Describe a practical skill you learned

I LEARNED TO COOK

I used to hate cooking, and while I could make a few basic things, I wasn’t really any good. I’d had a stab at making some more complex recipes, but they never really worked out.

I think I was so bad because I’d never really been taught. In school we did have a few cooking classes, but nothing that really taught the skills I’d need to make anything other than a basic dessert or a simple lunch.

As a consequence, I was horribly unprepared when I moved out on my own and had to fend for myself. I tried all kinds of things instead of cooking, such as eating out at fast-food restaurants, ordering pizza, or seeing which microwave meal from the supermarket was the tastiest. I was never really satisfied, and after a while pizzas and burgers were just getting old.

I’ve always been a fan of taking classes online. I find I’m able to learn and practice something at my own pace. Sometimes classes at a local college can go too fast or can be at inconvenient times. So I did some research, got out my credit card, and paid for a class I thought was going to be worth it. Former students had written rave reviews about it and so I was excited to begin the class.

The teacher went through all the basics, from the essential equipment that all home chefs need, to basic knife skills. Every class left me more and more confident.

Over time I started to experiment and try making increasingly complex dishes. I can’t say everything has been a success, and I’ve certainly had my fair share of disasters in the kitchen, but that one online course has saved me from a lifetime of mediocre takeout and frozen meals.

Vocabulary and idioms for this reading:

Had a stab at (idiom)

If you attempt to do something, even though you’re not likely to be successful, you’re said to have a stab at it.

Example: I’d never tried skiing before, but I had a stab at it while I was in France.

Work out (phrasal verb)

This phrasal verb can mean a few things. Most commonly it means to exercise, and people work out at the gym. It also is commonly used if you’re successful. It can also mean to figure out how to do something.

Example A: He works out at the gym every day.

Example B: If it doesn’t work out, you can always come back here.

Example C: I haven’t worked out how to do that yet.

As a consequence (phrase)

It’s used for saying that one thing is a result of something else.

Example: I’ve lived in France for a very long time, and as a consequence I can speak French fluently.

Move out (phrasal verb)

If you move out of somewhere, it means you stop living in a particular home.

Example: I moved out three years ago, but sometimes I miss that apartment.

Fend for yourself (phrasal verb)

If you fend for yourself you take care of and provide for yourself without depending on anyone else.

Example: When I moved to Boston I had to fend for myself for the first time in my life.

Eat out (phrasal verb)

Simply means to eat at a restaurant instead of at home.

Example: When I lived in Spain, I used to eat out all the time.

Get old (verb)

If something gets old it becomes annoying, boring, or undesirable because you’ve done it too many times.

Example: Eating mac and cheese every day gets old really fast.

Worth it (adjective)

If something is worth it, it’s worth the cost or work involved to attain it. The benefits will outweigh the costs.

Example: Getting up early to jog is tough but worth it.

Rave review (noun)

A rave review is when someone writes or talks about something really positively, such as a product, service, book, TV show, movie, etc. They're really happy with whatever they're reviewing.

Example: The movie received rave reviews.

Your fair share (idiom)

This phrase is used to indicate an amount of something that you deserve, whether it’s a good or bad thing.

Example: Leave the rest of the pizza for other people. You’ve had your fair share.

Mediocre (adjective)

Something that’s not very good.

Example: Parents don’t want their kids going to mediocre schools.

Writing an explanation

How buying online works

First, you need to search for a product using Google shopping. You can browse the website and click on the items you want to purchase. The items you choose are sent to a shopping cart. 

Then, you need to click on the shopping cart. On this website section, the items are displayed. Also, their features and prices are shown. If you want, you can delete any item. 

Once you decide to buy them, you have to go to the paying section. Your address and some personal information are required to be filled in. 

Next, 3 kinds of payment are shown, you can choose the one that fits your needs. 

Finally, a notice is displayed advising that your purchase was successful and the expected date you will receive the products.

Reading Comprehension #40 - Intermediate

 

Good Health

Most people would agree with the definition of good health as being a state where you are free from sickness. Despite this, there are many different opinions about how a person can actually have good health. People used to only think of their health when they were sick. But these days more and more people are taking measures to make sure that they don't get sick in the first place. In this article I will describe a few of the most common things that you can do to stay healthy.

One of the best things you can do for your body is exercise. But how much is enough? Not everyone agrees on exactly how much people should exercise each day. Some people think that doing simple things like cleaning the house are helpful. Other people do heavy exercise everyday such as running or swimming. One thing experts do agree on is that any kind of exercise is good for you.

Along with exercise, having a healthy diet can help promote good health. Foods like vegetables and fruits should be eaten several times each day. It is also important to eat foods high in fiber such as beans, grains, fruit and vegetables. Fiber helps your body to digest the food you eat. It also helps your body in other ways such as decreasing the chance of getting some cancers, heart disease and diabetes.
Avoiding foods with a lot of sugar, salt and fat is a good idea. Eating these kinds of foods can lead to a variety of health problems. The main one being obesity. Obesity means having so much fat on your body that you are risking your health.

In todays modern world, we all have some level of stress in our life. Different things cause stress for different people. Money problems, work and relationships with other people can all cause stress. It can also be caused by good things like getting married or moving into a new house. The important thing to remember is that you can never completely remove stress from your life. It will always be with you. Instead of trying to remove stress, people need to be aware of what causes them stress and find ways to reduce the impact that stress has on their lives. There are several ways to fight against stress in your life. Exercise and sports are a great way to reduce stress.

Other activities like Tai Chi, yoga or taking a walk also help reduce stress. Changing the way you think can also reduce stress. Try living for now, and don't worry about the future. The things I’ve just mentioned are only some of the ways that people can have good health. Doing these simple things can help you to have a better life now and will lead to a longer and happier life in the future.

1. What is the main idea of the text?
People all over the world have different ideas of what “good health” means.
Exercising, a healthy diet and reducing stress lead to a healthy life.
Knowing the difference between good health and bad health is important.

2. Tai Chi, Yoga and taking a walk are examples of
ways to reduce stress.
changing how you think.
how we live now.

3. Beans, grains, fruit and vegetables are examples of what?
Foods with fiber.
Foods that can cause obesity.
Foods you should eat several times a day.

4. What is one cause of obesity?
Unhealthy foods.
A lot of exercise.
Foods high in fiber.

5. The word ‘It’ in paragraph 5 refers to:
Work
Stress
Fruits and vegetables

6. In which order were these presented?
Diet, stress, exercise.
Exercise, diet, stress.
Stress, diet, exercise.

7. Everyone agrees on how to have good health.
False
True
It doesn´t say

8. You must do difficult exercise for a long time everyday to be healthy.
False
True
It doesn´t say

9. To be healthy people have to stop all stress in their life.
True
False
It doesn´t say

10. Stress can be caused by good things.
True
False
It doesn´t say

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Phrasal Verb: Partícula Up

Up es un adverbio y preposición. Podemos encontrarla en 526 combinaciones de Phrasal Verbs según Abz Ingles y es la partícula más usada en los Phrasal Verbs. La definición básica de Up es moverse de un lugar bajo hacia lo alto.

Movement and position
Movimiento yPosición

Se usa la partícula Up para indicar movimiento de una posición baja a una posición más alta, por ejemplo Jump up, significa saltar. Run up a hill, significa ir de un punto bajo a un punto más alto (en este caso una colina). Bajo este sentido Down significa lo opuesto.

También se puede usar Up con verbos que significan levantar o con verbos que demuestran el crecimiento de algo o la dirección hacia una posición elevada. Pick up por ejemplo que significa recoger algo. Bajo este sentido las combinaciones que usan Up implican movimiento hacia arriba, mientras que el verbo indica cómo se logra el movimiento. Tenemos Dig up, que significa sacar algo de la tierra.

Back up	Hold up	Reach up	Spring up
Bob up	Jack up	Rear up	Stand up
Break up	Jump up	Ride up	Start up
Bubble up	Kick up	Rise up	Stick up
Budge up	Lick up	Roll up	Stir up
Buoy up	Lift up	Ruck up	Straighten up
Come up	Look up	Run up	Take up
Dig up	Mark up	Scoop up	Throw up
Double up	Move up	Scrape up	Thrust up
Draw up	Pick up	Screw up	Tip up
Get up	Poke up	Shin up	Tower up
Go up	Pop up	Shove up	Turn up
Grub up	Pull up	Show up	Well up
Help up	Pump up	Sit up	Whip up
Hike up	Push up	Snatch up	Wind up
Hitch up	Put up	Spoon up	Write up

 

Increasing and Improving
Incremento y Mejoramiento

Así como dar la idea de movimientos hacia un punto más alto, Up puede usarse también para indicar el incremento en cantidad o intensidad. Speed up, significa moverse o trabajar más rápido. El verbo siempre indica la causa o la cualidad del incremento, por ejemplo Blazes up, significa arder más suerte, tenemos también Speaks up, significa empezar a hablar más fuerte.

Add up	Fix up	Paint up	Speed up
Back up	Flare up	Patch up	Spice up
Bank up	Fluff up	Pep up	Staff up
Beef up	Freshen up	Perk up	Stand up for
Bid up	Gen up	Pick up	Steam up
Blaze up	Get up	Pile up	Step up
Blow up	Ginger up	Play up	Stick up for
Boil up	Go up	Plump up	Stoke up
Bolster up	Grow up	Point up	Surge up
Bone up on	Grow up on	Poke up	Swell up
Brighten up	Ham up	Polish up	Swot up
Bring up	Heap up	Pretty up	Take up
Brush up	Heat up	Prop up	Talk up
Brush up on	Hike up	Puff up	Tart up
Buck up	Hoke up	Push up	Tick up
Buoy up	Hot up	Put up	Tidy up
Build up	Hurry up	Quicken up	Tighten up
Bump up	Hype up	Ramp up	Tone up
Camp up	Jack up	Ratchet up	Touch up
Change up	Jazz up	Rave up	Toughen up
Charge up	Key up	Read up	Tune up
Cheer up	Lift up	Rev up	Turn up
Churn up	Light up	Save up	Vamp up
Colour up	Line up	Scale up	Wake up
Come up	Live up	Shape up	Wake up to
Crank up	Liven up	Sharpen up	Warm up
Do up	Look up	Shoot up	Well up
Doll up	Loosen up	Sing up	Whip up
Dose up	Mark up	Sit up	Whoop up
Dress up	Mount up	Skill up	Work up
Fatten up	Move up	Smarten up
Feed up	Mug up	Soup up
Firm up	Open up	Speak up

 

Preparing and beginning
Preparar y Empezar

Se usa Up con cierta cantidad de verbos para indicar que algo está siendo preparado o está empezando. Train up, significa comenzar a formarse o prepararse para algo de tal forma de estar en mejor condición y listo para un evento. Open up, significa abrir algo para comerciar algún producto.

Book up	Gear up	Plan up	Suck up to
Boot up	Get up	Power up	Sweeten up
Brew up	Go up	Psych up	Take up
Build up	Heat up	Pump up	Tee up
Butter up	Kit up	Put up	Tense up
Cook up	Knock up	Rig up	Tog up
Crank up	Light up	Rise up	Tool up
Cue up	Limber up	Run up	Throw up
Dish up	Line up	Rustle up	Tidy up
Draw up	Make up	Saddle up	Train up
Fell up to	Move up	Set up	Tune up
Firm up	Open up	Shape up	Warm up
Fit up	Perk up	Soften up	Whip up
Fix up	Pick up	Start up	Wind up
Fry up	Pipe up	Strike up	Work up

 

Fastening and restricting
Asegurar o Restringir

Up es usado para indicar que algo está siendo sujetado o fijado, o de alguna manera restringida. El verbo frecuentemente indica a que se va a fijar, por ejemplo Bandage up, significa asegurar algo sobre otro objeto. Brick up, significa tapiar (emparedar, amurallar). En otros casos por ejemplo Up se usa para decir que el movimiento de una persona o cosa esta siendo limitada. Belt up, significa usar asegurarse con el cinturón de seguridad.

Bandage up	Earth up	Plug up	Strap up
Bang up	Ease up	Post up	String up
Belt up	Fasten up	Prop up	Sweep up
Bind up	Fog up	Pull up	Tack up
Block up	Freeze up	Put up	Take up
Board up	Fur up	Roll up	Tangle up
Bottle up	Gum up	Screw up	Tape up
Brick up	Hang up	Scrunch up	Tense up
Buckle up	Hook up	Seal up	Tie up
Bundle up	Ice up	Sew up	Tighten up
Bung up	Jam up	Shore up	Truss up
Button up	Lace up	Shut up	Tuck up
Catch up in	Lay up	Slit up	Turn up
Chain up	Let up	Slow up	Wait up
Clog up	Lock up	Snarl up	Wall up
Close up	Mist up	Snow up	Wind up
Coop up	Muffle up	Squash up	Wrap up
Cork up	Nail up	Steam up	Zip up
Crumple up	Paste up	Stick up
Dam up	Pen up	Stitch up
Do up	Pin up	Stop up

 

Approaching
Acercarse

Up se usa para indicar que dos personas se mueven a una distancia cercana de la otra. Catches up with, significa acercarse a alguien. Creep up on, significa acercarse sigilosamente. Keep up with, significa moverse junto a alguien y a la misma vez.

En combinaciones con verbos transitivos, Up indica que las cosas están siendo llevadas juntas. Line up, significa poner cosas juntas de tal manera que están alineadas.

Algunas combinaciones comparan la calidad de un objeto respecto a otra. Measure up to, significa comparar la calidad de una o varias cosas.

Balance up	Draw up	Make up	Queue up
Bump up against	Even up	Make up to	Round up
Catch up	Face up to	Marry up	Run up
Catch up on	Form up	Match up	Run up against
Catch up with	Go up	Match up to	Sidle up
Chat up	Keep up	Measure up	Sneak up on
Close up	Keep up to	Measure up to	Snuggle up
Come up	Lead up to	Nestle up	Square up
Come up againts	Level up	Patch up	Steal up
Come up to	Line up	Pick up
Creep up on	Live up to	Play up to
Cuddle up	Loom up	Pull up

 

Disrupting and Damaging
Desbaratar y Dañar

Up es usado en combinaciones que dan la idea de que algo no está en su estado normal y que de alguna manera está dañado. Mess up, significa estropear algo o desordenar algo. Play up, significa no funcionar correctamente. Botch up, significa estropear algo, malográndolo.

Act up	Cock up	Hold up	Rough up
Balls up	Crack up	Jack up	Screw up
Bash up	Curl up	Jumble up	Seize up
Beat up	Cut up	Keep up	Set up
Beat up on	Dope up	Kick up	Shake up
Bitch up	Dry up	Knock up	Shoot up
Blow up	Duff up	Louse up	Slip up
Botch up	Eat up	Mess up	Smash up
Break up	Feed up	Mix up	Stand up
Bugger up	Fit up	Muck up	Stir up
Burn up	Foul up	Muddle up	String up
Bust up	Fuck up	Muss up	Tear up
Carve up	Go up	Pack up	Trip up
Chew up	Gum up	Play up	Wash up
Churn up	Hang up	Punch	Wind up

 

Completing and finishing
Completanto y terminando

Up es usado en combinaciones que indican que algo ha terminado o finalizado. Hang up, significa cortar una conversación por teléfono. Wind up, finalizar una actividad. A veces Up indica que algo ha sido completado enormemente. Tear up, significa hacer pedazos algo por ejemplo hacer trizas al papel.

Como valor agregado a esta función se puede usar Up para decir que algo ha sido consumido completamente o used up. El verbo muestra como pasa esto, Drink up, significa terminar de beber algo.

Add up	Dry up	Load up	Sober up
Add up to	Dummy up	Lock up	Sop up
Belt up	Eat up	Make up	Stitch up
Blow up	End up	Mash up	Straighten up
Book up	Fetch up	Measure up	Sum up
Break up	Figure up	Mop up	Swallow up
Burn up	Fill up	Notch up	Tear up
Buy up	Finish up	Pack up	Throw up
Chalk up	Finish up with	Patch up	Tidy up
Check up	Fold up	Plough up	Tie up
Chew up	Follow up	Polish up	Top up
Chuck up	Give up	Pull up	Toss up
Clam up	Gobble up	Pump up	Tot up
Clean up	Grind up	Punch up	Type up
Clear up	Hang up	Reckon up	Use up
Clock up	Hang up on	Ring up	Wake up
Close up	Heal up	Rip up	Wash up
Come up	Hoover up	Run up	Weigh up
Count up	Hush up	Sew up	Wind up
Cover up	Knit up	Shrivel up	Wrap up
Crack up	Knock up	Shut up	Write up
Crease up	Land up	Snap up
Drink up	Lap up	Soak up

 

Rejecting and Surrendering
Rechazar y Entrega

En este contexto Up indica que algo está siendo apartado o rechazado. Pass up, significa rechazar algo (oferta, etc.). Pay up y Cough up significan cancelar una deuda que las personas tenían contigo.

Bear up	Give up	Pass up	Spew up
Bring up	Give up on	Pay up	Square up
Cast up	Give up to	Put up with	Stand up
Chuck up	Hang up	Sell up	Stump up
Cough up	Heave up	Settle up	Throw up
Deliver up	Hold up	Sick up	Wash up

 

Happening and creating
Ocurrir y Producir

Hay muchos Phrasal Verbs con la partícula Up que dan la idea que algo está pasando siendo creado. Por ejemplo, Crop up, significa que algo pasa o de pronto aparece (surgir). Think up, significa crear una idea. Come up, significa que un tema surge.

Bring up	Crop up	Open up	Sprout up
Call up	Drag up	Pick up	Summon up
Come up	Dream up	Pop up	Take up
Come up with	Free up	Rise up	Think up
Conjure up	Go up	Show up	Throw up
Cook up	Make up	Spring up	Turn up

 

Collecting and togetherness
Recolectar e Unidad

En este contexto Up da la idea de reunir las cosas juntas y que las cosas llegan a ser pequeñas en el proceso. Algunos verbos significan que con el uso de un tipo de recipiente se recolectan las cosas. Bag up, poner cosas en un bolso. Crate up, significa reunir las cosas en una caja.

Para referirse a personas  este tiende a expresar la idea de estar envuelto en una organización o club, siendo parte de eso. Sign up, significa ser parte de una nueva organización o pertenecer a este.

Bag up	Gang up	Muster up	Shake up
Bind up with	Gather up	Pack up	Sign up
Bottle up	Heap up	Pair up	Stack up
Box up	Herd up	Phone up	Stock up
Bunch up	Hoard up	Pick up	Store up
Call up	Hook up	Pick up with	Swallow up
Chase up	Huddle up	Pile up	Sweep up
Clutter up	Join up	Put up	Take up
Coil up	Lay up	Rake up	Take up on
Collect up	Link up	Ring up	Take up with
Crate up	Look up	Roll up	Team up
Curl up	Make up	Round up	Tie up
Double up	Meet up	Save up	Tuck up
Drum up	Mix up	Scrape up	Wire up
Fold up	Mix up with	Shack up	Wrap up in

 

Revealing and discovering
Revelar y Descubrir

Up es usado en combinaciones que dan la idea de revelar o descubrir información de algún tipo. Dig up, significa descubrir (secreto, idea, etc). Own up, significa revelar el motivo principal de la acción hecha en el pasado.

Call up	Dredge up	Own up	Show up as
Catch up	Fess up	Pick up	Size up
Chase up	Hunt up	Rake up	Throw up
Come up with	Look up	Scrape up	Weigh up
Dig up	Open up	Show up	Yield up

 

Separating
Separar

Up a veces indica que la persona o cosa se está separando de alguna forma o está siendo separada. Divide up, significa dividir en partes pequeñas una cantidad de algo. Split up, significa que las personas toman diferentes caminos, direcciones. Algunas combinaciones indican que las personas están siendo escondidas de otras. Lie up, ir a un lugar para esconderse o descanzar.

Break up	Cut up	Hide up	Parcel up
Bust up	Divide up	Hole up	Saw up
Carve up	Divvy up	Lay up	Slice up
Chop	Give up	Lie up	Split up

 

 

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Lista básica de Phrasal Verbs - Lista de Particulas
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To  -  Together  -  Towards  -  Under  -  Up  -  Upon  -  With  -  Without  -  About
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See also:

Phrasal Verbs	Common Phrasal Verbs
¿Qué es un Phrasal Verb?	Abz Grammar Top Tips
Importancia de los Phrasal Verbs	Thematic list of Idioms
Tipos de Phrasal Verbs	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Irregular Verbs List	Lista de Términos Gramaticales

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