Curled or straight?

 

What was Irie´s big mistake when fixing her hair?

Because of the lack of communication between the hairdressers at PK’s no one told Andrea that Irie had washed her hair. The scalp needs to have dirt for protection and since she had washed her hair there was no dirt to protect her scalp from the dangerous chemicals.

Why did the Indian girl’s eyes fill with tears?

Because of the small amount of money she got for cutting her long hair off and selling it to the salon. For most girls, including myself, our hair is precious and it takes a lot of time to grow it out and a lot of courage to cut it all off. The girl probably needed money and got angry with the price the fat woman in the sari gave her.

How much profit did the fat lady make on the hair that Irie bought?

She made a good bit of money on that transaction. She paid twenty-five pounds for the hair and sold it to Irie for three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds.

What is the black woman so upset about?

She’s upset about the fact that women with African background doesn’t embrace their roots, that they try to change their ethnic background by dying, straightening and buying hair and also making their skin paler. She’s also frustrated by the fact that she and all the other black women can’t buy black hair products from black people.

What length and colour is the hair that Irie gets at Roshi’s Haircare?

The length when she bought it was six meters and the colour was black/red.  But obviously it’s shorter once it’s on her head, but the text doesn’t say exactly how long her hair was after it was applied to her own two inches of hair.

Eager to show off her new hair, Irie goes over to Millat, the guy she has a crush on. He is not there, but Alsana, Neena and Maxine notice Irie’s change in different reactions.

First Alsana thought that Irie had lost weight, but when Irie told her that she had a new haircut Alsana said that it looked very nice and complemented her new appearance saying that she looked like a newsreader.

Neena’s reaction was the opposite to Alsana’s. The first two things she said when Irie walked in to the lounge was “Bloody Hell!” and “What the fuck do you look like?” Then she just kept going saying that Irie looked like a freak and she started laughing hysterically.

Maxine’s reaction wasn’t at all as bad as Neena’s. She simply stated that Irie had beautiful and gorgeous hair before and seemed to think that Irie made a mistake when she put the straight hair in.

Curled or Straight?



Jackie and Denise don’t need to be as service-minded as ”white hairdressers”. Why not?

Because the women that come to the salon aren’t your regular customers, they are desperate to get their hair done because of the ideal and standards of the “White man”. The hairdressers don’t need to make tea, give their “customers” flattering comments or small-talk to get people to come to their salon. The women enter the salon on their own without encouragement, for they feel the need to change themselves to live up to the ideals of the “White man”.

Why are some of the customers at P.K.’s in pain?

Because of the horrible methods that the hairdressers need to use to be able to get the customers hair straight. They use hot combs, ammonia and even fire to straighten it. For example, when using ammonia the scalp needs dirt for protection against the powerful chemical.  The fact that you need to protect your scalp shows how dangerous the use of ammonia on your hair and scalp is. Hot combs and fire… I guess I don’t have to say anything about it, I think you can figure out the result for yourselves.

Translate. Use the ing-form or the past participle.

After finishing her speech, she left the conference.

After crushing all the window-shops along the street, fifty football fans was arrested.

Linda was watching us while pretending she did not.

Before selling the house, my parents repaired the roof.

Since leaving the job at the computer company, Thomas is still unemployed.

When being criticized, he always changed his opinion.

Once ruined, the old blocks will never become what they used to be.

When convinced about the necessity to save the whales, the environmental activists organized demonstrations.

Rewrite each sentence four times using each of the four linking words.

They attacked him the moment he entered the bar.

They attacked him the minute he entered the bar.

They attacked him the instant he entered the bar.

They attacked him immediately when he entered the bar.

The oil price started to rise the moment the war broke out.

The oil price started to rise the minute the war broke out.

The oil price started to rise the instant the war broke out.

The oil price started to rise immediately when the war broke out.

The moment they heard of the accident helicopters were sent out

The minute they heard of the accident helicopters were sent out.

The instant they heard of the accident helicopters were sent out.

Immediately as they heard if the accident helicopters were sent out.

Translate. Alternate between both constructions so as to practice both of them.

No sooner than I had checked in at the hotel, the fire alarm started.

Barely had Freddy opened the door before his wife accused him of cheating.

Hardly had they finished the negotiations when both parts started arguing again.

No sooner than the tickets were released, everything was sold out.

Translate.

No sooner than eight o’ clock started the meeting.

No sooner than last Tuesday had they found the murder weapon.

No sooner than tomorrow begins the celebrations of the victory.

Not until later was the experiment done to prove that the substance was dangerous.

No sooner than the end of the ninetieths the decision to save the rare trees was made.

Not until three weeks later had enough people booked the trip.

Barely had he stepped out on the street before the whole house exploded.

Hardly had they signed the contract before the money started rolling in.

Barely had the diver entered the water when a shark came towards him.

Rewrite the sentences substituting the words in italics. Alternate, so that you practice all of them.

Making sure that there are no hikers in the area is part of the hunters’ duties. Furthermore, they also have to manage the camp and the hunting dogs.

With the end of foreign aid money, water programs had to be stopped. Besides, education suffered severe cuts.

Teenage mothers are encouraged to delay marriage and get a job. In addition, teenage mothers who keep their babies get support from the Young Mothers group.

He is building huge modern hotels all along the coast. Moreover, he also owns the rain forest all over the island.

Rewrite the sentences substituting the words in italic. Alternate, so that you practice all of them.

Drug use in America is up 14 percent. Equally, a recent survey in Britain shows an increase of 15 percent.

Carbon dioxide is to be blamed. Likewise, Methane from Siberian swamps contributes to the global warming.

The old towns are untouched by the 21^st century. Similarly, The rolling countryside is covered by the same crops as it has been for hundreds of years.

Write your own sentences expressing reasons. Use the following words: Ashamed, aware, embarrassed, offended, shocked, upset

Aware of the fact that he was being watched, the man felt ashamed.

Embarrassed about the way things turned out, the woman felt upset.

The news delivered to her was shocking, she felt offended by the accusation.

Rewrite each sentence four times using each of the linking words above (alternating between the last two)

I agree with him on the whole, although I think he is wrong on several detail points.

I agree with him even though I think he is wrong on several detail points.

I agree with him, much as I think he is wrong on several detail points.

I agree with him, Still I think he is wrong on several detail points.

Vikram has lived for years in London, although he is not a British citizen.

Vikram has lived for years in London, even though he is not a British citizen.

Vikram has lived for years in London, much as he is not a British citizen.

Vikram has lived for years in London, yet he is not a British citizen.

The reviews were very negative, although the film was a box office success.

The reviews were very negative, even though the film was a box office success.

The reviews were very negative, much as the film was a box office success.

The reviews were very negative, still the film was a box office success.

Rewrite the sentences using either of the two linking words. Alternate, so as to practice both of them.

Barry takes care of his baby daughter, despite working full time as a manager.

In spite of paying extra for the view, we got a room facing the back yard.

Despite achieving a personal best in the race, Robert did not win.

People go on shopping, in spite of the prices going up.

Rewrite each sentence twice substituting but for each of the two linking words

They disagreed on almost every point. Nevertheless, they agreed that fighting had to stop.

The new drug seems promising. However, doctors warn that there could be side effects.

Nobody believed him at the time. However, new research has proved him right.

Rewrite each sentence twice using each of the two linking words

The Conservatives are strong in the south, whereas Labour is strong in the north.

The price of a railway ticket to Brighton is £15, whereas the coach costs only £9.

Petrol powered cars will still speed along the highways, while electric cars are likely to take over the cities.

Rewrite the sentences substituting the words in italics for one of the three phrases. Only one will work in most cases.

There is a room available at the Eden for £210 per night. On the other hand, a two-night stay at the Caledonian is only £350.

Her neighbours’ endless discussions no longer upset her. On the contrary, she even found them comforting.

He is never aggressive in his approach to the patients. In contrast, his work brings out his most charming side.

About one in four Hispanic Americans are poor. On the other hand, about one in then white Americans are below the poverty line.

It is a game in England are expected to win. On the other hand,  it is a game they could all too easily lose with key players injured.

Everybody says he is an idealist. On the contrary, he is very down-to-earth and an expert at practical solutions.

Rewrite each sentence three times substituting because of for each of the linking words above.

On account of engine problems, the 5.15 train to Glasgow has been cancelled.

Due to engine problems, the 5.15 train to Glasgow has been cancelled.

Owing to engine problems, the 5.15 train to Glasgow has been cancelled.

On account of bad weather, the rescue team could not reach the ship.

Due to bad weather, the rescue team could not reach the ship.

Owing to bad weather, the rescue team could not reach the ship.

On account of the spread of the Ebola virus, the number of deaths increased considerably.

Due to the spread of the Ebola virus, the number of deaths increased considerably.

Owing to the spread of the Ebola virus, the number of deaths increased considerably.

Rewrite each sentence three times with each of the linking words above.

Both parents were unemployed. Consequently, they could not pay the mortgage.

Both parents were unemployed. As a result, they could not pay the mortgage.

Both parents were unemployed. Therefore, they could not pay the mortgage.

The building society would not grant them a respite. Consequently, they had to sell the house.

The building society would not grant them a respite. As a result, they had to sell the house.

The building society would not grant them a respite. Therefore, they had to sell the house.

Stringer’s book gave him an income. Consequently, he could leave his hole under Grand Central.

Stringer’s book gave him an income. As a result, he could leave his hole under Grand Central.

Stinger’s book gave him an income. Therefore, he could leave his hole under Grand Central.