Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Medicine & Health

Prepositions

• Blessed with
• Responsible for the damage
• Connect with long-lost
• Sympathized with
• Recover from a broken heart
• Contributes to most

Phrasal Verbs

• Settle down: To establish oneself, to set down roots
• Handed down: To inherit
• Brought about: To cause, to provoke
• Open up: To be sincere
• Wind down: To relax
• Broke up: To break up, to end a relationship
• Fall apart: To collapse
• Fell for: To fall in love with

Word Formation

• Fashionable: Unfashionable
• Thrill: Thrilling
• Essence: Essential
• Pursue: Pursuit
• Exact: Exactly
• Concentrate: Concentration
• Know: Knowledge
• Satisfy: Satisfaction
• Value: Valuable
• Price: Priceless

Hobbies

• Go: Dancing, Fishing, Hiking, Climbing
• Do: Swimming, Crossword puzzles, Extreme sports, Hiking, Model Making, Photography, Stamp collecting, T’ai chi
• Play:

Soft Drinks and Pet Ownership

Soft Drinks

A soft drink is a beverage that is not alcoholic and is usually carbonated, such as Coca-Cola.

Pet Ownership

To own a pet means to have or hold a pet.

Financial Terms and Actions

Having a Tattoo

This section seems unrelated to finances. Consider moving it to a more appropriate section.

Applying for a Passport

To apply for something, such as a passport, means to formally ask for it.

Withdrawing Money

To withdraw money means to take money from a place of deposit.

Savings Account

A savings account is an amount of money deposited in a bank.

Making a Will

To make a will means to create a legal document that states what will happen to one's possessions or property after one's death.

Holding a License

To hold a license means... Continue reading "Essential English Vocabulary: Everyday Life, Finances, and More" »

Student Language Proficiency & Personal Narratives

Assessment Results: Language & Comprehension

Assessment Set 1

Listening: (d, b, c, c)
Use of Language: (b, c, d, b, a, c, a, c, b, b)
Reading: (b, c, d, a, d)

Assessment Set 2

Listening: (c, b, d, c)
Use of Language: (c, c, b, b, b, b, b, b, b, a)
Reading: (c, a, b, c, c)

Assessment Set 3

Listening: (b, a, b, b)
Use of Language: (a, c, b, c, b, b, c, d, d, c, b)
Reading: (d, a, e, b, c)

Student Writing Samples

Writing Sample 1: Summer Vacation

Last summer vacation, I went to the beach with my family. They came from another town. We went to Mahahual, in Quintana Roo. It's a magical and very natural place. Because I practice kiteboarding, I enjoyed my favorite sport there. We only spent one night in... Continue reading "Student Language Proficiency: Writing & Comprehension Samples" »

Dear Head of the City Council,

I am writing to express my thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed new hotel being built in our area, specifically its close proximity to the bird sanctuary. I appreciate the efforts to promote economic growth and development in our community, but I have concerns about the potential impact of the hotel on the bird sanctuary and its inhabitants.

Noise Pollution

Firstly, I am worried about the noise pollution that the hotel may cause. The noise generated by the construction and operation of the hotel could significantly impact the bird sanctuary. This noise could disturb the peaceful environment required for bird breeding and nesting. Furthermore, the noise pollution could interfere with the migratory patterns... Continue reading "Protecting Our Bird Sanctuary: Concerns Regarding the Proposed Hotel Development" »

Genetic source

It is thought that a crucial mutation that took place over a short period caused a genetic change that made it possible for humans to create a language.

Teeth

Are upright, not slanting outwards like those of apes and they are roughly even in height

Lips

Have much more intricate muscle interlacing than is found in other primates and their resulting flexibility certainly helps in making sounds like p or b

Mouth

Is relatively small compared to other primates can be opened and closed rapidly and contains a smaller, thicker and more muscular tongue which can be used to shape wide variety of sounds inside the oral cavity

Larynx

Or voice box containing the vocal folds or vocal cords differs significantly in position from the larynx of other... Continue reading "Evolution of Human Language: Genetic and Anatomical Factors" »

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my views towards the abuse of domestic helpers in Hong Kong. Recently, more and more mistreatment cases of domestic helpers hit the headlines. It is astonishing that those helpers can be mistreated in such a violent way. Below are the reasons why the abuse of domestic helpers should be opposed.

First and foremost, any kind of abuse is illegal.

According to the law, no one can hurt the others by any cruel means, including the domestic helpers. Although most domestic helpers are foreigners, they are protected by the law. The employers who mistreat the domestic helpers break the law and should be brought to justice. How can we accept people being mistreated illegally in Hong Kong? This is why the abuse should... Continue reading "Opposing the Abuse of Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong" »

Article 166: Employer Safety Obligations

Article 166

The employer undertakes to provide the measures of occupational safety and health at the workplaces in such a way as to ensure prevention from work hazards. These hazards include:

• Mechanical hazards: These can arise as a result of a collision or contact between the worker’s body and a solid object, such as construction, building, and excavation hazards, collapse and fall hazards, and hazards arising from devices, machines, and transportation and handling means.
• Chemical hazards: Risks arising from handling solid, liquid, or gas chemical substances that can arise from the leakage of any substances into the working environment.
• Natural hazards: Factors affecting the worker’s safety and health

The changing in our eating habits in the last few decades have been mostly negative. In my opinion I think that there are more and more problems with the food industries and one of the biggest problems is meat. Many people have stopped eating it because of the treatment of animals. Another reason I think people feed on a lot of pre-cooked food for different reasons and one of them may be not having time to cook because of work, studies… I think that this may be hurting our health as many food we eat in don’t have enough vitamins (that food has without being pre-cooked.) These contain more fats, calories and other substances that are not needed in all foods. To finish I think we should pay more attention to what we should eat, and it’s... Continue reading "Modern Societal Challenges" »

Essential English Vocabulary

Common Terms and Expressions

• Alike - Semblant
• Adequate - Appropriate
• Awkward - Complicat
• Culture gap - Bretxa cultural
• Fit in - Encaixar
• Foreign - Estrany
• Misconception - Idea equivocada
• Outlook - Punt de vista
• Narrow-minded - Mentalitat tancada
• Roots - Origen
• Straightforward - Sincer/Directe
• Unheard of - Insòlit/a
• Come what may - Passi el que passi
• Fetch - Anar
• Heritage - Patrimoni
• Long for - Desitjar
• Overwhelming - Insuportable

Work and Education

• Boom - Molta demanda
• Degree - Grau
• Freelance - Per compte propi
• Internship - (Estada de) pràctiques
• Overtime - Hores extres
• Range - Varietat
• Rewarding - Gratificant
• Room for advancement - Possibilitat d'ascens
• Self-employed - Autònom
• Shift - Torn
• Think outside the box - Pensar diferent
• Troubleshooting

Common English Idioms and Phrases

Idioms with Meanings and Examples

Put Your Foot in Your Mouth

Meaning: To say something foolish, embarrassing, or hurtful by accident.

Example: I put my foot in my mouth when I called my brother's new wife by his ex-wife's name.

Cost an Arm and a Leg

Meaning: To be very expensive.

Example: It cost me an arm and a leg to get my car fixed.

Get Off My Back

Meaning: Stop bothering or criticizing me.

Example: Stop telling me what to do. Get off my back!

Give Someone the Cold Shoulder

Meaning: To ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way.

Example: I saw my ex-girlfriend at a party, but she wouldn't talk to me. She gave me the cold shoulder.

Feel Weak at the Knees

Meaning: To feel nervous, frightened, or excited.

Example: