Choose the correct answer:

1. My friend is a school ……… driver. She picks up children on her daily route. She drives them to school safely in the morning and then she picks them up again in the afternoon once they’ve finished school.

(a) truck
(b) bus
(c) taxi
(d) delivery

2. Dave is a ……… person. He delivers packages to businesses in the downtown area everyday. Sometimes, I see him riding on his bike as he tries to get his packages delivered in a timely manner.

(a) conductor
(b) truck
(c) delivery
(d) cyclist

3. Josephine is a bank ………. She works in a bank and she is usually the first person customers see when they walk through the door. She helps people with deposits, withdrawals and other daily banking needs.

(a) teller
(b) cashier
(c) secretary
(d) dancer

4. Isaac is a ………. He works for the city and puts out fires. He rides in a large truck that has long water hoses and other important equipment so he can extinguish fires.

(a) soldier
(b) firefighter
(c) butcher
(d) barber

5. My uncle is a train ………. He is the supervisor and rides at the back of the train. He is there to ensure that the train runs properly and on time.

(a) soldier
(b) mover
(c) plumber
(d) conductor

6. Mike is a ………. He works in a school and cleans up after the students. He makes sure that all of the classrooms, hallways and desks are clean for the students and teachers each day. Sometimes, he is also called a custodian.

(a) janitor
(b) secretary
(c) banker
(d) mechanic

7. Sarah is a ………. She handles all of the correspondence for the manager in her office. She is also responsible for the filing and meeting arrangements as well as other clerical duties such as answering the phone. Her position is also known as an administrative assistant.

(a) electrician
(b) beautician
(c) psychologist
(d) secretary

8. Henry cuts men’s hair at the small shop that he owns. He is a ……… and has had some regular customers for years.

(a) butcher
(b) boxer
(c) builder
(d) barber

9. Keith is a ………. He is an enlisted member of the armed forces and he serves and protects his country under the command of a sergeant.

(a) soldier
(b) boxer
(c) policeman
(d) firefighter

10. Krista is a professional ………. She mainly works for the ballet company in her city. She takes part in beautiful performances twice a year and also teaches ballet to young girls on a weekly basis.

(a) doctor
(b) banker
(c) dancer
(d) dentist

The correct answers are:

1. b
2. c
3. a
4. b
5. d
6. a
7. d
8. d
9. a
10. c

Use the following words to complete the sentences below.

bill, bottle, dessert, drinks, fish and chips, hungry, menu, non-smoker, order, restaurant, table

1. Guest: A ……………….. for two, please.
2. Waiter: Smoker or ………………………….. ?
3. Guest: Non-smoker, please.
4. Waiter: Here you go. Would you like to see the ……………………….. ?
5. Guest: Yes, please. We are very ……………………………
6. The guests look at the menu.
7. Waiter: Are you ready to ……………………. ?
8. Guest: We’d like………………….. , please.
9. Waiter: Would you like any ………………………… ?
10. Guest: An orange juice, a coke and a ………………………. of red wine.
11. The guests have finished their meals.
12. Waiter: Would you like a …………………………… ?
13. Guest: No, thank you. Could we have the ……………………….. , please?

The correct answers are:

1. table
2. non-smoker
4. menu
5. hungry
7. order
8. fish and chips
9. drinks
10. bottle
12. dessert
13. bill

Choose the correct answer:

1. Man: I don’t feel well tonight. I have an upset stomach.
Woman: Maybe it was the food at the restaurant. It didn’t taste right.
Narrator: What does the man mean? ………

(a) He believes that his stomach is angry.
(b) He has a stomach ache.
(c) He is still hungry.

2. Woman: What’s wrong with Sarah? She seems a little preoccupied.
Man: Her husband lost his job a couple of months ago and they are desperately trying to make ends meet at the moment.
Narrator: What does the man mean? ………

(a) Sarah has an important meeting at work.
(b) Sarah and her husband really want to go on a trip.
(c) Sarah and her husband are struggling to pay the bills.

3. Mother: I just saw your report card and it looks like you will have to pull your socks up next semester.
Son: I know Mom. I will.
Mother: Good, because your grades are important.
Narrator: What does the mother mean? ………

(a) Her son will have to wear better clothing to school next semester.

4. Woman: Do you want to see that movie tonight?
Man: Not really. The last romantic comedy we saw bored the pants off of me.
Narrator: What does the man mean? ………

(a) He didn’t like the last movie they saw together because it was very boring.
(b) He wants to go to dinner instead because he’s very hungry.
(c) He doesn’t like to wear pants.

5. Woman: I’ve had it with my boss! He’s completely unrealistic about our goals and wants me to work overtime again tonight!
Man: Do you get overtime pay?
Woman: Are you kidding? I have a salary position.
Narrator: What does the woman mean? ………

(a) She doesn’t like her boss because he is angry all the time.
(b) She doesn’t get paid by the hour and she doesn’t get paid for any overtime worked.
(c) She gets paid for overtime work but her boss wants her to do too much.

6. Man: How did you like that restaurant?
Woman: I wasn’t really crazy about it at all. The pasta was kind of bland and the service wasn’t that great.
Man: I agree. I think we should try another place next weekend.
Narrator: What does the woman mean? ………

(a) She didn’t like the food or the restaurant service.
(b) She really liked the restaurant and the pasta was tasty.
(c) She didn’t like the atmosphere in the new restaurant.

7. Woman: I’m having a really hard time right now. I liked the old system a lot and I can’t seem to wrap my head around the new system at all.
Man: Let’s sit down and talk about it after lunch.
Woman: Thanks. I really appreciate your patience.
Man: No problem.
Narrator: What does the woman mean? ………

(a) She doesn’t understand how the new system works.
(b) She has a headache.
(c) The new system is easier to manage than the old system.

8. Woman: Don’t play favorites with the kids. I know that Jonah is more like you but Liam is your son too.
Man: I don’t do that at all!
Woman: Yes, you do. And Liam is aware of it too.
Narrator: What does the woman imply? ………

(a) The woman has a sour personality.
(b) She doesn’t want the man to favor one son over the other.
(c) The woman wants the man to play with both sons more.

9. Man: Can you believe the way John acted last night? He’s really lashing out at everyone lately.
Woman: I know. He’s really stressed about losing his job. We should cut him some slack until his situation improves because he’s normally not like that at all.
Narrator: What does the woman imply? ………

(a) She thinks John is intelligent and will find a job soon.
(b) She thinks John is behaving badly and they should stop seeing him until his behavior improves.
(c) She thinks they should excuse John’s behavior because he’s under a lot of stress.

10. Woman: My sister was out of line yesterday. She really crossed the line this time.
Man: I know. She’s really angry and bitter and she took it out on you.
Woman: Whatever the case may be, I don’t think I want to see her again for awhile.
Narrator: What does the woman mean? ………

(a) She thinks that her sister behaved badly yesterday and she doesn’t want to associate with her for some time.
(b) She thinks that her husband should excuse her sister’s behavior because she is under a lot of stress.
(c) She thinks her sister’s Internet system is down and that they should talk to her again when it’s fixed.
(b) She believes that socializing with friends is a bad thing.
(c) Her son will have to work harder in school next semester.

The correct answers are:

1. b
2. c
3. c
4. a
5. b
6. a
7. a
8. b
9. c
10. a

Interview with a Famous Actor

Interviewer: Thank you for taking some time off from your busy schedule to answer a few questions about your life!
Brad: It’s my pleasure.

Interviewer: Could you tell us about an average day in your life?
Brad: Sure, I get up early - at 7 in the morning. Then I have breakfast. After breakfast, I go to the gym.

Interviewer: Are you studying anything now?
Brad: Yes, I’m learning a new film called “The Man About Town”.

Interviewer: What do you do in the afternoon?
Brad: First I have lunch, then I go to the studio and shoot some scenes.

Interviewer: Which scene are you acting today?
Brad: I’m acting a scene about an angry lover.

Interviewer: That’s very interesting. What do you do in the evening?
Brad: In the evening, I go home and have dinner and study my scripts.

Interviewer: Do you go out at night?
Brad: Not always, I like going out at weekends.

Multiple choice comprehension quiz:

1. Why does the interviewer thank Brad?

a. for visiting him
b. for taking time off
c. for telephoning

2. What does Brad do after breakfast?

a. He studies his scripts.
b. He goes to the studio.
c. He goes to the gym.

3. What is Brad studying now?

a. The Man
b. The Man About Town
c. The Loverboy

4. What does he do in the afternoon?

a. He goes to the studio.
b. He goes to the gym.
c. He studies his scripts.

5. When does he like going out?

a. at night
b. on Sundays
c. at weekends

The correct answers are:

1. b
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. c

What words go best with these verbs?

1. foot
a) the details
b) a press statement
c) the options
d) the bill

2. issue
a) the details
b) a press statement
c) a good year ahead
d) an opportunity

3. consider
a) the details
b) the options
c) a good year ahead
d) an opportunity

4. offer
a) a press statement
b) a range of products
c) the options
d) the details

5. see
a) a press statement
b) an opportunity
c) the options
d) a decision

6. impose
a) a decision
b) the options
c) a press statement
d) an opportunity

7. get lost in
a) a range of products
b) the details
c) a good year ahead
d) an opportunity

8. achieve
a) a decision
b) new heights
c) the options
d) a press statement

9. make
a) a loss
b) new heights
c) the options
d) an opportunity

10. predict
a) a good year ahead
b) the details
c) the options
d) a press statement

The correct answers are:

1. d
2. b
3. b
4. b
5. b
6. a
7. b
8. b
9. a
10. a

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Choose the correct word to complete the question. Each question has only one correct answer.

1. She wanted to _____ the students in a way they’d never forget.
a. affect
b. effect

2. She read the story _____.
a. allowed
b. aloud

3. I think we need a new _____ for that lamp.
a. bass
b. base

4. I used a _____ to cover the window.
a. board
b. bored

5. Olympia is the _____ of Washington state.
a. capitol
b. capital

6. We did some grammar _____ in class last week.
a. chance
b. chants

7. The _____ winds through the beautiful valley.
a. creak
b. creek

8. The _____ winds through the beautiful valley.
a. creak
b. creek

9. The full payment is _____ by the end of the month.
a. do
b. due

10. I paid fifteen dollars for the _____.
a. fair
b. fare

11. Could you pick up a bag of _____ at the supermarket?
a. flower
b. flour

12. Timothy Leary wrote the _____ to Ken’s book.
a. forward
b. foreword

13. Students often _____ when I announce a test.
a. groan
b. grown

14. Doctors _____ thousands of patients a year.
a. heal
b. heel

15. Your voice is _____.
a. hoarse
b. horse

16. His efforts came to _____.
a. knot
b. naught

17. She is the _____ person who speaks French.
a. loan
b. lone

18. His ______ friends are crazy!
a. mail
b. male

19. She was in _____ for three years.
a. morning
b. mourning

20. She looks rather _____.
a. pail
b. pale

21. She looks rather _____.
a. pail
b. pale

22. There are fifteen _____ in the theater.
a. rose
b. rows

23. There are fifteen _____ in the theater.
a. rose
b. rows

24. Don’t ______ at that woman! It’s rude.
a. stair
b. stare

25. Tom visited New York, ______.
a. to
b. two
c. too

26. Results may ______ with daily or weekly use.
a. vary
b. very

27. I wish my ______ were lower.
a. weight
b. wait

28. My left arm is very ______.
a. weak
b. week

29. I don’t know ______ he will come or not.
a. whether
b. weather

The correct answers are:

1. a
2. b
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. b
7. b
8. b
9. b
10. b
11. b
12. b
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. b
20. b
21. a
22. b
23. a
24. b
25. c
26. a
27. a
28. a
29. a

Which word goes before each of these?

A. ball
shadow
lash
lid

B. bag
shake
held
stand

C. rest
start
strong
bang

D. dresser
dryer
band
brush

The correct answers are:

A. eye
B. hand
C. head
D. hair

Which word goes before each of these?

A. national
millionaire
task
media

Which word goes before each of these?

B. war
natal
date
graduate

Which word goes before each of these?

C. achieve
wear
hand
weight

Which word goes before each of these?

D. legal
licit
logical
literate

The correct answers are:

A. multi
B. post
C. under
D. il

1. There were 5 birds in a tree.
A hunter shot 2 of them dead. How many birds were left?

2 birds.
The other 3 flew away!

2. How many letters are there in the English alphabet?

18 letters! 3 in “the”, 7 in “English”, and 8 in “alphabet”.

3. What is the longest word in the English language?

“Smiles”. Because there is a mile between its first and last letters!

4. I have 12 legs, 12 arms and 8 heads. What am I?

A liar!

5. Which bus crossed the ocean?

Columbus!

6. Why do witches have brooms?

Because vacuum cleaners are too heavy!

7. If a man was born in Italy, went to America and died in San Francisco, what would he be?

Dead!

8. Why did the boy bury his flashlight?

Because the batteries were dead.

9. Which month has 28 days?

All of them!

10. What word begins with “e”, ends with “e”, and has one letter?

Envelope!