Unit One Lesson 3

How about 3:00 p.m.?

Getting started!
What is a cover letter?
How do you ask for an appointment over the
telephone?
What is a stepping stone?
What were some of your favorite activities when you
were a kid?

Achievement indicators
I can make an appointment with courtesy and clarity. I can effectively identify and reproduce the linked sound of “used to”.
I can describe past routines appropriately.

Conversation and more

Activity 1
Listen to and read the following conversation. Look up Answer the following questions about the conversation.
any new words in a dictionary.
1. Where did Alan use to work?
A: Handy Tools and Hardware, how can I help you? 2. What is Alan’s last name?
B: Good morning, my name is Alan Schwartz. I’m
3. What time will the letter be ready for Alan to pick up?
calling because I need a letter showing that I used
to work at the store. 4. How many years did Alan work at the store?
A: Ok Mr. Schwartz, how do you spell your last name?
B: It’s S – C – H – W – A – R – T – Z.
A: Let me see. Yes, here is your file. You worked with
us from September 2004 until September 2008, is
that right?
B: Yes, it is.
A: Ok, your letter will be ready this afternoon. You
can pick it up between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m.
B: Ok, thank you very much.
A: You’re welcome, have a nice day.

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UNIT 1 UNIT 1

Time to read
Language in use
Which of the following phonetic spellings refer to “used
Activity 2 What is the purpose of writing a resume
and cover letter?
to” from the verb to use and “used to” meaning Write whether “used to” means purpose or past routine in the
past routine? following sentences. Read the following article to answer this question.
“used to” (purpose) vs. “used to” (past routine or 1. Robert used to come late.
accustomed) Learning to write an effective resume and cover letter
2. We used to complain about that policy. is very important for anyone entering the labor market.
Listen to the pronunciation of “used to” when it is from 3. That board is used to place the announcements. Your resume and cover letter should not only describe
the verb “to use”. your education and experience but also help you get
4. They used to visit us a lot. noticed. In the cover letter, highlight ways in which the
Examples 5. The boat was used to take us to the island. needs of your potential employer will be met with your
skill set. When there are many applicants for a job, it is
1. A key is used to open a door. 6. We were used to work for the project. important for your application to stand out.
2. A photocopier is used to reproduce documents.
3. A camera is used to take pictures. The cover letter is as important as your resume and Activity 6
should always accompany it. The cover letter serves to
Now listen to the pronunciation of “used to” meaning introduce you and your resume to your prospective
Write questions to the following responses. Follow the
past routine or accustomed.
Activity 3 employer. After reading your cover letter, an employer
will decide whether or not to read your resume and, example below.
Examples hopefully, call you in for an interview. Getting an Example: Mike used to watch football on
1. She used to eat a lot of candy when she was a child. Write sentences using “used to” with the information given interview with your potential employer is the goal of Monday nights.
2. She used to read two books a week. below. Remember that in most cases, you will need to make your resume and cover letter.
3. We used to go dancing every Friday night. changes to the verb. Follow the example below. Answer: What did Mike use to do on
4. I am used to working in the sun. Monday nights?
5. He wasn’t used to getting up that early. Example: Henry - collected stamps 1. Julia used to go dancing when she lived with
6. After a while, she became used to his bad habits. Answer: Henry used to collect stamps. 4 Activity her sister.
2. Susan used to go shopping when she had a car.
Answer the following questions based on the reading. 3. James used to go skateboarding when he was
1. Mom and Dad- went to the movies a teenager.
2. My brother - went bowling 1. What should your resume and cover letter do? 4. Rafael used to play trumpet when he was in the band.
3. Natalie - carried a big schoolbag 2. What will a successful resume and cover letter earn a
job applicant?
4. I - ran faster
5. Carla and Wendy- cut flowers
6. Ruth- planned everything in advance
7. He- sang opera
5 Activity

8. They- wrote poems Imagine a job that you would like to apply for. What kind of
9. Patricia- bought cookies skills and experience do you have that would be useful to you
in that job? What can you say about yourself that would make
10. Jim and I - caught butterflies somebody want to hire you? Identify the kind of job that you
Don’t forget!
would like to apply for and brainstorm at least six examples of
special skills or experience that you have.
If you “used to do something”, you did it for a period of
time in the past or you did it regularly in the past but
you no longer do it in the present.
Glossary:
Resume: a short written description of your education, qualifications, special skills
and previous employment. Resume = curriculum vitae = cv.

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UNIT 1 UNIT 1

Enrich your vocabulary

Conversation and more
Sarah is making an appointment over the phone. Listen
Activity 8 Learn these two-word verbs: Activity 11
to the following conversation. Keep in mind that the Complete the sentences with the two-word verbs in the box.
following text is out of the proper order. The following are examples of telephone calls made by
people asking to make appointments. Complete these short Remember that you might need to alter the tense of the verbs.
conversations using the words given below. get on
call for call off figure out
somebody appointment go over give in look for
services personnel
how an 1. The police didn’t __ the search until the suspect
morning morning was found.
may make 2. Before beginning the game, let’s __ the rules.
get off 3. I tried to resist a second serving of ice cream but in
A: Good _(1)_, Dixon Corporation. _(2)_ I help you?
the end I __.
B: Good morning, may I please _(3)_ an appointment
to see the _(4)_ manager? 4. We have been __ you all day.
5. The recipe __ 2 cups of heavy cream.
A: Hudson Services. _(5)_ may I _(6)_ you? 6. I can’t __ how they got that engine
running again.
B: I’d like to set up an _(7)_ with Mr. Ron Hudson.
B: Tiffany Hernandez.
A: 3 p.m. will be fine. We’ll see you then.
B: Yes, I’d like to make an appointment with Mr. A: Good morning, Global Logistics. How can I direct
Anderson. you call?
A: Your name, please. B: Yes, I would like to schedule _(8)_ appointment
B: Thank you. Good bye. with _(9)_ who can give me information about the
A: Oh, yes Mrs. Hernandez. Mr. Anderson _(10)_ you offer in Central America.
was waiting for your call. He can see you any time get in
this afternoon.
B: How about 3 p.m.?
A: Good morning, Goldman Consulting Firm. May I
help you? Activity 9
Arrange the words to form two different sentences. One sentence

7 Activity
should be a question and the other should be a statement.
1. have/ busy/ this/ been/ you/ week
Activity 12
2. meeting/ the /begun /has get out Complete the following sentences using the corresponding
Rewrite the previous conversation in the proper order. two-word verb from the vocabulary list.
3. they’ve/ new/ to/ a /office/ moved
4. answered/ all /questions/our /she’s
10 Activity 1. You’re in inside the house all day. You really
should __.
Write one or two paragraphs about a real or an imaginary 2. __ the car. Everything is packed, and we’re ready
vacation. Use all of the two-word verbs listed above in the to go.
past tense. 3. What time do you __ the bus in the morning?

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UNIT 1 UNIT 1

Hands on! 1C
Conversation and more
Listen to the conversation between Melissa and her
Activity 14
Aunt Rachel. A stepping stone is something that someone uses to
Answer the following questions about the conversation. help them get where they’re going. In this exercise,
1. What did Granddad and Uncle Billy used to come up with possible stepping stones that could
do together? help you reach your professional goals. A stepping
2. Melissa appears in a picture with what kind of stone is not a destination but part of a path toward
sports team? a goal. A job that provides good experience even
though the conditions are not ideal could be a
3. Where was the old house where Aunt Rachel used stepping stone toward something better. Another
to live?
example could be special training in your field of
4. How did Melissa’s mom wear her hair in high school? interest. List two or three specific stepping stones
5. Instead of playing sports, what did Aunt Rachel do? that could help you reach your personal goals.
13 Activity

Answer the following questions. Follow the example.

Example: What did Mario use to do when he
was younger?
Answer: Mario used to go surfing when he 3. What did Rosa use to do when she was a kid?
was younger.
1. What did Paola use to do when she was in school?
15 Activity

Now mention five things you used to do when you were a

kid. Start your sentences with “I used to…”

Lesson core
16 Activity
In this lesson you have practiced using “used
to” to describe something that happened in the
4. What did your family use to do when you lived What did your friends or members of your family use to do past over a period of time but no longer happens
2. What did Rodolfo use to do when he was on vacation? when they were kids? Write five sentences.
in Virginia? now. You have compared the pronunciation of
“used to” when it refers to an action in the past
Example: or when it refers to the way in which someone
My mom used to roller skate when she was a kid. or something is used (“to be used to”). You have
considered the ingredients of a successful resume
and cover letter and have reviewed vocabulary
related to job applications and appointments.

Glossary:
Stepping stone: something used to aid progress or advancement.

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UNIT 1

Self evaluation
Choose the letter that best answers each question or statement.

1 “We used to eat a lot of tacos” means….

a) We used a lot of tacos when we 3 In the sentence, “He used to stay up
late.” What does “used to” indicate?
a) purpose
were eating.
b) We frequently ate a lot of tacos in the past. b) appointment
c) We are eating a lot of tacos and will c) need
continue doing so. d) past routine
d) We have used a lot of tacos.

2 To make an appointment, you need

to indicate: 4 My dad ___ the bus at 6 p.m. when he
comes home from work.
a) Where your cover letter is. a) gets on
b) Who you want to see. b) gets off
c) The parts of your resume. c) gets in
d) How to fill out an application. d) gets out

1. b 2. b 3. d 4. b Answers:

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES
There have been many international languages
throughout history. Latin, for example, was once
the primary language of communication between
people from different countries within the vast
Roman Empire. Educated people spoke not only
the vernacular (their local language or dialect)
but also learned Latin which allowed them to
read documents by foreigners and participate in
international commerce, culture, politics, etc.
Today, as in the past, many companies have
operations in different parts of the world. Imagine
an office in El Salvador that coordinates with
offices in Germany and Taiwan. Instead of the
representatives in all three countries learning
Mandarin, German, and Spanish, it is likely that
representatives from the three different countries
will speak to each other in English.

216 English - Tenth Grade