What caused the painting to fall?

The banging on the desk and a loose nail.

EXPANSION Units 1–3

A. Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

1. Now that all their children have grown up and moved away, Iris and Lou have decided to downsize.

They are going to sell their big house and buy a small condo.

2. John hates driving through tunnels. They make him feel closed in and claustrophobic.

He’d rather take a longer route just to avoid them.

3. Abdullah thinks he’s going to win the talent competition. But if you ask me, he needs a reality check because there are lots of people in it who are far more talented than him.

4. I’m going on a trip to Argentina next month and I’m psyched. I can’t wait!

5. There were lots of spectators at the football game last night. The whole town came out to watch the game.

6. James is so quirky. You just never know what to expect. He’s really one of a kind!

7. There’s a fly that keeps buzzing around me and it won’t stop! I’m really getting irritated.

Where’s the insect spray?

8. Clark just got a killer new snowboard! He’s already planned to go to the mountains this weekend.

He can’t wait to try it out!

9. Sahar really loves children and she’s interested in the medical field, so she decided to become a pediatric nurse.

10. This is a genuine pearl. You can tell it’s real because if you rub it against your teeth, it feels gritty.

11. If you are outside and you hear or see a thunderstorm, you should find shelter.

However, you should never get under a tree.

B. Put the new adjective in the correct place in each sentence.

1. That’s a nice car! (new) That's a nice, new car!
2. I can’t find my black shoes. (leather) I can't find my black, leather shoes.
3. The little penguin jumped into the water. (Black and white / cute) The cute, little, black and white penguin jumped into the water.
4. I bought a beautiful chair. (velvet / French) I bought a beautiful, French, velvet chair.
5. The Gray mouse ran into a hole. (little / frightened) The frightened, little, Gray mouse ran into a hole.
6. My old bike is ready to retire. (racing / blue) My old, blue, racing bike is ready to retire.

C. Read each scenario. For each one, write a complaint with two and a complaint with enough.

1. Faisal is on a football team. He has practiced every day for three hours. He likes football, but he is starting to get behind at school because he doesn’t have any time to study.

a. There are too many practices. / b. I don't have enough time to study.

2. Kevin thinks he’s really funny. He’s always telling jokes. Even when his friends are upset and need advice, he jokes around.

a. He tells too many jokes. / b. He's not serious enough.

3. Your parents just bought a new house. It’s really big, which is nice, but you are sleeping on the first floor and they are sleeping on the third floor. You are frightened.

a. The house is too big. / b. My parents aren't close enough to me.

D. Complete each sentence. Use a gerund as the subject of each sentence and a present participle as an adjective.

1. Skateboarding is exciting.
2. Going to the basketball game is entertaining.
3. falling down is embarrassing.
4. getting a bad grade is disappointing.
5. Winning a gold medal is amazing.
6. Watching news is boring.

E. Complete the sentences with the superlative and the present perfect.

1. It’s the biggest (big) house they have ever seen (see / ever).
2. That was the most irritated (irritated) Randy has felt (feel) in years.
3. He is the most annoying (annoying) person Bill has ever met (meet / ever).
4. That’s the coolest (cool) car I have ever seen (see / ever).
5. It’s the most uncomfortable (uncomfortable) couch we have owned (own).
6. It must be the worst (bad) sitcom that has ever been (be / ever) on TV.
7. This is the most tired (tired) I have been (be) in a long time.
8. This is the most frustrated (frustrated) I have ever seen (see / ever) them.

F. Read the conversation. Circle the correct adjectives.

Jamal: Hey Abdullah, what’s wrong?

Abdullah: Oh nothing. I’m just (exhausted / exhausting). I’ve been working all week.

It’s really (1) (annoyed/ annoying).

Jamal: That sounds (2) (depressed / depressing). Will you get a break this weekend?

There’s an (3) (interested / interesting) restaurant opening.

Abdullah: I would like to, but I have to take care of my little brother. I’m really (4) (disappointed / disappointing) because I need a break.

Jamal: Well, maybe you can do something (5) (entertained / entertaining) with your little brother.

Abdullah: Yeah, we’ll probably go downtown. The only thing is that I’m (6) (embarrassed / embarrassing) to be seen hanging out with a twelve-year-old.

Jamal: Really? That’s (7) (puzzled / puzzling). I’m sure people will admire you for taking care of your little brother!

Abdullah: That’s true. Hopefully I won’t be too (8) (irritated / irritating) by hanging out with him all weekend.

G. Read the account of a real incident that caused a lot of laughter and answer the questions.

1. Where did the incident take place?

At a doctor's office.

2. Who were the people involved?

The doctor and a patient.

3. What caused the painting to fall?

The banging on the desk and a loose nail.

4. Did anyone get hurt?

No, not really.

5. What was the doctor’s initial reaction?

He was livid with anger.

6. What caused him to start laughing uncontrollably?

Seeing himself in the mirror, collared by the painting with his head sticking out.

7. Why do you think he wanted to keep the mark on the wall?

To remind him of the incident.

8. What would you have done if you’d been in his position?

I would do the same as he has done.

H. Write as many words as you can about what you see in the picture. Write your words under each heading below. Then write sentences about the picture using some of your words.

1. The shopping mall was very crowded last Saturday at midday.
2. There were people standing, walking, talking, and hurrying about.
3. The mall has been decorated with lots of twinkling lights. Even the palm trees are covered in lights.

I. WRITING

Write about a time you couldn’t stop laughing. Explain what happened that made you laugh so hard.

1. Before you write, use a cause-and-effect chart to organize your ideas.

2. Now write your essay. When you’ve finished, re-read your essay and delete unnecessary words and phrases.

High heel candle

• Once upon time, I was sitting on the ground in the park. Suddenly a girl appeared from nowhere, she was tall and thin.
• She was walking in a strange way that I didn't know why she was walking that way.
• I stared at her and suddenly she fell down on the ground and I laughed.
• She was wearing a high heel candle and that's why she couldn't walk properly.