FACTS OF THE WEEK
Ants take rest for around 8 Minutes in a 12 hour period. Hot water will turn into ice faster than cold water. “I am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
GOOD WEEK FOR:
Dinosaur researchers in Scotland, as the unique specimen of a flying, Jurassic-era dinosaur fossil was found on the Isle of Skye. It dates back 170 million years.
25 February 2022
This week in Plymouth, we have endured even more stormy weather, as the third storm in a week - Storm
Franklin - hit the UK. It has also been half term this week for schools so children have been enjoying the week
off!
As usual, here are some of the more interesting stories we have found for you in the British media this week.
News and homework:
25 Feb. 2022
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their
echoes are truly endless.” — Mother Teresa
This week's homework is called "Black and White":
PART A
Complete the following sentences (1-8) with the answers below (a-h):
1. A black look is
2. A white elephant is
3. A black sheep is
4. The black economy is
5. The black picture is
6. A black spot is
7. A white lie is
8. In black and white means
a) not serious and sometimes saves embarrassment
b) a dangerous road or corner
c) different from the rest of the family
d) an angry one
e) in writing
f) something useless
g) a depressing one
h) unofficial and illegal
PART B - Idioms with WHITE
Put the following phrases into the dialogues below:
a) black or white
b) white lie
c) black and white
d) white elephant
e) white collar
f) as white as a sheet
1)
Paul: I thought you didn't like Rachel's new flat.
Jill: I don't, but I didn't want to upset her so I told her a little ???????
2)
Paul: I'd love a coffee if it's possible.
Jill: Certainly - ??????? ?
3)
Paul: I don't feel very well. Have you got an aspirin Jill ?
Jill: Yes, sit down. You look ??????.
4)
Paul: Good news, Jill. I've just heard we're going to get a pay rise!
Jill: I'll believe it when I see it in ????????.
5)
Paul: We should never have bought that table. We never use it. It takes up too much space.
Jill: I know. It's a bit of a ??????. Let's sell it.
6)
Paul: What exactly are ????? workers ?
Jill: They are people who work in offices and in administration as opposed to manual workers.
PART C - Idioms with BLACK
Put the following phrases into the sentences below:
a) in the black
b) the black market
c) a black picture
d) black eye
e) the black sheep of the family
f) a black look
g) black spot
h) the blackest day of my life
i) black economy
j) black and white
1. I said sorry, but he didn't say a word. He just gave me ??????
2. The official exchange rate is terrible but if you know the right people you can get a better rate on
???????.
3. Be careful driving along here. It's a real ??????. Three people were killed there only last week.
4. My brother and sister were always much better than me at school. I preferred to have fun. I suppose I
was ??????.
5. Things are bad, I'm afraid. We may have to cut 50 jobs this year and another 25 next year. I am sorry
to paint such ??????? but that's the reality.
6. Have you been in a fight, Jill? How did you get that ?????? ?.
7. I'm finally in control of my financial situation. For the first time this year my account is ???????.
8. Every country has a ??????. Some are bigger than others.
9. The day I heard of that plane crash was ???????.
10. The issue isn't as ????? as the government pretends.
And finally your riddle for this week:
If you're feeling good, you are,
You aren't sick, but up to par.
When your water starts to fail,
Use it with a rope and pail.
We look forward to writing to you again next Friday.
Best wishes
A child stuck in a bin – picked up by a Google
Maps user in Switzerland who happened to
zoom in on a park and spotted the boy’s head
poking out, although no one knows why he
was in there or for how long!
BAD WEEK FOR:
A British dad and his family who were left 'disgusted' when they realised that the pizza delivery driver had eaten half their food!
A New Zealander who saved a stranger's life with
her homemade bumper sticker! The bumper
sticker reads: “Please don’t take your life today. The
world is so much better with you in it. More than
you realize, stay.”
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
MEANING: A situation in which people are very angry or upset about
something that is not important
example The whole controversy turned out to be a storm in a teacup.
A STORM IN A TEACUP
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego, USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in Plymouth, UK)
1. A black look is d) an angry one
2. A white elephant is f) something useless
3. A black sheep is c) different from the rest of the family
4. The black economy is h) unofficial and illegal
5. The black picture is g) a depressing one
6. A black spot is b) a dangerous road or corner
7. A white lie is a) not serious and sometimes saves embarrassment
8. In black and white means e) in writing
The answer is WELL
1. I said sorry, but he didn't say a word. He just gave me a black look.
2. The official exchange rate is terrible but if you know the right people you can get a better rate on the
black market.
3. Be careful driving along here. It's a real black spot. Three people were killed there only last week.
4. My brother and sister were always much better than me at school. I preferred to have fun. I suppose
I was the black sheep of the family.
5. Things are bad, I'm afraid. We may have to cut 50 jobs this year and another 25 next year. I am sorry
to paint such a black picture but that's the reality.
6. Have you been in a fight, Jill? How did you get that black eye?
7. I'm finally in control of my financial situation. For the first time this year my account is in the black.
8. Every country has a black economy. Some are bigger than others.
9. The day I heard of that plane crash was the blackest day of my life.
10. The issue isn't as black and white as the government pretends.
1)
Paul: I thought you didn't like Rachel's new flat.
Jill: I don't, but I didn't want to upset her so I told her a little white lie.
2)
Paul: I'd love a coffee if it's possible.
Jill: Certainly - black or white?
3)
Paul: I don't feel very well. Have you got an aspirin Jill ?
Jill: Yes, sit down. You look as white as a sheet.
4)
Paul: Good news, Jill. I've just heard we're going to get a pay rise!
Jill: I'll believe it when I see it in black and white.
5)
Paul: We should never have bought that table. We never use it. It
takes up too much space.
Jill: I know. It's a bit of a white elephant. Let's sell it.
6)
Paul: What exactly are white collar workers?
Jill: They are people who work in offices and in administration as
opposed to manual workers.
FACTS OF THE WEEK
Ants take rest for around 8 Minutes in a 12 hour period. Hot water will turn into ice faster than cold water. “I am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
GOOD WEEK FOR:
Dinosaur researchers in Scotland, as the unique specimen of a flying, Jurassic-era dinosaur fossil was found on the Isle of Skye. It dates back 170 million years.
25 February 2022
This week in Plymouth,
we have endured even
more stormy weather, as
the third storm in a week
- Storm Franklin - hit the
UK. It has also been half
term this week for
schools so children have been enjoying the
week off!
As usual, here are some of the more interesting
stories we have found for you in the British
media this week.
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“Kind words are short and easy to speak,
but their echoes are truly endless.” —
Mother Teresa
News and homework
25Feb. 2022
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
A New Zealander who saved a stranger's
life with her homemade bumper sticker!
The bumper sticker reads: “Please don’t
take your life today. The world is so much
better with you in it. More than you
realize, stay.”
BAD WEEK FOR:
A British dad and his family who were left 'disgusted' when they realised that the pizza delivery driver had eaten half their food!
A child stuck in a bin – picked up by a
Google Maps user in Switzerland who
happened to zoom in on a park and spotted
the boy’s head poking out, although no one
knows why he was in there or for how long!
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego,
USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in
Plymouth, UK)
This week's homework is called "Black and
White":
PART A
Complete the following sentences (1-8) with the
answers below (a-h):
1. A black look is
2. A white elephant is
3. A black sheep is
4. The black economy is
5. The black picture is
6. A black spot is
7. A white lie is
8. In black and white means
a) not serious and sometimes saves
embarrassment
b) a dangerous road or corner
c) different from the rest of the family
d) an angry one
e) in writing
f) something useless
g) a depressing one
h) unofficial and illegal
PART B - Idioms with WHITE
Put the following phrases into the dialogues
below:
a) black or white
b) white lie
c) black and white
d) white elephant
e) white collar
f) as white as a sheet
1)
Paul: I thought you didn't like Rachel's new flat.
Jill: I don't, but I didn't want to upset her so I
told her a little ???????
2)
Paul: I'd love a coffee if it's possible.
Jill: Certainly - ??????? ?
3)
Paul: I don't feel very well. Have you got an
aspirin Jill ?
Jill: Yes, sit down. You look ??????.
4)
Paul: Good news, Jill. I've just heard we're going
to get a pay rise!
Jill: I'll believe it when I see it in ????????.
5)
Paul: We should never have bought that table.
We never use it. It takes up too much space.
Jill: I know. It's a bit of a ??????. Let's sell it.
6)
Paul: What exactly are ????? workers ?
Jill: They are people who work in offices and in
administration as opposed to manual workers.
PART C - Idioms with BLACK
Put the following phrases into the sentences
below:
a) in the black
b) the black market
c) a black picture
d) black eye
e) the black sheep of the family
f) a black look
g) black spot
h) the blackest day of my life
i) black economy
j) black and white
1. I said sorry, but he didn't say a word. He just
gave me ??????
2. The official exchange rate is terrible but if you
know the right people you can get a better rate
on ???????.
3. Be careful driving along here. It's a real
??????. Three people were killed there only last
week.
4. My brother and sister were always much
better than me at school. I preferred to have
fun. I suppose I was ??????.
5. Things are bad, I'm afraid. We may have to
cut 50 jobs this year and another 25 next year. I
am sorry to paint such ??????? but that's the
reality.
6. Have you been in a fight, Jill? How did you
get that ?????? ?.
7. I'm finally in control of my financial situation.
For the first time this year my account is
???????.
8. Every country has a ??????. Some are bigger
than others.
A STORM IN A TEACUP
MEANING: A situation in which people are
very angry or upset about something that is
not important
example The whole
controversy turned out
to be a storm in a
teacup.
1. A black look is d) an angry one
2. A white elephant is f) something useless
3. A black sheep is c) different from the rest of
the family
4. The black economy is h) unofficial and
illegal
5. The black picture is g) a depressing one
6. A black spot is b) a dangerous road or
corner
7. A white lie is a) not serious and sometimes
saves embarrassment
8. In black and white means e) in writing
1. I said sorry, but he didn't say a word. He just
gave me a black look.
2. The official exchange rate is terrible but if
you know the right people you can get a
better rate on the black market.
3. Be careful driving along here. It's a real
black spot. Three people were killed there
only last week.
4. My brother and sister were always much
better than me at school. I preferred to have
fun. I suppose I was the black sheep of the
family.
5. Things are bad, I'm afraid. We may have to
cut 50 jobs this year and another 25 next year.
I am sorry to paint such a black picture but
that's the reality.
6. Have you been in a fight, Jill? How did you
get that black eye?
7. I'm finally in control of my financial
situation. For the first time this year my
account is in the black.
8. Every country has a black economy. Some
are bigger than others.
9. The day I heard of that plane crash was the
blackest day of my life.
10. The issue isn't as black and white as the
government pretends.
1)
Paul: I thought you didn't like Rachel's new
flat.
Jill: I don't, but I didn't want to upset her so I
told her a little white lie.
2)
Paul: I'd love a coffee if it's possible.
Jill: Certainly - black or white?
3)
Paul: I don't feel very well. Have you got an
aspirin Jill ?
Jill: Yes, sit down. You look as white as a sheet.
4)
Paul: Good news, Jill. I've just heard we're
going to get a pay rise!
Jill: I'll believe it when I see it in black and
white.
5)
Paul: We should never have bought that
table. We never use it. It takes up too much
space.
Jill: I know. It's a bit of a white elephant. Let's
sell it.
6)
Paul: What exactly are white collar workers?
Jill: They are people who work in offices and
in administration as opposed to manual
workers.