lunes, 6 de junio de 2011

PASSIVE VOICE


- They pay doctors a lot of money.

- People must not leave bicycles in the hall.

- We never saw him in the living-room.

- The ambulance took the sickman to hospital.

- You can´t wash this dress.

- This woman was cleaning my suit last Saturday.

- They had sold all the tickets when I arrived at the concert hall.

- They are writing a new guidebook at the moment.

- They had not invited us to the party.

- They haven´t stamped the letter.

- The new shopping centre has opened three more shops.

- A machine could do this much more easily.

- You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.

GIVE A QUESTION FOR UNDERLINED WORDS. 

- The ambulance took the sickman to hospital.

- The new shopping centre has opened three more shops.

- They had studied for a long time.

- She cleans her shoes everyday.

- They bought three books about astronomy.

- They have gone to Italy this year.  
Here you are some exercises about reported speech and conditionals. Good luck!

REPORTED SPEECH


1.  “A lot of trees will be saved”, said the politician.

2. Michael wondered: “Why do I do this every day?”

3. The spokesman said: “I can´t understand why billiards has been prohibited”.

4. Gihan exclaimed: “We have had too many prohibitions”.

5. The young lady said: “I did not make such a mistake”.

6. “What are you doing, Bill?” his mother asked him.

7. “ I couldn´t get into the house because I had lost my key, so I had to break the window” he said.

8. The mirror is there so that you can see yourself when you are dancing,” explained the instructress to the pupil.

9. “ I have something to show you”, I said to her.

10. “I´m going away tomorrow, mother”, he said.
11. “Reduce speed now!”, said a huge notice.

12. “Could I see your ticket, please?”, said the inspector.

13. Tom (on the phone to Ann) : “I´ve got the tickets. Meet me at the airport at 4:30”

14. "The trouble with you," James said to his brother, “is that you don´t want to understand anything outside your own business”.

15. “There is now no danger at all . You can all leave whenever you like”, said the policewoman.

16. “Do you have any idea where Peter has gone? He´s awfully late. I´m getting worried about him", Mr Togg said to his wife

17. “At last, I can feel sure that they have really done their best", said my father.

18. “ My mackintonsh is getting shabby. Will you buy me a new one, darling?” Patricia said to John


CONDITIONALS


1. Complete the following conditional sentences using the verb in brackets. 


 If the road is wet, it (be) dangerous for the drivers.

If he had driven a Jaguar, he (win) the race

Would you buy a racing car if you (have) the money?

If I eat poison, I (die)

If you hadn´t asked the Controller, you (go)
 
If she hadn´t told me, I (not know)

If I had a mother, I (love) her

If the pianist doesn´t come, nobody (play) the piano.

If somebody had asked him, the boy (sing)
 
2. Complete the following sentences.

- If I had known the truth about Larry ……….

- If films were less violent
- If you study English ........


3. Rewrite the following sentences using a conditional. 


Examples: 


- Tim wants to buy a new stereo but he has not got enough money.


If he had enough money, he´d buy it.

- Jill wants to go for a swim but she has not got her bikini.
If she had a bikini, she´d go for a swim.



- Sue wants to apply for the job but she has not got driving licence.

- Ken wants to make a cake but he has not got enough eggs.

- Bert wants to open the safe but he does not know the combination.

- Anita wants to see this film but she is not old enough.




- The results will come out on Monday. The journalists work hard.


- She wants to learn Latin. She has to study that grammar book.

- She´s very shy. That´s why she doesn´t enjoy parties.

- I didn´t see the signal, so I didn´t stop.

4. Rewrite the following conditional sentences using UNLESS

- If it doesn´t rain, we will go to the beach. 

- If you hadn´t been there, they would have given you this letter. 

KEY: 



- If Paul flies by plane ……
- If Mary played the violin …..
- If that woman did not play attention….
- If you had saved money …..

miércoles, 18 de mayo de 2011

REVIEW

1.       Give an adjective with the same root as:

-          Impression:
-          Predict:
-          Child:
-         Achieve:
-          Threat:
-          Value:
-          Help:

2.       Rewrite the following sentences into the passive voice:

-          You must switch off your mobile phones on board the aircraft.
-          The living things in this forest eat a lot of vegetables.
-          You should store your luggage in the overhead lockers.
-          You can fill in your landing card on board before arrival.
-          People are eating too much fat before going bed.
-          Individual predators attack farm animals.
-          Most schools have had vending machines or snack bars.
-          Single women are currently changing social attitudes.

3.       Give a noun with the same root as:
-          Die
-          Law
-          Save

4.       Rewrite the following sentences into reported speech:

-          Research has proved that physical exercise is a good release for stress.
-           It is very easy for a lion to kill defenseless prey.
-          Are teenagers recommended to take on as many tasks as possible?
-          Tell me your ways of dealing with stress
-          Let´s cook today
-          Where do people consume most meals?
-          Don’t speak like this man
-          The numbers of single parents are due to changing attitudes.
-          I Knock on the door but you wasn´t at home
-          Is this country going through an important change?

5.       Give one synonym for:

Aim:
Profit:
Result: outcome
Litter:
Chance:
Mostly:
Now:
Regardless:

6.       Give one opposite for:

Painful:
Forbid:
Augmentation:
Break:
Weakness:
Current:
Increasing:

7.       Join the following sentences using a relative.

- I could not use my new laptop. I bought it yesterday.
- Penélope Cruz is an important actress. Her last film is about pirates.
- You met a man yesterday. The man is waiting for you.
I like one song. I heard a song seven days ago.

8.       Give a question for the underlined words.

-          I found these trainers under the bed
-          I depend on your support.
-          Teenagers suffer from stress
-           I used to go there twice a week.

9.       Change the two sentences into one. Use the word in brackets.

-          That woman is very short. This shelf may be too high for her.
-          We didn´t catch the train. We were looking for a taxi for half the night. (IF)
-          The weather was bad. I still enjoyed myself. (despite)
-          If you want to do a lot of things, it becomes difficult to have time for a rest. (MORE)
-          He´s got a good job. However, he still complains. (even though)
-           I didn´t enjoy the evening. He was rude. (but for)
-          People learn in different ways. That´s not a new idea. (that people)

jueves, 14 de abril de 2011

English Proverbs



Have you ever thought about how powerful words are??? We can get a lot just with our words. That´s why I have just decided to write an English Proverb each week. I would appreciate your contributions!!!

"A GOOD BEGINNING MAKES A GOOD END"

"USE SOFT WORDS AND HARD ARGUMENTS"


"THE ONLY DREAMS IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ARE THE ONES YOU NEVER PURSUE"- Michael Deckman. 

THE MEDIA

What do you know about English newspapers?
Have you ever read any English newspaper?


The term "media" may include any communication system by which people are informed, educated or entertained. In Britain it generally refers to the print industries (the press or newspapers and magazines) and broadcasting (terrestrial or earth-based television, cable and satellite television, radio and video). These system overlap to some extent with each other and with books, film and the Internet; are profitable businesses; and are tied to advertising, sponsorship, commerce and industry.

The media have evolved from simple methods of production, distribution and communication to their present sophisticated technologies. Their growth and variety have greatly improved information dispersal, news availability and entertainment opportunities. They cover homes, places of business and leisure activities and their influence is very powerful and an inevitable part of daily life. For example, surveys indicate that 69 per cent of Britons obtain their daily news from television, 20 per cent from newspapers and 11 per cent from radio. Electronic technology, such as the Internet, is an important part of media, business and education, while the British use of home-view videos is the highest in the world.

But the media provoke debates about what is socially and morally permissible in their content and methods. Questions are asked about the role of advertising and sponsorship, the quality of the services provided, the alleged danger of the concentrated ownership of media resources, influence on politics, restraints upon "free expression" and the ethical responsibility of the media to individuals and society.

Comprehension

1. What does the term media refer to?
2. In which ways have the media been developed?

True or false

3. The term media includes advertising and sponsorship.
4. Technologies are now part of the media.
5. The media respect social and moral limits.
6. People are concerned about influence on politics.

Use of English


- Find in the text one synonym for"get".
- Find in the text one opposite for "worsen"
- Give a noun with the same root as "important"
- Turn the following sentence into the passive voice:  "The media provoke debates about what is socially and morally permissible"
- Turn the following sentence into reported speech: "Their growth and variety have greatly improved information dispersal"


WE ARE DETECTIVES!!!!!





Hi!! Today I would like each of you to become an important researcher. You have a mission: you have to find out as much information as possible about English newspapers. You probably know nothing but don´t worry. This little activity is intented to approach you to this aspect of English culture and the language used in the media. This is the task: you must answer some questions related to English newspapers in order to be the best detective. You can start visiting web pages about British newspapers! This is the first part of your mission. You will have more news soon. Good luck!! 

1. What types of newspapers can you find in England?
2. Explain the meaning of "tabloid" and "broadsheet". Give examples. 
3. Choose three English newspapers you like and explain the type of information they publish. 
4. Choose one newspaper paper page to identify the following parts: headline, article, reporter, column, title, the front page.  
5. What type of language structures are usually used in newspapers?
6. Choose one newspaper article and analyze both content and structure.


Websites: 


Daily Mail: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/
Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/
Sunday Mirror:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/sunday-mirror/
Sunday Times: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/
The times:  http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/
Daily Star:  http://www.megastar.co.uk/
Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/


http://www.britishpapers.co.uk/category/quality/
http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatereading/a/newsheadlines.htm

TONGUE TWISTERS!!!!!

Here you are some tongue twisters!! We have to be grateful to our student and classmate Sandra (1-C) for the first three tongue twisters!! Well done Sandra!!


I saw Esau kissing Kate
I saw Esau, he saw me, 
and she saw I saw Esau.


Sam´s shop stocks short spotted socks
Send toast to ten tense stout stains ten tall tents


The thirty three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday. 




Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

If Pickford's packers packed a packet of crisps
would the packet of crisps that Pickford's packers packed survive for two and a half years?

If you understand, say "understand".
If you don't understand, say "don't understand".
But if you understand and say "don't understand".
How do I understand that you understand? Understand!



SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS ON THE SEA SHORE ,
BUT THE SEA SHELLS THAT SHE SELLS,
ON THE SEA SHORE ARE NOT THE REAL ONES



A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,
but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

miércoles, 13 de abril de 2011

BRITISH SOCIETY

What are some of the characteristics that you would associate with the British people and their society?

lunes, 28 de marzo de 2011

Born this way- Lady Gaga

ADJECTIVES WITH -ED AND -ING

1.) Grammar

- Adjectives with -ed express how the person feels about something. Example: She was terrified as Dracula approached her.

-Adjectives with -ing are used to describe the person or thing which produces the feeling. Example: There´s a surprising article in today´s newspaper (I felt surprised when I read it)


2.) Exercises

A. Circle the correct adjectives in italics in each of these sentences.

- Visiting Disneyland, Paris was an amused/amusing experience.
- It can be very annoyed/annoying if people are rude
- You will never get bored/boring at night in Taipei because the nightlife is wonderful.
- I am very confused/confusing about what you are offering in your advertisement.
- The situation was very embarrased/embarrasing for me and I felt uncomfortable.
- I was really excited/exciting and wanted to see as much of the city as possible.

B. Use the word given in capitals at the end of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap.

- I was very ________ that you didn´t phone me last night. SURPRISE
- I thought the film was rather _________ after all the publicity it had received. DISAPPOINT
- She´s an ________ teacher and that´s what makes her lessons so enjoyable. INTEREST
- Anita looked quite _________ when she left the police station. WORRY
- Paul found climbing the mountain an _________ experience. EXHAUST.
- Marie told me a rather __________ story about her trip to the fashion show in Milan. AMUSE

sábado, 12 de marzo de 2011

What does it mean?

Can you find out the meaning of these expressions in your own language?

- I´m at the end of my tether!
-I´m at a loose end
- My hair stood on end!
- You could have knocked me down with a feather!
- My lips are sealed
- I´m in a rut
- I lost my head
- I blew my top
- I´ve got the gift of the gab
- I´ve got green fingers
- I was tickled pink!
- I had a lump in my throat!
- He led me up the garden path
- I got hot under the collar
- It slipped my mind
- I was given the sack

viernes, 11 de marzo de 2011

Selectividad Exam

This morning I have given you a selectividad exam: the high price of low-cost airlines. Please, do all the exercises for next Monday. Enjoy your weekend!!

No plans yet for the weekend? Berlin-Madrid for 19 euros! Low-cost airlines are conquering the European travel market with competitive prices, and the aeroplane is fast becoming an everyday means of transport. But this has dramatic consequences for the environment as no other form of transport has such a damaging ecological effect
as the aeroplane.
The recent growth in air travel is above all due to the success of budget airlines. At first sight, they do not seem to have a worse ecological effect than conventional airlines, thanks to near-full capacity usage. The root of the problem lies in the acquisition of a new, wider type of customer through aggressive prices. A two-day shopping trip to London or a relaxing weekend in Majorca would remain a luxury that few could afford without
9 these carriers.
So, for the moment, it is still the traveller’s individual responsibility to resist frequent flying. Those who cannot, or will not, stop flying have the possibility to compensate for the negative effects of travelling by donating money to climate protection projects. It is obvious that such voluntary initiatives will only be supported by a minority of environmentally conscious European citizens and can represent no real or credible alternative to a political solution. The coming months will show if EU states take the Kyoto protocol seriously and put a stop to cheap flights which are so costly to the environment.


(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1 Why are low-cost airlines so dangerous for the environment?
2 Can travellers radically solve the environmental problem? Why?



b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)


3 In one sense, low-cost airlines are more efficient than conventional ones.
4 Many people can now afford short pleasure trips thanks to low-cost airlines.
5 It is up to travellers to stop flying so frequently.
6 EU states have already decided to put a limit on low-cost flights.

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

7 FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION:
“the action of taking the first step doing something” (NOUN).
(0.25 points)
8 COMPLETE THE SERIES WITH ANOTHER WORD OF THE SAME SEMANTIC GROUP: Damage / Harm / Injure. (0.25 points)
9 FIND IN THE TEXT A SYNONYM FOR “duty” (NOUN). (0.25 points)
10 WHICH WORD IS NOT AN ADJECTIVE? Credible / Difference / Conventional / Aggressive. (0.25 points)
11 TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE: “They never gave me instructions”. (0.5 points)
12 REWRITE THE SENTENCE WITHOUT CHANGING ITS MEANING. BEGIN AS INDICATED:
“The ticket was too expensive for him to pay”. | “The ticket was not ...”.
(0.5 points)
13 FILL IN THE GAPS WITH A CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS:
“If he (BRING) .......... his passport, he would not have had trouble at the airport”.
(0.5 points)
14 GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS: “Peter lost his wife’s luggage at the airport two days ago”. (0.5 points)

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)


15 WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Where, outside Spain, would you like to go to on a short pleasure trip? Give reasons.
b) Attracting more tourists is essential for the Spanish economy. Discuss.