Can you complete this English expression? It means “to focus one’s attention on (something)”.
…… in on (something)
a) zero
b) sharp
c) mark
d) aim
The answer is below!↓
Answer: a) zero
zero in on (something)
….. in on (something)
study English
A bed of …..
Can you complete this English expression? It means “a comfortable or easy situation or activity”.
A bed of …….
a) daisies
b) tulips
c) peonies
d) roses
The answer is below!↓
Answer: d) roses
A bed of roses!
(We often use this in the negative – eg. my new job is no bed of roses.)
[Short Story with Audio] Hilda’s Roof
This is a short story for learners of English from I Talk You Talk Press. You can read and listen at the same time, or you can try shadowing. We hope you enjoy the story!
Hilda’s house is very old. She does not have much money. When it rains, water comes into her house.
I must stop the water coming into my house, thinks Hilda.
She calls a local man who repairs houses. His name is Rory.
“Rory,” says Hilda. “The roof of my house is very bad. When it rains, water comes into my house. Can you help me?”
“OK, Hilda,” says Rory. “I will come and look at your house. I will come tomorrow. My daughter is home because it is university holidays. Maybe she will come and help me.”
Rory comes the next day. His daughter Wanda, comes with him.
Rory looks inside the house. Then he goes outside. Wanda holds the ladder for her father. Rory climbs onto the roof.
After a while, Rory comes into the house.
“Hilda,” he says. “You need a new roof.”
“Oh, no!” says Hilda. “I do not have enough money for a new roof!”
“I understand,” says Rory. “Maybe I can fix the holes in your roof. I will do my best, but more holes will come.”
Hilda is worried and unhappy. “Please do the best you can,” she says. “Maybe I will win a lottery or something. Maybe I can find enough money for a new roof before next winter.”
“OK,” says Rory. “I will go onto the roof and try to fix the holes.”
Hilda goes into her kitchen. Rory is a very kind man, she thinks. When Rory and Wanda take a break, I will give them a snack. I will make some cookies.
Hilda is taking her cookies out of the oven when she hears a loud noise. There is a crash and a bang. Then she hears loud voices.
Oh no! That’s Rory’s voice, thinks Hilda.
Hilda runs through the house. She gets a big shock. Rory is sitting on her living room floor. Hilda looks up. There is a big hole in the roof – Hilda can see the sky.
Wanda runs into the house. “Dad! Dad! Are you OK?”
“I’m fine,” says Rory. “Hilda I am so sorry about your roof. It was so old and weak. I fell through it.”
“Don’t worry about my roof,” says Hilda. “I am happy you are not hurt. Sit down in that armchair and I will bring you a cup of tea.”
Hilda brings tea and cookies for Rory and Wanda. She sits down with Rory and Wanda. They drink tea and eat cookies. They look at the sky.
Suddenly they hear strange noises. “Get out!” shouts Rory. “The roof is falling!”
They run to the kitchen. There is a lot of noise and dust.
After a while, the noise stops. “Stay here,” says Rory. “I will go and look.”
Hilda and Wanda wait for a long time. Finally, Rory comes back to the kitchen. He is hiding something behind his back.
“Hilda,” says Rory. “Who lived in this house before you?”
“My parents,” says Hilda. “And before them, my grandparents lived here.”
Rory smiles. “Well someone who lived here didn’t like banks! Look what I found in all the rubbish on the floor.” He takes a box from behind his back and gives it to Hilda.
Hilda opens the box. It is filled with old gold coins.
“Someone hid this box in the roof of your house.”
“I can pay for a new roof!” shouts Hilda. “It is wonderful!”
Rory laughs. “Hilda you can pay for a new house!”
Take a ….. !
Can you complete this English expression? It means “go away!”
Take a ……. !
a) bus
b) taxi
c) hike
d) walk
The answer is below!↓
Answer: c) hike
Take a hike!
[Easy English Blog] Dog cafe
The other day, I went to a “dog cafe” with my friend. It was my first time to go to this cafe. Customers can take their dogs into the cafe. There are bowls of water in various places of the cafe for the dogs.
The owner’s dog stays in the cafe. He is very cute. He sat next to me and let me stroke him for a long time. He likes people. He is very quiet and gentle.
I think the cafe is a good idea. People who like dogs can enjoy playing with the owner’s dog while they have a drink. People who are walking their dogs can take a rest and enjoy a cool drink.
There was only one other customer in the cafe when I went. That customer didn’t have a dog, but he is a regular customer. He said that he lives near the cafe and goes nearly every day. He likes to play with the owner’s dog.
When I was playing with the owner’s dog, I remembered the dogs I had when I was a child. I wish I had a dog! If I had a dog, I would be a regular customer at the cafe!
By Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press
When it rains, it ……
Can you complete this English expression? It means that when something good or bad happens, many other good or bad things happen in a short space of time.
When it rains, it …..
a) pours
b) cats and dogs
c) drizzles
d) showers
The answer is below!↓
Answer: a) pours
When it rains, it pours!
Indispensable
Do you know the English adjective “indispensable“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Gary: We need to cut the number of workers in the office. Who shall we fire?
Susan: I’ll think about it. But we can’t fire Cassie. She is indispensable.
Does it mean:
a) hard-working
b) essential
c) annoying
d) amusing
The answer is below!↓
Answer: b) essential
[Easy English Blog] Mexican food
Today’s Easy English Blog post is from Patricia in New Zealand!
Yesterday was a cold, windy and rainy day. We went to Petone to eat lunch. Petone is about 20 minutes drive from our house.
The main shopping street in Petone is called Jackson Street. It has many interesting cafes, bars and restaurants. We like Mexican food, so we went to Viva Mexico.
It was very interesting. The cook and the waitress talked to each other in Spanish. I know a few words in Spanish, but I was pleased that the waitress talked to us in English.
The inside of the restaurant was Mexican style. The backs of the chairs were covered in very bright coloured materials. There were also a lot of cushions. The cushion covers all showed pictures of Frida Kahlo. She was a very famous Mexican artist. She painted many pictures of herself. She died in 1954.
We ordered enchiladas and empanadas. The food was very good and we enjoyed it.
By Patricia @ I Talk You Talk Press
Get the…..
Can you complete this English expression? It means “to understand something clearly”.
Get the …….
a) painting
b) understanding
c) picture
d) comprehension
The answer is below!↓
Answer: c) picture
Get the picture
[Short Story with Audio] A Bad Mistake
This is a short story for learners of English from I Talk You Talk Press. You can read and listen at the same time, or you can try shadowing. We hope you enjoy the story!
A BAD MISTAKE
Lonnie steals bags. It is very easy.
He travels on trains when people are going to work, or going home. The trains are very crowded. He always wears a big coat so he can hide the bags inside his coat. He always wears a hat and sunglasses.
He looks for someone who has put their bag on the floor, or on a seat. He waits until the train stops at a station and many people are trying to get on the train or off the train. He quickly takes a bag and disappears in the crowds of people.
One Friday evening, Lonnie is on the train. He sees a woman in a red coat. She has many shopping bags. She doesn’t have a seat and it is hard for her to hold her shopping bags and her handbag. She is standing near the door of the train.
She looks rich, thinks Lonnie. He looks at the shopping bags. She went to some very expensive stores. I will take her handbag and maybe I can get some shopping bags as well.
He stands next to the woman. The train stops. There are many people trying to get off the train. Everyone is pushing. Lonnie pushes the woman in the red coat very hard. She almost falls over. Lonnie quickly pulls her handbag and two shopping bags from the woman’s hand.
He hurries off the train and puts the handbag and shopping bags under his coat.
He hears the woman shouting. “Stop! Stop! Stop that man! He has taken my bag and my shopping!”
Lonnie laughs. They won’t catch me!
Outside the railway station Lonnie hides behind a tall building. He looks in the handbag. He takes a mobile phone and a wallet from the bag – the wallet has a little money. Lonnie counts it. $90. He puts the money in his pocket and puts the handbag and wallet in a garbage can.
He looks in the shopping bags. One bag has some towels. He puts it in the garbage can. But in the other bag he finds a beautiful necklace. It is pink and green and gold. Wow, thinks Lonnie. My girlfriend’s birthday is tomorrow. I will give her this necklace. She will like it very much.
On Saturday night, Lonnie takes his girlfriend to a pub. She is wearing the necklace. She is very happy. She likes her birthday present very much.
Lonnie and his girlfriend are sitting at a table in the bar. They are drinking beer. A woman comes to their table. She is wearing a red coat. She says, “Where did you get that necklace?”
“My boyfriend bought it for me,” says Lonnie’s girlfriend. “It is a birthday present.”
“Oh no!” says the woman. “He didn’t buy that necklace for you! It is unique. My husband ordered it for me. Your boyfriend took my bags on the train last night!”
Oh no! thinks Lonnie. I must run away.
He tries to run out of the bar. A very big man runs after him. He throws Lonnie on the ground. “I am a policeman,” says the man. “You took my wife’s necklace and now I am taking you to the police station.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.