INTRODUCTION TO THE ACADEMIC BOOK PART 1

The Academic Book Part 1 is a textbook intended for learners of

English who are interested in polishing up their language skills. It
focuses principally on academic English and is perfect for students who
intend to study in an English-speaking university or who would like to
perfect and practice their language use. The book is part one in a series
of four parts, each integrating the communication skills – listening,
speaking, reading, and writing – within a carefully planned and
recently revised syllabus of functions, notions, and grammar. The
Academic Book Part 1 also helps students develop their vocabulary
through authentic reading activities and exercises which incorporate
new terms and expressions.
The Academic Book Part 1 uses a learner-centered approach,
attempting to involve students in all aspects of the lesson. It is not,
however, a substitute for the teacher. It is the teacher’s right to use
any activity that seems to benefit the class, and activities and
explanations can be discarded or reinvented as the teacher sees fit.
Also, teachers are encouraged to employ their own warm ups, games,
and conversation activities in order to complement those in the book.
This new edition features some new approaches to learning. Each
grammar section is followed by a variety of exercises, which may be
used as homework or in-class activities depending on the needs of the
students. Each grammar exercise is clearly labeled, in order to quickly
assess whether the activity is appropriate for that moment. Within the
grammar explanations are two sections: Grammar First Aid, which
gives students extra information or rules about the topic in question,
and Zoom, which explores an aspect of the grammar topic in further
detail.
Aside from each grammar section, listening and reading activities
have been included, along with activities to test the students’
comprehension, ability to understand the main idea, and ability to
listen for specific details. Communication activities which promote
speaking in the classroom are included, and may be used as warm ups
to introduce the unit’s topics and get students interested in what is
coming up. In the new edition there are pronunciation activities
which give students the opportunity to learn to speak like natives.
Punctuation rules have also been added in order to help students with
their writing. Writing activities are in each unit to develop written
expression and increase vocabulary and can be used in class, worked
on in groups, or sent home to be done individually. The newest
addition to the book is an Internet section, which intends to give both
teachers and students ways to integrate new technology with
language-learning by offering ideas for activities which can be done on
the Internet in class or at home as extra language reinforcement.
The Academic Book Part 1 is divided into eight units. Each unit
takes about ten hours to complete. On the next page is a chart which
contains the icons used to represent each of the sections of the book.
This book is copyrighted. Subject to statutory exception and to the
provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any
part may take place without the written permission of

author: Kari L. Miller Bauer

Licensed to Escuela Politécnica Nacional - Centro de Educación Continua

Quito, Ecuador, 2014

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNIT 1: TIME OFF....................................................................................................... 1
Clauses...................................................................................................... 3
Phrases..................................................................................................... 4
Listening: Weekend Trips.......................................................................... 6
Types of Sentences.................................................................................... 7
Reading: Themed Weekend Trips.............................................................. 10
Subject...................................................................................................... 13
Predicate................................................................................................... 15
Reading: Vacation Deprivation................................................................. 17
Punctuation: End Marks........................................................................... 19
Internet..................................................................................................... 21

UNIT 2: BUCKS............................................................................................................. 22
Noun Phrases............................................................................................ 23
Countable Nouns....................................................................................... 23
Uncountable Nouns................................................................................... 23
Vocabulary: Cognates .............................................................................. 28
Quantifiers with Countable and Uncountable Nouns................................. 29
Reading: Spending Habits......................................................................... 33
Plural Countable Nouns............................................................................ 34
Singular Nouns Ending in “s”.................................................................... 34
Listening: Dollar Quiz................................................................................ 37
Articles A, An............................................................................................ 38
The............. .............................................................................................. 41
Other/Another........................................................................................... 47
Pronunciation: “s” Endings ....................................................................... 51
Internet..................................................................................................... 52

UNIT 3: TRENDS.......................................................................................................... 53
Reading: That’s Trendy!........................................................................... 53
Simple Present.......................................................................................... 55
Present Progressive.................................................................................. 57
Stative Verbs............................................................................................ 59
Vocabulary: The Dope (Info.) on Today’s Slang........................................ 62
Simple Past............................................................................................... 63
Past Progressive....................................................................................... 67
Pronunciation: Past Tense Regular Verbs................................................. 69
Future....................................................................................................... 71
Future Progressive.................................................................................... 74
Listening: Trends...................................................................................... 77
Internet..................................................................................................... 79

UNIT 4: HANDY........................................................................................................... 80
Reading: The Three Hats.......................................................................... 80
Present Perfect.......................................................................................... 81
Already and Yet........................................................................................ 83
Listening: At the Fair................................................................................ 86
Present Perfect Progressive...................................................................... 86
Past Perfect............................................................................................... 89
Past Perfect Progressive........................................................................... 91
Reading: Crafts around the World............................................................. 93
Future Perfect........................................................................................... 95
Future Perfect Progressive........................................................................ 97
Listening: A Piece of Americana................................................................ 98
Punctuation: The Apostrophe.................................................................... 99
Internet.................................................................................................... 101
UNIT 5: UNCLE SAM................................................................................................... 103
Reading: Apathy in Young Voters............................................................. 103
Subject-Verb Agreement........................................................................... 104
Listening: Who was Uncle Sam?................................................................ 106
No/None.................................................................................................... 107
Either/Neither.......................................................................................... 108
Words that are Always Singular............................................................... 111
Collective Nouns........................................................................................ 112
Listening: Presidential Elections............................................................... 114
Reading: Murder by Mail.......................................................................... 115
A Number of/The Number of..................................................................... 116
Verbs as Subjects..................................................................................... 116
There is/There are.................................................................................... 118
Pronunciation: Stress Differences between Nouns and Verbs................... 120
Internet..................................................................................................... 122

UNIT 6: PASSPORT...................................................................................................... 123

Reading: Immigration............................................................................... 123
Subject Pronouns...................................................................................... 126
Object Pronouns........................................................................................ 127
Possessive Pronouns................................................................................. 128
Possessive Adjectives................................................................................ 129
Reflexive Pronouns.................................................................................... 130
Commands................................................................................................ 137
Listening: Why Did They Immigrate?....................................................... 138
Reading: The Great American Melting Pot................................................ 139
Indirect Commands.................................................................................. 140
Punctuation: Capitals................................................................................ 142
Internet..................................................................................................... 144

UNIT 7: HOLIDAYS...................................................................................................... 145

Yes/No Questions...................................................................................... 146
Reading: Thanksgiving Day....................................................................... 148
Vocabulary: Holidays............................................................................... 150
Information Questions............................................................................... 151
Listening: April Fool’s Day........................................................................ 154
Reading: Labor Day.................................................................................. 155
Embedded Questions................................................................................. 157
Tag Questions............................................................................................ 160
Pronunciation: Intonation – Tag Questions................................................ 163
Internet..................................................................................................... 164

UNIT 8: PIG OUT.......................................................................................................... 165

Verbs as Complements.............................................................................. 166
Vocabulary: Recipes................................................................................. 173
Prepositions and Verbs............................................................................. 175
Listening: Menu......................................................................................... 178
Reading: Lefse........................................................................................... 181
Pronouns Before the Infinitive or Gerund.................................................. 182
Listening: Traditional Foods...................................................................... 184
Punctuation: Run-On Sentences................................................................ 184
Fragmented Sentences......................................................... 186
Internet..................................................................................................... 187

APPENDIX.................................................................................................................... A1
 —key

ICON REPRESENTATION

[] CONVERSATION
V pronunciation
@ grammar tools
! listening
® reading
§ writing
ß punctuation
G vocabulary
' aPpendix
L zoom
Î note:
h grammar first aid

Æ role play
- exercise
. activity
ø internet
 [] introductions
Find out more about the ways your classmates communicate!
Look at the questionnaire below. Ask your partner the questions,
u
filling in the questionnaire with his/her information. When you

n
finish, prepare a report for the class about your partner.

I: PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name:
____________________________
City of origin:
____________________________
Interests:

i
____________________________
Family:
____________________________

2: PAPER

A: Please state which written materials (newspapers, magazines,

etc.) you read, along with how often and what kind.
newspapers:
____________________________
magazines:
____________________________
books:
____________________________
comics:
t
____________________________
other:
____________________________

B: What types of written documents do you write? How often?

1
reports:
____________________________
poetry:
____________________________
short stories:
____________________________
detective stories:
____________________________
letters:
____________________________
song lyrics:
____________________________
other: Time
____________________________
Off

1
 3: RADIO
A: What radio stations do you listen to?
Music:
____________________________
Documentaries:
____________________________
News:
____________________________
Other:
____________________________
B: How often do you listen to the radio? ________________________
C: Do you have a favorite radio program? Please specify why or why not.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

4: TELEVISION
A: What types of television programs do you enjoy watching? State your favorites.
News: ____________________________
Music: ____________________________
Films: ____________________________
Comedies/Sitcoms: ____________________________
Soap operas: ____________________________
Action: ____________________________
Documentaries: ____________________________
Other: ____________________________

B: How many hours a week do you watch television? ____________________

C: What time of the day, or which days of the week, do you usually spend watching
TV? ____________________________

5: PERSON-TO-PERSON
A: What is the form of communication you prefer when communicating with
people?
by phone: ______________________________
face-to-face: ______________________________
by e-mail: ______________________________
by fax: ______________________________
other: ______________________________

B: What types of information do you share with them?

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

6: COMPUTER
A: How many hours a week do you spend on the computer?
____________________________

B: How much time do you spend each week doing the following:
surfing the Web: ____________________________
writing e-mail messages: ____________________________
typing reports or schoolwork: ____________________________
playing computer games: ____________________________
compiling or organizing information: ____________________________

other: ____________________________

2
 @ clauses
• Any sentence or sentence part that contains at least
subject and verb.
• All sentences consist of one or more clauses.
• There are two types of clauses: independent and
dependent.
• An independent clause is one that may stand alone and
does not need the help of another sentence to be
complete.

We left for Arkansas on Monday.

He has lived in Florida for years.
She loves her dog.

• A dependent clause is one which may not stand alone

because it represents an incomplete idea. It needs the
help of an independent clause in order to be complete.

Because I like to learn new things

Before she leaves town
If you go to the store

• It is possible that a sentence may not contain a dependent

clause, but every sentence must contain at least ONE
independent clause in order to be complete.

- exercise 1: identifying clauses

Look at the sentences below and underline the independent clause.
1. Every morning she wakes up and her mother makes her scrambled eggs.
2. Nancy likes to go shopping because she has a lot of money.
3. Mary ordered beer with her pizza.
4. I like to take taxis, but I don’t like to take the bus.
5. Daniel complained about his sore feet while he was on vacation.
6. Before he worked on the car, he had breakfast.
7. After Chris criticized Bob, she bought him lunch.
8. Matthew cries when his diaper is dirty.
9. If you see Amanda, please give her this note.
10. The ice cream sundae contained peanuts and hot fudge.
3
- exercise 2: using clauses in sentences
In each of the sentences below, a dependent clause is given. Add an
independent clause to each in order to complete the sentence.
1. _________________________________________________because I took
English.
2. When I was a child ___________________________________________________.
3. _________________________________________________ before it gets too late.
4. While she plays on the computer, _____________________________________.
5. If she takes piano lessons,
______________________________________________.
6. _________________________________________________when the music
started.
7. Before Sally calls,
______________________________________________________.
8. ______________________________________________ because no one was
home.

@ phrases

• A phrase is a sentence fragment which may contain

subject, verb, or neither, but never both at the same time.

NOUN PHRASES
Judy and her brothers
The teacher
An expensive sports car

• A noun phrase may contain one or more nouns,

adjectives that modify the nouns in the phrase, and/or any
articles (i.e. a, an, the, etc.).

VERB PHRASES
have been looking into
did not know

• A verb phrase consists of one or more verbs or

auxiliaries, but never their corresponding subjects.

4
 @ phrases
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
in the hospital
with many arrogant opinions
before taking the test
after hearing all of the evidence

• A prepositional phrase must always begin with a

preposition followed by a noun phrase.
• If a verb follows a preposition, it must be in its noun
(gerund) form.

- exercise 1: identifying phrases

Underline examples of the phrases given in parentheses after each sentence
below.

1. The band has played this song many times before tonight. (1 verb
phrase)
2. This is not the first time that George makes that mistake at work. (1
prepositional phrase)
3. As time progresses, human beings understand more and more about
their world. (2 noun phrases)
4. Ted had an enormous discovery to make about his marriage. (1
prepositional phrase)
5. This book continues to help us explore the nature of loving
relationships. (1 noun phrase)
6. This author gently guides his readers through the painful process of self-
discovery. (2 prepositional phrases)
7. Dr. Harold has devoted most of his life to the study of genetics. (1 verb
phrase)
8. More than seven million copies of this movie have been distributed in the
United States and Canada. (2 prepositional phrases)

5
- exercise 2: clauses and phrases
Decide whether the underlined words in each sentence below is a clause or
phrase. Write the correct answer on the line.

____________1. We will be celebrating our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary

next month at the Hilton.
____________2. My mother is well-known among my friends for her
spontaneous acts of generosity.
____________3. Edward was educated at Harvard.
____________4. Carrie needs to learn how to be more independent.
____________5. The two best friends decided to go to the beach by
themselves, although they didn’t speak the language.
____________6. Whenever she travels, she always packs too much.
____________7. The Girl Scout troop started a fire which lasted all night.
____________8. There were more people in my English class than I expected.
____________9. Brian got married in October.
____________10. Andrea was going to be the maid of honor at my wedding,
but she got sick that week and couldn’t attend.

! weekend activities
What are some activities that are offered in your community on a regular
basis? Who are they geared toward?
Listen to a radio station announce three weekend activities for the
community. Complete the chart.

Name of Event Price Place Time/Date Special

Attractions

6
. comprehension questions
In groups, answer the following questions based on the listening
activities.

1. What is a block party?

2. What activities are offered for the Sunny Summer Sunday Tours?
3. What kind of place is The Mermaid?
4. What kind of people is each activity geared towards?
5. Which event would you rather attend? Why?

@ types of sentences
SIMPLE SENTENCES
We went to the store for bread and milk.
Jeff called you at about noon yesterday.

• A simple sentence consists of one independent clause.

COMPOUND SENTENCES
The lights went out, and everyone began to scream.
(independent clause + independent clause)
Joe is retired now, but he used to be a teacher.
(independent clause + independent clause)

• A compound sentence consists of two (or more)

independent clauses connected by a coordinating
conjunction (i.e. and, but, or, etc.).

COMPLEX SENTENCES
If I didn’t know any better, I would think that Mary is
having marital problems.
(dependent clause + independent clause)
I didn’t realize that Sam’s mother was blind.
(independent clause + dependent clause)
Tim’s office, which is on the fifth floor, has a view of the
ocean.
(independent clause + dependent clause)

• A complex sentence consists of at least one independent

clause with at least one dependent clause.

7
- exercise 1: types of sentences
After each sentence, write whether it is a simple, compound, or complex
sentence. Be prepared to give the reason for each answer.

1. Our family has decided to hold our annual vacation in Disneyworld this
year. ____________________
2. Mary’s husband worked for the government for many years, but now he
is retired. ____________________
3. Audrey and her brother were late to school again even though they got
up earlier. ____________________
4. I never told her to have the party, but she did anyway.
____________________
5. Jane was forced to fire two of her employees before the new year.
____________________
6. We couldn’t understand everything the teacher said, and therefore we
failed the test. ____________________
7. The movie was not very interesting, but we watched it until the end.
__________________
8. If she had more time, she would help out more at home.
__________________
9. Every time I listen to this music I am reminded of my sister.
_______________
10. Richard helped us with some of the words in the translation.
______________

- exercise 2: creating sentences

In groups, write five examples each of noun phrases, verb phrases, and
prepositional phrases on small pieces of paper. Mix the phrases up as a
class, and hand out new ones to each group. Then, using the phrases given,
along with any other phrases you may need, create examples of different
types of sentences. (The phrases may be used more than once.)

1. complex
________________________________________________________________________
2. compound
________________________________________________________________________
3. simple
________________________________________________________________________
4. compound
________________________________________________________________________
5. simple
________________________________________________________________________
6. complex
________________________________________________________________________

8
 [] the academic comic
Look at the following picture.

1. Add one thing to the picture.

2. Draw two balloons above the heads of each one of the players.
3. Write one phrase in each balloon.

Now work with a partner

1. Explain what is happening in your picture to your partner.

2. Discuss with your partner who is winning the match, and why you think so.
3. Discuss with your partner what is going happen after this match is over.

9
 ® themed weekend trips
What do you like to do on vacation? Are you the
adventurous type, a nature lover, or someone who likes to
kick back and relax? What is your idea of a dream
vacation?

Girls’ Night Out is soon to be a thing of the past. Forget going to

overpriced restaurants and stuffing your face with greasy hors
d’oevres and fattening desserts just to catch up on the latest gossip.
Dell Lakes Travel Plans offers a whole new concept to tired-old
Girls’ Night. Introducing Themed Weekend Trips. Spend a weekend
at any of our themed spas and enjoy a world far from your own with
your favorite girlfriends.
Like the movie Chicago? Come to our Chicago in Style Camp and
receive dance lessons, singing lessons, poolside gin and tonics, and
clothing from that era, including fishnet stockings! Or how about
our Shop Till You Drop Camp in Manhattan, where guests spend the
weekend touring the biggest and most elegant stores of downtown
Manhattan, receiving free makeup and fashion lessons and
relaxing at some of New York’s finest eateries. Need something
slower? For those who look forward to serenity, try our Sisterhood
package, sponsored by Albert’s Day Spas. Receive a full body
massage, use our saunas and steam rooms, get an invigorating mud
bath, then catch up with your friends over a healthy vegetarian
dinner prepared by Albert’s world-class chefs. Nature lovers will be
thrilled with our No Horsing Around package, complete with a 2-
day trek through the Ozarks on horseback. Get in tune with Mother
Nature and shed the stress of city life on this weekend adventure for
two.
For more information on price and availability of tours, call Dell
Lakes Travel Plans at 1-800-DEL-LAKE. Dell Lakes Travel Plans –
offering you the chance to be someone else.

Write a summary of the article.

10
 [] Crazy stories
DIRECTIONS:
In order to play this activity you need to choose a partner. Decide who is
going to be the READER and who is going to be the WRITER. The WRITER
writes one word per category in the WRITER’S CHART (e.g. ADJECTIVE =
BLUE). Once he/she is finished, the READER asks the WRITER to call out a
word (an adjective or a verb or whatever the space calls for) and uses that
word to fill in the spaces in the READER’S STORY. When the READER has
filled in all of the blanks, he/she reads the CRAZY STORY aloud. Compare
with other groups to see which story is the CRAZIEST of all.

WRITER’S CHART

NOUN ____________________

ADJECTIVE ____________________

FAMOUS PERSON ____________________

ANOTHER FAMOUS PERSON ____________________

NOUN ____________________

PLURAL NOUN ____________________

EXCLAMATION ____________________

NOUN ____________________

ADJECTIVE ____________________

PLURAL NOUN ____________________

NOUN ____________________

TYPE OF FOOD (PLURAL) ____________________

TYPE OF LIQUID ____________________

NOUN ____________________

ADJECTIVE ____________________

NUMBER ____________________

ADVERB ____________________

11
 READER’S STORY

[] the crazy story

of an invention

THE FIRST ELECTRIC _________________ (NOUN) WAS INVENTED

IN 1927 BY A/AN __________________ (ADJECTIVE) YOUNG

WOMAN NAMED _________________________(FAMOUS PERSON). SHE

AND HER COUSIN _________________________ (ANOTHER FAMOUS

PERSON) HAD A TINY ___________________ (NOUN) STORE, AND IN

THEIR FREE TIME THEY STUDIED ________________(PLURAL

NOUN). WHEN THEY STARTED TO WORK ON THEIR CRAZY

INVENTION, EVERYBODY SAID:”______________!(EXCLAMATION)

YOU WILL NEVER INTRODUCE IT TO THE _______________

(NOUN).” BUT THEY MADE A/AN ___________________

(ADJECTIVE) MODEL OUT OF OLD ___________________ (PLURAL

NOUN) AND ______________ (NOUN). THE MODEL WORKED LIKE A

CHARM, AND IN FIFTEEN MINUTES IT COOKED 8 PIECES OF

_____________________ (TYPE OF FOOD PLURAL). IT ALSO USED 4

LITERS OF ___________________ (TYPE OF LIQUID) AN HOUR, AND

THE BOTTOM CONVERTED INTO A/AN ____________________

(NOUN). THEY SOLD THEIR INVENTION TO A/AN

___________________ (ADJECTIVE) MILLIONAIRE FOR

________________ (NUMBER) DOLLAR(S) AND LIVED

_____________________(ADVERB) EVER AFTER.

12
 @ subject
Richard asked the teacher a question.
The building collapsed after the fire had consumed the
walls.
Love is what makes the world turn.

• This is the part of the sentence that does the action.

• The subject may be a person, place, thing, or idea.
• In English, every sentence has a subject.
• Sometimes the subject is a PSEUDO SUBJECT since no
particular person or thing is actually doing the action.

It is raining very hard in Denver right now.

There is a hungry-looking cat on the doorstep.

• Other times the subject is called an UNDERSTOOD SUBJECT,

because a command is used which can only be conjugated
in the second person (you). In these sentences the subject
is not directly stated.

Close the door.

Give me my hat.

- exercise 1: subjects in sentences

Circle the subject of each clause.

1. If you get this message today, tell Judy about the baby.
2. The class description was very vague, but Hannah thought it would be
fun.
3. It was snowing when she arrived.
4. There were too many people in the elevator, and the teacher asked us to
get out.
5. It is difficult to know what she wants, but please try.
6. You never told me what you thought about my boyfriend.

13
 @ predicate
• The predicate is the part of the sentence that follows the
subject.
• It consists of the verb phrase together with its
complements (objects) and modifiers.
• The complement is the object (direct or indirect) that
receives the action done by the subject.

Amy’s sister bought a new car.

I brought my mother and father a bouquet of flowers.

• The modifier is the part of the sentence that answers

the questions when, where, or how.
• It provides extra information about the action done by
the subject.

Time: This type of modifier answers the question WHEN.

• It may consist of expressions of time: everyday, today,
yesterday, etc.
• It may be a phrase that starts with a preposition of time:
in the afternoon, at seven-thirty, etc.

Place: This modifier answers the question WHERE.

• It may consist of an expression of place: here, there, etc.
• It could be a phrase that starts with a preposition of
place: on the wall, under the tree, etc.

Manner: This type of modifier answers the question

HOW.
• It is often an adverb: quickly, softly, etc.

- exercise 1: complements
Underline the complement in each sentence.
1. I called my mother early yesterday morning.
2. She spoke to me after class.
3. Rachel bought her daughter a new bike.
4. We heard the news on the radio.
5. Mark hit his wife on the arm.
14
- exercise 2: modifiers
Give three examples of each kind of modifier. Use each in a sentence on a
separate piece of paper.

Time ________________________
________________________
________________________

Place ________________________
________________________
________________________

Manner ________________________
________________________
________________________

- exercise 3: identifying parts of a sentence

Read the following sentences. Underline each part of the sentence, and
label it. Example: Mary loves to eat pizza.
Sub. verb phrase compl.

a) Jeffrey and his cousin want to invite Angela to the party.

b) My chemistry teacher asked me a difficult question.

c) The policeman shot him in the foot.

d) It was raining at 9:00.

e) I saw you and Paul at the supermarket two days ago.

f) Yesterday I ran around the lake very quickly.

g) There has been a big crowd in front of the school all morning.

h) The robbers entered the bank from the back.

i) Add the chicken after five minutes.

j) Margaret was driving very fast yesterday evening.

15
- exercise 4: composing sentences
Working with a partner, use the following agents in order to write your
own sentences. You may change the order.

1. subject, verb, complement, modifier of time

___________________________________________________________

2. noun phrase, verb, complement, two modifiers of place

___________________________________________________________

3. noun phrase, verb phrase, modifier of manner

___________________________________________________________

4. noun phrase, verb, modifiers of time, place, and manner

___________________________________________________________

5. subject, verb phrase, two complements, modifier of manner, modifier of

time
___________________________________________________________

6. understood subject, verb phrase, modifier of place

___________________________________________________________

7. subject, verb phrase, complement, modifier of place, modifier of time

___________________________________________________________

8. pseudo subject, verb, complement, modifiers of place and manner

___________________________________________________________

9. understood subject, verb, two modifiers of time

___________________________________________________________

10. pseudo subject, verb phrase, complement

___________________________________________________________

16
 ® vacation deprivation
How many paid vacation days per year do you think are fair for workers?

Couldn’t we all use a vacation now and again? According to many U.S. companies
and employers, apparently not. Americans are living with one of the least generous
allotments of vacation time in the industrialized world — on average 8.1 days per year
after one year on the job, and 10.2 days per year after three years on the job,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nowadays, about 13% of U.S. companies
provide no paid vacation. Most Americans complain that because vacation time has
been downsized they hardly have a chance to catch their breath or enjoy the fruits of
their labor. Most would agree that more vacation time would make them better
employees. Perhaps they do not dare voice these opinions aloud, but they are there,
beneath the surface.
Besides the fact that we Americans receive less vacation than, say, Europeans
(who receive 4-5 weeks by law) or the Japanese (who legally receive 2 weeks), we are
also led to believe that by taking our vacation time we are burdening the company and
provoking low productivity.
It’s true. One out of five employees admit to feeling guilty for taking their vacation
days. Labor cutbacks and a false sense of urgency created by our high-tech world
contribute to our feelings of fear and guilt.
The truth of the matter is, however, that with almost 40% of us working more than
fifty hours a week and doing the job of three employees, vacation time is becoming more
important than ever. Vacations reduce the amount of absenteeism and the cost of
medical expenses. With more vacation time, workers are sick less often and
productivity could increase. Families could have more time to spend with one another.
In fact, studies have shown that by increasing vacation time companies can increase
productivity and lower costs paid out by medical insurance due to stress-related
illnesses. One study from the 1920s showed that a person who works fifty hours a
week for seven weeks in a row accomplishes no more than a person working forty hours
a week for seven weeks in a row. Another study claims that an annual vacation cuts
the risk of heart attack by 30% in men and 50% in women. And yet another study
verifies that it takes two weeks of vacation to cure burnout. In other words, rested
employees are healthier and more productive than work-driven zombies.
Vacations are our opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, to find other
interests, to discover things through traveling and meeting new people. It is ironic
that, in the “land of the free,” time is so scarce. Let’s recapture vacation, before it
becomes a quaint remnant of better days.

How would you describe the tone of this article?

Why do you think the author wrote this article?

What are some of the arguments that the author gives for increasing the
amount of vacation time given to Americans?

How does the amount of vacation time given to Americans compare with
that of people from other nationalities? From people in your country?

How do you feel about vacation time? Do you agree or disagree with the
point of view of this author? Why or why not?

17
 [] hotel management
Imagine that you are on the management staff of a large resort
hotel on a small island off of the coast of Ecuador. The hotel is in a
secluded location which has a beautiful, serene beach. It is
surrounded by low hills and bluffs. The building is modern and full
of many luxuries, such as Cable TV and hot tubs in each room. It
seems like the ideal hotel, but lately it has been having some
problems. You must discuss these problems with the rest of the
staff in order to come up with some solutions.

Choose from two of the problems below.

PROBLEMS
A) Guests are bored: the guests complain that there is little to do,
no night life, few daytime activities like sports or events in nature,
and little to see on the island itself.
B) Theft: someone has been stealing clothes from guests’ room, as
well as money and valuables from the front desk and food from the
kitchen.
C) Few guests: advertisement is poor and few guests have been
coming to the resort. Prices are also too expensive.
D) Complaints about the food: the food tastes bad, is not fresh, is
the same every night, and there are few choices for vegetarians or
people with food allergies.
E) Difficult to reach: there are no buses and few boats to get to the
island, and once on the island the hotel is difficult to find. It is also
too far from other cities and hotels.
F) Broken things: the roof leaks in certain areas and some rooms
have broken fans and TVs. Also, the cable goes out often and
sometimes there is no electricity or water.

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION:
Problem:

Solutions suggested:

Final recommendation:

Problem:

Solutions suggested:

Final recommendation:

18
§ Now write a letter to the owner of the hotel in order to
discuss the problems which were discussed and the decisions which
were taken at the meeting. The letter is started for you.

Dear ___________:
At the latest management meeting, we discussed the problems we
are having at the hotel lately, along with possible solutions. I
would like to give you our recommendations in this letter.

ß end marks
A sentence is a set of words that makes complete sense alone. Every
sentence must end with an end mark: a period, question mark, or
exclamation point.

1. The period (.) should be used after statements, mildly imperative

sentences, indirect questions, and after most abbreviations.
Everyone should learn a second language.
I wonder if you could help me with my homework.
Don’t put that in your mouth.
Next year I will graduate as an R.N.*
* Note that when an abbreviation ends the sentence, only one period is
used.

2. A question mark (?) is used after direct questions.

Where did you go last night?
Did Mark ask when the movie starts?

3. An exclamation point (!) is used to express surprise, incredulity,or

strong emotion.
Shut up!
Watch your step!
I can’t believe my eyes!

19
ACTIVITY 1: END MARKS
Write two sentences using each of the end marks seen above.
a) __________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________
c) __________________________________________________________
d) __________________________________________________________
e) __________________________________________________________
f) __________________________________________________________

[] radio ad
Create a radio ad for a community event. Be sure to include price and
time, as well as any special attractions.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------

§ Write a postcard to a friend about your last vacation.

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________ ____________________
____________________________ ____________________
____________________________ ____________________
____________________________ ____________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

20
 ø internet
The next time you want to plan a trip, why don’t you try doing so
using the Internet? There are many web sites you can visit that
will give you recent, updated information about flights, hotels, and
things to do and see for many parts of the world. One such site is
www.expedia.com. Here you can check out different locations
across the globe for prices and availability of hotel rooms, flights,
restaurants, etc. You can even choose one of their “prepackaged”
vacations, for example a romantic San Francisco wine tour where
you can see how wine is made, attend wine tastings, and visit two
wineries. Or perhaps you would rather spend time in nature, for
example on a Tahitian beach in a first class hotel which offers
classes in Tahitian basket-weaving, Polynesian dance and music, or
diving and boating. Try Expedia or another comparable web site
next time you go somewhere.

. Plan a three-day trip with one of the themes below. Use

www.expedia.com to help you figure out prices of accommodations and
flights as well as things to do and see.

21
 [] dollar trivia u
Match the facts in column A to those in column B

___ 1. The average lifespan of a

$100 bill

___ 2. The average lifespan of a $1

A. The U.S. first issued paper
currency __.

B. ___ is 8.5 years.

n
bill

___ 3. 4,000 double folds

___ 4. The largest dollar bill ever

printed
C. ___ is on the $20 bill.

D. ___ is 22 months. i
___ 5. 25% linen & 75% cotton E. ___ is the cost to produce a bill.

___ 6. 95% of the bills printed each

year
F. The number of times you could
bend a bill before it would tear:
_____.
t
___ 7. In 1862 G. ___ per pound.

___ 8. 4.2 cents H. ____ was worth $100,000.

___ 9. Andrew Jackson I. The legend “In God We Trust”

became part of the design of the
currency ____.
2
___ 10. There are 490 bills J. Paper money is made of ____.
B
___ 11. 3, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents K. ____ were the first bills ever
printed in the U.S.
U
C
___ 12. In 1957 L. ____ are used to replace bills
already in circulation. K
S
See page 50 for the answers.

22
 @ noun phrase
• A group of words, usually the subject or complement of a
sentence, which ends with a noun.
• May be composed of determiners (a, an, the, many, etc.),
adverbs, or adjectives, but may not begin with a preposition.
• Never contains a verb.
• Examples: countable and uncountable nouns, irregular
plurals, and determiners.

@ countable nouns
a book - three books a job - jobs
a car - cars an idea - some ideas

• A noun that is considered by the speakers of a language as a

separate entity, and possible to count
• Can be used in the singular or plural
• Used with numbers or with a/an or some/many

@ uncountable nouns
sugar work flour scenery water

• A noun considered by the speakers of a language as impossible to

separate or count.
• Can never be used in the plural.
• Takes a singular verb, but cannot be considered as “singular,” or a
single item.
• To make an uncountable noun countable, you must add a
modifying phrase, such as a cup of, a slice of, a piece of, a pinch
of.
• Some uncountable nouns, e.g. fields of study such as economics or
geography, can not be made countable.

23
 Countable and uncountable nouns will vary from
Înote: language to language. The following list includes
some common uncountable nouns in English that
differ from other languages.

homework trouble progress

bread advice luggage
furniture permission ice cream

• Some words may be considered both countable and uncountable,

depending on their meaning. Look at the following examples.

paper Did you buy a paper this morning?

(= a newspaper, countable)
There is some paper on my desk.
(=sheets of paper, uncountable)

food This is one of the foods that I could not live without.
(= a particular kind of food, countable)
There was so much food at the family reunion
that we had to eat leftovers for weeks.
(=any kind of food, uncountable)
* Remember that food does not mean the same as meal, which is countable.
Her meals are good examples of country cooking.

experience Many of my experiences as a teacher are wonderful.

(=things that happen to us, countable)
I chose the man with the most experience for the job.
(=knowledge or expertise in an area, uncountable)

crime Last night in our neighborhood there were five

crimes, three on just our block alone! (=different crimes,
countable)
Crime in Quito has increased sharply since the
economic crisis began. (crime in general, uncountable)

noise Outside my window, there are so many noises

that I cannot distinguish one from another.
(=different sounds, each considered separately, countable)
The protesters are making so much noise as they
march down the street that I cannot hear what the
speaker is saying.
(=a mass of sound considered as one entity, uncountable)

time How many times did you see her last week?
(=occasion, countable)
He has a lot of time on his hands since he lost his job.
(=number of hours, days, years, etc., uncountable)

24
- exercise 1: uncountable nouns
Choose one of the phrases below and use it with the uncountable noun in
each sentence, in order to make it countable. Not all of the expressions will
be used.

a bolt of a stroke of a loaf of

a piece of a glass of a grain of
a game of a cup of an article of
a can of a bottle of a tube of
a bit of a slice of

1. Would you like ______________ cake?

2. We’re going to play _________________ chess. Want to join us?
3. I’ll have ___________________ wine with my meal, if you don’t mind.
4. _____________________ lightning hit our antenna and burnt out our TV!
5. At that stand over there they offer to write your name on _______________ rice.
6. I need to buy _______________ toothpaste at the store.
7. Please buy _________________ bread for the party.
8. She had ________________ luck at the casino last night. She won $150!
9. There’s not even ________________ spaghetti sauce in the pantry. How
can I make spaghetti?
10. Could I please have ______________ milk? I’m so thirsty.
11. Do you have _______________ aspirin? I have a headache.
12. With _____________ advice, you could have avoided this problem.

- exercise 2: countable and uncountable nouns

Decide if the noun being used is countable (singular or plural) or
uncountable. For singular countable nouns, use a/an. Complete the
sentences.

1. Would you please put some water in ____________ (glass)?

2. These beads are made of ______________ (glass).
3. I need _______________ (advice). Should I wear the red tie or the blue
one?
4. When I was young, I had ______________ (chicken) as a pet.
5. Would you like _______________ (chicken) or beef, sir?
6. _______________ (time) flies when you’re having fun.
25
7. We saw her seven _______________ (time) yesterday.
8. He has _______________ (experience) as a teacher.
9. It was ________________ (experience) I will never forget.
10. I bought my _________________ (furniture) at Sears.
11. Would the children like _______________ (ice cream)?
12. Did you have ______________ (trouble) finding our office?
13. My father gave me _______________ (permission) to go to the party.
14. Every day the teacher sends us ________________ (homework).
15. Do you have _____________ (idea) for our project?

- exercise 3: uncountable nouns

Look at the clues below. Fill in the spaces with the letters of the correct
uncountable noun for each clue. Then, unite the boxed letters to find the
key word.

1. __ __ __ __ __

2. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

4. __ __ __ __ __

5. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

6. __ __ __ __ __

7. __ __ __ __

1. Result of the deterioration of social values

2. Benjamin Franklin did many experiments with this
3. Found in any computer store
4. Sound made by students in class
5. An American saying is that you should never discuss ____________ or
religion.
6. The staple of every sandwich
7. It keeps you clean.

THE KEY WORD IS ____________________, SOMETHING YOU HOPE YOU

NEVER GET!
See answers on page 52.
26
 [] scams
In small groups look at the following cases. Decide what you would do
to the following people if you were a judge with unlimited power.
Would you punish them monetarily or with a jail sentence? Would you
give bail? How much? If you believe they should go to jail, then for
how long? Be able to explain your reasons to the class.

a) Bob Anderson, a computer genius, hacked into the central

computer of an international banking corporation and secretly
transferred $0.01 from each client’s bank account to his own
account in Bern. He made over $1,500,000.

b) Gerry Hanson sued five bars and an electric company for

$25,000 for selling him alcohol after he was over the legal
drinking limit. In his drunken stupor, Hanson climbed up a
transformer and was shocked by 13,000 volts of electricity.
Hanson claimed that the electric company did not secure its gates
properly, and that the bars sold him “too much” alcohol when it
was obvious that he could not handle more. Hanson was
countersued by the electric company for trespassing.

c) Violeta Mallory, a married mother of three and guest on “The

Oprah Winfrey Show,” pleaded guilty to theft after her charity scam
was uncovered by authorities. Claiming to be dying of cancer,
Mallory accepted up to $10,000 in gifts from charity, including
property and money. She had even shaved her head and sliced her
skin to mimic the effects of surgery and chemotherapy. But the
worst part of the scam is that she had even convinced her own
children that she was dying.

§ In small groups, invent your own example of similar scams or

intrusions of computer “privacy.” Read your examples to the class,
and solicit their opinion of what should be done to the offenders.

The Perfect Scam

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
27
 G cognates
COGNATES are words that have a similar origin in two
languages, look similar, and have the same meaning. Examples of
cognates in Spanish and English are:

communication comunicación television televisión

doctor doctor hospital hospital
bank banco triangle triángulo

FALSE COGNATES are words between two languages that look

as if they were cognates, since they are spelled similarly. However,
false cognates can be troublesome, because these words often have
completely different meanings. Look at the following examples:

college colegio sensitive sensitivo

sensible sensible library librería
exit éxito success suceso
preservative preservativo cart carta

- exercise 1: cognates and false cognates

1. Write three more examples of cognates in English and Spanish:
________________________
________________________
________________________

2. Think of three more examples of false cognates in English and Spanish.

________________________
________________________
________________________

- exercise 2: false cognates

In the following sentences, some words are used incorrectly. Find these
false cognates and change them for the correct word in English. Circle any
cognates that you may find.

1. I asked the teacher to place my corrected homework in the carpet on my desk.

2. After she graduated from college she went to the University of Hawaii.
3. Martha is embarrassed and will have the baby in June.
4. Donald Trump has had a lot of exit in his life.
5. I plan to buy the biology book I need at the library.
6. My child is so sensible; his feelings get hurt very easily.
28
 @quantifiers with
countable
and uncountable nouns
There is enough sugar in my coffee.
On my way to work there is very little traffic.
Quito has fewer people than Mexico City.
I haven’t received much news from her since she went to Canada.

• with countable nouns with uncountable nouns

a, an, the, some, any the, some, any

this, that, these, those this, that
no,none, one, two, three... none, no
many, a lot of, plenty of much, a lot of, plenty of
a large/great number of a large amount of
few, fewer, a few little, less, a little
more, enough more, enough

• Liquids are generally considered uncountable nouns, however

you may sometimes hear them used in the plural. The container in
which the liquid is found is sometimes omitted from the sentence,
although it remains understood.
Waitress, please bring us two coffees. (=two cups of coffee)

- exercise 1: quaNtifiers with countable and uncountable nouns

Finish each sentence with a countable or uncountable noun. Then share
them with your partner.

1) In Quito there are too many _____________________________________.

2) In my house there aren’t enough _________________________________.
3) Don’t put too much _______________________________________.

29
4) Yesterday I saw a _______________________________________.
5) There are few _______________________________________.
6) There is less _______________________in Quito than in New York.
7) I have a little _______________________________________.
8) There is a lot of ____________________ in the world.
9) Our country doesn’t need more _________________________________.
10) Do you have any ____________________ for me?

- exercise 2: quantifiers
Fill in the sentence with the correct quantifier. More than one answer may
be possible, and not all will be used.

many little few a few a little some

much plenty of enough no a/an a lot of

1. She really doesn’t have ___________ friends. Just you and I.

2. There is ____________ honesty in our corrupt world.
3. Connie has _____________ friends at this university.
4. Mr. Crary has _______________ experience in this area. He’s worked here
for twenty-seven years.
5. You can never have too ____________ love.
6. Does she have _____________ material to finish the project?
7. How _____________ tickets did you sell?
8. How _____________ money did that shirt cost you?
9. Do you have ___________ trouble with your mother-in-law?
10. _________ friend once told me that _____________ days are better than
others.

- exercise 3: error correction - quantifiers

Correct the use of the quantifiers in the sentences below. Some sentences
do not contain an error.

1. Wanda has plenty of information about the migratory patterns of birds.

2. Carl and his wife saw some beautiful candles in the store, and decided to
buy these ones.

30
3. The thief stole a jewelry and a cell phone.
4. A great number of politician will do anything to get votes.
5. We need less violence and more policeman on the street.
6. How many time do you need in order to finish what you are doing?
7. How much times do I have to tell you? My name is Robert!
8. Last winter we had a lot of mice in our house.
9. I don’t have too many problems with her, although I know she is difficult
to get along with.
10. There is few people waiting in line.

! (A) few vs. (a) little

Choose the best meaning of each statement.

1. A) Not many could read.

B) Some could read.
2. A) She doesn’t have much money.
B) She has enough money for now.
3. A) We thought Nathan smoked too much.
B) We expected Nathan to smoke more.
4. A) Not many students passed the exam.
B) Some students passed the exam.
5. A) She’d like some bread.
B) She wouldn’t like much bread.
6. A) Kristin has some time.
B) Kristin doesn’t have much time.
7. A) It was obvious that a bear had been there.
B) It was not obvious that a bear had been there.
8. A) Some of my relatives are going.
B) None of my relatives are going.

31
 ® spending habits
Are you a careful spender or a spendthrift? Do you pride yourself on your
generosity, or do your friends and family consider you stingy? Take our quiz
and find out what kind of a spender you are! When you finish, add up the
points at the end of each answer. Refer to the chart below to find out how
frugal you are with your money.

1. When you go to the supermarket for a product,

a) you buy the first item that you find, regardless of price. (1)
b) you look for the cheapest brand there is. (2)
c) you refuse to buy something that isn’t on sale. (3)

2. When you need a present for someone,

a) you recycle another present that someone gave you in the past. (3)
b) you buy presents ahead of time. (2)
c) you buy it at the last minute. (1)

3. If something is on sale,
a) you automatically buy it if it is on your list. (2)
b) you pick it up whether you need it or not. (3)
c) you do not even notice. (1)

4. If there is an expensive item that you would like to have,

a) you dream about it at night, but figure buying it is a luxury you can’t
afford. (3)
b) you set aside a certain amount of money each month until you have
enough. (2)
c) you splurge and put it on a credit card. You can always pay it off
later. (1)

5. At an outdoor farmer’s market

a) you always try to bargain down the price by at least 50%. (3)
b) you always pay the first price asked. (1)
c) you try to get a bargain, but buy the product even if you don’t. (2)

6. From your paycheck, you save

a) the same amount every month. (3)
b) nothing. (1)
c) the loose change. (2)

7. When you see something that you know your friend would love,
a) you tell him/her about it. (3)
b) you buy it and give it to him/her the next time you meet. (1)
c) you save it for a birthday or Christmas present. (2)

32
8. If a product you use regularly is 50% off,
a) you stock up and buy as much as you have money for. (1)
b) you buy one item; you don’t need more than that in a month. (2)
c) you buy it and resell it later at full price. (3)

9. If you get a gift from a family member that you don’t like,
a) you try to take it back to the store to get your money back. (3)
b) you say thank you and keep it, but criticize it. (1)
c) you give it to someone else as a gift. (2)

10. When it comes to your budget,

a) you plan out a detailed budget each month ahead of time. (3)
b) you expect your partner to worry about your budget. (2)
c) you don’t have one, nor plan to. Money is to spend. (1)

10-16 points
You are a spendthrift: the kind of person who does not let money rule your
life. You like to spend your money when you have some, and you are well-
known by friends and family members for being so generous and giving. You
tend to blow whole paychecks on an item you have wanted, or a weekend
party or trip. You would much rather use money than save it, and therefore
don’t worry about how much something costs as long as you have enough to
buy it now. As for saving for the future, however, you come up short.
Someday you might find yourself wishing you had been a little more thrifty.

17-23 points
Your spending habits are middle of the road. You take money seriously, but
also know how to have fun with it when the time comes. You enjoy your life,
but also make plans for the future. You tend to be generous when it is within
your budget to do so, but rarely spend money you don’t have. There are
times when you could be a little more careful with your money, but overall
you have a very healthy attitude when it comes to your finances.

24-30 points
You are the ultimate Scrooge when it comes to money. You constantly think
about how much something costs. It is rare for you to spend money on
anything extravagant, and your gifts (when you give them) tend to be
practical and down-to-earth. You budget your money carefully; wasting
money is a cardinal sin in your opinion. To you, spending money is like
pulling a tooth: painful. Being a little more generous would improve your self-
image drastically — your friends and family members make jokes about how
stingy you can be. You should lighten up a little and remember that money is
made to be spent. Get out and have a little fun with your hard-earned cash!

33
 @ plural countable nouns
• Examples of irregular plurals (see appendix at back for more):

child - children knife - knives

wife - wives life - lives
man - men mouse - mice
woman - women person - people*
* people always takes a plural verb

• Some nouns are always found in the plural. They cannot be

singular. These nouns receive a plural verb.

pants slacks congratulations jeans trousers

shorts pajamas arms (weapons) glasses pliers
tongs tweezers scissors clothes thanks
goods cattle earnings goods contents*
*Occasionally found in the singular

Scissors are so expensive.

The pants I bought are too tight.

@ singular nouns ending in “s”

Gymnastics is my favorite sport to watch on TV.
The news is starting right now.
• Some nouns end in the letter “s” but are not plural.
athletics news physics gymnastics economics
• Some nouns ending in the letter “s” may be singular or plural.
species series

That particular species of bird is very rare.

The species that we are studying are indigenous to the Galapagos
Islands.

34
- exercise 1: plural or singular?
Next to each word, circle S if it is singular, and P if it is plural. If it is
singular, write the plural. If it is plural, write the singular. If you are
unable to make a singular or plural from the word, say so.

S P _____________1. dice
S P _____________2. teeth
S P _____________3. data
S P _____________4. geese
S P _____________5. medium
S P _____________6. ice cream
S P _____________7. scissors
S P _____________8. physics
S P _____________9. news
S P _____________10. economics
S P _____________11. homework
S P _____________12. furniture
S P _____________13. matches
S P _____________14. potatoes
S P _____________15. person

- exercise 2: plurals - spelling

Write the plurals of the nouns below.

______________ 1. way ______________ 2. reply

______________ 3. hero ______________ 4. toy
______________ 5. emergency ______________ 6. fox
______________ 7. bus ______________ 8. peach
______________ 9. box ______________ 10. monkey

35
Tick (√) the correct spelling rules.

_____1. If the word ends in consonant + y, change -y to -i and add -es.

_____2. If the word ends with vowel + y, change the -y to -i and add -es.
_____3. If the word ends with vowel + y, make no change.
_____4. If the word ends with -x, -s, -ch, -sh, or -z, add -es.
_____5. If the word ends in -y, always change -y to -i and add -es.
_____6. If the word ends in -o, sometimes add -es.

- exercise 3: plurals

Change the underlined nouns in each sentence to plural.

1. The baby’s cry could be heard throughout the building.

2. I bought a pound of tomato at the supermarket this morning.

3. She has a lot of worry now that her husband has left her.

4. There are many church on this street.

5. You need to accept your loss and just go on.

6. The woman on the corner are waiting for the bus.

7. Some people say that cats have nine life.

8. The child in my neighborhood love to play hide-and-seek.

9. In the winter months it is common to see deer along this stretch of the

highway.

10. This store specializes in tuning guitars and piano.

36
 ! dollar quiz
Without looking at it, write down as many things that you can
remember that are on the one dollar bill.

Listen to the information about U.S. currency. Then fill in the blanks
with the words listed below. They may be used more than once. Some
may not be used.

Andrew Jackson George Washington James Madison

Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson Abraham Lincoln
Benjamin Franklin Alexander Hamilton Ulysses S. Grant
the pyramid the “All-Seeing Eye” Thomas Jefferson

1. “Old Hickory” was the name of __________________, who is on the

$20 bill.
2. __________________ and __________________ are famous figures of the
Civil War.
3. __________________ signed both the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution.
4. __________________ was assassinated.
5. __________________ is on the $2 bill.
6. __________________ was a war hero at the beginning of the 19th
century.
7. __________________ represents the security and solidity of the U.S.
8. __________________ is found on the front of the $1 bill.
9. __________________ is found on the back of the $1 bill.
10. The first Secretary of the Treasury was __________________, who is
on the $10 bill.
11. __________________ is unfinished.
12. __________________ stands for the importance of a force such as
God in the making of a new nation.
13. __________________ invented bifocals.
14. __________________ was against a centralized government.
15. __________________ was on the $5000 bill, which has been taken
out of circulation.

37
 @ articles: a, an
a house on the road a university
an hour ago a teacher

• Used with singular countable nouns.

• Cannot precede an uncountable noun.
• Used with general, nonspecific , nouns.
• Used to say what job a person has, what something is used as, or
what kind of thing something or somebody is.
Katie is a medical assistant.
This device is a machine that can predict the weather.
She is a good dancer.
• Used when a subject is being introduced to the listener for the
first time.
• A is used before a consonant sound. An is used before a vowel
sound.
an eraser a white eraser
a man an ugly man

The first letter of the word does not always indicate

Înote: the pronunciation. Be aware of problem words like:

an hour a hospital
an heir a university
an umbrella a uniform
an uncle a union

- exercise 1: a vs. an
A or an?
1. _______ elephant 8. _______ half-hour program
2. _______ X-ray 9. _______ schedule
3. _______ useful book 10. _______ explanation
4. _______ unit 11. _______ European
5. _______ specialty 12. _______ American
6. _______ university 13. _______ honest woman
7. _______ one-hour class 14. _______ school

38
- exercise 2: articles
Add a/an to the sentence if needed.

1. When the child grows up, she wants to be electrical engineer, like her

father.

2. Teacher is someone who you can look up to.

3. I never understood very well why some people prefer small class to

larger one.

4. Both her sister and her brother married architects.

5. I found rock in my shoe.

6. Woman from the bank called while you were at the store.

7. There was man in the office looking for you yesterday while you were

sick.

8. Just because she asked for raise doesn’t mean that her manager will be

able to give her one.

9. She has really terrible temper for being psychologist.

10. Martha has brother who is officer in the Army.

11. Jack has quiet voice and short black hair, and he has very nice smile.

12. Don’t use your plate as ashtray, please.

13. DVD costs more than VHS cassette.

14. Giraffe has long neck.

15. If you see black cat cross in front of you, you’ll have bad luck all year.

39
 @ the
• Used when it is clear which item we are referring to, or when
something is common knowledge.

The movie that I saw last night was funny. Would you turn on the light?
The job Terry wants pays very well. The bathroom is down the hall.

• For uncountable nouns, the is used when we are speaking in

specific terms, but not in general.

Can you please pass the salt?

Salt can be added to any recipe if you like.

• Used when there is only one of something.

The tallest building in the world is being designed as we speak.

The only game show I like is no longer on the air.

• Can refer to something in general when it is followed by a

singular countable noun. Do not use in this case with plurals.

The daisy is my favorite flower. OR Daisies are my favorite flowers.

The cheetah is a very fast animal. Cheetahs are very fast.

• Not used when a plural countable noun refers to everything

within a specific class.

Computers have become a necessity of life. (all computers)

In my opinion, people that don’t pay their taxes are stealing from
the government. (all people)

• Some words are usually referred to by the determiner the, even

when not referring to a specific place/thing.
the doctor the bank the hospital the radio

When I went to the doctor I asked him to do some special tests.

Hannah had already gone to the bank when you called.
I was listening to the radio when I heard about the plane crash.

40
 @ the
• Be careful of the following words, which are not generally used
with the.

space (not “the space”) breakfast, lunch, dinner television

• Use with musical instruments or types of machines / inventions.

The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

Can you play the piano or the drums?

• Use the + adjective (without a noun) to refer to a group of

people. The meaning is always plural in this case.
the handicapped the rich the poor
the elderly the famous

Some people believe that stealing from the rich is fine, as long as
you give it to the poor. (=all rich/poor people in general)
I am raising money for the homeless. Can I count on your
contribution? (=all the people who do not have a home)

• To refer to a group of people from the same country, you can

sometimes use the + nationality word.

the Japanese the Swiss the French

the Chinese the British the Spanish

For other nationalities, you have to use a plural noun ending in -s.

the Americans the Russians the Italians

• Many geographical regions or features, landmarks, streets,

buildings, etc. vary in their use of the article the. Look at the
chart on the next page.

41
 h grammar first aid
Use THE Do not use THE

mountain ranges mounts or peaks

– the Andes, the Himalayas – Mount Everest, Mount St. Helens
deserts, jungles
– the Sahara Desert, the Amazon
rivers, oceans, seas, canals singular lakes
plural lakes, gulfs, bays
– the Great Lakes, the Gulf of – Lake Superior, Lake Como
Mexico, the Dead Sea

regions
– the Midwest, the Far East

plural islands singular islands

– the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas – Easter Island, Martinique

countries including words like most countries, states, provinces

“republic, kingdom, states”
– The United States, the United – Florida, Japan, Texas
Kingdom, the Republic of
Ireland

continents
– Asia, Europe, Africa

historical documents
– the Constitution

buildings, monuments,
landmarks
– the White House, the Statue
of Liberty

holidays
– Thanksgiving, Easter

42
 h grammar first aid
Use THE Do not use THE

ethnic groups
– the Incas, the Mayas
abstract nouns, emotions
– violence, freedom, sadness
areas of subject matter
– mathematics, biology,
wars (except world wars) anatomy
– the Korean War,
the Vietnam War

ordinal numbers before nouns cardinal numbers after nouns

– the Second World War, the – World War Two, Unit five
fifth unit

some hotels, theaters, banks

museums
– the Hilton (Hotel), the – Citibank, Lloyd’s bank
Metropolitan Museum
of Art

earth, moon planets, constellation (except the

Big Dipper)
– the sun, the moon – Venus, Mars, Orion

schools, institutes, universities schools, universities, institutes

that do not begin with a proper that begin with a proper noun
noun
– the Medical Institute of Minne- – Brown Institute, St. Paul
sota, the University of Chicago Technical College
titles (without proper nouns) titles (with proper nouns)
– the queen, the king – Queen Elizabeth, King Lear

43
- exercise 1: use of the with special expressions
Write sentences using each of the words below.

1. Constitution

______________________________________________________________

2. Presidential Palace

______________________________________________________________

3. Mount Everest

______________________________________________________________

4. Andes Mountains

______________________________________________________________

5. Boston University

______________________________________________________________

- exercise 2: the
Decide if the is necessary in each sentence. If not, mark the space with X.

1. In ________ U.S. Constitution, it says that ________ people have _______

right to carry guns.

2. ________R/roses are my favorite flowers, but _______ petunias are easier

to grow.

3. ________ P/people who climb _________ Mt. Everest with the help of

_______ Sherpas owe _______ Sherpas a great deal.

4. In __________ U.S., we use ________ right side of _______ road, but in

_______ Britain, they use ________ left.

5. __________ B/bread on ________ table is moldy. Please buy some more.

6. __________ U/unit Five has a lot of information about ________ English

grammar.

44
7. You could see _________ moon clearly ________ last night, but _______

stars were faint.

8. I would like to say that everyone in ________ world has ______ freedom,

but it would not be the truth.

9. I need to talk to _______ admissions director at _____ St. Mark’s Technical

College in order to register for ________ classes.

10. _______ W/woman whom I spoke to on _________ phone was very polite.

11. I was watching ______ TV when _______ phone rang.

12. I went to _______ bank in order to cash ________ check Jeannie gave me

yesterday.

13. ______Computers are a necessity for any company, but _______

computers in this room are too outdated.

14. There are many things that make a person happy: ______ love and

______ kindness are just two.

15. I believe that in _______ Asia _______ elderly are treated better than in

______ U.S.

- exercise 3: articles
Add a, an, or the, to each space. If none is necessary, write an X.

1. Are most of your friends ____ students at ____ University of Wisconsin?

2. I’m still looking for ___ job, because ___ job I wanted was already given to

___ woman I used to work with.

3. At work today, ____ man and _____ woman with ____ children

approached me in ___ shoe section . ____ man looked American, but ___

woman was from ___ Russia.

4. My husband cleaned ____ car yesterday with ___ special detergent he

bought at ____ auto shop.

45
5. What is ___ longest river in the world? -- I think it’s ____ Nile River.

-- And ____ largest fresh water lake? -- I’m not sure, but I believe it is ___

Lake Superior.

6. I often watch ____ television after ____ work, but last night I went to ___

movies instead.

7. ____ man who lives next door to me is collecting money for ___ homeless

in ___ south of ___ United States.

8. ____ United Kingdom is in ____ Europe, but ___Cairo, ____ capital of ___

Egypt, is in ____ Africa.

9. Jessie goes to ___ church to pick up his mother every Sunday, although

he himself doesn’t usually go to ___ church.

10. ____ life has changed a lot since I was young. There is more ____

violence. I believe that showing _____ love for others could help

eliminate _____ effects of ____ increasing violence.

[] financial advice
A friend of yours needs some financial advice. Look at each of the
following situations he has found himself in. What advice would you
give?

1. “I have lent a considerable amount of money to one of my close

friends. Recently I have reminded her three times that she owes me
money, and she has said she is going to pay me back, but as of yet I
haven’t seen a penny of the money she owes me. How can I remind
her again about the loan I gave her without seeming pushy or
untrusting?”
2. “I maxed out my credit card this Christmas season buying gifts
for so many people. Now that I am in debt, what can I do to try and
get out of it?”
3. “I received a substantial bonus at work this month. I am
reluctant to put it in the bank because I don’t trust the banks since I
lost money in a banking scam a few years ago. Should I save it
under a mattress at home, spend it on myself, or use it to pay off
bills? Why?”

46
 @ other/another
WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
Please give me another book. I’ve already read this one.
I have three books. Two are on top of my desk. The other is on
the table.

• SINGULAR
another = one more of a set the other = the last of the
set
another book = one more book the other book = the last book
present
This book is expensive. Other books do not cost so much.
Some of the books I need are at home. The other books are at school.

• PLURAL
other = more of the set the other = the rest of the
set
other books = some more books, the other books = all the
different books remaining books

WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

This store only sells Scandinavian furniture.
Other furniture can be bought across the street.

I only had time to move my bedroom furniture.

I will move the other furniture tomorrow.

other = more of the set the other = all the rest

other furniture = some more furniture, the other furniture = the
different furniture remaining furniture

Înote: Be careful not to confuse other with different. They

are not used in the same way.
I have a completely different opinion from her.
(not “...a completely other opinion.”)

47
- exercise 1: other/another
Fill out with the correct form of other: other, another, the other, others, the
others.

1. I don’t like this pizza. Please give me ________________. (sing.)

2. He doesn’t need those paintbrushes.

He needs ___________. (all the remaining)

3. If you are still hungry, I’ll make you __________ sandwich.

4. There are 20 students in this room. Ten are from Quito and ___________

are from _____________ provinces.

5. This glass of milk is sour. _________ glass of milk is sour, too.

6. We viewed four houses today. The first two were too expensive, but

__________ ones were reasonably priced.

7. Some people are very nice. __________ are rude and mean-spirited.

8. My sister has two cars. She’s been driving the Ford because ____________

one is in the shop.

9. There are many reasons that I don’t like reading. One is that I don’t like

to be inactive. _______________ is that I don’t have time.

10. ____________ tests this semester were easier than this last one.

11. We rented two movies last night. One was a comedy; _______________

was a suspense film.

- exercise 2: other/another

Circle the word that best completes each sentence.

1. Do you have (other/another) pen? This one ran out of ink.

2. These are the wrong papers. When (the others/the other) arrive, please

call me.

48
3. We will hire (other/another) teacher from Canada next cycle.

4. The furniture in the front is on sale. (Another/The other) furniture is

the marked price.

5. My father has a (other/different) opinion from mine about whether

students should have three months of summer vacation or not.

6. All of (the other/the others) books have been checked out. This is the

only one left.

7. (Another/The other) day I was walking down the street when I ran into

Joan.

8. After a breakup, my mother used to tell me, “There are many

(others/other) fish in the sea.” (Other/Another) thing she used to say

was “Love is blind.”

9. This crate is much heavier than (the other one/the another one).

10. The shoes I have on are too tight, but (other/the other ones) I had on

yesterday are too big!

11. Some magazines have a lot of useful information. (Others/The other)

are mostly ads and fashion tips.

12. Three people were at the bus stop. One was reading the paper.

(Other/Another) was sitting on the bench. The (others/other) was

standing on the curb.

13. I just called Nancy, but I need to make (another/other) phone call

before I go to work.

14. There are five windows in this room, but only one can be opened. All

(the others/others) are stuck shut.

15. One thing I have always loved is to play golf. (Another/Other) thing I

really enjoy is playing cards with my daughter.

49
- exercise 3: error correction - other/another
Correct the error with other/another in each sentence. Change the
sentence so that is is correct. Put the correction above the bold-faced word.

1. That author is known for his mysteries and another novels of suspense.
2. A substitute teacher is a teacher who can replace other teacher in case of
an emergency.
3. I wonder if there is life on anothers planets.
4. This book is no good. Do you have other one?
5. He needs other piece of paper to take notes on.
6. Besides the problem with your driving, there are another things I need
to discuss with you.
7. Are you still hungry? Have other sandwich.
8. There are another problems with the tests – the teachers don’t know the
answers!

§ appliances
Look at the appliances below. Under each one, write a list of things that
could go wrong with them. There is an example to get you started.

toaster
doesn’t heat up
burns everything
doesn’t pop up on its own

clothes dryer laser printer DVD player bread machine

You have bought one of the appliances listed above, and unfortunately
your appliance displays one of the defects. You must write a letter of
complaint to the company, explaining the problem with the item and
asking for your money back (or a replacement).

After you have finished your letter of complaint, exchange it with a

classmate. Write a response to the letter from the factory or company.
Decide if or how you will refund the money and your reasons for doing
so.

Answers to Dollar Trivia:

1) b, 2) d, 3) f, 4) h, 5) j, 6) l, 7) a, 8) e, 9) c, 10) g, 11) k, 12) i

50
 V pronunciation
A. Make the plural or third person singular of the present tense for each of
the words below. Practice saying each of the words.

verb call get make bowl

carry close expand write eye
glass computer coaster reach wish

! Now listen to the pronunciation of the words. What differences did

you hear?

B. There are three ways to pronounce -s endings.

• 1. In words that end with a hissing sound, such as the sounds

produced by /s/, /sh/, /ch/, /z/, /zh/, and /j/, the -s ending is
pronounced as an extra syllable. Listen.

kiss ----> kisses church ----> churches judge ----> judges

office ----> offices teach ----> teaches chance ---> chances

• 2. In words ending in a voiceless sound, the -s ending is

pronounced /s/, and does not produce an extra syllable. Voiceless
sounds are those sounds that, when pronounced, do not produce any
vibration in the vocal cords. Some examples of consonants that
produce this sound are: /p/, /k/, /sh/, /s/, /f/. Listen.

roof ----> roofs plate ----> plates work ----> works

walk ----> walks fit ---->fits brick ----> bricks

• 3. In words ending with a voiced sound, the -s ending is

pronounced as /z/, but does not add an extra syllable. Voiced
sounds are those sounds that, when pronounced, produce a
vibration in the vocal cords. Some examples are: /g/, /b/, /r/, /n/,
vowel sounds like /a/ and /o/. Listen.

rain ----> rains plan ----> plans marry ----> marries

Laura ----> Laura’s read ----> reads drag ----> drags

C. Place the words below into the correct category, based on the
pronunciation of the -s ending for each verb.

clip love rule

library challenge cause
speech keyboard result
ski text host
match notice disk
51
Final voiced sound Final voiceless sound Extra syllable
_______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________

! Listen to the pronunciation of each word. Check your answers. Now

pronounce the words with a partner.

ø internet
For more information about the dollar bill, go to www.wheresgeorge.com.
Look for fun facts about your money, such as the fact the Bureau of
Engraving & Printing produces 37 million notes a day at a face value of
$696 million. Learn how money gets into circulation, or what time it is
on the clock on the $100 bill. Go to www.uglymoney.com to see real
pictures of mutilated bills: bills that have been burned, stamped, painted,
written on, or drawn on.

. Use the web sites to prepare a poster for the public about how to spot
counterfeit money.

Answers to EXERCISE 3: UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS:

crime, electricity, software, noise, politics, bread, soap
(key word) MEASLES

52
 ® That’s trendy !
Look at the following trends that are popular (or have been in
the past). Then, in small groups, choose one of the activities
u
listed with each trend and do it in small groups.

THE HOKEY POKEY

“Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your
right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey
and you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about!” These
are a few lines from the popular wedding song and dance, the
n
hokey pokey. During this dance, which newlyweds often like to

i
have played at their wedding receptions, the guests gather
together in a large circle. As the voice sings out orders, the
guests follow along, putting different parts of their body in and
out of the circle of people. Popular especially with small
children, this dance is a sure crowd-pleaser and can get even
the most reluctant dancers out on the dance floor.
A. Describe a typical or trendy dance that people do

t
on special occasions in your country. If possible, bring an
example of the music it is danced to and show the class the
dance.
B. Create a dance that could become popular at
weddings, such as the “Macarena.” Choose the song that it
would be danced to, and make up some basic dance steps that
can be taught to the rest of the class.
SHAWARMA SANDWICHES
Take a walk down basically any street in Quito and you will
more than likely find a stand selling the popular shawarma. It is
a sandwich-type food from the Middle East. Here in Quito the
sandwich is made of chicken roasted on a special spit, then
topped with a garlic sauce and served on bread similar to pita
bread. In the last two years, these sandwiches have popped up
on many street corners, selling from $1 to $2.50. If you haven’t
already, try one today. You won’t be sorry. Just make sure to
brush your teeth afterwards — your garlic breath could scare off
more than just a vampire!
3
A. Imagine you are an aspiring restaurant
entrepreneur. Think about a new food fad that you could
T
introduce to the public. Make sure that its price is accessible, r
and that it is something that could be sold on street corners, at
fairs or special celebrations. e
B. Think about other food fads that you have seen n
in recent years. Discuss them with a partner, then share them
with the class. Which have been the most popular? Are any still d
around? Have any virtually disappeared?
s

53
LEG WARMERS
In the 1980’s, leg warmers became popular with the movie Fame, a movie
about dancing. The trend caught on quickly; soon almost every girl wanted
a pair of leg warmers to grace her calves. They came in many colors and
designs, such as solids, stripes, and polka-dots. They were easy to use:
simply pull the tube-like material over your feet. Some girls preferred to
wear the leg warmers as socks, pulled all the way up to the knee. Others,
however, wore the leg warmers slouched down at the ankle. Either way,
most people nowadays would not be caught dead in this fashion craze from
the eighties, which just goes to show how fast fashion can change.
A. Create a new fashion statement for a specific group of people,
such as dancers, singers, cooks, etc. Design your article of clothing or
accessory, explain why you chose what you chose, and tell the class about
it.
B. Discuss a fashion craze from your childhood. Why did it
become popular? For how long did people wear or use it? Do they still?
What are your feelings about this fad now?
REALITY TELEVISION
With the advent of the TV show, Survivor, reality TV took off full blast on
U.S. television. Since that first season numerous shows have popped up on
television sets across the world. From shows setting people up with each
other such as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, to series attempting to
seek out talent, such as American Idol, reality TV has become a reality.
A. Write a list of reality television shows that you have heard of or
seen. Which are your favorite, if any? Do you like to watch these kinds of
shows? Why or why not? Why do you think reality TV has gotten so
popular in the last few years? Discuss your ideas in groups.
B. With a partner, decide on the topic for a new reality television
show. Write the premise for this show. Decide how many people need to
participate, what the election process would consist of, and when the
program would be finished. Share your ideas with the class.
KISSING
A recent study coming out of Ruhr University in Germany found that
most couples tilt to the right when they kiss. The study was performed by
spying on smooching couples in public places in the U.S., Turkey, and
Germany, such as airports, beaches, train stations, and parks, and concluded
that 65% of the couples spied upon went to the right as they kissed, while
only 35% went to the left. According to some psychologists, the habit is
formed in the womb, where fetuses begin to tilt their heads, most of the time
to the right. Due to this tendency, most of us begin to favor our right hand,
foot, eye and ear.
A. Perform a study like the one performed in Germany. Start by
watching couples in public for a couple of days. Note which side they go to
as they kiss. Were your results the same?
B. Discuss kissing habits in your country. Who do you kiss on a
regular basis? Is it appropriate to kiss family members and friends on the
lips? On the cheek? On the hand? What are kissing taboos? Do you have
any kissing pet peeves?

54
 @ simple present
Every morning I wake up at 6:30.
My boyfriend is a very sincere person.
I usually hate anything made with onions, but this is delicious.

• Indicates a habitual action or regularly occurring action in the

present, sometimes referred to as the habitual present.
• Used in descriptions, or actions that are constant or do not
change.
• Common phrases that are used with the simple present:
usually every Monday, Tuesday, etc. always
regularly every day, year, etc. normally
• May be used to indicate future time when referring to schedules,
timetables, etc. (movies, public transportation).
The tennis match starts at 9:00.
Alisha’s plane arrives at 7:26 pm.

Remember to:
Înote: • correctly conjugate the third person singular by
adding -s to the verb.
Jason speaks three languages: Japanese,
Arabic, and English.
• use the auxiliary do/does for most verbs in a
negative sentence or question.
Do you have a list of the names?
No, I don’t have a list, but I can remember them.

- exercise 1: simple present

Put the verbs in the correct simple present form.
1. He ____________ (wish) he had more time to go on vacation.
2. We ____________ (take) vitamins every morning.
3. They ____________ (live) by the ocean.
55
4. My car ____________ (go) over one-hundred miles an hour.
5. She ___________ (study) French at CEC.
6. Mark _______________ (try) hard in class, but still __________ (get) bad grades.
7. Sharon’s parents _______________ (have) a cabin in the woods.
8. The job ____________ (not sound) very interesting.
9. My car ___________ (run) well in the summer months, but never _________
(start) in the winter.
10. My wife ___________ (give) me a kiss each morning before I leave for work.
11. People ____________ (like) to know that they have support from those
they love.
12. Her sweater _____________ (look) very soft and warm.
13. The child ____________ (play) computer games every afternoon.
14. The book ________________ (teach) us about manners.
15. Our meal _______________ (taste) burnt.
16. Katherine _____________ (miss) the bus three times a week!

Look at the spelling rules below. Tick (√) the ones that apply to the third
person of the simple present tense.

____1. If the word ends in -y, change -y to -i and add -es.

____2. If the word ends in consonant + y, change -y to -i and add -es.
____3. If the word ends with a vowel, omit the final vowel before adding -s.
____4. If the word ends in -e, drop the -e before adding -s.
____5. Add -es if the word ends in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z.
____6. Add -es to verbs like go and do.

- exercise 2: simple present

Describe an activity. Explain how to do one of the following things. Use
the simple present tense.
• tie your shoes
• wash a car
• sew a button
• change a diaper

56
 [] tendencies
Make a list of things that you do often. Use the ideas below, or create
categories of your own. When you are finished, share some of your
sentences with a partner. After you have heard your partner’s sentences,
write a small paragraph about your partner’s personality and/or habits.
I often get up...
I worry about...
I surf the Internet ____ hrs. a week.
When I am hungry/sad, I...
I frequently call...
I tend to be on time/late when...
I tend to get angry when...
When I have extra money, I...
Answers to THE DOPE (INFO) ON TODAY’S SLANG
1. D; an attention-getter, yo can also be substituted for a name.
2. C; often used with “out,” as in Chill out, that grade isn’t so bad.
3. B; a house, apartment, or any other kind of residence
4. B; also spelled homie, this word probably comes from homeboy, a
person from one’s own neighborhood.
5. D; to dishonor or disrespect
6. B; can also be used as an adjective meaning flashy
7. A; cool, interesting
8. A; excellent, great
9. B; also my fault
10. B; unfair or unacceptable, also wack
11. A; also spelled playa
12. B; short for whatever, kids use it to mean “what will be, will be”
13. C; an old car that’s in bad shape
14. A; another word for hooptie
15. A; willing, usually used with the verb be, e.g. Are you down with that?
16. C; to leave very quickly
17. C; goodbye, perhaps a combination of Peace, man and Over and out

@ present progressive
I’m thinking of buying a new car.
What are you talking about?
We are watching the game at my apartment.

be (am, is, are) + verb(ing)

• Indicates present time (now).

• Some phrases that indicate present progressive are: at the
moment, now, right now.
• Can also be used to refer to an action in the future, usually for an
action that is already decided upon or one that seems imminent.

57
- exercise 1: present progressive
Fill in the sentence with the correct form of the present progressive.

1. Unemployment _______________ every day in the U.S. (increase)

2. Why _______ that boy ___________ his brother? (hit)
3. Teenagers ______________ more independent because of technology.
(become)
4. We ___________________ English right now, so please come back later.
(study)
5. The man who _______________________ whisky is my uncle. (drink)
6. – Where is Sally?
– She ___________________ the dog. (wash)
7. We ____________________ to go to Asia for our next vacation. (plan)
8. Look! Your mother ___________________ the piano. (play)
9. Someday, when you ________________ it, I will get you back. (not expect)
10. Veronica _______________ a marathon next week. Wish her luck! (run)

Look at your answers above. Finish the spelling rules for the present
progressive.

1. If a word ends in -e, drop the ______ before adding -ing.

2. If a word ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, double the final
___________ before adding _________. This is especially true for one-
syllable verbs.

- exercise 2: simple present vs. present progressive

Choose the simple present tense or present progressive for each verb in ( )
to complete each sentence correctly.

1. My parents _____________(live) in the U.S., but at the moment they

_________________ (live) with my aunt in Canada.

2. You can use my books. I ________________(read, not) them at the

moment.

3. _______________________ (use) the mirror? I ______________(want) to use

it after you ___________________(finish) brushing your hair.

4. We usually _________________(go) to Florida for vacation, but this year we

_________(take, not) a vacation because we ____________________(have,
not) much money.

5. My mother _______________(make) a cake for my birthday. It

______________(smell) delicious.

58
6. I __________________(understand) what the teacher is talking about now.

7. _________________(snow, ever) in Georgia?

8. The presidential candidate _____________________(belong, not) to any

political party.

9. During the months of October and November in certain areas of the U.S.,
the leaves on the trees always ________________(fall).

10. Andrea’s plane __________________(arrive) at eight o’clock tonight.

11. Consumers ___________________ (spend) billions of dollars a year on

appliances designed to improve their lives.

12. The sun ___________________ (shine) on the computer screen, so I can’t

see the text very well.

13. Girls __________________ (tend) to be better students than boys during

elementary school.

14. Emily _______________ (graduate) from Monroe High School this year.
Her sister __________________ (attend) the same school.

15. Every Sunday, without fail, we ________________ (go) to the movies.

h grammar first aid

STATIVE VERBS

Now I understand your point of view.

I feel very sick right now.
This food really tastes good.
I see what you mean.

• Stative verbs are verbs that are not used in the progressive form
(-ing).
• Stative verbs use the simple present tense to indicate present time
(“at this moment”).

59
 Emotions:
love like/dislike
hate respect

Appearance:
seem be
appear look
resemble

Mental states:
believe(=have an opinion) wish
agree/disagree know
understand

Possession:
have(=to possess) own
possess

Wants/preferences:
want need
wish
Senses:
see hear
smell taste
feel

- exercise 1: stative verbs

Decide if each sentence is right or wrong. Underline the incorrect word(s)
if the sentence is wrong, and change it so that it becomes correct.

Example: I am loving your dress. _wrong

love

1. I usually am understanding French class. __________

2. Look! Somebody is hitting that poor dog over there. __________

3. Economists are worried because the dollar is losing its value. __________

4. The Earth goes around the sun. __________

5. The coffee I am drinking is tasting very good right now. __________

6. What are you thinking about John’s plans for vacation? __________

60
7. Jack studies every afternoon, but his grades stay the same. __________

8. Help! That man looks as if he’s having a heart attack. __________

9. Watch out! That man tries to steal your purse. __________

10. Please be quiet. I study right now. __________

11. I am seeing that you are unhappy with the class. Is that true? __________

12. She’s looking like her mother, but her sister looks just like her father. __________

13. I’m wanting to go to Europe next year for vacation. __________

14. Nancy, be quiet! The teacher is looking directly at you. __________

15. I think Barbara is having a car, so maybe she can give you a ride.__________

L zoom
She’s always gossiping!

Use the structure always (verb)+ing to describe when

someone does something often.

- exercise 1: she’s always gossiping

Use the structure above to write sentences describing people you know who do
the following things often.
Example: My sister is always gossiping about her so-called friends. She says the
meanest things about them!

• worry about nothing

• complain about something (specify)
• forget things (specify)
• fall in love
• lose things (specify)
• borrow things (specify)

61
 G the dope (info) on today’s slang
A. Like fashion trends, language is constantly changing. New slang words
and expressions seem to pop up daily, and are proliferated through trendy
music and television. Take the word “cool.” It has been around for many
years, and means that something is great, fresh and interesting. Over the
years, lots of different words and phrases have meant the same as “cool.”
Try to fill in the blanks to reveal these blasts from the past.
N--t R-d A--s--- G---v-
P--ch- K--n F-b F-- o-t
B. Look at the conversation below and use the context to determine what
the bold-faced words mean.
A: Yo, Nick! What’s up?
B: Nothing, man. I’m just here chilling. Not much is going on today.
Hey, I didn’t see you last night at Kristin’s party. We hung out at her crib
until two in the morning.
A: I couldn’t make it. My girlfriend was mad all night because she
thought I called her fat in front of her homeys. I told her that there was
no way I dissed her like that, but she wouldn’t talk to me all night. I had
to promise to buy her some bling-bling before she’d forgive me. How was
the party?
B: It was tight. Everyone from class was there. I saw Jessica. She looked
so good. We spent some time together. She’s so phat. My bad is that I
mentioned my ex in front of her. She freaked out and said that I was
wacked to be talking about my ex when I’m trying to get with her. Now
she thinks I’m a player. What do you think?
A: Whatevs. I’m not on anyone’s side. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Was Alvin at the party? I haven’t seen him for ages.
B: That was the funniest part of the night. Not only did he come in some
strange clothes, he also pulled up in a hooptie. It rattled all the way down
the street.
A: Well, at least he’s got some transportation. Not car-less like you, bro.
By the way, when is your brother going to give you his old beater?
B: He said that by next month he’ll have his new car and will give me his
Ford then. When he does, what do you say to a trip to the beach?
A: Sounds great. I’m down with that. Well, I’d better jet. If I’m late to
work one more time, the boss said he’s going to fine me. See ya later.
B: Peace out.

- exercise 1: vocabulary
1. yo (interj.): a) ouch, b) ugh, c) what a pain, d) hey
2. chill (v.): a) to be unfriendly, b) become angry, c) relax, d) worry
3. crib (n.): a) furniture, b) residence, c) vacation, d) city
4. homey (n.): a) rustic person, b) close friend, c) singer, d) house
5. dis (v.): a) to gossip, b) challenge, c) struggle, d) insult

62
6. bling-bling (n.): a) sparkling stars, b) expensive item, c) champagne cocktail,
d) hand signal
7. tight (adj.): a) fantastic, b) uncomfortable, c) grumpy, d) cheap
8. phat (adj.): a) well put-together, b) flirtatious, c) not thin, d) energetic
9. my bad (n.): a) my bad self, b) my mistake, c) my problem, d) my friends
10. wacked (adj.): a)difficult, b) weird or strange, c) extremely tired, d) excited
11. player (n.): a person who a) dates many at once, b) follows trends, c) goes to
clubs, d) enjoys sports
12. whatevs (interj.): a) don’t worry, b) no comment, c) I see, d) who cares?
13. hooptie (n.): a) motorized vehicle, b) happiness, c) old car, d) bicycle
14. beater (n.): a) hooptie, b) homey, c) bling-bling, d) crib
15. down (adj.): a) in agreement with, b) type of warm jacket, c) furry, d) nice
16. jet (v.): a) to go skiing, b) use a Jet Ski, c) leave in a hurry, d) drive fast
17. peace out (salutation): a) happy holidays, b) greeting at a church service, c)
see you later, d) check it out
Check page 57 for the answers.

- exercise 2: vocabulary
In small groups, try your hand at using these words and phrases in a small
conversation. If you like, perform your dialog as a small role play for the rest of
the class.

@ simple past
I took many pictures on my trip to Tena.
Did she crash her car yesterday?
We went to the movies two weeks ago.
Carrie worked for Central University for three years.
Sebastian graduated from high school last July.

The simple past is:

• Used to indicate an action begun and completed in the past.
• Often used with specific time references in the past.

63
Înote: Remember that the auxiliary verb did is used for most
verbs in the negative or interrogative.
Did you see Rebecca’s hair yesterday? She looked like a
clown!
I didn’t notice anything different about her.

- exercise 1: simple past

Fill in the blanks with the correct past tense form of each verb. Each verb will
only be used once.
feel sell shake keep arrive hurt
forget be spend fall think win
choose blow turn celebrate attempt buy
correct bleed

1. The teacher _________________ papers all night long in order to have grades
ready today.
2. Last night the wind _______________ so hard it knocked down the cherry tree
out front.
3. My father _________________ a lot of money on the divorce.
4. The ground _________________ for hours as the bulldozers ripped up the
earth.
5. She _____________ badly about the trouble she caused by being so negative.
6. The child _______________ himself when he fell off of the tricycle.
7. I ____________ in love with my wife while we were in college, and I have loved
her ever since.
8. Jenny and Pat finally ______________ their house, after months of trying.
9. The day of the test she _______________ all of the vocabulary words!
10. The team ______________ late, and had to forfeit the game.
11. Because it was her birthday, we ________________ her the CD she wanted.
12. The man with the gunshot wound _______________ to death on the street
because no one would help him.
13. We ________________ a journal of the time we spent at camp to share with
our friends upon our return.
14. When asked which she preferred, the Volkswagen or the Fiat, she __________
the Volkswagen.
15. Alex and Karen _________________ their thirtieth wedding anniversary by
going to an expensive restaurant.
16. The suspicious car ____________ around when the patrol car approached.
17. Charlotte ___________ mortified by her brother’s behavior at the dance.
18. They ______________ to get all of the employees involved in the project, but
few wanted to be a part of it.
19. She _____________ the prize, but lost all of our respect in the process.
20. I _______________ you were out of town still! When did you get back?

64
- exercise 2: past tense verbs
Word Game: In groups of four, vertically write the name of one person in your
group. Using each letter of his/her name, try to find an irregular verb that begins
with each letter. Write it in the past tense. Then do the same with the name of
someone else in your group, this time using the past participle. If you cannot find
an irregular verb beginning with the letter, than you may use a regular verb.

Example:

H eard
A rose
N oticed
K new

___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________
___ ________________________

65
 [] uninhabited island
Below is a map of an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean that you and a
few friends have decided to buy. It is up to you as a group to decide how
to design this island: where to put hotels, beaches, towns, and other
tourist attractions. Think about things that are popular nowadays and try
to incorporate them into your island. When you have filled in the map,
write a small brochure inviting others to come to your island. Don’t
forget to give your island a name!

66
 @ past progressive
be (was, were) + verb(ing)

• An action begun but not necessarily finished yet. When this action is
interrupted by another action in the past, the second action is in the simple
past tense.

I was eating breakfast when she called me.

When I saw the accident, I was going to work.
You were watching the soap opera when the lights went out.

When an action occurs after another action in

Înote: the past, use the simple past. I was studying
last night when Judy came over. I invited her
to dinner and we ate pizza.

• Two actions occurring simultaneously in the past

Sue was doing her homework while her boyfriend was sleeping.
Gail was watching TV while Mary was getting ready for work.

• An action occurring at a specific time in the past.

I was studying at 7:00 am.
Your mom was looking for you last night.

Înote: Remember the list of stative verbs, which are

generally not used in any progressive tense.

- exercise 1: simple past vs. past progressive

Choose between the simple past tense and the past progressive in order to
complete each sentence.
1. I __________________ (visit) Julie when I ___________ (hear) about the
explosion.
2. My mother _______________ (cook) breakfast while my father
______________ (read) the paper.
67
3. While we ______________ (be) at school, it _____________ (snow).
4. On her last day, Katie _____________ (say) good-bye to all of her
coworkers.
5. Olivia __________________ (take) notes in class when her pen
______________ (run) out of ink.
6. The child _________________ (play) soccer when it _______________ (begin)
to rain.
7. The thief _______________ (climb) the wall when the police
________________ (shine) the light on him.
8. We ___________ (be) busy yesterday. While I ________________ (do) my
homework, my brother _______________ (mow) the lawn, and my father
________________ (paint) the house.
9. He ______________ (cough) all night. In the morning, he _______________
(buy) some cough medicine.
10. The dentist _________________ (check) her teeth and then ____________
(tell) her to come back in six months.
11. Lilly ________________ (jog) when suddenly she ______________ (trip) on
a rock and _____________ (fall).
12. The sun ______________ (rise) early this morning.
13. I ______________ (mean) to tell you yesterday: we _______________ (joke)
when we ____________ (say) that Adam liked you.
14. She ______________ (quit) her job as a bank teller in order to write a
novel.
15. The man ___________________ (undergo) surgery after the accident, and
__________________ (recuperate) quickly.

- exercise 2: simple past vs. past progressive

Complete the sentences below using the simple past or past progressive.

1. I _____________________________ while__________________________________.
2. __________________________________________________________ last night.
3. She _______________________________ when
_____________________________.
4. When ______________________________, ________________________________.
5. As we ____________________________, he ________________________________.

- exercise 3: past
Write a paragraph about what you did last Sunday.

Example: Last Sunday I went up north with my family. We were going to

originally go to Cayambe, but once we got there, we decided to continue on
until we reached Ibarra. In Ibarra, we...
68
!exercise 4: simple past vs. past progressive
Listen to the sentences. Choose the best meaning for each.
1. A) She finished the explanation.
B) It is not clear if she finished the explanation.

2. A) The concert ended in April.

B) It is not clear if the concert ended in April.

3. A) Sean finished his paper.

B) It is not clear if he finished his paper.

4. A) The author finished the article.

B) It is not clear if he finished the article.

5. A) I came into the room in the middle of the conversation.

B) I came into the room and they began to talk.

6. A) He hurt himself during a tennis match.

B) He hurt himself after a tennis match.

7. A) She started crying before I called.

B) She began to cry when she heard my voice.

8. A) Dave didn’t go to class yesterday.

B) It is not clear if Dave went to class yesterday.

9. A) The photographer finished the photo shoot.

B) It is not clear if the photographer finished the photo shoot.

10. A) He finished taking the pictures.

B) It is not clear if he finished taking the pictures.

V pronunciation
PAST TENSE
REGULAR VERBS

1. For verbs that end with a voiceless sound, the final -ed is pronounced
like a “t.” Voiceless sounds are those sounds that, when pronounced, do not
produce any vibration in the vocal cords. Some examples of consonants
that produce this sound are:
/p/ /k/ /sh/ /s/ /f/

69
Look at the following examples:
worked - /workt/ stopped - /stopt/
kissed - /kist/ wished - /wisht/

Think of four more examples of these verbs. Practice their pronunciation.

1.____________________ 3._____________________
2.____________________ 4._____________________

2. For regular verbs that end in a voiced sound the final -ed is pronounced
like a “d.” Voiced sounds are those sounds that, when pronounced, produce
a vibration in the vocal cords. Some examples are:
/g/ /b/ /r/ /n/ vowel sounds: /a/ /o/

Look at the following examples:

trained - /traind/ mugged - /mugd/ robbed - /robd/
stayed - /stayd/ borrowed - /borrowd/

Think of four more verbs that follow this rule, then practice their correct
pronunciation.
1. ___________________ 3. ___________________
2. ___________________ 4. ___________________

3. Exceptions: Regular verbs that end in “t” or “d.” If the verb ends in the
letters “t” or “d,” the ending -ed is pronounced like /id/. Examples:
needed - /needid/ wanted - /wantid/

! PAST TENSE PRONUNCIATION

Listen to the pronunciation of the past tense verbs in the following
sentences. Practice the sentences.
1. When Sarah looked out the window, she noticed that her father had
already mowed the lawn.
2. After Jessie called her cousin, she turned on the TV and taped her
favorite soap opera.
3. Due to a lack of space, my mother rented a room from a neighbor and
hired a team to move her old furniture.
4. Jason recommended eating at a vegetarian restaurant, but his wife,
Beth, suggested that they go to a sports bar.

70
 @ future
1. WILL
He’ll finish his homework this weekend. (prediction)
Be careful! You’ll burn yourself. (prediction)
She’ll probably regret her actions tomorrow. (uncertainty)
Maybe I’ll call you later if I have the time. (uncertainty)
Ask the teacher. She’ll help you. (willingness)
Someone is knocking at the door. Don’t worry, I’ll get it.
(willingness)
will + main verb (base form)
• Shows a degree of uncertainty.
• Used to predict the future: to say what we think, guess, or calculate
will happen.
• Will + not = won’t
• Used to express willingness to do something.
• Commonly used with expressions such as
maybe perhaps probably
• Shall may be used to express future with the pronouns I and we.
(This is more common to hear in British English than in American
English.)
Shall I call you tonight, Tom?
We shall be happy if you tell us your plans.

2. BE GOING TO
Be careful! You’re going to burn yourself. (prediction)
Tomorrow I’m definitely going to e-mail my mother. (certainty)
I bought the wallpaper because I am going to redecorate the
house. (certainty)
I spoke to Anne last night. She told me she’s going to come to
the party. (certainty)

be (is, are, am) + going to + verb (base form)

• May express a prediction.

• Predicts the future by using present evidence, (when we can see that
a future event is on the way or beginning to occur).
• Indicates a prior plan or firm intention in the future.
• Used to demonstrate certainty in the future.

71
 * Notice that sometimes will and be going to are interchangeable.
Situation 1:
-What are you going to do on Saturday?
-Well, I’m not sure yet. (I’ll go / I’m going to go) to Ambato, of course. Then
(I’ll probably visit / I’m going to visit) my relatives.

Situation 2:

-Do you have plans for tonight?

-Yes. I’m going to meet Bill at the Chinese restaurant on Main Street and
then we’re going to see a movie.

In the first situation, either will or be going to is possible, as the speaker is

making a prediction about his/her plans. In the second situation, however,
only be going to is possible, since a prior plan has already been established.

- exercise 1 (oral): making predictions

Look at each situation. What do you predict will happen? Think of at least
three predictions for each.

1. Your son is lost in the Mall of America.

2. You took a wrong turn in the desert and ran out of gas.
3. You invented a new cookie recipe and Betty Crocker asked to buy it.
4. Your boss has just fired you.
5. Your spouse is selling drugs.
6. You stayed up all night dancing and partying.

- exercise 2: will vs. going to

Choose between will and be going to to complete each sentence.

1. That woman is pregnant. She _____________ have a baby.

2. I suppose that John _____________ be late. He sometimes is on Mondays.
3. Gerald believes that inflation ________________ go up next year.
4. You left the flower pot on the window sill, and it’s really windy. It
_____________ fall off.
5. Look! The baby’s turning red. He __________________ start to cry.
6. I predict that tomorrow it _______________ (not) rain.
7. You __________________ (never) finish that book – you’ve been on chapter
one for three months!
8. With some luck, Andrea’s baby ________________ have her father’s curly
hair.
9. It ______________________ rain – look at those clouds.
10. Here’s the plumber’s estimate. It ________________________ cost $1000
to fix the plumbing in the kitchen.

72
 @ future
3. SIMPLE PRESENT OR PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I’m meeting my Science teacher at noon.
Her plane arrives at seven.
The movie starts in an hour.
He’s leaving for Alaska tomorrow night.
The bank opens at nine a.m.
• The present progressive may be used to express future
arrangements, a planned event or definite intention. (For
example, the word rain cannot indicate future in the present
progressive since it is not a planned event.)
• The simple present indicates future events that are on a definite
schedule or timetable. It is common to hear with verbs such as
open, close, start, end, arrive, finish, leave, return, and come.

* Notice that future time is established through the context of the

sentence or through the use of future time words.

- exercise 1: present progressive as future

Look at Renee’s agenda, where she has written her schedule for the next week.
Say what she will be doing each day. Use the present progressive to talk about
her fixed plans.
APRIL____________

10 SUNDAY
walking with Debbie – 10 a.m.
visit Joseph – afternoon
11 MONDAY
work meeting – 8 a.m.
lunch with Mr. Edwards – 1 p.m.
soccer game – 8 p.m.
12 TUESDAY
Martin’s father’s funeral – 9 a.m.
lawyer – 4 p.m.
13 WEDNESDAY

14 THURSDAY
To Chicago 7:30 a.m. AA 704
Return 9:10 p.m. AA 1732

15 FRIDAY
dinner with Hurtgens – 7 p.m.

16 SATURDAY
casino!

73
 @ future progressive
She’ll be arriving at nine tonight.
Tomorrow at this time we’ll be over the Atlantic.
I’ll be watching my soap opera when you call.
I won’t be home at seven, so don’t come over. I’m going to be
doing some grocery shopping.
will be + verb + -ing

• Indicates an action in progress at a particular time in the future.

• Commonly used for planned or expected future events.
• Used for polite inquiries, when you are not trying to influence
someone’s decision. Example: Will you be staying for supper this
evening? (The person is simply asking, not trying to suggest that
the person must stay.)
• There is little or no difference between the future and future
progressive.

- exercise 1: inquiries with future progressive

Make future progressive questions to politely ask the following.

Example: what they plan to wear
What will you be wearing tonight?
1. what they plan to do this weekend
2. how soon intend to finish English classes
3. how intend to pay for something
4. how soon plan to go on vacation
5. what plan to do on vacation
6. where plan to study English next cycle
7. when intend to do something
8. how long intend to do something

74
- exercise 2: future progressive
(One student must close the book for this activity)
You are a reporter trying to get an interview with a famous movie star. Your
partner is the movie star’s agent, and the only person who has the star’s schedule.
Ask your partner questions to see when you can meet with the celebrity to
interview him/her.
Example: Will _______ be able to meet at 6:30 a.m.?
No, he/she will be having his/her makeup done.
TUESDAY, MAY 6
6 a.m. makeup session
8 a.m. breakfast with Steven Spielberg
9 a.m. telephone interview with Vogue
9:30 a.m. press conference
10:30 a.m. tennis lesson with Venus Williams
noon nap
1 p.m. lunch with the cast of Friends
2:30 p.m. audition for ABC’s new series
6 p.m. appointment with lawyers
8 p.m. dinner party
10 p.m. bed

- exercise 3 (0ral): will/going to vs.future progressive

Ask the oracle! One person in the class should volunteer to be the oracle. The
rest of the class will write questions about the future that they would like to ask
the oracle. Meanwhile, the person who is the oracle should copy the following
phrases on small pieces of paper and put them in a container. Each time a student
asks a question, the oracle draws an answer.
Yes, most definitely. Probably not.
It will happen. It is likely.
Don’t count on it. It won’t happen.
Don’t hold your breath. It doesn’t look very promising.
The chances are good. There is a good chance.

- exercise 4: distinguishing tenses

Indicate the meaning expressed – future, habitual, now – by the underlined
verbs.

__________1. I am taking five courses now.

__________2. I am taking five courses next fall.
__________3. She usually takes five courses a semester.
__________4. I’ll drop the package off at Mary’s when I go to work.

75
__________5. When I am in Guayaquil, I am going to visit some friends.
__________6. When some students graduate, they go to college.
__________7. The announcer is discussing the strike. Listen!
__________8. When you finish your homework, do you want to play some
cards?

- exercise 5: distinguishing tenses

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb tense of the verb in parentheses.

1. A: What __________ (do) right now? Are you busy?

B: No, not really. I __________ (get) ready for tomorrow’s class. Why?
A: I __________ (need) some help with this article. It’s in German and I
am having trouble understanding it. Can you help me?
B: Sure, I__________ (translate) it for you.

2. A: This light is burnt out. Where __________ (keep) the light bulbs?
B: I __________ (get) them for you.

3. A: I __________ (take) night classes next spring.

B: Really? What classes __________ (sign up) for?
A: I __________ (enroll) in a computer class and a writing class. I
__________ (get) my degree, and then I probably __________ (look for) a
job.

4. A: What __________ (do) this vacation?

B: Oh, I __________ (go) out of town with my family, We __________
(spend, probably) some time at our cabin on the beach. We __________
(eat) ceviche and sunbathe, and __________ (be, probably) back by
Thursday.

5. A: Why are you wearing that oven mitt?

B: I __________ (make) brownies.

6. A: It’s so cold in here.

B: I __________ (make) you a cup of tea.

7. A: I couldn’t come to class today. Did the teacher give any homework?
B: No, but he said that tomorrow he __________ (explain) yesterday’s
homework.

8. A: Is it true that the earth __________ (destroy, probably) in the next two
hundred years?
B: What we do today __________ (affect) the future of this planet.
76
- exercise 6: error correction
Decide if the following sentences are correct or incorrect. If incorrect,
change them so that they are correct.

1. I’ll be having a lot of fun at Jonah’s house when he turns ten.

2. Tonight I’ve decided that I will go to sleep early.

3. -Where are my books? -They are right here by my side. I’m going to give
them to you.

4. Would you please get off the phone? I’m going to wait for a long distance
phone call.

5. - What are you going to do after graduation? -When I graduate I look for
a job.

6. The museum will be opening soon. Do you have your ticket?

§ writing
Think about a trend that has become popular in Ecuadorian society.
It can be something occurring in politics, fashion, music and dance,
etc. Describe the trend’s attributes and how you feel about it. Share
your paragraph with a partner.

! listening
What are the latest trends in the following categories?
health clothes
food/restaurants music/dance

Listen to the blurbs on the CD about things that have become popular
lately. Answer the questions about each one as you listen, using the
information given by each speaker.

77
1. What are two reasons to buy a mini trampoline?
_________________________________________________________________________
What are some of the health benefits of rebounding?
_________________________________________________________________________
How much can you expect to pay for a mini trampoline? __________________

2. Why are people interested in herbal supplements?

_________________________________________________________________________
What is one complaint about health food store clerks?
_________________________________________________________________________
When going to a health food store, what are two things you can do to make
sure you get a reliable product?
_________________________________________________________________________

3. According to the speaker, what is one reason for America’s obesity

problem?
_________________________________________________________________________
Name two things that restaurants are doing in order to combat this
dangerous trend and provide healthier selections for their clientele.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
If you are looking for a meal under 475 calories, which restaurant would be
your best bet?
____________________________________________________________

4. Describe what each book is about:

Lennon Legend
___________________________________________________________
John Paul II: A Light to the World
__________________________________________
Schott’s Original Miscellany
________________________________________________
According to the speaker, name a reason why a person might like each of
these books? Lennon _____________________________________________
John Paul II ______________________________________________
Schott’s ___________________________________________________
Which book looks more interesting to you? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________

5. Why are houses being super-sized?

_________________________________________________________________________
Since 1990, what has the trend been in self-storage facilities?
_________________________________________________________________________
What kinds of things do people pay to have stored?
_________________________________________________________________________

78
 ø internet
What were some of the most important events of the past year? Where were
some of the biggest natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes? What songs were the most popular? Movies? Books? What
kinds of trends have been developing over the years in terms of family and
society? If you have ever wondered these things, then this is the web site
for you. Go to www.infoplease.com/spot/03yearinreview.html and find out
the answers to these questions, as well as many more. For example, did you
know that in the U.S., the median age at marriage has stayed almost the
same for men over the last one hundred years? In 1890 it was 26.1,
whereas in 2002 it had gone up to only 26.9.

. 1. Think of a trend that you are interested in knowing more about, such
as the median age of women at marriage over the past one hundred years,
or the percentage never married. Use this web site to find your answers.

. 2. Make a list of some of the most important events of the past year.
Use the web site to compare your answers.

79
 ® the three hats
A riddle is a kind of question that is a puzzle. It tests one’s ingenuity
at answering difficult or interesting questions. For example, when is
a door not a door? Answer: when it is ajar (ajar is another word for
u
open). Are there any riddles that are famous in your culture? Read

n
the riddle story below. See if you can figure out the answer.

The Riddle of the Three Hats

There once were three men, Carl, Harry, and Mike.

They lived in the Kingdom of Hatdom, where a mean and

i
cruel king lived. One day, while the three men were
taking a stroll through the forest on the outskirts of the
kingdom, they ran across the king’s army. The king had
given the order that anyone found outside of the
kingdom’s borders should be taken prisoner. Carl, Harry,
and Mike were sent to a dungeon in the king’s castle.
The king, however, was not a completely unfair man.
He decided to create a riddle for the men to solve. The
king said, “I have four hats. Three are white and one is
t
black. I am going to put a hat on each of your heads.”
The king blindfolded the three men and then put a hat on
each man’s head. After he had done so, he took the
blindfolds off. “Now each of you is wearing a hat,” he
said. “You can see the color of the other two men’s hats,
but not that of your own. If any of you can tell me what
color the hat is that you are wearing, all three of you will
go free. If anyone makes a mistake, I will feed you all to
4
the wolves.”
The three men were silent. Minutes passed, and still H
no one had found the answer, until suddenly Carl spoke.
a
“I know what color my hat is.”
n
What color was Carl’s hat? Were the three men saved?
d
Why or why not?
y
(Turn to page 102 to see the answer.)
80
 @ present perfect
She has been to Greece before.
We have never had any problems with that teacher.
It has rained every day this week.

have/has + past participle (main verb)

• Used to indicate an action in the past that has a connection with the present.
Can announce a recent happening or new information. Often uses words
like just and already/yet.
I’ve lost my wallet.
I’ve just finished talking to her.
He’s already taken the trash outside.

• Can be used to show the first time that something has happened.
She has never tried coleslaw before.
This is the first time you’ve driven in the city.

• Refers to an action that began in the past and continues up until the
present, or has never occurred. Many times it is with for or since.
since + beginning of time
for + duration of time

I have worked at this university for three years.

I have worked at this university since 1999.
She has lived in Quito since 1978.
She has lived in Quito for the last ten years.

• Used for actions that occurred at an indefinite time in the past, when there
is no mention of a specific time reference (like yesterday, last week, in
1999).

I have been to Guayaquil before.

You have seen that movie in the past.
She has met my mom.

Înote: In informal speech, the preposition before will

sometimes be added at the end of the sentence, e.g.
“She has met my mom before.”
81
 @ present perfect
• Used for actions that have occurred more than once in the past.

He has gone to the U.S. several times in the past.

There have been a number of accidents at this airport.

• Ever is used to ask if the action has occurred at any point or time in the
past. If it hasn’t, use the negative, never, in the answer. As never is
already negative, use it with an affirmative verb.

Have you ever taken a Biology class?

No, I have never had a science class.
Has he ever seen my dad before?
You have never suffered what she has.
We haven’t ever discussed the family secrets between us.

- exercise 1: when to use present perfect

Decide which rule of the present perfect applies to each sentence.

1. She’s been teaching here for five years.

2. Evelyn has gone to Disneyworld with her children four times.
3. Since 1998, our center has been under new rules and regulations.
4. We haven’t heard any news from her yet. I hope she arrived OK.
5. This is the first time I have tried to call her today.
6. She’s just finished the test.
7. It’s so sunny out that our clothes have already dried.
8. Susan has already finished her homework.
9. I’ve seen this episode before.
10. How many times have you asked her to be more careful when driving?

- exercise 2: simple past vs. present perfect

Use either the present perfect or the simple past in the following sentences.
1. Robert ____________ (see) this movie before.
2. Bob ____________ (travel) around the world.
3. Doris ____________ (write) me a letter last night.
4. We _____________ (work) in the same place for ten years.
5. Mrs. Hamm ______________ ( go) to the store at 4 p.m.
6. You _______________ (begin) to study for the lesson yet.
7. I _________________ (call) my wife yesterday.
8. Warren __________________ (save) a lot of money in the bank since 1950.
9. William __________________ (do) his errands yet.
10. Dan ________________ (get) a new station-wagon last year.
82
11. She __________________ (study) Japanese when she ______________(be)
in high school.
12. A long time ago my grandfather _________________ (teach) me how to
use a chainsaw.
13. Lately I ___________________ (have) little time to do anything but
homework!
14. Today I __________________ (have) lunch with Mary, who
___________________ (arrive) from Brazil.
15. On farms in the past, men, women, and even children ________________
(work) from morning until night.
16. Gretchen ______________________ (grow) a lot since the last time I
____________ (see) her.
17. Scientists __________________ (use) rats in many experiments
throughout the last century.
18. Country singers ____________________ (write) many songs about loss.
19. Agnes ____________________ (go) to Mexico in 1998.
20. They _____________________ (be) married for more than twenty years.

@ already and yet

I have already finished my report.
Andrea has already read the entire story.
The President hasn’t done anything yet.
Sam hasn’t bought any presents for Christmas yet.

• Already and yet indicate that an action has happened at an unspecified

time in the past.
already - affirmative statements
yet - negative statements and questions

• Already suggests that something has occurred sooner than expected. It is

generally used with an affirmative verb, and goes between the auxiliary
and main verb.
• Yet shows that the speaker is waiting for the action to occur. It is usually
with a negative verb and goes at the end of the statement.

If yet is used with an affirmative verb, it should be

Înote: placed after the auxiliary verb and should be

followed by the infinitive of the main verb.
We have yet to hear of her trip to Europe.
She has yet to tell me the truth about that night.

83
- exercise 1: already vs. yet
Decide if already or yet are used correctly in each of the sentences below. If used
incorrectly, make the correction. Pay attention to verb usage and the position of already
and yet.

1. She hasn’t seen Spiderman yet.

2. Martha Stewart already hasn’t gone to jail.
3. He yet has to learn how to ski.
4. I haven’t read Hilary Clinton’s book yet.
5. We already have eaten today.
6. Renee has already called you two times today.
7. Ben and his dad have not donated anything to this charity yet.
8. They have taken the test yet.
9. Penny and her friends haven’t already performed the song for the school play.
10. Have you opened your present yet?

[] skills
Unscramble the words below. Each word is an example of a skill.

dogo vtoatienosnraclsi ----> good conversationalist

icnotumancmio ------->
eb eevxisesrp --------->
atiigoamnin ---------->
yertvaitci ----------->
niashedns ---------->
epncaeit ----------->
itcrasti ------------>
a good (eseirntl) ------->
Go to page 102 for the answers.

What are the skills needed in order to do each of the following

activities? Discuss in small groups.
sew a dress for your daughter
build a bookshelf
create a reading circle
write a song and its lyrics
Circle the skills from above that you feel you possess. For each skill you
circled, give an example of something you have done in your life that
shows you have that skill. There is an example to get you started.
I am a good conversationalist. In high school I had many friends,
whom I still see to this day. Now I am a radio talk show host, and must
find interesting conversation topics to share with my guests. It is a fun
job, but you must be quick on your toes and good with words, because it
is up to you to keep the conversation and interview going at all times.
84
 § tales
PART ONE
Tales are connected narratives that are passed from generation to
generation orally or in written form. Tales recount actual, legendary,
or fictitious events. Fairy tales have an interesting effect on cultures
and languages all over the world. Mention ten typical elements that a
fairy tale has.

Example: a dragon, a princess, etc.

a) _________________ b) _________________
c) _________________ d) _________________
e) _________________ j) _________________
g) _________________ h) ________________
i) _________________ j) _________________

PART TWO

Now, get together with a partner and combine these elements. Write
a fairy tale that would include at least 10 of these elements, in a short
story of about 150 words.

_______________________________
Title

Once Upon a Time ____________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

85
 ! at the fair
You are going to hear a conversation between two women who are at
a state fair. What kinds of words do you think you might hear? Make
a short list below.

Circle the things that the ladies see at the fair. (There are 4
answers.)
amusement park quilts animal barn
pies jams Cheddar cheese
needlework farm equipment their mothers sewing

Describe each of the things you circled.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Based on what you heard in this conversation, describe what a state

fair is like.

@ present perfect progressive

John has been complaining about the test for an hour.
Liz has been living in Ecuador since 1990.
You have been driving the same car for the last decade.

have/has + been + verb(ing)

• Used to refer to an action that began in the past and continues until the
present.

86
- exercise 1: present perfect
Decide if it is possible to substitute the present perfect with the present
perfect progressive. If possible, make the switch.

1. Some scientists have predicted that in the future we will live on Mars.
2. Margaret has just found out that she has cancer.
3. Harold has had the same haircut since I met him.
4. People have played backgammon for thousands of years.
5. Matthew has seen this movie four times, but he still loves it.
6. You haven’t told us the bad news yet.
7. I have worked as a teacher for ten years.
8. Since he was nineteen years old, he has studied languages.
9. I have never taken a chemistry class.
10. She has lived in Quito for twelve years.
11. I’ve played pool twice this week.
12. I have played a lot of pool recently.

!exercise 2: simple past vs. present perfect

Listen to the statements. Choose the best meaning for each.

1. A) He arrived to Riobamba.
B) He is still on his way to Riobamba.
2. A) He doesn’t drive a stick shift any longer.
B) He still drives a stick shift.
3. A) We know she isn’t going to bake the turkey.
B) We are expecting her to bake the turkey.
4. A) The keys are missing.
B) She eventually found the keys.
5. A) He’s worked here for eight months.
B) He’s worked here since August.
6. A) The boy is no longer on the corner.
B) The boy is still on the corner.
7. A) The boy is no longer on the corner.
B) The boy is still on the corner.
8. A) Rob no longer lives in Memphis.
B) Rob still lives in Memphis.
9. A) Pete knows Korean.
B) Pete is still learning Korean.
10. A) Boris no longer lives in Iceland.
B) Boris still lives in Iceland.

87
[] what’s your alibi ?
A bank in the neighborhood has been robbed. Witnesses say that they
saw the suspects run from the bank to the facilities of CEC. Three
people in your class are suspects.
SUSPECTS
Choose three people to be the suspects. They must leave the room in
order to make an airtight alibi. They have five minutes to come up
with (and agree upon) anything the police may want to know, e.g.
where they were at the time of the crime, what they were doing, who
they were with, etc.
DETECTIVES
The rest of the students are the detectives. While the suspects are
agreeing upon an alibi, the detectives should get into groups of three
(one in each corner of the room) and start thinking of questions they
are going to ask them. The questions should be general, as well as
specific, such as where they were at a certain hour, who they were
with, how long they have been in class, etc. Once the suspects come
back into the room, each group of detectives will interview each one
separately. Compare the answers of all three suspects. When you
have found five discrepancies in their answers, you have found your
bank robber!

[] unique uses
Look at each of these everyday objects. Discuss the uses of each.
Then, working with a partner, find new uses for them. There is an
example to get you started.

spoon: to dig a hole, to relieve swollen eyes (a cold spoon), to play

music

fork tweezers wine glass photo frame

88
 @ past perfect
She had already spent all her money when I talked to her.
Hank and Jeremy had spoken to your mother before you came home.

had + past participle (main verb)

• Used for an action that happened before another action in the past. The
last action is usually in the simple past.

|______________|________________|____________________|
past past perfect simple past present
(first action) (second action)

I got home at eleven, but everyone had already gone asleep.

The plane had left by the time I got to the terminal.

• Often used with relative pronouns like before, after, and when.

After Lynn had gone to the grocery store, she went to her mom’s.
Before Lynn went to her mom’s, she had gone to the grocery store.
When Lynn went to her mom’s, she had already gone to the store.

• Used for an action that began and continued in the past for a period of
time, but stopped before the present.

|_______________________|_____________________|
past | moved present
3 years ago

I had lived in Bogota for three years before I moved to Quito.

- exercise 1: simple past vs. past perfect

Fill in the blanks with the simple past tense or past perfect.

When I ___________ (move) to Chicago last year, I ___________ (not be)

there for over ten years. I ___________ (arrive) the afternoon before I had to
start my new job, and ___________ (decide) to spend some time walking
around the city thinking about all of the good times I ___________ (have)
there when I was a student.
89
 As I was strolling along the shore of Lake Michigan, I ___________
(see) a woman in the crowd. I immediately ___________ (recognize) her. It
___________ (be) Kadija, a young woman I ___________ (share) a dorm room
with during my last year of college. I ___________ (lose) her address years
ago and had been unable to contact her. She ___________ (continue) to walk
by me, head down. I could tell she ___________ (not see) me, so I ___________
(call) her name and she ___________ (look) up. As she ___________ (raise)
her head, I ___________ (notice) that she had been crying. We quickly
___________ (say) hello, and I ___________ (ask) her what was wrong. She
said that she ___________ (got) in a fight with her husband, and he
___________ (punch) her. She ___________ (not be) embarrassed to tell me
this. It felt as if we ___________ (graduate) from college just last week, as if
the years ___________ (not pass).
I ___________ (invite) her out for coffee. We ___________ (talk) all
afternoon. I ___________ (learn) that Kadija ___________ (marry) a man who
later became an alcoholic. She ___________ (feel) as if she had no escape
from her marriage. After a long talk, learning about everything that
___________ (happen) to her in the last ten years. I ___________ (convince)
her to leave her husband and come share an apartment with me. We
___________ (become) roommates again, just as we ___________ (be) during
college!

- exercise 2: past perfect with when and after

Use when or after and the past perfect to make a sentence for each
situation.

1. I called my girlfriend. Then I wrote a letter to my mother.

_________________________________________________________________________
2. I arrived home. Then I realized that I lost my keys.
_________________________________________________________________________
3. I sent an e-mail to my friend, apologizing for my behavior. Then I felt
better about the situation.
_________________________________________________________________________
4. She walked in the room. We noticed that she had a bad day.
_________________________________________________________________________
5. Everybody at the meeting had a chance to give an opinion. Then we took
a vote.
_________________________________________________________________________
6. He tried on three jackets. Then he decided which one was his favorite.
_________________________________________________________________________
7. Irving looked for his slippers under all the beds in the house. Then he
went to the store to buy new ones.
_________________________________________________________________________
8. Helen finished making her husband’s lunch. Then she watched her soap
opera.
_________________________________________________________________________
90
 @ past perfect progressive

I had been living in Bogota for three years before I moved to Quito.
She had been writing in her diary for ten months.

had + been + verb(ing)

• Can be used instead of the past perfect for an action that began and
continued in the past, but stopped before the present.

- exercise 1: past perfect progressive

Read the story below. Then answer the questions using the past perfect
progressive.

Last weekend, everyone in my sorority was very busy. Patricia went

jogging; Tammy painted her room dark green; Rebecca worked in the
garden; Tricia fixed her car; Victoria went to the mall for school supplies;
Alice repaired the shower; Jenny went to her swimming lessons; and I fell
off of my bike and broke my leg!

1. Who was wearing a sweatshirt at lunch? Why?

Example: Patricia, because she had been jogging.
2. Whose hair was all wet?
3. Who had dirty hands and knees?
4. Who came home with shopping bags?
5. Whose hair had green streaks in it?
6. Who had a cast on?
7. Who had grease all over her hands and face?
8. Who had a tool belt on?

- exercise 2: past perfect progressive

In a bad neighborhood, police were investigating a car jacking. They asked

a variety of suspects what they had been doing at midnight the night
before. All of the suspects told lies. Look at the chart below and report on
what the suspects said they were doing and what they had actually been
doing.

91
Example: Timmy said that he had been playing video games, but actually he
had been spray-painting his neighbor’s garage.

Name What told police they The truth

had been doing
Timmy playing video games spray-painting his
neighbor’s garage
Mr. Cooper studying English watching neighbors with
binoculars
John “the Snake” Novak watching a soap opera mugging people on the
street
Ms. Parmley writing thank-you notes forging hundred dollar bills
Ms. Minnick polishing her silver planting a bomb
Grandma Fry sleeping selling drugs

Miss Henry doing her nails buying drugs from

Grandma Fry

- exercise 3: past tenses

Choose the correct form of the verb. (Use past perfect, past perfect
progressive, or simple past.)

1. After Hans _____________ (wash) his truck, he began to study.

2. Jane _____________ (wait) for 30 minutes before the trolley came.
3. The police officer read the suspect his rights after she __________ (arrest)
him.
4. Jean ____________ (clean) the lab after she had completed the experiment.
5. The car _________ (flip) two times and then it blew up.
6. We checked our papers after we ________ (take) the quiz.
7. Marie ___________ (enter) university after she had graduated from high
school.
8. Vito had talked for hours before someone ______________ (make) him shut
up.
9. Kim sent a letter to her friend after she _____________(find) out the news.
10. Carol had broken up with her boyfriend before she _________(start) to
go out with me.
11. In the morning the schools were closed because it __________________
(snow) all night long.
12. She crashed into a pile of rubble left by workers who
_____________________ (repair) the road.
13. He worked for a company that I _________________ (never hear) of.
14. Because he _______________ (not change) the oil, his car __________
(break) down.
15. My sister ______________ (got) divorced because her husband
_____________ (cheat) on her.

92
 [] use your imagination
Use your imagination to make something from the following objects:

1. a piece of string, an eraser, and a mug

2. a thumbtack, a candle, and a notebook

3. a mayonnaise jar, a keychain, and a button

® crafts
Make a list of some typical crafts from your culture.

Below are two readings about different types of crafts from opposite
parts of the world. Divide the class into two groups. The first group
reads “Komboloi.” The second group reads “Dream Catchers.” After
each group has finished reading and understanding its article, a
member of Group 1 should pair with a member of Group 2. Without
looking at the article, each student should explain to the other
student what it was about. Afterwards, the groups should break up,
and each student should try to answer the questions from the article
he/she did not read, using the information that was given by his/her
partner.

93
 ® crafts around the world

Group 1: Komboloi

If you have ever been to Greece, you may have seen a group of men sitting around
a table in a storefront playing backgammon. Between moves, you may have caught a
glimpse of flashing beads swirling amongst their hands. These are komboloi, or worry
beads, and are swirled from finger to finger by many Greeks (although it is considered
unladylike for a women to do so in public).
Worry beads are short strands of beads made from a variety of materials: from
plastic to ceramic, bone to glass, amber to coral. Although amber is the traditional
stone used for these rosary-like strands, there are many types. Some beads are
squared-off like dice, for good luck in gambling and games of chance. Some are made of
cobalt blue “eye” beads, which are believed to ward off the Evil Eye. Whatever the
variety, worry beads can be found for sale on almost any street corner. Prices range
from five Euros to over a thousand, depending on the quality and the material used.
Sometimes they have a small medallion of a saint attached, often St. Christopher,
patron saint of travelers. For tourists, a medal with an image from Greek culture,
such as the Acropolis or a windmill, is often attached. These touristic trinkets rarely
show up in a Greek hand, however.
The benefits of komboloi-swirling are many. The Greeks claim it can soothe
tensions, reduce blood pressure, and even stimulate acupuncture points in the fingers!
The gentle click-clack of the beads bumping against one another have a relaxing effect.
It has even been said that by twirling the worry beads, one can quit smoking!
So break out those beads and seek serenity any time life throws you for a loop!

Group 2: Dream Catchers

The dream catcher is a huge part of Sioux Indian culture. This indigenous tribe of
North America uses the dream catcher as a “web of life.” This icon of Sioux life is a
circular hoop which is woven like a spider’s web. Sometimes they carry beads and
feathers, also. It is hung above their beds or some other place in the home in order to
sift their dreams and visions. They believe that the good in their dreams is captured
in the web of life on the dream catcher, and is carried with them for the remainder of
their lives. The evil, however, escapes through the hole in the center of the web and is
no longer a part of them. In other words, good stays with the person due to the dream
catcher, while evil is thrown away.
The legend behind the creation of the dream catcher starts with a spiritual leader
who was on a mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the famous trickster
and teacher of wisdom, appeared to him in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to the
man in a sacred language. As he spoke, he took the man’s willow hoop and began to
spin a web. He spoke of the cycles of life: how we began as infants, needing to be
taken care of by others, and end as elders, needing to be taken care of as infants.
Iktomi warned the man of bad forces. “If you listen to the good forces in your life,
they will steer you in the right direction. But if you listen to the bad forces, they will
hurt you, and you will interfere with the harmony of nature.”
When the spider Iktomi finished the web, he presented it to the spiritual man.
“This web is a symbol for your people. With it, it will help your people reach their
goals and dreams, and make good use of their visions. It is a perfect circle, except for
the hole in the center. Through this hole the bad forces will escape.”
To this day, the Sioux believe that the dream catcher holds the destiny of their
future.

94
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP 2, BASED ON THE ARTICLE KOMBOLOI
1. What is another name for komboloi?
2. What is the purpose for using komboloi?
3. Who would you probably not see using komboloi?
4. If you were going on a trip, which type of komboloi would be good to
have with you? Why?
5. What are some of the advantages to using komboloi?

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP 1, BASED ON THE ARTICLE DREAM CATCHERS

1. What thing in nature is the dream catcher based upon? Why?
2. How does a dream catcher work? Why is it important in Sioux culture?
3. Why is the dream catcher in the shape of a circle?
4. What was the role of Iktomi in the creation of the dream catcher?
5. Where would you probably find a dream catcher?

After the questions have been answered, groups can reunite and compare
answers, or each group can read the other’s article and check the answers
together.

@ future perfect
By the time Mary graduates next June, she will have turned eighteen.
I will have studied here for three years by the time the new gym is inaugurated.
She will have answered his letter by the time he finally returns.

will + have+ past participle

• Expresses an action that will be completed in the future before another

action is completed.
• Often used with the expression by the time, which is usually followed by
the simple present.
• It is not common to use contractions in this tense.

- exercise 1: future perfect

(Note: Students will need a calculator for this exercise.)
Look at each of the situations below. Then answer the questions.

A. Penny is a secretary. She works five days a week, three hours a day. She
can type eighty words a minute. She has a big project coming up, in which
she needs to type 300 pages. Each page is 250 words.
1. How many pages will she have typed after one day?
2. If she starts today, how soon will she have finished the project?
3. How long will she have been typing when she has typed 100,000 words?
95
B. Bob is a freelance writer. He writes six-page articles for a local
magazine. He writes three pages a day and takes no holidays.
1. How many articles will he have written after one week? after one
month?
2. Bob needs to write a minimum of 100 articles a year in order to make
ends meet. How many days will he have been working in order to meet
this goal?
3. How long will he have been writing when he finishes 75 articles?
4. Bob is paid $250 per article, and owes $7500 on his new car. How many
articles will he have written in order to pay off his car?

C. Donna is a caterer for weddings. She caters one wedding per week.
1. If it takes Donna one hour to make appetizers for thirty people (one
appetizer per person), how long will she have worked to make appetizers
for a wedding of 270 guests?
2. How many appetizers will she have made after twenty hours of work?
3. It takes Donna three hours to cook a main dish for thirty-five people.
How long will she have been cooking if she cooks main dishes for a group
of 245 people?
4. Donna earns $1,250 per event. How much money will she have earned
by her 112th event? How many months will she have catered by then?

- exercise 2: future perfect

Make predictions about the future based on the information below.

1. extinction of animal species

________________________________________________________

2. transportation
________________________________________________________

3. medical breakthroughs
________________________________________________________

4. Ecuador
________________________________________________________

5. computers
________________________________________________________

6. sources of energy
________________________________________________________

7. space exploration
________________________________________________________

96
 @ future perfect progressive
I will have been studying in this university for five years when the construction
work is finished.
When Mrs. Smith retires next month, she will have been working here for
twenty-five years.
Alana will have been cleaning the house for two hours when her husband
comes home.

will have been + (verb + -ing)

• The future perfect progressive emphasizes the duration of an event, or

how long the future event will be in progress before another event in
the future takes place.
• There is sometimes little or no difference between the future perfect
and future perfect progressive.

- exercise 1: future perfect progressive

Ask your partner questions using the future perfect progressive. Write the
answers your partner gives you. Write your own questions for the last two.

1. By next December, how long will you have been studying at CEC?
_________________________________________________________________________

2. By next year, how long will you have lived in this city?
_________________________________________________________________________

3. By next month, how long will you have been married/divorced/single?

_________________________________________________________________________

4. By April, how long will you have been working/studying?

_________________________________________________________________________

5. By next week, how long will we have been studying English in this level?
_________________________________________________________________________

97
- exercise 2: future perfect vs. future progressive
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. By the year 2050, most people ______________ (have) their genome

mapped out.
2. When her father quits, he ______________ (work) for IBM for twenty
years.
3. If your plane leaves at one a.m., I ______________ (sleep) for three hours
before your plane even takes off.
4. Jack ______________ (turn) thirty by the time he gets married.
5. By June 26, they ______________ (divorced) for seven years.
6. A hundred years from now, people ______________ (replace) oil with solar
energy.
7. If I get a good grade, I ______________ (fulfill) my mother’s expectations.
8. Tomorrow at this time, I______________ (finish) this book.
9. When you call, I ______________ (fix) the roof.
10. Next week, I will hand in my composition. If all goes as planned, I
______________ (receive) an “A” by Friday.

- exercise 3: future
Finish the sentences below in your own words.

1. By next week I will have ______________________________________.

2. When Andrew calls, we ______________________________________.
3. We’ll be studying when ______________________________________.
4. We will have been waiting for them for two hours _____________________.
5. By next year the university ______________________________________.
6. When Allison graduates, she____________________________________.

!a piece of america - quilts

Do women in your culture ever get together and do crafts? If so,
what kinds of crafts do women usually do together? If not, what
kinds of activities are popular for women in your country?
After listening to the talk about quilts, match the phrases in Column
B to the sentence in Column A.

98
Column A Column B
1. Quilting is older than ____. a. quilting
2. A quilt is similar to ______. b. patches
3. Reunions in which women would c. blizzards or prairie storms
work on quilts were called _____.
4. Inside a quilt is a layer of _____. d. a blanket
5. Quilts were often used as ______. e. quilting bees
6. The final stitch on a quilt is f. feathers or wool
called ____.
7. In the past, women often g. earn money
quilted during _____.
8. Nowadays some people quilt to _____. h. the United States
9. Quilts are made of pieces of fabric i. currency
called ____.

ß the apostrophe
John’s books everybody’s friend
my friends’ husbands the wives’ houses
Cris’s pen (or Cris’ pen) my children’s bedrooms

1. Use an apostrophe to show ownership (’s).

• For singular nouns that end in s, you may either add (’s) or only
the apostrophe.
• For plural nouns ending in s, it is necessary to add only the
apostrophe.
• For irregular plural nouns, add (’s).

my brother-in-law’s girlfriend someone else’s answer

the Minister of Education’s proposal Ann’s and John’s cars
Ann’s and John’s car (or Ann and John’s car)

• For compound nouns (e.g. brother-in-law), add the (’s) only to the
last word.
• To indicate individual ownership, add (’s) to each of the nouns.
(In this case, the noun will be plural.)
• When the noun belongs to both parties, you may add (’s) to each
name (with a singular noun) or only to the last name mentioned.

99
 ß the apostrophe
2. Apostrophes are also used to indicate the omission of a letter in
contractions or in mirror speech (speech which attempts to mimic
the way people speak).

don’t won’t can’t (contractions)

“S’pose he says he wants to come with us?” the mechanic said.
“I can’t be waitin’ all night for his call.” (mirror speech)

4. Use apostrophes in order to form the plural of single letters and

abbreviations followed by periods.

His t’s are not crossed.

All the Ph.D.’s we offer are four-year programs.

- exercise 1: possessives (‘s)

Locate the use of the possessive in the sentences below and rewrite them to
include an apostrophe. The first one is done for you.

1. The compositions of the students were returned the next day.

The students’ compositions were returned the next day.
2. We are planning to invite the children of Bob and Jane to the party.
_________________________________________________________________________
3. The telephone of Andrés was broken for over a week.
_________________________________________________________________________
4. The family of my mother-in-law is coming to visit next week.
_________________________________________________________________________
5. The ideas of the president were not well accepted by the general
population.
_________________________________________________________________________
6. The clothes of teenagers look ridiculous nowadays.
_________________________________________________________________________
7. The sister of the friend of Barbara knitted this sweater.
_________________________________________________________________________
8. The paper of anybody else would be neat and well-written, but the paper
of Bess is a mess!
_________________________________________________________________________
9. Daring to be different, the girl wore the earrings of her stepmother to
the party.
_________________________________________________________________________
10. All of the first names of the wives of my cousins start with an A.
_________________________________________________________________________
100
- exercise 2: apostrophe
Correctly punctuate the sentences below by putting the apostrophe in the
correct position.

1. If you look under the Ms of the phone book, you will find our number.
2. “Im not going to be gettin on my knees and beggin her to like me,” the
little boy said without conviction
3. Cathys os and as look alike so its difficult to read her papers when they
are handwritten, which is almost always.
4. “I think Ill call Hank bout this case an see if he can understand it,” the
farmers wife said.
5. The womens children were happily playing on the playground when it
began to rain.
6. Although I may not have time, Ill try to call Scott and tell him about his
sisters recital.
7. Ross and Ginas boat is big enough for the five of us.
8. Mr. Illescas vs sound like bs, so his verys are often mistaken for berrys.

ø internet
Have you ever worked on a project in the home by yourself? In the
U.S. do-it-yourself projects are becoming more and more popular. Both men
and women are becoming handymen at home. So popular is this pastime
that Cable TV has created a channel specifically for do-it-yourselfers. The
name of the channel is DIY (can you guess what the initials stand for?).
You can find the DIY channel on the Internet at www.diynet.com.
Here is a place to visit to see if you are ready to learn how to fix things up
yourself. On this site you can find information about many things, such as
how to change the oil in your car, how to build a doghouse, and how to
repair a toilet. If you are into crafts, learn more about scrapbooking and
decoupage. For those of you who have a green thumb, try your hand at
some of the gardening ideas. Even recipes for entertaining at home, as well
as ideas about how to decorate, are available.

. Find a project on the web site that you are interested in. If it is a recipe
or craft, bring it to class when it is finished in order to share it with the
others. You can explain to your classmates the steps involved in the
project. If it is a larger project that is difficult or impossible to bring to
class, prepare a report for your classmates about how the project turned
out.
101
Answers to Communication Activity: Skills
communication, be expressive, imagination, creativity, handiness, patience,
artistic, (a good) listener

Answer to Reading: The Riddle of the Three Hats

Carl’s hat was white. Since none of the men knew the answer right away,
Carl realized that all three men must be wearing the same color. He knew
that if someone had seen a black hat, that person would have immediately
known the answer. But since all three men only saw white hats, no one was
sure at first what color he was wearing. Carl told his answer to the king,
and the three men were set free.

102
® Apathy in young voters
Discuss the pros and cons of having a mandatory vote (such as in
u
Ecuador). Do you think every country should implement this system?

n
Why or why not?

Apathy in Young Voters: a Disease with a Cure?

Some people say that the older one gets, the harder it gets to
trust people. In general, most believe that young people are
more trusting and willing to give others the benefit of the doubt.
However, this common myth has not been true when it comes to

i
the polls. In fact, since 1972, when people over 18 were first
given the right to vote, the number of young voters casting
ballots has steadily dropped.
Why don’t young voters turn out to vote? Many feel that
politicians cannot be trusted. Others feel that no one listens to
them, and their vote is a waste of time.
But young voters are not the only ones who have stopped
participating in this important rite. Since 1950, voter
participation has steadily dropped, despite signs that it was on
the rise. As more people attended college after high school, and
as more women and ethnic groups voted, it was expected that
higher rates of voters were inevitable. Ironically, however, from
1960-2000, the rates have been decreasing. In 1960 turnout
was nearly 65% in the presidential election, compared to 51% in
t
2000 and 39% in the November election of 2002. It isn’t just
fewer voters, either, but a trend that is occurring at all levels of
society. In 1960, 60% of the nation turned the TV to the October
presidential debates. In 2000, this number had dropped to less
than 30%.

Comprehension questions
1. When were eighteen-year-olds first given the right to vote?
2. Why don’t young voters go to the polls more often?
3. Why was it thought that around 1950 more people would begin to
vote?
5
4. What has been the trend in voters of all ages in the U.S.? Why do you
think this is happening?

Group Discussion questions Uncle

1. Do you think it is important for all people to vote? Why or why not?
2. In the U.S., it is not mandatory to vote. How do you feel about this
policy?
3. What are some things that could be done in order to get more young
Sam
voters to the polls? What could be done for voters of all ages?
4. Do you think it is important for young people to vote? Why?

103
 @ subject-verb agreement
Those people in the back room are my parents.
plural plural
The study of languages is very interesting.
sing. sing.
The effects of drug addiction are horrible in our community.
plural plural
The fear of violent crimes has caused migration to other cities.
sing. sing.
Several points of view on this issue have been proposed.
plural plural

• Every verb must agree with its subject.

• It is important to recognize the subject in every sentence.
• When subject and verb are separated by a prepositional phrase, the
prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb.
• Expressions that do not influence the verb phrase:

together with along with

accompanied by as well as

My parents, together with my aunt, are going to the game tonight.

Bati, accompanied by his friends, is singing at a bar.
Quito, along with other capitals of South America, is complaining
about the resolution.
Jack, as well as two more students, is applying for his M.A.

- exercise 1: subject-verb agreement

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS
Write one sentence with each of the following phrases.

a) TOGETHER WITH
______________________________________________________________
b) ACCOMPANIED BY
______________________________________________________________
c) ALONG WITH
______________________________________________________________
d) AS WELL AS
______________________________________________________________
104
- exercise 2: error correction - subject-verb agreement
Each sentence below has a mistake in the subject-verb agreement. Correct
the mistake.

1. The president, together with the Congressmen, have to answer our

questions.
2. Sebastian, accompanied by his girlfriend, like to go out for pizza every
Tuesday night.
3. Angela, as well as her mother, are preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
4. The results of the test has been posted on the bulletin board.
5. The days of the week that she works is Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
6. The annual report of the universities are due in one month.
7. The girls on the bus goes to the same school.
8. The study of microbes are important for the advancement of the field of
pathology.
9. The insects on the screen door has been buzzing for hours.
10. The populations of industrialized countries is increasing each year at
an alarming rate.

- exercise 3: recognizing subjects

Underline the subject in each sentence. Then finish each sentence with the
correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Several arguments against this proposal _____________________ (be)

voiced last week.
2. The threat of gangs _________________ (be) stronger every day.
3. My cousins, as well as my husband, _____________ (play) tennis every
Saturday morning.
4. The house with the broken windows _______________ (be) for sale.
5. Tom and Linda, along with Charles, ______________ (be) going fishing
next week.
6. The apartments in that brochure _____________ (be) for sale.
7. Jessica, along with her best friend, _______________ (like) to play chess
once a week.
8. Deer ___________________ (be) frequently seen along this stretch of the
highway.
9. The Siberian tiger, in addition to other animals, ______________ (be) an
endangered species.
10. The rooms on every floor ________________ (have) Cable TV installed.

105
 ! who was uncle sam?
Think about famous U.S. symbols. Make a list of them below.

_____________________ ____________________
_____________________ ____________________
_____________________ ____________________
_____________________ ____________________

Listen to the talk about an American icon, Uncle Sam.

Afterwards, fill in the information.

Uncle Sam’s appearance:

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

How Uncle Sam probably got his name:

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

When Uncle Sam first appeared:

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Draw what you believe Uncle Sam must look like, based on
the information you have on him, or create your own Uncle
Sam-like character for your country.

106
 § letter to the congress
Write a letter to one of your Congressmen, regarding an issue you feel
strongly about.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

@ No / none
None of the money in Ecuador is safe.
none of the + uncountable noun + singular verb
None of the teachers have gotten their money yet.
none of the + plural countable noun+ plural verb
There is no person I would rather see than you.
There is no water in my house.
no + singular countable noun / uncountable noun + singular verb
No samples were given at the fair.
no + plural countable noun + plural verb

• None and no may be conjugated by a singular or plural verb, depending

on the noun that follows.
• None may never be used for singular countable nouns.
• None may be used alone, as in a response to a question.
How much money do you need?
-None.

107
- exercise 1: no vs. none

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. No answers ______________ (be) given at yesterday’s press conference.
2. None of the water in the city ______________ (be) fit to drink.
3. None of the workers _____________ (have) been paid for the month of
September.
4. None of the pens in this drawer ________________ (work).
5. No municipal offices ______________ (be) open on holidays.
6. No daughter of mine _______________ (be) going to dress like that!
7. No news ___________ (be) good news.
8. None of the information we get ______________ (be) valid.

@ either / neither
Neither Karl nor Mark is going to class today.
singular

Neither Joe nor his classmates have done the homework.

plural

Either my mom or her friends are playing cards tomorrow.

plural

Either your friends or my sister is going to take the test.

singular

• After either...or and neither...nor, conjugate the verb according

to the last noun used.
• If the noun following or/nor is singular, use a singular verb.
• If the noun following or/nor is plural, use a plural verb.

108
- exercise 1: neither / nor
Write sentences about the following subjects using neither/nor.

William Shakespeare your parents

your best friend your coworkers
Guayaquil your classmates
Quito Ecuadorian presidents
George Washington musical bands
Madonna your siblings

Example:
Neither my parents nor my best friend has Cable TV.

a)_______________________________________________________________

b)_______________________________________________________________

c)_______________________________________________________________

d)_______________________________________________________________

e)_______________________________________________________________

f)_______________________________________________________________

- exercise 2: verb agreement

EITHER/OR AND NEITHER/NOR
Circle the correct verb in each sentence.

1. Either Lydia or her brother (have/has) the information.

2. Either the group of tourists or the tour guide (pay/pays) the fee.
3. Neither Jeffrey nor his cousins (want/wants) to work in another city.
4. Either the students or the teacher (choose/chooses) the movie on movie
day.
5. Every Saturday afternoon either my husband or my children
(make/makes) dinner.
6. Neither my children nor my husband (wash/washes) the dishes,
however.
7. Neither the principal nor the secretaries (know/knows) where the
original copy of the student list is.
8. Either Grandma or Grandpa (call/calls) me every Friday night.
9. Either my parents or my grandmother (send/sends) me a check for
school supplies each semester.
10. Neither Florence nor her friends (know/knows) the answer.
109
[] pni about your country

Make a PNI (Positive, Negative and Interesting) list about your

country. You may choose to focus on a particular subject, such as

political structure, pop-culture, or any other topic that you like.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE INTERESTING

_______________ _______________ _______________

_______________ _______________ _______________

_______________ _______________ _______________

_______________ _______________ _______________

_______________ _______________ _______________

[] election day
Divide the class into two groups. Group 1 will be the politicians,

group 2 the public. The public must write up a list of demands

(working individually). The public presents its demands to the

politicians, calling on them one at a time. Each politician must give

his/her proposals of how he/she would meet the public’s demands.

After about twenty minutes of this activity, hold elections. Which

politician won?

110
 @ words that are always singular
Does anyone know the answer?
There is nothing wrong on this test.
No one helps anymore.

• Some words always take a singular verb and pronoun.

nobody no one nothing each either/neither*

any+sing. noun every+sing. noun some+sing. noun
anybody everybody somebody
anyone everyone someone
anything everything something

* For exceptions to this rule, see the explanation about

either/neither above.

- exercise 1: singular pronouns

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. ________________ (do) anyone have the answer to number five?

2. Somebody always __________________ (write) in the book, although I tell
them not to.
3. There _________________ (be) something I need to tell you.
4. No one __________________ (listen) to the teacher.
5. ___________________ (have) somebody told you when your first day on the
job is?
6. Something _______________ (have) been bothering her lately, but no one
___________________ (know) what it is.
7. Anyone ________________ (can) take this class, but not everyone
_______________ (pass).
8. There __________________ (be) nothing special about the way she treats
you.
9. Each of the students __________________ (have) the book.
10. Every French class ____________ (be) on the eighth floor.

111
 @ collective nouns
Congress has already passed the law.
Our class is very big this cycle.
The public booed when the singer came on stage.
The government always has its own version of every event.

• Collective nouns refer to a group or set of people or things.

• Collective nouns take a singular verb.
• Common collective nouns in English:

herd (of cattle) Congress club family

school (of fish) team class jury
pack (of dogs) public government army
pride (of lions) group committee crowd
flock (of sheep, birds)majority*

Majority is used in the plural when with a plural

Înote: noun.
singular.
When alone, it is usually considered

The majority believes that we need a new president.

The majority of teachers are paid less than minimum wage.

• Plural nouns used collectively (as one entity) are often used with
a singular verb. This often happens with periods of time or
amounts of money.
Two hours is enough to finish the test.
Three weeks is long enough for a vacation.
Four miles is far to run.

112
- exercise 1: error correction
PLURAL NOUNS VS. COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Circle the errors in the following sentences. Make the corrections above
them.

1. The scissors I bought is in the left-hand drawer.

2. Her team always lose in the final seconds of the game.
3. He wears glasses that is too big for his face.
4. Congress have passed a law regarding littering on the highways.
5. The majority agree that the law is a step in the right direction.
6. The majority of citizens agrees that the law is a step in the right
direction.
7. The shorts she is wearing is too tight.
8. Economics are my favorite conversation topic.
9. All TV series has been approved by the Federal Communications
Commission.
10. The news are on at 10 p.m. every day except on Saturdays.
11. Two hours are not enough time to finish this test.
12. Three days are enough time to finish this project.
13. Measles are a common childhood disease.
14. Fifty dollars are a lot of money to have stolen.
15. The public always laugh at his jokes.

- exercise 2: singular vs. plural

Make two columns listing six more words or phrases that mean singular
but need to be conjugated as plural, and words that mean plural although
they are conjugated as singular.

SINGULAR PLURAL

trousers herd of cattle

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

113
! presidential election
Make a list of common topics that are addressed by presidential
candidates.

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

___________________ ___________________

If you had the chance to talk to a presidential candidate of the

U.S., what two questions would you ask him/her?

a) ____________________________________________________________?

b) ____________________________________________________________?

Listen to the two presidential candidates discuss their views on

certain topics. Fill in the chart below.

Candidate 1’s stand on: Candidate 2’s stand on:

ABORTION ABORTION

TAXES TAXES

HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE

VIOLENCE VIOLENCE

114
 ® murder by mail
Less than a month after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New
York, another tragedy occurred. Anthrax was found in a few letters to
some prominent people, creating another public scare.
The anthrax arrived in a powder sent in letters. One of those letters,
addressed to NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, read: “09-11-01 THIS IS
NEXT. TAKE PENACILIN NOW. DEATH TO AMERICA. DEATH TO ISRAEL.
ALLAH IS GREAT.” Another, addressed to the then-Senate majority leader
Tom Daschle, read: “09-11-01 YOU CAN NOT STOP US. WE HAVE THIS
ANTHRAX. YOU DIE NOW. ARE YOU AFRAID? DEATH TO AMERICA.
DEATH TO ISRAEL. ALLAH IS GREAT.”
Immediately terrorist activity was suspected. But not long afterwards,
experts quietly began to suspect that the anthrax scare had been an inside
job, probably a U.S. scientist.
One of the clues that led experts to believe the anthrax was sent by a
U.S. scientist started with the date on the letters. In most of the world, the
day comes before the month. Here, however, was a direct reference to
September 11th — written as an American probably would have. The
person who had sent the letter, however, was clearly trying to make it seem
that the offender was foreign and not fluent in English. Take the
expressions “THIS ANTHRAX” and “YOU DIE NOW.” By the misspelling of
penicillin (“penacilin”), the sender wanted people to think that he was not
well-educated, perhaps a non-English speaking foreign fanatic. Yet the
anthrax was of professional quality. The envelopes had been well-sealed
and carefully taped, as if not to contaminate anyone other than the
recipient. Not exactly the workings of a crazed religious fanatic hoping to
hurt many people.
Experts say that these facts, along with many others, do not correspond
to typical terrorist activity. Now they suspect a U.S. scientist was involved,
perhaps someone who has been working on an anthrax vaccine and needed
to create a scare in order to support his argument that this vaccine is
necessary. Only time will tell if those suspected are guilty.

This reading is just one recent example of the problems the U.S. has been
confronted with. In your opinion, what are the two most significant
problems the U.S. is suffering from right now? Explain why.

1 2
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________

115
 @ a number of / the number of

A number of politicians are in jail.

A number of students are going to take the test next week.
A number of + plural countable noun + plural verb

The number of days in a week is seven.

The number of citizens applying for visas is increasing day after day.
The number of + plural countable noun + singular verb.

• A number of refers to general information.

• The number of refers to specific information

- exercise 1: a number of / the number of

Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. A number of tourists (is/are) going to climb the volcano tomorrow.
2. A number of us (is/are) going to the movies tonight. Do you want to
come?
3. The number of classes we offer (has/have) been increasing each session.
4. The number of languages she knows (is/are) amazing.
5. A number of people (is/are) applying for the job.
6. The number of students in this room (is/are) greater than the number of
seats.
7. A number of U.S. presidents (was/were) Masons.
8. The number of us with complaints (is/are) relatively small.

@ verbs as subjects
Eating pizza is what I enjoy doing most.
Teaching makes me happy.
Collecting coins is the most interesting hobby I’ve had.

• Verbs acting as subjects are found in the gerund (-ing) form.

• Gerunds take singular verbs.

116
- exercise 1: verbs as subjects

Use the verbs below as subjects of the following sentences. You may use the
verbs more than once.

Collect comic books Call friends

Drive Make plans
Study Go shopping

1. ___________________________________ is a favorite hobby of mine.

2. ___________________________________ is difficult in a big city.
3. ___________________________________ can be expensive.
4. ___________________________________ is what I do on weekends.
5. ___________________________________ makes me feel content.
6. ___________________________________ is important to me.

- exercise 2: verbs as subjects

Use the verbs below as subjects in your own sentences.

Write poems Complain

Deposit money Play (sport)
Have many friends Sleep

1. _____________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________________

117
 @ there is / there are
There was no reply from her.
There were many accidents during the last holiday.
There have been several crimes in Quito.

• With singular nouns With plural nouns

There is There are
There has been There have been
There was There were

• After there, the verb be must agree with the noun that follows.

- exercise 1: there is / there are

Describe things that are in this room using there is/there are. Write ten
sentences.

- exercise 2: there is / there are

Write sentences about things that you can/cannot find in your city.

beach 80-story skyscrapers foreigners

bars restaurants gyms
shopping malls wild animals rivers
lakes hot springs waterfalls
1. _____________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________________
118
- exercise 3: subject-verb agreement - review

Make sentences using the words provided.

1. Anyone / able to

______________________________________________________________

2. Neither Liga / Barcelona

______________________________________________________________

3. None / Representatives in the Congress

______________________________________________________________

4. A number / items in the market

______________________________________________________________

5. Either New York City / its suburbs

______________________________________________________________

- exercise 4: subject-verb agreement - review

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. Anything ( is / are ) better than going to a Barcelona game.

2. There (were / was ) too many people in the auditorium yesterday.

3. Mary’s favorite baseball team ( is / are) the Minnesota Twins.

4. Everyone who ( hasn’t / haven’t ) paid for the course ( are / is ) out of the

program.

5. The majority of the workers (want / wants ) to double their minimum

wage.

6. My class ( studies / study ) on the fifth floor.

7. A number of presidents of Latin America ( are / is ) going to meet.

8. Those glasses ( is / are ) too big for your face.

9. The majority (think / thinks ) that the government ( is / are ) unfair.

10. There (is / are ) a big crowd in the theater today.

119
 V stress differences between nouns
and verbs

! Listen to the pronunciation of the bold-faced words in the

following sentences. What is the difference in stress between the
bold-faced words?

1. a) How did our company project its image in Japan?

b) What project are you working on now?
2. a) What an insult! So she gave you back the present?
b) When you insult someone you are showing bad manners.
3. a) When someone progresses to a new position, our boss throws
a party.
b) Our financial progress was impaired last year by the crisis.
4. a) What is that object on your desk?
b) He didn’t object to being the last person assisted.
5. a) They weren’t going to convict the thief.
b) The convict broke free sometime after midnight.

What general rule can you find for stress patterns between nouns
and verbs?

RULE: When a two-syllable word is both noun or verb, the stress

pattern may change. In nouns, the first syllable is stressed. In
verbs, the stress is on the second syllable.

- exercise 1: hearing stress differences

Listen to the difference in pronunciation between the noun and the verb
form of each word.
NOUNS VERBS
convict convict
permit permit
survey survey
suspect suspect
conduct conduct
project project
present present
upset upset
recall recall
discount discount
Practice the words with a partner. Your partner will read one word from
either column. Use this word in a sentence. Then switch roles.
120
- exercise 2: identifying words
Listen to each word. Based only on the pronunciation, decide if the noun
given is a verb or noun. Circle V or N. Put a tick above the syllable that
receives the stress.

V N 1. discount
V N 2. conduct
V N 3. recall
V N 4. suspect
V N 5. permit
V N 6. upset
V N 7. survey
V N 8. project

Now listen again. This time you will hear the word used in a sentence.
Check your answers.

[] is your city famous?

Is there anything your city of origin is famous for? Are its people
known for having certain qualities? Are there any foods that are
typical of your hometown?

Morgan Quitno Press is a company that has performed some

surveys about the fifty U.S. states. According to their information,
the following states have been nominated for the categories below:

Least intelligent state: New Mexico

Most livable state: Minnesota (although one might wonder for
whom? Polar bears? Also, how can this be said of the state where
nine months of the year you start your day by scraping the ice off
of your car for thirty minutes?)
Safest state: North Dakota (not hard for a state that has the
population density of Mars)

The company also notes ridiculous state “things,” which each state
proudly claims it has. Some examples are:
Official State Cookie: New Mexico and Massachusetts
Official State Cooking Pot: Utah
Official State Flying Mammal: Texas (the Mexican free-tailed bat)

Other pieces of information on the states just go to prove that some

states need to “get a life.” Take for instance, the two states with the
World’s Largest Ball of Twine (each weighing in at more than 8
tons): Kansas and Minnesota.
121
- exercise 1:
Think of 3-4 provinces or cities in Ecuador that are famous (or infamous)
for something. Do they have any special attractions? Any strange
anecdotes? Discuss your ideas in small groups.

Choose one and write a small travel brochure for it, inviting people to come
to that province/city. Your invitation may be funny and sarcastic, or
serious and practical — it’s your call!

________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

ø internet
Learn more about the fifty U.S. states at www.50states.com. Here you can
see state mottoes and nicknames, state trees, the origin of the names of the
states, and other fun facts. Stun your family and friends with how much
useless information you can accumulate about the U.S. states! For instance,
in which state was Coca-cola invented? Which state is the Land of the
Midnight Sun? Where was Scotch tape and masking tape invented? Where
would you go if you wanted to see the roller-skating museum? Which state
boasts the world’s oldest rock? The world’s largest cactus plantation?

. Make a questionnaire of your own, and share it with a friend.

(Answers to the questions above: Coca-cola was invented in Mississippi in
1894; Alaska is the Land of the Midnight Sun; Scotch and masking tape
were invented at 3M, a Minnesota company; Nebraska has a roller-skating
museum; the world’s oldest rock, at 3.8 billion years of age, was found in the
Minnesota river valley; the world’s largest cactus plantation is in
Mississippi.)

122
 ® immigration
What are the most prevalent immigrant groups in your
country/city?
u
n
IMMIGRATION THROUGHOUT THE AGES

The United States is a nation of immigrants. Immigration to

this continent, however, is not something recent. The Vikings
arrived to North America in the year 1000, and as early as 1619
slaves were being shipped to its shores from Africa and the
Caribbean.

i
Perhaps the debate about who got to the North American
continent first is not important. What North Americans are most
proud of is that their country has, until only recently, gladly
opened its doors to those seeking refuge in its vast lands. Ellis
Island was an arrival point to which many immigrants first set foot
on American soil. Here anyone seeking political and religious
freedom, the persecuted, fortune seekers, as well as adventurers
and wanderers, were welcomed with open arms. The nation
quickly became a kaleidoscope of ethnic and cultural groups.
The settling of America, or the idea that people can join
together and agree to govern by making laws for the common
good, is an important part of the history of the U.S. The Pilgrims,
who arrived in 1620 on the ship the Mayflower, started the wave
t
of European immigration. Shortly afterward, the Swedish
government sent some citizens over to establish a colony in
Delaware. During the colonial era, immigrants from Germany and
Ireland came to the U.S. because of crop failures. But that was
not all. People from all over Europe made the long journey over
for many different, often personal, reasons. Immigrant groups
formed with Spanish, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Eastern
European peoples.
The citizens of the U.S. have always prided themselves on
their immigrant roots. It is not uncommon to hear even third or
fourth generation immigrants refer to themselves as Irish-
6
American, African-American, Mexican-American or any other
group their ancestors may have belonged to. Almost every
schoolchild learns the creed at the base of the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to
breathe free.” Yet this tradition has slowly begun to die. No
Pass
longer does the U.S. government encourage all refuge seekers to
cross its borders. Since 1990, when the law established an arrival
limit for certain categories of immigrants, the “land of
opportunities” for all has started to become the “land of
port
opportunities” for some.

123
. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Circle the best answer to fill in the blanks, based on the information above.
1. The Vikings arrived to the North American continent _______________.
a) over nine centuries ago
b) with African slaves
c) three decades ago
d) in the times before Christ
2. Most of the immigrants entering the U.S. arrived ________________.
a) in 1620
b) to find treasures
c) on the Mayflower
d) at Ellis Island
3. Many immigrants came over from Europe in order to _________________.
a) ask for political asylum
b) practice their religion without persecution
c) get rich
d) all of the above
4. The largest immigrant groups to the U.S. were from ______________.
a) Europe
b) Africa
c) the Caribbean
d) the Pilgrims
5. Nowadays Americans consider themselves ______________.
a) descendants of the Vikings
b) whatever their ancestors were
c) a mixture of indigenous and European races
d) one single race
6. Recently the U.S. passed a law ____________.
a) restricting the kinds of people who can enter as legal immigrants
b) limiting Latin American immigrants
c) allowing anyone seeking political and religious freedom to enter
the country
d) asking immigrants to provide opportunities for other immigrants
7. The author believes that _______________.
a) immigration will become more common in the future
b) an American tradition is disappearing
c) immigrants should not go to other countries
d) Americans should not remember their roots
8. The tone of this article is _____________.
a) playful and humorous
b) sarcastic and cynical
c) serious and informative
d) poetic and lyrical

. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the benefits of a “nation of immigrants.”
2. Do you believe it is fair for a country to restrict the “categories of
immigrants” that are allowed to enter its borders? Why or why not?
124
[] opinion on immigration
Get into small groups. Discuss the statement below.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO IMMIGRATE TO WHEREVER

THEY PLEASE.

Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? Get together with

someone who has a different viewpoint from yours. Try to convince
your partner that your viewpoint is correct. (If everyone in the
class agrees, divide the class in two and have them give
disadvantages and advantages for each opinion.)

[] conversation topics

In small groups, discuss the questions below. When you have

finished, try and come to some general conclusions about the
opinions expressed.

* What do you like/dislike about your country?

* Do you think people in your country are mostly pessimists or
optimists? Why?
* What is the most critical problem in your country or city?
* If you could change something, what would you change?
* How do you perceive the United States? Where do most of these
perceptions come from?
* If you were to immigrate to the United States, what would you like
to know first?
* If you could live anywhere, where would you like to go? Why?

125
 @ pronouns
• A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.
• There are four classes of English pronouns: subject pronouns,
complement pronouns, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns.

subject pronouns

I need to buy some tomatoes, because I want to make tacos.

We parents are responsible for many of the disasters in our society.
You children had better behave while we are not here.
It was I on the phone.

• Occur in the subject position of the sentence.

• Used after the verb be.
• Use a subject pronoun when a new clause is introduced.
• We or you followed by a noun may be used to put more emphasis on exactly
who the pronoun refers to.

Singular Plural
I We
You You
He
She They
It

126
 @ object pronouns
I walked for three hours just to see her.
You couldn’t meet him at the reunion.
She bought us students some subs for supper.
Just between you and me, Jerry is a hypocrite.

• Found in the complement position of the sentence (after the verb phrase).
• Us followed by a noun may be used to put more emphasis on exactly who the
pronoun refers to.
• Used after prepositions (unless the preposition is introducing a new clause).
You can read it after he is finished.
You can read it after him.

Singular Plural
me us
you you
him
her them
it

- exercise 1: subject or object pronouns?

Choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses.
1. While (she/her) is very understanding, (they/them) are not.
2. (She/her) told (him/he) to go home early.
3. My boss asked (I/me) a question about the quarterly report.
4. (We/Us) teachers have the difficult job of making grammar look fun.
5. When Alice saw (they/them) on the street, (they/them) were wearing
matching jackets.
6. As long as you understand, (I/me) will help you.
7. This book belongs to (me/I).
8. After Jack bought (us/we) dinner, (he/him) offered to take (we/us) to a movie.
9. Everybody except (me/I) was late to the meeting,
10. On the first day of class, the teacher warned (we/us) that three tardies
was the same as one absence.

127
11. After you and (I/me), he is the next best student.
12. Just between you and (I/me), she is getting a divorce.
13. The U.S. government doesn’t accept as many immigrants as (it/they) used to.
14. After the confusing speech, (we/us) decided to ask the speaker some
questions.
15. My car won’t start, so (I/me) am going to take it in to the shop.
16. We can look at the report after (they/them).
17. She gave the present to (he/him) and (I/me).
18. The article was written by Harold and (she/her).
19. Sally and (I/me) are going to Dave’s party.
20. Joseph and (he/him) have enough work to do.

@ possessive pronouns

This is my notebook. This is mine. (=my notebook)

Your teacher is the same as hers. (=her teacher)
Their apartment is too small. Yours is too big. (=your apartment)

• Replace nouns/pronouns.
• Show ownership.
• May never precede a noun.

Examples: mine = my + noun It is (my book/mine).

yours = your + noun That is (your coat/yours).
ours = our + noun It is (our car/ours).

• Singular Plural
mine ours
yours yours Înote: It’s = it is. Its is the
his possessive pronoun, as well as the
hers theirs possessive adjective.
its*

128
 @ possessive adjectives

I love your jacket.

You should brush your teeth.
I think her name is awful.
You should have helped him with his car.

• A word that modifies a noun by showing ownership.

• Goes directly before the noun.
• Can never be used in the plural.
• In English, possessive adjectives are used to refer to body parts, also.

• Singular Plural
my our
your your
his Înote: Its and his are the same for
her their both the possessive pronoun and
its possessive adjective.

- exercise 1: possessives

Choose the correct form of the possessive.

1. –“Whose papers are these?”
–”They are (mine/mine papers).”
2. (Her/Hers) mother is a very kind person.
3. (Your/You’re) teeth are stained from drinking so much coffee.
4. (You’re/Your) answers are exactly the same as (her/hers).
5. (You/Your) car is the same color as (our/ours).
6. I think (hers/her) cooking is atrocious!
7. Do you like (your/yours) drink? (My/Mine) is delicious!
8. This animal is scary. (Its/It’s) head has enormous antlers.
9. My desk is too small. (Her/Hers) is too big.
10. I had (my/mine) fortune read last time I was here. Are you going to

have (your/yours) read today?

129
 @ reflexive pronouns

I cut myself while I was cooking.

She served herself at the cafeteria.
They were talking among themselves.

• Refers to a subject which is both doing and receiving the action of the
sentence.
• Almost always follow the verb.
• In English, we do not usually use reflexive pronouns for verbs like wash,
shave, dress, feel, relax, meet. We do say “dry oneself,” however. I dry
myself off after taking a shower.

Singular Plural
myself ourselves
yourself yourselves
himself
herself themselves
itself

• By + reflexive pronoun means “alone.” She worked by herself.

• We may use reflexive pronouns after the subject to show emphasis. I myself
saw the accident.

- exercise 1: reflexive pronouns

Write the correct form of the reflexive pronoun.

1. No one is going to help me, so I’ll have to do it __________________.

2. I went to the ATM, but the bank ___________________ was closed.
3. Rachel _______________ is quite rude, but her sisters are very pleasant.
4. We have to remind __________________ that she is going through a
difficult time.
5. My mother doesn’t trust us children to do the dishes. She always does
them ___________________.
6. They treated _____________________ to a vacation in the Caribbean.
7. You can tell that Mom always cuts her hair _____________________. It’s
horrible.
8. When the baby starts to walk by ______________, we will have to watch
her more carefully.
130
- exercise 2: pronoun review
Complete the following sentences with the appropriate word. Choose from
subject, complement, or reflexive pronouns. You may also use possessive
adjectives. If no directions are given to indicate whether to use plural or
singular, male or female, then the blank refers to the subject of the sentence,
which has already been given.

1. Rita and ____ (female sing.) boyfriend didn’t come to ____ (1 person sing.) party.
2. ____ (male sing.) tone of voice changed after he heard ______ (1 person sing.).
3. Lynn is always messing up _______ (1 person sing.) computer files.
4. They gave Louis ________ (2 person sing.) message, but didn’t give him
_________ (1 person sing.).
5. _____ (2 person sing.) house is bigger than ______ (1 person plu.), but ________
(1person plu.) is more comfortable.
6. Come at 7 o’clock to take ______ (2 person sing.) test.
7. _______ (2 person plu.) books are in _______ (1 person sing.) drawer.
8. I couldn’t find ______ (female plu.) papers, but I did find ________ (male sing.).
9. Glen ____________ took the message before ______ left for work.
10. ____ (1 person sing.) hurt ________ playing tennis with _______ (male sing.).
11. While Doris was cooking, _____ (2 person plural) were talking to ____
(1person sing.).
12. Jeff couldn’t call _____ (female sing.) because _____ (female sing.) was out of
town.
13. _____ (1 per. plu.) waited for _____ (2 per. plu.) guys, but _____ (2 per. plu.) never
showed up.
14. Veronica hit ________ on the table while ______ was mopping the floor.
15. _____ (male sing.) and Mary went to the Bahamas.
16. _____ (2 person sing.) and ______ (1 person sing.) bought this car just for
_______.

- exercise 3: pronoun review

Choose the correct pronoun.

a) (He / him) walked along with (she / her) for a long time.
b) I did a lot of thinking about (herself / her) and (I / me).
c) She cut (herself / her) while (she / her) was lighting the bonfire.
d) I wish (I / me) could talk to (you / yourself) about all of (mine / my)
problems.
e) Quito hasn’t been able to find a solution for (it’s / its) problems.
f) Mr. Bauer loved working by (himself / hisself) in (his / him) garden.
g) Bill took a trip with (him / his) wife and (her / hers) children.
h) Is this (your / yours) book? No, that’s not (mine / my).
i) Go and tell (them / their) what (she / her) really thinks.
j) (We / us) students should form a committee to talk to (our / us) teacher
next week.
131
- exercise 4: correcting pronoun use
In the following reading find 9 mistakes and above them, write the correct
English form.

The other day at school, Chuck was talking with

him friend, Angela, who seemed to be annoyed with
himself. I noticed that there was tension between
their, and so I decided not to go near them. Myself
avoided going by them since I am a big chicken
when its comes to personal confrontations. I wish
me would never have to see mine friends fighting,
but somehow these disagreements make you
realize how life has it weird ways of showing ours
the beauty of being alive.

- exercise 5: error correction - pronouns

Each sentence contains one underlined error. Make the correction above it.

1. We finished the project by ourself.

2. You and your husband need to spend time by yourself.
3. It is up to us to tell she when the meeting starts.
4. The child bit hisself on the arm.
5. My family has so many properties that I could never name it all.
6. He checked out several English books from the library so that he could
read it during his vacation.
7. Spending time with theirs relatives is a way for them to relax.
8. It is easy for you to say nice things about she, but I don’t know her that
well.

132
! exercise 6: listening - pronouns
Listen to the sentences. Choose the correct answer for each.

1. What does the pronoun IT refer to?

a) the temperature c) the liquid
b) antifreeze d) the freezing point
2. What does the pronoun ITS refer to?
a) balsa wood c) the texture
b) oak d) the carving
3. What does the pronoun THEMSELVES refer to?
a) a few years ago c) the mountains
b) the climbers d) the countries
4. What does the pronoun THEM refer to?
a) the time c) the questions
b) pages 1 -3 d) the other students
5. What does the pronoun THEY refer to?
a) the students c) the students and Ben
b) my classes d) Ben and Erika
6. What does the pronoun IT refer to?
a) the light c) the skyline
b) the city d) the night
7. What does the pronoun IT refer to?
a) the weather c) the wind
b) the sun d) the speaker
8. What does the pronoun SHE refer to?
a) the manager c) Linda
b) Mary d) the company
9. What does the pronoun IT refer to?
a) the movie c) the theater
b) I d) the soundtrack
10. What does the pronoun THEM refer to?
a) my mother c) private lessons
b) her students d) other teachers

133
[] current events survey
Test your knowledge!

1. What is a GPS?
________________________________________________
2. What do the initials “www” stand for?
________________________________________________
3. List two types of trendy music in English.
_______________________________
_______________________________
4. What do the initials PG stand for in the movie industry?
________________________________________________
5. How many senators are allotted to each state in the U.S.
Senate?
________________________________________________
6. What are the names of the President and Vice-president of the
USA?
______________________________
______________________________
7. What is the importance in the U.S. of the day after
Thanksgiving?
________________________________________________
8. Which movie won the Oscar for best film?
________________________________________________
9. What do the initials DWI stand for?
________________________________________________
10. Mention two winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature in the
last five years.
________________________________________________
11. Complete this phrase:
The early bird..._________________________________
12. What are dreadlocks?
________________________________________________

134
13. Why do you think the corporation Nike would choose this
name for their athletic products?
________________________________________________
14. What is a “prank call?”
________________________________________________
15. What do the initials “WWF” stand for?
________________________________________________
16. What is a Roomba?
________________________________________________
17. Write the politically correct name of two racial groups.
________________________________________________
18. List two kinds of homemade cookies popular in the U.S. (No
name brands!)
________________________________________________
19. Who is the new NBA champion?
________________________________________________
20. What is MP3?
________________________________________________

Give yourself 1 point for each correct answer.

Add up your points and see what category you belong to.

1 - 10 = Boy! You’d better ask your kids what’s going on!

11 - 16 = You might wanna get out of the house more often!
17 - 20 = Pretty fly, for a student !

(Check page 144 for the answers.)

135
 [] when in rome
“When in Rome do as the Romans” is a popular saying. In small
groups discuss what you think it means.

Some people believe that when they move to another country, they
should fit into that country by adopting the customs of the people.
Others prefer to maintain their own customs and traditions.
Which opinion do you agree with? Discuss in small groups.

Think about some things about your country that might make it
difficult for an immigrant to fit in. Write a manual, including a list
of “must-knows,” for a person who is planning to immigrate to
your country. Include cultural information, such as what attire is
appropriate, how to greet someone, what is considered rude/polite,
how to act in certain public places (for example, a church or
restaurant). Share your list with another group.

§ culture shock
Choose a foreign culture that you are interested in learning more
about. Research a few aspects of that culture’s customs, such as
manners, language, respect towards elders, greetings, etc. Write a
story pretending that you are on vacation with a friend from that
country. After you have finished writing your story, exchange it
with that of another classmate. Describe each person’s reactions
to that country based on your own culture, customs, and habits.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

136
 @ commands
Close the door, please.
Do not be late for school!
Take your brother with you to the store, please.
Please don’t make a lot of noise during the service.

• An imperative statement in which one person orders another to do

something.
• Can be preceded or followed by please to make it more polite.
• The subject is always you. This subject is called an understood subject.
• Use the simple form of the verb.
• For the negative, add not before the main verb (keeping the auxiliary
verb).

- exercise 1: direct commands

Write down 5 commands you use at home, and 5 you use at work or school.
At least two of them should be negative commands.

AT HOME AT WORK OR SCHOOL

1 _________________________ ________________________

2 _________________________ ________________________

3 _________________________ ________________________

4 _________________________ ________________________

5 _________________________ ________________________

137
- exercise 2: making commands

Look at the situations below. Follow the directions. If you like, role play
one of the situations.

1. You have hired a maid to work in your house. You need to tell her what
her duties are, and what she can and cannot do. Make a list of ten
commands for her.

2. Your teenage son has begun to act rebelliously. Lay down the law by
telling him ten things he needs to do (or not do) in order to earn his
allowance.

3. Give some advice to a group of U.S. tourists who are visiting your
country for the first time.

! why did they immigrate?

What are some reasons people immigrate? Discuss in groups.
Listen to two immigrants, Fikademarian and Amina, tell their stories.
Then decide who said what, and write her name on the blank provided.

_____________1. I want to become a U.S. citizen.

_____________2. I’d like to work at a pork-free restaurant.
_____________3. There is a lot of discrimination toward my people in
my country.
_____________4. I am the only person in my family who is in the United
States.
_____________5. Many people ask me about my culture.
_____________6. I did not have permission to be in the United States
when I first came.
_____________7. I have lived in Kenya.
_____________8. I want to become literate.
_____________9. People stare at me because I dress differently.
_____________10. Before I came to the United States, I lived in a special
place for refugees.

138
 ® the great american melting pot
What are some of the challenges that face immigrants when they go to a
new country? What are some of the challenges that citizens of that
country face when immigration rates increase?

The Great American Melting Pot

The fabled melting pot of America, the idea – or promise – that all
immigrants can be transformed into Americans, forging a new identity
and citizenship based on democracy, freedom, and civil responsibility, is
being put to the test.
Coined after a play by Israel Zangwill, the idea of the melting pot
has been central to the national identity of the U.S. It conjures images of
placing people of every color, creed, and background in a large vat,
turning up the heat and melting each individual down into a soupy
mixture representing “one America.” This image, however, has begun to
raise questions. To some, it is an ugly image of the majority erasing the
very things that make each of us unique. To others, it is an image to be
feared, one in which cultural supremacy blots out the very traditions
and idiosyncrasies of immigrant families which contribute so much to
the rich tapestry of the nation. Yet many still cherish this idea of one
nation, indivisible.
The U.S. experienced a great wave of immigration at the beginning
of the 1900s. Today a second wave is promising to change the
demographics of communities across the country. The premise of the
melting pot will be put to the test, as emphasis lately has been on
preserving ethnic identity and defending and highlighting one’s cultural
roots. Experts worry that this emphasis on roots may fracture
communities into separate groups with no sense of shared purpose or
that, at best, cultural groups will hold on to some core ideas about
capitalism and citizenship but lack any real, meaningful interaction
among them.

After reading the excerpt, answer the following questions.

1. Describe the idea of the melting pot.

2. What are some advantages to the idea of the “melting pot?” What are
some disadvantages?

3. What will probably happen to the idea of the melting pot in the future?

4. Could your country be considered a “melting pot?” Why or why not?

139
 @ indirect commands
Larry told us to go without him.
Fred asked him to order the salmon.
Jason and Rita ordered their cousins to help them with the project.
I asked you to close the door.

• Usually indicated by the presence of the verbs order, ask, tell, or say.
• Followed by the infinitive [to + verb) of the main verb.
• To make indirect commands negative, add not directly before the infinitive
verb phrase.
The police asked him not to make any noise.
She told them not to leave the premises yet.
The teacher asked us not to do the exercises on page eight.
Please tell James not to get so upset.

- exercise 1: indirect commands

Change each direct command to an indirect command.
1. She said, “Leave the door open.”
_______________________________________________________________________
2. “Take out the garbage,” the father ordered his daughter.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. The detective asked him, “Could you please tell me the names of the
suspects?”
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Tricia told the teacher, “Please don’t be so hard on my son.”
_______________________________________________________________________
5. “Don’t feed the animals,” the zookeeper told us.
_______________________________________________________________________
6. The student asked the teacher, “Would you give me the answers?”
_______________________________________________________________________
7. I told you, “Don’t breathe this gossip to another soul.”
_______________________________________________________________________
8. The mother told the child, “Don’t sass back.”
_______________________________________________________________________
9. Clay told his class, “Do the exercises on page nine.”
_______________________________________________________________________
10. Belinda said, “Meet me by the fountain at 8 p.m.”
_______________________________________________________________________

140
- exercise 2: error correction - commands
Correct the errors with commands in each sentence.

1. Not be so loud! The baby’s sleeping.

2. Hannah told us go home early.

3. William asked us to don’t turn off the light.

4. Doesn’t close the window, please!

5. The customer asked the manager don’t hire incompetent workers.

- exercise 3: direct and indirect commands

Tell your partner how to do one of the activities below.
tie your shoe
publish a novel
paint a room
make an omelet
other _______________________
Report to a different classmate what your partner told you to do.

[] treasure hunt
See if you can find the following items in your classroom. The first
person to gather them wins!

1. a hinge 2. a nail
3. something made of fabric 4. a hair barrette
5. something made of cardboard 6. something related to music
7. something disposable 8. something breakable
9. something you can eat 10. something that cannot get wet

Now try your hand at your own class treasure hunt. During the first
hour of class, have individual students go outside of the classroom and
hide a piece of candy somewhere in the building. After they have hidden
the candy, each student should write a set of directions for another
student to use in order to find the piece of candy. Students exchange
their directions towards the end of the class and set out looking for the
candy.
141
 ß capitals
• Always capitalize proper names, even when used as
abbreviations or as words derived from proper names. The
pronoun I is always capitalized.

Hamline University
Department of Agriculture
T.H. Skovholt
Arabic
America
Ecuadorian
United Kingdom

• Capitalize titles before proper names. Do not capitalize them

when following proper nouns.

Governor Jessie Ventura

Jessie Ventura, the governor
Uncle John
John, my uncle

• Capitalize the first and last word and other key words in a title.
Small words like articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions
are generally not capitalized.

The Way to a Woman’s Heart

The Joy Luck Club
Crime and Punishment
General Secretary of Defense

• Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the first word of

quoted speech (that which is in quotation marks).

She said, “Where is my book?”

We talked for hours. It was midnight when we hung up.

142
- exercise 1: identifying words that need capitals

Circle all words that should be capitalized.

yesterday morning my lawyer called me to tell

me that i had to go to the police department, since my

face had appeared in a photo that the secret service

took while the protests were taking place in front of

central university. i didn’t know what to do so first i

went to civil court to find out about my rights.

fortunately, by the time i got to the police station,

another man who looked like me had turned himself

in, and i didn’t have to stay.

- exercise 2: using capitals in a sentence

Use each word correctly in a sentence. Pay attention to the capitalization.

1. Captain
__________________________________________________________________
2. captain
___________________________________________________________________
3. South
___________________________________________________________________
4. south
___________________________________________________________________
5. Doctor
___________________________________________________________________
6. doctor
___________________________________________________________________
7. Senator
___________________________________________________________________
8. senator
___________________________________________________________________
9. President
___________________________________________________________________
143
 ø internet
When people visit a foreign country for the first time, they often experience
culture shock, a psychological condition in which the customs and habits of
others create a sense of imbalance in the individual. Have you ever
experienced culture shock? It is completely normal to have had hostile
feelings or to exhibit frustration when encountering a new culture. One
way to reduce the impact culture shock can have on the traveler is to get to
know about as much of the culture as possible. For instance, if one were to
visit China, it would be a good idea to learn a little bit about what is and
isn’t considered polite. Little things make the difference, such as knowing
that while in the U.S. it is considered good manners to eat all of the food on
one’s plate, in China it is polite to leave a little behind. It is not impolite in
China to talk with one’s mouth full; in the U.S. it would be extremely rude.
One might also want to learn more about the country’s history and myths
and legends. Before going to Norway, one should know what a troll is. To
view more cultural facts about these three countries (the U.S., Norway, and
China), go to http://thinkquest.org/18802/gazette.htm.

. Create a fact sheet for someone from your country to visit another
country. Do a little research and find out such information as sports
played, traditional recipes, how holidays are celebrated, famous poems,
patriotic symbols, important philosophies towards life, etc. Compare this
culture to your own. What differences do you find? Are there any
similarities? Share your fact sheet with a classmate.

ANSWERS TO CURRENT EVENTS SURVEY:

1) global positioning system, 2) world wide web, 3) answers may vary (hip-
hop/alternative), 4) parental guidance, 5) 2, 6) George Bush/Dick Cheney, 7) first day of
Christmas shopping, 8) answers will vary, 9) driving while intoxicated, 10) answers will
vary, 11) ...catches the worm, 12) hair with long entwined curls, 13) Nike was the Greek
goddess of victory, 14) a phone call that is a practical joke, 15) World Wildlife Fund, 16)
self-propelled vacuum cleaner, 17) answers will vary (African-American, American Indian),
18) answers may vary (chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal), 19) answers will vary,
20) compressing system for computer files.

144
 [] holiday u
PART ONE:
Select one holiday you really liked when you were little. .
Then describe the things you liked the most about it and
why. Add one thing that bothered you about that holiday. n
____________________

What I liked about _______________________:

________________________________________________
i
________________________________________________

What I disliked about ____________________:

________________________________________________

________________________________________________
t
PART TWO

7
Write a paragraph about how you used to celebrate this

specific holiday as a child.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
H
__________________________________________________________
o
__________________________________________________________
l
__________________________________________________________
i
__________________________________________________________
d
__________________________________________________________
a
________________________________
y
s
145
 [] thAT special gift
People give gifts for many reasons: birthdays, christenings,
Christmas. Sometimes finding an original gift is difficult. Get
together in groups and try to think of creative, unique gifts for
the following personality types. There is an example to get you
started.
Example: loves to sleep — an expensive down pillow, an eye
mask to block out light, a soft chenille throw

1. stressed out
2. caffeine fiend
3. likes to throw parties
4. dreamer
5. always on the go
6. works too much
7. has the blues
8. avid sports fan

@ yes / no questions
Are you upset about the new law that passed?
Is there any more milk left?
Does Anna know any of the answers?
Did you lock all of the windows before we left?
Have you ever tried Kung Pao chicken?
Will the Robinsons be there?

do/does/did
be/have + subject + verb in base
form
(auxiliary)

• Questions answered completely by yes or no.

• The verb goes before the subject.

146
- exercise 1: yes / no questions
Look at the answers below. From the answer, write an appropriate
question.
1. ________________________________________________________________
Yes, she was there last night.
2. ________________________________________________________________
Of course we went to the concert! It was great.
3. ________________________________________________________________
Yes, Jack and Carl have thought about what you said, and they think
it is a good idea.
4. ________________________________________________________________
Yes, there are three on the counter.
5. ________________________________________________________________
No, she wasn’t very angry, but she was disappointed.
6. ________________________________________________________________
No, I forgot to turn in my homework.
7. ________________________________________________________________
Yes, Jason has a car.
8. ________________________________________________________________
Yes, she will call us when she arrives.
9. ________________________________________________________________
No, I wouldn’t like to go to that movie.
10. ________________________________________________________________
No, Melanie was going to Cuenca, not Huigra.

- exercise 2 (oral): twenty questions

In this activity, you will practice making yes/no questions while playing the
popular game Twenty Questions. One student should volunteer to leave the
room. The rest of the class thinks of something from the categories listed
below. When the volunteer enters the room, he/she must ask yes/no
questions in order to determine what object or person the class is thinking
of. The class can only answer yes or no. (As a variation, you may switch
roles: have the volunteer student decide on the object and the rest of the
class ask questions.)

Categories
PLACE IN YOUR CITY
FAMOUS PERSON IN POLITICS
SOMETHING YOU CAN FIND IN AN ENGLISH CLASS
OCCUPATION
FAMOUS LANDMARK
OTHER____________________

147
Example: The class thinks of a famous landmark: the Golden Gate Bridge.
The student enters and is told the category, then begins asking questions.
Student: Is this landmark in Ecuador?
Class: No.
Student: Is this landmark in the U.S.?
Class: Yes.
Student: Is it a symbol of freedom?
Class: No.

® thanksgiving day
What do you know about Thanksgiving Day? Brainstorm some ideas in
groups. If you do not know anything, think about what the day might mean.

THANKSGIVING DAY
Part 1
Turkey, mashed potatoes, Pilgrims, harvest, gourds – if you know
something about U.S. culture, you probably already know what holiday is
being described. Yes, it’s Thanksgiving, a celebration of thanks which began
as a feast in the early days of the American colonies almost four hundred
years ago.
The Pilgrims arrived to the New World in 1620, on a boat called the
Mayflower. They settled in the area which today is Massachusetts. They had
left England after they had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of
England. Hoping to separate from the church, they came to the New World.
The first winter in the New World was extremely difficult. Because the group
had landed too late to grow most crops, they spent most of the winter without
fresh food. Half of the colony died from disease. In the spring that followed
that first winter, the Iroquois Indians showed the colonists how to hunt and
fish. They also taught them how to grow crops such as corn, which the
Pilgrims had never tried before.
The following autumn was a time of bounty and thanks. The colonists
harvested corn, barley, beans and pumpkins. They’d learned how to prepare
cranberries and squash because of the Indians. They invited the local Indian
chief and ninety other Iroquois to a feast of thanks. There they ate wild game
the Indians had brought, including turkeys and deer. The Iroquois had even
brought popcorn as a special treat!
The tradition continued. Once the U.S. gained independence in 1776,
Congress suggested that this day become a yearly holiday. George
Washington proclaimed November 26 as Thanksgiving Day. It was changed
after the Civil War in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln set the date as the last
Thursday in November. Seventy-six years later, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt changed the date once more, making Thanksgiving one week
earlier in order to help business by making the shopping period before
Christmas longer. It has stayed this way since, always celebrated on the
fourth Thursday in November.

148
Part 1: Comprehension questions
1. Who were the Pilgrims? When did they arrive to the New World? Why?
2. What problems did the Pilgrims have in the New World?
3. How did the Indians help the Pilgrims?
4. In what year was the first Thanksgiving feast given?
5. What foods were served at the first Thanksgiving celebration?
6. When is Thanksgiving celebrated today?

Part 2
Thanksgiving is truly an American holiday, perhaps one of the most
revered and respected holidays of the year. Families gather to eat, talk, catch
up on each other’s lives, and eat some more.
There is never too much food on Thanksgiving. People eat turkey leftovers
for weeks afterwards. It is common for families, even if they live far away, to
get together and give thanks for all they have. Many people volunteer in
soup kitchens in order to share their wealth with people who are less
fortunate, for example the homeless.
Usually vacation is given on the Friday that follows Thanksgiving. It is the
only federal holiday in which Americans receive a four-day weekend. That
Friday is famous for being the biggest shopping day of the year. Most families
go out to the malls in order to begin the shopping sprees which mark the
Christmas season, and almost every store has special sales and promotions for
the weekend.
Because Thanksgiving is a day of feast, most of the symbols of the holiday
have to do with food. Turkey, corn, and pumpkins are the most well-known.
Corn is probably the most important of these symbols, since it meant the
survival of the colonists.
Cranberry sauce is also an important symbol of this day. The cranberry is a
small, red, bitter berry which grows in muddy areas in the New England
states, or East Coast of the U.S. The Indians used the berry to treat infections.
To this day, doctors recommend cranberry juice in order to prevent urinary
tract infections.
For most Americans now, it is important to remember the role the
American Indians played in the first Thanksgiving. For many years, school
children were led to believe that the Pilgrims made all of the food for the
Indians. This is not true. The Indians contributed to the feast, which was
meant as an offering of thanks to them for the help the Pilgrims received in
the New World. The Indians fed the Pilgrims and taught them all they knew
about survival. Without their help, the colonists may never have survived.

Part 2: Comprehension questions

1. What do Americans do on Thanksgiving?
2. Why is the Friday after Thanksgiving Day an important time for
businesses?
3. Name three symbols of Thanksgiving.
4. Medically speaking, what use is there for the cranberry?
5. What false assumptions about Thanksgiving are people trying to change
nowadays?

149
 G vocabulary
Under each holiday listed below, write the words from the list that are
related to the way people celebrate them.

costume party turkey flags baking cookies

Pilgrims ornaments reindeer pumpkin pie
bobbing for apples stuffing hot dogs November
December evergreen fireworks grill
cranberries red and green orange and black winter
candy October red, white, and blue barbecue
picnic jack-o’-lantern trick or treat Santa

Fourth of July Christmas Halloween Thanksgiving

flags baking cookies costume party turkey

__________ __________ __________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________

Æ role play
Get into small groups. Choose from one of the role plays below. Decide

which part you want to play, and then individually work on preparing your

part. When you have developed your own role, prepare the group by putting

all the roles together. Then perform your role play for the class.

150
ˆ HALLOWEEN PARTY
You have been invited to go to a Halloween party at a friend’s house. It is a
costume party, and everyone must dress up. Before you go, you must decide
on a costume. Once you are at the party, everyone is sitting around the
jack-o’-lantern telling ghost stories. Suddenly, from outside, there is a
scream.

Y VALENTINE’S DAY
You are single, and have been trying to meet new people. You have been
chatting online with potential girl/boyfriends, and have finally met
someone that you think will be a good catch. This Valentine’s Day, both of
you have decided to meet for the first time at a small bar in La Mariscal
neighborhood.

e CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Your family is visiting a new store in town, which is supposed to have the
latest technology: the newest TVs, diskmans, laptops, video cameras, cell
phones, fax machines, etc. Your family wants to do some Christmas
shopping, although some members of the family would like extra
information about the characteristics and features of these technological
devices before they buy the product.

@ information questions
Who called you last night?
Whom was the package for?
What did you do yesterday?
How long were you in Asia?

• Ask for additional information instead of just yes or no.

TYPES OF INFORMATION QUESTIONS

SUBJECT QUESTIONS: UNKNOWN SUBJECT

Who turned off the light? (Margaret turned off the light. )
What fell out of the window? (Something fell out of the window!)

who/what + verb + (complement ) + (modifier...)

• Use who or what in the subject position.
• Do not use auxiliary verbs.
• No change of position between the verb and subject.

151
 COMPLEMENT QUESTIONS: UNKNOWN COMPLEMENT

Whom did George give the flowers to?

(George gave the flowers to his sister.)
What did they buy from that lady?
(They bought something from that lady. )

What/Whom + auxiliary, be, do/does/did + subject +

verb...

• Use what and whom.

• Use auxiliary verbs when necessary.

QUESTIONS WITH HOW, WHY, WHEN, AND W H E R E

Why did he throw the letter on the ground?

Where were you last night?
When did Mario arrive?
How do you usually get to work?

Where/How/Why/What* + auxiliary (or be) + subject + verb ...

• Same form as complement questions.

• These words can introduce phrases:
what time how long how many/much
how often whose+noun what kind
How long will the show last?
What time did you get home yesterday?
How often do you and your friends get together?
What kind of TV programs do you like the most?
Whose car is parked in front of our garage?
How many apples do you have?
How much sugar does the recipe call for?

152
- exercise 1: information questions
Look at the answers below. From the answer, write an appropriate
question. Use information words.
1. ________________________________________________________________
The play starts in ten minutes.
2. ________________________________________________________________
Sarah came home last night well after her curfew.
3. ________________________________________________________________
George’s dog is on our porch.
4. ________________________________________________________________
By next March she will have been working here for over twenty years.
5. ________________________________________________________________
The woman on the corner is a student of mine.
6. ________________________________________________________________
My favorite kinds of pets are those that do not need a lot of special
care, like goldfish.
7. ________________________________________________________________
I had pizza for lunch.
8. ________________________________________________________________
Frank gave the books to my sister.
9. ________________________________________________________________
We bought some beautiful carnations from the street vendor.
10. ________________________________________________________________
The test will last about one hour.
11. ________________________________________________________________
You can go home after this next activity.
12. ________________________________________________________________
I told Greta about the meeting.
13. ________________________________________________________________
Last week I was in Manta.
14. ________________________________________________________________
My mother will be arriving next week.
15. ________________________________________________________________
He hasn’t studied English before because he has never had enough time.

- exercise 2 (oral): information questions

Make questions using the prompts given. Then ask a partner the questions.
1. Why/ study
2. Who/favorite actor
3. When/get up
4. How often/eat out
5. What time/go to bed
6. Where/next vacation
7. How/get to class
8. What kind/movies/like
153
- exercise 3: challenge!
Divide the class into groups of three. Read one sentence to the class. Each
group has a determined amount of time (for example, three minutes) to
write as many questions as possible based on the original sentence. The
group with the most correct questions is the winning team. You may use
the sentences below, or think of your own.

Example: They’ve met many people at CEC.

Questions: How many people have they met? Did they meet older people or
younger people? Where did they meet these people? etc.

SENTENCES
1. We ate too much.
2. They’ve had many problems.
3. I have made many good friends.
4. She works ten hours a day.
5. Dena’s brother is outside.

! april fool’s day

A prank is a playful trick or piece of mischief that somebody plays on

another. What are some examples of pranks?

Listen to the talk about April Fool’s Day, then answer the questions.
Comprehension questions
1. In what year did the new year change from April 1 to January 1?
2. How did the tradition of playing pranks on April 1 get started?
3. Give an example of a prank the speaker mentions.
4. What do people say after they’ve played a joke on you?

154
 ® labor day
What do you do in your country in order to honor the workers? What day do
you celebrate?
LABOR DAY
In many countries in the world, May 1 is a day set aside to celebrate the
worker. Even though this event took place in Chicago, in the U.S. Labor Day is
celebrated on the first Monday in September, halfway between Independence
Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Living conditions in New York during the nineteenth century were not so
good. Many immigrants were arriving to the city, and in order to make ends
meet had to put their children to work. Up to six families often crowded into a
one-family house. Working conditions were poor. Factories required workers
to work ten to twelve hours a day, with little time to eat and no breaks. There
were so many people waiting for jobs that if a worker was sick or tired and
didn’t show up for work one day, another worker would be available to take
his/her place.
Around this time, a young adolescent named Peter McGuire got involved
in classes and meetings pertaining to the social issues of the day. McGuire
worked long hours for little pay, and, along with other workers, was interested
in improving labor conditions. In 1872, McGuire, along with 100,000 other
workers, went on strike, marching through the streets demanding fewer hours
in the working day.
After the march, McGuire was convinced of the importance of the labor
movement. He began to speak to crowds of workers and the unemployed. He
lobbied the city government for jobs and relief money, to no avail. He was
labeled a disturber of public peace and found it difficult to get a job.
McGuire, however, did not let any of these obstacles stop him. He
continued to encourage workers to join unions. He organized carpenters in St.
Louis and Chicago. The idea caught on. Other workers began organizing
according to their trades, demanding their rights to an eight-hour workday, a
secure job, and a future in their profession. To celebrate, Labor Day was born.
The first Labor Day parade was held in New York on September 5, 1882.
Workers marched up Broadway holding banners that read, “Labor creates all
wealth” and “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for
recreation.” There were picnics and fireworks afterwards. In 1894, Congress
voted it as a federal holiday, giving federal (and most other) workers the day
as a paid holiday.
Nowadays Labor Day has become more of a day of rest. It marks the end
of summer, as many schools start classes the Tuesday after Labor Day.
Families go on vacations to the beach or the lake, or go camping in the woods,
in order to enjoy the three-day weekend. Occasionally there are parades or
community picnics, but most often the true meaning of the holiday is
forgotten. Although perhaps Peter McGuire would beg to differ. In fact, if
Labor Day is a day to honor the hard work of employees across the nation,
what better way to do so than by spending a relaxing time with one’s family,
far from the pressures and stress of the workplace?

155
- exercise 1
Put the events below in order, 1 for the first event, 8 for the last.

_______ A parade celebrating workers’ rights was held in New York.

_______Workers now have Labor Day off as a way to honor their work
throughout the year.

_______Workers were beginning to speak of organizing themselves in labor

unions in order to improve their working conditions.

_______McGuire obtained a bad reputation.

_______Because there was no job stability, people came to work whether

they were sick or healthy.

_______Labor Day became a federal holiday.

_______Immigration put a strain on living conditions.

_______McGuire tried to raise government money in order to improve

working conditions.

[] my own holiday
In small groups create your own holiday. Include information such as
the history behind it, how and when it is celebrated, what special
foods and traditions belong to it, etc. You may even choose to dedicate
it to someone famous. Be sure to give it a name. Then share your
holidays with the class. As a class, vote on the one holiday that the
majority considers the best.
________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

156
 @ embedded questions
I don’t remember when she bought her house.
Frank forgot what kind of bread he was supposed to buy.
The city officials cannot decide how to spend the money in the budget.
We cannot figure out who is sending us those threatening messages.

subject + verb (phrase) + question word + subject + verb

• A question is included within a sentence or question.

• The word order is not the same as a normal question.
• Do NOT use the auxiliary verb between question word and subject.
• Do not change the order of the subject and verb.

Could you tell me where the nearest train station is?

Do you know how long the interview will take?

Auxiliary + subject + verb + question word + subject + verb...

embedded question

• In an embedded question within a question, the clause which contains the

embedded question has no change in word order and uses no auxiliary
verb. (Many times these types of questions begin with phrases such as: Do
you know, Can you tell me, Could you tell me, etc.)

- exercise 1: embedded questions

Complete the following sentences, making embedded questions from the
first question.
Example: What’s her name? Do you know what her name is?

a) Where are you going after school?

Can you tell me _________________________________________
b) How is the weather in Esmeraldas right now?
I can’t imagine _________________________________________
c) Why did you come so late?
Would you tell me _________________________________________
d) What was the score during Ecuador’s game?
I don’t know _________________________________________
157
e) When did Amy learn French?
I have no idea _________________________________________
f) Where’s the party?
Do you know _________________________________________
g) How big is the new Dodge Ram?
You can’t imagine _________________________________________
h) Who is knocking at the door?
Can you see _________________________________________
i) What did you eat for lunch?
Nobody would guess ______________________________________
j) Why are you getting a new stereo?
I can’t understand _________________________________________

- exercise 2: embedded questions

Unscramble the words, turning them into an embedded question.

a) I’m she not what wants sure

___________________________________________________________
b) found the haven’t is to party be where supposed they out
___________________________________________________________
c) starting when are you know classes do ?
___________________________________________________________
d) was difficult imagine you how can’t the test
___________________________________________________________
e) me you find house her why couldn’t Lynn told
___________________________________________________________

- exercise 3: questions - review

Write the questions that have the following answers.

1. ___________________________________________________________
No, I haven’t ever been to Guayaquil.
2. ___________________________________________________________
I love steak sandwiches.
3. ___________________________________________________________
I think the game starts at 8 pm.
4. ___________________________________________________________
Yes, I took a little break around noon.
5. ___________________________________________________________
No, I didn’t mean to be rude to her.
6. ___________________________________________________________
The best place to have a malt is at Wendy’s.
7. ___________________________________________________________
The test was so difficult, no one was able to finish it.
158
8. ___________________________________________________________
I don’t know when she will tell us our grades.
9. ___________________________________________________________
The thief’s crossing the street right now.
10. ___________________________________________________________
Hank’s daughter is at the door.

- exercise 4: error corrections - questions

Underline the incorrect part in each question.
1. What family does spiders belong to?
2. Whose is bag on the table?
3. Where did you wanted to go for dinner tonight?
4. Is Daniel be here yet, or do we have to wait for him?
5. Do you know what flight is she arriving on?
6. How many days she will be in the hospital?
7. Does Fran has many friends in New York?
8. Do you be going to visit us anytime soon?
9. Will Sam be coming to the meeting, or he will skip it?
10. How often do I have to ask you if you understand why am I doing this?

[] new year’s resolutions

At the beginning of the new year, it is common for people to want to
start things with a clean slate. They do this by creating
resolutions, or small promises and/or goals that they make for the
upcoming year. Common resolutions are losing weight or eating
healthier. Imagine that it is the new year. Write resolutions for
each of the categories listed. Share your resolutions as a class.
What are the most common?

Travel
Love
Job/studies
English
Family
Health
Personal enrichment

159
 § writing
Research the origins of a unique holiday. You may choose from the
list below, or choose a holiday of your own.

Guy Fawkes Day

Martin Luther King Day
Groundhog Day
Boxing Day

Find out how and when this holiday is celebrated, how it became a
holiday, and any other information you may need to know about it.

@ tag questions
We can try to go a little earlier than normal, can’t we?
You broke two of these dishes, didn’t you?
William won’t be so happy to hear that, will he?

• Small phrases at the end of a statement.

• Used to reaffirm or verify that the information in the statement is correct.
• Rules:

a) Separate the tag from the main clause by a comma. Place the tag at
the end of the main clause.

b) Use the same auxiliary verb as the main clause. If no auxiliary

verb is used, use do/does, or did. DO NOT CHANGE THE TENSE. (For I
with be (in present), use aren’t I?)
You have heard this song before, haven’t you?
Amy met your brother last night, didn’t she?
I am late again, aren’t I?

c) If the main clause is affirmative, the tag is negative. If the main

clause is negative, the tag is affirmative.

d) In a negative tag, the tag is usually a contraction.

160
 e) The subject of the tag must be the same as that of the main clause,
but in its corresponding pronoun (i.e. he/she/it, etc.).

f) There is and there are are pseudo subjects, and therefore the tag
will contain there as if it were the subject pronoun.

There aren’t so many people at the early mass, are there?

g) In American English, when have is a main verb, it uses the

auxiliary do/does/did.
Greg has two dogs, doesn’t he?
In British English, it would be correct to say:
Greg has two dogs, hasn’t he?

Lzoom
It is also possible to make tag questions
from more complicated structures.

Imperatives
When you invite someone to do something, use the tag won’t you?
Examples: Come take a program, won’t you?
Have another cup of coffee, won’t you?

When you tell or ask someone to do something, use one of the following expressions in
the tag: will/would/can/can’t/could you?
Examples: Close the window, will you?
Call me after work, could you?

When the imperative is negative, use will you?

Examples: Don’t call her names, will you?
Don’t come late to class, will you?

Lzoom
Suggestions
For the expression Let’s, use the tag shall we?
Examples: Let’s go home early, shall we?
Let’s take the train, shall we?

161
- exercise 1: tag questions
Complete these sentences adding a tag question. Make sure you use the
correct form of the verb.

1. The Lakers made it to the playoffs, _____________________?

2. They found a vaccine for AIDS, _____________________?
3. You wouldn’t say anything to her, _____________________?
4. There isn’t any milk in the refrigerator, _____________________?
5. We’ve met before, _____________________?
6. She came to talk to me, _____________________?
7. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, _____________________?
8. You don’t like pickles, _____________________?
9. He can’t drive a stick shift, _____________________?
10. His favorite music is rap, _____________________?
11. He doesn’t know how to change a lightbulb, _____________________?
12. There isn’t much we can do about the problem now, _________________?
13. They need help with the grammar, _________________________?
14. We’ve seen this episode before, ____________________?
15. These two actors have acted together in another movie, _____________?
16. You broke the dishes on purpose, ___________________?
17. The teacher told us the answers to the test yesterday, _______________?
18. Alex’s car has a radio, _______________________?
19. The workers of Pepsi-Cola are on strike, ________________________?
20. We should get paid tomorrow, _________________________?

- exercise 2: challenge - tag questions

Write the correct tags.

1. Pass me my bag, ___________________?

2. Leave the papers on my desk, ______________________?
3. Let’s rent a movie tonight, _______________________?
4. Don’t take this street, _______________________?
5. Please come to my house for dinner, ________________________?
6. Please don’t drive so fast, _________________?
7. Let’s leave class a little early tonight, __________________?
8. Have another bowl of soup, __________________?
9. Take a seat, ____________________?
10. Help me carry these books, ___________________?

162
 V intonation: tag questions
Tag questions are used by English speakers for one of two reasons.
1) Sometimes a person uses a tag in order to confirm something
he/she is not sure about.
2) At other times, tags are used when the speaker is sure about the
information and wants another person to agree with him/her. Listen
to the examples below.

Harold wasn’t at the party, was he?

˜
Notice the falling intonation. It means that the speaker is asking for
agreement. The speaker knows that Harold was not at the party.
˘
Harold wasn’t at the party, was he?

Notice the rising intonation. Rising intonation means that the

speaker is not sure about the validity of his/her information, and is
looking for confirmation. In this case, the speaker is not certain
whether Harold attended the party or not. The speaker wants
confirmation.

!exercise 1: listening -
tag questions, intonation
Listen to the following sentences. Pay close attention to the intonation of
the tags. Then circle what the speaker is looking for in each:
A (agreement), or C (confirmation).

1. A C
2. A C
3. A C
4. A C
5. A C
6. A C
7. A C
8. A C
9. A C
10 A C

163
 ø internet
People around the world celebrate holidays in different ways. Each
holiday has its own traditions and foods, even songs and poetry, that are
related to it. For ideas of how to celebrate holidays, go to
www.spritzels.com/index.html. Here you can find recipes to foods for
different holidays, gift ideas, and party ideas. There are quotes and poems
written about the holidays, and other interesting tidbits. For example, go
here to find toasts for the New Year, or to learn about different holidays
such as Groundhog day.

. Create a web site for a holiday celebrated in your country. Include fun
facts about the day, recipes for the foods eaten at that time, poems common
to hear at this time of the year, etc. Share your holiday with your
classmates.

164
 [] the food survey u
Work with a partner to answer the following questions.

1. If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would

you be? Why?
___________________________________
n
Because ____________________________
____________________________________________________
2. With whom would you like to get together?
(another vegetable)
___________________________________
i
t
Because ____________________________
____________________________________________________
3. Would you like to be part of a cold or hot salad?
___________________________________
Because ____________________________
____________________________________________________
4. What dressing or spice would you take?
___________________________________
Because ____________________________
__________________________________________________
5. What sandwich would you taste best in?
___________________________________
8
Because ____________________________
____________________________________________________
6. In what restaurant would you like to be served?
___________________________________
Because ____________________________ pig
____________________________________________________

out
165
[]foods from arounD the world
What are some of the customs you have that revolve around food? For
example, are there foods that are served only at certain times of the
year? Are there certain foods that are special in your family, or any
secret recipes?

FOODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Cultures have different habits and customs when it comes to food.
In fact, the way a culture views food is an enormous aspect of how it
works. For instance, some people will not eat pork products because of
their religion. In some cultures it is considered a compliment to the
chef to slurp one’s food. If offered food in one culture, it may be polite
to accept; in others, the invitation may be a mere formality and a
serious breach of cultural norms if accepted. For people of some
cultures, it may be considered extremely rude to accept the last piece of
food from a tray, whereas in others it may not.
Create a culture and describe it from its culinary aspect. Think
about your culture’s food habits and traditions. Are certain foods
prohibited? Should they be cooked in a particular way? How do people
eat in your newly created culture? Who cooks? What are the table
manners? What is the role of food in daily life and on special
occasions? How are foods served? Create a list of do’s and don’ts for
travelers to your culture. Share this list with another classmate.
Accept questions from your classmate about the culture you created.
Ask your own questions about your classmate’s culture. Compare the
two. How are they the same? How are they different?

@ verbs as complements
• A complement receives the action of the verb of a sentence.
• Sometimes a verb can be followed by another verb; in this case, the second
verb acts as the complement of the sentence.

Verbs followed by the infinitive

You agreed to go with me to the concert.
She wanted to open the can with a knife.
They refused to cooperate with me.
I hope to see you soon.

166
• Common verbs that follow this pattern:

agree deserve prepare

afford desire pretend
appear elect proceed
arrange endeavor prove
ask expect refuse
be fail serve
be supposed happen seem
care hesitate struggle
choose hope swear
claim intend tend
come learn threaten
consent manage volunteer
decide need wait
demand offer want
deserve plan would like

Verbs followed by the gerund

She misses going to school everyday.
I regret telling her a lie.
Mr. Frank admitting eating the doughnut.
Has Amy ever suggested taking a cooking class?

• Some verbs are followed by the gerund (-ing form) of the verb:

admit detest postpone

anticipate discuss recall
appreciate enjoy recommend
attempt escape regret
avoid excuse resent
be worth finish resist
can’t help imagine risk
complete involve spend time
confess mention suggest
consider mind tolerate
defer miss understand
delay practice
deny prevent

167
 Verbs followed by either the infinitive or gerund

I like to play board games on Saturday nights.

I like playing board games on Saturday nights.
I started to study at 2 p.m.
I started studying at 2 p.m.

• Some verbs may be followed by either the infinitive or gerund, with no

change in meaning.

attempt dread neglect

begin hate prefer
cannot bear intend start
can’t stand like
continue love

• Some verbs may be followed by a gerund or infinitive, but undergo a

considerable change in meaning depending on which form is used.
• When the gerund is used, the emphasis is on the first action. When the
infinitive is used, the emphasis is on the second action.

stop
I stopped doing my homework. (I am no longer doing my homework.)
I stopped to do my homework. (I stopped something to start my homework.)
quit
I quit working at Hanson’s. (I do not work there now.)
I quit to work at Hanson’s. (I quit another job to start at Hanson’s.)
remember
She remembered taking the picture. (She remembers the day she took it.)
She remembered to take the picture. (She almost didn’t take the picture.)
try
I tried ice-skating. (I experienced ice-skating for the first time.)
I tried to ice-skate. (I made an effort to ice skate.)
forget
I’ve almost forgotten meeting him. (I can barely remember when we met.)
I almost forgot to meet him. (I didn’t remember to go see him.)
mean
This problem means not having money for Christmas presents. (It signifies there
is no money.)
Did you mean to spend so much? (Did you want/plan to spend so much?)

168
! exercise 1: listening - special verbs
Listen to the sentences. Choose the best meaning for each.
1. A) She doesn’t watch her soap opera now.
B) She finished what she was doing to watch her soap opera.

2. A) She has the memory of speaking with him.

B) She reminded herself to speak with him.

3. A) They quit their job for a new job at the fair.

B) They decided not to work at the fair.

4. A) You didn’t remember that you bought milk.

B) You didn’t bring home milk.

5. A) It is a memory he will always have.

B) He didn’t remember the time he met Sinatra.

6. A) We didn’t forget to talk to him.

B) We have the memory of talking to him.

7. A) He finished what he was doing in order to watch the news.

B) He turned off the news.

8. A) She took lessons.

B) She wasn’t able to take lessons.

9. A) She took lessons.

B) She wasn’t able to take lessons.

10. A) He stopped what he was doing in order to begin smoking.

B) He didn’t smoke.

- exercise 2: verbs as complementS

Fill in the sentences with your own words, using either the infinitive or
gerund of a verb.
1. They need _________________________________________________________.
2. I dread _________________________________________________________.
3. Will loves _________________________________________________________.
4. I cannot bear ______________________________________________________.
5. She intends _________________________________________________________.
6. Please try _________________________________________________________.
7. They expect _________________________________________________________.
8. We must decide _____________________________________________________.
9. The answers appear ________________________________________________.
10. She recommends ___________________________________________________.

169
- exercise 3: verbs as complementS
PART ONE
Make two “word paths.” One path should use verbs that need to be followed
by the gerund; the other should use verbs that need to be followed by the
infinitive. Use the first or last letter of the previous word as the first letter
of the next word. Write a minimum of 8 verbs in each path.

EXAMPLE:

DETESTT
I
S
C
U
S
S HUN
N
E
E
D

PART TWO

Write four sentences. Each sentence must have two verbs which appeared
in your “word path.” (One of the verbs may be in the complement position,
or both verbs may form part of a complex sentence.)

Example: I detest discussing problems at the dinner table.

a) ___________________________________________________________

b) ___________________________________________________________

c) ___________________________________________________________

d) ___________________________________________________________

170
- exercise 4: verbs as complementS

Fill in the blanks with the infinitive or gerund form of the verb in
parentheses.

1. I can’t imagine _______________ (live) without you.

2. My boss offered _______________ (give) me a raise in January.

3. Mindy can’t stand _______________ (listen) to country music.

4. With her answer she managed _______________ (make) her mother so

angry that she was immediately grounded.

5. When will Jane finish _______________ (prune) the garden?

6. She deserves _______________ (be) happy. I hope her boyfriend treats her

well.

7. Doctors suggest _______________ (drink) eight glasses of water a day.

8. Jessica tends _______________ (call) me every time I sit down to eat. It’s

so annoying!

9. My family enjoys _______________ (watch) late night television together.

10. How can we prevent _______________ (contract) a fatal disease like

polio?

11. I can count on my mother. She would never hesitate _______________

(help) me out financially.

12. Quit _______________ (make) those noises! You’re driving me crazy.

13. He misses _______________ (see) her at work every day.

14. How can I avoid _______________ (fight) with my cousins on the

holidays?

15. The patient consented _______________ (get) a blood exam.

16. Will you please volunteer _______________ (carry) these books to the

library?

171
17. Pat will have to swear _______________ (tell) the truth when he goes to

court.

18. This project involves _______________ (go) to Ambato each weekend.

19. Please don’t forget _______________ (buy) cheese and tortillas for the

tacos!

20. The teacher begins _______________ (speak) at 7:00 and doesn’t stop

until 9:00!

[] restaurant review
Think about a restaurant you have visited lately. Write a review for
the restaurant, following the format given below.

Name:
Location:
Type of food:
Ambiance (circle): Romantic Semiformal Business Casual
Best dish:
Worst dish:
Review (circle): IIIII Excellent, highly recommended
IIII Good quality, worth the trip
III Average, nothing to write home about
II Below average, don’t bother
I Poor, stay far away

Prices (circle): Very expensive Expensive Moderate

Inexpensive

Very expensive: $30 + per dish

Expensive: $15-$29 per dish
Moderate: $5-$14 per dish
Inexpensive: less than $5 per dish

Comments:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

172
 G recipes
PART 1
Recipes are often written by using direct commands. Sometimes articles such
as the are omitted, also. Look at the recipe for vegetable pizza below. Using
the verbs listed, fill in the blanks within the recipe, using each verb once
unless otherwise noted in parentheses.

BAKE SPRINKLE (2) PRE-BAKE BEAT

SPREAD(2) ROAST BOIL INCREASE
HEAT(3) TOP PUT DIVIDE
DISSOLVE TOSS MAKE STIR (3)
PAT COOK REMOVE LET

VEGETABLE PIZZA
Ingredients: Topping;
Crust: 2 cups broccoli florets
1 package active dry yeast 2 cups cauliflower florets
1 c. warm water (105 to 115°) 1 yellow bell pepper, cut in 8 strips
2 cups flour 2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. vegetable oil 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. each of sugar and salt 1/4 tsp. pepper
Sauce: 1 c. milk
2 Tbs. margarine or butter 3 Tbs. scallions
2 Tbs. flour 2 cups shredded cheese blend
1/4 tsp. salt (mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano)
1/8 tsp. pepper

1. ___________ oven to 425° F. ___________ vegetables, mushrooms, oil, salt

and pepper in roasting pan. ___________ to mix and coat. ___________ in a
single layer. ___________, stirring once, for 25 minutes or until the veggies are
lightly browned and tender.
2. Meanwhile, ___________ the crust. ___________ the yeast in warm water in
a 2 1/2-quart bowl. ___________ in remaining ingredients. ___________
vigorously 20 strokes. ___________ rest 5 minutes. ___________ dough into
two parts. ___________ each half in a 12-inch pizza pan with floured fingers.
___________ at 425°F until crust is golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
3. To make the sauce, ___________ the margarine in a 1 1/2-quart saucepan
over low heat until melted. ___________ in flour, salt, and pepper.
___________ over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and
bubbly. ___________ from heat. ___________ in milk. ___________ to boiling,
stirring constantly. ___________ and stir one minute more.
4. ___________ oven temperature to 450°F. ___________ cooked pizza crust
with white sauce, leaving a 1-inch rim. ___________ with 1 cup shredded
pizza cheese. ___________ cheese with roasted vegetables. ___________ with
remaining cheese and scallions.
5. ___________ 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and toppings are hot.

173
§ my very own secret recipe
In groups of two choose a dish you know how to prepare. In 8 steps
describe how to make your recipe. Then share it with the rest of
the class. Do not mention the name of your dish, so the class can
guess what you are cooking.

______________________________
My Very Own Secret Recipe

Ingredients:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

Preparation:
1 ____________________________________________________________
2 ____________________________________________________________
3 ____________________________________________________________
4 ____________________________________________________________
5 ____________________________________________________________
6 ____________________________________________________________
7 ____________________________________________________________
8 ____________________________________________________________
174
 @ prepositions and verbs
• Certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives can be found in expressions with
prepositions.
• When a verb follows a preposition, it MUST go in the gerund form.

Verb + preposition + gerund

She is always dreaming about getting a new husband.

I have planned on changing my job.
He should insist on obtaining that refund.

advise against depend on put off

apologize for dream of / about rely on
approve of feel like succeed in
be better off insist on think of / about
believe in plan on worry about

Noun + preposition + gerund

There’s the possibility of fixing your car sooner.

I have no intention of taking your mother’s advice.
There’s no excuse for coming late.

choice of intention of possibility of

excuse for method of / for reason for

Adjective + preposition + gerund

She is afraid of telling him the truth.

I’m interested in buying your house.

afraid of fed up with interested in

capable of fond of obsessed with
excited about good / bad at tired of

175
 Adjective + Infinitive

Pleased to meet you.

We were sorry to hear about your loss.
Sally is always embarrassed to use her coupons at the grocery store.

• Some adjectives must be followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

able dangerous lucky

afraid eager pleased
anxious embarrassed prepared
boring encouraged sorry
careful hard willing

• The preposition to generally introduces an infinitive verb, and is not followed

by a gerund.
• There are a few expressions with adjectives, however, that include the
preposition to as part of the expression. In this case, to should be followed by
the gerund.

I look forward to writing to you soon.

Peter confessed to stealing those papers from the office.

accustomed to look forward to used to

confess to object to

- exercise 3: INFINITIVE OR GERUND?

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. I’m anxious __________________ (finish) this course.

2. It’s not usual __________________ (see) hot air balloons in the sky.
3. It was difficult __________________ (reach) Mahuad after he resigned.
4. She is accustomed to __________________ (eat) twice a day.
5. Pat is afraid of __________________ (move) away from his family.
6. I’m tired of ________________ ( see) how people steal from the government.
7. Liga had no choice but __________________ (play) on Saturday morning.

176
8. There is no excuse for __________________ (be) late for class.
9. He is worried about __________________ (lose) his job.
10. I had to stop __________________ (work) at SEK to work here.
11. It’s good __________________ (be) a teacher.
12. I began __________________ (understand) why things are like that.
13. Aspiazu has denied __________________ (rob) money from his clients.
14. You prefer __________________(talk) on the phone rather than in person.
15. I hate __________________ (swim) in cold water.

- exercise 4: verbs as complementS

Look at the clues below. Fill in the spaces with the letters of the verbs
suggested by each clue. Then check the verbs as: verbs followed by the
gerund, and verbs followed by the infinitive. (Use the verbs listed in this
unit.)

CLUES
1____ 1 To say “No” to something or someone
2_______ 2 When you imagine something is real
3________ 3 If you doubt something
4____ 4 To give up
5________ 5 When you have a hard time doing something
6______ 6 To crave something
7______ 7 When you remember
8____ 8 If you made mistakes on the test, you may ____ the course.
9____ 9 To look alike
10 _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 You’d rather have something else
11 _ _ _ _ _ _ 11 When you don’t like something from the past
12 _ _ _ _ 12 To care about something
13 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13 To get ready
14 _ _ _ _ _ _ 14 To make up your mind
15 _ _ _ _ _ 15 To refrain from doing something
16 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 16 To keep on

177
 ! menu
What is your favorite restaurant? What are your favorite dishes to order
when you go out to eat?

Part 1
Listen to the dialogue. Fill in the description of the salads and dinner
entrees on the menu as you listen. Listen again to check your answers.

Grandma’s Grill and Barbecue

MENU
APPETIZERS
Potato Skins – Smothered with Cheddar cheese and crisp bacon, our famous potato
skins will leave you breathless! Served with sour cream and chives and a side of salsa.
Full order (12) $5.99
Half order (6) $3.99
Mozzarella Sticks – Thick, breaded slices of fresh mozzarella cheese fried to golden
perfection and served with marinara sauce. $3.95
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
SOUPS
French onion – Caramelized onions dipped in an exquisite beef broth and topped with
a crouton and melted, smoked Provolone cheese. Cup $2.59 Bowl $3.49
Cream of broccoli and cheese – Fresh broccoli simmered with a special blend of
cheese. Spiced up with a splash of Tabasco sauce. Cup $3.29 Bowl $4.09
Soup du jour – A different soup each day. Ask your server for details. Cup $2.29
Bowl $2.99

SALADS
For only $1.99 add a cup of soup!
Cobb salad – A Grandma’s favorite! Garden fresh _______, diced ________ and
crisp bacon, crumbled cheese, hard-boiled _______, __________, ___________,
tomatoes $4.99
Grilled Tuna Salad – Fresh, melt-in-your mouth grilled tuna fillet with mixed salad
greens, black ________, green __________, __________eggs, and ____________
wedges. Served with Grandma’s secret spicy _____________ dressing. One taste of
this salad and you will feel like you are on the sea! $5.99
SANDWICHES
All sandwiches are served with chips and a pickle.
Chicken Finger BLT – Hand-battered crunchy Cajun chicken tenderloins on toasted
sesame bread with melted Provolone cheese and crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato and
homemade mayo. $5.65
Turkey Club – Chargrilled mesquite-smoked turkey breast with creamy, melted
American cheese, crispy bacon, and smoked ham. Served with our signature sweet-
smoky mayo on toasted Italian bread. $5.95

178
 FOR HEARTY EATERS
DINNER ENTREES
All dinner entrees are served with your choice of potato (_________, scalloped or
__________ ___________), grilled vegetables, and a dinner roll. For only $1.49, add a
garden salad or cup of soup.
Spicy Beef Fajitas – Chargrilled ____________ on a bed of grilled ____________
and sautéed green _____________. Served with spicy black ___________, Spanish
____________, colby ___________, ____________, pico de gallo and __________
tortillas. $9.95
New York Steak – Hand cut USDA choice aged _________ chargrilled to perfection
and topped with our very own horseradish _____________ and buttered
___________________. $13.95
ON THE SIDE
House Side Salad – Ripe tomato, cubes of Cheddar cheese, shredded carrot and
radishes on a bed of fresh mixed greens. $1.99
Mashed potatoes – Our hand-mashed potatoes loaded with butter. Mashed to
perfection, with the skins left on, so you know that Grandma’s serves only fresh
products! $1.29
Garlic Bread Sticks – For a taste of Italy, try our golden bread sticks. Dripping with
butter and toasted to perfection, these sticks will satisfy even the pickiest garlic lover.
Order of 6: $2.99
FOR THAT SWEET TOOTH
Ice Cream Sundae – Grandma’s hand-churned French vanilla ice cream topped with
your choice of creamy caramel sauce, hot fudge, or fresh strawberries. Complete with
chopped nuts and a dollop of the finest whipped cream. Big enough for two! $ 3.19
Cherry Cheesecake – What people come to Grandma’s for! You must try a slice of
our famous Cherry Cheesecake. Using only the finest ingredients, our cherries are
fresh, right off the tree! $2.39
Scrumptious Strawberry Shortcake – Grandma’s homemade, fresh-baked
poundcake smothered in fresh strawberries grown on Grandma’s own farms. Topped
with mounds of fresh whipped cream, this is sure to please the little ones. $1.99
THIRST-QUENCHERS
Fresh-squeezed lemonade 16 oz. $1.99
Soft drinks $1.49 (FREE REFILLS)
Cup of coffee $1.09, Bottomless pot of coffee $2.19
Beer (on tap) 12 oz. $1.89 16 oz. $2.29

179
Part 2
Look at the receipt below. The waiter has made a few mistakes on the
bill. Fix the mistakes. Charge 8% for tax. What is the correct total?
Add 20% for a tip. How much is the total bill, including tip?

Grandma’s Grill and Barbecue

Description Price
1/2 order potato skins $5.99
Grilled tuna salad $5.99
New York Steak (baked potato) $14.95
Cup French onion $2.59
Chicken BLT (french fries) $4.65
Side Salad (Italian dressing) $1.59
Pot coffee $2.29
Lemonade $1.99
Diet $1.49
Subtotal:
Tax:
Total:

[] ordering at restaurants
Choose three students from the class to be waiters. The rest of the class will be the
customers. Divide the class into three groups, with one waiter in each group. Take ten
minutes for each group to create a name for their restaurant along with a menu. When
the groups have finished, put the three waiters (along with their menus) into separate
parts of the room.
In this activity, the customers will go from restaurant to restaurant ordering food.
Each time, both customer and waiter should choose at least one situation from their
corresponding column.
Customers’ Column Waiters’ Column
the food is cold you are in a grumpy mood
the restaurant is hot and stuffy you pick your nose and drop food
the restaurant is too cold you make a mistake on the order
there are no vegetarian dishes you are out of something on the menu
the restaurant is too smoky you offer something not on the menu
the people next to you are too loud you are very shy
the food is too salty you are hard of hearing
there is a mistake on the bill you do not speak English well
the food is burnt/undercooked you are tired and your feet hurt
the food is greasy and unhealthy you are sexist

180
 ® lefse
If you were to move to another country, what food would you miss
the most?

LEFSE: A NORWEGIAN TRADITION

As the tortilla to the Mexican, lefse to the Norwegian-American.

Any “good” Norwegian-American will tell you that! We looked
forward to lefse at Grandma’s house on the holidays. We buy lefse by
the pound and even try to make our own! We slather it with butter
and sugar, roll it up and gobble it down.

This famous flatbread is made from potatoes. The potatoes are

mashed and then mixed with flour, cream, salt, and a little oil. The
resulting dough is then rolled very thin and fried on a piping hot
griddle. It is traditionally served with lutefisk, or codfish, on the
holidays.

But lefse is much more than just a delicious type of bread. It is

tradition and history. It is community. In the past, women in
Norway would travel from house to house for three to four days in
order to make a year’s supply of lefse for their household. They
would work over an open fire well into the evening. The lefse would
be stored in barrels or sea chests. Very often, the shed where the
lefse was prepared was also the same shed where the beer was made.
Lefse-making is as much a family tradition as lefse-eating!

1. How does this author feel about lefse?

2. Describe lefse. How is it eaten? When?

3. How have the traditions surrounding lefse changed?

4. How would you describe the tone of this passage?

a) nostalgic b) sarcastic
c) sad d) incredulous

181
 @ pronouns before
the infinitive or gerund
INFINITIVE FORMS
I asked Mary to set the table.
You invited me to see that movie.
She wanted us to bring some chips for the meeting.

subject + verb + complement form of (pro)noun+ infinitive verb...

• When a pronoun/noun is part of the complement of a sentence along with the

verbs below, use the infinitive form with the complement form of the pronoun.

allow ask beg convince expect instruct

invite order permit prepare persuade promise
remind urge want

GERUND FORMS

I hate your calling so late.

We understand your not being able to come earlier.
I am looking forward to their coming next summer.
You regret her leaving.

subject + verb + possessive adjective or noun +verb(ing)...

• In order to use a pronoun or noun before a verb that should be in the

gerund form, you must use the possessive form of the complement
pronoun or noun.

182
- exercise 1: pronouns before the infinitive and gerund
Choose the correct pronoun.

1. I really like (you / your) writing to my mom.

2. I can’t allow (him / his) to go out this late at night.

3. Remind (my / me) to get those packages.

4. You shouldn't rely on (her / hers) calling tonight.

5. I want (you / your) to find me an apartment.

6. She hates (our / us) having to tell our parents everything we do.

7. I appreciate (him / his) coming here to see me.

- exercise 2: error correction

The underlined part of each sentence is incorrect. Make its correction.

1. Cindy appeared be angry at her sister.

2. Do not offer taking me to the airport if you don’t have the time.

3. I don’t mind to spend my money on other people.

4. I’m not asking your to give up your job.

5. Let’s discuss you to get a raise.

6. I will not risk to get a cold, so I take a vitamin C pill every morning.

7. Isaac recommends Tracy leaving early today.

8. Mandy tends being late on Mondays.

9. Can you please excuse my to interrupt your story?

10. We haven’t spent any time to work on our project.

11. It is worth to call her to find out if Troy is all right.

12. You can expect hearing a lot of lies from that presidential candidate.

183
 ! traditional foods
Make a list of traditional foods from your country/city. Can you find
these foods someplace else?
Listen to three people talk about different kinds of food. Then fill in
the chart below.
NAME OF FOOD COUNTRY INGREDIENTS PREPARATION

1.

2.

3.

ß run-on-sentences
The fund raiser was successful, it raised ten thousand dollars for
disabled children.
She should be more polite, she might not have so many problems with
her boss.

• Run-ons are independent clauses that are incorrectly united by

commas, without conjunctions or transition words to aid the
connection.
• Every run-on should be separated into two or more independent
sentences (separated by a period), or joined with the correct form of
punctuation or transition word.

184
 1. Change the run-on sentence into two sentences.

The fund raiser was successful. It raised ten thousand dollars for
disabled children.

2. Make the run-on sentence into a compound sentence by adding

words like and, but, nor, for, or, or (or the correct punctuation like a
semicolon).

The fund raiser was successful, and it raised ten thousand dollars
for disabled children.
The fund raiser was successful; it raised ten thousand dollars for
disabled children.

3. Change the run-on into a complex sentence.

If she were nicer, she wouldn’t have so many problems with her
boss.
The fund raiser was successful because it raised ten thousand
dollars for disabled children.

- exercise 1: run-ons
Decide if each sentence is a run-on or not. If so, correct it.
1. Jacob had a terrible day because he lost his keys, he had an accident, too.
2. There were three people at the table, I didn’t know who they were.
3. Before you say no, listen to what I have to say.
4. George left for the Bahamas early this morning, and he arrives this
afternoon.
5. Erica and her family have decided to stay in a hotel while the
exterminators try to rid their house of termites.
6. Don’t move, there is a bug on your shoulder, it is big.
7. Pay attention or else next time I will not help you.
8. Greta and Courtney were in Amy’s wedding, even though they were both
very nervous.

185
 ß FRAGMENTED SENTENCES

After we had dinner That make you sneeze

Because she loves to read For five years or more

• A fragment is not a complete sentence.

• Fragments occur when a sentence part, such as a phrase or
dependent clause, is written as if it were a complete sentence.

CORRECTED FRAGMENTS
After we had dinner, we went shopping.
Avoid perfumes that make you sneeze.
She goes to the library because she loves to read.
They have been best friends for five years or more.

• Fragments may also occur when they are exclamations or answers

to questions. However, most must be revised in formal writing.
ACCEPTABLE FRAGMENTS
How long have they been friends? For five years or more!
Why? Because she loves to read.

- exercise 1: fragments
Eliminate each fragment by making it into a complete sentence.

1. I worked for that company for many years. First as an accountant, later
as a secretary.
_____________________________________________________________
2. Water is important for the skin. Which everyone needs to live.
_____________________________________________________________
3. He knew Italian. Before he learned English.
_____________________________________________________________
4. Harold guffawed loudly. Like a child at the circus.
_____________________________________________________________
5. Angela was nervous the first day of school. Trying hard to fit in.
_____________________________________________________________
6. I'll be there soon. In five minutes.
_____________________________________________________________

186
 ø internet
Every culture and country has its own eating habits. Certain foods in
one culture may be taboo or considered disgusting in another.
At www.stuffucanuse.com/strange_food.htm you can find a list of
interesting foods from a variety of countries. For example, in China some
people eat “drunken shrimp,” live shrimp swimming in a bowl of rice wine.
In Greece, retsina is a popular drink made from pine resin which takes a
little getting used to. And chewing gum makes the list for strange foods
from the United States. Remember as you use the web site that due to
cultural differences and perceptions, some of the foods listed may not seem
at all strange to you. Note these foods as you look at the web site. Then
make a list of foods that you consider strange. Compare your lists with
other classmates. Do you agree?

. Make a list of some foods that your culture considers disgusting or

strange that others may not. Write your ideas below.

. Now make a list of foods common in your culture that others may find
strange.

187
 ' irregular verbs a
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle

arise
awake
be
arose
awoke
was,were
arisen
awoken
been
p
bear bore borne
beat
become
begin
beat
became
began
beat / beaten
become
begun
p
bend bent bent
bet
bite
bleed
blow
bet
bit
bled
blew
bet
bitten
bled
blown
e
n
break broke broken
bring brought brought
build built built
burn burnt / burned burnt / burned
burst burst burst
buy
catch
choose
cling
bought
caught
chose
clung
bought
caught
chosen
clung
d
come came come
cost
creep
cut
deal
cost
crept
cut
dealt
cost
crept
cut
dealt
i
dig
dive
do
draw
dug
dove / dived
did
drew
dug
dived
done
drawn
x
A1
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle
dream dreamt / dreamed dreamt
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
find found found
fit fit/fitted fit/fitted
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbid forbade / forbad forbidden / forbade
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
forgo forwent forgone
freeze froze frozen
get got gotten / got
give gave given
go went gone
grind ground ground
grow grew grown
hang hung / hanged hung / hanged
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
kneel knelt / kneeled knelt / kneeled

A2
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle
knit knit / knitted knit / knitted
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leap leapt / leaped leapt / leaped
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie (down) lay lain
light lit / lighted lit / lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
pay paid paid
prove proved proved / proven
put put put
quit quit quit
read read read
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
saw sawed sawed/sawn
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn / sewed
shake shook shaken
shave shaved shaved / shaven

A3
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle
shear sheared sheared / shorn
shine shone / shined shone / shined
shoot shot shot
show showed shown / showed
shrink shrank / shrunk shrunk / shrunken
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
slay slew slain
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
sneak sneaked / snuck sneak / snuck
speak spoke spoken
speed sped sped
spend spent spent
spill spilt / spilled spilt / spilled
spin spun spun
spit spat / spit spat / spit
split split split
spread spread spread
spring sprang sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stank / stunk stunk
strew strewed strewn
strike struck struck / stricken
strive strove / strived striven / strived
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum

A4
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle

swing swung swung

take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
thrive thrived / throve thrived / thriven
throw threw thrown
undergo underwent undergone
understand understood understood
upset upset upset
wake woke / waked woken / waked
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
weep wept wept
win won won
wind wound wound
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
wring wrung wrung
write wrote written

'nouns that take a plural verb

pants trousers
shorts pliers
tongs scissors
slacks jeans
glasses tweezers
pajamas

A5
'nouns that take a singular verb
physics athletics
herd flock
club government
family Congress
team committee
crowd public
group jury
army news

' irregular plurals

Singular form Plural form
alumna alumnae
amoeba amoebas, amoebae
analysis analyses
antenna antenna, antennae
appendix appendices, appendixes
axis axes
basis bases
businessman businessmen
businesswoman businesswomen
calf calves
child children
crisis crises
criterion criteria
datum data
deer deer
dwarf dwarfs, dwarves
elf elves
fireman firemen
fish fish

A6
Singular form Plural form
foot feet
genus genera
goose geese
half halves
knife knives
leaf leaves
life lives
loaf loaves
louse lice
man men
millennium millenniums, millennia

moose moose
mouse mice
ox oxen
person people
phenomenon phenomena
series series
sheaf sheaves
sheep sheep
shelf shelves
species species
thesis theses
tooth teeth
wife wives
woman women

A7