Monthly Archives: May 2012

Grammar Basics: Unit 42 – You have? …, have you? etc… (Solution)

Posted on 2012/05/11
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Exercise.  Answer the following questions, using the declarative questions You do? / He doesn’t? / They didn’t? etc.

Example:

Congratulations!  You got top score in the tournament.  — _________  Wow!  ==> Congratulations!  You got top score in the tournament.  —I did?  Wow!

  1. Jack and Jill had a baby boy.—They did?  Oh, that’s nice.  I know they had wanted a son.
  2. Speak up.  Bob doesn’t hear very well.—He doesn’t?  Why doesn’t he just get a hearing aid, then?
  3. I saw Harry last week.—You did?  How’s he doing these days?
  4. Mary doesn’t have a car anymore, so you’ll have to pick her up on your way to work.—She doesn’t?  Oh, I didn’t realize she was that bad off.
  5. I have to go to the dentist.—You do?  Didn’t you go just the other month?
  6. Bill and Wanda didn’t go on their second honeymoon after all.—They didn’t?  That’s a shame.  I know they had been so looking forward to it.
  7. Sharon just got back from her trip.—She did?  Did she have a good time?
  8. I’m sorry, sir, but apparently you and your wife didn’t pay your taxes?—We didn’t?  I thought we did.
  9. Have you heard?  The Mississippi bridge collapsed yesterday.—It did?  Was anyone hurt?
  10. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.—You didn’t?  Why not?

Exercise.  Answer the following questions, using declarative questions like You have? / He will? / She hasn’t? etc.

Example:

Both Tom and Becky were in the hospital.— _________   How awful!  What happened? ==> Both Tom and Becky were in the hospital.—They were?  How awful!  What happened?

  1. Sam will oversee the project for our department.—He will?  I didn’t know the boss still trusted him.
  2. I’ve decided to quit my job and become a pop singer.—You have?  I don’t think that’s such a wise thing to do.
  3. Boycott the class.  Don’t worry, the teachers won’t flunk everybody.—They won’t?  How can you be so sure?
  4. It’s nearly 6 o’clock, and Jane still hasn’t finished cleaning her room.—She hasn’t?  I’m going to have to have a talk with that child.
  5. Have you heard?  Mr. Johnson isn’t retiring until next year.—He isn’t?  Oh man, that means I’m going to have to have him for trigonometry next semester.
  6. I’m not going to enter my apple pie in the county fair this year.—You aren’t?  That’s a shame.  You’d be a cinch to win the blue ribbon.
  7. Sit down and relax.  We have plenty of time before we have to board the plane.—We have?  Aren’t you forgetting that we have to go through security, though?
  8. Congratulations, sir – you’re the ninth caller on WXMQ’s morning talk show.—I am?  Oh, how embarrassing – I thought I was calling doctor’s office.
  9. We found the cows in Farmer MacGregor’s field.  They weren’t lost, after all.  —They weren’t?  I’m glad to hear that.
  10. It’s a good thing we had the car engine inspected.  The fan belt was so worn it was about to break.—It was?  I had no idea it was in that bad a shape.

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences using an appropriate tag question.

Example:

Tom hasn’t come home yet, _________? ==> Tom hasn’t come home yet, has he?

  1. The teachers didn’t go on strike, did they?
  2. That sure was a hard test, wasn’t it?
  3. I can’t park here, can I?
  4. Karen likes chocolate cake, doesn’t she?
  5. I’m trying as hard as I can, aren’t I?
  6. We’re not afraid of ghosts, are we?
  7. The Wilsons are a nice couple, aren’t they?
  8. Tom isn’t six feet tall, is he?
  9. John has a large collection of baseball cards, hasn’t he?
  10. I shouldn’t water the plants every day, should I?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 42 – You have? …, have you? etc…

Posted on 2012/05/10
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In English it is possible to ask a yes-no question without using “Do you…?” or “Are you…?” and just use the S – V – O form.  When speaking, we indicate that we are asking a question by finishing the sentence with a rising tone:

You’re going home?  I thought you were planning on staying until 10 o’clock.
Grandmother’s out of the hospital?  I didn’t even know she was sick!
Tom got an A on his test?  That’s good news for a change.
You wrote a poem?  Oh, I’d like to hear it, if you don’t mind.

Note:
These type of questions (known as “declarative questions”) are used when:

  1. the speaker wants to show interest, or
  2. the speaker wants to show surprise.

More examples:

Pack your bags.  We’re going out of town for the weekend.
—We are?  I thought you had too much work to do.
You can stay at my place on vacation, but you’ll have to leave your cat at home.  I have a parakeet, you know.
—You do?  I didn’t know you were a bird lover.
Congratulations!  You got top score in the tournament.
—I did?  Wow, I didn’t think I had played that well.
We’ve sold our house and bought a sailboat.
—You have?  Why?
—We’re going to take a couple of years off and sail around the South Pacific.

English also has tag questions.  A tag question is a short question at the end of a sentence.  We ask tag questions when

  1. we are seeking agreement, or
  2. we want to confirm that we have correct information.

It’s hot out today, isn’t it?
Tom hasn’t come home yet, has he?

Note:

  1. Positive sentences will have a negative tag question, and
  2. Negative sentences will have a positive tag question.

Positive sentence, negative tag question:

It’s hot out today, isn’t it?
You ate at an Italian restaurant the other day, didn’t you?
You’ve finished your homework, haven’t you?
Sally’s turned out to be a fine young lady, hasn’t she?
This blue sweater will go well with my sports jacket, won’t it?

Negative sentence, positive tag question:

Tom hasn’t come home yet, has he?
I’ve never seen such a crowd before, have you?
The plants don’t need watering yet, do they?
The bus stop isn’t far off, is it?
Oh no, the train isn’t late again today, is it?

Exercise.  Answer the following questions, using the declarative questions You do? / He doesn’t? / They didn’t? etc.

Example:

Congratulations!  You got top score in the tournament.  — _________  Wow!  ==> Congratulations!  You got top score in the tournament.  —I did?  Wow!

1.    Jack and Jill had a baby boy. — _________  Oh, that’s nice.  I know they had wanted a son.
2.    Speak up.  Bob doesn’t hear very well. — _________  Why doesn’t he just get a hearing aid, then?
3.    I saw Harry last week. — _________  How’s he doing these days?
4.    Mary doesn’t have a car anymore, so you’ll have to pick her up on your way to work. — _________  Oh, I didn’t realize she was that bad off.
5.    I have to go to the dentist. — _________  Didn’t you go just the other month?
6.    Bill and Wanda didn’t go on their second honeymoon after all. — _________  That’s a shame.  I know they had been so looking forward to it.
7.    Sharon just got back from her trip. — _________  Did she have a good time?
8.    I’m sorry, sir, but apparently you and your wife didn’t pay your taxes? — _________  I thought we did.
9.    Have you heard?  The Mississippi bridge collapsed yesterday. — _________  Was anyone hurt?
10.    I didn’t sleep a wink last night. — _________  Why not?

Exercise.  Answer the following questions, using declarative questions like You have? / He will? / She hasn’t? etc.

Example:

Both Tom and Becky were in the hospital. — _________   How awful!  What happened? ==> Both Tom and Becky were in the hospital. —They were?  How awful!  What happened?

1.    Sam will oversee the project for our department. — _________  I didn’t know the boss still trusted him.
2.    I’ve decided to quit my job and become a pop singer. — _________  I don’t think that’s such a wise thing to do.
3.    Boycott the class.  Don’t worry, the teachers won’t flunk everybody. — _________  How can you be so sure?
4.    It’s nearly 6 o’clock, and Jane still hasn’t finished cleaning her room. — _________  I’m going to have to have a talk with that child.
5.    Have you heard?  Mr. Johnson isn’t retiring until next year. — _________  Oh man, that means I’m going to have to have him for trigonometry next semester.
6.    I’m not going to enter my apple pie in the county fair this year. — _________  That’s a shame.  You’d be a cinch to win the blue ribbon.
7.    Sit down and relax.  We have plenty of time before we have to board the plane. — _________  Aren’t you forgetting that we have to go through security, though?
8.    Congratulations, sir – you’re the ninth caller on WXMQ’s morning talk show. — _________  Oh, how embarrassing – I thought I was calling doctor’s office.
9.    We found the cows in Farmer MacGregor’s field.  They weren’t lost, after all.  — _________  I’m glad to hear that.
10.    It’s a good thing we had the car engine inspected.  The fan belt was so worn it was about to break. — _________  I had no idea it was in that bad a shape.

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences using an appropriate tag question.

Example:

Tom hasn’t come home yet, _________? ==> Tom hasn’t come home yet, has he?

1.    The teachers didn’t go on strike, _________?
2.    That sure was a hard test, _________?
3.    I can’t park here, _________?
4.    Karen likes chocolate cake, _________?
5.    I’m trying as hard as I can, _________?
6.    We’re not afraid of ghosts, _________?
7.    The Wilsons are a nice couple, _________?
8.    Tom isn’t six feet tall, _________?
9.    John has a large collection of baseball cards, _________?
10.    I shouldn’t water the plants every day, _________?

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Culture Focus: Mother’s Day

Posted on 2012/05/09
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In the United States, this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May. Its US origins date back to the early 20th century. Julia Ward Howe, who is the same lady that wrote the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” first proposed a type of mother’s day in the US with her “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870. This proclamation, though, is more of an encouragement for women to bring about an end to war by becoming involved in the political process, than it is an ode to honor mothers.

However, it was a woman named Anna Jarvis who trademarked the phrases “second Sunday in May” and “Mother’s Day” in 1912. Her intent was to encourage each family to honor its mother, thus making it a personal, familiar holiday. The holiday was nationally recognized in 1914. Consequently, children and adults alike take this opportunity to honor and remember their mother with flowers or gifts.

There is no typical flower or particular gift associated with Mother’s Day, but sentimental gifts tend to be quite popular. For example, a mom might receive a necklace, bracelet, or ring with birthstones of all her children. Gifts of cards and candy are also very common. Mom might also be treated to breakfast in bed, or be taken out for dinner – indeed, Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year to eat out in the US, so if you do go out for dinner the second Sunday in May, be sure to make a reservation!

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Grammar Basics: Unit 41 – I am, I don’t, etc… (Solution)

Posted on 2012/05/09
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Exercise.   Complete the following sentences.  Use only one verb – is, was, have, do, can, will, might, should – each time.

1.    I’m not bored, but Tom is.
2.    Mary can’t keep a secret, but I can.
3.    Mother doesn’t watch the news, but Father does.
4.    Our house wasn’t damaged by the storm, but our neighbor’s (house) was.
5.    Hannah won’t eat peas, but Jacob will.
6.    Will Uncle Kirk come to the graduation?  I don’t know – he might.
7.    I can’t make it to the party, but Sue can.
8.    Let’s skip school today. —Do you think we should?  What if Mom and Dad find out?
9.    I haven’t been to China, but Sharon has.

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences.  Use a negative verb – isn’t, wasn’t, haven’t, don’t, can’t, won’t.

1.    Betsy has seen the movie Gone With the Wind, but I haven’t.
2.    Clarice exercises every day, but I don’t.
3.    Dave is a hard worker, but Mary isn’t.
4.    Dick can ride a bike, but Jane can’t.
5.    I thought the air conditioning was on, but it wasn’t.
6.    Sid likes school, but Tom doesn’t.
7.    Ken will sing a solo, but Keith won’t.
8.    I’m going to the county fair, but Jack and Jill aren’t.

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences.  Use do/does/did or don’t/doesn’t/didn’t.

1.    Brad doesn’t have a lot of friends, but Roland does.
2.    This brand of laundry soap really gets clothes clean, but that one doesn’t.
3.    Bill thought it was a great movie, but I didn’t.
4.    We don’t have a dog, but Dan and Rachel do.
5.    The Fosters have a big yard, but we don’t.
6.    Emma reads a lot of history, but Ben doesn’t.
7.    I don’t know too much about chemistry, but Kathy does.
8.    Mike heard rumors about the company going bankrupt, but Mark didn’t.
9.    Sam doesn’t have any homework, but I do.
10.    Steve didn’t go to Scouts, but Joe did.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 41 – I am, I don’t, etc…

Posted on 2012/05/08
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In English, it is not always necessary to repeat some words.  Look at the following examples:

am / is / are / was / were:

Are you nervous? – I wasn’t (nervous) before, but I am (nervous) now. (We do not need to repeat the word “nervous,” since the original question gives us the context.)
I’m not hungry, but Scott is (hungry).

have / has:

I’ve gotten a call from the boss, but Jack hasn’t (gotten a call from the boss).  (Again, enough context is provided for us by the first use of “gotten a call from the boss.)

do / does / did:

I don’t like coffee, but my brother does (like coffee).

can:

I can’t make it to the staff meeting, but Tom can (make it).

will:

The weatherman said it won’t rain today. – He’s full of beans.  I think it will (rain).

might:

Is Mike coming to the party? – I don’t know.  He might (come).

should:

If you haven’t already made a reservation, you probably should (make one).

Notes:
1)  Contractions are not possible with positive sentences like these.

I’m not hungry, but Scott is.  (NOT: I’m not hungry, but Scott’s.)
He’s full of beans.  I think it will.  (NOT: I think it’ll.)
I wasn’t before, but I am now.  (NOT: I wasn’t before, but I’m now.)
Sally hasn’t seen a ghost, but I have.  (NOT: Sally hasn’t seen a ghost, but I’ve.)

2)  Contractions are permitted with negative sentences like these.

I’ve gotten a call from the boss, but Jack has not / hasn’t.  (OK)
Mary likes pumpkin pie, but I do not / don’t.  (OK)
Tom should retire, but he probably will not / won’t.  (OK)

Are you…?, Is there…?, Will he…?, etc. questions can be answered with “Yes, I can” / “No, I can’t,” etc.

Are you sleepy? – Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Will Jack pick us up at the airport? —Yes, he will. / No, he won’t.  Dave will.
Is the store manager on duty? —Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t (he’s not).
Has Father bought Mother a birthday present yet? —Yes, he has. / No, he hasn’t.
Should Billy go see the dentist? —Yes, he should.

Simple present:  Use “do / does.”

I don’t like coffee, but my brother does.  (i.e., my brother likes coffee)
Becky plays the piano, but Sally doesn’t.  (i.e., Sally doesn’t play the piano)
Do you take this bride to be your wedded wife? —Yes, I do.

Simple past:  Use “did.”

Did you pick up the dog from the vet? —Oh no, I didn’t!  I totally forgot.
Did you and Jack come home early from school? —I did, but Jack didn’t.  He had to stay after class.
Did Tom catch the train? —No, he didn’t, so he wound up taking a later one.

 

Exercise.   Complete the following sentences.  Use only one verb – is, was, have, do, can, will, might, should – each time.

1.    I’m not bored, but Tom _________.
2.    Mary can’t keep a secret, but I _________.
3.    Mother doesn’t watch the news, but Father _________.
4.    Our house wasn’t damaged by the storm, but our neighbor’s (house) _________.
5.    Hannah won’t eat peas, but Jacob _________.
6.    Will Uncle Kirk come to the graduation?  I don’t know – he _________.
7.    I can’t make it to the party, but Sue _________.
8.    Let’s skip school today. —Do you think we _________?  What if Mom and Dad find out?
9.    I haven’t been to China, but Sharon _________.

 

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences.  Use a negative verb – isn’t, wasn’t, haven’t, don’t, can’t, won’t.

1.    Betsy has seen the movie Gone With the Wind, but I _________.
2.    Clarice exercises every day, but I _________.
3.    Dave is a hard worker, but Mary _________.
4.    Dick can ride a bike, but Jane _________.
5.    I thought the air conditioning was on, but it _________.
6.    Sid likes school, but Tom _________.
7.    Ken will sing a solo, but Keith _________.
8.    I’m going to the county fair, but Jack and Jill _________.

 

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences.  Use do/does/did or don’t/doesn’t/didn’t.

1.    Brad doesn’t have a lot of friends, but Roland _________.
2.    This brand of laundry soap really gets clothes clean, but that one _________.
3.    Bill thought it was a great movie, but I _________.
4.    We don’t have a dog, but Dan and Rachel _________.
5.    The Fosters have a big yard, but we _________.
6.    Emma reads a lot of history, but Ben _________.
7.    I don’t know too much about chemistry, but Kathy _________.
8.    Mike heard rumors about the company going bankrupt, but Mark _________.
9.    Sam doesn’t have any homework, but I _________.
10.    Steve didn’t go to Scouts, but Joe _________.

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Education Focus: Spelling Bees 2

Posted on 2012/05/07
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2011 Contestants - Scripps National Spelling Bee

Photo: Scripps National Spelling Bee

Last week, we briefly discussed spelling bees and how they are generally conducted at the local level.  Now, let’s take a look at the premier event:  The Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The first National Spelling Bee was held in 1925.  Initially, it was formed by a Louisville, Kentucky newspaper, The Courier-Journal.  Later, in 1941, the sponsorship of the National Spelling Bee was changed to the Scripps Howard News Service.  The name was changed to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, and eventually shortened to Scripps National Spelling Bee.

There continues to be a close relationship between newspapers and the Scripps National Spelling Bee, as many of the spelling bee participants are sponsored by their local newspapers, who may view sponsorship as an opportunity to support education and literacy.   According to the official website, the purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is “to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is held every year in Washington, D.C., at the end of May.  This year, the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee will be starting with Round One Test on May 29, and continuing with Preliminaries (May 30) and Semifinals (May 31).  The highlight, of course, are the Championship Finals on May 31, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.  (The Scripps National Spelling Bee can be viewed on the sports channel ESPN, which has exclusive live coverage rights.)  Participants compete for a number of prizes, including a $30,000 cash prize and trophy for the spelling champion.

Who can participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?  There are a number of rules for eligibility, but basically the contest is for students who are in the eighth grade or younger, and are age 15 or younger.  This year, the youngest contestant is only 6 years old!  However, 84% of this year’s 278 spellers are between the ages of 12 and 14.  Students may be from public schools (193 contestants, or 69.4%), private schools (39 contestants, or 14.0%), parochial schools (16 contestants, or 5.8%), charter schools (2 contestants, or 0.7%), or home-schooled (28 contestants, or 10.1%).

2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Sukanya Roy

2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Sukanya Roy. Photo: Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee was Sukanya Roy.  Her winning word was cymotrichous, which means “having wavy hair.”

You can read more about the Scripps National Spelling Bee here.

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 13 (solution)

Posted on 2012/05/07
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crossword puzzle solution

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 13

Posted on 2012/05/06
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crossword puzzle
Across
1 a preposition used to say which people or things are involved in something together or are connected (7)
4 when tears come from your eyes (3)
5 to move from one place to another (2)
6 turned upside down or on its side (10)
10 cloth shelter used for camping (4)
12 a preposition used to indicate towards a higher place or position (2)
13 repeated addition (14)
15 something done to punish someone (10)
17 the things that a company owns, that can be sold to pay debts (5)
18 opposite of yes (2)
19 a tool used to lift small objects (5)
20 not tied or fastened very tightly (5)
21 a large container filled with water for swimming (4)
22 a preposition used to show what a part belongs to or comes from (2)
23 to put something in liquid and then take it out again (3)
25 able to see through (11)
29 masculine pronoun (2)
30 a substance produced by bees, used especially for making furniture polish and candles (7)
34 to move your body in the water by using your arms and legs (4)
35 clear, tasteless liquid that you drink (5)
36 to officially allow someone to leave a hospital, or military (9)

Down
1 someone who keeps the financial records for a company or business (10)
2 something that is done to cure someone who is injured or ill (9)
3 opposite of good (3)
4 something that you use to take pictures (6)
5 a weapon that shoots bullets (3)
7 the movable part that sticks out at the back of an animal’s body (4)
8 a white metal that is radioactive, used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer (6)
9 something that describes how something works, or makes something easier to understand (11)
10 a car and driver that you pay to take you somewhere (4)
11 to touch lightly (3)
12 underwear (13)
14 to take goods or people from one place to another in a vehicle (9)
16 truthful (6)
20 cover for a pot or jar (3)
24 a word used when talking about something that might happen or be true, or might have happened (2)
26 to go up or increase (4)
27 the number between five and seven (3)
28 to display, or let someone see something (4)
31 what you hear with (3)
32 a conjunction used to join two words, phrases, etc referring to things that are related in some way (3)
33 a curved shape or line (3)
34 a salty body of water (3)

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Idiom Focus: Animal Idioms 20

Posted on 2012/05/05
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Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.

let sleeping dogs lie:    don’t make trouble if you don’t have to

Example:  

I know you’re tempted to step in and bail your son out, but it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.  He’ll have to learn the hard way.

let the cat out of the bag:        tell something that is supposed to be a secret

Example:

Bob and Mary weren’t planning on telling anyone yet that they were going to have another child, but their son let the cat out of the bag.

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Writing Assignment: At a Hotel (Solution)

Posted on 2012/05/05
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hotel pool

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1.    Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken by a swimming pool.

2.    What are the people in the picture doing?
The people in the picture are enjoying themselves at the pool, swimming.

3.    What kind of building do you see in the picture?
The building that we see in the picture is a hotel (motel).

4.    What do people usually do at that type of building?
People usually stay at a hotel while they are traveling, or on vacation.

5.    How long can you stay at a hotel?
You can stay at a hotel for a night, or for several nights.

6.    What is it called when you register at a hotel?
When you register at a hotel, that is called “checking in.”  When you are done and you are going to leave, you must “check out.”

7.    Where do you go to check in at a hotel?
To check in at a hotel, you must go to the front desk.

8.    Where is the front desk located?
The front desk is located in the lobby of the hotel.

9.    If you need help with your luggage, who can help you?
If you need help with your luggage, you can ask the bellhop to assist you.

10.    What kind of amenities does a hotel often have?
Common amenities at a hotel are a pool, exercise room, complimentary breakfast, and a microwave and mini-fridge in the room.

11.    Where can you go if you want to relax at a hotel?
If you want to relax at a hotel, you can lounge at the pool to unwind.

12.    Where can you go if you want to get some exercise at a hotel?
If you want to get some exercise at a hotel, you can go to the exercise room.

13.    Whom do you call if you want to have food delivered to your room?
If you want to have food delivered to your room, you can order room service.

14.    What can you do if you want to make sure you will not oversleep in the morning?
If you want to make sure you will not oversleep in the morning, you can contact the front desk and ask them for a wake-up call.

15.    What can you do if you want to sleep in and don’t want housekeeping to come in?
If you want to sleep in and not be disturbed by housekeeping, you can put a “do not disturb” sign on the outside of the door.

16.    What can you do if you forget shampoo, toothpaste, or other such items?
If you forget shampoo, toothpaste, or other toiletries, you can contact the front desk or concierge.

17.    What other furniture might a hotel room have, besides a bed?
Other furniture that a hotel room might have could be a sofa, a wardrobe, a dresser, and a table and chairs.

18.    What can you do if you need an extra bed, or perhaps a bed for a baby?
If you need an extra bed, you can request a rollaway bed.  If you need a bed for a baby, you can request a crib.

19.    If you have some valuables, what can you do to keep them safe?
If you have some valuables, you can ask to put them in the hotel safe.  Also, some rooms have a small room safe that you can use.

20.    Can you take your pet to a hotel?
Some hotels allow pets and others do not.  So if you want to travel with your pet, you should check in advance with the hotel regarding their pet policy.

Paragraph:  At a Hotel

When you stay at a hotel, the first thing you have to do is check in.  You go to the front desk and inquire if there are any vacancies, or available rooms.  Of course, if you made a reservation, then you know that a room is waiting for you.  The clerk at the front desk will ask you to fill out a form with your name and address, and oftentimes your license plate number, if you are driving a car.  After check-in, the clerk will give you a room key and explain where your room is, how to get there, where’s the best place to park, and so on.  The clerk will also inform you about breakfast hours, if a complimentary breakfast is included with your stay.

It is common for hotel rooms to have some extras, like a sofa, a microwave, a mini-fridge, and a coffee maker.  This is very convenient, as it makes it easier to relax and unwind at the hotel if you can kick back and eat a microwave dinner while watching TV, instead of having to go out to eat at a restaurant or something.  You can also relax by taking a dip in the hotel pool, working up a good sweat in the exercise room, or taking a hot bath.

Many hotel rooms are also equipped with an alarm clock, so you don’t have to worry if you forgot your travel alarm.  If you think you are likely to oversleep, or you are concerned about not getting up in time, you can always call the front desk and request a wake-up call.  On the other hand, if you are on vacation and have the luxury of sleeping in, you can put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door.  That way, you won’t be awakened by housecleaning the next morning, and whenever you are ready, you can put up a note letting the maid know that it’s now okay to clean the room.

When your hotel stay is over, you’ll have to check out.  Usually, check-out time is ten or eleven o’clock in the morning, so you’ll want to make sure that you are up in time for that, and that you get a chance to check your room to make sure you don’t accidentally leave anything behind.  Some people leave a tip for the housecleaning crew, but this is not necessary.  Checking out is rather easy – you just have to return the room key, and that’s it.  Then you can be on your way, wherever your next destination may happen to be.

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