Why do Students Drop Out of School?

Some American high schools have a dropout rate of up to 50%. There are many reasons for students leaving school :
y y y y

For two thirds of the dropouts motivation is the problem. They can't just work hard enough. Almost half of them said that they had missed so many classes that they could not catch up any more. Many said that they were not prepared well enough in their earlier school. For a third of them getting a job was more important than finishing school.

High school dropouts have more problems in society and in their future lives. They are more likely to be unemployed or live in poverty. There is also a big difference in income if you compare high school dropouts with graduates. According to data by the US Census bureau Americans with a bachelor's degree earn about $ 50,000 , those with a high school diploma about $28,000 and dropouts only about $ 20,000. Many pupils do not understand the implications of dropping out of school. They often demand better teachers, more lessons to catch up in subjects and more help with learning problems. Some schools have adopted to this situation. They offer evening classes or allow students to come back at a later age.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y

dropout = to leave school before you are finished with it catch up = to get as far as the other pupils because you have missed something society = people in general unemployed = out of work income = the money you get when you work graduate = if you finish the last class of school successfully Census bureau = the organisation that counts the number of people who live in a country bachelor's degree = the first part of studies at a university implication = effect demand = want adopt to = to change the way you think about something

Albert Einstein - Life and Discoveries

Albert Einstein was a famous scientist who completely changed the way that people saw our world and the universe. Einstein created many theories which proved that things like gravity , light, energy and matter were connected with each other. At first, very few scientists could understand Einsteins theories but as time passed other scientists showed that he was correct. Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany in 1879 and grew up in Munich. He wasnt a good student at school and only did things he was interested in, like science and mathematics. At a very early age young Albert started wondering about the mysteries of the universe. After school Einstein went to Switzerland and tried to become a teacher there, but he couldnt find a job. He went to work at the Swiss patent office in Bern where he studied what other people had invented . After divorce from his first wife, a classmate of his, Albert went to Berlin where he married his cousin Elsa. He lived in Berlin for a long time and there he developed many of his scientific theories. Einstein became so well known that he was invited to universities around the world to talk about his discoveries . In 1921 he received the Nobel Prize for Physics. In the meantime things were starting to change in Germany. Einstein was against the Nazis and their ideas of controlling the world and killing Jews. The Nazis, in return, hated him and his theories and they burned most of his books. Einstein decided to leave Germany and go to the United States. When World War II broke out in 1939 Einstein discovered that German scientists were working on a bomb that could kill thousands of people. He wrote a letter to the American president to warn him and suggested that the Americans start building one too. In 1941 the American government started the Manhattan project which led to the construction of the atomic bomb. Two of these bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war against Japan. Einstein was horrified when he heard the news. He wanted the world to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes . For the last twenty years of his life, Einstein lived in Princeton where he continued his scientific work. He died on April 18, 1955 One of the most famous equations ever written came from Albert Einstein : E = mc 2 . Energy is mass times the squared speed of light. This equation shows that mass can be turned to energy.

Because the speed of light square is such a high number even a small amount of mass can be turned into a lot of energy. This means, for example, that there is enough energy in a glass of water to give power to a city like London for a whole week. The problem is how to get the energy out of the mass . This equation led to the building of the atomic bomb. The first bomb only had 0.6 grams of mass but scientist turned it into enough energy to destroy a whole city.

Einstein also thought that space and time were closely related to each other. He thought that there were not three dimensions to objects but fourthe fourth one was time. Other scientists, who continued his work, claimed that it is possible to travel into the past and into the future. Black holes might be tunnels that could take you back and forth in time . According to Einstein all objects followed curved paths and get attracted by the gravity of an object. Time would pass more slowly if you are close to a very large object like a planet. This means that the clock of a plane goes faster than a clock at an airport because the plane is farther away from the earth.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

according to =as someone said... amount =how much of something attracted =to pull to someone or something claim = to say that something is true connect = there is a relationship between them construction = the building of something continue = to go on create = make, write gravity = the power that makes something fall to the ground develop =here: work out destroy = damage so that you can not use it any more discovery =to find out about something that you have not known before divorce = when a marriage ends because two people do not want to live together any more energy = power horrified = to feel shocked , sad and afraid equation =a statement in mathematics that shows that two things are equal follow =go after invent = to make something new mass =an amount of something matter = material that everything in the universe is made of meantime =the time in-between

y y y y y y y y y y y y y

mystery = something that you cannot understand and cannot explain because you don t know enough about it Nobel Prize = the prize given to people who have done important work each year patent office = you get a document here that lets you make or sell something new path = a line along which something moves peaceful purposes =not for war possible = it can happen prove = show receive = get related = to be connected in some way scientist =a person who is trained in science speed =how fast something is square =a geometrical shape with four straight sides with 90 angles at the corners suggest = to tell someone what they should do

South Korea Switches to Digital Textbooks in the Classroom

South Korea is planning change from paper to digital textbooks in the next few years. All content of South Koreas school subjects will be available on PCs, iPads and mobile phones by 2015. The education department has announced that South Korea is preparing for a new digital revolution that will change schools of the future. The project was started last summer. Classrooms throughout the Asian country will be equipped with wireless LANs so that students can access learning materials whenever and wherever they want. Pupils wont have to carry heavy schoolbags and satchels any more. South Korea is a model nation when it comes to using modern technology. The OECD found out that youngsters in South Korea lead the world when it comes to getting information from the internet and working with computers. The country focuses on teaching children the basics of technology at a very early age. Compared to South Korea, western nations lag behind. American president Barack Obama has announced that United States is installing a national learning centre which is to improve teaching standards and develop new teaching methods. Educational experts, however, are currently discussing whether digital technology in the classroom makes a grave difference. Some argue that bad pupils will stay bad even if they have a computer in front of them. They agree, however, that going digital could motivate children more and help schools save money. The biggest problem is how to get teachers to integrate new technologies into their lessons. American developers have been working on special software that could make learning even more effective. An American army project has shown that students can learn things even without a teacher.

Other experts focus on a social problem. Introducing digital learning materials to the classroom could create two groups of children, those who have access to these new technologies and are able to use them and those who dont. The first group will have advantages in getting a good job, the others will stay behind. Critics also fear that digitizing all learning materials will result in the lack of trust. We have more confidence in textbooks simply because contents are written in print, whereas we are skeptical of material published on the Internet.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

access = reach, get to, use advantage = to be better off agree = to have the same opinion announce = officially say argue = to give reasons in order to show that something is true available = offered basics = the most important things compared to = to look at two things and see how they are different from each other confidence = trust content = things that are written in a book create = make currently = right now develop = make, design developer =person who designs something technically new digital = electronically digitize = to make digital effective = useful, helpful equip = get, install focus = concentrate going digital = here: changing to digital textbooks grave = important, big however = but in print = on paper pages integrate = mix into introduce = bring in for the first time lack = not enough lag = stay lead the world = are number one model nation = here: leading in a certain field OECD = group of rich countries that work together to develop trade and international growth prepare = get ready publish =print satchel = leather bag you carry over your shoulder skeptical = here: not sure if something is true standard = level switch = change

y y y y y y

technology = new machines and tools that make our life easier throughout = in all of trust = belief in something whereas = while whether = if wireless LAN = a computer network that uses radio signals instead of wires

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The Twilight Saga - Stephanie Meyer's Great Vampire Bestseller

Twilight is a series of fantasy novels written by the American author Stephanie Meyer. The books have become well-known throughout the world and even led to the production of movies. They have been on the worlds bestseller lists for many years.

Plot
Bella Swan, a beautiful young teenager moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington. There she falls in love with Edward Cullen, a handsome boy. As time goes on she finds out that Edward is a member of a vampire family that drinks blood. James, a vampire from another family tries to kill her but Edward comes to her rescue. In The New Moon Bella becomes a friend with the werewolf Jacob, who protects her from Victoria, James friend and another vampire that wants to kill Bella. When Edward believes that Bella is dead he wants to commit suicide in Italy but Bella manages to stop him. In the hands of a powerful vampire family, they are set free only if Bella agrees to become a vampire.

Eclipse is the third part of the Twilight saga. Victoria puts together an army of vampires to fight against the Cullen family and kill Bella. Bella has to decide between Edward and her friendship with James the werewolf. In the end Bella chooses Edward and agrees to marry him. In the fourth part Bella is pregnant. She nearly dies while giving birth to her daughter, who is half vampire and half human. Edward injects vampire venom into her which turns her into a vampire and rescues her. A quarrel breaks out between the Cullen and Volturi family who think that the Bellas daughter is an immortal child. They can be convinced that Bellas daughter is not a threat to the family. There are a few main topics in Stephanie Meyers book. Although the reader feels that a real love between Bell and Edward is not possible the couple is more and more drawn towards each other. It centers on love, not death. The book is also about escape. When Bella learns that she can become immortal too she really wants to get away from her mortal world.

Book Cover - The Twilight Saga

Words
y y

agree = to say yes although = while

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

commit suicide = to kill yourself convince = to make a person feel that something is true couple = two people who are having a love relationship drawn towards = to move to each other handsome = very nice and good-looking human = here: half a person immortal = to live on forever manage = to somehow be able to do something novel = a long story in which characters and events are not real pregnant = to expect a baby protect = guard , defend quarrel = argument rescue = save saga = a long story with many parts series = elements that belong to the same group set free = to be free threat = danger throughout = in all of topic = subjects, themes venom = a liquid poison werewolf = a person who changes into a wolf every month when the moon is full

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Teens, Television and Depression

American researchers have found out that if teenagers watch TV too much they are more likely to develop depression when they get older. The researchers studied the relationship between the media and depression. They based their findings on over 4,000 teenagers who were not depressed when the survey began in 1995. Young people were asked how many hours of TV they watched every day. They were also asked if they played computer games and listened to the radio. All in all, young adults spent a total of five and a half hours in front of some kind of media every day. More than two hours went to watching television.

Seven years later more than 70% of the people who took part in the survey showed signs of depression. At that time they were about 21. The study also found out that young men were more likely to become depressed than women.

One researcher mentions that, although there is no hard proof that watching TV causes depression, it may take more time away from activities that prevent depression, like sports. It may also cause you to sleep less. Another result of the survey was that people who watch less TV find themselves generally happier than others. People are happiest when they are socially active, can read or play games.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y

although = while cause = lead to develop = grow likely = probably, expected to be media = newspapers, TV, radio, Internet mention = talk about, point out, say prevent = to stop something from happening proof = evidence; facts and information that proves that something is true relationship = connection researcher = a person who studies a topic for a longer time in order to find out more about it sign = symptom, signal survey = a set of questions that you ask people in order to find out what they think and how they act

Is Marriage Becoming Old-Fashioned?

More and more Americans think that marriage is out-of date. According to a survey 40% of over 2,500 people asked said that marriage was a thing of the past and does not work in our society any more. When the same survey was conducted thirty years ago, only 11% of Americans thought that marriage was old-fashioned. Marriage is still important but not as important as it once was. Of the people asked most of marriages supporters were seniors, 65 and older. Groups that thought marriage was obsolete included blacks and high-school graduates, as well as people from lower income groups. Data collected in America has shown that people marry less, and when they do, they marry at a higher age. On average, women are 26 years old and men 28. For the first time in over fifty years there are more unmarried people than married ones in the age group between 25 and 34.

Many Americans think that having children is one of the reasons for marriage. But people get married for other reasons too. For the past centuries people married because they could survive better economically. They shared their money and had children who looked after them when they got old. Men went to work while women cared for the children and did the cooking. Today more and more couples get married simply because they love each other. Financial stability no longer seems important any more. Young people are more serious about marriage because they often witness their parents separating. More and more couples are living together without getting married. 29 percent of children under 18 live with parents who are divorced or have never married at all. Americans today are becoming more liberal in defining what a family is. Most of them think that an unmarried couple living together with a child is a family and over 60% said that homosexual couples that have adopted a child are also a family.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

according to = as reported by adopt = to take someones child into your own home and bring it up care for = look after conduct = carry out couple = two people who are married or have a relationship with each other data = information define = describe divorce = to officially end a marriage economically = financially graduate = a person who has finished a school and has received a certificate or diploma included = also liberal = open-minded, tolerant lower income = without much money marriage = when two people are married marry = to become husband and wife obsolete = old fashioned, out-of-date on average = normally out-of-date = old fashioned, not modern senior = older person separate = split up, go away from each other serious = earnest, something is important share = to split up, divide society = people in general supporter = a person who is for something survey = a number of questions that you ask a lot of people in order to find out what they think about a certain subject survive = exist, live on in a difficult situation unmarried couple = two people who are not married

witness = observe, see

The New Robot Revolution

Robots entered everyday lives a long time ago. They are already used in many industries like car production, packaging and especially in jobs, in which humans would be in danger. Robots that can do chores like cleaning the floor or mowing lawns are already available in stores. In medicine, robots are used to replace limbs and other parts of the body. Researchers claim that a new generation of robots will be able to do things that were unthinkable in the past. This new generation of machines will do household chores, educate children and even look after elderly people. Some say that the new robot revolution will be similar to the invention of the PC in the 1970s and 80s. A new generation of robots designed to help the elderly is currently being developed in Japan. Japanese scientists are programming robots to work with people who have suffered a stroke; others will serve as personal gymnastic trainers. New robots can help out people who normally care for others and prevent them from burnouts. The key to this is making robots more like humans. Scientists are currently working on new technology that will change the way humans and robots communicate. While elderly people have problems working with a computer they have fewer difficulties communicating with machines that can talk and react to their wishes. Population researchers claim that as people get older, there wont be as many as needed to take care of the elderly, so why not have machines do this. Before this new generation of robots can enter our lives we must be able to trust them. That means making communication between robots and humans routine. As robots become more perfect people will trust them, partly because they dont have moods and perform tasks perfectly. A robot can also be trained to give motivation if something is done the right away. Robots could also be helpful in areas where social contact is necessary, like educating autistic children.

Words
y

area = field

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

autistic = a problem in your brain that make it difficult for you to communicate with others available = to be had burnout = the feeling of always being tired, especially if you have worked too hard care for = take care of, look after chore = job, task claim = to say that something is true currently = now design = make develop = plan, make elderly = old enter = step into especially = above all few = not many household chore = things you regularly do in the house like cleaning the carpet or washing the dishes invention = a useful machine or tool key = solution limb = a leg or an arm mood = the way you feel at a certain time mow the lawn = cut the grass in the garden necessary = important, needed packaging = putting a cover on products so that you can sell them perform tasks = do jobs prevent = stop from happening react = answer replace = substitute researcher = a person who studies facts in order to find out more about something routine = regular, everyday scientist = a person who is trained in science and works in a lab serve = work as similar = like social = here: with other people stroke = a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks open suffer = to have pain technology = methods trust = to believe that they will not do anything bad unthinkable = impossible

Colors - What They Mean and How They Affect Us

Colors are all around us and there is no way we can escape them. But what do certain colors stand for? The meaning of colors has changed in the course of history but certain facts are still true about them

Black

Black often means power and authority. Overweight people often wear black because it makes you look thinner. Black also means that you are willing to obey someone. Priests, for example, wear black because they obey God. Black also symbolizes evil and death. Villains often wear black clothes and people wear black at a funeral.

White

White is a symbol of innocence and cleanness. Brides and doctors wear white clothes to symbolize this. It is a popular color in fashion, especially during the summer months, because it fits to everything. White is a color that reflects light.

Red

Red is a strong, powerful and aggressive color that attracts a lot of attention. People who have red cars may seem to want to show this. It is also the color of love.

Blue

Blue is the color of the sky and the oceans. As the opposite of red it means silence and peace. It is often a color which people use in their bedrooms because they may be able to sleep better. But blue is also a cold color that can be depressing. Blue stands for more productivity and business meetings are often held in blue rooms.

Green

Green is a symbol of nature. It is a calm color that stimulates you. Patients in hospitals often sit in green rooms to relax. Brides in the Middle Ages often wore green because they wanted to have many children.

Yellow

Yellow is a cheerful, optimistic colour. Yet, some people may get more aggressive in yellow rooms and babies often cry a lot.

Purple

Purple is the color of kings and queens. It symbolizes wealth and money. It is also a romantic color that stands for love.

Brown

Brown is the color of the earth. It can be found a lot in nature. Brown can be a sad color and sometimes it is connected with being more thoughtful.

Words
y y y y y y y y

attention = the interest that you show in something attract = to pull towards you authority = the power you have because you are in a certain position bride = a woman at the time she is getting married course of history = during the ages escape = to get away from evil = something bad funeral = a religious ceremony for someone who has died

y y y y y y y y

innocence = not to be guilty obey = to do as someone tells you productivity = how fast goods can be produced in a certain time silence = quiet, stillness stimulate = motivate thoughtful = to be serious and quiet because you are thinking a lot villain = a bad character in a film or book wealth = to be rich

3D Printers Revolutionize the Manufacturing Industry

If you normally print or copy something, a flat piece of paper comes out. 3-D printers print many of these layers and put them on top of each other to form an object. 3D printers have become important in many fields. Product designers use them to create models. They draw the model on a computer using special software and then send it to the printer. 3-D printing first came up in the 1980s but they were much too expensive for many people or businesses to use. Today the prices are much lower and start at about $3,000. Many companies use 3-D printers to manufacture products directly. A company in Amsterdam prints furniture and art , as well as iPhone cases and handbags. A San Francisco based company produces artificial arms and legs that they sell to hospitals. Airplane producer Boeing produces some parts with 3-D printers. Many other products are produced with such printers, like toys, electronics, lamps or perfume bottles. In the future the products you could make with 3-D printers is endless. A Californian company is even planning to build houses with a printer that is so big it would only fit on the back of a truck or a trailer. There still is, however, a big problem with 3-D printing. Although, technically, you can use any material for 3-D printing some materials are easier to form than others. Home printers cost much less because they hardly use anything else but plastic. Printing objects made of metal or concrete require much better and more expensive printers. People who cant afford their own printer can use a 3-D printing service. You design an object at home, send it to a printing company and get the desired object by mail. 3-D printing is here to stay and could revolutionize the manufacturing industry completely.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

afford = to have enough money to buy something although = while artificial = not real or made of natural things business = company case = box or container that you put something in come up = start concrete = material used for building that is made by mixing water, sand , small stones and cement together create = make designer = a person who plans and creates something desired = wanted electronics = electronic objects field = area flat = smooth and level, without higher areas form = shape furniture = large objects, like tables, desks, chairs etc that you find inside a house hardly = almost not however = but layer = level manufacturing = the process of making goods and products in a factory printing service = company that does the printing for you require = need revolutionize = to change completely trailer = something on wheels that is pulled by a car truck, tractor etc.. It is used for carrying something heavy

People Spend Half the Day Daydreaming

According to a recent American study people spend almost half of the day daydreaming. An iPhone app , which they downloaded, questioned them about their thoughts and moods during the day and at night. The study comes to the conclusion that 30% of the time people are not really concentrating on what they are doing. Their minds wander around other things. Most of them admit they are distracted easily.

Those who took part in the survey were called at different times of the day and had to answer a few questions on what they were doing, if they were concentrated on it and how they felt. The survey team found out that almost half of the time the participants did not concentrate on what they were doing. There might also be a connection between daydreaming and happiness. Most of those who said they were daydreaming also admitted they were not very happy at the time. People who were phoned while exercising , having a conversation or making love were the happiest, while those who were working or sitting in front of a computer said that they were unhappy. The survey however does not say whether daydreaming leads to unhappiness or not.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y

according to = as said by, as reported by admit = to say that something is true app = application , small program that runs on a telephone conclusion = something you decide after you have all the information on a subject distract = unable to think exercise = to do sports or other physical activities, like jogging etc.. mind = the thoughts that you have mood = the way you feel at a certain time participants = those who take part in something study = research; a piece of work that is done to find out more about a subject ro problem survey = number of questions that someone asks you in order to find out something about a subject wander = here: you no longer pay attention to something

Internet Gives us More Ways to Watch Television

Some time ago most of us watched television in an old-fashioned way. The whole family got together, sat on a couch, flipped through the channels and watched a prime time TV show or a football game. Today the media , especially television, is changing. The internet has caused a fundamental change in the world of television. People watch TV on their mobile phones , laptops or iPads . They watch different things at the same time on different kinds of devices . We watch TV in the same way that we used to listen to the radio. We turn it on but really dont concentrate on it because we are doing many things at the same time.

TV, however , is not really in danger. The number of people with TV sets is still increasing . Big TV events like the Super Bowl still draw millions of viewers in front of the TV set. Today we have more than one way of watching television. Not only can we follow our favorite programs on different mobile devices but we can also choose what we watch and when. Hulu , for example, is a platform that offers episodes of TV shows and movies on demand . We can record them and watch them whenever we want. Traditional television meant that you could only watch one program at a time. And you had to be there, or else youd miss it. In the days of digital content, many of us have a digital video recorder or a smart phone with which we can watch TV. A company in California has already invented a media device with which you can record TV content and watch it on smart phones, laptops, iPads and other devices . Especially youngsters are watching TV and surfing the web at the same time. The internet has not destroyed television but is giving us more ways to watch it.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

cause = lead to choose = decide concentrate = focus destroy = to damage completely device = small machine digital = system in which information is recorded as a 0 or 1 digital video recorder = machine that records content to a hard disc draw = attract episode = a television program that is one in a series in which the story is continued every week especially = above all flip = switch channels quickly follow = here: watch fundamental = basic, deep, important however = but increase = to go up iPad = a tablet computer made by Apple; with it you can watch and listen to all kinds of content media = television, radio, newspapers and the Internet mobile = portable, something that you can carry around with you mobile phone = a phone that you can carry around and use in any place = cell phone not only = in addition to , also offer = give, present old-fashioned = traditional, conservative on demand = whenever you want to watch something platform = here: website prime time = the time in the evening when the largest number of people are watching

y y y y y

record = save content on a recorder or hard disc smart phone = a mobile phone with which you can also run programs Super Bowl = the final game of the American football season; it is played on a Sunday in January surf = to look quickly through information on the Internet youngster = child or young person

Where Young People Are Better At Work Than Older Ones

Many younger people are better when it comes to getting the job done than older ones. At least that is what management expert Stephen Denning says in his book The Leaders Guide to Radical Management . The role of managers has changed in todays world. While the manager of the 20 th century had to supervise people and teach them how to do things todays managers have to motivate their workers and get them to like their job. Denning points out that there are some areas where younger people fulfill these requirements better. For one, they are able to find information faster than older workers, who are not that familiar with how the internet works. They can download data faster and install software quicker than older colleagues . A Stanford study has shown that younger people can write and communicate better than older ones, simply because they have been doing it since they were children. The study says that texting messages and staying online most of the time improves your communication skills . The younger generation is more mobile and flexible when it comes to changing jobs. They can adapt more easily to the changing world and take on jobs that do not depend on experience alone. Many young people start their own businesses if they find out that they cant find a job. They often do this with little or no money at all. They often choose part-time jobs, just for the sake of being employed . Younger people have found out that there is no such thing as a secure job. And being older and more experienced is no longer the key to success. Many young people dont care so much about how much money they earn and how fast they can climb up the ladder of success . They care about where the live and their quality of life.

Words
y y y

adapt = change business = company colleague = a person who works with you

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

communication skills = how you communicate with other people data = information depend = affected by employ = to give someone work experience = knowledge that you get from doing things very often flexible = a person who can change situations easily fulfill = complete, do improve = to make better key = solution answer ladder of success = the way up your career step by step management = organization manager = someone who has the job of organizing a company mobile = move easily motivate = to make someone want to do something and make them really want to work part-time = only for part of the day or week requirement = something that someone needs or asks for sake = in order to be secure = permanent; a job that you have for a long time study = piece of work done to find out more about a subject supervise = manage , oversee take on = do text = to send someone a written message on a mobile phone

Google's Future is Chrome

The worlds number one search engine , Google, has developed a new operating system called Chrome. It automatically connects the user to the internet where people write their letters, emails, post their photos and do many other things they would normally do on a desktop OS . The development of Chrome started in 2008 when Google built its own browser , also called Chrome. Today 12% of net community uses it regularly. Google thinks that the operating systems of today, Windows, Apples MacOS and Linux are old fashioned and do not meet the needs of the people. Computer users of today we spend most of their time on the net and not with a desktop application . Googles vision of the next generation computer goes even further . It wants to put its Chrome OS on laptops and netbooks , so that the user just pushes a button and automatically gets connected . Chromes main aim is speed . It wants to make the computer fast. The first tests on netbooks showed that you could get connected to the internet within seven seconds from startup . Chrome OS skips everything from starting up the PC to getting connected.

Google also wants to make a computer cheaper. People who buy computers today often have to buy the operating system, anti-virus software and office programs before they can really work with it. This kind of software often costs hundreds of dollars. With these applications on the web you wouldnt need to buy such expensive programs. Chrome is not the first operating system that comes from the search engine. Android is already successful on tablet PCs and smartphones . Windows is still the most successful operating system. Windows 7 has become very popular after the failure of its predecessor Vista. But this may change. By 2012 laptop and major netbook manufacturers are expected to offer machines with Chrome OS preinstalled . Not everyone will use Google OS . Gamers will avoid it because need better hardware and those that use high-tech software will also stick to normal PCs. But for many normal users, pressing the button and getting connected to your Facebook account may soon become reality .

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

account = name and password that a person has in order to use a special program on the internet aim = plan, what someone wants anti-virus software = program that protects your computer from computer viruses application = program avoid = keep away from browser = a program that finds information on the internet and shows it on a computer screen community = internet users connect = link desktop OS = an operating system that works on a PC without an internet connection develop = build development = growth failure = not a success, flop further = more, extra gamer = a person who spends most of their time playing computer games hardware = physical part of the computer high tech = most modern manufacture = make, produce needs = wishes netbook = small laptop computer offer = present, sell old-fashioned = not modern any more operating system = a system in a computer that helps all the programs work together popular = well-liked predecessor = here: the operating system before Windows 7 preinstall = it is already installed when you buy it

y y y y y y y y y y

reality = it can really happen search engine = a computer program that helps you find information on the Internet skip = leave out smartphone = a mobile phone that works like a small computer speed = tempo, how fast something is startup = when you start your computer stick = stay with successful = liked by many people tablet PC = small PC with a touch screen vision = dream, idea

Huawei - The Chinese Technology Giant

Huawei is a multinational company that makes telecommunications parts for mobile phones , network equipment and other high-tech devices . It is the second largest such company in the world. Huawei has its headquarters in Shenzhen, which became Chinas first special economic zone in 1979. The Chinese technology company, which was founded about 20 years ago, has over 100,000 workers in all parts of the world, more than Microsoft. Most of the company is owned by its employees . Huawei started out in the rural areas in China. In those days most of the telecom contracts went to state-owned Chinese or foreign firms. As the company grew, it took hold of urban markets in big Chinese cities and in 1997 it expanded to other countries. Today, Huawei is the second biggest manufacturer of telecom equipment , after Ericsson. In 2011, annual sales is expected to be about $12 billion dollars and likely to get three times as high within the next ten years. Working for Huawei is something many young Chinese engineers and IT workers dream of. The 1.5 square km site has modern apartments that can be rented, its own hospital, restaurants and bars where employees can go to in their free time. For Chinese standards workers are wellpaid . Although Huawei has been concentrating on making telecom parts and whole networks, the company is also looking into other industries in an attempt to diversify and grow. At Shenzhen engineers are experimenting on new forms of video conferencing, a branch that is

expanding rapidly The Chinese hi-tech giant is also starting to produce cloud-based hardware and computers that work out of the box . Even though Huawei is one of the world leaders in producing mobile phone parts it is also pushing into the consumer market with its own brand of computers, tablets and smartphones . So far Huawei has failed to reach the American market because of security reasons. The American government thinks it has connections with the Chinese military and is afraid it will spy on the American public .

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

although = while annual = yearly attempt = try branch = section, part brand = a product that has the name of the company on it cloud-based = software is not installed on your own computer but on a network computer concentrate on = focus on consumer = a person who buys something in a shop contract = deal, agreement device = small machine diversify = to produce new goods or services in order to grow employee = person who works for a firm or company engineer = someone who builds or designs machines or other things equipment = tools and machines that you need for a certain job even though = while expand = grow, spread to fail = not succeed foreign = from other countries found-founded = start giant = very big government = the people who rule a country headquarters = the main office building of a company manufacture = make, produce military = army mobile phone = cell phone, phone that you can always take with you multinational = in many countries out of the box = without installation public = people in general rapidly = fast reach = get to rural = in the countryside sales = when you sell something

y y y y y y y y y

security = safety smartphone = mobile phone that works like a computer special economic zone = a region in a country that has other economic rules and laws than in the rest of the country spy = to secretly collect information on someone without the other person knowing it state-owned = belonging to the government tablet = a PC that is smaller than a notebook take hold of = start to control telecommunication = sending and getting messages by phone, radio, television, the internet etc... well-paid = earn a lot of money

Generation Y - Their Attitudes Towards Work and Life

Generation Y is known as the generation that was born in the 1980s and 1990s, although experts do not agree on when this era started. The people who make up Generation Y are often the children of baby boomers and are therefore called echo boomers. Most of them are in their late teens or twenties and totally different from other generations. While baby boomers were influenced by the aftermath of World War II, television, rock and roll, the Vietnam War and the hippie movement, Generation Y has grown up with the internet, globalization, mobile phones and Facebook. The millennium generation, as it is often called, has grown up with new technology and can use it in their jobs much better than the older generation can. Blackberrys, cell phones, iPods are normal to this generation. They like to communicate via text messaging, Facebook and other online technology. The new generation can be described as ambitious and self-confident. Some older people think this even goes as far as being arrogant. They have high expectations and seek new challenges and are not afraid to raise questions if something is unclear. Generation Y youths have a different attitude towards work. It means something different to them than it did to their parents or grandparents. They do not want to work as hard as their parents but spend their life in a meaningful way. They do not live to work, they work to live. Young people expect a different type of workplace than their parents had. They want jobs that are flexible, not always having to work from 9 to 5. They prefer working from their homes and taking a day or two off to spend with their family when the weather is fine. A study has found out Generation Y wants to spend 30% to 70% of their time at home.

While baby boomers worked hard and grew up with a company and stayed there for the rest for their lives, Generation Y workers do not want to do the same thing their whole life. They expect to change jobs at least a few times. If you dont like what you do then do something else. They are not motivated by the worries that bothered their parents. Many do not think they will have their own house but will settle for a flat or an apartment, since they do not know if they are going to stay in the same place anyway. Conflicts at work with this new generation are foreseeable. Some employers are already experiencing trouble and tension between older works and the millennium generation. Over 70% of the older work force think that the young ones are too self confident and inexperienced. But they say they are enthusiastic and very motivated about what they do. As many Generation Y people have paid a lot for higher education they now want to see something in return. They want higher pay for the work they put in As baby boomers are retiring, companies are seeking to get the best Generation Y workers they can get. Sometimes they must make concessions in order to lure them into a job. Some companies have already adapted to this new generation of laborers. They offer work from home, higher salaries, flexible working hours, and family leave to look after the kids It is also a consumer generation, flooded with advertisement throughout their lives. A group that has never witnessed recession or mass unemployment is not very conservative when it comes to spending money. They like to eat out, buy the newest technical gadgets and travel. Very often they find their bank account overdrawn and in heavy debt.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

adapt = get used to advertisement = a sign , picture or film that tells you to buy a product aftermath = result, outcome agree = to have the same opinion on something although =while ambitious = hard-working, motivated arrogant = to behave in a proud way and think you are better than others attitude = feeling, opinion baby boom = the time between the end of World War II and the middle of the 1960s when many babies were born bank account = the agreement you have with a bank which allows you to keep your money there Blackberry = a very small computer that you can hold in your hand. It is used to store data, send messages, browse the Internet and communicate with people bother = upset, worry challenge = here: a new and difficult job company = firm concession = something that you give to someone or allow them to do in order to please them

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

day off = free debt = the sum of money that you have to pay back to someone describe = explain eat out = go to a restaurant employer = a person who gives you work enthusiastic = excited, to show a lot of interest expectation = hope experience = have family leave = the time when you are allowed to stay away from work and be with your family or children flexible = to be able to change flood = to be full of foreseeable = you can say what will happen in the future gadget = a small tool or machine that does something useful globalization = different countries, companies and people are connected together and communicate with each other hippie = a person who does not agree with how most people live; they have long hair and brightly colored clothes and often take drugs. The hippie movement was very popular during the 1960s. in return = to get back inexperienced = to have little knowledge about something and not know how to do it influence = the power that makes you think or act in a certain way laborer = worker lure = here: to get a person to take a job make up = to be a part of mass unemployment = when many people in a country are out of work millennium = a thousand years offer = give you overdraw = to take out more money from your bank account than you have pay = money you get when you work prefer = like raise questions = ask recession = a difficult time that a country has when people are out of work and they do not buy so much retire = to stop working after you have reached a certain age salary = the money that you get every month when you work seek = look for self-confident = to know what you are able to do and show it settle = to be satisfied with study = a piece of work that you do which examines or looks at a certain topic technology = the designing of new machines and industrial goods teen = a young person between thirteen and nineteen tension = conflict, problems text messaging = to send a text to someone over a mobile phone work force = the people who work worry = concern, fear

Green Resolutions for a New Year

From buying local to saving water, here are a few ways to make our world greener.

Persuade your boss to take action

When you're at home, you probably already turn off the lights when you leave the room. But what about at work? Companies have huge bills, and waste resources, by leaving lights on. Lighting makes up about 40 per cent of a companys electricity bills and leaving the office lights on overnight wastes enough energy to make 1,000 cups of tea. Turning off the lights when rooms aren't in use, cleaning windows to make the most of daylight and investing in energy efficient lighting are all easy ways to make a difference.

Take the family on an eco-friendly holiday

Spend your holidays closer to home. Not having to fly or drive is the simplest way to cut down your contribution to global warming. Train travel is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around, and links to destinations in Europe and beyond are getting better all the time.

Buy local, organic, seasonal products

Dont buy food that comes from faraway places. Stop buying strawberries in winter and start buying fruit that is in season. Buy organic food from local farmers and shop in local shops. This will help support your community

Switch to green cleaning products

Household cleaning products contain a huge selection of chemicals that can be dangerous to us and the environment. But it's relatively easy to find alternatives. Everyday items such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can keep your home sparkling. But if you dont want to mix up your own shower gel, there are a lot of eco -friendly products available in the shops.

Give up your car

We all know that petrol-swallowing cars are one of the biggest contributors to global warming, so giving up your car is an obvious way to cut your carbon footprint. If that seems too much to put up with, try reducing car journeys. If all those who drive to work used alternative transport just once a week, it would cut CO2 emissions by more than 10 per cent. Cycling to the shops or walking to school will save on emissions and get you fitter. Car sharing is another solution.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Little steps like only buying products with minimal packaging and using a mug for tea at work instead of plastic cups can make a big difference. Don't throw things away fix and reuse them as much as possible, or give them to someone who needs them.

Exchange clothes

One of the big trends to come out of the green revolution is "swishing" otherwise known as clothes swapping. Rather than add to the 900,000 tons of shoes and clothes that are thrown away in the UK each year, people are getting together with friends to swap the things they never wear to the items they've always wanted. Earlier this year the country's first large-scale swap shop, Visa Swap, was launched, giving shoppers the chance to swap their unwanted clothes for points that they can spend in the store.

Say no to plastic bags

You might only use a plastic bag for five minutes, but it may take about 500 years to decompose. Yet billions of plastic bags are thrown away every year, ending up in landfill or polluting roads, parks and gardens, and playing a major role in global warming. Several stores are now taking a tougher line by charging per bag or making them from biodegradable materials .

Save water

Water is a valuable resource, yet we waste huge amounts of it every day. There are ways of cutting down though, including taking showers which use only 40 per cent of the hot water needed for a bath and putting a water saver that can save up to three litres of water per flush in your toilet cistern.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

amount = quantity annually = ever year available = you get or buy it beyond = further bicarbonate of soda = a chemical substance used in baking and sometimes taken with water as medicine bill = a written list that shows how much you have to pay for something billion = a thousand million biodegradable = materials that are changed naturally by bacteria ; they do not damage the environment bury = to put under the ground car sharing = if two or more people use the same car to get to work or go places carbon footprint = the effects that your activity has on the environment and the amount of carbon dioxide that you produce charge = to make someone pay cistern = a container with water in it that is in every building community = neighbourhood contain = to have in them contribute = add to contribution = something that you give or do that makes something successful cut = lower cut down =reduce , make lower decompose = rot; to break down into the smallest parts destination = a place that someone or something is going to eco-friendly = friendly to the environment energy efficient = things that save energy environment = the world around us flush = the act of cleaning a toilet by letting water through it huge = very large in season = cheap and easy to get because it is the time of year when they grow including = together with landfill sites = places where waste is buried under the ground large-scale = very big; with a lot of shop assistants and products launch = start mug = a tall cup used for drinking coffee or tea

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

obvious = clear organic = something that is grown naturally, without chemicals packaging = to put something into a package or paper so that you can sell it persuade = to try to make someone do something that you think is right petrol-swallowing = cars that need a lot of petrol pollute = to make dirty reduce = lower resource = raw material several = many shower gel = a kind of liquid soap that you use when you wash yourself in a shower solution = answer sparkling = shining support = help swap = exchange; to give something to someone and get something else in return tough = hard valuable = very important vinegar = a liquid that tastes sour and is made form wine; you put it on salad and other food waste = things that you do not need any more and throw away or to spend in a way that is not necessary water saver = an instruments that reduces the amount of water that comes out of the pipe

Are We Ready for E-Books?

In a typical Boston bookshop customers move their way through the corridors and rooms to browse through thousands of books that are spread over two floors. Its a lot of paper says one of the shop assistants. She admits that the store could get much smaller if the digital revolution gets to the bookshelves. The catchword is e-book , or electronic book - something you read on screen instead of on paper. You can load books onto small computers to read while you are on the move . There are lots of different e-books. Some are really computers and may even be bound in leather to look like a real book. The RocketBook , for example, is a portable that can display pages. Others are just computer programs which you can use to display books on your computer or notebook. Then there are PDAs, or pocket computers, that can be used as an e-book if you have the right software. They are portable and have wireless connections to libraries or bookstores.

E-books have many advantages :

y y y y y

You can store lots of books on one computer. You can mark your book with an electronic bookmark . You can change the size of the type or font Some e-books have built in dictionaries so you can click on a word and find out what it means. And of course e-books can also include pictures, sound clips or small videos.

Some people think that e-books will replace printed books in the near future. For dictionaries and encyclopedias this is already true. Wikipedia, for example, gives you more than a multivolume encyclopaedia can give you. The e-book industry, however , still faces many problems. There are many different types of formats for e-books, and the book you may want to read may not be available in a certain format. Publishers develop their own format so that the reader has to download their books. Microsoft Reader is one of the e-book formats that allow you to get books from other companies to read on your machine. Recently Sony has started a worldwide campaign on the digital book sector. The Sony Reader is a handheld device that has been on the market for just about a year. It is about the size of a paperback and can also store PDFs, photos and music. The battery lasts about 7500 pages before you have to recharge it. It can hold 80 books in its memory . Sonys new invention weighs about 200 grams , is 2 cm thick and has a 15 cm long screen. It costs about 240 . Amazon has developed a small device called the Kindle. It can display books, magazines and newspapers . Users can download thousands of books found in the Amazon store. Major publishers , like Random House, think that as consumers are doing more work on computers every day, they may also be reading more books on screen as well. Right now the company offers about 6,000 e-books. They cost about 2 a book which is much lower than the price of a paperback . The high costs of paper books are caused by printing and distribution .

Words
y y y y y y y

admit = to say that something is true advantage = good side of something available = on hand , exist bookmark = a place that tells you where you have stopped; you can go there any time you like bound = covered on the outside with leather browse = to look at the things in a shop without wanting something to buy built-in = you cannot take it out

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

campaign = actions that lead to more people buying the item catchword = slogan, motto cause = lead to claim = say consumer = a person who buys things corridor = hall or small places that connect rooms customer = a person who buys things in a shop develop = design, create device = machine display = show distribution = to bring books from the publishing plant to book stores around the country encyclop a edia = many books or a single book that has information on many topics in it face = here: has font = set of letters and numbers used for printing books however = but include = to have in it instead of = in somethings place invention = a new machine or device library = a place where you can borrow books load = move from a distant server to your computer memory = a part of an electronical machine where you can store information multivolume = more than one part offer = here: to have for customers to buy on the move = if you are not at home pain = the feeling you have when part of your body hurts paperback = a book that has a soft cover and is cheaper than leather bound books portable = it does not have a fixed place ; something you can take with you anywhere publisher = company that prints and sells books recently = during the last few weeks or months recharge = to fill with energy again replace = to use instead of spread = lay out over store = save topic = theme, subject weigh = how heavy something is wireless connection = to transmit data without using a wire

Emails - Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Mail

Email is a short word for electronic mail. You create texts and send them over a network of computers. The first emails go back to the 1960s. The invention has influenced our lives and emails have become a popular means of communication.

Advantages of emails
y y y y

y y y y

Emails are easy to use. You can organize your daily correspondence, send and receive electronic messages and save them on computers. Emails are fast. They are delivered at once around the world. No other form of written communication is as fast as an email. The language used in emails is simple and informal. When you reply to an email you can attach the original message so that when you answer the recipient knows what you are talking about. This is important if you get hundreds of emails a day. It is possible to send automated emails with a certain text. In such a way it is possible to tell the sender that you are on vacation. These emails are called auto responders. Emails do not use paper. They are environment friendly and save a lot of trees from being cut down. Emails can also have pictures in them. You can send birthday cards or newsletters as emails. Products can be advertised with emails. Companies can reach a lot of people and inform them in a short time.

Disadvantages of emails
y

y y y

Emails may carry viruses. These are small programs that harm your computer system. They can read out your email address book and send themselves to a number of people around the world. Many people send unwanted emails to others. These are called spam mails. It takes a lot of time to filter out the unwanted emails from those that are really important. Emails cannot really be used for official business documents. They may be lost and you cannot sign them. Your mailbox may get flooded with emails after a certain time so you have to empty it from time to time.

Words
y y y y y

advantage = good side advertise = to tell people about something that you want to sell attach = connect , link automated = done automatically, not by people correspondence = the letters that you send and get

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

create = write deliver = to take something somewhere disadvantage = bad side environment = the world around us filter out = to remove unwanted things flood = to get so many that your mailbox is full in a short time influence = change informal = the style of a normal conversation invention = something new that is here for the first time popular = liked by many people reach = get to recipient = someone who receives or gets something reply = answer sign = to put your name on a document

Business Videos Conquer the Internet

More and more companies around the world are advertising their products online. But while, in the past, promoting products was usually in text and pictures, firms are discovering that advertising on video platforms brings more success and higher profits. Advertising agencies argue that video advertising is a better way to get your message across than by just using plain text or a simple image. Technology experts predict that, by 2013, videos will be standard on every website. By then, about 25% of all web content will be video, audio or images. Two elements have become responsible for the boom in video advertising. First, more and more private homes and offices have access to broadband and high-speed internet connections, so videos are not shaky anymore and have a better quality. Sharing videos online has become popular when YouTube started its service in 2005. Today there are many other video hosting sites. About 80% of all web users watch at least one video a month. For businesses these sites have made it easier and cheaper to promote products to millions of people around the world. Brightcove, another leading video provider, offers everything that a company needs to produce and distribute high-quality videos to millions of people. It also provides the tools to embed videos on your company website. The company charges a fee that depends on how many videos you upload and how many people view them.

Web market analysts say that people who watch videos online spend more time on a website and are more likely to buy a product. Although many experts say that YouTube is a great way to start promoting videos, you have to switch to professional marketing companies to get more out of it. Costs are beginning to drop as more and more providers appear.

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

access = the right to use advertise = present, promote, show advertising agency = company that designs or makes ads for others although = while analyst = to examine or think carefully about something so that you can understand it appear = show up argue = say boom = increase in business broadband = internet connections that are very fast business = company charge = to ask for money conquer = take over, to start controlling depend on = directly affected by something else discover = to find out distribute = to spread embed =insert fee = money for a service firm = company get your message across = to make people understand what you have to say image = picture leading = number one plain text = just text, without pictures or symbols platform = here: website popular = widespread, common, used by many people predict = to say that something will happen promote = to help sell; show provide = offer, give provider = a company that offers a certain service and gets paid for it service = something that a company offers which people can use shaky = unstable, not smooth share = to use together success = to do or finish something that you wanted to switch = change to upload = to move data from a small computer to a computer network so that other people can see it video hosting = to save videos on a network computer so that others can view them view = see, watch

Caffeine - A Stimulant for Our Body

You are drinking lots of cola at a party, when it suddenly hits. You are full of energy, you jump around, and you talk too fast. Later you cant fall asleep and the next day youre tired and feel awful. Does that sound familiar? Most children already have a lot of energy, but kids who drink a lot of cola often end up even more wired than usual. The drink includes a lot of sugar but also a chemical that produces a lot of energy - caffeine. Like cola, coffee is full of caffeine. Thats why many adults drink it the first thing in the morning to help them wake up. The chemical is naturally found in tea, chocolate and hot cocoa. Because many people need this kick, food producers often add it to many other beverages, energy drinks and snacks. But is caffeine good or bad for us? Some studies have shown that caffeine might help people respond to things more quickly. Scientists have found out that caffeinated coffee and tea can help protect your heart, brain and other organs from disease. On the other hand too much caffeine can make people anxious and unable to sleep. This is worrisome because we need sleep to stay healthy. Caffeine may also raise your blood pressure, increase your heart rate and make you feel more stressed. Love it or hate it, caffeine is hard to avoid. Coffee shops are all over the place, in city streets and malls. Machines offer coffee and cola at schools. Even though you can get caffeine-free coffee, tea and cola almost everywhere more than 80 % of adults in America consume caffeine regularly. Caffeine raises the amount of sugar in your bloodstream, even if there is no sugar in your caffeinated drink. Thats what gives you extra energy. Taking caffeine away from regular users causes withdrawal symptoms, like headaches and sleepiness. It also makes them react more slowly. So when you give these people the caffeine that they need they do better and react more quickly. Many athletes take caffeine to boost their energy. Studies show however that caffeine only helps those athletes who are in good condition already. In an experiment runners had to run at a very fast pace. On average they were able to run for about 32

minutes. After taking caffeine they ran 7 to 10 minutes longer. Although caffeine may be good for world class athletes, it may harm the health of people who are overweight. In some people it may even lead to diabetes. In the end a cup of coffee or a can of cola once in a while is okay, but dont overdo it !

Words
y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

add = to put into although = while amount = how much of something anxious = to be worried about something, nervous avoid = to stay away from beverage = a hot or cold drink, usually without alcohol blood pressure = the speed or power with which blood travels through your body bloodstream = the paths in your body that your blood moves through boost = to raise , to make go up brain = the organ inside your head controls how you think, feel and move caffeinated = a drink or food with caffeine in it cause =leads to consume = to take into your body diabetes = a very harmful disease in which too much sugar is in your body disease = illness even though =while, although familiar = well known good condition = good physical shape harm =danger heart r ate = the number of times your heart beats every minute include = it has in it increase = to go up mall = very big shopping centre on average =usually, normally once in a while =sometimes, now and then overdo =to do too much of something pace = speed produce = make protect =guard, defend raise = to go up respond =react scientist = a person who does experiments in a lab snack = a small meal that you have studies = reports wired = to feel very active and excited

y y

withdrawal symptoms = the unpleasant feelings you have when you stop taking drugs ,drinking coffee or stop smoking worrisome = it makes you worry a lot