Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 20 - Draw him out of his slumber

Ian: Where’s Mark? I thought the smell of breakfast would draw him out of his slumber. He sleeps through the two days off each week and that isn't all fun and games. He’s making a mess of his relations not to mention the possibility of bed sores.

Brian: Huh! Lazybones!! What amazes me the most is his ability to take naps everywhere. I guess sleep is his hobby. Where is the common sense in reserving the entire weekend for sleep?

Ian: Well; I think that sleep is such a blessing. It makes you forget about problems at work, your ex, stress, and disappointments of the day. It just makes everything right again. But James sleeps just for the sake of sleeping!

Brian: Right. The other day I asked him “what are you good at for heaven’s sake?”. “I’m really good at sleeping . I could do it with my eyes closed.” He responded.

Ian: That’s really absurd. I’m going to pull a stunt on him to make him think twice before sleeping at the weekend. Mark my words; from now on James will have trouble sleeping.

Vocabulary;

draw out of: to entice or manipulate someone or something to come out of hiding.

fun and games: enjoyable and pleasant.

not to mention: in addition to or as well as what's been discussed.

lazybones: a lazy person.

common sense: good sense and sound judgment in practical matters.

blessing: something that is extremely lucky or makes you happy.

do something with one’s eyes closed: able to do something very easily, even without having to think about it or look at it.

absurd: (adjective) stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way.

pull a stunt (on someone): to carry out a trick, deception, or practical joke (against someone).

think twice: to consider carefully whether one should do something; to be cautious about doing something.

Mark my words: Pay attention to and remember what I am saying, because it will happen.

have trouble sleeping: to find it difficult to fall asleep.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. I saw a feral cat back there earlier, and I hope this bowl of cat food will .......... it out.

2. College isn't all fun and .......... —you need to take your schoolwork seriously.

3. His parents still clung to the misguided belief that his .......... sense would keep him out of serious trouble.

4. When I have .......... sleeping, I just read a book or make a coffee.

5. Maybe we should think .......... about investing so much money in a project we know so little about.

6. Mark my .........., Jonah, I will get even with you if it's the last thing I do.

7. The fake article had been in print in the renowned scientific journal for more than a week before its author revealed that he had .......... a stunt.

8. Blake looked .......... in those tight leather trousers, but I tried not to laugh.

9. You should ask Johnny for help—he's able to do this level of math with his .......... closed.

10. It was a .......... that no one was killed in the accident.

11. Hey .........., get up from the sofa and help me with the dishes! Laziness and lazy people.

12. I've already got to spend three hours in the car running errands, not to .......... the hour and a half it will take to pick up the kids from school.

1. draw 2. games 3. common 4. trouble 5. twice 6. word 7. pulled 8. absurd 9. eyes 10. blessing 11. lazybones 12. mention