i practiced my english level in other pages like:
READING COMPRENHENSION
http://www.rhlschool.com/read9n1.htm
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/reading/house-of-commons.html
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/reading/rolling-stones.html
I think that in these pages i could practiced english in a good way because the different texts made me reinforce structures and vocabulary that i learned in classes. At the same time it was interesting because i found many texts about the topic proposed in class: the scientific advances
11/25/2008
EXERCISE 5
Thomas Edison
Adapted from: Goodstein, A. & Walworth, M. (1979). Interesting Deaf Americans. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.Used with permission from the Gallaudet University Alumni Association.Revised by Vivion Smith and Ellen Beck
Thomas Alva Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might still be a dark place. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and over 1,200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new.
Thomas A. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. His family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, when he was seven years old. Surprisingly, he attended school for only two months. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. His natural curiosity led him to start experimenting at a young age with electrical and mechanical things at home.
When he was 12 years old, he got his first job. He became a newsboy on a train that ran between Port Huron and Detroit. He set up a laboratory in a baggage care of the train so that he could continue his experiments in his spare time. Unfortunately, his first work experience did not end well. Thomas was fired when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the baggage car.
Thomas then worked for five years as a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time on the job conducting experiments. He got his first patent in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity. However, the vote recorder was not a success. In 1870, he sold another invention, a stock-ticker, for $40,000. A stock-ticker is a machine that automatically prints stock prices on a tape. He was then able to build his first shop in Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Edison was totally deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, but thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work. He called himself a "two-shift man" because he worked 16 out of every 24 hours. Sometimes he worked so intensely that his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.
Thomas Edison died at the age of 84 on October 18, 1931, at his estate in West Orange, New Jersey. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.
Thomas Edison did things in this order:
a. he became a telegraph operator, a newsboy, and then got his first patent
b. he became a newsboy, got his first patent, and then became a telegraph operator
c. he got a patent, became a telegraph operator, and then became a newsboy
d. he became a newsboy, a telegraph operator, and then got a patent
Edison considered his deafness:
a. a disadvantage
b.a blessing
c.something from a priest
d.a necessity
Of all the inventions, __________ was probably the most important for civilization.
a.the vote recorder
b.the stock ticker
c.the light bulb
d.the motion picture camera
The main idea of this passage is:
a.Thomas Edison was always interested in science and inventions, and he invented many important things.
b.Thomas Edison could not keep a job.
c.Thomas Edison worked day and night on his experiments.
d.Deaf people make good inventors because they can focus without the distraction of spoken conversation.
Adapted from: Goodstein, A. & Walworth, M. (1979). Interesting Deaf Americans. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.Used with permission from the Gallaudet University Alumni Association.Revised by Vivion Smith and Ellen Beck
Thomas Alva Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might still be a dark place. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and over 1,200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new.
Thomas A. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. His family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, when he was seven years old. Surprisingly, he attended school for only two months. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. His natural curiosity led him to start experimenting at a young age with electrical and mechanical things at home.
When he was 12 years old, he got his first job. He became a newsboy on a train that ran between Port Huron and Detroit. He set up a laboratory in a baggage care of the train so that he could continue his experiments in his spare time. Unfortunately, his first work experience did not end well. Thomas was fired when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the baggage car.
Thomas then worked for five years as a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time on the job conducting experiments. He got his first patent in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity. However, the vote recorder was not a success. In 1870, he sold another invention, a stock-ticker, for $40,000. A stock-ticker is a machine that automatically prints stock prices on a tape. He was then able to build his first shop in Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Edison was totally deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, but thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work. He called himself a "two-shift man" because he worked 16 out of every 24 hours. Sometimes he worked so intensely that his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.
Thomas Edison died at the age of 84 on October 18, 1931, at his estate in West Orange, New Jersey. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.
Thomas Edison did things in this order:
a. he became a telegraph operator, a newsboy, and then got his first patent
b. he became a newsboy, got his first patent, and then became a telegraph operator
c. he got a patent, became a telegraph operator, and then became a newsboy
d. he became a newsboy, a telegraph operator, and then got a patent
Edison considered his deafness:
a. a disadvantage
b.a blessing
c.something from a priest
d.a necessity
Of all the inventions, __________ was probably the most important for civilization.
a.the vote recorder
b.the stock ticker
c.the light bulb
d.the motion picture camera
The main idea of this passage is:
a.Thomas Edison was always interested in science and inventions, and he invented many important things.
b.Thomas Edison could not keep a job.
c.Thomas Edison worked day and night on his experiments.
d.Deaf people make good inventors because they can focus without the distraction of spoken conversation.
EXERCISE 4
Listen a complete the missing words
Go on and close the CURTAINS
'Cause All we need is candlelight
You and me and a bottle of wine
Going to HOLD you tonight
Well, we know I'm going away
How I wish... I wish it WEREN'T so
Take this wine and drink with me
Let's DELAY our misery
CHORUS:
Save tonight
And fight the break of DAWN
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be gone (again)
THERE'S a log on the fire
And it burns like me for you
Tomorrow comes with one DESIRE
To take me away...it's true It ain't easy to say goodbye
Darling please don't START to cry
'Cause girl you know
I've got to go
Lord I wish it WASN'T so
CHORUS
Tomorrow comes to take me away
I wish that I....that I could stay
Girl you know I'VE got to go
Lord I wish it wasn't so
CHORUS
Go on and close the CURTAINS
'Cause All we need is candlelight
You and me and a bottle of wine
Going to HOLD you tonight
Well, we know I'm going away
How I wish... I wish it WEREN'T so
Take this wine and drink with me
Let's DELAY our misery
CHORUS:
Save tonight
And fight the break of DAWN
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be gone (again)
THERE'S a log on the fire
And it burns like me for you
Tomorrow comes with one DESIRE
To take me away...it's true It ain't easy to say goodbye
Darling please don't START to cry
'Cause girl you know
I've got to go
Lord I wish it WASN'T so
CHORUS
Tomorrow comes to take me away
I wish that I....that I could stay
Girl you know I'VE got to go
Lord I wish it wasn't so
CHORUS
EXERCISE 3
Exercise on Prepositions
Gap-Filling Exercise
1.- I'll buy the blue jumper. No, ON second thoughts, I'll take the red one.
2.- I spent some days in the mountains ON my own because sometimes I need to be BY myself.
3.- After running trying to catch the thief, the man stopped OUT OF breath.
4.- Mario and I have split up. After some time we've discovered we don't have anything IN common at all.
5.- I don't want to go to Dino's restaurant again. Let's go somewhere else FOR a change.
6.- I don't dislike thrillers. ON the contrary, I'm very fond them.
7.- Of course I won't lend you any more money. That's completely OUT OF the question.
8.- IN general I have lunch early, but AT weekends I have it later.
9.- It always pays to buy high quality goods. IN the long run it is cheaper.
10.- I don't mind visiting my aunt in the summer, but ON the other hand I would like to go to the seaside.
Gap-Filling Exercise
1.- I'll buy the blue jumper. No, ON second thoughts, I'll take the red one.
2.- I spent some days in the mountains ON my own because sometimes I need to be BY myself.
3.- After running trying to catch the thief, the man stopped OUT OF breath.
4.- Mario and I have split up. After some time we've discovered we don't have anything IN common at all.
5.- I don't want to go to Dino's restaurant again. Let's go somewhere else FOR a change.
6.- I don't dislike thrillers. ON the contrary, I'm very fond them.
7.- Of course I won't lend you any more money. That's completely OUT OF the question.
8.- IN general I have lunch early, but AT weekends I have it later.
9.- It always pays to buy high quality goods. IN the long run it is cheaper.
10.- I don't mind visiting my aunt in the summer, but ON the other hand I would like to go to the seaside.
EXERCISE 2
Fill in the Missing Words 2
Iyman Faris Sentenced For Providing
Material Support to Al Qaeda
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia announced today that Iyman Faris was sentenced TO 20 years in prison for providing material support and resources to al Qaeda and conspiracy for providing the terrorist organization WITH information about possible U.S. targets for attack.
Faris, a.k.a. Mohammad Rauf, 34, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, at federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Before sentencing Faris, Judge Brinkema denied Faris’ request that he allowed to withdraw his guilty plea
Faris, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kashmir, PLEADED guilty on May 1, 2003, to casing a New York City bridge for al Qaeda, and researching and providing information to al Qaeda regarding the tools necessary for possible attacks on U.S. targets.
"Iyman Faris - a seemingly hard-working truck driver - betrayed his fellow American citizens by scouting potential terrorist targets for al Qaeda," stated Attorney General John Ashcroft. "For that betrayal, he will SPEND the next 20 years of his life BEHIND bars. I commend the prosecutors and agents who worked to apprehend this al Qaeda facilitator and make our nation safer in the face of the ever-present threat of terrorism."
"This case is a significant accomplishment in our mission to prevent another terrorist strike in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia. "Severe punishment awaits those who assist terrorists."
Faris has admitted traveling to a training camp in Afghanistan in late 2000, where he was introduced to Usama bin Laden. Faris admitted that during a meeting in late 2000, one of bin Laden’s men asked HIM about "ultralight" airplanes, and said al Qaeda was looking to procure an "escape airplane." Faris admitted that about two months later, he performed an Internet search at a café in Karachi, Pakistan and obtained information about ultralights, which he turned over to a friend for use by al Qaeda.
Faris also admitted that during a visit to Karachi in early 2002, he was introduced to a senior operational leader in al Qaeda. A FEW weeks later, the operational leader asked WHAT he could do for al Qaeda. Faris said he discussed his work as a truck driver in the United States, his trucking routes and deliveries for airport cargo planes, in which the al Qaeda leader said he was interested because cargo planes would hold "more weight and more fuel."
According to Faris’ admission, the operational leader then told Faris that al Qaeda WAS planning two simultaneous attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. The al Qaeda leader spoke with Faris about destroying a bridge in New York City by severing its suspension cables, and tasked Faris with obtaining the equipment needed for that operation. The leader also explained that al Qaeda was planning to derail trains, and asked Faris to procure the tools for that plot as well.
Iyman Faris Sentenced For Providing
Material Support to Al Qaeda
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia announced today that Iyman Faris was sentenced TO 20 years in prison for providing material support and resources to al Qaeda and conspiracy for providing the terrorist organization WITH information about possible U.S. targets for attack.
Faris, a.k.a. Mohammad Rauf, 34, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, at federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Before sentencing Faris, Judge Brinkema denied Faris’ request that he allowed to withdraw his guilty plea
Faris, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kashmir, PLEADED guilty on May 1, 2003, to casing a New York City bridge for al Qaeda, and researching and providing information to al Qaeda regarding the tools necessary for possible attacks on U.S. targets.
"Iyman Faris - a seemingly hard-working truck driver - betrayed his fellow American citizens by scouting potential terrorist targets for al Qaeda," stated Attorney General John Ashcroft. "For that betrayal, he will SPEND the next 20 years of his life BEHIND bars. I commend the prosecutors and agents who worked to apprehend this al Qaeda facilitator and make our nation safer in the face of the ever-present threat of terrorism."
"This case is a significant accomplishment in our mission to prevent another terrorist strike in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia. "Severe punishment awaits those who assist terrorists."
Faris has admitted traveling to a training camp in Afghanistan in late 2000, where he was introduced to Usama bin Laden. Faris admitted that during a meeting in late 2000, one of bin Laden’s men asked HIM about "ultralight" airplanes, and said al Qaeda was looking to procure an "escape airplane." Faris admitted that about two months later, he performed an Internet search at a café in Karachi, Pakistan and obtained information about ultralights, which he turned over to a friend for use by al Qaeda.
Faris also admitted that during a visit to Karachi in early 2002, he was introduced to a senior operational leader in al Qaeda. A FEW weeks later, the operational leader asked WHAT he could do for al Qaeda. Faris said he discussed his work as a truck driver in the United States, his trucking routes and deliveries for airport cargo planes, in which the al Qaeda leader said he was interested because cargo planes would hold "more weight and more fuel."
According to Faris’ admission, the operational leader then told Faris that al Qaeda WAS planning two simultaneous attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. The al Qaeda leader spoke with Faris about destroying a bridge in New York City by severing its suspension cables, and tasked Faris with obtaining the equipment needed for that operation. The leader also explained that al Qaeda was planning to derail trains, and asked Faris to procure the tools for that plot as well.
EXERCISE 1
The Selfish Giant
by Oscar Wilde Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. "How happy we are here!" they cried to each other. One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. "What are you doing here?" he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. "My own garden is my own garden," said the Giant; "any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself." So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.
TRESPASSERSWILL BEPROSECUTED He was a very selfish Giant. The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. "How happy we were there," they said to each other. Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. "Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round." The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. "This is a delightful spot," he said, "we must ask the Hail on a visit." So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice. "I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming," said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; "I hope there will be a change in the weather." But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. "He is too selfish," she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees. One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King's musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. "I believe the Spring has come at last," said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out. What did he see? He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. "Climb up! little boy," said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny. And the Giant's heart melted as he looked out. "How selfish I have been!" he said; "now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and ever." He was really very sorry for what he had done. So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. "It is your garden now, little children," said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen. All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye. "But where is your little companion?" he said: "the boy I put into the tree." The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him. "We don't know," answered the children; "he has gone away." "You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow," said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad. Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. "How I would like to see him!" he used to say. Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. "I have many beautiful flowers," he said; "but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all." One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting. Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved. Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound thee?" For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet. "Who hath dared to wound thee?" cried the Giant; "tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him." "Nay!" answered the child; "but these are the wounds of Love." "Who art thou?" said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child. And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, "You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise." And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms
Review Questions
Part I
The giant posted a warning which said that people entering his garden would be ______.
a) cooked and eaten
b) tortured and killed
c) punished by law
d) magically eliminated
When the giant forced the children to leave his garden, they tried to play in ______
.a) an old school
b) a dusty road
c) a rocky field
d) an abandoned church
When a flower saw the warning which the giant had posted, the flower ______.
a) trembled and screamed
b) fell apart
c) sang a sad song
d) went to sleep
Spring did not return to the giant's property until ______
.a) the giant promised to let the children play in the garden
b) the giant died
c) the children entered the garden through a hole in the wall
d) the children captured the giant
When the giant noticed a small boy who could not climb a tree, the giant ______.
a) put him in the tree
b) chased him away
c) brought him inside the castle
d) planted a new tree
by Oscar Wilde Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. "How happy we are here!" they cried to each other. One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. "What are you doing here?" he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. "My own garden is my own garden," said the Giant; "any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself." So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.
TRESPASSERSWILL BEPROSECUTED He was a very selfish Giant. The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. "How happy we were there," they said to each other. Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. "Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round." The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. "This is a delightful spot," he said, "we must ask the Hail on a visit." So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice. "I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming," said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; "I hope there will be a change in the weather." But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. "He is too selfish," she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees. One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King's musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. "I believe the Spring has come at last," said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out. What did he see? He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. "Climb up! little boy," said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny. And the Giant's heart melted as he looked out. "How selfish I have been!" he said; "now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and ever." He was really very sorry for what he had done. So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. "It is your garden now, little children," said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen. All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye. "But where is your little companion?" he said: "the boy I put into the tree." The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him. "We don't know," answered the children; "he has gone away." "You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow," said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad. Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. "How I would like to see him!" he used to say. Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. "I have many beautiful flowers," he said; "but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all." One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting. Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved. Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound thee?" For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet. "Who hath dared to wound thee?" cried the Giant; "tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him." "Nay!" answered the child; "but these are the wounds of Love." "Who art thou?" said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child. And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, "You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise." And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms
Review Questions
Part I
The giant posted a warning which said that people entering his garden would be ______.
a) cooked and eaten
b) tortured and killed
c) punished by law
d) magically eliminated
When the giant forced the children to leave his garden, they tried to play in ______
.a) an old school
b) a dusty road
c) a rocky field
d) an abandoned church
When a flower saw the warning which the giant had posted, the flower ______.
a) trembled and screamed
b) fell apart
c) sang a sad song
d) went to sleep
Spring did not return to the giant's property until ______
.a) the giant promised to let the children play in the garden
b) the giant died
c) the children entered the garden through a hole in the wall
d) the children captured the giant
When the giant noticed a small boy who could not climb a tree, the giant ______.
a) put him in the tree
b) chased him away
c) brought him inside the castle
d) planted a new tree
Nuclear energy have to be controled
One of the most modern sources of energy and that no doubt has raised more polemic, is undoubtedly the nuclear power. The nuclear power, has positive and negative points.
Nowadays, the nuclear industry presents several dangers. These dangers, might have a big repercussion in the environment and in the humans if it are liberated to the atmosphere. The most important dangers are the radiation and the constant risk of a possible nuclear explosion. There are 2 kinds of radiation: natural and artificial. The first one is found in the earth and the scond one is created by humans for different uses like massive destrution bombs.
An other point against energy is the environment contamination because the residues treatment cost is high and there aren't places for make this practices in correct way. An other conquence of this is the danger that it has for the people because many terrorist groups want this material for make bombs and guns to destroy countries.
A long time after, the radioactive residues will produce many problems in human lifes. Because of that reason, babies in the futures will ha
ve problems like mutations in their bodies.Nevertheless, the nuclear power has brought many advantages. For example medicin udses it for cancer treatment in the chemotherapy. Also, the electricy generetion is one of the most important uses.
Finally the nuclear energy is good if it is uses for human benefit. Fot that reason the nuclear power must be controled because a bad use of it could damage our lifes and the environment.
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