viernes, 15 de marzo de 2013
Mind the gap!

It is the three word instruction that is as much a part of London's identity the world over as black cabs, red buses and Big Ben.
Yet after 40 years, one of the original "mind the gap" recorded announcements is returning to one station – so the widow of the man behind the polite but firm piece of advice received by millions of passengers can hear it once again.
Transport for London said that it was approached by the widow of Oswald Laurence to see whether she could get a copy of the announcement that Laurence had recorded in the late 60s.
Nigel Holness, London Underground's director, said: "We were very touched by her story, so staff tracked down the recording and not only were they able to get a copy of the announcement on CD for her to keep but are also working to restore the announcement at Embankment station."
The recording of Laurence, an actor, had been phased out as PA systems were upgraded over the years until the northbound platform on the Northern line at Embankment station was the only place it could be heard.
Several recordings of the phrase, along with another line, "stand clear of the doors please" have been used by London Underground over the years. One of the more recent voices used was Emma Clarke's, who became embroiled in controversy in 2007 after appearing to criticise the Tube in a newspaper interview.
A spoof announcement on her website (currently offline) said: "We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly."
jueves, 14 de marzo de 2013
miércoles, 13 de marzo de 2013
Social Issues: 11M
Politicians and citizens on Monday commemorated the ninth anniversary of the
March 2004 Madrid train bombings, the biggest terrorist attack in Spain since
the 1970s transition to democracy.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was one of the first to refer to the Al
Qaeda-perpetrated attacks, which claimed the lives of 191 people on various
trains outside the capital’s main Atocha station on March 11, 2004.
At a breakfast meeting, the Popular Party (PP) leader told prominent
government figures and party members that he was committed to the “eradication
of terrorism,” saying freedom, democracy and life itself have “ferocious
enemies.” “They will never defeat us,” he added.
At the same event, PP secretary general María Dolores de Cospedal said that
March 11, 2004 was “without any doubt [...] the most difficult moment the PP
ever experienced.”
A short time before, Madrid regional premier Ignacio González and the city’s
mayor, Ana Botella, laid a wreath at a plaque commemorating the victims of the
attack in Puerta del Sol in the city center.
The brief ceremony was also attended by Justice Minister Alberto
Ruiz-Gallardón and Education, Culture and Sport Minister José Ignacio Wert, as
well as the presidents of the Association of Terrorism Victims and the
Association of 11-M Victims, Ángeles Pedraza and Ángeles Domínguez.
viernes, 8 de marzo de 2013
International Day of Women
As you know, today is the International Day of Women. Do you know why it is celebrated on March 8th? You may think that the right to vote or the right to own a property have always been there, but this is not the case. These rights were achived thanks to the fight of both men and women. I paste here some videos related to the topic.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Audio Book
jueves, 7 de marzo de 2013
For you to practice!
Here you have a site where you can practice some points related to grammar, vocabulary etc. You can also get them corrected on the spot. I would go to the grammar section first to practice aspects related to tenses and clause types. Click here
miércoles, 6 de marzo de 2013
Online activities
Do these exercises at home! Click on the category!
Conditional sentences
Passive voice (1)
Passive voice (2)
Passive voice (3)
Relative Clauses (1)
Relative Clauses (2)
Conditional sentences
Passive voice (1)
Passive voice (2)
Passive voice (3)
Relative Clauses (1)
Relative Clauses (2)
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