Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Creative Poem

School is a six-letter word
But seems longer than a road
So vague is Fun
So clear homework's tons

Handwriting's bad as garbage's breath
Incur my teacher's wrath
Got my first friend
God knows the ending's when

End stop came and god knows why
Lost my first reward here in school
Did I went wrong?
I lost a friend

Fun, Play, Freedom all but a dream
Stress, Competition is all it seem
Happy times came with a friend
Both couldn't take the test of time

Favourite Poem

A Dream Within A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep--while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?



1. Personification

- " Amid the roar of a surf-tomented shore "

Shows that in reality, there is nothing good, shore can also be tormented


2. Metaphor

- " Yet if hope has flown away "

Comparing with a bird, showing that in reality hope is all but a dream

- " Save one from the pitiless wave "

Compares the wave to a merciless person, telling reality is cruelty

- " How few! yet they creep, through my fingers to the deep "

Tells life is a dream, even holding grains of sand would be so difficult



The Reason I like this Poem

This poem explains that reality and fantasy has a big gap, and that life is not always about fantasy. Fantasy can make dreams seem very alive, however, it is very different from reality. Reality is cruel, differing from fantasy, as they seem very innocent and incredible. In the poem, there was one part about the person holding a few grains of sand, however, they moved rapidly out of his hand until there was none left. This explains that in reality, even holding a few grains of sand would be so difficult. I like this poem because it can really tell reality and fantasy apart, and that dreams will not always be true.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Gulliver's Travels - A Satire

Gulliver's travels is a satire in many different types of ways.

Jonathan Swift depicts Gulliver going to four places, Liliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, Houyhnhnm. Firstly, he shows how Gulliver's Travels can be a satire through the fight between Liliput and Blefuscu. In Lilliput, years ago, people once broke eggs on the big end. However, the present king's grandfather once cut himself breaking the egg in this manner, so the King at the time, the father of the present king's grandfather, issued an edict that all were to break the eggs on the small end. Some of the people resisted, and they found refuge in Blefuscu, therefore the two sides have been at war.
This represents the fight between England and France being unnecessary.

Next, the way Liliputians select people for public office are very different from that of any other nation. A man must "rope dance" to the best of his abilities if he wants to be chosen and the best "rope dancer" receives the higher office. Despite the fact that no nation of Europe in that time followed such a ridiculous practice, the chosen candidates were not chosen based on their skill, but how well they could line the right pockets with money. This is a satire of ridiculous practices in Europe.

Last but not least, Gulliver went to the land of the Houyhnhnms, which are horse-like creatures with the ability to reason. Yahoos also live in the land of Houyhnhnms. Gulliver realises that the only difference between man and the Yahoo is that the Yahoo was very dirty and did not wear any clothes. If not, a Yahoo would be human-like. This is a satire of the flaws of humans and therefore degrades them.

With all this examples, I can tell that Gulliver's travels is a satire in many ways.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Animal Farm Study Guide Responding Chapters 8-10

PERSONAL RESPONSE

What is your reaction to the novel’s ending? For example, do you find it uplifting,depressing, cynical? Explain.

Ans: I find it depressing. The pigs have turned into man and the animals are not free after all the happenings after they kicked out Jones. They are still the same while the pigs are enjoying the luxuries.

ANALYZING LITERATURE


Q1) What dealings does Napoleon have with Frederick and Pilkington? How does the battle over the windmill affect the animals? What events from Soviet history is Orwell highlighting?

Ans: Napoleon trades with Frederick and Pilkington. The animals becomes under a Republic ruled by Napoleon. It highlights Stalin tooking over the Republic.

Q2) What happens to Boxer and how do the other animals learn of his fate? How do they come to a final conclusion about these events?

Ans: He was sent to the knackers. The animals learnt about it when they bidded goodbye to Boxer when they notice the van carrying Boxer indicated that Boxer was sent to be slaughtered. Squealer finally told them that Boxer was sent to the hospital and they were relieved when they heard that.

Q3) What changes are made to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? How is the entire list of Commandments ultimately refashioned? What point is Orwell making about the role of communication in Soviet society?

Ans: No animal shall kill any other animal was changed to no animal shall kill any other animal without reason and no animal shall drink alcohol was changed to no animals shall drink alcohol to excess.

Q4) In Chapter 10 the pigs begin to walk on two legs. In your opinion is this evolution a sign of progress? Explain.

Ans: No, i do not think that it is a sign of progress. It shows a sign that pigs are turning human but not showing the progress of the farm.

Q5) Some critics believe that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the pigs and human political leaders are interchangeable. Do you think most government rulers are interchangeable? How might power change those who have it? Explain.

Ans: I think that most of them are interchangeable. Some government rulers are not rulking their country well like the pigs.

Animal Farm Study Guide Active Reading Chapters 8-10

UNDER NAPOLEON's LEADERSHIP

Life for the Pigs:

Pigs live in farmhouse
Napoleon is waited on
Sleep in beds
Rights to drink the milk
Working shorter hours
Having more rations

Life for other animals:

Work longer hours
Receive less food
Sleep on the hay
No milk to drink
Wait on Napoleon
Live in the barn

Animal Farm Study Guide Responding Chapters 5-7

PERSONAL RESPONSE

Q1) What was your reaction to Snowball's expulsion from Animal Farm?

Ans: Napoleon was attempting to gain full authority over the farm and that Snowball's expulsion from Animal Farm should not have happen. He was thinking of the well-being of the farm but because of Napoleon's greed to take over the farm, he was expelled.

ANALYZING LITERATURE

Q1) What happens to Snowball during the meeting about the windmill? What events in Soviet history does this scene represent?

Ans: He was chased out by Napoleon's nine fierce guard dogs. It represents Stalin overthrowing Trotsky.

Q2) Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership on the farm. How does the process of decision-making on the farm change under Napoleon's leadership?

Ans: He chased Snowball out of the farm, uses Squealer to persuade other animals to believe in him and his nine fierce guard dogs to threaten those who goes against him.

Q3) Why do the executions take place? What message do these events send to the animals about their role ina future society?

Ans: It is to warn other animals not to betray Napoleon. It tells the animals that if they betray Napoleon, they would not have a good ending.

Q4)How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon's leadership, to its exploited state under Farmer Jones' rule? What attitude about totalitarian government do you think Orwell conveys?

Ans: Orwell shows that under Napoleon's leadership, the animals are not having life better than under Jones' rule. He conveys the message that a totalitarian government is not good as it brings a lot of internal problems.

Q5) Do you think it's fair that those who are more educated or more skilled - like the pigs in Animal Farm - have more influence in decision-making? Consider how decisions are made in your community, state, or in the nation.

Ans: I do not think it is fair because every one should have the rights to fight for their own well-being. In Singapore, citizens are also given the right to choose.

Animal Farm Study Guide Active Reading Chapters 5-7

The Words:
In future all questions relating to the working fo the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs presided over by himself.

What they really mean:

Napoleon is going to make all the decisions from now on.


The Words:
I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrade, leadership is a pleasure!

What they really mean:

Napoleon is doing a lot for the farm.


The Words:

This work is strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.

What they really mean:

All animals must work on Sundays.


The Words:

From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with neighbouring farms: not, of course, for any commercial purpose, but simply in order to obtain materials which were urgently necessary

What they really mean:

Napoleon is engaging in trade with humans


The Words:

It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm should have a quiet place to work in

What they really mean:

The pigs are getting all the luxury


The Words:

It was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals

What they really mean:

The pigs will work lesser than the other animals


The Words:

Beasts of England has been abolished

What they really mean:

Napoleon has almost become a human

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Animal Farm Study Guide Responding Chapters 1-4

PERSONAL RESPONSE

Q1) What is your reaction to the animals' complaints and goals?

Ans: I think that the animals were right in starting the rebellion to make the animals the owners of the farm. Under Jones' rule, they suffered greatly. They had the rights to overthrow him as the owner of the farm.

Q2) Do you sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals? Why and why not?

Ans: Yes, I sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals. Jones was a tyrant. He ill-treated the animals by making them do the maximum amount of work but only giving them the minimum amount of food to keep them alive.

ANALYZING LITERATURE

Q1) Describe how the Rebellion takes place. How does the animals' behavior during the Rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics?

Ans: The animals cooperated and chased Mr Jones and his wife and his workers out of the farm. Some of the animals, for example, the pigs, became greedy for authority and became selfish. This shows no difference between them and humans.

Q2) How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow's milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur? What does this event suggest about the power hierachy on the farm?

Ans: They convinced the animals that the cow's milk was essential to the well-being of the pigs, who were the thinkers of the farm. The other animals allowed this to occur because they did not want Jones to return back to the farm. This shows that pigs held the greatest power in the farm and that the other animals were inferior to them

Q3) How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan "Four legs bad, two legs good"? In your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs use?

Ans: Originally, the slogan was "Four legs good, two legs bad". The animals did not know how to read and write so they wanted rules with simple language. The pigs used human language.

Q4) What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution?

Ans: He portrayed many characters that were sceptical of the revolution being able to be successfully completed, even though they were submissive to Napoleon.

Q5) Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable-boy's death is the appropriate reaction to have during a revolution?

Ans: I feel that he was looking at the big situation. Since war will definitely have sacrifices, his reaction was appropriate in that sense.

Animal Farm Study Guide Active Reading Chapters 1-4

Old Major - Gets the revolution started; inspires real hope for change

Napoleon - Expels Snowball out of the farm; wanting to gain full control of the farm

Snowball - Doing his best for the farm, but got kicked out by Napoleon

Squealer - Helps Napoleon convince animals that Napoleon is always right

Boxer - Very diligent but dimwitted

Mollie - Always skiving and afraid of hard work

Moses - Always telling people about Sugar Candy Mountain

Benjamin - Clever but has the thinking that nothing ever changes

Jones - Exploits the animals in Manor Farm

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland was rather disappointing in terms of the plot but was rather okay when you come to the visuals. Alice is now 19 years old in the movie and is forced into a marriage with a lord. However, during the proposal, she chased after the White Rabbit and somehow tumbled into a hole which brought her to Underland, also known as Wonderland. Though she visited it when she was much younger and dreamt about it every night, she does not seems to remember anything. Alice's destiny was to slay the Jabberwocky, the evil monster that belonged to the Red Queen.

The director does not seem to bother about the plot because it seemed as it was pretty confusing. I think that he cared more about the technology and visual effects involved. The performance of the Knaves of Hearts and the Mad Hatter was limited. These characters were suppose to be showing a sense of craziness and lunacy, but the restriction of that caused a big disappointment. The director should complement the sheer funny look of the characters with the sheer lunacy of their personality.That would make the movie better.

The movie provided very little climax. You can see that at the end of the movie, the battle between Alice and Jabberwocky was not exciting at all. It provided very very little climax. People know that Alice would win the battle, but they want to see how she wins it. The excitement must be there, but it did not appear at all. Seriously, the movie instead of being a huge success, seems to be quite a failure.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Animal Farm Play Review

Q1) How accurate is it to the book?

Ans: The play is more or less similar to the play, but only some parts are included or edited, for example, the song, Beasts of England, was edited to Beasts of this Land and at the end of the play, it showed a press conference being held.

Q2) Which character that you think is most effective on stage?

Ans: I think the character that is most effective on stage is Squealer. Squealer, in the play, speaks eloquently, capable of twisting lies into facts but persuasive enough to convince the other animals to believe in Napoleon, although he is not right. His ability to deliver speeches so confidently and convincingly makes him the most effective on stage.

Q3) Write a review on the animal farm play

Ans: Based on George Orwell's book, Animal Farm, the play was carried out with similar ideas with the book, only with a few scenes included and edited. As the play started, it began with different people of different occupations, for example, nurse and policeman. They began to strip and the play began to make more sense. It showed what George Orwell had written, from Jones being booted out of the farm to Snowball being chased out of the farm and to Napoleon having full control of the farm. Everything was about the same with the book. However, the book was able to deliver the character of the animals respectively. Take Squealer as an example. The director was able to show the persuasive mouth of Squealer, as depicted in the book. The play was in a few parts humorous, taking the scene where the animals fought Jones as an example. The director played kungfu music and that caused it to be humorous. In a nutshell, this play is similar to the book but does not become too boring with some humorous scenes in it.

LIFE REVIEW

Life!
Home > Life! > Life News > Story
Apr 26, 2010
Creature comforts
Strong ensemble performances make you laugh and cry
By adeline chia


Animal Farm may suffer from an inconsistency of tone, but the cast's energy and conviction lift the play. --PHOTO: ALBERT LIM KS

review theatre
ANIMAL FARM
Wild Rice
Drama Centre Theatre, Last Saturday

Great ensemble performances characterise this production of George Orwell's political allegory and the cast's energy and conviction lift it.

Whether handsomely trotting around as horses, strutting about as self- important porcine rulers or darting about as distressed chickens, the actors display tremendous vitality and honesty in performances that should appeal to both adults and children.

Special mention goes to the statuesque Gani Abdul Karim, who shone as the doomed boar, Old Major, and later the unquestioning workhorse, Boxer.

Yet, despite the hardworking and athletic acting talents, there is something unsatisfactory and hollow about this production which has won standing ovations at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, where it was last performed, and good reviews during its initial run in 2002 in Singapore.

There is no denying that this is a slick and entertaining production with resonant themes.

Through various interventions, including mentions of air-conditioning and an unmistakeably imperious and 'R'-rolling accent of alpha pig Napoleon (played by Lim Yu-Beng of the sculpted body), we are sure that this is definitely a Singapore Farm as well.

Under Ivan Heng's direction, the farcical and comical aspects of the script by Ian Wooldridge emerge.

The spin doctor antics of Squealer the pig (an irrepressible Pam Oei), who spontaneously modified the Animalism's seven commandments, playfully underscore the ludicrous ways those in power bend rules.

There are some beautiful and intelligent scenes - including the construction process of the windmill using collapsible air-conditioner ducts, and Boxer's heartbreaking departure - that show Heng's clever use of props in carefully calibrated scenes.

Look out also for a well-judged ending involving Clover (a mare played by Yeo Yann Yann with tragic nobility), which may raise a few sniffles.

But the problem is inconsistency of tone. The play is an indecisive mixture of parody, slapstick, glib political jibes and pathos, whose styles are so at odds that they end up diluting one another.

The darker elements, especially, are toned down.

Little of the true grotesquerie of the unfolding plot - increasing exploitation and cruelty, pigs drinking alcohol and wearing clothes - is sufficiently plumbed. When Napoleon stumbles on stage clutching a bottle and a karaoke microphone, he elicits giggles, not horror.

Still, the many laughs along the way make this barnyard drama a smooth ride - a little too glitchless for my liking but a solid production to open Wild Rice's 10th-anniversary celebrations.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

ENGLISH VOCABULARY WORKSHEETS

JECT

JECT means TO THROW

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.

word


meaning and example


what to draw


question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

eject


to throw out of, like a videotape from a VCR or a player from a baseball game


something being ejected


What are 3 examples of things or people being ejected?

inject


to shoot into something, like a needle injecting insulin


something being injected


Reject


to fail to accept, or tothrow back (like a fish that is too small)


something rejected or thrown back


What are 2 examples of things or people being rejected?

Projectile


something beingthrown, like an arrow or a cannon. Projectile can also be the path taken by something being thrown


a projectile smaller than a football or larger than you


What are three things that could be projectiles?


conjecture


speculation - "throwing forward" a possible idea to think about




What are three things people make conjectures about besides the weather?


abject


total and hopeless (as if thrown down); abject poverty is the state of being hopelessly poor


someone feeling abjectfear


What would a man in abject fear say?
What might a man say in abject love?

Some other words you might see with "ject" in them:

Object


Subject


Objective


Subjective


Trajectory


Choose one of the "ject" words to complete the sentence.

1. My VCR will not _______________________ my tape.

2. The pen became a__________________________________ when it was thrown across the room.

3. A diabetic may have to ____________________________ insulin with a needle.

4. Do you really know they will get married, or is that just __________________?

5. The school will automatically ____________________ your application if you don't pay the fee first.

http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/wordparts/1ject.asp

Answers: 1) eject 2) projectile 3) inject 4) conjecture 5) reject

copyright © 1998-2004 Susan Jones, Resource Room. All Rights Reserved.

PRE

PRE means BEFORE

This is a common prefix that can be connected to fairly common words as well as more challenging ones. Both are included in this list.

Note that 'before' can have to do with time *or* space. To "predict" is say something will happen before it does; but to "present" something to you is to place it before you in space.

"Pre" can have other meanings than "before," though (as in the words prevail, pretend, prehensile, and prevaricate).

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.

word


meaning and example


what to draw


question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

predict


To tell what one thinks will happen in the future, such as the weather, peoples' behavior, or the outcome of a contest.


Someone predicting something


What are two things you would like to be able to predict?

prevent


To keep something from happening before it happens, such as a window being broken or a person catching a cold


Someone preventing something (and explain what it is)


What are three things you would like to be able to prevent?

preview


a view or showing ahead of time such as "previews" of a movie


Something being previewed (and explain what it is)


What is something besides a movie or TV show that you could preview?

precaution


care or an action taken ahead of time against danger or failure, such as locking the door as a precaution against theft.


An example of something done as a "precaution"


What are four examples of precautions for four different things?

prefer


To choose first or like better (such as preferring vacation over school)


Something you would prefer to do


What are three things you prefer doing?

previous


happening or coming before; such as "on the previous page," meaning the page before, or "in a previous class," meaning some class before this one


What are three things you learned in previous classes?

prenatal


before birth, or during pregnancy


A "prenatal" baby


What would "prenatal care" mean?

pre-owned


Owned by someone else before now; "used."


A pre-owned car


What are three things people often buy "pre-owned?"

prelude


a part that comes before something else, such as a prelude to a piece of music, or dark clouds as a prelude to a storm.


A prelude to an event you enjoy


What are three examples of "preludes?"

preoccupied


having your attention already taken up by something, so you are not paying attention to what is happening around you. For example, if you are preoccupied with a test that is coming, you might not pay attention to what people are saying to you.


Someone who is preoccupied


What are three things someone who is "preoccupied" might say?

prequel


a book or story or movie that is set before something that has already been written. For example, the "Star Wars" series had a prequel set before the first Star Wars movie, where you found out about earlier times and people. The sixth book in the Chronicles of Narnia is a prequel because it tells how Narnia began, even though that book was written after other stories about Narnia.


A scene from the prequel to *your* life story.


Why would someone write a prequel?

predispose


to make something more likely to happen, before it does. For example, not getting enough sleep predisposes people to catching colds or being grumpy. (It is the opposite of taking precautions.) If a person is "predisposed" to act a certain way (such as to agree with others), they are already more likely to act that way than some other way.


Someone who is predisposed to win a marathon


What are three things you could do so that you were predisposed to get good grades?

preamble


an introductory statement before an important statement. The preamble to the constitution explains why the people of the U.S. thought they needed one.


How is a preamble like a prelude?

preempt


to take over something, (such as by getting in front of anyone else who would want it or being more important). Examples: to take over someone's land, to take over a group of people, or for one TV show to replace another (such as a news story or baseball game preempting a regular show).


Something being preempted


What are two things you would not like to be preempted?

preface


Introductory remarks


Where in a book would you find or put the preface?

preprandial


before the evening meal


Someone doing something "preprandially"


What are two of your favorite preprandial activities?

Here are some other words where "pre" means before

pretext, predecessor, preconception, precede, preclude, precognition, preliminary, premeditate, premature, premonition, prenuptial, preordain, prerogative, prerequisite

Complete these sentences with the "pre" word. Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons.

predict, prevent, preview, precaution, prefer, previous, prenatal, pre-owned, prelude, preoccupied, prequel, predisposed, preempt, preface, preprandial

1. I like to take a _____________________________________ walk to work up my appetite for dinner.

2. I don't like it when the networks _________________________ my favorite TV shows because of sports.

3. One of the jobs of the meteorologist on the news is to _______________________________ tomorrow's weather.

4. Just as a ________________________ , I always lock the car doors when I am driving.

5. Which of these coats do you ________________________ to wear tonight?

6. I don't think Mike heard a word I said because he was so __________________________ about his sick sister.

7. We got to the concert at the symphony hall just in time -- we barely sat down before the conductor started the _______________________________ .

http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/wordparts/2pre.asp

Answers: 1) preprandial 2) preempt 3) predict 4) precaution 5) prefer 6) preoccupied 7) prelude

copyright © 1998-2004 Susan Jones, Resource Room. All Rights Reserved.

UN

UN means NOT

There are several prefixes that mean "not" in one way or another. However, they are different, so sometimes you will have two different "not" suffixes in front of the same ending, and the two words will mean different things.

An "unarmed" man does not have a weapon. If the man is "Disarmed," then there was a weapon but it was taken away (and 'disarming' has several meanings). "Uninterested" means you "do not have the mind or feelings engaged." You're not involved; you don't care. "Disinterested," however, has come to mean "not having a selfish motive or interest." A "disinterested" person is good to help settle an argument.

Un- words are usually verbs (unplug or untie) or adjectives (untidy, unbreakable)

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.

word


meaning and example


what to draw


question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

unplug


to take a plug out of; to disconnect from electricity, or to take out something blocking the way.


something unplugged from electricity AND an "unplugged" pipe.


What is "unplugged" music?

untidy


not tidy; not neat and orderly


an untidy place (room, desk, car)


What are three things an untidy person might do?

unbreakable


not able to be broken easily (like a sturdy plastic cup)


something unbreakable


What are two things that should be unbreakable, and why?

unemployment


not having employment; not having a job, or the number of people in an area who don't have jobs


Draw something an unemployed person might be doing


What are two ways an unemployed person could look for a job?

unruly


not following any rules; hard to manage (unruly hair, unruly kids)


unruly hair OR unruly kids


What's something else that could be unruly?

unconditional


not conditional, not limited; always there. "Unconditional love" means love whether the person is loved back or not, no matter what the other person does. "Unconditional surrender" means you give everything up.


What's the difference between an "unconditional surrender" and one with conditions? What might one of those conditions be? (You might want to draw this one)

uncertain


not sure about something, or something not clearly one way or the other


uncertain weather


What is something you are uncertain about?

unselfish


thinking of other people before yourself


someone doing something unselfish


What are three unselfish things a person could say or do?

unthinkable


"out of the question," going against what is reasonable, desirable, or probable; slavery is unthinkable now, but has not always been. The idea that my sister would forget to pay her bills is unthinkable because she just wouldn't ever do that.


Something unthinkable


What is something that is "unthinkable" to some people but not to others?

unveil


to remove a veil or covering; to make public (unveiling a painting for people to see; unveiling a new model of car)


something being unveiled


What are three things that could literally be unveiled? (Literally means you are actually taking a veil off of something.)

unconscious


not conscious; not aware of what is going on; a person can be completely unconscious & knocked out, or just unconscious of something that is going on ('he was unconscious of the bus coming up behind him' doesn't mean he was knocked out cold, but just that he didn't know the bus was coming)


an unconscious person


What are two things you could be unconscious of even though you were awake and alert?

unconscionable


not guided or controlled by conscience - not caring at all whether something is right or wrong. "Using unconscionable sales practices" would mean doing things to sell your product that were clearly wrong


an unconscionable crime


What are three things you think are unconscionable?

Some other words you might see with "un" in them:

unabated


unreconstructed


unalloyed


unstoppable

uneasy


unfair


unfortunate


unhappy

unfetter


unfurl


unkempt


unwise

unleash


undoing


unlawful


unflinching

uncharted


unscrupulous


unavailable


unknown

Sentence Practice:

unplug


untidy


unbreakable


unconscious


unconscionable

unthinkable


unemployment


unruly


unconditional


unveil

unselfish


uncertain






Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons.

1. ___________________________ was a big problem in the Great Depression as many businesses shut down and people lost their jobs.

2. After a three week battle, the fort gave an ____________________________ surrender and was taken over.

3. When are you going to _________________________ your new painting?

4 I must have been _________________________ during the whole movie -- I don't remember any of it!

5.The crowd at the game got so _________________________________ that the game was stopped until they settled down.

6.If you are ______________________ about which book to read, I will help you decide.

7. It's a good thing your dishes and furniture are _____________________________ , with so many unruly children in the house!

8. Many people say you should _______________________ your computer in a thunderstorm so that lightning doesn't harm it.

9. It's just ____________________ that he would order roast beef -- he is a vegetarian!

10. It is hard to read or hear about the _________________________ crimes that some people have committed.

11. It's unthinkable that my neat brother would ever let his house get ____________________________ .

12. He is the most ______________________ person I know - he would give everything he has away.

http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/wordparts/3un.asp

Answers: 1)unemployment 2) unconditional 3) unveil 4) unconscious 5) unruly 6) uncertain 7) unbreakable 8) unplug 9)unconscionable 10) unconscionable 11) untidy 12) unselfish

copyright © 1998-2004 Susan Jones, Resource Room. All Rights Reserved.

THERM

THERM means HEAT

Therm is the second root featured on the Resource Room found often in scientific contexts.

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.

word


meaning and example


what to draw


question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

thermometer


thing to measure temperature (amount of heat)


Two different kinds of thermometers


What do you think the "meter" part of "thermometer" might mean?

thermal


having to do with heat or conserving heat ('thermal blanket,' 'thermal underwear')


a "thermal" object


Why is 'thermal underwear' called that?

thermostat


machine that keeps something at the same temperature (or 'heat level'); "stat" means 'same.'


a thermostat (there may be one on the wall where you are).


What would you have to do if you didn't have a thermostat?

geothermal


heat coming from the earth (remember from the 'logy' group that geo means earth); volcanoes and hot springs are examples of geothermal heat sources.


a source of geothermal energy


Where are two places where geothermal energy can be found?

hypothermia


when the body's temperature goes below normal


someone with hypothermia


What are two ways a person could develop hypothermia?
What do you think "hypo" means?

hyperthermia


when the body gets too hot (such as during heat stroke or a high fever)


someone with hyperthermia


What are two ways a person could develop hyperthermia?
What do you think "hyper" means?

thermonuclear


change in an atom's nucleus that requires a very high temperature, such as in a hydrogen bomb or in the sun


a place where thermonuclear action is happening


What would happen if a thermonuclear bomb went off?

Thermos


a container designed to keep heat in or out to keep food at a desired temperature


a Thermos


What are three different foods that would likely be kept in a Thermos?

isothermal


a line on a map showing where the temperature is the same along that line


an isotherm (you might want to look in an encyclopedia)


What kind of job (-ologist) would be interested in isotherms? (See "-logy"words)

endothermic


taking heat into itself (making it get colder because it's taking heat away)


Draw two test tubes with thermometers in them - one before, one after an endothermic reaction


Why is the second test tube colder than the first one?

exothermic


sending heat out (getting hot to the touch) - much more familiar than endothermic reactions - and getting warmer.


Draw two test tubes with thermometers in them -- one before, one after an exothermic reaction


Why is the second test tube warmer than the first one

Complete these sentences with the "therm" word that fits. Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons.

1. Getting wet on a cool day and staying out side can lead to _______________________________

2. You can get a ___________________________ that will measure temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.

3. I have a _________________________ full of coffee, piping hot.

4. A _____________________ blanket is designed to add a warm layer for cold weather, but not be too warm in warm weather.

5.The ________________________ showed that it was 32 degrees in Boston, Massachusetts and 30 miles north of Cleveland, Ohio.

6.A __________________________ bomb does more damage than other kinds of bombs, but is very expensive to make.

7. Spending too much time in the hot sun can cause _______________________ , which can be fatal.

8. That ________________________ reaction got very, very cold.

9. Setting off a thermonuclear bomb is an example of an ________________________ reaction because it sends out a lot of heat.

10. In Greenland, ______________________________ energy from hot springs is used to heat houses.

11. A tree farmer might want to study ___________________________

12.. That's an interesting rock! A _____________________________ could tell you what it is.

13. The _________________________ in my car broke, so it overheated.

http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/wordparts/5therm.asp

Answers: 1) hypothermia 2) thermometer 3) thermos 4) thermal 5) isothermal 6) thermonuclear 7) hyperthermia 8) endothermic 9) exothermic 10) geothermal 11) geothermalogy 12) geothermalogist 13) thermos

copyright © 1998-2004 Susan Jones, Resource Room. All Rights Reserved.

VERT

VERT means TURN or TWIST

"vert" is the next of a set of common, but somewhat abstract, word parts.

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.

word


meaning and example


what to draw


question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

vertical


"perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis," (example: anything standing up, not lying down; a line that goes up and down)


three vertical things


WHat are three things that are usually vertical?

vertigo


dizzy, confused state of mind (the world is spinning or turning) - sometimes caused by looking down from a high place.


a person with vertigo


What are two things that could give someone vertigo?

vertebrate


animal with a backbone (the bone we turn around with)


two of your favorite vertebrates


What are three of the most unusual vertebrates you can think of?

invert


To turn inside out or upside down (a cup, a fraction in math, a shirt a dive)


something being inverted


What is something you shouldn't invert, and why?

convert


to turn from one thing to another (to convert to a different religion, to convert from feet to inches)


something or someone being converted


How is convert different from invert?

revert


to turn back to an earlier state or condition (reverting back to your old religion, or a habit or way of doing things, or reverting money back to what you had when you return to your old country)


Why might someone want revert to their old way of doing things? What is one thing they might say?

controversial


the subject of argument or dispute; turning people (or their words) against each other;


people talking about something controversial


What are three controversial things?

introvert


to turn inward, or someone who is shy and reserved and keeps to him/herself


an introvert


What are three things an introvert might like to do in spare time?

extrovert


to turn outward; a person who is outgoing


an extrovert


what are three things an extrovert might like to do in spare time?

avert


to turn away; to see something coming and avoid it(to avert an accident, failing a test, a conversation with someone)


someone averting something


What are two things you would like to avert?

adverse


turning against what is wanted (especially adverse weather)


adverse weather for a baseball game


What would be adverse conditions for taking a test?

adversity


conditions that make things harder or turn against you; things that make you have to work or fight hard to get what you want or need


an example of adversity


What are two examples of adversity?

subversive


trying to undermine (or overthrow; "turn over from underneath") a government or leadership; planning a school strike would be subversive behavior.


someone doing something subversive


Where are three places where someone might do something subversive?

diverse


different; made up of different kinds of things or people


a diverse collection of rocks or animals or people


What are two good things and one problem with having a diverse group (of anything or people)

Other vert words: diversion, inversion, aversion, diversity, diversify, subvert, versus, version, covert, overt, persevere, versatile, converse, advertise

Complete these sentences with the vert word.. Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons.

1.After the spinning ride at Disneyworld, Pat had _______________________ and had to sit down until he was steady again.

2. We will try to see problems before they arrive and ___________________________ them.

3. I think I will ______________________________ back to the way I used to drive to work because there is less traffic.

4. We have to ________________________ our dollars and cents into pounds and pence before we go to England.

5. When students got together and refused to take standardized tests, they were suspended for the ________________________ activity .

6. We might go camping if the weather is not too _______________________.

7. The rule for the dance marathon was that you had to be _____________________________ and moving. If you stopped or sat down you were out.

8.A good salesperson is often an ________________________ who really likes to get out and talk to people.

9. You have to sign this form to show you give your ___________________ for them to take you on this dangerous rafting trip.

10. Carl had a lot of ________________________ growing up, but he didn't let it keep him from being a good student and going to college.

11. A slug is not a _________________________ because it has no backbone.

12. If you ______________________ the number 9, it looks like a 6.

13. Beth has a ________________________ rock collection from many different places in the world.

http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/wordparts/9vert.asp

Answers: 1) vertigo 2) avert 3) revert 4) convert 5) subversive 6) adverse 7) vertical 8) extrovert 9) avert 10) adverse 11) vertebrate 12) invert 13) diverse

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Amish

Amish Lifestyles

People live in simple farmhouses. Family members, including small children, all work in the fields. Crops are planted and harvested without modern farm technology.

Most Amish people are easy to recognize. The women make their own long, dark-colored dresses. They cover their hair with white cloth hats, called prayer caps. They do not wear jewelry. The men grow long beards. They wear black clothing and dark hats. The Amish live much like their ancestors did. Modern things like electricity, central heating and indoor water pipes are not considered necessary. The Amish do not drive cars. Instead, they travel in buggies pulled by horses.

The Amish heat their houses with wood stoves. And they get their water from wells.
Many Amish people do not use the telephone. They do not want to be connected to the outside world. But some earn money by cooking lunch or dinner for visitors. Visitors can join a family for a meal that includes meat, potatoes and vegetables grown on their farms. If the guests have any room left in their stomach after all that, they can have a sweet, rich dessert.

Advantages

The advantage of an Amish lifestyle is that life is very simple and is not as fast as those in big cities right now. People enjoy doing the things they do and are not stressed like those who are living in big cities. Also, people are closely-knitted together with such a simple lifestyle because having a complicated lifestyle involving many things to do in a day may cause inequality between people and thus affect their relationship.

Disadvantages


Their lifestyle is very hard to live by as they lack transport and communication tools. They travel in buggies pulled by horses, which makes their journey becomes longer and takes up more time. They are also disconnected from outside their community. They do not have computers or any other communication tools to connect with the outside world. They also do not have electricity so it will be quite hard for them when they read or write or when they want to cook.

Opinion


Although Amish lifestyle is very peaceful, I think that I have already lived in Singapore for 13 years and Singapore has a very competitive society. Our people cannot live the type of lifestyles that Amish live. Without technology, we cannot survive, especially when we survive on high-technology these days. It would be good to live the Amish for a day or two, but it is very hard to do it every day.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

With close reference to the story 'Flowers for Algernon', do you think the gift of intellect is a gift or a curse?

Intelligence. A word hard to comprehend. They say it's a gift. They say it's a curse. But I think it's a gift that comes with the curse.

Less intelligent people are usually more happy than those who are more clever. Like Charlie Gordon. His requirement of life was very simple. A decent job and a simple life. That was happiness to him. However, to more intelligent people, they have cynical views about society and thinks the world is challenging against them. So, more intelligent people like Dr Nemur are usually people with more complicated minds, which makes them unhappy.

Knowledge, in truth, should bring happiness to people. But, on the other hand, it brings sadness across to them. Like Charlie Gordon, he was expecting a whole new life after the operation. He thought that he would have friends and knowledge and that was very satisfying. Since time human beings are known to have a great appetite to acquire knowledge. They need to satisfy their hunger for the sake of knowledge. Many great inventors skipped their meals and have gone without sleep to achieve education and knowledge. But they never knew about negative side of it. Will they be happy? This is a question that will be posted to be Charlie Gordon. Was Charlie Gordon happy?

He made a huge sacrifice for knowledge. Even he was always bullied verbally and physically by his cruel friends, his ignorance will ignore it all. If he did not have this intellectual capability, he would still know he had friends. But once he had it, the thought that he still had friends will vanish immediately, leaving him with pain and suffering. And that little great gift would just like become an evil curse.

In a nutshell, I personally feel that to a large extent, the gift of intellect is a curse because Charlie lost his friends and his job, making him lonely and unhappy. However, to a certain extent, I think that the gift of intellect is a gift as this gift provides us with the knowledge to benefit ourselves and the society in a right way.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Should the experiment on Charlie Gordon have taken place ?

This was an experiment which will mark the new beginning of Charlie Gordon's life and probably the start of new science technology, which will enable people to become intelligent all of a sudden.

This will open up a new level for technology and probably be the invention of the decade or century. For Dr Strauss and Professor Nemur, the ability to make this experiment a successful one will help not only the world, but also help themselves become famous overnight. Charlie's parents, Mr and Mrs Gordon, will also agree that the experiment should be done. That is because no parents want their children to be mentally retarded. They want the best for their children. They do not want them to go out into the world and be ostracised for their intellectual level. They want their children to be respected as smart kids that will excel in everything they do. Mr Steven Ng, a representative of the Welberg Foundation which founded the project, will also want the experiment to be carried out. Why? For his and the company benefit. The company will then be acknowledged as the foundation which founded the project and be recognised all over the world.

However, despite all this, there are still some who do not believe in the experiment. Fanny feels that it is not appropriate for Charlie to become intelligent suddenly. She gave an example of how Eve listened to the snake and ate from the tree of knowledge. It was evil, she thought. And how Charlie gained his knowledge is considered bt her as religiously unacceptable. Joe Carp and Frank Reilly cannot accept the fact that Charlie Gordon has become the present clever self. They wanted the ignorance and dullness of Charlie, but since he had become knowledgeable and understanding, they could not bear it. They wanted the old Charlie Gordon, innocent and naive.

And what I think is, the experiment should not have been carried out.

Charlie Gordon was once a man with an IQ of 68. But the change has been so sudden, his IQ had become triple. But he had a trade-off. He gained something less important than what he had lost. Friendship. Nobody wanted to friend him anymore after he turned smart. Never mind if he always got laughed at for his stupidity. Ignorance is a blessing. Probably it is better to don't know the truth than to know it. For Charlie, it might be. He once laughed with his friends over his little mistakes, but now, he cannot even laugh because he has no friends. I would rather choose to be mentally retarded with friends than intellectually capable with no one to love. Though I might be constantly teased at, but I don't know. But I know I at least still have friends who will mingle with me. IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Differences between the NOVEL and MOVIE

1. In the novel, Percy's teacher who turned into Fury was his Math Teacher, but in the movie, the teacher was his English teacher.

2. In the movie, Percy battled a Hydra at Parthenon which spewed fire but not acid but in the novel, there were no such recount.

3. In the movie, Luke, the son of Hermes, wanted to overthrow the Olympians because he wanted new rulers but in the novel, he did it for Kronos.

4. In the novel, Percy was mentioned to have had a duel with Ares but Ares was not mentioned in the movie at all.

5. In the novel, Percy had to find the pearls he needed to escape the Underworld but in the movie, the pearl was given as a gift to him.

6. In the novel, Clarisse appeared at Camp Half-Blood but was not mentioned in the movie at all, similar to Ares.

7. Also, in the novel, Mr D was around but in the movie, Mr D was not included at all.

8. In the novel, nobody knew of Percy's father, who was Poseidon, before Capture the Flag. But in the movie, everyone except Percy knew about Poseidon being Percy's father even before Capture the Flag.

9. The novel says that not only did Percy stole the Lightning Bolt, but he also stolen Helm of Darkness from Hades, but this was not incorporated in the movie.

10. In the novel, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief only when he had returned to Camp Half-Blood after giving Zeus the master bolt but in the movie, Percy discovered that Luke was the real lightning thief at the Empire State Building.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

10 Questions About Avatar

1.According to the film, which is set in 2154, humans are mining for a mineral called unobtanium. Is there such a mineral called unobtanium or is it just something the producer made up?

2.In the film, the atmosphere of Pandora was toxic to human so it couldn't have any oxygen present, but how come a fire could be obtain in Pandora?

3.Everything in Pandora is coloured differently from what it really is, but the trees are of the same colour. Why?

4.What do the Na'Vi's eat as the primary food source?

5.Were the Na'Vi's designed to feel like aliens or humans, as they had two eyes and a mouth like humans but were 3m tall and were blue, suggesting signs of alien-ness.

6.Why are the Na'Vi's designed to look extremely tall, almost twice the height of the normal human? Is it they are actually tall or is it that the conditions of Pandora makes them look tall?

7.How come only the Na'Vi have two eyes but most other creatures in Pandora have four eyes?

8.The Na'Vi, besides having human and alien features, it also have features like a cat, for example their big ears. Why is it so that?

9.Native Na'Vi have only four fingers and four toes, but in the film, avatars developed had five fingers and toes. Why is it like that?

10.How long have the practice of developing Avatar been performed and how long have humans been in Pandora in their avatar form?

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

What is Thematic Apperception Test:

It consists of a series of pictures of relatively vague scenes with no clear meaning to what it is and the person tested is requested to make up stories about what they see in the picture and what they think is going to happen. The test protocol provides the examiner with a rich source of data, based on the subject's perceptions and imagination, for use in the understanding of the subject's current needs, emotions, and conflicts, both conscious and unconscious.

It is widely used with the Rorschach test to determine the personality of the person, through the imaginations and fantasies he/she derives from the images shown.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Short Story - Parson's Pleasure and The Umbrella Man

It was an arid day. Mr Mokoko was embarking on his journey to his mother's new house at the countryside. On his way there, he lost his way. He got out of his car to scan the surroundings for a route out. As he walked around to look for a way out, he passed by a small little cottage with a small garden surrounding it, with a fence covering it.

His eyes immediately landed on an umbrella with holes on it. Although it was broken, he knew it was an antique. He had read about it recently. He knew if the owner knew it was antique, he/she wouldn't leave it outside of the house. His conscience suddenly pricked him. He was in a dilemma. He thought, " Should I cheat it from the owner?".

Well, that was an antique, by not having it, he was letting himself down. He went out to the cottage and called for the owner. Then, there appeared a frail little old man with a stick in his hands to balance himself. He strode up to Mr Mokoko and asked him what he wanted.

"The weather's hot, so I thought of buying that umbrella to block out the sun," Mr Mokoko said as he gestured to the umbrella.

"But it's broken!" the old man retorted

"Fret not, I'm just trying to block out some sun," Mr Mokoko replied gently.

" Well, five bucks for it!" the old man said in excitement.

"Deal!" Mr Mokoko agreed, without hesitation.

The old man thought Mr Mokoko was a fool to buy it for twice its original price, but he didn't care. Mr Mokoko then realised he didn't take his wallet with him. He went back to retrieve it. The old man was kind enough to help him glue a cheap cloth over the broken umbrella so that the holes were covered.

When Mr Mokoko came back, he was shocked. The umbrella will not sell as much as its original price. It would be 50 times lesser, or maybe 100 times. After this incident, Mr Mokoko never cheated again.

Friday, January 22, 2010

My Blog Policies

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