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Reading

Airplanes and Flying

3.533335
Average: 3.5 (15 votes)

I have a love-hate relationship with airplanes. The 'love' part is fairly straightforward, so let's get that over with right away...

I love airplanes because they get me from where I am to where I want to be in a relatively quick and easy way, in a straight line from A to B, across the C.

There you go. I told you it was fairly straightforward.

What I hate about airplanes is pretty much everything else.

Good News for Chocoholics

2.916665
Average: 2.9 (12 votes)

Chocoholics across the world, I have some excellent news!

Read the article below and then decide which word completes each gap.

I've given you the meanings of the words to help you complete the exercise, as well as a few pieces of useful vocabulary.

The useful vocabulary DO NOT FIT THE GAPS, it is just there to help you out. Good luck!

Lesson by Caroline Devane

Goals and Desires

3.555555
Average: 3.6 (18 votes)

A very wise woman once told me about the difference between desires and goals and I've decided that I'd like to share that information with you. The difference between the two can be difficult to understand sometimes but knowing they exist can help you move towards your dreams in a contented way.

Head and Mind Idioms

1.89119
Average: 1.9 (193 votes)

Have you ever given a presentation or made a speech to a group of people? Did you feel nervous? Did the people enjoy what you said?

The Business Presentation

Take a look at this paragraph and pay special attention to the 5 idioms in orange:

Reading: Watching TV

4
Average: 4 (7 votes)

Do you think you watch too much TV? Honestly, I wish I could watch more but I'm usually studying or working!

Apparently, TV shows ending can make some people very upset. Have you ever been sad because a show has ended? What are your favourite programmes? Let us know!

Take a look at this article what is Downton Abbey and what is the Downton Abbey Effect? Leave your answer in the comments box.

Extreme Sports in Cape Town

2.8
Average: 2.8 (10 votes)

Thrill-seeker: a person who enjoys taking part in extreme sports and other activities involving physical risk

So many of my English students in Cape Town used to terrify me with videos of them bungee jumping or swimming with sharks!

I would NEVER do anything like that, for me riding a rollercoaster is all the excitement I will need.

Having said that, I am considering abseiling down Table Mountain in a few months, but that's not for fun, that's for charity!

Use of English

3.25
Average: 3.3 (44 votes)

Read the text below and decide word best fits each space.

When I was younger I had a job working in a factory, it was _1_ after I graduated from university. I worked there for about six months while I did interviews for a 'real' job that would start my career.

Reading: British love talking about the weather!

3.857145
Average: 3.9 (7 votes)

Britons spend six months talking about the weather!

This fact probably doesn't come as a surprise to those of you studying in Britain!

We love talking about the weather, well actually, mostly complaining.

An annoying rain shower or a day when it's too hot to use the underground are our favourite topics of conversation!

Read through the article and then try and fit the words in the correct gaps!

Reading Comprehension: True or False

3.86207
Average: 3.9 (29 votes)

Marathon: A long distance running race of 26 miles.

I was extra interested in this year's London Marathon as one of my best friends, Adelle, was running it for the first time!

This year, the male and female races were both won by Kenyan competitors.

Here is a very brief article about the top runners.

Read the article and then try and answer the true or false questions below.

Lesson by Caroline

London Riots and Clean Up

1.48889
Average: 1.5 (180 votes)

Before they started appearing in court, most people _1_ London's rioters and looters were unemployed young people with no hope and no future.

Yet among those arrested _2_ a graphic designer, a postal employee, a dental assistant, a teaching aide, a forklift driver and a youth worker.