exercise 9a There is something wrong in each sentence below. Correct them so that they are in agreement with the text.
1. Mr. Neck storms into class ready to explode.
2. Mr. Neck’s family has fought in every war since they arrived over two hundred years ago.
3. When Melinda’s father complains about his boss, the family members just listen to him sympathetically.
4. With a linoleum block, there is no way to correct our mistakes.
5. Mr. Neck wishes that the borders had been closed in 1900.
6. Melinda has no idea how long her family has been in America but they have lived in the same school district since she was in first grade.
7. The Archery Club member wants to give the country back to the Native Americans. The suck-ups fight to throw out the “foreigners”.
8. The brave kid challenges Mr. Neck by claiming that it’s the white people who have had it too easy and are pulling the country down.
9. David Petrakis has a perfect attendance record and helps the school staff get rid of programming bugs on computer files at school.
10. David stares at Mr. Neck, looks at the flag for a minute, picks up his books and walks out of the room.

exercise 9b Spot the phrase.
1. for over two hundred years
2. focus on my doodle
3. there is no way to correct mistakes
4. I have to think ahead
5. that strikes a nerve
6. a place with no future
7. that must count for something
8. jump back and forth across the room
9. in the last century
10. he’s not good enough
11. no matter what his skin color
12. cracked under the pressure
13. the right to say what’s on his mind
14. as a citizen, and as a student
15. as racist, intolerant, and xenophobic

exercise 9c With the help of the previous exercise, translate the following sentences. Suggested key
1. As citizens we have the right to say what’s on our minds.
2. No matter what their skin color, people are good enough.
3. I hope I won’t crack under the pressure even though /although/though there is no way to correct my mistakes.
4. We shouldn’t make this a racist, intolerant and xenophobic place with no future.
5. We have to think ahead and focus on the future.

exercise 9d Fill in the crossword puzzle. Across 4. 5. 9. 11. 12. 15. 16.
Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. 10. 13. 14.

exercise 9f
1. chew (to bite and grind with teeth)
2. blink (to open and close eyes rapidly)
3. immigration (moving to a new country)
4. focus (to concentrate)
5. debate (to discuss the pros and cons of an issue)
6. learned (highly educated)
7. complain (to moan)
8. educational (instructive, informative)
9. protagonist (the main character in a book)
10. ignore (to give no attention to)
11. convinced (being certain about something)
12. principal (head teacher) force (strength)
13. border (a line between different countries)
14. intolerant (narrow-minded, prejudiced)
15. bury (to place in the ground)
16. brave (courageous, bold)

exercise 9f Listen and choose the best alternative. 1. a 2. d 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. b 7. a