The following sentences are beginnings or endings for a description of a cottage. Read them and choose which are beginnings and which are endings.
Have you ever wanted to live in an old cottage by the Atlantic, with granite walls more than a metre thick, built to withstand the ocean gales? That's where my grandparents live.
As I got onto the ferry I repeated to myself, "A mother's love is a blessing no matter where you roam," thinking of the family I was leaving behind in their cosy stone cottage by the sea.
I shivered in the chilly drizzle as I turned off the main road past the harbour, heading for my grandparents' cottage. The house, built of granite, seemed to suffer nothing from the strong wind.
Good luck, and may God be with you," said the old man in Gaelic as I glanced back at my grandparents' stone cottage and then walked towards the harbour.
I turned off the main road past the harbour and headed for my grandparents' cottage. There it was, its granite walls standing proudly. There was something strange, though. There was no smoke coming from the chimney and it looked abandoned. I shivered as I approached it.
As I prepared to leave, I realised that something about visiting my grandparents' cottage always makes me feel safe and secure. Perhaps it's those solid granite walls, or maybe I never feel quite at home or at peace until I'm standing by the old house by the harbour. Whatever it is, that house means more to me than any treasure on earth. (Evans, p.16)
THE ANSWERS
(1-beginning/2-ending/3-beginning/4-ending/5-beginning/6-ending)
(1-beginning/2-ending/3-beginning/4-ending/5-beginning/6-ending)
Read the model below and put the paragraphs in the right order.
"Prom Night"
A) I had been preparing for the prom for months, especially because I was a member of the Prom Committee, We booked an elegant hotel ballroom, had tickets printed, and arranged for a catering company to supply food and refreshments, Four committee members were in charge of the decorations, which reflected the theme of our prom, "Caribbean Moonlight", Two months before the actual night, I found the perfect dress to wear - it made me look like a princess!
B) When I finally returned home, I was tired but extremely happy. It had been a wonderful night, one that would give me pleasant memories for the rest of my life.
C) My high school prom took place on a warm evening in May in a hotel ballroom. The event, which celebrates both the end of high school and the beginning of adulthood, is something every American teenager looks forward to.
D) My parents took pictures of me before I left for the prom, I had a delicate corsage of beautiful orchids on my wrist, without which, my outfit would have been incomplete. The limousine waiting outside took rne to the Grand Hotel. All my school friends were there. Together we danced, ate and laughed until one o'clock, I had never stayed out so late before, or had so much fun. My best friend was crowned Prom Queen. We were all very happy for her, if a little jealous, as we watched her dance with the Prom King.( Evans, p.22)
1.C, 2. A, 3. D, 4. B
Read the body paragraph and try to write possible beginnings with endings.
We had been studying in the library for hours and we just wanted to get home and go to sleep. Normally, I would take the long way home, to avoid driving past the old Bradford estate. However, that night I was so exhausted that I forgot all about it. Before I knew it, we found ourselves driving down the long, winding road which goes past the estate. Since it was pitch dark and my headlights could barely cut through the thick fog, was driving fairly slowly. The silence was broken as we heard a tapping sound coming from the darkness ahead.
Suddenly, an elderly man dressed in a black suit appeared at the side of the road, limping along with a wooden cane. He turned and faced us, and began to approach the car. His wrinkled face, piercing dark eyes and toothless grin gave him a horrifying appearance. We quickly locked all the doors and kept driving. The old man tried to block our path by stepping out in front of the car, but I swerved and sped off.
Match the beginnins with endings
1. The snow lay like frosty icing on a Christmas cake, its crisp, new whiteness covering the garden like a soft fluffy blanket. It was still snowing, frozen crystals falling gently from the heavy grey sky
2. Why is it that the most important changes in our lives happen when we least expect them to? My life had settled into a comfortable, satisfying routine when suddenly everything changed.
A.Looking back at what happened I always feel a sense of wonder and awe. But then again, life's like that, isn't it?
B. We all felt a deep sense of loss when the last traces of the snow had melted away, realising what a special gift we'd been given and how much fun and laughter it had brought us. It had been such a fleeting visit, but one we weren't likely to forget for a very long
time. (Evans, p.29)
Read the composition and decide which of the two compositions is a good model.
Model A
“Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss.”
Have you ever considered becoming your own boss? In recent years the number of people choosing to start their own business has risen significantly. Many claim that is because more and more people are no longer content to work for someone else.
One of the main advantages of being self-employed is the fact that you are completely self-reliant and can make decisions on your own. This can give you a at sense of freedom and allows you to do exactly what you want without interference from anyone else. What is more, your working day can be planned for your convenience, allowing you to work when you want rather than when you have to. Finally, if your business is successful, people will know that you alone should be given the credit.
However, there are disadvantages to being your own boss. Many self-employed people have said that to build a successful business, you have to be prepared to work long hours and sacrifice your personal life. As B. C. Forbes once said, "If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business." Moreover, a 1996 government study found that over a quarter of the businesses run by newly self-employed people failed within the first two years.
All things considered, it seems to me that self-employment can be a very gratifying experience, although not one without difficulties. But when success is achieved, the greatest reward of all is the knowledge that you have done it on your own.