EF Lesson — Listening: Phinella (Part 1 Only)

Vocabulary: stray

Part 1 • word meaning

Listen. Choose the meaning of stray as used in the recording.

A. The private garden of a hotel B. A large public open space belonging to the town C. A marked cricket pitch D. A paved parade ground for military use

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (0:00–0:45)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

B. In Harrogate the Stray is 200 acres of public open land. The recording says “looking across the hotel gardens to the picturesque stray beyond, upon which a unique game of cricket was going forward” — a separate open space, not the hotel garden or the pitch itself.

“She stood on the top steps of the Prospect Hotel, Harrogate, … looking across the hotel gardens to the picturesque stray beyond, upon which a unique game of cricket was just then going forward…”

Gist

Part 1 • overall idea

Listen once. Which sentence best describes the scene?

A. A young woman waits for a coach while observing an improvised cricket game on public land near a spa hotel. B. A hotel manager organises a formal cricket tournament to entertain guests. C. Two boys argue about rules during a school cricket lesson. D. A crowd gathers to watch a professional team practise before a match.

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (0:00–4:15)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. The narrator frames Phinella waiting for the coach; the cricket is “on their own hook” (improvised) with casuals joining, on the Stray near the hotel gardens. B/C/D invent organisation or professionalism not present.

“Two little boys had evidently started it on their own hook, and a variety of casuals had dropped in to bear a hand, the most distinguished … batting with a prowess that kept the whole field in action.”

Detail: appearance

Part 1 • specific information

Listen. What is emphasised about Phinella’s colours?

A. Her hair, gloves and shoes share the same tawny tan, which matches her eyes. B. Her bright red dress contrasts sharply with her pale complexion. C. She wears entirely white with a single black accessory. D. Her clothing is chosen for warmth in northern weather.

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (1:00–1:30)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. “Her hair, gloves and shoes were tan colour, and closely allied … was the tawny … tint of her hazel eyes.” The other options misstate colour or purpose.

“Her hair, gloves and shoes were tan colour, and closely allied … was the tawny, true tiger tint of her hazel eyes. For the rest, she was entirely white, save for her dark lashes and brows…”

Detail: the perch

Part 1 • specific information

Listen. What does the “perch” refer to?

A. A high exterior seat on the coach B. A balcony on the hotel C. A bench in the hotel gardens D. A low wall around the cricket field

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (2:30–3:10)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. “She swung lightly up to the perch that was indeed wide enough to accommodate three persons, though the privilege … lay entirely within George’s jurisdiction.” The context is the coach box seat.

“She swung lightly up to the perch that was indeed wide enough to accommodate three persons…”

Language: monopolise

Part 1 • vocabulary in context

Listen. The spiteful voice says Phinella “monopolises the best seat.” What does it mean here?

A. To take exclusive and repeated use of something others also want B. To reserve a seat by paying extra C. To clean and maintain the seat D. To give up a seat for someone else

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (2:50–3:00)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. The complaint is that she “is allowed to monopolise the best seat as she does day after day” — repeated exclusive use, implying social favouritism.

“Box seat again!” snapped a spiteful female voice … “I wonder she is allowed to monopolise the best seat as she does day after day.”

Inference: the voice

Part 1 • speaker attitude

Listen. What can be inferred about the spiteful woman’s attitude?

A. She is envious of Phinella’s favoured position and implies unfair treatment. B. She is concerned for Phinella’s safety on the high perch. C. She admires Phinella’s elegance and wishes to copy it. D. She is confused about the seating arrangements.

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (2:50–3:10)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. Tone (“snapped”), content (“I wonder she is allowed…”), and “as she does day after day” signal envy and an accusation of favouritism, not concern or admiration.

“Box seat again!” snapped a spiteful female voice behind her. “I wonder she is allowed to monopolise the best seat as she does day after day.”

Sequence

Part 1 • ordering

Listen. Put the events in the order you hear them.

A. Phinella greets George → the four grays arrive → the spiteful comment → Phinella climbs to the perch B. Cricket on the Stray → the four grays arrive → Phinella greets George → spiteful comment → Phinella climbs to the perch C. Phinella climbs to the perch → cricket on the Stray → spiteful comment → the four grays arrive D. The four grays arrive → cricket on the Stray → Phinella climbs to the perch → spiteful comment

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (0:00–4:15)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

B. The extract opens with the cricket on the Stray, then “as the four grays drew up,” then “Good morning, George,” then the spiteful voice, then “she swung lightly up to the perch.”

“…a unique game of cricket was just then going forward… as the four grays drew up with a flourish… ‘Good morning, George,’ … ‘Box seat again!’ snapped a spiteful female voice … she swung lightly up to the perch…”

Sentence ordering

Part 1 • sentence structure

Listen. Which is the correct order of this sentence as heard?

A. “She stood on the top steps of the Prospect Hotel, Harrogate, waiting for the coach to come round.” B. “She stood waiting for the coach to come round on the top steps of the Prospect Hotel, Harrogate.” C. “Waiting for the coach, she stood on the top steps of the Harrogate Prospect Hotel.” D. “On the top steps she stood of the Prospect Hotel, Harrogate, waiting for the coach.”

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (0:45–1:10)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. This is the exact order heard. The other options change word order or omit “to come round.”

“She stood on the top steps of the Prospect Hotel, Harrogate, waiting for the coach to come round…”

Dialogue ordering

Part 1 • conversation flow

Listen. Order these turns as heard.

A. “Good morning, George” → “Box seat again!” → Phinella laughs and climbs to the perch B. “Box seat again!” → “Good morning, George” → Phinella climbs to the perch C. Phinella climbs to the perch → “Good morning, George” → “Box seat again!” D. “Good morning, George” → Phinella climbs to the perch → “Box seat again!”

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (2:40–3:30)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. Phinella first greets George, then the spiteful voice interrupts, then Phinella’s reaction (laugh, climb) follows.

“Good morning, George,” and she nodded brightly … “Box seat again!” snapped a spiteful female voice … The girl laughed … she swung lightly up to the perch…”

Inference: character

Part 1 • implied meaning

Listen. What is implied by Phinella’s reaction — “The girl laughed … she swung lightly up to the perch”?

A. She is confident and socially at ease, unaffected by the criticism. B. She is embarrassed and hesitates before sitting. C. She is angry and argues with the other woman. D. She is confused and asks the driver for help.

Hint

Listen to Part 1 (3:00–3:30)

Answer key + transcript

Answer

A. “Laughed” and “swung lightly” (with “a brief glimpse of … silken hose,” suggesting ease rather than hesitation) imply confidence and ease. No argument, hesitation or request for help is described.

“The girl laughed, as giving a brief glimpse of … she swung lightly up to the perch that was indeed wide enough to accommodate three persons…”

Listening: Phinella — Chapter I (Part 1)

Audio — Part 1 (4:15)

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