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Monica
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Todd
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Reading Trends
Monica and Todd continue their discussion about how they read books and the news.
Todd: Actually I still enjoy newspapers somewhat. I like to eat my lunch and read the newspaper or maybe have a newspaper when I’m taking the bus or the train, so I have something to read, but I don’t buy them as much as I used to.
Monica: Yeah, that’s true, I really like the idea of having a newspaper in paper form and I do enjoy opening it up and having a coffee in the morning and reading the newspaper, but I don’t actually do that now.
Todd: So how often do you actually start and finish a book?
Monica: Well, I’ve been reading maybe one or two books a week, recently which is quite a lot for me.
Todd: Yeah, that’s pretty good.
Monica: As I said earlier, it’s really because I have a bit more spare time than I used to so that has changed my reading habits. And when I’m traveling I love reading, so if I’m on a train I love reading a book and if I’m on a plane I prefer to read a book than watch a movie, for example, so I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading books, still.
Having said that I do listen to e-books on the computer...
Todd: Oh, I love e-books.
Monica:...which I love because it’s very therapeutic I think listening to someone reading to you, a bit like when you were little and your mom used to read you a book. I like to do that when I’m really tired and I don’t want to actually physically read a book and I don’t want to even check my e-mail. I just want to lie down and basically listen to a story. Yeah, so I have enjoyed doing that recently and technology has had a big part to play in how much I do that.
as much as I used to
I don’t buy newspapers as much as I used to.
“As much as I used to” compares something you did a lot in the past with something you don’t do very much now. The phrase is always used with a negative word such as “don’t”, “trying not to”, “haven’t”, etc. See the additional examples below:
- This year I’m going to try not to eat as much chocolate as I used to.
- You don’t take me out to dinner as much as you used to.
I get a lot of enjoyment out of...
I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading books.
“Getting a lot of enjoyment out of” somethings is when something makes you happy. It is the same as saying, “I enjoy reading books.” Notice the following examples:
- I get a lot of enjoyment out of playing with my dog.
- My dogs gets a lot of enjoyment out of chasing a stick.
I do listen
I don’t like technology, but I do listen to e-books on the computer.
“I do listen” is the same as saying “I listen” but adding “do” shows that maybe someone thought that you didn't feel a certain way, so you use 'do' to emphasize it. “Do” can be used with other verbs to clear up doubts that listeners have. Study the examples below:
Conversation 1:
A: Why don’t you ever speak in class?
B: I do speak in class when I’m in small groups, but I’m shy in front of everyone.
Conversation 2:
A: You didn’t bring your lunch today?
B: I did bring my lunch but I already ate it.
therapeutic
I love e-books because they are very therapeutic.
Therapeutic is the adjective form of the word therapy. If something is therapeutic, it makes you feel better. See the examples below:
- Taking a bath when you are stressed out can be very therapeutic.
- I took a little therapeutic hike in mountains on the weekend.
a big part to play
Technology has had a big part to play in how much I do that.
When something has “a big part to play”, it means that it is very important. It wouldn’t be the same without it. Notice that the word “has” goes with this phrase instead of “is”. See below for additional examples:
- My music teacher has a big part to play in how much I love music.
- The location has a big part to play in the success of a business.
Vocabulary Quiz
therapeutic • big part
