4000 Essential English Words 1 » Unit 28: The Party

Word List
  • band [band] n.
    A band is a group of people who play music.
    → My brother is in a rock band.
  • barely [ˈbɛːli] adv.
    Barely means by the smallest amount, almost not.
    → I barely had enough money to pay for my bus ticket.
  • boring [ˈbɔːrɪŋ] adj.
    If something is boring, it is not fun.
    → I think the Internet is boring.
  • cancel [ˈkans(ə)l] v.
    To cancel means to decide that an event or a request will not happen.
    → She cancelled the rest of her plans because of the rain.
  • driveway [ˈdrʌɪvweɪ] n.
    A driveway is a short private road that leads to a person’s home.
    → The long driveway led us to their new house.
  • garbage [ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ] n.
    Garbage is waste material like unwanted or spoiled food, bottles, paper, etc.
    → The boy cleaned up the garbage around his house.
  • instrument [ˈɪnstrʊm(ə)nt] n.
    An instrument is something designed to do a certain task like music.
    → My favorite musical instrument is the piano.
  • list [lɪst] n.
    A list is a record of information printed with an item on each line.
    → My mom makes a list of groceries to buy.
  • magic [ˈmadʒɪk] n.
    Magic is the power to do impossible things.
    → The magician used magic to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
  • message [ˈmɛsɪdʒ] n.
    A message is a set of words that you send to someone.
    → I left a message for you in the envelope.
  • notice [ˈnəʊtɪs] v.
    To notice something is to see it for the first time.
    → Did you notice the view?
  • own [əʊn] v.
    To own something means to have it. That thing belongs to you.
    → My grandfather owns that house.
  • predict [prɪˈdɪkt] v.
    To predict something is to say that it will happen.
    → She predicted that I would get married next year.
  • professor [prəˈfɛsə] n.
    A professor is a person who teaches in college.
    → Mike’s science professor knows a lot about physics.
  • rush [rʌʃ] v.
    To rush is to go somewhere or do something very quickly.
    → Nancy rushed to finish her homework.
  • schedule [ˈʃɛdjuːl] n.
    A schedule is a plan that tells you when to do things.
    → What is your class schedule for today?
  • share [ʃɛː] v.
    To share something is to give some of it to another person.
    → Jimmy shared his apple with me.
  • stage [steɪdʒ] n.
    A stage is a place where actors or musicians act or sing.
    → A large screen was on the stage.
  • storm [stɔːm] n.
    A storm is very bad weather. There is a lot of rain or snow.
    → Did that storm wake you up last night?
  • within [wɪðˈɪn] prep.
    You use within to say that something is inside another thing.
    → Within the box, there was a pizza.
Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank.

WORD BLANK
list professor band barely
schedule predict message boring
rush garbage    
  1. If you don’t understand the class, you should ask your ___________ for help.
  2. I could ___________ hear his speech because of all the noise.
  3. I ___________ that tomorrow will be a good day.
  4. There was a lot of ___________ in his closet.
  5. I made a ___________ of things I want for my birthday.
  6. I think that this TV show is ___________. Let’s watch something else.
  7. Have you ever heard this ___________? I really like its music.
  8. Do you have time in your ___________ to come over this week?
  9. If I am not home when you call, just leave a ___________.
  10. If you wake up early, you don’t need to ___________ to get to school.
Exercise 2

Circle two words that are related in each group.

    • a. cancel
    • b. see
    • c. notice
    • d. own
    • a. band
    • b. boring
    • c. instrument
    • d. predict
    • a. magic
    • b. rush
    • c. tour
    • d. trip
    • a. bite
    • b. within
    • c. hunger
    • d. share
    • a. schedule
    • b. message
    • c. stage
    • d. list
Exercise 3

Check (V) the one that suits the blank naturally.

  1. I don’t like this show. __________.
    • ____ a. It is very boring
    • ____ b. It is a long list
  2. A treasure appeared in the middle of the room. __________.
    • ____ a. It owned us
    • ____ b. It was magic
  3. The man read the weather report. __________.
    • ____ a. He rushed through the building
    • ____ b. He predicted rain
  4. I have many things to do today. __________.
    • ____ a. My schedule is full
    • ____ b. I can share with you
  5. When the play started, __________.
    • ____ a. the actors walked onto the stage
    • ____ b. there were no people within the room
Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. professor
  2. barely
  3. predict
  4. garbage
  5. list
  6. boring
  7. band
  8. schedule
  9. message
  10. rush
Exercise 2
  1. b, c
  2. a, c
  3. c, d
  4. a, c
  5. a, d
Exercise 3
  1. a
  2. b
  3. b
  4. a
  5. a
Answer Key
The Party

Cody’s family moved to a new house. His dad got a new job as a professor. Cody liked his new town, but he missed his grandparents. For his birthday, Cody wanted to have a party. His dad said, “Yes, we could even have a band play!”

On the day of the party, Cody woke up and rushed to get ready. He started to check his list of things to do. He was so excited! But then he noticed something terrible. There was snow on the ground and lots of it! “Dad!” he yelled. “How can the band play their instruments outside?”

Dad said, “We’ll move the stage inside.” It barely fit within the garage because there were some boxes and garbage there. But when they finished, they got a call from the band. They did not want to come in the snow storm.

Dad said, “Let’s get someone to perform magic.” But no one would come because of the snow.

Finally, Dad said, “Cody, there’s too much snow. We need to cancel the party.”

“Yes, sir,” Cody said sadly. “It’s going to be a boring birthday,” he predicted. Cody wanted to share his birthday with someone. He wanted to be at his old home. He wanted to see his grandparents.

But then something got his attention. He noticed a car in the driveway. His grandparents owned a car like that!

Cody was right. His grandparents came for his birthday! “Happy birthday, Cody! We’re sorry we are late. But there was so much snow. It made us go off schedule. We tried to leave a message to tell you.”

Cody told them what happened. “I’m sorry,” said Grandpa.

“I was sad,” Cody said. “But I’m not anymore. I’m so happy to see you.” Dad brought out Cody’s birthday treat. It was his favorite type, a sundae with whipped cream on top. Then Cody told his grandparents about the new town. It was his best birthday ever.

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What does Cody’s dad do as a job?
    • a. His dad is a professor.
    • b. His dad is in a band.
    • c. His dad owns a restaurant.
    • d. His dad does magic shows.
  2. What does Cody want for his birthday?
    • a. A musical instrument
    • b. A stage to play music on
    • c. Someone to share it with
    • d. Everything on his list
  3. What does Cody predict will happen?
    • a. He will have a boring birthday.
    • b. He will eat ice cream.
    • c. No one will notice the snow storm.
    • d. He will have to rush to get ready for the party.
  4. What gets Cody’s attention?
    • a. His dad calling him “sir”
    • b. The car his grandparents own
    • c. The stage within the garage
    • d. That nothing is happening on schedule
  5. Why did his grandparents try to leave a message?
    _____________
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
  1. a
  2. c
  3. a
  4. b
  5. To tell him that they would be late.
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