The Passive Voice: Exercises

Exercises on the passive voice online (+ correction):
Exercise 1: English-hilfen
Exercise 2: ego4u
Exercise 3: learnenglishfeelgood (except 8 and 9)
Exercise 4: cursoingles

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Video Nº1 Click -->

Video Nº2 Click -->

Hi everyone,

here you have two videos, choose one, watch it and send a comment to my email. 

1-What important issue can you see in the video?

2-Why do you like it? / Why do you dislike it?

3-What should people do to prevent this issue?

Glossary:

comment-comentario

issue-asunto

Video: The Pallas's Cat

Watch this video and write True or False. Correct the False statements.

1. The Pallas's cat is the same size as a snow leopard.

2. They live in the mountains.

3. They are protected by holes in the rocks.

4. They are an easy prey for dogs and eagles.

5. They are cautious.

6. They eat insects, rodents and birds which hide in the rocks.

7. These cats are easy to see when they aren't in their dens.

8. They fur isn't as long as other cats.

9. They can't survive when the temperatures go below 0ºC.

Glossary:
prey: presa
den: guarida

Answers --> 1- F (the same size as a domestic cat), 2-T, 3-T, 4-F (wolves and eagles), 5- T, 6-F (using the rocks for cover), 7- F (their fur is their camouflage), 8-F (they have the longest fur), 9- F (their fur helps them tu survive).

Video: 20 things we should say more often

This is a video known as "20 Things we Should Say More Often" by Robby Novak or Kid President.

The boys tells us 20 things that we don't say often enough Watch the video and answer the questions:
1. When should we say "thank you"?
2. Who needs to say "I don't know"?
3. How does it feel if you say: "you're so awesome, I legally changed my name to yours"?
4. Is it ok to disagree with people?
5. Complete: "If you can't thinkg of something nice to say, you're _____________________."
6. If you have another idea of what people should say more often, what do you have to do?
7. What is the bonus one?

Glossary:
corndog: es una especie de perrito caliente compuesto de una salchicha recubierta con una masa de pan de maíz y que posteriormente se fríe en aceite muy caliente

Answers --> 1. Every day. 2. His sister. 3. It feels super creepy. 4. Yes, it is. But it's not ok to be mean. 5. "not thinking hard enough". 6. Leave a comment below. 7. Let's dance!

Video: Do you speak English?

Watch and listen to this BBC video. Then answer the questions below.

1. What is the girl's problem?
2. Why hasn't the blond guy learned any English?
3. Where can she find some help?
4. What kind of help can she find there?
5. Apart from English, what other language are the boys unable to speak?
6. Fill in the gaps: "Hey, ____ _______ ________, next time you're over, maybe we'll have learned a bit of English for you"
7. What is the final joke?

Answers --> 1. Her car has broken down and she needs a garage. 2. He didn't pay attention at school. 3. She can find help in the village, half a mile away. 4. They don't speak German. 5. "you never know" 6. The boys speak English but they wanted to play a joke on her.

Video: Bill Cosby Show

Where do babies come from?

 

This is a clip from Bill Cosby Show. In it, a girl tries to explain to a gynecologist how babies are delivered. Watch the video (it starts in minute 1:49) and answer the questions below:

1. What is the meaning of "deliver a baby"?

2. What is the man's profession?

3. Who brings the babies, according to the girl?

4. Where are the babies brought from?

5. Why does the mother get real big when she is pregnant?

6. What is moving inside the mother?

Video: Joey is learning English

Friends: English as Second Language

Watch this video and fill in the gaps below. Listen to it as many times as you need.

- Joey, you have a ____________  ________!

- Thank you.

- Joey, this is an English as a second language class for __________. Are you sure you're in the _____ place?

- Oh, I'm in the _____place.

- Let's get _______. I hope that everyone __________ counting to ten in the weekend.

-Yes

- Yes

- One, two, three, four, five, six seven eight, nine, TEN!

- Eleven, twelve!

-  Very good, Boris. Somebody's gonna ____ a gold star!

- Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.

...

- School, Renata, they go to school!

- Joey, why don't you pick it up where Renata ______ off. Now this is a hard part, so ____ your _______.

- Wow, boy, this ______ tough. "The bell _____ and the students all ______ to the auditorium with their teacher." BOOM!!! That's right, Boris, you heard it, auditorium!

- Oh, I am so lucky to be with the smartest boy in class. Some words are so tog.

- Tog??? Remember I ______ you that the "gh" sometimes sounds like "f": tough /taf/, like "rough" /raf/ or "laugh" /laf/.

- Oh, Joey, make love to me tonift!

- That is good English!

- Ok, I'd like everybody to ______  ____ their homework on the subjunctive tense.

- You didn't do it?

 - I ____ it.

- If the present tense of the verb TO BE  is "I am", then the subjunctive tense is "If I..." Joey?

- If I was!

- Oh I'm sorry, that's not correct.

- It's "If I were".

- Very good, Boris.

- Joey are stupid.

- Joey IS stupid, Renata!

A Youtuber's video: High school

Why does high school suck? Or doesn't suck?

My fav youtuber, Danny from The Gradual Report, explains why high school sucks/or doesn't suck/.

Watch the VIDEO and answer true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false info.

1. School comes from a Latin word.

2. Danny tells you about a school routine.

3. Classes in the USA are 50 minutes.

4. In chemistry class, a guy tells you about how bombs are created.

5. In "calculus" class, you learn more maths than Einstein knew when he discovered the Theory of Relativity.

6. During Physical Education, you play clever games with pupils of your age.

7. Danny doesn't play silly games anymore.

8. Later, Danny tells you about the routine of law school intern.

9. When you arrive at work, your boss scolds you.

10. Life is all about learning. You never stop learning.

11. If you are working in a bakery, you are learning about how mothers react to heat.

12. Things you learn in a bakery are less interesting than the Rennaisance.

13. High school is a boring part of growing up.

14. Don't take school too seriously.

15. Leaves of tress are edible. Danny tried them because he is a koala.

Glossary:

to suck (colloq.) - apestar (ser una m****a)

pupil - alumno; pupila

law school intern -  becario de derecho (trabaja para ganar experiencia, sin salario)

to scold - reprender, regañar

heat - calor

 

Answers --> 1.F; 2.T; 3.F; 4.T; 5.T; 6.F; 7.F; 8.T; 9.T; 10.T; 11.F; 12.T; 13.F; 14.T; 15.T

Video: The Dangerous Life of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs were the rulers of our planet millions of years ago. They dominated all type of wildlife and nothing seemed to threaten them. BUT…nature is stronger than everything else – animals, plants, humans… When nature decides, it can obliterate everything in its path.

Dictation time! I lo-lo-love dictations!

 Watch THIS VIDEO and then fill in with the word(s) you hear (vocabulary: animals)

....In one small valley, there is the stench of death.

Unwittingly, the Tyrannosaurus has been drawn into a natural trap. __________  vents are producing poisonous ______ _______, and because it is _______ than _____, it has formed a suffocating layer close to the ________. The giant predator stands above the layer, but as he puts his head down to feed on one of the corpses, he begins to feel the ________ of gas himself. If he topples over now, he will never _____ ____.

Eventually, his sheer size is his salvation. As he stands up with his prize, his head just clears the _____ layer. There are still _________ of greenery between the barren lava flows. In the warm, moist ________ of the late Cretaceous, the _________ has transformed. Instead of conifers, broad-leaved _______ fill the forest canopy.

Driving this quiet revolution among the ________ is the remarkable evolution of _______. Their secret lies in their intimate relationship with _________, this is now so close that some flowers can only be pollinated by insects and some insects, like __________, can only feed on ________. Among these new plants, the _______ are flourishing, and their calls form an ever-present chorus.

Millions of years of ________ have also created intimate relationships among different types of dinosaurs. Especially the delicate balance between _________ and _______. One dinosaur that specialises in ________ is the extraordinary Ankylosaurus. They are evolved to withstand attack even from _______ predators like Tyrannosaurus. At seven tonnes, Ankylosaurus are so heavily armoured that even their eyelids are hardened. And if that wasn't ________, they have a formidable club on the end of their ________. Sadly, not even these magnificent ________ have any defence against the natural forces that are suffocating their world.

Glossary:

to threaten - amenazar

stench – peste

trap – trampa

vent – respiradero

poisonous – venenoso

layer – capa

to feed – alimentarse

to topple – caerse

sheer size – gran tamaño

greenery – zonas verdes

fill – llenar

to withstand – resistir

eyelid – párpado

to harden - endurecer

club -  porra  (...)

Song: You Don't Own Me

Grace feat. G-eazy - You Don't Own Me

 

Listen to this VIDEO without watching the lyrics and choose the correct word

You don't own me
You don't own me

G-eazy: Woah, let's go
But I'm Gerald and I can always have just what I want
She's that baddest I would love to flaunt
Take her shopping, you know Yves Saint Laurent
But nope, she ain't with it though
All because she got her own dough
Boss bossed if you don't know
She could never ever be a broke ho

Grace: You don't own me
I'm not just one of your much/many  toys/joys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with another/other   voice/boys

Chorus: Don't tell me what to do/to go
And don't tell me what to play/to say
Please, when I go out/meet with you
Don't put me on display

You don't own me
Don't try/cry to change me in any way/day
You don't own me
 Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never try/stay

Chorus: ...

G-eazy: R-r-r-really though, honestly/seriously
I get bored of basic b******
She's the baddest, straight up vicious, texting her asking her
If she's alone and if she'd sent some pictures, she said no (what)
Well goddamn, she said come over and see it for yourself
Never asking for your help, independent woman/man
She ain't for the shelf
No, she's the one
Smoke with her till the w*** is gone
Stayin' up until we see the sun
Baddest ever, I swear she do it better than I've ever seen it done
Never borrow, she ain't ever loan
That's when she told me she ain't never ever ever ever gonna be owned

Grace: I don't tell you what to play/to say
I don't tell you what to do/to go
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask/answer of you
I'm strong/young and I love to be strong/young
I'm free/wild and I love to be free/wild
To live my life/live the way I want
To say/to tell and do whatever I please

Hey hey (you don't own me) oh, no
Oh no no
Hey no no no
Don't you, don't
You don't own me
Na na na na
You don't own me (easy)
You don't own me

What do these words rhyme with in the song?

me:

say:
shelf:
done:
toys:

Answers (select this area-->): me-free; say-display, way, stay; shelf-yourself; done-sun, toys-boys

Questions to think about:
1. What is feminism?
2. What would the boy (G-eazy) do with the girl? (paragraph 1, first part)
3. Why is his wish impossible? (paragraph 1, second part)
4. When the boy asks her "What are you doing? Can you send me some photos of you now?", what does she say? (paragraph 5)
5. Why does she never ask for the boy's help? (paragraph 5)?

Glossary:
you don't own me: no te pertenezco
to flaunt: hacer alarde de
ain't: not
dough: money
to put on display: exponer algo
to tie: atar

F. U. N. Reading

Are you sick of homework?

 

You like reading but you can't find anything interesting and light?

 

Here is a suggestion.

CLICK AND READ

 

Video: Saving a Humpback Whale

A Moving story about a Humpback whale

This is the story about a humpback whale that got entanged in gillnet and nearly died. Luckily, some people (Michael Fishback and co.) were around and helped her. When she was released into freedom, she rewarded these people with a spectacular dance!

Watch the video and answer the questions below:

1. Where does he photograph whales?

2. What did they find there?

3. What did they try to do?

4. How did they help the animal?

5. Why was he scared of the animal?

6. What did the whale do to the boat?

7. How did it say "thank you" to the people on the boat?

Glossary:
Humpback whale - ballena jorobada
to entangle - enredar
gill net - red
to release - poenr en libertad
to reward - premiar

Video: The Chubb Chubbs!

Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?

So there is another video that teaches a nice lesson. In 2ºESO we had a discussion about the protagonist: is it a girl or a boy? It doesn't really matter. 

Take a look at this funny VIDEO and answer the questions below.

1. What does the bodyguard say to the protagonist when he throws him away?

2. Who are the "chubb chubbs"? What does the protagonist think at first?

3. Why doesn't the protagonist escape with the other aliens?

4. What is the dream of the protagonist?

5. What is the final question that the protagonist asks to the chubb chubbs?

Now think: What is the lesson we learn fro mthis video?

Video: "The Ocean's glory - and horrors!"

THE OCEAN'S GLORY

Photos by Brian Skerry (@brianskerry)

I love Brian Skerry's photos of the osean as much as I love the ocean itself. I've been fascinated by the underwater habitat since I was a little kid. So, let's be aware of what we are doing to the ocean.

Watch this TED VIDEO (2010) and then answer the questions with short answers.

Example: Does Brian Skerry work for National Geographic? - Yes, he does.

1. Did he fall in love with the sea as a child?

2. Has he been exploring the ocean for 30 years?

3. Did he want to do a video on flamingos?

4. Is the loss of ice the worst thing for harp seals?

5. Did 80% of the big fish in the ocean disappeared in the last years?

6. When we go to a restaurant, do we know where the steak or chicken come from?

7. Are the bluefins the lions and tigers of the sea?

8. Is the ocean a grocery store?

9. Do the nets catch only shrimp?

10. Does Brian Skerry hate sharks?
11. Are the leatherback turtles the largest and oldest turtles?
12. Are there many leatherback turtles in the world?
13. Do right whales get hit by ships?
14. Have Southern right whales seen humans before?
15. Did Brian Skerry work in New Zeland?
16. Do red snapper fish eat algae?
17. Was the ocean restored to its natural equilibrium in New Zeland?


Glossary:
loss - pérdida
harp seals - foca de groenlandia
bluefin (bluefin tuna) - atún
grocery store - tienda de comestibles
shrimp - camarón
leatherback turtle - tortuga laúd (tortuga marina)
right whale - ballena franca
red snapper - pargo

THE HORROR IS CAUSED BY HUMAN BEINGS

Photos by Brian Skerry

Follow Brian Skerry on Instagram: @brianskerry

TV series: Freaks and Geeks

Do you want to see what school was like in the 1980s?

"Freaks and Geeks" is a comedy TV show about a bunch of teenagers and their adventures in high school. The action takes place in the 1980s (so, there are NO mobile phones!!) but many of these adventures can happen in the 21st century too.

Have a look at the VIDEO (47 minutes) - it is the first episode of the TV show.

Then answer the questions below.

1. What does Lindsey think about high school?

2. What does Lindsey's mom think about high school? What should kids do there?

3. Who wants to go to the Homecoming dance?

4. Why doesn't Kim like Lindsey?

5. Since when has Lindsey acted weird?
6. Do you think that Lindsye is a good person? Why? (Give 3 reasons)
7. What is Lindsey good at? (Subject)
8. What is Mr. Rosso's job?
9. What advice does Nick give to Lindsey?   

Glossary:

bunch - grupo

freak - bicho raro

geek - friki

Video: Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park

 Here is a National Geographic video about the world's first national park. It's in the USA. Enjoy the spectacular views and the story.
Watch the VIDEO as many times as necessary and then answer the questions below.

1. How big is the park?
2. When was it made the world's first national park?
3. Are there many roads in Yellowstone?
4. How many rivers dissect Yellowstone?
5. How many bison are there in Yellowstone?
6. Where is the real story of Yellowstone hidden?
7. How does the volcano reveal itself?
8. How many tourist visit Yellowstone each year?
9. When may the volcano erupt?
10. When did the volcano last erupt?
11. How many species of mammal are there in Yellowstone? Give examples.
12. Were wolves eradicated in the past?
13. Are wolves necessary for the ecosystem?


Glossary:
reveal - revelar, dejar(se) ver
eradicate - desarraigar, erradicar

Trailer "Fringe"

Nature doesn't recognise good and evil... nature only recognises balance and imbalance.

Fringe was my favourite TV series for a while. I couldn't stop watching it. It's about psychokinesis, teleportation, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, precognition, dark matter ... and more.

Watch this TRAILER 2 o 3 times: listen carefully to the information and answer the questions below with True or False.

1. In 1985, a man decided to go to another universe to save his child.

2. He crossed to an alternate universe and this was a disaster.

3. The "Fringe" division of the FBI is looking for a way to continue the damage.

4. A series of events has ocurred and the agents have to investigate them.

5. Their investigations into these cases run amok. 

6. The alternat universe that they discover is nice and friendly, and it doesn't threaten our future.

7. Only one world can survive.

8. This TV series explores ONLY fringe science, it doesn't explore characters.

9. Olivia Dunham had a happy childhood and she became a special agent to help the world.

10. Peter Bishop is very intelligent person and he is from a different place.

11. Walter Bishop is Peter's father, he is a brilliant scientist but he is afraid to do experiments.

12. Walter is crazy.

13. Agent Phillip Broyles doesn't believe in Olivia.

14. Walter can always remember Astrid's name.

15. Nina is the director of Massive Dynamic, a multi billion dollar corporation.

Glossary:

alternate (alternative) - alternativo

fringe cases - casos límites, casos extraños

to run amok - salir fuera de control

to threaten - amenazar

fringe science - ciencia que explora los casos inexplicables, extraños

afraid - scared (asustado/a)

Video: The Loudest Animal in the World

So, what do you think the loudest animal on our planet is?

Be prepared to be surprised! Watch this VIDEO about the loudest animal in the world. Then fill in the missing information.

Far from being ________, the ocean is filled with a cacophony of _________  ________ that can even disrupt the sonic transmissions of submarines.

Most of the din ____  _________  ____ a surprisingly insignificant creature, the Pistol Shrimp.

By snapping its claws it can not only make ______________  ________, but something far deadlier. These shrimps are its prey. It deals a knockout blow ____   __   ______________by using its claw as a sonic _________.

First its claw is cocked like __  _________. Then fired.

The effect is literally stunning. As the claw snaps shut it fires a blast of bubbles.

Incredibly as the bubbles collapse, they momentarily reach the ____________  ___  ____   ______.

This _________ causes a shockwave that stuns.

 

Glossary:

din - barullo

shrimp - camarón

claw - pinza

deadly - mortal 

prey - presa

knockout - nocaut, KO

blow - golpe

to fire - disparar

stunning - aplastante

blast - ráfaga

to cock - amartillar