https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/intermediate/unit-18/session-3
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/intermediate/unit-18/session-4
A blog to help secondary school students improve English. You can find mind maps, worksheets, videos and songs as well as some of the project works and activities done by the students.
DESCRIBE A FRIEND OF YOURS
1. What does he-she look like?
2. How long have you known him-her?
3. How did you meet?
4. What was the first thing you talked about?
5. What sort of person is he-she? (don’t make a list of adjectives- try to tell a story about him -
her)
Avoid saying simple things like:
She is polite
He is very smart
Use stories
Let’s look at an example.
I like my friend because he is funny.
One time we were in class and the teacher asked if anyone knew anything about frogs. My friend
told us a story about when he went to the park and saw some frogs in the pond. He tried to catch
one but fell in the water. He then tried to dry his clothes before getting home by standing in the
middle of the park with his arms and legs open wide. He thought the wind would dry his clothes
in time but it didn’t work.
6.Do you get on well with him-her?
7.What do you like about him-her?
8.What do you have in common?
9.What does your friend like doing in his or her free time?
10.What don’t you like about him-her?
11.Have you ever had a quarrel?
12. Do you think one day you’ll break up?
Try to use the following words
Cheerful
Amusing
Shy
Outgoing
Generous
Confident
Reliable
Active
Kind
Brave
Practical
Fair
Proud
Jealous
Lazy
Bossy
Helpful
Hardworking
Chatty
Moody
Stubborn
Oliver Twist is born in a workhouse in an unnamed English town in the 1830s. His mother dies immediately after his birth, and Oliver is left an orphan, given the generic name "Twist" by the parish beadle, Mr. Bumble. He spends his early years in an orphanage starved and neglected. At almost nine, he's sent to a workhouse where he and the other starving boys are subjected to terrible conditions. During a desperate supper, Oliver asks for more gruel, a shocking transgression that leads to him being sold for a small sum as an apprentice.
Oliver is sold to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry. He is taunted and bullied by the older apprentice, Noah Claypole, and the maid, Charlotte. When Noah insults the memory of Oliver's dead mother, Oliver snaps and attacks him. This leads to a violent uproar and Oliver is severely beaten and locked up by Mr. Sowerberry.
Feeling completely alone and unjustly punished, Oliver makes the decision to run away. He walks for many days, enduring hunger and hardship, aiming for London, believing he can make a new life there. Exhausted and faint, he is eventually met on the road near London by a boy named Jack Dawkins, better known as the "Artful Dodger." The Dodger is street-smart and immediately takes Oliver under his wing, promising him food and lodging with a "nice old gentleman" in London. Oliver, desperate for help, trusts him and follows him to a house where he meets the criminal Fagin.He is the boss of a gang of pickpockets. He trains boys to steal wallets or handkerchief.
What shocking act by Oliver leads to him being removed from the workhouse and sold as an apprentice?
Who are the two individuals that bully Oliver during his apprenticeship to the undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry?
Why does Oliver decide to run away from the undertaker's house, and where does he decide to go?
What is the real name and common nickname of the boy Oliver meets on the road to London?
Who’s Fagin?
SDG 13:
Climate Action is one of
the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015
as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is considered one of
the most critical goals, as climate change impacts virtually every other area
of development.
SDG 13:
Climate Action in Short
The main objective
of SDG 13 is to "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts."1
It is a universal
call for all countries to:
In essence, SDG 13
is about shifting the world to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy
to protect people and the planet from catastrophic consequences.
The Unity of
Humanity and Nature
The Link: This holistic vision is a precursor to modern ecological
consciousness. The Agenda 2030 framework, particularly its emphasis on "Planet"
and the interdependence of environmental, social, and economic goals, is built
on an understanding that human well-being is inseparable from ecological
health. Wordsworth provides the ethical and emotional foundation for this
recognition—that to harm the planet is to harm ourselves.
She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells
Susie works in a shoe shine shop; where she shines she sits, and where she sits she shines.
Susan's cousin goes to the zoo to see the zebras
the lazy lizards sometimes shore in the sun
I hope this easy lesson isn't too stressful
Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate greeting or reply for the situation. Choose the correct tone (Formal or Informal) for each dialogue.
| Situation/Style | Speaker A (Greeting) | Speaker B (Reply) |
| 1. Informal (Meeting a friend on the street) | Hey, Maria! (1) ___________________________? | Not bad, thanks. And you? |
| 2. Formal (Introducing yourself) | Good afternoon. My name is Mr. Thompson. (2) ___________________________. | The pleasure is mine, Mr. Thompson. |
| 3. Informal (Phone call) | (3) ___________________________ | It's Mark. Are you free this weekend? |
| 4. Formal (Ending a business meeting) | Thank you for your time, Ms. Lee. Goodbye. | (4) ___________________________ |
| 5. Informal (Seeing someone after a while) | (5) ___________________________! How have you been? | Wow! It's great to see you, too! |
| 6. Formal (In an office) | Hello, Mr. White. How is everything? | (6) ___________________________ and you? |
| 7. Informal (Checking on someone) | What's up? I haven't seen you all day. | (7) ___________________________ |
| 8. Formal (A slightly less common greeting) | Good morning. I trust you are well? | (8) ___________________________. Thank you for asking. |
| 9. Informal (Saying goodbye) | See you later, Tom. | (9) ___________________________. Bye! |
| 10. Formal (Meeting an acquaintance) | (10) ___________________________, Mr. Evans. | Good afternoon, Ms. Kelly. It's a pleasure. |
Here are some possible answers for the blanks:
How are things / How's it going / What's new
Pleased to meet you / It's a pleasure to meet you
Hello? / Hi? / Speaking. (When answering the phone)
Have a good day / I look forward to our next meeting / Goodbye
Hi there / Long time no see / Look who it is
I am very well / Everything is fine / Things are proceeding well
Nothing much / Just relaxing / Oh, I'm okay
I am perfectly well / Yes, quite well
Take care / Later / Catch you then
Good afternoon / Hello
WordOpposite (Antonym)
PLEASED Upset, Disappointed, Angry
MISERABLE Happy, Joyful, Cheerful
AFRAID Brave, Confident, Fearless
DELIGHTED Upset, Disappointed, Sad
RELIEVED Stressed, Worried, Anxious
THRILLED Bored, Unexcited, Disappointed
ASHAMED Proud, Honored
GUILTY Innocent
CONFIDENT Insecure, Doubtful, Timid
TERRIFYING Soothing, Calming, Reassuring
INSPIRATIONAL Demotivating, Discouraging, Uninspiring
ANNOYED Pleased, Delighted, Satisfied
BRILLIANT Dull, Stupid, Terrible (depending on context)
Students will explore and analyze how beauty ideals for women have changed across centuries (16th–21st), considering cultural, political, economic, and media influences.
Divide the class into 6 groups, each assigned a century:
16th (1500s)
17th (1600s)
18th (1700s)
19th (1800s)
20th (1900s)
21st (2000–present)
Each group investigates beauty standards of women during their assigned century by collecting:
Portraits or paintings (e.g., Renaissance art, Rococo, Victorian)
Fashion trends (corsets, powdered wigs, body shapes, makeup)
Cultural expectations (skin tone, body weight, hairstyles, accessories)
Beauty rituals or bizarre trends (e.g., lead-based makeup, waist training, tanning)
Ask each group to reflect on:
What did "beautiful" mean in this century?
What body shape, skin tone, or facial features were valued?
Who decided these standards? (Royal court, artists, fashion houses, media?)
Were these ideals natural or hard to achieve?
How were women affected socially or physically by these ideals?
How does this beauty ideal reflect the values of the time?
Each group creates a visual display of their century’s beauty ideal:
Title: “Beauty in the ___ Century”
3–4 representative images
Key traits (e.g., pale skin, wide hips, small feet, etc.)
Famous icons (e.g., Queen Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe)
Quote from the era or a modern reflection
Prompt questions for whole-class reflection:
How have beauty ideals shifted over time?
Are we more inclusive today—or just more commercial?
Which century had the most “natural” standard? The most extreme?
Are beauty ideals less harmful now? Why or why not?
Ask students to respond to:
“If you were a teenage girl in one of these centuries, how would these beauty standards affect how you see yourself?”
or
“How do today’s beauty standards compare to those of the past—and are we really free from them?”
Compare Eastern and Western ideals during the same centuries
Explore masculine beauty standards over time for contrast
Analyze social media trends (filters, surgeries, TikTok aestheticspl) as modern beauty pressures
Discuss body positivity movements today
Image:
This image, representative of the Renaissance and early modern Europe, showcases a beauty standard that prioritized:
Body Type: A fuller figure—softly rounded stomach, hips, and arms—was considered the pinnacle of beauty and health. It signaled wealth, as only the rich could afford a plentiful diet and avoid manual labor.
Skin Tone: Extreme paleness was essential, confirming the woman did not work outdoors (a sign of poverty) and was thus a lady of high social status.
Hair: Often elaborately braided, long, or styled, and sometimes light in color.
In this era, beauty was often associated with fertility, wealth, and idleness.
Image:
This image, typical of high-fashion and commercial media today, represents a sharp departure from historical standards, emphasizing:
Body Type: A lean, athletic, or "toned" physique. While "thinness" is still a prominent feature, it is often paired with an emphasis on fitness and muscle definition. This signals not wealth from idleness, but discipline and health.
Facial Features: Angular, strong bone structure (often enhanced by contouring makeup), and large, striking eyes.
Skin Tone: A healthy, sometimes tanned or bronzed look is often preferred, suggesting time for outdoor leisure or travel.
The shift illustrates a move from valuing "softness" and "paleness" as signs of wealth to valuing "fitness," "health," and "discipline" as modern aspirational traits.
Here is a clear list of common in-law relatives in Italian:
| English Relative | Italian Word (Singular) | Plural | Meaning |
| Father-in-law | Suocero (masculine) | Suoceri | The father of one's husband or wife. |
| Mother-in-law | Suocera (feminine) | Suocere | The mother of one's husband or wife. |
| Parents-in-law | Suoceri (masculine plural) | - | Both father-in-law and mother-in-law. |
| Son-in-law | Genero (masculine) | Generi | The husband of one's daughter. |
| Daughter-in-law | Nuora (feminine) | Nuore | The wife of one's son. |
| Brother-in-law | Cognato (masculine) | Cognati | The brother of one's spouse or the husband of one's sibling. |
| Sister-in-law | Cognata (feminine) | Cognate | The sister of one's spouse or the wife of one's sibling. |
| Siblings-in-law | Cognati (masculine plural) | - | A mixed group of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. |
Here are three different exercises for students to practice relatives-in-law nouns (e.g., mother-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law). 👨👩👧👦
This exercise focuses on correctly associating the relative-in-law term with its definition.
Instructions: Match the relative-in-law noun in Column A with the correct definition in Column B.
| Column A (Noun) | Column B (Definition) |
| 1. Sister-in-law | A. The father of one's husband or wife. |
| 2. Son-in-law | B. The wife of one's son. |
| 3. Mother-in-law | C. The husband of one's daughter. |
| 4. Father-in-law | D. The sister of one's husband or wife, or the wife of one's brother. |
| 5. Daughter-in-law | E. The mother of one's husband or wife. |
This exercise requires students to choose the correct relative-in-law noun to fit the context of a sentence.
Instructions: Choose the best relative-in-law noun from the box to complete each sentence. Use each noun only once.
My brother, Tom, married a lovely woman named Sarah, so she is now my ____________________.
When my daughter got married, we gained a wonderful ____________________, who is a great cook.
We're having dinner tonight with my wife's parents. I always enjoy talking to my ____________________ about history.
Since my son married Lisa, she has become my ____________________.
My wife's brother is a firefighter. He's my brave ____________________.
Whenever I visit my husband's mother, my ____________________ always serves her delicious homemade cake.
My husband's mother ➝ __________
My wife's brother ➝ __________
My son's wife ➝ __________
My wife's father ➝ __________
My husband's sister ➝ __________
My daughter’s husband ➝ __________
4)Read each riddle and write the correct relative-in-law noun.
I am married to your son. Who am I? → __________
I am your wife's sister. Who am I? → __________
I am your daughter’s husband. Who am I? → __________
I am your husband's brother. Who am I? → __________
I am the mother of your wife. Who am I? → __________
I am married to your brother. Who am I? → ________
| Expression | Meaning/Context | Typical Response |
| Are you alright? / You alright? | This is the single most common British greeting. It's a general, friendly 'hello,' not a serious health query. | Yeah, fine, thanks. / Not bad. |
| Alright, mate? / Alright? | Very informal, often used between friends or colleagues. | Alright. (Often just repeated back) |
| How's things? | A common variation of "How are things going?" | Good, ta. / Not too bad. |
| How's life treating you? | Slightly less common, but a friendly way to ask about general well-being. | Mustn't grumble. (Meaning: I shouldn't complain) |
| How's your tummy? | Used specifically when checking on someone who was recently sick or unwell (used mostly between close friends/family). | Much better, thanks! |
| Response | Meaning/Context |
| I'm fine, ta. | Very common, polite response. "Ta" is a highly informal British way of saying "thank you." |
| Not too bad, you? | Neutral, suggesting things are okay. |
| Mustn't grumble. | A classic British understatement meaning "I'm doing well, but I don't want to sound boastful." |
| Could be worse. | Neutral to slightly negative, suggesting things are difficult but manageable. |
| I'm a bit poorly. | A common way for adults (and especially children) to say they are slightly unwell or sick. |
| I'm knackered. | Indicates they are extremely tired, exhausted, or worn out. (Not a health issue, but often offered as an explanation for feeling "not great"). |
In many informal UK contexts, the exchange can be very quick and simple:
Person A: "Alright?"
Person B: "Yeah, alright." (or simply "Alright.")
| Greeting/Question | Context |
| Good morning / afternoon / evening. | Standard, time-specific greeting. |
| How are you? | Standard, polite, and universally appropriate. |
| How have you been? | Used when you haven't seen the person in a while. |
| I hope you are well. | Polite and professional, often used in written communication. |
| Greeting/Question | Context |
| Hello! | Simple and friendly. |
| Hi! | Casual and friendly. |
| How's it going? | Very common, slightly less formal than "How are you?" |
| What's up? | Casual and common, often a simple filler question. |
| How are things? | Good for asking about general life/work status. |
| Greeting/Question | Context |
| Hey! | Short, informal greeting. |
| Sup? | Short for "What's up?" (Very informal). |
| Howdy! | (Mostly US/Southern slang). |
| Alright? | (Mostly UK slang—can be a greeting and a question rolled into one). |
| Long time no see! | Used when you haven't seen someone in a while. |
| Response | Context/Tone |
| I'm very well, thank you. And you? | Formal and polite. |
| Fine, thank you. How about yourself? | Standard, polite. |
| Great, thanks! | Enthusiastic and positive. |
| Pretty good! | Standard, positive, and casual. |
| Can't complain. | Neutral to positive, suggesting things are satisfactory. |
| I'm good. / Good. | Simple, common, and casual. |
| Not bad. | Neutral, meaning acceptable or fine. |
| Just the usual! | Casual, suggesting things are normal. |
| All good. | Very casual and brief. |
| Response | Context/Tone |
| Not so well, actually. | Direct, for when you want to share a negative feeling. |
| I've been better. | Common way to indicate you aren't feeling well. |
| A little under the weather. | Polite way to say you are slightly sick. |
| I'm okay, thanks. | Neutral, might imply things aren't great but you don't want to elaborate. |
| Just hanging in there. | Implies you are struggling but surviving (casual). |
Translate the following Italian sentences into English.
Il Monte Bianco è la montagna più alta d'Europa.
Il Nilo è più lungo del Danubio.
L'Oceano Pacifico è il più vasto di tutti gli oceani.
Le colline toscane sono più verdi delle nostre montagne in estate.
Il deserto del Sahara è il più caldo e il più secco del mondo.
Questa valle è meno profonda della gola che abbiamo visitato ieri.
Il fiume Tevere è uno dei fiumi più famosi d'Italia.
I fiordi norvegesi sono tanto belli quanto le coste della Nuova Zelanda.
La pianura padana è più grande della maggior parte delle altre regioni.
La cima di quella vetta è più difficile da raggiungere rispetto al litorale.
Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct preposition, in or of, after the superlative adjective.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain ______ the world.
She is the smartest student ______ her class.
The blue whale is the largest animal ______ all.
That was the most delicious meal I've eaten ______ a long time.
This is the most dangerous snake ______ Africa.
He is the fastest runner ______ the team.
The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting ______ the museum.
Yesterday was the coldest day ______ the year.
Brazil is the largest country ______ South America.
This is the worst mistake ______ your life.
Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct preposition: in, of, or on.
This is the most popular song ______ the radio right now.
She gave the best performance ______ the entire show.
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building ______ Earth.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed person ______ Instagram.
This mistake is the most embarrassing ______ my career.
The biggest city ______ the list is Tokyo.
The blue diamond is the most expensive item ______ the auction.
He's the worst student ______ math class this year.
This is the fastest car ______ the planet.
The highest concentration of gold is found ______ the ocean floor.
Choose the correct preposition: in, of, or on.
Jupiter is the biggest planet ______ our solar system.
That was the most important day ______ the whole trip.
She is the best tennis player ______ the women's team.
This program is the most-watched show ______ television right now.
The oldest tree ______ the forest is over 800 years old.
The highest tides are always found ______ the coast.
New York is the most diverse city ______ the United States.
It was the worst movie ______ the last five years.
The cheapest flight deal is listed ______ page three ______ the document.
The cheetah is the fastest animal ______ Earth.
Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct comparative form of the adjective given in parentheses.
Remember the three main irregular comparatives: good (better), bad (worse), and far (farther/further).
My grade in the second test was ___________ (good) than my grade in the first one.
The traffic jam this morning was ___________ (bad) than yesterday.
We have to drive much ___________ (far) to get to the beach this year.
His performance in the play was surprisingly ___________ (good) than the director expected.
If you continue to ignore your responsibilities, things will get ___________ (bad).
The library is only a little ___________ (far) from the school than the supermarket.
The pizza at that restaurant is a lot ___________ (good) than the takeaway place near my house.
She explained the problem using no ___________ (far) details.
The economic outlook for the next quarter is predicted to be slightly ___________ (bad) than the last.
Can you give me some ___________ (far) information about the trip?
Complete the following sentences by choosing the best intensifier (a lot, much, many, or far) and the correct comparative form of the adjective in parentheses.
Remember: Intensifier+Comparative Adjective+than…
| Sentence | Intensifier (a lot / much / many / far) | Comparative Adjective (e.g., warmer, bigger) | Complete Sentence |
| 1. The new car is ______________________ (expensive) the old one. | |||
| 2. London is ___________ ___________ (big) Manchester. | |||
| 3. My new job is ___________ ___________ (stressful) my last one. | |||
| 4. We found the second half of the movie ___________ ___________ (interesting) the first half. | |||
| 5. Our team has ___________ ___________ (good) players than yours. | |||
| 6. Learning Chinese is ___________ ___________ (difficult) learning Spanish. | |||
| 7. The train trip was ___________ ___________ (quick) the bus journey. | |||
8. You have ___________ ___________ (better) options now than you did last year.Exercise: Less vs. FewerChoose the correct word, less or fewer, to complete each sentence.
|
Choose the correct interrogative pronoun (whose or who) to complete each sentence.
_____ is coming to the party tonight?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ pen is this on the desk?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ did you see at the library?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ book did you borrow?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ is going to help me with the homework?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ keys are these on the table?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ is the teacher speaking to?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ phone is ringing?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ is responsible for this mess?
a) Whose
b) Who
_____ jacket is hanging by the door?
a) Whose
b) Who
Fill in the blank with either whose (indicating possession) or who (referring to a person). Then, briefly explain why you chose that pronoun.
Sentence | Pronoun Chosen (Whose or Who) | Justification (Possession or Person?) |
1. _____ car is parked illegally? | ||
2. _____ wrote this beautiful poem? | ||
3. _____ are you waiting for? | ||
4. _____ turn is it to speak? | ||
5. _____ will be the next president? |
Translate the following Italian sentences into English. Pay close attention to whether you should use whose or who as the interrogative pronoun.
Chi è il tuo cantante preferito?
Di chi è questo zaino?
Chi ha finito il compito?
Di chi è la responsabilità ?
Chi ha rotto la finestra?
Di chi sono queste scarpe?
Chi è l'insegnante di matematica?
Di chi è l'idea?
Chi viene al cinema con noi?
Di chi è il cane che abbaia?