To write a successful story for the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test) Here is some of the help and advice I talk about in the podcast. I will also read you a model story.You are always given a first sentence, which you must use. 'When Jasmin looked down at the soft ground, she could see quite clearly that the tiger had recently come this way.' Use of 'when' here. 'When ' is a good word to use in your story as it means you create a complex, 2-part sentence.Setting the scene - where th...
Jan 12, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 223
Strong B1 to B2-level story. Today, as I'm still on holiday, I'm offering you the complete version of the very popular story I published in September - A Window on Time. Read and listen to the comprehension questions before you start listening. 1) What was the bad news Geoffrey received at the beginning of the story? 2) What physical changes happened to Geoffrey when he entered the classroom for the first time? 3) Why did Geoffrey stay in the classroom and not make an attempt to get back to his ...
Jan 05, 2025•32 min•Season 4Ep. 222
Victims of Nature Complete Version (B1, B2) This is the full version of the two story parts published last September. Comprehension questions 1) What reasons did Alberto's mother give Alberto for leaving the Alpujarra? 2) What did Gustavo mean by the comment "we're just victims of nature"? 3) The story says, "When Alberto saw the pink clouds at dawn, he knew bad weather was on the way". What was the saying mentioned in the story which told Alberto there was going to be a storm? 4) Why was Albert...
Dec 29, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 221
B1 B2-level story with exra Christmas idioms included. I have re-written this story for my English students. Ebenezer Scrooge visits his nephew for Christmas dinner and surprises Bob Cratchit with some astonishing news. Phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase in the story? You can see the answers after you listen in the audioscript below. 1) Give somebody the cold shoulder To be rude to somebody by ignoring them. e.g. I think my colleagues were jealous I got a promotion at work...
Dec 22, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 220
"Scrooge jumped out of bed and rushed over to the window, opened it, and put his head out. There was no fog, no mist; it was a clear, bright, cheerful day...." This is the last chapter of Charles' Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol adapted to B2 level. B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each word? 1) seasonal - refers to a time of year e.g. seasonal decorations (during the Christmas season) 2) remarkable - a wonderful qualities, for a person, perhaps intelligent, clever. 3) astonis...
Dec 16, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 219
Jonathon goes to the bank to claim his prize, but he comes away with something he didn't expect. B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, get rid of - try to make disappear 2, be taken in - makes you believe something bad 3, live for - be a very important thing in your life 4, fall apart - collapse, disappear so it exists no longer 5, see to something - make something happen 6, let somebody down - not help somebody so they are at a disadvantage The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) ...
Dec 08, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 218
English podcast story for B1, B2 levels (intermediate - upper intermediate) - Jonathon Baxter has spent ten years walking around Britain, playing his harmonica to survive. Then he decides to return to his home, but what will he find? B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, more or less (finished etc.) = nearly 2, obliged to = you have to 3, not have the slightest intention = (used in the neagative) not want or will not do something 4, neither (inversion = e.g. neither do...
Dec 01, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 217
B1 words and expressions studied: In this B1-level podcast today, I'll also discuss 6 interesting intermediate B1-level words, which you can listen for while you listen to the short story. Intermediate-level words and expressions: lack of something - not enough of something get rid of somebody - tell somebody to leave out of work - to have lost your job try your best - do a task the best way you can stay behind - to wait after others have left consist of something - talks about the parts of some...
Nov 24, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 216
In this B1-level podcast today I'll use lots of important vocabulary and expressions to talk about daily actions. I'll also discuss 10 interesting B1-level words, which you can listen for while you listen to the short story. I'll analyse these intermediate-level words and expressions: no going back - you cannot go to where you were earlier, or if you start something, you cannot leave it but must carry on. warning - a notice or something spoken to tell us to be careful of a danger damage your hea...
Nov 17, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 215
The upper-intermediate phrsal verbs studied in today's episode are: look up to - admire somebody because of their qualities fall apart - to break into pieces, probably because it's old date from - saying how old something is, from what year something is think sth over - consider something carefully take on - offer a contract of work to somebody miss out - not to take advantage of an opportunity which would bring benefits come across - find something unexpectedly, find something you were not look...
Nov 10, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 214
This is another podcast on B1 intermediate phrasal verbs - those a little difficult to learn. The ones I will talk about are: put on - to switch on or activate some device (electrical?) sign up - to join or becme part of a club etc. show up - to arrive somewhere unexpectedly. deal with - to try to resolve a problem take up - to begin a new sport, hobby or other activity carry on - to continue, often when things seem difficult. Listen to the context these phrasal verbs are used in during the stor...
Nov 03, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 213
The six B1 phrasal verbs studied are: give up - stop doing some activity e.g. smoking, or a game because you are losing. end up - to finish in a place probably you didn't expect to find yourself in. put off - to do some activity at a later time. set off - to start a journey. run out - to find you have no more of something e.g. petrol in your car, milk in the fridge. look forward - wait excitedly for an event to happen. For story transcript and answers: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-2...
Oct 27, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 212
Intermediate (B1) and upper-intermediate (B2) English expressions and vocabulary. Words to explain: binoculars - a device used to see objects far away UFO - unidentified flying object (alien spaceship) What the hell is going on? - What is happening? fin - wing-like structure of a creature that lives in the sea B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, failed to comprehend 2, under the impression 3, get straight to the point 4, It goes without saying 5, taken somebody's wor...
Oct 20, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 211
Words to explain: extraterrestrial - from another planet alien - life from another planet life forms - beings which are living electro-magnetic field - this surrounds the Earth and protects us from harmful rays from space orbit - going around the sun etc. meteorite - an object that may crash into the Earth evolve / evolution - life that grows and changes over long periods of time cosmic - from the universe comet - a huge ball of us that flies through space B2 phrases to listen for. What is the c...
Oct 13, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 210
The second part of my story A Window on Time. Strong B1 and B2-level story. Words to explain: detention - in schools this was (is?) a punishment for children. We had to stay in a classroom during the lunch-break and do extra homework B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1) to feel faint 2) Naturally, 3) tremble with excitement 4) hit it off 5) stick together 6) stand by somebody The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) have been taken out (unless the word begins with a vowel). Read th...
Oct 06, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 209
B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context they are used in during the story. 1) deep in thought 2) Strangely enough, 3) strictly forbidden 4) an exception to the rule 5) the situation had become unbearable 6) the truth of the matter was B1 words from the story: what are they? 1) prvs adj. what happend before 2) shckd n. very surprised in a bad way 3) prvntng v. stopping 4) apprchd v. got closer 5) aplgs v. say sorry B2 words from the story: what are they? 6) rclld v. remember 7) prsmbly adv....
Sep 30, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 208
Part 2 of my exciting story Victims of Nature for students studying B1 and B2 English. Words to explain: shepherd = somebody who looks after sheep in the countryside raft = a small flat boat flock of sheep = a group of sheep waterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rock B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1) All of a sudden 2) scared him stiff 3) To make matters worse 4) it went without saying 5) Out of breath 6) shout at the top of his voice The vowels...
Sep 23, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 207
A Strong B1 and B2-level story based on a real event this summer in the Alpujarra mountain region of Southern Spain (Granada). Words to explain: shepherd = spmebody who looks after sheep in the countryside raft = a small flat boat flock of sheep = a group of sheep waterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rock B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1) The reality of the situation... 2) take charge of... 3) he held on for dear life.. . 4) What’s the point of...
Sep 16, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 206
One way or another , Norman imagined that other people regarded him as an underachiever . He became obsessed by what his colleagues at the supermarket might call him when he was not listening. What about Norman Nobody or Norman Nothing in Particular. Norman was a man who was of the opinion that life had not treated him fairly ... This is a strong B1 to B2-level story. B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1) talk things over with 2) kept in good shape 3) push himself 4) (...
Sep 09, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 205
The Winds of Bolonia (B1 Story with new comprehension questions) I wanted to publish this story together with the Para-olympics in Paris. I was watching it on television. It shows how positive attitudes, strength, determination are not qualities limited to those athletes in the Olympics we saw earlier this summer, but that persons with disabilities are no different and share the same qualities. The heroine in my story today, The Winds of Bolonia (B1 level) is about a young girl in a wheelchair. ...
Sep 02, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 204
Comprehension questions and answers for the complete story. 1) Why did Benjamin decide to go back to the hotel? 2) How did Jessica know Benjamin was staying in the Borromeo Hotel? 3) Where did Benjamin move to when fe left school? 4) What did Benjamin think the old woman was doing on the stairs? 5) What did Benjamin plan to do with Jessica? 6) Why did Benjamin's son, Logan, leave the car at the end of the story? You can see the answers to these questions at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podc...
Aug 26, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 203
Comprehension questions to read before listening to the complete B1-level story: Who was Sidney Peabody? 1) What was unusual about the way Sidney Peabody looked? 2) According to Simon Fotheringay, the journalist and reporter, why did Sidney Peabody perform the miracle in Benalmadena? 3) What did people do in Madrid just before Sidney Peabody said the words: "I wish it would rain!"? 4) After talking to his friend, Stephen Smithers, who did Simon think Sidney Peabody was? 5) Did the detective beli...
Aug 19, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 202
This is the complete B1-level story of The Spaceman (first published in 2022) Comprehension questions for story 1) Why was Max Headroom angry at the beginning of the story? 2) What were the space-time doors? 3) Who was the old man in Max's bedroom? 4) Why did Max and his wife, Sheena, separate? 5) Do you think Max and Sheena got back together again? I'll give you the answers at the end of the story. Think about this question below. You can send your written answer at the link at the top of this ...
Aug 12, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 201
Today I'm giving you the full version of my B1-level story (with some B2 English) Tsunami! Here are 4 comprehension questions for part TWO of the story, which starts after the written transcript has finished. 1) What did Yannick think Melville's name was? Mr Tsunami 2) Which was the last accident that stopped Melville and the French family from escaping from the beach? But that jeep was going nowhere that day. It hit a rock hidden under the sand, which made it jump to the side and turn over comp...
Aug 05, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 200
These are the two stories I chose for the story task I gave you at podcast 197. Story 1 Mrs Jones was 82. Her husband had died many years ago, so she lived alone with her cat. She had a large vegetable garden, and she kept fit by working there every day. But she was often unhappy, because she remembered she had lost her wedding ring many, many years ago. It was like a treasure for her. One day, she was in the garden pulling carrots out of the ground. Suddenly she saw the ring. A carrot had grown...
Jul 29, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 199
There are 4 questions for you to answer while you listen to the story: The questions are: 1) What did uncle Tom make so he didn't have to get up early? 2) When they were on the boat, where did Stephen Liddel put the box of beer? 3) What did William's Dad do wrong that made him lose the fish? 4) Why did Uncle Tom fall into the sea? At the end of the story, I'll tell you the answers. You can also answer the question: Is there a hero in your family? Who is it? You can send me your answer by clickin...
Jul 22, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 198
Here are the rules for the story-writing activity. - The story must include at least one of the phrases 1 to 8 shown below. - The subject of the story can be anything you like. - The story should not be longer than 80 words. - The story can only be sent from the link on mobile phones "send me a text" at the top of this page in your podcast app. - Please include your name and the country you are from at the bottom of the text. - The last day for sending the story is 28th July 2024. - I'll read tw...
Jul 15, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 197
Today I have joined the two halves of The Quiet Man together so you can enjoy this story in one complete story. I briefly discuss intonation and give you a task to listen to while enjoying the story. For more podcasts on intonation at Practising English, go to podcasts: 126, 109, 43, 103. See the podcast numbers at my website... https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-content.htm The Quiet Man First part of story. If you can't see the words in red on your app (the stressed words), you can visi...
Jul 08, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 196
Extracts from my stories with examples of SO and REALLY Here are the 4 extracts from my stories I use in this podcast to give examples of the use of SO and REALLY as intensifiers. Extract 1: 'The fishmonger,' corrected Vanessa again. 'The person who sells fish is called a fishmonger.' 'The fishmonger was REALLY big and fat ,' added Jason. 'Then Gran pointed to the fish man and said to me, "Do you know what this gentleman's name is?" And I said, "No, I don't." And Gran said, "His name's Mr Whale!...
Jul 01, 2024•21 min•Season 3Ep. 195
Writing the B1 article. (If you are interested in my podcast about writing the B1 story... https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-128.htm ) These are some general, very important words I recommend you learn for writing in any part of the PET exam. You won't be able to use all of them, but try to use some at least: unless, available, suitable, encourage, increase, intend to, involve, keen to/on, supposed to, unable to. (Which words do I use?) These are the usual topics that come up for the art...
Jun 23, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 194
