FUN TIME

What is the past tense of William Shakespeare?

Wouldiwas Shookspeared...

Vacation End

Dear Kids

I've been missing you lots!

I hope that you had a wonderful time doing revision and working on the items in the vacation pack.  Hopefully you have finished by now, because there are only two days left before we start again.
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A. I include answers to the grammar. These will be discussed in full in class, so please don't fret if something is not clear to you.  

GRAMMAR, ROOKE AND LAW, PP.40-41.

(Other options with their explanations are provided. If you do use one of these, then you have to justify and explain it in the same way as I have done.)

The answers will also be explained in class. 

p.40 LAST BOX.

1.     The football manager said, “I am disappointed with the score.”  (*Strictly speaking, it could also be “was”, if the manager had changed his position after some time, but, since the preference is for present tense in direct speech, I’d rather stick to the first option if I were you.)

2.     The fan exclaimed, “The goal is superb!”  (*To be honest, I would say “was”, because when the speaker describes it, it would be in the past already.)

3.     Owen said, “I do not like watching TV all day.”

4.     “Go to the park to play football,” suggested his mother.

5.     “Do you know the way to the hospital?” asked the injured man.

P. 41 TOP BOX

1. Tim yelled at them both to stop it.

2. Priya said that she couldn’t help it, because she was so scared. (*It is a tricky one. If it relates to something that she is doing all the time, and to a constant state of being fearful, the answer could be: Priya said that she can’t help it, because she is so scared.)

3. Hannah suggested that they should buy a cat.

4. Bill said that it was a good idea.

5. My father declared that those mountains were too dangerous. (*The examiners generally want everything changed to past tense. However, the mountains are probably still a danger, because mountains don’t change much in a person’s lifetime.  And, they could still be the mountains closest to the speaker. Therefore, the answer could also be: My father declared that these mountains are too dangerous.)

p. 41. SECOND BLOCK.

1. The criminal snarled at the policeman that he might have to arrest him, but that he can’t prove anything.

2. Mrs Smith moans, “The neighbours are just too noisy since they bought their son a set of drums for Christmas!”

3. The detective smugly claimed that he thought that gang was going to get a big shock.

4. “Why are there so many fouls in the game?” the reporter asked.

5. The team captain replied that there was a lot of bad feeling in the tunnel between the players before the match. 

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B. The answers to the riddles are:  "light" and "rust". 
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C. I apologise for not sending you more puzzles. Something went wrong with the software, and I am in the process of trying to upload again, which is a struggle because it is Apple. 

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D. I also include a section of the comprehension that we should pay a lot of attention to. Basically, the question could be re-phrased as, "Which text do you prefer, and why?"  

Vacation pack:  comprehension.

A: From Pupil Book by Rooke and Law, p.p. 39-41. Basic answers.

P.40, Top Block (2) . 

Your answer could then be, as per the text above:  I prefer report A, because the author gives equal attention to all goals. He also uses adjectives to a minimum, and his language is calm (or, if you want, tempered) in describing England's loss. He also doesn't give his personal opinion, but rather sticks to facts that can be verified (checked to see if they were true). 

As I understand, in the exam, you could get two texts to choose from.  We will practice that in class in the coming week. 

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I'm looking forward to seeing you on Monday!  

Warm regards from your teacher

Elma

Vacation: Comprehension

Vacation pack:  comprehension.

A: From Pupil Book by Rooke and Law, p.p. 39-41. Basic answers.

P.40, (Please note that the grammar part is not included here.)

Top Block (2)

1. Question: are both reports balanced?

CRITERIA	REPORT A	REPORT B
-       In terms of giving both sides of the story	Yes. The manager of the losing team is given the opportunity to speak, and the space is sort of equally divided between both teams.	No, because the victories of Maradona are overly-represented, while giving little voice to the British team.
-       Using langue that is exaggerated or unfair.	No. Adjectives are kept to a bare minimum. The language is also tempered in describing England’s failure to carry on in the world cup.	Yes. Abundant praise and the usage of expressions such as, “stunning victory”; “The greatest” and  “glittering brilliance” show bias and lack of the ability to stick to facts.
-       Fair selection of info. (Left out / left to the end?)	Yes. Each goal is given a paragraph on its own.	The dubiousness of the first goal of Maradona is dismissed with, “… anyone can see the ref knew what he was doing”, while his second goal gets to be discussed at length with an over-dose of adjectives. The goal by the British player has been totally omitted.
-       Journalists’ opinions	Negligible, if any.	Journalist blatantly supports Maradona with expressions such as, “I thought Maradona was better.”

2. No, because the trainee shows personal bias and does not stick to information that could be verified.

3. (i) Focus on facts. (ii) Discuss the victories of both sides. (iii) Refrain from giving your own opinion.

WEEK 2: COMPREHENSION. Pupil Book by Rooke and Law, p.p. 71-72.

Answer questions on p. 72.

BLUE BLOCK

1.     A Walking Bus is a system that operates like a bus, in the sense that people (in this case, kids) join along the route (in this case, to school). Like a usual bus, there are adult supervisors. However, since everyone is walking instead of riding, there is no driver.

2.     25 minutes.

3.     In autumn.

4.     The Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Sittingbourne.

5.     The make the day of the launch extra-special.

GREEN BLOCK

1.     Report

2.     There was a special ceremony where each participant got a certificate for their efforts in making it work. Afterwards, the sponsors and supporters enjoyed a fine meal.

3.     Excited; loved; special; enjoyed; Walking Bus song; chanted; achievement.

4.     Yes, because it shows the happy group in their safety tabards with the dignitaries in front and the other supporters behind.

5.     (I want to see your own contributions here, Level 6!)

RED BLOCK

1.     The kids were happy to put on (and wear!) their safety jackets.

2.     The traffic outside the school is not as excessive as before.

3.     Improved health of the pupils and their supervisors, increased “green living” by lowering levels of pollution, and savings in terms of transport costs.

4.     They established a committee that determined the route (by getting information from parents and bus drivers); contacted the municipal authorities to inform them of their plans; established a fund for the tabards, and joined the launch on the first day.

5.     The walk went as planned, and was enjoyed by everyone.