Monday, May 11, 2015

FIVE CHILDREN AND IT (Level 3)



When the children dug a hole in the gravel-pit, they were very surprised at what they found. “It” was a Psammead, and it was thousands of years old.

It was a strange little thing – it was furry and with eyes on long stalks. It was often very cold and unfriendly, but it could give wishes – one wish a day. ‘It’s wonderful!’ the children said.

But wishes are difficult things they can get you into trouble.

FIVE CHILDREN AND IT

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Vocabulary:
  1. Baker: a person who makes and sell bread
  2. Believe: to think that something is real or true
  3. Diamond: a very expensive, bright stone, often put in rings, etc
  4. Dig (past tense dug) to make a hole in the ground
  5. Enormous: very, very big
  6. Fair: a kind of travelling market, where you can buy things, play games, watch interesting things, etc.
  7. Fairy: a person or things which is not real, but which in stories does wonderful, impossible things.
  8. Fur: the soft hair on an animal’s body
  9. Good Heavens!: words that show you are very surprised
  10. Gravel: very small stones
  11. Gravel-pit: a big hole in the ground or the side of a hill, where people have taken away gravel and sand
  12. Jewel: a very valuable, expensive stone, e.g. a diamond
  13. Kick: to hit someone or something with your foot
  14. Lemonade: a sweet drink made from lemons and sugar
  15. Nursemaid: a woman servant who helps a mother with her baby
  16. Plum: a soft, dark-red or purple fruit
  17. Psammead: Edith Nesbit’s word for said-fairy (from a Greek word)
  18. Sand: very fine, light earth, usually white or yellow (often found on beaches)
  19. Servant: somebody who works in another person’s house
  20. Vicar: a priest, the man of the church
  21. Wish: to say what you would like to have or do (usually something which is not possible)

Saturday, May 9, 2015

FRANKENSTEIN (Level 4)



Victor Frankenstein thinks he has found the secret of life. He takes parts from dead people and builds a new 'man'. But this monster is so big and frightening that everyone runs away from him - even Frankenstein himself!

The monster is like an enormous baby who needs love. But nobody gives him love, and soon he learns to hate. And, because he is so strong, the next thing he learns is how to kill . . .

FRANKENSTEIN 

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Click the rectangle button at down-right corner to view fullscreen)


Vocabulary:
believe: to think that something or someone is true or right
blind: not able to see
cabin: a room on a ship
chain: a row of very small gold rings joined together, to wear round the neck
create: to make something new
creature: a living animal or person
electricity: the power that travels through wires and can make heat and light drive machines
evil: very bad
faint: to fall down suddenly because you are ill or hurt
float: to stay on the top of water
forgive: to say or show that you are not angry with someone any more
great: very big; special, very important
honeymoon: a holiday for a new husband and wife after their wedding
horrible: terrible; making you very afraid
horror: a feeling of very strong fear and dislike
huge: very very big
hut: a small building made of stone or wood, usually with one room
human: of people, not animals
judge: the most important person at a trial, who decides how to punish a criminal
laboratory: a building where scientists work and study
lightning: a sudden, very bright light in the sky during a storm
look after: to take care of someone or something
mad: ill in the head
mark: when you touch something, your fingers can leave a mark, which shows where you have touched
mast: a very tall wooden or metal post
monster: an animal or person in stories which is big, ugly, and frightening
ordinary: usual, not special
point: to show with your finger or hand where something is 
power: something strong that makes other things work, e.g. electric power
professor: an important teacher at a university
scientist: someone who studies science, which is the study of natural things, e.g. biology, chemistry, physics
sledge: a kind of 'car' without wheels, that moves on long pieces of wood or metal over snow
strangle: to kill someone by holding them very hard round the nect
telescope: an instrument with special glass for looking at things which are a long way away
throw (past tense threw): to move your arm quickly to send something through the air
thunder: a very loud noise in the sky during a storm
trial: a meeting (in a law court) to decide if someone has done a crime
ugly: not beautiful
wire: a long thin piece of metal; electricity travels through wires