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

Diamond Facts: Natural vs. Man-Made

Physical and Chemical Properties

Man-made diamonds are optically, chemically, and physically identical to mined diamonds.

Price Comparison

Regarding price, there is a significant difference:

• A one-carat yellow diamond from nature costs about $20,000.
• A man-made one costs about $6,000.

Artificial Diamond Production

The process involves subjecting a piece of coal to extremely high temperatures and great pressure over a period of various days. This information is often promoted by those in charge of companies that produce artificial diamonds.

Related Terminology

Keywords associated with diamond processing include: overseen, lump, graded, and inscribed (corrected spelling).

Grammar Corrections

• The hardest substance on Earth.

I just came from France, the capital of Paris.

Everyone told me that I would have a great time. They told me that there was a lot to see there. They were right! Paris is a city with a long history, but it's also a very modern city. I visited the museum, and it's very modern. Besides visiting the tourist attractions, Paris is one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. The air is so clean! The manager explained that they used renewable energy sources and that they recycled waste.

I really recommend a visit!

Is it Important to Have a Healthy and Balanced Diet?

Thursday, May 6, 2015

A Balanced Diet

Have you noticed how many people in recent years are unhappy due to excess weight? This has become a serious health problem for many young people who, due to strict diets, are actually suffering from diseases such as bulimia.

Our society is influenced by fashion that pushes us to consume not only mobile phones but also fast food. To be beautiful and feel good, you have to go to the gym, go swimming, go running, and, above all, be thin. All these activities, if not accompanied by the required hours of rest and a balanced diet, will just take their toll. Our country is known for its Mediterranean diet, which means eating vegetables, fruit, fish, and olive oil.... Continue reading "Healthy Diet and New Technologies: Impact on Life" »

80 Essential Irregular Verbs: Forms and Meanings

This comprehensive list provides the base form, past simple, and past participle for 80 common irregular verbs, along with their Spanish translations. Mastering these forms is crucial for achieving fluency in English.

Verbs A–D

Be (Ser, Estar)

• Base Form: Be
• Past Simple: Was / Were
• Past Participle: Been

Become (Convertirse en, Hacerse)

• Base Form: Become
• Past Simple: Became
• Past Participle: Become

Begin (Empezar, Comenzar)

• Base Form: Begin
• Past Simple: Began
• Past Participle: Begun

Bite (Morder)

• Base Form: Bite
• Past Simple: Bit
• Past Participle: Bitten

Blow (Soplar)

• Base Form: Blow
• Past Simple: Blew
• Past Participle: Blown

Break (Romper)

• Base Form: Break
• Past Simple: Broke
• Past Participle: Broken

Bring (Llevar, Traer)

• Base

Irregular Verb Conjugation Reference

Here's a table of common irregular verbs in English, showing their base form, past simple, and past participle:

Assorted English Sentences

43. Despite being over seventy, Orson continued to cycle to work every day.
44. It is eight years since I read a play by George Bernard Shaw.
45. Sharon’s mother recommended going out in the afternoon.
46. The fireman was able to rescue the child from the burning house.
47. The suspects aren’t obliged to say anything by the police.
48. How old is your grandfather?
49. It is years since she enjoyed herself so much.
50. I’m really looking forward to going to the theatre tomorrow.
51. She’s having the windows mended.
52. It’s not as good as I thought it would be.
53. She told us not to be late.
54. If she had studied hard for the exam, she wouldn’t have made a lot of mistakes.
55. His jokes are better than hers.
56. We may be together soon.
57. English is spoken all over the world.

The Remarkable Life of Tererai Trent

Tererai Trent was born in 1965 in rural Zimbabwe, in a hut that had no electricity or running water. Although her culture did not believe in educating girls, Tererai was desperate to learn. She taught herself to read and write using schoolbooks that belonged to her brother, Tinashe, who was delighted to let her do his homework.

Unit 1: Media and Appearances

Public Appearances and Media

Appearance: An occasion when someone appears in public.

Broadcast: To send out a program on television or radio.

Piece: An example of artistic, musical, or written work.

Stream: To listen to/watch something on a computer, smartphone, etc., directly from the internet.

Creative Professionals

Comedian: Someone who entertains people by telling jokes.

Editor: A person who corrects or changes text, film, etc., or who is in charge of a newspaper/magazine.

Novelist: A person who writes books about imaginary people and events.

Programmer: Someone who writes computer programs as a job.

Media Terminology

• Bestseller
• Cast
• The Charts
• Classic
• Series
• Shoot
• Track
• Critic
• Producer
• TV Presenter

Unit 3: Personal Qualities and

MODAL VERBS

He must be in love/ She could be working too hard/ He may not earn very much/ That must be very hard/ That can't be Claire's grandfather/ He must have sold his business for a lot of money/ They can't have had another argument/ we might have met before/ she can't have had a happy childhood/ She may have thought I'd be angry.

I might be able to give you a lift but../ I wasn't able to swim till last year/ I can see Sarah../ I've made the main course for dinner.. so I haven't been able to make the dessert yet/ When I was 14, I was able to run from my home../ Will you be able to speak Chinese../ I was able to go to last Saturday's../ my brother can usually fix the computer

LISTENING

Cave Diving

(size/explorer/challenge/darkness/problem-solving/... Continue reading "English Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises" »

Put the sentences into Passive Voice: