The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania AvenueNW in Washington, D.C. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
In 1814, during the War of 1812, the mansion was set ablaze by theBritish Armyin theBurning of Washington, destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and PresidentJames Monroe moved into the partially reconstructedExecutive Residencein October 1817. Construction continued with the addition of the South Portico in 1824 and the North in 1829.
Because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, President Theodore Roosevelt had all work offices relocated to the newly constructed West Wing in 1901. Eight years later, President William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office which was eventually moved as the section was expanded. The third-floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927 by augmenting the existing hip roof with long shed dormers. A newly constructed East Wing was used as a reception area for social events; Jefferson's colonnades connected the new wings.
Today, the White House Complex includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building—the former State Department, which now houses offices for the President's staff and the Vice President—and Blair House, a guest residence.
The Executive Residence is made up of six stories—the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, as well as a two-storybasement. The termWhite Houseis often used as ametonymfor theExecutive Office of the President of the United Statesand for the president's administration and advisers in general, as in "The White House has decided that....". The property is aNational Heritage Siteowned by theNational Park Serviceand is part of thePresident's Park. In 2007, it was ranked second on theAmerican Institute of Architectslist of "America's Favorite Architecture".
Grammar
Who,
That, Which
Rule 1.Whoand sometimesthatrefer to people.Thatandwhichrefer
to groups or things.
Examples: Anya is the
onewhorescued the bird. "The ManThatGot Away" is a great song with a grammatical
title.
Lokua is on
the teamthatwon first place. She belongs to
a great organization,whichspecializes in saving endangered species.
Rule 2a.Thatintroduces what is called anessential clause. Essential clauses
add information that is vital to the point of the sentence.
Example:I do not trust productsthatclaim "all natural ingredients"
because this phrase can mean almost anything.
We would not know the type of products being discussed without thethatclause.
Rule 2b.Which introduces anonessential clause, which adds
supplementary information.
Example:The product claiming "all natural
ingredients,"whichappeared in the Sunday newspaper, is on sale.
The product is already identified. Therefore,whichbegins a nonessential clause
containing additional, but not essential, information.
Chandler: Hey Joe! You "wanna" shoot some hoops? Joey: Oh no, I can’t go. I’m practicing; I got an audition to be the host of a new game show. Ross: Oh cool! Chandler: That’s great. Joey: Yeah-yeah, and if I get it by day I’ll be (In a sexy voice) Dr. Drake Remoray, but by night I’ll be (In an announcer’s voice) Joey Trrrribbiani! Chandler: You’ll be perfect for this! That’s already your name! Joey: But the audition’s in a couple hours and I don’t even understand the game. Ross: Well do you want some help? Joey: Oh really? That’d be great! You guys can be the contestants! Ross: Awesome! Chandler: Okay, I guess we can lose to junior high girls some other time. Joey: (announcer voice) All right! Let’s play Bamboozled! Chandler: Bamboozled? Joey: Yeah, isn’t that a cool name? Ross: (simultaneously with Chandler) Yeah! Chandler: (simultaneously with Ross) No! Joey: All right. Uhh, okay. Our first contestant is Ross Geller. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about you, Ross? Ross: Well uh, I-I’m a paleontologist. Umm, I-I live in New York. I have a son Ben. Uh, hi Ben! (Waves.) And uh… Joey: I said a little bit Ross. Now, how about you Chandler? Chandler: Well Joey, I’m a headhunter. I hook up out of work Soviet scientists with rogue third-world nations. Hi Rasputin! (Waves.) Joey: Excellent! Let’s play Bamboozled! Chandler, you’ll go first. What is the capital of Colombia? Chandler: Bogota. Joey: It’s Ba-go-ta, but close enough. Now, you can either pass your turn to Ross or pick a Wicked Wango card. Chandler: What does a Wicked Wango card do? Joey: I should know that. Let’s see, just one moment please. Umm, here we are, a Wicked Wango card determines whether you go higher or lower. Chandler: Higher or lower than what? Joey: This is embarrassing. (Looks it up.) Chandler: (To Ross) Can you believe how lame this is? Ross: I’m sorry, I don’t believe contestants are allowed to talk to each other. Joey: All right Ross you’re in the lead, would you like to take another question or spin the Wheel of Mayhem? Ross: The wheel has not been my friend tonight Joey. Uh, I’ll take another question. Joey: Okay, this is gonna be tough. Hold your breath. Ross: It’s okay, I’m ready. Joey: No dude, you gotta hold your breath until you’re ready to answer the question. It's part of the game. Chandler: This is ridiculous, he’s not gonna hold his breath… (Ross cuts him off by taking a deep breath and holding it.) Joey: Okay, what do you have a fear of if you suffer from this phobia, Tris…Holy cow, that’s a big word. Trisc… Seriously look at this thing. Chandler, how do you say that? Chandler: Let me see that. Joey: This one right here. (Ross whines.) Chandler: Triscadecaphobia. Ross: (exhaling) The fear of Triscuts! Joey: No! No, fear of the number 13. Chandler: Fear of Triscuts? Ross: It’s possible, they have really sharp edges. Joey: All right Chandler, you’re up. Ross: Wait a minute, I-I believe I’m entitled to use my Angel Pass for a free turn? Chandler: This game makes no sense! Ross: Y’know what? You’re just upset because you’re losing. Chandler: Oh come on Ross, I think we’re all losers here. Joey: All right. Chandler, you can either spin the wheel or pick a Google card. Chandler: Let me think. Let me think—Oh! I don’t care. Joey: You-you must choose Mr. Bing. Chandler: Either, it makes no difference. Joey: Choose, you jackass! Chandler: I’ll take a card. Joey: Okay, you picked the Gimmie card! You get all of Ross’s points! Ross: What?! Chandler: This game is kinda fun. Ross: (To Chandler) You don’t think it’s a little crazy that you get all my points just ‘cause you… Chandler: I don’t think the contestants are supposed to speak to each other. Joey: (To Chandler) In what John Houston film would you hear this line, "Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!" Chandler:Treasure of the Sierra Madre! Joey: Correct! There’s a possible backwards bonus! Chandler: Madre Sierra the of Treasure! Joey: Yes! Chandler: I’d like to go up the ladder of chance to the golden mud hut please. Joey: Wise choice, how many rungs? Chandler: Six! Joey: (makes a sound like a monkey) That noise can only me one thing. Chandler: (disappointed and simultaneously as Ross) Hungry monkey. Ross: (excited and simultaneously as Chandler) Hungry monkey! (To Chandler) Haaa! (To Joey) I’d like a Wicked Wango card! Joey: Okay, it’s an audio question, name this television theme song. (Starts humming the theme to I Dream of Genie.) Ross: (thinking) Oh. (Pause) Oh! Oh my God! Okay, I know this, give me-give me a second! Chandler: Tell it to the Time Turtle! Ross: Shut up! I Dream of Genie! Joey: Yes! Yes, you’re back in the lead! Ross: I’d like to spin the wheel! (Joey makes a sound like a game show wheel spinning with the pointer bouncing off of the bars on the wheel as it slows and comes to a stop.) Chandler: (annoyed) Oh come on!! Joey: All right! All right! Uh, umm, Super-Speedy Speed round! Ross: Is there a hopping bonus? Joey: Of course! (Ross gets up and starts to hop on one leg.) Joey: Who invented bifocals? Ross: Ben Franklin. Joey: Correct! Which monarch has ruled Great Britain the longest? Ross: Queen Victoria. Joey: Correct again! But, you forgot to switch legs between questions, so no hopping bonus! Ross: Noooo!!! Every time!!! Joey: Now, over to Chandler. Chandler: I’d like a Google Card. Joey: Are you sure? Chandler: Yes! (Pause) No! (Pause) Google! Joey: Oh my God! Congratulations Ross, because Chandler, you’ve been Bamboozled! Chandler: Nooo!! Ross: Yeah!! Chandler: This is the best game ever!!! Grammar Either/or; Neither/nor
When making
comparisons, “either” goes with “or” and “neither” with “nor”:
“I want to buy
either a new desktop computer or a laptop, but I have neither the cash nor the
credit I need.”
“Either”
often gets misplaced in a sentence:
“He either wanted to build a gambling
casino or a convent” should be “He wanted to build either a gambling casino or
a convent.”
In this example, both things are wanted, so “either” comes after
the verb.
But if the
action is different in regard to the things compared, the “either” has to come
before the verb:
“He wanted either to build a casino or remodel a convent.”
Here two different actions are being compared, so the “either” has to precede
both actions.
Negative Questions
Contracted
and uncontracted negative questions have different word order. Uncontracted
negative questions are usually used in a formal style.
Doesn’t he
understand? (Auxiliary verb + n’t + subject)
Are you not
coming? (Uncontracted – auxiliary verb + subject + not)
Does he not
understand? (Auxiliary verb + subject + not)
Two
meanings
A negative
question can have two different kinds of meanings. It can, for example, be used
to ask for confirmation of something you believe to be true.
Didn’t you
see Ann yesterday? How is she doing? = (I believe that you saw Ann yesterday.)
You may
also express your opinions in a more polite way by changing them into negative
questions.
Wouldn’t it
be nice to paint that wall green? (More polite than ‘It would be nice to paint
that wall green.’)
A negative
question can also be used to ask for confirmation of a negative belief. In this
case the speaker is surprised that something has not happened or is not
happening.
Hasn’t the
postman come yet?
Polite requests,
offers, complaints etc
Pressing
offers and invitations often assume the form of negative questions. They
usually begin Won’t you…? Wouldn’t you…? or Why don’t you…?
Wouldn’t
you like something to drink?
Why don’t
you come and spend the evening with us?
In other
cases we do not normally use a negative question to ask people to do things.
Can you
help me with my homework? (Ordinary question used as a request.)
Using Whether
Whether is used when someone does not know which of the two possibilities is true.
She asked me whether I was married.
I don’t know whether she will come.
I asked whether she had received the letter.
Whether … or… is often used as a double conjunction.
She doesn’t know whether her son is dead or alive.
I don’t know whether the answer is right or wrong.
Whether is also used to suggest that it doesn’t matter which of the two possibilities is true because the situation will remain the same.
Whether we go by road or rail, the journey will take at least four hours.
Whether… or not
Jenny is going abroad whether she likes it or not.
Jenny is going abroad whether or not she likes it.
Whether and if
Both whether and if can be used to introduce indirect Yes/No questions.
She asked if I liked English films. OR She asked whether I liked English films.
Before an infinitive, we use whether. If is not possible in this case.
I can’t decide whether to accept that job. (NOT I can’t decide if to accept that job.)
After a preposition, use whether.
There are doubts about whether the judgment was fair.
Whether can be followed by ‘or not’. If is not possible in this case.
The question is whether or not we have the right to interfere. (NOT The question is if or not…)
Both whether and if are possible when ‘or’ appears later in the sentence; however, whether is considered more correct.
It is not clear whether the source of information is reliable or not. (Formal)
It is not clear if the source of information is reliable or not. (Very informal)
Curiosity
All about soap operas in the United States
Soap operas are a kind of television drama series. But why are they called soap operas?
This kind of drama series first started on the radio in the 1930s. At that time, women did not work outside the home but were housewives instead. They enjoyed listening to this kind of series on the radio during the day while they did their work. For this reason, the commercials that came on during these series were often for housecleaning products like laundry detergent and dish soap. And because an opera is a kind of dramatic play, people began to call this kind of drama series "soap operas", or just "soaps".
Soap operas became an important part of daytime television in the early 1950s. At that time, soap operas were still usually watched by housewives. But since the 1970s, more and more women have begun to work outside the home, and the audience for daytime soaps is now much smaller. For the past few decades, evening soap operas have become very popular, and not just with women, but with the whole family.
People are usually very loyal to ther soaps and wouldn't dream of missing an episode, though many popular soap operas in the U.S. have been on TV for over 50 years. In fact, because some soap operas continue for so many year, sometimes different actors may have to play the same person.
Ross: Whew! That was a brisk ride! Rachel: Take the top down did ya? Ross: Only way to fly. Rachel: Come on Ross give me the keys! Monica does not know what she’s talking about! I am an excellent driver! Ross: You’re fast and irresponsible. That adds up to a bad driver. Rachel: Well in High School, that added up to head cheerleader. (A woman walks by and smiles at Ross’s hair.) Ross: Did you see the look that girl just gave me? Huh? She must’ve seen me cruising in the bad boy. Rachel: I think she’s checking out your beehive Ross. Ross: What?! (Checks his hair.) Give-give me a brush. Rachel: Give me the keys! Ross: No way! Rachel: Well no brush! Ross: Fine! You know what? It doesn’t matter, because, if I remember correctly, there is a comb on the floor of the bathroom. (He goes to the bathroom and after he leaves Rachel goes through his coat and grabs the keys along with a $20 bill. The woman from before watches her do this.) Rachel: Alimony. Rachel: Ahhh! Ooh, nice! (Suddenly from out of nowhere Ross dives onto the hood.) Rachel: My God! Ross: What do you think you’re doing?! Rachel: Just washing the windshield. (She turns on the wipers forcing Ross off of the hood.) Ross: There is no way I am letting you drive this car! So why don’t you just hand over the keys? Rachel: Oh. Ross: No ah-ah-ah! Do not start this car! (She starts the car.) Okay! Okay! I will give you twenty bucks if you get out of this car right now! Rachel: Look Ross, if you’re so freaked out, just get in the car! Ross: With you?! Yeah right! Rachel: All right. Ross: Okay! Okay! Okay! Rachel: What are you doing?! Get in the front! Ross: In the death seat?!! Rachel: Oh my…
Rachel: God. I forgot how much I love driving. I have got to get my license renewed. Ross: (shocked) You don’t have a valid driver’s license—Okay that is it! Pull over right now! Rachel: Oh Ross you’re so tense! You just gotta relax okay? Just need to relax all right? Just need to relax… Ross: (grabbing the wheel) What-what are you doing?! Are you—Okay that’s not funny! Just stop horsing around! Rachel: I am not horsing around okay? I am Porsching around. (Suddenly a siren goes off behind them.) Rachel: Uh-oh. (She starts to pull over.) Ross: Okay, stay calm. Nothing is going to happen to you, you are not in that much trouble. Rachel: Really? You think so? Ross: I was talking to myself! You’re going down! Grammar
Conditionals 1
Conditionals are sentences with two clauses – an ‘if clause and a main clause – that are closely related. Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are always true.
If you heat water, it boils.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
It lights up if you push that button.
The present simple is used in both clauses.
First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about real and possible situations.
I’ll go shopping on the way home if I have time.
If it’s a nice day tomorrow we’ll go to the beach.
If Arsenal win they’ll be top of the league.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually if + present simple and will + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.
Second conditional
The second conditional is used to talk about ‘unreal’ or impossible things.
If I won a lot of money I’d buy a big house in the country.
Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
If you didn’t smoke so much you’d feel a lot better.
The structure is usually if + past simple and would + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.
Look at the difference between the first and second conditionals.
In January: If it snows tomorrow I’ll go skiing. It might snow tomorrow.
In August: If it snowed tomorrow I’d go skiing. It almost certainly won’t snow tomorrow.
NOTE: Although many conditional sentences use if + will/would, conditional sentences can also use other words instead of ‘if’ – e.g. ‘when’ ‘as soon as’ ‘in case’ Other modal verbs can be used instead of ‘will/would’ – e.g. ‘can/could’, ‘may’ ‘might’.
Drawing straws is a selection method that is used by a group to choose one member of the group to perform a task after none has volunteered for it. The same practice can be used also to choose one of several volunteers, should an agreement not be reached.
The group leader takes a number of straws (or similarly long cylindrical objects) and ensures that one of them is physically shorter than the others. The leader then grabs all of the straws in his fist, such that all of them appear to be of the same length.
The group leader offers the clenched fist to the group. Each member of the group draws a straw from the fist of the group leader. At the end of the offering, the group member who has drawn the shortest straw is the one who must perform the task.
*Temporary pins and needles
Most people have temporary pins and needles from time to time. It happens when pressure is applied to a part of the body, which cuts off the blood supply to the nerves in that area. This prevents the nerves from sending important signals to the brain.
Putting weight on a body part (for example, by kneeling) or wearing tight shoes or socks can potentially cause pins and needles.
Temporary pins and needles can be eased by simply taking the pressure off the affected area. This will allow your blood supply to return, relieving the numbness or tingling sensation.
