I Heart English - The Boat Issue

I Heart English

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• The Boat Issue #45
• Boat Types
• Story Of A Steamboat On The Mississippi River
• Life on a Boat
• Boat Idioms
• Boat Crossword Puzzle
• The Boat Issue - Answers

The Boat Issue #45 Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:29 AM PDT Boat Types Vocabulary activity Story Of A Steamboat On The Mississippi River Conversation, gap-filling and listening activity Life on a Boat Conversation, video & vocabulary activity Boat Idioms Vocabulary activity Boat Crossword Puzzle Game and vocabulary activity

Boat Types Vocabulary activity Is It A Boat Or A Ship? A boat is a vehicle of any size that is used for traveling on water. Usually refered to as one smaller in size. A ship is a large boat used for traveling long distances over the sea, and also a large airplane or spacecraft. So, the word boat as a category includes ships, kayaks and even jet skis. However speaking of the size, people traditionally consider a ship as large, whereas boats are comparatively smaller. A good rule to remember is that “A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship.” Also, the use of the terms depends on the region.People from several countries often refer to a medium sized fishing vehicle as a boat, or a medium sized ferry or recreational boat as a ship. Read the boat types and descriptions and match the boat to the picture. Here is an example: Rowboat: a small boat that is moved through water using oars.   Barge: a large boat that has a flat bottom and that is used to carry goods in harbors and on rivers and canals Canoe: a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle. Cruise liner: a large comfortable ship that people travel on vacation trips. Ferry: a boat that is used to carry people and things for a short distance between two places : a boat that ferries people and things Freighter: a large ship that is used to carry goods, usually across the ocean. Galleon: a large sailing ship used in the 1500s and 1600s. Houseboat: a boat that is also used as a house. Motorboat: a boat with an engine. Raft: a rubber boat or a floating structure made of wood used for transportation on water Sailboat: a small boat that the wind moves by pushing its clothes sails. Steamboat: a boat that is powered by steam. Warship: a military ship that has many weapons and is used for fighting in wars. Answers here!

Story Of A Steamboat On The Mississippi River Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:20 AM PDT Conversation, gap-filling and listening activity Have you heard of the Mississippi River? How much do you know about it? Take a quiz and discuss your choices in small groups or with a partner.     1)The length of the Mississippi River is approximately: 2,730 km - 3,730 km  - 4,730 km.     2)It lies in: four – six - ten  US states.     3)Many famous books are related to or take place near the Mississippi River, such as the ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’. Who wrote this classic? Mark Twain  - Ernest Hemingway – Edgar Allan Poe Complete the missing terms in the text with a word from the list below. Then, listen and check your work. people   - movies  -  true   -  sails   -  boats  -  country   -  right   -  of  -  captain  -  towns   -  Big  -  reason   -  showing   - build   -  live   -  down   - played   - dance -  current   - way -  half  - went  - transported  -  days During the 1800s, the Mississippi River was crowded with steamboats. The river divided the United States in (1)......................, separating the older, more populated eastern states from the West. Steamboats (2)......................... goods and people up and down the waterway. But only a few such (3)............................. can be seen there today. This month marks the 40th year one of them has been operating on the mighty Mississippi. Steamboat Natchez was built in 1975. The Natchez is made mostly (4)....................... steel. Its steam engines came from a boat that was built in 1925. Today, the Natchez carries (5)................................. who want to learn what life was like in the 1800s on the Mississippi River. In those (6)......................... , the arrival of a steamboat was announced by a steam-powered organ, called a calliope. Clarke Hawley is 79 years old. He is known as “Doc.” He was the first (7)............................ of the Natchez. “In the days before mass communication, a lot of these little river (8)............................ didn’t have a weekly newspaper, let alone a daily newspaper, but when you (9)............................... the calliope, everybody in town knew the boat was there.” Doc Hawley is now retired. But he still (10).............................. on the boat as the calliope player. “There were steamboats that carried people, steamboats that pushed barges, there were sawmill steamboats that (11).................................. from farm to farm, plantation to plantation, sawing up wood. Farmer Brown wants to (12)................................... a new barn, he’s got to go 40-50 miles (60-80 kilometers) to get to the closest sawmill, boat comes (13).......................... to the front yard and grinds it. There were showboats that put on shows and melodramas before (14)............................. There were gospel boats, believe it or not, that went from town to town, taking up collections.” Donald Houghton is the (15)........................... captain of the Natchez. He says he is honored to be one of the few steamboat captains in the (16)............................ “This is a one-of-a-kind thing, you know, running a (17).............................. teamboat in the Port of New Orleans, in a busy harbor, (18)............................ people the Mississippi River and where the Battle of New Orleans was fought, and the whole (19).......................... the city is here is because of the Mississippi river and steamboats.” Passengers can (20)....................... and listen to jazz music. Jazz was born in the city of New Orleans, which is often called “The (21).......................... Easy.” Doc Hawley says this is how life was when many steamboats sailed up and (22)......................... the river. “It was a (23)........................... of life, and it’s still, it’s still amazingly a way of life, for people who (24).......................... along the river, you know.” Because the Natchez is so well cared for, it could keep paddling up and down the Mississippi for many years to come. Story narrated by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Source VOA http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/fortieth-anniversary-for-mississippi-river-steamboat/2729893.html Glossary Steamboat: n. a boat that is powered by steam Waterway: n. a course of water, like a river. Mighty: adj. having or showing great strength or power Barn: n. a rustic construction in a farm used for keeping animals, grains, storing tools, etc. Saw: v. to cut or shape (wood, metal, etc.). Sawmill: n. a mill or factory where logs are sawed to make boards Grind: v. to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction. Harbor: n. port. Barge: n. a large vessel that has a flat bottom and that is used to carry goods in harbors and on rivers and canals Answers here!

Life on a Boat Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:30 AM PDT Conversation, video & vocabulary activity 1.Discussion segment: What would be the pros and cons of living on a boat? What do you think would be challenging about it? Which habitual things would and wouldn’t you be able to do? Contrast with your daily routine. Would you do it alone? When? What’s the best time of life to do something like this? Why? For how long would you do it? 2.Video Segment “Twenty Eight Feet: Life on a Little Wooden Boat” directed by Kevin A. Fraser is a short documentary about a young man from Nova Scotia who has given up his apartment, car and cell phone to live and travel the world on a wooden boat. A)Watch the video and compare your answers to the previous exercise to David’s experience. What was/is difficult for him? What are the things he enjoys, doesn’t enjoy, has, doesn’t have, etc..? Twenty Eight Feet: life on a little wooden boat from kevinAfraser on Vimeo. B)Watch again and say whether the statements below are True or False. 1.When David was a kid, he used to build tree houses. 2.He takes “a bath” every other day. 3.He doesn’t date or have a “significant other”. 4.His father gave him a knife and taught him how to use it. 5.Money is a problem for David. 6.He raises naturally with the sun. 7.He’s a bit of a loner. 8.Before living on the Lizzy Belle, he never saw the sun come up in the morning. 9.His first trip alone was around the Bahamas. 10.He makes sure he eats meat every day. 11.He needs a refrigerator. 12.He doesn’t have definite plans about where to travel to in the future. 3.Extra Vocabulary   bow: the forward part of a ship. stern: the backward part of a ship. port: the left part of a ship, looking forward. starboard: the right part of a ship, looking forward. mast: the central pole in a sailboat. sail: a large piece of cloth used to catch the wind that moves the ship or boat through the water. rudder: a flat, movable piece usually of wood or metal that is attached to a ship, boat, airplane, etc., and is used in steering. anchor: a heavy device that is attached to a boat or ship by a rope or chain and that is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place. oar: a long pole, flat and wide at one end, used for rowing. hull: the main part or structure of a ship or boat : the deck, sides, and bottom of a ship or boat beam: the widest part of a ship. draft: the depth of water a ship has. Answers here!

Boat Idioms Vocabulary activity I)Match the two halves of these sentences to find the meanings of the idioms. 1. If you miss the boat... a) you are in a bad situation that has no solution and will suffer the consequences. 2. If you sail through something... b) you are a newcomer or gullible and naive. 3. If you knock or take the wind out of somebody’s sails... c) you deal with it easily. 4. If you go overboard... d) you grab the opportunity. 5. If you are forced to walk the plank... e) you commit to a destination ahead or course. 6. If you say “that ship has sailed”... f) you miss a good opportunity by acting too slowly. 7. If you say “that ship is in my harbor”... g) you learn to do something new. 8. If you sail close to the wind... h) you’re taking a long time to do or get something. 9. If you are on a slow boat to China... i) you accept any solution. 10. If you are just off the boat... j) you make them less confident or humiliate them. 11. If you do whatever floats your boat... k) you are clear that the time has passed or the opportunity is lost. 12. If you burn your boats... l) you are close to doing something illegal or saying something improper. 13. If you rock the boat... m) you are in the same situation or having the same problem. 14. If you learn the ropes... n) you disturb a stable situation.  15. If you think or say “any port in a storm”... o)you do what makes you happy 16. If you are in the same boat (as someone)... p) you do too much or be extravagant. II)Exercise: Complete the blanks with words missing from the idioms above.  A.These may be difficult times, but we’re all ................. boat. We can get through it together. B.She seems just .................boat. She doesn’t get any jokes. C.We can have a nice, quiet party, don't go ................... It doesn't need to be fancy. D.I can’t become a ballerina at 30. That ship ……………………..! E.We are on a slow ......................., this line is not moving. F.You'll .........................if you don’t study now that you’re young. G.Everything is fine here as it is, don't .......................boat! H.Why did you say that to poor Cate? You knocked .............................of her sails, she felt embarrased. I.I’ll get the new client, don’t worry. That ship is………………………..  J.If you want to go camping, you should! Whatever …....................boat. K.Quitting your job before you have another is crazy! Don’t burn ........................... L.I know I made a mistake forgetting our anniversary but you are not ging to make me walk ..........................., right? M.In this situation, anything is better than nothing. It’s …....................in a storm. N.Give me some time and I’ll figure it out. I’m still learning .......................... O.It’s an easy game tomorrow. We’ll sail ......................it. P.Watch your language young lady, that’s sailing close ........................! Answers here!

Boat Crossword Puzzle Game and vocabulary activity Use the clues below to complete the word game. Across 3. A small boat that is moved through water using oars. 5. If you miss it, you miss a good opportunity by acting too slowly. 7. The piece used in steering a ship. 9. A heavy device attached by a rope or chain and that is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place. 12. The back part of a ship, opposite of bow. 13. A boat used to carry people and things for a short distance between two places. 14. The central pole in a sailboat. Down 1. A boat that is also used as a house. 2. Another word for port. 4. Leader of a ship. 6. The group of people who operate a ship. 8. If you go there, you are doing too much. 10. A ... liner, a large ship that people travel on vacations. 11. The depth of water a ship has and also a rubber boat. 12. Large pieces of cloth used to catch the wind that moves the ship or boat through the water (pl). Answers here!

The Boat Issue - Answers Boat Types 1.canoe 2. ferry  3.freighter  4.barge 5.houseboat  6.cruise liner  7.sailboat  8.raft  9.motorboat  10.steamboat 11.galleon  12.warship Story Of A Steamboat On The Mississippi River 1) 3,730 km (2,320 miles)  2) 10 states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  3) Mark Twain 1. half  2. transported  3. boats  4. of  5. people  6. days  7. captain  8. towns  9. played  10. sails  11. went  12. build  13. right  14. movies  15. current  16. country  17. true  18. showing  19. reason  20. dance  21. Big  22. down  23. way  24. live Life on a Boat Video segment: 1.T  2.F (once every 2 or 3 days)  3.F (he dates but he doesn’t commit to someone because of his lifestyle)  4.F (it was his grandfather)  5.F (There’s always a way to find money)  6.T  7.T  8.T  9.F (it was around Puerto Rico)  10.F (fruits and vegetables) 11.F  12.T Boat Idioms I) 1.f  2.c 3.j  4.p  5.a  6.k  7.d  8.l  9.h  10.b   11.o  12.e  13.n  14.g  15.i  16.m If you miss the boat, you miss a good opportunity by acting too slowly. If you sail through something, you deal with it easily. If you knock or take the wind out of somebody’s sails, you make them less confident or humiliate them. If you go overboard, you do too much or be extravagant. If you are forced to walk the plank, you are in a bad situation that has no solution and will suffer the consequences. If you say “that ship has sailed”, you are clear that the time has passed or the opportunity is lost. If you say “that ship is in my harbor”, you grab the opportunity. If you sail close to the wind, you are close to doing something illegal or saying something improper. If you are on a slow boat to China, you’re taking a long time to do or get something. If you are just off the boat, you are a newcomer or gullible and naive. If you do whatever floats your boat, you do what makes you happy If you burn your boats, you commit to a destination ahead or course. If you rock the boat, you disturb a stable situation.  If you learn the ropes, you learn to do something new. If you think or say ‘any port in a storm’, you accept any solution. If you are in the same boat (as someone), you are in the same situation or having the same problem. II) A. in the same  B. off the  C. Overboard  D. has sailed  E. boat to China  F. miss the boat  G. rock the  H. the wind out I. in my harbor   J. floats your  K.your boats  L. the plank  M. any port  N. the ropes O. Through  P. to the wind Boat Crossword Puzzle Across: 3.rowboat   5.boat  7.rudder  9.anchor 12.stern  13.ferry 14.mast Down: 1.houseboat  2.harbor 4.captain  6.crew  8.overboard  10.cruise  11.raft  12.sails