Toronto Public Library – English Language Bits

Match these words with their meanings below. You can type the words or copy & paste them. Check your answers by clicking Submit at the end.

option – worth it – regular – convenient – biography – branch – adjust – double

when it is a good price to pay for something –

comfortable, easy to use –

usual –

a life story of a person –

a smaller part of a large organization –

make something more comfortable –

two times more, twice as much –

choice –

Fill in the missing words in the text. You can type them or copy & paste them.

You can check your answers by listening or by clicking Submit at the end.

convenient – adjust – use – double – options – original – used to – branch

Yuliya: Paul, I’ve heard you Toronto Public Library a lot. Would you mind telling us more about it? What do you like about it? What does it offer?

Paul: I do use it a lot. I never , but with technology changing I’ve actually found myself using the library more, which may surprise people,

because I think some people may use it less because maybe they feel they don’t need to actually go to the library to get a book because there’s so many other . However, the Toronto Public Library has actually kept up with modern technology and has used a lot of that technology in their system. So getting a library card is worth it not just for books but for lots of things.

So sometimes I will want to read just a regular paper book, so I will go on their website, see if they have it, and place a hold. If my branch doesn’t have it, another will send it over.

It’s amazing how this free service can be so . I really think more people should use it.

But it’s not just a book. I also read library e-books on my tablet or my phone if I’m on the subway. I listen to audio books that I get from the library on my phone when I’m at the gym or walking to work, or cleaning the house. They’re great and they’re free, and they are on a free app for your smartphone called Libby – L – I – B – B – Y.
It’s a free app you can download. It’s very easy to use, and they have thousands and thousands of audio books on there. I really like to get audio books that are read by the author ‘cause it really adds a lot to the book, especially if it’s a biography. I recently listened to Barack Obama’s very long autobiography and it was…

Yuliya: Did he read it?

Paul: …and it was him reading it, And you can the speed when you’re listening to an audiobook, which is very useful for students learning English. If they think that it’s too fast, you can make it a bit slower. If you think it’s too slow, you can make it faster.

Barack Obama speaks very slowly, so I actually changed the speed of his voice to . He does have a very long book and he does speak very slowly.
Yuliya: Like an ESL teacher almost…
Paul: Yeah.
Yuliya: And it could be very useful for language learners.

These questions are for you if you want to practice speaking or writing.

About Paul’s story:

How often does Paul use the library?

How does the library change with the changes in technology?

What can you do if your library branch does not have the book you are looking for?

Why does Paul like audio books?

Which apps does Paul recommend?

How are these apps similar?

How are they different?

What was the book that Paul recently listened to on Libby?

What was special about this book?

Would you be interested in it? Why? Why not?

What about you?

Do you have a library card?

How often do you use it?

When was the last time you used it?

How did you use it?

What is your favourite library service?

How often do you check out physical books?

How often do you listen to audio books?

What about other members in your family?

Have you ever placed a hold on an item (a book or a DVD)? How long did it take for you to receive it?

Do you know which branch has a collection of books in your first language?

Why can 1st language books/films be important for newcomers to Canada?

Are you interested in biographies?

What (auto)biographies have you read?

What other (auto)biographies do you want to read/ listen to?

What other kinds of books do you like?

Find the best sentence for each of these words. You can type the words or copy & paste them. Check your answers by clicking Submit at the end.

option – is worth – regular – convenient – biography – adjust – branches – double

When I am very hungry, I get the food.

I want to read Mahatma Ghandis’ .

Buses don’t run on a schedule on Sundays.

It is not very to live far from work.

All the big banks have their in this neighbourhood.

The seatbelt is too tight. Could you help me it?

This old car costs $20,000. I don’t think it is .