Reading practice 3. 4EOI. With the key.

THERAPEUTIC   USES   OF   CANNABIS

Indian hemp (cannabis) has been described as having therapeutic properties in a variety of conditions in clinical literature. William B. O'Shaughnessy, M.D., who in 1839 introduced cannabis to western medicine, acknowledged its non-medical use but was able to recognize and study its therapeutic potential despite the drug's adverse reputation. From 1839 to 1938 cannabis was available by prescription and utilized for a variety of conditions before removal after the passage of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. _______________1_______________ Since 1976 the U.S. government and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) say the side effect of being “high” is not acceptable, no matter how many years or lives it saves. In 1991 clinical studies on the therapeutic applications of marijuana were suspended by the Chief of the Public Health Service, James O. Mason. In December 1993 the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club began to sell illicit cannabis to patients with a referral note from their physician or health facility. Some 90 million Americans have tried marijuana, and 25 to 30 million still smoke marijuana relaxationally, or use it responsibly as a form of daily self-medication. In spite of this there has not been one single death from overdose ever.

There are more than 60 therapeutic compounds in cannabis that are healing agents in medical and herbal treatments. Researchers at the Medical College of Virginia discovered that cannabis is an incredibly successful herb for reducing many types of tumors, benign and malignant. Since 1996, the Medical College of Virginia has applied to receive grants for cannabis research and has been turned down by the DEA. ________________2______________ But chemo has some serious side effects, including nausea. “Marijuana is the best agent for control of nausea in cancer chemotherapy,” according to Dr. Thomas Ungerleider, who headed California’s Marijuana for Cancer research program from 1979 to 1984. This is also true in AIDS and even in the unsettled stomach common in motion sickness. Pharmaceutical nausea-control drugs come in pills that are often swallowed by the patient only to be thrown back up. _______________3_______________ Cannabis is beneficial for 60% of all epileptics. Medical World News reported in 1971: “Marijuana is probably the most potent anti-epileptic known to medicine today”. Cannabis users’ epileptic seizures are of less intensity than the more dangerous seizures experienced by users of pharmaceuticals.

At the same time, cannabis lowers blood pressure, dilates the arteries and reduces body temperature an average of one-half degree, thereby relieving stress and depression. One well-known effect of THC is to lift the spirit, or make you “high.” Cannabis users in Jamaica praise ganja’s benefits for meditation, concentration, consciousness-raising and promoting a state of well-being and self assertiveness. _______________4_______________  Prescription sleeping pills are often just synthesized analogs of truly dangerous plants like mandrake, henbane, and belladonna. For millions of Americans cannabis can safely curtail or replace Valium, Librium, alcohol, or even Prozac. Every U.S. commission or federal judge who has studied the evidence has agreed that cannabis is one of the safest drugs known. With all its therapeutic uses, it has only one side effect that has been exaggerated as a concern: the “high”. The DEA says this is not acceptable, so cannabis continues to be totally illegal in utter disregard for both doctor and patient. New research is outlawed, of course. Every day we entrust physicians to determine whether the risks associated with therapeutic, yet potentially dangerous, drugs are acceptable for their patients. _______________5_______________ Recent Reports of increasingly potent marijuana represent a major medical advance. U.S. statistics of the 1970s indicated that you will live eight to 24 years longer if you substitute daily cannabis use for daily tobacco and alcohol use. But incredibly, the government uses these very numbers to solicit bigger budgets and harsher penalties.

(Adapted from the internet)

THE  FOLLOWING  SENTENCES  HAVE  BEEN  REMOVED  FROM  THE  TEXT  ABOVE.   RE-INSERT  EACH  OF  THEM  IN  THE  CORRESPONDING  GAP

A.    Chemotherapy is claimed by practitioners to benefit cancer and AIDS patients.

B.     Nevertheless, doctors are not allowed to prescribe the herb that Federal Judge Francis Young, in 1988, called “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man”.

C.     Since then it has been legally defined as having no medicinal redeeming virtue and having high potential for abuse by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

D.    Using cannabis allows most people a more complete rest with a higher amount of “alpha time” during sleep as compared with prescription or sleep-induced patent sedatives.

E.     Because cannabis can be ingested as smoke, it stays in the system and keeps working even if vomiting continues.

THE  FOLLOWING  WORDS  HAVE  APPEARED  IN  THE  READING  PASSAGE.  CHOOSE THE  BEST SYNONYM  FOR EACH OF THEM  IN THE  CONTEXT

6.healing:                   a. unidentified                        b. curative                   c. aggravating

7.seizures:                  a. Syndromes              b. attacks                    c. injuries

8.curtail:                    a. improve                   b. prevent                   c. reduce

9.utter:                       a. absolute                  b. permanent               c. constant

10.harsher:                a. faster                       b. safer                                   c. tougher

KEY:

1. C 2. A 3. E  4. D 5.B

6.healing:                    b. curative         

7.seizures:                   b. attacks           

8.curtail:                      c. reduce

9.utter:                         a. absolute         

10.harsher:                  c. tougher

Reading practice 2. 4EOI. With the key.

THE POLAR BEAR GIANT OF THE ICE

The top of the world was dubbed the Arctic by the ancient Greeks. The word means “country of the great bear”. Curiously, however, the Greeks had never seen or heard of the polar bear when they gave his habitat such an apt name. Rather they called the region after the Great Bear constellation found in the northern sky. Scientists believe that the polar bear is descended from a posse of brown bears stranded by glaciers in an area near Siberia roughly 250,000 years ago. The bears rapidly underwent a number of evolutionary changes in order to cope with their new and somewhat severe living conditions –in the High Arctic, the sun sets in October and doesn’t  rise again  until late February–, hence intensely cold temperatures as low as -50º degrees and a blackness that feels like one tortuous, never-ending night.

Huge in comparison to today’s bears, the stranded animals developed a thick layer of blubber, about 4.5 inches deep. _____________________1_______________________. As a consequence of these evolutionary changes the polar bear is so well adapted to low temperatures that it suffers far more frequently from overheating than from cold. To avoid getting hot, it generally trundles along at a leisurely pace, avoiding exertion whenever possible. Living largely off the ringed seal, the polar bear does not have much call for chasing around. The largest of all land predators, it sits in wait by one of the seals’ breathing holes cut into the Arctic ice. When a seal emerges for air, the bear merely picks it out of the hole with its long sharp canine teeth. _____________________2_______________________.  In summer, the bear adopts a slightly more energetic system. Taking advantage of the seals’ sleeping rhythms, it stalks its prey by crawling forward while the seal dozes, and freezing to the spot when the seal appears to wake, thereby blending with its surrounds. When the bear is within 20 feet of the sleepy seal, it pounces and grabs it before it can slip back into the sea. The bear may also hunt underwater, propelling itself below the ice with its powerful webbed front paws and steering with  its back legs. Moving at up to six miles per hour, it can spot its prey from up to 15 feet away. Known in Latin as the Ursus Maritimus, or sea bear, the polar bear is a wonderful swimmer and has been known to plough through 100 miles of water at a stretch.

Since its food is available year round, polar bears, do not hibernate despite the horrific Arctic winters. Only pregnant females spend the bleakest period of the year in a den. Strangely, though mating takes place in the spring, the fertilised eggs don’t actually implant in the womb until the following autumn, a perfect time to disappear underground. _____________________3_______________________.  The female and her cubs remain in the den for a further two to three months following the birth, emerging into the Arctic spring when the little ones are finally ready to face the world. At birth, the cubs weigh scarcely more than a pound each and measure a mere 12 to 14 inches in length. Out of the sea ice, they stay close to their mother and continue to suckle until they are at least 20 months old, though in the colder areas of the Arctic they will continue at their mother’s side for an extra year. Protected against males, who sometimes attack the female and eat the cubs and humans –the polar bear’s only real enemy–, the cubs rove with their mother around the female’s home range, learning the tricks of survival. _____________________4_______________________.

All polar bears have a home range, some inevitably overlapping with others. The total population of polar bears across the Arctic currently amounts to between 25,000 and 40,000. Their habitat includes Norway’s glacial Svalbard Islands, Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, but it is hard to pinpoint where the highest concentration of bears falls due to their roaming tendency, though the highest concentration of births has been identified as Wrangle Island off the Siberian coast. _____________________5_______________________. Starting her journey at Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay, she trekked to Canada’s  Ellesmere Island, wintering on the way in Greenland, then returning there when the weather turned colder again, a round trip of 3,000 miles.

All across the Arctic, the polar bear is protected by an agreement signed by the US, Canada, Denmark (which governs Greenland), Norway and the Soviet Union back in 1973, ensuring that he can roam at will without too much threat to his welfare. Hunting is, however, still permitted in all countries bar Norway, though only 100 bears are killed annually in Alaska and Greenland and 500 in Canada. Russia has only recently issued hunting permits. Hunting is really the least of the polar bear’s worries. _____________________6_______________________.  On the whole though the polar bear, the largest of all bears, looks set to rule the far northern hemisphere for some time to come- just so long as man can control his penchant for polluting the world.

TASK I. The six sentences below have been removed from the text. Choose from sentences A-G the one which fits each gap best.

N.B. There is an EXTRA ONE which you do not need to use

1. Most bears are assumed to rove within a radius of several hundred miles, but one satellite-tracked female was seen to multiply this estimate several times over.

2. A much more serious threat comes from industrial emissions which have pervaded the food chain in most of the Arctic, particularly Western Russia where bears are exposed to high levels of contamination.

3. This method is most effective during the winter months.

4. Eventually, when they come of age, the cubs will travel up to 600 miles to get away from their mothers and set up their own home range, a space where they can roam independently.

5. Their fur turned gradually from brown to what we now see as white, although in  fact a polar bear’s fur is transparent, each hair shaft being pigment-free with a hollow core, usefully absorbing sunlight for added warmth.

6. In good times, the adult bear devours only a seal’s skin and blubber, leaving the rest for younger, less experienced bears or the Arctic fox, who can often be found hanging around in the hope of a spot of easy dinner.

7. After a couple of months spent lounging, snoozing and living off their well-stocked reserves, the females give birth to up to three cubs.

TASK II. Find words in the text which correspond to the following definitions.

N.B. Verbs are expressed in the infinitive form.

7. To sleep lightly (paragraph 2)

8. The fact of coming together for breeding (paragraph 3)

9. To travel constantly and aimlessly (paragraph 3)

10. The health, happiness and fortunes of a person or group (paragraph 5) 

KEY:

1.E    2.C    3.G    4.D    5.A    6.B  

7. TO DOZE                

8. TO MATE (MATING)

9. TO ROVE

10. WELFARE

Gerunds and infinitives. 4EOI. competència de curs.

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/upperint/a_grammar/file05/nef_upperint_grammar05_a01/

Reading practice 1. 4EOI.

Reading practice 1 A text worth working on in order to get extra practice: The key is also provided so that you can check your progress. A  HOME  ABROAD The dream of having a chalet in the Alps or an apartment in Paris could become a reality, as some companies offer investors European mortgages at great interests rates, plus a helping hand through the legal minefield. Samantha Davies looks into the possibilities ... Many people dream of being able to buy a second home or holiday home abroad. Increasingly people are being relocated overseas by their companies and so have a need to buy another property. __________1__________  In addition to this, many lenders abroad don’t behave in the same way as British banks and as a result, would-be borrowers remain understandably cautious. __________2__________  The pound remains strong and, as domestic property prices continue to rise, investors are viewing the European property market with growing interest. In France, for example, property in Paris is often cheaper than in London. Yet it is not only within a few hours of London, but if you want to let the property you can expect an annual return on investment of between five and nine per cent –which, coupled with a low interest rate, makes it an attractive option. Buying and owning a property in Europe is different to the UK, so research into the right type of mortgage, the country’s legal system, taxation and other costs is important if a purchase is to go smoothly. Many people prefer to make their initial enquiries from the comfort of their own home.  Nowadays, several banks, including the Woolwich, provide English-speaking experts who can discuss affordability and lending criteria, set up the mortgage and deal with any general enquiries you may have regarding the day-to-day running of the mortgage. Although some lenders are reluctant to lend across borders because of the legal, language and cultural barriers, many recognise the opportunities and benefits of loans on properties abroad.  __________3__________  Staff can offer advice and ongoing support to prospective borrowers, pointing out the pros and cons of buying a property abroad and provide guidance on the different procedures and costs that may be incurred. When buying you should take into account not only the initial purchase price but any renovation costs and local taxes. The initial costs of buying can be high so any purchase should be looked upon as a long-term investment in order to recoup costs. __________4__________  You should also remember that whatever method you use to finance the purchase, the sterling equivalent may increase or decrease with exchange rate movements. __________5__________  The charm and excitement of owning an isolated farm in the French countryside is, ironically, less likely to appeal to the French who seem to prefer newer properties, and this could obviously affect the value in years to come should you wish to sell. Lenders will take all these factors into consideration when deciding how much you can borrow. In the future, the modern European is likely to be a multi-lingual business professional who expects to travel throughout Europe as part of his or her job. __________6__________  The result will be more flexible products, provided in the language of your choice, delivered to you in the way you want it, and at the time that is convenient, all making it much easier to own a home in whichever country you like. I. Insert the following sentences in the suitable gaps in the text. A.    Another thing to consider is what to buy and where. B.     Despite this, an increasing number of people are purchasing properties abroad, and for a number of reasons. C.     The Woolwich, for example, owns subsidiaries in both Italy and France which enables it to benefit from using local staff and their knowledge of customs and procedures. D.    It’s a person who values a single financial services provider to supply cross-border mortgages and all the ancillary services such as life cover and insurance that are required wherever they are. E.     But all too often people are discouraged by the foreign legal systems and just how complicated it all seems. F.      Other factors which should be considered include transportation costs to and from the property, and of course ease of access. II. Vocabulary: Look for a word in the text that corresponds to each of the following definitions or synonyms: 7. Future, potential, prospective (1st paragraph): 8.Unwilling to do something, hesitating before doing it (4th paragraph): 9.Recover, regain (4th paragraph): 10.Something that you buy (4th paragraph): key: KEY: 1.E             2. B            3.C             4.F             5.A             6.D 7. WOULD-BE                     8. RELUCTANT 9. RECOUP                          10. PURCHASE, PROPERTY

Transformations. Revision Level 4

Transformations. Revision Level 4

 

1. The song was so beautiful that everyone was singing it.

It was ..........................................................................

 

2. “Let’s go out this evening”, Julie suggested.

Julie suggested ……………………………………………..……………………….

 

3. I had a phone call from my mother and then my father rang.

I had just …………………………………………………………………….…..

 

4. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go out this evening.

I’d rather …………………………………………………………………..……..

 

5. She told him about it as soon as her mother had gone out.

She waited until …………………………………………………………………

 

6. My French friend finds driving on the left difficult.

My French friend ………………………………………………………………..

 

7. I’ll give you a door key because I may not be in when you get home.

In case ………………………………………………………………….…………….

 

8. In order to pass the exam, they worked really hard.

They worked really hard so …………………………………..…………….

 

9. I am very tired and therefore I can’t work properly.

I can’t work properly ........................................................

 

10. Although it was raining we carried on playing.

We carried on playing in ...................................................

 

11. It was a 2-day competition.

The competition ..............................................................

 

12. I suggest you tell me exactly what happended.

Why .............................................................................

 

13. Even though she drove really fast she didn’t manage to be there on time.

However .........................................

 

14. No matter how late you are, we’ll be there waiting for you.

However .................................................

 

15. No matter which day you arrive, please let us know.

Whenever .......................................................

 

16. My hair is too long. It needs cutting.

I need to ...........................................................

Baixar document adjunt

Now think in English

http://www.vivelondres.com/index.html
http://es.stgeorges.com/alojamiento-estudiantes/residencias-estudiantes/

London Pass

http://www.londonpass.es/london-tourist-map/index.php

Reporter Speech

REPORTER SPEECH

DIRECT STATEMENTS	REPORTED STATEMENTS
Present simple	Past simple
Present continous	Past continous
Past simple	Past perfect
Present perfect	Past perfect
Past perfect	Past perfect
Past perfect continous	Past perfect continous
Will	Would
Can	Could
May	Might
Should	Should
Ought	Ought
Mustn’t	Mustn’t
Must	Have to
Yesterday	The day before
Tomorrow	The next day
Here	There
This	That

REMEMBER: -     SAY SOMETHINGà She said that she… -     TELL SOMEBODYà She told me…

REPORTER SPEECH: COMMANDS

DIRECT SPEECH		REPORTED SPEECH
Imperative /request		Told/asked + person+ To + Infinitive
GO AWAY		She told him TO GO away
CAN/COULD YOU HELP ME?		I asked the shop assistant TO HELP me
Negative imperative		Not to + infinitive
DON’T WORRY		The doctor told me NOT TO worry

*important: you can’t use SAID in these sentences

REPORTED SPEECH: QUESTIONS

DIRECT QUESTIONS	REPORTED QUESTIONS
Are you married?	She asked him if he was married.
Did she phone? *Preguntes amb do/does/did, posem if/whether al reporter	He asked me whether she had phone
What’s your name? *Preguntes amb what/where/who… posem el what/where/who però canviem l’ordre de la frase en forma d’afirmació	I asked him what his name was?
Where do you live?	They asked me where I lived

ü  When you report a question, the tenses change as in reported statements.

*Gràcies Alba!

ü  When a question begins with a verb, ADD IF

ü  You also have to change the word order to SUBJECT + VERB, and not use DO/DID

Remember: whether és el nostre à o no… (per exemple: vindran o no?)

The Common European Framework of Reference

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/exams-info/cefr.html

algunes pàgines

http://www.pppst.com/index.html

http://www.covenantworks.com/Bouncy-A/

English Club

http://www.englishclub.com/

Marco Europeo de equivalenciassss.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_com%C3%BAn_europeo_de_referencia_para_las_lenguas

the..,the..+comparatives

THE ... THE ... + comparative adjective / adverb

Rewrite the following sentences using the ... the ...

EXAMPLE: If you’re hungry you eat more. The hungrier you are, the more you eat.

1. If I walk fast I get out of breath.

2. If the sun is hot you get burned.

3. If the house is tidy it’s nice to live in.

4. If you do a lot of practice you’ll play the piano better.

5. If we work hard we’ll finish sooner.

6. If we run fast we’ll get there quickly.

7. If you chop the vegetables small they’ll taste better.

8. If we go to bed early we’ll get up early.

9. If the music is loud he’ll complain a lot.

10. If the cat sits quietly he’ll catch more birds.