SFL ACTIVITIES

TEXTUAL LEVEL
THEME / RHEME
ANALYSIS OF PASSIVE VOICE IN CONTEXT
 Read these texts below and underline the verbal forms
in the passive voice.
 Try to explain why the passive voice has been chosen
in each case.
 Refer to the reason for the omission of the agent when
it corresponds.
DAMAGE ON CASTLE ROOF
The roof of Mockham Castle had been repaired after the storms of the
previous winter. However, high quality material had not been used and
the bad summer weather caused more damage. The roof area is going to
be replaced completely next year if the necessary funds can be raised.

HEALEY BACK ON WHEELS

Chris Healey, the Formula One driver, has won several minor
races. This year, he has changed racing teams and has
achieved greater success. He was disqualified from the
Monaco Grand Prix when he was leading the race. However, he
has recovered his confidence and has won the Driver of the
Month award.

LOCAL HOSPITAL FALLING TO PIECES

Yesterday morning, Dr. A. Williams was interviewed on
his first year as Head of the Local Hospital. When asked
about the appalling conditions of the premises and the
poor medical service this is what he said: “Little has
been done due to the fact that the government never sent
the funds they had promised. Therefore, patients are not
being treated they way we would like to treat them......

APPROPRIATE PLAYING AND TRAINING KIT

Players must be encouraged to have their kit regularly washed and they
must wear boot that conform to the Rugby Football Union regulations
with regard to studs. Professionally made mouthguards should be worn
for training and playing and players must never chew gum. Jewellery of
any kind must not be worn. All players and specially the front five
guards, should wear shin guards. All players (or their parents) should
consult their family doctors about tetanus injections.
 CHOOSE THE BEST SENTENCE FROM EACH
PAIR TO BUILD UP A CONTINUOUS TEXT.

• HOW BOOKS ARE MADE

•
• 1. First of all the printers print big sheets of paper.
/First of all, big sheets of paper are printed.
• 2. Each sheet contains the text of a number of
pages./The text of a number of pages is contained in
each sheet.
• 3. People fold and cut the sheets to produce
sections of the book./The sheets are folded and cut
to produce sections...
• 4. These sections are called signatures. /We call
these sections signatures
• 5. The printers put all the signatures together in
the correct order/All the signatures are put together
in the correct
• 6. Then they are bound together/Then they bind
them together
• 7. Finally, the cover is attached/Finally they attach
the cover.
• 8. Now the publishers can publish the book/now
the book can be published.
ANALYSE THE TEXTS BELOW AND DECIDE WHY
THEY ARE FAULTY: (Rewrite them)

VANDALISM IN COLLEGE
The college football cup was stolen last night. In
addition, a lot of furniture was broken. The
thieves also burnt important documents and
slogans were painted on the headmaster’s
office wall. The police are investigating the
incident. *

CUTE´S FILM IN SCOTLAND

Phoebe Cute has made several films in the USA
but now she has decided to make a film in
Britain. She will play the role of a seventeenth
century princess. A famous director chose her
for the role. The film will be shot in Scotland.
They are already choosing extras.
 1.The comic strip below uses five different
tenses: Identify them Find an example of each
of these tenses in the comic strip . Then
identify one verb phrase from the strip that
expresses each of the following meanings:

• 1. event in progress
2. present situation
3. event completed in the past before another event
4. action completed t a definite point in the past
5. event in progress at a specific time in the past

•
A. Predict the type of text these headings have been taken
from.
• B. Read the texts below and match them with their
headings.
• C. Underline the finite verbs in each text.
• D. Identify the verb tense that prevails in each text and refer
to the meaning it conveys in this context.
• E. Can you draw any conclusion as regards the relationship
between the type of text and the tenses used?
• a. UNDERSTANDING HISTORY Henry VIII
and the English Reformation
• b. Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
• c. Arthur Miller – The Crucible
• d. YOUTH LEVEL II - Philosophy and spirit
of the game
• e. Lewis Carrol – Alice’s adventures in
Wonderland
• LIFE SCIENCE - Life process in mollusks
Rugby Union is a game of movement. Movement is the key, movement of the ball, of the player with and without the ball, in
support and in defence. In order to play the dynamic game every player must be able to produce the skills of running,
handling, evasion and of kicking to every high level under the pressures and restrictions of the game situation. High level
skills and the understanding of how, when and why to bring these into play are fundamental to progress. Coaches working with
young players have the responsibility and the challenge to ensure that this foundation is truly laid, for this is the base from
which progress and success most readily come.

Mollusks get food in different ways. A bivalve filters food particles from the water that flows across its mantle. Univalves and some other
mollusks eat with a radula, which is like a tongue with teeth, that loosens food growing on rocks. Octopi and squids move quickly to catch a
meal, relying on suction-cup discs on their powerful arms to seize other animals.

PARRIS: Where is my wood? My contract provides I be supplied with all my firewood. I am waiting since November for a
stick, and even in November I had to show my frostbitten hands like some London beggar!
GILES: You are allowed six pound a year to buy your wood, Mr. Parris.
PARRIS: I regard that six pound as part of my salary. I am paid little enough without I spend six pound on firewood.
PROCTOR: Sixty, plus six for firewood -
PARRIS: The salary is sixty-six pound, Mr. Proctor! I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a
graduate of Harvard College.

Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark, and thought it would be as well to introduce some other subject of conversation. While
she was trying to fix on one, the cook took the cauldron of soup off the fire, and at once set to work throwing everything within her reach
at the Duchess and the baby – the fire-irons came first; then followed a shower of saucepans, plates, and dishes. The Duchess took no
notice of them even when they hit her; and the baby was howling so much already, that it was quite impossible to say whether the blows
hurt it or not.

Henry VIII had been involved in a number of wars in Europe, all of which had been expensive. He could not raise enough money by taxes and
was always looking for extra sources of money. In 1535 Henry ordered an investigation into the wealth of the monasteries. This showed that the
monasteries owned about one quarter of the land of England.

1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
•
•1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
•2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
•3. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir into butter mixture to blend. Add chocolate chips.
•4. Place 1-inch diameter balls of dough about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9 minutes or until edges
are light brown. Do not over bake. Cool on a wire rack.
•Make 36 cookies.
 Famous Stories – The following sentences state
facts about famous stories. Imagine a different
ending and write your own ideas.

•
• 1. Cinderella left her shoe at the palace.
• If Cinderella hadn’t left her shoe at the palace, the
prince would never have found her and they wouldn’t
have married.
•
• 2. Little Red Riding Hood took the longer way.
• 3. The wolf was able to get into the last pig’s house.
• 4. The prince kissed Sleeping Beauty.
• 5. Snow White was beautiful.
• 6. Pinocchio lied.
• 7. Alice followed Rabbit.
 Read the headlines and react using an
appropriate conditional sentence for each, as in
the example.

•
• 1- If it is a boy, she will name him Michael.
• 1-
VIOLENT CITIZENS RIOTING
• AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT
•
• PREGNANT JULIA ROBERT’S FAVOURTE NAME: MICHAEL
•
• 4-
•
•
• THE POPE CANNOT TRAVEL DUE TO OLD AGE
•
• WEATHER FORECAST – IN CASE OF RAIN – FINAL SOCCER CUP PUT OFF
•
•
•
2-
5-
•
•
• HEAVY RAINS CAUSE FLOODING OF CREEK VALLEY*
•
• ACTRESS IN CAR ACCIDENT – FILMING DELAYED*
•
• 3-
6-
•

•
•
13. On the next page you will find some of
the best sellers at Amazon.com.

  In pairs, answer the following questions orally.

i. Which book would you buy?
Why?
ii. Which book would you never buy?
Why not?

 Write sentences to compare them using the adjectives in the

box. (There may be more than one possible answer)
Entertaining dull
long gripping informative
thought-provoking
expensive