One way or another, Norman imagined that other people regarded him as an underachiever. He became obsessed by what his colleagues at the supermarket might call him when he was not listening. What about Norman Nobody or Norman Nothing in Particular. Norman was a man who was of the opinion that life had not treated him fairly. Story starts at minute 9:37
1) talk things over with
2) kept in good shape
3) push himself
4) (feel) over the moon
5) took a deep breath
6) taken it for granted
The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) have been taken out (unless the word begins with a vowel). Read the definition and guess the word in bold.
1) achvmnt n. (something difficult you managed to de)
2) dscssn n. (talking among people)
3) rd v. (opposite of polite)
4) rcgnsd (saw somebody and knew who they were)
5) cmpttr n. (somebody in a competition)
6) otstnding adj. (exceptional, very good)
7) trgc adj. (very sad)
8) prftbl adj. (a way that earns you money)
9) gggls n. (worn over the eyes when swimming)
10) astnshd adj. (very surprised)
1) talk things over with
Norman lived with the disadvantage of having nobody to talk things over with. His wife had left him ten years earlier
2) kept in good shape
Norman kept in fairly good shape. It probably went back to his cross-country running days at school. He went jogging about three times a week
3) push himself
He was not sure why, but he began to push himself. In an attempt to improve his length times, he began to train more regularly.
4) (feel) over the moon
‘I was watching you… your swimming… you’re pretty quick!’
Norman, feeling quite over the moon that somebody had actually praised him for something
5) took a deep breath
Dressed only in his stylish slim fit swimming trunks with matching bathing cap and the coolest goggles money could buy, Norman Newbury took a deep breath and walked out into the swimming pool area.
6) taken it for granted
He had taken it for granted that this was to be a serious event. However, none of the other competitors had turned out like him. He was irritated to see that they were mostly wearing ridiculous costumes.
1) achievement n. (something difficult you managed to de)
2) discussion n. (talking among people)
3) rude v. (opposite of polite)
4) recognised (saw somebody and knew who they were)
5) competitor n. (somebody in a competition)
6) outstanding adj. (exceptional, very good)
7) tragic adj. (very sad)
8) profitable adj. (a way that earns you money)
9) goggles n. (worn over the eyes when swimming)
10) astonished adj. (very surprised)
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