Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for University

Essential English Vocabulary Definitions

• Accomplishment: Success in doing something good.
• Acquaintance: Someone whom you have met but do not know well.
• Advance: New discoveries and inventions.
• Award: A prize given to someone for something they have achieved.
• Back towards: To move back, going in the opposite direction to the one you were moving before.
• Blind: Somebody who is unable to see because their eyes are damaged.
• Blink: To close and reopen both eyes repeatedly.
• Breathing: Taking air into our lungs and letting it out again.
• Challenge: Something that is difficult and that tests someone's ability or determination.
• Clue: A piece of information essential to find out something hidden or to solve a puzzle.
• Cope: To deal successfully with a difficult problem

Core Literary Elements Explained

Plot: The Main Narrative

The main sequence of events in a story.

Setting: Time and Place

The time and places in which the action of a story takes place.

Foreshadowing: Hints of Future Events

A hint at what is going to happen later in the story.

Outcome: Story Resolution

The ending or resolution of the story.

Tone: Author's Attitude

How the author wants the reader to perceive the story and its subject matter.

Imagery: Creating Mental Pictures

Language that appeals to the senses, creating a mental image for the reader.

Hemingway's 'Cat in the Rain' Analysis

Plot Summary

“Cat in the Rain” is about an American woman on holiday in Italy who is unhappy with her marital life. She projects her feelings of loneliness and desire...

Formal Letter

Dear Sir or Madam/Dear Julian/Dear Mr. or Mrs. X/To whom it may concern,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Juan, and I am writing with regard to “EL TEMA.”

First of all, I would be grateful if you could…

Secondly, I would also like to. Would it be possible…?

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

In addition, I would be grateful if you could provide further details about...

It is worth mentioning that...

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully/Kind regards/Best regards/Yours Sincerely, Juan Infiesta.

Review

Title: [Name of the book/film…] – Worth it or not?

If you’re looking for [something related to the topic], then [name] might be...

English verbs: base, past simple, past participle, Spanish

• add / added / added — añadir, sumar.
• agree / agreed / agreed — estar de acuerdo, acordar.
• allow / allowed / allowed — permitir.
• answer / answered / answered — responder.
• appear / appeared / appeared — aparecer.
• arrive / arrived / arrived — llegar.
• ask / asked / asked — preguntar.
• believe / believed / believed — creer.
• belong / belonged / belonged — pertenecer.
• borrow / borrowed / borrowed — pedir prestado.
• breathe / breathed / breathed — respirar.
• call / called / called — llamar, telefonear.
• carry / carried / carried — llevar, transportar.
• change / changed / changed — cambiar.
• clean / cleaned / cleaned — limpiar.
• close / closed / closed — cerrar.
• consider / considered

Understanding Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives: Adjectives are words that describe or modify other words, making your writing and speaking much more specific, and a whole lot more interesting.

1. They live in a big, beautiful house.
2. Since it’s a hot day, Lisa is wearing a sleeveless shirt.
3. The mountaintops are covered in sparkling snow.

Coordinate Adjectives

Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that appear in sequence with one another to modify the same noun. For example, the adjectives in the phrases bright, sunny day and dark and stormy night are coordinate adjectives.

1. The teacher is a short, thin, and beautiful woman.
2. Forecasters warned of another day of hot, windy conditions across Southern California.

Collective Adjectives

They are used to refer...

Picture Books: Definition, History, and Types

Definition of Picture Books

Picture books are illustrated books in which both words and illustrations contribute significantly to the story's meaning. In contrast, books with occasional illustrations that primarily serve to decorate the text are simply called illustrated books.

History of Picture Books

Orbis Pictus, an ABC book written and illustrated by John Amos Comenius in 1657, is widely considered to be the first children's picture book. Historically, Europeans and Americans often believed that books were intended for the serious business of educating and soul saving, rather than for enjoyment.

Types of Picture Books

Picture books encompass a wide range of formats and purposes, categorized primarily...

English Grammar Practice: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Exercise 1: Actions and Habits

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct present tense.

1. Please be quiet. I AM TRYING (try) to read the paper.
2. This is a very quiet town. Where DO PEOPLE GO (people / go) in the evenings?
3. John DRINKS (drink) milk every night, but now he IS DRINKING tea.
4. What ARE YOU DOING (you / do) with all that paper and glue?
5. I AM NOT USING (not / use) the computer at the moment so you can use it.
6. DO KAREN AND JOHN EVER WRITE TO YOU (Karen and John / ever / write) to you?

Exercise 2: Dialogue Practice

Read the conversation and note the use of Present Simple and Continuous tenses.

Laura:

Hello, George! What ARE YOU DOING (you / do) these days?

George:

Hi, Laura. I AM LEARNING

The Power of Love in Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls

In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway masterfully portrays a poignant love story between Robert Jordan and Maria. Their relationship unfolds during the Spanish Civil War, illustrating how love can instill hope even amidst the most terrible circumstances. Despite their brief time together, their love feels profoundly deep and strong, underscoring the vital role love can play during wartime.

A Fateful Encounter Amidst Conflict

Robert and Maria's paths converge during a profoundly difficult period. Maria, a young Spanish woman, has been severely traumatized by the war, having endured abuse by the Nationalists. Initially, she is fearful and uncertain if she can ever love again....

-Nowadays music and art in secondary school aren't as importan as maths, english, history...  If you wont study music or art you have to go special centre.