Week 7/2 - 7/8


Idiomatic Expressions


 1. When flat-screen televisions first came out, they were selling at a premium.
 2. I don't need the exact numbers right now. Just give me some back-of-the-envelope calculations.
 3. When worldwide demand for software decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.
 4. When demand was down, U.S. automakers had to bite the bullet and cut jobs.
 5. After Gina spent her whole summer working as an intern for American Express, failing to get a full-time job offer from the company was a bitter pill to swallow.
 6. Eli Lilly made a lot of money with the prescription drug, Prozac. It was a real blockbuster.
 7. Sara scored brownie points with her boss by volunteering to organize the company's holiday party.
 8.  With strong sales every year and a great brand name, Mercedes is a cash cow for DaimlerChrysler.
 9. Jamie Oliver, star of the TV show The Naked Chef, cashed in on his popularity by writing cookbooks and opening restaurants.
10.  You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to be productive and to look good in front of your boss.
11.  Comparing a night at EconoLodge with a night at the Four Seasons is like comparing apples to oranges. One is a budget motel, and the other is a luxury hotel.
12.  It's crunch time for stem cell researchers in Korea. New government regulations may soon make their work illegal.
13.  Your company fired you shortly after you had a heart attack? Well, it's certainly a dog-eat-dog world!
14.  When preparing financial statements, accuracy is very important. Be sure to dot your i's and cross your t's.
15.  Sales have been very slow lately. Do you have any ideas for drumming up business?


1.  Enron executives finally had to face the music and admit that they were involved in some illegal activities.
2.  Let's fast track this project. We've heard rumors that our competitors are developing similar products.
3.  Procter & Gamble generated lots of buzz for its new toothpaste by giving away free samples to people on the streets of New York City.
4.  Carlos turned down the project, explaining that he already had a lot on his plate.
5. Car salesmen are famous for using the hard sell on their customers.
6.  The company jumped the gun by releasing a new product before the results of the consumer testing were in.
7.  We had to jump through hoops to get our visas to Russia, but we finally got them.
8.  I know it's difficult going to class after work, but just keep your eye on the prize. At the end of next year, you'll have your MBA.
9.  I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about the project I'm working on. My boss told me to keep it under wraps.
10.  It's true that I don't know him well, but my gut tells me that James is the right person for the sales director position.
11.  It's risky to spend so much money developing a new brand, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
12.  It's your fault. Don't try to pass the buck!
13.  Don't rely on others to get your job done. You need to pull your weight.
14.  After losing millions of dollars drilling for oil in Nebraska and finding nothing, the oil company finally pulled the plug on its exploration project.
15. You think we can start selling our products through our website next month? Time for a reality check! Nobody at our company knows anything about e-commerce. 


What do they mean?

It took Carolyn Fellwock and Charlie Watson only 11 months to tie the knot after meeting on Yahoo Personals – and three years more to call it quits. – Wall Street Journal


Have a good relations with you boss. That does not mean kiss up to your boss. If it gets too far along a bad path, it means you don't get the good assignments, don't get the promotions and don't have a chance to advance your career. Plus, you may just be miserable. Make sure your relationship with your boss is open and honest, casual yet also professional. – The News & Observer 

Steve Girdler, director of services at Kelly UK, agrees that Sugar's methods are impressive. "Sometimes I think we can be too soft in our assessment of graduates. But what's the point when we know that in reality, business can be a dog-eat-dog world?" - The Guardian 

It took Carolyn Fellwock and Charlie Watson only 11 months to tie the knot after meeting on Yahoo Personals – and three years more to call it quits. – Wall Street Journal

No one is predicting that the iPod economy will be slowing soon. Mr. Baker said: "We'vebarely scratched the surface with the video iPod." - The New York Times



Find the mistake 
  
Each of the sentences below has one or two mistakes.  Find them and correct them.(Example :    I am watching television since I came home from school. → I have been watching television since I came home.)







       1.      How long are you learning English ?
                          
       2.      How many cigarettes have you been smoking this afternoon ?

       3.      I am working here since 1995.

       4.      I’ve had my watch since a long time.
 
       5.      How many years are you living in London ?
 
       6.      Mark is exhausted.  He is playing tennis since two hours..
 
       7.      Sophie is doing very well at school since the beginning of the year.
 
       8.      I have worn this sweater since 9 o’clock this morning.

       9.      I know Laura for many years.
 
      10.     Peter is attending English classes since two years.
 
      11.     My best friend has always been hating fish.
 
      12.     How many chapters of the book did you read so far ?
 
      13.     I am waiting for the bus since a long time.
 
      14.     I have listened carefully to the teacher since the beginning of the lesson.
 
      15.     How long are you a member of the tennis club ?  
 

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Modal Verbs


Modal VerbMeaningExpressingExample

must

to have to100 % obligationI must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
to be very probablegood probabilityHe must be very tired after such enormous work

can

to be able toabilityI can swim
to be allowed topermissionCan I use your phone please?
it is possiblepossibilitySmoking can cause cancer !

could

to be able toability in the pastWhen I was younger I could stay up all night and not get tired..
to be allowed tomore polite permissionExcuse me, could I just say something?
it is possiblepossibilityIt could rain tomorrow!

may

to be allowed topermissionMay I use your phone please?
it is possible, probablepossibility, probabilityIt may rain tomorrow!

might

to be allowed tomore polite permissionMight I use your phone please?
it is possible, probableweak possibility, probabilityI might come and visit you in America next year, if I can save enough money.

need

necessarynecessity I need to buy a new car.  The old one broke down.

should/ought to

used to say or ask what is the correct or best thing to do50 % obligationI should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
to suggest an action or to show that it is necessaryadviceYou should / ought to revise your lessons
to be very probablegood probabilityHe should / ought to be very tired after such enormous work

Modal Verbs: Advice


Please provide appropriate advice in the form of a short paragraph for the following use cases.  It's important that you use as many modal verbs as possible including should, must, need to, have to.
  1. A coworker looking to move to the island of La Reunion and work there.  
  2. A couple looking to move to Montpellier and looking for a place to live in the center of Montpellier
  3. A person looking to improve his health.  Advice about diet, stress and exercise.

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Travel crossword puzzle
 





N.B.  There are no spaces between words.
AcrossDown
   1. a long flight causes this
   4. short trip for tourists
   6. used for transporting clothes
   8. form of identification
   9. money used in a country
 12. proof of payment when travelling
 14. visiting places of interest		   2. useful reading for tourists
   3. a place to sunbathe
   5. without taxes
   7. place to stay when travelling
 10. bus for tourists
 11. necessary to enter some countries

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Quiz on Prepositions

1. My best friend lives ______ Boretz Road. 
a. in
b. on
c. at
2. I'll be ready to leave ____ about twenty minutes. 
a. in
b. on
c. at
3. Since he met his new girlfriend, Juan never seems to be ______ home. 
a. on
b. in
c. at
4. The child responded to his mother's demands ______ throwing a tantrum. 
a. with
b. by
c. from
5. I think she spent the entire afternoon ______ the phone. 
a. on
b. in
c. at
6. I will wait ______ 6:30, but then I'm going home. 
a. from
b. at
c. until
7. The police caught the thief _____ the corner of Cascade and Plum Streets. 
a. in
b. at
c. from
8. My fingers were injured so my sister had to write the note _____ me. 
a. for
b. with
c. to
9. I am not interested _____ buying a new car now. 
a. to
b. for
c. in
10. What are the main ingredients ______ this casserole? 
a. about
b. to
c. of
11. My best friend, John, is named ______ his great-grandfather. 
a. after
b. to
c. about
12. Grandpa stayed up ______ two in the morning. 
a. since
b. for
c. until
13. My parents have been married ______ forty-nine years. 
a. since
b. for
c. until
14. He usually travels to Philadelphia _______ train. 
a. by
b. at
c. with
15. You frequently see this kind of violence ____ television. 
a. with
b. in
c. on
16. I told Mom we'd be home ______ an hour or so. 
a. to
b. in
c. at
17. I was visiting my best friend _____ the hospital. 
a. of
b. at
c. in
18. The professor _______ South Africa amazed the American students with her stories. 
a. from
b. of
c. in
19. I'll see you ____ home when I get there. 
a. in
b. by
c. at
20. It's been snowing ________ Christmas morning. 
a. since
b. for
c. until


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