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

The Importance of Belonging in The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, first published in 1967, explores the universal need for belonging. Narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, the novel follows a group of teenagers in 1960s Oklahoma as they navigate the complexities of friendship, love, violence, and social class. This essay will discuss how the themes of love and friendship demonstrate the importance of belonging.

The Power of Friendship

The "greasers," a gang of teenagers in the novel, exemplify the significance of friendship in finding a sense of belonging. Adolescence is a time of forming strong bonds, and for these teenagers, their gang becomes a source of identity and support. Johnny, a victim of both physical violence from the Socs (a rival... Continue reading "The Importance of Belonging in S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders" »

Civil Rights and Unrest

Passive Voice

Instructions:

1. are usually transported
2. was driven
3. wasn't told
4. have been changed
5. is being repaired
6. are being told
7. be unplugged
8. is often added
9. have been received
10. had been wrongly

1. has to be charged
2. wasn't blamed
3. could have been finished
4. was no longer being sent
5. was bombed
6. was always sold
7. had been sent away
8. hasn't been sent away
9. may be flooded
10. be properly set up

Grammar

Laura Pérez Vivas

Rieral Avenue n*48 2*1

17310 Lloret de Mar

Spain

03/04/2019

University of California

Berkeley, California 1384

UUEE

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my keen interest in attending the University of California, Berkeley. I believe it is the university of my dreams, and I would like to introduce myself and share my academic aspirations.

Firstly, I am a dedicated student who consistently strives for excellence. While I understand that your average admission marks are very high, I am committed to putting in the effort to achieve top scores in all subjects. I am determined to succeed, even if it requires extra study time. My goal is to pursue a degree in social work to help children without parents and provide them... Continue reading "Laura Pérez Vivas - Application for Social Work Program at UC Berkeley" »

Cooking Verbs

• add
• mix
• melt
• chop (picar)
• stir (remover)
• peel
• pour (verter)
• core (remove the center)
• roast (asar)
• heat
• simmer (fuego lento)

Key Words

• blankets (completely covered)
• wreaks havoc (causes chaos)
• swathes (large areas)
• trend
• to latch onto (become interested)
• a hunch (feeling based on knowledge)

Sounds

• squeaks (chillido / chirrido — nieve)
• rustles (crujido — hojas)
• splashes (salpicar)
• taps (golpes)
• squishes (chapotear / escurrir — barro, toalla)
• claps (palmada)
• squelches (chapotear — barro)

Phrasal Verbs

• eat up (buen apetito)
• cut back on (reduce; make something shorter)
• give up (reduce consumption; stop)
• work on (produce results; improve)
• keep up with (understand something changing)
• turn down (reject an offer)

Health Vocabulary

• digestive system
• eye infection
• health

It's Time for Past Simple

We use the past simple to say that something should have happened now, to criticize behavior. It's time the British woke up to reality.

The Passive Voice

1. Put the object of the verb at the beginning of the sentence. 2. Conjugate the verb 'to be' in the same tense as the active sentence. 3. Put the main verb in the past participle form.

Verb Tenses

• Present simple: I do it - It is done
• Past simple: I did it - It was done
• Future simple: I will do it - It will be done
• Present continuous: I am doing it - It is being done
• Past continuous: I was doing it - It was being done
• Future continuous: I will be doing it - It will be being done
• Present perfect: I have done it - It has been done
• Past perfect: I had done it - It had been done
• Future

1. True or False: Leicester City's 2016 Season

Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F). Find evidence in the text to support your answers.

• 1. Leicester City could not afford to buy any new players before the 2016 season. F: “Before the 2016 season, Leicester City spent under £55 million on their team as opposed to the £420 million invested by Manchester City.”
• 2. Leicester City were more focused than other teams. T: “… unlike some of their rivals, they were not participating in a European competition and as a result, they were able to concentrate all their energies on the Premier League.”
• 3. The Leicester City team had fun during the season. T: “Spectators could not help but notice the amazing team spirit demonstrated

Everyone has their own preferences regarding country life and city life. Both obviously have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these can help you make an informed decision about where to settle.

Advantages of Country Life

• Nature and Environment: Among the advantages of living in the countryside, nature must be mentioned. This includes uncontaminated air, quaint landscapes, abundant animals, and a generally peaceful environment.
• Slower Pace of Life: Additionally, time in the countryside often feels slower than in the city. Individuals can work at their own pace, free from the constant rush and pressure of urban environments.
• Strong Community Bonds: Relationships among country inhabitants are usually very good. People know each other

Distancing: Reporting and Impersonal Structures

Using 'Seem' and 'Appear'

(Parecer y aparecer)

• It seems/appears + that + clause
• Subject + seem/appear + infinitive
• Would seem/appear (parecería - more formal): It would seem/appear + that + clause

The Passive Voice for Distancing

• It + passive verb + that + clause (Verbs: agree, announce, believe, expect, hope, report, say, suggest, think, understand)
• Subject + passive verb + infinitive (Verbs: believe, expect, report, say, think, understand)
• There + passive verb + to infinitive

Other Distancing Devices

Apparently, According to, may/might

Speculation and Deduction

Present Tense Modals

• Must: (debe)
• Mustn't: (prohibido)
• Can't: (no puede)
• May/Might: (quizás)
• Could be: (podría ser)
• Should: (deber)

Past Tense Modals

Modal... Continue reading "Advanced English Grammar and Vocabulary for Fluency" »

We can all remember at least 2 times in our lives where we felt that money would solve all our problems.The fact that money gives you the power to buy things does not translate into making you happy. There are psychological and emotional points which also play a large role in your ability to handle the status of being rich. However, in my opinion, it has both advantages and disadvantages.
On the plus side:
First of all, you have the ability to buy anything you want to. You can also visit places you couldnt afford before. For example you can buy expensive clothes and many other things like big houses, huge residences in the most beautiful resorts in the world, expensive cars and unimaginable luxury for, how we like to call ourselves, normal people.... Continue reading "Alexander the great "the sky will fall" »

Invictus: Uniting South Africa Through Rugby

The film Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, tells the story of the South African rugby team, the Springboks, who participated in the Rugby World Cup in 1994.

Set during a time when South Africa faced severe apartheid problems, Nelson Mandela hoped to help the country become more united if everybody supported the rugby team. Matt Damon, portraying the captain of the Springboks, and Morgan Freeman, portraying Nelson Mandela, are prominent in the film and give great performances. Their slogan, "One Team, One Country," successfully unites the black and white populations, and Mandela hopes the situation in the country will improve.

I loved this film and would... Continue reading "Personal Reflections: Film, Friendship, and Consumer Choices" »