ENGLISH WITHOUT TEARS: 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

SKELETAL SYSTEMS OF TWO EARLY TYPES OF HUMAN

Question

The diagram shows the skeletal systems of two ancestors of modern human beings.
Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer describing the diagram and making comparisons where relevant.

Model Answer

Variations in the skeletal systems of two early types of human are illustrated in this diagram. Overall, we can see that australopithecus afarensis had a heavier body and much longer arms, while homo erectus was slimmer and had more developed joints.

To begin with the upper half of the body, australopithecus afarensis had a much broader chest and waist than homo erectus, giving it a rounder appearance. The former had much longer arms and larger hands, which would have been useful for climbing trees.

As for the lower half of the body, we can see that homo erectus had proportionately longer legs and larger hip, knee and ankle joints. The feet of homo erectus were also smaller and more arched, with shorter toes. These differences meant that homo erectus was better suited to long-distance running.

In conclusion, we can see significant changes in the development of early humans from the diagram. Homo erectus is more similar to contemporary human beings with its long legs and arched feet. The physical differences are clearly related to differences in the lifestyles of tree climbers and endurance runners.

(183 words, IELTS 8.0-C1)

Why does this answer get an IELTS Band 8 score-C1?

Task achievement: The model answer selects only the most important information from the diagram and uses this to make several direct comparisons. The physical differences are clearly connected to the description of each creatures’s lifestyle, providing a very rounded answer. The length is sufficient.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is divided into clear paragraphs with a logical separation between the body paragraphs. There is a general overview in paragraph 1 and a summary in paragraph 4. A reference link, the former, is used to avoid over-repetition of the names of the creatures.

Lexical resource: The model answer adds more vocabulary not in the diagram such as lifestyle, proportionately, suited, appearance and contemporary. There are also attempts to paraphrase such as wide > broad and endurance > long-distance.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer uses comparative structures accurately. The temptation to list all the features in repetitive structures is avoided. A variety of grammatical devices are used to extend sentences, including with, which and -ing clauses.

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THE CARBON CYCLE IN NATURE

Question

The diagram below illustrates the carbon cycle in nature.
Write a 150-word description of this diagram for a university lecturer.

Model Answer

The diagram shows how carbon moves through various stages to form a complete cycle. This report will give a brief description of the main stages in this cycle.

First, we can see that energy from the sun is transformed into organic carbon through a process in plants known as photosynthesis. This organic carbon is then transferred underground when plants, and the animals that feed on them, die and decay. Some of this carbon is trapped underground in the form of fossils and fossil fuels.

Carbon is also released back into the atmosphere, however, through various means. One is when animals and plants respire, and another is when humans burn fossil fuels in cars and factories. All this carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2. It is then reabsorbed by plants, and the cycle begins again.

In short, we can see that carbon moves in a natural cycle, although human factors may now be affecting the balance.

(154 words, IELTS 8.0-C1)

Why does this Task 1 answer get an IELTS Band 8 score-C1?

Task achievement: The model answer selects and describes most components of the diagram except for waste products and ocean uptake. There is an overall description of the cycle followed by a clearly sequenced and divided description of the stages. The summary identifies something noteworthy about the diagram. The length is sufficient.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is divided into clear paragraphs with a logical separation between the body paragraphs and connective markers first, then, however, and in short. There is a general overview in paragraph 1 and a summary in paragraph 4. Referencing techniques such as ellipsis (one is…) are used to avoid over-repetition of key words.

Lexical resource: The writer makes good use of the language in the diagram and is also able to change forms in the case of respiration > respire. The writer also introduces a range of verbs for describing a process or cycle such as transform, transfer and release.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer demonstrates accurate usage of a wide range of forms including countable/uncountable nouns, active/passive structures, and transitive/intransitive verbs.

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HOW ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY A HYDROELECTRIC DAM

Question

The diagram shows how electricity is generated by a hydroelectric dam.
Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining how the process works.

Model Answer

The diagram illustrates the basic principles of hydroelectric power. The process requires the construction of a large dam connected to a powerhouse. The dam creates a large reservoir and the powerhouse is where the electricity is generated.

First of all, water trapped in the reservoir behind the dam is forced through an intake. It then flows into a narrow chamber called a penstock, where the resulting high pressure turns a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator in the powerhouse above, and this is where the movement of the turbine is converted into electricity. The resulting electricity leaves the powerhouse via cables that carry it over long distances to where it can be used.

It is interesting to note that a hydroelectric dam creates no harmful byproducts and relies entirely on natural forces to produce electricity. After the turbine stage, water flows out through a second channel and into a river. The process is renewable, thanks to the water cycle in nature.

(163 words, IELTS 8.0-C1)

Why does this answer get an IELTS Band 8 score-C1?

Task achievement: The introduction paraphrases the question and describes the constituent parts of the process. The body describes each stage of the process in sequence.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer has an introduction, body and conclusion. Sequencing expressions such as first of all, then and after are used appropriately. The articles a and the are used effectively to introduce and refer back to different elements of the process.

Lexical resource: The labels in the diagram are well integrated into the model answer and appropriate verbs such as converted, flows and leaves are used throughout. Less-common words such as byproducts and renewable are introduced by the writer. Spelling is always accurate.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The writer uses the present simple tense and has good control of subject-verb agreement and active/passive forms. A good balance of simple and complex sentences is used throughout.

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CONSUMPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Question

The diagram shows the consumption of renewable energy in the USA from 1949-2008.
Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer identifying the main trends and making comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Line Graph

Model Answer

The line graph shows growth in the consumption of renewable energy during the period 1949-2008 in the USA. The results are also broken down by source.

The first thing to note is that renewable energy use more than doubled over the period, with particularly strong growth in biofuels. This sector did not exist in 1980 but experienced a steep rise during the 2000s to over one quadrillion Btu per year. This made biofuels a serious challenger to both wood and hydroelectric power, which both saw only limited growth overall. The former grew steadily between 1975 and 1985, but then slipped back to around its original level of 1.8 quadrillion Btu. The latter began the period at the same level as wood but experienced more substantial growth. However, it also fell back to around 2 quadrillion Btu, with a particularly sharp drop in the late 1990s.

Finally, wind power emerged late in the period but showed a gradual rise to around 0.5 quadrillion Btu, suggesting that it, along with biofuels, will replace wood and hydroelectricity as the main sources of renewable every in the future.

(184 words, IELTS 8.0-C1)

Why does this answer get an IELTS Band 8 score-C1?

Task achievement: The model answer describes the overall trend first, followed by an analysis of the different energy sources. Numerical evidence is used sparingly to illustrate the trends. The main trends are used as the basis of a prediction in the final sentence.

Coherence and cohesion: Trends are explained in general terms first, followed by supporting figures. Some energy sources are grouped together for ease of understanding. It and this are used throughout as cohesive devices, and the writer uses the former and the latter to refer back to information in a previous sentence.

Lexical resource: The writer uses a wide range of vocabulary to describe change, including adjectives and adverbs such as limited, substantial and particularly sharp, and verbs such as doubled, slipped and emerged.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer is free from grammatical errors. Sentence forms are complex and include relative clauses and linking words such as with. The candidate makes use of past, present and future tenses. Punctuation is also used carefully and accurately throughout.

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ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION AND EXPENSE AT A HOUSEHOLD

Question

The bar chart shows the relative electricity consumption and cost per year of various household devices.

Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining the data and making comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart

Model Answer

The bar chart compares the energy consumption and expense of operating 16 different items of household equipment. Overall, we can see significant differences in both cost and consumption.

To begin with, there are some common household items which consume relatively little energy. These include an electric blanket (approx. $10 or 100kwh/year), a microwave oven (approx. $15 or 150kwh/year) and a television (approx. $17 or 170kwh/year).

By contrast, devices that might be classified as ‘luxury’ items such as a pool pump or spa are comparatively expensive and energy-intensive, at nearly $125 or 1500kwh/year and around $190 or 2225kwh/year respectively.

It is interesting to note that even among household items normally considered alike, such as a microwave and refrigerator, there are enormous discrepancies in cost and energy use. The former uses only around $15 or 150kwh/year, while the latter consumes at least six times that amount at $90 or 1150kwh/year.

In conclusion, it appears that there is no clear pattern in the relative energy consumption of domestic equipment, although households had better be aware of the high running costs of luxury items such as a pool pump and spa.

(187 words, IELTS 8.5-C1+)

Why does this answer get an IELTS Band 8 score (C1+)?

Task achievement: The model answer presents an overall description first, followed by key supporting details that illustrate the main trend.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is divided into clear paragraphs and each paragraph contains one main idea. There are cohesive links between paragraphs. A variety of reference links are used throughout, including the former, the latter, and respectively.

Lexical resource: The language in the question is effectively paraphrased. Synonyms are introduced for key concepts such as electricity consumption > energy use and cost > expense. Some less-common words such as discrepancies and energy-intensive are used.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer is free from grammatical errors. Sentences tend to consist of multiple clauses. Paragraphs contain a variety of sentence structures.

EXPLAINING DATA FROM DIAGRAMS AND CHARTS

Introducing the topic

The graph shows… / The table reveals…
The chart displays… / The diagram illustrates…
Some interesting facts concerning… are revealed in the diagram.
Several key trends are revealed by the graph showing…

Introducing the first set of data

Beginning with the…
To begin with the…
Let me begin by describing the…

Introducing the second set of data

Meanwhile, the… shows that…
As for the… , it shows that…
Turning to the… , it can be seen that…

Introducing the first major trend

First of all, it is clear that…
Most noticeably of all, it can be seen that…
The first result worth pointing out is that…

Introducing lesser trends

Another trend that can be observed is that…
It is also worth pointing out that…
Also worth noting is that…

Exceptions to the main trend

However, this was not always the case.
However, it should be pointed out that…
There was one noticeable exception, however.

Comparing and contrasting

Similarly, … / By contrast, …
A similar trend can be observed in…
The results for… , however, reveal a markedly different trend.

Adding figures

The figures were X and Y respectively.
…, at X. / …, with Y. (Usage note: use ‘at’ when you mean ‘the figure was’; use ‘with’ when you mean ‘something had’)
…, at/with X and Y respectively.

Concluding and summarising

To sum up, … / In summary, … / In short, …
On the whole, …
The main thing that can be observed here is that…

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Wednesday, 23 October 2013

TALKING ABOUT MONEY

The following idioms and expressions with the noun 'money' are common in every day conversation.

Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with 'money'.

Colour of someone's money
Definition: the amount of money someone has available
Show me the colour of your money and then we can talk.
If we knew the color of the company's money we could make a better bid on the deal.

Easy money
Definition: money that can be earned with little effort
Some people think that playing stocks is easy money.
Unfortunately, there are few jobs are truly easy money.
Front money
Definition: money paid in advance of receiving something
I'll need to put up $100,000 front money to get in on the deal.
Always be suspicious of companies that ask for front money.

Heavy money
Definition: a lot of money
Tom will bring heavy money into the company if he agrees to invest.
They have heavy money. I'm sure they'll buy the house.

Hush money
Definition: money paid to someone so that they don't provide information
Many people are paid hush money to not testify in court. It's illegal, but it happens.
The gang tried to pay the man off with hush money, but he was having none of it.

Mad money
Definition: money used to have fun, money to waste
We've put away a few thousand dollars in mad money for our next vacation.
Don't go to Las Vegas without some mad money.

Money from home
Definition: easily gained money
Peter thinks investing in stocks is money from home.
She's looking for a job that's money from home. Good luck!

Money grubber
Definition: someone who does not like to spend money, a stingy person
She'll never give you money for your idea. She's a money grubber.
Money grubbers can't take it with them. I have no idea why they take it so seriously. I say easy come, easy go.

Money talks
Definition: money has influence in a situation
Of course they let the big box store build in town. Never forget: Money talks.
Just remember money talks. If they really want you for the position, they'll meet your salary demands.

On the money
Definition: correct, exact
I'd say you are on the money about that situation.
His guess that the company would succeed was on the money.

Put your money where your mouth is!
Definition: let's have a bet about something
Come on, if you think that is true, put your money where your mouth is! I'll bet you 100 to 1 that it isn't true.
She put her money where her mouth was and made a fortune.

Smart money
Definition: the best option, money of smart people investing in something
The smart money is on congress changing the law.
He thinks the smart money is going to invest in renewable energy.

Soft money
Definition: money which can be earned without much effort
Take the job for a few months. It's soft money.
Jane thinks the position is soft money.

Spending money
Definition: money to spend to have fun, purchases unnecessary items
It's important to have at least a little spending money each month.
They don't have much spending money, so they like to stay home rather than go on vacation.

Throw money at something
Definition: waste money on a situation
Throwing money at the situation isn't going to make it better.
Some governments feel that throwing money at a program always helps.

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Sunday, 9 June 2013

Steven Wright: funny quotes

A fun way to learn new words!

-If you think nobody cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.
-Drugs may lead to nowhere, but at least it's the scenic route.
-I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
-Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
-Borrow money from pessimists-they don't expect it back.
-Half the people you know are below average.

Many more here!:
http://www.weather.net/zarg/ZarPages/stevenWright.html

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Sunday, 19 May 2013

LISTENING: ONLINE TV STATIONS

BBC Breakfast with Frost: Programa de entrevistas y notas periodísticas.
BBC News: Las noticias del mundo al instante.
BBC Parliament: En vivo desde el Parlamento británico.
EuroNews: Vídeos con las noticias más destacadas del momento.
Worldart Media TV: En vivo programas de arte, cultura, comedia y música.
Sky News: Vídeos con las noticias más destacadas.
VOA TV-This Week: Programa de 30 minutos con reportajes y noticias.
C-SPAN: Programas de interés general, política y economía.
Reuters Video: Vídeos con las noticias más destacadas.
Comedy Central: Vídeos cómicos, episodios de comedias y "The Daily Show".

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LISTENING: ONLINE RADIO STATIONS

Para practicar inglés británico:

BBC Radio 1: La mejor música en inglés, con novedades y noticias.
BBC Radio 2: Conciertos, entrevistas exclusivas y entretenimiento.
BBC Radio 3: Música, cultura, poesía y radio-drama. Muy recomendable: "The Verb" donde se analizan poemas y obras literarias.
BBC Radio 4: Historia, arte, ciencia, comedias y radio-drama. Muy recomendable: "The Afternoon Reading", con una short story leída y "Afternoon Play", con un radio-drama para sorprender y deleitar a los oyentes.
BBC Radio 5: Noticias del mundo en vivo, deportes, entrevistas y debates.
BBC Radio 6: Shows, especiales y novedades del mundo de la música.
BBC Radio 7: Comedias, programas para niños, misterio y aventura. Muy recomendable: "Murder on the Orient Express", una aventura con suspense junto a Hercules Poirot y "Big Toe Radio Show", un programa para niños muy interesante.
BBC World Service: Noticias del mundo, notas especiales sobre economía, ciencia, tecnología y espectáculos.
Vaughan Radio: Emisora que transmite desde Madrid programas de enseñanza del inglés para diferentes niveles.

Para practicar inglés americano:

VOA News: Noticias del mundo.
VOA American Life: Noticias y entrevistas sobre la vida norteamericana.
VOA News Analysis: Entrevistas y análisis de los temas de las noticias.
VOA Arts and Entertainment: Las últimas novedades del espectáculo.

La radio en inglés a un clic -<Tweet this

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Thursday, 11 April 2013

SIMPLY SIMPLE WORDS?

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ON THE TELEPHONE: PHRASAL VERBS

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PHRASAL VERBS: A REMINDER!

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PHRASAL VERBS: FALL

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PHRASAL VERBS: TAKE

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ACTION VERBS

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THE BODY: INTERNAL ORGANS

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Tuesday, 9 April 2013

IN THE BEDROOM

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HOUSING: WORDS AND DEFINITIONS

You probably learned words like bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen in your first year of English class. But how about these more advanced English words for parts of a house?

Faucet / Tap

In most countries, the hot water is on the left and the cold water is on the right.

Image source

The faucet or tap is the part of the sink where the water comes into the sink. At the bottom of the picture, you can see the drain (where the water goes out).

Cabinets

Image source

Most kitchens and bathrooms have cabinets where you can store pots, pans, dishes, and non-perishable foods.

Drawer

Image source

A drawer is another place to store things. Many houses have a “junk drawer” where you put random items that don’t fit anywhere else.

Counter

Image source

Most kitchens and bathrooms also have a counter - this is a flat area where you prepare the food. It can be made of wood or stone. The one in the picture is made of a type of stone called granite.

Tile

Image source

There are several different types of flooring. This one is called tile.

Hardwood floor

Image source

When the floor is made of wood, the room is said to have a hardwood floor.

Carpet

Image source

A carpet is a floor covering that is made of fabric. A carpet covers a large area (usually the whole room), differently from a rug, which covers a smaller area.

Rug

Rugs are often used for decoration.

Image source

Curtains

Image source

This type of window covering is called curtains.

Blinds

Blinds are another popular type of window covering.

Image source

Attic

Image source

The attic is the space between the ceiling of a room and the roof of the house. Most people use this space for storage.

Basement

This basement is “unfinished”

Image source

The basement is the underground space below the ground floor of the house. Basements can be “finished” (meaning they are decorated nicely like the other rooms of the house) or “unfinished” (meaning they look like the one in the photo, with pipes and wires exposed and not such a nice floor or walls).