intermediate 2008-2

VIDEO...

2008-11-14T19:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.freewebs.com/intermediate20082/apps/videos/videos/view/1264345-final-video

VOCABULARY

2008-11-14T19:21:00.000-08:00

THOMAS EDISON
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exercises/main/reading.html

VocabularyClick on the word or phrase that means the same as the underlined word or phrase.

1. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but he was mostly self-educated.
a. taught himself
b. born a genius
c. Loved school
d. thought of himself

2. His natural curiosity soon led him to start experimenting with electrical and mechanical things at home.
a. experiencing
b. Inventing
c. making tests and playing with
d. ignoring

3. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.
a. numbered
b. many
c. none
d. modern

4. Sometimes he worked so intensely that his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.
a. passionately and with great focus
b. carelessly and with many distractions
c. hard
d. problems

READING PRACTICE

2008-11-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Angels of Mercy
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exercises/main/reading.html
Adapted from: Goodstein, A. & Walworth, M. (1979). Interesting Deaf Americans. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.Used with permission from the Gallaudet University Alumni Association.Revised by Vivion Smith and Ellen Beck
The child in the hospital bed was just waking up afer having his tonsils taken out. His throat hurt, and he was scared. However, the young nurse standing by his bed smiled so cheerfully that the little boy smiled back. He forgot to be afraid. The young nurse was May Paxton and she was deaf.

May Paxton graduated from the Missouri School for the Deaf at Fulton near the year 1909. Three years later she went to see Dr. Katherine B. Richardson about becoming a nurse. Dr. Richardson was one of the founders of Mercy Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri. She had never heard of a deaf nurse. Dr. Richardson told May that her salary would be very small and that the work would be arduous. However, May said that hard work did not frighten her. Dr. Richardson was impressed with her, and accepted May as a student nurse.
Dr. Richardson never regretted her decision. In fact, she was so pleased with May's work that she later accepted two other deaf women as student nurses. The first was Miss Marian Finch of Aberdeen, South Dakota, who was hard of hearing. The second was Miss Lillie "Bessie" Speaker of St. Joseph, Missouri. These three were called "the silent angels of Mercy Hospital" during the time they worked there.
May and Marian did not know each other before Marian was hired by the hospital. When Marian first came to the hospital, Dr. Richardson introduced May to Marian. She showed them to the room they were to share. During the next two days, the two girls wrote notes to each other. Finally, other nurses asked Marian if she knew that May was deaf. Marian ran to the bedroom and asked May in sign if she really was deaf. May answered in sign. Then, as the joke sunk in, the two girls burst into laughter.
May was always conscientious about following orders. Only once did she disobey Dr. Richardson. It took a lot of time to care for all the sick children, as a result, Dr. Richardson asked the nurses not to take the time to hold the new babies when they were crying. However, May hated to see the babies cry. When Dr. Richardson was not around, she found time to hold them. This small change helped the nursery to run much more smoothly. When Dr. Richardson discovered what May was doing, she recognized that May's actions had improved the nursery, and decided to overlook May's disobedience.
In spite of their success, none of the girls finished the nursing program. Marian had to go back to South Dakota because of a family problem. Illness forced Bessie to give up her nursing carreer. May decided to give up nursing for marriage, and married Alexander Benoit.
Dr. Richardson often spoke of her faith in the girls' ability to learn nursing. She wrote to May, "For three years, you have been with us ... It is wonderful to me that no man, woman or child ever, to my knowledge, made a complaint against you ... "

Content QuestionsClick on the answer you think is correct.

1. May Paxton started working at Mercy Hospital:
a.
in 1909.
b.
before she graduated from the Missouri School.
c.
three years after she graduated from the Missouri School.
d.
three years after she went to see Dr. Richardson.

2. When May disobeyed Dr. Richardson's orders about holding babies:
a.
Dr. Richardson was very angry.
b.
Dr. Richardson didn't know because she wasn't there.
c.
May was fired.
d.
Dr. Richardson didn't say anything about it.

3. May and Marian communicated by writing at first because:
a.
they didn't know each other and were shy.
b.
they were playing a joke on each other.
c.
neither one of them knew that the other was deaf.
d.
Marian was a hearing person.

4. We can guess from this passage that:
a.
May was fond of children and babies.
b.
May hated her job and left as soon as she could.
c.
May enjoyed working in the Emergency Room.
d.
May preferred to work with deaf people.

listening practice

2008-11-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

English Listening Quizzes: A Customer Request - 2
You will hear a customer asking for help in a shop. Write down the answers to the questions concerning what he wants. You will hear the listening twice. After you have finished, click on the arrow to see if you have answered the questions correctly.

http://esl.about.com/library/listening/bllis_customer2.htm

What did the man receive as a gift?
--A wallet

What does he not want the present?
--He already has several and doesn't like it.

What can he do with the gift?
--He can exchange it for something else.

What could he exchange it for?
--Key rings, scarves, women's purses, and jewelry

What would he like?
--A head scarf

What kind of style does he like?
--Classical

Does it cost more or less than the wallet?
--Less

Can he find anything that costs the same as his wallet?
--No

What does he decide he wants to do?
--He wants his money back.

Who would he like to speak to?
--The Manager

What does the woman think the manager will say?
--He will say the same thing.

Where has the manager been?
--At lunch

Do you believe in UFOs?

2008-11-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

You will hear John and Sue talking about UFOs and whether or not they believe in them. You will hear the selection twice. Choose the correct answer from the multiple choice answers.

http://esl.about.com/library/listening/blufo1.htm

How did Sue hear about the UFOs yesterday?
A) on the TV B) on the radio C) in the newspaper

Who believes in UFOs?
A) John B) Sue C) Neither

What does John believe about UFOs?
A) They are likely B) They are fictional C) They are improbable

What does John first think Sue was when she saw the UFO?
A) She was drunk B) She was ill C) She was hallucinating

What was Sue doing when she saw the UFO?
A) she was playing in the yard B) she was riding on a bus C) she was walking to school

What shape was the UFO in?
A) a saucer B) a silver airplane C) a cigar

Why does Sue think that it couldn't have been an airplane?
A) It was shaped like a saucer B) It was hoovering C) it was moving sidewards

What does Sue think the UFO might have been?
A) a helicopter B) a bright light C) a weather balloon

Who did Sue tell?
A) her parentsB) her classmates C) She isn't sure

Why does Sue think the people in a UFO are like?
A) aggressive B) little and green C) nervous

What does Sue think might be a reason for the aliens be hostile?
A) If they were frightened B) If we attacked them C) If we were frightened of them

What proof does Sue provide that UFOs exist?
A) An army general has seen them B) They've been seen by ordinary people C) There is a lot of evidence

What might convince John that UFOs exist?
A) more evidence B) If he saw one C) If Sue saw another one

transgenic crops

2008-11-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

A transgenic crop plant contains a gene or genes which have been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring them through pollination. In this essay we will exanimate some arguments that agree and disagree with the transgenic crops.

following this, the introduction of transgenic crops and foods into the existing food production system has generated a number of questions about possible negative consequences. People with concerns about this technology have reacted in many ways, for example the damage to human health and the damage to the natural environment.
However, there is no evidence so far that genetically engineered foods are more likely to cause allergic reactions than are conventional foods.

besides that, comparing the genetically engineered foods with conventional foods, is an important issue, and one for which there will probably be much research in the future, as crops that are engineered specifically for improved nutritional quality are marketed. However, there have been only a few studies to date comparing the nutritional quality of genetically modified foods to their unmodified counterparts.i think that the plant breeders have accidentally changed the nutritional components that we associate with conventional cultivars of a crop

to conclude.I think that the human damage t is no evidence so far that genetically engineered foods are more likely to cause allergic reactions than are conventional foods, and the transgenic crops arent a bad idea.

2008-11-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

COSMETIC PROCEDURES FOR ADOLESCENTS

The number of adolescents requesting cosmetic procedures has increased dramatically over the last decade. A society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that most cosmetic procedures were performed for patients 18 years of age or younger. This essay will examine some arguments against to practice plastic surgeries for teenagers.

First of all, over this age, it could be a bad decision, when teenagers don’t have some maturity enough. Besides that, mass media had influenced on this situation, when Young people want to be or have the same physical characteristics they have. Besides, many teens who are very dissatisfied with their appearance will feel more satisfied as they grow old and grow up, especially after the age of 18, even if they do not undergo cosmetic surgery.

In fact, Critics say that teenage girls, who tend to be dissatisfied with their looks, are too young and shortsighted to understand the implications of surgery, particularly the risks that implant for example, may pose and the long-term maintenance they require

In spite of this, based on studies experst consider that women 18 years of age with a cosmetically surgery show more self-esteem, self-concept and quality of life. However, some people may disagree with this idea, don’t think that, doesn’t matter the age, also people can think that after a esthetical surgery, teenagers wont be satisfied and they will want to have an other cosmetically procedure.

To conclude on balance, cosmetic procedures are increased over all the world, but in my view, teens must demonstrate emotional maturity and an understanding of the limitations of plastic surgery. So they can decide if they can continue with their physical appearance and realize if a plastic surgery is really necessary.

http://www.e-sthetics.com/BACKGROUND/teenops.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62540-2004Oct25.html

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY

2008-10-15T14:36:00.001-07:00

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION OF THE CAMERA

The camera´s history seems to be so much time ago. These history began in 5th-4th Centuries B.C. when Chinese and Greek philosophers describe the basic principles of optics and the camera, then with so many others discovers around the world, finally Joseph Nicéphore Niépce achieve the first photographic image with " camera obscura" dark camera, however, the image required eight hours of light exposure, because of this it need to be improved, with the purpose of create a better machine. There are many effects that can demonstrate that the camera is a great invention and the purpose of this essay is discussing three of the main effects of the camera.

The first effect of the camera is the role that the photographic image had through out the history, so we can see with photos several moments that we couldn’t see, for example world wars or events that so much people don’t know because it was several time ago. In this way the camera helps to show all the people the best and important moments in the history, and. and important celebrities through the history.

The second mind effect of the camera is that you can take pictures and keep special moments of your life always at handy, special triumphs and exceptional moments, as well as bonds with other people, Relationships and They are not just a picture; they represent a scene of a person's lifetime, which reminds him of specific memories about something that happened before.
One of the most significant effects of the camera and the photographic image is the importance that it has in the journalism. How could feel someone who reads the news and doesn’t have a picture? All in journalism need a photo to complete the information and add more details of the event or the situation.

All things considered, the invention of the camera and the possibility to take a picture is a great invention. Most of the people enjoy preserving their memories having pictures of those.

writing quiz

2008-10-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

EFFECTS OF THE ILLITERACY

The illiteracy produces many effects in our society, unfortunately in our country there are a big population without education, because of this situation, we have for example in our country a very big rate of unemployment. The porpoise of this essay is discussing three of the main effect of the illiteracy.

The first effect of the illiteracy is that someone who cant read or write, cant be a professional because these people couldn’t go to the school and the improve the education status. However these people work in informal jobs.

The second effect of the illiteracy in our country, and one of the most important is effect in the Colombia finances, probably the illiteracy is the big deal when someone is looking for a job, then these people don’t fine a job and have deals because of the financial troubles.

Finally, the third effect of the illiteracy is over the family, A person that doesn’t have education cant help to improve the education for their children, for example they cannot stimulate their children, for example. They cannot stimulate their children to go to the school; nevertheless there are children with illiteracy parents. But they go to the school because they don’t like to live in this form and they want to be a better people.

In conclusion, looking over the effects, somebody else knows that the illiteracy is a bad condition, and it must be improved if we want to have better country with better lifestyles.

video.....

2008-10-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

GRAMMAR EXERCISE

2008-10-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

The definite article the

Decide whether to use the definte article >the<>the<, use x. 1) My grandmother likes x flowers very much.
2) I love the flowers in your garden.
3) See you on x Wednesday.
4) I always listen to the radio in the morning.
5) Alex goes to work by x bus.
6) Don't be late for x school.
7) Listen! Dennis is playing the trumpet.
8) We often see our cousins over x Easter.
9) She has never been to the Alps before.
10) What about going to Australia in x February?

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/nouns_articles/article_the.htm

GRAMMAR EXERCISE

2008-10-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

Present Perfect - Statements - Exercise

Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use Present Perfect.Example: I _____________ my father's car. (to wash)Answer: I have washed my father's car.

1) Karen has sent me an e-mail.
2) Dave and Pat have visited the museum.
3) I have been at the pet shop.
4) They have already packed their rucksacks.
5) Marcus has had an accident.
6) We have done the shopping for our grandmother.
7) I have just cleaned my bike.
8) Emily has painted her room.
9) Lisa and Colin have gone to a concert.
10) My friends have given up smoking

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/check.php

listening practice

2008-10-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

Instructions: Listen to each sentence describing a personality type (for example, "A person who is happy"). Then choose the word that describes that personality type ("cheerful" in this example). http://www.esl-lab.com/person1.htm

1. A. selfish
B. interesting
C. generous

2. A. comical
B. honest
C. ungrateful

3. A. spoiled
B clever
C. easygoing

4. A. punctual
B. bland
C. skeptical

5. A. bigmouth
B. depressing
C. pushy

6. A. talented
B. brilliant
C. inconsiderate

7. A. sloppy
B. frank
C. helpless

8. A. childish
B. nasty
C. cultured

9. A. creative
B. timid
C. narrow-minded

10. A. forgetful
B. ambitious
C. disorganized

SECOND DATE listening practice 2º

2008-10-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Listen each of the short statements by pressing the "Play" button (for either Wav or RealAudio (RA) sound files) and choose the correct meaning for each. There will be a short pause between questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

1. What does the man think of Bob?A. Bob is very intelligent.B. Bob is an energetic personC. Bob is really stupid.

2. How did the man like the movie?A. He thought it was boring.B. He thought it was exciting.C. He thought it was very silly

3. What does the man invite Tom to do?A. He invites Tom out for a drink.B. He invites Tom to go fishing.C. He invites Tom to a movie.

4. How does the man's brother spend his day?A. His brother reads.B. His brother watches TV.C. His brother cooks.

5. What is the man going to do?A. He is going to study for a test.B. He is going to take a bath.C. He is going to bed.

VIDEO

2008-09-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

MATCHING HEADINGS TO PARAGRAPHS

2008-09-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Three Gorges Dam Project http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/ielts/main.htm#re#01
A) BACKGROUND TO THE PROYECT
China's Yangtze River has been the transportation lifeline of a productive region, stretching from Sichuan Province to the eastern coast, for many centuries. The Grand Canal, begun in the 5th and extended in the 7th and 14th centuries, provided links to southern and especially northern China, including Beijing. In the 19th century, Shanghai and inland settlements developed as ports of trade with connections to the West. Sun Yat-Sen first proposed a dam at Three Gorges in 1919 and Mao Tse-Tung ordered feasibility studies in the mid-1950s, after devastating floods. Work finally began in 1994, amid unprecedented dissention and controversy.

B) PURPOSE AND DIMENSIONS AN THE PROJECT
There are thousands of dams in the Yangtze Basin meeting the high regional demand for irrigation and electricity, but only two of them (the Three Gorges and Gezhou) are on the river itself. The Three Gorges Dam is at Sanduping, near Yichang. Completion is expected in 2009, with an estimated 250,000 workers currently involved in the project. It will measure more than 200 m (600 ft) high and 1.6 km (1 mile) long, will create a reservoir 650 km (400 miles) long and will generate over 18,000 megawatts of electricity; making it larger and more productive than any other hydroelectric facility. The dam is also designed to control flooding, which has claimed more than 1 million lives in the past 100 years, and to improve navigation upriver. Officials hope the combination of inexpensive electricity and cheap river transportation will encourage international investment.

C) PRODUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS
Nevertheless, the project has drawn intense criticism, both national and international.
Firstly, widespread allegations of corruption among officials involved with the project have raised fears of shoddy construction . In 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji warned those involved that their responsibility was "heavier than a mountain" and continued; "Any carelessness or negligence will bring disaster to our future generations and cause irretrievable losses". In 2000, 53 engineers and academics petitioned President Jiang Zemin to delay full filling of the reservoir and relocating the local population until scientists could determine whether the reservoir was viable given the various problems. But construction continued, as did scandals including bribery, embezzlement of funds, nepotism and job selling.

D) BUDGET DIFFICULTIES AND DISSENTION
Secondly, the project is thought to have cost more than any other single construction project in history, with estimates of over US$75 billion. Supporters claimed that the plan is within its US$25 billion budget and that the project would pay for itself through electricity generation. They further argued that demand would rise once a new national transmission grid is in place. But opponents believe that by the time demand has increased, competition from cheaper, superior alternatives will have won the ratepayers, unless they are forced to buy the Three Gorges power, or unless the government subsidizes the power. Critics also worry that other projects in need of investment will suffer as China concentrates all its financial resources on the project. Experts believe that the project faces a shortage of funds, especially since many foreign financiers and governments, with some notable exceptions, have considered the dam too risky to get involved.

E)SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS
Thirdly, the new reservoir will inundate many towns and cities, displacing between 1 and 2 million people. The lands they have been offered in compensation for ancestral lands is less fertile than those lost and may require use of unfamiliar farming methods. Corruption and poor construction have delayed new housing or resulted in sub-standard buildings. Journalist and engineer Dai Qing, who was jailed for criticizing the Three Gorges project, calls it "the most environmentally and socially destructive project in the world."

F) HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS
Archaeologists and historians have estimated nearly 1,300 important sites will be submerged, destroying cultural remnants up to 4000 years old. In addition, tourism associated with the Three Gorges as a physical and cultural attraction may come to an end.

G) ENVIROMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, many leading scientists predict the Three Gorges Dam represents an environmental disaster on many levels. Little or no attempt has been made to remove toxic materials and other pollutants from inundated industrial sites, thus creating a huge potential health hazard. The relative lack of waste treatment plants in China also could mean run-off from communities around the dam would go untreated directly into the reservoir. The dam may erode the fragile upper slopes of the gorges. As a result, sediment may accumulate as well as industrial pollutants, leading to increased silting of its mouth and pollution of the delta. The project will necessitate extensive logging in the area and may erode much of the coastline. Wildlife experts believe that many life forms will suffer, including species of fish, waterfowl and that the endangered Chinese river dolphin, of which fewer than 100 individuals remain, will become extinct because the dam's construction will destroy its present habitat.

Despite the dissenting voices, construction continues and the consensus is that China's leaders have too great a political investment in the dam's completion to ever contemplate backing away from the project.

READING PRACTICE

2008-09-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

When all the people had assembled, the king, surrounded by his court, xx1xx a signal. Then a door beneath him opened, and the accused man stepped out into the arena. Directly opposite him were two doors, exactly xx2xx and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these xx3xx and open one of them. He xx4xx open either door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of impartial and incorruptible chance. If he opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the fiercest and most cruel that could be found, which xx5xx sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt. But, if the accused person opened the other door, out of it came a xx6xx lady, and to this lady he was immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. This was the xx7xx method of administering justice. Its perfect fairness is obvious. The criminal could xx8xx know out of which door would come the lady; he opened either he pleased, without having the slightest xx9xx whether, in the next instant, he was to be devoured or married. So the accused person was instantly xx10xx if guilty, and, if innocent, he was rewarded on the spot.

Adapted from The Lady or the Tiger by Frank Stockton http://www.eslus.com/LESSONS/READING/CLOZE/R1.HTM

1. xx1xx
a)give
b)gives
c)gave
d)given
2. xx2xx
a)alike
b)different
c)big
d)closed
3. xx3xx
a)door
b)doors
c)people
d)signals
4. xx4xx
a)should
b)would
c)must
d)could
5. xx5xx
a)immediately
b)usually
c)sometimes
d)frequently
6. xx6xx
a)suddenly
b)angry
c)beautiful
d)old
7. xx7xx
a)criminal's
b)king's
c)lady's
d)tiger's
8. xx8xx
a)even
b)also
c)especially
d)not
9. xx9xx
a)interest
b)belief
c)idea
d)reason
10. xx10xx
a)punish
b)punishing
c)punishes
d)punished

VISITING NEW YORK,,LISTENING

2008-08-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Listen to a tour guide explainingabout several famous spots in theBig Apple. Then, try to answer thequestions below ...

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omlisten2/articles/newyork.htm

1.
The Empire State Building is located ...
between 23rd and 24th Streets.

on Fifth Avenue.

2.
How tall is it?
It has 120 floors.

It is a 102-storey building.

3.
What does it offer on its last floor?
A great view of New York City.

A great view of Fifth Avenue.

listening practice

2008-08-25T14:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omlisten2/intermediate/unit01.htm
WHILE LISTENING TO THE DIALOGUE AGAIN TRY TO COMPLETE THIS MULTIPLE CHOICE ACTIVITY.

Where did Celia go?
She visited two cities in Europe.
She visited two cities in the United States.
2.
How long was she away?
For about three weeks.
For more than three weeks.
3.
What was the weather like in Chicago?
It snowed very much.
It was terrific.
4.
What was the best thing about her trip?
Nashville.
Chicago.

Inventor, Invention and Science

2008-08-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

An inventor is a person who creates or discovers a new form, method or other useful means.as an example an iventor is a person that creats new things that can be useful for the wealths of the humanity.

An invention is an object that satisfies a nesecity or create one.It solves a problem that people want solved for example.

the science is the common sense organised and with this process made a knowledge.