Modul SE1

NAME ___________________________ |
GRAD
E1
SKY ENGLISH
ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE

Kompleks MAN I Bandarlampung, Sukarame
Bandarlampung 085768452546, 085764234224
SE
What You Want to be

THINK AHEAD
do you have any dreams in the future?

What is it?
Are u sure that u can make it?
How will you achieve it?
What do you need to make it comes true?
READING
My dream when I was little
When I grow up, I want to be a musician. When I was in Primary Three I was
deeply obsessed with music so I decided to join the Ensemble. Now I am
playing the recorder in the Ensemble and I am very happy. I would not mind
playing any instrument and I will be content as long as I get to be a
musician. However, I love playing the piano.
I have wanted to be a musician since I was in kindergarten when I first
learned how to play the piano. I like to play the piano because playing the
piano always cools me down when I am angry. Besides playing music, I also
like to listen to classical music.
I would like to be an accomplished pianist playing classical music in
concerts. I hope many people will attend my concerts. I will give part of the
money from the concerts to charity.
If
want to become a musician I will have to
practice very hard and pass all the eight grades of the
music examination.
I hope I will become a musician because if I
do not become a musician I will be very
disappointed and I will be very unhappy.
VOCABULARY CHECK
Small
group
of
musicians
(____________________)
School for very young children
who
often
play
(____________________)
ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

KOMPLEKS MAN I (MODEL) SUKARAME BANDAR LAMPUNG
together
SE
Money, food, etc. given to very poor people
(____________________)
Sad at not getting what was hoped for
(____________________)

SE
Does It Look Good?
The Importance of Appearance

Looking perfect and nice has always been a duty for women and men. The
importance of feeling confident by showing a good image is very important for a person
s character. Nevertheless, problems arise when our image is distorted, and we start to
think that our body is not perfect and the need for a change becomes an obsession.
When this happens, eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia appear. These two mental
diseases have become very popular in societies around the world. They have to do with
a wrong perception of the body that can lead to eating disorders and several physical
damage. They can
even
cause
death
if
they are
not
treated
in
time.
The question is who is to blame on this issue? I mean, whose fault is it? Is society
oblishing women and men towards perfection in order to belong to it? or Is it just an
internal obligation?
The truth is that both are connected. In the modern world, sometimes happens
that an employee is not only given a job for his or her qualifications, but because he or
she looks extremely sexy, or has a good looking body. Studying in the best universities
is not always a chance for success in business. Something else is needed.
On the other hand, Television and its programmes have a powerful effect on this issue
too. TV programmes are filled with acrtors and actresses who have the "perfect body,
the perfect face" which are not very common for the rest of the population. And viewers
tend to imitate their appearences. As if this was easy. How come that on MTV there is a
programme that helps the viewers have plastic surgeries in order to have the face of their
favourite celebrity. Are they crazy or what? What are we doing to our teenagers?
Tenagers are in their search for identity. For this reason, they tend to feel identify with
these fake "idols" that appear on their favourite soup operas. But they are not "real"
characters. It is all a matter of a lot of makeup and some plastic interventions. The
SE
human body, as time passes, suffers changes and they are normal. Not all of us have the
body of a super model, but it is our body and that makes it special. We are unique. And
that makes the difference. We have to accept our body because is the only one we have.
Not matter how bad it looks.
After all, it is somebody elses creation.

SE
Lets Peek the World
The Magic of Books

1263
There is no Fragate like a book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Courses like a Page
of prancing PoetryThis Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul
Emily Dickinson
Sometimes we cannot afford to buy a plane ticket, and travel to distant
places. What we can do is travel through the pages of a book. Therefore, I
wanted to share this short poem with you, so this idea is better illustrated.
Firstly, I would like to explain something about the poems meaning, and then
I would like to share some of my own thoughts. I do not know if any of those
who are kindly enough as to readthis piece, had the chance to read any of
Emily Dickinsons writings. if not, I strongly recommend that you put it into
consideration. As you have probably notice after reading the poem above, She
compares books with a frigate which "will take us lands away". All of us, at
least once in our life, have had the feeling that we were transported to the
exact place where the story of the book we were reading took place. In line
five, Dickinson writes "this Traverse may the poorest take". The good thing
about reading is that it is cheap, and everybody can do it. Moreover, it is
cheaper to travel with the mind. I beleive that once you are enchanted by the
magic of books, you cannot scape from it. Another consequence of travelling
through books is that you get to know a lot of characters you never saw before
in your life. Therefore, you take a glimpse at their deepest thoughts and
emotions. And, more often than not, you get to love some of them and to hate
others. But, again, this is part of the trip. Finally, for those who are already
travellers within these imaginary trips, I encourage them to go on being part
of this. For those who are not, I tell them to join us . You wont regret it.
SE

SE
My Experience with Death

When someone asks you about the happiest moment in your life, you recall it without
much effort. But when it is time to talk about some experiences that changed your life
forever the thing changes, at least in my case.
When I was three, my father died of a heart attack. I do not remember much about him
as I was so little. My relatives tell me that he was caring and loving with all children,
especially with his. My brother and sister tell me that he used to take us to the square
and play with us a lot. I have known him through pictures and some descriptions of him.
I would have liked to spend more time with him, but that is the way things were. No
regrets!
At the age of eleven, my mum passed away. She had breast cancer. This is one of the
most terrible illnesses a person can suffer because it is something that kills you bit by
bit. It is hard also for those who are around because you cannot do anything to stop the
disease. Moreover, you cannot prevent death from happening. From my mum I have a
lot of memories. She was very strict with all three of us. We had to have a nap
obligatorely because she got up very early in the morning, so nap was sacred. She
worked a lot to so as to be able to take care of us. She had a small pension from my
father but that was not enough to survive. Nonetheless, we also spent beautiful moments
together, especially on Sundays when we got together with the rest of the family and
played, ate spaghettis made at home and many other things. What I liked the most was
Christmas time. This night was special because if the family was having problems or
some members were apart, they knew that Christmas dinner was the time for unison
companionship.
I was terribly sad when she died. But I do not know how I could get over it. I know Ill
see her again. No regrets!
With whom I am still angry is with my dads family because when he died they just
dissappear from earth. They did not help my mother at all, and they knew she was
aolone with three children to look after. But they did not care much I guess. I still some
of them from time to time because I go to visit them whenever I can. No regrets!
Anyway, I do not complain about the way life has been to me. I guess those moments
made my brothers and I stronger.

SE
How Benefitial or Damaging can Internet be?

During our languages classes, a classmate of mine talked about Bulimia and Anorexia,
and about an Internet website which was created by teenagers who are suffering from
these diseases. They use this website to share their daily experiences with the these
illnesses. This page is used as a sort of catharsis. But is this good or bad? I cannot truly
say. But I beleive that Internet has a lot of good benefits for people, but also can be used
to make harm to others. In this case, there is anything beneficial for these girls who have
bulimia or anorexia because all they do is to talk about how skin they are, how much
exercise they have done, how much water they have drunk. And the worst thing is the
photos they have published. They are really shocking because you can see their naked
bodys so thin that scares you. And my classmate said that if you tried to say to them that
they were ill and they needed some medical treatment, they will not allow you to
interact with them.
These girls need instant help. But they say that being bulimic or anorexic is a personal
choice and a way of living. They are completely blind. In this case, other girls who see
this kind of website can feel the innert compulsion to look the same and follow this
trend, or just ignore it. Nevertheless, this kind of websites should be controlled by
somebody. Otherwise, the can do a lot of harm to the minds of innocent teenagers who
use Internet to be connected to the world.

SE
Uses of the Internet

SE

SE
Nowadays internet has become so common that people who are unaware about internet
are referred as clumsy. This is due to the speedy development of technology and
globalization. Societies are becoming more and more unified. You can easily contact to
the person sitting in a different country. You can share your knowledge, thoughts by
making the use of an internet. Study results have also traced the popularity of internet
usage. Last year's study has wind up that email is the topmost task which is conducted
online, followed by general surfing, News reading, shopping etc.
Internet shopping has also become popular amongst users especially in developed
nations; this is because 'shop on internet' is more efficient than physically going into the
stores. The internet endow with the surroundings where shopper's demands are fulfilled.
Shopping on the internet also saves time and we can select a better product without
having to travel a long distance. Using the internet, shopper can scrutinize the product's
prices from various stores by sitting on one place. Also they can now shop online for the
goods which normally get sold in a foreign nation. Rather than having to travel to the
country to take the delivery of the goods, they can place the order online and get it
efficiently delivered.
Internet also gives us the prospective to communicate effectively and efficiently. For
example, sending an email costs lower than posting a letter in the mail, especially for
people who have to communicate internationally. Besides this, an email can be sent
within a minute after it is written. For sending a mail we don't need to complete the
official procedure such as Post Office and a mail box etc. The recipient of the email can
view it at any time and from any place, as it is a virtual means of communication, as
opposed to having a mail box where the letters get delivered.
Internet use is not only limited to shopping and communication with people, but it also
provides the environment for news distribution and endorse the people to be updated
with the latest news. We can access the data easily wherever it may be across the world.
Internet is also a very good form of communication for people who want to express their
own view points and feelings. For youngsters, internet is not only a place of knowledge
but it also has an entertainment aspect such as online games, downloading movies,
music etc. But this is not the only reason the internet appeals to the younger generation.
They also agreed that the internet provides ease to research and university students. This
is because a large number of articles on the same topic can be found on the internet by
just one search.
To put it briefly, the popularity of the internet have contributed in the most part of
development of the society. You can say that people are nowadays becoming more
reliant on the internet for their day to day work. Or we can also say that they are making
the use of this facility for their routine life to save time and cost. Ultimately, it's a tool
that is effective if used properly and effectively.

SE
tsunamis : what's a tsunami?]
The word tsunami comes from the Japanese language, describing very long, low seismic sea waves. They are are
triggered by seismic disturbances - coastal earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or undersea landslides - that jolt the ocean
floor. During this tremor, the crust is likened to a giant paddle, smacking the water at the site of the disturbance.
Oftentimes, earth tremors will displace ground surface, sending an entire column of water in motion outward from an
earthquake region. The result is a deep wave that reaches from the seas surface to the floor and travels horizontally at
speeds up to 500 miles per hour and reaches heights between 50 and 100 feet.
The great pulse of water usually passes unnoticed beneath ships at sea. The height from crest to trough is usually only
a few feet, and the distance between two crests more than 100 miles. The waves speed equals the square root of the
product of acceleration and the water depth. In other words, the waves travel faster in deeper water.
When it approaches shore, the wave rises. It is the sharp elevation of the ocean floor near the coast that slows the
bottom of the wave while the top keeps moving at the original speed. Vast quantities of water are then piled up into a
vertical wall, 100 feet or higher, that finally crashes over the shore with amazing force.
In the open sea, tsunamis are only about a meter high, but when they reach a continental shoreline, they can be taller
than a house and weigh millions of tons. Large tsunamis can carry ships quite a distance inland, as well as drown out
crops and villages. Seismologist Nicholas Heck wrote of tsunamis, It is the most spectacular and appalling of all
earthquake phenomena.
The first sign of an approaching tsunami is the sea tide draining away from the shore. The sea bottom is exposed for a
large distance out. Then, the ocean water flows back in, higher and faster than before. These changes may be repeated
several times before the tsunami itself roars in to land.
A tsunami travels radially outward from its epicenter in concentric circles, like pond ripples. Waves will also travel
long distances without losing any of its original power. Even if islands or reefs stand in the tsunamis path, its force is
not significantly reduced. Usually the waves dont dissipate until they strike a continental land mass, and some waves
even bounce, traveling back and forth across the Pacific Ocean for over a week.
There is a rather unpredictable correlation between land earthquakes and tsunamis. Minor land tremors can trigger
destructive waves. Anyone Pacific coast-dwelling citizens at elevations below 50 feet are at risk. However, the United
States has sustained a warning system since 1960, with underwater detection devices that would warn of approaching
waves.

SE
Endangered Species Reading: Polar Bear

Makes the List
For intermediate learners
In Spring 2008, the polar bear was placed on the
endangered species list. According to the Endangered
Species Act, an endangered species is an animal that is
likely to face extinction in its natural habitat. Polar
bears have been categorized as a "threatened" species.
The ESA defines a threatened species as one that is likely to become "endangered" in
the foreseeable future.
A "threatened" species is one that is expected to become "endangered" in the foreseeable
future.
The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as endangered due primarily to
global warming. Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases that become trapped in the atmosphere. Heating homes, driving cars, and burning
garbage all require fossil fuels that lead to global warming.
25% of the Arctic sea ice has disappeared in the past 30 years.
The polar bear's habitat is more vulnerable to global warming than many other species.
Polar bears live mainly on the sea ice in the Arctic. This is where they hunt for fish and
build up fat reserves. When the ice melts many polar bears move to land and live off
their stored fat. In the Arctic, global warming is causing the ice to melt slightly earlier
and form slightly later. This results in a shorter feeding season for the polar bear. Some
risk their lives to find ice. If they have to swim too far they will drown from exhaustion
and hunger. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 25% of the Arctic sea ice has
disappeared in the past 30 years.
It is not only the polar bear that is at risk in the Arctic. Every species of plant, animal,
and insect there is threatened by global warming. Nevertheless, environmentalist
groups such as the World Wildlife Fund often study large carnivores in order to assess
the health of an ecosystem. The Arctic food chain relies on the polar bear. In addition,
donations are more commonly offered for the protection of large animals such as bears
or elephants. People in general are less interested in conservation efforts that protect
small wildlife, such as plants or insects. However, by using donor money to protect the
habitat of the larger animals (ex. reforestation programs), entire ecosystems can be
protected.
Getting on the endangered species list is crucial for populations that are at risk of
extinction.
It is important that animals such as the polar bear make it onto the endangered species
list. Once they are on the list there are laws that protect these animals from being hunted
for food or sport. Agencies also receive money and tools to protect the habitat and
recover the species. The goal of removing the animal from the list is often achievable.
Since the Endangered Species Act was introduced in the US in 1973, many species have
been taken off the list due to increased populations. In fact, it is rare for a species to go
extinct after they make the list. Sadly many species do go extinct while waiting for
consideration.
SE
Endangered Species Topics for

Discussion and Essay-writing
Here are some ideas for you to discuss or write about.
1. Why do you think the Canadian Arctic is called
the Land of the Midnight Sun?
What do you think it would be like to live
there?
2. The Governor of Alaska is unhappy with the decision to place the polar bear on
the endangered species list.
What could this decision mean for development in Alaska?
3. A rough estimate suggests that there are approximately 20,000 polar bears in the
world.
Why do you think it is so difficult to know how many bears live in the Arctic?
What challenges would face a census team?
4. Scientists say there are twice as many polar bears living in the Arctic as there
were in the 1960's. This is because polar bears used to be severely over hunted.
Some politicians site this data as a reason for not placing polar bears on the
endangered species list.
How do you feel about their argument?
5. If there are 25,000 polar bears now, how do you think the population will change
by the year 2050?
What factors did you consider in making your estimation?
Organic versus Non-Organic Food
Reading
For pre-intermediate learners
Organic food is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as
much as non-organic food. New parents and pet owners pay up to 200 percent more for
organic food. Some people think organic food is a waste of money.
Organic baby food costs up to 200% more than non-organic.

SE
There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do
not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides. In many countries organic foods have
special labels. These guarantee that the products are natural.
Some people think organic means locally grown. Originally this was true. Over time
organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than
the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There wasn't enough
organic ingredients, such as grain and cattle. This made it difficult for many organic
companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of
products.
Organic does not always mean local.
Is organic food more nutritious? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers
believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems such as cancer or
allergies. Many health professionals disagree. Few studies prove that organic foods
prevent health problems. Health specialists worry more about bacteria, such as E.coli
and salmonella. These can come into contact with organic and non-organic food.
Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully. Handling meat carefully is
important too.
Washing non-organic produce is very important.
Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra
money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more
research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.
1. What reasons do you have personally for choosing organic or non-organic food?
2. Do you think most food will be organic in the near future?
3. Do you think researchers will find strong links between diseases and pesticide
use?
4. Will you pay more for organic produce? Why or why not?
5. Do you think organic food tastes better?

SE
Are Cell Phones Dangerous?
Reading
For advanced learners
Is talking on a cell phone hazardous to your health? It is difficult to know for sure. Some
research suggests that heavy users of mobile phones are at a greater risk of developing
brain tumours. However, many other studies suggest there are no links between cancer
and cell phone use.
The main problem with the current research is that mobile phones have only been
popular since the 1990s. As a result, it is impossible to study the long term exposure of
cell phone use. This concerns many health professionals who point out that many
cancers take at least 10 years to develop. Another concern about these studies is that
many have been funded by those who benefit financially from the cell phone industry.
Many cancers take ten years to develop.
Over three billion people use cell phones on a daily basis, and many talk for more than
an hour a day. Cell phone antennas are similar to microwave ovens. While both rely on
electromagnetic radiation, the radio waves in cell phones are lower in radio frequency
(RF). Microwave ovens have enough RF to cook food and are therefore known to be
dangerous to human tissues. However, the concern is that the lower frequency radio
waves that cell phones rely on may also be dangerous. It seems logical that holding a
heat source near your brain for a long period of time is a potential health hazard.
Cell phones get hot when they are used for a long period of time.
Some researchers believe that other types of wireless technology may also be dangerous
to human health, including laptops, cordless phones, and gaming consoles.
Organizations that are concerned about the effects of Electromagnetic Radiation suggest
replacing all cordless devices with wired ones. They say that many cordless phones emit
dangerous levels of EMR even when they are not in use. They even suggest keeping
electronic devices, such as computers and alarm clocks out of bedrooms, or at least six
feet from your pillow.
Other wireless technology may also be hazardous to our health.
A growing number of health professionals worldwide are recommending that cell phone
users err on the side of caution until more definitive studies can be conducted. They
recommend that adults use head sets or speaker phones and that children and teens,
whose brain tissue are still developing, use cell phones only for emergencies. Concerned
medical experts use the example of tobacco to illustrate the potential risks. Many years
ago, people smoked freely and were not concerned about the effects of cigarettes on
their health. Today, people know that cigarettes cause lung cancer, though it is still
unknown exactly how or why. Some doctors fear that the same thing will happen with
devices such as cell phones.
1. Do you use a cell phone? If yes, how much time do you spend on it? Do you
think your health is at risk?
SE
2. Besides a cell phone, what type of wireless technology do you use? Do you feel
safe using it?
3. Are you the type of person who errs on the side of caution, or do you take risks?
4. If your doctor told you not to use your cell phone for long periods of time would
you agree?
5. Do you think children and teens should have their own cell phones? Why or why
not?

SE
The Disappearing Honeybee: Reading

For low intermediate learners
Do you run away when you hear a bee buzzing? Many people do. A bee sting hurts and
some people are allergic to bee venom. But did you know that bees are very important to
humans? Honeybees do more than just make honey. They fly around and pollinate
flowers, plants, and trees. Our fruits, nuts, and vegetables rely on these pollinators. One
third of America's food supply is pollinated by the honeybee.
Honeybees pollinate plants that give us fruit and vegetables.
Have you seen or heard a honeybee lately? Bees are mysteriously disappearing in many
parts of the world. Most people don't know about this problem. It is called Colony
Collapse Disorder (CCD). Some North American beekeepers lost 80% of their hives
from 2006-2008. Bees in Italy and Australia are disappearing too.
The disappearance of the honeybee is a serious problem. Can you imagine never eating
another blueberry? What about almonds and cherries? Without honeybees food prices
will skyrocket. The poorest people always suffer the worst when there is a lack of food.
Without honeybees, food prices will skyrocket.
This problem affects other foods besides fresh produce. Imagine losing your favourite
ice cream! Haagen Daaz is a famous ice cream company. Many of their flavours rely on
the hard working honey bee. In 2008 Haagen Daaz began raising money for CCD. They
also created a website called helpthehoneybee.com.
Donating money to research is the most important thing humans can do to save the
honeybees. Scientists need money to investigate the causes of Colony Collapse
Disorder. Some scientists blame CCD on climate change. Others think pesticides are
killing the bees. Commercial bee migration may also cause CCD. Beekeepers transport
their hives from place to place in order to pollinate plants year round.
Scientists need money to research the causes of CCD.
Not everyone has money to donate regularly. There are other ways to help the honeybee.
Spread the word, by telling your friends and family about the problem. Tell your teacher
about the disappearing bees too. Maybe your class can write a letter to the government.
The Disappearing Honeybee:

Topics for Discussion and Essay-writing
1. Why is the honeybee so important to humans?
2. Do you think humans can survive without honeybees?
3. Do you think scientists will invent mechanical
pollinators that work as hard as honeybees?
4. Which companies need to worry about CCD the most?
SE
5. Scientists fear that the disappearing honeybee will have a "ripple effect". What
does this mean?

SE
How did you learn English?

back to Articles
Back in 2002, I was an average English student. I had problems with basic grammar and
my pronunciation was bad. I had been to English classes for several years, but still
wasn't satisfied with my progress. I realised I needed to start learning the language on
my own.
Up until then, my main language activities were memorizing lists of words and doing
grammar exercises. Of course we also did some reading and listening in class. The
problem was that most of the time the topics were boring and I wasn't really keen on
hearing about them. From time to time we would play a game. But most of the games
had one purpose - to get us to learn a list of words. They were no fun, either.
After a few years of English classes I knew some more or less useful vocabulary and a
couple of grammar rules. But I could hardly speak and made lots of mistakes in my
writing. I decided to start reading in English. I began with simplified books from the
Penguin Readers series, which helped me increase my vocabulary. I noted each new
word in a notebook - this way I learned about 1000 new words. After a while I noticed
that I needed to use the dictionary less and less. Often I would meet a word that I had
recently written down. It gave me lots of satisfaction - I felt that I had learned something
new.
My vocabulary was growing quickly, but my English was still very poor. My writing
had improved a bit, but I still had problems with listening and speaking. I listened to
English songs a lot, but I couldn't understand the words. Then I got hold of some
computer programs for learners, with audio recordings and video clips. I also
downloaded lyrics of my favourite songs and learned them. Gradually my listening
skills began to improve.
In 2002 I came across Antimoon, a website for English learners. Thanks to the excellent
advice from Tom and Michal, I made some good decisions. I bought an English-English
dictionary. I learned the phonetic alphabet and started studying pronunciation. I also
started using SuperMemo, a computer program for speed-learning. It helped my English
a lot (and, at last, I could get rid of my vocabulary notebook!).
After a few months of intensive learning I noticed that my skills had considerably
improved. It gave me satisfaction and pleasure - the methods I had been using worked!
Since then, I've been trying to have even more contact with English.
Today, I can't imagine my life without English. I do most of my reading in English news and articles on the Web, novels, even comic books. I listen to English songs and
audio recordings on interesting subjects on my MP3 CD player. Communicating in
English is not a problem for me anymore. Writing and speaking became easy. I even
won a dictation competition for high school students held by International
House in Wroclaw, Poland (see the picture of the diploma on the right).
Now, it's your turn to make a breakthrough in your English learning!

SE
The Titanic
The Titanic was built by the White Star Line. The owners of the company thought that if
ocean liners were big and luxurious enough more people would travel with them.
The Titanic was designed to be the largest in a series of three ships made by the White
Star line. It was 268 metres long, 28 metres wide, and weighed 45 000 tons. It produced
enough power to travel at a speed of 24 knots (about 40km per hour).
The bulk of the ship was divided into compartments. They were separated by steel
doors that did not let any water through. The ship could still move and float if 3 or 4 of
the 16 compartments were filled with water.
The Titanic was more like a floating hotel than a ship. It cost $7.5 million and it was
unlike any other ship that had ever been built. Palm trees and other expensive plants
decorated the luxurious hallways and corridors. The ship could carry 2 600
passengers and a crew of 900.
The Titanic - The World's Largest Luxury Liner
On April 10, 1912 over 2200 passengers boarded the Titanic on its maiden voyage to
New York. Many of them were immigrants who saved
all their money for the journey. First class passengers
had to pay between $2 500 and $4 500 for a private room and a bath, third class
passengers had to share rooms and paid $35 each.
SE
Although the ships owners said the Titanic was unsinkable many problems before the
first voyage were overlooked. Safety regulations at that time were not very strict. The
ship only had 16 life boats, enough for about 1 500 passengers. It was only tested for a
few hours and never went at full speed. The telegraph system on board was new and
not many people knew how to operate it.
During the night of April 14, 1912 the waters of the North Atlantic had a temperature of
about -2 C. At noon on that day the radio operators got messages from other ships
about icebergs that were nearby. The Titanics captain, Edward Smith, did not care about
these warnings. He was captain of a steel giant that could not sink. The only thing he
cared about was setting up a new world speed record. The Titanic was to be the fastest
ship that ever sailed from Southampton to New York.
The night was clear and the Titanic sped on. When a big iceberg was sighted the first
officer shut down all the engines. But it would have taken the ship about half a mile to
come to a full stop. Even though, on the surface, the ship stayed clear of the iceberg, it
ripped a big hole in the hull. At once the compartments began to flood with cold, icy
water. The bulkheads were lowered but it was too late. Water flooded at least five
compartments.
Route of the Titanic
The collision with the iceberg was so slight that the

passengers hardly heard it. Most of them didnt take
any notice and continued dancing and having fun.
Some passengers were asleep in their cabins.
The bow of the ship dipped under the waters surface and the back part of the ship
began to rise. After a short time the Titanic broke into two pieces. When Captain Smith
realized that the Titanic was sinking he had a distress signal sent out but the nearest
ship was a hundred kilometres away.
As time went on chaos emerged and passengers rushed to the boat deck. Women and
children were allowed on the lifeboats first. Lights flickered and electricity was finally
gone. At 2:20 a.m. the Titanic disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean.
SE
The Carpathia, which was the nearest ship, came to the scene about two hours later and
picked up the freezing passengers in their lifeboats. By early morning the news of the
disaster had gone around the world. The worlds largest ocean liner, the Titanic, had
sunk on its maiden voyage, killing 1513 people.
Facebook Celebrates 5th Bithday

Facebook, the worlds biggest social networking site, is celebrating its fifth birthday.
In a blog post, the sites founder, Mark Zuckerberg, states that Facebook will continue
to work as hard as it has in the last five years in order to stay the webs number one
communication site.
The company started in a dorm room in 2004. Today it has 150 million active users,
more than the 130 million of rival MySpace.
Facebook is different from other social networking sites because you can communicate
with people you really know and trust. Before, most people didnt want to share their
real identities online. Facebook has given people a safe and trusted environment for
people to interact online. It has changed the way people view the world. A friend from
any country is only a few clicks away.
It was back in February 2004 when Zuckerberg started The facebook from a Harvard
students room. The aim was to help students get in touch with each other over the
Internet. Within 24 hours over a thousand students had signed up and soon after that the
network spread out to other universities.
By 2005 a research study showed that about 85% of the students in the network had a
Facebook account. Another survey showed that Facebook was almost as important as an
iPod.
At the end of 2005 Facebook came to the U.K. and up to today the site has been
translated into 35 languages.
SE
Five years after its start Facebook has escaped the universities and colleges. More than
half of its users are not at college anymore and the fastest growing group are the 30 to
40 year olds. Every day 15 million users update their profiles to tell their friends and
the world whats happening to them. They also share photos, upload videos, chat, make
friends, join groups and simply have fun.

SE
Mosques
A mosque is a place where Muslims worship and pray to God. Some mosques are also
places where Muslims get together and discuss things or where religious education takes
place. In some countries mosques also serve political purposes and imams discuss
political issues.
Mosques date back to the seventh century when they first emerged on the Arabian
Peninsula. For centuries towns formed around this central building. Mosques have
different sizes and shapes depending on which part of the world they are in. The most
famous mosques are in Turkey and the Middle East. The best examples are the Blue
Mosque in Istanbul, The Grand Mosque of Mecca or the Prophets Mosque in Medina.
The Sacred Mosque in Mecca

History
The model for building mosques was Mohammads house in Medina, constructed in the
7th century. After his death mosques became important symbols of Islam. During the
Middle Ages they were built wherever Arabs settled.
They spread quickly throughout northern Africa and southern Europe, as far as Spain.
By the 15th century Islam had spread to Asia, where it became the dominant religion
on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. During the Ottoman Empire Turks
converted to Islam and many great mosques were built in Istanbul and other cities. With
SE
the Muslim population spreading to the Balkans mosques have become widespread in
many cities and towns in Greece, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia.
Religious functions of a mosque
A mosque is basically a house of prayer but during history it has acquired many other
religious functions. Adult Muslims must pray five times a day. While normal prayers
can be said anywhere, Muslim men should pray in mosques on Fridays.
During the holy month of Ramadan other events take place in mosques. Some mosques
offer dinners after sunset or breakfast before sunrise. During the last days of Ramadan
some mosques hold all night prayers. Since Muslims are required to give money to
charity they often donate it at mosques.
Political influence of a mosque
In the course of the 20th century mosques have served political purposes. As conflicts
between western society and the Muslim world rose, mosques were used to preach
peace and understanding among religions.
Mosques are often the center of social conflicts. In the past decades series of bombs
have exploded in mosques all over the world. Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations
have repeatedly used mosques as a place to recruit and train radical Muslims.
In the 1960s Saudi Arabia started financing the construction of mosques around the
world in an attempt to spread Islam. With petrodollars that the country has received in
the last decades Saudis can afford sharing their wealth with others, especially poor
Muslims.
Parts of a Mosque
Arab mosques usually have a square or rectangular layout with a courtyard in the
middle. The first mosques had flat roofs on top of the prayer halls. Later on Islamic
architecture focused on domes and arched entrances. The Ottomans introduced
mosques with a central dome over the prayer hall in the 15th century.
A common feature of many mosques is a minaret, a tall thin tower that is usually
located at one of the corners. They were designed to make mosques as big as Christian
churches, with their bell towers. From the minaret a muezzin announces praying time to
worshippers.
The prayer hall normally does not have any benches or chairs. Worshippers pray in
rows facing Mecca. There are no statues or pictures on the walls. Some mosques show
verses of the Koran on the walls to assist worshippers. Many prayer halls have columns
that uphold the roof. Every mosque has a mihrab, a niche in the wall that points to
SE
Mecca. From a pulpit, or minbar, the religious leader of the mosque, the imam delivers
his speech.
In the course of time mosques became bigger and attained other functions. Today there
are rooms for social gatherings, health clinics, libraries or gymnasiums.
Prayer hall for women in a European mosque

Rules and How to Behave in a Mosque
There are many rules that worshippers must obey when they are in a mosque. In most
mosques a religious leader, called imam, is in charge of praying, but in smaller mosques
prayers may be said by ordinary Muslims.
Muslims must clean themselves before they enter a mosque. There are washing areas
where they can wash their hands and face before entering the prayer hall. The floors of
such a hall are normally covered with a carpet. It is not allowed to step on it with shoes.
Loud talking in a mosque is forbidden. It is also disrespectful to walk in front of
Muslims who are praying.
Traditionally men and women are separated in mosques, although the Quran does not
say anything about separation. Sometimes the women pray in rows behind the men, but
more often they stay at home and pray.
Most mosques in bigger cities are open to tourists, but they too must obey the
strictrules. You must wear clothes that do not offend Allah. Women are required to
SE
wear clothes that cover their body to their ankles and wrist. In some areas mosques are
only open to Muslims.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Istanbul

SE
Cloning
Cloning occurs when you copy a living creature. Two clones have the same genes,
small structures with information in them that tells them what the body of a living thing
should look like and how it should behave. You get the genes from your parents.
Many people think that cloning is only done by scientists in laboratories, but, in fact,
cloning also occurs in nature.
Cloning animals
Animals have billions of cells. The nucleus of such a cell has genetic information
called DNA. All the nuclei of an animal have the same information. But each cell only
uses a part of this information in order to work properly. The other part of the DNA is
not active. But because a single cell holds all the DNA of an animal, scientists can make
physical copies of an animal from only one cell.
They transfer the nucleus of an animals cell into an egg cell of another animal. This
egg cell has the same genetic information as that of the donor animal. The cell then
grows into an embryo. Scientists must then activate the DNA that was not active in the
parent cell. Otherwise a full organism would not develop.
Clones do not behave in an identical way this is because they live in different
environments. Researchers have found out that identical twins that carry the same
DNA are different because they grow up differently.
Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned

SE
History of cloning
Cloning animals started way back in the 1950s when the first frogs were reproduced. In
1996 British scientists cloned the first mammal, a sheep called Dolly. Since then the
cloning of mice, cattle, cats and other mammals has been successful.
Pros and cons of cloning
The cloning of certain animals may bring advantages

to humans. The cloning of cattle or sheep can produce animals whose meat quality is
better or which are more resistant towards illnesses.
Scientists, however, cannot yet create perfect clones. Many of them do not survive the
cloning process and die before they are born.
In the past human embryos have been cloned in order to get stem cells. These are cells
that can develop into many different kinds of other cells. Doctors are able to use stem
cells to replace parts of the body that are ill, like skin or other organs. Although this
could be a major breakthrough in medicine many people fear that cloning embryos is
murder and must therefore be forbidden. Many countries have put bans on cloning or
other experiments that produce cloned human embryos.
Some scientists still believe that it may be possible to clone a human being from the
cells of one adult. For a long time this has been thought of as science fiction.
Many problems arise when it comes to cloning human beings. What should be the ideal
characteristics of reproduced humans: should they be highly intelligent, strong or
creative. Who are the people to decide these questions? Critics of cloning say that
creatures should be born in a natural way. Nobody has the right to play God.
Natural cloning
Clones occur naturally in many cases, for example, when a mother gives birth to two
identical twins. They come from the same fertilized eggs and are therefore have
identical genes. Bacteria and animals with only one cell can also reproduce themselves
in a natural way. Plants can also produce clones. Farmers use breeding techniques to
produce certain types of plants.

SE
Identical twins
Reasons for cloning
Cloning is often performed for medical reasons.

Experiments are carried out on animals that carry a disease which causes mutations in
their genes. Farm animals are cloned to produce drugs and other substances that are
useful in medicine. Cloning is a way to produce large numbers of genetically
engineered animals.
Therapeutic cloning
In therapeutic cloning stem cells are reproduced in order to create new organs and
tissue. New, healthy tissue can help a person get a new heart or a new liver to replace
his ill one. Such a method could also create stem cells that you could use for patients
who suffer Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease.
Asthma
Every year in spring millions of people around the world suffer from asthma. It is a time
when flowers blossom and grass is cut.
Asthma is an illness that narrows the breathing passages. As a result, not enough air
can enter and leave your lungs. According to the World Health Organisation over 230
million people around the world are suffering from asthma. Among children it is the
SE
most chronic disease. While asthma occurs in almost all countries, asthma-related
deaths happen mainly in the poorer countries of the Third World.
In America over 25 million people and 7 million children develop asthma every year.
The disease is more common among African Americans. The death rate among this
group is five times as high as among whites.
The WHO warns that asthma rates are increasing by 50 % every ten years. Asthma also
causes a loss of business and does damage to the economy because many people stay at
home when they are ill.
Asthma occurs when tissue in your throat begins to expand or swell. Muscles in these
passages become tighter and cells begin to produce some sticky substance, which
makes airways even smaller. This makes it difficult for air to flow into your lungs.
When this happens we call it an asthma attack. Victims fight to get enough air into their
lungs, sometimes they have to cough and they breathe heavily. Sometimes asthma
victims have a pain in the chest. Such an illness can deeply influence a person's health
and may even lead to death.
Asthma inhaler can help you with your breathing
Doctors are not sure what causes asthma. Some argue that environmental influences
are the main factors; however, some doctors claim that
genes are also responsible for asthma. Almost half of
the parents who suffer from asthma will also pass it on
to their children. 70% of all people who have asthma also suffer from allergies, when
the body reacts in an unusual way towards mostly harmless substances.
Many things can trigger asthma attacks, sometimes pollen that fly through the air, at
other times dust, animal hair, mold or dampness. Air pollution from motor vehicles,
factories, smoking, household sprays and other chemicals can lead to asthma.
Exercising in cold weather can also trigger an asthma attack.
Many doctors prescribe asthma patients albuterol. Asthma victims often use a machine
that turns this medicine into a fog-like spray that is connected to a mask that fits over
your nose and mouth. It helps reduce the swelling of the airways.

SE
There are some things that individuals can do to reduce the suffering caused by asthma.
They should know when and how to take their medicine and how to treat asthma attacks
when they occur.
There are also new methods that have been tried out. Researchers have tested a new
vaccine that protects people from dust. It produces dust particles of its own and makes
the human body immune to dust.

SE
The Bermuda Triangle - Facts and Myths

Even though you wont find it on a map, the Bermuda Triangle is a very real place. In
the past there have been many stories of disappearing ships, planes and people.
Although there is a reasonable explanation for many incidents, some are still a
mystery.
The Bermuda Triangle is located off the coast of Florida between Miami, Puerto Rico
and the Bermudas. It covers about 500 000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also
known as the Devils Triangle because Bermuda was once called Islands of the Devils.
The coasts around the island are surrounded by dangerous reefs that ships ran into
throughout the centuries.
Unusual events around the Bermuda Triangle go back to the voyages of Christopher
Columbus. He sometimes reported that compass readings were wrong. Many journalists
have tried to prove that a number accidents and unusual things have happened in the
region. Some cases show that there are no explanations for them.
One of the best-known incidents is the disappearance of Flight 19 during a training
exercise of the US Navy. In December, 1945 five American bombers left Fort
Lauderdale, Florida on a routine mission. 14 crew members disappeared after sending
several radio messages. When a rescue plane went to search for the Navy bombers it
also vanished.
What went wrong during the mission is not fully known. Compasses showed wrong
directions and visibility was bad so the flight leader decided to navigate by landmarks
which he saw below. Then there was a sudden storm and radio contact broke off.
Wrecked parts of Flight 19 have never been recovered.

SE
Location of the Bermuda Triangle
Ships have also disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Among them is the Mary
Celeste, an American merchant ship, in 1872. The ship
was sailing from New York to Genoa, but was later
found off the coast of Africa without any crew members
on board. Although there is no evidence that the Mary Celeste even entered the
Bermuda Triangle there are many who connect its mysterious disappearance with the
area.
There are many theories about why so many airplanes and ships have disappeared in the
Bermuda Triangle. Some suggest that there are special magnetic fields that cause
unknown physical forces. Others say that the lost continent of Atlantis sank in the
region causing mysterious events. There is even a theory about unknown chemicals in
the waters of the Atlantic.
Some experts, however, point out that the region north of the Caribbean is not as safe
as it may seem. It is one of two places on Earth where the compass points to the
geographic North Pole. It is also a region in which the weather is unpredictable and
where storms can emerge quickly. There are strong currents because of shallow places
and deep trenches in the ocean. These factors can confuse even experienced sailors.
Over 1,000 people were killed in The Bermuda Triangle during the 20th century.
Scientists have concluded that this figure is normal and most disappearances have a
logical explanation. The myth of the Bermuda Triangle, however, remains.
SE

SE
Seasons - Causes and Effects on our

Weather
Seasons are a very important element in our lives. They have an influence on what we
wear, what we eat and what we do in our free time. They also affect the mood we are in.
In ancient civilizations people observed that the sun was at different places during
different times of the year. But they didnt understand how this led to the changes in
seasons.
Towards the end of the Middle Ages the astronomer Nicolai Copernicus changed our
view of the solar system. He said that the sun, not the Earth, was at its centre and all
objects moved around it. Today we know that the Earth moves in an elliptical path
around the sun. The Earth spins around its axis and is tilted towards or away from the
sun. This means that the northern and southern parts of the Earth get different amounts
of sunlight throughout the year. The sun gives us heat too and temperatures change,
depending on how steep the suns rays come in.
The seasons start with solstices and equinoxes. Solstices occur every year in June and
December. They mark the beginning of summer and winter. The Earth is tilted farthest
towards or away from the sun. The equinoxes occur in March and September. On March
20 th or 21 st the sun seems to be right above the equator and moving towards the north.
At the end of September the sun passes the equator on its way to the south. Day and
night have the same length almost all over the planet. The exact day and time of a
seasons beginning always changes a bit.
The Earth and its path around the sun
The change of seasons also has an effect on our weather. In June, the northern
hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The suns rays are
more direct, and they do not have to travel so far to
reach the surface. More radiation reaches the Earth. The days are longer and more light
gets to the surface .There it is changed to heat. At the same time the southern
SE
hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. Rays have to travel longer to get to the surface
and there are fewer hours of daylight.
Although June and December mark the official beginning of summer and winter, these
months are not always the hottest and coldest of the year. Temperatures also depend on
the heat that is absorbed and reflected by land and the oceans. In most cases the hottest
months in the northern hemisphere are July and August and coldest times of the year
occur in January and February.

SE
Global Economic Crisis
In 2008 a great economic crisis led to a recession of the economies around the world.
What began as a credit crisis turned out to be the biggest banking crisis since the Great
Depression. Although the implications of the crisis are most severe in the USA, banks
and insurance companies all over the world have collapsed and governments have
come to the rescue by lending them money.
The American government wants to save the global financial system with 700 b dollars.
With this money it wants to restore trust in Americas banking system.
Causes of the crisis
There are many reasons for the current crisis.
Governments, especially the American government, did not control

the banking sector enough and let the banks give loans to people
without asking for securities.
Many companies, banks and firms have become too greedy and
wanted to make a lot of quick money.
Since the 1970s too many goods and services have been produced.
Background
The Post-war Period 1945 1975
After World War II economies around the world grew very quickly. Europe and Japan
were being rebuilt. Workers received higher wages.
This period of growth came to an end in the mid 1970s. Developing nations like Brazil
or the tiger states of Asia (Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong) started
producing more and more, which led to overproduction. In the industrial countries
consumers were not able to buy as much as they did before because prices and inflation
went up. On top of all this a dramatic energy crisis and the rise in oil prises led to a
world wide recession in the mid and late 1970s.
Globalization
At the beginning of the 1980s companies and firms in industrialized nations began
looking for new ways of making more money. They started transferring their
companies to Asia where they hired cheaper workers and had access to less expensive
raw materials. Because of low labour costs they could produce more cheaply and
make more profit.

SE
The economic bubble
In the last 15 years more and more investors and companies wanted to make larger
profits. They bought real estate, stocks at high prices and sold them at even higher
prices in the hope of making quick money. When prices got too high nobody bought
stocks and real estate any more. Prices fell and as time went on they became worthless.
Such an economic bubble burst in Asia between 1997 and 1998. It led to the economic
collapse of some countries, including Japan. Within a few weeks stock market prices
fell and nobody bought stock or real estate any more. Foreign investors pulled out their
money out of Asia.
The current bubble
The current crisis goes back to the late 1990s when

Internet companies started emerging from nowhere. Their stocks went up sharply and
then the value collapsed resulting in a recession in 2001 and 2002.
In order to fight against recession the main bank in America, the Federal Reserve,
lowered its interest rates, so that borrowing money became cheaper. People started to
invest, most of them in real estate.
Because banks had enough money they started giving it to people without asking for
securities. Investment companies persuaded people to buy real estate, houses and
homes although they knew that some of these customers did not have the money to pay
back.

SE
Everyone seemed to be happy with the housing boom. Consumers could buy their new
houses, constructors had a lot of work to do and banks and investment firms made a
lot of profit too. However, everything went uncontrolled by the government.
When interest rates went up again house buyers were not able to pay back their
mortgages. In many cases they had to give their houses to the banks. These were left
without money and with houses and real estate that were worth far less.
Banks themselves passed these bad credits on to other banks and institutions in
complicated financial packages that nobody understood. Nobody seemed to know who
really owned what and within a few years the whole banking system was infected.
Banks couldnt get money from other banks because they didnt trust each other.
What is being done?
Governments around the world are trying to help banks

that are stuck with bad assets. They are trying to make banks credible again, so they
are giving them money. Many big companies, like Lehman brothers had to declare
bankruptcy but other investment giants, like the American International Group (AIG),
the worlds largest insurance company, were rescued by the American government.
Central banks are lowering their interest rates so that lending and borrowing money
will become cheaper again.
Whole countries, Iceland for example, are facing the worst economic crisis in its history.
Its banks borrowed much more money from international banks than it had in its
deposits. Iceland received about 5 billion dollars in loans from Russia and money from
the International Monetary Fund.

SE
Other countries have taken steps to prevent people from taking their money out of
banks and investing it somewhere else.
The Future
There will probably be more bankruptcies and governments around the world will take
over weak banks. The worldwide recession will also deepen because countries trade
with each other and everyone is involved. In addition, oil prices - at a record high are
driving up inflation. Consumers have to pay more for their fuel and to heat their homes
and food prices have also gone up. The results are zero growth for many economies.

SE
Air Pollution
Air pollution is caused by many things
the increasing number of cars on our roads
growing cities
the fast development of our economy
industrialisation
Air pollution, as we know it today, started with the Industrial Revolution in Europe in
the 19th century. In the last few decades, it has become the major problem for our
environment.
Clean air is normally made up of nitrogen (76 %) , oxygen (22%) , carbon dioxide and
a few other gases.
When harmful elements get into the air they may cause health problems and can also
damage the environment, buildings and
soil. They make the ozone layer thinner
and thinner and lead to the warming of the
earths atmosphere and climate changes.
Our modern life style has led to dirtier air
over the years. Factories, vehicles of all
kinds, the growing number of people are
some things that are responsible for air
pollution today. But not all pollution in the
air is caused by people. Forest fires, dust
storms and volcano eruptions can lead to
the pollution of the atmosphere.
Major pollutants and where they come from
Carbon monoxide is a colourless gas that is set free when wood, petrol or coal are not
completely burned. It is also in products like cigarettes. Because of it , less oxygen
enters our blood and it makes us confused and sleepy.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that gets into the atmosphere when we burn coal ,
oil or wood.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are gases that come from air-conditioning systems or
refrigerators. When they get into the air they rise high into the atmosphere ( about 20
50 km above the earths surface). There, they get into contact with other gases and
destroy the ozone layer. We need the ozone layer because it protects us from the suns
ultraviolet rays.
Lead is in petrol, paint, batteries and other products. It is very dangerous if it gets into
our bodies . In some cases it can even cause cancer .
SE
There are two types of ozone that we know of : Natural ozone is in the upper part of our
atmosphere , but on the ground, people produce ozone too. Traffic and factories cause
ground ozone. It is especially dangerous to children and older people. It makes them
tired and doctors suggest not to go outdoors when there is too much ozone in the air.
Nitrogen oxide causes smog and acid rain. It is produced when you burn fuels like coal
and oil. It can lead to breathing problems especially when children go outside in the
wintertime.
Sulphur dioxide is a gas that gets into the air when coal is burned in power plants.
Paper factories and other chemical industries also produce sulphur dioxide. This
pollutant can lead to lung diseases.
Spray can
Acid rain
Another result of air pollution is acid rain. It happens

when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide get into the air. When it rains the water that
comes down on us has these dangerous substances in it.
Acid rain can also be caused by volcanic eruptions. Volcanoes send poisonous gases
high up into the atmosphere.
SE
Acid rain leads to the destruction of forests, lakes and soil. Many lakes and rivers have
been poisoned over the decades and even some types of fish have disappeared.
Buildings also corrode because of acid rain.
The pollutants can travel in the air for a long time before they come down to earth .
Thats why its sometimes hard to tell where dangerous pollutants originate. Acid rain
that destroys forests and lakes in Austria and Germany may come from power stations
in Eastern European countries.
What can we do about air pollution ?
The job of cleaning up our air is difficult but not impossible. Choosing other forms of
energy , like solar energy, wind energy or tidal energy could be used for controlling
pollution.
Cities like London have shown that better air quality can be achieved in a short time.
But we individuals can also help make the air around us cleaner !
Walk or ride a bike to school or to your friends home.
Take a bus or a train to work
Organize car pools.
Dont use spray cans anymore!
Make sure that your parents get a pollution check on the car every
year !
Trees give us oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. They clean the air
around us. Take care of them !
Switch off the lights when you leave the room. Only use the number of
lights that you really need.
Dont overheat your room during the winter months. Its better to
wear a pullover than to be in a room that is too warm.
Smog
Smog is a combination of smoke and fog. It occurs when gases from burnt fuel get
together with fog on the ground. When heat and sunlight get together with these gases,
they form fine, dangerous particles in the air.
Smog occurs in big cities with a lot of traffic. Especially in the summertime, when it is
very hot, smog stays near the ground. It is dangerous to our breathing and in smog
areas we cant see very well.
Smog was first discovered in Great Britain in the 19th century, during the beginning of
the Industrial Revolution. At that time people used coal for heating and cooking.
SE
Factories also used coal to produce iron and steel. Smoke got together with wet, foggy
air and turned yellow. The smog often stayed over cities for many days. It caused lung
diseases and breathing problems. Thousands of people died in London every year.
Today, cities that have a high population and are located in hot, subtropical areas have
the biggest smog problemsLos Angeles, Mexico City or Cairo.
A lot has been done to prevent smog recently. Factories use coal that doesnt have that
much sulphur in it. And cars are much cleaner today. In some cities, cars arent even
allowed to drive on smog days.
Smog in New York City

SE
Teaching Children How to Deal With Money
Many children get to learn about money when they get their first allowance form their
parents. The amount of money children get differs from family to family and depends
on the budget of a family. Some children get weekly allowances, others get monthly
allowances.
Parents should assist children in managing money. They should tell them what they
should or shouldnt buy with it. Family experts state that it is bad to extend the
allowance if a child cannot make ends meet and spends too much of it until the month
or week is over.
Getting a regular allowance gives children the first opportunity of doing some careful
planning of finances. They can save it for a big investment in the future or buy things
that their parents would normally not buy for them.In some cases it can be a good thing
to pay children for doing useful things around the house. Other parents argue that such
work is a normal part of family life.
Saving helps children understand that you simply cannot spend everything you have. It
also prepares children for later phases in their life, where saving will become more
important.
Not all parents give allowances to their children. They buy the things that children need.
Financial experts claim, however, that giving children an allowance lets them handle
money in a better way. Which time to start giving allowances to children is a
controversial issue. Some family experts suggest that giving a child a small allowance
at the age of five is appropriate. Opening up a savings account for children is a great
way to make them understand that saving actually increases your money.

SE
Teaching children how to handle money is very important

SE
Think A Head
What sports do you like?

Why do you like it?
What benefit do you gain from sports?
Do you think that the man and woman sports are
different?
Why?
Do Women and Men Play Soccer Differently?

After watching the finals of the FIFA Womens World Cup and Japans victory over
the United States there is one main question that comes up: Whats the difference
between mens and womens soccer?
Many sports experts have found out that
are smoother and the game is not
as often as with men. There
are fewer injuries and fouled players get
quickly than men, who often fake
injuries and stall for time. Women are
more honest when they play soccer. There
is no swearing and pushing around.
womans soccer games

interrupted
up
more
Womens soccer matches tend to be slower.

Because their lungs are smaller than mens a
smaller amount of oxygen can get into the blood and the lungs. Thus, women cannot
play as fast as men over a longer period of time. Because both mens and womens
soccer games are 90 minutes long women are likely to get tired sooner. A recent study
also shows that men activate different muscles and their hips during a game.
There are other differences as well. Because women are, on average ,smaller than men,
they have more space on the field and more room for attacking . Female defenders
cannot defend the whole penalty area . The result is that more goals are scored in
womens games than in mens.
Womens soccer has improved technically over the past years. The handling of the ball
and dribbling has become much better. Passes are more precise too.
The FIFA Womens World Cup in Germany has shown that there can be as much
enthusiasm in the game as in mens soccer. Stadiums were packed. The spectators
were delighted to see high- class games.
Words
access = get
although = while
average = normal
baby boomer = a person born between the end of World War II and
the middle of the 1960s

SE
billion = a thousand million
birth rate = the number of babies born for every one thousand
people a year
burden = load , very difficult job
care for = look after
century = a hundred years
chancesare = probably
contraceptive = a drug or an object that keeps women from getting

a baby
contribute = add to
currently = right now
decade = ten years
developing countries = a very poor country with a weak economy
especially = above all
estimate = think, guess
gap = difference
global = worldwide
green revolution = more and more food can be produced with

better farming methods
greenhousegas = a gas, like methane or carbon dioxide which leads

to the warming of the earths atmosphere
growth = becoming bigger, larger
human = a person
increase = go up
influence = control
inhabit = live in
keep up = to be as fast as something else
limit = here: where something ends
mark = level, number
pass = reach
poverty = the situation of being poor

SE
provide = give
rapid pace = very quickly
single = only one
support = here: feed
task = job
thus = that is why
weak = not strong

SE
First Planet From Outside Our Galaxy Found
Astronomers say they have found the first planet that came from out of our galaxy. The
planet is similar to Jupiter and once belonged to a galaxy that was consumed by our
Milky Way. Astronomers in Chile discovered the new planet with a powerful
telescope.
The new planet is revolving around a star, called HIP 13044. It is about 2,000 light
years away from earth and once belonged to a neighbouring galaxy, which was
swallowed up by the Milky Way about 6 billion years ago. The planet, about the size of
Jupiter, travels closely around its sun in an orbit that takes 16 days to complete.
Up to now, astronomers have discovered 500 planets, all of which have their origin in
the Milky Way. The new discovery gives scientists proof that many more planets may
exist outside our own galaxy.
HIP 13044 is in its dying phase. The star has turned into a red giant, consumed all of its
fuel and is getting larger and larger. It has eaten up all of its planets, but obviously only
one survived.
The discovery can be helpful to scientists in showing them what may happen in our own
solar system when our sun is expected to become a red giant in about 5 billion years.
A red giant
astronomer = a scientist who studies the stars and the planets
billion = a thousand million
closely = very near

SE
complete = finish
consume = take up, eat up
discover = to find something for the first time
fuel = energy
galaxy = one of the large groups of stars that make up our universe
light year = the distance that light travels in one year ; about 9.4 trillion
kilometres
Milky Way = the galaxy that our sun and the planets are in
obviously = clearly
orbit = to go around an object in a circle
origin = beginning
proof = facts that show that something is true
red giant = a star getting near the end of its life and shining in a red glow
revolve = go around
similar = like
solar system = the sun and the planets
survive = to keep existing
swallow = consume
telescope = object shaped like a long round tube; it makes faraway objects look
larger

SE
Shanghai is Number One in World Education Rankings
A global educational study called PISA (Program for International Assessment )

tests over 500,000 pupils in over 70 countries every three years. The 2010 results
showed that pupils in Shanghai are the worlds best in reading mathematics and science
. PISA studies 15 year olds and their abilities in the three fields. The study did not
rank China as a whole but Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao as separate countries.
South Korea, Singapore Taiwan and Japan were other Asian nations that ranked well.
In many western countries the reading score was down. In Europe, Finland still stays
in the number one spot although it is ranking third overall. Americans are, at best,
average , ranking 17th in reading, 23rd in science and 31st in mathematics.
Why have Asian countries overtaken Europe and America in the tests? First, they put
more focus on education. Children, parents and teachers know that a good education
is the key to being successful. They are not tolerant when pupils fail . Asians
believe that if you do hard and succeed in school you will be successful in your job as
well.
Starting at a very early age China teaches its children that you can only succeed if you
are better than the others. They are tested as soon as they come to school. Only the best
can go to college and then get a good job. Examinations are held very often and lists of
students rankings are posted on the walls of a school. Shanghai students study
much harder than western pupils do and they spend less time on extracurricular
activities or sport. Teachers are also respected , paid well and highly motivated .

SE
Pisa results
Critics of the Chinese school system say that it isnt good if Chinese teachers drill
children for a test all the time. It does not prepare you
for your future life. A study found out that almost
half of Chinese businessmen say that students who come to them are not well prepared
for the job they about to take on .
Although there may be some disadvantages in the Chinese school system, Chinese
pupils get an overall better education at a very young age. Subject teachers teach
SE
children from the start whereas in other countries one teacher teachers all subjects in
the early grades .
Chinas one child policy makes it easier for families to concentrate on their only
child and give it the best education possible. Children spend a lot of time in school and
learning with their parents a home. But there are also some negative side effects .
More and more students commit suicide because they fear they cannot live with
failure .
The OECD report also found out that countries in which students had to repeat
years ranked badly. There is also a difference between boys and girls. Girls are better
at reading while boys generally perform better in maths.
Words
ability = skill, talent
although = while
assessment = you try to find out how good someone is by testing

them
average = not better or worse than the others
commit suicide = to kill yourself
critic = someone who is against an idea or plan
disadvantage = bad side
drill = to teach children by making them do the same exercises all

the time
extracurricular activity = something that students do outside of

school, in their free time
fail = to do badly, not to succeed
failure = not a success
fear = to be afraid
focus = to concentrate more on
global = worldwide
grade = school year
highly motivated = to really like to do something because you find

it interesting or you like it a lot
key = answer, solution
OECD = Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development =

a group of rich countries that work together to make their economy
grow

SE
one child policy = every family is allowed to have only one child; if
they have more they must pay taxes and have other disadvantages
only = single
overall = general
perform = to do work
post = put
rank = position of something or someone in a list
repeat = to do again
respect = to have a high opinion of
science = knowledge about the world and nature
score = points
separate = different
side effect = unexpected or unplanned result
spot = place
study = work that is done to find out more information on a certain

subject
take on = start
tolerant = liberal, understanding
whereas = while

SE
Alcohol is More Dangerous than Heroine

A recent study in the UK has found out that alcohol is , surprisingly, more dangerous
than heroin or crack. Scientists examined 20 drugs and their effects on people and
society. While heroin and crack were considered to be very harmful to individuals,
heroin, alcohol and cocaine are the worst for society. The study found out that alcohol
had the worst overall effects.
The study also said that tobacco was at least as harmful as cocaine. Ecstasy, LSD and
marijuana were considered to be the drugs that cause the least damage. Substances
were marked from 0 to 100 on a scale. Alcohol received 72, the highest rating, while
heroine was rated at 55 and crack at 54.
Researchers looked at 16 factors, including a drugs effect on the brain and body, how
it affects the crime rate as well as the costs for the economy. Although cocaine is more
addictive, alcohol is the most harmful drug our society because it is most widely used.
It does the most damage to the world around us.
Alcohol is drunken by a large part of the population as a social drink. It makes you
happy and loosens you up. When it enters the brain it produces a chemical called
dopamine. This makes you feel happy and without stress.
However , too much alcohol consumption can lead to the destruction of almost all
parts of your body. People who drink alcohol are more likely to drive in a drunken state
or commit violent acts.
The World Health organization estimates that alcohol causes about 3 million deaths
every year, including suicides, car accidents and heart and liver diseases.
Banning alcohol is not the same as forbidding LSD, cocaine or other drugs. It is part of
our culture, but the report concludes that governments should do more to educate the
population and point out the dangers of alcohol consumption. Especially younger
people are at a high risk. They like to combine energy drinks with alcohol. These
alcopops taste good, contain a lot of alcohol and are high on calories, which leads to
obesity.

SE
Words
addictive = something that you need all the time; you cannot stop
using it
affect = influence
although = while
cause = lead to
commit = do
consider = believe, think
consumption = use
crack = an illegal drug ; form of cocaine
destruction = complete damage
effect = influence ; what something does
estimate = to try to guess the size of something
examine = look at closely
factor = one of many things that must be examined
harmful = dangerous
however = but
individual = a single person; not a group
liver = organ in your body that cleans your blood
loosen up = to stop worrying and become more relaxed
mark = to show somethings position in a list
overall = general
receive = get
recent = new, fresh
researcher = a person who studies something in detail
scale = level
scientist = person who is trained in science or works in a laboratory
social = common, public
society = people in general
state = condition, situation

SE
substance = here: drugs
suicide = to kill yourself
widely = a lot; commonly
World AIDS Day
December 1 is World AIDS Day. It is dedicated to make people more aware

of the AIDS disease around the world. Celebrities who died of AIDS are
remembered on this day. Government officials and celebrities hold speeches
and organize special events on this day. World AIDS Day has become the best
known health day in the world.
In the past few years AIDS awareness has gone down. People no longer talk
about it as much as they had done in previous years. But, still, HIV remains a
threat to men and women and children around the world. World AIDS Day is
supposed to make sure that we dont forget AIDS. Politicians must keep it on
their agenda , even though there are many other global crises to deal with.
World AIDS Day was first organized by two WHO officials in 1988. Since then
it has been held every year with a new topic chosen every few years. The
current theme is Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise.
AIDS has killed over 25 million people since 1981. About 40 million people
around the world are infected with HIV . There are 2.7 million new victims
every year. Africa south of the Sahara desert is the region that is most affected
by AIDS. Almost 70% of the worlds AIDS victims live here.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of the body and weakens or
destroys it. Then a person is too weak to fight off infections. Up to now modern
medicine has not yet come up with a vaccine against AIDS but there is
medicine that can slow down the infection. In some cases people can live up to
ten years longer with the disease.
The virus can be transmitted in different ways. Couples who have sexual
intercourse can get HIV from each other. Drug addicts can pass the virus to
those who use the same needle. AIDS can be transmitted by infected blood after
transfusions . The virus can also be passed to an unborn baby from its mother.

SE
Words:
addict = someone who cannot stop taking drugs
affect = to do something that changes a persons situation
agenda =list of problems or topics
aware = to realize that something exists
awareness = understanding of a topic
celebrity = star, famous person
couple = a man and a woman
current = right now
deal with = manage
dedicate = to give attention to
destroy = damage completely, so that it does not work any more

SE
disease = illness
HIV = virus that enters the body through blood or sexual activity
immune system = system of your body that protects it from

diseases
infect = to give someone the disease
official = someone who has a high position in a country
politician = someone who works in politics or is a member of the

government
previous = earlier
remain = stay
sexual intercourse = when two people have sex with each other
threat = danger
topic = subject, theme
transfusion =to put blood from one person into another
transmit = pass on, spread
vaccine = medicine that is used to protect people from getting the

virus
victim = someone who suffers from the disease
weaken = to make weaker
WHO = World Health Organization

SE
Lionel Messi: Soccers Superstar
Lionel Messi is one of the worlds best soccer players. The Argentinean-born footballer
currently plays for the Spanish champion FC Barcelona. His skills have already earned
him a fortune. The 23-year old Messi is said to have a contract that gives him about 50
million dollars a year.
Messis coach Pep Guardiola says it is difficult to describe why Messi is so
outstanding. He has the instinct needed to score against world class defenders in every
match. The way he leads the ball is phenomenal. It often seems that the ball is
connected to his foot.
Messi came to Barcelona from Argentina at the age of 13. The club agreed to help him
overcome his small height by paying for a growth hormone treatment. Even today, at
5 feet and 7 inches he is surely not one of the tallest in the soccer world.
Together with Xavi and Iniesta, the three make up the centerpiece of Barcelonas
offensive hurricane. All three of them graduated from the clubs football youth
academy, which has become a model for clubs around the world.
Nobody plays the way Messi does, says a leading Argentinean sports journalist. He
is like a child, not interested in tactics and winning. He just wants to play and enjoy it.

SE
Lionel Messi in action
Lionel Messi has contributed a lot to make FC Barcelona one of the best teams in the
world. Within 18 days the team played four top-level
matches against archrival Real Madrid. The Madrid
side tried everything to take Messi out of play but in
the most important match, the first leg of the European Champions League semifinal
Messi scored both goals in Madrid.
Lionel Messi has always been a shy person, as a boy and now as a soccer superstar.
When Barcelona celebrated winning the Spanish championship Messi appeared on
the sidelines as his teammates danced on the pitch.
Messi is often compared to other great soccer players, like Pele or Maradona. The two
superstars of the last century however played a different game. At that time soccer was
slower and you had more time and space to control the ball. Today everything happens
in full speed and without a lot of space.
Even though Messi is one of the focal points of the Barcelona game, he never really
plays that well in his Argentinean national team. Although he got his team through to
SE
the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup he failed at scoring the goals needed to defeat
Germany.
He does not have a close relationship with his country because he left Argentina when
he was a teenager. In the country of his birth Maradona is still the top star. Born in the
slums Maradona, in contrast to Messi, led a confused and hectic life. He had failure
and success, but was brilliant as a player. In 1986 he won the World Cup with
Argentina. Lionel Messi isnt there yet but he has the talent to achieve what Maradona
had before him.
Words
achieve = reach, get, do
agree = to say yes
although = while
appear = come into view, show
archrival = a team that you always want to win against, sometimes

because they think they are better than you
brilliant = very good
celebrate = to have a party
centerpiece = focus, attraction
century = a hundred years
champion = the best team in a country
championship = competition in which teams play against each other

to find out which one is the best
close relationship = here: to feel strongly about; to be connected

with a countrys life and culture
coach = someone who trains a person or a team in sports
confused = here: with good and bad sides
connect = link, attach to
contract = a written agreement
contribute = add, give
currently = at the moment
defeat = to win against
defender = person who tries to guard their own goal from the other
team
describe = explain why

SE
even though = while
fail = not succeed
failure = breakdown, collapse
focal = central, important
fortune = a lot of money, wealth
full speed = very fast
graduate = to finish successfully
growth hormone treatment = to give someone chemicals so they

can control how fast they grow
in contrast to = different than
lead = direct, control
leading = top, number one
leg = part
out of play = here: not to let him play his game
outstanding = much better than the others
overcome = to fight or win against, defeat
pitch = a soccer field
quarterfinals = the last eight teams in a tournament
score = to make a goal
shy = a person who does not want to have many contacts and does
not want to talk a lot
skill = talent
side = team
sidelines = outside the lines that form the edge of the field
slum = parts of a city with bad houses , where very poor people live
soccer = European football
success = victory, to be a winner
top-level = here: the two best teams in Spain

SE
Indonesia Hit By Tsunami and Volcano

Within 24 Hours
Indonesia has been hit by two natural disasters within 24 hours. A tsunami killed
almost 300 people in western Sumatra and a volcanic eruption left 25 people dead. The
tsunami was caused by a severe earthquake that hit an island chain off the coast. 3
meter high waves reached the coast and spread almost 600 meters inland. In central
Java, one of the most densely populated regions of the country, the most active
volcano, Mount Merapi, erupted three times on Tuesday.
National and international rescue teams are underway to bring help to the victims of the
tsunami although rough seas and bad weather is making it difficult. The government has
organized 16 ships that will bring clothing and medicine to the islands. Some experts
criticize that the tsunami warning system, which was installed after the devastating
2004 earthquake, did not function correctly.
Mount Merapi, Indonesias Mountain of Fire has been spewing out rock and ashes for
days. At least 10,000 people had to leave their homes. The volcano has erupted
regularly in the past 500 years.
Indonesia is located on the so-called Ring of Fire, which stretches from Alaska across
to Japan and south to Indonesia. It is the most active seismic area in the world with
many earthquakes and volcano eruptions.
Words:
densely populated = a place where many people live on a small

area of land
devastating = shocking, badly damaging
disaster = catastrophe, tragedy in which many people are killed
earthquake = a sudden shaking of the earths crust which leads to a

lot of damage

SE
erupt = explode
eruption = explosion, outbreak
function = work
inland = away from the coast and towards the centre of the country
install = set up
island chain = a group of islands
locate = lie on, situated on
reach = get to
rescue team = group of people who try to help the victims of the
disaster
rough = high, violent
seismic = area in which the earths crust moves a lot
severe = very strong
spew out = throw out, send out
spread = move, expand, stretch
stretch = go from one place to another
tsunami = a very large wave that is often cause by an earthquake
victim = someone who suffers because something bad happened to

them

SE
Natural Gas An Energy Alternative for the Future ?
Natural gas is becoming an increasing option on the world energy market. A boom in
natural gas exploration has started and new discoveries have increased natural gas
reserves around the world.
For a long time gas was considered as a by-product of oil. In the 19th century it was
used for lighting and houses and replaced candles. Even though gas has begun to catch
up with oil it will not reach oils importance in the near future.
One of the main problems is that gas is difficult to transport. Gas does not have a global
market price and only a very small part of it travels over longer distances. In Europe gas
is transported through pipelines, most of it from fields in Russia. Some natural gas is
turned into liquid form and put on tankers but cooling gas is very expensive.
In America more and more shale gas is discovered. This gas is trapped in rock
formations. Parts of Europe, Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Mexico as well as some African
countries may be sitting on gas reserves that have been unknown up to now. By 2035 the
share of gas in global energy may rise to 25 % from currently 21%.
One of the reasons for the gas boom is better technology and the high price of oil, which
makes companies search harder for alternatives.
Gas reserves and production have been growing faster than oil. Through new gas
discoveries in the past decade energy experts predict that the world will have at least
another 200 years of gas left.
Power plants that use natural gas to produce electricity emit 50% less carbon dioxide
than coal-driven plants. They are cheaper to build too.
Outside America gas is currently expensive. Russias state-owned gas producer
Gasprom has long- term contracts with much of Western Europe and links the price of
gas to oil. However if more gas can be transported into liquid form it could travel over
longer distances and the prices would be more competitive.

SE
Natural gas platform

Words
boom = strong rise
by-product = something additional that is produced
carbon dioxide = gas that animals breathe out or when carbon is

burned in the air
catch up = reach; to become as important as
competitive = here: cheaper than others but still of good quality
considered = thought to be
contract = deal, agreement
cool = here: to turn into a liquid form
currently = at the moment
discovery = to find something for the first time
electricity = power that is carried by wires and cables and which is

used to give us light or heat
emit = send out
exploration = travelling to an area to try to find minerals or raw

materials there
global = worldwide
however = but

SE
increasing = growing
liquid = fluid
long-term = for many years
option = alternative
power plant = a building that produces electricity from raw

materials
predict = to say that something will happen
replace = to exchange instead of something else
shale = smooth soft rock which breaks easily into thin flat pieces
share = part
trap = not able to escape

SE
Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Japan

Surrenders
In 1939 German born scientist Albert Einstein informed US president Roosevelt about
the possibility of making a super bomb that would cause an explosion that nobody had
ever seen before. Large amounts of energy could be released by splitting an atom.
Einstein and other scientists were afraid that the Germans could develop such a bomb
first. In 1942 the Americans set up the Manhattan Project, a secret program to make
such a bomb. The first atomic bomb was tested in the New Mexican desert in July 1945.
Even though the United States was winning the war against Japan some generals
thought that they would have to invade the island nation to defeat the Japanese. Experts
thought that hundreds of thousands of American soldiers might die in such an attack.
After the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt , Harry Truman became president. He learned
about the successful test of the bomb. In July 1945
Truman warned the Japanese that the United States
would destroy the country with a powerful bomb if they did not surrender at once. In
spite of the warning Japan continued fighting.
On August 6,1945 an American bomber called the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic
bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion killed about 70,000 to 100,000
people and destroyed about 13 square kilometres of land. Three days later a much
larger bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. It killed about 40,000 people. Thousands of
people died of injuries and radiation in the years that followed. On August 14, the
Japanese government agreed to surrender. Many officers committed suicide. On
September 2, 1945 World War II officially ended.
SE
Mushroom Cloud over Nagasaki

Words
agree = to say yes to something
amount =how much of something
at once = quickly, right now
attack =to start fighting against an enemy with bombs, guns and
other weapons
cause = reason
commit suicide = to kill yourself
defeat =to win against somebody or another country
desert = a large area of dry and hot land
destroy =to damage completely
develop = make
SE
even though =while
government = the people who rule a country
in spite of =without being affected by .
injury = if you are hurt
invade = to enter a place with soldiers and take control of it
possibility =something may happen
radiation = the energy that comes out of an atomic bomb ; in large

amounts it is dangerous to people
release = set free
scientist =a person who is trained in science
secret = something that is not known by a lot of people
soldier = person who fights for a country in a war
split = to break apart
square kilometre = one kilometer long in all directions
surrender =to say that you want to stop fighting because you see
that you cannot win

SE
Sharks
The shark is a meat-eating fish and one of the most feared animals in the sea. There are
over 300 types of sharks that live in oceans all over the world. Most of them live in
warm seas but some sharks prefer colder regions like the seas around Antarctica.
The first sharks lived in our oceans about 300 million years ago. They belong to the
earths oldest animals.
Size and habitat
Sharks have different sizes and habits. The largest is the whale shark, which can grow
up to 15 metres long and weigh twice as much as an elephant. The smallest sharks are
only about 16 cm long and weigh about 28 grams. One of the strangest looking sharks is
the hammerhead, with a flat head that looks like a hammer.
Some kinds of sharks live in the deepest parts of the ocean, others are found near the
surface. Some stay close to the coast, while others swim far out at sea. A few types of
sharks even live in rivers and lakes.
All sharks are meat eaters. Most of them eat other fish, either as a whole or by tearing
off chunks of a bigger fish. They also eat dead animals, plankton, crabs, sea turtles,
seals, sometimes even whales.
Habitats of the great white shark
A sharks body
Most sharks have a body that is shaped like a torpedo. The two side fins are stiff; the
tail is often curved and it helps the shark swim. Small scales cover a sharks body and
make its skin very rough. The mouth of most sharks is at the bottom of the head. They
have many rows of teeth, which are sharp and pointed. New teeth grow and replace the
older ones, sometimes as often as every week. Behind the eyes, sharks have five to
seven gills on each side of the head. They use them to breathe underwater.
Sharks have sharp senses. They can find a fish to eat by the sound that it makes. They
also have good eyes and can see almost everything in dark areas. Sharks must swim fast
SE
and well, otherwise they will sink. Some types have been recorded to swim at speeds
of up to 90 km an hour.
Body and physical features of a shark
Behaviour
More than half of the sharks in the world are not

dangerous to people and seldom attack them. Among the most dangerous is the white
shark, a fish with sharp teeth that can rip off chunks of flesh from animals. They hunt
for large animals, such as sea lions, tuna and other sharks. They have even attacked
human beings, especially when they are hungry or worried. Movement, noises or
blood in the water can provoke sharks and make them attack.
Importance of sharks
Fishermen catch sharks mostly for their skin and flesh. Shark skin is used to make
leather goods. The Chinese use dry shark fins to make popular and expensive soup. The
liver oil of sharks has a lot of vitamin A.
Safety
Swimmers should always be careful in areas known to have sharks. Here are some rules
to follow.
Never swim or dive alone.
Never swim or dive if you have an open cut on your body.
Leave the water immediately when you see a shark. Swim as

smoothly as possible and avoid wild movements.

SE
Great white shark

Words
avoid = not do something
chunk = a large piece of something
coast = place where the sea meets land
crab = sea animal with a hard shell , five legs on each side and two
large claws
dive = to swim under water with tanks that help you breathe
either =whichever, any
especially =above all
fear = to be afraid of
fin = one of the thin body parts that a fish uses to swim
flat =level, smooth
flesh = the soft part of the body of a person or animal that is

between the skin and the bones
gill = one of the organs on the side of a fish through which it breathes
goods = things that are produced in factories
habit = things that you normally do
habitat = the living area of animals or fish
human being = a person

SE
immediately = at once, quickly
liver =a large organ in your body that helps you digest food and
cleans your blood
movement =the way something moves
open cut =skin injury ; when you see blood on your skin
otherwise = or else
pointed =sharp
prefer = to like more than something else
provoke = to make someone or something react suddenly
record = information that is written down so that you can find it in

the future
replace =grow in somethings place
rip off = tear off
rough =not smooth, with an uneven surface
rule =instruction, advice
scales = small flat pieces of skin that cover the body of a fish
seal = a large sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts
seldom = not very often
senses = the five natural powers that humans and animals have seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting and smelling
shape = form
smoothly =soft, not with wild movements
snout = long nose of an animal or fish
speed =how fast something is
stiff =hard, not bendable
surface =the top layer of something
tear off =rip or cut off
tuna = a large sea fish that is caught for food
twice = two times
weigh =how heavy something is
whole =complete, all of it

SE
worried =nervous because you keep thinking about something


Modul SE1

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Modul SE1

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

NAME ___________________________ |

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE

What You Want to be

do you have any dreams in the future?

want to become a musician I will have to

disappointed and I will be very unhappy.

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Money, food, etc. given to very poor people

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Does It Look Good?

The Importance of Appearance

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Lets Peek the World

The Magic of Books

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

My Experience with Death

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

How Benefitial or Damaging can Internet be?

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

tsunamis : what's a tsunami?]

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Endangered Species Reading: Polar Bear

Endangered Species Topics for

Organic versus Non-Organic Food

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

The Disappearing Honeybee: Reading

The Disappearing Honeybee:

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

How did you learn English?

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

The Titanic - The World's Largest Luxury Liner

Route of the Titanic

The collision with the iceberg was so slight that the

Facebook Celebrates 5th Bithday

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

The Sacred Mosque in Mecca

Religious functions of a mosque

Political influence of a mosque

Prayer hall for women in a European mosque

Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Istanbul

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Pros and cons of cloning

The cloning of certain animals may bring advantages

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Reasons for cloning

Cloning is often performed for medical reasons.

Asthma inhaler can help you with your breathing

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

The Bermuda Triangle - Facts and Myths

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Location of the Bermuda Triangle

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)

Seasons - Causes and Effects on our

The Earth and its path around the sun

ACTIVE & COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH COURSE(ACCESS)