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Quiz – Nomi Collettivi Posted by Serena on Apr 12, 2011
Nomi collettivi – collective nouns are used to indicate a group of people, animals, or objects. For example: ‘un aranceto’ is a group of orange trees, or an orange grove; ‘un complesso’ is a group of rock musicians, or a rock band, e così via (and so on). Now try and match the descriptions below…
Facciamo un Picnic Posted by Serena on Apr 9, 2011
Saturday morning was the beginning of a beautiful warm spring day. Not a cloud in the sky, a chorus of birdsong, lucertole (lizards) scuttling about over the terrazza and darting into shady cracks in the old stone walls. "Stavo pensando" dice mio marito "perché non invitiamo Claudio e Annalisa a fare un picnic su da…
Aprile Posted by Serena on Apr 6, 2011
Principali Festività (Main Festivals) According to the Roman historian Varro, Rome was founded on the 21st of April 753 B.C. (see my blog https://blogs.transparent.com/italian/buon-compleanno-roma/). Every year Rome celebrates her birthday with l’infiorata di Piazza di Spagna i.e. by covering the Spanish steps with blossoms. The 25th of April, Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day), is a…
Imbianchiamo la casa Posted by Serena on Apr 3, 2011
La primavera è arrivata ed è ora di pensare a tutti quei lavoretti che vogliamo fare in giro per la casa. Innanzitutto c’è da imbiancare un paio di stanze. Proprio ieri è arrivato nella cassetta delle lettere il catalogo di un grande magazzino "fai da te". Sfogliamolo assieme e vediamo cosa c’è che ci può…
Difesa dell’acqua pubblica e no al nucleare Posted by Serena on Mar 31, 2011
Here is an interesting topical article taken from the Italian newspaper ‘La Repubblica’. It reflects both the Italian public’s preoccupation with environmental issues, and their lack of faith in the ability of politicians to move beyond their internal disputes, power games, and ‘bunga bunga’ parties, and actually do something constructive! It is estimated that between…
Rapporto sulla Salute dell’Italia – part 2 Posted by Serena on Mar 27, 2011
WARNING, those of you who idealize the healthy Italian lifestyle and mythical Mediterranean diet may be disappointed! Adulti e bambini sempre più pesanti e grassi (Adults and children increasingly overweight) Every year in Italy about 50,000 deaths are related to obesity. Amongst adults 35.5% are overweight and 10% are obese, giving a total of 45.5%…
Rapporto sulla Salute dell’Italia – part 1 Posted by Serena on Mar 24, 2011
Tendenze demografiche (Demographic tendencies) In Italia, la popolazione residente (the resident population) is increasing. However, il tasso di fecondità (the birth rate) remains relatively stable, but below the 2.1 per couple which would guarantee a ricambio generazionale (renewal of the next generation). The current crescita demografica (demographic growth) is explained by immigration. L’Italia continua ad…