FACTS OF THE WEEK
Wisdom teeth serve no purpose. They’re left over from hundreds of thousands of years ago. To ensure the Queen receives her food on time, the clocks in the royal kitchen at Windsor Castle are set five minutes ahead. In Queensland, Australia, it's illegal to own a pet rabbit unless you're a magician. A butt is a real unit of measurement for a cask of wine. A buttload is about 108 Imperial gallons.
GOOD WEEK FOR:
Snacking on grapes, as new research shows eating grapes can add to the lifespan of those who regularly eat fast food. Mice consumed a high fat diet (similar to those consumed in western countries) but they also received a cup of daily powdered grape supplement. The rodents who consumed the grapes had less fatty liver and lived longer than those who didn’t.
19 August 2022
This week Plymouth hosted the British Firework Championships. This the 25th year running that the
firework competition has been held in Plymouth. It’s always a fantastic event.
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:
19 August 2022
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
People around the world have been enjoying the fourth and final supermoon of 2022. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, it was at its closest point to Earth last week - here.QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“That people do not learn much from the lessons of history is the most important less that history has to teach.” ~ Aldous Huxley
This week's homework is called "Sports Idioms":
Part A: Boxing Idioms
Complete the following expressions using:
TOWEL, BELL, BELT, ROPES, PUNCHES
1) If I take an unfair advantage of you, you could say: That was below the ?????.
2) If I tell you what I think very directly, I won't pull my ?????.
3) If you are in a difficult situation, you can say you are on the ????.
4) If you are in a difficult situation but you get out of it at the last moment, you can say: Saved by the ????
!
5) If you keep trying to do something but don't succeed and decide it's not worth continuing, you can
throw in the ?????.
PART B: Balls
Use these expressions in the situations below:
DROP THE BALL
ON THE BALL
PLAY BALL
WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT
RUN WITH THE BALL
1) I think we should go ahead; I've done everything I promised I would, so now ?????.
2) Paul seems to know everything that's going on around here. He's ????, isn't he?
3) This is a fantastic opportunity, Jill. If the sales team ???? we'll make a lot of money.
4) If the Director had dealt with the problem himself everything would have been all right but he sent his
assistant instead and he ????.
5) We want to expand the business and employ more staff but we need the help of the bank and they
are refusing to ?????.
6) Since the collapse of communism, there have been major changes in the political situation. In fact,
?????.
And finally the riddle!
I have a mouth, but never eat,
I have a bed, but never sleep.
I always run, but never walk,
I have a mouth, but never talk.
What am I?
Best wishes
A couple whose dogs decided to eat and shred
their winning lottery ticket. American Lottery
officials received a letter from the couple,
explaining their $3 ticket had been ripped to
bits by Apple and Jack.
BAD WEEK FOR:
A young brown bear, who was rescued after being found ‘drunk’ after consuming a large amount of hallucinogenic honey.
The healing effect of books, as a Syrian man
dedicates himself to “Wisdom Seller”, a social
project that aims to reconnect Syrians with the
dying practice of reading. Mohammed Zaher has
started a kiosk with books and people are invited to
read 15 pages or more for a free coffee.
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
MEANING:
To be very drunk.
USE:
‘Paul was as drunk as a skunk at his birthday party’.
AS DRUNK AS A SKUNK
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego, USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in Plymouth, UK)
1) If I take an unfair advantage of you, you could say: That was below the BELT.
2) If I tell you what I think very directly, I won't pull my PUNCHES.
3) If you are in a difficult situation, you can say you are on the ROPES.
4) If you are in a difficult situation but you get out of it at the last moment, you
can say: Saved by the BELL !
5) If you keep trying to do something but don't succeed and decide it's not
worth continuing, you can throw in the TOWEL.
The answer is a RIVER
1) I think we should go ahead; I've done everything I promised I would, so now THE BALL'S IN
YOUR COURT.
2) Paul seems to know everything that's going on around here. He's ON THE BALL, isn't he?
3) This is a fantastic opportunity, Jill. If the sales team RUN WITH THE BALL we'll make a lot of
money.
4) If the Director had dealt with the problem himself everything would have been all right but he
sent his assistant instead and he DROPPED THE BALL
5) We want to expand the business and employ more staff but we need the help of the bank and
they are refusing to PLAY BALL.
6) Since the collapse of communism, there have been major changes in the political situation. In
fact, WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.
FACTS OF THE WEEK
Wisdom teeth serve no purpose. They’re left over from hundreds of thousands of years ago. To ensure the Queen receives her food on time, the clocks in the royal kitchen at Windsor Castle are set five minutes ahead. In Queensland, Australia, it's illegal to own a pet rabbit unless you're a magician. A butt is a real unit of measurement for a cask of wine. A buttload is about 108 Imperial gallons.
GOOD WEEK FOR:
Snacking on grapes, as new research shows eating grapes can add to the lifespan of those who regularly eat fast food. Mice consumed a high fat diet (similar to those consumed in western countries) but they also received a cup of daily powdered grape supplement. The rodents who consumed the grapes had less fatty liver and lived longer than those who didn’t.
19 August 2022
This week Plymouth hosted the British
Firework Championships. This the 25th year
running that the firework competition has
been held in Plymouth. It’s always a fantastic
event.
As usual, we have been looking through the
British media this week and here are some of
the stranger stories we found:
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
People around the world have been enjoying the fourth and final supermoon of 2022. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, it was at its closest point to Earth last week - here.QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“That people do not learn much from the lessons of history is the most important less that history has to teach.” ~ Aldous HuxleyNews and homework
19 August 2022
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
The healing effect of books, as a Syrian
man dedicates himself to “Wisdom
Seller”, a social project that aims to
reconnect Syrians with the dying practice
of reading. Mohammed Zaher has started
a kiosk with books and people are invited
to read 15 pages or more for a free coffee.
BAD WEEK FOR:
A young brown bear, who was rescued after being found ‘drunk’ after consuming a large amount of hallucinogenic honey.
A couple whose dogs decided to eat and
shred their winning lottery ticket.
American Lottery officials received a letter
from the couple, explaining their $3 ticket
had been ripped to bits by Apple and Jack.
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego,
USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in
Plymouth, UK)
This week's homework is called "Sports Idioms":
Part A: Boxing Idioms
Complete the following expressions using:
TOWEL, BELL, BELT, ROPES, PUNCHES
1) If I take an unfair advantage of you, you could
say: That was below the ?????.
2) If I tell you what I think very directly, I won't
pull my ?????.
3) If you are in a difficult situation, you can say
you are on the ????.
4) If you are in a difficult situation but you get
out of it at the last moment, you can say: Saved
by the ???? !
5) If you keep trying to do something but don't
succeed and decide it's not worth continuing,
you can throw in the ?????.
PART B: Balls
Use these expressions in the situations below:
DROP THE BALL
ON THE BALL
PLAY BALL
WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT
RUN WITH THE BALL
1) I think we should go ahead; I've done
everything I promised I would, so now ?????.
2) Paul seems to know everything that's going
on around here. He's ????, isn't he?
3) This is a fantastic opportunity, Jill. If the sales
team ???? we'll make a lot of money.
4) If the Director had dealt with the problem
himself everything would have been all right
but he sent his assistant instead and he ????.
5) We want to expand the business and employ
more staff but we need the help of the bank
and they are refusing to ?????.
6) Since the collapse of communism, there
have been major changes in the political
situation. In fact, ?????.
And finally the riddle!
I have a mouth, but never eat,
I have a bed, but never sleep.
I always run, but never walk,
I have a mouth, but never talk.
What am I?
Best wishes
AS DRUNK AS A SKUNK
MEANING:
Very drunk
USE:
“Paul was as
drunk as a skunk at his
birthday party”.
1) If I take an unfair advantage of you, you
could say: That was below the BELT.
2) If I tell you what I think very directly, I won't
pull my PUNCHES.
3) If you are in a difficult situation, you can say
you are on the ROPES.
4) If you are in a difficult situation but you get
out of it at the last moment, you can say:
Saved by the BELL !
5) If you keep trying to do something but
don't succeed and decide it's not worth
continuing, you can throw in the TOWEL.
The answer is a RIVER
1) I think we should go ahead; I've done
everything I promised I would, so now THE
BALL'S IN YOUR COURT.
2) Paul seems to know everything that's
going on around here. He's ON THE BALL,
isn't he?
3) This is a fantastic opportunity, Jill. If the
sales team RUN WITH THE BALL we'll make a
lot of money.
4) If the Director had dealt with the problem
himself everything would have been all right
but he sent his assistant instead and he
DROPPED THE BALL
5) We want to expand the business and
employ more staff but we need the help of
the bank and they are refusing to PLAY BALL.
6) Since the collapse of communism, there
have been major changes in the political
situation. In fact, WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW
BALL GAME.
