Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

I wanted to do something very special for my fifteen-year-old son，who has always been the perfect child．He worked all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then．he spent hours and hours on it _39__ it looked almost new．I was so proud of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet and a riding outfit．
I could hardly wait for him to open up his gift．In fact，I barely slept the night before．Upon awakening，I went to the kitchen to 42 the coffee，tea，and morning goodies．In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a note ：�To my wonderful mother，all my love，your son．�
39. A. until B. before
42.A. start B. cook
The first answer is A, why B is wrong?
The second answer given is A, why B is wrong?


I was so astonished ．It had been a long-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could take lessons.�Learn to play the piano．and I'll get you one�was my husband's response ．
I stood there shocked，crying a river，asking myself how my son could afford this expensive gift．
Of course，the 48 awoke，and my son was thrilled（激动的）with my reaction．
A. home B. house
The asnwer given is B, shouldn't we use "family" instead?

Thanks

[Bluegum]

In the first example, "before" would be too strong. We might say,"Her English is so bad, she'll have to study for weeks before she can write a god sentence."
The word "cook" denotes boiling, roasting, frying etc. We don't actually cook tea or coffee, we pour boiling water onto them; and the "goodies" were probably uncooked cereal.

In the next example, "family" would not be wrong, but "house" implies everyone in the house, (maybe including guests, servants etc) who would be awakened by a noise.

[jasonlulu_2000]

1. in the first example, we could use start coffee and goodies, couldn't we?
2. In the second example, could you explain why "home" cannot be used instead?


Thanks