1. Set off
Definition: To start a journey, usually to go to work or a business meeting.
Examples:
I set off for the office at 7 a.m. every day to miss the morning traffic.
The manager set off for London to meet the new clients.
2. Ahead
Definition: In the future, or earlier than planned.
Examples:
We have a very busy week ahead of us at the factory.
The team finished the project two days ahead of the deadline.
3. Shake one's head
Definition: To move your head from side to side to mean 'no'.
Examples:
I asked my boss for a pay rise, but she just shook her head.
During the interview, the manager shook his head when he saw my lack of experience.
4. Absolutely certain
Definition: Completely sure about something.
Examples:
Are you absolutely certain that you saved the report on the computer?
I am absolutely certain that she is the right person for the new job.
5. At the top of one's voice
Definition: As loudly as possible.
Examples:
The factory is so noisy that the workers have to shout at the top of their voices to speak to each other.
The angry customer complained at the top of his voice in the middle of the shop.
6. Refuse to admit
Definition: To say firmly that you will not accept that you are wrong about something at work.
Examples:
The shop assistant made a mistake with the money, but he refused to admit it.
Even when the boss showed him the error in the document, he refused to admit his mistake.
7. Wish
Definition: To want a situation to be different from how it is right now.
Examples:
I wish I had a better job with a higher salary.
He wishes he could speak French, because his company does a lot of business in Paris.
Don Quixote and his servant, Sancho Panza, rode quietly across the broad fields of Montiel. They had set off on their journey many days before. Don Quixote was riding his old, thin horse named Rocinante. He believed he was a brave knight searching for adventure. Sancho Panza was riding a small donkey, following his master like the good servant he was.
As they were travelling, Don Quixote suddenly stopped his horse. He pointed at the land ahead, where the wind was blowing strongly.
"Look over there, friend Sancho!" Don Quixote cried with excitement. "Look at those thirty or more giants! I am going to fight them and kill them all. With the treasures we'll win from them, we will become rich. This is a fair fight. It is a service to God to remove such monsters from the Earth."
Sancho Panza stared in the direction his master pointed, but, at first, he was confused.
"What giants, sir?" he asked.
"Those ones over there," Don Quixote replied angrily. "The ones with the long arms. Some of them have arms that are nearly five metres long!"
Sancho shook his head. "Please, look carefully, sir," Sancho said politely. "Those are not giants at all. They are windmills*. And what you think are their long arms are actually their sails. The wind turns the sails, and the sails turn the heavy stones inside to make flour."
Don Quixote smiled and shook his head, looking down at his servant.
"It is very clear to me, Sancho, that you know nothing about adventures," he declared. "Those are giants! If you are frightened, go away and hide. You can stand there and pray while I go into battle against them."
Without waiting for another word from Sancho, Don Quixote pressed his heels into Rocinante’s sides. Sancho shouted after him, warning him loudly. He shouted out that he was absolutely certain that the things he was attacking were windmills* - not giants. But Don Quixote was so convinced they were giants that he did not hear his servant. He did not even notice what they actually were, even though he was already very close to them. Instead, he rode forward, shouting at the top of his voice :
"Do not run away, you cowards and ugly creatures! It is Don Quixote who is attacking you!"
Just at that moment, the wind began to blow harder. The huge sails of the windmills* started to turn faster in the breeze. When Don Quixote saw this, he shouted again: "Even if you move your arms more than the giant Briareus, you will pay for the terrible things you've done!"
Don Quixote then prayed silently to his lady, Dulcinea del Toboso. He asked for her support in this difficult moment. Covering himself with his shield*, he raised his spear* high in the air. Then, he raced forward on Rocinante as fast as she could go.
Angrily, he attacked the first windmill* he reached. He pushed his spear* right into one of the moving sails. The wind was so strong that the sail caught the spear* and immediately broke it into tiny pieces. The sail lifted both the knight* and his horse high into the air. A second later, Don Quixote and Rocinante crashed to the ground. Sancho Panza hurried forward as fast as his donkey could run to help his master. When he arrived, he found that Don Quixote could not move at all. The fall had been terrible, and the poor knight* lay there exhausted.
"Oh my goodness!" Sancho cried anxiously, jumping off his donkey. "Didn't I tell you to look carefully? Didn't I say they were only windmills*? Nobody could do such a thing by mistake them unless they had windmills* turning in their own head!"
As Sancho helped his master to stand up, Don Quixote cried as his injuries were very painful. However, he refused to admit he was wrong.
"Be quiet, my friend Sancho," Don Quixote replied weakly. "The rules of war are always changing. I believe that the magician Frestón has done this to me. He is the same enemy who stole my room and my books. He has changed these giants into windmills* just to steal my victory. He hates me very much. But in the end, his magic will have no power against my sword."
"May God wish that were true!" Sancho answered. He helped the injured knight* stand up and gently guided him back onto Rocinante, who was also hurt and shaking. Together, they continued their journey toward the Lapice Pass, talking about their next adventure.
"All is well that has a good ending," thought Sancho to himself.
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