Scegli solo uno dei seguenti titoli e scrivi le tue considerazioni sul tema, utilizzando un minimo di

150 fino ad un massimo di 250 parole

• As computers are being used more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom. (Discuss)

• The number of people over 65 will be equivalent to 60% of the working age population in Europe in the year 2050. What problems do you foresee for European countries? (Discuss)

dog – on –which – of – chicken – led – about – addition – first – began – to – was – the – returned – away – eventually – retire – work – during – who – achieved – in –nevertheless –henceforth –octopus–

rabbit– egg

Zhang Heng (AD 78–139), 1._______________ a Chinese polymath from Nanyang 2._______________ lived during the Han dynasty. Educated 3._______________ the capital cities of Luoyang and Chang'an, he 4._______________ success as an astronomer, mathematician, inventor, geographer, cartographer, artist,poet, statesman, and literary scholar. Zhang Heng 5._______________ his career as a minor civil servant in Nanyang. 6._______________, he became Chief Astronomer, Prefect of the Majors for Official Carriages, and then Palace Attendant at the imperial court. His uncompromising stances 7._______________ certain historical and calendrical issues 8._______________ to Zhang becoming a controversial figure, which prevented him from rising to the status of Grand Historian. His political rivalry with the palace eunuchs 9._______________ the reign of Emperor Shun (r.125–144) led to his decision to 10._______________ from the central court to serve as an administrator of Hejianin Hebei. He 11._______________ home to Nanyang for a short time, before being recalled to serve in the capital once more in 138. He died there a year later, in 139. Zhang applied his extensive knowledge 12._______________ mechanics and gears in several of his inventions. He invented the world's 13._______________ water-powered armillary sphere to assist astronomical observation; improved the inflow water clock by adding another tank; and invented the world's first seismometer, 14._______________ discerned the cardinal direction of an earthquake 500 km 15._______________. He improved previous Chinese calculations for pi. In 16._______________ to documenting about 2,500 stars in his extensive star catalog, Zhang also posited theories 17._______________ the Moon and its relationship to the Sun: specifically, he discussed the Moon's sphericity, its illumination by reflected sunlight on one side and the hidden nature of the other, and 18._______________ nature of solar and lunar eclipses. Zhang received many posthumous honors for his scholarship and ingenuity; some modern scholars have compared his 19._______________ in astronomy 20._______________ that of the Greco-Roman Ptolemy (AD 86–161).

BENJAMIN C PIM

Zhang Heng (AD 78–139), was a Chinese polymath from Nanyang who lived during the Han dynasty. Educated in the capital cities of Luoyang and Chang'an, he achieved success as an astronomer, mathematician, inventor, geographer, cartographer, artist,poet, statesman, and literary scholar. Zhang Heng began his career as a minor civil servant in Nanyang. Eventually, he became Chief Astronomer, Prefect of the Majors for Official Carriages, and then Palace Attendant at the imperial court. His uncompromising stances on certain historical and calendrical issues led to Zhang becoming a controversial figure, which prevented him from rising to the status of Grand Historian. His political rivalry with the palace eunuchs during the reign of Emperor Shun (r.125–144) led to his decision to retire from the central court to serve as an administrator of Hejianin Hebei. He returned home to Nanyang for a short time, before being recalled to serve in the capital once more in 138. He died there a year later, in 139. Zhang applied his extensive knowledge of mechanics and gears in several of his inventions. He invented the world's first water-powered armillary sphere to assist astronomical observation; improved the inflow water clock by adding another tank; and invented the world's first seismometer, which discerned the cardinal direction of an earthquake 500 km away. He improved previous Chinese calculations for pi. In addition to documenting about 2,500 stars in his extensive star catalog, Zhang also posited theories about the Moon and its relationship to the Sun: specifically, he discussed the Moon's sphericity, its illumination by reflected sunlight on one side and the hidden nature of the other, and the nature of solar and lunar eclipses. Zhang received many posthumous honors for his scholarship and ingenuity; some modern scholars have compared his work in astronomy to that of the Greco-Roman Ptolemy (AD 86–161).

BENJAMIN C PIM

Present

time

Present

Simple

Facts which are always true

• The present simple is used to describe permanent facts, for example in science and geographical descriptions.

The light from the Sun takes 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach the Earth.

The River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea.

• The present simple is also used for situations that are generally true.

I work in an office and live in a flat in the suburbs.

Habitual actions

• The present simple is used to describe habits and routines.

• A frequency adverb is often used.

I usually take the bus to work.

Summary of events

• The present simple can be used to make a summary of the events in a narrative, for example in a film or book.

In Chapter 1, Susan meets David, and agrees to go to the school dance with him.

• It can also be used for a table of historical events.

In 1789 the French Revolution begins.

Present

continuous

Actions which are in progress now

• The present continuous is used to describe actions which are temporary and not yet finished.

I'm doing the washing-up.

• The action may be happening right now, or around now.

I'm reading one of the Harry Potter books at the moment.

Habits during a temporary situation

• The present continuous can describe a habit that happens over a short period of time.

• A time expression is necessary.

At the moment we're sending all the mail by courier, because the Post Office is on strike.

A repeated temporary action

• The present continuous can describe a single action that is repeated.

• A time expression is necessary.

Whenever I see Tom he's smoking.

You're making the same mistake again!

• In examples like this we are often exaggerating or complaining.

• This is particularly true when we use always.

You're always borrowing money from me!

I always do

I am always doing

• I always do = I do it every time.

I always go to work by car. (= I drive to work everyday)

• I’m always doing = I do something too often, more often than is normal.

I’m always losing my car keys. (=I lose them more often than is normal)

Problems with the

present simple and present continuous

State verbs

• Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form, because they describe activities which already extend in time.

• These are called 'state' verbs.

Verbs not usually used in continuous

Thoughts and opinions

think, understand, know, suppose, believe, want, remember, forget, depend, agree

Feelings like, love, hate, feel, need, prefer

Senses See, hear, smell: basic sense meaning with can. I can see etc. I see (= I understand) I hear (=people tell me). This meat smells (has a smell)

Possession and existence

belong, contain, have, include, mean, seem, weigh

Some of these verbs can be used in continuous

forms with a change of meaning.

Tim is being rather difficult at the moment. (behave)

I'm having breakfast. (eat)

I'm tasting the soup, to check if it needs more salt. (sample)

I'm thinking of buying a new car. (consider)

• In many situations we can use either a simple or continuous form.

• The simple form is for a permanent situation or general habit, the continuous form is for a temporary situation.

I live in London. (it's my permanent home)

I'm living in London. (just for a year - my home is in Athens)

Do you sleep a lot? (Is it your habit?)

Are you sleeping enough? (What is happening at the moment?)

Spelling rules

One-syllable verbs ending in one-vowel + consonant, double the consonant and add –ing.

• sit – sitting get – getting put – putting

Verbs ending in –e, drop the e before adding –ing.

• like – liking write – writing

Verbs ending –ie change –ie to –y

• lie – lying die – dying

two-syllable verbs ending in one vowel and one consonant usually double the final consonant and add –ing

• travel – travelling admit – admitting

All other verbs add –ing

• play – playing feel – feeling try – trying

Choose the correct form

Answers

a. do not understand b. is it getting c. don't agree d. reaches e. lasts f. are still searching g. Are they looking h. doesn't seem i. consists j. has

Put the verb into the correct form

answers

Key points 1. The present simple describes facts and habitual

actions. The present continuous describes actions which are still in progress at the time of speaking.

2. Many verbs which describe states rather than momentary events can only be used in the simple form. Many verbs describing mental activities (understand, know) are of this kind.

3. Some verbs have both state and event meanings, but the meanings are not the same.

4. When describing a photograph, we usually describe the scene as if it is happening now, and use the present continuous.

5. Present tense forms are also used to refer to future time.