BOOK12

LEVEL 12
Activism
Introduction to Computers Part 1
Introduction to Computers Part 2
Responsibilities of the President
The U.S. Government
World Currency
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power
Answers

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 ACTIVISM

ACTIVISM

The following is an interview with Mr. Spacey who is an activist in Los

Angeles California.
Interviewer : What got you involved in activism?

Mr. Spacey : I guess my current activism really took off when I

began volunteering to teach English to Vietnamese
and Montagard. I started initially out of curiosity:
here in my community were people from the
other side of the world with compelling stories,
experiencing the culture collision that had fascinated
me in college. Eventually I got a job as a caseworker
with the resettlement agency.

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 Interviewer : What attracted you to the cause of immigration and
immigration reform?

Mr. Spacey : I often think about the Civil Rights movement

and how it was about confronting injustice faced
by African-Americans but it also challenged all
Americans about the sort of country we wanted to live
in. For me immigrant rights are also about building
the nation we believe in. While the movement should
be lead by immigrants, it concerns us all.

Interviewer : If you were able to change the immigration laws

tomorrow, how would you change them?

Mr. Spacey : Much of my career has taken place after the passage
of the 1996 Immigration Act. After graduate school
in New York, I got a job with Jesuit Refugee
Service to start social service programs for detained
asylum seekers in the Elizabeth Detention Center.
I witnessed the impact of mandatory detention and
lack of discretion for immigration judges and saw
a need for reforming the system. I’ve seen how
overzealous and overfunded government agencies
have destroyed the lives of individuals, families and
communities.

Interviewer : What other causes interest you?

Mr. Spacey : Obviously immigration doesn’t happen in a

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 ACTIVISM

vacuum. I’m concerned about issues that create

forced migration, like war, conflict, human rights
abuses, and supposedly Free Trade. I’m also sort of
an outdoors person so I care about environmental
and parks funding issues.

Interviewer : What are the goals of your activism?

Mr. Spacey : Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve found myself

increasingly drawn to social media. To me, these
online tools are exciting because of how well they
mesh with community organizing and leadership
development, something that’s often been a part of
my work. The Digital Divide is certainly a reality
that many communities face. But I believe that
the experience of making media, whether it’s a
blog post, video short or podcast, is an experience
that harnesses creativity and teaches leadership,
collaboration and challenges injustice. We can
literally make our voices heard through our own
networks.

Interviewer : I saw that you posted this quote on your Facebook

page : “Another world is not only possible, she is on
her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
Why is this quote so important to you?

Mr. Spacey : I like this quote because it’s about hope and knowing
that we have something better to look forward to :

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 the nation and the world that we believe in.

Interviewer : Aside from your activism, what do you do?

Mr. Spacey : I’ve been taking creative writing classes to explore

some of things I’ve learned working in this field. I’ve
also been putting together work about social media
strategy for social justice nonprofit organizations.
To be honest, though, it’s hard to make time for
writing with the constant siren song of social media
beckoning.

Interviewer : How long have you lived in LA? And what made
you move from NYC? Is the LA activist community
different from the one here in New York?

Mr. Spacey : I’ve been in LA four years now. It took me a while

not to be one of those “complaining former New
Yorkers” in LA. I still miss New York but have
found things to appreciate out here : the beach,
the mountains, the weather and no snow. LA has an
unexpected charm and many organizations here are
doing great work on immigrant rights. LA definitely
has a stronger activist community.

Interviewer : Well it seems that’s all we have time for today. I

would like to wish you the best of luck and much
success in your future endeavors.

Mr. Spacey : Thank you. Thank you very much.

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 Activism = To support, or oppose, one side of an often
controversial argument
Volunteer = Someone who works on behalf of others or
a particular cause without payment for their
time and services
Immigration = The introduction of new people into a habitat
or population is
Curiosity = Interest
Reform = To change into an improved form or condition
or to amend or improve by change of form or
removal of faults or abuses
Civil Rights = the rights of citizens to political and cocila
freedom and equality
Injustice = The misuse, abuse, or neglect that is
uncorrected or else sanctioned by a legal
system
Detention = punishment
Overzealous = extremely enthusiastic about something
Digital divide = The gap between people with effective access
to digital and information technology, and
those with very limited or no access at all
Harness = a similar arrangement of straps
Collaboration = The process where two or more people or
organizations work together in an intersection
of common goals

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 QUESTIONS

1. To support, or oppose, one side of an often controversial argument

is called:

A. Activation
B. Activism
C. Opposition
D. Debate

2. Someone who works on behalf of others or a particular cause without

payment for their time and services is called a:

A. Volunteer
B. Activist
C. Worker
D. Student

3. The introduction of new people into a habitat or population is called:

A. Activism
B. Settlement
C. Immigration
D. Discrimination

4. Which of the following words has the same meaning as curiosity?

A. Interest
B. Odd
C. Strange

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 QUESTIONS

D. Adventure

5. To change into an improved form or condition or to amend or improve

by change of form or removal of faults or abuses is called:

A. Debate
B. Reorganize
C. Rename
D. Reform

6. The misuse, abuse, or neglect that is uncorrected or else sanctioned

by a legal system is called:

A. Injustice
B. Justice
C. Reform
D. Debate

7. The gap between people with effective access to digital and

information technology, and those with very limited or no access
at all is called:

A. The Great Divide

B. The Digital Divide
C. The Information Divide
D. The technology gap

8. Which of the following words has the same meaning as detention?

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 A. Release
B. Constrict
C. Confinement
D. Remove

9. If you are extremely enthusiastic about something you might be

called:

A. Apathetic
B. Activist
C. Unbending
D. Overzealous

10. The process where two or more people or organizations work

together in an intersection of common goals is called:

A. Collaboration
B. Business
C. Settlement
D. Group

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS PART 1

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS Part 1

The following is a lecture given by Mr. Smith to students during their

first class in introduction to computers.
Mr. Smith : Good morning class. Welcome to Introduction
to Computers. Can anyone tell me when the first
computer was invented?

Jill : It was invented around 1940.

Mr. Smith : Well this is somewhat true. Although the computer

has been in existence since the late 1940s, the idea of
such a machine was first conceived as early as 1833
by Charles P. Babbage. He called it an Analytical

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 Engine. It was conceived because of his frustration
with the many errors produced by clerks in making
their calculations.

David : What did it look like?

Mr. Smith : It was never completed since there was one thing
missing from the world in the early 19th century,
namely electronics. Electronics is the most
convenient technology for constructing computers.
Electronic devices such as transistors, diodes,
capacitors and resistors form the basis of the modern
computer.

Rose : But I don’t know anything about electronics.

Mr. Smith : Fortunately, we do not need to know anything about

electronics in order to understand what computers
can do and how they are programmed, apart from
one most important factor. The electronic devices
are called two-state devices and computers comprise
millions of these two-state devices.

Jill : What do you mean by a two state device?

Mr. Smith : A two-state device is something we are all familiar

with. Take a tap; this may be in one of only two
states at any given time - allowing water to flow

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS PART 1

(ON) or not (OFF). A light bulb is another example.

A two-state device then, like a switch on a wall, can
be in only one of two possible states at any given
instant, i.e. it may be either ON or OFF.

David : So the on-off switch is a two state device?

Mr. Smith : Yes. Keep in mind that an electronic device need

not be a simple two-state device. It could be three,
four or more. However, designers of electronic
components have found it easier to construct two-
state devices. In the past, computer designers
have built ten-state electronic components, but the
resulting computer was expensive and complex. For
this reason, all computers tend to rely on the two-
state basic component.

Rose : Are there other two-state devices in a computer?

Mr. Smith : Yes but the two states that electronic devices in
computers can take up are concerned with voltage
levels. This requires two clearly distinct voltages
with no possibility of confusion between them. The
output from one device provides the input to the
next device, and this next device must be certain of
detecting which of the two levels it is receiving.

Jill : I would like to better understand exactly how a

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 computer works.

Mr. Smith : We will begin by learning about some of the major

components of a computer. Suppose we want to
find the largest number in a given set of numbers. If
we were to engage a human colleague to solve this
problem, two elements would be required. First, we
would have to provide an instruction. This could be
a simple statement, e.g. find the largest number in
this set. Secondly, we would have to provide the list
of numbers.

David : A computer already has this information right?

Mr. Smith : Not exactly. The computer will also require both
these elements in order to solve a problem. The
“instruction”, however, will need to be much more
detailed than the one given to a human being. It may
involve perhaps as many as 15 separate instructions.

Rose : Why so many?

Mr. Smith : We shall see the reason for this soon. You should note
that instructing computers to perform various tasks
involves a much more comprehensive set of details
than we normally require when communicating with
each other.

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS PART 1

Jill : The instructions are call programs right?

Mr. Smith : Yes, Jill you are correct. There is another very critical
part to the computer that we humans require too, a
memory. However, no computation can take place
in this unit. It is just a device for storing or retaining
information.

David : So where does the computation take place?

Mr. Smith : This component is called the Arithmetic Unit, or AU

for short is where computation is performed. This
unit is also capable of comparing two numbers and
deciding which is the smaller, the larger or whether
they are equal.

Rose : But how do numbers get into the arithmetic unit from
the memory unit?

Mr. Smith : That is the function of the Control Unit (or CU).
Once the arithmetic unit has computed the result, the
control unit passes it into the memory. The control
unit, then, is the unit which controls the passage of
data to and from the memory and the AU and, also,
decides which arithmetic operation the program
instruction has asked for.

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 Jill : Are all computers the same?

Mr. Smith : These three units, the memory, the arithmetic unit
and the control unit, are known collectively as the
Central Processing Unit, or CPU for short. These
are the three units common to all computers, no
matter how large or small, how cheap or expensive.

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 Frustration = become annoyed, irritated or aggravated with
a situation or person
Conceived = created
Calculations = The process for transforming one or more
inputs into one or more results
Transistor = a semiconductor device with three connections
Diode = A device that can be in only two positions (on
or off), but never both at the same time
Resistor = a device having resistance to the passage of
an electric current
Two-state device = A device that can be in only two positions (on
or off), but never both at the same time
Voltage = The electrical force that drives an electric
current between two points
Comprehensive = Something that is all inclusive or complete
Computation = The totaling or calculation of numbers
Arithmetic Unit = The portion of the computer where computation
takes place
Control Unit = influence unit

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 QUESTIONS

1. If you become annoyed, irritated or aggravated with a

situation or person you have:

A. Anger
B. Frustration
C. Prevention
D. Success

2. If something is conceived it is:

A. Created
B. Stopped
C. Prevented
D. Lost

3. The process for transforming one or more inputs into one or

more results is called:

A. Expression
B. Confusion
C. Calculation
D. Division

4. A transistor, diode, capacitor and resistor are all examples

of:

A. Electrical charges
B. Two-state devices
C. Computer components

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 QUESTIONS

D. Computer parts

5. A device that can be in only two positions (on or off), but

never both at the same time is called a:

A. One state device

B. Switch
C. Two state device
C. Diode

6. The electrical force that drives an electric current between

two points is called:

A. Voltage
B. Current
C. Diode
D. Charge

7. Something that is all inclusive or complete is:

A. Sketchy
B. Vague
C. Imprecise
D. Comprehensive

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 8. The totaling or calculation of numbers is called:

A. Math
B. Computation
C. Estimation
D. Correcting

9. The portion of the computer where computation takes place

is called the:

A. Process unit
B. Memory
C. Arithmetic unit
D. Control unit

10. Which of the following three units make up the central

processing unit?

A. The memory, arithmetic unit and control unit

B. The memory, process unit and arithmetic unit
C. The process unit, arithmetic unit and control unit
D. The computation, process unit and control unit

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS PART 2

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS Part 2

Mr. Smith continues his lecture on introduction to computers. Today

he further discusses how the computer processes information.

Mr. Smith : Good morning class. Can anyone tell me the name of
the three units we discussed yesterday?

Rose : The memory, the arithmetic unit and the control unit.

Mr. Smith : Very good Rose. Can anyone tell me what we call
these three units as a whole?

David : A CPU or central processing unit.

Mr. Smith : That is correct. Let’s continue where we left off

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 yesterday. How do we put information into the
memory of the central processing unit?

Jill : I know. It’s called input.

Mr. Smith : Yes, the input device is also controlled by the control
unit. The input device will convert the everyday
characters which we use, into binary and pass them
into the memory unit.

Rose : What happens after that?

Mr. Smith : Once the program has processed the data ready to
produce results, we would like to see them. We
would find it difficult to read binary so now you
must have an output device which is used to convert
binary patterns inside the CPU into our everyday
characters. That is, it performs the opposite function
to an input device.

David : Are you talking about the keyboard?

Mr. Smith : Yes and usually attached to the keyboard is a screen

which can display the information typed in by the
user. Together, the keyboard and screen are called a
VDU (visual display unit).

Jill : What makes a computer so expensive?

Mr. Smith : Good question Jill. The main memory of a computer

can often account for 50% of the total cost of the
CPU. For this reason, its size is deliberately limited.

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 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS PART 2

The larger the main memory, the more expensive

the computer becomes.

Rose : What about software?

Mr. Smith : I’m glad you asked Rose. The units, we’ve discussed
this far, are called the hardware of a computer.
The hardware by itself is useless, and cannot do
anything. Computer hardware requires a driver in
order to make the hardware function correctly. This
“driver” is called software. The software operates
and controls the hardware units and makes certain
that they all work in unison. The more formal term
for this special software is computer operating
system software.

David : What about application programs? How do they

work?

Mr. Smith : The computer with its hardware and operating system
software cannot perform a useful service until it is
instructed to perform a specific job. This is done by
the application program, such as a payroll, traffic
control, space exploration, which turns the hardware
and software into a useful system. Thus, there are
three elements required by any computer system
: the hardware unit, the operating system software,
and the application program or programs.

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 Central processing unit = The memory, arithmetic unit and
control unit

Input = converts the everyday characters which we

use, into binary and pass them into the memory
unit

Binary = A representation for numbers using only two

digits

Visual display unit = The keyboard and screen which displays the
information typed in by the user

Unison = Multiple things working in harmony

Deliberately = someone does something with intent or on

purpose

Operating system software = A set of system software programs

in a computer that regulate the ways application software programs
use the computer hardware and the ways that users control the
computer

Application program = software helps the user to perform singular

or multiple related specific tasks. Examples include enterprise
software, accounting software, office suites, and graphics software

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 QUESTIONS

1. This converts the everyday characters which we use, into

binary and pass them into the memory unit:

A. Output
B. Input
C. Central Unit
D. Memory

2. A representation for numbers using only two digits is called:

A. Two count
B. Bi-numeration
C. Binary
D. Twofold

3. The keyboard is and screen which displays the information

typed in by the user is called:

A. Display
B. Visual Display
C. TV
D. Central unit

4. The memory, arithmetic unit and control unit all make up

the central processing unit or:

A. CPP
B. CPC
C. PC
D. CPU

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 5. Multiple things working in harmony or one accord is working
in:

A. Unison
B. Discord
C. Control
D. Dissension

6. If someone does something with intent or on purpose it is:

A. Accidently
B. Futile
C. Deliberately
D. By chance

7. A set of system software programs in a computer that regulate

the ways application software programs use the computer
hardware and the ways that users control the computer is
called:

A. Application software
B. Operating system
C. Central processing unit
D. Processing software

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 QUESTIONS

8. This software helps the user to perform singular or multiple

related specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software,
accounting software, office suites, and graphics software.
What is it?

A. Application software
B. Operating system
C. Central processing unit
D. Processing software

9. Why do manufacturers limit the memory on a computer?

A. To make you buy more

B. Because you don’t need it
C. Because it is expensive
D. To make the computer small

10. Which of the following is considered the driver of the

computer?

A. CPU
B. Software
C. Keyboard
D. Screen

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 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT

Intro : Sue is from Sweden and wants to understand more about

the duties and responsibilities of the President of the
United States. Her friend David is from the U.S. David
explains the office of the President to Sue.

David : Hi Sue, it’s so good to see you again.

Sue : Hi David, it has been a while, hasn’t it?

David : Yes I think about a year. So, what would you like to know?

Sue : Well, your form of government in the U.S. intrigues

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 me and I want to understand it better. Your president is
somewhat like a king isn’t he?

David : Actually no; the President is the Head of the Executive

Branch and generally viewed as the head of the U.S.
Government. While he does have significant power, his
power is limited by the Constitution.

Sue : So he does not have the freedom to do as he pleases?

David : No, the main powers of the president can be divided into
three categories : Head of State, Administrative, and
Legislative Powers.

Sue : Okay. Can you explain his powers as Head of State?

David : As Head of State, the President meets with the leaders of

other countries. He has the power to recognize those lands
as official countries and to make treaties with them.

David : However, the Senate must approve any treaty before it

becomes official. The President also has the power to
appoint ambassadors to other countries, with the Senate’s
approval.

Sue : Does he have the power to simply declare war if he

wishes?

David : No, the President is also the official head of the U.S.
military. As Commander in Chief, he can authorize the

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 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT

use of troops overseas without declaring war.

David : To declare war officially, though, he must get the approval

of the Congress.

Sue : You mentioned administrative powers; when I think of

administrative, I think of secretarial work. What do you
mean administrative?

David : The President’s administrative duties include appointing

the heads of each Executive Branch department. Of
course, these appointments are subject to the approval of
the Senate.

Sue : Most people view the President as the most powerful and
influential person in the United States government. Is that
true?

David : While he does wield a great deal of political might, his

effect on the law-making process is limited. Only Congress
can write legislation; the President may only recommend
it.

David : If he does so, then a member of Congress may introduce

the bill for consideration.

Sue : What happens if Congress passes a bill the President does

not like?

David : Congress may create legislation but it is difficult for them

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 to pass a bill without the President’s approval. When
Congress passes a bill, they send it to the White House.

David : The President then has three options : sign the bill into
law, veto the bill, or do nothing.

Sue : What do you mean by veto?

David : When the President vetoes a bill, it does not go into effect.
The President vetoes a bill by returning it to Congress
unsigned.

David : In most cases, he will also send them an explanation of

why he rejected the legislation. Congress can override a
presidential veto, but to do so,

David : two-thirds of each chamber must vote in favor of the bill.

However, an override does not occur very often.

Sue : I can’t imagine it would. If the President signs a bill then

what happens?

David : When the President signs a bill into law, it immediately

goes into effect. At this point, only the Supreme Court
can remove the law from the books by declaring it
unconstitutional.

Sue : What if the President chooses the third option, doing

nothing with the bill?

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 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT

David : One of two things will occur. If Congress is in session

ten business days after the President receives the bill,
the legislation will become a law without the President’s
signature.

David : However, if Congress adjourns within ten business days

of giving the bill to the President, the bill dies.

David : When the President kills a bill in this fashion, it is known

as a pocket veto. In this case, Congress can do nothing to
override his decision.

Sue : It sound like the Presidential veto is an extremely powerful

tool.

David : Yes it can be very useful. Sue, I really must get going. I
have a government class in just a few minutes.

Sue : Can we meet again? I would really like to learn more about
Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives
too.

David : Sure. How about tomorrow? Same time, same place?

Sue : That would be great! Thanks David.

33 Level 12
 Government = The organization, or agency through which a
political unit exercises its authority, controls
and administers public policy, and directs and
controls the actions of its members or subjects
Intrigued = Fascinated
Significant = having an unstated meaning, indicative of
something
Constitution = the composition of forming something
Executive Branch = The part of government that has sole authority
and responsibility for the daily administration
of the state bureaucracy
Senate = The smoller and the higher - ranking of the
two parts of the centeral low-making body.
Ambassador = The highest ranking diplomat who represents
a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign
sovereign or government
Congress = A level of government is made up of the
Senate and the House of Representatives
Legislation = The process of enacting a law by a governing
body
Consideration = Something that is taken into thought or under
deliberation
Veto = The power of an officer of the state to stop
unilaterally a piece of legislation
Supreme Court = The highest judicial body within that
jurisdiction’s court system, whose rulings are
not subject to further review by another court
Adjourn = suspend the proceedings of a meeting to
another time or place

34 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

1. The organization, or agency through which a political unit

exercises its authority, controls and administers public
policy, and directs and controls the actions of its members
or subjects:

A. Stewardship
B. Hierarchy
C. Government
D. Ruler

2. If you are intrigued by something you are:

A. Fascinated
B. Interested
C. Captivated
D. All of these

3. The part of government that has sole authority and responsibility

for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy is called
the:

A. President
B. Supreme Court
C. Executive Branch
D. Congress

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 4. The highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and
is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government
is called the:

A. President
B. Ambassador
C. Executive Branch
D. Congress

5. The process of enacting a law by a governing body is called:

A. A Bill
B. Government
C. Rule
D. Legislation

6. Something that is taken into thought or under deliberation

is taken into:

A. Consideration
B. Concern
C. Importance
D. Law

36 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

7. The power of an officer of the state to stop unilaterally a

piece of legislation is called:

A. Rule
B. Legislation
C. Veto
D. Govern

8. The highest judicial body within that jurisdiction’s court

system, whose rulings are not subject to further review by
another court, is called:

A. Congress
B. Senate
C. Executive Branch
D. Supreme Court

9. If you suspend the proceedings of a meeting to another time

or place you:

A. Veto
B. Adjourn
C. Commence
D. Instigate

37 Level 12
 10. This level of government is made up of the Senate and the
House of Representatives.

A. Executive Branch
B. Supreme Court
C. Governor
D. Congress

38 Level 12
 THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

Intro : David and Sue meet again to discuss the U.S. Government
and how it works.

David : Hi Sue, how are you today?

Sue : I am good. I really enjoyed our discussion yesterday. I

can’t wait to learn more about the U.S. Government.

David : Well where would you like to start?

Sue : Tell me about Congress.

David : Congress has all legislative powers in the national

39 Level 12
 government. They are in charge of coining money,
maintaining the military, declaring war on other countries
and regulating interstate and foreign commerce.

Sue : You mean Congress has the power to make all laws?

David : Yes in fact the Constitution gives Congress the authority

to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”.
Congress also controls federal taxing and spending
policies.

Sue : Wow! It certainly sounds like Congress has a lot of power.

David : One of the most important implied powers is Congress’s

authority to investigate and oversee the executive branch
and its agencies, such as the Department of Defense and
the Department of Justice.

Sue : Can you tell me about the House of Representative and

the Senate?

David : Well when the Constitution was being drafted, a debate

broke out between states with large populations and
those with smaller populations.

David : Each had a different opinion about how the states should
be represented in the new government. To be fair to each
group, a compromise was reached by dividing Congress
into two houses,

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 THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

David : the House of Representatives would favor states with

larger populations, while the Senate would favor those
states with smaller populations.

Sue : So the House of Representatives represents the large

states and the Senate represents the smaller states?

David : No that’s not quite the way it works. Representation in

the House is based on population. There are a total of
435 members in the House of Representatives.

David : Each member represents an area of a state, known as a

congressional district. The number of representatives is
based on the number of districts in a state. Each state is
guaranteed one seat.

Sue : What are the responsibilities of the House of

Representatives?

David : The House has special jobs that only it can perform. Such
as start laws that make people pay taxes and decide if a
government official

David : should be put on trial before the Senate if he or she

commits a crime against the country.

Sue : I see. So what does the Senate do?

David : There are a total of 100 members in the Senate. The

Constitution states that the vice president has formal

41 Level 12
 control over the Senate and is known as the president of
the Senate.

David : As in the House, the Senate also has special jobs that
only it can perform. Such as confirm or disapprove any
treaties the President drafts;

David : confirm or disapprove the Presidential appointments;

and hold trials for Government official who commit a
crime against the country.

Sue : Wow, David, you certainly know a lot about government.

David : Well I hope so. I am taking a government class this

semester. Speaking of which, I really should get going.

Sue : Okay. Thanks again David. I have really enjoyed

learning about the American Government.

42 Level 12
 Congress = The level of government which is made up of
the Senate and the House of Representatives

House of Representatives = The branch of government that can

start laws that make people pay
taxes

Senate = The branch of government that can confirm or

disapprove any treaties the President drafts

Interstate commerce = The buying and selling of products and

services across state

Debate = A discussion of a public question in an

assembly, involving opposing viewpoints

Compromise = take opposing sides but agree to meet halfway

Implied = something is indicated, or suggested without

being directly

Congressional district = An electoral community that elects a

single member

Treaty = An agreement under international law entered

into by individuals in international law,
namely sovereign states and international
organizations

43 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

1. This level of government is made up of the Senate and the House of

Representatives.

A. Executive Branch
B. Supreme Court
C. Governor
D. Congress

2. This branch of government can start laws that make people pay taxes.

A. Executive Branch
B. Senate
C. House of Representatives
D. Supreme Court

3. This branch of government can confirm or disapprove any treaties

the President drafts.

A. Executive Branch
B. Senate
C. House of Representatives
D. Supreme Court

44 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

4. Which branch of government can decide if a government official

should be put on trial before the Senate if s/he commits a crime
against the country?

A. Executive Branch
B. Senate
C. House of Representatives
D. Supreme Court

5. The buying and selling of products and services across state borders
is called:

A. Foreign Trade
B. Interstate Commerce
C. Out of State Trade
D. State Trade

6. A discussion of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing

viewpoints is called a:

A. Assembly
B. Union
C. Legislature
D. Debate

45 Level 12
 7. If you take opposing sides but agree to meet halfway you:

A. Compromise
B. Concede
C. Surrender
D. Yield

8. If something is indicated, or suggested without being directly stated

it is:

A. Affirmed
B. Vowed
C. Implied
D. Hidden

9. An electoral community that elects a single member of a congress is

called a:

A. Electoral Community
B. Congressional District
C. Electoral District
D. Congressional Community

10. An agreement under international law entered into by individuals

in international law, namely sovereign states and international
organizations is called a:

A. Treaty
B. Law
C. Rule
D. Statute

46 Level 12
 WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY

WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY

Intro : The following is an interview with John, who is

a specialist in political economics, about world
reserve currency.

Interviewer : Thank you for speaking with us today. Let’s start

with the world reserve currency. What do you
think about the International Monetary Fund

Interviewer : (IMF) replacing the US dollar as the world reserve

currency with Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)?

John Simpson : The world didn’t have an IMF for a few thousand

47 Level 12
 years. The IMF was founded after the Second
World War to take care of any short-term currency
needs that countries might have.

John Simpson : They now have thousands of employees and have

manufactured jobs for themselves. They’ve not
had much success, if you look back over the past
60 years.

Interviewer : So the IMF is like a global bank?

John Simpson : Not really and we certainly don’t need a central

bank for the whole world. We never had one and
the world got along pretty well for thousands
of years without bureaucrats taking the world’s
money.

Interviewer : So, you don’t agree with using IMF SDRs as the
world reserve currency?

John Simpson : I think maybe the world does need to replace the
US dollar. The US dollar is a terribly, terribly
flawed currency.

John Simpson : The US is the largest debtor nation in the history

of the world and we cannot continue with a
currency which is so deeply flawed. I just don’t
think Special Drawing Rights, is the answer.

48 Level 12
 WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY

Interviewer : Would you advocate a commodity-backed reserve

currency instead?

John Simpson : Reserve currencies can be anything that you want.

The problem with paper money is that it’s easy to
debase and abuse.

John Simpson : As I said, the US is the largest debtor nation in the

history of the world. They keep printing the stuff.
The UK, once upon a time, had the world reserve
currency.

John Simpson : They abused it mightily. Eventually the world

just said “no, we’re not going to take sterling
anymore” and rightly so. So, in my view, that’s
the problem with paper money.

John Simpson : My only worry is that, no matter what mankind

has come up with in the past, politicians have
always found a way to abuse it and debase it.

Interviewer : Do you think we should return to gold?

John Simpson : The Romans had precious metals as their currency

and do you know the term “debase”? The Roman
politicians had the brilliant idea that if a coin was
100% pure precious metal,

John Simpson : they could slip a little base metal in and, over a

49 Level 12
 couple of hundred years, they went from 100%
pure precious metal to almost 0%.

John Simpson : That’s where the term “debase” comes from. So,
we’ve tried it.

Interviewer : You mentioned that the US is the largest debtor

nation in the history of the world. Do you think
that will lead to high inflation or hyperinflation in
the US?

John Simpson : Well, there will be inflation. First, you have to

have inflation before you can have hyperinflation.
I mean, we have inflation now. Prices are going
up for everything.

John Simpson : The government lies about it in the US. Some

countries don’t lie about it, while other countries
like the UK and the US lie about it.

Interviewer : Are you saying that the America lies about the
Consumer Price Index?

John Simpson : In my opinion, yes, of course it is. They’ve

changed their accounting several times in the past
few decades.

John Simpson : When housing was 20% to 25% of the CPI and
housing was going up, they didn’t count it, saying

50 Level 12
 WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY

rents weren’t going up, and then when home

prices started going down, they counted it.

John Simpson : It’s the same with many things. When the price
of gasoline goes up, they say it’s not really going
up because it’s better gasoline, better quality;
therefore you’re getting more for your money.

Interviewer : I know that inflation is a big concern in Europe

and the Euro seems to be in trouble. Can the Euro
survive?

John Simpson : I think the Euro will be around but I’m not sure
how long. It was designed to be a rock solid
currency,

John Simpson : but it’s become a political currency and most

political agreements or political institutions don’t
last.

John Simpson : I wish the Euro would survive. The world needs
something to compete with the dollar.

Interviewer : So, do you expect more inflation in Europe?

John Simpson : Yes. Printing money has always led to inflation,

eventually. When things go wrong, governments
have always printed money, at least in the last
few decades.

51 Level 12
 Interviewer : You’ve talked about inflation, pointed out
problems with the US dollar and the Euro. How
can citizens of Western countries protect their
wealth?

John Simpson : Historically, the best way is to own commodities.

Throughout history, the way you protect yourself
when currencies are being debased is that you
own real goods;

John Simpson : whether it’s silver or cotton or natural gas or

whatever. As the value of money is debased,
some things will maintain their value and some
will even increase.

Interviewer : Investors seem to be turning to gold as a way to

preserve their wealth.

John Simpson : Gold has been, historically, a good way to

preserve wealth, but so have other things as well.
I own gold. Gold is making all-time highs.

John Simpson : It certainly has been a way to preserve wealth in

the last decade. Will there be better things in the
next decade? I suspect that there will be.

Interviewer : I’m afraid this is all we have time for today. Thank
you for being so generous with your valuable
time.

52 Level 12
 Political economics = The study of production, buying and
selling, and their relations with law, custom,
and government

Reserve currency = A currency which is held in significant

quantities by many governments and
institutions as part of their foreign exchange
reserves

International Monetary Fund = An organization formed with

a stated objective of stabilizing international
exchange rates

Special Drawing Rights = a claim to foreign currencies for which

it may be exchanged in times of need

Bureaucrats = A term used for a public official, or

administrator typically holding a government
office

Flawed = weakened

Debtor = An entity that owes a debt to someone else.

The entity may be an individual, a firm, a
government, a company or other legal person

Commodity = useful or valuable

Debase = The practice of lowering the value of currency

Inflation = A rise in the general level of prices of goods

53 Level 12
 and services in an economy over a period of
time

Hyperinflation = A condition in which prices increase rapidly

as a currency loses its value

Consumer Price Index = a measure of price changes for a constant

market basket of goods and services from one
period to the next within the same area city,
region, or nation

54 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

1. The study of production, buying and selling, and their

relations with law, custom, and government is called:

A. Politics
B. Economics
C. Political economics
D. Ergonomics

2. A currency which is held in significant quantities by many

governments and institutions as part of their foreign
exchange reserves is called:

A. Foreign Reserve
B. Currency Reserve
C. Federal Reserve
D. Change Reserve

3. An organization formed with a stated objective of stabilizing

international exchange rates is called:

A. Federal Reserve
B. Consumer Price Index
C. International Monetary Fund
D. International Reserve

55 Level 12
 4. Which of the following represents a claim to foreign
currencies for which it may be exchanged in times of need?

A. International Reserve
B. Special Reserve
C. International Draw
D. Special Drawing Rights

5. A term used for a public official, or administrator typically

holding a government office is:

A. Bureaucrat
B. Bureau
C. Beau
D. Democrat

6. An entity that owes a debt to someone else. The entity may

be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other
legal person.

A. Borrower
B. Creditor
C. Debtor
D. Loaner

56 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

7. The practice of lowering the value of currency is called:

A. Impairing
B. Down grading
C. Elevation
D. Debasing

8. A rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in

an economy over a period of time is called:

A. Hyperinflation
B. Inflation
C. Recession
D. Depression

9. A condition in which prices increase rapidly as a currency

loses its value is called:

A. Hyperinflation
B. Inflation
C. Recession
D. Depression

10. This is a measure of price changes for a constant market

basket of goods and services from one period to the next
within the same area city, region, or nation.

A. Price Index
B. Consumer Index
C. Consumer Price Index
D. Market Index

57 Level 12
 PROS AND CONS OF NUCLEAR POWER

PROS

PROS AND CONS OF NUCLEAR POWER

Intro : Alice and Steve are discussing the pros and cons of nuclear
power as an energy option because of global warming.

Alice : Hi Steve how are you doing?

Steve : Hi Alice. I have heard a lecture on the nuclear energy and

it was very enlightening.

Alice : Really. I have been reading more and more about nuclear
energy lately, myself.

Steve : It is interesting to see that in many suggestions to mitigate

global warming, the focus is put on the advantages of

58 Level 12
 nuclear power generation but its disadvantages are rarely
mentioned.

Alice : I must say I haven’t seen much on the disadvantage. I do

know nuclear power generation does emit relatively low
amounts of carbon dioxide,

Alice : and the contribution of nuclear power plants to global

warming is therefore relatively little.

Steve : But did you know the problem of radioactive waste is still
an unsolved one?

Steve : The waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous

and it has to be carefully looked after for several
thousand years; 10’000 years according to United States
Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Alice : Well, I guess I’ve never thought about that. You are right
we never hear or read about that aspect.

Alice : Mostly, I hear about how the technology is readily

available and it is possible to generate a high amount of
electrical energy in one single plant.

Steve : There are other risks too. Despite a generally high security
standard, accidents can still happen. It is technically
impossible to build a plant with 100% security.

59 Level 12
 PROS AND CONS OF NUCLEAR POWER

Steve : The consequences of an accident would be absolutely

devastating both for human being as for the nature.

Steve : The more nuclear power plants and nuclear waste storage
shelters are built, the higher is the probability of a
disastrous failure somewhere in the world.

Alice : It seems this could be a life-threatening legacy for

hundreds of future generations.

Alice : It flagrantly contradicts with the thoughts of sustainability

if future generations have to deal with dangerous waste
generated.

Alice : I also know that nuclear power plants can be used for the
production of nuclear weapons.

Alice : Which is a scary thought because the same know-how

used to design nuclear power plants can to a certain extent
be used to build nuclear weapons.

Steve : Yes and nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste

could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks.

Steve : No atomic energy plant in the world could withstand an

attack similar to 9/11. Such a terrorist act would have
catastrophic effects on the whole world.

Alice : That’s definitely not something I want to think about.

60 Level 12
 Steve : Yes and as you know nuclear energy uses Uranium as
fuel, which is a scarce resource. The supply of Uranium is
expected to last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending
on the actual demand.

Alice : I don’t get it, how can nuclear energy be considered a

renewable energy source then.

Steve : I truly don’t feel it is. I still think solar power is our best
bet for the future.

Steve : This technology has been generating electricity

successfully in California since 1985 and half a million
Californians currently get their electricity from this
source.

61 Level 12
 Nuclear power = a type of energy is produced by controlled
nuclear reactions

Mitigate = diminish

Emit = give off

Contribution = helping to cause or bring about

Radioactive = Anything that gives of radiation

Environmental Protection Agency = An agency of the federal

government of the United States charged with
protecting human health and the environment,
by writing and enforcing regulations based on
laws passed by Congress

Technically = relating to particular subjects, art, or craft, or

its techniques

Devastating = Something that is extremely harmful and

damaging

Consequences = penalty

Disastrous = An occurrence that causes great distress or

destruction

Sustainability = The ability to keep up or keep going, as an

action or process

Contradict = the opposite

62 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

1. What type of energy is produced by controlled nuclear reactions?

A. Solar
B. Combustible
C. Nuclear
D. Electrical

2. If you mitigate something you:

A. Diminish it
B. Increase it
C. Enhance it
D. Improve it

3. Which of the following mean to give off?

A. Diminish
B. Emit
C. Ebb
D. Cultivate

4. Anything that gives of radiation is called:

A. Radiated
B. Irradiated
C. Radioactive
D. Eradicated

5. An agency of the federal government of the United States charged

63 Level 12
 QUESTIONS

with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and

enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress is called:

A. Environmental Protection Agency

B. Environmental Agency
C. Protection Agency
D. Health and Protection Agency

6. Something that is extremely harmful and damaging is:

A. Revitalizing
B. Devastating
C. Rejuvenating
D. Exhausting

7. Which of the following has a similar meaning to consequence?

A. Penalty
B. Recompense
C. Disbursement
D. Loss

64 Level 12
 8. An occurrence that causes great distress or destruction is called:

A. Flourishing
B. Lucrative
C. Prudent
D. Disastrous

9. The ability to keep up or keep going, as an action or process is called:

A. Sustainability
B. Competency
C. Vulnerability
D. Feeble

10. Which of the following means to say the opposite?

A. Deny
B. Contradict
C. Oppose
D. Cancel

65 Level 12
 ANSWERS

Activism 6. C World Currency

1. B 7. B 1. C
2. A 8. A 2. B
3. C 9. C 3. C
4. A 10. B 4. D
5. D 5. A
6. A Responsibilities of 6. C
7. B the President 7. D
8. C 1. C 8. B
9. D 2. D 9. A
10. A 3. C 10. C
4. B
Introduction to 5. D Pros and Cons of
Computers Part 1 6. A Nuclear Power
1. B 7. C 1. C
2. A 8. D 2. A
3. C 9. B 3. B
4. B 10. D 4. C
5. C 5. A
6. A The U.S. 6. B
7. D Government 7. A
8. B 1. D 8. D
9. C 2. C 9. A
10. A 3. B 10. B
4. C
Introduction to 5. B
Computers Part 2 6. D
1. B 7. A
2. C 8. C
3. B 9. B
4. D 10. A
5. A

66 Level 12
 INDEX
Level 1
General Greetings 2
Speaking With Others 8
In Class 14
Talking About Your Family 20
Eating Out 26
Shopping 32
At The Hotel 36
Answers 43
Level 2
Introducing Yourself 46
The First Lesson 54
Going out with the Family 60
Going to the Cinema 66
At the Film Shop 72
At the Appliance Store 70
Dinner at a Restaurant 84
Answers 91
Level 3
Buying Clothes 94
Information for a Trip 102
Planning a Vacation 108
At the Hotel 114
Going to the Concert 122
Booking a Flight 130
At the Check in Desk 138
Answers 145
67 Level 12
Level 4
On the Plane 148
Taking a Taxi 158
Hobbies 164
Celebrating a Wedding
Anniversary 170
At the Bank 178
Finding an Apartment 188
At the Bookshop 194
Answers 199
Level 5
Work Regulations 202
Applying for a Mortgage 210
Getting a Driver’s License 218
Seeing a Doctor 224
Assigning Blame in a Car Accident
232
Having Plumbing Problems 238
A Physical Examination 244
Answers 251
Level 6
Travel Arrangements 254
Performance Evaluation 262
Complaining 270
Applying for a Job 276
Maintenance 284
Job Interview 292
Dealing with Difficult Customers 300
Answers 308
 INDEX
Level 7
Tour Guide Part 1 310
Tour Guide Part 2 318
Arranging a Meeting Part 1 326
Arranging a Meeting Part 2 334
At the Meeting 340
Different Types of Jobs 348
Skills and Qualifications 356
Answers 363
Level 8
Effective Communication 366
Communication on the Internet 376
Marketing Orientation 384
Jobs and Markets 392
Outsourcing Jobs 402
Stock Market 410
Business in Different Cultures 418
Answers 426
Level 9
Learning to Use Word 428
Formal Business Meeting 436
Discrimination in the Workplace 446
eBay Opportunities 454
Preparing for a Shareholder
Meeting 462
Internet Search Engine
Optimization 470
Negotiating 478
Answers 485
68 Level 12
Level 10
Climate Change 488
Knowledge Management 496
Drilling for Oil and Gas 504
Negotiations 512
A Career in Medical Research 522
Reducing Household Expenses 532
Global Business Investments 540
Answers 550
Level 11
Discussing Stock Options 552
Interview with a CFO 560
How to Use Renewable Energy
Sources in the Home 568
Market Research Consultant 576
Trading in Other Securities 584
World Poverty 594
Globalization 602
Answers 611
Level 12
Activism 614
Introduction to Computers Part 1 622
Introduction to Computers Part 2 632
Responsibilities of the President 640
The U.S. Government 650
World Currency 658
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power 670
Answers 678
Index 679