Episode 108

EPISODE 108
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

READING COMPREHENSION 

PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO

A: Hey, what would you like to do tomorrow? Have you got any ideas?

B: I don’t know. How about going on a trip? I think the weather will be nice. We could spend some time in the countryside and go for a walk.

A: That sounds ok. But maybe we could just do some sightseeing in the city (= visit interesting places especially by people on holiday). I’m sure you haven’t seen all the sights (= interesting places that people go to see). Or we could take the kids to the circus or to the zoo. There’s a new baby hippo that’s just been born.

B: The kids are much too old for that. I think I’d rather visit a museum or an art gallery.

A: Museums are really boring. Let’s go window shopping (= looking at things in shop windows but not buying anything). And in the evening we could go out for dinner.

B: Window shopping sounds fine, but in the evening I’d rather go to a concert or to a disco and dance a little. And later maybe we could go to a casino and play roulette.

A: Casino is not for me, but we can go to the disco if you like. And earlier we could go to the cinema or theatre. There’s a Shakespeare play on at the moment.

B: Why not. So, first window shopping, then theatre and finally the disco. That sounds like fun!

 

More contexts for the new words: 

• There’s an exhibition of paintings by Picasso in the art gallery round the corner. (= an event at which objects such as paintings are shown to the public)
• There’s not much entertainment in this town. Just a cinema and a couple of pubs. (= shows, films, television or other performances that people enjoy)

 

EXERCISE 1 

Match the expression halves:

1. go on
2. go for
3. do
4. go to
5. visit
6. play
   1. a walk
   2. sightseeing
   3. roulette
   4. a trip
   5. the cinema
   6. a museum
      

 

EXERCISE 2 

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

1. Do you like w……………….. shopping?
2. What are the most interesting s…………… in your city?
3. When was the last time you went to an e…………………….? Did you enjoy it?

ENGLISH IN USE  

This time we will focus on using the words some and any. 

We use these words with plural nouns and with uncountable nouns.

We use some in positive sentences.

I need some money.
I’ve got some apples.

We use any in questions and negative sentences.

Do you need any money?
Have you got any apples?
I don’t need any money.
I haven’t got any apples.

In questions where you expect the answer yes you use some instead of any

Could you give me some advice?

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP 

I’ve got a terrible cold, but I need to go to work. THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

If you say that the show must go on, you mean that an event or an activity must continue even if there are problems or difficulties.

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

1. If you PLAY ALONG WITH STH, you do what someone asks you to do for a limited period of time.

I know you don’t like Jack’s idea, but just play along with him for a while.

 

2. If a person, especially a child ACTS UP, they behave badly.

Sophie got bored and started acting up.

 

EXERCISE 3 

Complete sentences with correct prepositions:

1. He always acted …………. when his friends were watching.
2. We played ……….. with the idea, until we were able to run away.
3. This actor isn’t feeling very well, bur the show must go ……….

 

NEWS

GANGNAM STYLE THE MOST WATCHED YOU TUBE VIDEO

The video to the hit song Gangnam Style has become the most-watched clip in YouTube’s history. Gangnam Style is by 34-year-old South Korean singer Psy. His iconic dance and catchy tune have captured the imagination of millions of people worldwide. The video makes fun ofngnam district of South Korea’s capital Seoul. In it, he is seen dancing around the city pretending to ride a horse and twirl a lasso.

Gangnam Style first appeared on YouTube in July. It took just five months to reach the 800-million mark. Each day, Gangnam Style is still being watched between 7 and 10 million times.” The dance has led to thousands of copycat videos being posted online, each with their own version of it. 

 

GLOSSARY 

• catchy tune – attracting your attention and easy to remember
• capture – catch
• twirl – to make sth move in circles
• copycat –  done or made to be very similar to something else

 

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