Cowboys and blondes on Route 66

by Libby Ruffle (The Daily Telegraph, 25.05.2012) Read the text carefully, paying attention to the underlined words. Can you figure out their meaning just by looking at their context? Have a look at the explanations below. Look at each words pronunciation and meaning (and the example in a sentence). Try to make a sentence with each new word. Why not, write a short composition using these words (you can re-tell the story or invent a new story).

Stormy Schneider is a blonde, blue-eyed waitress at the Boom-a-rang Diner in Chandler, Oklahoma, and her hand is on my husbands arm. She is trying to entice him with a slice of fried pie: cherry, apple or my personal favourite, she winks apricot. Stormy, says Jonathan, that sounds great. But youve killed us with your catfish and fried pickles. Stormy throws back her pretty little head and laughs delightedly at the funny English guy.

Normally, Id frown at a waitress who was this attentive to my husband. And at him for enjoying it. But five days into our Route 66 trip, Im struggling. Im a tea-drinking stranger in a world of free coffee refills. Stormys saving grace is lightning-quick provision of hot tea with real milk. In a proper mug. Besides, therell come a time on this 2,000-mile journey make that 3,500 by the time weve detoured to Amish country, gone bison spotting in Tallgrass Prairie and goggled at the Grand Canyon, none of which is actually a Route 66 landmark.

So, Stormy, says Jonathan, wed like to go out this evening. Is there a baseball game on tonight, or a bar youd recommend? Hmm. Well, theres a bar in Stroud if you wanna get into a fight. Its kinda rough. Not like our Stroud, then. She shrugs. But this is Bible Belt country; theres not much going on around here. If I were you, Id go to the liquor store, buy a bottle of Cooks Spumante and drink it back in your motel room. Stormy, says Jonathan with a smile, youve been a great help. The arm again. Oh, man, I could listen to you talk for ever! When travelling the Mother Road, you dont just need time, money and a lastminute upgrade to a convertible. You need a relationship that can withstand each others driving; the tiredness that comes from jet lag and crossing quite a few time zones; the overstimulation you get from breakfasting on steak one day and Dr Pepper the next. I must try not to point out triumphantly that Stormy Schneider has terrible taste in sparkling wine. After all, this time tomorrow, shell still be in Chandler while he and I will be in another diner, in another state having been sidetracked by a Saturday afternoon university baseball game or a rattlesnake museum or a Hopi Indian reservation. Then well be leafing though the Rand McNally road atlas, planning our next destination. Cheers, Stormy, and thanks for the tea.

Vocabulary to entice [entais] = v. a atrage, a ademeni, a ispiti; to attract by arousing hope or desire; lure: The promise of higher pay enticed me into the new job. to wink = v. a clipi (din gene), a face cu ochiul; a clipi la distanta (despre un far): Harbor lights were winking in the distance. 1. He winked and said that he understood. 2. She winked at me as she asked what I was doing tonight. 3. The puppy was winking in the bright sun. 4. The airplane's landing lights winked on and off. 5. I could not sleep a wink (expresie Nu am putut dormi de loc). pickles = n. muraturi an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar; specifically : a cucumber that has been so preserved to frown = v. a se incrunta a. to contract the brow in displeasure or concentration b. to give evidence of displeasure or disapproval by facial expression (critics frown on

the idea): 1. She was frowning when she entered the room, so I knew that she was annoyed about something. 2. The boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble. a tea-drinking person = o persoana care bea ceai a world of free coffee refills = o lume unde pe gratis poti sa-ti re-umpli cana de cafea lightning-quick = extremely quick provision = n. aprovizionare, masuri de prevedere a. the act or process of supplying or providing something b. something that is done in advance to prepare for something else 1. He made provisions to donate part of his fortune to charity after he died. 2. You should make provision for emergencies. 3. I carried my provisions in one large backpack. 4. We brought enough provisions to last the entire trip. 5. She did not make any provision for her children. 2,000-mile journey = excursie de 2.000 de mile (mile foloseste la singular, pentru ca sta inaintea unui substantiv journey) 7 year old boy la fel, year se foloseste la singular 8 kilogram sack - la fel, kilogram se foloseste la singular gone bison spotting = sa vedem, localizam bizoni to goggle at = v. a se uita cu uimire; a se holba, a se zgai; to look at something or someone with your eyes very open in a way that shows that you are surprised, amazed: He goggled in amazement at the huge statue. goggles ochelari de protectie Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District The Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the south-eastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average. The Bible Belt consists of much of the Southern United States. During the colonial period (16071776), the South was a stronghold of the Anglican church. Its transition to a stronghold of non-Anglican Protestantism occurred gradually over the next century as a series of religious revival movements, many associated with the Baptist denomination, gained great popularity in the region.

a relationship that can withstand each others driving o relatie in care putem sa ne suportam/toleram felul in care fiecare dintre noi conduce masina jet lag oboseala datorata decalajului de fus orar; a tired and unpleasant feeling that you sometimes get when you travel by airplane to a place that is far away: Eg. I had bad jet lag after that last trip overseas. diner - a small, informal, and inexpensive restaurant that looks like a railroad car to sidetrack = a face un detour; to cause (someone) to talk about or do something different and less important; to change the direction or use of (something) to leaf though = a frunzari o carte to turn over pages especially to browse or skim; leaf through a book: Eg. We must have spent hours leafing through wallpaper books before we found something we both liked.

Grammar:
Look at the verbs in the above text; the narrator uses Present Tense Simple to express simple or general actions that happen in the present. We use adverbs of frequency with Present Tense Simple: often, seldom, sometimes, frequently, normally, every day/daily, etc. Present Tense Continuous indicates an action that is happening NOW/at this very moment; sometimes it shows that an action is happening over a longer TEMPORARY period of time (eg. I am learning Japanese). It can also show a FUTURE planned action (when we are talking about something that we have arranged or decided to do: Eg. I am seeing my friend tonight). With Present Tense Continuous we use adverbs such as: now, at this moment, this morning, this evening, today, this month, etc. o You are learning English now.

o You are not swimming now. o Are you sleeping? o I am sitting, I am not standing. o Is he sitting or standing? o They are reading their books. o They are not watching television. o What are you doing? o Why aren't you doing your homework? Now put the verbs in brackets into the correct form, using simple or continuous present tense:

1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep). 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain). 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always). 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland. Answer Key: 1. drives, 2. work, am studying, 3. is sleeping, 4. is raining, 5. it always rains, 6. are saying, is talking, 7. is currently writing, 8. am going, 9. are normally printed, are expensive, 10. is made.