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

E-books vs. Paper Books: A Reader's Dilemma

In recent years, many people have acquired electronic books, yet a significant number still prefer traditional printed versions. Let's consider the arguments for and against e-books.

The Rise of E-books: Convenience and Capacity

On one hand, electronic books have become very popular. They are often considered more practical than paper books because they are lighter, and you can store a vast library of titles on a single device.

Concerns About the Digital Shift

On the other hand, the widespread adoption of e-books can have certain drawbacks. For instance, there's a concern that the declining demand for physical books could lead to their reduced availability. This, in turn, might negatively impact traditional... Continue reading "E-books vs. Paper Books: Pros, Cons, and a Personal Take" »

English Vocabulary

Compound Adjectives

• Badly-dressed
• Fair-skinned
• Big-headed
• Free-spirited
• Blue-eyed
• Fun-loving
• Curly-haired
• Good-looking
• Easy-going
• Self-confident

Places and Lifestyles

• Dangerous - Safe
• Busy - Quiet
• Unfriendly - Welcoming
• Lively - Dull
• Green - Polluted
• Poor - Wealthy
• Historic - Modern
• Urban - Rural

Life Stages

• Grow up (in Spain)
• Fall in love (with someone)
• Get married (to someone)
• Leave home / school / university
• To / Degree / Of

Opinion, Belief, and Prediction

• How old do you reckon he is?
• Liam doubts your idea will work.
• Jane estimates she has spent $200.
• On the last question, I guessed the wrong answer.
• We can't predict what will happen next year.

Time Expressions

• I tried to explain... waste of time, they didn't...
• We finished our homework and spent the rest

Simon's Cat

SIMON’S CAT

1. a) Crashes (overloaded), b) Borrow (take it in loan), c) Hits (people watching it), d) Cartoon (animated), e) Adverts (publicity), f) Shelter (rescue centre), g) Merchandise (goods).

2. a) Simon’s Cat is also a magazine (False), b) The first Simon’s Cat was done as a test (True), c) Simon learned animation on computers (False), d) He credits YouTube for his success (True), e) Simon has two white cats (False), f) The little cartoon cat was inspired by Hugh (False), g) Simon thinks black cats are lovely (True).

Living Cheaply

LIVING CHEAPLY

1. a) Countryside (rural areas), b) Swap (exchange), c) Forage (search), d)..., e) Deemed (called), f) Self-sufficient (autonomous), g) Relevant (pertinent).

This Green

THIS GREEN

1.... Continue reading "Simon's Cat, Living Cheaply, This Green, Gap Year, Nelly Furtado, Back to the Future: Key Concepts" »

Verb Tense Practice

G) Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:

1. He often brings (bring) me flowers.
2. Did you meet (you / meet) Paul yesterday?
3. Father is working (work) in the garden now.
4. What are you doing (you / do) at the moment?
5. Mr. Jones painted (paint) his house last month.
6. She goes (go) to school on foot every day.
7. It was (be) hot yesterday.
8. The baby is not sleeping (not / sleep) now.
9. He never drives (drive) fast.
10. She left (leave) Paris in 1987.
11. She always goes (go) to church on Sunday.
12. I bought (buy) a new bicycle last week.
13. My family went (go) to the theatre yesterday.
14. Tom lived (live) in London three years ago.
15. My mother is making (make) some coffee now.
16. Sam went (go) to the circus yesterday.
17. I am talking (talk) on the telephone at the moment.

VASA

To impress both the people

Two golden guns

The Vasa started her first voyage

Two weeks later in Poland

The Captain of the ship

The ship was badly proportioned

The Baltic Sea does not have a mollusc

More than one million people every year

A JOURNALIST IN

The high school paper

Because he thought it would be cool

It's the biggest in the world

Excited to write about something

The workers were so numb and that there

Both positive and negative

Is not important to Charlie, but it is

Affects his work as a journalist because it is

SVALBARD

Between Norway and the North Pole

The name means 'cold coast' in Norse

Probably Norse sailors

Svalbard became Norwegian

By boat

12°C below zero

Because of the Polar night there is no sun

Bears are known to hunt humans

SAVE THE ANIMALS

Most... Continue reading "Fascinating Facts and Stories from Around the World" »

Break down

If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working. E.g. My car broke down on the way to Motril.

Catch sb out

To surprise someone and put them in a difficult position. E.g. The exam is designed to catch you out.

Come across

To find by accident. E.g. I came across my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.

Count on / Rely on

To trust someone.

Cover up

To hide, try to stop people knowing. E.g. It was a real scandal, but the school tried to cover the whole thing up.

Find something out

To discover a fact or piece of information. E.g. We may never find out the truth about what happened.

Get back

To return to a place after you have been somewhere else. E.g. If you get back in time, you can come with us.

Get on / off

To enter (get on) or... Continue reading "Common English Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples" »

Capable

• The camel can go for long periods without water.
• The camel is capable of going for long periods without water.

Succeed

• Management failed to convince the workers to end their strike.
• Management didn’t succeed in convincing the workers to end their strike.

Unable

• Although he can’t play any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.
• Despite being unable to play any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.

Able

• It’s a pity I couldn’t go to the concert with Leslie.
• I wish I had been able to go to the concert with Leslie.

Incapable

• He just cannot seem to get to meetings on time.
• He seems completely incapable of turning up to meetings on time.

Manage

• I’m afraid I wasn’t able to buy the brand of dog food you asked for.
• I’m afraid I didn’t

Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy was born in Scotland in 1955 and comes from a working-class background. Duffy grew up with four little brothers and was born into a Catholic family. She had a very good relationship with her mother, to whom she dedicated the poem 'Premonitions' after her death in 2005.

When Duffy was six years old, her family moved from Glasgow to Stafford. She attended the University of Liverpool and majored in Philosophy. After that, Duffy worked in some freelance jobs until the mid-80s when she decided to become a full-time poet.

Carol Ann Duffy wrote her first poem when she was 11 years old, and after realizing she had talent, her teachers encouraged her to pursue poetry. Currently, Duffy works as a professor of Creative Writing... Continue reading "Carol Ann Duffy: A Democratic Voice in Poetry" »

Analysis

The poem, A dialogue between the Soul and Body by Andrew Marvell contains vivid and concrete imagery, and makes use of a number of conceits imagery, and metaphysical kind. In fact, the very basis of the poem is the metaphysical kind. In fact, the very basic of the poem is the metaphysical concept that the Soul and the Body are separate entities. The body feeling itself to be a victim of the Soul tyranny, and the Soul believing itself to be a prisoner inside the Body are metaphysical conceits.

Stanzas

1. In the opening speech, we have a graphic picture of a prisoner being held in chains and fetters, and about to be hanged on the gallows
2. In the second speech, we have a vivid picture of the Body going about like a walking precipice.
3. We have the

Letters Giving Advice

Introduction

Paragraph 1 - Thanks for the letter and express understanding of the problem.

Main Body

Paragraphs 2, (3) - Suggestion(s) and reason(s).

Conclusion

Final paragraph - Closing remarks.

Useful Language for Letters Giving Advice

Opening Remarks

Formal

• Thank you for your letter requesting...
• I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about...
• I hope the following advice will be of some help to you, etc.

Informal

• I just got your letter and I think I can help you...
• I was sorry to hear about your problem. Here's what I think you should do, etc.

Suggestions

Suggestions can be introduced with expressions such as:

Formal

• I strongly recommend that...
• I would suggest that...
• I believe the best course of action is...
• I would advise