Thursday, January 2, 2020
2020: a Leap Year
How to know if it is a Leap Year:
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Leap Years are any year that can be exactly divided by 4 (such as 2016, 2020, 2024, etc)
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except if it can be exactly divided by 100, then it isn't (such as 2100, 2200, etc)
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except if it can be exactly divided by 400, then it is (such as 2000, 2400)
https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html | ||
Speaking about the past
- Explain how/what/why/when/where...
- Why didn't you do it?
- Did you have any New Year's Resolutions? Did you stick to them?
* Stick- Stuck - Stuck
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)
Formal & Informal English+Word List PDF
We use formal English in serious situations, when applying for a job, essays for school and with people we don’t know well.
Informal English is used with friends, relatives and on social media mostly.
Formal English is more common when writing, informal English is more common when we speak.
formal: I have decided to refuse his offer.
informal: I’ve decided to refuse his offer. (informal: I’ve=contraction)
informal: I’ve decided to refuse his offer. (informal: I’ve=contraction)
formal: The person whom I met in Ireland was very friendly.
informal: The person I met in Ireland was very friendly.
informal: The person I met in Ireland was very friendly.
(informal: relative clause without the relative pronoun whom)
formal: I ate your cake this afternoon.
informal: Ate your cake this afternoon.
informal: Ate your cake this afternoon.
formal: apologize
informal: say sorry
informal: say sorry
formal: as soon as possible
informal: ASAP
informal: ASAP
Usage of modal verbs
Can I offer you something new? (neutral)
May I offer you something new? (more formal)
Might I offer you something new? (very formal)
May I offer you something new? (more formal)
Might I offer you something new? (very formal)
Examples of Less Formal & More Formal Expressions
Less Formal More Formal
a lot of many, much, numerous, a great deal of
about regarding
after that thereafter
also / plus moreover
answer respond
ask for request
at first initially
better superior, improved
breathing respiration
buy purchase
cheap inexpensive
drink beverage
eat consume
end terminate, complete
enough sufficient
fix repair
get obtain, acquire
help assist, assistance
home residence
in the end finally, ultimately
I've got to / I have to I must, It is necessary for me to
kind of / sort of rather, somewhat
leave depart
let permit
live reside
lively animated
need require, necessity/requirement
next/later subsequently
OK / all right acceptable, satisfactory
old elderly
people persons, individuals
people say that… it is said that…
right away immediately
seem appear
show demonstrate
so therefore, thus, consequently
start begin, commence
start again resume
stop cease
sweat perspire, perspiration
tell inform
that's why therefore
try attempt
very, really quite
want desire, would like, wish
watch observe
whole entire
work function
wrong incorrect
you (generic) one, everyone
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