Audio Time: 4 min 50
sec
Vocabulary:
Vocab probably unknown to intermediate speakers is provided to help with
comprehension of the text. Vocab in bold
is more useful for the intermediate to upper-intermediate level. Try to
choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the report (in general, most learners
should try to study no more than 8-10 words per day for optimal learning).
Building blocks: an important piece of something that is used to form something larger.
Meditation: 1. the act or process of spending time in quiet thought; the act or process of meditating; 2. Specific mental exercises
to help clear and calm the mind and to reach greater spiritual insight.
To Uphold (Upholder): to support or defend something.
(New Year’s) Resolution: a promise to yourself that you will make a
serious effort to do something that you should do.
Arbitrary:
1. not planned or chosen for a particular reason; 2. not based on
reason or evidence; 3. done without concern for what is fair or right.
To Oblige (obliger): to do something that someone has asked you to do: to do a favor for (someone).
To let down: to fail to give help or support to (someone who
needs or expects it); to make someone unhappy by not being as good as
expected.
‘cause: (informal) because.
Rebel: a person who does not obey rules or accept normal
standards of behavior, dress, etc.
Resist: to fight against (something): to try to stop or prevent (something).
To turn out: to happen, end, or develop in a particular way.
Tendency: a quality that makes something likely
to happen or that makes someone likely to think or behave in a particular way.
To keep track (of) something: to watch or follow the progress of (someone or something).
Treadmill: an exercise machine that has a large
belt that moves around while a person walks or runs on it.
Flexible: capable of bending or being bent; 2. easily
changed; 3. able to change or to do different things.
Tip: to give useful or secret information to (someone).
Trade off: a situation in which you must choose
between or balance two things that are opposite or cannot be had at the same time;
2. something that you do not want but must accept in order to have something
that you want.
Goof off: to
spend time doing silly or playful things.
Grammar
Tip: everyday and every day
“The book is
called "Better Than Before: Mastering The Habits Of Our Everyday Lives.”
The words everyday and every day are often confused in English, even by native speakers. Everyday is an adjective that describes
a quality of something done daily. We place this word before the noun.
Everyday life is filled with great wonder
and great sorrow.
She removed her everyday clothes and put
on the beautiful new dress for the party.
Every day is used for something done each day. Placement
is usually at the end of the sentence.
I try to study English every day even if
it’s only for 5 minutes.
“May you live every day of your life.”―
Jonathan Swift
Discussion
questions:
1. How important
are habits in your life?
2. Do you have
any habits that you would like to change?
3. What are some
habits that you want to keep?
4. In the story,
the author says there are four types of people: upholders, questioners, obligers
and rebels. Which of these types are you?
5. Which of the
strategies mentioned in the story do you find most effective for making good
habits?
6. Are there any
strategies for forming good habits not mentioned in the story that work best
for you?
7. Would you buy
this book? Why or why not?
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