Stories for English Learners

04. No Laughing Matter

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. 04. No Laughing Matter.

Juan Carlos Martinez
December 1, 2022
Idioms Course
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Detective’s Log

I spoke with a notorious troublemaker named Max. Max is a senior now and claims to have turned himself around. He pointed his finger at a girl named Clarissa. From what I hear, this kid is a piece of work. I’m going to give her the third degree.

Exercise A

Vocabulary for the story

Audio

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2)

Audio

Transcript

CLARISSA: Hey, Detective. Bet I could make you say “how.”

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: How?

CLARISSA: That was easy.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: I’ve heard that about you. You like to kid around, huh?

CLARISSA: You can say that again. No offense, but you’re better-looking on TV.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: ’ll take that as a compliment, Clarissa. So, I think you know why I’m here. Do you know anything about this fire alarm business?

CLARISSA: No. What kind of alarm are you looking for?

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Clarissa. I appreciate your humor, but can we get serious for a minute here?

CLARISSA: You bet. Look, Detective. I love to kid around, but I agree that fire alarms are no laughing matter.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Is that so?

CLARISSA: When I was a kid I got third-degree burns in a house fire. We didn’t have a fire alarm.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Are you pulling my leg?

CLARISSA: No, but I’ll show you. This, my friend, is not a tattoo. [pulls up pant leg to show burn]

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Yikes. That’s a bad burn. I’m really sorry.

CLARISSA: Don’t be. We all got out alive, but our house was a write-off. And my oldest brother has never been the same.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Your brother, huh? Does he, by chance, go to this school?

CLARISSA: Aaron? He used to, but he dropped out. All he does now is play pool. He’s not a big fan of school either. I guess you could say that runs in the family.

Exercise B

Comprehension

How does the encounter between the detective and Clarissa start off?
What insulting thing does Clarissa say to the detective?
What prank would Clarissa never play on someone?
True or False? Detective Bossley is a famous TV celebrity
What does Clarissa mean by “my oldest brother has never been the same”?
Where might the detective find Clarissa’s brother?

Exercise C - Writing

Writing Task: “The Role of Humor and Personal Experiences in Shaping Students’ Attitudes Towards School”

Instructions:

Carefully read the provided story about the conversation between Detective Bossley and Clarissa regarding the false fire alarms at Mountain Berry High.
Write an essay discussing the role of humor and personal experiences in shaping students’ attitudes towards school, using Clarissa’s character as an example.
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:
- kid around
- take something as a compliment
- pull someone’s leg
In your essay, address the following points:
- How can humor and personal experiences influence a student’s attitude towards school and learning?
- In what ways can a student’s background and personal experiences affect their behavior and academic performance?
- How can schools and teachers support students with diverse backgrounds and experiences to create a more inclusive learning environment?
- What role should parents and the wider community play in helping students overcome personal challenges and develop a positive attitude towards school?
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!