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A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

On Friday night my husband David and I went to a surprise fiftieth birthday

party for our friend *Therese.

Her friend Janet arranged the party a few weeks ago, but Therese knew
nothing about it.

We all met at the restaurant at a quarter to seven. There were about 50 people.
We had a separate room at the back. Therese’s son asked Therese to come to
the restaurant at 7 o’clock. Just before seven we all stood in one corner of the
room and the lights were turned off. It wasn’t completely dark, but the room
looked empty from the door.

Therese’s son went to meet her and brought her to the room. He stood back
politely so she could go in first. And that’s when we all shouted, ‘Surprise!’

Therese was very surprised indeed. She jumped when she heard the voices.
Then we sang Happy Birthday and she understood what was happening. We all
had a delicious meal followed by a slice of chocolate birthday cake.

For her birthday, Therese got a beautiful patchwork quilt. There were lots of
squares and rectangles of colour. Some of the rectangles were family photos
printed onto material, so it’s a very special family quilt.

Therese enjoyed her evening despite the shock when she first arrived.

Pronunciation:

*Therese (tɛ-reez)
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Make questions for these answers:

Start your sentences with the words in the box.

Q. __________________________________
A. The party was on Friday night.

Q. __________________________________ Who?
A. The party was at 7 o’clock.
Whose?
Q. ___________________________________
What?
A. The party was at the restaurant.
What time?
Q. ___________________________________
A. It was Therese’s party. When?

Q. _____________________________________ Where?
A. Janet arranged the party.

Q. _______________________________________
A. Her gift was a quilt.

despite, regardless,

notwithstanding

Idiom: in spite of
Match words or phrases of similar meaning:

surprise not affected by

despite totally

quilt small piece of cloth

polite well mannered

completely unexpected

patch doona
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Fill the gap with the best word:

surprised despite quilt polite completely patch

1. They went for a picnic_________ the clouds.

2. I had a cough last week, but now it’s _____________ gone.

3. Mrs Fixit repaired her little boy’s pants with a colourful __________

4. Next winter I’m going to buy a new _________ for my bed.

5. That child is so ___________. He always says ‘please and’ ‘thank you’.

6. He was very ____________ to find a big package at his front door.

Finish these sentences with your own words:

1. She went for a walk despite _____________________________________

2. The gardener was very surprised _________________________________

3. Their quilt is ________________________________________________

4. He wore a patch over his eye because _____________________________

5. When the child had measles he was completely _______________________

6. That boy is not very polite. He___________________________________

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Across:

4. entirely

5. amazed

7. ........ pen is that?

Down:

1. bedcover

2, well mannered

3. She used the squares to

make a ............. quilt.

6. He is a good
dancer .............. his big feet.

Find the answers to the

crossword in the grid.

6 words

How many other words

can you
find? .....................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
...........
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Answer Key

Make questions for these answers:

Start your sentences with the words in the box.

Q. When was the party?

A. The party was on Friday night.

Q. What time was the party?

A. The party was at 7 o’clock.

Q. Where was the party?

A. The party was at the restaurant.

Q. Whose party was it?

A. It was Therese’s party.

Q. Who arranged the party?

A. Janet arranged the party.

Q. What was her gift?

A. Her gift was a quilt.

Match words or phrases of similar meaning:

surprise not affected by

despite totally

quilt small piece of cloth

polite well mannered

completely unexpected

patch doona
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Answer Key

Fill the gap with the best word:

surprised despite quilt polite completely patch

1. They went for a picnic despite the clouds.

2. I had a cough last week, but now it’s completely gone.

3. Mrs Fixit repaired her little boy’s pants with a colourful patch.

4. Next winter I’m going to buy a new quilt for my bed.

5. That child is so polite. He always says ‘please and’ ‘thank you’.

6. He was very surprised to find a big package at his front door.

Finish these sentences: (Suggested answers only)

1. She went for a walk despite ____the heat._________________

2. The gardener was very surprised _to find a spider on his hat.____

3. Their quilt is ______very warm and cosy. ___________

4. He wore a patch over his eye because __he injured it at work.___

5. When the child had measles he was completely __covered with spots.______

6. That boy is not very polite. He__ never says please or thank you._____
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Answer Key

Some other words found:

cubic /cub vet let bus

hip pit sea prised/ rise
gist spite/spit pig
seek