Reading a Novel

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Reading a Novel

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

lead character

Noun

liːd ˈkærəktər

the main character in a movie, book, etc.

The lead character of that movie really impressed me with everything he did for his loved ones.

fascinate

Verb

ˈfæsəˌneɪt

to attract or interest someone a lot

Everything seems to fascinate our new kitten.

The singer's opening act fascinated the audience of thousands.

My sister is fascinated with books. She likes different genres, such as romance, tragedy or even mythology.

overwhelm

Verb

ˌoʊvərˈhwɛlm

to have a strong emotional effect on someone

After the death of his mother, he became overwhelmed by grief.

He is overwhelmed by the stress of his job.

He is overwhelmed by the amount of work he has.

She is overwhelmed because of the marriage proposal. She never thought she would experience something like that in her life.

curious

Adjective

ˈkjʊriːəs

wanting to learn or know more about something

Cats are well-known for their curious personalities.

Babies are curious about everything.

If you are curious, you will learn many things in life.

I'm just curious how you managed to finish the report on time.

We are all curious about the new manager.

I am really curious about this controversial movie people are talking about these days.

bachelor

Noun

ˈbætʃələr

a man who is not married

He is the most eligible bachelor in Seattle, so everyone wants to know him.

He enjoys his status as a bachelor.

spoiler

Noun

ˈspɔɪlər

information about the things that happen in a movie, book, etc. which may spoil someone's enjoyment if they have not already seen/read it

I really don't like to receive spoilers. They always ruin the surprise when I am reading a book.

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

Hannah bumps into Grace while she is walking towards the cafeteria.
	Hannah Hi, Grace. It’s nice to see you. How have you been?
	Grace Everything’s going well. I am actually really into a novel that I am reading these days. I mean, I am extremely attached to it. I feel as though I am the lead character.
	Hannah You must be really crazy about it. Just seeing your facial expressions now, I can see how fascinated you are with it. So, what’s the title of the novel? Maybe I would like to read it, too.
	Grace Well, I don’t know exactly what the title of the book is. I found it in my grandmother’s room, and it was so old that the front page and both covers were missing. So, I couldn’t read the title. But I feel overwhelmed with each page I read.
	Hannah Well, what is it about? Is it a love story, a tragedy, or what? I am so curious.
	Grace Well, it’s about a bachelor who had never been in a serious relationship. He thought he was incapable of love until he met this simple and kind girl. She rejected him at first, but eventually they fell in love. The way that he tries to reach out to her really made my heart melt.
	Hannah Wait, don’t give me too many spoilers. It sounds like a really nice story. I want to read it.

Check your understanding:

What is Grace reading?

What is the story about?

What is the title of the book?

Exercise 3

Listening Comprehension

Listen to your tutor read the text then choose the correct answers to the questions.

Why did Carol call Paul?

A.
She called him because she wanted to ask him a question about a book he was reading.
B.
Carol wanted to ask Paul if he could return her library card.

Why did Paul hold on to Carol's card for so long?

A.
Paul forgot Carol's card was in his possession.
B.
He got hooked on a series of books, so he had to read all of them.

What were the books Paul was reading about?

A.
The books were about a boy who got lost and never found his parents.
B.
They were about a boy who had a very difficult childhood.

How did Carol react when Paul didn’t want to spoil the books because she might like them?

A.
Carol told him that she wouldn’t mind hearing a bit more about the books.
B.
She smiled and told Paul that she had already read the Harry Potter books.

Exercise 4

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your tutor.

Situation

You run into a close friend.
Tell him/her about an amazing book that you recently read.
Your teacher will play the role of your friend.

Exercise 5

Discussion

Do you enjoy reading novels? Why? Why not?

What types of books do you usually read?

What kinds of stories are your favorites?

Do you have a favorite book character? If so, who is it?

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it? Why or why not?