Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Companygo to end; go to Table of Contents / 11. Crazy Weather / 12. What Peter Needs / 13. I Need A Miracle Fast!
/ 14. Mary Had A Baby / 15. As Mad as a Cut Snake
11. Crazy Weatherpattern: can be x / could be x / can't be x / couldn't be x
text:Melbourne can be miserable in spring. You can't be sure from minute to minute whether it will rain or shine. On a fine, crisp morning you might say to yourself "it could be a scorcher today", but experience has taught you to carry an umbrella anyway. By lunchtime you will probably have to use it. Visitors hate this crazy weather, but the locals couldn't care less.
response:
1. What can Melbourne's weather be like in spring?
2. What can't you know in Melbourne from minute to minute?
3. What might a visitor guess about the weather on a clear morning?
4. What do visitors think of Melbourne's weather?
5. Make a question using the word lunchtime.
6. What do the locals think about Melbourne's weather?
7. What can we do about the weather?
pattern: x hasn't any z; y needs some z
text:Everyone can see what Peter needs. The kid needs some new clothes. He needs a good feed. He needs some guidance to grow up well. Most of all he needs parents who care. The trouble is, he hasn t got a chance. Peter hasn't got any money or friends. He hasn't got any faith in the system. He is going to wind up in jail.
response:1. What are two things that Peter needs?
2. Make a question using the word guidance.
3. Does Peter have wonderful parents? [Justify your answer]
4. How would you describe Peter's (life) chances?
5. What are a couple of important things missing in Peter s life.
6. Does Peter respect the community he lives in? [Justify your answer].
7. Where do you think Peter is heading?
pattern: x hasn't any z; y needs z
text:I haven't any idea what to do next! I m near the top of a mountain pass and the road drops 1000 metres in the next three kilometres. I'm driving a seven ton lorry and a stone has just cut the hydraulic brake line. The truck hasn't any brakes and is accelerating. I still have control but there is a sharp curve five hundred metres ahead. A car pulling a caravan is coming the other way. I'm going to need a miracle to survive the next five minutes!
response:1. How do I (the driver) feel at this moment?
2. Where am I?
3. What is the road ahead like?
4. What has happened to the truck?
5. Do I still have control of the vehicle?
6. Make a question using the words five hundred metres ahead.
7. What is approaching the lorry?
8. Why am I praying for a miracle?
9. What do you think I need to do ?
pattern: have a baby; have second thoughts; need to take it easy; need to be fed
text:Mary has just had a baby, but the birth didn t come easily. She decided with Jack in April to have another child. Early in the pregnancy they had second thoughts and considered an abortion. However, she decided to go ahead with it. Labour was long and difficult. In the end the doctor ordered a cesarian operation. Mary needed intensive care, and now she needs to take it easy. At the moment though, a very noisy baby boy is crying that he needs to be fed.
response:1. What has happened to Mary?
2. Make a question using the word easy.
3. When did Mary and Jack have second thoughts?
4. What choices did they consider?
5. What choice did Mary make?
6. Describe the birth.
7. What did the doctor order?
8. Why do you think Mary needed intensive care?
9. What does she need to do now?
10. What does her baby son think is the most important thing in the world?
pattern: x is as y as z; x is like a y
text:When old Larry moved into Eden, nobody knew what to make of him. His white hair was as tangled as a bird's nest. He dressed like a scarecrow and his pick-up truck was a collection of rusty parts from the wrecker's yard. One day Ozzie, who has a hide like an elephant, took six tinnies as a peace offering and knocked on Larry's door. The old man chased him with an axe. After that, everybody decided that Larry was as mad as a cut snake. They left him strictly alone.
response:
1. Where did old Larry move to?
2. What did the locals think of him at first?
3. Make a question using the word hair.
4. How was Larry dressed?
5. What was unusual about Larry's pick-up truck?
6. How can you describe someone who is not easily offended?
7. What was Ozzie's gift?
8. How did Larry greet his visitor?
9. What did the locals think of Larry after Ozzie's visit?
10. What is one way to treat a dangerous person?
Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Company
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