Callan

1 - There are various means of transport we can use these days, but in the old days, people only had the choice of going on foot or on horseback, or by some horse-drawn form of transport. Being overweight is usually due to overeating. One usually needs to be taught how to operate a factory machine. Unity is essential for success in a battle. Tom is the elder of the two children, though even he is not very old. They just could not decide whether to rent a house for a fortnight or stay at a hotel. Eventually, however, they chose to rent a house.

2 - Football is played throughout the whole world./ He used to be a popular prime minister,/ but what he said last month/ about the strikes/ was political madness./ Provided you go straight home after school,/ you will be in time to see/ your uncle before he leaves./ Everyone was dressed/ in their very best clothes/ for the big wedding party,/ which commenced at 8 p.m./ The waiter placed the tray/ carefully on the table./ The meal he had brought us/ consisted of potatoes/ and a small piece of meat/ which appeared to be old and hard.

3 - It looks as if/ we are in serious trouble./ Not only have we lost our money/ and return tickets home,/ but also the key to the front door./ I will have to look the word up/ in a modern dictionary;/ this one is too old./ Though there has been some delay,/ the goods will nonetheless/ arrive in time./ Walking in the forest,/ we came across a great lion,/ which did not seem at all fierce,/ lying lazily in the sun./ He was clearly the king of the forest, however,/ and did not need to do anything/ to show the other animals/ that this was his kingdom.

4 - The men arrived late at the factory/ so often that they lost their jobs./ It is said that/ when a rat is cornered/ by a man/ and has to fight for its life,/ it will fly/ at the man’s throat./ John did not realize/ what he was doing/ and consequently forgot/ to shut the door behind him./ They have led/ a very comfortable life till now./ I suppose we’ll reach/ the end of the book eventually/ if we keep working steadily./ The price of goods/ depends on supply and demand./ If the demand is great/ but the supply is small,/ the price will, of course, be high.

5 - The ship sank slowly/ to the ocean bed./ Some of the men on board drowned/ because they were unable to swim./ Others managed to save themselves/ by holding onto pieces of wood/ and were slowly carried to land/ by the tide./ In the past,/ some empires were built/ when one country conquered another/ and then demanded a tax,/ which then made it easier/ to conquer still more countries./ He was a great literary figure/ of his day,/ but today he is read very little.

6 - He used to be in control/ of the largest printing press in the country./ Another step/ and the child would have stepped/ right off the table/ and fallen onto the floor./ After a bill has been passed by parliament,/ it becomes an act./ My uncle was always talking with pride/ about his many adventures abroad/ as a young man./ I was introduced to the seller,/ gave the car a trial run,/ and found it was working all right./ Although he was a strong swimmer,/ he was carried out to sea/ by the tide./ He hunted for his wallet/ but couldn’t find it.

7 - On the whole,/ we speak English rather well now./ My account is almost empty./ I’ve spent all my money/ on clothing for the holiday./ The eastern states of North America/ were settled by the Europeans/ before the western states./ If we need to draw out money/ when the banks are closed,/ it’s necessary to use a cash machine./ We had all expected/ the temple to be damaged/ by the violent storms./ I’m afraid that our opinions/ differ too greatly./ These shoes are not the same size./ Which navy has the best ships?

8 - It doesn’t matter/ if we occasionally make a mistake./ We were suddenly forced to stop/ by the appearance of men/ standing in front of us/ with bows and arrows./ Some of them/ had drawn back their bows/ ready to shoot at us./ The youth claimed/ that he had not stolen the goods/ but the shopkeeper would not believe him./ Last year, I paid a visit/ to the Holy Land,/ an important region/ for millions of religious believers/ around the world./ We stood on the shore/ and watched the sun go down over the lake.

9 - The chickens/ have not laid a single egg/ for an entire week./ The soldiers behaved with great courage/ and fought well,/ but still they lost the battle./ He had the choice/ of either entering the government/ and becoming some kind of official/ or of entering the church/ and becoming a priest./ The village looked very pretty/ lying in the valley/ in the morning sunshine./ It is not uncommon/ in big cities/ to find people on the street/ preaching against social injustices./ Some people find travelling/ a stressful experience.

10 - As a rule,/ I do not waste a lot of time/ worrying about unimportant details./ Last night,/ there was a terrible storm/ and the surface of the sea/ looked like/ a mass of hills and valleys./ There has been a wonderful improvement/ in his health/ and he is now beginning/ to enjoy life again./ Wisdom usually comes with experience./ Although he objected,/ he was still defeated./ I do not mind you smoking/ while I am eating./ We switched on the light/ and found that all the Christmas gifts/ had been stolen from under the tree.

11 - Some people find it sad/ that the steam engine/ isn’t used any longer/ on the railways./ Although he strongly opposed the bill,/ he knew it would be passed/ all the same/ and so, after replying to the opposition,/ he returned sadly to his seat./ The guards were given orders/ to shoot the enemy on sight./ I am an early bird,/ which means that I feel very bright/ in the morning/ and tired in the evening./ Find out if he is fit/ to do the job first.

12

...