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

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,

This vocabulary list provides key phrases for structuring effective opinion essays, complete with Spanish translations, categorized by function.

1. Expressing Opinions and Beliefs

Jennifer's Daily Routine

My name is Jennifer. I get up at 5 in the morning. I have breakfast, coffee, and a sandwich. Then, I go to work and leave at two in the afternoon. I go home for lunch and spend time with my daughter in the afternoon. After that, I have a shower and prepare everything for the next day before going to bed.

Hobbies

• Play football
• Play basketball
• Play volleyball
• Play tennis
• Play rugby
• Play jockey
• Play poker
• Play golf
• Go sailing
• Go yachting
• Ride a bike
• Ride a ski
• Surf
• Dance

Careful with the third person (he, she, it), add -s: play – plays, -es: watch – watches, -es: pass – passes, -es: go – goes. Usage: The present simple is used to talk about habitual actions. + (affirmative) TURN ON THE COMPUTER – (negative) DON´T TURN ON THE

Origins of the French Revolution

Influence of Enlightenment and America

The **impact of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution** provided ideological foundations for change. The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America and its Constitution (1787) defended the **inalienable** rights of the citizen, the separation of powers, principles of equality and freedom, and the right to elect a government. These ideals coincided with the Enlightenment principles spreading through France, adopted by cultural elites and the new bourgeoisie. These ideas helped the bourgeoisie confront absolutism and the stratified estate system, proposing new forms of social organization and government. All of this led to the revolutionary cycle that... Continue reading "From Absolutism to Republic: The French Revolution" »

Key Historical and Economic Concepts

Balance of Power

Parity or stability between competing forces. It represents a 'just equilibrium' between the members of the family of nations, designed to prevent any one nation from becoming strong enough to enforce its will upon the rest.

Demographic Metrics

• Birth rate: Nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year.
• Mortality rate: A measure of the number of deaths per population.
• Life expectancy: Average number of years of life remaining at a given age.

Agricultural Systems

Fallow System of Farming

Fallow refers to land that is plowed and tilled but left unseeded during a growing season. The practice of alternating wheat and fallow assumes that by clean cultivation, the moisture received during the fallow... Continue reading "Essential Terms in History and Agriculture" »

Foundational Political Concepts

Constitution: A set of laws that people have made and agreed upon for government. It enumerates and limits the powers and functions of a political entity. It defines the fundamental political principles and establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of a government. By limiting the government's own reach, most constitutions guarantee certain rights to the people.

Bourgeois Revolution: A sudden political change led by the Bourgeoisie that transforms the life of people in a short lapse of time. A society based on the Estates of the Realm gave way to a Liberal Society. In many countries of Europe and America, these social transformations took place from the late 1700s and throughout the 19th century.... Continue reading "Foundational Political Concepts: Constitution to Coup d'État" »

The Enlightenment Era

The Enlightenment was a period of profound intellectual and cultural change in Western philosophy. It represented a state of having knowledge and understanding, initiating significant social, technical, economic, and political progress that shaped modern society.

Principal Enlightenment Ideas

• Natural Equality and Liberty: The belief that all individuals are born equal, meaning no one inherently possesses privileges or rights over another.
• Social Contract
• Natural Sovereignty
• Separation of Powers
• Deism, Tolerance, Liberty, and Progress:
  • Deism: The belief in a supreme being who created the universe, discoverable through reason and observation of the natural world alone, without faith or organized religion.
  • Tolerance, Liberty, Progress:

Advanced English Language Practice: Exercises and Solutions

Section 1: Word Formation and Contextual Vocabulary

1. John has to work unsocial hours, such as weekends and evenings.
2. Swimming with dolphins is an unforgettable experience.
3. In English, the present simple is used for an action which is part of a daily routine.
4. Be careful whenever it gets windy. You can fall down.
5. What an embarrassing situation!
6. Mr. Roberts is a person highly respected by his neighbors.
7. He is able to put a shark into a state of immobility for about fifteen minutes.
8. Lions are far from being the ferocious killing animals depicted in the media.

Section 2: Sentence Transformation and Grammar

1. She still hasn't turned up.
2. They moved to Paris two years ago. (for)
   They have been living in

Economic Foundations: Factors of Production

Real economic problems often stem from a lack of essential factors for production:

• Capital: Financial resources, machinery, and infrastructure.
• Labor: Human effort, skills, and workforce.
• Land: Natural resources, including raw materials and physical space.
• Enterprise: The entrepreneurial spirit, ideas, and risk-taking ability to combine other factors.

Opportunity Cost Defined

Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that was forgone when a particular choice was made.

Division of Labor

Division of labor involves splitting the entire production process into distinct, specialized parts or tasks.

Advantages of Division of Labor

• Faster production rates and increased efficiency.
• Higher overall production