A0 · Practical document
Checking a notice for your own building
Read for meaning first. Then return to the text for vocabulary, language choices, and evidence.
Before you read
Build the context out loud.
- Where do you see notices in an apartment building?
- What information is important in a notice for residents?
First pass: keep moving when one word is unfamiliar. Dotted words open optional help; every word also appears in the vocabulary bank below.
Maple Court Apartments
NOTICEA short public message with important information, often on a wall or door.Useful chunks: a building notice · read the notice: Water off on Wednesday
Day: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Buildings A and B: No water
Building C: Water on
Laundry roomA room in a building with machines for washing clothes.Useful chunks: the laundry room · the laundry room is closed: Closed all day
Office: Room 101 · Open Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Dear residentsA person who lives in a building or a place.Useful chunks: all residents · Dear residents,
On Wednesday, the water is offNot working or not available, for example water or lights.Useful chunks: the water is off · off from 9 to 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A plumberA person whose job is to fix water pipes, sinks, and toilets.Useful chunks: a plumber is here · call a plumber is here. The pipesA long tube that carries water through a building.Useful chunks: old pipes · water pipes are old. The laundry room is closed on Wednesday. The water in Building C is on.
Questions? I am in the office, Room 101. My phone number is 555-0187.
Thank you,
Ms. Lee, Building ManagerThe person who is responsible for a building, a store, or a team.Useful chunks: building manager · Ms. Lee is the manager
Original text written for Thomas’s Classroom Reading Lab.
Words in context
Useful vocabulary and chunks
Learn the word with the partners it naturally keeps.
notice
A short public message with important information, often on a wall or door.
a building notice · read the noticeresident
A person who lives in a building or a place.
all residents · Dear residentsoff
Not working or not available, for example water or lights.
the water is off · off from 9 to 1plumber
A person whose job is to fix water pipes, sinks, and toilets.
a plumber is here · call a plumberpipe
A long tube that carries water through a building.
old pipes · water pipeslaundry room
A room in a building with machines for washing clothes.
the laundry room · the laundry room is closedmanager
The person who is responsible for a building, a store, or a team.
building manager · Ms. Lee is the managerCheck your reading
Comprehension check
Choose the answer best supported by the text. Check your choices when you finish the whole set.
01What is the notice about?
02Sara lives in Building A. When is her water off?
03Tom lives in Building C. Is his water on at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday?
04Why is the water off?
05Ana wants to wash clothes at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Is it possible?
Language in the text
Use be to describe a state
A notice often uses is or are with a state word like on, off, open, or closed. Use is for one thing and are for more than one thing.
The water is one thing, so use is. From and to give the start and the end.
Pipes is plural, so use are.
Use on with a day of the week.
Here on means working, the opposite of off.
Check your reading
Language focus check
Use the surrounding meaning, not only the shape of one sentence.
01Complete the sentence about the pipes.
02Choose the correct sentence about the laundry room.
03Choose the correct time phrase.
Read like a writer
How a notice helps residents act
A building notice must work fast. Residents check one or two facts, like the day, the time, and their building, and then they plan.
The key fact in the title
Residents see the main problem and the day before they read anything else.
NOTICE: Water off on Wednesday
One fact on each line
A resident from Building C finds the answer quickly and stops reading.
Building C: Water on
A reason and a contact
The reason helps residents accept the change, and the office details tell them where to ask.
A plumber is here. The pipes are old.
From reading to speaking
Build your response
Work through the stages in order. Answer before opening the model.
01GistWhat is this notice about?
Useful ways to begin
Compare with a model response
It is a notice about the water. The water is off on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
02Main pointsWho has no water, and when?
Useful ways to begin
Compare with a model response
Buildings A and B have no water on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The water in Building C is on.
03ReactYou live in Building B. What is your plan for Wednesday?
Useful ways to begin
Compare with a model response
I am at work on Wednesday morning, so it is not a problem. My laundry day is Thursday.
Speak
Take a position
Tell your tutor about the notice for a resident in Building A. Say the day, the times, and one thing that is closed.
Write
Make the reading useful
Write a five-line notice for your building or workplace. Give the day, the time, what is off or closed, and where the office is.