A1

A birthday picnic email

About this lesson

A birthday picnic email · A1. Keep the requested person, time, place or amount attached to the correct event. Keep the stated condition or permission; a rule does not prove that an event happened.

Read the original English material and answer with evidence. The level is an editorial guide, not a certified result.

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A birthday picnic email — context illustration
ReadingA1

A birthday picnic email

Read the original English material and answer with evidence. The level is an editorial guide, not a certified result.

Hi Sam,

My birthday picnic is this Sunday. I first said Saturday, but my sister is working that day. Please come to the small gate of Willow Park at eleven. I will wait there with a yellow bag. We can walk to the picnic table together. The table is near the lake, not near the playground.

I am bringing bread, cheese and fruit. Can you bring paper cups? There is drinking water in the park, so we do not need to carry bottles from home. Tom is making a cake. He is taking it on the bus because his bicycle has a problem.

Please bring a jacket. The park can be cold in the morning. If it rains, we will use my flat instead. I will send a message before nine on Sunday if we must change the place. Please tell me by Friday if you can come. I need to know how much food to buy.

See you soon, Maya

A little clarity first

Stated details · Reasons · Conditions and permissions

Keep the requested person, time, place or amount attached to the correct event. Use the reason actually given; a plausible reason from outside the text is not enough. Keep the stated condition or permission; a rule does not prove that an event happened.

The doors open at eight. The class starts at nine.

Purpose and intended outcome

Ask what the person or message is trying to achieve, and for whom.

This note tells visitors where to wait.

Learning material
A birthday picnic email — context illustration
ReadingA1

A birthday picnic email

Read the original English material and answer with evidence. The level is an editorial guide, not a certified result.

Hi Sam,

My birthday picnic is this Sunday. I first said Saturday, but my sister is working that day. Please come to the small gate of Willow Park at eleven. I will wait there with a yellow bag. We can walk to the picnic table together. The table is near the lake, not near the playground.

I am bringing bread, cheese and fruit. Can you bring paper cups? There is drinking water in the park, so we do not need to carry bottles from home. Tom is making a cake. He is taking it on the bus because his bicycle has a problem.

Please bring a jacket. The park can be cold in the morning. If it rains, we will use my flat instead. I will send a message before nine on Sunday if we must change the place. Please tell me by Friday if you can come. I need to know how much food to buy.

See you soon, Maya

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Questions
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.

A birthday picnic email

On which day is the picnic now?

Your answer
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Your learning route

01
Step 1 · Warm-up

Warm-up

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02
Step 2 · Build the skill

Stated details · Conditions and permissions

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Keep the requested person, time, place or amount attached to the correct event. Keep the stated condition or permission; a rule does not prove that an event happened.

The doors open at eight. The class starts at nine.
03
Step 3 · Build the skill

Purpose and intended outcome

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Ask what the person or message is trying to achieve, and for whom.

This note tells visitors where to wait.
04
Step 4 · Build the skill

Stated details · Reasons · Conditions and permissions

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Keep the requested person, time, place or amount attached to the correct event. Use the reason actually given; a plausible reason from outside the text is not enough. Keep the stated condition or permission; a rule does not prove that an event happened.

The doors open at eight. The class starts at nine.
05
Step 5 · Related practice

Related practice

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Step 6 · Text challenge

Text challenge

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Practice notes in this unit

Make mistakes useful.

Keep your first attempt, check the evidence and try another question. A follow-up on the same material does not prove transfer to a new text.

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No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.

Lesson map

A birthday picnic email

A1
A birthday picnic email

Lesson points

01

Stated details · Reasons · Conditions and permissions

Keep the requested person, time, place or amount attached to the correct event. Use the reason actually given; a plausible reason from outside the text is not enough. Keep the stated condition or permission; a rule does not prove that an event happened.

The doors open at eight. The class starts at nine.
02

Purpose and intended outcome

Ask what the person or message is trying to achieve, and for whom.

This note tells visitors where to wait.

Questions & answers

Opening an answer records help for that question.

D01 · Warm-up

A birthday picnic email

On which day is the picnic now?

  1. Saturday.
  2. Sunday.
  3. Monday.
  4. Friday.
Answer & explanation
Sunday.

Answer: “Sunday.”. Evidence: “My birthday picnic is this Sunday. I first said Saturday, but my sister is working that day.”. Check “Saturday.”: This was the earlier plan, not the final one.

D02 · Warm-up

A birthday picnic email

Why was Saturday changed?

  1. The park is closed.
  2. Maya’s sister is working.
  3. Sam cannot use his bicycle.
  4. Tom cannot make a cake.
Answer & explanation
Maya’s sister is working.

Answer: “Maya’s sister is working.”. Evidence: “I first said Saturday, but my sister is working that day.”. Check “Sam cannot use his bicycle.”: This gives the action or role to the wrong person or group. Evidence: “He is taking it on the bus because his bicycle has a problem.”.

D03 · Warm-up

A birthday picnic email

At the start of the planned park picnic, where should Sam meet Maya?

  1. At the small park gate.
  2. At the bus stop.
  3. At Maya’s flat.
  4. At the playground.
Answer & explanation
At the small park gate.

Answer: “At the small park gate.”. Evidence: “Please come to the small gate of Willow Park at eleven.”. Check “At Maya’s flat.”: This changes or leaves out a condition in the text. Evidence: “If it rains, we will use my flat instead.”.

P01 · Build the skill

A birthday picnic email

What will help Sam recognise Maya?

  1. A red bicycle.
  2. Her birthday cake.
  3. Her yellow bag.
  4. A paper cup.
Answer & explanation
Her yellow bag.

Answer: “Her yellow bag.”. Evidence: “I will wait there with a yellow bag.”. Check “Her birthday cake.”: This is not the item named for this action. Evidence: “Tom is making a cake.”.

P02 · Build the skill

A birthday picnic email

Where is the picnic table?

  1. Near the lake.
  2. Beside the bus station.
  3. Near the playground.
  4. Inside Maya’s flat.
Answer & explanation
Near the lake.

Answer: “Near the lake.”. Evidence: “The table is near the lake, not near the playground.”. Check “Near the playground.”: This says the opposite of the relevant detail.

P03 · Build the skill

A birthday picnic email

Why is Maya writing this email?

  1. To ask Sam to repair Tom’s bicycle.
  2. To ask Sam to make the birthday cake.
  3. To give Sam the arrangements for her birthday picnic.
  4. To replace the picnic with a bicycle-repair day.
Answer & explanation
To give Sam the arrangements for her birthday picnic.

Answer: “To give Sam the arrangements for her birthday picnic.”. Evidence: “My birthday picnic is this Sunday. I first said Saturday, but my sister is working that day. Please come to the small gate of Willow Park at eleven.”. Check “To ask Sam to repair Tom’s bicycle.”: This is not what the message or text is mainly trying to do.

P04 · Build the skill

A birthday picnic email

Why do they not need to carry water from home?

  1. They will buy only juice.
  2. Nobody wants a drink.
  3. The cups already contain water.
  4. Drinking water is available in the park.
Answer & explanation
Drinking water is available in the park.

Answer: “Drinking water is available in the park.”. Evidence: “There is drinking water in the park, so we do not need to carry bottles from home.”. Check “Nobody wants a drink.”: The text does not give this detail. Do not add it.

R01 · Related practice

A birthday picnic email

How will Tom carry the cake to the picnic?

  1. On foot from the playground.
  2. In Maya’s car.
  3. On the bus.
  4. On his bicycle.
Answer & explanation
On the bus.

Answer: “On the bus.”. Evidence: “He is taking it on the bus because his bicycle has a problem.”. Check “On foot from the playground.”: This gives a different detail from the one asked for.

R02 · Related practice

A birthday picnic email

Why does Maya suggest a jacket?

  1. Rain is certain all day.
  2. The park may be cold in the morning.
  3. The flat has no heating.
  4. They will swim in the lake.
Answer & explanation
The park may be cold in the morning.

Answer: “The park may be cold in the morning.”. Evidence: “The park can be cold in the morning.”. Check “Rain is certain all day.”: This makes the statement wider or stronger than the text allows.

R03 · Related practice

A birthday picnic email

Where will they meet if it rains?

  1. At Tom’s house.
  2. At the library.
  3. At the playground.
  4. At Maya’s flat.
Answer & explanation
At Maya’s flat.

Answer: “At Maya’s flat.”. Evidence: “If it rains, we will use my flat instead.”. Check “At the library.”: This is not the place given for this action.

X01 · Text challenge

A birthday picnic email

When will Maya send a message if the meeting place must change?

  1. Before nine on Sunday.
  2. Before nine on Friday.
  3. After eleven on Sunday.
  4. After the picnic ends.
Answer & explanation
Before nine on Sunday.

Answer: “Before nine on Sunday.”. Evidence: “I will send a message before nine on Sunday if we must change the place.”. Check “Before nine on Friday.”: This is not the day stated for this event. Evidence: “Please tell me by Friday if you can come.”.

X02 · Text challenge

A birthday picnic email

Why does Maya want a reply by Friday?

  1. To book a bus for everyone.
  2. To decide how much food to buy.
  3. To choose a birthday date.
  4. To repair Tom’s bicycle.
Answer & explanation
To decide how much food to buy.

Answer: “To decide how much food to buy.”. Evidence: “Please tell me by Friday if you can come. I need to know how much food to buy.”. Check “To book a bus for everyone.”: The text does not give this detail. Do not add it.