Lesson 1: Alison Is Busy

Alison and her family live in Austria. When Alison was a child her father used to take her skiing every winter. Alison used to love getting ready to go skiing. She used to help her father load the jeep with their equipment the evening before their trip. The next morning they would get up before dawn and drive up into the mountains.

When they got to the ski resort Alison and her father used to take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain and ski down together. Alison got better and better at skiing every year.

Last year Alison left school and began studying German at university. Alison left home and moved into student accommodation close to her college.

During the winter term she met a young man called Nicholas. Nicholas was keen on sports. Nicholas and Alison went jogging together and they played badminton every day.

When it began to snow Nicholas said to Alison “Let’s go snowboarding this weekend.”

“OK,” said Alison, “But I’ve never been snowboarding before, so you will have to teach me.”

That weekend Nicholas taught Alison how to snowboard. Alison was a fast learner. Although she fell over and crashed several times, she really enjoyed herself.

Now Alison and Nicholas go snowboarding whenever they can.

When Alison came home for the Christmas holidays her father said to her, “Let’s go skiing this weekend.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I’m busy this weekend,” Alison replied.

“Why, what are you doing?” asked her father.

“I’m going snowboarding with some of my friends,” said Alison.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where did Alison’s father use to take her every winter?

Correct

"When Alison was a child her father used to take her skiing every winter. ... they would get up before dawn and drive up into the mountains."

Incorrect

 

2. What did Alison used to love?

Correct

"Alison used to love getting ready to go skiing."

Incorrect

 

3. How did they travel to the ski resort?

Correct

"The next morning they would get up before dawn and drive up into the mountains." They drove up into the mountains. = They went by car.

Incorrect

 

4. How did Alison and her father go to the top of the mountain?

Correct

"When they got to the ski resort Alison and her father used to take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain...

Incorrect

 

5. What did Alison do after she left school last year?

Correct

Last year Alison left school and began studying German at university.

Incorrect

 

6. Where does Alison live now?

Correct

"Alison left home and moved into student accommodation close to her college."

Incorrect

 

7. What did Nicholas and Alison do together last year?

Correct

"Last year Alison left school and began studying German at university. Alison left home and moved into student accommodation close to her college.

"During the winter term she met a young man called Nicholas. Nicholas was keen on sports. Nicholas and Alison went jogging together and they played badminton every day."

Incorrect

 

8. What did Nicholas teach Alison?

Correct

"That weekend Nicholas taught Alison how to snowboard."

Incorrect

 

9. Why won't Alison go skiing with her father this weekend?

Correct

'“I’m going snowboarding with some of my friends,” said Alison.'

Incorrect