Exeter postie Rachel to appear in Royal Mail’s ‘We love parcels’ Christmas TV advert

A postwoman from Shillingford St George, near Exeter, will make her screen debut in front of millions of viewers as she features in the special 'Christmas Royal Mail’s TV advertising campaign.

Rachel Boyce, 46, who is based at Exeter’s Royal Mail delivery office, is starring in the advert called ‘We Love Parcels’ which celebrates the 1 billion parcels its postal workers deliver a year.

The advert will be screened at prime time on a Saturday during ITV’s the X Factor. The advertising campaign has been launched at the start of Royal Mail’s build up to Christmas; the company opened 10 temporary parcel sort centres across the UK on Monday, November 4, as part of its planning for the festive season deliveries.

Rachel was chosen to appear in the ad after Royal Mail issued a call to 132,000 of its front line staff to invite them to audition for a part. A total of 2,500 employees applied and Rachel was one of 25 who were selected to star in the commercial after auditioning in front of film producers and directors.

Rachel has worked for the Royal Mail for close to 20 years, said: “I love my job, especially the customer-facing part and seeing peoples’ faces when I deliver a parcel from their loved ones. Being part of the ad has been a great experience, and my husband and I can’t wait to see it aired on TV!”

Postal workers from Bath also appear in the Royal Mail advertising campaign.  The firm is featuring its Royal Mail Choir in its TV campaign. The choir – made up of workers from Bath and Bristol, and set up last year for the BBC2 series Sing While You Work with Gareth Malone, sing a version of‘ The Beatles’ classic All You Need Is Love.

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. This is not the first time that Rachel has appeared on television.

b. It is likely that a large number of people will see the advertisement  when it is shown for the first time.

c. Royal Mail need to make special arrangements because of all the post they have to deliver at Christmas time.

d. The people who sing the song in the advert had never met before.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. How did Royal Mail choose the people who appear in the ad?

b. What things does Rachael like about her job?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. preparations (par. 3)                          b. period (par. 3)                                   c. role (par. 4)

d. almost (par. 5)                                  e. to create (par. 6)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Royal Mail issued a call to 132,000 of its staff to invite them to audition.

    A call to 132,000 staff …

b. Rachel said “I love my job. Being part of the ad has been a great experience, and my husband can’t wait to see it on TV!”

Rachel said that ……..

c. Rachel was selected to star in the commercial after auditioning in front of film producers and directors.

    If Rachel ….

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Music plays an important part in TV advertising”.  Do you agree?

 

Christmas Special Link

Internet chatrooms can help those in distress, says study

Internet forums and chatrooms can have positive effects that should be more widely acknowledged, experts say.

The call comes after Oxford University researchers carried out an analysis of 14 different studies looking at how young people use the internet. The review said a number of studies had found a link between internet use and self-harm and suicide. But it said others had found the internet could be a positive influence.

The dangers of internet use have received widespread coverage this year. In one case, in August, 14-year-old Hannah Smith from Leicestershire was found hanged after she had been sent abusive messages on a social networking site.

Since then research by the NSPCC has suggested a fifth of 11 to 16-year-olds have had negative experiences using the internet.

'Socially isolated'

The Oxford University research highlighted a number of dangers from internet use, including the normalising of self-harm and the risk of bullying. It also said there was a "strong link" between internet forums and an increased risk of suicide in particular. But the researchers said some studies had shown that internet forums could support and connect socially isolated people.

There were also examples where forum users encouraged positive behaviour, advised others to seek help and congratulated each other for not harming themselves.

Report author Prof Keith Hawton said: "Communication via the internet and other electronic means has potential roles in both contributing to and preventing suicidal behaviour in young people. The next step is going to be development of therapeutic interventions using these channels of communication, especially to access those who do not seek help from clinical services."

Joe Ferns of the Samaritans added: "We should acknowledge that many people are using suicide forums and chatrooms to anonymously discuss their feelings of distress and despair, including suicidal thoughts, which may have a positive impact on the individual. They may be expressing feelings that they have never disclosed to anyone in their offline lives.Rather than concentrating primarily on ways of blocking and censoring such sites, we should think about online opportunities to reach out to people in emotional distress."

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. It is believed that Hannah Smith committed suicide.

b. Most teenagers suffer because of the inadequate use of the internet.

c. Studies usually emphasize the problems that using the internet can carry out.

d. People chatting in the forums are used to talking about their problems and emotions in their ordinary life.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What negative effects can the use of the internet have?

b. What positive effects can the use of the internet have?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to perform (par. 2)                                         b. extensive (par. 3)                               c. risk (par. 4)

d. to reveal (par. 8)                                            e. grief (par. 8)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Hannah Smith had been sent abusive messages on a social networking site.

    Somebody...

b. The review said a number of studies had found a link between internet use and self-harm and suicide.

     A number of studies...

c. The researchers said some studies had shown that internet forums could support and connect socially isolated people.

    The researchers said: “...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Nowadays people could not live without internet”. Do you agree with this statement? 

London cycling deaths: we need action, not talk

After a succession of deaths on London's roads, Chris Harvey calls for genuine action to be taken to improve cycle safety. I cycled into a scene that every commuter dreads earlier this week. A fairly quiet junction in Spitalfields was filled with uniformed police, paramedics, cars, and ambulances attending to someone in the road. The main highway was cordoned off and it was instantly clear from the level of activity that it was serious. A shooting? A stabbing? Something awful.

If you cycle in London, you’ll know what my first thought was. A screen was being held up to hide the sight from view, and paramedics were moving behind it. Police were herding people away from the scene, as medics prepared to lift the victim. I felt sure it was a fatality. In fact, the screens hid a young woman cyclist who, as one early witness tweeted to chilling effect, had had to be “excavated” from beneath a car on its side. Her miraculous rescue - which was thanks to the fact that she was wearing a helmet and the swift actions of those at the scene who rushed to help lift the car - made the news the next day. She escaped with only a broken collarbone. It turned out to be a glimmer of light in a week of horror for cyclists.

My thoughts are with the cyclist who had to be excavated out from underneath this car in Spitalfields tonight. Five deaths in nine days. It sounds more like a bulletin from Afghanistan than a cycling statistic from London’s roads. Pressure groups like the London Cycling Campaign and CTC demanded action.

London’s mayor went on LBC to talk about the deaths and raised the issue of irresponsible cyclists: “When people make decisions on the road that are very risky – jumping red lights, moving across fast-moving traffic in a way that is completely unexpected and without looking to see what traffic is doing – it’s very difficult for the traffic engineers to second-guess that,” Boris Johnson said.

But then London’s roads have other problems that Johnson didn’t rail against. Its buses drive too fast; HGVs are on the same highways as rush-hour cyclists; cycle lanes peter out just as they reach corners, inviting vehicles to cut across them (the south side of Lambeth Bridge is a prime example); many cycle lanes are interrupted by parking bays; the mayor’s own cycling superhighways are not protected even on three-lane roads; and that's to name only a few.

There seems to be an active policy of stopping and fining red light jumping cyclists, yet I've not once seen a motorist warned about pulling into the green cyclist safety boxes at a junction. (I even had a chat with an ambulance driver about him doing this the other day.)

I don’t know about other urban cyclists, but from painful experience, I tend to cycle as though everyone around me is trying to kill me: cars, buses, lorries, pedestrians, pizza delivery men, and other cyclists too. I try to concentrate and anticipate the reckless manoeuvre, the unthinking step or door-opening, and the deliberate intimidation that can lead to disaster. I spook easy and keep my distance, but like all cyclists, I know that there are situations that are beyond my control.

It would be good to hear someone come out and say: this is what we are going to do to try to stop these deaths happening. But instead the debate around cycle safety still seems to be mired in political rhetoric.

The leader of Southwark Council Peter John called for a ban on HGVs during rush hour following the deaths this week. It was the second best bit of news I heard all week.

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. The cyclist came across the accident on a busy road in London.

b. The victim was not seroiusly injured in the accident.

c. The London mayor thinks that motorists are responsible for the cycling accidents.

d. There is no strict policy for cyclists who jump red lights.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What problems do London roads have according to the text?

b. What are some of the safety measures the reader takes as a cyclist?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. person who sees an accident  (para. 2)                           d.to talk (para. 4)

b. quick  (para. 2)                                                                 e. dangerous (para. 6)

c. surprising  (para.3)                                                     

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. If you cycle in London, you'll know what my first thought was.

    If you cycled...................

b. Police were herding people away from the scene.

    People......................

c. He said, “When people make decisions on the road that are risky, they can get killed.”

    He said that.................................

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

 In your opinion, what are the possible advantages and drawbacks of cycling in capital cities like London?

Passive 1

Translate the following sentences into English using the passive voice

1. Construyeron este edificio en 2003.
2. Se vende toda clase de carne en una carnicería.
3. Me han cogido el paraguas.
4. No se ha encontrado todavía el cuadro robado.
5. Se usó un camión para llevar todos los muebles.
6. Se habla inglés en muchos países.
7. El periódico lo reparten a las 7,30 todos los días.
8. Están construyendo unos grandes almacenes en mi ciudad.
9. Me dijeron que tomase la primera calle a la derecha.
10. Se han visto algunos tiburones frente a la costa.

KEY

1. This building was built in 2003.
2. All kinds of meat are sold in a butcher’s.
3. My umbrella has been taken.
4. The stolen picture hasn’t been found yet.
5. A lorry was used to carry all the furniture.
6. English is spoken in a lot of countries.
7. The newspaper is delivered at 7.30 every day.
8. A department store is being built in my town.
9. I was told to take the first street on the right.
10. Some sharks have been seen off the coast.

What money do you use in England?

 Our currency is the pound sterling. The sign for the pound is £

We do not use the Euro. Although a few of the big shops will accept Euro, it is rarely used across Britain. The pound (£) is made up of 100 pence (p), and is usually called a “quid”. The singular of pence is "penny". The symbol for the penny is "p"; hence an amount such as 50p is often pronounced "fifty pee" rather than "fifty pence”. We have both coins and banknotes.

Coins 

1p and 2p (copper)   5p, 10p, 20p and 50p (silver)   £ 1 (gold)    £ 2 (gold and silver)

All our coins bear HM The Queen's head on one side. Portraits of kings and queens have been engraved on our coins for hundreds of years.

On the edge of our coins, the letters D.G.REG.F.D. always appear after the Queen's name. The letters stand for the Latin words Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor, which means 'By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'.

Banknotes

£5 (five pounds)   £10 (10 pounds)   £20 (twenty pounds)   £50 (fifty pounds)

All our bank notes bear HM The Queen's head on one side and a famous historical person on the other side.
Queen Elizabeth ll is the first monarch to have her portrait printed on a bank note. It was first done in 1960 as a way of helping to prevent forgeries.

Answer these questions

1. What is the currency in England?

a) Euro             b) Dollar                       c) Pound                      d) SterlingEnglish

2.  How much is a quid worth in England?

a) 50 pence                  b) One pound                c) Fifty pounds d) 10 pence

3 Whose picture is found on all banknotes and coins in England?

a) Henry VIII                  b) Elizabeth I                c) Elizabeth II    d) Tony Blair

4  What letters are found on the side of the coins in England?

a) D.G.REG.F.D.           b) A.G.REG.F.D.           c) E.W.REG.F.D.          d) Queen Elizabeth

5  What colour is a one pound coin?

a) Blue                         b) Gold             c) Silver                        d) White

6  How many pence in a pound?

a) 1                              b) 10                            c) 100                          d) 1000

KEY

1. c) Pound
2. b) One pound
3. c) Elisabeth II
4. a) D.G.REG.F.D.
5. b) Gold
6. c) 100

Articles 1

Translate the following sentences into English

1. Peter está buscando trabajo.
2. La hermana de Tom es médico.
3. El desayuno es a las 7.
4. La fruta es buena para la salud.
5. Normalmente compro la fruta en el mercado.
6. Me gusta el té.
7. El Sr. y la Sra. Smith van a misa todos los domingos.
8. A veces va a la iglesia a hablar con el cura.
9. ¿Está Tom todavía en la cama?
10. ¿Estás interesado en el arte?

KEY

1. Peter is looking for a job.
2. Tom’s sister is a doctor.
3. Breakfast is at 7.
4. Fruit is good for health.
5. I usually buy the fruit in the market.
6. I love tea.
7. Mr and Mrs Smith go to church every Sunday.
8. She sometimes goes to the church to speak to the priest.
9. Is Tom still in bed?
10. Are you interested in art?

Rephrasingss 10

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning

1.       ”Where are my keys?” I wondered.

I wondered ……………………………………………………….

2.       The mechanic is going to repair her car next week.

She ………………………………………………………………..

3.       What a pity I didn’t have time to see you last week.

I wish ………………………………………………………………

4.       This story will shock you.

You ……………………………………………………………….

5.       Will you post this letter for me, please?

Do you mind ……………………………………………………..

6.       If you don’t review your notes tonight, you won’t do well tomorrow.

Unless ………………………………………………………………………..

7.       “How much money have you put into the account?” they asked.

They asked me ……………………………………………………………….

8.       I’m sorry I can’t speak French perfectly.

I wish ……………………………………………………………………………

9.       ”You should post these letters.” My mum said to me.

My mum …………………………………………………………………..

10.   Although she was ill, she visited other countries.

Despite ………………………………………………………………………

11.   “I have never seen anything so beautiful”, he said.

He said ………………………………………………………………………..

12.   Mary was sorry she ate so many cakes.

Mary wished …………………………………………………………………

13.   I have failed all my exams at the university because I didn’t study enough.

If ………………………………………………………………………………………….

14.   I forgot to phone Lisa on her birthday.

I didn’t remember ………………………………………………………………………..

15.   The hairdresser cut my hair yesterday morning.

I ………………………………………………………………………

KEY

1.       I wondered where my keys were

2.       She is going to have her car repaired next week.

3.       I wish I had had to see you last week

4.       You will be shocked at/by this story

5.       Do you mind posting this letter?

6.       Unless you review your notes tonight, you won’t do well tomorrow

7.       They asked me how much money I had put into the account

8.       I wish I could speak French perfectly

9.       my mum advised me to post those letters

10.   Despite her illness, she visited other countries

11.   He said he had never seen anything so beautiful

12.   Mary wished she hadn’t eaten so many cakes

13.   If I had studied I wouldn’t have failed my exams

14.   I didn’t remember to phone Lisa on her birthday

15.   I had my hair cut yesterday morning.

Exeter postie Rachel to appear in Royal Mail’s ‘We love parcels’ Christmas TV advert

Key Exeter postie Rachel

Question 1

a. False. A postwoman from Shillingford St George, near Exeter, will make her screen debut in front of millions of viewers as she features in the special 'Christmas Royal Mail’s TV advertising campaign.

b. True. The advert will be screened at prime time on a Saturday during ITV’s the X Factor.

c.True. the company opened 10 temporary parcel sort centres across the UK on Monday, November 4, as part of its planning for the festive season deliveries.

d. False. The choir – made up of workers from Bath and Bristol, and set up last year for the BBC2 series Sing While You Work with Gareth Malone, sing a version of‘ The Beatles’ classic All You Need Is Love.

Question 2

a.  The company invited 132,000 of the people who work there to apply to be in the commercial.  2,500 people applied and 25 were chosen after they had shown their acting skills to film producers and directors.

b.  Rachel enjoys meeting customers and their reaction when they receive a parcel from someone special.

Question 3

a. build up       b.  season  c.  part     d.  close      e.  (to) set up

Question 4

a.  A call to 132,000 staff was issued by Royal Mail to invite them to audition.

b.  Rachel said that she loved her job and that being part of the ad had been a great experience, and that her husband couldn’t wait to see it on TV.

c. If Rachel hadn’t auditioned in front of film producers and directors, she wouldn’t have been selected to star in the commercial.

Internet chatrooms can help those in distress, says study

Question 1

            a) True. Hannah Smith from Leicestershire was found hanged

            b) False. A fifth of 11 to 16-year-olds have had negative experiences using the internet.

            c) True. The Oxford University research highlighted a number of dangers from internet use.

            d) False.They may be expressing feelings that they have never disclosed to anyone in their offline lives.

Question 2

                a) Bullying, normalising self-harm, suicide.

            b) Connect isolated people, prevent suicide, help people in emotional distress.

Question 3

a)       (to) carry out / carried out

b)       widespread

c)       danger(s)

            d)   (to) disclose / disclosed

            e)   distress

Question 4

a)       A number of studies are said to have found a link between internet use and self-harm and suicide.

b)       Somebody had sent abusive messages on a social networking site to Hannah Smith.

c)       The researchers said: “Some studies have shown that internet forums can support and connect socially isolated people.