Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

Nowadays, most people share the view that cosmetic surgery is not only about appearance, but also there are people who do it for health reasons. Cosmetic surgery is a big step, and first, you have to know its pros and cons.

Pros of Cosmetic Surgery

To begin with, plastic surgery makes it possible to recover the lives of some people who have suffered burns, traumas, or accidents. As well, it helps improve the self-esteem of those who suffer from physical complexes.

Cons of Cosmetic Surgery

On the other hand, cosmetic surgery has disadvantages like the addiction it causes when people see that they can change their appearance effortlessly, and they begin to change their face and body completely. Another disadvantage is cosmetic surgery carried out... Continue reading "The Pros and Cons of Cosmetic Surgery" »

Loans are contracts where a financial institution provides an agreed amount of money to a company, which undertakes to return it with pre-set interest according to a depreciation plan until total repayment. Credit is a contract where a financial institution opens a credit line for a company, allowing it to access funds up to an agreed limit. Interest is paid only on the amount utilized, and repayment occurs within a specified period.

Bondholders and Shareholders: As an investor, you have two main choices for investing in a company: purchasing its shares or buying its bonds. Shareholders own stock in a company. Both investments offer opportunities to make money, but each carries inherent risks.

Forex refers to the foreign exchange market. Each... Continue reading "Understanding Business Financing: Loans, Credit, Bonds, and Forex" »

Cry Freedom is a story based on the life of the black people who lived in South Africa. The story begins with a journalist named Donald Woods, from the Daily Dispatch, who often writes about the hard life of the blacks. Moments later, a black doctor, named Mamphela (a woman), enters his office to talk to him about an article he had published about Biko's Black Consciousness. She tells Woods to go talk to Biko (a black boy who wanted to end race inequality), since he is confined. Then Donald Woods goes to talk to Biko, and they agree that Biko will show him how black people live. One of the places that Biko shows Woods is a poor area of South Africa where life is not life, and makes a comparison with the lives of white people. Woods decides... Continue reading "Cry Freedom: The Story of Black Struggle in South Africa" »

Homesickness: Understanding Its Impact

Statement Type: True-True (TT)

Key Concepts: subject, points out, repeatedly, difficulty.

Usage Examples: Consider phrases like 'living/moved with/when' and 'the longer/better'.

Sentence Example: David asked me when I had last visited my hometown.

Evolving Activism: Participation and Purpose

Statement Type: False-False (FF)

Key Concepts: created, aim, address, sacred.

Usage Examples: Consider phrases like 'I wouldn't have joined/was for/to have ever participated/by whom/discussing'.

Embracing Action: Overcoming Fear and Doubt

Statement Type: True-True (TT)

Key Concepts: huge, happen, passed, locked.

Usage Examples: Consider phrases like 'began/between', 'often/a', 'have/focus', and 'are explained'.

Optimizing Working

The Boat to Fuerteventura

Two summers ago, my friend Jose and I had tickets for a water park in Fuerteventura. We decided to take the early boat to have more time during the day and be able to go shopping.

When Jose and I arrived at the port, it was crowded. My friend said, “If we had come earlier, we would be the first ones here.” During the trip, Jose got seasick and vomited on me. I told him, “If I had known this was going to happen, I wouldn't have sat next to you!” As soon as we arrived in Fuerteventura, we went straight to the water park because it was scorching.

We had a fantastic time at the water park. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience, and I would definitely repeat the trip.

Party Fail

Last summer, my best friend and... Continue reading "Unforgettable Summer Adventures: From Fuerteventura to Camping Chaos" »

Money Idioms

• made a fortune
• tighten your belt
• hard up
• cost an arm and a leg
• break the bank
• make a killing
• money to burn
• bread and butter
• pour money down the drain
• bring home the bacon
• live from hand to mouth
• from rags to riches
• keep the wolf from the door

Phrasal Verbs

• pay off
• rip off
• run up
• pay back
• splash out
• put aside
• put down

Get

• get it
• get around to
• get into
• get out of
• get something out of
• get over
• get past
• get back to (someone)
• get together
• get acquainted with
• get to the point
• get ready
• get away (with)

Space

• asteroid
• orbit
• comet
• planets
• constellation
• rings
• crater
• solar system
• eclipse
• star
• galaxy
• sun
• meteor
• meteorite
• Milky Way
• moon
• telescope
• astronaut
• spacecraft
• rocket
• space probe
• lunar module
• UFO

Conditionals

• 0 conditional: siempre sucede 'pres.s+pres.s'
• 1 conditional: posible situación en el futuro

Listening Comprehension Questions and Answers

• Q: What did the boy do on Saturday? A: He went for a walk by the river.
• Q: What sort of film is the review about? A: A sci-fi film.
• Q: Why are some passengers being offered a free meal? A: Because they’ve been waiting a long time.
• Q: What is Jenny studying at university? A: Chemistry.
• Q: What happened in Grantford last night? A: Things fell from space.

Listening Gap Fill Answers

1. The first speaker is planning a visit to the museum on Monday afternoon.
2. The star of Journey to Jupiter is expected to win best Actor at the awards.
3. Passengers who are entitled to a free meal have to claim their Voucher from the information desk.
4. Jenny keeps up her music by playing in the university Orchestra.
5. The objects that fell

Josemaría and I were very good friends since our brothers went to class together. He and I were like brothers, we went everywhere together, and the whole school knew us. Some said he was my boyfriend, but he and I loved each other like brothers. Our fathers had worked together for many years, and our mothers were close friends, like our brothers and like us. Every day we saw each other at school, and some weekends we spent together at their house or mine since our parents would meet for dinner together.

When our brothers grew up and changed schools, they stopped being friends, but Josemaría and I were still as close friends as we had always been. After a while, when I changed schools, he also changed friends, and we stopped being so close... Continue reading "Close Friendship Story: Growing Apart Over Time" »

Ferdinand VII: The Restoration of Absolutism (1813-1833)

Ferdinand returned to Spain in 1814. His reign is divided into three phases:

1. Six Years of Absolutism (1814-1820):

   Upon his return, Ferdinand sought to establish an absolute monarchy, reverting to the Ancien Régime. He annulled the constitution and reversed the Cortes' reforms.

2. Liberal Triennium (1820-1823):

   A successful pronunciamiento forced Ferdinand to reinstate the constitution. Liberals formed the national militia, composed of liberal volunteers, to defend it. Ferdinand appealed to the Holy Alliance for help in restoring absolutism.

3. Ominous Decades (1823-1833):

   The first crisis emerged in 1823 when the king rejected financial reforms, fearing the loss of support from those who would have