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

Hearing Dogs: Benefits and Exercises

1. Hearing dogs help to improve speaking skills, as children are more likely to wear a hearing aid when they have one.

2. Because Kurt, his dog, sleeps in his bedroom, he feels accompanied and doesn't feel so isolated when he cannot hear.

3. He cannot communicate properly because he has a speech disability.

4. TRUE: (Line 4) "These specially... academic performance."

5. TRUE: (Lines 14-15) "Families usually... part of the family."

Vocabulary and Grammar Practice

• 6. Strength
• 7. Hearing
• 8. Connection
• 9. Answer

10. Hearing dogs, which help children to improve behavior, are trained to alert them. / Hearing dogs are trained to alert children whose behavior is helped to improve.

11. They didn't pay the plumber when he finished....

Sebastian's Travel Story

My name is Sebastian, and today I will be speaking about a journey. When I travel, I always avoid traveling with many people. We hate spending too much time sitting during the journey, and we love traveling by plane. Have you ever heard of England? On our last holiday, we chose to visit London. We decided to visit:

• Big Ben
• The London Eye
• The Houses of Parliament
• Trafalgar Square

We enjoyed traveling in a double-decker bus. We had a problem here because we got lost and didn't know how to return to the hotel. Finally, a taxi driver helped us, and we arrived safe and alive. For my next holiday, we want to visit Greece; we have to visit the historical places, and I would also like to go to the beach.

Natalia's Travel Story

My name...

J. Conrad: Biography and Works

Early Life and Background

Joseph Conrad was born in Russia; his parents were both involved in the Polish struggle for independence. His father was a poet and translator. His parents died when J. Conrad was a boy, and then he lived with his uncle. He left Poland, where he became a trainee seaman for the French merchant service.

Career and Writing

He joined the British Merchant Navy and followed the career of a professional seaman; he married. Conrad wrote in English although it was not his first language. The subject matter of Conrad’s fiction deals with the sea, colonialism, and politics.

Major Works

His most important works include:

• Almayer's Folly
• Heart of Darkness
• Lord Jim
• Nostromo
• The Mirror of the Sea
• The Secret Agent
• Under

Lucy's Fear of Sleep

I was awake all night watching Lucy. This morning she woke up much better. This evening I went to Lucy’s room again to keep her company during the night. She was happy that I was there. Whenever she seemed to be falling asleep, she forced herself to wake up again. She did this two or three times.

"Don’t you want to sleep?" I asked. "No, I’m afraid," she replied. "Afraid to go to sleep? Why? Everybody likes sleeping," I said. "Not if you are like me. Sleep, for me, is the beginning of horror," she said. "The beginning of horror. What does that mean?" I asked. "I don’t know. I don’t know," she said, "and that is what makes it so horrible! A weakness comes to me when I am asleep."

"But my dear girl," I said, "you can...

My First Concert Experience

When I was just 9 years old, I went to my first and only concert featuring David Bustamante. The event was scheduled in Buenavista, and I was incredibly excited. Days before the show, I prepared several letters with my sister to throw onto the stage, along with my favorite teddy bear.

When the day arrived, I was so eager that I urged my dad to leave early to secure the best spot. However, upon arriving in Buenavista, it began to rain heavily, and the concert was ultimately cancelled. I felt devastated because I wanted to see my favorite singer and deliver my gifts. As a result of the downpour, there was an enormous traffic jam. People were getting out of their cars in frustration, and I did the same, hoping for a miracle...

Formal Inquiry Regarding Driving License Results

Dear Mr. Casanova,

I am writing to inquire about my driving license results. Last month, I took the practical and theory exams, but when I went to the agency, they still did not have the results. They informed me that they do not know when they will have the results. Consequently, I am very concerned and anxious.

I would be grateful if you could send me some news about my results, as I am eager to drive my car because I need it for my work. Furthermore, I would like to inform the traffic authorities about this issue, because for me, this is a negative experience, and I want you to be aware of it.

Thank you for your help with this matter. I look forward...

Caring for Aging Parents

It is said that people are not used to looking after their parents when they get older. However, parents tend to look after their children for many years. Parents allow us to study because they pay for our education. Moreover, if we have a problem, they are likely to help us. The food we eat is paid for by our parents too; living with parents is like staying in a hotel.

Nevertheless, when parents are old, children often do not look after them because it is very difficult. A lot of time is needed, and young people often lack that time. In the past, children looked after their parents, but this has changed. In conclusion, parents are less and less helped by their children, even though the parents helped them. If we do not...

Child Exploitation: Key Insights

• 1) No, because there is a government ban or law which forbids it.
• 2) In many cases, exploitation is never reported, or nobody notices it, and there are many more children working than the authorities estimate.
• 3) TRUE. His 12-hour work shift begins at 9 p.m. (l. 1)
• 4) FALSE. Dhiraj's pay is crucial in the family's battle to survive. (ll. 4-5)
• 5) TRUE. Parents say poverty forces them to send their children to work, and businesses benefit. (ll. 7-8)
• 6) TRUE. An Indian government law was enacted in 2006. (ll. 9-10)
• 7) Which can be easily attacked or easily hurt (adjective): Vulnerable (l. 6)
• 8) Poverty
• 9) Survival
• 10) Ban
• 11) A friend of mine, who is a famous scientist, was born in India.
• 12) He is said to be very young to

The Life I Never Led!

Mary Robert:

I've always been good,

I've always obeyed.

I've lived as you taught me,

I've prayed as you've prayed.

I've never once missed

a rule on your list.

I've done as a sister should do.

But now, I won't bend!

My sister's in need

of a sister right now!

And I will not stay

and blindly obey,

and just turn away

from what's true.

You promised one day God

would call me.

Isn't that what you said?

Well, this is that day,

this is that call.

I'm either a sister

or nothing at all.

So I'm going now,

or leaving forever instead.

It's time to start living

the life I never led!

Section 1: General Answers

• 1. w
• 2. w
• 3. w
• 4. j
• 5. j
• 6. w

Section 2: Multiple Choice Answers

• 1. a
• 2. c
• 3. b
• 4. a
• 5. b
• 6. b

Section 3: Numerical Responses

• 1. 2
• 2. 2
• 3. 1
• 4. 2

Section 4: Vocabulary & Word Usage

• 1. unemployment
• 2. productive
• 3. employees
• 4. experienced
• 5. employers
• 6. responsible

Section 5: Phrasal Verbs & Expressions

• 1. get along
• 2. deal with
• 3. come up with
• 4. find out
• 5. feel like

Section 6: Verb Forms: To-Infinitive vs. Gerund

• 1. to
• 2. -ing
• 3. to
• 4. -ing
• 5. to
• 6. to
• 7. to
• 8. -ing
• 9. -ing
• 10. to

Section 7: Verb Tenses & Conjugation

• 1. had already eaten
• 2. has already left
• 3. has been waiting
• 4. will have met
• 5. has been raining
• 6. have you ever seen
• 7. smokes
• 8. was reading...came
• 9. did you watch
• 10. meets

Section 8: Reported Speech & Indirect Statements

• 1. if I