Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Secondary education

Skeletal System: Functions and Joints

Skeletal System Functions

• Support the body structure.
• Protect vital organs.
• Provide points of attachment for muscles.
• Manufacture blood cells (hematopoiesis).
• Store calcium and phosphorus.

Joints: Connections Between Bones

Joints are places where bones connect. They are classified by the degree of movement they permit:

• Fixed Joints (Synarthroses): Do not permit movement (e.g., skull sutures).
• Slightly Movable Joints (Amphiarthroses): Allow limited movement (e.g., vertebrae).
• Freely Movable Joints (Diarthroses): Allow bone movement in all directions (e.g., knee).

Sensory Receptors and Stimuli Perception

Types of Receptors

• Internal Receptors (Interoceptors): Perceive changes occurring inside the body (e.g., blood pressure,

Business and General Vocabulary

Exhibitions and Trade Shows

• brochure
• business card
• competitor
• exhibition
• free gift
• leaflet
• LED screen
• name tag
• promotional material
• stand (noun)

Countries and Nationalities

• American / USA
• Britain / British
• France / French
• Germany / German
• Ireland / Irish
• Italy / Italian
• Japan / Japanese
• Nigeria / Nigerian
• Peru / Peruvian
• Thailand / Thai

Weather Terminology

• cloudy
• cold
• cool
• freezing
• hot
• rainy
• snowy
• stormy
• sunny
• warm
• windy

Transportation and Travel

General Transport Methods

• aeroplane
• bus
• ferry
• motorbike
• ship
• taxi
• train
• tram
• underground

Giving Directions

• bus stop
• catch a bus
• cross (verb)
• entrance
• exit (noun)
• get off
• get on
• junction
• pass (verb)
• platform
• route map
• sign (noun)
• traffic light
• train station
• zebra crossing

Booking Flights

• arrival
• book a flight
• business class
• departure
• direct

Adaptation of Xylem to its Function

• Long, made from cells joined end to end to form tubes/vessels
• Cell walls thickened with lignin, a hard, strong material
• Lignin makes cell walls waterproof
• Cells have no cytoplasm or organelles (no cell contents)
• No end-to-end walls between cells
• Pits in the walls for water movement between vessels

Define Transpiration

Loss of water vapor from plant leaves by evaporation of water at the surfaces of the mesophyll cells followed by diffusion of water vapor through the stomata.

Leaves have many more stomata in their lower epidermis than they do in their upper epidermis, and most transpiration happens there.

Factors Affecting Transpiration

• The large internal surface area provided by the interconnecting air spaces between

Chartism: A Working-Class Movement

Chartism was a working-class movement that emerged in 19th-century Britain, advocating for political reform and social justice. The working-class people, who were not among the wealthiest, aimed to create a fairer society for themselves and others like them. They were named Chartists after the People's Charter.

Origins of Chartism

Chartism emerged in London in 1836 and quickly expanded across the country, with its most active period between 1838 and 1848. The Chartists publicized their demands through meetings and pamphlets. Several factors contributed to its rise:

• Rapid urbanization in British society led to unsanitary living conditions and long working hours for the working class.
• Only a small portion of the

Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship (1923-1930)

In 1923, General Primo de Rivera organised a military coup with the king's consent and the support of certain sections of the high bourgeoisie and conservative politicians. The new regime suspended the Constitution and the Cortes. Political parties and some trade unions were also banned. The reduction of freedoms also affected the press and education, while those opposed to the dictatorship were repressed. Catalan and Basque nationalism was suppressed and their languages were banned in public.

The dictatorship started a programme of public works and monopolies that revived the economy. This prosperity failed to silence the opposition of workers, students, intellectuals, and nationalists. After the crisis... Continue reading "Spain's Path to Republic: Dictatorship, Elections, and the 1931 Constitution" »

Mastering English Verb Forms: Gerunds and Infinitives

The Gerund (V-ing)

• As a Noun: Swimming is a good exercise.
• After Specific Verbs: Verbs like love, like, dislike, hate, enjoy, and prefer are often followed by the Gerund.
• After Phrasal Verbs and Expressions: Expressions such as look forward to, be/get used to, in addition to, and object to are followed by the Gerund.
• After Prepositions: Any preposition (e.g., about, at, after, before, behind) must be followed by the Gerund.

Verbs Followed Only by Gerunds (Examples)

Verbs like suggest and avoid require the Gerund (e.g., She suggested attending the meeting; Avoid walking alone.)

The Full Infinitive (To + V-inf)

• Purpose or Intention: Used to express purpose (e.g., I went to the store to buy milk.)
• After

8

Nature and Consequences of the Green Revolution

Q1: Critically discuss the nature and the consequences of the Green Revolution in the Indian economy.

Answer: After India's independence, to improve productivity in Indian agriculture, the government selected a district for the introduction of new technology under the Intensive Area Development Program (IADP).

Again, in 1965, this project was extended to 114 districts of India under the name of the Intensive Agriculture Areas Program (IAAP). The adaptation of this technology is considered the Green Revolution in Indian agriculture.

Technological Characteristics of the Green Revolution

The technological characteristics of the Green Revolution are:

• High Yielding Variety Seeds (HYV): The Green Revolution

Franz and the Last Lesson

Franz's Expectations and Regrets

Q. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Franz was expected to be prepared with his lesson on participles, as announced by his French teacher, M. Hamel. However, Franz hadn't studied them.

Q. Why did Franz want to spend his day out of doors?

Franz was tempted by the beautiful weather and the allure of nature, contrasting with the confinement of the classroom.

Q. Why did Franz repent?

Franz repented because he realized the value of education and the importance of his native language, which he had taken for granted.

M. Hamel's Perspective

Q. What are M. Hamel's views about the French language?

M. Hamel cherished the French language, considering it the most beautiful language... Continue reading "Understanding "The Last Lesson": A Q&A Exploration" »

1. The Hero

• Definition: The central figure who typically exhibits goodness and fights adversity to restore harmony and justice.
• Examples:
  • Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series
  • Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
  • Luke Skywalker from Star Wars
  • Wonder Woman from DC Comics

2. The Mentor

• Definition: Provides guidance, training, and sometimes magical gifts to the hero.
• Examples:
  • Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings
  • Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series
  • Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid
  • Yoda from Star Wars

3. The Threshold Guardian

• Definition: Tests the hero before they face great challenges; this figure can sometimes become an ally.
• Examples:
  • The Sphinx from Greek mythology
  • Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series
  • The White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia
  • Dr.

Q. Why, according to the writer, does the advice she gave to Saheb seem hollow?

Ans The author's suggestion for Saheb to go to school didn't make sense because there wasn't a school nearby where he lived. Building a new school in his poor neighborhood wasn't realistic because of the lack of resources and attention from authorities.

Q. What explanation does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Ans The author elucidates that the children go barefoot because they're accustomed to the rough streets and their families can't afford shoes. This lack of footwear becomes a symbol of their poverty and the harsh realities they face daily.

Q. Was Saheb happy with his job at the tea stall?

Ans Saheb isn't really happy working at the tea stall... Continue reading "Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood - A Study Guide" »