1. Pitfalls and False Cognates
Are you good at them?
Teachers Andy and Carol

2. Identify the mistakes in each passage and
correct them (from Exame Magazine)
1) The VIP’s at IBM won extravagant
financial packages, with astronomical
salaries and extraordinary perks.
2) At the termination of the unproductive
debt restructuring negotiations the
Argentineans stayed tired.

3. 3) After the inspection of the armaments, the
Palestinian leader returned with the sultan
to his real palace.
4) The tourist explained
“ My boy is 13 years old. He studies in
college”.
The American exclaimed
“Wow! That’s incredible! He must be
super intelligent, a genious!”
Why was the American so impressed?

4. 5) The director of the Petrobras offices in New
York told his punctual, efficient and courteous
American secretary.
“Mrs. Jones, I like you too much!”.
Why did she ask for an immediate transfer to
a different sector?
6) The interviewer from a Colombian company
told the Canadian candidate “I am sorry, you
are very rude! We need a well educated
person for the position”.
What’s the problem?

5. What´s the problem?
1) “Doctor Smith, I need a recipe for
pneumonia” ,said the foreigner on the
phone.
The doctor answered “OK, get lots of
emotional stress then expose yourself to
low temperatures and to the proper
bacteria”.
Why did the doctor’s answer seem
illogical?

6. 2) In the interview with the American
psychiatrist the Portuguese farmer, who
was a religious fanatic insisted. “I am the
creator! I create ponies, mules, cattles,
rabbits, canaries...everything!”
Why did the doctor diagnose him as a
megalomaniac and recommended the
family to intern him in a mental institution?

7. 3) The famous Brazilian architect was 20
minutes late for his presentation at the
conference on modern construction
materials in Dallas, Texas. He explained to
the audience “Sorry it’s because I was
informed that this auditorium was on the
FIRST floor!
Some participants responded “But it is!”
What caused the architect’s confusion?

8. 4) The principal of a Latin Language School
asked “Could you recommend a talented
and experienced professor for the
Portuguese classes?”
The immigrant answered “I’d suggest a
stranger named Pedro”.
Why was the suggestion rejected?