Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Vocational training

William Dunbar and Occasional Poetry

William Dunbar (c. 1460–c. 1520) was a prominent Scottish makar (poet) associated with the court of James IV of Scotland. He received a classical education at the University of St. Andrews and exemplifies the figure of the courtier poet.

"To the Princess Margaret on her Arrival at Holyrood" (1503)

This poem is an example of occasional poetry—verse written specifically to celebrate or commemorate a certain event. Dunbar composed this piece in 1503 to honor Princess Margaret, the daughter of Henry VII of England, upon her arrival in Scotland.

The Context of the Tudor Renaissance State

The poem was produced under the reign of Henry VII, who inaugurated the Tudor dynasty on the English throne following his victory... Continue reading "Dunbar, Margaret Tudor, and the Rise of Renaissance Court Poetry" »

The Inevitable Clash: Seeds of the Glorious Revolution

Taking the risk to go against the king until they know there are possibilities of winning. Putting all of this together, the number of supporters of William of Orange seems to be twice as big as the one of James' supporters (line 28). Moreover, the Immortal Seven dare to say that the current King's army is internally divided, many soldiers being only there for survival, but discontent with the actions of the king as well. This way, in case of a war, the troops of William would also have the support of a part of James' army, a "great number of deserters" would join (line 35).

Religious Tensions and the "Popish" Aversion

The text speaks of an "aversion to the popish religion" (line 34) referring... Continue reading "The Glorious Revolution: William of Orange vs. James II" »

Invitation to the Prince of Orange (June 30, 1688)

Historical Context

During the 17th-century Restoration Period, Stuart kings returned to the English throne. Following the reign of Charles II (who had no legitimate heirs), his Catholic brother, James II, ascended to the throne in 1685, despite opposition from Protestants who favored Charles's illegitimate Protestant son, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. This led to societal divisions between the Petitioners (Whigs) and the royalist Abhorrers (Tories).

James II's attempts to solidify Catholic power and his fathering of a son, who would likely continue a Catholic dynasty, fueled discontent among the Protestant majority. This context led to the conspiracy to replace James II with his Protestant... Continue reading "Invitation to William of Orange: A Turning Point in English History" »

Unit 2 Level 1 Answer Key

Exercise 1: Vocabulary Matching

1. Abducted
2. Speed
3. Well-deserved
4. Launched
5. Widespread
6. Crew
7. Wrap up
8. Voyage

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

(Logical endings based on context)

1. A car
2. The rains in all the country
3. You must bring your lunch
4. Thought it was real
5. Difficult to pick them
6. A lot of time

Exercise 3: Phrasal Verbs

1. Pick up
2. Work out
3. Took off
4. Use up
5. Catch on
6. Carry out
7. Broke down
8. Put on

Unit 2 Level 2 Answer Key

Exercise 1: Vocabulary

1. Able to
2. Accurate
3. Expected
4. Man
5. Crash
6. Convincing
7. Under

Exercise 2: Logical Responses

(Possible answers provided)

1. Because it doesn’t make any sense.
2. There is supposed to be a storm on Saturday night.
3. I would like to overcome my fear of heights.
4. Because it was old and dangerous.
5. The biggest drawback is the low pay.
6. They’ve decided to

The ESMA Case: Powers of EU Agencies

ESMA Case

Problems with EU agencies include a lack of democratic legitimacy and the fact that they do not have normative powers. (The two sources of democratic legitimacy are the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, together with the European Council.) The EU still needs agencies because of the level of expertise required.

Facts

• The "ESMA Regulation" gave powers to ESMA to “prohibit some financial activities that threaten the financial markets or the stability.”
• Later, “the Regulation” further increased powers – Article 28 of the Regulation allowed ESMA to intervene with short sale transactions if it thinks that there is a threat to the functioning and stability of a financial market or the

Comparing Ancient Empires: Rome and Han China

While many civilizations aspired to build strong, lasting empires, none approached the enduring influence of the Roman Empire (27 BCE - 476 CE) and the Han Dynasty of China (206 BCE - 220 CE). Their unparalleled impact remains essential for historians seeking to understand our past.

Similarities in Imperial Governance

A primary similarity between these empires was the role of the emperor. Both ascribed divine attributes to their rulers and frequently struggled with establishing clear rules for imperial succession. The Romans often attempted to choose their best general, while the Chinese selected a man who could control the imperial family and court. Neither empire believed that a single family should... Continue reading "Ancient Empires: Rome and China's Enduring Legacies" »

Past Simple:

Cuando ha terminado la acción en el pasado.
Con -ed los regulares. (No pondrá con how long)
Regulares:
+ I stayed with friends.
- I didn't stay in a hotel.
? Did you stay for the weekend?
Yes, I did. - No, I didn't.

Present Perfect:

I have finished my homework. Have/has + verbo -ed
She has cleaned the kitchen. Have/has + verbo en irregular ej: has done
He hasn't done the washing up.
Has she turned off her phone? No, she hasn't.
Es la experiencia. Algo que paso en el pasado y sigue aún (no ha terminado). No importa cuando ocurrió. ''How long...''

Present Perfect + for or since:

Casi siempre adverbio de tiempo.
-For: periodo de tiempo (2 weeks, 10 years, a long time...)
ej: I have had this car for three months.
-Since: Comienza un periodo... Continue reading "English Grammar Review" »

Common Irregular Verbs in English

Mastering irregular verbs is a fundamental step in achieving fluency in English. Unlike regular verbs, these do not follow the standard -ed ending for past forms.

Keystone Species

Predators that maintain the balance of other species within the ecosystem.

Trophic Cascade

Ecological phenomenon triggered by the removal or addition of top predators, causing changes in the ecosystem through the food chain.

Green World Hypothesis

Hypothesis stating that predators control the number of herbivores.

Food Chains

Illustrate a single pathway of feeding relationships.

Food Web

Represents the complex relationships between multiple species and their various feeding interactions.

10% Law

As energy transfers through trophic levels, 90% is lost, with only 10% retained. This loss occurs due to metabolic reactions, growth and repair, movement, and heat.

Energy Flow

The movement of energy through the food chain.

Energy Pyramid

Measured