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

Rudyard Kipling's "If—" (A Stanza)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And—which is more—you will be a Man, my son!

Analyzing George Orwell's Animal Farm

The novel serves as an allegory for the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Character Parallels and Symbolism

1. Mr. Jones: Symbolizes governments that fail to rule their people effectively. He was the owner of the farm and was unable to look after his animals.
2. The Pigs:

White lions are a rare color mutation of lions, known for their stunning white fur. They have short pointy ears and their eyes can be grey, blue, or green. With strong bodies and big teeth, they are truly magnificent creatures.

Home

White lions originally lived in savannas and woodlands, but due to their endangered status, they can now be found in zoos.

Food

White lions typically eat herbivores like zebras and gazelles.

Why Are They the Ideal Pet?

White lions are incredibly rare and more interesting than regular lions or other felines. They are friendly and not aggressive, and they can live up to 25 years. However, it is recommended to have them for a few years and then return them to a reserve.

People's Opinion

While many people believe white lions... Continue reading "White Lions: The Ideal Pet and Amazing Facts" »

Key Differences Between British and American English Vocabulary

Environment

The Importance of Plants

According to the text, "Without plants, man could not survive." This highlights the crucial role of plants in our ecosystem. The text also emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, "We are destroying our life-support system at such an alarming rate that it has already become a crisis." Horrifyingly, some flowering species are on the brink of extinction.

Vocabulary

• Desert: A very hot and dry environment.
• Rainforest: The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world.
• Remain/Stay: To continue to be in a particular place.
• Medicines: Drugs used to treat illnesses.
• Wild: Untamed or undomesticated (e.g., a wild dog can be dangerous).

Common Questions

• Are you from...?
• Have you been to London many times?
• What do you

There a bridge called ´´ Covert´s Crossing¨ or ¨ bridge¨ up in new castle . A young couple had gotten married

on hallowwn . Around minight, they werw in a horse drawn carriage across the bridge at the same time a car

was the bridge was only one lane, so by the time they saw each other it was too late. Story has it that they crashed

and the hubcap of the car flew off , decapitating the bridge. The police never found her head or the body of the groom.

Its been said that if you sit on the bridge on Halloween night around midnight, you can see the headless bridge standing

on some rocks in the river . Halloween they don´t know if she is looking for her head or her lost love . Submitted by Courtnie.

Chapter 1

Ben Norton loves superheroes and comics. He has seen all the superhero films and read all the superhero books. He is also a superhero in his town: he is Banana Boy. He has a banana costume that gives him superpowers. However, in his town, he feels like a nobody because nothing exciting ever happens. The Banana Boy costume used to be an old fancy dress costume from school. When he put the costume on, he gained superpowers, and nobody knew who he was.

It was the first day of the school holidays, and Ben wanted to save the world, but the world didn't seem to need saving. Ben dreamt that he was saving the town from giant pieces of falling fruit. People were stuck in sticky juice, strawberries fell from the sky… it was complete chaos.... Continue reading "Adventures of Banana Boy: A Superhero Tale" »

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 Grammar & Vocabulary Essentials

Vocabulary Practice

Vocabulary List 1

• cost
• volunteer
• get on with (phrasal verb)
• inappropriate
• take off (phrasal verb)
• hilly
• qualifications
• plot
• slim

Vocabulary List 2 (Incomplete)

This section contains incomplete words, with interpretations provided where possible:

• Exciting
• d___d
• haggling (original: hagging an)
• vulgar (original: bulgar)
• ________
• ____
• carrier bag (original: garrier ug)
• reminded

Vocabulary List 3

• request (verb/noun)
• update (verb/noun)
• block
• turn away (phrasal verb)
• privacy settings
• embarrassing
• criticize (or criticise)

Grammar Concepts

Relative Clauses: Examples 1

• She came from a lovely Spanish city called Seville, which is very cold.
• That is the town where KP was born.
• That is the man whose brother was on TV last week.

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" »