Episode 106

EPISODE 106
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

PARTY TIME

HIM: Hi, would you like to dance?
HER: Sure, why not.
HIM: Are you enjoying yourself (= having fun)?
HER: Yes, I’m having a good time. And you?
HIM: Yeah, me too. And who’s actually giving this party (= organizing the party)?
HER: Jane, she’s over there. Didn’t she invite you (= ask someone to come to an event)?
HIM: No, I don’t really know her. I came here with a friend.
HER: What do you think about the party?
HIM: I’m having fun. There are a lot of interesting people, good food. I’m waiting for the birthday cake.
HER: Me too. It’s impossible to celebrate your 18th birthday without a cake and candles.
HIM: You’re right. I really like going to parties. You can go wild (= behave in very excited uncontrolled way) and do crazy things. And you can meet exciting people, like you. How about another dance then?
HER: Sorry, but I need to give Jane a present. And to be honest, I think you’re quite boring.

 

More contexts for the new words: 

• He decided to gatecrash the wedding. (= to go to a party when you have not been invited)
• Patty is organizing a fancy dress party and I’d like to dress up as a princess. (= a party where people where clothes that make them look like a famous person, an animal or a character from a story)

 

EXERCISE 1 

Match the halves:

1. enjoy
2. have
3. give
4. go
5. invite
6. birthday

1. sb to a party
2. yourself
3. wild
4. cake
5. a good time
6. a party
   

 

EXERCISE 2 

Complete the questions with the key words from the text. Then answer them.

1. Have you ever been to a f…………… dress party? Did you enjoy it?
2. Can you bake a birthday c………………?
3. Is going to parties exciting or b……………… for you?

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

This time we will focus on the difference between like and would like.

We use like to talk about general things. It can be followed by a noun or by a verb with –ing.

I like pop music.
I like dancing

We use would like (‘d like) to talk about the things we want now. It can be followed by a noun or a verb with to.

I would like a cup of coffee.
I would like to dance.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP 

 

You need to invite Chris. He’s the LIFE AND SOUL OF THE PARTY.

If someone is life and soul of the party, they are energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions.

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

1. If someone SHOWS UP, they arrive somewhere to join a group of people, often late or unexpectedly.

I invited him for 8 o’clock, but he didn’t show up until 9.30.

 

2. If you TURN STH UP, you increase the amount of light, heat, or sound produced by a piece of equipment.

Could you turn the volume up a bit?

 

EXERCISE 3 

Complete sentences with correct words:

1. We were expecting 30 people to come, but half of them never s…………. up.
2. Don’t t……………. the TV up – I’m trying to read.
3. I can’t imagine this birthday without Jake. He’s a real l…………… and soul of the party.

 

NEWS

 

BEST PARTY EVER

The parents of an Australian teenager may have a $20,000 bill to pay for the damage caused at a party held by their son. Corey Robson, 17, decided to throw a party in his house on Saturday night while his parents were on vacation. He posted an open invitation on the MySpace website, which resulted in 500 teenagers showing up at his Melbourne home. The youths got drunk and started damaging neighbouring properties. After complaints from neighbours, 30 police officers, police dogs and a helicopter went to finish the party. Young people threw stones at the police and their cars. 

 

GLOSSARY 

• damage – physical harm done to a person or thing
• throw a party – organize a party
• to damage sth – to cause harm to a person or thing
• property – land and the buildings on it
• complaint – a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory

 

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