Answers: Christmas holidays

1. STUDENT'S BOOK PAGES 50, 51

GRAMMAR
1 should join, 2 can't be, 3 be able, 4 mustn't take/can't take, 5 might not/may not, 6 don't have, 7 must be, 8 might be/may be, 9 have to, 10 shouldn't drink

VOCABULARY
a 1 mid, 2 length, 3 straight, 4 fringe, 5 wears
b 1 interested, 2 depressed, 3 boring, 4 embarrassing, 5 frustrated
c 1 off, 2 back, 3 up, 4 like, 5 in

READING
1b, 2a, 3c, 4a, 5b

2. READING: HELP! MY DAUGHTER'S USED MY CREDIT CARDS! 

Click here for the answers:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMTg1YTBkMmUtYjRhNC00Y2Q0LTg0NzgtOTJhYTMxN2NkOTMx

3. VIDEO: DIDO'S COMEBACK

Watch the video:

Click here for the questions:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMDRjMDhkYzAtMzA5NC00Y2ZjLTgzYTMtMDNlMjUzNWU0NTdh

Click here for the answers:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnNGQ1MGFkYjgtMzNiOC00ZDI5LWFkYzEtMGU0NzgzOGEyNmIx

Tuesday 10 January

Happy New Year!

1. Use of language: self-assessment
Attention: these are like the official exam questions but limited to the grammar we've done so far
Click here for the questions:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_iEg9GINmnnOTU1NWE3MGUtNTY3My00ZmUzLWIyYWMtODMwOWVmZTI2YmFi&hl=es

2. Typical writing mistakes. Find and correct the mistakes
Click here for the document:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnYjlmZWUyNzQtMmZhZC00OWU2LWI4NzAtYzY0NTMyYmJhN2Jh


3. Writing: an email

Imagine you have a British friend in the UK, and you stayed with him/her for a week last summer. Write an email of about 125 words to thank him/her. Hand in your writing by January 12. You can write about the following:

·       Apologize to your friend for not writing earlier and thank him/her for letting you stay in the summer

·       Mention some good things that you remember during your stay (or any funny thing or incident that occurred)

·       Invite him/her to come to Spain and suggest some of the activities you could do

4. Student's book: pages 50 and 51
5. Photocopies modal verbs: pages 11 and 12
6. Exam Practice 3: use of language Dropouts and video Prince Harry wants to be a pilot

Click here for the questions:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnNWZhMjM2Y2EtOGRmMS00ZjYzLThkZDQtMTc5MDg1M2M3ZjQy

Thursday 22 December

1. Exam practice: reading "Help my daughter's stolen my credit card" (do it as if it was an exam, in 15-20 minutes, without dictionary)
2. Exam practice: use of language "Dropouts" (do it as if it was an exam, in 15-20 minutes, without dictionary or notes)

ANSWERS TO PHOTOCOPIES MODALS PAGES 8 AND 9

PAGE 8
2 must be waiting
3 shouldn't have left
4 might have borrowed
5 must have been waiting ... must have forgotten
6 may have attended
7 must have left
8 might be travelling
9 must not have expected / must not have been expecting
10 must have been daydreaming ... should have paid ... shouldn't have stared

PAGE 9
1a, 2b, 3a, 4c, 5b, 6a, 7b, 8c, 9a, 10b, 11b, 12b

Tuesday 20 December

1. Student's book: read the text on page 44 and do exercise 1c
2. Photocopies modal verbs: pages 8, 9 and 10

Note: Please I urge everybody to attend class the last two days before the Christmas holidays as we have some important work to do:

• we'll try to finish unit 3 in the student's book and the photocopies about modal verbs (some exercises in class, others on the blog)
• you will have your writing (your story I'm glad in any case...) corrected and we are going to comment also the last writing test in more detail
• We are going to do Exam Practice 3 with a reading, video, use of language as well as the speaking practice Family Life (which you already have on a photocopy)

Thursday 15 December

ATTENTION: TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE CONVERSATION CLASSES.

1. Student's book: read the text on page 43
2. Photocopies modal verbs: pages 8 and 9
3. Test of the reader About a boy

Note:
The test of the reader About a Boy is a short test that will take us not more than 20 minutes. If you haven't read the book don't skip the class to avoid the test. Moreover, if you haven't read the book I would strongly recommend to read it on holidays or when you have time even if we have already done the test. Remember that the important thing is not the test or the mark (which doesn't count) but the enormous benefits that you will get from reading carefully and listening to the book.

Tuesday 13 December

1. Student's book: page 135, exercise 3B
2. Student's book: read the texts on pages 40 and 43
3. Photocopies modal verbs: page 8

Answers to photocopies modal verbs, pages 5 and 6
EXERCISE 22
2C, 3A, 4C, 5B, 6A, 7C, 8C, 9C, 10B, 11A, 12A, 13B, 14B, 15A

EXERCISE 24

1. ...
2. should/ought to
3. mustn't/can't/may not
4. Shall/Can/Could
5. Can/Could/Will
6. should/ought to
7. May/Could/Can
8. can't
9. may/might/could
10. have to/must
11. must
12. can't/may not
13. can't
14. may/can

EXERCISE 18
2i, 3c, 4j, 5b, 6e, 7a, 8d, 9g, 10k, 11h, 12l

EXERCISE 19

1. ...
2. He doesn't have to take the exam again
3. Terry can't be in the office
4. Janet may/might/could call me this evening
5. You mustn't eat and drink in the classrooms
6. We have to clock in and out every day
7. The boys can't have been upset with the result
8. Can/Could/Shall I do anything to help?
9. We may/might/could go for a picnic on Sunday afternoon
10. Sam was able to reach the top of the mountain ...
11. Why don't you throw a party on your birthday/You could throw a party...
12. John didn't have/didn't need to attend the seminar
13. They have to go to a meeting every week
14. Why don't we visit some friends on Saturday?/We could visit some friends..

Friday 9 December

1. Student's book, page 135, exercise 3A
2. Student's book, page 38: read the text and do exercise c
3. Photocopies modal verbs: read the front page and do pages 5 and 6

Note: one of the pages is not clear because the last words on the right of the page are cut, click here to print the page in the correct format:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnZTViYjZmOWQtYzBkYi00NGJlLWIzMzUtZTAwNjkzZjI5YjZi

Thursday 1 December

This class we are going to correct first the use of language test Women in the United States, and then we are doing the writing test that will take 30 minutes. After this, class will resume as normal. We are going to finish the comparatives and finally we will be doing the first speaking practice like the June exam. Also I'm going to give you the next photocopies about modal verbs.

1. Hand in your writing: a story "I'm glad in any case..."
2. Use of language Women in the United States on the photocopies
3. Check the answers to the video Energy Bills (see below)
4. Check the answers to comparatives photocopies pages 4 and 6 (see below the video answers)

Click here for the questions:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnYWY5YTlmZjYtZmI1ZS00ZTVjLWI2ZTMtY2ViZTc5NDlkMWJl

Click here for the answers:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnZWU0MmJhZmUtNDE0My00MTA1LWFjMzUtMDQzNzYwOGI5Mzk4

Answers to comparatives, pages 4 and 6

PAGE 4, EXERCISE 1
1 discipline, 2 talent, 3 confidence, 4 initiative, 5 an open mind, 6 faith

PAGE 4, EXERCISE 6
2 marginally, 3 a little, 4 just, 5 slightly

PAGE 4, EXERCISE 8
2 healthier, 3 cheap, 4 far more popular, 5 tall, 6 a lot better, 7 as it is now, 8 far easier than, 9 much more difficult

PAGE 6, EXERCISE 17
2 taller and taller, 3 hotter and hotter, 4 harder and harder, 5 colder and colder, 6 heavier and heavier, 7 prettier and prettier

PAGE 6, EXERCISE 18
2 The harder ... the more, 3 The higher ... the more, 4 The more ... the fatter, 5 The newer ... the more valuable, 6 The darker ... the more scared

PAGE 6, EXERCISE 20
2 the most expensive, 3 nicer, 4 smaller, 5 more spacious, 6 less, 7 the most peaceful, 8 quieter, 9 the friendliest or the most friendly, 10 more colourful, 11 more convenient, 12 the best

Tuesday 29 November

1. Use of language test Women in the United States on the photocopies Exam Practice
2. Comparatives: pages 4 and 6
3. Writing: a story (due for December 1)
4. Answers to student's book, pages 34-35 (see below)

GRAMMAR
a 1 already, 2 long, 3 Since, 4 Have, 5 yet
b 1 been working, 2 just made, 3 more expensive, 4 carefully as, 5 the most

VOCABULARY
a 1 bank, 2 mortgage, 3 hungry, 4 awful, 5 travel, 6 helmet, 7 railway station
b 1 filthy, 2 tax, 3 rush hour, 4 lend, 5 platform, 6 inherit, 7 boarding pass/card, 8 tiny
c 1 off, 2 out, 3 for, 4 back, 5 by

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS TEXT?
1 a, 2 b, 3 c, 4 a, 5 b

Friday 25 November

Due to a power cut at the school all classes were cancelled yesterday. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The reading and listening test due for Thursday 24 will be done this Friday 25. It will take 30 minutes altogether. Then class will resume as normal.

Thursday 24 November

On Thursday at the beginning of the class we are going to correct and comment briefly the past grammar test about verb tenses. Then we are going to do a reading test and a listening test (video) that will take about 30 minutes altogether. After that, class will resume as normal.

1. Chech the answers to the reading Survive Testing Times (see below)
2. Answer the questions of the video Accident on the M5 and then check the answers yourself (see video, questions and answers below)
3. Do the use of language test Women in the United States on the photocopies. (though we probably will correct it in class next Tuesday)

Answers to Survive Testing Times:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnNjE3OTExNmItZDEyNi00MmY0LTg4MjAtMDllZTRkM2U3ZjRj

Watch the video: (Note: the video is like any other video but the questions are for the basic level, anyway it can be useful to do it)

Questions:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_iEg9GINmnnMWJmNjcyMDktZDM2Yi00ODcyLWI4MDQtMDMyNTk4MGU4ZWU1&hl=es

Answers:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_iEg9GINmnnY2Q0YTdmMGUtMzNlNy00Zjg5LWEzYTctOGZmNDFkNWQ3ODI5&hl=es

Tuesday 22 November

1. Student's book: page 133, exercise 2C and page 148 (transport and travel)
2. (optional) Student's book: revision of unit 2, pages 34 and 35 (grammar, vocabulary and reading)
3. Exam Practice 2: Reading Survive Testing Times (do the exercise without a dictionary as if it was an exam and in about 10-15 minutes)

• Writing 2: a story. Write a story beginning with the sentence below. Write about 125 words. Deadline December 1.

"I'm glad in any case that you've decided to come back," my father said. "More than a short visit, I hope."

Thursday 17 November

1. Review of verb tenses: page 4 (see the answers in the previous entry)
2. Review of verb tenses: page 6 (we are going to correct this text in class during the first 30 minutes, after that we are going to do the test about verb tenses for 30 minutes too; that is, grup E will be doing the test from 17:30 to 18:00 and group F from 19:30 to 20:00. Then class will resume as normal.

Answers to Review of verb tenses: page 4

Please note that some of the sentences include gerunds and infinitives which we are going to study in unit 5, don't worry about them, just focus on the senteces with verb tenses

EXERCISE 1
2C, 3B, 4A, 5B, 6C, 7A, 8B, 9A, 10C, 11C, 12B, 13C, 14B, 15A, 16B, 17C, 18C, 19B, 20A, 21B, 22B, 23C, 24C, 25A, 26A, 27C, 28A, 29B, 30B, 31C, 32B, 33A, 34C, 35B, 36C, 37A

EXERCISE 2
PART A
2 stayed, 3 had, 4 have already decided, 5 is looking forward
PART B
1 was shopping, 2 left, 3 had put, 4 am, 5 gave

Attention:

1. On page 2, sentence 3, the correct answer is "John always eats breakfast before he goes to class. Tomorrow before he goes to class, he will eat breakfast or is going to eat breakfast" but not "he will have eaten breakfast", because it's not a previous action, sorry it was my mistake.
2. On page 2, sentence 9 there was some debate going on, but the answer is clear "He hasn't finished reading it yet. He has been reading it (for the past three days) because his English teacher assigned it." You cannot say "He is reading it (for the past three days)", that's wrong.
3. On page 5, sentence 9 the answer is "was saying" or "said", both are acceptable
4. On page 1, exercise 1, sentence 9 the correct answer is "We washed the dished and cleaned up the kitchen after our dinner guests had left or after our dinner guests left. (We need the past perfect because it's a previous action; however, the word after makes it clear that the previous action is the guests left and after I washed and cleaned, this is why in this sentence the past perfect is not necessary to indicate a previous action)

Tuesday 15 November

1. Photocopies Review of verb tenses: pages 1 and 2

Answers to Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

PAGE 3, EXERCISE 3

1. had, stayed
2. have or have had, saw
3. have visited
4. saw, Have you sold
5. have you been doing
6. have found, went
7. has been hurting, have made
8. promised, haven't finished

PAGE 3, EXERCISE 8
1C, 2B, 3A, 4B, 5C, 6B, 7B, 8D, 9A, 10B

PAGE 4, EXERCISE 25

1. has been using
2. are you doing, am writing
3. plays
4. have been married
5. has just decorated
6. sing
7. are you speaking to
8. has won
9. has drunk
10. is living
11. usually change
12. normally cut
13. has been studying
14. are playing
15. has been reading
16. leaves
17. Does your mother work
18. Do you drink
19. are making
20. are moving (future arrangement)

PAGE 4, EXERCISE 26

1. 'm arriving or arrive
2. 've been
3. haven't written
4. 've been planning
5. 'm looking forward
6. hope

Thursday 10 November

1. Photocopies Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous: page 4
2. Student's book: page 133, exercise 2B
3. Student's book: read the text on page 26
4. Workbook: pages 17-18 (I'd especially recommend the reading on page 18: My African Experience)

For, Since and Ago

What's the difference between For and Since?
Read this brief explanation:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMGMzNDJkM2UtODIwNC00M2VkLWEzOWMtZjhjMjBlNTEyNTc3

Tuesday 8 November

1. Photocopies Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous: read the information on the front page, then do the exercises on pages 2 and 3
2. Check that you keep the workbook up to date: you should have done until page 16

November 3 Thursday

1. Student's book: page 133, exercise 2A
2. Student's book: page 22, read the text My life without money carefully
3. Workbook: pages 14, 15 and 16 (especially recommended Reading exercise 2a What is Tradeswaps?)
4. Check the answers to the video Colleges help with tuition fees

Answers to the video Colleges help students with tuition fees

Watch the video again with the answers in your hand (see below)

Video: questions:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMTcyMjJlZWEtMzY1MC00MzA0LWI1ODAtYTgyZjFjMTc3ZmMz

Video: answer key:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnODk1ZjE3MTMtZWRjOS00NjRkLTk0ZjMtOGE5ZmNiMTY4NzBh

Thursday 27 October

1. Exam Practice 1: do the Use of Language My Favourite Film
2. Check the answers to the exercises Future forms page 2 (see below)
3. Check the answers to the reading The Youth Jab (see below)

Answers to the Reading The Youth Jab (Exam Practice 1)

Reading The Youth jab - answers
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnZDNmZTA0NWQtMDdmMC00OTA3LTk1YjktZTI4MTEzZjBiMTM2&hl=es

Answers to Future forms and Student's book pages 18-19

PAGE 2, EXERCISE 2

1. Shall I come round? (=visit)
2. I'll be or I'm going to be
3. will be
4. Shall we check
5. is
6. I'm going to be
7. will be or are going to be
8. I'm seeing or I'm going to see
9. will be
10. Shall I come round?
11. I'm not going to leave or I won't be leaving
12. will be
13. are you going to bring or will you bring
14. won't forget
15. I'll see

PAGE 2, EXERCISE 22

2 will fail; 3 will be lying; 4 will have left; 5 will have driven or will have been driving; 6 will be seeing or will see or is going to see; 7 will have started; 8 will get; 9 will have typed or will have been typing; 10 will have bought; 11 will have lived or will have been living; 12 will help; 13 will have done; 14 is going; 15 starts

STUDENT'S BOOK PAGES 18-19

grammar
1 did you get; 2 bought; 3 Do you like; 4 hit; 5 was driving; 6 had changed; 7 'm meeting / 'm going to meet; 8 finish; 9 'll pick you up; 10 'll love / 're going to love

vocabulary
a) 1 seefood; 2 fried; 3 roast; 4 pitch; 5 beat; 6 affectionate; 7 moody; 8 family
b) 1 spicy; 2 starter; 3 draw; 4 injured; 5 stepfather; 6 selfish; 7 mean
c) 1 for, out; 2 for; 3 up; 4 on

reading
1 F; 2 DS; 3 T; 4 T; 5 F; 6 F; 7 DS; 8 T; 9 DS; 10 T

Tuesday 25 October

1. Write an email (Student's book, page 17: an English friend has asked you to describe a friend of yours who wants to rent a room for the summer to your English friend)
2. Future forms: pages 2 and 3
3. Exam Practice 1: do the reading
4. Student's book: pages 18 and 19 (optional) 

Thursday 20 October

Note: Please, do the homework as it is writen here on the blog; if in class I set a different homework ignore it.

1. Workbook: pages 10, 11 and 12
2. Exam practice: read the text and answer the questions
3. Photocopies future forms: pages 2 and 3

Attention: Don't use a dictionary when reading the text, do it as if you were doing an exam, without dictionary. Don't worry about unknown words, later when we have corrected the answers you will have time to check unknown words in a dictionary or you can ask about them in class. This activity should take you not more than 15 minutes, because in an exam they would probably give you this time.

Tuesday 18 October

1. Check the answers to Past Tenses
2. Student's book: page 131, exercise 1C
3. Photocopies future forms: read the front page and do the exercises on pages 2 and 3

Answers to photocopies Past Tenses

PAGE 4:
1B, 2A, 3C, 4B, 5C, 6B, 7B, 8C, 9C, 10A

NOTE:
the correct senteces 3 and 4 are: "he wouldn't cut his hair for months and I suspect he wouldn't wash it either." We said that we don't usually use "would" in negative sentences for past habits; however, in these sentences "wouldn't" doesn't refer to a past habit but that he refused to do something in the past, the sentence actually means "ell es negava a tallar-se el cabell durant mesos i sospito que no volia rentar-se'l tampoc". Another example: the sentence "Yesterday I vasked him politely but he wouldn't help me" means "Li  vaig demanar educadament però no volia ajudar-me".

PAGE 5:
1) 1B, 2A, 3C, 4C, 5B, 6D, 7A, 8D, 9B, 10D, 11A, 12D, 13A

2) 1C, 2A, 3C, 4D, 5A, 6C, 7C, 8B, 9D, 10C, 11C, 12A, 13A, 14B, 15B

Thursday 13 October

1. Photocopies past tenses: pages 4, 5 and 6

Answers to photocopies Present Simple and Continuous: page 2, exercise 19

1. see
2. Do you need - Do you want
3. think - know - forget - remember
4. Do you believe - are you talking - exist
5. are - are having - have - are playing - like - are sunbathing - are trying - are  listening - hear
6. are you thinking - am thinking - Do you like - think
7. do you prefer - like - am reading - prefer (people is plural: people who prefer...) - are - value - means - is - loves - sounds

Tuesday 11 October

1. Check the answers to the last video Chocolate good for you
2. Workbook: pages 7-9
3. Photocopies Past tenses: read the front page and do the first exercise on page 4
4. Watch this video about Steve Jobs' legacy. There are no questions; we are going to comment on it orally in class

Note: Sorry, the writing about yourself that you wrote at the beginning of the course will be corrected for the next class. I apologize for the delay.

Video: Chocolate good for you

VIDEO:

QUESTIONS:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMTIyYzk0ZWUtYjhmMy00NzYxLWFhZmUtZjA3ZTgzMTRhM2M1&hl=en_US

ANSWERS:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_iEg9GINmnnMTE4N2Y1ZjMtMTMzZi00MDgyLTk1YzEtNzU1MTQ1ZjY3NzJk&hl=en_US

Recommended websites

Reading; Use of language:
http://www.breakingnews.com/

Listening (videos):
http://www.video.about.com/

Teacher's email address

fclaramu@xtec.cat