b2 ยท applied-science

B2 Applied Science Part 6: Applied Science

Lesson 96 of 10 in this unit.

Sign in to save your progress and earn XP. You can still read every lesson as a guest.

๐Ÿ“– Reading Passage

Native audio

Uncle Hassan lets me run his spice stall every Saturday. I arrive at six, unfold the striped awning, and stack pyramids of paprika, cumin, and dried mint.Regulars ask for family blends, and I weigh them on the brass scale. Tourists photograph the colours and taste dates for free. At noon Hassan brings lentil soup, and we eat behind the sacks of rice. By sunset the cash box is heavy and my arms smell of cinnamon. Hassan counts the money, pays me fairly, and says trade is half maths, half kindness. The stall teaches more than trade. I have learned to guess what a customer wants from the way they look at the trays, and to say no politely when someone asks for a discount on fifty grams. I keep a small notebook of prices and note what sold out first. In winter the morning is cold, so Hassan brings a gas heater and we warm our hands between customers. He tells stories about his father, who sold the same spices from a cart near the bridge. When the market closes, we fold the awning, sweep the square, and load the boxes into a borrowed van. My arms ache, but the smell of cumin stays on my jacket all week, and I like it.

๐Ÿ“˜ Vocabulary

20 words from this lesson

tricky
Hard to deal with, complicated.
โ€œThey discussed tricky during the lesson.โ€
triumph
A conclusive success following an effort, conflict, or confrontation of obstacles; victory; conquest.
โ€œThey discussed triumph during the lesson.โ€
uber
; high-level; high-ranking.
โ€œThey discussed uber during the lesson.โ€
underwear
Clothes worn next to the skin, underneath outer clothing.
โ€œThey discussed underwear during the lesson.โ€
unto
Up to the time or degree that; until.
โ€œThey discussed unto during the lesson.โ€
viable
Able to live on its own (as for a newborn).
โ€œThey discussed viable during the lesson.โ€
waist
The part of the body between the pelvis and the stomach.
โ€œThey discussed waist during the lesson.โ€
welcomed
Having received a warm welcome.
โ€œThey discussed welcomed during the lesson.โ€
wit
The senses.
โ€œThe boy passed the examination with success.โ€
wreck
Something or someone that has been ruined.
โ€œThey discussed wreck during the lesson.โ€
absurd
Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly.
โ€œThey discussed absurd during the lesson.โ€
ambitious
Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
โ€œThey discussed ambitious during the lesson.โ€
amid
In the middle of; in the center of; surrounded by.
โ€œThey discussed amid during the lesson.โ€
annoyed
Troubled, irritated by something unwanted or unliked (an annoyance); vexed.
โ€œThey discussed annoyed during the lesson.โ€
appealing
Having appeal; attractive.
โ€œThey discussed appealing during the lesson.โ€
ballet
A classical form of dance.
โ€œThey discussed ballet during the lesson.โ€
bargain
An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds themself to transfer the right to some property for a consideration, and the other party binds themself to receive the property and pay the consideration.
โ€œThis carpet was a real bargain.โ€
binary
Being in one of two mutually exclusive states.
โ€œThey discussed binary during the lesson.โ€
blend
A mixture of two or more things.
โ€œThey discussed blend during the lesson.โ€
brake
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car.
โ€œThey discussed brake during the lesson.โ€

๐Ÿ“ Grammar Notes

This lesson practices clear paragraph structure: one main idea per paragraph, stated first, supported with two concrete details, and closed with a linking sentence. Prefer active verbs and precise nouns. Connect ideas with however for contrast, furthermore for addition, and therefore for consequence. Keep sentences under twenty-five words so each claim stays traceable to its evidence. Practice by labeling each sentence in the reading: underline the main verb, circle the time marker, and check that every they and it points to a named noun. Rewrite any three sentences in your own words while keeping tense and meaning intact. Theme: policy. Reading: The Weekend Market Stall.

Practice Exercises

Work through each exercise to complete this lesson.

1

What is indispensable to our lives, along ___h food and clothes, is housing.

2

What does 'tricky' mean?

3

What does 'triumph' mean?

4

What does 'uber' mean?

5

What does 'underwear' mean?

6

What does 'unto' mean?

7

What does 'viable' mean?

8

What does 'waist' mean?

9

Write a sentence using 'tricky'.

10

Summarize the passage in two sentences.

Discussion (0)

No comments yet. Ask a question or share what helped you.