Marriage in American Literature

Marriage is one of the most prominent themes portrayed in some American literary works, and there are different conceptions of the issue.

Washington Irving

In Rip Van Winkle, the protagonist sees marriage as a punishment and a source of unhappiness. Rip Van Winkle is depicted as a humble person who helps everyone that needs him and who has no evilness inside. However, his relationship with his wife is different. In fact, when he wakes up and finds out that 20 years have passed and also that everyone he knows has disappeared, Rip feels sad, but not for the loss of Dame Van Winkle.

Anne Bradstreet

In Letter to my Loving Husband, there is a different approach to marriage. The poem is a praise to her husband, whom she... Continue reading "Marriage in American Literature: A Deep Dive" »

Improve Your English: Common Errors and Corrections

Vocabulary and Usage

Vocabulary: environmentally friendly, amount, wipe out, harmful, cut down, pollution. hurt/damaged, spend/devote, achieve/reach, forbidden/banned, holiday place/resort, honest and open/frank, live on/inhabit, bring up/raise.

Correcting Common Grammatical Errors

It's extremely dangerous to ski here. We should go down the hill and ski near the hotel. Remember, it's a secret between us.

You mustn't tell a word to anyone. Joe looks really excited today. He must have passed his driving test.

Look at your eyes, they are so red. I know, I have been crying all afternoon because I had an argument with my boyfriend.

Emma will have to go out early next Saturday because she will have to... Continue reading "Boost Your English: Common Mistakes and Corrections" »

Calm down:                      aching muscules:

1. Complete the Sentences with the Right Option (1.5p)

My Son the Fanatic

Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant living in England, works as a taxi driver and has assimilated to Western ways of life. His son, Ali, seems to have embraced the lifestyle of his British peers. Parvez, however, grows increasingly suspicious of his son as he notices apparent changes in Ali's behavior.

Parvez's Worries and Confidantes

The taxi driver discusses his worries with colleagues and with Bettina, a prostitute who has become Parvez's friend. Their relationship develops into an extra-marital affair within the film.

Crushed Dreams and a Son's Revelation

All of Parvez's dreams of success in England, including a happy wedding and a safe job in accountancy for Ali, crumble when his son confesses his disgust at his father's neglect... Continue reading "My Son the Fanatic: Cultural Clash and Identity" »

Christmas in Barcelona: A Family Celebration

Naples Street, October 12th, 2014

Dear Anna,

How is England at this time of the year? It is a pity that you could not come to Barcelona this Christmas. Christmas is very special for me, as all of my family comes to the city to celebrate. My favorite part is when, in the morning of the 25th of December, we open our Christmas presents and then, after lunch, take the dogs out for a walk. It's fun and quite enjoyable! We play and joke around all day long. When the day is over, we are exhausted but, at the same time, it makes us very happy. I hope you are able to come next year so that we can have a lot of fun together.

Write soon,

Cristina.

Television's Impact: Education, Entertainment, & Concerns

The Global

Mastering Passive Voice in English

Present Simple

am/are/is + past participle

Spanish is spoken here.

Present Continuous

am/are/is being + past participle

Your questions are being answered.

Future (Will)

will be + past participle

It will be painted by next week.

Future (Going To)

am/are/is going to be + past participle

Terry is going to be made redundant next year.

Past Simple

was/were + past participle

We were invited to the party, but we didn't go.

Past Continuous

was/were being + past participle

The hotel room was being cleaned when we got back from shopping.

Present Perfect

have/has been + past participle

The President of America has been shot.

Past Perfect

had been + past participle

When he got home, he found that all of his money had been stolen.

Future Perfect

will

Key Events and Discoveries

1. Morse met Anne at Mrs. Murdoch's party.
2. He initially believed there was a 50% probability concerning the murderer's identity.
3. He decided not to visit Anne because she was married.
4. The houses in Jericho were built for workers over 100 years ago.
5. When Morse arrived at the house, the door was unlocked.
6. Bell couldn't have kicked the chair.
7. George Jackson said he had done work inside the house.
8. Waters was worried about Morse.
9. A promise was made to give money to Conrad Richards.
10. The police doctor confirmed Anne Scott had been pregnant.
11. Anne Scott had been in the area for more than ten years.
12. Morse liked to listen to Mozart.
13. Morse was about fifty years old.
14. Celia was sure her husband had had many affairs.
15. Constable Walters asked questions.

Logistics

Logistics: The logistician found a load match of two shipments going to the same place. By engaging in collaboration, the two companies were able to both make a profit. The truck's trailer was empty on the deadhead leg of the trip. The load configuration model showed the best way to load the truck. The workers were pleased with the load planning software the company installed on their computers. The regulatory agency fined the company for not being in compliance with the rules. During the cost optimization meeting, ideas were tossed around to save the company money. We were able to load two less than full truckloads. Where's the load going? Is it going to a distribution center? Let's see if we can find a load match using the software.... Continue reading "Logistics and Aviation: Load Matching, Cargo Transportation, and Reported Speech" »