322. The Harmonica Players (full version) B2 story

This is the complete version of the B2-level story, The Harmonica Players. I include here for you a B2 vocabulary list of words and expressions to listen for in the story: Practising English podcast 322... **B2 Words and expressions in the story** 1\. couldn't face **Story sentence to listen for:** Somehow, he **couldn’t face** starting his day without a hot shower.  **Definition:** To feel unable or unwilling to do something because you do not want to deal with it.  2\. All of a sudden **Story sentence to listen for:** **All of a sudden** , the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on at once.  **Definition:** Very quickly and unexpectedly.  3\. get hold of **Story sentence to listen for:** Work as a musician had been difficult to **get hold of** .  **Definition:** To find or obtain something that you need or want.  4\. From time to time **Story sentence to listen for:** **From time to time** , he gave harmonica lessons online…  **Definition:** Sometimes, but not regularly.  5\. kept his eye out for **Story sentence to listen for:** Martin always **kept his eye out for** a job that he could do.  **Definition:** To watch carefully for something because you hope to find or see it.  6\. Every once in a while **Story sentence to listen for:** **Every once in a while** , he’d found work doing what he really loved.  **Definition:** Sometimes, but not often.  7\. a chance of a lifetime **Story sentence to listen for:** It was **a chance of a lifetime** .  **Definition:** A very special opportunity that is unlikely to happen again.  8\. dropped out of **Story sentence to listen for:** He **dropped out of** college.  **Definition:** To leave a school, college or course before you have finished it.  9\. make ends meet **Story sentence to listen for:** He was struggling to **make ends meet** .  **Definition:** To have just enough money to pay for the things you need.  10\. had a strong dislike of **Story sentence to listen for:** Jeffrey **had a strong dislike of** mobile phones.  **Definition:** To strongly dislike someone or something.  11\. behind bars **Story sentence to listen for:** They should be **behind bars** .  **Definition:** In prison.  12\. gazed out of **Story sentence to listen for:** She **gazed out of** the window at the daffodils in the snow.  **Definition:** Looked at something for a long time, often without moving your eyes.  13\. foreigners **Story sentence to listen for:** 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More **foreigners** than **native English** .'  **Definition:** People who come from a different country.  14\. native English **Story sentence to listen for:** 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More **foreigners** than **native English** .'  **Definition:** Describes people who have English as their first language.  15\. In contrast to **Story sentence to listen for:** **In contrast to** the London area, Oxted was **primarily** a small town of white people.  **Definition:** Used to show how one thing is different from another.  16\. primarily **Story sentence to listen for:** In contrast to the London area, Oxted was **primarily** a small town of white people.  **Definition:** Mainly or mostly.  17\. respectable **Story sentence to listen for:** 'All **respectable** , traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say.'  **Definition:** Considered to be good, honest and acceptable by most people.  18\. upbringing **Story sentence to listen for:** 'His **upbringing** had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan cities.'  **Definition:** The way a person is treated and taught by their parents while they are growing up.  19\. distrusted **Story sentence to listen for:** 'He **distrusted** **foreigners** in his country, in general.'  **Definition:** Did not trust someone because you believed they might not be honest or reliable.  20\. take it for granted **Story sentence to listen for:** 'In England, you could **take it for granted** that you would find **decency and fair play** .'  **Definition:** To believe that something will always be there or happen, without thinking about it.  21\. decency and fair play **Story sentence to listen for:** 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find **decency and fair play** .'  **Definition:** **Decency** means behaving in a good and honest way. **Fair play** means treating people fairly and following accepted rules.  22\. deceit and dishonesty **Story sentence to listen for:** 'Unfortunately, the **deceit and dishonesty** , which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name.'  **Definition:** **Deceit** means trying to make someone believe something that is not true. **Dishonesty** means not being honest or truthful.  23\. discourage **Story sentence to listen for:** 'The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would **discourage** others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel.'  **Definition:** To make someone less willing to do something.  24\. giving the country a bad name **Story sentence to listen for:** 'Immigrants **giving the country a bad name** .'  **Definition:** Making other people have a bad opinion of a country because of someone's actions.  Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm My NEW book: "**B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam**" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary **to pass any B1** exam (special help for Cambridge exams). To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards **B2 level** will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: **The Tudor Conspiracy** (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...