We know Wednesday is not the day to look for new stuff in "Our Blog", but if you are a fan of Downton Abbey as we are, remember Season 3 is on tonight. Anyhow, HERE is a link if you want to enjoy episode 1 in English. Hope you like it!!!!!
And if you want your students to have a look at it as well, maybe this Reported Speech exercise with quotes by Dowager Countess of Gratham is the first step to it.
1) "Sybil is entitled to her opinions.", Lady Mary said
Dowager Countess of Gratham
answered, "She isn't until she is married, then her husband will tell her
what her opinions are."
2) Lady Mary Crawley said, "Don't be ridiculous."
3) Sir Richard Carlile said, "I'm leaving the morning and I doubt
we'll meet again."
Dowager Countess Of Grantham
replied, "Do you promise?"
4) Cora asked, "Are we to be friends then?"
Dowager Countess Of Grantham
answered, "We are allies, which can be a good deal more effective."
5) Dowager Countess Of Grantham stated, "I'm a woman and I can be
as contrary as I choose."
6) Dowager Countess Of Grantham said to Mrs. Crawley, "Your
quarrel is with my daughter and not with me."
7) Matthew Crawley said, "The question is what can I say to Cousin
Violet?
Earl Of Grantham answered,
"Don't worry about that since I can handle her."
8) Dowager Countess Of Grantham said, "It was a wedding present
from a frightful aunt that I have hated it for half a century."
9) Dowager Countess Of Grantham told him, "Give him a date for
when Mary's out of mourning as no one wants to kiss a girl in black."
10) Dowager Countess Of Grantham said to Lady Edith, "Don't be
defeatist because it's terribly middle class."
The Tower of London has been hit by a burglary, it emerged last night. A thief reportedly managed to escape with keys from the leading tourist attraction on Guy Fawkes Night. The unidentified raider, who has not been caught, is said to have managed to scale the Front Gate as well as an inner entrance. He then managed to grab a set of keys from a metal box that had been mistakenly left unlocked at a sentry post, the Sun reported.
Tower officials insisted that the Crown jewels were never at security risk but admitted that staff could lose their jobs over the fiasco. Despite being spotted by guards, he escaped because the security team have strict instructions not to leave their posts. A source told the newspaper: “Security was a total shambles. The box was supposed to be locked at all times and it was open. It went from bad to worse”
The newspaper reported that the pleas for help requesting back-up were ignored during the incident on Bonfire Night. It was claimed that the “heavy” bunch of keys included those to unlock drawbridges, conference rooms and the restaurant.
As a result of the embarrassing security blunder the locks had to be changed, at an estimated cost of thousands of pounds. Scotland Yard tried to radio a night watchman but failed to find the suspect who targeted the tower, which is guarded by Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters. They are supported by a private security firm.
Last night a spokesman for the Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the Tower, admitted that security procedures “were not carried out to the expected standard”. He added: “A staff disciplinary process is underway.” They did not comment further.
Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) The keys were found at a box that happened to be wrongly open.
b) Guards at the Tower are not allowed to abandon their positions.
c) Scotland Yard broadcast a manhunt to catch the thief.
d) Safety at the Tower is run by the Government.
Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why wasn’t the thief caught?
b) What were the consequences of the theft?
Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) take (par.1)
b) request (par.3)
c) mistake (par.4)
Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) The raider is said to have managed to scale the Front Gate.
It is…
b) Despite being spotted by guards, he could escape.
Although…
c) A Spokesman admitted “Security procedures were not carried out to the expected standard. And that a staff disciplinary process is underway.”
A spokesman admitted that…
Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
“We should keep our cultural and artistic heritage”. Do you agree?
Australia has created the biggest marine park in the world to protect its oceans. It will cover around one million square miles and means no overfishing and drilling for oil can take place there.
The ocean around Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef which is the world's largest coral reef system, covering a massive 1,600 miles. Endangered marine animals like green turtles, blue whales and whale sharks all live in these waters.
Some areas of the ocean around the country are already protected but the government to protect more because of worries that it was becoming polluted and the coral reef was being damaged.
Not everyone is happy about it though, fishing groups say it will damage their industry and lots of people will lose their jobs.
1. relating to the sea
2. hard rocky material produced by a type of very small sea animal
3. line of rocks or sand near the surface of the sea
4. describes types of animal or plants that may become extinct soon
5. when the water, air or soil contains dangerous substances
6. an activity (such as fishing) that people and companies engage in to make money True or false?
1. Blue whales live near the Great Barrier Reef.
2. Everyone thinks the park is a good idea.
3. This is the first marine park in Australia.
4. The fishing industry depends on the Great Barrier Reef.
5. The Great Barrier Reef is not polluted.
6. Overfishing can damage the ocean.
7. Oil companies can drill in the park.
8. Whale sharks are endangered.
What's the missing word?
1. Some areas of the ocean around the country are already________________.
2. The ocean around Australia is_______________to the Great Barrier Reef.
3. Green_______________, blue whales and whale sharks all live in the waters.
4. The coral reef was being_____________.
KEY
marine relating to the sea coral hard rocky material produced by a type of very small sea animal reef line of rocks or sand near the surface of the sea endangered describes types of animal or plants that may become extinct soon polluted when the water, air or soil contains dangerous substances industry an activity (such as fishing) that people and companies engage in to make money
Heather Watson has reached the top of British women’s tennis without the pushy parents often associated with the game’s young prodigies
Her parents, Ian and Michelle Watson, made huge sacrifices so she could get the best coaching in the world, paying for her to go to the prestigious Nick Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida when she was just 12 and later moving to the US themselves to support her. However, they never put pressure on her to win and have even stayed away from some of her tournaments, including this year’s Wimbledon, to avoid unsettling her.
Watson, 20, was born on the Channel Island of Guernsey in May 1992 and first became interested in tennis when she was watching her parents play at their club in Guernsey, and took up the sport when she was seven. Aged nine, she asked her mother and father for £10. Without telling them, she used the money to enter a softball tennis contest. Her parents were astonished when she came back home a few days later with a trophy, having won the competition.
Mr Watson has described how he “cried his eyes out” at Guernsey airport when his wife flew out to Florida to live with their daughter in 2008 after she began travelling the world on the international tennis circuit. However, the family remained very close. They talked every day over the internet and Mr Watson visited America as often as he could before moving there full-time after he retired in 2010.
Watson combines her brilliance on the tennis court with brains. She graduated top of her class from PendletonHigh School in Florida in 2009, and says she would have studied business at university if she had not made a success of her sport. Away from tennis, she is passionate about fashion, and describes Serena Williams and Beyonce as her style icons.
Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) Both parents always travel with Heather when she plays in tournaments.
b) Both of Heather’s parents used to play tennis.
c) Mr Watson still works.
d) Heather is in her first year at university.
Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why has Heather Watson’s life been so special?
b) How did the family keep in touch when Heather and Michelle were travelling round the world?
Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) enormous par. 1
b) worry par. 1
c) keep on being par. 3
Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Heather is a very good tennis player and she is also clever.
In addition to …..............................…..
b) Heather’s parents had to make big sacrifices but they never put pressure on her.
Birth rates have been on the rise for a decade, due principally to immigration, with the number growing by about 12,000 a year. In 2011 there were 688,120 births in England, according to the Office for National Statistics. But this year there seems to be an extra surge.
In the first three months of this year alone, 4,600 more babies were born than during the same period last year, according to official figures. Midwives are warning that the trend is continuing and will swell births to more than 700,000 inEngland this year - the first time that level has been reached since 1971.
Professor Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said the increase was putting “enormous” strain on the NHS. She said: “Today’s midwives simply have never seen anything like it. I really believe we are at the limit of what maternity services can safely deliver."
Yet while births are going up the Royal College of Midwives is concerned at signs midwife numbers could actually fall in some places due to cost-cutting. Some NHS trusts are reducing vacancies, meaning a sixth of new midwives have been looking for a job for more than three months.
Prof Warwick said: "What is so frustrating is that there is a clear need for more midwives. We're training midwives, but we're not recruiting them. That is a sad waste of all their time and effort, and a waste of taxpayers' money too."
Dr Dan Poulter, the health minister, yesterday announced at extra £25 million would be spent on maternity wards to build ensuite facilities, rooms for partners to stay overnight and birthing pools.
Prof Warwick said the extra cash was “a welcome and positive step”, albeit a small one in the context of the £2.5 billion maternity budget.
Glossary:
NHS = National Health Service (equivale a la Seguridad Social)
NH trust = An organisation that provides health services for the National Health Service
Midwive = a person who is trained to help women when they are giving birth
Question 1[2 points]Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer. a) Far more babies have been born this year than in 1971. b) This situation has happened before. c) There is no employment in the midwives sector.
d) The government is investing money in improving the services provided to new parents.
Question 2[2 points]Answer the following questions in your own words. a) What is the main reason for the growth in the number of births? b) What improvements will there be in hospitals for new parents?
Question 3[1.5 points]Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given. a) number (paragraph 1) b) obvious (paragraph 5) c) although (paragraph 7)
Question 4Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning. a) Birth rates have been on the rise for a decade, due principally to immigration.
The main reason for the rise …… b) Cathy Warwick said “Today’s midwives simply have never seen anything like it and I really believe we are at the limit of what maternity services can safely deliver."
Cathy Warwick said that today’s midwives……………………….. . c) The RoyalCollege of Midwives is concerned that midwife numbers could actually fall in some places due to cost-cutting.
If cost are cut, then……………………………………….
Question 5 Write a short essay (between120-150 words) on the following topic:
KEY
Question 1
a) True.”He then managed to grab a set of keys from a metal box that had been mistakenly left unlocked“
b) True.”the security team have strict instructions not to leave their posts”
c) True.” Scotland Yard tried to radio a night watchman“
d) False. “ They are supported by a private security firm.“
Question 2
a) The thief wasn't caught because the guards at the Tower can not leave their posts to follow him. Moreover, the police sent a radio request which was completely ignored.
b) The Tower had to spend a thousand pounds to replace the locks and an investigation has been started which may cause some guards to lose their posts.
Question 3
a) grab
b) plea
c) blunder
Question 4
a) It is said that the raider managed to scale the Front Gate.
b) Altough he was spotted by guards, he could scape.
c) A spokesman admitted that ecurity procedures had not carried out to the expected standard and that a staff disciplinary process was underway .
a) False. they never put pressure on her to win and have even stayed away from some of her tournaments, including this year’s Wimbledon, to avoid unsettling her.
b) True.Watson, 20, was born on the Channel Island of Guernsey in May 1992 and first became interested in tennis when she was watching her parents play at their club in Guernsey,
c) False. Watson visited America as often as he could before moving there full-time after he retired in 2010.
d) False. … she would have studied business at university if she had not made a success of her sport
Question 2
a) She won her first competition when she was just 9, without her parents knowing that she had entered it. She moved to Florida at the age of 12 to train at the tennis academy. She is also clever. She was first in her class when she left school, could have studied business at university and loves fashion.
b) They connected and spoke to each other on the computer and Mr Watson travelled to the USA as much as possible before his retirement.
Question 3
a) huge b) unsettle/unsettling c) remain/remained
Question 4 a) In addition to being a very good tennis player, Heather is also clever.
OR In addition to being clever, Heather is also a very good tennis player.
b) Despite having made big sacrifices, they never put presuure on her. c) If Heather hadn't entered the softball tennis contest, she wouldn't have won a trophy. Youtube video key
a)False. Midwives are warning that the trend is continuing and will swell births to more than 700,000 inEngland this year - the first time that level has been reached since 1971
b)False. Today’s midwives simply have never seen anything like it.
c)False. Some NHS trusts are reducing vacancies, meaning a sixth of new midwives have been looking for a job for more than three months.
d)True. Dr Dan Poulter, the health minister, yesterday announced at extra £25 million would be spent on maternity wards to build ensuite facilities, rooms for partners to stay overnight and birthing pools.
Question 2
a)The main reason that the number of births is rising is that people are coming to live in the UK from abroad.
b)New additions to buildings will provide bathrooms for rooms, rooms for father to sleep in and swimming pools where mothers can give birth.
Question 3
a) rate(s) b) clear c) albeit
Question 4
a) The main reason for the rise in birth rates is immigration. b) Cathy Warwick said that today’s midwives simply had never seen anything like it and that she really believed that they were at the limit of what maternity services could safely deliver. c) Midwife numbers could actually fall in some places due to cost-cutting.
If cost are cut, then midwife numbers could actually fall in some places.
Three in four people believe manners should be taught in school, a new survey has found.
A survey by supermarket Waitrose found that good manners are slipping with 72 per cent of those polled saying people have become more rude over the last decade. The poll was conducted to mark the launch of the book How Rude! Modern Manners Defined, which will be published on Tuesday.
More than 70 per cent of respondents thought that good manners should be taught in school as part of the national curriculum It used to be the teaching of the three Rs that was considered the mainstay of a good school education, but the poll found that today most people would prefer the four Rs - reading, writing, arithmetic and respect.
Failing to say 'please' or 'thank you' was considered the most irritating example of bad manners. It irks people in Northern Ireland the most, as nearly 60 per cent of them cited it as the most irritating example of bad manners, compared with the national average of nearly 40 per cent.
Although In Europe, a kiss on the cheek is de rigueur when greeting friends, the survey shows keeping each other at arm's length is the preferred option of Brits. When asked the most appropriate greeting in a social situation more than 50 per cent felt a handshake did the job rather than kisses on the cheek or an embrace.
Women are the most keen to keep friends and acquaintances at arm's length, with a quarter of the women polled (25 per cent) feeling no physical contact was necessary with a simple hello being enough, compared to only 12 per cent of men.
More than 60 per cent of those surveyed blamed parents for the deterioration in good manners. This caused debate between the generations as only 43 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds blamed the parents, compared with 76 per cent of the over 55s.
On the plus side, respecting your elders appears to be alive and well as nearly 60 per cent claimed to give up seats to the elderly on public transport, although nearly one in four people avoid eye contact all together when travelling on public transport.
Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) The number of rude people in the UK has recently increased.
b) British people like being close to each other when they meet
c) Changes in the educational system are considered the reason why people are losing manners.
d) People are still polite to old people.
Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What is the difference between the UK and Europe in terms of greetings?
b) What is the preferred education system for the people interviewed?
Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) starting point par 2
b) to annoy, bother par 3
c) relations par 5
Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Although In Europe, a kiss on the cheek is de rigueur when greeting friends, the survey shows keeping each other at arm's length is the preferred option of Brits. In Europe, a kiss on the cheek is de rigueur when greeting friends, …………………………
b) More than 60 per cent of those surveyed blamed parents for the deterioration in good manners Parents ……………………………………….
c) The poll was conducted because they are launching a book. If they were............
Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
Do you think manners are disappearing nowadays? Why? Why not?
The RSPCA say they're at crisis point because of a rise in the number of animals being abandoned.
The animal charity say 40,000 pets were abandoned last year, compared to just 25,000 five years ago.
It thinks families struggling with money problems are leaving their pets because they can't afford to look after them.
Charities that run rescue centres say they are getting full and not enough people are coming forward to adopt.
The cost of caring for abandoned animals is also going up. It costs £15 a day to care for a dog and £9.40 for a cat.
Because some animals are unwell when they come to rescue centres, it can take a long time to look after them and make sure they're well enough to be rehomed.
The RSPCA say they might be forced to turn away vulnerable animals in the future because of the crisis.
Dolphins can stay awake for 15 days or more - by sleeping with one half of their brain at a time, scientists have learned.
Researchers in America tested two bottlenose dolphins' responses to echoes as they swam around a pen.
The mammals kept going for five days non-stop in three separate tests, and one even managed 15 days in another trial.
Experts think the ability is an important survival skill for dolphins. It means they can surface to breathe when they need to and keep watch for shark attacks.
Dolphins use sound waves to find their way, hunt prey, detect predators and organise groups.
a) TRUE: good manners are slipping with 72 per cent of those polled saying people have become more rude over the last decade
b) FALSE: when greeting friends, the survey shows keeping each other at arm's length is the preferred option of Brits
c) FALSE: More than 60 per cent of those surveyed blamed parents for the deterioration in good manners
d) TRUE: respecting your elders appears to be alive and well as nearly 60 per cent claimed to give up seats to the elderly on public transport)
Question 2
a) People in Europe consider a kiss in the cheek almost as a compulsory sign of good manners whereas British people keep a distance with other people or prefer just to shake hands rather then embracing.
b) Most of the people interviewed prefer a system which inclues what they call the four Rs, which means reading, arithmetic, writing but also respect.
Question 3
a) starting point, basis mainstay
b) to annoy, bother irk
c) relations acquaintances
Question 4
a) In Europe, a kiss on the cheek is de rigueur when greeting friends, In spite of the fact that the survey shows keeping each other at arm's length is the preferred option of Brits.
b) Parents were blamed for the deterioration in good manners by more than 60 per cent of those surveyed
c) If they were not launching a book, they wouldn't have conducted a poll.
Somos un grupo de profesores de Cantabria: Carmen A., Lorena B., María B., Blanca D., Belen G., José Ramón L., Inés O. y Lola R.
Nos reunimos cada dos semanas para subir al blog las actividades y materiales que vamos elaborando y que están dirigidos al alumnado de Secundaria y de Bachillerato.
Esperamos que lo encontréis útil para vuestras clases.
