Royal Engagement

Watch the video and complete the following sentences from the interview: (first 7 minutes)

1. Was it an ……………………… yes from you?

2. I think I managed to ………………….. her by ………………….. .

3. We were able to have so much time just to ………………………. .

4. It was a ……………………. date.

5. I was …………………………. surprised when I got into that room and I saw her.

6. It’s usually …………………………… to be able to get to know someone who isn’t ………………………. within your circle.

7. Go on holiday together in the middle of ……………………….. .

8.We made it ……………………. and now we are here.

9. There is this whole layer of what it ……………………. to get …………………….. with someone from the Royal Family.

10. I tried to …………………… you as much as possible but I think ……………… of us were totally surprised.

KEY

1.    Instant

2.    Catch; surprise

3.    Connect

4.    Blind

5.    Beautifully

6.    Refreshing;  necessarily

7.    Nowhere

8.    Work

9.    Means; involved

10. Warn; both

EBAU Question 1

Snake on a train! Commuter hailed a hero after battling serpent in Indonesia

An Indonesian man who used his bare hands to kill a snake that was discovered slithering on a busy commuter train has become an internet hero.

The train made an emergency stop after the reptile was spotted lurking on a baggage rack in a carriage headed to Jakarta from Bogor, south of the capital.

Smartphone footage, which quickly went viral, showed the bespectacled man casually snatch the snake’s tail and then smash its head on the floor in a violent whipping motion. The creature was apparently killed instantly as shocked spectators – including a baton-wielding transit security officer – kept their distance.

The unidentified man wearing a backpack then tossed its limp body, which appeared to be about one metre (three feet) long, out the door to waiting security staff.

It is not clear what kind of serpent it was, nor whether it was venemous. No injuries to passengers were reported.

Train operator KCI said the reptile is thought to have slithered out from a passenger’s bag."We regret the incident and apologise to train travellers who were disturbed by it," spokeswoman Eva Chairunnisa told AFP.

It is not uncommon to see livestock or pets travelling on public transport in rural Indonesia, but passengers are prohibited from taking animals on urban transport lines.

Last month, a security guard killed a huge python which was blocking traffic as it crossed a road in Indonesia, wrestling with the 23-foot reptile which savaged his arm.

From Daily Telegraph 23 NOVEMBER 2017

Question 1: Indicate whether the following statements are true of false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

1.    The man killed the serpent with something he was carrying in his hands.

2.    The train was crowded.

3.    The serpent was seen on the shelves for luggage.

4.    The uploaded video became very popular.

5.    People were close to the man.

6.    The man threw the serpent out of the train.

7.    Nobody was hurt.

8.    The serpent crept in the train at Jakarta station.

9.    Passengers mustn’t carry animals on public transport.

10. A python attacked a guard.

KEY

1.   False: man who used his bare hands to kill a snake
2. True: on a busy commuter train.
3. True: the reptile was spotted lurking on a baggage rack
4. True: Smartphone footage, which quickly went viral
5. False: shocked spectators – including a baton-wielding transit security officer – kept their distance.
6. True: tossed its limp body, which appeared to be about one metre (three feet) long, out the door.
7. True: No injuries to passengers were reported
8. False: the reptile is thought to have slithered out from a passenger’s bag
9.  False: but passengers are prohibited from taking animals on urban transport lines.
10. True: reptile which savaged his arm

EBAU Question 3

UK environment department using 1,400 disposable coffee cups a day

More than 2.5m disposable cups have been purchased by the UK’s environment department for use in its restaurants and cafes over the past five years – equivalent to nearly 1,400 a day.

The Liberal Democrats’ environment spokesman, Tim Farron, said the revelation, obtained through a freedom of information request, showed Michael Gove “needs to get his own house in order” in light of his public pledges to tackle the growing scourge of plastic pollution.

The Lib Dems revealed that 516,000 disposable cups had been purchased by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) catering contractors in the last year alone, under two separate outsourced contracts for use in catering outlets across its sites. The figure was 589,700 in 2016 and 785,100 the previous year.

The catering contractors did not previously provide any reusable cups, but purchased 200 reusable cups on 31 October 2017.

Separate figures uncovered by the Lib Dems have revealed the House of Commons itself is also failing to get to grips with disposable cup waste, using almost 4m disposable cups in the past five years.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the introduction of a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups in the budget, following the success of the plastic carrier bag charge which has reduced usage in England by 85% since it was introduced in October 2015.

Adapted from The Guardian

Question 3: Find words of phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

a. One-use par 1

b. To pay for/ to buy par.1

c. To subcontract par 3

d. Record par. 3

e. To make available par.4

f. Unwanted par. 5

g. Financial plan par. 6

KEY

a. Disposable

b.Purchased to purchase

c. Outsourced

d. figure

e. Provide

f. Waste

g. Budget 

Conditionals

Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.

      1. The customers wish the shop …………… (stay) open later in the evening.

      2. If you had watered the garden, the grass ……………… (not turn) brown.

      3. No one will see your new dress if you …………… (not remove) your coat.

      4. ……………… the hotel room ………………… (be) ready if we arrive early?

      5. If the dog …… (not bark) at the burglar, Tony wouldn’t have woken up.

      6. I wish you ……………………………… (not cancel) the picnic last weekend.

      7. The school …………………………… (not allow) students to go on the trip unless their parents agree.

      8. If I were a good runner, I …………………… (participate) in the marathon.

Rewrite the folowing sentences using the words given

      1.   It’s too bad we didn’t have enough time to visit you.

         If only.............................................................................................................

      2. I need to concentrate, but the dog won’t stop barking.

         I wish ..........................................................................................................

      3. We won’t return to this restaurant because the food isn’t good.

         If the food ..................................................................................................  .

      4. No talking on mobile phones here. Go outside.

         You .....................................................  if you ............................................... 

      5. You won’t get the best selection if you don’t arrive on the first day of the sale.

         Unless ………………………………………………….…….

KEY 1

    1. would stay    

    2. wouldn’t have turned

    3. don’t remove

    4. Will … be

    5. hadn’t barked

    6. hadn’t cancelled

    7. won’t allow

    8. would participate

Key 2

    1. we had had enough / more time to visit you

    2. the dog would stop barking (so I can concentrate)

    3. were good, we would return to this restaurant

    4. can / may talk on your mobile phone, go outside

    5. you arrive on the first day of the sale, you won’t
        get the best selection

Cambios en Nuestro Blog

 

          No solamente se van a producir cambios en las pruebas de acceso a la universidad (EBAU) sino también en Nuestro Blog.

   

De ahora en adelante, vamos a modificar la metodología de nuestros materiales para preparar dicha prueba. Poco a poco iremos publicando textos con las diferentes preguntas del nuevo formato, pero no esperéis encontrar pruebas completas con todos los apartados después de cada una de nuestras reuniones, aunque lo haremos en alguna ocasión.

Estos cambios son debidos a que vemos nuestros materiales publicados en otros blogs sin ni siquiera mencionar la procedencia o autoría de los mismos, la cual se adjudican.

         Nuestro Blog está abierto a todo el mundo, esa ha sido la filosofía original de nuestro grupo de trabajo, creado a finales de los 80, que los materiales puedan ser usados de manera autónoma por los alumnos o como ayuda a los profesores.

         No estamos buscando reconocimiento, pero sí nos molesta la apropiación que a veces se hace de nuestro trabajo. Nos gusta lo que hacemos y que muchos valoráis, pero creemos que se puede entender nuestro disgusto ante ciertas situaciones.

4th Week of November

     

     This week we are celebrating not only Thanksgiving, but also Black Friday. So, we thought you might find the following activities useful and enjoyable to learn something about American culture.

 

Thanksgiving

Watch the video and answer the questions below:

1) When did the pilgrims arrive in America?
2) What was the name of the ship they sailed?
3) What did they build in the new continent?
4) What was their first winter like? 
5) What was the name of the Indian who help the pilgrims?
6) What did they have at the end of the season?
7) How did they first celebrate this special day?




KEY

1) 1620
2) Mayflower
3) a settlement
4) long and hard
5) Squanto
6) an abundant harvest
7) get together / thank God

Black Friday

           

 The day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so the day after is a Friday. This day has come to be known as Black Friday. It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.

            Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday. They open their doors in the wee hours of the morning. They try to attract shoppers with big discounts. Some items like TVs are much cheaper than usual. Stores may even lose money on these items. They hope that shoppers will buy gifts for other people while they are in the store.

            Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. The problem is that there are not enough lowpriced items to go around. Each store may only have a few. These items are in high demand. People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens. They may be hoping to get a low price on a TV or laptop, but not everyone who wants one will get one. Some people leave disappointed.

            The situation has become tense and sometimes violent at some Black Friday events in previous years. Large, eager crowds have trampled workers. Fights have broken out over toys or people cutting in line. People have shot one another over parking spots. But most Black Friday events are safe and fun. Still, if you plan on going, expect large crowds and a bit of shoving.

            So where does the name "Black Friday" come from? It was first used in Philadelphia in the 1950s. The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew. In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday." It did not stick. The name "Black Friday" continued to spread across the country. It seems that it is here to stay.

            Now people all over the country take part in the event known as Black Friday. It is even spreading to other parts of the world. Stores have held Black Friday events in the U.K., Australia, and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro." And in Mexico, stores offer an annual weekend of discounts. They call it "El Buen Fin," which means "the good weekend" in Spanish. I guess the language of savings is universal.

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and                 write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a) Black Friday is the day when most people go to the shops.

b) Black Friday deals are limited in some shops.

c) The closest to the opening time you go, the less people you may find.

d) The police called this day Black Friday due to the violence that sometimes happened.

e) Black Friday has always had the same name

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words     and definitions given.

a) bargain (par.2)
b) request (par.3)
c) anxious (par.4)
d) to expand (par.5)
e) to participate (par.6)

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text and write down the sentence

1. One of the downsides of Black Friday is that…

a) stores never run out of high demand items quickly.

b) nobody really saves any money on Black Friday.

c) sometimes violence occurs on Black Friday.

2. Stores set prices so low on some items because…

a) they want people to enjoy the holidays.

b) people will purchase more items while being in the store.

c) they are trying to get rid of old items from last year.

3. People try to get good deals by…

a) getting up very early.

b) talking to shop workers before the store opens.

c) breaking toys at the stores.

4. Stores try to attract people on Black Friday by…

a) cutting up lines.

b) lowering prices.

c) offering plenty of reduced items.

 Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

­

“We buy more than we need” Do you agree?

KEY

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and                 write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

      

       a) TRUE “It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005”

       b) TRUE “The problem is that there are not enough lowpriced items to go around”

       c) FALSE “People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens”

       d) FALSE “The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew”

       e) FALSE “. In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday. It did not stick”

      

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words     and definitions given.

      

a)       deal(s)

b)       demand

c)        eager

d)      (to) spread

e)      (to) take part

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

1. c) sometimes violence occurs on Black Friday
2. b) people will purchase more items while being in the store
3. a) getting up very early
4. b) lowering prices

Translation Passive

Translate the following sentences into English 

1. Las compras las hará María
2. Se le considera el mejor jugador del mundo.
3. Este pan le han hecho en “La Gallofa”
4. Todo el mundo lo sabías. Ya podías habérmelo dicho.
5. Nos están pintando el salón
6. Alguien debe haber dejado caer una cerilla
7. Para las 5 de esta tarde llevará 3 días hecho
8. La leche la bebió el gato
9. Se considera que este color es el más apropiado para esa fiesta
10. Ese edificio será derribado en unos días

 KEY

1. The shopping will be done by María
2. He is considered to be the best player in the world.
3. This bread has been made at “La Gallofa”
4. Everybody knew it. You could have told me.
5. We are having our sitting room painted
6. Someone must have dropped a match
7. By 5 this afternoon it will have been done for 3 days
8. The milk was drunk by the cat
9. This coulour is considered to be the most suitable one for that party.
10. That building will be knocked down in a few days

Grammar Passive

Complete the sentences with the correct active or passive form of the verbs in brackets.

      1. People stood and watched while the building …………………… (destroy).

      2. I love this guitar. My father …………………… (give) it to me for my last birthday.

      3. That man was driving carelessly. He …………… (should blame) for the accident.

      4. Can we play, or …………………… someone …………………… (use) the tennis court?

      5. My car isn’t working. …………………… it …………………… (repair) soon?

      6. You don’t need an X-ray. We’re sure your leg …………………… (not break).

      7. Ingrid hasn’t come out of the room yet. ………… she still ……………… (examine)?

      8. This is a great phone. You …………………… (can / download) lots of apps on it.

   

KEY

    1. must be paid

    2. wasn’t prepared / hadn’t been prepared

    3. was … answered / has … been answered

    4. had been set

    5. have been invited

    6. were chosen

3    Rewrite the sentences in the passive. Omit the agent when possible.

      1. He has just written his latest bestseller.

                                                                                                                            

      2. You must use a seat belt when you drive.

                                                                                                                            

      3. They hadn’t repaired the car so they came by bus.

                                                                                                                            

      4. Why does rock music bother the neighbours?

                                                                                                                            

    Key

    1. His latest bestseller has just been written.

    2. A seat belt must be worn / used when you drive.

    3. The car hadn’t been repaired, so they came by bus.

    4. Why are the neighbours bothered by rock
        music?