New Century Readings 1 PDF

Pre-reading activity
1. What animals do you like?

2. Do you have any animals in your home?
3. Do you like that most animals can see as
well as we can?
Scientists think that many- perhaps mostanimals dont see colors. The world is black
and white to them. To find out if dogs could
see colors, scientists played a certain piece of music before giving their dogs
some food. After a few days the dogs started getting ready to eat every time
they heard this piece of music. They did not get ready to eat when they heard
other pieces of music.
Then the scientists showed the dogs a certain color before giving them food.
After a few days the dogs would get ready to eat when they saw this color. The
scientist then showed the dogs a different color and the dogs got ready to eat
again. The dogs could not distinguish between the different colors.
Monkeys, however, can see distinct differences between colors. For example,
if we put in a red box on a daily basis, a monkey will always go to the red box
to get the food. If we then fill a blue box with food, the monkey wont go to it.
New Words
find out
certain
to get information about something

particular but not named
get ready
distinguish between
however
to make or become ready

to recognize the difference between things
nevertheless, yet
distinct
on a daily basis
fill with
not the same, clearly different

happening or one every day
to make a container full with something
Vocabulary
1. Draw lines to match the words in A to the words in B to make sentences.
A
a. Im trying to get fit,
b. It takes me about half an hour
c. I eat meat; however
d. To make a hot drink, you need
B
e. to fill the kettle with water.
f. my sister doesnt.
g. so I exercise on a daily basis.
h. to get ready for school
2. In the passage you read,the dogs started getting ready to eat

Choose and write the correct expression with get to complete the
following.
getting ready getting together
getting old
get going
a. A: What are you doing today?

B: I am __________________ with my friends.
b. A: We should _________________ or well be late for the movie.
c. A: I wish youd hurry up. Youve been _____________for an hour.
d. A: Why are you unhappy?
B: I have had a long life, but now I am ___________________.
3. Choose and write the correct word or words.

a. I would like to ___________________ if animals can count. (hear/find out)
b. I get sick if I eat _______________ foods. (certain/different)
c. These two pieces of fabric are too similar.

Lets choose two _____________ patterns. (different/distinct)
d. The Simpson twins are so similar, its hard to _____________________
between them. (distinguish/see)
1. What can fire be used for?
2. How can fire be dangerous?
3. How do we make fire?
People have been using fire for well over a million years. It was not
until about 7000 B.C., however, that we learned how to make it. The first
people to do this used fire for heat and light, to frighten dangerous
animals away and for many other things that made their lives easier.
Fire has also been important in mythology. There are many stories that
tell of how fire was brought to people, and most countries have had fire
gods at one time.
Fire is very useful to us, but it can also be very dangerous. In 1666, for
example, more than 13,000 houses were totally destroyed by the Great
Fire of London, which burned for a period of five days.
New Words
well over
learn how
frighten away
mythology
a lot more than

to get to know how to do something
to frighten something so that it runs or stays
away
stories to explain how the world began and
religious beliefs
entirely
The hotel is gone. It was destroyed by fire in
1963.
If you get too near the fire, you will be
burned.
Two hundred years is a period of time.
totally
destroy
burn
period of
Vocabulary
1. Draw lines to match the words in A to the words in B to

make sentences.
A
a. Ive been running so long
b. I feel so fat because
c. You should be careful when
d. I studied German
B
e. I am well over my usual
weight.
f. in case you burn yourself.
g. for a period of three years.
h. that Im totally exhausted.
2. In the passage you read,we learned how to make it.

Choose and write the correct expression with learn to complete
the following
.
learned of
learning about
learn how
a. A: What are you doing in school?

B: We are ____________ computers.
b. A: Why are you unhappy?
B: I have just ______________ my mothers death.
c. A: What are you reading?
B: An English book from school.
I have to ____________________ these new words.
learn
d. A: I would like to ___________________ to play that piece of

music.
a. I ______________ to read when I was six years old. (learned
how/ was brought)
b. The fire _________________ for three days. (destroyed/
burned)
c. Some people have big dogs to ___________ burglars. (destroy/
frighten away)
d. Fire is ________________ to us. (useful/mythology)
1. Do you have a lucky number? If so,
what is it?
2. What other things can be lucky in
your country?
3. What things can bring bad luck?
Many people believe that the number thirteen is an unlucky number.

This is why many hotels do not have a thirteenth floor. The floors go
from twelve to fourteen, and the number thirteen is missing. Some people
will refuse to sit at a table with twelve other people. They will insist that
someone leave or ask another person to join them at their table.
No one really knows why people in so many countries do not like the
number thirteen. Perhaps one reason is that when people began to count
they used ten fingers and two hands. This made twelve, and therefore
they could not count higher than this.
Some Christians say that thirteen is unlucky because there were twelve
people at a meal with Jesus the day before he was killed. In a story about
the ancient Norse gods, twelve gods were asked to a meal but one more
turned up. This made thirteen gods. The story says that this is why the
god Balder, who was at the meal, was done away with.
New words
missing
refuse to
not where it should be

to say or show that you will not do something
insist
join
therefore
ancient
turn up
do away with
to ask for in a very strong or firm way

to come together; to get together with other people
as a result, for that reason
of or in a time long past; very old
to arrive at a certain place
to kill or get rid of
Vocabulary
a. Youll have to finish your

homework yourself because
b. I am really worried because
c. My parents insist that
d. Computers have done away with
e. the need for typewriters.

f. I come home by 8 P.M.
g. I refuse to help you.
h. my cat is missing.
2. In the passage you read,but one more turned up. Choose and write
the correct expression with turn to complete the following.
turn up
turn in
turn down
turns out
a. A: Im really tired. I think Ill ______________.

b. A: Can you come to the movies tonight?
B: Sorry, Ill have to ______________ your offer. Im busy.
c. A: I told Judy not to _________________ late, but she still isnt here.
d.A: Have you finished todays homework?
B: No, it ________________ that we can give it to the teacher tomorrow.
a. Hes a good friend, _________________ he makes me angry sometimes.

(therefore/ but)
b. I have just ___________________ a music class to learn to play the piano.
(left/ joined)
c. What time do you want us to ___________________ tomorrow morning?
(turn in/ turn up)
d. This plate was made 800 years ago. Its really __________________.
(modern/ ancient)
Pre reading activity

1. How many years ago was the year
1452?
2. Name a famous scientist. Can this
scientist also paint?
3. Where is Italy? What countries are
next to it?
eonardo
da
Vinci
is
one
of
historys most well-known men. He

was born in Italy in 1452 and died in
1519. He was a scientist as well as a
great artist. He invented many things.
He studied anatomy and botany and drew the first aircraft. He also drew
a ship that could go under the ocean.
Other smart inventors were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison, but
they were not artists as well. They did not paint great paintings.
Leonardo painted one of the most famous paintings in the world. It is
called the Mona Lisa and we can see it in Paris, France. The Mona Lisa
is a painting of a mysterious woman. Nobody knows who she was.
Leonardo also painted another of the worlds greatest paintings-The Last
Supper. This shows Jesus and his friends dining together the day before
he was killed.
New words
well-known
as well as
invent
anatomy
famous
and also, not only
to make or think of something for the first time
the study of the structure of human or animal
bodies
botany
aircraft
mysterious
dine
the study of plants

a machine that can fly
difficult to describe or understand
to have a meal, usually dinner
Vocabulary
1. Draw a line to match the words in A to the words in B to make

sentences.
a. It is necessary for doctors

b. My father enjoys murder stories
c. One day I would like to be rich
d. Many people prefer dining
in a restaurant
e. to cooking at home.
f. to study anatomy.
g. because they are mysterious.
h. as well as successful.
2. In the passage you read,most well-known men. Choose and write the
correct expression with well to complete the following.
well known
well-liked
well cooked
a. A: Who is the most ______________ teacher at our school?

B: Not Mr. White. Everyone hates him.
well timed
b.A: Chicken should always be _________________ to avoid food poisoning.

c. A: Your arrival was __________________. Dinner is just ready.
d.A: Kim is __________________ for telling lies.
a. He is studying ______________ at college because he wants to be a
gardener. (botany/ art)
b. Computers were only ________________ in the last 75 years.
(invented/studied)
c. There were more than 100 people in the _________________. (aircraft/
body)
d. It is _______________________ that English is a difficult language to learn.
(well known/ well liked)
1. Do you ever talk to
animals?
2. What is the name of the animal in
the picture?
3. Where can you see this animal?
here are various kinds of parrots. Some are quite big, while others
are very small. People like them because they often have beautiful, bright
colors and because some of them can talk.
No one knows why some parrots can talk. Most other birds cannot. Some
people put forward the idea that parrots can talk because they have big,
thick tongues. There are birds, however, that can talk without having big,
thick tongues, as well as birds that cannot talk even with big, thick
tongues.
Parrots do not usually know what they are saying when they talk. They
are only mimicking the sounds that they hear. However, they know when
to say some words, such as Hello and Goodbye.
Most parrots come from hot countries, but they are adaptable and can
live anywhere. This is one reason why sailors used to take parrots with
them on long journeys. Perhaps another reason was that they wanted
someone-or something- with whom they could have a chat!
New words
various
quite
bright
put forward
even
mimic
adaptable
of different kinds; several, many

completely, entirely; rather, fairly
(use about a color) strong
to suggest
yet, still
to copy or imitate
able to change in order to suit different
situations
to have a casual talk or conservation
have a chat
Vocabulary

make sentences.
a. I asked the staff

b. When you move to a new country,
c. My sister always finds
d. It is quite rude
e. to mimic teachers.
f. various problems
with my suggestions.
g. to put forward new
ideas.
h. you need to be
adaptable.
2. In the passage you read, Some people put forward the

ideaChoose and write the correct expression with put to
complete the following.
put off
put forward
put down
put away
a. A: Have you ____________ your toys ________________, Jack?

B: Yes, Mom. My room is neat now.
b. A: At the meeting, the manager _____________ his plans for the

next year.
c. A: Are you going to visit Uncle Fred today?
B: No, I phoned him and _______________ it _______________
until next week.
d. A: __________________ that knife. It is very sharp.
a. I wish I had my sunglasses. The sun is _____________ bright.
(more/quite)
b. I failed my exam, ____________ after studying hard. (also/even)
c. Why dont we meet so that we can _____________. (mimic/ have
a chat)
d. There were no clouds in the sky, so the sea was ___________ blue.
(bright/beautiful)
1. Have you heard of the story of
Cinderella?
2. What childrens story do you like
best?
3. Can you think of two words that
have the same sound but different meanings?
he story of Cinderella comes from France. It is about a girl who longed to
go to a party, but her stepmother wouldnt let her. Then her godmother came
to see her. She gave Cinderella some beautiful clothes and told her to go to the
party. She also gave her shoes made of glass. Cinderella danced with a prince.
He thought she was very beautiful.
Cinderella had to leave the dance at 12:00 oclock. As she ran away, one of her
shoes fell off and the prince found it. He knew that the shoe was Cinderellas. I
will look for the beautiful girl who owns this shoe and when I have found her, I
will marry her, he said. After seeing many other women, the prince found
Cinderella and married her in a flash.
This is the story of Cinderella that everyone knows. However, there is
something that does not add up. The shoes could not have been made of
glass. No one could dance in glass shoes!
So why does the story say that the shoes were made of glass? It is because the
French word for glass sounds the same as the French word for fur. People
thought that they heard the word for glass when they really heard the word for
fur. Cinderella had shoes made of fur, not shoes, made of glass!
New words
long to
stepmother
to really want to do something

a woman married to your father who is not your
mother
godmother
a woman who cares for a childs Christian

upbringing
run away
fall off
in a flash
not add up
fur
to leave without telling anyone, to flee

to come away from something
very quickly
to not seem correct or make sense
thick and usually soft hair that grows on animals
bodies.
Vocabulary

make sentences.
a. Cinderellas stepmother was

b. I long to study acting,
c. I used to go to church
d. I dont understand this;
e. with my godmother.
f. it doesnt add up.
g. her fathers second
wife.
h. but my parents
wont let me.
2. In the passage you read, As she ran away Choose and

write the correct expression with run to complete the
following.
run up
run away
run into
run over
a. A: Do you think I should ______________?

B: No, your family would be very sad.
b. A: Why is you father angry?
B: Ive ___________ a very big phone bill.
c. A: Be careful! Youre going to ___________ that dog on the
road!
d. A: I didnt expect to ____________ you here.
B: Ive just moved to this area.
a. Its very expensive to buy a coat made of _________.
(hair/fur)
b. Be careful you dont ____________ that hole in the road. (fall
off/fall down)
c. I saw the car and __________ decided to buy it. (in a flash/at
last)
d. Why dont we ____________ and get married? (run over/run
away)
1. What are the three large animals in
the picture called?
2. Where do these animals live?
3. Is this place hot or cold?
The
Sahara is one of the worlds biggest deserts. It covers a
substantial part of northern Africa and includes parts of eleven different countries.
Many people think that it has always been a desert, but they are mistaken. At one
time the Sahara was under water, and then the water went away and plants grew.
However, hot winds made everything very dry and then nothing could grow.
During the day the Sahara can be the hottest place in the world. One day in
1924, it was 136.4 F or 58 C! At night it is not so hot and in winter it can be very
cold.
Not many big animals can live in the dessert because there is insufficient
water. But camels can survive for as long as seventeen days without water. There
are also people living in the desert who are called Bedouins. They are nomads,
which means that they do not live in the same place all the time, but move around
from place to place.
New words
desert
an area of dry land with little rainfall
cover
to be or lie over something
substantial
large in amount or degree
include
to have as a part
mistaken
wrong
insufficient
not enough
survive
to go on living
move around
to keep changing the place where you live or work
Vocabulary
a. Im cold! Could you
e. a substantial amount of money.
b. Ill have to get a loan
f. include meals?
c. Last night I lost
g. cover my legs with a blanket?
d. Does the price
h. because my savings are insufficient
2. In the passage you read, ...move around from place to place. Choose
and write the correct expression with move to complete the following.
move over
move on
moved in
move around
a. A: Have you found a new house yet?

B: Yes, we _____________ two days ago.
b. A: Would you like to sit next to me?
B: Yes, can you ____________, please?
c. A: I think weve talked enough about that.
B: So do I, lets __________ to something different.
d. A: When are you going to buy a house?
B: Im not going to. I prefer to ____________.
a. I thought you were my friend, but I was ______________. (right/mistaken)
b. Some people like to ____________ instead of living in one place. (move
over/ move around)

c. Camels can ___________ for long periods of time without water. (move/
survive)
d. The hot ___________ made everything dry. (wind/ desert)
Pre- reading activity

1.
What color do you like best?
2.
What colors can you make from red,

blue and yellow paint?
3.
How many colors can you name in

English?
The first scientist to investigate color was Sir Isaac Newton. He was an
English scientist who lived from 1642 to 1727. Newton was the first person to
discover that white light can be divided into different colors.
In 1861 a Scottish scientist, James clerk Maxwell, discovered that he could
create other colors by combining any two of the three primary colors-red, blue
and yellow. These other colors are known as secondary colors. For example, red
and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, and blue and red make
purple.
Tertiary colors are made by increasing the amount of one of the primary colors
in a second mixture. By doing this we end up with colors like yellow-orange and
blue-green.
We can make a room look as if it is bigger or smaller, or warmer or cooler, by
using color. Green and blue are cool colors. They can make a room look bigger.
Red, orange and yellow are warm colors. They can make a room look smaller.
New words
investigate
to study closely
divide into
to split into: They divided the fruit into three

pieces.
create
to make, to cause to come into being
combine
to join together, to mix
be known as
to be called or thought of as
tertiary
of the third kind: After high school you can go on to

tertiary studies.
end up with
When you mix red and yellow, you end up with

orange.
look as if
to seem or appear to be
Vocabulary
A
a. To get a good job, you need
e. investigating crimes
b. Many people think that its important
f. youll end up with health problems.
c. The police spend lots of time
g. to combine education with experience.
d. If you dont exercise
h. to get a tertiary education.
2. In the passage you read,we end up with Choose and write the
correct expression with end to complete the following.
end up with
in the end
no end
a.A: Did you get a new dress?

B: No, I couldnt find one I liked ___________.
b.A: What was the __________ of your meeting with Ted?
B: We agreed to help each other more.
c.A: I always __________ too much food when I cook.
d. A: Theres ____________to the work I have to do today.
end result
a. If we __________10 ____________100, we get 10. (make, into/divide,into)

b. We can make green by ___________ blue and yellow. (creating/combining)
c. I see dark clouds. It ____________ it will rain. (should/looks as if)
d. Mr. Ross ___________ the strictest teacher at our school. (is known as/ is
named)
1. How do you tell the future in your country?
2. Look at your hand and a friends hand. Are they
the same?
3. Do you know what you will be doing in ten years
time?
Every country has fortune-tellers who claim they can see into a persons
future. However, they do not all work in the same way.
Some fortune-tellers focus on the palm of a persons hand. There are lines both
across the palm and down the palm. These lines are different for everyone and
each line means something. For example, one line tells a fortune-teller if and when
the person will marry. Another line tells the fortune-teller how long that person will
live.
Other fortune-tellers read cards. These can be ordinary playing cards or Tarot
cards, which are used only for fortune-telling. Some people say that they can
predict a lot about a persons future life by looking at these cards.
Many Chinese use the I Ching-or Book of Changes- to find out about their future.
First, the person asks a question, throws some coins and looks at the way in which
they fall. Then the person reads the I Ching to work out what the coins mean.
New Words
fortune-teller
a person who tells people what will happen to them
in the future
claim
to say that something is true; to ask for as if by

right
see into the future
to know what will happen in the future
focus on
to give attention to
palm
the underside of the hand
ordinary
usual, not different
predict
to tell in advance that something will happen
work out
to think about and understand
Vocabulary
a. If I could see into the future,
e. to focus on Ancient History.
b. My teacher always claims
f. to predict the future
c. At college Id like
g. I could find out who I will marry.
d. I dont believe that its possible
h. that I need to study harder
2. In the passage you read,see into a persons future. Choose and write
the correct expression with see to complete the following.
see into the future
see eye to eye
see out
see to
a. A: Rosie and I had a fight and we dont _________ anyone.

b. A: Could you ___________ posting these letters for me?
c. A: Are you going tom leave school?
B: No, Im going to ____________ the end of the year.
d. A: I dont want to ___________ because Im enjoying life now.
a. My ____________ are sore from clapping so much. (fingers/ palms)
b. It was just an ____________ day until the accident. ( ordinary/unusual)
c. I still cant ____________ the correct answer. (focus on/work out)
d. I went to a ______________ to find out about my future. (scientist/
fortune-teller)
1. Look at the picture. What do we build with
these?
2. What other things can we use to build with?
3. How would you move lots of heavy things from
one place to another?
Vernal is a small town in Utah, USA. In 1916, the owners of the bank in Vernal
wanted a new building. They wanted the new bank to be built of bricks. However,
the bricks came from a town that was very far away, and the brickmakers set a
high price to bring the bricks to Vernal.
The owners of the bank did not have enough money to pay the brickmakers to do
this, so they found another way of getting the bricks to the town. They asked the
brickmakers to send them in the mail, but the brickmakers could only mail ten
bricks at a time. There were too many packages for the mailman in Vernal to take
to the bank, so soon the mail building was full of bricks and transport them to
the new bank.
There are many good stories about what is sent in the mail, including stories about
people being mailed from one place to another!
New words
be built of
to be made of a certain thing: My house is built of

wood.
brick
a block of stone or baked clay
set a price
to decide on a price
in the mail
I got a book in the mail from my friend in France.
package
The book was in a small package with my name on

it.
be full of
to contain as much of something as possible
support
to help
transport
to take goods and people from one place to another.
Vocabulary
A
a. Im really looking for
e. support one another.
b. Friends should always
f. lots of packages
c. Im always full of happiness
g.everyones
help
to
solve
the
problem
d. On my birthday I received
h. in springtime.
2. In the passage you read,the brickmakers set a high price Choose

and write the correct expression with set to complete the following.
set a price
set a date
set a limit
set a topic
a. A: Congratulations! Youve __________ for the wedding at last!

b. A: The teacher ___________ for the class essay.
c. A: When I go shopping, I ____________ on how much I can spend.
d. A: Even though they have ____________, you should ask for a discount.
a. Have you __________ for your house yet? (set a date/set a price)
b. To build a wall, you need some ____________. (bricks/packages)
c. Will you __________ something about me when you write your story?
(transport/include)
d. When you go to the store, can you put this package ___________ for me?
(in the building/in the mail)
1. What is the toy animal in this
picture?
2. Is it given a certain name in your country?
3. What toy did you like best when you were a small child?
Children everywhere are crazy about toy bears. People have been making them
for hundred of years. Children also like stories about bears. The most famous
storybook bears include Rupert Bear, Winnie the Pooh (or just Pooh Bear) and
Paddington Bear. Most children in Britain and the United States of America are also
familiar with the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Nowadays toy bears
are so popular-with adults as well as children-that there are stores that sell just toy
bears of all kinds.
Many people call toy bears as teddy bears, but this name has only been used since
the early 1990s. The name Teddy is an abbreviation of Theodore, and a man
named Theodore Roosevelt was the American president from 1901 to 1909. He was
very popular and people soon started calling him calling him Teddy Roosevelt. While
he was out hunting one day, Roosevelt refused to kill a bear that was tied to a
tree. As soon as people heard about this, they started calling their toy bears Teddy.
New words
be crazy about
to be very enthusiastic about or deeply in love with
be familiar with
to know or understand well
nowadays
now, in these times, in this period of time
of all kinds
various types of the same thing
abbreviation of
a short form of a word or phrase
hunt
to look for and kill for food or sport; to search
be tied to
to be fastened with rope or string
as soon as
right after
Vocabulary
A
a. To pass your driving test, it is important
e.
as
soon
as
was
seventeen years old.

b. Claire is clearly
f. because I love animals.
c. I learned to drive
g. to be familiar with traffic

rules.
d. I could never hunt
h.
crazy
about
her
new
boyfriend.
2. In the passage you read,bear that was tied to a Choose and write
the correct expression with tie to complete the following.
tied to
tie in
tied up
tied down
a. A: The dog was ______________ a fence.

b. A: I dont want to get married and become ________________.
c. A: Maybe you could __________ a vacation with your business trip.
d. A: Can you give me some advice?
B: Yes, but later on. Im _____________ at the moment.
a. Tom is _________________ Thomas. (an abbreviation of/a totally different
name from)
b. I love _____________ music. (all kinds of/of all kinds)
c. I am strongly _____________ my family and could never leave them. (tied
in/tied to)
d. ______________ we use computers to do a lot of our work. (In the
future/Nowadays)
Pre- reading activity

1. Do you know the name of a famous
ship?
2. Find the American Ocean on a map.
3. Have you ever been on a ship? What
was it called? Where did you go?
The Mary Celeste is the name of a ship,

and the story of the Mary Celeste is one of the most famous mysteries of the
ocean. In 1872 sailors on another ship, the Dei Gratia, found the Mary Celeste out
in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They could tell that something was wrong
because they called out to the sailors on the other ship and no one answered.
They couldnt make out any people on the Mary Celeste, even when they got
closer to it. So a bunch of sailors from the Dei Gratia climbed onto the Mary
Celeste. They searched everywhere on the ship, but they could not find anyone.
Although there was nothing wrong with the ship, there was no one on it.
Something had happened while the sailors on the Mary Celeste had been eating a
meal. There was still food on the table.
No one has been able to explain what happened to the sailors on the Mary Celeste.
No one has ever seen any of them again.
New words
mystery
something that cannot be easily explained
the middle of
the center of
can tell
to be able to recognize or judge correctly
call out to
to speak loudly in order to be heard far

away
make out
to be only just able to see, hear or

understand
a bunch of
a group of, some
climb into
to go up or move onto using hands or feet
nothing wrong with
no damage or obvious problem with
Vocabulary

A
a. Yesterday I went skating
e. I called out to her.
b. Its so dark that its hard
f. with a bunch of friends.
c. When I saw Jen,
g. there was nothing wrong with it.
d. Although he crashed his car,
h. to make out who you are.
2. In the passage you read,called out to the sailors Choose and write
the correct expression with call to complete the following.
call back
call off
call by
call out to
a. A: Do you think we should _____________ the search?

B: Not yet, we might still find them.
b. A: We need some more fruit.
B: I will ___________ the store on my way to work.
c. A: Ill be in the kitchen.
B: OK. If I need anything, Ill ___________ you.
d. A: Mr. Berry isnt here, but he should be back in ten minutes.
B: Ill ________ then.
a. I only saw the first half of the movie because I walked out __________ it.
(at the end/in the middle of)

b. I dont know who stole my lunch. Its a ______________. (mystery/story)
c. I ______________ that youre angry by your face. (think/can tell)
d. Why dont you _____________the wall and into the garden? (climb
into/climb over)
1. Look at the picture. What kind of
animals are they?
2. Do you know the name of these
animals?
3. Where do these animals live?
Insects are small animals that have no bones inside their bodies. They live
everywhere on land but not in the ocean. There may be more than ten million
different kinds of insects in the world. Scientists have not discovered all of them yet
and many have not been named.
Insects are very important in the world. They help plants to spread their seeds
and they help to break up the ground. Although some insects, such as locusts,
can hurt people or plants, other insects kill these dangerous ones. Insects are the
food of many other animals.
Some insects are not good for people. In Egypt thousands of years ago, a plague
of locusts ate all the plants that were growing. There was no food and many people
died.
For most people the worst kind of insect is the cockroach. It is bigger than many
other insects and not easy to kill. People can get sick when cockroaches walk on
their food. In hot countries there are cockroaches everywhere. Some people think
that if most of the world was destroyed, cockroaches would be the only animals to
survive.
New words
insect
a very small animal with its skeleton on the outside

of its body.
bones
the hard parts inside human and some animal

bodies
spread
to cover or divide over a larger area or period of

time
seed
These seeds will soon grow into new plants.
break up
to divide into a smaller pieces; to stop being

together
locust
an insect that destroys plants
plague of
a large number of things that cause problems
cockroach
Cockroaches like living in warm places.
Vocabulary
A
a. To grow plants,
e. is the locust.
b. Cockroaches are common
f. you need seeds.
c. An insect that will damage plants
g. in countries with warm climates.
d. It was hard for people to survive
h. after the plague of locusts.
2. In the passage you read, to break up the ground. Choose and write
the correct expression with break to complete the following.
broken off
broke down
break into
a. A: What happened to you?

B: The car _____________, so I had to walk.
b. A: If you ____________ the bread, you can feed it to the birds.
c. A: Ive __________ a piece of the plant so that I can study it.
d. A: What do you think that man is doing?
B: It looks like hes trying to _____________ that car.
break up

a. It was the death of their baby that _______________ their marriage.
(survived/broke up)
b. Some animals eat _____________ for food. (insects/meals)
c. Children need to drink milk to make their _______________ healthy.
(eyes/bones)
d. The sickness is _______________ to other towns. (growing/spreading)
1. Do you know who is the American
president now?
2. What do you know about President
Lincoln?
3. Do you know how he died?
Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were both American presidents. Lincoln
became president in 1861 and Kennedy was appointed president in 1961. Both
men were assassinated by being shot in the head. They were both assassinated
on a Friday. The wives of both men were present when they died.
John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Booth was
shot soon after he killed the president. The man who assassinated Kennedy was
Lee Harvey Oswald. He was born in 1939 and was also shot shortly after he killed
the president.
Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy. This secretary told him not to go out on
the day he was shot. Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln. This secretary told
Kennedy not to go out on the day that he was shot. The name of the man who
became president after Lincoln was Johnson. The name of the man who became
president right after Kennedy was also Johnson. What a lot of coincidence!
New words
be appointed
to be chosen to take up a particular position.
assassinate
to kill an important person
be shot
to be killed by someone using a gun
be present
to be in a particular place
shortly after
soon after, a short time after
secretary
a person who helps someone else with their work
right after
immediately after
coincidence
when two or more things happen unexpectedly at

the same time
Vocabulary
A
a. He was appointed
e. to see you at the airport.
b. I hope that you were
f. shortly after it became dark.
c. The storm started
g. chairman of the company.
d. It was such a coincidence
h. present in school today.
2. In the passage you read,right after Kennedy Choose and write the
correct expression with right to complete the following.
right after
right away
right back
right into
a. A: A van drove ______________ the back of my car yesterday.

b. A: Make sure you come home ____________ school.
c. A: Do you like my new hoes, Mom?
B: No, I dont. Take them ___________ to the store!
d. A: I need you to type this letter ____________; its very urgent.
a. Take me to the ____________ of your country. I must speak to him.
(secretary/president)
b. This man has been ___________. He needs a doctor. (shot/killed)
c. Our friend was ___________ in a car accident. (assassinated/killed)
d. The injured man was taken to the hospital _____________ the accident.
(right into/ right after)
1. Can you make things with paper?
2. Name something that is made out of
paper.
3. What do we use paper for in the
home?
People have been creating things out of

paper since the Chinese invented it more
than 2,000 years ago. In China, when
someone died, their relatives made houses, tables and chairs, and all kinds of
other things out of paper. Then they burned them so that the smoke could go to
the next world where the dead person could use them.
During the seventh century people in Japan started folding paper to make things.
The Japanese called it origami, and today they still produce many beautiful things
from folded paper. They make not only birds and ships, but also insects and a
variety of other animals.
Some very notable people have been skilled at origami; for example, Leonardo
da Vinci and Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice in Wonderland.
New words
make out of
to produce or create from a particular

material
all kinds of
many different types of
century
a period of 100 years
fold
to bend something so that one part covers

another
produce from
to make or grow things from something
a variety of
a number of different examples of
notable
famous, well-known or interesting
skilled at
having the ability to do something well
Vocabulary
A
a. This necklace is so heavy
e. can be produced from gold.
b. I met some notable people
f. at the party last night.
c. My brother is skilled at
g. creating beautiful jewelry.
d. Many beautiful things
h. it must be made out of gold.
2. In the passage you read,madeout of paper. Choose and write the

correct expression with make to complete the following.
made out of
made for
made out
made off with
a. A: This dress fits perfectly! It was _________________me.

b. A: You shouldnt have ________________ you were telling the truth when
you were lying.
c. A: Why are you so angry?
B: The dog ______________ my sandwich and ate it!
d. A: Whats in this cake?
B: Its ______________ flour, butter, sugar and chocolate.
a. People disagree about whether 2000 or 2001 is the start of the new
______________. (century/year)
b. Oh, no! Who has eaten ___________ the bread? (all kinds of/all of)
c. Thats hot. Be careful not to ______________ your fingers. (fold/burn)
d. We grow ___________ flowers in our garden. (all/a variety of)
1. How often do you go to the movies?
2. Do you usually see movies that have been
made in your country?
3. What is the name of the best movie you have
ever seen?
One
of the most famous movie prizes in the
world is the Oscar. Every year in the United States of America, the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents Oscars to people who have done well
in the movies. There is an Oscar for the best movie of the year, another for the best
actor, and Oscars for doing many other things well in the movies.
The Oscars are very significant because people want to see movies that have won
them. They also want to see actors who have won Oscars. This means that movies
that have won Oscars make a lot of money. The academy first gave prizes to
movies in 1927, but they were not called Oscars then. That happened four years
later. Most people think that Oscar was someone famous in the movies, but he
wasnt. He was no one important. A woman named Margaret Herrick knew him. She
worked for the academy and one day she saw the prize on a table. She said it
looked like her friend, Oscar, and from that time on the prizes were called the
Oscars.
New words
prize
a reward for being good at something
academy
an association formed to promote the arts, science,

etc.
motion picture
a movie
present
to give something (often a prize) in a formal way
do well in
to carry out properly or successfully
significant
important
look like
to look similar to
from that time on
from the point (in time) that something happens
Vocabulary
A
a. I need to practice more
e. to look like a model.
b. If you win the competition,
f. to do well in the competition.
c. Id need to lose a lot of weight
g. any significant information.
d. You should tell the police if you have
h. they will present you with a prize.
2. In the passage you read,and from that time on Choose and write
the correct expression with from to complete the following.
from that time on
from one to the other
from time to time
from one day to the next

a. A: Where have you been? I never know where you are _________________.
b. A: The children passed their illness __________________.
c. A: Do you see Mira every day?
B: No, but I do see her ______________________.
d. A: I lived in Canada as a child and have loved snow ___________________.
a. Have you ever won a ________________? (movie/prize)
b. When I was six, I was in the school play, and ________________ I wanted
to be an actor. (from that time on/from time to time)
c. After school, Id like to study at ___________________. (academy/college)
d. My parents often go to the theater to see ________________(motion
pictures/exhibitions)
1. Do you like numbers?
2. Where do you use numbers the most?
3. Why are numbers important?
There have been many different number systems in the world. A long time ago
the Babylonians counted in sixties, and today computers count using only ones and
zeroes. We call this two-number system the binary system. Most systems, however,
count in tens. This is because we have ten fingers. We call this system the decimal
system, which comes from decem-the Latin word for ten.
The Romans used letters like I, V, X and C to count in tens, but these are not very
easy to use. The number system used by most people today came from India. We
think it was invented by the Hindu people there. In the Hindu system the position of
each numeral is important. For example, 832 is a different number from 238 or
382. The Arabs also used the Hindu system, so we now call our system of numbers
Arabic numbers. In about the twelfth century an Italian named Leonardo Fibonacci
wrote a book about Arabic numbers, and people all over Europe took to using them.
We have no idea who invented the decimal point, but we know that in 1585, a
man named Simon Stevin wrote a book called The Tenth about the decimal point.
Before the decimal point was invented, we had to use fractions like (a half) and
(three-quarters) when we talked about numbers smaller than one. The invention
of the decimal point meant that we could use decimal fractions, such as 0.5 and
0.75. Numbers that can be evenly divided by one are called whole numbers.
New words
system
Computers use a two-number system to count.
binary
having two parts
decimal
having to do with the number ten
numeral
a letter or figure used to express a number
take to
to like doing something immediately
have no idea who
to not know who
fraction
a part of a whole; a number that is smaller than

one; a much smaller number.
whole
not divided or broken
Vocabulary
A
a. I have no idea who
e. I dont want a whole one.
b. Im not hungry, so
f. Im beginning to take to it.
c. I didnt like the idea at first, but
g. makes counting easy.
d. The decimal system
h. this bag belongs to.
2. In the passage you read,Europe took to using Choose and write

the correct expression with take to complete the following.
take to
take on
take in
take along
a. A: There have been so many surprises today that I cant _____________

anymore.
b. A: Could you ______________ your brother ______________ to the park?
c. A: Hows work?
B: Terrible! I always seem to _______________ too many things.
d. A: I know your parents dont like me.
B: Dont worry. Theyll _____________ you eventually.
a. In the Babylonian ______________ of numbers, they counted in sixties.

(system/computer)
b. Half and three-quarters are both _____________. (fractions/decimal points)
c. The ______________ system uses only two figures to express numbers.
(decimal/binary)
d. My watch is easy to read as it has Arabic _____________ on its face.
(numbers/numerals)
1. Look at the picture. What is this
animal?
2. Do
you
think
that
it
is
dangerous? Why?
3. Does this animal live near your
country?
When people think of dangerous sea

animals, they often think of large animals like sharks. However, the sea wasp-a
kind of jellyfish that lives in the tropical waters of Australia-is even more
dangerous. Since 1980 the sea wasp has killed about eighty people in Australia.
They were mostly children. Sharks in Australia have not killed nearly as many
people as sea wasps.
Although its body can grow bigger than a persons head and its tentacles can be 3
meters long, the sea wasp can be very difficult to see in the water because it is
made mostly of water. Their tentacles have a poison in them that helps the
jellyfish to kill its prey. The poison hurts a lot, and is so dangerous that it can kill a
person in five minutes. Even a small sea wasp can kill a child.
Everyone comes out of the ocean when the sea wasps appear in the water in
summer. If people have to go out into the water for some reason, they must wear
clothes. Nowadays we know how to help a person who is hurt by a sea wasp, and
not many people die any longer.
New words
jellyfish
a sea animal with a body like jelly
tropical
of the hottest parts of the world
not nearly as many
a lot less than
tentacle
a long thin part of sea animals
made mostly of
Ice cream is made mostly of milk and sugar.
prey
an animal hunted for food.
come out of
to leave or get out of
not any longer
not happening anymore
Vocabulary
A
a. In order to survive, the jellyfish
e. because not many exist any

longer.
b. I have not seen nearly as many
f. before it gets cold.
c. Its hard to find tigers in India
g. wild animals as you.
d. You should come out of the bath
h. must kill its prey.
2. In the passage you read,it is made mostly of water. Choose and

write the correct expression with make to complete the following.
made mostly of
made up
made up for
made into
a. A: Sam ___________ being rude by buying his mother a present.

b. A: Thats so unhealthy! Its ___________cream.
c. A: Cocoa beans are ____________ chocolate.
d. A: Did you tell the teacher the truth?
B: No, I _____________ a story.
a. You
shouldnt
touch
that
_____________.
This
plant
is
poisonous.
(leaf/tentacle)
b. The temperature in ______________ countries is higher than other
countries. (European/tropical)
c. Milk can be ______________ cheese.(made mostly of/made into)
d. Some _____________ are very poisonous. (sharks/jellyfish)
1. What do people throw over couples
when they get married?
2. Do you believe that some things can
give you good luck?
3. What is unlucky for you?
There
are
different
superstitions
in
different countries. In Britain, for example,

many people think that walking under a
ladder or opening an umbrella indoors will bring bad luck. If they spill salt, they
will often throw some of it over one of their shoulders to stop bad luck. A black cat
walking in front of you is also thought to bring bad luck, but other things are
thought to bring good luck.
When people get married, their friends often tie old shoes to the back of the
wedding car. This is so that the shoes can kick bad spirits away. Another wedding
superstition is to throw rice or confetti-small pieces of colored paper-over the
couple. Some people believe that throwing confetti will help the couple to have
many children. At one time people wanted to have many children, but nowadays
people usually want only one or two. However, people still throw confetti over newly
married couples!
Most superstitions are silly, but people still like to believe in them.
New words
superstitions
a belief in things that arent real or possible
indoors
inside a house or other building
some of
an amount or part of, but not all of
in front of
ahead of or close to the front of
spirit
a ghost or supernatural being
throw over
to toss with the arm in order to cover
silly
foolish, stupid or pointless
believe in
to think that something is true, correct or

has value.
Vocabulary
A
a. Im probably being silly, but
e. broken mirrors are bad luck.
b. It would be better to eat indoors
f. the car in front of you.
c. I have a superstition that
g. as its really hot outside.
d. You shouldnt drive too close to
h. Im scared of the dark.
2. In the passage you read,to throw riceover Choose and write the
correct expression with throw to complete the following.
throw up
throw over
thrown away
throw open
a. A: Do you still want these old shoes?

B: No, they can be ___________________.
b. A: Its too hot in here. Lets _________________ a window.
c. A: Im feeling a bit sick.
B: Youre not going to _________________, are you?
d. A: If you dont stop screaming, Ill ________________ some water
_______________ you.
a. Some of the things that we believe in are only ________________. (bad
luck/superstitions)
b. There
are
lot
of
_________________
in
this
old
house.
(spirits/superstitions)
c. There isnt much cake left, so I can only give you _____________ it. (some
of/all of)
d. Do you _______________ spirits? (know/believe in)
1. Look
at
his
picture.
What
kind
of
painkillers are they?

2. Can you name two other kinds of painkillers?
3. Do you ever have aches or pains? What do you do about them?
In most countries of the world there is one medicine that nearly everyone takes.
It is called aspirin. People take aspirin when they have an ache or a pain, and
sometimes when they have a fever. Doctors believe that it can also help people who
have heart disease and some other diseases, too. Some people, however, cannot
take aspirin because it hurts their stomach. Aspirin must never be given to
children less than twelve years old.
Before aspirin was invented, some people made a drink from the bark of a tree
called the white willow. This drink made their pains and fever go away. People had
been drinking white willow bark for thousands of years, but no one knew why it
helped. Then, in the 1830s, scientists in England analyzed all the things that were
in the bark of the white willow. They discovered which part of the plant stopped
pain. They called this pain-stopping substance salicin. Soon people were making
medicine with salicin and selling it.
Scientists later discovered how to make salicin without using any plants at all. They
called this new substance acetylsalicylic acid, the scientific word for aspirin.
Aspirin was first sold in 1899 by the German company Bayer.
New words
disease
sickness
hurt
to cause a feeling of pain
stomach
the place in your body where food is broken down
less than
not as much; lower in importance
bark
the hard outer part of a tree
go away
to leave
analyze
to study carefully
substance
a solid, powder, liquid or gas with particular

properties
Vocabulary
A
a. A good scientist must be able to
e. use a computer too much.
b. Most drugs are made from
f. should go away.
c. If you take a painkiller, your headache
g. a variety of substances.
d. My eyes hurt when I
h. analyze a lot of information.
2. In the passage you readpains and fever go away. Choose and write
the correct expression with go to complete the following.
go away
a.
go without
goes by
gone down
b. A: I want some fruit.

B: Well, we dont have any. Youll have to _______________.
c. A: Have oranges _____________ in price in the past week?
B: Yes, they dropped to $1.50 two days ago.
d. A: Why dont you ______________ and leave me alone!
e. A: We all get older as time _____________.
a. I dont like the taste of this _______________. (disease/medicine)
b. I exercise ___________ you, but you can still run faster than me! (less
than/more than)
c. I have a pain in my ____________. (fever/stomach)
d. I planted a ____________ tree near my house. (willow/bark)

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Pre-reading activity

1. What animals do you like?

to get information about something

to make or become ready

not the same, clearly different

2. In the passage you read,the dogs started getting ready to eat

a. A: What are you doing today?

3. Choose and write the correct word or words.

c. These two pieces of fabric are too similar.

a lot more than

1. Draw lines to match the words in A to the words in B to

2. In the passage you read,we learned how to make it.

a. A: What are you doing in school?

d. A: I would like to ___________________ to play that piece of

Many people believe that the number thirteen is an unlucky number.

not where it should be

to ask for in a very strong or firm way

a. Youll have to finish your

e. the need for typewriters.

a. A: Im really tired. I think Ill ______________.

a. Hes a good friend, _________________ he makes me angry sometimes.

Pre reading activity

historys most well-known men. He

the study of plants

1. Draw a line to match the words in A to the words in B to make

a. It is necessary for doctors

a. A: Who is the most ______________ teacher at our school?

b.A: Chicken should always be _________________ to avoid food poisoning.

of different kinds; several, many

1. Draw lines to match the words in A to the words in B to

a. I asked the staff

2. In the passage you read, Some people put forward the

a. A: Have you ____________ your toys ________________, Jack?

b. A: At the meeting, the manager _____________ his plans for the

he story of Cinderella comes from France. It is about a girl who longed to

to really want to do something

a woman who cares for a childs Christian

to leave without telling anyone, to flee

1. Draw lines to match the words in A to the words in B to

a. Cinderellas stepmother was

2. In the passage you read, As she ran away Choose and

a. A: Do you think I should ______________?

Sahara is one of the worlds biggest deserts. It covers a

an area of dry land with little rainfall

to be or lie over something

large in amount or degree

to keep changing the place where you live or work

a. Im cold! Could you

e. a substantial amount of money.

b. Ill have to get a loan

c. Last night I lost

g. cover my legs with a blanket?

d. Does the price

h. because my savings are insufficient

a. A: Have you found a new house yet?

over/ move around)

Pre- reading activity

What color do you like best?

What colors can you make from red,

How many colors can you name in

to split into: They divided the fruit into three

to make, to cause to come into being

to join together, to mix

a. A: Have you your toys ____, Jack?

a. If we 10 __100, we get 10. (make, into/divide,into)