Active Skills for Reading Intro (Unit 6: Comparing Cultures)


CHAPTER 2 Homestay Diary

My Homestay Diary

June 13

It's my first week in the United States and my first time in another country. So much is new and unusual (to me). It's great to be here. I hope I do well!

June 25

I live with an American host family: Valerie and Tim and their daughter, Megan. They're really nice. Every day I learn something new. For example, this morning Valerie said, "Tim and I work late, and I can't cook tonight. Help yourself to anything for dinner."

I didn't understand Valerie. I thought she wanted help with dinner. So I bought takeout1 for everyone. When Valerie came home, she said, "Daniela, why did you buy food? We have a lot." I explained. She said, "Help yourself means eat anything you want." I was confused! We laughed and ate the Chinese food anyway.

July 1

My best friend from Brazil called today. I was really happy to talk to her, but after, I felt kind of down. Everything here is so different from home-the food, the people, even the weather (It gets cold here even in the summer sometimes!).

July 5

Yesterday was Independence Day. It's a big holiday here. My host family had a barbecue in their yard2 Their friends and neighbors came. Everyone was very friendly and warm. Later, I went with some friends from school to watch the fireworks. Then we went dancing. It was fun!

1 Takeout is food you get at a restaurant and take home to eat.
2 A yard is an open area in front of or behind a house.

Vocabulary Comprehension - Definitions

A. Match each word with its definition. The words in bold are from the passage.

1. confused a. kind, friendly
2. down b. e.g., sunny, cold, raining
3. holiday c. not common, different
4. kind of d. unsure about something
5. neighbors e. the people who live near you
6. unusual f. sad
7. warm g. a little
8. weather h. a special day when there is no work

B. Complete the sentences with words in bold from A.

  1. I read his letter twice, but I'm still . I don't understand it.
  2. I need a coffee. I feel tired.
  3. Next Monday is a · There is no school.
  4. In winter, the is usually cold. But this year, December and January were very warm. That's .

How did your classmates benefit?

Talk with two or three members of your class and ask them how the reading skill in this chapter helped them. How will they use the skill in their reading outside of the classroom? When we make connections between new things we learn and ways we can use them outside of the class, our reading improves.
Chapter - 2: Reading Comprehension - Check Your Understanding Chapter - 2: Vocabulary Skill - The Prefix Un-

Bình luận


Các task khác trong bài học