The Great Lakes
Each week, I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. You are welcome to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. They are the largest group of fresh water lakes on earth by area, and hold 21% of the world's fresh water. They were created around 14,000 years ago during the last ice age. Lake Michigan is the only one located entirely within the US border and is shared by four different states.
Read more about the Great Lakes here:85 Fascinating Facts About the Great Lakes - Fun World Facts
Vocabulary
Language Level - B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- shelter (n., v.)
- shift (v.)
- ship (v.)
- shock (n., v.)
- shocked (adj.)
- shooting (n.)
- shot (n.)
- significant (adj.)
- significantly (adv.)
- silence (n.)
Study these words with Quizlet
Grammar Tip
Language Level - B2
Last week, we looked at Homographs - Words spelled the same, but pronounced differently and with different meanings. Now we turn our attention to homophones.
Homophones:
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings.
Example: flour (used for baking) and flower (a plant bloom).
Because they sound identical, homophones can be tricky in spoken English—your ears can’t tell the difference, so you have to rely on context. In a country as culturally and linguistically diverse as the United States, you’ll see and hear homophones in conversations, books, menus, and even road signs.
Here are some common examples:
Read both sentences for each pair. Notice how the spelling and meaning change.
-
flour / flower
- The baker measured out two cups of flour for the bread. (noun: powder used for baking)
- The cherry blossom is Japan’s national flower. (noun: a plant bloom)
-
sea / see
- We spent the afternoon sailing on the open sea. (noun: large body of salt water)
- I can’t wait to see the new cultural festival downtown. (verb: to look at)
-
right / write
- Everyone has the right to express their cultural traditions. (noun: entitlement)
- Please write your name on the sign-in sheet. (verb: to put words on paper)
-
pair / pear
- She bought a pair of handmade shoes from the artisan market. (noun: two of something)
- Would you like a pear from the farmers’ market? (noun: a type of fruit)
-
meet / meat
- Let’s meet at the library for the English conversation club. (verb: to come together)
- The chef prepared grilled meat skewers for the food fair. (noun: animal flesh for eating)
-
dear / deer
- Thank you for your help—you are such a dear friend. (adjective: cherished)
- We saw a deer grazing near the hiking trail. (noun: a wild animal)
-
plain / plane
- The desert is a vast, dry plain. (noun: flat area of land)
- The small plane landed on a rural airstrip. (noun: aircraft)
-
blue / blew
- She wore a bright blue scarf to the parade. (adjective: color)
- The strong wind blew the umbrellas across the street. (verb: past tense of blow)
💡 Tip: Since your ears can’t tell the difference, always check the surrounding words for meaning.
Let’s Practice!
Choose the correct meaning for each sentence.
- The baker measured out two cups of flour for the bread.
a) A plant bloom
b) Powder used for baking
- I can’t wait to see the new cultural festival downtown.
a) To look at
b) Large body of salt water
- Please write your name on the sign-in sheet.
a) Entitlement or privilege
b) To put words on paper
- She bought a pair of handmade shoes from the artisan market.
a) A type of fruit
b) Two of something
- The chef prepared grilled meat skewers for the food fair.
a) To come together
b) Animal flesh for eating
- We saw a deer grazing near the hiking trail.
a) Cherished or beloved
b) A wild animal
- The small plane landed on a rural airstrip.
a) Flat area of land
b) Aircraft
- The strong wind blew the umbrellas across the street.
a) Past tense of blow
b) Color
Reading and Listening Tip
Language Level - B2
Here's an informative video about the Great Lakes. Turn on the CC to read along as you listen:
Weekly Challenge
Language Level - C1
A bonus video! Another great Ted Talk to practice your listening skills while giving you something to think about. Today's interesting topic is how language shapes the way we think:
How can I help?
Send me a message if you have any questions or feedback!
