Let's English

Intellectual Ability - Ability: intelligent          bright          clever         smart        shrewd        able        gifted               talented       brainy - Lacking ability: stupid        foolish      half-witted       simple       silly        brainless                      daft        dumb        dim - Clever in a negative way: cunning         crafty       sly Attitudes towards life - Looking on either the brigt or the black side of things:     optimistic       pessimistic - Outward-looking or inward-looking:     extroverted ...

Four climbers who succeeded in climbing the world's highest mountain write about how they felt when they reached the summit. How I felt on conquering Everest  A. Roddy Makenzie It has occasionally been claimed that people climb for the smell of it. Air at very high altitude smells completely different. When I reached the South Summit, I was suffering from a lack of Spanish olives. I was preoccupied with thoughts of a tin of them sitting in my tent at base camp. This was the result of a very intense dream about olives that was interrupted by the alarm summoning me to our summit attempt. At the South Summit, the view of the main summit fascinated me from a mountaineering point of view and all dreaming of olives evaporated. On the summit, I felt a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. It seemed to me that the curvature of the Earth was apparent, and I spent some time trying to think of a means to test if this was a real observation or an illusion. Many people on the Indian su...

Addition The food is excellent and very good value. The food is usually very good. Furthermore , it is one of the cheapest restaurants in town. The set meni is $10, which is excellent value. In addition , you get a free glass of wine. The restaurant has a reputation for excellent food. It's also  very good value. The food is excellent in that restaurant. It's very good, value as well . You get very good food in that place. What's more, it's excellent value. Contrast She still won the game although/ though/ even though  she had a bad knee. They still went for a walk in spite of the fact that  it was pouring with rain. The service is worse despite the fact that  they have more staff. Although  she had a bad knee, she still won the game. It is very common to use still  in these sentences to emphasise the surprse. John is very careful whereas  Christopher makes lots of mistakes. I don't agree with a lot of his methods. Howev...

1. Underline the correct verb in these sentences. When we were at school, we had to/ ought to  wear a uniform. You don't have to/ mustn't wear your seatbelt during the whole of the flight. You should/ have got to tell her that you are sorry. You need/must be a member of the library before you can borrow books. I don't need to/ shouldn't wear glasses because my eyesight is still quite good. We weren't allowed to/ wouldn't talk to our partner because it was an examination. We needn't have/ couldn't have ordered so much food as nobody was hungry. She didn't need/ needn't have to take any money because her friend was going to pay. When I first came to Madrid I could/couldn't speak only a few words of Spanish. Did you have to/ Must you have your hair cut before the imterview last week? 2. Complete the second sentence so that it i similar in meaning as possible to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word...

Things the teacher says Give in /Hand in your homework tomorrow, please. Louis, give out/ hand out  these worksheets, please. Tom, rub out  what's written on the board, please. Work out  the answers without using a calculator. Cros out  any rough work when you have found the answer. Take care not to miss out  any of the exam questions 1. What does the teacher want when she says the previous expressions? Other classroom phrasal verbs Tamara was ill for a month and so she fell behind with her schoolwork. She is going to find it difficult to catch up. Pupils often play up when a teacher is new or inexperienced. Although Maggie had done good work throughout the year she messed up  her exam. The teacher cleared the books from the table and spread out  the map. 2. Try to guess the meaning of the previous phrasal verbs 3. Would Clay's parents be pleased or not if their son's teacher told them the followin...

"Not Such an Innocent Girl" by Victoria Beckham 1. Listen the song and complete the lyrics: Oh Oh ooh Hey, whoa baby  (not such an innocent girl) First impressions can be wrong So let me clear ___________ goin' on Baby I'm not who you think I am I need to feel some lips _______ mine So I'm pullin' you across the line You think ________ the fragile one One slip the damage done I'm not made of china I'm not made of glass ___________ it shatter your illusions  If this angel had a past? If you touch me I _________ break Don't think of me that way I'm not ________ an innocent girl Don't __________ me up in cotton-wool Up on a pedestal I'm not ________ an innocent girl I've got a secret rose tattoo  I'm dying ________ to show you I'm not as shy as you think I am It's time to take of _________ kid-gloves T.K.O. me fall in love ___________ be scared you...

American Civil War The Civil War was one of the most difficult times in American history. From 1861 to 1865, America was at war with itself. The war stemmed from differences in beliefs between anti-slavery individuals in the northern states, and pro-slavery individuals in the south. Slavery was very important to the southern economy, and many southerners were afraid that Abraham Lincoln would try to abolish slavery when he became president. Such individuals did not think the government had the right to tell the states what to do. People in the north thought that slavery was immoral, and were afraid that if slavery was allowed in America's new territories, it would never be defeated. In 1860 and 1861, eleven southern states decided to secede (break away) from the United States and form their own government. It was called the Confederate States of America. Richmond, Virginia was made their capital. Congress declared war on April 14, 1861 for the purposes of preserving the Unio...

A Very Bad Day I’d been looking for a new job for a while, as I really hated my present one. I didn’t get on very well with my boss and I found the job really boring, so it was definitely time for a change. I had seen an advert in the local paper for a job that sounded absolutely perfect for me. I had to have it! I spent a long time on my CV and wrote a really convincing covering letter.  You can guess what happened…  On the day of the interview I overslept! I must have forgotten to set my alarm the night before. I jumped out of bed, quickly put some clothes on and rushed out the door but I was never going to make it in time. If only I’d set my alarm, I would’ve been on time! I would normally take the bus but, as I was running late, I decided the tube might be quicker. I ran down the escalators and jumped onto the train, just as the doors were closing. I breathed a sigh of relief – I might just make it after all. After a couple of minutes I noticed that other pe...

Apologies I beg your pardon , I didn't realise my chair was on your coat. I'm so/very/terribly/awful sorry , I take your coat by mistake because it's very similar to mine. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting , I got caught up in traffic. Audrey I'm really sorry, I'm late. I won't be long. Excuses I'm sorry I'm late but I was delayed/ held up at the airport. I'm sorry I'm late, but my train was cancelled. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, I got caught up in traffic. Sorry I'm late; my alarm clock didn't go off. Promises I'm sorry about the mess in here, I'll clear it up. I'm sorry about the confusion, but I'll sort it out. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous expressions. 2. What could you say in these situations? You get on a bus at the same time as another person and he/she almost falls over. You arrange to meet some friends in the centre of town but...

Before doing the listening: What do you know about Area 51? Let's Listen! Complete the following part of the listening: There is prove, however, tha the US goverment is _____________ and testing highly classified aircraft, some of _________  are capable of maneuvres that are impossible to _______________ with even the most sophisticated fighter jets. So are we alone or are ________ really other life-forms out there? You decide... Just off highway __________, also known as the extraterrestrial highway, sits an isolated ____________ in the town of Rachel, the little __________, for years a favourite resting place for ___________ to area 51, just 40 miles away. As the __________ heads Northwest through Ticaboo Valley, it ______________ Mailbox Road mugged by a single postal job known as the black mailbox. Let's talk! What do you think know about Area 51?       

Public Figures Past and Present Legend Hero Genius Privacy Tabloids To admire To achieve To be successful To contribute Answer the following questions: Which public figure do you admire most and why? (Can be dead or alive) Does your country have any famous historical figures? What did they do? Who is the most important public figure in your country at the moment? Do you think that celebrities earn too much money these days? Should celebrities have the right to a private life? What do you imagine are the main advantages and disadvantages of being famous? Do you think that all politicians are corrupt?

Complete the following text with the parts that appear below it. Rangitoto By Alastair Jamieson Off-track the ground is menacing. Lava, like angry waves frozen in mid-chop only moments ago, claws at the soles of my boots and threatens to shred my knees if I place a foot wrong. The surface is so uneven that progress is extraordinarily difficult. Occasional smooth stone channels course like petrified streams through the rougher ground, their solid surfaces a welcome pathway amid teetering plates of broken lava and treacherous bouldery rubble. Out of the shade of the dense thickets of bush, it's as hot as a furnace. All that black rock absorbs and radiates enough heat to melt Antarctica. It's as hostile a spot as you could find anywhere in New Zealand, yet when I turn around, there is downtown Auckland in plain view just a few kilometers away. 1_____ Its symmetrical cone is a relaxed cousin of those higher and steeper volcanoes Taranaki and Ngauruhoe but Rangitot...

Rephrasing 1. In Japan you aren´t supposed to eat food as you walk down the street.  In Japan you had  2. It was a mistake for me to spend so much money on records.  I should  3. Is it necessary for me to pay for my ticket now?  Do I                                                      ?  4. Please tell me how much luggage you let me take on the plane.  Can you tekk me 5. It isn´t possible that her car has broken down again.  Her car  6. If you have a reserved seat it isn´t necessary to stand on the train.  You  7. I´m sure that you made a mistake when you added up the total.  You  8. Can you manage to get to the airport at 6.30 a.m.?  Will you ?  9. Why did you travel first class? It wasn´t necessary, you know.  You  ...

Write questions for the following answers, taking into account the underlined information. The Titanic and The Carpathia The Titanic was carrying over 2.200 people when it left Southampton.   The Titanic was going at 22.5 knots  when it hit the iceberg. The Carpathia was travelling from New York to Europe when the disaster happened.   A reporter and his wife were travelling on the Carpathia. As they were travelling back to New York they interviewed the surivors.     As the Carpathia was entering the harbour the reporter threw his notes to a colleague. The dock reporters sent the story to the newspaper. Imagine that you have to write an interview to a famous person, who you choose? Write the questions and the answers; say to your partner the answers and he/she has to try to guess the questions.

The young people below all want to do an art course during their school holidays. Following their texts, there are descriptions of eight short courses. Decide which course would be the most suitable for them. Alice wants a course to help her with her drawing skills, particularly with drawing the latest styles of clothes, shoes and bags, because she wants to study this later at college. Russell loves making comic books, but isn't confident about his drawing. He wants to draw superheroes and animals and create adventures about them, but doesn't want to display his work. Merida enjoys making pictures and objects from different materials. During the course she'd like to use her love of sport in her designs, and visit an exhibition to get new ideas. Gru is talented at drawing, but also likes filming his friends on an old digital camera. He wants to develop this skills by learning to use more advanced equipment, and prepare for further study. ...

Ain't Got No - I Got Life by Nina Simone 1. Listen the song and complete the lyrics: Ain't got no home, ain't got no ____________ Ain't got no ___________, ain't got no class Ain't got no __________, ain't got no schooling Ain't got no wear, ain't got no __________ Ain't got no money, no __________ to stay Ain't got no ___________, ain't got no mother Ain't got no children, ain't got no sisters ___________ Ain't got no earth, ain't got no ____________ Ain't got no touch, ain't got no _________ Ain't got no love Ain't got no ________, no cigarettes Ain't got no ________, no country No class, no ______________ No friends, no _____________ Ain't got no god Ain't got ________more Ain't got no earth, no ? No ___________, no home I said I ain't got no clothes No job, no _____________ Ain't got __________ to live And I ain...

Complete the text with the appropriate form of the verb in brackets. It can be Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect Simple, Past Simple or Past Continuos. Child Employment in Victorian Britain In Victorian London, mud larks were children who (search of)_______________ valuable bits and pieces on the shores of the River Thames. They (not do)________________ this from boats, but (wait)_______________ until the tide (go)_______________ out, and then (crawl)_______________ ahout in the river mud looking for anything valuable. Henry Mayhew, a Victorian writer, (interview)_______________ 'mud lark' in his book about poor working people in London in the 1850's. 'My family is Irish though I was born in London. My father (work)_______________ at London Docks. He is a strong-bodied mand of 34. I (go)________________ to school with my brothers for about three years and (learn)________________ reading and writing and arithmetic. One of my brothers (be)______...

Money You can't take more than 600€ out  in 24 hours. The government is cutting back  on the education budget. Lend me ten dollars and I'll pay you  back  tomorrow. The bill for the meal came to $86 all together. I've been offered a chance to go to New Zealand next year. So I've started saving up  already. I'm trying to set aside  a fixed amount each month so that I'll have enough. It was a terrible holiday. Everything went wrong. And it costs us $900, but U guess we'll have to just write  that off . We won't get  it back. They were giving away  free tickets at the Concert Hall today and I got one. Then I was in a bookshop buying a magazine and I picked up  a book on Italian cookery at a knockdown  price. It had been reduced from 20€ to 15€ Paying bills and debts I won't pay off  the mortgage on my house until 2024. My tax bill has arrived. I have to pay up  by 30 December. My kids ran up  a pho...

Make or Do He made some  mistakes  in the exam, but he did all his homework so he passed Maths. I have to do the shopping  today to make the lunch/breakfast/dinner for tomorrow. You make a good decision doing this course . It's going to make you make a lot of money. Can you do me a favour , please? I am new in the city and I need to make friends . I didn't do anything  last night because the neighbours were making a lot of noise. He is doing research in physics and he is making a lot of progress . You have to do the housework. Did you do Latin  at school? 1. Cross out the incorrect verbs in these sentences. Both verbs may be correct. I couldn't do/make the homework last night. Did he do/make many mistakes? I often do/make the housework. I want to do/make a course in English. He is doing/making research in chemistry. They did/made a lot of noise during the party. 2. Let's Talk! Tell your group about a difficult decision you had...

National Environmental Concerns The gardens are carefully managed in order to encourage biodiversity . Deforestation is causing many animal species to lose their homes. Drought often leads to famine. An earthquake caused the buildings to collapse. Naturalists say the toad faces extinction if the dam is built. The government sent the military to help save people from the flood . Temperatures are gradually rising globally due to the greenhouse effect . Future volcanic eurptions will impact Earth's ozone layer. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous words in bold. 2. Answer the following questions: What are some of the most serious environmental problems? What are ten things individuals can do to help the environment? What are five things governments can do to help the environment? What is your opinion on climate change? Which countries cause the most pollution? How will our children be affected by climate change? What kinds of ...

1. Complete the text with the adjectives in brackets in comparative or superlative form. OS battles Windows, Linux and Unix are different computer operating systems (OS). You need an operating system to run any computer - both PCs at home or in the office, and the big network serves that connect other computers. Window is the (popular)_____________ system for PCs in the world. There are also versions of Windows for network servers, but in this market, Unix-based systems are (common)_____________ than Microsoft systems. A newcomer to the battle is Linux. If we compare Windows and Unix as systems for network servers, they have different strengths and weaknesses, but many experts say that Unix is a (good)________________ system. It is (small)____________ and (efficient)___________ than Windows. In addition, it is (stable)_____________, while Windows has a reputation for 'crashing'. Linux is based on Unix but it is (easy)____________ to use. The main difference betwee...

Bill Gates William Henry Gates III (Bill) was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Bill was the second of three children in an upper-middle class family. He enjoyed playing games with the family and was very competitive. He also loved to read. Bill became bored in public school so his family sent him to Lakeside School, a private school, where he excelled in math and science and did well in drama and English. Gates became interested in computer programming when he was 13, during the era of giant mainframe computers. His school held a fund-raiser to purchase a teletype terminal so students could use computer time that was donated by General Electric. Using this time, Gates wrote a tic-tac-toe program using BASIC, one of the first computer languages. Later he created a computer version of Risk, a board game he liked in which the goal is world domination. At Lakeside, Bill met Paul Allen, who shared his interest in computers. Gates and Allen and two other student...