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

The Man Who Wanted to Sell His House

A man was tired of living in his old house in the country and wanted to buy a new one that he really liked to live in.

Why did the man want to sell his house?

He was a bit fed up with his old house in the country and wanted to buy a new one that he really liked to live in.

Why did he finally have to sell it?

He wasn't able to sell it after advertising it for a long time.

What did the estate agent do?

As an expert, the first thing the estate agent did was to take a very nice photograph of the house and send it to a very expensive magazine to advertise it. He also had a very good description of the house and its gardens.

How did he lose a sale?

The agent was exceptionally good at advertising the house by describing...

Federico García Lorca: A Literary Giant

Lorca is undoubtedly the best representative of the theatrical trend of the Generation of '27, and one of the leading playwrights in the history of Spanish literature. If one had to choose a single author from the first half of the twentieth century, it would be Lorca. His works are still performed today with the same success as in the 1930s, and studies on Lorca's plays are flourishing all over the world.

In his works, Lorca pays special attention to the female world, as well as frustrated desire and impossible love.

The Rural Tragedies: Frustration and Female Worlds

The great works of Lorca are three rural tragedies, focusing intensely on the female world. As stated above, frustration is the common thread...

Tatiana: A Life Story

Biography: Tatiana, a cherished friend and person, was born in Extremadura, Spain, in 1993. Shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Catalunya seeking better employment opportunities and a brighter future for Tatiana.

Early Education and Aspirations

At first, she attended Pallerola school upon arriving in Sant Celoni. As a young and initially shy student, she gradually formed friendships. She remained at this school for eight years. After that, she continued her education at Ies Baix Montseny for four years. Although she aspired to become a hairdresser, her academic path didn't directly align with her goals. With her parents' support, she enrolled in a specialized academy to pursue her passion. During her time in...

The realist novel
Representatives of relevant realist novel in Catalonia in the trenches Carlos Bosch (1831-1897), Josep Pin i Soler (1842-1927) Monserdà Pain (1845-1919) Mariano Vayreda (1853-1903) and especially Narcissus Oller.
Narcis Oller Valls was born in the year 1846 and moved to Barcelona to study law. He combined his professional activity to court literary creation. Adopted as the Catalan language works in the late seventies, for indication of his cousin, the literary critic Joseph Yxart. Considered the father of modern Catalan novel, died in Barcelona in the year 1930.
The dollar novels present characters and environments of the nineteenth century Catalonia.
-Butterfly (1882) portrays the relationship between an innocent and...

An Analysis of Vicent Andrés Estellés's "Lady Last Night"

This analysis focuses on the poem Lady Last Night, a significant work by Vicent Andrés Estellés. The poem is part of the collection The Night (1956) and is also recommended within Darkness (1972), which compiles the complete works of Estellés. These collections are included in various poetic anthologies.

Key Themes: Death, Love, and Biographical Context

Within Lady Last Night, Estellés explores profound themes, notably death. This is a recurring motif in his poetry, deeply influenced by the tragic death of his first daughter in 1956. However, the poem also delves into the theme of love, specifically in the form of unrequited affection.

Poetic Form and Stylistic Devices

Vicent Andrés...

The Master of Clergy of the Fourteenth Century

The Book of Good Love, by Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita, represents the most important production of Mester de Clerecía in the fourteenth century. It breaks the uniformity of the established verse form, which is frequently replaced by other verses of all kinds.

The Intention of Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita

Only vague indications exist regarding the actual life of Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita. It would not be surprising if the author concealed his identity and that the archpriest was merely the fictional protagonist of the book. The first problem with the Book of Good Love is its ambiguity. Worldly love, which seeks pleasure, contrasts with divine love, which is only God. One might therefore believe...

The Life of Guido and Joshua

Guido and Dora have a son named Joshua. Guido eventually opens his own bookstore. One day, men arrive to take Guido away, leaving Joshua in charge of the store. A lady enters, buys a book, and gives the child an envelope for his mother. Joshua realizes she is his grandmother, and she promises him a birthday gift.

On the day of Joshua's birthday, the family plans a meal. When Dora returns to find her mother, she realizes that her husband, his uncle, and her son are missing.

The Journey to the Concentration Camp

All three are placed on a train bound for a concentration camp. When Joshua asks his father where they are going, Guido tells him it is a birthday surprise. Meanwhile, Dora demands to be put on the same train...

Theatre curtain: The beginning of a performance.
Twitch: Move rapidly and suddenly in an uncontrolled way.
Vellicating: Pulsating.
Fidget: Move nervously and restlessly.
Band: Casual.
Foible: Weakness of character.
Gloomy: Rather dark and sad, unpleasant.
Bustling about: Busy, noisy activity.
Butler: The chief servant of a house, in charge of other servants.
See her off: Say goodbye to her.
Yearning: Strong desire.
Doted on: Loved dearly, was extremely fond of.
Enterprises: Business firms, companies.
Diminutive: Very small.
Dapper: Quick and active person with a neat appearance.
Cocking the head: Keeping the head up stiffly.
Jerks: Rapid, sudden movements.
Get up to: Do (especially something bad).
Snipping off: Cutting off.
Don't you bother: Don't worry.
Fussing:...

Understanding Vowel Alternation in Catalan Verbs

As a general rule, all verb forms share the same root and vary primarily with regard to their terminations. However, this standard is not met by irregular verbs, notably those exhibiting vowel alternation in their radical (root vowel).

Alternation of 'A' / 'E'

• Verbs with Two Roots: 'Jaure', 'Treure', 'Néixer'

  Verbs such as jaure (to lie down), treure (to remove), néixer (to be born), and their derived forms, often have two distinct roots:

  1. Forms can be written with a tonic 'a'. This spelling is etymological and corresponds to the spoken pronunciation preserved in some Western Catalan varieties (e.g., néixer, jaure, treure). However, it is incorrect to write them with an 'e' when the pronunciation

Spanish Synonyms and Antonyms

SYN 1.2

• atorrante / vago, lazy / active worker
• audacio / osadía, boldness / shyness
• bastardo / espúreo, illegitimate / legitimate
• belicoso / pendenciero, warrior / quiet, peaceful
• beodo / ebrío, drunk / sober, temperate
• bizarro / valiente, dashing / coward
• blasfemar / maldecir, decry / bless
• brumoso / nebuloso, cloudy / bright
• cacumen / agudeza, malice / simplicity
• caduco / decrépito / robusto, young
• cavernícola / retrógrado, reactionary / progressive
• celeridad / prisa, haste / slow
• coligarse / aliarse, join / split
• concisa / breve, laconic / extensive, detailed
• conspicuo / distinguido, remarkable / bulgar, unknown
• contumaz / terco, stubborn / submissive, disciplined
• coraje / valor, spirit / shyness, fear
• crapuloso / vicioso,