3MessageEveryday life1 min

A Surprise for Xiaomei

Three flatmates plan a birthday surprise in a group chat — without the birthday girl.

A group chat with three people. Each one takes on a job. Read it once and note who does what; 除了(chúle) near the end adds people to a list.

Yáng Yáng

大家(dàjiā)好(hǎo)！下(xià)个(ge)星期六(xīngqīliù)是(shì)小美(Xiǎoměi)的(de)生日(shēngrì)，我们(wǒmen)在(zài)家里(jiāli)给(gěi)她(tā)一(yí)个(ge)惊喜(jīngxǐ)，怎么样(zěnmeyàng)？

Ā Míng

好(hǎo)主意(zhǔyi)！她(tā)知道(zhīdao)吗(ma)？

Yáng Yáng

不(bù)知道(zhīdao)，我们(wǒmen)先(xiān)别(bié)告诉(gàosu)她(tā)。

Xiǎo Hóng

我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)做(zuò)蛋糕(dàngāo)，我(wǒ)上(shàng)个(ge)月(yuè)刚(gāng)学会(xuéhuì)。

Ā Míng

那(nà)我(wǒ)去(qù)买(mǎi)菜(cài)和(hé)饮料(yǐnliào)。

Yáng Yáng

我(wǒ)来(lái)打扫(dǎsǎo)客厅(kètīng)，再(zài)买(mǎi)一些(yìxiē)花(huā)。

Xiǎo Hóng

她(tā)那(nà)天(tiān)几(jǐ)点(diǎn)下班(xiàbān)？

Yáng Yáng

六(liù)点(diǎn)。我们(wǒmen)五(wǔ)点(diǎn)就(jiù)得(děi)准备好(zhǔnbèihǎo)。

Ā Míng

还有(háiyǒu)一(yí)个(ge)问题(wèntí)：客厅(kètīng)不(bú)大(dà)，我们(wǒmen)请(qǐng)几(jǐ)个(ge)人(rén)？

Yáng Yáng

除了(chúle)我们(wǒmen)三(sān)个(ge)，再(zài)请(qǐng)她(tā)的(de)两(liǎng)个(ge)同事(tóngshì)吧(ba)。

Xiǎo Hóng

好(hǎo)，就(jiù)这么(zhème)办(bàn)！

Words: 97
Sentences: 14
Words per sentence: 6.9
in the vocabulary: 100 %
measured level: 2
Reading time: 1 min

Grammar in this text

These forms appear in the text in real use. Switch on “Show grammar” above the text to highlight them.

除了(chúle)我们(wǒmen)三(sān)个(ge)
除了(chúle)……，再(zài)……: “besides …, also …” — the list gets longer. Except and besides: chúle … yǐwài →
就(jiù)得(děi)准备好(zhǔnbèihǎo)
得(de) (here děi) before a verb means “must”: 五(wǔ)点(diǎn)就(jiù)得(děi)准备好(zhǔnbèihǎo). Must and need not: děi, bìxū and búyòng →
学会(xuéhuì) · 准备好(zhǔnbèihǎo)
A result after the verb: 学会(xuéhuì) (learn and be able to), 准备好(zhǔnbèihǎo) (get ready). Result complements →

The words from 3 up in this text

Not the hard words in general, but those at your level: all 2 of the 65 words in this text are at 3 or above. You will know everything else by the time you get here.

主意
idea; plan; decision
3
惊喜
pleasant surprise
3

The word lists for this text

The words in this text appear in 19 lists on this site; the number after each says how many come from that list. Having read the text, you have just needed these very words — and can practise exactly them.

Basic verbs 6 Clock and calendar 5 Adverbs and connecting words 3 Food and drink 3 Verb complements 3 Basic adjectives 2 Home and rooms 2 Work and jobs 2 Daily routine 1 Feelings and attitudes 1 Greetings and set phrases 1 Housework and chores 1 Nature and animals 1 Opinions and reasons 1 People and family 1 Pronouns and question words 1 School and study 1 Time words 1 Everyday verbs 1

Comprehension questions

4 questions on the text. With each answer the sentence it comes from appears — a question whose answer you cannot find in the text tests nothing.

1. Who will make the cake?

2. What will A Ming do?

3. By what time must everything be ready?

4. Who else will they invite?