Which words in the text mean the same as:
1- unbelievable, 2- happen, 3- greatly surprises, 4- origin, 5- approximately, 6- responsibility, 7- endurance, 8- capacity/ability, 9- deep, 10- admiration, 11- hard, 12- nourish, 13- conditions, 14- mark, 15- show, 16- confuse/mystify, 17- not disappearing, 18- to attract a lot of attention, 19- reach the same level
The incredible talents of child prodigies have fascinated and puzzled scholars for centuries. Albert was only 12 but he was already famous in the world of music as a concert pianist. He first demostrated his mysterious talents when he was just three years old. By the time he was five, he had already won the grand prize in a piano competition for children up to age 18 and at age of 10 he recorded his first CD.
A child prodigy is someone who is a master of one or more skills or arts at an early age, who, by the age of roughly 12, displays expert proficiency or a profound understanding and mastery of the fundamentals in a field usually only undertaken by adults. Prodigies seem to be a combination of timing and talent and the right circumstances, all occurring during the same moment and sustaining itself for at least 10 years. So, a prodigy is a child with unusual talent who appears in a society that has value for that talent. To this day, prodigies remain a mystery; no one knows for certain whether their talents stem from genetics, evolution, culture, family influence or some combination of these factors.
Betting on a prodigy, however, is anything but a sure thing. Most childhood prodigies never fulfill their early promise. Perseverance is a key part of it. Many of them say that their expectations were deformed by their early experiences.When success comes too easily, prodigies are ill prepared for what happens when the adoration goes away, their competitors start to catch up and the competition gets tough.
Parents and educators rarely show them how to overcome the problems. "I don't see anyone teaching these kids about task commitment, about perseverance in the face of social pressures, about how to handle criticism," notes a psychologist Jonathan Plucker. "We say, 'Boy, you're really talented.' We don't say, 'Yeah, but you're still going to have those 60-hour work weeks before you can make major contributions to your field.' "
Most prodigies are unlikely to make a big splash as an adult. The problem is that to make a major contribution in the arts and even the sciences you need a rebellious spirit and the type of mind that can see new things. Most prodigies, however, are famous not for their innovation but for doing something that has already been done, like painting in the style of Salvador Dali. What astonishes is their ability to do things children of their age very seldom do. Only prodigies who work hard to develop their talent, are creative and innovative, are likely to leave a lasting trace during adulthood.
KEY
1 incredible, 2 occur, 3 astonish, 4 stem, 5 roughly, 6 commitment, 7 perseverance, 8 proficiency, 9 profound, 10 adoration, 11 tough, 12 sustain, 13 circumstances, 14 trace, 15 display, 16 puzzle, 17 lasting, 18 to make a splash, 19 catch up
A, AN, or NO ARTICLE
1. Concorde was ..... European product.
2. The car crashed at 160 km ..... hour.
3. It is quite ..... good news.
4. What ..... creativity! What ..... great painter!
5. Tess became ..... actress after she left ..... university.
6. ..... luggage must be put over there.
7. There is ..... hair in my tea.
8. Many ..... pilot would not fly in such ..... bad weather.
9. Suddenly I saw ..... one-eyed man.
10. ..... school gave me ..... knowledge but I need ..... lot of ..... experience, too.
11. It won´t be easy to make ..... progress unless you work hard.
12. This coat is made of ..... wool.
13. My dream is to go to ..... NHL match.
14. This country is ..... UNO member.
KEY
1 a, 2 an, 3 -, 4 -, a, 5 an, -, 6 -, 7 a, 8 a, -, 9 a, 10 -, -, a, -, 11 -, 12 -, 13 an, 14 a
BETTER, BEST, WORSE, WORST
1. Is this essay _____ _____ my last one?
2. It was _____ _____ film I have ever seen.
3. He likes playing outside. He likes it _____ _____ learning.
4. I love rock music. I like it ______ _____all.
5. My uncles diabetes is ______ _____ it was last year.
6. That is _____ _____ joke you have ever told me.
7. On Fridays the traffic is even _____ _____ on Mondays.
8. _____ all of us, Dan is by far _____ _____ catcher.
KEY
1 better/worse than, 2 the worst/best, 3 better than, 4 best of, 5 worse/better than
6 the best/worst, 7 worse than, 8 of, the best/worst,
FALSE FRIENDS ALEBO SLOVÁ, KTORÉ ZVYKNEME ZLE PREKLADAŤ
navštevovať školu = to attend school, to go to school,
visit = chodiť/ísť na návštevu
nervózny t. j. podráždený = irritable, irritated, nervy, annoyed,
nervous = rozrušený, úzkostný, znepokojený, napätý, nervový a nervous breakdown
notorický = habitual (drinking), addicted to (drinking)
notorious = smutne preslávený/známy notorious for sth
novela = právo: amendment (of act), literatúra: short story, novelette etc.
novel = nový, nebývalý, neobvyklý a novel solution; román a romantic novel
Telephone Language
An appointment - Part III/Termín - Časť III
Maybe we could bring it forward to Thursday.- Možno by sme to mohli posunúť na štvrtok.
Could we go through all the details again? - Mohli by sme si znova prejsť podrobnosti/jednotlivé údaje?
Ok, so you'll be confirming that by e-mail? - OK, takže to potvrdíte emailom?
Someone will meet you at the airport. - Niekto Vás bude čakať na letisku.
There'll be a car waiting for you at the airport. - Na letisku Vás bude čakať auto.
Our driver will pick you up at the hotel. - Náš šofér Vás vyzdvihne v hoteli.
Ending the call/Ukončenie hovoru
Thank you for calling. We do appreciate it. - Ďakujem že ste zavolali. Skutočne to oceňujeme.
Feel free to call us anytime. - Kedykoľvek zavolajte.
I'm glad we were able to help. - Som rád/rada, že sme Vám mohli pomôcť.
Goodbye and thanks for calling. - Dovidenia a ďakujeme, že ste zavolali.
I enjoyed talking with you. - Rád/Rada som sa s Vami porozprával/-a.
If you have any additional questions please call me. - Ak máte ešte otázky, zavolajte ...
Is there anything else I could do for you? - Môžem Vám ešte nejako pomôcť?
OK, I think we've covered everything. – Dobre. Myslím, že to je/bolo všetko.
An example dialogue
• Operator: Hello, Frank and Rannock. How can I help you?
• Peter: This is Peter Jackson. Can I have extension 3421?
• Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, I'll put you through...
• Frank: Bob Peterson's office, Joe Alms speaking.
• Peter: Hello. This is Peter Jackson calling, is Bob in?
• Frank: I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message?
• Peter: Yes, could you ask him to call me at 212 456-8965. I need to talk to him about the Nuovo line, it's quite urgent.
• Frank: Could you repeat the number please?
• Peter: Yes, that's 212 456-8965, and this is Peter Jackson.
• Frank: Thank you Mr Jackson, I'll make sure Bob gets this as soon as be is back.
• Peter: Thanks, bye.
• Frank: Bye.