This is not life, but HELL!!!

Crowds, clocks, heat, rush hours, traffic jams... this is not life, but HELL!!! We live in a world where there is no room for solitude and time to think about life itself. How did you spend your summer? Are you looking forward to going back to the routines of the year.

Here I present you a listening exercise to do, related articles to read and a video to watch. I hope you have time to do them all and think about the issue.

 

Listening exercise to do: Would the world stop without clocks? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

Imagine a world with no clocks (The Independent)

Monk's search for solitude on Georgia hilltop (BBC News)

 

 

And here are 13 of the Most Isolated Places on the Planet >>>

 

REVISION EXERCISE for 1º Bachillerato  >>>   

117. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense :

    1/ a. I (just/hear) _____________ that my mother (not/be) _______ very well, and I (like) ________________ to go and see her.

       b. I (be) _________ sorry to hear about your mother's illness, and I (be) __________ glad that you (go) ____________ to Scotland to see how she (be) _______________.

    2/ He (have) ___________ a bad dream when the phone (ring)  __________ and (wake) ___________ him up.

    3/ a. Do you want me to take you to the airport?

       b. No, thanks. Alan (take) _____________ me.

    4/ a. We need some bread.

       b. Oh! do we? I (go) ___________ to the shop now.

    5/ Look! Something very strange (happen) __________ in the street.

    6/ She (still/live) ________________here. She (live) _____________ here for twenty‑nine years.

118. CONDITIONALS. Write the appropriate tense of the verbs in brackets:

 

1. If you (come) _____________ to my party next Saturday, I (can, introduce) _____________________ you to our new neighbour.

2. It was a pity you (not/come) _____________ on Saturday. If you (come) __________, I (introduce) __________ you to our neighbour.

3. Why are you so miserable? My sister says that if she (be) _________ you, she (go) ___________ away for a holiday.

4. If you (not/look after) ______________ your teeth when you (be) _________ young, you (have) _____________ trouble when you (get) _________ older.

119. PASSIVE / ACTIVE. Rewrite these sentences into the Passive or Active Voice :

1. The work has been done by the children.              2. His horse won the race. 

3. Many things were being broken by children playing at home.           4. He had said many things.  

5. My colleague will do the job.                                6. The government might buy that company.

 

Proposed solutions to exercises 114, 115 & 116 in the previous post

Ex114   >>>   
1. This is the bed I slept in when.. //  This is the bed where I slept when...
2. Yesterday my cousin visited his mother, who lives....
3. My father has got a Mercedes Benz, which is...

4. I think the house we are looking at is too expensive.

5. I wouldn't read a book, whose writer has been.....

 

Ex115   >>>>    
1. Milk isn't sold in that shop.      2. The dinner was being cooked when...      
3. Has my brother been seen at school?     4. An orange cannot be eaten if it hasn't been peeled before.
5. We were given some books for you. //  Some books were given to us for you.
 
Ex 116  >>>
1. Do you believe that some people can predict (foretell) the future?

2. I'm afraid that I was getting ready to go home.

3. I need a new dress for the party, have you got a green one?

4. In five years (In five years' time) I may buy a new car.

5. When you were working in the office which is next to the supermarket, did you ever take part in the demonstrations?

6. When I get older I'll stop playing rugby.

7. If you drive when you are drunk, you will probably have an accident.

8. As soon as I arrive at school I will talk to the teacher.

9. In Cádiz a lot of ships are built.

10. Your father would love to work in another company.

11. My brother wanted you to go and see (meet) him this afternoon.

12. Do you get up as soon as you wake up?

13. Will you keep on working when you are 60?

14. They found out that you did not do the exam.

15. Do you think you will have enough sugar for the cake? There isn't too much sugar, but you needn't buy any more.

The English We Speak: Jiggery-pokery (BBC Learning English)

Latest viral video to watch!!!

People just go bananas these days making videos and uploading them onto Youtube or any other digital platform hoping them to become the most watched videos, that is to say, viral even if it is his own baby who smashed the family TV set or if one of his neighbours bumped its car into a street lamp. We may laugh now, but in the mean time we are just waiting for the next one, like the water bottle flip challenge.

Do you know what the yellow-highlighted words mean? Try to use them in your next comment or composition.

 

Here are some articles to read about the issue:

• Secrets of YouTube – what makes a video go viral (The Guardian)

• Blogging With Video, Hoping to Go Viral (The New York Times)

 

Listening exercise to do: What makes a video go viral? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

REVISION EXERCISE for 1º Bachillerato  >>>   

114. RELATIVE CLAUSES. Insert the second sentence into the first one by means of a relative clause:

    1. This is the bed. I slept in this bed when I came last Thursday.

    2. My cousin visited his mother yesterday. She lives in Liverpool.

    3. My fater has got a Mercedes Benz. It is a famous car make from Germany.

    4. I think the house is too expensive. We were looking at the house.

    5. I wouldn't read a book. Its writer has been in prison for murder.

 

115. Put the following sentences into the PASSIVE VOICE:

    1. They don't sell milk in that shop.

    2. My mother was cooking the dinner when I went into the kitchen.

    3. Have you seen my brother at school ?

    4. One cannot eat an orange if nobody has peeled it before.

    5. They gave us some books for you. (two passives)

116. Translate the following sentences into English:

    1. ¿Cree usted que alguna gente puede predecir el futuro? Creo que sí.

    2. Me temo que me estaba preparando para irme a casa.

    3. Necesito un vestido nuevo para la fiesta, ¿tienes uno verde?

    4. En cinco años puede que me compre un coche nuevo.

    5. Cuando trabajabas en la oficina que está junto al supermercado, ¿tomaste alguna vez parte en manifestaciones?

    6. Cuando me haga mayor dejaré de jugar al rugby.

    7. Si conduces cuando estás bebido probablemente tendrás un accidente.

    8. Tan pronto como llegue al colegio hablaré con el profesor.

    9. En Cádiz se construyen muchos barcos.

    10. A tu padre le encantaría trabajar en otra compañía.

    11. Mi hermano quería que fueras a verle esta tarde.

    12. ¿Te levantas tan pronto como te despiertas?

    13. ¿Seguirás trabajando hasta que tengas 60 años?

    14. Ellos descubrieron que tú no hiciste el examen.

    15. ¿Crees que tendrás bastante azúcar para el pastel? No hay demasiada azúcar, pero no hace falta que compres más.

 

Proposed solutions to exercises 111, 112 & 113 in the previous post

Ex111   >>>   
1. How long have you studied English? I have studied English for 10 years / since 2007   
I started learning English ten years ago.

Ex112   >>>>    
1. if he didn't so much homework.     2. if I knew he was going to put an exercise on the conditional sentences.    
3. I would have passed      4. he will buy tickets for Roland Garros.     5. he would drive faster.   6. it boils.
 
Ex 113  >>>
1. David told Liz she should have told that to her family.      
2. The mother asked her daughter why she hadn't waited for her at the hairdresser's.     
3. Brian told his son to go there and not to cry any more.
4. Peter asked a friend if he thought they might help them.
5. Sandy asked John why his sister didn't work harder.
6. Arthur told Mr Steele he would work the following day and he wouldn't be late.

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 170823 / 23 August 2017   >>>  Expressions presented: outraged, inspired by fiction, crowned & podioatrist.

Rascals are no longer just naughty boys

    In the old days rascals were just innocent kids who got into trouble because of some mischieves they got involved with. That would be the case of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. 

 

    Remember that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of the compulsory readers we have got next school year for the level of 2º Bachillerato. Here's a link to the project done by Joaquín García (Project about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)and now I present two videos about its writer Mark Twain Mr García provided us with (Thanks, Joaquín):

Mini-biography about Mark Twain

Mini cartoon documentary on Mark Twain for kids

and here's the song Tom Sawyer by the group Rush

However, nowadays sadly we see that some teenagers are no longer just naughty boys, but become real terrorists, as it happened in Barcelone some days ago. Here are some articles related to the issue:

• Van plows into crowd in Barcelona, killing 13; second, related attempt is thwarted (The Washington Post)

• In Terror Attacks in Spain, a Global Community of Victims (The New York Times)

• Barcelona attacks: Spain's long anti-terror experience (BBC News)

• Nature of Las Ramblas attack provides harsh lessons in fight against terror (The Guardian)

REVISION EXERCISE for 1º Bachillerato  >>>   

111. Write one question with "HOW LONG?" and give three possible answers using FOR / SINCE / AGO:

112. CONDITIONALS. Finish the following sentences appropriately:

    1. My teacher would be much better....

    2. I got all this exercise wrong. Why didn't I study it if .... ?

    3. I don't think ___________________________ if I hadn't studied.

    4. If we give Albert £1,000,000 _________________________________

    5. If my English teacher had a better car _______________________

    6. If water reaches a temperature of 100ºC _________________(BOIL)

113. Put the following sentences into INDIRECT SPEECH:

    1. David to Liz: ""You should have told this to your family"

    2. Mother to daughter: "Why haven't you waited for me at the hairdresser's?

    3. Brian to his son: "Come here and don't cry any more!"  

    4. Peter to a friend: "Do you think they may help us?"

    5. Sandy to John: "Why doesn't your sister work harder?"

    6. Arthur to Mr Steele: "I will work tomorrow and I won't be late"

 

Proposed solutions to exercises 108, 109 & 110 in the previous post

Ex108   >>>   
1. I will likely go to...   2. Spain will likely win....     3. They won't likely pass.

Ex109   >>>>    
1. You'd better take your coat.     2. I'd better go home.    3. I'd better go to the supermarket for some coffee.
   
Ex 110  >>>
1. yet, still     2. already, yet     3. already, still     4. still, already

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 170816 / 16 August 2017   >>>  Expressions presented: impunity, uncharted, keep up with the Joneses & child's play.

Are you a cyberbully yourself?

Have you ever been cyberbullied? or have you ever been a cyberbully yourself without really knowing it?

Let's begin by defining what cyberbullying is:

cyberbullying  ˈsʌɪbəˌbʊlɪɪŋ/ is the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.  

Example:

"Children may be reluctant to admit to being the victims of cyberbullying"

Here are some articles to read about cyberbullying:

• Is your child a cyberbully? (BBC News)

• Education key to fighting cyberbullying of children (The Guardian) 

• Cyberbullying follows teen to the grave (CNN)

 

Here's a related Selectivity exam to do: What is cyberbullying?  (2015) 

 

Important piece of advice   >>>>  Here's a guide to educate internet users about the importance of online privacy and how to save themselves from a data breach they have just sent me and which may interest you just in case:

The Ultimate Online Privacy Guide

https://www.bestvpn.com/guides/the-ultimate-privacy-guide/

It includes tips on how to improve one’s privacy online and how to anonymize information online. Also, they crafted useful guides which can be checked out here: https://www.bestvpn.com/guides/

 

Oscar Wilde was also bullied in his days.

The Importance of Being Earnest, Part 4: A visit from Earnest   (Parts 5 , 6 & 7)   Dramas from BBC Learning English

Here are 6 TED talks about the issue:  STAND UP TO BULLYING!

REVISION EXERCISE for 1º Bachillerato  >>>   

108. Express these ideas using "likely":

1. I will probably go to Spain soon.        2. Spain will probably win the World Cup in Italy.

3. Those students who didn't work hard during the year won't       probably pass.

  

109. Write answers with "had better" appropriate to these situations:

1. It is very cold outside and your brother is going out. What would you say?

2. You have an exam tomorrow and you are in a disco at 11 o'clock.     What would you say to your friends?

3. There's very little coffee and it's Saturday morning.     What would you do?

110. Fill in the blanks with STILL / YET / ALREADY:

1. Haven't you finished __________ ? No, I'm __________ working.

2. My father has __________ paid the bill, but I haven't finished       the lunch __________ .

3. Look at the time! It's _________ 8 o'clock and you're ________       cooking.

4. Do you think I'll __________ be working when I'm 64? I don't think so, because you are __________ tired.

Proposed solutions to exercises 105, 106 & 107 in the previous post

Ex105   >>>   
Shampoo is some soap you use to wash your hair.
An alarm clock is a clock that wakes you up in the morning.
A suitcase is something you use to carry your clothes and other things when you travel.
A bicycle is a two-wheeled vehicle you use use to do sport or to go from one place to another.
A dishwasher is a machine that does the washing up for you.   

Ex106   >>>>    
1. What a           2. How           3. What       4. What an        5. How
   
Ex 107  >>>
1. So did I.     2. So would she.     3. Neither do we.     4. So are you.      5. So must we.

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 170809 / 9 August 2017   >>>  Expressions presented: elective, forsaking,  fairly and squarely & top dog.

What would you like your funeral to be like?

 

Have you ever thought about what sort of funeral you would like to have? I'd like to have funeral the Irish way, that is to say, all my relatives and friends having a big party, which would always remember. So every time they would recall my death, happy memories would come to their minds (What a great day we had when Albert died!!!! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 ) 

 

 

Related articles to read:

• Death is not the end: Fascinating funeral traditions from around the globe (TED ideas)

• Doing death differently: today's funerals are not like they used to be (The Guardian)

• This funeral had a pole dancing procession (CNN)

• The interesting ways 5 different countries celebrate death (Business insider)

• How to do a funeral (The Guardian)

   

 

Listening exercise to do: Fancy dress funerals (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) Word formation

 

Change your mind in English! with Learn English with Papa Teach Me

 

 

 

REVISION EXERCISE for 1º Bachillerato  >>>   

105. Define the following words in English:

SHAMPOO    ,    ALARM CLOCK   ,     SUITCASE   ,      BICYCLE   ,      DISHWASHER

106. Fill in the blanks with WHAT / WHAT A(N) / HOW:

1. ________ fantastic bargain!        2. ________ nice!        3. ________ strong tea this is!

4. ________ untidy room this is!         5. ________ beautiful she is!

     

107. Answer either "yo también" or "yo tampoco":

1. She wanted to go to the cinema this afternoon. _____________ I.

2. I would go to the theatre instead. ________________ she.

3. She doesn't like these cakes. _______________ we.

4. He's working in Adra. _______________ you.

5. You must respect your teachers. ________________ we.

Proposed solutions to exercises 102, 103 & 104 in the previous post

Ex102   >>>  1. finished  ,  went    2. had talked  ,  introduced   3.  refused  ,  had apologized   4. had filled up  ,  checked  

Ex103   >>>>    
1. Where is the letter from?   2. Who are you thinking about?   3. Who was the novel...written by?
4. How often does he come to school?  5. How far is Ashford from London?   
Ex 104  >>>
1. He is not as/so stupid as I thought.
2. My brother is less tall than you.
3. You cannot be more intelligent than me, because I am the best. 
4. She is fatter than her sister.

5. I am uglier than her because she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.