Work

VERBS
Read the text  below and match the words in bold with their definitions underneath. Use your dictionary to check your answers.

Brian James left University and decided to apply for a job which he saw advertised in the paper. He filled in the application forms and, a few weeks later, was asked to attend an interview. He was offered the job that same day.

As he lived in a small town outside the city, he had to commute every day. He was good at his job and very soon was promoted. However, the company he worked for was having problems. Two people were dismissed for stealing and two of their friends resigned in sympathy, the directors decided to lay off five more because the company couldn't afford to keep them, and the managing director decided to retire early. The atmosphere was so bad that Brian eventually decided to hand in his notice.

1. to give up a job.
2. to ask for a job, usually by writing a letter.
3. to be removed from a job, usually because you have done something bad.
4. same as 1.
5. to stop work and take a pension, usually when you are in late middle age.
6. to write in the empty spaces on a form.
7. to be given a better job in the organization you work for.
8. to be questioned by one or more people when you are applying for a job so that they can decide if
you are suitable for that job.
9. to travel to work from home each day, usually from one town to another.
10. to be dismissed from your job for a time until more work is available.

NOUNS
Read the text which follows and fill in the gaps with an appropriate word .
Use your dictionary to help you. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

commission • prospects • candidates • references • manager • salary
promotion • applicants • increment • vacancy • employee
perks • qualifications • shortlist • pension • salesman

A computer company had a (1)__________ for position of (2)__________, and decided to advertise for a new (3)__________. A lot of (4)__________ with good (5)__________ and (6)__________ applied for the job, and after all the interviews had finished, the directors made a (7)__________ of the best (8)__________, then invited them to come back for another interview.
The person who eventually got the job was very happy. After all, he would receive an annual
(9)__________ of £25,000, with a 5% (10)__________ twice a year, a 15% (11) __________ for each computer he managed to sell, excellent (12)__________ such as private health insurance and a company car, a company (13)__________ to make sure he would be well-off when he retired, and the chance of(14)__________ from salesman to sales(15)__________ if he was successful. All in all, his future (16)__________ looked very good.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Match the numbered sentences  with an appropriate lettered sentence on the . The  numbered sentences on include an idiom or colloquialism connected with work in bold. Use your dictionary
to help you.

1. My brother is a manual worker in a factory.
2. My cousin is a secretary in an office.
3. I need to do some more hours at work so that I can make more money.
4. The train drivers are refusing to work.
5. I work from 10.00pm to 6.00am.
6. I work for a very small amount of money.
7. Jo is unemployed and receiving unemployment benefit.
8. Jim applied to his boss for more money.
9. Our boss makes his staff work too hard.
10. Bob works too hard. Yesterday, he started at 7.30 in the morning and didn't finish until
almost midnight!
11. Our company director was given a large sum of money when he retired before the end of
his contract.
12. Sarah has great potential and ambition.
13. My boss made a mistake and made me take responsibility for it.
14. Our company is still working in the usual way in spite of difficulties.
15. Steve has an unusual job; he looks for top managers and offers them jobs in other companies.
16. Have you heard? John has been dismissed for coming late all the time.

(A) She's always been a high-flyer.
(B) He put in for a rise.
(C) Like me, he's a blue collar worker.
(D) He's such a slave driver!
(E) I'm glad to say it's business as usual.
(F) Of course, I get paid more for working the night shift.
(G) If he continues like that, he'll burn himself out.
(H) I really hate working for peanuts.
(I) I think I'll ask if I can work overtime.
(J) They've decided to come out on strike.
(K) I hate it when I have to carry the can for someone else.
(L) I wish I could get a golden handshake like that!
(M) Like me, he's a white collar worker.
(N) I always knew he'd get fired one day.
(O) He's a headhunter.
(P) There's nothing worse than being on the dole.

The weather & natural phenomena

BAD WEATHER.

Use your dictionary to check the meanings of the nouns and adjectives in bold in the text, then use the words in the box to complete the text.

mist • frost • sleet • rain • hail • wind • fog
smog • snow • blizzard • lightning • thunder

Listen to the pouring (1)______ outside, and the roar of the (2)______ as it blows through the trees.

Listen to the clatter of icy (3)______ on the window and the crashing of the (4)______, while (5)______ flashes across the sky. See the thick, grey (6)______ and the thin, grey, wet (7)______ . Smell the dirty, bitter, yellow-grey (8)______ in the city. Feel the crunch of (9)______ under your feet as you walk on the icy grass, and shake the freezing, wet (10)______ and (11)______ from your hair as the howling (12)______ turns the world to white.

EXTREME WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA
Look at the words below and decide which definition, A, B or C, best describes each one. Then
check your answers in your dictionary.

1. hurricane
(A) a storm over high mountains, usually accompanied by snow.
(B) a tropical storm with strong winds and rain.
(C) a very quick, but very heavy, rain shower.

2. tornado
(A) a long, heavy snow shower, accompanied by strong winds.
(B) a long period when there is no rain and when the land is dry.
(C) a violent storm with a whirlwind.

3. volcano
(A) a violent shaking of the earth's surface.
(B) a strong wind caused by a drop in air pressure.
(C) a mountain with a hole in the top through which lava, ash and gas can come out.

4. drought
(A) a storm, usually without rain, which happens in hot countries.
(B) a very long period of rain.
(C) a long period when there is no rain and when the land is dry.

5. flood
(A) a large amount of water over land which is usually dry.
(B) a large area of dry land which should usually be wet (e.g., a dry lake).
(C) a lake or river which has been poisoned by pollution.

6. earthquake
(A) a long, heavy snow shower, accompanied by strong winds.
(B) a shaking of the earth caused by, for example, volcanic activity.
(C) a large area of dry land which should usually be wet.

7. tsunami
(A) a tropical storm with strong winds and rain.
(B) a huge wave in the sea, caused by an underwater earthquake.
(C) a long period when there is no rain and when the land is dry.

WEATHER WORD FORMS
Complete the table below to show the verbs and adjectives which we use for the nouns in the
left-hand column.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Replace the words and expressions in bold with a suitable word or expression from the box.

under a cloud • bucketing down • weather • boiling • steals my thunder
every cloud has a silver lining • on cloud nine • storm in a teacup
under the weather • cats and dogs • downpour • heavy weather of it

1. It's raining a lot.
2. It's pouring with rain.
3. It's very hot in our office at the moment.
4. We could ask him to sort out the invoices, but he'll make it unnecessarily difficult and complicated.
5. Jan's feeling unwell.
6. There was a sudden heavy fall of rain and all the spectators ran inside.
7. I don't know if we can survive this crisis without any extra cash (
cash, def 1).
8. However gloomy things may seem, there is always some aspect which is good.
9. They were very happy when they won the lottery.
10. Ben was under suspicion for a long time after the thefts were discovered.
11. Whenever I have a great idea, Penny spoils it by doing it first and getting all the credit.
12. Sarah thought it was important, but in fact it was a lot of fuss about something which was very trivial.

24 Hours

VERBS.
Look at the sentences below and fill in the gaps using the appropriate word or expression
from A, B or C.

1. My alarm clock __________ at half past six.

A. goes up B. goes out C. goes off
2. I usually lie in bed listening to the radio after I _______.
A. awake up B. wake up C. woken up
3. I always find it quite difficult to ________ in the morning.
A. get into B. get over C. get up
4. I have a shower and ________ my teeth.
A. brush B. comb C. sweep
5. When I get dressed, the first thing I ________ is my shirt.
A. put on B. wear C. try on
6. After breakfast, I ________ to the bus stop.
A. speedy B. quickly C. hurry
7. After work, I ________ the children from school.
A. pick up B. pick out C. pick on
8. Just before I go to bed, I _____ the cat _____.
A. put...off B. put...out C. put...up
9. The last thing I do before I go to bed is ________ the alarm clock.
A. prime B. set C. prepare

NOUNS

Below you will see a list of things we use or wear at home or at work. Put them into the box where we use / wear them most often.

shaver • briefcase • pyjamas • ring binder • nightie • iron
tumble drier • ironing board • kettle • computer • refrigerator
vacuum cleaner • fax • hair dryer • dishwasher
filing cabinet • hairbrush • microwave oven • suit • internet
slippers • file • dressing gown • business card • apron

Things we use / wear at home:

Things we use / wear at work:

Now complete the sentences using one of the words above.

1. You can contact me by phone or ________ if you want.
2. I never clean the silver in the ________; it would ruin it.
3. I bought two pairs of _______ in the sale.
4. Each bathroom in the hotel is equipped with a ________ .
5. He put all the files into his ________ .
6. Post it to me, or send a ________ .
7. I've just put the ________ on so we can all have a cup of tea.
8. Put the dish in the ________ for three minutes, but make sure the food is piping hot
before you eat it.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Match the numbered words and expressions in bold with their lettered definition .

1. Sarah staggered into work at ten o'clock, bleary-eyed.
2. I can't wait until Saturday comes. Then I can have a lie-in.
3. After his 12-mile walk, he slept like a log.
4. The doctor told him to take things easy after his operation.
5. His taxi was stuck in the rush-hour traffic.
6. Mary works the night shift.
7. She comes home every evening, worn out after a busy day at the office.
8. Jessie's a night owl and as a result finds it difficult to get up in time for work.
9. We only go to the theatre once in a blue moon.
10. I had to get up at some unearthly hour to catch the plane to Milan.
11. If we want to miss the traffic, we must set off at the crack of dawn.
12. He's an early bird.
13. I was so weary, I dropped off in my English lesson.

A. Much too early.
B. The time of day when traffic is bad, trains are full, etc.
C. Very tired.
D. To stay in bed longer than usual.
E. As soon as it starts to get light.
F. Someone who likes to work, eat, etc, until late at night and does not get up early in the
morning.
G. Someone who likes to get up early and work before breakfast, and who does not stay up
late at night.
H. Very rarely.
I. Sleep very soundly.
J. With eyes half closed from lack of sleep.
K. Work during the night.
L. To rest, not to do any hard work.
M. Fell asleep (usually unintentionally)

The sentences below all use expressions with the word ‘time’. Unfortunately, the
expressions are all in the wrong sentences. Rearrange them so that they are in the correct
sentences.

1. Don't hurry me. I like to time after time.
2. Bring back your boat; your in time.
3. Pressed for time I think he's quite mad.
4. They drove fast and got to the station just for the time being to catch the train.
5. She's never at times for meetings.
6. He's very old-fashioned; he's time's up.
7. I've told her waste time not to do it, but she never listens to me.
8. Don't take my time putting your shoes on; just go and answer the door in your bare feet.
9. We're in a hurry; we're a bit behind the times.
10.On time I'm staying at my mother's while I'm waiting for my flat to be redecorated.

Travel and Holidays

VERBS
The sentences below describe the different stages of a holiday. Unfortunately, they are in
the wrong order. Rearrange them so that they are in the correct order. The first one has been
done for you. 

(  ) A few weeks later I went to the airport and checked in for my flight.
( 1 ) I picked up some holiday brochures from the travel agency.
(  ) I spent the next two weeks sunbathing on the beach and sightseeing in the local area.
(  ) Three hours later, we landed.
(  ) I picked the holiday I wanted.
(  ) I left the airport and two hours later arrived at my hotel, where I checked in.
(  ) I found my seat and fastened my safety belt.
(  ) The flight took off at 10 o'clock.
(  ) I then booked my holiday.
(  ) It was with a great deal of reluctance that I eventually checked out of the hotel and returned
home.
(  ) All the passengers disembarked.
(  ) I did some shopping in the duty free and then boarded my flight.
(  ) I browsed through the brochures.

NOUNS
Types of holiday. Look at the numbered types of holiday , and match them with the lettered places you think you might stay in . Most have more than one answer.

1. a package holiday
2. a camping holiday
3. a cruise
4. a skiing holiday
5. a safari
6. a walking holiday
7. a sailing holiday
8. a caravanning holiday
9. a sightseeing holiday

A. a tent
B. a hotel
C. a resort
D. a youth hostel
E. a caravan
F. a guesthouse
G. a boat's / ship's cabin
H. a villa / chalet

Look at the sentences below, and fill in the gaps with an appropriate word from the box.

self-catering • single • tour operator • bed and breakfast (B & B)
shoulder bag • passport • travel agency • tour • foreign currency
voyage • excursion • family • trip • journey • full-board
en-suite • terrace • insurance • double • aisle • half-board
boarding card (USA = boarding pass) • reservation • twin
balcony • cheques • all-inclusive • suitcase

1. We're planning a(n) __________ to the seaside at the weekend.
2. The __________ from Southampton to New York by ship took about five days.
3. The best way to see London is by taking a guided __________.
4. Last year they went on a train __________ across China.
5. James is going on a business __________ to Singapore next week.
6. We went to the __________ on the High Street to book our holiday, but they were informed by the __________ that there were no more places left.
7. (At the airport check-in desk) Would you like a seat by the window or one by the ________?
8. Here's your ticket and __________. You're in 33B. It's a no smoking seat.
9. I've just made a list of the things I need to take on holiday with me. First of all I need my __________ so that I can enter the country. I must get __________ in case I have an accident or lose something important. I have to go to the bank to get some __________ and __________. Oh, and of course I need my __________ to carry my clothes and other things. I'll also take a __________ so that I can carry my camera, some books and other bits and pieces.
10. Quattro Vientos Holiday Club offers a variety of accommodation options. If you want a bedroom and something to eat in the morning, they have __________ accommodation. If you prefer to have breakfast and dinner, you can stay on a __________ basis. If you want breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can stay on a __________ basis. They also have rooms with cooking facilities if you want to prepare your own food and stay on a __________ basis. Alternatively, if you want all your meals and drinks included, you can stay on an __________ basis.
11. __________ rooms in the hotel have just one small bed. _________ rooms have two small beds.
__________ rooms have one large bed. __________ rooms have one large bed and two small beds.
Most of the rooms are __________, with their own private bath or shower. All rooms have a
__________ or a __________ with a view of the sea. Telephone 01645 98109 to make a __________.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Match the numbered sentences  with a suitable lettered reply . 

HE SAID:
1. Where shall we stay?
2. Can you recommend a good guest house in this area?
3. Last year I went to Australia, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and China.
4. How are we going to get home? We haven't got enough money for a taxi.
5. Last year, we went to one of those resorts where everything - food and drink - is free.
6. You don't have much luggage with you.
7. On my first visit to Indonesia, I found everything so different from England.
8. We left London at 7 o'clock in the morning and didn't arrive in Inverness until 8 in the evening!
9. I love going to busy, lively resorts for my holiday.
10. I spend most of my life travelling, moving from one hotel to the other.

SHE REPLIED:
A. Really? I prefer to go somewhere a bit quieter, off the beaten track.
B. Wow! I didn't realise you were such a globetrotter!
C. Poor you! You spent a whole day on the road.
D. Let's stop at the first hotel we find.
E. I would hate to live out of a suitcase like that.
F. Why don't we thumb a lift?
G. It sounds great. I've never been on an allinclusive holiday.
H. Yes, there's a nice B & B around the corner.
I. I know. I prefer to travel light.
J. I experienced similar culture shock when I went to Vietnam.

Sport

VERBS
Look at the sentences below and fill in the gaps using the appropriate word or expression
from A, B or C.
1. Does Eddie __________ rugby for the university?
A. do B. make C. play
2. You should __________ some exercise every day if you want to lose weight.
A. take B. make C. play
3. They often __________ jogging in the streets near their home.
A. make B. go C. do
4. I expect our team will __________ the game tomorrow.
A. succeed B. gain C. win
5. I hope our team doesn't __________ the match on Saturday.
A. lose B. fail C. defeat
6. Our football team will have to __________ France 2:0 if they want to get a place in the World Cup
final.
A. win B. succeed C. beat
7. If the two players __________, they will have to play the game again.
A. equal B. match C. draw
8. You will need to __________ hard to get a place on the Olympic team.
A. train B. develop c. learn
9. If our team manages to __________ another goal, they'll be national champions!
A. hit B. score C. enter
10. Which football team do you __________ ?
A. support B. encourage C. accept

NOUNS
A. Venues and equipment. Match the sports in the left-hand column with the venue in the
centre column and an item which you associate with that sport in the right-hand column.
There are two items which do not belong.

                                                                                                                                       trunks
swimming                                                            range                                               gloves
tennis                                                                   racetrack                                         target
football                                                                 ring                                                   strip
ice hockey                                                           pool                                                   helmet
horse-racing                                                       racecourse                                       racket
shooting                                                              court                                                  bow
motor racing                                                      rink                                                    saddle
boxing                                                                 pitch                                                  stick                                                                                                                                                                   shuttlecock

Jumbled words.

Rearrange the letters in the box on the next page to find some more words related to sports. The first letter of each word is in bold. The clues after each jumbled word will help you.

imudast: a large building for sports, with seating arranged around a sports field.
eerrfee: a person who supervises a game, making sure that it is played according to the rules.
irepmu: similar to the above, but usually associated with tennis or cricket.
senilanm: an official who stays on the sideline in a ball game to see if the ball goes over the line.
attropesc: a person who watches a football game, a horse show, etc.
ryelpa: a person who plays a game.
teehlta: a sportsman who competes in races, etc.
raobdsocer: a large board on which the score in a game is shown as the game progresses.
porsupret: a person who encourages a football team.
naaer: a building where sports, fights etc are held.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Look at the words and expressions below and decide which sports or games they are
connected with. Use your dictionary to help you. Write the words in the grid on the right. If
you do it correctly, you will reveal the name of a famous English football team in the shaded
vertical strip.

1. Bull's eye!
2. pole position
3. neck and neck
4. On your marks…get set…go!
5. Seconds out!
6. Foul!
7. Fore!

Shopping

Look at the sentences below and fill in the gaps using the appropriate word or expression from A, B or C.

1. What did you ________ your mother for her birthday?
A. purchase B. buy C. acquire
2. Why do we __________ so much money on food?
A. spend B. buy C. sell
3. I'll ________ you a pound to wash my car.
A. spend B. charge C. pay
4. Did you ________ the shoes in the shop before you bought them?
A. put on B. wear C. try on
5. Shop assistant: Can I help you?
Customer: Yes please. I'm __________ the soft furnishings department.
A. looking for B. wanting C. hunting for
6. If the trousers are too small you can take them back and ________ them for a larger pair.
A. sell back B. exchange C. replace
7. (Angry customer to shop manager). I'd like to __________ about one of your members of staff.
A. moan B. groan C. complain
8. She __________ her shopping at Mafebury's every Monday.
A. makes B. does C. goes
9. One of the advantages of shopping there is that their ________ are so low.
A. prices B. expenses C. costs

Where are they? Look at the numbered sentence and decide where the speaker is. Choose
from the lettered list of shops .

1. I'd like twelve red roses please.
2. How much is that silver bracelet?
3. I need a packet of envelopes and some writing paper please.
4. Do you have any photography magazines?
5. Is this cabinet 17th or 18th century?
6. Take the escalator to get to menswear.
7. Have you got anything for a sore throat?
8. Do you have the latest album by Coldplay?

A. a record shop
B. a department store
C. a florist's
D. a stationer's
E. a chemist
F. a jeweller's
G. an antiques shop
H. a newsagent's

Check your spelling.

One word in each of the following sentences is incorrectly spelt, or a wrong word has been used. Use your dictionary to help you correct them.

1. I'd like my money back. I'd like a refound.
2. £35 for a new television. What a bargein!
3. It usually costs £150, but I got it for £75 in the sails.
4. I don't like to buy things by male order - you never know exactly what you're going to get.
5. Don't forget to get a reciept from the sales assistant in case you need to return it to the store.
6. The lapel on the jacket says 'Wash in cold water only'.
7. I'm afraid your cashear has overcharged me.
8. If I pay in cash, can you give me a disscount?
9. I brought a new stereo system yesterday. It cost me almost £600.
10. I'm not going to that shop again; I think they treat their costumers very badly.
11. The serving in this shop is so slow. I've been waiting for almost fifteen minutes.
12. It's quite a good idea to buy some things in bulk, as it's more economic.

IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Look at the following sentences and decide whether the words and expressions in bold refer
to a small amount of money or a large amount of money. Use your dictionary to help you.

1. The shoes in that shop cost a fortune.
2. That car was a rip-off!
3. He paid through the nose for his ticket to Hong Kong.
4. Our local petrol station sells cut-price petrol.
5. The repairs to his car cost him an arm and a leg.
6. She bought it for a song in a flea market.

Now look at these sentences and decide if they are true or false:

1. If something is selling like hot cakes, not many people are buying it.
2. You spend a lot of money when you go window-shopping.
3. It's a good idea to shop around for the best price before you buy something expensive.
4. If you buy clothes off the peg, you have them specially made for you.
5. If you talk shop, you discuss your favourite shop with a friend.
6. A body shop is a shop which arranges funerals.

Services and facilities

Look at this list of words, and match them with the service or facility that you would normally associate them with. Some of the words can be used more than once.

academic • appointment • artefacts • art gallery • audio-visual • borrow                                   bureaucracy • cancellation • civic administration • classroom                                                                 commuters • conductor • councillor • curriculum • defendant                                                             delay doctor • driver • ducks • entrance fee • exam • exhibits                                                           fare • get fit • gymnasium • historical • journals • judge • jury                                                           lawyer • learn • main course • materials • mayor • membership                                                           menu • nurse passengers • personal trainer • pharmacist • picnic                                                         pictures • platform police • treat (verb) • pond • pupils • queue                                                        red tape • records reservation • resources • roundabout • sauna                                                  sculpture • sentence (verb) • service • shelter • staff • starters                                                        stroll • study • surgery • pool • swings • teachers • ticket office                                                          tip • trial • waiter • waiting room • witness

1. Bus stop

2. Health centre

3. Health club

4. Restaurant

5. Taxi rank

6. Park / public garden

7. Library

8. Station

9. School

10. Museum

11. Law courts

12. Town hall