Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for Baccalaureate

Urban Vocabulary and Grammar Exercises

Section 1: Word Associations

• Packed — people
• High-rise — flats
• Slums — poor
• Ran an errand — shop
• Congestion — big city
• Smashed — window
• Litter — floor

Section 2: Collocations and Prepositions

• Reason — for (d) → 2.
• Lack — of (c) → 3.
• Access — to (e) → 1.
• Break — from (b) → 5.
• Along — with (a) → 4.

Section 3: Post-War Housing in Britain

In 1945, Britain had a...

1. Housing
2. Lack of
3. Abandoned
4. Suburbs
5. Neighbourhoods
6. Built-up
7. Room for
8. Solution to

Section 4: Sentence Completion

1. Which city will hold the next Olympic Games?
2. Housing prices have increased five times faster than...
3. We will have them brought...
4. The bins in our neighbourhood should be emptied...
5. Years ago it was believed...
6. A lot of old buildings in

Future Career and Travel Ambitions

Personal Vision

In the future, I think my life will be very different from how it is now. I have many dreams and plans, and I'm going to work hard to make them real. For me, the next years will be full of changes and new opportunities. First of all, in five years I'm going to be a programmer. I imagine myself working in something I really enjoy, and I'm sure I will be very happy in this world. Even so, I won't stop studying, because I know I will need to keep learning new things all the time. I'm especially interested in new technologies, so I'm going to explore areas like cybersecurity and data, since they are fields that really motivate me. Moreover, I would love to travel a lot. I think I will live in another

Grammar, Vocabulary, and Functional Language Practice

1. Choosing the Correct Past Tense Form

Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentences.

1. We drove / were driving to work when the accident happened.
2. There was a new woman at work today who I didn't meet / hadn't met before.
3. I was trying to repair my bike when a man was stopping / stopped to help me.
4. The parcel had arrived / arrived just after I got home.
5. When I tried to use my phone, I realised it hadn't worked / wasn't working.
6. He ate / had eaten already so he was cooking just for the children.

2. Past Simple or Present Perfect

Complete the sentences with the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

1. She has never studied (never / study) Turkish before. This is her first

Memories of a Wonderful Summer Vacation

Last summer, I had a wonderful holiday. When school finished, I was very happy because I could finally rest and have fun. I prioritized spending quality time with my family and friends.

Beach Days and Mountain Retreats

I went to the beach many times with my friends. Our activities included:

• Swimming in the sea.
• Playing volleyball.
• Eating delicious ice cream.

For one week, I traveled with my family to the mountains. We stayed in a small house. Every day, we walked and saw beautiful places. At night, we made a fire, told stories, and watched the stars. I truly enjoyed the fresh air and the quiet atmosphere.

When I came back home, I visited my grandparents and helped them in their garden. I felt happy and relaxed....

Big Cities or Small Villages?

Nerea (excited): Silvia, imagine us living in a big city — lights, cafés, subways, people everywhere! It’s so alive!

Silvia (smiling): Alive, yes… but also loud, crowded, and always rushing. I’d rather live in a small village.

Nerea (laughing): A village? What would you even do there all day?

Silvia: Plenty! Walk in nature, talk to neighbors, breathe clean air. Life feels real there.

Nerea: But I love the city’s energy! So many things to do — theaters, shops, concerts!

Silvia: And in a small village, you have time to think, to listen, to just be.

Nerea (teasing): You and your peace and quiet!

Silvia (laughing): And you and your noise and lights!

Nerea (pausing): Still… cities can be stressful. Always traffic,...

The Arrival at Wuthering Heights

Lockwood, a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, visits Wuthering Heights. He spends the night in the room of the late Catherine (Edgar Linton's wife), where her ghost appears to him while he reads her diary; for 20 years, she has wandered, wanting to come inside.

The Origins of Heathcliff

Nelly Dean, the housekeeper, explains that Mr. Earnshaw returned from a trip with an orphaned gypsy boy he found in Liverpool, naming him Heathcliff after his deceased son.

Childhood and Social Conflict

Hindley Earnshaw (Catherine's brother) abuses Heathcliff. Catherine becomes friends with Heathcliff, and they spy on the Linton family. She eventually stays with the Lintons, falling in love with Edgar Linton.

Tragedy and Transformation

Frances...

Common English Question Structures

How many languages does she speak? Where does she work? What do they supply?
How much does it cost? When did the company start? Where did they establish their headquarters?
Why did they cancel? How many did he order? Note: Did indicates the Past Simple tense.

Active and Passive Voice Transformations

Present Simple

• Active: Verb + -s/-es
• Passive: am / is / are + past participle

Past Simple

• Active: Verb + -ed (or irregular form)
• Passive: was / were + past participle

Future Simple

• Active: will + verb
• Passive: will be + past participle

Present Perfect

• Active: have / has + past participle
• Passive: have / has been + past participle

Modal Verbs

• Active: modal + verb
• Passive: modal + be + past participle

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

• Big

The Disappearance of Russell Pickett

The story begins when two best friends, Aza and Daisy, discover that a billionaire has disappeared. The police are offering a significant financial reward in exchange for information regarding his whereabouts.

Aza Holmes and Her Battle with OCD

The protagonist, Aza, constantly struggles with intrusive thoughts about contracting bacteria. These thoughts often spiral until she feels she has lost control of her life, frequently leading to severe panic attacks.

The Investigation and the Tuatara

While investigating the disappearance, they realize that Aza was childhood friends with the billionaire's son, Davis. They also learn that the billionaire has left his entire inheritance to his pet tuatara, Tua.

Reconnecting

Reported Speech Practice and Sentence Transformation

Section 1: Commands, Requests, and Statements

• Tony reminded me not to forget to post the letter.
• The teacher told me to revise the vocabulary pages.
• The police officer ordered me to show my identity card.
• The IT operator explained that I needed to press 'Control' and 'F8'.
• Lydia asked if we should try the lobster.

Section 2: Complaints, Recommendations, and Promises

• Peter complained about revising for his exams.
• I recommend speaking to the manager at once.
• She promised to call at six o'clock.

Correct Examples

• He explained he would stay there that night.

Section 3: Dialogue and Suggestions

• Joe invited Eve to go to a restaurant that evening.
• Eve decided that was a good idea.
• Joe asked Eve what kind of food

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Use: routines, permanent situations

Form:

• verb + -s (third person singular)
• do/does + not + verb (negative)
• Do/Does + subject + verb? (question)

Present Continuous

Use: actions happening right now, actions happening in the future (arranged)

Form: am/is/are + verb + -ing

Present Perfect

Use:

• Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
• Actions completed in the past, but we don't say when
• Recent past actions

Form: have/has + past participle (-ed)

Present Perfect Continuous

Use:

• Actions that started in the past and have not finished
• Actions that happened repeatedly in the past and have an effect in the present
• To say how long an action has been in progress

Form: have/has + been + verb + -ing

Past