Euthanasia, Renewable Energy, and the Power of Music: Key Insights

Posted on Feb 26, 2025 in English

The Right to Die

Reading Comprehension

  1. True: “Ramón Sampedro was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident as a young man.”
  2. True: “He could control a computer and write using a pen he held in his mouth.”
  3. False: “His brother, in fact, was completely opposed to euthanasia.”
  4. True: “In dying after planning his death in such an ingenious way that, even if all the details were discovered, no one could be legally charged with the crime.”

Lexicon

  • Unable to move all or part of your body: paralyzed
  • The son of your brother or your sister: nephew
  • Rode a bicycle somewhere: pedaled
  • The practice of killing: euthanasia

Phonetics

  1. “pie” /aɪ/: write, by, right, die
  2. “lived” /d/: opposed, discovered, played
  3. “eight” /eɪ/: jockey, day, details

Use of English

  1. “Will you open the door, please?” he said to me.
    He asked me if I would open the door.
  2. They gave John a prize for winning a medal in the last Olympics.
    John was given a prize for winning a medal in the last Olympics.
  3. I hadn’t expected this task to be so difficult.
    This task hadn’t been expected to be so difficult.
  4. I spoke to a shop assistant at Harrods. She was very polite.
    The shop assistant, whom I spoke to at Harrods, was very polite.
  5. I can’t go on holiday because I can’t afford it.
    If I could afford going on holidays, I would go on it.
  6. Despite the good weather, we stayed indoors.
    Although the weather was good, we stayed indoors.

The Big Green Gathering

Reading Comprehension

  1. False: “Every summer … the … (BGG) … has taken place.”
  2. True: “Different sites … across the UK.”
  3. True: “Computers at the Internet café.”
  4. False: “Encouraged to use ecologically responsible methods … public transport, share cars or cycle.”

Lexicon

  • Attracts: draws
  • Forbidden: banned
  • Participate in: attend
  • Motivated: inspired

Phonetics

  1. “air” /eər/: fair, share, area
  2. “sheep” /iː/: weaving
  3. “watched” /t/: walked

Use of English

  1. Thousands of visitors are united by a common desire to promote renewable energy sources.
    A common desire to promote renewable energy sources unites thousands of visitors.
  2. The food and drink that is sold must meet fair trading standards.
    Unless the food and drink meets fair trading standards, it can’t be sold.
  3. The BGG draws thousands of visitors every year.
    Thousands of visitors are drawn to the BGG every year.
  4. “Did you have a good time at the BGG?” she asked Sam.
    She wanted to know if / whether Sam had had a good time at the BGG.
  5. General awareness of the environment has increased.
    There has been an increase in general awareness of the environment.
  6. I should have gone to the BGG with my friends.
    I wish I had gone to the BGG with my friends.

The Sound of Music

Reading Comprehension

  1. False: “Although scientists are not sure exactly how and why music affects us.”
  2. False: “Was robbed of his ability to speak … in 1953.”
  3. True: “Musical instruments made from animal bones that are at least 53,000 years old.”
  4. True (paragraph 5): “The same way as a male bird shows off its bright feathers.”

Lexicon

  • Certain: sure
  • Language: speech
  • Significant: profound
  • Possible: potential

Phonetics

  1. “tea” /iː/: indeed, seems, speech, treated
  2. “day” /eɪ/: claimed
  3. “painted” /ɪd/: located, treated

I-fit 11pt

Use of English

  1. People consider Shakespeare to be one of the world’s best writers.
    Shakespeare is considered to be one of the world’s best writers.
  2. It was such a popular song that it was recorded in several languages.
    The song was so popular that it was recorded in several languages. / It was recorded in several languages because it was so popular.
  3. He stopped playing music after his stroke.
    He hasn’t played music since his stroke.
  4. “Which instrument does he play?” she asked.
    She asked which instrument he played.
  5. I regret not going to the concert last night.
    I wish I had gone to the concert last night.
  6. My MP3 was repaired yesterday.
    I had my MP3 repaired yesterday.