Everyday Idioms✎

Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Warm Up ☀
Answer and discuss these questions in pairs or as a class.

1. Do you study alone or with friends?

2. When do you start studying for a test?

3. What are good study habits?

4. What kind of tests do you like (i.e. multiple-choice, essay, matching, etc.)

5. Do you get nervous before you have to take a test?

Matching ☑
Match these idioms to their correct definitions.

1. a bundle of nerves! ____ a. something you’re good at

2. strong suit ____ b. to see or view something

3. to have a mind for! ! ____ c. to stop worrying about something
4. to cover! ! ! ! ____ d. to remember

5. to have a look! ! ! ____ e. to include

6. like the back of my hand! ! ____ f. to study or to review

7. to breathe a sigh of relief! ! ____ g. to believe something only after it happens

8. to go over! ! ! ____ h. very worried or anxious
9. to come back! ! ____ i. to be good at something

10. I’ll believe it when I see it. ____ j. know something very well
11. to take out ____ k. to go on a date

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Dialogue Building
The dialogue below is not in the right order. Your teacher will
provide you with cut up dialogue strips. Work alone or with
a partner to put the dialogue in the right order.

_______ Amy: I'm happy you helped me.

_______ Amy: Thanks for helping me study. I’m a bundle of nerves.

_______ Jon: I’ll take you out when your test is over.

_______ Amy: Math is not my strong suit.

_______ Jon: O.K. Let me have a look at your textbook.

_______ Amy: Oh, yes, the teacher talked about this. It’s coming back to me.

_______ Jon: Yes. I know this like the back of my hand!

_______ Jon: Let’s go over these problems first.

_______ Amy: The test will cover chapters 6 and 7.

_______ Jon: You should have no problem passing this test.

_______ Jon: I don’t mind at all.

_______ Jon: No? I like math a lot. I have a mind for numbers.

_______ Amy: Have you studied this before?

_______ Amy: Oh, good. I can breathe a sigh of relief.

_______ Amy: I’ll believe it when I see it!

_______ Jon: Good. I think you will do fine.

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Fill in the Blanks ✎

Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms from above.

1. I’m worried about meeting my teacher. I’m a __________________.

2. The teacher said the final exam will __________________ all the material from class.

3. __________________ at this dress, Gena. It is perfect for you.

4. Let’s __________________ our plan for Friday night. What time should I meet you?

5. Oh, yes, it’s __________________. He said we have tickets for the 8 p.m. movie.

6. I ____________________________ for dates so I do well in my history class.

7. Math is not one of my __________________. I’m terrible with numbers.

8. Kelly __________________ when her teacher said she passed the test.

Comprehension Questions ✎
Answer and discuss these questions in pairs or as a class.

1. What is Amy nervous about?

2. Does Jon like math?

3. Is Amy good in math?

4. What will Jon do after Amy’s test is over?

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Dialogue Reading
Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns
being each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation.
Write down any new words or phrases in your notebook.

Amy: Thanks for helping me study. I’m a bundle of nerves.

Jon: I don’t mind at all.

Amy: Math is not my strong suit.

Jon: No? I like math a lot. I have a mind for numbers.

Amy: The test will cover chapters 6 and 7.

Jon: O.K. Let me have a look at your textbook.

Amy: Have you studied this before?

Jon: Yes. I know this like the back of my hand!

Amy: Oh, good. I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jon: Let’s go over these problems first.

Amy: Oh, yes, the teacher talked about this. It’s coming back to me.

Jon: Good. I think you will do fine.

Amy: I'm happy you helped me.

Jon: You should have no problem passing this test.

Amy: I’ll believe it when I see it!

Jon: I’ll take you out when your test is over.

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Write Your Own Dialogue

Write a dialogue with a partner, using phrases from pg. 2. Practice and present the dialogue to your class.

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Teacher’s Handout for Task 2.

In Task 2, your students are required to put the dialogue in the correct order. It’s more fun for students to put the dialogue in
order by physically rearranging dialogue strips. Below are two shuffled copies of the dialogue. Give each student or pair one
shuffled dialogue. Have them cut it into strips and rearrange them until they’ve put them in the correct order.
Note: Two identical copies of the dialogue are provided to minimize photocopying and paper usage.

✁
✁ ✁
Amy: Math is not my strong suit. Amy: Math is not my strong suit.

Jon: I’ll take you out when your test is over. Jon: I’ll take you out when your test is over.

Amy: Oh, good. I can breathe a sigh of relief. Amy: Oh, good. I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jon: You should have no problem passing this test. Jon: You should have no problem passing this test.

Amy: Have you studied this before? Amy: Have you studied this before?

Jon: Good. I think you will do fine. Jon: Good. I think you will do fine.

Amy: Thanks for helping me study. I’m a bundle of Amy: Thanks for helping me study. I’m a bundle of
nerves. nerves.

Jon: No? I like math a lot. I have a mind for Jon: No? I like math a lot. I have a mind for
numbers. numbers.

Amy: I’ll believe it when I see it! Amy: I’ll believe it when I see it!

Jon: Let’s go over these problems first. Jon: Let’s go over these problems first.

Jon: I don’t mind at all. Jon: I don’t mind at all.

Jon: O.K. Let me have a look at your textbook. Jon: O.K. Let me have a look at your textbook.

Amy: The test will cover chapters 6 and 7. Amy: The test will cover chapters 6 and 7.

Amy: I'm happy you helped me. Amy: I'm happy you helped me.

Jon: Yes. I know this like the back of my hand! Jon: Yes. I know this like the back of my hand!

Amy: Oh, yes, the teacher talked about this. It’s Amy: Oh, yes, the teacher talked about this. It’s
coming back to me. coming back to me.

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 Everyday Idioms✎
Lesson 7 of 20 : Preparing for a Test

Teachers’ Answer Key

Dialogue Building (Page 2) Note. Do not hand out any pages after this exercise until it is completed.
(Also, see page 6 for the dialogue strips to hand out to students before starting.)

13. Amy: I'm happy you helped me.

1. Amy: Thanks for helping me study. I’m a bundle of nerves.
16. Jon: I’ll take you out when your test is over.
3. Amy: Math is not my strong suit.
6. Jon: O.K. Let me have a look at your textbook.
11. Amy: Oh, yes, the teacher talked about this. It’s coming back to me.
8. Jon: Yes. I know this like the back of my hand!
10. Jon: Let’s go over these problems first.
5. Amy: The test will cover chapters 6 and 7.
14. Jon: You should have no problem passing this test.
2. Jon: I don’t mind at all.
4. Jon: No? I like math a lot. I have a mind for numbers.
7. Amy: Have you studied this before?
9. Amy: Oh, good. I can breathe a sigh of relief.
15 . Amy: I’ll believe it when I see it!
12. Jon: Good. I think you will do fine.

4. Matching
1.h 2. a 3. i 4. e 5.b 6. j 7. c 8. f 9. d 10. g 11. k

5. Fill in the blanks.

1. I’m worried about meeting my teacher. I’m a bundle of nerves.
2. The teacher said the final exam will cover all the material from class.
3. Have a look at this dress, Gena. It is perfect for you.
4. Let’s go over our plan for Friday night. What time should I meet you?
5. Oh, yes, it’s coming back to me. He said we have tickets for the 8 p.m. movie.
6. I have a mind for dates so I do well in my history class.
7. Math is not one of my strong suits. I’m terrible with numbers.
8. Kelly breathed a sigh of relief when her teacher said she passed the test.

7. Comprehension.
1. She is nervous about writing her math test.
2. Yes, he likes math a lot. He has a mind for numbers.
3. No, math is not her strong suit.
4. Jon will take Amy out when her test is over.

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