Example Matching (how it usually works)

If phrases 1–6 are something like:

1. You must wear a uniform → a (strong obligation)
2. You mustn’t smoke here → b (prohibition)
3. You don’t have to come → c (no obligation)
4. I had to study yesterday → d (past obligation)
5. I will have to work tomorrow → e (future obligation)
6. You should see a doctor → f (advice)

obligationno obligationprohibitionpast / future obligationadvice

2)

He was reliable and punctual. When he was working in the burger van, he had to work on time. He also had to be polite to the customers. However, the job didn’t have to take much responsibility as his boss dealt with the difficult situations.

He had to get up early because the van opened at 11 am. When he wanted to, he didn’t have to take days off.

Now that he has changed to a new job, things are different. Although he likes it, it affects his life because it is a very high-pressure job, so he has to work to tight deadlines. However, he doesn’t have to work outside, which is nice.

3)

Communication skills
→ I acquired this skill at school by talking to classmates and teachers. Teamwork
→ I learned this by working on group projects. Time management
→ I developed this skill by doing my homework on time. Problem-solving
→ I got this skill by solving difficult tasks and exercises. Responsibility
→ I learned this by completing my duties at school and at home. Computer skills
→ I acquired this by using a computer for studying.

I found some old newspapers while I was tidying up the attic recently.
“while” = two actions happening at the same time

I almost fell asleep during the meeting this afternoon.
“during” + noun (“the meeting”)

The US belonged to the UK until 1776, when it gained independence.
“until” = up to a point in time

I was looking for my phone. Meanwhile, my wife had found it and was looking for me.
“meanwhile” = at the same time, but different action

We called the police as soon as we discovered the house had been robbed.
“as soon as” = immediately after something

We spent ages looking for the shop and by the time we found it, it was closed.
“by the time” = something already happened before another moment

There were many important discoveries during the 1800s.
“during” + period of time

Luke and I met while we were working together in a café.
“while” = same time actions

2.

Although it’s very popular nowadays, during the 1950s pasta was an unusual meal in the UK. Not many British people had been to Italy, and very few people knew how pasta was made. So, for April Fool’s Day in 1957, the BBC news programme Panorama decided to make a story about spaghetti growing on trees.

During the programme, viewers were told that the harvest that year was particularly good because of the weather. And while the presenter explained how spaghetti was grown, there was a film of workers in the background cutting the spaghetti from the trees.

As soon as the programme had been broadcast, the BBC started receiving phone calls from people who wanted to grow their own spaghetti. Meanwhile, the BBC continued the joke by instructing anyone who wanted to grow a spaghetti tree to “place a piece of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce.”

3.

I woke up three times during the night.

Sorry I didn’t speak to you earlier, but I phoned you as soon as I could.

We were very late and the party had finished by the time we got there.

We walked all day until it got dark, and then we went home.

We just couldn’t find the plane tickets. We looked everywhere. Meanwhile, the taxi to the airport was waiting for us outside.

The Worst Day of My Life

One of the worst days of my life was the day when I broke my arm. At first, it seemed like a normal day, and I didn’t think anything bad would happen. I was playing and having a good time, but suddenly an accident happened.

At one moment I fell and felt a very strong pain in my arm. At first I didn’t understand what had happened, but the pain became stronger and stronger. When they took me to the doctor, it turned out that my arm was broken. At that moment I felt very scared and sad.

Then the doctors put a cast on my arm, and for a long time I couldn’t move it normally. Those days were very difficult because even simple things were hard to do. But this experience taught me to be more careful and to appreciate my health.

Although that day was very painful and sad, everything got better with time, and now I remember it as an experience that made me stronger.