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

The population that includes the black ethnicity in Panama has its origin between 1850, at the beginning of the construction of the railroad, when they were brought to carry out these works. Since those times they have remained in our territory, forming part of it, contributing their culture and customs.

The black offspring in Panama has generated a significant contribution in its population, in terms of culture and customs. Part of its cuisine, dances, folk music, plastic and artistic manifestations, clothing and celebrations are influenced by this ethnic group.

They are mainly concentrated in the provinces of Darién, Bocas del Toro, Colón and Panama. Where they show off their representative dances such as Congo, on dates such as International... Continue reading "The Influence of Black Ethnicity on Panamanian Culture" »

Allegories in Rasselas

An allegory is a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; a figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. This analysis points out allegories found in Samuel Johnson's The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abyssinia.

The Figure of Imlac

The figure of Imlac in the story is very important, but it's not immediately clear who he is, or at least what he stands for. We know that he is a philosopher who has travelled extensively around the world and is now in the Happy Valley, but is that all?

If we analyze what he says and the role he represents for the protagonist, Rasselas, we realize that he is more than just a philosopher.

He acts as a guide for Rasselas on his journey,... Continue reading "Imlac's Allegorical Role in Samuel Johnson's Rasselas" »

Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story revolves around the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. She is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman named Mr. Bennet, the proprietor of a great house in Longbourn.

Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's five unmarried daughters after two gentlemen have moved into their neighborhood: the rich Mr. Bingley and his friend, the even richer and more eligible Mr. Darcy. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy (a very serious person with no intentions to fall in love) repeatedly clashes with the Bennets' lively second daughter, Elizabeth. This is how... Continue reading "Pride and Prejudice: A Classic Novel by Jane Austen" »

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple: Used for habits, routines, states, opinions, or feelings.

Present Continuous: Used for activities in progress, temporary activities or situations, and fixed plans and arrangements.

Future Tenses: Will and Be Going To

Will: Used for predictions based on personal opinions.

Be going to: Used for predictions with specific evidence, plans, and intentions.

Past Simple and Past Continuous

Past Continuous: (e.g., was living in 2002) Used for actions in progress at a specific time in the past, or actions in progress interrupted by another.

Past Simple: (e.g., he spoke at a conference in 2007) Used for completed past actions.

Used To

Used to: (e.g., they used to use oil lamps) Used for habits or states in the... Continue reading "English Verb Tenses and Grammar Rules: A Comprehensive Review" »

Unit Test 7 Level 1

Vocabulary

Section 1

1. Queue
2. Hopeless
3. Slum
4. Careful
5. Overcame

Section 2

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. B

Section 3

1. Making sure
2. Alone
3. Jobless
4. Drugs
5. Worthless
6. Rent
7. Raise money
8. Education

Grammar

Section 4

1. Had donated
2. Going
3. Was charging
4. Had ended up
5. To stand still
6. Couldn't

Section 5

1. Max asked if they had spotted the film stars in the crowd.
2. The journalist reported that they had finally moved out of the slums.
3. Sandy admitted that they never found his advice helpful.
4. My mother asked where I was going that night.
5. The brochure promised that the device was user-friendly.

Section 6

1. "Did you find the homework difficult?" the teacher asked.
2. "Hurry up!" he told them.
3. "The train will arrive early," the driver announced.
4. "I went to the beach yesterday," Karen said.
5. "Tom is driving carelessly," she said.

Dependent and independent clauses

Independent Clause Defined

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own, by itself. It does not need to be joined to any other clauses because it contains all the information necessary to be a complete sentence.

Independent clauses have three components:

1. They have a subject - they tell the reader what the sentence is about.

2. They have an action or predicate - they tell the reader what the subject is doing.

3. They express a complete thought - something happened or was said.

An independent clause can be as simple as a subject and a verb:

• Jim reads.

Jim is the subject. Reads is the action or verb. A complete thought was expressed - something was said, and the reader now knows that Jim likes to... Continue reading "Understanding Clauses in Sentences" »