Choose the correct definition for the boldfaced idiom.

1) The news about the tragic terrorist acts hit us like a ton of bricks.

a) We were in a shock.

b) We didn’t feel anything.

c) A ton of bricks fell on us.

2) I always tell my friend to make herself at home when she comes over.

a) Clean the house

b) Act like my home is her home

c) Build herself a house

3) When his father came home and saw the mess, he hit the roof and punished his son.

a) To become very angry

b) To daestroy the ceiling

c) To be surprised

4) I tried to tell Mark that he was wrong, but it’s like talking to a brick wall.

a) He is talking about the wall.

b) He plans to build a wall.

c) He doesn’t listen to what I’m saying

5) We wanted to spend several days in the country, but my boss didn’t let me go. So, our plans went out of the window.

a) Our plans didn’t come true.

b) We jumped out of the windows.

c) We plan to go next week.

6) We went to that new fashionable restaurant tonight. The food was all right but nothing to write home about.

a) The food was excellent.

b) The food was not especially good or exciting.

c) I have no news to write about to my mother.

2. Tell your partner about …

1) some news that hit you like a ton of bricks.

2) a place that you make yourself at home.

3) the time, when you or someone you know, hit the roof about something.

4) a time when you felt like talking to a brick wall.

5) a time when your plans went out of the window.

6) a place, a movie or book that is nothing to write home about.

 

Grammar: going to (future plans)

What are your plans for the winter/summer holidays/next month/next year?

Use going to to talk about future plans and intentions.

 

· I’m going to spend my holidays in Astana this summer.

· I am not going to stay in London for more than three days.

· What is he going to talk about at the seminar on Monday?

Notice that this plan does not have to be for the near future.

· When I retire I'm going to go back to Barbados to live.

· In ten years time, I'm going to be boss of my own successful company.

We use 'going to' when we want to make a prediction based on evidence we can see now.

· Look out! That cup is going to fall off.

· Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain soon.

We can replace 'going to go' by 'going'.

· I'm going out later.

· She's going to the exhibition tomorrow.

When talking about future plans, use the example below.

e.g He is going to get a better job this month to earn some money.

describe your plans indicate the time give reasons

1. Choose the right form of the verbs:

2. I (fly) _________ by plane tomorrow.

3. Hi, what time (the train/pull out) __________this evening?

4. (you/visit) _______________ Paris?

5. I (to go)____________ to the cinema tonight.

6. They always (have) ____________ breakfast at 07.30.

7. We (go) ____________ out this weekend.

8. What time (they/start) __________ work?

9. The library (open) __________ at 8.30 and (closed) ________ at 7.30.

10. The parents (have) ________________ a meeting on Saturday

 

Work in pairs. Student 1 reads daily schedule A, student 2 reads daily schedule B.

A	Monday, 19th	B	Monday, 19th
8.00	Breakfast (eggs, toast, coffee)	8.00	Jogging in the park
8.30	Going to work by car	8.30	Breakfast (salad, orange juice)
9.00	Meeting with Mr. Jones	9.00	Going to the university by bike
10.00	Going to the bank	10.00	Lecture (English literature)
12.00	Lunch break	12.00	Lecture (Philosophy)
13.00	Visiting a dentist	13.00	Lunch break
14.00	Going to the airport to meet Mrs. Smith	14.00	Working in the library

Now ask each other questions about his/her schedule on Monday.

e.g. - What are you going to do at 8o’clock?

- I’m going to have breakfast in a restaurant.

- What are you going to have for breakfast?

- I’m going to …

Tell your partner three things you are planning to do this week. Make one of your sentences false. Your partner must decide which one is false.

Reading

1. Answer the following questions:

After you graduate from the University, do you want to live in your hometown? Why or why not?

Do you miss your home town? What do you miss the most?

Do your childhood friends still live in your hometown?

Does anyone famous come from your hometown?

Match the words below with their correct synonyms.

	famous person	A	to come together in a group
	place	B	to show respect to somebody
	to gather	C	celebrity
	to honour	D	Site

Read about famous hometowns in the USA.

America’s famous hometowns

For tourists who want to visit their favorite idols' hometowns and birthplaces, America is one of the best places. Many big and small hometowns of famous people make money on their names by driving tourists around the town.

In Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis fans take the Early Years Driving Tour, which starts at the house where Elvis Presley was born 35 minutes after his twin brother, Jesse Garon. The small wooden house was built by Elvis' father, grandfather and his uncle. But Elvis' birthplace is just the beginning. The tour continues to several important sites, including Tupelo Hardware, where Elvis' mother Gladys bought him his first guitar, and the Assembly of God church, where the future King of rock 'n' roll first fell in love with gospel music.

After the King of Rock 'n' Roll came the King of Pop. Several hours after the news of Michael Jackson's death in June 2010, thousands of fans gathered in Los Angeles outside the hospital where Jackson died. For New Yorkers, Harlem's Apollo Theater was a natural place of meeting - in 1967, the newly formed Jackson 5 won the famous competition, which helped start their careers. Residents of Gary, Indiana went to 2300 Jackson St., Michael's childhood home. Many fans continue to honour their hero outside the small house, which still belongs to a member of the extended Jackson family.