Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Spooky Halloween Stories


Echoes of the past

A young bachelor at the beginning of his career became very successful very quickly, so he bought himself a house. One morning, he awoke to the sound of running water. He rushed to the bathroom and saw that the bathtub faucet was running on full blast. He was perturbed by this, as he lived alone. A week later, it happened again, only this time it wasn’t just one faucet—it was all of the faucets in the house. The young man called a repairman to fix the pipes and the water damage…but, as it turned out, the pipes weren’t broken. The repairman, a local, seemed visibly shaken. “What’s wrong?” the bachelor asked. “The woman who lived here before you,” said the repairman, “she drowned in that bathtub.”


After hours

It was nine o’clock, time for the store to close. Valerie, Ginny, and Kelly were the only ones working. As they were cleaning up the store, a pile of shirts fell to the floor. None of the girls touched it. “It’s probably the ghost,” Ginny said. “Very funny,” said Kelly. “No, really,” Valerie replied. “He’s a little boy. He likes to play.” Kelly still didn’t take them seriously, though; she thought they were teasing her because she was younger. But when she went into the backroom to get her keys to go home, she saw a flash of a young boy in the mirror next to her. When she looked back, her keys had been placed on the floor.


Three’s a crowd

Two sisters were at home while their parents were out at an event one evening. They stayed up late, talking and telling stories in the older sister’s room. Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of loud music. They looked at each other, confused and unsure of where the music could be coming from. The older sister got out of bed and began walking down the hallway. It sounded like the music was coming from their parents’ room. She peered into the dark room, saw her father’s laptop open—screen on, music blaring. And right then, the music stopped.

Scared, the girl ran back to her room, where her younger sister was waiting on the bed. Frightened, she shut the bedroom door behind her and got back under the covers, holding her little sister tight. They heard slow, heavy footsteps one after another, heading toward their end of the hall. When the footsteps stopped—BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! Three hard knocks on the bedroom door. No one came in, but they certainly didn’t try to leave the room for the rest of the night.

                                                                          Taken from Reader's Digest

Read more stories here

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

BOOK DAY 23 APRIL. DON QUIXOTE - Bedtime Story

VIDEO STORY 
LISTEN AND READ ALOUD

World Book Day, in Spain

On 23 April, World Book Day is celebrated all over the world. In Spain this is a day to encourage reading and the enjoyment of literature in a different way. It is also a day on which the great universal writer Miguel de Cervantes is particularly remembered with the presentation of the prize which bears his name, the most important distinction in Spanish letters.

For writers, publishers and the reading public,23 April is a red-letter day on the calendar. The celebration of World Book Day is the perfect opportunity to meet your favourite author, give the gift of literature or buy that novel that you've always wanted at an attractive discount. What's more, librarians, museums, and other cultural institutions usually organise special activities to mark the occasion (round tables, book signings, lectures, guided visits, children's workshops, storytellers, concerts, public readings, etc…). An invitation to experience the world of letters in a different way.

The festivity of Sant Jordi
In Catalonia the day coincides with the popular festivity of Sant Jordi. According to tradition, on this day it is customary to give the gift of a book to men and a rose to women. Thus cities like Barcelona become transformed into an enormous open-air bookshop-florist's, full of stalls with authors signing copies of their work.

Cervantes and 'Don Quixote'
On 23 April, the birthplace of the writer Miguel de CervantesAlcalá de Henares, puts on all its finery: in the auditorium of the University, the King and Queen of Spain present the Cervantes Prize, the most important literary distinction which is awarded in the world of the Spanish language.
Cervantes' masterpiece, 'Don Quixote of La Mancha', is also a protagonist of World Book Day. Every year, in the Column Room at the Círculo de Bellas Artes academy in Madrid, there is a non-stop reading of the novel: this involves 48 hours of uninterrupted reading by figures from the world of culture and politics, as well as an anonymous citizens. The tale of Don Quixote is also read in numerous centres of the Cervantes Institute located abroad, in order to mark this date.

Book Night
Book Night is held in Madrid. Over 100 bookshops stay open until midnight with a special cultural programme which includes everything from live music and encounters with writers through to activities for the children. What's more, anyone who buys a book on that day will be given a 10% discount off the price.

Book Day is a fantastic way for book lovers to whet their appetite for the numerous book fairs which take place all over Spain a little later in the year.


Unfortunately, this year everything is different. But we can always celebrate it at home.


Thursday, February 13, 2020

LOVE QUOTES

Happy Valentine’s Quotes










  • “On a scale of one to ten, I’d give you a nine — and I’m the one you need.” —Anonymous
  • “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.” —Anonymous
  • “Sometimes I wonder how you put up with me. Then I remember, oh I put up with you. So we’re even.” —Anonymous
  • “Love is like the wind. You can’t see it, but you can feel it.” —A Walk to Remember
  • “I love you not only for what you are but, for what I am when I’m with you.” —Roy Croft
  • “A friendship that like love is warm; A love like friendship, steady.” —Thomas Moore
  • “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.” —Lucius Annaeus Seneca
  • “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” —Helen Keller
  • “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” —Henry Ford
  • “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” —Jim Morrison
  • “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • “Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less and smile a lot more. Happy Valentine’s Day!” —Anonymous
  • “I have looked at you in millions of ways and I have loved you in each. Happy Valentine’s Day.” —Anonymous
  • “Good friends are like the stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.” —Anonymous


  • “You are what I never knew I always wanted.” —Fools Rush in
  • “For love, I’d do anything. For you, I’d do more.” —Anonymous

Monday, January 6, 2020

Greta Thunberg & Sir David Attenborough

Greta's father has said he thought it was "a bad idea" for his daughter to take to the "front line" of the battle against climate change.

Millions of people have been inspired to join the 16-year-old in raising awareness of environmental issues.
But Svante Thunberg told the BBC he was "not supportive" of his daughter skipping school for the climate strike.
Mr. Thunberg said Greta was much happier since becoming an activist - but that he worries about the "hate" she faces......
                                                                                           BBC NEWS    30 December 2019

Friday, January 3, 2020

READING COMPREHENSION: PERSONALITIES


What the Way You Walk Reveals About Your Personality

A particular study carried out in 2017, by Caleb Backe, a health and wellness expert, shared and compared the walking speed and styles with personality traits.

Read the text and do the activities.

A. The following categories distinguish how your walking style reveals your personality. Match them with the pictures.

Example: 1-A

1. THE EXECUTIVE



  • If you’re an executive, you normally walk very quickly with fast and focused strides. You walk with confidence with your head up and tend to be absorbed in your thoughts. You may easily bump into others. You’re goal-oriented and are great problem solvers, however, you can also come off as unfriendly and intense.



  • 2. THE CORRECTOR
  • If you’re a corrector, you usually walk by taking small steps while hunched over. You also avoid making eye contact with those around you. This is because correctors are normally quite introverted and shy. They tend to be on guard before they make any strong or genuine connections.
  • 3. THE POLITICIAN


  • If you're a politician, you often walk with liveliness with your head held high, chest forward, and shoulders back. You desire acknowledgment and appreciation. You also enjoy challenges and learning about new experiences but can get bored easily. You're a confident speaker and enjoy engaging with people.
  • 4. THE WORRIER
  • If you're a worrier, you tend to walk very slowly and cautiously. You typically make short strides but may drag your feet. Worriers generally keep their eyes on the ground and seem unsettled. Worriers tend to be introverted and thoughtful, but they can also seem vulnerable and fearful.
  • 5. THE CHILLER
  • Chillers are the easy-going type of walkers. They usually walk at a slow to medium pace with their body loose and their posture relaxed. Their gestures tend to be small and sometimes they can get caught up in an internal dialogue. If you're a chiller, you tend to focus on others more than your own tasks and might seem lost while walking. You're very calm and intuitive but can also appear to be a slacker and easily influenced.
  • 6. THE SHOWBOAT
  • If you're a showboat, you tend to walk very confidently and with intent. You sway your arms and hips in an exaggerated way and enjoy attracting attention from everyone. If you find yourself in this group, your head is usually held high, your shoulders are back, and you're more focused on yourself. Showboats can come off as self-absorbed and unreliable with commanding and charismatic personality traits.
  • 7. THE SUPPORTER
  • If you're a supporter, you tend to walk in medium-paced, confident strides. Supporters are also cooperative team players and good listeners who speak thoughtfully and value unity and relationships. They're helpful, loyal, and dependable.
  • A simple phone call from their loved ones can easily brighten their day. Similar to Politicians, they like gestures, making eye contact, and interacting with people while walking.
  • 8. THE SHORT STRIDER
  • If you're a short strider, you usually take short strides and are more likely to be a self-centered and undemanding individual. However, for women, short strides might be due to aches in the calves and hamstrings or it could even be a sign of an emerging hip problem.
  • 9. THE ARM CROSSER
  • If you're an arm crosser, it usually indicates that you prefer to be alone or even live alone. Walking while crossing your arms also signifies vulnerability. Communication experts highlight that crossing your arms while walking is dangerous, especially at night, since it could send a signal that you're weak and can be easy prey for attackers. 
  • 10. THE STOMPER
  • If you find your walking style to be more of a stomp, you just might be a stomper. Stompers' walking style can signal anger, frustration, and persistence. But sometimes, walking with a stomp could mean your body is trying to send a signal to your brain. This can be due to the limbs' positioning and is usually a result of the loss of sensation in the limbs.
  • 11. THE MULTITASKER
  • If you tend to be able to multitask and walk simultaneously, you're a multitasking type of walker. It's also quite unique and creative since this kind of person is imaginative as they walk. They can handle a number of things all at once, often answering a call, directing someone, and even crossing the road all at the same time. If you belong to this group of people, you're brave and a problem solver. You're always keen on helping your friends in need.

  • A

  • B

    D
     
    C

    F

    E

    G

    H

    I

    J
    K


    B. VOCABULARY

    Match the words with their definitions and translations

    Example
    English Definition Spanish
    1.wellness n1. (physical and mental    health)  1. bienestar nm

    2. traits                        footstep                                         reconocimiento
    3. stride                       curved shoulders                           arrastrar
    4. bump into               characteristic                                  darse contra
    5. hunched                  recognition                                     ritmo
    6. acknowledgment      leg tendon                                     rasgos
    7. drag                         a lazy person                                 zancada
    8. pace                        pull along the ground                     entusiasta
    9, slacker                    enthusiastic                                    encorvado
    10. hamstring              speed                                             tendón
    11. keen                      collide with                                     holgazán 

                                  
                                                                                                                                https://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp

    C. SPEAKING/WRITING

    What does your walking style say about you? 
                                                                                                     Adapted from Bright Side

    ANSWERS

    Saturday, December 28, 2019

    2019: GOOD NEWS (Reading/Speaking activity)

    Enough of All the Bad News. 


    Here Are Some Things That Prove 2019 Was an Excellent Year



    • - The Netherlands planted the roofs of 316 bus stops with flowers, especially for bees.
    • - The humpback whale population, which was on the verge of extinction in the 50s of the last century, has been recovered almost completely. There used to be only 450 of them, now their population is somewhere near 25,000.
    • - NASA satellites have recorded that the world is much greener now than 20 years ago.
    • - The Vet Friends Foundation organization finds owners among lonely war veterans for old homeless dogs and covers all the medical expenses for the animals themselves. Both the vets and the dogs become happier.

    • - Norway decided to not drill oil wells in the Lofoten Islands (the oil reserves there are estimated at approximately $60 billion) in order to preserve the local ecosystem.
    • - Daytime disco-parties are arranged in Seoul, South Korea for people over 65, to help them cope with dementia and loneliness.
    • - 20 African countries are taking part in the construction of the Great Green Wall in order to stop the desertification of Africa. About 32 million hectares of land have already been restored. After the completion of the wall, the barrier of trees and plants will stretch for 5,000 miles, occupy 100 million hectares, and be visible from space.

    • - Tribal ruler Theresa Kachindamoto has managed to terminate with the marriages of 3,500 child brides and help the girls finish their schooling.
    • - You can pay subway fare with plastic bottles in Rome — one ride costs 30 bottles. Within the first month after the start of this program, about 100,000 bottles were collected.
    • - The European Parliament introduced an amendment to the European Union law that prohibits the selling and manufacturing of disposable plastic items.
    • - California has passed a law against animal cruelty, which prohibits the sale and purchase of natural fur products.
    • - The government of Costa Rica has launched a campaign banning selfies with wild animals.
    • - Unusual canal cruises have become popular in Amsterdam: not only can tourists enjoy sightseeing, but they can also collect trash from the water with hoop-like nets. About 146,000 plastic bottles have already been collected.
    • - The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded for the study of the reaction of body cells to the amount of oxygen they are exposed to. This is a revolution in oncology: instead of chemotherapy, which affects the whole body, it will be possible to affect only the tumor cells, depriving them of oxygen, and hence of the possibility to grow.

    • - Scientists have created food for cats that stops their fur from triggering an allergic reaction in humans.
    • - The Netherlands became the first country in the world without stray dogs.
    • - In 2019, 40 countries banned using wild animals in circuses.
    • Which one is your favourite?
    • What was the greatest event in your life in 2019?                                                                       https://brightside.me/
    • Vocabulary
    • roof 
    • on the verge of 
    • drill
    •  cope with 
    • fare
    • amendment
    • disposable
    • depriving
    • pass a law
    •  hence
    • triggering
    • stray (dog)

    Tuesday, October 22, 2019

    Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller


    Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller contains seven popular Poe stories: "The Mask of the Red Death," "The Story of William Wilson," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Black Cat," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Cask of Amontillado." The stories are slightly adapted for language learners and are suitable for high-intermediate and advanced learners of English.


    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    The Mask of the Red DeathExpand
    The Story of William WilsonExpand
    The Fall of the House of UsherExpand
    The Black CatExpand
    The Murders in the Rue MorgueExpand
    The Tell-Tale HeartExpand
    The Cask of Amontillado

    Tuesday, April 30, 2019

    Reading Comprehension: Beginner/A2

    Look at the email and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

    Click here to do the exercises