2A Reading and Vocabulary Lost words on the metro

• I can understand reference devices and talk about public transport.

What type of reference device is the underlined word A, «It» (It was a dream since childhood…)?

What type is B, «it» (Just as quickly, it was gone)?

What type is C, «his» (The next train would be his)?

What type is D, «something» (something that surprised Malek)?

Those who could reach overhead and grasp the handrail to steady themselves were lucky.

What type is E, «Those»?

Malek looked across at the Metro map above a window and counted the stops until Les Corts, even though he had already counted them umpteen times.

What type is F, «them»?

What type is G, «another» (…the same routine at one station and then another…)?

Lost words on the metro: Malek and the crowd

Now put the missing sentences back into the story.

Back home in the countryside, life moved at a gentle pace.

Match sentences A–G with gaps 1–7 in the text: which sentence fills the gap after this one?

Malek slowly made his way across to the underground station and checked to find the platform for the Green Line.

With some effort, Malek dragged himself towards the wall, and waited there.

The fact that there wasn’t a better system was something that surprised Malek.

Malek noticed an older couple who were sitting down facing him.

Three stops from Les Corts, the old man and woman stood up to leave.

Which highlighted word from the text means «pulled»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «spreading out»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «went down»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «getting off»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «crashing into»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «went slowly»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «rushing»?

Which highlighted word from the text means «slipped»?

What does «made his way» mean in the story?

What does «swept along with the crowds» mean in the story?

What does «fell into step» mean in the story?

What does «milling around» mean in the story?

What does «thundered past» mean in the story?

What does «forged ahead» mean in the story?

What does «find his footing» mean in the story?

What does «caught his eye» mean in the story?

Words and phrases of movement

Reference devices: what does it, that one or those point to?

Reference devices are often used to avoid repetition.

• The most common reference devices are:
• pronouns and possessive pronouns, e.g., you, your, yours, he, him, his, it, its
• indefinite pronouns, e.g., something, anything, everything, no one
• relative pronouns: e.g., who, whom, whose
• demonstratives: e.g., this/that, these/those
• determiners: e.g., another, other
• the words: one/ones

Does the reference point backwards or forwards?

• Referring back
• As a child, I loved the sudden rush of air when a tube train was approaching. It would fill me with excitement.
• I usually get on the last car of the train. I go for that one because it’s mostly nearly empty.
• Referring forward
• Although she hated travelling by tube, Huda decided that it would be the fastest way home.
• Sometimes reference is made by stating something which is then explained, exemplified or clarified in the following sentence(s), e.g., The atmosphere inside the tube was terrible. There seemed to be no air at all.

• made his way
• swept along with the crowds
• fell into step
• milling around
• thundered past
• forged ahead
• find his footing
• caught his eye