Intermedio 1

Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #1
Complete the next text using the correct form of simple past tense

The Cold War
The Cold War is the name given to the relationship that developed (develop) primarily
between the USA and the USSR after World War II. The Cold War  was (be) to dominate
international affairs for decades and many major crises occurred. For many, the growth in
weapons of mass destruction  was (be) the most worrying issue.
A clash of very different beliefs and ideology each held with almost religious conviction,
formed (form) the basis of an international power struggle with both sides vying for
dominance, exploiting every opportunity for expansion anywhere in the world.
The USSR in 1945 was (be) Russia post-1917 and included all the various countries that
now exist individually but after the war they were (be) part of this huge country up until
the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Logic would dictate that as the USA and the USSR fought as allies during World War Two,
their relationship after the war would be firm and friendly. This never happened (happen)
and any appearance that these two powers were (be) friendly during the war is illusory.
Before the war, America had depicted the Soviet Union as almost the devil-incarnate. The
Soviet Union had depicted America likewise so their ‘friendship’ during the war was simply
the result of having a mutual enemy, Nazi Germany. In fact, one of America’s leading
generals, Patton, stated (state) that he felt (feel) that the Allied army should unite with
what was left of the Wehrmacht in 1945, utilise the military genius that existed (exist)
within it and fight the oncoming Soviet Red Army.
So the extreme distrust that existed (exist) during the war, was (be) certainly present
before the end of the war and this was between Allies. The Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin,
was (be) also distrustful of the Americans after Truman only told (tell) him of a new
terrifying weapon that he was going to use against the Japanese. The first Stalin knew of
what this weapon could do was (be) when reports on Hiroshima got back to Moscow.
So this was the scene after the war ended in 1945. Both sides distrusted the other. One
had (have) a vast army in the field while the other, the Americans had (have) the most
powerful weapon in the world, the A-bomb and the Soviets had (have) no way on
knowing how many America had (have).
Intermedio 1
Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #2
Read the next text and answer the questions

The national flag

The flag has seen several incarnations throughout the history of the country. In fact, the
flag that was carried by Miguel Hidalgo during the War of Independence in 1810 was a
depiction of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It is often considered to be the first flag of Mexico.
Hidalgo's successor, Morelos, used a flag that also had an image of the virgin, but also
included an eagle and cactus, though differing from the modern version as the eagle was
crowned, sitting on a bridge, and accompanied by the letters "V.V.M.": for "Viva la Virgen
Maria." These early flags are testament to the strong religious beliefs of the early soldiers
for independence.

In 1821, the year that Mexico was recognized as a sovereign nation, the first flag of green,
white and red was instated. This flag also used a crowned eagle and left out the legendary
snake, but is the obvious predecessor of the current flag. The design went through several
slight variations over the years, even being briefly abandoned in 1867 after the execution
of Maximilian. The modern version was established in 1968 and made official by
presidential decree.

Now, the flag that waves over the citizens of Mexico is a reminder of the country's history,
its people, and its land. Not just on Dia de Bandera, but every day, the people who pledge
allegiance to the flag can remember their great land and their great heritage, from the
Aztecs of the swampy city of Tenochtitlan to the proud citizens of Mexico City today.

1) How many several changes have had the flag since 1810?

Mexico has had 5 different flags along his history, the first one in 1810 and the last in 1968.

2) Why is so important de Mexican flag?

The flag remind us the past and each important event on our country’s history.

3) Why the Hidalgo and Morelos flag had a religious symbol?

Because both of them were priest and they believed in the Virgin
Intermedio 1
Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #3
Write a text of any topic using the follow:
-Past simple
-Past perfect
-In/on/at

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire, was the most extensive political and social structure in
western civilization. By 285 the empire had grown too vast to be ruled from the central
government at Rome and so was divided by Emperor Diocletian into a Western and an
Eastern Empire. The Roman Empire began when Augustus Caesar became the first
emperor of Rome and ended, in the west, when the last Roman emperor, Romulus
Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic King Odoacer. In the east, it continued as
the Byzantine Empire until the death of Constantine XI and the fall of Constantinople to the
Ottoman Turks in 1453. The influence of the Roman Empire on western civilization was
profound in its lasting contributions to virtually every aspect of western culture.

The inventions and innovations which were generated by the Roman Empire profoundly
altered the lives of the ancient people and continue to be used in cultures around the world
today. Advancements in the construction of roads and buildings, indoor plumbing,
aqueducts, and even fast-drying cement were either invented or improved upon by the
Romans. The calendar used in the West derives from the one created by Julius Caesar,
and the names of the days of the week and months of the year also come from Rome.
Intermedio 1
Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #4
Identify the different types of verbs in past and write in the parenthesis: PS- for past simple, PP- for
past perfect, PC- for past continuous.

Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution was (PS) a complex and bloody conflict which arguably spanned
(PS) two decades, and in which 900,000 people lost their lives. The Revolution began (PS)
with a call to arms on 20th November 1910 to overthrow the current ruler and dictator
Porfirio Díaz.

Díaz was (PS) an ambitious president, keen to develop (PS) Mexico into an industrial and
modernised country. While he worked on implementing (PP) a capitalist society building
factories, dams, and roads the rural workers and peasants suffered greatly.

Díaz reigned using (PC) a campaign of bullying, intimidating citizens into supporting him.
While civil liberties such as the freedom of press suffered (PS) under his rule, the greatest
injustice came (PS) in the form of new land laws.

In an attempt to strengthen ties with the United States and other influential foreign
interests, Díaz allocated (PS) land, once belonging to the people of Mexico, to wealthy
non-nationals. In addition to this, no Mexican was (PS) able to own land unless they had
(PS) a formal legal title. Small farmers were rendered (PP) utterly helpless, there was (PS)
no other option but an uprising.

The path of the Revolution certainly didn’t run (PS) smoothly and the country saw (PS) a
string of unreliable presidents.

Francisco Madero, who was (PS) responsible for removing Díaz from power, was (PS) a
weak leader and failed (PS) to implement the land reforms he had promised (PP).

He was (PS) quickly replaced (PS) by General Victoriano Huerta who had him executed
(PP) within a week of coming to power. Huerta himself was (PS) a dictator and was (PS)
overthrown by Venustiano Carranza in 1914.

While many accused Carranza of being power hungry he also lusted after peace. In the
pursuit of civil rest he formed the Constitutional Army and a new constitution into which he
accepted many of the rebel demands.
Intermedio 1
Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #5
Read the next text and answer the questions.

The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses history is a story of Tudor monarchs desperately attempting to unite
a faction behind them large enough to unite the fledging realm of England. Henry VII (1457
– 1509) was the first Tudor monarch. His claim to the throne was not strong and he
became king after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

Henry’s success on the battlefield ended the Wars of the Roses that had begun in 1455.
The Wars of the Roses were a series of battles that were fought between the supporters of
the House of Lancaster (Lancastrians) and the supporters of the House of York (Yorkists).
The wars were called the Wars of the Roses because the Yorkists were represented by a
white rose and the Lancastrians by a red rose.

1) Who fought in the Wars of the Roses? 

The Wars of the Roses was fought between two rival families who both laid claim to the
throne of England: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. 

2) What did Roses have to do with it? 

The "War of the Roses" comes from the symbols, or badges, of the two warring houses:
the House of Lancaster was represented by a red rose and the House of York by a white
rose. 

3) What started the war? 

The reasons behind the wars were complex. Both houses claimed to have a right to the
English throne as descendents of king. It didn't help that the current king, Henry VI, was
mentally ill and was being advised by corrupt and unpopular nobles. 
Intermedio 1
Grupo A
Edwin Israel Puch León

Academic Check #6
Read the next text and answer the questions.

Reconquest of Spain

The kingdom of Granada falls to the Christian forces of King Ferdinand V and Queen
Isabella I, and the Moors lose their last foothold in Spain.
Located at the confluence of the Darro and Genil rivers in southern Spain, the city of
Granada was a Moorish fortress that rose to prominence during the reign of Sultan
Almoravid in the 11th century. In 1238, the Christian Reconquest forced Spanish Muslims
south, and the kingdom of Granada was established as the last refuge of the Moorish
civilization.
Granada flourished culturally and economically for the next 200 years, but in the late 15th
century internal feuds and a strengthened Spanish monarchy under Ferdinand and
Isabella signaled the end of Moorish civilization in Spain. On January 2, 1492, King
Boabdil surrendered Granada to the Spanish forces, and in 1502 the Spanish crown
ordered all Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity. The next century saw a number of
persecutions, and in 1609 the last Moors still adhering to Islam were expelled from Spain.

1) What was the Reconquista?

The Reconquista is the name given to a long series of wars and battles between the
Christian Kingdoms and the Muslim Moors for control of the Iberian Peninsula. It lasted for
a good portion of the Middle Ages from 718 to 1492. 

2) What is the Iberian Peninsula? 

The Iberian Peninsula is located in the far southwest of Europe. Today the majority of the
peninsula includes the countries Spain and Portugal. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean,
the Mediterranean Sea, and the Pyrenees Mountains. 
3) Who were the Moors? 
The Moors were Muslims who lived in the northern African countries of Morocco and

Algeria. They called the land of the Iberian Peninsula "Al-Andalus".