Monday, 23 July 2012

Good website to practice reading

Here is a good website for short readings, which are good for practicing reading and getting more vocabulary words.
1. Click on Reading on the left side menu
2. Choose one of the reading sites on the main page--for example, 365 days or 100 readings--these are short and they have vocabulary with them, as well as exercises to do. These are all free.
3. My advice is to choose one reading for each week. Read the same one 4 nights (or more). You will remember the vocabulary better and improve your English writing by English reading.

Here is the link:
http://www.rong-chang.com/

GOOD IELTS and Writing Website

For those interested in IELTS practice, this is a good site for Task 1 and Task 2--it has example essays, topics, and how to write for IELTS.

website
http://writefix.com/

Basic Essay layouts for Task 2 of IELTS exam
http://writefix.com/?page_id=1764

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

For and Against

Notes
http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatewritin1/a/persuasive_writing.htm

Monday, 9 July 2012

Monday, July 9-10, 2012 Writing Exercise and Answers

Monday, July 9-12, 2012 Writing Exercise and Answers

CONJUNCTIONS

Using ‘but, although, however, even though’

He is a good friend. We do not meet often.

1. He is a good friend but we do not meet often.
2. We do not meet often but he is a good friend.
3. He is a good friend; however we do not meet often.
4. He is a good friend. However, we do not meet often.
5. We do not meet often; however, he is a good friend.
6. Although he is a good friend, we do not meet often.
7. He is a good friend; although we do not meet often.
8. We do not meet often; although, he is a good friend.
9. Even though he is a good friend, we do not meet often.
10. Even though we do not meet often, he is a good friend.

It rained a lot. We enjoyed the holiday.

1. It rained a lot but we enjoyed the holiday.
2. Even though it rained a lot, we enjoyed the holiday.
3. It rained a lot; however, we enjoyed the holiday.
4. Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed the holiday.
5. We enjoyed the holiday; even though, it rained a lot.
6. It rained a lot. However, we enjoyed the holiday.
7. We enjoyed the holiday; however, it rained a lot.
8. It rained a lot; although, we enjoyed the holiday.
9. We enjoyed the holiday but it rained a lot.
10. We enjoyed the holiday; although, it rained a lot.

‘So, because, since’

He lived in France for many years. He speaks French well.
           Cause--------------------------------------------Effect
He lived in France for many years so he speaks French well.
Since he lived in France for many years, he speaks French well.

He speaks French well. He lived in France for many years.
           Effect---------------------------------------------Cause
He speaks French very well because he lived in France for many years.
He speaks French very well since he lived in France for many years.
Note: Cause and effect is another way of saying what happened (effect) and why it happened (cause).
Exercise:
Join the two sentences in as many ways as you can using cause---effect and effect---cause structure (pattern)—first put a “c” after the cause sentence and “e” after the effect sentence.
For example---The picnic was cancelled. (e) It started to rain. (c)

1. She went home.-e She was tired. c
She went home because she was tired.
She was tired so she went home.
She went home since she was tired.
Since she was tired, she went home.

2. We did not enjoy our holiday. e The weather was bad. c
Since the weather was bad, we did not enjoy our holiday.
We did not enjoy our holiday since the weather was bad.
The weather was bad, so we did not enjoy our holiday.
We did not enjoy our holiday because the weather was bad.

3. He worked hard.c He passed all his exams. e
He worked hard so he passed all his exams.
Since he worked hard, he passed all his exams.
He passed all his exams since he worked hard.
He passed all his exams because he worked hard.

4. I enjoy history lessons.e I like the teacher.c
I like the teacher so I enjoy history lessons.
Since I like the teacher, I enjoy history lessons.
I enjoy history lessons because I like the teacher.
I enjoy history lessons since I like the teacher.

5. It started to rain. c We stopped playing tennis.e
It started to rain so we stopped playing tennis.
We stopped playing tennis because it started to rain.
We stopped playing tennis since it started to rain.
Since it started to rain, we stopped playing tennis.

6. Carrie stopped for lunch.e She was hungry.c
Carrie stopped for lunch because she was hungry.
Since Carrie was hungry, she stopped for lunch.
Carrie was hungry so she stopped for lunch.
Carrie stopped for lunch since she was hungry.

7. Serge’s student visa expired.c He went back to Russia. e
Serge went back to Russia because his visa expired.
Serge went back to Russia since his visa expired.
Since Serge's visa expired, he went back to Russia.
Serge's visa expired so he went back to Russia.

8. The Vancouver downtown concert was cancelled. e There was a riot the night before.c
The Vancouver downtown concert was cancelled because there was a riot the night before.
The Vancouver downtown concert was cancelled since there was a riot the night before.
There was a riot in Vancouver the night before so they cancelled the downtown concert.
Since there was a riot in Vancouver the night before, they cancelled the downtown concert.

9. Tom slept in.c He was late for class.e

10. The police arrested John Smith. e He stole cars.c

11. John’s daughter rarely sees her father.e John works late every night.c

12. They arrived late. e The airplane was delayed for mechanical problems. c

14. My tire went flat.c I called a tow truck.e
My tire went flat so I called a tow truck.
I called a tow truck because my tire went flat.
I called a tow truck since my tire went flat.
Since my tire went flat, I called a tow truck.

15. The traffic was crowded. c I was late for work. e

Because of + a noun (NOT a clause—subject and verb)
For example, I was late for work because of the crowded traffic. NOT: I was late for work because of the traffic (subject) was (verb) crowded.

Can you make any of the sentences above into because of sentences?

15. I was late because of the crowded traffic.
14. I called the tow truck because of my flat tire.
13. They went to the park because of the beautiful day.
12. They arrived late because of the airplane’s mechanical problems.
       They arrived late because of the delay of the airplane for mechanical problems.

Sentences 11, 10, and 9 cannot be changed to ‘because of’ sentences.

8. They cancelled the downtown Vancouver Concert because of the riot the night before.
7. Serge went back to Russia because of his expired visa.
6. Carrie stopped for lunch because of her hunger.
5. We stopped playing tennis because of the rain.
4. I enjoy history lessons because of the teacher.
3. He passed all his exams because of his hard work.
2. We did not enjoy our holiday because of the bad weather.
1. She went home because of her tiredness.

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Conjunction Exercises

Conjunction Exercises for Writing Class

And & But

Instructions: Choose the correct answer.

Q1 - In winter, it is cold ____ wet.

and

but

Q2 - I couldn't really afford it, ____ I bought it.

and

but

Q3 - It was a very long day ____ I was tired by the end of it.

and

but

Q4 - It's an old black ____ white film.

and

but

Q5 - It was an easy test ____ I failed.

and

but

Q6 - She tried hard ____ managed to do it.

and

but

Q7 - The dog looks friendly ____ he's dangerous.

and

but

Q8 - I didn't like the idea ____ agreed to do it.

and

but

Q9 - My application was late ____ they rejected it.

and

but

Q10 - It cost a lot of money ____ I was very disappointed because it didn't work properly.

and

but

Q11 - He's a fair ____ unpleasant man.

and

but

Q12 - I was grateful for their help, ____ a bit embarrassed at having to ask to borrow the money.

and

but

As

Instructions: Choose the correct answer.

Q1 - As I was tired, I went home.

'As' means 'because'.