Textos b2 Ingles Usa

READING
LEVEL B2 (USA)
Teacher’s Pack Reading

READING
LEVEL B2 (USA)
Teacher’s Pack Reading

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Contents
 THE COLLEGE OF ECOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07
 BIOTECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
 CLOUD SEEDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
 THE EARTHQUAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
 STUDENT'S REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 COMPULSORY EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
 TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 HEALTHY EATING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
 MISSIONARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 TRIP TO THE HAGIA SOPHIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
 DEAR DOCTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
 WORKING ABROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
 RENOVATING YOUR HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 VACATION ADVERTISEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
 SIGHTSEEING IN CALIFORNIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
 BUSY OFFICE REQUIRES SECRETARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
 PUBLIC RELATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
 MARKETING TECHNIQUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
 IN A MODERN HOSPITAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 FUTURE HUMAN BODIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
 HELPFUL HINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
 STUDYING MUST BE LEARNED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
 WORLD MUSIC TOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
 GEORGE ORWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
 DEFENCE OF THEATRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
 NOTES OF A TRAVELLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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 HEALTH DISORDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
 OUR BRAIN'S POTENTIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
 POPULAR CHARACTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
 JAMBO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
 A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
 MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
 SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
 THE GOLD RUSH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
 THE MYSTERY OF ATLANTIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
 INFORMAL LETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
 FORMAL LETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
 A LETTER FROM THE AGENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
 ALL ABOUT ESTHER LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
 ESTHER'S ROUTINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
 THE COLOR PURPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
 CHOOSING A PRESENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
 CHRISTMAS STORIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
 CAKE DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
 THE PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
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READING LEVEL B2
THE COLLEGE OF ECOLOGY
Who are we?
The College of Ecology
What do we do?
We organize courses in ecological studies for professionals and for the general public.
Why do we do it?
To have a cleaner and healthier planet.
Come to our open house day and get to know us. Members of staff will be available to answer
questions, either about our courses and activities or about general environmental issues.
Visit our alternative crafts fair. You can buy or simply make a handmade portrait bag or piece of
pottery, picture frame, candles, etc. Have a look at our alternative bookstore or enjoy our delicious
vegetarian snacks.
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READING LEVEL B2
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Although biotechnology has become popular for its many implications in the modern world, to be
precise it is new in name only - being that since Neolithic times farming in itself has been employed
as a way of: "using a biological system to make products" (This is part of the United Nations
definition of biotechnology). Since early farmers began to discern which crops grew best and where
the optimum planting location was, we can say that the process of biotechnology has played an
integral part in farming and food production.
Nowadays we have far more sophisticated applications for our discoveries and biotechnology itself
can be divided into different areas: food production and agriculture, medicine, non-food or
industrial use of crops in areas such as biofuels and biodegradable plastics as well as other
environmentally friendly uses.
As for what is referred to as 'green biotechnology', continuing with the

farming theme, the use of the color green to conjure up images of
environmentally friendly techniques and products is now an established
link. Green biotechnology explores the ways in which agriculture can be
improved through the use of selective cross-breeding and the
development of transgenic plants to combat problems of food scarcity in
poorer regions as well as boost production in general. It is hoped that
through the use of biotechnology improvements can be made with regard
to a decrease in pesticide use and an increased immunity of plants to the
common pests that can cause crop failure or low yields.
In a cross-over area of study between green and white biotechnology we find edible vaccines; in
other words, crops which are genetically modified to contain vaccines which would otherwise need
to be injected. This is hailed by some as a revolutionary discovery and, although at its very earliest
stages, could bring about drastic changes in some countries by eliminating transportation costs and
the complications involved in maintaining vaccines at set temperatures during transportation - as
well as eradicating the need for injections and so reducing risks involved with secondary infections.
There are arguments against these developments as it is very difficult to achieve the same effects
through ingestion as with injection but trials continue and scientists consider the option a viable one
for the future.
On a practical level those in favor of biotechnology in food production argue the case that food can
be given a longer shelf life, improved taste as well as a greater esthetic appeal. The first genetically
modified food product was a variety of tomato in which scientists delayed ripening and so made it
easier to transport in good condition.
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READING LEVEL B2
Following on from green biotechnology we have more colors. Blue biotechnology is primarily
concerned with the oceans and seas around the world and is a relatively new area still very much at
an experimental stage; red biotechnology is focused on medicine and applications in pharmaceutical
products such as the engineering of cures through genetic manipulation; and finally, white
biotechnology which is based on the needs of industrial processes. In this last section we see the
development of organisms which can ultimately produce a desired chemical or help to clean up
hazardous waste.
If we look at the case of red biotechnology and the field of pharmacogenomics, we see the study of
genetically inherited traits and the ability to provide made to measure medications. This new
generation of medicines promises to improve curative qualities of medicines as well as to minimize
the harmful side effects of some treatments. In addition to these benefits there have also been
advances in the production of traditional cures such as the synthetic production of insulin, and
thereby becoming free of animal by-products and the ability to mass produce this substance.
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READING LEVEL B2
CLOUD SEEDING
Cloud seeding is defined as a form of intentional weather modification in an attempt to control the
level of precipitation by releasing substances over clouds. Hail and fog suppression are widely
practiced in airports. Experts say that if you get this climate techno-fix right, the effect is dramatic,
but if you get it wrong, however, you can make the problem worse plunging the earth into an ice
age.
This new geo-engineering phenomenon proposes engineering clouds to counter the negative effects
of climate change and global warming. The idea is to launch these would-be mirrors into an orbit
around the sun in order to deflect sunlight from the earth.
Scientist Trude Storelvmo from Yale

University has investigated cirrus ice clouds
which extend their thin, whispy tendrils into
the upper troposphere at altitudes of about
five to fifteen kilometers. Scientists say with
certainty that these thin clouds are known to
have a net warming effect on our planet
because their ice crystals re-emit infrared
radiation absorbed from the sun-warmed
surface back down towards ground. The aim
of the study is to make cirrus ice clouds even
thinner in order to let out more heat and in
turn cool the globe.
How does this idea work? The ice crystals of cirrus clouds form spontaneously in moist, cold air. If
seed particles are added to the clouds they could grab all the water vapor and form a small number
of large ice crystals. This makes the clouds more transparent. Also, thinner clouds absorb less
radiation from the ground allowing more to escape into space and they last longer than clouds with
large ice particles.
Storelvmo and colleagues have used a climate model that incorporates a description of cirrus cloud
formation and they find that to get climate cooling, one has to use just the right concentration of
seed particles. Too few, and cirrus clouds form just as they do normally. But if there are too many
seeds, they generate more ice crystals than would have formed in their absence, and the clouds are
actually thicker, trapping even more heat.
In conclusion, if the seed concentration is right, we can effectively tackle global warming. However,
if we do not get this seed concentration right we could make global warming even worse. Scientists
say that we must wait until we know more before attempting such a risky project.
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READING LEVEL B2
THE EARTHQUAKE
The whole area has been destroyed and the inhabitants who may suffer from shock have been
moved to a temporary hospital where the social services are dealing with the situation. However,
the army and volunteer workers are still hoping to find survivors.
Donations of money, food and clothes are needed. The earthquake has been the worst in the area
since 1962 and it's creating problems of drought and local conflict.
The country's president has traveled to the scene of the disaster. Although more than two
thousand people may have died, it is too soon to give an exact figure.
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READING LEVEL B2
STUDENT'S REPORT
Report Fourth Quarter.
Student's name: John Holden.
English literature 30%, C, studied the wrong books for the exam.
English language 58%, D, has ability, but doesn't listen in class.
Mathematics 92%, A, very good student, shows promise.
History 83%, B, good essays, didn't finish his project in time.
Geography 59%, D, no interest in the subject, makes no effort.
Spanish 87%, B, satisfactory, he should have gone on the trip to Madrid.
Biology, 0%, B, good years work, missed the exam due to illness.
Chemistry 32%, C, he did not study for his final test.
Physics 72%, C, Doesn't pay attention in class.
Art 89%, A, Lots of imagination, needs to study theory.
Principal's comment:
John Holden is clearly an intelligent boy, but he needs to develop a more responsible attitude to
make the most of his abilitites.
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READING LEVEL B2
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
Students must have a complete school uniform, including the sports kit. They will need at least
two of the articles of clothing, everything should have their names on it.
The school provides all text books as well as art material. However, students bring their own
notebooks, pencils, erasers, rulers, etc.
The school does not take responsibility for anything that is lost. Students are allowed to use the
school library at any time, including Saturday mornings. However, they may not take books home
except in special circumstances, with the principal's permission.
Students must never leave the school premises during class time. If the child is ill, or would like to
leave early for some reason, it is essential that he or she bring a note written by a parent.
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READING LEVEL B2
TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING
Nowadays students of all ages are experiencing the benefits of

technology with regard to learning. The use of computers and
printers instead of writing by hand has changed the capabilities
in terms of output and presentation in all areas of study from
high school to university. We can use the example of the basic
tools offered in desktop publishing packages, such as spell check
and thesaurus, which can save time spent looking up words or
even avoid marks lost for incorrect spelling. This may be
regarded as a form of cheating by some and there are those who
believe that there has been a decline in basic skills in all academic areas as students become ever
more dependent on these tools which correct errors automatically and therefore bypass the
opportunity to learn by our mistakes.
The result of widespread access to technology as well as the internet means that many students are
able to work from home rather than spend time in libraries as well as save money on books and
materials. If anything, the internet itself has opened up many doors for research and study groups
to expand and become more involved in an international sense.
From the point of view of distance, learning technology is evidently an important tool as it allows
for greater accessibility for students in remote areas. Teachers can be anywhere in the world,
teaching in simultaneous locations through virtual classrooms. This has facilitated ease of learning
and provided a means not only to reduce costs but also to offer a more varied syllabus to students.
The use of video conferencing or electronic conferencing to hook people up means that, again,
location is not a problem and as both of these methods have advantages, depending on the aim of
the session, they can be applied in different areas of the course. The main drawback with video
conferencing is the need for appropriate technology to support the necessary facilities - although
we are seeing more and more solutions to this as time passes. With electronic conferencing we have
the benefit of asynchronicity - people in different time zones can participate when it is best for them,
rather than all having to be online at the same time. The possibility of passing documents from one
participant to another when using these applications also allows for assessment to take place either
by peers or a teacher and again makes distance less of an issue.
Other educational software includes specialized tutorials that can present a new topic and provide
examples and or demonstrations as well as the chance for the learner to test their understanding
through interactive tests and quizzes. This is arguably not the same as having a tutor 'on hand' to
answer any specific doubts but students have reported that they have found these programmes to
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READING LEVEL B2
be useful, especially some of the newer formats which incorporate an 'intelligent' system which
adapts to the learner as the tutorial develops.
Simulation programs have been a great help to many students who otherwise wouldn't have had
the means to carry out experiments or tests that require expensive equipment (although naturally
they need access to the program). These programs can enable a student to play out a given
hypothesis and see whether the results they predicted are accurate or desirable in the long run. As
more and more people use I.T. in their free time in the form of games and online communities, this
type of program fits easily into their range of skills and therefore doesn't oblige them to spend time
acquiring new ones.
As an end note to teachers, lecturers, heads of departments and students, it is vital that you shop
around before making any commitments. There are many excellent products on the market but not
all of them are going to be suitable for you and sometimes word of mouth, blogs and forums are a
good way of sounding out the pros and cons of the products you are considering. Make a
comprehensive list of what you need and also what you expect in terms of quality or performance
as well as possibilities for future add-ons or updates.
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READING LEVEL B2
HEALTHY EATING
A balanced diet is the surest way to good health. It is essential to include food from these groups
every day:
1. Protien-rich foods: meat, fish, chicken, eggs, legumes.

2. Vegetables for vitamines.
3. Cereals, if possible wholewheat: bread, rice, pasta, etc.
4. Dairy products: low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese for calcium.
We need a great deal of fiber in our diet, so it's important to eat a lot of fruit, vegetables and
cereals. On the other hand, we should be careful about how much animal fat we eat. We must
also drink at least half a gallon of water every day and try to avoid too much tea or coffee. It would
be much better to get used to herbal infusions. It is not a good idea to drink a lot of alcohol or soft
drinks. If we choose fruit juice instead, we would be doing ourselves a favor.
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READING LEVEL B2
MISSIONARIES
Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, was an Indian prince who was born over 2,500 years ago.
He was brought up by his aunt as his mother died soon after his birth.
During his childhood, he was surrounded by beauty and wealth, and the suffering of the world was
hidden from him.
Siddharta was not happy though.
He decided that, in order to find the truth, he would have to leave his palace and live a simple life.
While meditating he saw the light and he spent the following 45 years travelling and teaching.
According to the Buddhist religion, it is our desire that makes us suffer.
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READING LEVEL B2
TRIP TO THE HAGIA SOPHIA
I had always wanted to visit the Hagia Sophia to see the

famous dome. I had been shown pictures of it, but I
couldn't actually believe the size of that emblematic
feature when I saw it with my own eyes. The Hagia Sophia
was the largest Christian church for a thousand years
before it was converted to a mosque when
Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in
the 15th century. The huge mosque underwent another
transformation in the early 20th century when it was
converted into a museum by Atatürk. While standing
beneath the Christian and Muslim iconography, in a
building dedicated to secular education, it is impossible
not to feel surrounded by a spiritual essence that is intensified by the three great traditions in search
of the truth.
Looking up at the great vault and inspired by the Byzantine architecture, I had a desire to explore
every part of the building. I had a vision of having my life changed by a transcendental experience
that could only happen in such a monumental holy place, so I set off to explore the museum in order
to find myself.
I was walking through the courtyard and along one of the corridors when I saw an enormous wooden
door that had been left open. I touched the ancient timber and I reflected on the many hands that
had pushed open this door over the centuries. I checked my museum map to find out what was in
the room. It said that it was the Sealed Chapel, but this chapel was open. I stepped inside. There
was a painting of an angel talking to a saint that had been preserved much better than the peeling
frescoes in the main hall. There was also a Bible on an ornate altar. In this ancient chapel I thought
I might find the solitude to have my moment of inspiration, but I was not alone; in the corner of the
room a knight was talking to a monk. They must have been actors employed by the museum to
educate, inform and entertain the visitors. They hadn't noticed me so I got a little closer to them so
that I could hear what they were saying. I can understand a little bit of Turkish, but the actors were
speaking Latin. I couldn't believe the attention to detail. I looked for my mobile phone in my pocket
in order to take a video but I couldn't find it. "The phone must be on the table in the café," I thought
to myself, and I rushed out of the chapel and back to the café to see if I could find it.
The waiter had kept my phone safe. When he handed it to me, I remarked how amazing the actors
were in the chapel and he responded in a thick Turkish accent,
"Sir, the chapel is sealed."
"Yes, but the door was open." I replied.
"Sir, there is no door."
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READING LEVEL B2
DEAR DOCTOR
Dear doctor,
To begin with, I want to say how interesting I find this section. In fact, I think it's the best part of the
whole magazine!
Nevertheless, this is not the reason why I am writing. I have a lot of problems because of my weak
heart as there are many activities I can't enjoy.
For this reason, I wanted your advice about what to do to live a full life. For example, I am keen on
sports, I don't want to damage my health.
On the other hand, I suppose I should play golf and not tennis, but I don't like golf!
Also, I would like you to advise me about a suitable diet.
Thank you.
Yours,
Barry Richards
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READING LEVEL B2
WORKING ABROAD
A. Alexis. Luck and persistence got me my internship with an NGO in Spain. I worked for a medium-
sized international development, NGO, which works in various poverty-related areas in different
countries around the world and it was great to see how they work firsthand. I worked at their
headquarters in Soria, Castile y León, and they gave me a desk, a computer and a work email address
on my first day. I felt on top of the world as soon as I arrived, even though I wasn't sure what to
expect. I had this idea of everyone sitting on the floor discussing politics and poetry passing around
photos of their sponsored children. To be honest I hoped at some point they'd say, "Hey, we need
an English speaker to go to Rwanda for a couple weeks. What do you say?" That didn't happen and
the office wasn't quite as I expected. It was really... like an office in any company. I learned
something really valuable, 80% of international development is really similar to any other office job
and mostly consists of emails, paperwork and invoices. This was an important lesson for me in
considering what I want to do in the future.
B. Beth. I was pretty fortunate to find this internship, as the 'year-abroad' coordinator at my
university in Minnesota had a list of employers in various countries who had previously accepted
students for internships. George Andani happened to be on that list! I sent over a CV and a cover
letter in Italian (of course I asked a native to check it!) and was offered the internship without even
having a phone interview - a stroke of luck. However, here comes the only disadvantage: in Italy
paid internships are very rare. The company didn't even cover my travel expenses... I lived in
Modena, one of the smallest cities in Emilia Romagna; that's why the cost of living wasn't as high as
it would be in Rome or Milan, for example. Luckily, I was able to take on a part-time job as an English
tutor so that I could earn something on the side to cover my expenses. Working abroad in Italy was
one of the highlights of my entire degree and I'd recommend it to anyone since you will instantly
become a sought-after graduate with international experience!
C. Nicola. I am Nicola and next January I am going to start an internship overseas working on an
organic farm which provides self-sustainability and a healthy, secure and peaceful quality lifestyle.
Even though I am studying to become an agronomist, no qualifications were required to apply for
this internship. According to their job advertisement, they needed someone ready to enjoy the
African outdoors, be a good team player, hard-working, enthusiastic and energetic. Apparently,
after a couple of interviews they decided that I fulfilled all these requirements and was the perfect
candidate. They have told me that every day of my internship can be different because I may be
involved in a wide range of activities from planning, planting and harvesting, through to packing
marketing materials and even dealing with staff and union issues. I can't wait to start!
D. Patricia. My primary motivation for becoming an au pair in United States was to expose myself
to as much of the English language as possible. A requirement of the modern languages degree I am
studying is that you have to spend a minimum of eight or ten weeks in your target countries
(countries where the languages that you study are spoken) and, as I opted to spend the academic
year as a Spanish language assistant in France, I had to spend my summer either working or studying
in an English-speaking country to keep improving my English. I decided to work as an au pair because
I believed that I would be totally immersed in the language, but that didn't exactly work out. Aside
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READING LEVEL B2
from supervising the children while the mother was working, the other key aspect of my role was to
help them practice and improve their Spanish; therefore I spoke to them solely in Spanish. So,
although I got on well with the kids, if I were being totally honest, I would never repeat an experience
like this. I think I should have looked for a different summer job.
E. Anthony. I am writing this from Rio de Janerio, Brazil, where I have been working as a volunteer
in a favela for the past three months. I am working for an organization and living in a shared house
in the Santa Teresa neighborhood with other volunteers. I study Spanish, Portuguese and Latin
American Studies at Standford University and here is a snippet of how my year abroad experience
is going so far: on a regular basis, my day begins with a bus journey. This is no ordinary bus journey
though, rather a 40 minute struggle to stay in my seat while traveling on the most aggressively
driven public transport vehicle I've come across in my 20 years of life! I work on a project in a favela
in a small community center where many kids spend most of their days at the moment, due to the
teachers' strikes here. The morning session begins at around 10 am and I can do many activities with
the children, including teaching English, telling them about United States, different activities or
games... In the evenings, I try to help the lady in charge of the project with the cooking. My volunteer
work is helping my Portuguese in leaps and bounds and I feel really helpful here.
F. Nick. After graduating in French and Spanish from Darmouth College, New Hampshire, and
spending some time in Chile, I decided to find an internship abroad. Last year before Christmas, I
was lucky enough to be able to do an expenses-paid internship in Bordeaux thanks to a European
program. I had always been itching to go and spend some more time in France, so I jumped at the
opportunity. The essential purpose of this program is to promote mobility; basically, to encourage
U.S. citizens to broaden their horizons and discover study and work opportunities outside their own
country. Outside companies get the funds from the U.S. and, personally, I found out about it because
the company that hired me had put an advertisement online, which I got from a graduate jobs
mailing list. My interview with the company was quite easy. They were just trying to find out about
me and if I would be able to adjust to working abroad; so there were no tricky questions that
prospective employers sometimes ask. Even though there was no payment per se, I received part of
the U.S. grant for living costs ($270) for the two months that I was there. The rest of the funding
goes towards accommodation, flights and insurance. All in all, it was a really great experience all
round.
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RENOVATING YOUR HOME
There are three factors you should bear in mind when you are going to renovate your home; how
to be cost-effective, the importance of the quality and comfort of the works you do and being
environmentally friendly.
Financing the renovation is probably one of the most difficult parts of the project to organize.
Whether you plan to pay for it with money you have saved or you want to seek help from your bank,
it is very important that you have a clearly defined budget with some room for contingencies, at
least five to ten percent. You will undoubtedly have some expensive surprises along the way, so be
prepared!
Plan where you want windows, stairs, skylights, etc. so as to maximize the amount of natural light
that enters your house. Good insulation in your house will minimize the needs for excessive heating
in winter months.
Another important point when planning a renovation for your house is to think about the
environment. Think about materials that you could reuse like doors, windows, wooden furniture,
etc. Sometimes a simple coat of paint can completely transform what you originally planned to
throw out. Also, if your budget permits, look into purchasing eco-friendly building products.
Open-plan living may be very stylish but it is not very functional and certainly not environmentally
friendly. To reduce energy costs and consequently the release of carbon dioxide, try to have your
home designed in a way that you can close off parts that you do not need to heat in the winter.
Solar panels are a relatively modern technology used in construction which will not only decrease
your monthly energy bills but avoid unnecessary damage to our planet.
Energy-efficient lighting should also be considered. Installing too much down-lighting is not
necessary. Limit this type of lighting fixtures in your renovations and remember that lamps are a
good way to light up specific areas and hence avoid pointlessly lighting an entire room.
Before you attempt to begin a project like this you should have very clear ideas about what you
want and need and how much you are willing to spend. It would be a good idea to write a list of
objectives and expectations and keep it with you throughout the renovations so as to never lose
sight of your target.
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VACATION ADVERTISEMENTS
A. This summer we have a fantastic range of adventure vacation

like trekking or climbing in the nearby mountains. Our unique all-
inclusive formula and budget accommodation ensures you that
nowhere else will you be given a better taste of adventure nor
value for your money. Our vacations are especially ideal for
young people who are traveling by themselves as there is no
single supplement for rooms. All the group lessons you take part
in are also included in our prices so you can meet new people
easily and have fun with them. A minimum age limit applies to all
our activities.
B. The magnificent landscapes and scenery of Alaska will never cease to amaze you as it is packed
with diverse scenery, abundant activities and attractions that include National Parks, glaciers and
wildlife viewing. Alaskan wilderness is the last vestige of thriving populations of North American
wildlife where you can come across bald eagles, grizzly bears, wolves, as well as endangered species.
You will be visiting North America's peak, Mt. McKinley, where you will be able to go on animal-
viewing tours.
C. Are you looking for the widest choice of destinations, accommodation and activities in the U.S.
Interior Highlands? Our family-owned specialist company provides full activity vacations that include
flights and accommodation as well as accommodation only. We are proud to design any kind of
vacation to meet your exact needs and requirements so just let us know what you want to do when
you are here. Mountain biking, trekking, skiing and snowboarding are just a few of the activities we
provide, which you can choose with or without an expert guide. Any of the above activities are
provided with top-quality hotels and flat rentals and we can also pick you up and take you to your
choice of airport.
D. This is a perfect vacation destination which is just as you have always imagined. The unique
beaches are beautiful and the villages nestle along the miles of coastline and bays, where the
turquoise waters, eye-catching scenery and stunning mountains appear to rise straight from the sea.
Other natural attractions such as the lively cities, the multitude of festivals and brilliant weather
make your destination a paradise for sight-seeing 365 days a year. There is so much to see and do
in the area that many visitors come again and again. Families will be given such a warm welcome by
the locals that you will feel like you belong.
E. Discover the hidden beauty of a historical town that combines tradition with the latest, fully
modern experience. The surrounding countryside is famous throughout the United States and the
world for its fine food, local traditions and wonderful, picturesque landscape that provides
everything you could possibly want for your stay. Just a short train ride or thirty minutes' drive away,
what better place could there be to enjoy the excellence and elegance of our five-star hotel, which
offers exclusive couples-only short stays and long weekends that will make you both feel like new
at any time of the year?
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SIGHTSEEING IN CALIFORNIA
There is an endless list of beautiful places worth visiting in California but for those who plan to spend
just a short time; this is a compilation of the most popular destinations with tourists.
Located in Central California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite National park is just hours
away from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Reno. The park has an elevation range from two thousand
one hundred twenty-seven to thirteen thousand one hundred fifteen feet and supports a diversity
of plants and animals.
Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay. This island was a former maximum security
Federal prison and is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area which is frequently
visited by tourist ferries.
Within the city of Los Angeles, there are endless options for sightseeing but to mention some of the
most typical; it would be a real shame to not pay a visit to the Griffith Observatory. This observatory
was donated to the City of Los Angeles by Colonel Griffith on December sixteenth, eighteen ninety-
six and is now a popular tourist attraction with space and science-related displays.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is the world's most famous sidewalk. There are more than two
thousand five hundred five-pointed brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along the streets of
Hollywood Boulevard. The categories are divided in five: motion pictures, television, recording,
radio and live theater or live performance.
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BUSY OFFICE REQUIRES SECRETARY
Dear (name),
With reference to your advertisement in the Boston Herald on March 14th, 2015, I wish to apply
for the secretary position.
I am currently working in Bolton Electrical as a secretary but since it is a substitution for maternity
leave, my contract is due to expire and I am looking for a permanent position. My duties include
answering and transferring phone calls, dealing with general questions and filing the company
paperwork.
Please find attached a copy of my résumé where you will see details of my past positions and my
qualifications. I believe I have all the relevant experience and skills in order to take on the job and
work to a very high standard. I take pride in my work and can provide excellent references from
past employers.
I am available for interview at any time. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further details.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
1) "The three main elements of public relations are practically as old as society: informing people,
persuading people and integrating people with people. Of course, the means and methods of
accomplishing these ends have changed as society has changed."
Edward Bernays
2) The above quote from Edward Bernays illustrates the fact that Public Relations or PR as we shall
refer to it is, as the saying goes, as old as the hills. Bernays, a nephew of Sigmund Freud, is
considered one of the forerunners in the field of PR. Working with others on aspects such as crowd
psychology and psychoanalysis, Bernays experimented with ways to alter or manipulate public
opinion through the subconscious. This seems like a very sinister plan when set out in black and
white, but has been the aim of a good PR person since the early days when large companies set up
press bureaus in order to give out a positive public image as well as to attract interest from investors
and form a positive atmosphere among employees.
3) Many people associate PR with marketing and this misperception is hard to battle as for many
people the line between soft and hard sell is difficult to distinguish. Whereas marketing can be seen
as an area whereby products are offered through advertising campaigns which are featured in
purchased advertising space, PR is more subtle. The idea is to offer information and a positive image
to the target audience or public; so rather than come up with a glitzy campaign, PR teams will look
for ways to stage events, place products or attend meetings in which they can put their product or
client forward in a positive light.
4) The 1990's saw a distinct evolution from internal

press bureaus to external firms set up as
consultants or advisors to a diverse clientele
including: the government, educational
institutions, non-profit organizations, industries,
businesses and large companies, athletic teams
and entertainment companies. The needs of each
client are taken on an individual basis although
there are set tactics which have evolved over the
years and now, with the rise of the internet, there
are more possibilities, such as using blogs and
social networking sites and search engine
optimization.
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5) Within the broad subject area of PR there are sub-categories dealing with finance, products and
crisis. The first two categories are probably self-explanatory. "Finance" is a specialist sector
concerned very much with business journalists and "product" is the application of PR tactics to sell
a product rather than a formal advertising campaign. The last, "crisis", is a way to counteract
negative publicity and has also been linked to the terms spin and spin doctor. Although the terms
have come to be used pejoratively, the PR world uses the technique in subtle ways in many
campaigns and there have been stories of the use of PR agencies even at times of war in order to
sway public opinion in favor of one side or another.
6) There have been ethical issues related to the area of PR and the 1950's Code of Professional
Standards was drawn up to avoid misinformation and breaches of conduct. Regrettably, although
there are very well respected courses which instruct students on the most ethically sound way of
working with PR techniques, ultimately it is a very difficult area to judge. In a country with the right
to freedom of speech and in which there is no license for the practice of the profession, it is very
hard to prosecute and it remains a grey area.
7) To conclude, what started as an internal operation for large companies in the 1900's has grown
to a tremendously influential level throughout the world. The competition within the industry -
especially in Media PR - is fierce and contacts are as important as qualifications, experience and
imagination.
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MARKETING TECHNIQUES
Marketing is essentially a way to build and maintain a relationship with your customers, so logically
the most important thing for you to have information about is your customer base as well as
potential customers. Are you meeting your customers' needs? Is the relationship mutually
beneficial? How do you gather information? Are the figures you have up to date? Should you
consider carrying out new surveys? Analyzing this type of data is the best way you have to hit the
target in terms of effective marketing. This applies to marketing in all areas: small businesses,
multinational corporations or even NGOs. Everybody needs to know who they are aiming for.
Many companies have been using loyalty schemes to encourage consumers to maintain the
relationship with their brands or shops. There are points systems, discount vouchers or even
competitions with generous prizes. These schemes are a wonderful way to track consumer
behaviour and spending at the same time as providing an incentive for repeat purchasing. Naturally,
these schemes work best for companies offering products, but with a little imagination they can be
adapted to almost anything, from museums to services. A charity needs to sustain its relationship
with its supporters too and so setting up a scheme that can benefit both parties as well as encourage
new members is invaluable.
If your company or organization already has a

marketing plan, go through it very carefully. It
may be years out of date. For example, you
may not be making the most of the internet
and modern technologies. Mobile marketing
has become increasingly popular over the past
few years, and if we are to believe many
marketing gurus, it's a very effective way to
reach certain population groups. Many
companies have started using viral marketing
as a way to draw attention to themselves or a
new product. These more modern strategies
are not appropriate for some, but could turn
out to be invaluable for others.
Whether you are working in a multinational company, a small family-run business or a charity you
will no doubt be asked to justify your budget, to prove that the money you spend on marketing is
not being wasted. This is one of the hardest areas for a marketing department to define as you are
working with the production department too. To make your company more profitable, you may
need to implement changes in production or distribution at the same time as bringing your product
to the market or maintaining its position. You may find that you have to make suggestions that are
not popular in order to streamline efficiency. The best way to deal with that is to make sure you
have a solid understanding of the capabilities and capacities that the other departments have and
to have excellent communication between teams.
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IN A MODERN HOSPITAL
In modern hospitals around 80% of patients will receive an intravenous drip at some point during
their hospitalization. The drips can contain medication, nutrition or, in the case of a transfusion,
blood. The most common place for the needle of the drip to be inserted is in a vein in the arm or
hand and the most common motive for the drip is to provide essential fluids to the patient. However,
recent studies have shown that often a needle is inserted, with the aim of later attaching it to a drip,
where there is no real need for one, and this can lead to an unnecessary increase in the potential
for bacterial infection.
Childbirth, or labor, is accompanied by intense pain. The amount of pain that a woman experiences
depends on various factors including her experience of childbirth, the support she receives during
the birth and the use of analgesic drugs. Even factors such as the amount of control a woman has
on the decision-making process can influence her experience of giving birth.
Sometimes a natural birth is not possible and the baby has to be delivered through a surgical incision
in the abdomen; this is known as a Cesarean section or C-section.
A Cesarean section is normally only necessary if a natural birth will put the mother's or baby's life at
risk, but recently it has been more frequently performed upon request.
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FUTURE HUMAN BODIES
Science fiction in cinema and novels has provided

varied descriptions about how humans will look in
the future. Some think we might look like half
robots, but most believe that surely humans will try
to be fitter and more beautiful. Among this ocean of
speculations, five medical researchers have given
their professional opinions according to their latest
discoveries.
Medical researcher Dr. Susan Ellis reminds us that

every ten years people in some parts of the world
can hope to survive for an extra couple of years. This
means that in a century most humans in certain
places will get to the age of 100, or even survive for
around thirty more years if they keep a healthy
lifestyle. That makes long-lasting bodies the norm
for the near future, but will humans be in shape too?
Professor Samuel Martin, a lecturer in medical sciences, indicates how in the last years the number
of overweight people in the western world has increased in a pace that does not seem to slow down.
Even if it does, the majority of people living in developed countries will be obese in 100 years, being
the younger generations the worst affected. This will lead to weight-related diseases and premature
deaths too, therefore living under the general impact of fat people issues and expecting body ideals
which will be even more unattainable than the present ones.
As obesity seems to be an obstacle for the future of human well-being, some believe that miracle
cures will be found to solve the problem. However, Dr. Michael Roberts, scientist in a research
company, is skeptical of this notion even in the long term, disregarding what some pharmaceutical
companies say; he argues that there will never be a drug that prevents gaining weight while eating
anything people like. And the same is true of a "fitness" cure: a drug can only reinforce what people
do by themselves. According to Dr. Roberts, there are genes for body shape and fitness, but the
benefits of exercise on body and mind are so complex that drugs do not seem likely to replicate
these advantages.
Yet University professor Dr. Ann Talbot explains how drugs will have a significant impact in other
areas. Baldness, for instance, will one day be a thing of the past as very promising research going on
into growth treatments, using hormones, will probably be a cure in the mid-term. With time, glasses
will be redundant too, as people will apply some substances in the eyes daily to prevent vision
problems.
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Nevertheless, some experts fear that advances in science will mean more general obsessions in
relation with physical perfection and youth. That is the opinion of Allan Hall, professor of genetics,
who points out that globalization is already changing our external appearance. For example, people
in Africa still look remarkably different, so it is easy to figure out where somebody comes from,
whereas that is becoming quite more difficult to do in Western countries. Everyone seems to be
merging together in a kind of common look that includes facial appearance or skin color. Indeed,
photographic technology has given geneticists some insight of the "average" face of the future, even
if, according to Professor Hall, some characteristics seem to prove resistant to this - a "strong" nose
being one of them. In this regard, Professor Samuel Martin adds that people's complexion will look
quite wrinkle-free within a century. Not only as sun cream will be more effective and applied to the
skin, but also because new products will effectively repair the damage already caused.
So the science may be difficult to predict, but then, will people want to be perfect? In any case, in a
future world of almost perfect people, who knows if it will be those who are imperfect the ones
seen as the most attractive.
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ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE

MEDICINE
When it comes to medicine there are two generally accepted approaches. Western medicine tends
to focus on the treatment of illnesses whereas Chinese medicine has more of a preventative
approach. To give you an idea of the history of these health systems, Chinese medicine dates back
to two thousand BC compared to that of the United States of America which is reported to have
begun around two thousand AD.
For those who do not understand traditional Chinese medicine, it is based on the belief that
everything in the universe is interconnected, meaning that every individual part of the body is
connected in some way or other and the mind and body are considered part of one larger system
of energy.
Many concepts in traditional Chinese medicine are not practiced in Western medicine, for example
"qi" is said to be a force which controls the human mind and body, flowing through channels in the
body called meridians. When there are changes in the movement of qi, health complications arise.
It is believed that only by restoring the correct movement of qi will cure a medical illness or ailment.
There are many widely-known medical practices that come from Chinese medicine, for example
acupressure, moxibustion, manipulative and massage techniques like tuina and gua sha, herbal
medicine and meditation but undoubtedly one of the most popular is that of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is the stimulation of the core

points of the body using different
techniques. One of the most recognized
methods is that of penetrating the skin with
needles that are electrically manipulated. It
is said to correct the imbalance of qi in the
meridians which we talked about earlier.
Modern research has also suggested that
acupuncture may be a recommended
treatment for anxiety, sleep disorders and
depression.
Acupuncture has been supported by the United States National Institutes of Health, the National
Health Service of the United Kingdom, the World Health Organization and the National Centre for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine with the general agreement that it is relatively safe when
administered by qualified practitioners using sterile needles.
However unusual traditional Chinese medicine may seem it is nevertheless scientifically proven to
have positive results. Some of the most remarkable results achieved with the use of Chinese
medicine were seen with the treatment of nausea and vomiting, skin disorders and muscular pains.
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HELPFUL HINTS
- Start by preparing a quiet and comfortable study area which has everything you need.
- Develop a study habit; write yourself a timetable if necessary.
- You will learn and remember far more if you study a little every day.
- Question everything you read or hear, no matter how reliable the source, and remember that your
own opinion is as valid as anyone else's.
- Rephrase your notes in order to test your knowledge and understanding.
- Use diagrams and key words to aid memory; be creative when writing notes.
- Consult a variety of reference books and other sources, and speak to your fellow students to get
different points of view.
- Always plan your work before you begin to write.
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STUDYING MUST BE LEARNED
It is a widespread belief that young people are taught how to study at school.
However, they are given little or no guidance in this respect.
In fact, they are fed information which they memorize without question.
They are encouraged neither to contribute their own ideas nor to develop a critical sense.
The teachers' work is copied down and later produced in tests.
This leads to a society of automatons who are easy to manipulate they are not used to thinking for
themselves.
Studying is a skill which must be learned.
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WORLD MUSIC TOUR
This week's best album releases from round the world music.
A. Exploring Niger
This is probably the best collection of tracks by the stars of this undiscovered country. Afsound is a
French label specialized in innovative compilations, backed up by a choice of outstanding artists and
intelligent album notes. The result is an attractive variety of songs by musicians who have made sub-
Saharan music so popular around the world. As well as established stars, such as Keita, there are
some excellent tracks from singers less well known outside the Arab-speaking world. This is a must-
have compilation.
B. Revisiting Hindunotes
In the late eighties, two masters of Indian music

teamed up with a group of English and German
musicians to record Hindunotes, an album that was
praised by European critics and was also a big hit in
their home country. Following the renewed interest
in South Asian traditional music with some notable
recent releases, now is certainly the right time to
rediscover this hidden treasure. The performers of
Hindunotes sing and play a mixture of traditional
songs and their own compositions, supported by an
elegant musical backing. The sound is primarily
Hindustani, with the unlikely but successful addition
of accordion, flute and electric guitar. What was an
early experiment in cross-cultural music deserves a
present second hearing.
C. Afro Salsa beats
Owner of a bookshop in his hometown San Juan, Alex Bernier found music to be his true vocation.
Rather unexpectedly, he moved to London in the late nineties and dedicated himself to Afro salsa,
forming a band with a crowd of Cuban musicians who were already familiar with mixing salsa and
appealing dance beats. With these ten self-composed tracks, the talented Puerto Rican proves
himself to possess a fast developing ability to innovate with his band fellows. Alex is surely someone
to keep a close eye on.
D. Bologna-Chiapas connection
Following up his million-selling album and record of the year in world music, Giò G., the former front
man of the unique Italian rock band Alban has now created an individual style. Reflecting his mixed
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ethnic background and the sounds he has collected on his travels in Latin America, the new album
Bologna-Chiapas is very much a continuation of his previous success in style and themes. With the
songs gently flowing into each other, accompanied by a stream of everyday sounds, Giò's tunes are
sung in a mixture of languages, though the music has more of a Caribbean feel to it this time, with
plenty of reggae and ragga rhythms. This is definitely a satisfying part two for those Giò's fans
captivated by his precedent release.
E. Gypsy Fanfare live
Live performances by the Gypsy Fanfare have a renowned reputation, and this album of tracks
recorded over different concerts in their native Bulgaria can well show why. A lively first track is
followed by a non-stop festival of gypsy reels and rhythms, punctuated by some moments of gentle
recovery, before setting off again a free celebration of happy tunes. Ironically, after a decade of
international success, these concerts were the first in the city, but judging from these performances,
they should soon be making as much of a mark there as they have elsewhere. Some live albums
suffer from inferior recording, but the raw intensity of the music here makes up for the lack of studio
polish.
F. Arab dreams
The Egyptian musician Amenei has released his second collection of Arabic-influenced music.
Although we would expect it to sound like a disparate collection of tracks, it could not be any further
from reality. The grooves of Arab Dreams flow throughout the tracks, resulting into such a wonderful
union of songs and instruments that we could think they have been recorded as one. Amenei has
compiled songs from fairly well-known artists to offerings from not so familiar names. None of the
music lovers in the world should miss this one.
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GEORGE ORWELL
George Orwell is without a doubt a major figure in twentieth century English literature.
His best known works are of course Nineteen Eighty Four and Animal Farm. The former is a truly
horrifying vision of "the future" (written in 1949) and the latter is a satirical tale of a popular
revolution in the animal world which develops into a dictatorship. However, his autobiographical
writing is equally absorbing.
Homage to Catalonia describes his participation in the Spanish Civil War and Down and Out in Paris
and London is a vivid essay of his experiences of living among the victims of society. Orwell's real
name was Eric Arthur Blair and he was born in 1903 in India as his father was working in the civil
service there.
His family returned to England when he was four years old. He came from a wealthy background
and received an excellent education going on to join the Imperial Police in Burma.
He also worked as a private tutor and in a book store. As a journalist, he contributed to a variety of
newspapers.
George Orwell was a man of remarkable drive and enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, he suffered from poor health and died in 1950 at the young age of 46.
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DEFENCE OF THEATRE
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to express my indignation over the content of a letter written by Mr. Philip Moss and
printed in this section on April 16th. "English theater is dying a slow and painful death", writes Mr.
Moss.
One is tempted to ask him how long it has been since he has seen a play. Without a doubt, it must
have been some time ago, judging by the ignorance reflected in his letter. Of course Shakespeare is
the best playwright that has ever lived; nobody is arguing with that, but sir, times have changed a
great deal since 1616!
P.T.O.
Nor is it true that the musical is "the only modern-day contribution of the popular and classical
comedy". There is plenty of high quality English drama around and I should know, as I've been
working in the theater for a good many years and have a fair knowledge of dramatic art.
So, I can assure you, Philip Moss, that the English play is alive and well and, what is more, it cannot
be kept down, whether performed on street corners by traveling players or in the church hall by
enthusiasts.
And I suggest that next time you express an opinion publicly, you check your facts first.
Sincerely,
Dierdre Tittersfield
P.S.- Ms. Tittersfield is currently appearing at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California.
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NOTES OF A TRAVELLER
October 2nd. - Just arrived on the island. Rested after hard journey. No sign of life except strange
parrots, monkeys, etc. Ocean calm, weather perfect now. Plenty of fish. Also fruit. example coconut,
pineapples.
October 3rd. - Exploring island. South-forest. North-mountains. Collecting plants, studying insects
and animal life. PM-sounds like drums in West. Island inhabited? Caution.
October 4th. - Woken in the night. Voices, fire in the distance. Francis and Robert investigating. Not
returned yet. Someone approaching. Perhaps natives not friendly.
Here the diary finishes.
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READING LEVEL B2
HEALTH DISORDERS
A. Ever since he was a young boy, Bob French had felt convinced that he was destined to go to hell.
He would spend Sundays in church confessing his sins in order to prevent this fate. "I had persistent
fears about committing a sin, and I was afraid of God's punishment" said French, now a 50-year-old
psychiatric social worker at the Milton Center in Cambridge.
As a teenager, his religious obsessions turned to an overwhelming attention to detail and a constant
feeling of doom. "I had images of something terrible happening, and it being my fault," he said. He
became housebound when his confidence levels fell to the extent that he felt he couldn't even drive
in case he had an accident and injured a child.
In his twenties, he worked in a hospital and once spent an entire night walking through the hospital,
touching ashtrays to see if they were cool. He feared a fire from the smoldering ashes could destroy
the building. By his 30s, his life had degenerated into a series of these rituals, repeated over and
over. French is one of the estimated four million people who suffer from this obsessive compulsive
disorder.
B. At the age of 35, Mick realized that he was a

compulsive overeater. He hadn't recognized the
condition partly because, as an athlete, he put the
amount of food he ate down to the physical
exertion he was doing. One day, it dawned on him
as he was sitting at his usual table in his usual lunch
hour as he did every day. He saw himself sitting at
the table of latecomers and realized that he was the
only student who had been there from the
beginning of dinner hour. He forced the last bite of
pasta down into his tight and aching stomach and
looked around. No, no one would notice. He got up
for dessert. Later that evening he went to his room
and pulled a large packet of indigestion tablets from
his desk drawer, he chewed until he fell asleep.
Because of the gluttonous abuse he had been heaping on his body over the years, he was taking
about twenty tablets a day to alleviate the inevitable indigestion. Strange, he thought, that he
should display such a lack of will power, when he had been so strict during his high school years with
his incredible discipline, both in his diet and his athletic training for track and cross country.
C. By August first he had been in bed for three months. He was paralyzed -- not physically, but with
a fear so great that every waking moment was spent dreading the next ...and waking moments were
all there seemed to be. If he slept at all, it was for maybe fifteen minutes a night. If he ate at all, it
was one can of soup a day, provided the nervousness he felt didn't cause him to reject all food
©
READING LEVEL B2
completely. He had lost 13.5 kg. He had not taken a shower in weeks. He cried constantly. He wanted
to die. He had never known such great pain in his life. Yet, he was told by every doctor who examined
him as he tried to get help that there was absolutely nothing wrong ... at least not physically. He was
convinced that he must have some type of sleep disorder that was causing all this. He thought that
if he could only get to a therapist who knew about sleep disorders, he could give him some
medication and he would be all right.
Of course, he couldn't get out of bed...it was, after all, August first -- and that date had a one in it.
One was a "bad" number and if he did anything on the first, he was convinced it would not only end
with disastrous consequences, but, most likely death...not only death, but an eternity in hell! Of
course, he couldn't get out of bed on August second, either. The second was only one number away
from one, so that wouldn't be acceptable. The third was just as bad! It was one week away from the
tenth and ten had a one in it.
D. Carol's main disorder is checking things and it regularly stops her getting to work on time. Every
day without fail, she makes sure the coffee pot is off a couple of thousand times, checks to make
sure the six knobs on the stove are off, the same amount of times right before she leaves the house;
checks the gear stick on the car is in neutral and that she has the keys in her right hand when she
gets out of the car, etc. When she tries to speed the process up, she can't do so, even after checking
everything is as it should be, she has to stare at the thing a couple of minutes to convince herself
that the process is actually done. Even having done this, she then has to return to the house and
start the process all over again.
She believes her obsessions started because she was always a conscientious girl and tried to do
things perfectly for her parents. According to her mother, only the best performance would do and
subsequently school and horse shows had to be done to the very best standard, everything in Carol's
life now has be to perfect.
©
READING LEVEL B2
OUR BRAIN'S POTENTIAL
Nowadays, it is common knowledge that we human beings only use a fraction of our brains' vast
potential.
But who knows what that potential really is? For we are told that the brain contains as many cells
as our galaxy contains stars and the possible connections between them are all but infinite.
By now, most of us are aware that we possess a left and a right brain. The former deals principally
with logic, sequence, words and numbers. While the latter specialises in rhythm, space, colour and
imagination.
However, by defining ourselves as left or right brain dominant, we are limiting our capabilities
when we should be aiming to balance all these skills as a genius like Leonardo da Vinci managed to
do.
Some facts:
- About 95 percent of our knowledge about the brain has been acquired during the last ten years.
- The female brain weighs about 3.6 pounds and the male brain 4 pounds.
- It has been estimated that about one trillion connections occur and just one brain cell can
connect with one thousand others simultaneously.
- Information can travel at three hundred feet per second.
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READING LEVEL B2
POPULAR CHARACTERS
A) This is a fairly elderly man but he is extremely lively and

cheerful and he likes to wear bright colors. He loves children and
has traveled all over the world dozens of times. He is rather
overweight and he's white-haired with a long beard.
B) She is an attractive, young girl, but her family treats her very
badly and makes her do all the housework. Fortunately she has a
godmother who loves her and with her help, she manages to
gatecrash an important party. She has pretty, little feet which
help her to find a husband.
C) This character has won the hearts of millions, although it must be said that he is not very good-
looking. However, he has lovely, big expressive eyes and is very sensitive and intelligent for his age.
He is also completely bald and short-legged.
D) He is a middle-aged man with a very unusual diet and sleeping habits. He prefers to dress in dark
colors and he isn't very sociable, although he has a weakness for beautiful young girls. His
complexion is extremely pale and he's got rather sharp teeth.
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READING LEVEL B2
JAMBO
Jambo was a remarkable character. He was extremely well-built, dark-haired, with expressive,
intelligent, brown eyes...and he was good looking, that is, if you like gorillas!
His name means "How do you do?" in Swahili. However, he was born in a Swiss zoo on April 17th,
1961.
By the time he was eleven, he had been moved to a zoo on the island of Jersey, founded by the
inspired naturalist, Gerald Durrell.
He lived there happily for twenty years and died at the age of 31. His life was not very eventful,
except for an incident one Sunday in August, 1986.
The crowd was horrified to witness how a small boy, Levan Merrit, fell into the gorilla pit. While they
were expecting a vicious attack, Jambo treated Levan with gentleness and prevented the other
gorillas from approaching him.
His behavior won the hearts of the entire United Kingdom. In fact, he received cards and presents
from all over the world! He also gave us a better understanding of his species.
Due to the ignorance of human beings, gorillas were believed to be very aggressive. However, it
must be said that they are certainly not as pacific as some people now think.
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READING LEVEL B2
A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
A - Harry
Having passed my A levels I began my workshop at the power station. I had planned to embark on
studying biology at university but realized, the month before I was due to start and my heart just
wasn't in it. I had always been interested in fashion and I realized at this point I would rather be at
a fashion show than examine lab rats and other guinea pigs. I used to design dresses and dress my
friends up at parties. They loved it, especially when I handed them the finished piece of art. One
day, I sent one of my designs to a top New York store and they placed a standing order for 500 of
them on the spot. Now they send me a list of colors for each season and I design and sew the
handmade dresses so that each one is unique and utterly breathtaking. It's time-consuming and
incredibly tedious. Besides, the materials I use are pricey, so the dresses are only found in very
expensive, high-end shops. Just recently, I had an invitation from a well-known magazine to design
matching jackets for my dresses. Thus, business is really flourishing.
B - Esmerelda
Two years ago I approached my bank manager for a loan to set up my own business. However,
although I spent days working and fine tuning my business plan, I was turned down as he said I
would take too long to make any money and pay back the loan. I bet he is regretting his words now,
though. My brother lent me the cash for the initial overheads and I moved into the basement of the
powerhouse. My business has done so well that I now rent four rooms upstairs. I manufacture
bodysuits for the stars, not because they are all too fat or too thin, but because their different roles
call for different shapes and sizes. Working every night on the stage leads to a considerable lack of
time to diet and work out, which is where I come in to play and provide a little extra help. Each
bodysuit costs a lot of money, anything from 5,000 dollars and up for just the basic model. I have to
take into account that the fabric and stuffing costs a lot and then each suit has to be molded onto
the body; it's a lot of work. Bearing in mind all this, the owner has to care for the suit carefully. It
needs constant repair and dry-cleaning, and sometimes people even have two suits.
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READING LEVEL B2
C - Ramond
My cousin told me about the powerhouse project when I was looking for premises for my business.
I had gone into the world excited about all the things I could do to make money but when I saw how
expensive it was to set up my business and I couldn't believe it. I make fans by hand; each one is
individually painted with oils. The handles match the main part of the fan and I often take orders for
special occasions from certain customers. Nevertheless, due to the time and skill involved, the fans
are not cheap and not being available mainstream makes them a lot more unique.
In the last year, my fans have been more and more in demand as word gets around. As a result, I
even employ another person now and I am thinking of setting up my own website. If I hadn't found
the powerhouse, I would never have got started.
D - Simon
Last year, when I was unemployed and bored, I turned my thoughts to becoming my own boss. I
was sick of applying for jobs that I wasn't even interested in and then not even being offered an
interview. One day I saw an advertisement in the shop window about renting space in the
powerhouse and the offer of a loan to buy the necessary equipment. The rent was really cheap and
you didn't have to start repayments until your business began to make a profit; I grabbed the lifeline!
I borrowed money from my friend, bought a laptop and some software and set about designing my
very first album cover. I had always loved art and design at school. Thus, hours went by and I didn't
feel that it was work, it was more pleasure. I sent the cover off to a local record producer and within
a month, I had my first order. Within 6 months, I had to employ two more members of staff in order
to cope with the workload. Now, five years later, we have also diversified into designing posters for
concerts and world tours. I have been really lucky.
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READING LEVEL B2
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL

MEMORIAL
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is famous for its unique architecture and artistry. Mount
Rushmore is located in Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States. The sculptures carved into the
granite of Mount Rushmore are the heads of four former United States presidents: George
Washington (seventeen thirty-two to seventeen ninety-nine), Thomas Jefferson (seventeen forty-
three to eighteen twenty-six), Theodore Roosevelt (eighteen fifty-eight to nineteen nineteen), and
Abraham Lincoln (eighteen oh nine to eighteen sixty-five).
The construction of the mountain began in nineteen twenty-seven and between nineteen thirty-
four and nineteen thirty-nine the faces of the presidents was completed. The initial idea was for
each president to be depicted from head to waist but that never happened due to the lack of funding
which forced the construction to end in October nineteen forty-one. Over four hundred workers
helped with the sculptures removing a total of four hundred fifty thousand tons of rock in order to
carve the enormous faces. Nowadays, Mount Rushmore welcomes around two million visitors every
year and is one of America's most popular tourist attractions along with the Grand Canyon, the
Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc.
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READING LEVEL B2
SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS
A cross-section of the local population was asked to list the three most important conditions for a
successful relationship whether between friends, workmates, family members, etc.
The majority, nearly two thirds, felt that respect is the key element. The remaining one third chose
either trust or sincerity.
In second and third places, quite a lot of the people added qualities such as understanding,
unselfishness and tolerance.
Many suggested that such things as affinity, i.e. shared tastes and interests, communication and
motivation are essential if the relationship is to survive.
Finally, a few people mentioned forgiveness and a similar social background.
©
READING LEVEL B2
THE GOLD RUSH
Before the Gold Rush started, San Francisco was a very small settlement with about 200 residents
during the year of 1846. What nobody knew was that the Gold Rush will lead to the largest mass
migration in U.S. history.
In January 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold while constructing a sawmill along the American
River northeast of what is now Sacramento. This discovery was reported in the San Francisco
newspapers, but nobody believed such story.
The crucial event that led to the gold fever occurred in May 1848 when a storekeeper, Sam Brannan
found a bottle filled with gold dust in San Francisco. Now everybody had proof that there was indeed
gold that covered the city.
This event caused a great stampede in the state of California. Many people even left their jobs to
head to the gold fields and find their own gold.
Once the New York Herald printed the

news of this discovery the gold fever
accelerated even more. Around 300,000
fled to the west coast seeking their own
fortune. The population in the coast
increased drastically and the massive
seekers Americanized the once Mexican
province and assured its inclusion as a
state in the union.
At this time, California was part of the

Mexican territory of Alta California,
though it had been occupied by the
United States in the Mexican-American
War. The area was ceded to the U.S. on
February 2, 1948 thanks to the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, less than two weeks
after the discovery.
Not only did the Gold Rush attract Americans but it also attracted thousands of immigrants from all
over the world like: Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. By 1850, more than 25 percent of
California's population had been born outside of the United States.
Thanks to the effects of the Gold Rush, San Francisco was converted to a boomtown. Roads and
towns were built throughout California. Also, new methods of transportation developed as
steamships came into regular service. By 1869, railroads were built across the country from
California to the eastern coast of the United States. Agriculture and ranching also expanded
throughout the state to meet the needs of the settlers.
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READING LEVEL B2
Gold could be picked up directly off the ground, but later gold was recovered from streams and
riverbeds where the technique of panning was used.
As for the consequences of the Gold Rush, Native Americans were attacked and were forcibly
removed from their lands. Gold mining also caused environmental harm to rivers and lakes.
In conclusion, after the Gold Rush concluded, gold recovery operations continued. Thanks to the
innovating technologies, in the late 1890s, the "dredger" was invented and it was used to excavate
and remove material from the bottom of the water. This had become economical and it is estimated
that more than 20 million ounces were recovered by dredging.
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READING LEVEL B2
THE MYSTERY OF ATLANTIS
The lost island of Atlantis is mentioned in the writing of Plato, who claimed that its existence was a
historical fact. However, many believe that he most likely created a myth.
Atlantis is supposed to have been destroyed by a natural disaster, which may have been an
earthquake. It has never been located, but could well have been situated between Europe and
America.
Plato died in the year 347 B.C. and he stated that the "history" had been transmitted orally over the
centuries, which means that the civilization must have been very ancient indeed.
Even before it had been destroyed, the Atlantan society had been corrupted from within. The
inhabitants had become aggressive and hungry for power. In its Golden Age, hardship is unlikely to
have been experienced. Atlantis was a strong empire, rich in natural resources.
Magnificent temples are described and the people are supposed to have lived in harmony. Is it
possible that the story, historical or legendary, is a warning relevant to our own times of the dangers
of ambition?
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READING LEVEL B2
INFORMAL LETTER
24, Old Town Street, Denver
Colorado
80012
May 15
Dear Sarah,
Sorry for having taken so long to write, but I've been busy as usual, with my work and stuff. We're
all well, except for Jim who's in bed with a cold and he's feeling sorry for himself. Julie's going
through a difficult time and is even more moody that usual. Roger's fine, but I don't see much of
him. I wonder if you could get away for a few days. Why don't you come visit and we can fill each
other in on all the news? Let me know what you think.
PS-Regards to all the family.
Love, Molly
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READING LEVEL B2
FORMAL LETTER
Career Center. P. O. Box 621. Chicago, IL. 60614
24 Old Town Street. Denver, CO. 80204
May sixteenth, two thousand and ten.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have seen your advertisement in the current edition of New Future and I am interested in your
distance courses. I would be very grateful if you could give me information about the courses,
including prices and duration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Molly Randell
©
READING LEVEL B2
A LETTER FROM THE AGENT
Dear Mr. Holmes,
I am writing to you in regards to your recent movie script, and to pass on confirmation of having
received the current draft.
Overall, I really like your script, especially the storyline

which involves the ghost in the apartment. The moody
tale of an essentially phony guy and his close friend as they
come to terms with their haunted apartment, it is a story
that I think a lot of people will like. Your use of colloquial
dialogue is seamless, and it makes the characters and their
speech seem very natural. Also, your combination of
drama, horror and comedy works really well. During the
vacation, when John discovers the only thing his friend
Jane has brought on their trip is a backpack full of jars of
honey, I laughed out loud and the timing of that comedy
scene in the middle of the scary film was perfect.
Despite everything I liked about the script, do you mind if I make some comments about your story?
Can I suggest you remove the drugstore scene in favor of a longer highway scene? Also, do you have
any idea of the duration of this version of the movie? You might want to make a note of these things,
and let me know. In fact, would you like to meet next week and we can discuss your script in more
detail? It would also be good to get your ideas on how faithfully you want to stick to your original
story. Shall we set up brunch for Wednesday? Afterwards, we can discuss particulars. And if possible,
do you think you could bring along all of your script notes as well?
I have sent some other material with this letter, including a standard contract, which you would
need to sign. Once you are happy with the contract and your signature is on the paperwork, an initial
payment can be made to you. Once you have that advance you should be able to begin work
presently on the next draft of the script. We are also happy to cover any previous expenses you may
have incurred while working on the script so far.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Edgar Collins
P.S. Do you mind if I pass on your details to my associate? She was one of the other recipients of
your script. She mentioned she would be grateful if I updated her about your progress. She is keen
for me to arrange a meeting for you with an executive at the studio. I believe this new screenplay
of yours is only further proof of your unique voice, and I am confident it will be well received. The
studio executive will go over some details about funding and product placement. Please, let me
know before our meeting on Wednesday.
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READING LEVEL B2
ALL ABOUT ESTHER LAKE
Name: Esther Lake.
Profession: Top model.
Age: No longer a teenager and under twenty-five!
Achievements: Front cover of "Fashion" magazine.
Ambitions: To be a star on the big screen.
Regrets: Not getting a college degree.
Magical moments: Giving birth, visiting Grand Canyon.
Pet hates: Sexist men, artichokes, snakes.
Advice to aspiring models: It's no use comparing yourself to others. Have faith in your own
uniqueness.
Three wishes for today's world:
1. For politicians to stop being dishonest.

2. Manage to clean up the environment.
3. To decide to share out our resources.
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READING LEVEL B2
ESTHER'S ROUTINE
I always set my alarm clock for sixty thirty a.m. to give me time to go jogging before breakfast which
consists of fruit, black coffee and low-calorie cheese.
Afterwards, I clean up before getting my toddler up and getting her bathed, dressed and fed.
My husband drives her to kindergarten while I get ready for a photo session. This involves doing my
make-up very carefully and checking my notes about what I have to do.
I always arrange to meet my agent before starting and he advises me.
©
READING LEVEL B2
THE COLOR PURPLE
A. Tracy
There was so much advance publicity about this movie that I suppose I was expecting a masterpiece,
but to be honest I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. I thought the acting was very good, and
the photography, but I wasn't so sure about the story or the characters. I mean, I think Spielberg
wants you to feel 'How bad the husband is! How bad all the whites are! How sweet Celie is! How
kind her husband's other woman is!' and so on. That is, everyone is so clearly bad or so clearly good
that you don't have to think much, because Spielberg has told you what to think. I prefer movies
that are not so clear-cut.
B. Allan
I didn't like the movie much at first, partly because I thought Celie was so ugly that I would never be
able to identify with her, but in the end I did sympathize with her because the actress, Whoopi
Goldberg, is so expressive that in the end you forget how ugly she looks at the beginning. She has
such a sweet smile, but at the beginning you don't see that because she's living in such horrible
conditions. So she's got nothing to smile about. What good music they have in the movie, too! All
that old jazz... it made me realize how important it must have been for African Americans to hear
their own music on records in those times.
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READING LEVEL B2
C. Terence
I simply hate sentimental movies, I can't stand them! I have never seen so many people crying in a
movie theater before, and I really got so tired of all those people sniffing and blowing their noses
that in the end I wanted to walk out. But my wife loved it. We all know how bad people can be, but
in this movie the bad were so bad and the good were so good that I felt like shouting out, 'What
nonsense! What foolishness!' I am amazed that nonsense like that can be so popular. Have you seen
the lines? Thousands of people, every day!
D. Heather
I really enjoyed it. I've never cried so much at a movie, but it was so good, really. For a start, it was
really beautiful color, and I've never seen such good photography... it made me feel like I was there.
It was such an interesting story, too. It really showed how difficult life was for African Americans
then. That poor woman, what was her name, Celie? What a husband! What a rotten husband! It
must be awful to think you're married to a man like that and you can't escape from him! One thing
I liked a lot in the story was the relationship that Celie had with her husband's other woman. I mean,
when the woman arrives you think, 'How terrible, how terrible for Celie to have to live in the same
house and serve the woman!' But they become such good friends that you can't help liking the other
woman, the singer...
E. Sarah
I can't help feeling a bit disappointed about the movie, as I adore the original novel by Alice Walker.
Even if the adaptation is praiseworthy and full of lifelike situations, and the actors move the
audience to the characters' emotions, I feel that the scenes a reader can imagine through the novel
are far more attractive. However, I recommend the movie to those who prefer enjoying a night out
at the movie theater rather than explore the possibilities and interpretations from a writer's
masterpiece.
F. Mike
This movie is not the genre I usually watch, but my partner does, so I was persuaded to go to the
movie theater. I must say I was enthralled from minute one by the story I was being told, and what
a cast of superb actors! I was pleased to spend more than two hours watching a movie that moves
unpredictably from one side to the other of the original story and that wasn't over-sentimental or
stereotyped as I had wrongly predicted. A must-see for anyone just looking for a great movie!
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READING LEVEL B2
CHOOSING A PRESENT
Sunflower paperweight
Would you like a solid paperwight with a sunflower design? Ideal
for art lovers. Oval, 4 inches across.
Price: $4.
Silver and glass necklace

Elegant necklace made with silver and glass, hand painted.
Matching earrings available separately. Necklace 40 inches long.
Price: $32.
Writing paper
Attractive writing set; includes 20 sheets, 22x15 inches, and 15
matching envelopes in a square case. Gold and lilac design with
spring flowers on recycled paper.
Price: $7.
Wooden picture frame

Decorative, rectangular frame for standard-sized prints, 10x15
inches. Made of wood from sustainable forest. Comes complete
with stand and hook for hanging.
Price: $18.
Scented candles
Set of four miniature, spherical candles, scented with natural
aromas of rose, jasmine, lavender and violet, each with a
different and delicate design. 5x5x5 inches. 10 hours, burning
time.
Price: $16.
Driver's license holder

Practical leather wallet for keeping you license clean and safe.
Available in black, dark brown and chestnut, with gold initials if
requested.
Price: $12 (with initials: $13.50).
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READING LEVEL B2
CHRISTMAS STORIES
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens must surely be the best-known and best loved of all
Christmas tales, with the exception of the Nativity itself.
It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich and selfish old man, who refuses to be cheerful at
Christmas and doesn't consider that Mankind in general has any reason to celebrate.
He gives no thought to the poor and suffering and treats his assisstant, Bob Cratchit, and the rest of
humanity with cold indifference. However, on the night of December twenty-fourth he is to learn
the consequences of his mean existence.
His dead business partner, Marley, appears and tells him to expect three spirits to come.
The Ghost of Christmas Past reminds him of a solitary early life. The Ghost of Christmas Present
reveals his assisstant's true situation: unless Bob Cratchit can find more resources, his tiny, delicate
son will die.
Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows him the funeral he is likely to have; no tears are
shed over his death since he wasn't close to anyone in life. Needless to say, Scrooge regrets being
unkind and is transformed into a generous, happier man.
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READING LEVEL B2
CAKE DESIGN
Henry Walker is rapidly becoming known for his delicious cakes and wonderful works of art. Cakes
are some people's passion and were such for Henry growing up as a child "I used to peek in the cake
shops when I was younger", he says, "it was amazing to see the rich colors, different textures and
great variety that, unknown to the average cake buyer, could have taken hours to create. To me
each cake is a work of art in itself."
More recently, Henry has been in touch with three leading car manufacturers. "My other passion is
cars; I think about them all the time. My idea was to sketch as many cars as possible and create life
style models of the cars using cake ingredients. The models would then be used at both trade shows
and art galleries to then be enjoyed by the guests.
"I prefer to visit the car showrooms in person and make as many sketches as possible. I trust my eye
much more!"
So far Henry has been commissioned to do three pieces; each one takes around 73 hours to
complete and involves a team of 8 people. "The cakes are made in my garage which, at only 5 square
meters, is rather a tight squeeze!" In here he fits his worktop and all his cake making machinery.
Before he started baking large-scale, he was content with his standard-size mixer. Furthermore, he
invested in a marble slab to be able to temper the chocolate he uses to embellish his designs. The
oven and hobs he uses all feature integrated digital thermometers that alarm him immediately in
case of any unforeseen temperature spikes.
Henry uses his prized cake mix for the main tier of the cake and a mix of sugar and cocoa powder
on the surface. This makes the finished piece less expensive than it would be if he were to use pure
dark chocolate, which is reserved for individual decorations only. He then adds a layer of sugar icing
and dried fruits for the headlamps and other car parts.
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READING LEVEL B2
"Most people wouldn't expect this, but the most difficult part concerns logistics", explains Henry.
"Once the cake is assembled and ready for transport, we have to wrap it ensuring it stays moist and
doesn't break. Especially the decorations can be pretty fragile at times. Moreover, there is the issue
of temperature: Hence, we always have to make sure that the cakes are well chilled at all times.
They have to be loaded and cannot shift during transit." So far, he has been lucky and his creations
have always arrived in flawless condition.
Last year Henry also was asked to make a model of the Prince of Arabia's fleet of Ferraris. They
wanted life size models to hang from the roof of his palace in Dubai. It's not easy to imagine how
Henry did it, but he and his team got every detail correct and made eight life-size replicas in just one
week. He then traveled with them wrapped in cling film all the way to Dubai where they were
subsequently suspended from the ceiling. "I used to feel upset when people ate the work I had spent
hours creating, but now I feel pleasure that they are both enjoying looking at it and then eating it. I
also used to charge ridiculously small amounts for my commissions just because I wanted people to
enjoy them, but now I have learned not to do that; it doesn't do my wallet any good!"
Despite the fact that making these cakes is incredibly hard work, Henry wants to carry on creating
his designs and even try sculpting other things, such as planes and boats. He would like to get some
more variety in his work and be more adventurous for many years to come. "There is a world of
cakes to create and cars to be designed. I don't want to miss out on a single one!", he chuckles.
©
READING LEVEL B2
THE PERFORMANCE
I was grateful to be on my way to Ireland, with the opportunity to watch one of my favorite up and
coming theater groups as they attempted to forge their way into a new country. I was, admittedly,
already a fan of the group, and I was sure they would do well on fresh soil.
The members of the group were hoping to build up their own little empire; their unique style
contributing to the small but devoted following they already had.
I had arranged to meet with the group before their first performance, in the lobby of their hotel.
When they came in and sat down on the comfy sofas, Bob was a little moody. He went on to tell me
the damage which was done to his baggage during the flight. Lucy had also somehow managed to
lose her exceptionally expensive necklace while going through customs, which added to the group's
rather gloomy disposition. However, I decided to avoid asking anything else about their initial
troubles, and the atmosphere thankfully improved.
I asked the actors about how they came to form the theater group.
'About two thirds of us knew each from school, we met the others while doing various plays in our
local community,' Bob told me, 'but we knew we wanted to try to perform internationally ... The
stage was too small on a local level. I was the first to suggest we might be able to form our own
group. We all put our heads together, and managed to organize our first performance fairly quickly.'
I wanted to know what they thought was the key to a successful touring theater group.
'You should do as much as you can to show your own individual style,' said Lucy. 'We don't have to
copy what anyone else has done before. This performance in Ireland could be a really good
opportunity for us, and it might lead to more performances in other countries.'
'May I ask where you get your ideas from?' I asked them, having always been interested to know
how the group developed their inspiration.
©
READING LEVEL B2
Lucy replied quickly and enthusiastically, 'we can all act well, we needn't worry about that, but we
try to make our performances easy to relate to. We have been able to develop quite an open way
of writing plays; we all tap into our creative resources, and bounce ideas off each other. We never
tell somebody that we "must do this" or that we "mustn't do that". We just see where our writing
takes us. It works really well.'
After my interview with them, the group went off to prepare for their first show, and I went to the
venue, and waited in the crowd with the rest of the eager audience.
When the curtain was raised, Bob walked out on stage with a sunflower in his hand. He approached
the edge of the stage and offered the flower to a young lady in the front row, before turning back
to the center of the stage to begin the performance.
The performance was very conceptual and the response was mixed, but I think it is likely the group
will return to Ireland one day.
©

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READING

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THE COLLEGE OF ECOLOGY

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The College of Ecology

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Report Fourth Quarter.

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"Sir, there is no door."

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A. This summer we have a fantastic range of adventure vacation

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I look forward to hearing from you.

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Studying is a skill which must be learned.

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A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

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Finally, a few people mentioned forgiveness and a similar social background.

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THE MYSTERY OF ATLANTIS

24, Old Town Street, Denver

PS-Regards to all the family.

Career Center. P. O. Box 621. Chicago, IL. 60614