Unit 18: The School Play

Word List

n. An accent is a certain way of speaking that shows where a person is from.

The new teacher's accent was clearly a German one.
n. A barber is a person whose job is to cut men's hair.

My hair is getting much too long. I'd better go to the barber's shop.
n. A basement of a house or building is a room that is built underground.

They turned their basement into a game room.
adj. When something is blank, it does not have anything on it.

She got a blank piece of paper to draw on.
v. To blink means to shut the eyes and quickly open them again.

I blinked many times so that my eyes could adjust to the bright light.
n. A choir is a group of people who sing together.

He had choir practice every day after school.
adj. When something is comic, it is funny.

The comic actor was famous for his jokes.
v. To complicate something means to make it harder than necessary.

The bad weather complicated finishing the job quickly.
v. To decline an offer or invitation means to say no to it.

She declined his offer to pay for her dinner.
n. An errand is a trip taken to do a specific activity.

He couldn't go to practice because he had several errands to do.
n. A glove is a piece of clothing that covers your fingers and hand.

When it gets cold, I always put on a pair of gloves.
n. A hermit is one who lives alone and does not spend time with others.

The hermit lived a simple life in a small cave in the forest.
adv. If something is done justly, then it is fair.

We justly decided to give the prize to him.
n. Leather is a material made from animal skin that is used to make clothing.

He got a new leather jacket for his birthday.
v. To ponder something is to think about it carefully.

She sat in the park and pondered her problem.
v. To reserve something means to keep it for a certain person or time.

He reserved a table at the busy restaurant.
n. A script is the words of a film or play.

He read the script of the play three times.
v. To search for something or someone means to look for them carefully.

I searched the newspaper for a new job.
v. To slam is to close something hard.

She slammed the book shut after she finished reading it.
n. A staircase is a set of stairs found inside a building.

The staircase leads directly into the kitchen.

Exercise

A ‣ Circle the word that fits the definition.

an underground room
- a. accent
- b. basement
- c. technique
- d. errand
to think about something
- a. complicate
- b. reserve
- c. ponder
- d. slam
the written words of a play or film
- a. script
- b. blank
- c. barber
- d. gloves
a group that sings
- a. hermits
- b. leather
- c. choir
- d. staircases
in a fair way
- a. comic
- b. decline
- c. searching
- d. justly

B ‣ Circle the right definition for the given word.

slam
- a. to close loudly
- b. to be careful
- c. to close the eyes
- d. to save
decline
- a. to look for
- b. to say no
- c. to be right
- d. fair
hermit
- a. clothing for your hands
- b. something that is funny
- c. a trip to do something
- d. a person who is alone
leather
- a. a distinct way of speaking
- b. material used to make clothing
- c. an underground room
- d. a piece of clothing for the hands
barber
- a. a singing group
- b. a person who cuts men's hair
- c. a set of stairs
- d. phrases that form a play

C ‣ Match the phrases to make complete sentences.

The writer's comic stories _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
Donna usually ran errands _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
I tried to reserve _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
She wanted to join the choir _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
A beautiful staircase _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
The speaker's strong accent _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
Roger pondered a long time _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
The hermit _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
I remembered to make sure I had my gloves _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work
The large basement _____.
- a. after hearing them sing in church
- b. made him hard to understand
- c. before buying a new car
- d. some seats for this week's show
- e. always make me laugh
- f. makes a great playroom
- g. led up to the second floor
- h. slept in a small cave
- i. just before I left the house
- j. right before coming home from work

D ‣ Match the clauses to make complete sentences.

I put some medicine in my eyes, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
The boy's mom yelled at him for getting mud on the couch, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
He asked Sara to see the scary movie, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
He spent the period daydreaming. So when he turned in his test, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
The new play was great _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
I didn't pay attention in class, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
My hair was a mess, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
Dan's living room was dusty and dirty, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
Dean and Anne finished the race at the same time, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door
He lost his glasses, _____.
- a. because Tony spent a lot of time on the script
- b. so he cleaned the leather couch
- c. so I went to see the barber
- d. so both were justly given medals
- e. but she declined
- f. so the homework was very complicated
- g. it was completely blank
- h. so he had to search for them for an hour
- i. so I had to keep blinking them
- j. so he left the room and slammed the door

The School Play

Peter was excited. Next week he was going to audition for the school play. Everybody knew he was a great actor. He was sure he would get the lead role.

Later, his friend Robby asked him, "Have you seen the script for the play?"

"Yes. The title is The Lost Glove - it's a comic play," replied Peter. Robby said, "I want to play the part of the hermit because the hermit gets to talk with an accent!"

"I want the lead role of the barber. I didn't know you liked acting. I thought you liked choir better," said Peter.

"Acting is also a hobby of mine. Do you want to practice with me? The basement at my house is quiet. It's perfect!" Robby replied.

"I don't like practicing with others. It complicates the process for me," said Peter.

Actually, Peter didn't want to practice at all. The teacher would surely reserve the lead part for him. A few days later, Robby came to his house.

Robby said, "Do you want to practice the scene on the staircase? It's the part where the migrant searches for a new job."

Peter declined the invitation. “I can't today. I need to do some errands." Then he slammed the door. It was just an excuse. Peter didn't want to help Robby.

On the day of auditions, Peter wore his lucky leather jacket. He always got the best part when he wore it. The teacher told him to begin, but his mind was blank. He couldn't remember the lines!

A week later, the teacher put a list of the parts on the wall. Peter read the list, looking for his name. He was shocked by what he saw. He blinked his eyes and looked again. He didn't get the lead part-Robby did! Peter pondered the situation and came to the idea that Robby justly received the part. He earned it by practicing. Next time, Peter would practice, too.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

_____ The title of the script was The Big Barber.
__________
_____ Robby wanted to play the part of the hermit because he would get to talk with an accent.
__________
_____ Robby declined Peter's offer to practice together.
__________
_____ The scene on the staircase was about the migrant searching for a new job.
__________
_____ Peter's mind was blank during the audition.
__________
_____ Peter felt that Robby justly received the lead role.
__________

Part B: Answer the questions.

What is the passage about?
- a. Doing new activities
- b. Working as a team
- c. The importance of practice
- d. How to audition
Why did Peter decide not to practice?
_____
What kind of play were the boys auditioning for?
_____

Answer Key

Name

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