Please Get Rid of that Smell

Please Get Rid of that Smell
(Can You Believe It? Book 1 by Jann Huizenga)

Quick Reading

Phyton

Baltimore, MD, USA. It's winter. Barbara Pridgen, 43, is driving her car. When she turns on the heater, there's a terrible smell in her car. It gets worse and worse. She can't stand it! She takes the car to the repair shop. "What's the matter with my car?" she asks. "Can you get rid of this smell?" The mechanic takes a look at the engine. He examines the heating system. Then Barbara screams. She loses it. The mechanic pulls out a big, fat, dead phyton!

New Idioms and Expressions

get rid of something - remove something
turn something on - start a machine or the flow of electricity, water, etc.
get worse and worse - become very bad
can't stand something - dislike something very much
what's the matter (with something or someone)? - what's wrong (with something or someone)
take a look (at something) - look quickly (at something)
lose it - become too excited; lose one's self-control

Complete the Idiom

a. look at quickly          = take a look _ _
b. start a machine        = turn _ _
c. dislike very much      = can't _ _ _ _ _
d. what's wrong?           = what's the _ _ _ _ _ _ ?
e. become very bad      = get worse and _ _ _ _ _
f. become very excited = lose _ _

Answer the Questions

a. Why does Barbara turn on her heater?
b. What happens when she turns it on?
c. Does Barbara like the smell?
d. What does she want the mechanic to do?
e. What does the mechanic take a look at?
f. Why does Barbara lose it?
g. Why do you think the snake was in the heater?

About You

h. What makes you lose it?
i. What things do you turn on in your house every day?
j. What are some smells or foods that you can't stand?
k. Think about the problems in your community, native country, or in the world. Which ones are getting worse and worse? What can you do about them?