english a compilation of newsticker articles and exercises · published from 2014-12-01 to...

English

A compilation of NewsTickerarticles and exercises

December, 2014

CONTENT

TJIPETIR......................................................................................................................2AWAKE AFTER 10 DAYS............................................................................................ 4WISH OF A LIFETIME..................................................................................................6LIKE BEING HIT BY A BULLET................................................................................... 8INTO THE WOODS....................................................................................................10THE SHARK WAS A LITTLE PECKISH..................................................................... 12WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS................................................................... 14100 BRAINS MISSING...............................................................................................16DEAF AND ALONE.................................................................................................... 18NASAL INVASION......................................................................................................20KICK A FOOTY WHILE YOU WAIT............................................................................22

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Published from 2014-12-08 to 2014-12-14

TJIPETIR

Gutter percha

Tracey Willimas found a strange rubber-like block on a beach in Cornwell, England.She decided to investigate the source of the mysterious debris.

The block was about the size of a chopping board and bore the name Tjipetir. With theaid of social media, she learned that they had been found all over Europe.

The word, Tjipetir, she discovered, was the name of a rubber plantation in Indonesia. Itoperated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tracey also found out that the blocks had been aboard an ocean liner that sunk in1917 while on a voyage to London.

“It only takes 25 years for flotsam to go around the world, and they've probably beenaround long enough to go around the world three times, ” Oceanographer CurtisEbbesmeyer said.

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EXERCISES

TJIPETIR

Gutter percha

1a What did Tracey aim to find the answers to?

1b If a block doesn’t make it to the shore, how far could it travel, and how long would ittake?

1c Describe the mysterious debris, using your own words.

1d What has been the extent of such discoveries?

2a Tjipetir. Write a poem about this story using the letters T-j-e-p-e-t-i-r. Each line ofyour poem will begin with one of the letters. For example, "Tracey found a block. Just apiece of rubber. Exactly! Perhaps she’ll find the source. Everyone wants to know. Tickthe box and make her smile. Intrigue in a square. Really, really real. " Have fun!

2b Read your poem for the class.

3a What is gutta percha? What do you think this word has to do with this story?

3b What has gutta percha been used for in the past? What is it still used for today?

3c Share your findings with the class.

4a What sorts of debris have you found washed up on the beach? Discuss

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AWAKE AFTER 10 DAYS

A rock and a boy over the cliff

A 4-year old Californian boy fell the equivalent of 23 stories.

His family were walking along a path. They stopped to throw rocks over the cliff edge.

“I bent down to pick up a rock, and he bent down to pick up a rock. He got his rock first,” explained his mum, Jamie Guglielmino. “By the time I turned around to tell him not togo near the edge, he was already stepping off of it, trying to throw a rock. ”

Jamie screamed in horror as she watch her son plummet 70 metres down the cliff face.

Rescue workers arrived at the scene, and to their surprise, found the boy injured butalive.

Last week, after 10 days in a medically induced coma, he woke up.

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EXERCISES

AWAKE AFTER 10 DAYS

A rock and a boy over the cliff

1a What did the dispatched emergency team expect to find?

1b What was Jamie’s reaction to what she saw her son doing?

1c Over what time frame was the boy unconscious?

1d Immediately prior to the accident, what had the four-year old been doing?

2a Fill in the missing word in the following sentences.(a, an)He was in __ induced coma. The path was __ rocky one. It was __ unexpectedsurprise to find the boy alive. __ emergency team of rescuers arrived at the scene. Theman who arrived at the scene was wearing __ uniform. __ uninvited guest turned up tothe party. He awoke terrified after seeing __ one-eyed monster in his dream.

2b In your own words, what are the rules that apply when using the two indefinitearticles?

3a Research how far people have fallen and survived. Write a short text telling one ofthese stories in your own words.Read your text for a friend.

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WISH OF A LIFETIME

Granted

Ruby holt is 100 years old. Last week she was given an early birthday present.

Three weeks before her 101st birthday, Ruby was treated to a trip to the ocean.

This might not seem like such an unusual gift, but it is if you’ve never seen the oceanbefore.

Ruby explained that she had never had the time or money to take a trip to the beach.

Debbie Surgeon, one of Ruby’s carers, applied to the “Wish of a Lifetime” program.Ruby’s wish was granted.

After a six-hour car ride from Tennessee, Ruby used her motorised wheelchair to get tothe water’s edge. As she dipped her toe in the water, she burst out laughing.

“She laughed so hard. It just tickled her to death. She said she’s always wanted to dothat, ” Debbie said.

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EXERCISES

WISH OF A LIFETIME

Granted

1a What facilitated Ruby’s approach to the water’s edge?

1b Why hadn’t Ruby ever been to the beach before?

1c What made the centenarian chuckle?

1d What made it possible for Ruby to make the six-hour car journey from Tennessee?

2a Do you have a wish that you would like to be granted to you? Write a short text tosend to "Wish of a Lifetime". Describe your wish and explain what it would mean to youto have your wish granted. (The following website may have some helpful tips aboutthe kind of things you can write)seniorwish. org/wish/jbwol. php

2b Give the text to a friend for feedback.

2c If you feel comfortable doing so, read your text for the class.(Please note, it is not intended that you actually send the text to Wish of a Lifetime: ))

3a Ruby may not have physically seen the ocean in her first 100 years of life, but shecertainly saw a lot of other things first hand. What are four significant inventions madein the last 100 years that Ruby would have experienced?

3b Share your findings with your classmates.

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LIKE BEING HIT BY A BULLET

Sporting world shocked

Australian Cricketer, Phillip Hughes, has died at the tender age of just 25. He wasstruck on the head by a bouncer during a match last week.

The sporting world is shocked and horrified by the talented young player's death.

"We knew it was serious when we saw him being revived at the edge of the cricketpitch. But we all expected him to pull through, " tweeted one of his teammates."Waking up to this news was a nightmare. "

The bowler who delivered the fateful ball is certainly living out that nightmare.

Scyld Berry, a cricket commentator said: "It is shocking because Hughes was asportsman. We expect them to be fitter and healthier than the rest of us. [But] a missileof five to six pounds aimed at your head can be … a lethal weapon. "

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EXERCISES

LIKE BEING HIT BY A BULLET

Sporting world shocked

1a What is like "being hit by a bullet" in relation to this story?

1b Did people expect Phillip to die?

1c What do we assume to be true of sportsmen and sportswomen?

1d What made it obvious that the cricketer was in serious trouble?

2a In pairs, read through the text, looking up the meaning of any new words.

2b What is the infinitive of the following verbs?struck, died, hit, horrified, shocked, knew, tweeted

2c Write a sentence to illustrate the use of the infinitive for each of the verbs.

3a Read some of the tributes made to this young man.Select one of them to read for your classmates.

3b What is a bouncer? What is the debate this incident has caused?

3b Discuss your findings with your classmates.

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INTO THE WOODS

Be careful what you wish for!

Into the Woods is a Walt Disney production that is soon to debut in movie theatresaround the globe. On Christmas Day audiences will be treated to an enchanting storythat involves the characters of several Grimms Fairy Tales, including: Little Red RidingHood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella".

This humorous and thought-provoking musical features the music and lyrics ofStephen Sondheim. In an interview with Meryl Streep she referred to Sondheim's workas unparalleled.

The movie explores the consequences of things wished for. Meryl Streep is the wickedwitch that has placed a curse on the baker and his wife so that they will remainchildless. As the couple seek to reverse the curse, they have encounters withCinderella, the Big Bad wolf, the Giant and Rapunzel, among others.

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EXERCISES

INTO THE WOODS

Be careful what you wish for!

1a Which film producing company is responsible for this upcoming film?

1b Which famous children's stories are featured in the musical?

1c Is the movie likely to make you laugh? What makes you sure of this?

1d What is the release date of "Into the Woods"?

2a Read through the text looking up the meanings of any new words.

2b Fast forward to January 2015. Rewrite the entire article as a review of the moviethat played to audiences on Christmas day.(The purpose of the exercise is to explore the way in which the verbs are conjugatedas you write the report in retrospect. You don’t have to write each of the items in thetwo lists that are mentioned in the original text)

2c Present your retrospective version of the text for a classmate. After giving oneanother feedback, give them to the teacher, who will write some paragraphs from someof them on the whiteboard for further discussion and correction where necessary.

3a Watch the trailer of the movie.www. youtube. com/watch? v=2Byk9Is3TjY

3b The article describes the movie as a thought-provoking musical. After viewing thetrailer, is there something that was said, or happened, in this short clip that is likely tostop and make us think?

3c Who were the the brothers Grimm?

3d Share your thoughts and findings with your classmates.

4a After your work on this Newsticker, will you be lining up at a movie theatre onChristmas day?

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THE SHARK WAS A LITTLE PECKISH

I'm stoked!

When Mike Coots was 17-years old he lost his right leg. He was surfing, and a nearbyshark was a little peckish. I know, it sounds horrendous, doesn’t it? But Mike survivedand, in time, learned to get about with the aid of a prosthetic.

Mike, now 35, has created a short film to let the world to know that life is good andthanks to a recently designed, state of the art carbon fibre prosthetic he is back in thewater doing the thing he loves most, surfing.

"I was surfing on my previous legs, but it was uncomfortable because they were madeof wood and metal. I wanted to show that I now have this new leg … and I'm stoked!

Mike now works as a professional photographer. His inspiring photos have beenpublished in the The Wall Street Journal, Hawaii Magazine and the Discovery Channel,just to name a few.

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EXERCISES

THE SHARK WAS A LITTLE PECKISH

I'm stoked!

1a What happened when the surfing enthusiast was a teenager?

1b In your own words, explain why Mike recently produced a film clip.

1c In what capacity does Mike get to share his travel experiences?

1d In what way is the amputee’s current artificial limb superior?

2a What is meant by the following: 'a little peckish', 'state of the art', 'I'm stoked', 'toname a few'?

2b What would synonyms for these phrases be?

2c Using these phrases write a facebook post about what you did on the weekend.

3a Watch the film clip Mike made.www. huffingtonpost. com/2014/11/20/surfing-with-prosthetic-leg_n_6197116. html

3b Watch the interview with Mike Coots (It is not necessary to watch the wholeinterview if time does not permit. Watch to 3. 40)www. youtube. com/watch? v=pImTvoa9ml8

3c Where does Mike come from? What happened in his encounter with the shark?Was it something he had planned to do? What led to Mike becoming a sharkadvocate? What did Mike do when he was bored?

4a Is there an element to Mike's story that is hard to understand? Discuss

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WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

And a Happy New Year!

For most of us in the English speaking world, Christmas is a time to enjoy a break fromschool and work and get together with friends and family.

Banquets, buffets, and succulent delicacies will be consumed in copious quantities, sothat it's not just the turkey that feels stuffed! : ) Special songs are sung; houses, streetsand trees are adorned with shiny, sparkling ornaments, and festive lights and candleschase away the darkness.

Not everyone will be warm and well-fed, though, so let's do what we can to be kind,generous, and helpful to those near and far who are in need, and spread a little lovethroughout the holiday season!

Be blessed, safe and exceedingly happy.

We look forward to lighting up your lives again in the new year with all kinds of fun andinformative Newstickers, kicking off January 7th.

Happy Holidays from all of us!

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EXERCISES

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100 BRAINS MISSING

Living room ornaments?

Charles Whitman killed 16 people and wounded 32 others when he fired from anobservation deck at the University of Texas, at Austin, in August 1966.

Whitman complained of his "many unusual and irrational thoughts" and "violentimpulses. " When he died, an autopsy showed that he had a small brain tumour which"conceivably could have contributed to his inability to control his emotions and actions." His brain has been preserved in formaldehyde and until recently, it was the propertyof the University of Texas.

Charles'brain was a part of a collection of brains that was on loan to the University fromthe Austin State Hospital for teaching purposes in the psychology lab.

In newspapers last week, it was reported that 100 of these brains, half of the sciencedepartment's collection, have gone missing.

Tim Schallert said his psych lab had only room for 100 of the brains, so the rest werekept in storage in the basement. But the basement is now completely void of greymatter!

"It’s entirely possible word got around among undergraduates and people startedswiping them for (ornaments in) living rooms or Halloween pranks, " said psychologyProfessor Lawrence Cormack.

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EXERCISES

100 BRAINS MISSING

Living room ornaments?

1a Why was Charles Whitman's brain in the basement?

1b What is the proposed reason for the theft?

1c Was Whitman in his sound mind when he committed the crimes he is known for?Answer using your own words.

1d For what reason was the University in possession of the cured cranial matter?

2a As a class read, through the text aloud in order to practice pronunciation. At the endof each paragraph write any new or unfamiliar words on the whiteboard. Beforediscussing the meanings of these words, try to come up with a definition for each ofthem from the context in which they appear in the text.

2b Can you come up with synonyms for some, or all, of these words?

2c Can you come up with antonyms for any of these words?

2c Using as many of the words from the whiteboard as you are able, write a WANTEDposter to track down the brain thief/thieves. Decide who you think the culprit/s is/are,given that one of the brains was quite possibly Charles Witman's, and offer a rewardthat you think that person, or group of individuals, would be enticed by.

2d Display your poster on the classroom walls.

3a Research three lesser known facts about the human brain. For each fact, write twomore false statements. Read your true and false statements related to each fact for theclass to see if they can guess which one is the correct one.

4a Would like to have a preserved brain in your living room? : )

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DEAF AND ALONE

Hindered from attending school

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of hearing disabled individuals ofanywhere in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the diseases that can causedeafness, like malaria, measles and the mumps, go untreated.

"Unreported World: 15 and Learning to Speak, " is a moving documentary that tells theinspirational story of Patrick Otema who was actually born profoundly deaf and livedthe first fifteen years of his life in a remote Ugandan village having never had aconversation with anyone. His handicap hindered him from attending school, and afterhis work in the field, Patrick simply returned to his hut to sit completely alone for therest of the day.

Then along came Raymond Okkelo, a sign language teacher, who set out to changethe course of history for people like Patrick. Raymond shared: "In the past I was alsolike him. I couldn't use sign language. I could only hide in fear. "

Deaf people from 9-years old to 80 came from far and wide to join Raymond’s classesand sign by sign were "baptised into a whole new world".

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EXERCISES

DEAF AND ALONE

Hindered from attending school

1a What precipitated the transformation from a lonely and frustrated life to a life ofsocial interaction and conversation?

1b Why is Patrick deaf?

1c What is the reason so many more people are isolated and lonely in Sub-SaharanAfrica than in other regions of the world?

1d What age range was represented in Raymond Okkelo’s classroom?

2a Read through the text looking up the meaning of any new words.Could/couldn’t, can/can’t, be able to/not able to (using the right tense)

0 I looked everywhere for my iPhone but I ______ find it anywhere.

0 I searched for your house for ages. Luckily I ______ find it in the end.He’s amazing. He ______ speak five languages!

0 I ______ speak English until I was 16. Then we moved to New Zealand, so I had tolearn it!John ______ play tennis really well. He's champion of his club.

0 I ______ open this window! I think it's stuck.

0 I have searched high and low for my passport, but I ______ find it anywhere.I’m sorry, but I’m ______ attend the party.Are you ______ to fix my computer?

3a Watch the preview of "Unreported World: 15 and Learning to Speak"www. youtube. com/watch? v=AHfC6jqBhkk

3b What is your reaction to this story? What would you say is the most moving elementto this story? And why?

3c Where is Sub-Saharan Africa? Which African countries are not a part of this region?

3d How many sign languages are in use around the world?

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3e Find a youtube clip teaching you to sign in the sign language that is in use in thecountry in which you live. Learn some commonly used words and phrases, forexample: hello, please, how are you?, thank you, goodbye etc.

3e Practice using your new-found skill with a friend.

4a Do you have a desire to help those less fortunate than yourself?

4b What gifts or abilities do you have, and take for granted, that people in remote orpoor places on earth could only dream about having? Discuss

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NASAL INVASION

Debunking the cold and flu myth

The common cold is the most common illness. Nevertheless, scientists are still tryingto debunk the myth about how it is caught.

We were all told to rug up, stay warm, and avoid getting our feet wet, in order to avoidbeing afflicted with the insidious virus. But Dr Jack M. Gwaltney, a professor ofmedicine at the University of Virginia who has devoted the best part of forty years tostudying the causes of colds and flus, assures us that whilst this will preventhypothermia or frostbite, a person is not more likely to catch a cold or the flu becausethey're freezing.

What it takes is for the cold or flu virus to invade our nose. When this occurs we aretotally defenceless.

An invasion can occur when we inhale virus-infected air, as well as when we touch ournose or eyes with our fingers that have picked up the virus from inanimate objects.

And surprisingly, people frequently touch their nose and eyes during the day.

Jack’s advice is to keep our distance from people coughing and sneezing, and toengage in regular and vigorous hand-washing.

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EXERCISES

NASAL INVASION

Debunking the cold and flu myth

1a What is the common advice regarding how one avoids being infected by theseviruses?

1b How do we succumb to the flu and cold virus?

1c What is it that those in the scientific community have been hoping to do?

1d What are the ways in which the virus is transmitted?

2a Working in small groups, read through the text discussing, and looking up, themeanings of any new words or phrases.

2b Write a short skit for the purpose of educating people about the commonly believedmyths and the actual facts surrounding the ways in which colds and flus arecontracted?

2c Your skit should include the following parts -- parent or grandparent- small child (with cold symptoms)- teenager (healthy)- teenager (with cold symptoms)- scientist- (Feel free to create more characters if your group has more than five people in it)

2d Make sure you include the following words and phrases in your skit: debunk, catcha cold, rug up.

2e Present your skit for the class!

3a What additional information do you find out from the video at the following webpage?abcnews. go. com/Health/mom-wrong-cold-weather-flu/story? id=27026280

4a How do you think this myth could be completely debunked? And how do youpropose you can help in this task? Discuss

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KICK A FOOTY WHILE YOU WAIT

Serotonin Kitchen

Australia's first "happiness restaurant" will open in early 2015. An old milk bar tuckedaway in Burley, a suburb of Melbourne, is currently undergoing transformation and willsoon bear the unique name, Serotonin Kitchen.

Serotonin, known as the “happy hormone, ” affects your “mood, social behaviour,appetite, digestion, sleep, memory, sexual desire and function. ” Founder of therevolutionary cafe concept, Emily Arundel, said: “I wanted to create an inviting spacethat educates people of these benefits. ”

Needless to say, the food will be rich in the building blocks of this vital chemical. And inorder to maximise the bodies serotonin-releasing ability, the cafe will incorporatesunshine, exercise, and a menu rich in plant-based ingredients and complexcarbohydrates.

Bicentennial Park is right next door to the cafe, so if the tables are full, people will beencouraged to order their food in take away containers to take advantage of being ableto walk just a few metres further and enjoy a picnic.

A “sports box” at the cafe, aims at encouraging people to get active and kick a footywhile waiting for their smoothie!

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EXERCISES

KICK A FOOTY WHILE YOU WAIT

Serotonin Kitchen

1a Apart from food, what else is needed in order to experience the full effects of thismood-elevating chemical?

1b From which source are the raw elements required for serotonin production derived?

1c Why might Emily's customers be encouraged to leave her premises?

1d How might a customer pass their time whilst waiting for an order?

2a Fill in the missing phrases. (Hint: you will find the answers contained in the first andfourth paragraphs. )I'll be ________ if you need me.He kept his sporting equipment ________ in the corner of his bedroom.Her webpage is currently ________ but will soon be up and running.Many butterfly species ________ of their discoverers.

2b Using these phrases, write a short paragraph about your neighbourhood.

3a Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Research the foods that are richin this amino acid.

3b Design a menu for Serotonin Kitchen.

3b Present your menu for the class.

4a Do you think this cafe will be popular? Why/why not?

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english a compilation of newsticker articles and exercises · published from 2014-12-01 to...

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