Compreensão Escrita:

Estratégias A2 - 16 h
MATERIAL
Table of contents:
Genres + skimming + scanning p. 1

Reading newspaper articles + reading for details and specific information p. 9

Reading letters and emails + register p. 14

Reading biographies + reading for details (sequencing) p. 22

Reading essays + reading for details (cause and effect) p. 25

Reading essays + identifying arguments p. 29

Reading essays (similarities and differences) + note-taking p. 31

Reading academic articles (abstracts) p. 35

 Genres + Specific Information (skimming and scanning)

EXERCISE 1. Label the texts below by matching the name of the genres in the box.

curriculum vitae website form

recipe note

advertisement email letter

news film review

Name: Jane Felicity Westmacott 338 Van Ness Ave

Address: Top flat, 210B Central Road, Brixton, San Francisco CA 94102
London SW2 4EJ tel. (415) 974-0904
Tel/fax: 02075478947
E-mail: janwest@freenet.com
Date of birth: 3rd June 1979 Hi Uwe!
How are you? Wow, when I sit down and
School 1990-7 write to you like this, I remember so many
The Charles Dickens School, Fuller Way, Gads great things - all those warm evenings sitting
Hil, Kent GR3 6WO out in the garden of the Café Aigner, those
2001: A/S Graphic Design taken privately at times we went swimming with all your
Brixton Adult Education Centre
friends, the ice skating… Say hello to
University 1997-2000 everybody Esslingen for me, especially your
The University of Central England, Fissborough, mom and dad. By the way, is it OK if I write to
near Coventry CR8 5LL Brigitte? I have her address. I know you two
BA (Hons) in Media Studies (Upper Second) go back a long way, but she is not your
girlfriend is she? I just want to make sure…
Work history 2000-present My mom says to say hello to your folks and to
2001-present
tell you she needs a recipe to make all those
Project Manager at WebUnlimited, 25 Weald
Road, Guildford, Surrey GUI 4TX south German specialties I haven’t stop
tel: 01483 610781 talking about. Maybe your mom could write?
I manage a small team that arranges and The recipe for Spaetzle will do for a start!
designs website advertising. We also suggest So when are you coming to San Francisco? I
other ways that clients can earn money from guess February is out of the question, and too
their websites.
bad because is Chinese new year and the
2000-2001 celebration is really espetacular. More
Website Designer at South London Creative realistically, the Giants, our baseball team,
Consortium, 16 Streatham Hill, Streatham SE6 sponsor a youth baseball camp in June. How
7OP would that work out with your vacation time
tel: 020 6142 2249 and Baden-Württemberg?
It’s been hard going back to school after such
Referees:

1
Claire Tremaine (my present boss)
WebUnlimited (above address)
Professor Rodney Bartlett (Department of
Media Studies, The University of Central
England)
a. ____________________________________
Name:
Surname __________
First name ___________
Date of birth __________
Address _________
Nationality __________
Occupation __________
c. ____________________________________
The Love Thing is the latest vehicle for Grant
Twiss, recently voted most attractive man in
the world by Girl Alive magazine. The story is
minimal. Twiss’s character, lovable Simon, is
the only one of his friends who is not married.
Twiss goes to all the weddings until he
eventually finds love. Will you like it? Yes, of
course you will.
e. ____________________________________
Home | The University | Admission | Services |
FAQs
a great summer in Germany. Luckily, an
elective in Modern Political System is saving
my life. It is the ONLY interesting thing I’m
doing with my life! Oh yes, that and a program
for the school radio station on classic rock.
Yours truly is the star DJ!
OK, Uwe, write me soon, or e-mail if that’s
better for you.
Take care
Pete
b. _________________________________
Jimmy Pearce for AC Milan?
Leyton Orient striker Jimmy Pearce has again
been linked with a dream move to Italian
giants AC Milan.
Pearce, who has been unable to recover the
form that led to his amazing tally of goals in
the first half of the abandoned game against
Sidcup, said, ‘It’s news to me.’
d. _________________________________
Ford Fiesta N reg 5 Door hatchback cassette
player, central locking, sunroof Low mileage.
Full service history.
£2,000 o.n.o
tel: 569832
f. __________________________________
Fruity chicken and rice pot
Ingredients
1 x 1,5ml teaspoon vegetable oil;
2
About institution
Ways of Enrolling at UnB
Administration
New Campuses
Academic Units
Established on April 21, 1962, the University of
Brasilia (UnB) is the utopia of Brazilian
anthropologist and educator Darcy Ribeiro.
Since its inception, the University has been
committed to producing state of the art
knowledge and promoting citizenship for the
transformation of Brazil, giving it a national
reputation for excellence in research, teaching,
and extension.
Currently, UnB has approximately 2,308
teachers, 2,692 dedicated staff, 30,727
undergraduates and 8,913 graduate students.
The University houses 26 faculties and schools
and has 18 centers dedicated to specialized
research on four campuses: the Darcy Ribeiro
Campus (main campus) and three other sites
(Ceilândia, Gama and Planaltina). Click here to
read more
g. ____________________________________
Jo, darling
Don’t be alarmed but there’s been a small
accident. Tommy fell and cut his chin. There
was blood everywhere and he screamed but it
isn’t too bad. I’ve taken him to A & E. There’ll
probably be a wait. Please put the pie on the
table in the oven. And can you do some
potatoes and a salad with it? Thanks.
And darling don’t go out. Please stay by the
phone in case daddy phones and then you can
tell him what’s happened. Perhaps you can get
on with some homework or something.
Lots of love
Mommy
325g chicken, cut into small cubes ;
1 medium sized onions, thinly sliced;
1 medium sized red pepper, finely chopped;
1 bay leaf;
⅕ x 5 ml teaspoon grouped mixed spices;
397g can chopped tomatoes;
225ml chicken stock;
50mg green split peas, rinse and boil for ten
minutes, drain;
125g white or brown long grain rice;
220g can pineapple chunks in juice, drained
h. _________________________________
Subject: Wedding
From: Christine Weller
Sent: 17 July
Dear Maureen and Clive,
David and I are so pleased to welcome Gavin
into our family. I can only say that he is the
son-in-law we have always wanted for our
daughter, Melanie. Just to let you know about
the arrangements - we have booked the
wedding for Saturday 17 October, with the
reception at St. Jude’s Church Hall, here in the
village. We are inviting about a hundred
people from our side and we expect you will
want to invite about the same number.
With best wishes Christine (Christine Weller)
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i. ____________________________________ j. __________________________________

EXERCISE 2. Skim the paragraphs below and identify the main idea of each one.

Movie Types
There are many ways to classify movies, and perhaps the most basic is by general genre –
fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid docudrama. Most feature films fall into the category of fiction because
the story line for the film has been invented. The characters and plot are not real, and the story
often presents fantasy-type scenarios. One such example is the Batman series, for everyone knows
that Batman is not a real person. Another category is the nonfiction movie. This popular movie style
tells the story of a real person – living or dead – or an event. In fact, it is often adapted from the
written account of a person or event. Finally, there is the hybrid film, which is basically a
combination of the two. The word hybrid is also used to describe a type of car. In this type of film,
the writer takes a real event or person and adds fictional information, often to make the film more
interesting. Perhaps the most famous example of this type of film is Titanic. In it, the director adds
the romantic element of the forbidden love between two young people. With these three genres of
film readily available to moviegoers, there is always something for everyone at the movie theater.

source: FOLSE,Keith S. From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays.p.41.

vocabulary Definitions available in: www.macmillandictionary.com

hybrid:a mixture of different

things or styles
plot: the main story in a book, film
etc.
readily: easy to obtain

a. What is the main idea of the text?

Writing and Dancing

On the surface, writers and ballerinas seem to have nothing in common. In reality, the qualities of a
good writer mirror the qualities of a good ballerina. One such quality is motivation. Good writers are
motivated to learn new and better ways of telling a story, just as ballerinas try to learn many new
and better ways of performing certain movements. Another similarity between the two is the
importance of dedication. Good writers spend hours each day developing their vocabulary and
grammar skills to enhance their language skills. Likewise, good ballerinas spend countless hours in
the gym or studio each week increasing their accuracy and endurance. Finally, people in both
professions hope to entertain their audience. Writers choose their themes and language with their
audience in mind, and ballerinas consider which movements and which outfits will have the biggest

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impact on their audience. In sum, few people realize that writers and ballerinas share these
common traits.

vocabulary source: FOLSE,Keith S. From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays.p.41.

mirror: to resemble
enhance: to improve
accuracy: correctness
endurance: the ability to continue
a trait: a characteristic

b. What is the main idea of the text?

EXERCISE 3. Scan the passages below in order to answer the questions that follow.

TEXT 1

Coffee is a popular brewed drink prepared from roasted

coffee beans. Coffee plants are cultivated in over 70
countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the
Americas, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Once ripe,
coffee beans are picked, processed, and dried.

Green (unroasted) coffee beans are one of the most

traded agricultural commodities in the world. Once traded,
the beans are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor, before being ground and
brewed to create coffee. The two most commonly grown coffee beans are the highly regarded
arabica, and the less sophisticated but stronger robusta.

The drink

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It is slightly acidic and can have a stimulating
effect on humans because of its caffeine content. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of
ways. The effect of coffee on human health has been a subject of many studies; however, results

5
have varied in terms of coffee's relative benefit. The majority of recent research suggests that
moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial in healthy adults.

History

Coffee cultivation first took place in Southern Arabia. The earliest credible evidence of coffee-
drinking appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen. In the Horn of Africa
and Yemen, coffee was used in local religious ceremonies. As these ceremonies conflicted with the
beliefs of the Christian church, the Ethiopian Church banned the secular consumption of coffee until
the reign of Emperor Menelik II. The beverage was also banned in Ottoman Turkey during the 17th
century for political reasons, and was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe.

Economy

Coffee is a major export commodity: it was the top agricultural export for twelve countries in 2004,
the world's seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value in 2005, and "the second most valuable
commodity exported by developing countries," from 1970 to 2000. Further, green (unroasted) coffee
is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Some controversy is associated with
coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. Consequently, organic coffee is an expanding
market.

Adapted from: https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading-coffee.php

vocabulary

unroasted: not roasted

slightly: small in amount
benign: harmless
mildly: moderate
shrines: sanctuary

1. Coffee is a popular brewed drink prepared from ___________________

( ) a. 70 countries
( ) b. plants
( ) c. roasted coffee beans
2. Unroasted coffee beans are one of the most ____________________
( ) a. traded agricultural commodities
( ) b. expensive commodities
( ) c. varying commodities

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3. The majority of recent research suggests that moderate coffee consumption is ________________
beneficial in healthy adults.
( ) a. arabica and robusta
( ) b. benign or mildly
( ) c. unroasted

4. The earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking appears in the middle of ________________ in

the Sufi shrines of Yemen.
( ) a. the 17th century
( ) b. the 16th century
( ) c. the 15th century

5. Coffee is "the second most valuable commodity exported by developing countries,".

( ) a. from 1970 to 2000
( ) b. in 2004
( ) c. from 2004 to 2005
TEXT 2
The modern pizza was originally invented in Naples, Italy but the word pizza is Greek in
origin, derived from the Greek word pēktos meaning solid or clotted. The ancient Greeks covered
their bread with oils, herbs and cheese. The first major innovation that led to flat bread pizza was
the use of tomato as a topping. It was common for the poor of the area around Naples to add
tomato to their yeast-based flat bread, and so the pizza began.

While it is difficult to say for sure who invented the pizza, it is however believed that modern
pizza was first made by baker Raffaele Esposito of Naples. In fact, a popular urban legend holds that
the archetypal pizza, Pizza Margherita, was invented in 1889, when the Royal Palace of Capodimonte
commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting
Queen Margherita. Of the three different pizzas he created, the Queen strongly preferred a pie
swathed in the colors of the Italian flag: red (tomato), green (basil), and white (mozzarella).
Supposedly, this kind of pizza was then named after the
Queen as Pizza Margherita.

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Later, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world:

● The first pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, was opened in 1830 in Naples.
● In North America, The first pizzeria was opened in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi at 53 1/3
Spring Street in New York City.
● The first Pizza Hut, the chain of pizza restaurants appeared in the United States
during the 1930s.

Nowadays, many varieties of pizza exist worldwide, along with several dish variants based upon
pizza.

https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading-history-of-pizza.php
vocabulary

clotted: obstruct
yeast: a white substance
used for making bread rise
or for making beer
archetypal: very typical of a
particular type of person or
thing
swathed: covered
shrines: sanctuary

6. The modern pizza was originally invented in ________________

( ) a. Greece
( ) b. Italy and Greece
( ) c. Naples, Italy

7. it is however believed that modern pizza was first made by ________________.

( ) a. Royal Palace of Capodimonte
( ) b. baker Raffaele Esposito of Naples
( ) c. Queen Margherita

8. In North America, The first pizzeria was opened in

( ) a. in 1905
( ) b. in 1830
( ) c. in the 1930s

8
 Reading newspaper articles + reading for details and specific information
(explanations and examples)

EXERCISE 1. Analyze the newspaper samples below and identify the similarities and differences in
the headlines.

9
 EXERCISE 2. Read the texts below and answer the questions that follow.

Gilli and Timmy’s evening in

(until three o’clock in the morning)

Another exclusive for CHEERS magazine

by our Show Business correspondent Sid
Todd

S potted yesterday leaving the plush Mayfair home of star DJ

Timmy Lewis was none other than Gilli Lillipop. Gilli has been
linked with a number of men since she split with all girl group
The Beautiful People last year. First there was American rock
legend Rick Plutz, but it is believed Rick is now happily back at the Plutz family home in Malibu.
Then Gilli was seen swimming in Jamaica with Peter Bean, nightclub owner of Beans. But Gilli has
always insisted that she and Timmy Lewis were ‘just good friends’. (Oh no, not that one again,
Gilli, please!) Meanwhile, multi-millionaire Timmy, who owns his own record production
company as well as the radio station Radio Live, has recently been spotted at Beans dating
sixteen-year-old model Bronco McGuire, the daughter of sixties drummer Jumbo McGuire of the
group Plastic Underground. Later a spokesman for Tammy said, ‘It’s early days, please give them a
time.’

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

a. What is the main idea of the text?

b. Answer the questions below by choosing the correct option.

i. Who is the owner of a Mayfair home?
( ) Gilli Lillipop
( ) Bronco McGuire
( ) DJ Timmy Lewis

ii. What is the name of the group that Gilli Lillipop split from?
( ) Plastic Underground
( ) The Beautiful People
( ) Gilli Lillipop’s group

10
iii. Who was Gilli Lillipop linked second after she split her group?
( ) Peter Bean
( ) DJ Timmy Lewis
( ) Rick Plutz

iv. What does DJ Timmy Lewis own?

( ) a house in Malibu
( ) a swimming pool in Jamaica and the nightclub Beans
( ) a record production company and the radio station Radio Live

v. Who is Jumbo McGuire’s daughter?

( ) Bronco McGuire
( ) Gilli Lillipop
( ) DJ Timmy Lewis

EXERCISE 3. Read the text and identify the transition words of explanation.

EMPTY! – No oil as the first

hospitals and schools are hit
... .
BRITAIN HAS NEARLY STOPPED
TODAY, only the second day of the oil
crisis. Despite the warning given by the
Prime Minister Tony Blair, many of
Britain’s oil refineries are still blocked by
vehicles such as lorries, tractors and taxis.
The high price of petrol have again
stopped petrol tankers from leaving oil
refineries in Wales, the northwest and Essex.
For this reason, Lorry drivers are angry. At
80p per litre, Britain has the highest prices in
Europe and 60.82p of the price goes to the
government in tax.
‘I employ twenty people and I’m
going out of business,’ says haulage contractor
Jim Sowerbutts of Lincoln, one of the people
blocking the Immingham refinery on the east
coast. ‘We cannot make a living with petrol
because of these prices. It’s impossible. It
makes goods dearer for the costumer. And
Britain is an oil producer. It’s mad.’
Britain has run out of petrol very
quickly. For example, Today well over 1,000
of Britain’s 8,000 filling stations ran dry and
even more are out of unleaded petrol – the
most popular choice. Among those affected
today:
● Hospitals are running out of beds
because patients cannot get home
either by ambulance or by taxi.
● Operations are being postponed since
only nurses who live within walking

11
 distance of hospitals or who use
public transport can get in.
● There are fears that hospitals will run
out of blood.
● Supermarkets report that people are
buying more tinned goods, that is, they
are stockpiling in case food cannot be
delivered.
● Some areas of the country, such as
Cumbria in the north-west, have
almost no public transport services.
They are now virtually cut off from the
rest of the country and there are fears
for food supplies in this and similar
areas.
In a statement yesterday Tony Blair said that
however strongly people felt about petrol
prices this was not the way to get them down.
He said that no government could give in to
pressure like this. He explained that recent
rises in petrol prices were due to an increase in
crude oil prices (to 12.46p per litre), not an
increase in government tax.
He then said that Britain would be ‘on
the way back to normal’ within twenty-four
hours.
We shall see!
Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English
Guides. 2002

a. Read the sentences below and mark them as being true ( T ) or false ( F ).

________ i. Lorry drivers are very angry because tankers are blocking the streets.

________ ii. According to Jim Sowerbutts, the high prices do not allow people to have money and pay their bills.

________ iii. Hospitals do not have beds since patients cannot go home.

________ iv. There are many operations being performed despite the problems in the city.

________ v. Many people are buying and stocking food at home.

________ vi. The price of petrol was affected by an increase in government taxation.

EXERCISE 4. Answer the questions below.

a. Identify in the text the transition words of examples.

b. Read the text again and answer the questions below:

12
i. Which vehicles are blocking the Britain’s oil refineries?

ii.How does the text exemplify the fact that Britain has run out of petrol very quickly?

iii.What are the consequences of the oil crises?

vi.Which area of the country is almost without public transportation?

EXERCISE 5. Work in pairs and skim the samples below. Predict the headlines of each passage.

passage 1 passage 2
An earthquake in Yarmistan, near Armenia, left The distinguished Ballet de Rouen is to pay its first
hundreds dead in the early hours of this morning. visit to Britain in over twenty years. The company
Because of that, dozens are more feared trapped in will dance at various places, including the
collapsed buildings. Littleborough Arts Festivals for two weeks next
May.
headline: headline:

passage 3 passage 4
Crimes reported to police rose for the third year The chancellor of the Exchequer, Peter Malahide,
running in figures released by the Home Office late yesterday denied the rise of interest rates. Due to
last night. the rumors, he said 'There is no reason for
The only good news was on crimes, such as car interest rates to change at the moment.'
crimes and burglary that reduced in their numbers.
headline: headline:

13
 Reading letters and emails + register
EXERCISE 1. Work in groups and brainstorm differences between emails and letters. Then, fill the
table below.

EMAILS LETTERS

sent by computer or electronic sent by post office

device

adapted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/worksheet/en11lett-e2-w-writing-emails-and-letters

14
EXERCISE 2. Identify the parts of the letters and emails below.

a.

Hiroyuki Mahita - Manager

Hotel Sayuri - Bukkoji-dori
Kyoto, Japan

16 September 2001

54 Wates Road
Neasden, London
NO6 4RL

Dear Mr Mahita,

I was given your name and the address of your hotel by two
friends of ours who stayed at the Sayuri last June. They were
Mr James Collins and Mr Arthur Drake. You would perhaps
remember James Collins, as he speaks fluent Japanese.

Both Mr Collins and Mr Drake spoke very highly of your hotel

and all the help they received from your staff when they
visited Kyoto.

Following their recommendation, I would like to make a

reservation at your hotel for myself and my friend, Mr Peter
Sullivan. We would like two single rooms as close to each other
as possible, adjoining would be ideal. We would like to be in
Japan for New Year's Day and to be there for Adult's Day
(Seijin-no hi), which we have been told is on the second
Monday in January. So we would like our reservations to be
from 31 December 2001 to 20 January 2002.

I have also been told that you can arrange an English-

15
 speaking guide, certainly for the Machiya, the town houses of
Kyoto, but also for other aspects of life in Kyoto. Can you also
advise me on car hire in Japan, please?

I look forward to hearing from you with confirmation of the

booking and advice on prices and payment – how much do you
want in advance as a deposit?

I should perhaps mention that unlike our friend Mr Collins,

neither myself nor has a single word of Japanese
(unfortunately!). But I am told that you speak excellent
English.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

T. R. Latham
Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002
b.

To: Chris Stewart

From: Sira Glow

Subject: R: Coming to Glasgow

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your email! It’s great to hear from you. I can’t
wait to come and visit.

So, about Friday… I’d love to see your friend’s band! What
kind of music do they play? I’m thinking of starting my own
band so it’ll be good to meet your friends and ask about it.

On Saturday, I’d prefer to go on the boat trip on the river. I’m

16
 not really a football fan to be honest. The boat trip sounds
much more chilled out!

So you’re learning Italian? I’m impressed! Why don’t you try

and find an Italian and practice speaking with? If you find
someone who’s learning English, you could do a language
exchange. It’s the best way to learn. You should try to read
some books in Italian as well.

You asked about my skateboard. I’m sorry but I can’t bring it

with me to Scotland. I’ve got loads of stuff and it’s too big to
fit my suitcase.

I’m really looking forward to seeing you!

Best regards,

Sira

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002
c.

Linwoods
12 East Point Road
Fame Bay - Near Darwin, Australia

25 October

Dear Emily,

Touch wood, things are not too bad for me at the moment. I still
have that cough that Dr Maclaren isn’t interested in and my
back hurts when I sit too long. The leg problem is much better,
though.

Our big excitement here recently was visitors from England. A

rather pretty young girl came to the home, with no warning, and

17
said she was my great niece. All the nurses made a big fuss of
her and all the other people in the home wanted to know who she
was. Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell them. Anyway, she is a
charming girl called Carol who is backpacking around Northern
Territory with a friend (also a girl, thank heavens). This friend
was a bit miserable. The two of them had come in the rainy
season and she kept complaining that it was raining. Silly girl.
Her name is Selina, which is a silly name, too.

Carol and Selina did all the things the tourists do here. They
went to Kukudu National Park and Jim Jim Falls. They took the
most wonderful photographs which they were kind enough to
come back and show me. Carol caught a barramundi (a local
fish) and as she gave me the two copies of the photograph, I’m
sending one to you. Apparently they had an Aborigine guide. That
other girl, Selina, kept asking me about the Aborigines, as if
everything that has happened to them was my fault.

But Carol was quite interested in my stories about Darwin in the

old days. I lived through the bombing in World War II, you know.
I know you Londoners think London was not the only place that
was bombed, but it wasn’t. And I nearly died when the cyclone
hit us at Christmas in the 1970s. I told Carol all about that one
of the ladies who lives here had some photographs of that, too.
That was nice, but one woman, Mrs Apthorpe, wouldn’t leave us
alone when Carol was here. We don’t get many young people here,
I know, but Carol had come to see me, not Mrs. Apthorpe.

Well, I must stop now. It’s time for my afternoon medicine and
then I must have a nap. I hope you are keeping well.

Love,

18
 Mabel
Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

d.

To: j.black@central-school.co.uk

From: lilisong@ugi.com

Subject: English course

Dear Ms Black,

I am writing in response to the advertisement I saw for your

English school in “World Teens Today” magazine. I am
interested in doing one of your courses and I would be grateful
if you could provide some further information.

First, it says in the advertisement that the courses are two

weeks long. Would it be possible to do a three-week course? I
would also like to know how much your courses cost exactly.

Secondly, your advert mentions accommodation with host

families. Could you tell me if I would be staying on my own
with the host family or if there would be other students staying
there as well?

Finally, I have a question about a social programme. Would you

mind sending me more details about this? I am very keen on
sport and I would like to know if there are any sports activities
included in the social programme.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Lili Song

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

19
EXERCISE 3. Read the letters and emails from exercise 2 and identify which parts of the text make
them either formal or informal. Highlight each one.

EXERCISE 4. Read the letter below and answer the questions.

Camera Enforcement Office
Bragton Police Station
High Street
Bragton Wessex
WE12 9AB

RICHARD ARTHUR PITT

10 RAGLAN ROAD SOUTHWICH
WESSEX, WE5 7RJ

An enforcement camera at B1013 Heston Road near the Slipton Roundabout, SOUTHWICH,
recorded that on 21/06/2001 at 09:31 a vehicle, registration number R231 DRT, committed the
offence of excess speed.
The law allows you to pay a fine of 40 pounds and have your driving licence endorsed with 3 penalty
points if you pay the fine within 28 days. (The fine must be paid in full and cannot be paid in
instalments.)
But if your driving licence has been endorsed with 9 or more penalty points in the last 3 years, you
could be disqualified from driving and you cannot pay a fine and have more points added to your
licence.

YOU MUST COMPLY FULLY WITH THIS OFFER

OTHERWISE COURT PROCEEDINGS WILL BE
COMMENCED AGAINST YOU.

EXTENSIONS TO THE 28 DAYS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

a. Mark which paragraph summarizes the text:

1. ( ) This is a formal printed notice from the police which is sent to anyone whose car has been
photographed by speed cameras (enforcement cameras). It says that the person driving the car must
pay 40 pounds and have three to six points put on their driving licence. The driver must pay within
28 days.
2. ( ) This is a formal printed notice from the police which is sent to anyone whose car has been
photographed by speed cameras (enforcement cameras). It says that the person driving the car will
be taken to court (prosecuted) unless they accept a Fixed Penalty of 40-pound fine and three penalty

20
points put on their driving licence. But if the driver already has nine points or more on the licence,
the offer of a Fixed Penalty can’t be taken and the driver will probably lose his driving licence for a
time.

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

b. Choose the correct option:

1. Who is the letter from?
( ) the police ( ) Richard Arthur Pitt

2. Can the driver pay a fine and not go to court?

( ) yes
( ) yes, unless he has none or more points on his licence

3. Can the fine be paid at 10 pounds a week for four weeks?

( ) yes ( ) no

4. What has to be done within twenty-eight days?

( ) The licence must be sent and the fine be paid.
( ) The driver has to enter the points on his licence and go to court.

5. What would happen if the driver put the letter away and did nothing?
( ) He would just get three to six points on his licence.
( ) There would be court proceedings against him.

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

Exercise 5. Use the questions below to identify the other half of you text.
a. Who is the writer?

b. To whom is the letter/email?

c. What is the closing line?

d. What is the opening line?

e. Is your text a letter or an email?

21
 Reading biographies + reading for details (sequencing)
EXERCISE 1. Read the text below and answer the questions.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

William Shakespeare was born in rained the audience and the actors got
Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. His mother wet. The audience stood on three sides of
was called Mary Arden. the stage. They were not
She came from a rich quiet, as theatre
family. His father, John, audiences are today. They
was a businessman who made a lot of noise, and
sold gloves, wool and sometimes they had
meat. William went to sword fights. They also
Stratford Grammar ate oranges because of
School where he learned the bad smell
a little Latin and Greek. everywhere.
Then, he married Anne Shakespeare
Hathaway in 1582. She wrote three kinds of play:
was eight years older comedies, tragedies and
than him. After that, histories. The comedies
they had three children, had happy endings, the
Susannah, born in 1583, tragedies had sad endings
and the twins Judith and (like Hamlet) and the
Hamnet, born in 1585. There are no histories told the story of the past, either
descendents of the Shakespeare family in England (like Henry V) or in ancient
alive today. Rome (like Julius Caesar).
It is possible that in 1857 William Although there were other
Shakespeare joined a group of travelling successful playwrights at the time -
actors and left Stratford because he was especially Christopher Marlowe -
in trouble for stealing a deer but nobody Shakespeare was recognized in his own
is sure if this is true or if the date is lifetime. By 1597 he was rich enough to
correct. By 1592 he was definitely an actor buy New Place, the finest house in
and playwright in London. In 1599, the Stratford.
Globe Theatre opened in London and In 1613, the Globe burned down
most of his 36 or 37 plays were performed during a performance of Shakespeare’s
there. Nobody is sure exactly how many Henry VIII. The following year
plays Shakespeare wrote. Shakespeare retired and then went back
The Globe was made of wood. It to New Place in Stratford. In 1616, he died
was round. There was a roof, so if it of a fever and he is buried in Holy Trinity

22
 Church, Stratford. also mean that he was trying to avoid
In his will, he left his wife his paying death duties.
second-best bed. This may mean that he Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English

did not love his wife very much but it may

Guides. 2002

a. Circle the keywords that express sequence in the text.

b. Write the year that corresponds to the sequence of events in Shakespeare’s life.

Globe bought Globe

had left Theatre New burned
born married died
children Stratford opened Place down

1564

Source: DEAN, Michael. Test your reading. Penguin English Guides. 2002

c. Answer the questions below by choosing the correct option.

i. Where was William Shakespeare born?
( ) Greece
( ) Stratford-upon-Avon
( ) Stanford

ii. Who was Shakespeare’s wife?

( ) Susannah Shakespeare
( ) Judith Shakespeare
( ) Anne Hathaway

iii. How many children did Shakespeare have?

( ) three children
( ) twins
( ) one daughter

iv. Why did Shakespeare leave Stratford?

( ) Because he was accused of stealing a deer
( ) Because he decided to travel with other actors
( ) Because he was becoming famous as an actor and playwright

v. How many of Shakespeare plays were performed in the Globe Theatre?

( ) only 36
( ) only 37

23
( ) 36 or 37

vi. What was the New Place?

( ) a theatre
( ) Shakespeare’s office
( ) a house in Stratford

vii. Which play was being performed in the Globe Theatre?

( ) Hamlet
( ) Henry VIII
( ) Julius Caesar

viii. What was the cause of Shakespeare’s death?

( ) a cold
( ) a fever
( ) natural causes

24
 Reading essays + reading for details (cause and effect)

EXERCISE 1. Read the essay below and identify its parts (thesis statement / topic sentences and
supporting sentences / restatement).

Cinderella and Her Odious Household Chores

Almost everyone knows how the story of Cinderella ends, but do people actually think about
how she spent her days before she met the prince? Her daily routine was not glamorous. She did
everything from sweeping the floors to cooking the meals. If someone had asked Cinderella which
chores she did not particularly like, she probably would have answered, “Why, none, of course.
Housework is my duty!” In today’s increasingly busy society, however, most people admit that they
have definite dislikes for certain household chores. The top three of these unpopular tasks often
include ironing clothes, washing dishes, and cleaning the bathroom.
One of the most hated chores for many people is ironing clothes because it is not a task that
can be completed quickly or thoughtlessly. Each piece of clothing must be handled individually, so
ironing a basket of laundry can take hours! After ironing a piece of clothing meticulously, which
entails smoothing out the fabric, following the seams, and getting the creases just right, it needs to
be put on a hanger as soon as possible. If not, this item might become wrinkled and need to be
ironed again. Perhaps the reason that ironing is not a favorite chore is that it requires extreme
attention to detail from beginning to end.
Another household chore that many people dislike is washing dishes. Of course, some
people claim that this chore is no longer a problem because dishwashers are available now!
However, no one would argue that dishes, silverware, and especially pots and pans washed in a
dishwasher come out as clean as they do when washed by hand. For this reason, many people
continue to wash their dishes by hand, but they are not necessarily happy doing it. Washing dishes is
a dirty job that requires not only elbow grease to scrape food off the dishes but also patience to
rinse and dry them. In addition, unlike ironing clothes, washing dishes is a chore that usually must be
done every day. Regardless of how Cinderella felt about this particular chore, it is obvious that most
people do not enjoy doing it.
Although ironing clothes and washing dishes are not the most pleasant household chores,
perhaps the most dreaded chore is cleaning the bathroom. This task involves tackling three main
areas: the bathtub, sink, and toilet. Because the bathroom is full of germs, a quick wiping of the
surfaces is often not enough. As a result, strong bathroom cleansers are necessary to clean and
disinfect this room. The task of cleaning the bathtub is so unpleasant that some people wear rubber
gloves when they attempt it. The only positive point about cleaning the bathroom is that it does not
have to be done on a daily basis.
Maintaining a house means doing a wide variety of unpleasant chores. Cinderella know this,
and so does the rest of the world. Many individuals do not always have the luxury of hiring an
outside person to do their own housework, so they must make do with their own resources. Still,
taking pride in the results of this work helps many people get through the unpleasantness of these
chores.

source: FOLSE, Keith S. Great essays. Third Edition. Heinle Cengage Learning. 2010

25
EXERCISE 2. Read the text below and identify the transition words.

“I am feeling depressed today” is a phrase that is uttered by countless people each day.
These individuals tend to misuse the term depression to refer to the normal ups and downs of daily
life. In reality, depression is a serious illness. A clinically depressed person is in a constant state of
sadness because of three main factors: genetics, substance abuse, or environment.
Perhaps the most common cause of depression is genetics. People who are born with low
levels of serotonin and dopamine in their brains cannot experience pleasure in the same way that
balanced people can. As a result, these people do not experience happiness from normal happy
events. They require extreme circumstances to experience the same level of happiness that a
balanced person would experience from a lesser event. For example, a clinically depressed person
might derive less satisfaction from earning an A for an entire course than a balanced person would
experience from earning an A on an individual assignment.
Another cause of depression is substance abuse. When drugs enter the bloodstream, they
after alter the brain’s normal chemical balance. Afterwards, people who use these chemical
substances may experience short-time depression due to the chemical changes in their brains. As a
case in point, an alcoholic can develop depression because of the constant altering of the levels of
dopamine in his or her brain. An alcoholic can experience an intense, short-term “high” followed by
an equally intense, short-term “low”.
Finally, environmental factors can trigger clinical depression. Failed relationships, such as a
divorce or a falling out between family members, can leave a person in a state of depression in
which the person is unable to handle himself or herself. Traumatic events, such as the death of a
family member or the witnessing of a murder, are environmental factors that can send a person into
depression. Likewise, an abusive childhood often leads to bouts of clinical depression as an adult.
Depression can be caused by factors such as genetics, substance abuse, or environment.
Regardless of its cause, depression is a serious illness that afflicts millions of people throughout the
world. Fortunately, it can be treated through various forms of counseling and/or medication, but for
this to happen, it is essential that one be able to recognize the symptoms.
Source: From Great Essays to Great Essays

a. What is the main idea of the text? Where can you find it in the essay?

b. What is the main idea of each body paragraph?

26
c. Match the columns below:

a. Genetics, substance abuse, or environment i. depression because of the constant altering

are ( )
of the levels of dopamine in his or her brain.
b. People with low levels of serotonin and
ii. examples of what causes clinical depression
dopamine cannot experience ( )
c. Chemical changes in the brain make ( ) iii. the three main causes of depression.
d. An alcoholic can develop ( )
iv. the feeling of happiness
e. Failed relationships, traumatic events and
v. people experience short time depression
abusive childhood are ( )

EXERCISE 3. Read the text below and identify the transition words.

The fall

For almost 50 years, the Cold War was one of the most talked about issues in the
international politics. Tensions between Western countries and the Soviet Union were high, and the
world left the potential danger of a disastrous conflict. When the Iron Curtain fell, many countries
rejoiced. Independent-minded Soviet Republics got the independence they had wanted, and the
communist ideology that had been so prevalent began to lose ground. About two decades after the
breakup of the Soviet Union, the effects are still being felt.
One of the most obvious changes in the post-communist world has been the shift to a
market economy. Governments that once had subsidized the costs of basic necessities, such as food,
transportation, housing, and electricity, are now letting competition and external factors determine
the prices of these items. As a result, inflation is high, and many citizens are having a difficult time
adjusting to the fluctuations in prices based on supply and demand. However, imported goods are
now commonplace in local markets, so consumers have more choices in what they buy. The switch
to a market economy is often a painful process, but the citizens of the former Soviet Union are still
confident that they will one day benefit financially from the economic changes.
Another anticipated effect of the fall of the Iron Curtain is sovereignty. The Soviet Union
existed as one entity for many years, but now one can count a number of emerging republics,
including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. As a consequence, these
republics are currently in the process of shaping their own independent identities. They can focus on
rebuilding their own cultures, languages, and properties. This empowerment increases national
pride and uniqueness. The idea of all Soviets being one and the same is now gone. Clearly, national
identity is at the forefront of many people’s minds.
While many former Soviets now feel a sense of national identity, the fall of the Soviet Union
has taken away the identity of many others, which is another effect of this event. Many ethnic
groups have lived in this part of the world for generations. They were raised as Soviets, spoke
Russian as a native language, and were taught to believe that they were citizens of the great
superpower. Koreans, Tartars, Uighurs, and other ethnic groups can be found in most of the former
Soviet Republicans. Now that independence has spread from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, many
of these citizens are considered minority groups. Therefore, they do not want to be repatriated to

27
distant lands such as North Korea or China. While they may look Korean or Chinese, they do not
speak the languages and have not had ties with these parts of the world for many years. As the
newly formed republics try to reinvigorate their traditions and values, many of the ethnic minorities
tend to feel left out with no place to really call home.
The fall of the Soviet Union is perhaps one of the most momentous events of the twentieth
century. Walls fell, markets opened, and people rejoiced in the streets, anticipating a life full of
opportunities and freedom to make their own choices. A system that took so long to build will
probably need as much time, if not more, to truly adapt to the free enterprise system that is now the
world model.

vocabulary

rejoice: to celebrate
shift: a change
subsidized: to finance
fluctuations: a movement or change
sovereignty: self-government
forefront: in the position of most importance
repatriated: to send people back to their original
homeland
reinvigorate: to revitalize, bring back to life
momentous: important, eventful

a. What is the main idea of the text? Where can you find it in the essay?

b. What is the main idea of each body paragraph?

c. Mark true ( T ) or false ( F ) for the sentences below:

________ i. Market economy is one of the effect in the post-communist world.
________ ii. Governments are not letting competition and external factors determine the prices of
food, transportation, housing, and electricity.
________ iii. Sovereignty is another effect of the breakup of the Soviet Union.
________ iv. The idea of all Soviets being one is still the same.
________ v. People do not have the feeling of identity after the fall of the Soviet Union.
________ vi. As a result of the independence in the former Soviet Union, many citizens are
considered minorities.

28
 Reading essays + identifying arguments

EXERCISE 1. Read the essay below and identify its parts. Then identify the arguments and highlight
the keywords that signal them.

People living in modern times have benefited from many discoveries and inventions that
have enriched the world. Dedicated scientists spend years and even a lifetime searching for new
scientific knowledge and discovering new ways to improve our lives. The most recent significant
discoveries to benefit humankind in modem times are in the fields of television and computer
technology.
The most popular form of instant communication is television. It is a fact that television has
a tremendous impact on viewers because they can instantly witness important events that are
happening all over the world. For example, in 1992, viewers worldwide were spectators to the
stunning destruction of the Berlin Wall, which had separated East and West Berliners since August
1961. They were also able to watch the joyous celebrations that erupted when all citizens of Berlin
were reunited. Another historic event that the world is able to watch on television is the launching
of space shuttles. For instance, on March 4, 1994, the shuttle Columbia was sent on a research
mission. It successfully soared from the launch pad and went into orbit from the Kennedy Space
Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. When the flight of Columbia ended on March 18, 1994, aerial
television showed its successful landing.
In the last few decades, computer technology has also made tremendous progress in the
world of communication to benefit humankind. It is common knowledge that computers have the
capability to communicate across long distances. Furthermore, an information superhighway has
been created for the computer, in which huge amounts of data can be transmitted around the world
at high speed. Computer technology also makes it possible for computer networks to link academic
research and government organization globally. For example, a primary means of communication
using the computer is through the Internet. It enables scientists and scholars as well as educators
and students to connect with worldwide research institutions and libraries. They can also access
publications in their specific fields. Besides, using Electronic mail, or e-mail, allows scholars,
researchers, and businesses as well as families and friends to communicate quickly and easily by
typing a document into one computer, which then appears on another one perhaps across the
country or to another nation in a short time.
To conclude, scientific research and experiments have certainly opened the doors to faster
more easily accessible information worldwide on television and the computer. Many of these
discoveries have changed our lives for the better and have made the world closer. It will be
interesting to see what developments will occur in the future, not only in television and computer
technology but also in other fields.
Adapted from: Writing Academic Writing - Alice Oshima & Ann Hogue

a. Complete the sentences below:

i. The most recent significant discoveries to benefit humankind in modem times are
______________
__________________________________________________________________________________

29
ii. In 1992, viewers worldwide were_____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

iii. On March 4, 1994, the shuttle Columbia was sent_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

iv. Computers have__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

v. A primary means of communication using the computer is_________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

vi. Electronic mail, or e-mail, allows____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________to communicate quickly and

easily.

b. Read the sentences below and mark them as being true ( T ) or false ( F ).
__________ i. Television and computer are old technologies that benefit humankind nowadays.

__________ ii. Television allows people to have access to important events that are happening all
over the world.

__________ iii. The Berlin Wall separated North and South Berliners since August 1961.

__________ iv. The special television did not show the land of the shuttle Columbia because it was
not successful.

__________ v. Information superhighway allows huge amounts of data to be transmitted around the
world at high speed from computer to computer.

__________ vi. Computers do not let users have access to academic research and government
organization globally.

__________ vii. E-mails makes it easy for a person to communicate with another one from across
the country or from another nation in a short time.

__________ viii. Technologies such as computers and televisions have made our lives better and
have made the world closer.

30
 Reading essays (similarities and differences) + note-taking

EXERCISE 1. Read the essay below and identify its parts and keywords that signal differences.

The Weather in CHicago and Miami

People usually have very strong opinions about what constitutes good weather, and one
person’s idea of good weather may easily be another person’s weather nightmare. In fact, my cousin
and I recently had a discussion about whether his hometown, Chicago, or my hometown, Miami, has
a better weather. Our discussion centered on three differences between the weather in our two
hometowns.
Our first point of discussion was the number of seasons. Chicago is located in the
midwestern part of the U.S. It is also much farther north than Miami is. Chicago has four seasons:
summer, fall, winter, and spring. These four seasons are clearly marked by distinct weather changes.
Miami, on the other hand, is in the southeastern corner of the United States. Because it is much
farther south, near the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Miami is much warmer. Miami has
two seasons: a very mild winter and a long, hot summer.
We also considered the worst temperatures in both cities. The worst weather in Chicago
occurs in the winter. On average, the high temperature only reaches around 32 degrees, and the low
each night goes down to about 20 degrees. In addition, frequent high winds drive the perceived
temperature down even more. This combination of cold and wind, called the windchill factor, can
make life almost unbearable in Chicago during the winter months. In contrast, the problem in Miami
is not the cold but rather the heat. In the summer, the temperature reaches 95 degrees in the
daytime and drops only to 75 or so at night. Combined with a constant humidity of 90 percent or
more, the temperature actually feels significantly warmer.
Finally, our two hometowns have different kinds of severe weather. Chicagoans’
biggest weather fear is a blizzard. Blizzards can occur frequently during the frigid winter months.
When a blizzard hits the city, it can dump up to five or six feet of snow in certain areas. The cold and
snow paralyze the city, making it impossible for people to go to school or work. Unlike in Chicago,
the biggest weather problem for people in Miami is a hurricane. These powerful storms are possible
from May through November. While hurricanes occur less frequently that blizzards, the can cause
much more damage. For instance, Hurricane Andrew destroyed large parts of the city of Miami in
1992.
In the end, my cousin and I learned that each of our climates has its unique characteristics.
Chicagoans have to live with extreme cold and frequent blizzards that can upset their daily routine.
Conversely, Miami enjoys warm temperatures while having to deal with the threat of hurricanes.
Deciding which city has better weather proved to be more difficult that we anticipated. My cousin
does not like hot weather, and I cannot stand the cold. Thus, we believe that the definition of
perfect weather depends largely on each person’s preference.

a. What is the main idea of the essay? Where is it presented?

b. What are the supporting ideas of the main idea?

31
c. Read the option below and write C if the information is about Chicago, and M if the information is
about Miami.

1. _______ located in the midwestern part of the U.S.

2. _______ has four seasons
3. _______ located in the southeastern corner of the United States
4. _______ has two seasons
5. _______ worst weather in the winter
6. _______ worst weather in the summer
7. _______ blizzard
8. _______ hurricane

EXERCISE 2. Read the essay below and take notes on the information presented.

Flintstone and Kramden: Two Peas in a Pod

When I look back at my childhood, one of my fondest memories is racing home from school
to settle down for an afternoon of watching television. My mother would fix me a snack, and I would
flip through the channels until I located my favorite programs. I would start the afternoon with
cartoons and end the evening with situation comedies. Two of my favorite programs were reruns of
The Flintstones and The Honeymooners. The Flintstones was a cartoon set in the Stone Age while
The Honeymooners was a situation comedy performed by live actors and set in the 1950s. Although
The Flintstones was intended to appeal to kids and The Honeymooners was intended to appeal to
adults, I enjoyed them both. Despite the two shows’ obvious differences in form and setting, the
main characters of the shows share a number of similarities.
Fred Flintstone of The Flintstones and Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners are similar in
appearance, habits, and occupations. The most striking similarity between Fred Flintstone and Ralph
Kramden is their appearance. Both are large men with potbellies who wear colorful, baggy clothes.
Both have dark hair, and because they both hate shaving, they have heavy five o’clock shadows. Not
only do they look alike, but also they act alike as well. Fred and Ralph have boisterous personalities,
and they both tend to act before they think. As a result, both men are forever getting in trouble
because of their big mouths.
As well as having similar appearances, Fred and Ralph engage in similar social activities. Both
men’s favorite pastime is to go bowling on Friday nights with the guys. They both belong to bowling
teams, and both take their bowling seriously. Their favorite bowling partners are their best friends,
Barney Rubble and Ed Norton. Interestingly, Barney and Ed have similar personalities and both play
second fiddle to their larger, more adventuresome friends.
Finally, when Fred Flintstone and Ralph Kramden put down their bowling balls, they earn
their living by working similar jobs. Fred drives a truck in a gravel pit where he is responsible for
moving boulders from one side of the pit to another. Similarly, Ralph drives a city bus; the only
difference is that he moves people instead of boulders. Both men work 8:00 to 5:00 jobs that require
little education and for which they are paid relatively low wages. As a result, they are both living
middle-class lifestyles.

32
 As a kid I enjoyed The Flintstones and The Honeymooners. It was not until I was an adult that
I noticed the similarities in the shows’ main characters. The similarities are so strong that it is almost
as if they are the same story recast in different formats and settings. Both shows reflect a
conventional 50s ideal of the American family and a certain type of conventional male role. Despite
the differences in their settings, Fred and Ralph were cut from the same cloth.

similarities differences

a. Where is the main idea of the essay?

b. Where are the supporting ideas of the main idea?

c. Mark the option that correspond to both Fred Flintstone and Ralph Kramden.
i. they wear
( ) colorful, baggy clothes ( ) colorless, tight clothes

ii. They have dark hair because they

( ) like having a long hair ( ) hate shaving

33
iii. They tend to
( ) think before acting ( ) act before thinking

iv. They favorite pastime is to

( ) go bowling on Friday nights ( ) watch movies on Friday nights

v. They belong to
( ) soccer teams ( ) bowling teams

vi. Their partners in the team are their

( ) best friends ( ) their sons

vii. They work as

( ) professional bowling players ( ) drivers

viii. They work from

( ) 7:00 to 6:00 ( ) 8:00 to 5:00

ix. They reflect

( ) a conventional 50s ideal of the American family
( ) a conventional 50s ideal of the American friendship

34
 Reading academic articles (abstracts)

EXERCISE 1. Read the abstract below and identify its parts.

Intracellular pathogens (agents which infect host cells), such as

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes, cause very high
mortality rates in the United States. Therefore, deciphering the
mechanisms through which the pathogens cause disease is of great
interest.

Listeria infection of mice is a well-developed model system for studying

the fundamentals of host-pathogen interactions. In vitro assays in animal
cell cultures have helped show that Listeria causes illness by secreting
molecules, called virulence factors, to the outside of the bacterial cell in
order to affect the host organism. My work involves one such secreted
protein, called p60. P60 is an antigen (an agent seen by the host immune
system) implicated in regulated bacterial cell wall breakdown. The
objective of this study was to examine two questions: first, is p60 essential
to the viability of Listeria, as previously published? and second, is p60 a
virulence factor in Listeria?

To examine these questions, I constructed a Listeria strain lacking p60

(p60-).

This new strain displayed no defect in viability. In fact, most standard in

vitro pathogenicity assays were normal for p60-. However, when p60- was
tested in a mouse (in vivo), a 1000-fold reduction in virulence was
observed. This discovery suggests that p60 is indeed a key factor in the
disease-causing ability of Listeria, but not essential for viability. Future
studies will focus on the precise role of p60 in Listeria pathogenesis.

This work increases our understanding of such diseases as tuberculosis,

various food poisonings, and meningitis.

source: Sina Mohammedi, "The Listeria monocytogenes p60 Protein is not Essential for Viability in vitro, but
Promotes Virulence in vivo"2002 UC Day nominee and runner-up

EXERCISE 2. Read the abstracts below and answer the questions.

abstract 1
This dissertation examines the impacts of social movements through a multi-layered study of the
Mississippi Civil Rights Movement from its peak in the early 1960s through the early 1980s. By
examining this historically important case, I clarify the process by which movements transform social
structures and the constraints movements face when they try to do so. The time period studied
includes the expansion of voting rights and gains in black political power, the desegregation of public
schools and the emergence of white-flight academies, and the rise and fall of federal anti-poverty
programs. I use two major research strategies: (1) a quantitative analysis of county-level data and (2)
three case studies. Data have been collected from archives, interviews, newspapers, and published

35
reports. This dissertation challenges the argument that movements are inconsequential. Some view
federal agencies, courts, political parties, or economic elites as the agents driving institutional
change, but typically these groups acted in response to the leverage brought to bear by the civil
rights movement. The Mississippi movement attempted to forge independent structures for
sustaining challenges to local inequities and injustices. By propelling change in an array of local
institutions, movement infrastructures had an enduring legacy in Mississippi.

source: Kenneth Tait Andrews, “‘Freedom is a constant struggle’: The dynamics and consequences of the
Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, 1960-1984” Ph.D. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1997 DAI-A
59/02, p. 620, Aug 1998

a. What is the dissertation about?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

b. How the dissertation does the research?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

c. What materials are used?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

36
d. What are the implicatures?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

e. Which keywords would you suggest to the abstract?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

abstract 2
The problem of detecting gravitational radiation is receiving considerable attention with the
construction of new detectors in the United States, Europe, and Japan. The theoretical modeling of
the waveforms that would be produced in particular systems will expedite the search for and
analysis of detected signals. The characteristic formulation of GR is implemented to obtain an
algorithm capable of evolving black holes in 3D asymptotically flat spacetimes. Using
compactification techniques, future null infinity is included in the evolved region, which enables the
unambiguous calculation of the radiation produced by some compact source. A module to calculate
the waveforms is constructed and included in the evolution algorithm. This code is shown to be
second-order convergent and to handle highly non-linear spacetimes. In particular, we have shown
that the code can handle spacetimes whose radiation is equivalent to a galaxy converting its whole
mass into gravitational radiation in one second. We further use the characteristic formulation to
treat the region close to the singularity in black hole spacetimes. The code carefully excises a region
surrounding the singularity and accurately evolves generic black hole spacetimes with apparently
unlimited stability.

source: Luis Lehner, “Gravitational radiation from black hole spacetimes” Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh, 1998
DAI-B 59/06, p. 2797, Dec 1998

a. What is the problem that led to this research?

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b. What is the study about?

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c. Which are the results presented in the study?

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d. Which keywords would you suggest to the abstract?

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