exercises in preparation for test

ex 1 page 155
1-on the condition
2-even if
3-supposing
4-in case
5-unless
6-even if
7-even if
8-but for

ex 2 page 155
my father gave up smoking recently
watch out for the potholes in that road
better you'd turn down the offer politely
that's information- who found it out interesting?
stand up when the national anthem is played
your assistant set up the meeting very efficiently
that's the issue which I want to bring up
can you fit it into the agenda?

ex 3 page 155
1-I will talk about
2-that's fine
3-let's talk
4-we're not happy
5-that's not acceptable
6-we were prepared to

ex 4 page 155
1-expenditure isn't higer than my income
2-supply outstrips demand
3-exports than imports
4-debtors;creditors
5-boom;bust;
6-mortgages;loans

ex 5 page 155
1-debt
2-lend
3-discreet
4-arise
5-effects
6-principal

ex 6 page 155
1-donation
2-collision
3-abolition
4-abstention
5-permission
6-elimination

I think last lesson experience was very useful and I found the documentary very interesting. While I was seeing it, I thought that economic situation of New Zealand can be compared to the Italian one. In fact also in Italy there are unemployed people who live in tent or people who haven't got enough money to pay the rent. I agree with the ideas of the documentary about neoliberism and I really think that this economic theory causes inequality. However last speaking assessment showed me that policy development is a very difficult process because there are the interests of all social classes to consider. I'd like to work in policy development for a government minister but it implies a great responsibility.

False friends

• Scholar , noun (=studioso)     /skäl′ər/     -   Pupil, noun (=scolaro)  / pyo̵̅o̅′pəl/

The definition of a scholar is a learned person, who excels in a particular field or subject

The equivalent of italian "scolaro" is    Pupil, noun    /pyo̵̅o̅′pəl/

• Trivial, adjective (=banale)   / triv′ē əl/

It means insignificant, or of no importance

The equivalent of italian "triviale" is vulgar, adjective  /vul′gər/

• Pavement, noun (=marciapiede)  / pāv′mənt/

Pavement is defined as the hard surface of a road or sidewalk
The equivalent of italian "pavimento" is floor , noun       /flôr/

• Petrol, noun (=benzina)  / pe′trəl/

Petrol is gasoline

The equivalent of italian "petrolio" is oil, noun

• Ostrich, noun (=struzzo)   /äs′tric̸h/

It is a swift-running bird 

The equivalent of italian "ostrica" is oyster, noun /o̵is′tər/

• Barrack, noun (=caserma)  /bar′ək/

It is a building for housing soldiers

The equivalent of italian "baracca" is shack, noun /s̸hak/

Vocabulary

• Owe, verb (=essere debitore)         /əʊ/

Definition: to owe si defined as to have a debt or to feel the need to do
Structure it takes: to owe someone for something
Use case: "he owes me 5$"
Synonyms: to be in debt, ought to, to be indebted to someone

• Understatement, noun (=eufemismo)      /ˌʌndəˈsteɪtmənt/

Definition: it's a sentence which is far less than what is true
Use case: "understatement is a form of irony"
Synonyms: modest statement, restraint
Antonyms: exaggeration

• Conceal, verb (=nascondere)     /kənˈsiːl/

Definition: to conceal means to keep something hidden or secret
Structure it takes: to conceal from ..., to conceal behind...
Use case: "it is concealed by trees"
Synonyms: hide, keep from another's knowledge, keep secret
Antonyms: show
Related forms: concelment, concealer, concealable

• Takeover, noun (=acquisizione del controllo)     /teɪkəʊvə/

Definition: the act of assuming control or management or responsibility for something

Structure it takes: takeover of ...a company/a club

Use case:" takeover is the purchase of one company by another called bidder"

Synonyms: acquisition

• merger, noun (=fusione)    /ˈmɜːdʒə/

Definition: it's the union of two different elements (companies), it's something produced by mixing

Use case: merger proposals weren't enough realistic

Synonyms: union, combination, alliance, mix, fusion

Antonyms: separation, division

• firm, noun (=azienda, impresa, ditta)     /fɜːm/

Definition: it's a business company or a partnership of two or more persons

Use case: "small/ medium-sized firms"

Synonyms: business, company, corporation, enterprise

• morbid, adjective (=morboso, malato)   /ˈmɔːbɪd/

 Definition: it means "caused by desease" or "psychologically unhealthy"

Structure it takes: to be morbid for

Use case: "morbid curiosity"," morbid religious feelings", "morbid obsession"

Synonyms: macabre, grim, pathological

Antonyms: happy. cheerful

Prefixes-suffixes: morbidly (adv), morbidness (n)

• ingenuity, noun (=ingegnosità, abilità)     /ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪtɪ/

Definition: ingenuity is the quality of being clever, creative

Use case: "never understimate the ingenuity of man"

Synonyms: imagination, inventiveness, ability to invent

Related forms: ingenious (adj)

Speaking assessment: business plan

I think the experience of last lesson was an important opportunity to learn the techniques of public speaking and improve our ability to present a plan. Our presentation was well organized and its structure was logical, but if I could try to present again a business plan, I would improve some aspects.
At first I would practice many times  in order to be more confident and have a more natural intonation. I didn't use enough signposting language so I would improve the use of formulas.
Then if I could present another plan I would add a bigger amount of information. Last lesson I forgot a part of my presentation, so I'd like to find a way to remember all the parts. For example I would use a sheet of paper with all the key words of my presentation.

Reading
10 GRAMMAR RULES YOU CAN FORGET: how to stop worrying and write proper

Guardian Grammar Blog http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/30/10-grammar-rules-you-can-forget

The article deals with some advices about grammar rules and it tries to explain that the "correct form isn't always the best". The author shows why we can forget rules such as "don't divide the particle to from the infinitive form" or" don't end a sentence with a preposition": we can infringe these rules if the result sounds more natural. So a colloquialism is often better than a grammatically correct form.
This conclusion is a consequence of the awareness of grammar rule changes: English is spoken by people all over the world and this language is so alive that it's ever changing. Actually all the spoken languages​​ undergo this process of renewal: for example Italian language today includes lots of neologisms taken from English such as "chattare" or "loggarsi".

My personal goal

I'd like to improve my speaking because I have difficulties when I have to use and choose english words in order to express complex phrases in front of other people. So I think I have to improve also my vocabulary.

Vocabulary

• recipient, noun (= destinatario) ;    re-cipi-ent  ;     /rɪˈsɪpɪənt/

The "recipient" is a person who receives something

Use cases: "recipient address rejected"; "universal recipient"

Synonyms: receiver, addressee, taker,acceptor    

• reclaim, verb (=ritirare, recuperare);    re-claim;     /rɪˈkleɪm/

If you reclaim something, you succeed in getting it back
Structure it takes: "to reclaim something"
Use cases: "they got the the right to reclaim South African citizenship"; "baggage reclaim"
Synonyms: to regain

• rude, adjective (=scortese, maleducato);        /ruːd/ 

A person who is uncivil and impolite 
Synonyms: boorish, abrupt, uncivil, brusque
Prefixes/suffixes: rudely (adv); rudeness (noun)

• romance, noun (=relazione sentimentale o storia d'amore);       /rəˈmæns/

It can be seen as a love affair or a tale of love
Synonyms:  1) love, courtship, romantic tie
                    2) love story, romantic novel

• Vacancy, noun (=posto vacante);       /ˈveɪkənsɪ/

It is an unfilled position
Use cases: "job vacancies"; "vacancy list"
Synonyms:absence

• Villain,noun (=delinquente)      /ˈvɪlən/

A villain is a waeked and evil person
Synonyms:bandit, scoundrel, rascal

• guffaw,noun (risata fragorosa)           /gʌˈfɔː/

A noisy laugh

Use cases:" i let out a huge guffaw"
Synonyms: hearty laugh, roar of laughter