A LETTER FROM JANE

431 Clark Street

Baton Rouge, La.
November 1, 1998

Dear Isabel,
As you know, I am attending Louisiana State University. There are so many things
to do and to see that it is hard to find time to write letters. Besides, I have to study very
hard, because my courses are difficult, and my English isnt very good yet.
I think that you will be very interested in the American customs of dating
because it is not like the custom at home. To have a date means to have an engagement
for a social affair with a friend, usually a friend of the opposite sex. For instance, one has a
date to go for a walk, to go to the movies, to go to a party or a dance, to go a lecture or a
concert, to have dinner at a restaurant or at the home of some friends. The young people
go without a chaperon. The basis for this American custom is that most parents teach
their children to be independent and responsible for their actions whether there are
adults present or not.
One of my friends is Robert Anderson. I met him in one of my classes, and of course an
introduction is not necessary when you see each other in class every day. One day after
class he asked me to go to the drugstore to have a Coke, and then he walked home with
me. A week later he invited me to go to the movies, and last night I had a date to go to a
college dance with him. He is a very good dancer, so I had a wonderful time.
Now I have to stop, because I have an appointment with my history professor. In
my next letter Im going to write more about my classes and my social life. Please give my
regards to your family, and let me hear from you soon.
Affectionately,
Jane

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(1)

Questionnaire about A letter from Jane.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

What is the name of the university that Jane is attending?

In what state is the university located?
In what city is it located?
In what part of the country is Louisiana?
Why is it hard to find time to write letters?
Does Jane speak English well?
What is the difference between an appointment and an engagement?
What is the difference between an engagement and a date?
What different kinds of dates are there?
Does Jane often go to the movies?
Did Robert invite her to go to the movies?
Did a chaperon go with them? Why not?
Where did Jane and Robert go to get a Coke?
What other things are sold in an American drugstore?
What is Jane going to tell us in her next letter?
How does one usually end a friendly letter?
Did Jane have a good time at the college dance? Why?
With whom did she have an appointment? Why?
Do you like to write letters?
Do you have time to write many?
Do you notice any difference between the style of an American letter and one of your letters?
Do you live in a college town?
Do you buy Cokes at a drugstore? Where do you usually get a Coke?
How are your drugstores different from North American drugstores?
Do many young people here go to the movies without a chaperon?
If several couples go together, is a chaperon necessary?
Did you have a date last Saturday or Sunday? Did a chaperon go, too?
Do you like to dance? Are you a good dancer? Do you often dance?
Did you have an appointment with the doctor or dentist last week?
Do you have an engagement for next Saturday?

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(2)

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Louisiana is
the 31st most extensive and the 25th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital is Baton
Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political
subdivisions termed parishes, which are local government's equivalent to counties. The largest
parish by population is East Baton Rouge Parish, and the largest by land area is Cameron Parish.

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(3)

Answer these questions in complete sentences in the affirmative and the

negative.
1. Did Jane meet Robert in a class?
2. Did he ask her to go to the drugstore for a Coke?
3. Did he walk home with her?
4. Did Jane have a date with him last Saturday?
5. Did she dance with him all the time?
6. Did she have an appointment with her history professor?
7. Did she study hard for her examination?
8. Did you learn your English here?
9. Did the maid answer the door?
10. Did you like the movie last night?
11. Did he pronounce the words well?
12. Did you notice Janes new dress?
13. Did you miss me last week?
14. Did they arrive this morning?
15. Did you sign your name?
16. Did he use the correct word?
17. Did they wait for you after class?
18. Did she invite you to her party?
19. Did you expect to see her yesterday?
20. Did you receive a letter this morning?

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(4)

Translate these expressions into English.

1. la leccin de ingls

_____________________________________

2. la clase de historia

_____________________________________

3. un vestido de seda

_____________________________________

4. un sombrero de verano

_____________________________________

5. un abrigo de invierno

_____________________________________

6. un vestido de lana

_____________________________________

7. un plato de vidrio

_____________________________________

8. un vaso para agua

_____________________________________

9. el jugo de naranja

_____________________________________

10. un plato para ensalada

_____________________________________

11. una lmpara de mesa

_____________________________________

12. una estacin de radio

_____________________________________

13. un billete de cinco dlares

_____________________________________

14. una estampilla de diez centavos

15. una lista de telfonos

_____________________________________

16. un cheque por cincuenta dlares

17. una taza de plata

_________________________________

_________________________________

_____________________________________

18. el orden de las palabras en ingls

_________________________________

19. los programas de radio

_____________________________________

20. las clases de la tarde

_____________________________________

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(5)

Arrange these sentences in the correct order.

a
book
new
telephone

1. Do you have

English
easy
books
very
several

2. The library has

3. Mrs. Smith has

suit
pretty
a
green
very

4. The church has

pictures
very
old
some
Spanish

6. I like

5.

black
dress
pretty
her
wool

first
names
10. daughters
her
two

are Mary Grant.

two
silk
those
dresses
blue

is at the cleaners.

7. The parents select

8.

9. He is

young
a
student
North American

these
bills
one-dollar
new
five

names
first
their
two
childrens

are for you.

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(6)

Fill in the blanks with the preposition in parenthesis.

He isnt _______home. He is_______the office. (en)

They are going_______the lecture tonight. (a)
The train arrived________five oclock. (antes de)
I always read the newspaper_______breakfast. (despus de)
Our friends were here_______midnight. (hasta)
I like to study_______class. (antes de)
She is going to be busy four oclock. (despus de)
We walked_______the corner together. (hasta)
I want to see him_______writing the letter. (antes de)
Robert invited Jane to go_______the party. (a)
We played bridge_______dinner. (despus de)
She listened to the radio_______going to bed. (ante de)
They are going_______Miami by plane. (hasta)
I was tired_______dancing so much. (despus de)
Good-bye_______tomorrow. (hasta)

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(7)

Change these sentences from the present to the past tense with used
to.

We used to see him every day.

1. We see him every day. ________________________________________________
2. He speaks English well. ________________________________________________
3. The two friends often have dinner together. ____________________________________
4. She comes to class early. _______________________________________________
5. They go to the movies every Saturday. ___________________________________________
6. I write many letters. ____________________________________________________
7. Robert forgets his books. _______________________________________________
8. He takes a bus every morning. ___________________________________________
9. Our class begins at six oclock. ____________________________________________
10. I often walk home. ______________________________________________________
11. She reads a book every week. _____________________________________________
12. He sings very well. _______________________________________________________
13. They go for a walk every Sunday. ___________________________________________
14. Jane studies almost every night until eleven oclock.
______________________________________________________________________
15. She has a date during the week. ___________________________________________

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(8)

Change these sentences from the present affirmative to the negative

with used to.
We did not use to see him every day.
1. We see him every day. ________________________________________________
2. He speaks English well. ________________________________________________
3. The two friends often have dinner together. ____________________________________
4. She comes to class early. _______________________________________________
5. They go to the movies every Saturday. ___________________________________________
6. I write many letters. ____________________________________________________
7. Robert forgets his books. _______________________________________________
8. He takes a bus every morning. ___________________________________________
9. Our class begins at six oclock. ____________________________________________
10. I often walk home. ______________________________________________________
11. She reads a book every week. _____________________________________________
12. He sings very well. _______________________________________________________
13. They go for a walk every Sunday. ___________________________________________
14. Jane studies almost every night until eleven oclock.
______________________________________________________________________
15. She has a date during the week. ___________________________________________

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(9)

Change these sentences from the present affirmative to the affirmativeinterrogative with used to.
Did we use to see him every day?
1. We see him every day. ________________________________________________
2. He speaks English well. ________________________________________________
3. The two friends often have dinner together. ____________________________________
4. She comes to class early. _______________________________________________
5. They go to the movies every Saturday. ___________________________________________
6. I write many letters. ____________________________________________________
7. Robert forgets his books. _______________________________________________
8. He takes a bus every morning. ___________________________________________
9. Our class begins at six oclock. ____________________________________________
10. I often walk home. ______________________________________________________
11. She reads a book every week. _____________________________________________
12. He sings very well. _______________________________________________________
13. They go for a walk every Sunday. ___________________________________________
14. Jane studies almost every night until eleven oclock.
______________________________________________________________________
15. She has a date during the week. ___________________________________________

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(10)

Change these sentences from the present affirmative to the

interrogative-negative with used to.
Did we not use to see him every day?
1. We see him every day. ________________________________________________
2. He speaks English well. ________________________________________________
3. The two friends often have dinner together. ____________________________________
4. She comes to class early. _______________________________________________
5. They go to the movies every Saturday. ___________________________________________
6. I write many letters. ____________________________________________________
7. Robert forgets his books. _______________________________________________
8. He takes a bus every morning. ___________________________________________
9. Our class begins at six oclock. ____________________________________________
10. I often walk home. ______________________________________________________
11. She reads a book every week. _____________________________________________
12. He sings very well. _______________________________________________________
13. They go for a walk every Sunday. ___________________________________________
14. Jane studies almost every night until eleven oclock.
______________________________________________________________________
15. She has a date during the week. ___________________________________________

Student full name: ________________________________________ Group: _____________

(11)