Upper Intermediate Stories

Upper Intermediate Stories
The Pyramid of Giza

This year we have been researching on the seven wonders of the world. We have always been interested in Egypt, so we thought that knowing a little more about how they were built could be useful, that is why we decided to write this article on the pyramid of Giza.
The great pyramid of Giza, just outside Cairo, Egypt, has been discussed and investigated more than any other monument on earth. Also it was the largest monument that had ever been built before this century, and was originally made from more than two and a half million blocks of stones.
This pyramid was built as a tomb for Egyptian pharaoh Khufu who ruled Egypt from about 2592 BC to 3569 BC. Though it is not the only pyramid left in Egypt it has become the most famous and most talked about pyramid in the world.
Building this huge pyramid with simple tools was an incredibly difficult and enormous effort, and the fact is that archaeologists do not know exactly how the heavy stones blocks were carried. Also, to build it they must have had a detailed knowledge of geometry.
Another astonishing fact is that one of the sides of the great pyramid of Giza runs exactly north to South, and the measurement is so perfect that it could not have been an accident. Ancient Egyptians did not possess compasses and did not know the exact line of true north. Such information only became available several centuries later.
Many people believe that the pyramid of Giza is still one of the world’s greatest mysteries due to the technology Ancient Egyptians had.

By Ignacio Iglesias and Lautaro Lanusse Upper Int


The missing call
I was sleeping when the telephone rang. It was my son, Tom. He told me that I should go to pick him up to Kyle’s house. It was six o’clock in the morning and I was very tired so my husband went for him.
When I woke up, at half past eight, they weren’t at home. I started to worry and I immediately called my husband to his mobile phone but he had forgotten it at home, So I called Tom’s but he didn’t answer. After that I called the police and I explained them what had happened. They told me that they would surely find them, however I should stay at home waiting in case somebody called.
I was desperate, time was passing very slowly, one hour, two hours, but nobody called, so I decided to look for them. I went to the café where my husband used to go, to the park, to Kyle’s house, everywhere, but they had vanished. So I went back home.
Although I had been outside for a couple of hours, I had a new message in my answering machine. It was the kidnapper, he was asking for a 50.000 dollars reward for Peter and Tom. He also said that if I didn’t leave the money in 530 Rocken Street in fifteen minutes he would kill them. I had the money available in a bank account but there was a problem, I didn’t know when he had called.
As soon as I finished listening to the message, I called the official. First of all I explained him what the kidnapper had said but he abruptly stopped me and said: “It’s too late, they are dead”. I couldn´t believe him or I didn’t want to believe. But in fact he was right; they were dead because of me. I will always regret not being patient. If I had only stayed at home waiting for the call, none of this would have happened.
By Guadalupe Usandizaga Upper Int


THE DEPARTED

This thriller film, is the latest by Martin Scorsese, film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson.
The story takes place in South Boston, where Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) takes the young Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) under his wings and trains him to be part of his gang, which is the most dangerous gang in the city.
Years later, Sullivan studies to enter the Massachusetts State Police, with classmates including Agent Barrigan (James Badge Dale). In another class are Trooper Brown (Anthony Anderson) and William “Billy” Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Billy Costigan has a mission. He is meant to infiltrate into Costello’s gang, and while he tries to win Costello’s trust, Sullivan becomes a State Police officer. Colin takes part of a group of officers whose mission is to kill Costello. Nevertheless, their superiors, do not know that he works for Costello.
The end is unexpected.
When the police and the gangsters realise that there’s an enemy between them, Billy and Colin are in danger because they could be caught and killed. They have to discover the indentity of the infiltrator in order to survive.

In my opinion, this film was excellent. Every detail was perfectly planned, and it was very entertaining, because you cannot imagine how it will finish.
I recommended teenagers as well as adults, and if you watch it, watch it again, you will never get bored of it.

Here you have more information about it, if you want to watch it or if you have already watched it and you don’t know these details:

• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Runtime: 151 minutes
• Soundtrack: Minstrel Boy
• Filming location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Awards: Won 4 Oscars, another 45 wins & 45 nominations
• Genre: Crime/ Drama / Thriller
• Writers: William Monahan (screenplay)
• Main Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon & Jack Nicholson.


By Julia Gentile Upper int

“I went to bed and I had a…”

On a dark night in the year 2000 something strange happened in my house, and only me was there, because my grandpa had gone to the supermarket and the rest of the family had died a couple of years before in a car accident.
I was watching TV, when a strange noise came from upstairs, so I said: “who’s there? “Who or What are you? What are you doing?” But nobody or nothing answered: that is the reason why I went upstairs, and there I saw in my bedroom a message that said: “you are a child, so you won’t ever catch me”. After reading the message; I started to run as fast as I could to the supermarket because two weeks ago I had seen a movie that had exactly the same message and the film finished with a broken bone.
The next day, I got up early and I saw that everything was a nightmare. I didn’t know why I had a broken leg, I could only remember that in that movie one child was a sleepwalker.
My conclusion was that if only I had stayed at home I wouldn’t have gone to the cinema, so I wouldn’t have the nightmare and a broken leg.

By Ignacio Iglesias Upper Int




How to become a famous film director

If you are a cineaste and you would like to become a movie director keep on reading... You will learn that directing movies is exciting and artistically fulfilling because you direct every step of a movie: auditioning and rehearsing actors, supervising the crew and having the final say on scenery and music.

Step One:
Go to college and major in filmmaking.
Step Two:
Move to Los Angeles or New York to get close to the action.
Step Three:
Start working as an intern or assistant producer on a movie set. You may not get paid, but you'll gain valuable skills, experience and contacts.
Step Four:
Develop your skills, gain as much experience as possible, learn like crazy and work your way up to film editor. When you have some clips to your name and start pulling down a salary, you can begin showing your work to people in the industry.
Step Five:
Take part in a training program for assistant directors. You'll get more experience.
Step Six:
Think small at first. Directing music videos, educational films or commercials is a good way to get experience.
Step Seven:
Raise money to make an independent film. It's much cheaper than it used to be, thanks to advances in digital technology. Enter your film in festivals and pray you get discovered.
Step Eight:
Become a well-known actor and step behind the camera to direct your own movies.
Step Nine:
Become a stage director and make the movie version of your latest hit.

The world's 20 best directors:

1. David Lynch
2. Martin Scorsese
3. Joel and Ethan Coen
4. Steven Soderbergh
5. Terrence Malick
6. Abbas Kiarostami
7. Errol Morris
8. Hayao Miyazaki
9. David Cronenberg
10. Terence Davies
11. Lukas Moodysson
12. Lynne Ramsay
13. Bela Tarr
14. Wong Kar-wai
15. Pedro Almodovar
16. Todd Haynes
17. Quentin Tarantino
18. Tsai Ming-Liang
19. Aki Kaurismaki
20. Michael Winterbottom



by Guadalupe Usandizaga y Martina Galli, upper int








LETTER AND MUSIC

Alex Letcher, Hug grant, is a pop singer of the ‘80s who is not a popular singer anymore and who now agrees to sing in small events such as fairs and funfairs.
Suddenly he gets an opportunity to recover his popularity. The star of the moment Cora Corman, invites him to write and record a song with her . Alex hasn’t composed any music in years, and has to create a success in a few days, so Sophie Fisher, Drew Barrymore, who seems to be a nice girl and takes care of his plants has a great facility with words that impresses the composer. However, Sophie has recently broken up with a famous novelist Sloan Cates, feeling depressed and disappointed she doesn´t want to cooperate with Alex.
Their relationship doesn´t have a promising beginning but work makes them get closer while Sophie writes the lyrics for his songs. Later Cora the producer decides to change the whole style of the show causing an argument between Ales and Sophie who then separate. On the day of the show Alex dedicates a love song to Sophie confessing his true love.

By Pilar Castel Berlari
Easter in United States

During Easter we always go to New York to visit my grandparents. I really enjoy it because there, Easter is celebrated in many different ways by many different religions,and they are all wonderful celebrations.
On Easter Sunday, not just in New York but other cities too, large street parades are held where people show off their new clothes and Easter bonnets. The parade is often led by somebody carrying a candle or a cross.
What I also love is playing Easter egg roll, a game which is played by children. The rules of an Easter Egg Roll are to see who can roll an egg the greatest distance or can make the egg roll without breaking , usually down a grassy hillside or slope. If you go, do not forget playing it!
During Easter time people eat special foods. In Unites States it is baked ham, potatoes and vegetables. They are so delicious that you cannot stop eating them! Easter Hot Cross Buns are served as well.
I always enjoy the time we spend in New York, and each year I look forward to our next trip. I hope I will continue going till the rest of my life.

By Guadalupe Usandizaga Upper Int

Easter in Israel

During Easter, a lot of people and pilgrims travel to Israel from all over the world. There, groups walk along Jesus Christ's way to Golgotha.
The route is referred to as the Twelve Stations of the Cross, similar to Tandil (Argentina), where people go to the Calvary and go over the twelve stations.
At one o'clock in the afternoon on Greek Easter Sunday the leader of the church goes into the Jesus’s tombs and the doors are closed after him. The lights go out, bells ring and the leader appears with a blazing torch. The torch is said to have been miraculously lit inside the tomb, it is amazing! Everyone in the church lights their candles off the torch. These lights up the whole church.
Catholics and Protestants celebrate Easter at the same time as the rest of the world, while Orthodox Christian churches celebrate it two weeks later.
I would really like to go and share this ancient ritual. I belong to a catholic family and we believe this holy event is truly special and unusual.

by Martina Galli
Upper int