59   I can express probability

Next week in the life of pessimistic Pamela, aged 15.

Sunday: I’m going to a barbecue next Saturday.

I’ll definitely see Max (the boy I fancy).

Monday: My best friend Sarah said she’s going.

She’s bound to speak to him first, and she’s prettier than me, so Max is more likely to fancy her.

Tuesday: I’ve got nothing to wear - I doubt if he’ll even notice me.

Wednesday: If he does speak to me, I expect he’ll think I’m stupid.

Thursday: I’ve heard there’s another party on Saturday - Max might go there instead.

Friday: There’s a good chance it’ll rain tomorrow. The barbecue will be a disaster.

Saturday: Woke up with a spot on my face - I’m definitely not going.

 

Glossary

pessimistic  always believing bad things will happen. OPP optimistic.

definitely  certainly; for sure.

fancy sb  INF be attracted to sb.

bound to do sth  If sb is bound to do sth, they will almost certainly do it.

likely to do sth  If sb is likely to do sth, they will probably do it. OPP unlikely to do sth.

doubt (if/that...)  If you doubt if or that sth will happen, you think it probably won’t happen.

expect sth  think or believe sth will happen.

might  used to say that sth is possible. SYN may.

a chance  a possibility (a good chance is a more than 50 per cent possibility).

disaster  INF If sth is a disaster, it is terrible. 

spot  an unpleasant red or yellow mark on the skin (teenagers have them). 

2     A friend is taking an exam next week. Will she pass? Look at the percentage (%) on the right and write sentences with a similar meaning. Don’t use the verb think.

  PASS?

►   She’ll definitely pass.      100% yes

1     ________________       95% yes

2     ________________       75% yes

3     ________________       50% yes

4     ________________       25% yes

5     ________________       100% no

1     She’s bound to pass  

2     She’ll probably pass. / She’s likely to pass. / I expect she’ll pass.   

3     She may/might pass  

4     I doubt (if/that) she’ll pass. / She’s unlikely to pass.        

5     She’ll definitely fail.  

 

3     ABOUT YOU Use the vocabulary to write sentences about your life next week. 

Answer from a Japanese person

Next week. I’m definitely going to go to a salsa party on Sunday evening. It’s a good chance for me to let off steam. However, the good dancers are unlikely to dance with someone like me who isn’t very good, although I expect some of them will ask me to dance anyway. Otherwise I will be standing alone in the corner for hours and it will be a disaster! But maybe I’m too pessimistic.

My friend and I might go out for a drink afterwards. There I’m likely to ask her advice about the boy I fancy, even though I doubt she has a good opinion of him.