English for everyone

A big fish in a small pond: a person seen as important, but within a small environment
A finger in every pie: be involved in or influence many different activities
A foot in the door: do a small thing to create an opportunity in the future
A card up your sleeve: have a reserve plan or secret advantage
A cock and bull story: a story or explanation which is obviously untrue
A cold call: an unexpected call or visit
A hard nut to crack: a difficult problem to solve
A hatchet job: making strong and unfair criticism of something
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British people are very fond of limericks — short humorous poems full of absurdity and wit. The classic limerick has 5 lines, three long and two short ones. It usually begins by introducing a person and a place and often has a surprise in the last line. Here is an example:
There was a Young Lady of Niger,
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger.
They returned from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger.
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“No,” most people will say indignantly. But if you ask the question, “Do you always tell the truth?” the answer will not be so certain.
Let us give an example. You meet someone in the street who you used to go to college with. «How are you?» you ask (Lie #1. You really don’t care.) «Fine, thanks,» he answers. (Lie #2. He has got a terrible headache.) “You look well,” you say. (Lie #3. You don’t think he looks well at all.) When you say good-bye, you add, «Have a good time.» (Lie #4. You actually do not wish this at all because you have never liked him.) He says, «Anyway, let’s keep in touch.» (Lie #5. He hopes he will never see you again.)
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Musical comedies, or musicals, have become America’s most significant contribution to world theatre. Musical comedy is a type of play that tells a story through a combination of dialogue, songs, and dances.
Musical comedy developed in the United States during the late 1800s. It shared roots with both European and American popular forms of entertainment. European influences included the operetta, or light opera, and extravaganza, or spectacle. The basic American influences were vaudeville, minstrel show, and burlesques.
Musical comedy differs from other forms of musical shows. It has a simple but distinctive plot which unifies all of its other elements: the book, or the libretto, the music, the lyrics, and the dancing.
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There are proverbs and proverbial expressions in every language.
They are handed down from generation to generation and are supposed to have a universal value. People use them to give a word of advice or of warning, or a wise general comment on a situation. In fact, our daily conversation would seem rather dull without them.
Here are some proverbs connected with food and eating. Can you match the proverbs and the meanings?

1. Forbidden fruit tastes sweetest.
2. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
3. Half a loaf is better than none.
4. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
5. You can’t have your cake and eat it. More »

Биболетова 11 класс, Unit 2, Section 1, p. 50 — 53, ex. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27.
Choosing a profession — Выбор профессии

Ex. 20 Read the definition and think what jobs a freelance can do. Give some examples. Share your opinion with your classmates. – Прочитайте определение и подумайте, какую работу может выполнять внештатный сотрудник (фрилансер). Приведите примеры. Поделитесь своим мнением с одноклассниками.

Freelance is a self-employed person who does work for different organisations. – Внештатный сотрудник – это человек, который выполняет работу для различных организаций. (То есть он выполняет работу без заключения долговременного договора с работодателем)

(Possible answers)
web site designer, graphic designer, illustrator, artist, cartoonist, photographer, writer, journalist, translator, internet researcher, programmer, market researcher, etc — Дизайнер веб-сайтов, дизайнер, иллюстратор, художник, карикатурист, фотограф, писатель, журналист, переводчик, интернет исследователь, программист, маркетолог, и т.д.
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Биболетова 11 класс, Unit 2, Section 1, p. 46 — 50, ex. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 18.
The job of your dreams – работа твоей мечты.

Ex. 1 Read the joke. What do we call the job the girl mentions? — Прочитайте шутку. Как мы называем работу упомянутую в ней?

«You never get anything right,» complained the teacher. «What kind of job do you think you’ll get when you leave school?»
«Well, how about a weather girl on TV?»

Weather girl — a female TV announcer who reports and forecasts the weather.
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