Lesson 56 Faster than sound!

New words and expressions:

1. sound

Faster than sound

He opened the door without making a sound.

Light travels faster than sound.

2. excitement

A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began.

Critics welcomed the new novel in excitement.

She began to blush with excitement.

3. handsome

One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

That is a handsome old building.

4. Rolls-Royce

5. Benz

The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels.

6. wheel

The automobile mechanic is oiling the wheels.

The United States is a country on wheels.

7. explosion

After a great many loud explosions, the race began.

The explosion was heard two kilometers away.

The building collapsed and made explosions.

8. course

Many cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them!

They were navigating the course of a stream.

There were dangerous currents on the course.

9. rival

The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour – much faster than any of its rivals.

The two families are rivals in business.

Of recent years the Internet has become a great rival to the publishing industry.

10. speed

It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it.

Without a word Mary sped out of the room.

The police car sped away in haste.

11. downhill

He lost his balance and rode downhill.

She cautiously moved downhill.

Lesson 57 Can I help you, madam?

New words and expressions:

1. madam

Can I help you, madam?

What can I do for you, madam?

This way, please, madam.

2. jeans

A woman in jeans stood at the window of an expensive shop.

Jeans soon became popular on the campus.

It is inappropriate to wear jeans at a party.

3. hesitate

He is still hesitating about taking part in the contest.

I hesitated over the alternatives.

4. serve

The assistant who served her did not like the way she was dressed.

What may I serve you with?

She was well-served at the hotel.

5. scornfully

Glancing at her scornfully, he told her that the dress was sold.

The guard looked at the old man in rags scornfully.

He spoke to his junior scornfully.

6. punish

The woman walked out of the shop angrily and decided to punish the assistant next day.

He was severely punished for his carelessness.

The policeman punished the driver for speeding.

7. fur

She returned to the shop the following morning dressed in a fur coat, with a handbag in one hand and a long umbrella in the other.

The humane society protested against wearing fur coats.

She cannot afford furs.

8. eager

Not realizing who she was, the assistant was eager to serve her this time.

She is eager to meet her new roommate.

There is an eager look on his face.

Lesson 58 A blessing in disguise?

New words and expressions:

1. blessing

A blessing in disguise

It is my blessing to know you.

The disaster is over. What a blessing!

2. disguise

The film star went to public places in disguise.

Nobody saw through his disguise, but his accent gave him away.

3. tiny

The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a ‘cursed tree’.

A tiny minority objected to the plan.

Some tiny creatures lived in the pool.

4. possess

He possessed a large mansion by the seaside.

Now the government possesses the castle.

5. cursed

The family was cursed from the first generation.

I hate this cursed cold weather.

6. increase

Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased.

The number of the students in the school increased by 20 per cent.

The annual production of cars increased to 16,000.

7. plant

The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation.

He planted some trees in the garden.

Many farmers don’t want to plant crops because it’s not profit making.

8. church

She attends church service every Sunday.

The congregation was at church.

9. evil

He is a man of evil fame.

Keep away from evil companions.

10. reputation

Mr. Black has an excellent reputation as a lawyer.

He was a man of integrity, but unfortunately he had a certain reputation.

11. claim

Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims.

The flood claimed 1,000 villagers.

It was reported that the fire in the bar had claimed thirty-four lives.

12. victim

The victims of war claimed compensation.

Children fell victims to violence.

13. vicar

The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.

The vicar gave an excellent sermon.

The local vicar called upon everyone to contribute to the community.

14. source

He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.

The news was from a reliable source.

There were lots of rumors about the sources of the campaign funds.

15. income

We should pay income tax.

He has a small annual income.

16. trunk

In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk.

A koala is resting on the trunk.

The trunk of the oak was burnt by the lightning.