Party talk

With the party season in full swing (= at its busiest now), we consider the language ofsocializing (= enjoying yourself with other people). We’re looking especially at words and phrases which are used to describe the different ways that people behave at a party and the sort of conversations that party guests may have.

Some people are very sociable (= liking meeting people). For them, a party is an opportunity to meet and chat to many people. They may choose to mingle, moving around the room and talking to a lot of guests: I guess I’d better go and mingle with my guests.

Other guests may be meeting for the first time. They may just exchange pleasantries, meaning that they say things to each other which are polite andpleasant but not especially interesting or important: Sarah introduced us at her party and we exchanged pleasantries. Another way of saying this is to make small talk: He doesn’t especially enjoy making small talk with people he doesn’t know. The informal noun chit-chat is also used to refer to conversation about matters that are not important: I don’t even remember what we spoke about – I think it was just the usual party chit-chat.

Some people like to keep the conversation light-hearted (= happy and not serious). They may enjoy a bit of banter in which they make jokes with people and laugh at them: There was the usual banter between the guys. ‘Banter’ is also a verb: He stood around bantering with his colleagues for a while.

Not all conversation is fun and jokey, however. Two close friends may use the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart, talking seriously about their feelings on subjects that are important to them: Paul and Helen seemed to be having a heart-to-heart so I didn’t like to disturb them.

Elsewhere at the same party, a guest may see old friend that they have not seen for a while and may catch up (= hear that person’s news): It was so nice to see you at Nicole’s party and catch up. This phrase is also used as a noun: Let’s meet in the New Year and have a proper catch-up then.

If two people meet for the first time and immediately get on (= enjoy each other’s company), they may be said to (informal) hit it off: I introduced Zoe to your brother and they really hit it off. You might also say that they get on like a house on fire :I wasn’t expecting them to have much in common but they got on like a house on fire.

A short history of Christmas

With only a few weeks left until Christmas, our biggest winter festival is just around the corner! So, we all know why we celebrate Christmas; the birth of Jesus, Bethlehem, the three wise men ... but do we know why we celebrate in the way we do? The tree, the turkey, mistletoe, card-giving? Have you ever wondered where our best loved Christmas traditions come from?

Well actually, most of them can be attributed to the Victorians; Queen Victoria and her husband specifically. Take the Christmas tree which is arguably one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas. Although the symbolic tree dates back to pagan tree-worshiping traditions in Europe, the modern Christmas tree as we know it today was brought to England by German-born Prince Albert. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated fir tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany. Soon afterwards every home in Britain had a tree covered with homemade decorations, fruit, sweets and candles.

The Christmas feast has its roots from before the Middle Ages, but it's during the Victorian period that the dinner we now associate with Christmas began to take shape. Previously, meats such as beef and goose were the centrepiece of the Christmas dinner. Turkey however was favoured by the wealthier, middle class sections of 19th century society and before long it had became the fashionable choice; by the late 20th century it was the dominant meat in a traditional Christmas day feast!

The ‘official’ Christmas card didn’t come about until the 1840s. It all started with Henry Cole. He commissioned an artist to design a card for Christmas. The image was a joyous and festive one and promptly encouraged people to make their own. The advancement of colour printing technology and the halfpenny postage rate helped the Christmas card industry take off and in 1880 the Christmas card industry had produced 11.5 million cards in that year alone. The beginnings of a commercialised Christmas?

Christmas carolling today is a seasonal tradition to wish our neighbours a merry Christmas in song, but carolling originally had little to do with Christmas. Carols of the 12th and 13th centuries were liturgical songs reserved for church processions. Many of the more popular seasonal songs we associate with Christmas— "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing!," "The First Noel," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" — were written during the 19th century.

Lastly,the elusive mistletoe. Celtic legend says the plant can bring good luck, heal wounds, increase fertility and ward off evil spirits. While the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe, unsurprisingly, began in the Victorian era. They believed that a kiss under the mistletoe would inevitably lead to marriage!

Christmas

Christmas in the UK is the biggest holiday of the year. Family gatherings, turkey, presents and parties are just some of the things that come to mind when we think about Christmas time.

Christmas can mean different things to different people. For many people it means eating a lot and spending time with family and visiting relatives and friends. For children it often means presents, presents and more presents!

The origins of Christmas

In ancient times people had mid-winter festivals when the days were short and the nights were very long. They believed that their ceremonies would help the sun’s power return. The Romans decorated their homes with green plants in December to remind Saturn, their harvest god, to return the following spring. In CE440 the Christian church decided that the birth of Christ should be celebrated every year on December 25th. Some of these ancient customs were adopted by early Christians as part of their celebrations of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Green plants are still used to decorate many British homes in December. At Christmas we cover trees (real ones or reusable synthetic trees) with shiny balls and flashing lights!

Cards and presents

It’s very common to send Christmas cards to friends, family, colleagues, classmates and neighbours in the weeks leading up to December 25th. Christmas is traditionally a time for helping other people and giving money to charities. Many people send charity cards; where a percentage of the cost of each card goes to charity. People send fewer cards than in the past as they now send Christmas greetings by email or via Facebook. Christmas presents are reserved for close friends and family. Traditionally the giving of a gift is symbolic of the Three Wise Men giving their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Popular presents for young people in the UK in recent years include a Smart phone, a Playstation Move and 80s retro fashion.

Party vocabulary

Let’s celebrate! (words and phrases for parties)

With Christmas and New Year almost upon us, we thought it a good time to look at the language of parties and celebrations. First, let’s start with the word ‘party’ itself. To have or throw a party or, less commonly, to give a party is to arrange a party: We’rehaving a party to celebrate the end of the exams. If you provide the place where the party happens, often your home, you may be said to host the party: Rosie has offered to host the party at her place. A party for someone who is leaving a place or a company is often called a farewell party or a leaving party: We’re having afarewell party for a member of staff. An office party is a party for a company’s colleagues. Meanwhile, a party that you throw for a person who knows nothing about it in advance is a surprise party: It’s a surprise party so it’s all top secret.

A celebration is a party or other social event on a special day or occasion: There were lively New Year celebrations all over town. The verb celebrate is also used, meaning ‘to take part in a special social event’: We always celebrate our weddinganniversary by going out to dinner. If you celebrate in style, you celebrate in a place that is expensive and attractive: For those who like to celebrate in style, there are the castle function rooms. To mark the occasion means ‘to celebrate a particular event or day’: It’s not every day you turn twentyone.

I think we need tomark the occasion!

A short word meaning ‘party’ that is used a lot is do. You have a do: We usuallyhave a Christmas do at work. Often, the phrase a bit of a comes before ‘do’. (It has no extra meaning.): We’re having a bit of a do for Colin’s 50th and we’d like to invite you. The word gathering is also used to mean ‘party’, the verb ‘gather’ in this sense meaning ‘to come together in a group’. Family often comes beforegathering: There’s usually some sort of family gathering at Easter. A small party or other occasion when friends meet each other is sometimes called a get-together: We were thinking it would be nice to have a little gettogether over a Christmas drink or two. The phrasal verb get together is also used, though often it means simply ‘to meet in order to spend time together’: It’s that time of year when families are getting together for the holidays.

When there are a number of parties or other social activities to celebrate a special occasion,

you might call these festivities: If you become involved in these activities, you might be said to join in the festivities: Come and join in thefestivities, Tom!

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 9

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 8

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 7

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 6

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 5

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 4

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 3

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 2

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 1

Politics UK

In the last general election in the UK, only 44% of 18–24-year-olds voted. Are you interested in politics, or do you change the TV channel when politicians appear on the screen?

Leaders and parties

The prime minister is the head of government in Britain and the queen (or king) is the head of state. British people vote in elections for members of parliament (MPs) to represent them. There are lots of political parties in the UK but the big three are: the Labour party (the main left-wing party), the Liberal Democrats (the main centre party) and the Conservatives (the main right-wing party).

Voting

The UK voting system operates on a majority vote system. The political party that wins the most votes wins the election. For a political party in the UK to form a government they need an overall majority. This means that the ruling party needs to have more members of parliament than all the other parties put together. If the winning party does not have an overall majority then there is a hung parliament.

Coalition government

What often happens in the case of a hung parliament is that the majority party will join up with a smaller party to form a coalition. By doing this, they exclude the main opposition and still have power – although it is now shared between the two coalition parties.

Today’s government

After the 2010 general election the Conservatives and the LibDems formed a coalition government. Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats is the deputy prime minister and David Cameron is leader of the Conservatives and prime minister of Britain.

Young people and politics

All British citizens over 18 can vote in general elections. Some people think that young people in Britain are apathetic and don't care about politics. About 37% of 18–24-year-olds voted in the 2005 general election. This number rose to 44% in the 2010 general election. The overall turnout for 2010 was 65% of the population.

This is what some young people said about British politics.

• ‘I can’t relate to any of the politicians. They all seem fairly similar and rarely listen to young people. If politicians really listened to the voters, I think more young people would vote.’ Fiona, 20 from London.
• ‘I didn’t vote in the last election but I do care about my country. Thousands of people protested on the streets against the government's plans to cut financial help with university fees earlier this year. Only rich people will be able to go to university if we have to pay thousands of pounds to study! I was at the protest and so were most of my friends at uni. I’ll vote in the next election if things don’t change.’ Sean, 19, from Leeds.
• ‘Politicians need to start listening to us. We would get engaged in mainstream politics if we felt that our opinions were respected.’ William, 24, from Sheffield.
• ‘Of course I voted in the last election. Everyone should vote! Young people need to start voting in general elections. If we don’t vote, we won’t change anything.’ Pippa, 23, from Fleet.

General elections are held approximately every 5 years. Will more young people decide to vote in the next election? We’ll have to wait until 2015 to find out.

Read the text about Politics in the UK and then do the three exercises.

1. Check your understanding: true or false

  Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. There are two main political parties in the UK. True False
2. A political party needs an overall majority to win a general election. True False
3. A coalition government is made up of two parties sharing power. True False
4. David Cameron is the deputy prime minister of Britain. True False
5. Less than half of 18–24-year-olds voted in the 2010 election. True False
6. There is a general election every 3 years in the UK. True False

2. Check your understanding: matching

  Match the two sentence halves and write a – f next to the number 1 – 6.

1. …….. If the winning party does not have an overall majority, 
2. …….. Only rich people will be able to go to university
3. …….. If we don’t vote, 
4. …….. I’ll vote in the next election 
5. …….. If politicians really listened to the voters, 
6. …….. We would get engaged in mainstream politics 

a. we won’t change anything.

b. then there is a hung parliament.

c. if we have to pay thousands of pounds to study!

d. I think more young people would vote.

e. if things don’t change.

f. if we felt that our opinions were respected.

Keys

1. Check your understanding: true or false

1. False 2. True 3. True 4. False 5. True 6. False

2. Check your understanding: matching

1. b 2. c 3. a 4. e 5. d 6. f 

3. Check your grammar: multiple choice – second conditional

1. was 2. would 3. listened 4. knew 5. didn’t 6. had

CHAMPS is a band from the Isle of Wight. They have appeared on the British Council's Selector music radio show. 'Down Like Gold' is the name of this song and it's also the name of their first album.

CHAMPS appeared on the British Council's Selector music radio programme, which brings you the best of new, British music. To find out more about CHAMPS and to listen to more of their music, have a look at their website. Music and lyrics by Michael & David Champion (cc).

Preparation: matching

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.

1. …….. a suburb    a. to make eye contact with someone, to attract someone’s attention
2. …….. to catch someone’s eye    b. to attach (someone or something to something with a string or rope)
3. …….. the heavens    c. to pass one end of a piece of cotton or thread etc. through something
4. …….. to break down    d. a long, thin, pointed weapon
5. …….. to tie    e. a residential area on the outskirts of a city
6. …….. an arrow    f. the sky (poetic)
7. …….. to thread through    g. to have the opportunity to do something
8. …….. to get to do something    h. to become emotionally destroyed

Bully

The messages are getting worse, and Kay is really getting desperate. But what can she do?

Kay got another message as she was leaving for school.

unknown number: You’re so ugly.

She put her phone back in her pocket and set off for the bus stop. There were more messages every day now and it was really getting her down. She didn’t know who it was or why they were picking on her. It might be more than one person. They kept changing names. The phone beeped again. 

candybear76: freak!

She’d always got on well with everyone and she couldn’t think why anyone would do this to her. Now her friends were avoiding her. Becky was the only one who’d stayed by her. They’d been friends since they were six. The phone beeped again. I’m not going to look, she thought. But what if it was Mum? She looked. It was a comment on her Facebook profile picture.

princesspusheen: Stop taking photos of yourself. No one wants to look at you. Loser!

Her heart was pounding now. She turned her phone off. She’d tried to delete the posts and block the user but they kept coming back with a different name. Becky thought it must be a hacker. Kay had sent messages to the sites telling them what was happening but they’d done nothing yet.

Becky was waiting for her at the bus stop. 'Hi, Kay, are you all right? You look terrible!' 'No, I’ve been getting those stupid messages all morning. I’ve got to do something, Becky. I’m starting to go mad. Do you think I should go to the police?' 'Well, you could try,' said Becky. 'But I heard they won’t do anything. And besides, he’s probably using anon.com. Hackers use that site to hide their identity so the police will never be able to find them. Anyway, I wanted to tell you, I think I might know who it is ...' Just then the bus came and they got on.

There were lots of kids from school on the bus. Kay felt they were all looking at her. Julie McGann was whispering something to her friend. They both started laughing. Kay and Becky sat down. 'Who is it?' asked Kay. 'Shh! He’s sitting at the back. Don’t look!' Kay looked around. Ollie Jones was sitting on the back seat. He was looking at his phone. 'But why?' asked Kay. 'Well, you did just finish with him, didn’t you?' said Becky. 'What? We weren’t even going out,' said Kay. 'And I don’t even like him.' 'Yeah, well I heard he really liked you.'

That day at school was terrible. When she didn’t have classes with Becky no one would sit next to her and everyone kept looking at her then looking away. She should have left her phone switched off but she didn’t. She couldn’t stop herself from looking at the messages.

The world's weirdest food

How hungry would you have to be to eat a brain sandwich? What about some fried spider? Read this to find out about the world’s weirdest food.

Preparation

Match the unusual food with the country, and write a–f next to the numbers 1–6. If you don’t know, have a guess!

1. …….. USA                       a. Horse milk beer
2. …….. Japan                      b. Brain sandwiches
3. …….. The Philippines      c. Jellied moose nose
4. …….. Norway                  d. Duck egg (with embryo inside)
5. …….. Mongolia               e. Smoked sheep’s head
6. …….. Canada                   f. Tuna eyeball

Feeling Hot! Hot! Hot!

Your mouth is burning, your eyes are watering and you're sweating ... but some people love it! Watch this video about chillies and find out why they are spicy for us, but a bird can eat them just fine.

Do the preparation task first. Then, watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the tapescript at any time.

Preparation

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–f next to the number 1–6.

1. ….. to crush      a. a kind of vegetable with a spicy taste. It's usually red, yellow or green
2. ….. to swallow      b. a scale used to measure the spiciness of foods
3. ….. a seed      c. to want to have something to eat or drink
4. ….. a chilli      d. to break something by pressing down hard on it
5. ….. Scoville heat units      e. to send food down from your mouth into your stomach
6. ….. to fancy something      f. a part of a plant that can grow into a new plant of the same kind

A story

Look at the short story and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Exam question

Write a story with the title “The English Exam”. You should use a variety of tenses and your story must be between 180 and 220 words.

Top Tips for writing

1. Your story should have a clear beginning, middle and end.

2. Use clear paragraphs.

3. Use a variety of narrative tenses.

4. Use direct speech or indirect speech when the characters talk.

April Fool's Day

Is there a special day for jokes and tricks in your country? Do you like playing tricks on people? If you're ever in the UK on April 1st, you'd better watch out!

When and what is April Fool’s Day?

April Fool’s Day is on April 1st. It‘s the custom in the UK to play a trick or a joke on someone on this day. If the person falls for the joke then they are called an ‘April Fool’. In fact it’s only half a day because April Fool’s Day finishes at midday. No more jokes after lunchtime, please!

What kind of tricks do people play?

Here are some April Fool’s tricks from around the world:

• In the 90s Burger King published an advert in the magazine USA Today offering new ‘Left-handed Whoppas’ for the 32 million left-handed Americans! Thousands of customers ordered the new burger in the restaurants!
• A zoo in Japan said that they had a giant penguin that was 165cm tall and weighed 80 kilograms! In fact it was a man dressed up in a penguin suit.
• Last year in the UK a children’s news programme said that scientists had invented a ‘Brain Band’. It was a coloured head band that you put on your head and it helped to make you more intelligent! In an on-line poll, 47% of the children who heard the news wanted to buy a ‘brain band’!
• In 1949 a radio presenter in New Zealand told listeners that there were millions of wasps coming to invade. He told viewers to wear their socks over their trousers and to put honey on their doors. Millions of listeners believed him!
• In 1976 a very famous British astronomer told radio listeners that at 9.47am the earth was going to experience a feeling of less gravity. He said that Jupiter and Pluto would cross and if listeners jumped in the air at exactly 9.47am they would feel the sensation of having no gravity! Hundreds of listeners phoned the radio to say they had jumped and floated in the air!
• Ikea announced that the shop had launched a dog highchair (highchairs are usually for babies!) named 'HUNDSTOL' (Swedish for dog chair). Google 'IKEA dog high chair' for more details.
• The free London newspaper, The Metro, came up with a novel idea to deal with the problem of litter on the underground (unfortunately it was only a joke). They said that the newspaper was now edible – ‘the only paper that you can eat after reading’.
• A British newspaper announced that Portugal had 'sold' Cristiano Ronaldo, the footballer, to Spain for €160million. Why? To try to clear its national debt. It was a joke of course.

Do people actually like April Fool’s Day?

We asked some Brits this question. This is what they said:

I love April Fool’s Day. It can be really good fun. I love playing tricks on people and I don’t mind if people play tricks on me. It’s one day of the year you can be really silly and have a laugh and it’s okay. You have to be quite sensible for the other 364 days of the year, so I look forward to April 1st.

Malisa

I don’t like April Fool’s Day. It makes me a bit nervous. I keep thinking someone is about to play a trick on me. When twelve o’clock passes I feel quite relieved that it’s finished for another year!

Johnny

When I was at school April Fool’s Day was always good fun. We played tricks on each other and sometimes on the teacher. In fact, one year one of the boys at school put a bucket of water on top of the door and when the chemistry teacher came in he got very wet! It was funny, but the boy got in big trouble!

Phil

April Fool’s Day is a great idea. It’s easy to forget the actual date and I always believe everything I read in the newspapers or watch on the TV news. I usually believe the big national hoaxes and it always makes me laugh afterwards. It’s good to remind us that maybe we shouldn’t always believe everything we hear in the news.

Louise

April Fool’s Day is fun when you’re young. I remember putting a plastic fried egg on my dad’s plate for breakfast as a trick. He decided to cut it up and pretend to eat it! Now I think some of the tricks are a bit silly and people can be a bit cruel playing tricks on their ‘friends’!

Clare

I hate April Fool’s Day. Last year people at work changed the sugar for salt so we all put salt in our coffee! Then some joker in the office decided he wanted a day off and he did something to the computers so they wouldn’t work. It just wasn’t funny! I had lots to do and we all had to stop working and solve the problem.

Mark

So watch out this year on April 1st!

Read the text about April Fool’s Day then do these exercises to check your understanding. 

1. Check your understanding: true or false 

Circle True or False for these sentences. 

1. April Fool’s Day is on April 13.                                          True          False 
2. You can play tricks on people all day on April Fool’s Day.   True          False 
3. An April Fool is a person who plays a joke on someone after midday.    True          False 
4. The media (TV, radio, newspapers, etc.) and international companies invent stories to trick people on April Fool’s Day.                                                True          False 
5. People play tricks on their friends and family on April 1st.     True          False 
6. Most people don’t like April Fool’s Day.                              True          False 

2. Check your understanding: gap fill 

Complete the gaps with a word from the box. 

planets burgers insects paper 

penguin invention sports person dogs 

1. A fast-food chain advertised _______________ for left-handed people. 
2. A man pretended to be an extra large _______________ at a Japanese zoo. 
3. A TV programme told children about an _______________ which can make you more intelligent. 
4. Radio listeners were worried about _______________ in New Zealand. 
5. An astronomer said that the position of the _______________ would change gravity. 
6. A shop told customers about a special piece of furniture for _______________. 
7. A London newspaper told readers that their news was printed on edible _______________. 
8. The British media said that Portugal sold a top _______________ to solve the country’s financial problems.

3. Check your understanding: matching 

Match the expressions (1-8) with the correct definition (a-h) and write a – h next to the number 1 – 8. 

1…….. really good fun                                                a. have a lot of problems 

2…….. I don’t mind                                                    b. to not go to work 

3…….. have a laugh                                                    c. not be serious 

4…….. I keep thinking                                                d. very entertaining 

5…….. get in big trouble                                             e. it’s not a problem for me 

6…….. national hoax                                                   f. not very intelligent 

7…….. a bit silly                                                         g. a joke or trick on the entire country 

8…….. a day off                                                         h. I worry 

Do you have a day similar to April Fool’s Day in your country? 

When is it? Is it on the same day as April Fool’s Day? 

What kind of tricks and jokes do people like to play on each other? 

Can you remember any funny jokes or tricks from the past? 

Can you think of a good trick or joke to play on someone next year? 

Answers to April Fool’s Day exercises. 

1. Check your understanding: true or false

1. False 
2. False 
3. False 
4. True 
5. True 
6. False 

2. Check your understanding: gap fill 

1. burgers 
2. penguin 
3. invention 
4. insects 
5. planets 
6. dogs 
7. paper 
8. sports person 

3. Check your understanding: matching 

1. d 
2. e 
3. c 
4. h 
5. a 
6. g 
7. f 
8. b 

CHAMPS - White Satellite

CHAMPS is a band from the Isle of Wight. They have appeared on the British Council's Selector music radio show. This song is called 'White Satellite'. See what you think.

Preparation

CHAMPS appeared on the British Council's Selector music radio programme, which brings you the best of new, British music. To find out more about CHAMPS and to listen to more of their music, have a look at their website. Music and lyrics by Michael & David Champion (cc).

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.

1. …….. a doorway      a. a group of people who sing together
2. …….. to bury      b. a space where there is a door
3. …….. ground      c. to put something in the ground and cover it with earth
4. …….. crown      d. the grey, powdery material that is left after something is burnt
5. …….. a choir      e. an object in space that orbits around the Earth, the sun or another planet
6. …….. a satellite      f. the solid surface of the Earth
7. …….. a frown      g. a circular decorative object worn on the head of a king or queen
8. …….. ashes      h. a facial expression of displeasure made by wrinkling the brow

SuperJam set to make Teenager A Millonaire

Do you have any special family recipes? Watch this video about a Scottish teenager who has created an international business from his Gran's jam recipe.

Preparation

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the number 1–8.

1. …….. a break     a. to make something, especially by using machines
2. …….. jammy      b. to provide things that people want or need
3. …….. to go down a treat     c. to be enjoyable and a success
4. …….. lucrative     d. very pleased or happy
5. …….. to produce     e. making a lot of money
6. …….. an entrepreneur     f. lucky (informal)
7. …….. to supply     g. an opportunity that helps you become a success
8. …….. delighted     h. someone who starts their own business and is willing to take risks

Slang

Slang is very informal language which is often used by young people. It's hard to keep up to date with slang, but this article will help you learn a few words that your teacher may not know!

Language changes all the time. New words and phrases appear and evolve. The words and pronunciations used by young people in the UK can be very different to those used by adults. Living in a multicultural society has an effect on language, especially on young people, whose friends are often from a mix of backgrounds. TV and music also have a big impact on the language of the young. Often UK singers sing in American accents without realising.

Young British people use lots of language that you usually can’t find in most dictionaries. These extremely informal words and expressions are known as ‘slang’. It is not possible to make a complete list of modern British slang. By the time the list was finished, it would be out of date! New words come and go like fashions. However, here are a few examples:

• Safe, sorted, sound, cool or wicked all mean 'That’s good' or 'I understand'.
• Instead of using different tag questions like …isn’t it?, can’t you? or don’t they?, people use innit(e.g., It’s hot here, isn’t it? = It’s hot here, innit!, He can dance really well, can’t he? = He can dance really well, innit! or They always say that, don’t they? = They always say that, innit.).
• Instead of saying very, really or completely use well (e.g., I’m well tired or You got it well wrong!).
• Whatever means I don’t care (e.g., A: But the teacher says we can’t leave until we’ve finished. B: Whatever. I’m going).
• He’s fine or He’s fit both mean He’s good-looking. Fine and fit can describe a boy or a girl.
• A hoodie is a young person who wears a jacket with a hood (a hood keeps your head dry in rainy Britain!). It is a negative word and suggests that the young person might be a troublemaker or even a criminal.

Ethical fashion: Can high street fashion be fair?

We live in a world addicted to so-called ‘fast fashion’ - and chances are, we’ve all been there. Whether it’s £3 pumps or a whole new outfit for under £50, big name brands such as Primark, H&M and Forever 21 are offering new and affordable ways of keeping up with fashion and adding to an ever-expanding wardrobe. But how often do we actually stop and think about how these products can possibly be so cheap? In other words: what is the real cost of fast fashion?

Big brands aim to get customers to buy their products, and one of the largest factors for many people when buying clothes is price; how cheap can I get what I’m looking for? Would this be cheaper somewhere else? It seems that quality is often taking a back seat to how much money we can save, especially in bad economic conditions. For instance, a Cambridge University report shows that in just 4 years, the amount of clothes bought rose by a third-despite the recession.

As a result of this, clothing firms need to get their production costs down as much as possible. The best way is to take advantage of low production costs in countries like China and Bangladesh. Here, factories don’t have the same health and safety standards that we’re used to in the Western world. Wages are notoriously low and employees work for long hours without breaks and in bad conditions. Therefore, the clothes, shoes and accessories that hang in our wardrobes can then be sold for a much lower price…and we rarely think about the people thousands of miles away who made them.

Ethical shopping

We all need to buy stuff from time to time. But do we think about how our shopping affects people, animals and the environment? Here's how you can love fashion and the world we live in.

Ethical shopping

We all need to eat, drink and wear clothes, don’t we? But what do we know about the products that we buy in shops, in supermarkets or online? Many people in Britain want to know more about the products they buy. They want to know how people, animals and our planet are treated when food, drinks and clothes are produced.

Fairtrade

The Fairtrade Foundation is an organisation based in the UK that helps farmers and workers in the poorer parts of the world to earn enough money to live comfortably. The organisation asks companies that grow products such as coffee or bananas to pay fair wages and to provide their workers with good conditions. The companies that follow these requirements then receive the Fairtrade certificate and can sell their products with the ‘Fairtrade’ mark to international consumers. About 5 million people benefit from Fairtrade in 58 countries. More than 90 different products including coffee, tea, bananas, chocolate, cocoa, juice, sugar and honey have the Fairtrade mark. There are over 4,500 Fairtrade certified products for sale in shops and supermarkets in the UK. Almost one in three bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade!

Free range and organic

Free range farming means that farm animals spend time outside rather than being inside 24 hours a day. Meat, eggs or dairy products, such as milk or cheese, can be free range. Some experts say that this type of farming is preferable because it is less cruel and the animals are healthier. Many people also think that free range food tastes better and is more nutritious than conventionally farmed food. Organic food is produced using few or no chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Some people feel that organic food is safer or healthier than conventional food and that it tastes better. You can see organic fruit and vegetables on sale in most British supermarkets. Both free range and organic food can be more expensive than other types of food but despite this they are very popular in the UK. However, a recent report showed that demand for organic food has fallen slightly since the economic recession began in Britain.

Ethical clothing

Fashion is big global business. You can check the labels on your clothes to see which countries they are made in. Some clothing manufacturers have been accused of employing children and of allowing unsafe conditions in their factories. Following the collapse of a clothing factory in Bangladesh which killed a large number of workers, the British public have started to wake up to the question of where and how their clothes are produced. After this disaster a number of brands seen in the British shopping centres, including Primark, Marks and Spencer and H&M, have made a deal to give money each year to pay for factory inspections and to help make conditions safer for workers. People are becoming more and more interested in where their clothes are made, who they are made by, and in what conditions. They want their clothes to look good AND to be ethical. Most fashion manufacturers now have sections of their websites with information about their workers and their environmental policies.

Pre-loved clothes

Old clothes used to be called ‘second-hand’ or ‘hand-me-downs’. Nowadays people also say ‘vintage’ or ‘pre-loved’. Recycling by buying used clothes is popular in the UK, especially with young people. In Britain you can buy cheap used clothes from charity shops such as Oxfam. Well-known celebrities wear used clothes too. Celebrities like Kate Moss and Katy Perry are big fans of vintage clothes and are often seen wearing second-hand clothes and accessories. Another way to recycle is to adapt the clothes you already have. The BBC ran a clothes recycling competition aimed at teenagers. The competition was to redesign an old pair of jeans to create a new garment or accessory. The winners took part in a fashion masterclass and then showed their final designs on the catwalk in Paris.

With the help of organisations like Fairtrade, shoppers in the UK can make more choices about some of the products they buy. Clothes manufacturers are helping to make fashion a safer business and also to keep their customers informed.

Mars One introduction film

Would you like to go and live on Mars? There are plans for a group of scientists to settle on Mars in 2023. Find out more in this video.

Preparation

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.

1. …….. to establish      a. newspapers, television, the internet, radio and magazines
2. …….. a settlement      b. a type of machine used to travel on planet surfaces
3. …….. the media      c. to start something that will exist for a long time
4. …….. the globe      d. a place that can be lived in
5. …….. a private enterprise      e. ideas that you think are nonsense
6. …….. mumbo-jumbo      f. a place where people will live and make into a community
7. …….. habitable      g. a business that is owned and managed by independent people or businesses and not by the government
8. …….. a planetary rover      h. the world

1. Check your understanding: true or false

    Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. The first group of five humans will land on Mars in 2023.    True    False
2. Prof. Dr Gerard T Hooft has changed his initial view of the project.    True    False
3. Humans last went to Mars in the 1970s.    True    False
4. The crew will not be coming back from Mars.    True    False
5. The mission will be financed by creating the biggest media event ever.    True     False
6. Aerospace companies from around the world will supply the equipment.    True    False
7. Government and taxpayers' money will also help finance the project.    True    False
8. The first humans to go there will prepare the settlement for the arrival of the others.    True    False
9. The journey to Mars will take seven years.    True    False
10. Prof. Dr Gerard T Hooft is completely positive about the project.    True    False

2. Check your understanding: multiple choice

    Circle the best answer to these questions.

1. Mars One will establish a human settlement on Mars in __________.    a. 2023 b. 2020 c. 2032
2. The last time that humans walked on the moon was in __________.    a. 1979 b. 1792 c. 1972
3. In __________, a communications satellite and a supply mission will be sent to Mars.    a. 2016 b. 2017 c. 2018
4. Then, in __________, a large planetary rover will be sent to Mars.    a. 2020 b. 2018 c. 2016
5. Next, in __________, living units, life support units, a rover and more supplies will be sent to Mars.    a. 2021 b. 2022 c. 2020
6. When the settlement is fully operational and habitable, a crew will then depart in September __________.    a. 2023 b. 2022 c. 2024

Discussion

Would you apply for the job to live on Mars?   What do you think about the Mars One project?

KEYS

Preparation

1. c 2. f 3. a 4. h 5. g 6. e 7. d 8. b

1. Check your understanding: true or false

1. False 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. True 6. True 7. False 8. False 9. False 10.True

2. Check your understanding: multiple choice

1. a 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. c 6. b

Science experiment in space

What do you think will happen if you wring out a wet cloth in space? Astronaut Chris Hadfield performed a simple science experiment designed by high school students to find out.

Preparation

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a – h next to the number 1 – 8.

1…….. a vice                   a. the natural force that causes objects to fall to the ground or pulls them towards a planet

2…….. surface tension      b. to twist and squeeze (a wet cloth or hair) to remove water

3…….. a washcloth           c. a tool used for holding something tightly

4…….. gravity                  d. completely wet

5…….. soaking                 e. to suddenly force (a liquid) out through a small opening

6…….. to float              f. a small cloth that you use to wash your face or body; a flannel (UK

7…….. to wring                g. the natural force existing in a liquid that holds its surface together

8…….. to squirt                h. to stay in the air or to rest on top of a liquid

The carbon planet

How much do you know about the planets in our solar system? Read on to find out the latest in scientific research in this area.

Preparation

A planet the size of Jupiter has been discovered and it is one of the hottest ones known to us. This has made scientists think about how planets are formed.

Heat signature

Planets such as Earth have more oxygen than carbon, but what if the composition was reversed? This is a question opened up by a recent discovery of a 'diamond planet' by US and UK scientists, led by Nikku Madhusudhan of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and including researchers from Belfast’s Queens University and the University of Warwick. The planet is 1200 light years away from Earth and was observed using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Dr Marek Kukula of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London, whose role is to interpret and comment on astronomical discoveries made by British scientists, explained that researchers initially used the SuperWASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) robotic observatories operating continuously, all year around. They detected the planet, then it was observed with the Spitzer Space telescope, which according to Dr Kukula 'detected the heat coming from the planet, and from that heat signature they can tell what this planet is made from'.

Giant planet

The planet is very different to Earth. ‘It’s a giant planet,’ explains Dr Kukula, ‘a gas planet, a bit like Jupiter in our solar system. But the interesting thing that they’ve discovered is that it has a very different composition to the planets in our solar system. So where our planets have a half fraction of oxygen then carbon, this planet has it the other way around, it has more carbon than oxygen.’ This suggests that there is more than one way to make a solar system and the range of planets in the universe could be much wider than previously thought.

Diamonds and graphite

Dr Kukula says that if there are smaller planets in the same solar system with a similar composition, rich in carbon, their rocks could be rich in minerals such as carbon and diamonds, unlike Earth which has silica, the sand that rocks on Earth are made from. ‘This is where this diamond planet idea comes from; they haven’t actually detected a diamond planet yet,’ explains Dr Kukula. It’s hypothetical, ‘but you can imagine strange landscapes with black graphite rocks lying around and the surface could be covered with sticky liquids instead of water.’

The smart casual dilemma

Dress codes are usually fairly straightforward. If you're going to a wedding (or similar occasion), then you know that you should wear something smart - usually a suit for men, a dress for women. Likewise, if you're going out with friends you can dress casually, in jeans and a top. It's the area in the middle - referred to as "smart casual" - that presents me with a dilemma. This can be interpreted in so many different ways! One person might veer towards the smart side, whilst another might opt for more casual attire. For many of us, myself included, this is a difficult dress code to get right.

I currently work in France as a language assistant. I had no idea what I would be expected to wear to school. You see, in British schools teachers dress smartly. Most male teachers will wear a suit; most female teachers will wear a dress, skirt or suit. On the whole, teachers will wear similar clothing to those who work in office jobs. Even the language assistants I had at school conformed to this (rather strict) dress code. Was I supposed to do the same in France?

Packing was a slightly stressful affair. I was only taking one suitcase, so my choice of clothing was limited. In the end, I decided to take mostly casual clothes, with a few items which I would look relatively smart in. When I arrived in France, I realised there was no need to have worried. Here, the teachers wear jeans to school! I followed their lead: if they wore jeans, it was clearly not an issue if I did too. In fact, I have only seen a handful of teachers wearing suits!

Having spoken to several other assistants, it was clear they also had the same dilemma as me. Perhaps it is because of cultural differences. In Britain and the US, education is a more formal affair and uniforms are important. Here on the continent, it seems to be far more laid back; uniforms don't exist for students, and there is no set dress code for teachers either. Luckily it made my life a lot easier!

The Apple watch: technology gone too far?

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, the Apple watch is the latest invention from the infamous creators of the iPhone and Apple Mac. As the name suggests, this creation is a device designed to tell us the time. This is Apple, however, and an Apple watch is never just a watch. In fact, this accessory is multifunctional; not only does it show us the time, but it also acts as a fitness monitor and a messaging device that can be connected with an iPhone.

Is this a genius invention or technology gone too far?

Whilst the upcoming Apple watch is stylish in appearance, I can’t help but question certain aspects of the new device. Is it a positive thing to be able to receive messages through a watch, or is this another way of letting technology disrupt our social lives?

Thanks to the invention of the smartwatch, we will no longer have to reach for our phones to check our messages. Imagine the possible consequences. A group of friends sitting at a table in a restaurant will ignore each other as everyone will be too busy watching their wrists in anticipation of a new message. Students will have a means of ‘discreetly’ checking their inbox during school, despite the fact that mobile phones are forbidden in class. The list goes on. Although smartwatches may make communicating through technology easier, it seems that it could actually hinder face-to-face communication.

Much like a phone, the watch would also need to be charged every day. This is yet another aspect of the device which sets its apart from any ‘normal’ watch. If, like me, you struggle when remembering to put your phone on charge, this is a not necessarily a positive thing.

I do have to agree, however, the watch has some interesting and purposeful functions. As a fitness monitor, the device can be used to create and record sporting activities. This could be of particular interest to sports fans. Whilst there are several existing android apps that can already do this, I can see that the Apple watch would be a more convenient way of exercising without a mobile phone. The questions remains, however, is the price worth the benefits?

Whilst there are clearly both positive and negative aspects when it comes to Apple’s latest invention, I personally like my single-purpose watch that simply tells me the time! What about you? Would you be interested in having a smartwatch?

Saint Patrick´s Day

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day - also referred to as "Saint Paddy's Day" - appears to have become a worldwide phenomenon. Whilst Saint David's Day is almost exclusively celebrated in Wales and many English people probably couldn't even tell you when Saint George's Day is (April 23rd, if you're interested), celebrations take place across the world for Saint Patrick's Day. It is celebrated on the 17th March - that's just under a week away!

A few days ago, I received an email which informed me that numerous buildings, statues and natural wonders around the world would be green for Saint Patrick's Day. In the UK the London Eye will glow green for the night, as will Nelson's Column. Across the -Coe C R to name a few. Even Niagara Falls will be illuminated for the night! An American friend also told me that the Chicago River is dyed green for the event. I had never heard of this before - but next year I will definitely try to see some of the participating landmarks in the UK!

For a lot of people, Saint Patrick's Day is simply a day to have a drink with family and friends. However, for some people the day is an important cultural event. Dublin - the capital of the Republic of Ireland - hosts lots of events to celebrate the occasion. The Saint Patrick's Festival in Dublin is an event which is attended by locals and tourists alike. There is a huge parade and also some traditional Irish dancing - known as a 'ceili'. One day, I would love to experience this event. Across the UK, many pubs and bars are decorated with shamrocks and will host quizzes or events for Saint Patrick's Day. It has become a hugely popular day in the British calendar - and it looks like its popularity will only continue to grow.

About the Earth

Look at the quiz and answer the questions to practise and improve your reading skills.

KEY

1. B. Antarctica

2. C. The Atacama desert in Chile

3. A. Tibet

4. B. The Red Sea

5. A. The Pacific

6. B. Mount Everest in the Himalayas

7. C. The Nile

8. A. Hawaii

9. C. Venezuela

10. A. Libya

11. C. Colombia

12. C. Antarctica

Tables

Tables are great for organising words into groups. The examples above show a table organised by topic and one for opposites.

A for and against essay about the internet

Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Preparation

Complete the tips for writing a for and against essay with a word from the box.

disagree          formal          plan          reasons          opinions

1. You should give your _______________ on the topic.
2. Always give _______________ for your opinions.
3. You can agree, _______________ or discuss both sides of the statement.
4. The register used in an essay is usually quite _______________.
5. You need to _______________ your essay carefully before you start writing.

A more formal email

Look at the exam question and email and do the exercises to practise and improve your writing skills. 

Preparation

Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. You should use polite expressions and more formal grammatical structures. True   False
2. You don't have to include all the points mentioned in the question. True   False
3. You can use contractions in a formal email. True   False
4. You should avoid using conventional expressions for starting and finishing the email. True   False
5. You should use this style for a person you don't know. True   False

Writing about survey results

Look at the pie chart and text and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Preparation

Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. Your writing should have an introduction, main body and conclusion. True   False
2. You should include your opinion about the results of the survey. True   False
3. You should try to mention or summarise all the information given. True   False
4. You should use a variety of expressions for describing percentages and proportions. True   False
5. You don't have to use connectors or link ideas together. True   False
6. In your conclusion, you should focus on the most important figures or trends. True   False

Writing about a bar chart

Look at the bar chart, question and sample answer and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Preparation

Look at the chart below and circle the best answer to these questions.

1. How many years does the chart show information for?

    a. one   b. two   c. three

2. Who does the chart show information for?

    a. men only   b. women only   c. both men and women

3. How many men studied engineering in Australian universities in 2012?

    a. 6,000   b. 12,000   c. 14,000

Google Science Fair

Elif Bilgin is an up-and-coming scientist. Check out what she discovered about banana peel in this video. Well done, Elif!

Preparation

Exercises

1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.
  1…….. starch                a. a liquid which can be used to make petrol, paraffin and diesel oil
  2…….. bioplastic            b. a mark showing damage on a fruit or vegetable
  3…….. to create             c. a carbohydrate found in vegetables, seeds and some fruits
  4…….. petroleum           d. the outer part of a banana
  5…….. a bruise             e. a type of plastic made from biological things such as plants
  6…….. banana peel          f. a small clear round dish
  7…….. the consequences   g. to make something new
  8…….. Petri dish              h. the outcome

2. Check your understanding: true or false
    Circle True or False for these sentences.
  1. Elif is sixteen years old and lives in Istanbul, Turkey.   True   False
  2. The Bosphorus is where Europe meets Asia.   True   False
  3. Petroleum-based plastics cause a small amount of pollution.   True   False
  4. Bioplastics are more expensive to make and recycle.   True   False
  5. Elif's project was to make plastic out of organic waste materials.   True   False
  6. She had to find equal-sized bananas which were all the same colour and didn't have any bruises.   True   False
  7. The process included dipping, boiling and frying the peel.   True   False
  8. The best part of the process was eating the banana cupcakes and banana splits.   True   False

Keys

1. 1. c 2. e 3. g 4. a 5. b 6. d 7. h 8. f 1.
2. 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. True 6. True 7. False 8. False

Transcript

Transcript for Google science fair Elif Bilgin:

My name is Elif, I’m sixteen years old and I live in Istanbul, Turkey. My favourite place to spend time is watching the view of the Bosphorus. It’s the point where Europe meets Asia and it’s beautiful. Istanbul is a city that never sleeps.

Because I live in a big city I face environmental problems like pollution on a daily basis. I found out that petroleum-based plastics are causing a vast amount of pollution and that bioplastic is a solution. It is cheaper to make, and recycles a waste material. Bioplastics can be made from potatoes because of the starch in them. So the aim of my project was to see if I could make plastic out of organic waste material. Bananas contain a lot of starch and are therefore a potential plastic material. I researched the current methods for creating bioplastics and I worked for two years developing my project. I had to seek out equal-sized bananas with no bruises and they all had to be of the same official colour index. I did encounter some strange looks when I was picking them!

The peel is something we throw away every day but little do we know that it could be put to much more use. The process includes dipping the peel in sodium metabisulphite solution, boiling and puréeing them. The paste is transferred to a Petri dish and baked. I had twelve attempts at making the plastic and all but the last two were unsuccessful. The best part of the process was the moment when I got my first successful result. The type of plastic I have created can have many uses, including cosmetic prosthetics and the insulation of cables. The method I designed is so simple, it’s possible to say you can actually make it at home. Anyone could use this plastic and our beautiful planet will be spared from the consequences of the production of plastics with petroleum derivatives. I can now say that I have perfected my recipe for banana cupcakes and I make an awesome banana split, and of course I’ve ended up eating a tonne of bananas!

Chinese New Year

Dragon dances, acrobats, fireworks, a parade ... London is buzzing with excitement at Chinese New Year. Find out what you can do to join in the excitement!

Preparation

The event

For London’s Chinese community (and everyone else who loves a party!), Chinese New Year is a huge event. Before Chinese New Year, people make sure their houses are clean and tidy, buy new clothes and have their hair cut, to bring good luck for the new year. London has the biggest celebrations outside of Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people go to watch the parade from the West End to Trafalgar Square, which includes Chinese acrobats, and traditional lion and dragon dances.