How to Prepare for an Earthquake

How to Prepare for an

San Francisco is exposed to a wide variety of hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, power outages, severe storms, and acts of terrorism. In order to respond effectively to these, the city has a plan. It is also necessary that we prepare ourselves –
our homes, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods.
Imagine that you have no electricity, no gas, no water, and no telephone service. Imagine that all of the streets and shops are closed and you are without any kind of help or emergency services. What will you do until help arrives?

How will you, your family, and your home survive an earthquake?
Answer a, b, or, c. THIS IS AN EARTHQUAKE QUIZ. Which is the best answer?

1. In the event of an earthquake and you’re in bed sleeping,
a. roll onto the floor next to your bed.
b. get in a doorway.
c. stay in your bed, protecting your head with a pillow.
Then . . . put your shoes on.

2. If you’re at the beach,
a. run into the water
b. drop and cover until the shaking stops
c. apply more sunscreen.
Then . . . if you observe the water receding in an unusually rapid manner, move immediately to higher ground. A strong earthquake centered off the coast can cause a tsunami.

3. If you’re in a car, (if you’re driving),
a. pull over to the side of the road, avoid overpasses, trees and electrical wires. Then set the parking brake.
b. speed up to get away from other cars around you.
c. stop your car and get out.
Then . . . stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. Tune to a news source. If a power line falls on the car, stay in your car and wait for help.

4. If you’re at work (in an office or at school),
a. run out of the building
b. get under a nearby desk or table and hold on until the shaking stops.
c. call 9-1-1 to report the earthquake
Then . . . assess your surroundings and check yourself for injuries before helping others.
Call 9-1-1 only if you have a life-threatening emergency.

5. If you’re commuting (on Muni, on a cable car, on BART, on a street car),
a. exit the train as quickly as possible
b. keep listening to your music until the train reaches its destination
c. stay in your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms.
Then. . . assess your surroundings and wait for evacuation instructions from the train operators or safety personnel.

6. If you’re dining out (in a restaurant),
a. get under a nearby table and hold on until the shaking stops.
b. grab your drink – it wasn’t cheap.
c. run to the nearest exit.
Then . . . assess your surroundings and then exit slowly, watching for falling objects such as windows, bricks, and building facades. [fah-sahdz]

The following items are recommended for a home emergency supply kit:

1. water, one gallon per person per day
2. food, ready-to-eat or requiring minimal water
3. manual can-opener
4. first-aid kit and instructions
5. essential medications
6. a flashlight
7. a battery-operated radio
8. batteries
9. cash in small denominations
10. a copy of important documents and phone numbers
11. unscented liquid household bleach for water purification (one drop for 6 cups)
12. personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies and soap
13. sturdy shoes
14. heavy gloves
15. warm clothes, a hat and rain gear
16. a local map
17. extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid, etc.
18. plastic sheeting, duct tape, and utility knife for covering broken windows
19. a blanket or sleeping bag
20. extra house and car keys
21. large plastic bags for waste and sanitation
22. any special-need items for children and seniors or people with disabilities.
23. water and supplies for pets

GRAMMAR
A. “Imagine that you have no electricity, no gas, no water, and no telephone service.”
What kind of nouns are in the sentence above? electricity, gas, water, service

_______________________________________________________________________
When you use a verb and NO, you can say the negative with non-count nouns.
a. I have no more rice in the cupboard.
b. She has heard no news from her family in two weeks.
c. Mr. Smith took no water with him, so he was very thirsty.
1. YOUR TURN

______________________________________________________________________
B. Also imagine that no stores have any batteries or blankets or sleeping bags.
When you use a verb with NO, you can say the negative with plural count nouns
a. I have no more noodles in the cupboard.
b. She has heard no radio programs in English.
c. Mr. Smith took no sandwiches with him, so he and his wife were very hungry.
2. YOUR TURN

______________________________________________________________________

C. NOW TRY IT THE WAY YOU LEARNED IT BEFORE.
Make the negative with DON’T / DOESN’T/ DIDN’T + base form and ANY for a plural noun and non-count nouns
a. I don’t have any more rice in the cupboard.
b. She hasn’t heard any news from her family in two weeks.
c. Mr. Smith didn’t take any water with him, so he was very thirsty.
_______________________________________________________
d. I don’t have any more noodles in the cupboard.
e. She hasn’t ever heard any radio programs in English.
f. Mr. Smith didn’t take any sandwiches with him.
3. YOUR TURN negative with a non-count noun

______________________________________________________________________
4. YOUR TURN negative with a plural noun

______________________________________________________________________
Make the negative with DON’T / DOESN’T/ DIDN’T + base form and A + a singular noun. Read these examples:
a. I don’t have a car. b. She doesn’t have a book. c. They didn’t have a MUNI ticket.
5. YOUR TURN

______________________________________________________________________

VOCABULARY & COMPREHENSION QUESTONS (Talk to a partner.)
1. hazard/s (plural noun) a possible source (sources) of danger

What are the hazards that San Francisco is exposed to? (Look at the reading, please.)

San Francisco is exposed to the following hazards:

______________________________________________________________
2. respond (verb) to reply or answer

3. effectively (adverb) a positive way of producing a result
How can you respond effectively to an earthquake?

_______________________________________________________________________
4. receding (adjective, present participle) = moving backwards
Examples: My son has a receding hairline.
If the water recedes quickly, get to higher ground.

5. What kind of an earthquake is a tsunami?

6. What is a vehicle ? Name three kinds of vehicles.
a. b. c.
7. assess (verb) = evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or
significance of
Example: He assessed the situation before opening the door.
After an earthquake happens, what should you assess?

7. What is an example of a “life-threatening emergency”?

8. commute (verb) = travel back and forth regularly, as between one's place of
work and home
Explain how people commute from home to school?

8. If you are on the MUNI or BART in an earthquake, you will want to evacuate (move out of an unsafe location into safety;). What are evacuation instructions?

9. personnel (noun or adjective) [ pronounced persoNNEL’ ]
Example: I went to the personnel office to get a job application. (adjective)

If you are on the MUNI in an earthquake, and you must wait for the “safety personnel” to tell you what to do, who are the “safety personnel”? (noun)

10. a building façade is what? _____________________________________________________________________

11. What are ready-to-eat foods? Give me a few examples.

12. What is a manual can-opener?

13. Name three things in a first-aid kit.

a. b. c.
14. If something is essential, it is _________________________________
15. In American money, what are the small denominations?


16. Name five personal hygiene [pronounced HI gene] items:

a. b. c. d. e.
17. What kind of rain gear would you put in your emergency kit?


18. What are prescription eye glasses?


19. Why would you need plastic bags for waste and sanitation?


20. Name three disabilities.

a. b. c.

21. Have you ever been in an earthquake? If so, where and when?



22. Did the earthquake quiz and this lesson help you feel more prepared for an earthquake? Tell me how you feel now?

For more information, go to http://www.72hours.org
If you want to listen to information in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese),
call 1(800)893-95555

Chinese New Year

The Chinese calendar is represented by 12 animals. There are six wild or mythical (the Yang element – active or male) and 6 domestic animals (the Yin element – passive female).Each animal rules over a full year.
Legend has it that the animals were selected by the Jade Emperor who conducted a race of all the animals and selected the first dozen in the order in which they finished. During the race across the countryside, the rat hitched a ride on the back of the slow but persistent ox. When the ox was a few feet from the finish line, the rat jumped off and raced ahead to claim the victory and first place in the chronological listing. The rat also fooled the cat into believing that the race was to be held a day later, so the cat missed the race and the chance to rule over a year. For this trickery, the cat still chases the rat.


VOCABULARY

1. lunar (adjective) of or relating to the moon
for example: lunar calendar, lunar surface,

2. mythical (adjective) existing in imagination (not historical)
for example: a mythical animal like the dragon

3.. domestic (adjective) animals that have learned to live in human environments
for example: dogs and cats are domestic animals Can you name others?
________________________________________________________

4. passive (adjective) offering no opposition or resistance
for example: Instead of hitting back, she just sat there passively.

5. a legend (noun) An unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially
one popularly believed to be historical.
For example: Many Mexicans believe the legend of La Llorona is true.
Many Chinese believe that the legend of the Lady of the Moon
(Chang Er) is true.

6. .a dozen (noun) is a. a carton of eggs b. the number 12 c. a dance

7. hitched a ride (past tense verb) = thumbed a ride. Solicited a free ride, especially by
hitchhiking. For example, I don’t have a car; can I hitch a ride home with you?

8. persistent (adjective) never-ceasing; refusing to give up

9. chronological (adjective) an arrangement of events in time order [chronos = time]
For example: Please arrange the names of your family in chronological order.
My father is the oldest. He’s 62. My mother is next. She’s 60. My brother is
next. He’s 35. My oldest sister is 33. I come next. I’m 30. My younger
brother is 25. He’s last.

10. characteristics (noun) a feature that helps distinguish a person or thing.
For example: What are her most outstanding characteristics? She is generous and
thoughtful. What is his most identifiable characteristic? He’s totally bald.

(as an adjective) He has a characteristic laugh.





To find your animal symbol, check the listing below for the year you were born in, and see if you agree with the description of your characteristics.
HARE (RABBIT) 1915,1927,1939,1951,1963,1975,1987,1999
You are blessed with extraordinary good fortune and this will inevitably provide you with financial success. This luck of yours not only extends to business interests, but also to games of chance.

DRAGON 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Your reputation as a fire-eater is based on your outward show of stubbornness, bluster, and short temper; but underneath, you are really gentle, sensitive, and soft-hearted.

SNAKE 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
You have more than your share of the world‘s gifts, including basic wisdom. You are likely to be good-looking – well-formed men and graceful and beautiful women.

HORSE 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Your cheerful disposition and flattering ways make you a popular favorite. Your great mental agility will keep you in the upper income.

RAM (SHEEP) 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
You are a sensitive and refined aesthetic type with considerable talent in all the arts. Success or failure will depend on whether you can shepherd your ability and energy into a single field.

MONKEY 1908. 1920. 1932. 1944. 1956. 1968. 1980, 1992, 2004
You are a real swinger! In addition, because of your flair for decision-making and a sure-footed feel for finance, you are certain to climb to the top.

ROOSTER (CHICKEN) 1909. 1921. 1933. 1945. 1957. 1969. 1981, 1993. 2005
You either score heavily or lay a large egg. Although outspoken and not shy in groups, you are basically a loner who doesn’t trust most people; however, you are capable of attracting some close and loyal friends.

DOG 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
You are loyal and honest with a deep sense of duty and justice. You can always be trusted to guard the secrets of others.

BOAR (PIG) 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
The quiet inner strength of your character is outwardly reflected by courtesy and breeding, and your driving ambition will lead you to success.

RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
You have been blessed with great personal charm, a taste of the better things in life, and considerable self-control which restrains your quick temper.

OX 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
You have a calm, patient nature, and friends turn to you because you are that rarest of creatures – a good listener. Love bewilders you, so many people wrongly consider you cold.

TIGER 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
You are a person of great extremes – a sympathetic and considerate friend, a powerful and dangerous enemy. In your career, you are both a deep thinker and a careful planner.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CONVERSATION AND GRAMMAR (Work with a partner.)

1. Please write your birth year and your animal on the lines.

________________________________ _______________________________
2. Now, write the characteristics about your animal in the FIRST PERSON.
For example, As a tiger, I . . .

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think that these characteristics describe you? If they do, tell me why.
If they don’t describe you, tell me why not.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Four Tips for a Tough Economy

HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

Four Food Tips for a Tough Economy
by Reyhaneh Fathieh
from USA Weekend Magazine May 22-24, 2009

As the economy sinks, food prices keep rising – 4.9% in 2007 and 5.9% in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Still, not even a recession calls for a diet of 99-cent chips and two-for-one pizzas. You don’t have to sacrifice health for savings, says Charles Mattocks, author of Eat Cheap but Eat Well: The Poor Chef Cookbook.
Here are his tips for battling the recession:
(1) BUY IN BULK
A bigger package generally means a lower unit cost, which means more value per dollar. But beware of spoilage: Buy mass quantities of staples with long shelf-lives, like brown rice and spices.
(2) BUY IN SEASON
Save dollars by buying veggies in season, like cucumbers in summer.
“You can save dollars per pound of produce,” Mattock says. Look for vitamin-rich green veggies, strawberries, carrots and peas in late spring. Midsummer will yield blueberries, melons, apples, cucumbers, green beans and squash.

(3) SKIMP ON MEAT
Some inexpensive cuts are actually healthier because they’re lower in fat. Skirt steak and boneless sirloin pork chops are good options.

(4) DON’T SKIMP ON FISH
Yes, it’s not cheap, but the omega-3 fatty acids in fish should be enough to sway penny-pinchers. Whiting, tilapia and salmon are some of the less-expensive finds. Plus, there’s always canned tuna fish.
VOCABULARY (Choose the most appropriate word for the context.)
1. a. tips (noun) money given for good service
All the waiters and waitresses get tips from their customers.
b. . tips (noun) good ideas or suggestions
He gave me a stock tip and then I bought some stocks.
I want to give you some grammar tips.

2. a. sinks (plural noun) kitchen appliances
We have two sinks in our kitchen.
b. . sinks (3rd person singular verb = to sink) to drop below
My heart sank when I heard about all the people who died in Haiti. (past tense)
The economy sinks when people have no jobs.

3. the economy (noun) how our money is working in everyday life; the cost of living
The economy is in bad shape now.

4. statistics (pl. noun) a numerical study or series of occurrences, events, or thing
Statistics lead to probabilities. (a branch of mathematics)
Statistics say that the sun will probably rise tomorrow.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics sample the prices.

5. recession (noun)
The economy is contracting (is getting smaller), and we don’t have enough jobs,
so our country is in a recession.

6. bulk (noun) a large quantity
When we go to Costco, we buy in bulk.
Buying in bulk saves money.
bulk up (verb) to get bigger muscles
He goes to the gym so he can bulk up.

7. to skimp on (verb) something to use less, but should use more
a. In her diet (daily food she eats), she always skimps on healthy foods
and eats too much junk food.
b. Those jackets are cheaper because the manufacturer skimps on good quality material

8. staples (noun, plural) = a commodity for which demand is constant
Safeway always has enough of the staples (rice, flour, corn
We’ve run out of staples. I have to get some more.

9. shelf-life (noun) shelf-lives (plural noun) = the length of time that food, drink,
medicine and other perishable items are given before they are considered
unsuitable for sale.
Some items have a longer shelf-life than others. Name a few.
_____________________________________________________________________
10. options (plural noun, used with the verb have) = choices
What are my options?
a. At CCSF, we have a lot of class options.
b. When you’re qualified, you have more job options.
11. penny-pincher = a person who tries to save money and not spend too much.
a. Penny-pinchers are frugal.
b. She’s a penny-pincher; but when it comes to birthday presents, she always splurges.
GRAMMAR
1. Using a noun as an adjective
For example: food (noun) The food tastes good.
food (adjective) Food prices have been rising lately.
They are higher than they were last year.
YOUR TURN (Please write your own sentences.)
a. phone (noun)
______________________________________________________________
b. phone (adjective)


2. Please make a list of the count and non-count nouns in this article.
(No Proper nouns)
Work with a partner.

COUNT NOUNS NON-COUNT NOUNS
tips life

3. There is There are DO NOT USE HAVE.
Use There is and There are with 2 count and 2 non-count nouns..

One important thing to remember is this:
Whatever is closest to the THERE IS/THERE ARE determines the verb (is/are etc.)
Example: There is a new teacher in room 102.
There are 15 women in our class.
There’s meat and potatoes in the fridge.
There are potatoes and meat in the fridge.
a.
b.
c.
d.
________________________________________________________________________


COMPREHENSION AND CONVERSATION
(Talk to a partner, first. Then write complete sentences.)
1. If you don’t have much money, can you still eat healthy food? Explain.
Even if I didn’t have much money, I still could eat healthy food because __________________________________________________________________
2. What line in the reading says this? (See #1) (Copy the line from the reading here.)

3. Do you ever buy in bulk? If so, what do you buy and where do you buy it?

4. What season is it now? Have you bought any seasonal foods lately? If so, what are they? ________________________________________________________________________
5. How much meat do you eat daily? (once, twice, three times a day?)
What kind of meat do you eat?
________________________________________________________________________
6. How often do you eat fish?

7. What’s your favorite food? How often do you eat it?

________________________________________________________________________

The Married Couple

An anecdote.

A husband and wife went for counseling after 25 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into an angry tirade, listing each and every problem they had ever had in the 25 years they had been married.
The wife went on and on giving a long list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their quarter century of marriage: “Neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, and feeling unloved.”
Finally, after allowing her to talk for a sufficient length of time, the therapist stood up, walked around his desk, and told the wife to stand up. He then embraced her and kissed her passionately on the mouth.
The woman shut up and in a daze, quietly sat down. The therapist turned to the husband and said, “This is what your wife needs at least seven times a week. Do you think you can do this?”
The husband thought for a moment and replied, “Well, Doc,
I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on the other days, I play golf.”

COMPREHENSION (Answer these questions in complete sentences.)
1. Why did this couple go for counseling?
2. NOUNS ADJECTIVES
a. neglect neglected
b. emptiness _______________
c. loneliness _______________
d. length _______________

3. Why was the wife unhappy? How did she feel? (Answer with adjectives.)_________________________________________
4. How many years had they been married?
___________________________________________________
5. How many years is “a century”? ____________________
6. How many years is a half a century? ___________________
7. How many years is a quarter of a century? ______________
8. What did the therapist do?
___________________________________________________
9. What did the therapist tell the husband to do to solve this problem?___________________________________________
10.How did the husband respond to the therapist’s suggestion?
___________________________________________________
10. (Talk to your partner.) Do you think the therapist’s suggestion was good? If not, what would you suggest to help this married couple?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
VOCABULARY
1, to go for counseling
The answer is given. Please write the question?
Q: _____________________________________________
A: I went for counseling at school so I could plan my college
courses. [I talked to a counselor.]

Q: _____________________________________________
A: The couple went for marriage counseling with the hope that
they could save their marriage.
2. What is another name for “a marriage counselor”?
______________________________
3. What’s an angry tirade?
a. a long, angry speech against something
b. a flat tire
c. an angry woman

4. I can drop her off. [to drop someone off]
a. to let something fall to the ground
b. to drive someone to a destination and then leave
c. to get angry with someone and then leave

5. neglect (can be a noun or a verb)
a. to feel sad
b. to think
c. to pay little or no attention to
d.
6. What’s another word for “embraced”? (past tense of to embrace)
He embraced her. _______________________________

7. In a daze The woman stood there in a daze.
a. in her bare feet
b. by herself
c. confused, not really knowing what’s going on

8. How many times is at least 7 ?
a. 7 b. 7 or fewer c. 7 or more
YOUR TURN Write a sentence using at least.
_______________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
1. How many past-tense verbs can you find? _______________
Underline (with two lines) all the past tense-verbs in the anecdote.


2. Embedded questions
The question word in the middle [who, what, where, when, why, how] makes the subject and verb follow in regular order.
I don’t know what time it is.
What is the real question?
What time is it? (The question turns the subject and verb around.)

A. Write the questions.
a. He asked what the problem was.
aa. _________________________________________
b. This is what your wife needs.
bb. _________________________________________
c. I don’t know where my keys are.
cc. _________________________________________
B. Write the answers.
d. How many teeth do you have?
dd. I don’t know how many______________________________
e. Where is the closest library?
ee. She told me where _________________________________
10. When will we be taking our test?
ff. I’m not sure when ___________________________________
C. Write your own “WH” question.
g._________________________________________________
gg. I don’t know ________________________________________

P.S. I Love You

http://awemusic.tripod.com/psilove.mid




(1934) Lyrics -- Johnny Mercer Music -- Gordon Jenkins

What is there to write? What is there to say?
[the]Same things happen every day.
Not a thing to write, not a thing to say,
so I take my pen in hand and start the same old way.

Dear, I thought I'd drop a line.
The weather's cool. The folks are fine.
I'm in bed each night at nine.
P.S. I love you.

Yesterday we had some rain,
but all in all I can't complain.
Was it dusty on the train?
P.S. I love you.

Write to the Browns just as soon as you're able.
They came around to call.
I burned a hole in the dining room table.
And let me see, I guess that's all.

Nothin' else for me to say,
and so I'll close. Oh, by the way,
everybody's thinkin' of you.
P.S. I love you.

I do my best to obey all your wishes.
I put a sign up. Think.
Now I’ve got to buy us a new set of dishes,
or wash the ones that have piled in the sink.

Nothing else to tell you, dear.
Except, each day feels like a year.
Every night I'm dreamin' of you.
P.S. I love you.
P.S. I love you.


This is a song from someone who’s by herself at home, writing a letter to her husband who had to take a train to somewhere.

VOCABULARY
1. What is your first clue that this song is a letter?

______________________________________________________
2. The idiom “drop a line” can be used in conversation.
Often it’s said like this: When you go back home, drop me a line.
a. let’s go fishing. b. write me a letter. c. drop down on the floor

3. What’s a synonym for “folks” as when it says, “The folks are fine.”?
a. family b. children c. parents

4. What does P.S. mean? _____________________________
5. Where would you write P.S. as part of a letter?
______________________________________________________
6. What does “All in all I can’t complain.”
a. I think everything is going wrong.
b. Almost everything is fine.
c. All I know is how to complain.

7. We use the word “the” in front of last names to indicate the family.
For example,
a. The Gatis live on Allston Way. The Gatis are the Gati family.
b. The Chens live in the Sunset District -- Mr. and Mrs. Chen and their two
children.
c. YOUR TURN Please write a sentence about your family, using the plural of your last name.
______________________________________________________
8. Who are “the Browns” in this song?
______________________________________________________
9. What does she mean when she says, “The Browns came around to call.”
a. The Browns telephoned.
b. Mr. and Mrs. Brown came over to our house.
c. Mr. and Mrs. Brown walked around the block.
10. “Write to the Browns just as soon as you’re able.”
a. when you have time
b. when you’re not sick
c. when you want to do it.

11. I’ll close means
a. Turn off the lights.
b. I’ll lock the door.
c. I’m finished writing.

12. “Each day feels like a year” means
a. I’m tired at the end of every day.
b. It’s been a year since you’ve been gone.
c. Every day seems like a long time.

13. What words rhyme?
Rhymes are words that have the same vowel sounds, usually at the end of the words.
For example. MEET rhymes with GREET and SEAT. (The spelling does not have to be the same, only the pronunciation.)
a. In the song, what rhymes with line? _____________________
b. In the song, what rhymes with rain? _____________________
c. In the song, what rhymes with table? _____________________
d. In the song, what rhymes with all ? _____________________
e. In the song, what rhymes with way? _____________________
f. In the song, what rhymes with dishes ? _____________________
g. In the song, what rhymes with sink? _____________________
h. In the song, what rhymes with year? _____________________


COMPREHENSION (Answer in complete sentences.)
1. How was the weather (as reported by the writer)? ______________________________________________________
2. What time does he/she go to bed every night?
______________________________________________________
3. Why do you think she burned a hole in the dining room table?
4. When would you say, “by the way.”
I would say “by the way”
a. after I’ve said “Good-bye” and then I think of something else I
want to say.
b. when I want to tell you the right way to do something
c. when I want to tell you the way to go somewhere


5. Please write me a letter.
a. Put your address on the top right (city, state, and zip code under your
number street apt. #)
b. Write the date under the address.
c. Write Dear Sally, (followed by a comma).
d. Indent your first line.
e. Tell me something interesting (at least two sentences).
f. End your letter with Sincerely, (followed by a comma)
g. Sign your name under Sincerely.
h. Add “P.S.” and tell me something you forgot to say in your letter.

FEWER OR LESS

“What can I say? I was an English major.”
What do you see in this picture? Please write your answers in COMPLETE sentences.

1. Where do you think this takes place? ____________________________________________________________
2. Have you ever seen this sign?

__________________________________.
If so, where?
____________________________________________________________
3. What is an “English major?” ____________________________________________________________
Circle your answer.
4. The words “What can I say? I was an English major.” were spoken by
the ( customer / cashier ).
5. The word “fewer” was written by the ( customer / cashier ).

6. “What can I say?” means “There is nothing more to say except. . .” so the meaning of “What can I say? I was an English major” is this:



GRAMMAR A. Let’s make a list of nouns. Work with a partner.

1. COUNT (plural) NON-COUNT











2. Why did the cashier cross out the word “less” and write in “fewer”?
He crossed out the word “less” and wrote in the word “fewer” because ______________________________________________________________________ .

COMPARISONS WITH FEWER and LESS
B. Use the word “fewer” with count plural nouns
such as fewer potatoes, fewer people, fewer classes .
1. She eats fewer potatoes now than she used to because she wants to lose weight.
2. There are fewer people here when it’s bad weather.
3. I am taking fewer classes this semester than I did last semester.
4. How many items can you have if you go to this cashier?

5. YOUR TURN Write one sentence using FEWER with a count plural noun.


C. Use “less” with non-count nouns such as less rice, less homework, less time.
1. My husband eats less rice now than he did when he was younger.
2. Sally gives us less homework than Mary does.
3. I have less time for watching TV now than I did when I was unemployed.

6. YOUR TURN Write one sentence using LESS with a non-count noun.

________________________________________________________________________
YOUR TURN
Choose two more nouns (one count and one non-count) and write two more sentences.

7.

8.______________________________________________________________________

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. __________________________________________________________________