Keeping an explanation on track
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
For the next reading, Leon prepared a short introduction to elucidate the relationship between two narrators. He used the colloquial phrase 'keep an eye on the dates' because the event was informal. A rehearsal revealed one distracting digression about how he bought his notebook. The story amused his friends, but it did not help listeners understand the chapter.
Leon removed the digression and added a concrete example to elucidate the change in viewpoint. He kept a few colloquial expressions so the introduction sounded like a conversation rather than a formal lecture. The resulting remarks guided listeners toward the important detail, then stopped. There was still room for questions after the reading instead of another unrelated story.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.