This time on the pod Katy and Tim discuss some dilemmas from the popular Reddit thread AITA (Am I the A**hole?).
Listen along and decide who you think is in the wrong in each of the situations.
2Ts in a Pod Episode 56: AITA (Am I the A**hole?)
Tag: C1
2Ts in a Pod: Episode 54 – Crazy Inventions
We’re back with episode 54 of the podcast. Katy & Tim describe some crazy inventions and discuss their usefulness. How many gadgets do you own?
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Key Word Transformations: Exam Technique
This is a lesson plan to help students tackle part 4 of the use of English in the main suit Cambridge exams, the key word transformations. I use this PowerPoint in conjunction with the C1 Advanced Key Word Transformation Mega Test handout but it can also be adapted for B2 First and C2 Proficiency students. Download the PowerPoint below:
Lead students through the techniques outlined in the PowerPoint then have them do page 1 of the mega test individually as practice. Then have students compare their answers before correcting in open class. You can then work through the rest of the mega test over the next few classes and for homework. You can also share the original quizlet set with them for self-study.
Classroom Pragmatics: Arriving Late & Leaving Early
This is the first in a new series of classroom pragmatics lesson plans designed to help develop students’ pragmatic competence in specific social interactions that take place in the classroom. In this case, how to apologise for arriving late and how to request to leave early. Download the handout with key below:
First students rate a good and a bad apology/request. Then they must break the apology/request down into separate functions or speech acts, then practice making their own apologies and requests in a role-play. This should prepare them for the real-life interaction if/when it arises.
Late Arrival
- What should you do if you arrive late to class?
Rate this late arrival:
Teacher: What time do you call this?
Student: Sorry I’m late, …. traffic ….., I was eating, lost the bus.”
Now this one:
Teacher: What time do you call this?
Student: Hi Tim, I’m really sorry for being late. It’s my fault, you see, I was having lunch with my friends and I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.
Identify the different stages:
- Greeting
- Initial apology
- Accept responsibility/place blame
- Give explanation
- Promise action
Useful language
| Initial apology | Accept responsibility |
| I’m really sorry for ….ingApologies for ….ingI apologise profusely for ….ing | It’s (all) my fault…I’m to blame…It’s on me… |
| Introduce explanation or excuse | Promise action |
| You see,…It’s just that…What happened was… | It won’t happen again.I’ll try harder to …. next time.I promise I’ll/I won’t… |
Role-play
https://rolladie.net/roll-a-d20-die – roll a 20-sided die to choose your excuse then role-play the situation with your partner.
Excuse Table
| I overslept. My last class/meeting overran. I lost track of time. I missed the bus and had to wait for the next one. I got stuck in traffic. The metro line was down. I got distracted. I had a (dentist’s) appointment. My (pet/family member) was sick. I lost my (bag/phone/etc.) | My bag got stolen. I fell over/tripped and hurt my (ankle/knee) I had a car/bike/motorbike accident. My car/bike/motorbike broke down. My house/flat got burgled/broken into. A water pipe burst in my house/flat. I got held up at the (doctor’s/dentist’s/bank) I got caught in the rain/snow. I got splashed by a puddle. There’s been a death in the family. |
Leaving Early
- How would you ask the teacher if you can leave early?
Rate this request:
Student: I have to leave early today. I have to go to the dentist. Here you have a note from my dad.
Now this one:
Student: Hi Tim, would it be ok if I left early today? I’ll only miss the last 20 minutes of class. The thing is, I have a dentist’s appointment at 3 o’clock, it’s the only slot they had. I’ll get the notes off María before next class and if you could let me know the homework, that’d be great.
Identify the different stages:
- Greeting
- Initial request
- Softening
- Introduce reason
- Promise action/mitigation
| Polite Requests | Introducing explanations |
| Would it be of if + past simpleWould it be possible to + inf.Do you think I could + verb…? | The thing is,…It’s just that,….You see,…. |
Role-play
https://rolladie.net/roll-a-d10-die – roll a 10-sided die to choose your excuse then role-play the situation with your partner. Think of ways to soften the request (I’ll only miss 20 minutes of class)
Excuse Table
| It’s your (family member’s) birthday. You have a big sporting event. You have an important exam tomorrow morning. You have a flight/train to catch. You have a dentist’s appointment. You have a doctor’s appointment. You have an appointment at the hairdresser’s. You have an important business meeting. You have to go home to look after your kids/younger siblings. You have an important family dinner. |
KEY – ARRIVING LATE
Teacher: What time do you call this?
Student: Hi Tim, I’m really sorry for being late. It’s my fault, you see, I was having lunch with my friends and I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.
Identify the different stages:
- Greeting
- Initial apology
- Accept responsibility/place blame
- Give explanation
- Promise action
LEAVING EARLY
Student: Hi Tim, would it be ok if I left early today? I’ll only miss the last 20 minutes of class. The thing is, I have a dentist’s appointment at 3 o’clock, it’s the only slot they had. I’ll get the notes off María before next class and if you could let me know the homework, that’d be great.
Identify the different stages:
- Greeting
- Initial request
- Softening
- Introduce reason
- Promise action/mitigation
Guest Post: C1/C2 Reading – Procrastination
This is a guest post by Soleil García Brito. It’s a Cambridge exam style multiple choice reading activity based on an article from the New York Times by Charlotte Lieberman on the topic of procrastination. Watch this space for another activity on the topic coming soon… Download the handout and teacher’s notes below:
Reading and Use of English – Part 5
Read the text below and answer the following questions:
Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)
By Charlotte Lieberman
If you’ve ever put off an important task by, say, alphabetizing your spice drawer, you know it wouldn’t be fair to describe yourself as lazy. After all, alphabetizing requires focus and effort — and hey, maybe you even went the extra mile to wipe down each bottle before putting it back. And it’s not like you’re hanging out with friends or watching Netflix. You’re cleaning — something your parents would be proud of! This isn’t laziness or bad time management. This is procrastination.
When we procrastinate, we’re not only aware that we’re avoiding the task in question, but also that doing so is probably going to have a detrimental effect on our morale. And yet, we do it anyway.
“This is why we say that procrastination is essentially irrational,” said Dr. Fuschia Sirois, professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield. “It doesn’t make sense to do something you know is going to have negative consequences.” She added: “People engage in this pointless cycle of chronic procrastination because of an inability to manage negative moods associated with a task.”
The particular nature of our aversion depends on the given task or situation. It may be due to something inherently unpleasant about the task itself — having to clean a dirty bathroom or organizing a long, boring spreadsheet for your boss. But it might also stem from deeper feelings related to the task, such as self-doubt, low self-esteem, anxiety or insecurity. Staring at a blank document, you might be thinking, I’m not smart enough to write this. Even if I am, what will people think of it? What if I do a bad job?
There’s an entire body of research dedicated to the ruminative, self-blaming thoughts many of us tend to have in the wake of procrastination, which are known as “procrastinatory cognitions.” According to Dr. Sirois, the thoughts we have about procrastination typically exacerbate our distress and stress, which contribute to further procrastination.
Although procrastination offers momentary relief, Dr. Sirois argues that it is what makes the cycle especially vicious. In the immediate present, shelving a task provides relief — “you’ve been rewarded for procrastinating,” Dr. Sirois said. This is precisely why procrastination tends not to be a one-off behavior, but a cycle, one that easily becomes a chronic habit. Over time, chronic procrastination has not only productivity costs, but measurably destructive effects on our mental and physical health, including chronic stress, general psychological distress and low life satisfaction, symptoms of depression and anxiety, unhealthy behavior, chronic illness and even hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
If it seems ironic that we procrastinate to avoid negative feelings, but end up feeling even worse, that’s because it is. And once again, we have evolution to thank. Procrastination is a perfect example of present bias, our hard-wired tendency to prioritize short-term needs ahead of long-term ones.
“We really weren’t designed to think ahead into the further future because we needed to focus on providing for ourselves in the here and now,” said psychologist Dr. Hal Hershfield, a professor of marketing at the U.C.L.A. Anderson School of Management.
His research has shown that, on a neural level, we perceive our “future selves” more like strangers than as parts of ourselves. When we procrastinate, parts of our brains actually think that the tasks we’re putting off — and the accompanying negative feelings that await us on the other side — are somebody else’s problem.
The human ability to procrastinate is deeply existential, as it raises questions about individual agency and how we want to spend our time as opposed to how we actually do. But it’s also a reminder of our commonality — we’re all vulnerable to painful feelings, and most of us just want to be happy with the choices we make. In the end, we have to find a better reward than avoidance — one that can relieve our challenging feelings in the present moment without causing harm to our future selves.
Questions:
- In the first paragraph, the author thinks that procrastinating:
- doesn’t include activities like cleaning and organizing, because they are productive.
- involves focusing on very detailed tasks that require a lot of effort.
- should not be equated to laziness.
- consists of activities like watching Netflix and spending time with friends.
- Why does the author say that procrastination is irrational?
- We are not conscious of the fact that we are about to avoid a task.
- We put off the task despite knowing it will affect us negatively.
- People repeat the same behaviour for no reason.
- Particular tasks evoke strong negative emotions.
- According to the text, where does our reluctance to get on with tasks come from?
- Deep negative feelings that were once associated with the task.
- Some tasks are gruesome and we want to avoid them.
- The dullness of some tasks makes us bored and unmotivated.
- It is probably not contingent on one specific origin.
- What does the article say about the vicious cycle of procrastination?
- Procrastinating provides an immediate and prolonged sense of relief.
- The behaviour only takes place once because it has negative consequences.
- It is a consequence of the negative effects on our physical and mental health.
- Putting off a task can reinforce the procrastinating behaviour.
- What is the relationship between evolution and procrastination, according to Dr. Hershfield?
- Brains have evolved to place current demands above future consequences.
- Procrastination is a product of recent evolution.
- It is ironic that we evolved to be procrastinators.
- We evolved to avoid negative feelings that may arise in the future.
- What is the neural justification for procrastination, according to Dr. Hershfield’s research?
- We avoid thinking about the future, even if it affects us in the present.
- Putting off a task provides relief from stress and anxiety.
- Our brains assign the responsibility for the task to a different entity.
- The pursuit of happiness is the most important goal for our brains.
Language focus:
| Phrasal verbs and vocabulary | Idioms and collocations |
| Put off a task/doing something | To go the extra mile |
| Detrimental effect on/to | To stem from |
| Inherently (+adjective) | In the wake of |
| Shelving (as a verb) | A one-off (behavior) |
| Hard-wired (as an adjective) | To have (something) to thank for |
| Await (vs wait?) | To raise questions |
| Agency (as an abstract noun) | Prioritize X ahead of Y |
| Commonality | In the here and now |
C2 Expressions: Brain, Face, Head, Wits, Mind
This is a vocab lesson plan based on an exercise from the Expert Proficiency Course book. It expands a short exercise from the book out into a full activity with exam practice and a speaking task. Students learn expressions with the words brain, face, head and wits and put them into practice in a key word transformation exercise and a discussion activity. Download the handout with key below:
Expert Proficiency Coursebook page 74
Sentence Completion
Complete the expressions in the sentences with brain, face, head, or mind.
- I couldn’t tell you the exact figure off the top of my …… but I think we sold about 10,000 units last year.
- The neighbour just called to say they’ve found our cat, that’s a load off my ……
- She was at her …… end trying to figure out how to control her 14 year-old son.
- He presented the new model to the shareholders but she’s the real …… behind it.
- We were lucky enough to come …… to …… with a Bengal tiger.
- I have to admit, it never crossed my …… to ask Brian for help with the artwork, but it turns out he’s brilliant!
- If they don’t turn that music down, I’m going to go over there and give them a piece of my ……
- He’s insufferable these days, all the money and praise has clearly gone to his ……
- My laptop has a …… of its own, it shuts down whenever it wants.
- The students struggled to keep a straight …… while the teacher was having difficulty playing the video.
- That part of town is a bit dodgy, you need to keep your …… about you if you go there.
- Trying to get the boys to tidy their bedrooms I always feel like I’m banging my …… against a brick wall.
- The boss had to think of a way to break his promise without losing ……
- In order to save …… the company recalled all the faulty products and gave their customers full refunds.
- I’ve been racking my …… all night trying to remember my PIN number but I just can’t.
| Become arrogant after success From memory A relief Thinking really hard Very stressed, not know what to do Be within touching distance Suffer damage to one’s reputation/social standing Tell sb off/reprimand | Wasting my time, actions have no effect Maintain one’s reputation Occurred to me The person who thought of an idea Seem capable of thought and independent action Not laugh/show signs of amusement Be alert/keep an eye out |
Practice
Complete the sentences with one of the expressions.
- I’ve been trying really hard to remember where I left my keys.
BRAIN
I’ve …………………..………….. to remember where I left my keys.
- Being embarrassed in front of other teenagers of the same age can be devastating for teenagers.
FACE
It can be devastating for teenagers ……………………..……………..….. Group.
- It’s vital that you be careful, don’t reveal any unnecessary information in the meeting.
WITS
It’s vital that you ……………………..……………..….. any information slip in the meeting.
- I can’t think of any examples right now from memory but I’m sure there are loads.
TOP
I can’t recall any examples off ……………………..……………..….. in no doubt that there are loads.
- Steve Jobs was the one who came up with the idea of the Ipod.
BRAINS
Steve Jobs ……………………..……………..….. the Ipod.
- “Don’t let money change you!” said the old rapper to the newbies.
HEADS
The old rapper advised the newbies …………………………………………………..
- My car stereo does whatever it likes, there’s no controlling it.
MIND
My car stereo ……………………………………………….., there’s no controlling it.
Conversation
Complete the questions with one of the expressions, then answer the questions with a partner.
- What sort of things do politicians and celebrities tend to do to …… face after a scandal? Does it usually work?
- If your neighbours are keeping you up, do you tend to ……. them a piece of your mind? Or grin and bear it?
- Think of a time when you struggled to ……. a straight face in a serious situation. Did you manage it?
- Can you think of a time when you lost ……. in front of your peers when you were a teenager? Can you laugh about it now?
- Are you good at remembering names, figures and dates ……. the top of your head? Or do you often need to look them up?
- Do you need to ……. your brain to put names to faces? Are there any things you struggle to remember?
- Do the brains ……. the biggest inventions always get the credit? Can you think of any examples of people who didn’t get the credit they deserved?
- What are you most stressed about at the moment? If you could wave a magic wand and make one of your problems disappear, what would be the biggest ……. off your mind?
- Are you someone who tends to have your wits ……. you when you’re walking down the street? Or do you have your head in the clouds?
- Do any of your electronic devices/appliances have minds of their …….? What sort of things do they do?
- Do people tend to do what you ask them to? Or is it sometimes like ……. your head against a brick wall? Give some examples?
- Have your parents ever been ….. their wits end with your, or one of your sibling’s behaviour? Why? What did they do?
- What’s the best way to stop praise or money ……. to a person’s head? Do you think it’s inevitable?
- Have you ever received help or advice from an unexpected source? Had it ever ……. your mind to turn to that particular person?
KEY – SENTENCE COMPLETION + DEFINITION MATCH
- HEAD – B
- MIND – C
- WITS – E
- BRAINS – L
- FACE TO FACE – F
- MIND – K
- MIND – H
- HEAD – A
- MIND – M
- FACE – N
- WITS – O
- HEAD – I
- FACE – G
- FACE – J
- BRAIN – D
KEY – KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS
- BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN // TRYING
- TO LOSE FACE IN FRONT OF THEIR // PEER
- HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU, // DO NOT LET
- THE TOP OF MY HEAD // BUT I AM
- WAS THE BRAINS // BEHIND
- NOT TO LET MONEY // GO TO THEIR HEADS
- HAS A MIND // OF ITS OWN
KEY – CONVERSATION QUESTIONS
- SAVE
- GIVE
- KEEP
- FACE
- OFF
- RACK
- BEHIND
- LOAD
- ABOUT
- OWN
- BANGING
- AT
- GOING
- CROSSED
C1/C2: The Life of a Celeb – Fame Vocabulary
This is a vocabulary lesson plan for C1/C2 students on the topic of fame and celebrities. Students read a text on the pros and cons of fame, examine some advanced expressions on the topic, then put them into practice in a Cambridge-style exercise, a discussion and a debate. Download the handout below, you’ll find the key for the key word transformations on page 3:
Part 1: Pre-reading
- What type of people do you think want to be famous?
- What do you think are some of the most common pros and cons of fame?
- What is the stereotypical story of the life of a child star?
- What advice would you give to someone who still wants to be famous despite the cons?
Part 2: Reading
Read the text.
Does it mention anything you discussed in part 1?
The life of a celeb isn’t all a bed of roses, you know. It really is a double-edged sword and it’s difficult to know if the pros outweigh the cons. Being in the limelight 24/7 can’t be good for your mental health. Being under constant scrutiny, having every aspect of your life dissected by the tabloids, it’s enough to drive you round the bend. It’s no wonder so many child stars go off the rails in such a spectacular fashion. They get their big breaks and rise to fame at such a young age then burn out in a blaze of glory for all to see. Keeping your feet on the ground is no mean feat when you’re surrounded by so many hangers-on blowing smoke up your backside. It must be so easy to let the fame go to your head and start thinking you’re the best thing since sliced bread. Then, if things take a turn for the worse, the fall from grace can be precipitous.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, being in the public eye does have its perks. For one thing you get to lead a glamorous lifestyle; on the guestlist for every event, endorsed by all the biggest brands, it’s ironic that some of the richest people in the world hardly have to pay for anything. Designers and companies bend over backwards to get those publicity shots of you decked out in their latest products. But brands and products aren’t the only ones that can benefit by association with a megastar; some A-listers choose to use their platforms to raise awareness of various issues and campaigns, drawing their followers’ attention to the plights of various disenfranchised groups around the world.
So, have you still got your heart set on making a name for yourself in the world of show business? If so, be warned, you’ve got to learn to take the rough with the smooth. And should you happen to make it to the top, against all odds, enjoy your time in the sun, make the most of your 15 minutes of fame, because they might be over in the blink of an eye.
Read the text again.
Answer the questions.
- What drawbacks of fame does it mention?
- What effect can becoming famous have on your psyche/character?
- What are some of the perks of fame?
- What advice does the writer give to wannabe celebs?
Part 3 – Language Focus
Look at the underlined expressions.
Discuss the meaning with your partner.
- How familiar are the expressions to you? Mark them with:
- A tick if you’ve heard them before.
- A wavy line if they ring a bell.
- A cross if they’re completely new to you.
- A tick if you’ve heard them before.
Memory test:
The life of a celeb isn’t all a …… of roses, you know. It really is a double-…….. sword and it’s difficult to know if the pros ……… the cons. Being in the l……… 24/7 can’t be good for your mental health. Being …….. constant scrutiny, having every aspect of your life dissected by the t………, it’s enough to drive you r…….. the b…….. It’s no …….. so many child stars go off the …….. in such a spectacular fashion. They get their big …….. and r……. to fame at such a young age then burn ……. in a blaze of glory for all to see. Keeping your feet on the …….. is no m……. feat when you’re surrounded by so many h……..-on blowing s……… up your b……… It must be so easy to let the fame go to your ……. and start thinking you’re the best thing since s…….. b…….. Then, if things take a ……. for the worse, the fall from ……… can be p………..
It’s not all d…… and g……. however, being in the …….. eye does have its perks. For one thing you get to ……. a glamorous lifestyle; …… the guestlist for every event, endorsed by all the biggest brands, it’s ironic that some of the richest people in the world hardly have to pay for anything. Designers and companies bend over b……… to get those publicity shots of you d……. out in their latest products. But brands and products aren’t the only ones that can benefit by association with a m……..; some A-l……… choose to use their p…….. to …….. awareness of various issues and campaigns, ……… their followers’ attention to the p…….. of various dis………….. groups around the world.
So, have you still got your …….. set on making a ……. for yourself in the world of ……..business? If so, be w…….., you’ve got to learn to take the r…….. with the s………. And should you happen to make it to the ……, against all o……., enjoy your time in the sun, make the most of your ……. minutes of fame, because they might be over in the …….. of an eye.
Key Word Transformations
- My agent showed me some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
ATTENTION
My agent…………………………………………. some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
- It’s hard for newly famous celebrities to continue to act in a sensible and practical way.
FEET
Newly famous celebrities struggle ……………………………………………………………..
- The life of a famous dancer isn’t always good.
BED
The life of a famous dancer………………………………………………………………….
- He moved to New York to become famous in the art world.
NAME
He moved to New York with the intention ………………………………………………… the art world.
- She wants to be an actress more than anything else in the world.
HEART
She …………………………………………………………………………… an actress.
- He aims to make more people aware of the difficulties the indigenous population are facing.
RAISE
His objective is ………………………………………………………….. of the indigenous population.
Part 4 – Discussion
- Would you like to be famous?
- How well do you think you would cope with being famous?
- Do you think that the pros of fame outweigh the cons?
- Overall, do you think celebrities have a positive or a negative impact on society?
- Why do you think so many celebrities tend to suffer from addiction problems or poor mental health?
- If you had to choose images of celebrities to illustrate the pros and cons of fame, whose image would you choose and why?
- How do you think fame and show business have changed in your lifetime? How do you think it will change in the future?
Debate topic: Celebrities have a positive effect on society
KEY
Key Word Transformations
- My agent showed me some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
ATTENTION
My agent DREW MY ATTENTION // TO some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
- It’s hard for newly famous celebrities to continue to act in a sensible and practical way.
FEET
Newly famous celebrities struggle TO KEEP THEIR FEET // ON THE GROUND.
- The life of a famous dancer isn’t always good.
BED
The life of a famous dancer ISN’T ALL A BED // OF ROSES.
- He moved to New York to become famous in the art world.
NAME
He moved to New York with the intention OF MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN the art world.
- She wants to be an actress more than anything else in the world.
HEART
She HAS (GOT) HER HEART SET // ON BECOMING an actress.
- He aims to make more people aware of the difficulties the indigenous population are facing.
RAISE
His objective is TO RAISE AWARENESS // OF THE PLIGHT of the indigenous population.
C1/C2: Animal Idioms
This is a vocabulary and conversation lesson for C1/C2 students. Students look at 18 animal idioms and put them into practice in conversation and an optional writing exercise. Download the handouts below:
Students first recall the names of some animals, then have a chance to share animal idioms they already know.
Then they must use the 16 animals from exercise 1 to complete the different animal expressions.
Keep the conversation questions hidden from students until after they’ve completed the first gap-fill.
Then have them recall the expressions by filling in the gaps in the questions. They can then ask and answer the questions in pairs or small groups.
I designed this task for use with a C2 Proficiency preparation group so I added on a writing task, an article, for them to do as homework.
C1 Advanced: Key Word Transformation Mega Test
This is a loooong worksheet for students preparing to take the C1 Advanced exam, it has 82 key word transformation questions. I’ve basically just taken this great quizlet set and copy pasted it into a Google Doc, but it took a while so hopefully it’ll save you some time. Download the handout and answer key below:
Here are the PDFs:
I’ve also started work on a quizziz game based on the mega test.
I have a group who are taking the exam in 3 weeks so they want lots of practice, so I gave them this sheet with 78 expressions on it to study on Monday and told them to study it. Now I’m going to have them do the first 1/3 of the test in class today (Wednesday).
I’ll then send them the quizlet link so they can do spaced repetition at home.
C1/C2 Halloween Spooky Word Formation: The Family Legacy
This is a lesson plan for C1/C2 students who are preparing for an upcoming exam but still want to celebrate Halloween in some way. Students read a creepy story about an old family home, practice some word formation and then write their own continuation of the story. I wrote the story myself, let me know what you think! Download the handout and teacher’s notes below:
Pre-Reading
You’re going to read the first part of a horror story called “The Family Legacy”, it involves:
- A father
- A son
- An old house
With your partner, make some predictions about what will happen in the story.
Reading
Read the story, ignore the gaps, see if your predictions were correct.
Roger trudged up the drive of the ancient hall, the seat of his family’s power for over two centuries. It stood on the top of the hill looking down over the land around, a 1. ………………(SYMBOL) effigy of the family’s grasp over the local 2. ……………. (POPULATE). Finally it was his, the jewel in the crown of his 3. ……………… (INHERIT) after his father’s passing the previous week. In the end, the death of the formidable patriarch of the family had been far from the 4. ……………… (PAIN) transition we all hope for, screaming night terrors, lashing out 5. ……………… (VIOLENT), catching his 6. ………………(SUSPECT) carers off-guard, until the final descent into silent 7. …………… (MAD) It was something that had befallen the last three generations of men in his family, a thought that he pushed to the back of his mind as a/an 8. ………………. (VOLUNTEER) shudder ran down his spine.
But it was over, and he could now envisage the 9. …………….. (REALISE) of all the 10. ……………… (BOY) hopes and dreams he had had for this 11. ……………….. (CRUMBLE) pile of stone and wood. As he approached the ancient 12. ………………..(WOOD) door, he took the old iron key from his pocket and unlocked it with a 13. ……………….. (SATISFY) thunk. As he stepped across the threshold his 14. ……………….. (FOOT) echoed throughout the house in a/an 15. ……………….. (SETTLE) way. What struck Roger immediately were the reminders of his father’s 16. ……………….. (QUESTION) taste in decorations; floor to ceiling oil paintings of 17. ……………….. (NOTE) ancestors and the heads of various animals mounted on the walls. He relished the thought of finally 18. ……………….. (CLUTTER) the whole place. No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than around the corner came an almost 19. ……………….. (PERCEIVE) breath of air, which flowed through the ground floor, as if the house itself was reacting to a/an 20. ……………….. (INVITATION) guest. The door slammed shut behind Roger, he heard a loud “clang” as the heavy old key hit the stone of the porch outside. Suddenly gripped by panic he grabbed the door handle and pulled with all his 21. ……………….. (STRONG) but to no avail. A sudden sense of 22. ……………….. (CONFINE) enveloped him, but what really set his nerves jangling and a creeping sense of 23. ……………….. (EXIST) dread curling up his back was the voice calling down the stairs from his father’s study….
Word Formation
Now look at the gaps, try to predict what type of word is needed, then attempt to transform the root words to fit the context.
Language Analysis
- How does the writer make the story creepy?
- Find two examples of onomatopoeia in the text.
- Find and underline the sentence with “around the corner”
- What do you notice about the syntax?
- Look for impressive collocations with the following words:
| Power…………………………………………Grasp…………………………………………Jewel…………………………………………Patriarch…………………………………………Catching…………………………………………Madness…………………………………………Mind…………………………………………Spine…………………………………………Hopes and dreams…………………………… | Footsteps…………………………………………Taste…………………………………………Relish…………………………………………Guest…………………………………………Door…………………………………………Panic…………………………………………Strength…………………………………………Sense…………………………………………Nerves ………………………………………… |
Production
Write the next paragraph of the story. Try to use:
- Inversions:
- No sooner…. than….
- Hardly/Barely/Scarcely….. when
- An inversion of place:
- Into the river jumped the boys.
- At the top of the stairs sat a black cat.
- Spooky language:
- A shiver down the spine
- unsettling/creepy/etc.