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Theme: Communicate

Internet and Brain Activity

A University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulates centres in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The researchers say this might even help to counter-act the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down. The study features in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance. It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimise the impact – and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can be added to the list. Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: “The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults. “Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function.” The latest study was based on 24 volunteers aged between 55 and 76. Half were experienced internet users, the rest were not. 

Compared with reading

Each volunteer underwent a brain scan while performing web searches and book-reading tasks.

Both types of task produced evidence of significant activity in regions of the brain controlling language, reading, memory and visual abilities. However, the web search task produced significant additional activity in separate areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning – but only in those who were experienced web users. The researchers said that compared with simple reading, the internet’s wealth of choices requires that people make decisions about what to click on in order to get the relevant information. However, they suggested that newcomers to the web had not quite grasped the strategies needed to successfully carry out a web search. Professor Smith said: “A simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older.” Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “These fascinating findings add to previous research suggesting that middle-aged and older people can reduce their risk of dementia by taking part in regular mentally stimulating activities.“Older web users – ‘silver surfers’ – are doing precisely this. “Frequent social interactions, regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet can also reduce dementia risk.” Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Use it or lose it may well be a positive message to keep people active but there is very little real evidence that keeping the brain exercised with puzzles, games or other activities can promote cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia.”

 

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Expressions of vacation activities 

Some expressions of vacation that can be cited in the table below activities:

Table - expressions of vacation 

Exercise 1

Find the words below in the word search and connect with its equivalent in Portuguese. 

1. leve,claro,luz:____________

2. pesado, forte:_____________

3. fresco:_____________

4. férias:______________

5. nevoeiro, neblina:______________

6. magnífico, maravilhoso:_____________

7. com nevoeiro, com neblina:___________

8. gostar (de), desfrutar, apreciar: __________

9. morno, quente:_____________

10. viajar:_____________

11. clima:____________

12. fora, ausente, longe, distante: __________

Exercise 2

Now try to complete the sentences below with some of the words found.

a. The beach is so far _______ from here.

b. There was a ______ fog last night.

c. The weather is usually _______ in the fall.

d. My bedroom is ________ and cozy.

e. There will be _________tomorrow morning.

f. Did you __________ your trip?

g. When did you _________ to Rio?

h. We stayed at (or in) a ___________ hotel.

i. My parents had a great __________ at the beach. They really enjoyed it.

j. The_________there is sunny and warm in January.

Feedback

Exercise 1

Sequence:1. light 2. heavy 3. cool 4. vacation 5. fog 6. terrific 7. foggy 8. enjoy 9. warm 10. travel 11. weather 12. away

Exercise 2

a. away 
b. heavy 
c. cool 
d. warm 
e. fog 
f. enjoy 
7. travel 
8. terrific 
9. vacation 
10. weather

Curiosities - VACATION ou HOLIDAY? 

In British English, holiday can be a noun, adjective or verb. As a noun, means holiday holiday, holiday, holy day or feast day. Holiday vacation in British English and American English are terms used to describe holiday periods at work or school or when you are traveling or resting away from casa.Em British English, vacation is the period in which the universities are closed to students. See holiday with useful expressions:

Bank holiday – feriado bancário

Holiday camp – campo de férias

Holiday home – casa de férias

Holiday pay – auxílio férias

Holiday resort – estância de férias

Holiday season – temporada de férias

Holiday-maker – excursionista

Make a holiday of it – tirar um dia de folga

National holiday – feriado nacional

On holiday – de férias

Optional holiday – feriado facultativo

Public holiday – feriado

Religious holiday – feriado religioso, feriado ecumênico

School holiday – férias escolares

State holiday – feriado estadual

Summer holiday – férias de verão.

Video - Questions about his past

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Language expansion - Verbs of Sensation

Introduction

You know when we look at someone and say, "Um, you're with a guy tired?" Or when we are talking to a person on the phone and realized, just hearing his voice, she's mad?
Of course we can talk about it in English too, but what use are the verbs that describe the sensations related to the senses: look, sound, smell, taste and feel. Here are some types of sensation below:

Vision 

When our impression is visual - ie, see or noticed the appearance of some "thing" or person (s), use LOOK. Some verbs can be used as: look, look, observe, see, inspect, etc.
For example this speech below:

A: Maria, you look tired. 
A: Did you sleep well? 
B: I saw Derek at the train station (He looked worried). 

Sound 

When our impression comes through hearing, that is, we hear someone's voice or any other sound and we mean that the person or the sound 'seem' something, we use the verb SOUND. Some verbs can be used as: resonate, resound, echo, reverberate, rumble, etc.
For example that speaks to people on the phone below:

A: Myra, calm down! You sound nervous. 
A: What's going on? 
B: Tina called me yesterday. she got that job! 
B: She sounded so happy. 

Smell 

Find anything because of a smell or taste? Use SMELL or TASTE. Can also be used verbs: flavor, palate, tang, tooth, gustation, savor, spice, zest, relish, etc.
As exemplified in the dialogue below:

A: Mom, what are you cooking? 
B: I'm baking cookies. 
A: Wow, They smell really good. 
B: They taste great. 

Tact, other sensations 

To talk about how you or other people are feeling, or the sense of touch, FEEL use. Can also be used as verbs: experience, sense, take, regret, receive, etc.
Example speech below:

A: I feel sick. 
B: Velvet feels really good. 
A: Lucy feels queasy. I'm calling the doctor. 
B: It feels weird to think someone que else is living in my old house. 

As I could see, the verbs relating to the senses are commonly used in English - and it is a matter of practice and getting used to, as these expressions do not always correspond to the Portuguese. Imagine someone saying to you, "Man, you sound angry" or "What's up, okay? You appear to joy. "

List of exercises 

Here is a series of exercises based on lesson about English verbs related to the senses. Read the lesson, do the exercises and practice. The answers are there at the end.

Exercise 1 

Which of the verbs (look, feel, taste, smell and sound) you use in each situation?
a. I ate five bananas this morning and now I do not ............... good.

b. - Hmm, something ................... really good! What is it?
    - It's my new perfume.

c. Jane .................. sad When she sees homeless people.

d. They redecorated the house. We were there yesterday; the house ............... .. beautiful.

e. - Why did you spit the food?
    - It ............ .. horrible.

f. - Hello! Who's this?
   - It's Mary. David, is that you?
   - Yes, it's me. This is a bad team? You ............ .. busy.

g. Jane, what a beautiful dress! You ............... .. amazing.

h. This place could use some cleaning! It ............. awful, I can not even breathe!

Exercise 2 

In what sentences for errors? What is the correct way to write them?

a. Jane gave me a call yesterday. She looked so sad!

b. Hmm, this soup tastes really good!

c.- I do not look good.
   - What's the problem?
   - I think it's something I ate.

d. I'm not gonna eat this food. It smells funny.

e. - Did you try the cake?
    - Yeah, it feels awful.

Exercise 3 

Describe the people below look and using one of the adjectives: 

scared - happy - nervous - sick - sad - angry 

a)          b) 

        _______________________                         _______________________

c)   d) 

_____________________                      ___________________

e)      f) 

        ___________________                            ____________________

Feedback

Exercise 1 
a. feel  b. smells c. feels d. looks e. tastes f. sound g. look h. smells 

Exercise 2 
a. She sounded so sad! b. correct c. I do not feel good. d. correct e. Yeah, it tastes awful.

Exercise 3
a. He looks nervous. b.He looks angry. c.they look happy. 
d. He looks sick. e. He looks scared. f. She looks sad.

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Types of Clothes

Let's look at some types of clothing below in Table 01 below:

Table 01 - Names of some clothes

Exercise 

1) Respond to suit every figure below:

a)           b)                               

              ___________________                                     _________________

c)         d) 

               ______________                                            _________________

 e) 

 _______________

Feedback:

a) Cap; b) Shirt; c) Shoes; d) Panties; e) Dress.

                                                                                                          

                                                                                      

       A super interesting video that you can watch below:

Video - Clothes

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Learning the past tense

Verbs in Simple Past Tense

The past tense of regular verbs is marked by the suffix "ed", or marked by "d" if the verb ends in "e", or marked by "ied" if finished by "y" after a consonant. Have irregular verbs have their own forms, and if you have any questions just ask the last table of the irregular verbs in the same site. 

Table of irregular verbs

As shown in the table below some irregular verbs in the simple past:

Table of regular verbs

 As shown in the table below some regular verbs in the simple past:

In affirmative sentences, the form of the simple past is: subject + verb + complement past. 

She broke her leg. (She broke her leg). 

He Studied a lot yesterday. (He studied hard yesterday). 

The dog barked a lot last night. (The dog barked enough last night). 

They woke up late this morning. (They woke up late this morning). 

For negative sentences is necessary to use the auxiliary "did" + "not" for all people. The helper should always come after the subject. It can come in its complete form, "did not", or abbreviated, "did not". Because we are now using the auxiliary of the past, "did", the verb must always be in the infinitive without the "to" and never conjugated in the past. 

They did not wash the car this weekend. (They did not wash the car this weekend). 

We did not send emails to our parents. (We do not send emails to our parents). 

I did not see Jack at the party yesterday. (I did not see Jack at the party last). 

She did not cut her nails. (She did not cut her nails). 

In interrogative sentences, as well as the negative, it is necessary to use auxiliary "did", so it is worth recalling that the verb should never come conjugate. In the construction of interrogative sentences, puts himself first auxiliary "did" followed by subject + verb in the infinitive without "to" + Completion. 

Did Mary and Carol go to the mall last week? (Mary and Carol went to the mall last week?).