27: You Can’t Squeeze Blood Out of a Turnip

Read the dialogue with your teacher.

A: Don’t expect anything from them. They will not help us.

B: Okay, I know!

A: Yeah, you know the old saying, “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.”

B: I get what you mean, but that’s not a reason for me not to ask them.

A: We asked them two months ago and what did they say?

B: Well... they didn’t say anything at all.

A: Exactly! They didn’t say anything nor do anything.

B: I think they will do something this time. I was talking to Ken last week and I thought I felt a friendlier attitude.

A: There you go with your optimism! Don’t expect too much because you might get disappointed at the end.

B: And there you go with your pessimism again! I won’t, but it doesn’t hurt to hope for the best. Sometimes it happens!

Vocabulary review

Read the following words/expressions used in the dialogue and make sample sentences using them.

1. turnip - a large, fleshy, edible yellow or white root

2. squeeze - to press hard on, to compress

3. disappointed - saddened by the failure of expectation

4. optimism - positive-thinker

5. pessimism - negative-thinker

Comprehension questions

Answer the following questions.

1. Are the speakers optimistic or pessimistic?

2. What do you think they need help for?

3. Who is Ken?

4. Are you a pessimistic or optimistic? Why do you say so?

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being optimistic? How about being pessimistic?

Perspective

Do you agree or disagree? Explain why.

1. “A pessimist is never disappointed.” –Jack Cleary

2. “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise” –Oscar Wilder