Hello, and Mike Bilber back again with another exciting episode of Practicing English Podcasts.
And this is a B1 level podcast today.
Perhaps you're expecting this second episode of Treasure Island written completely at B1 level, with lots of B1 vocabulary in there for you to learn.
I will just bring out point out, read out.
A lot of outs there, isn't there?
Ten.
Ten words.
Ten words and expressions for you to listen for during the story.
And then afterwards there'll be a short test on those words and expressions.
And today's episode is a bit longer than last week, so I'd better start this straight away before it gets too long.
So here we go.
First, before I start, I would just like to say check out my book for passing your B1 exam or, if you really want to improve your intermediate level English.
One of my students came up to me today and said, what do I have to do to pass the exam?
I said, you've already bought my book, right?
Yes.
Have you read it?
I've read two stories.
Two stories.
There are 22 stories in this book.
And over 30,000 words.
I know it's a lot to read.
But they're great stories.
Some of my best stories.
And they're full of B1 language.
I wrote this book because I really feel that reading these stories and doing the vocabulary exercises is practically all you need to be able to pass a B1 level exam.
You can find the link to it from the podcast notes and from my website practicingenglish.com.
It's called B1 English Vocabulary Builder.
22 short stories for learning the words and phrases students need to pass the B1 exams.
I really don't think you'll regret it if you are serious about passing a B1 exam or you just really want to improve your language to a B1 level.
Anyway, that's enough of my book.
Let's get on with this wonderful story.
Here are 10 words and expressions at B1 level.
Number one is to get rid of.
So that's a phrasal verb, to get rid of something.
And that is when you have something and you don't want it anymore.
So you throw it away, which is another phrasal verb, to throw something away, to put it in the bin.
You don't want it anymore.
That's a shame, isn't it?
We should recycle more, perhaps.
But you can get rid of something and also recycle it at the same time.
My example phrase is, I want to get rid of these old clothes because I never wear them.
I want to get rid of these old clothes because I never wear them.
Number two is to run, but not run as in walk, but to run a business, which means to manage a business, or it means to be in control of a business, to do all the things you need to make money from your little business.
Example phrase, Mary runs a small business with her sister.
Number three, unpleasant.
Right, so pleasant is a B1 adjective.
I've put unpleasant in there as well.
I thought I would tempt you with the opposite of pleasant, unpleasant.
And it's just an alternative way of saying something is agreeable, something that you like very much.
It could be a pleasant taste, something you're eating.
That's nice.
It could be a pleasant day, very pleasant weather, sunny and warm.
And unpleasant is the opposite.
My example sentence is, the weather was cold and unpleasant all day.
A bit like these days, we're having some exceptionally bad weather at the moment here in Andalusia.
It's cold.
It rains more here in Andalusia at the moment than it does in the UK.
Everything is gone back to front and upside down.
Next one, number four, to set the table.
Okay, so that is the expression we use when we put knives forks plates glasses, cups on the table to prepare to eat a meal there.
To set the table.
S-E-T.
Okay.
And not put the table.
Don't make that mistake.
The next one is another opposite.
Unfriendly.
Friendly meaning that you are friends with somebody and you act in a way which is pleasant and nice to somebody.
Unfriendly is when you are being rude to somebody.
Rude.
Yes, and you speak to them in a way which is not pleasant or unpleasant.
The waiter was unfriendly and didn't smile at all.
The waiter was unfriendly.
Next one is another word for angry.
OK, so if we want to upgrade our language to be one, we can say annoyed.
A-double-N-O-Y-E-D, annoyed, the adjective annoyed.
The way we feel is annoyed.
And what we're talking about is annoying.
So these E-D-I-N-G adjectives, it's important to get them the right way around.
I feel bored because the film is boring.
I am annoyed because what he said was very annoying.
He felt annoyed when the bus arrived late again.
He felt annoyed.
Angry, really.
Okay.
The next one is the word straight.
S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T Which means, at B1 level, to go somewhere directly without stopping.
After work, I went straight to the gym.
Okay, so without stopping, he left work.
Without stopping, he went to the gym to work out.
He didn't stop on the way for a donut.
He went straight to the gym.
He was very disciplined.
So straight going straight to somewhere.
Going straight to somewhere is doing something without stopping.
We can use it also with adverb particles such as up and down, to walk straight up the stairs or straight down the stairs.
He walked straight through the door, etc., etc., He got straight into the car.
So with those prepositions of movement, you can use it as well, meaning you did something quickly and without stopping.
My next one is warning.
So this is the B1 noun of to warn, W-A-R-N.
And it means somebody is told that there is a possible danger.
So, to warn is the verb.
A warning can be on a sign, a written sign, for example.
And it says, keep out high voltage.
If there's a danger of being electrocuted, keep out.
Warning.
Next one is to grab.
Now, this is not a common word really, but it's a b1 level, it's in the b1 glossary which is to take something quickly, to hold it, put your hand out and take it quickly, maybe almost violently, perhaps.
Okay, my sentence is the thief grabbed my bag and ran off with it, grabbed it very quickly, pulled it away.
And the last one is to threaten.
And to threaten is when you tell somebody that you're going to do something nasty to them, something bad.
The man threatened to call the police if they didn't stop playing loud music.
He threatened to call the police.
I'll call the police unless you turn that music off.
OK, it's to threaten.
OK, and that's a B1 word.
Right, that's my vocabulary.
Let's get on with the story.
Listen out for these words.
Here we go with the story, part two of Treasure Island.
Treasure Island Treasure Island Chapter 2
It was not long after this that the first strange events happened.
These events finally got rid of the captain, although not of all his troubles.
It was a very cold winter, with strong winds, hard frost and many powerful storms.
From the start it was clear that my poor father was very ill. and would not live until spring.
He became weaker every day, and my mother and I had to run the inn ourselves.
We were so busy that we had little time to think about our unpleasant guest, the captain.
One early January morning, when it was freezing outside, the captain got up earlier than usual and went down to the beach.
Everything was grey and the sea was calm, the waves breaking softly on the stones.
The sun was low, shining on the hills around.
The captain walked heavily with his sword hanging under his old blue coat and his telescope under his arm.
I remember seeing his breath like smoke in the cold air.
As he passed the big rock that was down on the beach, I heard him make an annoyed sound, as if he was still thinking about his conversation with Dr Livesey.
My mother was upstairs with my father and I was setting the table for breakfast.
Suddenly the living room door opened, and a man came in, who I had never seen before.
He had a pale face, and two fingers were missing from his hand.
He wore a sword, but he did not look like a fighter.
He was not obviously a sailor, but he still had something sea-like about him.
I asked him what he would like to eat or drink.
He said he wanted rum, which I served him.
But before I could leave the room, he sat on the table and called me over.
"'Come here, son,' he said.
"'Come a bit closer.'
I stepped forward.
"'Is this table for my mate Bill?' he asked, smiling in an unfriendly way.
"'I don't know any Bill,' I replied.
"'Only a man they call Captain.'
"'Well,' he said, "'my mate Bill is often called Captain.
He has a cut on his cheek.
On the right one.
Is he here?'
He's staying here, yes sir, but he's not here right now.
He went for a walk.
Which way did he go?
I showed him the rock and told him that the captain would soon come back.
I have some good news for my mate Bill, he said.
I did not like the look of his face.
The man waited near the door, watching like a cat.
When I tried to step outside, he shouted at me and suddenly became very annoyed.
Then he changed his voice again and spoke more kindly.
I have a son like you, he said, but boys need to do as they're told.
If you had sailed with Bill, you would move fast when spoken to.
Just then, he saw the captain coming back.
There he is, he said.
Let's hide and give him a surprise.
He pushed me behind the door.
I was frightened and I could see that he was nervous too.
He had his hand on his sword.
The captain entered and walked straight to the table.
Bill, said the stranger.
The captain turned and went white with fear.
Black Dog! he cried.
Yes, said the stranger, your old shipmate.
What do you want? said the captain.
Let's sit down and talk honestly, said Black Dog, like old friends.
I brought the rum and they sat at the table.
I was told to leave the drawer open and go away.
Soon their voices grew louder.
No, no, shouted the captain.
Then there was a loud crash, swords hitting each other, and suddenly Black Dog ran out bleeding.
The captain followed him, but Black Dog had escaped.
The captain came back inside, shaking.
Jim, he said.
Bring me rum.
Before I returned, he fell to the floor.
My mother came running in, and soon Dr. Livesey arrived.
He's not injured, said the doctor.
He has had a heart attack, just as I warned him.
I helped Dr. Livesey to get the captain up the stairs and into his room.
We lay him on his bed.
If you drink much more rum, said the doctor, you will die an early death.
Later that day, I brought the captain his medicine.
He looked weak, but he couldn't keep still.
Jim, he said, you've always been good to me.
Why don't you bring me one small glass of rum?
The doctor said you shouldn't have any, I began.
He knows nothing about sailors, the captain said.
Without rum, I'll have nightmares.
I'll pay you well if you bring me some.
I don't want your money, I said.
One glass only, all right?
He drank it straight down.
They'll come for me, he said.
They want the sea chest.
That box I keep over there.
If they give me the black spot, you must write to Dr. Livesey and tell him to call the authorities.
The black spot?
What's that?
I asked.
A warning, he said.
A message.
Soon after that, he fell asleep.
That evening...
My father died quite suddenly and everything else was forgotten.
The next day, the captain walked around the inn.
He looked weak, but he was still drinking.
He became more violent, singing his old sea songs the day after they buried my father on a cold and foggy afternoon.
I saw a blind man coming towards the inn.
He wore old clothes and walked with a stick.
Can anyone help a poor blind man?
You are at the Admiral Benbow, I said.
Could I help you?
Take my hand. he said.
When I did, he grabbed me with great strength.
Take me to the captain, he said.
I am frightened too, I replied.
Do it, he said, threatening me, or I'll strike you, boy, with this stick.
I realised I had little choice.
I let him inside.
When you see him, he whispered, say, here is a friend for you, Bill.
Shaking with fear, I opened the door and did exactly as the blind man had ordered.
When the captain saw the visitor, he was suddenly more awake and the effects of alcohol left him immediately.
The blind man reached out his hand for the captain to take something he had hidden there.
The moment the captain took the object, the blind man said, now it is done.
And he left the room surprisingly quickly.
He ran down the stairs and out into the street.
The captain opened his hand and looked at what he was holding, a piece of paper with a mark on it.
10 o'clock, he shouted.
Six hours!
He jumped to his feet.
There is still time!
There is still time!
But at that moment, the captain's eyes closed, and he fell on his face right where he was.
I looked down at the body and knew he was dead.
He had died of a heart attack. just like Dr Livesey said he would.
I don't really know why, but tears fell down my cheeks.
That's the end of chapter two.
Those words which I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast.
I hope you heard them while I was reading the story.
Get rid of These events finally got rid of the captain.
To run a business, my mother and I had to run the inn by ourselves.
Unpleasant.
We had little time to think about our unpleasant guest, the captain.
To set the table, I was setting the table for breakfast.
And then the next one, unfriendly.
Is this table for my mate Bill?
He asked, smiling in an unfriendly way.
Annoyed, he shouted at me and suddenly became very annoyed.
Straight to somewhere, the captain entered and walked straight to the table.
Warning.
The black spot, what's that, I asked.
A warning, he said, a message.
Grab.
Take my hand, he said.
When I did, he grabbed me with great strength.
And the last one, threaten.
Do it, he said, threatening me, or I'll strike you, boy, with this stick.
So here is a quick test on those words.
What I'll do is to read the example sentence that I gave you at the beginning of the story.
I'll stop when I come to the word or words.
You'll hear a bleep.
Then at the end of the sentence you can say the word that was missing, and then I'll give you the answer.
Number one.
I want to get these old clothes because I never wear them.
Rid of.
Number two.
She a small business with her sister.
Runs.
Number three.
The weather was cold and all day.
Unpleasant.
Number four.
Can you help me before dinner?
Set the table.
Number five.
The waiter was and didn't smile at all.
Unfriendly.
Number six.
He felt when the bus arrived late again.
Annoyed.
Number seven.
After work, I went to the gym.
Straight.
Straight.
Number eight.
The teacher gave us a... About being late.
Warning.
Number nine.
The thief... My bag and ran off with it.
Grabbed.
Number ten.
The man... to call the police if they didn't stop playing loud music.
Threatened.
Right, that's the end of the test and the end of my podcast for this week on the story Treasure Island.
I'll be back next week with chapter three.
Until then, have a very pleasant weekend.
Goodbye for now.
