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

Aldous Huxley's Anti-Utopian Stance

Aldous Huxley's anti-utopian remarks in the late 1920s stemmed from a profound aversion to the utopian speculations he encountered by 1930. Many of these, influenced by H. G. Wells and ultimately by Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis (1627), were distinctly scientific in nature. Huxley observed that those who envisioned a utopian future ‘invoke not the god from the machine, but the machine itself. [...] Thus although in one sense Huxley’s novels and non-fiction prose prior to 1932 seemed to indicate that he would never stoop to utopian themes, in another they made Brave New World inevitable.

The Genesis of Brave New World

One of the chief reasons why Huxley wrote Brave New World was to discredit, if not discourage,... Continue reading "Aldous Huxley's Dystopian Vision: Critiquing Utopia and Society" »

Chapter 1: Paloma's Reluctance and Relationships

1. Why didn't Paloma want to move to England?

Paloma did not want to move to England because she didn't want to leave her friends and her current school.

2. What do we learn about Marta and her relationship with Paloma?

• They are sisters.
• Marta is one year older than Paloma.
• Marta is more mature than Paloma.
• The two sisters are very different and have very different friends.

3. Describe Paloma's relationship with Daniel.

Daniel is a friend of Paloma, and she has liked him for years.

4. Why does Marta think it would be good for Paloma to leave Eva?

Marta believes it would be good for Paloma to leave Eva because she thinks Eva is very arrogant.

Chapter 2: Attempts to Stop the Move

1. How did Paloma try to stop

Common Verb Phrases and Vocabulary

• 1. Cook dinner
• 2. Study economics
• 3. Speak German
• 4. Read a newspaper
• 5. Sorry
• 6. Glasses
• 7. Homework
• 8. Animals
• 9. A new car
• 10. An umbrella

Present Simple Sentence Completion

2. A lot of American people have pets. / It doesn't rain. / They live. / The sun shines. / He doesn't cook. / She doesn't wear. 8. They need. 9. It makes. 10. They don't do.

Negative and Affirmative Verb Forms

1. I don't play (not play) tennis.
2. They don't go (not go) to the movies.
3. He has (have).
4. She doesn't work (not work).
5. It rains.
6. They live.
7. I don't speak.
8. We study.
9. They don't.

Third Person Singular Verb Endings

1. Say / Take: add "s".
2. Do / Go: add "es".
3. Drink / Live: s / s.
Patterns: s, es, es, s, s, es, es, es.

Job

UND6 12Would you like to freshen out / up/ off before dinner? 13I will pick Mr Hayes off / out / upfrom the hotel.14He needed more time to show them up / around / for the factory, so I guess they’re still there.15You will need to check out / in/ on at reception when you arrive, and then join us in the bar.16One thing I’d like to do while I’m here is to meet along / up / on with an old friend who lives in the centre of town.17How about eating in / out / with at that Restaurant?

AOK. The first thing to remember is that you ²⁵have to log on, so you’ll Always ²⁶need to remember your Password.

BI heard that they change the passwords every month.

AIT is ²⁷supposedto reset them, but often don’tdo it. OK, once you’ve typed it in, wait

Tema 1

1. Telepathy Research Findings

1. Researchers claim that while many people have strange experiences, a major new study into hundreds of experiments in telepathy carried out over the last ten years has found no evidence that it really exists.
2. Under these rules, volunteers sit on their own in a room with half ping-pong balls over their eyes. Most serious research into telepathy follows a set of rules called the Ganzfeld procedure.
3. Some strange events which may seem fantastic are actually common. Psychologists say that one reason why so many people still believe in the paranormal is because of cognitive biases.
4. Dr. Wiseman has studied the phenomenon of people who dream about dead relatives. Other strange events like premonitions are also more likely

Chapter 1: Nat's Journey Begins

Chapter 1 Summary

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper tells the story of a young boy named Nat, who uses the world of theater to escape his painful past and forge a hopeful future. Orphaned and burdened by grief, Nat finds solace in acting. He is magically transported back to Elizabethan England, where he becomes an apprentice to William Shakespeare. Under Shakespeare's guidance, Nat learns to confront his emotions and properly mourn his parents. King of Shadows is a poignant tale of self-discovery set against the vibrant backdrop of Elizabethan theater.

In 1999, the Company of Boys gathers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for their first rehearsal of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Nat, a member... Continue reading "King of Shadows Chapter 1: Nat's Journey Begins" »

The Enigma of Woodend's Corner Shop

This story tells about a stranger, Dave Slatin, who comes to a small village in Woodend, and very strange things happen since his arrival. The stranger bought a house in Woodend, where he established a corner shop at the front. The sign read: The Corner Shop, Proprietor: Dave Slatin.

Anna and The Corner Shop

The new assistant in The Corner Shop was Anna. Sometimes her friend, Peter, helped at the shop. Within the shop was a room accessible only to Dave. A notice on the door of the room read: Special Orders Only: Keep Out.

Miss Greta Gordon's Visit

One day, a strange woman came to the shop. Her name was Miss Greta Gordon. She was a beautiful woman, wearing expensive clothes, and she wished to meet Dave Slatin.... Continue reading "Dave Slatin's Dark Secrets in Woodend" »

Due to = because of Condition = illness

Mild = moderate To have the blues = depressed

Manage = control Prohibit = forbid

Skill = ability Countless = a lot of

Important = significant Achievement = accomplishment

Willing = prepared Decreased = diminish

Prevent = stop State = claim Unfair = unjust

Huge = enormous Improve = get better

Purchase = buy Income = salary

Lend = borrow Buy = sell

Decreased = increased Insignificant = prestigious

Adore/appreciate = dislike Very small/tiny = huge

Approve/acclaim = criticize Calming/comforting = disturbing

- The post has just arrived.

- My neighbors had sold their house before they moved to Los Angeles.

- How long have you known her?

- By the time I get home, I hope you will have walked the dog.

- She hadn't run a marathon... Continue reading "Improve Your Vocabulary with Synonyms and Sentences" »

Crime Headlines

Recent Incidents

Breaking News

1. Police Give Chase After Bank Robbery
2. Two Youths Charged with Vandalism of Monument
3. Thieves Caught Red-Handed by Police
4. Inmates Escape from High-Security Prison
5. Gunman Releases Hostage After Long Negotiation

Ongoing Investigations

Justice Served