Daily news

Lesson 2
News no.01
 Famine -a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death,
or a particular period when this happens
Ex. The famine affected half of the continent.

 Wipe out-to kill or destroy (someone or something) completely

Ex. Drought wiped out our crops this year.

 Detonation -the act of exploding something, or the fact of being exploded

Ex. Underground nuclear detonations are believed to have been carried out.

 Scenario- a description of what could possibly happen

Ex. A possible scenario would be that we move to the city.
Nuclear War Would Cause Widespread Famine

If a nuclear war happened today, it is predicted that five billion people would die. This is because a
nuclear war would trigger widespread famine. Too much soot would get released into the atmosphere
and block out sunlight.

Scientists at Rutgers University said that a full-scale war between the US and Russia could
easily wipe out half of humanity. Even a smaller conflict, for example, between India and Pakistan,
would have bad consequences.

“We must prevent a nuclear war from ever happening,” said Professor Alan Robock, who co-
authored a study on potential crop failures after a war.

For the study, researchers calculated the amount of soot that would get released into the atmosphere
due to the detonation of nuclear weapons. They assessed six war scenarios.
Comprehension qs

1. What did scientists at Rutgers University say?

2. What did researchers do for the study?

3. Why would many African and Middle Eastern countries be affected?

Critical Qs

 1. Should every country be preparing for nuclear war? Why or why not?
 2. Should countries rely on imports and exports? Why or why not?
 3. Do you think people should stop eating so much of the major crops, like maize and rice? Why or why not?
News no.02

Spiral-if a situation spirals, it quickly gets worse in a way that becomes more and more difficult to
control
Ex. He spiralled into a drug addiction that cost him his life.

Ultimately -at the end of a process, period of time, etc.

Ex. The changes ultimately proved to be unnecessary.


Detrimental-causing harm or damage
Ex. Their decision could be detrimental to the future of the company.


Intense -very great in degree, very strong
Ex. She has an intense dislike for her husband's friend.
Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Deletes Social Media for Mental
Health

Avengers and Spider-Man star Tom Holland is once again taking a break from social media. The Marvel actor
has posted a video online announcing that he will delete the Twitter and Instagram apps from his phone.

Holland cited mental health as the main reason for taking the break. In his video, he said, “I get caught up and
I spiral when I read things about me online and ultimately it's very detrimental to my mental state.”

For most of his video, Holland talks about a series of helpful apps from the charity stem4. He specifically
mentions four free apps, Calm Harm, Clear Fear, Combined Minds, and Move Mood. These apps are designed
to reduce intense emotions, lift moods, and help families support their mental health.

The stem4 charity is supported by Holland’s organization, The Brothers Trust, which he runs with his three
younger brothers.

Signing off on his video, Holland says, “if you're suffering, and you need help, download one of the apps that
stem4 has to offer. I have all of them, I've tried them all, they're all fantastic. They're really helpful. So again
thank you for listening. I'm going to disappear from Instagram again. And to everyone out there thanks for
your love and support. I love you all, and I'll speak to you soon."
Comprehension Qs

1. What did Tom Holland cite as the main reason for taking a social media break?

2. What does Holland talk about for most of his video?

3. What are the stem4 apps designed to do?

Critical Qs

 1. Do you think social media is bad for mental health? Why or why not?
 2. Do you think most people will need mental health support in the future? Please explain.
 3. Does criticism make you upset? Why or why not?
News no.03
People often believe that exercise can make you hungrier. But for the average person, exercises like
running or cycling have been shown to temporarily decrease appetite and do not usually lead to
eating extra food. But what about water exercises? There are links between swimming and an
increased appetite, but we still don’t know the exact reason why.

One possible reason could be connected to temperature and food intake. When we are cold, we
might eat more food to give our body heat and energy. Although swimming will make an individual’s
body warm-up, doing the exercise in a cool pool of water will likely mean the body loses heat in the
end.

It’s also possible that changes inside the brain might be a factor in increasing appetite. This is
possible because there are specific areas of the brain that are linked to appetite and reward.

This doesn’t mean that people should stop swimming if they are trying to lose weight. It’s always
important to be physically active, especially through activities you enjoy and will do regularly.
Swimming, like any form of physical activity, offers many great health benefits, many of which reduce
the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, it’s important to be aware of any possible
increases in appetite when swimming. This way, we are better prepared to fight temptation.
Comprehension qs

1. Which of the following exercises has been shown to temporarily decrease appetite?

2. What health benefit can you get from a physical activity like swimming?

3. Which of the following organs might be a factor in increasing appetite?

Critical qs

 1. Do you ever experience hunger after exercise?

 2. Do you think an individual’s fitness level can make them feel hungrier after a workout?
 3. Do you think swimming is a good form of exercise?