Allan: My Vancouver

In this reader you’ll find:

- Glossary of difficult words - Comprehension and extension activities - Exit test - An audio recording of the story - Authentic photos

Allan: My Vancouver

Have you ever thought about visiting Canada? Well to start with, read about a ‘cool’ Canadian guy called Al who lives in Vancouver.

Al will tell you about his family and his school life.

You can also discover what he does with his friends in his free time and what his dreams are. Is his life very different from yours? Read and find out!

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Stage 3 B1

Readers Real Stage Lives1

Gordon Gamlin Allan: My Vancouver

Gordon Gamlin

A llan:

Audio Files

Teen

Downloadable

Look at the inside front cover flap to find out how to download your free Audio files.

A1 Movers A2 Flyers/KEY B1 Preliminary

Non-fiction | Real Lives www.eligradedreaders.com

RS r 7 l. E ve 9.r. AD u 1 I s E co -32 EL LI R Van 36 E y -5 8 EN : M -8 TE llan 978 A N B IS

Eli Readers is a beautifully illustrated series of timeless classic and original stories for learners of English.

The pleasure of Reading

T e e n E L ITeen R e a d e Readers rs ELT A 1

STAGE 1 600 headwords Elementary STAGE 2 800 headwords Pre-intermediate STAGE 3 1000 headwords Intermediate

ELT A1

GORDON GAMLIN

r e v u o c n a my v

Daily routine | Friends and Family | Nature and Customs

Non-fiction

Stage 3 B1

ELT B1

Downloadable

Audio Files

A llan:

GORDON GAMLIN

r e v u o c n a v y m

Teen

Readers |

real lives

Contents 14

Before you Read

16

Chapter 1 Home sweet Home

26 Activities 28

Chapter 2 Sport is my Life

36 Activities 38

Chapter 3 Hiking around Vancouver

46 Activities 48 Chapter 4 A Visit to Stanley Park and The

Vancouver Aquarium 58 Activities 60

Chapter 5 A Reason to Celebrate

70

Activities

72

Test Yourself

73

Syllabus

These icons indicate the parts of the story that are recorded start stop

Before you Read

Stop & Check 1 How much do you already know about Canada?

Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

French cities

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ice hockey Head northern capital west second-largest

northern part of North America.

Canada is in the .............................

Canada is the ............................................ country in the world.

The ............................................ of Canada is Ottawa.

The two official languages in Canada are ................................. and English.

More than 80% of Canadians live in ............................................

Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and ............................................ of State in Canada.

Vancouver is a seaport city on the ............................................... coast of Canada.

The most popular sport in Canada is .........................................

Vocabulary 2 Match the words that mean the same.

1 C glad 2 find out 3 great 4 truly 5 above all 6 be part of 7 simple

A easy B belong to C pleased D especially E really F discover G fantastic

14

Listening – Preliminary (PET) 2

3 Listen to the start of Chapter 1 and choose the correct answer – A, B or C.

Al is short for A 7 Allan.

B C

Albert.

Alex.

1 Vancouver is A not so big.

B on the Pacific coast.

C in the US. 2 Al has lived in his house A B C

since he was 15 years old. for over 15 years. for about 15 years.

3 Al’s parents A B C

are looking for a new house. would like to sell their house. have already bought a new house.

4 His friend Mike A B C

doesn’t live nearby anymore. lives two blocks away. lives round the corner.

5 Al keeps the clothes he needs A B C

in boxes. in a suitcase. in bags.

6 Their dog Pablo A B C

eats Emma’s gym bags. steals Al’s t-shirts. makes holes in Al’s socks.

15

Chapter 1

Home sweet Home 2

Call me AL. Everyone does.

It’s short for Allan.

I live in Vancouver, Canada, on the Pacific coast. In fact, Vancouver is quite large to start with.

My day starts early!

Vancouver is Canada’s third largest city.

16

For some strange reason my parents decided to sell our home - the house I grew up in for over 15 years. Now it’s sold. We have to move by the end of this month! Luckily, my parents have bought a new house around the corner two blocks* away.

That way I can keep my friends. Can you imagine? Your parents sell your home and you all move to another part of Canada like my friend Mike. I only see him on Instagram and Snapchat now. Of course, I knew it was going to happen. One day mom and dad started cleaning and putting all our things into boxes. Let me give you some advice: watch out* when your parents start putting all your things into boxes! To be honest, I don’t mind. Put everything into boxes and you can feel free!

Now I’ve got all the clothes I need in grandpa’s old suitcase.

It makes life simple. I can choose from two pairs of jeans, five t-shirts, and two sweatshirts* every day. My sister Emma has got three gym bags filled with her belongings. She hates it. On the other hand, Pablo, my dog loves this situation! This little dog of mine just loves stealing my socks and making holes in them. I’ve hardly got any left! I’m glad it’s summer. Who needs socks anyway?

3

So, actually, we live in Coquitlam. That’s a First Nations name. By ‘First Nations’ we mean the people who first lived in Canada. In Salish (the language of one of these groups of people) it means ‘red fish up the river’.

That red fish is salmon, returning to leave their eggs. block a part of the city with buildings surrounded by streets

watch out be careful

sweatshirt 17

Salmon start their lives in the river. Then they move to the ocean. In the end, they return to the rivers to leave their eggs and die. They move around a lot. The bears here love them.

Fresh Sockeye Salmon is really delicious! More about that later.

“Rise and shine*!” Mom wakes everyone up at 6:00 AM. It’s still dark outside. I jump under the shower quickly. Then I get dressed and run downstairs. Eggs are my idea of ‘fast food’.

I make my own breakfast every morning as you can see in the pictures. I usually fry two eggs with leftovers* like potatoes or sausages. Bacon, ham, cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes all make great breakfast food with eggs. Tea goes well with any meal, but in the wintertime, hot chocolate is the best.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” they say. rise and shine! get up!

18

leftovers food that is left from the evening before

My sister likes cereal or hot porridge* with fruit for breakfast. Everyone has to hurry to get to school and work on time. It’s a race to get out the door.

Mom enjoys coffee and a muffin*. Instead, Dad drives Emma to elementary school.

Children here in Canada go to this kind of school from 6 to 12 years old. Instead, I go to high school. Luckily, it’s nearby so I ride my bike there in time for the first class at 8:20 AM.

My school is nearby. porridge

muffin 19

So altogether, there are five members in our family: mom, dad, my younger sister Emma, and our little dog Pablo, a Chihuahua from Mexico. Dad named him after the famous Spanish painter because Pablo has many sides to his character. He has taught us all very well and we all listen to Pablo.

Pablo’s hobby is sleeping, while the rest of the family is busy working.

It’s fun to take a dog for a walk. People stop to talk and Pablo always discovers something new. Everyone has to do what he wants. Even on weekends! He likes his early morning and afternoon walks. The kitchen is his favorite place. They say that you shouldn’t feed your dog at the kitchen table so we all feed him secretly underneath the table. Now you know why he likes the kitchen so much!

20

“The world has changed,” says our school principal*.

Everybody listens to her in our gym.

“You are our future leaders,” she goes on, “with great opportunities and also with great difficulties.” Then she adds: “Here at King George we prepare you to follow your dreams, to do what you have to do and find great success.” We all look at each other. Our principal just used the word ‘great’ three times in two sentences. Great!

This is my school! Great, eh? school principal the head teacher 21

Our principal also tells everyone that our school is one of the best in the city. If you ask any of the other future leaders at one of the many good schools around town, they’ll also tell you that their school is one of the best. In fact, all of the good schools in and around Vancouver belong to the best. I guess they closed all the bad schools and now only the best are left.

In order to be a future leader, you have to take Math and English and then you choose your favorite subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Social Studies, French, Art, Music, Theatre, Physical Education*, and Band. If you join the school band, you can choose a good musical instrument to practice on. For all the other subjects you use your notebook computer.

Can you recognize me in the elegant suit and tie? physical education you do this lesson in the gym 22

As future leaders, we have to spend our mornings going from one classroom to the next every 55 minutes where they tell us what to do. Good leaders like us have to listen carefully, especially in class. I like my ‘Phys Ed’ class best.

Maybe being a future leader at one of the best schools in a great country is a lot of work, but I’m not worried. “The world has changed,” as our principal says. We used to live in a world of ‘good, better, best’ and ‘great, greater, greatest.’ Now things are simpler. We live in the best world. If you’re reading this, you too are a future leader at one of the greatest schools in a truly great country. We all do our part.

After the school assembly*, I’m sitting with Victor in the school canteen. Lunch lasts from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Everyone gets one hour but not all together because our lesson times are different. This term* my lunch break starts at 1:00 PM. There’s something different every day to go with the salad bar. Today is Lasagna day. The trick is to get a bit from the middle with all the meat. The canteen lady’s name is Rosabell.

If you say, “Hi, how are you?” you get a good-sized piece. If you say, “Hi, Rose, how are you?” – you get a great meal. Lasagna day is my favorite day at our school canteen – every ten days.

Victor gets the corner piece with all the burnt cheese, a bit hard to eat. He never notices anybody over the age of 17.

“Ready for Saturday’s game?” I ask Victor.

“I was born ready,” he says.

“We’re going to get to the finals this time,” I tell him. school assembly a meeting with all the students and teachers

term a part of the school year 23

“You know it,” he replies.

In the afternoon, I have to try and do all my homework. It never ends. Homework follows you around like a puppy dog.

School ends at 3:20 PM with plenty to prepare for the next day.

“Done” is better than “perfect,” Victor says.

Homework time again!

24

This is going to take me ages!

That sounds easy but sometimes even if you try hard to avoid it, some evenings still end with homework. Some subjects can give you strange dreams that night. With that happy thought, I’ll say good night.

25

After-reading Activities

Stop & Check - Preliminary (PET) 1 Choose A, B, C or D to complete the information from Chapter 1 about Al.

would Al (0) …………………… like to stay in his old house, but at (1) …………………… the new one isn’t far away and he’ll (2) …………………… be able to see his old friends. He doesn’t (3) …………………… living out of a suitcase at the moment.

(4) ……………………, his sister Emma hates it. He loves his little dog Pablo, and takes it (5) …………………… a walk every day.

Every morning, he has a shower (6) …………………… making his own breakfast. He likes a cooked breakfast, (7) …………………… fried eggs, while his sister prefers porridge. After breakfast, he cycles to school. His lessons (8) …………………… at 8:20 AM. and his (9) …………………… subject is Physical Education. He has lunch in the school (10) …………………… and goes home at 3:20 PM. Then he has to spend a lot of time doing his homework.

a would b should c ought d could 1 a most b least c last d latest 2 a yet b already c just d still 3 a bother b care c matter d mind 4 a Instead b Also c Even d After 5 a to b at c for d on 6 a then b while c as d before 7 a as b like c if d by 8 a start b doesn’t c starts d has start started 9 a preferred b favorite c popular d most 10 a restaurant b bar c canteen d classroom

26

Writing 2 Write your answers to these questions. What differences are there between you and Al?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

What time do you get up in the morning?

What do you have for breakfast?

Who makes your breakfast for you?

How do you go to school?

What time do your lessons begin and finish?

What’s your favorite school subject?

Where do you have lunch?

Before-reading Activity

Listening 4

3 Listen to the start of Chapter 2 and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

T F

7 Al is very keen on sport and would like to work in this field one day.

1 There were the Olympic Games in Vancouver in

the summer of 2010.

2 The Canadian snowboarding teams did really

well at the Olympic Games.

3 There isn’t much to do in winter so it’s quite

boring.

4 The sport Lacrosse arrived in Canada with the

Europeans when they went to live there.

5 The first Lacrosse Club was started by a dentist.

6 A Canadian teacher went to England to play basketball.

27

After-reading Activities

Stop & Check 1 Complete the text about Chapter 5 with the correct words. Choose A, B, C or D.

says Al (0) …………………… that he really likes Halloween and that (1) …………………… his neighbors get excited about it too.

The streets are always full of people dressed (2) …………………… in strange costumes and (3) …………………… has a good time, both young and old people. Al’s friends decide to (4) …………………… him a surprise for his birthday and they organize a treasure hunt. At (5) …………………… Al can’t understand the clues, then he (6) …………………… that they have (7) …………………… a car for the day. He’s so happy because he (8) …………………… just passed his driving test, so now he (9) …………………… take his friends for a nice long drive (10) …………………… the place where he lives is really big, so there’s lots to see.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A tells A some A on A everybody A do A last A realizes A lent A was A can A then

B speaks C says B all C none B under C down B somebody C nobody B make C give B first C once B knows C wants B bought C rented B would C will B must C does B as C so

70

D talks D few D up D anybody D go D now D notices D collected D has D might D while

Writing 2 In Chapter 5, Al talks about getting his driving licence.

Write an email to Al. In your email you should:

- -

-

tell him what age you can drive in your country explain what kind of tests people must do to get their driving licence say if you can drive or if you would like to learn.

Write 35-45 words

Vocabulary 3 Match the words or expressions that mean the same.

A difficult 1 close 2 allow 3 great fun 4 it doesn’t matter 5 family members 6 very rarely 7 explore 8 smart

A hard B clever C discover D almost never E enjoyable F near G permit H it isn’t important I relatives

Speaking / Writing 4 Discuss the following questions with a partner and write your answers.

1 Do you like Al’s way of life in Canada? Why/Why not?

2 What sports and animals are there in Canada that are different from the ones in your country?

3 Which part of the story did you find most interesting?

4 After reading this story, would you like to spend some time with Al and his friends? Why/Why not?

71

Test Yourself How much can you remember about Al? Choose A, B or C to complete the sentences.

1 Al’s parents have bought a new house A abroad.

B in the next town.

C two blocks away.

2 Pablo is Al’s A dog.

B friend.

C dad.

3 Al wakes up at A 8 AM. B 7:30 AM. C 6 AM. 4 How does Al get to school?

A On foot.

B By bike.

C By car.

5 Al’s favorite subject at school is A biology.

B art.

C physical education.

6 When he’s older, he’d like to work A in a school. B in sport.

C in a factory.

7 Al has lunch with his family and friends A on top of B at the beach.

C at home. a mountain.

8 Al thinks his childhood was A difficult.

B simpler than now.

C boring.

9 Tourists go to Stanley Park most of all to see A the ships.

B the beaches.

C the Totem Poles.

10 At Halloween, Al A watches the B makes candy.

C eats apple fireworks. pie.

11 For his birthday, Al’s friends A buy him B take him to a C rent a car. a dog. restaurant.

12 Al thinks people don’t pass their driving test because A they don’t B the exam is difficult. C they don’t go practice to a driving enough. school.

72

Syllabus Topics Family and friends Daily routine Nature Hobbies Dreams Food Customs Verb Tenses Present Simple / Continuous Past Simple / Continuous Present Perfect Past Perfect Future with going to and will Would like Modal verbs: can, could, may, have to, must, should used to (past habits) present and past simple passive forms Adjectives Comparative and superlative forms

Te e n

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