Word Skills

1. Read the article about a film. Explain in your own words what is unusual about the main character.

(Đọc bài viết về một bộ phim. Giải thích bằng lời của bạn những gì không bình thường về nhân vật chính)

I used to be older

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button certainly lives up to its title. It is a very unusual film about a man who lives his life backwards: he is born as an old man and dies as a baby.

The story begins in 1918 when a woman gives birth to a baby with the appearance of an elderly man. The mother dies and the father abandons the baby, who is called Benjamin. Two workers at a nursing home, Queenie and Tizzy, decide to look after Benjamin, who fits in with the elderly residents at the home because he looks so old. But as the years pass, Benjamin becomes physically younger.

At the age of twelve, he meets a young girl called Daisy and gets on with her very well despite having the appearance of an old man, but later they lose touch when Benjamin starts working a job on a boat.

Years later, he catches up with Daisy again in Paris. In their forties, they finally look the same age for the first time — and fall in love. They almost marry and settle down together, but they never go through with it. One reason is that Daisy could never put up with Benjamin’ strange condition.

In the end, they run out of time: Daisy is becoming an old woman and Benjamin is becoming a child. He finally dies in Daisy's arms as a baby.

Answer:

The main character in the film, Benjamin Button, is unusual because he ages backwards. He is born as an elderly man and as time goes on, he becomes physically younger. This means that as a child, he looks like an old man, and as an old man, he looks like a child. This condition makes it difficult for him to fit in with people of his own age and to lead a normal life. He experiences life in reverse, which is the opposite of what most people go through. This makes him an intriguing and complex character, and his story is both fascinating and heartbreaking.

2. Match the highlighted phrasal verbs in the article with their definitions below.

(Nối các cụm động từ được đánh dấu trong bài viết với định nghĩa của chúng dưới đây)

1. to have a (good / bad) relationship with

2. to complete something

3. to match or equal

4. to use all of your supply of something

5. to succeed in finding or reaching somebody

6. to look and act like part of a group

7. to tolerate or be patient about something

Answer:

1. to have a (good / bad) relationship with - get on with

2. to complete something - go through with

3. to match or equal - live up to

4. to use all of your supply of something - run out of

5. to succeed in finding or reaching somebody - catch up with

6. to look and act like part of a group - fit in with

7. to tolerate or be patient about something - put up with

3. Circle the correct words to complete the Learn this! box. Use the examples in the article to help you.

(Khoanh tròn những từ đúng để hoàn thành bài Learn this! hộp. Sử dụng các ví dụ trong bài viết để giúp bạn)

LEARN THIS!

a. A three-part phrasal verb has (1) one / two verb(s) and (2) one / two particle(s).

b. Three-part phrasal verbs are (3) transitive / intransitive (they have a direct object).

c. The object always goes (4) after / before / between the two particles.

d. In questions, the three parts of the phrasal verb usually stay together.

What kind of course did you sign up for?

Answer:

LEARN THIS!

a. A three-part phrasal verb has (1) two verbs and (2) one particle.

b. Three-part phrasal verbs are (3) transitive (they have a direct object).

c. The object always goes (4) before the two particles.

d. In questions, the three parts of the phrasal verb usually stay together.

4. DICTIONARY WORK. Read the Dictionary tip. Then find these phrasal verbs in a dictionary and check the difference in meaning between the two- and three-part phrasal verbs.

(Đọc mẹo từ điển. Sau đó tìm những cụm động từ này trong từ điển và kiểm tra sự khác biệt về nghĩa giữa cụm động từ gồm hai phần và ba phần)

look up / look up to get away / get away with

make up / make up for go back / go back on

Dictionary tip

Some three-part phrasal verbs have a different meaning from similar two-part verbs. When you look up a phrasal verb in a dictionary, find the correct part of the entry.

Answer:

1. Look up: (two-part) to search for information in a reference book or online.

Look up to: (three-part) to admire or respect someone.

Example:

• I need to look up the meaning of this word in the dictionary.

• I really look up to my parents.

2. Get away: (two-part) to leave a place or escape from a situation.

Get away with: (three-part) to do something wrong without being caught or punished.

Example:

• I need to get away from this stressful job for a while.

• He always gets away with breaking the rules.

3. Make up: (two-part) to invent or create something.

Make up for: (three-part) to compensate for a mistake or loss.

Example:

• She likes to make up stories about her travels.

• I need to make up for the time I lost when I was sick.

4. Go back: (two-part) to return to a previous place or time

Go back on: (three-part) to break a promise or agreement.

Example:

• I want to go back to the beach we visited last summer.

• He went back on his word and didn't help me with the project.

5. Complete the sentences with two- or three-part phrasal verbs from exercise 4.

(Hoàn thành các câu với hai hoặc ba phần cụm động từ từ bài tập 4)

1. We sent her a present to _____________ the disappointment of missing the music festival.

2. We _____________ his name on the internet to check his story was true.

3. You said you would take us on holiday this summer — you can't _____________ your promise!

4. Did you _____________ that story or is it true?

Answer:

1. We sent her a present to make up for the disappointment of missing the music festival.

2. We looked up his name on the internet to check his story was true.

3. You said you would take us on holiday this summer — you can't go back on your promise!

4. Did you make up that story or is it true?

6. Use three-part phrasal verbs from exercises 2 or 4 to replace the underlined words. Ask and answer these questions with your partner.

(Sử dụng các cụm động từ có ba phần từ bài tập 2 hoặc 4 để thay thế các từ được gạch chân. Hỏi và trả lời những câu hỏi này với đối tác của bạn)

1. Which famous people do you admire?

2. What kind of behaviour is the most difficult to tolerate?

3. What kind of people do you find it easiest to be friendly with?

Answer:

1. Which famous people do you look up to?

• I really look up to Michelle Obama and her work in promoting education and healthcare for girls.

2. What kind of behaviour is the most difficult to put up with?

• I find it hard to put up with people who are constantly late and don't respect other people's time.

3. What kind of people do you find it easiest to fit in with?

• I find it easiest to fit in with people who share similar interests and values as me.