Arctic Monkeys song – quiz

1. [Multiple choice]

The man calls his friend / partner Mardy Bum

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. because that’s her name.
• 2. as a term of affection.
• 3. because she is clearly in a bad mood. (correct)

2. [Multiple choice]

What does he describe as ‘like looking down the barrel of a gun’?

(a frown – an expression indicating concentration, disapproval or displeasure)

Answers for Quiz [2].

• 1. her face.
• 2. her frown. (correct)
• 3. her smile.

3. [Multiple choice]

The verb to go off is used here meaning

(to go off could be used meaning all of these eg 1) he went off to Canada = left for Canada 2) the alarm clock went off at six o’clock = rang, 3) the bomb went off = exploded.)

Answers for Quiz [3].

• 1. to leave for
• 2. to ring
• 3. to explode (correct)

4. [Multiple choice]

A side of someone describes

Answers for Quiz [4].

• 1. a person’s mood.
• 2. a part of someone’s character. (correct)
• 3. a person’s general personality.

5. [Multiple choice]

The word ‘around’ indicates here that someone

(The word ‘around could be used in all three senses given, but here is in the first sense given.
‘around’ is often used when describing enjoying time, doing activities slowly, leisurely or with little sense of direction or purpose. It therefore often describes people having fun. Eg We used to hang around in the park = i.e. enjoying each other’s company, doing nothing much; They sit around exchanging jokes.
It also describes time or an activity that is wasted – they’re just sitting around waiting for life to get interesting. i.e. they are not doing anything purposeful.
)

Answers for Quiz [5].

• 1. spends a lot of time doing something. (correct)
• 2. does something in various places.
• 3. goes in different directions.

6. [Multiple choice]

To give someone a cuddle is

Answers for Quiz [6].

• 1. to kiss someone.
• 2. to hug someone. (correct)
• 3. to hold hands with someone.

7. [Multiple choice]

To get things off the ground means

Answers for Quiz [7].

• 1. to take off in some form of aircraft
• 2. to take something upstairs
• 3. to begin any process (correct)

8. [Multiple choice]

The words ‘right hard’ are informal here for

Answers for Quiz [8].

• 1. really difficult. (correct)
• 2. fairly firm.
• 3. rock hard.

9. [Multiple choice]

To have a face on is informal for

Answers for Quiz [9].

• 1. to have a particular expression on your face
• 2. to be wearing make-up
• 3. to have a negative expression on your face (correct)

10. [Multiple choice]

To pull a face – informal – means

(I hope you would not even consider doing the second of these definitions! The third definition is one which would be associated more with the expression ‘to wipe the smile off somebody’s face’ – i.e. to make someone feel less happy or confident, especially someone who is annoying you because they are very confident about something, or think they are very clever.
Eg I told him I’d been promised his job – and that really wiped the smile off his face! (= That immediately changed his confident expression or assumption)
)

Answers for Quiz [10].

• 1. to assume a negative expression (correct)
• 2. to tease someone by pulling their ears or nose
• 3. to adopt an expression which makes someone feel less happy or confident

11. [Multiple choice]

The man explains he is late home

Answers for Quiz [11].

• 1. because his train arrived late.
• 2. because the traffic was bad, and he got delayed.
• 3. because he caught a later train then he had intended to.
• 4. through a combination of catching a later train and the heavy traffic. (correct)

12. [Multiple choice]

The polite, formal way of saying you can’t be arsed** to do something would be to say

(If you say you can’t be bothered to do something it is good, everyday English – but to be polite and formal, you could say you were uninclined, or reluctant to do something.
Be very careful – arse** is already a very informal, maybe offensive way of saying ‘bum’ – i.e. the part of the body you sit on, the behind)

Answers for Quiz [12].

• 1. you are reluctant to do something. (correct)
• 2. you can’t be bothered to do something.
• 3. you don’t have the time or energy to do something.

13. [Multiple choice]

What he says reoccurs is

Answers for Quiz [13].

• 1. the accusation that he does not care about her. (correct)
• 2. the statement that she does not like him.
• 3. the request for him to stop doing something that infuriates her.