Easter holiday homework, 2017

There are two tasks I would like you to complete this Easter:


1. Read the speech and answer the questions (it is from a textbook so I can't post it here but everything you need is in your homework folder).


2. Complete the end of term quiz (which is included below), which is based on speeches, reviews and articles.


Everything is due the first day back after Easter (Monday, 24th April).

End of term two massive English quiz!

 

1. What should always go at the top of an article?

 

2. List three things you could comment on the quality of when writing a review, e.g. acting.

 

3. Which technique is the following an example of:

 

          ‘He was as strong as an ox’?

 

4. What should you do in the first paragraph of a review?

 

5. What should each paragraph of an article have above it?

 

6. When you write down something someone said in speech marks, this is called a what?

 

7. Write down an example of a rhetorical question.

 

8. Re-write the following sentence so that it has the correct spelling, punctuation and grammar:

 

          i was speaking to a young lady just the other day she said it’s just so           tough being a single mum i wish someone could help me

 

9. Which technique is the following an example of:

 

          ‘I’ve told you million times that chewing gum is bad for you!’?

 

10. In which of the three text types we have covered this term (reviews, articles and speeches) would you expect to find the following sentence:

 

          ‘The plot moves along at breakneck speed, and the directing is             

           great.’?

 

11. Write down an example of a metaphor.

Homework, Monday, March 20th, 2017

Read the speech extract below and answer the questions that follow. This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, March 21st). 

The following is an extract from a speech by the human rights activist Malala Yousafzai delivered to the youth version of the United Nations on July 12^th, 2013.

…

I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.

…

There are hundreds of Human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for human rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals of education, peace and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them.

So here I stand: one girl among many. I speak, not for myself, but for all girls and boys. I raise up my voice, not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights: their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.

…

Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.

The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than sword” was true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. And that is why they killed 14 innocent medical students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they killed many female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa and FATA. That is why they are blasting schools every day.  Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.

I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, “Why are the Taliban against education?” He answered very simply. By pointing to his book he said, “A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book.” They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits. Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.

1. Where does Malala think she should begin her speech?

2. Who does she thank first?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘I have __________________ thousands of good wish cards from all over the ____________.’

4. What word in the second paragraph means the same as ‘striving’ (you may have to look ‘striving’ up in the dictionary)?

5. Who, according to the third paragraph, does Malala speak for?

6. Complete the sentence: ‘I raise up my ____________, not so that I can shout, but so that those ________________ a voice can be heard.’

7. What four rights does she list in third paragraph?

8. Find the sentence in the fourth paragraph which contains the word ‘Swat’ and copy it out.

9. Based on how it is used in the sentence, what do you think ‘Swat’ means?

10. What saying does she mention in the fifth paragraph?

11. What word is used in the fifth paragraph which means ‘not guilty’?

12. How does she describe Pakistan in the final paragraph?

Extension questions:

13. Why do you think Malala refers to the people in the audience as ‘brothers and sisters’?

14. In the final paragraph, she mentions a boy from her school. Why do you think she does this?

15. How does Malala get across a sense that she does not consider herself to be special?

Homework, Monday 13th March, 2017

The following is an extract from the acceptance speech Barack Obama gave when he was nominated as the Democrat Party's candidate to run in the presidential election in 2008. Read it and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 14th March). 

You can watch the speech here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe751kMBwms&t=52s

I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard-fought victory here in New Hampshire.

A few weeks ago, no-one imagined that we'd have accomplished what we did here tonight. For most of this campaign, we were far behind, and we always knew our climb would be steep.

But in record numbers, you came out and spoke up for change. And with your voices and your votes, you made it clear that at this moment - in this election - there is something happening in America.

There is something happening when men and women in Des Moines and Davenport; in Lebanon and Concord come out in the snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block because they believe in what this country can be.

There is something happening when Americans who are young in age and in spirit - who have never before participated in politics - turn out in numbers we've never seen because they know in their hearts that this time must be different.

There is something happening when people vote not just for the party they belong to but the hopes they hold in common - that whether we are rich or poor; black or white; Latino or Asian; whether we hail from Iowa or New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, we are ready to take this country in a fundamentally new direction. That is what's happening in America right now. Change is what's happening in America.

You can be the new majority who can lead this nation out of a long political darkness - Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are tired of the division and distraction that has clouded Washington; who know that we can disagree without being disagreeable; who understand that if we mobilize our voices to challenge the money and influence that's stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something better, there's no problem we can't solve - no destiny we cannot fulfil.

Questions

1. Who did Barack Obama run against in the election?

2. What did no-one imagine a few weeks ago?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘For most of this campaign, we were far _____________, and we always knew our ______________ would be ___________.’

4. What, according to the third paragraph, did people come out and speak up for?

5. Which three place names are mentioned in the fourth paragraph?

6. What does Barack Obama say in the fifth paragraph instead of ‘turn out in large numbers’?

7. Which particular group of people does Barack Obama mention in the fifth paragraph?

8. What, according to the fifth paragraph, is happening in America right now?

Extension questions:

9. Why do you think Barack Obama congratulates Hilary Clinton at the start, even though he fought against her in the election?

10. In the second paragraph, there is a metaphor. What is it, what image does it put in your mind, and why has it been used?

11. There is an example of alliteration in the third paragraph. Find it and copy it out.

12. In the sixth paragraph, what does Barack Obama do when he talks about ethnic groups and American states, which technique does he use?

13. What does Barack Obama want people to think he represents more than anything else? How does he get this point across?

Homework, 6th March, 2017

Read the three speeches below and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 7th March)

1

Ladies and gentlemen, I stand here before you today to talk to you about a very important issue: food in schools. I think you’ll agree with me when I say that it’s time for a change. For too long we’ve been served unhealthy meals packed full of fat and sugar, and we’ve had enough! Everyday we queue up in the canteen only to have fatty muck splattered onto our plates. Well, I think it’s about time the school started caring about our health and well-being and gave us fruit, vegetables, and low fat options so we can lead healthy lives. So I say to you: no more fat! No more sugar! No more carbs! 

2

Hello everyone. I’ve been thinking that the food in the canteen is quite unhealthy. I think we should probably think about changing and having more stuff like vegetables, bananas, apples, beans ... you know, stuff like that. Healthy stuff basically. So come on, let’s ask if we can get better food. That’s basically all I have to say.

3

Alright? In the canteen, they serve food like chips, burgers, hotdogs, deep fried chocolate bars. The other day I had this hot dog that was covered in cheese, and then for dessert I had another hot dog, but covered in ice cream. Tomorrow, apparently they’re going to have bacon wrapped in more bacon, and there’s no fruit. Anyway, have a nice day.

1. What are all three speeches about?

2. What is the purpose of the first speech?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘For too long we’ve been served unhealthy meals packed full of _______ and ___________, and we’ve had _____________.’

4. What, according to the first speech, do the students have ‘splattered’ onto their plates everyday?

5. What three healthy alternatives are suggested in the first speech?

6. What three things should there be no more of, according to the first speech?

7. Complete the sentence from the second speech: ‘I’ve been thinking that the __________ in the canteen is quite ____________________.’

8. What four things, according to the second speech, should the school canteen probably think about having more of?

9. According to the third speech, what two things were used to cover hot dogs?

10. According to the third speech, what is there none of?

11. In your opinion, which is the best speech and why?

Extension questions – have a go at these if you’re feeling especially brainy:

12. There are three examples of direct address in the first speech. What are they?

13. What is the effect of the use of the term ‘fatty muck’ to describe food in the first speech?

14. The first speech uses a list. Find it and copy it out.

15. Copy out the sentence from the first speech which includes repetition. 

16. One of the speeches contains a rhetorical question. Find it and copy it out.

17. Which particular word in the second speech tells us that it has been written in quite an informal way? 

Homework: Monday, 27th February, 2017

Read the speech below and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due on tomorrow (Tuesday, 28th February). 

You have been asked to talk to a group of elderly people about the benefits of Smartphones. Write down what you would say.

Hello ladies and gentlemen. My name is Wally and I’m here today to tell you all about Smartphones. If, like me, you imagined a future world of flying cars when you were younger, you’re probably disappointed. But actually the future is already here, and it’s a future of Smartphones.

Now, I know most of you are probably not very keen on the idea of Smartphones – they look complicated and fiddly to use, and you’re probably thinking ‘I don’t need one – if I need to call someone, I’ll do it on my home phone.’ Hopefully, though, by the time I’ve finished speaking to you, I’ll have changed your mind.

Smartphones are great, even if you don’t use them to make calls. There is so much you can do on them: you can check your emails, listen to music and even browse the internet. Did you know that? Well, you can, and this opens up a whole world of opportunity. It’s like having the world at your fingertips. Ever wanted to learn a new language? Well, you can with a Smartphone and, because it’s portable, you can even learn while you’re on the bus or train. Want to make something nice for dinner? Well, if you’re in the supermarket and want know what ingredients to buy for, say, a pizza, you can find a recipe online right there, in the palm of your hand! It’s literally the best thing ever!

I mentioned earlier that you can use your Smartphone to listen to music while you’re out and about. That’s right, you can, and your Smartphone can hold hundreds, maybe even thousands of songs! So whatever it is you’re into, whether it’s Frank Sinatra, One Direction or Metallica, you can listen to it on the go using your Smartphone.

Your Smartphone also has loads of other great features that are useful in everyday situations. These are called apps. For example, if you buy something in a shop and you think the cashier might have given you the wrong change, you can whip out your Smartphone and use the calculator. If you’re abroad and you want to convert a foreign currency into Pounds, well, there’s an app for that too! In fact, there’s an app for almost anything you can think of.

I’m not going to bore you any more – the best way to learn about how great Smartphones is use one for yourself. I’ll be sticking around for another few hours, so if you have any questions or want me to show you how to use your own Smartphone, I’m more than happy to do that.

Thanks for listening!

1. What is the name of the person giving the speech?

2. What did he imagine when he was younger?

3. Why do you think he doesn’t think most of the people in the audience will be very keen on the idea of Smartphones?

4. What does he hope the people he is speaking to will have done by the time he’s finished speaking to them?

5. What adjective does he use to describe Smartphones in the first line of the third paragraph?

6. What three things does he say you can do on Smartphones?

7. Where does he say you can find a recipe for pizza?

8. What feature of Smartphones does he mention in the fourth paragraph?

9. What feature, according to the fifth paragraph, is especially useful if you are abroad?

Extension task

Now, if you’re feeling adventurous, write down all the literary techniques that have been underlined and numbered in the speech. One has been done for you as an example.

1.

2. Direct address

3.

4.

5.

6.

Direct address          Strong, clear opening          List Hyperbole          Simile          Rhetorical question

Half term homework, February 2017

Hi, 

This homework is due on Monday, February 20th (the first day back after half term). It is all to do with how writers try and get their point across, so will help you with your reading comprehension skills, but will also help to make you a better writer yourself. 

Have a look at the table below. In the left-hand side column are some examples of techniques which writers use to try and get a point across. Next to each example is the name of the technique.

Example	Technique
Watching this film was like eating a delicious meal.	Simile
The epidemic first hit Canada, then America, then Mexico.	List
Over 6 million people live in the UK.	Fact
It was a million times worse than I could have imagined.	Hyperbole (exaggeration)
Education, education, education.	Repetition
Sharon Starling is fitness fanatic, and now she has written a book.	Example of a specific person
‘It came as shock, I can tell you,’ said Ms. Lampard.	Quote
The storm growled at me.	Personification
I suggest you sit down before reading this.	Direct address (speaking directly to the reader)
Isn’t it about time we realised what is really happening here?	Rhetorical question
It is advisable that you avoid fatty foods.	Advice/recommendation
I think it’s time to try something else.	Personal opinion.

Now look at the table below. You are now going to write down next to each example which technique you think has been used. All the techniques are listed in the table above (the one you have already read through), so you can pick and choose from there. Each technique only appears once.

Example	Technique
His speech was a million times more effective.
Last year, 3.5 million people signed up to Facebook.
No, no, no!
John Campbell, 37 from Worcester, has always loved cheese.
The long, sinewy fingers of the trees reached out towards me.
First Miliband, then Cameron, now Farage.
Has the time not come to end this madness?
You really should think about following her example.
Doctors advise exercising at least three times a week.
Watching this movie is like being slapped in the face with a fish.
‘I couldn’t believe it,’ said Mr Campbell.
I just don’t think people really enjoy it.

Now see if you can come up with your own examples and fill in the table below. If the boxes are too small, you can do this on a separate piece of paper.

Example	Technique

Homework, 6th February, 2017

Hi,

This week I would like you to read the article on pirates and answer the questions that go with it. As always, everything you need is in your homework folder.