• Siti from Solok

Dear Chanra,

How are you? I hope everything is going well. I wanted to tell you about a trip I made to Solok in West Sumatra last year. I travelled there with my family during the school holidays, and we spent several days exploring the area.

We arrived in Solok in the morning and checked into our hotel. After leaving our bags there, we set off to explore the town. We soon came across several rice fields, where farmers were working and looking after the crops. I took several photographs and watched them for a while because I wanted to understand more about their daily work.

That afternoon, we visited a nearby village. While we were walking around, we saw several traditional Minangkabau houses with unusual roofs. I had never seen houses like them before, so I took some pictures. We also stopped to talk to some local people, who told us about their everyday lives.

The next morning, we visited a local market. It was crowded and lively, with sellers offering vegetables, fruit and other local products. While I was looking at one of the stalls, I started talking to a girl named Siti. She told me that she lived in Solok and went to a school near the town centre. We talked about our schools, families and hobbies and soon discovered that we had several interests in common.

Later that day, Siti showed me some places near her home. We walked past rice fields and stopped at a small food shop. She recommended nasi kapau, which I had never tried before. I really enjoyed it, and we continued talking over tea.

Before I left Solok, I met Siti once more. We took some photographs together and exchanged contact details because we wanted to keep in touch.

The trip was very memorable, especially because I made a new friend. I hope I can visit Solok and see Siti again one day.

Best wishes,

Aisyah

_________________________

Vocabulary:

Word / phrase	A2 definition
to explore	to travel around a place to learn about it
to check into a hotel	to arrive at a hotel and get your room
a bag	something you use to carry clothes or other things
soon	after a short time
to come across	to find or see something by chance
several	more than two but not many
crops	plants that farmers grow for food
for a while	for a short period of time
daily work	the work that someone does every day
nearby	not far away
unusual roofs	roofs that are different from normal roofs
to be crowded	to have many people in a place
to be lively	to be full of activity and people
a seller	a person who sells things
vegetables	plants that people eat, such as carrots and beans
a local product	something made or grown in the area
a stall	a small place where someone sells things, often in a market
to discover	to find something or learn something for the first time
in common	shared by two or more people
to recommend	to tell someone that something is good and they should try it
to try food	to eat something for the first time
to enjoy	to like something and have a good time
to exchange contact details	to give your contact information to someone and get theirs
to keep in touch	to continue talking or communicating with someone
to be memorable	to be easy to remember because it was special or interesting
to make a friend	to become friends with someone

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Verbs, regular, irregular in text:

Infinitive	Past simple	A2 definition
be	was / were	to exist or to have a particular condition
hope	hoped	to want something good to happen
want	wanted	to have a wish for something
tell	told	to give someone information
travel	travelled	to go from one place to another
spend	spent	to use time doing something
explore	explored	to travel around a place to learn about it
arrive	arrived	to get to a place
check into	checked into	to arrive at a hotel and get your room
leave	left	to go away from a place
set off	set off	to start a journey
come across	came across	to find or see something by chance
work	worked	to do a job or activity
look after	looked after	to take care of someone or something
take	took	to get or carry something with you
watch	watched	to look at someone or something for some time
understand	understood	to know what something means
visit	visited	to go to a place or person for a short time
walk	walked	to move on foot
see	saw	to notice something with your eyes
have	had	to own or experience something
talk	talked	to speak with someone
live	lived	to have your home in a place
go	went	to move from one place to another
stop	stopped	to finish moving or doing something
start	started	to begin doing something
discover	discovered	to find or learn something for the first time
show	showed	to let someone see something
recommend	recommended	to tell someone that something is good
try	tried	to do or use something to see if you like it
enjoy	enjoyed	to like something and have a good time
continue	continued	to keep doing something
make	made	to create or cause something
meet	met	to see and spend time with someone
exchange	exchanged	to give something to someone and receive something from them
keep in touch	kept in touch	to continue communicating with someone
can	could	to be able to do something

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Match the word with the definition

1. to explore
2. to check into a hotel
3. a bag
4. soon
5. to come across
6. several
7. crops
8. for a while
9. daily work
10. nearby
11. unusual roofs
12. to be crowded
13. to be lively
14. a seller
15. vegetables
16. a local product
17. a stall
18. to discover
19. in common
20. to recommend
21. to try food
22. to enjoy
23. to exchange contact details
24. to keep in touch
25. to be memorable
26. to make a friend

Definitions

A. to continue talking or communicating with someone
B. something made or grown in the area
C. to find or see something by chance
D. plants that farmers grow for food
E. to arrive at a hotel and get your room
F. to become friends with someone
G. not far away
H. a person who sells things
I. to find something or learn something for the first time
J. to have many people in a place
K. to travel around a place to learn about it
L. to like something and have a good time
M. more than two but not many
N. a small place where someone sells things, often in a market
O. to eat something for the first time
P. after a short time
Q. shared by two or more people
R. to tell someone that something is good and they should try it
S. to be easy to remember because it was special or interesting
T. for a short period of time
U. the work that someone does every day
V. to give your contact information to someone and get theirs
W. to be full of activity and people
X. something you use to carry clothes or other things
Y. roofs that are different from normal roofs
Z. plants that people eat, such as carrots and beans

___________________________

Answer key:
1-K, 2-E, 3-X, 4-P, 5-C, 6-M, 7-D,
8-T, 9-U, 10-G, 11-Y, 12-J, 13-W, 14-H,
15-Z, 16-B, 17-N, 18-I, 19-Q, 20-R, 21-O,
22-L, 23-V, 24-A, 25-S, 26-F

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Match the definition with the word

1. to continue talking or communicating with someone
2. something made or grown in the area
3. to find or see something by chance
4. plants that farmers grow for food
5. to arrive at a hotel and get your room
6. to become friends with someone
7. not far away
8. a person who sells things
9. to find something or learn something for the first time
10. to have many people in a place
11. to travel around a place to learn about it
12. to like something and have a good time
13. more than two but not many
14. a small place where someone sells things, often in a market
15. to eat something for the first time
16. after a short time
17. shared by two or more people
18. to tell someone that something is good and they should try it
19. to be easy to remember because it was special or interesting
20. for a short period of time
21. the work that someone does every day
22. to give your contact information to someone and get theirs
23. to be full of activity and people
24. something you use to carry clothes or other things
25. roofs that are different from normal roofs
26. plants that people eat, such as carrots and beans

Words

A. vegetables
B. to be memorable
C. a stall
D. to enjoy
E. nearby
F. to recommend
G. a bag
H. to keep in touch
I. crops
J. to explore
K. a seller
L. several
M. to make a friend
N. unusual roofs
O. soon
P. to exchange contact details
Q. daily work
R. to try food
S. to discover
T. to check into a hotel
U. to be crowded
V. for a while
W. in common
X. to come across
Y. a local product
Z. to be lively

_________________________

Answer key:
1-H, 2-Y, 3-X, 4-I, 5-T, 6-M, 7-E, 8-K,
9-S, 10-U, 11-J, 12-D, 13-L, 14-C, 15-R,
16-O, 17-W, 18-F, 19-B, 20-V, 21-Q,
22-P, 23-Z, 24-G, 25-N, 26-A

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Fill in the correct past simple form

Last year, Aisyah ________ (go) to Solok in West Sumatra with her family during the school holidays.

After they ________ (arrive), they checked into their hotel.

They ________ (leave) their bags there before they set off to explore the town.

They soon ________ (come across) several rice fields.

There, they ________ (see) farmers working and looking after their crops.

Aisyah ________ (take) photographs and watched the farmers for a while.

That afternoon, the family ________ (go) to a nearby village.

They ________ (see) traditional Minangkabau houses with unusual roofs.

They also ________ (meet) local people in the village.

The local people ________ (tell) them about their everyday lives.

The next morning, Aisyah ________ (go) to a crowded market.

There, she ________ (meet) Siti, a girl from Solok.

They ________ (talk) about their schools, families and hobbies.

They ________ (discover) that they had several interests in common.

Later, Siti ________ (show) Aisyah places near her home.

She ________ (recommend) nasi kapau to Aisyah.

Aisyah ________ (try) it and enjoyed the meal.

Before she left Solok, she ________ (meet) Siti again.

They ________ (exchange) contact details so they could keep in touch.

Aisyah ________ (make) a new friend.

________________________

Correct version:

Last year, Aisyah went to Solok in West Sumatra with her family during the school holidays. After they arrived, they checked into their hotel and left their bags there before they set off to explore the town. They soon came across several rice fields, where they saw farmers working and looking after their crops. Aisyah took photographs and watched them for a while because she wanted to understand more about their daily work.

That afternoon, the family went to a nearby village. They saw traditional Minangkabau houses with unusual roofs and met local people who told them about their everyday lives.

The next morning, Aisyah went to a crowded market, where she met Siti, a girl from Solok. They talked about their schools, families and hobbies and discovered that they had several interests in common. Later, Siti showed Aisyah places near her home and recommended nasi kapau. Aisyah tried it and enjoyed the meal. Before she left Solok, she met Siti again, and they exchanged contact details so they could keep in touch. The trip was especially memorable because Aisyah made a new friend.

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Multiple choice, one answer correct

1. Why did Aisyah watch the farmers for a while?

a) She wanted to take photographs of the village.
b) She wanted to understand more about their daily work.
c) She wanted to talk to the local people.
d) She wanted to learn how to grow rice.

2. What did Aisyah and her family do after arriving in Solok?

a) They visited a local market.
b) They went to a nearby village.
c) They checked into their hotel.
d) They talked to some local people.

3. What did Aisyah see in the rice fields?

a) Farmers working with their crops.
b) Traditional houses near the fields.
c) Sellers preparing food for the market.
d) Children playing near the fields.

4. Why did Aisyah take photographs of the traditional houses?

a) Her family wanted to buy one.
b) Siti asked her to photograph them.
c) They were close to the market.
d) She had never seen houses like them before.

5. Where did Aisyah meet Siti?

a) At a local market.
b) At the family hotel.
c) In a nearby village.
d) At a small food shop.

6. What did Aisyah and Siti talk about?

a) Rice farming and local products.
b) Their schools, families and hobbies.
c) Hotels and places to visit.
d) Traditional houses and their roofs.

7. What did Siti do later that day?

a) She took Aisyah back to the hotel.
b) She introduced Aisyah to her family.
c) She showed Aisyah some places near her home.
d) She took Aisyah to another village.

8. What did Siti recommend to Aisyah?

a) A local vegetable dish.
b) A traditional market.
c) A type of local product.
d) Nasi kapau.

9. Why did Aisyah and Siti exchange contact details?

a) They wanted to keep in touch.
b) They wanted to visit the same school.
c) They planned to travel together.
d) They wanted to meet the local people again.

10. Why was the trip especially memorable for Aisyah?

a) She stayed in Solok for several weeks.
b) She visited many famous tourist places.
c) She made a new friend.
d) She learned how to work in the rice fields.

___________________________

Answer key:
1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d, 5-a, 6-b, 7-c, 8-d, 9-a, 10-c

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Put the events in order:

A. Aisyah tried nasi kapau.
B. Aisyah arrived in Solok.
C. Aisyah and Siti exchanged contact details.
D. Aisyah visited a nearby village.
E. Aisyah met Siti at a market.

F. Aisyah took photographs of the farmers.
G. Aisyah checked into the hotel.
H. Aisyah and Siti talked about their hobbies.
I. Siti showed Aisyah places near her home.
J. Aisyah met Siti again before leaving Solok.

___________________________

Answer key:
1-B, 2-G, 3-F, 4-A, 5-D, 6-C, 7-E, 8-H, 9-I, 10-J

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Information correction

1. Aisyah met Siti in a small food shop.
2. Aisyah travelled to Solok alone during the school holidays.
3. The family arrived in Solok in the afternoon.
4. Aisyah saw farmers working in a village.
5. The family visited a nearby village the next morning.
6. The traditional houses had ordinary roofs.
7. Siti lived in a nearby village.
8. Siti recommended a vegetable dish to Aisyah.

___________________________

Answer key:

1. Aisyah met Siti in a small food shop.
   Correct: Aisyah met Siti at a local market.
2. Aisyah travelled to Solok alone during the school holidays.
   Correct: Aisyah travelled to Solok with her family during the school holidays.
3. The family arrived in Solok in the afternoon.
   Correct: The family arrived in Solok in the morning.
4. Aisyah saw farmers working in a village.
   Correct: Aisyah saw farmers working in rice fields.
5. The family visited a nearby village the next morning.
   Correct: The family visited a nearby village that afternoon.
6. The traditional houses had ordinary roofs.
   Correct: The traditional houses had unusual roofs.
7. Siti lived in a nearby village.
   Correct: Siti lived in Solok.
8. Siti recommended a vegetable dish to Aisyah.
   Correct: Siti recommended nasi kapau to Aisyah.

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Vocabulary in Context – choose the correct meaning of the bold word or phrase in each sentence:

1. “Then they set off to explore the town.”

a) stopped travelling
b) started their journey
c) returned to the hotel
d) changed their plans

2. “We soon came across several rice fields.”

a) found them by chance
b) left them quickly
c) worked in them
d) travelled away from them

3. “I watched them for a while.”

a) for the whole day
b) for many weeks
c) for a short period
d) until the evening

4. “That afternoon, we visited a nearby village.”

a) very large
b) difficult to reach
c) far from Solok
d) not far away

5. “The market was crowded and lively.”

a) quiet and empty
b) full of activity and people
c) small and difficult to find
d) closed to local people

6. “We discovered that we had several interests in common.”

a) interests we both shared
b) interests we wanted to change
c) interests that belonged to other people
d) interests we did not understand

7. “She recommended nasi kapau.”

a) asked Aisyah to cook it
b) explained how to prepare it
c) told Aisyah that she should try it
d) said that she had never eaten it

8. “We exchanged contact details because we wanted to keep in touch.”

a) forgot each other’s names
b) gave each other their contact information
c) visited each other’s homes
d) talked about their contact details

9. “The trip was very memorable.”

a) difficult to plan
b) easy to forget
c) expensive and unusual
d) easy to remember because it was special

10. “I really enjoyed it.”

a) I liked it and had a good time.
b) I wanted to prepare it myself.
c) I thought it was difficult to eat.
d) I decided not to eat it.

_______________________
Answer key:

1. Then they set off to explore the town. – started their journey
2. We soon came across several rice fields. – found them by chance
3. I watched them for a while. – a short period
4. That afternoon, we visited a nearby village. – not far away
5. The market was crowded and lively. – full of activity and people
6. We discovered that we had several interests in common. – interests we both shared
7. She recommended nasi kapau. – told Aisyah that she should try it
8. We exchanged contact details because we wanted to keep in touch. – gave each other their contact information
9. The trip was very memorable. – easy to remember because it was special
10. I really enjoyed it. – I liked it and had a good time

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Cause and result – match the cause with the result:

A. Aisyah and her family arrived in Solok in the morning.

YOU WRITE:
They checked into their hotel.

B. Aisyah wanted to understand more about the farmers‘ daily work.
C. Aisyah had never seen traditional Minangkabau houses before.
D. The family visited a nearby village that afternoon.
E. Aisyah met Siti at the local market.
F. Aisyah and Siti talked about their schools, families and hobbies.
G. Siti showed Aisyah some places near her home.
H. Siti recommended nasi kapau to Aisyah.
I. Aisyah really enjoyed the nasi kapau.
J. Aisyah and Siti wanted to keep in touch.

1. They exchanged contact details.
2. They saw traditional Minangkabau houses.
3. Aisyah and Siti talked over tea.
4. Aisyah watched the farmers for a while.
5. They checked into their hotel.
6. They walked around places near Siti’s home.
7. Aisyah took some pictures of the houses.
8. They discovered that they had several interests in common.
9. Aisyah tried the local dish.
10. They stopped at a small food shop.

_________________________

Answer:
A–5, B–4, C–7, D–2, E–8, F–3, G–6, H–10, I–9, J–1

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Find vvidence in the text

1. Find a phrase that shows Aisyah did not travel to Solok by herself.
2. Find a phrase that tells us when the family reached Solok.
3. Find a phrase that shows the family did not take their bags with them when they went exploring.
4. Find a phrase that shows people were busy working in the fields.
5. Find a phrase that explains why Aisyah spent time watching the farmers.
6. Find a phrase that shows the houses looked different from the ones Aisyah knew.
7. Find a phrase that tells us where Aisyah first got to know Siti.
8. Find a phrase that shows Aisyah and Siti liked some of the same things.
9. Find a phrase that shows Siti thought nasi kapau was worth trying.
10. Find a phrase that shows the two girls did not want their friendship to end with the trip.

________________________
Answers:

1. Find a phrase that shows Aisyah did not travel to Solok by herself.
   Answer: “I travelled there with my family”
2. Find a phrase that tells us when the family reached Solok.
   Answer: “We arrived in Solok in the morning”
3. Find a phrase that shows the family did not take their bags with them when they went exploring.
   Answer: “After leaving our bags there”
4. Find a phrase that shows people were busy working in the fields.
   Answer: “where farmers were working and looking after the crops”
5. Find a phrase that explains why Aisyah spent time watching the farmers.
   Answer: “because I wanted to understand more about their daily work”
6. Find a phrase that shows the houses looked different from the ones Aisyah knew.
   Answer: “I had never seen houses like them before”
7. Find a phrase that tells us where Aisyah first got to know Siti.
   Answer: “While I was looking at one of the stalls”
8. Find a phrase that shows Aisyah and Siti liked some of the same things.
   Answer: “we had several interests in common”
9. Find a phrase that shows Siti thought nasi kapau was worth trying.
   Answer: “She recommended nasi kapau”
10. Find a phrase that shows the two girls did not want their friendship to end with the trip.
    Answer: “we wanted to keep in touch”

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Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN……………

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