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[B] Expressing Oneself II

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

proficiency

[ pruh-'fish-uhn-see ]

noun

- the fact of having the skill and experience for doing something

The students' proficiency in speaking English was tested.

deductible

[ dih-'duhk-tuh-buhl ]

noun

- an amount of money that you are responsible for paying before your insurance

Judy’s car insurance policy had a $500 deductible.

pre-existing

[ pri-ig-'zis-ting ]

adjective

- existing before something else

Inform your doctor of any pre-existing medical condition.

put up for a vote

adjective

- to hold a vote on something as a means of making a decision

The proposal to increase the employee's benefits package was put up for a vote during the company's annual general meeting.

How is someone holding up?

- inquire into the emotional state of someone who has had to endure some trauma or intense emotional difficulty.

I heard about the recent closure of your company. How are you holding up?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

A. fine print

  • the rules, restrictions and conditions, which are often written in very small letters.

FINE PRINT

Dialogue

Icon_Alex

Alex

What are these documents for?

Melly_Happy Icon

Melly

Oh, I completely forgot to mention. I've applied for an insurance plan, and I'm reviewing the contract.

Icon_Alex

Alex

Make sure you read the fine print on these plans, as some may not cover pre-existing medical or dental conditions, and others have a higher deductible.

Melly_Happy Icon

Melly

I nearly overlooked that detail. Thank you for reminding me.

B. a tall order

  • a task, request or favor which is not reasonable / a difficult demand

A TALL ORDER

Dialogue

Icon_Sally

Sally

Have you considered which college you're planning to attend?

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

I haven't given it much thought. To be honest, I don't have the financial means to afford any school, and I'd rather not apply for student loans.

Icon_Sally

Sally

Financing your education might seem like a tall order, but there are numerous resources available. If you'd like, I can assist you in applying for a scholarship.

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Seriously? That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for offering to help.

C. a matter of opinion

  • something that depends on personal preference

RAISE HANDS

Dialogue

Icon_Mike

Mike

Did you hear about the new policy that was put up for a vote in the company?

Icon_Sakura

Alexa

Yes, I heard about it. It seems like people have mixed reactions to it.

Icon_Mike

Mike

That's true. Some employees are supportive of the policy, while others have concerns. It's definitely matter of opinion.

D. a question mark over

  • an expression used when doubt exists about a particular thing

INJURED PLAYER

Dialogue

Icon_Worried(Man)

Bill

How is Alex holding up? Is his injury serious?

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Thankfully, it's not too severe. However, with the upcoming tournament in mind, it could be quite disappointing for him.

Icon_Worried(Man)

Bill

He must be feeling a bit down now. His injured ankle casts a big question mark over his ability to participate in the upcoming tournament.

E. lingua franca

  • a language used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages

lingua franca

Dialogue

Icon_Alex

Alex

I'm feeling quite exhausted today. The meeting went on for over 2 hours.

Melly_Happy Icon

Melly

Was it a client meeting you had?

Icon_Alex

Alex

Yes, it was. In the business community, English is widely regarded as the lingua franca. However, our client today had only a limited proficiency in English, so it took us some time to reach a mutual agreement on the proposal.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

Part I

Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct idiomatic expression.

a question mark over lingua franca
a matter of opinion fine print
a tall order

  1. In international conferences, interpreters are often employed to facilitate communication between participants who do not share a common .

  2. John's frequent absences from work has raised his commitment to the project.

  3. When it comes to art, beauty is often , with different individuals having diverse preferences.

  4. Finishing this project by tomorrow is , considering the complexity and limited time available.

  5. Before signing the contract, make sure to read the carefully to avoid any hidden fees or unexpected obligations.

Part II

Direction: Listen as your mentor reads the statements twice. Then, repeat after your mentor.

  1. 🔊

  2. 🔊

  3. 🔊

Part III

Direction: Paraphrase the following sentences. Make sure to paraphrase the underlined idiomatic expressions.

  1. The CEO's sudden resignation has put a question mark over the company's future direction.

    .

  2. Completing the project within such a tight deadline is a tall order, but we'll give it our best shot.

    .