Happy New Year 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2010

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make. The new year is a time to resolve to follow through on those changes. If you haven’t made any new year’s resolutions, here are ten ideas.

1. Spend more time with family & friends.
2. Fit in fitness.
3. Lose weight.
4. Quit smoking.
5. Enjoy life more. Have more leisure time.
6. Quit drinking.
7. Get out of debt.
8. Help others.
9. Get organized.
10. Learn something new.

VOCABULARY
1. reflect (verb) It’s a time to reflect on what has already happened.
a. give back some money b. review; study c. think over; contemplate

2. resolve (verb) The new year is a time to resolve to do something.
a. to ring a bell b. to solve a problem c. to decide

3. From the short reading above, can you tell me what a New Year’s resolution (noun) is?
4. What does the verb “fit in” mean in #2?
a. be the right size. b. make enough time for c. be comfortable

5. fitness (noun)
a. good health or physical condition
b. happiness
c. able to ride a bicycle

6. What’s the difference between these two words?
lose (verb) [pronounced LOOZ] and loose (adj.) [pronounced LOOS]
Can you write a sentence for each one? YOUR TURN

lose ______________________________________________________________

loose _____________________________________________________________

7. leisure (adj.) [pronounced LEEzhur]
a. for sure; certain b. free time; freedom from work or duty c. tight clothes

8. debt (noun) [pronounced DET]

GRAMMAR

The verb in each of these resolutions is in the form of a command. It comes from the infinitive (base form), but as a command, it is directed to another person.
For example: Spend more time . . . is a command for someone else to spend more time doing something.

In the case of a resolution, it is you, yourself, you are talking to.
You say to yourself: I SHOULD SPEND more time . . .


What is the verb in each of these resolutions? Some are two-word verbs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

CONVERSATION

1. How can you spend more time with your friends and family?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How can you “fit in fitness”?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How can you lose weight (or control your weight)?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4, How can you quit smoking or how can you help someone else quit smoking?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What can you do in your leisure time?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How can you quit drinking or quit gambling or help someone quit.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How can you get out of debt?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


8. How can you help others?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What can you do to get more organized?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. How can you learn something new?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Talk to your partner and find out two resolutions your partner made.
Write them down.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________


12. Write two resolutions YOU made for 2010.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

White Christmas

BING CROSBY singing in HOLIDAY INN 1941


I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

VOCABULARY
1. glisten (verb) “tree tops glisten”
a. listen carefully
b. glitter; be shiny
c. stand tall

2. white (adj.) white Christmas
a. snowy
b. for white people
c. pretty

3. What words rhyme?
a. snow rhymes with ______________________
b. listen rhymes with ______________________
c. white rhymes with ____________________________________

4. How do you pronounce these words?
a. dresses b. dishes c. watches d. churches e. boxes
f. buzzes g. garages h. fences i. Christmases
What is the rule? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
1. Make a list of the verbs. Tell what tense and give the infinitive.
Subject verb tense infinitive

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


3. the ones I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.

a. I like Fuji apples. They are the ones I usually buy.
b. The 30 Stockton and the 45 are the busses I take to school, but they are the ones that
are always crowded.
c. I am taking Sally’s Grammar/Listening/Conversation class this semester. It’s the one
I’m going to take next semester, too.
d. I like Kung Fu movies. They are the ones I always go to see.
e. Toyota makes good cars. They are the ones you see everywhere in San Francisco.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using the one and the ones.

the one ____________________________________________________________

the ones ____________________________________________________________

4. USED TO (infinitive)
something you did (or was) before but don’t do (or aren’t) any more.

a. I used to smoke, but I don’t do it any more.
b. I used to be a teacher, but now I’m a student.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using USED TO and DIDN’T USE TO

used to ____________________________________________________________

didn’t use to ___________________________________________________________________
5. You can wish something good for someone by using
MAY and a VERB:
a. May your days be merry and bright..
b. May all your Christmases be white.
c. May you be happy and healthy in the year to come.
d. May you have a very Happy New Year.

Try the above sentences with I HOPE. (I hope that + a clause)
aa. I hope your days are (will be) merry and bright.


bb. I hope_______________________________________________________


cc. I hope_________________________________________


dd. I hope _________________________________________


CONVERSATION
1. What are you dreaming of? [day dreaming = fantasy thinking while awake, especially about happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions about the future or reminiscences of the past.




2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If not, are there any holidays when you get together with friends or family and exchange gifts?

To Lie Down

to lie down

lie/lies lay (have/has/had) lain
(am/is/are/was/were) lying



(pres. continuous)
1. The lion and the lamb ____________________ next to each other.



2. (past)
Two dogs _________________________ on the grass.



3. (past)
Yesterday was a beautiful day, so my friend Susan
___________ on her back in the sun.






4. (present)
He always ___________________ on his side when he sleeps.


5. (past continuous)
The baby _____________awake in her crib waiting for her mom to pick her up.


6. (past)
She was so tired when she came home from work that she just
_________________down on the couch and fell asleep.



7. (past)

The protesters got out of their car and ____________ on the ground.

YOUR TURN (Write a sentence using the verb to lie down.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Down by the Riverside

I'm gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)



Gonna lay down my sword and shield.
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS

I’m gonna walk with the Prince of Peace
Down by the riverside
And study war no more.

CHORUS

The Star-Spangled Banner

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light


What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars


through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts
we watched
were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare,

the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.


Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defense of Fort McHenry”, a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old poet and lawyer, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. The British wanted to take Baltimore, so they attacked Fort McHenry (which was protecting the harbor). At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat. The sight inspired him to write the poem

1. What words rhyme in this poem/song?
a. light rhymes with ___________________________________
b. gleaming rhymes with ______________________________
c. glare rhymes with ____________________ and ______________________
c. wave rhymes with ___________________________

2. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?


3. When is dawn? ___________________________________
4. When is twilight? __________________________________
5. What is an “anthem”? ______________________________
6. If peril means danger, what is a “perilous fight”? __________________________________________________________________
7. Who were the American fighting against?
________________________________________________________________
8. When Mr. Key saw the flag still flying after the battle, this was proof that the Americans had not been beaten. PROOF is “any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something.” Can you use the noun “proof” in a sentence?


9. Answer these questions in complete sentences please.
a. What colors are the American flag? ___________________________
b. How many stripes does the flag have? _________________________
c. What do the stripes represent? _______________________________________________________
d. How many stars does the flag have? _________________________
e. What do the stars represent? ________________________________________________________



The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815, although the peace treaty ending the war was signed in Europe in December 1814. The main land fighting of the war occurred along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay region and along the Gulf of Mexico; extensive action also took place at sea.
This conflict was caused mainly by the U.S. resentment of British naval harassment. The British were already at war with France. They seized American ships and took seamen from them, some who were U.S. citizens.
Two days before the declaration of war, Great Britain agreed to repeal the naval laws which were chiefly responsible for the conflict. Speedy communication would have also eliminated the greatest battle, the Battle of New Orleans that occurred 15 days after a peace treaty had been signed.

A Thanksgiving Story

A first-grade teacher asked her class to draw a picture of something they were thankful for. She tried to think of some things that these children from poor neighborhoods could actually be thankful for, but she knew that most of them would draw pictures of turkeys or tables with food. The teacher was taken aback by the picture Douglas handed in -- a simple childishly-drawn hand.


But whose hand? The class wanted to talk about Douglas’s drawing.
“I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,” said one child.
“I think it’s a farmer’s hand,” said another, “because he raises the turkeys.”
Finally when the others were busy at work, the teacher bent over Douglas’s desk and asked whose hand it was. “It’s your hand, Teacher,” he mumbled.
She recalled that frequently at recess she had taken Douglas by the hand. She often did that with the children, but it really meant a lot to Douglas.
Perhaps this is what Thanksgiving means, not to be thankful for material things but to be thankful for the chance, in whatever small way, to give to others.

I. VOCABULARY (words and idioms)
1. thankful (adj.) be thankful for
a. careful
b. grateful
c. doubtful

2. be taken aback by ( aback = adv.) The teacher was taken aback by the picture.
a. be shocked or surprised
b. be taken away
c. be happy

3. childish (adj) He acted in a childish way. She has a childish voice.
It was a childishly-drawn picture. (adv.)
a. like an adult
b. foolish
c. lacking in maturity; characteristic of a child

4. at work (adverbial phrase) Everybody in the class was hard at work.
a. doing the school assignment
b. in the office
c. doing homework

5. bent over (past tense of bend verb) The teacher bent over Douglas’s desk.
a. stood up straight
b. looked at
c.. curved or crooked posture

6. mumbled (verb) When he talked, he mumbled.
a. spoke in a loud voice
b. talked in a low and indistinct voice
c. yelled

7. frequently (adverb) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. not often
b. very often
c. always

8. at recess (adverbial phrase) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. not often
b. very often
c. always

9. by the hand (adverb) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. played with him on the playground
b. took him home
c. held his hand

10. material things (adverb) I am not thankful for material things; I am thankful for things you can’t touch.
a. mountains
b. physical objects that can be bought with money
c. thoughts



Look at the two-word verbs (phrasals) used in the story.
1. be thankful for Be thankful for the chance to give to others.
YOUR TURN (Talk about yourself.)
___________________________________________________________
2. think of She tried to think of things (that) the children could draw.
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________
3. handed in Douglas handed in a simple drawing.
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________
4. be taken aback by (something) I was taken aback by his nasty remark.
[something that is startling enough to make us jump back in surprise]
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________


II. GRAMMAR
1. WHOSE
possessive adjective requesting a person for an answer
(DO NOT CONFUSE THIS with Who is? Who's))
As a question . . . WHOSE noun ?
Whose hand? God’s hand.
Whose book is this? It’s my (her, his, your, our, their) book.
(It’s) Sally’s book.
I know whose book this is. Whose is it?
I went to a house whose owners were from China.
YOUR TURN
a. Please ask a question using WHOSE.
______________________________________________________
b. Please use WHOSE answer your question.
______________________________________________________

Possessives: possessive nouns
singular The student’s books are at her house.
plural Three students’ books are on my desk.
also These men’s jackets are on sale for $100.

Possessive proper nouns (capital letter)
Douglas’s hand was funny-looking. (Charles’s car, Mr. Jones’s car)
Safeway’s managers are very helpful.
Walgreen’s [store] is open from 8-11p.m.
YOUR TURN
a. Please write one sentence using a singular possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
b. Please write one sentence using a plural possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
c. Please write one sentence using a proper possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
to raise (transitive verb S V O You need an object with this ver.
raise /s raised raised

Examples with objects.
a. I raised my hand.
b. She was too weak to raise her head.
c. The janitor raises the flag every morning.
d. I have raised three children.
e. My boss raised my pay.
f. The chicken farmer raises chickens.
YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using RAISE.

_____________________________________________________________________




III. CONVERSATION
What are you thankful for? Talk with your partner and share your thoughts. Then write the answer to this question.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THINK ABOUT THIS:
Let us stand up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little; and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick; and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

Take a Risk or Not

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil. The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me. I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew.

The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts. What if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child might pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited.

A yard hen, scratching around in the early spring ground for food, found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

The moral of the story is this:
Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.


VOCABULARY
Look at the word and see if you can tell the meaning from the context.
Choose a, b, or c.
1. risk (noun) She took a risk and put her money in the stock market.
a. the possibility of loss or injury or other negative occurrence
b. a lot of money
c. a lot of power
2. fertile (adj.) We can plant our seeds in the fertile soil.
a. hard
b. capable of growing, reproducing, and developing
c. soft
3. roots (noun) The tree’s roots went deep into the earth.
a. branches on a tree
b. special food
c. underground portion of a plant
4. soil (noun) She planted the seeds in the soil.
a. the top layer of the earth’s surface supporting plant life
b. oil
c. dirty laundry
5. thrust (verb) He thrust a dagger into the man’s back.
He thrust his way into the crowd.
a. to throw away
b. to run
c. to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force
5. sprouts (noun) The plant’s sprouts are just becoming visible.
a. shoots or buds of a plant
b. roots of a plant
c. flowers of a plant

6. crust (noun) Scientists are studying the earth’s crust.
a. a volcano
b. the outer layer of the earth
c. part of a pie
7. unfurl (verb) The flag unfurled as it hung on the pole.
a. unroll, unfold, or spread out
b. unnecessary
c. underneath
8. tender (adj.) The flower had tender buds.
a. hard or tough
b. young
c. soft or delicate
9. buds (noun)
a. a small projection on a plant
b. the roots of a plant
c. the flowers on a plant
10. banners (noun) She was carrying a banner in the parade.
a. songs
b. flags or cloths with a logo, symbol or message on them
c. poems
11. blessing (noun) The child was a blessing to her parents.
a. something that contributes to happiness or well-being
b. kissing
c. running
12. dew (noun) There was dew on the leaves.
a. a sweet drink
b. water droplets
c. soda
13. petals (noun) The dew fell on the petals.
a. beautiful pictures
b. the place for your feet on a bicycle
c. one of the often brightly colored parts of a flower
14. encounter (verb) I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark.
a. find
b. lose
c. eat
15. delicate (adj.) That plant has delicate sprouts.
a. strong
b. dainty
c. simple
16. blossoms (noun) The flower opened its blossoms.
a. stems
b. balloons
c. the flowers of the plant
17. scratching around (adj.) A yard hen scratching around for food ate the seed.
a. jumping
b. looking for
c. itching
18. promptly (adverb) The hen promptly ate the seed.
a. slowly
b. quickly
c. finally


GRAMMAR
1. to lay (transitive verb S V O )
I lay We lay past tense: laid
You lay You lay past participle: laid
He/She/It lays They lay
Examples: Present: The hen lays 2 eggs every other day. She never lays just one egg.
S V O S V O
Past Tense: Yesterday the hen laid 3 eggs.
S V O
I think I laid my keys on the table this morning, but now I can’t find them.
S V O
Present Perfect Tense: She has never laid a brown egg (in her whole life).
S v V O
Name some things that you often lay (put) on the table. (your keys, jacket, books, _______
A. Write a sentence using lay (in the present tense). _________, _________, _______
______________________________________________________________________
B. Write a sentence using laid (past tense)
______________________________________________________________________

2. WANT TO + (verb)
A. What does the first seed want to do?
He wants 1. to grow. 4. ______________
2. ______________ 5. _______________
3. ______________ 6. _______________
B. What do you want to do? or What do you want to be? Tell me three things.
1. I want __________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________

3. IF + present tense, main clause WILL/WON’T or (CAN/CAN’T)+ base verb form Examples: If I eat too much, I will get fat.
If I don’t eat nutritious food, I won’t be healthy.
A. The second seed had real fears about the future. Read about those fears again.
Write me two sentences using IF + present tense, telling me about your present condition and how it will affect your future.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
COMPREHENSION and CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner and then write your answers.
1. This story is an imaginary conversation between ________________________ .
2. What did the first seed do? and What did the second seed do?
___________________________________________________________________
3. In the end, what happened to the second seed?
___________________________________________________________________
4. What is your opinion about taking risks?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Thousand and One Nights

The legendary Persian Queen Scheherazade telling her ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS stories to King Shahryar

Every day, King Shahryar married a new virgin , and every day he
would send yesterday's wife to be beheaded. This was done in
anger , having found out that his first wife had betrayed him. He
had killed three thousand such women by the time he was introduced to
Scheherazade, the vizier's * daughter .

Against her father's protestations, Scheherazade volunteered to spend one night with the King. Once in the king's chambers, Scheherazade began to tell the king a story.

During the long night, the king lay awake and listened in awe as Scheherazade told her first story. Scheherazade stopped in the middle of the story. The King asked her to finish, but she said there was not enough time, as dawn was breaking. So the king spared her life for one day to finish the story. The next night, Scheherazade finished the story, and then began a second one, even more exciting, again stopping halfway through, at dawn. Again the king spared her life for one day to finish the second story.

And so the king kept Scheherazade alive day by day as he eagerly anticipated her finishing the previous night's story. At the end of one thousand and one nights, and one thousand stories, Scheherazade told the king that she had no more tales to tell him. During these one thousand and one nights, the king had fallen in love with Scheherazade and had had three sons with her. So, having been made a wiser and kinder man by Scheherazade and her tales, he spared her life and made her his queen.
*vizier = high officer or minister of state in various Muslim countries
VOCABULARY

Read the story. Look at the sentences, and try to define these words from the context.

1. virgin (noun) E v e r y d a y, King S h a h r y a r married a n e w v i r g i n ,
a. an airline company
b. a person who has never had sex
c. a stewardess

2. beheaded (verb)
E v e r y d a y h e w o u l d s e n d y e s t e r d a y ' s w i f e t o b e b e h e a d e d .
a. got a hair cut
b. behaved badly
c. had her head cut off

3. betrayed (verb)
H i s f i r s t w i f e had betrayed h i m.
a. cheated on him
b. cooked for him
c. married him

4. protestations (noun)
Against her father's protestations, Scheherazade volunteered to spend one night with the King.
a. praises
b. objections
c. help

5. volunteered (verb)
a. worked without pay
b. worked with pay
c. studied at school

6. chambers
Once in the king's chambers, Scheherazade began to tell the king a story.
a. kitchen
b. bedroom
c. living room


7. in awe (in = preposition awe = noun object of the preposition)
The king listened in awe as Scheherazade told her first story.
a. sitting on the bed
b. happily living’
c. a mixed feeling of fear and wonder
8. dawn (adverbial noun)
She said there was not enough time, as dawn was breaking.
a. morning
b. evening
c. night

9. spared her life
So the king spared her life for one day.
a. didn’t kill her
b. changed her
c. talked to her

10. alive (adj.)
So the king kept Scheherazade alive day by day
a. awake
b. asleep
c. living

11. eagerly (adverb)
He eagerly anticipated her finishing the previous night's story.
a. really interested
b. very helpful
c. sadly

12.anticipated (verb)
a.thought ahead
b. stopped
c. continued

13. tales (noun)
She had no more tales to tell him.
a. pictures
b. stories
c. writings




GRAMMAR
1. Please circle all the past tense verbs (21) in the story (one is past progressive)
2. What are the subjects and the infinitives?




3. There are four past perfect verbs in the story. (HAD + past participle of a verb)

What did his wife do to him?
a.

By the time he was introduced to Scheherazade, what had he done to his wives?
b.

As she was telling him these tales, what happened to the king?
c.

Over all these 1001 nights, she not only told him all those stories, what happened to Scheherazade?
d.

Please tell me about two things that happened n the past -- one before the other. The first thing will use the PAST PERFECT TENSE.

YOUR TURN
e. _________________________________________________________



4. PASSIVE voice is NOT A VERB TENSE

It is used when the subject becomes the object. S V O
For example: regular order of sentences is S V O Sally threw the ball.
PASSIVE voice: verb (to be) + past participle
S V
S V O The ball was thrown (by Sally).
a. A man robbed the woman.

S V
aa. The woman was robbed on the bus (by a man). PASSIVE voice

S V O
b. Most of the students have done all their homework.

S V
bb. All the homework was done by most of the students. PASSIVE voice


b. What are the PASSIVE VOICES USED IN THIS STORY? Talk to your partner and see if you can identify them. (4) Write the sentences from the story.




Look for the verb (be) + a past participle Subject Verb and NO object.

1.

2.

3.

4.
YOUR TURN
Please write a pair of sentences, the first with a Subject, Verb, and an Object.
Then write the same sentence in the PASSIVE voice using the verb to be + past participle with only a Subject and that verb.



COMPREHENSION AND CONVERSATION
Please talk to your partner and then write complete sentences to answer these questions.

1. Why did King Shahryar behead all his wives?


2. What did Sheherazade volunteer to do?




3. Why did the king spare Sheherazade’s life?




4. How did Sheherazade save her own life?




5. What’s your opinion about what Sheherezade did?
________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

The Farmer, the Son, and the Donkey

A farmer and his son were walking their donkey to market, where they were going to sell him. They had not gone far when they met a bunch of giggling girls.
“Look there!” cried one of them. “Aren’t they a foolish pair to be trudging along on foot when one of them could be riding?”
When the farmer heard this, he told his son to get up on the donkey. They then went along happily until they came to a group of men talking by the side of the road.
“My, my!” said one of the men. “Just look at that young fellow riding in comfort while his poor old father has to walk.”
“Get off that donkey, you lazy boy!” shouted another, “and let your father ride.”
Right away, the son slid off the donkey, and the farmer took his place. Before they had gone far, they passed a group of housewives.
“Why, you heartless old fellow!” cried several of the women at once. “How can you ride when your poor tired child can hardly keep up with you? What mean fathers there are nowadays!”
So the good-natured farmer pulled his son up behind him, and they both rode along on the donkey’s back. When they reached the town, a villager pointed at them. “Tell me,” he asked the farmer, “is that donkey yours?”
“Yes,” replied the farmer.
“I would never have thought so,” said the villager, “from the way you load him down. You should be ashamed of yourself! The two of you are better able to carry that poor beast than he is to carry you.”
“You are right!” agreed the farmer. Then he and his son got down from the donkey’s back.
How could they possibly carry the donkey? The farmer puzzled over this for a long time. Then at last an idea came to him. Cutting a think branch from a nearby tree, he trimmed it into a stout pole. With some difficulty, he and his son tied the donkey’s feet to the pole and lifted both the pole and the donkey to their shoulders.
By the time they reached the town bridge, a whole crowd of people had gathered to hoot and laugh at the funny-looking sight. The donkey, frightened by the racket, took it into his head to kick at the ropes. All of a sudden, he pulled loose from the pole and tumbled off the bridge into the water. Since he was unable to swim, he soon drowned.
The farmer and his son hung their heads in shame and started back home.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The moral of this story is this:
If you try to please everyone, you may end up pleasing no one at all.

VOCABULARY
Look at these words from the story and choose the meaning from a, b, or c.
1. giggling (adj.) “a bunch of giggling girls”
a. sewing
b. laughing
c. dancing

2. foolish (adj.) “Aren’t they a foolish pair?
a. stupid
b. smart
c. determined

3. trudging (verb) “They were trudging along on foot.”
a. tripping
b. running
c. walking in a heavy-footed laborious way

4. fellow (noun) “That young fellow was riding in comfort.”
a. a young man
b. a young woman
c. to be behind someone

5. slid off (verb) “The son slid off the donkey.”
a. took the lid off
b. bell down from
c. felt shy

6. heartless (adj.) “He’s a heartless man.”
a. having a bad heart
b. in love
c. lacking kindness

7. cried (verb) “Several women cried at once.”
a. felt very sad
b. shouted
c. talked softly

8. at once (adverbial “noun”)
a. by themselves
b. at the same time
c. for the first time


9. hardly (adverb) “The child can hardly keep up with you.”
a. barely; with difficulty
b. very difficult
c. certainly

10. mean (adj.) “What mean fathers there are nowadays!”
a. bad-tempered, nasty, unsympathetic, hard-hearted
b. definite
c. for men only

11. nowadays (adverbial “noun”)
a. in your free time
b. a long time ago
c. during the present time

12. good-natured (adj.) “The good-natured farmer pulled his son up behind him.”
a. healthy
b. easy-going and cheerful
c. vegetarian

*13. poor (adj.) “That poor beast is carrying too heavy a load.
a. used when you feel sorry for someone
b. having llittle money
c. dirty

POOR in idioms: “You poor thing!”
“Poor you!”
“Poor guy/girl”

14. beast (noun)
a. a monster or dragon
b. any four-footed animal used for labor, food or sport
c. a bird

15. trimmed (verb) “He trimmed the tree into a stout pole.”
a. tripped over some wood
b. cooked with wood, like a barbeque
c. to make neat by clipping or to cut the excess

16. stout (adj.)
a. short
b. fat
c. tall

17. hoot (verb) “The whole crowd of people gathered to hoot and laugh at the
funny-looking sight.”
a. to shout, especially in a negative way
b. to ask who
c. to vote

18. funny-looking (adj.)
a. a joke
b. handsome
c. strange or odd; not good-looking

19. racket (noun) “He was frightened by the racket.”
a. lots of noise
b. something used to play tennis with
c. a rocket ship

20. pulled loose (verb) “He pulled loose from the pole.”
a. got free
b. got tied up
c. got lost

21. to please (verb)
a. to give enjoyment or pleasure; to satisfy
b. to place something down
c. to call the police

GRAMMAR
PAST TENSE VERBS
1.Please circle all the past tense verbs in the story.
2. How many past tense verbs did you circle? __________________
3. Choose 5 of those past tense verbs and write your own sentences
YOUR TURN
a_______________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________

c._________________________________________________________________

d._________________________________________________________________

e. _________________________________________________________________





B. There are 3 PAST PERFECT VERBS in the story. HAD + past participle
Please write these here:

a.___________________ b.___________________ c. ___________________

PAST PERFECT TENSE is used when two past tenses are in the same sentence, one thing happened before the other. For that first happening, use the PAST PERFECT.
For example:
I had already eaten dinner when my husband came home from work.
By the time my husband came home, I had already eaten dinner.

Which happened first? Your dinner or your husband’s coming home?

Because I had already graduated from college, I got a good job.

Which happened first? Your graduation or your getting a good job?

They had not gone far when they met a bunch of giggling girls.

Which happened first? Their going far or their meeting the girls?

Please try writing a sentence using past perfect tense. You may use ALREADY or
BY THE TIME to help you with the idea of something happening FIRST.
YOUR TURN: _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

C. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS “Is that donkey YOURS?”

Possessive pronouns are possessives used WITHOUT NOUNS.

MINE YOURS HIS HERS OURS YOURS THEIRS

(as opposed to possessive adjectives which are used with nouns.)
My book/books Your book/books His book/books Her book/books
Our apartment Your car/cars Their child/children

Please write a pair of sentences to show me you understand the difference:
For example:

a. I love my new car, and she loves her car.
aa. I love MINE, and she loves HERS.

b. We drove to the hospital to see their new grandson.
bb. All the babies were cute, but THEIRS was the cutest.

YOUR TURN:

c. ___________________________________________________________

cc . ___________________________________________________________

D. WHAT used in sentences of surprise with an exclamation point.
This is NOT A QUESTION, so the subject and verb are in regular order. S V

“What mean fathers there are nowadays!”

Examples: What + (plural or non-count noun) and

a. What beautiful/awful weather we’re having!
b. What tender meat this is!
c. What delicious vegetables you cooked!

YOUR TURN: ___________________________________________________
What a + (singular noun)

a. What a delicious dinner you cooked!
b. What a terrific time we had at your party!
c. What a mess you made in the kitchen!

YOUR TURN: ___________________________________________________

E. TOO adjective + A singular noun + infinitive (This is a negative idea.)

Examples: a. This is too heavy a box for me to carry.
b. Lance is too short a person to play basketball.
c. My grandmother is too weak a woman to climb up the stairs.

YOUR TURN: ___________________________________________________

[ or You could say it this way: (TOO adjective + noun)
aa. This box is too heavy for me to carry.
bb. Lance is _______________________________
cc. My grandmother is ______________________________________ ]


COMPREHENSION AND CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner and then write your answers in complete sentences.

1. Why were the farmer and his son walking their donkey to market?



2. Who rode on the donkey first and why?



3. Who rode on the donkey next and why?



4. Why did the farmer and the son decide to get off the donkey?



5. What finally happened?



6. What does the moral of this story mean? Tell me in your own words what this means:
If you try to please everyone, you may end up pleasing no one at all.

©gati2009

Letter to Dad

An old Italian was living alone in Chicago. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was a difficult job because the ground was very hard. His only son, Vincent, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Nov. 3, 2009
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here, my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love,
Papa

A few days later, he received this letter from his son:

Nov. 6, 2009
Dear Papa,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the bodies.
Love,
Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents
and
the local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son:

Nov. 8, 2009
Dear Papa,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Your loving son,
Vinnie

VOCABULARY
1. How do you describe people from various countries?

a. from Italy (the) Italians He’s (an) Italian.
b. from China _______________________________________________
c. from France _______________________________________________
d. from India _______________________________________________
e. from Korea _______________________________________________
f. from Russia _______________________________________________
g. from Sweden _______________________________________________
h. from the United States ________________________________________
i. from Mexico _______________________________________________
j. from Burma (Myanmar) ______________________________________
k. from Afghanistan __________________________________________
l. from Iraq _______________________________________________
m. from Guatemala___________________________________________
n. from El Salvador ___________________________________________
o. from Brazil _______________________________________________
p. from Ruanda _______________________________________________
q. from South Africa __________________________________________
r. from Kenya _______________________________________________
s. from Nigeria _______________________________________________
t. from _____________________________________________________

2. Can you define these words by looking at the sentences from the story? Try to guess their meanings (DO NOT looking them up in your dictionary) and choose a, b, or c.
1. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden.
annual
a. daily
b. weekly
c. yearly
2.. . . the ground was very hard.
ground
a. the dirt (earth)
b. his job
c. his occupation
3. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.
predicament
a. job
b. difficult situation
c. future problem
5. I’m feeling pretty sad.
pretty
a. beautiful
b. very
c. cute
6. I’m getting too old to be digging up a garden plot.
plot
a. a piece of land
b. the story
c. flowers
7. Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.
Go ahead
a. Get out of jail
b. Stop
c. You have my permission
8. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Under the circumstance/s
a. under the table
b. because of the situation I am in.
c. for you

3. What’s the difference between His only son and He has one son ?




4. What’s the difference between “in jail” and “in prison”.






GRAMMAR
1. Find all the verbs in the story. (29)
Subjects Verbs Tense Infinitive
1. An Italian was living past continuous to live
2. He
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.

2. TOO, meaning MORE THAN
too + adjective (+ infinitive)

a. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot.
b. He’s too tired to eat tonight.
c. My daughter bought a pair of shoes but they’re too tight on her feet.
d. Too much money makes some people greedy.
e. I have too many things to do tonight.
Pick any two adjectives and write two sentences using TOO.
f.

g.______________________________________________________________________

3. Superlatives with adjectives
Irregular single-syllable adj. ending in “y” 2-or-more-syllable adjectives
the thinnest the heaviest, the most expensive
the best,
the cleverest the most clever


Please write three of your own sentences with superlatives.

a.____________________________________________________________________

b. ____________________________________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________________________________




4. LIKE
a. expression: It looks like (As I see it, in my opinion)
It looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year.
It looks like a beautiful day today.
Your Turn:
_____________________________________________________________________

b. look like (comparing two people or two situations
You look like your mother.
She looks like (as if) she’s going to cry.
Your Turn:
_____________________________________________________________________

c. like (as) (the same as)
I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Butter tastes [or doesn’t taste) like margarine.
She is like her mother (in actions, not in looks).
Your Turn:
_____________________________________________________________________

d. the verb like (enjoy)
I like rice.
I like to fish.
I like fishing.
Your Turn:
_____________________________________________________________________

5. A FEW
Please read the examples and then write your own sentences on the lines.
1. A few days later (said when you are telling about a past event)

We went to a party on Saturday night. A few days later, a guy, whom I met at the party, called me.

A. ___________________________________________________________________

2a. A few days from now (when you are telling about what event will happen)
2b. In a few days (when you are telling about what event will happen)

I just got my paycheck. In a few days from now, I’m going to deposit it in the bank.
In a few days, I’ll be starting a new job.

B. ___________________________________________________________________

[DIFFERENT meaning with “for”:
I will be in Las Vegas for a few days. (for 3 or 4 days)]

3. A few days ago (when you are telling about an event that already happened,
3 or 4 days in the past)
My husband went to Los Angeles a few days ago, and he won’t be home for a week.
He’ll be home in a week (from now).

C. ___________________________________________________________________

You can do the same with a year/month/week/hour/day/minute later,
In a year/month /week/hour/day/minute from now,
a year/month /week/hour/day/minute ago

Choose a time period + later, from now, ago and write three more sentences.

D. ___________________________________________________________________

E. ___________________________________________________________________

F. ___________________________________________________________________


6. THIS NEXT LAST


This morning/afternoon/evening//day/night/week/month/year
The next______ morning/afternoon/evening//day/night/week/month/year
Last night/week/month/year yesterday (NOT LAST DAY)


G. ___________________________________________________________________

H. ___________________________________________________________________

I. ____________________________________________________________________


COMPREHENSION Answer the questions by writing in complete sentences. And CONVERSATION
1. What is the ethnic background of the father?
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Where was the father living? __________________________________________________________________
3. Who was Vincent? __________________________________________________________________
4. Where was Vincent? _________________________________________________________________
5. Who is Vinnie? __________________________________________________________________
6. What does Vinnie mean when he writes about the “bodies”? __________________________________________________________________
7. Why did the FBI agents and the police dig up the entire area in the father’s garden? _________________________________________________________________

8. What is your opinion of Vincent (Vinnie)? Tell me why. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I Could (El Condor Pasa)

I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would.


I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would.

Away, I'd rather sail away
like a swan that's here and gone.

A man gets tied up to the ground.
He gives the world its saddest sound,
its saddest sound.

I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet.
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would.


VOCABULARY
A. Rhymes
Look at the song and tell me what words rhyme.

1. snail rhymes with _________________________
2. would rhymes with ________________________
3. swan rhymes with _________________________
4. ground rhymes with _______________________
5. street rhymes with _________________________

From your own head,
6. Tell me another word that rhymes with snail. ________________________


7. Tell me another word that rhymes with would. ________________________


8. Tell me another word that rhymes with swan. ________________________


9. Tell me another word that rhymes with ground. _____________________


10. Tell me another word that rhymes with street. ________________________

GRAMMAR
1. “saddest” is a superlative adjective

Single-syllable adjectives such as big and thin, are compared like this:
a. She has a big house.
b. Her brother has a bigger house than she has.
c. Her bother’s house is the biggest on his block.

d. Bob is a very thin man.
e. Bob is thinner than his father.
f. Bob’s father is the thinnest person in his family.

Choose a single-syllable adjective, and write three sentences like the above examples.

g. ______________________________________________________________________
h. _____________________________________________________________________
i. _____________________________________________________________________




2. WOULD RATHER + VERB THAN + VERB
Examples:
a. My mother said that she’d rather have someone wash dishes for her than do it herself. Why? . . . because she was very tired.
b. We’d rather watch movies on TV than see them in a theater because watching movies on TV is less expensive.

c. Tell me something you’d rather do than do something else.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

d. Tell me what you’d rather be than what you are

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

e. Tell me what you’d rather be doing than what you are doing.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

CONVERSATION (Talk to your partner. Then write your own answer.)
1. Why do you think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a sparrow than a snail?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a sparrow than a snail because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________



2. Why do you think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a hammer than a nail?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a hammer than a nail because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________






3. Why do you think the singer is saying he’d like to be like a swan and “sail away.”

I think the singer is saying that he’d like to be like a swan and sail away because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________



4. Why do you think the singer is saying he’d rather be a forest than a street and feel the earth beneath his feet?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a forest than a street and feel the earth beneath his feet because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

A Wolf and A Dog

A half-starved wolf was jealous of a dog who appeared to be well-fed, fat, and strong. “Come to our house,” the dog said to him. “You’ll find everything to eat there.”
The wolf was very happy and started to go home with the dog. On the way, however, he noticed something on the dog’s neck. “What’s that?”
“Nothing much,” answered the dog. “It’s only the mark of my chain.”
“Your chain? Does that mean your master ties you up?” And with these words, the wolf ran away. He thought to himself that he’d rather be hungry than (be) without liberty.
A.COMPREHENSION
a. Why did the wolf prefer to remain hungry? Choose the correct answer.
1. He didn’t like meat.
2. The dog wouldn’t share his food with him.
3. He preferred to be free.
4. The house was too far.
5. The wolf was tied.
b. Answer these questions in complete sentences.
1. Who was jealous of the dog?_ __________________________________________
2. Why was the wolf jealous?_ ______________________________________________
3. Where did the dog invite the wolf to go?_____________________________________
4.What did the wolf notice?_________________________________________________
5.Why did the dog have the mark of a chain around his neck?
________________________________________________________________________
B VOCABULARY
a. Read the story again and find the synonyms for these words:
1. envious ______________________________
2. seemed ______________________________
3. pleased ______________________________
4. began ______________________________
5. observed ______________________________
6. hungry ______________________________
7. fat ______________________________
8. preferred ______________________________

b. Match the words from Column 1 with their antonyms in Column 2 (Draw a line.)
What part of speech are these words?
hungry everything (noun)
thin without ( __________________)
weak well-fed ( __________________)
nothing chained up ( __________________)
sad ran away ( __________________)
a lot fat ( __________________)
loose happy ( __________________)
with not much ( __________________)
came home strong ( __________________)
free tight ( __________________)

c. hyphenated adjectives use a hyphen between two or three adjectives describing a noun. For example: a. Sometimes I eat hard-boiled eggs for breakfast.
b. I have two five-dollar bills.
c. I work in a ten-story building.
d. They are very well-fed men.
In the story, please find the hyphenated adjectives.
e. ______________________
a. ______________________





C. GRAMMAR
A half-starved wolf was jealous of a dog who appeared to be well-fed, fat, and strong.
WHO clauses (a clause is a group of words with a subject + verb)
Examples: a. Sally is the one who teaches at the Chinatown Campus.
WHO refers to ONE, so teaches is singular.
b. Sally and Mary are the ONES who teach at eh Chinatown Campus.
WHO refers to ONES, so teach is plural.
c. He is the man who (own, owns) the restaurant.
WHO refers to ___________ , so ___________ is the verb.
d. Her children, who (go, goes) to elementary school, (studies, study) very hard.
WHO refers to _______________, so _______________ is the verb.
CHILDREN is the subject, so ________________ is the verb.
WHO is the subject of a clause BUT cannot stand alone (unless it is a question).
Please write your own sentence using WHO to introduce a clause. (DO NOT WRITE A QUESTION.)
e. _________________________________________________________________

DIRECT and REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT (QUOTED) SPEECH to INDIRECT (REPORTED)SPEECH
1. He said, (He told me/ her/ him/us/them),“I work hard.” He said that he worked hard.
2. He said, “I worked hard.” He said that he had worked hard. 3. He said, “I will work hard.” He said that he would work hard.
4. He said, “Work hard.” He told me to work hard.
5. He asked, “What’s your name?” He asked me what my name was.

Change the direct speech sentences to indirect speech.
1. “Come to our house,” the dog said to him.
____________________________________________________
2. “You’ll find everything to eat there.”
______________________________________________________________________

3. “What’s that?”
______________________________________________________________________
4.“Nothing much,” answered the dog.
______________________________________________________________________
5.“It’s only the mark of my chain.”
______________________________________________________________________
6.“Your chain?
______________________________________________________________________
7.Does that mean your master ties you up?”
______________________________________________________________________

WOULD RATHER + verb
Examples: a. He’d rather be hungry than (be) without liberty.
b. I would rather eat bread than (eat) rice.
c. My mother would rather live in L.A. than move to San Francisco.
Please write two sentences using this grammar form.
1._____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________


CONVERSATION
First talk to your partner. Then write your own answers.
1. Why do you think the wolf preferred to be free rather than get food at the dog’s house?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does “liberty” mean to you?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I Had a Hammer

(by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes)





1. If I had a hammer,
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening
All over this land

I’d hammer out danger,
I’d hammer out warning,
I’d hammer out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land







2. If I had a bell,
I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening
All over this land

I’d ring out danger,
I’d ring out warning,
I’d ring out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land



3. If I had a song,
I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening,
All over this land.

I’d sing out danger,
I’d sing out warning,
I’d sing out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.



4. Well, I’ve got a hammer,
And I’ve got a bell,
And I’ve got a song to sing
All over this land






It’s the hammer of justice;
It’s the bell of freedom;
It’s the song about love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.

It’s the hammer of justice;
It’s the bell of freedom;
It’s the song about love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.


VOCABLARY
1. What is a synonym (in the song) that means exposure to harm, injury, risk, or peril ______________
2. In this song, who are “my brothers and my sisters”? ______________
3. In this song, what does “land” mean in “all over this land”?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What is the “hammer of justice”?_______________________________
5. What is the “bell of freedom?__________________________________

GRAMMAR
6. “If I had” = if + past tense means IT IS NOT TRUE (contrary to fact)
for example, If I had a new house = I don’t have a new house
If I had a million dollars = I don’t have a million dollars

Tell me something that you wish you had . . .
a. If I had ___________________________

7. Following this clause, you should use WOULD or COULD + BASE form of the verb.
For example, If I had a a lot of money, I would/could buy a new car.
Tell me something you wish you had, and what would or could you do?
a. If I had_______________________________________________________

8. Use an “if” clause with a past tense verb and continue the sentence with a WOULD or COULD clause.
For example, If I went to China in the summer, I would be able to see the Olympics.
If I ate cake for breakfast every day, I would get very fat.

You write your own sentence.
a. ________________________________________________________

9. When you use “be” with “if”, use “were” (for every person – I, you, he, she, we, they, Sally my mother).
For example: If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.
If my brother were here, I would ask him to help me.

You write your own sentence.
a. ________________________________________________________