Views #395 | Intermediate 4

The Prank

Joel talks about a joke he played on a friend.
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Joel
Joel

When I was in elementary school, in the 1980's teacher's used to use film projectors so they would put the, they'd put the film reals on the projector and it always took them a long time. It seems like there were always technical difficulties, just like people using powerpoint presentations today. It always takes, it always takes hours to set up, and it was always fun for us when we were in school because we would get a, get a break from studying, and we would get to watch a movie, but they would usually turn off all of the lights, and for us kids, having the lights off meant, meant bedtime, so I can remember, it was, even though it was exciting, it was always very hard to keep my eyes open and I would end up falling asleep before the end of the movie.

Ever since we got our first VCR and remote control my dad has been absolutely fascinated with it. He can't stop fiddling with the controls. He turns up the volume, he turns down the volume. He changes the channel. He stops. He pauses. He just can't stop playing with it. We feel he needs to go to a remote control addiction recovery center so he can, he can heal his problems that he has with the remote control and try to have better habbits with it. Keep his hands off of it.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

presentation

It seems like there were always technical difficulties, just like people using PowerPoint presentations today.

A 'presentation' is when one person or a group of people get up and speak in front of a group to explain something to the group or give them information.

Notice the following:

  1. I do not like doing presentations.
  2. I will get Mike to do the presentation as he is very good at speaking in public.

hard to keep my eyes open

Even though it was exciting, it was always very hard to keep my eyes open.

When it is 'hard to keep your eyes open' it means that you are that tired that you are having trouble staying awake. Your eyes keep shutting because you want to fall asleep.

Notice the following:

1. I am so tired that I am finding it hard to keep my eyes open.
2. Go to sleep if you are finding it hard to keep your eyes open.

fascinated

Ever since we got our first VCR and remote control my dad has been absolutely fascinated with it.

If you are 'fascinated' by something it means that it captures your interest.

Notice the following:

  1. I am fascinated by physics.
  2. She has a real fascination with fashion and clothes.

can't stop fiddling

He can't stop fiddling with the controls.

When you 'can't stop fiddling' with something it means that you can't stop touching it, playing with it or moving it.

Notice the following:

  1. My hair feels so soft I can't stop fiddling with it.
  2. When I get nervous I fidget and I can't stop fiddling.

addiction

We feel he needs to go to a remote control addiction recovery center so he can heal his problems.

An 'addiction' means that someone has a psychological or physical dependence on something.

Notice the following:

  1. I have a cigarette addiction.
  2. Some people are more prone to addictions than others.

Vocabulary Quiz

presentation • eyes • fascinated
fiddling • addiction
  1. She has always been by history.
  2. Our group has to give a on alternative energy next week.
  3. I didn't sleep very much last night and it's hard to keep my open today.
  4. I think you have an to the television.
  5. Please stop with that. It's really distracting me.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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