Well, last week I finally dipped into that money that I had been putting aside for the past year and a half. I decided that I should really enjoy myself so I splashed out and had a great meal at Andy's. Next, I went to Macys on Saturday and laid out $400 for that suit I'd told you about. Of course, I used a great deal of what I had saved up to pay back that bill I had run up on my Visa card. It feels great to finally have some money after all those years of scraping by. Thanks again for tiding me over during that long winter of '05. I don't think I would havegot by without your bailing me out.Unfortunately, I also had to cough up about $250 in insurance costs. Oh well, I guess shelling out the cash for those things is just as necessary as anything else...
Vocabulary:
dip into - to spend part of your saved money
break into - to start to use money that you have saved
Here is a practice dialogue using some of the above vocabulary.
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away.
The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore
The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and
vowed he'd steal no more.
Have you ever had the desire to wander the world and see what was out there? While some people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, others have been bitten by the travel bug and can't wait to explore the world. Exotic places call to them. "Come visit me and I will show you my mysteries," they say.
Every year millions of people pack their suitcases or put on backpacks and flock to visit the seven continents of the world. They wander through the castles and museums of Europe, and the cities and natural wonders of North and South America. Some visit the vast exotic cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The great outback of Australia is a wonderland for those who go there. And a few lucky people even make to the most mysterious continent on the earth- Antarctica.
Why do people want to explore the world? It gives them a better perspective about the earth and the people living on it. It opens their minds, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes them feel alive. So save some money, get your passport ready, and see the world. It will change your life forever.
Vocabulary 
travel bug (idiom)- strong desire to travel
to be bitten by the travel bug (idiom)- kind of a cute way to say when someone begins to want to travel. After the "bug" bites you, you will really want to travel.
to wander- to go from one place to another without any definite plans
to be in the comfort of (one's) own home- to be at home, in a familiar or comfortable place to explore- to look around and find out new things
exotic (adjective)- strange, mysterious, exciting, unknown
mystery- something unknown, something that needs to be found out
to flock- large amounts of people go to the same place at the same time
vast (adjective)- very large
perspective- view, way of seeing things
accomplishment- feeling like you have done something important and good
travel bug (idiom)- strong desire to travel to be bitten by the travel bug (idiom)- kind of a cute way to say when someone begins to want to travel. After the "bug" bites you, you will really want to travel. to wander- to go from one place to another without any definite plans to be in the comfort of (one's) own home- to be at home, in a familiar or comfortable place to explore- to look around and find out new things exotic (adjective)- strange, mysterious, exciting, unknown mystery- something unknown, something that needs to be found out to flock- large amounts of people go to the same place at the same time vast (adjective)- very large perspective- view, way of seeing things accomplishment- feeling like you have done something important and good Questions and Answers
Choose True or False. Check your answers at the bottom of the page by clicking on the arrow.
1. To be bitten by the travel bug means you like to stay home.
True
False
False
2. People bitten by the travel bug like to visit new places.
True
False
False
3. The great outback is in Europe.
True
False
False
4. Antarctica is in Africa.
True
False
False
5. Asia is vast.
True
False
False
6. Traveling opens your mind.
True
False
False
7. Traveling makes you feel alive.
True
False
False
8. Traveling helps you see things in a new way.
True
False
False
Your Daily Schedule
_______________________________________________________________Weather Forecast
It looks like rain.
The weather has been great!
The weather has been terrible.
A beautiful day, isn't it?
The forecast is never correct, is it?
I can't believe this weather we are having, can you?
_______________________________________________________________
My name is Fred
Read and answer the questions.
______________________________________________________________________
Introductions
(At a party)
Peter: Hello.
Jane: Hi!
Jane: Hi!
Peter: My name is Peter. What's your name?
Jane: My name is Jane. Nice to meet you.
Jane: My name is Jane. Nice to meet you.
Peter: It's a pleasure. This is a great party!
Jane: Yes, it is. Where are you from?
Jane: Yes, it is. Where are you from?
Peter: I'm from Amsterdam.
Jane: Amsterdam? Really, are you German?
Jane: Amsterdam? Really, are you German?
Peter: NO, I'm not German. I'm Dutch.
Jane: Oh, you're Dutch. Sorry about that.
Jane: Oh, you're Dutch. Sorry about that.
Peter: That's OK. Where are you from?
Jane: I'm from London, but I'm not British.
Jane: I'm from London, but I'm not British.
Peter: No, what are you?
Jane: Well, my parents were Spanish, so I'm Spanish, too.
Jane: Well, my parents were Spanish, so I'm Spanish, too.
Peter: That's very interesting. Spain is a beautiful country.
Jane: Thank you. It IS a wonderful place.
Jane: Thank you. It IS a wonderful place.
Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.
