Monthly Archives: August 2012
Crossword – TOEFL 4 (solution)
Posted on 2012/08/27
Crossword – TOEFL 4
Posted on 2012/08/26
Across
1 to cover, as if with dots (3)
3 widespread destruction (11)
8 anger, wrath (3)
10 to disappear gradually; to lose brightness, loudness, color, or brilliance gradually (4)
11 very strict (9)
13 an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another (8)
15 to prod or urge as with a long, pointed stick (4)
16 declare, say something firmly because you are certain it is true (4)
17 to move back or away from something or someone (7)
18 happening right away, without delay (13)
22 calmness, peacefulness (11)
25 rapid, characterized by speed (5)
26 criminal or evil (10)
27 unusual and attractive, often because of being old-fashioned (6)
30 to improve something so it returns to the good condition or character it once had (12)
31 to change from a frozen solid to a liquid by gradual warming (4)
Down
1 lacking in brightness (3)
2 slant (4)
4 a riddle; something that is difficult to understand (6)
5 under the earth (12)
6 distress, suffering (10)
7 essential; unavoidable; obligatory (13)
9 cautious, careful (4)
11 wisdom (8)
12 to bring formal charages against, especially by a jury (6)
14 severe punishment for serious wrongdoing (11)
19 a minute amount (9)
20 of or in the night (9)
21 an involuntary movement you make when you are cold, or frightened (6)
23 sudden and unexpected (6)
24 one of a kind (6)
28 have a tendency to do something (3)
29 to draw or pull behind by a chain or line (3)
Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 24
Posted on 2012/08/19
Across
1 the feeling that something is definitely true, or definitely exists (6)
3 opposite of right (4)
5 to use your eyes (3)
6 something that you use to unlock a door or a lock (3)
9 mirror (7-5)
13 a period of 12 months (4)
14 the part of the car that makes it move (6)
15 a show on radio or TV (7)
17 total (3)
20 a preposition used to show what a part belongs to or comes from (2)
21 the amount or degree of something, compared to another amount or degree (5)
22 something done to punish someone (10)
24 a word used to show how far back in the past something happened (3)
25 a thing, person, or group that is regarded as one single whole part of something larger (4)
27 always trying to control other people without considering their wishes or feelings, domineering (11)
31 adverb that intensifies (4)
33 a sad, shocking event that involves death (7)
34 a helper (9)
36 opposite of dry (3)
37 a deep breath that you take when you are tired or sleepy (4)
Down
1 a preposition used to what by means or method someone uses to do something (2)
2 a note at the bottom of the page in a book, which gives more information about something (8)
4 a shape, especially, one that represents a human body (6)
5 a salty body of water (3)
7 the part of the body that you see with (3)
8 rock or earth from which metal can be obtained (3)
9 a tower with a powerful flashing light that guides ships away from danger (10)
10 a word used when talking about something that might happen or be true, or might have happened (2)
11 to move or develop more slowly than others (3)
12 likeness, resemblance (10)
13 an answer you use to indicate that something is true, or you agree; opposite of no (3)
16 opponent (5)
18 a hole in the surface of a road covered by a lid, used for access to sewer, underground pipes, etc (7)
19 to decay by a gradual, natural process (3)
21 an amount or piece of material or substance that covers a substance, or that is between two things (5)
22 a large musical instrument played by pressing some of its 88 black and white keys (5)
23 opposite of something (7)
26 inflexibility, unable to bend (8)
28 what you are able to see; the whole area that you can see from somewhere (4)
29 a straight, narrow beam of light (3)
30 preposition used to indicate movement from one side of something to another (6)
31 a small stringed instrument, played with a bow (6)
32 a natural and continuous flow of water in a long line across a country into the sea (5)
34 preposistion used to say exactly where something or someone is, or where something happens (2)
35 an adverb used when emphasizing the degree or amount of something by saying what the result is (2)
Writing Assignment: At the Petting Zoo (Solution)
Posted on 2012/08/18
1. What animals do you see in the pen?
We see a piglet, some goats (kids), and some lambs.
2. How many animals are there?
There are seven animals in the picture.
3. Are they adult animals, or baby animals?
They are baby animals.
4. Do these animals live in the wild, or on a farm?
These animals live on a farm.
5. What other kinds of animals might you see on a farm?
On a farm we can also see cows, horses, chickens, ducks, and geese.
6. What sounds do these animals make?
The pig says “oink.” The goats and lambs say “baa.”
7. What is on the floor of the pen?
There is hay or straw on the floor of the pen.
8. Where is the animals’ water dish or feeding trough?
The animals’ water dish or feeding trough is off to the side, in the middle of the pen.
9. What is the mother doing with her children?
The mother is helping her children feed and pet the animals.
10. Is the mother standing or kneeling?
The mother is kneeling.
11. What is the older girl doing?
The older girl is petting a goat.
12. What does the older girl have in her hand?
The older girl has a cup in her hand.
13. What is the younger girl doing?
The younger girl is standing by her stroller.
14. Do you see any children who are scared or shy?
One child looks scared, and is clinging to her mother. Another child looks shy, and hasn’t approached the pen.
15. Why do you think the little girl is scared?
Perhaps the little girl is scared because the lamb is making noise, or maybe she thinks the lamb is going to bite her.
16. What is her mother doing?
Her mother is talking to her and trying to calm her down.
17. Why do you think the other little girl might be shy?
Perhaps the other little girl is shy because there are so many people. Perhaps she is shy because she doesn’t know the other children.
18. Which animal would you like to pet?
I think petting a lamb would be fun, because the lamb’s fur is soft and wooly.
19. Which animal would lick your hand the most?
I think that a goat would like my hand the most, since goats like to eat everything.
20. Which animal do you think likes to nibble feed from people’s hands?
I think that all the animals in the picture are gentle, and like to nibble from people’s hands.
Paragraph: A Visit to a Petting Zoo
Write a brief paragraph about what it would be like to visit a farm or petting zoo. What is it like to pet the baby animals? How would it be to feed them? Would any animal make you scared?
When we went to the county fair, we visited a petting zoo. They had several animals there, including lambs, goats, and even a llama. For twenty-five cents you could buy a small cup of feed to give to the animals. If you put some feed in your hand, the animals would come and nibble the feed in your hand until it was all gone, and then they would look for more. One goat even tried nibbling on my t-shirt! The animals are used to people, and like to be petted. Their coats are soft and furry, but they are often dirty. It is a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly after you are done petting the animals. Sometimes very small children might be afraid of the animals, especially if an animal starts licking the child’s hand. Older children, however, understand that the animal probably wouldn’t bite them, so they aren’t afraid at all. But if the child starts running after one of the animals, then maybe the animal will be afraid of him!
Writing Assignment: At the Petting Zoo
Posted on 2012/08/17
Vocabulary
petting zoo
farm animals
goat
kid (baby goat)
sheep
lamb
pig
piglet
hen (mother chicken)
rooster (father chicken)
chick (baby chicken)
cow
calf
horse
colt (baby horse)
feed (noun)
feed trough
water dish
cage
pen
hay
straw
stroller
scared
take a picture
pet an animal
lick
nibble
handful
kneel
shy
baa (sheep sound, lamb sound)
oink (pig sound)
moo (cow sound)
whinny (horse sound)
quack (duck sound)
cluck (chicken sound)
peep (baby bird sound)
cheep (baby bird sound)
1. What animals do you see in the pen?
2. How many animals are there?
3. Are they adult animals, or baby animals?
4. Do these animals live in the wild, or on a farm?
5. What other kinds of animals might you see on a farm?
6. What sounds do these animals make?
7. What is on the floor of the pen?
8. Where is the animals’ water dish or feeding trough?
9. What is the mother doing with her children?
10. Is the mother standing or kneeling?
11. What is the older girl doing?
12. What does the older girl have in her hand?
13. What is the younger girl doing?
14. Do you see any children who are scared or shy?
15. Why do you think the little girl is scared?
16. What is her mother doing?
17. Why do you think the other little girl might be shy?
18. Which animal would you like to pet?
19. Which animal would lick your hand the most?
20. Which animal do you think likes to nibble feed from people’s hands?
Paragraph: A Visit to a Petting Zoo
Write a brief paragraph about what it would be like to visit a farm or petting zoo. What is it like to pet the baby animals? How would it be to feed them? Would any animal make you scared?
Crossword – Irregular Verbs 6
Posted on 2012/08/12
To complete this crossword, use the appropriate past tense / past participle of the verb in the parentheses.
Across
2 Although I learned French many years ago, I didn’t remember anything, so I (reteach) it to myself. (8)
5 We (leave) the party early. (4)
7 After a hard day at work, Jim came home and (unwind) in front of the TV. (7)
9 Mary (feed) the cat yesterday. (3)
10 I (let) the children play outside after they finished their homework. (3)
12 The insurance policy was (underwrite) by a well-known insurance carrier. (12)
14 Jack (run) all the way home from school. (3)
15 Our team (win) by a score of 12 to 2. (3)
16 Mother (buy) some strawberries and cream for dessert. (6)
20 The house was (presell) under the condition that they would be approved for the loan. (7)
21 You have reaped where another has (sow). (4)
22 Steve (eat) a big breakfast. (3)
24 The actor did not like being (typecast) as a villain all the time. (8)
26 The back yard has not been (mow) yet. (4)
27 The soldier (withstand) the torture, and did not give the enemy any information about his unit. (9)
29 Mother (make) a blanket for the new baby. (4)
30 Are you (do) with your project yet? (4)
31 Last night I (dream) I was back in first grade again. (6)
32 Samson (slay) a thousand of his enemies with the jawbone of a donkey. (4)
Down
1 The teacher (shut) the door behind her as she entered the room. (4)
2 The tapes had not been (rewind) before they were returned. (7)
3 By far, it was the most complex assignment our work team had ever (undertake). (10)
4 I was afraid, so I (hide) myself. (3)
5 The path (lead) us deep into the forest. (3)
6 The rain (fall) in great torrents. (4)
8 Even though the candidate (underspend) compared to his opponent, he still managed to win the election. (10)
9 The clothes Aunt Edna made for the baby (fit) like a glove. (3)
11 Sally came home with her dress (tear) and muddy. (4)
13 Last week the TV stations (rebroadcast) a special on the D-Day invasion of Normandy. (11)
14 The letter had been (rewrite) on nice stationery. (9)
17 Even though I didn’t know the language, I still (understand) what the old man was trying to tell me. (10)
18 …And, where their pilgrim feet have (tread), The God they trusted guards their graves. (4)
19 After extensive surgery, John (undergo) chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer. (9)
23 As my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, I (become) aware that I was not alone in the room. (6)
25 Mark (put) away the groceries after he got home. (3)
27 Twenty-five years ago today, I (wed) my high school sweetheart. (3)
28 With his finger he (draw) pictures in the sand. (4)
Idiom Focus: Animal Idioms 34
Posted on 2012/08/11
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.
wildcat strike: a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers
Example:
The garbage men’s union went on a wildcat strike, and the trash has been piling up all week.
wolf in sheep’s clothing: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad
Example:
Lester may seem like a nice guy at first, but I’m telling you – he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
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