Mayflower

College

FACTS OF THE WEEK

Green eyes are extremely rare: only 2 percent of the population has them, and they’re more common in females than males. At the Wife Carrying World Championships in Finland, first prize is the wife's weight in beer. Geckos can turn the stickiness of their feet on and off at will. The Museum of Bad Art in Somerville, Massachusetts, is pretty much exactly what it sounds like - a collection of really bad art.

GOOD WEEK FOR:

Standing on one leg, as new studies show that the ability to stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds is strongly linked to a lower risk of death. Scientists say the simple and safe balance test should become part of a routine health check for older adults.

1 July 2022 This week was the start of our summer school for juniors, with young people from Hungary, Libya, Poland, Spain and Yemen coming to Plymouth for the first time in 2 years! The students have been learning English in the mornings and following activities every afternoon with visits to a Rap workshop, Saltram House and tomorrow they are visiting Padstow & Port Isaac in Cornwall. As usual, we have been looking through the British media this week and here are some of the stranger stories we found:

News and homework:

1 July 2022

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

The Bangladeshi photojournalist G.M.B. Akash

has photographed “nobodies” - here.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

“A wise man always has something to say, whereas a

fool always needs to say something” ~ Hazrat Ali Ibn

Abi-Talib

This week's homework is called "Communicating": PART A: Fill in the following words in the definitions below. BRICKS, BEAT, HIND, GAB, BUSH, GRAPEVINE, WAVELENGTH, DOZEN. 1. The back legs of an animal are called their ????? legs. 2. If you want to listen to a particular radio station you need to know its ??????. 3. A ???? is smaller than a tree but larger than a plant. 4. When hunting some birds, people (known as "beaters") ???? the ground and bushes to force the birds to fly up so that they can be shot. 5. ????? have been used to build houses for centuries. 6. Another word for 12 is a ?????. 7. Grapes grow on a ?????. 8. An informal or slang word for "mouth" or "talk" is ?????. PART B: Use the following expressions in the sentences below. a. TALKING TO A BRICK WALL b. GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST c. CAN'T GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS d. TALKING NINETEEN TO THE DOZEN e. BREATHE A WORD OF THIS f. BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH g. PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR YOU h. JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME i. THE GIFT OF THE GAB j. HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE k. TALK THE HIND LEGS OFF A DONKEY l. ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH 1. This is ????? but I think James has got a drink problem! 2. I wish you would get to the point, James and say what you think. Stop ?????. 3. Honestly, James, I don't know how many times I've told you not to forget your keys. It's like ?????. 4. Paul: How do you know that the head of the London office is leaving the company. James: Oh, I ?????. 5. If you've got a problem, James, then it's always best to talk to someone about it. ?????? as soon as possible. 6. If Frank disagrees with you about something, he just doesn't stop. Once he starts you ?????. 7. If you decide to apply for the job in Sydney, James, let me know. I know one of the directors there so I can ?????. 8. You know when Amanda is excited about something because she starts ?????. 9. Whatever you do, don't get into a conversation with old Mrs Chapman. She can ?????. 10. James, please don't ????? but I'm thinking of selling the Mayflower College! 11. Paul: You and Sharon seem to get on very well. James: Yes, we seem to be ?????. 12. Tom is easily the best salesman in the company. He could sell ice to Eskimos! He's got ?????. And this week, TWO riddles for you to solve! Riddle 1: Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones? Riddle 2. What are the next two letters in the following series and why? W A T N T L I T F S Wishing you a good week ahead.

Hong Kong’s giant floating restaurant, which capsized. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant was one of the world's most iconic eateries - a giant ship converted into a restaurant which many famous people dined on, including the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth.

BAD WEEK FOR:

Frogs who are being driven to extinction by French diners. Up to 200 million frogs are imported into France to be eaten each year and wildlife campaigners are suggesting that frogs could be extinct in the next decade if the practice continues.

David Flucke, a dedicated volunteer, who works in a charity shop despite a 4-hour commute and ... David is 100 years old. The widower started working in the charity shop after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and spent two weeks being cared for by the Hospice.

MEANING: In the UK, people say this on the first day of the month. USE: This phrase goes back to when people believed in witches. The 'pinch' part refers to throwing salt The 'punch' was to banish the witch once and for all.

PINCH, PUNCH, FIRST OF THE MONTH

Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego, USA) Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in Plymouth, UK)

1. The back legs of an animal are called their HIND legs. 2. If you want to listen to a particular radio station you need to know its WAVELENGTH. 3. A BUSH is smaller than a tree but larger than a plant. 4. When hunting some birds, people (known as "beaters") BEAT the ground and bushes to force the birds to fly up so that they can be shot. 5. BRICKS have been used to build houses for centuries. 6. Another word for 12 is a DOZEN. 7. Grapes grow on a GRAPEVINE. 8. An informal or slang word for "mouth" or "talk" is GAB.

A and W. The pattern is the first letter of every word in the sentence..

A square manhole cover can be turned and dropped down the diagonal of the manhole. A round manhole cannot be dropped down the manhole. So for safety and practicality, all manhole covers should be round.

1. This is JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME but I think James has got a drink problem! 2. I wish you would get to the point, James and say what you think. Stop BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH. 3. Honestly, James, I don't know how many times I've told you not to forget your keys. It's like TALKING TO A BRICK WALL. 4. Paul: How do you know that the head of the London office is leaving the company. James: Oh, I HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE. 5. If you've got a problem, James, then it's always best to talk to someone about it. GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST as soon as possible. 6. If Frank disagrees with you about something, he just doesn't stop. Once he starts you CAN'T GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS. 7. If you decide to apply for the job in Sydney, James, let me know. I know one of the directors there so I can PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR YOU. 8. You know when Amanda is excited about something because she starts TALKING NINETEEN TO THE DOZEN. 9. Whatever you do, don't get into a conversation with old Mrs Chapman. She can TALK THE HIND LEGS OFF A DONKEY. 10. James, please don't BREATHE A WORD OF THIS but I'm thinking of selling the Mayflower College! 11. Paul: You and Sharon seem to get on very well. James: Yes, we seem to be ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH. 12. Tom is easily the best salesman in the company. He could sell ice to Eskimos! He's got THE GIFT OF THE GAB.