Advanced English Course

							                 Advanced Course – Part 1: Reading & Writing

                           Unit 1: The Hawaiian Islands

                          1)   The Hawaiian Islands

     Vocabulary:

     features                  ‫مظاهر / مالمح‬ seal                       ‫عجل البحر‬
     a tropical climate         ‫ مناخ استوائي‬bat                               ‫خفااااا‬
     volcanic                       ‫ بركانــي‬elements                   ‫عناصااـر‬
     creatures                     ‫ مخلوقـات‬tourist attraction   ‫منطقة جذب سياحي‬
      turtles                       ‫ سالحف‬exception                         ‫استثناء‬


     Questions with model answers:

1-      While the Hawaiian Islands differ from one another in some
     ways, they share many of the same features. Discuss.
a)       They all have a tropical climate. It is usually hot and rainy.
b)       They are similar in natural beauty. They have volcanic
     mountains and waterfalls, rainforests and beautiful beaches. The
     warm, clear water around the islands is filled with many kinds of
     sea creatures such as giant sea turtles, whales and dolphins as
     well as lots of tropical fish. The forests are full of beautiful birds
     and flowers.
c)       They have an interesting natural history. Until modern times,
     birds and insects were the only kinds of animals living on the
     islands, with just a few exceptions. The exceptions were the seal
     and a kind of bat. When people arrived in about 500 A.D., they
     brought some animals such as pigs, for food.
2-      Each of the Hawaiian Islands has features that are special.
     Discuss.
a)       The Big Island Hawaii is the only island with active volcanoes.
b)       The island of Oahu is the site of the modern capital of Hawaii,
     Honolulu.
c)       Honolulu is one of the world’s most famous beaches.
d)       The island of Maui is important for its role in the history of the
     islands. This island was the capital of Hawaii until early in the 20th
     century.

                                                                                  1
3-      There are several elements that made Hawaii a major tourist
     attraction. Discuss. (2002)
-         There are many elements that made Hawaii a major tourist
     attraction:
a)         All the eight Hawaiian islands have a tropical climate. It is
     never uncomfortably hot in summer and there is generally little
     wind. Rain falls but usually not for long.
b)         All the islands have natural beauty. They have volcanic
     mountains and waterfalls, rainforests and beautiful beaches.
c)         The warm, clear water around the islands is filled with many
     kinds of sea creatures such as giant sea turtles, whales, dolphins
     and lots of tropical fish.
d)         The forests are full of beautiful birds and flowers that cannot be
     found anywhere else in the world.

4-    Why do people come from all over the world to Hawaii? (2005)
      With its tropical climate and natural beauty, Hawaii is a major
      tourist attraction. Explain. (2008)
a)      People come from all over the world to view the volcanoes,
   the seacoast and the rainforests.
b)      People come to sunbathe or surf at the beaches.
c)      People come to relax in the warm sweet air.

5-       The Hawaiian Islands have an interesting natural history.
     Explain.
     Until modern times, birds and insects were the only kinds of animals
     living on the islands, with just a few exceptions. The exceptions were the
     monk seal and a kind of bat. When people arrived in about 500 AD, they
     brought some animals such as pigs, for food.



                        2)   Water Sports in Hawaii

     Vocabulary:




                                                                                2
     Scuba diving ‫ الغوص تحت الماء باستخدام جهاز‬board                                                                                 ‫لوح‬
       ‫ خااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااص للتااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااانف‬balance            ‫توازن‬
     snorkeling ‫ الغوص تحت الماء باستخدام أنبوب‬certificate                                                                             ‫شهادة‬
                                                                                                  ‫هواء‬             tube                ‫أنبـوب‬
     self-contained                                                            ‫ ذاتي / مستقل‬flippers                                  ‫زعانف‬
     apparatus                                                                                        ‫ جهاز‬canoeing          ‫التجديف بالقوارب‬



1-      What is the difference between scuba diving and
     snorkeling?(2002)
a)      In scuba diving you can swim far under water, but in snorkeling
     you can’t dive deep into the water.
b)      In scuba diving you need special equipment but in snorkeling less
     equipment is needed.
c)      You need special courses to learn how to scuba dive, but you can
     learn how to snorkel in a few minutes.
d)      Scuba diving can be dangerous, but snorkeling is safer.

2-      What are the water sports that a tourist can enjoy in
     Hawaii?(2004 / 2007)
     The sports that one can enjoy in The Hawaiian Islands are water sports,
     and you can go swimming all year round in the warm water. You can
     also go fishing from the shore or from a boat. You can go sailing,
     canoeing or windsurfing. You can also try some other water sports that
     are especially popular in Hawaii like surfing, snorkeling and scuba
     diving.

3-      Surfing is an old water sport in Hawaii. Explain.
     Surfing is a sport which started in Hawaii many years ago. Long before
     the arrival of the Europeans, the Hawaiians would ride on the waves on
     long narrow wooden boards. Now surfing is a popular sport in many
     parts of the world.
4-      What qualities should you have to try surfing? (2005)
-        You need to be a good swimmer.
-        You have to have an excellent sense of balance.
-        You must swim out from the beach with your surfboard under
     your arm. When you get to where the waves begin to break, you
     wait for a calm moment. You must try to stand up on the board. The
     wave will begin to rise under you. You must keep your balance and
     stay on top of the wave.

                                                                                                                                            3
5-   What does “scuba diving” mean? What can you do to learn
  how to scuba dive in Hawaii? (2006)
  - It means “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus” that is
  equipment for breathing and swimming underwater.
-      In Hawaii, you can take special courses to learn how to scuba
  dive.
-      After the courses, you can get a certificate that will allow you to
  dive alone.
  6-What makes diving in the water of Hawaii cheerful?
  The waters of the Hawaiian Islands are clean, clear and warm. They
  contain hundreds of kinds of colorful fish. The undersea world is made
  even more colorful by the coral reefs of red, gold, white and light purple.
  Among these reefs, there may be larger fish or sea turtles.


                        3)      Hawaiian Traditions

     traditions                ‫تقاليد‬   necklace                    ‫عقد‬
     lei             ‫إكليل من الزهور‬    peace conference     ‫مؤتمر سالم‬
     funeral                  ‫جنازة‬     ceremony                  ‫احتفال‬
     goddess                    ‫إلهة‬    religious                  ‫ديني‬


1-   What are the two important traditions that are still alive in
  Hawaii today? (2006)
-     Two important traditions are still alive in Hawaii today. The “lei”
  (a necklace made of flowers) and the “hula” (a Hawaii dance). Leis
  were worn by Hawaiian chiefs at peace conferences. They are
  symbolic of peace and friendship. They are worn at weddings,
  funerals and important ceremonies. The hula is a dance taught to
  the people by the goddess Laka. It was part of a religious ceremony,
  and was danced only by men, but later women began to dance the
  hula, too.

2-      According to Hawaiian traditions, how are “leis” made? (2007)
     Leis are handmade by older women. They are created from the many
     kinds of fresh flowers that are found on the islands.

     3-How do Hawaiians receive non-Hawaiian visitors?



                                                                            4
They always give a lei to non-Hawaiian visitors. When the guest arrives,
the lei is placed around his or her neck, with the traditional greeting
“Aloha”.

4-Why did Europeans discourage the ”hula” when they came to
Hawaii?
They did so because they thought that such dancing went against
proper religious beliefs. Therefore, they discouraged the “hula” and it
almost disappeared. In the late 1800s, a Hawaiian king saved this
important tradition.




                                                                      5
                          Unit 2: Maria Montessori

                              1)      Childhood

  educator                    ‫معلم‬    grade                   ‫صف دراسي‬
  optimism                  ‫التفاؤل‬   sewing                        ‫الحياكة‬
  ideals                  ‫مثل عليا‬    needlework              ‫أشغال اإلبرة‬
  average                   ‫متوسط‬     self-confident         ‫لديه ثقة بالنف‬
  strong-willed    ‫ذات إرادة قوية‬     attitude                       ‫موقف‬
  performance                  ‫أداء‬   complex thought        ‫التفكير المعقد‬
  conservative     ‫محافظ / تقليدي‬     approve of               ‫يوافق علي‬
  middle class    ‫الطبقة المتوسطة‬     method                         ‫طريقة‬

  1-How was Maria Montessori’s mother a great help to her
  daughter? (June, 2002)
-    When Maria Montessori was born in Italy, her future seemed to
  be like her mother’s and most women of her time; she would
  become a mother and a housewife. But, later she proved that
  women could indeed think and work as well as men and she
  became a doctor and a famous educator.
-    Thanks to her mother who supported all Maria’s decisions,
  Maria overcame many difficult times. She gave her the optimism
  and ideals necessary for her success. She also taught her how to
  work hard. She gave her a sense of responsibility towards others.

  2-What was Maria’s performance in primary school like?(August,
  2002)
   Maria started primary school education in Rome when she was five
   years old. She was considered an average student at that time. She
   didn’t seem to be as ambitious as her classmates. In the first grade she
   won a prize for good behaviour. In the second grade, she won a prize
   for sewing and needlework. So far, her interests and achievements
   were the same as those of any other girl of her age.

  3-How was Maria Montessori different from other children? (2005)
  Her character stood out among the other children. She was often the
  leader in their games. She was self-confident and strong-willed.




                                                                              6
4-What was the attitude of the Italian society towards women at
Maria Montessori’s time? (How were women denied their rights in
Italy at Maria Montessori’s time?)
Women did not have careers in those days. They did not attend college.
People generally believed that women were not very intelligent and not
capable of complex thought. Most women became mothers and
housewives.
5-How did Maria Montessori’s life take a very different course from
other women at her time?
(How did Maria Montessori prove that she had the same potentials
as men?) (2008)
She became the first woman doctor in Italy. With her brilliant medical
studies and research, she proved that women could think and work as
well as men. She became intentionally famous as the inventor of the
Montessori method of teaching. To this day, Montessori schools around
the world follow her method.
6-How did the attitude of Maria Montessori’s father change later?
Although her father was well-educated and wanted the best for his
daughter, he was conservative and did not approve of her unusual
choices. When Maria became famous, he changed his mind and
became proud of her.
7-In what way was Maria Montessori different from the other
women of her day? (2007)
She decided to continue her education while most girls from middle-
class families chose to stay at home after primary school. She became
the first woman doctor in Italy. She proved that women could think and
work as well as men.


                   2)    Going Her Own Way

High school             ‫المدرسة الثانوية‬   Memorizing          ‫الحفظ عن ظهر قلب‬
Classical                        ‫كالسيكي‬   Strict discipline          ‫نظام صارم‬
Technical                     ‫تقني / فني‬   Severe punishment          ‫عقاب شديد‬
Traditional                       ‫تقليدي‬   companions               ‫رفاق / زمالء‬
Literature                         ‫األدب‬   attend               ‫يحضر / ينتظم في‬
Commercial                        ‫تجاري‬




                                                                              7
1-   What were the two types of high schools at Maria’s time? And
  which one did Maria choose? (2004)
   The two main schools at Maria’s time were “classical schools” and
   “technical schools”. In the classical schools, the students followed a
   very traditional program of studies. The courses included Latin and
   Greek language and literature, and Italian literature and history. The
   girls usually choose these schools. The technical schools were a little
   more modern than the classical schools. The courses they offered
   included modern languages, mathematics, some science and
   commercial subjects.
-     Maria chose the technical school.

2-      Why did everyone predict that Maria Montessori would
     fail? (2003)
      Maria chose to attend a technical school where the courses included
      modern languages, mathematics, science and commercial subjects.
      When she joined a school in Rome, the courses included modern
      subjects, but the teaching methods were very traditional. Everyone
      including Maria’s father believed that she would never be able to
      understand all these subjects. Besides he believed that these subjects
      were not proper for a girl to study. However, Maria was very
      successful.

       3-Why did Maria Montessori prefer the technical school to the
       classical school? (2007)
     ..because the technical schools were a little more modern than classical
     schools. The courses they offered included modern languages,
     mathematics, some science and commercial subjects.

     4-How was Maria Montessori’s experience at the technical school
     difficult?
     Though the courses included modern subjects, the teaching methods
     were very traditional. Learning consisted of memorizing long lists of facts
     and repeating them back to the teacher. Teachers believed in strict
     discipline in the classroom and they sometimes used severe
     punishments.

     5-How did Maria Montessori succeed brilliantly at the technical
     school?
     She had a strong character. Although everyone predicted that she would
     fail, she got high marks in math and science. She proved that girls could
     think about complex subjects.
                                                                              8
6-What did Maria want to be first? Why did she change her mind?
First she wanted to be an engineer like many of her male school
companions. She changed her mind because she had become very
interested in biology and she wanted to study medicine.


                    3)   The Young Doctor

Challenge                        ‫ تحدي‬Enthusiasm                    ‫الحماسة‬
Delegate                 ‫ مندوب / ممثل‬idiot                      ‫أبله / معتوه‬
Congress                        ‫ مؤتمر‬Developmental        ‫مشكالت في النمو‬
                                      problems
speech                    ‫ كلمة / خطاب‬Function                 ‫يقوم بوظيفته‬
Respond to                  ‫ يستجيب لـ‬unteachable             ‫ال يمكن تعليمه‬


1-Give an example that shows that Maria was no ordinary doctor.
(2006)
Maria arrived at the home of a young mother of very sick baby twins.
She sent the tired mother to bed. Then she bathed the babies, prepared
their food and stayed with them all day.

2-Only two months after graduating, Maria was faced with a new
and different kind of challenge. Explain.
She was invited to be a delegate to the International Women’s Congress
in Berlin. She was a great success. She gave two speeches which were
received with great enthusiasm. Newspaper reporters interviewed her
and described her as intelligent and charming.

3-What kind of research was Maria interested in? What was her
attitude towards idiot children?
She was interested in research that concerned children with serious
developmental problems or “idiot children”. These children could not
function at home or at school. Maria believed that these children could
respond to something and that their minds were not completely closed
off. She refused to accept that they were unteachable as other doctors
said. She believed that she could help them become human again with
the right kind of teaching.



                                                                           9
4-What did Maria Montessori refuse to accept concerning idiot
children? (2008)
She refused to accept that they were unteachable as other doctors said.
She felt it must be possible to reach these children. She believed that
she could help them become human again with the right kind of
teaching.


                   4)     The Children’s House

Violent                           ‫ عنيف‬Communicate                    ‫يتواصل‬
Sociable                )‫ اجتماعي (للشخص‬Co-operative                  ‫متعاون‬
Enthusiastic                      ‫ متحم‬role                             ‫دور‬


1-Why was Maria chosen as director of “Children’s House”? What
should be given to those children to be ordinary according to
Maria? (2006)
She was chosen because she was well-known for her work with children
and knew a lot about teaching children. Children should be given much
freedom. They should be free to choose their activities, to start and stop
as they liked. The teacher’s role was to provide materials and show the
children how to use them. He should stand aside and let the learning
happen.

2-How was Maria able to change children’s behaviour in her
school?
At first children were frightened. Some children were violent, while
others refused to talk. As Maria introduced her activities, their behaviour
changed. The violent children calmed down and the silent ones began to
communicate. They all became more sociable, co-operative and
enthusiastic about the school.

                          Unit 3 : Global Issues


                 1-Global Thinking in the 21st Century

Dumping                      ‫ رمي / إلقاء‬Destruction                    ‫تدمير‬
Marine                             ‫ بحري‬Ozone layer              ‫طبقة األوزون‬
Tons                                ‫ أطنان‬Harbor                         ‫ميناء‬

                                                                          10
     Garbage                        ‫ القمامة‬Local laws               ‫قوانين محلية‬
     Substances                       ‫ مواد‬regulations               ‫قواعد / لوائح‬
     Rapidly shrinking        ‫ تتناقص بسرعة‬refrigerator                      ‫ثالجة‬


1-      Dumping waste and chemicals in oceans and sea has a great
     effect on marine environment. Discuss. (2002)
     Dumping waste and chemicals in oceans and seas has a great effect on
     marine environment. For centuries, people have used the oceans as a
     dumping place where they dump tons of garbage, chemicals and many
     other dangerous substances. They believe that they will disappear in the
     large oceans. However, these substances stay in the water. They float
     to shores and are eaten by tiny creatures. Then the larger animals which
     eat the tiny creatures are poisoned and die. The coasts and shores
     around the world have become unsafe for both humans and animals.
     The world’s fish population is rapidly shrinking.

     2-What does “global thinking” mean? (2004)
     Global thinking means working together for solutions to global problems
     such as pollution and environmental destruction.

     3- To what extent is the ozone layer important for all forms of life?
     (2004)
     The ozone layer is important in protecting the earth from the sun’s rays.
     Without this layer, most forms of life on earth would not be able to live.

     4-Pollution does not stay where it is. Explain. (2005)
     Pollution does not stay where it begins. It spreads out from every river
     and every harbor and affects bodies of water everywhere.

     5-Why does the problem of environmental destruction require
     global thinking? (2006)
     As the world’s population has grown and technology has developed, the
     environment has suffered and the rate of pollution has increased. So,
     global thinking is required because the environment is global. The
     atmosphere, the oceans and many forms of life are all connected. These
     problems cannot be solved by local laws and regulations.

     6-What has connected people all over the world? (2007)
     Communications technology has connected people all over the world.


                                                                              11
7-Which problem do chloro-fluorocarbons (CFCs) cause? What
should be done to solve this problem?
Scientists discovered that these CFCs were destroying the ozone layer
in the atmosphere. The ozone layer helps protect the earth from the
sun’s rays. Without this layer, most forms of life on earth would not be
able to live. Many countries such as India and China still use CFCs in
industry. These countries need help from the industrialized countries so
that they can change their refrigerator factories to non-CFC processes.


                 2-    The Population Explosion

Industrialized                   ‫ صناعي‬Annual income                    ‫دخل سنوي‬
Birth rate                 ‫ معدل المواليد‬Inversely          ‫يتناسب تناسبا عكسيا مع‬
                                         proportional to
Percentage                   ‫ نسبة مئوية‬Life expectancy        ‫متوسط عمر الشخص‬


1-What is the reason for the difference in population growth in
industrialized countries and less developed countries?
The reason for this difference lies in the birth rate. In industrialized
countries, a very low birth rate has caused population growth to slow
down or stop. Moreover, life expectancy in these countries has been
increasing. This means that the percentage of older people is
increasing. In less developed countries, the birth rate in many places is
extremely high and life expectancy is very low. This means that the
population is very young.

2-What is meant by the birth rate?
The birth rate is the average number of children per woman of child-
bearing age.

3-What is meant by life expectancy?
Life expectancy is the average length of a person’s life.

4-What problems does population explosion cause in less
developed countries?
Less developed countries are much poorer than industrialized countries.
The annual income is very low. Crowding on the land means that water,
food and firewood become more difficult to find. Hunger and disease kill
millions, especially children.

                                                                              12
     5-How is life expectancy inversely proportional to birth rate in
     industrial countries? (2008)
     While birth rates have been declining in the industrial countries, life
     expectancy has been increasing. In almost all the industrialized
     countries, life expectancy is now over 70 years of age. This means that
     the percentage of older people in the population is increasing

                             3- The Green Revolution

     Approach                        ‫طريقة‬    Extensive use          ‫استخدام مكثف‬
     Involve                        ‫يتضمن‬     Erosion                          ‫تآكل‬
     Cultivation                     ‫زراعة‬    Productivity                 ‫اإلنتاجية‬
     grains                    ‫غالل / حبوب‬    Expenses               ‫نفقات / تكاليف‬
     Fertilizers                     ‫أسمدة‬    Large scale              ‫نطاق واسع‬
     Landowners                ‫مالك األراضي‬   Investments                ‫استثمارات‬
     Maximum                          ‫أقصي‬    destructive                     ‫مدمر‬


     1-What is meant by the “Green Revolution”? (2007)
     The “Green Revolution” is a new approach to agriculture. It involved the
     large-scale cultivation of new types of grain and the extensive use of
     chemicals and farm machinery.

     2-Erosion is a reason for the lower grain production. Discuss.
     (2006)
     Erosion is another reason for the lower grain production. Large-scale
     farming of a single crop creates the perfect conditions for erosion. In dry
     areas, the loss of top soil has lowered the productivity of the land.

     3-Mention three reasons for the failure of the “Green Revolution”.
     (2005) / Why do the green revolution methods of farming no longer
     appear to be successful? (2003)
a)      The expenses of the new farming methods.
b)      Farmers must use large amounts of expensive chemical fertilizers.
c)      Farmers use expensive chemical insecticides.
d)      Watering systems are expensive.
e)      The large-scale farming of a single crop creates the perfect
     conditions for erosion.




                                                                                13
4-In what way did the new farming methods increase the
differences between rich and poor landowners? (2003)
Many farmers cannot afford to buy all the expensive chemicals and
equipment and so production decreases. Only the large landowners can
afford to make the necessary investments for maximum production.
They buy land from the smaller farmers and become richer. Small
landowners become landless and poor. As a result, the differences
between rich and poor landowners increase.

5-How do modern farming methods affect society? (2002) (2008)
Only the larger landowners can afford to make the necessary
investments for maximum production of the new grains. With their
profits, they buy land from the smaller farmers and become richer. Small
landowners become landless and poor. Social tensions naturally
increase in this situation.

6-As the “Green revolution” methods no longer appear to be
successful, what should governments and farmers do?
Governments and farmers need to look at the overall picture and long-
term effects. They need to find new methods that will better meet the
needs of the world’s hungry people and will also be less destructive.




                                                                     14