Friday, April 27, 2012

Walter Steiger, sole trader

 

A Geneva shoe designer with Parisian flair.

Walter Steiger has boutiques everywhere, including a bespoke shoe shop on Faubourg St Honoré in Paris. The son of a cobbler, Steiger has worked with some of the biggest names in high fashion and today the enthusiastic 70-year-old remains a perfectionist and aesthete. His sons Paul and Giulio are now following in his footsteps. (Isabelle Eichenberger and Thomas Kern, swissinfo.ch)

Click here to watch a video about this Swiss man.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Great new Link

Now added is a great new link under the General English listings.
The Local Swiss Daily News link and is updated  (-as is pretty obvious-) daily!
To get a look I have made your first viewing easy, just CLICK HERE

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Los Angeles Area Gets a New Spider


Tropical ‘Brown Widow’ Spider, New to Los Angeles
Captured In Torrance; On Display at Museum

Read about it here.


Answer the comprehension questions.

Enjoy-and...  Good luck!

Reading a map



Use the map above to answer the questions below.
click here to begin

Monday, April 16, 2012

Dolphins

Facts will be followed by questions for comprehension.

Dolphins are mammals, not fish.

They are warm blooded like man, and give birth to one baby, called a calf, at a time.
At birth, a bottlenose dolphin calf is about 90-130 cms long and will grow to approximately 4 metres, living up to 40 years.

They are highly sociable animals, living in groups, called pods, which are fairly fluid, with dolphins from other pods interacting with each other from time to time.

Dolphins carry their young inside their womb for about 12 months. The baby is born tail first, and its mother will feed the calf for up to 2 years.

However, the calf will stay with its mother for between 3-6 years, during which time it will learn all about feeding techniques, social interaction and group hunting.
GO HERE NOW

Saturday, April 14, 2012

General Review Level A-2

01. We gave................ the passports.
A. him B. his C. he D. they

02. The operator gave.................. the number.
A. we B. our C. she D. us

03. ................ coffee is cold.
A. He's B. His C. It D. Its

04. ............... is hot.
A. hers B. her C. she's D. its

05. Have you any change? Yes, I have.....................
A. it B. any C. some D. one

06. Which is................., 25 or 27 degrees?
A. hottest B. more hotter C. most hot D. hotter

07. Which is................., 25, 27 or 30 degrees?
A. hottest B. more hot C. more hotter D. most hotter

08. Is 30 degrees ..................... 27?
A. hotter as B. over hot than C. as hot than D. hotter than

09. We have.................. than they do.
A. less B. few C. more little D. lesser

10. Can I pass you.................. toast?
A. some A. a C. to D. these

11. Would you care for.................. slice of toast?
A. some B. a C. any D. these

12. I haven't................... change.
A. no B. some C. any D. at all
13. The lazy man lies....................... all morning.
A. the bed B. in the bed C. in bed D. to the bed

14. I had a salad....................
A. for a lunch B. to lunch C. at the lunch D. for lunch

15. Is it far? No,.......................
A. no far B. is not far C. far not D. not far

16. Will it take long? No,.......................
A. not for long B. take not long C. not long D. not take long

17. Do you want much? Yes,....................
A. much B. want much C. lot D. lots

18. He has................... books.
A. much B. a lot of C. many of D. any

19. The holiday was................... enjoyable.
A. much B. some C. fairly D. a lot

20. But it rained....................
A. rather lot B. much C. greatly D. rather a lot

21. He did it....................
A. by him B. by himself C. self D. by self

22. I have been here................... ten weeks.
A. for B. ago C. in D. since


USAGE REVIEW EXERCISE
Complete with the correct word from the choices given. Advanced and intermediate students should NOT refer to the choices given.

A stutter makes it difficult to speak. For example, a st-st-st-stutter m-m-makes it d-d-d-d-d-difficult to speak.

At the speech clinic of a university, the lecturer (01)....................................... an idea for helping his stuttering students. He decided to give (02)....................................... some practical exercises. He knew that stuttering is often caused by shyness, (03)....................................... he sent them to shops to ask for things which the shop did not usually have in stock. He told them to ask for the object, then to ask (04)....................................... it could be found, and then (05)....................................... to get there.

One result was a lot of requests for p-p-p-ping-p-p-pong or t-t-t-table t-t-t-t-tennis balls (06)....................................... the university bookshop. At (07)....................................... , the early customers were sent off somewhere (08)....................................... . However, (09)....................................... the fifth student arrived, he found that the bookshop had (10)....................................... ping-pong balls in stock to supply everyone in the university.

The shop manager was (11)....................................... . He said: "I don't know what's going (12)....................................... . Why should people expect a bookshop to stock ping-pong balls? Well, we have to keep our customers happy. But (13)....................................... really worries me, though, is why everyone who (14)....................................... ping-pong stutters."

01. having has had have
02. it they their them
03. so because therefore as
04. why what where how
05. means who what how
06. at to in by
07. first last it there
08. other apart else down
09. when whenever until if
10. more many enough all
11. questioning puzzling questioned puzzled
12. up at on by
13. what that it there
14. play played plays playing


Adverbs ending in -LY
Adverbs qualify verbs. They are often formed by adding -LY to the adjective.
For example, "She was a slow walker" can be changed into "She walked slowly".

Change the following sentences in the same way:
01. He has a loud laugh.

02. A bright fire was burning.

03. She was a smooth swimmer.

04. He is a quick learner.

05. Politicians are eloquent speakers.

06. She was a brilliant cook.

07. That dog has a noisy bark.

08. A sharp wind blew.

09. He fell into a deep sleep.

10. The warm sun shone.


Past Tense
Choose the correct answer from those given.

01. ................... they in when you called?
A. Wasn't B. Weren't C. Were being D. Was been

02. It................ a nice day to go out for a walk.
A. weren't B. wasn't C. was being not D. was not being

03. Yesterday, he.................. all day at the office.
A. works B. worked C. is working D. work

04. .................... she answer the telephone when you called?
A. Did B. Do C. Is D. Are

05. He................. his car in time to avoid the accident.
A. didn't stop B. don't stop C. not stopped D. not doing stop

06. She.................. to the bank to deposit a cheque.
A. go B. gone C. went D. going

07. We................. orange juice when we needed refreshment.
A. drinks B. drunk C. drank D. dronk

08. They............... sandwiches on their picnic.
A. eats B. ate C. eated D. eaten

09. I.................. some work home from the office.
A. taken B. takes C. token D. took

10. They................. hymns together in the church choir.
A. singed B. sang C. song D. sung

11. She................. a bicycle until she had an accident.
A. rid B. ride C. ridden D. rode

12. I................... to the airport to meet my friends when the tyre burst.
A. were driving B. was driving C. were drive D. was drive


SIMPLE PRESENT OF AUXILIARY VERBS

Complete with "have" or "has":

01. The boy .............. an ice-cream.

02, The girl .................. a cake.

03. The men .............. a football match on Saturday afternoon.

04. The woman ............ a cup of tea.

05. The girl ............. a new dress for the party.

06. They ................. a holiday in August.

07. Mr Jones ............. a bad temper.

08. Mrs Jones ............ a nice smile.


Complete with "are" or "is":

09. The cook............. in the kitchen.

10. English.............. an easy language.

11. They................. in that hotel.

12. The car.............. in the garage.

13. The tourists......... on the bus and ready to go.

14. They................. Spanish, from Toledo.

15. He................... at the concert this evening.

16. He................... musical and plays several instruments.

17. Mr Jones............. in a bad temper.

VERB FORMS
Select the correct answer, A or B or C or D.

01. I..................... hard-working.
A. am B. are C. is D. be
02. That man.................. a banker.
A. am B. are C. is D. be
03. ................. bankers hard-working?
A. Be B. Is C. Do D. Are
04. Technicians.................... lazy.
A. not are B. be not C. isn't D. aren't
05. Are.............. lazy?
A. he B. it C. they D. this
06. .................... a letter on your desk.
A. There is B. It is C. There are D. It are
07. .................... the office?
A. Where B. Where be C. Where is D. Where are
08. .................... the address?
A. What's B. What be C. What D. What are
09. She..................... to the office.
A. no B. are going C. going D. is going
10. ....................... his car?
A. Driving he B. Is he driving C. Drives he D. Is driving
11. ....................... to the meeting.
A. I am going not B. I not going C. I am not going D. I no go
12. He.................. to work every morning.
A. jog B. jogs C. jogging D. is jog
13. I................ cigars.
A. smoke B. smokes C. smoking D. am smoke
14. ...................... newspapers?
A. Read you B. Do you read C. Do read you D. Do reading you
15. .................... at that hotel?
A. Stay he B. Do he stay C. Staying he D. Does he stay
16. She.................. work in an office.
A. don't B. doesn't C. doing not D. not do
17. He................. walk on water.
A. not able B. isn't able C. can't D. not can
18. He................. a good hotel.
A. having B. have C. has D. to have
19. I...................... a penny.
A. hasn't B. not have C. haven't got D. not having
20. ................... a big car?
A. Do he have B. Does he having C. Has he got D. Have he




KEY


1A
2D
3B
4A
5C
6D
7A
8D
9A
10A
11B
12C
13C
14D
15D
16C
17D
18B
19C
20D
21B
22A

Usage

1 had
2 them
3 so
4 where
5 how
6 at
7 first
8 else
9 when
10 enough
11questioned
12 on
13 what
13 plays
Adverbs ending in –ly
1 He laughs loudly.
2 A fire burned brightly.
3 She swam smoothly.
4 He learns quickly.
5 Politicians speak eloquently.
6 She cooked brilliantly.
7 that dog barks noisily.
8 A wind blew sharply.
9 He slept deeply.
10 The sun shone warmly.

Past Tense

1 B
2 B
3 B
4 A
5 A
6 C
7 C
8 A
9 D
10 B
11 D
12 B

HAVE OR HAS

1 has
2 has
3 have
4 has
5 has
6 have
7 has
8 has
ARE OR IS

9 is
10 is
11 are
12 is
13 are
14 are
15 is
16 is
17 is

VERB FORMS

1 A
2 C
3 D
4 D
5 C
6 A
7 C
8 A
9 D
10 B
11 C
12 B
13 A
14 B
15 D
16 B
17 C
18 C
19 C
20 C

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

firebrand


firebrand •\ˈfī(-ə)r\-ˌbrand\• noun

1. A burning stick, a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning-- torch, brand, burning ember, spill; see embers

2. someone who deliberately foments trouble. An inflammatory person--
incendiary, mischiefmaker, rabble-rouser; see agitator

firebrand sentence examples

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Chocolate Bunnies


Watch this video

Easter


Like every country Switzerland too has its own way of celebrating this springtime festivity. Easter in Switzerland is celebrated with great joy and fervor. So, settle in and get an insight into the Easter celebrations in Switzerland.


There are various customs and traditions that are an essential part of this grand fiesta. However, these traditions differ from country to country. For instance in Switzerland cuckoo brings the Easter eggs. The Easter eggs, cuckoo and baskets are a significant part of the grand celebration and are used extensively to enhance the cheerful spirit. In Switzerland, chocolate cuckoos, colored eggs and special Easter cakes in shop windows serve to remind children weeks before the event that Easter is the time to grab these goodies.

Various games and decorated Easter eggs are important to the young people, especially those living in towns and smaller villages. Easter Sunday in Switzerland starts off with an Easter-egg hunt, with children running across the house or garden, to search and fill their baskets with colorful eggs. The kid who gathers the most number of eggs receives additional gifts of sugar eggs, and chocolate eggs, little chocolate and marzipan rabbits with colored sugar flutings.

These are some of the festive activities that add spice to the Easter celebrations in Switzerland.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Do you speak Swiss?

Listen to this interesting audio podcast (and others) on this great website.

Excellent entertainment.


swissinfo.ch

Glacier Melt Video

Global Warming?

National Geographic is the place to go to for expert information.
Watch this interesting video.


begin here