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

Key Figures

Ken Robertson: Journalist and photographer at the Daily Dispatch.

Mamphela Ramphele: A 20-year-old black woman working at the Daily Dispatch.

Plot Summary

Preliminary Situation

Woods learned about the mistreatment of black people by white people, reported in the Daily Dispatch. Ramphele approached the editor about Biko. Biko was interested in Woods to publish his ideas.

Inciting Event

Woods visited Biko, who was under house arrest for inciting revolution. They visited a clinic in Zanempilo and a black township to show Woods the living conditions of black people.

Rising Action

Biko spoke at a stadium advocating for black rule, equal laws, and non-violence. He was arrested. Police attacked a church, reported in the newspaper despite risks.... Continue reading "Cry Freedom: Story of Struggle and Escape" »

My Love for Cinema

I like going to the cinema. Last week I went to see "El Ilusionista."
It was made in 2006 by Neil Burger. It is a dramatic film. It's a screen adaptation of the book The Illusionist, written by Steven Millhauser, who won the Pulitzer Prize.
It's an American film. The film is about a young magician who knows a beautiful young princess. It was around 1870 in Vienna. It has a happy end.
I like both American and European films. I think American films have more budget and effects than the Europeans.
In Spain, we have very famous directors and actors. Pedro Almodovar is one famous director who has won an Oscar, and Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are two very good Spanish actors, even in Hollywood.

At the moment, something is becoming... Continue reading "Cinema, Film Preferences, and the Beauty of Doñana Natural Park" »

Vocabulary

Social Interactions

• Back up
• Fall out
• Finish with
• Friendship group
• Gossip about
• Hurt somebody's feelings
• Take an instant dislike to
• Let down
• Life and soul of the party
• Look out for
• Make up
• Rely on
• Talk behind somebody's back
• Split up
• Upset

Opinions and Attitudes

• Approve of
• Be ashamed of
• Attitude towards
• Be aware of
• Belong to
• Bias against
• Decrease in
• Depend on
• Different from
• Fearful of
• Prevent/protect from
• Puzzled by
• Result in
• Similar to
• Typical of

Phrasal Verbs

• Do away with
• Die out
• Take over
• Carry on
• Get on
• Talk someone into
• Get across

Time and Scheduling

• Ahead of schedule
• The last minute
• At times
• Catch up on
• Deadline
• From time to time
• Get behind
• In the nick of time
• In two weeks' time
• Keep somebody waiting
• Remember
• Retain
• Rush
• Slow down
• Take your time
• Time to spare
• Turn up

Emphasis and Specificity

• Specially
• Especially
• Particular
• Particularly

Additional

1. Complete these conditional sentences with the right form of the verbs. (5 p)

2. I won’t buy those jeans unless you lend (lend) me the money.

1. We wouldn’t have seen Joe if we hadn’t come (not come) to this shop.

2. Meet me outside as soon as you finish (finish).

3. I wouldn’t have complained (not complain) if the service had been better.

4. If they build a shopping centre here, the small shops will go (go) out of business.
   

1. Rewrite these sentences using conditional structures. (9 p)

1. I want to go to the party but I have to finish work early.

If I finish work early, I’ll go to the party.

2. I couldn’t post the letter because the post office was closed.

I would have posted the letter if the post office hadn’t been closed.

3. You should break up with that... Continue reading "English Grammar Exercises" »

• Yes, from my dad on a regular basis but I don't spend it, I try to save it for when I want something specific.
• Yes or they should work if they are not so young, I think that having money helps them to know how to manage it.
• Yes, I don't remember for how long I saved money but it was for a play station and some games.

• The advantages I think are that you can check the website at any time, that you can ask for what you want and see if it is available and that you don't have to go to the store for small things. The disadvantages are that if you don't have references you can get ripped off, if it's clothing you can buy the wrong size and sometimes they can charge you a lot for shipping
• I think that during the pandemic I prefer to buy online especially

Prepositional Verb Exercise

Instructions: Replace the verb in bold in each sentence with the correct form of the corresponding prepositional verb provided below it.

1. Anyone who doubts the power of the social web only needs to observe the activity on Twitter.
   Replace with: Look at
   Correction: Anyone who doubts the power of the social web only needs to look at the activity on Twitter.
2. How are you progressing at work?
   Replace with: Get over
   Correction: How are you getting over at work?
3. A free microblogging service that started a few years ago, Twitter resembles an on-screen bulletin.
   Replace with: Look like
   Correction: A free microblogging service that started a few years ago, Twitter looks like an on-screen bulletin.
4. An opportunity has arisen for a Twitter

If I were a boy even just for a day
I'd roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted 
Then go drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
Because they'd stick up for me

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her because I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Because he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleeping alone

I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Because I know that she'd be faithful
Waiting for me to come home, to come home

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How... Continue reading "- "You say you want to die for love, but you know nothing of death, and know nothing of love" »

Outdoor Adventures

• Scuba diving
• Surfing
• Rappelling
• Rock climbing
• Kayaking

Great Wall of China

She said she saw the well-known Great Wall of China on a 20-minute helicopter ride

Mountain Sport

He said his favorite mountain sport would be rappelling

Travel Experiences

• They said that we had been going on a three-week scuba trip
• She said that she had gone mountain climbing on the well-known Mount Everest last month

Spanish Translations

• Popon - caer de vista
• Budget - presupuesto
• Niagara Falls - cascada de niagara
• Trip - viaje
• Motto - lema
• Travelers - viajar

Travel Tips

• Food - such
• National - so
• Has so - such
• Are so - such
• Wartefasll - so
• Lest - live like a King
• When - catch some rays
• Wey - travel light
• I don't - travel on a shoestring
• They are - looking forward to

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Verb (infinitive) Verb + -s/-es (3^rd person/singular)

Time Expressions: Every day / in the morning / once / twice / three times a week / always / usually / on Monday

Present Continuous

To be + Verb (am/is/are) + -ing

Actions happening at or around the moment of speaking. Temporary situations. Fixed arrangements (future use).

Time Expressions: Now / at the moment / at present / nowadays / today / still / always

Past Simple

Past forms: Regular verbs: -ed Irregular verbs (3^rd column)

Past actions (with a definite time expression). Past habit or state.

Time Expressions: Yesterday / last week / two days ago / when / in 1967 / then

Past Continuous

To be (past) + Verb (was/were) + -ing

Past action in progress, interrupted by another... Continue reading "English Verb Tenses: A Complete Guide" »