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6

Unit 6: Great achievers
Past simple

Select a unit

  1. 1Nice to meet you!
  2. 2What to wear
  3. 3Like this, like that
  4. 4The daily grind
  5. 5Christmas every day
  6. 6Great achievers
  7. 7The Titanic
  8. 8Travel
  9. 9The big wedding
  10. 10Sunny's job hunt
  11. 11The bucket list
  12. 12Moving and migration
  13. 13Welcome to BBC Broadcasting House
  14. 14New Year, New Project
  15. 15From Handel to Hendrix
  16. 16What's the weather like?
  17. 17The Digital Revolution
  18. 18A detective story
  19. 19A place to live
  20. 20The Cult of Celebrity
  21. 21Welcome to your new job
  22. 22Beyond the planets
  23. 23Great expectations!
  24. 24Eco-tourism
  25. 25Moving house
  26. 26It must be love
  27. 27Job hunting success... and failure
  28. 28Speeding into the future
  29. 29Lost arts
  30. 30Tales of survival

Session 1

Welcome to Unit 6! You're going to meet lots of interesting and exciting people - and learn about the past simple tense. In Session 1, Emma does a pub quiz about some great achievers. Join her team and see if you know the answers. Then, listen to the after-quiz conversation and hear examples of the past simple tense in action.

 

Wayiitiwwan marii boqonnaa kana keessaa

12345

Wayitii marii qabxii 1

0 / 16

  • 0 / 6
    Activity 1
  • 0 / 10
    Activity 2
  • 0 / 0
    Activity 3
  1. Activity 1
  2. Activity 2
  3. Activity 3

Activity 2

How did you do?

Now the quiz is over, let's eavesdrop on another team discussing the quiz. Listen out for any past simple verbs they use.

Sagalee kana dhaggeefadhuu shaakala kana xumuri

Barreeffama agarsiisiBarreeffama dhoksi

Man
Yes, so what did you think of that quiz?

Man 2
It was quite easy.

Woman
Easy? I didn't like it - I found it hard – it was all about sport! Did you know that Vanessa Mae competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics?

Man 2
No, I didn’t. But I knew that Usain Bolt won the hundred metres in 2012.

Woman
I think everybody knows that one.

Man
Never mind, do you know what score we got?

Man 2
I'm not sure but I would be surprised if we won – look, that team finished first. They looked very confident during the questions.

(Everyone chats)

Man
Sshh, look we've got the scores now… look! We scored the highest so I think we got the top prize!

Man 2
No way! Brilliant. So what prize do we get?

Woman
A box of chocolates!

Man
Great – last time we didn't win anything.

Woman
Yeah, but it is quite a small box.

Man
One each, do you think?

Woman
I'll have all of them!

Man
Cheer up – it's the winning that counts! 

 

To do

Did you hear any past simple verbs? Listen again if you like, and do the activity. Read the transcript if you want extra help.

 

What did they say?

10 Questions

Choose the correct past simple words to complete the dialogue.

Baga gammadde! Qormaata xumurteetta
Excellent!Great job!Carraa badaa!Qabxii argatte:
x / y

Next

Well done. In Session 2, we'll take a closer look at the past simple verbs we heard.

Now it's time for this week’s 6 Minute Vocabulary. Emma said the quiz was interesting… but she’d be surprised if her team won. Go to the next page to learn more about -ed and -ing adjectives with Finn and Catherine.

Caasluga kutaa kanaa

Wabii caasluga guutuu agarsiisi

Session Vocabulary

  • eavesdrop
    secretly listen to someone else’s private conversation

    during
    from the beginning to the end of a particular length of time or activity

    No way!
    (here) Wow! That’s amazing!

    Cheer up!
    this expression means: Don't be sad!

    counts
    (here) is important

Wabii jechoota guutuu agarsiisi

Wiirtuu gadi-buufatan

Qabiyyee koorsiiwwan dhihoo kanaa