multi-millionaire 147
multiple 197
multiple sclerosis 150
multiply, to 197
multitude 198
mumble 65
mumps 150
mural 171
murder 137
murder, guilty of 185
murder, to 137, 185
murmur 65
muscular 25
muscular dystrophy 150
mushroom 87
music and the arts 168-172
music, classical 169
music, electronic 169
music, piece of 169-170
music, read 170
music-hall 161

musical 159
musical box 99, 169
musical chairs 164
musical term 170
musical, Hollywood 160
musician 144, 168
mussel 88
must 203-204
must admit 43
mustard 174
mustard pot 99
mutter 65
mutton, shoulder of 88

N
nail 97, 109
nailclippers, pair of 97
naked 109
name of, by the 8
name (to), change one's 8
name, real 8
be named after 8
names 8-9
names, call someone 62
napkin 96
nappy 96,108
narcissus 81
narrow, to 200
narrow-minded 39
narrow-waisted 34
narrowing of the gap 199
national character 42
national government 181
national insurance
contributions 146
national product, gross 181
nationalised industry 181
nationalist 44
nationalities, countries
17-20
nativity play 159
natural 176
natural causes 137
natural monopoly 181
natural resources 78
natural vegetation 80
natural, F 170
navel 32
navy blue 119
near the mouth of 22
nearest big town, the 21
nearly die laughing 63
nearly drown 153
nearly eighteen
months old 10
nearly have a heart
attack 53
neat style 26
necessarily, not 203
necessary, not 203
necessity and free-will,
probability 203-205
neck 109, 125
neck up, from the 26-28
neck, stiff 28
need of, in urgent 204

needle 165
needle, thread the 165
needles 80
needn't 203
negligence 186
negligible 110
negotiation 142
neigh, to 85
neither 197
Neo-Classicist 171
Nepal 18
Nepalese 18
nephew 13
Neptune 77
nervous 50
nervous breakdown,
head for a 151
nest 84
net 104,154,182
netball 158
nettle 80
network 103
network of canals 78
neurosis 150
never 201
never understood, have 44
new-born baby 10
new record height 154
new staff, take on 182
New Zealand 19
New Zealander 19
new, as good as 149
newly-laid 94
news, break the 56
newsagent's 93
newspaper competition 166
newt 83
next autumn 193
next few hours,
within the 193
next few, during the 191
next few, for the 191
next Friday 193
next lights 23
next of kin 13
next to 23-24
next year, this time 192
next, in the 192
next, one evening next 193
next, over the 191
next, the Christmas
after 193
next, the week after 193
nibble 69
Nicaragua 17
nicely, come along 149
nickel 116
nickname 8
nicotine 118
niece 13
Niger 17
Nigeria 18
Nigerian 18
night, first 159
nightclub 161
nightfall, at 194
nightingale 83

nine 197
nisi, award a decree 136
nitrogen 116
no better 149
no change 149
no fewer than 110
no need to, be 203
no possibility 204
no way, be 204
no-through road 23
nobody 196
nocturnal 83
nocturne 169
nod 68
noises things make 132-133
non-conformist 44
non-digital watch 193
non-smoker 178
non-stop 178
nondescript 188
none 196
nonsensical, totally 188
noodles 89
normal hair 26
normal, perfectly 201
normal-sized 110
normality 201
normality and regularity
201-202
normally 201
North Korea 78
North of, in the 21
north of, to the 21
North Pole, the 78
North, in the 78
North, to the 78
northerly, in the most
northerly part of 22
Northern Ireland 78
northern plains 78
Norway 19
Norwegian 19
nose 26, 105, 125
nose up, turn one's 27
nose, blocked-up 28
nose, blow one's 27, 66
nose, runny 28
nosebleed 28,153
nosey 34
nostalgic 50
nostril 27
not a soul 196
not a trace of 110
not anybody 196
not for ages yet 193
not guilty, find someone 187
not have a penny to one's
name 147
not necessarily 203
not necessary 203
not one empty seat 196
not proved 187
not so long ago 192
not to mention 207
not to, so as 206
note 170
note, wrong 170
Index

237

nothing against, have 44
nothing coming 178
nothing of 25
nothing wrong with one 149
nourishing 173
November 193
novice 143
now 192
now and then, every 201
now on, from 191
now, decades from 192
now, here and 192
now, just 192
now, light years from 192
nowadays 191
nuclear waste 118
nude 109
number 21, 197
number of, a fair 196
number of, a large 110
number plate 101
number, even 197
number, odd 197
number, opus 170
number, small 196
numerals and proportions
196-198
numerous 110
numismatist 164
nun 109
nunnery 91
nurse, registered 141
nurse, staff 143
nursery 91
nursery rhyme 163, 169
nursery school 199
nurses, doctors and 164
nursing auxiliary 141
nut 87,97
nutmeg 89
nylon 117

О
oak 80, 117
oar 104
oasis 81
oats 88
obedient 40
obese 25
obituary 138
object, unidentified
flying 77
obligation, under no 203
obligatory 204
oblique 114
oblong 114
oboe 168
oboe reed 170
obscenity 186
obstetrician 134
obstinacy 41
obstinate 39
occasional 202
occasionally 201
occasions, on special 201
occupant 94

238

Index

occur to 47
octave 170
octet 198
October, early 193
octogenarian 11
octogon 115
octopus 82
oculist 37
odd number 197
odd one or two, the 196
odd, really 201
odds 166
off 147
off the coast 78
off the danger list 149
off, be 178
off-colour, be a bit 149
off-peak 147
off-white 119
offence, commit an 186
offence, take 62
offence, traffic 187
offender, serious 137
offer 57
offer, special 147
office 91
office, registry 136
officer, commanding 142
officer, fire-service 141
officer, petty 142
officer, pilot 142
officer, prison 141
officer, public relations 141
officer, security 141
officer, ship's 141
officer, warrant 142
official 156
often, how 201
often than not, more 201
oil 117, 165,174, 181
oil can 99
oil tank 99
oil painting 171
oily 117
ointment 151
old age 11,137
old age pensioner 11
old and grey, when
we're 192
old as old one feels, be as 11
old as the hills, be as 11
old enough to know
better 11
old people's home 91
old, grow 11
old, nearly eighteen months
10
old, ten months 10
olden times, in 191
older 11
older generation 11
olive green 119
Olympic ice-dance
champion 157
omelette 173
on a bend in the road 23
on a corner 23

on a peninsular 22
on account of 206
on an island 22
on deck 179
on foot, about forty
minutes 23
on land 80
on one's conscience 63
on one's feet again 149
on one's knees 31
on one's right 24
on one's side 71
on one's toes, be 31
on probation 187
on second thoughts 47
on special occasions 201
on stage 159
on stand-by 178
on the banks of 22
on the breadline 147
on the bridge 179
on the cards 204
on the direct route 179
on the far side of town
from 22
on the first floor 21
on the fringe of 22
on the left 24
on the mend 149
on the open road 178
on the other hand 207
on the other side of 21
on the outskirts of 22
on the quay-side 178
on the right 23
on the right as you look at it
24
on the road 169
on the sea-shore 81
on the second floor 23
on the short side 25
on the side of 22
on the slopes of 22
on the underground, quarte
of an hour 23
on top of the world 51
once 192,197
once in a blue moon 120,
201
once in a while 201
one 197
one afternoon last week 19
one day 192
one day quite recently 192
one end, at 125
one evening next week 19c
one of them 197
one of these days 193
one or two, the odd 196
one's heart begins to beat
faster 69
one's mind is racing 47
one's mouth is watering 6f
one, each and every 196
one, every single 196
one, not 196
one, the 197

one, the other 197
one-day 178
one-sided 156, 198
one-way street 23
onion 87
only child 13
ooze 128
OPEC country 181
open 39
open road, on the 178
open, split one's lip 28
open, to 200
open-minded 44
open-neck shirt 108
opening 199
opera glasses 98
opera, grand / light /
comic 169
opera, light 159
operation 152
operation, Caesarian 135
operator, lathe 141
operator, tour 178
operetta 169
opponent 156
opponent of, a fierce 43
opportunities scheme,
post-school 199
opposed to, as 206
opposed to, be 43
opposite 78
opposite a florist's 23
opposite, directly 22
opposite, the wall 24
optician 140
optimist 44
optimistic 50
option 47,203
optional 203
opus number 170
or so ago 192
or two, in a second 192
orang-outang 82
orange 87
orange squash 176
oratorio 169
orbit, to 77
orchestral work 169
orchid 81
order 60
order to, in 206
order, standing 146
orderly 143
ordinary 188
ordinary, out of the 201
oregano 89
organ 168
organ, mouth 168
organ, transplant an 152
organisation, parentteacher 199
organism 80
origin, country of 17
original 171, 190
originate 13
orphan 14
Oscar 160

osteopath 140
ostrich 82
other day, the 192
other hand, on the 207
other one, the 197
other side of the river
from 22
other side of, on the 21
other, each 197
otter 83
out 166
out and about 149
out of earshot 36
out of hand 44
out of reach 36
out of season 147
out of sight 36
out of the blue 120
out of the ordinary 201
out of the question 204
out of tune 170
out on to the balcony 23
out, inside 108
outbreak, serious 149
outclass 156
outdoor event 155
outgoing 39
outgoings 146, 148
outlet 181
outlying village 22
output per employee 181
outsider 156
outskirts of, on the 22
outstretched, arms 72
oval 115
ovary 80
oven, double 95
oven-warm bread 174
over 154
over 18,000 feet 78
over a railway crossing 23
over a shop 23
over and over in, go 46
over sixties 11
over something, be 149
over the border from 21
over the hill 11
over the moon 51
over the next 191
over the next crossroad 22
over the past 191
over three metres in
height 110
over twenty-one 1, 10
over(coat) 109
over, keep 178
over, the worst is 149
over, think something 47
overact, to 159
overall 109
overall majority 111
overcast 51
overcome, be 62
overdose 137
overdraft 146, 148
overdue 146
overflow 125

overhaul, to 165
overheat 129
overheated engine 179
overmanning 182
overtake 179
overtaken on the line 156
overtime 142
overtime payment 146
overture 169
overweight 25
overwhelmed 51
overwhelming majority 196
ovule 80
owe 147
owing to 206
owl 83
own entrance, its 23
own, in a class of one's 156
own-goal 156
owned, privately 199
ox 82
ox tongue 87
oxtail 87
oxygen 116
oyster 88

pacemaker, fit a 152
pack 84,112
pack, to 178
package holiday 178
packed dinner 179
packer 141
packet 112
pad 112, 155
padded 109
paddle steamer 104
pain in one's abdomen 32
pain, ease the 151
painful 151
painkiller 151
pains, shooting 151
paint 74, 163
painted 94
painted, as black as one is
painted 120
painter 141
painting, portrait 171
pair 112, 197
pair of compasses 98
pair of nail-clippers 97
pair of pliers / pincers 97
pair of scales 98
pair of scissors 97
pair of shears 97
pair of shorts 108
pair of tweezers 97
pairs 197
Pakistan 18
Pakistani 18
palace 91
pale blue 119
palm 29
palm someone off with
something 29
palm tree 81

Index

239

pan, frying 99
Panama 17
pancake batter 173
panda 82
pane of glass 94
panel 101
panic, to 62
pansy 81
pant 66
panther 83
panties 109
pantomime 159
pants 109
paper 74, 117
paper aeroplane 165
paper bag 99
paper, brown 117
papered 94
paprika 89
parachute 105
parachuting 166
parade, fashion 161
Paraguay 17
Paraguayan 17
parallel 114
parallel to 22
paranoia 150
parcel, pass the 164
pardon 185
pardon, to 137
parent, foster 14
parent-teacher organisation
199
parking space 23
Parkinson's disease 150
parliamentary private
secretary 143
parquet floor 94
parrot fashion 83
parsley 89
parsnip 87
part 113
part of the day 193
part, bit 159
part, leading 159
part, remote 22
part, walk-on 159
part-time 143
partial success 196
parting, side 26
partner, doubles 157
partridge 88
parts and components
125-126
party, hen 136
party, stag 136
party game 164
pass away 137
pass away / on 11
pass the parcel 164
passage 159
passage, along a 24
passage, along the 23
passenger, first-class 178
passion 41
passionate 40
passionate 43
240

Index

passive 40
passport 178
past few years, for the 191
past, in the dim and
distant 191
past, just 21,23
past, over the 191
pasta 88-89
pastime 163
pastry 164, 173
pastry, puff 173
pasty 173
pat 69
patch, vegetable 95
patience 41
patient 151
patio 94
patriot 44
patter 132
pattern 108
pattern, follow the 166
pavement round,
follow the 22
paw 86
pawn 155
pawpaw 87
pay 142
pay damages 186
pay restraint 182
pay, crime doesn't 148
payment 147
payment, mortgage 146
payment, overtime 146
payments, balance of 181
pea 87
peach 87
peach flan 174
peacock 82
peak, highest 78
pear 87
pear-shaped 114
pearl 119
pebble 81
pedal 102, 125, 155
pedal bin 99
peddling, drug 186
pedestrian precinct, through
a 22
peel off 74
peel, to 174
peeler 97
peep 68
peer 68
peg 109, 125
Pekinese 83
pelvis 31,33
pen-holder 99
pen-name 8
penalty area 154
penalty, death 137, 187
pencil sharpener 98
pencil-thin 26
pencil case 99
penguin 82
penicillin 151
peninsula 78
peninsular, on a 22

penknife 97
penny to one's name, not
have a 147
pension 146
pension, supplementary 142
pensioner 11
pensive 50
pentathlon, modern 157
penthouse (suite) 91
people's home, old 91
pepper mill 97
pepper, black / white 89
pepper, cayenne 89
percentage increase 182
percentage, reasonable 196
perception, extra-sensory 37
perch 71
percussion 170
percussion, extra 168
perfect condition, in 122
perfect health, in 149
perfect pitch 170
perfect time, keep 193
perfectionist 44
perfectly normal 201
perform a skin graft 152
performance 159, 161
performing flea 161
period 94
period, extended 178
period, Renaissance 171
periods, sunny 50
periscope 105
perm(anent waving) 26
permit, to 203
perpendicular 114
perpendicular, at an angle of
45 degrees to the 114
Persian 20
personality, character
and 39-42
personnel 142
personnel relations
officer 141
perspire 69
Peru 17
Peruvian 17
pessimist 44
pet 84
pet shop 93
pet, keep a 164
petal 80, 125
petite 25
petrified 53
petrol can 99
petrol cap 101
petrol station 179
petticoat 108
pettiness 41
petty 39
petty officer 142
petty theft 186
phase out 200
phasing out 199
pheasant 88
philanthropist 44
philatelist 164

phono input socket 165
phonograph 169
phosphorus 116
photo 165
photo finish 156
photographer 140
photography 160, 165
photos, develop 167
photosynthesis 80
phrase 56
physical appearance 35
physical attributes 35
physical education 199
physical geography 78-79
physics 199
physiotherapist 140
piano 24
piano stool 94
piano tuner 140
piano, electric 168
piccolo 168
pick up 74
picnic 166
picnic basket 99
picture 46
picture business,
motion 160
picture rail 94, 99
picturesque 189
pie, steak and kidney 173
piece 111
piece of 110
piece of clothing 108
piece of music 169-170
pieces, bits and 125
pierced 27
piercing 27
pig's blood 88
pig's kidney 88
pigeon 82,88
piggybank 99
piglet 84
pigment 80
pile of, a monumental 110
pill, sleeping 151
pillar box 23
pillow case 99
pilot 141
pilot officer 142
pimento 89
pimple 27
pin 109, 125
pin-table 166
pincers, pair of 97
pinch 69
pine 117
pine tree 80
pineapple 87
pink, bright 119
pink, salmon 119
pink, shocking 119
pins, for two 47
pipe 95, 125
pipe rack 99
pipe, exhaust 101
pipe cleaner, like a 25
piranha 82

piston 165
pit 154
pitch, perfect 170
pitch black 119
pity 54
placard 166
place 21, 151
place, go to a better 137
place, last 156
place, tie for first 156
place, to 75, 174-175
plaice 88
plain 173, 188
plain flour 174
plains, northern 78
plaintiff 136
plaits, hair in 26
plan to 48
plane 97, 178
plane crash 137
plane tree 81
plane, by 22
plane, jet 106
planet 77
plant 80, 182
plant out, to 166
plant world, the 80-81
plant, flowering 80
plasterer 141
plastic 117
plastic cover 125
plasticine 163
plate 125
plate, number 101
plateau 78
platinum 116
play 167
play flat 170
play, classic 159
play, nativity 159
play, to 159
playful 51
playground game 163
playroom 91
plea 185
plead 59
pleasant 189
please oneself, to 203
pleat 109, 125
plenty of 110
pleurisy 150
pliers, pair of 97
plimsol 108
plop 132
plot 162
ploughing 184
pluck 169
plug 125, 165
plug, sparking 102
plum 87
plumb in 95
plumber 140
plump 25
plunge 73
plus 197
Pluto 77
plutonium 116

pneumonia 150
poached 173
pocket 155
pocket money 146
pockets, hands in 72
point 114, 155
point at 67
point in history, at this 191
point of law 185
point of view 44
point, centre 114
point, common 114
point, decimal 197
point, furthest 22
point, get to the 56
point, have a 43
point, highest 78
point, sharp 125
pointed 26, 115
pointless 188
points, win on 154
poison, to 137
poke one's tongue out 68
poker 165
Poland 18
polar bear 82
Pole 19, 104, 125,157
pole position 154
pole vault 155
Pole, the North 78
police car 103
police inspector 141
policeman 141
policy 181-182
policy, incomes 182
polio 150
Polish 18, 74, 108
polished 94
polished wooden floor 94
polite 188
political awareness 199
politics 166
pollen grain 80
pollenation 80
polo 158
polyester 117
polygamy 198
polystyrene 116-117
polytechnic 199
polythene 117
polyurethene foam 117
pomposity 41
pompous 39
pond 81
ponytail 26
poodle 83
pool 155, 166
poor circulation 150
poor condition 124
poor taste, in rather 36
poor, exceedingly 188
pop 75, 132
pop art 171
pop out of one's head,
eyes 62
pop star 168
pop group 168
Index

241

pope 143
poplar 81
poppy 81
populated, densely 78
population 78, 111
population, total 196
porcelain 117
porcupine 83
pork sausage 88
pork, leg of 88
pornography 186
porpoise 82
port 22,104, 176
port, cross-channel 178
portait painting 171
porter 178
porter, hotel 141
porthole 104
portion of 110
Portugal 19
Portuguese 19
position 143
position, pole 154
positive 50,134
possession of, in 187
possessive 40
possessiveness 41
possibility, no 204
possibility, distinct 205
post, as deaf as a 37
post-code 21
post-mortem 138
post-natal depression 135
post-school opportunities
scheme 199
poster 94, 166
posthumously 138
postman 141
posture and movement
71-73
pot, coffee 99
pot, flower 99
pot, mustard 99
pot-bellied 34
pot-holing 166
potato 87
potoato, jacket 173
pottery 166
pouch 86
pouffe 95
poultry 88
pounds' worth 110
pour 74, 175
pour out 127
pouring with rain 128
pout 67
poverty-stricken 147
powder 151
power, sense of 37
powerboat 104
powerful 157, 188
practical 40
practically cured 149
practice, restrictive
labour 182
practise, to 170
practitioner, medical 141
242

Index

praise 59
prawn 88
pre-heated 175
pre-occupied with 46
pre-prepared 175
preach 56
precinct, through a
pedestrian 22
precious metal 118
precision engineering 181
predictable 204
prefer not to, if you'd 203
preferable to 44
preferably 204
preference, have no 48
pregnancy 134
pregnancy test 134
pregnant 134
prehistoric times, in 191
premature 135
premium, insurance 146
preparatory school 199
prepared to accept, be 44
prescribe 151
prescription 151
present situation changes,
until the 191
present time, at the 191
present, at 191
preserve, to 173
press 74
press-up 166
pressure gauge 98
pressure, blood 134
pressure, high 150
presume 43
presumed dead,
missing 137
pretend 46
pretty grotesque 189
prevent something (from)
spreading 151
previous Friday, the 192
prey, bird of 83
Price Index, Retail 142
prick up one's ears 27
prickly 83
pride of lions 84
priest 136, 140
primary industry 181
primary school 199
primary school teacher 141
prime minister 143
prime, in his 10
primitive 188
primrose 81
prince 143
princess 143
principal 143
print 94
print, finger 29
print, to 165
prior 143
prison officer 141
prison sentence 187
private 143
private enterprise 182

private secretary,
parliamentary 143
private sector 181-182
privately owned 199
Prix, Grand 157
prize 147, 164
prize, consolation 156
pro, be 43
probability 204
probability, in all 204
probability, necessity and
free-will 203-205
probation, on 187
procedure, disputes 142
process, reproductive 80
producer 159,161
product, brand-name 147
product, domestic 182
product, gross national 181
production 159
production engineer 141
production industry 181
productivity 182
productivity bonus 146
productivity deal 142
professional 181
profit 182
profit-sharing 142
profits, plough back 182
profits, share out 182
programmer, computer 141
progress, make 149
progress, marked 199
progress, to 200
prohibited by law 203
promenade 21
promise 59
promise, breach of 186
promote 156
promotion 142,144
prompter 159
proof 111
prop 159
prop up one's chin 71
prop up 181
propeller 104
proportion 110, 196
proportions, numerals and
196-198
proportions, reach epidemic
149
proposal 58
propose 58
pros and cons, balance
the 46
prosecute, to 185
prospect 204
prospective career 199
prospective employer 145
prosperous 147
protectionism 182
protective 41
protest 59
protest meeting 166
protractor 98
proud 39
proved, not 187

provided that 206
pruning 183
psalm 169
pseudonym 8
psychiatrist 140
psychic 37
pterodactyl 82
pub manager 141
public bar 176
public expenditure 181
public health inspector 141
public relations officer 141
public sector 182
public services 181
puck 155
puff 69
puff out one's cheeks 27
puff pastry 173
pull a face 67
pull across 179
pull in 179, 180
pull oneself together 46
pull out 75, 178
pull over 179
pull someone's hair 69
pull someone's leg 60
pull up 179
pullover 109
pulse, take someone's 152
pump 102
pump money into 181
punch 69
punishment 187
punishment, capital 137,
186
punishment, corporal 187,
199
punt 104
puny-looking 25
pupil-power 199
pupil-teacher relationship
199
puppet show 161
puppy 84
purchase 147, 182
purchase, hire 146
pure 176
pure white 119
purple 119
purple with rage 119
purr 85,132
purse 99
purse one's lips 27, 68
push 73
push and shove 69
push down 75
push up the daisies 11
put 56
put ashore 179
put away 74
put back in 75
put one's foot in it 31
put one's message across 56
put oneself, not know where
to 63
put someone on antibiotics
151

put up 75
put, to 174
puzzle 165
puzzle, jigsaw 163
pyjamas 108
pyramid-shaped 114
python 82

Q
quack, to 85
quad 13
quad(ruplet)s 197
quadruple, to 197
quaint 189
qualifications 199
quality 188-190,199
quantity 199
quantity of, substantial 110
quantity, dimensions,
measurements and size
110-113
quantity, staggering 110
quarrying 181
quarter to six, at a 194
quarterly bill 146
quarters, living 91
quartet 169, 197
quayside 180
quayside, on the 178
queen 143, 155, 165
question 59
question, out of the 204
queue 179
quiche 173
quickstep 165
quieten down 62
quilt, continental 95
quin(tuplet)s 197
quintet 169, 197
quite a long way from 22
quite a lot further 23
quite a way out of 22
quite fond of, be 44
quite honest, to be 47
quite massive 110
quota, import 182
quote 56

R
rabbit 82, 88, 162
race 72, 112, 156
Race Relations Act 186
race, sailing 104
racing car 103
racing, one's mind is 47
racist 44
rack, cassette 99
rack, luggage 99
rack, pipe 99
racket 155
racoon 83
radiant smile 127
radiator 94, 102
radiator grille 101
radiator, steaming 179

radish 87
raft 104
rage, white / purple
with 119
rail, hand 99
rail, picture 94, 99
rail, towel 99
railway bridge, under
the 23
railway crossing, over a 23
rain, as right as 149
rain, pour with 128
rainbow 50
raincoat 108
raise 75, 200
raise one's eyebrows 27, 67
raising 199
rake 97
ram 84
ramble 56
ramp 155
ranch(-house) 91
range, mountain 78
range, wide range of 110
ranging from 110
rank 143
ransom 186
rape, charged with 186
rarely 201
rash 51
rash, come out in a 28,151
rashness 41
raspberry 87
rat 82
rate 44, 111, 142
rate of exchange 147
rate of increase, low 182
rate of inflation 181
rate of interest 147
rate, cheap 147
rate, low inflation 181
rates 146
rather drab 189
rather not think, would 47
rather not, would 203
rather strange 201
rather ugly 188
ratio 111
rational 40
rattle 132, 163
rattlesnake 82
raven 82
ravioli 89
raw 173-174
ray of hope 128
ray of sunshine 127
razor 96
razor cutting 26
reach a conclusion 46
reach a verdict 187
reach epidemic proportions
149
reach, out of 36
reached by, it can be 22
reacting to events 62-64
read Braille 37
read music 170
Index

243

read out 56
reading 111
real name 8
realist 44
realistic 40
realize 46
really ghastly 189
really weird 201
reaping 184
rearing 184
reason 58
reason, for this 207
reasonable 110
reasonable percentage 196
reassure 58
rebate, tax 146
rebellious 41
recede 26
receipt 147
receiver 125
recently, one day quite 192
reception 136
recession, world 182
recipe 165, 177
recital 170
recite 56
reckon 43
recline 72
reclining seat 179
recommend 43
recommendation 56
reconsider 47
record 155, 158
record deck 165,169
record height, new 154
record, world 155
record player 169
recorder 169
recorder, cassette 165
recorder, flight 179
recorder, video 95
recording company /
label 169
recording session 168
recount 56
recovered, almost
completely 149
recovery 151
recovery, make a total 149
recovery, speedy 149
recreation field 156
recruitment 142
rectangular 114
recuperation 149
red 109,155
red as a beetroot, as 63, 120
red carpet 120
red-light district 120
red, brick 119
red, in the 120, 147, 182
red,see 62
red-faced 34
red-handed, catch 120
red-letter day 120
red tape 120
reddish 119
reddish-brown 119
244

Index

redhead 26
reduce the swelling 151
reduce 200
reduction 147, 199
redundancy agreement 142
redundancy money 184
redundant, make staff 182
reed 81
reed, oboe 170
reef 81
refer to 56
referee 155
refined 188
reflationary 181
reflected 127
refrain 169
refreshed 51
refrigerator 96
refund, to 147
refusal 59
refuse 59
refuse collector 141
refuse to accept 43
regain consciousness 149
regard 43
regardless 206
regatta 104
region, agricultural 22
register, cash / till 98
registered nurse 141
registry office 136
regrets, have 47
regular habit, as a 201
regular job 143
regularity, normality and
201-202
regularly 201
regularly, how 201
regulate the budget 182
regulations, safety 199
rehearsal 159
rehearsal, dress 159
reigning champion 156
rein 155 ,
reindeer 82
reinstatement 142
reject 43
relapse 149
related to 83
related to by marriage 13
Relations Act, Race 186
relations officer, personnel /
industrial 141
relations officer, public 141
relations, industrial 182
relationship, love-hate 53
relationship,
pupil-teacher 199
relationships, attitudes
and 53-55
relationships, family 13-14
relative, distant 14
relatives, blood 13
relax 200
relax in someone's
company 53
relaxation 199

relaxed 51
relay, 4 x 100 metres 155
release 137, 169
relegate, to 156
relieve 151
religious instruction 199
reluctant to 47
remarry 13
remedial studies 199
remedy 151
remember, for as long as one
can 191
reminisce 56
remote part 22
remotest chance, not the
204
removal firm 140
remove 174-175
Renaissance period 171
renamed, be 8
renovate 94
repeat 56
repeatedly 201
repertory company 159
repetitive 190
replace 75, 165
replanting 183
reporter 141
representation, workers'
142
representative of the
workforce 142
representative, technical
sales 141
reprieve, to 137
reproach 60
reproachful 60
reproduction 171
reproductive process 80
reptile 83
requiem 138
required to, be 204
reseed, to 183
resent 54
resentful 50
reserve, first 144
reserved 41
reserves, gold and foreign
exchange 181
resign, to 154
resigned to, be 47
resolution, make a
resolution to 48
resolve 46
resort area, holiday 22
resources, natural 78
respect 53
respect for, have great
53, 54
respond to treatment 149
respondent 136
responsibility 142
responsibility, to shoulder
29
rest one's elbows on one's
thighs 72
rest room 142

restaurant car 103
restaurant, Indian 23
restless 50
restore 171
restraint, pay 182
restrict free trade 182
restricted to, be 204
restriction, import 182
restrictive labour practice
182
retail 182
Retail Price Index 142
retain one's title 156
retirement, be heading
for 11
return 73
return journey 179
return of service 154
reveal 56
revenue 181-182
review 159, 162
revival 159
revolting 189
revolutionary 41
revolve 129
revolving door 23
revue, satirical 159
rewarding 189
rhapsody 169
rheumatism 150
rhino(ceros) 82
rhubarb 87
rhyme, nursery 163, 169
rhythm guitar 168
rhythm, sense of 170
rib 33
ribbon 26,108, 125
rice 88
rich in 78
rich vegetation 78
rid of, get 151
riddle 165
rider 157
rider, speedway 155
ridiculous 188
right arm for, give one's 47
right as rain, as 149
right as you look at it,
on the 24
right lane, keep in the 179
right, keep to the 178
right, legal 185
right, on one's 24
right, on the 23
right, second on the 21
right, second turning on
the 23
right, stage 159
right, to one's 23
right-footed 34
rim 125
ring 107, 109, 154
ring of toadstools 81
ring, metal 125
ring, to 130
ring finger 29
ringroad 179

ringmaster 161
rings 157
rink 155
rinse 26, 74
RIP 138
rip out 95
ripped 122
ripple, to 128
rippling 127
rise 148, 165
rise and fall 199-200
rise from the ashes 127
rise, constant 199
rise, to 129, 200
rival 156
river basin 78
river, bank of the 78
river, down river from 21
river, stretch of the 22
road 21, 180
road sweeper 141
road tax 146
road, by 23
road, follow the main 22
road, minor 179
road, no-through 23
road, on the 169
roads and communications
181
roads, keep to the minor 22
roar 132
roar, to 85
roast 173
roast chicken 174
robbery with violence 186
robe 107-108
robin 83
rock 77
rock and roll, to 129
rock to and fro 72
rock, to 127
rock band 168
rocked back on one's heels,
be 31
rocking horse 163
rock pool 81
rod 125, 166
rodent 83
role, title 159
roll 72, 112, 174
roll down, tears 62
roll out 175
roll, forward 166
rollers 96
roller-skating 166
rolling 115
rolling-pin 164
Roman 26
Romania 18
Romanian 18
romantic 44
romantic comedy 160
Romantic era 171
roof 94
roof, hit the 62
roof, slate 94
roof-rack 101

rook 154
room, bed-sitting 23, 91
room, changing 91
room, dark 165
room, dining 24
room, living 24
room, separate 95
room, single 179
room, sitting 24
room, spare 23
rooms, buildings and 91-93
root 80, 125
root, take 130
rope 125, 154-155
rope, skipping 164
rose 81, 119
rose-tinted spectacles 120
rosemary 89
rosy 26
rotate 129
rotten 122-123
rough 115, 188
roughly 21
round 114, 154, 156-157,
169
round of shortbread 173
round, come 149
round-shouldered 34
roundabout 163
roundabout, third exit off
the 23
route, on the direct 179
row 21, 165
row of shelves 95
rowing boat 104
royal blue 119
royalties 146
rub 175
rub in 151
rubber 98,117
rubbery 117
rubbish 190
rubbish bin 99
rubella 150
ruby 118
rucksack 178
rudder 104
rude 188
rug 94
rugby 158
ruins, lie in 127
rule out 204
rule, exception to the 196
rule, metal 98
ruler 98
rum, white 176
rumbling, one's stomach
is 69
run 114,129
run a mile 62
run adjacent to 22
run along the side of the
building 23
run down, be 151
run down, to 200
run into debt 147
run out 129
Index

245

runabout 178
runner-up 156
runny nose 28
rush 72
rush-hour 179, 194
rushes 80
russet 119
Russia 18
Russian 18
rust-coloured 119
rustle 132
rusty 122
ruthless 40
rye 88
S

sabre 155
sachet 112
sack 112
sacrifice oneself 137
saddle 102
sadist 44
safe 99
safety regulations 199
sage 89
sail 104
sail, set 130, 179-180
sailing race 104
sailor 144
salad 174
salad, fruit 173
salary 148
salary, basic 146
sale, jumble 147
sales manager 141
sales representative,
technical 141
sales supervisor 141
salesman 141
salmon 88
salmon pink 119
salmonella 150
saloon bar 176
saloon car 104
saltcellar 97
salt, mineral 80
samba 165
same age 11
same time, show the 193
sample 112
sand 116
sandal 108
sander 96
sandpit 163
sandy-coloured 119
sapphire 118
sari 109
sash 109
satellite, earth-orbiting 105
satin 117
satirical revue 159
satisfactory condition 149
satisfying, totally 188
Saturn 77
sauce, in a 88
saucepan 99
246

Index

Saudi Arabia 18
Saudi Arabian 18
sausage, pork 88
savage 188
save money 147
save someone's life 152
savings 146, 148
savoury 173
saw 96,98
sawdust 161
saxophone 168
say a few words 56
say no to, wouldn't 47
say, may I 56
scald 174
scald one's face 28
scale 86, 111, 170, 174
scales, (pair of) 98
scalpel 98
scandalous 189
scar 27
scare 149
scared stiff 62
scarf 108
scarlet 119
scarlet fever 150
scene 159, 161-162
scenery 159
scheme, day-release 199
scheme, post-school
opportunities 199
scheme, sickness benefit
142
schizophrenia 150
schnapps 176
scholarship 146
school dinner 199
school of whales 84
school starting age 199
school teacher,
primary / secondary 141
school, comprehensive 199
school, nursery 199
school, preparatory 199
school, primary 199
school, secondary 199
school, Sunday 164
school age, coming up to 10
schoolboy 11
schoolgirl 10
science fiction movie 160
scientific 181
scientific department 199
scintillating 188
scissors, pair of 97
sclerosis, multiple 150
scold 60
scone 174
scooter 163
score, film 169
scorecard 155
scores of 110
scorpion 82
Scot 19
scotch 176
Scotland 17
Scottish 17

scourer 96
Scout, Boy 164
scowl 67
scramble, to 173
scrap metal dealer /
merchant 140
scrapbook 164
scrape 74
scratch 69,74
scratch one's cheek 28
scratch one's head 68
scratched 122
scrawl 74
scream 65
screech 132
screech, to 85
screen 125
screen adaptation 160
screenplay 160
screw 97
screw, to 75, 125
screwdriver 96
script 160
scrub 74, 174
scruffy 188
sculpture, classical 171
scythe 97
Sea Lord, First 143
sea, by 22
sea, by the 78
sea bed 81, 104
sea creature 83
sea green 119
sea level, below 78
seagull 83
seashore, on the 81
seasick 179
seal 82
seam 125
seaman, able 142
seaman, leading 143
season 161, 193
season ticket 178
season, out of 147
season, to 175
seasoning 89
seat 111, 125
seat, ejector 105
seat, lavatory 94
seat, not one empty 196
seat, reclining 179
seat, window 94
seater, five- 111
seat-belt, fasten one's 179
seaweed 81
second 155,197
second bathroom 94
second childhood 11
second door on the left 24
second floor, on the 23
second on the right 21
second son 15
second string 144
second thoughts, on 47
second turning on the
right 23
second violin 168

second, at any 149
second, come 156
second, to the 193
second-hand 147
secondary school 199
secondary school teacher
141
secret, state 186
secretary 144
secretary of state 143
secretary, branch 143
secretary, company 141
secretary, parliamentary
private 143
secretive 40
section, small 196
sector 182
sector, private 181
sector, public 182
security benefits, social 181
security officer 141
security, gilt-edged 182
see 36
see a ghost 62
see eye to eye with 44
see him again, if I ever 193
see red 62
see the funny side of things
63
see, would like to 43
see-saw 163
seed 80,125
seed box 99
seem set 205
seem to me 44
seem unlikely 204
sees fit, do as one 203
seethe, 62
seldom 201
self-assurance 41
self-assured 39
self-centred 39
self-confident 39
self-conscious 41
self-contained 23
self-defence 186
self-employed 143
self-raising flour 174
self-satisfied 51
selfish 39
selfishness 41
selling 182
semi-circular 114
semi-detached house 23, 91
semi-literate 188
semi-skilled worker 141
semitone 170
senile 11
senior teacher 143
sensation 36-37
sensational 37, 188
sense 37
sense of adventure 37
sense of balance 37
sense of discipline 37
sense of duty 37
sense of fairness 37

sense of fun 37
sense of humour 37
sense ofpower 37
sense of rhythm 170
sense of smell 36
sense of taste 36
sense of timing 37
sense of touch 36
sense, more money
than 147
senseless 37,188
senses, the 36-38
sensible 37, 40
sensitive 37, 41
sensitivity 41
sensual 37
sensuous 37
sentence to death 137
sentence, prison 187
sentence, suspended 187
sentenced 185
sentiment 56
sentimental 50
sepal 80
separate room 95
separate, to 174
separated 15
separation, legal 185
separation, trial 135
September 193
septuagenarian 11
sequence 162
sequence, title 160
serenade 169
sergeant 142-143
sergeant, flight 143
serious 15
serious infection 151
serious offender 137
serious outbreak 149
seriously ill 149
seriously think of 46
seriously, take 43
sermon 56
serrated edge 114
serve 155, 175
service 136
service industry 141
service, community 187
service, freight 103
service, funeral 138
service, inter-city 103
service, return of 154
service, train 180
services 181-182
services, environmental 181
services, public 181
serviette 96
session, recording 168
set 26, 111-112, 159, 169
set a bone 152
set a trap 185
set and match, game 154
set at the correct time 193
set fire to 127
set in the middle of 22
set in, the rain 51

set sail 130,179-180
set, chemistry 165
set, seem 205
set, to 129, 157, 193
set, train 164
set-square 98
settee 72, 95
settle for 47
seven 197
several 196
several feet in diameter 110
severe 78
sew 165
sewing machine 96
Sex Discrimination Act 186
shabby 188
shade, in the 111
shake 63, 74
shake hands with 70
shake one's head 68
shake, to 169
shallow 188
shampoo 26
shandy 176
shape, cut-out 164
shaped, half-moon 114
shapes 114-115
share 43, 146
share a flat with 15
share, equal 196
shareholder 143
shares 182
shares, stocks and 182
shark 82
sharp 115
sharp fall 199
sharp point 125
sharp turning to one's
left 23
sharp, F 170
sharp, half-past eleven 194
sharpener, pencil 98
shattered 123
shawl 108
she, a 84
shears, pair of 97
shed 84, 91
shed, garden 91, 94
sheep's head 88
sheep, black 120
sheep-dipping 184
sheep-shearing 184
sheet 96, 112
sheet, be as white as a 120
sheet, go as white as a 62
sheetmetal worker 141
shelf-filler 141
shell 86
shell, to 174
shelves, row of 95
sherry, medium dry 176
shifts, irregular 143
shimmer, to 127-128
shin 31
shine, to 127
ship's officer 141
ship, by 22
Index

247

ship, sinking 180
shipping clerk 141
shirt 107-108
shirt, open-neck 108
shiver 69
shoal 84
shock of one's life,
get the 62
shocking pink 119
shoe 109
shoe, gym 155
shoot 80
shoot, to 137
shooting 161, 166
shooting pains 151
shooting star 77
shop assistant 141
shop floor 182
shop steward 142-143
shop, charity 147
shop, over a 23
shop, pet 93
shop lifting 186
shopping 99
short 25
short film 160
short cut 23
shortofbreath 151
short side, on the 25
short time ago, a 192
short-sighted 37
shortage of staff 203
shortbread, round of 173
shorts 155
shorts, pair of 108
shot 154
shot, close-up 162
shot, first-class 157
should 203
shoulder 29, 108
shoulder bag 99
shoulder of mutton 88
shoulder of veal 88
shoulder responsibility,
to 29
shoulder, have a chip on
one's 53
shoulder-length 26
shoulders back 71
shoulders, hunched 72
shoulders, shrug one's 67
shout 65
shove 73
shovel 97
show 159,161
show the same time 193
show, floor 161
show, puppet 161
show, variety 161
shower 50
shower unit 95
shred, to 174
shredded 174
shriek 66
shrimp 88
shrink 200
shrinking 199
248

Index

shrub 80
shrug one's shoulders 67
shudder 63
shuffle 73,165
shutter 125
shuttlecock 155
shy 41
shyness 41
Siamese twins 13
sick to death 54
sickening for 149
sickle 97
sickness benefit scheme 142
side drum 168
side entrance 23
side of the building, run
along the 23
side of things, see the
funny 63
side of, on the far 22
side of, on the other 21
side of, on the wrong 10
side parting 26
side to side, sway from 72
side of the river from,
other 22
side, on the short 25
side, on one's 71
sideboard 94
sideboards 26
sidecar 103
sided, three- 114
sidelight 101
sieve 97
sieze 74
sift, to 175
sigh 65
sight of, hate the 53, 54
sight, out of 36
sight-reading 170
sightseeing excursion 178
sign 149, 151
sign language 37
sign, make a 68
signal box 103
signalman 141
significant 196
signs, follow the 23
silage-making 184
silk 109, 117
silky 117
silk fabric 108
sill 94
silver 116-117
silver birch 81
silvery 117
simmer 174
simple 173
since, ever 191
sincerity 41
sing out of tune 66
sing-song 169
singe one's eyebrows 28
singer 161, 170
single 15, 111, 114, 169
single bed 95
single one, every 196

single room 179
single-parent family 14
singles champion 157
sink 73
sink unit 95
sink, to 128-129
sinking ship 180
sinusitis 150
sip 69
siren, ambulance 152
sister 143
sister-in-law 13
sit astride a chair 72
sit forward 72
sitar 168
sitting room 24
situated in, be 21
situation changes, until the
present 191
six 197
six-love 157
sixth 197
Sixth Form College 199
sixties, in the early 191
size of 110
size, quantity, dimensions
and measurement 110-113
sizzle 132
skate 72
skateboarding 166
skating 166
sketch 159
sketching 171
ski champion, downhill 157
skid, to 129
skiing 166
skill, specialised 199
skill, traditional 199
skilled labour 182
skilled worker 141
skim 175
skin 117
skin and bones, all 25
skin disease 151
skin, jump out of one's 62
skin, soaked to the 128
skin, to 174
skin graft, perform a 152
skinhead 26
skinny 25, 34, 117
skip 72
skip a generation 13
skip, to 164
skipping rope 164
skirt 108
skull 27
skunk 83
sky 51
sky-blue 119
skyscraper 23
slacks 107
slander 186
slant down 114
slap 69
slapstick comedy 159
slate 94
slate roof 94

slaughter 137
slaughter, to 156, 184
sleep on it 47
sleeping bag 178
sleeping pill 151
sleet 50
sleeve 109, 125
slender, slight and 25
slice of lemon 176
slice, to 174
slide 26, 72, 108, 163
slide in 75
slide, to 129
sliding door 23
slight and slender 25
slightly 53
slightly odd 201
slim 25
slim, look 204
slim hipped 34
sling 151
slip 73,109
slip away 149
slip road 178
slipper 109
slope 78
slopes of, on the 22
sloping 114-115
slow 188,193
slow down 179
slow learner 199
slow motion 154
slow, excessively 188
slum 94
slump 182
smack 69
smack one's lips 27
small 110
small majority 196
small number 196
small section 196
smallpox 150
smart 188
smash 155
smash hit 159
smash, to 157
smashed 122
smell 36
smell like 36
smell, sense of 36
smile 67
smile, radiant 127
smoke 117, 127
smoke, wisp of 127
smoked 88
smoked-glass 117
smoky-grey 119
smoky 117
smooth 115
smooth, to 74
smoulder 127, 128
smuggling 186
snail 82
snake family 82
Snakes and Ladders 165
snap 165
snap, to 85

snarl, to 85
snatch 74
sneer 68
sneeze 66
sniff 66
snigger 66
snobbish 39
snobbishness 41
snooker 158
snore 65
snort, to 85
snow 50
snowdrop 81
snub 26
so 206
so as not to 206
so that 206
so, for an hour or 194
soak 74
soaked 128
soaked to the skin 128
soap 117
soapy 117
soar 73
sob 65
sociable 51
social security benefits 181
social worker 140
society, affluent 147
society, amateur dramatic
159
society, crime against 186
sociology 199
socket 125
socket, phono input 165
soda 176
sodium chloride 116
sofa, four-seater 95
soft drugs 187
soft toy 163
soil 80
solar system 77
sole 31, 88, 107, 123
sole, Dover 174
solicitor 136, 140
solicitor, consult one's 186
solid wood 95, 117
solidify 129
soliloquy 198
solitary confinement 187
solo 197
solo album 169
solution 165
some day soon 193
some distance from 22
some thirty miles from 21
some three centimetres
thick 110
somersault 72, 166
sometime 193
son 13
son, second 15
son-in-law 13
sonata 169
soon, some day 193
sooner or later 192
soprano 169

sore 27
sore gums 28
sore throat 28, 151
sorry for, feel 54
sort 112
sort of bang 132
sort out 165
souffle 173
soul 169
soul, not a 196
sound 36, 111
sound like 36
sound of, like the 47
sounds people make 65-66
soup 174
soup bowl 99
soup spoon 97
soup, asparagus 174
soup, in a 88
sour-faced 34
South Africa 18, 78
South African 18
South America 78
South Korea 18, 78
South Korean 18
South of France 78
south of, lie to the 22
south, face 24
South, in the 78
South-East Asia 78
south-east corner of 22
southern 21, 78
southern Africa 78
southern Europe 78
southern France 78
southern hemisphere 78
southern states 78
southernmost 22
sow 166
sowing 184
space, parking 23
spacecraft, manned 105
spacious 94
spade 97
spade, bucket and 163
spades 165
spaghetti 89
Spain 18
Spaniard 19
spaniel 83
Spanish 18
spanner 97
spare room 23
spare time 194
sparking plug 102
sparkling 128, 188
sparkling wine 176
sparrow 82
spasm 151
spatula 97
speaker 144, 165
special effects 160
special occasions, on 201
special offer 147
specialised skill 199
specialist in 141
specialist, ear 37

Index

249

species 83, 112
spectacles, rose-tinted 120
spectacular 188
spectator 156
speculate 46
speech 56, 159
speech, make a 56
speechless 62
speed limit 179
speed limit, exceed the 187
speed, average 111
speed, maximum 111
speeding 187
speedometer 98, 101
speedway rider 155
speedy recovery 149
spending money, earning
and 146-148
spherical 114
spice 89
spicy 173
spider 82
spikes 155
spill 75, 129
spin dryer 96
spin, to 129
spinach 87
spine 33
spinet 169
spiral 114-115
spiral staircase 23
spire 23
spirit 179
spirit level 98
spit it out 56
spite of, in 206
spiteful 40
splash 132
splash, to 128
splendid 189
splinter group, little 196
split 123
split ends 35
split one's lip open 28
split up 15
split, fifty-fifty 196
split, to 122
split-level, cooker 95
split-second ago, a 192
splutter, to 122
spoke 102
sponge 155
sponge, vanilla 173
spoon, dessert 97
spoon, soup 97
sport and games 154-158
sports car 103
sports, village 156
sportsman 155
spot 27,86
spot, beauty 27
spotty 153
spout 125
sprain, to 151
sprawl 71
spray, to 128
spread 74
250

Index

spread, to 127,129, 149
spreading, prevent
something 151
spring 73, 125, 193
spring of, in the 192
sprinkle 175
sprint 73, 156
sprinter 155
sprout, brussel 87
sprout, to 80
spying 186
squad, firing 137
squadron leader 142
square 21, 27, 114, 155
square kilometres 22
squash 158
squash,orange 176
squashed 122
squat 25
squawk, to 85
squeak 132
squeak, to 85,122
squeal 132
squeal, to 85
squeeze 70, 74
squirrel 82
stab to death 137
stabilise the economy 181
stability, job 142
staff 182
staff nurse 143
staff redundant, make 182
staff, layoff 182
staff, shortage of 203
staff, take on new 182
staffroom 91
stag 83
stag party 136
stage left 159
stage manager 159
stage right 159
stage, on 159
stagehand 159
stagger 72
staggering quantity 110
stained 123
stainless steel 117
staircase, spiral 23
staircase, up the 23
stairs, flight of 23
stake money 146, 166
stale, go 122
stall 84,91
stall, to 129
stallion 84
stamen 80
stammer 63, 65
stamp on 69
stampede 84
stamps, collect 164
stamps, trading 147
stand 43
stand a chance 156
stand for 8
stand in 159
stand on 22

stand on, haven't got a
leg to 31
stand on one's own two
feet 31
stand on tip-toe 71
stand, as things 191
stand, can't 44, 53
stand, hat 99
stand, microphone 99
stand, umbrella 99
stand-by 144
stand-by, on 178
stand-in 144
standard, minimum 199
standard, teaching 199
standing feet apart 72
standing order 146
stands on end, hair 62
staple diet 88
star 77, 159, 162
star, pop 168
star, shooting 77
starboard 104
stare 68
stare at 67
start to finish, from 156
starter 155,174
starting age, school 199
startle 62
starve to death 138
state 56
state secret 186
state, appalling 124
state, lie in 138
state, secretary of 143
state-owned 181
state-owned industry 182
statement 56, 185
statement, bank 147
states, southern 78
station, coach 178
station, major 103
station, petrol 179
stationer's 93
statistics, vital 111
statue 138
status, determination of 142
status, marital 15-16
steady decrease 199
steady job 143
steady, go steady with 15
steak and kidney pie 173
steam, to 175
steamer, paddle 104
steaming radiator 179
steamroller 104
steel 116-117
steel guitar 168
steel, stainless 117
steel-blue 119
steely 117
steep 115
steeplechase 155
stem 80, 125
step 73
step on 69
stepfather 13

steps along the landing, a
few 23
steps leading down 23
stereo equipment 95
sterilising bottle 152
stern 104
stethoscope 98
stew 173
stew, in a 88
stew, to 173
steward, shop 142-143
stewardess 179
stewing beef 87
stick 74, 112, 155
stick, gear 101
sticky 51
stiff neck 28
stiff, bored 54
still life 171
still going strong, be 11
stillborn 138
stilt 161
stimulate the economy 181
stimulating 189
stingray 83
stir 74
stir, to 175
stitch 135, 165
stitches, take out 152
stitching 125
stoat 83
stock 174
stock and shares 182
Stock Exchange 182
stock market crash 182
stocking 108
stocks 182
stocky 25
stole 109
stomach in 71
stomach rumbles, one's 69
stomach ulcer 150
stomach, lie on one's 71
stomach-ache 32
stone 111, 117-118
stone to death 137
stone's throw from, just a 22
stony 117
stool, piano 94
stoop 72
stooped, be 156
stop 166
stop the itching 151
stop worrying 47
stop you, the law
cannot 203
stop, to 129
stopwatch 98
storage heater 94
store detective 186
store, department 93
store, discount 93
storekeeper 141
storey 111
stork 83
storms, heavy 50
story 56

story, adventure 164
story, make up a 46
storyline 162
stout, milk 176
straight 26, 114
straight on, go 22
straight, a 154
strain, to 174
strainer 97
strands, mousy 26
strange, rather 201
strangle 137
strangler 137
strap 125
strap up, to 151
straw-coloured 119
strawberry 87
streak 26
stream, to 128
streaming 199
street 21,23
street, back 23
street, last one in the 23
street, one-way 23
strengthen 200
strengthening 199
stretch 22,73
stretch of the river 22
stretch to one's full
height 68
stretch, to 130
stretcher 152
strike 47, 75, 169
strike a key 170
striker 155
string of, a 112
string, second 144
strings 170
strip 94, 108
strip a wire 165
strip an engine 165
strip away 174
strip, metal 125
stripe 86, 111
striped 109
stroke 150
stroke someone's hair 69
stroll 73
strong swimmer 157
strong, be still going 11
strong-man 161
strong-willed 34, 39
strongly approve of 43
strongly, feel 43
structural alteration 94
structure, company 144
strum 169
stubborn 39
stubbornness 41
stuck 122, 179
student dentist 144
student, foreign 199
student, university 199
studies, director of 143
studies, remedial 199
studies, supervisor of 143
studio 91

studio couch 95
studio, film 161
study 91,169-170
stuff, to 175
stumble 72
stunning 188
stupid 188
stutter 65
sty 84
stye 27, 151
style 80, 112,171
style, cramp one's 31
style, neat 26
stylist, hair 140
stylus 165
subject 171, 199
subject to 78
submarine 104
submerge 128
subscription 146
subside 129
substances, materials and
textures 116-118
substantial 196
substantial quantity of 110
substitute 144
substitutes' bench 156
subtitle 162
subtract, to 197
suburb 22
success 156
success, partial 196
suck 65, 69
Sudan 17
sudden brainwave, have
a 46
sudden fit 149
sue, to 186
suede 117
suet 90
suffer a mild attack of 149
suffer from 149, 151
sufficient 110
suffocated 137
sugar 173
sugar bowl 99
sugar, icing 173
suggest 57
suggestion 57
suicidal 51
suicide 137
suicide, commit 137
suit 108-109
suit of armour 108
suit, three-piece 107
suitcase 99, 178
suite, lounge 95
suite, penthouse 91
sulphur 116
sum total 110
sum up 56
sum, fixed 182
sum, three-figure 197
summer, late 193
summing up, judge's 187
summons 187
sun 77
Index

251

sundeck 180
sun is coming out 50
sun lounge 94
Sunday school 164
sundown 194
sunlight 80
sunny periods 50
sunrise, before and
after 193
sunshine, bathed in 127
sunshine, ray of 127
super-efficient 188
superb 188
supergroup 168
superintendent 143
superior, mother 143
supersonic 106
supervisor of studies 143
supervisor, sales 141
supplementary pension 142
supplies, do-it-yourself 93
supply 182
supply teacher 144
supply, control the
money 181
support 44
supporter of 43
supporting actor 160
supporting actress 160
suppose 43, 46
sure to, be 205
sure, be 48
surface, uneven 114
surfing 166
surge 73
surgeon, dental 140
surgery 91
surname 8
surrounded to the north
by 22
surveyor 141
survivor 137
suspect 43, 185
suspected culprit 185
suspected of 186
suspended sentence 187
suspenders 108
suspicious of 43
swallow 69, 83
swallow one, wish a hole
would open up and 63
swamp 81
swan 83, 88
swarm 84
sway from side to side 72
sweat 69
sweater 107
Swede 19,87
Sweden 19
Swedish 19
sweep the chimney 74
sweep, to 128
sweeper, carpet 97
sweeper, road 141
sweetening 173
swelling, reduce the 151
swept back 26
252

Index

swim 107
swimmer 155
swimmer, strong 157
swimming 158
swing 72, 75,163
swing, to 130
swirl, to 128
swish 132
Swiss 17
switch 125
switch on 178
Switzerland 17
swollen lip 28
swordfish 83
sword-swallower 161
sycamore 81
Symbolist 171
symmetrical 114
sympathetic 58
sympathy, general 54
symphony 169
symptom 151
syncopated 170
synthesiser 168
Syria 18
Syrian 18
system, solar 77
systems analyst 141

T-shirt 108
table 95, 154-155
table cloth 96
table football 166
table mat 96
table tennis 158
table, dressing 95
table, lead the championship
154
tablets, course of 151
tail 82, 86, 105, 125
tailor's 93
tails 109
take 23, 151
take its name 8, 75, 161
take a deep breath 69
take a keen interest in 43
take away 197
take off a bandage 152
take off, to 130,180
take offence 62
take on new staff 182
take one's hand away 75
take out stitches 152
take root 130
take seriously 43
take someone's pulse 152
take the handbrake off 178
take the lift 23
take to court 186
takeaway 174
takeaway food 93
take-off 154, 179
taken ill 149
tale, fairy 163
talented 188

talented athlete 157
tall, extremely 25
tallboy 95
tallish 25
tambourine 168
tan 119
tangerine 119
tangled 123
tango 165
tank, fill up the 179
tank, fish 99
tank, oil 99
tank, water 99
Tanzania 18
Tanzanian 18
tap 69, 125
tap, mixer 95
tape measure 98
tapestry 171
target 155
tariff 182
tarnished 122-123
tart 173
taste 36,44
taste like 36
taste, in rather bad /
poor 36
taste, sense of 36
tastefully 36
tasteless 36
tasty 173
tatters, in 123
tax inspector 141
tax rebate 146
tax, after 146
tax, indirect 182
tax, road 146
tax-free 146
taxation 181-182
taxation, direct 182
taxi(cab) 104
taxi, twenty minutes by 23
ТВ 150
tea 176
tea-towel 96
teacher 141
teacher, drama 159
teacher, primary / secondary
school 141
teacher, senior 143
teacher, supply 144
teachers' authority 199
teaching standards 199
teacloth 96
teacup 97
teak 117
team, first 156
team-mate 157
teaspoon 97
teapot 99
tear 62
tear, to 75
tears roll down 62
tears, burst into 62
tears, moved to 62
tease 60
teatime, around 194

technical 199
technical sales
representative 141
technician, laboratory 141
technique 159
teddy bear 163
tedious, exceptionally 188
teenager 10
teens, in one's 191
teeny-weeny 110
teeth are chattering 69
teetotaller 176
telepathic 37
telephone kiosk 23
telephonist 141
telephoto lens 165
telescope 98
tell 60
temper, lose one's 62
temperamental 40
temperate 78
temperature, have a 151
temple 27
tempted to agree, be 43
tempted, feel quite 47
ten 109, 197
ten months old 10
ten years 198
tend to 188,201
tender 40
tendon, Achilles 31
tennis 158
tenor 169
tent 91, 161
tentacle 83,86
tenth 198
tepee 91
term, musical 170
terminal 149, 178
terminal, ferry 22
terms 56
terrace 21
terraced house 23
terrible 190
terrier 83
terrified 53-54
test a connection 165
test, pregnancy 134
test tube 98
testimony, witnesses' 187
textiles 181
textures, substances,
materials 116-118
Thai 18
Thailand 18
thank 58
thanks 58
that common, not 201
that's the way I look at
things 45
that, so 206
thaw, to 129, 174
the Christmas after next
193
the Friday after that 193
the Friday before last 192
the Lebanon 17

the Netherlands 18
the other day 192
the Soviet Union 18
the United States 19
the USA 19
the USSR 18
the week after next 193
the year before last 192
theatrical career 159
theft, petty 186
them, all of 196
them, for 43
them, one of 197
theme 56, 170
thermometer 98
thermos flask 97
thermostatic control 94
these days 191
these days, one of 193
thick 27, 188
thick black hair 26
thick, an inch 110
thick, some three
centimetres 110
thicken 127
thickly forested 78
thigh 31
thighs, rest one's elbows on
one's 72
thin 25
things do, what 127-131
things stand, as 191
things, see the funny side of
63
things, that's the way I look
at 45
think 44,47
think aloud 56
think of, seriously 46
think something over 47
think, dread to 43
thinking, wanting and
knowing 46-49
thinning, be 26
third 197
third floor 23
third from the end 23
third left 23
thirst, die of 138
thirtyish 10
this minute 192
this time last year 191
this time next year 192
thistle 80
thorn 80
thoroughly enjoyable 188
those days, in 191
though, even 206
thought, be lost in 46
thought, it is 204
thought, wouldn't have 44
thought-out, well 188
thoughtful 41,50
thoughts, collect one's 46
thoughts, on second 47
thousand 198
thousand and one, a 110

thread 125
thread the needle 165
thread, life is hanging
by a 149
threat 58
threaten 58
three 197
three-sided 114
three times 197
three-figure sum 197
three-piece suit 107
three-way tie 157
three-wheeled 198
thrilled 50
thriller 160
thrilling 188
throat 27
throat, clear one's 65
throat, lump come to
one's 62
throat, sore 28, 151
thrombosis, coronary 150
through a little wood 23
through a long tunnel 22
through a pedestrian
precinct 22
through the French
windows 23
through train 178
throughout 94
throw from, just a
stone's 22
throw, to 74
thrush 83
thud 132
thumb 29
thumb a lift 29, 178
thumb through 29
thundery 51
thyme 89
tiara 108
tick 132
ticket, half-price 178
ticket, season 178
tickle 69
tidal wave 78, 130
tie 108-109
tie for first place 156
tie, bootlace 107
tie, three-way 157
tie-break 157
tier 111
tiger 82,84
tight trousers 107
tighten up, to 200
tightening up 199
tightrope walker 161
tigress 84
tile 94
till 98
time 191-195
time ago, a long long 192
time ago, a short 192
time and a half 142
time and motion 142
time being, for the 191
time for, have no 44
Index

253

time goes on, as 192
time last year, this 191
time next year, this 192
time of day 193
time of year 193
time off in lieu 142
time on one's hands 194
time to time, from 201
time, at closing 194
time, at the present 191
time, at this moment 191
time, by the 192
time, double 142
time, in 194
time, in an hour's 192
time, in another twenty
years' 192
time, just a matter of 149
time, keep perfect 193
time, set at the correct 193
time, show the same 193
time, spare 194
time, waste of 188
timekeeper 155
timepiece 193
times 197
times, in olden 191
times, in prehistoric 191
times, three / four / five 197
timid 41
timidity 41
timing 159
timing, sense of 37
tin 112, 116-117
tin opener 97
tinkle 132
tinny 117
tiny 25, 110
tip 146
tip of, at the southern 22
tip, to 74
tiptoe 72
tiptoe, stand on 71
tipsy 176
tissue 96
title role 159
title sequence 160
title, retain one's 156
titter 66
to ..., from ... 191
to and fro, rock 72
to my mind 43
to one's left 23
to one's memory 138
to one's right 23
to the East 78
to the left of 24
to the North 78
to the north of 21
to the second 193
toad 83
toadstools, ring of 81
toast 173
toaster 96
tobacconist's 93
toddler 10
toe the line 31
254

Index

toe, big 31
toenails 35
toes, be on one's 31
toga 109
together, pull oneself 46
toilet 24
tolerance 41
tolerant 41
tolerate 53
tom-tom 169
tomato 87
tomb 138
tom(cat) 84
tomorrow, a fortnight 193
ton 111
tone 171
tone-deaf 37
tongs, curling 96
tongue 27, 125
tongue, ox 87
tongue out, poke one's 68
tonic 176
tons of 110
tonsilitis 150
tool 96
toolbox 99
toolmaker 141
tooth, chip one's front 28
tooth, knock out a 28
toothache 28
toothbrush 96
top 107, 125
top and tail, to 174
top hat 109
top of the world, on 51
top up the battery 179
top, at the 23, 114
top, blow one's 62
torch 98
torn 123
torso, inside and outside
the 32
tortoise 82
toss 69, 74
total area 78
total expenditure 146
total income 146
total population 196
total recovery, make a 149
total, sum 110
totally nonsensical 188
totally satisfying 188
totally unsuitable 189
touch 36, 69
touch of, a 149
touch, sense of 36
touching 62
touchy 50
toupee 26
tour operator 178
touring holiday 178
tourism 181
tourist class 178
towards ten o' clock 194
towards the back of the field
156

towards the end of the street
23
towel 96, 155
towel rail 99
tower block 23
town 21-22
town centre 22
town, nearest big 21
toy chest 95
toy with an idea, to 46
toy, soft 163
trace of, not a 110
track 111, 155
tracksuit 109
tractor 104
trade, distributive 181
trade, industry and 181
trade, restrict free 182
trading stamps 147
traditional jazz 169
traditional skill 199
traffic 179
traffic jam 179,180
traffic lights, across the 22
traffic offence 187
tragedy, ancient Greek 159
trailer 103, 162
train 178
train adventure 180
train driver 141
train service 180
train set 164
train, by 22
train, goods 103
train, underground 103
trainee 144
trainer 144,155
training 142
traitor 186
tranquilliser 151
transaction, international
182
transfer 142
transform 95
transfusion, blood 152
transplant an organ 152
transport 181
transport cafe 178
transport, to 104
trap, set a 185
trapeze 161
travel agent 140, 178
travel clerk 141
travel cross-country 22
travelling 178-180
travelogue 160
trawler 104
tray 125
tray, baking 97
tread 73
tread on someone's
fingers 69
treason 186
Treasury 181
treated, badly 54
treatment, respond to 149
treble 169

treble clef 170
tree 80
tree-trunk 80
tree, cherry 80
tree, evergreen 81
tree, fir 81
tree, holly 81
tree, plane 81
tremble 63
tremendous 188
trend, downward 199
trend, upward 199
trespass 186
trial 185
trial separation 135
triangle 168
triangular 114-115
trick 155, 161, 165
trickle down 62
trickle, to 128
tricycle 198
tried 185
trifle 173
trilby 108
trim 26
trio 197
trip 72,179
triple jump 155
triplet 13, 169
triumphant 51
trombone 168
trophy, keep the 156
Tropic of Cancer, lie inside
the 78
tropical 78
tropical forest 78
tropics 21
trot 72
trousers 108-109
trousers, tight 107
trousers, wear the 108
trout 88
true-to-life 162
trumpet 168
trumpet, to 85
trunk 86,125
trunks 107,155
trust 44
trust, to 53
truthful 39
tuba 168
tube 112
tube, inner 102
tuberculosis 150
tuck 75
tug 75,104
tumble dryer 96
tumbler 97
tune 170
tune, out of 170
tune, sing out of 66
tune, to 165
tuneful 190
tuner 165
tuner, piano 140
tunic 109
tuning fork 98

tunnel, through a long 22
turban 108
Turk 19
Turkey 18-19,88
Turkish 18-19
turn 69, 155, 164
turn a hair, not 63
turn left 22
turn of the century,
at the 191
turn off the main road 179
turn one's back on 48
turn one's nose up 27
turn the corner 149
turn thirty 10
turn, to 129
turning off to the right 23
turning on the right,
second 23
turning to one's left,
sharp 23
turnip 87
turnout, a hundred
percent 196
turquoise 119
turtle 82
tusk 86
TV 166
TV, colour 95
tweed 117
tweezers, pair of 97
twelve-string guitar 168
twelfth man 144
twice your age 11
twig 80, 125
twilight hours 194
twin beds 95
twinkle, to 127
twins 197
twins, Siamese 13
twirl 75
twist one's neck 72
twisted 122-123
twitch 62
two 197
two, in a year or 193
two, the odd one or 196
two-faced 40
two-step, military 165
type 112
typewriter 96
typhoid 150
typhoon 78
tyre 101-102
U

udder 86
Uganda 18
Ugandan 18
ugly 188
ugly, rather 188
ukulele 169
ulcer 28, 151
ulcer, stomach 150
umbrella stand 99
umpire 155

unanimous 196, 198
unappealing 188
unbelievably 188
uncertain 50
uncle 13
uncomplimentary 188
uncontrollable 41
undecided as to, be 47
under the name of 8
underforties 10
under no obligation 203
under the impression, be 43
under the railway bridge 23
under the weather 149
under the window 24
undercarriage 105
underdeveloped 78
underemployment 182
underground train 103
underground, quarter of
an hour on the 23
undergrowth 81
understand 47
understanding 41
understood, have never 44
understudy 144, 159
undertaker 138, 140
underwear 109
undressed 107
undulating 115
uneasy, feel a bit 53
unemployed 143
unemployment 181
unemployment benefit 146
uneven surface 114
unexpected 204
unforgettable 189
unfurnished 94
unheard of 201
unicorn 83
unidentified flying object 77
unification 198
uniform 108
unilateral 198
union 142
union leader 143
unisex 26
unit, shower 95
unit, sink 95
universe, the 77
university 199
university lecturer 141
university student 199
unknown, an 162
unless 206
unlike 206
unlikely, seem 204
unmanageable 26
unnatural, horribly 188
unpack 74, 179
unpredictable 40, 78
unreliable 40
unroll 74
unsaid, leave 56
unscrupulous 40
unskilled labour 182
unskilled worker 141

Index

255

unsocial hours 142
unspoken, leave 56
unstable 41
unsuitable, totally 189
unsure of oneself, be 50
unsweetened 176
until the present situation
changes 191
unvarnished 122
unwashed 122
unwelcoming 189
unwrap 74
up and down the hill 22
up in the clouds 51
up the hill 22
up the staircase 23
up to one's ears in debt 147
up to you, it's 203
upholstered, leather 95
upper 27
upset 51
upward trend 199
uranium 116
Uranus 77
urban areas 78
urge 59
urgent 59
urgent need of, in 204
urn 138
Uruguay 18
Uruguayan 18
useless 188
usually 201
utter 56

vaccination 152
vacuum cleaner 96
vain 39
valley, fertile 78
valley, in the 22
value 181
valve 102, 125
van, guard's 179-180
vanilla 89
vanilla essence 173
vanilla sponge 173
vanish 127
vanity 41
variation 170
varied climate 78
variety show 161
variety, wide 78
varnish 108
vase 99
vault, pole 155
veal cutlet 88
veal escalopes 88
veal, shoulder of 88
veer 129
vegetable 87
vegetable garden 94
vegetable patch 95
vegetarian 87
vegetation, natural 80
vegetation, rich 78
256

Index

vehicles 101-106
veil 108
veins 33
velvet 109, 117
Venezuela 18
Venezuelan 18
venison 88
ventriloquist 161
venue 169
Venus 77
verdict, reach a 187
verge, grass 179
vermin 83
vermouth 176
verse 111
vertebra(e) 33
vertical line 114
very fond of 54
very little 110
very moment, at this 192
vessel 105
vessel, blood 150
vest 109, 155
via, go 22
vibrate 130
vicar 136, 140, 143
vice 98
vice-chairperson 144
vicious 40
victim 137, 185
victory 156
video game 166
video recorder 95
view 43
view, in one's 43
view, into 36
view, point of 44
viewpoint 43
villa 91
village sports 156
village, outlying 22
villain 159
vindictive 40
vinegar 174
vintage champagne 176
vinyl 116-117
viola 168
violence, robbery with 186
violent 40
violet 119
violin, electric 168
violin, first / second 168
viper 82
virus 152
viscount(ess) 143
visible 36
visual art 171
visualise 46
vital statistics 111
vivacity 41
vixen 84
vocalist 169
vocals 168
vocals, lead / backing 168
vodka 176
vogue, in 107
voice, lose one's 66

vol-au-vent 173
volcano, active 78
volley 155
volleyball 158
volume 110
volume of exports 181
volume of imports 182
voluntary 204
voluntary euthanasia 137
vomiting 134, 150
voucher, gift 147
voyage 22, 178
vulgar 188
vulture 83

w
WC 94
wading bird 83
wage freeze 182
wage increase 182
wage increase, annual 142
wages 146
waist 32
waistcoat 109
wait to, can't 48
waiter, commis 144
waiting-room 91
waitress 141
Wales 17
walk 21
walk-on part 159
walk-over 156
walker, tightrope 161
wall 94
wall, the opposite 24
wallet 99
wallpaper,
flowery-patterned 94
walrus 82
waltz 165
wander 72
wander, one's mind begins
to 46
want to 48
wanted 203
wanted, the last thing
one 47
wanting, thinking and
knowing 46-49
war film 160
ward, labour 135
wardrobe 160
wardrobe, built-in 95
warm, to 175
warm-hearted 34
warmed up, like death 149
warn 57
warning 57
warp, to 122
warped 123
wars, between the 191
wart 27
wary 54
wary of 53
wash 74
wash, to 174

washing machine 96
washing-up machine 96
washing-up, do the 74
wasp 82
waste of time 188
waste, nuclear 118
wastepaper 99
watch 155
watch, non-digital 193
water 116, 181
water jug 99
water tank 99
water, mineral 176
water, to 166
water-skiing 158, 166
watercolour 171
watercress 87
watering can 99
watering, one's mouth is 69
waterlily 81
watt 111
wave 68
wave, perm(anent) 26
wave, tidal 78,130
wavy 26, 115
way round, long 23
way, elbow one's 29
way, keep out of
someone's 53
way, no 204
way, quite a long way
from 22
way, quite a way out of 22
way I look at things,
that's the 45
Way, the Milky 77
WC 94
weak, embarrassingly 188
weak-willed 40
weaken, to 200
weakening 199
weaker, get 149
wealth, distribution of 148
wealthy 147
weapon 185
wear 107
wear a hearing aid 37
wear glasses / contact
lenses 37
wear the trousers 108
weary 51
weasel 83
weather 50
weather, under the 149
webbed foot 86
wedding bells 15
wedding, white 120
wedge-shaped 114
week, one afternoon last
192
weight 111
weightlifting 158
weird, really 201
welcome 43
welded 125
welder 141
welfare worker 141

welfare, economic 181
well as can be expected,
as 149
well beaten 156
well thought-out 188
well, feel 149
well, get 149
well, get on 53, 54
well-balanced 40
well-built 25
well-dressed 188
well-educated 188
well-mannered 188
well-off, extremely 147
well-read 188
Welsh 17
Welshman 19
West Berlin 78
West Germany 17
west, due west of 21
West, in the 78
western 160
whale 82
whales, school of 84
what is more 207
what things do 127-131
whatever 206
whatever you like 203
wheat 88
wheel 101, 105,125
wheel of one's car,
at the 137
wheel, change a 165
wheeze 66
when 191
when we're dead and
gone 192
when we're old and
grey 192
when, Heaven knows 193
whenever 206
whereas 206
wherever 206
whether 206
whether, extremely
doubtful 204
which 206
whichever 206
while ago, a little 192
while, once in a 201
whine 132
whip 155
whip, to 175
whisk 96
whisk, to 175
whisker 86
whisky 176
whisper 65
whist 165
whistle 65, 132, 155
whistle, blow the 68
white as a sheet, be as 120
white as a sheet, go as 62
white, go 26
white bread 88
white flag 157
white pepper 89

white rum 176
white wedding 120
white wine 176
white with rage 119
white, brilliant 119
white, dazzling 119
white, in black and 120
white-collar worker 141,
182
whitish 119
whole fruit juice 176
wholesale 182
wholly disapprove of 43
whooping cough 150
wide 27
wide plateau 78
wide range of 110
wide variety 78
widen, to 200
widening of the gap 199
widespread 181
widow 15, 138
widowed 15
widower 15, 138
width, in 110
wife, first 15
wife-battering 186
wig 26
wiggle 75
wigwam 91
wild 51,84
wildebeest 83
will 14, 138
willow 81
win 156
win a fortune 147
win on points 154
win the cup 1'56
wince 63
wind 51
wind up 193
wind, biting 50
wind, breath of 51
winder 125
window 94, 105
window seat 94
window, double-glazed 94
window, under the 24
windows, through the
French 23
windscreen 101
windscreen wiper 101
wind-surfing 166
wine(-cellar) 91
wine glass 97
wine, make 167
wine, sparkling 176
wine, white 176
wing 83, 86, 105, 125
wing commander 142
wing mirror 101
wink 67
winner 154
Winner, Academy Award
160
winning post 155
winnings 146, 166

Index

257

winter, long hard 51
wipe 74
wiper, windscreen 101
wire 117, 125
wire, strip a 165
wiry 117
wish 47
wisp of smoke 127
with contempt 54
wither 80
within the last few
hours 192
within the next 192
within the next few
hours 193
without fail 201
witnesses' testimony 187
witty 188
wobble, to 129
wolf 83
woman, married 136
womb 134
wood 81
wood, solid 95, 117
wood, through a little 23
wood-collecting 183
wooden 117
wooden floor, polished 94
woodpecker 83
woodwind 170
woollen 117
woollen jacket, knitted 107
woolly 117
word game 165
words, be at a loss for 56
words, say a few 56
work 140-145
work, choral /
orchestral 169
work, hours of 142
work, to 122
worker 182
worker, blue-collar 120,
141, 182
worker, general 141
worker, semi-skilled 141
worker, skilled 141
worker, social 140
worker, unskilled 141
worker, welfare 141
worker, white-collar 141,
182
workers' co-operative 142
workers' representation 142
workforce, expanding 182
workforce, representative
142
working conditions 142, 144
workplace 142
works council 142
workshop 91
world recession 182
world record 155
world, champion of the 157
world of one's own, in a 46
world, movie 160
world, on top of the 51
258

Index

worm 82
worn, badly 123
worrying, stop 47
worse, for the 199
worse, get 149
worst is over, the 149
worth, pounds' 110
worthless, absolutely 188
would like to see 43
would quite like 47
would-be 144
wouldn't have thought 44
wouldn't mind 47
wouldn't say no to 47
wound, dress a 152
wounded, fatally 137
wrap 75
wreath 138
wreck, to 127
wrecked 128
wrench 98
wrestle 69
wrestling 158
wring one's hands 68
wrinkle 27
wrist 29
write 130
written over one's face,
have guilt 63
wrong note 170
wrong side of, on the 10
wrong with one, nothing 149
wrong with, something 151
wrong, go 55

X-ray 151
xylophone 169

yacht 104
yak 83
yap, to 85
yawn 65
year, in one's seventyfifth 11
year, leap 193
year, light 77
year, this time last 191
year, this time next 192
year, time of 193
yearn for 48
years from now, light 192
years of age, thirty-six 10
years to come, in 192
years, for the past few 191
years, get on in 11
years, in the coming 192
years, ten 198
yeast 174
yell 65
yellow 120
yellow fever 150
yellowish 119
yen 109

yet, not for ages 193
yew 81
yoga 166
young 10
youngster 10
Yugoslavia 18
Yugoslavian 18
Z

Zaire 18
Zairean 18
Zambia 18
Zambian 18
zebra 82
zero 196
Zimbabwe 18
Zimbabwean 18
zinc 116
zip 109
zone 78

Key
Age
Reading, page 11
The phrases marked with a star are usually used in conversation about a person who isn't
there. They might be considered offensive if overheard by the person described or their
family and friends.

Marital status
Practice, page 15
lAb

B

c

Ac

Ba

Ac

Bb

Build
Reading, page 25
The phrases marked with a star are usually used in conversation about a person who isn't
there. They might be considered offensive if overheard by the person described or their
family and friends.

Inside and outside the torso
Reading, page 32
The phrase marked with a star is usually used about a person who isn't there. It might be
considered offensive if overheard by the person described or their family and friends.

Compound adjectives about the body
Study and practice, page 34

.

1 knock-kneed bow-legged 2 double-breasted pot-bellied 3 round-shouldered
narrow-waisted 4 fair-haired slim-hipped 5 empty-handed right-footed
6 dark-skinned red-faced 7 cross-eyed strong-willed 8 sour-faced light-fingered
9 left-handed big-headed 10 broad-minded cold-blooded

Practice, page 34
Щ

1 hearty 2 leggy 3 chesty 4 handy
8 hairy 9 bloody bloody 10 heady

5 cheeky

6 nosey

7 skinny

The senses
Practice, page 37
1 sense 2 sensation 3 sensuous
7 senseless
8 sensitive 9 sense

4 sensible
10 sensual

5 sense

6 sensational

1 sense of power 2 sense of timing 3 sense of humour 4 sense of duty
5 sense of discipline 6 sense of adventure 7 sense of balance 8 sense of
fairness 9 sense of fun

259

Character and personality
Game, page 39
ARIES: outgoing extrovert carefree light-hearted truthful open candid frank
easy-going
TAURUS: strong-willed determined self-assured self-confident dominant ambitious
demanding energetic competitive
GEMINI: proud arrogant pompous boastful selfish vain self-centred egocentric
snobbish
CANCER: critical petty narrow-minded fussy stubborn obstinate materialistic
mercenary possessive
LEO: unpredictable indecisive two-faced hypocritical dishonest changeable
temperamental insincere unreliable
VIRGO: impressionable gullible weak-willed cowardly passive obedient secretive
humble modest
LIBRA: sensible level-headed well-balanced practical calm fair-minded realistic
rational logical
SCORPIO: aggressive violent brutal vicious ruthless unscrupulous malicious spiteful
vindictive
SAGITTARIUS: passionate hot-blooded brave courageous adventurous lively dedicated
devoted loyal
CAPRICORN: considerate tender gentle generous tolerant understanding protective
affectionate thoughtful
AQUARIUS: impulsive impetuous impatient excitable rebellious revolutionary
forgetful irresponsible uncontrollable
PISCES: shy self-conscious timid reserved sensitive imaginative creative emotional
unstable

Attitudes and beliefs
Practice, page 44
1 1 1
2b
3e
12 m 13 k

4h
14 s

5 t
15 n

6q
7d
8j
9p
16 a 17 о 18 і

10 с
11 g
19 u 20 r 21 f

Thinking, wanting and knowing
Practice, page 48
1 1

260

I'm looking forward to seeing him again.
I'm dying to see him again.
I can't wait to see him again.
I'm longing to see him again.
2 I hadn't planned to spend so long there.
I didn't mean to spend so long there.
I wasn't planning to spend so long there.
I had no intention of spending so long there.
3 I could do with a holiday.
I feel like a holiday.
I wouldn't mind a holiday.
I wouldn't say no to a holiday.
4 I would rather go to London on Saturday, not Sunday.
I would prefer to go to London on Saturday, not Sunday.
For me, going to London on Saturday would be preferable to going on Sunday.
My preference would be to go to London on Saturday, not Sunday.
5 I wouldn't be keen to move away from the coast.
I'm reluctant to move away from the coast.
I wouldn't fancy moving away from the coast.
I don't like the idea of moving away from the coast.

Key

Expressing oneself
Dialogue, page 57
1 greeting, greeting 2 introducing, introduction
3 inviting, invitations
4 accepted, acceptance 5 decline 6 suggesting, suggestion
7 offering, offer
8 hesitant, hesitating, hesitation
9 insisting, insistent 10 agreed
11 warning,
warning 12 advising, advice 13 apologising, apology, apologetic
14 reassuring 15 sympathising, console, sympathetic, sympathy, consolation
16 enquiring, Enquiries 17 complaining, complaints 18 demanding, demand
19 threatening, threat
20 insulting, insult 21 complimenting, compliment
22 proposing, proposal 23 congratulating, congratulations
24 thanking, thanks
25 flattery, flattering 26 praising, praise
27 denouncing 28 interrogation,
interrogating, questioning 29 protesting, protest 30 encouraging, encouragement
31 urging, urgent
32 refused, refusal 33 pleading, begging
34 promising,
promise
35 confiding, confidential, confidence
36 heckling, hecklers
37 ignored
38 blaming, blame 39 admitting, admission 40 confessing,
confession 41 reproaching, reproachful, reproach
42 mocking, making fun,
teasing, pulling leg 43 boasting 44 accusing, accusation 45 denying, denial
46 reprimanding / scolding, telling 47 ordering 48 describing / condemning,
description / condemnation 49 requesting, request 50 reminding, reminder

Reacting to events
Practice, page 63
[1] 1 b

2d

За

4 с

5 a

6b

7d

8a

Sounds people make
Reading, page 65
[1] a baby
[2] a secretary
[3]

a magician's act

[4]

I had a bad cold, or 'flu.

Gesture, mannerism and body language
Practice 1, page 68
[1] 1 stared

2 peeped

3 peered

[2] 1 e

2 g

3b

4 f

5h

[3] 1 d

2 e

3f

4 b

5 с

4 gazed
6d

6g

7 a

5 glanced
8c

7a

Practice 2, page 70
Щ

1 hugged 2 shook hands with
6 sat cuddling

3 kissed

4 squeezed

5 embraced

Key

261

Posture and movement
Reading, page 71

The plant world
Practice, page 81
[1] 1 willow 2 yew
3 WILD: bluebell daisy orchid dandelion snowdrop primrose poppy
GARDEN: iris carnation hyacinth marigold lily pansy rose narcissus crocus
[2] 1 waterlilies on the pond in the middle of the meadow 2 seaweed on pebbles in
rock pools on the seashore
3 a ring of toadstools in a clearing in the forest
4 heather and gorse on the heath and moorland 5 reeds in the marshland and
swamps 6 coral all over the reef and the sea bed 7 long creepers among the
undergrowth in the jungle 8 moss clinging to the bark of the trees of the wood
9 ivy climbing the walls of the old house 10 cacti and palm trees near an oasis in
the desert

262

Key

The animal world
Practice, page 84
Male:
Female:
Male:
Female:
Male:
Female:

stallion
mare
buck
doe
ram
ewe

dogs
cows
horses
cats
hens
insects

puppies
calves
foals
kittens
chicks
larvae

fox
vixen
dog
bitch
tiger
tigress

drake
duck
bull
cow
cock
hen

sheep
pigs
butterflies
goats
lions

gander
goose
lion
lioness
tom(cat)
cat
lambs
piglets
caterpillars
kids
cubs

[3] cows: shed (or stall)
dogs: kennel lions: den (or lair) tame rabbits: hutch
canaries: cage pigs: sty bees: hive horses: stable (or stall)
wild rabbits: hole (or burrow) most birds: nest

[4] 1 d

2c

3e

4b

5a

Food and drink
Practice, page 88
Poultry 1 с Game 1 b
Fish 1 white fish: a b с e oily: d f g h і 4 h
Cereals and grasses a5 b6 c2 d3 e4 fl

Furniture and household
Game 2, page 96
[1] a rake
a pair of shears
a screw
a mop
a spanner
a pair of pliers
a corkscrew a strainer a cheese knife a ladle a mug a pepper mill
a casserole dish an ironing board
1 a stethoscope 2 a tuning fork
с a telescope d a microscope

3 a

opera glasses

b binoculars

Vehicles
Study and practice, page 102
1 battery (sparking) plugs 2 boot tyres dashboard gear
3 bodywork bumper 4 accelerator (foot)brake clutch 5 choke carburettor
1
2
3
4

A tandem is for two riders; a bicycle is for one rider.
A wheelchair is for someone who is ill; a push-chair is for a young child.
A scooter has small wide wheels; a moped has larger thin wheels.
A trolley is for carrying things in; a pram is for carrying a baby.

Key

263

5
6
7
8

A sleigh is pulled by horses; you sit on a toboggan and slide down hill.
An estate car has a large boot; a hatchback does not.
A tricycle is a three-wheeled cycle; a three-wheeler is a car with three wheels.
In British English, a truck is a small lorry, often with an open area for carrying
goods; a van is the smallest kind of commercial vehicle for carrying workmen and
goods. In American English, a truck is what the British call a lorry.
9 A bus, either single- or double-decker, goes regularly throughout the day around a
town or area; a tram runs on electricity and along rail around a town; a coach
either goes on regular long-distance journeys or on special excursions.

Quiz 1, page 104
1 raft 2 houseboat 3 barge 4 ark 5 dinghy 6 lifeboat 7 trawler
8 yacht 9 ferry
10 paddle steamer
11 galleon
12 liner 13 punt
14 launch
15 canoe
16 powerboat 17 rowing boat 18 lightship
19 submarine
20 tug

Size, quantity, dimensions and measurements
Practice, page 112
[1] 1 branch
8 family

2 species

[2] 1 part 2 breed
8 category

3 model

3 grade

4

style

4 bracket

5 brand

6 group

5 department

6 make

7

race

7 form

Shapes
Practice, page 114
[1] 1 F
[2]

2 A

3 R

1 hollow cheeks 2 rough skin 3 pointed shoes 4 oval swimming pool
5 triangular roadsign
6 sloping roof
7 sharp blade
8 spiral staircase

Parts and components
Quiz, page 125
[1] 1 telephone
2 bicycle
3 bath / wash-basin 4 toilet 5 camera
6 television 7 electrical appliance 8 watch 9 shoes 10 skirt or dress
11 flower
12 vending machine
13 typewriter 14 tree
15 wine bottle
16 door
17 aeroplane
18 car
19 kettle or teapot 20 shirt or jacket
[2]

1 pair of compasses

2 hole punch

3 tent

What things do
Practice 1, page 128
Ib
2b
3а
4с
5b
12 b 13 b 14 b 15 a

6d

7a

8b

9b

10 d

11 с

Study and practice, page 129
The words occur in this order: stalling, overheating, breaking down, doing, veering,
skidding, losing, letting, running out.

264

Key

Practice 3, page 130
[1] 1 a clock strikes
2 a volcano erupts
3 a kettle boils
4 a bell rings
5 a
ball bounces 6 a violin string vibrates 7 a toilet flushes 8 a pendulum
swings 9 a river flows 10 elastic stretches
[2]

1 a bird hatches 2 an aeroplane takes off 3а flower comes out
takes root 5 a ship sets sail 6 day breaks 7 a problem arises
8 night falls 9 a war breaks out 10 the moon comes up

4 a plant

Births, marriages and deaths
Reading 1, page 135
In many legends, storks deliver babies by flying to the parents' house, carrying the baby in
a shawl.

Practice 2, page 138
[1] 1 assassin
5 martyr

2 mausoleum
6 malnutrition

3 asphyxiate(d) / suffocate(d)
4 strangle
7 cremate 8 wreath 9 will 10 requiem

Work
Game, page 140
1 dentist (dental surgeon) 2 optician 3 chiropodist 4 osteopath chiropractor
masseur (masseuse) physiotherapist 5 hairdresser (hair stylist) 6 photographer
7 solicitor 8 travel agent 9 broker
10 piano tuner
11 antique dealer
12 vicar (priest) 13 (garage) mechanic 14 bookmaker 15 undertaker (funeral
director) 16 driving instructor 17 (dog) breeder 18 estate agent 19 architect
20 building contractor (builder) 21 removal firm 22 scrap metal dealer
(merchant) 23 glazier (and carpenter) 24 interior decorator 25 maintenance
engineer 26 plumber 27 electrician 28 social worker 29 fire brigade
(fireman) 30 psychiatrist

Health and illness
Practice 1, page 151
[3] 1 d
[4]lb

2e
2e

За
3d

4b
4a

5c

6f

б f

6c

Practice 2, page 152
The words occur in this order: setting, performing, fitting, transplanting, saving, taking,
giving, taking off, taking out, dressing, sterilising

Entertainment
Practice 1, page 160
[l]

1 western 2 war film 3 romantic comedy 4 (Hollywood) musical
5 science fiction movie 6 horror film 7 documentary 8 disaster movie
9 cartoon 10 travelogue 11 historical film 12 thriller 13 blue movie

Key

265

Game, page 161
1d

2 a

3c

4b

5e

Music and the arts
Game, page 169
[3] 1 d

2b

3b

4 e d c a b

S f c d a e b

Cooking, eating and drinking
Practice 1, page 175
1 scramble crack beat blend stuff poach whisk 2 chip peel mash 3 dice bone
carve mince stew baste braise stuff chop 4 roll knead 5 scale bone steam
poach 6 whip blend 7 grate steam peel dice chop shred

Travelling
Practice, page 180
[1] 1 boat 2 boat 3 car 4 train 5 car 6 car 7 car 8 boat
9 train 10 plane 11 boat 12 plane 13 plane 14 train 15 car
16 plane 17 boat 18 train 19 car 20 train

Law and order, crime and punishment
Study and practice, page 185
The words occur in the following order: arrested charged dropped tried trial jury guilty
sentenced appeal executed suspect hunt apprehended statements custody court
denied confessed plea convicted enquiry execution judges enquiry innocent pardon

Quality
Practice 1, page 189
1b

2c

3b

4a

5d

6d

7b

8aorb

Time
Brain teaser, page 193
The answer is never.

Numerals and proportions
Practice, page 197
[1] 1 eight 2 fifth 3 twice 4 a quarter
7 treble it 8 a single whisky
[2]

The answer is 5.

[3] 9 nothing

266

Key

10 none

5 duet (duo)

6 triplets