Focus – extra practice – Lesson 6
Collective nouns are words used to describe a group of nouns. For example, 52 cards would be known as a deck of cards. Complete each sentence by choosing the correct collective noun from the box at the bottom of the page.
1. Swimming in the shallow water was a ______of herrings.
2. A ______of sheep was happily grazing in the field.
3. All night we could hear the ______of wolves howling.
4. Looking out to sea, we noticed a ______of dolphins swimming.
5. The ______of lions slept all day on the African plains.
6. A long ______of steps led to the top of the tower.
7. Our cat has just had a ______of seven kittens.
8. We each picked a ______of juicy grapes from the vine.
9. The hen waddled by with her ______of chicks.
10.A ______of thieves stole the precious diamonds.
11.In the jungle, we could see a ______of monkeys swinging in the trees.
12.An enormous ______of locusts ate all the crops.
13.The ______of elephants stomped through the water hole.
14.The ______of geese made a terrible squawking sound.
15.We were in awe as we watched the ______of whales swimming.
Read the following selection. Then answer the questions that follow.
You were born with 30 billion fat cells in your body! These remarkable cells act like microscopic balloons which store excess fat. (Imagine a balloon filled with oil, and that's roughly what a fat cell looks like.) Each fat cell can grow to more than 1,000 times its original size. Once it reaches full capacity, the fat cell divides. Now you have more fat cells for life, and you are more prone to gain weight.
To lose weight, you must shrinkfat cells. But the idea of giving up on all your favorite food would be a severe punishment which leads more often to disappointment. Have you ever asked yourself why most of your dieting attempts didn't work properly? There are several reasons for that. First, dieting actually makes your fat cells fatter. By starving your fat cells, they improve their ability to preserve fat. Second, very low-calorie diets trigger a chain reaction that tells your metabolism to slow down, and consequently, your energy level deteriorates. Third, diets lead to binge eating. If you deprive yourself, you are more likely to eat twice as much once you give in.
When you are active, your body draws open two sources for energy: the food you eat or the fat you have stored in those balloons. If you are inactive, your body will store more fat than it burns. You can definitely lose weight not by following certain diets but by changing your eating habits, such as eating more often-but decreasing your portions-and increasing your energy level to help burn excess calories and stored fat.
If you are serious about safety removal of your extra weight, we can design a program to fit your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget without any of the above concerns! You will not be hungry or deprived of any basic nutrient. Your energy level will soar, and we will counsel you through the entire program. Our program comes with an unconditional 30-day, money-back guarantee! Upon filling out the confidential survey, you will be contacted by one of our associates who puts you on the right track to the life you deserve.
A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
- According to the article, how do people gain weight?
- Is the writer in favor of following a certain diet program? Explain.
- What would the article lose if the last paragraph was omitted?
- Where do you think you can come across articles like this? Justify your answer.
- Are such programs popular in your country? Explain.
B. Using the context clues, explain the meaning of the following italicized, bolded words in the text.
- shrink (paragraph 2)
- deteriorates (paragraph 2)
- survey (paragraph 4)
C. Find words in the text which most likely have the following meanings.
- having the wish or tendency (paragraph 1)
- start or cause something (paragraph 2)
- keep from having or doing (paragraph 2)
- A regulated selection of food (paragraph 3)
- rise above the ordinary level (paragraph 4)
- givesuggestions; advise (paragraph 4)
Read the following situations and give advice.
Your friend is worried he might be getting a little fat. He can’t go to the gym because he doesn’t have time when the gym is open.
You visit your cousin and while you’re talking you notice she’s tired and she looks awful. She tells you that she hasn’t been sleeping good for a few days.
Your friend has to give a presentation in the morning and it’s 6pm and he’s still working in the introduction.
Your dad tells you that he has been offered two job opportunities: one is in the city you live, but it’s not well paid and he has to work overtime sometimes; and the other is in Canada, he is very well paid but he has to live there for two years. He asks for your advice.
Complete the sentences with a passive construction, using the verbs given in the form suggested.
1. Much of London (destroy) ______by fire in the seventeenth century. (Past Simple)
2. The man who (bite) ______by a snake was given a serum. (Past Perfect)
3. A leader should be a man who can (respect) ______. (Infinitive)
4. Many slums (demolish) ______to make way for new buildings. (Present Continuous.)
5. The police (instruct) ______to take firm action against hooligans. (Present Perfect)
6. He (save) ______from bankruptcy by the kindness of a friend. (Past Simple)
7. A cease-fire (expect) ______(declare) ______later this week. (Present Simple, Infinitive)
8. A great deal of research (do) ______into possible causes of cancer (Present Perfect)
9. The worker claimed that he (victimize) ______by his employers. (Past Continuous)
10. The tenant (evict) ______for not paying his rent. (Past Simple)
Complete the sentences with a passive construction after deciding the tense, using the verbs given
1. In 1987, an emergency decisión ______after the oilspill. (take)
2. This morning, aerosol sprays ______from the perfume department. (remove)
3. Next month this river ______. (clean up)
4. The 'hole' in the ozone layer______by scientists for 30 years. (notice)
5. If cars ______from the area, we will soon suffer from respiratory illnesses. (not ban)
6. If a nuclear bomb exploded, the earth______. (destroy)
7. Scientists say that the ozone layer______by chemicals. (destroy)
Rewrite the sentences in the passive, making the words in italics the subject of the sentence or clause in which they appear.
1. They gave the oldest councilor the freedom of the city.
2. They denied access to the secret documents to all but a few.
3. Someone showed the child how to use the telephone.
4. They declared him persona non grata and allowed him only forty-eight hours to leave the
country.
5. They gave him artificial respiration.
6. Why didn't they offer him the job?
7. Didn't they promise you a rise in salary at the beginning of the year?
8. Someone left him a legacy of 10.000.
9. When he looked at the stamps, he found they had sold him forgeries.
10. What did they pay you for doing the job?
Make questions to which the underlined words are the answers:
1. Peter was accused of murder
2. No, it hasn't been answered
3. He was arrested because he hit a man.
4. Few of the girls have been invited.
5. George has been taken to hospital.
6. It will be done next month.
7. The first experiment was made in 1950.
8. It has been tried three times.
9. She was punished by Mr West.
10. He has been asked to leave the house.