M01.

SITUACION 1
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Before there was Internet or TV, people read the news in the newspapers and
listened to the news on the radio. Today, although people can read the news
online, listened to it on the radio, or watch it on TV, millions of people stile read
news papers every day.
In the United States, there are a lot of newspapers to choose from. One of the
oldest and most famous is The New York Times, or the Times, as many people
call it. Today, it is the third most popular newspaper in the United States, After
USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. More than one million people read the
Time every day, and almost half a million more read it on Sundays.
In 1904, The New York Times moves its offices to 42 nd Street in New York. This is
why the famous square on that street is called Times Squares. Their
headquarters are now located in Eighth Avenue

M01. SITUACION 2
Pauls Blog- September 16 at 9:09 p.m.
I really want to leave my job at the newspaper. I work so hard, but I dont enjoy
what Im doing. My editor doesnt give me interesting things to write. I had to
work very long hours, and I often work on Saturdays too. I get up at 6:00 a.m.
every day and get home late at night. Im always tired, and dont have any time
for my family. I have an interview with an online newspaper soon. I hop get the
job!
Pauls Blog- October 30 at 10:34 p.m.
Well, I love my new job at the online newspaper! My editor gives me a lot of
different things to write about and I can finally be creative. I`m really be creative.
Im working on some really interesting assignments now. I only work five days a
week, and sometimes I work from home, so I have more time for the kids. I dont
have to get up that early anymore, so Im not as tired. What a great job!

M01. SITUACION 3
Reading an online newspaper is harder and more tiring than reading a regular
newspaper. Its difficult to sit in front of a computer screen for too long. That is
why online readers prefer to skim over articles quickly. They look for headlines,
bulleted items, pictures and links, in order to get information quickly and easily.
As online newspaper writer, you should follow this list of important tips:

Keep it brief. People dont want to read too much text.

Use sound and video. For example, try to record an interview and add the
sound file.
Insert graphics, such as maps and charts, to help readers understand the
articles and give their eyes a break from the text.
Provide links to other webs.
Check all you facts and make sure your information is correct. Too often
the rush to get the information online becomes more important than
getting facts right.
Always read your article carefully, or give it to an editor to review, before
you post it online.

M01. SITUACION 4
Dear Betty,
I love reading your column. You give lots of good advice on choosing careers. Can
you help me to find the right career too? I love writing. I write in my blog every
day. I also love to travel, and enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people.
However, I dislike office work and hate sitting at desk all day. What do you thing
would be a good job for me?
Carol
Dear Carol,
You sound like a very creative person. You would not like a job which required you
to spend all day sitting in an office. Why not combine your love of writing and
travelling? I think you would enjoy being a travel writer. You could start by
checking the wants ads for writing jobs at travel magazines.
Good luck!
Betty

M02. SITUACION 1
LIVING TRENDS By Mark Hall
According to a recent Omega Online survey, there is a new trend in modern
living. It seems that more and more people are choosing to move back to the
city. Not only young people are making the move- families are renting
apartments in the city too.
There are many reasons way living in the city is better than in the suburbs. The
main reason is that people are closer to their jobs. Many people are tired of
traveling for hours to work back. Another reason is that renting an apartment in
the city is sometimes cheaper than renting a house in the suburbs.
One of the people interviewed in the survey was Julie, a working mother of two
children, who said: We love living in the city. The apartment we live is more
modern than our old house. The apartment building is near a park, so it isnt
noisy. In fact, its quieter than our old house in the suburbs! The people in our
apartment building are also a lot of nicer than our old neighbors

M02. SITUACION 2
THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST
You can probably name the highest mountain and the largest animal in the world.
But do you know these other interesting facts about places around the world?
The tallest apartment building in the world is called Q1, and its in Surfers
Paradise in Australia. Do you want to live on the 80 th floor? Thats the top floor of
the building, and the view is magnificent!
At 4090 meters above the sea level, Potosi, Bolivia is the highest city in the
world. It is also one of the poorest.
The biggest house in the world is not really a house. Its a Windsor Castle in
England! It belongs to the British royal family.
The worlds largest hotel is the First World Hotel in Malaysia. It has more than
6000 rooms!
The tallest office building in the world is Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan. It has 101
floors and is 1671 feet high!

M02. SITUACION 3
TO RENT OR TO BUY, THAT IS THE QUESTION By Mark Hall.
Is it better to rent or to buy? Each choice has its pros and cons.
There are a number of reasons why people choose to rent. First, you can move as
soon as lease it up. You dont have to wait until you sell your place, which can
often be difficult and time-consuming.
Second, the rental deposit is usually much lower than the down payment on a
place you buy. Third, the landlord takes cares of painting or fixing things. As a
homeowner, you pay for these things yourself.
There are also a number of advantages to buying instead of renting. As the
owner of an apartment or a house, you can decide to sell it later, often for a
higher price than you paid for it. You can also make changes to a place you own,
or remodel it, to fit your needs. Finally, since you are the landlord, you will never
be forced to move.
So, will you rent or buy? The choice is yours!

M02. SITUACION 4
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT (1867-1959)
Frank Lloyd Wright is a famous American architect and interior designer. In 1991,
the American Institute of Architects called him the greatest American architect
of all time. Wright designed and completed more than 500 buildings, including
houses, museums, offices, churches, schools, and hotels. He also designed
furniture and stained glass. Wright designs are different from the work of other
architects of his time. He was the first architect to use an open plan in his
designs. Most of his buildings are in the Unites States.
One of Wrights most famous buildings is the Guggenheim Museum in New York
City. Wright worked on his projects for 16 years. The spiral design on the interior
of the museum is similar to the inside of a seashell.
Wright designed many of the houses in Oak Park, Illinois, near Chicago. Wrights
own house and studio are in Oak Park too. Visitors can tour some of the houses,
or even stay in one of them for a night or two.

M03. SITUACION 1
CHALIE CHAPLIN (1889-1977)
Charlie Chaplin is one of the most famous comedians of all time. He was born in
London, in 1889. His parents were both performers. Charlie started singing when
he was only five years old. He didnt have an easy childhood. His mother was
mentally ill and his father had little contact with him. Charlie and his half-brother
Sydney didnt go to school like other children. They grew up without money and
often without parents.
When Charlie Chaplin was in the twenties, he moved to the Unites States. In
1914, he made his first movie. He soon became famous in the United States and
around the world. He not only acted in movies, he also wrote, edited, directed, or
composed the music for them.
Charlie Chaplin got married four times, always to younger women. When he was
54, he married Oona ONeill, who was only 18. However, they were very happy
and had eight children together.
Charlie Chaplin died in his sleep on Christmas day, in 1977. He was eight-eight
years old.

M03. SITUACION 2
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
My name is Ralph. Three years ago, I won &24.000000 in the lottery. It changed
my life completely, and not for the better.
I used to have many good friends. We used to play basketball and go to the
beach in the summer. But after I became a millionaire, they all suddenly wanted
something from me. Then I made new friends, but they only liked me because I
was rich. I didnt enjoy being with them, either. Now I have no friends, and Im
very sad and lonely. I have a big house with swimming pool and a gym, but I
never work out. I used to be thin, but look at me today. I weigh over 200 pounds!
And thats not all. My wife and I used to be very happy. We did everything
together. He used to go to the movies and go out to dinner all the time. She was
my best friend. Now were divorced. She wont even speak to me anymore.
I won the lottery, and it ruined my life.

M03. SITUACION 3
TRAVEL MADE EASIER
After my parents got married, they traveled around Europe for five months. In
those days, international phone calls were very expensive, and there were no
cells phones, of course. To keep in touch, my parents wrote letters to their family
and friends.
Nowadays, its much easier to stay in touch while you are traveling. You can
often find a computer with an internet connection where you are staying, or you
can go to an Internet Caf.
The internet has also made travel easier in other ways. Today, you can order
your airline tickets and make hotel reservations online. Many hotels around the
world have websites where you can see pictures of the rooms, the lobby, even
the hotel restaurant!
The internet can also provide a wealth of information about the places to which
you are traveling. In addition, you can chat online with other travelers, or even
with people living in the places you plan the visit.
Travel is much easier today, thanks to cell phones and the Internet, than It was in
my parents day.

M03. SITUACION 4
THE OMEGA ONLINE NEWSPAPER
Jeffrey Hanes by Mark Hall
Lots of people dream about acting in the theater, in movies, or on TV. But it isnt
easy to become an actor. Today, Im interviewing Jeffrey Hanes about how and
why he became an actor.
M: You acted in some very funny comedies. You werent always a comic actor,
were you?
J: No, I wasnt. My first plays were dramas. They were very serious. And my first
movies werent comedies either.
M: Most people dont know you can sing and dance, do they?
J: No, they dont.
M: Why you decided to become and actor?
J: I was very quiet when I was young, and I didnt have a lot of friends. My mother
thought that acting lessons would help me.
M: Did they?
J: Well, I ended up loving acting and Im not very quite now, am I?
M: No, youre not! And you certainly have a lot of friends. Thank you for your
time Jeffrey.
J: My pleasure.
You can see Jeffrey Hanes in his latest comedy, The Funny Man, opening in
theaters next week.

M04. SITUACION 1
TIPS FOR SALE ONLINE SHOPPING
Online shopping is very popular, but it can also be dangerous. Here are three
important tips for safe online shopping:

Only shop at safe websites. Check if a website is safe by making sure that
the address starts with https:// and not http:// The s stands for secure.
Different browsers might also show icons such as padlocks or keys to let
you know that the site has a valid certificate.
If you use your credit card for online shopping, it is a good idea to get one
credit card that you use for online shopping only. It will then be easier to
see if someone else is using your credit card number. Otherwise, PayPal is
a safe and secure way to pay.
Online shopping websites often ask the buyer for a lot of information. Only
provide information to questions that are required. Dont reveal any extra
personal information.

M04. SITUACION 2
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Jacks Jones wasnt a very smart thief. One day, he went into a store and was
watching the cashier for a long time. When no one else was looking, he asked
the cashier to change a $10 bill for him. While she was looking away, jack took a
gun out of his jacket and asked the cashier to give him all the money in the cash
register. She quickly handed him everything she could find, which was a total of
&15! Then Jack ran away!
Wayne Snipes was waiting in the line at the bank. When he got to the front of the
line, he went up to the bank teller with a gun in his hand. He handed her a bag
and asked her to fill it with cash. As the teller added more a more money to the
bag, it become too heavy for Wayne to hold in one hand. He put down his gun so
he could hold the bag with both hands. The teller then took the gun and called
the police.

M04. SITUACION 3
IN THE DARK
Blackouts occur when the power goes out in certain areas. Cities or towns are
black because there is no electricity. Blackouts can happen because of storms,
hot weather, or accidents. Some blackouts are very famous, like the great
Northeast Blackout of 1965, which left 25 million Americans without power, and
the 2003 Italy Blackout, which left 56 million Italians in the dark.
Blackouts are also special kinds of restaurant. You can find blackout restaurants
in countries all around the world: Switzerland, Germany, France, the U.S., and
Australian. In blackout restaurants, the guests cant see anything because it is a
pich-black. In many of these restaurants, the waiters are blind. Sighted guests
get a taste of what its like to be blind. Because they cant see their food, other
senses like taste, smell, and hearing take over.
The best part about these restaurants is that the other guests cant see you. As
one happy diner said after leaving the blackout restaurant in Cologne, Germany,
I had a great time. I was wearing my old jeans, eating with my fingers, and
licking my plate. And no one could see what I was doing!

M04. SITUACION 4
E-MAIL
Dear Emily,
Hi! I finally moved into my new apartment in Chicago. I love it here. My next-door
neighbors are very nice. They are as nice as our old neighbors in Paris.
A funny thing happened last night when I was eating dinner. The doorbell rang
and there were two children at the door. There was a boy dressed as a wizard
and a girl in a witchs costume. They said Trick or treat? and then waited for
me to give them something. I didnt know what they wanted and they left angry.
A few minutes later, two more kids in costumes knocked on my door and asked
my neighbors what was going on. They told me that on Halloween night in
America, children knock on your door and youre supposed to give them candy.
Thankfully, they had extra. Those kids left happy!
Nest year Ill be ready!
Write soon,
Lucas

M05. SITUACION 1
MEDICAL HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of patient: Mark Hall

Date of birth:06/23/78

1. Have you ever suffered from heart disease? No

2. Do you have diabetes?
No
3. Have you ever suffered from allergic?
Yes
a. If yes, which medication(s) have you taken? Non-Sneeze
antihistamine pills
b. If yes, which season(s) do you suffer from allergies?
Spring and
Fall
4. Do you take vitamins on a regular basis?
Yes
a. If yes, please specify
Daily multivitamins and extra vitamin C in
the winter
5. Are you allergic to any medication(s)?
No
a. If yes, please specify
6. Have you ever had high blood pressure?
7. Are you currently taking any medication(s)? Yes
a. If yes, please specify and state the purpose.
Antibioticsto
prevent an infection
8. Have you had a medical checkup recently? Yes

M05. SITUACION 2
GETTING HURT ON THE JOB
It may surprise you to know that the people who suffer the most work-related
injures are not construction workers. According to national statistics, nurses and
hospital attendants miss work four times more often than people in other
professions.
Nursing aide Carol Thornton says, I have missed 20 workdays this year. Ive hurt
my back twice and sprained my wrist several times. Lifting patients is hard work
Injuries are common in other jobs as well. Not surprisingly, constructions workers
frequenly suffer from bruises, cuts, and broken bones. The same is true for
furniture movers. Stan Lorenzo says: Ive broken my arm and hurt myself badly
moving heavy furniture. Trucks drivers, like nurses, often suffer from back
injures too.

M05. SITUACION 3
STAR KIDS. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING?
Have you ever wondered what those once-famous child actors are doing
now?
Keisha Knight Pullian. Played Rudy Huxtable on the The Cosby Show in early
1990s. Since she graduated from college, she has been appearing on reality TV
shows like Fear Factor.
Macaulay Cukin. One of the most famous American Child stars, won the
American Comedy Award in 1991 for his role as Kevin. Mc Callister in the movie,
Home Alone. He has been acting on and off since then.
Kim Fields. Starred as Tootie in the TV comedy The Facts Of Life from 1979 to
1988. Fields have made a career change and become a rap musician. She has
been performing throughout the USA
Henry Thomas. Is best known for his role as Elliot in Steven Spielbergs movie,
ET. The Extra-Terrestrial, in 1982. Thomas has been acting on TV and in movies
since then. He has been writing and recording songs and is now both an actor
and a musician.

M05. SITUACION 4
REDUCING STRESS
Have you been working hard? Have you been feeling stressed lately? Have you
done everything you can to reduce stress? Why dont you try an enjoyable
massage?
The most common massage therapy is the Swedish massage. This massage is
very gentle and relaxing. If you have never had a massage before, this is a good
one to try first. Massage therapists massage the body using special oils.
Another massage therapy is the hot stone massage. The therapist uses heated
smooth, flat stones and places them on certain points on the body to warm and
massage the muscles. Hot stone massage is good for people who prefer a lighter
massage.
If you have been standing on your feet all day and have feeling less energetic
recently, reflexology may be the solution for you. In the reflexology, the therapist
presses on specific areas on the feet (or sometimes the hands) to reduce pain
and stress.

M06. SITUACION 1
CHEFS OF THE FUTURE
Four young chefs will soon graduate from the Lorelei International Cooking
School. I asked tehm about their plans for the future.
Amy plans to open her own restaurant. I will serve only special dishes, using my
own recipes, She says. There will be all kinds of tasty gourmet dishes.
Marco wants to work in his fathers Italian restaurant. I will be the head chef,
and Ill teach the others chefs how to make our familys traditional recipes. I will
also start writing a cookbook with new recipes for pasta dishes Marco says.
Valery wants to travel to France. She says, Ill specialize in French cooking at a
famous cooking school in Paris
I want to learn from chefs who has a lot of experience, says Peter. So I will
look for a job as an assistant chef in one of the top restaurants in London

M06. SITUACION 2
WHATS COOKING?
A new gourmet restaurant called Fantastique is opening in the city next week.
The three chefs, Marcel, Pierre and Martine, have planned the menu together.
They are going to serve some exciting dishes.
Marcel is going make a tri-color soup. He will create the three colors with orange
carrot soup, white cauliflower soup and green spinach soup. He is also going to
season steak with pepper and garlic.
The head chef Pierre, is going to prepare two other main dishes- steamed fish
with lemon and garlic, and roast beef in red wine sauce. Both are gourmet Fresh
dishes and come with two side dishes.
Martine is going to be in charge of the desserts. She is going to serve her famous
chocolate mousse with nuts, as well as a hot apple tart.
Our restaurant reviewer is going to be at the grand opening on Thursday. Look
for this reviews on Friday in our weekly restaurant review column.

M06. SITUACION 3
HEALTHIER KIDS
How healthier are our children? Not very, say dieticians. According to the
American Dietectic Association, one in every five American children is
overweight. If children keep eating too much sugar and junk food, they will gain
weight says a dietician Jill Powers. Many children eat unhealthy food and dont
get enough exercise. This can cause type 2 diabetes and other health problems
Jill tells parents, You must learn to cook healthy food at home. If you eat healthy
food, your children will learn to do the same. All children love snacks. If you give
your children nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetables, yogurt, or
nuts, instead of unhealthy sweet or salty snacks, your kids will be much
healthier
Jill adds that exercise is just as important as healthy eating. If you plan fun
family activities, like walking, biking, or dancing together, your children will enjoy
the exercise and it will also get them away from the TV or computer.

M06. SITUACION 4
PERSONAL TRAINING TIPS by Mark Hall
If you want to get into shape, take tips from two famous personal trainers.
Matt Roberts has helped British celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Mel C, and Sting
with their workouts. The first step, Matt says, it to choose three reasons why you
havent succeeded in the past and work only on changing those three. For
example, if you dont exercise at all, start exercising three times a week. The
next week, add three more goals. If you set step-by-step goals, you are more
likely to succeed.
Hollywood trainer, Michael George, has worked with starts such as Meg Ryan and
Julianne Moore. He suggests a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet, as well as both
cardio and strength training.
He explains that if you eat five small meals a day, your body has more energy.
He also says that you need to work out 5-6 times a week if you want to lose
weight.

M07. SITUACION 1
AIR TRAVEL
In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first successful airplane. Twenty years
later, commercial air travel began. People could buy a ticket to fly from place to
place. However, the planes were still not very good. They couldnt even fly over
mountains! Most people continued traveling by train or by boat.
In 1940s, people started making better airplanes. These planes could fly over
mountains and above clouds. There were also much more comfortable. In 1959,
The Boeing Company made the first jet- The Boeing 707.It made flying much
faster. Before the 707, it took 12 hours to fly from New York to London. The
Boeing 707 could fly the same distance in only eight hours.
The 707 made flying more popular, but air travel was still very expensive. Most
people could not afford a plane ticket. Since the late 1970s, the prices have gone
down.
Today, many more people can fly to almost any destination in the world. Many
airlines offer cheaper tickets to attract more people to fly. Air travel is not only
the rich anymore.

M07. SITUACION 2
BUYING A NEW CAR
Q: Im looking for a new car, but I dont want to spend a lot of money. What do
you recommended?
A: Before you buy a new car, you must think about what kind of car you really
need. For example, if you have to drive very far to get to work, then you need a
comfortable car. Also, if youre the only person in the car and dont carpool, you
can buy a 3-door-car. Its a lot cheaper.
Q: After I find a car I like, what do I have to do before I buy it?
A: Its very important to find out how much it costs to run the car, not just to buy
it. You should check how much gas the car uses and how much the insurance
costs. You should also ask about the repair cost.
When you see a car that you like, you dont have to buy it right away. We
recommended that you find out the price, test-drive the car, then go home and
take some time to make your decision.

M07. SITUACION 3
HOSPITALY AROUND THE WORLD
If you are traveling to other countries and staying with a local family, its
important to know some of their hospitality traditions.
If you visit a Japanese home, your hosts will do their best to make you feel
welcome and relaxed. They will serve you traditional food and drink, and offer
you a warm bath. However, the homes in Japan are very small, so the Japanese
often invite their guests out to eat.
The Chinese love having guests from other countries. They will prepare a meal of
small cool dishes, hot fried dishes and sweet fruit. In China, they believe that this
is a good way of making friends, which is very important for them.
The Dutch prefer to keep their homes private, so its a rare treat to be invited
into one. If you happen to visit a Dutch family, they might only offer you drinks.
Thats because food isnt considered important in making people feel welcome in
the Netherlands.
In Turkey, hospitality is very important- they love having guests. If youre invited
to a Turkish home, youll be amazed at the amount of food and drink they offer.
They will also ask a lot of questions to try and make you feel comfortable.

M07. SITUACION 4
TAKING CARE OF YOUR TIRES
If you own a car, its important to take good care of it. One of the most important
things is to check your tires regularly, including the spare. This should be done
once a month and before every long car trip.
Many people drive without enough air in