ONE SINGLE THING
That will Improve Your English
Advanced Comprehension - New style exercises
Recently I have seen a lot of posters at the side of the road saying, ‘The most important single thing you can do to improve your health is to stop smoking.’ This sounds very sensible. Could anyone believe otherwise?
Well, on my way into town each day I pass a small gym of the kind that is so popular nowadays. It is full of stainless steel equipment and it has adverts everywhere for health foods and vitamin pills.
It seems to have a lot of customers. I am not a likely client for such places but I notice it because I often see a young woman, who I suppose is the manager or owner, coming out to sit at a table on the small patio in front of the premises.
This patio faces the sea, so the scene is a healthy one. The young woman is very attractive and she has a pleasant smile. She is obviously a trainer too, for she has muscles. She has lots of shiny muscles and she wears a tight nylon leotard.
She moves with confident grace to her seat on the patio. And there she opens a pack of cigarettes, lights one, and drags on it with all her strength.
I think we can safely assume that she believes in good health, but does she believe that her health would improve if she quit smoking? How can she – apparently – hold such conflicting beliefs? I do not know the answer.
But the poster made me think – is there one single thing I could tell people, or show them, that would help them to improve their ability to speak English? It is hard to think of something. Of course I can give you slogans that are meant to help (but do they?)
For example –
No one said it would be easy
You must devote the right amount of time to practicing
You must copy the sounds of English.
These may be moderately useful but they’re not going to propel you through to the next level in your course. If you’re going to enter for an examination I can tell you how to gain more marks or, rather, how not to lose marks – see my article Los Siete Errores Capitales.
The truth is that there is no one single thing that will improve your English; there are many aspects to study.
However, we can identify three principal elements to focus on: your comprehension of spoken English, your understanding of written English and your ability to speak English clearly.
1. Comprehension: to improve your understanding of spoken English you should listen to www.voice of america.com. Their ‘Special English’ program allows you to read a news article and listen to it at the same time.
They use various voices, speak at a steady pace, and promise not to use sayings or fixed phrases.
If you listen to the regular news on radio or television you can become discouraged, because they speak so quickly and use fixed phrases and sayings. The Voice of America program is suitable even for advanced students.
2. Understanding written English: just slow down, that will be a great start.
3. Speaking English: ditto.
Of course you know where to find out what ‘ditto’ means, don’t you?
The fourth point is to learn from your best friend in English, a good Spanish - English dictionary.
Advanced Comprehension:
in each case please select the phrase, choosing from a, b, c, or d, which correctly completes the sentence started in bold.
1. The posters on the roadside were intended to -
a) disappoint smokers.
b) discourage smoking.
c) advertise a brand of cigarettes.
d) sell insurance to smokers.
2. The small gym -
a) was full of athletes.
b) contained a lot of metal equipment.
c) was devoid of any advertisements.
d) was deprived of health foods and vitamin pills.
3. The writer assumes that -
a) the young woman was one of the customers.
b) the tables on the patio were wooden.
c) the chick was the proprietor or manager.
d) the premises were defective.
4. The young woman –
a) seemed to be unemployed
b) looked unattractive and moody
c) had some seafood and a wild animal with her.
d) was pretty and looked very fit.
5. When she reached the patio –
a) the young woman opened a pack of cards.
b) stubbed her toe on a rock.
c) lit a fire under the table.
d) inhaled the smoke from a cigarette.
6. The roadside advertisement –
a) made the writer think of food.
b) reminded the author of his last vacation.
c) made the writer think of one thing he could do.
d) caused the writer to think of English people.
7. The three slogans –
a) deal with facility, time and sounds.
b) advertise English grammar classes.
c) refer to practising the piano.
d) explain how to copy sounds.
8. The three main factors identified -
a) relate to English cookery.
b) expose a need to understand English people.
c) advert to understanding spoken and written English.
d) question your ability to speak Esperanto.
9. In order to improve your listening skills –
a) you should buy a guitar.
b) you are advised to listen to Voice of America.
c) you would do well to leave the country.
d) you are counselled to get out more.
10. If you listen to regular news in English –
a) your ears will fall off.
b) you will speak very rapidly
c) it will cost you a lot of money.
d) it will certainly not encourage you.
Correct selections:
1b, 2b, 3c, 4d, 5d, 6c, 7a, 8c, 9b, 10d.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Promociones y Ofertas
Nos han informado que puedes perder más de 4.5 kilos con la pura información que está en nuestra presentación.
Vea el video y darle a esta unos cuantos segundos para que se cargue.
! HAZ CLIC AQUI
PARA COMENZAR
A QUEMAR GRASA AHORA!
Presentado por CLICKBANK - el más confiable mercado en internet.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
