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

Early Life

• Hamilton Howard Fish, nicknamed 'Albert' after dead sibling, avoiding nickname Ham n Eggs
• Father was 43 years older than mother
• Family history of mental illness, uncle with mania, brother in state hospital, sister with 'mental affliction', mother had auditory and visual hallucinations, 3 other diagnosed relatives
• Father died of a heart attack, was put in orphanage, subject to harsh treatment
• Left at age 9 when mother got government job
• Started first relationship at 12, kinky stuff
• Went to New York and became a prostitute at age 20, began raping young boys

Mental Well-being

• In 1898, married a woman arranged by his mother
• Worked as a house painter, continued rape/molestation
• Became obsessed with sexual mutilation
• In 1903, arrested for grand larceny
• In

A Case of Trust

Characters:

• Miller: The police chief
• John Baker: The detective seeking a promotion
• William Cranberry: The victim of a theft
• Madame Eve: A clairvoyant
• Butter: The butler

Detective John Baker is determined to solve a difficult case and earn a promotion. Meanwhile, William Cranberry visits a library and finds a peculiar recipe in a book. Later, at a pawnshop, he discovers a card that piques his curiosity, leading him to Madame Eve, a clairvoyant.

Cranberry's business is struggling, so he follows Madame Eve's advice and places a valuable necklace in his mother's grave for three days. Upon his return, the necklace is gone! Baker's investigation reveals that Cranberry's butler, in cahoots with Madame Eve, has stolen the necklace. Baker successfully... Continue reading "A Collection of Short Mystery Stories" »

Review

Writing Plan:

1) Introduction: (Paragraph 1)

Write an introductory paragraph that introduces the book and catches the readers’ interest.

2) Main body: (Paragraphs 2 & 3):

a) A brief summary of the book’s contents (e.g. the main characters, the setting and book genre – romance, thriller). Be careful not to reveal too much of the story, or you’ll ruin it for new readers.

b)  Analyze or critique the book. You can write about your own opinions; just be sure that you explain and support them with examples. Some questions you might want to consider:

• Did the author achieve his or her purpose?
• What did you like/dislike about the book?
• Did you have a favourite character?
• Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful?
• What are the

About the Author

Jerome K. Jerome was born in 1859 and grew up in east London. When he was fourteen, he took a job selling railway tickets and later became a teacher. He then became an actor.

But he did not become well-known until 1889, when he wrote Three Men in a Boat.

In 1892, Jerome and some friends began a magazine.

During the First World War, Jerome worked as an ambulance driver in France, and after the war, he continued writing. He died in 1927.

Characters in Three Men in a Boat

Montmorency

Good dog. Aggressive cats.

Harris

It does everything wrong, but with good intentions.

Jerome

Tells the story and intelligent.

George

It's good storytelling and very intelligent.

Chapter Summaries of Three Men in a Boat

Chapter VII (Angry Harris Gets Soaked)

In this... Continue reading "A Humorous Journey: Exploring the Life and Works of Jerome K. Jerome" »

Reported Speech

Indirect Style

He explained that he had found a flat that day.

He said to me that he had been waiting since the previous month.

She told me that she had taken it home with her the previous day.

She commented that Ann would be in Paris the following week.

He insisted that he would be using my car himself that night.

She pointed out to me that they had been going home when she had seen her the previous day.

She admitted that she would be 21 the following day.

He explained to me that he had seen her the previous day when she had been going home and she hadn't greeted him.

He assured me that they had seen him the previous week and they hadn't told him the truth.

Reporter Orders

He ordered me to bring him the book that day.

She warned me not... Continue reading "English Grammar Exercises" »

Nouns from Verbs

You can make nouns from some verbs by adding the suffix -ion:

• instruct → instruction
• inform → information

Study Nouns

• communication
• concentration
• correction
• distraction
• education
• imagination
• information
• instruction
• motivation
• participation
• presentation

Reported Commands and Requests

To report commands, use tell + object + (not) + to + verb:

“Don’t run.” → He told us not to run.

To report requests, use ask + object + (not) + to + verb:

“Could you go inside?” → Mrs. Evans asked us to go inside.

Giving Examples

My desk isn’t very neat. There are lots of things on it, such as sticky notes and notebooks.

I write information about my homework assignments in my notebook, including when the teacher told us to hand them in.

Writing Resolutions

In... Continue reading "Study Skills and Language Techniques" »

Zoos: Conservation and Ethical Concerns

1. People feel responsible because they realize that the animals they are watching are unhappy due to the conditions they live in.
2. Children could visit natural history museums and watch films about wild animals as an alternative.
3. The conservation argument states that animals are safer in zoos than in the wild, and that zoos can protect animals that are at risk.
4. Humans should protect the natural habitats for these animals so that they can continue to live there safely.

Assessment Statements

• Statement 1: This sentence is false, according to the text.
• Statement 2: This sentence is false, according to the text.

Key Vocabulary Related to Zoos

• A forest in → Jungle
• Unhappy → Lonely
• Threatened → Endangered
• Ban, prohibit,

The Ashby Family

Characters

Jane and Ruth

Jane and Ruth are identical twins. Jane is elegant and modest, while Ruth is friendly and always dressed in old riding clothes.

Eleanor

Eleanor is the older sister. She is similar to Jane in character. Brat Farrar and Roger Clint are both in love with her.

Nora and Bill

Nora and Bill are the parents of the Ashby family. They die in an airplane crash, leaving their five children orphaned.

Simon and Patrick

Simon and Patrick are twins, with Patrick being born 20 minutes before Simon. Simon kills Patrick by throwing him off a cliff. He then writes a suicide note in Patrick's handwriting and places it on the cliff to make it appear that Patrick committed suicide.

Brat Farrar

Brat Farrar is a man who returns to England... Continue reading "The Ashby Family: A Tale of Twins, Tragedy, and Deception" »