Illustrated Everyday Expressions with Stories 1 – Lesson 8 MCQ Test

Lesson 8 – The Foolish Brahman

Idioms

get to = arrive at; reach

When he got to the house, it was snowing.
Just ring the bell when you get to the door.
I got to the store before it closed.

A: How do you get to school everyday?
B: I take the bus.

get together = gather; meet

Everyone said that they should get together.
We often got together at the cafe.
Let’s get together on Friday night.

A: Let’s get together on Saturday.
B: Okay! Maybe we can go to a movie together.

get up = get out of bed; leave bed after sleeping

It’s hard for him to get up in the morning.
I have to get up early to catch the train.
Time to get up!

A: What time do you get up?
B: Usually at 7:30, but on weekends I get up later.

get well = become healthy; get over an illness

He received a get-well card.
I hope you get well!
She got well faster than anticipated.

A: My sister is sick, so I’m going to bring her some medicine.
B: Tell her I hope she gets well soon.

give a hand = help; assist; lend a hand

Can someone give me a hand with this?
He gave her a hand with the yard work.
They gave the boy a hand with the big box.

A: This table is really heavy. Can you give me a hand moving it?
B: Sure, I can help you.

give away = donate; hand out

He gave away his last dollar.
I wanted to sell my old radio, but I think I will just give it away.
The company gave away free samples.

A: Wow! You have a lot of books!
B: I have too many. I think I should give away a lot of them.

give back = return; hand back

He had to give back the stolen money.
When are you going to give back my CD?
She borrowed my car, but she hasn’t given it back.

A: Can I borrow your bicycle?
B: Yes, as long as you give it back by five 0’clock.

give it a try = try it; give it a go; give it a shot

Why don’t you give it a try?
She decided to give it a try.
I haven’t played golf, but I’ll give it a try.

A: Have you had Mexican food?
B: No, but I’d like to give it a try sometime.

give up = stop; abandon

He should give up smoking.
She did not give up hope of finding her dog.
Don’t give up! Keep trying!

A: Learning to play the guitar is really hard.
B: Don’t give up! You will learn if you keep practicing.

go away = leave a place; get away

Go away!
Please don’t go away.
I hope your stomachache will go away soon.

A: What a gloomy day!
B: Yeah. I wish those clouds would go away.

go off = leave; go somewhere with a purpose

The camel went off across the desert to find water.
Dorothy went off to have her car washed.
She went off without even saying goodbye.

A: Why is Mrs. Jones crying?
B: Her son went off to fight in the war.

go on = continue; not stop; last

The road goes on for many miles.
This cold weather has gone on for too long!
The argument went on for a few minutes.

A: This movie was really boring.
B: Yes,it just seemed to go on for hours.

go on a picnic = bring some food and eat it outside

He is going on a picnic.
Let’s go on a picnic.
I haven’t gone on a picnic for years.

A: What do you want to do this weekend?
B: It’s going to be sunny on Saturday, so I’d like to go on a picnic.

grow up = become an adult; mature

When he grows up, he will be a strong lion.
I grew up in a China and then moved to America.
My son has grown up so fast.

A: What kind of job do you want to have when you grow up?
B: Actually, I would like to become a dentist.

had better = should; ought to

If you want to work here. you had better get a haircut!
You‘d better not work too late.
She had better study if she wants to pass the test.

A: Do you want to play computer games with me?
B: I’d like to, but I‘d better finish my homework.

hand in = give in; submit

After 60 minutes. the students had to hand in their tests.
Please hand in the report by Friday.
Even though she wasn’t finished, she had to hand in the project.

A: What are you writing?
B: I’m writing an essay that I have to hand in to my teacher tomorrow.

hang up = put away something, especially clothes, on a hook or hanger

Hang up your coat on the wall.
Please hang up your wet towels!
Jerry hung up his Elvis costume after the show.

A: Where should I put my jacket?
B: You can hang it up in the closet.

have a good time = enjoy oneself; have fun

The aliens like to have a good time.
The tourists had a good time in Paris.
I had a good time at the party.

A: Have a good time at the birthday party!
B: Thanks, I think it will be fun.

have no idea = don’t know; not have a clue

I have no idea why he is wearing this.
She has no idea when the meeting is.
They had no idea that the earth was round.

A: I have no idea how to use this digital camera.
B: Read the instruction booklet. That’ll help you.

have to do with = be closely connected with; be related to

These symbols all have to do with mathematics.
The newspaper article has to do with the Queen’s visit to Africa.
The mother hoped that her son had nothing to do with the broken window.

A: What does math have to do with real life?
B: Well, studying math helps us to add and subtract money, and many other things.

THE FOOLISH BRAHMAN 

In India, there are different levels in society. Children are born into the level of their parents, and as they grow up, they cannot change their level. The people at the top level are called Brahmans. This story has to do with a foolish Brahman who wasted his good luck.

One day, an old man wanted to give away a pot of rice. He decided to bring it to the Brahman. The Brahman was very pleased. He knew that he could either eat the rice or sell it.

He went off to the hills with the pot to find a quiet place to think. Then, it began to rain. The Brahman thought he had better find shelter.

The Brahman saw a small house. When he got to the door, he gave it a try and it opened. Inside the little house were many clay pots. The Brahman thought that this must be a potter’s house, but he had no idea where the potter was. He sat down and thought about his pot of rice.

The Brahman thought that he could sell the rice. With that money, he could then buy some of the pots in the house. The Brahman then went on to imagine selling those pots for more money. With the money from the pots, he imagined buying nuts and silk and then selling these also.

Next, the Brahman imagined getting married. He would have at least four wives. They could give him a hand in raising all of his children. If he got sick, each of his wives would care for him until he got well again.

The Brahman was very excited! He could not give up the idea of how rich the little pot of rice would make him. He could not sleep, so he got up and began to walk around the room. There was a walking stick hanging up next to the door. He took it down and walked with it. The Brahman was having a good time thinking about his fortune.

The Brahman would get together with all of his wives and children and go on a picnic. He would sit with his most beautiful wife. Then the other wives might start to argue because they were jealous. The Brahman would not allow this! He would punish his wives if they argued in front of him!

With that thought, the Brahman swung the walking stick he was holding. The stick hit several of the pots and broke them. Just then the potter returned. It was the old man who had given him the rice! The old man demanded that the Brahman pay for the pots. If not, he would hand him in to the police. The Brahman had no money, so he was forced to give back the rice as payment and he went away with nothing.