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Modal Verbs. 1. Modal Verbs of Probability, Present and Future
Modal Verbs. 1. Modal Verbs of Probability, Present and Future
GRAMMAR
Modal verbs.
1. Modal verbs of probability, present and future.
The main modal verbs that express probability are described here in order of
certainty. Will is the most certain, and might/could are the least certain.
1) Will.
a) Will and wont are used to predict a future action. The truth or certainty of
what is asserted is more or less taken for granted.
e.g. His latest book will be out next month.
b) Will and wont are also used to express what we believe or guess to be true
about the present. They indicate an assumption based on our knowledge of
people and things, their routines, character and qualities.
e.g. Leave the meat in the oven. It wont be cooked yet.
Its Monday morning, so I guess right now Sarah will be taking the children to
school.
2) Must and cant.
a) Must is used to assert what we infer or conclude to be the most logical or
rational interpretation of the situation. We do not have all the facts, so it is less
certain than will. Must in this meaning is not used to speak about the future.
e.g. You say he walked across the Sahara Desert! He must be mad!
You must be joking! I simply dont believe you!
b) The negative of this use is cant.
e.g. She cant have a ten-year-old daughter! Shes only twenty-one herself!
3) Should.
a) Should expresses what may reasonably be expected to happen. Expectation
means believing that things are or will be as we want them to be. This use of
should has the idea of if everything has gone according to plan.
e.g. Our guests should be here soon (if they havent got lost).
This homework shouldnt take you too long (if youve understood what you have
to do).
We should be moving into our new house soon (as long as nothing goes wrong).
b) Should in this use has the idea that we want the action to happen. It is not
used to express negative or unpleasant ideas.
e.g. You should pass the exam. Youve worked hard (NOT You should fail the
exam).
4) May, might and could.
a) May expresses the possibility that an event will happen or is happening.
e.g. We may go to Greece this year. We havent decided yet.
Wheres Ann? She may be having a bath, I dont know.
b) Might and could are slightly more tentative and slightly less certain than may.
e.g. It might rain. Take your umbrella.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
16th-century explorers
Imagine what it (1) like to have sailed around the world in a small wooden ship,
as Drake and his men did in 1577-1580. On a ship only some 35 metres long, it
(2) easy for the 80 or so crew to live comfortably. Exploration was part of war
and rivalry with other nations, so these voyages (3) attacks on other ships and
towns, and had to make a profit. There were all the usual dangers too. A ship (4)
destroyed by a storm or run out of food and water, and the captain (5) little idea
of where the ship was or where it was going. Explorers (6) many wrong
decisions in an age when there were only basic maps and navigation equipment,
and in unknown parts of ocean where a ship (7) for weeks without reaching land.
Very often places they thought they (8) turned out to be much further on, or in a
different direction. However, they (9) on such long voyages without some
general idea of the places they (10) to reach along the way, and as knowledge of
navigation improved, voyages became more and more successful.
7. Complete the answers with must, can't or might and any other words you
need.
1. GERALD: Can that be James phoning at this hour? It's gone midnight!
HILDA: Ithim. He said he'd phone if he passed his exam.
2. JIM: There's a light on in that office block. Do you think it's a thief?
HARRY: Itthe cleaners. They always work at night.
3. ELINOR: Where did Adam get that new guitar? He hasn't got any money
KATE: It a present. After all, it was his birthday last week.
4. NICKY: Why did Mina ignore me at the party last night?
RYAN: She you. She wasn't wearing her glasses.
5. EMMA: Do you think Cindy told the boss I left work early yesterday?
NEIL: She's away this week, so she him.
6. JILL: What's making me feel so ill?
PAT: It ate. Did you have seafood last night? That sometimes makes people
ill.
8. Re-word the following sentences using can, may or must.
1. I don't think he did it all by himself.
2. Perhaps, you're right.
3. It is possible that they forgot it in the car.
4. Is it really true?
5. I don't believe he has been meaning to do it.
6. It is impossible that he should have refused your request.
7. Evidently he has not read the book.
8. I'm certain that he has heard the gong.
9. It was some special occasion, I'm sure.
10.He looks wet and muddy. I'm sure he has been fishing.
11.No doubt, she is out shopping.
12.It's possible that he doesn't know we are here.
13.Is it possible that he is giving a course on the Renaissance at the
University?
14.It is possible that the news is being broadcast on all the channels.
15.I'm certain they didn't take notes of the meeting.
16.Is it possible that we are out of wrapping paper?
17.It is possible he will again forget to rule a margin down the left side.
18.Then the firing began again. This time it was impossible for it to be more
than a mile away.
19.Let's give her a call again. It is possible that she was asleep and didn't hear
the telephone.
20.You have used up all the money I gave you, I suppose.
21.I'm sure she's at home.
22.I'm certain you're crazy.
23.I know that isn't Janet - she's in America.
24.I'm sure she thinks I'm stupid.
25.I bet I look silly in this coat.
26.They're always buying new cars - I'm certain they make a lot of money.
27.I'm sure he's not a teacher - he's too well dressed.
28.You're an architect? I'm sure that's an interesting job.
29.I'm sure you're not serious. I know you're joking.
30.I'm sure he's got another woman: he keeps coming home late.
9. Write a new sentence with the same meaning, beginning as shown.
1. Running is not allowed on the stairs. There is a danger of accidents.
Running is not allowed on the stairs. You .................................................
2. You'd better not use this ladder. Look at it! I'm sure it's not safe.
You'd better not use this ladder. Look at it! It....................................................
3. I think I know how this window got broken. I'm sure someone kicked a
ball against it.
I think I know how this window got broken. Someone.....................................
4. Unless you follow instructions, it's possible for a gymnasium to be a
dangerous place.
Unless you follow instructions, a gymnasium...................................................
5. I've turned off the electricity. I'm sure it's safe to touch these wires now.
I've turned off the electricity. It..........................................................................
6. Ouch! Why didn't you tell me that piece of metal was hot!
Ouch! You.........................................................................................................!
7. Where are the fire fighters? I expected them to have arrived by now.
Where are the fire fighters? They.......................................................................
8. I'm sure you didn't clean this bowl properly.
You.......................................................................................... I can see stains
on it.
10. Read these three short texts about missing people. Then speculate about
what you think happened in each case. Use must, might and cant.
1. Linda Peyton has bee missing for three weeks. It is known that
she was staying in a hostel near Exeter until quite recently and it
is thought that she has a boyfriend in Bristol, over 50 miles away.
Linda is only 16 years old and should have been attending
school. Her family are worried about her and would like her to
get in touch and let them know shes OK. Linda had been living
with her grandparents. According to her grandfather, Linda
enjoys shopping, is very creative and had hoped to become a
beautician.
2. Richard Withers, 43, went missing from his home in Eastbourne
last October, leaving behind his glasses, credit cards and various
personal documents. Richard was due to report to work at a local
factory, but never turned up. His mother claims that he left the
house that day in a distressed condition because he had recently
been beaten up in a street fight and had also been having some
serious personal problems. Richard is a keen football supporter
who often went to watch Brighton & Hove Albion play. His
mother described him as a lovely, helpful man who wouldnt
hurt a fly.
3. Skip Hudson disappeared on Christmas Eve last year. That day,
he was due to fly to Almeria in Spain with his fiance and had
gone to the bank in Cleethorpes to withdraw some money. He
never came back and has not been seen since. Skip had
apparently bee looking forward to the holiday, despite his fear of
flying. He had never flown before. There was a reported sighting
of him on Boxing Day in a nearby town. Skip used to work as a
mechanic in a local garage and was also a keen fisherman.
.
II. Other uses of modal verbs.
1. Can, could, able to. Choose the correct alternative.
1 Why did you walk all the way from the station? You could hone / could
afraid I . . . (negative)
15 If I sang . . . you accompany me on the piano? -No, I. . ., I . . . play the
piano! (negative, negative)
16 If a letter comes for me . . . you please forward it to this address?
17 She made the wall very high so that boys . . . climb over it. (negative)
18 They took his passport so that he . . . leave the country, (negative)
19 . . . you tell me the time, please? I'm afraid I. ... I haven't got a watch,
(negative)
20 If you had to, . . . you go without food for a week? I suppose I ... if I had
plenty of water.
21 . . . you lend me 5? -No, I . . . (negative)
22 They used to chain valuable books to library desks so that people . . . take
them away, (negative)
23 He says that he saw Clementine drowning but. . . help her as he . . . swim,
(negative, negative)
24 If you had had the right tools . . . you have repaired the engine?
3. Complete the sentences with could(n't) and was(n't) able to. Sometimes
there is more than one answer.
1. Eddie broke his leg last summer, so he swim.
2. Emily's handbag was stolen when she was out yesterday afternoon. Luckily
she met a friend, so she use his mobile to call home.
3. I didn't enjoy the play because I forgot my glasses. I see the stage
properly.
4. Marion's meeting was cancelled at the last moment, so she come to the
sports club with us after all.
5. Robert speak any Dutch when he moved to Amsterdam last year, but
he's almost fluent now.
5 I thought I'd have to get a taxi home from the party, but luckily I have a
lift with Kate.
6. We really wanted to buy a house last year, but we just afford it.
7. My brother read well by the age of seven, but he's always had problems
with maths.
8. Last night we heard a noise outside our window. When we turned off the
light, we see a deer in the garden.
9. One day last week I locked my husband out of the house by mistake, but
luckily he get in through an open window.
10. He was very strong; he . . . ski all day and dance all night.
11. The car plunged into the river. The driver . . . get out but the passengers
were drowned.
12. We . . . borrow umbrellas; so we didn't get wet.
13. . . . you walk or did they have to carry you?
14. I had no key so I . . . lock the door, (negative)
15. I knew the town so I . . . advise him where to go.
16. When the garage had repaired our car we . . . continue our journey.
17. At five years old he . . . read quite well.
18. When I arrived everyone was asleep. Fortunately I . . . wake my sister and
she let me in.
19. The swimmer was very tired but he . . . reach the shore before he
collapsed.
20. The police were suspicious at first but I . . . convince them that we were
innocent.
4. Fill the spaces in the following sentences by inserting must or the
present, future, or past form of have to.
1 She . . . leave home at eight every morning at present.
2 Notice in a picture gallery: Cameras, sticks and umbrellas ... be left at the
desk.
3 He sees very badly; he . . . wear glasses all the time.
4 I ... do all the typing at my office.
5 You . . . read this book. It's really excellent.
6 The children . . . play in the streets till their mothers get home from work.
7 She felt ill and . . . leave early.
8 Mr Pitt . . . cook his own meals. His wife is away.
9 I hadn't enough money and I. . . pay by cheque.
10 I never remember his address; I always . . . look it up.
11 Employer: You . . . come to work in time.
12 If you go to a dentist with a private practice you . . . pay him quite a lot of
money.
13 Father to small son: You ... do what Mummy says.
14 My neighbour's child . . . practise the piano for three hours a day.
15 Doctor: I can't come now.
Caller: You . . . come; he's terribly ill.
16 English children . . . stay at school till the age of 16.
17 In my district there is no gas laid on. People . . . use electricity for
everything.
18 Notice above petrol pump: All engines ... be switched off.
19 Mother to daughter: You . . . come in earlier at night.
20 The shops here don't deliver. We . . . carry everything home ourselves.
21 The buses were all full; I . . . get a taxi.
22 Notice beside escalators: Dogs and push chairs ... be carried.
23 'Au pair' girls usually ... do quite a lot of housework.
24 Tell her that she ... be here by six. I insist on it.
25 When a tyre is punctured the driver . . . change the wheel.
26 Park notice: All dogs ... be kept on leads.
27 She . . . learn how to drive when her local railway station is closed.
28 Railway notice: Passengers . . . cross the line by the footbridge.
29 I got lost and . . . ask a policeman the way.
9. The old man cupped his ear in his palm. "I think I ... be getting deaf. I ...
not hear you."
10. "There was someone on the phone for you," he said. "Oh, who?" "I don't
know, he didn't say. Some man." "It ... have been Mike." "I know Mike. It
wasn't Mike." "Oh. Then I ... not think who it ... have been."
11. I went straight from the station to the club and played billiards. It ... have
been after eleven when I reached the flat.
12. She was beginning to want to ask him in but she knew that she ... not do it
yet.
13. It's a most interesting story. He ... not possibly have invented it. You ...
have told him something.
14. I've other things to attend to which ... be put through immediately.
15. I admire your mother's looks. She ... have been a lovely girl.
16. The apples are very good. You ... eat them all.
17. My wife ... leave the hospital in a week's time.
18. My wife ... to leave the hospital a few days ago.
19. I'm trying to think where he ... have gone.
20. Of course it occurred to me that if he had found the watch as he said, it ...
have been lying in the garden for more than a year.
21. He began absently to eat one of the buttered biscuits. He'd lose his
appetite if his wife didn't hurry up. She ... be talking to Frau Schmidt.
22. A day or two later Mrs Strickland sent me a note asking if I ... go and see
her that evening after dinner.
23. "I don't know why he did it." "It ... have amused him."
24. "You know, I'm a bit of a writer myself in a small way." "What are you
writing? A novel?" "Oh, come off it. I ... not write a novel. No, it's a sort of
history of the regiment, as a matter of fact."
25. "He's up in Barbie's room. He's decorating it with shells. He ... have
brought in a ton."
26. "She's gone out. Something awful ... have happened." "How ... she have
got out? The door is locked."
27. I'm going to tell him that he ... not do any building here.
28. They say the driver .,. have been going fifty miles round that blind corner
for the body to have been thrown and injured like it was.
29. She looked unusually pale and gloomy. I wondered what ... have upset
her.
30. "... you drive a car, Mooey?" "Yes, indeed I ... ," he answered.
31. You ... be very prosperous, Eustace, to own a car like that,
32. Obviously Haviland had worked late the night before, as he ... have done
for several nights in a row, because he looked drawn and pale.
33. The water of the pool ... have been heated for it steamed gently in the
beams of the lamps.
34. Mr Hardy takes a lot of aspirin. He ... have had at least twelve tablets
during the day.
35. The man danced very well. He ... have spent hours taking lessons, Jack
thought.
2. Must(n't), need(n't)f should(n't) and don't have to
Match the beginning of each sentence with the most suitable ending.
1 Lucy should be having breakfast,
2 Patsy shouldn't go clubbing all night
3 Jenny shouldn't have gone out
4 Megan mustn't oversleep
5 Nicky doesn't have to get up yet
6 Natalie didn't need to hurry
7 Sharon needn't have set the alarm clock
a when she was supposed to be studying.
b because she woke up early anyway.
c but shes too nervous to eat.
d when she has an exam the next day.
e if she's not going to work today.
f or she'll be late for her interview
g because she wasn't late.
3. Choose the correct alternative.
Thursday
NEIL:
I'm doing a training session after work next Monday. Can you
email these people?
ROBBIE: (1) Must I do / Should I do it now?
NEIL:
Well, we (2) must have sent / should have sent them earlier really.
ROBBIE: Oh, all right then.
Friday
NAOMI: I've had an email about a training day on Monday. Do you think I
(3) must / ought to take my laptop?
ELLIE:
Well, you (4) mustn't / don't have to. But I always take mine, just in
case I need it.
Monday
NAOMI: Hi, Neil. I've brought my laptop.
NEIL:
Oh, you (5) needn't bother / needn't have bothered. There are There
are plenty of computers. But why isn't Ellie with you? Is she away?
NAOMI: She wasn't asked to come. She's gone home.
NEIL:
Oh, dear. The email (6) must go / must have gone to the wrong
address. And I don't know where Robbie is. He (7) must be / should be here.
NAOMI: Well, he had to go out earlier. He (8) must have missed / should
have missed the bus back. I expect he'll be here soon
night!
2 The instructions were in French. I translated them into English for
him.You (not translate) them. He knows French.
3 Tom: What's happened to Jack? We said 7.30 and now it's 8.00 and
there's no sign of him.
Ann: He (forget) that we invited him. He is rather forgetful. I (telephone) him
yesterday to remind him. (It was foolish of me not to telephone.)
4 Tom: Or he (get) lost. He hasn't been to this house before. I (give)
him directions. (I didn't give him directions, which was stupid of me.)
Ann: Or he (have) a breakdown or a puncture.
Tom: A puncture (not delay) him so long.
5 Ann: Or he (stop) for a drink and (get) involved in an argument.
Jack's arguments go on for hours!
Tom: Or he (run) out of petrol. Perhaps we'd better go and look for him.
6 You (not feed) the bears! (It was foolish of you to feed them.) Now they'll be
angry if the next campers don't feed them too.
6 Nobody has been in this house for a month. ~
Nonsense! Here's last Monday's paper in the wastepaper basket; somebody (be)
here quite recently.
8 Two of the players spent the night before the big match at a
party. ~
That was very foolish of them. They (go) to bed early.
9 He says that when walking across Kensington Gardens he was
attacked by wolves. ~
He (not be attacked) by wolves. There aren't any wolves in Kensington. He (see)
some Alsatian dogs and (think) they were wolves.
10I waited from 8.00 to 8.30 under the clock and he says he waited from 8.00 to
8.30 under the clock, and we didn't see each other! -You (wait) under different
clocks! There are two in the station, you know.
11 He set off alone a month ago and hasn't been heard of since. ~ He (fall) into a
river and (be eaten) by crocodiles. ~
Or (be kidnapped) by tribesmen. ~ Or (catch) fever and (die) of it.
12We (start) yesterday (this was the plan); but the flight was cancelled because
of the fog, so we're still here, as you see.
13Mary to Ann, who has just toiled up six flights of stairs: You (not walk) up!
You (come) up in the lift. It's working now.
14 I left my car here under the No Parking sign; and now it's gone. It (be) stolen!
- Not necessarily. The police (drive) it away.
15He had two bottles of Coke and got frightfully drunk. -He (not get) drunk on
Coke. He (drink) gin with it.
16He was riding a bicycle along the motorway when he was hit by the trailer of
a lorry. These big lorries are very dangerous. ~ Perhaps, but Paul (not ride) a
bicycle along the motorway; bicycles are not allowed.
17I've lost one of my gloves! -
The puppy (take) it. I saw him running by just now with something in his mouth.
It (be) your glove.
18 We've run out of petrol! I'm not surprised. I noticed that the tank was nearly empty when we left home. ~
You (tell) me! We (get) petrol at the last village. Now we've got a 10-mile walk!
19If the ground hadn't been so soft the horse I backed (win) instead of coming in
second. He never does very well on soft ground.
20I've written to Paul. ~
You (not write). He's coming here tomorrow. You'll see him before he gets your
letter.
21They (build) a two-storey house (this was the original plan), but money ran
out so they built a bungalow instead.
22If the dog hadn't woken us we (not notice) the fire for several hours, and by
that time it (spread) the house next door.
23Why didn't you wait for me yesterday? ~
I waited five minutes. ~
You (wait) a little longer!
24 How did Peter get here? He (come) on a motorcycle. (This is a possibility.)-He (not come) on a
motorcycle. He doesn't ride one. He (come) as a pillion passenger.
25 (Alice, staying at a hotel for the first time, carefully washes up the
early morning tea things.)
Mother: You (not do) that. The hotel staff do the washing up.
26Why are you so late? You (be) here two hours ago!
27Mrs Smith: I've cooked scrambled eggs for Mr Jones, because of his diet, and
steak and onions for everyone else.
Mr Jones: You (not cook) anything special for me, Mrs Smith; I'm not on a diet
any longer.
28If I'd known we'd have to wait so long I (bring) a book. ~ If I'd known it was
going to be so cold I (not come) at all!
29Tom (looking out of the window): Fortunately that teapot didn't hit anyone,
but you (not throw) it out of the window, Ann! You (kill) someone.
30Look at this beautiful painting! Only a very great artist (paint) such a picture!
Nonsense! A child of five (paint) it with his eyes shut.
31 I wonder how the fire started. ~
Oh, someone (drop) a lighted cigarette. Or it (be) an electrical fault. ~
32 You don't think it (be started) deliberately?Well, I suppose it (be). (It is possible.) But who would do a thing like that?
33There is only one set of footprints, so the kidnapper (carry) his prisoner out.
He not (do) it in daylight or he (be) seen. He (wait) till dark.
34I went with him to show him the way. You (not do) that. (That wasn't necessary.) He knows the way.
35Then an enormous man, ten feet tall, came into the ring. -He (not be) ten feet
tall really. He (walk) on stilts.
36He jumped out of a sixth-floor window and broke his neck. ~ You say
'jumped'. It (not be) an accident?
No. The window was too small. It (be) deliberate.
11. Read the description of the following situations and say what the people
should/must/could (not) have done and what may/must happen in
future.
a)
It was Sunday yesterday and Mike took his fathers car without
permission to go to a disco. At the disco he had too much beer and on the way
home he skidded as he was driving too fast and had a minor accident.
However, he managed to return home unnoticed. Naturally, he didnt tell
anybody at home about what had happened. Now it is Monday evening.
Mikes father has just returned home and he looks very angry.
b)
Oscar took his friends for a drive in his car. They went about 30
miles along a highway and stopped at a service station. Oscar entered a fastfood restaurant which was nearby to get some food. When he came out his car
wasnt there. His friends had disappeared too.
12. Fill in the blanks in the following texts with suitable modal verbs.
1. "Hallo, Tim. What have you been doing?" Mary called to the boy.
"I've been up at the station," Tim said, "watching the trains. You ... learn a lot
there. You ... go up there more often. And I've got a message for you."
"For me?"
"Yes. From Mike. I saw him off back to London. He said he was called away
unexpectedly and ... (not) to see you again. He also said if you were in London
he'd like you to call on him but he didn't give me his address, so I ... (not) tell it
to you."
"But he ... (not) have gone," Mary cried out.
"Why not?" Tim looked puzzled. "I've just seen him go."
2. "Granddad says he'll be glad when you get out of the house," the little girl said
after she had been sitting still for nearly a minute.
"Does he?" said Ted.
"Yes. He says he ... (not) trust you round the corner."
"Oh?"
"What ... you do round the corner?"
"I ... do a lot of things."
"What sort of things?"
"All sorts of things."
The girl occupied herself for a short time with her own thoughts. Then she said:
"Mummy says you're a cheat. What is a cheat?"
"I don't know," said Ted rather bitterly.
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2. Decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F). Then check your answers in
the text.
1. There are almost a million stars in our galaxy.
2. The oldest broadcast has already travelled 80 light years from Earth.
3. It would take a thousand years for a message from a planet 1,000 light years away
to reach Earth.
4. In the early days of research, astronomers focused on finding planets like the
Earth.
5. Some single-cell Earth creatures can live in temperatures of minus 200C.
6. Everyone agrees that making contact with aliens would be a good thing.
3. Read the text. Retell it paying special attention to the use of your active
grammar and vocab.
planets that dont depend on whether we broadcast or not. They could have found
us a billion years ago.
If we were really worried about letting aliens know we were here, Shostak says, the
first thing to do would be to shut down the BBC, NBC, CBS and the radars at all
airports. Those broadcasts have been streaming into space for years the oldest is
already more than 80 light years from Earth so it is already too late to stop
passing aliens watching every episode of TV programmes like Big Brother.
There are lots of practical problems involved in hunting for aliens, of course, chief
among them being distance. If our nearest neighbours were life forms on the
(fictional) forest moon of Endor, 1,000 light years away, it would take a
millennium for us to receive any message they might send. If the Endorians were
watching us, the light reaching them from Earth at this very moment would show
them our planet as it was 1,000 years ago; in Europe that means lots of fighting
between knights around castles and, in north America, small bands of natives living
on the great plains. It is not a timescale that allows for quick banter and, anyway,
they might not be communicating in our direction.
The lack of a signal from ET has not, however, prevented astronomers and
biologists (not to mention film-makers) coming up with a whole range of ideas
about what aliens might be like. In the early days of SETI, astronomers focused on
the search for planets like ours the idea being that, since the only biology we
know about is our own, we might as well assume aliens are going to be something
like us. But theres no reason why that should be true. You dont even need to step
off the Earth to find life that is radically different from our common experience of
it.
Extremophiles are species that can survive in places that would quickly kill
humans and other normal life-forms. These single-celled creatures have been
found in boiling hot vents of water that come through the ocean floor, or at
temperatures well below the freezing point of water. The front ends of some
creatures that live near deep-sea vents are 200C warmer than their back ends.
On Earth, life exists in water and on land but, on a giant gas planet, for example, it
might exist high in the atmosphere, trapping nutrients from the air swirling around
it. And given that aliens may be so out of our experience, guessing motives and
intentions if they ever got in touch seems beyond the realms even of Hawkings
mind.
Paul Davies, an astrophysicist at Arizona State University argues that alien brains,
with their different architecture, would interpret information very differently from
ours. Lots of people think that because they would be so wise and knowledgeable,
they would be peaceful, adds Stewart. I dont think you can assume that. I dont
think you can put human views onto them; thats a dangerous way of thinking.
Aliens are alien. If they exist at all, we cannot assume theyre like us.
Guardian News & Media 2010
a. inspiring
2. solar
b. year
3. light
c. point
4. life
d. number
5. awe-
e. form
6. sheer
f. system
7. Discussion
Do aliens exist? Should we try to make contact with them? Why? Why not?
8. Comment on the following quotations about mystery and faith.
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation
is possible.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Man is what he believes.
Anton Chekhov
The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.
Oscar Wilde
All is mystery; but he is a slave who will not struggle to penetrate the dark veil.
Benjamin Disraeli
Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be
perfectly plain.
Tryon Edwards
When people cease to believe in God, they don't believe in nothing; they believe in
anything.
G. K. Chesterton
I respect faith, but doubt is what gives you an education.
Wilson Mizner
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
Albert Einstein
Life without faith in something is too narrow a space to live.
George Lancaster Spalding
There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it.
George Bernard Shaw
There are ten church members by inheritance for every one by conviction.
Author Unknown
As knowledge increases, wonder deepens.
Charles Morgan
In other words
Foreign slang is often overlooked at school which isnt much good for real life, says
Thomas Stephens.
Whaassssuuupppp??!! If, during a freshers party, I introduce myself with these words
(all right, word), youll probably smile nervously and make a mental note to change
course if necessary to avoid me. If, however, Id said exactly the same thing two years
ago, youd probably have burst into laughter at my Wildean wit and whassupped me
straight back. Whats up, indeed?
English is English you might think a means of communication for millions of people
around the world. And you wouldnt be wrong. But language is also a fundamental
means of self-expression the dress of thought, according to Dr Johnson and of
identity.
When social groups want to create an identity (why they want to do this is another
story!), they create their own customs and language; if you are then aware of the codes
of conduct and slang, you can gain membership of these exclusive groups. But its not
just good enough to learn these passwords. Language is alive: every year new words
are born and others die, and if you dont keep your fingers on the linguistic pulse, youll
be exposed as an imposter, a culturally out-of-touch fake. Thats whassupp.
In the case of students, however, the social group is very large. University is a melting
pot of national dialects and apart from a few local idioms, students in Southampton will
be on the same wavelength as those at St Andrews.
This linguistic globalization leads, depending on your point of view, to either cultural
enrichment or bland homogeneity. But your point of view is not important! In the box
below you will find common words heard on campuses across the UK which you
probably didnt learn at school. Learn them, understand them and, if you want, use
them. Sorted!
i Slang Glossary
All right? Hi
Wicked! Fantastic!
Nice one! Well done!
A brew a cup of tea/coffee
A sarnie a sandwich
16.When the girl taking my order kept on asking me if I wouldnt rather have a
salad, it took me a while to understand what she was getting at.
TEST YOURSELF
1. Grammar. Choose the correct answer.
1. You pay the bills today.
I know. I promise I wont forget.
A would B shall C must
2. we go to the beach tomorrow?
Yes, thats a great idea.
A Shall B Mustnt C Would
3. Im going to the cinema. Do you want to come with me?
No, thank you. I do my work.
A could B would C have to
4. You put that shirt in the washing machine.
I know. It has to be dry-cleaned.
A must B mustnt C couldnt
5. Was your suitcase very heavy?
Yes, but I carry it by myself.
A was able to B cant C ought
6. you drive?
Yes, but I havent got my own car.
A Might B Should C Can
7. I ride a bicycle until I was eight.
Neither could I.
A couldnt B could C cant
8. you open the door for me, please?
Yes, certainly.
A Shall B Must C Would
9. Ben had a hard time trying to find the leak in the pipe.
But he stop it, wasnt he?
A was allowed to B was able to C could
10. I saw Tina in town last night.
You have seen her. She is on holiday in Spain.
A would B could C cant
11. Wheres Colin?
Im not sure. He be in the study.
A might B will C ought
12. I feel very tired today.
You have stayed up so late last night.
A shouldnt B could C mightnt
13. Did you phone Alan yesterday?
No, I . He came round to see me.
A didnt need to B neednt C have to
14. you give me a lift to work tomorrow.
Yes, Ill pick you up at eight oclock.
A May B Shall C Will
ACTIVE VOCAB.
p. 94 (Learn the colloquialisms in V12.1)
p. 96 (Learn the words and phrases in V12.2), a news bulletin, flee (ones homes,
country, etc.), an adaptation, a playwright, a series of smth, a broadcast, cause
panic, sue smb, a court case, fictious
p. 97 swap, take turns to do smth, pay a (phone) bill
p. 98 99 haunted, spooky, a werewolf, vanish, reveal, claim, give smb a talk on
smth, take smb on a tour of, weird, an encounter, sufficient, (learn the words and
phrases in V12.3), fortune-telling
R12.1 put smb straight through to (voicemail), its bound to, work out, a mate,
text smb, stare at smb
R12.7 get smb a drink, Cheers!, settle in to (a new flat), a (two)-bedroomed flat,
move in, be keen to do smth, odd, the other day (night), next door, have a look,
clothes from the fifties, vanish into thin air, hold ones hands out, freezing cold, an
option
Vocabulary plus: Idioms about feelings/opportunities.
Be on top of the world, get carried away, have a rough time, keep an eye on, stand
a chance, be in two minds, get your act together, miss the boat, serve you right, be
thrilled to bits