Problem-Solving
You check your bank account and notice a charge you don’t recognize. What steps should you take?
You should contact your bank or freeze/cancel your card.
The classroom is unusually quiet. Students are looking at their desks, and the teacher is handing out papers slowly. What might be happening?
The students are about to take an exam.
Maya had two very different lives. During the week, she lived in a busy city and worked as an architect, designing tall buildings and rushing to meet deadlines. But on weekends, she went to a quiet lake where she stayed in a small cabin and enjoyed the peaceful nature. At first, she thought she had to choose one life or the other. Then one day, while sitting by the lake and working on a design, she got an idea. She mixed the calm shapes of nature with her modern building style. Her new design turned out better than ever. That’s when Maya realized she didn’t have to choose—she could enjoy both her busy city job and her peaceful time at the lake. She had found the best of both worlds.
Idiom: Best of both worlds.
Meaning: An ideal situation where someone enjoys two opportunities.
Your phone starts alarming and notifies you that there is a tornado warning in the area. What should you do?
Go to the basement, stay away from windows, take cover.
An alarm goes off in the building, and students calmly line up and walk outside. What kind of drill is this likely to be?
A fire drill.
Jordan and his sister Mia were planning their weekend, but they did not see eye to eye. Jordan wanted to go to the park and play soccer, while Mia preferred staying home to watch movies. They both tried to explain why their idea was better, but neither of them wanted to change their mind. Finally, their mom suggested a compromise: they could go to the park in the morning and watch a movie in the afternoon. Even though Jordan and Mia didn’t always see eye to eye, they learned that listening and working together could help them solve their disagreements.
Idiom: see eye to eye
Meaning: to agree on something
You are in a public place and see someone drop their wallet. What should you do?
You should let them know. You could pick it up for them and track them down. If they are too far away, you could turn it into a front desk.
Your phone goes off with a loud alert even though no alarm was set. What is a possible explanation?
There is an emergency and you are being notified (Amber Alert, tornado, etc).
On the first day at his new school, Liam felt nervous because he didn’t know anyone in his class. When the teacher assigned a group activity, he was paired with two classmates, but at first no one spoke. The silence made Liam uncomfortable. Finally, one student smiled and said, “I’ll break the ice—what’s your favorite hobby?” Liam relaxed and shared that he liked playing soccer, and soon everyone was talking. By the end, they were laughing, and Liam realized that breaking the ice can help people feel comfortable.
Idiom: break the ice
Meaning: to say or do something to make people feel less shy and start talking.
You are writing a paper and find a great paragraph online. You want to use it. What is the right thing to do?
Cite the paragraph and put it into your own words.
A research group submits a paper, but one section has no citations while the rest are heavily referenced. What could that suggest about that section?
It may be plagiarized, poorly researched or incomplete, or it could be the groups original work.
On Friday, the class was planning a surprise party for their teacher. Ava knew all the details and was very excited, but she was also supposed to keep it a secret. During lunch, her friend asked why everyone had been staying after school. Ava almost spilled the beans, but she stopped herself just in time. Instead, she smiled and said it was just a group project. Later that day, she felt proud of herself for not spilling the beans and ruining the surprise.
Idiom: spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal a secret
Vanessa is in a new place and her phone loses service. She needs to find her way. What could she do?
She could look for signs, maps, or landmarks to help guide her. She could ask someone nearby for directions or go into a store or building for help. She could also try to find a place with Wi-Fi so you can use your phone again.
During a presentation, one speaker reads directly from slides while others speak freely. What could that suggest about the speaker's understanding of the topic?
They don't understand the topic well or did not prepare enough for the presentation.
Maya stood in front of her class, ready to give her presentation, but suddenly her mind went blank. “The capital of France is… um…” she said, frowning. She knew the answer but couldn’t say it. “It’s on the tip of my tongue,” she said nervously. After taking a deep breath, she finally remembered. “Paris!” she said with a smile, and her class clapped.
Meaning: you know something, but you cannot remember it right at that moment.