Homophones

Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are words that are easily confused 

because they look alike or sound alike (or both) but have different meanings.

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

(a) The boy put shampoo on his (hare/hair).

(b) Mum put some (flower/flour) in the cake mix.

(c) James didn't have a very good (nights/knights) sleep.

(d) A rabbit is a bit like a (hare/hair).

(e) Tony got chased by a large (bare/bear).

Choose the correct homophone to complete the sentences.

(a) Lucy couldn't wait to (meet/meat) her friend.

(b) Andrew (missed/mist) the bus.

(c) The mouse got his (tale/tail) caught.

(d) Glen has a long (wait/weight) for the bus.

(e) The cat hurt its (pour/poor/paw).

(f) The old man had no money, he was (pour/poor/paw).

(g) "Could you (pour/poor/paw) the orange juice, please?"

(h) Mark got a letter in the (mail/male).

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

1. We usually go to bed at __________________. (ate, eight)

2. My _________________ let us stay up late last night. (ant, aunt)

3. We _______________ strawberries with chocolate sauce. (ate, eight)

4. I have _____________ lunch today. (no, know)

5. There is a ________________ in my jeans. (hole, whole)

6. I won the game _____________ two points. (by, buy)

7. I would like ______________ have cookies with my milk. (to, two)

8. Billy _______________ the race. (one, won)

9. Please make sure to _______________ a jacket outside. (wear, where)

10. My favorite story is the “Tortoise and the _______________”. (hair, hare)

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

1. The wind ______________ the newspaper right out of my hands. (blue, blew)

2. _______________ sister will walk you home from school. (You’re, Your)

3. Maggie will _______________ a story in her notebook? (write, right)

4. Can you help me find ________________ shoes? (their, they’re)

5. There is a ________________ in my left sock. (hole, whole)

6. I won the game ___________ two points. (by, buy)

7. I would like __________ have cookies with my milk. (to, two)

8. Billy couldn't decide which ___________ to wear to school. (close, clothes)

9. Please make sure to _____________ a jacket outside. (wear, where)

10. Have you heard the fable about the tortoise and the ___________? (hair, hare)

their/there              isle/aisle              pair/pear
sew/so                   here/hear             sail/sale
grate/great           seen/scene            not/knot
threw/through      flower/flour          cellar/seller
maid/made              lane/lain              die/dye

Directions: Match the homonym or homophone from above with the correct definition below.

______ a single situation or conversation in a play

______ basement

______ past and past participle of MAKE

______ used to make a word or group of words negative

______ to stop living

______ of or relating to them or themselves

______ this place

______ the act of selling

______ to stain or color usually permanently

______ one who sells

______ two things that match or are meant to be used together

______ past participle of SEE

______ that place

______ to make into small particles by rubbing against something rough

______ a narrow way or road usually between fences, hedges, or buildings

______ to take in through the ear

______ an interlacing (as of string or ribbon) that forms a lump or knob

______ a female servant

______ large in size: not little or small

______ a passage between sections of seats (as in a church or theater)

______ to join or fasten by stitches

______ past participle of LIE

______ a fleshy fruit that grows on a tree related to the apple and is commonly larger at the end opposite the stem

______ a plant cultivated or outstanding for its blossoms

______ past of THROW

______ a sheet of fabric (as canvas) used to catch wind to move a craft through water

______ finely ground powdery meal of wheat or of any cereal grain or edible seed

______ island ______ in a manner or way that is indicated or suggested ______ in at one end and out the other

Spanish Culture

Meeting and Greeting

• Shake hands with everyone present--men, women and children--at a business or social meeting. Shake hands again when leaving.
• Men may embrace each other when meeting (friends and family only).
• Women may kiss each other on the cheek and embrace.

Body Language

• Never touch, hug or back slap a Spaniard you do not know well, unless a friendly Spaniard touches you first.
• Generally, Spaniards stand very close when talking.
• Spaniards speak a lot with their hands. Never mimic them.

Corporate Culture

• Spaniards do not take punctuality for business meetings seriously, but expect that you will be on time; call with an explanation if you are delayed.
• Spain is not a meeting culture. Meetings are to communicate instructions or to save time.
• Spaniards will want to spend time getting to know you and establishing chemistry before doing business. Personal qualities are valued over technical ability, professionalism or competence.
• Typically, Spanish is the language of business, but most large companies conduct business in English and Spanish. You cannot expect English to be widely spoken. Check ahead to determine if an interpreter is needed.
• Spaniards' lack of trust in institutions produces a constant atmosphere of crisis and emergency.
• Spaniards like making decisions on their own. Do not impose a decision in direct language. It could be humiliating to your associates.
• The organizational chart is social, not functional. The third or fourth level down may be more powerful than those at the top.

Dining and Entertainment

• It is acceptable and common to be late by 30 minutes in southern Spain and 15 minutes in northern Spain for social meetings. Never be late for a bullfight.
• Lunches/dinners are a vital part of business used to establish a relationship, to see if the chemistry is correct and to develop trust.
• Attempt to give a toast in Spanish. Be brief when toasting. It is acceptable for women to give toasts.
• Tip everyone for everything.
• No bread and butter plate is used. Bread is set directly on the table. Restaurants generally charge for bread by the piece.
• Spaniards don't waste food. It is better to decline food rather than leave it on your plate.

Dress

• Appearance is extremely important to Spaniards. They dress elegantly, even for casual occasions.
• Dress conservatively. Avoid bright or flashy colors.
• Shoes are the most important element of dress. Shabby looking shoes can ruin a very nice outfit.
• For business, men should wear jackets and ties, even in warm weather. If the senior person takes his/her jacket off during a meeting, you may do so, too.
• Women should wear dresses, blouses and skirts.

Gifts

• When invited to someone's home, always bring a small, wrapped gift for the hostess.
• Open a gift immediately upon receiving it in the presence of the host.
• Give: pastries, cakes, chocolates, flowers (red roses connote passion, yellow roses infidelity; give an odd number of flowers).
• Do not give: chrysanthemums, dahlias or 13 flowers (unlucky number).
• Gifts are normally not exchanged at business meetings, but small gifts may be appropriate at the successful conclusion of negotiations. Do not give a gift at the first meeting.
• Do not give a gift until meetings are finished, and then give only a token gift. Be careful not to imply a bribe.
• Give: desk items, books, art, music.

Helpful Hints

• Expect to be interrupted when speaking.
• Be patient. Nothing is done in a hurry. Spanish trademarks are procrastination and delay.

Especially for Women

• Foreign women are accepted in the business community. Establish credentials and ability immediately.
• Traditionally, a macho and chauvinistic behavior toward women has persisted, known as machismo. This has changed drastically over the last few years.
• Be aware of eye contact. Returning a man's gaze may be interpreted as flirting or a show of interest.
• Do not dine alone in a restaurant or bar at night. However, it is acceptable to do so at lunch.
• It is acceptable for a visiting businesswoman to invite a businessman to dinner. However, realize it is very difficult for women to pay for a man's meal. Spanish men expect to pay. Speak to the maitre d' or waiter in advance if you wish to pay.

GREETING PEOPLE 

1.- Kiss people on both cheeks when you meet them for the first time.

In my opinion, I think it's normal that people give two kisses on the cheek. As I am a teenager I do this when I meet a female but with a male I shake the hands.

Although girls don't ahve this problem, they kiss whoever they meet for the first time.

2.- Call older people by their first names.

It alls depends if I know the person or not. If I don't know them I use the word ''usted'' which means respect for this person.

3.- You use more formal language to speaking for an older person.

Like I said before, the only thing I take into consideration is if I know them or not. 

Holy week

One of the great things about Spanish life is the absurd number of public holiday .

Holy Week,  is like a Catholic version of Spring Break.

1. Processions

Religious processions are a big deal for a lot of people, and they basically involve taking the images of the Virgin Mary or of Christ out of the local church and walking them very slowly around the neighborhood. There are lots of guys in pointy hats–KKK-style, which is creepy.

Since it’s always raining somewhere in Spain during springtime, you can see the news reports of small-town people weeping because they can’t take their Virgin out–they spend a lot of time preparing for these things and it ruins their whole spring when the procession is cancelled. But at some point during the week you should be able to catch one. They’re a little bit boring if you’re going to stand there and watch the whole thing–don’t say I didn’t warn you!

2. Torrijas

Please, whatever you do, don’t tell a Spaniard that their torrijas are just what we call French Toast by another name. Well, almost. I guess we could fixate on the little differences (torrijas are fried rather than cooked on a griddle, for example) but I’d say that torrijas are a pretty good stand-in for French Toast anytime. Also big at this time of year are buñuelos

From my point of view, here in Ceuta the processions are quite good.

As I'm musician in a musical band of Ceuta. I have to play the trumpet for one procession every day following the different Virgins. I think that the only " bad " thing is that all the procesion pass the same places because Ceuta isn't very big and the majoraty of them starts in the city center.

But in my opinion I think it is very beautiful to watch the imagies in the smalls streets in Ceuta.

In Ceuta the Holy Week is fantastic because the people like it. That the procession go out with the militaries and legiones too.

In my opinion the procession that I like is " The Meeting " " El Encuentro " because it is when the Virgin meets with her son " Jesus ".

The penitents with tunics and a purple mask and sash. These walk with the float that has Jesus on it. The others penitents wear white tunics and a green powled hat and sash who go with the Virgin's float.

If it  is raining the floats don't go out and the bearers are very sad because they have practising for a long time.

This year  all the floats could go out because the weather was very good so everyone was happy. 

Here in Spain, in Ceuta, the Holy Week, the processions, etc. are very important for us, the worshipers (the cristians).

Holy Week is specially celebrated in the South of Spain, in Andalucia. Many people take part in the processions, not only adults, but children, too. For many years, Holy Week here in Spain has been very important and meaningful. That's why people who like it very much take part a lot and take care of the details about it.

For me, Holy Wek is my favourite holiday, I don't know exactly why. Maybe it is because since I was a child, my mother has tried to bring me up to like ''Holy Week''.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful floats is ''The Meetting'' where two floats meet and greet each other.

It's very exciting for me to see the Holy Week processions, especially here because I think each Holy Week in Ceuta is different from the others one.

Finally I think that what brings people to like Holy Week, is because each procession and float has its own ''personality''.  

Last week was Holy week. I think that Holy week is boring because I don't belive in God but for the other people it is the one of best time of the year. When they watche they cry a lot because they become emotional. In my I don't like Holy week even though the "thrones" I think are very  beautiful with their wooden cared sigles covered where in silver or gold.

This year in the Holy week I didn't go the processions. I was in Malaga. My parents asked me to go to the center to watch the processions. But if you go you  need to walk a lot so I didn't go.

My sister told me that the most beautiful processions in Spain are in Malaga and in Sevilla.

In Spain Holy Week is an important time for christians. The brotherhoods bring some image from the cathedral or their churches to celebrate when Jesus went into Jerusalen and the people welcomed him with palms, when he death and resurrection. In my opinion the best days are Palm Sunday because is the first day of "the Holy Week", and Tuesday, because the bearers represent very well the meeting of Christ with the Virgin which is called the "Encuentro".

Culture shock

What you need to know about Culture Shock

Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may experience a period of time when they feel very homesick and have a lot of stress and difficulty functioning in the new culture. This feeling is often called ‘culture shock’ and it is important to understand and learn how to cope with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home’s culture.

First of all, it’s important to know that culture shock is normal. Everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock, and the extent to which they do is determined by factors such as the difference between cultures, the degree to which someone is anxious to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity that person has to the new culture. If you go, for example, to a culture that is far different from your own, you’re likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the behavioural norms of the new culture.

There are four general stages of cultural adjustment, and it is important that you are aware of these stages and can recognise which stage you are in and when so that you will understand why you feel the way you do and that any difficulties you are experiencing are temporary, a process you are going through rather than a constant situation.

The first stage is usually referred to as the excitement stage or the ‘honeymoon’ stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture, everything will seem exciting, everyone will seem friendly and helpful and you’ll be overwhelmed with impressions. During this stage you are merely soaking up the new landscape, taking in these impressions passively, and at this stage you have little meaningful experience of the culture.

But it isn’t long before the honeymoon stage dissolves into the second stage – sometimes called the withdrawal stage. The excitement you felt before changes to frustration as you find it difficult to cope with the problems that arise. It seems that everything is difficult, the language is hard to learn, people are unusual and unpredictable, friends are hard to make, and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick, and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country. This is the stage which is referred to as ‘culture shock’.

Culture shock is only temporary, and at some point, if you are one of those who manage to stick it out, you’ll transition into the third stage of cultural adjustment, the ‘recovery’ stage. At this point, you’ll have a routine, and you’ll feel more confident functioning in the new culture. You’ll start to feel less isolated as you start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment. Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand. At this stage, you’ll deal with new challenges with humour rather than anxiety.

The last stage is the ‘home’ or ‘stability’ stage – this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, you’ll function well in the new culture, adopt certain features and behaviours from your new home, and prefer certain aspects of the new culture to your own culture.

There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called ‘reverse culture shock’. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture ‘foreign’ because you are so used to the new culture that you have spent so long adjusting to. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild – you may notice things about your home culture that you had never noticed before, and some of the ways people do things may seem odd. Reverse culture shock rarely lasts for very long.

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

1. Some people will find the process of adapting to a new country easier than others.
2. Knowing about these four stages will help people adjust to a new culture more quickly.
3. People can ease culture shock by learning about the language and customs before they go to the new culture.
4. Culture shock is another name for cultural adjustment.
5. The first stage is usually the shortest.
6. In the first stage, people will have a very positive impression of the new culture.
7. Many people will leave the new culture while they are in the second stage.
8. By the third stage, people do not experience any more problems with the new culture.
9. In the fourth stage, people speak the new language fluently.
10. Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.

Culture shock : a fish out of water

CULTURE SHOCK: A Fish Out Of Water

Introduction:

1. Kalvero Oberg was one of the first writers to identify five distinct stages of culture shock. He found that all human beings experience the same feelings when they travel to or live in a different country or culture. He found that culture shock is almost like a disease: it has a cause, symptoms, and a cure.

Body:

2. Whenever someone travels overseas they are like "a fish out of water." Like the fish, they have been swimming in their own culture all their lives. A fish doesn't know what water is. Likewise, we often do not think too much about the culture we are raised in. Our culture helps to shape our identity. Many of the cues of interpersonal communication (body language, words, facial expressions, tone of voice, idioms, slang) are different in different cultures. One of the reasons that we feel like a fish out of water when we enter a new culture, is that we do not know all of the cues that are used in the new culture.

3. Psychologists tell us that there are five distinct phases (or stages) of culture shock. It is important to understand that culture shock happens to all people who travel abroad, but some people have much stronger reactions than others.

4. During the first few days of a person's stay in a new country, everything usually goes fairly smoothly. The newcomer is excited about being in a new place where there are new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes. The newcomer may have some problems, but usually accepts them as just part of the newness. They may find themselves staying in hotels or be with a homestay family that is excited to meet the foreign stranger. The newcomer may find that "the red carpet" has been rolled out and they may be taken to restaurants, movies and tours of the sights. The new acquaintances may want to take the newcomer out to many places and "show them off." This first stage of culture shock is called the "honeymoon phase."

5. Unfortunately, this honeymoon phase often comes to an end fairly soon. The newcomer has to deal with transportation problems (buses that don't come on time), shopping problems (can't buy favorite foods) or communication problems (just what does "Chill out, dude." mean?). It may start to seem like people no longer care about your problems. They may help, but they don't seem to understand your concern over what they see as small problems. You might even start to think that the people in the host country don't like foreigners.

6.This may lead to the second stage of culture shock, known as the "rejection phase." The newcomer may begin to feel aggressive and start to complain about the host culture/country. However, it is important to recognize that these feelings are real and can become serious. This phase is a kind of crisis in the 'disease' of culture shock. It is called the "rejection" phase because it is at this point that the newcomer starts to reject the host country, complaining about and noticing only the bad things that bother them. At this stage the newcomer either gets stronger and stays, or gets weaker and goes home (physically, or only mentally).

7. If you don't survive stage two successfully, you may find yourself moving into stage three: the "regression phase." The word "regression" means moving backward, and in this phase of culture shock, you spend much of your time speaking your own language, watching videos from your home country, eating food from home. You may also notice that you are moving around campus or around town with a group of students who speak your own language. You may spend most of this time complaining about the host country/culture.

8. Also in the regression phase, you may only remember the good things about your home country. Your homeland may suddenly seem marvelously wonderful; all the difficulties that you had there are forgotten and you may find yourself wondering why you ever left (hint: you left to learn English!). You may now only remember your home country as a wonderful place in which nothing ever went wrong for you. Of course, this is not true, but an illusion created by your culture shock 'disease.'

9. If you survive the third stage successfully (or miss it completely) you will move into the fourth stage of culture shock called the "recovery phase" or the "at-ease-at-last phase." In this stage you become more comfortable with the language and you also feel more comfortable with the customs of the host country. You can now move around without a feeling of anxiety. You still have problems with some of the social cues and you may still not understand everything people say (especially idioms). However, you are now 90% adjusted to the new culture and you start to realize that no country is that much better than another - it is just different lifestyles and different ways to deal with the problems of life.

10. With this complete adjustment, you accept the food, drinks, habits and customs of the host country, and you may even find yourself preferring some things in the host country to things at home. You have now understood that there are different ways to live your life and that no way is really better than another, just different. Finally you have become comfortable in the new place.

11. It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all the phases of culture shock. It is also important to know that you can experience all of them at different times: you might experience the regression phase before the rejection phase, etc. You might even experience the regression phase on Monday, the at ease phase on Tuesday, the honeymoon phase on Wednesday, and the rejection phase again on Thursday. "What will Friday be like?"

12. Much later, you may find yourself returning to your homeland and - guess what? - you may find yourself entering the fifth phase of culture shock. This is called "reverse culture shock" or "return culture shock" and occurs when you return home. You have been away for a long time, becoming comfortable with the habits and customs of a new lifestyle and you may find that you are no longer completely comfortable in your home country. Many things may have changed while you were away and - surprise! surprise! - it may take a little while to become at ease with the cues and signs and symbols of your home culture.

Conclusion

13. Reverse culture shock can be very difficult. There is a risk of sickness or emotional problems in many of the phases of culture shock. Remember to be kind to yourself all the time that you are overseas, and when you get home, give yourself time to adjust. Be your own best friend. If you do these things you will be a much stronger person.If you do these things, congratulations, you will be a citizen of the world!

*** * ***

a. What’s going to happen to a fish if it lives out of water?

b. What is culture shock?

A Quiz 

http://international.ouc.bc.ca/cultureshock/qzdx.html

Should - Must - Have to | English Modal Verbs

Read the following situations and fill in one of the following  verb forms:,

should, shouldn't, should have, shouldn't have , don't have to, doesn't have to,  must, mustn't, must have.

 

 It’s 8.15 and school starts at 8.00. Mother to son:

                                               

1 You  be at school at this time.

2 You  skip school, it’s bad for your education. It's also against the rules.

3 You  got up so late.

4 You  take a bus, I’ll drive you to school.

5 You  go to bed earlier at night. You'd feel more relaxed in the morning.

1. should                             2. mustn't        

 3. shouln't have                  4. don't have to 

 5. should 

Tom looks very pale and tired.       

                                                   

1 He  studied a lot today.

2 He  rest a little before supper. It would do him good.

3 He  study so hard, he knows his lessons very well.

4 He  gone out for a walk in the middle of the afternoon.

5 He   try to be less scared of tests. He wouldn't suffer so much. 

6 He  be very worried about tomorrow’s Maths test. 

  

1. must have                           2. should 

3. don't have to                       4. should have 

5.should                                  6. must 

Jerry said he would invite me to his party but he didn’t.
                                         

 

1 He  make false promises.

2 You’re such a fun at parties, he  invited you.

3 You  get offended, he may have forgotten to ring you up.

4 You  think there’s something wrong with you. It was Jerry’s mistake.

5 If  you don’t go to his party, you  buy him a present. That is an advantage!

1. shouldn't                                 2.  should have 

3. shouldn't                                 4.  mustn't 

5. don't have to 

 

 Look, there’s going to be a terrible storm soon.

                                          

 

1 We  hurry home. I think it would be better and safer.

2 We  brought an umbrella. We could have walked in the rain.

3 We  stand under a tree. It’s too dangerous.

4 Look, there’s a man selling umbrellas. We  absolutely buy one.

5 We  pay very much. I think 5 dollars will be enough.

1. should                         2. should have 

3. mustn't                        4. must 

5. don't have 

The house smells of smoke. It’s terrible.
         

 

1 Tom is in his room, he  be smoking and he never closes the door.

2 He  smoke so much. It’s bad for his health.

3 He  smoked at least 10 cigarettes since this morning.

4 You  told him that he could smoke in his bedroom.

5 He  try to give up this bad habit.

1. must                         2. shouldn't

3. must have                4. shouldn't have 

5 should 

Holy week in Spain

Spain celebrates Easter Week much more than most European countries. During the whole of Semana Santa, (Holy Week), street processions are organised in most Spanish towns each evening, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. People carry statues of saints around on floats or wooden platforms, and an atmosphere of mourning - which can seem quite oppressive to onlookers - and the Easter week processions end with Easter Sunday, a day full of light and colour when church and cathedral bells are heard ringing throughout the country.
In some of the processions, marchers wear clothes reminiscent of the klu klux klan. Infact their clothes are meant to depict the Nazareños, people from Nazareth. The religious fraternities and brotherhoods are responsable for carrying the statues and organising the penitents and musicians. The Nazareños follow the people who carry the floats bearing sculptures and models of biblical scenes.
The people who carry the weight of the floats are called "costaleros" and are expected the carry these "thrones" with solemnity and grace. They use a small cushion, "costal" to protect themselves from getting sores from the wood rubbing against their skin during the long processions.
The most famous Easter celebrations are held in various Andalusian towns, Valladolid, Toledo, Segovia, Burgos, Zamora and Cuenca.