JEM 6.8 Robert Pattinson

http://magazine.justenglish.com
SUCCESS — IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Plus:
Eco-Living
Map-Reading
Morris Dancing
Hemp
Speed Gliding
Memory Matters
Robert
Pattinson
®
Vol. 6 Issue 8
PP 11694/03/2009/(020997)
CONTENTS
24
Features
7 Map-Reading
12 Eco-Living
20 Morris Dancing
Environment
16 The New Generation
of Hemp
Health
24 Memory Matters
Sports
28 Speed Gliding
Technology
39 Social Networking
32
Cover Feature
32 Robert Pattinson
Short Story
46 The Canterville Ghost
Business
50 A Systematic Approach to
Problem Solving
Activities
54 Fresh Minds – Money Box
56 Just for Fun
58 Find a Word
59
61
– Dance & Festivals
Know the Issue
Answers
Elementary
Intermediate
Cover photo © MCP / Rex Features
3
SUCCESS — IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Letter from the Editor
W
e are coming to the end of the year, and we at JEM
hope this has been a successful year for you. Most students
would have finished their exams by now, and some are
anxiously waiting for their next step in life. For those who are
waiting to sit for exams, we wish you the best of luck and
hope that all that you have learnt will be useful to you. Like
many things in life, exams are not the end but the beginning
and the key to many future opportunities and successes.
In this issue, make a difference in your life with the
information in Eco-Living. If you have time on your hands,
you might want to try Speed Gliding to get your adrenalin
rushing. Ghost story enthusiasts will be delighted with The
Canterville Ghost and almost everyone can benefit from
Social Networking.
We have a varied choice of articles written by our UK writers.
Tell us what articles interest you as we are committed to
making your reading interesting and enjoyable.
Merry Christmas to those celebrating the festival and happy
holidays to everyone!
Editor JAyAKARAN MUKUNDAN
Co-Editor LIM TEIK LEoNG
Designer WoNG HUI LEE
ICT INTERACTIVE SDN BHD
Publication Coordinator LEANNE yUEN
Writers
RoRy GEAR, MARy HUBER, LEAH KARPUS, ILKA BRADSHAW,
KATy DAWSoN, SARA HALL, JoE ST CLAIR, oSCAR WILDE,
HELEN TREADWELL
Published by
JUST ENGLISH SDN BHD, SUITE C-07-01
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© JUST ENGLISH SDN BHD
Printed by
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without the prior
permission of the copyright holder. Apply in writing to the publisher.
Your Guide to the
graded English used in
Just English
Elementary
Simple passive forms
Infinitives of purpose: to, in order to
Modals – could (ability), can (permission)
Present perfect
-ing verb form after like, enjoy
be interested in
used to & wanted to + verb
Defining relative clauses
Modal will with future reference
Conditional sentences (1 & 2)
Present Progressive with future reference
Comparative and superlative of adjectives
Reported commands in the past
Adverbs of frequency and manner
Constructions with it and until
Indefinite pronouns: everyone, everybody, etc.
had better, would rather
Phrasal verbs
Reported speech
say and tell
Verb -ing as subject or object
Conjunctions: although, so, but, because
Intermediate
Modal should + Passive Perfect
Past Passive
Modal could, may, might + Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive
Future Perfect
Should have + Past Participle
Needn’t have + Past Participle
Relative clauses, defining and non-defining
Which, whose
Adjective as noun
Subordinators: wherever, whenever
Reflexive pronouns
Be supposed to, be likely to + verb
Double object verbs
As if + clause
Participial phrases
Modal will, could, should + Passive infinitive
Phrasal verbs with give, come + in the Passive
Indirect commands
Indirect questions with if and wh- questions
Modal could + Perfect Conditional with Past
Perfect (Third Conditional)
abb – abbreviation, adj – adjective,
adv – adverb, coll – colloquial, i – idiom,
n – noun, np – noun phrase, ph.v – phrasal
verb, prep – preposition, pron – pronoun,
q – question word, v – verb
5
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How to Use This Magazine
Read once for fun. Then read again to learn (vocabulary, see how words are used in sentences, the
styles of the writers etc.)
Test your understanding by trying Why Not Test Yourself? at the end of the article
Go to the back of the magazine and enjoy:
Just For Fun language quiz and games
Find a Word puzzle
The Just English Quiz to test your comprehension
Go to our website: http://magazine.justenglish.com and benefit from the:
worksheets (downloadable) -
for students and
for teachers
(Teacher's Room - contains lesson plans and activities based on the Just English magazine)
audio
(downloadable) for listening and reading along with (selected articles).
SIR (Say It Right) - the correct pronunciation for difficult words selected from the issue
interactive games under Fun Zone
Find ways to use the new words / phrases / sentences and information you learnt
e.g. when you speak to others
FEATURE
If you know how
to read a map
it could save
your life!
| By Rory Gear
W
hile we have maps that tell us about
every feature of the landscape in the most
amazing detail, many people today say they
find it hard to use or read a map. Most
motorists say they can use a map to plan a
journey, but once they are on their way,
most motorists say they depend totally on
road signs rather than the map to know
exactly where they are. The truth is even
more alarming when it comes to people on
foot. Many hikers say they are not equipped
to find their way across open ground by
simply relying on a map. This partly accounts
for why so many people get lost when hiking
on the moors or mountains when the mist
closes in or the clouds come down. For
some, getting lost in these conditions can
have fatal consequences.
There are many reasons why numerous
people have trouble with maps. Some
schools do not teach map-reading as an
important part of the school curriculum.
However, many people simply struggle to
translate
the conceptual map
symbols on the flat surface of a
map with the three-dimensional reality of
the landscape around them. If you are not
used to reading a map, it is best to begin by
looking at a map of an area that you already
know well. This will help you picture the
landscape for real in your mind as you look at
the signs and symbols on the map.
Firstly, notice the way the map uses different
colours to signify different elements of the
landscape. Many maps follow the
conventions set out by Britain’s ordnance
Survey (oS) maps, which are among the
oldest in the world. oS maps always show
seas, lakes and rivers as blue and forests as
green. oS maps show main roads as red lines
across the landscape, smaller roads as yellow
lines and minor roads as white lines.
Photo © tijmen / sxc.hu
7
FEATURE
landscape that you already know – lakes
and rivers, towns or villages, motorways,
railway lines, footpaths, bridges, airports etc.
Many maps also give place names of
landmarks to make it easier for locating
places - large houses, forests, farms, hills and
historical features. The more you study the
map using the key as a reference, the more
you will make sense of the map.
But the roads that criss-cross most maps are
just the very start of your map reading
adventure. All over the map are marks and
symbols that at first might appear strange.
The good news is that all good maps have a
“Key” which clearly explains what each
symbol means. If you look at a map of the
place where you live, you will soon see
which symbols relate to the features on the
8
Photos © vierdrie, rootdesign / sxc.hu | Blizzardtoo / Dreamstime.com
FEATURE
Reading a map at home for pleasure,
however, is not the same as using a map as a
“survival guide”. For most expeditions, using
a map correctly is probably one of the most
important ways to ensure you come through
difficulties without harm. Most expedition
members study their maps long and hard
before they take even a single step on the
journey. Careful study of a map can show
you the best route to take, with the safest
places to rest. Knowing this can also help
you plan for the kind of equipment and
supplies you will need along the way.
So, how can you get the best out of a map?
The first thing you need to do is to orient
yourself with the map in the landscape. This
means that you can match North on the map
to North on the ground. The easiest way to do
this is with a compass. But if you do not have
a compass, you can use your watch to find
North. Simply point the hour hand of your
watch at the sun and 12 o’clock on the dial
will show you where North is. If you do not
have a watch, you can make a rough guess for
North by looking for the side on which moss
grows most thickly on trees – moss grows on
the north side of trees. Having found North,
you can start to use the map effectively to get
to where you want to go.
Photos © kaibara87 / flickr.com | barrysmith / sxc.hu | Paulcowan_Dreamstime.com
9
FEATURE
The second point is about the scale your
map uses to depict the landscape. Maps
come in all different scales. The larger the
scale, the more detail the map shows. The
scale enables you to compare the size on the
map with the actual place around you. For
example a 1:25,000 scale means that one
centimetre on the map represents 25,000
centimetres (250 metres) on the ground.
This is extremely useful when calculating
how long it will take to travel from one place
to another. on average, a person walks
about four kilometres per hour. This rule of
thumb gives you a rough guide to how long
it will take you to cover the ground.
However, if the ground is difficult or the
weather is bad, you will need to adjust for a
slower pace of walking or a lengthier
walking time.
rises very steeply. Where contour lines are
spaced far apart, the land rises gently.
Contour lines show you the exact shape of
hills, mountains, valleys and vales. Contour
lines rarely run straight. Also, the actual
height of a contour line is marked in steps
such as 10 metres e.g. 125m, 135m etc.
The contour lines on a map are especially
useful for getting a three-dimensional
picture of the landscape. Contour lines
indicate set points of altitude. Where
contour lines run close together, the land
10
Photos © Wikipedia | januszek / sxc.hu
FEATURE
mentally divide the metre squares on the
map into units of 10. Then use the line
numbers for each Easting and then Northing
to give the reference. Let’s assume, for
example, you are in a walking party and
someone has an accident. By phoning the
emergency services, you can give them the
grid reference for your location so that
rescuers can find you swiftly and easily
without getting lost.
Each map uses a set of grid squares
(measured in metres on a metric map) which
helps in route planning and assessing
distance. These lines are called Eastings and
Northings. you use these lines to pinpoint
particular locations. Ideally, you want to use
a six-figure reference number to give a
precise location accurately. To do this,
Maps are like oil paintings. The more you
study them, the more there is to find. Poring
over maps can be fascinating and rewarding.
But maps are at their very best when they
help you unlock the secrets of a landscape to help you avoid risks and save lives.
Titbit #1
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms
the heart and cools the sting.”
William Arthur Ward
Moors (n) undulating country with shrubs, rocks and bogs (swamps).
Curriculum (n) the subjects studied at school.
Convention (n) a way of behaving that is generally accepted.
Landscape (n) an area of land.
Contour line (n) a line on a map that shows the height above or below sea level.
Photos © zigamazda / sxc.hu | Wikipedia
oNLINE AUDIo
11
FEATURE
Eco-Living
I
n the south-west corner of Germany, near
the borders of Switzerland and France, one
of Europe’s most successful environmental
experiments is thriving. Hailed as a
blueprint for future green living, one small
and peaceful town is a shining example of
how we can adapt to meet the threat of
climate change.
Vauban, on the outskirts of Frieburg, is a carfree zone. Most of the 5,300 residents travel
by bike, or use the tram service that speeds
into the centre of Frieburg in just 15 minutes.
12
| By Mary Huber
If residents want to go on holiday or special
journeys, they hire a car or join in on one of
the town’s car-sharing schemes. Cars are
allowed into the town for short trips to drop
off only essential goods. As the town is carfree, there are few metalled roads. Instead,
the town boasts beautiful scenic cobbled
streets and pathways. Consequently,
Vauban is incredibly child-friendly. Children
in Vauban enjoy the freedom of playing in
the streets and riding their bikes; as enjoyed
in only a few other cities in Europe today.
A distinct colour scheme results in a varied neighbourhood © Claire7373 / Wikipedia
FEATURE
But Vauban is not only known for its car-free
eco-status – the town's houses are also
specially designed to be eco-friendly. For
example, the windows of all the homes are
triple glazed. A complex ventilation system
with heat exchangers ensures that
apartments maintain their heat levels with
fresh air at room temperature – no matter
the weather outside! Most homes have solar
power panels and have eco-generator
engines that run on wood chips. Armed with
such equipment, Vauban generates more
than enough electricity for its own use. The
town sells the surplus electricity to private
companies which run the regional and
national electricity grids. The houses are also
well insulated with 35cm-thick walls. Several
houses, called “passive houses” because
they are almost environmentally perfect,
even manage to dispense with the need for
drains, toilets or showers. Instead, these
“passive houses” reduce their household
waste to compost – including everything
that passes through their special biological
toilets. Water from the shower and kitchen
goes through special filters for use in the
garden. Nothing goes to waste - everything
is recycled.
Photos © rightee, mrfraley / flickr.com
13
FEATURE
a collection of three-storey army barracks, the
buildings housed Adolf Hitler’s army during
the Second World War. After the war, the
French took over the Vauban barracks. They
requisitioned the enclave before handing it
over to the town council of Frieburg when
Germany was re-unified in 1990.
With such strong eco-friendly credentials,
news of the eco-town is spreading fast.
Everyday, visitors from all over the world
flock to Vauban to see for themselves this
new way of living in action. At the town’s
entrance, visitors are greeted with the
words, ”We are creating the world we want”.
But historically, the town was far from being an
environmentally-friendly place. Built in 1937 as
14
In the 1990s, a group of environmentalists
negotiated with Frieburg’s town council to
develop the site in a green way. A group of
more than 60 enthusiastic, environmentallyconscious architects came together to
destroy the old army barracks and to design
and build attractive, ecologically-sustainable
homes in their place. Today, Vauban’s
residents are predominantly young people.
Indeed, nearly 30% of the population is
under 18. Many of the residents have young
children. The project is seen by all as a
cutting-edge experiment in green living.
Frieburg tram, Wooden panelling on some façades © Giikah / flickr.com | Claire7373 / Wikipedia
FEATURE
Will Vauban’s car-free status provide a
blueprint for the future? or will this
experiment in new ways of living in the 21st
century prove to be a failure? Even the most
hardened of sceptics admire the
commitment and innovation found in
Vauban. However, others point out that
Vauban is in an ideal location to go car-free.
Vauban also has an effective and reliable
public transport. Life without cars is more
problematic in rural areas, where having a
car is essential. Perhaps the key to living
without cars is to ensure that there is an
efficient public transport system in place
first. only then can more of us do without
our cars and live in a more environmentallysustainable way. So, Vauban may simply be a
very clear example of what it takes to change
people’s habits and assumptions about why
cars are so essential to the modern way of
life. Time will tell.
Blueprint (n) a detailed plan or model for doing something new.
Cobbled (adj) covered with uneven stones especially on roads.
Credentials (n) qualifications and achievements.
Requisition (v) to make an official request.
Photos © Aunt owwee, rightee / flickr.com
oNLINE EXERCISE
15
ENVIRoNMENT
The New Generation
of Hemp
| By Leah Karpus
T
he day has finally come for industrial
hemp. Hemp products are reaching
mainstream markets and becoming more
and more popular. However, although hemp
crops have been around for literally
thousands of years, the benefits of this
important crop are still being overshadowed
by its controversial stigma as marijuana.
What is Hemp?
Hemp (also known as Cannabis sativa in Latin
and means “most perfect food”) is a diverse
plant encompassing over 500 varieties. This
article refers to industrial hemp, used for
food, cloth and other commodities, as
opposed to marijuana.
Cannabis sativa
Marijuana
16
Photos © Gergerger7 / sxc.hu | Uncleweed / flickr.com
ENVIRoNMENT
Products Made from Hemp
Next time you go shopping, keep an eye
open for these great hemp products:
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana and
hemp, though related, are not synonymous.
The levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (the
psychoactive chemical in marijuana) are less
than 0.3% in hemp. Conversely, industrial
hemp contains a relatively high percentage
of
another
chemical
called
CBD
(Cannabidiol), which actually impedes
psychoactive effects of marijuana. Therefore,
eating hemp, smoking hemp or using hemp
products will not get you high.
Benefits of Hemp
It is a highly renewable resource, and hemp’s
adaptability, sustainability and durability set
it apart from other natural plants. Compared
to cotton crops, which require enormous
amounts of pesticides and herbicides to
grow, hemp thrives without chemicals and
without much water. In fact, hemp crops
actually enrich the soil, instead of depleting it
of nutrients. Furthermore, hemp's quick
growth makes it a perfect sustainable crop.
•
Clothing: As clothing, hemp stays cool
in the heat and warm in cold weather.
Hemp cloth is more durable than cotton,
but just as comfortable. Its cloth is
naturally resistant to mold and mildew.
These days, hemp clothing doesn’t
mean burlap sacks—there are tons of
comfortable, trendy clothes for men and
women made from hemp or
hemp/organic cotton blends. It’s not just
t-shirts either; look for hemp underwear,
pyjamas and even wedding gowns. It is
also a great vegetarian alternative to
leather or synthetic fibres in wallets,
purses, bags, belts and shoes.
Hemp stem showing fibres, hemp necklace & hemp shoes © Wikipedia | lachshand, jetalone / flickr.com
17
ENVIRoNMENT
•
Food: Hemp seeds are extremely high in
protein, fibre, and omega 3 fatty acids
(the “healthy fats”). They are also
delicious and have a nutty taste similar
to sunflower seeds. Try some sprinkled
over your oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, or
straight out of the package. other hemp
products include protein powder, oil,
flour, and hemp milk — a vegan
alternative to milk!
•
Body Care: The natural, healthy oils in
hemp makes great, moisturising lip
balms, body lotions, shampoos and
conditioners and even massage oils.
•
Cleaning Products: Hemp produces an
all-purpose, all-vegetable, liquid soap
that can be used for bathing, washing
dishes, laundry and more.
Raw Chocolate Hemp Seed Pie
•
Household Products: Rope, twine and
yarn made from hemp are very strong.
Try using hemp twine in the garden to
support and tie climbing plants, such as
tomatoes. Paper products include
journals, napkins and greeting cards.
Products for the kitchen range from pot
holders and oven mitts to aprons, towels
and more.
Hemp milk
18
Photos © sweetonveg, GregEh / flickr.com
ENVIRoNMENT
of course, there are hundreds of brands and
stores that carry hemp products. Try this
search engine to find hemp products and
stores near you (in Canada and the US):
http://www.hempstores.com/. Better yet, do
some research of your own and see what you
come up with.
Agriculture where it belongs. Thankfully,
there is a growing movement against these
regulations. Visit their website Vote Hemp
(http://www.votehemp.com/) for more
information and to learn how to get
involved.
Regulatory Issues
Since 1998, Canada has grown industrial
hemp. It is federally regulated, and all hemp
crops must legally be GMo-free (free of
genetically modified organisms).
Unfortunately, hemp is still facing obstacles
despite being seen as a valuable,
environmentally-friendly crop and not a
drug. In the US, where hemp is continually
associated with marijuana, hemp crops are
illegal without a permit. There, hemp is
regulated under the Drug Enforcement
Administration instead of the Department of
Titbit #2
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin
again, this time more intelligently. ”
Photos © Travis Isaacs / flickr.com | schleicher / sxc.hu
Henry Ford
19
FEATURE
Morris Dancing
| By Rory Gear
A
nyone who visits an English village in
the summer months is likely to see a small
group of men performing an age-old ritual
that, at first sight, appears very odd. This is
England’s unique tradition of Morris Dancing
- a folk custom dating back over the
centuries. But where exactly did these
strange set of dances originate? What is their
meaning? Why do the dancers wear
distinctive clothes? And why do they
perform such distinctive if ridiculous rituals?
20
Many researchers suggest that the word
“Morris” derives from the word “Moorish” or
“Morisco”. If this is true, Morris dancing is in
some way linked to the traditions of the
Islamic caliphate of El Andaluz or Andalucia
in Southern Spain, some eight to ten
centuries ago. Historical records from the
late Middle Ages refer to Morris dancers as
“Morisco” dancers. Despite this intriguing
reference, there is no specific evidence to
prove that Morris Dancing came into Britain
Border Morris Dancing in Bury St Edmunds Suffolk © Martin Pettitt / flickr.com
FEATURE
from Moorish Spain. Similarly, there is no
evidence that Morris dancing has any
connection with Britain’s pre-Christian
pagan festivals. What is not in doubt is that
Morris dancing flourished in Britain under
the Tudor and Elizabethan courts in the 15th
and 16th centuries. In particular, Britain’s
Tudor kings promoted the connection
between Morris dancing and the country’s
ancient May Day revels. This connection
continues to this day.
Morris dancers and a hobby horse
- detail of Thames at Richmond,
with the old Royal Palace, c.1620
There are many variations within Morris
dancing traditions but “Cotswold” is the most
common Morris dancing form alive today. The
Cotswold Morrismen dress all in white, with
ribbons, bells, and hats with flowers. They
perform a series of dances whilst holding
either sticks or white handkerchiefs in their
hands. Many of the Cotswold Morrismen
attribute details of their dances to Cecil Sharp,
the early 20th-century folk music collector
who set down many Cotswold traditions in
the early 1900s. Sharp linked many Morris
dances to the late spring festivals around
Whitsuntide – a time linked to marriage and
new beginnings. Cecil Sharp also formed the
English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDS),
which has enormous support today.
Modern Morris dancing is almost an all-male
affair. This probably reflects Victorian values.
However, there is evidence that early Morris
dancing involved women and men together.
Traditionally, Morris teams belonged to
“Guilds” or professional performers. once
selected to become a member of a Morris
team, an individual needed to follow the
strict regulations of the Guild. Each team
guarded their own particular dances with
great secrecy. The most prolific areas for
different dance types were Cornwall,
Somerset, Gloucestershire and oxfordshire.
Each dance functioned as a “spectacle”
rather than an entertainment. There are
many different forms of Morris dance. Each is
part of a long tradition that belongs to a
particular area of the country. Morris dancers
present a sequence of dances in a “set” which
they usually perform outdoors. Usually
numbering six or eight, the Morris dancers
complete a series of “longways” dances in
Photos © Wikipedia | Martin Pettitt / flickr.com
21
FEATURE
which they make no actual physical contact
with one another. In a longways dance, the
Morris dancers stand in two parallel lines
approximately 1.5 metres opposite their
partner. The dances are usually progressive,
which means each dancer changes partner at
regular intervals within the dance. The music
that traditionally accompanies the dancing is
based on jigs, reels and airs performed on
such traditional folk instruments as fiddles,
concertinas and tin whistles. Most Morris
steps involve forward, backward or sideways
travel, with skipping, running, hop-stepping
and slip-stepping movements.
“Squire”, “Fool”, “Witch”, “King”, “Queen” or
“Sword Bearer”. This extra character, most
often “the Fool” links the audience with
dancers – often commenting on the dancing
in a comic fashion that helps explain to the
audience exactly what is going on.
Morris dances appear in spring in England.
May Day is a key date in the Morris dancing
calendar. While specific dances relate to their
country of origin, the folk music for each
dance is much more universal. Dances often
involve bells, tambourines and the sound of
sticks clashing together. As such, the sound of
a Morris dance is every bit as exhilarating as its
performance. often, an extra character acts as
a link between the audience and the dance. It
could be any one of these characters: the
22
Border Morris dancers with painted faces © Martin Pettitt/ flickr.com | David Friel / Wikipedia
FEATURE
Leeds Morris Men
dancing on The
Dales tour 2008
still have some meaning for us all.
See related links for more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2_NpH
UiIdc&feature=related (video of Cotswold
Morris dancing)
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EM
morris.html
Turning closed curves inside out
Morris dancing has had its ups and downs over
the centuries in England. Happily today, Morris
dancing is enjoying a revival. This suggests
that Morris dancing enjoys a unique place in
the English cultural tradition to link festivities
on the village green with ancient rituals that
Morris dancing in the grounds of
Wells Cathedral, Wells, England
Caliphate (n) the country or period of rule of a caliph (head of state).
Pagan (adj) relating to ancient religions.
Handkerchief (n) a small square piece of cloth.
Revival (n) the process of being successful again.
Photos ©The Silver Penguin, Arenamontanus / flickr.com | Wikipedia
oNLINE EXERCISE
23
HEALTH
Memory
Matters
| By Ilka Bradshaw
O
ur memory, whether long term or short
term, allows us to retain and store
information. Memory is a mysterious
concept, with scientists and doctors still
trying to understand how and why it works.
Most agree, however, that our memories
change and alter over time. Indeed, all of us
have bad memories that we are happy to
forget. Such memories bring back feelings of
shame and embarrassment, pain and hurt, or
sadness. But what if we could effectively
wipe out or erase such memories? Is it
possible to simply “wipe the slate clean” and
start afresh?
level of fear this memory created when each
volunteer saw the spider pictures again.
When the team administered the particular
drug to a volunteer before reactivating the
spider memory, the team found a clear
reduction in that volunteer’s fear level of
spiders. The drug effectively reduced the
impact of the volunteer’s unpleasant
memories.
A team of Dutch scientists have discovered a
drug that they believe causes bad memories
to disappear. During trials, the team created
a new fearful memory in 60 volunteers by
associating pictures of spiders with a mild
electric shock. The team then measured the
24
Photos © gerard79 / sxc.hu | Lukjonis / flickr.com | Illustration by Huilee
HEALTH
But behind the Dutch scientists’ delight at
this new scientific breakthrough, there are a
number of important moral issues. Are we
entering new, dangerous and hitherto
unexplored territory? Is it right for doctors to
have the authority to alter people’s
memories in this way? Are painful memories
a part of who we are as emotionally
intelligent and thoughtful human beings?
The Dutch scientists are very excited by their
findings. At present, doctors commonly use
the drug to treat high blood pressure.
However, they now think that the drug could
also help people suffering from severe
trauma. This could include the emotional
crisis people experience as a result of a
natural disaster, or a shocking event such as
a train or plane crash.
Many psychologists think that it is important
for people to have a choice about how they
deal with bad memories. They point out that
memory is quite easy to change. Memory,
they say, is in fact a malleable concept.
others, however, vehemently disagree. They
argue that memory is essential to a person’s
identity, and that erasing bad memories
takes away an important part of him and how
he chooses to act. This school of thought also
thinks that it is bad for people to try to forget
collective memories that remind them of
Photos © juliaf, justfine / sxc.hu
25
HEALTH
shameful episodes of the past. As the
philosopher, George Santayana puts it,
“those who cannot remember the past are
condemned to repeat it”.
Most agree that memories are a stern
teacher. Memories are an essential part of
how we learn. Memories are one of the most
important ways to help ourselves become
wiser. If we do not remember what we have
experienced, how can we hope to do or
make things better in the future? If we only
remember things that make us happy, then
are we condemned to live life in some sort of
false and child-like state that fails to
recognise the bad as well as the good in life?
So, although the Dutch scientists’ findings
raise several interesting issues, most people
agree that it is helpful to remember rather
than to forget! In fact, when asked, most
people say they want ways to improve their
memories because they see a good memory
as really helping them to thrive and make the
most of what life has to offer.
While many millions of people suffer from
the effects of amnesia or memory loss each
year, hundreds of millions or more simply
find that their memories work less effectively
as they age. However, for all of the people in
this latter group, some pretty simple help
may be at hand. Doctors and scientists
increasingly agree that we can improve
memory retention by taking a couple of
practical steps. The first is to exercise our
memory more by doing puzzles and
exercises every day. Doing a crossword,
memorising a shopping list, describing the
furniture in a room are all examples of this.
Eating memory-boosting food like broccoli
26
Photos © p0psicle, oranje88 / sxc.hu
HEALTH
we are. If this is the case, then there is no
doubt that memory helps equip us to cope
with the future by ensuring we know all
about our past.
also helps. Doing more exercise – for
example, by simply walking – also seems to
help improve the memory. And recent
research shows there is nothing better for
the memory than a good night’s sleep. There
is increasing evidence that sleep is essential
for consolidating and retaining new facts.
So, while we may not fully understand how
memory actually works, there is little doubt
that memory helps us grow and know who
Volunteer (n) someone who offers to do something without being paid or forced to.
Trauma (n) a very bad experience that leaves someone shocked and upset.
Malleable (adj) easily changed and influenced.
Stern (adj) serious and severe.
Photos © Tim Psych, PostcardsFromHome / flickr.com | lockstockb / sxc.hu
oNLINE EXERCISE
27
SPoRTS
Speed Gliding
| By Katy Dawson
H
ave you ever dreamt of flying? Not in
an aeroplane or a helicopter, but soaring
through the sky with nothing to keep you
up but a wing, a frame and a harness? If so,
you are not alone - the appeal of flying like
a bird seems deeply-rooted in so many
people. Most hang-gliders talk about this
28
when they explain the joy and freedom they
feel when they launch off a mountain or hill
and take to the air. However, this is not
enough for an increasing number of
aeronauts who want to literally dive and fly
like an eagle falling on to its prey. Welcome
to the world of speed gliding!
Photo © Melastmohican / Dreamstime.com
SPoRTS
Speed gliding is to hang-gliding what the
slalom is to skiing - only the bravest and most
talented dare take the risk. As in slalom skiing,
the speed glider shows their skill by speeding
through a complicated course of obstacles
that test and demonstrate their skills to the
fullest. A pilot launches into the air at high
speed from a ramp at the top of a steep
mountain. The pilot then skims down the
mountain’s side like a bird swooping in for a
kill. The pilot needs to pass through a number
of set 'altitude control gates' which mark the
most challenging air currents along the
mountain’s side. Unlike a slalom, these
altitude-control gates are three-dimensional
in nature. The pilot needs to pass under or
above them as well as around or between
them. Speed alone is not enough. For the pilot
to excel, they must show mastery of technical
ability, flight accuracy and course judgement.
Hang-gliders control their flight by means of
"weight shift" in the same kind of way that
motorcyclists, skiers and skaters do. Like
finding your balance for the first time when
riding a bike, getting used to the weight shift
dynamics of hang-gliding takes practice.
However, after a few flights, many hanggliders say that riding the air becomes second
nature to them. The key to controlling a hangglider is not strength but balance, endurance,
and a light touch. on average, a hang-glider
travels at speeds of up to 50 kph. By contrast,
an expert speed glider or ‘pilot’ seeks to
achieve speeds upwards of 90-130 kph.
Photos © photo journalist / SmugMug.com | Wikipedia
29
SPoRTS
the Chelan Speed Gliding Championship
which takes place in the USA. Here, some of
the world’s best pilots compete against each
other. Besides this, their main aim is to
improve on their own performance by
challenging themselves to do better than
ever before. As such, most pilots happily pass
on tips to each other on how to improve. This
makes for a very good-natured event where
camaraderie is more important than
competition.
Nowadays, speed gliding competitions are
held in many different parts of the world.
The longest-running speed gliding event is
30
Besides being a popular sport for thrillseekers, speed gliding is also a great
spectator sport. Spectators especially enjoy
watching pilots travel just metres above the
ground, flying down ski jumps, across valleys
and swooping over the crowds at air shows.
Speed gliding is included in the World Air
Games which takes place each year in a
different mountain location. A favourite
location is Turin in Italy, the scene of the 2009
event. The course in Turin starts 1,100 metres
Photos © Fred City Photos / SmugMug.com | Beadmobile / flickr.com
SPoRTS
above sea level in the mountains
overlooking Lake Avigliana. It consists of
eight altitude-control gates that drop the
pilot down to the surface of the lake. To
finish, the pilot must land on a platform
floating in the lake right in front of the public
stand set along the shore.
makes us experience what it is to be a bird in
full flight, unlike any other!
There is no doubt that speed gliding draws in
the crowds. But there are always sceptics
who wonder what inspires people to take
part. one pilot describes the entire
unforgettable experience as being “a great
combination of delicate precision control
and an intense buzz from seeing the ground
rushing past just inches away, knowing that
if you make a mistake it’s really going to
hurt!”. No wonder more and more
enthusiasts are turning out for this sport that
Aeronaut (n) someone who flies.
Skim (v) to move quickly over the surface of something.
Camaraderie (n) friendship and trust amongst a group of people.
Photos © raquel's photos, Fred City Photos / SmugMug.com
oNLINE AUDIo
31
CoVER FEATURE
Robert
Pattinson
F
ew actors are fortunate enough to
acquire international fame and stardom on
the back of just one film. But Robert Pattinson
is a lucky young man. Voted Yahoo’s Top
Movie Heartthrob and Hello magazine’s Most
Attractive Man in 2008, Pattinson is one of
only a handful of young actors who managed
to attain overnight stardom.
| By Sara Hall
British-born Robert Pattinson won fame
when he starred in the film Twilight. The film
is based on the highly popular vampire
fantasy novels by author Stephanie Meyer.
Pattinson plays the part of a 100-year-old
vampire called Edward Cullen, with the body
of a 17-year-old youth. From the moment it
came out, Twilight was a box office hit across
the world. And now, whenever Pattinson
appears in public, he attracts literally
thousands of screaming and adoring
teenage fans.
It is easy to underestimate the degree of
media attention that Robert Pattinson
attracts. Police had to come onto the streets
to calm the crowds at Twilight’s premiere in
Los Angeles and San Francisco. At the British
premiere in December 2008, adoring fans
turned up at 3.00am to be sure of getting a
red-carpet view when Pattinson arrived.
Thousands of Twi-hards - the name given to
the legions of besotted female fans slavishly follow Pattinson’s every move.
Mobbed by fans while leaving his trailer to
shoot one scene in New york, Pattinson
32
Theatrical release poster of Twilight © Wikipedia
CoVER FEATURE
Photo © James McCauley / Rex Features
33
CoVER FEATURE
describes the fans reaction to him as
“surreal”. While he is happy to sign
autographs, he puts his foot down when fans
beg him to bite their necks. He laughs, “I tell
them it will hurt too much”. Indeed, one film
critic jokingly labeled the phenomenal
success of the Twilight films “Beatlemania
with fangs”!
But despite the widespread praise of his
acting performance, the reading public did
not respond well to the news that Pattinson
was to play the part of Edward Cullen in the
Twilight movie. Pattinson beat 3,000 other
actors when he won the part as the leading
vampire. However, fans of the Twilight novels
complained that he was not American and –
even more surprisingly – they argued that he
was too ugly. Critics even set up an online
petition which collected a total of 75,000
signatures calling for Pattinson to be
replaced. Fortunately, Pattinson proved his
detractors wrong.
Robert Pattinson was born well away from
public scrutiny on 13 May 1986 in London.
Together with his two older sisters, Lizzy and
Victoria, Pattinson enjoyed a relatively
uncomplicated
childhood.
Although
Pattinson’s parents had no acting
experience, they encouraged him to join a
nearby theatre group. When he was 15,
Pattinson joined the well respected Barnes
Theatre Company. It provided the young
aspiring actor with valuable experience both
front and back stage. At the same time,
Pattinson took on any available part-time
modeling jobs.
Apart from a couple of small roles in
television, Pattinson’s first big break came in
2003 when he landed a part in Harry Potter
and the Goblet of Fire. Playing the doomed
Cedric Diggory, the hero of the wizard school
Hufflepuff, he was singled out for praise by
several film critics. As a result, he was
awarded the British Star of Tomorrow by the
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson
on the red carpet at the 2009 MTV Music Awards.
The three hold their popcorn cup-shaped awards.
34
Photo © Wikipedia
CoVER FEATURE
the classical guitar. Indeed, two of
Pattinson’s songs appear on the Twilight
soundtrack. The two songs “Never Think”
and “Let Me Sign” were first introduced into
an early cut of the film without his
knowledge. As Pattinson himself claims,
“Music is my backup plan if acting fails”.
Away from the media attention, Robert
Pattinson is refreshingly modest about his
accomplishments. He is slightly puzzled by
his popularity and says that he doesn’t
understand what all the fuss is about. He
says, “My life is pretty much identical to
before. I don’t really do that much. All I do is
read books and watch movies. I’m pretty
boring”. To relax, Pattinson enjoys his music
but like any other 23-year-old, he also enjoys
British newspaper The Times in 2005.
Pattinson’s role in the Harry Potter film was a
turning point in his career. The film also
provided new friendships. The Goblet of Fire
co-actors Stanislav Ianevski and Katie Leung
remain firm pals to this day.
Although he is best known for his part in the
Twilight films, Pattinson is adamant that he is
not typecast in future roles. In 2008, he
played the eccentric artist Salvador Dali in
the independently made film Little Ashes, as
well as playing Art in the comedy How to Be.
Quite apart from his acting talents, Pattinson
is an extremely proficient musician. He
started playing the piano and guitar when he
was just three years old. At five, he took up
Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire movie poster & theatrical release poster of Little Ashes © Wikipedia
35
CoVER FEATURE
a game of pool and darts with his friends. He
also supports Arsenal Football Club.
Many interviewers grill Pattinson about his
private life. Unsurprisingly, the actor gives
little away. Journalists are quick to speculate
about an off-screen relationship with co-star
Kristen Stewart, who plays Edward Cullen’s
great love, Bella Swan. While filming the
second Twilight film, New Moon in
Vancouver, Canada, speculation about both
actors reached fever pitch. However, the
couple claims that they are merely great
friends, which is just as well. When Robert
Pattinson confirms that he has no current
girlfriend, millions of Twi-hards across the
world stay happy!
Vampire (n) a fantasy character who feeds on human blood.
Underestimate (v) to think someone has less power or ability than they really do.
Premiere (n) the first public performance of a film or a play.
Slavishly (adv) following what other people do without thinking on your own.
Mob (n) a large group of excited or angry people.
Detractor (n) someone who publicly criticises others.
Speculate (v) to consider or discuss something.
36
Photos © Doug Inglish, Ezyan y. / flickr.com
oNLINE AUDIo
lish with Gilbert and his friends
L earn Eng
Follow him on exciting
adventures and holidays
Play fun games and activities
Try it online now!
www.ictlearning.com
For more information, contact us at:
[email protected] or call +603 2171 2392
TECHNoLoGy
Social
Networking
| By Joe St Clair
S
ometimes even the experts get it
completely wrong. In the same way that very
few people managed to predict the
phenomenal growth of the internet, today it
is ‘social networking’ that is taking the online
world by storm. Social networking is a catchall phrase for the way we use the internet to
communicate with people from around the
world. Social networking is one of the fastest
growing trends in the computing industry.
Not long ago, social networking was still in its
infancy. Most business analysts and industry
experts considered the websites that offered
this type of networking capability as being
nothing more than another channel for
teenagers to express themselves, with no
interest or application to the world of
mainstream business. How things have
changed! Today, industry analysts and
marketing experts view websites like
Facebook, MySpace, youTube, LinkedIn,
Bebo, Second Life and Twitter as mainstream
applications. These globally-active sites are
just the tip of the social networking iceberg.
Photo © Gyeah / Dreamstime.com
All logos are registered trademarks of their respective owners: Facebook, youtube, MySpace, LinkedIn
39
TECHNoLoGy
In every country, a mass of locally-relevant
sites compete fiercely to cater to locallyrelevant community and networking needs.
Some ideas defy prediction. The idea of
writing diary updates in a total of 140
characters or less has led to the truly
phenomenal growth of Twitter. The power of
Twitter is that it links the internet to the
world of mobile phones. Update your blog
on Twitter and you immediately
communicate with every mobile phone user
signed up to your site. As a result, political
heavyweights like President obama
regularly update their blogs on Twitter to
speak to all those interested in what they are
doing and thinking. Celebrities now use
Twitter as a key tool to communicate with
their fan base. However, this is not all
benign. With the ease of access to
40
information and communication on the
internet, criminals are interested with the
opportunity to exploit technology for illegal
gain. Users of Twitter report that criminals
have robbed their houses by monitoring
messages to see when they are at home or
away on travel. The message here is clear.
The more you tell strangers about yourself,
the more you subject yourself to risk and
exploitation.
The power of the internet means that today
we can communicate virtually instantaneously with anyone in the world who has
internet access. We can upload videos, music
Photo © acerin / sxc.hu | Twitter logo is registered trademark of its respective owner
TECHNoLoGy
and photos. We can join
interactive chat rooms on
almost any subject. We
can apply for jobs
anywhere in the world using
online job search and professional
networking websites. Networking used
to depend on the kind of club you
belonged to – the kind of people you were
able to meet in person. Now, this is no
longer true. The internet means we can
network with people who we will never get
to meet in person. Communication and
socialisation are now moving from face-toface to cyberspace. We now have a
bewildering array of new social networking
sites to give us the ultimate online visibility,
persona or presence. But what is this new
medium of communication all about and
why should we care?
Like all ideas, some of the most simple turn
out to be the best. The power of the net
shows no signs of slowing down. Although
the early years of the internet tended to be
more business focused with the one-tomany model of information transmission
dominating the system, there has been a
gentle but steady rise in the growth of
community-based communication tools.
Friendship and dating agencies were the first
to exploit this one-to-one power of the
internet. The UK-based Friends United, was
the first to truly understand how the internet
could connect people who either had lost
contact or had a need to reconnect with
people they shared something with, or had
in common. Friends United was the first site
to allow us to reconnect with long-lost
school buddies or people who had shared a
key experience with us. They also help us to
reconnect with former work colleagues or
professional contacts that we had lost touch
with years ago.
Very soon, other entrepreneurs started to
build on this networking idea, and created
websites designed to give people places to
share their ideas, thoughts, videos and
photos with friends and colleagues across
the world. one of the reasons that teenagers
were the first to exploit this opportunity was
simply because, unlike working adults,
teenagers could rarely afford to have their
own websites. As a result, teenagers quickly
turned to social networking sites to establish
their online presence. over the last few years,
the use of web cameras (webcams) and
synchronous communication facilities like
Photo © owaisk_4u / sxc.hu
41
TECHNoLoGy
Skype have enabled people to connect to
each other in real time. This means that
someone online can literally talk to or share
thinking with someone else they find online
at the same time. As a result, amateur
musicians can now film their own
performances and get instant feedback and
even strike a fan base. The internet allows all
kinds of performers to reach a global
audience in precisely the same way that they
used to do by going on tour in local clubs
and venues.
This means that, suddenly, people can
achieve worldwide recognition by working
the social networking sites on the internet in
the same kind of way they used to work local
clubs and professional associations in the
past. The difference is the speed of success.
42
Photo © hyperscholar / flickr.com |
Susan Boyle shot to worldwide fame as the
most watched artist on youTube after her
audition on the UK mainstream TV show
Britain’s Got Talent. Interestingly, Boyle’s
experience shows that exposure to global
fame in no way guarantees that an individual
can cope with the demands of that fame or
deliver against the expectations of the
millions of fans who suddenly feel they have
personal rights over the performance of the
artiste or entrepreneur in question.
The death of Michael Jackson also shows
how the power of social networking can
affect a massively important business
outcome. Jackson shot to the top of the
charts after his death, as a whole new
generation discovered his music for the first
time and through the recommendations of
people online in social networking rather
than feedback from traditional TV or other
media outlets.
Skype logo is registered trademark of its respective owner
TECHNoLoGy
effect took place. In this new world, the
power lies with the people and not with
access to the medium. Big business is still
working out what this change in
communication power means for brand
success and global brand recognition.
What is indisputable is that social
networking is not only here to stay but it is
growing, adapting and bringing us
exciting new ways of interacting with
other people. It is set to fundamentally
change the way we communicate in an
increasingly wired world.
Michael Jackson’s death, like no other global
marketing call, has woken businesses and
organisations to the power of social
networking. These business giants suddenly
realised that all these new concepts were not
just the preserve of bored teenagers. Instead,
they have begun to realise how these
websites can be exploited for business
purposes, to spread marketing messages,
attract new sales, find new customers and
sales outlets, communicate in new
unorthodox ways and use the net as
another corporate communication medium.
However, what is clear here is that the power
of decision lies with the individual and not
with the corporation. People moved by
Jackson’s unexpected death introduced
others to his music and so on, as the ripple
Infancy (n) something that has just started.
Benign (adj) kind and gentle.
Entrepreneur (n) a business person.
Unorthodox (adj) not following the usual and expected rules or beliefs.
Photos © ricardodiaz11 / flickr.com | michelini / sxc.hu
43
SHoRT SToRy
The Canterville
Ghost
| By oscar Wilde
in ghosts. Have you seen this Canterville
Ghost?’
‘No,’ said Lord Canterville, ‘but I have heard
it at night.’
‘I don’t believe in ghosts,’ Mr otis said
again. ‘No one has found a ghost. No one has
put a ghost in a museum. And you haven’t
seen this ghost either.’
Mr Hiram
B. otis was a rich American
from New york. He had come to live and
work in England, but he did not want to live
in London. He did not want to live in the city.
He wanted to live in the countryside outside
London.
Canterville Chase was a large and very old
house near London. Lord Canterville, the
owner, wanted to sell it. So Mr Hiram B. otis
visited Lord Canterville.
‘I do not live in Canterville Chase,’ Lord
Canterville said to Mr otis. ‘I do not want to
live there. The house has a ghost – The
Canterville Ghost.’
‘I come from America,’ said Mr otis.
‘America is a modem country. I don’t believe
46
‘But several members of my family have
seen it,’ said Lord Canterville. ‘My aunt saw
the ghost. She was so frightened that she
was ill for the rest of her life. Also, the
servants have seen it so they will not stay in
the house at night. only the housekeeper,
Mrs Umney, lives in Canterville Chase. Mrs
Umney lives there alone.’
‘I want to buy the house,’ said Mr otis. ‘I’ll
buy the ghost as well. Will you sell Canterville
Chase? Will you sell the ghost?’
‘yes, I will,’ said Lord Canterville. ‘But,
please remember, I told you about the ghost
before you bought the house.’
----------------Mr Hiram B. otis bought Canterville Chase.
Then his family came to England from
America. He had a wife called Lucretia, three
sons and a daughter.
The eldest son, Washington, was almost
twenty years old. He was good-looking and
had fair hair. His two young brothers were
SHoRT SToRy
‘yes, please,’ said Mrs otis.
The otis family followed Mrs Umney into
the library.
There was a big table in the centre of the
room and many chairs. Mrs Umney put
teacups on the table, then she brought a pot
of tea.
The otises sat in the library and drank their
tea. They looked out of a large window at the
rain. The rain was falling heavily and the sky
was black. They heard thunder and they saw
lightning.
Mrs otis looked around the room. There
were many books on bookshelves. There
were paintings on the walls. There was also a
red stain on the floor. The red stain was by
the fireplace.
twins. They were twelve years old. The
daughter, Virginia, was fifteen years old. She
had large blue eyes and a lovely face.
Mr otis took his family to live at Canterville
Chase. The old house was in the countryside
west of London. Mr otis and his family
travelled from London by train. Then they
rode to the house in a wagon pulled by two
horses.
Canterville Chase was big and old. Trees
grew all around the house. The otis family
wanted to stop and look at the outside of the
house, but the sky darkened. A thunderstorm
was coming. Rain started to fall, so the family
went inside the house quickly.
Mrs Umney, the housekeeper, was waiting
for them by the front door. She was an old
woman and wore a black dress and white
apron. She lived at Canterville Chase and
looked after the house.
‘Welcome to Canterville Chase,’ said Mrs
Umney. ‘Would you like some tea?’
‘What is this red stain?’ Mrs otis asked Mrs
Umney.
‘It is blood,’ answered the old housekeeper
in a quiet voice.
‘I don’t want a blood-stain in my library,’
said Mrs otis. ‘Please remove the stain. Please
clean the floor immediately.’
The old woman smiled. ‘It is the blood of
Lady Eleanore de Canterville. She was
murdered by her husband, Sir Simon de
Canterville, in 1575. The blood-stain has
been here for over three hundred years. It
cannot be removed.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Washington otis. ‘I have
some Pinkerton’s Stain Remover from
America. It can remove any stain. Watch.’
Washington otis took the stain remover
from a bag. Pinkerton’s Stain Remover
looked like a small black stick. He rubbed the
stick on the blood-stain. A minute later the
floor was clean. The stick had removed the
stain quickly and easily.
47
SHoRT SToRy
Mrs Umney looked at the floor. She was
frightened. No one had removed the bloodstain for three hundred years.
Mrs Umney was very frightened.
‘Pinkerton’s can remove anything,’ said
Washington otis. ‘The blood-stain has gone.’
Lightning flashed and lit the library.
Thunder crashed over the house. Mrs Umney
fainted.
Mr and Mrs otis ran across the library. They
helped the old housekeeper who lay on the
floor. Mrs Umney’s eyes were closed and her
face was pale.
‘Mrs Umney! Mrs Umney!’ cried Mrs otis.
‘Can you speak?’
Mrs Umney opened her eyes. ‘Trouble will
come to this house,’ she said. ‘I have seen the
ghost. The ghost will come to you.’
All the otises helped Mrs Umney to stand
up. ‘The ghost will come,’ she said again. ‘you
must not remove the blood-stain. you must
not clean the library floor. The ghost will be
angry.’
Then Mrs Umney went upstairs to her
room.
‘Let’s look for the ghost,’ said the otis boys.
‘Let’s look round the house.’
The otises looked round the house
together. But they did not see the Canterville
Ghost.
----------------That night the family went to bed early.
The storm continued all night. Next morning
they went into the library. The blood-stain
had reappeared on the floor.
‘I’ll remove this blood-stain once more,’
said Washington otis. ‘Mother doesn’t want a
blood-stain in the library. I’ll clean the floor
48
again.’
He removed the blood-stain with
Pinkerton’s Stain Remover. The library floor
was clean. But the next morning the stain
had come back again.
‘This is very strange,’ said Mr otis. ‘I’ll lock
the library door at night. No one can come
into the library. No one can put a stain on the
floor.’
‘I don’t think Pinkerton’s Stain Remover is
bad,’ said Washington otis. ‘I think there
really is a ghost. The ghost is making the
blood-stain. The ghost puts the stain on the
floor at night.’
‘We must find this ghost,’ said Mr Hiram B.
otis. ‘It must stop making these stains. your
mother does not like blood on the library
floor.’
That day the family went out. They walked
around the countryside near Canterville
Chase. They went to the nearby village. They
looked at the old village houses. Then they
walked back to Canterville Chase through
the woods. It was a summer evening and the
weather was fine.
It was late when they got back to the
house. The otises were hungry and tired.
After eating supper they went to bed. The
bedrooms were upstairs. There was a long
corridor upstairs. The bedroom doors were
along this corridor.
Mr otis woke up after midnight. There was
a strange noise outside his room. The sound
was like metal chains. The chains were
rubbing together.
Mr otis got out of bed and opened the
bedroom door. He looked into the corridor.
He saw the Canterville Ghost in the
corridor. The ghost was an old man with
SHoRT SToRy
burning red eyes. He had long grey hair and
wore very old-fashioned clothes. There were
chains on his hands and feet. He was rubbing
the chains together so· they made a noise.
‘My dear sir, your chains make a terrible
noise,’ Mr otis said to the ghost. ‘you must
put some oil on those chains. Here is some
Tammany Rising Sun oil from the United
States. Please put the oil on your chains.’
Mr otis put a bottle of oil on a table in the
corridor. Then he closed his bedroom door
and went back to bed.
The Canterville Ghost was very surprised.
He had Iived in Canterville Chase for three
hundred years. Everyone was frightened of
him, because everyone was afraid of ghosts.
But this American gentleman was not afraid.
The Canterville Ghost decided to work
harder. He wanted to frighten the American.
He made a terrible noise and shone a horrible
green light in the corridor.
Another door opened at the end of the
corridor. Mr otis’s youngest sons came out of
their bedroom. The two young boys had the
pillows from their beds in their hands. They
threw the pillows at the ghost. They laughed
at the ghost.
The ghost was amazed and upset. No one
had laughed at him before. He was a ghost.
Everyone is frightened of ghosts. No one had
ever laughed at the Canterville Ghost before.
The Canterville Ghost did not know what
to do. He disappeared through the wall and
the house became quiet.
The ghost went to the secret room where
he lived. He sat down on a chair. He thought
about what had happened.
He had frightened people for three
hundred years. He had looked through
windows and frightened the servants. He
had knocked on bedroom doors. He had
frightened people in their beds. He had
blown out candles in the night. He had
turned green and made noises with his
chains. Everyone had always been
frightened. No one had given him Rising Sun
oil to put on his chains. No one had thrown
pillows at him. He was a very unhappy ghost.
----------------Washington otis removed the blood-stain
in the library every day. Every morning the
stain had reappeared. But the stain was no
longer the colour of blood. one morning it
was brown. Another morning it was purple.
Then it became bright green.
The otises laughed at the blood-stain.
They looked for it every morning before
breakfast.
‘What colour
Washington otis.
is
it
today?’
asked
‘It’s green!’ shouted the twins. ‘It’s green
blood today.’
They laughed at the green blood-stain on
the library floor.
Virginia otis did not laugh. The young girl
was silent at breakfast. The blood-stain made
her feel sad and she almost cried when she
saw the bright green stain. She was sure that
the ghost put the stain on the floor. She felt
sorry for the ghost.
‘The stain has been here for three hundred
years,’ said Virginia. ‘We have been here for
three weeks. The poor ghost puts the stain
on the floor every night. Can’t you leave the
stain there?’
But the others did not listen to Virginia.
From The Canterville Ghost by oscar Wilde. | Published by Macmillan Education 1989.
Retold by Stephen Colbourn for Macmillan Readers.
49
BUSINESS
A Systematic Approach
to Problem Solving
| By Helen Treadwell
T
he following step-by-step logic to
problem solving may help you change the
way you see and solve problems at work.
1. Describe and understand
the situation
Find out exactly what has happened. Try to
get specific information or evidence of
where the problem lies by evaluating the
audit trail available through reports
(including routinely available statistics and
measures), minutes of meetings etc. Aim to
pinpoint when the problem started by
knowing precisely what changed as a result
of the problem occurring.
2. Focus on useful information
Aim to identify all the elements which cause
the problem and to exclude those that do
not. This requires patience, attention to
details and thoroughness. you need to
examine all the conditions under which you
see the problem occurring – including
people, resources, processes and systems.
Ask:
What is the problem, and what is not?
When or how do you notice the
problem, and when do you not?
Who does the problem affect, and who
not?
What is the difference between those
the problem affects and those it does
not?
What specifically do you
notice most about the
people the problem
affects?
What else does the
problem affect, and what not?
.
.
.
.
.
.
3. Define the probable
cause(s) of the problem
50
Photo © lusi / sxc.hu
BUSINESS
Most problems have their roots in the way
people respond to change. Asking “what has
changed from the way things used to work
or the way in which we expect them to work”
to hone in on the true cause of the problem
rather than its symptoms. Be clear:
When did the problem begin?
What changes happened at that time?
Which of these changes may be
relevant?
.
.
.
.
.
Now, which changes do you think are
relevant?
Now, what underlying causes do these
changes indicate?
5. Test your assumptions
Review all the data you have gathered on
the problem. Check where the problem
appears to have no effect against your
assumptions about where it seems to create
an effect. This may lead you to see a different
pattern of correlations which suggests a
different root cause from the one you first
identified. Test this new assumption again in
exactly the same way. Stop when you come
up with no new correlations.
6. Propose sensible solutions
Prioritise your solutions in terms of
how you know
others will
value
their
4. Propose potential solutions
To check your assumptions about why you
think the problem exists, identify the places
where you see the problem creating no
effects:
Photos © intuitives, krilm / sxc.hu
51
BUSINESS
effectiveness. For example, what is most
important to those the problem is affecting –
time, money, risk or safety for example?
way forward for those affected by the
problem and influence their likelihood to
accept them. To make this work, set out a
clear plan of action that says who you expect
to do what, and by when.
8. Avoid creating further
problems through your follow up
Take the time to review regularly and in
detail the impact that your solution is
creating. This is the best way for you to
anticipate and prevent any new problems
from occurring!
7. Decide on the least negative
solution and make it work
To identify the least negative solution to the
problem, use the priorities you know to be
important, to assess the likely impact of all
the various alternative solutions you have
identified. only then can you recommend a
Titbit #3
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is
necessary. It fulfils the same function as
pain in the human body. It calls attention
to an unhealthy state of things.”
Pinpoint (v) to explain accurately or exactly.
Root (n) the main idea or cause.
Correlation (n) a connection between two or more things.
52
Photos © pzado, svilen001 / sxc.hu
Winston Churchill
FF RR EE EE AA CC CC EE SS SS !!
SPM & PMR
English
English Preparation!
Preparation!
www.literature.com.my
Poems, short stories, online games etc.
Worksheets and activities
Join now! Over a thousand teachers have registered.
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Tel : 03 - 6201 8331
Fax : 03 - 6201 6727
Email : [email protected]
53
ACTIVITy
Padlocked
Money Box
From ‘Collage’ by Fresh Minds Publishing
Use a large brush to
paint the tube with
white paint. Let the paint
dry. you may need to use
two or three coats of
paint to cover any
lettering. Let each coat of
paint dry. Then add two
coats of metallic paint.
T
1
his project uses trompe
l’oeil (a French term
that means ‘cheating the
eye’) to show a padlock and
chain that look real even
though they are just made of
paint. Using shadow lines
and highlights, make the
padlock and chain stand out
from the background.
Cover your work
surface
with
newspaper. Lay the tube
on top. Pour small
amounts of black and
white paint into a palette.
Add a little water to each
colour. Use a toothbrush
to spray the tube with first
white, then black paint.
Roll the tube around to
spray the whole surface.
2
YOU NEED
• Cardboard tube with
plastic lid
• Black and white
acrylic paint
• Metallic acrylic paint
• Large and small
paintbrushes
• Toothbrush
• Palette
• Tracing paper
• Transfer paper
• Masking tape
• Pencil
• Newspaper
• Craft knife
• Cutting mat
54
Draw a padlock and
chain on to the tube.
Fill in the designs with
metallic paint. Let the
paint dry.
3
Photos © Fresh Minds Publishing
ACTIVITy
Use a small paintbrush
to paint in the keyhole
with black. Add black
shadow lines to the lefthand side and the bottom
of each chain link and the
padlock. Let the paint dry.
4
Add highlights by
painting white lines to
the right-hand side and the
top of each link and the
padlock.
5
Use a craft knife to
make a slit on the lid.
Place the lid on top of the
tube.
6
MORE IDEAS
Design symbols to
show ‘Keep out’,
‘Private’ and ‘Danger’.
Use these symbols to
decorate your
money box.
Photos © Fresh Minds Publishing
55
ACTIVITy
Language Quiz
Just For Fun
Try our questions and puzzles – no prizes, just for fun!
A
Write the answers to the questions into
the grid. The letters in the shaded
squares will spell the name of a famous actor.
Reading the articles in the magazine will help
you find the right answers.
1. A fantasy character who feeds on human
blood.
2. Friendship and trust between a group of
people.
3. A line on a map that shows the height
above or below sea level.
4. A person who drives a car.
5. The first performance of a film or a play.
6. Kind and gentle.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
56
7. Robert Pattinson’s favourite hobby.
8. Someone who offers to do something
without being paid.
9. Memory loss.
ACTIVITy
B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Unscramble these words that appear
in the magazine articles:
MACLITE
SULEINAT
NEERG
CREDELyC
VIMENTENRoN
CoELoCAIGL
C
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Find a letter that will complete the first
word and the start of the second:
FLyIN ( ) LIDE
MoUNTAI ( ) AVIGATE
oBSTACL ( ) VENT
THRIL ( ) EAP
SPECTATo ( ) ACE
PLATFoR ( ) AP
JUST FoR FUN SoLUTIoNS oN PAGE 61
Photos © Melastmohican / Dreamstime.com | svenic / sxc.hu
57
ACTIVITy
Find a Word
Dance and Festivals
z
K
C
S
o D
S
R
T
H
S
U K
B
E
R
R
S
o
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K
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o
T C
C
y
Q
C
o
N
F
D
I
S
M
K
R
A
L N G
R
Q
A
L
C
U
L
R
P
F
D
E
y
A
S
P
E
C
T
A
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L
E
M D
X M D M Q
J
F
R
B
G
H
U
B
G
R
T
W N G
A
N
S
D
T
Q X
V
C
T
C
o
z
G R N o
y
B
E
L
L
S
o
H Q
I
F
z
A B
I
A
T
SPRING
V
M Q
T
S
Q
o
V
A
R
Q
W T
R
P
y
PERFoRMERS
J
E
C
T
L
A
V
I
V
E
R
I
J
P
N o
Q
R
U
C
S
y
B M
F
P
D
M G
S
M R
I
M N
N
I
A
o
L
T
A
S
C D X
T
M
BELLS
E
R
I
I
M U W
J
R
o
E
C V
E
o
R
CoSTUME
D
K
R
H V
y
N
T
P
o D
D L
G
L
F
M
R
A
I
U
y
R
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B
S
X
G T
D
K
o
P
N
Q
T
L
y
U M
F
E
T
W F
X
T
N
I
N W T
DANCE
HoLIDAy
TRADITIoN
RITUAL
CoNCERT
SKIP
REVIVAL
SPECTACLE
1. Find and circle all words associated
with dance and festivals. The words
lie along, up, down and diagonally
across the columns. The words can
run forwards or backwards.
2. Translate or explain the words for
yourself.
FIND A WoRD SoLUTIoN oN PAGE 61
58
ACTIVITy
Know the Issue
The Just English Quiz
Find the answers to our quiz
1.
Is it true that only women perform
Morris dancing?
2.
Name two musical instruments used to
accompany Morris dancing.
3.
What particular spring day is usually
associated with Morris dancing?
4.
How can you use your watch to find
where North is?
5.
on average, how far does a person
walk every hour?
6.
7.
on a map, what does a contour show?
8.
What are “passive houses”?
What is the German town of Vauban
famous for?
Compass © lusi / sxc.hu
59
ACTIVITy
11. How fast can an expert hang glider travel?
12. Where were the World Air Games held
in 2009?
13. In
which film does Robert Pattinson
play a 100-year-old vampire?
14. Is it true that Robert Pattinson comes
from a theatrical family?
15. In which Harry Potter film did Robert
Pattinson play Cedric Diggory?
16. Which
musical instruments does
Robert Pattinson play?
17. What
do Twitter and Skype have in
common?
18. What is an entrepreneur?
19. Who said “those who cannot remember
9.
Are the majority of
population young or old?
Vauban’s
10. How do hang gliders control their flight?
60
the past are condemned to repeat it”?
20. Describe practical ways of improving
your memory.
Movie poster of How To Be © Wikipedia
ACTIVITy
Answers
from pages 56 - 58
Just for Fun Answers from page 56
A
1.
V
A M
P
I
R
E
A M
A
R
2.
C
3.
C o N
T
o
U
R
4.
M o
T
o
R
I
E
M
I
E
R
E
6.
B
E
N
I
G
N
7.
M U
S
I
C
8.
V
o
L
U
9.
A M
N
E
S
5.
P
R
B
2. INSULATE
4. RECyCLED
5. ENVIRoNMENT
6. ECoLoGICAL
Z K
I
A
C
S
O D
F
D
U
F
R
B E
L
S
P
V M
J
E
E R
PLATFoR ( M ) AP
E
C
L
Q R
f.
T
A
C O
c. oBSTACL ( E ) VENT
e. SPECTATo ( R ) ACE
N
K
b. MoUNTAI ( N ) AVIGATE
d. THRIL ( L ) EAP
T
O
S D
a. AFLyIN ( G ) LIDE
S
R S
J
C
D
E
R
E
R
I
E
Puzzle Solution
from page 58
1. CLIMATE
3. GREEN
A
N
E
R
E
Q M
L
R
P
B
G
L
C
I
S M
T
H
K
R
E
M
D
C
O
Z
A
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Q W T
P
D M G
E
I
F
D
H
U B
G
S
O
H Q
I
L
A
T
R
S
C
S
I
M U W J
R
O
I
U
B
S
U
N
N
D K
R
H
P N
Q
T
I
A
Y
T
Y
T
Q
C
L
E
Q
T
V
C
O
Q
C
X
A
O V
V
I
L
B M
I
A
O
V
Y
N T
Y
U M
L
Y
R
E
V
F
T
P
F
S
S
T
I M
M R
S
K
F
E
A
A
U
T
L
A
K
C
N
B
C
G
I
N
T W N
G
Z
I
X M D
G
A
R
B
N
R
R
I
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S
C
D
X
D
L
G
C
V
O
D
E
T W F
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G
T
P
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Y
R
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Q
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W T
M Q
A
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A
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S
M R
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T M
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F
N
61
JUST ENGLISH
English Language Teaching Workshops
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Description of Workshops
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Identifying and addressing learners' pronunciation problems
Current methods and strategies of teaching listening
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Exposure to the effective teaching of structured and controlled speaking to freer
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Introduction to the strategies needed to achieve reading competency
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Current methods and strategies of teaching writing
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