Writing Assignment: On a Bus (Solution)

Posted on 2012/04/28
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public transportation

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1.    Where is this picture taken?
This picture is taken at a bus stop.

2.    What are the people in the picture doing?
Two of the people in the picture are getting on the bus.  One person is getting off the bus.

3.    Is this a city bus, or a long-distance bus?
This is a city bus.

4.    Where might the people be going?
The people might be going to work or school.

5.    What is the first thing you have to do when you get on the bus?
When you get on the bus, the first thing that you have to do is pay the fare.

6.    What are the different ways that the fare can be paid?
The fare can be paid with cash.  In many buses, you can also pay by swiping a card that has credit available on it.  Another option is to buy a pass, especially if you use the bus every day.

7.    If you pay with cash, can you get change back if you have big bills?
Some buses can give you change back if you pay with big bills.  Other buses will accept only exact change for cash fares.  This means that they are unable to give you change back if you use bills that are bigger than the fare.

8.    What is a bus pass?
A bus pass is special ticket that allows you unlimited rides within a certain time frame, like a monthly pass, a weekly pass, etc.

9.    What kind of discounts are available for bus fares?
Many bus companies have various discounts available:  student discounts, senior citizen discounts, or handicapped discounts.  If you don’t get a discount, you have to pay full fare.

10.    Where can you sit on the bus?
On the bus you can sit in a seat.  The seat may be in the front of the bus, at the back of the bus, or in the middle.

11.    What can you do if there are no more seats on the bus?
If there are no more seats on the bus, you will have to stand.  Holding on to a strap will make it easier for you to ride the bus standing.

12.    What can you do if you have to take a bike on the bus?
If you have to take a bike on the bus, some buses will let you put the bus in the back by the rear door.  Other buses have a bike rack (on the front of the bus, for example) where you can put the bike.

13.    What can you do if you have to take a baby stroller or baby carriage on the bus?
If you have to take a baby stroller or baby carriage on the bus, you can take it on board at the rear door, where there is more space.

14.    How can you tell which bus you should get on?
You can tell which bus you should get on by reading the route sign at the front of the bus.

15.    How can you tell when your bus is coming?
You can tell when your bus is coming by reading the bus schedule.

16.    What happens if you are late for your bus?
If you are late, you will have to run to catch the bus.  Otherwise, you will miss your bus.

17.    How can you notify the driver that you want to get off at the next stop?
If you want to get off at the next stop, you can let the bus driver know by pulling the communication cord.  This notifies the bus driver that someone wants to get off at the next stop.

18.    What kind of routes do city buses have?
City buses have routes that go all over the city.  They stop at many different places.

19.    What kind of routes do long-distance buses have?
Long-distance buses have buses that travel from city to city.  They usually do not stop at many different places within a city, but they might make several stops along the route between cities.

20.    How is a long-distance bus different from a city bus?
City buses are plainer than long-distance buses.  They have seats that are more utilitarian, and their overhead shelves hold more, but they don’t have a separate space for storing luggage.  They also have a front door and a rear door.  Long-distance buses are usually coach buses, so they are more comfortable, with nicer seats, curtains, individual air controls and lights, and a luggage area under the bus.  Coach buses have only a front door, and not a rear door.

Paragraph:  Going for a bus ride

One time I had to travel from one city to another.  The two cities were about 575 km apart, but I did not have a car.  So I had to take the train part of the way (about 450 km), and a bus the rest of the way (about 125 km).  After I got off the train, I walked over to the bus and had the driver put my luggage in the storage compartment under the bus.  I gave the driver my ticket, and got on board the bus.  There were no assigned seats, so I could pick whatever seat I wanted.  I found a seat in the middle of the bus, and sat down by the window.  I was traveling for Christmas vacation, so I also had some Christmas presents in a carry-on bag, which I did not want to put in the luggage compartment.  I put the Christmas presents on the seat next to me.  The seats were comfortable.  They had a foot rest, and they could recline, so I was set for the long bus ride.  We traveled down narrow country roads that wound along farms and fjords, and hugged mountains.  Halfway through the bus ride I had to transfer to another bus to get to my destination.  Even though the bus was comfortable, it was nice to get up and stretch my legs before continuing on the final leg of my journey.  At long last, the bus pulled into the terminal, bringing me home for the holidays.

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Writing Assignment: On a Bus

Posted on 2012/04/27
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public transportation

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Vocabulary

Bus stop
Door
Rear door
Front door
Seat
Driver
Fare box
Card reader
Communication cord
Transfer
Route
Ticket
Fare
Pass
Schedule
Line
Standing room only
Strap
Blinkers
Vent
Exact change
Bike rack
Catch the bus
Miss the bus
Pay full fare
Discount
City bus
Long-distance bus
Coach bus

1.    Where is this picture taken?
2.    What are the people in the picture doing?
3.    Is this a city bus, or a long-distance bus?
4.    Where might the people be going?
5.    What is the first thing you have to do when you get on the bus?
6.    What are the different ways that the fare can be paid?
7.    If you pay with cash, can you get change back if you have big bills?
8.    What is a bus pass?
9.    What kind of discounts are available for bus fares?
10.    Where can you sit on the bus?
11.    What can you do if there are no more seats on the bus?
12.    What can you do if you have to take a bike on the bus?
13.    What can you do if you have to take a baby stroller or baby carriage on the bus?
14.    How can you tell which bus you should get on?
15.    How can you tell when your bus is coming?
16.    What happens if you are late for your bus?
17.    How can you notify the driver that you want to get off at the next stop?
18.    What kind of routes do city buses have?
19.    What kind of routes do long-distance buses have?
20.    How is a long-distance bus different from a city bus?

Paragraph:  Going for a bus ride

Have you ridden a bus?  Was it a city bus, or a long-distance bus?  Where did you go?  Write a brief paragraph about your bus ride.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 38 – There is / There are (Solution)

Posted on 2012/04/27
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Exercise.  Look at the picture below.  Write sentences about this picture using “There is/are…” or “There isn’t/aren’t…”  in response to the prompts.

Example:

Any swings?  ==> There are swings.

1.    There are a lot of people.
2.    There isn’t a food stand.
3.    There isn’t a horse.
4.    There is a roller coaster.
5.    There are trees.
6.    There aren’t any benches.
7.    There is a lamp post.
8.    There is a trash can.
9.    There are stairs.
10.    There isn’t an elevator.

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences with there’s / is there / it’s / is it.

Example:

“________ a car with its lights on.”  “________ a red Ford?” ==> “There’s a car with its lights on.”  “Is it a red Ford?”

1.    “There’s a nice hotel in Flagstaff.”  “Is it close to the airport?”
2.    “Is there a pool at the hotel?”  “Yes, it’s an outdoor pool.”
3.    We don’t want to rent that apartment.  It’s too small.
4.    “Is there an English class for beginners on Monday nights?”  “Yes, but it’s full.  The class on Tuesday is open, though.”
5.    I like that restaurant by the mall.  It’s got the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.
6.    “There’s a spot on your shirt.”  “I’ve brushed it off.  Is it gone now?”
7.    I haven’t heard of that movie.  Is it good?
8.    “Is there a bank near the hotel?”  “Yes, it’s just two blocks away.”
9.    “There’s a wallet in lost and found.”  “Is it brown?”
10.     This ice cream is not very good.  It’s too sweet.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 38 – There is / There are

Posted on 2012/04/26
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When we introduce an item or a topic, we often use the phrase “There is…” (singular form) or “There are…” (plural form).

Pattern (singular form):  “There is…”  (“There’s…”)

Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.
There is a beach at the lake.

Question:  “Is there…?”

Is there a pet shop at the mall? – Yes, there is.
Is there a library nearby? – No, there isn’t. / No, there’s not.

Negative:  “There is not…” / “There isn’t…” / “There’s not…”

I don’t want to go camping at that park – there isn’t any beach there.

Pattern (plural form):  “There are…”

There are some apples on the table.  Help yourself.
There are five cars waiting in line for the ferry.

Question:  “Are there…?”

Are there any eggs left in the fridge? – Yes, there are (three eggs left).
Are there eight days in a week? – No, there are seven (days in a week).

Also:  “How many…are there?”

How many months are there in a year? – There are 12 months in a year.

Negative:  “There are not…” / “There aren’t…”

Are there any rooms available at this hotel? – No, I’m sorry, there aren’t.

Note:  The phrase “There is…” (“There’s…”) is used to introduce an object or a topic.  After the introduction, we can use the pronoun “it” to refer to the introduced object or topic:   “It is…” (“It’s…”).

There’s a cat sleeping on the porch.  It’s white with black spots. (i.e., the cat is white with black spots)
There’s a museum in the city.  It’s very famous.  (i.e., the museum is famous)

Exercise.  Look at the picture below.  Write sentences about this picture using “There is/are…” or “There isn’t/aren’t…”  in response to the prompts.

Example:

Any swings?  ==> There are swings.

indoor amusement park

Click for larger image

1.    A lot of people?
2.    A food stand?
3.    A horse?
4.    A roller coaster?
5.    Any trees?
6.    Any benches?
7.    A lamp post?
8.    A trash can?
9.    Any stairs?
10.    An elevator?

 

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences with there’s / is there / it’s / is it.

Example:

“________ a car with its lights on.”  “________ a red Ford?” ==> “There’s a car with its lights on.”  “Is it a red Ford?”

1.    “________ a nice hotel in Flagstaff.”  “________ close to the airport?”
2.    “________ a pool at the hotel?”  “Yes, ________ an outdoor pool.”
3.    We don’t want to rent that apartment.  ________ too small.
4.    “________ an English class for beginners on Monday nights?”  “Yes, but ________ full.  The class on Tuesday is open, though.”
5.    I like that restaurant by the mall.  ________ got the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.
6.    “________ a spot on your shirt.”  “I’ve brushed it off.  ________ gone now?”
7.    I haven’t heard of that movie.  ________ good?
8.    “________ a bank near the hotel?”  “Yes, ________ just two blocks away.”
9.    “________ a wallet in lost and found.”  “________ brown?”
10.     This ice cream is not very good.  ________ too sweet.

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Culture Focus: Weather

Posted on 2012/04/25
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violent weather

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. ~ Charles Dudley Warner

Today I want to talk a little bit about weather.  Right now it is spring in the US.  The US is a big country, so spring weather is different for different regions.  However, one thing that is common is violent weather, such as thunderstorms and tornadoes.

There are three things that are needed to form a thunderstorm:  moisture (humidity), unstable air (meaning that one layer of air is unusually warm, and the other layer of air is unusually cool), and lift (rising air, such as from a weather front, or mountains, or the sea).  Since lightning occurs with thunderstorms, we also call them electrical storms.  You can estimate how far away a thunderstorm is by counting the seconds between a flash of lightning, and the thunder afterwards.  One mile is 5280 feet, and sound travels approximately 1000 feet per second.  So if you divide the number of seconds by 5, you will have an estimate of how far away the thunderstorm is, in miles.

If you are outside when a thunderstorm comes, you should get inside a building.  Some people have been electrocuted by lightning.  Golfers sometimes get hit by lightning because they think that taking shelter under a tree is safe.  But lighting often hits the tallest object in the area, so a lone tree on a golf course is a prime target for a lightning strike.

twister

Unstable air is also a cause of tornadoes – a warm air mass, or warm front, collides with a cold mass of air, or cold front.  Tornadoes are a spinning column of air, and this spinning comes from something called wind shear.  Wind shear happens when the wind changes direction suddenly.   When this makes the wind speed increase, the conditions are right for a tornado to form.   Many towns have a warning system, such as a loud siren, to alert its residents if a tornado has been spotted in their area.  In this case, people should take shelter – preferably in a basement, or at least in an interior room away from windows.

Emergency weather bulletins on radio and TV will alert people of approaching violent weather:

  • A severe thunderstorm warning will alert people of a coming thunderstorm, especially one that is particularly violent.
  • A tornado watch means that conditions are suitable for the formation of tornadoes, but none have been spotted yet.  It may not be necessary for you to take shelter if you are outdoors, but you should keep an eye on the sky and see if the clouds begin to take unusual shape, or start swirling.
  • A tornado warning, on the other hand, means that someone has spotted a tornado and notified the authorities.  If there is a tornado warning for your area, you should take immediate shelter.  Sometimes the tornado appears so suddenly that people only have minutes to take shelter.  You should remain in your shelter until the tornado warning has expired, or you hear otherwise that the danger is passed.

Other names for tornadoes are “twister,” “funnel cloud,” and “cyclone.”  A tornado that occurs over water is called a “water spout.”

The United States has more tornadoes than any other country in the world.  The average is about 1200 tornadoes per year.

 

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Grammar Basics: Unit 37 – Do this…, Don’t do that…, Let’s do… (Solution)

Posted on 2012/04/25
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Exercise.  Choose the correct verb and complete the following sentences.  Make them commands.

Example: 

________ the seeds 2 inches apart. (plant) ==> Plant the seeds 2 inches apart.

1.    Sit next to me.
2.    Write a letter to Aunt Edna.
3.    Take two pills after every meal.
4.    Please sign on the dotted line.
5.    Read the book and write a report on it for next Monday.
6.    Please dry the dishes and put them away.
7.    Say goodbye to Mrs. Wirth.
8.    Slice the vegetables and cook them in boiling water for three minutes.
9.    Bring a sack lunch for the field trip tomorrow.
10.    Wash your face and brush your teeth before you go to bed.

 

Exercise.  For each of the following sentences, suggest an alternative activity using the phrase “No, let’s…”

Example: 

Do you want to watch the late night movie?  (go to bed) ==> No, let’s go to bed.

1.    Do you want to go camping this year?  No, let’s stay at a resort.
2.    Do you want to leave now?  No, let’s wait a while.
3.    Shall we have Chinese for dinner?  No, let’s have Italian.
4.    Should we tell Bob someone dented his car?  No, let’s mind our own business.
5.    Would you like to play a game?  No, let’s watch a movie.

Exercise.  Answer each of the following sentences with either “No, don’t…” or “No, let’s not…”

Example: 

Should I turn up the heat? ==> No, don’t turn up the heat.

1.    Shall I call for a doctor?  No, don’t call for a doctor.
2.    Should we leave yet?  No, let’s not leave yet.
3.    Should we have a big party for Tom’s birthday?  No, let’s not have a big party.
4.    Should I make you a nice, hot cup of coffee?  No, don’t make me a cup of coffee.
5.    Should I tell Mr. Smith you broke his window?   No, don’t tell Mr. Smith.
6.    Shall we go for a walk?  No, let’s not go for a walk.
7.    Should we take the train?  No, let’s not take the train.
8.    Should I put this picture in the letter to your mother?  No, don’t put that picture in the letter.
9.    Shall I shine your shoes, sir?  No, don’t shine my shoes.
10.    Should we give Sally a puppy for Christmas?  No, let’s not give Sally a puppy.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 37 – Do this…, Don’t do that…, Let’s do…

Posted on 2012/04/24
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For the imperative (command) form, we use the infinitive (base form) of the verb:

Go away!  Leave me alone.
Clean up your room and make your bed.
Hurry up – the buss will be here soon.
Eat your vegetables.
Watch out!

For a negative command:  Don’t (= Do not) + V (inf.)…

Don’t forget to go to the store.
Do not make any noise – Father is sleeping.
Don’t eat a snack.  You’ll spoil your supper.

If you want to do something together with another person, you can make a suggestion:  Let’s (= Let us) + V (inf.)…

Let’s take a break.  I’m tired.
Let’s go home – this party is boring.
It’s a beautiful day – let’s go for a walk.

For a negative suggestion:  Let’s not + V (inf.)…

Let’s not watch TV.  I’d rather read a book.
Let’s not go anywhere on vacation this year.  Let’s just have a “staycation” at home.

Exercise.  Choose the correct verb and complete the following sentences.  Make them commands.

Example: 

________ the seeds 2 inches apart. (plant) ==> Plant the seeds 2 inches apart.

bring
brush
cook
dry
put
read
say
sign
sit
slice
take
wash
write
write

1.    ________ next to me.
2.    ________ a letter to Aunt Edna.
3.    ________ two pills after every meal.
4.    Please ________ on the dotted line.
5.    ________ the book and ________ a report on it for next Monday.
6.    Please ________ the dishes and ________ them away.
7.    ________ goodbye to Mrs. Wirth.
8.    ________ the vegetables and ________ them in boiling water for three minutes.
9.    ________ a sack lunch for the field trip tomorrow.
10.    ________ your face and ________ your teeth before you go to bed.

 

Exercise.  For each of the following sentences, suggest an alternative activity using the phrase “No, let’s…”

Example: 

Do you want to watch the late night movie?  (go to bed) ==> No, let’s go to bed.

have Italian
mind our own business
stay at a resort
wait a while
watch a movie

1.    Do you want to go camping this year?
2.    Do you want to leave now?
3.    Shall we have Chinese for dinner?
4.    Should we tell Bob someone dented his car?
5.    Would you like to play a game?

Exercise.  Answer each of the following sentences with either “No, don’t…” or “No, let’s not…”

Example: 

Should I turn up the heat? ==> No, don’t turn up the heat.

1.    Shall I call for a doctor?
2.    Should we leave yet?
3.    Should we have a big party for Tom’s birthday?
4.    Should I make you a nice, hot cup of coffee?
5.    Should I tell Mr. Smith you broke his window?
6.    Shall we go for a walk?
7.    Should we take the train?
8.    Should I put this picture in the letter to your mother?
9.    Shall I shine your shoes, sir?
10.    Should we give Sally a puppy for Christmas?

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Education Focus: Turnabout

Posted on 2012/04/23
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Girls asking boys out

Hey, do you want to go to the dance with me?

Today, let’s look at a relatively recent custom to have emerged at many American high schools:  the Turnabout Dance.  The Turnabout Dance may go by different names at different schools, but the basic idea is the same – it is a dance where the girls ask the boys out, instead of vice versa.  Turnabout is a semi-formal dance:  it is not as informal as a Sadie Hawkins dance, and not as formal as Prom.

Since the girl gets to ask the boy to go to the dance with her, she is then responsible for the other aspects of the date:  picking the boy up and paying for the dance, as well as any post-dance activities, such as dinner.  The advantage of Turnabout is that it gives girls who might otherwise be “wallflowers” (someone who doesn’t get asked to dance) an opportunity to go on a date, instead of waiting around and hoping that a boy would notice them or ask them out.

Sometime a group of girls might decide to double date (two couples going out together) or group date (more than two couples going out together) in conjunction with going to Turnabout.  This can be beneficial to all involved, because it is usually less stressful than a traditional one-on-one date, especially for first dates.  Parents also generally prefer group dates for their teens, because it helps to reduce the temptation for teens to get in trouble or make mischief.

An alternative to Turnabout is for the girl to ask the boy to go with her on an alternate activity, such as bowling or skating, or some other pastime that can be enjoyed by a group of teens.  Afterwards, they may go out for pizza or dinner afterwards.

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 11 (solution)

Posted on 2012/04/23
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crossword puzzle solution

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 11

Posted on 2012/04/22
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crossword puzzle
Across
1 a small piece of something solid, without a particular shape (4)
3 the way an event, action, or person changes something (6)
6 a preposition used to show what a part belongs to or comes from (2)
9 a frame with wheels on which a large heavy gun is moved around (3-8)
11 the force that makes a moving object keep moving (8)
12 a hot drink that is not as strong as coffee (3)
13 one of the pieces of flesh inside your body that you use in order to move (6)
15 to have to have something or someone, because you cannot do something without them (4)
17 a preposition used to indicate towards a higher place or position (2)
18 something that you don’t know (7)
19 making an animal able to work for people or live with them as a pet (13)
22 adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing numbers (11)
24 a building containing a large machine for crushing grain into flour (4)
25 a close or careful observation or listening (9)
26 something used for catching fish, insects, or animals which is made of threads or wires woven across each other with regular spaces between them (3)
27 something that is typical of a particular group or thing (14)

Down
2 another word for mailman (7)
3 a statement in mathematics that shows that two amounts or totals are equal (8)
4 a group of people and animals who travel to different places performing skilful tricks as entertainment (6)
5 having qualities that are typical of most people or things (7)
7 something that holds two pieces of cloth, etc together so it is closed (9)
8 a combination of two or more parts (8)
10 ways of sending information (14)
14 a quantity of goods that are sent somewhere, especially in order to be sold (11)
16 a common domestic animal with fur and four legs, related to the wolf (3)
20 relating to the army, navy, or air force (8)
21 a member of your family (8)
22 a series of metal rings which are joined together in a line and used for fastening things (5)
23 a metric measure of volume (5)
24 there are sixty of these in one hour (6)

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