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

Mediation Task: Explaining a Customer Complaint

Task Description

You work in a gym office and have received a letter of complaint. Your task is to inform your manager about the issues raised by the customer. Do not copy the letter; explain the main problems in your own words.

Source Text: Letter of Complaint

Subject: Complaint about last Saturday’s Fitness Class

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the fitness class I attended on Saturday at 10 a.m. I had booked the class one week in advance, but when I arrived, the receptionist could not find my name on the list. As a result, I waited for more than 15 minutes before finally being allowed to enter the studio.

Unfortunately, the situation inside the class was not any... Continue reading "Mastering Mediation Tasks: Handling Customer Complaints" »

English Vocabulary and Sentence Practice

Exercise 1: Sentence Completion

1. You must behave in class and follow the rules.
2. Last summer holidays, we stayed in a wood cabin in the Alps.
3. She was sneezing all the time because of her allergic reaction.
4. The doctor advised me to take a tablet every six hours...
5. The mouse and the keyboard are part of a computer’s hardware.
6. She would like to learn German to travel to Berlin.
7. The strange thing is that nobody saw him enter the building.

Exercise 2: Prepositions

1. We have to look for accommodation...
2. You can download the newest software from the Apple Support website.
3. The chemist carried out an experiment in the lab.
4. I forgot my password, so I cannot connect to the Wi-Fi.
5. You should sign up for those Chinese online classes.

The Impact of Mobile Phones on Modern Society

Mobile phones have become very common in recent years, especially among teenagers. Many people spend hours looking at their screens every day, but is this a good thing? Many people think it is an essential tool for modern life, but others believe it has more disadvantages than advantages.

Advantages of Smartphone Connectivity

On the one hand, using mobile phones is comfortable because they help us stay connected with family and friends at any time. It also saves time because we can:

• Find information instantly
• Use maps
• Study online

Moreover, for many people, smartphones are a great source of entertainment, offering music, games, and videos in one single device.

Disadvantages and Health Risks

On the other... Continue reading "Modern Lifestyle Challenges: Mobile Phones and Fast Food" »

Basic Level (BS)

Exercise Set O1

1. This is the least comfortable car I’ve ever driven.
2. Unless you drive (more) slowly, he will not go with you.
3. Despite (her) being a good lawyer, she doesn’t always win her cases.
4. Claudia is likely to know the right answer.
5. I’d rather you didn’t touch my laptop.
6. You will be taken to the train station in a fancy car.

Exercise Set O2

7. It was such a cold evening that we decided to stay indoors.
8. I would like to know what time the next bus to York is.
9. I gave her a watch which stopped working two days later.
10. His mother warned Peter not to leave the door unlocked.
11. By the time we get to the theatre, the play will have (already) begun.
12. My sister used to eat a lot of sweets when she was a child.

Standard Level (S)

Exercise Set O1

1. This

Vocabulary Practice

1. Choose the correct answer

1. The designers think that this building will meet the needs of everyone.
2. I want you to repay the money by Friday at the latest.
3. We have to learn the poem by heart for tomorrow’s lesson.
4. You’re blocking the traffic. Get out of the way.

2. Word formation: Complete the sentences

1. There were countless occasions when I didn’t think we would reach safety. (COUNT)
2. The help that locals gave to the refugees was wonderful. (WONDER)
3. This green colouring is completely harmless, so you can add it to food and drinks for St. Patrick’s Day. (HARM)
4. Why do so many people think that a physical disability makes people unable to work? (DISABLE)
5. Unfortunately, there isn’t always equality between men and women in the

Cleft Sentences and Their Structure

What is a Cleft Sentence?

A cleft sentence is one where a single message is divided (cleft) into two clauses.

Unmarked Word Order for Declarative Sentences

The unmarked word order for a declarative sentence in English is SVO (Subject-Verb-Object).

When Can Inversion Be Used?

Inversion can be used in clefts.

Usage of "Who"

The pronoun "who" is used for humans.

Defining Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are dependent clauses.

Types of Relative Clauses

• Restrictive
• Non-restrictive

Inversion with "Never" and "Rarely"

When "never" and "rarely" are in front position, they require subject-auxiliary inversion.

Characteristics of Existential Sentences

Existential sentences have an indefinite subject.

Forms of the Object Complement

The... Continue reading "Key Elements of English Sentence Construction" »

Titanic: A Timeless Romantic Drama Review

A Frightening Discovery at Home

This happened to me last winter. I had spent almost the whole afternoon at university, and my parents were still at work. When I arrived home, they weren’t there yet. As soon as I went inside, I noticed that one of the windows was broken. I got really scared because I immediately thought the worst, like someone had broken in.

So, I waited for my parents to arrive, and when they did, I explained everything to them. They told me that they had left the windows open, and because it was very windy, the wind had slammed the door really hard. The pressure caused the windows to break. Then, I realized it actually made sense, because it would be strange for someone to break the windows when it's not even easy to reach... Continue reading "Personal Stories of Unexpected Stress and Relief" »

Exercise 1: Logical Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences with a logical continuation. Write more than one word. Pay attention to the words in bold.

• My favourite time of the day is dawn because everything is quiet and peaceful then.
• The sea is very rough today because the wind is blowing strongly.
• The peak of the mountain was covered in snow.
• The soil here is good for growing vegetables.
• Poachers are unwanted in nature reserves because they kill protected animals.

Exercise 2: Phrasal Verbs

Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verbs from the list:

1. I’m staying over at my friend Jenny’s house tonight.
2. The river has dried up.
3. The toad turned into a prince.
4. The congress has been brought forward by a year.
5. Tourists were turned away at the

Base Form         Past Simple         Past Participle         Meaning

• bring          brought          brought          traer
• build          built          built          construir
• buy          bought          bought          comprar
• catch          caught          caught          coger
• choose          chose          chosen          elegir
• come          came          came          venir
• cut          cut          cut          cortar
• do          did          done          hacer
• dream          dreamed          dreamed