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

English Vocabulary Lists for Appearance, Travel, and More

Comprehensive categorized lists of common English words and phrases for learners and vocabulary practice.

Appearance and Personality Vocabulary

• overweight
• strong
• thin
• well-built
• medium-height
• short
• tall
• bald
• blonde
• curly
• dark
• fair
• long
• medium-length
• short
• spiky
• straight
• wavy
• attractive
• cute
• good-looking
• pretty
• arrogant
• bossy
• calm
• cheerful
• clever
• confident
• funny
• hard-working
• impatient
• lazy
• nervous
• nice
• patient
• quiet
• reliable
• selfish
• bright
• tidy
• elderly
• glad
• handsome
• outgoing
• slim

Travel and Transportation Terms

• arrivals
• cancel
• coach
• delay
• departures
• fare
• hot-air balloon
• lorry
• platform
• return
• rocket
• tram
• bed and breakfast
• campsite
• hostel
• tent
• motel
• break down
• check in
• get away
• get in
• get into/out of
• get on
• get off
• take off
• set off

Housing, Food, Studies, and

Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Wakefield": A Literary Analysis

Wakefield's Crisis of Self-Confidence

Our first point addresses Wakefield’s lack of self-confidence. When Wakefield leaves his wife to observe how she endures her widowhood, he attempts to enforce determination. However, this action only underscores his fear of a loss of self. He expected that his wife would feel downcast, but it is he who feels that way instead, which makes him feel insecure. This vulnerability can be perceived when, for example, he reveals that he “does not want to sleep alone any longer”.

As time passes on, he constantly postpones returning to his previous life. He will wait until his wife is “frightened half to death”. Again, this demonstrates his lack of initiative...

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Distinctive: different, easily recognised because it has special features.

Sweep: to move very fast.

Deaf / Deafen / Deafening: when you can't hear, or make someone deaf.

To be stuck by: what strikes me, be shocked.

Overlooking: the places you can see from a spot.

Sight: vision / place / a place of interest.

Within / in sight: out of sight: Madrid is out of sight from here.

In sight: something will be happening soon.

To be fuelled: to be powered by something, e.g., this laptop is fuelled by electricity.

See it from yourself: go and check it, e.g., I can't believe it, go and see it from yourself.

Attempt: intend, make an attempt.

Companion: partner.

On this / that scale: extent, proportion, measuring something, e.g., misbehaving on this scale...

To

Influential Thinkers and Writers

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (Boston, May 25, 1803 – Concord, April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, philosopher, and poet. He was the leader of the transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century. His teachings also contributed to the development of the New Thought movement in the mid-nineteenth century.

New Thought is a philosophy that proclaims the need for a direct experience with the Creator, without intermediaries. The central message of New Thought is that an individual's thoughts shape their experiences and worldview. For this reason, New Thought places a great emphasis on:

• Positive mental attitude
• Meditation
• Affirmation exercises

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift (Dublin, Ireland, November...

The Fashionable Thieves of Rome

Tommaso Bonardi, 78, and Vittorio Laudani, 70, are a pair of experienced thieves. Last weekend, they attempted to steal from a luxury fashion shop in Rome.

They entered the shop in the middle of the night wearing smart suits. At 4:00 a.m., they were putting clothes and accessories worth $100,000 into a bag when the police arrived. However, the criminals didn't run away; they stood completely still and pretended to be part of the fashion display. The police looked for them but didn't see them. Then, one of them moved. The police arrested them immediately—and not for the first time!

The Mystery of the Antarctic Water

Police in Devon, UK, had a difficult case to investigate last week: a work of art disappeared at...

Online vs. Traditional University: A Comparative Analysis

With the explosion of the technology industry in the past 15 years, education has considerably changed in terms of attendance options. Nowadays, almost every university in the world offers college courses and even full degrees that can be earned completely online. Consequently, it is quite frequent for future university students to consider which option would be more suitable for them: whether attending university or enrolling in an online degree. The aim of this essay is to compare and contrast similarities and differences between attending university lessons or enrolling in an online degree.

Key Similarities in Academic Standards

Both ways of studying share some similarities, being one...

Travel Trends: Domestic vs. International Holidays

Nowadays, the number of Spaniards traveling abroad during holiday seasons has increased significantly. Surprisingly, statistics confirm that traveling within Spain during these periods has also risen. Consequently, it is common for Spanish travelers to weigh which option is more suitable when planning their holidays. This essay compares and contrasts the similarities and differences between traveling abroad and traveling within Spain.

Shared Experiences in Travel

Both ways of traveling share key similarities, primarily the opportunity to learn about the customs and locations visited. Through travel, individuals can improve their knowledge of:

• Local cuisine and dining habits
• Traditional attire
• Religious

Instagram: A Powerful Tool for Travel and Discovery

In my blog post this week, I’m going to talk about my favorite application: Instagram (Insta). I love photos and travel, and using Insta allows me to see countless pictures of places around the world.

Why Instagram is Essential for Travelers

Clearly, Insta is a great learning experience, offering visual insights into new destinations. I frequently use it to choose places to go on holiday. For example, if an advertisement for a hotel claims it is on the beachfront, you can check the hotel's official page or geotags to ensure it is as advertised before you book it. Many hotels maintain their own dedicated pages.

Don't Waste This Powerful Tool

Personally, I think people often waste this powerful...

1. Gerunds

1.1. After certain verbs as direct object

Consider, continue, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, finish, hate, like, love, miss, prefer, recommend, suggest...

Example: He detests being late.

1.2. After a preposition

Example: He insisted on seeing her.

1.3. Certain expressions

Be/get accustomed to, be/get used to, can't stand, can't help, don't mind, wouldn't mind, feel like, give up, it's no use, look forward to...

Example: It's no use waiting for him. He won't come.

1.4. As subject (General)

Example: Reading French is more difficult than speaking it.

2. Infinitives

2.1. After certain verbs

Agree, appear, choose, decide, expect, hesitate, hope, learn, offer, plan, promise, prove, refuse, seem, want, wish, ...

Example: He decided to share his food with

Zoos: Conservation and Ethical Concerns

1. People feel responsible because they realize that the animals they are watching are unhappy due to the conditions they live in.
2. Children could visit natural history museums and watch films about wild animals as an alternative.
3. The conservation argument states that animals are safer in zoos than in the wild, and that zoos can protect animals that are at risk.
4. Humans should protect the natural habitats for these animals so that they can continue to live there safely.

Assessment Statements

• Statement 1: This sentence is false, according to the text.
• Statement 2: This sentence is false, according to the text.

Key Vocabulary Related to Zoos

• A forest in → Jungle
• Unhappy → Lonely
• Threatened → Endangered
• Ban, prohibit,