Trieste, May 6, 2019
Lingua Inglese 259MI
Dear students,
English level B2 also involves the ability to understand the main ideas of complex texts. To this end, a series of articles of increasing complexity will be read, analysed and discussed in class starting April 10, 2019.
At the end of this message, you’ll find a text. Read it carefully and complete the following exercises:
1. At the sentence level:
a. Identify unknown vocabulary. For example, make sure you understand the meaning of phrases such as drew a blank, working memory, creeping dementia, age-related impairment, and vocabulary such as skullcap, outperform, enhancer, etc.
b. Recognise multiple adjective constructions such as “…negative, age-related changes…; …very complex, sophisticated system…”. Briefly analyse them according to the multiple-adjectives order list provided in class.
2. At the paragraph level:
Identify discourse connectors at the beginning and inside of paragraphs. See some examples in the figure below:
3. At the text level:
Single out the main ideas of the text.
Try to summarise the text in one short paragraph (4 lines?)
Enjoy the exercise!
Lourdes Gonzalez-Valera
Instructor Lingua Inglese 259MI