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

Section 1: Comprehension and Vocabulary

1.1 Emotional Impact & Symbolism

1. They can provoke strong feelings, similar to how personal photos do. (Lines 3-4)
2. It is important because the polar bear on melting ice represents global warming and the human effect. (Lines 17-18)

1.2 Vocabulary: Synonyms

• Conducted: Carried out
• Very funny: Hilarious
• Extremely sad: Heart-breaking
• Brutal: Harsh

1.3 True or False Statements

• False. (Lines indicate a third of the participants would save their photographs.)
• False. (The birds made the writer smile.)
• True. (Lines indicate he froze in fear.)

1.4 Multiple Choice Answers

• c)
• c)
• a)

Section 2: Grammar Practice

2.1 Verb Tenses & Conditionals

1. left / will be relaxing
2. not to take / had listened / wouldn't have made
3. wanted / had ...

A Retrieved Reformation Questions

1. Jimmy's Plans Clue

   Which of Jimmy’s actions gives a clue to his plans for continuing to crack safes?

   Answer: B. He goes to his room to pick up his burglar’s tools.

2. Jimmy's Character

   Jimmy wears fancy clothes, eats well, and robs banks for quick money. What does this tell you about him?

   Answer: B. He likes “the good life.”

3. Ben Price's Interest

   Why is Ben Price interested in Jimmy Valentine?

   Answer: B. Ben Price wants to arrest Jimmy.

4. Jimmy's Reaction Prediction

   What can you predict that Jimmy will do when he notices Annabel coming out of the bank?

   Answer: A. He will find a way to meet her.

5. Shoe Business Reason

   Why does Jimmy Valentine decide to go into the shoe business?

   Answer: A. He likes fancy clothes.

6. Plot Element

English Verb Tenses: Active and Passive Voice

Past Perfect

• Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle
• Negative: Subject + hadn't + past participle
• Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle + ?

Passive Voice

• Present Simple: writes ~ is written
• Past Simple: wrote ~ was written
• Future (will): will write ~ will be written
• Present Continuous: is writing ~ is being written
• Past Continuous: was writing ~ was being written
• Present Perfect: has written ~ has been written
• Past Perfect: had written ~ had been written
• Be going to: is going to write ~ is going to be written
• Modal Verbs: can write ~ can be written

Past Perfect

• Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle
• Negative: Subject + hadn't + past participle
• Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle + ?

Victor's Journey to Geneva and Encounter with the Monster

1. On his journey to Geneva, Victor spent the night in the village of Secheron, but he couldn't sleep.

Victor couldn't sleep, and he decided to go and find the place where William had been murdered. During the storm, he saw a figure standing beside some trees; it was the monster.

Justine's Trial and Conviction

2. Justine defended herself in court.

Justine was called to defend herself. Crying, she told them what she remembered.

But it did no good. The judge had reached his verdict, and Justine had been found guilty. She was sentenced to death and would be executed the next day.

The Monster's Plea and Victor's Reaction

3. The monster raised his hand and began to speak.

Victor was shocked.

The monster... Continue reading "Frankenstein: Key Plot Points and Analysis" »

The Crucial Role of English Proficiency Today

In past years, many people could build a career with only basic English knowledge. However, things have changed, and now a high level of English is often required for any career or job. For example, in Spain, to pursue a career, one must pass a selectividad exam, and English is one of the required subjects. Therefore, if you don't speak English, it will be very difficult to establish a career.

Also, in Spain, students can obtain Becas Erasmus (Erasmus scholarships) to travel to another country and study their chosen field for a year. Knowing English also allows you to study or work in English-speaking countries like England, which is a very interesting country. Furthermore, having a career path may... Continue reading "Essential Skills for Today: Language Proficiency and Technology Use" »

Choosing the Right Portable Hard Drive

When selecting a portable hard drive, it's essential to consider your specific storage needs. Here's a comparison of two popular models:

Available Portable Hard Drive Models

• Iomega eGO Portable Hard Drive: Offers a substantial 160 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity.
• Edge DiskGO Mini Portable Hard Drive: Provides 12 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity.

Comparing Iomega eGO and Edge DiskGO

The choice between these drives depends on your intended use:

• The Iomega eGO is ideal for mobile professionals, offering ample space to back up an entire PC.
• The Edge DiskGO is ultra-lightweight, making it perfect for easily transporting personal files such as photos, music, and data documents.

Portable Hard Drive Pricing

• Iomega

Anne Frank's Early Life

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, to a Jewish family. In 1933, her parents moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Fleeing Germany and Hiding

During World War II, the family hid to avoid the Nazis. They left their home and moved to a shelter in the offices of her father's company. It was not a comfortable place, but they had to adapt as it became their new home.

Anne's Life in Hiding

Age and Emotions

Anne was 13 years old. She wrote about the feelings of others, expressing her discomfort and eventual feelings of love.

Protecting from the Nazis

To protect themselves from the Nazis, Anne and her family hid in an apartment where they could not make any noise to avoid being caught.

Anne's Diary

Anne believed that... Continue reading "Anne Frank: Life, Diary, and the Holocaust" »

The Manager,
17 Manor Drive, Castletown, Co. Longford. June 14th, 2008

Jeans World,
Castletown, Co. Longford.

Dear Sir/Madam,

On Friday, June 9th, I bought a pair of Levi jeans in your shop. When I took the jeans home, I noticed two buttons were missing. I went back to the shop with the receipt and asked the shop assistant to exchange the jeans for a pair that were not damaged. She refused. She said the jeans were perfect when they were sold and said they had been damaged since leaving the shop. A quick look would have shown that buttons had never been sewn on and that it was most likely a fault that had happened in the factory.

I insist on my rights as a consumer and wish for an exchange or my money back. Please contact me at the above address as... Continue reading "Jeans Complaint, Job Application & Internet Shopping" »

A Kiss Before Dying

Key Events and Clues

1. A home that… CARAVAN
2. Be sick: THROW UP
3. After taking the pills: PAIN
4. He read the books: PAIN
5. All around the room: GELATIN CAPSULES
6. If he didn’t marry: SUSPICIOUS
7. The young man dropped: (Left Blank)
8. ''We have to go…: BIRTH CERTIFICATE
9. Personal FILES
10. A lawyer. A person: ATTORNEY

Questions and Answers

1. What do you know about Dorothy’s mother?

   She was married to Dorothy's father when Dorothy was born, but eight years later, her father realized that she was with another man. He broke up with her. She was ill when she was with Leo, but after he broke up with her, she died.

2. What is the relationship between the book La Casa de las Flores Negras and Dorothy’s suicide note?

   Bud told Dorothy that he didn’t know how to

English Grammar

Verb Tenses

Past Tense Transformations

• Present Simple (eats/eat) → Past Simple (ate)
• Don't/Doesn't → Didn't
• Present Continuous (am, is, are + v ing) → Past Continuous (was, were + v ing)
• Past Simple (-ed or irregular) → Past Perfect (had + past participle)
• Present Perfect (have, has + past participle) → Past Perfect
• Past Perfect (had + past participle) → Past Perfect
• Past Continuous (was, were + v ing) → Past Perfect Continuous (had + been + v ing)
• Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Past Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Future: Will + infinitive → Would + infinitive
• Can → Could + infinitive
• Must/Have to → Had to + infinitive
• May → Might + infinitive

Changes in Reported Speech

• Now → Then
• Today