Apr 25, 2014

The Great Gatsby: Simple Past



This used to be one of my favorite books. The book's first adaptation for the big screen was amazing, with outstanding actors. I confess I was not expecting much of this new version, but I really liked it. DiCaprio is an excellent actor and the story is very close to the original one. It is a must-see.


I. Read the story below. Complete the blanks with the simple past of the verbs in parentheses. Then watch the movie segment and check your answers.





It ______________ (be) the day I got my new English golf shoes. Daisy _____________ (be) by far the most popular girl with the officers from Camp David.One of them ___________ (be) in the car with her. It ______________ (be) Gatsby. The way he ___________ (look) at her is the way all girls want to be looked at. Gatsby was sent off to war. When the war ____________ (end), Daisy _____________ (wait). But for some unknown reason, Gatsby couldn't return. A year later, Tom Buchanan of Chicago ____________ (sweep) in and _________________ (steal) her away. He ___________ (give) her a string of pearls worth $350,000. But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy ____________ (receive) a letter.  But it was too late. That day at 5:00, Daisy Fay _____________ (marry) Tom Buchanan with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville had ever seen. After the honeymoon, I ______________ (see) them in Santa Barbara.Well, it was touching, really. I'd never seen a girl so in love with her husband. A week later, Tom _____________________ (crash) his car. The girl with him _____________ (be) a chambermaid at the Santa Barbara Hotel. It __________________ (get) into all the papers.








II. Discuss in pairs.
 
1. Retell the story using your own words.
 
2. Why didn't her love for Gatsby work out?
 
3. Why didn't her marriage with Tom work out?
 
4. Was Tom's love for Daisy true? Why (not)?
 
5. Would you go to Gatsby house to have tea if you were Daisy? Why (not)?
 
WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GREAT GATSBY



 Answer key:
 
It was the day I got my new English golf shoes. Daisy was by far the most popular girl with the officers from Camp David.One of them was in the car with her. It was Gatsby. The way he looked at her is the way all girls want to be looked at. Gatsby was sent off to war. When the war ended. Daisy waited. But for some unknown reason, Gatsby couldn't return. A year later, Tom Buchanan of Chicago swept in and stole her away. He gave her a string of pearls worth $350,000.But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy received a letter.Tell them. Daisy's changed her mind! But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy received a letter. Daisy's changed her mind! But it was too late. That day at 5:00, Daisy Fay married Tom Buchanan with with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville had ever seen. After the honeymoon,I saw them in Santa Barbara.Well, it was touching, really. I'd never seen a girl so in love with her husband.A week later, Tom crashed his car. The girl with him was a chambermaid at the Santa Barbara Hotel. It got into all the papers.

Apr 20, 2014

The Young and Prodigious T.S.Spivet: Used to

This activity was provided by a generous reader of mine from Italy who wanted to share this activity. Although I had asked for her name, email, etc, never did she send it to me. I'm adding her blog page, though, in case want to talk to her. http://precaria-tra-i-libri.blogspot.com.br/










 



WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE YOUNG AND ADVENTUROUS T.S. SPIVET

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet: Preposition IN x ON




This activity was provided by a generous reader of mine from Italy who wanted to share this activity. Although I had asked for her name, email, etc, never did she send it to me. I'm adding her blog page, though, in case want to talk to her. http://precaria-tra-i-libri.blogspot.com.br/

















Apr 15, 2014

Ivan the Incredible: Similes, Figures of Speech


This movie is great. It is wonderful to see the story of an ordinary boy who can be the best at everything for just one day. You can't miss it.


http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/figures-simile.htm


A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.
We often use the words as...as and like with similes.
Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:
  • something [is*] AS adjective AS something 
  • His skin was as cold as ice.
    It felt as hard as rock.
    She looked as gentle as a lamb.
  • something [is*] LIKE something
    My love is like a red, red rose.
    These cookies taste like garbage.
    He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.
  • something [does**] LIKE something
    He eats like a pig.
    He smokes like a chimney.
    They fought like cats and dogs.
* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste etc
** action verb


A simile is a direct comparison of two things. Similes are a easy to understand. The uses of similes can be confusing to people who are not fluent in a given language, because they will interpret the words literally. Also, similes  can change from region to region, and even among groups of people, like musicians or teenagers.



I. Match the adjectives and nouns and make similes connecting them. You may repeat the adjectives. What does the witch say to Ivan, using similes?


1. Strong
2. Calm
3. Happy


( ) Cow
( ) Steer
( ) Tarzan
( ) Hog

1. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
4. _______________________________________


II.  Watch the segment and check your guesses.

III. Work in groups. Mention five things that you would like to do or be, using similes.

Ex: I'd like to be as fast as Superman.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - IVAN THE INCREDIBLE

Answer key:

He is as strong as a steer
He's as calm as a cow.
He's as happy as a hog. 
He's just as strong as Tarzan.

Apr 5, 2014

Europa Report: Past Modal Verbs for Speculation

This movie could have been better, but it has intriguing moments. This scene, though, is wonderful for past modals for speculation because of the range of possibilities it may unravel.


I. Watch the segment and discuss the questions:


1. What is the new step for mankind the scientist mentions in the beginning of the segment?
2. What were the astronauts doing when they received their last image from the mission.
3. Dr. Samantha Unger was Europa Ventures Lead Mission Planner. She asked herself - What happened?

TASK:

Work in small groups. Speculate about what might have happened to the astronauts and present a report to Dr. Unger. You must come up with five possible/plausible explanations for the mystery. Use your imagination and creativity. 





WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - EUROPA REPORT


Answer key:

1. They put men and women into deep space to explore Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, with similar atmospheric conditions as Earth. It was the first manned trip into deep space.

2. Nothing special, they were working and waiting for the following events to take place.

3. - TASK - Answers will vary.