Listening Activity: Free time

Listen to Tyrone calling the staff at his local swimming pool..

Exercise 1: Complete the Registration Form with the correct information:

  • Name:
  • Surname:
  • Age:
  • Interested in (sport):


Exercise 2: Check your understanding, are the sentences true or false?

1. There are four different age groups that play water polo.
2. Tyrone wants to join the under 14s club.
3. The under 16s water polo team train three times a week.
4. The under 16s train on Monday and Thursday.
5. Water polo matches are played on Saturdays.
6. You have to pay to join the water polo classes for under 18s.
7. You need to bring a photo to register at the swimming pool.
8. Training for the water polo team starts this week.


Transcript: Free Time

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Vocabulary: Compound Nouns

What is a Compound Noun?

Compound nouns are words for people, animals, places, things, or ideas, made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns are made with nouns that have been modified by adjectives or other nouns.

In many compound nouns, the first word describes or modifies the second word, giving us insight into what kind of thing an item is, or providing us with clues about the item’s purpose. The second word usually identifies the item.

Compound nouns are sometimes one word, like toothpaste, haircut, or bedroom. These are often referred to as closed or solid compound nouns.

Sometimes compound nouns are connected with a hyphen: dry-cleaning, daughter-in-law, and well-being are some examples of hyphenated compound nouns.

Sometimes compound nouns appear as two separate words: full moon, Christmas tree, and swimming pool are some examples of compound nouns that are formed with two separate words. These are often referred to as open or spaced compound nouns.



Compound Noun Examples

The more you read and write, the more compound noun examples you’ll encounter. The following sentences are just a few examples of compound nouns.


Compound nouns can be made with two nouns:

  • Let’s just wait at this bus stop.
  • I love watching fireflies on warm summer nights.
  • While you’re at the store, please pick up some toothpaste, a six-pack of ginger ale, and some egg rolls.


Compound nouns can be made with an adjective and a noun:

  • Let’s watch the full moon come up over the mountain.
  • Please erase the blackboard for me.


Compound nouns can be made with a verb and a noun:

  • Be sure to add bleach to the washing machine.
  • Let’s be sure to stay somewhere with a swimming pool.


Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a verb:

  • He always gets up before sunrise.
  • I really could use an updated hairstyle.


Compound nouns can be made with a verb and a preposition:

  • Checkout is at noon.
  • Please remember to schedule your dog’s annual check-up.


Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a prepositional phrase:

  • My mother-in-law is the kindest person I know.


Compound nouns can be made with a preposition and a noun:

  • Do you believe in past lives?
  • This city is vibrant, so it’s hard to believe it has a thriving criminal underworld.


Compound nouns can be made with a noun and an adjective:

  • We need a truckful of mulch for the garden.



Choose the word that makes each of these nouns into a compound noun.

    1. Fund __________ (A – driver, B – seat, C – raiser)
    2. News __________ (A– paper, B – story, C – travels)
    3. Sun ____________ (A– day, B – glasses, C – heat)
    4. Child ___________ (A – hood, B – ren, C – play)
    5. Door ___________ (A– frame, B – handle, C – way)

Fill in the blanks to complete each compound noun, or with the one-word compound noun that fits best.

  1. Prevent a heart _________ by eating properly and getting enough exercise. (A – stroke, B –attack, C – murmur)
  2. Do you prefer peppermint or cinnamon flavored _____________? (A– cookies, B – toothpaste, C – applesauce)
  3. The full ___________ looked enormous as it rose over the horizon. (A – moon, B – sun, C –sunset)
  4. I’m going to the barber for a _____________. (A – trim, B – new style, C – haircut)
  5. They’re digging a new swimming ____________ in the park. (A – suit, B – pool, C – game)
  6. I’d love to learn to pilot an ____________(A–boat, B – airplane, C – submarine)
  7. One reason donuts are fattening is that they’re fried in cooking _____. (A – oil, B – sugar, C –pans)
  8. Sherrie is upset because she lost an ______________. (A – input, B – earring, C – friendship)
  9. We put a ____________ in the garden to chase birds away.(A – runway, B – sunshade, C –scarecrow)
  10. 15.I’ve got to pick up a package at the post ___________. (A – man, B – office, C – book)






Answer Key: 1 – C, 2 – A, 3 – B, 4 – A, 5 – C

Answer Key: 6 – B, 7 – B, 8 – A, 9 – C, 10 – B, 11 – B, 12 – A, 13 – B, 14 – C, 15 – B



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Reading: Men outnumbered in Spanish government

Women are on the rise in Spanish politics. Spain’s newly-formed government consists of eleven women and six men. The newly-elected socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has put women in some of the biggest positions in his cabinet, including head of defence, economy, education and finance. Spain now has the highest proportion of women in top government positions than anywhere else in Europe. In a televised statement, Mr Sanchez said his new government consisted of people who wanted to move Spain forward. He said: “All are highly qualified and bring a vocation for public service and reflect the best of Spain. [They are]…open to the world but anchored in the European Union.”

Rajoy failed to remain in power after his controversial handling of recent situations.

Mr Sanchez seems an unlikely leader. His Socialist party holds just 84 of the 350 seats in Spain’s parliament. He took office on Friday, replacing the unpopular conservative leader Mariano Rajoy. Ex-prime minister Rajoy was the focus of a corruption scandal and had become unpopular because of his austerity measures. Sanchez promised to bring change to Spain. However, he has to work quickly to turn Spain’s economy around. He has promised to call elections in less than two years, which may not be enough time to amend the outgoing government’s budget for 2018. One of his biggest challenges will be rebuilding relations with the northeastern region of Catalonia.



What can you say about these words and your life: politics / government / socialist / cabinet / education / statement / public service / leader / parliament / unpopular / conservative / corruption / scandal / challenges


Comprehension Questions:

  1. How many women were appointed to top government posts in Spain?
  2. Which European country has the highest ratio of women in top posts?
  3. What medium did Pedro Sanchez use to make his statement?
  4. What did Pedro Sanchez say his government brings to public service?
  5. What did Pedro Sanchez say his government was anchored in?
  6. How many parliamentary seats does Pedro Sanchez’s party hold?
  7. What kind of scandal is Spain’s ex-prime minister involved in?
  8. What did Pedro Sanchez promise to bring to Spain?
  9. When did Pedro Sanchez say he would call the next elections?
  10. What does Pedro Sanchez have to build relations with?


Try to recall how these words were used in the text:

  1. seems
  2. 350
  3. focus
  4. bring
  5. call
  6. region
  7. rise
  8. elected
  9. head
  10. else
  11. move
  12. open

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Reading: Scientists close to turning air into fuel

Scientists are close to making carbon capture work. Carbon capture is taking waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants and storing it so it does not harm the environment. A company called Carbon Engineering say its scientists are close to capturing CO2 from the air and turning it into carbon-neutral fuel. This is a big step forward in the fight against global warming. The scientists also said they have reduced the cost of carbon capture, to as low as $94 per ton of CO2 captured. Scientists used to say carbon capture would cost about $1,000 per ton captured.

Carbon Engineering’s technology works by sucking air into special towers. CO2 is mixed with a liquid and frozen. It is then heated and mixed with hydrogen. This produces fuels like gasoline and jet fuel. Carbon Engineering’s Professor David Keith is hopeful about the future of this process. He thinks his company could fight climate change. He said: “After 100 years of practical engineering…we can confidently say that…air capture…is a [realistic] and buildable technology for producing carbon-neutral fuels in the immediate future, and for removing carbon in the long run.”


Slow speed version

Normal speed version

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Reading: Australian Woman Marries Bridge

Many countries around the world are discussing same-sex marriage. No country is discussing the rights and wrongs of marrying a bridge. But that is what an Australian woman has done. Artist Jodi Rose fell in love with the 600-year-old Le Pont du Diable (the Devil’s Bridge) in France and got married to it last month. However, France does not recognise marriages between people and bridges. Nevertheless, 14 guests attended the wedding ceremony to see the happy couple become not man and wife, but bridge and wife. The mayor of the nearby town also came to bless the marriage. Jodi wore a white wedding dress for the occasion. She also had a special ring (which is almost one metre high) made for the bridge.


The happy bride and bridge

Jodi Rose travels the world visiting bridges. She records the sounds and vibrations they make. She then turns these into experimental music for her “Singing Bridges” project. She said it was love at first sight for the Devil’s Bridge. She posted on her blog Bridgeland: “Although he is made of stone…I feel at peace in his strong embrace. He makes me feel connected to the earth.” She added that the bridge makes her feel comfortable after travelling non-stop around the world. Ms Rose explained why she married the bridge, saying it was symbolic because she values “the spiritual vibration in everything”. She also explained her love for it: “The perfect husband… strong and silent,” she said.


Decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring:

marriage / rights and wrongs / bridges / guests / nearby town / wedding dress / ring / travels the world / experimental music / feel at peace / vibration / strong and silent

Comprehension Questions:

  1. How many countries are talking about same-sex marriage?
  2. How many countries are talking about marrying bridges?
  3. How old was the bridge the woman married?
  4. How many people went to the wedding?
  5. What was almost a metre high?
  6. What does Jodi do with her recordings?
  7. When did she fall in love with the bridge?
  8. What does the bridge make Jodi feel connected to?
  9. What kind of vibration in everything does Jodi value?
  10. Why is her husband perfect?

Try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • countries
  • wrongs
  • last
  • guests
  • happy
  • special
  • travels
  • music
  • sight
  • non-stop
  • why
  • strong

Discussion Questions:

  1. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘marriage’?
  2. How has marriage changed in the past 100 years?
  3. What is marriage to you?
  4. What do you think of someone marrying a bridge?
  5. Should countries let people marry things?
  6. What do you think the wedding ceremony was like?
  7. What wedding vow (promise) do you think Jodi made to the bridge?
  8. What wedding present would you buy the bridge and wife?
  9. Why do so many marriages these days break up?
  10. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  11. Do celebrity marriages work?
  12. Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?
  13. What wedding vows (promises) would you make to your partner?
  14. What is the perfect marriage?


Reading: Exam results affected by hotter weather

Hot weather lowers exam results. A major study from three universities in the USA says heat may reduce learning in the short and long term. Hot weather on test days, and higher than average yearly temperatures lowered grades.

Researchers looked at how the weather affected test scores from 10 million American students. Findings showed that a temperature rise of just 0.55ºC over one year led to a one per cent decrease in learning. The research paper is called “Heat and Learning”. It was published last month.

A worrying conclusion in the study is that global warming may affect the future income of students around the world. Researchers said that if global temperatures continued to rise, the average American student could lose $25,000 because of lower test scores. Air conditioning in classrooms could stop this. Hotter weather was “particularly damaging” for poorer students.




How were these words used in the article:

  1. lowers
  2. major
  3. term
  4. average
  5. grades
  6. decrease
  7. worrying
  8. income
  9. rise
  10. scores




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Reading: The Scotland Camping Trip

Here are the instructions for next weekend’s camping trip in Scotland. There are seventeen people going on this trip so it’s important that you arrive at the meeting point early enough for us to be able to leave at 8am. There will be two minibuses and please make sure you are on the right one. Last week’s e-mail gave all this information.

wild-camping-scotlandWe should arrive in the camping area at about 2pm, which will give us enough time to buy the food we need in the local supermarket and then go to the area where we will set up the tents, which is a long way from town.There will be a total of four large tents put up and each tent will have a tent leader, a person who went on this trip last year and therefore has the necessary experience. If you have any problems during the two days, you should always go directly to your tent leader and speak to him/her. We are not expecting there to be very bad weather this weekend in Scotland, but the weather situation in the Scottish hills is always very unpredictable and for this reason, we have advised everyone to take wet weather clothing with you. If windy, stormy weather arrives at the camping area, it may also be necessary to leave the hills and go down into the town.

It’s very likely that your phones will not work in the hills, so you must warn your parents of this. You will be able to use your phones when we are in the town, but not when we are camping.

If you have any other questions about the trip, come either to me or Mrs. Sanderson.


Answer the questions choosing either True, False or Not Stated if the information is not included in the reading.

1. This letter is from a teacher.
not stated

2. Instructions about the minibuses will be in a future e-mail.
not stated

3. The tents will be set up near the supermarket.
not stated

4. Some of the people going camping this year also went last year.
not stated

5. There was very bad weather on the camping trip last year.
not stated

6. Wet weather clothing can be hired in the town.
not stated

7. Nobody can use their phone during the trip.
not stated







  1. not stated
  2. false
  3. false
  4. true
  5. not stated
  6. not stated
  7. false

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Reading: A Job Riding Harley Davidsons

There is a special job opening for eight people who love riding motorbikes, enjoy long, hot summers, and like feeling the wind in their hair. The position is a summer internship for the legendary motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson. The company is looking for people to learn to ride its bikes and then ride them across the USA all summer. It is offering this job to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the founding of Harley-Davidson. The successful candidates will get special training to ride a Harley and must then share their experiences of their adventures of riding around the USA on social media. The lucky riders must also attend a number of events, including anniversary celebrations.

Harley-Davidson.svgHarley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich explained why his company wants eight interns to ride motorcycles all summer. He said: “We’re continuously working to grow the sport of motorcycling. What better way to engage future riders than to have a whole team of newly-trained enthusiasts share personal stories as they immerse themselves in motorcycle culture and community – all while gaining marketable career skills. I’m looking forward to following their journeys, learning about their experiences, and seeing them out on the road.” To qualify, candidates must show they are good storytellers, be able to use social media well, and describe what freedom means in an essay, video or photo portfolio.

Comprehension Questions:

  1. How many interns is Harley-Davidson looking for?
  2. What might people like to feel in their hair?
  3. How old will the Harley-Davidson company be this year?
  4. What must successful candidates share on social media?
  5. What must the lucky candidates attend a number of?
  6. What does Harley-Davidson’s CEO want to grow?
  7. What will the interns immerse themselves besides communities?
  8. What marketable skills will the interns pick up?
  9. What must candidates show they are good at?
  10. What word must job applicants describe?

Describe how these words relate to the story above:


Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘motorbike’?
  3. What do you know about Harley-Davidson?
  4. Why does Harley-Davidson have a cool image?
  5. Do you enjoy feeling the wind in your hair?
  6. Would you like to apply for this internship?
  7. What do you think of internships?
  8. Why is Harley-Davidson doing this?
  9. Where would you go if you won this internship?
  10. Are motorcycles the best form of transport?
  11. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘job’?
  12. What do you think about what you read?
  13. What do you think about motorbikes?
  14. How much would you enjoy riding a motorcycle around the USA?
  15. What is “motorcycle culture”?
  16. What career skills might the interns learn?
  17. How good a storyteller are you?
  18. How would you describe the word “freedom”?
  19. What questions would you like to ask the Harley-Davidson boss?

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Reading: Charity Chic

100215815_0000The First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, has turned heads at a movie awards ceremony. Fashion reporters said Ms Reid wore a “stunning” black jacket to the Edda Awards – Iceland’s version of Hollywood’s Academy Awards. Ms Reid wore black to show her support for the #metoo movement. However, unlike most people who attend glamorous awards shows, Ms Reid did not spend a fortune on her clothes. When reporters asked her where she had purchased her jacket, she said she bought it in a local Red Cross charity store in Iceland’s capital city. The Icelandic Red Cross was very happy about this news. It told its followers on Twitter that the first lady looked, “awesome in a gorgeous jacket from the Red Cross”.

Eliza Reid is originally from Canada and works as a journalist. She met her husband, President Gudni Johannesson, when she was studying at Oxford University. Ms Reid told the Hit Iceland website in 2017 that she “won” a blind date with the future president at a rowing club event. She had no idea she would one day become First Lady of Iceland. Both she and her husband are very popular in Iceland for being just like normal people. They both have a very down-to-earth attitude and can often be seen in the city shopping with their four children and going to restaurants. The Red Cross also likes Ms Reid. It hopes more people will follow her fashion sense and buy clothes from its charity shops.


icelandic fashion
Another example of Icelandic fashion

Comprehension Questions:

  1. What did Eliza Reid turn at an awards ceremony?
  2. What colour jacket did Ms Reid wear?
  3. What movement did Ms Reid want to show support for?
  4. Who asked Ms Reid where she bought her jacket?
  5. In which city did Ms Reid buy the jacket?
  6. Where is Ms Reid from originally?
  7. Where did Ms Reid meet her husband for the first time?
  8. What kind of club event did Ms Reid meet her husband at?
  9. What kind of attitude to Ms Reid and her husband have?
  10. What does the Red Cross hope people will follow?

Vocabulary Activity:

Try to recall how the following words were used in the text:

  • originally
  • met
  • won
  • popular
  • seen
  • sense
  • heads
  • version
  • support
  • unlike
  • city
  • followers


Discussion Questions:

  1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘first’?
  2. How important is a First Lady?
  3. Why don’t all countries have a First Lady?
  4. What do you know about Iceland?
  5. What do you think about charity shops?
  6. What would you wear to an awards show?
  7. Should more famous people wear clothes from charity shops?
  8. Why do people want to look glamorous?
  9. Would you buy clothes from a charity shop?
  10. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘lady’?
  11. What do you think about what you read?
  12. What does a First Lady do all day?
  13. What do you think of Iceland’s First Lady?
  14. What would it be like to be married to the President?
  15. What do you think of the idea of blind dates?
  16. How down-to-earth are you?
  17. What is your favourite charity?
  18. What questions would you like to ask Iceland’s First Lady?

Reading: Desert Opera

Map of the region
Map of the region

Saudi Arabia will soon have its very first national orchestra and opera. France will help Saudi to set up the musical groups. The two countries signed a series of agreements on Monday to boost cultural ties, and cooperation through the arts. France’s Culture Minister said: “Today, an agreement was signed with the Paris Opera to help Saudi Arabia set up a national orchestra and an opera.” The world-famous Paris Opera will help Saudi Arabia produce its own classical music performances and operas. Plans are already under way for the country’s first opera house to be built in the kingdom’s second largest city, Jeddah. Saudi Arabia will invest $64 billion in developing its entertainment industry over the next decade

The agreement is part of a plan created by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, called Vision 2030. He wants to modernise many areas of Saudi life. There were other projects included in the cultural agreements between France and Saudi Arabia. French archaeologists will work on developing Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula region in the northwest of the country. The area is rich in ancient archaeological sites. French experts will help to preserve the area. Another key part of the agreement is the translation of literature. France’s Culture Minister stressed, “the importance of translating books in both directions, from Arabic into French and French into Arabic”.


Comprehension Questions

  1. What will France help set up, besides the opera?
  2. What kind of ties do the two countries want to boost?
  3. What is the name of the opera company that will help Saudi Arabia?
  4. Where will Saudi’s first opera house be built?
  5. How much will Saudi spend on its entertainment industry?
  6. What is the name of the plan created by the Saudi Crown Prince?
  7. Where in Saudi Arabia is the Al-Ula region?
  8. What is the Al-Ula region rich in?
  9. What is another key part of the agreement between Saudi and France?
  10. In what direction will the translation of books happen?


Vocabulary Activity:

Try to recall how these words were used in the text:

  • plan
  • life
  • region
  • rich
  • key
  • both
  • soon
  • boost
  • arts
  • own
  • already
  • decade


Discussion Questions

  1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘opera’?
  2. What do you think of opera?
  3. Why do so many people prefer pop music to classical music?
  4. Why didn’t Saudi Arabia have an opera house before?
  5. What arts are important in your country?
  6. What do you know about the culture of Saudi Arabia?
  7. Why is Saudi investing so much money in entertainment?
  8. Which is better, classical music or opera?
  9. What kind of performance art do you like best?
  10. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘orchestra’?
  11. What do you think about what you read?
  12. How important is classical music?
  13. Is classical music better than rock music?
  14. How important are the arts?
  15. What would you do to modernize your country?
  16. What could you do on a holiday in Saudi Arabia?
  17. What is the benefit of translating French and Arabic books?
  18. What questions would you like to ask the culture ministers?

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