Severn Cullis-Susuki's speech (2012)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJGuIZVfLM

5 writing tips

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/five-tips-for-writing-a-great-speech/

Guide - Reading 2

Guide Reading 1

Reading 2- Guide- 2nd Bimester

INSTITUTO ASUNCIÓN DE QUERÉTARO

SECUNDARIA        2012-2013

TEACHER: _____________________________ DATE:__________________

NAME:_________________________________ GRADE:________________

READING guide - Level 2 Unit 4

Family trees

What do you know about your family's past? Would you like to find out more about your relatives and ancestors? If you would, then you should think about making a family tree. A family tree is a chart that shows the names of everyone in a family over a long period of time, and the relationships between them.

Often the best place to start when tracing your ancestors is to talk to as many family members as you can. Ask your parents and relatives about their memories, and list all the family members they mention. You may find relatives you never knew you had! Search through old boxes and drawers to gather as many photos, letters and other objects as you can to support your search. (You can learn a lot about someone from an object they have left behind.)

Many people then continue their search online, and this can be a great way to expand your tree. It's true that more and more records are available online, and searching on the Internet is certainly convenient. However, you should always check the reliability of the information you find, and don't forget that most of your relatives were alive long before the Internet! For this reason, one of the best sources of information can be your local government office. Go there and ask to see any records giving details of births, deaths and marriages in your area. You can then create a simple sketch linking members of your family, their children, and so on, down through several generations. From there you can go on to find out more details, starting with known facts and then work backwards (i.e. towards the present day).

Try to identify the key figures in each period, as these people might help you find more information. A trip to your local library could be worthwhile, to look through their records and see if any family members played an important role in the community. Don't be discouraged if you find that you come to a dead end from time to time. There are specialist magazines available, which are full of ideas on how to proceed. Sometimes, a professional organization might be able to assist you, as well. You could also join a local family history society to exchange ideas.

Remember, how much detail you want to add to your family tree is up to you. It can be a chart giving basic information, or a complex history packed with fascinating facts. A family tree is a great way to bring the past to life. Why not start one for your family? You might be amazed at the things you discover about your ancestors!

I.    Decide if the following statement is true or false. Find evidence in the text to support your answer.

1.    Talking to your parents and relatives is a good way to begin your family tree.      True False

_________________________________________________________

2.    You need to spend a lot of money to make a family tree.      True False

_________________________________________________________

3.    You should try to complete your family tree in as much detail as possible.     True False

_________________________________________________________

4.    You need special qualifications to make a family tree.     True False

_________________________________________________________

5.    You need to be careful about information you find on the Internet.      True False

_________________________________________________________

II.    Underline the correct answer from the choices.

6.    Joining a local family history society is a good way to    check information / get help /     find a professional organization.

7.    To begin your family tree you should    go online /    make a list of your relatives /    visit a local government office.

8.    A family tree should    be fairly basic /    contain lots of detail /    include any information you like.

9.     Things that once belonged to your ancestors     can reveal a lot about them /   might be worth a lot of money /     might not be a reliable.

10. When looking for information, searching online is    one possible way /    the best way /    the most convenient way.

III.    Use a key phrase from the text to complete the sentence.

11. If you need ideas on how to continue your search, you can buy a __________________.

12. Begin with something you know is true, and then work_________________.

13. When starting your family tree, first use basic information to make a __________________.

14. For basic details of when someone was born or died, you should go to your local __________________.

IV.    Look for the word in the text that means:

15. In Paragraph 4
​a situation in which further progress seems impossible?

_________________________________________________________

16. In Paragraph 3
​groups of people in society who are born and live around the same time?

_________________________________________________________

17. In Paragraph 1
​people who are related to you who lived a long time ago?

_________________________________________________________

V.    Underline the word which is a synonym for

18. sketch (paragraph 3).
figure / list / spreadsheet / table / graph / drawing

19. discouraged (paragraph 4).
disordered / dishonest / disgusted / disheartened / disoriented / disqualified

20. records (paragraph 3).
documentation / figures / certificates / facts / evidence / statistics

Reading 1- Guide- 2nd Bimester

INSTITUTO ASUNCIÓN DE QUERÉTARO

SECUNDARIA        2012-2013

TEACHER: _____________________________ DATE:__________________

NAME:_________________________________ GRADE:________________

READING guide - Level 1 Unit 5

Does the death penalty work?

The death penalty is the most severe punishment a criminal can receive. However, does it really work? Does having the death penalty help in the fight against serious crime?

Supporters of the death penalty say that the fear of death stops criminals from committing serious crimes. They argue that the death penalty is worse than spending life in jail, so it must be more effective. Moreover, a dead criminal cannot commit crime again. Yes, mistakes were made in the past. However, thanks to the latest scientific techniques, they claim mistakes cannot be made these days. Public opinion in many countries agrees with these points.

However, opponents of the death penalty say it has no effect in preventing serious crimes. They point to the U.S. Some states have the death penalty, and others do not. However, the proportion of murders in between states is very similar. In fact, states that use the death penalty often have a higher rate of violent crime. What's more, after an execution there is no evidence that the number of serious crimes goes down.

It seems that there is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty is more successful than long-term imprisonment in preventing serious crime. There appears to be no difference in the levels of serious crime between countries with and without the death penalty.

However, research into the situation in Singapore has revealed some interesting results. In most countries that use the death penalty, the sentence is rarely carried out. Only in a tiny number of cases is the criminal actually executed. In Singapore, however, criminals who are given the death penalty are always put to death. People know that they will be killed if they commit a serious crime. Could this be the reason why serious crimes rates are so low in Singapore?

I.    Decide if the following statement is true or false. Find evidence in the text to support your answer.

1.    Worldwide, very few criminals who receive the death penalty are actually executed.     True False

_________________________________________________________

2.    Violent crime usually decreases after a criminal is put to death.   True False

_________________________________________________________

3.    Some states in the U.S. don't use the death penalty.   True False

_________________________________________________________

4.    In many countries, people support the death penalty   True False

_________________________________________________________

5.    Most countries that have the death penalty have lower rates of serious crime.   True False

_________________________________________________________

II.    Underline the correct answer from the choices.

6.    Research shows that the death penalty     is always effective /    is often effective / can be effective.

7.    Supporters of the death penalty say that mistakes     were rarely made in the past /     aren't possible nowadays /     are sometimes made.

8.    There are very few serious crimes     in countries with the death penalty /    in Singapore /      in states in the U.S. without the death penalty.

9.    In Singapore, criminals who are given the death penalty     are never executed /     are sometimes executed /     are always executed.

10. Supporters of the death penalty say that life imprisonment    is sometimes worse /     is more severe /    isn't as effective.

III.    Use a key phrase from the text to complete the sentence.

11. In states in the U.S. that use the death penalty, violent crime is often__________________.

12. One country that has a very low rate of serious crime is________________.

13. Some people say that mistakes cannot be made because of recent__________________.

14. Opponents of the death penalty say it can't be effective because there is no  __________________.

IV.    Look for the word in the text that means:

15. In Paragraph 2
​to do something that is illegal?

_________________________________________________________

16. In Paragraph 1
​very strict or extreme?

_________________________________________________________

17. In Paragraph 3
​the quantity or number of something?

_________________________________________________________

V.    Underline the word which is a synonym for

18. evidence (paragraph 4).
theory / hope / truth / support / sign / proof

19. fight (paragraph 1).
competition / struggle / argument / debate / game / challenge

20. techniques (paragraph 2).
rules / customs / structures / methods / reasons / traditions