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Appendix
Category Vocab ต้องรู้

Vocab : Personal Appearance
Age
in his/her teens วัยรุ่น
in his/her early 20’s ช่วงอายุ 20 ต้นๆ
in his/her mid 30’s ช่วงอายุ 35
middle – aged วัยกลางคน
elderly แก่
Body Shape
skinny, bony ผอมมาก
slender รูปร่างดี
petite ตัวเล็ก (ใช้กับผู้หญิง)
plump ท้วมๆ
chubby อ้วน, แก้มยุ้ย
overweight อ้วนเกินไปเมื่อเทียบกับความสูง
lean ผอมแต่ดูสุขภาพดี
athletic ดูแข็งแรง, สุขภาพดี, เหมือนนักกีฬา
Enconcept 1
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Skin Tone
pale หน้าซีด
fair, light ผิวขาว
freckled ตกกระ
tanned ผิวเข้มจากการโดนแดด
Skin Problem
scar มีแผลเป็น
mole ไฝ
pimples สิว
unshaven ยังไม่ได้โกนหนวด
beard เครา
moustache หนวด
Hair Color
dyed ย้อมผม
grey or streaked with grey มีผมหงอกประปราย
a blonde ผู้หญิงผมทอง
a blond ผู้ชายผมทอง
brunet ผู้หญิงผมน�้ำตาลเข้ม
2 Enconcept
Hairstyle
long, short straight ผมสั้น, ยาวเหยียดตรง
wavy เป็นคลื่นเป็นลอน
parted on the left/right แสกผมทางซ้าย/ขวา
braid(s) เปีย= pigtail(s) = plaits
ponytail ผมหางม้า
bun ผมมวย
bob ผมตัดตรงเท่ากัน
bald หัวล้าน
crew cut ผมตัดสั้นเกรียน ทรงผู้ชาย
dreadlocks ผมทรงยาวหนารวมตัวกันเป็นเกรียวๆ
swept back ผมรวบ, ผมเกล้า
wispy–fringe, bangs ผมหน้าม้า
Hair Problem
spiky hair ผมแข็งๆ ชี้ๆ ตั้งๆ
flyaway hair ผมขาดน�้ำหนัก จัดทรงยาก
split ends แตกปราย
dandruff รังแค
greasy hair ผมมัน
Enconcept 3
Face Shape
oval หน้ารูปไข่ shaped like an egg
high cheekbones โหนกแก้มสูง
high forehead หน้าผากเถิก
bushy eyebrows คิ้วหนา
false eyelashes ขนตาปลอม
hazel ตาสีน�้ำตาลออกเขียวๆ = greenish brown
piercing ตาคมกริบ, ช่างสังเกต
turned-up nose จมูกเชิด
flat-nose จมูกแบน
crooked teeth ฟันไม่เรียบ, เบี้ยว
buck teeth ฟันหน้ายื่น
pointed chin คางยื่น
dimpled chin คางบุ๋ม
4 Enconcept
Vocab : People’s character (นิสัย)
BAD(-) GOOD (+)

arrogant หยิ่ง ambitious ทะเยอทะยาน
= a snob (n) brainy,very intelligent ฉลาดมาก
= proud (adj) brave กล้า
bossy ชอบบงการผู้อื่น calm สงบ
conservative หัวโบราณ cautious ระมัดระวัง
considerate เกรงใจผู้อื่น charming มีเสน่ห์
cruel โหดร้าย confident มั่นใจในตัวเอง
cunning ฉลาดแกมโกง creative มีความคิดสร้างสรรค์
dumb โง่ = stupid curious , inquisitive อยากรู้อยากเห็น
extravagant ฟุ่มเฟือย determined เด็ดเดี่ยว
= spend-thrift ฟุ่มเฟือย down-to earth ติดดิน
≠ thrifty ระวังในการใช้จ่าย energetic กระฉับกระเฉง
extrovert ชอบเข้าสังคม enthusiastic, keen (on) กระตือรือร้น
hypocrite ผู้ที่ชอบเสแสร้ง
แกล้งท�ำเป็นใจดี
immature ไม่โตเป็นผู้ใหญ่
insane บ้า
Enconcept 5
BAD(-) GOOD (+)
introvert เก็บตัว flexible ยืดหยุ่น
irresponsible ไม่รับผิดชอบ ≠ inflexible, rigid ไม่เปลี่ยนแปลง
jealous ,envious ขี้อิจฉา, ขี้หึง frank, open พูดตรงๆ
loner ผู้ที่ชอบอยู่ตามล�ำพัง generous, broad-minded ใจกว้าง
lustful มีความอยากได้, มีตัณหา ≠ narrow-minded
mean ใจแคบ ใจแคบ
nosey ชอบนินทา honest , loyal, faithful ซื่อสัตย์
= like gossiping ≠ dishonest ไม่ซื่อสัตย์
reserved เก็บตัว humane, merciful มีความเมตตา
rude หยาบคาย humorous ตลก
independent ไม่พึ่งพาใคร
influential มีอิทธิพล
inspirational ให้แรงดลใจกับผู้อื่น
lively มีชีวิตชีวา
optimistic มองโลกในแง่ดี
6 Enconcept
BAD(-) GOOD (+)
shy, timid ขี้อาย patient อดทน
silent เงียบ persuasive ชักชวนให้ท�ำตามได้เก่ง
= unwilling to speak pessimistic มองโลกในแง่ร้าย
stingy ขี้เหนียว practical ใช้ความรู้ได้ในทางปฏิบัติ
strict เข้มงวด punctual ตรงต่อเวลา
submissive ยอมคนอื่น reliable, dependable เชื่อใจ, พึ่งพาได้
superstitious เชื่อในโชคลาง religious เคร่งศาสนา
talkative พูดมาก secure มั่นคง
trouble-maker ผู้ก่อปัญหา ≠ insecure ไม่มั่งคง
sensitive อ่อนไหว
sensible มีเหตุผล
simple ธรรมดาๆ
sympathetic เห็นใจผู้อื่น
talented, gifted มีพรสวรรค์, มีความสามารถพิเศษ
n. gift, flair, talent
knack, know-how, caliber
thoughtful รอบคอบ, คิดไตร่ตรองอย่างดี
well-disciplined มีระเบียบวินัย
= organized
witty ฉลาด, ขบขัน
Enconcept 7
ศั พ ท์ ที่ เ คยออกสอบเข้ า เตรี ย มฯ ปี 2553 (2009)
advantage n.ข้อได้เปรียบ ≠ disadvantage n.ข้อเสียเปรียบ

algae (พหูพจน์) n. สาหร่าย alga (เอกพจน์ )
appetite n. การเจริญอาหาร
authentic a. แท้ = genuine
blackout v. ไฟดับ, เป็นลม
bladder n. กระเพาะปัสสาวะ
break into v. งัดเข้าไป
breast n. หน้าอก
bronchitis n. โรคหลอดลมอักเสบ
chronic a. เรื้อรัง, ติดเป็นนิสัย
consciousness n. การมีสติ
delicacy n. ความละเอียดอ่อน, บอบบาง, อาหารพิเศษ
delicate, fragile a. บอบบาง, แตกได้, เปราะบาง
devote v. อุทิศตัว
devotion n. การอุทิศตัว
discriminate v. มีอคติ ล�ำเอียง
discrimination n. การปฏิบัติที่มีความล�ำเอียงทางด้านเชื้อชาติ, เพศ ฯลฯ
divisible a. หารได้ลงตัว
frustrated a. รู้สึกหงุดหงิด
fulfillment n. การเติมเต็ม
grill v. ย่าง (อาหาร)
imaginary a. ไม่มีตัวตน, จินตนาการขึ้นเอง
improbable a. ไม่น่าจะจริง, ไม่น่าจะเกิดขึ้น, ไม่ได้คาดไว้
intact a. สมบูรณ์, ไม่เสียหาย
8 Enconcept
legend n. ต�ำนาน , บุคคลที่มีชื่อเสียง
legendary a. มีชื่อเสียง, เป็นต�ำนานกล่าวขาน
myth n. ต�ำนานเกี่ยวกับเหตุการณ์ทางธรรมชาติ, ประวัติยุคแรกของคน เช่น ancient Roman myths
plain a. เรียบๆ
plausible, possible a. มีเหตุมีผล, น่าจะจริง Ex. a plausible liar ดูจริงใจแต่พยายามหลอกลวง
rumour n. ข่าวลือ
scale v. ปีนถึงยอด, ชัน, เปลี่ยนขนาด
shabby a. เก่า, แต่งตัวไม่ดี-เก่า, สภาพแย่ = in poor condition
slam v. กระแทก, ปิดประตูดังๆ
sold out v. ขายจนหมดเกลี้ยง
suffocation n. การหายใจไม่ออก, ส�ำลัก
supposing that, if ลองสมมติว่า
telesales n. การขายทางโทรศัพท์
termite n. ปลวก
tremble v. สั่น
tremendous a. ใหญ่โต, มากๆ
unbelievable a. ไม่น่าเชื่อเลย = incredible
unlikely a. ดูไม่เหมือน, ไม่น่าจะเกิดขึ้น, ไม่ได้คาดไว้,
Actions speak louder than words. ท�ำดีกว่าพูด

Birds of a feather flock together คนที่นิสัยคล้ายกันจะเป็นเพื่อนกัน
On behalf of ในนามของ
Enconcept 9
mock v. เยาะเย้ย, ไม่เคารพ, หัวเราะเยาะ
make a decision v. ตัดสินใจ
unconscious a. หมดสติ
auspicious a. อันเป็นมงคล = promising a. ที่จะส�ำเร็จในอนาคต ≠ inauspicious
to be in the red ติดหนี้ธนาคาร
anonymous a. ไม่เป็นที่เปิดเผย, นิรนาม
bare, empty a. ว่างเปล่า
pledge v. สัญญาอย่างเป็นทางการว่าจะให้, ท�ำบางอย่าง
giddy, dizzy a. เวียนหัวจะล้ม
crucial a. ส�ำคัญมากๆ
existence n. การมีตัวตน, การปรากฏ

merely adv. เพียงเท่านั้น, อย่างง่ายๆ = only, simply
inhabitant n. คน/สัตว์ที่อาศัยอยู่ในที่ที่เฉพาะinhabit v. live อยู่อาศัย
endangered species n. สายพันธุ์ที่ตกอยู่ในอันตราย
ecologist n. นักนิเวศวิทยา
naturalist n. นักธรรมชาตินิยม
pottery n. เครื่องปั้นดินเหนียว ท�ำด้วยมือ
antiquarian n. ผู้ศึกษา, ขาย, สะสมของเก่าที่มีค่า
flustered a. ลุกลี้ลุกลน
irritated a. annoyed or angry
ascend v. to rise, to go up, climb up ≠ descend v. ลง
intense a. very great, strong, serious
impostor n. ผู้ที่เสแสร้งเป็นผู้อื่นเพื่อหลอกลวงคนอื่นๆ
10 Enconcept
Do n. ข้อควรท�ำ(ในการ interview)
Don’t n. ข้อที่ไม่ควรท�ำ (ในการ interview)
weakness n. จุดอ่อน,
strength n. จุดแข็ง
luxury n. ความหรูหรา
luxurious a. หรูหรา
dilemma n. สภาวะล�ำบาก
sluggish a. เคลื่อนไหวช้ากว่าปกติ, ดูขี้เกียจ
somber a. มืดครึ้ม, ทึม (สี) , ซึมเศร้า
ferocious a. very fierce, very strong, violent or aggressive
itinerary n. แผนการการเดินทาง
voucher n. บัตรก�ำนัล
sly, cunning a. เจ้าเล่ห์, ฉลาดแกมโกง
covet v. อยากได้ของผู้อื่น
alibi n. หลักฐานที่พิสูจน์ว่าเราอยู่ ณ ที่หนึ่งและเราไม่ได้เป็นคนก่ออาชญากรรม
an excuse n. ข้อแก้ตัว เมื่อท�ำผิด
notoriety n. ชื่อเสียงในทางที่ไม่ดี
notorious a. มีชื่อเสียงในทางไม่ดี,
fame n. ชื่อเสียง,
popularity n. ความนิยม
motive n. แรงจูงใจ
rely on [PHRV] ไว้ใจใน, ขึ้นอยู่กับ, พึ่งพา = depend on
show off [PHRV] ขี้อวด
calm down [PHRV] ใจเย็นๆ
commit v. ท�ำความผิด
commit crime ก่ออาชญากรรม
lay off v. หยุดพัก, เลิกจ้างงาน
Enconcept 11
go sky high a. ขึ้นสูงมาก = very high, too high
run out of [PHRV] หมด
run out of gas น�้ำมันหมด
make sth easier ท�ำให้ง่ายขึ้น
earn v. ได้รับสิ่งที่สมควรได้, ได้รับรายได้
practically adv. almost, ในทางปฏิบัติ
deed n. สิ่งที่ท�ำลงไป (อาจจะดีมาก, ยาก)
n. โฉนด, สัญญา
alert adj. v. n. ตื่นตัว, รู้ตัว
be aware of รู้ตัว, ตระหนักถึง
inventive a. เกี่ยวกับการประดิษฐ์ = constructive
conflict n. ความขัดแย้ง
haughty a. ซึ่งทะนง
unwilling a. ไม่เต็มใจ
passive observer n. ผู้ที่สังเกตการณ์โดยไม่ได้ท�ำการเปลี่ยนแปลงอะไร, ไม่ได้คัดค้านอะไร
tempt v. ยั่วยวน, เย้ายวนใจ
fire v. ไล่ออก
pleasure n. มีความสุข, พอใจ
associate v. เกี่ยวข้องกับ, สัมพันธ์กับ...
narrative n. เรื่องเล่า , การเล่าเรื่อง = story
explanatory a. ให้เหตุผล, ค�ำอธิบาย ท�ำให้เข้าใจง่ายขึ้น
descriptive a.บรรยายสิ่งต่างๆ พรรณนา...
factual a.มีรากฐานาจากความจริง
excited a.ตื่นเต้น
congratulate v. แสดงความยินดี
sympathetic a. เห็นใจ, สงสารผู้ที่เจ็บปวด
concerned a. วิตกกังวล, เป็นกังวล = worried
12 Enconcept
capacity n. ความสามารถที่จะเข้าใจ, ท�ำสิ่งต่างๆ
role n. บทบาท
position n. ต�ำแหน่ง
justify v. โชว์ให้เห็นว่าถูก, มีเหตุผล
propose v. เสนอ
consciousness n. การมีสติ
Idioms
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. สิบเบี้ยใกล้มือ ยี่สิบเบี้ยไกลมือ.
= ลาภอะไรที่ได้ก่อน ควรเอาไว้ ดีกว่าจะรอลาภที่แม้จะใหญ่กว่า
When in Rome do as the Romans do. เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่วต้องหลิ่วตาตาม
(drank) to your heart’s content ตามความพอใจของคุณ (as much as you want)
beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ความสวย ขึ้นอยู่กับคนมอง
you are getting in my way ขวางทาง
keep an eye on เฝ้าระวัง, ดู

antenna, aerial n. เสาอากาศ
deficient a. ขาด, มีไม่พอ (ในสิ่งที่จ�ำเป็น)
enrich v. ท�ำให้รวยขึ้นอีก, อุดมไปด้วย
≠ sufficient a. พอเพียง
entrée n. อาหารที่เสริฟก่อนอาหารจานหลัก
dessert n. ขนมกินตอนหลังอาหาร,
appetizer n. อาหารเรียกน�้ำย่อย
appetizing a. น่ากิน
extraordinary a. พิเศษ
Enconcept 13
fist n. การก�ำหมัด
headache n. การปวดศรีษะ
infect v. ติดเชื้อ
irrigation n. การชลประทาน
plantation n. ไร่นา
crop n. พืชผล
fertilizer n. ปุ๋ย
make a contribution ท�ำการบริจาค (ให้กับการกุศล)
make a reservation จอง
milestone, discovery, breakthrough n. เหตุการณ์ส�ำคัญในชีวิตคนหรือประวัติศาสตร์
pesticide n. ยาฆ่าแมลง
rain cats and dogs = rain heavily ฝนตกหนัก
relative, relation n. ญาติพี่น้อง
run down [PHRV] ถูกละเลย, ป่วยจากการท�ำงานหนัก, เหนื่อย
spouse n. สามีหรือภรรยา (husband or wife)
take… into account [PHRV] พิจารณา... เวลาตัดสินใจ
tie s’one up = to keep s’ one busy so that they have no time for other things
เช่น I’m tied up in a meeting until 3.
turbine n. กังหัน
under the weather ไม่สบาย = slightly sick = not as well as usual
urgent a. เร่งด่วน
utilize v. ใช้ประโยชน์
Yin n. ความมืด, ไม่กระฉับกระเฉง, ผู้หญิง, (Chinese Philosophy)
Yang n. ความสว่าง, กระฉับกระเฉง, ผู้ชาย (Chinese Philosophy)
ป้าย caution n. ข้อควรระวัง , ข้อแนะน�ำ
14 Enconcept
Flood Crisis = วิกฤตน�้ำท่วม
a bird’s eye view n. ภาพที่มองจากที่สูงลงมา
a satellite map n. แผนที่ดาวเทียม
acute diarrhea n. โรคท้องเสียโดยฉับพลัน
Bangkok’s inner areas n. พื้นที่กรุงเทพฯ ชั้นใน
barrier n. สิ่งกีดขวาง
big bulge of water n. มวลน�้ำก้อนใหญ่
canal n. คลอง
cholera n. อหิวาตกโรค
compromise v.ประนีประนอม
condolences n. การแสดงความเสียใจ
contaminated water n. น�้ำที่มีสารปนเปื้อน
dam n. เขื่อนกันน�้ำ (ในแม่น�้ำ)
reservoir n. อ่างเก็บน�้ำ
drain v. ระบายน�้ำ
n. ท่อระบายน�้ำ
drainage n. การระบายน�้ำ
drown v. จมน�้ำ
dykes n. เขื่อนกั้นไม่ให้น�้ำเข้าแผ่นดิน โดนเฉพาะจากทะเล
ebb, decrease, recede v. ลดลง, น�้ำลง,
electrocution n. การถูกไฟฟ้าช้อต
electrocute v.
elevate v.ยกขึ้นสูง
evacuate v. ย้ายคนไปในที่ที่ปลอดภัยกว่า
evacuation n. การอพยพ
evacuation shelters n. ที่พักส�ำหรับการอพยพ
flood evacuees n. ผู้อพยพจากน�้ำท่วม
Enconcept 15
ferrymen n. คนที่ช่วยพาคนไปส่ง (โดยเรือ)
paddle v. พายเรือ
floating toilet n. สุขาลอยน�้ำ
flood way n. ทางระบายน�้ำ
flood n.v. น�้ำท่วม
floodwall n. ก�ำแพงกั้นน�้ำ
flood victims n. ผู้เคราะห์ร้ายจากน�้ำท่วม
food donation n. การบริจาคอาหาร
garbage n. ขยะ
giant sandbags n. ถุงทรายขนาดใหญ่
delayed water inflows
heavily flooded areas n. พื้นที่ที่มีน�้ำท่วมอย่างมาก
hoard v. กักตุนสินค้า (อาหาร ฯลฯ)
impassable a. ผ่านไม่ได้
inundate, flood, overflow v. ท่วม
inundation n.
irrigation n. การชลประทาน
leak v. รั่ว , n. รอยรั่ว
leaky a. มีรูรั่ว
leakage n. การรั่วออกมา
mongrels n. คน สัตว์หรือพืชที่เป็นพันธุ์ผสม
ex. หมาพันธุ์ทาง
stay dogs n. หมาจรจัด
odour n. กลิ่น
polluted wate/ wastewater n.น�้ำเสีย
protester n. ผู้ประท้วง
putrid a. เน่า, ผุพัง ส่งกลิ่นเหม็น (ซากพืช,สัตว์)
16 Enconcept
raft n. แพ
rehabilitation n. การฟื้นฟู (คน, สถานที่)
relief supplies n. ถุงยังชีพ
shelter n. ที่พักพิง
sluice n. ประตูระบายน�้ำเพื่อควบคุมการไหลเข้าออกคลอง (sluice gate)
strand v. ถูกทิ้งให้ติดอยู่โดยไม่มีทางออก, ติดเกาะ
Strong flood currents n. กระแสน�้ำเชี่ยว, แรง
submerged n., a. จมใต้น�้ำ, ลงไปใต้น�้ำ
subside v. จม,ทุเลา, สงบ,กลับสู่ระดับปกติ
surge into n. เคลื่อนที่อย่างรวดเร็ว, ไหลทะลักเข้าไป gush v. ไหลทะลักจากช่อง/รู
≠ seep v. ซึมเข้าไปทีละน้อย
surveillance areas n. พื้นที่เฝ้าระวัง
swamp n. บึง, v.ท�ำให้เต็มไปด้วยน�้ำ
tap water n. น�้ำประปา
the deluge n. a flood
vandalism n. การท�ำลายทรัพย์สินสาธารณะ
vandalize v. ท�ำลายทรัพย์สิน
vandal n. ผู้ท�ำลายทรัพย์สินสาธารณะ
venomous snake ex. green mamba งูพิษกรีนแมมบ้า
violator n. ผู้ฝ่าฝืน
volunteer v. n. อาสาสมัคร
wade v. ย�่ำน�้ำ ,
water filters n. เครื่องกรองน�้ำ
water level n. ระดับน�้ำ
is rising v. ก�ำลังเพิ่มขึ้น
waterborne diseases n. โรคที่มาจากน�้ำ
withstand the flood v. ทนทาน, ต้านทานน�้ำท่วม = resist , stand up to
Enconcept 17
150+ Collocations ออกสอบบ่ อ ย
1. Abidance (การยอมปฏิบัติตาม)
- ปฏิบัติตาม to abide by
to comply with
to be in compliance with
to conform to

2. Ability (ความสามารถ)
- (ไม่) สามารถที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่างได้ to be (un)able to do sth.
to be (in)capable of doing sth.
3. Accusation (การกล่าวหา)
- กล่าวหาว่าใครทำ�อะไร to accuse so. of sth.
4. Action (การกระท�ำ)
- ลงมือทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to put sth. into action
to take action
5. Addiction (การเสพติด)
- เสพติดบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be addicted to (doing) sth.
6. Advancement (การรุดหน้า, ความก้าวหน้า)
- ล่วงหน้า to be in advance
7. Advantage (ผลประโยชน์, ข้อได้เปรียบ)
- เปล่าประโยชน์ to be of no avail
to be in vain
- ใช้ประโยชน์จากใคร / อะไร to make use of [so., sth.]
- แสวงหาประโยชน์จากใครบางคน to take advantage of so.
8. Agreement (ข้อตกลง)
- บรรลุข้อตกลง to come to an agreement
9. Allergy (อาการแพ้)
- เป็นโรคภูมิแพ้ต่อบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be allergic to sth.
10. Anxiety (ความกังวล)
- กังวลเกี่ยวกับใคร / อะไร to be anxious about [so., sth.]
to be concerned about [so., sth.]
to be worried about [so., sth.]
18 Enconcept
11. Apology (การขอโทษ)
- ขอโทษหรือขออภัยสำ�หรับบางอย่าง to apologize for (doing) sth.
12. Attempt (ความพยายาม)
- พยายามที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to [attempt, try] to do sth.
to [make, put] an effort to do sth.
to make an attempt to do sth.
13. Attention (ความสนใจ)
- ดึงความสนใจ to draw attention
- ให้ความสนใจกับใคร / อะไร to pay attention to [so., sth.]
14. Behalf (ตัวแทน, ในนาม)
- ในนามของใคร / อะไร on behalf of [so., sth.]
15. Blame (การต�ำหนิ)
- ตำ�หนิใครในเรื่องอะไร to blame so. on sth.
to put the blame on so. for sth.
16. Boredom (ความเบื่อหน่าย)
- เบื่อ, เซ็งกับใคร / อะไร to be [bored, fed up] with [so., sth.]
to be [sick, tired, weary] of [so., sth.]
17. Causation (การเป็นสาเหตุที่ท�ำให้เกิดขึ้น)
- ปล่อยให้ใครทำ�อะไรให้ to [have, let, make] so. do sth.
to get so. to do sth.
- ปล่อยให้อะไรถูกทำ� (โดยใครบางคน) to [have, get] sth. done (by so.)
18. Cause (สาเหตุ)
- เป็นสาเหตุให้เกิด, นำ�ไปสู่ to bring about sth.
to result in sth.
- มีสาเหตุมาจากใคร / อะไร to [result, stem] from [so., sth.]
19. Competence (ความเก่ง, ความสามารถ)
- เก่งในด้านอะไร to be [clever, good, excel, expert] at sth.
to master sth.
20. Composition (การประกอบขึ้น)
- ประกอบด้วย to be composed of
to be comprised of
to be made up of
to [compose, comprise, consist, contain, include]

Enconcept 19
21. Concentration (ความเอาใจใส่, การจดจ่อ)
- จดจ่ออยู่กับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to [concentrate, focus] [on, upon] sth.
22. Conformity (ความสอดคล้องกัน)
- สอดคล้องกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to [comply, correspond] with
23. Congratulation (การแสดงความยินดี)
- แสดงความยินดีในเรื่องอะไร to congratulate [on, upon] sth.
24. Conjunction (การเกิดขึ้นร่วมกัน)
- ร่วมกันกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be [conjunction, combination] with
25. Connection (การติดต่อ)
- ติดต่อหรือจัดการกับใคร to deal with so.
26. Consciousness (สติ)
- เสียสติ to be out of (one’s) mind
27. Consideration (การพิจารณา)
- นำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่างไปพิจารณา to take sth. into [account, consideration]
28. Cooperation (ความร่วมมือ)
- ร่วมมือกับใคร to [collaborate, cooperate] with so.
- ร่วมมือในเรื่องอะไร to [collaborate, cooperate] in (doing) sth.
- ร่วมมือที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to [collaborate, cooperate] to do sth.
29. Cost (ต้นทุน)
- ลดต้นทุน to [cut, reduce] costs
30. Crime (อาชญากรรม)
- ก่ออาชญากรรม, ทำ�การฆาตกรรม to commit a crime
- ฆ่าตัวตาย to commit a suicide
31. Damage (อันตราย, ความเสียหาย)
- ทำ�อันตราย, สร้างความเสียหาย to do damage
- เป็นพิษเป็นภัยต่อใครบางคน to do harm to so.
32. Dare (ความกล้า)
- กล้าที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to dare to do sth.
33. Death (ความตาย)
- ตายด้วยโรคอะไร to die of (+ disease)
- ตายเพราะสาเหตุอะไร to die from (+ cause)
- หิวจนเกือบตาย to starve to death
34. Dedication (การอุทิศตน)
- อุทิศตนให้กับ (การทำ�) บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be devoted to (doing) sth.
to [devote, dedicate] oneself to (doing) sth.
20 Enconcept
35. Dependence (การพึ่งพา)
- ขึ้นอยู่กับใคร / อะไร to be [subject to, dependent on] [so., sth.]
to depend on [so., sth.]
to rely on [so., sth.]
36. Difference (ความแตกต่าง)
- แตกต่างจาก to differ from
to be different from
37. Enforcement (การบังคับใช้)
- มีผลบังคับใช้ to take (sth.) into effect
38. Exhaustion (ความเหนื่อยล้า)
- เหนื่อยล้า, อ่อนเพลีย to be tired with sth.
to be exhausted [by, from] sth.
39. Expectation (ความคาดหวัง)
- ถูกคาดหวังให้ทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be [expected, supposed] to do sth.
- ไม่เป็นไปตามที่คาดหวัง to fall short of one’s [hopes, expectations]
40. Failure (ความล้มเหลว)
- ล้มเหลวในการทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to fail [in sth., to do sth.]
41. Fear (ความกลัว)
- กลัวใคร / อะไร to be [scared, afraid] of [so., sth.]
42. Food (อาหาร)
- รู้สึกอยาก (ชื่ออาหาร) to have an appetite for (+ food)
- รู้สึกเบื่ออาหาร to lose appetite
43. Graduation (การส�ำเร็จการศึกษา)
- จบการศึกษา (เกียรตินิยม, ชื่อปริญญา) to graduate with (+ first-class honors, degree)
- จบการศึกษา (ด้านอะไร) to graduate in (+ field of study)
- จบการศึกษา (จากที่ไหน) to graduate from (+ faculty, college, university)
44. Idea (แนวความคิด)
- คิดบางสิ่งบางอย่างขึ้นมาได้ to come up with sth.
45. Information (ข่าวสาร, การแจ้งให้ทราบ)
- แจ้งหรือบอกใครให้รับรู้เรื่องอะไร to inform so. [about, of] sth.
46. Infringement (การฝ่าฝืน, การละเมิด)
- ละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์ to infringe the copyright
- ละเมิดกฎหมาย to [break, violate] the law
- ละเมิดสิทธิส่วนบุคคล to encroach [on, upon] the rights of individuals
Enconcept 21
47. Intention (ความตั้งใจ)
- ตั้งใจที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to intend to do sth.
to pay heed to sth.
48. Investigation (การสืบสวน)
- สืบสวน to [investigate, look into] sth.
49. Issue (ประเด็น, ปัญหา)
- หยิบยกประเด็นเกี่ยวกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to raise the issue of sth.
- จับประเด็น to [capture, grasp] the [essence, gist]
- พลาดประเด็น to miss the point
- เห็นประเด็นในการทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to see the point [of, in] doing sth.
50. Job Application (การสมัครงาน)
- สมัครงาน (ตำ�แหน่งอะไร) to apply for (+ position)
- สมัครงาน (กับบริษัทอะไร) to apply to (+ company)
51. Joke (เรื่องตลก)
- แซว, ล้อ, ทำ�ให้เป็นที่หัวเราะเยาะ to make a joke on so.
to make fun of so.
52. Location (ต�ำแหน่ง, สถานที่)
- ตั้งอยู่ที่ to be [located, situated] in (+ place)
to lie [along, on] (+ place)
53. Looking (การมอง, การดู)
- จับตามองใคร / อะไร to keep an eye on [so., sth.]
- ตั้งหน้าตั้งตาคอยใคร / อะไร to look forward to [so., sth.]
- ดูเป็นแบบอย่าง, ชื่นชม to look up to [so., sth.]
- ดูถูก to look down [on, upon] [so., sth.]
- เหลือบมองใคร / อะไร to take a glance at [so., sth.]
22 Enconcept
54. Making (การท�ำ)
- ทำ�ด้วย (ยังมองเห็นเป็นวัสดุเดิม) to be made of sth.
- ทำ�จาก (มองไม่เห็นเป็นวัสดุเดิม) to be made from sth.
- ทำ�ใจปล่อยวางกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to let sth. go
- ทำ�ตัวตามสบาย to make oneself at home
- ทำ�เป็นไม่ได้ยินอะไร to turn a deaf ear to sth.
- ทำ�เป็นไม่เห็นอะไร to turn a blind eye to sth.
- ทำ�ต่อไปเรื่อย ๆ to go on with sth.
to [carry, keep] on doing sth.
to continue [doing, to do] sth.
- ทำ�ให้ดีที่สุด to [do, try] one’s best
to work to the best of one’s ability
54. Marriage (การแต่งงาน)
- แต่งงานกับใคร to marry so.
to [be, get] married to so.
55. Meeting (การประชุม)
- จัดการประชุม to [have, hold] a meeting
56. Money (เงิน)
- ใช้จ่ายเงินไปกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to spend (some, the) money on sth.
57. Participation (การมีส่วนร่วม, การเข้าร่วม)
- มีส่วนร่วมในการทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be engaged in (doing) sth.
to be involved [in, with] (doing) sth.
to participate in (doing) sth.
to take part in (doing) sth.

58. Payment (การช�ำระเงิน)
- จ่ายเป็นงวด ๆ, ผ่อนจ่าย to pay in installments
59. Pursuit (การติดตาม, การไล่ตาม)
- ตามหาบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be in the pursuit of sth.
- ตามให้ทัน (ข่าวสาร, ความเปลี่ยนแปลง) to [catch, keep] up with sth.
60. Refusal (การปฏิเสธ)
- ปฏิเสธที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to [refuse, reject] to do sth.
to deny doing sth.
Enconcept 23
61. Regulation (กฎเกณฑ์, ข้อบังคับ)
- เคารพกฎกติกา to abide by [laws, orders, regulations]
62. Relation (ความเกี่ยวข้องกัน)
- เกี่ยวข้องกับใคร / อะไร to be [associated, concerned] with [so., sth.]
to be [related, relevant, pertaining] to [so., sth.]
to be involved in [so., sth.]
63. Research (การวิจัย)
- ทำ�การวิจัยเรื่องอะไร to [conduct, do] research on sth.
64. Responsibility (หน้าที่, ความรับผิดชอบ)
- รับผิดชอบเกี่ยวกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to be [accountable, responsible] for sth.
to take [charge, responsibility] of sth.
to be in charge of sth.
65. Revenge (การแก้แค้น)
- แก้แค้นใคร (ด้วยสาเหตุอะไร) to get even with so. (from, for sth.)
to revenge so. (from, for sth.)
to [get, take] revenge [with, on] so. (from, for sth.)
- แก้แค้นให้กับอะไร to avenge sth.
- แก้แค้นให้กับใคร to avenge for so.
66. Risk (ความเสี่ยง)
- ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง to be at [risk, stake]
- เสี่ยงที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to risk doing sth.
67. Schedule (ก�ำหนดการ)
- ช้ากว่ากำ�หนด to be behind schedule
- เร็วกว่ากำ�หนด to be ahead of schedule
68. Sending off (การไปส่ง, การขับไล่)
- ไปส่ง, ขับไล่ to [see, send] [so., sth.] off
69. Shortage (ความขาดแคลน)
- ขาดแคลนบางสิ่งบางอย่าง to lack sth.
lack (n.) of sth.
to [be, run] short of sth.
to run out of sth.
70. Similarity (ความเหมือน)
- คล้ายคลึงกับใคร, ถอดแบบมาจากใคร to take after so.
24 Enconcept
71. Speech (สุนทรพจน์)
- กล่าวสุนทรพจน์ to [address, deliver, give, make] a speech
- พูดแบบไม่ได้เตรียมตัวมาก่อน to deliver an impromptu speech
72. Success (ความส�ำเร็จ)
- ประสบความสำ�เร็จ to manage to do sth.
to succeed in doing sth.
73. Tax (ภาษี)
- เก็บภาษี to impose a tax on sth.
74. Threat (ภัยคุกคาม)
- เป็นภัยคุกคามแก่ใคร to pose a threat to so.
75. Time (เวลา)
- ใช้เวลาทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to spend time doing sth. (ประธานเป็นคน)
to take (so.) time to do sth. (ประธานเป็น It)
- เสียเวลาไปกับการทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to waste time doing sth. (ประธานเป็นคน)
- ทันเวลา in time
- ตรงเวลา on time
76. Tolerance (ความอดทนอดกลั้น)
- ทนไม่ได้ที่จะทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง can’t help doing sth.
- ทนกับใคร / อะไร to put up with [so., sth.]
can't [bear, stand] doing sth.
77. Trick (เล่ห์เหลี่ยม, การเล่นกล)
- เล่นกล to [do, perform] a trick
78. Turbulence (ความวุ่นวาย, ความปั่นป่วน)
- สร้างความปั่นป่วน to make a mess of sth.
to screw sth. up
79. Word (ค�ำพูด)
- พูดคุยกันอีกครั้งหนึ่ง to talk it over
- พูดคุยเป็นการส่วนตัวกับใครบางคน to have a word with so.
- รักษาคำ�พูด to keep one’s word
- สร้างคำ�, คิดค้นคำ�ศัพท์ to coin a term
80. Working (การท�ำงาน)
- หาเลี้ยงชีพด้วยการทำ�บางสิ่งบางอย่าง to earn one’s living by doing sth.
- หาเลี้ยงชีพด้วยการทำ�งานเป็น to make one’s living as (+ career)
Enconcept 25
Reading Passages
HEALTH & MEDICINE 2017
Lack of sleep could cause mood disorders in teens
Chronic sleep deprivation—which can involve staying up late, and waking up early for work or school—has
become a way of life for both kids and adults, especially with the increasing use of phones and tablets late
into the night. But this social jet lag poses some serious health and mental health risks: new research finds
that for teenagers, even a short period of sleep restriction could, over the long-term, raise their risk for depression
and addiction.
University of Pittsburgh’s Peter Franzen and Erika Forbes invited 35 participants, aged 11.5-15 years, into
a sleep lab for two nights. Half the participants slept for 10 hours, while the other half slept only four hours.
A week later, they came back to the lab for another two nights and adopted the opposite sleep schedule from
their initial visit.
Each time they visited the lab, the participants underwent brain scans while playing a game that involved
receiving monetary rewards of $10 and $1. At the end of each visit, the teens answered questions that measured
their emotional functioning, as well as depression symptoms.
The researchers found that sleep deprivation affected the putamen, an area of the brain that plays a role
in goal-based movements and learning from rewards. When participants were sleep-deprived and the reward in
the game they played was larger, the putamen was less responsive. In the rested condition, the brain region
didn’t show any difference between high- and low-reward conditions.
Franzen and Forbes also found connections between sleep restriction and mood: after a night of restricted
sleep, the participants who experienced less activation in the putamen also reported more symptoms of
26 Enconcept
depression. This is consistent with findings, from a large literature of studies on depression and reward circuitry,
that depression is characterized by less activity in the brain’s reward system.
The results suggest that sleep deprivation in the tween and teen years may interfere with how the brain
processes rewards, which could disrupt mood and put a person at risk of depression, as well as risk-taking
behavior and addiction.
How China Can Stop a Pandemic
Officials have to clean up the country’s wet markets for good.

The deadliest outbreak of H7N9 bird flu since its discovery in 2013 is sweeping across China. It’s caused
at least 100 deaths and has been detected in half the country’s provinces. So far, the virus seems to be
spreading only between birds and the humans who slaughter them for food. But the potential for human-to-
human transmission -- the trigger for a full-blown pandemic -- can’t be ruled out. In response, Chinese authorities
have temporarily shut down live poultry markets in some of the country’s biggest cities.
The strategy has been proven to work, and authorities in China and Hong Kong have deployed it for
decades. But every year, so-called wet markets reopen and both new and known viruses reemerge. If authorities
won’t close such markets permanently -- and realistically, they can’t, given how large a role the markets continue
to play in China’s food chain -- they need to do far more to fix what’s wrong with them. The good news is,
that should be relatively cheap and easy to do.
Over the last four decades, the retail experience in China has changed dramatically. Once relegated to
state-owned outlets selling drab and shoddily made products, shoppers now flock to malls glitzier and tackier
than anything in the West. The wet market -- typically a crowded, open-air emporium where individual vendors
sell food sourced from local farms and distributors -- has stubbornly resisted change. Yet as recently as 2013,
some 80 percent of Chinese still chose to buy their fresh vegetables at such places, despite government efforts
to promote modern supermarkets.
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The proportion will be tough to bring down. China’s food production remains concentrated among hundreds
of millions of farmers who, according to the country’s last agriculture census, tend farms that average around
1.5 acres each. Supermarket chains have a hard time sourcing from such tiny producers. Wet markets don’t,
so the food they offer is often fresher and cheaper.
When it comes to meat and fish in particular, Chinese prefer to see their purchase alive -- and then
slaughtered -- to ensure that it hasn’t been frozen (which damages flavor and texture -- a sin in any Chinese
kitchen) or been sitting around in less-than-optimal storage facilities for hours or even days. Prior to 2003,
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. actually allowed live slaughtering in its Chinese outlets.
The point isn’t that Wal-Mart and other modern supermarkets should return to such practices; live slaughter
is a primary means of spreading virus to humans. Instead, wet markets need to be forced to modernize their
own practices. It’s an old tale: China’s food-safety regulators lack the resources and are oftentimes uninterested
in enforcing basic biosecurity and food-safety requirements in China’s thousands of wet markets and millions
of small farms. Temporary closures are useless if wet markets simply return to their unhygienic practices after
reopening.
The majority of poultry farms in China (and other developing countries) are small-scale household operations
that lack modern management and basic biosecurity measures, such as separating cultivated birds from livestock
(especially pigs, which are excellent incubators for flu viruses that infect humans) and household inhabitants.
From the farms, these problems move into wet markets, where birds are often kept in tight cages and the
mere flapping of wings can turn fecal droppings into aerosolized virus. Meanwhile, the potential mixing of bodily
fluids between species during the slaughtering process remains the most dangerous point in the entire process.
These practices can be changed. Large-scale, corporate poultry operations are growing in China, bringing
modern biosecurity practices to China’s farms and creating safe, price-competitive products. Though big farms
potentially have their own biosecurity issues, they’re a vast improvement on the poorly regulated hodgepodge
of small operations that currently prevails.
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For their part, wet markets can easily improve their safety practices without going out of business. A
decade ago, in the wake of the first avian flu panics, the World Health Organization published basic guidelines.
The suggestions are simple and inexpensive to implement: separate slaughtering zones from selling areas, use
metal or plastic cages that can be easily cleaned, discourage selling live poultry to customers and so on. The
key is for the government to enforce such rules strictly, especially in the most populated areas of the country.
To encourage that, Beijing should begin directly evaluating local officials for how well they promote food
safety in their jurisdictions. This isn’t as outlandish as it might sound. For decades, Chinese officials were
promoted -- or demoted -- on the basis of how much economic growth and social stability they oversaw.
Recently, China reformed this system to take into account how well they protected the environment as well.
Food safety, consistently a top concern of Chinese citizens, should join the list. Officials must be made
to realize that when it comes to the possibility of a pandemic, a bit of preventative medicine is as good as a
cure.
This Is How Much Soda It Takes to Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Soda might be refreshing, but when it comes to your health, how much is too much? You’d be surprised.
While soda consumption in the U.S. has taken a dip in the last 15 years, soda is still very much part
of the American diet (if you can even call it that). Either you or someone you know can’t resist reaching for
the sugary drink come lunch time. Still, it’s no secret that soda isn’t exactly the healthiest beverage, but
how much is too much? Indulging in the occasional liter of cola can’t hurt, right? Well, according to a
review of 36 different studies, it doesn’t take a lot of soda to do you a lot of harm—especially when it
comes to diabetes. (Don’t miss the 10 reasons to avoid all soda, including diet.)
The research was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society and was completed by a group of
researchers from South Africa. The review noted that consuming a sizable number of sugary drinks, five or
more, ups your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, which, sure, makes
sense. But even when the consumption was lowered considerably, the results were a bit unsettling.
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Just two cups of soda each week can increase one’s risk of type 2 diabetes by 29 percent, according
to one of the studies reviewed. Keep in mind, a standard can of soda is 12 ounces or 1.5 cups. This study
analyzed data from 43,580 participants aged 45-74 years of age. All participants were free of diabetes and
other chronic illness at the beginning of the study. (If you’re looking for a step-by-step program to reverse
diabetes, check out this plan.)
Even for the most moderate soda slugger, the risk is very real. So if you’re looking to ward off type 2
diabetes, it’s probably best to keep that soda consumption to a minimum and probably avoid these 7 habits
while you’re at it.
The Latest “It” Antioxidant --Astaxanthin-- Is a Fountain of Youth

Astaxanthin (pronounced asta-zan-thin) is the most powerful natural antioxidant you’ve never heard of.
What is astaxanthin?
You’ve probably heard about the superpowers antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E possess. They help the
body detox, slow signs of aging, promote longevity, and reduce risk of cancer among other things. But one
powerful natural antioxidant and carotenoid (in the same family as beta carotene, lycopene and lutein), that’s
been gaining tons of attention lately is astaxanthin. It’s the stuff that turns salmon and most crustaceans (even
flamingos!) a pink or reddish hue; countless studies suggest it offers incredible benefits.
Boost mental and physical energy

This is something we all could use some help with, as feelings of mental and physical exhaustion plague most
of the U.S. population. ‘Astaxanthin fights fatigue both from a muscle perspective, as well as mental fatigue,’
explains Mark Miller, PhD, biomedical researcher specializing in nutritional supplement and functional food
formulation. In fact, research published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, found that it has the power
to reduce oxidative stress (aka the imbalance in the body’s levels of free radicals and its ability to detoxify
their harmful effects), inflammation, as well boost the immune system.
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Gain anti-aging and skincare benefits
Next time you’re shopping for skin-care products, check the label for astaxanthin, which has the potential to
slow the aging process of your skin cells and give you glowing, clear skin, according to a study by Washington
State University. In addition, a Japanese study found that it improves skin texture, elasticity and reduces signs
of aging, such as age spots and wrinkles. ‘You can take supplements, but this is one antioxidant that can also
be applied topically to skin,’ says Dr. Miller. ‘It’s a great ingredient for nourishing, protecting and supporting
skin health.’
Improve liver function

Your liver’s main job is to detoxify your body, as well as handle, store and redistribute nutrients as they enter
from the gut. Astaxanthin has protective capabilities that result in a decreased risk for fatty liver disease, the
prelude to cirrhosis, or chronic liver damage that leads to scarring and, inevitably, liver failure. ‘In part, it is able
to do this by limiting inflammation as well as assisting in metabolic decision-making,’ says Dr. MIller. ‘Metabolically
speaking, it restores balance to how fuel is handled.’ Worried about your liver? Look for these warning signs.
Increase endurance
Exercise, in general, creates free radicals—this happens when muscles contract and the body burns fuel.
‘With sustained efforts, these radicals compromise function and performance and cause damage leading, to
inflammation and soreness,’ says Dr. Miller. ‘Astaxanthin is simply superb at negating this, as evidenced by
the clinical trials showing improved performance and accelerated recovery.’ In fact, research published in the
Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that those who took 4mg of the stuff a day, for
a span of 28 days, scored better cycling times and greater output than those who did not take it. Find out
what building endurance can do for your health.
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Healthy food sources
The best source is sockeye salmon, following by shrimp, crab, and lobster. You can also order a supplement,
but speak with your doctor beforehand to make sure you’re selecting the right brand and dosage..
Do fidget spinners really work or are they a distraction?

Pogs, Beanie Babies, Pokémon cards. Every so often there’s a hot new toy that explodes onto the scene
that creates such a craze, that it carves itself a spot into pop culture history.
The latest plaything to do so are fidget spinners — palm-sized three-pronged spinners that claim to help
children with special needs focus, as well as relieve stress and tension.
And much like its craze-causing predecessors, it’s creating such a distraction that schools are being forced
to intervene and professionals to speak out.
“I’d say those particular toys that kids are playing with right now don’t actually have the attributes that
we would normally associate with a fidget tool or fidget toy that might be helpful for kids with a range of
different difficulties,” Dr. Jennifer Crosbie, child psychologist, told Global News. “These toys are closer to a
toy. They really are something that the kids are paying attention to. They’re trying to spin them on their desk,
maybe spin them on the floor… That’s not what you want for a tool that’s actually supposed to be helping
them within the classroom.”
While these spinners are relatively new in Canada, countries around the world have already begun taking
action and banning them in classrooms.
According to SpinnerList, a fidget spinner database, 32 per cent of the top 200 American high schools
(the 100 largest private and 100 largest public schools, according to the Department of Education) have already
banned the gadgets, or plan to.
Schools in the U.K. are banning them as well for being too distracting, The Independent reports.
In Canada, however, many schools have yet to take an official position on fidget spinners.
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According to The Guardian, fidget spinners were designed by Catherine Hettinger of Florida in the 1990s.
Its primary purpose was to help those with ADHD and autism.
However, experts say there’s no evidence to support the toy’s claims.
“I know there’s lots of similar toys, just like there’s lots of other games and products marketed toward
individuals who have ADHD, and there’s basically no scientific evidence that those things work across the
board,” Scott Kollins, a clinical psychologist and professor at Duke University, said to NPR. “If their description
says specifically that this can help for ADHD, they’re basically making false claims because these have not
been evaluated in proper research.”
But seeing as the gadget is mostly being used as a toy, stores in Canada, the U.S. and U.K. can barely
keep them on the shelves.
Fidget spinners can retail anywhere from $3 upwards, depending on its features.
Science Just Found a Way to Get a Cardio Workout While Sitting Down
The best part? It involves watching your favorite shows.
It’s certainly exciting to attend a live theater performance. Whether you’re waiting for the curtain to rise
for a famous Broadway production (perhaps one of these musicals you definitely should have heard by now)
or enjoying a performance starring local thespians, the tales told onstage can be memorable and moving.
Audience favorites, including the much beloved Hamilton, can cause one to feel a range of emotions and, in
turn, can set their hearts racing. According to new research, the cardiovascular response that we feel during
a performance is actually beneficial for our bodies.
Findings of a study from researchers at the University College London, University of Lancaster, and Encore
Tickets indicate that watching a musical performance causes a heart response that’s equal to that of a half-hour
workout, Cardiovascular Business reported.
For the study, researchers monitored the heart rates, brain activity, and physiological signals of 12 seated
volunteers during a production of the musical Dreamgirls. Participants were reported to have spent 28 minutes
with a heart rate between 50 and 70 percent of its maximum, which is the ideal rate for “stimulating cardio
Enconcept 33
fitness and stamina,” the study said. This means that although the participants were seated and watching a
performance, their body essentially went through 28 minutes of healthy cardio activity. Talk about a way to
burn calories without really trying!
Participants’ heart rates were at their highest peaks just before the beginning of the intermission and at
the show’s conclusion. Researchers believe the heightening and lowering of heart rates indicate the “surge of
deep emotion and energy seen on stage.”
“This demonstration paints quite a clear picture that attending a live performance has an impact on
cardiovascular activity,” Joseph Devlin, Ph.D, head of experimental psychology at University College London
told Encore Tickets. “By the end of the first act, heart rates nearly doubled from their resting state at the
beginning, while in the second act, it tripled. You see comparable changes in heart rate in professional tennis
players during burst of highly intense exertion such as long and fast rallies.”
Experts also attribute the heightened heart rates to the emotion of seeing a performance in a crowded
room, surrounded by an audience. Dr. Devlin notes that being in a live audience increases the emotional intensity
of the theater-going experience.
Based on the results of their findings, researchers said that the frequently changing moods and dynamics
of a theater performance allow an audience member to go through a “range of emotions that can stimulate
the heart and induce heart rate activity that is parallel to an exerting cardio workout.” Now, you have two
reasons to check out the next musical that comes to town: getting a workout and learning these hidden lessons
from beloved Broadway shows.
34 Enconcept
Shape Up Your Diet For Good Vision
So exactly what is a healthy diet?
A healthy diet that provides good nutrition for healthy eyes includes five to nine servings of fruits and
vegetables every day, at least three servings of 100 percent whole grains each day and two servings of fish
each week. The total calories consumed should be just enough to keep you at a healthy weight, based on
your individual activity level and metabolism.
Dark green and colorful fruits and vegetables are great sources of eye-friendly antioxidants. They also
contain folic acid and calcium — important nutrients which also may help reduce the risk of cataracts and
should be included in a healthy diet.
To maintain a healthy diet, it is equally important to avoid fried foods, processed foods and sugary snacks
and soft drinks — all of which appear to be associated with an increased risk of cataracts, as well as obesity
and other health problems.
Reducing sodium in your diet also is a good idea, as researchers at the University of Sydney (Australia)
have found evidence that high salt intake may increase your risk for cataracts.
Giving up greasy fast food, chips, sugary snacks and soft drinks may not be easy. But it’s worth it. Once
you get used to eating delicious fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and other healthy foods, you won’t miss junk
foods. And your reward just might be both a healthy body and a lifetime of good vision.
Enconcept 35
Reading Passages
DISASTER 2017
Bangkok hit by flash floods
Areas of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok have been severely disrupted after being hit by flash floods. The
floods triggered by an overnight downpour were the heaviest Bangkok had seen in 25 years and overwhelmed
the city’s drainage system.
Areas of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok have been severely disrupted after being hit by flash floods.
The floods triggered by an overnight downpour were the heaviest Bangkok had seen in 25 years and
overwhelmed the city’s drainage system.
The water took six hours to recede in some area of the capital.
At least 55 major roads were submerged by floodwater which caused traffic jams across the capital with
locals forced to wade through thigh-deep water.
Weather experts said the heavy rain was the due to the monsoon stretching across the central part of
the country.
The rains are set to continue over the next two days.
36 Enconcept
Thailand is Suffering From The Worst Drought in Decades
Thailand is experiencing the worst drought in decades, with seven out of 67 provinces affected and water
rationing taking place in almost a third of the country.
Thailand’s Irrigation Department said that the amount of usable water in dams across the country, except
in the West, have dwindled to below 10 percent and in the capital Bangkok tap water production has been
slowing down since May, reports the Associated Press.
Meanwhile the drought is taking its toll on the country’s farmers.
Rice farmers usually plant their paddy in June or July but because of critical water shortages, the Agriculture
Ministry has asked farmers to delay planting their crop until August.
According to the Office of Agricultural Economics, the delay could cost farmers in Thailand’s central plains
60 billion baht ($1.8 billion) in losses and straddle them with significant debt.
“My entire investment for this crop could be gone with the wind,” 66-year-old rice farmer Boontham Cei-
pa told Bloomberg. “I’m stressed out and don’t know what to do.”
Thailand is one of the world’s top producers of rice, exporting more than 10 million tons annually. As a
result of the drought, the Thai government has lowered its forecastrice exports for this year by 2 million tons.
Fearing the drought could mean a rise in rice prices, African countries have increased their imports, the
Nation reports.
“The African market remains an important market for Thailand especially rice and parboiled rice,” Chukiat
Opaswong, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
In an effort to support farmers affected by drought, Thailand’s Finance Ministry Monday approved loans
of up to 60 billion baht ($1.77 billion) for emergency funds and long-term assistance to increase farm productivity.
Enconcept 37
7.0 quake off New Caledonia sparks tsunami alert
Noumea - A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of New Caledonia on Monday,
triggering a brief tsunami warning and evacuation alert but causing no significant damage, local officials said.
The US Geological Survey said the shallow tremor hit approximately 82km east of the lightly populated
Loyalty Islands at around 09:45 (22:45 GMT).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially issued an alert saying areas within 300km could be affected,
including Vanuatu and New Caledonia, whose capital Noumea sits some 250km east of the epicentre.
It said that tsunami waves had been “observed” but gave no location or further detail.
Sirens sounded briefly along coastal areas of the Loyalty Islands with some residents told to evacuate.
However, after an hour they were advised to resume normal activities but to remain vigilant for aftershocks.
There have been no immediate reports of damage.
Pierre Lebellegard, a seismologist for the French Research Institute for Development, told AFP the Loyalty
Islands had been seismically active for the past three weeks.
“They must be very frightened in Mare,” he told AFP, referring to the main island where over 5 600
people live.
‘I thought I was going to faint’
He added that such quake clusters “happen every 10 to 15 years” in the area.
Nervous residents reported feeling several tremors throughout the night before the quake hit.
“Parked cars were shaking and everyone went outside,” one official from Mare told AFP.
“I thought I was going to faint, I was very afraid and I rushed out of my building,” said a resident of
central Noumea.
Geoscience Australia seismologist Spiro Spiliopoulos said damage in the capital was unlikely.
“They will feel moderate shaking, but there is a low likelihood of damage from the earthquake itself in
Noumea,” he told AFP.
38 Enconcept
Monday’s earthquake followed a series of temblors to hit the Loyalty Islands area over the past few
weeks, including a 6.8-magnitude quake that struck at the end of October.
New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, is part of the “Ring of Fire”, a zone of tectonic activity around
the Pacific that is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Powerful Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas

Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday night between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, Texas, as a Category
4 storm with winds of 130 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.
Harvey is the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Charley in
2004.
The storm is poundng the Texas coast and its millions of residents with hurricane-force winds knocking
down trees, power poles and signs, and with torrential rain deluging streets.
In its 11 p.m. ET update, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm had passed over
San Jose Island, bringing with it a dangerous and powerful eye wall.
The hurricane center warns that some areas will see as much as 13 feet of storm surge and large,
destructive waves.
And there’s the rain that the slow-moving storm is expected to produce. Because it is expected to come
to a near halt inland, Harvey could drop as much as 40 inches of rain in some places, and up to 30 inches
in others, by Wednesday.
The combination of wind and water could leave wide swaths of South Texas “uninhabitable for weeks or
months,” the National Weather Service in Houston said.
Such daunting language hasn’t been seen by CNN’s experts since Hurricane Katrina, which left more than
1,800 people dead in 2005.
The threat has prompted officials in at least one town to ask residents who stay behind to write their
Social Security numbers on one of their arms in case. It will make identifying bodies easier.
Enconcept 39
“Texas is about to have a very significant disaster,” said Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
Gov. Greg Abbott warned of record-setting flooding and called on people to flee the area before the storm
hits.
“My top goal is to be able to make it through this storm in a way in which we lose no lives,” Abbott
said. “Put your life first and your property second.”
Residents were urged to evacuate. A mass exodus from the coast caused extensive traffic jams along
the state’s highways, while other people boarded up windows and stocked up on food and water ahead of the
storm, the effects of which are expected to last for days.
The storm will stall and dump rain on South Texas and parts of Louisiana into the middle of next week,
forecasters predicted.
California fires: Hundreds of Los Angeles homes destroyed, thousands at

risk
A wildfire has erupted in Los Angeles’ exclusive Bel-Air area as yet another part of Southern California
found itself under siege from an outbreak of wind-whipped blazes that have consumed multi-million-dollar houses
and tract homes alike.
Hundreds of homes across the LA metropolitan area and beyond were feared destroyed since Monday,
but firefighters are only slowly managing to make their way into some of the hard-hit areas for an accurate
count.
About 20,000 people were under evacuation orders throughout metropolitan Los Angeles and other areas
of Southern California.
The wind wildfire threat for Southern California was raised to purple for the first time. The colour means
there is extreme danger and fires that erupt will burn uncontrollably.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said his firefighters were “stretched thin” and he was forced to
reallocate resources from smaller fires to battle the new infernos.
40 Enconcept
Air tankers had been grounded earlier in the week due to strong winds, but were able to fly again on
Wednesday (local time) to drop flame retardant.
The largest and most destructive fire, burning north-west of Los Angeles in Ventura County, had grown
to more than 36,000 hectares and officials said the worst was yet to come.
Nearly 1,800 firefighters and a fleet of aircraft were fighting the flames in that county, but the blaze was
only 5 per cent contained and an estimated 12,000 buildings were in danger.
State fire director Ken Pimlott said winds that eased in the afternoon could return with gusts up to 130
kilometres per hour on Thursday (local time) that would make it impossible to fight the fire.
“They’re going to be extreme tomorrow,” Mr Pimlott said.
“We need to have everybody’s heads up — heads on a swivel — and pay very close attention.”
Near the wealthy suburb of Bel-Air, social media users posted harrowing video of their commute, showing
flames from the Skirball fire raging just metres away from the still-moving cars.
Deputy Fire Chief Charles Butler said firefighters and aircraft stopped the growth of the 1,174-hectare
blaze.
Concerns remained about winds returning.
Production of the HBO drama Westworld and the CBS show S.W.A.T. was suspended because of the
danger to cast and crew from two nearby fires.
One of the fires reached media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s estate and winery, which was evacuated.
In areas where the fires had been contained, residents and firefighters had only just begun to inspect
the scale of the damage.
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Reading Passages
POLITICS 2017
Donald Trump inauguration: parade and protesters take to streets of DC

– as it happened
With the inaugural balls well underway, we’re going to close our rolling coverage of the inauguration of the
45th president of the United States with a summary of the day’s events.
• Donald Trump was sworn in by chief justice John Roberts as the 45th president of the United States,
as Barack Obama handed over White House to the businessman, who has never held office or served
in the military and who rose to prominence among conservatives by questioning the legitimacy of the
44th president.
• In his inaugural address, Trump painted a bleak picture of “American carnage” across the country,
speaking about inequality, abandoned factories “like tombstones” and “the crime and the gangs and
the drugs.” He promised: “we will make America strong again, wealthy again, proud again, safe again
and, yes, together we will make America great again.”
• Trump pledged an “America first” policy in all things, using a phrase that has been denounced by the
Anti-Defamation League for its roots with 1940s Nazi sympathizers. “We’ve defended other nations’
borders while refusing to defend our own,” Trump said. “But that is the past. And now we are looking
only to the future.”
• The speech at times veered away from reality in its tour through an America supposedly riven with
“disrepair and decay”. He also urged unification, saying he hoped to “unlock the mysteries of space”
and “heal our divisions”. “It’s time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that
42 Enconcept
whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.”
• The new president signed an executive order to “ease the burden” of the repeal of the Affordable Care
Act. Republicans have promised to quickly dismantle the law, possibly leaving more than 20 million
Americans without healthcare and threatening to balloon deficits around the country. Trump’s order
appears to anticipate those financial risks, yet urges “prompt repeal”.
• Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Washington DC, in mostly peaceful demonstrations that
contrasted sharply with the thin crowds watching the inaugural parade. More than 200 people were
arrested after sporadic violence broke out, when some protesters threw bricks and bottles at police
and officers fired pepper spray and stinging projectiles in return. There was also some vandalism,
including a limousine set on fire.
• Washington braced for far larger protests planned for Saturday, including a Women’s March that
expects more than 200,000 people. Initial analysis of crowd size, meanwhile, suggested that far more
people attended Obama’s 2009 inauguration than Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
• Trump’s White House immediately put his priorities on the new site: policing and the military,
manufacturing, trade and oil drilling, and “America first”. Immigrants around the US, with and without
papers, braced for life under the new administration. Americans almost immediately petitioned Trump to
release his taxes and divest from his businesses.
• The Senate confirmed two retired generals to Trump’s cabinet,James Mattis and John Kelly, to head
the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, respectively. Both men have broken with Trump
on several key positions, including the US attitude toward Russian and building a wall along the border
with Mexico.
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Reading Passages
TECHNOLOGY 2017
Elon Musk: SpaceX can colonise Mars and build moon base
Musk says project codenamed BFR would also allow commercial travel to anywhere on Earth in under an
hour
Elon Musk has unveiled plans for a new spacecraft that he says would allow his company SpaceX to
colonise Mars, build a base on the moon, and allow commercial travel to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.
The spacecraft is currently still codenamed the BFR (Big Fucking Rocket). Musk says the company hopes
to have the first launch by 2022, and then have four flying to Mars by 2024.
Last year Musk proposed an earlier plan for the spacecraft, but at the time had not developed a way of
funding the project.
Speaking at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide Australia on Friday, Musk said the company
had figured out a way to pay for the project.
The key, he said, was to “cannibalise” all of SpaceX’s other products.
Instead of operating a number of smaller spacecrafts to deliver satellites into orbit and supply the
International Space Station, Musk said the BFR would eventually be used to complete all of its missions.
“If we can do that then all the resources that are used for Falcon9, Dragon and Heavy can by applied
to this system,” he said.
SpaceX has been working feverishly on reusable spacecraft designs, now completing 16 successful landings
in a row of its Falcon9 rocket. That was the key to allowing the ambitious design to be economic, he said.
“It’s really crazy that we build these sophisticated rockets and then crash them every time we fly,” he
said. “This is mad.”
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Musk said the cost of fuel is low, and so if the crafts were fully reusable, the costs of flights drop
dramatically. He said the company had already started building the system, with construction of the first ship
to begin next year.
“I feel fairly confident that we can complete the ship and be ready for a launch in five years,” he said.
By 2024, Musk said he wanted to fly four ships to Mars, two of which would have crew in them. By
that stage, they planned to be able to build a plant on the surface of Mars that would be able to synthesise
fuel for return journeys back from Mars.
For a trip to Mars, he said the craft would be able to hold about 100 people in 40 cabins. But he said
once the ship is built, it could be used to travel on Earth too.
Musk did not estimate the cost of such flights, but said that most long-distance flights could be completed
in 30 minutes, and you could get anywhere on Earth in under an hour.
“If we’re building this thing to go to the Moon and Mars then why not go to other places on earth as
well,” he said.
He said the size of the payload – which would allow items with a diameter of just under 9m – means
larger satellites could be delivered to orbit in a single mission.
At a presentation at last year’s International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Musk described
the earlier iteration of the system with more details about the costs.
For that earlier version, he said the cost of sending a person on the SpaceX Interplanetary Transport
System would be around $200,000. Musk suggested that multiple space rockets could take 100 people each
over 40 to 100 years until a million people lived there.
“It was much too big and fantastical,” said Robert Zubrin, president and founder of Mars Society, a non-
profit that promotes human settlement of Mars.
Musk’s proposal for getting a million people to Mars as quickly as possible was, Zubrin said, “like a D-Day
landing”. Instead, Musk should be thinking of sending just ten people to set up an agricultural base, Zubrin
said.
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“Then send 20 more people and so forth to develop capabilities to make steel and eventually create
institutions like schools.”
“He typically goes into something with over-reach,” Zubrin added, referring to Musk’s tendency to over-
promise with many of his projects, including delivery dates of Teslas and the progress of The Boring Company,
drilling a subterranean Los Angeles commuter tunnel.
“But he’s able to take criticism and adjust things to become achievable,” said Zubrin.
“If he reduces his launch system from 500 tons to 150 tons or less, that would show he’s serious and
would move him from the realm of vision to the realm of engineering.”
Lockheed Martin also presented an idea for a manned Mars mission at the Adelaide event. The aerospace
company outlined a six-person space station called Mars Base Camp that it thinks could be orbiting the red
planet by 2028 along with a lander that could descend to the surface.
Astronauts on the space station could carry out scientific research and exploration work, including operating
rovers and identifying landing spots on the surface of the planet for larger vehicles.
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Gadget trash is piling up in Asia
In Asia, electronic trash has reached new heights.
A growing number of gadgets -- and more people who can afford to buy them -- has led to a 63%
increase in electronic waste in Asia, according to a study from the United Nations University. And that’s only
in the past five years.
Phones, computers and other appliances have contributed to 12.3 million tons of e-waste generated across
the continent between 2010 and 2015. China alone more than doubled its electronic trash within that time
frame.
Shorter lifespans of technology, and therefore the need for replacements, is cited as another reason why
e-trash is growing in Asia.
The study notes that e-trash is often dumped illegally, ultimately causing environmental problems.
For example, tech products often contain lead and mercury that are toxic to humans and the planet.
Meanwhile, the process of burning electronics -- which is often conducted by landfills to get rid of clutter -- can
cause chronic health issues.
“It’s definitely a tipping point,” co-author Ruediger Kuehr of UN University told CNNMoney. “The countries
[examined in the study] have to be aware of the issue not only from an environmental point of view but also
a business and economic perspective.”
By not recycling electronic equipment, countries are losing resources essential for maintaining production
chains in the future, he said.
Although most of Asia’s e-waste comes from its own regions, some is transported from western countries
looking to dispose or recycle waste. But according to a two-year investigation from environmental group Basel
Action Network, electronics taken to recycling centers in the U.S. often wind up in landfills in countries like
Taiwan, China and Thailand.
Kuehr said Asia’s e-waste problem will be massive effort to solve.
“Politicians need to put it on political agendas to develop appropriate policies,” he said. “Solid financing,
a good collection system and lots of good international cooperation are needed.”
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IPhone X is inferior to Samsung’s new phones, Consumer Reports says
So much for the iPhone X being the best phone ever. At least according to Consumer Reports.
The influential publication just released its full review of the $1,000 device, and concludes that Samsung’s
latest smartphones, and even the cheaper iPhone 8 series, are better options for most people.
“Taken as a complete package, this phone ranked a bit lower than Samsung’s S8, S8+, and Note8, mainly
because of their superior battery life,” Consumer Reports said. “But many longtime iPhone users aren’t interested
in switching to Android, so the real question for them is whether to save a few bucks — or, actually, a couple
hundred — and go with an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus instead.”
Consumer Reports scores the Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8 highest in
its rankings, each with an overall score of 81 out of 100. The Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 Active, Galaxy S7,
LG G6 and iPhone X were each given an overall score of 80.
Consumer Reports said the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were “more resistant to breaking” in its tests
than the iPhone X, and added that consumers will appreciate the “familiar Home button.”
The iPhone X received praise for Face ID, which worked well in Consumer Reports’ tests, as well as the
advanced cameras and display.
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KFC in China tests letting people pay by smiling
Pay using your face and cellphone number
Alipay has launched a new way to pay for your KFC in China — by smiling. So far, the facial payment
system is only available at a single KFC in Hangzhou, China. The company behind the technology, Ant Financial,
an Alibaba subsidiary, says its Smile to Pay technology needs about one to two seconds of facial scanning
with a 3D camera and a “live-ness detection algorithm” to check the identity of the person paying, who must
also enter their mobile phone number to help guard against fraud. A beta version of Smile to Pay was introduced
in 2015 by Jack Ma the founder of Alibaba.
“Taking the facial-recognition payment technology offline was no easy task,” said Jidong Chen, head of
biometric identification technology at Ant Financial. “On how we detect when someone’s photo is being
manipulated when someone is falsely impersonating another person — we prevent this by merging software
and hardware by linking sophisticated algorithms with the 3D camera. We can prevent biometric spoofing.”
According to Ant Financial, the algorithm can detect shadows and other features to test if the person standing
in front of the camera is actually a person, and not a photo or video used to trick the payment system.
In a video detailing how the payment process works, one young woman uses the machine in a variety
of different appearances — with minimal make-up, heavy make-up, and an assortment of wigs. The machine
was shown to accurately recognize her facial features each time for payment.
The KFC shop that offers the facial payment system is a healthier version of the chain called K Pro which
sells salads, juices, and paninis instead. K Pro was introduced in July as a way to entice younger customers
looking for healthier food options.
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How Self-Driving Technology Will Benefit Logistics Industries
The use of driverless trucks can speed up deliveries, which can help resolve multiple issues; for example,
wastage of food. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimates that roughly one-third of the food
produced in the world for human consumption every year—approximately 1.3 billion tons—goes waste. This is
owing to multiple factors, with transportation playing a major part.
Further, it is believed that such technology can enhance the use of online retail by facilitating same-day
delivery. A McKinsey report highlights that consumers attach a value to same-day delivery. The result of one
of its survey concluded that 50% of respondents (Germany, France, Sweden, and the UK) were willing to pay
same-day delivery costs of €6 to €7 for a €59 purchase.
The benefits offered by online retailers such as convenience, lower prices and more choices to consumers
can become even more appealing with the addition of almost immediate delivery. Giants such as Amazon.com
(AMZN) and Wal-Mart (WMT) are already exploring innovative ways (e.g., drones) to deliver products faster.
To make 24/7 deliveries a reality, NVIDIA (NVDA) and ZF, one of the largest automotive suppliers in the
world, will be deploying a test fleet of self-driving delivery trucks for Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), the
largest mail and logistics company, starting in 2018.
Under the partnership, DPDHL will outfit electric light trucks with the ZF ProAI self-driving system, based
on NVIDIA DRIVE PX technology. The partnership is set to power driverless package transportation and delivery,
especially the last mile of deliveries, all of which are costly and complex procedures.
Earlier this year, NVIDIA partnered with PACCAR—manufacturer of Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF lines of
trucks—for self-driving technology.
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What is WannaCry ransomware and why is it attacking global computers?
Malicious software has attacked Britain’s health service and companies in Spain, Russia, the Ukraine and
Taiwan. What is it and how is it holding data to ransom?
WannaCry malicious software has hit Britain’s National Health Service, some of Spain’s largest companies
including Telefónica, as well as computers across Russia, the Ukraine and Taiwan, leading to PCs and data
being locked up and held for ransom.
The ransomware uses a vulnerability first revealed to the public as part of a leaked stash of NSA-related
documents in order to infect Windows PCs and encrypt their contents, before demanding payments of hundreds
of dollars for the key to decrypt files.
The co-ordinated attack had managed to infect large numbers of computers across the health service less
than six hours after it was first noticed by security researchers, in part due to its ability to spread within
networks from PC to PC.
The ransomware has already caused hospitals across England to divert emergency patients – but what is
it, how does it spread and why is this happening in the first place?
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is a particularly nasty type of malware that blocks access to a computer or its data and
demands money to release it.
How does it work?
When a computer is infected, the ransomware typically contacts a central server for the information it
needs to activate, and then begins encrypting files on the infected computer with that information. Once all
the files are encrypted, it posts a message asking for payment to decrypt the files – and threatens to destroy
the information if it doesn’t get paid, often with a timer attached to ramp up the pressure.
How does it spread?
Most ransomware is spread hidden within Word documents, PDFs and other files normally sent via email,
or through a secondary infection on computers already affected by viruses that offer a back door for further
attacks.
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What is WannaCry?
The malware that has affected Telefónica in Spain and the NHS in Britain is the same software: a piece
of ransomware first spotted in the wild by security researchers MalwareHunterTeam, at 9.45am on 12 May.
Less than four hours later, the ransomware had infected NHS computers, albeit originally only in Lancashire,
and spread laterally throughout the NHS’s internal network. It is also being called WanaCrypt0r 2.0, Wanna
Decryptor 2.0, WCry 2, WannaCry 2 and Wanna Decryptor 2.
How much are they asking for?
WannaCry is asking for $300 worth of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin to unlock the contents of the computers.
Who are they?
The creators of this piece of ransomware are still unknown, but WannaCry is their second attempt at
cyber-extortion. An earlier version, named WeCry, was discovered back in February this year: it asked users
for 0.1 bitcoin (currently worth $177, but with a fluctuating value) to unlock files and programs.
How is the NSA tied in to this attack?
Once one user has unwittingly installed this particular flavour of ransomware on their own PC, it tries to
spread to other computers in the same network. In order to do so, WannaCry uses a known vulnerability in
the Windows operating system, jumping between PC and PC. This weakness was first revealed to the world
as part of a huge leak of NSA hacking tools and known weaknesses by an anonymous group calling itself
“Shadow Brokers” in April.
Was there any defence?
Yes. Shortly before the Shadow Brokers released their files, Microsoft issued a patch for affected versions
of Windows, ensuring that the vulnerability couldn’t be used to spread malware between fully updated versions
of its operating system. But for many reasons, from lack of resources to a desire to fully test new updates
before pushing them out more widely, organisations are often slow to install such security updates on a wide
scale.
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Who are the Shadow Brokers? Were they behind this attack?
In keeping with almost everything else in the world of cyberwarfare, attribution is tricky. But it seems
unlikely that the Shadow Brokers were directly involved in the ransomware strike: instead, some opportunist
developer seems to have spotted the utility of the information in the leaked files, and updated their own
software accordingly. As for the Shadow Brokers themselves, no-one really knows, but fingers point towards
Russian actors as likely culprits.
Will paying the ransom really unlock the files?
Sometimes paying the ransom will work, but sometimes it won’t. For the Cryptolocker ransomware that
hit a few years ago, some users reported that they really did get their data back after paying the ransom,
which was typically around £300. But there’s no guarantee paying will work, because cybercriminals aren’t
exactly the most trustworthy group of people.
There are also a collection of viruses that go out of their way to look like ransomware such as Cryptolocker,
but which won’t hand back the data if victims pay. Plus, there’s the ethical issue: paying the ransom funds
more crime.
What else can I do?
Once ransomware has encrypted your files there’s not a lot you can do. If you have a backup of the
files you should be able to restore them after cleaning the computer, but if not your files could be gone for
good.
Some badly designed ransomware, however, has been itself hacked by security researchers, allowing
recovery of data. But such situations are rare, and tend not to apply in the case of widescale professional hits
like the WannaCry attack.
How long will this attack last?
Ransomware often has a short shelf life. As anti-virus vendors cotton on to new versions of the malware,
they are able to prevent infections originating and spreading, leading to developers attempting “Big Bang”
introductions like the one currently under way.
Will they get away with it?
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Bitcoin, the payment medium through which the hackers are demanding payment, is difficult to trace, but
not impossible, and the sheer scale of the attack means that law enforcement in multiple countries will be
looking to see if they can follow the money back to the culprits.
Why is the NHS being targeted?
The NHS does not seem to have been specifically targeted, but the service is not helped by its reliance on
old, unsupported software. Many NHS trusts still use Windows XP, a version of Microsoft’s operating system
that has not received publicly available security updates for half a decade, and even those which are running
on newer operating systems are often sporadically maintained. For an attack which relies on using a hole
fixed less than three months ago, just a slight oversight can be catastrophic.
Attacks on healthcare providers across the world are at an all-time high as they contain valuable private
information, including healthcare records.
Best waterproof tracker for swimming: Moov Now

If you want the best tracker for the pool, things don’t get much better than Moov Now. It’s waterproof to
30m, but focuses on coaching.
Start a swim session via your smartphone in the locker room, and when you return you’ll get feedback on
your stroke type, rate, distance and efficiency, as well as lap times and an overall indicator of your pool
stamina. The only real downside is that there’s no built-in screen to view performances in the pool in real-
time.
Moov Now also works as a discreet all-day fitness tracker, it has great training modes for running and
swimming, and there are still plans to offer heart rate in the pool through the Moov HR – a separate module
that slots inside a swimming cap to measure heart rate from your temple. Clever stuff.
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Virtual girlfriend ‘Vivi’ aimed to help increase Chinese VR headset sales
Introducing an interactive virtual girlfriend may be the way to help increase sales for virtual reality headsets.
At least that’s what Chinese Netflix-style streaming service iQiyi expects to happen.
According to a report on the South China Morning Post, a virtual assistant app called “Vivi” has gotten
some upgrades to make her the girl-next-door type of virtual girl.
In Vivi’s previous version, the virtual assistant worked as any other virtual assistant. Vivi took care of
show schedules on iQiyi, made suggestions and answered queries.
The new Vivi on the other hand could now flirt, give compliments, and even get evasive about her age,
the report cited.
iQiyi, a division of Chinese search engine Baidu, hopes to sell more of their Qiyu VR headsets to
individuals between 18 and 35 years old through Vivi.
The Qiyu currently has a cheaper price tag of 3,499 yuan (around P27,000) compared to the more
commercially popular HTC Vive Focus which sits at 3,999 yuan (about P30,500).
iQiyi VR unit product director Li Xing said more upgrades are in store for Vivi which includes a dance
command.
Middle aged Ma Xiangli shared his experience with Vivi, “For those who stay home a lot, having a
virtual companion helps fill a void. It’s like role-playing a domineering boss and his secretary.”
He added, “I’m already a middle-aged man, and if I like it, I’m sure younger people would like it too.”
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virtual reality
Virtual reality is an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to the user in such
a way that the user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment. On a computer, virtual reality is
primarily experienced through two of the five senses: sight and sound.
The simplest form of virtual reality is a 3-Dimage that can be explored interactively at a personal computer,
usually by manipulating keys or the mouse so that the content of the image moves in some direction or
zooms in or out. More sophisticated efforts involve such approaches as wrap-around display screens, actual
rooms augmented with wearable computers, and haptics devices that let you feel the display images.
Virtual reality can be divided into:
· The simulation of a real environment for training and education.
· The development of an imagined environment for a game or interactive story.
The Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) allows the creator to specify images and the rules for their
display and interaction using textual language statements.
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Reading Passages
CUSTOM & CULTURE 2017
Kazuo Ishiguro wins the Nobel prize in literature 2017

The British author behind books including Man Booker winner The Remains of the Day takes the award for
his ‘novels of great emotional force’
The British author Kazuo Ishiguro said he was both honoured and “taken completely by surprise” after he
was named this year’s winner of the 2017 Nobel prize in literature, even initially wondering if the announcement
was a case of “fake news”.
Ishiguro, author of novels including The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, was praised by the
Swedish Academy for novels which “uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the
world” and were driven by a “great emotional force”.
Despite being among those tipped for the prize, whose previous winners include Seamus Heaney, Toni
Morrison, Doris Lessing and Pablo Neruda, Ishiguro told the Guardian he had been completely unprepared for
the announcement and had even doubted at first if it was true.
“You’d think someone would tell me first but none of us had heard anything,” said Ishiguro, who had
been sitting at his kitchen table at home in Golders Green in London about to have brunch, when he got the
call from his agent.
“It was completely not something I expected, otherwise I would have washed my hair this morning,” he
said with a laugh. “It was absolute chaos. My agent phoned to say it sounded like they had just announced
me as the Nobel winner, but there’s so much fake news about these days it’s hard to know who or what to
believe so I didn’t really believe it until journalists started calling and lining up outside my door.”
Ishiguro, who was born in Nagasaki in Japan but moved to the UK when he was five, said he was
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“tremendously proud” to receive the award and emphasised how much he hoped it would be a force for good
at a time of global instability.
“This is a very weird time in the world, we’ve sort of lost faith in our political system, we’ve lost faith
in our leaders, we’re not quite sure of our values, and I just hope that my winning the Nobel prize contributes
something that engenders good will and peace,” he said. “ It reminds us of how international the world is,
and we all have to contribute things from our different corners of the world.”
With names including Margaret Atwood, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o and Haruki Murakami leading the odds at the
bookmakers, Ishiguro was a surprise choice and he admitted one of his first thoughts had jumped to fellow
living authors he felt were equally deserving of a Nobel.
“Part of me feels like an imposter and part of me feels bad that I’ve got this before other living writers,”
said Ishiguro. “Haruki Murakami, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Cormac McCarthy, all of them immediately
came into my head and I just thought wow, this is a bit of a cheek for me to have been given this before
them.
“And because I’m completely delusional, part of me feels like I’m too young to be winning something
like this. But then I suddenly realised that I’m 62, so I am average age for this I suppose.”
However, any concerns over Ishiguro’s win creating friction in the literary world were quickly appeased
as authors such as Rushdie were among the first to offer their congratulations. “Many congratulations to my
old friend Ish, whose work I’ve loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills,” Rushdie said.
“And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan.”
Ishiguro, who is currently “very deep” into writing his latest novel, which he is juggling alongside film,
theatre and graphic novel projects, also expressed concern at the distracting burden of celebrity that the Nobel
prize might bring and impact on his writing.
He said: “I’m hoping it doesn’t mark some kind of end. I’ve had to battle a lot of my writing life between
the demands to be a public celebrity author and finding the time and space to do the real work, so I’m hoping
the work itself just continues and is no different to where it was yesterday.
“I just hope I don’t get lazy or complacent, I hope my work won’t change. And I hope that younger
readers aren’t put off by the Nobel. I have GCSE people reading my books and I’m very proud to have that
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younger audience.”
Ishiguro studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia, going on to publish his first novel, A
Pale View of the Hills, in 1982. He has been a full-time writer ever since. According to the Academy, the
themes of “memory, time and self-delusion” weave through his work, particularly in The Remains of the Day,
which won Ishiguro the Booker prize in 1989 and was adapted into a film starring Anthony Hopkins as the
“duty-obsessed” butler Stevens.
Addressing Ishiguro’s Nobel win, the former poet laureate Andrew Motion, said: “Ishiguro’s imaginative
world has the great virtue and value of being simultaneously highly individual and deeply familiar – a world of
puzzlement, isolation, watchfulness, threat and wonder.
“How does he do it?” asked Motion. “Among other means, by resting his stories on founding principles
which combine a very fastidious kind of reserve with equally vivid indications of emotional intensity. It’s a
remarkable and fascinating combination, and wonderful to see it recognised by the Nobel prize-givers.”
Will Self, meanwhile, reacted to Ishiguro’s win in characteristically lugubrious fashion.
Self said: “He’s a good writer, and from what I’ve witnessed a lovely man, but the singularity of his
vision is ill-served by such crushing laurels, while I doubt the award will do little to reestablish the former
centrality of the novel to our culture.”
The Nobel prize for literature comes with winnings of 9m Swedish krona (£832,000). Permanent secretary
of the academy, Sara Danius, spoke to Ishiguro about his win around an hour after the announcement. It was
a marked change to previous winners such as Bob Dylan, who took weeks to acknowledge the accolade, and
Doris Lessing, who famously responded with a derisive “oh Christ” when the news was broken to her by
reporters.
“He was very charming, nice and well-versed, of course. He said he felt very grateful and honoured, and
that this is the greatest award you can receive,” said Danius.
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“He is someone who is very interested in understanding the past, but he is not a Proustian writer, he is
not out to redeem the past, he is exploring what you have to forget in order to survive in the first place as
an individual or as a society,” she said, adding, in the wake of last year’s uproar over Dylan’s award, that she
hoped the choice would “make the world happy”.
“That’s not for me to judge. We’ve just chosen what we think is an absolutely brilliant novelist,” she said.
Chang Chui - Bangkok’s newest creative space

Chang Chui market is a new hip creative space covering an area of 11 rai on the Thonburi side of Bangkok.
Destined to be a creative community where new-generation artists and designers can unleash their artistic ability
without restraint, the market packs an art gallery, a theatre / cinema, co-working space, cafes, restaurants, a
tea house, a music store and many unique and creative shops, all under one roof.
The creative space, officially known as “Thailand Tomorrow” in English, is the brainchild of Somchai
Songwattana, CEO and art director of Thailand’s pioneering fashion brand FlyNow. Infused with vintage-style
architecture, it is made up of many separate structures designed under the “nothing is useless” concept, with
the reuse of old materials throughout. Aged teakwood window frames, massive old glass windows and used
corrugated zinc sheets and wrought iron are fused in a unique way into something much-like traditional Chinese
shop houses, giving shoppers a feeling of nostalgia. Several eccentric sculptures have been thrown in to give
the place a modern art vibe.
Chang Chui’s icon is a decommissioned Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airplane that sits right at the center of
the market. Named “Naoh,” a spoonerism of Noah’s Ark, the plane is being transformed into a fine-dining
restaurant with exotic décor and an eclectic mix of vintage furniture, stuffed animals, sculptures and luxury
chandeliers. Run by Michelin-starred chef Andy Yang, the restaurant will serve a range of creatively-designed
dishes. Under the airplane is the “Runway Bar”, where diners can have a drink in a vibrant atmosphere as the
sun goes down.
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Art enthusiasts should head to the “Akarn Anekpasong” multipurpose creativity ground to explore rotating
art exhibitions and events, as well as an occasional art & craft market, or shop for curios and fashion items
that can’t be found elsewhere at “Happening”. Nearby is an art gallery, which also offers print T-shirts of
famous paintings. For those who appreciate wooden handicrafts, don’t forget to drop by “Carpenter” to bring
home some meticulously-made stationery items, modern gadgets such as flash drives and power banks, as well
as various knick-knacks. Also must-visit is “Chui Charoen”, a classic Chinese grocery-themed shop that will bring
childhood memories flooding back with its toys, games, sweets and many other items of the past.
Film buffs and lovers of drama should check out “Dujit Arai Kor Chang”, an old-style theatre from a bygone
era where various performances and well-curated documentary features take turns on the stage. Music lovers
can’t miss “Chang Cheum Live House”, where CDs and vinyl records are on sale and local bands play for the
crowds. Bookworms can browse a selection of old and contemporary books, as well as stylish handmade
stationery at “mali mali”, or flip through books while sipping a coffee in the laid-back ambience of “Yon Yarn
Hall”, where “Booksmith” and “One Ounce for Onion” coffee shop share space.
There are also shops offering home décor items, antiques and collectibles, such as “Lamp of Industry”
and “Vinternity, an eyewear shop, fashion stores, a galaxy-themed barber shop, a gardening and plant shop in
a whimsical skull shape, and even a drone shop.
Chang Chui is also a wonderful place for food and drink. Visitors can sample some of Thailand’s most
popular dishes and desserts from nine well-known street food shops at the funky “Dak Din” food court. Pizza
and burgers are served up at “Pizza Pazza” and “Gunger”. Stalls and food trucks providing a variety of local
and international cuisines are scattered around the market. Beer aficionados will be impressed with the wide
range of Thai and international craft brews at “Huay Bar”, decorated in a barbaric prison theme where drinks
are ordered through the bars of a prison cell.
For an unusual culinary experience, “Insects in the Backyard” is an interesting option. Insect consumption
is growing in popularity due to the high nutritional benefits of bugs and sustainability as a food source. As its
name hints, the restaurant specializes in insect-based dishes such as nachos and mixed insects with cherry
tomato salsa and sour cream, green salad with pan-fried crickets, and fresh homemade cricket pasta with black
basil pesto and chorizo.
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This retro-hip walking market is a great place to pick up some creative inspiration and new ideas. Visitors
can appreciate different forms of art, enjoy dining and shopping, or simply strolling around the market to absorb
the chilled-out and nostalgic atmosphere, especially at night. With its exotic design and décor, it is also fantastic
for those who enjoy taking pictures.
Thailand’s royal cremation ceremony caps year of mourning

A sea of black-clad mourners in Bangkok said a final goodbye to their beloved monarch during a funeral
that climaxed with the late king’s son and successor lighting a pyre built to resemble the sacred center of the
Hindu universe.
Massive crowds gathered in the Thai capital on Thursday to observe the pomp and circumstance on day
two of the country’s elaborate five-day funeral for King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who ruled the country for 70 years.
The King’s body was transported in a procession from the Grand Palace, where it was lying in state, to
Sanam Luang, the site of the royal crematorium, which was built for the occasion. The cremation of the late
monarch took place in private with family members attending, according to Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkumnerd, a
government spokesman.
Mourners dressed in dark colors stood in stark contrast to the gold symbolic urn that was transported
alongside soldiers dressed in red and white. Some stood in long lines to lay ceremonial sandalwood flowers
that were later burned in a ceremony at the time of the king’s cremation.
The ceremony for the man who was once the world’s longest reigning monarch began late Wednesday,
just over one year since he died at age 88 on October 13, 2016.
Also known as Rama IX -- a reference to his lineage stretching from Rama I, the founder of the Chakri
dynasty -- the King commanded great love and respect in Thailand.
A mourner holds a portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej during his funeral procession and royal cremation
ceremony in Bangkok.
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“He’s the dad,” said Thai mourner Saichart Siwannathong, during the ceremony. “The best people and my
idol. My hero. My everything.”
Before the ceremony, Thais slept in the streets to reserve the best vantage points for the funeral procession,
which culminated with his cremation at the royal crematorium, a three-tier, 50-meter (165-foot) high golden
funeral pyre.
Thousands came for just a chance to be close to a man who helped steer the country through coups
and chaos. Despite the throngs, people appeared to be calm and organized.
Jirapa Kaewin traveled to Bangkok with her twin 18-year-old daughters and had been in line since midnight.
“At first we thought we might not come because around my home there is an event organized for the King,”
she said, “but I thought, this is once in a lifetime, so we have to come.”
Kaewin is from the neighboring province of Samut Prakan, where she works at a cosmetics company.
“I wanted to come earlier but had to work yesterday,” she said. “We tried to get as close as possible.”
Many Thais considered the event too special to miss.
“I’m here today because it’s an important day,” Yanisa Sonjai, 24, said during the procession. “We would
like to be as close as possible to send him back to the heavens.”
“I believe everyone doesn’t want this day, but we have to accept that it’s the time that our king has to
go back to the heavens. He has dedicated his life to working really hard for us. He’s still in our heart.”
Thursday was declared a public holiday to allow Thais the opportunity to pay their final respects during
what an official guide said “will be one of the most touching and elaborate cremation ceremonies ever seen
in Thailand.”
Three billion Thai baht ($90 million) was budgeted for the funeral, the biggest in living memory.
Banks and shops closed across the country and the nation’s police force -- some 230,000 officers -- were
on duty to contain the crowds.
Bhumibol’s funeral was attended by dignitaries and royal families from 42 countries including US Defense
Secretary James Mattis, Britain’s Prince Andrew, Japan’s Prince Akishino and royalty from Netherlands, Belgium,
Spain and Sweden.
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Reading Passages
MOVIE/BOOK REVIEW 2017
‘Lady Bird’ shines with indie brilliance

By Sean McBride The Movie Guy
Film fans get another early Christmas present with the release of “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig’s
wonderful, coming-of-age story that looks to be a front runner in many categories in this year’s Oscar race.
Gerwig, who is best known to audiences as an indie actress, makes an impressive directorial debut
telling the story of an awkward teenager (Saoirse Ronan) who is struggling to find herself while growing up
in nondescript Sacramento, CA.
The location is important, particularly for any teenager dissatisfied by life in their hometown, and
champing at the bit to see what else is on offer out in the real world. For Lady Bird, that means going to
college somewhere on the East coast, something that puts her at odds with her mother (Laurie Metcalf),
who knows that the family cannot afford out-of-state tuition.
The mother-daughter relationship is at the heart of this film, and I expect that both actresses will
garner Oscar nominations for their work here. Metcalf plays the mother as someone filled with exasperation
over her daughter’s behavior. She obviously loves Lady Bird, but she’s not always sure that she likes her all
that much.
As for Lady Bird, she sees her story as being unique in the history of teenagers. It’s exactly the sort
of myopic angst that most teenagers go through while growing up, especially those with a flair for being
dramatic. If you did high school drama, you will probably recognize Lady Bird as a kindred spirit.
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That’s the beauty of this film. “Lady Bird” is an ode to awkward teenagers and those who must put
up with their growing pains. The relationship with the mother is the most poignant, but there are also fine
moments as Lady Bird deals with her father (Tracy Letts), high school friends (Beanie Feldstein) and two
high school crushes (Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet).
The cast is very good, as is the screenplay and direction by Greta Gerwig. She is able to pull
emotionally affecting performances out of her cast while keeping the story light and breezy. It’s not often
that a funny film is also so emotionally satisfying.
“Lady Bird” will charm most audiences, but especially mothers and daughters who very well may have
gone through something like this while growing up. I don’t know if this is Gerwig’s own story brought to
life, but it is certainly a masterful debut of a filmmaker with a powerful new voice.
Film review: Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan’s second world war thriller is a

stunning cinematic achievement
By James Mottram
No war film you have ever seen comes close to what the director has created here - the action is
mesmerising, the cinematography stunning in this epic story of survival amid the hideousness of the 1940 Battle
of Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Dunkirk, is an astounding achievement.
The second world war drama about the 1940 evacuation that saw Allied forces retreat from the French
beaches of Dunkirk in northern France is a relentless big-scale experience. No war film you’ve seen before –
from Das Boot to Saving Private Ryan to The Thin Red Line – comes close to what Nolan has created here.
Even by the standards of his own work – The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception – it’s an epic ride.
It’s almost impossible to convey Dunkirk in words. Here is a film that has to be felt, from the visceral
action sequences to the penetrating sound design and the pulsating Hans Zimmer score. Even this doesn’t sum
up the radical steps Nolan takes: at times a silent movie, with minimal dialogue and maximum terror, it plunges
the viewer directly into the hideousness of the situation.
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Splitting the action into three timelines – land, sea and air – this is not a film about character arcs or
grandstanding speeches.
We first meet Tommy (Fionn Whitehead), a British soldier who barely escapes German fire. He’s just one
of the 400,000-odd soldiers on the beaches, and soon teams up with fellow fighters Aneurin Barnard and Harry
Styles – yes, the One Direction star can act – to find a way home.
Meanwhile, crossing from Weymouth on England’s south coast is a civilian “weekend” sailor, Mr Dawson
(Mark Rylance) in his boat the Moonstone – one of the many “little ships” that ultimately save the day.
In the air are Spitfire fighters, piloted by Jack Lowden and Nolan regular Tom Hardy. Cutting neatly
between the three segments, and amplified by Hoyte van Hoytema’s stunningly IMAX-heavy cinematography,
it’s a story of ultimate survival.
As the sections converge, bringing together performers as diverse as Cillian Murphy and Kenneth Branagh,
it’s as immersive as it comes. Dialogue is frequently obliterated by the sounds of whistling bombs and grinding
metal; the action, particularly the aerial sequences, is mesmerising.
Perhaps this sometimes overrides emotional engagement, but Dunkirk is undoubtedly a mammoth piece
of work.
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Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere
aentee @ read at midnight
After reading Everything I Never Told You earlier in the year, Little Fires Everywhere instantaneously
became one of my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2017.Little Fires Everywhere has all the
elements that made Celeste Ng’s debut novel a triumph: an intimate examination of the relationships between
family members, a nuanced portrayal of the various choices we make in life and where they lead us, and a
riveting interplay between conformity and those who defies convention.
Little Fires Everywhere is set in Shaker’s Heights, an idyllic neighbourhood so distinctly confident with its
orderly lifestyle that its motto is ‘Most communities just happen; the best are planned.’ Mrs Elena Richardson
proudly lives by these words, and following rules have paid off in the form of a secure home in one of Shaker’s
Heights more affluent neighbourhood – complete with a loving husband and four healthy teen children. The
certainties in the Richardson’s lives are challenged when artist Mia Warren and her teen daughter, Pearl, moves
into Shaker’s Heights. The dynamics between the two families create some tantalising conflicts which will
unravel mysterious pasts and missed opportunities.
I am in complete awe of Celeste Ng’s writing style. Once again, she manages to masterfully weave an
engaging family drama into a classic mystery set-up. Her understated sentences are artful in their ability to
convey powerful emotions through few words. The repeated use of the imagery of fires and photography
interspersed throughout the text felt integral rather than pretentious. I am especially impressed by how the
ending felt inevitable, with every event and character so inextricably linked – I could see no other fitting
conclusion.
Like Celeste Ng’s previous novel, Little Fires Everywhere goes beyond mysteries and family drama, it’s
also a nuanced examination of privilege. The subplot featuring Bebe Chow, the McCulloughs, and the transracial
adoption, was beautifully handled. Ng’s subtle criticism to the kind of racism that ‘don’t see colour’ remains
one of my favourite things about the novel. The book also delves deep into the various relationships between
mother and daughter, never giving the readers the easy answer – but igniting a spark for us to question our
own perceptions.
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The characters within this novel felt so distinct, I could have sworn they are real although I only got to
know them through a mere 370 pages. Although Mrs Richardson, Mia, and Pearl, received the lion’s share of
the character development – I also found myself caring for the rest of the Richardson family despite their
limited page-time. Mrs Richardson was especially well-crafted, whenever I read about her, I felt simultaneously
frustrated and ashamed – perhaps because I see some of myself in her.
Book Review: The Hate U Give

By dogtrax
If this book doesn’t win a slew of awards this literary season, I don’t know what will. A debut novel by
Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give is a powerhouse of a story, gut-wrenching in its emotion and evocative in
its experience. While often marketed as a way to understand the anger and frustration of the Black Lives
movement, this novel is so much more than that. It’s a window into the lives of young black lives whose
stories are often forgotten in literature, and in those very same news stories.
The story here does seem all too familiar. A young black man is shot and killed by a police officer. The
officer is defended in the media, an the dead man is labeled a thug and drug dealer. The protagonist of the
novel — Starr — was not only at the scene at the time of the shooting, but she knew the victim since
childhood. She’s a witness, determined to keep her friend’s humanity in focus.
What happens in the aftermath of a shooting of a young black man by a white police officer in an inner
city neighborhood is what swirls around The Hate U Give (titled after a reference by rapper Tupac Shakur)
but what really gives the story resonance is Starr herself, who struggles both with the aftermath of the shooting,
the Grand Jury testimony that inflames the community, and the way she straddles two worlds that constantly
tug at her identity. She lives in the urban neighborhood but goes to school in a suburban mostly-white school.
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I appreciated Starr’s voice here, and lingered over the ways that she both struggles and rises to the
occasion when needed, and how her family — despite all the violence around them — closes in with protective
spirit when needed. Starr’s family does not give up on their neighborhood, even though the reality of their
situation forces them to move.
The book is driven by the echoes of a violent act, yet the story is tinged with hope, too, as Starr rises
from it all, a character we can believe in and root for in all of her complexities of a black young woman in
America. A novel like this transports you beyond the headlines. It brings you into the lives of people living in
the places where that violence, and injustice, is threaded into the fabric of daily living.
Peace (let it be),
Kevin
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NOTE
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Appendix

Category Vocab ต้องรู้

BAD(-) GOOD (+)

advantage n.ข้อได้เปรียบ ≠ disadvantage n.ข้อเสียเปรียบ

Actions speak louder than words. ท�ำดีกว่าพูด

ศั พ ท์ ที่ เ คยออกสอบเข้ า เตรี ย มฯ ปี 2555 (2011)

ศั พ ท์ ที่ เ คยออกสอบเข้ า เตรี ย มฯ ปี 2556 (2012)

Lack of sleep could cause mood disorders in teens

How China Can Stop a Pandemic

Officials have to clean up the country’s wet markets for good.

The Latest “It” Antioxidant --Astaxanthin-- Is a Fountain of Youth

Boost mental and physical energy

Improve liver function

Do fidget spinners really work or are they a distraction?

Bangkok hit by flash floods

Powerful Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas

California fires: Hundreds of Los Angeles homes destroyed, thousands at

Donald Trump inauguration: parade and protesters take to streets of DC

Best waterproof tracker for swimming: Moov Now

Kazuo Ishiguro wins the Nobel prize in literature 2017

Chang Chui - Bangkok’s newest creative space

Thailand’s royal cremation ceremony caps year of mourning

‘Lady Bird’ shines with indie brilliance

Film review: Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan’s second world war thriller is a

Book Review: The Hate U Give

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