SAY AND WRITE NUMBERS IN ENGLISH

Numbers in english are a bit confusing , these are some tips not to get lost! / Los números en inglés son un poco confusos y podemos perdernos, aquí tenéis alguna información útil.

Fractions and decimals


We say simple fractions like this:

1/8 = one eighth

5/7 = five sevenths

2/5 = two fifths

3/4 hour = three quarters of an hour


More complex fractions are usually expressed by using the word over.

218/576 = two hundred and eighteen over five hundred and seventy six

We say and write decimals like this:

0.278 = nought point two seven eight (US zero point two seven eight)

(NOT nought point two hundred and seventy eight)


Nought, zero, nil etc


The figure 0 is usually called nought in British English, and zero in American English. When we say numbers one figure at a time, 0 is often called oh.

My phone number is nine three two five oh six (= 932506)

In measurements of temperature , 0 is called zero in both British and American English.

Zero scores in team games are called nil. In tennis and similar games, the word love is used for zero.


And the score is: Brazil three, Italy nil.

Forty-love: Nadal to serve

Telephone numbers


Each figure is said separately. There is usually a pause after groups of three or four figures. If the same figure comes twice, British people usually say double.


657 4481 – six five seven, double four eight one (British)

- six five seven, four four eight one (US)

Roman numbers

The names of kings and queens are still written in Roman numbers.

It was built in the time of Louis XIV.

Queen Elizabeth II

Henry V

Cardinal and ordinal number

The numbers one, two, three, four etc., are called cardinal numbers

whereas the numbers first, second, third, fourth etc., are called ordinal numbers.

Ordinal numbers are used before nouns. After a noun, we use cardinal numbers.


the fourth chapter – chapter four

the third act – Act Three

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE USA /El Sistema Educativo en los estados Unidos.

The Education System in the USA

In the USA, children start school when they are five or six years old. Depending on the state, schooling is compulsory until the age of 16 or 18. Children younger than five can go to a nursery school or preschool.

At the age of five or six, the children attend elementary school (also known as grade school or grammar school), which last six years. The fist year at elementary school is called kindergarten.

After elementary school, students attend middle school (also known as junior high school) for three years. Then they continue at high school. In some states, students have to stay in school until they are 18 years old. In other states they may leave school at 16 or 17 with parental permission.

Age School

< 5 nursery school / preschool

5-11 elementary school

11-14 middle school / junior high school

14-18 high school / senior high school

When students in the USA say what year they are in, they usually use ordinal numbers, e. g. ‘tenth grade’. (In the UK students would use cardinal numbers, e. g. ‘year ten’.)

Classes

At elementary school pupils primarily learn how to read, write and count. There are about 20 to 30 pupils in one class.

At junior and senior high school, mandatory subjects are English, maths, biology, chemistry, physics, physical education and history. Schools also offer optional courses from which the students can choose, e. g. art, modern languages, computers. Physical education is a very important subject in the United States – many students participate in sports programs.

Gifted and talented students can take advanced courses in their schools or attend additional courses at community colleges in the afternoons or during the holidays. Often such courses are later acknowledged by universities, and can facilitate early graduation.

Grading Scale

In the USA (as in other English speaking countries) letter grades are used in reports.

■A > 90 % (excellent)

■B > 80 % (very good)

■C > 70 % (improvement needed)

■D > 60 % (close fail)

■E > 50 % (fail)

■F < 50 % (fail)

In general, only grades A to C are a 'pass' – a plus (+) or minus (-) might be added (e. g. A-, B+).

Different Kinds of Schools

Most students in the USA are enrolled in public schools. These are financed through taxes, so parents do not have to pay for their children's education. About 10 % of US students attend private schools, where parents have to pay a yearly fee.

Another option is homeschooling: approximately 1-2 % of parents in the USA educate their children at home. Some reasons for homeschooling are religious views, special needs (e. g. handicapped children), or problems in traditional schools (bullying, drugs etc.). However, there is also opposition to homeschooling claiming that the students have difficulties socializing with others, that homeschooling (often carried out by the parents) is of a poor academic quality and that (especially concerning religion) extremist views might be encouraged.

School Uniforms

It is not common for students in the USA to wear school uniforms, but many schools have dress codes telling students what kind of clothing is or is not allowed in school. Some schools (especially private schools) have started to require their students to wear school uniforms in order to improve school discipline and avoid 'fashion cliques'.



EXÁMEN SELECTIVIDAD 2011 INGLÉS, ANDALUCÍA. // ENGLISH EXAMINATION TO APPLY FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN SPAIN

Selectividad Examination June 2011

Advantages and challenges of teaching large classes

Teaching a small group of students is a whole lot easier than teaching a large group. But unfortunately due to budget and space constraints, many ESL schools only offer large classes that may consist of 50 or more students. No matter what the size of your class is, an ESL teacher has to come up with ideas and activities that will interest and engage his / her students. Fortunately, there are many coping skills and activities that will make your job easier.


Advantages of Teaching Large Classes

• Classes with many students will be quite noisy. But they also offer a high energy setting that is more fun and exciting.

• Classes will go by quickly when there are numerous students seeking your attention. In fact, while teaching a large class you will never find yourself looking at the clock. Lessons and activities will take longer to complete, so there will be no need for fillers.

Challenges of Teaching Large Classes

• You may never to get to know your students as well as you would like to. You may also feel anxious about being outnumbered by your students.
• Grading assignments and tests will take longer than you would like to them.

• That you are teaching a large class doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get fatter pay checks than those teaching smaller classes.

More distractions

• It is quite easy to get distracted in a large class. There will always be latecomers. You will also find plenty of students chatting while you are teaching and that can be pretty distressing.

From: Englishpractice.com

PASSIVES PRACTICE B1 LEVEL

This activity seems to be easy , but it has its difficulty, DON'T RELAX!!
You can check your answers with the keys in the comments section of this post.

(Parece un ejercicio fácil de pasivas, pero cuidado! comprueba tus respuestas en los comentarios de la entrada)

1. Change the following sentences into passive voice.

1. I know him.


2. His conduct will surprise you.


3. His failure disgusted his parents.


4. One must endure what one cannot cure.


5. They say that honesty is the best policy.


6. He had to pay the fine.


7. What does this box contain?


8. I want you to do this.


9. I expect you to help her.


10. Women like men to adore them.


11. One should help the poor.


12. The farmer grows vegetables.

Words that are easily confused

Doubt and suspect


To doubt is to think that something is unlikely.

I doubt if he will come.

I doubt whether you can finish the work in time.

To suspect is to believe that somebody is guilty or something is true.

How could they suspect him of murder?

I suspect that my servant has stolen my watch.

Drown and sink

Drown means ‘die by immersion in water’. In British English, both active and passive forms of drown can be used to talk about accidental drowning.

He drowned while swimming across the river. OR He was drowned while swimming across the river.

In American English, only active forms are used to talk about accidental drowning.

To sink is to go beneath the surface of water.

The explosion sank the ship. (NOT The explosion drowned the ship.)

Facility and felicity

Facility means something with a particular function.

A wide range of facilities is available at the sports center.

Felicity means intense happiness.

Only the virtuous can experience true felicity.

Hard and hardly

Hard means difficult.

You have given me a very hard problem to solve.

Hardly means scarcely

She had hardly arrived when she was put to work.

Prescribe and proscribe

To prescribe is to recommend remedy

Doctors should be wary of prescribing antibiotics for minor infections.

To proscribe is to ban something.

REVIEW OF ENGLISH TENSES

This worksheet gives a general vision about the commonest English tenses. This quick guide is ideal for revising Grammar before your final exams.
(Esta ficha os permite tener una visión rápida y general de los tiempos verbales ingleses para exámenes finales de gramática.)

Review of English Tenses

2nd BACHILLERATO EXAM

This exam has been our proposal as a retaking examination in May. If you have a doubt about the keys for the exam, please send us an email and we'll provide them to you. Good luck!
You can get more exams in our book: English in SELECTIVIDAD

(Este exámen ha sido puesto en Mayo como exámen para recuperar; os puede servir para practicar SELECTIVIDAD, o para los que debéis recuperar en septiembre. Podéis adquirir más exámenes y una guía apra hacer el exámen de Selectividad adquiriendo nuestro libro : English in SELECTIVIDAD )


English Exam 2 Bachillerato

Rewrite the following sentences (2)

ACTIVITY ONE: Rewrite the following sentences, substituting the verb form for the words given in bold letters.


1. The manager sent no reply for a few days.

2. He accepted all of our proposals.

3. His story did not give me any amusement.

4. It is my belief that he does not mean what he says.

5. The cost of this bag is $10.

6. No invitation was sent to the Mayor.

7. I don’t think that he will be successful in his attempts.
Answers:

1. The manager didn’t reply for a few days.

2. He accepted all that we proposed.

3. His story didn’t amuse me.

4. I don’t believe that he means what he says.

5. This bag costs $10.

6. The Mayor was not invited.

7. I don’t think that he will succeed in his attempts.

ACTIVITY  NUMBER 2: Rewrite the following sentences using the adjective form of the words italicized.

1. He succeeded in his attempt.

2. Fortunately we were well-armed to fight the enemy.

3. Francis Bacon was a man of remarkable industry and intelligence.

4. He takes much pride in his looks.

5. In all probability the meeting will take place today.

6. You can easily get the job if you try.

7. He who shuns labor cannot prosper.

Answers:

1. He was successful in his attempt.

2. It was fortunate that we were well-armed to fight the enemy.

3. Francis Bacon was remarkably industrious and intelligent.

4. He is very proud of his looks.

5. It is probable that the meeting will take place today.

6. It is easy to get the job if you try.

7. He who shuns labor cannot be prosperous.

Rewrite sentences in English

Rewriting sentences in English is sometimes a harsh task, but it develops our communication in the English language. Try this activity and you'll guess your level.

Rewrite Sentences