Return to Menu Passage A Passage B
Return to Menu Passage A Passage B
Passage A Think About t Read About It Talk About It Write About it
Passage A • Think About It • Read About It • Talk About It • Write About It
1. In what way do you usually learn English vocabulary? Do you often ask the native speakers to explain English words for you? Reference: Open
1. In what way do you usually learn English vocabulary? Do you often ask the native speakers to explain English words for you? Reference: Open
2. How do you understand the German proverb"Whoever cares to learn will always find a teacher"? Reference: Anyone who is willing to learn will make use of every chance to learn something from others
2. How do you understand the German proverb “Whoever cares to learn will always find a teacher”? Anyone who is willing to learn will make use of every chance to learn something from others. Reference:
3. Do you think to teach is also to learn? Why? Reference: Yes, because when we are asked to teach what we are supposed to know, it often turns out not as obvious as we thought to be
3. Do you think to teach is also to learn? Why? Yes, because when we are asked to teach what we are supposed to know, it often turns out not as obvious as we thought to be. Reference:
Read About It Language Points Content Awareness Language Focus
Read About It • Language Points • Content Awareness • Language Focus
Tongue-tied Several weeks ago I was riding in a cab when the driver's eyes caught mine in the rear view mirror and he said, "Excuse me, Miss? Can you help me? As any hard-bitten city dweller knows, the correct answer to a question like"Can you help me? should always be some version of It depends. "I chirped, "Sure Thank you, he said. He passed a slip of yellow paper into the back seat I stared at the paper, wondering Was this a joke? A threat? Hand printed on the paper in tiny block letters was this: proverb secular idiomatic
Several weeks ago I was riding in a cab when the driver’s eyes caught mine in the rear view mirror and he said, “Excuse me, Miss? Can you help me?” As any hard-bitten city dweller knows, the correct answer to a question like “Can you help me?” should always be some version of “It depends.” I chirped, “Sure.” “Thank you,” he said. He passed a slip of yellow paper into the back seat. Tongue-tied I stared at the paper, wondering. Was this a joke? A threat? Handprinted on the paper in tiny block letters was this: proverb peculiar idiomatic
"Please, he said. What is the meaning of these words? I stared at the words in the distressed way you might stare at party guests whose faces you' ve seen somewhere before but whose names have escaped your mind. Proverb? Peculiar? Idiomatic? How on earth should i know? It's one thing to use a word it's another to explain it. I resorted to shifting the topic Where did you get these words? The driver explained that he was Pakistani. He listened to the radio as he drove and often jotted down unfamiliar, fascinating words whose meanings and spellings he then sought from his passengers “ Peculiar;" he said." What does this mean?” could manage that one. Strange, " I said. "Odd. Often with a hint of something suspicious “ Thank you,Miss. And idiomatic?
“Please,” he said. “What is the meaning of these words?” I stared at the words in the distressed way you might stare at party guests whose faces you’ve seen somewhere before but whose names have escaped your mind. Proverb? Peculiar? Idiomatic? How on earth should I know? It’s one thing to use a word, it’s another to explain it. I resorted to shifting the topic. “Where did you get these words?” The driver explained that he was Pakistani. He listened to the radio as he drove and often jotted down unfamiliar, fascinating words whose meanings and spellings he then sought from his passengers. “Peculiar,” he said. “What does this mean?” I could manage that one. “Strange,” I said. “Odd. Often with a hint of something suspicious.” “Thank you, Miss. And idiomatic?
I cleared my throat. " Um, it's a, well, um. It involves a peculiar use of the language I thought my use of peculiar was kind of clever. He looked confused a reminder that clever's not clever if it doesnt communicate Uh, lets see, 'ldiomatic is related to the word idiom. an idiom's something that's used in, say, a particular part of the country or by a particular group of people. People who aren't part of that group aren't likely to use it and might not understand it Watching his puzzled look, I did what a person often does when at a loss for the right words: I went on talking, as if a thousand vague words would add up to one accurate definition "Can you give me an example? I racked my brains. " Gapers block, "I said, a peculiarly Chicago phrase
I cleared my throat. “Um, it’s a, well, um. It involves a peculiar use of the language.” I thought my use of peculiar was kind of clever. He looked confused, a reminder that clever’s not clever if it doesn’t communicate. “Uh, let’s see. ‘Idiomatic’ is related to the word ‘idiom’. An idiom’s something that’s used in, say, a particular part of the country or by a particular group of people. People who aren’t part of that group aren’t likely to use it and might not understand it.” Watching his puzzled look, I did what a person often does when at a loss for the right words: I went on talking, as if a thousand vague words would add up to one accurate definition. “Can you give me an example?” I racked my brains. “Gapers block,” I said. A peculiarly Chicago phrase
But did it really qualify as idiomatic? I had no idea because the longer I thought about idioms the less sure I was what they were And proverb?” I should have told the poor man right then that I might be misleading him down the proverbial path, whatever that really means, but instead I said, I think a proverb is kind of like an aphorism. But not quite” “ A what?” "Never mind. a proverb is a condensed saying that teaches you a lesson “ An example?” The meter clicked off a full 20 cents while I searched madly through my mind. "Haste makes waste? I finally whimpered
But did it really qualify as idiomatic? I had no idea because the longer I thought about idioms the less sure I was what they were. “And proverb?” I should have told the poor man right then that I might be misleading him down the proverbial path, whatever that really means, but instead I said, “I think a proverb is kind of like an aphorism. But not quite.” “A what?” “Never mind. A proverb is a condensed saying that teaches you a lesson.” “An example?” The meter clicked off a full 20 cents while I searched madly through my mind. “Haste makes waste?” I finally whimpered
