Páginas

Saturday, 30 November 2019

The economy

The economy is a system where we transform raw materials into manufactured products. There has been several industrial revolutions affecting the way we understand the economy.

Here is a mindmap.


To understand the industrial revolution and all the changes that happened in our economy you can watch these videos.



Here is a longer documentary about the industrial revolution that you can also watch to improve your listening skills. 




Friday, 29 November 2019

The three sectors of economy

Here is a simple explanation of the three sectors of the economy.

Primary: we extract raw materials: mining, fishing, farming and forestry.

Secondary: we transform raw materials into manufactured products ready to sell.

Tertiary: services including transportation.


As we said the primary sector has four groups: Farming, Fishing, Mining and Forestry.


Remember: Arable Farming produces CROPS and other products. Irrigated Farming is when the farmers have to water their CROPS. 


Deep-sea Fishing takes place far from the coast and uses big ships. 

A QUARRY is an open mine where coal and minerals are extracted. 

The secondary sector transforms raw materials like wood or metals into manufactured products. Normally this happens in factories. Therefore we have industries. The car industry, the textile industry, toy industry, the steel industry, etc.


The secondary sector became more important after the first industrial revolution which happened around 1784 with the invention of the steam engine. 

A textile factory at the beginning of the XIX Century. 

If you want to know more about the first industrial revolution you can search on the internet or watch this video.

THE SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION


Thomas Edison was an important inventor in the second industrial revolution. He invented the light bulb and people started to use electricity in their homes. 


Three things that made possible the SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION were:

  1. The use of electricity and the invention of the lamp
  2. The invention of the telephone
  3. The first cars with internal combustion
CLUE: In the secondary sector, different types of products are produced. Some products are used to make other products. This type of products is called an intermediate product.


Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Entertainment

A lot of people don't watch the news today on TV. They find out what's happening from the internet. But it's still important to watch the news because they talk about events in more detail.

In our country everybody is interested in the weather. That's because it's always different. One day it's raining, and the next it's sunny and warm.
Talent show

Do you watch the new show Don't laugh?

Is it a comedy show?

No, it's a talent show.

My brother is the only boy I know that doesn't like football. He prefers going for walks and playing chess. You're lucky! My brothers are always watching live sports. I never get to see my favourite soap operas!

Why don't they ask more difficult questions on these quiz shows? They always start with easy questions to give the teams confidence.

Quiz show

Now you can also watch some news from TV:



The news normally tells you what is happening around the world or in your local area. Remember that one pound has 100 pence, and in singular we call it a penny.

One penny
One pound = 100 pence
A note of ten pounds
Fifty pence coin
Twenty pence coin
Money box
Drinking machine
Piggy bank

Sunday, 24 November 2019

Infinitives and gerunds

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. It can be tricky to remember which verbs are followed by the infinitive (the to form) of the verb and which are followed by the gerund (the ing form) of the verb.

You can practive with this.


Try to remember that:


Gerunds are often used when actions are real, fixed, or completed. "I enjoy cooking."

Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future: "He wants to swim."
Another example:

Five hundreds years ago it was impossible to travel long distances quickly.
We grow vegetables in our garden to eat. 

You can practice here.

Another example: 

You can use this cloth to clean the car.

You can use this cloth to clean the car


Let’s review and read to check the ideas but it’s not necessary that you study the rules. Just see a lot of examples better.


Gerund = the present participle (-ing) form of the verb, e.g., singing, dancing, running.
Infinitive = to + the base form of the verb, e.g., to sing, to dance, to run.

Whether you use a gerund or an infinitive depends on the main verb in the sentence.

I expect to have the results of the operation soon. (Infinitive)

I anticipate having the research completed eventually. (Gerund)

Solutions to the exercise.

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Juan Sebastián Elcano


Juan Sebastián de Elcano was the firts navigator whose expedition completed the circumnavigation of the globe. He had been born in the Basque town of Guetaria in 1476 and died of scurvy in the Pacific Ocean in 1526.

Having participated in Cardinal Cisneros’ campaign that resulted in the conquest of Oran, he took up residence in Seville, where in 1519 he joined the expedition being organised by the Portuguese explorer Fernando de Magallanes. Equipped with five ships, its aim was to sail west and find a route around southern America to reach the Spice Islands.

The fleet discovered what is now the Strait of Magallanes and, enduring much hardship, was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean.

Magallanes was killed in the Philippines in an attack on a native settlement and Elcano took over command of the last remaining ship, the Victoria. Reaching the Moluccas in late 1521, he sailed across the Indian Ocean and finally reached the Atlantic.

After almost three years and having covered a distance of 14,000 leagues, the ship reached Sanlúcar de Barrameda on September 6th 1522 and Seville two days later.



Although the Victoria arrived laden with spices, the expedition’s original crew of 285 had been reduced to 18 famished and weakened seamen.

The Spanish navigator thus completed the first historically documented circumnavigation of the globe.

The Emperor Carlos V received the survivors at Valladolid, rewarding Juan Sebastián Elcano with an annuity of 500 gold ducats and granting him a crest depicting a globe with the motto Primus circumdedisti me (‘You were the first to circumnavigate me’).

In the present day the Spanish Navy’s training vessel is named after him, thus honouring his leading role in epic voyage.

Here are some videos about this journey. This one is more focused on Magallanes. 



Second part:



Third part:


Last one!


Here are some links:

Biography

The Journey

More info

Saturday, 16 November 2019

The strawberry banana dessert

Here is a delicious and healthy recipe!

Ingredients

Strawberries
Bananas
Yogurt (I prefer skimmed with pear)
Nuts (a bunch)
A bit of sugar (optional)
Blueberries

Here is all you need!

Method

Wash under water the strawberries and cut them as you like. Put some in a crystal bowl usable for microwave.

Cut the banana and put it into the bowl. Put it all in the microwave for one minute aprox.

Use the microwave from 30 seconds to 1 minute or more. 

It should be warm and soft but not too liquid.



After, put some sugar and the yogurt on top. With a spoon smash it a little but don't stir it. Then add the nuts and the blueberries.


If you want to have a closer look...

Enjoy!
It's very tasty and I love the combination of the yogurt, the strawberries and bananas with the nuts. It's delicious!! Now you can watch part two of this video:


Have a nice day!

Simon

Thursday, 14 November 2019

Let's get into cooking!

Today we are going to see a recipe from Jamie Oliver which has a great channel on you tube full of ideas for your meals.

This one looks really delicious. Why don't you try to make it with your parents?

Come on! It's an interesting way of learning English. Use the wordreference for the vocabulary you don't understand!