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FACOLTÀ DI SCIENZE LINGUISTICHE E LETTERATURE STRANIERE
PRACTICE EXERCISES IN
edited by
Euro 5,00
2020
FACOLTÀ DI SCIENZE LINGUISTICHE E DI LETTERATURE STRANIERE
PRACTICE EXERCISES IN
TRANSLATION,
READING COMPREHENSION
& SUMMARY
— FOR SECOND YEAR ENGLISH —
edited by
DAVID LOWRY
Milano 2020
© 2020 EDUCatt - Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario dell’Università Cattolica
Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milano - tel. 02.7234.22.35 - fax 02.80.53.215
e-mail: editoriale.dsu@educatt.it (produzione); librario.dsu@educatt.it (distribuzione)
web: www.educatt.it/libri
Associato all’AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori
Edizione realizzata a scopo didattico. L’editore è disponibile ad assolvere agli obblighi di copyright per i materiali eventualmente
utilizzati all’interno della pubblicazione per i quali non sia stato possibile rintracciare i beneficiari.
TRANSLATION FILE
This collection of short passages covering a variety of subjects, for translation from Italian into
English, is intended for classroom and home use. Each double page presents a short article on a
topic of general interest in Italian and in most cases a number of sentences illustrating a particular
grammatical point that occurs in the piece to translate. In this way students are encouraged to
focus on a specific language area each week, where English and Italian usage and structure differ.
There is also space for students to write their own translation of the text, to be later compared with
the correct version presented in class.
Translation is not, of course, only about converting the structure of one language into that of
another. There is also the question of rendering the language naturally – and this is undoubtedly
much more difficult to do successfully when translating into a foreign language. Getting a “feel”
for the natural sound of English can only come with practice: listening to and reading English in
literature, the media and everyday speech will help students learn what sounds right and what does
not. Students should take every opportunity to listen to English – something that is becoming
increasingly easy in today’s age of advanced information technology.
1
1 – PARENTING
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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Non sentirti in colpa se non finisci il lavoro oggi!
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Non è colpa tua!
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Di chi è la colpa?
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E’ stato un crimine terribile e non è mai stato individuato il colpevole.
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The translation:
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3
2 – BANK PASSWORDS
Prima andavamo fisicamente in banca, mentre ora possiamo gestire i nostri soldi in Internet. Ma
i cambiamenti degli ultimi anni non finiscono qui: la nostra vita dipende sempre di più da piccoli
codici senza i quali non possiamo avvantaggiarci di molti dei servizi di cui abbiamo bisogno nel
mondo odierno. Ci consigliano di impararli a memoria, di non rivelarli a nessuno, e anche –
quando ce ne sono due – di tenerli separati (mai nel portafoglio o nell’agenda!) perché danno
accesso a tante “zone riservate”. Spesso, però, li dimentichiamo e non sempre possiamo riaverli
con una semplice richiesta via posta elettronica. Ora, forse, tutto questo sta per cambiare, con
l’arrivo di un nuovo scanner in grado di riconoscerci tramite le nostre caratteristiche più
personali: gli occhi o le impronte digitali.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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A mia moglie è stato dato un mobile vecchissimo (era di sua nonna) che non ci serve.
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Mi hanno regalato una bicicletta.
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Non ci hanno ancora detto dove si svolgerà la cerimonia.
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Si consiglia ai passeggeri di non lasciare i bagagli incustoditi.
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Gli ho detto di non uscire senza il cellulare.
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Cerchiamo sempre di non lasciare rifiuti nella macchina.
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4
PRIMA, UNA VOLTA, UN TEMPO, IN PASSATO…. USED TO!
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Prima guadagnavamo più di adesso.
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Prima ero molto meno consapevole dell’importanza di risparmiare.
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Ora i miei figli sono più disponibili di prima ad aiutarmi con le faccende domestiche.
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Ora aiutano più di prima.
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The translation:
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5
3 – LEARNING BY HEART
Che senso ha tenere tutto in testa in un’epoca in cui possiamo accedere praticamente a tutte le
conoscenze umane tramite Internet? Una volta, se volevamo sapere qualcosa, consultavamo
un’enciclopedia – o andavamo in biblioteca per cercare il libro con le informazioni che ci
servivano. Che pazienza avevamo! Oggi non sopportiamo più quei momenti in cui non
riusciamo a ricordare il nome di un attore o il testo di una canzone…. E se chiediamo a qualcuno
di aiutarci, è probabile che ci risponderà con un semplice “Beh, vai a cercarlo su Google!” Nel
Novecento, almeno nei primi decenni, gli studenti passavano molto tempo ad imparare a
memoria le poesie – che poi recitavano con orgoglio in classe. Sarebbe una perdita di tempo se
facessero così anche oggi? I ricercatori non hanno dubbi: un cervello che non si esercita non si
sviluppa. Per padroneggiare una lingua straniera, per esempio, bisogna proprio imparare a
memoria tante regole e tante parole!
POINTS TO WATCH
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Translate each sentence twice, using first ‘no longer’ and then ‘not any more’: (and note the very
marked difference in register between the two.)
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6
Vedo che guardate tanti film alla tele. Non andate più al cinema?
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Sono solito alzarmi alle 7.
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Anni fa, mi alzavo alle 6.
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Anni fa, ero solito alzarmi alle 6.
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Dovrò abituarmi a mangiare prima.
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Dopo l’incidente, quanto tempo hai messo per abituarti a scrivere con la sinistra?
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The translation:
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7
4 – CRYING
Perché piangiamo? Perché esce un liquido salato dai nostri occhi quando siamo tristi, arrabbiati,
emotivamente coinvolti nella trama di un film o perfino incredibilmente felici? Sebbene gli
scienziati non siano riusciti a chiarire i vari aspetti biochimici del fenomeno, i suoi effetti
psicologici sono evidenti: siamo tutti d’accordo che dopo aver pianto ci sentiamo meglio,
sollevati quasi. E’ come se il corpo umano avesse inventato un metodo per rimuovere le
emozioni intense della vita. Ora si stanno studiando altri aspetti del processo, per cercare di
spiegare perché alcune persone piangono più facilmente di altre. Andando oltre lo stereotipo per
cui le donne piangono più degli uomini, i ricercatori sono giunti alla conclusione che tutto risale
all’infanzia. Dipende, dicono, dalla reazione dei nostri genitori al nostro pianto quando eravamo
piccoli. Se lo hanno accettato con comprensione allora tendiamo a piangere più liberamente da
adulti; se invece ne sono stati infastiditi, da grandi siamo molto meno inclini a scoppiare in
lacrime.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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8
‘ESSERE’ OR ‘AVERE’ IN ITALIAN: IN ENGLISH ALWAYS CONJUGATE WITH ‘HAVE’!
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Fare la spesa per una settimana con meno di 50 euro è diventato impossibile.
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Ma nessuno vende più i francobolli? Sono spariti!
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Sono sopravvissuti i due coniugi anziani rimasti intrappolati sotto le macerie per più di 2 giorni.
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Sono emersi nuovi particolari inquietanti sul rapimento.
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Mia figlia è giunta alla conclusione che non imparerà mai a sciare.
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In vent’anni lui non è quasi cambiato per niente.
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E’ sorta una zona intera di grattacieli negli ultimi anni.
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Dove sono quei due ragazzi? – Sono scappati!
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The translation:
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9
5 – BELIEVING THE NEWS
“Non credere a tutto quello che leggi sui giornali!” E’ un consiglio che sentiamo spesso. Ma
dovremmo davvero considerare inattendibili le notizie che ci arrivano dalla stampa, dalla TV o
da Internet? Il crollo delle Torri Gemelle è stato causato dagli aerei che vi si sono schiantati
contro, o era già tutto organizzato prima? La famiglia reale inglese ha pianificato la morte della
principessa Diana per evitare scomodi eredi musulmani? Elvis Presley è morto nel 1977 o è
ancora in vita? Marilyn Monroe si è davvero suicidata? Sapremo mai la verità sulla scomparsa di
Michael Jackson?
Ora si parla molto del riscaldamento del pianeta, ma chissà se anche questa teoria è giusta. Se
vediamo in TV un orso polare intrappolato su un pezzo di ghiaccio galleggiante o il distacco di
un gigantesco muro di ghiaccio è logico pensare che le calotte polari si stanno sciogliendo. Ma
può darsi anche che ne siamo convinti perché ci è stato detto ripetutamente. Il 2009 sarà
ricordato come l’anno della grande recessione mondiale, ma questa crisi non è forse stata
causata, almeno in parte, dalle tante previsioni negative con le quali i media ci hanno
bombardato?
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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10
PLURAL IN ITALIAN, NOT IN ENGLISH (AND ‘SOME’/‘A PIECE OF’)
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Le notizie erano pessime.
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Ti posso chiedere due informazioni?
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Devono consegnare cinque mobili nuovi.
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Queste ricerche sono molto utili.
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Ti posso dare un consiglio?
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Ho tre consigli da darti.
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Era un buon consiglio.
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Cosa mi consigli di fare?
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Mi hanno consigliato di aspettare un paio di mesi.
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The translation:
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11
6 – RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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12
CONDITIONALS
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(11 a.m.) Se fossi andato a letto prima ieri sera, non sarei così stanco stamattina.
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(3 p.m.) Se fossi andato a letto prima ieri sera, non sarei stato così stanco stamattina.
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Se la gente guidasse più attentamente, non metterebbe in pericolo la vita degli altri utenti della
strada.
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The translation:
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13
7 – SINGING
Cantare è un’attività che ci distingue da quasi tutte le altre creature del pianeta se escludiamo gli
uccelli, che producono un gradevole (anche se incomprensibile) suono che chiamiamo “canto”.
In tutte le culture il canto accompagna i grandi momenti della vita, dai compleanni alle
cerimonie religiose. I bambini imparano le canzoni fin dall’infanzia, come primo approccio alla
lingua. I tifosi mostrano il sostegno per la loro squadra cantando spontaneamente in coro durante
le partite. Inoltre ci piace ascoltare chi canta. Se è vero che i giovani non comprano più i dischi
come una volta, passano sicuramente molto tempo a scaricare nuove canzoni da Internet. La TV
è piena di canali musicali e i concerti rock attirano folle enormi. L’importanza che le canzoni
hanno per noi non è poi limitata al presente: una canzone riascoltata anche dopo diversi decenni
può portarci indietro nel tempo e rievocare momenti molto precisi, piacevoli o tristi che siano.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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14
TRANSLATING “CHI” WHEN THE MEANING IS “COLORO CHE” (PEOPLE GENERALLY)
AND THE QUESTION WORD “WHO” ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
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Chi viaggia in treno spesso paga di più di chi viaggia in aereo.
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Chi non risponde ai messaggini o alle mail è maleducato.
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C’è un servizio di pranzo al sacco per chi non torna in albergo a mezzogiorno.
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Chi lavora in ufficio di solito conduce una vita sedentaria, almeno durante la settimana.
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Se sei triste, pensa a chi sta peggio di te!
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C’è chi va a letto presto per alzarsi di buon’ora e chi preferisce stare in piedi fino a tardi, per poi
dormire fino a metà mattinata.
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The translation:
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15
8 – MONEY AND US
Da millenni l’uomo usa il denaro per comprare e vendere cose. Ma che rapporto abbiamo con i
soldi? Il nostro atteggiamento è influenzato da molti fattori, cultura e istruzione comprese. C’è chi
non spende mai un centesimo e chi spreca i soldi in acquisti inutili, ma la maggior parte delle
persone gestisce abbastanza bene i soldi che guadagna. Per altri, invece, il rapporto con il denaro
finisce per diventare uno dei più grandi problemi della vita. Pensiamo per esempio alla gente che,
per un motivo o per l’altro, è senza lavoro. Con la crisi di questi ultimi anni ci sono tantissime
persone che hanno perso il lavoro e molti giovani che non riescono nemmeno a trovare un primo
impiego. Prima di giudicare, però, forse dovremmo chiederci: “Io come farei se mi trovassi in una
situazione del genere? Chiederei un prestito ad amici o parenti?”
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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16
THE PRESENT PERFECT AND THE DURATION FORM
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Sono tre anni che lavoro qua.
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Questa regola vale da due anni.
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Non lo vedo da 15 anni.
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Sono mesi che non vado in pizzeria!
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E’ dal 1995 che non si registra un caso di questa malattia.
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Non c’è un’edicola in questa piazza dal 2010.
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Non compro un giornale da almeno cinque anni.
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The translation:
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9 – RADIO
Durante la seconda guerra mondiale la radio era uno dei pochi mezzi di comunicazione di massa
per la popolazione: la si accendeva tutte le sere per avere le ultime notizie sui combattimenti.
Una meraviglia tecnologica, insomma, rispetto ai giornali. Con l’arrivo della televisione negli
anni Cinquanta, erano in molti a pensare che la radio non sarebbe più servita. Ma si sbagliavano.
Anche oggi la radio riesce a sopravvivere malgrado la presenza di mezzi d’informazione molto
più sofisticati, o forse grazie ad essi. Internet, infatti ci permette di ricevere qualsiasi stazione
radiofonica e anche di ascoltare programmi quando scegliamo noi, non soltanto quando vanno in
onda. Inoltre, il modo in cui le stazioni funzionano è cambiato: ora gli stessi ascoltatori sono
molto più coinvolti, perché commentano i programmi in tempo reale con le mail e possono
comunicare notizie sul traffico in diretta usando il cellulare. Certo, tutti abbiamo la radio in
macchina; TV e Internet non ancora.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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Devo rilassarmi prima di mangiare.
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Il bambino ha fatto poco movimento e non è riuscito ad addormentarsi ieri sera.
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Come fai a concentrarti con la TV accesa?
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Se vuoi parlare con più scioltezza devi esercitarti molto.
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Abbiamo organizzato una grande cena per festeggiare le nozze d’argento dei miei. Non se
l’aspettavano!
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Devi portare quel documento quando vai ad iscriverti al corso. Ricordati!
18
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Se vogliono vivere in questo paese dovranno adattarsi alla cultura.
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Come si sono comportati i tuoi amici il fine settimana scorso?
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Mio fratello si vanta di essere il miglior giocatore della squadra.
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Malgrado avessi perso metà del corso, alla fine ho raggiunto il livello degli altri e ho superato
l’esame.
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Malgrado la pioggia, abbiamo fatto una bella camminata di tre ore in montagna.
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The translation:
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10 – SLEEP
Si dice che otto ore di sonno siano l’ideale. E probabilmente la maggior parte delle persone
vorrebbe dormire per otto ore ogni notte. Nel mondo occidentale, invece, la media è di 6-7 ore.
Con tutto quello che vogliamo fare nella vita, forse pensiamo di perdere troppo tempo rimanendo
in uno stato di incoscienza per un terzo della nostra giornata. E quindi stare sveglio fino a
mezzanotte non è considerato per niente strano, neanche per chi si deve alzare presto. Prima
dell’arrivo della luce elettrica eravamo costretti a coricarci non appena faceva buio. Ora la vita
può tranquillamente andare avanti ininterrotta anche dopo il tramonto: le nostre case e le nostre
strade sono illuminate come se fosse giorno, e quindi sta a noi decidere quando “spegnere la luce”.
Però, quando non si dorme (e non si sogna) abbastanza, ci possono essere delle gravi conseguenze
– sia fisiche che psichiche – da non sottovalutare.
POINTS TO WATCH
...........................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
Translate the following words and note the typical spelling (and pronunciation) patterns:
Inconscio:
(two words: 1) an adjective, meaning “having lost one’s senses” and 2) an abstract noun
referring to the hidden, less well controlled area of the mind.
1) …………………………………………….. 2)…………………………………………..
Psicologico:
......................................................................................................................................................
Psichiatra:
.......................................................................................................................................................
Psicanalisi:
.......................................................................................................................................................
Fisico (the adjective):
.......................................................................................................................................................
Fisico (the person):
............................................................................................................................................
Fisico (the noun describing the general appearance of a person’s body):
............................................................................................................................................
Adeguato:
.......................................................................................................................................
Conseguenza:
.......................................................................................................................................
Eguaglianza:
.......................................................................................................................................
20
TRANSLATING ‘PERDERE’: “LOSE” IS NOT THE ONLY WORD (BUT AT LEAST SPELL IT
WITH ONE ‘O’ WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT WORD, PLEASE!)
Per una volta che abbiamo tardato di due minuti, il treno è partito perfettamente in orario. E
quindi l’abbiamo perso!
........................................................................................................................................................
Nello sport, l’importante è fare del tuo meglio. Non importa se perdi.
........................................................................................................................................................
Avresti dovuto candidarti per quel posto: ti sei perso un’occasione d’oro!
........................................................................................................................................................
Secondo me lei non è interessata a te. Stai perdendo il tuo tempo.
........................................................................................................................................................
Cos’è tutta quest’acqua? Non mi dire che quel tubo sta perdendo….
........................................................................................................................................................
“Come va la partita?” “Stiamo perdendo due a zero.”
........................................................................................................................................................
Dai, la scadenza è domani, non perdiamo altro tempo!
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
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21
11 – A WELCOME LABOUR-SAVING DEVICE
Negli anni Cinquanta la lavatrice è arrivata nelle case e ha rivoluzionato la vita. Soprattutto alle
donne, che non dovevano più passare le ore a lavare i vestiti a mano (erano davvero pochi gli
uomini che all’epoca si occupavano delle faccende domestiche). Adesso abbiamo altre
preoccupazioni, come l’acqua e l’energia che queste macchine consumano e l’effetto dannoso
dei detersivi utilizzati sull’ambiente. L’uso di liquidi o polveri biodegradabili potrebbe non
bastare. Quando si lavano vestiti fatti con materiale sintetico, migliaia di microfibre si staccano
dal tessuto e queste, prima o poi, finiscono negli oceani, mettendo in pericolo l’intero
ecosistema. Il problema non è infatti soltanto quello delle bottiglie e dei sacchetti di plastica
buttati via in modo irresponsabile. Sempre più, ci rendiamo conto che la minaccia più grossa
(seppur invisibile) viene proprio dalle cosiddette “microplastiche”. Secondo un rapporto
particolarmente pessimistico, nel 2050 ci sarà più plastica che pesci negli oceani.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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Erano in cinque.
........................................................................................................................................................
In quanti siete?
........................................................................................................................................................
Siamo in tre.
........................................................................................................................................................
“Per me c’erano 2000 persone al concerto.”
........................................................................................................................................................
“Ma no, saranno state di più!”
........................................................................................................................................................
22
LARGE NUMBERS – PRECISE AND VAGUE
........................................................................................................................................................
Ho duemila amici su Facebook.
........................................................................................................................................................
C’erano migliaia di persone a Times Square a Capodanno.
........................................................................................................................................................
Ho avuto decine di richieste.
........................................................................................................................................................
“Ci sono più di 25 milioni di casi di contagio di Covid-19 e quasi 900 mila morti. ma non
dimentichiamo che milioni di persone nel mondo sono guarite” (OMS, settembre 2020)”
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
Centomila persone l’hanno visto vincere la medaglia d’oro.
........................................................................................................................................................
Centinaia di migliaia di persone hanno visto questo video su YouTube.
........................................................................................................................................................
Quasi 300 milioni di persone nel mondo soffrono di diabete.
........................................................................................................................................................
Milioni di persone muoiono di fame ogni anno.
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
.......................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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23
12 – ACTORS AND AGEISM
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
............................................................................................................................................................
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............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
La vita sta diventando sempre più cara.
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
Questo programma di software è molto più facile di quello che usavo prima.
........................................................................................................................................................
24
COMPARATIVES: BIG AND SMALL DIFFERENCES
Amsterdam is ................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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25
13 – AFFORDABLE FURNISHINGS FOR THE HOME
La spiegazione più semplice del successo duraturo di IKEA è che l’azienda svedese è riuscita a
dare alle famiglie la possibilità di arredare le loro case con mobili belli e di tendenza, senza
spendere una fortuna. L’azienda adotta una politica di marketing molto precisa. Sebbene molti
consumatori ora preferiscano consultare il sito per farsi un’idea dei prodotti che potrebbero
interessare loro, il principale strumento di comunicazione di IKEA rimane il catalogo, tradotto in
29 lingue. Ogni anno ne vengono distribuite duecento milioni di copie… e sono gratis. Si
possono individuare altri due fattori vincenti. I materiali usati per i mobili sono spesso riciclati o
provengono da fonti rinnovabili. Ma, soprattutto, i prodotti vengono forniti nei famosi “pacchi
piatti”, che offrono notevoli vantaggi: sono gli stessi consumatori a portarli a casa e a montarli,
il che genera un risparmio importante per l’azienda, oltre ai minori costi di trasporto dalla
fabbrica ai punti di vendita.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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26
Puoi pagarmi con un assegno o in contanti. Per me è la stessa identica cosa.
........................................................................................................................................................
Il tuo aiuto è stato preziosissimo. Farò lo stesso per te non appena potrò.
........................................................................................................................................................
Sto leggendo il libro in tedesco senza consultare il vocabolario, come tu stesso mi hai insegnato.
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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27
14 – ARE THE DAYS OF THE PHONE BOX NUMBERED?
Il telefono pubblico è una specie in via di estinzione. Ce ne sono sempre di meno per strada e
molti di quelli che sono sopravvissuti funzionano solo con tessera prepagata (forse perché costa
troppo mandare qualcuno a raccogliere le monete). Dovremmo essere dispiaciuti per la loro
scomparsa? Possiamo dire che coloro che possiedono un cellulare non hanno più bisogno di un
telefono fisso nei luoghi pubblici. Infatti, quasi nessuno starebbe fuori al freddo quando può
sedersi comodamente in un bar, bere qualcosa e contattare amici e parenti vari schiacciando un
unico bottone senza neanche doversi ricordare il numero. Il Regno Unito, però, ha un motivo
particolare per rimpiangere la perdita del telefono pubblico. Per quasi un secolo la tradizionale
cabina rossa ha fatto parte dell’immagine del paese, insieme agli autobus rossi e ai taxi neri,
icone che ora vengono progressivamente sostituite con modelli più moderni.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
............................................................................................................................................................
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28
THE GERUND
.............................................................................................................................................
Mio figlio ammette di aver parcheggiato in sosta vietata.
.............................................................................................................................................
Rimpiango di non avertelo detto prima.
.............................................................................................................................................
I due studenti negano di aver copiato durante l’esame.
.............................................................................................................................................
Ho bevuto un litro intero di latte senza neanche accorgermene!
.............................................................................................................................................
Se hai la tessera puoi rinnovare l’abbonamento on-line senza doverti presentare allo sportello
di persona.
.............................................................................................................................................
Ti sarei grato se potessi evitare di fare troppo rumore dopo le 22.
.............................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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29
15 – SOCIAL NETWORKS
Nella lingua inglese, il termine social network è sempre stato usato (molto prima dell’arrivo di
Internet) per definire una rete fisica di persone, per tutte quelle situazioni in cui un gruppo di
persone si riunisce per un motivo preciso: i lavoratori al di fuori degli orari di lavoro, le
comunità sportive, perfino coloro che frequentano chiese, moschee e templi. E’ quindi
paradossale che la versione virtuale del fenomeno che è esploso in questi ultimi anni si basi sul
fatto che ogni “iscritto al club” rimane fisicamente isolato dagli altri. Per comunicare si usa
soprattutto la parola scritta, insieme a foto o brevi filmati. Di conseguenza è ora possibile
passare delle giornate intere a interagire con amici e parenti senza aprire bocca, senza incontrare
nessuno. Dovremmo essere preoccupati per questo sviluppo? Perderemo la capacità di
esprimerci con la voce e con il linguaggio del corpo? Intanto Facebook ha recentemente
annunciato il nuovo primato di poco meno di un miliardo di utenti…
POINTS TO WATCH
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TRANSLATING “PRIMA”
........................................................................................................................................................
Tra poco lo chiamerò per dirgli che siamo arrivati, ma prima vorrei disfare le valigie.
........................................................................................................................................................
Dai, nascondi le uova di Pasqua prima che i bambini si sveglino!
........................................................................................................................................................
Per prima cosa vorrei ringraziarvi tutti per la vostra generosità.
.......................................................................................................................................................
Mia figlia deve comprare i libri di scuola il prima possibile.
........................................................................................................................................................
Faccio fatica a immaginare il mondo prima dell’arrivo di Youtube.
........................................................................................................................................................
Sono pienamente d’accordo con quanto affermato prima dal collega.
.......................................................................................................................................................
Pensavamo che il concerto sarebbe andato avanti dopo mezzanotte, invece è finito molto prima.
........................................................................................................................................................
30
La gente organizzava appuntamenti al buio molto prima dell’arrivo dei social.
........................................................................................................................................................
Prima o poi scopriranno chi ha rubato quei documenti.
........................................................................................................................................................
Non troverai mai un biglietto per la sera della prima – è tutto esaurito.
........................................................................................................................................................
Non devono più imparare nessuna nuova regola. Tutto rimane come prima.
........................................................................................................................................................
Ma tutto fratello, perché lascia la macchina così tanto in prima, prima di cambiare marcia?
........................................................................................................................................................
Non dimentichiamo chi deve combattere in prima linea.
........................................................................................................................................................
Il fumo è una delle prime cause di invecchiamento della pelle.
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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31
16 – THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL
Il primo giorno a scuola o al lavoro è sempre emozionante. Si teme di fare una brutta
impressione e spesso per evitarlo ci si comporta goffamente. Nonostante io sia ora un
imprenditore di successo, ricordo ancora il mio primo giorno al King’s College, quando il
preside ha accolto tutti gli studenti – dovevano essere almeno duecento – nella sala principale
dell’edificio. Ero un ragazzo timidissimo ma facevo amicizia facilmente. Quel giorno, non
conoscendo nessuno, continuavo a sorridere nella speranza di incontrare nuovi amici. Dopo i
saluti di rito, il preside ci ha dato alcuni consigli su come affrontare la nuova esperienza e trarne
il massimo. Ad un certo punto, però, ho smesso di ascoltarlo. Mi sono guardato intorno e mi
sono accorto di essere circondato da ragazzi di diverse nazionalità e lingue. Solo allora ho capito
quanto ricca e carica di sfide sarebbe stata la mia nuova vita in quella scuola.
POINTS TO WATCH
Note down (and learn!) the most important grammatical structures and vocabulary needed to do
the above translation.
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INVERSION
Il signore seduto di fronte a me in treno stava leggendo “La Stampa”. Solo quando cominciò a
parlare mi resi conto che non era italiano.
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
32
Mi ha raccontato tutto. Solo allora ho capito la gravità della situazione.
.............................................................................................................................................
Solo dopo aver vissuto due mesi in Francia cominciai a parlare bene la lingua.
.............................................................................................................................................
Ho imparato a guidare solo all’età di 25 anni.
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
In nessun caso devi toccare questi bottoni.
.............................................................................................................................................
Avevano appena messo la carne sul barbecue quando iniziò a piovere.
- ..........................................................................................................................................
- ..........................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
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33
17 – CONSUMER ADVICE
Oggi stiamo più attenti che mai quando compriamo qualcosa, e pretendiamo un alto livello di
qualità dai prodotti che acquistiamo. Spesso ci incoraggiano a comprare prodotti italiani, ma
possiamo essere sicuri che quello che ci viene venduto sia davvero prodotto in Italia? Sono state
create diverse organizzazioni per proteggere i consumatori. I due consigli che queste danno
riguardano i controlli che si devono fare quando si acquista un prodotto di qualsiasi tipo e le
procedure da seguire se si riscontra un problema. Un articolo elettrico che non indica il modello
(con relativo numero o codice) o che viene fornito senza istruzioni per l’uso è sicuramente
sospetto. Se si pensa di aver comprato un articolo elettrico che non funziona bene, è meglio
riportare il prodotto al negozio prima di usarlo, ricordando di portare anche lo scontrino. Solo con
questo documento, che dà una garanzia di due anni, si può sperare di cambiare un prodotto
difettoso
POINTS TO WATCH
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Mio figlio dice di aver fatto tante nuove amicizie al campo estivo.
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34
Lui non entra in acqua: ha paura di non stare a galla.
........................................................................................................................................................
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Non canteremmo mai in un locale karaoke. Avremmo troppa paura di fare brutta figura.
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
Non penso di poter venire al mare questo weekend. Temo di dover lavorare sabato.
........................................................................................................................................................
Loro non si rendono conto di mangiare troppe cose che non fanno bene alla salute.
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................
Ho scoperto di avere dei parenti in Australia, di cui non sapevo nulla.
........................................................................................................................................................
Dopo essermi iscritto a una società canora, ho scoperto di essere piuttosto bravo come cantante!
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
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35
18 - IMMIGRATION
Lasciare il proprio paese e decidere di andare a vivere in una nazione diversa, dove la lingua, le
abitudini e persino i soldi sono differenti dai propri, non è quasi mai una libera scelta. Nella
maggior parte dei casi, gli stranieri che sono in Italia sono venuti per trovare un lavoro. Ce ne
sono altri, invece, che sono dovuti fuggire dalla loro terra a causa della guerra o della povertà. In
Italia ci sono 191 etnie diverse. Non esiste un altro paese europeo dove tante persone di etnie
diverse vivono insieme. Questo rende la nostra nazione un posto speciale. La maggior parte
degli stranieri che viene nel nostro paese trova un lavoro senza troppe difficoltà. Molti lavorano
nel settore dell’agricoltura. Tanti altri cittadini stranieri lavorano nel settore della ristorazione.
Qualcuno lavora nel settore dell’edilizia e altri ancora si dedicano ad assistere gli anziani o si
prendono cura della casa e dei bambini.
POINTS TO WATCH
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36
NEARLY EVERYONE, HARDLY ANYONE
........................................................................................................................................................
Quasi nessuno tra quelli che conosco io segue una dieta vegana.
........................................................................................................................................................
Quasi tutti i miei amici usano Facebook.
........................................................................................................................................................
Quasi nessuno di loro usa Twitter, invece.
........................................................................................................................................................
Translate:
........................................................................................................................................................
A qualcuno potrebbero non piacere certe scene del film.
........................................................................................................................................................
Qualcuno ha visto il mio cellulare?
........................................................................................................................................................
The translation:
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
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37
19 – THE CHANGING ROLE OF TELEVISION
La televisione è cambiata in questi ultimi anni. Certo, esistono ancora i canali che mandano in
onda telegiornali, film, documentari e trasmissioni di intrattenimento generale. Ma
l’organizzazione delle nostre giornate (o serate) non dipende più dalla programmazione decisa
da altri. Ora possiamo decidere noi cosa guardare e quando. Conviviamo con la TV da più di
mezzo secolo. In Gran Bretagna la TV divenne un fenomeno di massa nel 1953, quando venne
trasmessa l’incoronazione della regina Elisabetta II. Erano passati appena otto anni dalla fine
della Seconda Guerra Mondiale e, anche se poche famiglie possedevano un televisore, si
pensava che la trasmissione in diretta di un evento che segnava l’inizio di una nuova epoca
avrebbe potuto sollevare lo spirito della nazione. Non tutti erano d’accordo, però. La tecnologia
era ancora molto nuova e i tradizionalisti non volevano che le telecamere trasformassero in
spettacolo una cerimonia considerata sacra.
POINTS TO WATCH
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REVISION OF LANGUAGE POINTS – NOTE THE AREAS WHERE ENGLISH AND ITALIAN
WORK IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.
Dopo una giornata di pioggia, adesso, all’ora di cena, il tempo è migliorato. Speriamo che
domani faccia bel tempo.
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Siamo andati in Scozia l’estate scorsa. È piovuto sempre nella prima settimana, poi il tempo è
migliorato nella seconda.
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38
’È stata abolita la legge con la quale il governo intendeva riformare le pensioni.
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Una volta si riteneva che il burro e le uova aumentassero il livello di colesterolo, ma ora i cibi
grassi non sono più così demonizzati.
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Durante il lockdown non c’era quasi nessuno in strada. Quasi tutti sono rimasti a casa.
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Vuoi che veniamo da te dopo cena o preferisci che ci vediamo fuori, magari a mangiare un
gelato?
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The translation:
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39
20 – THE PRIVATE LIVES OF POLITICIANS
E’ ancora possibile per un uomo politico avere una vita privata? Sembrerebbe di no. I politici –
come gli uomini e le donne dello spettacolo – sono costantemente osservati dalla stampa e dalla
televisione e il pubblico mostra un interesse morboso per la loro vita privata, in particolare
quando si tratta di nuove storie d’amore. E’ difficile affermare con certezza se questo sia giusto
o sbagliato. Si potrebbe sostenere che un politico, quale rappresentante di una nazione e di un
popolo, dovrebbe avere un comportamento esemplare sia nel pubblico che nel privato, ma è
anche vero che la vita privata delle persone deve essere protetta dalla curiosità e dalla volgarità.
Tuttavia la stampa, per ragioni di mercato, spesso esagera le notizie o pubblica foto
compromettenti, e i paparazzi, che esistono dagli anni Sessanta, hanno spesso dovuto affrontare
l’ira delle star a cui avevano scattato foto di nascosto.
POINTS TO WATCH
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FALSE FRIENDS
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. .____________________
4. .____________________
Translate:
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Purtroppo non posso invitarvi a cena. Eventualmente potremmo vederci dopo per un gelato.
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40
La guida che ti porterà in giro per la città è una persona di grande simpatia.
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Gli addetti alla vendita di quel grande magazzino sono tutti molto educati.
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Non pretendo che tu pulisca l’appartamento. Basta che non me lo lasci in disordine.
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Questo recipiente non è sufficientemente grande per la torta che vuoi preparare tu.
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41
Il terremoto ha interessato tanti piccoli paesi in quattro regioni.
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La politica estera adottata dal governo ultimamente non risolverà il problema dell’immigrazione.
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Non è molto maturo, quindi l’ingenuità che ha dimostrato non mi stupisce più di tanto.
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The translation:
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
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PHRASAL VERBS
Translate the following sentences with one or two phrasal verbs, using the verbs in brackets
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Translate using a phrasal verb for the words underlined
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46
READING COMPREHENSION
AND SUMMARY WRITING EXERCISES
The following collection of short passages has been compiled to enable students to practise
reading comprehension and summary techniques in preparation for the second-year English
language written exam.
Each text is followed by five questions that relate to key points of interest in the passage.
The questions should be answered concisely in the space provided and in the student’s own words
as far as possible.
The later passages also include comprehension exercises based on identifying words
referred to in the text (for example by “it”, “these”, “they”) and on identifying a specific phrase in
the text from its definition.
The topics of the texts vary and present their own set of useful vocabulary and grammatical
structures.
In preparation for the summary writing exercise, space has been left to outline the main
points of each passage to be included in the final draft. A good summary should reflect the main
ideas from and overall sense of the passage without copying from it, so that it can be clearly
understood by someone who hasn’t read the original text. When composing the 100-word
summary, the following guidelines should be considered:
And finally, be sure always to read through the final version, checking spelling, grammar
and punctuation.
47
1 - THE PLACEBO EFFECT
One of the world’s greatest wonder drugs is not a medicine at all. It’s a placebo: a sugar
or starch pill or perhaps an injection of saline solution. There is no pharmacological component
whatsoever in a placebo, but research continues to prove that it can mysteriously, yet effectively,
kill the pain, revive the spirit and cure what ails us. The so-called ‘placebo effect’ is considered
the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health not attributable to “scientifically
valid” treatment.
This placebo effect, for example, can be seen in patients requiring treatment for arthritis
and can even take the place of knee surgery. Researchers have, in fact, matched its effectiveness
with fake operations in which they anesthetized patients, did no more than scratch their knees,
wake them up, and tell them the operation was a success. Two years of follow-up showed that
pain relief and improved knee function were the same for the placebo patients as for those who
had real operations.
How do we explain the placebo effect? Some might say, “It’s all in your mind.” But the
mind-body distinction isn’t sharply defined. It’s better to say that the mind can affect how the
body copes with a problem. A person's beliefs and hopes about a treatment, combined with their
suggestibility, may have a significant biochemical effect and thus be very important to their
physical well-being and recovery from injury or illness.
In addition, the process of actually administering the care along with the hopefulness and
encouragement provided by the care-giver can affect the mood of the patient, triggering physical
changes such as the release of hormones like endorphins. This reduction in stress can prevent or
slow down further harmful physical changes from occurring.
Unfortunately, the opposite of the placebo effect (called the “nocebo” effect) can also
happen. More than one out of five patients given a placebo report unexpected adverse side
effects like headaches, nausea and insomnia. Additionally, there are certainly limits to the power
of suggestion. Placebos don’t seem to work for heart attacks or tumors but are more effective in
treating relatively subjective forms of distress like chronic pain or upset stomach.
QUESTIONS
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2 What was the difference between the two groups of arthritis patients studied by researchers?
……………………………………………………………………………………..
3 How can a person’s feelings about a treatment affect the body’s response?
……………………………………………………………………………………..
4 What can the ‘nocebo effect’ bring about?
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48
5 Where is the use of the placebo seemingly least effective?
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Note down and learn useful vocabulary and structures from the passage:
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Paraphrase the main points for the summary and consider how best to organise the material:
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Write a summary of the passage in approximately 100 words:
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49
2 – TIGERS AND GORILLAS FOR SALE ON THE INTERNET
Thousands of endangered animals supposedly protected by law are being traded openly
on the internet and sold as "exotic pets", say wildlife crime investigators working with an
international animal charity. An investigation of nearly 100 websites based around the world
found a "shocking" selection of rare and endangered animals for sale. They included a hand-
reared Siberian tiger (£40,000), an adolescent gorilla (£4,500) advertised as being in London,
and other rare primates, falcons, seahorses, and whole shells of turtles.
The internet has revolutionised shopping for books, DVDs and airline tickets, but it has
also opened up great opportunities to deal in illegal wildlife which, according to the UN, is
worth billions of pounds a year and now rivals the arms and drug trades in scale.
"Within one week we found over 9,000 wild animal products and specimens, and wild animals
for sale, predominantly from species protected by law," says the report for the International
Fund for Animal Welfare. "More than 100 traders were identified, each advertising an unnamed,
unspecified number of items," said the authors of the report.
Moreover, the range of health products made from endangered animal body parts was
"alarming and seemingly unlimited", the report says. "We found tiger bone tonic pills and other
traditional Asian medicines containing derivatives from black bears, leopards and rhinos, shark
fins and ivory products," the authors wrote.
"The illegal trade in wildlife is definitely increasing and much of it involves endangered
species. The internet is coming to play a central role in the activities of illegal traders worldwide
as they become more organised and develop more sophisticated techniques," the report says.
"This trade has devastating implications for both wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
Entire populations of certain species risk being wiped out by over-exploitation. Millions of
animals suffer immensely during hunting or in transit and captivity. Many die and this results in
more being taken from the wild."
Professor William Dutton, director of the Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University,
said: "The internet is a two-edged sword. It can be used by some to support the trading of
wildlife, but others can use this new medium to expose and challenge it. Laws exist to stop the
unlawful use of any communication medium, but governments and agencies need to
communicate in order to address the activities that span the globe."
QUESTIONS (Short answers that do not repeat the question are perfectly acceptable)
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2. How has the internet changed shopping habits?
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3. What evidence is there in the text about the extent of the illegal trade in protected
animals
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50
4. What implications for the future are described in the International Fund for Animal
Welfare report?
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5. What does professor Dutton mean by calling the internet a “two-edged sword”?
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6. Find a four-word phrase in the text meaning “are in danger of becoming extinct”
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Note down and learn useful vocabulary and structures from the passage:
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Paraphrase the main points for the summary and consider how best to organise the material:
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Write a summary of the passage in approximately 100 words:
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3 – SHOPPING IN AMERICA
Since the 1950s, American shoppers have been spending their money in suburban malls instead
of in downtown business districts. This is even true of shoppers who have to go out of their way
to shop in the malls; they will bypass downtown stores (which they might have reached by a
convenient bus) to drive to the bright, weather-free meccas of shopper-heaven. The result,
some people claim, is the disappearance of the central urban commercial district, the downtown,
a process leading inevitably toward more widespread urban deterioration. But why are
Americans are so easily drawn to shopping malls in the first place?
First, Americans don't like weather. They like to be indoors whenever possible, even on nice
days, and they're willing to pay a premium to be protected from the elements. If they can find
someone who can afford it, they will even put their sports stadiums under a gigantic bowl, and
they love to stay indoors for a day of shopping, perhaps never seeing the sun from the time they
first enter until they leave, hours later, relieved of time, oxygen, and lots of money.
Second, Americans love convenience and, except during the crush of major holidays, malls
offer plenty of convenient parking. A happy, enormous island of commerce in a sea of asphalt,
the mall offers plenty of car parks — usually next to major commercial outlets — for cars that
circle in search of the closest parking slot and an easy entrance.
Third, the mall offers an extraordinary variety of products under its one gigantic roof.
Specialty stores and boutiques offer items that people don't realize they need until they're put
under the spell of brightly lighted, beautifully furnished window after window of attractive
items. Malls are built to respond to Americans' insatiable desire for stuff; either that, or a
generation of Americans has been genetically engineered to respond to the sellers of stuff. Either
way, they work.
And finally, the mall feels safe: it is lighted, warm, dry, busy. Senior citizens are invited to
do their walking exercises there in the early hours; physically challenged people easily meander
the smooth floors of curbless, stairless businesses in motorized carts placed specially at their
disposal; children are amused by clowns and fed at convenient cafeterias in the Food Court,
which serve just the kind of junk food they enjoy.
America's downtown, on the other hand, is often in sad repair. Parking is difficult, if not
dangerous, and until you get through the door, it is all outdoors. To get from store to store, you
must expose yourself to heat, cold, rain, snow. There are sometimes beggars asking you for your
loose change before you even get into a store. If there is a plan here, it is not evident to most
shoppers.
QUESTIONS (Short answers that do not repeat the question are perfectly acceptable)
……………………………………………………………………………………..
2. What is the effect of the popularity of shopping malls having on downtown areas?
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3. Why do Americans who go shopping by car prefer malls?
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4. Why are shopping malls particularly suitable for people with disabilities?
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5. Why might children enjoy going to shopping malls?
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6. What does “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
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Note down and learn useful vocabulary and structures from the passage:
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Paraphrase the main points for the summary and consider how best to organise the material:
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Write a summary of the passage in approximately 100 words:
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53
4 – PROCRASTINATION
We have all done it – put off filling in forms or doing assignments, avoided starting revising
for exams, answering a letter, or procrastinated submitting a research paper. Psychologists have
become interested in this widespread phenomenon in recent years because of its deep effects on
our lives. The technical definition of procrastination is "to voluntarily delay an intended course
of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay."
Because of procrastination you might put off work or career assignments until the last
minute and then perform the task badly because you haven't had time to do it properly. It could
be you are putting off studying for some better qualifications that could improve your job
prospects or you are postponing compiling your CV so you could apply for a position with better
career opportunities.
Maybe you are procrastinating telling your partner some unwelcome news about an area of
work that he or she will not want to hear about. But because you keep putting various things off,
your life is becoming a misery as these things you are putting off are always on your mind, they
weigh upon you and stop you from thinking positively and creatively.
Psychologists have found that procrastination is a deep problem that goes to the core of your
personality. As a result of all the stress it produces, procrastination accounts for serious
deterioration of physical health, among other problems. For example, procrastinators may have
higher levels of drinking, smoking, and insomnia and irritability compared with non-
procrastinators. Because procrastinators put off going to the doctor, they may even live shorter
lives because diagnoses of serious complaints are made too late.
Some procrastinators put work assignments off until the last minute because they have
convinced themselves that they work better under pressure - a common myth. The lack of time,
panic, and a last minute deadline which suddenly result from procrastination turn a normally
mundane or even boring task into a rollercoaster ride of emotion. Life may be more exciting but
the chore still gets done much more poorly than if the proper amount of time had been allocated.
There are two main theories as to why we procrastinate. One reason is "fear of failure"- we
are worried we aren't going to do the task particularly well and so put if off and prefer to do
things we are better at (such as watching television or playing football).
The other main reason is labelled "task aversion," or to put this in non-jargon -we hate doing
it because it is an awful bind compared with something more enjoyable such as watching
television or playing football.
QUESTIONS
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2. How might procrastination influence a person’s career negatively?
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3. Why do the lives of people who constantly procrastinate become “a misery”?
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4. What kind of physical problems are typical of procrastinators?
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5. In what way might procrastination shorten a person’s life?
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Note down and learn useful vocabulary and structures from the passage:
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Paraphrase the main points for the summary and consider how best to organise the material:
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Write a summary of the passage in approximately 100 words:
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5 – A WORKING EXPERIMENT
In an era when most of us seem to be working more hours than ever (provided we're still lucky
enough to have jobs), 17,000 people in one American state have embarked on an unusual
experiment. A year ago, Utah became the first in the U.S. to introduce a four-day workweek for
most state employees, closing offices on Fridays in an effort to reduce energy costs, but without
cutting salaries or the total amount of time worked. They pack in 40 hours by starting earlier and
staying later four days a week. But on that fifth (glorious) day, they don't have to commute, and
their offices don't need to be heated, cooled or lit.
The state found that its compressed workweek resulted in a 13% reduction in energy use and
estimated that employees saved as much as $6 million in gasoline costs. Altogether, the
initiative will cut the state's greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons a year.
And perhaps not surprisingly, 82% of state workers say they want to keep the new schedule. "It's
beneficial for the environment and beneficial for workers," says Lori Wadsworth, a professor at
Brigham Young University who helped survey state employees. "People loved it." Those who
didn't tended to have young children and difficulty finding extended day care.
Managers from around the world have contacted Utah officials, and cities in Texas, Florida and
elsewhere are following the state's lead. Private industry is interested as well – General Motors
has just instituted a workweek of four ten-hour days at several of its plants. "There is a sense that
this is ready to take off," says R. Michael Fischl, an associate dean at the University of
Connecticut's law school, which is organizing a symposium on four-day weeks.
The advantages of the so-called “4-10” schedule are clear: less commuting, lower utility bills.
But there have been unexpected benefits as well, even for people who aren't state employees. By
staying open for more hours but with one working day fewer each week, Utah's government
offices have become accessible to people who in the past had to miss work to get there in time.
And with the new 4-10 policy, the time people had to stand in line at the department of motor
vehicles actually got shorter. Workers also benefited in other ways: they took fewer sick days
and reported exercising more on Fridays." This can really make a difference for work-life
balance," says Jeff Herring, Utah's executive director for human resources.
QUESTIONS
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2. Who found the longer hours on the four working days a problem and why?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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3. What do the numbers “4-10” refer to?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Give two advantages for the general public who need to access the offices.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. it (parag 2)…………………………….…………………………………………
Look at the phrases below. Find a phrase in the text that expresses a similar meaning.
9. as long as……………………..…………………………………………………
10. queue……………………………………………………………………………
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6 – DO 3D MOVIES HAVE A FUTURE?
As a child, I was obsessed with the movie Back to the Future. My father had recorded it onto a
videotape that had previously been used many times. I watched that film every day for much of
my childhood, and when the videotape finally broke, I was heartbroken. The point is, despite my
copy of Back to the Future being of very poor quality, my memories of the movie are crystal-
clear. That’s not to say image quality isn’t important, just much less so than story and character.
Nowadays few of us would be willing to settle for anything less than DVD or Blu-ray
perfection. So now 3D technology has arrived, does it just mildly arouse our curiosity, or will it
be the “next big thing”? Cinema history is full of such major milestones: the introduction of
“talkies” where actors were first heard speaking and singing on screen, the advent of
Technicolor and more recently computer-generated special effects.
The first 3D movies came out back in the early 1950s. Then, as now, movie-goers were handed
strange glasses to wear so that they could enjoy the experience. And yet 3D never really caught
on back then.
For 3D to be appealing it has to be watched on a large screen. In addition to this, movies now
come out on DVD and are broadcast on TV much sooner after their original release than used to
be the case. But until very recently, most of us had quite small TV sets. It is true that many more
of us now enjoy a “home theatre” experience in our living-rooms, with our flat-screen, high-
definition televisions, but not even these can really offer a convincing 3D experience.
Televisions designed to show 3D exist, but they are anything but “mass market” in the early
2010s.
Hollywood executives have not yet understood that 3D should be more than just an excuse to
increase ticket (and then DVD) prices. And yet they give the go-ahead to film projects with poor
storylines that produce a whole collection of exciting special effects to impress the audience,
believing that this justifies the extra money they paid. I have no doubt that the last Harry Potter
film was a spectacular experience – but will kids remember it for the 3D experience it offered or
will they recall the earlier ones just as strongly as I remember Back to the Future?
And what about those glasses? Is there any way of avoiding having to hand out these things to
people as they walk into cinemas? When the spoken word arrived, we already had ears to listen;
when movies appeared in colour, our eyes could see how it differed from black and white. So
will the fact that we cannot perceive a flat screen in three dimensions without a viewing device
prove an insurmountable barrier to the development of this technology?
1. Why is the writer surprised that his memories of “Back to the Future” are so clear ?
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2. Why, according to the writer, are 3D movies not mass market yet ?
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3. Explain in your own words why the writer is not convinced that 3D movies justify higher
ticket prices in cinemas?
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5. What point is the writer making when he talks about “ears to listen” and “eyes (that)
could see (the difference)” in the last paragraph?
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What do the underlined words refer to?
6. it (paragraph 2)…………………………………………………………
7. they (paragraph 5) …………………….……………………………….
8. this (paragraph 5) ………………………………………………………
Look at the phrases below. Find a word or phrase in the text that expresses a similar meaning.
SUMMARY (100 WORDS) - Write the final summary as well as the number of words used.
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7 – THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRTH ORDER
Of all the things that shape who we are, few seem more arbitrary than the sequence in which we
and our brothers and sisters are born. Maybe it's your genes that make you a gifted athlete or
your training that makes you an accomplished actress. But in family after family, case study
after case study, the position we occupy in the family seems to be particularly relevant to who
we become.
The importance of birth order has been known (or at least suspected) for years. Yet
increasingly, there's hard evidence of its impact. A study has been released showing that
firstborns are generally smarter than any siblings who come along later, enjoying on average a
three-point IQ advantage over the next eldest - probably a result that comes from coaching
younger siblings and helping them in day-to-day tasks. "In many families," says psychologist
Frank Sulloway, the man who has for decades been seen as the U.S.'s leading authority on birth
order, "the firstborn is going to get into Harvard and the second-born isn't."
The differences don't stop there. Studies carried out in the Philippines showed that later-born
children tend to be shorter and weigh less than the earlier-born ones. Eldest siblings are also
disproportionately represented in high-paying professions, earning more than those born later.
Younger siblings, by contrast, are less educated perhaps, but statistically likelier to live the
exhilarating life of an artist or a comedian, an adventurer, entrepreneur or firefighter.
Personality tests show that while firstborns score especially well on a sense of general
responsibility and determination — later-born children score higher on what's known as
agreeableness, or the simple ability to get along with others. Later-born children are similarly
willing to take risks with their physical safety. All siblings are equally likely to be involved in
sports, but younger ones tend to choose the kinds that could cause injury. "They don't go in for
tennis," Sulloway says. "They prefer sports such as rugby or ice hockey."
And middle children? Well, they can be a puzzle - even to researchers. If eldest children are the
achievers and youngest siblings are the gamblers and visionaries, where does this leave those in
between? The fact that it's so hard to define what middle-born children become is largely due to
the fact that it's so hard to define who they are growing up. Although they enjoy playing both
role of teacher and learner and look after younger siblings as well as being looked after by their
older ones, there could be some disadvantages to their birth order position.
Unlike the first-born, who spends at least some time as the only-child eldest, and the last-
born, who hangs around long enough to become the only-child youngest, middle children are
never alone. Stuck for life in the center seat, they never get 100% of the parents' investment of
time and money.
QUESTIONS
1. What two factors determine the kind of people we become, according to the writer?
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2. According to the text, why are firstborn children likely to be more intelligent than those born
later?
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3. According to the Philippines studies, how does birth order affect a person’s future career?
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4. Why do researchers find the middle-born child difficult to categorize?
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5. What are the main disadvantages of being a middle-child?
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Look at the phrases below. Find a phrase in the text that expresses a similar meaning.
9. risk taker …………………………………………………………………………………
10. Stays and waits…………………………………………………………………………
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8 – GLOBAL LANGUAGE
Much has been written about the seemingly irresistible advance of English as a global
language of communication. There is plenty of evidence of this in statistics relating to Internet
use, in papers given at international conferences and in the media and publishing industries.
Until recently, however, the status of English in state school curricula worldwide has been
simply that of a foreign language, albeit the first foreign language in a large majority of
countries. English was used as a medium of instruction only in elite, private sector, international
schools where students aspire to university places in Britain or the United States.
But this situation has begun to change over the past few years, and this change is gathering
momentum. In countries as far apart as Mexico and Malaysia, schools and education authorities
have begun to encourage, and (in some cases) even to require, that English be used as a medium
of instruction in a range of subjects across the curriculum.
Some of the immediate consequences of this are predictable worries among subject teachers
about their own competence in English, a demand for teaching materials in English to support
the initiative and a lot of language-switching by both teachers and learners during lessons.
These are already being addressed on training courses both in Britain and in many overseas
contexts, on which subject teachers are able to update their working knowledge of English, and
produce materials and lesson plans for their classes. There is even a journal for this purpose -
Fact - produced by Keith Kelly at the British Council in Bulgaria, with a web group for teachers
to keep in touch.
But there are other dimensions to this fast-growing development. Within the EU, a politically
correct term – Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – has been coined to ensure
that the focus is not entirely on English. There are parallel initiatives in some countries,
including Britain, in which French, Spanish or German is used as a medium of instruction in
some subjects. In countries such as Austria, where English is being used increasingly for subject
teaching in schools covering the 14 to 18 age range, English language teachers have expressed
concern that students' English will suffer through the poor models being offered by their subject
teachers. It is also said that if the initiative reaches its logical conclusion, with the whole
curriculum delivered in English, English teachers will effectively become superfluous to
requirements.
Parents have also expressed concern about equality of opportunity: students who may not be
particularly good at English are being disadvantaged by the use of English in other key
curriculum areas. And if everyone sticks to the old adage that you should test what you teach,
there is a clear dilemma about the choice of language for tests and examinations, and the degree
to which language errors might interfere with the message in students' oral and written
performance.
QUESTIONS
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2. Why might teachers of subjects other than English be worried about having to teach in English?
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3. What is the aim of the journal, Fact?
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4. Why could English language teachers become superfluous?
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5. Why are some parents worried about the new trend?
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Note down and learn useful vocabulary and structures from the passage:
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Paraphrase the main points for the summary and consider how best to organise the material:
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Write a summary of the passage in approximately 100 words:
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Questo volume è stato stampato
nel mese di settembre 2020
su materiali e con tecnologie ecocompatibili
presso la LITOGRAFIA SOLARI
Peschiera Borromeo (MI)
Materiali e documenti
Materiali e documenti
FACOLTÀ DI SCIENZE LINGUISTICHE E LETTERATURE STRANIERE
PRACTICE EXERCISES IN
edited by
Euro 5,00
2020