English 4 U

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December 2007

Welcome
Welcome back to English 4 U, a free magazine for learners of English in the Arab world. Following the launch of the magazine last month, we received a lot of positive feedback. We will include your ideas and suggestions for things to cover in subsequent issues. There was also a very good response to our letter writing competition. We print the winning letters on Pages 32 and 33. Please continue to send them. On Page 68 we list some places where you can nd our magazine. You can also view the magazine on our website. Learning English should be fun and whatever your level of English, we hope you will nd something useful and interesting in this issue. Finally, Eid Mubarak and best wishes for a peaceful, healthy and prosperous 2008.

English 4 U . . . . . . . . . . .

English 4 U
Tel 07 2447890 RAK Media City P O Box 32429 Ras Al Khaimah Fax 07 2447891 Email contact@english4u.ae www.english4u.ae

Contents
Hello, hi . . . We love you Emirates I am, you are Lets count Number puzzle Colours Sudoku Word puzzle Word list Coming next month 4 7 8 13 19 20 22 25 28 29

Letter writing Kids space Global warming One word bluff Eid al-Adha and the Hajj Make or Do The Queens Guard Word wheel Sharjah Heritage Museum The English Language Culture shock - The Internet

31 32 34 37 38 40 42 45 46 48 49

Do Make -

Readers competition Riddles John Logie Baird and the Television UAE crossword Junk mail Mad about idioms! AskTom Jokes corner

50 51 52 54 58 60 64 67

Hello, hi . . .

Hi, Yasmeen
Hello, Ali

 . . .

Hello, Sara

Hi, Ahmad

Hello, Hussam

Hi, Yasmeen

I am

I am a doctor.

I am tall.

Im not Shada.

Im Yasmeen.

 Positive

Full form I am

Short form I m

Negative
Full form I am not

Short form I m not

. .Im I am .am not not . :

Grammar corner
When we speak we use the short form of the verb. The short form of I am is Im. We make the negative by putting not after am. I am not a teacher. The short form is Im not. Im not a teacher.

You are

You are a pupil.

You are not a teacher.

Youre John.

You arent Ali.

 Positive

Full form you are

Short form youre

Negative
Full form

Short form you arent

you are not

. .youre you are .are not : .

Grammar corner
When we speak we use the short form of the verb. The short form of you are is youre. We make the negative by putting not after are. You are not tall. The short form is Youre not. Youre not a doctor.

Let's count

1 one

2 two

3 three

4 four

5 ve

10

6 six

7 seven

8 eight

9 nine

10 ten

11

Let's count

Match the words to the numbers.

10

nine

6
9
four

3
eight 7

ten
1
six

three
4

2
8
two

one
seven

ve
12

Answers on page 62

Number puzzle

1 3 10 8 7 4 5 2 6 9

Answers on page 62

13

Colours

14


red yellow

black

orange

white

purple pink

grey

green

blue brown

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Magazine evaluation
Evaluation Help us to bring you a better magazine! Please take a few minutes to read the phrases and then tick the appropriate circle. You can fax this page to : 06 5732248 or email it to : contact@english4u.ae

Excellent

Good

Average

Poor

1. Levels of difculty 1 2 3 4

Comments : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................................... 1. Design and colours 1 2 3 4

Comments : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................................... 1. Articles and materials 1 2 3 4

Comments : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....................................................

16

Letter writing

Win a dictionary . . .
We would love to hear from our younger readers so if you are aged 16 or under, get ready with your pen or keyboard! We want you to tell us about some of the things you hope will happen in 2008. You can write about things at school, your plans for holidays, your family, your friends, the world . . . We will send a dictionary to the best three entries and print the letters in next months magazine.

Happy writing! Send your letters by email : competition@english4u.ae fax : 06 5732248 or by post :

English 4 U Competition P O Box 70399 Sharjah Your name Your address ................... ................... ................... Your phone number Your email Your age Your school ................... ................... ................... ...................

17

Kids' space
Following our letter writing competition about why I like learning English in last months magazine, here are the four best letters. We are sending Shada, Yasmeen, Sara, and Hussam each an English dictionary.

I like learning English because my father and my mother speak English and the future communication is in English. I can nd a job easily in the future, and all the studies in university are in English. Shada Khanfar Sharjah International School Age 8

I like to learn English. So I can talk to everyone. I can watch my cartoon lms. Yasmeen Al Asadi Sharjah Age 5

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Kids' space

English is the language of business and computers. To get a good job means your English must be good. I also like English because I like Arabic and I think prociency in Arabic leads to prociency in English. My problem in learning English is misspelling. But it rarely happens. In fact I love English. It is my favourite subject. Sara Ashraf Al Desuki Jameela Bu Hairad School, Kalba Age 16

I like English. It helps me with computers and American lms which I like very much. Your handwriting is very poooooooor , my mother said. This is my problem. But I think in the near future we wont need to write as everything will be copied and saved on computers. Hussam Ashraf Fujairah Islamic Scientic Academy Age 11

19

Global warming
Global warming

Heres a hot topic . . . global warming!

This affects us now and will affect future generations. But what exactly is global warming. Heres a brief explanation. Read the text and then answer the questions on the adjacent page. Global warming refers to the rise in the temperature of the earths atmosphere and oceans. The earth is naturally warmed by rays from the sun which pass through the earths atmosphere and are reected back out to space again. The atmosphere is made up of layers of gases, some of which are called greenhouse gases. They are mostly natural and make up a kind of thermal blanket over the earth. This lets some of the rays back out of the atmosphere, keeping the earth at the right temperature for animals, plants and humans to survive. But if extra greenhouse gases are made, the thermal blanket gets thicker and too much heat is kept in the earths atmosphere. This leads to rising temperatures. Increasing global temperatures will cause sea levels to rise due to the melting of the glaciers and sea ice. Other effects of global warming include an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events, changes in agricultural yields and species extinctions. There is considerable worldwide debate about the causes and amount of warming expected in the future. This debate also covers what action, if any, should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming.

20

Global warming

Comprehension True
OR

False

Circle the right answer

We have done the rst one for you.

1. Global warming affects everyone. 2. Greenhouse gases are all man-made. 3. Animals and plants can survive in all temperatures. 4. The weather will become more extreme.

TRUE FALSE TRUE FALSE TRUE FALSE TRUE FALSE

5. Everyone agrees about the causes of global warming. TRUE FALSE

Answers on page 63

What can I do?

There are ways you can help cut greenhouse gases and help stop global warming. You can make a difference.

Re-cycle glass bottles, newspapers and tin cans Re-use plastic shopping bags Use paper on both sides Dont leave the TV or video on standby If you get a lift to school in a car, take your friends with you Switch lights off when youre not in the room

21

Eid al-Adha and the Hajj

Eid al-Adha and the Hajj occur in the middle of this month.

Tell me about Eid al-Adha and the Hajj

Eid al-Adha festival marks the end of the Hajj or Pilgrimage. It celebrates the sacrice made by the prophet Ibrahim when God asked him to sacrice his own son, Ismail. Ibrahim agreed to do this in order to show his commitment and loyalty to his Lord. As Ibrahim drew his knife to sacrice his son, God intervened and Ismail was replaced by a sheep. God had asked him to sacrice his son to test his faith and when Ibrahim proved he was willing to do it, God did not need him to commit the slaughter of his own son. This is why Muslims all over the world sacrice an animal at Eid al-Adha, as a reminder of Ibrahims obedience to God. The Hajj is one of the ve pillars of Islam. It is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is a duty for all Muslims who are physically and nancially able to make the pilgrimage. Eid al-Adha takes place on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar.

22

Eid al-Adha and the Hajj

Vocabulary in text
Nouns a sacrice a commitment loyalty a pillar Verbs to celebrate to intervene - to observe a notable occasion with festivities - to come between parts of time or events - an act of offering something precious to a deity - an agreement to do something in the future - devotion; faithfulness - a support; a column

. . .

Eid Mubarak and Happy New Year to everyone

23

Make or Do

GRAMMAR
MAKE is used
To suggest creation, construction or manufacturing : make a house make a plan to do something . . . Or when referring to talk and sounds : make a comment make a joke Plans : make arrangements Journeys : make a trip

DO is used
When we dont want to say exactly what it is were doing : The problem was serious and we had to do something but we didnt know what. To talk about activities with words ending in ING + THE :

24

I do the shopping and she does the cooking.

Make or Do

GRAMMAR
Highlight the correct answers about Make and Do.
We have done the rst one for you.

1.

Im sorry. I cant go to Ras Al Khaimah today. do I have to { make

} my homework. } a phone call. } in Dubai.

2.

do I want to { make

3.

do There are many things to { make

4.

does The baker { makes } delicious cakes. do Will you { make did I { made

5.

} me a favour?

6.

} three suggestions in the report.

2. make 3. do 4. makes

Answers
5. do 6. made

25

The Queen's Guard

The Queens Guard appears on the cover of this months magazine.

The Q Queens ueens Guard

The Queens Guard is the name given to contingents of soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London. Soldiers have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces for over 300 years. The regular hand-over of guards takes place on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, the official residence of The Queen in London. Known as Changing the Guard, the process involves a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard. The hand-over is accompanied by a Guards band. It is a very colourful and enjoyable spectacle. When The Queen is in residence, there are four sentries at the front of the building, When The Queen is away there are only two guards. The Queens Guard usually consists of Foot Guards in their full dress uniform of red tunics and bear-skins.

26

Word wheel
.R .

How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel? Each word must contain the letter R. Can you find a 9-letter word? There are at least 15 other words of five letters or more.

A G

D N R O S

E U

Answers
9 letter word dangerous. Some other words of five letters or more : adore, anger, argue, around, arson, danger, drugs, grade, grand, groan guard, nurse, organ, range, roads, rogue, round, snore, sugar, under.

27

Sharjah Heritage Museum

Discover your heritage!

The Sharjah Museums Department has restored some historical houses and established museums in the heritage area of Sharjah. These places are all well worth a visit for both children and adults. This month we look at Sharjah Heritage Museum, which opened its doors in 2004. This museum is in three renovated traditional houses that are joined together. In the museum you will find wonderful displays and mini-exhibitions about the lifestyle, crafts and traditions of a centuries old society. Exhibits date back to the time when the population was small and people relied on trade, pearling, seafaring, fishing and farming to survive. The museum has exhibits to interest both children and adults covering education, currency, the postal system, traditional skills and crafts, early medicines, musical instruments, textiles and jewellery. This is a perfect place for you to visit during your school holidays later this month. You can have fun and learn at the same time!

Opening Times
Weekdays: 8 am 8 pm Friday: 5 pm 8pm

Times vary during the month of Ramadan and Public Holidays. Children: Free Adults: Dhs 5 Family: Dhs 10

Sharjah Museums Department

28

P O Box 39939 Sharjah Tel 06 5566002 Fax 06 5566003 E-mail info@sharjahmuseums.ae www.sharjahmuseums.ae

Sharjah Heritage Museum Vocabulary in text

to renovate (verb) a display an exhibition the population currency - to restore to a former better state - an eye-catching arrangement by which something is exhibited - a public showing of works of art - the people or inhabitants in a country - coins and banknotes that are in circulation as a medium of exchange - a substance or preparation used in treating disease - cloths, especially woven cloths - objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment (American spelling is jewelry)

medicine textiles jewellery

- - . ( ) ( )

39939 .

29

The English Language

The English Language

Have you ever wondered why you have trouble with the English Language? To find out complete this poem with the words below. rings observation quicksand lights watch stars mufns fries

Lets face it English is a stupid language. There is no egg in the eggplant And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple English . . . . . . . were not invented in England French . . . . . . . were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted But if we examine its paradoxes we find that . . . . . . . takes you down slowly Boxing . . . . . . . are square. If the plural of tooth is teeth shouldnt the plural of phone booth be phone beeth?

English was invented by people, not computers And it reflects the creativity of the human race (which of course isnt a race at all). That is why When the . . . . . . . are out they are visible But when the . . . . . . . are out they are invisible. And why it is that when I wind up my ....... It starts But when I wind up this . . . . . . . , It ends.

30

Culture shock

Culture shock The Internet

When were the rst networks launched that nally became the internet? the 1940-50s, the 1960-70s, the 1980-90s ---------------------------Communication between computers is possible because of the TCP / IP. What do the letters mean?

Transmission Communication Procedures / International Process, Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol, Transmission Computer Processing / Internet Pooling ---------------------------Where does the name internet probably come from? ---------------------------When did e-mail rst take off? 1976, 1986, 1992 ----------------What do the letters "www" stand for? ----------------What is the name of the internet commercial industries? dotcom, e-money, computernets -----------------

31

The Internet

John Logie Baird and the Television

Here we present a scientific figure, John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television. His life
John Logie Baird was born in Helensburgh in Scotland on 13th August 1888. He was educated at Larcheld school and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. He married Margaret Albu in 1931 and they had two children.
John Logie Baird

During his life he invented numerous items, including a glass razor, pneumatic shoes and thermal socks but his most famous invention was the television. He died in Bexhill-on-Sea in England on 14th June 1946 at the age 57.

Did you know?

Scotland, England and Wales are three countries and together they form Great Britain.

His invention
Although the development of television was the result of work by many inventors, Baird is one of its foremost pioneers. He is generally credited with being the rst person to produce a live, moving television image. In 1925 Baird successfully transmitted in his laboratory the rst television picture.

32

John Logie Baird and the Television

In 1927 Baird transmitted a long-distance television signal over 700 kilometres of telephone line between London and Glasgow. He then set up the Baird Television Development Company Ltd, which in 1928 made the rst transatlantic television transmission, from London to New York. He demonstrated the worlds rst colour transmission in 1928. It is difcult to imagine life without television. TV now spans the globe and is the worlds most popular form of entertainment, offering multiple channels covering all sorts of subjects. Happy viewing! Invention

Vocabulary in text
an inventor a person who produces something for the rst time through the use of imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiment. a person who originates or helps open up a newline of thought or activity. a place providing opportunity for experimentation in a eld of study. = 1,000 metres. The spelling is British English. In US English the word is spelt kilometer. The spelling is British English. In US English the word is spelt color.

a pioneer a laboratory kilometre colour

33

Junk Mail
Junk Mail Dozen

The 12 most common and useful words in an article about junk mail

Put the right words in the gaps below. You may have to adapt them.

electronic lter providers spam fraud software internet cyberspace junk unsolicited words deleted
We have done the rst one for you.

As an e-mail user, you probably receive lots of electronic . . .junk . . . . . mail, or . . . . . . . . . Junk e-mail includes advertisements, get-rich-quick schemes and medicines. . . . . . . . . junk mailers can gain access to your e-mail address in a number of ways : When you send an e-mail that contains your return address, you run the risk of your recipient forwarding your address to someone else. Some companies exist solely to buy and sell electronic mailing lists.

34

Junk Mail
Online service . . . . . . sometimes sell subscribersaddresses. If you give your address to anyone over the . . . . . ., you become vulnerable. Your e-mail address could be used by that site or sold to others. Addresses can be intercepted as messages are transmitted through . . . . . . .

To avoid junk mail

Delete . . . . . . messages without opening them. This gives you a feeling of control over the situation. Buy . . . . . . to . . . . . . out unwanted messages. Some filtering programs are based on key . . . . . . and phrases. Other filtering programs send unwanted messages to a dedicated folder, which you periodically delete without reading. The downside to this approach is that legitimate messages could slip through and be . . . . . . along with the junk. Search the internet for helpful information about electronic junk mail, cyber . . . . . . and privacy laws.
Answers junk, spam, electronic, providers, internet, cyberspace, unsolicited, software, filter, words, deleted, fraud

35

Mad about idioms!

An idiom is a form of speech or an expression that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements. This month we explain a few idioms beginning with A.

? ?

How well do you know these idiomatic expressions? Try matching them up Good luck!
1. A picture paints a thousand words

B. This term means a picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal description.

2. All skin and bone

E. If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything at once, instead of trying to spread the risk. (This is often used as a negative imperative - 'Dont put all your eggs in one basket).

3. After your own heart

F. Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

36

Mad about idioms!

4. All the tea in China

A. If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.

5. About as useful as a chocolate teapot

D. A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you.

6. All your eggs in one basket

C. If someone wont do something for all the tea in China, they wont do it no matter how much money they are offered.

Answers 1B 2A 3D 4C 5F 6E

37

Learn a new language and get a new soul.

English 4 U
RAK Media City P O Box 32429 Ras Al Khaimah Tel 07 2447890 Fax 07 2447891 Email contact@english4u.ae www.english4u.ae