Luck Superstitions Complete these sentences about superstitions in the UK using the words in the box. your left hand a falling leaf a rabbit's foot a mirror a ladder a black cat a) If you break________ seven years' bad luck. b) Keeping___________ you'll have in your pocket will bring you good luck, c) Don't walk under as you re bound to have an accident. d) Catch_________________in your hand and you'll avoid a cold the following season. e) If_________________crosses your path, you'll have some good luck. f) If_________________itches, you're about to come into some money. Grammar 1 Read the text about the Gorden family. Then use the prompts below to write unreal conditional sentences using if. Example if / house flooded / not / get builders in If the house hadn't been flooded, they wouldn't have got builders in. a) builders / not knock wall down / if not absolutely necessary b) if / not knock down wall / not discover secret room c) if / not discover secret room / sketches / never found d) sketches / be on display / museum / if builders / not find e) if / not rain so heavily / they / now live another house Lucky discovery gives the Gordens three extra rooms Returning home from a trip abroad, Brian and Jenny Gorden were horrified to find their 17th century cottage under two metres of water, following the recent floods. The cottage was so severely damaged that they had to call the builders in. While knocking down a section of the wall, the builders were amazed to discover a 'secret room'. In it they found a collection of original sketches by a famous local artist, several pieces of antique furniture, an impressive collection of antique dolls and a dolls house. They also came across the original deeds to the house, revealing another two hidden rooms. Brian Gorden remarked, 'We're absolutely gobsmacked. We were thinking of buying a bigger house but now we've got three more rooms.' The builders have started to renovate the rooms and the sketches and dolls have been given to the local museum. Luck 27 2 Complete the beginning of these unreal conditionals and each of their three endings. Use the verb in brackets in the appropriate form. a) If I_______(not / stand) behind the door, 1 I________(not / hear) what they were saying. 2 it_______(not / hit) me in the face. 3 I________(not / have) a broken nose! b) If I________(not do) the entry exam tomorrow, 1 I_______(go) away last weekend. 2 I_______(come) to the party tonight. 3 I_______(be) in a much better mood! c) If she________(ask) his boss a little sooner, 1 she________(be) very happy to help him. 2 he_______(not / be) in this mess now. 3 he________(go) on holiday with the rest of us next week. 3 Look at these sentences using wish / if only. Five of the sentences contain a mistake. Correct the mistakes. a) Congratulations. I wished you all the happiness in the world. b) If only I was concentrating when we did the exercise yesterday. c) I wish I could spend more time at home with the kids. d) If only she listened to what he said, she wouldn't be in the predicament she's in now. e) I wish I am not going to New York tomorrow. I hate flying. f) I wish you wouldn't keep tapping your foot like that. It's driving me mad. g) I wish informed you that your membership has expired. h) If only you could see me now. 4 What would you say? Write a wish or a regret using the words given. a) I don't have a lot of free time at the moment. I wish_________________________________ b) I didn't go to bed 'til very late last night and now I'm really tired. I wish / earlier_________________________ c) It would be nice to be able to take some time off work to go on holiday, but it just isn't possible. If only________________________________ d) I said I'd go to the party and now I don't want to go at all. I regret________________________________ e) I missed the train because I wasn't listening to the announcements! I wish_________________________________ f) I really should have revised more for the exam. I regret________________________________ g) I left home so late that I missed the plane. If only / late________________________ h) I have some bad news for you, I'm afraid you've failed all your exams. I regret____________________________ 5 Circle the most appropriate verb form in the texts below. It's no good now saying I wish I (a) bought / 'd bought one. I didn't and that's that. But it's really annoying to think that the one week I didn't buy a lottery ticket my lucky numbers came up. Oh, if only I (b) 'd stopped / stopped at the shop to buy one, but on Friday I was in such a rush that I forgot. You know, if I'd won I could (c) lie / be lying on the beach somewhere now (d) drink / drinking a tropical fruit cocktail. I wish you (e) told I 'd told me that you were coming to Naples, we (f) 'd have / could have met up. I (g) might have I 'd have taken you to the restaurant down the road - it's great. The food is excellent and you (h) could have I should have tried some of our local dishes. I wish I (i) could play / could have played tennis better, but I never seem to have enough time to practise. If only I (j) didn't have to I hadn't had to work so much. I rarely get home from work before nine in the evening. Vocabulary 2 Replace the words in italics in the sentences with words from the box. 1 Read the newspaper story below about a lucky lottery winner. The text assumes a lot of knowledge of British popular culture. How much do you know? Do the quiz and see. Fortunate Fiona wins big Roll-Over in Mail's Saturday Lottery Fiona couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the numbers on the front page of The Mail in her local Co-op. She dashed off home to check her ticket and then, grabbing her mac and umbrella, set off for a swift one in her local to celebrate the big win. The barmaid, on seeing her excited face, asked her if she'd just won the lottery. Fiona beamed, admitted that she had and bought a round of champagne for everyone in the bar. She's currently sunning herself on the deck of a liner on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise around the Med. ! a A 'roll-over' is ... 1 a kind of sports competition ]l|f~ 2 winnings that have accumulated over two ! weeks or more 3 a vintage car * b 'The Mail' is ... ! 1 a letter that has just arrived in the post 2 an e-mail provider 3 a daily newspaper c The 'Co-op' is ... 1 a supermarket 2 a school 3 a bus stop ♦ d A 'mac' is ... ♦ 1 a laptop computer ♦ 2 a raincoat t 3 a breed of dog 2 e 'A swift one' is ... ^ 1 a very fast runner 2 a quick telephone call •# 3 a quick drink f A 'local' is ... 1 a pub near her house 2 her neighbour's house Jfr* 3 the shopping centre : g A 'round of champagne' is ... 1 a barrel of champagne * 2 a bottle of champagne 3 a glass of champagne for everyone present h Med' is ... <«*■ 1 some medicine : 2 the Mediterranean sea 3 a medium sized boat peered clenched scrabbled about tailed off slipped off flitted a) He couldn't believe the news. He walked away from the group and left quietly without saying anything to anybody. b) I don't think I've ever been so scared. I shut my eyes and tightly closed my fist. c) It was a chance to catch up with all her old school friends and she moved around from table to table talking to everyone. d) Suddenly all his change fell on the floor and everyone rushed around, picking it up for him. e) As they walked off into the distance their voices died down. f) I looked over the high fence to see if I could see anyone but nobody seemed to be at home. 3 Complete the text below with phrases from the box. wishing well Wishing you all the best Best wishes wishful thinking make a wish grant three wishes have your wish come true Wish Fulfilment According to superstition there are lots of occasions when you can (a)____________________________. For example, when you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake, or if you can catch a falling leaf in autumn. However, whatever the reason for making a wish, secrecy is of utmost importance if you want to (b)_____________________________, so remember, never tell anyone what you wished for, no matter how much they insist! Another tradition associated with wishes is that of the (c)____________________________, often found in the main square of a small town. If you throw a coin into it you can make a wish. And of course many traditional fairy tales are built around a mystical figure who can (d)____________________________, such as the fairy godmother in Cinderella or the Genie in the Lamp. ' Even in everyday speech wishes can still be very important. We often sign off letters to friends and family with the words (e)'_______________ and send greetings cards which ____________________in your read (f)'______________________ new home / new job / retirement'. And of course, most of us indulge in (g)_______________ __________at times, losing ourselves in impossible daydreams about wonderful plans and achievements. Listening Listen to two friends talking about a film and decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F). a) They both watched the film last night. b) The film is a comedy. [_ c) The story is very simple. \_ d) It has a happy ending. [_ e) It's not really worth seeing. |_ Read the summary of the film. Listen again and complete the summary. Inspired by a true story, (a)________________ is a hilarious comedy about everyone's dream - (b)________________. Set in (c)________________, in the tiny coastal village of Tulaigh Morh, it is the comic tale of Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen) and Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) and a (d)________________that changes the lives of the community forever. When one day Jackie discovers that someone from his own village has (e)________________, he suggests to his life-long friend Michael O'Sullivan that they should (f)__________ befriend them and share in the (g)________________. After a series of false leads they eventually find the winner. Ned Devine is (h) with the (i)______ in his bed in his hand and a fixed smile on his face. After playing (j)________________, he wins, only to die from (k)________________. Ned has no family and (1)________________, so Jackie decides that Michael should (m)________________and try to get the winnings. v Nervous that things are getting out of hand, Michael tries to talk Jackie out of it. But when the (n)________________arrives unexpectedly from Dublin to (o)________________there's no turning back. Eventually, Jackie and Michael realise that they have to involve the whole village in the (p)________________if they are to succeed. The events that unfold are more dramatic than winning the lottery itself. 3 Complete the extracts from the recording by combining a verb in an appropriate form from box A with a preposition from box B. A dress track hand turn work come set keel over up over in up down up out this story is . a tiny old village near b) and d) e) the sea in the Republic of Ireland. ... they decide to_______the winner, befriend him or her, whoever they are . ... when he actually does win he_____ dies from the shock of it! ... when the Lottery representative_______ from Dublin to check the claim ... ... there's this hilarious scene where Michael has to_______as Ned ... ____all right in f) But of course everything the end. g) h) .. persuade the Lottery representative to _______the money ... ... this superb scene of a group of the men from the village standing on the cliff top watching the sun_______and drinking a last toast to the memory of Ned Devine. Listen to check your answers. (Or look at the tapescript on page 78.) 30 Luck Writing 1 Read the review of the film given below. Which of the following things does it mention? d) stories which unfold at the same time as the main story (paragraph 5)_______________ e) not obvious (paragraph 6)_______________ a) the main plot b) the location c) the soundtrack d) the quality of the acting [_ e) the director f) a particularly memorable scene g) the camerawork h) the author's personal response to the film i) a personal recommendation j) the sub-plots 2 Find words in the text which mean: a) extremely funny (paragraph 2) f) an unexpected element at the end of a story (paragraph 6)______________ Match the following summaries to the seven paragraphs in the review. a) The first sub-plot b) A brief summary of the premise of the film c) A particularly funny scene d) A list of its main qualities e) The second sub-plot f) A catchy description of the film and a personal recommendation g) A brief description of the main plot b) rhythm or speed (paragraph 2) c) very talented (paragraph 2) You are going to write a review of a film you have really enjoyed. Decide which film you are going to write about. Then look at the list in 1 and decide which points you are going to include. Use the review of Waking Ned as a model. D 12/09/1998 Movie Review III [t XI XI X ^v Movie Review by Heather Clisby Someone in the tiny town of Tulaigh Morh, population 52, has won Ireland's seven-million-pound national lottery but the question is who? Such is the premise for Waking Ned, a hilarious film that lightly explores the prospects of sudden wealth. Shot on the breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Man, this charming film is blessed with a swift pace, a strong story, gifted actors and a strict focus. (Are you listening, Hollywood?) The first half of the film is a process of elimination as Jackie, Annie and their best pal, Michael, played by the very game David Kelly, go about deducing who the lucky winner might be. Just to be sure that their position is clear, they become the most generous and loving pals to every town member suspected of being a closet millionaire. After buying a few pints and throwing dinner parties, they bring suspicion upon themselves. In the cinematic realm, there exist rare scenes that are instant classics. In Waking Ned there is such a scene and it includes an old motorcycle and one very flustered and very naked elderly gentleman. The audience was literally screaming with hysterical laughter, myself included. Bravo, David Kelly, for really giving us your . . . everything. 5 There are two charming sub-plots in the film that play nicely with one another. In one, two men vie for the hand of a beautiful single mother, Maggie. The first is a shallow ladies man and the other is an honest pig farmer. She loves the farmer but can't quite get past the smell, despite his efforts with fruity soaps. 6 Then there is the nine-year-old boy, Maggie's son, who strikes up a philosophical friendship with the young priest filling in for the village's vacationing clergyman. In a beautiful and subtle twist, the boy emerges as the wise guide to the holy man's naive sufferings. In the final scene, we learn more about the boy's background and then it all makes complete divine sense. 7 The best thing about Waking Ned is that one can't decide what the best thing is. Clever and unpredictable, funny and endearing, level and unpreachy, Waking Ned is a joy. © Heather Clisby Listening & reading 1 b) '....we can't let you in without a tie'. 2 a) He won a jeep in a competition and wanted to see how it performed in the desert. b) Two days c) Four times d) Because the heat of the sun makes everything hazy and he's so exhausted he thinks he must be imagining things. e) No. 3 a) 3 b)5 c)l d) 2 e) 7 f) 6 g) 8 h) 4 4 1 g 2a 3d 4e 5f 6b 7c 8h 5 a) on my last legs b) having a whale of a time c) put the team through its paces d) run low e) quench his thirst Writing 1 a) the present simple b) 1 paragraph 3 2 paragraph 2 3 paragraph 5 4 paragraph 4 5 paragraph 1 c) Any three of the following suggested answers: paragraph 2 - all day and all night, he'll die of thirst paragraph 4 - as quickly as his tired legs can take him, his only thought is water, having almost given up hope paragraph 5 - on his last legs, he drags himself painfully towards the main entrance, his nightmare is over, with his last ounce of strength 2 'I've read it, I've read if 3 b, e, d, a, c 4 Model answer: There's a young librarian who's just started working in a country library. It's a quiet library and she doesn't have many customers, but she loves her job. Every morning she goes to work bright and early, sorts out the returned books, orders some new ones and generally makes sure that everything is kept neat and tidy. It isn't a very exciting job, but it makes her happy. Then one day, as she's sorting through the returned books, a chicken walks into the library and walks right up to the counter. It stands at the counter and starts pointing at the books with its beak, saying 'buk, buk, buk, buk' as chickens are wont to do. The librarian turns round slowly to look at the chicken, not quite sure what to do, and the chicken just keeps pointing at the books, saying 'buk, buk, buk'. It occurs to the librarian that, bizarre as it may seem, the chicken is actually asking for a book. So, she offers one of the books to the bird. To her surprise, it takes it in its beak, turns around and leaves the library. The librarian really doesn't know what to think and is more than a little worried that she'll never see the book again. The next morning, however, the chicken comes back and returns the book. The librarian is very surprised, but thanks the chicken very politely and turns back to her work. But the chicken starts pointing at another book on the counter, so the librarian gives it the book, which it takes in its beak, and waddles away with, looking very pleased with itself. The same thing happens every morning for over a week. The chicken brings back the book it's borrowed from the day before and takes a new one. Each day the book is bigger and more difficult, but each day the chicken comes back, leaves it on the counter and asks for another. The librarian starts to get suspicious. She can't believe that the chicken is actually reading all these books. She starts testing it, giving it philosophical treaties in Latin and ancient Greek, giving it the great Russian novels in the original version, but nothing throws the chicken. Every day it comes back, returns the book and asks for another. In the end the librarian decides to follow the chicken to see what it does with all these books. So, the next day, when the chicken has taken its book and left, the librarian puts on her coat, locks up the library and sets off to follow the chicken. She follows the chicken down the main street, dodging behind cars and into shop windows so that the chicken doesn't see her. She follows the chicken out of the village, dodging behind trees and hedges so that the chicken doesn't see her. The chicken reaches a gate, opens it and goes into a field. The librarian follows it. It crosses the field, skirts around a clump of trees and comes to a pond. The librarian hides behind a tree, feeling sure that she's close to solving the mystery. The chicken goes up to the pond and there at the edge of the pond, sitting on a log, is a frog. The chicken goes up to the frog, with the book in its beak, and drops the book at the frog's feet. The frog takes one look at it, looks up at the chicken and says ... 'Read it! Read it!'. 5 Luck Superstitions a) a mirror b) a rabbit's foot c) a ladder d a falling leaf e) a black cat f) your left hand Grammar 1 a) The builders wouldn't have knocked down the wall if it hadn't been absolutely necessary. b) If they hadn't knocked down the wall, they wouldn't have discovered the secret room. c) If they hadn't discovered the secret room, the sketches would never have been found. d) The sketches wouldn't be on display in the museum if the builders hadn't found them. Answer key 85 e) If it hadn't rained so heavily, they would now be living in another house. 2 a) hadn't been standing / hadn't stood 1 wouldn't have heard 2 wouldn't have hit 3 wouldn't have b) wasn't doing 1 would have gone 2 would be coming / would come / could come 3 would be c) had asked 1 would have been 2 wouldn't be 3 would be going /would have been able to go 3 a) Congratulations. I wish you all the happiness in the world. b) If only I had been concentrating when we did the exercise yesterday. c) correct d) If only she had listened/had been listening to what he said, she wouldn't be in the predicament she's in now. e) I wish I wasn't going/weren't going to New York tomorrow. I hate flying. f) correct g) I wish to inform you that your membership has expired. h) correct 4 a) I wish I had more free time. b) I wish I'd gone to bed earlier last night. c) If only I could / were able to take some time off work to go on holiday. d) I regret saying /having said that I'd go to the party. e) I wish I'd been listening to the announcements. f) I regret not having revised /not revising more for the exam. g) If only I hadn't left home so late, then I wouldn't have missed the plane. h) I regret to tell you that you've failed all your exams. 5 a) 'd bought b) 'd stopped c) be lying d) drinking e) 'd told f) could have g) 'd have h) could have i) could play j) didn't have to Vocabulary 1 a) 2 b)3 c)l d)2 e) 3 f) 1 g) 3 h) 2 2 a) slipped off b) clenched c) flitted d) scrabbled about e) tailed off f) peered 3 a) make a wish b) have your wish come true c) wishing well d) grant three wishes e) Best wishes f) Wishing you all the best g) wishful thinking Listening 1 a) F b) T c) F d) T e) F 2 a) Waking Ned b) winning the lottery c) the Republic of Ireland d) lottery scam e) won the lottery f) track them down g) jackpot h) dead i) winning ticket j) the lottery all his life k) the shock 1) no relatives m) pretend to be Ned n) lottery representative o) check the claim p) scam 3 a) set in b) track down c) keels over d) turns up e) dress up f) works out g) hand over h) come up Writing 1 a), b), d), f), h), j) 2 a) hilarious b) pace c) gifted d) sub-plots e) subtle f) twist 3 a) paragraph 5 b) paragraph 1 c) paragraph 4 d) paragraph 2 e) paragraph 6 f) paragraph 7 g) paragraph 3 6 Mind Mind songs 1 a) 2 b)4 c)3 d) 1 2 a) suspicious minds b) on my mind c) change your mind d) made up my mind Grammar 1 a) I feel like going to the cinema b) correct c) ... because she wasn't listening to what the teacher was saying. d) ... he heard /could hear strange noises e) correct f) I think I can smell ... g) correct h) This fish tastes funny. 2 a) can hear b) couldn't taste c) am smelling d) able to hear e) could smell 3 a) Having worked really hard at the meeting, we all went for a meal on the company. b) Not knowing the area very well, there's a danger he'll get lost. c) Having been cleared of theft by the courts, he immediately got his old job back. d) Being lost in thought, he didn't notice that his train had pulled out of his station. e) Not having made a very good impression at the interview, she was worried that she wouldn't get the job. f) Not being particularly interested in the talk, she decided not to go. 86 Answer key