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This is the complete version of the B2-level story, The Harmonica Players. I include here for you a B2 vocabulary list of words and expressions to listen for in the story:
Practising English podcast 322...
B2 Words and expressions in the story
1. couldn't face
Story sentence to listen for: Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower.
Definition: To feel unable or unwilling to do something because you do not want to deal with it.
2. All of a sudden
Story sentence to listen for: All of a sudden , the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on at once.
Definition: Very quickly and unexpectedly.
3. get hold of
Story sentence to listen for: Work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of .
Definition: To find or obtain something that you need or want.
4. From time to time
Story sentence to listen for: From time to time , he gave harmonica lessons online…
Definition: Sometimes, but not regularly.
5. kept his eye out for
Story sentence to listen for: Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do.
Definition: To watch carefully for something because you hope to find or see it.
6. Every once in a while
Story sentence to listen for: Every once in a while , he’d found work doing what he really loved.
Definition: Sometimes, but not often.
7. a chance of a lifetime
Story sentence to listen for: It was a chance of a lifetime .
Definition: A very special opportunity that is unlikely to happen again.
8. dropped out of
Story sentence to listen for: He dropped out of college.
Definition: To leave a school, college or course before you have finished it.
9. make ends meet
Story sentence to listen for: He was struggling to make ends meet .
Definition: To have just enough money to pay for the things you need.
10. had a strong dislike of
Story sentence to listen for: Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones.
Definition: To strongly dislike someone or something.
11. behind bars
Story sentence to listen for: They should be behind bars .
Definition: In prison.
12. gazed out of
Story sentence to listen for: She gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow.
Definition: Looked at something for a long time, often without moving your eyes.
13. foreigners
Story sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .'
Definition: People who come from a different country.
14. native English
Story sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .'
Definition: Describes people who have English as their first language.
15. In contrast to
Story sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people.
Definition: Used to show how one thing is different from another.
16. primarily
Story sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people.
Definition: Mainly or mostly.
17. respectable
Story sentence to listen for: 'All respectable , traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say.'
Definition: Considered to be good, honest and acceptable by most people.
18. upbringing
Story sentence to listen for: 'His upbringing had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan cities.'
Definition: The way a person is treated and taught by their parents while they are growing up.
19. distrusted
Story sentence to listen for: 'He distrusted foreigners in his country, in general.'
Definition: Did not trust someone because you believed they might not be honest or reliable.
20. take it for granted
Story sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .'
Definition: To believe that something will always be there or happen, without thinking about it.
21. decency and fair play
Story sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .'
Definition: Decency means behaving in a good and honest way. Fair play means treating people fairly and following accepted rules.
22. deceit and dishonesty
Story sentence to listen for: 'Unfortunately, the deceit and dishonesty , which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name.'
Definition: Deceit means trying to make someone believe something that is not true. Dishonesty means not being honest or truthful.
23. discourage
Story sentence to listen for: 'The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would discourage others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel.'
Definition: To make someone less willing to do something.
24. giving the country a bad name
Story sentence to listen for: 'Immigrants giving the country a bad name .'
Definition: Making other people have a bad opinion of a country because of someone's actions.
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