Gap Maker Exercise

The text for the exercise was taken from Here


Throughout the period he was dealing with her, she kept up the facade that she was genuinely grieving for the death of her husband."

The following August, a body was found off the coast of Hartlepool and police asked Mrs Darwin if she would be prepared to identify it.

As a detective explained the situation, she burst into tears and said she wanted the body to be John's so he could be laid to rest, and so that she could move on, Mr Robertson told the jury.

He added: "We submit this was a convincing performance and one which obviously required no prompting, let alone coercion, from her husband."

Mrs Darwin's defence centres on her claim that she was coerced by her husband.

Mr Robertson said that for the defence to succeed, she must prove that Mr Darwin was present at the time each offence was committed .

She will also have to show that the pressure was so great that she had no choice, and "she was impelled to act in a way against her own will".

He showed the jury a photograph of John and Anne Darwin smiling and posing with a Panamanian estate agent, when the couple were looking to buy property in Central America with the proceeds of their fraud, he said.

Homework - 07-07-08

Reducing the length of the working week has many advantages, especially in terms of a better work-life balance. While it is economically difficult to do this.

The use of iPods has increased considerably. However, the number of CDs purchased either online or on the high street has decreased.


A few companies attempt to achieve a balance between the environment and business. Whilst most of the companies aim for pure profit.

A considerable amout of towns in Europe have been pedestrianised in contrast with very few towns in North America have been.

There are number of arguments for abolishing the death penalty conversely to the few supporters.

Homework - 03/07/08

www.learnenglish.org.uk
I found it very good we can read, listen and test ourselves as they provide the written and recorded metirals and a test to find out how much do we understand and the second main thing we can find material related to different subjects.


www.uefap.com
good website we can find material to improve our writing skills, proof reading exercises, punctuations, articles etc. Worth visiting this website.

Homework - 02/07/08

Exercise 2: Passives.
Rewrite the underlined parts of these sentences. Instead of using ‘people’, ‘somebody’, or ‘they’, write a passive sentence with an appropriate verb form.

We maintain them.
They are maintained.

We define tropical forests.
Tropical forests are defined.

Scientists distinguish methane because it has.
Methane is distinguished because it has.

They reformed the old dilator procedure.
The old dilator was reformed.

The government passed the Disease Regulations.
The Disease Regulations are passed.

Researchers isolated and crystallised lysozyme.
Lysozyme was isolated and crystallised.

The recent local crime surveys replicate these findings.
These findings are replicated by the local crime surveys.

Everybody eventually generally accepted the date.
Eventually the date was accepted generally.

We next consider a range of rival theories.
The range of rival theories are considered next.

The examiners should conduct the examinations.
The examinations should be conducted.

We’ll confine the discussion.
The discussion will be confined.

The researchers transcribed many genes and synthesise many proteins.
Many genes were transcribed and many proteins were synthesised.

They separate the main equation.
The main equation is to be separated.

Homework - 02/07/08

Change the following verb to noun

To distribute --- Distribution
To solve --- Solution
To predict --- Prediction
To communicate --- Communication
To introduce --- Introduction
To transport --- Transportation
To produce --- Production
To pollute --- Pollution
To conserve --- Conservation
To govern --- Government
To develop --- Development

Homework - 02/07/08

Exercise 1: Passives
Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using 'people', , ‘somebody’, or ‘they’, write a passive sentence with an appropriate verb form.

Someone had reported the theft to the police.
The theft was reported to the police.

Someone has given £1,000 to the charity.
£1,000 is given to the charity.

Someone will demonstrate the program to the students.
The program will be demonstrated to the students.

Someone explained the procedure to me.
The procedure was explained to me.

People are destroying large areas of forest every day.
The large areas of forest are being destroyed every day.

Somebody has bought the land next to the university.
The land next to the university has been bought.

I hope they will have completed all the marking by tomorrow.
I hope all the marking will be completed by tomorrow.

They should have finished the library by the time you arrive.
By the time you arrive the library should have been finished.

People expect better results soon.
The better result is to be expected soon.

Students should send their complaints to the head of department.
The complaints should be sent to the head of department.

They had to postpone the lecture because of illness.
The lecture had to be postponed due to the illness.

An electrical fault could have caused the fire.
The fire could have caused by the electrical fault.

They are going to hold the next year’s conference in Birmingham.
The next year’s conference is being held in Birmingham.

Everyone knows this fact very well.
This fact is very well known.

They opened the new lecture theatre only last month.
The new lecture theatre was opened only last month.

You must write the answers on the examination paper in black ink.
The answers must be written in black ink on the examination paper.

They are now manufacturing this type of computer in Korea.
This type of computer is now being manufactured in Korea.

Someone should investigate the problem.
The problem should be investigated.

Homework - 03/07/08

Most iPod owners reported that on average, only 20 of the tracks on their iPods would have been bought from the iTunes shop.
Far more important, they described was free music ripped from CDs someone already owned or acquired from file-sharing sites.
83% of iPod owners defined that they do not buy digital music regularly. The minority, 17%, buy and download music, usually single tracks, at least once per month.
On average, the study declares that only 5% of the music on an iPos will be bought from online music stores. The rest will be from CDs the owner of an MP3 player already has or tracks they have downloaded from file-sharing sites.
“It is not instructive to think of portable media player owners nor iPod owners specifically, as homogenous groups” reflected the report.
It demonstrated “Digital music buyers do no necessarily stop file-sharing upon buying legally.”
The importance of “free” to digital music fans should not be underestimated, suggested the report, and should be a factor for newer digital music firms, such as Spiral Frog, which use an ad-supported model.
“Digital music purchasing has not yet fundamentally changed the way in which digital music customers buy music.” Predicted the report.

Research Results and Report

In our research about the student problems in which we wanted to find out if there is any difference between the sorts of problems male presessional students have compared to female presessional students.
In the research carried out on 01/07/08 we found out the different types of problems presessional students have and compared them between female and male students. Our total number of respondents were 27 in which 16 were female and 11 were male.

If we look at the female group first we can clearly see that in the study we found that almost a quarter of female students have the Finance (funding) problem as the most and slightly less than 15% have the language and the home sickness as their most problem. As we can clearly see about 20% of the female students described that getting the visa to UK is the very big problem for them and almost 10% of students are having trouble in opening a bank account as their major problem. We should not mention it but less than five percent of students are having problem with the child care.






After having these general problems when we asked them the problems regarding overall life in UK, the quality of study and the staff at London Met University they replied us again differently. About 50% percent of them are Quite Satisfied with the life in UK and around 45% of them are quite satisfied with the quality of study in London Met but on the contrary just over a third are Not Very Satisfied with the quality of study and same we found with the quality of staff slightly lower than half of them are Just Satisfied with the quality of staff at the University.

Now on the other side of the picture if we look at their counterparts male students’ chart we can certainly say their problems are really different than the female students. But amazingly as we can see that male students did not have the problem with the Food and Child Care at all which is really astonishing. If we see the chart below and recall the females’ we can see that male students have about the same percentage of problem to their rivals for the transportation. Same point in the Language problem but with just a fraction of difference while there is a big difference in the Accommodation. Male students find it really hard to find an accommodation as compare to females.

Helen'n Homework - 10 New Words

Lump
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: An irregularly shaped mass of indefinite size.
Synonyms: chunk, clod, clump, gob, hunch, nugget, wad
Example: we saw too many lump of rocks while we were on excursion to wales.

Intimidate
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: To domineer or drive into compliance by the use of as threats or force, for example.
Synonyms: bludgeon, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, cow, hector, menace, threaten
Example: In Zimbabwe Mr. Tsavangiri the opposition leader of ex-president Mugabe had to find shelter under the roof of the Dutch convention after the intimidation of Mr. Mugabe’s thugs.

Irrefutable
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: that cannot be refuted or disproved
Synonyms: certain, conclusive, inarguable, indubitable, ironclad, positive, undeniable, unimpeachable
Example: What we want to hire you to do is to provide irrefutable evidence that she is either geniune or a fraud.

Summation
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: The act or process of adding.
Synonyms: addition, aggregate, sum, summary
Example: When the Summation were finished the case went to the jury.

Budge
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: To make a slight movement.
Synonyms: convince, fur, move, movement, persuade, propel, push, stir
Example: In the begining this is really difficult to Budge to another country just for the sake of studies.

Caitiff
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a base, despicable person
Synonyms: base, cowardly, dastard, despicable, louse, mean, rat, scoundrel, vile, wicked
Example: Umba is a really sort of Caitiff person.

Shrug
Part of speech: verb (used without object)
Defination: to raise and contract the shoulders.
Synonyms: use of body language, signal, nod, wave, motion
Example: She had an affair with our best friend and got pragnent. she ran away and had a baby girl, He shrugged and disappeared.

Patriarch
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person regarded as the father or founder of an order
Synonyms: ancestor, chief, elder, father, founder, head, leader, male, ruler, sire, venerable
Example: Dr. A.Q. Khan is a great Patriarch of Pakistan.

Trunk
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a large, sturdy box or chest for holding or transporting clothes, personal effects, or other articles.
Synonyms: baggage, body, bole, box, case, chest, container, locker, luggage, proboscis, snoot, snout, stalk, stem, suitcase, tank, thorax, torso
Example: We just don't need a big Trunk to go to the Glastonbury Festival.

Insane
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: Afflicted with or exhibiting irrationality and mental unsoundness.
Synonyms: brainsick, crazy, daft, demented, disordered, distraught, dotty, lunatic, mad, maniac, maniacal, mentally ill, moonstruck, off, touched, unbalanced, unsound, wrong
Example: One must be Insane to commit a knife crime.

Lexicography

Talk from TED.COM

Erin McKean: Redefining the dictionary

Lexicography - The writing, editing, or compiling of dictionaries.

In this talk the speaker talks about the disappearence of dictionaries and the reasons why they are dissapearing and uses the specific term called Lexicography - the practice of compiling dictionaries. The speaker says the dictionaries are made of little discretes bits of words continues we just need to be perks to compile the dictionaries. why people dont read the dictionaries because they have a very snugly, fussy image of the dictionaries in their mind.

We can not keep all of the good words into the dictionary and keep the bad words out, we need to put some fun into the job to keep it going otherwise we would rather not do that because deciding what word is easy and what words are bad is not very fun. Why do people want me to direct traffic while I would much rather go fishing, I blame the queen but why do I blame the queen because its funny secondly because dictionaries have really not changed the idea of itself since her regime. The speaker says about the computers that computers don't add anything to it except for the speeding up the process its just like victorian design bicycle has an engine on it. Online dictionaries are just like people throwing up on the screen, online dictionaries replicate almost all the problems of print except for searchability and when you improve the searchability it actually takes away one advantage which is serendipity.

Serendipity is when you find the thing u weren't looking for because finding the thing you are looking for is so damn difficult.

After that it concludes that often we do not do the things on our on behalf we just do it because we have been looking the other people doing for quite a long time or may be the childhood. Why do we blame the ham for being too big for the pan, why don't we buy just a bigger pan? the english language is as big as it is and the paper is the enemy of words. I think we should learn all about the words because when we think about the words we can make beautiful expressions from very humble words.

Lexicography is really more about material science we are studying the tolarences out of the words that we use to build the structure of our expression our writing and our speeches because the words are the tools that we use to build the expressions of our thoughts. How can we say that screwdrivers are batter than hammers and the sludge hammers are batter than ball-peen hammers its just a right tool for the job. How do we know that the word is real? Its as simple as in some childerns' book "Love makes things real" if you love the word use it that makes it real being in the dictionary is an artifical-distinction. If you love a word that makes it real.

Even then if we are really confused about any thing we should ask for help because we need help of each other in every single aspect of life. we can find the new words which are not even in the dictionary just by reading different books, newspapers, archives etc. and by finding these words at the end of the day we'll have a long list of un-dictionaried words as the word un-dictionaried itself.

If some one named Mike Oats from UK director of an electroplating company can find the comets without using the telescope why can't we learn the words even its not the rocket science and if we can do that we could stand for the fishing all the time and we won't have to be a traffic cop anymore.

Vocabulary exercise from Speech

Lexicography - the writing, editing, or compiling of dictionaries.
discrete
Synonyms: detached, distinct, diverse, individual, separate
snug - from sungly
Definition: To lie or press close together, usually with another person or thing.
Synonyms: close, comfortable, comfy, compact, cozy, cuddle, cushy, intimate, neat, nestle, safe, seaworthy, secure, sheltered, snuggle, tidy, tight, trim, warm
fussy
Definition: Excessively filled with detail.
Synonyms: chary, choosy, demanding, difficult, fastidious, fidgety, finicky, meticulous, niggling, nit-picking, painstaking, particular, persnickety, picky, quibbling
perk
Synonyms: appanage, benefit, bonus, extra, fringe benefit, gain, gratuity, percolate, perquisite
replicate - To make a copy of.
Synonyms: duplicate, imitate, reproduce, simulate
serendipity - an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
dominant
Definition: Exercising controlling power or influence.
Synonyms: commanding, controlling, dominating, dominative, governing,
prototype
Synonyms: archetype, forerunner, model, original, predecessor, sample
constraint
Synonyms: bond, captivity, coercion, compulsion, confinement, distress, driving, duress, force, modesty, necessity, obligation, pressure
artificial
Definition: Made by human beings instead of nature.
Synonyms: manmade, manufactured, synthetic
arbitrary
Definition: Based on individual judgment or discretion.
Synonyms: discretionary, judgmental, personal, subjective
distinction
Definition: The act or an instance of distinguishing.
Synonyms: differentiation, discrimination, separation

context
Synonyms: background, climate, framework, matrix, meaning, situation, substance, vocabulary
synecdoche from synecdochically
Defination: A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a Croesus for a rich man.

Reading Technique SQ3R

Are you exhausted? Take the quiz!

Click here to open the article

I found this article on the "MSN Life & Style" read it and liked it and wanted to share it with you. Here is some vocabulary exercise from the article.

Exhausted
Definition: Extremely tired.
Synonyms: bleary, dead, drained, fatigued, rundown, tired out

Hectic
Synonyms: exciting, fervid, feverish, frantic, restless

Brag
Synonyms: blow, boast, bounce, braggart, crow, defy, display, exaggerate, exult, flourish, gasconade, hotdog, huff, pretense, strut, swagger, threaten, vaunt

Consequence
Definition: Something brought about by a cause.
Synonyms: account, aftereffect, aftermath, cachet, concern, consecution, consideration, effect, end, event, fallout, fruit, importance, issue, moment, outcome, payback, prestige, prominence, rank, repercussion, result, sequel, sequela, stature, weight, worth

Deficient
Definition: Lacking an essential element.
Synonyms: defective, incomplete, lacking, wanting

Zap
Definition: To cause the death of.
Synonyms: carry off, cut down, cut off, destroy, dispatch, finish, slay
Idioms: put an end to, put to sleep

Squander
Definition: Excessive or imprudent expenditure.
Synonyms: extravagancy, lavishness, prodigality, profligacy, profuseness, profusion, waste, wastefulness

Helen's Homework...

Exercise 5 A B 26/06/08

Rearrange the words in each group and make questions. Then match them to the answers below to make a complete dialogue.

You did do that what before
What did you do before that?
I was in pharmaceuticals.

Are for how you staying long
For how long are you staying?
Until Friday, then I go back to UK.

Like what’s it
What’s it like?
It’s very comfortable actually, and the restaurant is good.

Been how have long working there you
How long have you been working there?
About four years, I suppose.

Arrive did when you
When did you arrive?
A couple of days ago.

You what do do
What do you do?
I work for a small biotech company.

To is first this Lyon you visit
Is this your first visit to Lyon?
No, I have been here once before.

Staying you where are
Where are you staying?
At the Holiday Inn.

Involve travelling job does much your
Does your job involve much travelling?
Yes, quite a lot. I travel all over Europe, but especially in France.

Exercise No. 1.2

Use more formal alternatives to the words in BOLD. Make any grammatical changes if necessary. (Helen's Class Academic vocabulary exercise)

This book is mainly concerned with the problem of policing the internet.
This book is primarily concerned with the problem of policing the internet.
About every school in the country had reported the problems with the new system.
Almost every school in the country had reported the problems with the new system.
The work of the institute is not only devoted to the cancer research.
The work of the institute is not solely devoted to the cancer research.
Basically, we believe we have demonstrated the significant link between the two events.
In short, we believe we have demonstrated the significant link between the two events.
We tried to find a new way of understanding the data.
We attempted to find a new way of understanding the data.
The study is a really good example of the way sociologists collect their data.
The study is a significant example of the way sociologists collect their data.
The reaction is the typical of the way large corporations keep control of their market.
The reaction is the characteristic of the way large corporations keep control of their market.
There’s no way London can be compared to Sydney as a place to live and work.
It is almost impossible to compare London with Sydney as a place to live and work.

Some vocabulary exercise... please leave me some comments. thanks

Word Humorous
Definition intended to excite laughter or amusement
Synonyms comedic, funny, jocose, jocular, witty
Example Yesterday we met our new teacher in the conversation class and we found him very humorous person...

Word Sentimental
Definition affectedly or extravagantly emotional
Synonyms romantic, soft, soppy, gushy
Example sometimes people really get sentimental in love which is really not good for them.

Word Persistent
Definition could not find one
Synonyms consistent, constant, continuous, determined, durable, enduring
Example one should need to be persistent to their studies to achieve some good grades.

Word Tiresome
Definition arousing no interest or curiosity
Synonyms annoying, boring, demanding, dreary, irritating
Example To my knowledge Mr. Simpson was really tiresome sort of T.V programme I have ever seen in my whole life.

Word Methodical
Definition Arranged or proceeding in a set, systematized pattern
Synonyms orderly, regular, systematic
Example Mr. Boris Johnson has to have more methodical approaches to bring us a safe and sound London

Word Eloquent
Definition fluently persuasive and forceful
Synonyms articulate, silver-tongued, smooth-spoken
Example In my pre-sessional English course I found both of my teachers (Steve and Helen) really eloquent type of persons.

Word Convention
Definition A formal assemblage of the members of a group
Synonyms assembly, conference, congress, convocation, meeting
Example in Zimbabwe Mr. Tsavangiri the opposition leader of ex-president Mugabe had to find shelter under the roof of the Dutch convention after the intimidation of Mr. Mugabe’s thugs.

23/06/08 - Homework

Introduction, Family, Hobbies & Interests
My name is Sheraz Naseeb and I am studying Msc Software Engineering in London Metropolitan University September 2008 Session. I have done BSc Computer Science and have about 4 years of experience of professional software development. My father is enjoying a very good retired. My mother is a housewife and she is my ideal woman in the whole world for me I have learnt a lot from her in fact I am still learning from her experiences of life, her attitude towards us, her way of dealing other people in the social life and lot more. We are 5 siblings 3 brothers and 2 sisters one brother & one sister is elder to me and they both are married, and one brother & one sister is younger to me. We as a family have got very strong emotional bounding with each other and respect each other very much. My elder brother and sister both are married my sister is staying in Qatar with her husband. About the hobbies I would like to say that hobbies can never be the same as you grow up, i.e. when I was a kid I used to play the video games a lot some of them are, Sonic, Mario etc, when I grew up a bit I started playing piano then for some time I played badminton, snooker etc. But at the moment I don’t have any hobby while if we talk about the interests I have only one interest since my childhood to be a generic type of programmer. I developed this interest since I was about 15 years old and it’s still the same in fact getting stronger with the passage of time.

What have I already studied & why did I chose this subject, Plans and career
I have done the BSc. Computer Science (Hons) as my undergraduate programme in which the major was Software Development after completing my degree I started a job as a database programmer and after getting promotions in different times finally I finished my job as a system analyst. After completing my postgraduate I am planning to adopt a career regarding to my professional experience, something in software engineering. Because as a software engineer I believe I can achieve my childhood dream to be a generic type of programmer.

What do I think about London/Briton, British culture, Comparison of British culture with our culture and have I travelled a lot?
First of all I would like to say about London that London is one of the famous cities in the world a bit expensive but that doesn’t matter if we compare this factor to the other facilities available like, free NHS, emergency services, etc. I have not travelled a lot in Briton but still can say would be worth seeing sights. The British nation is really polite and nice while if I compare the British culture with my home culture it’s totally different, there is nothing similar like we wear differently stitched clothes, different type of dishes, except some traditional buildings which we have in both cultures.

Expectations from the course, what do I want to do a lot in my lessons and not so much
My expectations from the course are at the end of the course I would be able to communicate better with the people around me, my classmates, teachers etc. I would have a better command on English as compare to now I have, I would be able to understand lots of new words in English as I would like to do the writings a lot in my course just to have new words added in my vocabulary would like to practice the different words in different scenarios.

Main Self-Study targets for this week
I have set the main self-study by myself by reading the material, articles, newspaper thoroughly and find the new words I don’t have in my vocabulary highlight them and then finding the meaning of them to understand them then after that I’ll post them on my blog for the other classmates to view it and if they would like to give me suggestions on that one would be more than welcome.