Unit Two: Moral Education and Personal Responsibility

2.1 Grammar Revision (Tenses, Voices, Conditionals)

2.1.1 Simple Past Tense

Uses: The simple past tense is used to:

a) indicate an action completed in the past.

He met his teacher the day before yesterday.

You did the work yesterday.
We came here last Friday
b) describe a series of events that occurred in the past.
Example: He came to Jimma yesterday and attended the meeting.
c) refer to an event that engaged for quite some time in the past and has now ended.

I lived in Dessie for two years.

I worked in this company for ten years.
d) explain an action that was a habit or usually performed in the past.
Examples: He attended the dance classes regularly in the winter vacations.
I always went to play at the same time in my vacations.
Form:

We form the past simple of regular verbs by adding -ed to the infinitive. But irregular verbs have
their own forms. We form negative statements and questions with did.

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the past simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1. We really_________ (enjoy) the game last Sunday.
2. They _________ (not play) very well yesterday. They lost the match.
3. ___________ (they / go) to the swimming pool yesterday?

4. I___________ (buy) a new baseball cap last week.

2.1.2 Past Continuous Tense

Uses: We use the past progressive to:

a) say that something was in progress (going on) around a particular past time.

What were you doing at eight o’clock yesterday?” – “I was watching TV.”
b) express the progressive development of an occurrence.

It was getting hot.

The kid was growing nicely.

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c) describe two actions occurring together in the past.

While I was reading, he was watching television.

We were working when it was raining.
d) express a longer action when two actions happened in the past

As I was walking down the road, I saw Bekalu.

The phone rang while I was having dinner.

e) convey disapproval or disagreement on a repeatedly occurring event.

They were always making a fool of others.

She was regularly asking for money.

He was constantly pressurizing me.

Form: The past continuous/progressive uses was/were + -ing:

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the past continuous form of the verbs given in brackets.
1. They ___________ (go) to the movies.
2. I ___________ (read) the book you gave me on my birthday.
3. The dogs _____________ (bark) all night.
4. It ___________ (get) darker with each passing moment.
5. The students ___________ (work) on their assignments.
6. That boy _____________ (dance) in class.

2.1.3 Past Perfect Tense

Uses: The past perfect tense is basically used to:

a) express the idea that one past action followed another. The action that happened first is in
the past perfect.

Sara had already left the coffee bar by the time I arrived.

b) This tense is used to state an unrealized circumstance in the past.

If I had asked him, he would have helped me.

If you had left earlier before, you would have caught the bus.

c) This tense is also used to state that a past intention was not realized.

He had wished to become an athlete.

He had hoped to win the marathon.
He had intended to send his son to the US for higher studies.

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Form: We form the past perfect with had + the past participle.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with the past perfect of the verb in brackets.
1. John ____________ (go) home by the time I arrived.
2. Helen suddenly realized that she ____________ (leave) his laptop on the train.
3. Mum was annoyed because I ______________ (not clean) my room.
4. They _____________ (study) English before they went to the USA.
5. My phone didn't work because _____________ I (not charge) it.
6. Why didn't you want to watch the film? _____________ (you /see) it before?

Exercise 4: Review Exercises

I. Choose the correct verb forms in the following sentences.
1. I heard a knock at the front door so I ________ (went / was going) to answer it.
2. We entered the house quietly because everyone __________ (was sleeping / had slept).
3. They ____________ (had left / left) many hours before we arrived.
4. I _____________ (started / was starting) work at 9 a.m. this morning.
5. This time last year I ___________ (studied / was studying) at university.
6. Sara hurt her ankle while she _____________. (ran / was running)
7. When we saw the crime, we ____________ (called / were calling) the police.
II. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple,
past continuous or past perfect simple.
1. They ______________ (get) to the airport as the plane was landing.
2. What _____________ she _____________ (say) when he asked her to marry him?
3. When I was a student, I ______________ (not have) much money.
4. Why _____________ she still _____________ (work) at one o’clock in the morning?
5. I was happy to see her because we _____________ (not see) each other for years.
6. By the time we got to the shop, a long queue _________ already __________ (form) outside.
7. While I ___________ (drive), I _________ (have) an accident.
8. Girma __________ (have) dinner and then he _____________ (do) his homework.
9. Selam _____________ (plan) a party and then she _____________ (phone) her friends.
10. While we _____________ (clean) the house, we _______________ (break) some glasses.
2.2 Passive Forms for Past Tenses
2.2.1 Forming Simple Past Passive

Affirmative Form Object + was / were + past participle

Question Form Was / Were + Object + past participle

Active: The teacher corrected the mistakes.

Passive: The mistakes were corrected by the teacher.
Active: Did the little boy sell all the candy bars?
Passive: Were all the candy bars sold by the little boy?

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Active: Halima didn't eat any apples.
Passive: No apples were eaten by Halima.
Active: He didn't give the wallet.
Passive: The wallet wasn't given by him.

2.2.2 Forming Past Progressive Passive

Affirmative Form Object + was / were + being + past participle

Question Form Was / Were + Object + being + past participle

Active: The boy was throwing the stone.

Passive: The stone was being thrown by the boy.
Active: What was he writing on the desk?
Passive: What was being written by him on the desk?
Active: Was the suspect dragging you?
Passive: Were you being dragged by the suspect?
Active: Nobody was watching TV.
Passive: The TV wasn't being watched (by anybody)

2.2.3 Forming Past Perfect Passive

Affirmative Form Object + had + been + past participle

Question Form Had + object + been + past participle

Active: The brave men had defended the city.

Passive: The city had been defended by the brave men.
Active: The little girl had broken the window.
Passive: The window had been broken by the little girl.
Active: Had Dorothy solved the problems?
Passive: Had the problems been solved by Dorothy.
Active: Those prisoners had robbed five banks.
Passive: Five banks had been robbed by those prisoners.

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Exercise 5: Change the following sentences into passive voice.
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect
1. She drank a cup of coffee. 1. She was writing a book. 1. She had written a book.
2. They knew it. 2. I was planting trees. 2. I had planted flowers.
3. She sang a song. 3. We are eating mangoes. 3. We had eaten mangoes.
4. I planted flowers. 4. They were expecting a 4. A cat had drunk milk.
5. Who wrote this book? guest. 5.The Americans had discovered
6. The children rang the bell 5. They were watching the another planet.
a few minutes ago. newest videos. 6. Hailu had received the check
6. Why were they picking the just in time.
flowers?

2.3 Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent clause and
a result in the independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if statement. There
are several different forms of conditional sentences that allow the writer to express various
meanings using different tenses.

Condition (if) clause + result clause

2.3.1 Zero Conditional

The zero conditional uses the present tense in both clauses and is used to talk about something
that is always or generally true. The present tense signifies that these actions are both possible
and typical

If-clause Main Clause

Present tense Present tense
If you heat ice, it melts.

If you mix hydrogen and oxygen, it gives water.

2.3.2 Type I: Likely/Probable Condition

The first conditional uses the present tense in the if-clause and the future tense in the result
clause. This form is used to talk about something that is a probable future result of a condition.

If-clause Main Clause

Simple present tense Simple future (will+v1)
If I see you later, I will say hello.
If I don’t see you later, I won’t be able to say hello.

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2.3.3 Type II: Unlikely/Imaginary Condition

The second conditional uses the past tense in the if-clause and present conditional in the result
clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation that cannot happen or is unlikely
to happen.

If-clause Main Clause

Simple past tense Present conditional tense
(would+v1)
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a large vacation home.
If I were you, I wouldn’t wait to study for the test.

Note: The condition and the result are not taking place in the past, but the past tense is used to
indicate the unreal nature of the situation, i.e. the interpretation is in the present.

2.3.4 Type III: Impossible Condition

The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if-clause and a modal and present perfect in the
result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not
happen – typically with an outcome that did not happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did
happen.

If-clause Main Clause

Past perfect tense Perfect conditional tense
(would+have+v3)
If it had rained last week, the plants would not have died.
If I had finished college, I would have become a doctor.

Note: ‘Unless’ + affirmative verb = ‘If’ + negative

e.g. Unless you start at once, you’ll be late.

Exercise 6: Complete the Conditional Sentences (Zero Conditionals) by putting the verbs into
the correct form.

1. If you ______________ (delete) an email, it stays in your trash for 30 days.

2. If you ______________ (mix) water with oil, the oil ___________ (float).
3. The water ___________ (evaporate) if you ___________ (heat) it.

Exercise 7: Complete the conditional sentences (Type I) by putting the verbs into the correct
form.

1. If you _____________ (send) this letter now, she _________________ (receive) it tomorrow.
2. If I ________________ (do) this test, I ________________ (improve) my English.
3. Sara ______________ (go) shopping if she _________________ (have) time in the afternoon.

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Exercise 8: Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II) by putting the verbs into the correct
form.

1. If they _____________ (tell) their father, he _______________ (be) very angry.

2. We ______________ (help) you if we __________________ (know) how.
3. My brother ______________ (buy) a sports car if he ______________ (have) the money.

Exercise 9: Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type III) by putting the verbs into the correct
form.

1. If you _______________ (speak) English, she ____________________ (understand).

2. I ________________ (write) you a postcard if I ________________ (have) your address.
3. If it _______________ (not start) to rain, we ________________ (walk) to the museum.

Review Exercises: Put in the correct verb forms in the spaces provided.

1. If John ________________ (like) horses, he could ride well.

2. They will stay longer in Paris if they ________________ (find) a cheap hotel.
3. If Chaltu ________________ (have) more money, she would go to Africa.
4. If you listened carefully, you ________________ (know) about it.
5. He can write good stories if he ________________ (feel) like it.
6. John's mother ________________ (have) more time for him if he does the washing up.
7. If you were older, you ________________ (go) to the party.
8. If the weather had been better, we ________________ (come) by bike.

2.4 Modal Auxiliaries: Look at the following sentences with modals.

I must go know. I must see you tomorrow.

You shouldn’t go to bed so late. They needn’t come if they don’t want to.
Can you help me? Will she be here soon?
Can you drive a car? Yes I can. Will they arrive soon? No they won’t.
Which of the sentences above express ability, obligation, necessity and suggestion/advice?
2.4.1 Expressing Ability (can, could, be able to)
Look at the following example sentences.
She can sing really well. (Present ability)
I can’t swim so I won’t come to the pool with you. (Present ability)
I can come and visit you next week. (Future ability)
He could read when he was four. (Past ability)
I couldn’t understand the language when I first came here. (Past ability)

Exercise 10: Complete the sentences with can, could, or be able to.

1. He is very fit for his age. He can run (run) really fast.
2. I’d like to be able to work (work) with you one day.

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3. When I was young, I __________ (climb) any tree in the forest.
4. We ___________ (go) to that concert tomorrow if the tickets haven’t sold out.
5. I think you should go in the spring: it _________ (be) very crowded there in the summer.
6. I __________ (not understand) what he says: he speaks too quickly.
7. Do you know where my glasses are? I ________ (not see) very much without them.
2.4.2 Expressing Obligation
What is the difference between "have to" and "must"? Although both words express obligation,
there are some notable distinctions. "Must" conveys an internal obligation, originating from the
speaker, while "have to" conveys an external obligation, originating from outside the speaker.

Examples and explanations:

1. Must (Internal Obligation):

Speaker's Obligation: I must finish my assignment tonight. Explanation: The speaker feels a
personal obligation to complete the assignment. It is his/her judgment or conviction that drives
him/her to prioritize finishing it.

2. Have to (External Obligation):

Example: I have to attend the meeting tomorrow.

Explanation: The obligation to attend the meeting comes from external circumstances or rules. It
could be a requirement set by the organization or someone in authority. Here are the main
similarities and differences:

Affirmative Form:

 "Must" is a modal verb and does not change its form regardless of the subject or tense.
 "Have to" is a verb phrase that is conjugated according to the tense, subject, and auxiliary
verb "have."

Negative Form:

 "Must" is negated by adding "not" or using the contraction "mustn't."

 "Have to" is negated by using "do not/does not have to" or the contractions "don't/doesn't
have to."

Interrogative Form:

 Questions with "must" are formed by inverting the subject and the modal verb: "Must I?"
"Must they?"
 Questions with "have to" are formed using the auxiliary verb "do": "Do I have to?" "Does
he have to?" Look at more sentences with must and have to below.
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We must get up early tomorrow. We‘ve got a lot to do. (We are imposing the obligation on
ourselves.)
Passengers must fasten their seat belts. (The obligation is imposed by the airlines who wrote the
notice.)
We have to get up early tomorrow to catch the plane. (The obligation is external. i.e. the time of
the plane.)
We have to get there before 5 o’clock because the shops close then.
“Have to” is not a modal verb. It is an ordinary verb, and it can be used in any form.
You mustn’t smoke here. (Negative obligation-you are not allowed to smoke.)
You mustn’t wait here. (You are not allowed to wait here).
You don’t have to wait here. (It is not necessary for you to wait here, but you can if you want
to.)
“Don’t have to” means there is no obligation.
Use ‘had to’ to express obligation in the past.
I had to report the incident to police.
Did you have to get a visa?

Exercise 11: Complete the sentences using must and have to in the correct tense and form.

1. We __________ (leave) at 11 o’clock last night because the last bus went at 11:20.
2. We__________ (run) all the way to the station because we were late for the train.
3. You ___________ (not tell) him what happened. He never forgives us.
4. I don’t like __________ (do) everything my boss tells me to do.
5. I ____________ (take) the children to school every morning before I go to work.
6. You ___________ (not eat) the lecture halls: it is against the college regulations.
7. _____________ (you/wear) a uniform at work?
8. Employees ____________ (follow) the safety regulations.

2.4.3 Expressing Necessity

Look at the following examples

1. You needn’t come if you don’t want to.
2. Need I bring anything with me?
In the examples above ‘need’ is used as a modal verb to express necessity. It is most often used
in negative sentences. We can also use need as an ordinary verb followed by infinitive with ‘to’.
You don’t need to come if you don’t want to.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Everyone needs to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
We normally use needn’t + perfect infinitive or didn’t need to/ didn’t have to + infinitive to
express lack of necessity. There is some difference between them.
Examples:

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I needn’t have gone to the station so early. The train was nearly an hour late. (It wasn’t
necessary to go to the station early but I didn’t realize that and so I did get there early).
We didn’t need to/didn’t have to get up early this morning because we had no lectures.
(It wasn’t necessary, and so we didn’t do it.)
Note: We do not use need+ perfect infinitive in the positive.

Exercise 12: Complete the sentences using modals that can express necessity/ lack of necessity.

1. They ____________ (not pay) to stay in a hotel. They can stay with us.
2. The wedding has been cancelled so I ______ (not buy) that new suit: it was a waste of money.
3. Please don’t stay anymore. I already know the truth so you __________ (not lie).

2.4.4 Modals of Advice

 To give advice we use should or ought to. Should is used more frequently.
Examples: You should/ought to try and lose some weight.
We should/ought to be leaving soon.
You shouldn’t/oughtn’t to take any notice of him. He always upsets you.
Note: In the sentences above, it can refer to the present time or to the future time. We often use
should/ought to with I think----/ Do you think-----?/ Don’t you think---?
Example: Don’t you think you should/ought to stop seeing him?
 We use had better to give strong advice (i.e. very important advice). This modal of
advice is used when someone thinks the other person really should follow the suggestion,
implying that there will be more serious consequences if the advice isn’t taken.
Examples: You had better go to the hospital since your illness is serious.
She had better consult her teacher on the issue.
We had better solve the problem by our own.

Exercise 13: Choose the best modal for each sentence.

1. It is raining and I don't want to get my dress wet. I _________________ an umbrella.

A. had better not bring B. had better to bring C. had better bring D. had bring better
2. A: I'm so hot.
B: You _________________ your coat!
A. should to take off B. should take off C. should put on D. ought take off
3. My mother isn't feeling well, so I told her that she _______________ to the doctor.
A. ought go B. ought to go C. ought D. had better to go
4. I need help, doctor. My baby doesn't sleep well. What ________________?
A. I should do B. should I do C. had I better do D. ought I do
5. A: I think that the grade my teacher gave me on my test is wrong.
B: Really? You ______________ to her after class today.
A. ought to talk B. should to talk C. ought talk D. had better to talk

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6. You think it’s a bad idea to call her after 10:00 pm., so you say …
A. You’d better not call her now. B. You ought to call her now.
C. Should you call her now? D. Oughtn’t you to call her now?
7. A: I have got a sore throat. B: You ________ drink cold water.
A. ought B. shouldn't C. had better D. had not better

Exercise 14: Rewrite the following sentences using modals. Give attention to the expressions
written in bold.

Examples: I promise to phone you next week.

I will phone you next week.
At the age of nine, he didn’t know how to read.
At the age of nine, he couldn’t read.
1. It is essential that we leave on time tomorrow morning.
2. Are you able to come with me tonight?
3. It is not good for you to work so hard.
4. It is possible that they will be here soon.

Exercise 15: Completing Short Dialogues

In pairs, take turns and give advice to each other using the cues given below. Use the three ways
of giving advice you practiced above. The first one has been done for you as an example.
Example: Friend: I'm sleepy.
You: You should/ought to drink a cup of tea.
1. Friend: I'm hungry.
You: _______________________________________________.
2. Friend: I'm cold.
You: ________________________________________________.
3. Friend: I have a toothache.
You: __________________________________________________.
4. Friend: I left my sunglasses at a restaurant yesterday. What should I do?
You: ___________________________________________________.
5. Friend: I'm hot.
You: _________________________________________________.
6. Friend: I have a headache.
You: ________________________________________________.
7. Friend: Someone stole my bicycle. What should I do?
You: _________________________________________________.
8. Friend: I bought a pair of pants that don't fit. They're too long.
You: _______________________________________________.

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2.5 Speaking

2.5.1 Using So
SO is used to show agreement with positive statements.
SO + Auxiliary/Be + Subject (pronoun)

The Auxiliary (or To Be/Have) needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement. It is
similar to using too at the end of a sentence.

Person A Person B
I am happy. So am I. = I am happy too.
You look nice today. So do you. = You look nice too.
Stephanie has a new boyfriend. So does Mary. = Mary has a new one too.
We went to the concert last night. So did I. = I went to the concert too.
I would love a coffee right now. So would I. = I would love a coffee too.
He will win a prize. So will I. = I will win one too.
They have finished their homework. So have I. = I have finished too.
I can speak two languages. So can I. = I can speak two too.
He should study more. So should I. = I should study more too.
We could see the mountains. So could we. = We could see them too.
My brother had eaten too much. So had I. = I had eaten too much too.
Sometimes you can use So + Auxiliary + Subject as a continuation of the first part of the
sentence. For example, John can sing well and so can his brother. (= John can sing well and his
brother can sing well too.)

2.5.2 Using Neither

Neither is used to show agreement with negative statements.
Neither + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)

The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement. It is similar to using
either at the end of a sentence, although neither is more commonly used, especially in spoken
English.

A: I don't understand Spanish. B: Neither do I. (= I don't understand Spanish either.)

A: I cannot swim. B: Neither can I. (= I can't swim either.)

Sometimes people respond Me Neither instead of Neither + Auxiliary + Subject though this is
very informal spoken English.

Person A Person B
I am not hungry. Neither am I. = I'm not hungry either.
I'm not going to quit. Neither am I. = I'm not going to quit either.

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They don't speak French. Neither do I. = I don't speak French either.
Stephanie doesn't eat meat. Neither does Mary. = Mary doesn't eat meat either.
Mary didn't go to the party. Neither did I. = I didn't go either.
I wouldn't like to do his job. Neither would I. = I wouldn't like to do it either.
He won't stop talking. Neither will you. = You won't stop either.
You haven't finished your meal. Neither have you. = You haven't finished either.
I can't reach the top shelf. Neither can I. = I can't reach it either.
You shouldn't talk in the movie. Neither should you. = You shouldn't talk either.
We couldn't hear him. Neither could we. = We couldn't hear him either.
I hadn't seen her before. Neither had I. = I hadn't seen her before either.

NEITHER – EITHER

Person A: I am happy.
Person B: So am I.
So am I = I am happy too.
“I am happy.” is a positive sentence.
What happens when we have a negative sentence? For example:
 I am not happy.
We cannot respond with SO AM I because SO is only used to agree with positive sentences.
For negative sentences we use NEITHER, so we would say:
 Neither am I.
Now, if the positive response of So am I means I am happy, too, what does Neither am I mean?
We do not say “I’m not happy too.”
TOO is used at the end of POSITIVE responses. EITHER is used at the end of NEGATIVE
responses, so we can say:
 I’m not happy either. In this case, Neither am I = I am not happy either.

'Me too' and 'me neither':

We can also use 'me too' and 'me neither'. 'Me too' has the same meaning as 'so + auxiliary
verb+ I' and 'me neither' has the same meaning as 'neither + auxiliary verb + I'. 'Me too' and 'me
neither' are very informal:

 John: I hate mushrooms. Me: Me too (=I also hate mushrooms).

 Lucy: I don't live in London. Me: Me neither (=I also don't live in London).

Exercise 16: Imagine you're having a conversation with Jenny. What she says is also true for
you. Write 'so --- I' or 'neither ---I', choosing the correct auxiliary verb.
1. Jenny: I can't play the piano. You: ______________
2. Jenny: Catherine is English. You: _____________
3. Jenny: She isn't coming to the party. You: ______________

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4. Jenny: Lucy will come early tomorrow. You: ______________
5. Jenny: I have to study this weekend. You: ______________
6. Jenny: Dan lives in Madrid. You: ______________
7. Jenny: She doesn't have any brothers or sisters. You: ______________
8. Jenny: I've been to Mexico. You: ______________
9. Jenny: I'm going home now. You: ______________
10. Jenny: I didn't pass the exam. You: ______________
11. Jenny: She hasn't brought her laptop. You: ______________
12. Jenny: David is living in Mumbai. You: ______________
13. Jenny: I won't have a cake just now. You: ______________
14. Jenny: I'm not an engineer. You: ______________
15. Jenny: John went to the lecture yesterday. You: ______________

2.5.3 Apologizing
An apology is a statement or an expression such as “I’m sorry” that you say when you do
something wrong or something that causes a problem. In everyday life, we make a lot of
mistakes. Making apologies is what can help us fix these mistakes. In formal situations, we can
use some of these expressions:
Formal apologies in English
 I apologize for …
 I’m terribly sorry for …
 I owe you an apology …
 I deeply regret that …
Responding to an apology in English in formal situations:
 That’s quite all right.
 Please don’t worry about it.
 I accept your apology.
Example of making and responding to an apology in English:
A: Why are you late? We almost finished the meeting.
B: I’m terribly sorry. I had a car accident
A: Why didn’t you bring me my money?
B: I’m so sorry, my friend. I really had to pay the rent. Next Thursday.
A: My sincere apologies for the mistake I made. That will never happen again.
B: That’s quite all right.

I. Make conversations based on the situations below.

1. You had an appointment to meet your friend, but you were late because of the traffic jam
2. You borrowed a book from a friend a few days ago. You promised to give it back today, but
you forgot to bring it. Your friend really needs the book because he/she is going to have a test
tomorrow. Apologize him/her, and offer the solution.

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II: In pairs think of any situation that can make you ask for apology and develop a complete
dialogue that can show both asking for and accepting apology.

2.6 Reading
Read the following passage very carefully and answer questions that follow.
A Difficult Situation

Mary had always been a strong and independent person, but she found herself in a difficult
situation that tested her resolve. She had been working as a teacher at a local school for five
years when the principal called her into his office one day. "Mary, I'm afraid I have some bad
news," he said. "Due to budget cuts, we'll have to let you go at the end of the school year."

Mary was shocked. She had never expected to lose her job, and she didn't know what she was
going to do. Teaching was her passion, and she had dedicated her life to it. She had bills to pay
and a family to support, and she didn't know how she was going to make ends meet without a
steady income.

For the next few days, Mary felt lost and hopeless. She didn't know where to turn or what to do.
She spent hours searching online for job opportunities, but nothing seemed to fit her
qualifications or experience. She felt like giving up. But then she remembered her resilience and
determination. She had faced challenges before and had always found a way to overcome them.
She started networking with other teachers and attending job fairs. She updated her resume and
cover letter, and applied to every job opening she could find.

Finally, after weeks of searching, she landed a job at a private school that paid even better than
her previous job. She was able to provide for her family and continue doing what she loved.
Mary learned that difficult situations can be overwhelming, but with persistence and
determination, they can also be opportunities for growth and success.

Comprehension: Answer the following questions based on the passage.

1. What was Mary's profession?

2. Why did she lose her job?
3. How did Mary feel after she found out she was going to lose her job?
4. What did Mary do to overcome her difficult situation?
5. What was the main difficulty Mary faced?
6. How did Mary feel about her job as a teacher?
7. What did Mary learn from her experience?
8. What is the main message of the passage?

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Vocabulary: Based on the information in the passage, match the following vocabulary words in
Column “A” to their definitions in column “B”.
“A” “B”
1. Resolve A. To have a strong determination to achieve something
2. Budget cuts B. The act of continuing to try to achieve something despite difficulties
3. Qualifications C. More than one can handle or manage; too much
4. Persistence D. Reductions in the amount of money available for spending.
5. Overwhelming E. Skills, experience and education that qualify someone for a job
Reference: What do the following pronouns/words in the passage refer to?
1. “I” (paragraph, 1 line) _____________________________
2. “it” (paragraph 2, line) _____________________________
3. “them” (paragraph 3, line 4) ___________________________
4. “that” (paragraph 4, line 1) ____________________________
5. “they” (paragraph 4, line 4) ____________________________

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