Reading exercise to learn new vocabulary (intermediate students)


To read STORY 1, click HERE.

I go to college in Boston, but my parents now live in Florida. During the summer vacation, I went to visit them. I set out from downtown Boston by bus on Tuesday afternoon. Thursday night, I got off the bus in Florida. I had a lot of trouble falling asleep on the bus, so I was exhausted by the time I arrived at my parents' house. In retrospect, I probably should have just taken a plane to Florida. 
After I was in Florida for a few days, I was well rested again. However, I soon got bored. My friends were all in Boston. I decided to get a job. I came across an advertisement for a job at a local restaurant. I filled out an application and got hired right away. 
On the first day of work, I got up early and got ready. I didn't have to dress up for work, but I did have to wear a uniform. The restaurant made everyone wear a formal white shirt and black shorts. The staff was composed of high school and college students.
At first, there were no customers, but around noon, the restaurant got crowded. I waited on customers and helped clean off tables. On the whole, it was pretty easy work. It wasn't too busy but it wasn't too slow either.
As the lunch crowd started to leave, I stopped at a table where an old man and an old woman were sitting. As I was picking up their empty plates, the old man asked me, "Are you from the north?"
I said, "Yes, sir. I'm from Boston. I guess you could tell right away I was from the north, because of the way I speak." "Oh no," the old woman said. "We have never seen legs as white as yours before."

VOCABULARY

be composed of = comprise; be made of
The class was composed of students from the US, Canada, and England.
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

clean off = clear; take everything off
You should clean off your desk. It's very dirty.
He cleaned off the shelf so that his new roommate could use it.

come across = find by chance
I came across some old photographs at my parent's house.
She came across her favorite singer's latest album at the record store.

dress up = wear fancy clothes for a special occasion
Many children dress up as ghosts and monsters on Halloween.
Do I need to dress up for dinner at your parent's house?

fall asleep = go to sleep
Don't fall asleep when you are driving!
He falls asleep in class almost every day.

fill out = write all of the information needed on a form or application
Everyone has to fill out a customs form when they enter a country.
Can you help me fill out this farm? I don't understand it.

in retrospect = looking back at the past
In retrospect, I should have studied harder in high school.
You can see all of your past mistakes easily in retrospect.

on the whole = in general; all things considered
On the whole, I enjoyed my time in the United States.
Although there were some slow parts, on the whole, the movie was good.

set out = leave; begin a journey
He set out for the market early in the morning.
She packed everything in her car and set out for California.

wait on =serve someone in a restaurant
The man who waited on us last night had a French accent.
How many tables can you wait on at the same time?

PRACTICE

1. _____________, the university has a very good library and computer center.
a. Come across
b. In retrospect
c. On the whole

2. At first, the band ___________ a keyboard player, a guitarist, and a singer, but they added a drummer and bassist later.
a. was composed of
b. dressed up
c. waited on

3. He could see ____________ that he should never have told her about his family.
a. be composed of
b. fill out
c. in retrospect

4. Here is the menu. Someone will be here to _____________ you in a few minutes.
a. come across
b. set out
c. wait on

5. I planned to do my homework after the movie last night, but I ____________ when I got home.
a. cleaned off
b. fell asleep
c. set out

6. Let's ___________ for our anniversary and go to an expensive restaurant.
a. clean off
b. dress up
c. fill out

7. Please ___________ the table because it is almost time to eat dinner.
a. clean off
b. fill out
c. set out

8. She ____________ the registration form and gave it to the secretary.
a. filled out
b. on the whole
c. waited on

9. Where did you ___________ this interesting painting?
a. be composed of
b. come across
c. fall asleep

10. We ____________ for my parent's house very early, but didn't arrive until after midnight.
a. dressed up
b. fell asleep
c. set out


ANSWER KEYS
1C - 2A - 3C - 4C - 5B - 6B - 7A - 8A - 9B - 10C

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