English Exercises: Phonetics, Lexicon & Grammar for News Topics

Grandparents and Childhood Obesity

Grandparents increase the risk of obesity in children.

Phonetics

• Heat (three, between)
• Church (children, grandchildren)

Use of English

• Madrid is not as big as New York.
• Lets have lunch together, Carol.
• If they hadnt missed the train, they wouldnt have been late.
• Mr. Block told me to have a seat.
• All the photographs will be taken by a professional photographer.
• Who is an expert climber?

Higher Education in the US: What Does It Cost?

Phonetics

• Mouth (about)
• Heat (eighteen)
• Short (published)

Use of English

• Jennifer Egan, who won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is an American novelist.
• Ethan was told not to play football in the garden.
• Unless you study harder, you wont get a scholarship.
• When did you have your air conditioning serviced?
• According to the smoking ban, you mustnt smoke in enclosed public places.
• What did you take from the library yesterday?

Do You Suffer from Facebook Depression?

Questions

TRUE. TRUE. FALSE. FALSE.

Lexicon

Harassment via the web (cyberbullying)

Phonetics

• Interaction (depression, interaction)
• World (networking)
• Created (added)

Use of English

• That is the woman whose son is my boyfriend.
• She didnt remember to do her homework.
• I am having my computer repaired.
• If I had known you were online, I would have logged on.
• The police can arrest the burglar.
• How often does she read her email?

Notting Hill Carnival

Lexicon

• Enjoy (fun)
• Big (huge)
• Entertain people by dancing, singing (perform)
• Slogan (motto)

Phonetics

• Sea (streets, need)
• Car (carnival, festival)

Use of English

• Notting Hill Carnival is not as big as Rio Carnival in Brazil.
• Id rather go to the cinema this evening.
• If they had had much money, they would have gone to Notting Hill Carnival.
• Mary suggested going to Notting Hill Carnival.
• I had my computer repaired by John.
• Where did Peter go last year?

Haiti in Ruins After Huge Earthquake

Lexicon

• Destruction (damage)
• Enormous (huge)

Phonetics

• Hut (up, unwavering)
• Joke (journal, just)

Use of English

• Children mustnt play ball games here.
• It was such a lovely holiday that wed like to return.
• That is the restaurant where I lost my briefcase.
• We will be paid 10,000 by the company.
• Sam asked why we didnt stay in.
• When did she realize?

An Exercise Routine

Lexicon

Activities (exercises)

Phonetics

• Run (but, such as)
• Same (weight, make)

Use of English

• Its the most wonderful group of people that I have ever seen.
• The manager asked if there were some messages for him.
• Although he had a lot of experience, he didnt get the job.
• If only you had told her the truth.
• During the season you mustnt eat red meat.
• Who became the first Spaniard to win an NBA title?

The Journey

Lexicon

• Path on which travel occurs (road)
• Abrupt (rocky)
• People on a journey (travellers)
• Move ones hand to give a greeting (waved)

Phonetics

• Way (days, waited)
• Three (week)
• Journey (village)

Use of English

• He was heard shouting for help.
• I wish I could play the piano.
• If you take the job, it will be a good idea.
• She invited me to come round for dinner on Saturday.
• Although the animals have very little room to move, they seem quite happy.
• How long did that take?