Dexway English Magazine: A2 – Edition 3
THE AMERICAN FLAG
OLD GLORY
The national flag of the United States of America has 13 (thirteen) equal horizontal red and white stripes and a blue rectangle with 50 (fifty) white stars to represent all 50 (fifty) states. The 13 (thirteen) stripes represent the 13 (thirteen) colonies that claimed independence from Great Britain. The United States became a country in 1776 (seventeen seventy six). The flag is nicknamed (also called) Stars and Stripes, Old Glory and The Star-Spangled banner.
The modern meaning of the flag was formed in December 1890(eighteen ninety), before this, it was just used as a military symbol or to mark American forts, embassies, ships and land.
Today the flag is a common theme on clothes, flags hung outside people´s houses, car bumper stickers, and flags poles outside major shopping malls and stores. There is a lot of debate over who designed the first flag. There are strict rules on how it should be flown, folded, and used. But whoever designed it, it has become a symbol of Americanism and is more than just a flag for the American people, it is a set of ideals, pride and dreams.
What does your country’s flag represent?
TOWER BRIDGE
LONDON
The bascule (or a drawbridge, it is a bridge that came move) and suspension bridge is 244(two hundred and forty-four) meters long. It was built from 1886-1894(eighteen eighty six to eighteen ninety four). The bridge has two towers connected by a walkway. It crosses the famous Thames River.
The drawbridge is raised about 1000(one thousand) times a year. In the tower and the walkway there is a Tower Bridge Exhibition to explain why and how the tower was built.
You can even access the original engine rooms! For the 2012(twenty twelve)Olympic Games, a set of Olympic rings were hung in the middle of the walkway.
Are there any bridges in your city?
BlaBlaCar
The company BlaBlaCar has been described as reinventing hitchhiking for the 21st century and like all the best business BlaBlaCa’s idea is simple.
If I am going to Madrid by car and you are going to Madrid why don´t we share the car in this way I fill an extra seat in my car and we both save the environment, such a simple idea and one that is likely to make somebody very rich!
BlaBlaCar has been described a “unicorn”. A unicorn is a mythical horned horse which nobody has ever seen and why is BlaBlaCar named a unicorn, because in the world of small start ups a company valued at $1Bn is as rare as mythical horned horse.
5 Common Grammar Mistakes
5 WAYS TO BE SMARTER ABOUT YOUR WRITING!
1. Your VS You´re: Your is a possessive pronoun. “That is your chair” You´re is a contraction of you are. “You´re really good at sports”.
2. There VS Their: There is refering to a place. “We can go there after work” or as a pronoun “There is no hope” Their: is a plural possessive pronoun. “I agree with their opnion.”
3. Its VS It´s: Its is a possessive pronoun. “The dog has its own bed” It´s is a contraction of it is or it has. “It´s time for me to go to sleep” Just say out loud It is with your sentence and if it sounds weird then you know to use its.
4. Affect vs Effect: Affect is a verb,it is to cause a change in something or someone, to act on emotion or to attack something. “The flu can affect your lungs” Effect is an impression, a scientific law, a result. “Large windows give the effect of a larger space” “That movie had great special effects”.
5. This is the most common error and the most important to make your sentence clear. The Dangling Participle: “After rotting in the cellar all winter, my dad brought up some potatoes” The verb rotting in this sentence is talking about the dad, and not the potatoes! The first half of the sentences has no subject. “The potatoes were rotting in the cellar all winter, so my dad brought some up”.
Don´t worry if you get it wrong! It takes practice!
THE BRITISH FLAG
UNION JACK
It is the official flag of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth. For example in Canada it is known as The Royal Union Flag. It is also on many nations flags (on the upper left side) who were once British colonies. The flag dates back to 1603(sixteen O three), James VI of Scotland became king of England and Ireland. This united England, Ireland and Scotland, but they were still separate states. April 12th(twelveth) 1606 (Sixteen O six) a new flag was made. The St George´s cross (a red cross on a white flag for England) and the Saltaire (a white X on a blue flag for Scotland) were joined making a new flag.
The current flag of the UK was made in 1801(eighteen O one). England´s Saint George flag, Ireland´s Saint Patrick flag, and Scotland´s Saltaire were joined to make this new symbol of the UK. The UK flag is only flown on a holidays, birthdays of the Royal Family and special occasions from government buildings. It has become a very popular design in home décor.
TIMES SQUARE
THE CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD!
It is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. 39 (thirty nine) million people visit it every year. It is the busiest pedestrian intersections with 300,000(three hundred thousand) passing through every day. It was called Longacre Square until April 1904(nineteen O four) when The New York Times newspaper built the Times Building. It is the site for the famous New Year´s Eve ball drop at midnight since 1907(ninetween O seven).
The square has been shown in many movies, TV shows, music videos and even in video games. Since 2011(two thousand and eleven), there is an outdoor smoking ban for the area. The neon signs of Broadway and advertising signs have become iconic for Manhattan. Come take in a show, a great meal or just people watch!
Does your city have a famous or popular square?
