Preparing for exam

THEORY THERE IS / THERE ARE

AFFIRMATIVE
There is a chair in the bedroom.Hay una silla en el dormitorio.

There are two chairs in the bedroom.Hay dos sillas en el dormitorio.

NEGATIVE
There isn't a chair in the bedroom.No hay una silla en el dormitorio.

There aren't two chairs in the bedroom.No hay dos sillas en el dormitorio.

QUESTION
Is there a chair in the bedroom?¿Hay una silla en el dormitorio?

Are there two chairs in the bedroom?¿Hay dos sillas en el dormitorio?

EXERCISE!

COMPOSITION

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

EXAMPLE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport is today a big option of travelling, however it has a lot of disadvantages. Public transport has many advantages, for example it is cheap, because you do not have to pay the fuel. Another advantage is that public transpor pollutes less than a private car. On the other hand, disadvantages are, for example, you depend on a timetable. Futhermore, buses are very slow and you may arrive late. In my opinion, public transport has got more disadvantages than advantages but it might be cheaper.

Introduction: Public transport is today a big option of travelling, however it has a lot of disadvantages. Advantages: Public transport has many advantages, for example it is cheap, because you do not have to pay the fuel. Disadvantages: On the other hand, disadvantages are, for example, you depend on a timetable. Furthermore, buses are very slow and you may arrive late. Opinion/conclusion: In my opinion, public transport has got more disadvantages than advantages but it might be cheaper.

Another example (in Spanish): http://www.selectividad.info/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=20914

LISTENING

This test examines your listening comprehension. There are three parts to the test. Each part has its own directions.

PART A: DIRECTIONS

In Part A, you will hear 20 statements. The statements will not be repeated, and will not be written down for you.

Choose the statement that is closest in meaning to what you have heard. Write your answer on the answer sheet.

1.

1. My new bed is very expensive
2. My new bed is very fashionable
3. My new bed is an antique
4. My new bed is very comfortable

2.

1. Gibbons is the oldest
2. Gibbons has the highest rank
3. Gibbons is the tallest
4. Gibbons is second in command

3.

1. The doctor is a neighbour
2. The doctor is very pleasant
3. The doctor is very good
4. The doctor is very strong

4.

1. The soldiers are talking
2. The soldiers are marching
3. The soldiers aren't standing
4. The soldiers aren't moving

5.

1. I love that book
2. I hate that book
3. I want to read that book
4. I don't want a book

6.

1. You might do that
2. You mustn't do that
3. You could do that
4. You would not do that

7.

1. Summer is the last
2. Summer is hot
3. Summer has ended
4. Summer has begun

8.

1. You have to continue the order
2. You have to obey orders
3. You have to send the order
4. You have to reorder the following

9.

1. Yesterday I was fishing before lunch
2. I ate fish for my lunch yesterday
3. Yesterday I had lunch while fishing
4. I had meat for lunch yesterday

10.

1. Summer is coming
2. Winter is coming
3. The weather is hot
4. The weather is nice

11.

1. Like a child I believe in Santa Claus
2. My child believes in Santa Claus
3. I used to believe in Santa Claus
4. I would like to believe in Santa Claus

12.

1. I work with my dog twice a day
2. I feed my dog two times a day
3. I exercise my two dogs daily
4. I take my dog out two times a day

13.

1. There are four letters for you
2. I wrote you a letter yesterday
3. The letter was written by you
4. This letter has your name on it

14.

1. Cars are damaging the city
2. Cars are demanded in our city
3. Cars are driven in our cities
4. Cars are dominating the cities

15.

1. Ana is still reading the book
2. Ana isn't reading at the moment
3. Ana has just finished reading
4. Ana has read a good book recently

16..

1. I have a light lunch during the week
2. I like a sandwich on the weekends
3. I like making most sandwiches
4. I like to have four sandwiches

17.

1. The boy was resuscitated by the medics
2. The boy saved a lot of money
3. The doctors found the boy
4. The doctors could not help the boy

18.

1. In Frankfort there are more people than in Madrid
2. In Frankfort there are more people than bicycles
3. In Madrid there are fewer people than in Frankfort
4. In Madrid fewer people use bicycles than in Frankfort

19.

1. I didn't know you were ill
2. If you were ill, I'd phone you
3. If you are ill, call me
4. If I had an illness, I'd call you

20.

1. Before, I used to go cycling on Saturdays
2. On Saturdays I go for a cycle
3. I never eat before lunch on Saturdays
4. I always recycle on Saturdays

READING 

Marrying in Shanghai now costs the average Chinese worker eight years of salary. DVD players and cars have replaced radios and bicycles as essential gifts for newlyweds who are setting up their first home, a state newspaper said on Tuesday. The China Daily said the average cost of getting married in Shanghai was 150,000 yuan ($18,000) which is double the amount 5 years ago. The average city worker earns 1,530 yuan ($184) a month.

Twenty-first century marriage essentials now include a banquet for several hundred guests, studio wedding photos, a honeymoon, household appliances and an apartment. This is a big change from the 1970s when a couple received a bicycle, a radio and some furniture. Their marriage was rubber-stamped at a local government office. But the traditional Chinese wedding gift is still money which is put into red envelopes.

6.According to the text, Chinese workers-

1. Are paying less for their own weddings nowadays
2. Are getting married now more than before
3. Need to pay many years’ wages to pay for weddings
4. Give their own bikes and radios as wedding gifts

7.In China, bicycles and radios are-

1. The only permitted gift at Chinese weddings
2. Considered taboo as gifts at Chinese weddings
3. No longer the most given gifts at Chinese weddings
4. Are still the most common gift at Chinese weddings

8.The price of a wedding in Shanghai now costs-

1. Twice as much as some years ago
2. Half as much as five years ago
3. The same as five years ago
4. Nowhere near as much as five years ago

9.The expression ‘several hundred guests’ is similar in meaning to-

1. One hundred guests
2. Less than a hundred guests
3. Many hundreds of guests
4. Just over a thousand guests

10.Money is considered to be-

1. A relatively new gift at Chinese weddings
2. A common gift given the Chinese economic boom
3. Less habitual as a gift than radios and push-bikes
4. The time-honoured Chinese wedding gift
   
   
   
   

PREPOSITIONS AND COMPOSITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS

PREPOSITION TESTS

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME AND DATE

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep3.htm


PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep1.htm


PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE AND MOVEMENT

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep2.htm


PREPOSITIONS FOR / WHILE / DURING

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep4.htm


NOUN PREPOSITIONS FOR / IN / OF / TO / WITH / BETWEEN

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep5.htm



PREOPOSITION NOUNS FOR / IN / BY / ON


http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep6.htm


ADJECTIVE PREPOSITIONS ABOUT / AT / BY / FOR / FROM

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep7.htm


ADJECTIVE PREPOSITIONS ABOUT / OF / ON / TO / WITH

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep8.htm



COMPOSITIONS

Describing an object

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
-determiner or article
-opinion
-size (height, width, lenght, volume)
-shape
-age
-colour
-nationality
-religion
-material
-noun used as an adjective
-NOUN

adjective order --> http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/exercises/adjectiveorder.htm

TENSE!!
-Present (or Past Perfect if it has expired)

You can describe SOUNDS, SMELLS, TEXTURES, etc. about the object

You can mention the activities you do with the object



EXAMPLE

CHINA CROCKERY


The china crockery here includes a large plate in which one may serve
snacks. The plate is curved up slightly at the rim. It has a golden border,
and a number of circles are painted at some distance from the rim. At the
centre is a picture of a red rose with buds and green leaves all around it.
The tea-pot has a narrow bottom, but curves outward towards the centre.
It has a spout and a handle like a triangle. There are designs in bas-relief
along the borders of the lid and the pot. The milk-pot has a concave shape
with a gently curved lip. There is also a convex bowl for sugar and a tea-
cup in a saucer. All of them have the same floral design. The background
colour of the set is light pink.



The description above gives these details:

plate

large (size)
for serving snacks (use)
curved up slightly at the rim (shape)
golden border (colour)
circles (design)
pictures of a red rose with buds and green leaves (design)


tea-pot

narrow bottom (shape)
curves outward towards the centre (shape)
handle like a triangle (shape)
designs in bas-relief along the borders (design)


milk-pot

concave (shape)
gently curved lip (shape)
for milk (use)


bowl

convex (shape)
for sugar (use)


All the objects
light pink background (colour)
floral design

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:xnoXEsq9HNIJ:www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/36433/1/Unit-20.pdf+&hl=es&gl=es&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj7vHTH0sM37prPuY037nzCCu1S5_wBQ_BT3ObWg5AN2pkLEq6K3C59iBxcbgg_G0z8d6WyDl36RrA0kj1WDQ8JRuMXfpr1q6TxEoDLNRTdATKYZRk8O34I0HFfKWHK27aXJmTR&sig=AHIEtbQOip4r2-Ez9v2c0G7QlbtNYGChRw&pli=1

TRANSLATION

La vajilla de porcelana aquí incluye un plato grande en el que uno puede servir
aperitivos. El plato está curvada ligeramente hacia arriba en el borde. Tiene el borde de oro,
y unos círculos están pintados a cierta distancia del borde. En
el centro hay un dibujo de una rosa roja con capullos y hojas verdes a su alrededor.
La tetera tiene el fondo estrecho, pero se curva hacia afuera en el centro.
Tiene un tubo de salida (pitorro) y un asa como un triángulo. Hay diseños en bajo relieve
por los bordes de la tapa y la taza. La taza de la leche tiene una forma cóncava
con un extremo curvado suavemente. También hay un cuenco convexo para el azúcar y una taza de té en un platillo. Todos ellos tienen el mismo diseño floral. El color del fondo del conjunto es de color rosa claro.

improving Writing skills

WRITING
You complete tasks such as: 
 writing notes or a short message of between 35 and 45 words
 writing a story or letter of up to 100 words
 completing exercises involving changing the meaning of sentences


1. COMPARISONS

 ………. more often than ………
 ………. less often than ……….
 ………. as often as …………
 ………. faster than ………..
 ….…… slower than …….
 ………. as fast as ………
 ………. better than …….
 ………. worse than …….
 ………. as good as …….




2. WHEN DID IT HAPPEN
 ……….. before ……….
 ……….. after …………
 ……….. until …………
 ……….. when ………..
 ……….. as soon as ……
 ……….. while …………
 ……….. during ………..


3. EXAMPLE

You have an American penfriend called Pat who asks what your bedroom is like. Write an email to Pat. In the email, you should:
 Tell her how big your room is
 Say what’s in the room
 Explain why you like it

Write 35-45 words


ADVICE
1. Read the instructions carefully and imagine the situation.
2. Make sure you write about all three points in the instructions.
3. Remember to address your message to the person named (eg Dear Pat, Hi Pat,).
4. Don’t forget to write your name at the end.
5. Don’t write less than 35 words or more than 45.
6.  Check what you have written for silly mistakes.




4. REPHRAISING

1. Do you play basketball well?
Are you a …………………… player?

2. Does art interest you?
Are you ………………… art?

3. What is your age?
How ………….. you?

4. Which is your favourite school subject?
Which school subject ………….. like best?

5. How is that spelt?
How do …………….. that?

6. Each lesson lasts forty minutes.
Each lesson …………….. long.

7. What‟s the price of this book, please?
How ………   this book, cost, please?

8. I think Spain is a wonderful country.
Spain is a wonderful country ……… opinion.

9. I think you are right about the weather.
I agree …………. about the weather.

10. I think mobile phones are very useful.
Mobile phones are very useful ……….. opinion.

11. We‟ll talk about the price first.
How ………………… about the price first?

12. Bill is too weak to carry the box.
Bill isn‟t …………. to carry the box.

13. In our school only a few students have curly hair.
In our school, not ………………….. curly hair.

14. My sister prefers milk chocolate to dark chocolate.
My sister likes milk chocolate ………… dark chocolate.

15. In our house, dinner is usually prepared by my father.
In our house, my father …………………. dinner.

16. My father said, „Come home at 10.‟
My father told ………home at 10.

17. Susan asked for paella in the restaurant.
In the restaurant, Susan said, „Can ………… paella, please?‟

18. Mary suggested that we order a pizza.
Mary said, „Let‟s ………………… a pizza.‟

19. Britain is a small island, so everywhere is near to the sea.
Britain is a small island, so nowhere is ………………. the sea.

20. Never go for a long run without taking water with you.
Take water with you, if you‟re ……………… a long run.

21. Look at a map of Africa if you want to find Zimbabwe.
You won‟t find Zimbabwe unless ……………………… a map of Africa.

22. I became a policeman five years ago.
I …………. a  policeman for five years.

23. I came to Spain in 2005.
I …………….. in Spain since 2005.

24. My mother asked me if I wanted an ice-cream.
My mother said, „Would …………. an ice-cream?‟

25. Yesterday a photographer took my photo.
Yesterday my photo ………..…….. a photographer.


LISTENING ( PRACTISE AND PRACTISE)

http://www.eltpodcast.com/archive/bc