新标准大学英语综合教程4教师用书(外研社)(11)

1 If you ask me, real life is not all it s cracked up to be. (Para 1)

In my opinion (If you ask me introduces an opinion), real life is not everything that people say it is. If a

thing is cracked up to be, people normally praise it but in the opinion of the speaker they are wrong.

2 … spending money when you don t have any is dead easy. (Para 7)

Dead here means very. For example, we can say dead tired (exhausted), a dead loss (a complete loss or

useless), a dead weight (very heavy, difficult to lift).

3 What were the odds on anyone being so nice? (Para 11)

What are the chances that someone would be so nice? The writer is emphasizing here that such kindness is

very unusual.

4 … looking back after all these years, you only need one or two breaks in your life to succeed.

(Para 13)

A break here means a chance to be successful. A lucky break is an unexpected opportunity.

Reading and understanding

2 Choose the best answer to the questions.

1 What did the writer want to do after finishing her degree?

(a) To do an MA at the London School of Economics.

(b) To earn some money to pay off her loan.

(c) To start working as soon as possible.

(d) To return home and help her mother.

2 Why did she ask for a job in The Salisbury?

(a) She was hungry and thirsty.

(b) She thought it would lead to better things.

(c) She was a friend of the landlord.

(d) She had the idea when she saw the landlord working.

3 What did she buy with her first salary?

(a) A bunch of flowers.

(b) A CD and a plant for the flat she lived in.

(c) A ham sandwich and a glass of beer.

(d) She didn’t have any money left after paying the bills.

4 Why did Tony give her £20,000?

(a) He found out it was her birthday and wanted to help.

(b) He trusted her and thought it would help her.

(c) He wanted her to leave the pub and work for him.

(d) He was secretly in love with her.

5 What did she do with the money?

(a) She used it to pay for her course at the LSE.