Practising English

This is the complete version of the B2-level story, The Harmonica Players. I include here for you a B2 vocabulary list of words and expressions to listen for in the story:
Practising English podcast 322...
B2 Words and expressions in the story
1. couldn't face
Story sentence to listen for: Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower. 
Definition: To feel unable or unwilling to do something because you do not want to deal with it. 
2. All of a sudden
Story sentence to listen for: All of a sudden , the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on at once. 
Definition: Very quickly and unexpectedly. 
3. get hold of
Story sentence to listen for: Work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of . 
Definition: To find or obtain something that you need or want. 
4. From time to time
Story sentence to listen for: From time to time , he gave harmonica lessons online… 
Definition: Sometimes, but not regularly. 
5. kept his eye out for
Story sentence to listen for: Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do. 
Definition: To watch carefully for something because you hope to find or see it. 
6. Every once in a while
Story sentence to listen for: Every once in a while , he’d found work doing what he really loved. 
Definition: Sometimes, but not often. 
7. a chance of a lifetime
Story sentence to listen for: It was a chance of a lifetime . 
Definition: A very special opportunity that is unlikely to happen again. 
8. dropped out of
Story sentence to listen for: He dropped out of college. 
Definition: To leave a school, college or course before you have finished it. 
9. make ends meet
Story sentence to listen for: He was struggling to make ends meet . 
Definition: To have just enough money to pay for the things you need. 
10. had a strong dislike of
Story sentence to listen for: Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones. 
Definition: To strongly dislike someone or something. 
11. behind bars
Story sentence to listen for: They should be behind bars . 
Definition: In prison. 
12. gazed out of
Story sentence to listen for: She gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow. 
Definition: Looked at something for a long time, often without moving your eyes. 
13. foreigners
Story sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .' 
Definition: People who come from a different country. 
14. native English
Story sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .' 
Definition: Describes people who have English as their first language. 
15. In contrast to
Story sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people. 
Definition: Used to show how one thing is different from another. 
16. primarily
Story sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people. 
Definition: Mainly or mostly. 
17. respectable
Story sentence to listen for: 'All respectable , traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say.' 
Definition: Considered to be good, honest and acceptable by most people. 
18. upbringing
Story sentence to listen for: 'His upbringing had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan cities.' 
Definition: The way a person is treated and taught by their parents while they are growing up. 
19. distrusted
Story sentence to listen for: 'He distrusted foreigners in his country, in general.' 
Definition: Did not trust someone because you believed they might not be honest or reliable. 
20. take it for granted
Story sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .' 
Definition: To believe that something will always be there or happen, without thinking about it. 
21. decency and fair play
Story sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .' 
Definition: Decency means behaving in a good and honest way. Fair play means treating people fairly and following accepted rules. 
22. deceit and dishonesty
Story sentence to listen for: 'Unfortunately, the deceit and dishonesty , which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name.' 
Definition: Deceit means trying to make someone believe something that is not true. Dishonesty means not being honest or truthful. 
23. discourage
Story sentence to listen for: 'The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would discourage others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel.' 
Definition: To make someone less willing to do something. 
24. giving the country a bad name
Story sentence to listen for: 'Immigrants giving the country a bad name .' 
Definition: Making other people have a bad opinion of a country because of someone's actions. 
Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm
My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9
Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i
For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv
Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Comprension questions and vocabulary tasks
At my website, you can also find B1 and B2 vocabulary tasks to do for this story:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-321.htm
Comprehension questions
1) Who said he didn't want to be rescued and why?
2) What is the bridge of a ship, and why did the scientists and naval officers all go there?
3) Where was the alien ship when the ship's crew first detected it?
4) Why did Pierre Lafayette say "Merde!" at the end of the story?
Answers:
1) Who said he didn't want to be rescued and why?
‘Rescue mission!’ the admiral suddenly shouted and he looked irritated. ‘Who are they gonna rescue? I don’t need rescuing, thank you very much! I have a nice home and beautiful family right here on Honolulu Island. 
2) What is the bridge of a ship, and why did the scientists and naval officers all go there?
They hurried along the deck and in through a door that led to the bridge* - the highest part of the ship and the best place to get an all-round view of the surrounding darkening sea and sky.
3) Where was the alien ship when the ship's crew first detected it?
‘Sonar?’ interrupted Pierre. ‘Do you mean it’s under the water?’ The captain ignored him.
‘Estimated time of arrival?’
‘Four minutes, Captain! It’s incredible! There’s nothing that can travel that speed under water! I… I don’t get it!’
4) Why did Pierre Lafayette say "Merde!" at the end of the story?
‘Merde!’ said Pierre ('merde' is a swaer word in French) to anyone who might be listening to him. ‘They want nothing to do with us!’
(The alien spaceship had come to rescue the dolphins and whales of the ocean, and was not interested in making contact with the humans!)
Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm
My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9
Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i
For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv
Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Hello, and welcome to Practising English! Mike Bilbrough is on his summer holiday, so we'd like to offer a B1 story recorded way back in 2022. It's called Bully, and it's taken from Mike Bilbrough's book for preparing for the Cambridge Preliminary exam: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder". This week we're going to offer you the complete transcript of the story with B1 words highlighted. Enjoy!
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-320.htm
Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm
My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9
Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i
For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv
Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Mike Bilbrough is taking his summer holiday at the moment. Meanwhile, we'd like to offer you a story recorded last year in two parts as one complete story for you to listen to, learn from and enjoy. You can follow the story transcript and see the B2 language in bold type at Mike's website at www.practisingenglish.com podcast-319.htm. Enjoy! 
Here is the transcript with B2 vocabulary shown in biold type: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-319.htm
Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm
My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9
Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i
For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv
Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

These are the B1 phrases we'll study today:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-318.htm
1. Attempt
Definition: To try to do something, especially something difficult. (Can be used as a verb or a noun).

Example 1: She will attempt to pass her driving test for the second time tomorrow.

2. Welcome
Definition (Noun): The way you greet someone when they arrive.
Definition (Verb): To greet someone in a polite and friendly way when they arrive.

Example 1 (Noun): The hotel staff gave us a very warm welcome when we checked in.
Example 2 (Verb): Our neighbours always welcome us into their home with a cup of tea.

3. In charge
Definition: Having the responsibility or control over something or a group of people.

Example 1: Who is in charge of organising the office party this year?
Example 2: While the manager is on vacation, Sarah is in charge of the store.

4. Annoyed / Annoy
Definition (Annoyed - Adjective): Feeling a little bit angry or impatient.

Definition (Annoy - Transitive Verb): To make someone feel slightly angry or impatient.

Example 1 (Annoyed): I was very annoyed because the train was thirty minutes late.

Example 2 (Annoy): Loud music late at night really annoys the people living next door.

5. Clever / Bright / Brilliant / Smart
Definition: Words used to describe someone who is intelligent, learns quickly, or handles situations well. (Note: "Brilliant" can also mean exceptionally smart or wonderful).

Example 1: He is a very bright student who always gets the best grades in science.

Example 2: She came up with a clever solution to fix the broken computer.

6. Narrow / Wide / Broad
Definition (Narrow): Measuring a short distance from one side to the other; not wide.

Definition (Wide & Broad): Measuring a large distance from one side to the other. (We often use "wide" for physical spaces like roads, and "broad" for larger concepts like shoulders, smiles, or ideas).

Example 1 (Narrow): The old town has very narrow streets, so cars cannot drive through them easily.

Example 2 (Wide / Broad): The river is so wide that you cannot see the people on the other side. / He had a broad smile on his face when he won the prize.
Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm
My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9
Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i
For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv
Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...