Practising English

Today I have joined the two halves of The Quiet Man together so you can enjoy this story in one complete story. 

I briefly discuss intonation and give you a task to listen to while enjoying the story.

For more podcasts on intonation at Practising English, go to podcasts: 126, 109, 43, 103. See the podcast numbers at my website...
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-content.htm

The Quiet Man

First part of story. If you can't see the words in red on your app (the stressed words), you can visit my website at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-196.htm:

‘Come on, you’ll like them! They really are super people!’

Simon Willoughby wasn’t convinced. He had never been keen on theatres and actors.

On the only occasion Simon had actually been to the theatre, he had felt terrified. On this visit, he was sitting just two rows back from the front, when, during the play, one of the performers had come down from the stage. She asked if someone would like to come up and take part in the play. As nobody raised their hand, the actress came among the audience to look for someone. 

For one terrible moment, Simon thought it was going to be him. He closed his eyes, and his heartbeat raced while sweat poured off his face and hands. Fortunately, for Simon, the actress chose another person, who had been sitting right next to him. Simon could breathe normally again. In fact, feeling worried that the same thing might happen later on in the performance, Simon got up and quietly walked out of the theatre. He’d never been back.

How he had become friends with his department’s manageress, Simon couldn’t even guess. She seemed to like him. Her name was Phillipa, and she had asked Simon to come into her office to talk about his work in the company. He couldn’t really understand why he deserved the attention. His work as a computer programmer was hardly important, as what he did was simple and even rather dull.

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Extracts from my stories with examples of SO and REALLY Here are the 4 extracts from my stories I use in this podcast to give examples of the use of SO and REALLY as intensifiers. 

Extract 1:

'The fishmonger,' corrected Vanessa again. 'The person who sells fish is called a fishmonger.' 

 'The fishmonger was REALLY big and fat,' added Jason. 'Then Gran pointed to the fish man and said to me, "Do you know what this gentleman's name is?" And I said, "No, I don't." And Gran said, "His name's Mr Whale!" And Gran laughed, and the big fat fish man looked at me with his big red face and laughed, and everybody in the shop laughed, but I didn't laugh because I didn't understand what was SO funny. 

Then Gran said it again, "His name is Mr Whale!" So I said "Oh! I see! His name is Mr Whale, and he's REALLY big and fat like a whale!" And then everybody stopped laughing, and Mr Whale went redder in the face, and then looked the other way, and Gran was REALLY annoyed, but I didn't understand why.' 

'Stupid!' said Vanessa angrily. 'It was funny because his name is Mr Whale and he's a fishmonger. Don't you see?' 

For extracts 2, 3 and 4, visit my website at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-195.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Writing the B1 article.

(If you are interested in my podcast about writing the B1 story...
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-128.htm )

These are some general, very important words I recommend you learn for writing in any part of the PET exam. You won't be able to use all of them, but try to use some at least:

unless, available, suitable, encourage, increase, intend to, involve, keen to/on, supposed to, unable to. (Which words do I use?)

These are the usual topics that come up for the article, Try to learn a few B1 words and expressions related to each topic.

work (adults only), 

shopping, 

Travel and transport.

Entertainment.

Leisure activities.

Sport, health and fitness.

Education.

News and media. (adults only)

Technology.

My topic today for the article today: Sport, health and fitness.

You see this notice in your school magazine. Write an article about young people and how to be healthy. Do you think it is important for young people to do sport and keep fit? Why?

Which are the best ways to stay healthy?

The best articles to answer these questions will be published next month.

Write your article.

Vocabulary for this topic: (which words do I use?)

fitness

illness

unfit

unhealthy

disease

aches and pains

injure

keep fit

recover

join a club

competition

compete

court

pitch

Swimming, the best way to exercise.

In this world where mobiles and video games are available to everybody, keeping fit isn't always easy. Do you find time to exercise?

I'm really keen on swimming, so I joined a club, where I go nearly every day, and I feel great! However, my brother’s idea of leisure is playing video games! Now he has a weight problem, he’s unfit, and complains of aches and pains. He's unable to swim one length of our local pool!

Although TV and video games are fine sometimes, I encourage teenagers to swim because it keeps you fit and healthy. Be free of pain and start swimming!

So I used the following general B1 words: available, keen on, unable to, encourage.
And the following specific words related to the topic: keep fit, joined a club, unfit, aches and pains. 

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Expressions to memorize

1) There is a decline in the numbers of lynxes. (usually negative)
The decline in the number of tourists.

2) It is extremely important that we finish this project on time.
It is crucial that we finish this project on time. 

3) Tigers are an endangered species.
Tigers are a threatened species.
Bees are becoming threatened by the use of pesticides.

4) Forests are disappearing very quickly.
Unemployment is increasing at an alarming rate. (usually negative)

5) Preventing climate change is becoming more and more difficult.
Preventing climate change is becoming increasingly difficult.
Language learning has become increasingly important.

6) We were very confused trying to understand the menu in Chinese.
We were very puzzled trying to understand the menu in Chinese.

7) Everybody in our group was unhappy with the service at the restaurant.
Everybody in our group was dissatisfied with the service at the restaurant.

8) The tourists were all very happy after the party.
The tourists were all very content after the party.

9) We thought the Swiss mountain scenery was incredibly beautiful.
We thought the Swiss mountain scenery was breathtaking.
Some of their football was breathtaking, a delight to watch. 

10) He didn’t get up in time, so he missed the bus.
He failed to get up in time, so he missed the bus.

FCE Writing Paper (Part 1)
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your points of view.
People need to do more to protect the environment. Do you agree?

Notes:
1, Recycling
2. Using bicycles and public transport
3. .......... (your own idea)

People need to do more to protect the environment. Do you agree?

The topic of the environment is an increasingly worrying issue. How much consumers should be involved in caring for our planet is a subject that needs to be discussed.

We should all feel dissatisfied with the current situation of waste. Recycling is available to all of us. Providing local governments place bins near our home, surely, the consumer alone must be responsible for their own recycling.

Secondly, taking the bicycle or public transport instead of the car is an option we should all choose. On the other hand, if local government fails to provide proper bicycle lanes or transport services, our choice may be limited.

Thirdly, as forests disappear at an alarming rate, and animal and plant habitats decline, consumers need to make better choices when shopping to protect our threatened ecosystems. Therefore, it is crucial we buy more goods that come only from renewable forests, and clothing and food produced ecologically.

In conclusion, I find it puzzling that so many people believe irresponsible governments alone will take care of our planet. We should not feel content that everything will be done for us. Instead, both governments and consumers must become more involved.
(194 words)

The word not used in the essay was 'breathtaking'.
Also see https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-193.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Introduction to part 2 of The Breath of the Mosquito
Emil Zimmermann, professor of astrophysics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University sat back in his leather chair and studied the colourful feather, he was holding in his hand, through his thick glasses. 

‘Incredible!’ he said. ‘You say it comes from an extinct* type of bird, don’t you?’

Mathew was sitting the other side of Emil’s huge wooden desk, covered in piles of papers.

‘That’s what we believe, yes, Emil. It came from a bird called Geranopterus alatus, we have found them as fossils from the Eocene period. It stood about thirty centimetres high, so it was quite a large bird. If it was still flying about the county of Oxfordshire, somebody would have seen it.’

Here are some of the "space" words that you will hear in the story:
‘Yes, of course. That’s true, but it’s not exactly what I meant,’ Emil continued. ‘Our Earth, the sun, and all the planets in our solar system are moving through space, as we go round or orbit the centre of our galaxy. In fact, the Earth and sun are moving at 720 thousand kilometres per hour in their galaxy orbit. But, we then also have to consider the speed of the complete galaxy. All the galaxies are moving through the universe at enormous speeds. In 4 billion years from now, we will crash into Andromeda, our nearest neighbour galaxy.’

‘That’s amazing,’ said Mathew. ‘But, what are you trying to say?’

‘This means that if you travelled back in time on Earth 33 million years and lived to tell the story afterwards, you must also travel back to where the Earth was situated 33 million years ago.’ 

Emil looked hard at Mathew. ‘Earth, Mathew, was many, many light years away from where it is now 33 million years ago!’ said Emil loudly. ‘A time traveller must also be a space traveller, an astronaut!'

I'll also talk about the use of Question Tags.
You can listen to how they are used, and why we use them.
There are also some exercises on Question Tags at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/english-grammar-exercises/question-tags_2.htm

Answer to the question - What does the professor of astrophysics say about the breath of the mosquito?
Here is the extract from the story which explains this theory:

'If… if something went back in time and existed in the past, something or somebody who was not there before, he/she/it would change time in the present. Things would not be the same when he or she returned. It would take just a moment, the tiniest movement in the past would have the effect like a stone thrown into a pond. The circles of effect would move out, growing and growing for ever and changing the world as they go.’

‘But, Emil,’ interrupted his friend. ‘I was only there for a minute or so.’

‘Mathew, a minute is a long, long time. Listen to me, even the breath of a mosquito 33 million years ago would change the world and events in history as we know them today. Just one breath of a mosquito. Imagine how incredibly small that would be. 

I hope you enjoy the story!

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

This is a B1-level short story in two parts.

Professor Mathew Pearson, a paleontologist and professor at Oxford University, made an incredible discovery when he found a skull. Tests are done and the results are extremely surprising...

Technical vocabulary in the story
Prehistory / A prehistoric scene
paleontology
fossils
The Jurassic period (finished 145 million years ago)
The Eocene period (finished 33m years ago)
skull
The prehistoric animal mentioned in the story is a sarkastodon.

B1 vocabulary I discuss at the beginning before the story starts
The weather forecast 
seriously hurting the planet
spectacularly beautiful buildings
A friend had introduced them to each other.
Christine had encouraged him to keep on going.
explain in detail
We must keep it a secret.
changed the subject
taking all this extremely seriously
Sorry, if I kept you waiting!
'I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure,’ said Mathew.
There was an embarrassing pause.
without any doubt

Listen for these phrases and enjoy the story.

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

This is the third and final part of the story 'The Harmonica Players'.
Here are the B2 phrases I discuss in the podcast.

1) This was not the familiar peaceful atmosphere of Oxted.

2) He found London rather threatening.

3) An awful lot of unfamiliar people who packed the streets.

4) You were swept along by dense, hostile crowds of total strangers.

5) A black man in a hat, moving quickly towards Jeffrey in the opposite direction, bumped straight into him.

6) Jeffrey, although in his fifties, was quite a well-built man, so managed to keep his feet.

frostily
coldly
icily
Which one do I use in the story?
7) 'That’s my wallet!' said Jeffrey ????. 'What do you want from me?'

8) Jeffrey felt he had no choice. He reluctantly took out his own harmonica from his pocket.

9) While Jeffrey was still trying to figure out what he had meant by that comment.

10) He wasn’t ready, but he wanted to give it a go. (I also use give it a try, which has the same meaning,)

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

In Part 2 of my story, The Harmonica Players, I’ll be talking about racial prejudice. That means the irrational distrust and dislike of people from other countries. My motive for bringing up this topic and creating Jeffrey, a man who is very prejudiced against foreigners, has been from the unfortunate policy by the current Conservative party in the UK, who have proposed and are about to carry out flying immigrants, who have arrived illegally into the UK, to the African country of Rwanda.

This is a B1 to B2 level English story.

B2 vocabulary discussed in the podcast:
foreigner
native English
"I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English."

In contrast to
primarily
"In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people."

respectable
"All respectable, traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say. "

upbringing
"His upbringing had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan* cities. "

distrusted
"He distrusted foreigners in his country, in general. "

superior / inferior
What does he say about these words? (see answer 1 below)

raise their voices
Who don't raise their voices? (see answer 2 below)

take it for granted
decency and fair play
"In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play*. 

deceit and dishonesty
"Unfortunately, the deceit and dishonesty, which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name. "

discourage
"The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would discourage others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel. "

"immigrants giving the country a bad name"

Answer 1) His main argument was that why would anyone from another country wish to live in England unless his or her own origins were somehow inferior*. Here, in England, everybody enjoyed a superior* culture, a better welfare state: medical care, friendly doctors (such as his own Doctor Feelgood, for instance).

Answer 2) The English didn’t raise their voices* or shout at each other like they did on the Continent. (By the term ‘the Continent’, Jeffrey referred to all of Europe excluding* Britain.) 

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

The Harmonica Players. The story of two people who are very different from each other, yet there is something that unites them.

Words and expressions discussed in the podcast:

bedsit - accommodation, which is very basic, and is usually just one room.
meter - a machine you put money into which controls the amount of electricity is consumed.

-        Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower

-        All of a sudden, the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on* at once.

-        work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of

-        From time to time, he gave harmonica lessons online…

-        Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do.

-        Every once in a while, he’d found work doing what he really loved

-        a chance of a lifetime

-        he dropped out of college

-        struggling to make ends meet

-        Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones

-        They should be behind bars.

-        [She] gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow

https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-188.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

This is a B1 and B2 level podcast with a new story about the ages of Man. (See link to audioscript of story below.)

B1 words discussed:
sunrise
landscape
valleys
scenery
waterfall
cave
the cool shade
setting sun (sunset)
B2 words discussed
youth
bounced along
life was a gift, which he would grab for himself
make the most of
the lines around his eyes
a bald area
mature
his  body was curved and bent
slow, clumsy and tired
leaned awkwardly
his old legs struggling to make the final steps

To see full transcript, visit my website:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-187.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...