The Family on the Money · A2
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A2K_U02A2 KEYEnglish Together · A2 Key · Postcards from Britain · Unit 2

The Family on the Money

Buckingham Palace, a school group from Leicester, and a boy called Zaid who wants to see the King. Listen to the story and the Culture File, then work the unit — the signals show the way.O Palácio de Buckingham — e um menino chamado Zaid que quer ver o Rei.

Can-do: I can say what is happening right now with the present continuous, contrast it with everyday routines, and catch numbers, dates and spelled names — the heart of A2 Key Listening.Sei dizer o que está acontecendo agora com o present continuous e capturar números, datas e nomes soletrados.
The signals

Every task opens with a signal icon and a colour-coded box — you know what to do before you read a word.Cada tarefa abre com um ícone e uma caixa colorida — você sabe o que fazer antes de ler.

ListenOuça
ReadLeia
Say it out loudFale em voz alta
Type or writeDigite ou escreva
Tick itMarque
Answer — exam practiceResponda — prática de prova
VocabularyVocabulário
GrammarGramática
TipDica
wordslisteninggrammarspeakingreadinganswers

The colour of a task box tells you the skill.A cor da caixa mostra a habilidade.

Highlight
Before you listen

1Learn these five words first — you will hear all of them. Tap a word, then tap its gap.Aprenda estas cinco palavras primeiro. Toque na palavra, depois no espaço.WORDS · PALAVRAS

1. Buckingham has seven hundred and seventy-five rooms.

2. The are real soldiers in the British Army.

3. The usually takes about forty-five minutes — and it is free.

4. When the Royal Standard flies, the King is at home.

5. Zaid looks at the portrait of the King on his .

2Predict: the unit is called “The Family on the Money”. Whose face is on British coins and banknotes — and what do you think the flag on the palace roof can tell you? Say one idea out loud before you listen.Preveja: de quem é o rosto nas moedas britânicas — e o que a bandeira no telhado do palácio pode dizer? Diga uma ideia em voz alta.SPEAK · FALE

Segment A · The Story — listen first, then do
Story · ≈5 minThe Family on the Money

3Listen to the whole story first — just listen, eyes on the script if you like.Ouça a história inteira primeiro — apenas ouça.LISTEN · OUÇA

Audio in production — the player will sit here. For now, read the script out loud.Áudio em produção — o player ficará aqui. Por enquanto, leia o roteiro em voz alta.

The script — word for word

588 spoken words · 115 wpm

[MUSIC: theme, 4 seconds, then under]

TOM(warm, unhurried) It is Wednesday morning, and I am standing outside Buckingham Palace.
NILASo you are working today, Tom.
TOMI am working, because I am the guide for a school group from Leicester. (beat) Leicester — that is L-E-I-C-E-S-T-E-R. There are twenty-two children and three tired teachers with me.
NILAWhat are they all doing now?
TOMThey are standing at the gate and holding the black railings. One small boy is jumping up and down like a rabbit. His name is Zaid — that is Z-A-I-D — and he is nine years old.

[SFX: crowd noise outside the palace, low, under the next lines]

TOMZaid asks me a new question every single minute of the morning. Right now he is asking me about the guards at the gate.
NILAWhat is he saying?
TOMHe is saying, "Tom, are they real soldiers or just actors?"
NILAThat is a very good question, and what do you tell him?
TOMI tell him the truth, because they are real soldiers in the British Army. They wear a red uniform and a tall black hat. That famous black hat is about forty-five centimetres tall, and it is heavy. (beat) Forty-five centimetres.
NILACan you touch a guard?
TOMNo, you can't, and you must not stand too close to them.
NILAAnd what is happening at the palace right now?

[SFX: military band, 4 seconds, then under]

TOMListen — the band is playing, and the ceremony is starting.
NILAThe Changing of the Guard.
TOMYes, and it normally starts at a quarter to eleven in the morning. (beat) A quarter to eleven. Today it is starting exactly on time.
NILADoes it happen every single day?
TOMNo, it doesn't, because it happens on some days and not on others. People check the times online before they come. The new guards are marching through the gate at this moment. The old guards are waiting for them in the big yard. The old guards are going back to their barracks now, and then they rest.
NILAHow long is the ceremony?
TOMIt usually takes about forty-five minutes, and it is completely free. (beat) Free. You pay nothing, and you just stand and watch.
NILAThe children must be very excited.
TOMThey are excited, and some visitors are filming everything on their phones. A woman next to me is standing on a small blue box. And now Zaid is pulling my sleeve very hard.
NILAWhat does he want?
TOMHe wants the King, and he is looking up at the balcony. He says, "Tom, is the King at home today?"
NILA(softly) Oh. What do you say?
TOMI don't answer him with words, because I just point up at the roof.
NILAThe flag.
TOMThe flag, and there are two different flags here, Zaid. One is the Union Flag, and it flies when the King is away.
NILAAnd the other one?
TOMThe other one is the Royal Standard, in red, gold and blue. When that flag flies, the King is at home.
NILAAnd today?
TOMToday the Royal Standard is flying above the palace.
NILA(delighted) So he is at home!
TOMZaid is not moving now, and he is just looking up at that flag. Then he waves at the palace with both of his hands.
NILADoes anybody wave back?
TOM(dry) Nobody waves back, because the palace has seven hundred and seventy-five rooms. (beat) Seven hundred and seventy-five, and the King is in one of them. But Zaid is happy, and he takes a coin out of his pocket. He looks at the portrait of the King on the coin, and then at the palace.
NILAAnd what does he say?
TOMHe says one word only, and the word is "neighbours". Then the band stops, and we all go and find our lunch.

[PAUSE: 2 seconds]

[MUSIC: theme, 5 seconds, up and out]

4After you listen: answer about the story.Depois de ouvir: responda sobre a história.ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. What does Zaid ask about the guards?
2. Which flag tells you the King is at home?
3. Zaid waves at the palace with both hands. Why does nobody wave back?

5Listen again: put the morning at the palace in order — tap the events 1 → 4.Ouça de novo: coloque a manhã no palácio em ordem — toque nos eventos de 1 a 4.LISTEN · OUÇA

Language focus
Present continuous — what is happening right now. The whole story is live: “I am standing outside Buckingham Palace.” · “The band is playing, and the ceremony is starting.” · “The new guards are marching through the gate at this moment.” Rule: am / is / are + verb-ing for NOW. Routines stay in the present simple: “It normally starts at a quarter to eleven.” · “It happens on some days and not on others.” The clue words: right now, at this moment, Look! → continuous; normally, usually, every day → simple.

6Grammar catch: type the verb — present continuous for NOW, present simple for ALWAYS. All four sentences come from the story.Pegadinha de gramática: digite o verbo — present continuous para AGORA, present simple para SEMPRE.GRAMMAR · GRAMÁTICA

1. “Right now he ______ (ask) me about the guards at the gate.”
2. “It normally ______ (start) at a quarter to eleven.”
3. “The new guards ______ (march) through the gate at this moment.”
4. “It is Wednesday morning, and I ______ (stand) outside Buckingham Palace.”
Segment B · The Culture File
Culture File · ≈5 minPalaces, Guards and the Face on Your Change

7Listen to the Culture File first — catch the facts, the numbers and the misconception.Ouça o Culture File primeiro — capture os fatos, os números e o equívoco.LISTEN · OUÇA

Audio in production — the player will sit here. For now, read the script out loud.Áudio em produção — o player ficará aqui. Por enquanto, leia o roteiro em voz alta.

The script — word for word

583 spoken words

[MUSIC: Culture File sting, 3 seconds]

NILA(bright) This is the Culture File, and today we look at palaces and money.
TOM(dry) My favourite subject is money.
NILA(laughing) Then fact number one is for you, but we start with the palace. Buckingham Palace is the King's official home in London.
TOMHow big is it?
NILAIt has seven hundred and seventy-five rooms, and that includes seventy-eight bathrooms. (beat) Seven hundred and seventy-five rooms. There are also ninety-two offices, because a palace is a workplace too.
TOMSo people are working in there right now.
NILAThey are working in there every day of the week. More than fifty thousand people also visit as guests each year. They come to garden parties, to lunches and to very big dinners.
TOM(dry) I am still waiting for my invitation.
NILA(laughing) So am I, Tom. Now, when did the family move in? In eighteen thirty-seven, and Queen Victoria was the first monarch there. (beat) Eighteen thirty-seven.
TOMAnd what about Windsor Castle?
NILAWindsor — that is W-I-N-D-S-O-R — is our fact number two. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
TOM"Occupied" means that people still live inside it.
NILAExactly, so it is not a museum with empty rooms. People are living and working there today.
TOMWhere is it?
NILAIt is west of London, and you can go there by train in about an hour. The royal family often spends its weekends at Windsor.
TOMNow here is my question for you. Do the guards do a real job?
NILA(firm) That is our misconception for this unit, and the answer is yes. Many visitors think the guards are actors in costumes. They are trained soldiers in the British Army, and they guard the palace. They also serve in other countries, like any other soldiers.
TOMThe uniform is the show, but the job is completely real.
NILAWell said. And they make that tall black hat from real bear fur. It comes from black bears in Canada, and many people want a change.
TOM(dry) That argument is not a new one.
NILAIt certainly isn't. Fact number four is sitting in your pocket right now. Look at any British coin, and you see a portrait of the King.
TOMAnd on the banknotes?
NILABanknotes with King Charles the Third came out on the fifth of June, twenty twenty-four. (beat) The fifth of June, twenty twenty-four.
TOMWhat about my older notes?
NILADon't worry, because notes with Queen Elizabeth the Second are still good. The two kinds travel around together in the same pockets. And here is one important thing about power. The King does not make the laws of this country.
TOMParliament makes the laws.
NILAParliament makes the laws, and the government runs the country. The King's job today is mostly ceremony.
TOMHe opens buildings, he meets people, and he signs papers.
NILAHe wears the crown on very special days only. Most of the time the crown sits in the Tower of London.
TOM(dry) It is much safer there, and anybody can buy a ticket and look at it.

[PAUSE: 2 seconds]

NILANow, listener, here is your Talking Point for this unit. Have you ever been to a palace or a castle in your country? What is its name, and who lives there now? Tell me now.

[PAUSE: 5 seconds]

TOMI like the small castles best, because there are no queues.
NILA(warm) And no gift shop.
TOMThere is always a gift shop, Nila.
NILA(laughing) You are right, there is always a gift shop. So remember: the palace is a workplace and the guards are soldiers.
TOMAnd the flag on the roof tells you a small secret.
NILALook up, always look up.

[MUSIC: Culture File sting, 4 seconds, up and out]

8Listen and tick each fact when Nila or Tom says it.Ouça e marque cada fato quando Nila ou Tom o disser.LISTEN · OUÇA

0 / 5

9Numbers catch — exam skill! Type the number you hear (digits are fine). This is exactly what Listening Part 2 asks.Caça-números — habilidade de prova! Digite o número que você ouvir (algarismos valem).LISTEN · OUÇA

1. The palace has ______ rooms.
2. The famous black hat is about ______ centimetres tall.
3. Queen Victoria moved in — the first monarch there — in ______.
4. The new banknotes came out on the fifth of June, ______.

10The Talking Point: “Have you ever been to a palace or a castle in your country? What is its name, and who lives there now?” Speak for 30 seconds — then record yourself and listen back.O Talking Point: você já visitou um palácio ou castelo? Fale por 30 segundos — depois grave-se e ouça.SPEAK · FALE

Vocabulary bank

11The unit’s full word set, face down. Reveal them one by one, in order — say each one with its example before opening the next.O conjunto completo de palavras, viradas para baixo. Revele uma por uma, em ordem.WORDS · PALAVRAS

1Press to revealpalaceBuckingham Palace has 775 rooms.
2Press to revealguardThe guards are real soldiers, not actors.
3Press to revealuniformThey wear a red uniform and a tall black hat.
4Press to revealcrownMost of the time the crown sits in the Tower of London.
5Press to revealflagThe flag on the roof tells you a small secret.
6Press to revealbandListen — the band is playing!
7Press to revealceremonyThe ceremony usually takes about forty-five minutes.
8Press to revealgateThe children are standing at the gate.
9Press to revealbanknoteNew banknotes came out on 5 June 2024.
10Press to revealcoinZaid takes a coin out of his pocket.
11Press to revealcastleWindsor Castle is the oldest occupied castle in the world.
12Press to revealbalconyZaid is looking up at the balcony.
13Press to revealsoldierThey are real soldiers in the British Army.
14Press to revealvisitorSome visitors are filming everything on their phones.
15Press to revealportraitHe looks at the portrait of the King on the coin.
Exam link — A2 KEY
Where this unit pays off in A2 Key: Listening Part 2 (numbers, dates and spelled names — L-E-I-C-E-S-T-E-R and W-I-N-D-S-O-R were spelled for exactly this) · Reading Part 1 (signs and notices, practised below) · Speaking Part 1 (questions about places you visit). A2 Key: Reading & Writing 50% · Listening 25% · Speaking 25%; grades A–C on the Cambridge Scale (a Grade A, 140–150, certifies at B1!).

12Exam practice — Reading Part 1 style: what does each sign or notice at the palace mean?Prática de prova — estilo Reading Part 1: o que significa cada aviso no palácio?ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. “Please do not touch the railings or the gates.”
2. “The ceremony does not take place every day — check the times online.”
3. “Viewing is free. Please stand behind the barrier at all times.”
Unit review

13Six quick retrieval questions — no looking back!Seis perguntas rápidas de memória — sem olhar para trás!ANSWER · RESPONDA

1. The Union Flag over the palace means…
2. The tall black hats are made from…
3. An “occupied” castle is one where…
4. Who makes the laws in Britain?
5. Why does Zaid say “neighbours”?
6. “A quarter to eleven” is…

14Finished? Tick what you can do now.Terminou? Marque o que você já consegue fazer.ANSWER · RESPONDA

Unit 2 complete!
You watched the Changing of the Guard and read the flag on the roof — in English. Next stop, Unit 3: the weather, and four seasons in one afternoon.Você assistiu à troca da guarda — em inglês. Próxima parada, Unidade 3: o clima britânico.