Postal Service in the USA

TEXT SUMMARY
The origins of postal service go back to at least 2000 BC. In about 430 BC Herodotus wrote about the
determination of the Persian mounted messengers. Most postal services are government agencies with
monopolies, and enable letters or packages to be sent all over the world. In the beginning of the postal
service in the USA, only letters, newspapers, and small packages were considered mail, today there are
four classes of mail. First class is the most expensive and fourth class has the lowest rates. Since 1863 rates
for lighter first class items depend only on their weight. Other mail is still charged by weight and distance.
The service is mostly paid in advance by the sender.
First class mail includes letters and postcards. Postcards appeared in 1869 in Austria and were very
popular. Congress gave the post office a monopoly for the first class mail. Express mail, introduced in 1977,
enables next-day delivery for heavier pieces of first-class mail. Second and third class mail appeared in
1863 though newspapers and periodicals were charged less even before that. A bulk rate of postage is
available since 1928 for separately addressed identical pieces of third class mail. Fourth class mail weight
limits have been raised substantially since it first appeared in 1879 partly due to competition from private
express companies.
Special services offered by the post offices include registered mail (valuable mail that is insured and
carefully controlled), certified mail (a receipt is provided to the sender proving that the mail was
delivered), return receipts (showing to whom and when the mail was delivered), COD (collect on delivery,
the person who receives the mail pays for it), insured mail (providing coverage against loss or damage),
special delivery (rapid delivery, though not as fast as express mail, but also not as expensive), special
handling (a quicker deliver of third- and fourth-class mail), and money orders that can be cashed at the
post office (for safe delivery of money). In some nations welfare benefits are paid through post offices, and
some types of taxes are collected. Antimalaria drugs are distributed through African post offices, while
British post offices provide some banking services.
TEXT EXERCISES
1) Fill in the gaps with the information from the text .
In about 430 BC Herodotus described perseverance of the Persian messengers noting that

Postal service enables _________________ and _________________ to be sent all over the world on a
_________________ basis with speed and _________________. Most postal services are
_________________ agencies, and are often _________________. The service is mostly paid
_________________ by _________________. In the earliest days of postal service in the USA, only
_________________, _________________ and _________________ were considered mail. Postacrds
and letters are considered _________________. The price of delivery is calculated by ______________
and _________________. The aditional services offered by post offices vary _________________.
2) The list shows all the important dates in the history of the postal services, write down the
events that the dates refer to.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)

2000 BC
430 BC
1799
1845
1851
1861
1863
1869
1879

j)
k)
l)
m)
n)

1898
1912
1918
1928
1977

VOCABULARY EXERCISES
1) Use the following words in sentences of your ow n. The sentences should provide
context which clearly illustrate the meaning of the word .
a) assure
b) postage
c) rate
d) handling
e) compete
f) parcel
g) coverage
h) messenger
2) Match words on the right to their descriptions on the left
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

special handling
insured mail
certified mail
COD
registered mail
special delivery
return receipts
money orders

a receipt is provided to the sender proving that the mail was delivered
rapid delivery, though not as fast as express mail, but also not as expensive
a quicker deliver of third- and fourth-class mail
valuable mail that is insured and carefully controlled
for safe delivery of money
providing coverage against loss or damage
showing to whom and when the mail was delivered
collect on delivery, the person who receives the mail pays for it

3) Provide the antonyms (words of opposite meaning) for the following words.
swift
deliver
domestic
charge
special

persevere
in advance
feasible
bulk
receive

scheduled
diverse
required
flat rate
destination

GRAMMAR ABSTRACT NOUNS

HAPPINESS
Happiness is orange
It smells like a field of flowers
It tastes like chocolate ice-cream
It sounds like the school bell at the end of the day
It feels like the fur of my pet cat
It lives at my house most of the time
An abstract noun is a type of noun that refers to something a person cannot physically interact with. A
noun is a person, place or thing. However, in many cases, the 'thing' might be an intangible concept
which means it is an abstract form of noun. In this instance, abstract means to exist apart from
concrete existence. A noun that is abstract is an aspect, concept, idea, experience, state of being, trait,
quality, feeling, or other entity that cannot be experienced with the five senses.

 Concrete nouns are people, places, or things that we d experience do with our five senses. The abstract
class is the opposite - we can never experience these nouns according to our senses. If a noun
describes something you can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell, it is not abstract. Sometimes it can be
difficult to recognize when the noun is abstract because there are a number of words that can function
in different ways. For example, some words might function as verbs in some cases and abstract nouns
in other cases. Check to see whether the word in question is expressing action in some way or if it is a
functioning as a 'thing.' Love and taste are two such examples.
I love my husband. [here, the word love expresses an action and is therefore acting as a verb.]
Send them my love. [here, the word love is an abstract noun because it is a thing that exists beyond
the five senses.]
Sarah could taste cilantro in the salsa. [here, the auxiliary verb 'could' functions with taste to
illustrate action. She can physically taste the salsa.]
Sarah has great taste in clothes. [here, taste is an abstract noun. Taste refers to her preferences.]
Abstract nouns can be countable or non-countable (mass). They can also be in singular or possessive
form. These nouns follow the same grammar rules as other nouns.
Some common Abstract Nouns
Emotions/Feelings
Love
Hate
Peace
Pride
Sympathy
Movements/Events
Progress
Education
Hospitality
Friendship
Relaxation

Ideas/Concepts/Ideals
Beliefs
Dreams
Justice
Truth
Faith
Liberty
Knowledge
Thought
Information
Culture
Trust
Dedication

States/Attributes
Bravery
Loyalty
Honesty
Integrity
Compassion
Charity
Success
Courage
Deceit
Skill
Beauty
Brilliance

Abstract forms of nouns are very common and an important part of communication. In many cases
these types of nouns are derived from an addition of a suffix or alteration in the root word. Child is a
concrete noun, for example, but childhood is an intangible state, so it is abstract. Nouns with the
following suffixes are often abstract:
-tion
-ity
-ness
-ance/-ence
-ability
-ism
-ment
-age
-ship
-acy
Abstraction is an important part of communication. These nouns name things that can't be seen, heard,
tasted, smelled or touched, but allow us to express information by defining them on some level. An
important precaution for students and writers, however, is that there is the danger of the being
misunderstood when using abstract forms in writing. Words like love, freedom, beauty, taste, and
justice, might mean different things to different people. To one person, good taste means eclectic and
original; to another good taste might mean clean and modern. Teachers and writing coaches often
recommend using concrete nouns to support any abstract references, thereby clarifying the message
you are trying to convey. Understanding and recognizing abstract nouns is important. Although these
nouns give expression to intangible entities, sentences with fewer abstract and more concrete nouns
are typically more concise and clear.
GRAMMAR NOTES

GRAMMAR EXERCISES
1) Mark all abstract nouns with an A and all concrete nouns with a C
_____ honesty
_____ medicine
_____ president
_____ child
_____ beauty
_____ success
_____ marriage
_____ Fred
_____ luck
_____ friendship
_____ maturity
_____ hate
_____ sadness
_____ church
_____ city
_____ school
_____ love
_____ sky
_____ house
_____ power
_____ memory
_____ freedom
_____ leg
_____ talent
_____ trouble
_____ pain
_____ wealth
2) Look at the definitions given below for twelve abstract nouns. Then read the sentences
that follow and choose the best abstract noun to use in each sentence. Each abstract
noun is used one time.
compassion: to feel sorrow or sadness for another persons suffering
liberty: the condition of being free and independent
generosity: to give freely or share what you have with others
awareness: the ability to know what is happening around you
envy: a feeling of jealousy for what another person has
pride: pleasure or feeling good about something you have accomplished
talent: good skill or ability for a certain activity
clarity: when something is easy to understand or clear to see
dexterity: skill or quickness in a physical activity
infancy: early childhood
wisdom: knowledge and understanding gained through experience
annoyance: a feeling of being bothered or irritated by some thing
a) After I saw her new computer and thought about my old laptop I felt great _________________
for what she had.
b) The great explanation the teacher gave me filled me with _________________ about what I had
to do for the project.
c) Children need the most support from parents during _________________.
d) The loud car alarm that went off each night on my street was a great _________________ to
my neighbors and me.
e) Most people in our country expect to have the _________________ to choose who their
leaders will be.
f) Some very wealthy people show _________________ by giving to charity and the poor.
g) Many times an older person will have _________________ that younger people have not yet
developed.
h) After finally passing her driving test the third time she took it, the woman felt
_________________ in what she had accomplished by studying.
i) The girl had a natural _________________ for working with children and became a teacher
when she grew up.
j) When he saw the injured cat on the road, the man showed _________________ by picking it up
and taking it to a vet.
k) It takes great _________________ to become a ballet dancer.
l) The government puts warnings on cigarette packets so that people develop a (an)
_________________ of the dangers of smoking.

3) Choose one of the following two tasks:

Choose an abstract noun for your title and add to these lines to create your own poem.
(TITLE) _________________________
(TITLE) _________________________ is (COLOR) _________________________
It smells like _________________________
It tastes like _________________________
It sounds like _________________________
It feels like _________________________
It lives _________________________
Choose and illustrate six of these abstract nouns to indicate their meaning
justice, bravery, happiness, fear, childhood, luxury , luck, generosity, sleep, pleasure, wisdom,
appetite, hatred, failure, dishonesty, fact, fiction, poverty, confusion, slavery, ability, growth, anger,
cleverness, rhythm, divorce, argument, goal, honesty, marriage, friendship, sadness, freedom,
trouble, beauty, maturity, love, power, luck, hate, memory, talent, wealth

GRAMMAR PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun,
pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition.
The object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers to describe it. These are
the patterns for a prepositional phrase:
preposition + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause
preposition + modifier(s) + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause
Here are some examples of the most basic prepositional phrase:
at home: at = preposition; home = noun.
in time: in = preposition; time = noun.
from Richie: from = preposition; Richie = noun.
with me: with = preposition; me = pronoun.
by singing: by = preposition; singing = gerund.
about what we need: about = preposition; what we need = noun clause.
Most prepositional phrases are longer, like these:
From my grandmother: From = preposition; my = modifier; grandmother = noun.
Under the warm blanket: Under = preposition; the, warm = modifiers; blanket = noun.
In the weedy, overgrown garden: In = preposition; the, weedy, overgrown =
modifiers; garden = noun.
Along the busy, six-lane highway: Along = preposition; the, busy, six-lane =
modifiers; highway = noun.
Without excessively worrying: Without = preposition; excessively = modifier; worrying =
gerund.
A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb. As an adjective, the prepositional
phrase will answer the question Which one?
The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from shower steam. Which book? The one on
the bathroom floor!
The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold. Which sweet potatoes? The
ones forgotten in the vegetable bin!
The note from Beverly confessed that she had eaten the leftover pizza. Which note? The
one from Beverly!
As an adverb, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such as How? When? or Where?
Freddy is tired from yesterday's long football practice. How did Freddy get tired? From
yesterday's long football practice!
Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil. When did Josh do his begging? Before
class!
Feeling brave, we tried the Dragon Breath Burritos at Tito's Taco Palace. Where did we eat
the spicy food? At Tito's Taco Palace!
Neither the subject nor the verb will ever be a part of the prepositional phrase. Consider this
sentence: "The coat on the chair is mine." If we eliminate the prepositional phrase, "on the
chair" then we can easily see that coat is the subject and is is the verb. "The coat on the chair is
mine."
GRAMMAR NOTES

GRAMMAR EXERCISES
1) Locate the prepositional phrases in each sentence and put them into brackets.
a) By the end of the day, all of the dogs at the kennel were barking noisily in their cages.
b) He stood on the beach and watched the ship beyond the dock slowly maneuver itself past the
markers and into the slip.
c) For some strange reason, my neighbor across the street parks his car behind my garage.
d) The people from the nearest town brought donations throughout the year for the victims of the
hurricane.
e) Upon their arrival, the visitors were greeted at the door by Martin, who had a sly grin on his face.
f) We'll put the notes under the cushion without any pillows over it.
g) Everyone except Bill ran toward the boy sitting near the dangerous wire.
h) Between you and me, this seems like Paul's worst attempt ever.
i) Within two minutes, all of the trumpeters had laid their horns beneath their chairs on the stage.
j) She positioned the needle over the skin above the cut and then plunged it into each side of the
gash with small, even strokes.
2) Choose the correct form.
a) We finally solved our problem ____ a new device created by our research and development department.
1 from means of
2 by means of
3 by means from
4 by means to
b) I'd rather have beer ____ wine.
1 instead than
2 instead from
3 instead of
4 instead to
c) _____ my fellow employees, I would like to thank management for all they have done to improve our
situation.
1 In behalf of
2 To behalf of
3 On behalf of
4 From behalf of
d) _____ bad weather, the trip will be postponed to next week.
1 In case
2 In case of
3 In case to
4 In case from
e) _____ me, I will be happy to dedicate a few extra hours to the cause.
1 As for
2 As of
3 As to
4 As from
f) How can they be going out?! Jane has nothing _____ Peter.
1 in common
2 in common to
3 in common of
4 in common with
g) You will have to remember that, _____ John, no one wants to work on this problem.
1 apart to
2 apart from
3 apart
4 apart of

h) _____ John, they won't finish the project until the end of next week.
1 According
2 According in
3 According from
4 According to
i) I'm all ____ helping out the poor when in need.
1 in favor of
2 in favor to
3 in favor for
4 in favor from
j) Because _____ interest in our product, we are going to stop production of the 'whamo ring'.
1 the lack of
2 of the lack of
3 the lack in
4 of the lack in
k) We will have to postpone our trip _____ the bad weather.
1 because
2 because to
3 because of
4 because from
l) _____ the large number of requests we have received, we are extending the sale to the end of the month.
1 Due to
2 Due of
3 Due from
4 Due
m) There is a mysterious car _____ the gate.
1 in front of
2 in front to
3 in front from
4 in front
n) She was a fearless woman who acted _____ her health.
1 without regard to
2 without regard for
3 without regard
4 without regard of
o) ______ your proposal Tom, I'm afraid we won't be able to approve your project.
1 With regards
2 With regards to
3 With regards of
4 With regards from
p) _____ our friendly staff, you'll find our hotel provides everything you could ever desire.
1 In addition
2 In addition of
3 In addition to
4 In addition from
q) Please don't be angry with me. I didn't break the toy ______.
1 to purpose
2 from purpose
3 on purpose
4 about purpose
r) You are going to have to work overtime _____ your responsibilities at home.
1 regardless to
2 regardless of
3 regardless through
4 regardless about

s) I'm afraid I've charged you too much _____. Sorry about that!
1 on mistake
2 from mistake
3 to mistake
4 by mistake
t) Learning English is sometimes difficult. However, you should remember that communication is ______ the
most important thing.
1 by far
2 by far of
3 by far to
4 by far from

3) Which sentence is NOT correct? Correct the mistake.

1 He works in the first floor.
2 He lives in Park Street.
3 He works in the city centre.
a)
1 The calendar is on the wall.
2 The prince died on the end of the film.
3 There are no vegetarian meals on the menu.
b)
1 Turn right at the end of this street.
2 Tom is standing at the back of the queue.
3 Theres something written at the side of the box.
c)
1 My name is at the top of the list.
2 I live next from a railway line.
3 Your wallet is right in front of you.
d)
1 I saw Helen on the butchers today.
2 I saw Helen in the butchers today.
3 I saw Helen at the butchers today.
e)
1 Can you sign your name at the bottom please?
2 Sorry I missed you. I was at a meeting.
3 The school is at Kings Square.
f)
1 The office is on the main road between Derby and Nottingham.
2 Theres something written on the back of the envelope.
3 She lives in a farm on the mountains.
g)
VOCABULARY
applicable
apply
appoint
assure
bulk
bundle
certified mail
charge

able to be applied or used in a particular situation

to use (an idea, method, law, etc.) in a particular situation
to choose (someone) to have a particular job : to give (someone) a
position or duty
to make (something) certain : ensure
of or relating to things that are sent or sold in large amounts
a group of things that are fastened, tied, or wrapped together
provides you with a receipt at the time of mailing and a record of
delivery
to ask for money in return for providing or doing something

primjenjiv
primijeniti
dodijeliti
osigurati
vea koliina
paket, sveanj
preporuena poiljka
naplatiti

cod mail
compete
coverage
deliver
delivery
designate

destination
distribute
diverse
domestic
engraving
establish
exceed
express mail
extend credit
feasible
fee
flat rate

gloom
government agency
guarantee
handling
imprint
in advance
inaugurate
increasingly
insure
insured mail

allows merchants to offer customers an option to pay upon

delivery, up to $1000. Includes insurance.
to try to be better or more successful than someone or something
else
something that an insurance company will pay for : something that
is covered by an insurance policy
to take (something) to a person or place
the act of taking something to a person or place
to officially choose (someone or something) to do or be
something : to officially give (someone or something) a particular
role or purpose
a place to which a person is going or something is being sent
to give or deliver (something) to people
different from each other
of, relating to, or made in your own country
a picture made from an engraved surface
to begin or create something
to be greater or more than (something)
overnight delivery guaranteed to most locations
offering the customers the option of paying for the products and
services they purchase from you at a later date instead of upfront
possible to do
an amount of money that must be paid
a pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee for a service,
regardless of usage

partial or total darkness

an administrative unit of government
to make (something) certain
the act or process of packing and shipping something to someone
(such as a customer)
a mark created by pressing against a surface
before something happens
to begin to use or have (something) for the first time
more and more
to buy or provide insurance for (something, such as property or
health)
Insurance against loss or damage is for the value of the goods
mailed. Amount of coverage can be specified, up to $5,000.

introduce
levy

to cause (something) to begin to be used for the first time

to impose or collect (a tax, for example)

messenger

someone who delivers a message or does other small jobs that

involve going somewhere
a money order can be bought from a bank or post office and sent by
mail like a check to make a payment to another person
a large company that has complete control of the entire supply of
goods or of a service in a certain area or market
having a horse or horses for riding
not one or the other

money order
monopoly
mounted
neithernor

otkupna poiljka
natjecati se
pokrie
dostaviti
dostava
odrediti, imenovati,
namijeniti
odredite
dijeliti, razdijeliti
razliit, raznolik,
raznovrsni
domai
gravura
uspostaviti
premaiti, prijei
urna poiljka
prodaja uz poek
mogu, izvediv
pristojba
fiksan (cijena) ili bez
ogranienja (na pr.
negranien promet za
internet)
tama, tmina
vladina agencija
jamiti
rukovanje, postupanje
ig
unaprijed
uvesti
ratui, sve vie
osigurati
vrijednosna poiljka,
sve vrijednosne
poiljke osigurane od
nezgode ili oteenja
do oznaenog iznosa
uvesti
ubirati (porez,
pristojbu)
glasnik
potanska uputnica
monopolist
konjanik, na konju
niniti

overseas
parcel
perseverance
pick up
postage
postcard
priority mail
rapid
rate
receive
regardless
registered mail

regularly
required
return receipt

round
scheduled
sender
somewhat
special delivery

special handling

in or to a foreign country, esp. one across the sea

a box or large envelope that is usually given, sent, or delivered to a
person
the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something
even though it is difficult
to go somewhere in order to get and bring back (someone or
something)
the cost of sending a letter or package by mail
a card on which a message may be sent by mail without an
envelope and that often has a picture on one side
2 or 3-day service
happening or moving quickly
a price or amount to be paid that is set according to a scale or
standard
to get or be given (something)
in spite of difficulty, trouble, etc.
a highly secure form of delivery that is documented at each step of
the way

very often
necessary
actively sends signature confirmation back to the sender by
postcard or emailed PDF (as opposed to merely putting this
information into the online tracking system)
a series of regular or similar visits or stops
planed at a certain time
a person who sends a letter, package, message, etc.
in a small amount or degree : to some degree
The USPS offered special delivery from 1885 to 1997. The letter
would be dispatched more immediately and directly from the
receiving post office to the recipient rather than being put in mail
for distribution on the regular delivery route
applies to shipments that are loaded in such a manner as to require
additional labor and handling to unload or load out

stay
substantially
swift
uniform

stop or delay something or someone

very much : a lot
happening or done quickly or immediately
not varying or changing

valuable
welfare benefits

worth a lot of money or important to someone in a personal way

a government program for poor or unemployed people that helps
pay for their food, housing, medical costs, etc.

inozemni
paket
ustrajnost
podignuti
potarina
razglednica
prioritetna poiljka
brz
cijena, tarifa
primiti
bez obzira
praena poiljka, T&T
(TRACK AND TRACE)
praenje poiljke
prilikom transporta,
korisnik u svakom
trenutku ima uvid u
kretanje poiljke
redovito
nuan, obavezan
dostavnica

ruta
isplaniran, predvien,
po rasporedu
poiljatelj
poneto
posebna dostava

izdvojeni paket, paket

za koji poiljatelj
prigodom predaje
zahtijeva da se s njim
postupa uz poveanu
pozornost.
zaustaviti
znatno, znaajno
brz
istovrstan, homogen,
jednolik
vrijedan
socijalne naknade