9 May 2017 the star/step Up
year 5 - unit 6: lessons in stories
the fun page WHAT is an idiom? An idiom is a group of words which has a special meaning. Colour idioms are often used to describe people and things in our daily conversation. Read the following story. Spot the use of three colour idioms in the story:
The Raven and the Swan A Raven, which you know is as black as coal, was envious of the Swan, because her feathers were as white as snow. The foolish bird got the idea that if he lived like the Swan, swimming and diving all day long and eating the weeds and plants that grow in the water, his feathers would turn white like the Swan’s. So he left his home in the woods and fields and flew down to live on the lakes and in the marshes. But though he washed and washed all day long, almost drowning himself at it, his feathers remained as black as night. And as the water weeds he ate did not agree with him, he got thinner and thinner, and at last he died.
Here are some sentences that use colour idioms. Discuss their meanings with your teacher and write them in the space provided. 1. He passed his exams with flying colours! ______________________________ 2. The plants your father grows look lush and healthy. Your father has green fingers. ______________________________ 3. Stop comparing your children. Your younger son has become a green-eyed monster because he feels less talented than his older brother. ______________________________ 4. When I’m feeling blue, all I have to do is to take a look at my dog. ______________________________ 5. How come you look as white as a sheet? ______________________________ Fill in the blank spaces with the correct idioms from above. My sister, Elsa, sat for her PT3 examination last year. She told my parents that the examination was quite difficult. So throughout the school holidays, she was (1) ____________________ as she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. On Dec 19, she arrived early in school to get her results. Her face was (2) ____________________ because she was nervous. But lo and behold, when Elsa received her result slip, she was over the moon! She had done extremely well! She passed with (3) ____________________. My parents were overjoyed and gave Elsa a handsome reward for doing well. As you can imagine, I was jealous of Elsa and became a (4) ____________________. Elsa was always better at everything! She even has (5) ____________________ when it came to tending to the garden. As for me, my plants just withered away. But Mother was very encouraging. She told me that everyone has special talents. I am still young and my talents would show soon enough.
Answers: 1, feeling blue 2. as white as a sheet 3. with flying colours 4. green-eyed monster 5. green fingers
10
tuesday
Answers: 1. good grades or results 2. good at gardening 3. very jealous 4. feeling sad 5. looking pale or looking afraid
page
Answers: black as coal / white as snow / black as night
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