Christmas Carols

Listen to these Christmas Carols



Answer these questions:
1.- What's a reindeer?
2.- What's the plural of reindeer?
3.- What's a sleigh?
4.- What happened to Rudolph?

Learning English

Watch this video, and although he wears glasses and is bald, it's not me.
Learning English is difficult, but you must practise and be patient.
And Don't worry, YOU CAN DO IT.

Enjoy his British English:

Halloween

Listen to this song about Halloween by Stephen Lynch, even though I don't think he likes Halloween (and especially children) very much:



And now, complete the gaps:

Thinking of all the cool creatures that I will meet ..............
Ghosts and goblins and .............. roaming the streets in moonlight
Bowls of candy and ..............., delicious and waiting in store
The sound of cute little ................... as they approach my front door

Letting the children inside to drink ...............
Razor blades hidden in three musketeers
Screams from the .............. of kids begging to be set free
That's what Halloween means to me

Tightening the clamps that are holding their little heads so .............
Putting my lips to their ears as I whisper ............. don't fight
I promise I'll let you go home if you ............. not to tell a soul
Well I'll just untie these I'm kidding now where is my hacksaw? Let's rock and roll

A pinch of your brother a .............. of you
With the ................ of Carson would make a good stew
I'd give you a taste but your tongue's in the stew; ..............
That's what Halloween means to me

Trick-or-treat, smell my feet
Give me .............. good to eat
Trick-or-treat, smell my feet
Give me .............. good to eat

Passive sentences and such, so, too

* Rewrite the sentences. Make the active sentences PASSIVE.

1 They make many kinds of cheese in Holland.
Many kinds of cheese are made in Holland
2 Did theycancelthe flight to Paris?
Was the flight to Paris cancelled?
3 They will show the photographs.
The photographs will be shown.
4 Someone will sell the cars before the end of the programme.
The cars will be sold before the end of the programme.

* Complete the text with too, so or such.
I’m (1) so happy! I’m here in Granada and it’s (2) such an exciting city. The Alhambra is (3) such an interesting place to visit and you can see (4) such amazing views from it. Unfortunately, it was (5) too full of tourists and I couldn’t relax!

More relative clauses and other exercises

* Join these sentences using a RELATIVE CLAUSE :
1.They have caught the tiger. It escaped from the zoo.
They have caught the tiger which escaped from the zoo.
2. That new CD is great. You bought it.
That new CD that you bought is great.
3. This is the town. I was born here.
This is the town where I was born.

* Complete the sentences. Use the CORRECT FORM of the following verbs:
Lie - talk - talk - go - be - do - live - share - have - cook

1. My friends are easy ______________________ to. (to talk)
2. I’d hate ____________________ in a city. (to live)
3. Álvaro wants __________________________ a famous actor. (to be)
4. He wouldn’t like ________________________ a bedroom with his brother. (to share)
5. She doesn’t mind _______________________ to strangers. (talking)
6. ______________________ is my favourite hobby. (Cooking)
7. They hate _____________________ the shopping. (doing)
8. I’d love _______________________ out with Orlando Bloom. (to go)
9. Avoid ____________________________ in the sun at midday. (lying)
10. I’ve decided _________________________ lunch at two o’clock. (to have)

* Complete the dialogue. Use the VERBS in the box in the correct form and add the correct PREPOSITION. cheat – fall – finish - go - introduce

Mark : Who’s that girl? I think I’ve just (1) ___________ _____ love with her. (fallen in)
Jack: That’s my sister’s best friend.
Mark: Do you know her? Can you (2) ___________ me _____ her? (introduce ... to)
Jack: I can, but what about Milly? You’re still (3) ___________ _____ with her. (going out)
Mark: No, I’m not. I (4) ___________ _____ her last week. (finished with)
Jack: Really? Why?
Mark: I discovered she was (5) ___________ _____ me. (cheating on)

4º ESO. Exam

5.- Write QUESTIONS for the answers in bold.

1 What will be released next year? A new album will be released next year.

2 What was invented in 1877? The microphone was invented in 1877.

3 What did Israel use to eat every day?Israel used to eat a banana every day.

4 Who kissed a famous actress in the film? Álvaro kissed a famous actress in the film

5 Who did Álvaro kiss in the film? Álvaro kissed a famous actress in the film

6 What time does the train leave? The train leaves at seven o’clock.

7 Who wanted to found an institution to educate people? Smithson wanted to found an institution to educate people.

8 How much has Chris spent in two weeks? Chris has spent 4.000 euros in two weeks.

9 How long has she lived in Móstoles? She’s lived in Móstoles for twenty years.

10 Where will Louise meet Martin at four o'clock? Louise will meet Martin in the park at four o’clock.

7.- Join each pair of sentences using a RELATIVE CLAUSE:

- That’s the place. I did my test there.
That's the place where I did my test.

- The man is going to buy the house next door. I met him in Italy.
The man who I met in Italy is going to buy the house next door.

- My friend lives in Manchester. She has two children.
My friend who has two children lives in Manchester.


- The car was new. We were travelling in it.
The car which we were travelling in was new.

- The girl was very funny. I was sitting with her.
The girl who I was sitting with was very funny.

Recuerda que en la segunda frase siempre habrá algo que se refiera a un sustantivo (el antecedente) de la primera (there se refiere a a place, him a the man, she a my friend, it a the car, y her a the girl), por lo tanto hay que incrustar la segunda frase inmediatamente después del antecedente y eliminar el pronombre de la segunda (sustituido por el relativo).

Texto Selectividad. Why thin doesn't sell

Why thin doesn’t sell

They have been banned from the catwalk, blamed for devastating women’s self-esteem and suspected of suffering eating disorders. Now ultra-thin models face another accusation: that they’re not good at their job. New research has found that instead of being admired by women, excessively thin models are regarded as less truthful and appealing than “ordinary” women. ‘The advertising and fashion industries are reluctant to use larger models because they say that thinness sells’, said Dr Helga Dittmar, of the University of Sussex. ‘But our research has shown that thin models are less effective in selling products than average-size models’. Dittmar asked 800 women to rank the effectiveness of adverts featuring slim models. She expected women to find thin models more convincing and persuasive. ‘Instead, there was a strong message that models were evaluated more positively when they had a normal size’, she said.

These findings come after the controversy which erupted when Madrid said models at Pasarela Cibeles must have a weight in line with United Nations health guidelines. Dittmar said: ‘Only a small percentage of women can ever hope to have the bodies shown in most advertising. There are fears that images of ultra-thin models can have a number of significant consequences, including negative self-perception, depression and disordered eating. The conclusion is that thin models have a negative effect on the self-esteem of women, and this affects the effectiveness of the advertising message. ‘Compared with ultra-thin models, those who appear in ads with an average, healthy body size were viewed as more credible’.


Questions and possible answers:

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a) The belief that thin models are more effective was proved. FALSE.

"But our research has shown that thin models are less effective in selling products than average-size models"

b) An advertisement doesn’t succeed if women don’t feel confident about it. TRUE .

"thin models have a negative effect on the self-esteem of women, and this affects the effectiveness of the advertising message"

2. In your own words and based on the ideas on the text, answer the following questions.

a) Why are ultra-thin models “not good at their job”?

Ultra-thin models are not good at their job because ordinary women don't feel identified with them and so the advertising message does't get to them.

b) What negative effects do thin models have on women?

Women can suffer from depression or eating disorders.

3. Find the words in the text that mean.

a) accused (paragraph 1) - blamed.
b) confront (paragraph 1)- face.
c) unwilling (paragraph 1)- reluctant.
d) slender (paragraph 1)- slim.

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

a. The fashion and advertising industries know that women are more effective at / in selling products than men.

b. The new spring season’s clothes were being shown (show) on the catwalk when suddenly one of the models fell (fall) down.

c. The new laws against advertising (advertise) tobacco are considered (consider) to have gone too far.

Complete the sentence. Do not change the meaning of the sentence given.

d. They have just sold him the ring. → He …… has just been sold the ring.

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on the following topic.

- Do you think our society is influenced by the models that appear on TV or in magazines?

Texto Selectividad. How racist is Britain?

How racist is Britain?

In Britain, social and ethnic division is a plain fact. Ethnic minority populations concentrate in particular neighbourhoods. Although mixed-race marriages are on the rise, they still comprise only 2% of all marriages. For the most part, people mix and marry with people mainly of their own cultural background, as determined by a combination of country, family origin or religion. Britain is a patchwork of almost hermetically sealed sub-worlds, in which class as much as race is a crucial factor. We all like to feel that we are open-minded people who can be friends with anyone, and we can also probably find a few examples of friends who do not match our demographic profile to prove our lack of insularity. But if we are honest, the vast majority live, work and socialise overwhelmingly with people of a similar social type. And the opportunities to mix are limited because many areas remain deeply inhospitable to aliens.

Besides, well-intentioned promotion of multiculturalism can actually exacerbate the paranoid feeling of Britishness being under threat. When people are informed by local and national governments that they ought to embrace minority cultures more than they do, they feel they are being told that their own way of life simply isn’t good enough. This is all clearly bad news for optimistic multiculturalists, and some will think that it suggests a negative view of human nature. On this view, the best we can hope for is little tension between communities by means of mutual tolerance. But toleration implies putting up with something you don’t much like, not embracing difference.

Questions and (possible) answers:

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a) In Britain people usually mix with people of similar backgrounds. TRUE.

"For the most part, people mix and marry with people mainly of their own cultural background", or "the vast majority live, work and socialise overwhelmingly with people of a similar social type"

b) Britons do not think that other cultures are a menace to their way of living. FALSE.

"well-intentioned promotion of multiculturalism can actually exacerbate the paranoid feeling of Britishness being under threat".

2. In your own words and based on the ideas on the text, answer the following questions.

a) Which facts indicate that Britain is socially and ethnically split?

There are two main facts which indicate that Britain is socially and ethnically divided. First of all, people usually live in areas where they will mainly meet people of their own race or social class. Secondly, although there are marriages among different races, they are not very common.

b) Why are chances of socialising small in Britain?

Chances of socialising are small in Britain because there are many neighbourhoods for just one race or social class.

3. Find the words in the text that mean.

a) increasing (paragraph 1) - on the rise.
b) blocked (paragraph 1) - sealed (limited accepted).
c) furthermore (paragraph 2) - besides.
d) opinion (paragraph 2) - view.

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

a. A racist is a person who treats other people as inferior due / owing to their race.

b. If only Helen had not fallen (not fall) in love with that black! She should have ignored him!

c. There was a feeling among some black people that the level of racism was declining / had declined / had been declining (decline).

Complete the sentence.

d. Racism isn’t one of the priorities for this Government, is it?

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on the following topic.

- Are minority cultures a danger to our society? Do they have to adapt to our culture or do we have to adapt ourselves to these minority cultures?

Nothing to do?

You have nothing to do? You can read these articles from the Guardian:

- The first one is about racism in England.

- The second one is about skinny models.

See you!!!!

sometimes I feel like this in class

This is me.

Tomorrow's exam

Sorry, but I can't tell you much about this exam. But, don't forget to study:

1. RELATIVE CLAUSES, especially those with a preposition.
2. PASSIVE VOICE. There is one of those sentences "It is said/thought..."
3. REPORTED SPEECH. Two sentences with ACCEPT as the reporting verb.
4. Want Someone to Do Something. (I told you in class)
5. real, smoke, excel, experiment. Can you imagine what you will have to do with these words?
6. PREPOSITIONS. This is just an example: In the story, the frog turns ………… a prince.
7. Sentences to use nevertheless, since,...
8. As soon as, had better, causative have,....
9. And never forget: a to infinitive after an adjective.

Good luck!

Yes, we want to

Para todos aquellos alumnos preocupados por el buen uso de la lengua inglesa, aquí tenéis esta explicación.

La Comunidad de Madrid está promocionando los colegios bilingües, para ello quieren imitar la campaña de Obama, la famosa YES, WE CAN. No son los primeros en hacerlo, me parece que una agencia de viajes utilizó YES, WEEKEND. No seré yo quien cuestione la enseñanza bilingüe, sería tirar piedras contra mi propio tejado, pero sí que me gustaría comentar que, desde luego, no es la panacea que nos quieren vender.

Sin embargo la campaña de la Comunidad de Madrid tiene un error gramatical. A la pregunta DO YOU WANT BILINGUAL TEACHING?, o algo por el estilo, la respuesta que tantos niños repiten a coro en el anuncio no sería ese YES, WE WANT, sino un YES, WE DO. Para enfatizar el SÍ, podrían haber dicho YES, WE DO WANT, o, en todo caso YES, WE WANT TO.

La pregunta de Obama sería algo así como CAN WE DO IT?, y la respuesta sí sería el famoso YES, WE CAN. Pero, recordad que el verbo CAN es un MODAL VERB, y por lo tanto hace las negativas e interrogativas como el verbo TO BE. El verbo WANT no es modal, y necesita el auxiliar DO para negativas e interrogativas.

Don't forget it.

This is the 1º Bachillerato exam

This is the exam. Now you know what you have to study:

1.- Complete the sentences with the words or phrases below. (0’9)
- I wrote a cheque because I didn’t have any ………………….. on me.

2.- Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition. (0’6)
- Jane and Harry seem to get …………………… very well.

4.- Complete the passage with the correctr form of USED TO, BE USED TO or GET USED TO. (0’8)

5.- Write the Present or Past Participles of the following verbs: (0’6)
RELAX

6.- Complete these IRREGULAR VERBS: (1’1)

8.- Join each pair of sentences using a defining or non-defining relative clause.

9.- Write the verb in brackets of these CONDITIONAL sentences in the correct tense: (0’8)

10.- Change these sentences into REPORTED SPEECH. (0’8)

11.- Turn into PASSIVE ( just ONE!) the following sentences: (1)

12.- Turn into TWO PASSIVE sentences: (0’8)

13.- Complete the passage with the MODALS and MODAL PERFECTS below. (0’8)

had to should could might not have must have would have should have shouldn’t

GOOD LUCK!

Great Expectations II

This is the WHOLE EXAM. But, DON'T WORRY!, you won't have to answer all these questions.

1.- Can you remember other novels by Charles Dickens?
Chapters 1 (In the Graveyard) and 2 (Christmas Day).
2.- PIP.
a) What is his real name?
b) Who does he live with?
c) What is he doing in the graveyard?
d) Who does he meet in the graveyard? How does he help him?
3. What are the hulks?
4.- What happens to the two convicts on Christmas day?
Chapters 3 (At Miss Havisham’s) and 4 (The Pale Young Gentleman)
5.- What does Pip try to teach Joe?
6.- What’s strange in Miss Havisham? What’s the name of her house?
7.- What does Miss Havisham want Pip for?
8.- Who does Pip meet at Miss Havisham’s house? What does Pip think of that person?
9.- Who is the pale young gentleman in the title of the chapter?
Chapters 5 (“I must become a gentleman”) and 6 (Great Expectations)
10.- Why does Pip become a blacksmith?
11.- Who is Biddy?
12.- Why did Pip want to be educated as a gentleman?
13.- Who is Jaggers?
14.- Who is Mr. Matthew Pocket?
15.- Why is Pip a “young man with great expectations”?
Chapters 7 (Learning to be a Gentleman) and 8 (Young Men in Love)
16.- Who is Mr. Herbert Pocket?
17.- Herbert tells Pip Miss Havisham’s story, can you summarise it?
18.- Who is Bentley Drummle?
19.- How does Pip know that Estella is back?
20.- Why did Pip think that Miss Havisham had made him a gentleman?
21.- Is Estella a part of Pip’s expectations?
22.- Who is Clara?
Chapters 9 (I Come of Age) and 10 (Abel Magwitch)
23.- Did Pip have enough money?
24.- Why did Pip go back to his village?
25.- What did he promise? Could he keep his word?
26.- Estella said Miss Havisham had made her hard and proud, why?
27.- Who is Abel Magwitch? What is his story? Who is Compeyson?
28.- Was Pip happy when he learned about him? What does he think about Estella then?
29.- Who swears on the Bible? What does he swear?
Chapters 11 (Secrets from the past) , 12 (Escape) and 13 (Friends Together)
30.- Pip tells Estella he loves her, what does she tell him?
31.- What does Pip discover about Molly, Mr. Jagger’s servant?
32.- Why does Miss Havisham tell Pip to forgive her?
33.- What does Pip discover about Estella?
34.- How was Magwitch going to escape? Did he succeed?
35.- Magwitch was tried, what was his sentence?
36.- What happened to Magwitch’s money?
37.- Was Pip alone? Who helped him when he was ill?
38..- Pip plans to marry Biddy, but …….
39.- Where does Pip go to work?
40.- Who are friends together? Why?

Compositions

He encontrado en esta página  las siguientes recomendaciones acerca de cómo realizar una redacción en inglés. Aquí van, adaptadas a lo que hemos visto en clase:

Una buena redacción tiene tres partes:

1. Introducción (Opening)
- Puedes empezar con un párrafo como introducción en el cual presentas el tema que vas a tratar. Para comenzar puedes resumir algunos de los principales argumentos en contra de tu punto de vista: Some people argue that..., Many people think that..., It is said that...

2. Cuerpo (Body)
- Discute las ventajas según las ves. No olvides utilizar nexos. Para comparar o contrastar dos cosas utiliza: Both (of them), On the one hand, On the other hand, In spite of (the fact that), In comparison with, On the contrary

- En otro párrafo puedes hablar de las desventajas o inconvenientes, utilizando también los nexos anteriores.

3. Conclusión (Closing)
- Finalmente, escribe una breve conclusión resumiendo lo que has dicho. Puedes decir si crees que hay más ventajas que inconvenientes. También puedes ofrecer una solución o advertir de las consecuencias si no se toman las medidas necesarias para hacer frente al problema. Para indicar la conclusión puedes utilizar: In conclusion, Finally, In summary, To sum up, In short, Therefore, Thus. Este es el mejor sitio para expresar tu opinión personal, y definirte por alguna de las posturas anteriores, con los matices que puedas considerar.

- Las siguientes palabras y expresiones te pueden ser útiles para mostrar tu opinión: Personally, I think... Fortunately/unfortunately, Obviously, In my opinion, I believe , I agree/disagree (with/that), It seems to me, From my point of view, As far as I'm concerned, To be honest, I am in favour of, I am for, I am against, The way I see it.


Para que las ideas estén conectadas de forma clara y lógica hay que:

- Repetir los nombres clave a lo largo de la redacción.
- Usar pronombres para referirse a los nombres clave.
- Escribir las oraciones siguiendo un orden lógico y utilizando conectores tales como: First, Second, Then, Later, Next, Since then, Finally.
- Los conectores son muy importantes para unir ideas: Moreover, Whereas, For instance, Furthermore, such as, Although, However, In contrast.

Es importante que expresemos nuestras ideas y argumentos correctamente. A continuación tienes un recordatorio de algunas reglas básicas a la hora de escribir:

1. Orden de los elementos de la oración en frases afirmativas y negativas. En inglés hay un orden establecido. Cada oración debe tener un sujeto y un verbo, aunque puede haber otras partes de la oración. El orden básico es:
Sujeto + verbo + c. indirecto + c. directo + c.c. modo + c.c. lugar + c.c. tiempo
I
solved
the problem
quickly
at home
yesterday

Recuerda:
- Las expresiones de tiempo también pueden ir al principio de una oración.
- Los complementos indirecto y directo deben ir detrás del verbo.
- Los adverbios de frecuencia van a menudo delante del verbo principal (pero detrás del verbo TO BE)
- Cuando tenemos un complemento indirecto y otro directo, el indirecto se coloca a menudo delante del directo:
She - gave - him - a book
aunque también se puede decir:
She - gave - a book - to him (S -V -C.D.- C.I. con la preposición to)

2. Orden de los elementos de la oración en preguntas indirectas: Las preguntas indirectas siguen el modelo de las oraciones afirmativas o negativas:
Subjeto + verbo
He asked me who she was.
He wanted to know where she lived.

Y muchas cosas más que me habréis escuchado en clase. Seguiremos con todo ello en este monomestre.

Good luck!

Your latest exam 1. 2nd Bachillerato

1.- Complete the passage with the words below.

currently ■ likely ■ might as well ■ afford ■ staff ■ point out ■ first rate ■ disruptive ■ put up with

Most kids that can 1. .................................... an iPod, buy one to download music from the Internet. If they take the iPod to school, they are 2. ................................ to get into trouble. Schools tend to consider iPods a 3. ........................................ influence, but don’t actually ban them as long as students don’t use the iPod during lessons. At Gracemount High School in Scotland, teachers not only 4. .............................. iPods, they actually encourage students to use them. They believe that since kids love iPods, schools 5. .......................... make use of them in teaching. They 6. .......................................... , for example, that an iPod is a 7. ...................................... tool for recording conversations in a foreign language for students to practise at home, or to record a lesson for a student who is absent. They are 8. .................................... examining a variety of uses for iPods in school. Apple, a major producer of iPods, has given the 9. ................................ and students of Gracemount High School 50 state-of-the-art iPods to use for the project.

4.- Complete the sentences with a suitable PREPOSITION.

1. They arrived at the party early so they wouldn’t miss ......................... on anything.
2. While Jane was cleaning a cupboard, she came ......................... some old photographs.
3. Tell me everything at once; don’t beat ......................... the bush.
4. We’re almost there; we get ......................... at the next bus stop.
5. Tom’s father was really angry; he bit Tom’s head ......................... .
6. The whole family came to the airport to see me ……………………..

7.- Rewrite each sentence using TWO PASSIVE structures.

1. Everyone says she’s a great cook.
2. The guide could have given us better advice.

Passive voice and Conditional sentences

Can you rewrite these sentences using the Passive voice?

1) My mother rescued three cats.
2) The students handed in the essays.
3) Maria bought the blue car.
4) Alex learnt the poem by heart.
5) Steven has forgotten the title of the book.
6) Has the mechanic repaired the DVD recorder?
7) They don't play handball.
8) Sue put the purse on the floor.
9) The girls have not lost the match.
10) The teacher is not going to open the window.

And now, can you form a conditional sentence (type I, II, III)? Watch the verbs in bold.


1) If we meet at 9:30, we ....... (to have) plenty of time.
2) Lisa would find the milk if she ..... (to look) in the fridge.
3) The zookeeper would have punished her with a fine if she ..... (to feed) the animals.
4) If you spoke louder, your classmates ..... (to understand) you.
5) Dan ..... (to arrive) safe if he drove slowly.
6) You ..... (to have) no trouble at school if you had done your homework.
7) If you .....(to swim) in this lake, you'll shiver from cold.
8) The door will unlock if you .....(to press) the green button.
9) If Mel ..... (to ask) her teacher, he'd have answered her questions.
10) I .....(to call) the office if I were you.

Good luck if you are studying for your exam.

Conditional sentences

We are going to study the three types of Conditional sentences. Watch, and listen to, this video in which you may learn how to use them. But be careful, because there are some grammatical mistakes, can you find them?




Do you want more? Ok, here you are, and even with explanations:

Great Expectations

This book that you have to read has been twice on screens. Here you can see the trailers of the films based on this novel by Dickens.
First of all, the film of the 1940's:




And now the film of the 1990's:




After watching these trailers you may be confused. The first one looks scary, the second one looks as if it is only about love. Don't worry, read the book and enjoy it. And remember that, as I told you, you will have some of the questions here, maybe one day before the exam

The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

You students of 2nd Bachillerato have been reading this book. I hope you liked it and didn't find it too difficult. At least I think it is not as boring as many books you have had to read. Anyway I want to help you. Here are some of the questions you will answer tomorrow.

1.Mention the most important growing pains of Adrian Mole.
2.When does the diary start? When does it finish?
3.Who are these characters? Aunt Clara
5.Does Adrian like the name of her sister?
6.For Adrian, what’s the most beautiful girl’s name in the history of the world?
7.Why does Mr. Lucas call Adrian’s mother?
9.Who formed a gay club at school? What’s the original meaning of “gay”?
10.St. Valentine’s Day.