Module 1: Distinguishing Between Fact or Opinion

•Being able to discern the differences between fact and opinion will help your evaluation of the
reliability and usefulness of texts you encounter.
A fact is something which can be verified with evidence, for example, the river which flows
through London is called the Thames.
Examples: The earth is round.
Summer follows spring.
The 2010 world cup took place in South Africa.
The British Winter of 2009/2010 was the coldest for 30 years
An opinion is based on belief and viewpoint. Opinions are often personal interpretations and
cannot be verified with evidence. For example, 'summer evenings are nicer than winter
evenings'. Opinions are often (though not always) preceded with terms such as 'I think', or with
adjectives, comparatives and superlatives, such as, 'good', 'better', 'the best'.
Examples: I think that rock music is awful.
The legal age for drinking should be lowered to 16.
London is the best city in the world.
Opinion Today seems hotter than yesterday.
Activity:
Write F if the statement is Fact and O if the statement is False. Write your answer before each
number.

1. You are studying at a University.

2. You are studying at a good University.
3. It is one of the best in London.
4. Queen Mary is a better University than Brunel and
Roehampton.
5.World Marche is the best cafe on the Mile End campus.
Abraham Lincoln was president during the U.S. Civil War.
6. Going to the doctor is scary.
7. Beethoven was the greatest composer.
8. Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.
9.. Pizza with black olives is delicious.
10. Elephants are the largest land mammals.
11. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
12. The best vacation is going camping.

B. Construct a paragraph that talks about your experience on the global pandemic and
underline ones the sentence that are Fact and Twice the sentence that are Opinion. 8O-100
words all in all.

Module 2: Idiomatic Expressions

Some Idiomatic Expressions

1.get going – start; go into action; make haste

Example:
Better get going if you don’t want to miss the boat.
2.square peg in a round hole – one unsuited for his occupation or environment
Example:
A sailor who spends more time on land than on the sea is like a square peg in a round hole.
3.make a living – earn enough to live decently; sustain oneself economically
Example:
Being a high-ranking officer in the Navy gives one a huge responsibility but is also a good way
to make a living.
4.over-all – comprehensive
Example:
The captain has an over-allappraisal of the ship’s condition.
5.rain cats and dogs – to rain heavily
Example:
Visibility is difficult when it rains cats and dogs.
6.bed of roses – a condition of ease and luxury
Example:
Life in the marine service isn’t like a bed of roses.
7.birds of a feather – persons with the same characteristics and tendencies
Example:
My sisters and me are birds of a feather, we all like to prowl on the beach.
8.hold water – be valid
Example:
What he explained about the incident all hold water.
9.get a raise – obtain an increase in salary
Example:
The management promised that all of us will get a raise at the end of the year.
10.see one off - go to say goodbye to someone at an airport, a railway station, or at the wharf
Example:
He told me he will be late for the meeting because he has to see one off.
11.all set – all ready
Example:
The family is all set for the much anticipated voyage to the Caribbean.
12.all ears – very attentive
Example:
The seafarers were all ears to the Captain when he gave his final instructions before the
voyage.
13.under lock and key – locked safely; very secure
Example:
All the doors and port holes should be under lock and key before we embark on this voyage.
14.big shot – an important person
Example:
We heard that a big shot is invited to grace the launching of the newest ship in the line.
15.come to terms – to reach an agreement
Example:
The management and the striking crew finally came to terms and the ship’s voyage will resume
in due time.
16.blacklist – a list of people considered undesirable
Example:
The union leader and some of his members are in the blacklist of the management for leading
the recently concluded strike.
17.break – an opportunity to succeed
Example:
The rest of the striking crew was given a break by the management after they promised not to
launch another strike in the future.
18.tread the middle aisle – to get married
Example:
The captain of the ship will file a leave of absence after he treads the middle aisle this coming
June.
19.knock off – stop; leave work
Example:
The crew will knock off tonight for the Captain’s birthday party.
20.play favorites – show partiality
Example:
It is unwise for a Ship Captain to play favorites in his crew’s rift.

Activity:
1.Create your own example in sentence form the ff. Idiomatic Expressions above from 1-20
,put a () symbol to the idiom.

2. Write your own description using idioms from the ff. Phrases below.
Write your answer after the phrase.
Ex.
1. There is a strong rain: underlock and key lock safely

1.there is a strong breeze

2.there is light air
3.there is gentle breeze
4.there is a storm
5.there is a violent storm
6.there is a hurricane
7.there is a gale
8.there is a moderate breeze
9.there is light breeze
10.there is a strong gale

C. Make an interpretative reading of the poem below: Write your answer after the poem.
Minimum of 50 & Maximum of 80 words in an Essay form.
Sea-Fever
(John Masefield)
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the whale’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And the gray mist on the sea’s face and a gay dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of a running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife,
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Module3: Context Clues

Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use
to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words. Learning the meaning of a word
through its use in a sentence or paragraph is the most practical way to build vocabulary, since
a dictionary is not always available when a reader encounters an unknown word. A reader must
be aware that many words have several possible meanings. Only by being sensitive to the
circumstances in which a word is used can the reader decide upon an appropriate definition to
fit the context. A reader should rely on context clues when an obvious clue to meaning is
provided, or when only a general sense of the meaning is needed for the reader’s purposes.
Context clues should not be relied upon when a precise meaning is required, when clues
suggest several possible definitions, when nearby words are unfamiliar, and when the unknown
word is a common one that will be needed again; in these cases, a dictionary should be
consulted. There are several different types of context clues. Some of them are:
DEFINITION / DESCRIPTION CLUE
The new term may be formally defined, or sufficient explanation may be given within the
sentence or in the following sentence. Clues to definition include “that is,” commas, dashes,
and parentheses.
Examples:
His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see.
“Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of “emaciation.”
Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope, has become a common practice.
The commas before and after “examination with a fluoroscope” point out the definition of
“fluoroscopy.”
The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is found in Irish folk tales.
The dashes setting off “a short-stemmed clay pipe” point out the definition of “dudeen.”
EXAMPLE CLUES
Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found nearby that helps to
explain its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for example, point out example clues.
Examples:
Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon, and trout, live in the coldest parts of the ocean.
“Piscatorial” obviously refers to fish.
b. Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the
centuries. “Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.
c. In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs have atrophied. The appendix, for
example, has wasted away from disuse. “Atrophied” means “wasted away.”
3. SYNONYM RESTATEMENT CLUE
The reader may discover the meaning of an unknown word because it repeats an idea
expressed in familiar words nearby. Synonyms are words with the same meaning.
Examples:
Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all attention – the new Miss America began her year-
long reign.
She was the cynosure of all eyes for the rest of the evening. “Cynosure” means “the focus of all
attention.”
b. The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding and twisting like a snake around the trees
of the mountainside. “Tortuous” means “winding and twisting.”
4. CONTRAST / ANTONYM CLUE
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An opposite meaning context clue contrasts the
meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning of a familiar term. Words like “although,”
“however,” and “but” may signal contrast clues. Examples: a. When the light brightens, the
pupils of the eyes contract; however, when it grows darker, they dilate. “Dilate” means the
opposite of “contract.” b. The children were as different as day and night. He was a lively
conversationalist, but she was reserved and taciturn. “Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively
conversationalist.”

5. MOOD / TONE CLUE

The author sets a mood, and the meaning of the unknown word must harmonize with the
mood.
Examples:
a. The lugubrious wails of the gypsies matched the dreary whistling of the wind in the allbut-
deserted cemetery. “Lugubrious,” which means “sorrowful,” fits into the mood set by the words
“wails,” “dreary,” and “deserted cemetery.”
6. EXPERIENCE CLUE
Sometimes a reader knows from experience how people or things act in a given situation. This
knowledge provides the clue to a word’s meaning.
Examples:
During those first bewildering weeks, the thoughts of a college freshman drift back to high
school where he was “in,” knew everyone, and felt at home.
A feeling of nostalgia sweeps over him.
She walked away from her closet and quickly slipped a jersey over her head.
She smoothed it into place over her hips, added a belt, glanced at the mirror, and left for work.
7. ANALYSIS OR STRUCTURE CLUE
The parts used to construct a word can be direct clues to meaning. Knowledge of prefixes,
roots, and suffixes can aid a reader in using this type of context clue. Learning one word part
can add dozens of words to a reader’s vocabulary. The power of word parts lies in the ability to
combine the roots and affixes with the context in which a word is used to discover the author’s
meaning.
Examples:
The story is incredible. The root cred means “to believe,’ and the prefix in means “not.”
Therefore, if a story is incredible, it is unbelievable. b. The somnambulist had to be locked in
his bedroom at night for his own safety. If a reader knows the meaning of ambular (walk) and
somn (sleep) and sees the sentence, the reader may realize that a “somnambulist” is a
sleepwalker.
8. INFERENCE CLUE
Sufficient clues might be available for the careful reader to make an educated guess at the
meaning. Example:
a. She told her friend, “I’m through with blind dates forever. What a dull evening! I was bored
every minute. The conversation was absolutely vapid.” “Vapid” means “uninteresting.”
9. CAUSE AND EFFECT CLUE
The author explains the reason for or the result of the word.
Words like “because,” “since,” “therefore,” “thus,” “so,” etc. may signal context clues.
Example:
a. She wanted to impress all her dinner guests with the food she served, so she carefully
studied the necessary culinary arts. “Culinary” means “food preparation.

EXERCISE I: put a "" quotation marks to the letter of the best meaning for the () close and open
parenthesis word as it is used in context.
1. My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very (loquacious )history professor. All he
seemed to want was an audience.”
a. pretentious b. grouchy c. talkative d. worried
2. There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a (benign) climate was appealing. The
islanders seemed to keep their vitality and live longer than Europeans.
a. tropical b. not malignant c. kind d. favorable
3. It is difficult to imagine a (surfeit) of talent in one individual, yet Leonard Bernstein simply
does not have the time to make complete use of his talent as conductor, performer, writer, and
lecturer.
a. excess b. variety c. superiority d. lack
4. There is a large demand all over the United States for plants (indigenous) to the desert.
Many people in Arizona have made a good business of growing and selling cacti and other
local plants.
a. native b. necessary c. foreign d. alien
5. After the Romans left, a (millennium) and a half passed before people again lived in such
comfort. Churchill wrote, “From the year 400 until the year 1900 no one had central heating and
very few had hot baths.”
a. a decade b. many years c. 1000 years d. a century
6. Many years before, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade Britain. No doubt this
contributed to the (xenophobia) of the Romans. They were cautious about strangers who
entered their country.
a. honesty b. fear of foreigners c. kindliness d. stubbornness
7. Such are the (vicissitudes) of history. Nothing remains the same. Three hundred years of
peace ended in darkness and confusion.
a. evils b. mistakes c. changes d. rules
8. The purpose of the psychiatrist is to (mitigate) the suffering of the patient.
a. make milder b. beautify c. increase d. banish
9. We knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, because he had been doomed from the
beginning. One night he met his (ineluctable) fate.
a. forgotten b. inevitable c. hidden d. unhappy
10. A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog, has (vitiated) the air in and around
many big cities.
a. concentrate b. fill up c. replace d. contaminate
EXERCISE II: In the space provided, write a synonym for each () close and open parenthesis
word as it is used in context.
Ex: The lady was too (fat) for the job.
Synonym :Large
1. His (lucid) lectures, along with his clearly presented explanations, made him a popular
professor. __________________
2. Their (vociferous) chatter made me wish I had ear plugs. _____________________
3. He was so (impudent) to his mother that I would have punished him if he talked to me that
way. __________________
4. The Russians are skillful at sending (cryptic) messages, open to many interpretations. Our
State Department spends days puzzling over their meanings. _____________________
5. The Great Flood of Noah’s day was caused by (incessant) rain that fell for 40 days and
nights. _____________________ 6. The students who arrived late told the teacher an (implausible)
story about stopping to watch a UFO. _____________________
7. After spending three weeks in the hospital, I had a (surfeit) of daytime TV programming.
_____________________
8. The prisoners liberated from the Nazi death camp were so (emaciated) that they looked like
skeletons. _____________________
9. Bob decided to be (prudent) and call ahead for reservations, instead of just showing up.
_____________________
10. The (ambiguity) of Joe’s directions made it almost impossible to find his house.
_____________________
11. The job candidate’s background was (impeccable )
–good references and many years of experience, but the company did not give her the job.
_____________________
12. The tranquilized grizzly bear was (lethargic) enough for the scientists to safely examine his
teeth and tattoo his ears. _____________________