Vocabulary + Reading Comprehension
They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense. What does involved and nonsense mean?
to participate
foolish or unacceptable behavior
It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive -- no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps or signs. Put the following sentence into the simple past.
It now read the sign that said Prive Drive--no, looked at the sign; cats didn't read maps or signs.
As he pulled into the driveway of number four, the first thing he saw...What kind of pronoun is he?
subject
Could all this have anything to do with ___ Potters?
the
Nasty, common name, if you ask me." "Oh, yes," said Mr. Dursley, his heart sinking horribly. What does this idiom mean?
despair, very sad
Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors.
What kind of neck does Mrs. Dursley have?
What does craning mean?
Mr. Dursley, however, had a perfectly normal, owl-free morning. He yelled at five different people. He made several important telephone calls and shouted a bit more. Put the following paragraph into the present continuous.
Mr. Dursley, however, is having a perfectly normal, owl-free morning. He is yelling at five different people. He is making several important telephone calls and is shouting a bit more.
...and it didn't improve his mood. What kind of pronoun is his?
possessive adjective
While Mrs. Dursley was in ____ bathroom, Mr. Dursley crept to ____ bedroom window and peered down into ____ front garden.
the, the, the
Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into the house. What does this idiom mean?
refocus, regain control
Mr. Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work, and Mrs. Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high chair. None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window. What do the italicized words mean?
hum-make continuous sound with mouth
gossip-talk about other people, often untrue things
wrestle-struggle
tawny-brownish-orangish
Mr. Dursley was enraged to see that a couple of them weren't young at all; why, that man had to be older than he was, and wearing an emerald-green cloak! The nerve of him! But then it struck Mr. Dursley that this was probably some silly stunt -- these people were obviously collecting for something... yes, that would be it. Put this sentence into the simple present.
Mr. Dursley is enraged to see that a couple of them aren't young at all: why, that man has to be older he is, and wears an emerald-green cloak! The nerve of him! But then it strikes Mr. Dursley that this is probably some silly stunt--these people are obviously collecting for something...yes, that is it.
It just gave him a stern look. What kind of pronoun is it and him?
It-subject
him-object
Mr. Dursley was the director of ____firm called Grunnings, which made drills. He was _____ big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have ____ very large mustache.
a, a, a
Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind. What does this idiom mean?
to stop thinking about
At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase, pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley good-bye but missed, because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls. "Little tyke," chortled Mr. Dursley as he left the house. He got into his car and backed out of number four's drive. What do the italicized words mean? What does "He got into his car and backed out of number four's drive" mean?
peck-kiss
tantrum-fit, uncontrolled outburst of anger
chortle-laugh
He reversed his car out of the driveway.
For a second, Mr. Dursley didn't realize what he had seen -- then he jerked his head around to look again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn't a map in sight. Put the sentence into the present perfect.
For a second, Mr. Dursley hasn't realized what he has seen--then he has jerked his head around to look again. There has been a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there hasn't been a map in sight.
The Potters knew very well what he and Petunia thought about them and their kind.... He couldn't see how he and Petunia could get mixed up in anything that might be going on -- he yawned and turned over -- it couldn't affect them....Label all of the pronouns in this sentence?
he-subject
them-object
their-possessive adjective
He-subject
he-subject
he-subject
it-subject
them-object
And ____ old man hugged ____ Mr. Dursley around ___ middle and walked off.
the, ---, the
Mr. Dursley lay awake, turning it all over in his mind. What does this idiom mean?
can't stop thinking about, ruminating
Mr. Dursley couldn't bear people who dressed in funny clothes -- the getups you saw on young people! He supposed this was some stupid new fashion. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and his eyes fell on a huddle of these weirdos standing quite close by. They were whispering excitedly together. What do the italicized words mean?
bear-stand, endure, put up with
getups-outfits
suppose-assume
drum-tap
steering wheel-a wheel used for driving
huddle-group of people who are close together
weirdos-strange people
excitedly-in an excited way
He didn't see the owls swooping past in broad daylight, though people down in the street did; they pointed and gazed open- mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead. Put the sentence into the past continuous.
He wasn't seeing the owls that were swooping past in broad daylight, though people down in the street were seeing them; they were pointing and gazing open-mouthed as owl after owl was speeding overhead.
Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into the house. What kind of pronoun is himself?
reflexive
He was sure it was ___ same one; it had ___ same markings around its eyes. "Shoo!" said Mr. Dursley loudly. ___ cat didn't move. It just gave him ___ stern look. Was this ___ normal cat behavior? Mr. Dursley wondered. Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into ___ house.
the, the, The, a, ---, the
But that's no reason to lose our heads. What does this idiom mean?
Be smart, don't be stupid