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Music Festival Part 1 Mini-Story Lesson

Hi and welcome to the mini-story lesson for the conversation “Music Festival Part 1.” Okay, let’s get started with the story.

It was Sam the spider’s 30th birthday. None of his friends wished him a happy birthday.

“My friends forgot my birthday,” he said.

Tom and Melissa called Sam. They invited him to come to their house to watch a movie.

“The more the merrier,” said Tom.

Sam thought about the pros and cons of going to their house. It was a hassle because they lived ten miles away from his house. A taxi ride to their house would cost an arm and a leg. But he did not want to be alone on his birthday, so he decided to go.

He was running late because he had to spin some webs.

“Better late than never,” he said.

He arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house but no one was home. He wondered what the deal was. Then he saw all of his friends.

“Happy Birthday Sam!” they yelled.

Now Sam was happy. It was the best birthday he had ever had.

Okay, so that’s our story. Now I will read the story again and this time I will ask questions. You can answer the questions out loud and if you need a little more time, feel free to pause your iPod or your computer and then when you feel like you’ve had enough time to answer the question, then press play again. Of course, if you just feel like listening as I ask the questions and not answering, well that’s fine, too.

Okay, let’s get started.

It was Sam the spider’s 30th birthday.

Was it Sam’s 30th birthday?

Yes, it was. It was Sam’s 30th birthday.

What day was it?

Well, it was Sam’s 30th birthday, that’s what day it was.

Whose birthday was it?

Sam’s, it was Sam’s birthday.

Was it Bill’s birthday?

No, it wasn’t Bill’s birthday.

Was it Sam’s birthday?

Yes, yes, it was. It was Sam’s birthday.

How old was Sam?

Thirty years old, he was 30 years old.

Was he 30 or 20 years old?

Thirty, he was 30 years old.

Is Sam a spider or a butterfly?

A spider, Sam is a spider.

Is Sam a spider?

Yes, he is. Sam is a spider.

None of his friends wished him a happy birthday.

Did his friends wish him a happy birthday?

No, none of his friends wished him a happy birthday.

What did none of his friends do?

Wish him a happy birthday. None of his friends wished him a happy birthday.

None of whose friends wished him a happy birthday?

Sam’s, none of Sam’s friends wished him a happy birthday.

Did Sam’s friend Tom wish him a happy birthday?

No, no, none of Sam’s friends wished him a happy birthday, so that means Sam’s friend Tom did not wish him a happy birthday.

“My friends forgot my birthday,” he said.

Did he say that his friends forgot his birthday?

Yes, he did. He said, “My friends forgot my birthday.” Who forgot his birthday?

His friends, his friends forgot his birthday.

Did his parents forget his birthday?

No, not his parents.

Did his friends forget his birthday?

Yes, his friends, his friends forgot his birthday.

Whose birthday did they forget?

Sam’s, they forgot Sam’s birthday.

Did they forget Tom’s birthday?

No, not Tom.

Did they forget Sam’s birthday?

Yes, they forgot Sam’s birthday. He said they forgot my birthday.

What did his friends forget?

Well, Sam said they forgot his birthday, so they forgot Sam’s birthday.

Tom and Melissa called Sam.

Did Tom and Melissa call Sam?

Yes, they did. Tom and Melissa called Sam.

What did Tom and Melissa do?

They called Sam. Tom and Melissa called Sam.

Did Tom and Melissa write him a letter or call him?

They called him. Tom and Melissa called him.

Who called Sam?

Tom and Melissa, Tom and Melissa called Sam.

Did Bill and Hillary call Sam?

No, not Bill and Hillary.

Did Tom and Melissa call Sam?

Yes, yes, they did. Tom and Melissa called Sam.

Who did Tom and Melissa call?

Sam, they called Sam. Tom and Melissa called Sam.

They invited him to come to their house to watch a movie.

Did they invite him to come to their house to watch a movie?

Yes, they did. They invited him to come to their house to watch a movie.

What did they do?

Well, they invited him to come to their house to watch a movie.

Did they invite him to come to their house for dinner or for a movie?

A movie, they invited him to come to their house to watch a movie.

Who invited him to come to their house?

Tom and Melissa, Tom and Melissa invited him to come to their house.

Did Tom and Melissa invite him to come to their house?

Yes, they did. Tom and Melissa invited him to come to their house.

Who did they invite?

Sam, they invited Sam.

Did they invite Bill or Sam?

Sam, they invited Sam.

Why did they invite him to their house?

To watch a movie, they invited him to their house to watch a movie.

“The more the merrier,” said Tom.

What did Tom say?

Well, he said, “The more the merrier.”

Did Tom say if there are more people with him then it will be more fun?

Yes, he did. He said, “The more the merrier,” which is the same thing as saying the more people that are with him, then the more fun that it will be. The more the merrier means the more people that you are with, the more fun that you will have.

Did Tom think that it would be more fun if Sam came to his house?

Yes, he did. He said, “The more the merrier.” Sam thought about the pros and cons of going to their house.

Did Sam think about the pros and cons of going to their house?

Yes, he did. That’s what he did. He thought about the pros and cons of going to their house.

What did Sam think about?

The pros and cons of going to their house, he thought about the pros and cons of going to their house.

Did Sam think about the pros and cons of the weather?

No, it wasn’t about the weather that he was thinking about the pros and cons.

Did Sam think about the good points and the bad points?

Yes, he did. He thought about the pros and cons, which is the same thing as saying he thought about the good points and the bad points. The pros and cons are the good points and the bad points.

Who thought about the pros and cons?

Sam, Sam thought about the pros and cons.

Did Sam or Tom think about the pros and cons?

Sam, Sam did. Sam thought about the pros and cons.

What did Sam think about the pros and cons of?

Going to their house, he thought about the pros and cons of going to their house.

Did Sam think about the pros and cons of going to Paris?

No, he didn’t think of the pros and cons of going to Paris.

Did he think about the pros and cons of going to their house?

Yes, he did. He thought about the pros and cons of going to their house.

Did he think about the good and the bad points of going to their house?

Yes, he did. He thought about the pros and cons, which means that he thought about the good and the bad points. The pros and cons are the good and the bad points of something.

It was a hassle because they lived ten miles away from his house.

Was it a hassle because they lived ten miles away from his house?

Yes, it was. It was a hassle because they lived ten miles away from his house.

What was a hassle? Was going to their house or making dinner a hassle?

Going to their house was a hassle, because they lived so far away.

Was going to their house inconvenient?

Yes, it was. Going to their house was a hassle, which is the same thing as saying going to their house was inconvenient. Something that is a hassle is something that is inconvenient.

Why was it a hassle?

Well, it was a hassle because they lived ten miles away.

Was it inconvenient because they lived ten miles away from his house?

Yes, it was. It was a hassle because they lived ten miles away from his house, which is the same thing as saying it was inconvenient because they lived ten miles away from his house.

Who lived ten miles away from his house?

Tom and Melissa, Tom and Melissa lived ten miles away from his house.

Did Tom and Melissa live ten miles away from his house?

Yes, they did. Tom and Melissa lived ten miles away from his house.

Was it inconvenient to go to Tom and Melissa’s house?

Yes, it was. It was a hassle, which means that it was inconvenient.

How far away from his house did they live?

Ten miles, they lived ten miles away from his house.

Did they live ten miles or ten meters away from his house?

Ten miles, they lived ten miles away from his house.

How many miles away from his house did they live?

Ten, they lived ten miles away from his house.

Did Tom and Melissa live ten miles away from his house?

Yes, they did. They lived ten miles away from his house.

A taxi ride to their house would cost an arm and a leg.

Would a taxi ride to their house cost an arm and a leg?

Yes, it would. A taxi ride to their house would cost an arm and a leg.

Would a taxi ride to their house be cheap?

No, it would not be cheap. It would cost an arm and a leg.

Would a taxi ride to their house cost a lot of money?

Yes, it would. It would cost an arm and a leg, which is the same thing as saying it would cost a lot of money.

An arm and a leg means a lot of money.

What would cost an arm and a leg?

A taxi ride to their house, a taxi ride to their house would cost an arm and a leg.

Would a taxi ride to their house or a loaf of bread cost an arm and a leg?

A taxi ride to their house, not an arm and a leg.

Would a taxi ride to their house be expensive?

Yes, it would. It would cost an arm and a leg, which is the same thing as saying it would cost a lot of money or that it would be expensive. When something costs an arm and a leg it means that it is expensive.

But he did not want to be alone on his birthday, Did he want to be alone on his birthday?

No, no, he did not. He did not want to be alone on his birthday.

What did he not want?

To be alone on his birthday, he did not want to be alone on his birthday.

Who did not want to be alone on his birthday?

Sam, Sam did not want to be alone on his birthday.

When did he not want to be alone?

On his birthday, he did not want to be alone on his birthday.

so he decided to go.

Did he decide to go?

Yes, he did. He decided to go.

What did he decide?

To go, he decided to go.

Did he decide to stay or go?

Go, he decided to go.

Who decided to go?

Sam, Sam decided to go.

Did Tom or Sam decide to go?

Sam did. Sam decided to go.

Where did he decide to go?

To Tom and Melissa’s house, he decided to go to Tom and Melissa’s house.

Did he decide to go to Tom and Melissa’s house or to a dance club?

Tom and Melissa’s house, he decided to go to Tom and Melissa’s house.

Why did he decide to go?

Well, he decided to go because he did not want to be alone on his birthday.

He was running late because he had to spin some webs.

Was he running late?

Yes, he was. He was running late.

Was he late?

Yes, yes, he was. He was running late which is the same thing as saying he was late. Running late means to be late.

Who was running late?

Sam, Sam was running late.

Was Sam late?

Yes, he was. Sam was late, he was running late.

Did he have to spin some webs?

Yes, yes, he did. He had to spin some webs. To spin some webs here means he had to make some webs.

Spiders make webs to catch flies or bugs so Sam wanted to make some webs so he could catch some flies or some bugs probably.

Who had to spin some webs?

Sam, Sam had to spin some webs.

Did Sam or Tom have to spin some webs?

Sam, Sam had to spin some webs.

Why was Sam late?

Well, he was late because he had to spin some webs.

“Better late than never,” he said.

Did he say “Better late than never”?

Yes, he did. He said, “Better late than never.” Did he say that it was better to go late than not at all?

Yes, he said, “Better late than never.” Better late than never means better to go late than not to go at all.

Who said, “Better late than never”?

Sam, Sam said, “Better late than never.” Did Sam or Tom say “Better late than never”?

Sam did, Sam said, “Better late than never.” Did Sam say that it was better to go late than not to go at all?

Yes, he did. That’s what he said. He said, “Better late than never,” which is the same thing as saying better to go late than not to go at all. Better late than never means it’s better to go late than not to go at all.

He arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house but no one was home.

What did he do?

He arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Did he arrive at the library or at Tom and Melissa’s house?

At Tom and Melissa’s house, he arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Who arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house?

Sam, Sam arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Did Sam or Nathan arrive at Tom and Melissa’s house?

Sam did, Sam arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Whose house did he arrive at?

Tom and Melissa’s, he arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Did he arrive at his parents’ house?

No, he didn’t arrive at his parents’ house.

Did he arrive at Tom and Melissa’s house?

Yes, yes, he did. He arrived at Tom and Melissa’s house.

Was anybody home?

No, there wasn’t. There was no one home.

He wondered what the deal was.

Did he wonder what the deal was?

Yes, he did. He wondered what the deal was.

Did he wonder what was happening?

Yes, yes, he did. He wondered what the deal was, which is the same thing as saying he wondered what was happening.

Who wondered what the deal was?

Sam, Sam wondered what the deal was.

Did Tom or Sam wonder what the deal was?

Sam did. Sam wondered what the deal was.

Did Sam wonder what was happening?

Yes, he did. He wondered what the deal was, which is the same thing as saying he wondered what was happening. When you say what the deal was it’s the same thing as saying what was happening.

Then he saw all of his friends.

Did he see all of his friends?

Yes, he did. He saw all of his friends.

Who saw all of his friends?

Sam, Sam did. Sam saw all of his friends.

Did Tom see all of his friends?

No, it wasn’t Tom.

Did Sam see all of his friends?

Yes, he did. Sam did. Sam saw all of his friends.

What did he see?

All of his friends, he saw all of his friends.

Did he see a dog or all of his friends?

All of his friends, he saw all of his friends.

“Happy Birthday Sam!” they yelled.

Who yelled “Happy Birthday Sam!”?

His friends, Sam’s friends yelled “Happy Birthday Sam!” Did his friends wish him a happy birthday?

Yes, they did. They yelled “Happy Birthday Sam!”, so they wished him a happy birthday.

Who did they wish a happy birthday?

Sam, they wished Sam a happy birthday.

Now Sam was happy.

Was Sam angry?

No, he wasn’t angry.

Was Sam happy?

Yes, he was. Sam was happy.

Who was happy?

Sam, Sam was happy.

Was Sam or Tom happy?

Sam, Sam was happy.

It was the best birthday he had ever had.

Was it the worst birthday he had ever had?

No, it wasn’t the worst birthday he had ever had.

Was it the best birthday he had ever had?

Yes, it was. It was the best birthday he had ever had.

Had he ever had a better birthday?

No, no, he had not. It was the best birthday he had ever had.

Did Sam have a good birthday?

Yes, yes, he did. He had the best birthday he had ever had.

Okay, so that is the end of our story which means we are the end of the mini-story lesson for the conversation “Music Festival Part 1.” Now please tell the story on your own. Remember you do not need to remember every single word in the story but you do need to use the idioms and the vocabulary words that we discussed, and those were: “the more the merrier,” “pros and cons,” “hassle,” “an arm and a leg,” “running late,” “better late than never,” and “what the deal was.” Okay, so now try to tell the story on your own. Remember that you can listen to this mini-story lesson as many times as you need to, so if you need to listen to it a few more times, then go ahead.

Okay, that’s all for now. Thanks and we’ll see you next time.