sábado, 28 de noviembre de 2009

THE INTERPRETER - Plot summary

Silvia Broome, a citizen of an African nation, works as an interpreter at the United Nations. During an emergency, the U.N. is evacuated. When Silvia returns after hours to pick up her music case, she hears a plot to assassinate Zuwanie, an African President. With the words "The Teacher will never leave this room alive" said in Ku (a language a few people know), Silvia's life is in danger. Tobin Keller is an F.B.I. agent assigned to investigate. Agent Keller suspects she may somehow be involved in the conspiracy.



While the African leader is giving his speech to the General Assembly, an assassin in a booth attempts to shoot him. Keller and the other agents spot him, and he is shot dead before firing his weapon. However, the assassination plot was phony and planned by the corrupt African leader and his allies to get world sympathy and win political support. The hired 'assassin' was dying of AIDS and was only doing this to get money for his family. Just before all this is revealed, the African leader was rushed to a safe room and locked inside alone. Silvia, who has been hiding inside the room, wants to kill him. His political regime was responsible for the death of her parents, sister, and brother. Agent Keller gets into the room and persuades Silvia not to shoot the leader, and she surrenders. Afterwards, Silvia is not charged with any crime, but she is deported to Africa.

jueves, 26 de noviembre de 2009

THE EARTHQUAKE - QUESTIONAIRE

1. Who were the 3 principal characters in the story?


2. What was the difference between GABRIEL and MARCO?

3. Where did Gabriel invite Silvia to go?

4. Why didn’t she accept?

5. Why did Marco like Silvia’s flat?

6. Were the Delgados a rich family now?

7. What was the problem with Silvia’s mother?

8. Where did Marco take Silvia?

9. Why did she feel uncomfortable?

10. At 8:27 the earthquake happened. Where were Gabriel, Marco, Silvia and her mother?

11. After the earthquake, what happened to the Oasis restaurant and some buildings?

12. People ran up and down the street and shouted for help. She didn’t stop to help other people. Where did she want to go?

13. What happened when she entered the flat?

14. When she left her flat she met Mr. Enriquez. What did he say about her mother?

15. Silvia went back to her flat. What did she want to take?

16. Was Gabriel dead? What happened to him?

17. By accident, a woman hit his arm and Gabriel fainted. Where was he when he woke up?

18. Was Marco dead? What did a man in the street tell Silvia?

19. What did Silvia understand at that moment?

20. Where did Silvia arrive at 12:30am? Who was there?

21. Early in the morning, Gabriel arrived at the Delgados’ flat. What did she find on the floor?

22. Suddenly, 2 men ran out of the flat. Who were they? What did they try to steal? Did Gabriel get it back?

23. How did Gabriel realize Silvia was alive?

24. He drank some milk and left the flat. How did Gabriel help the workers in the street?

25. How did the workers help people?

26. On the third day after the earthquake there was good news. What did the newsreader say?

27. The Garcias took Silvia and her mother back to town. Why were they happy when they saw their building?

28. Who was asleep in front of Silvia’s door?

29. How was he?

30. What did he give Silvia in the end?

sábado, 21 de noviembre de 2009

Past simple

Hello!

Here there are more links to online exercises, this time on past simple. Enjoy practising!

Was or were? http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?03

Affirmative sentences: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?04

level 1: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=1&level=2&type=positive
level 2: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=2&type=positive
level 3: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=3&type=positive
level 4: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=4&type=positive


Answer questions: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?02

Negative sentences: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?05

level 1: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=1&type=negative
level 2: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=2&type=negative
level 3: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=3&type=negative
level 4: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=4&type=negative


Write yes/no questions : http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?06

level 1: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=1&type=question
level 2: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=2&type=question
level 3: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=3&type=question
level 4: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises?tense=3&level=4&type=question


Write Open questions: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?07

Mixed sentences: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises



USEFUL LINKS to online exercises

Hi you all!

Here's a list of links you can use for extra practice on grammar. Hope you like them!

Present Simple :

EXPLANATION: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/summary

ONLINE EXERCISES ON FORM:

Verb 'be': http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?06

Verb 'have got' http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?07

Present simple form: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises

Affirmative sentenses: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?02

Negative sentenses: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?03

Yes/No questions: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?04

Open questions: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises?05

Exception on spellings: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/exceptions/exercises
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/exceptions/exercises?02

Short forms: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/shortforms/exercises?02

Signal words: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/signal/exercises

Mixed exercises on lyrics! : http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?06


ONLINE EXERCISES ON USE:

facts: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises

habits: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?02

successive: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?03

future actions: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?04

mental activity: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?05

useful phrases: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?07

viernes, 20 de noviembre de 2009

THE EARTHQUAKE - Chapter 1


CHAPTER 1




1) Answer the questions



1. Has Gabriel got green eyes and a friendly smile?

2. Is Marco rich?

3. Does Silvia like Garbriel?

4. Has Gabriel got three tickets for a film?



2) Order the events



 Silvia didn’t look at Gabriel.

 Silvia asked Gabriel to return the next day.

 Silvia started to close the door.

 Silvia didn’t remember the invitation.

 Gabriel arrived at the door of Silvia’s flat.



3) Correct the mistakes.


When Silvia shut the door, Gabriel heard pop music. There was a girl on the stairs. Her clothes were very cheap and she was Marco’s girlfriend. She had got 20 red roses.
Gabriel walked away.It was a cold Sunday afternoon. There was no wind. There weren’t people in the street. Gabriel felt happy.Gabriel thought, ‘I will not go to the cinema’The Plaza cinema was a small, new building in the centre of town.It was 8.27 p.m. And at that minute, the fire happened.

FECHAS EXAMENES FINALES

HORARIO DE CLASES
CURSO
FECHA ESCRITO
FECHA ORAL
PROFESORA
Viernes 18.00 a 19.30 hs
Kindergarten
__________
Miércoles 09/12 – 16.30 hs
Silvina Osses
Lunes y Miércoles 18.00 a 19.30 hs
1º Grado Inferior
Lunes 07/12 – 18.00 hs
Miércoles 09/12 – 18.00 hs
Silvina Osses
Martes y Jueves 18.00 a 19.30 hs
1º Grado Superior
Lunes 07/12 – 18.00 hs.
Jueves 10/12 – 16.30 hs
Silvina Osses
Martes y Jueves 18.00 a 19.30 hs
2º Grado Inferior
Lunes 07/12 – 18.00 hs
Miércoles 09/12 – 18.00 hs
Fabiana Schnell
Martes y Jueves 16.00 a 17.30 hs
2º Grado Inferior
Miércoles 09/12 – 16.30 hs
Jueves 10/12 – 16.30 hs
Valeria Scarafía
Martes y Jueves 18.00 a 19.30 hs
3º Grado
Miércoles 09/12 – 16.30 hs
Jueves 10/12 – 18.00 hs
Bibiana Degiorgi
Lunes y Miércoles 18.00 a 19.30 hs
1º Año C/B
Viernes 04/12 – 16.30 hs
Lunes 07/12 – 16.00 hs
Fabiana Schnell
Martes y Jueves 18.00 a 19.30 hs
1º Año C/B
Jueves 03/12 – 18.00 hs
Viernes 04/12 – 18.00 hs
Valeria Scarafía
Lunes y Miércoles 18.00 a 19.30 hs
2º Año C/B
Viernes 04/12 – 18.00 hs
Lunes 07/12 – 17.30 hs
Mirna Iedro
Lunes y Miércoles 18.00 a 19.30 hs
2º Año C/B
Viernes 04/12 – 18.00 hs
Lunes 07/12 – 16.00 hs
Bibiana Degiorgi
Lunes y Miércoles 19.30 a 21.00 hs
3º Año
Jueves 10/12 – 18.30 hs
Viernes 11/12 – 16.00 hs
Silvina Osses
Lunes y Miércoles 19.30 a 21.30 hs
4 º Año
Viernes 11/12 – 18.00hs
Lunes 14/12 – 18.00 hs
Magali Gabrielloni
Martes y Jueves 19.30 a 21.30 hs
4º Año
Jueves 10/12 – 18.30 hs
Martes 15/12 – 19.30 hs
Fabiana S. – Bibiana D.
Martes y Jueves 19.30 a 21.30 hs
5º Año
Viernes 11/12 – 18.00 hs
Lunes 14/12 – 16.00 hs
Fabiana S. – Bibiana D
Lunes y Miércoles 19.30 a 21.30 hs
6º Año
Viernes 11/12 – 18.00 hs
Martes 15/12 – 17.30 hs
Bibiana D. – Mirna I.
Miércoles 14.00 a 16.00 hs
Elemental Adultos
Jueves 10/12 – 14.00 hs
Viernes 11/12 – 15.00 hs
Mirna Iedro
Lunes 16.00 a 18.00 hs
Pre Intermedio Adultos
Jueves 10/12 – 14.00 hs
Viernes 11/12 – 15.00 hs
Mirna Iedro
Viernes 14.00 a 16.00 hs
Intermedio Adultos
Jueves 10/12 – 14.00 hs
Viernes 11/12 – 16.00 hs
Mirna Iedro
Jueves 14.00 a 16.00 hs
Avanzado Adultos
Jueves 10/12 – 14.00 hs
Martes 15/12 – 16.00 hs
Mirna Iedro


jueves, 19 de noviembre de 2009

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER - Chapters 27 - 35


1. Choose the best option to complete the statements.

1. When John Cronin knew Paige was going to be his Doctor,
a) he was upset and said she was going to kill him
b) he said he didn’t like her because she was a woman
c) he hated her because she was too young

2. Paige was given the report next morning; the cancer has metastasized throughout Cronin’s body. She explained Mrs. Cronin her husband was to die in,
a) a week or two at the most
b) a couple of days at the most
c) two month time

3. John Cronin told Paige he was in that hospital because,
a) his wife didn’t want to pay for a private one
b) his son didn’t want to waste money on him
c) he was bankrupt

4. After knowing the bad news, John asked Paige,
a) not to come to his room again
b) not to tell his wife about the metastasized cancer
c) to come back and talk to him that night

5. Once in Harrington’s mansion, Mallory was offered,
a) to be Harrington’s personal Doctor
b) to be financed to set him up in his own private practice
c) an important position in a respected private hospital in Seattle

2. What happened next? Read these fragments and complete the chapter event briefly.

“It is. I want to leave”
“That’s impossible. You can’t go home now. You could --- He interrupted her. “I don’t want to go home. I want to leave.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

He stared at it a moment, then walked over to his desk and picked up the invoice he had signed for the bags of blood that had just been delivered. He looked at the number on the invoice. The number on the warning was identical.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thinking it over, Mallory decided it was a foolproof plan. He had worked it out to the smallest detail.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

It was Honey who arrived at the apartment first and stumbled across Kat’s mutilated body, lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the bathroom…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“Why would Mallory go to a remote pharmacy and fill a prescription for a patient he knew he couldn’t give it to?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

CH. 35: Last lines: The inspector turned to Mallory. “Dr. Mallory, you’re under arrest for the murder of Dr. Kate Hunter.”

miércoles, 18 de noviembre de 2009

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER- Chapters 20- 27


1.Multiple choice. Choose the best option to complete the statements.

1. One night, Ken Mallory was getting off duty and was on his way to meet Kat when he was called to ER. The patient was,

a) a man in his sixties
b) a woman in her thirties
c) a teenage boy

2. The operation took four hours and,

a) the patient survive
b) the patient died
c) the patient stay unconscious connected to a respiratory machine

3. Alex Harrison is,

a) a millionaire woman
b) a millionaire man
c) a millionaire’s lawyer

4. A patient invites Mallory to ………………………………….. in order to show his gratitude.

a) stay at his apartment in New York city
b) have dinner at his mansion
c) open an account at the San Francisco Fidelity Bank which he owns

5. Kat receives in ER an unconscious man with a head injury which could be brain damage. That man is,

a) Lou Dinetto
b) Her brother Mike
c) Rhino, Dinetto’s friend

6. When Kat arrives at her apartment two men push past her into it. They,

a) gave her a lot of money to save the unconscious man
b) threaten to kill her brother if she does not save the man
c) threaten to wiped her out

7. The last day to make good on his ten-thousand-dollar bet Ken Mallory,

a) realizes Kat was playing with him
b) realizes Kat is in love with him
c) realizes he is in love with Kat

8. When Honey arrives at the apartment a man comes out of the bathroom, dripping blood and pointing a gun at her. He is,

a) Lou Dinneto
b) The Shadow, Dinetto’s friend
c) Kat’s brother

9. Ken Mallory says to Kat,

a) he has fallen in love and wants to marry her
b) he is in love with Loren and will marry her
c) he does not care about the bet anymore because he is marrying Lauren

10. After having sex, Kat,

a) tells the doctors she and Ken did it
b) announces her weeding day
c) invites her colleagues to the wedding reception


2. Answer the following questions.

1. Why do you think Kat reported his brother’s gunshot wound to the police?
2. Why did Alfred return? What did he want? What did Paige answer?
3. Paige decided to answer the card Jason had sent with the model house. Which option did she choose?
4. A patient died because Doctor Koch overanesthetized him but what did Doctor Barker said to Paige?
5. After that, what happened to Doctor Barker?

martes, 17 de noviembre de 2009

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER - Chapters 15 - 20




1. Mark the following statements true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones.




1. When Paige returned to the apartment, Honey said Jason Curtis had called. Paige said that was great news.




2. Two days later, Jason phoned again and this time Paige herself answered the phone ans slammed the receiver down.




3. At six o'clock the following morning, when the residents gathered with Paige for morning rounds, Jason showed up wearing a clown costume.




4. He said he'd been worried about some of the aptients they had seen on the first round.




5. Jason had bought a lot of nonrefundable tickets for the patients' family.




6. At seven o'clock that evening when Jason arrived at hospital to pick up Paige she was in the oncall room in a deep sleep.




7. When Paige was getting dress to finally go out with Jason , she confessed she was not really interested in him.




8. During that dinner, paige explained the 'gherao', a forma of punishment in India where a lot of men throw stones to the guilty one.




9. Paige also told Jason her father was killed in a tribal war.




10. Paige told Jason that back in India she used to live in a fantastic two-story house because of his father position while the rest of her friends lived in 'tukuls' with grass roofs and no windows.




11. Next morning paige received a drawing of a beautiful two-story house with veranda done by Jason. In front of the house there was a little lawn area surrounded by a picket fence.




12. She thought it was the right house but the wrong man.




13. Next evening Paige was invited to Jason's parents' home. She was very tired and fell asleep and her head dropped to the table.




2. Choose the correct option. A, B or C.




1. Ken Mallory planned his strategy carefully so he decided to let Kat know, he:


A. was interested in her as a person


B. thought she was a brilliant doctor


C. take her to a romantic holiday in another city




2. Mallory was taken completely off guard wehn Kat:


A. told him she admired his work


B. told him she thought he was sexy


C. told him to invite her out to dinner




3. When they were going to bed just after their first date:


A. the phone rang and Kat had to leave hospital


B. Paige and Honey appeared to interrupt


C. Ken's received an emergency call on his cell phone.




3. Complete the paragraphs. How does the story go on?


1. Paige had been working from six o'clock in the morning until midnight. She was exhasted. Her driving back home was dangerous because it was difficult not to fall sleep. When she finally was lying in bed, the telephone rang....... ( Who called? What for? What did she eventually ask Wallace?)


.......................................................................................................................................................................


.......................................................................................................................................................................


.......................................................................................................................................................................




2. One Saturday night Ken and Kat went out on their second date. Once at Ken's, Kat asked for a drink...... (what did she ask? Did she like it? did they have sex? why/why not?)


.........................................................................................................................................................................


.........................................................................................................................................................................


.........................................................................................................................................................................




3. The next night, Dinetto's black lomosine was outside the hospital for Kat one more time... (What for? Did she do what asked? Why/why not?)


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................




4. Jason arranged to pick Paige up at her apartment and take her to San Francisco.... (Did she know the city? Why did he know so much about it? What places did they visit?)


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................




5. While Paige was thinking how lovely Jason was, her beeper went off. It sounded urgent. Her face turned pale.... ( What happened? Where did she ask Jason to take her? What did she accept to do? What did she remember? what happened just at the last minute she was doing it?)


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................


..........................................................................................................................................................................




6. Answer these questions:


1. Why did Honey envy the nurses?




2. Why was Daniel MacGuire of her favourite patients?




3. Why did Frances Gordon want a 'virgo' doctor? What was her occupation? What did did woman foretell?




4. Mrs Owens was a new patient with a broken nose, two black eyes and bruises. What happened to her? How did Honey help her? What did the woman finally do?




5. At hospital thre was an Indian patient with cholera. Whose patient was he? Why was the hospital going to be closed down?




6. There was only one doctor who could speak Indian.Who? Why was it important?




7. Why was Ken Mallory getting desperate?


NOTHING LASTS FOREVER - Chapters 1-15


1- Multiple choice

1- According to Hippocrates “(…) whatever cannot be cured with the searing iron must be considered :
a) unhealthy” b) incurable” c) uncomfortable”.

2- According to Sir William Osler are three classes of human beings:
a) men, women and women physicians b) men, women and nurses c) men, nurses and women physicians

3- District Attorney Carls Andrews was in a fury because from a group of three doctor living together and working at the same hospital:

a) One of them almost gets an entire hospital closed down, the second one kills herself, and the third one kills a patient for a million dollars.
b) One of them almost kills a patient, the second one kills a patient for a million dollars, and the third one is murdered.
c) One of them almost gets entire hospital closed down, the second one kills a patient for a million dollars, and the third one is murdered.

4- In the witness box, Dr Kane said John Cronin was killed by:
a) sedative being injected into his IV (Intravenous) b) insulin being injected into his IV (Intravenous) c) a different blood type being introduced into his IV (Intravenous)

5- The report signed by Dr Paige Taylor says the patient died of:
a) an asthma attack b) a heart attack c) allergic attack

6- John Cronin’s widow, Hazel Cronin said her husband:
a) didn’t trust Dr b) never mentioned Dr Taylor c) like Dr Taylor

7- Dr Wallace said that one day Dr Taylor had a patient in need of a blood transfusion whose family refused to grant permission. He said that:
a) she managed to obtained the court order immediately and gave the patient the transfusion.
b) she gave the patient the transfusion anyway, obtained the court order afterward, and changed the date on it.
c) she managed to get an old court order, changed the date on it and gave the patient the transfusion.

8- Most of the patients at Embarcadero county hospital go there because:
a) they are indigent and cannot afford a private hospital b) they are lower middle class people who cannot afford health insurance
c) they are upper class people who can afford the best medical treatment.

9- In her first hospital round Paige met another young resident doctor she liked immediately. This was Dr Tom Chang who later:
a) has a car accident and dies b) commits suicide c) is robbed and murdered

10- Bye the end of day one, Paige and the other residents see their last patient, an old lady who is brain-dead on a respirator. They are told that the hospital ethics committee made the decision early that day to “pull the plug” because it’s cruel to keep her alive. Paige thinks that is:
a) a great act of kindness b) murder c) correct

11- Paige had heard that Dr Arthur Kane’ nickname was “Dr 007—licensed to kill” because:
a )he had a higher operation rate b)his solution to every problem was to operate c) he had a higher operation and mortality rate than any other doctor

12- When Dr Kane made advances to Paige and she:
a) felt unpleasant but thought it could be a great opportunity for her career
b) said there was nothing to discuss because she was not interested
c) said she didn’t need to discuss anything at dinner

13- When Kat was thirteen years old, her stepfather was raped repeatedly by her stepfather. One day:
a) He theatens to kill her litlle brother if she didn’t move so she left her home
b) Kat told her mother the truth and she order her to leave because she thought Kat was lying
c) Kat knew she was pregnant and decided to ran way to live with an aunt

14- Paige grew up in:
a) India and Africa b) Calcutta and South Africa c) Africa and Latin America

15- When Paige was fifteen, her mother:
a) disappeared when having a bath in a river b) disappeared with another man c) disappeared during an attack to the village they were living in

16- When Paige was seventeen, her father sent her to live in Chicago with his brother. When she arrived
a) she knew her father was also coming b) her uncle told her her father had died c) her uncle told her he prefer her coming back to the village

17- Paige and Alfred met in:
a) Puerto Rica b) Costa Rica c) Hawai

18- When Paige opened the door there was Alfred. Standing next to him was his:
a) girlfriend b) child’s mother c)his wife

19- Chief Nurse, Margaret Spenser didn’t like Kat because she was:
a) a young woman doctor b) a beautiful woman doctor c) a black woman doctor

20- Honey Taft had the bad fortune to have been born into a family of:
a) overachievers b)overweighed people c) over-optimistic people

21- Honey’s father would say she was:
a) the princess of the Taft family b) his favourite child c) the family’s ugly ducking

22- In High School she was known as the:
a) wallflower b) sunflower c)flower child

23- When Honey started having sex with boys she became:
a) intelligent b) famous c) popular

24- Paige was furious because the X-ray had been put up backward and Dr Kane:
a) had diagnosed wrongly b) had removed the wrong kidney c) had operated the wrong patient

25- Dr Wallace said Dr Kane was not going to be fired because:
a) he was one of the best doctors at hospital and they could not lose him
b) he was a senator’s friend with a lot of influences
c) the reputation of the hospital would be hurt

26- All hospitals have problems with drug theft but Embarcadero County Hospital was having a major problem. Their fentanyl – a highly addictive narcotic and anesthetic drug- disappeared constantly. Who was the thief?
a) Dr Mitch Campbell, one of Paige’s favourite doctors b) Dr Harry Bowman, the red Ferrari’s owner c) Karen, the secretary in charge of records

1-Dr Honey was unsure of herself in the morning rounds but on the afternoon rounds she was surprisingly knowledgeable and efficient. Explain how she managed to do so.

2- Dr Mitch Cambell behaved in a strange way during surgeries. What did he always do? Why? What did Paige ask him to do?

3- In the prologue we learn that one of the doctors almost gets Embarcadero closed down. Who do you think is the responsible one? Can you explain why?

sábado, 14 de noviembre de 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Background Information


What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus severely damages the immune system by infecting and destroying certain white blood cells. HIV is passed from person to person via blood, semen or mucous membranes. Pregnant women may pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding. Some people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection. An HIV positive test result does not mean a person has AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is developed after a person has been in contact with HIV. AIDS is a collection of infections and cancers that people with HIV might develop. AIDS weakens the immune system making it difficult for a person to fight illness. If a person gets one of these infections or cancers after they are HIV+ they are said to have AIDS. Many of these infections that cause AIDS are harmless to a healthy immune system.

How is HIV/AIDS transmitted? Does HIV/AIDS only affect certain types of people?

HIV/AIDS can infect anyone regardless of age, race or sexual preference.

Transmission People can contract HIV in multiple ways.
o Unprotected sex with an infected person
o Sharing a needle with someone who uses intravenous drugs
o Transmission from a mother to her unborn fetus

However, you cannot get HIV through daily social contact such as:
o Hugging
o Shaking hands
o Sharing a swimming pool or toilet
o Coughing sneezing, tears or insect bites
People living with HIV/AIDS, to varying degrees, are stigmatized throughout the world. What is the root cause of discrimination? Why do you think people who have HIV/AIDS suffer from discrimination?
Discrimination is to make a distinction between people on the basis of a class or category (i.e. gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, socio-economic status, sexual preference) without regard to individual merit. HIV/AIDS discrimination is the unfair treatment of people who may or may not be infected with HIV/AIDS or be associated with people who are considered likely to contract HIV. Discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS exists because of a lack of information. Fear tends to come from wrong information about this epidemic.

Useful vocabulary:

Epidemic, Discrimination, Vaccine, Human Rights, Discrimination, Developing World, Poverty, homosexuality, homosexual, gay/s, prostitution, prostitute, condom
Technology, Survival, Fairness, Defense/Protection, Epidemic,
Public Health, Acceptance/
Rejection, International
Cooperation, Collaboration, International Law,
Civil Society, NGOs (non-
governmental organizations)

PHILADELPHIA - Questionaire

1. What reason did Charles Wheeler and his partners give on why Andrew was fired?
He misplaced an important complaint. Of course he was fired for having AIDS, but there was no way Wheeler and his partners would admit that.

2. Was Joe Miller the first lawyer Andrew went to for representation?
No, Andrew went to nine other lawyers.

3. When did Andrew start working for the firm?
He was recruited when he graduated from law school.

4. Before Andrew walked into Joe's office, what was Joe talking to his first client about?
The client fell in a hole on the street. The first client had a broken arm and was seeing how much he could collect.

5. Why was Joe reluctant at first to take Andrew's case?
He says that because he couldn’t ‘see ’a case but in fact it was because he was homophobic.

6. When did Joe Miller change his mind?
When he realized a crime was committed and his wife reminded him she had relatives who were gay and when at the library he saw how Andrew was being discriminated.

7. How did the firm find out that Andrew had AIDS?
He had a lesion on his forehead.

8. What did Andrew say about it?
Andrew said the lesion was from when he got hit with a racquetball.

9. When Joe delivered the summons, what famous basketball player were Wheeler and his partners talking to?
Julius Erving (Dr. J).
10. What did Joe tell the sportsman?
Joe told him if he's ever injured, give him a call.

11. How long did it take to bring the case to court?
7 months. Joe made his opening statement about how wrong it was to fire an employee for having an illness.

12. What analogy was Joe using when Mr. Laird said Andrew's performance went from satisfactory to mediocre?
The baloney sandwich / caviar one.
He was questioning that Andrew's performance was like caviar seven months before his dismissal and then it was like a baloney sandwich. He also asked them to explain it to him like he was a 4 year-old.

13. What happened when Joe went inside the drug store?
A gay pre-law student attempted to pick him up. The football player assumed that because Joe was representing a gay client that he was gay himself.

14. Why did Andrew think his partner, Miguel, was upset with him while giving him his home treatment?
Miguel was worried they didn't have much time left.Andrew decided then to start his memorial. Miguel told him to think about it but Andrew was adamant.

12. What did Joe tell Andrew he prayed for?
His baby girl was healthy (This was when they were going over the Question/Answer sheet at Andrew’s place)

13. What made Andrew think he was an excellent lawyer?
He knew and loved the law
When Joe was cross-examining Andrew, Andrew said, "I know the law, I love the law, I excel at the law

14. Who was Joe cross-examining when Andrew collapsed?
Mr. Wheeler. This was after he asked Andrew to show the court the lesions on his stomach.

15. After winning the case, how much money was Andrew awarded altogether? $5,025,000. $143,000 for back pay and loss of benefits. $100,000 for mental anguish and humiliation. $4,782,000 for punitive damages.

PHILADELPHIA - Summary plot


The book tells the story of Andrew Beckett, an easygoing homosexual senior associate at the largest corporate law firm in Philadelphia. Although he lives with his partner Miguel Alvarez , Beckett hides his homosexuality and his status as a person living with AIDS from the other members of the law firm.
On the day he is assigned the firm's newest and most important case, a partner in the firm notices a small lesion on Beckett's forehead. Although he attributes the lesion to a racquetball injury, it is actually due to Kaposi's Sarcoma, a form of cancer marked by multiple tumors on the lymph nodes and skin.
Shortly thereafter, Beckett stays home from work for several days to try to find a way to hide his lesions.
While at home, he finishes the paperwork for the case he has been assigned and then brings it to his office, leaving instructions for his assistants to file the paperwork on the following day, which marks the end of the statute of limitations for the case. Later that morning, he receives a frantic call asking for the paperwork, as the paper copy cannot be found and there are no copies on the computer's hard drive. However, the paperwork is finally discovered in an alternate location and is filed with the court at the last possible moment.
The following day, Beckett is dismissed by the firm's partners, who had previously referred to him as their "friend."
Beckett believes that someone hid his paperwork on purpose to give the firm an excuse to fire him, and that in fact he was fired because of his disease. He asks several attorneys to take his case, including personal injury lawyer Joe Miller , whom he had been involved with in a previous case.
Miller is homophobe and knows little about Beckett's disease. After declining to take the case, Miller immediately visits his doctor to find out if he could have contracted the disease through shaking Beckett's hand. The doctor explains the methods of AIDS infection.
Unable to find a lawyer willing to represent him, Beckett has to act as his own attorney. While researching a case at a law library, Miller sees Beckett at a nearby table. After a librarian announces that he has found a book on AIDS discrimination for Beckett, others in the library begin to first stare and then move away, and the librarian suggests Beckett retire to a private room. Disgusted by their behavior, Miller approaches Beckett, reviews the material he has gathered, and tells him that he will take the case.
Upon receiving a summons by Miller, the head of the firm worries about the damage the lawsuit could do to his business and reputation, although one associate unsuccessfully tries to convince them to settle out of court with Beckett.

As the case goes before the court, the partners of the firm take the stand, each committing perjury by claiming that Beckett was incompetent and that he had deliberately tried to hide his condition. The defense repeatedly suggests that Beckett had invited his illness through his homosexual acts and was therefore not a victim. In the course of testimony, it is revealed that the partner who had noticed Beckett's lesion had previously worked with a woman who had contracted AIDS after a blood transfusion and so should have recognized the lesion as relating to AIDS. According to that partner, the woman was an innocent victim, unlike Beckett, and further testified that he did not recognize Beckett's lesions.
To prove that the lesions would have been visible, Miller asks Beckett to unbutton his shirt while on the witness stand, revealing that his lesions were indeed visible and recognizable as such.
During cross-examination, Beckett is confronted with his inactions of concealing his illness, his supposed incompetence, and the origin of his contracting AIDS; the latter of which has gone unexplained to everyone, including Miguel, until this point. He admits that he was originally planning to tell his partners that he was gay, but he soon changed his mind after hearing them make off-colour homophobic jokes in the sauna of a health club.
When asked about the truth of how he got infected, he confirms that he engaged in anonymous sex with another man at a pornographic movie theatre. However, he and Miller gain an advantage when the one member of the firm who suggested settling out of court confesses he knew Beckett had AIDS but never said anything, and how he regrets his inaction.

Beckett eventually collapses in court shortly after finishing cross-examination. During his hospitalization, the jury votes in his favor, awarding him back pay, damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Miller visits the visibly failing Beckett in the hospital after the verdict and overcomes his fear enough to touch Beckett's face. After Beckett's family leaves the room, he tells Miguel that he is ready to die. Immediately afterwards Miller gets the word that Beckett has passed away. The ends with a reception at Beckett's home following the funeral, where many mourners, including the Millers, view home movies of Beckett as a healthy child.

THE MISSING COINS- Summary plot


Pete and Carla are students. They live in Bath, England. They like the city.
One hot Saturday afternoon in summer they are walking.
There are a lot of tourists in the city so they got to a quieter little street behind the Abbey. There is a man playing the flute. The tune is ‘Greensleeves’ but there are only two or three tourist listening. Pete likes the tune but thinks the man isn’t a good player. Carla puts a coin in the man’s hat. She saw that there were only four coins in the hat.
Pete takes her hand and they go to see shops in the next street. They find a small interesting shop. It sells very valuable coins and old stamps from different countries.

Pete looks at stamps from Canada and South America. The shopkeeper is always near watching him. A girl is working in the shop but isn’t friendly.

The phone rings and rings in a room behind the shop but the shopkeeper doesn’t want to answer. Carla doesn’t like the people in the shop.
The shopkeeper answers the phone.
Pete loves the stamps from South America but they are very expensive. Carla and Pete leave the shop and the girl smiles. They go to a café near the Abbey because they are thirsty. There are tables outside the café and they sit down. There a lot of people there.
After a minute they shopkeeper appears. He is very angry and says the coins are missing. He thinks Carla and Pete stole them

A policeman appears. He wants to know what is happening. He shopkeeper explains there were only four people in the shop. He says Tracy is innocent because he looked in her bag.
He looks in Carla’s bag and pocket. All the people are watching them.

The shopkeeper says he is sorry because now he knows the students didn’t steal the coins.
A girl in the street is playing the flute. The tune is ‘Greensleeves’. Carla remembers the other flute player near the shop. She knows where the missing coins are! She knows the answer!

Carla, Pete and policeman run to the little street. The flute player sees them and starts to run away. The policeman stops him. Carla explains everything.The man has got the coins! They were in his hat! The girl from the shop is his friend! She stole the coins, went to the window and put the coins in her friend hat.
A police car arrives. It takes the girl and the flute player to the station.

The shopkeeper says thank you to Pete and Carla. And he gives Pete tamps from South America.
Pete looks at Carla and says: Thanks! I love you!


THE END

THE MISSING COINS - Background information



Bath


It is a city in the south west of England. The population of the city is about 80,000. There are hills around the city.It is in the valley of the River Avon.The Romans built baths because it is the only place in the United Kingdom where there are hot springs.Bath became fashionable and popular as a spa resort during the 18th century.


The city became a World Heritage Site in 1987, and has a lot of theatres, museums and festivals. In summer 4 million tourists visit tha city each year. In Bath there are two universities(Bath University, one of the best universities in the UK, it’s in the 6th position..


Abbey


Its complete name is: the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, first it was amonastery, now it is an Anglican church. Founded in the 7th century, it is one of the largest examples of Gothic Architecture.


Approximately 1,200 people can be sitting inside. It is used for religious ceremonies. The abbey is a listed building and it contains monuments to several notable people. It has two organs and ten bells.


THE MISSING COINS - Questionaire


Page 1

1- Where does the story take place?
2- How is Bath city like?
3- Where are the tourists from?
4- Who are Pete and Carla?
5- Do they like the city?
6- What does Pete like about the city? And what about Carla?
7- When does the story take place?
8- Why does Carla want to go to a quieter place?

Page 2

1- Where do they go?
2- Are there many tourists?
3- How is the street like?
4- What is the busker doing?
5- How any coins are the in the busker’s hat?

Page 3

1- What tune is he playing?
2- Is he a good player?
3- Does she put a coin in the man’s hat? Why/ why not?
4- There are only four coins in the man’s hat. What does Pete think the reason is?
5- Where do they go after that?

Page 4

1- What does the shop sell? Is it a big or a small one?
2- What does Pete want to look at?
3- Does he collect them?

Page 5

1- Pete looks at some stamps, where are they from?
2- What is Carla looking at? How old are they?
3- Is the shopkeeper happy? Why not?
4- Are the coins valuable?
5- Who is Tracy? Is she friendly?

Page 6

1- The telephone starts ringing, where is it?
2- Does the shopkeeper answer quickly? Why/ Why not?
3- Does Pete want to start collecting stamps from Canada?
4- Does Carla like the people in the shop? Why/ Why not?
5- Does Pete buy the stamps from South America? Why/ Why no?
6- Why does Tracy smile when Pete and Carla leave?

Page 7

1- Where do Pete and Carla go then?
2- Why is Carla happy?
3- What does Pete want?
4- Where do they go?
5- Where do they sit down?
6- Where does Carla want to go then?
7- Who appears suddenly in the café?
8- How does he feel?

Page 8

1- Why is the old man angry?
2- What does he think?
3- How do the students feel?
4- Is there the first time some coins were missing?
5- Who else appears?

Page 9

1- What does policeman do?

Page 10

1- Why does the old man think Tracy is innocent?
2- What does Carla say? What about Pete?

Page 11

1- Do they find she coins in Carla’s bag or in Pete’s pocket?
2- What does the shopkeeper say? How does he feel?
3- What does he do after that?
4- What does the policeman think?

Page 12

1- When they are talking to the policeman, what does Carla hear?
2- What does she remember?
3- What does she decide to do?

Page 13

1- When they arrive, what does the flute player say he is doing?
2- When Carla says that he has the coins, what does the man do? Can he escape?

Page 14

1- Carla explains the mystery of the missing coins, who steals the coins? And, how did they appear in the man’s hat?
2- A car police arrives, what does it do?

Page 15

1- What does the shopkeeper say to Carla? What does he ask her?
2- What does Carla ask him?
3- What does Pete say?