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

Lost Luggage

A: Hello? Is anybody there?

B: Yes, hello. You are talking to Customer Service of the Washington Central Airport. How can we help you?

A: I wish you could. Last Saturday, I came back from Paris on the United Airlines flight at 11:00 PM. Upon arrival, I looked for my luggage, but I never saw it again. What did you do with my suitcase? Did you lose it or something else?

B: Sir, calm down. We didn't lose your luggage. The suitcase could be on the next flight. Wait until then, and if the suitcase doesn't appear, we will talk to the crew.

A: Okay, but I need that suitcase right now. I had the ticket for my next flight in there, and that flight is in 20 minutes.

B: We are so sorry. Okay, we will print the ticket again and we will refund the... Continue reading "Everyday Conversations in English" »

• Abandon vessel (abandonar el barco): To evacuate a vessel's crew and passengers following a distress.
• Adrift (a la deriva): Floating, not controlled, without a clearly determinable direction.
• Assembly station: A place on deck, in mess rooms, etc., assigned to crew and passengers where they have to meet according to the muster list when the corresponding alarm is released or announcement made.
• Backing (of wind): When a wind blows round anticlockwise (opposite of veering).
• Beach (to) (varar): To run a vessel upon a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water.
• Berth (amarradero): A sea room to be kept for safety around a vessel, rock, platform, etc., or the place assigned to a vessel when anchored or lying alongside a pier, etc.
• Blast: A sound signal

Maritime Terminology and Definitions

Leaking (Fugas)

The escape of liquids, such as water or oil, from pipes, boilers, or tanks, or a minor inflow of seawater into the vessel due to hull damage.

Leeway

The lateral movement of a vessel to leeward of its intended course.

Let Go (Dejar ir)

To set free, release, or cast off anchors, lines, or other equipment.

Lifeboat Station (Estación de botes salvavidas)

The designated area where crew and passengers must assemble before being ordered to board lifeboats.

List

The inclination of a vessel to either the port or starboard side.

Make Water (Hacer aguas)

Seawater flowing into a vessel due to hull damage or improperly secured hatches.

Manoeuvring Speed (Velocidad de maniobras)

A vessel's reduced rate of speed in... Continue reading "Essential Maritime Terminology: A Nautical Glossary" »

A Streetcar Named Desire: A Journey into Illusion and Despair

Blanche DuBois: A Faded Southern Belle

What we know about Blanche is that she was once a schoolteacher, but her past is shrouded in secrecy. She arrives at her sister Stella's doorstep in New Orleans, clinging to the remnants of her former gentility. Blanche lives in a world of illusion, constantly seeking refuge from the harsh realities of life. The mental asylum becomes the final destination of her journey, a symbolic representation of the death of her desires and the ultimate escape from a world she can no longer bear.

The Clash of Old and New America

Stella and Stanley represent the clash between the Old and New South. Stella, torn between her love for her husband and her loyalty... Continue reading "A Streetcar Named Desire: Delving into Death, Desire, and Illusion" »

ERRONEOUS

Incorrect; mistaken; wrong; filled with errors.

Ferdinand Magellan is credited with proving the earth is spherical in nature, thus dispelling the erroneous notion that the world is flat.

ADMONISH

To counsel against, to earnestly warn.

After reviewing a manuscript J.K. Rowling had submitted, one publisher admonished her by saying that children would not be able to identify with the characters. Needless to say, the publisher’s admonition proved to be erroneous.

DEMARCATE

To clearly set or mark the boundaries of a group or geographic area.

Even after schools were technically integrated, students would quickly demarcate their own boundary lines and sit at cafeteria tables that were either all black or all white.

FOSTER

To promote and encourage.

Timeliness

The speed at which an event is reported.

Currency

A story that is repeated by different types of media.

Proximity

Local news.

Prominence

Celebrity, famous people, places, or things.

Consequence

An event that has a significant impact, such as a hurricane.

Impact

The changes that occur as a result of a consequence.

Rarity/Novelty

Unusual stories.

Suspense

Mystery or suspense, where the outcome of the story is unknown.

Human Interest

Stories about human experiences, families, etc.

Progress

Exclusive stories with a connection to business, such as the discovery of a cure for cancer.

Conflict

People on opposite sides of an issue.

Controversy

When something unfair is happening.

Visual Potential

Stories generated by pictures.

Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How

The... Continue reading "News Values: Factors Influencing News Selection and Coverage" »

Characters

11 Hester was tall: C long bland hair

12 Hester had married: A a much older man

13 Hester has to wear: D the rest of her life

14 Mr Dimmesdale was a priest: A shy and sensitive

15 Hester’s daughter: C play with other children

16 Roger Chillingworth was well: D for his knowledge of medicines

17 Pearl was a child: A of many moods

18 Governor Bellingham wanted to: C pearl

19 Roger Chillingworth was the: B medical adviser

20 Mistress Hibbins was the. A sister

Vocabulary

31 a person who works as: B magistrate

32 a high platform where criminals: A scaffold

33 having done nothing: B innocent

34 a long, thin piece of cotton: A thread

35 having done something: C guilty

36 being kind and forgiving: D mercy

Plot

41 The women in the town: C ought to die

42 Hester... Continue reading "The Scarlet Letter: Characters, Vocabulary, and Plot Summary" »

What is a Narrative Essay?

Narrative essays are, by definition, personal to you.

Mention Four Types of Essays

• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Persuasive
• Expository

Which are the Elements of a Story?

Setting, characters, and rising actions.

What is Spelling?

It is the process of naming letters of the word.

What is Proofreading?

It means carefully checking your work for errors.

Structure of a Narrative Essay

• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion

Narrative Plot Structure

• Introduction
• Rising action
• Climax
• Falling action
• Resolution

What is a Plot?

The sequence of events that take place in a story.

What is a Rising Action?

Events in the rising action that draw you in as the reader.

Define Falling Action

The continuing action after the conflict has been resolved.

Study Vocabulary (From the Homework)

English-Spanish Vocabulary

Nouns

• Breakthrough: Avance
• Device: Dispositivo
• Laptop: Portátil
• Location: Ubicación
• Search engine: Motor de búsqueda
• Weight: Peso

Verbs

• Clean up: Limpiar
• Crash: Romper
• Deal with: Tratar con
• Occur: Suceder
• Remind: Recordar
• Shut down: Cerrar
• Spread: Tender
• Start up: Empezar

Adjectives

• Accurate: Preciso
• Common: Común
• Complicated: Complicado
• Convenient: Conveniente
• Efficient: Efectivo
• Foolproof: Infalible
• Innovative: Última
• Latest: Larga durada
• Long-lasting: Anticuado
• Multi-purpose: Multi usos
• Out of date: Anticuado
• Practical: Práctico
• Reliable: Fiable
• Up to date: Actualizado
• User-friendly: Fácil de utilizar

Expressions

• Come up with an idea: Venir con una idea
• Conduct an experiment: Realizar un experimento
• Download music: Descargar música
• Environmentally-

A. Choose and Circle the Correct Alternative

1. He says the booking was confirmed ____a____.
   1. yesterday
   2. tomorrow
   3. the following day
2. It's best __a_____ late.
   1. not to arrive
   2. to not arrive
   3. don't arrive
3. The Finance Director ___a____ that I should chair the meeting.
   1. suggested
   2. told
   3. wanted
4. I'd go to the meeting if I __a____ you.
   1. were
   2. would be
   3. am
5. Who is going to take __a_____? Could you do it, Ursula?
   1. the minutes
   2. the agenda
   3. the diary
6. Would you mind ___b___ that again?
   1. explain
   2. to explain
   3. explaining
7. ___b___ we started a little late, I suggest we cut the coffee break.
   1. Since
   2. As
   3. So
8. ___c___, I must apologize for being late.
   1. Firstly
   2. Let me start
   3. First of all
9. That ____c__ to my next point.
   1. brings
   2. takes
   3. brings me
10. Is there __c____ you need?
    1. any
    2. else
    3. anything else

B. Look at Questions 1-2.

In each question,