Family Album part VIII

Source: Family Album, part VIII

Hellen Mirren, the Queen and I

Language Level: Intermediate

Source: Speak Up

Standard: British Accent

The Queen and I

This year Dame Helen Mirren deservedly won the Academy Award – or “Oscar – for “Best Actress.” This was for the title role in Stephen Frears’ movies, The Queen, which chronicles the events following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. The film does not analyse Diana’s death in itself, but studies the Royal Family’s reaction to it. It shows how – under pressure from new prime minister, Tony Blair – the Queen and the other “Royals” are forced to abandon their traditional British reserve and show emotion in public. When Helen Mirren met with the press she was asked about the films’ success in Britain:

SHIZOPHRENIA

Helen Mirren

Standard: British Accent

It’s wonderful, it’s absolutely great. I mean, one knew that this was a hot potato and one knew that it would be looked at with the greatest of scrutiny in Great Britain because the British people have such a… a schizophrenic relationship with their Royal Family, of utter sort of love and respect, bordering on obsession, and then sort of hatred and resentment, so it’s a very, very schizophrenic relationship, so one knew that it would be scrutinized and it was dangerous because, if the tone was wrong, if it was a cheap shot, it would have been enjoyed as a cheap shot, ‘cause the British love, more than anything, to take cheap shots at  the Royal Family, but, I think, to see it embraced the way it has been is very, very gratifying. It was an honest piece of work, I think we all tried very hard to be truthful and honest, and  as much integrity as possible, without being sycophantic, and without being unfairly attacking, to try and find the middle road, in a world that, really, we know nothing about. We’re all taking a guess, it’s an educated guess, but it is a guess.

THOSE HATS!

Helen Mirren’s physical resemblance to the Queen is striking, as is the film’s portrayal of her dress sense:

Helen Mirren:

The wardrobe was very important here, but I think, more than the wardrobe, it was to let go of any sense of vanity because the Queen, who was one of the most beautiful young women, you know, absolutely beautiful – a young Elisabeth Taylor, I mean, gorgeous, I don’t think ever had any personal vanity, and she’s never dyed her hair, she’s never changed her hairdo, she likes that are comfortable, appropriate. If she’s got to wear a hat, you know, a dress, and she’s got to be seen, she’ll wear a bright turquoise hat and dress, to be seen not whether if flatters her on not, she doesn’t care about that. For a woman – and I think she’s a very womanly woman –she absolutely doesn’t care about clothes at all, and it’s really interesting, or… and is completely “unvain,” and for someone who’s photographed all the time and filmed all the time, to have someone who so doesn’t care about the image, but in a way, I think that puts her into this other world, the world of the monarchy, where you’re not a fashion model, you’re not a celebrity. One tries to explain to explain to people how a monarch is not a celebrity: you’re way beyond the concept of celebrity.

“I’M TERRIBLY LAZY”

In conclusion, Mirren, who will turn 62 this year, was asked about the work and commitment that had gone into preparing for the part:

Helen Mirren:

I don’t think I am very committed, I have to say! I’m terribly lazy. I’m not very good at research and I’m not very committed, actually, but what I am is old! And sort of experienced and one of the advantages of having worked in a lot of different movies and theatre and everything is…is that you start to learn how not to work too hard, in a way, and I’m so glad I did, but I really underplayed the Queen, I really underplayed it, when I look at it, it’s very, very underplayed. I just let it happen, and I think that’s what gives it its authenticity, it’s what…makes it real, if I was working it…I mean, I got…I worked it in the sense I tried to get all the elements right, the walk right, the talk right, the physically right, I had to get all of those accurate and right, but then I just underplayed it and I think, you know, in a way, there’s…there’s value in that.

Self-taught

It seems to be difficult to write something like this, however it's quite possible learning English without take classes, how is it possible? As you know Studying English in a private course costs a lot of money, and most people, some of them in low-income have no money to attend private schools.

There are some important tips to study by yourself or in group.

.Establish target, I mean organise the material and getting started right now, example within 1 year you want to be fluent, dedicating 1 hour a day, individually or in group.

.Listen to movies,  without English subtitles, next with English subtitles, listen to music, documentaries and broadcast radios and podcasts.

Listen to different accents, 'cause you have to keep in touch with different nationalities, example study both American and British standard accents, however you have to choose one standard, but you need to adapt both. 

Study English using websites and blogs with contents in English, there are a lot of them available on the net, mostly are free access. 

Do not think in your mother tongue, it is one of the main problem, but as much as you practice you are going to think in English and still during the night dreaming in English.

Speak without fear to make mistakes, practice makes perfect, studying hard in order to get your achievements, never give up.

Corrections are important, if you make mistakes, no worry if someone corrects you, by the way...you are not native speaker. 

However, I recognise that if you have money you can do interchange and take classes abroad or attending private schools in Brazil, otherwise be a self-taught! Self-taught? You are never alone, on the net, using skype or using Facebook, Orkut, Twitter you are keeping in touch with the language, good luck, and go ahead.

Have you ever seen the rain?

Source: www.englishexercises.org

Author: Teacher Judith Jékel

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"

Task 1: Reading

What questions do the following paragraphs answer? Choose from the list. There are two extra questions.

 

 

1. How many albums did they make?
2. Who played in the band?
3. When did they break up?
4. What does CCR stand for?
5. How famous were they?
6. Where did the band's name come from?

1 

It stands for Creedence Clearwater Revival, which was one of the all-time greatest American rock and roll bands. During their shortheyday in the years 1968-1972, they cut a bunch of three-minute hit singles which have easily stood the test of time and become true classics. The group combined elements of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, country, gospel and various bayou styles - despite the fact that they emerged in El Cerrito, a suburb in San Francisco Bay Area, and had never even seen the Mississippi bayou.

2 
Their line-up was John Fogerty (vocals, guitar), his brother Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitar), Stu Cook (bass), and Doug Clifford (drums)

3 

Creedence came from the name of a friend of Tom's, Credence Nuball. The first name, with its connotations of believability and integrity, appealed to the group. Clearwateralso had two meanings. It came initially from a beer commercial, but also resonated with the burgeoning environmental movement of the time. Revival, however, had one meaning. It was the band's aspiration.

4 

When the Beatles announced their break up in the winter of 1970, CCR became the most successful band and the biggest singles act in the world, despite never landing a #1 single. Always very private, the group never became stars personally to befit their status on the pop charts.

 

Task 2: Vocabulary

Which underlined words do the following definitions refer to?

1.      a feeling or idea suggested by a particular word                               

2.      an area of slowly moving water away from the main river              

3.      something that you hope to achieve                                                    

4.      developing or growing quickly                                                                

5.      appear by coming out                                                                               

6.      be suitable or right for                                                                              

7.      the most successful or popular period of someone or something   

                                              

Watch the video of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" by CCR and do the following exercises:

 

 

                                                              

            

Fill in the missing words.

 

Someone told me   ago there’s a calm before the  ,
I know; its been coming for some  .
When it’s over, so they say, it’ll   a    day,
I know; shining down like  .

 

Chorus:
I want to know, have you ever seen the  ?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
Coming   on a sunny  ?

 

Tick the extra words in the next verse. There are two in each line.

Yesterday, and some days before, sun is cold and the rain is hard,
I know; had been that way for all of my time.
Till forever, and on it goes through the circle, too fast and slow,
I know it; it can’t be stop, I wonder.

Idioms and phrasal verbs with keep

Source: http://www.englishpractice.com/vocabulary/idioms-phrasal-verbs-2/

Keep hold of something: don’t let it go

Keep something in mind: remember it

Keep one’s temper: remain calm

Ann was really upset with Joe, but she kept her temper.

Keep one’s family in clothes: support; provide what is necessary for

He earns enough to keep his family in clothes. (= He earns enough to keep his family in comfort.)

Keep at: (cause to) work persistently at

Keep from: abstain from; refrain from

You should keep from drinking and smoking.

Keep in: restrain one’s feelings etc.

Keep in with somebody: remain on good terms with somebody

Keep one’s hand in something: practise in order to retain one’s skill in something

Keep off: stay at a distance

Keep on: continue

He kept on working although he was tired.
Don’t keep on asking silly questions.

Keep under: control; hold down

Keep it up: go on without slackening

Keep up appearances: behave as usual in spite of a change in circumstances

As they always keep up appearances you will never know if they have any problems.

Keep up with: go on at the same rate as

Keep (oneself) to oneself: avoid the society of others

Nobody knows anything about her; she always keeps herself to herself.

Keep something to oneself: refuse to share it

Keep pace with: go at the same rate as

Keep track of: keep in touch with the progress of

I’ve never been very good at keeping track of what I do with my money.

For keeps: permanently (colloquial)

In keeping with something: in harmony or agreement with something

American History: Warren Harding Wins Election of 1920

Source: www.voanews.com

Warren Harding had owned a newspaper in Ohio. People advised him to enter politics, because he was such a good public speaker.

STEVE EMBER: Welcome to THE MAKING OF A NATION -- American history in VOA Special English.

This week in our series, Doug Johnson and Shirley Griffith discuss the presidential election of nineteen twenty and the man who won, Warren Harding.

DOUG JOHNSON: The presidential election of nineteen twenty was a turning point in American politics. It ended a period of social reforms at home and an active foreign policy. It began a period of conservative thinking in both the political and social life of the nation.

American reporter H. L. Mencken described the national feeling this way: "The majority of Americans are tired of idealism. They want capitalism -- openly and without apology."

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: President Woodrow Wilson had suffered a stroke during his second term. He was very sick. No one expected him to be a candidate again. Yet he refused to announce that he would not run for a third term.

Woodrow Wilson had done much during his administration. He helped pass important laws dealing with trade, banking, and the rights of workers. He led the nation through the bloody world war in Europe. He tried, but failed, to have the United States join the new international organization -- the League of Nations.

The American people honored Wilson for his intelligence and ideas. But they were tired of his policies of social change. And they did not want to be involved in international problems anymore.

DOUG JOHNSON: The leaders of President Wilson's Democratic Party understood the feelings of the people. They knew they had little chance of winning the presidential election if they nominated a candidate of change.

Delegates to the democratic nominating convention voted forty-four times before agreeing on a candidate. They chose the governor of the state of Ohio, James Cox.

The Republican Party also had a difficult time at its nominating convention. Four men wanted to be president. The delegates voted six times. None of the men gained enough support. So, several party leaders met in private. They agreed that only one man -- a compromise candidate -- could win the support of the convention. He was a senator from the state of Ohio, Warren Harding.

The delegates voted ten more times before choosing Harding as their candidate for president. For vice president, they chose Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts.

Visitors waiting to see President Harding, around 1921

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Warren Harding had owned a newspaper in Ohio. People advised him to enter politics, because he was such a good public speaker.

During the campaign, he promised lower taxes, less immigration, and more aid to farmers. He called for "normalcy" -- a new period of peace and quiet, with few changes. That is what the voters wanted to hear in nineteen twenty. Warren Harding won the election with sixty-eight percent of the popular vote.

In his first act as president, he invited people to visit the White House. He permitted them to walk in the garden. The act was a sign. The government seemed to be returning to the people.

DOUG JOHNSON: Warren Harding is remembered mostly for two events. One was a successful international conference. The other was a shameful national incident.

After World War One, Britain, Japan, and the United States expanded their navies. They built bigger and better ships. Many members of the United States Congress worried about the cost. They also worried about increased political tension in Asia. They asked President Harding to organize a conference to discuss these issues.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The conference was held in Washington in November, nineteen twenty-one. President Harding invited representatives from the major naval powers of the time: Britain, Japan, France, and Italy. He also invited representatives from countries with interests in Asia: China, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. He did not invite the new Soviet leaders in Russia.

Mr. Harding's secretary of state, Charles Evans Hughes, spoke. He offered the conference a detailed plan to reduce the size of the world's major navies.

He proposed that the world's strongest nations should stop building warships for ten years. He also proposed that Britain, Japan, and the United States should destroy some ships to make their navies smaller immediately.

DOUG JOHNSON: Delegates to the conference debated the plan for three months. Japan demanded, and won, the right to have more ships. But the final agreement was very close to the one proposed by Secretary Hughes.

The conference was not a complete success.

For example, it did not prevent countries from building some kinds of ships. These ships would prove important in the second world war. Also, it did not create ways to protect China and the islands in the South Pacific Ocean from Japanese expansion. Yet the naval treaty of nineteen twenty-one was the first in which the world's strongest countries agreed to reduce the size of their armed forces. Most people thought it was a good treaty.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The second thing for which President Harding is remembered is the Teapot Dome scandal. It involved the misuse of underground oil owned by the federal government.

Warren Harding was an honest man. But he did not have a strong mind of his own. He was easily influenced. And he often accepted bad advice. He explained the problem with these words:

"I listen to one side, and they seem right. Then I listen to the other side, and they seem just as right. I know that somewhere there is a man who knows the truth. But I do not know where to find him."

DOUG JOHNSON: President Harding appointed several men of great ability to his cabinet. They included Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, and Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover.  However, some of his appointments were dishonest men. One was Interior Secretary Albert Fall. He was responsible for the Teapot Dome scandal.

Secretary Fall gave a private company the right to take oil from land owned by the federal government. In return, the company gave him money and cattle.

The oil was not supposed to be taken from the ground. It was supposed to be saved for the United States navy to use in an emergency. Private oil companies and many politicians opposed this policy. They said saving the oil was unnecessary.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Albert Fall opposed the policy when he was a member of the Senate. When he became Interior Secretary, his department took control of the lands containing the underground oil. Then he permitted private companies to use the land for a period of time. During that time, the companies could take out the oil.

Some of the oil was in the western state of Wyoming. The rock mass on the surface looked like a container for making tea. So, the area was called Teapot Dome. When the Senate uncovered Secretary Fall's wrong-doing, the press quickly called the incident the Teapot Dome scandal.

The Senate investigation led to several court cases which lasted throughout the nineteen twenties. Secretary Fall was found guilty of misusing his government position. He was sentenced to prison for one year.

DOUG JOHNSON: President Harding did not live to see the end of the Teapot Dome incident. In the summer of nineteen twenty-three, he made a political trip to Alaska and western states. On the way home, he became sick while in San Francisco. He died of a heart attack.

Vice President Calvin Coolidge was in the northeastern state of Vermont when he heard that President Harding had died. Coolidge's father was a local court official there. He gave the oath of office to his son. That is how Calvin Coolidge became the thirtieth president of the United States.

The story of his administration will be the subject of our program next week.

(MUSIC)

STEVE EMBER: Our program was written by David Jarmul. The narrators were Doug Johnson and Shirley Griffith. You can find our series online with transcripts, MP3s, podcasts and historical images at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. Join us again next week for THE MAKING OF A NATION -- an American history series in VOA Special English.

___

This is program #16
7

Statute of Liberty, part III

Author: Frenchfrog

Source: http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2127

PART THREE

 

    

 

Q.12  True or False?

 

        New York City is the biggest city in the United States.    True.      False.

 

Q.13  How many inhabitants are there in New York City?

 

             over 5 million.     over 8 million.     over 10 million.     over 12 million.

 

Q.14  How many foreign and American tourists visit New York City each year?

 

             about 20 million.     about 30 million.    about 40 million.     about 50 million.

 

Q.15  Fill in the blanks in the description of New York City.

 

        The city's  centres for  are among the nation's most influential, and

            for more than a century, it's been one of the world's major centres of  and

            .