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

1. Bad-tempered (about): angry, annoyed

2. Cheerful (about): happy and positive

3. Content (with): pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement

4. Down (about): unhappy and depressed

5. Fed up (with): annoyed or bored by something that you have experienced for too long

6. Irritated (by): annoyed

7. Optimistic (about: always believing that good things will happen

8. Anxious (about): worried and nervous

9. Concerned (about): worried

10. Depressed (about): unhappy and without hope for the future

11. Furious (with): Extremely angry

12. Over the moon (about): very pleased

13. Pessimistic (about): always believing that bad things are likely to happen

14. Petrified (of): extremely frightened

15. Relieved (about): happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended

16. Scared (of): frightened

John Lennon was one of the most popular musicians of the twentieth century. He was probably the world's favorite member of The Beatles.

John LennonJohn Lennon left his house early in the morning with his wife, Yoko Ono. They were going to the recording studio. They walked across the square and John signed a record for Mark Chapman, and then they got into a car.

That evening, John Lennon returned home. Mark Chapman was still waiting in the square. He had a gun. He said, 'Mr. Lennon'. John Lennon was turning around when Mark Chapman shot him 5 times.

Mark Chapman didn't escape. He sat down and read his book - the police officers arrested him when he was reading.

Later that day, John Lennon died in the hospital. He was only 40 years old.

Rasselas: Marriage, Happiness, and the Human Condition

28. Rasselas tries to calm his sister, telling her not to be troubled by evil that has not yet come to pass. He answers everything the princess said previously: that marriage is not a problem, and it is normal for confrontations to arise, both outside and within marriage. She should not be troubled by the continuity of the species because they should seek the happiness of the individual, with or without marriage, populating the world or not, because it is the least of their problems.

29. The characters continue discussing marriage. Finally, they conclude that sooner or later, whether you marry or not, you will always experience both pleasures and problems. You must deal with them because... Continue reading "Rasselas: Marriage, Pyramids, and a Kidnapping in Egypt" »

My Mother, Cecilia

My mom, Cecilia Perez, was born on November 14, 1974, in Mexico City, Mexico. Her parents are Consuelo Ceballos and Ramon Perez. She has an older sister who is one year older than her.

She attended primary and secondary school and then pursued a technical career in secretarial studies. Due to financial constraints, she started working at an early age. Before beginning her career, she diligently completed the necessary service. At the age of 20, she married my father, Rodolfo Lopez. They had a loving relationship, and at 22, she gave birth to her first child, me. Two years later, she had her second child, my brother, Brian.

She initially worked at a social club and then furthered her secretarial career by working for various... Continue reading "The Benefits of Online Shopping vs In-Store Shopping" »

Mamma Mia!: A Joyous Celebration of Love and Music

Mamma Mia! is by far and away the best musical film you will see in your life. The first time I saw it was in the cinema many years ago. This film symbolizes love, family, and unity, some of the most important and significant values for most of us. It is known worldwide for its high-quality cast and soundtrack.

The film is set in Skopelos, a beautiful Greek island that makes you want to be there, smell the fresh sea air, and walk through the white alleys. The scenery captures the audience's imagination, making them feel heart-warmed and at peace.

Another important and necessary aspect to highlight is the music of ABBA. It can turn a grey day into a cheerful and lively one. The songs are some of... Continue reading "A Joyous Celebration of Love and Music: A Review of "Mamma Mia!"" »

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

Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Direct Speech

• Present Simple
• Present Continuous
• Present Perfect Simple (have + past participle)
• Past Simple
• CAN
• WILL
• MUST/HAVE TO
• MAY

Reported Speech

• Past Simple
• Past Continuous
• Past Perfect (had + past participle)
• Past Perfect
• COULD
• WOULD
• HAD TO
• MIGHT

Examples:

• "Are you feeling well?" He asked me if I was feeling well.

Changes in Adverbs and Time Expressions:

• THIS becomes THAT
• HERE becomes THERE
• TODAY becomes THAT DAY
• YESTERDAY becomes THE DAY BEFORE
• TOMORROW becomes THE FOLLOWING DAY
• TONIGHT becomes THAT NIGHT
• TOMORROW MORNING becomes THE FOLLOWING MORNING
• YESTERDAY AFTERNOON becomes THE PREVIOUS AFTERNOON
• NEXT WEEK/MONTH/YEAR becomes THE FOLLOWING WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
• LAST WEEK/MONTH/YEAR becomes THE PREVIOUS WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
• A WEEK/MONTH/YEAR

Inversion with Negative & Limiting Adverbials

This grammatical structure involves placing a negative or limiting adverbial at the beginning of a sentence, followed by an inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb. The typical pattern is: Negative/Limiting Adverbial + Auxiliary Verb (e.g., have, do, is, be) + Subject + Main Verb.

Illustrative Examples

• We only very rarely go to the cinema these days.

  Only very rarely do we go to the cinema these days.

• I have never seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet before.

  Never before have I seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet.

• I very rarely study at night.

  Very rarely do I study at night.

• I will never agree to those terms.

  Under no circumstances will I agree to those terms.

• Amy had not enjoyed herself

Social Media: A Balancing Act

Social networks like Twitter and Facebook have become integral parts of our lives. They offer numerous advantages, such as connecting with new people, staying updated on current events, and engaging in discussions. However, it's crucial to use them responsibly and be mindful of potential drawbacks like privacy concerns and excessive time consumption.

Advantages of Social Media

• Connecting with new people and making friends
• Staying informed about current events and news
• Engaging in discussions and sharing opinions
• Entertainment and leisure

Disadvantages of Social Media

• Potential for addiction and excessive time spent online
• Privacy concerns and data security

In conclusion, social media platforms can be valuable tools for communication... Continue reading "Exploring Travel, Pets, and Social Media: A Personal Perspective" »

2a 3b 4b 5c 6a 7a 8b 9c 10b 11c 12b 13c 14a 15c 16b 17c 18a 19a 20b 21c 22a 23d 24c 25a 4- 1 I can’t come to the brunch, 2 you shouldn’t leave a child unsupervised, 3 you must sign up to take the course, 4 I can’t study and work at the same time, 5 you don’t have to book in advance, 6 you must be there on time, 7 you don’t have to read all those books, 8 you can’t swim here, 9 you can’t drive over the speed limit as it’s against the law, 10 you should spend more time with her 5- 1- I should have studied more, 2 he must have finished the exercise, 3 they didn’t need to have reserved the tickets, 4 Ridley Scott can’t have directed this film, 5 you should have written as many words as possible, 6 you shouldn’t have gone to... Continue reading "English Grammar Exercises and Examples" »