I have created this blog to help my students learn and improve their English.
In this blog, they can find some interesting articles, grammar suggestions, exercises and assignments, pictures and videos.
This blog will help students practice their speaking and listening, and do some grammar exercises.
We have reviewed Past Tense. Now I would like you to read the summary of this grammar and do exercises after it.
Irena
1. Forming a negative
Negatives in the simple past are formed by adding didn't (informal) or did not (formal) before the simple form of the verb. The verb BE is an exception to this; in the case of BE, we just add n't (informal) or not (formal) after "was" or "were":
Simple past statement
Informal negative
Formal negative
I had a car.
I didn't have a car.
I did not have a car.
You ate my toast.
You didn't eat my toast.
You did not eat my toast.
He was here yesterday.
He wasn't here yesterday.
He was not here yesterday.
They were in the park.
They weren't in the park.
They were not in the park.
2. Forming a yes/no question
Yes/no questions are also created using the auxiliary did. This time, the auxiliary is placed before the subject. The verb BE is an exception; in this case, we move BE before the subject. Here are the rules:
Simple past statement
Yes/no question
He brought his friend.
Did he bring his friend?
They had a party.
Did they have a party?
You were here.
Were you here?
She was sick.
Was she sick?
3. Forming a WH- question
WH- questions (using words such as "what", "when", and "where") are also created by putting the auxiliary did before the subject (or moving BE, as explained above). Then, you add the WH- word at the beginning. Here are some examples:
and read the words of the song. Pay attention to the Past Tense verbs and remember them.
Enjoy the song!
I cried a tear, you wiped it dry I was confused, you cleared my mind I sold my soul, you bought it back for me And held me up and gave me dignity Somehow you needed me You gave me strength to stand alone again To face the world out on my own again You put me high upon a pedestal So high that I could almost see eternity You needed me, you needed me And I can't believe it's you I can't believe it's true I needed you and you were there And I'll never leave, why should I leave? I'd be a fool 'cause I finally found someone who really cares You held my hand when it was cold When I was lost you took me home You gave me hope when I was at the end And turned my lies back into truth again You even called me "friend" You gave me strength to stand alone again To face the world out on my own again You put me high upon a pedestal So high that I could almost see eternity You needed me, you needed me You needed me, you needed me
In this post, I've put different articles from the Internet. Please, read everything carefully, think about it, and try to answer the questions: What comes to your mind when you hear the word "sugar"? Could you live without sugar or do you have a sweet tooth? What do you use sugar for? Is sugar good or bad for our bodies? Is sugar addictive? How many sugar cubes can you eat in one go? Is sugar really dangerous? Do you need to limit the sugar in your food? Please, write at least one paragraph about everything you have learned from this post and the article by Dr. Majit Ali. Write about different kinds of sweets - what is good about them and what is bad. You can write your paragraph after this post in the Comments section.
Irena,
As you remember, in March we read an article from Easy English News by Dr. Majid Ali. It was about water. In the May issue of the same newspaper, there was another interesting article by the same author. This time it was about sweets. I hope you all read it and remembered useful information given by an integrative physician and the author of hundreds of research articles and many books. If you lived in New York City, you could listen to Dr. Ali on WBAI (99.5 FM).
So, we have learned that there are some naturally man-made and chemically-made sweets.
Chemically-made sweets such as aspartame, saccharine and sucrose (Splenda) have no calories, but make us hungry for more foods. High-fructose corn syrup is a man-made sweetener because it is processed and sweeter than cane sugar.
The fructose in "high-fructose" syrups and foods is not well metabolized by the body. So, Dr. Ali recommends sweetening with Stevia, which is naturally sweet leaf with almost no calories, but Stevia is 10 to 15 times as sweet as sugar, so you have to be careful. Stevia does not make you hungry for more sweets. So, now we are going to talk some more about sweets - any kind of desserts, sugar, man-made sweeteners, chemically-made sweets and others.
A common misconception suggests that eating sugar is harmful or at least a weakness. Many well-educated people worry about sugar, candy, and desserts. For purposes of discussion, sweets can be defined as any food where sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup, honey, or other sugars are listed as the first ingredient on the packaging. Sweets are not bad. The body needs sugar to function. The brain needs glucose to think. Sweets just need to be eaten in moderation.
Many people are born with a "sweet tooth." Most adults also naturally seek and enjoy sweets. Giving candy as a gift for holidays and birthdays is a common symbol of affection. Even some members of the animal kingdom show a craving for sweets.
Sugar is naturally present in most foods except meat. The recommended daily allowance of calories from carbohydrates (sugar and starches) is 55 percent. Of this, no more than 10 percent should come from refined sugar (sucrose).
Lactose is the type of sugar found in milk.
Fructose is the sugar in fruits.
Maltose is the sugar in grain products.
Sucrose, the sugar refined from sugar cane and sugar beets, has no greater adverse effect on body function than any of the other sugars.
Xylitol: A low calorie natural sweetener made from birch bark. Xylitol is not only safe, natural sweetener without the bad side effects of sugar and artificial substitutes, it's also good for your teeth, stabilises insulin and hormone levels and promotes good health. Xylitol is widely distributed throughout nature in small amounts. Some of the best sources are fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, and corncobs. One cup of raspberries contains less than one gram of xylitol.
Stevia: Used worldwide as a no-calorie herbal sweetener, Stevia is a South American herb that is 30 times sweeter than sugar. With hundreds of studies showing Stevia is a safe alternative.
Is there any sense behind the statement, 'Sugar is to be avoided'?
Nancy Appleton, PhD, clinical nutritionist, has compiled a list of 146 reasons on 'how sugar is ruining your health' in her book Lick the Sugar Habit. Here are some of them: Sugar can decrease growth hormone (the key to staying youthful and lean) Sugar feeds cancer Sugar increases cholesterol Sugar can weaken eyesight Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein Sugar causes food allergies Sugar contributes to diabetes Sugar can contribute to eczema in children Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease Sugar can impair the structure of DNA Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases) Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of yeast infections Sugar contributes to osteoporosis.
There is another concern about overuse of sugar and sweets. Here is some information about it.
What does sugar have to do with anti-aging and wrinkles? Research has shown that sugar affects our skin as well as our body.
Americans eat too much sugar. Many of us grew up eating cookies and cakes. Sweets are part of celebrations and gatherings. But sugar effects not only our bodies, but also our skin.
So What?
Did you know that the average American consumes 31 teaspoons of added sugar each day? This is the same as 465 calories. Many foods, such as carbohydrates and fruits, convert to sugar in our bodies but additional sugar puts an even greater strain on our bodies.
Research has shown that sugar in our bloodstream can attach to proteins. That combination then damages other proteins nearby. This process results in what is called advanced glycation end products, orAGE's. Since collagen is the protein that keeps our skin firm and elastic, too much sugar damages those proteins and our skin begins to show the effects. We are soon faced with more wrinkles and dull skin.
But proteins are considered the basic building blocks of life. They are not just found in our skin. Enzymes are proteins and so are antibodies. In fact, proteins make up most of our body's tissues. AGE's build up over time. A lifetime of eating sugar is aging most of us much more rapidly than we can imagine.
Anti-aging Tip - Watch for hidden sugars and eat as little added sugar as possible.
One of the aging reasons is high fructose corn syrup. Refuse to use products with this ingredient. It is very damaging to your health. Of course AGE's are produced by other factors as well. You can read more about them in the book, Ageless Face, Ageless Mind by Dr. Nicholas Perricone.
The good news is that skin damaged by sugar can be repaired.
First, stop eating so much sugar. This includes processed sweets and sodas.
And don't substitute artificial sweeteners. Many have been shown to have an adverse effect on the body. Others may seem safe, but new studies are beginning to question their safety.
Instead use Stevia. Stevia is an herb that sweetens. You can purchase it at any health food store.
Sugar affects our skin. If you want to look younger and be healthier make an effort to decrease your sugar intake.
Okay, we all know that cakes, pies, cookies, candy, etc. have a lot of sugar. But there are many foods that contain sugar that we might not expect. Take time to read the labels. The product contains sugar if the label lists:
Corn syrup
Barley malt
Fruit juice concentrate
Ingredients that end in "-ose" like Dextrose, Maltose and Fructose
Low Blood Sugar
What is it?Hypoglycemia just means that you have low blood sugar. The body needs sugar to give you energy. When there is not enough sugar in your body, you may feel "not quite right." The SymptomsTypical symptoms include sweating, nervousness, inability to concentrate, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, fatigue, headache, irritability, hunger, abdominal pain, sudden drowsiness, confusion, and tingling or numbness of the mouth, hands or body. Severe hypoglycemia can result in convulsions and unconsciousness (coma). If you have a combination of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about being tested for hypoglycemia. Of course, other conditions could cause you to have some of the same symptoms, so it is possible that you are not suffering from low blood sugar. The CausesHypoglycemia is itself a symptom, not a disease. Doctors will often diagnose hypoglycemia without determining the source of the problem. Hypoglycemia most often occurs in people who are taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs. In some rare cases, hypoglycemia can result from liver or kidney disease, drug reactions, too much alcohol, or malnutrition. Hormonal imbalances may also cause hypoglycemia. No matter what the cause, it is important that the diagnosis of hypoglycemia not be an end in and of itself. Rather, the root cause must be determined so you can receive proper treatment. TreatmentThe long-term treatment for hypoglycemia will depend on the underlying cause. However, there are some immediate treatments that one should use to avoid the worsening of the symptoms. It would seem that if your body was just missing sugar, then if you ate something sweet, your body would be happy. However, small, frequent (like six times a day) meals of complex carbohydrates will work much better than sugars. Sweets are a quick fix, if you feel the previously mentioned symptoms coming on. If the symptoms continue and you do not eat anything, fainting can result. What goes up quickly also drops again quickly, so sugars should not be relied on, except in an emergency. Small, frequent, carbohydrate-rich meals are your best defense against low blood sugar levels and its consequences. If symptoms are severe and do not improve even after you have eaten something, go to the nearest emergency room, preferably with an escort.
Wilbur Wright was born in eighteen sixty-seven near Melville, Indiana. His brother Orville was born four years later in Dayton, Ohio. Throughout their lives, they were best friends. As Wilbur once said: "From the time we were little children, Orville and I lived together, played together, worked together and thought together."
Wilbur and Orville's father was a bishop, an official of the United Brethren Church. He traveled a lot on church business. Their mother was unusual for a woman of the nineteenth century. She had completed college. She was especially good at mathematics and science. And she was good at using tools to fix things or make things.
One winter day when the Wright brothers were young, all their friends were outside sliding down a hill on wooden sleds. The Wright brothers were sad, because they did not have a sled. So, Mrs. Wright said she would make one for them. She drew a picture of a sled. It did not look like other sleds. It was lower to the ground and not as wide. She told the boys it would be faster, because there would be less resistance from the wind when they rode on it. Mrs. Wright was correct. When the sled was finished, it was the fastest one around. Wilbur and Orville felt like they were flying.
The sled project taught the Wright brothers two important rules. They learned they could increase speed by reducing wind resistance. And they learned the importance of drawing a design. Mrs. Wright said: "If you draw it correctly on paper, it will be right when you build it."
When Wilbur was eleven years old and Orville seven, Bishop Wright brought home a gift for them. It was a small flying machine that flew like helicopters of today. It was made of paper, bamboo and cork.
The motor was a rubber band that had to be turned many times until it was tight. When the person holding the toy helicopter let go, it rose straight up. It stayed in the air for a few seconds. Then it floated down to the floor.
Wilbur and Orville played and played with their new toy. Finally, the paper tore and the rubber band broke. They made another one. But it was too heavy to fly. Their first flying machine failed.
Their attempts to make the toy gave them a new idea. They would make kites to fly and sell to their friends. They made many designs and tested them. Finally, they had the right design. The kites flew as though they had wings.
The Wright brothers continued to experiment with mechanical things. Orville started a printing business when he was in high school. He used a small printing machine to publish a newspaper. He sold copies of the newspaper to the other children in school, but he did not earn much money from the project.
Wilbur offered some advice to his younger brother. Make the printing press bigger and publish a bigger newspaper, he said. So, together, they designed and built one. The machine looked strange. Yet it worked perfectly. Soon, Orville and Wilbur were publishing a weekly newspaper.
They also printed materials for local businessmen. They were finally earning money. Wilbur was twenty-five years old and Orville twenty-one when they began to sell and repair bicycles. Then they began to make them. But the Wright brothers never stopped thinking about flying machines.
In eighteen ninety-nine, Wilbur decided to learn about all the different kinds of flying machines that had been designed and tested through the years. Wilbur wrote to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He asked for all the information it had on flying.
The Wright brothers read everything they could about people who sailed through the air under huge balloons. They also read about people who tried to fly on gliders -- planes with wings, but no motors.
Then the Wright brothers began to design their own flying machine. They used the ideas they had developed from their earlier experiments with the toy helicopter, kites, printing machine and bicycles.
Soon, they needed a place to test their ideas about flight. They wrote to the Weather Bureau in Washington to find the place with the best wind conditions. The best place seemed to be a thin piece of sandy land in North Carolina along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It was called Kill Devil Hill, near the town of Kitty Hawk. It had the right wind and open space. Best of all, it was private.
In nineteen hundred, the Wright brothers tested a glider that could carry a person. But neither the first or second glider they built had the lifting power needed for real flight. Wilbur and Orville decided that what they had read about air pressure on curved surfaces was wrong. So they built a wind tunnel two meters long in their bicycle store in Dayton, Ohio. They tested more than two hundred designs of wings. These tests gave them the correct information about air pressure on curved surfaces. Now it was possible for them to design a machine that could fly.
The Wright brothers built a third glider. They took it to Kitty Hawk in the summer of nineteen-oh-two. They made almost one thousand flights with the glider. Some covered more than one hundred eighty meters. This glider proved that they had solved most of the problems of balance in flight. By the autumn of nineteen-oh-three, Wilbur and Orville had designed and built an airplane powered by a gasoline engine. The plane had wings twelve meters across. It weighed about three hundred forty kilograms, including the pilot.
The Wright brothers returned to Kitty Hawk. On December seventeen, nineteen-oh-three, they made the world's first flight in a machine that was heavier than air and powered by an engine. Orville flew the plane thirty-seven meters. He was in the air for twelve seconds. The two brothers made three more flights that day. The longest was made by Wilbur. He flew two hundred sixty meters in fifty-nine seconds. Four other men watched the Wright brothers' first flights. One of the men took pictures. Few newspapers, however, noted the event.
Wilbur and Orville returned home to Ohio. They built more powerful engines and flew better airplanes. But their success was almost unknown. Most people still did not believe flying was possible. It was almost five years before the Wright brothers became famous. In nineteen-oh-eight, Wilbur went to France. He gave demonstration flights at heights of ninety meters. A French company agreed to begin making the Wright brothers' flying machine.
Orville made successful flights in the United States at the time Wilbur was in France. One lasted an hour. Orville also made fifty-seven complete circles over a field at Fort Myer, Virginia. The United States War Department agreed to buy a Wright brothers' plane. Wilbur and Orville suddenly became world heroes. Newspapers wrote long stories about them. Crowds followed them. But they were not seeking fame. They returned to Dayton where they continued to improve their airplanes. They taught many others how to fly.
Wilbur Wright died of typhoid fever in nineteen twelve. Orville Wright continued designing and inventing until he died many years later, in nineteen forty-eight.
Today, the Wright brothers' first airplane is in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Visitors to the museum look at the Wright brothers' small plane with its cloth wings, wooden controls and tiny engine. Then they see space vehicles and a rock collected from the moon. This is striking evidence of the changes in the world since Wilbur and Orville Wright began the modern age of flight, one hundred years ago.
(This program was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano and produced by Paul Thompson. Your announcers were Sarah Long and Rich Kleinfeldt. I'm Faith Lapidus. Join us again next week for PEOPLE IN AMERICA from VOA Special English.)
Comprehension check:
1. The Wright Brothers invented the airplane _________________ .
a. less than 100 years ago
b. more than 100 years ago
c. about two hundred years ago
d. In the Nineteenth Century
2. The Wright Brothers first learned about wind resistance from a ________________ .
a. toy helicopter
b. well designed sled
c. new type of bicycle
d. heavier than air glider
3. Wilbur and Orville Wright had very _________________ .
a. similar interests
b. different ideas
c. different lifestyles
d. opposite viewpoints
4. As boys, Wilbur and Orville were encouraged by ______________ .
a. only their mother
b. only their father
c. both of their parents
d. only an aunt and uncle
5. They probably didn't learn too much about flight from their experiences with _______________ .
a. a toy helicopter
b. kites
c. a printing machine
d. typhoid fever
6. They decided that their information about air pressure on curved surfaces was wrong. So, they devised a way to test wings. They used _________________ .
a. a wind tunnel
b. long, level field
c. several rubber bands
d. several drawings
7. The first heavier than air flight accomplished by the Wright Brothers lasted for _______________ .
a. one hour
b. thirty-seven minutes
c. twelve seconds
d. twenty four hours
8. Their mother taught the Wright Brothers the importance of ________________ .
a. low wind resistance
b. starting with a good drawing
c. dating young women at an early age
d. finding financial backing
9. Another name for this article could be _________________ .
a. "Two Brothers Invent the Airplane"
b. "Traveling by Helicopter and Glider"
c. "The History of Flight"
d. "The Boys Who Imitated the Birds"
10. This story is mainly about how ______________________ .
a. to prevent gliders from crashing
b. the Wright Brothers invented the airplane
c. to make money publishing newspapers
d. to avoid common aviation errors
Everybody, get ready with your carry on luggage to board The Wright Brothers first airplane:
