FORMAS DISCUSIVAS DEL INGLES

WILSON’S PORTFOLIO

SEMESTER 6

TOLIMA’S UNIVERSITY

IBAGUE

2014

UNIT 1

AVOIDING REPETITION

DESCRIBING NATIONALITIES

BRITOSH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

MISSING WORDS OUT

1. Complete

the sentences

with an auxiliary

verb o r a modal

verb. Make the

verb form

negative where

necessary.

1. I tried to repair

my car, but I

couldn’t. I didn’t

have the right

tools.

2. “You look

awful. Why don’t

you see a

doctor?” “I have

He just gave me

some pills and

told me to take

things easy.”

3. “It’s a long journey. Take care on the motorway.” “Don’t worry.

We will “

4. I meet you sister last night. She thought we’d met before, but we

hadn’t

5.” have you read this report?” “No I haven’t, but I am going to.”

6. The weather forecast said that it might rain this afternoon. If it

does, we’ll have to call off the tennis.

7. My car is being mended at the moment. If it wasn’t, I’d give you a

lift. Sorry.

8. I’m so glad you told sue exactly what you thought of her, because

if you haven’t, I certainly would have!

9. I got that job I applied for, I was delighted. I really didn’t think I

would.

10. “Come on, John! It’s time you were getting up!” “I am! I’ll be

down in a second.”

11. “I’ll think I give Bob a ring.” “You should. You haven’t been in

touch with him for ages.”

12. I went to a party last night, but I wish I hadn’t. It was awful.

13. My boyfriend insists on doing all the cooking, but I wish he

wouldn’t -it’s inedible!

14. “Aren’t you going to Portugal for your holidays?” “Well, we might

but we are still not sure”

15. “Andy got drunk at Anne’s party and started insulting everyone.”

“He would! That’s so typical. He’s always doing that.”

SYNONYMS IN CONTEXT

5. Complete the sentences with a synonym of the word in

italics. Change the word class where necessary, as in the first

example.

1. I don’t trust this government. I have no faith in them whatsoever.

2. She is not only a skilled painter; she is also a proficient piano

player.

3. You’ve manage to persuade me. You argument is most

compelling.

4. Advertisements are not allowed to lie, but they fool us in subtle

ways.

5. Chess is a game of tactics, you have to plan your strategy well in

advance.

6. The doctor read my notes carefully, then gave me a rigorous

examination.

7. He has an annoying habit of always being late. It really frustrates

me.

8. it’s very important that you don’t tell anyone. In fact, it’s vital.

9. Skiing can be dangerous, but I like to take a few risks.

10. She wasn’t scared at all by the dog, but I was frightened.

REDUCE INFINITIVES

4. Write the responses, using the verb in brackets and a reduce

infinitive.

1. A. can you come around for a meal tonight?

B. thanks very much. I’d love to. (Love)

2. A. did you post my letter?

B. oh, I’m really sorry. I forgot to. (Forget)

3. A. I can’t take you to the airport after all. Sorry.

B. but you agreed to! (Agree)

4. A. was john surprised when he won?

B. he certainly was. He didn’t expect to. (Not expect)

5. A. why did you slam the door in my face?

B. it was an accident. I really didn’t mean to. (Not mean)

6. A. you’ll able to enjoy yourself when the exams finish.

B. Don’t worry. I intend to! (Intend)

DESCRIBING NATIONALITIES

Complete the chart. Use a dictionary if necessary

COUNTRY ADJECTIVE PERSON PEOPLE LANGUAGE(S)

Britain British A britón The British English, Welsh, Gaelic

Scotland Scottish A scot The ‘Scottish English/Gaelic

France

French

A Frenchman

Frenchmen

French/Breton/Basque

Belgium Belgian A Belgian The Belgians Flemish/French

The Netherlands/

Holland

Dutch

A

Dutchman

Dutchmen

Dutch

Denmark Danish A Dane Danes Danish

Sweden Swedish A Swede The Swedes Swedish

Poland Polish A pole The Poles polish

Turkey Turkish A Turk The Turks Turkish

Spain

Spanish

A Spaniard

Spaniards

Spanish/Galician/Basque/ Catalonian/

Castilian

Switzerland Swiss A Swiss The Swiss German/French/Italian/romance

Argentina

Argentinean

An Argentinean

The Argentineans

Spanish

Peru

Peruvian

A Peruvian

The Peruvians

Spanish

Iceland

Icelandic

An Icelander

The Icelanders

Icelandic

New Zealand New Zealand

A new Zealander

The new Zealanders

English

Afghanistan

Afghani

An afghan

The afghans

Farsi/Pashto

UNIT 2

PHRASAL VERVBS

TENSE REVIEW

SOUND AND SPELLING

1. complte the

four sentences,

using each

phrasal verb

twice in a

suitable form.

Give away/give

up

1.”Guess how old

I am.” “I give up.

You´ll have to tell

me.”

2.They’re giving

away a free CD

with next month’s

magazine.

3. He tried to disguise himself, but I nkew it was him. His voice gave

him away.

4. He handed his gun to the police officer and gave himself up.

Work out/work up

5. I can’t work out how to start this machine.

6. She is working herself up into a terrible state abiout the exam

next week.

7.All this phisical works makes you work up an appetite.

8. I keep fit by working out regularly at the gym.

Put down/put up

9. Stay with us. We can easily put you up.

10. Let me put that date down in my diary or I’ll forget it.

11. The shop has just put up all its prices.

12. He has a way of always putting me down, and I fell so foolish

Get on with/get up to

13. The kids are very quiet. I wonder what they’re getting up to.

14. What page did we get up to in the last lesson?

15. How do you get on with your husband’s family?

16. How did you all get on with last night’s homework?

Go down with/go in for

17. I can’t understand why people go in for a career in politics.

18. I keep sneezing. I think I’m going down with a cold.

19. Her last novel went down badly with the critics.

20. Our family goes in for big celebrations at christmas.

3. Complete the sentences with a verb and a particle.

Get(2) make wear Work settle hand Hold lie Go keep

1. My daughter spends the whole day lying around in front of the

tally.

2. Keep away from me. I’ve got a cold.

3. You told the teacher I cheated! I’ll get you back for that! Just

wait!

4. My tooth started hurting as the effects of the painkiller wore off.

5. We’re off hold on tight!

6. Go over your homework carefully before you hand it in.

7. The students were very quiet, working away on their computers.

8. My son’s a total mystery to me. I can’t get through to him at all.

9. You didn’t believe what he said, did you he made the whole thing

up.

10. Have you settled into your new flat yet?

Through away(2) on Into up back Around over off in

TENSE REVIEW

UNIT 5

WASY OF ADDING EMPHASIS

PROVERBS AND POETRY

GETTING EMOTIONAL

MATCH THE SYNONYIMS

Bizarre-----------------------------------------------weird

Random---------------------------------------------haphazard

Stunning--------------------------------------------striking

Guts---------------------------------------------------courage

Bashfully--------------------------------------------shyly

Dumbstruck----------------------------------------lost for words

Blush-------------------------------------------------go red

Mates-------------------------------------------------pals

Alleyway---------------------------------narrow path between buildings

Retrieve----------------------------------------------fetch

1. Find similar sentences to these in your article. How exactly do

they differ? What is the effect of the differences? Compare answer

with a partner from the other group.

Article A

1. I’ll never forget holding him for the first time.

Holding him for the first time is something I’ll never forget.

2. I loved Tina’s personality.

The thing I loved about Tina was her personality.

3. We either make a serious commitment or knock it on the head.

What we do is either make a serious commitment or knock it on the

head.

4. I wanted nothing more.

There was nothing I wanted more.

Article B

1. I think you have to build your own destiny.

What I think is that you have to build your own destiny.

2. I remember seeing this very striking girl.

What I remember is seeing this very striking girl.

3. I went straight to the local florist.

What I did was go straight to the local florist.

4. Finally I found the courage to ask her out.

Finally, I did find the courage to ask her out.

1. Match a line to make proverbs

Love is-----------------------------------------blind

The course of true love--------------------never did run smooth

All the world love----------------------------a lover

Cold hands------------------------------------warm heart

All’s fair in love-------------------------------and war

Hell hath no fury like------------------------a woman scorned

The way to a man’s heart is---------------through his stomach

Marry in haste---------------------------------repent at leisure

Better to have loved and lost than-------never to have love at all

A little of what you fancy does------------you good

Absence makes----------------------------- the heart grow fonder

Familiarity breeds----------------------------contempt

UNIT 6

DISTANCING THE FACTS

NOUNS FORMED FROM PHRASAL VERBS

RESPONDIN TO NEWS

Passive constructions

Rewrite these sentences, beginning with the words in italics.

1. It is reported that international criminal Jimmy Rosendale is living in

Ireland.

The international criminal Jimmy Rosendale is reported to be living

in Ireland

2. People believe that he is the head of a gang of bank robbers.

He is believed to be the head of a gang of bank robbers.

3. Everyone knows that the gang has carried out a series of robberies.

The gang is known to have carried out a series of robberies.

4. It is supposed that they have escaped with over 1 millions of pounds.

They are supposed to have escaped with 1 millions of pounds.

5. It is thought that they are targeting banks in small provincial towns.

They are thought to be targeting banks in small provincial towns.

6. They say Jimmy Rosendale is wanted for questioning by police in five

countries.

Jimmy Rosendale is said to be wanted for questioning by police in

five countries.

7. We understand he escaped from police custody by bribing a warder

He is understood to have escaped from police custody by bribing a

warder.

8. It is assumed that he has been involved in criminal activities all his life.

He is assumed to have been involved in criminal activities all his

life.

9. People presumed that he has learned his trade from his father.

He is presumed to have learnt his trade from his father.

10. It is alleged that his father was the mastermind behind the 2001 gold

bullion robbery.

His father is alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2001 gold

bullion robbery.

Seem and appear

Change the sentences

1. It seems the weather is changing

The weather is seems to be changing

2. It appears that we have missed the train

We appear to have missed the train

3. Peter appeared to have been attacked by a bull (it)

It appears that Peter has been attacked by a bull

4. He seemed to have survived the ordeal. (It)

It seems that he has survived the ordeal

5. It would seem that the government has changed its policy

The government would seems to have changed its policy

6. It appears that they are worried about losing the next election.

They appear to be worried about losing the next election.

Nouns formed from phrasal verbs

1. Complete the

sentences with a

compound nouns

started with the word

given. Use the

definitions to help you.

0ut

1. The final result of an

election, or

negotiations, when no

one knows what to expect

we are all waiting for the outcome of the meeting.

2. A set of clothes worn together

she bought a new outfit for the wedding.

3. What is expected to happen in future

the outlook for tomorrow’s weather is bleak, I’m afraid.

4. A shop or company through which products are sold.

The body shop has retail outlet in major cities throughout the world.

Take

5. A meal you buy in a restaurant to eat at home.

Shall we eat out or get a takeaway?

6. Getting control of a company by buying most of its shares

business sections of a newspaper are full of a company mergers and

takeovers.

Down

7. Failure or ruin following success

she had a great career, but hard drugs were her downfall.

8. A lot of rain that falls fast and heavily

I got soaked in yesterday’s downpour.

9. Information obtained from the internet, usually free

for free download, click here.

Break

10. New and successful development

there have been great breakthroughs in organ transplants in the last 20

years.

11. A serious mental illness

after his mother died, Paul suffered a complete nervous breakdown.

Use up at the end of these four words.

12. Ending a marriage

Sarah was very depressed after the breakup of her marriage to Tony.

13. Something use to support if the main one fails

at the end of a day’s writing, I make a copy of my work on disk as a

backup.

14. A situation in which a lot of changes are made

there’s been a big shakeup at work. They’ve fired six managers and

introduced new working practices.

15. A way of organizing or arranging something

I don’t understand the political setup in the states. Their elections seem

to last for years.

Responding to news

Match the statements and responses. Sometimes there is more than

are possible answer.

1. Guess what! I won 5 million pounds on the lottery!

You’re kidding! Really? That’s amazing!

2. My grandfather died last week

oh, no! I’m sorry to hear that. You were very close, weren’t you?

3. One of my students told me I was a lousy teacher

what a cheek! I hope you told him where to get off.

4. Here we are! Home at least.

Thank goodness for that! I thought we’d never make it.

5. I’m broke since I bought all those designer clothes.

Though. It’s your own fault. Serves you right.

6. Have you heard that Jim’s leaving to go to another job?

Good riddance. He was always useless.

7. I missed the last bus and had to walk home. I didn’t get home till

midnight.

What a drag! You must have been really fed up.

8. When I get a job, I’m going to be millionaire. I’ll have three houses and

ten cars.

In your dreams. Fat chance you have of being able to afford a caravan

and a bike.

9. I’m going on holiday to Barbados for two weeks with my girlfriend.

Nice one! Can I come too?

10. My six-year-old daughter painted me a picture for father’s Day.

Bless her! Isn’t that sweet?

11. I’m fed up with revising. Let’s go out for a beer.

Now you’re talking! A cold beer’d go down a treat.

UNIT 8

METAPHORS AND IDIOMS

REAL AND UNREAL TENSE USAGE

SOFTENING THE MESSAGE

Metaphors and idioms

Real and unreal tense usage

Would

1. Which use of would is expressed in these sentences?

1. My car wouldn’t start this morning. I had to get the bus (Refusal on

a past occasion.)

2. When I was a kid, I’d get up at 7:00 and take the dog for a walk.

(Past habits)

3. in Paris Charles Met Penny, who he would marry five years later.

(Future in the past)

4. Whenever we had time, we’d go windsurfing. Those were the days!

(Past habit)

5. When he was first going out with Jacky, he’d buy her presents all

the time. (Past habit)

6. So he took the job, did he? I knew he’d change his mind. (Future in

the past)

7. I asked him why he’d lied, but he wouldn’t tell me. (Refusal on a

past occasion)

8. sorry about the noise. I didn’t think you’d hear it. (Future in the

past).

Past tense to express unreality

These sentences

all have verbs in

the past simple.

Which ones refer

to real past time?

1. Suppose we

called him Mickey?

2. He would

become nostalgic

when he told

stories about his

upbringing.

3. I couldn’t swim

until I was fourteen.

4. If I could afford it, I’d buy it.

5. Isn’t it time we had a break?

6. My childhood was poor. If we had any money, it went to pay

debts.

7. He behaves as if he owned the place.

8. I wish you didn’t have to go.

These sentences all have verbs in the past perfect.

Which ones refer to real past time?

1. I wish you hadn’t said that. It was cruel.

2. I knew I’d seen her before.

3. Had he known the truth, he would have acted more cautiously.

4. She apologized, saying she hadn’t had time to phone me.

5. I’d rather you’d kept the news to yourself, but it’s too late now.

6. They looked as though they’d had a good time.

Softening the message

Rephrase these sentences so that they sound softer. Use the

words in brackets.

1. I want to use your phone. (Mind)

Would you mind if I use your phone?

2. Don’t paint the wall red. (If I…you)

If I were you, I wouldn’t paint the wall red

3. We should go in my car. (Better)

Wouldn’t it be better if we went in my car?

4. Ring back later. (Possible/Possibly)

Would it be possible for you to ring back later?

5. We should phone to say we’ll be late. (Don’t…)

Don’t you think we should phone to say we’ll be late?

6. Give me a lift to the station. (Hoping)

I was hoping you might give me a lift to the station.

7. She’s French. (Think/thought)

I would think she’s French.

8. Would you like to come to the cinema with me? (Wondering)

I was wondering if you’d like to come to the cinema with me?

9. Fill in this form, please. (Mind)

Would you mind filling in this form?

10. It’ll rain this afternoon. (Surprised)

I wouldn’t be surprised if it rained this afternoon.

11. I’m going for a walk. Anyone interested? (Thinking)

I was thinking of going for a walk. Anyone interested?

12. I’ve popped in to see if you need anything. (Thought)

I just thought I’d pop into see if you needed anything.

13. it’s a bad idea. (Say/said)

I’d say it’s a bad idea.

14. Apologize to her. (‘d have said…best idea)

I’d have said that apologizing to her would be the best idea.

15. I gave her a present. She didn’t say thank you. (You’d have

thought)

I gave her a present. You’d have thought she could have said

thank you.

UNIT 11

RELATIVES AND PARTICIPLES

COMPOUND NOUNS AND AJECTIVES

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSSES

Participle clauses reduce relative clauses

Present participle

R.C. the man who is driving the car is a friend of mine.

P.C. the man driving the car is a friend of mine.

R.C. Lorries that come over the bridge have to be careful of the wind.

P.C. Lorries coming over the bridge have to be careful of the wind.

R.C. who was the girl who was wearing the red dress?

P.C. who was the girl wearing the red dress?

R.C. students who hand in their essays late will lose ten marks.

P.C. students handing in their essays late will lose ten marks.

Past participle

R.C. we read the email that had been sent by the manager.

P.C. we read the email sent by the manager.

R.C. this vase, which was made in china in the 14th century, is very

valuable.

P.C. this vase made in china in the 14th century is very valuable.

Compound nouns and adjectives

Compound

nouns

Sun roof-

sunstroke

Raindrop-

rainfall-

rainstorm-

windfall-sow

cap-

snowdrift-

snowdrop-

snowfall-

snowflake-

snow plough-

snowstorm-

iceberg-ice

cap.

Adjectives

Sun burnt-

sun-

drenched-

suntanned-

rain soaked-

rain swept-

windblown-

windswept-

snowcapped-

ice capped

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

DESCRIPTIVE ESSEAY

NARRATIVE ESSAY

First descriptive essay draft

Second descriptive essay draft

Final descriptive essay

A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE

For thousands of years people have

been looking for a place to

themselves in which they can be

alone with their own thoughts

without worries and distractions.

Somewhere that provides solitude to

clear your mind and you´ll be able to

be one with the nature, with the

whole creation of God. Gratefully I

believe I have all ready found it: my

backyard.

It is to me a magic place because it is

filled of trees. Most of them are orange trees which provides me with the most tasty oranges and

became the home of too many animals like birds flying across the sky singing all the time on the

branches, squirrels which are always hiding from me, besides the shadows given by them, these

trees are a way to reduce and refresh the temperature in summer days. The flowers make a

rainbow of the entire home and fill the garden of a particular smell that takes you into a state of

happiness and comfort. The grass soft and tender which looks like a green thick carpet turns in a

comfortable bed in which you can lay to have a lovely sight of the stars and heaven setting up an

atmosphere of being in some other place than the earth, that’s the greatness of the sky.

This bonny garden is a place in which I can find myself. It has a smell of grass perhaps soil or

maybe a mixture of both. The air is not only fresh but clean that makes me feel like if I were in

paradise, it is so peaceful. The roses with a stunning red colour and large flowers in front of the

garden create a unique landscape which delights your eyes.

When I want to be alone, when all the pressure is released and when I want to be a little bit closer

to heaven this is the place I´m always going to. A magic garden in which you can find peace with all

the energy that transmits through the belongings that are over there.

Some nights I lose myself watching the sky looking for a shooting star that makes me realize the

splendor of the universe and looking all this greatness I can find answers to my prayers. Every day

when the day comes to the end there is only one thing I want to do: spend time with my family in

my gorgeous garden.

I believe in paradise because I’ve been there… in my own precious and magic garden of Eden.

First narration essay draft

Final narration essay

The day Adolf Hitler was almost killed

Since 1938 a lot of attempts to kill Hitler by Germans who disapproved the

politics of the dictator were made, but all of those finished in failure. The

most important and closer to reach his final objective was the Valkyrie

operation. This is the story of one of those trials to put end to one of the

most infamous war that human race have ever lived.

During the Second World War more than six millions of Jewish people were

killed by the third Reich under the command of Adolf Hitler, but not all of the

Germans agreed with the Nazi movement, like Colonel Claus Von

Staufenbberg one of the most important heads in the Nazi army who

believed that the first country invaded by Nazi Germany was Germany itself

and therefore the only way to stopped that madness was by killing the

Fuhrer.

The conspiracy team leaded by Staufenbberg was against the third Reich

because all of them had those strong feelings of shame to the eyes of the

entire world; they had this terrible sorrow of how their beloved Germany

would go down in history.

In 1944 Staufenbberg supported with a bunch of German officers started up

the Valkyrie operation, a plan designed by the German army to prevent an

uprising from the people who were against the Reich or a several civil chaos,

but due to the convenient position of Staufenbberg in the German army they

turned the plan to their own ambitions which were to kill the fhurer and to

take the control of all the troops in order to bargain an armistice with the

allies army and therefore with the whole world.

On July 20 1944 Staufenbberg was called to a meeting with Hitler; providing

the opportunity to kill him. Staufenbberg set up a blast inside his suitcase and

left it the closer possible to the Fhurer, immediately Staufenbberg left the

room and waited for the detonation but he didn´t count that one of the

assistants stumbled with the suitcase and moved it to a further position of

the Fhurer in the same room. Staufenbberg in a security position heard the

explosion and launched the Valkyrie operation; he took the control of the

army and the entire communication commanders, everybody in the German

army was confused and in sorrow because the suddenly death of their fhurer.

The whole operation lasted only seven hours form 12 pm to 7 pm; time in

which Adolf Hitler was enough conscious to tell all the troops he was alive

and the Valkyrie operation was a scam.

At midnight Staufenbberg and the plot team was caught, they were executed

for treason against the third Reich, but if they had succeeded maybe the

world would be different. Despite most of the German nation was right with

the third Reich not everybody was a Nazi and not everybody was a murder.

Like Staufenbberg, there were a lot of real patriots who put their homeland

before to the particular interests of their head commander, Adolf Hitler.

- Wilson García

-

TEST UNIT 2-8-1-6

READINGS

PANDORA’S BOX

Once up a time, a long time ago, there were

two brothers named Epimetheus and

Prometheus. They were good gods. They

had good hearts. They were good friends.

One day, Prometheus got in trouble with

Zeus. Because he had a kind heart,

Prometheus gave man fire. Zeus was

furious. Zeus had announced that man did

not deserve fire. Prometheus had ignored

him. As punishment, Zeus chained

Prometheus to a rock for many years. Then

Zeus went after his brother, the gentle,

kind-hearted Epimetheus.

Zeus ordered the gods' handyman, the

maker of things - Hephaestus - to make

Zeus a daughter. Hephaestus made a

woman out of clay, a beautiful woman. He

brought her to life, and then brought her to

Zeus. Zeus named his lovely new daughter

Pandora.

Zeus knew that Epimetheus was lonely. Zeus gave Pandora in marriage to the good hearted

Epimetheus.

Zeus gave the newlyweds a gift. Some say it was a jar. Some say it was a box. Whatever it

was, it was locked. It came with a note. The note said: DO NOT OPEN." Attached to the

note was a key. It was all very curious.

You can guess what happened next. It was Pandora whose curiosity got the better of her.

One day, she used the key to open the box. As she raised the lid, out flew all the bad things

in the world today - envy, sickness, hate, disease. Pandora slammed the lid closed, but it

was too late.

Epimetheus heard her weeping. He came running. Pandora opened the lid to show him it

was empty. Quickly, before she could slam the lid shut, one tiny bug flew out. He gave

Pandora a big buggy smile in thanks for his freedom and flew away. That tiny bug was

named Hope. And Hope made all the difference in the world.

A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS

The Arabian Nights (The Thousand and One

Nights, or The Thousand Nights and One Night) is

a collection of Arabic short stories. The story starts

with a king, Shahzaman, whose wife has

committed adultery with a kitchen boy. He kills

both of them and declares that he shall leave

immediately for his brother’s kingdom in India.

Shahzaman gets to the palace of his brother,

Shahrayar. While he is in his brother’s home, he

grows sickly and pale because of his internal

demons. He is king but he cannot protect or keep what is his. His brother invites him on a

hunt, but he declines, staying in the palace with his grief. Then he witnesses his brother’s

wife, paramours, and concubines fraternizing with the black slave boys. He realizes that his

misfortune is not uncommon, and he “finds consolations in his own affliction and forgets

his grief.” After Shahrayar gets back from the hunt, Shahzaman eventually tells him about

his wife, and he would like to see this with his own eyes. They sneak out, under the guise

of another hunt, but go back into the city to catch his wife with the black slave. Realizing

the truth of the matter, the brothers decide to go on a journey. On this journey, they cross

the path of a demon’s wife, who commands them to sleep with her, bringing her total to one

hundred men she has slept with while entrapped in the horrible marriage of the demon. She

showed the brothers that a woman’s cunning will get her what she wants. They travel back

to their cities, and Shahrayar has a plan in mind to outwit a woman’s cunning wiles. When

Shahrayar returns he puts his wife to death, then he orders his vizier to find a daughter of a

prince. He marries her, and then kills her the next morning, before any harm can befall him.

Shahrayar continues this for many days, until the people call for a plague upon the head of

their king. However, the vizier has two daughters. Shahrazad has been well educated and is

knowledgeable. With a plan in mind, she requests that her father marry her to the king. Her

father, the vizier, tells her the story of the donkey and the ox, stating that her miscalculation

will be the end of her. Then when she insists to be wed to the king, he threatens with the

story of the Merchant and His Wife to beat her. She still requests. The vizier goes before

the king, telling him that his daughter would like to marry him. They are wed, and that

night Shahrazad requests that she say good bye to her sister before her death in the

morning. The king agrees and sends for Dinarzad, who requests a story from her sister

before she sleeps. With the king’s permission she starts the story of the Merchant and the

Demon, but does not finish due to sunrise and sleep. As morning overtakes her, her

audience is intrigued by her story. She states “What is this compared with what I shall tell

you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live?” Due to his curiosity, she is not

put to death, but the next night continues the story. She does this for one thousand and one

nights. At the end, the king accepts her as his queen, having learned many lessons about life

from her stories.

THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

Patty the Milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a Pail on her head. As she

went along she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the

milk.

"I'll buy some fowls from Farmer Brown," said she, "and they will lay eggs each morning,

which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs

I'll buy myself a new dimity frock and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won't all the

young men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be that

jealous; but I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this. As she spoke she

tossed her head back, the Pail fell off it, and all the milk was spilt. So she had to go home

and tell her mother what had occurred.

PECOS BILL

Surely you’ve heard tell of Pecos

Bill. He was a cowboy down in

Texas. He was about the bravest

cowboy that ever lived. I seen

with my own eyes the time Bill

used two rattlesnakes as a lasso.

And then there was the time Bill

shot all the stars out of the sky—

all of ’em except the Lone Star,

that is.

But my favorite Pecos Bill story is

the one about the time he rode a

tornado. You see, there wasn’t a

horse in the world that was too

wild for him. So it’s not surprising

that one day, Bill decided he

wanted to ride a tornado—and not

just any tornado. No, sir. Bill

waited for the biggest, the

mightiest, the most terrifying

tornado ever born from the clouds.

It was so big that folks on the

moon could see it swirling. It

picked up elephants from Africa

and whales from the Pacific

Ocean. But that didn’t scare Bill. He just reached up and grabbed that tornado out of the

sky. He threw it down to the ground and hopped right on.

That tornado whirled and swirled and wiggled and wagged like an alligator with its tail on

fire. Bill hung right on. It sucked up Lake Michigan and dumped the water into the Grand

Canyon. Bill hung right on. At last, that tornado got tired. It stopped its whirling, and Bill

fell off. He fell so hard that the ground sank. Folks call that spot Death Valley. Now, most

people would be pretty banged up by such a fall. Not Bill, though. He was as happy as a

bear in honey.

Lots of folks heard about Bill’s tornado ride, no doubt. That’s where they got the idea for

rodeos. Of course, nobody but Bill ever rode a tornado. Most cowboys just ride broncos.

NARTIN LUTHER KING DAY Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It

celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American

civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on

public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

What do people do?

Martin Luther King Day is a

relatively new federal

holiday and there are few

long standing traditions. It is

seen as a day to promote

equal rights for all

Americans, regardless of

their background. Some

educational establishments

mark the day by teaching

their pupils or students

about the work of Martin

Luther King and the

struggle against racial

segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to

give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.

Martin Luther King Day, also known as Martin Luther King’s birthday and Martin Luther

King Jr Day, is combined with other days in different states. For example, it is combined

with Civil Rights Day in Arizona and New Hampshire, while it is observed together with

Human Rights Day in Idaho. It is also a day that is combined with Robert E. Lee’s birthday

in some states. The day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming.

Public life

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, but has slightly different names in some

states. Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are many corporations. Some

schools and colleges close but others stay open and teach their students about the life and

work of Martin Luther King.

Small companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a

growing number are choosing to close on this day. Some compensate by opening on

Washington's Birthday instead. Recent federal legislation encourages Americans to give

some of their time on Martin Luther King Day as volunteers in citizen action groups. Public

transit systems may or may not operate on their regular schedule.

LABOR DAY

Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September. It was originally organized

to celebrate various labor associations' strengths of and contributions to the United States

economy. It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the

end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events.

What do people do?

Labor Day is a day of rest or the last chance for many people to go on trips before the

summer ends. For students, it is the last chance to organize parties before school starts

again. In some neighborhoods, people organize fireworks displays, barbecues and public

arts or sports events. The football season starts on or around Labor Day and many teams

play their first game of the year during Labor Day weekend.

Traditionally, people did not wear white clothes, particularly shoes, after Labor day.

However, this custom is slowly dying out. More and more people now wear white all year

round, rather than just in the summer. Similarly, it is the custom to wear a straw cowboy

hat from Memorial Day until Labor Day, then a felt one until Memorial Day comes around

again.

May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaii, where

celebrations include lei-making

competitions, concerts, as well as giving

and receiving leis to friends and family.

Public life

Labor Day is a federal holiday. All

Government offices, schools and

organizations and many businesses are

closed. Some public celebrations, such as

fireworks displays, picnics and

barbecues, are organized, but they are

usually low key events. For many teams,

it is the start of the football season. As it

is the last chance for many people to take

summer trips, there may be some

congestion on highways and at airports.

Public transit systems do not usually

operate on their regular timetables.