1. Select the closest equivalent of the following words and expressions used in the story: 

eyed – looked at
achieved – done
badgering – persuading
take it easy – calm down
giver over – stop it
yelling – shouting
nicked – stolen
a write-off – a ruin

2. Fill in the missing words in this short extract from the story : you will need to add one or two words in each space.

Ever since he had taken his first job at the burger bar at the age of 17, he had been saving up for a nice car; of course, he would have made do with a cheap wreck years ago – but that was not what he wanted. Shafi wanted a good car, a nice car, one that would make him feel as if he had achieved something better in life than serving in a restaurant.

1) None of the characters in the story are ever described deliberately; but by the end of the story, it is possible to characterise Gemma, Shafi and Rooksby quite closely. Have students describe each of them with as much detail as possible.  

2) What details in the story suggest that:
    a) Rooksby is a racist.

Rooksby remarks that Shafi’s car is “a bit too smart for someone like you”, implying that he thinks the car is a bit too nice for someone like him.

    b) Shafi wanted to achieve great success, but he was constantly deceived and exploited

    c) Gemma is dishonest.