English beginner

Marriage
Diamonds are forever
Why do you think a man gives a woman a diamond ring as a symbol of love?
Engagement begins from the time a couple decides to get married and ends either before they get married (a broken engagement) or when they finally get married. Men give women a diamond ring to show their promise to marry is serious. The hardest stone, the diamond, is given because it is not only rare and beautiful but the hardness symbolizes that the promise is firm and solid like a diamond.
Vocabulary:
To be engaged to someone / to get engaged to someone / engagement

Visit to New York City
VOCABULARY
Adjectives are important words to add to your vocabulary because they describe people, places, and things. Here are some words that you might use to describe people:
Physical characteristics:
tall, medium height, short
fat (or overweight), thin, muscular
old (or elderly), middle-aged, young
handsome, beautiful, pretty, good-looking, plain
Personality characteristics:
nice, pleasant, friendly, warm
unpleasant, mean, unfriendly
generous, giving, big-hearted
selfish, greedy, mean-spirited
optimistic, open-minded
pessimistic, close-minded
Choose a person you know very well and pretend you are describing them to someone who has never met him or her. Use as many adjectives as you can. Write your description, and also practice pronouncing your new vocabulary by reading it out loud.
Example:
Karl is medium height and thin. He is a young and very handsome man. He is also friendly and warm, but he can also be a little pessimistic.
Now, you describe someone you know!

Summer weather
Julia: Wow. It''s hot today. You can almost see the heat!
Ethan: I know. You could fry an egg on the sidewalk!
Julia: It''s too hot. I can''t stand it! This heatwave will never end.
Ethan: I have an idea. Let''s go to the store. They have air-con***ioning.
Julia: And ice cream! Maybe we can cool off!

VOCABULARY
Fill in the blanks with the new word that matches the definition in parentheses. Use the dialogue for help!
1. (Many hot days with no rain or wind) often come in the summer.
2. The mall has (machines to cool the air). It''s lovely and cool on a hot summer day.
3. I''m too hot. An ice cream will help me (be cooler).
a. air con***ioning
b. cool off
c. heatwaves
ANSWERS: 1.c 2.a 3.b

A Visit to New York City
CULTURAL NOTE
There are many things to see and do in New York City, depending on what you like. If you like museums, you can visit the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Television and Radio, or the Brooklyn Museum of Art, to name only a few. Or, you can visit the world''s most famous park, Central Park, which covers 843 acres of land in the middle of Manhattan! New York City really does have something for everyone!

Marriage
One or many?
Test yourself: Which of these words means marriage to more than one person (at the same time)?
1. monogamy
2. polygamy
If you chose 2), you are correct.
MONO-means "one"
POLY-means "many"
The adjective forms are:
monogamous - They are in a monogamous relationship. polygamous - They are in a polygamous marriage.
Mono- and poly- are prefixes, letter that go in front of a word and tell us something about the meaning. Can you think of any other words that use these prefixes?

In some parts of the world, monogamy in marriage is common. That means that one person is married to only one other person. In relationships that are polygamous, the husband (man) or wife (woman) can marry more than one person. In countries where the Islamic religion is practiced, polygamy in marriage is not unusual. A man may marry more than one wife. What do you think of this custom?

Pastimes
Many people enjoy collecting things as a pastime. Many people collect items hoping that they will become more valuable over time. Some of the more tra***ional collections include art, coins and stamps. Some people collect strange things just for fun. I had a roommate in university who collected gum wrappers. She was once on television, showing a dress she had made entirely of silver gum wrappers!
Are these sentences about collecting true or false?
1. A coin or stamp with an error is more valuable than a regular coin or stamp.
2. A toy in its original package is more valuable than a used toy.
3. A comic book in plastic wrap is more valuable than an opened book.
ANSWERS: They''re all true!! Of course, the value of an item always depends on whether or not you can find someone to buy it!

Summer weather
I used to live in Central Canada. It is very flat there. In summer, I liked to watch the thunderstorms coming. I could see them coming from many kilometers away. The storm clouds were large and black. I could see the lightning flashes and I could hear the thunder. Then the storm would come closer and the wind was very still and quiet. This is called, "the calm before the storm." Then, the wind began. I could feel the warm, wet air on my face. Then, I went inside the house!

READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISE
Are these sentences true or false?
1. Central Canada has many hills and mountains.
2. Thunderstorms have thunder and lightening.
3. Storm clouds are small and white.
4. "The calm before the storm" means the wind is still and quiet.
5. Thunderstorms bring cool, dry air.
ANSWERS: 1.F 2.T 3.F 4.T 5.F

Moving
STORAGE COMPANIES
What do people do if they cannot move all their furniture into a new apartment? Usually, they have to rent storage space.
Guess the average monthly price of renting a 5 foot by 4 foot storage space with 8 foot high ceilings, security guards in a temperature controlled building (not too hot and not too cold)?
1. $40.00 per month
2. $50.00 per month
3. $70.00 per month
4. $90.00 per month
The correct answer is number 4 - $90.00 month. The actual price range is between $80.00 and $100.00 per month for a 5 foot by 4 foot storage unit.
Because many Americans move their residences very often, renting a storage unit is a way for people to safely keep their possessions if they must move into a room, apartment or house that cannot hold all of their belongings.

School days
In Canada and the United States, high school is four years long. The first year of high school is Grade 9. Grade 9 students are usually around 14 years old. In the United States, Grade 9 students are called, "Freshmen." Grade 10 students are called, "Sophomores." Grade 11 and 12 students are "Juniors" and "Seniors." At the end of Grade 12, most high school students attend the "prom." The prom is a party to celebrate graduation.

SCANNING PRACTICE
Read the paragraph as quickly as possible to find the answers to these questions:
1. In North America, high school is how long?
2. What grade is the first year of high school?
3. How old are Grade 9 students?
4. What are Grade 11 students called?
5. When is the "prom?"
ANSWERS
1. Four years.
2. Grade 9.
3. Fourteen.
4. Juniors.
5. At the end of Grade 12.

Moving
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND MAIL FORWARDING
True or False?
In the United States, when you move, you can get all of your first class and most other types of mail delivered to your next address for free for 12 months if the move is within the United States.
It is true!
In the United States, mail forwarding and address changes must be reported to the United States Postal Service every time you move if you want to continue to receive mail. The Post Office requires that you give them 30 days notice before you move so you don''t have to wait the time it takes for them to forward your mail.