Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) Use of English Part Four Idioms Reversi Game

Idioms in B2 First Use of English Part Four Reversi game

 

Instructions for teachers

Photocopy and cut up one copy per group of two to four students, then make one extra copy for students to keep for reference. When you cut up the playing cards, make sure that the two halves of the same card next to each other aren’t split, making 18 cards. Give one set of cards to each group of students and ask them to fold the cards so that there are phrases meaning the same on either side of all 18 cards. They should then spread their cards across the table (any way they like, with either side up). The first student guesses what is on the other side of any of the cards, then turns that card over to check. If they guess correctly, they can try to do the same for another card. Cards which have been guessed correctly stay the other way up to be transformed the other way round the next time. Whenever the student says something that isn’t written on the other side of the card that they chose, play passes to the next student. They then do the same, working on the same cards or different ones as they like.

The winner could be the person with the longest chain of correct guesses without making a mistake during the game, or you can ask them to keep a total score of all the points they get during the game. 

If students get discouraged because their scores are not going up and/ or the game is not progressing quickly enough, you can let students work together instead of competing (but with the same rules).

When they finish the game, take back the cards and give them the last worksheet for more realistic practice of this part of the exam. When they have finished, give them an extra copy of the playing cards worksheet each (not cut up this time) for them to check their answers with and keep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cards to cut up/ Suggested answers

I started a new hobby	I took up a new hobby.	I’ve really had enough of…!	I can’t put up with… any longer.
You can decide.	It’s up to you.	I really don’t know.	I have no idea.
He hasn’t mentioned… at all.	He hasn’t said a word about…	I have great respect for him.	I look up to him.
I’d rather not go to…	I don’t feel like going to…	He is similar to his father.	He takes after his father.
I was to blame.	It was my fault.	I collected the visitors.	I picked the visitors up.
It’s really not worth asking…	There’s no point (in) asking…	He didn’t listen to my advice.	He took no notice of my advice.
She got angry with me.	She lost her temper with me.	There are none left.	We’ve run out/ sold out.
I spent a long time waiting.	I waited for ages.	I thought… was a good idea.	I was in favour of…
We cancelled the meeting.	We called the meeting off.	I can’t wait to…	I’m really looking forward to….
I did it by accident.	I didn’t mean to do it.	I couldn’t think of an idea.	I couldn’t come up with an idea.
It is likely that…	There is a good chance that…	If…, please contact me.	If…, please get in touch.
We will investigate the problem.	We will look into the problem.	We continued studying.	We carried on studying.

 

Use of English Part Four idioms sentence transformations practice

Write a sentence with the same meaning as the one given using the key word. Do not change the key word in any way. Other sentences not on the cards above may also be possible.

 

I started a new hobby

UP

 

I’ve really had enough of…!

UP

 

You can decide.

UP

 

I really don’t know.

NO

 

He hasn’t mentioned… at all.

WORD

 

I have great respect for him.

UP

 

I’d rather not go to…

FEEL

 

He is similar to his father.

AFTER

 

I was to blame.

FAULT

 

I collected the visitors.

UP

 

It’s really not worth asking…

POINT

 

He didn’t listen to my advice.

NOTICE

 

She got angry with me.

TEMPER

 

There are none left.

OUT

 

 

I spent a long time waiting.

AGES

 

I thought… was a good idea.

FAVOUR

 

We cancelled the meeting.

OFF

 

I can’t wait to…

LOOKING

 

I did it by accident.

MEAN

 

I couldn’t think of an idea.

UP

 

It is likely that…

CHANCE

 

If…, please contact me.

TOUCH

 

We will investigate the problem.

LOOK

 

We continued studying.

ON

 

Check your answers with a copy of the cards. Other answers might be possible, so please check if you wrote something different.