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Final Exam Answers: Paragraph Precis

Part I: Writing

Paragraphs were graded on the following criteria:
-grammar
-structure of a paragraph
-use of transitional devices
-cohesion of ideas
-ability to respond to the prompt

Part II: Complete Sentences

1. English is one of the hardest languages to learn there are too many vocabulary words. incorrect

2. Susan went to the beach and surfed with her friends.

correct

3. Cooking couscous at home with my Mom.
incorrect

4. Because we want to do well on the exam, we studied a lot.

correct

5. We traveled to Paris to attend a concert but we got lost on the way so we asked for directions but we arrived late.

incorrect

6. Ifrane is my favorite place in Morocco, I travel there often.

incorrect

7. My English teacher is from New Jersey, a state in eastern America.

correct

8. I prefer to drink tea with sugar; is a Moroccan tradition.

incorrect

Final Exam Answers: Comprehension & Spoken English

Part I: Listening

1. In this article, the word “season” specifically refers to…

(a) Winter

(b) The time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas

(c) The day after Thanksgiving

(d) The snowy season

2. When is “Black Friday”?

(a) The time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas

(b) The fourth Thursday in November

(c) The day after Thanksgiving

(d) The day before Thanksgiving

3. What do Americans do on “Black Friday”?

(a) They all go shopping.

(b) They wear black clothes.

(c) They eat Thanksgiving food.

(d) They do a variety of activities.

4. Why is “Black Friday” important to consumer markets?

(a) People start shopping for Christmas gifts.

(b) Products are much more expensive.

(c) Americans go to the movies.

(d) Americans buy lots of souvenirs in Washington.

5. The main idea of this article is…

(a) Thanksgiving is an important American holiday.

(b) Each American family has its own “Black Friday” traditions.

(c) All Americans go shopping on “Black Friday” because stores have big sales.

(d) Shopping is an essential activity after Thanksgiving.

Part II: Reading

**There may be more than one correct answer. Definitions MUST reflect the use of the word in the context of the text.**

lifeline: an essential life-saving tool

leapfrogged: moved, traveled, lived in multiple location

peers: people who are equal to one another in ability, age, background etc.

tenant: a person who rents, lives in or holds land for a temporary period of time

**There may be more than one correct answer. Answers are NOT correct if they simply copied the text without proving that you understand what it means.**

7. Why did Hui Lin feel “nervous” on her first day of eighth grade?

Hui Lin felt nervous on her first day of eighth grade because she was "the only Asian in her class." She thought her classmates may not be accepting of a student from another culture/country.

8. Now that Hui Lin’s family is in America, what is their financial situation?

Even though Hui Lin's family is in America, "money is still tight." In other words, her family is still poor. We know this because they share both an apartment and a bed.

9. Write the main idea in one complete sentence.

Hui Lin's parents sacrificed a lot for the sake of their daughter's education. OR English has acted as a "lifeline" for Hui Lin by giving her access to American society. OR Despite financial difficulties, Hui Lin has still managed to succeed in her English studies.

Part III: Vocabulary

1. First, I usually skim the article in order to find the main idea.

2. The boisterous students in elementary school constantly disrupt class.

3. I continued to spend money during the recession, whereas my brother decided to economize.

4. We hope that the administration repairs the crumbling buildings before they fall down!

5. Engineers probably earn a larger salary than teachers.

6. Studying the same grammatical concept for many hours is extremely tedious.

7. Some of the most gifted students in the United States cannot stay after graduation because they cannot get a green card.

8. I think I got the gist of the article, but I didn’t understand some specific sentences.

9. Climate change affects the Moroccan economy because agriculture is a major industry here.

10. Chris likes to travel spontaneously. In other words, he is unpredictable and doesn’t plan his vacations.

Final Exam- Websites for Review

Run-on sentences, complete sentences, sentence fragments:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/citation/fragments-and-run-ons
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/fragments_quiz.htm

Reading Comprehension:
http://www.5minuteenglish.com/reading.htm
http://www.englishmaven.org/Pages/Reading%20Comprehension.htm

Listening Comprehension:
http://www.esl-lab.com/

Sample Paragraph Prompts:
-Which course in the English Department will be most useful to you after graduation? Why?
-If you won a million dirhams, what would you spend it on? Why?

Questions? Post a comment.

GOOD LUCK!!
Final Exam: Thursday, January 12th from 8:30-12:30 in Amphi B

Paragraph Precis: Homework due December 20th

1. Write a paragraph on the following topic: Should men learn how to cook? Why or why not?
2. Write another paragraph on the following topic: Tourism in Moroccan can be considered a bad thing. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

REMEMBER: December 20th is our last day of class. Bring any questions you have!

Comprehension and Spoken English: Homework due December 20th

Read the article "Cultural Baggage," found in your course packet.

Do the following exercises:
Meaning #1,4
Purpose #1,2
Method #1,4
Language #1


REMEMBER: December 20th is our last day of class. Bring any questions you have!

Answers to "The Middle Class Black Burden"

The following are sample answers. You may have a similar answer that is also correct. Remember the context of the article: American in the 1980's. Post a comment if you have a question.

Meaning
1. Incongruities (n)= inconsistencies. In this context, her life has incongruities because, even though she is middle class and educated, she is still discriminated against because of the color of her skin.
2. The "middle class black's burden" is the challenge of living more richly than the majority of your family or race in America. Whites look down upon her because she is blacks; blacks treat her differently because she's rich.
3. This quote means that she's "caught" between two time periods and two worlds. In other words, she cannot fully participate in the past/lower class or present/middle class.
4. proverbial (adj)= commonly mentioned
antiquated (adj)= obsolete, old-fashioned (old in a bad way)
ideology (n) = a group of beliefs
berate (v) = to scold, punish with words
reproach (v) = to berate, but less harshly
nemesis (n)= an enemy (person or thing) that cannot be beat
vernacular (n) = ordinary, every-day language
to run the gauntlet= to suffer severe criticism
assuage (v) = to calm
tenuous (adj) = weak, uncertain
amenities (n) = objects that provide comfort
oblivious (adj) = unaware
denigrated (adj) = to be criticized or treated as if you have no value

Method and Structure
1. The main comparison is between the author's childhood in an impoverished black community and the author's current state as a successful middle class woman.
2. The text before paragraph 6 describes the transition of blacks into the middle class. The text after paragraph six describes how "uncomfortable" the author's middle class life is.

Language
1. bitter, ironic
2. Some examples (there are more not written here):
"I am cursed and I am blessed" (13)
"whites won't believe..." (17)
"uncomfortable middle class" (8)
"patted on the head by white hands. and slapped in the face by black hands" (1)
"I have overcome the problems of food, clothing and shelter, but I have not overcome my old nemesis, prejudice." (11)

Listening Exercise from December 13

You can find the audio, transcript and exercises associated with the listening we did this week at the following link: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/A-Few-Steps-Up-From-Fast-Food-and-Down-the-Road-From-Fine-Dining-Lies-the-Diner-131421398.html

Post a comment if you have a question!

Comprehension and Spoken English: Midterm Exercise Answers

The midterm exercise can be found at this link: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/What-to-Do-About-Reverse-Brain-Drain-in-US-133076123.html

1. What is a synonym for "brightest minds?"
--> smartest people, most clever people, most intelligent people (multiple answers possible).
2. How does the article define "green card?"
--> proof of permanent residence
3. Write the main idea in one complete sentence.
(multiple answers possible)
Foreign students have trouble staying in the United States after graduation because it is difficult to obtain a green card.
The U.S. should change its immigration policies to allow foreign students to stay after graduating.
The U.S. faces reverse brain drain because green card issues force foreign students to leave after graduating.

Comprehension and Spoken English: Homework due December 6

Using your active reading skills, finish reading "Blah Blah Blah" (in your course packet).
Do the following exercises following the text:
Meaning #1-3
Purpose and Audience #1
Method and Structure #2-4
Language #1

Writing Paragraphs: Homework due December 6

In your course packet: Read "Sentence Combining" and do the 3 exercises that follow.

Also, review how to write a complete sentence.
Confused? Need extra help? Try here: http://www.myenglishteacher.net/sentencefragments.html

If you would like, you may do the midterm exercise at home and hand it in to me on Tuesday. The prompt is:

Did you vote in the elections? Why or why not? Respond in a 5-sentence paragraph. Your paragraph must include a topic sentence, 3 supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. Write in complete sentences, and avoid run-on sentences.

Writing Paragraphs: Homework due November 29

1. Review "run-on sentence" and "sentence fragment" exercises from past homeworks (englishforeveryone.org and in your course packet). Do the exercises if you have not already. We will go over these in class.
2. Read "Thanksgiving" by Elaine Kirn (in your course packet). Write the main idea in one complete sentence.

We will do the midterm paragraph on November 29th.

Comprehension and Spoken English: Homework due November 29

Read "Blah Blah Blah" (by Kim Kessler) in your course packets.
Do the following exercises following the text:
Meaning #1-3
Purpose and Audience #1
Method and Structure #2-4
Language #1

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is an American national holiday when families get together, eat a feast, and give thanks for everything good in their lives. Here is some important vocabulary:

pilgrim(noun): an original settler in a region
settler(noun): a person who moves to another country or area
American Indians (noun): the indigenous/original peoples of North America
feast (noun, verb): to eat a large meal

Some traditional Thanksgiving foods: pumpkin pie, turkey, "stuffing" (what you put inside the turkey when you cook it), cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn