Lesson XXI: Vocabulary in Context

4. ALMOST Situation: Harold and Koji are not far from their destination. Harold: Were you sleeping? Koji: I was ALMOST asleep when you spoke to me. Harold: I'm sorry. I nearly forgot to ask you to lend me some money. Koji: Have you used up all of yours? Harold: ALMOST. I only have a few cents left. Exercise: 4.1. Practice ALMOST Listen to the statements. Use ALMOST to express similar idea. For example: June will be ready in a few minutes. JUNE IS ALMOST READY . Paul has ninety-five cents . HE HAS ALMOST A DOLLAR . 1. Jimmy will be five years old next week. 6. The train will soon be here. 2. John got 99 on his final examination. 7. It's 7:55. 3. June's father is thirty-nine years old. 8. The ticket cost $24.99. 4. The new theater will hold 7,900 people. 9. Mr. Brown was very, very sick. 5. Nine of ten students in our class are here. 10. He is much better now. 5. Holidays Situation: Harold and Koji are talking about holidays in the United States. Koji: What holidays do you observe in the United States? Harold: We have two kinds, major holidays and minor holidays. Koji: Tell me about the major holidays. Harold: Well, the first one is January first or New Year's Day and the second one, Easter Sunday, commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It's usually in April. Koji: What's the next one? Harold: Memorial Day or, as it is sometimes called, Decoration Day. It is always on May thirtieth. Koji: Why do you celebrate Memorial Day? Harold: We celebrate it in memory of all the American men and women who have died in war. Koji: It must be a solemn day. Harold: It's for many people. For example, in Washington they have a special service at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In addition, many people put flowers on the graves of their relatives and friends. Koji: What's the next big holiday? Harold: The Fourth of July or Independence Day. It's the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Koji: I know. We studied about that. It was signed in 1776, wasn't it? Harold: Right. Almost everybody puts up a flag on this day, there are parades and in the evening there's usually an impressive display of fireworks. →