October 2012 Signed, sealed, undelivered Basic Vocabulary: Sending things. Choose the correct option. 1. 2. 3. a) a package b) a courier c) a letter a) a package b) an address c) a stamp a) a courier b) an address c) a stamp 4. 5. 6. a) a courier b) a letter c) a stamp a) a courier b) a package c) an address a) to receive b) to sign c) to deliver 7. 8. a) to receive a) to receive b) to sign b) to sign c) to deliver c) to deliver [See answers below]
Read the news story. Signed, sealed, undelivered A romantic prankster almost suffocated when he mailed himself to his girlfriend in a box and got lost in the post. Hu Seng, from Chongqing City in southern China, paid a courier firm to deliver him to partner Li Wang as a joke. But couriers mixed up the address, and instead of 30 minutes in the sealed box, Seng was trapped for nearly three hours. From http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/signed_sealed_undelivered, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 Vocabulary sealed (v) undelivered (adj) prankster (n) suffocate (v) mail (v) lost (adj) post (n) firm (n) partner (n) joke (n) mix up (exp) trap (v) closed not delivered person who likes playing tricks on other people to die because you have no air and cannot breathe to send something, using a postal service something that is in the wrong place and you cannot find it the service of the Post Office service or business the person you have a relationship with (boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.) something you do to make other people laugh to confuse, to make a mistake to be in a bad situation, not able to escape Answers: 1 c, 2 a, 3 b, 4 c, 5 a, 6 a, 7 c, 8 b
October 2012 Signed, sealed, undelivered Intermediate Vocabulary: Friends and acquaintances. Choose the correct option. 1. Splash is my. He's a lovely dog. a) classmate b) companion c) colleague 2. Samantha's gone to the library to study for the exam with a of hers. a) classmate b) partner c) colleague 3. Brad? Oh, he's just. He goes to the same gym as I do. a) a partner b) a colleague c) an acquaintance 4. This is Martha, my, and this is Wendy Sue, our daughter. a) roommate b) associate c) partner 5. Patty and her, Bruce, have been going out together for a few months. a) boyfriend b) colleague c) associate 6. Ella's my at the moment. I often stay over at her place. a) colleague b) associate c) girlfriend 7. This is Wanda, my at the college residence. a) colleague b) roommate c) associate 8. Angus is a of mine. We work in the accounts department. a) colleague b) partner c) associate 9. This is Bert Pennywhistle, my in this exciting new project. a) companion b) partner c) associate [See answers below]
Read the news story. Signed, sealed, undelivered A romantic prankster almost suffocated when he mailed himself to his girlfriend in a sealed box and got lost in the post. Hu Seng, from Chongqing City in southern China, paid a courier firm to deliver him to partner Li Wang as a joke. But couriers mixed up the address, and instead of 30 minutes in the sealed box, gasping Seng was trapped for nearly three hours. By the time the package finally arrived at his girlfriend's office, where a friend was waiting to record her surprise on camera, Seng had passed out and had to be revived by paramedics. From http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/signed_sealed_undelivered, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 Vocabulary sealed (v) prankster (n) suffocate (v) post (n) firm (n) mix up (exp) gasp (v) trap (v) pass out (exp) revive (v) closed person who likes playing tricks on other people to die because you have no air and cannot breathe the service of the Post Office service or business to confuse, to make a mistake to take short, quick breaths to be in a bad situation, not able to escape to lose consciousness to bring someone back to a conscious state Answers: 1 b, 2 a, 3 c, 4 c, 5 a, 6 c, 7 b, 8 c, 9 c
October 2012 Signed, sealed, undelivered Advanced Vocabulary: Expressions with time. Choose the correct option. 1. I like to get out of the city and breathe some fresh air. a) in no time b) from time to time c) time and time again 2. This will do. Further down the line we can come up with something better. a) for the time being b) in no time c) behind the times 3. We have heard about the potential hazards of global warming. a) behind the times b) in no time c) time and time again 4. I'll be finished with this at all, and then we can go out for a bite to eat. a) about time b) in no time c) ahead of its time 5. I really think it's you started looking after yourself. a) about time b) a lot of time c) behind the times 6. This film is definitely. Eventually people will appreciate it. a) behind the times b) in no time c) ahead of its time 7. I for Jeremy. He's so sweet and charming. a) have a lot of time b) take your time c) from time to time 8. You can with the telescope. We've got all night. a) behind the times b) take your time c) from time to time 9. Wadley is so. He doesn't even know how to turn on a computer. a) behind the times b) about time c) ahead of his time [See answers below]
Read the news story. Signed, sealed, undelivered A romantic prankster almost suffocated when he mailed himself to his girlfriend in a sealed box and got lost in the post. Hu Seng, from Chongqing City in southern China, paid a courier firm to deliver him to partner Li Wang as a joke. But couriers mixed up the address, and instead of 30 minutes in the sealed box, gasping Seng was trapped for nearly three hours. By the time the package finally arrived at his girlfriend's office, where a friend was waiting to record her surprise on camera, Seng had passed out and had to be revived by paramedics. "I didn't realise it would take so long," admitted Seng. "I tried to make a hole in the cardboard, but it was too thick and I didn't want to spoil the surprise by shouting." A spokesman for the courier company commented, "If he'd told us what he was doing at the start we would not have taken the parcel. Even when we accept animals they have to go in special containers so they can breathe." Vocabulary From http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/signed_sealed_undelivered, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 sealed (v) prankster (n) suffocate (v) mix up (exp) gasp (v) pass out (exp) revive (v) cardboard (n) spoil (v) parcel (n) closed person who likes playing tricks on other people to die because you have no air and cannot breathe to confuse, to make a mistake to take short, quick breaths to lose consciousness to bring someone back to a conscious state thick, stiff brown card that boxes are made of to ruin or destroy package, something wrapped in paper Answers: 1 b, 2 a, 3 c, 4 b, 5 a, 6 c, 7 a, 8 b, 9 a
What do you think? Think about your answers to the following questions. What do you think the prankster thought when he came to? What do you think his girlfriend thought when the package was opened? Do you think most people enjoy pranks and practical jokes? Have you heard of any good practical jokes? Do you know of any practical jokes that went wrong? Have you ever received anything unusual in the post?