FCE

Try these exercises

DESCRIBE THE PHOTOGRAPHS (1º D)

THANKSGIVING DAY

On Thursday many people will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. If you want to remember some important facts we have already explained in class, watch the video and answer the questions: 

1. What's the name of the ship where the first pilgrims travelled from Europe?
2. What was the reason for their voyage?
3. Who helped them arrange the voyage?
4. What problems did they find while travelling?
5. How long did they take to get to America?
6. Why did they choose Plymouth as their settlement?
7. What problems did they face the first winter?
8. What did the Indians teach the pilgrims?
9. What two American presidents appear in the video?  Why?
10. How do people celebrate this festival nowadays?

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

Just in case you have "dropped" the text about our last Aesop's fables:

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"  

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while every day it saw the ants fetching plenty of corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.

Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

THE SHEPHERD WHO CRIED 'WOLF!'

As I know that you don't pay enough attention, you can read Aesop's fable again:

          Once upon a time there was a shepherd who liked to play a trick on the villagers who lived nearby. He’d pretend that his flock of sheep was being attacked by wolves. “Come quickly,” he’d yell as loudly as he could. “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” 

         Each time, every time, the villagers raced to rescue the shepherd’s flock. But each time, every time, there were no wolves to be found. The villagers would turn and walk home. The shepherd would fall on the ground and roll around, screaming with laughter. 

         But one day wolves really did attack the shepherd’s flock. “Come quickly,” he yelled. “Wolf! Wolf!Wolf! Wolf!” But this time, no villagers came to help. They’d had enough of the shepherd’s silly tricks. They stayed in their village. The shepherd kept yelling. And the wolves kept attacking until they ate up the sheep, every last one.

AN INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO

We have been watching some videos in class about good actions. If you want to see it again at home here you are.

HENRY VIII

I was so surprised when I noticed how much you enjoyed with British history that I have decided to show you this quizz about Henry VIII. I hope you will enjoy it.

GUY FAWKES

Remember, remember, the fitth of November....
Did you know that British people celebrate the night of
the 5th Nov. ligthing up bonfires and using fireworks?
Watch the video and answer the following questions:

1. When did the plot happen?
2.Who was the king at the time?
3. How many plotters were there in the gang?
4. Why did the plotters want to kill him?
5. Where was Fawkes from?
6. What had he done before the plot?

7. How many barrels of gunpowder were they going to use to blow up the Parliament?

8. How were they discovered? 

9. When was this festival first celebrated? 

10. What do people do to enjoy that night?  

Now perhaps you could explain where this famous mask comes from and what it means. If not, you could watch this video where everything is explained.

Halloween story Contest

Write your creepy story about Halloween. There will be a winner in each class. The deadline is next Monday.

More FCE grammar practice

Try this link.

More PET grammar practice

You can try here.

More KET grammar practice

Try this link.

HALLOWEEN IS GETTING CLOSER

Activity 1: Halloween’s history

Visit this link and read the first section entitled Ancient origins of Halloween. Look for the answers to these 13 (unlucky for some) questions. Share your answers with your classmates.

1. Where is the celebration of Halloween thought to have come from?
2. The Celts occupied an area of land covering six modern-day countries. Name at least four of them.
3. Why did the Celts celebrate ’Samhain’ on the night of 31st October?
4. What did the Celts believe the ghosts of the dead would cause damage and trouble to?
5. To commemorate the event, what did the Druids build?
6. What costumes did they wear?
7. What did they re-light to help protect them from the coming winter?
8. By 43 AD, who had conquered the Celts?
9. What two other festivals were combined with ’Samhain’?
10. After many changes due to the spread of Christianity, what new celebration was created in 1000 AD?
11. What were the similarities between this day and ’Samhain’?
12. What was another name given to this celebration?
13. What was the night before called and what did this finally become?

Discussion

• Are you surprised by the history of Halloween?
• Do you know any other stories about its origins?
• Are there any celebrations in your country that have a strange and uncertain history?
• Do you agree with this type of celebration?
• Do you believe in ghosts and the supernatural?

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PET

Read the following sentences to correct your USE OF ENGISH (a) in the PET exam:
1. I wanted to improve my French so I went to Fr.
2. This is the first time I've been in this shop.
3. The choice of food in the market is better than here.
4. The shops close later on Th.
5. Would you like to go into town this afternoon?
6. It's a long time since we went to a concert.
7. If I were you, I would learn a musical instrument.
8. You won't improve unless you play the piano every day.
9. There aren't very many concerts this month.
10.This room isn't big enough for  us to play music in.
11.I like playing the guitar more than playing the piano.
12. They spent a long time deciding  which concert to go to.
13. The teacher who taught me Italian was very good.
14. I went to England because I wanted to learn English.
15. I like speaking English more than writing it.
16. Languages are my best subject.
17. Meat isn't as good for you as fish.
18. You can buy snacks in the café.
19. He's really good at cooking.
20. There aren't very many good restaurants in this area.

FCE EXAM

You can correct your sentences from the exercise USE OF ENGLISH (a) here:

1. What is your favourite type of music?  
2. B’s parents don’t speak as well as he does.
3. I didn’t expect to pay so much money for my new computer.
4. The car has nearly/almost run out of petrol so we’ll have……
5. They were not able to get home that night because…..
6. Alex has (great) trouble getting up in the morning.
7. Carl remembered to buy everything except a new battery….
8. It is only a three-hour flight to Sicily.
9. That wardrobe is too tiny to hold all my clothes. (:not big enough to hold)
10. Mark is looking forward to using his new computer-games console.
11. The singer does not like it when/if people ask him for his autograph…..
12. Kelly followed/took my advice and enrolled at a gym.
13. Apart from Simon none of the students applied for a scholarship.
14. Emily has no intention of answering any of the interviewer’s questions.
15. Liam has decided to give up going to football practice.
16. Jane felt she was old enough to take care of/care for her own pet.
17. Would you mind turning/if I turned  the television off?
18. Gary likes to spend time by himself just before a race.
19. We cannot/can’t afford to wash our car.
20. Sandra is not such a good skier as her sister.