🎓 B1 Reading Practice (Improve Your FLUENCY in English)

Welcome back to JForrest

English, I'm Jennifer and.

Today we're going to read.

An intermediate article a B1.

Article together.

So you can learn advanced vocabulary, expressions, grammar to help you.

Move.

On to that more advanced C1 level.

Let's get started.

First I'll read the.

Headline, a 12 year old girl from Ottawa is making history as Canada's youngest ever university

graduate.

This is an inspiring story about this young lady.

Now Ottawa is Canada's capital.

City Ottawa.

And.

She is the.

Youngest ever university.

Graduate.

Notice.

Here, how they added ever here ever is simply used to.

Emphasize.

Because you could get rid of.

It and say she's making history as Canada's youngest university graduate.

When you add ever, it really just emphasizes it.

Youngest ever.

University graduate.

Another example.

She was the.

First woman ever to win a prize again.

Without ever the.

Sentence still makes sense.

She was the first woman to win a.

Prize.

The first woman.

Ever.

To win a prize, so you can add that to emphasize.

And notice.

Here a 12 year old, 12 year old.

You may notice that there is no S on.

Year because this.

Is functioning as an adjective, and adjectives don't have a singular or plural form, and

that's why.

If you're.

Stating her age you need.

To.

Add the S.

You would say she is 12 years.

Old so you.

Absolutely need to add that S on years when you're stating someone's age.

But here is.

Being used as an adjective to.

Describe what type of girl she is.

A girl from Ottawa A.

12 year old girl it.

Gives more information to our noun.

Let's continue and this.

Is the adorable.

Genius.

12 year old girl.

Atheo, Grace Patricia.

Dennis.

That's her name.

Atheo, Grace Patricia.

Dennis is not.

Your typical 12 year old.

Again, this is an adjective.

So there is.

No, S she's not your.

Typical 12 year old.

She's a child prodigy who's about to.

Become the youngest Canadian to.

Ever graduate from university?

Again, you could say.

To.

Graduate from university.

But here?

Ever to emphasize.

Ever.

Graduate from university with a.

Bachelor's degree.

In biomedical science, so this.

Is her.

Degree Biomedical Science and notice you have a.

Degree.

In something degree in biomedical science.

If you're.

Listing the subject.

You might say I have a bachelor of.

Arts.

This is the title of it.

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of.

Science, but they're being more specific.

They're listing the.

Field here.

Biomedical science she doesn't.

Have a Bachelor of.

Biomedical science.

She has a Bachelor of Science.

But then, biomedical science is her.

Field.

So you can use in when you state more information.

This is the category science.

But then this is the.

Specific field.

Within science.

So in biomedical science, let's continue.

She started the.

Program when she was 9.

Here this is.

Not an adjective.

She was 9.

But if you were to write this.

You can say she was nine years.

Old because there are two correct.

Ways in English to.

Say, age.

You can simply say she was 9.

This is correct.

She was nine years old.

This is correct.

How about this?

She was.

Nine years?

Is this an option?

What do you think?

This is not correct, so I'm going to put a :( This is not correct because you can't end

on years.

You have to add old if.

You want to.

Use years.

Or you can drop both and just end on the number.

So she was nine years with an S, she was 9, and those are your only two options.

This is not.

An option, so I'll put an.

X beside it as well so.

You know this is not an option.

She started.

The program when she was nine or nine years old, at a time when most.

Of her peers were.

Playing games.

At recess.

Let's look at.

Peers.

This is a noun.

Right Now you can.

See it is.

In plural form, peers.

Her peers are people.

Who are?

Her same age.

People who?

Are in the same school as.

Her for a typical.

Nine year.

Old so, her peers.

Are not university students.

Because that is not.

Typical the group of.

People a nine year old would typically interact with.

So your peers are a group of people who you would.

Typically interact.

With either.

In a social context, a family context, or a business context as well, you can have one

peer and it can be singular, or you can have.

Peers.

With an *** which represents a.

Group.

As an example, a parent might say.

Are you inviting your?

Peers to your party?

Maybe it's your birthday party.

And then a typical 9 year old.

Her peers would be the other.

Students in her.

Class.

Or maybe her.

Friends from her dance club or from her?

Her.

Soccer club, a group that she.

Belongs to, so you can say peers.

You could also say.

Classmates.

To your party.

Because in this case, a nine year old's classmates are.

Her peers.

It's the group of people.

She would normally interact with.

And.

Recess.

Recess is a break you.

Get in between classes and generally during recess you go outside and you're.

Physical You play you.

Run around and you play.

It is a kids favorite part of the day is recess.

So you might have.

Your.

Classes In the morning you have math, Science, geography.

And then you get a 15 minute recess.

Or a break?

And then you get to go outside and play.

So for.

Kids in school.

They call it recess for adults.

In the workplace, we generally call it a break.

A break.

We don't use the term recess.

So this is a break for kids.

A break for kids in school.

During the school day.

A break for kids in school during the school day.

Favorite part of the day?

Recess.

Let's continue Being a preteen in an intensive university program has come with a unique

set of challenges.

OKA.

Preteen.

Do you know who they're describing?

A preteen?

Well, they're describing.

Her because she graduated.

Or is going to?

Graduate at 12 years old.

A teenager teen teen is when you become 1313.

Okay So 13 to 19, You're a teenager, teenager.

Because your age.

Ends in Teen 13/14/19.

So.

Preteen is right.

Before you.

Become a teenager.

So when you're.

12 you're a.

Preteen You're almost a teenager, so most.

Likely would be.

11 to 12 years.

Old.

11:00 to 12:00.

You're a.

Preteen.

And then once you hit 13, you're not a preteen, You're a teenager.

A teenager.

So being a preteen and then in an intensive university program has come with a unique

set of challenges.

Patricia Dennis has dealt with preconceived notions.

Preconceived preconceived means that it was conceived formed.

Too early, too early.

Because there.

Wasn't enough.

Thought or knowledge to.

Form.

Your.

Opinion.

Or your idea?

So the notion here a preconceived notion.

In this case this is an expression.

A preconceived notion and notion represents an idea or an opinion, an idea or opinion

that was formed too.

Early.

So you didn't take enough time, you didn't have enough knowledge, you didn't do enough

research to form that opinion.

So notion represents.

Idea or opinion?

So this young.

Lady this 12 year old this.

Preteen in university is dealing with a lot of.

People who have.

Preconceived notions.

So you can imagine if.

You were?

2022 and you were walking down the hallway and you saw a.

12 year.

Old in a university, most likely.

You instantly have an opinion about that.

Because you didn't take enough time to think.

About.

It or really consider it so that might be your preconceived notion and expectations

from.

Others about how?

She is going to look, talk and act based on her age.

Now this is something that non-native.

Speakers have to deal with.

A lot other people having preconceived notions about their.

Skills or abilities.

Simply because they might have an accent or they might make a grammar mistake, right?

Let's continue my advice.

This is coming from Patricia Dennis, the young lady.

My advice?

For people who are also.

Young.

Gifted.

Smart.

Talented.

Don't.

Let other.

People's expectations bring you down when something brings you down.

It's bringing down your emotions, so.

It's.

Taking you from positive emotions to more negative emotions, and in this case the something

is.

Other people's expectations.

So Patricia.

Dennis is excited to be in school.

She's.

Happy so she.

Has positive emotion.

But then she has to deal with these expectations and preconceived notions from her.

Peers who really aren't her peers, because they're.

22 and she's.

12 Right, But they are her peers because they're.

In the same class, but it's a different situation and that is bringing her down.

So taking her from excited and happy to.

Not as happy.

So this.

Happens a lot when something brings you down, you might say don't let that grammar mistake

bring you down.

So you might be really enthusiastic about studying English, feeling really good about

your English level.

And then you make a grammar mistake and your enthusiasm or your positive feelings go down.

Or you're trying to have a conversation with someone and you're really excited and they

say, I'm sorry, I can't understand you.

And that comment brings you down.

Or you're watching a movie and you were feeling really happy, but then the movie was sad and

the movie brought you down.

So took your emotions from positive to negative.

That's when something brings you down.

Let me write that.

So something brings you down, something brings you down.

The something takes you from positive to negative.

And I'll put emotion because.

This really is about how.

You feel your emotions.

All right, let's continue on.

The highlight.

Of her university.

Career so far.

Was completing a 40.

Page thesis so here.

We have again.

40 page.

But this is functioning as an adjective, so we don't have an S.

What if you took?

This information and you wrote it in a way.

That 40 page.

Was not an adjective, and it in fact had an S.

How would you?

Change those.

Hmm, so I might.

Say she completed.

That's our verb here.

She completed a thesis that was 40 pages 40.

Pages or simply you could say.

Her thesis was 40 pages.

Her thesis was 40.

Pages long, just like you would say my book.

That you're.

Reading my book.

Is.

200 pages long.

My book is 200 pages long.

So in this case this is not an adjective, it's a noun.

So you add the S.

The highlight this is.

The most memorable, the most important.

Part the.

Highlight of something.

So here's a fun.

For an expression, you can complete the.

Highlight.

Of my last vacation.

Was.

And then you can.

Share the highlight.

But notice here what do you have was and then this is a verb in ING.

So you might say was seeing, was meeting, was.

Climbing.

Maybe you climbed a mountain, Was eating.

Was what was.

Taking so notice our verb in ING so this is a fun expression.

Finish that in the comments below and I can't wait to.

Hear what your highlight was of your.

Last vacation And if you haven't been on a vacation in a long time, you can change this

to weekend.

The highlight of my week.

Weekend was.

So feel.

Free to change that if vacation is not relevant to you.

So highlight most important or most memorable part, I'll write that for you.

Most important, memorable, important, memorable and remember the structure.

The highlight of.

And then?

Whatever it.

Is my last vacation.

Let's continue.

The highlight of.

Her university.

Career so far.

Was completing a 40.

Page thesis.

On the relationship between handedness and functional activity in the cerebellum, the

cerebellum is a.

Part.

Of your brain.

I'll be honest, I don't know where the cerebellum is.

It's somewhere, if you know.

Where it is?

You can share that in the comments, or if you know what the cerebellum does.

I'm not.

Exactly, sure, because.

I am not a bioscientist.

Like this 12 year old is, but that's what she wrote her.

Thesis on very advanced topic, isn't it?

The paper concluded that connectivity.

Between the brain and hand is significantly different for people.

Who are?

Righthanded versus.

Those who are.

Lefthanded.

That's very interesting because I am lefthanded.

You may not have known that about me, but I am lefthanded.

What about you?

Are you?

Righthanded or lefthanded?

Most likely you're righthanded.

Most people are, but where are my?

Fellow lefties out there, share.

In the comments and notice I am righthanded, I am lefthanded, I am righthanded.

So that's what you can say.

I am righthanded, I am lefthanded.

You can also say I'm a lefty.

This is the casual way of saying lefthanded.

I'm a lefty.

It's a very casual.

Way of saying, it's not slang, it's just casual.

I'm a lefty.

Or I guess.

You can say I'm a righty.

I've never said that because I'm not a righty.

I'm a lefty.

I'm a righty, I'm a lefty.

What about you?

Are you a righty or a lefty?

You can put that in the comments.

All right, righthanded and left.

Handed when she's not researching or writing about the brain, Patricia Dennis is a.

Very good.

Violinist, her mom said.

Wow, she's.

Also a.

Violinist.

That's impressive.

She also loves playing with her cats and binge watching TV shows.

Binge, binge, binge watching, binge watching when you binge watch.

It means you watch many, many, many.

Episodes at.

One time so you don't just watch one episode.

You watch.

10 episodes or.

5.

Episodes you binge watch, you watch many watch many.

So do you ever binge watch my lessons?

Instead of just watching one lesson and then you go do something else?

Or do you sit here and watch again and another lesson and a different lesson and another

lesson?

Do you binge watch the lessons?

That would.

Be a compliment.

If you do so, let me know.

And she's interested in continuing her research on functional activity in the cerebellum somewhere

in the brain and notice.

Here to be.

Interested in this is such a common expression in English, but I still see so many mistakes

with this from my advanced students.

They either forget the fact that there is the verb to be with this.

Expression or they put interesting instead of interested, or they.

Forget the.

Preposition in.

And if you have a.

Verb that follows.

It the verb needs to be an ING.

So let's take.

A moment.

To practice this because it's.

Such a common expression in English.

To be.

Interested in and?

Then you can have a noun or a gerund.

You might say.

What's something that you're interested in.

Share that in the comments.

I'm interested in.

Finding out where?

This cerebellum is.

I'm interested in learning more.

About the cerebellum.

I'm going to say that in learning more.

About.

The cerebellum to.

Be.

This is my verb to be interested.

Always with Ed this.

Does not change in and then because.

I have a verb.

It's ING.

Now maybe.

This was two years ago, 02 years ago.

I was interested in learning more about the cerebellum.

Because your verb.

To be is now in the past, but notice nothing else changes, so take some time.

Share something that you're interested in in the comments below.

Because I see.

So many mistakes with this very common expression.

Let's continue.

I'll probably pick it back.

Up when I have my own lab and I can get.

People to also.

Do it with me because I'll be in.

Charge, she said.

Now when you have quotations, you know.

It is a.

Person talking, and they're reporting that person's speech.

So these are the words of our 12 year old college graduate.

I'll probably probably means 80.

Percent sure definitely is more 100%.

I'll absolutely 100%.

But probably is 80.

Percent maybe.

Is 50.

Percent.

So this is about 80.

Percent 80% certain I'll.

Probably.

Pick it back up.

When you.

Pick it back up.

It means you continue, you continue doing something.

You previously.

Did.

Now, we generally use this for activities, sports, hobbies.

And in this case, a research interest because she's talking about.

Her research?

I'll pick it back up.

Which implies she's not doing the research right now, but she's going to start doing

it again.

So when you continue doing something, you.

Previously did so.

You do something, there's a.

Break you?

Don't do it.

And then you do it again.

That's pick.

It back up.

OK.

So let's say.

Let me write.

This first start.

Doing something again.

That you previously did, so let's say.

You played guitar.

Or soccer, whatever you'd like.

When you were 16, OK, 16 maybe to 18.

Years old.

And then 18.

To 22 no.

Activities you were.

Focused on your school and you didn't do any activities other than your school.

But then 22, you graduate, so 23.

Now you can say I think I'll.

Pick guitar.

Back up again or I think I'll.

Pick soccer.

Back up again.

Back up again.

So you're just going to continue doing it?

I'll probably pick it back.

Up when I have my own lab.

So what?

About you, is there an activity?

You did.

It could be a sports, it could be a hobby.

Maybe learning a language other than English as well, and then you did it.

For a while, you.

Stopped and now is there anything that you're considering picking back up, starting to do

again, share that in the comments as well.

I'll probably pick it back.

Up when I have my own lab and I can get.

People to also.

Do it with me because I'll be in charge.

She said 12 years.

Old and already wanting to be the.

Boss.

I like that I'll be in charge.

To be in charge means that.

You're.

In control, you're responsible so.

You could say.

I'm in charge.

Of this project so.

You're in control, it's.

Your.

Responsibility.

And sometimes you might.

Call a store because you had a bad.

Experience.

A bad customer experience.

And you say, I want to talk to someone who's in charge, Who's in charge here?

You want to talk to the manager, the person responsible.

So you might.

Say that who's?

In.

Charge of this store or this project?

And then someone might say, I'm in charge.

How can I help you, Sir?

And hopefully there won't be too much of an issue.

And that's the end of our article.

Very inspiring to hear.

About a 12.

Year old university graduate, So now what?

I'll do is I will go to.

The top and I'll.

Read the article.

From start to finish, and this time you can focus on my pronunciation.

A 12 year old girl from Ottawa is making history as Canada's youngest ever.

University graduate Athea Grace Patricia.

Dennis is not your.

Typical 12 year old.

She's a child prodigy who's about to.

Become the youngest Canadian to.

Ever graduate?

From university.

With a bachelor's degree.

In biomedical science.

She started the.

Program when she was 9 at a time when most of her.

Peers were.

Playing games.

At recess.

Being a preteen in an intensive university program has come with a unique set of challenges.

Patricia Dennis has.

Dealt with preconceived.

Notions and expectations from others.

About how she.

Is going to look, talk and act based on her age.

My advice for people.

Who are also young, gifted, smart, talented, Don't let.

Other people's expectations.

Bring you down, she said.

The highlight.

Of her university.

Career so far.

Was completing a.

40 page thesis on the.

Relationship between handedness and functional activity in the cerebellum.

The paper concluded.

That connectivity between the brain and hand is significantly different for people who

are righthanded.

Versus those who are.

Lefthanded when she's not.

Researching.

Or writing about the brain, Patricia Dennis is a.

Very good.

Violinist her mom.

Said she also.

Loves playing with her cats and binge watching TV shows with her family, and she's interested

in continuing her research on functional activity in the cerebellum.

I'll probably pick it back up.

When I have my own lab.

And I can get people to.

Also do it.

With me because I'll be in.

Charge, she said.

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