Page 96 - Interchange English 5

really quite simple just to give the F another leg. I was in the fifth grade
at the time. When I showed the card to my mother, she was very excited
FOR SAMPLE ONLY
to see the one good grade. She gave me a hug and a kiss. Everyone was
happy in my house until two nights later when the phone rang. My mother
answered it, listened, and then looked at me with blood in her eyes. She

told me that there were some things much worse than failing, and that
cheating was one of them. I tried to argue. I said that she was the one who
had told me to change my grades. That made her really angry, and she said
that I knew that’s not what she meant. Then she gave me a beating. Since
then, I have learned to make the grade, not change it on the report card.
(Adapted from Richard Nordquist)

a) When did the writer realize that he had to do something extra?
b) Why do you think the writer’s parents never told him how to raise his
grades?
c) What was his idea to raise the grade?
d) How was his idea – simple or difficult? Why?

e) What reason did the writer give his mother about changing his grade
(letter)?
f) What made his mother angry?

Let’s Create

Work in groups of five. Create a poster each to run a ‘Save Food’
campaign at your school.

NOUN VERB Time for Grammar
Complete the sentences with the correct question tags.

isn’t she does she aren’t you didn’t she did he
don’t they haven’t we isn’t it will he can’t they

1) You are a student, ………….. ?

2) Ms Jumila is from Panjab, ………….. ?
3) She doesn’t ride a bike, ………….. ?

88 Interchange Communicative English 5