| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. to hit the books | (i) to memorise something |
| 2. to draw a blank | (ii) to think very hard |
| 3. to learn the ropes | (iii) to study seriously |
| 4. to rack one’s brain | (iv) to study or work late into the night |
| 5. to learn by heart | (v) to be unable to remember |
| 6. burn the midnight oil | (vi) to understand how to do an activity |
Now, use these idioms in sentences of your own.
Idioms are expressive phrases that add depth and clarity to our language. When final exams approach, students know it is time to hit the books and study seriously to secure good marks. However, sometimes despite studying well, one might draw a blank during a test and be completely unable to remember the answers.
Starting a new job or hobby can be challenging until you learn the ropes and understand how to do the activity properly. If a difficult problem arises, you might have to rack your brain and think very hard to find a suitable and logical solution.
In school, we are often asked to learn by heart and memorise important poems, speeches, and formulas. During such demanding times, students often burn the midnight oil and study or work late into the night to achieve their academic goals.
Using these idioms makes our conversations more vivid and engaging. Mastering them helps us communicate our thoughts more effectively and naturally.
Explanation
The question requires using the six learning-related idioms provided in the context in original sentences. The sentences correctly incorporate the idioms and reflect their specific meanings as given in the textbook context: 'to hit the books' (to study seriously), 'to draw a blank' (to be unable to remember), 'to learn the ropes' (to understand how to do an activity), 'to rack one's brain' (to think very hard), 'to learn by heart' (to memorise something), and 'burn the midnight oil' (to study or work late into the night).
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the six idioms and their meanings from the context.
Step 2: Formulate original sentences for each idiom that clearly demonstrate their meanings.
Step 3: Organize the sentences into 4-5 paragraphs with bolded key terms as per the 5-mark format.