Zoom In On America

Quiz Key

Summer Jobs

Exercise 1
1) S; 2) J; 3) Ch; 4) E; 5) S; 6) C; 7) J; 8) D; 9) E; 10) D.

Exercise 2
(1) allowance; (2) chores; (3) part-time; (4) bagging; (5) regardless; (6) abuse; (7) hours; (8) minors.

Books and Libraries

Exercise 1
(a) 10, (b) 4, (c) 21, (d) 5, (e) 6, (f) 7, (g) 9, (h) 11, (i) 3, (j) 12, (k) 15)
(l) 13, (m) 8, (n) 16, (o) 18, (p) 2, (r) 17, (s) 19, (t) 1, (u) 20 (v) 14.

Exercise 2
1. black book
2. closed book
3. cracking a book
4. threw the book at him
5. wrote the book
6. read ... like a book

Every Day Is Earth Day

Whose Baby?
bear - cub
cat - kitten
cow - calf (plural: calves)
deer - fawn
dog - puppy
duck - duckling
goat - kid
horse - foal
pig - piglet
whale - calf/calves

American Women

Prepositions
“I was a shy girl, quiet, never aspiring to be a writer, never thinking to assert my Native identity, an identity always clear to my sister and I when we were in Oklahoma with our Chickasaw grandparents. We come from horse and wagon grandparents, and it was not so very long ago. The smell of the pecan trees, the black walnut with flesh I can still smell. Then, in the '50s and '60s, my uncle in Denver took me to powwows, then held in small school gymnasiums. But for the most part we didn't think of our Indian life as something significant. History didn't interest us. We lived in other worlds and places. And yet, within me, I held traditional values. I didn't know then that I would become a traditionally-minded Native woman. I grew into it the way a person grows into their shape, the way a tree grows, without intention, without plan, into a tree.

I didn't know, either, that I would become a writer, and the fact that I come from another America has, from the beginning, been the root of my writing.”

America at the Movies

Oscar Quiz
addition - membership - Governors - Honorary - achievements - exceptional - contribution - motion - awarded - cinematographer - mastery - creation

High School Days

Brocoli or Broccoli?
accommodation  -  broccoli  -  definitely  -  development  -  embarrassing  -  existence  -  finally  -  independent  -  judgment  -  Mississippi  -  privilege  -  receive  -  satellite  -  separate

My Own Words
I remember what it was like being a teenager, wanting to fit in, but still feeling like maybe I never would, that I'd never find what was right for me. You want to find that place, find that niche of friendship and feel like you belong. So what I did was get involved in a lot of extracurricular activities, trying to find something that I enjoyed.

I did a little bit of everything. I played multiple sports, not just one sport. I played basketball, football, baseball. I also joined after-school activities just to see what I liked, and to see what type of people I liked, and figure out if that was something that I wanted to do.

Sometimes you find out you're lousy. Sometimes you screw up and you're afraid people are going to laugh at you, but so what? You have to do your best to not be afraid of people laughing or not agreeing with what you're doing. You have to stand up and be your own person first of all. And second, when you find that thing you do enjoy doing, that thing you're good at, keep at it.

'Tis the Season

A Visit from St. Nicholas
The 12 words fit in the poem in the following order:
stockings - chimney - shutters - sleigh - reindeer - toys - hoof - fur - chubby - elf - whistle - Christmas

Moving Around
to stir - to make a small movement with the whole body
to wink - to close and open an eye quickly, usually to give a signal
to nod - to move the head down and up quickly, usually to signal agreement
to spring - to jump up or forward quickly
to twist - to turn something
to jerk - to move oneself or something abruptly

Acronyms
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications
PC - Personal Computer
DVD - Digital Video Disk
MP3 - MPEG (Motion Pictures Expert Group) Audio Layer 3
WAP - Wireless Application Protocol
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service
JP(E)G - Joint Photographic (Experts') Group

America's Landmarks

A Little Difficult?
1. There were only a few items left after the big sale.
2. You only need a little sugar to make this cake.
3. We don't need to hurry. We still have a little time before the train leaves.
4. I don't understand why there were so few people at the cinema. I really liked the movie.
5. My mother always had very little patience with us. She got angry quickly when we misbehaved.
6. At a job interview they will want to ask you a few questions.
7. Few people can speak more than 5 languages.
8. The man who was sitting a few seats in front of us was eating popcorn very loudly.

The Article Mystery
1. She was probably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
2. My kids usually drink hot chocolate before going to sleep.
3. My older brother is a computer programmer. He works from home.
4. Can I have a bar of chocolate?
5. Doctors say you should eat five servings of vegetables a day.
6. I love green tea, but the tea they served at this restaurant last night was horrible!
7. The poor in this country are threatening to rebel unless their situation improves.
8. I couldn't understand why they chose to live in Minnesota. For me, the warm states are the best in the United States.
9. You'll find the main library on Lion Street.

High School Sports

Basketball in the Works
1 - c; 2 - a; 3 - a; 4 - c; 5 - b; 6 - d

No Regrets
The last time we saw the Jacksons was in 2004.
He isn't allowed to go camping by his parents.
Barbara started working at the drugstore last summer.
I'd prefer you not to tell anybody about it.
Who does this house belong to?
There were fewer storks in our village this year than last.

Winter Potpourri

Who Said What
Andy said, "I have to be at work on New Year's Eve."
Andy said he had to be at work on New Year's Eve.

Mom said, "I may spend the holidays abroad this time."
Mom said she might spend the holidays abroad this time.

Jack said, "I must lose weight next year."
Jack said he had to lose weight the following year.

Emily said, "Jack has been working on that project all year long."
Emily said that Jack had been working on that project all year long.

Ethan swore, "I will not break all my resolutions this year."
Ethan swore he wouldn't break all his resolutions this year.

Juan said, "We had a terrible New Year's party last year. This year it's going to be different."
Juan said that we had had a terrible New Year's party the year before and that that year it was going to be different.

MissINg
In the Chinese calendar each year is associated with one of 12 animals. The Chinese believe that the characteristics of a given animal influence the personality of every person born in that year.

According to the Chinese calendar a person born in the year of the Rooster is characterized by precision, meticulousness and even perfectionism. He or she has strong convictions and usually makes definite decisions. Roosters are also talented in doing organizational work.

Americans at the Table

In a Nutshell
Tired of working for peanuts, Tom applied for and obtained a better job.
Nicholas was upset that he had overslept and missed his math test, but he decided that it was pointless crying over spilled milk.
Tiffany had planned a surprise party for her best friend, Kate, but another classmate spilled the beans by mentioning it to Kate during a lunch break.
The teacher did not want to retell the complete story word by word, so he summarized it in a nutshell.
Peter declined the invitation to a Halloween party, saying that it just wasn't his cup of tea.

Frog Legs for Dinner?
"How many dishes do you prepare for Christmas dinner?" asked my American penfriend Alice.
FIND OUT
Alice, my American penfriend, wanted to find out how many dishes I prepared for Christmas dinner.

Although Bridget tried very hard, she failed to cook dinner for her friends.
DESPITE
Despite trying very hard, Bridget failed to cook dinner for her friends.

I have no objections against having frog legs for dinner tonight.
MIND
I don't mind having frog legs for dinner tonight.

The waiter gave us a dirty look because we didn't give him a high enough tip.
IF
If we had given the waiter a high enough tip, he would not have given us a dirty look.

Celebrate! Holidays in the USA

What's Missing?
1 - Christmas; 2 - holiday; 3 - Columbus; 4 - gift

Spooky Word Search

Education in the United States

Educational Definitions
Elementary School - a school for the first six to eight years of a child’s formal education, often including kindergarten
Middle School - a school at a level between elementary and high school, typically including grades seven through nine
High School - a secondary school that usually includes grades 9 or 10 through 12
College - an institution of higher learning that grants the bachelor’s degree in liberal arts or science or both
Graduate Degree - an academic degree such as MA (Master of Arts) or PhD conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the Bachelor’s Degree
Undergraduate Degree - a degree from a university or college, also known as a Bachelor’s Degree
Freshman - first year student in either high school or college
Sophomore - second year student in either high school or college
Junior - third year student in either high school or college
Senior - fourth year student in either high school or college

Match the Expressions with the Institutions
College: Professor, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Undergraduate Studies, Freshman, Senior, Tuition, Private, Curriculum, Graduation
High School: Principal, Freshman, Senior, Tuition, Private, Curriculum, Graduation, Home Schooling

American Indians

State Names
Idaho - From the Indian phrase E Dah Hoe meaning gem of the mountains
Alaska - From the Aleutian word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula
Arkansas - From the Sioux word acansa meaning downstream place
Connecticut - From the Mohegan word Quinnehtukqut meaning Long River Place
Iowa - From the Dakota Indian word Ayuhwa meaning sleepy ones
Michigan - From the Chippewa word meicigama meaning great water
Mississippi - From the Chippewa words mici zibi meaning great river
Oklahoma - From the Choctaw words okla meaning people and humma meaning red
Tennessee - After Cherokee Indian villages called Tanasi
Wisconsin - From the Chippewa word Ouisconsin meaning grassy place

What Do We Know?
They say Pocahontas saved the life of Captain John.

1. Pocahontas is said to have saved the life of Captain John.
2. It is said that Pocahontas saved the life of Captain John.

They believe that Tecumseh predicted the powerful earthquake in Missouri on Dec. 16, 1811.

1. Tecumseh is believed to have predicted the powerful earthquake in Missouri on Dec. 16, 1811.
2. It is believed that Tecumseh predicted the powerful earthquake in Missouri on Dec. 16, 1811.

They expect Joanne Shenandoa, a successful Native American singer, to release a new album soon.

1. Joanne Shenandoa, a successful Native American singer, is expected to release a new album soon.
2. It is expected that Joanne Shenandoa, a successful Native American singer, will release a new album soon.

Art Snapshots

Who Said That?
"A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines." - Frank Lloyd Wright
"If you have to have a job in this world, a high-priced movie star is a pretty good gig." - Tom Hanks
"Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel." - Jimi Hendrix
"My instinct about painting says, 'If you don't think about it, it's right.' As soon as you have to decide and choose, it's wrong. And the more you decide about, the more wrong it gets." - Andy Warhol
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake." - Alfred Hitchcock

Artists' Tools
metronome - music
glaze - sculpture, painting
easel - painting
mouthpiece - music
tap shoes - dance
canvas - painting
prop - theater, film
clay - sculpture
clapboard - film
tutu - dance (ballet)

Some Art Critics Can Make Your Blood Boil
The highly unfavorable review from the usually laudatory critic was a bitter pill to swallow for the sculptor.
An artist to an art critic: "Stop beating around the bush! Just tell me what you think!"
In a theater play review: "The new play by Robert Merredith closed on the first night. It bombed."
The two editors of our local newspaper always have different opinions on the artistic life in our little community. The subject is a bone of contention between them.
"I know some media have called him the best new film director in the country, but I think he's just a flash in the pan."

From Kitty Hawk to Mars

Who Invented That?
1. Jonas Salk developed the vaccine for polio.
2. Albert Szent-Györgyi discovered vitamin C in the 1930s.
3. George Eastman devised the roll film and the Kodak camera.
4. József Galamb designed Ford's Model T in 1908.
5. Dénes Gábor invented holography in 1948.

1. The vaccine for polio was developed by Jonas Salk.
2. Vitamin C was discovered by Albert Szent-Györgyi in the 1930s.
3. The roll film and the Kodak camera were devised by George Eastman.
4. Ford's Model T was designed by József Galamb in 1908.
5. Holography was invented by Dénes Gábor in 1948.

A Little Bit of Math
The hottest U.S. temperature ever recorded was 56 degrees Celsius.
The coldest U.S. temperature ever recorded was -62 degrees Celsius.

What Are These?
1. Ford's Model T touring automobile (1913)
2. Laser light hologram
3. Folding pocket Kodak camera (1910)

Sports: The American Way

Match Idioms & Explanations
a whole new ball game - a new set of circumstances
a ballpark figure - an estimate
to throw a curve ball - to fool, surprise; to bring up the unexpected
to throw in the towel - to quit; to give up
to huddle - to gather together; to consult

Sports Countdown
137.7 million - A hundred and thirty-seven point seven million
150,916 - A hundred and fifty thousand nine hundred and sixteen
3.9 million - Three point nine million
9.78 seconds - Nine point seven eight seconds

Is It a Cup or Is It a Bowl
Super Bowl - American football
Stanley Cup - hockey
The World Series - baseball
MLS Cup - soccer
Ryder Cup - golf
Davis Cup - tennis

African American History Month

Match Words and Explanations
myriad - a great number
graduate - someone who has received a diploma from a school or university
synopsis - a short description
coach - someone who trains sportsmen
racial - of, relating to or characteristic of race
launch - to give something a start

Quiz Yourself on the Rap Vocabulary
1 - a; 2 - b; 3 - a; 4 - a 

Last updated: 01/25/2006