The New York Skyline Quiz

The New York Skyline Quiz

The New York Skyline Quiz

We have all seen the New York skyline in movies or even in real life. But do you know anything about the buildings, bridges and iconic constructions in that skyline?

New York City is famous for many things, but primarily it is known as the city of skyscrapers.  It all started with the religious cathedrals – its oldest “skyscraper” was the Trinity Church, which was 280ft tall at the time of its completion, in 1846.  Nowadays there are at least 132 buildings which are taller than 600 feet (183 m).

What is a skyscraper ? A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building having multiple floors (UK) or storeys (USA). When the term was originally used in the 1880s it described a building of 10 to 20 floors but now it is used to describe a building of at least 40 to 50 floors. Mostly designed for office, commercial and residential uses, a skyscraper can also be called a high-rise, but the term “skyscraper” is often used for buildings higher than 100 m (328 ft). For buildings above a height of 300 m (984 ft), the term “supertall” can be used, while skyscrapers reaching beyond 600 m (1,969 ft) are classified as “megatall”.

How many iconic constructions (skyscraper, bridges and statues) can you name ? This silhouette of the skyline can give you a clue….

Test you knowledge with this quiz, learn some new vocabulary and pick up some fun facts at the same time.

The New York Skyline Quiz

The New York skyline is world famous, but how well do you really know it ?

After doing the quiz check out the podcast A Few Days in New York 

 

How to make your English colorful – use expressions and idioms!

How to make your English colorful – use expressions and idioms!

How colorful is your language ? Do you want to sound like a native speaker ? Well in that case, you better start using expressions and idioms to make your English come alive !

Idioms are a fun part of language learning and apart from giving colour and interest to your conversation they also add humour and flair to your language skills. 

So tune in to this podcast and listen as we test each other with 15 expressions, you’ll hear that some we know well and some we don’t know at all. 

We all have specific expressions to where we live, what are your favorite idioms in your language? Let us know we’d love to hear them.

You can check your comprehension of the podcast with this great quiz.

Expressions Comprehension Quiz

 

You can also build your stock of idioms with this quiz about sporting idioms.

 Go the extra mile and listen to this podcast about expressions which William Shakespeare coined back in the 17th century and we still use today.

Test your knowledge of the verb GET and how to use it

Test your knowledge of the verb GET and how to use it

Test your knowledge of the verb GET and how to use it

Test your knowledge of the verb GET and how to use it – Have you noticed how frequently English speakers use the the word GET in conversation…. yes, all the time !

Have you ever looked up the verb GET in a dictionary or on-line……yes, there are “hundreds” of definitions and uses !

Take a look at this extremely brief history of the word GET to help you understand it.

It is recorded that the verb GET originates from around the year 1200 and comes from the Old Norse word of  geta meaning to obtain, to reach, to be able to, to learn, to be pleased with. So you can see that it already started life as a word with a wide variety of meanings!

In the following centuries the verb GET started to be used an auxiliary verb replacing to be and it was also linked with prepositions (these combinations being known as Phrasal Verbs) initially to indicate movement  such as get up, get down, get across, but now many of these phrasal verbs have a completely different meaning not associated with movement or possession. For example the verb to get across can also mean to communicate a message clearly. Indeed words and phrases built on GET take up 29 columns in the Oxford English Dictionary !

Take a look at this timeline:

In the 1660s; To get drunk (building on the notion of “to be” and “to become”)

From 1776; To get better as in “recover your  health” (again developing the notion of “to be” and “to become”).

From 1807; To get ahead as in to make progress (from the notion of movement).

By 1864; Get started to be used as a command (from army instructions, building on the idea of “Go and …)

From 1890; To get ready  as in “prepare oneself”. (“to be ready”)

By 1869 in American English; To get going  as in “to begin, to start doing something.

From 1904; To get busy  as in “go into action, be active” .

By 1961 in American English;  To get to someone as in to irritate someone and to be irritated.

By 1970; To get on (someone’s) nerves

So understandably this small word can seem very daunting for language learners but in this knowledge quiz we will look at the most frequent uses of the word GET and we hope to whet your appetite to GET you IN the mood for more learning.

Watch this space for information about an exciting new language learning site from the EFL Podblog team called My Learning Crush….coming soon.

My Learning Crush

Test your knowledge of the verb GET and how to use it.

The verb GET is a bit of a nightmare for English language learners because it has so many meanings and is used in many different ways.

BUT DON'T PANIC, here are 25 questions which will help you GET a handle on how to use it.

Let's GET started !

Welcome to Toulouse, our home town. Episode 1

Welcome to Toulouse, our home town. Episode 1

As you probably know Toulouse in South West France is the home town of english-podcasts. So let us take you on a journey around this historical, beautiful  and gastronomic city.

This quiz is full of interesting and off-the-wall facts about the Pink City. You won’t know the answer to some of the questions but don’t worry take it as an opportunity to learn more  about Toulouse if you plan to spend a few days here. This is a Guide Book experience in a quiz !

Some of the questions refer to this video on our YouTube channel where we walked around the streets of Toulouse trying to find out the history behind these strange names. You can see Toulouse and the questions in the quiz will come to life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U47fpBHYw6k&t=753s

Take a moment to think about these questions:

Why are there 2 names plaques on most of the streets?

What are the 2 languages that you can hear and see everywhere in Toulouse?

Who are the famous people who lived in Toulouse?

What are the famous landmarks that are a “must” to see?

The Guide Book Quiz which brings Toulouse to life

 

 

Welcome to Toulouse, our home town. Episode 1

History in the streets of Toulouse Episode 2

This is the second in our series retracing the history of Toulouse through the names of streets.

Here we wander down some 11th and 12th century streets that tell a story of the past of Toulouse – how people earned a living and how some became very rich. We discover some fairly unknown facts about the trades of Toulouse in the past – did you know that dice were made in Toulouse?

We uncover the site of a religious site dating to the 5th century BC and the place where a famous singer lived and wrote songs about Toulouse in the 20th century. Come with us as we discover the textile trades that were thriving in Toulouse and that no longer exist as history comes alive before our very eyes.

Enjoy the city’s lively atmosphere. It’s a very hip, young area with a surprising number of bars, cafes, boutiques and galleries. The Carmes district is full of cafés, bars restaurants and speciality shops. The neighborhood is characterized by many narrow, beautiful streets and colorful houses.

One of the liveliest cities in France, Toulouse has become a popular destination for many city lovers in recent years. A weekend in Toulouse is a must if you have a passion for architecture, colorful markets, French cuisine and chic boutiques!

Discover the hidden history of Toulouse in the streets.

Enjoying Toulouse means taking time to live. Stroll the bustling streets for shopping, stroll through the markets that come in all flavors and colours, or just linger in traditional French cafes…the vibe here reflects the Southern personality: authentic, friendly and welcoming. Toulouse is also very good at welcoming tourists and offering them the opportunity to sit around a table and enjoy local specialties (foie gras, duck, sausages, Cassoulet, wine and cheese…).

Explore the city’s architecture and ancient landmarks.

It is a sprawling modern city with an ancient heart, the center of which is the Place du Capitole. It’s an eclectic mix of young and old and has more of a feeling of a group of local villages than one of the biggest cities in France – no wonder Toulouse is consistently voted as one of the best places to live in France and we just love it.

   Develop your listening skills by watching the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MHCL4yRiM0&t=1s

   After reading the text, try this quiz to test your comprehension of the words highlighted in bold print, and learn words which often used in tourist guide books.

Streets of Toulouse (2) Build vocabulary

After reading the text, try this quiz to test your comprehension and learn new vocabulary which is often used in tourist guide books.


The Knowledge: Everything You Need to Know about London Quiz

The Knowledge: Everything You Need to Know about London Quiz

The Knowledge: Everything You Need to Know about London Quiz

Are you thinking of visiting London ? If so, you are not alone ! More than 19 million visitors go to London every year to see the sights and enjoy the London spirit.  Wow ! 

So if you fancy a trip to London where should you start ?

What about the Top Ten places?

  • British Museum – 5.9 million visits
  • Tate Modern – 5.7 million visits
  • National Gallery – 5.2 million visits
  • Natural History Museum – 4.4 million visits
  • V&A Museum – 3.7 million visits
  • Science Museum – 3.3 million visits
  • Southbank Centre – 3.2 million visits
  • Somerset House – 3.2 million visits
  • Tower of London – 2.8 million visits
  • Royal Museums Greenwich – 2.6 million visits

 Some of these sights are free to visit, some you need to pay an entrance fee.

Of course there are many other things to do. What about these …. ?

Walk along the Thames.
Sit in a cosy pub and chat to locals.
Stroll in the parks.
Look at the fashions in Carnaby Street.
Take a selfie in front of Tower Bridge.
Practice English with everyone you meet !! 

So before you book your flight, try this quiz to get a taste of London and learn new vocabulary at the same time.

The Knowledge: Everything You Need to Know about London Quiz

Try these 30 questions to test you knowledge of London, its landmarks, its transport system and its culture.

English Podcasts

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