یک فنجان انگلیسی ، دورِ همی ... English Learners

170

Why are diets usually short?i

Those who are on a diet , stop it for several reasons , such as being unhealthy , lack of an appropriate regimen , lack of variety in food , constant hunger and damage to organs and tissues .

171

Why can't people stop eating ?i

I think eating is both a need and pleasure . We keep ourselves alive through eating . Our body needs certain materials to function properly . Another reason is that we all , more or less , love eating . We enjoy sitting at the table and eating delicious foods while talking and laughing .

By listening and practicing as much as possible ... I sometimes recommend speeches from TedTalk .. Although you may not understand the whole meaning of their talks , just try to listen and get familiar with pronunciation of words. Don't put pressure on your mind , of course it takes a while to learn ...

Nice try :Kaf: ...Go on and don't be shy ... :Gol:I am here for you .

173

Can you define a true friend?i

A true friend supports his or her friend unconditionally and under any circumstances . He/She is honest , caring and trustworthy . As we all know " A friend in need is a friend indeed."l

174

How do you maintain your friendship ?i

Fortunately , with the development of technology , maintaining friendship is not limited to visiting each other anymore . These days we can maintain our friendship through (via ) communication channels such as phone calls , sending SMS's , sending E-mails and Internet chat .

175

Compare your nature with the nature of your best friend ?i

My best friend and I are so close and there is no significant difference between us . I can say that she is more rational and sensible than I am , so I always consult her .

Presenter 1: Nouns, what sort of nouns?
Presenter 2: Well they can be abstract (conceptual) qualities like Honor or Passion. There’s a long tradition of this kind of name, like Faith or Charity, which used to be common names. A new name is Haven, that’s growing in popularity. And similar names like Shelter, Harbor and Bay also convey feelings of safety and warmth.

Presenter 2: OK, then there are names which come from nature or animals, although with some of these it’s hard to know whether they come from nature or a surname – that’s another trend. Here we have Frost, Wolf, Fox, Bear, for boys, of course. And a new name: Ridge.

Presenter 1: Ridge, like a mountain ridge? The top of a mountain range?

Presenter 2: Yes, weird, huh? It’s seen as a tough, outdoorsy name for a boy. OK, then there are musical names. Harmony and Melody have been around for ages, but Lyric is a new one.

Presenter 2: Yes, it came in at number 325 in the US a couple of years ago. That doesn’t sound very popular, but there are so many different names being used at the moment that it means it isn’t so unusual. Other noun categories are months – May, June and April are common, but January is uncommon and November very unusual. And then you have colours. Beyoncé and Jay-Z called their daughter Blue Ivy – a very distinctive(unique) name, a colour plus the name of a plant. Blue is very popular for girls right now, and Red or Grey for boys.

Presenter 2: Yes, that’s another one. Flower names are pretty common, but food names are unusual. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their daughter Apple, of course.

Presenter 1: Yes, poor child.

Presenter 2: Actually, Apple is becoming more and more popular, although people think that’s because of the technology connection, not the fruit. New names always seem strange at first, but you quickly get used to them, like all the names from places or jobs. Chelsea and Brooklyn seem like normal names now; they were strange when they were first used. Taylor, Mason, Cooper are all first names from jobs.

Presenter 1: And they are also surnames, I think that’s how they started.

Presenter 2: You’re probably right there.

Presenter 1: What about the Beckhams’ daughter, Harper?

Presenter 2: She was named after Harper Lee, the American novelist who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. That’s another trend, naming children after famous writers, musicians – the British band One Direction have had an effect on names – or fictional characters, like Bella or Edward from the Twilight series, or Hermione from Harry Potter.

fictional characters : شخصیت های داستانی ، افسانه ای .

Presenter 2: Ah yes, I’ve heard about this. This family are famous in the world of bloggers on names. Let me see if I remember the names … Alex and Axel … and Lexa – they’re the easy ones – Xela ('Zela') and Xael ('Zay-el') and the last one is Xeal ('Zeal') – I’m guessing about the pronunciations, by the way.
Presenter 1: You mean there are names X-E-L-A and X-A-E-L?

Presenter 2: Yes, but they are very unusual. I think the Dutch family are stopping at six children, but there are about eighteen more possible anagrams they could use.

Presenter 1: Nooo, you’re kidding!

Presenter 2: All seem horrible to me, but all are possible names. This is similar to another trend of giving children names all starting with the same letter, like the Kardashian family, all beginning with K, Kim, Kourtney and so on.

Presenter 1: The Kardashians have had enough publicity(public attention ) , let’s not talk about them. What about your name? Finn, that sounds like a good Irish name …

There is a mistake here in the transcription :Moteajeb!:.. I’ve just had a message..:Nishkhand:l

177

Describe one of your closest friends.

She is 28 . She has curly hair and beautiful black eyes . She is very kind and caring . I can trust her in everything . She is very supportive and has always been there for me . The best thing I love about her is her honesty .

178

How do you maintain a good friendship ?i

Maintaining a good friendship is totally dependent on both sides . They both must be eager to maintain their friendship and do their best to do so . No matter how hard one of them tries ; it won't work out unless they both try .

179

Do you have any long distance friends?i

My best fiend live in one of the northern cities of Iran . We met at the university and soon became intimate friends . In spite of the long distance , we still maintain our friendship which is now stronger than before.

لینک 1

لینک 2

[=comic sans ms]May Allah accept our mourning and prayers

:Gol:

Well , an old rug which I inherited from my ancestors is the most valuable possession I have . It is made of silk and has beautiful patterns which seem to be inspired by Shahnameh tales. Since this rug has both material and spiritual value, my father framed it and put it on the wall in the living room .

He says that the rug comes from a long time ago and is priceless . My great grandparents tried their best to preserve (keep , maintain ) it and now it belongs to us . My father says it is my responsibility to take good care of it because if it is damaged or lost , we are going to regret it as long as we are alive .

It is not an item that can be replaced . My father doesn't intend to sell the rug although there are many purchasers (buyer ) who have offered to pay a large amount of money for it . According to my father , our ancestors' art is hidden in it . Furthermore , it is associated with one of the greatest books in the history of literature .

Shahnameh is an epical masterpiece about the mythological history of Iran written in 400 or 401 A.H . It has a special place in Iran literature and is the greatest heroic ( epic ) book . It's a part of our family identity and is very important to my family and me .

rug : قالیچه.

I inherited from my ancestors : ارث بردم از اجدادم.

possession : دارایی.

to be inspired by Shahnameh tales : از داستانهای شاهنامه الهام گرفته شده .

framed : قاب گرفته.

priceless : بسیار گران بها ، قیمتی .

regret : افسوس خوردن ، پشیمان شدن.

as long as : تا زمانیکه .

an epical masterpiece : شاهکار حماسی.

mythological history of Iran: تاریخ اساطیری ( افسانه ای ) ایران .

181

On what occasions do people of your country give gifts?i

Birthday , wedding parties , Nowruz and newborn babies are some occasions Iranian people usually give gifts on .

• at for a PRECISE TIME
• in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
• on for DAYS and DATES

لینک برای دیدن مثال

182

Do you prefer to write greeting cards to your friends / relatives?i

It depends on the kind of relationship we have . I think writing greeting cards is suitable only for distant friends and relatives or those with whom we don't have a close relationship . Intimate friends and close relatives may consider it rude or a sign of indifference .

183

Download the audio:ok1:

The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine." William Osler, M.D

"If all the medicine in the world were thrown into the sea, it would be bad for the fish and good for humanity" O.W. Holmes, (Professor of Medicine Harvard University)

Talk about a product you buy regularly.

I buy milk regularly from the supermarket in my neighborhood. I don't think of a specific brand when buying it , but I make sure it is fresh and is not past its expiry date. On average , I buy milk twice a week. Milk is extremely good for health . It's the first food every human being tastes after birth . Removing milk from your diet causes serious problems in the body .

You must consume ( eat , use ) milk regularly in your diet , so you grow in childhood as well as adulthood and for your immune system to become stronger . Sometimes , I drink it as desert or I pour it into soup . Milk is full of protein and consists of essential amino acids .

It is a source of calcium and phosphorus . Drinking three glasses of milk per day will provide your body with essential nutrients and reduces lead poisoning . Every glass of milk contains about 315 mg of calcium , 30% of the amount of calcium that the body needs .

Calcium plays a vital role in teeth and bone strength . Lack of calcium in infants results in Rachitis , slow growth , and damaged teeth and gums . Osteoporosis , which is a common medical problem among adults is the result of lack of calcium , too . The vitamins in milk play an important role in healthy skin . Milk and other dairy products are rich sources of vitamins.

185

Describe a school you attend now or attended in the past .

Tehran university is the largest , the most important and the oldest higher education institution in Iran . It consists of 25 facilities and skilled (expert) professors teach there . More than 32000 students study there , which makes it one of the largest universities in the Middle East .

It was built based on French college models and as far as I know , French architects designed its buildings . The Fine Arts College curriculum is modeled exactly after French Art Institute . There are more than 700,000 books and 1800 articles in the main library . Plus , each facility and even some departments have their own library .

Since , I have always been interested in Persian Literature , I was accepted in Tehran University in Persian Literature . Previously , whenever I read or edited a poem or a literary text , it was based only on my interest in literature . But now my point of view has changed.

One thing I really would like to do is to write my biography . I think it will be an interesting book which many people will enjoy reading . It is not an easy job and it will take great effort and a good long-term plan because neither do I have enough experience in this case , nor do I benefit from a supervisor .

As a result , the first thing to do would be to find a learned consultant who can guide me through this . It is required that he or she instructs me well or recommends proper sources for me to read so that I can write about each part of my life carefully . I guess that would last three or tour years .

I should also improve my writing skills to attract the attention of readers . To fulfill this goal , I definitely must do extensive reading and attend different instructional classes because every job needs special skills and if someone starts a job but he/she doesn't have enough knowledge , they will definitely fail .

The next step would be publication that is very difficult . It requires a permit and then I will have to find a good printing-office . Considering all these stages , I think the whole process will last about five years .

We use so + auxiliary/modal verb + pronoun:

"I like tea without sugar.'
'So do I.'
To agree with a negative statement:

We use nor/neither + auxiliary/modal verb + pronoun:
"I don't like tea with sugar.'
'Nor do I.' or 'Neither do I.'

That's nice ... just try to improve your grammar ... It means that you have an acceptable vocabulary .. I guess you need 6-7 months to speak fluently .

Don't get upset because there is a natural process for mind to adjust to a new language ..So don't rush ...

:Gol:

187

Is it advisable to go for a regular body check-up?i

A regular body check-up has many advantages . It may help diagnose diseases like cancers in the early stages which facilitate the treatment process . It is a good way to make sure that you will have a long life .

188

Why do many people suffer from backaches ?i

There are several reasons for that : sitting motionless in a wrong position , doing intense exercises , carrying heavy things and being overweight are some of these reasons .

Anytime:Cheshmak: I'm sure you will do your best:Gol:l

If it was : I don't like tea without sugar- You would say : neither do I OR I don't like either .

So do I > Is to agree with a positive statement OR I like tea without sugar too. .

:Gol:

189

Describe your favorite vacation .

Holidays are always an important part of our memories . Nowruz is the holiday I always wait for. This Nowruz was the best holiday I have ever had. Unlike previous years that we went to the North . I went to Shiraz with my family and friends this year .

Shiraz has the most beautiful spring . The unforgettable smell of beautiful pink and white orange blossoms reflects spring . We went to Shah-Cheragh to celebrate the beginning of New Year and lit candles and congratulated each other on the New Year .

Surprisingly , we discovered that in Shiraz , in addition to Haft-Sin , people put seven other things starting with "M" such as "Masghati " which is kind of sweet . When I opened "Hafiz" , I felt being closer to him since it was his city , a city in which he is buried .

This was a common feeling among all my companions . My father felt such great glory and honor as he was reading the poems near the tomb of one of the greatest Persian Poets .

After visiting the "Karim Khan Citadel" , we felt that we were part of our nation's history . The Persepolis with its magnificent columns reminded us how great and splendid our Persian ancestors were and just a few photos were all of our contribution to that glory . On the way back , we talked happily about Shiraz and our fantastic vacation .

190

Describe a shopping cener or a mall where you usually shop .

High per Star is a shopping mall on Behest street in Tehran where I go for shopping . Unlike other shopping centers where I have to spend more time looking for a parking space than shopping , as I enter the parking lot , someone shows me where to park my car .

There are two-floor parking garages demanding no fee . There are diagonal rails which take you easily from the parking to the main floor . There are various stores with a variety of brands for clothing and leather goods . Also you can find a couple of restaurants and coffee shops .

It's very crowded there ; the air condition system is great , though . It has high walls and in order to prevent customers from becoming confused , each section is labeled , such as : male/female cloths , cosmetics , shoes , books , jewelry , lotions , vegetable , meat , chicken , carpets , natural and artificial flowers , bags , electrical requirements , cell phones , perfumery , agricultural equipment and many other sections .

Variety and being new are the most important reasons that people choose this place for shopping . I always go there because about 80% of the goods there are made in Iran and are 15% cheaper than other places .

Guys .. Watch this Video ..A little cute Irish kid .. And turn on subtitles at the bottom of the Clip .. Otherwise you are not supposed to know anything:ghash:l

191

speak about the person with whom you like to spend time .

Well , one of the people who I like to spend time with is Sara , my old friend . We were classmates at the university and also roommates in the dormitory.Apart from this , she is one of my best friends and I have known her for more than 10 years .

I have a good reason to choose her as my companion . In general , she is a good friend who has been beside me through thick and thin . Being with her usually gives me positive energy because she always thinks positively and therefore she always makes the best decisions .

She is very calm and cool and if we ever go out together , she doesn't complain about trivial matters such as bad weather and so on . Rather , she makes the best suggestions and as a result we have the best time together .

We talk to each other about our problems and help each other in the time of trouble and need . We both benefit from spending time together and solve our problems . Another distinguishing characters of hers is her reliance on God and she reminds me of this all the time , so I seldom lose hope .

192

Speak about a dream you have had .

I am one of those who dreams a lot . There are times my dreams are important to me and sometimes I forget them . One of the interesting dreams in my life was the one I had after a bad incident . A dead family members guided me clearly in order to solve my problem .

I had received a check in return for a job I had done in one of the governmental organizations and since I didn't need to money , I hid it somewhere in the house . Two months later when I needed the check I was not able to find it and I could not ignore the check because the amount was a big one .

I contacted the organization and talked to them about what had happened . Unfortunately , they did not help me . As I expected , what they said just irritated me . I was about to lose all my hope when I had a dream in which I was desperately looking for the check when I saw my deceased mom with a smile pointing to the place where I had put the check .

I forgot the dream the next day but remembered it at night . I rushed to the place where my mom had pointed to in my dream and I found the check there . Staring at the check for a few seconds , suddenly I broke into tears .

193

[had + past participle]

[h=3]USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past[/h]
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
• I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
• Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
• She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
• We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
• A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006? B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.
  

[h=3]USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)[/h]

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples:

• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
• They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

[h=3]IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect[/h]

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

Example:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

[h=4]MOREOVER[/h] If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
  
• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

[h=4]HOWEVER[/h]
If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:

• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

[h=3]ADVERB PLACEMENT[/h] The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You had previously studied English before you moved to New York.
• Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?

[h=3]ACTIVE / PASSIVE[/h] Examples:

• George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Active
• Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive

Link

194

Are you saving money to buy something ?i

Today , you must save money in order to be able to buy what you need . There are few people that are able to go shopping and buy as soon as they decide to do so . I've been saving money for years to buy a house but the more money I save , the higher the house price goes .

Since there is no correlation between the actual house price and current market prices in our country , I must be always looking for small houses because my income doesn't exceed that .

Each area sings a different song , thus you can guess what it would be like in different cities . If the price doesn't change considerably , hopefully , I may be able to buy a house .

By house I only mean a apartment , nothing more . If I want to have a house and land belonging to me , the best thing I will get would be a 1 by 2-meter room!!i