Stories for English Learners

01. A recipe for disaster

Aprende expresiones idiomáticas y phasal verbs con las historias de este detective.

This English mystery course features 11 lessons full of expressions (idioms, phrasal verbs, etc.) and characters that your intermediate to advanced students will grow to love. Each episode features a dialogue between the famous Detective Bossley and one of his prime suspects. 01 A Recipe for disaster.

Uriel Benitez
November 15, 2022
Idioms Course
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Detective’s Log

I’ve been called to a new case at Mountain Berry High. The fire alarm at the high school has been going off all week! The students have to evacuate every time the alarm goes off in case it’s not a false alarm. To make matters worse, it’s exam time. Mountain Berry High’s students need to write their tests before the end of the year.
I tapped the phone in the principal’s office just in case the prankster calls
in. I’m going to check the sound quality now. One of the parents called the
school to discuss the matter with the principal.

Exercise A

Vocabulary for the story

Audio

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2)

Audio

Transcript

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: Mountain Berry High. Principal Davidson speaking

MRS. WALKER: Hello, this is Mia Walker’s mother. What’s this I hear about a fire alarm? Mia says she had to leave class every day this week because the fire alarm kept going off.

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: Hello, Mrs. Walker. Yes, I’m afraid we have a prankster on our hands

MRS. WALKER: A prankster? Who would want to pull the fire alarm during school hours?

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: Your guess is as good as mine.

MRS. WALKER: Well, what are you going to do about it? It’s exam time, the most important time of the year.

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: Well, I’ve just hired a private detective. I’m hoping Detective Bossley will get to the bottom of this soon.

MRS. WALKER: Detective Bossley, huh? And what if he doesn’t? A fire alarm going off during an exam is a recipe for disaster

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: We’re doing everything we can, Mrs. Walker.

MRS. WALKER: You know the other kids will cheat if the alarm goes off during an exam

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: I’d like to give our kids the benefit of the doubt, Mrs. Walker.

MRS. WALKER: (sneers) It’s not rocket science! Why don’t you put up some surveillance cameras?

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: We have cameras up, and we’re monitoring the alarms around the clock.

MRS. WALKER: Mia’s teacher said exams might be canceled if the alarm keeps going off. Then what?

PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON: If all else fails, the kids will have to do their exams on the weekends or over the summer holidays.

MRS. WALKER: Well, let’s just hope it doesn’t come down to that! I hope this Detective Bossley is as good as everyone says he is.

Exercise B

Comprehension

Why did Mia Walker’s mom call Mountain Berry High?
Which of the following does not describe Mrs. Walker?
a) upset
b) sarcastic
c) worried
d) optimistic
What does Principal Davidson say about the prankster?
a) She has no idea who it is.
b) She thinks the prankster goes to the school.
c) She doesn’t suspect Mia Walker.
d) She thinks the prankster is male.
True or False? Detective Bossley is well known in the community

Exercise C - Writing

Writing Task: “The Impact of Disruptions on Students’ Academic Performance”

Instructions:

Carefully read the provided story about the conversation between Principal Davidson and Mrs. Walker regarding the false fire alarms at Mountain Berry High.
Write an essay discussing the impact of disruptions, such as false fire alarms, on students’ academic performance and overall school experience.
Be sure to include at least 3 phrasal verbs from the story or any others you have learned in class. The phrasal verbs from the story include:
- go off
- get to the bottom of
- give the benefit of the doubt
- come down to
In your essay, address the following points:
- How do disruptions like false fire alarms affect students’ concentration, stress levels, and academic performance?
- What are some strategies that schools can implement to minimize the impact of disruptions on students’ learning experiences?
- How can schools maintain a balance between ensuring a secure environment and fostering a positive learning atmosphere?
- What role should parents and the wider community play in supporting schools in dealing with disruptions and promoting a stable learning environment?
Write a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Remember to check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation before submitting the task. Use appropriate academic language and structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Good luck!