.In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
.English Grammar
.Lesson No. 4
:Part A: Comprehension Passage
Would you lend me your ears, my dear Muaz ? It is high time I told you about that famous clock called Big Ben.
When you visit London, one of the first things you will see is Big Ben, which can be heard all over the world on the B.B.C. If the House of Parliament had not been burned down in 1834, the great clock would never have been erected. Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall, who was responsible for the making of the clock when the new House of Parliament was being built. Nonetheless, it looks so new as though it was made just yesterday. Not only is it of immense size, but it is extremely accurate as well. Officials of Greenwich Observatory should check the
clock twice a day. Big Ben has rarely gone wrong. Once, however, it failed to give the correct time. A painter who had been working on the tower hung a pot of paint on one of the hands and slowed it down !
Comprehension Questions:
1. What would have happened to the clock if the House of Parliament had not been burned down?
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2. How does Big Ben look like ?
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3. What must the Greenwich Observatory do ?
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Part B: Grammar Questions
Make a circle round the best answer from a , b , c or d.
1. ……………….. you give me that chair, please ?
a. Would b. Will c. Can d. Do
2. It is high time he ……………….. a final decision.
a. must take b. took c. takes d. to take
3. My friend looks as if he ………………… angry.
a. is b. will be c. was d. wants to be
4. If they arrived early, they ………………… tickets.
a. might have got b. can get c. will get d. could get
5. When you enter the library, you ………………… quiet.
a. might have kept b. have kept c. should keep d. to keep
Part C: Correct Your Mistakes
1. Don’t say:We sat in the shadow.
Say: We sat in the shade.
Shadow is the dark shape an object forms on a surface – e.g. on ground, when that
object is between the light and that surface. (Your shadow is drawn on the ground).
However, shade is the area that is dark and cool under or behind something, e.g.
tree, because the sun light doesn’t get to it.
2. Don’t say: Sudanese have strange habits.
Say: a) Sudanese have strange customs.
b) He has the habit of biting his fingers.
“habits” belong to the individual, but customs belong to a society or country.
:Part D – 1: Model Answers for Part A (Comprehension)
1. If the House of Parliament had not been burned down, Big Ben would never have been erected.
2. It looks as if it was made just yesterday.
3. Greenwich Observatory must check the clock twice a day.
:Part D – 2: Model Answers for Part B (Grammar)
1. Correct Answers: The correct answers for all the questions should be in the past simple:
1. Would 2. took 3. was 4. could get 5. should keep
In all these questions we use the “Unreal Past”. It a past which does not show that the action took place in the past. It just expresses impossibility of happening. We use the Unreal Past to express the following language functions:
1. Wishes: a) I wish you could understand my intention.
b) I would rather you became a teacher.
c) If only he joined the army.
2. Desires: We would like to know the cause.
3. Polite Offers: Would you like an apple ?
4. Requests: Would you close the window ?
5. Preferences: She would prefer to have a cake.
6. Permission: Could I go now ?
7. If 2: If I were you, I would not tell him.
8. Reported speech: He said that he would buy a new car.
9. Obligation: We should study the history of our country.
10. Expressions like:
a) It is high time you accepted this offer.
b) Now he looks as if (as though) he was ill.