English practice on reading comprehension, summarizing and narration

1. English at home Course Self-study material www.spanishsouthamerica.org Reading and writingpractice

2. Read the following article adapted from ww.wired.com/wired/archive/14.../sixwords.html www.spanishsouthamerica.org 2 Very Short Stories We'll be brief: Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") and is said to have called it his best work. So we asked sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies, and games to take a shot themselves. Dozens of our favorite auteurs put their words to paper, and five master graphic designers took them to the drawing board. Sure, Arthur C. Clarke refused to trim his ("God said, 'Cancel Program GENESIS. The universe ceased to exist."), but the rest are concise masterpieces. Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?- Eileen Gunn From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings.- Gregory Maguire With bloody hands, I say good-bye.- Frank Miller Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.- VernorVinge We kissed. She melted. Mop please!- James Patrick Kelly Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.- Richard Powers

3. www.spanishsouthamerica.org 3 The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.- Orson Scott Card Kirby had never eaten toes before.- Kevin Smith Rained, rained, rained, and never stopped.- Howard Waldrop We went solar; sun went nova.- Ken MacLeod TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! … nobody there …- Harry Harrison Epitaph: He shouldn't have fed it.- Brian Herbert Batman Sues Batsignal: Demands Trademark Royalties.- Cory Doctorow Bush told the truth. Hell froze.- William Gibson Nevertheless, he tried a third time.- James P. Blaylock Lost, then found. Too bad.- Graeme Gibson Three to Iraq. One came back.- Graeme Gibson Rapture postponed. Ark demanded! Which one?- David Brin Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.- David Brin Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.- David Brin Mind of its own. Damn lawnmower.- David Brin We crossed the border; they killed us.- Howard Waldrop

4. Look for expressions that have a similar meaning to these www.spanishsouthamerica.org 4 Concise General view/ look In fire One time Only Pictures /paintings Previously The author’s Therefore

5. Briefly (in one sentence) describe the article content www.spanishsouthamerica.org 5 .........................................................................................................................................................................

6. Choose the idea that best applies to the third story www.spanishsouthamerica.org 6 They both worked at a butcher’s She wanted to leave him and so she did Rage led him to kill his lover He called her because she wanted to leave him

7. Which idea cannot be part of the story: www.spanishsouthamerica.org 7 “TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! … nobody there”? They had made several attempts that failed until they invented the time-traveler The automated machine started its journey in 2011 Robots travelled to the future and helped humans in a war against time machines He had the hope of having sent the machine in time

8. Turn 6-worded stories into fully detailed ones! Youchoosewhichones! www.spanishsouthamerica.org 8

9. Make up a very short storyyourself www.spanishsouthamerica.org 9 It can have more than 6 words at thebeginning If so, adaptittofitthechallengue’sone rule: sixwordsonly.

10. Wouldyouliketo share itwithus? www.spanishsouthamerica.org 10 Thanksa lot! salavirtual1@hotmail.com www.spanishsouthamerica.blogspot.com OnFacebook: Edith Spanish S A OnTwitter: spanishsa www.spanishsouthamerica.org