Commentary

1. House: (here) a boarding-house attached to and forming a portion of a public school. Also, the company of boys lodged in such a house. E.g. I'm as proud of the house as any one. I believe it's the best house in the school, out-and-out.

2. to take prep: to be in charge of preparation of lessons in a regular period at school.

3. to rag (coll.): to play practical jokes on; to treat roughly.

4. prefects: in some English schools senior boys to whom a certain amount of authority is given.

5. to have a hundred lines: copying text is a common penalty for misbehaviour in English and American schools.

Speech patterns

1. At school meals he had courteously declined to share jam and delicacies which the nearest to him offered.

Terry courteously declined the discussion and went to look for a spare chair in the room.

I decline to be intimidated.

Investment rates this autumn gradually fall into a decline.

2. It had been a day of subtle trials and ordeals.

Before finding his feet the artist had to pass through a terrible ordeal.

Spartacus emerged from the ordeal triumphantly.

Trying ordeals made Carrie harder but deep down her heart was still open to tenderness and love.

3. His extraordinary talent for delegating authority enabled him to combine laziness and efficiency in a way both marvellous and enviable.

The teeth enable the climber to scale a vertical wall by holding to the ice while pulling yourself upward.

She didn't have much air left, and she couldn't enable the control panel so she could direct the pod elsewhere.

’I'll ride over on horseback to enable a quick escape if needed’, she insisted.

Complete the following sentences using speech patterns:

1. But I shall not have any just grievance (nor shall I be dreadfully surprised) if you … so obviously unprofitable a proposition; and ask me to hurry up. 2. I shall feel that I have a just grievance if you … to become involved, without much hesitation. 3. Dumbledore interrupted in a firm voice. "This has been a terrible … for her. There will be no punishment”. 4. “My second piece of general advice,” said Moody loudly, inter­rupting him, “is to use a nice, simple spell that will … you to get what you need.”5. Harry needs to know who has put him through the … he has suffered tonight, and why. 6. His words … any comments.

1. Paraphrase the following sentences using Speech Patterns:

1. The man buried himself once more among the dusty volumes, looking for any spell that might give him an opportunity a hu­man to survive without oxygen. 2. "Harry, Harry, you're very confused, you've been through a dreadful trial, lie back down, now, we've got everything under control...". 3. I added that I shall not be surprised if he refuses to become involved in this monstrous Saga; and that now it is off my chest. 4. You need to solve the clue inside the egg - because it will tell you what the second task is, and give you a chance to prepare for it! 5. We said we had no objection to being photo'd full-length, but we preferred being taken the right way up, so we said No to his offer. 6. This useful discovery of Hermione’s would make his wand point due north, therefore allowing him to check whether he was going in the right direction within the maze.