Topic: Culture- Rome. Grammar: Adjective–preposition pairing. Pronunciation tips: Don’t drop final consonants.
AUDIO
Click on the left picture below to listen to the slow audio version, or on the right picture for the normal-speed version.
FULL TEXT
Maya’s Summer in Italy.
Maya was happy about spending her summer in Italy. She had always been interested in buildings and really liked Roman history, so when her school gave her the chance to join a special program, she said yes right away. Her parents were pleased with her, though they were a little worried about her traveling alone.
When Maya got to Rome, she was surprised by how beautiful the old streets were. Her host family was kind to her, and she felt thankful for how they helped her feel welcome. Giulia, her host sister, loved taking pictures and brought Maya to places that many tourists liked, but that also had special local feeling.
One day, they visited the Trevi Fountain. Maya was amazed by how big and pretty it was and was curious about the story behind it. Giulia said that throwing a coin into the fountain makes people wish to come back to Rome someday. Maya smiled, knowing it was just a belief, but still hopeful about her future travels.
Later that week, something surprising happened. Maya got lost in Trastevere while looking for a bookstore she really wanted to see. She felt upset with her phone because the signal was weak, and she was nervous about missing dinner with her host family. Just as she started to worry, a nice local man who liked helping visitors gave her the way.
When Maya got home, Giulia was worried about her. Maya said sorry, feeling shy about the trouble, but also thankful for the help. The event helped Maya understand that it’s important to stay in touch and ask for help when needed.
During the summer, Maya learned to feel sure of her Italian speaking, be careful with her money, and be open to different ways of living. She became close to her host family and really liked them by the time she left.
On her last night, they had a goodbye dinner. The family was sad about Maya leaving, but also glad for all the time they spent together. Giulia gave Maya a photo book filled with their happy memories.
When Maya returned home, she was not the shy girl who got on the plane weeks ago. Her friends were shocked at how sure and clear she was when she spoke. Maya felt happy with what she had done and was excited to talk about it at school.
NEW WORDS
ADJECTIVES:
Roman-Pleased-Thankful-Amazed-Hopeful-Upset-Nervous- Careful-Close (to someone) – Glad – Shocked – Curious
NOUNS
Trevi Fountain-leader-photo book-belief-tourists-signal-coin-host-memories
TEST YOUR LISTENING SKILLS – ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
Use desktop mode on mobile devices
QUESTIONS
1. Where did Maya spend her summer?
2. Maya liked Roman history. What did she also like?
3. Did Maya wait a long time before she decided to join the special school program to go to Italy?
4. What was Maya surprised about when she saw the old streets in Rome?
5. Who was Giulia?
6. What do people throw into the Trevi Fountain?
7. Who helped Maya when she got lost?
8. How did Maya feel when she got home after getting lost?
9. Name one thing that Maya learned during the summer?
10. What gift did Giulia give Maya before she left?
ANSWERS (Hover your mouse or touch on the right of the numbers to reveal the answers).
1 Maya spent her summer in Italy.
3 No, she did not wait a long time to join the special school program.
4 She was surprised about how beautiful they were.
5 Giulia was Maya’s host sister.
9 She learned to speak Italian better, use money carefully, and accept new ways of living.
GRAMMAR TEST
ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION PAIRING
Common adjective-preposition pairs:
- excited about, interested in, fascinated by, proud of, concerned about
- amazed by, friendly to, grateful for, passionate about, popular with, famous for
- impressed by, curious about, hopeful for, aware of, optimistic about
- lost in, eager to, frustrated with, anxious about, helpful to
- worried about, embarrassed by, thankful for, aware of
- confident in, careful about, respectful of, close to, fond of
- sad about, happy for, filled with, different from, surprised at, content with
TEST
ANSWERS
Hover or touch right of the number to reveal the answer
FILL IN THE PREPOSITIONS
1 Maya was happy ______ spending her summer in Italy.
2 She had always been interested ______ buildings.
3 Her school gave her the chance to join a special program, so she said yes right away.
4 Her parents were pleased ______ her.
5 They were a little worried ______ her traveling alone.
6 Maya got to Rome and was surprised ______ how beautiful the streets were.
7 Her host family was kind ______ her.
8 She felt thankful ______ their welcome.
9 Giulia, her host sister, loved taking pictures.
10 Giulia brought Maya to places popular with tourists.
11 These places also had special local feeling.
12 One day, they visited the Trevi Fountain.
13 Maya was amazed ______ how big and pretty it was.
14 She was curious ______ the story behind it.
Giulia said throwing a coin into the fountain makes people wish to come back to Rome someday.
Maya smiled, knowing it was just a belief.
15 She was still hopeful ______ future travels.
16 Later that week, something surprising happened.
17 Maya got lost ______ the city while looking 18 ______ a bookstore.
19 She felt upset ______ her phone because the signal was weak.
20 She was nervous ______ missing dinner with her host family.
21 A nice local man who liked helping visitors gave her the way.
22 When Maya got home, Giulia was worried ______ her.
23 Maya said sorry, feeling shy ______ the trouble.
24 She was also thankful ______ the help.
25 The event helped Maya see it’s important to stay ______ touch and ask 26 ______ help.
27 During the summer, Maya learned to feel sure ______ her Italian speaking.
28 She learned to be careful ______ her money.
29 She became close ______ her host family.
30 and open ___ to different ways of living.
31 She really liked them by the time she left.
32 On her last night, they had a goodbye dinner.
33 The family was sad ______ Maya leaving.
34 They were also glad ______ all the time they spent together.
35 Giulia gave Maya a photo book filled ______ memories.
36 When Maya got home, she was not the shy girl who got on the plane weeks ago.
37 Her friends were shocked ______ how sure and clear she was.
38 Maya felt happy ______ what she had done.
39 She was excited to talk ______ it at school.
ANSWERS
2 interested in
3 —
6 by
7 kind to
9 —
10 —
11 —
12 —
13 amazed by
—
—
16 —
17 lost in 18 looking for
19 upset with
21 —
23 shy about
24 thankful for
27 sure of
28 careful with
29 open to
30 close to
31 —
32 —
33 sad about
34 glad for
35 filled with
36 —
37 shocked at
38 happy with
39 excited about
PRONUNCIATION TIPS: Don’t drop those ending consonants!
OTHER TESTS
Click here to access more tests