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

Key English Grammar and Vocabulary Topics

Generic Pronouns

Pronouns used to refer to people in general:

• You: Refers to people in general.
• One: A formal way to refer to people in general.
• We: A general reference that includes the reader or listener.
• They: Refers to other people in general or people in authority.
• They/Their/Them: Used to refer to a single person who may be male or female, as an alternative to he/she.

Narrative Tenses

Tenses used for storytelling:

• Simple Past: e.g., -ed, was, went.
• Past Continuous: e.g., was/were + -ing.
• Past Perfect: e.g., had gone, had saved, had given.
• Past Perfect Continuous: e.g., had been walking, had been waiting.

Expressing Past Habits

• Used to + Infinitive: For past actions and states that are no longer true.
• Would +

Understanding Physical Sciences

Branches of Physical Science

• Chemistry: The study of the composition, structure, and properties of substances. It is the science that investigates the composition, structure, and properties of matter.
• Physics: The science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force.
• Earth Science: The study of Earth and its various components.

Why Chemistry is a Physical Science

Chemistry is considered a physical science because it studies what exists around the world, such as atoms and molecules. Physical sciences primarily focus on non-living things.

Fundamental Concepts of Matter

Basic Definitions

• Mass: A measure of the amount of matter in an object.
• Matter: Anything that has mass and takes up space.
• Atom: The smallest unit of

Timeliness

The speed at which an event is reported.

Currency

A story that is repeated by different types of media.

Proximity

Local news.

Prominence

Celebrity, famous people, places, or things.

Consequence

An event that has a significant impact, such as a hurricane.

Impact

The changes that occur as a result of a consequence.

Rarity/Novelty

Unusual stories.

Suspense

Mystery or suspense, where the outcome of the story is unknown.

Human Interest

Stories about human experiences, families, etc.

Progress

Exclusive stories with a connection to business, such as the discovery of a cure for cancer.

Conflict

People on opposite sides of an issue.

Controversy

When something unfair is happening.

Visual Potential

Stories generated by pictures.

Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How

The... Continue reading "News Values: Factors Influencing News Selection and Coverage" »

Defining the Environment

The word environment is derived from the French word meaning 'to surround'. Thus, it refers to the sum total of conditions that surround humans at a given point in space and time. It is a composite term for the conditions in which organisms live. In other words, the environment is the totality of all physical, social, and biological factors that comprise the natural and man-made surroundings.

Types of Environment

Considering its basic structure, the environment may be divided into two broad types:

• Physical Environment: This can be further subdivided into three basic realms of the Earth:
  • The lithosphere (solid)
  • The hydrosphere (liquid)
  • The atmosphere (gas)
• Biotic Environment: This component consists of plants and animals, including

Mastering Key English Grammar Structures

1. Forming Tag Questions with Negative Statements

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a statement. When the main statement is negative, the tag is positive. The auxiliary verb used in the tag must match the tense and subject of the statement.

Examples of Negative Statements and Positive Tags:

• That question isn't easy. Is it?
• He isn't working hard. Is he?
• There's no test tomorrow. Is there?
• He wasn't angry. Was he?
• He wasn't watching TV. Was he?
• There weren't many problems. Were there?
• This doesn't seem easy. Does it?
• She didn't work yesterday. Did she?
• He didn't leave early. Did he?
• They haven't yet finished. Have they?
• She hasn't visited Paris. Has she?
• He hasn't been there a long time. Has he?
• They

Example 2: Find parametric equations for a particle that starts at (0, 3, 0) and moves around a circle as shown in Figure 17.1. The circle has a radius of 3 in the yz-plane, centered at the origin.

Solution: Since the motion is in the yz-plane, we have x = 0 at all times t. Looking at the yz-plane from the positive x-direction, we see motion around a circle of radius 3 in the clockwise direction. Thus, the parametric equations are:

• x = 0
• y = 3cos(t)
• z = -3sin(t)

Example 3: Describe in words the motion given parametrically by x = cos(t), y = sin(t), z = t.

Solution: The particle's x- and y-coordinates give circular motion in the xy-plane, while the z-coordinate increases steadily. Thus, the particle traces out a rising spiral, like a coiled spring.... Continue reading "Parametric Equations: Lines, Circles, and Motion in 3D Space" »

Chapter 1

1. 1 – e; 2 – f; 3 – a; 4 – c; 5 – b; 6 – d
2. 1. Maxine/Grabowski
   2. Maxine
   3. Rolondo’s girlfriend, Rosa
   4. Rolondo

Chapter 2

1. 1 – c; 2 – g; 3 – e; 4 – a; 5 – d; 6 – f; 7 – b
2. It used to be a middle-class area, but now it is a poor and dangerous part of town.
3. Student’s own answer.

Chapter 3

1. Smooth shapes of wood painted in different colours; the largest consists of twelve chairs tied together and suspended from the ceiling.
2. Twelve life-size heads made of clay, with glass eyes and shell teeth; they stand on tall platforms and are painted white, brown, or black.
3. 1. Maxine
   2. Soren Berendorf
   3. Lillian Hockstedder
   4. Louie
   5. Helen Mueller
4. He was standing by the food table.
5. Because there were so many people.
6. Student’s own answer.
7. Student’s own answer.

Chapter

Ethical Theories and Philosophical Concepts

Absolute: A principle that is universally binding and may never be overridden by another principle.

Abusive Fallacy: A type of informal fallacy in which we attack an opponent’s character rather than addressing his or her conclusion.

Act Utilitarianism: The theory that states “an act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative.”

Agapeism: An ethical theory based on the principle of love. Sometimes this is based on the New Testament injunctions to love (Matt. 22:37-40, 1 Cor. 13, and 1 John 4:7-8).

Agent: In ethical discourse, the individual who acts with intention, responsibility, and effect.

Agnostic: In a religious context, designates a person who claims not to... Continue reading "Ethical Theories and Philosophical Concepts Explained" »

Airport

The place you go when you want to travel by plane to another city

Bakery

You can buy fresh bread and cakes here

Bank

You deposit or withdraw/take out your money here. You can cash a cheque

Bookstore

A place where you can buy books and magazines

Bus Station

The place you go when you want to travel by bus to another city

Butcher's

They sell fresh meat

Café

You can buy a cup of coffee and cakes or sandwiches

Church

A religious place of worship

Court

The place where they have trials and law cases. A judge works here

Craft Market

A place that sells typical products of a region/country

Department Store

A large store that sells clothes, household appliances, etc. in sections

Cinema/Movies

You can see the latest movies here. Many people eat popcorn while they're... Continue reading "Essential Places in a City: From Airports to Zoos" »

English Verb Tenses: Forms and Usage

This section provides a concise reference for forming common English verb tenses, including positive, negative, and interrogative structures.

Present Simple

• Positive: Base verb (add -s for third person singular)
• Negative: don't / doesn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Do / Does + subject + base verb?

Present Continuous

• Positive: am / is / are + verb-ing
• Negative: am not / isn't / aren't + verb-ing
• Interrogative: Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing?

Past Simple

• Positive: Verb-ed (regular verbs) / 2nd column (irregular verbs)
• Negative: didn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Did + subject + base verb?

Past Continuous

• Positive: was / were + verb-ing
• Negative: wasn't / weren't + verb-ing
• Interrogative: Was / Were + subject + verb-ing?

Present