Mayflower

College

FACTS OF THE WEEK

Queen Elizabeth II has had over 30 corgis in her lifetime. All newspapers in the British Library were ironed by hand to ensure a clear image before they were microfilmed. Humans are the only animals that blush. High schools and universities in New Zealand are allowed to keep up to a pound of uranium on the premises for educational purposes.

GOOD WEEK FOR:

A 40 year-old mother, who has entered the history books by becoming the first female Olympian ever to complete a full triathlon in under 8 hours, smashing the world record by over 40 minutes.

24 June 2022 This weekend is Plymouth Armed Forces Day on the Hoe. It’s a fun day when the public can meet with those serving in the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines and emergency services. 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:

24 June 2022

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

England v New Zealand: a cricket ball lands in a

spectator’s drink - here.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

“In the midst of difficulty lies an opportunity” ~ Oprah

Winfrey

This week's homework is called "Certainty and Doubt": PART A: Use the following expressions in the dialogues below: It's in the bag. It's on the cards. It's touch and go. It's anyone's guess It's all up in the air. It's a forgone conclusion 1. Paul: How is your grandfather? Is he still in hospital? Tony: Yes, I'm afraid ????? at the moment. We'll know within 24 hours whether he's going to pull through or not. 2. Paul: What's the news about the Australian contract? Have we won it? Tony: Well, it hasn't been signed yet but I think we can safely say ?????. 3. Paul: Are Jim and Anna getting married or not? I hear they are having second thoughts. Tony: That's right. They had a big argument so ????? at the moment. 4. Paul: England is the best football team in the world. They are going to win the World Cup. ????? 5. Paul: I wouldn't be surprised if Jack and Jill decide to get married, would you? Tony: You're right. A wedding is definitely ??????. 6. Paul: We've been waiting 5 hours and we still don't know when the plane is going to leave. What's happening? Tony: I'm sorry, sir. ?????? We're as much in the dark as you. PART B: Use the following expressions in the situations below. The writing's on the wall. I can feel it in my bones. Your guess is as good as mine. Without a shadow of a doubt. 1. 20 red roses! I have no idea who sent them. ????? 2. It was John. I'm telling you I saw him. It WAS him - ?????. 3. ????? for Paul. He'll be looking for a new job soon. He's never in the office and people are starting to complain. 4. There's going to be trouble at the match tonight. ????? And finally a riddle for you to solve, Tony: A man and his son are in a car accident. The father dies on the scene, but the child is rushed to the hospital. When he arrives the surgeon says, "I can't operate on this boy, he is my son!" How can this be? Have a great week

A yoga teacher, who held an incredibly difficult scorpion pose for a world record. Moradiya, an Indian yogi living in Dubai, held the pose for 29 minutes and 4 seconds, demolishing the previous record of 4 minutes and 47 seconds.

BAD WEEK FOR:

A UK wheelie bin, which was discovered 1,200 miles away in Ukraine. The bin was spotted by a journalist close to the Polish border. He reported on the mystery of how such a large wheelie bin ended up so far from home!

Drinking a beer a day, which keeps the doctor away. Researchers report that compared to their pre-trial microbiome, men who drank either one alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer daily had a more diverse set of gut microbes, which can reduce the risk for some diseases.

MEANING: To go missing USE: Anyone know where Paul is? He seems to have gone A.W.O.L. (literally Absent WithOut Leave)

to go a.w.o.l.

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

1. Paul: How is your grandfather? Is he still in hospital? Tony: Yes, I'm afraid it's touch and go at the moment. We'll know within 24 hours whether he's going to pull through or not. 2. Paul: What's the news about the Australian contract? Have we won it? Tony: Well, it hasn't been signed yet but I think we can safely say it's in the bag. 3. Paul: Are Jim and Anna getting married or not? I hear they are having second thoughts. Tony: That's right. They had a big argument so it's all up in the air at the moment. 4. Paul: England is the best football team in the world. They are going to win the World Cup. It's a forgone conclusion. 5. Paul: I wouldn't be surprised if Jack and Jill decide to get married, would you? Tony: You're right. A wedding is definitely on the cards. 6. Paul: We've been waiting 5 hours and we still don't know when the plane is going to leave. What's happening? Tony: I'm sorry, sir. It's anyone's guess. We're as much in the dark as you.

The answer is very simple; the surgeon is the boy's mother!

1. 20 red roses! I have no idea who sent them. Your guess is as good as mine. 2. It was John. I'm telling you I saw him. It WAS him - without a shadow of a doubt. 3. The writing's on the wall for Paul. He'll be looking for a new job soon. He's never in the office and people are starting to complain. 4.There's going to be trouble at the match tonight. I can feel it in my bones.

Mayflower College

FACTS OF THE WEEK

GOOD WEEK FOR:

A 40 year-old mother, who has entered the history books by becoming the first female Olympian ever to complete a full triathlon in under 8 hours, smashing the world record by over 40 minutes.