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Mixer #60 | Intermediate B1

Favorite Animal

The mixer group discusses animals.

Barbara, Australia
speakerSo, what is my favorite animal? Definitely cats. I love cats. I had a cat when I was a child. He was mostly black with white paws and the tip of his tails was white and he was dead cute and he lived to be seventeen years old which is quite old for a cat. I don't know. I just understand cats and I think they understand me. I love them.

Conrad, The United States
speakerMy favorite animal is definitely a dog. I can relate to dogs because I share similar characteristics such as being friendly, lovable, loyal and cute. Dogs also can do so many things to help make a person feel good. They're such giving animals and we have a German Sheperd at my parent's home in California and I really miss him now. His name is Yogi.

Lisa, Canada
speakerWhat's my favorite animal? My favorite animal is a cat. If you asked me this question last year or two years ago I would say a dog, cause dogs are loyal and friendly and cute but two years ago I acquired a car and since then I have grown to find cats more intelligent than dogs, not so friendly but when they cuddle on you you love them more.

Phil, England
speakerWhat's my favorite animal? My favorite animal is definitely a penguin because I think they have very much in common with humans the way they interact with each other and the way their life is very similar to human human relationships. They have one single partner for all their lifetime and they have one baby which they grow up with. They nurture and help to grow up. It's very, very similar to humans. OK, I also like monkeys because they're funny and very cute, but my favorite animal is definitely a penguin.

Adrienne, The United States
speakerWhat is my favorite animal? Well, my favorite animal to live with is a cat, so for a pet I would say a cat because they take good care of themselves and they're easy to look after. You can leave them alone for long periods of time. That suits me very well, but I recently saw a movie called The March of the Penguins and I suddenly have a very big appreciation for penguins and how strong they are and how cute they are, really, so I think maybe penguins and cats.

Skip, The United States
speakerWhat is my favorite animal? Well, the animal that I think is most interesting or that I try to... I don't know. I don't want to say live like but that I think about most is the wolf because I grew up in Minnesota and Minnesota in the U.S. has the only native wolf population in the U.S. and so that's usually kind of an image that I try and... you know, strong and independent, but works well in a group.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson!

dead

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He was dead cute.

We use "dead (word) to express strong meaning. Here, the phrase dead cute means 100% cute! Notice the following:

  1. I thought the TOEIC test was dead easy.
  2. The shot on goal was dead center.

relate to

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I can relate to dogs.

We relate to someone or something because we have had similar experiences or feelings. Here are two examples:

  1. He's afraid to speak English in class. I can relate to that.
  2. I can't relate to people who don't like travel.

grow to

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I have grown to find cats more intelligent.

Here, "grow to" means to slowly change your feeling about someone or something over a period of time. Notice the samples:

  1. As an adult, I have grown to better understand my parents.
  2. Since working in Tokyo, I've grown to love Japanese food.

in common with

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They have very much in common with humans

To have something in common with someone, we usually have the similar interests, experiences or feelings. See the samples below:

  1. While studying abroad, Jean-Pierre realized he had a lot in common with his host family.
  2. My boyfriend and I broke up. We didn't have much in common.

suits me

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That suits me very well

When something or some situation suits us well, we are happy. Here are two sample sentences:

  1. Fashionable clothes suit her well.
  2. Chinese food tonight suits me just fine.

Vocabulary Quiz

dead • relate to • grown to
in common • suits
  1. While living in Mexico I have love salt and lime with my beer.
  2. You would never want this style of life, but it me just fine.
  3. Now that my brother and sister are a little older is it easier to them.
  4. I completely disagree. You are wrong about that.
  5. We were very similar when we were younger, but now we have nothing .
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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Mixer Video #60
What is your favorite animal?

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