Episode 85 B

EPISODE 85
LEVEL B2

 

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

APPEARANCE           

My father has a round face, with chubby (= fat in a pleasant way) cheeks and a droopy (= long and hanging down heavily) moustache. My mother has a more pointed face and a straight nose. My younger sister is more like my father. She has an oval face and an upturned nose (= facing upwards). My older sister is like a model. She has a slim figure and a slender waist. She has a lovely complexion and beautiful sleek (= smooth and shiny) shoulder-length hair and she is always immaculately groomed (= always looking tidy). I feel so ordinary next to her. I’ve got coarse (= rough, not smooth) hair and rather broad hips.

 

EXERCISE 1 

Devide the words describing appearance into the categories below:

Beard   plump    dark-skinned    parting    wiry    crow’s feet    stout     shapely
Moustache    fair complexion     wrinkles     freckles    bushy     double chin
Chubby      cleft-chin     obese     dimples     wavy     skinny     a scar     a mole
Curly     overwieght      slender      a crew cut      messy-looking     bald
Lanky     curvy     straight     stubble     receding

face	hair	skin	build	looks

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

In English articles are really important. We have to remember a few rules:

1. When we introduce new information or mention sth for the first time: ___a / an____,
2. When we refer to sth which has already been mentioned or if the context of the conversation makes it clear for everyone: ___the____
3. When we refer to sth when it’s the only one in the context: ___the_____
4. When we talk about things in general: _____a / an_____  (with sing C nouns) or _____—______ (with U or pl nouns):

 

EXERCISE 3

Fill in the articles: a, an, the or -.

1. When did you last get ____ email with _______ photo attachment? Who or what was ______ photo of?
2. What’s _______ worst thing about being in ______ hospital?
3. Would you prefer to go on holiday to ______ Australia or _______ USA?
4. What was ________ most expensive restaurant you’ve ever been to?
5. Which do you like best: ________ Italian food or _________ Chinese food?
6. Is anyone in your family _______ doctor, ________ lawyer, or ______ architect?

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

Be a tiny tot = a small child

To pour your heart out = to tell sb all your problems or feelings

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

EXERCISE 3 

He bears a striking resemblance to his father = looks remarkably alike
The lady has a very striking appearance = unusual appearance
There is a striking contrast between what he does and what he says = a huge contrast
The most striking example of the dangers is the violence = easily noticed

 

NEWS

“You all know lanky people. They may be friends, family, neighbors, even lovers. But are you truly adept at living with these goofy, lumbering beings that inhabit our communities?

Let me be clear, I’m talking about actual lankiness. Not Snatch-era, degs-loving Brad Pitt, who is thin, but could still beat up someone with 150lbs on him. No, I’m talking about the all-angles-and-straight-lines, limbs-going-everywhere, might-disappear-if-they-turn-sideways kind of lankiness.

Lankiness calls to mind certain types of attributes. To be lanky you must have some slight inclination towards physical coordination. Without the very minimum of consciousness of where you’re placing your limbs and why, you’d simply be considered gangly — a human, non-green, real-life Gumby. This is not to say that we lanky people have any sort of inherent sense of physical grace.”

Adept = skilled
Goofy = a little silly
Lumber = move slowly and awkwardly
Limbs = parts of the body (like arms and legs)
Attributes = a feature of sth that especially one that is central to its nature
Gangly = tall, thin and awkward

 

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