Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for Secondary education

Louise Bourgeois: A Sculptor's Life and Enduring Legacy

Louise Bourgeois, one of the world’s most respected and celebrated contemporary sculptors, was born in Paris on Christmas Day, 1911. Her pieces are sometimes abstract, and the symbolic interpretations of her art are based on relationships. She explored different artistic modes, from abstract to realism, and her work can be found in the best museums around the world.

Early Life and Artistic Journey

Louise’s parents restored decorative wall hangings, called tapestries, which provided her first contact with art. Her parents’ turbulent relationship made her anxious to search for form and order as a child. She studied mathematics at France’s most prestigious university, the Sorbonne, but...

Diego Ventura was born in a bull-fighting family so he has always been passionate about horses and bulls.
His first contact wuth the bull world were when he was 6, due to his father and Peralta brothers supported him and as a result Ventura started his professional career as a mounted bullfighter.
Diego Ventura didn´t like going to school because he preferred to ride horses or to walk among bulls.
He trained every day and due to his determination he reached his objetive, to be a very good mounted bullfighter.
As a result of his sacrifice, he has obtained a lot os awards, throughout his career.
I admire Ventura because he is a great lover of the animals and the nature although people can think another thing

The boy in striped pyjamas is about the...

FOR AND AGAINST

For and Against: Introduction

It is widely known… Are you one of those people who thinks that…? There are many people who believe the following.

For

On the one hand, those who believe… A further advantage of... is …

Against

On the other hand, those who are against… One major disadvantage of… An additional drawback of ...

Conclusión

To sum up, there are strong arguments both for and against… Although… I believe

FORMAL EMAIL

Formal Email: Complaint Example

I am writing to you to formally complain about… I strongly believe… My name is…

Structure:

• Firstly, ….
• Moreover, …
• In addition, …

Polite closing: I would appreciate it if you could resolve this matter promptly. I look forward to your response. Please do not hesitate...

Essential English Vocabulary

CLIMB: To go up, or to go towards the top of something. Example: The sun climbed higher in the sky.

UNLIKELY: Not probable or likely to happen. Example: It's pretty unlikely that they'll turn up now.

RISE: To move upwards. Example: At 6 a.m. we watched the sun rise.

FALL: To suddenly go down onto the ground. Example: He fell badly and broke his leg.

WONDER: To ask yourself questions. Example: Your parents will be wondering where you are.

WONDERFUL: Extremely good. Example: He's a wonderful cook.

HEART: The organ in your chest. Example: Isabel's heart was beating fast with fright.

JEWEL: A precious stone that is used to decorate valuable objects. Example: She was wearing a large gold necklace set with jewels.

BORROW: To get...

Tense Selection: Choose the Best Option (A, B, C)

Select the correct option (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.

1. I have been to Paris many times, but this trip is the most exciting.
2. Tim couldn’t do the homework because he had lost his books the day before.
3. They had read the book before they saw the film.
4. By the time you read this letter, I will have left the country.
5. He hadn’t studied cooking before he got the job.

Verb Tense Practice: Selecting the Correct Form

Choose the correct verb tense from the options provided in bold.

1. So you’re finally here! I have been waiting / waited / had waited for you since ten o’clock.
2. Why won’t you have come / didn’t you come / haven’t you come to Sam’s party last night?
3. I’m not hungry. I will have

English Verb Tenses Explained

Present Simple

Para hábitos y cosas que son ciertas todo el tiempo o que vemos como permanentes.

• He often eats lunch at his desk.
• We play basketball every Tuesday.

Present Continuous

Para cosas que están pasando ahora mismo y situaciones que pensamos que no durarán para siempre.

• He is studying at university.
• I am making dinner.

Past Simple

Para expresar que una acción terminó.

• Tom stayed at home last night.
• I received the good news and immediately called my husband.

Past Continuous

Para expresar acciones que se estaban llevando a cabo en el pasado cuando otra acción las interrumpe.

• Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
• When the fire started, I was watching television.

Future with 'Will'

Para situaciones futuras no planeadas,

Essential English Irregular Verbs

Mastering irregular verbs is a fundamental step in learning English. Below is a comprehensive list of common verbs with their past and past participle forms.

• Learn: Learn - Learnt
• Shake: Shake - Shook - Shaken
• Bet: Bet
• Catch: Catch - Caught
• Feed: Feed - Fed
• Sweep: Sweep - Swept
• Drink: Drink - Drank - Drunk
• Shine: Shine - Shone
• Meet: Meet - Met
• Take: Take - Took - Taken
• Begin: Begin - Began - Begun
• Build: Build - Built
• Cost: Cost
• Buy: Buy - Bought
• Cut: Cut
• Dig: Dig - Dug
• Fall: Fall - Fell - Fallen
• Eat: Eat - Ate - Eaten
• Drive: Drive - Drove - Driven
• Sing: Sing - Sang - Sung
• Shut: Shut
• Make: Make - Made
• Run: Run - Ran - Run
• Hang: Hang - Hanged
• Freeze: Freeze - Froze - Frozen
• Get: Get - Got
• Grow: Grow - Grew - Grown
• Let: Let
• Wake up: Wake

*From Unemployed Graduate to Viral Sensation*

Like many young people today, 24-year-old Adam Pacitti left education and found himself unemployed. Initially, he tried the conventional methods of finding work. He diligently searched through newspaper advertisements and registered with job agencies. He estimates that he sent out around 200 CVs and applied for hundreds of jobs. Adam's qualifications were strong, with a degree in media studies from the University of Westminster. However, he faced the same dismal prospect as many other graduates: there weren't enough vacancies for the hundreds of applicants.

*A Bold Idea: The Billboard Campaign*

After months of searching for a job, Adam had an innovative idea. He decided to pay for a billboard in London,...