EPISODE 241
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

TELEPHONES

 

I cannot imagine my life without my mobile phone (= a phone I can take with me everywhere). I think mobile phones have a lot of advantages and that is why they are so popular. I don’t have to remember phone numbers because they are saved in my cell phone (= another name for a mobile phone). Modern telephones offer access to the Internet (= I can use the Internet when I have them), they can take photos and do many other things I can’t even think of.
I don’t have a stationary phone (= a phone you can use only in one place) at home any more. I have never used an answerphone (= a special machine which records messages). And do you ever use a phone box (= a small building with a telephone inside)? I don’t. They can still be seen in the streets, but they don’t seem to be very popular nowadays. We need to buy a phone card before we use them and who has time to do that? I sometimes use directory enquiries (= a special place which you call to get a phone number you don’t know), but I never use a telephone directory (= a book with phone numbers) because it takes too much time.
Well, it seems the only telephone I use is my mobile (= another name for a mobile phone) and I don’t need anything else.

 

More contexts for the new words:

  • I have a cordless phone at home and it is really comfortable.
    (= I have a phone without a wire at home)
  • Pagers are not used very often any more.
    (= Machines which allow people to get written messages)

 

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Use the words from the text to complete the sentences. Sometimes you may need two words in one gap.

 

  1. I didn’t remember the theatre’s number, so I called the ………………………………….. to ask for it.
  2. The only use I have for the ………………………………….. is not to look up numbers, but to stand on when I need to reach somewhere high. This book is so big!
  3. I forgot my mobile, but luckily there was a ………………………………….. in the street, so I could call my parents.
  4. I couldn’t use the phone box, because I did not have a ………………………………….., and it did not accept coins.
  5. My phone has ………………………………….. to the Internet, so I can check my email everywhere.
  6. Many people are surprised that I don’t remember my own phone …………………………………… It’s 601-405… or maybe 605-401… or…. well, I don’t know!

 

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Match phrases from the two columns to make questions and then answer them.

 

  1. When do you leave a. in your wallet?
  2. When did you last phone b. your mobile at home?
  3. Do you have a phone card c. friend’s phone number?
  4. Do you remember your best d. directory enquiries?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

Today we will look at PASSIVE VOICE. The name probably sounds strange to you, but the construction is not very difficult. We have two examples of PASSIVE VOICE in the text above:

They are saved in my cellphone.
Pagers are not used any more.

These are examples of Present Simple Passive. As you can see in this construction we need to have two verbs. The first is a proper form of the verb „to be” , is or are.
What is the second one? Look at some more examples and you will know.

Emails are written every day.
Tea is drunk with milk in Britain.

write, wrote, written
drink, drank, drunk

Do you know now which verb form we need?
Yes, the past participle form of the verb. Remember, in PASSIVE VOICE we need a form of
a form of „to be” and a past participle.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

 

A/ I Can I speak to Mr Jones, please?

B/ HOLD THE LINE, please,  I’ll check if he’s available.

 

If you ask someone on the phone to hold the line, you ask them to wait.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

  1. If you PICK UP the phone, you answer it when it starts ringing.

He picked the phone up and dialled.

 

  1. If you HANG UP, you stop using the phone at the end of a conversation.

Gregory hung up and sat back in his chair.

‘Get lost!’ she shouted, and hung up on me.

 

 

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Complete the conversation with words from the idiom/phrasal verbs you’re learned.

 

[ring ring ring]

A: Hello?

B: Oh, Anne, thanks for finally picking (1)……………………..! I’ve been calling you for hours!

A: What’s the matter, Bob?

B: I need your help again. Please don’t hang (2)…………………….., it’s the last time, I promise.

A: OK, what do you need?

B: Do you have any sugar at home?

A: Hold the (3)…………………….., I’ll check. [after some time] Yes, I do. But I’m not going to lend you any. Bye bye!

 

 

 

NEWS

 

MOBILE-FREE ZONES

 

More and more people are complaining about the fact that mobile phones are everywhere. It is impossible to relax, to concentrate, or to read a book, because always there is a phone ringing somewhere nearby, or there is someone shouting into their cell phone. This is why more and more service providers are introducing mobile-free zones. In restaurants, clubs, on the bus or on the train you will see signs saying ‘no mobiles please.’ When entering these areas, you are required to switch off your mobile completely (no, switching it to ‘silent’ is not enough) and put it away so that no one can see it. After the initial shock, the customers in such areas are really appreciating the peace and quiet.

 

GLOSSARY

nearby – close

zones – areas

to appreciate – to like sth

 

 

download lesson (pdf)

>>Answers

 

KEY TO EXERCISES 

 

Ex.1

  1. directory enquiries
  2. telephone directory
  3. phone box
  4. phone card
  5. access
  6. number

 

Ex.2

  1. b
  2. d
  3. a
  4. c

 

Ex.3

  1. up
  2. up
  3. line

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