Session 5

At The White Elephant restaurant, someone had made a fantastic cake for a competition. Gordon takes the credit for making it, but did he really make it or is he stealing someone else's glory? Watch and learn phrases related to competitions

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    Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 29: Competition

There's a bake-off competition taking place and Gordon seems to have made a special effort - and he only does that when there's something to win! Peter's also made a cake that looks exactly the same – what's going on? Watch this video to find out, and learn some competition-related phrases.

Watch the video and complete the activity

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Ceilia
So I was at the bus stop but then I decided to walk, but these shoes - they're just not designed for... oh, what's this?

Mary
Goodness. It looks like Gordon has finally pulled out all  of the stops and actually made something amazing!

Ceilia
It must be the bake-off competition - always makes an effort when there's something to win! The first prize is £500.

Mary
Hi Gordon. Fantastic cake.

Gordon
Cake? What cake?

Mary
This one. Did you make it for the competition?

Ceilia
The bake-off. The first prize is £500.

Gordon
Oh... the competition... yes, that's my cake. It's rather good isn't it? Yes, I think the attention to detail will put me ahead of the game.

Ceilia
It is amazing how much effort you can put in when there's big money up for grabs.

Gordon
It's not about the money, Ceilia, but this should really blow the competition away.

Mary
But don't forget you'll be in competition with some of the best bakers in the business.

Gordon
Don't worry about that. I had better just go and put this in a box so we can send it off to the judges - we don't want to miss the deadline.

Mary
May the best man win!

Peter
Best man? Is someone getting married?

Mary
No, I was just wishing him luck for the bake-off competition.

Peter
Oh is he entering too? I've been baking all night to make a cake for the competition. I put it over... here. Has anyone seen my cake?

Ceilia
Was it a chocolate cake with a cream top?

Peter
Yes!

Mary
Gordon, I think you've got Peter's cake.

Gordon
Yes... I was going to help him deliver it. There you go Peter, and - nice cake, probably needs a little bit more cream.

Peter
Thank you.

Ceilia
You win some, you lose some
. And this time you definitely lost!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 29 downloads page.

Vocabulary

pulled out all the stops
made a special effort

ahead of the game
in an advantageous position

up for grabs
available

blow the competition away
surprise the other competitors by being much better than them

in competition with
trying hard to beat an opponent

may the best man win!
hopefully, the person who deserves to win, will win

you win some, you lose some
bad luck; too bad

White Elephant quiz

3 Questions

How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 29?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

End of Session 5

In the next and final episode of The White Elephant, the restaurant looks as though it will have to close. Will a pizza be the key to saving it and will Gordon, the chef, actually get the job he deserves?

Session Vocabulary

  • pulled out all the stops 
    made a special effort

    ahead of the game
    in an advantageous position

    up for grabs
    available

    blow the competition away
    surprise the other competitors

    in competition with 
    trying hard to beat someone / other people

    may the best man win!
    hope that the person who deserves to win does win

    you win some, you lose some
    bad luck; too bad