illustrated Everyday Expressions with Stories 2 » Lesson 12 - In the yard

Word List
  • be free to
    have the opportunity to
    →
    At my school, students are free to use computers after class.
    She was free to choose any dish on the menu.
    You are free to leave as soon as you finish the test.
    A: Where would you like me to sit?
    B: You're free to sit where you like
  • become of
    happen to; occur
    →
    Don't give up your dreams. Just look at what became of Mickey!
    Do you know what became of that singer? I haven't heard about him for ages.
    Many people wonder what's become of our sense of decency.
    A: What will become of that old car?
    B: I think they will sell it to a museum.
  • die of
    be the cause of death
    →
    We are all going to die of something!
    I almost died of embarrassment when my swimming suit came off.
    The trees died of position in the soil from the nearby factory.
    A: My parrot died of old age.
    B: I'm sorry to hear that.
  • furnish A with B
    provide B to A
    →
    The hotel furnished us with free drinks all week.
    The school furnished the students with new desks.
    The speaker furnished everyone at the presentation with a copy of his latest book.
    A: How's your job going?
    B: Great! My company furnished me with a new laptop computer.
  • keep track of
    watch or count
    →
    She's always busy keeping track of her children.
    The teacher had a hard time keeping track of all the children.
    Let's keep track of how much we spend on food during our vacation.
    A: How many hamburgers did you eat?
    B: I couldn't keep track of them all!
  • no way
    I don't believe it
    →
    He's on the weight lifting team? No way!
    You are forty years old? No way! You look so young!
    You met Elizabeth Taylor? No way!
    A: Did you hear that aliens have landed in L.A.?
    B: No way!
  • on the other hand
    but; looking at the other side of the situation
    →
    He likes eating cookies. On the other hand, he usually gets a rash from them.
    New York is very romantic. On the other hand, it is very cold in the winter.
    Restaurants have a nice atmosphere. On the other hand, eating out is expensive.
    A: The new house is smaller than the old one.
    B: But on the other hand, it is in a better neighborhood.
  • stand to reason
    be a logical conclusion; obviously follow
    →
    It stands to reason that if you study hard, you will do well in school.
    It stood to reason that the criminal should be punished.
    It stands to reason that if you eat too much, you will gain weight.
    A: It's starting to rain.
    B: It stands to reason that we should close the window.
  • turn up
    suddenly appear after being lost or missing
    →
    This turned up in the mail today.
    My wallet turned up in the lost-and-found office.
    Please call me if my car keys turn up.
    A: Did you find your missing dog?
    B: Yeah. He turned up last night.
  • what if
    in the event that; suppose that
    →
    What if no one comes to our party?
    What if you won the lottery?
    What if I get sick?
    A: What if I get sick? Who will take care of me?
    B: Call your mother. She just lives across town.
Practice

Choose the best answer.

  1. ________ you got a free ticket to fly anywhere in the world? Where would you go?
    • a. No way
    • b. On the other hand
    • c. What if
  2. He never knew what ________ his best friend from high school.
    • a. what if
    • b. became of
    • c. no way
  3. I could start studying this weekend. ________, the test isn't until next Thursday.
    • a. On the other hand
    • b. Become of
    • c. What if
  4. You ________ disagree with my opinion.
    • a. furnish me with
    • b. are free to
    • c. die of
  5. My ring ________ in the bottom of the washing machine.
    • a. was free to
    • b. died of
    • c. turned up
  6. It ________ that some people might have trouble living in a foreign country.
    • a. stands to reason
    • b. dies of
    • c. furnishes them with
  7. They will ________ a name tag when you register at the conference.
    • a. turn up
    • b. furnish you with
    • c. be free to
  8. Thousands of people ________ smoking related illnesses each year.
    • a. die of
    • b. stand to reason
    • c. keep track of
  9. We need to find a better way to ________ all the orders we receive through e-mail.
    • a. keep track of
    • b. turn up
    • c. stand to reason
  10. You won $200 at the casino? ________!
    • a. Become of
    • b. No way
    • c. On the other hand
Answer Key
Choose the best answer.
  1. c
  2. b
  3. a
  4. b
  5. c
  6. a
  7. b
  8. a
  9. a
  10. b
Answer Key
Dialog

Fill in the blanks.

  • became of
  • on the other hand
  • died of
  • turn up
  • no way
  • what if

In the yard:

Max: Do you know what the old man who lived on the corner, Sam? I saw that his house was up for sale.

Sam: I heard he a sudden heart attack a few weeks ago.

Max: ! He seemed so healthy.

Sam: I can't really believe it either. The police should look into his death. Some interesting things about that family might .

Max: What are you talking about?

Sam: That old man was a millionaire! one of his children wanted that money?

Max: , maybe his family just has a history of bad hearts. You've been reading too many detective novels, Sam.

Sam: You never know, Max. Things like that don't only happen in novels.

Read the following story

Mark had a pet parrot named Billy. He liked to let Billy out of his cage so that he was free to walk around the house. Mark did not bother to keep track of Billy when he was out because the bird never got into trouble.

One day, Mark let Billy out of his cage as usual. Suddenly, Billy flew out the window! At first, Mark didn't worry. "Billy will turn up when he gets hungry," Mark thought. "On the other hand, what if Billy gets caught and eaten by a dog or a cat! Or what if it gets too cold outside? What if he can't find any food? He might die of hunger!" Mark did his best to find Billy over the next two days, but he had no luck. He began to think that his parrot was gone for good. Mark knew something terrible must have become of Billy because he didn't come home.

Then a phone call took Mark by surprise. The person on the phone asked, "Is this Mark? I think I have your parrot."

"No way! Really?" Mark exclaimed in surprise. Then he asked, "How did you know my phone number?"

The caller said, "Your parrot furnished me with the number. It keeps saying 'Hello, you have called 243-7855. This is Mark. Please leave a message.' So it stands to reason that this is your bird."

Then Mark remembered that Billy's cage was next to the answering machine.

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