A journey through what drives us crazy in daily life
"People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." ― Isaac Asimov
Who said what? Match the annoyances to the speakers
📋 Instructions: Read the four personal stories below. Then match each statement (1-8) to the correct person (A-D).
"Working in an open office can be a nightmare. What really drives me up the wall is when people have loud phone conversations right next to my desk. I'm trying to concentrate on important presentations, but I can hear every detail about someone's weekend plans or their doctor's appointment. And don't get me started on colleagues who eat smelly food at their desks - tuna sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs should be banned from offices! Another thing that bugs me is when people don't clean up after themselves in the break room. Is it really that hard to wash your own coffee mug?"
"Living in student accommodation has shown me how inconsiderate people can be. My biggest pet peeve is roommates who blast music late at night when I'm trying to study for exams. It's so inconsiderate! Also, I get really frustrated when people don't return library books on time - I need those textbooks for my assignments! What really annoys me is when classmates show up late to lectures and make noise walking in while the professor is talking. Oh, and people who chew gum loudly during quiet study sessions in the library - it's like nails on a chalkboard!"
"After 40 years of teaching, you'd think I'd be used to noise, but retirement has made me more sensitive to it. What bothers me most is when people talk during movies at the cinema - I paid good money for this ticket! Young people seem to think the whole world revolves around their phones. They walk into traffic while texting and expect everyone else to watch out for them. Another thing that irritates me is poor customer service - when I was working, we always treated people with respect. And grocery store clerks who don't even look up to greet you? That's just rude!"
"Working 12-hour shifts at the hospital has made me realize how much small things can affect your mood. What really gets on my nerves is when people don't wash their hands properly - it's basic hygiene, especially in a medical setting! I also can't stand it when patients lie about their symptoms or don't follow medical advice, then complain when they don't get better. Outside of work, nothing annoys me more than people who are always late for appointments. Time is precious when you're trying to save lives! And drivers who don't use turn signals - seriously, how hard is it to flick a switch?"
Crack the code using emoji hints!
| 🔀 Scrambled | 🎯 Emoji Clue | 📝 Definition | ✅ Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| iierrtta | 😤 | To make someone annoyed (verb) | |
| tsep | 🐜 | Someone/something annoying (noun) | |
| tncvnennieo | 🙅♂️ | Causing trouble; unhelpful (adjective) | |
| ttarruefds | 😣 | Feeling when things don't go as planned (adjective) | |
| ruuifso | 😡 | Extremely angry (adjective) | |
| dab doom | 😞 | State of unhappiness or irritability (noun phrase) | |
| malc wodn | 🧘♂️ | To tell someone to relax (phrasal verb) |
Solve the mystery with context clues
📦 Word Bank: neck • crazy • nerves • roof • bugs
"The new traffic system is a real pain in the ______."
(Clue: Something very annoying or troublesome)
"My noisy neighbor is driving me ______ with that loud music!"
(Clue: Making someone extremely frustrated)
"That overly cheerful TV presenter gets on my ______."
(Clue: Someone who annoys you regularly)
"The boss hit the ______ when she discovered the missing files."
(Clue: Became very angry suddenly)
"It really ______ me when people don't return their shopping carts."
(Clue: Something that bothers you persistently)
Expressing feelings vs describing causes
📌 Example:
"The meeting was boring." (The meeting caused boredom)
"I was bored during the meeting." (I felt boredom)
Complete the text with the correct adjectives:
Options: annoying, irritated, irritating, annoyed
"My neighbors can be very ______. Last night I was very ______ because they were playing techno music so loud I couldn't hear my TV. It was very ______; I think other neighbors were ______ too, but nobody complained."
Discussion cards for meaningful conversation
💡 Remember to use vocabulary from today's lesson and practice -ed/-ing adjectives when discussing your feelings!