Dec 02 2016
Intro
In June 2016, there was a vote in Britain. The big question was:
Should Britain stay in theEuropean Union? The outcome of this
vote surprised many people. The majority of
British voters wanted to get out of the EU. Now, Britain must go
through a process to leave the EU. This process is being called Brexit. The word
Brexit combines the word Britain with exit.
Many people look back on this vote and want to know what happened. In fact, there was a large divergence of opinions inside Britain during the vote. England and Wales strongly wanted Brexit, but Ireland and Scotland wanted to stay in the EU. The majority of younger voters wanted to stay in the EU, too. With so many dynamic opinions, it will be interesting to watch Brexit happen.
Andy and Gary were both surprised by Brexit. Hear their thoughts in today’s English lesson.
Many people look back on this vote and want to know what happened. In fact, there was a large divergence of opinions inside Britain during the vote. England and Wales strongly wanted Brexit, but Ireland and Scotland wanted to stay in the EU. The majority of younger voters wanted to stay in the EU, too. With so many dynamic opinions, it will be interesting to watch Brexit happen.
Andy and Gary were both surprised by Brexit. Hear their thoughts in today’s English lesson.
Dialogue
Gary: Do you remember where you were when the news came through,
Andy?
Andy_H: Oh, I remember.
Gary: Brexit 2016!
Andy_H: Brexit, Brexit, Brexit! What a strange and unimaginable outcome.
Gary: Well, what’s really interesting to look back on is, when England went through the process of joining the European Union, it was a process to get people to vote and to support becoming a part of it because England didn’t want to be.
Andy_H: Exactly!
Gary: But the recent vote that took place had a really dynamic divergence of voting for and voting against.
Andy_H: …and voting against. And what’s really interesting is that anoverwhelming majority of Millennials voted against Brexit. They wanted to be a part of the EU.
Gary: Now, they have two years, once they declare Article 50, to get out of the EU. So, it’s this huge, long process even though it’s quote, unquote done.
Andy_H: Oh, I remember.
Gary: Brexit 2016!
Andy_H: Brexit, Brexit, Brexit! What a strange and unimaginable outcome.
Gary: Well, what’s really interesting to look back on is, when England went through the process of joining the European Union, it was a process to get people to vote and to support becoming a part of it because England didn’t want to be.
Andy_H: Exactly!
Gary: But the recent vote that took place had a really dynamic divergence of voting for and voting against.
Andy_H: …and voting against. And what’s really interesting is that anoverwhelming majority of Millennials voted against Brexit. They wanted to be a part of the EU.
Gary: Now, they have two years, once they declare Article 50, to get out of the EU. So, it’s this huge, long process even though it’s quote, unquote done.
Discussion
Gary asks Andy about Brexit. Although Andy and Gary live in the
US, they still have many opinions about the outcome of this
vote in Britain. Like most people, they were very surprised when Britain
decided to get out of the EU. They didn’t think that
the majority of people
were going to vote this way. In fact, Andy calls the result quote, unquote “unimaginable.”
Gary tells Andy that, now that Brexit is a reality, Britain will have two years to leave the European Union after they declare Article 50. Both Andy and Gary are interested to watch the process that will happen during these two years. Since there are so many divergent opinions, it will probably not be an easy process.
Did your country ever separate from another country? How do you feel about Brexit?
Gary tells Andy that, now that Brexit is a reality, Britain will have two years to leave the European Union after they declare Article 50. Both Andy and Gary are interested to watch the process that will happen during these two years. Since there are so many divergent opinions, it will probably not be an easy process.
Did your country ever separate from another country? How do you feel about Brexit?
Grammar Point
Phrasal Verbs
Gary is talking about Brexit. He says, “Now, they have two years, once they declare Article 50, to get out of the EU.” He uses a phrasal verb.
Phrasal verbs include a verb + a preposition or adverb that changes the original meaning of the verb. For example, a lot of phrasal verbs use the preposition “out.” Examples include break out (get away from), hand out (give to people), and, of course, make out (kiss a lot).
Some phrasal verbs are non-separable, meaning the preposition must directly follow the verb. For instance, you can say “I dropped by the bar,” but not “I dropped the bar by” because drop by is non-separable.
On the other hand, drop off is separable. You can say, “I have to drop off my son at school,” or, “I have to drop my son off at school.”
Although most phrasal verbs have two parts, some phrasal verbs have three parts. These phrasal verbs include a verb + a preposition or adverb + an additional preposition. Gary’s phrasal verb, get out of, is one example.
Which is correct, “I need to get over of here before midnight,” or, “I need to get out of here before midnight”?
Gary is talking about Brexit. He says, “Now, they have two years, once they declare Article 50, to get out of the EU.” He uses a phrasal verb.
Phrasal verbs include a verb + a preposition or adverb that changes the original meaning of the verb. For example, a lot of phrasal verbs use the preposition “out.” Examples include break out (get away from), hand out (give to people), and, of course, make out (kiss a lot).
Some phrasal verbs are non-separable, meaning the preposition must directly follow the verb. For instance, you can say “I dropped by the bar,” but not “I dropped the bar by” because drop by is non-separable.
On the other hand, drop off is separable. You can say, “I have to drop off my son at school,” or, “I have to drop my son off at school.”
Although most phrasal verbs have two parts, some phrasal verbs have three parts. These phrasal verbs include a verb + a preposition or adverb + an additional preposition. Gary’s phrasal verb, get out of, is one example.
Which is correct, “I need to get over of here before midnight,” or, “I need to get out of here before midnight”?
Quiz
1.
Brexit made Andy and Gary feel __.
o angry
o surprised
o lonely
o excited
2.
Most British Millennials voted to __ the European Union.
o leave
o welcome
o stay in
o move to
3.
Which word has the same meaning as result?
o Outcome.
o Unimaginable.
o Dynamic.
o Majority.
4.
Which sentence does NOT use a
phrasal verb?
o He walked away slowly.
o Michelle wanted to get out of the movie theater.
o Someday, we will look back on this and laugh.
o In two years, the European Union will be different.