FACTS OF THE WEEK
The 10,000 trillion ants in the world weigh
about the same as all the human beings
Biologists cannot agree on definitions for the
words ‘species’, ‘organism’, or ‘life’
Psychologists cannot agree on what
‘personality’ means
Lichtenstein, the world’s 6th-smallest country,
is the world’s largest exporter of false teeth
GOOD WEEK FOR:
Migrating toads, as a street in London closed off traffic
for a month to allow them to pass safely to the ponds
where they breed. The charity “Froglife” is responsible
for encouraging councils across the UK to take part in
eco-conscious projects to allow wildlife to thrive.
25 March 2022
This week, we have been enjoying Plymouth in the sunshine! We also celebrate “Mother’s Day” in the
UK this Sunday and the clocks go forward 1 hour to mark the start of British summertime.
And now, some light-hearted stories we have found for you in the British media this week.
News and homework:
25 March 2022
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watch a swarm of bugs crawling across the
Australian outback - here.
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“An optimist is the human personification of Spring” –
Susan Bissonette
This week's homework is called "Eating Idioms".
PART A
Match the following idioms with their meanings:
1. It's not my taste
2. I had to eat my words
3. I've had my fill
4. That didn't go down well
5. I bit his head off
6. I made a meal of it
7. I could eat a horse
8. I've got a sweet tooth
a) I am extremely hungry
b) I don't like it
c) It wasn't popular
d) I was proved to be wrong
e) I spoke sharply to him
f) I don't want any more
g) I love chocolate and other sweets
h) I took too long to do it
PART B
Use the following idiomatic expressions to complete the dialogues below:
a) left a bad taste in my mouth
b) bit my head off
c) digest
d) have your cake and eat it
e) swallow your pride
f) something to get my teeth into
g) a second bite of the cherry
h) bite off more than you can chew
1. Paul: I can't afford the rent on my flat. My parents have said I can go back and live with them but I'd
feel such a failure.
Jill: I think you'll just have to ??????? and accept their help.
2. Paul: Keep away from Rachel this morning. She's in a bad mood.
Jill: I know. She ?????? for no reason when I arrived.
3. Paul: So, Tom apologised for what he'd said to you?
Jill: Yes, but the whole experience has ?????? .
4. Paul: I thought you liked your job? Why do you want a change?
Jill: I need a fresh challenge - ??????.
5. Paul: I'm going to try to fix the car myself.
Jill: Well, if it's difficult, don't do it. Don't ???????.
6. Paul: So, what do you think about the new budget proposals?
Jill: I haven't really had time to ?????? all the details yet.
7. Paul: I feel like taking a few days off work, but I really need the money.
Jill: The problem with you is you always want to ??????.
8. Paul: I've failed my university exam. I'm not sure if I can re-take it?
Jill: I think you can. I think you're allowed ??????.
PART C
Choose the correct word in the sentences below:
1. I bit off more than I could SWALLOW / CHEW
2. You can't have a second BITE / CHEW at the cherry
3. He had to EAT / SWALLOW his words.
4. BITE / SWALLOW your pride and say you'll accept.
5. I need something to get my TEETH / TOOTH into.
6. It left a bad SMELL / TASTE in my mouth.
7. I said sorry but Jill just BIT / CHEWED my head off.
8. My idea didn't go UP / DOWN very well.
Any finally a riddle for you to solve:
A sealed glass box containing 500,000 American one-dollar bills was a popular attraction at the world's
exhibition. This was a fundraiser where people could buy a ticket to guess how many bills were in the
box. At the end of the exhibition, the seal was broken and the bills counted. Only $470,000 was
counted. Mr. Cancun was responsible for enclosing the money. When questioned by Detective Jones,
Mr. Cancun said that he personally counted each bill by hand. "To be sure," he added, "I counted them
twice by hand during the
two days before the box was sealed. I could have been out by 80 or 90 dollars, but not 30,000!" he
protested. Detective Jones knows the Cancun is lying. How can he be so sure?
Have a good week and we will write again next Friday.
All the best
Seagulls, as hotels in Venice, Italyare giving
guests orange coloured water guns to ward off
the birds, which aggressively swoop down to
go after food or anything else they see as
edible. The birds are afraid of the colour
orange and are learning to avoid anyone who
picks up the orange water guns.
BAD WEEK FOR:
Owners of a full set of false teeth left behind at
a British restaurant this week. The restaurant
owners say a lot of things have been left
behind by diners including house keys, phones
and a single shoe.
Glamorous hospital patients, who are being given
makeovers and beauty treatments. “Simply from
the heart” is a non-profit charity which aims to
boost patients 'spirits by providing beauty
treatments.
© MAYFLOWER COLLEGE english@maycoll.co.uk
MEANING: In an extremely comfortable position or situation.
use: During the blizzard we had plenty of firewood and stayed in
the cottage, snug as a bug in a rug.
as snug as a bug in a rug
Paul Stevens - Director (based in San Diego, USA)
Jill Tyler - General Manager (based in Plymouth, UK)
1. It's not my taste - b) I don't like it
2. I had to eat my words - d) I was proved to be wrong
3. I've had my fill - f) I don't want any more
4. That didn't go down well - c) It wasn't popular
5. I bit his head off - e) I spoke sharply to him
6. I made a meal of it - h) I took too long to do it
7. I could eat a horse - a) I am extremely hungry
8. I've got a sweet tooth - g) I love chocolate and other sweets
It wouldn't have been possible to count
the bills even once by hand two days
before. Averaging one per second, it
would take over 5 days of non-stop
counting to count 500,000 one-dollar
bills.
1. I bit off more than I could CHEW
2. You can't have a second BITE at the cherry
3. He had to SWALLOW his words.
4. SWALLOW your pride and say you'll accept.
5. I need something to get my TEETH into.
6. It left a bad TASTE in my mouth.
7. I said sorry but Jill just BIT my head off.
8. My idea didn't go DOWN very well.
1. Paul: I can't afford the rent on my flat. My parents have said I can go back and
live with them but I'd feel such a failure.
Jill: I think you'll just have to E) SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE and accept their help.
2. Paul: Keep away from Rachel this morning. She's in a bad mood.
Jill: I know. She B) BIT MY HEAD OFF for no reason when I arrived.
3. Paul: So, Tom apologised for what he'd said to you?
Jill: Yes, but the whole experience has A) LEFT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH
4. Paul: I thought you liked your job? Why do you want a change?
Jill: I need a fresh challenge - F) SOMETHING TO GET MY TEETH INTO
5. Paul: I'm going to try to fix the car myself.
Jill: Well, if it's difficult, don't do it. Don't H) BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN
CHEW
6. Paul: So, what do you think about the new budget proposals?
Jill: I haven't really had time to C) DIGEST all the details yet.
7. Paul: I feel like taking a few days off work, but I really need the money.
Jill: The problem with you is you always want to D) HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT
8. Paul: I've failed my university exam. I'm not sure if I can re-take it?
Jill: I think you can. I think you're allowed G) A SECOND BITE OF THE CHERRY