Student’s Book  p.

28

Language Center
Reading

A. Discussing Prices
Affordable
• won’t break the bank
• cost next to nothing
• be easy on (one’s) pocket
Expensive
• cost (someone) a pretty penny
• be highway robbery
• pay through the nose

Fill in the blanks with the expressions above. There may be more than one possible answer.
1. A: You don’t want to shop here. You will have to pay through the nose for the clothes in this store.
B: You’re right. Let’s go somewhere with merchandise that won’t break the bank / costs next to
nothing / is easier on our pockets.
2. A: Check out Luke’s new car! That’s a brand-new model. It must have cost a pretty penny.
B: Nope. He struck a bargain, so he got it at a good price.

B. Describing Amazing and Boring Things

Amazing Boring
• knock (one’s) socks off • be as exciting as watching grass grow
• take (one’s) breath away • be like watching paint dry
• give (one) goose bumps • bore (one) to tears

Fill in the blanks below. Use different expressions for each blank.
1. Phil hiked Yushan last weekend. The majestic view from atop the mountain knocked his socks
off / took his breath away / gave him goose bumps.
2. Clint always tells lame jokes, and listening to them is as exciting as watching grass grow / like
watching paint dry.
3. The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was built more than 4,500 years ago and remains largely
intact. Seeing it knocked my socks off / took my breath away / gave me goose bumps!

C. Talking about Events

Successes Failures
• be a smashing success • be a complete disaster
• be a big hit • go over like a lead balloon
• go over with a bang • not amount to much

Practice talking about the situations using the expressions above.

1. A New Year’s Eve party For Example:

2. A community charity concert
3. An outdoor sporting event
4. Opening night of a play / movie
• The New Year’s Eve party at Taipei 101 was a
smashing success. People loved the spectacular
fireworks display!
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 Worksheet
A. Match
Match the statement or question with its best response.
Statement / Question:

1. The winner of the game will receive two tickets to the Masters Golf Tournament! ______
2. These tennis shoes provide better support, but they’re $169, and I don’t get paid for
three more weeks. ______
3. Cooking at home is so economical. I don’t know why I ever eat out. ______
4. I’ve considered studying abroad, but I’m uncertain whether it’s worth my time. ______
5. Let’s not see the movie in the IMAX theater since the tickets are high-priced. ______
6. No one has responded to the invitations I sent out last month for my anniversary
party! ______
7. I just purchased these leather shoes from Italy. They cost more than I make in a
month. ______
8. I thought you were going to open your consulting firm this year. What happened?
______

Response:

a. Good idea. We won’t have to pay through the nose for the regular version.
b. Sports always bore me to tears, so I’m not really interested in that prize.
c. The plan didn’t amount to much. I had difficulty finding any clients.
d. That’s true. Visiting a restaurant every once in a while won’t break the bank,
though.
e. You’d better buy a cheaper brand that will be easier on your pocket.
f. I’ll be there, but since it’s on a weekday, you shouldn’t expect it to be a smashing
success.
g. I think you spent too much, even though they do take my breath away.
h. I’m sure spending a semester experiencing a new culture would knock your socks
off.

This page may be photocopied and distributed to the class.

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Worksheet
B. Complete the Dialogue
Fill in the blanks with the expressions you’ve learned on page 28 of the Student’s Book.

Jasper: Hey, great job on your art show! Of all the ones I’ve seen, it was one of my
favorites.
Danya: Really? I feel like it 1. _______________________. Hardly anyone showed up, even
though admission 2. _______________________.
Jasper: Yeah, but a lot of your friends live far away. A trip over here would have
3. _______________________, especially if they had to stay overnight in a hotel.
Danya: Well, even if they had shown up, I’m sure they would have thought my work was
4. _______________________.
Jasper: Not everyone is as obsessed with experimental photography as we are. But I
chatted with several attendees, and they all gave positive feedback. Among
them, your pieces 5. _______________________.
Danya: Thanks for the encouragement. I’m still convinced that my display wasn’t good
enough to 6. _______________________ though. Maybe next time I can try a style
that won’t 7. _______________________.
Jasper: You’re being too hard on yourself. In my opinion, your exhibit was
8. _______________________!

This page may be photocopied and distributed to the class.

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Student’s Book  p. 30

Grammar

Noun Clauses
A noun clause is connected to an independent clause and serves the same purpose in a sentence as a
noun.

A. Form
Signal Word Example
that • The teacher explained (that) Korea is a peninsula.

if / whether • I wonder if the flights are affordable.

wh- word + to V. • My coworker asked me how to use the copy machine.

wh- or wh-ever word + S. + V. • It’s thrilling to experience what the artists are able to do in
the moment.

Usage Note
That can be omitted from the beginning of a noun clause unless it is the first
word in the sentence.
For Example:
• Paul’s girlfriend had no idea (that) he didn’t like salmon.
• That Grandpa Roy could scramble up a tree surprised us all.

B. Function
subject of a verb • What the reporter wrote seemed to upset the politician.

object of a verb • I just remembered (that) the festival is held in Scotland.

subject complement • The band’s mistake was (that) they didn’t play any mainstream
music at the dance.

object of a preposition • I’ve been thinking about which ones to attend.

adjective complement • I’m ecstatic (that) we can finally make plans for our fall break!

C. Sentence Patterns
Some verbs and adjectives are often followed by noun clauses. In this structure, the verb in the
noun clause usually stays in its base form.

advise, ask, demand, insist, propose, order,

S. (that) + noun clause
urge, recommend, request, suggest . . .

crucial, essential, imperative, important,

It is (that) + noun clause
critical, necessary, vital . . .

For Example:
• It is essential that you use celery in this traditional Chinese dish.

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Worksheet
A. Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the words provided. There are two extra choices.

what whenever if whatever which how where who

1. Margaret’s uncle is always willing to discuss ____________ is troubling her.

2.
The celebrities hope to keep their honeymoon destination a secret, and so far,
____________ they are going hasn’t been discovered by reporters.
3.
The dilemma is ____________ they can afford to send both of the twins to a private high
school next year.
4.
The man was arrested after he bribed the players to alter ____________ team would win
the championship.
5.
Cindy hasn’t yet responded to Bill’s marriage proposal because she is still thinking
about ____________ would be the best way to turn it down.
6.
I know Latin is no longer spoken as a native language, but some students still learn
____________ to speak it.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Combine the sentences by creating noun clauses.
1. Blake saved my cat by rescuing her from a tree. His bravery impressed the entire
neighborhood.
 _____________________________________________ impressed the entire neighborhood.
2. Jake may or may not be attending our college reunion. He hasn’t replied to me yet.
 I don’t know ________________________________ because he hasn’t replied to me yet.
3. She could not see the band’s performance. Her seat was too far away from the stage.
 She could not see the performance from _________________________________________.
4. Students really need to proofread their essays. Their papers could be full of errors.
 It is imperative ____________________________ to make sure they aren’t full of errors.
5. I have a question. Will you sue the company for damages?
 My question is _________________________________________________________________.
6. Matt is a great marketing specialist. He is able to anticipate customers’ wants and
needs.
 Matt’s ability to anticipate _______________________________ makes him a great
marketing specialist.

This page may be photocopied and distributed to the class.

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