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

1. Identify the Correct Question Word

1. WHAT is the weather like in August?
2. HOW much is the chocolate?
3. WHERE/WHY/WHAT TIME did you get up this morning?
4. WHERE does James live?
5. WHO do you study French with?
6. HOW LONG does it take to get to Paris from Madrid?

2. Form Questions from Given Answers

1. How often does your family travel to Brighton?
   My family travels to Brighton every summer.
2. Where is your sister planning to go to look for a new job?
   My sister is planning to go to Barcelona to look for a new job.
3. When will you be back?
   I'll be back tomorrow morning.

3. Construct Sentences in Past Simple

1. It was warm, so I TOOK (take) off my coat.
2. I was very tired, so I LEFT (leave) the party early.
3. The concert BEGAN (begin) at 7.30.
4. The hotel wasn't very expensive. It

The Importance of Books for Children's Learning

Benefits of Books

Books are essential for children's learning. They allow children to develop their attitudes and pick up knowledge quickly. Some people say that young people are responsible enough to take care of books. However, I believe there are both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Free Books

On the one hand, the main advantage of free books is that families don't have to buy them if they can't afford them. Furthermore, children can attend classes without paying fees.

Disadvantages of Free Books

On the other hand, the disadvantages are that even though some teenagers are mature enough to have this opportunity, the majority are not. Another issue is the question of who should pay for... Continue reading "The Importance of Books for Children's Learning and Development" »

The Surrender of Breda: Velázquez's Masterpiece

The Surrender of Breda, painted by Velázquez in 1634, depicts the historic surrender of Breda. The two main characters, positioned in the center of the picture, appear to be conversing rather than acting as enemies. The painting is remarkably realistic, as the figures seem to come alive.

The scene features Justin of Nassau, holding the keys to Breda. He attempts to kneel, but his adversary prevents him. Velázquez portrays General Spinola with striking realism, a detail perhaps influenced by their shared journey to Italy in 1629.

A particularly interesting element is the array of large, sharp brown lances visible on both sides of the painting. This realism, along with the individual characterization,... Continue reading "Cultural Reflections: Art, Entertainment, and Innovation" »

Mastering English Verb Conjugation

Here's a comprehensive list of English verbs with their past tense forms:

It is a trivial comedy for serious people. Wilde was at his peak of his success when he wrote this play. This comedy manners also parodies social classes in a witty and intellectual way. It was written in Worthing, England in 1894. It moves between the urban city vibe of London and a more natural country atmosphere of Hertfordshire during the mid-1890s. Wilde uses both locations to mock late Victorian high society and its social customs.

Advanced English Language Practice: Exercises and Solutions

Section 1: Word Formation and Contextual Vocabulary

1. John has to work unsocial hours, such as weekends and evenings.
2. Swimming with dolphins is an unforgettable experience.
3. In English, the present simple is used for an action which is part of a daily routine.
4. Be careful whenever it gets windy. You can fall down.
5. What an embarrassing situation!
6. Mr. Roberts is a person highly respected by his neighbors.
7. He is able to put a shark into a state of immobility for about fifteen minutes.
8. Lions are far from being the ferocious killing animals depicted in the media.

Section 2: Sentence Transformation and Grammar

1. She still hasn't turned up.
2. They moved to Paris two years ago. (for)
   They have been living in

Soap Operas

1. a) FALSE. “Each show will have several different storylines happening at once that continue over several shows.” b) FALSE. “And we should not forget Emmerdale, which is set on a farm in Yorkshire, in the north of England.”

2. a) The word “soap” comes from the early days of these programs. They were mainly for women, who watched them, probably while they were doing the washing. Because of this, the companies that made cleaning products advertised them when soap operas were being aired. That’s where the word comes from.

b) They magnify daily life, with lots of divorces, love affairs, and violent characters that kill other people; in a few words, a histrionic vision of real life.

3. Depict, At once, Continue, Happen.

4.

The main characters are three men: Peter Mason, Jackstraw, and Joss. They were working in a weather station in the Arctic when suddenly, they heard a huge noise. They left the weather station to know what had happened. They found out that the noise had been an accident of a plane. When they reached the plane, they fortunately found 10 survivors, but they also found several dead men, with one of them dead by a bullet, not the crash, so it was clear that there were some murderers among all of them.

The rest of the story runs on trying to guess who the murderers are. Peter Mason, Jackstraw, and Joss are men who are experienced in working in extreme conditions, but they have never managed a situation as described in the book. The leader of the three... Continue reading "Arctic Murder Mystery: Survivors, Scientists, and Secrets" »