Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

We offer you here a variety of texts on various interesting subjects. You can practice reading comprehension and at the same time you will certainly learn something new.
Each text is identified with an icon showing the level of English used on it. You will also find some questions to answer at the end of some texts to test your comprehension






World Cup

The FIFA World Cup (often called the Football World Cup, Soccer World Cup or simply the World Cup) is the most important men's competition in international football. The world's most representative team sport event, the World Cup is contested by the men's national football teams of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (the sport's largest governing body) member nations. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II). However, it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds. In 1991, FIFA added a separate Women's World Cup.The men's final tournament phase (often called the "Finals") involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation, with these games making it the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world. In the 17 tournaments held, only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. Brazil is the current holder, as well as the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times, while Germany and Italy follow with three titles each. The next football World Cup Finals will be held in Germany between June 9 and July 9, 2006.




Questions
Now answer the questions about the text.


1. The tournament takes place every four years
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know


2. In 1942 the World Cup was not played.
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know


3. There are 32 teams playing the World Cup.
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know


4. Only seven nations have ever won the championship.
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know


Answers
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. A





Shamrock
The shamrock, an unofficial symbol of Ireland, is a three-leafed old white clover, sometimes called (rarely, nowadays) Trifolium repens (white clover, known in Irish as seamair bhán) but more usually today Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí).The diminutive version of the Irish word for "clover" ("seamair") is "seamaróg", which was anglicised as "shamrock", representing a close approximation of the original Gaelic pronunciation. However, other three-leafed plants — such as black medic (Medicago lupulina), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and Common wood sorrel (genus Oxalis) — are sometimes designated as shamrocks.The shamrock was traditionally used for its medical properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times. It is also a common way to represent St. Patrick's Day, a holiday celebrated on March 17. Shamrocks are said to bring good luck.


Questions
Now answer the questions about the text.

1. The shamrock is the unofficial symbol of Ireland.
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know

2. Nowadays, it's usually called Trifolium repens.
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know

3. It was used for its medical properties
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know

4. It was a popular motif in Victorian times
A) True
B) False
C)We don't know

Answers
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. A





Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales. Located on the south coast of the country it is administered as a unitary authority. It is in the historic county of Glamorgan and is recognised as one of the more appealing cities in the UK.It was a small town until the early nineteenth century and came to prominence as a major port for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region. It eventually grew to become the largest city in Wales and serves as a major centre of culture, sport and history in the United Kingdom.
Cardiff was made a city in 1905, and proclaimed capital of Wales in 1955. Today, it is the 14th largest city in the United Kingdom. Cardiff Urban Area includes most of the city, along with the adjoining settlements of Dinas Powys, Penarth and Radyr, and is the 21st largest urban area in the UK.





Questions
Now answer the questions about the text.


1. Cardiff is the capital of Scotland
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know


2. Cardiff is a small town
A) True
B) False
C) We don't know

3. It has been the capital city since...
A) 1905
B) 1955
C) We don't know


4. Cardiff is now the largest city in the United Kingdom.
A) True
B) False
C)We don't know


Answers

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. B

Will - Future

Going to - Future

Past Perfect

Past continuous

Present continous

TIPS TO "ENGLISH AND SONGS"

ENGLISH AND SONGS

Las letras de canciones en inglés resultan muy útiles para aprender palabras y expresiones nuevas. Por eso, hemos dedicado una sección exclusiva a analizar las letras de tus canciones favoritas.
Por cada canción, se incluye la letra en inglés, la música en video para que la disfrutes y una posible traducción de la letra de la canción al español.

I DON'T WANNA MISS A THING (Theme from Armageddon)
by Aerosmith



I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
Far-away and dreaming.
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,
I could stay lost in this moment forever.
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure.

I don't wanna close my eyes,
I don't wanna fall asleep,
'Cos I'd miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

'Cos even when I dream of you,
The sweetest dream will never do.
I'd still miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

Lying close to you,
Feeling your heart beating.
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming,
Wondering if it's me you're seeing.
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever.

I don't wanna close my eyes,
I don't wanna fall asleep,
'Cos I'd miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

'Cos even when I dream of you,
The sweetest dream will never do.
I'd still miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

I don't wanna miss one smile,
I don't wanna miss one kiss,
Well, I just wanna be with you,
Right here with you, just like this.
I just wanna hold you close,
Feel your heart so close to mine,
And stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time.

Don't wanna close my eyes,
Don't wanna fall asleep,
'Cos I'd miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

'Cos even when I dream of you,
The sweetest dream will never do.
I'd still miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

Traducción:

NO QUIERO EXTRAÑAR NADA (Tema de Armageddon)
por Aerosmith

Podría permanecer despierto sólo para escucharte respirar,
Mirarte sonreír mientras duermes
A lo lejos, y soñando.
Podría pasar mi vida en esta dulce claudicación,
Podría quedarme perdido en este momento para siempre.
Ya que, cada momento que pasé contigo
Es un momento que valoro mucho.

No quiero cerrar los ojos,
No quiero quedarme dormido,
Porque te extrañaría, nena,
Y no quiero extrañar nada.

Porque aún si soñara contigo,
El más dulce de los sueños no alcanzará.
Aún así te extrañaría, nena,
Y no quiero extrañar nada.

Acostado cerca de ti,
Siento latir tu corazón.
Y me pregunto con qué estás soñando,
Me pregunto si será conmigo.
Luego, beso tus ojos y agradezco a Dios que estemos juntos
Y sólo quiero estar contigo
En este momento para siempre, para siempre, siempre.

(Estribillo)

No quiero extrañar ni una sonrisa,
No quiero extrañar ni un beso,
Ya que sólo quiero estar contigo,
Aquí mismo, contigo, como ahora.
Sólo quiero tenerte cerca
Sentir tu corazón muy cerca del mío,
Y permanecer aquí, en este momento
Por el resto del tiempo.




EVERYTHING I DO, I DO IT FOR YOU
by Bryan Adams





Look into my eyes, you will see
What you mean to me.
Search your heart, search your soul.
And when you find me there you'll search no more.

Don't tell me it's not worth trying for.
You can't tell me it's not worth dying for.
You know it's true.
Everything I do, I do it for you.

Look into your heart, you will find
There's nothing there to hide.
Take me as I am, take my life.
I would give it all, I would sacrifice.

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for.
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more.
You know it's true.
Everything I do, I do it for you.

There's no love like your love.
And no other could give more love.
There's nowhere, unless you're there
All the time, all the way.

Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth trying for.
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more.
I would fight for you, I'd lie for you,
Walk the wire for you, I'd die for you.

You know it's true.
Everything I do, I do it for you.

Traducción:

TODO LO QUE HAGO, LO HAGO POR TI
por Bryan Adams

Mirame a los ojos, verás
Lo que tú significas para mí.
Busca en tu corazón, busca en tu alma.
Y cuando me encuentres allí no buscarás más.

No me digas que no vale la pena intentarlo.
No puedes decirme que no vale la pena morir por eso.
Sabes que es verdad.
Todo lo que hago, lo hago por ti.

Mira en tu corazón, encontrarás que
Allí no hay nada que esconder.
Tómame como soy, toma mi vida.
Lo daría todo, me sacrificaría.

No me digas que no vale la pena luchar por eso.
No puedo evitarlo, no hay nada que quiera más.
Sabes que es verdad.
Todo lo que hago, lo hago por ti.

No hay amor como tu amor.
Y ninguna otra persona podría dar más amor.
No existe ningún sitio, a menos que tú estés allí
Todo el tiempo, todo el camino.

Oh, no puedes decirme que no vale la pena intentarlo.
No puedo evitarlo, no hay nada que quiera más.
Lucharía por ti, mentiría por ti,
Caminaría por la cuerda floja por ti, moriría por ti.

Sabes que es verdad.
Todo lo que hago, lo hago por ti.


MY HEART WILL GO ON (Love Theme from Titanic)
by Celine Dion




Every night, in my dreams,
I see you, I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.
Far, across the distance
And spaces between us,
You have come to show you go on.

Near, far, wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more, you opened the door.
And you're here in my heart.
And my heart will go on and on.

Love can touch us one time,
And last for a lifetime.
And never let go till we're gone.
Love was when I loved you,
One true time to hold on to.
In my life, we'll always go on.

Near, far, wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more, you opened the door.
And you're here in my heart.
And my heart will go on and on.

You're here, there's nothing I fear.
And I know that my heart will go on.
We'll stay, forever this way.
You are safe in my heart.
And my heart will go on and on.
Traducción:

MI CORAZON SEGUIRA (Tema de amor de Titanic)
por Celine Dion

Cada noche, en mis sueños,
Te veo, te siento.
De esa manera sé que sigues.
Lejos, más allá de la distancia
Y espacio entre nosotros,
Has venido para mostrar que sigues.

Cerca, lejos, dondequiera que estés,
Creo que tu corazón aún sigue.
Una vez más, abriste la puerta
Y estás aquí, en mi corazón.
Y mi corazón seguirá y seguirá.

El amor puede tocarnos una vez,
Y durar toda una vida.
Y nunca cesar hasta que ya no estemos.
El amor era cuando te amaba,
Una verdadera oportunidad para guardar.
En mi vida, siempre seguiremos.

Cerca, lejos, dondequiera que estés,
Creo que tu corazón aún sigue.
Una vez más, abriste la puerta
Y estás aquí, en mi corazón.
Y mi corazón seguirá y seguirá.

Estás aquí, no hay nada que temer.
Y sé que mi corazón seguirá.
Permaneceremos así para siempre.
Estás seguro en mi corazón.
Y mi corazón seguirá y seguirá.


YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL
by James Blunt




My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful, you're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place.
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was flying high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful, you're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place.
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

You're beautiful, you're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth.
I will never be with you.
Traducción:

ERES HERMOSA
por James Blunt

Mi vida es brillante.
Mi amor es puro.
Vi un ángel.
De eso estoy seguro.
Me sonrió en el subterráneo.
Estaba con otro hombre.
Pero no perderé el sueño por eso,
Porque tengo un plan.

Eres hermosa, eres hermosa.
Eres hermosa, es cierto.
Vi tu rostro en un lugar lleno de gente.
Y no sé qué hacer,
Porque nunca estaré contigo.

Sí, ella me llamó la atención
Cuando pasamos caminando.
Ella podía ver por mi cara que yo estaba volando,
Y no creo que la vuelva a ver,
Pero compartimos un momento que durará hasta el fin.

Eres hermosa, eres hermosa.
Eres hermosa, es cierto.
Vi tu rostro en un lugar lleno de gente.
Y no sé qué hacer,
Porque nunca estaré contigo.

Eres hermosa, eres hermosa.
Eres hermosa, es cierto.
Debe haber un ángel con una sonrisa en su rostro,
Cuando se le ocurrió que yo debería estar contigo.
Pero es hora de enfrentar la verdad.
Nunca estaré contigo.


BECAUSE OF YOU
by Kelly Clarkson



I will not make the same mistakes that you did.
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery.
I will not break the way you did.
You fell so hard.
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far.

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt.
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me.
Because of you
I am afraid.

I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out.
I cannot cry
Because I know that weakness in your eyes.
I'm forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life.
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with.

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt.
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me.
Because of you
I am afraid.

I watched you die.
I heard you cry every night in your sleep.
I was so young.
You should have known better than to lean on me.
You never thought of anyone else.
You just saw your pain.
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing.

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt.
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything.
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in.
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty.
Because of you
I am afraid.

Because of you.
Because of you.
Traducción:

POR TI
por Kelly Clarkson

No cometeré los mismos errores que tú.
No permitiré
Causarle tanta tristeza a mi corazón.
No romperé de la forma en que tú lo hiciste.
Caíste tan fuerte.
He aprendido el camino difícil
Para nunca dejarlo que llegue tan lejos.

Por ti
Nunca me desvío lejos del camino.
Por ti
Aprendí a jugar del lado seguro para no salir herido.
Por ti
Encuentro difícil confiar no sólo en mí, sino en todos los que me rodean.
Por ti
Tengo miedo.

Pierdo mi camino
Y en seguida tú me lo señalas.
No puedo llorar
Porque conozco esa debilidad en tus ojos.
Estoy forzado a fingir
Una sonrisa, una risa todos los días de mi vida.
Mi corazón posiblemente no puede hablar
Cuando en prinicipio ni siquiera estaba entero.

Por ti
Nunca me desvío lejos del camino.
Por ti
Aprendí a jugar del lado seguro para no salir herido.
Por ti
Encuentro difícil confiar no sólo en mí, sino en todos los que me rodean.
Por ti
Tengo miedo.

Te vi morir.
Te escuché llorar todas las noches en tus sueños.
Yo era tan joven.
Deberías haber hecho otra cosa que apoyarte en mi.
Nunca pensaste en otra persona.
Solamente viste el dolor.
Y ahora lloro en el medio de la noche
Por la misma maldita cosa.

Por ti
Nunca me desvío lejos del camino.
Por ti
Aprendí a jugar del lado seguro para no salir herido.
Por ti
Intento lo más que puedo para olvidar todo.
Por ti
No sé cómo dejar que entre alguien más.
Por ti
Estoy avergonzado de mi vida porque está vacía.
Por ti
Tengo miedo.
Por ti.
Por ti.