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Listen to some phone messages with directions to practise and improve your listening skills.

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I turn left from my house and I go 200 meters , then I turn right and I pass some trees and I need to take an exit on the main road and then I go for 450 meters and I turn right and go for 75 meters and then I turn right again and go 200 meters straight to my house . This is the walk I do with my dog

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shoeshine
researcher

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Summer job interview - A2 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension practice test for beginners and elementary students (CEFR A2 level). Job interview. Work. English listening test.

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1. Do you feel like you live a relaxed or a stressful life?

2. How does our relationship with our family affect our lifestyle?

3. Do you think it’s necessary to have a lot of money to be happy and live a good life?

4. Some people are risk takers in life. Are you? Why / Why not?

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Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press)

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If I were a millionaire - (Second conditional) - A2 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension test for beginners and elementary students (CEFR A2 level). What would you do if ...? English listening test.

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My studies - A2 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension test - pre-intermediate (CEFR A2 level). Prepare for Cambridge A2 KEY (KET), IELTS (3.5), or TOEIC (225 - 545).

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Mark never did well at school . All the friends went to university . Now he wants to go to university but he cannot because of his grades . He wants to do a foundation course and hopefully he will be able to go to university .

Melissa finished the environmental science degree . Many people finished  the same course . It is difficult to get a job ,so she has returned back to university to study water management. Hopefully with a higher degree she will have more chances to get a job .

Monica  was scared , she will  not be able to pay for university degree then she found many distance learning courses . This is better because she does not need to pay for the accommodation maybe it is not like a real university experience , but it is good for me .

Mitch is a lab manager , the employer does not want to pay for new people so they decided to keep him . He is working for them three days and goes to university for two days a week . The course takes longer time , but he is happy that his employer is paying and he doesn’t  need pay for the degree.

Philip used to study at the university  long time ago, he did his postgraduate degree . Then he took a course , art class  , for three ours once a week , now he studies philosophy from 6 to 9 every Tuesday

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The daily routines of a sportswoman – A1 Reading test - Test-English

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Reading comprehension test for beginner or elementary students (CEFR A1 level) about habits and daily routines. You will find a text and 6 multiple-choice questions.

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Free time - A1 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension practice test for beginners and elementary students (CEFR A1 level). The past. Life changes. English listening test.

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Today we see a beautiful movie about a little chicken  or an eagle . We see in the movie that a farmer finds a little egg .This egg is taken to his hens and they start sitting on it . The story is full of surprise and very motivational .

The farmer is very kind and he wants to help . His hens are sitting on the eggs and in two weeks the eggs are hatching . It is a lovely feeling and the mother hens starts to take care of the little baby chickens.

The eagle is brought up by a mother chicken and learns all the tricks, eating warms, flying short distance and feeling happy with his family.

One day he sees a beautiful majestic bird high up in the sky and he wants to fly . He feels energy in his heart and he wants to follow this energy . He flies . His life changes for ever .

To sum up I like the story very much , it is very nice because it tells me that I can do more if I want to try.

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Read the following text, then do the exercise below.

On Sunday, Tom gets up at 10 o'clock. Then he reads his newspaper in the kitchen. He has breakfast at 11.30 and then he telephones his mother in Scotland.

In the afternoon, at 1.00, Tom plays tennis with his sister and after that, they eat dinner in a restaurant. At 6.00, Tom swims for one hour and then he goes by bike to his brother´s house. They talk and listen to music.

Tom watches television in the evening and drinks a glass of warm milk. He goes to bed at 11.30.

Where Now?

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Elementary Reading | Tom's Day | esl-lounge Student

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Are the following statements true or false. Read the text first.

On Sunday, Tom gets up at 10 o'clock. Then he reads his newspaper in the kitchen. He has breakfast at 11.30 and then he telephones his mother in Scotland.

In the afternoon, at 1.00, Tom plays tennis with his sister and after that, they eat dinner in a restaurant. At 6.00, Tom swims for one hour and then he goes by bike to his brother´s house. They talk and listen to music.

Tom watches television in the evening and drinks a glass of warm milk. He goes to bed at 11.30.

Where Now?

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Elementary Reading | Tom's Day - True or False? | esl-lounge Student

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Elementary reading, Tom's Day - True or False?

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Sloth Facts for Kids | Classroom Learning Video

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Seahorses are tiny fishes that are named for the shape of their head, which looks like the head of a tiny horse. There are at least 50 species of seahorses. You'll find seahorses in the world's tropical and temperate coastal waters, swimming upright among seaweed and other plants.

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Seahorses are tiny fishes that are named for the shape of their head, which looks like the head of a tiny horse. There are at least 50 species of seahorses. You'll find seahorses in the world's tropical and temperate coastal waters, swimming upright among seaweed and other plants.

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My Working Day - Complete the Answers

Use ONE word to complete each answer about the reading.

My working day starts very early. From Monday to Friday I get up at half past three and I have a shower and a cup of coffee. I usually leave the house at ten past four because the car always arrives a few minutes early. I get to the studio at about five o'clock and start work. My programme Good Morning Britain starts at seven o'clock and finishes at nine o'clock. Then I leave the studio at a quarter past ten. After that, I go shopping and visit some friends. I get home at three o'clock. A woman helps me with the housework and the ironing. I read a newspaper and do some work.

Then my husband gets home at half past five in the evening and I cook dinner. We stay at home in the evening. We don't go out because I go to bed very early. We usually watch television and then I go to bed at half past eight, I'm usually asleep by nine o'clock.

At weekends, I don't get up until ten o'clock. In the evening, we often see some friends or go to the cinema. But I'm always up early again on Monday morning.

1. What time does Cynthia get up during the week?

2. How does Cynthia get to the studio in the morning?

3. What time does she arrive at the studio?

4. What time does the TV show begin?

5. How long does "Good Morning Britain" last?

6. What time does Cynthia get home after finishing at the studio?

7. What time does her husband arrive home?

8. Do Cynthia and her husband go out in the evening?

9. What time does Cynthia go to bed?

10. Does Cynthia stay in bed longer at the weekend?

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Elementary Reading | My Working Day - Complete the Answers

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Elementary reading - My Working Day - Complete the Answers

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Elementary Reading | My Name Is Ben | esl-lounge Student

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The Dead Man is a scary story for kids about a young girl in Ireland who is haunted by a corpse. It is based on an old Irish folktale called "The Blood-Drawing Ghost". This story is also known as "Mary Culhane and the Dead Man".

Years ago, in Ireland, there was a young girl named Mary Culhane. Her family was very poor and they lived in a white-washed cottage, down a country lane. She had six younger brothers and sisters and spent a lot of her time taking care of them. Her father worked as a grave digger in the local cemetery, next to the Catholic church. It was the only job he could get because he had been born with a bad leg.

One day, when her father came home, he sat down sighed. He was extremely tired after working all day.

"I can't believe it," he said. "I left my blackthorn walking stick back at the graveyard. If I don't go back for it, someone will steal it. It was the last thing my poor departed father gave me before he died. I can barely walk without it."

Mary Culhane was always a helpful girl and she knew how tired her father was. She fetched her shawl and said, "I'll get it for you, Daddy!" She ran out the door before anyone could stop her. At the time, many people in Ireland were superstitious and nobody dared to go into a cemetery after dark.

By the time Mary reached the gates of the graveyard, the moon was out and the wind was whistling through the trees. She carefully walked around the graves, making sure she didn't step on any of the,, because that would mean bad luck for her.

She spotted the blackthorn walking stick lying against an old oak tree and ran over to pick it up. Unfortunately, she wasn't looking where she was going and fell into a freshly-dug grave.

She got up on her hands and knees and tried to climb out, but the grave was too deep. Suddenly, she felt something crawling up her back.

A chilling voice whispered in her ear, "Little girl, I have been waiting a long time for someone to drop by. Now that you're here, you must take me into town to get something to eat. I have a terrible hunger and an awful thirst on me."

Mary's heart skipped a beat. She knew that the thing that was whispering in her ear could not be alive. She could feel its rotting fingers stroking her hair and its fetid breath blowing against her neck. The dead thing's arms wrapped around her body and she could feel its ribcage digging into her back.

She was helpless and alone. There was no doubt that the dead man would surely kill her if she didn't do his bidding. She reached up to the grave's edge and took hold of two clumps of grass. Then, she pulled with all her might. She felt the weight of the dead man dragging on her shoulders. Somehow, she managed to lift herself out of the grave with the corpse clinging to her back.

As she lay in the mucky grass, trying to regain her breath, the corpse screamed in her ear, "Get up, young girl! Get up and carry me into town. I'll ride you like a horse!"

Mary slowly got to her feet, and with the dead man straddling her back, she trudged towards the village. When they came to the main road, and saw a house, the dead man hissed, "Take me into this here house so that I may feed."

Mary climbed up the steps with great difficulty. When they reached the front door, the corpse cried out, "Not here! Not here, for I do smell the stench of holy water!"

The frightened girl walked back down the steps and went to the next house. Again, as they reached the front door, the corpse cried out, "Oh No! Away with us, for I do get the stink of holy water here as well."

Mary walked on down the road until they came to a third house. "This is a house that has no holy water," hissed the dead man. "Take me into the kitchen and I'll find myself a bit to eat."

Mary walked down the darkened hallway to the kitchen. There she let the corpse slide off her back and onto a chair. All that was in the cupboard was some porridge and some dirty water.

"I'll teach these vagabonds and blackguards not leave me anything. Let me on your back." Again Mary did as the dead man commanded her to do. "Now take me up these stairs."

Mary was reluctant to go upstairs because she knew the family who lived in this house. She went to school with the three boys who slept upstairs. But the evil corpse dug its bony fingers into her neck and threatened to choke her to death. She slowly made her way to the top of the stairs.

There, in the pale moonlight, she could make out the figures of the three young boys, lying fast asleep in their beds. The corpse took out a sharp knife and slit each boy's throat. Mary turned her head and looked away. She couldn't bear to watch. The dead man collected their blood in a jug.

With the first drop of blood, their breathing stopped; with the second drop of blood, their hearts stopped beating; with the third drop of blood, all life left their bodies.

He took the jug full of blood and said, "Take me back down to the kitchen so that I may feast." Mary sadly walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. The dead man took the bowl of porridge and poured the jug of blood over it. When he finished, he took a spoonful of the bloody mess and gave it to Mary Culhane. "Eat this!" he said.

"No!" she cried.

"You'll do it and you'll do it now!" he said and he wrapped his arm around her throat. She took the spoon from his grasp and brought it to her lips. The dead corpse picked up the bowl and began to slurping and licking up the bloody porridge. While he wasn't watching, Mary quickly threw her spoonful on the ground.

The corpse put down his bowl. "We must hurry," he hissed. "I must be back in my grave before the morning comes."

As they left the house, the corpse began laughing insanely.

"You know, there was a way that those boys could have lived," he cackled. You see, if they were to drink their own blood, they could come back to life. But all the blood is gone and now there is no way."

On and on into the night they went. The creature whispered in her ear, telling her evil stories and disgusting things that no one wants to hear and nobody would ever repeat. The moon was going down and the sun began to rise. They were close to the cemetery when Mary heard a rooster crowing.

"What is that God-forsaken noise?" screamed the dead man.

Mary knew full well it was a rooster and that morning was fast approaching, but she said, "It sounds like the bleating of a sheep or maybe it is the moo of a cow."

"Quickly," shouted the corpse. "Get me to the cemetery, for I feel myself weaken."

Mary saw the oak tree. She saw the open grave. She walked slowly towards it. Just then, the sky broke open and the first beam of morning drew across the sky and into the graveyard. The rooster crowed three times. The corpse let go of her shoulders and slid down into the grave.

Mary Culhane was free of its deathly grip. She grabbed her father's walking stick and hurried home. When she got to her house, everyone was asleep. She threw herself into bed and fell into a dead sleep.

A few hours later, her mother ran into her room and cried, "Mary, Mary, wake up! Something terrible has happened in town! Three boys were murdered last night!"

Mary stirred and her mother could see that her hair was matted and tangled. There were dark circles beneath her eyes. Her dress was dirty and it looked like there were blood stains on it.

Mary Culhane headed into town. When she got to the house where the dead boys lived, she could see that the entire village was trying to console the devastated parents. She went up to the father and said, "Please, please let me inside!"

"No, Mary! I can't do that," he replied. "What lies upstairs in that bedroom is not fit for the eyes of a young girl to behold."

"But you don't understand," insisted Mary. "I think I can save the lives of your three sons."

"Mary, if you could save my three sons from the clutches of death, I would be forever grateful," he cried.

"I ask nothing," said Mary. "But that you let me go in there alone."

The father cleared the house and Mary entered. She walked down the darkened hallway to the kitchen. She grabbed the spoonful of blood and porridge from the floor and went upstairs. She saw the lifeless forms of the three boys lying in bed. She gently went over and put the spoon to their lips.

With the first drop of blood the boys began to breathe, and with the second drop of blood, their hearts started to beat, and with the third drop of blood, all life came back into their bodies.

And what rejoicing there was, when Mary walked outside. The three boys were alive and well. The jubilant father came over to Mary Culhane and said, "You have made me the happiest man ever to live. You gave me my boys back from the dead safe and sound. What can I do to repay you?"

"Well," said Mary. "There's only one thing I ask of you. Always be sure to keep some holy water at your front door.

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The Dead Man is a scary story for kids about a young girl in Ireland who is haunted by a corpse. It is based on an old Irish folktale called "The Blood-Drawing Ghost". This story is also known as "Mary Culhane and the Dead Man".

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Listen to Tyrone calling the staff at his local swimming pool and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

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Sports in the UK – A2 English listening test - Test-English

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Listening comprehension test for pre-intermediate students (CEFR A2). Watch a video about sports in the UK and answer the questions.

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cricket

rounders

football

relaxing in a park

jogging

tennis

roller blading

skate boarding

BMX stunt riding

Jumping

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Hotels and accommodation

In this B1 Intermediate Vocabulary Lesson, you will learn about various types of accommodations, the terminology used to describe their features, and the adjectives commonly used in reviews to detail experiences in hotels and other lodging options. Check the pictures and read the descriptions below to improve your vocabulary related to travel and accommodation.

Types of accommodation

There are many different places that people stay when they are travelling. Below is a list of some of the most common types.

1 A hotel has many rooms where people stay when they are travelling. They can vary in price, facilities, and standards, with some being quite expensive and luxurious and others being cheap and very basic.

2 B&Bs (short for Bed and Breakfast) are much smaller than hotels. They can be situated above a pub or even in someone's home. Breakfast is included in the room's price; that's why it is called a B&B.

3 Vacation rentals (US) or holiday lets (UK) are flats or houses rented out exclusively for holiday use. Guests have private use of the home and all its facilities.

4 A guest house is a small, private place where people can stay temporarily, similar to a hotel, but usually smaller and cosier. It's often a part of a larger house or property run by the owner or host. People stay in guest houses for short-term accommodation, like during vacations or business trips.

5 A homestay is a type of accommodation where one stays in a room in someone's home. The purpose of a homestay is for the traveller to learn more about the local culture and to experience family life firsthand, so most homestay guests have meals with the family and get to know them on a more personal level.

6 A resort is a hotel with a pool, restaurants, shops, and other recreational facilities. Meals and entertainment are included in the price of the accommodation.

7 A lodge or a cabin is a small house in the mountains or the country, usually with more than one bedroom and cooking, dining, and outdoor facilities. A cabin often refers to a place that is smaller and in a more remote area than a lodge.

8 A youth hostel is a cheaper type of accommodation, usually favoured by young people trying not to spend much money. Guests usually share large rooms called dormitories with several other people.

9 Motels are similar to hotels but are designed for travellers with their own vehicles, so they are usually situated at the side of a motorway or busy road, and they always include parking facilities.

Adjectives used to describe hotels and accommodation

Many adjectives are often used to write hotel reviews and describe hotels and accommodation, and the staff that work in them. Here's a list of some of the most common adjectives.

Staff / Service

Attentive staff listen and patiently handle guests' requests. Friendly staff make guests feel welcome and go the extra mile to help. Helpful staff give advice and offer solutions. Conversely, rude staff have bad manners and aren't polite. Inattentive ones don't listen to people or respond to their requests. If a hotel doesn't have enough staff for guest needs, it's considered understaffed.

Cleanliness

Guests naturally expect rooms to be clean. When a room is at its ultimate level of cleanliness, we describe it as spotless, a term so extreme that it cannot be used with modifiers like very or quite. In contrast, an untidy room is messy and not very organised. A room covered in dirt particles is termed dusty, whereas dirty simply suggests it hasn't been cleaned recently. If surfaces like carpets or sheets have unremovable marks, we say they are stained.

Space

Guests enjoy a spacious room, allowing them to move freely and relax. Conversely, a cramped room is small and offers little room to move, making it less comfortable for visitors.

Décor

A modern décor suggests the hotel keeps up with contemporary design trends, creating a fresh atmosphere. Using the word great indicates high appreciation for the décor style. On the other hand, old-fashioned is a word we use to describe a place or furnishings that are not of recent style and probably need changing.

Furniture

Comfort is paramount, so comfortable furniture ensures guests can relax without any discomfort. In contrast, uncomfortable or tatty (old and in poor condition) furniture might negatively affect the guest's satisfaction.

Bedding

If the mattress is firm, it's solid and not too soft. We use the word crisp to describe sheets when they're very clean, straight, and appear to have been ironed, which ensures a restful sleep. However, bedding termed overused or worn shows evidence of having been used a lot and is, therefore, not in good condition, which can affect the quality of a guest's rest.

Noise

A quiet or peaceful environment is calm and free of noise, perfect for relaxation. However, a noisy place is full of loud or unpleasant noise and affects the guest's overall experience very negatively.

Location

We also have several adjectives that can be used to describe the location of a hotel. Convenient means a place has everything guests need (restaurants, transport links, entertainment, etc.) nearby. If its location is central, it is in the middle of a town or city. However, if a hotel's location is inconvenient, it might require extra effort or travel.

Price

There are also certain words that we can use to describe the price of a hotel, hostel, restaurant, etc. Cheap is the opposite of expensive, whereas reasonable and affordable mean the price is fair and easy to afford. On the other hand, if something (a hotel, restaurant, etc.) is overpriced, it means that it's expensive and has poor value for money.

Food

Tasty and delicious are adjectives used exclusively for food. Tasty means that something tastes good, and delicious is the extreme form of tasty, so if a meal was delicious, the food was very, very good. In contrast, if food is tasteless or bland, it has little taste or flavour.

General

In general terms, if a place or a stay is described as amazing, great, or incredible, it indicates high satisfaction and a memorable experience. However, a disappointing stay was not as good as we thought it would be and has, therefore, left us with a negative impression.

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Hotels and accommodation - B1 English Vocabulary - Test-English

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Learn English vocabulary about types of Hotels and accommodation with pictures, examples, interactive exercises with feedback, and fun games!

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Eco-terrorism – B1+ English Reading test - Test-English

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English B1+ reading comprehension test for upper-intermediate students (CEFR B2.1). Read a text about eco-terrorism and answer the questions.

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cefr a2 vocab words ket- free reading practice  exam practice english language elt efl grammar writing structure cambridge business exercises a2

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Mo is a supervisor at a summer camp, Canyon Falls. She is talking to the new camp leaders about the work on the camp.

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OK the origin of the word

1 the most recognisable word in history

2we use it to  communicate with technology, we use it EVERYWHERE , every language

3 first appeared in 1830

4 first time printed on 23rd of March 1839  in newspapers

5 OK  means ALL CORRECT, government and the election , but it turned out bad ...orful K-conspiracy , orful K-catastrophe

6 the letter K is unusual . 22nd place in the alphabet when it comes to frequency , JQYX

7 TELEGRAPH was invented 1844

easy to use and in 1865 transmitted messages are only valid if you receive OK, law abiding=everyone must follow 8 Marketing use , for the special look of the letter K

9 NEUTRAL answer to many questions , WITHOUT EMOTIONS

10 the FIRST WORD spoken ON THE MOON  on 20th July 1969

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Charles Darwin - a genius remembered. Advanced English

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The name of Charles Darwin is known all over the world, and Darwin is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time

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Onion tea (zwiebeltee) is a natural home remedy in Germany made with organic onions that people often drink when they have a persistent cough.

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Philip is the CEO of WebWare, an IT company. He needs to hire a new sales director as soon as possible.

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What's wrong with enjoying a bit of celebrity gossip? It doesn't do us any harm ... or does it? Read the article to find out if celebrities really are bad for you.

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English Tenses- Mixed Exercise | English4u

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Advanced Exercise on English tenses - mixed online exercise.

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There are calls for Bradley Wiggins to be given the Freedom of the City of Westminster after his historic Tour de France win.

The 32-year-old cyclist sealed Britain's first Tour victory on Sunday and now councillors want to honour him.

He grew up in Maida Vale and used places such as Hyde Park and Paddington Recreation Ground to train in.

A Westminster City Council spokesman said giving Wiggins the award "is something we are keenly looking at".

'Great role model'

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of Westminster Council's Labour group, said: "Bradley Wiggins is the most fantastic sportsman and it all started in Maida Vale.

"Westminster City Council should honour this most dedicated sportsman for his achievement as the first Briton to win the Tour de France, as well as his magnificent Olympic medals.

"Bradley Wiggins is a great role model for young people and the council should award this honour in Olympic year 2012."

One of the Maida Vale councillors, Alastair Moss, Conservative, said: "Bradley Wiggins has scored a historic sporting victory and inspired huge pride across the country - no more so than in his home turf of Westminster and Maida Vale.

"Recognising Bradley's outstanding achievement through the Freedom of Westminster award is something we are keenly looking at."

Wiggins now lives in Lancashire.

Previous holders of the Freedom of Westminster include Sir Winston Churchill and Baroness Thatcher.

Source BBC News - 23/07/12

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Created with Hot Potatoes by Half-Baked Software, registered to Lynne Hand.

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There are calls for Bradley Wiggins to be given the Freedom of the City of Westminster after his historic Tour de France win. The 32-year-old cyclist sealed Britain's first Tour victory on Sunday and now councillors want to honour him. He grew up in Maida Vale and used places such as Hyde Park and Paddington Recreation Ground to train in.

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Linguapress Intermediate English

Linguapress.com Intermediate English

British icons.
Taxis are among the iconic images of London, and London's black taxis can be seen all over the world. But London taxis are not all black, and in the 2020s they are going green.
A zero-emission hybrid London black taxi for the 2020s

.

Think of London, and what iconic images come into your mind?
Big Ben? Tower Bridge? Soldiers in red uniforms? Or do you think of red buses? Or black taxis?
All of these are icons which people often think of, when they think of London.

Only two cities in the world are famous for their taxis: London and New York. New York's iconic taxis are usually yellow; London's are black. But why black?

Many years ago, when London's first motor taxis appeared, almost all cars were painted black. This was the age when in America, Henry Ford, who built Ford cars, famously said: "You can have any color you like, as long as it's black!". In Ford's time, almost all cars were black.... Everywhere!
Things are different today; cars come in all colours, even London taxis. There are red ones and green ones, ones with pictures on them and ones with advertising all over them; but there are still plenty of "black cabs" too.
London's traditional taxis are very special cars, and they are different from ordinary cars. They are specially built as taxis, with a section at the front for the driver, and a section at the back for passengers. They have lots of room for luggage, and they can turn 180° in a very small circle (about 8 metres).

However London taxis are changing fast. Most taxis have diesel engines, and they cause pollution. Since November 2021 London taxis must all meet the Euro-6 emissions standard. Basically this means that there are no longer any taxis in London built before 2008. Many taxi-drivers are unhappy, because London taxis are built to last for 20 years or more!

More changes are already coming; before long all London taxis will have to be ZEVs (zero emission vehicles); they will have to run on electricity or on hydrogen. London's biggest taxi company, which has 4,000 cabs, plans to be all electric by 2023.

Becoming electric will be the biggest change to London's taxis in over 100 years. Some new London taxis are now just ordinary SUVs; but others still look like traditional taxis. And a lot of them are still black!

head, imagination - advertising: publicity - room: space - luggage: bags, baggage - emissions: the gas that is produced by motors - standards: norms, minimum levels - before long : soon - run on : use, be powered by.

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Interactive Worksheet

London's taxis - from black to green

Here are some half sentences: can you complete them, so that they reflect the information that you
can find in the article. You can type your text into the answer boxes.

1. You can have any color you like, as . .

1. You can have any color you like, as

2. Most taxis have diesel engines, and .

2. Most taxis have diesel engines, and

3. Since November 2021 all London taxis must meet the . .

3. Since November 2021 all London taxis must meet the .

4. There are no longer any taxis in London . .

4. There are no longer any taxis in London . .

5. London taxis are built to . .

5. London taxis are built to .

5. London taxis are built to .

5. London taxis are built to .

7. London's biggest taxi company plans. .

7. London's biggest taxi company plans. .

For teachers:

One and all: This text deliberately illustrates use of the pro-forms one and all.
All is used in a variety of different contexts: all of these / all cars / almost all cars / all colours / all over them / all London taxis / London taxis must all meet / all electric.
For the grammar and uses of all see All on the Linguapress grammar. https://linguapress.com/grammar/points/all-whole.htm

Spelling: note the word color / colour. It is one of those rare words that is spelt differently in British English and American English. This text is about London, and in British English: but the quote from Henry Ford is an American quote, so color is spelt the American way.

Initials - acronyms The word SUV has spread to many languages; but what does it mean? Answer: Sport Utility Vehicle. The word ZEV is less well-known.

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London's iconic black taxis are changing now more than they have done in 100 years

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Charles III was crowned on May 6th

Linguapress Intermediate English

King Charles, the coronation, and the future

After the coronation, the king went to Buckingham Palace in a golden carriage

In May 2023, King Charles III was crowned as King of England, the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms. The ceremony took place in London's Westminster Abbey, where English Kings and Queens have been crowned for 1000 years or more.

King Charles sat on a throne that is more than 700 years old. He was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the "Saint Edward's Crown", a royal crown that has been used since the year 1320, and perhaps for more than 1,000 years. His wife Camilla was crowned as Queen Camilla. She wore a more modern crown, one that was made in 1911 for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V.

About 2,000 people attended the ceremony inside the Abbey, but the event was seen live on TV by millions all over the world; although Charles's coronation lasted for two hours, it was simpler and shorter than the last coronation, that of his mother "the Queen" in 1953. Times have changed, attitudes have changed, and the British monarchy has just changed considerably.

Not all things have changed! After the ceremony in Westminster Abbey, King Charles and Queen Camilla were carried to Buckingham Palace in a golden carriage, pulled by horses, . Following another tradition, they then came out onto the balcony, to wave to the crowds below.

The Coronation was a great national day of festivities all over the UK and beyond. The festivities continued all the weekend, and into Monday when there was a special national holiday. There were flags all over the country, souvenirs and decorations in shops, monuments and public places, and street parties in cities, towns and villages.

Street parties are a popular tradition in Britain. People who live on the same street, or in the same building, bring out tables and chairs, cakes and sandwiches, tea and other drinks, and enjoy a tea party together. Anyone can organise a street party. They now happen whenever there is a big national day of celebration. Street parties do not happen every year, since there is no "national day" in Britain! Britain does not have an Independence Day like the USA, nor an Eid as in Muslim countries, nor a 14th July like France... and nobody wants to organise an outdoor street party at Christmas or for the New Year!

During the Coronation weekend, most people in Britain celebrated the Coronation, as they were happy to have a new King, but some did not. Two thirds of people in Britain are happy with the monarchy, or accept it, but there are others who want Britain to become a republic. Yet for now, republicans are in a small minority, representing just 25% of the population, according to an opinion poll made a few days after the Coronation.

What will happen next? That will depend very much on King Charles. He has said that he wants to modernise the British monarchy and make it more relevant to the 21st century. If he succeeds, the monarchy may continue for many years to come. If he fails, who knows what will happen?

►►► Read more about King Charles: Britain's new king (with audio)

Word guide
Crown - an official hat used by monarchs - r ealm: kingdom - throne - a seat for kings, as in "Game of Thrones" - bishop, archbishop : the top people in a church - attend: be present at - attitude: the way people think about things - considerably - a lot, in a big way - carriage: a vehicle without a motor - wave - make a sign with the hands and arms - enjoy : have a good time - Muslim - Islamic - monarch: a king or a queen - a minority: (much) less than half - two thirds: 67% - depend on: be a result of - relevant to: appropriate for, suitable for- fail: the opposite of succeed.

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Student Worksheet

Charles III, the coronation and the future

1. Interactive multiple-choice exercise. Can be completed on screen or on paper :

Here is an extract from the article. Choose the correct answer from the options given in each case. Click the down arrow v to show the options, then select the one that you think is right. Try to do this exercise without looking back to the article 😉 To save your answers, take a screenshot when you have finished doing the exercise.

Street parties are now a popular tradition in Britain....... Street parties every year, since there "national day" in Britain! Britain an Independence Day like the USA, an Eid as in Muslim countries a 14th July like France... and wants to organise a street party at Christmas or for the New Year!

the Coronation weekend, people in Britain celebratedthe Coronation, as they were happy a new King; but some . Two of people in Britain are happy with the monarchy, or accept it, but there are who want Britain a republic. Yet for now republicans are in a small minority, representing just 25% of the population, an opinion poll made a few days after the Coronation.

2. Anagram puzzle

Here are anagrams made from words used in the article. What were the original words ? Combine the letters of each anagram into a single original word

For Teachers

Grammar
:
1. Verb tenses, past.
When it was first posted, this text was about the future..... not just the future of the British monarchy, but about expressing the future, in grammatical terms. The event has now pased, and like most reports, the text now refers to the event using past tenses.
Paragraphs 2 and 3 have some classic uses of the present perfect

2. Negation
Paragraphs 6 and 7 have half a dozen examples of different types of negation in English. It is iportant to show how negation can be applied in different ways, not just by adding not to a verb, but alternatively by adding no to a noun, uing neither or nor, or using a negative word such as nobody. These different types of negation are explored in the multiple choice exercise above.

The multiple choice exercise
Several boxes require students to select the correct negative structure.
Note that in box 4 of the first paragraph, the only acceptable answer is nor. Neither can only introduce the first element in a list, not the second.
In the second box of the second paragraph, the choices with of are not possible since we cannot say of people.
In the sixth box, only one of the modal verbs is possible.

The anagrams
The purpose of an exercise like this is not so much to find the answers, as to make students look attentively for the answers, which involves a word by word approach to the text. They also need to pay attention to spelling.

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King Charles, his coronation and the future - Intermediate English

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Charles III will be crowned on 6th May 2023; the future of the monarchy is in his hands

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Pre-Intermediate Vocabulary Exercise - Seasons

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Pick the best word describing physical contact for these six sentences. Remember to think carefully about the form of each word! There is one word you don't need.

nudge push kick slap grab stroke trip

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Advanced Vocabulary Exercise - Physical Contact

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A mother speaks to a teacher about her son's progress and behavior.

Maggie: Hi, I'm Maggie

Mr. Jarvis: I'm sorry?

Maggie: Maggie Brown. I'm the mother of Billy. I was told you would be here. You're his English teacher, aren't you?

Mr. Jarvis: Oh, of course. Billy's mother. Hi, nice to meet you. Yes, I wanted to speak to you about Billy's work.

Maggie: I hope there isn't a problem.

Mr. Jarvis: Well, not exactly. I think Billy has made some good improvements this year compared to last year.

Maggie: Well, of course. Last year, we were new to the area. You know, we moved here from Los Angeles and it wasn't a very settled time for Billy, well all the family really. So Billy probably didn't do his best work last year. But I thought he had improved enormously this year. That's the case, isn't it?

Mr. Jarvis: As I was saying, I think Billy most certainly HAS improved a lot since last year. I just think there are one or two other things he needs to work on so I wanted to have a chat with you this evening.

Maggie: Well, I'm sure he's been doing his very best. You know, he's only 12 and it's not easy when...

Mr. Jarvis: ...yes, yes, certainly Mrs. Brown. Part of what I wanted to say to you tonight is that Billy's work has been much better. We put a story that he wrote back in March in the school newspaper. Did you see it?

Maggie: I can't believe it! I never had any idea. He's such a modest boy. He would never show me anything like that.

Mr. Jarvis: Oh, really? I'm surprised you never got to see it. It really was a well crafted piece of writing. Very mature article considering the age of Billy.

Maggie: Well, I don't know what to say....but, you said he was having problems?

Mr. Jarvis: He is still having enormous difficulties with his spelling and it concerns me.

Maggie: Yes, Billy has always been pretty weak with his spelling. We have tried at home to help him. His sister, Kathy, often spends time with him, testing him on words that he often gets wrong. I'm sure that's helpful, isn't it?

Mr. Jarvis: Oh yes, without a doubt. And he's enjoying doing this extra spelling work at home, isn't he?

Maggie: Yes, he knows it's important to be able to spell better. But he's always had trouble getting his words right...you know, when he's writing. You don't think there's anything more serious wrong with him, do you?

Mr. Jarvis: I think it's possible he may have a mild form of dyslexia. You've heard of dyslexia, haven't you?

Maggie: Yes, of course I have. But you're not seriously suggesting Billy has dyslexia, are you?

Mr. Jarvis: Dyslexia comes in many shapes and sizes...of different severity. I would like to send him to see a specialist and I wanted to speak to you about it first. This wouldn't be a problem for you, would it?

Maggie: No, of course not. I'll do anything I can to help. You've got me really worried now though...

Mr. Jarvis: Oh Mrs. Brown, it's nothing to worry about. My own son had a mild form of dyslexia when he was Billy's age and he's now a published author! Telephone the school office tomorrow morning and we can arrange an appointment for early next week.

Maggie: Ok, thank you Mr. Jarvis. I'll telephone the office at 9 o'clock sharp.

Mr. Jarvis: That'll be fine. Now, have a good evening.

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Intermediate Listening Exercise - Parent/Teacher Meeting - Transcript

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Parent/Teacher Meeting - Transcript. A mother speaks to a teacher about her son's progress and behavior.

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A mother speaks to a teacher about her son's progress and behavior.

Listen to the mp3 file and complete these questions from the listening. Then listen again to check.

If the audio player above doesn't work, click here to download the audio file.

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Intermediate Listening | Parent/Teacher Meeting | esl-lounge Student

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A mother speaks to a teacher about her son's progress and behavior. Listen to the mp3 file and complete these questions from the listening. Then listen again to check. If the audio player above doesn't work, click here to download the audio file.

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Pulp Friction: Timed Skimming Exercise This exercise practises skimming — that means reading very fast to find only the main ideas of a text. You have a v

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B2B stands for Business to (2) Business and refers to a Business selling goods or services to another Business. In the B2C (Business to Customer) model, the end user is an individual.

The result is the same for the company; they sell their product or service. However, the Business Model and the Marketing strategies are quite different.

A simple example is a farmer who grows strawberries. He can sell his entire crop to a retailer or distributor for a discounted price, in one easy transaction (B2B). Or he can set-up a small farm shop and sell punnets of strawberries to individual consumers at a higher price (B2C). The B2C model generates more money for his strawberries but requires a lot of his time.

With the B2B model, the Business needs to set-up long-term, trusted relationships with other Businesses. The B2C model requires marketing, brand recognition and advertising to attract customers.

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B2B stands for Business to (2) Business and refers to a Business selling goods or services to another Business. In the B2C (Business to Customer) model, the end user is an individual. The result is the same for the company; they sell their product or service.

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B1+ Reading Test

Read the text about eco-terrorism and for questions 1 to 6, choose the correct answers.

Seeding clouds to make rain

Drought is an increasing problem in our warming world. All continents have been experiencing more extended periods without rain, leading to forest fires and poor crop growth. Consequently, people are looking at cloud seeding to solve the problem. Cloud seeding is a method of encouraging precipitation by distributing small particles of silver iodide into clouds.

Cloud-seeding expert Arlen Huggins has been studying its effectiveness. 'My earliest experience was to use cloud seeding to reduce the amount of hail in northeast Colorado. They don't get huge hailstones here, like in the Midwest, but they get it more often. We didn't have any luck with that, but we had success later on in increasing snowfall in Utah. Now, the focus is shifting towards increasing rainfall from summer clouds, which is far more unpredictable.

The problem is that it's pretty hard to know whether precipitation resulted directly from cloud seeding. It might have rained or snowed anyway. Even if you cloud seed in one place and don't in another, it's impossible to know for sure what caused the precipitation unless the cloud system is straightforward, like fog that otherwise has no chance of forming rain or snow.

However, it's not during foggy and snowy conditions that people think of increasing the chance of rainfall. It's when a country is hit by drought, and then cloud seeding isn't an option due to the lack of clouds. In warm conditions, only storm clouds can produce rain by seeding, while during drought, skies tend to be clear with a few wispy clouds. The best option to prevent drought is to seed at times of the year when rainfall levels are normal or higher. That way, slightly more rain can be extracted and stored in reservoirs for the dry season.

As cloud seeding is expensive and its effectiveness tenuous, its usefulness is still a matter of opinion. University of Colorado researcher Katja Friedrich says cloud seeding can't end a drought. However, it can be beneficial, provided it occurs alongside other water conservation strategies. Arlen Huggins is of the same mind. Increasing precipitation through cloud seeding would significantly benefit the economy in the large water basin where he works. Still, for that to happen, the water would need to be captured and stored effectively.

There are also environmental issues regarding the impact of cloud seeding. At high levels, silver iodide can harm humans and other mammals, and some studies have found silver compounds to be slightly toxic. However, several ecological studies have shown minor environmental and health impacts. Where cloud seeding has taken place, the amount of silver compounds in the soil and vegetation has been found to be no higher than natural levels. Even so, some environmentalists are concerned about the long-term impacts, as there isn't data on how much silver iodide accumulates in the environment over periods exceeding ten years.

Another fear is that cloud seeding could potentially steal water from neighbouring areas by encouraging the water in clouds that would otherwise fall somewhere else to fall in your location. According to Maarten Ambaum from the University of Reading, it is possible to use cloud seeding to make rain fall on your farm, which otherwise would fall on your neighbour's farm. It's not the case, though, that if one country uses cloud seeding to create rain, a neighbouring country will lose out because clouds are constantly forming and reforming.

Reading comprehension test

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Seeding clouds to make rain - B1+ English Reading test - Test-English

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English reading comprehension test for upper-intermediate students (CEFR B2.1). Read a text about cloud seeding and answer the questions.