Reading about an awkward moment: idioms, synonyms and antonyms
Unit 6 is about friends and time together; its aims are on page 82. A synonym is a word with a similar meaning and an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. To find them in a text, read the sentence and ask what the word means there; words such as but, however and although often introduce an opposite. Three idioms from this unit: “pale as a ghost” means very white in the face from shock or fear; “stand by someone” means to stay and help in difficult times; “hit the town” means to go out in town and enjoy yourself. The book’s story on pages 83 and 84 is named by page only. Invitations (page 85): to invite, say Would you like to come to …? To accept, say I’d love to, thank you. To decline politely, say Thank you for asking, but I’m afraid I can’t, because ….
| Word | Similar (synonym) | Opposite (antonym) |
|---|---|---|
| lively | energetic | dull |
| clumsy | awkward | graceful |
| unaware | not noticing | aware |
| embarrassed | uncomfortable | at ease |
At the school café on Tuesday, Jana was carrying a tray with two cups of tea when she tripped on a bag. The tea splashed over Malek’s new notebook. Malek was unaware that she was behind him until he felt the drops on his arm. The café, which had been lively a second before, went quiet. Jana felt her face turn pale as a ghost, and her hands shook. “I am so sorry,” she said. “I am the clumsiest person in the school.” Malek looked at the wet pages and then at her. “It is only a notebook,” he said with a small smile. “Sit down. I will help you get a fresh cup.” Soon the café was loud again. Jana was still embarrassed, but she was grateful that Malek had stood by her. After school they dried the pages on a radiator, and the dull blue cover looked almost new again. On Friday the friends planned to hit the town for an ice cream.
Role-play in pairs. Student A invites student B to a school event on Saturday. Student B accepts the first invitation and declines the second one politely with a reason. Then swap. Write down one new synonym and one antonym for a word from the story.