FACTS OF THE WEEK
An octopus has 3 hearts.
All of an adult human’s blood vessels, if laid out
end to end, would be about 100,000 miles, so
they could encircle the earth four times.
Buckingham Palace in London, England, has
775 rooms, including 78 bathrooms.
Tomato Ketchup was once sold as a medicine,
being prescribed and sold to people suffering
with indigestion back in 1834.
GOOD WEEK FOR:
A Japanese restaurant in Osaka which was saved
during the pandemic by stray cats! The miniature-
railway-themed restaurant was hit so badly the owner
was thinking of closing its doors. But now the
restaurant has reinvented itself as a place where
patrons can interact with stray cats while they dine.
18 February 2022
Storm Eunice is currently sweeping across Plymouth and the rest of the UK,
bringing with it winds of up to 100mph in coastal areas.
As usual, here are some of the more interesting stories we have found for you
in the British media this week.
News and homework:
18 Feb. 2022
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Cute photos capture hearts spotted in nature,
from a puppy's nose to kissing swans - here.
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“ When everything seems to be going against you,
remember that the airplane takes off against the
wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford
This week's homework is called "Breaking Idioms":
PART A:
Place the following words in the definitions below:
FRAGILE, CRACK, CHIP, HANDLE, SHATTERED, CRUSHED, SMASHED,
SNAPPED, MEND
1. My car windscreen just ????? when the stone hit it.
2. I am so disappointed. I posted some crystal glasses to Jane but they arrived in pieces even though I
marked the parcel "??????".
3. I didn't see the traffic lights change and just ?????? straight into the back of a brand new Mercedes.
4. A ?????? is a small piece broken off a cup or a piece of china.
5. My key ?????? in two when I tried to open the door.
6. When I opened the box, there was a ?????? in one of the cups.
7. "Please don't ????? the goods. All breakages must be paid for".
8. The driver of the Toyota had no hope. His car was ????? between two huge lorries.
9. I tried to ?????? the plug in the kitchen and almost got electrocuted.
PART B
Match the following idioms with the meanings below:
1. He's FEELING FRAGILE this morning. He had a late night.
2. He WENT TO PIECES after his mother's death.
3. George is A SMASHING PERSON and a great friend
4. Paul's AT BREAKING POINT. You should see how much work he has.
5. He NEEDS CAREFUL HANDLING. He's brilliant but he's very sensitive to criticism.
6. "Do it yourself if you think you can do better!", Alex SNAPPED back.
7. After two days of interrogation, John CRACKED and confessed to the murder.
8. He COMES FROM A BROKEN HOME.
a. He's under too much pressure.
b. You've got to be careful how you treat him.
c. He started to cry / had a nervous breakdown.
d. His parents were divorced.
e. He's not very well.
f. He is very nice.
g. He started to tell the truth.
h. He replied angrily.
And the riddle for this week:
It's in between the things that be,
From atoms up to galaxies.
Rockets help you get around,
Very far above the ground.
We hope you have a lovely weekend and week and we will write to you again next Friday.
Best wishes
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego, USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in Plymouth, UK)
Gun lovers in Afghanistan, with the news that
the Taliban has announced that its fighters can
no longer carry machine guns when they visit
amusement parks.
BAD WEEK FOR:
Bristol Zoo Gardens, one of the UK’s oldest
Zoos, as it is set to close its doors after 186 years
and its animals moved to a new location. The
Zoo’s revenues have declined critically because
of Covid-19 lockdowns.
A Florida basketball star, who has just entered the
book of Guinness World Records! At just 15 years
old, he is the tallest teenager in the world, at a
staggering 7 feet 5 inches (228 centimetres).
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
MEANING: If you’re feeling “under the weather,” it means that you
don’t feel well.
origin: The “weather bow” was the part of a ship that was hit with
bad weather. Sailors would go below deck so they wouldn’t get seasick.
In other words, they would be “under the weather bow.” Eventually
‘bow was lost and the expression became ‘under the weather’.
TO BE UNDER THE WEATHER
1. My car windscreen just SHATTERED when the stone hit it.
2. I am so disappointed. I posted some crystal glasses to Jane but they arrived in pieces even though
I marked the parcel "FRAGILE".
3. I didn't see the traffic lights change and just SMASHED straight into the back of a brand new
Mercedes.
4. A CHIP is a small piece broken off a cup or a piece of china.
5. My key SNAPPED in two when I tried to open the door.
6. When I opened the box, there was a CRACK in one of the cups.
7. "Please don't HANDLE the goods. All breakages must be paid for".
8. The driver of the Toyota had no hope. His car was CRUSHED between two huge lorries.
9. I tried to MEND the plug in the kitchen and almost got electrocuted.
1. He's FEELING FRAGILE this morning. He had a late night. (e. He's
not very well.)
2. He WENT TO PIECES after his mother's death. (c. He started to cry
/ had a nervous breakdown.)
3. George is A SMASHING PERSON and a great friend (f. He is very
nice.)
4. Paul's AT BREAKING POINT. You should see how much work he
has. (a. He's under too much pressure.)
5. He NEEDS CAREFUL HANDLING. He's brilliant but he's very
sensitive to criticism. (b. You've got to be careful how you treat him.)
6. "Do it yourself if you think you can do better!", Alex SNAPPED back.
(h. He replied angrily.)
7. After two days of interrogation, John CRACKED and confessed to
the murder. (g. He started to tell the truth.)
8. He COMES FROM A BROKEN HOME. (d. His parents were
divorced.)
