Look at the resume and do the exercises to help improve your skills in writing a resume.[1]https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/intermediate-b1-writing/cv
Read the questions and choose the correct answers.
Write a sample resume to apply for a job of your choosing.
If this is too difficult to understand, check out the B1 grammar points to help out!
References
The difference between a, an, some, and any can be quite confusing for many people.
Most simply “a” and “an” are used with singular countable nouns while “some” and “any” are used with countable and uncountable plural nouns.
“A” is used with singular nouns that begin with a consonant.[1]https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/when-use-a-some-any-elementary
For example:
“An” is used with singular nouns that begin with a vowel.
For example:
“Some” is used with plural countable and uncountable nouns in positive statements.
For example:
“Any” is used with plural countable and uncountable nouns in negative statements and questions.
For example:
Normally with questions, you use “any” for plural countable and uncountable nouns. However, there are 3 major exceptions to this rule.[2]https://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Some_Any_A_An.htm
Would you like some coffee?
Can I have some coffee?
How about we go out for some coffee?
Complete the following sentences with either “a”, “an”, “some”, or “any”.
Please go to The Difference Between A – An – Some – Any to view this quizReferences
Look at the following exercises about writing a postcard to help improve your written skills.
Select true or false for each statement.
Write a postcard to your family about a trip you have been on.
If this is too difficult to understand, check out the A2 grammar points to help out!
References
Look at the following exercises about writing an email to help improve your writing skills when introducing yourself by email.
Match the punctuation with the correct symbols.
a. H b. ? c. ! d. , e. .
Select true or false for each statement.
Write the correct punctuation in the blanks.
Write to a pen pal introducing yourself by email. Make sure to use the correct punctuation.
If this is too difficult to understand, check out the A1 grammar points to help out!
References
What is fake news? Why is it so harmful? Who creates it? Why do they create it? Keep reading to find out!
Match the vocabulary words with their definitions.
fake/a liar/fabricated/allegation/a conspiracy theory/denounce
In 2014, Nurse Kaci Hickox was quarantined in her house due to the Ebola crisis scare. She was a nurse with Doctors Without Borders, who had just recently returned from West Africa to help with the Ebola crisis there. However, she had tested negative for the virus.
This store about Hickox is one of the most famous examples of the growing phenomenon called “fake news.” New Jersey Governor Christie put out a statement staying “There’s no question the woman is ill, the question is what is her illness.”[1]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/real-consequences-fake-news-stories-brain-cant-ignore The internet and the modern news did the rest. Stoked by both legitimate and satirical sites, the general public went into a state of panic. Hickox’s landlord was asking her to move out and random people were threatening her. In fact, the government was trying to quarantine her even though there was no official court ordered one at the time. Needless to say, her life was turned upside down due to a rapidly growing snowball of fabricated articles claiming she was infected with the Ebola virus.
Fake News is difficult to control for many reasons. Many people mistrust the established media, so when they publish things to try and repudiate the false news, it has a limited effect. In many cases, they will just go to other sources to get their news anyways. In addition, with the current rapid news cycle, the established media doesn’t have time to check their sources. Many times this leads them to just repeating the phony news that everyone is seeing anyways.
So why do people create fake news to begin with? Why are their people out there motivated to dupe the public? There are actually many different reasons for this. One of the most popular reasons is political. The writer of the article creates the phony news in order to belittle or incriminate in the court of public opinion their opponent. Other sites, such as the Onion, create fake news as satire. It is through this comedic form of writing that they can comment on issues in our society. Some people are motivated simply by money. For example, one article that talked about Mexico closing its borders reportedly earned around $6,000![2]https://blog.adbeat.com/fake-news/ Needless to say, there is some big money in it for the unscrupulous.
So how can you protect yourself from fake news? First, make sure the sites you are getting your news from are legitimate. Second, don’t take articles at face value. Do your own research. If they give sources and quotes, go and find the original sources for this to make sure it is real. Lastly, don’t spread fake news yourself. Only by working together, can we make the news more truthful.
Select true or false for each statement.
Choose the best answer for each question.
1.Why did Kaci Hickox go to West Africa?
a. She went for vacation.
b. It was a connecting flight back home.
c. She was their to help as a nurse for the Ebola crisis.
d. She has family from there.
2. Which of the following reasons is not given as a difficulty for stopping the spread of fake news?
a. The general public mistrust the established media.
b. The news cycle is too quick to check sources.
c. There are many fake news websites.
d. Fake news looks like real news.
3. Who is Christie?
a. Head of the health organization Doctors Without Borders.
b. Governor of New Jersey.
c. A news reporter.
d. Owner of a fake news website.
4. How does the author feel about stopping the spread of fake news?
a. pessimistic
b. extremely optimistic
c. doubtful
d. cautiously optimistic
5. The Onion is a…
a. satirical site
b. established news agency
c. a governmental organization
Complete the sentences with the following vocabulary words.
fake/a liar/fabricated/allegation/conspiracy theory/denounce
Where do you usually get your news from?
Is fake news a problem?
Can you think of any other examples of phony news?
If this is too difficult to understand, check out the C1 grammar points to help out!
References
FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out, is a growing problem among young people. It affects all aspects of their lives from school to sleep.[1]https://eslbrains.com/fomo-phrasal-verbs-with-out/[2]http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/sites/teens/files/fomo_-_exercises_1.pdf
Look at this blog article to learn more about FOMO and do the exercises to improve your English reading skills.
The verb “miss” can mean many different things in English depending on the context. Match the different meanings for “miss” with their definition.
a. to fail to notice, hear, or understand
b. to notice the loss or absence of
c. to fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with (something aimed at)
d. to be late for something
e. to feel sad that something or someone is not there
FOMO is the Fear Of Missing Out. It is the feeling of anxiety a person might get when they feel like they have missed out on something.
In our current society, social media is the biggest contributing factor to FOMO. You can consistently see all of the great things your friends are doing and it makes your feel bad that you aren’t doing them as well.
A growing trend is that this is even affecting people’s sleep. They are so worried about missing opportunities to like, comment, look, and take part in the online world, that they will wake up in the middle of the night to get on their phones.
This growing trend reveals some worrying statistics including:[3]https://trustpulse.com/fomo-statistics/
Needless to say, these habits can cause a lot of problems in your daily life including an overall negative role in your overall psychological well being. In fact, a study in 2013 showed that it actually has a negative affect on people’ overall mood and life satisfaction. Social media can increase your feelings of loneliness and boredom.[4]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563213000800?via%3Dihub
So, we would like to say that you should be responsible when using social media. Don’t let FOMO rule your life. Switch off your devices every now and then. Live in the moment. Don’t worry you won’t be missing anything too important online!
Choose the best option to complete the following sentences.
1. The biggest contributing factor to FOMO is…
a. TV
b. social media
c. the internet
2. Research shows that the Fear Of Missing Out can affect your…
a. mood
b. school grades
c. number of likes on social media
3. Around ______ of people will by something online due to the Fear Of Missing Out.
a. 48%
b. 69%
c. 60%
4. The Fear Of Missing Out is…
a. the fear of not having the newest technology
b. the feeling that you need to party all the time
c. the feeling that you are missing opportunities due to what you see on social media.
5. The writer says…
a. we should completely stop using social media
b. we need to temper our use of social media
c. we should use social media even more
6. Around ______ of people purchase something just to post it on social media.
a. 40%
b. 48%
c. 33%
Select true or false for each statement about this article.
Do you experience FOMO? Is is something common from where you are from?
If this is too difficult to understand, check out the B2 grammar points to help out!
References
Near synonyms are words or expressions that seem similar but are not exactly identical due to nuances and variations in their meaning.[1]https://www.slideshare.net/agradjaya/semantic-relation-among-words They help give further depth into what we are saying.
There are various types of variations that near synonyms can express.
One of the most common variations of nuance is in the emphasis of the word.
For example:
enemy vs. foe
“Enemy” is a more familiar word that you would use everyday. However, the formal feeling of the word “foe” gives it a more serious or intense emphasis.
A common stylistic variation with near synonyms is the level of formality.
For example:
drunk vs. inebriated
“Drunk” is a much more familiar way of speaking. It is a word that you might use when talking with friends. However, “inebriated” is much more formal. It is a word that a police officer might use when describing a situation with regards to a driver having drunk too much alcohol.
A common use of near synonyms is the different emotive variations.
For example:
daddy vs. dad vs. father
Each level of these words indicated a more formal level of relationship between child and parent. In addition, as you get more formal, the coldness in the relationship becomes more apparent.
References
In English, there are many different time expressions.
These idioms can be very colorful and often hard to understand for non native speakers.
Below are some of the most popular time expressions and how they are used.[1]https://7esl.com/collocations-about-time/
Meaning: Extra unused/unplanned time.
Example: I have a busy schedule, but I have some free time this afternoon.
Meaning: From early morning to evening.
Example: He has to work from dawn till dusk every day.
Meaning: Going through a difficult task or situation.
Example: She is having a hard time at school right now.
Meaning: To be available.
Example: Do you have time to help me with the house cleaning?
Meaning: Finally!
Example: It’s about time you cleaned your room!
Meaning: To fill in time while you are waiting to do something that you have planned.
Example: We arrived early for the appointment, so we had to kill some time.
Meaning: To create or open up your time in your busy schedule.
Example: Don’t worry, I will make time for it in my schedule.
Meaning: Exactly on time.
Example: The plane arrived right on time.
Meaning: To have no more time left due to a limit.
Example: I ran out of time on the test and wasn’t able to finish it.
Meaning: To economize your time.
Example: I took a shortcut to work today and was able to save some time.
Meaning: Specific specified time.
Example: The meeting starts at a set time. Don’t be late.
Meaning: To pass your time doing an activity.
Example: I love spending time with family during the holidays.
Meaning: To take a break.
Example: I took some time off from work.
Meaning: Take as much time as you want, you don’t have to hurry.
Example: Take your time with the exam. There is no time limit.
Meaning: To let someone know what time it is.
Example: Can you tell me the time? I forgot my watch.
Meaning: Time goes by quickly.
Example: Time flies by fast when you are having fun!
Meaning: To do something that is not good use of your time.
Example: Playing video games is a waste of time.
References
Phrasal nouns are related to phrasal verbs.
However, what is a phrasal verb. It is a type of verb that is formed by combining two or more verbs together to form a new verb.
Phrasal nouns can then be formed from the phrasal verb. However, the biggest difference between these two is that a phrasal noun is a single word with no spaces are connected by a hyphen.[1]https://www.dailywritingtips.com/phrasal-verbs-and-phrasal-nouns/
Below is a list of some common phrasal nouns and the phrasal verbs that they come from.[2]https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/30/phrasal-verbs-vs-nouns/
Original Phrasal Verb: back down
Verb Example: You can’t back down from a bully.
Noun Example: There was a backdown of tensions between the two sides.
Original Phrasal Verb: back up
Verb Example: Please back up your car.
Noun Example: They didn’t have any backup plans.
Original Phrasal Verb: break up
Verb Example: We need to break up the ice in the lake to go fishing.
Noun Example: The couple had a bad breakup.
Original Phrasal Verb: carry on
Verb Example: You can carry on one bag onto the plane.
Noun Example: I don’t have a lot of carry-on luggage.
Original Phrasal Verb: check in
Verb Example: Let me check in with my boss.
Noun Example: I walked up to the check-in desk at the hotel.
Original Phrasal Verb: check out
Verb Example: Check out that cool car!
Noun Example: I am going to pay for my stuff at the checkout counter.
Original Phrasal Verb: fall back
Verb Example: The soldiers had to fall back from their position.
Noun Example: Do you have any fallback plans if this plan fails?
Original Phrasal Verb: get away
Verb Example: The bad guys got away from the police.
Noun Example: The bank robbers had a getaway plan.
Original Phrasal Verb: hand out
Verb Example: He was handing out flyers.
Noun Example: I don’t need any handouts. I can earn my own money.
Original Phrasal Verb: hang up
Verb Example: I hung up the phone.
Noun Example: Do you have any hangups with doing this job?
Original Phrasal Verb: lay off
Verb Example: The CEO had to lay off a lot of workers today.
Noun Example: There were a lot of layoffs today at work.
Original Phrasal Verb: make up
Verb Example: Did you just make up that joke?
Noun Example: I need to put on some makeup.
Original Phrasal Verb: pick up
Verb Example: Don’t forget to pick up the children from school today.
Noun Example: I drive a pickup truck.
Original Phrasal Verb: roll over
Verb Example: The rolled over onto its back.
Noun Example: There is a high rollover risk with that type of car.
Original Phrasal Verb: set up
Verb Example: Please set up the tv before the meeting.
Noun Example: It was a big setup. I swear it wasn’t my fault!
Original Phrasal Verb: tip off
Verb Example: The informant tipped off the police to the criminal activity.
Noun Example: The game is about to start. It is almost tipoff.
Original Phrasal Verb: turn over
Verb Example: You can now turn over your tests and start.
Noun Example: There is a high turnover rate at that company. They are always having to hire new workers.
Original Phrasal Verb: warm up
Verb Example: Please warm up the food for dinner.
Noun Example: Warm-up exercises is important before heavy physical activity.
References
Idioms are everyday expressions in common speech. Literally, idiomatic phrases often don’t make a lot of sense. Rather, they are used to express some sort of figurative meaning. Check out some of the most common English idiomatic phrases below.[1]https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-idioms/
meaning: forced to hurry to meet a deadline
We had to pull an all nighter because we were running against the clock.
meaning: to speak in a roundabout way in order to avoid confronting an unpleasant topic
Don’t beat around the bush, tell me how bad you did on the test.
meaning: a good idea
That’s such a great idea! It’s the best thing since sliced bread!
meaning: earn money for one’s family
I need to find a good job so that I can bring home the bacon to my family.
meaning: a busy person
She is such a busy bee always running from one activity to the next.
meaning: a short sleep during the day
I am not tired anymore, I took a cat nap right before this.
meaning: very expensive
Are you sure you want to buy that? It costs an arm and a leg!
meaning: stop asking questions
Stopping asking more questions, you know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat”.
meaning: to economize by reducing quality
This is really bad workmanship, they really have been cutting corners.
meaning: someone who argues a point not out of conviction, but in order to air various points of view
I’ll be the Devil’s advocate to help you prepare for the debate.
meaning: good at gardening/growing things
She really has a green thumb. It seems like whatever she touches grows!
meaning: to study
Stop playing video games! It is time to hit the books! You have a big test tomorrow.
meaning: to go to sleep
I am really tired. I think I will hit the sack.
meaning: when something goes wrong involving two people
It is not just my fault! You know it takes two to tango.
meaning: to follow a trend or craze
All of these people here are just jumping on the bandwagon. They aren’t true fans.
meaning: a vehicle that does not work properly
My car is a lemon.
meaning: someone who is not very social with other people
He doesn’t really like working with others. He is more of a lone wolf.
meaning: miss an opportunity
I really missed the boat with that job offer.
meaning: very rare
You better try it, it doesn’t come around that often, it really is a once in a blue moon opportunity.
meaning: very easy
That exam was a piece of cake.
meaning: not able to make a decision
Stop sitting on the fence. Make up your mind already!
meaning: a person or object in a vulnerable position that is easy to attack or injure
You got to move. You are a sitting duck in that position.
meaning: to tell a secret
Please don’t spill the beans about the surprise birthday party.
meaning: it’s sentimental, old, and not funny anymore
That joke is corny.
meaning: you convinced me
Ok! Twist my arm. I will help you.
meaning: to be sick
Sorry, I can’t come into work today. I feel under the weather.
Ideas for these common idiomatic phrases came from the following sources. [2]https://7esl.com/english-idioms/[3]https://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html[4]https://englishstudyonline.org/important-american-idioms/
References
