Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of English

Essential English Vocabulary and Phrases

Common Phrasal Verbs

• Stay on: To continue in a place, position, or situation.
• Save up: To accumulate money for future use.
• Look up: To search for something on the internet or in a book.
• Look up to: To admire someone or something.

Money and Education

• Earning money: Getting money for work that you do.
• Allowance: An amount of money given regularly.
• Changed my mind: Had a change of opinion.
• Encourage: To inspire or motivate.
• Skip: To avoid going to; to miss.
• Immediately: Straight away.
• Career: A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation.
• Degree: An academic title conferred by universities and colleges upon completion of studies, or as an honorary recognition of achievement.
• A-level: Exams which students in England and

Finding Belonging: A Migrant's Journey

The Challenge of "Country"

Initially, the concept of "country" seemed too broad. However, discussions revealed its potential for exploring the impact of place on identity and belonging. This piece delves into the complexities of migrating to an unfamiliar country, focusing on the search for security through employment.

A Migrant's Internal Struggles

The narrative aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the everyday challenges faced by migrants. It targets those who have personally experienced migration or know someone who has. The story is told from the first-person perspective of a woman grappling with isolation after arriving in Australia.

Inspiration and Literary Techniques

Inspired by "The... Continue reading "Finding Belonging: A Migrant's Journey of Identity and Employment" »

Reported Speech

Statements

1. She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went out last night.
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.
5. She said (that) she had never been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go to the party.
7. She said (that) Lucy would come later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.
11. She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.
12. She said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.
13. She said (that) she was living in Paris for a few months.
14. She told me (that) she visited her parents at the weekend.
15. She said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
16. She said (that) she hadn't travelled

Present Continuous

The present continuous, also known as the present progressive, is a verb tense used to describe actions happening now, or around now.

Affirmative, Interrogative, and Negative Forms

• Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb (present participle -ing)
• Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb (present participle -ing)?
• Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb (present participle -ing)

The Ring's History and Curse

1. The deacons deposited the ring in the glass case of a fashionable jeweler.
2. The Earl of Essex was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
3. The red glow of the diamond symbolizes the presence of the evil spirit within the ring.
4. The Countess of Shrewsbury came to visit the Earl, pretending to be his friend, but actually wanting to get revenge on him for some past slight.
5. The ring was stolen from the Earl's tomb by Cromwell's soldiers when they desecrated the church and robbed the vaults many years after his death.
6. After crossing the Atlantic, the ring ended up being thrown into the contribution box of a church in New England.
7. The ring brought sorrow, deceit, and misfortune to all who possessed it due to the evil spirit dwelling

Common Grammatical Corrections

Here are some common grammatical corrections to improve your English:

• We must make the most of it.
• Honestly, it doesn't matter.
• Could you speak more slowly? / Were you able to understand?
• What's the answer? Subtract eight from eight.
• Three hundred students took part in the competition.
• The students will have finished by tomorrow.
• Three will have run out of time.
• My sister isn't very keen on horror movies.
• Peter asked if he had eaten the chocolate.
• Bob hadn't seen her since she had gone by.
• I needed a cup of coffee. / I could have done with a cup of coffee.
• I'm not going to tolerate this. / I'm not capable of putting up with this.
• We went for a walk in spite of the rain.
• I'm sure it will be fine. / It is bound to be fine.
• Could

Phrasal Verb Examples

1. Break Down

   Tina's computer broke down in the middle of her paper.

2. Turn Down

   She turned down all the men who asked her to marry them.

3. Look Up To

   That teacher is someone I look up to.

4. Get On With

   Does Sheila get on well with her parents?

5. Look Into

   Have scientists ever looked into the way animals communicate with humans?

6. Get By

   It is difficult for the family to get by on the money they have.

7. Look Forward To

   The girls are looking forward to seeing their grandparents again.

8. Come Up With

   The inventor came up with a solution to the problem in a dream.

9. Put Off

   They have put off the meeting until next Friday.

10. Work Out

    It was difficult to work out what was happening in the story.

11. Look Up

    Will you look up this word in the dictionary?

12. Drop Out

    I didn't know

Vocabulary Sentences: Sports Focus

Instructions: Review these sentences using sports-related words.

1. Some people believe that competitive sports help young people work together as part of a team.
2. I am expecting an easy victory against the two other teams tomorrow; they are not very good.
3. And the referee has just blown her whistle to end the game.
4. My brother won the trophy for the fastest runner at school this year.
5. The football match has been cancelled because of bad weather on the pitch.
6. In tomorrow's game, I will be playing against a very difficult opponent - I'm not sure I will win.
7. I was so tired this morning I could only run one lap of the field before I needed to rest.
8. Unfortunately, the team I support lost in the first round of the championships.

Reflections on the Past Generation

1. What did you think about the youth in your time?

I thought they were very full of life and dreams, but they also had their own worries.

2. How were young people different in your time?

They were closer and spent more time together, without as much distraction. They had more communication skills.

3. What values did you see changing in the younger generation back then?

Individualism and self-expression became more important. Thanks to technology, the new generation is improving their computer programming skills.

4. Did you think technology impacted young people positively or negatively in your time?

Technology was starting to appear and it was exciting, but it could also be disconnecting.

5. What advice would you