Human body parts and organs

It goes without saying that humans (mammals

identifiable as those that stand upright and are
comparatively advanced and capable of detailed
thought) have pretty remarkable bodies, given all that
they've accomplished. (Furthermore, an especially
intelligent human brain produced this text!) To be sure,
humans have overcome predators, disease, and all sorts
of other obstacles over thousands of years.

To fully understand and appreciate these

accomplishments, let's take at some of the most well-
known parts of the human body!

The head, or the spherical body part that contains the brain and rests at the top of the human
body, has quite a few individual organs and body parts on it. (It should quickly be
mentioned that hair occupies the space on top of the head, and the ears, the organs
responsible for hearing, are located on either side of the head.) From top to bottom, the
eyebrows, or horizontal strips of hair that can be found above the eye, are the first
components of the head. The eyes are below them, and are round, orb-like organs that allow
humans to see.

The eyes make way for the nose, or an external (sticking-out) organ that plays an important
part in the breathing and bacteria-elimination processes. Below that is the mouth, or a wide,
cavernous organ that chews food, removes bacteria, helps with breathing, and more. The
mouth contains teeth, or small, white-colored, pointed body parts used to chew food, and
the tongue, or a red-colored, boneless organ used to chew food and speak.

The neck is the long body part that connects the head to the chest (the muscular body part that
protects the heart and lungs), and the stomach, or the part of the body that contains food and
liquid-processing organs, comes belowthat.

The legs are the long, muscular body parts that allow humans to move from one spot to
another and perform a variety of actions. Each leg contains a thigh (a thick, especially muscular
body part used to perform strenuous motions; the upper part of the leg) and a calf (thinner,
more flexible body part that absorbs the shock associated with movement; the lower part of
the leg). Feet can be found at the bottom of legs, and each foot is comprised of five toes, or
small appendages that help balance.

Arms are long, powerful body parts that are located on either side of chest, below the
shoulders;arms are comprised of biceps (the thicker, more powerful upper portion), and
forearms (the thinner, more flexible lower portion). Hands, or small, gripping body parts used
for a tremendous number of actions, are at the end of arms. Each hand contains five fingers, or
small appendages used to grip objects.

The aforementioned shoulders are rounded body parts that aid arms' flexibility. One's back
is found on the opposite side of the stomach, and is a flat section of the body that contains
important muscles that're intended to protect the lungs and other internal organs, in
addition to helping humans perform certain motions and actions.

Answer the questions

A. Multiple Choice

1) Which of the following body parts is not located on the head or face?

a. Eye
b. Nose
c. Mouth
d. Leg
2) Legs are comprised of which of the following?

a. Feet
b. Calves
c. Thighs
d. All of the above
3) How many toes and fingers are on each foot/hand?

a. Ten
b. Five
c. Four
d. Two
4) The part of the body that contains important organs that aid digestion is:

a. The back
b. The head
c. The stomach
d. The neck
5) Which of the following is not a body part/organ on the human body?

a. Quilt
b. Neck
c. Head
d. Arm
B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 Food for a community

Milpa Alta is a region of twelve villages and

towns to the south of Mexico City. In Milpa Alta,
traditions are still very important and one of the
most famous traditional events is a community
meal. It takes place every Christmas and is
called La Rejunta. More than a meal, it’s a feast,
where about sixty thousand tamales and fifteen
thousand litres of hot chocolate are made and
consumed. Tamales are made from corn. They
are typical of the region: the name Milpa Alta
means ‘High cornfield’. The feast is offered to the people who go on the long walk to El Señor de
Chalma about 80 kilometres away. It’s an important event on the religious calendar for local people
and as many as 20,000 people take part.

The planning and organisation of La Rejunta takes the whole year. Every year, different people are
given the job of majordomo, which means they’re responsible for organising the meal. There’s a
waiting list for the opportunity to do this and currently the next available year is 2046. This
year’s majordomos are Virginia Meza Torres and her husband Fermín Lara Jiménez, who put their
names on the list 14 years ago.

One year before the meal, men go to the forest and collect wood that they store near the home of
the majordomo. It has to be dry when it’s used to make the cooking fires. Local farmers grow most of
the corn, meat and vegetables that are needed as ingredients. In the week before the feast,
hundreds of volunteers arrive to help with the preparation and the cooking. No instant or ready-
made foods are allowed. Amazingly, everyone seems to know what they have to do. On the day of
the feast, the majordomos and others have stayed up all night cooking. Fermin is in charge of the
numbers – making sure there are enough tamales for everyone.

For the people of Milpa Alta, eating together is one of their most important traditions. One woman,
Josefina García Jiménez, explains that sitting together at the table is like a glue that keeps people
together. ‘It feels like I am passing down a tradition, and when they are adults, they will remember
what I have done. Here we have time to cook, time to think about the ingredients, time to show our
kids through cooking that we love them.’ The time that everybody stays at the table after the meal
has finished is just as important as the food. They talk, tell stories and laugh together. At
Christmas, La Rejunta is a giant version of a family meal.
Answer the questions

A. Multiple Choice
1) What is the article about?
a. daily life in Mexico
b. farming in Milpa Alta
c. traditions in Mexico
2) In Milpa Alta, eating with other people is ...
a. difficult
b. important
c. unusual
3) La Rejunta takes place ...
a. in Mexico city
b. in several villages
c. once a year
4) What’s unusual about La Rejunta?
a. A huge amount of food is made.
b. The event lasts for many days.
c. The ingredients are very unusual.
5) How do people get to El Señor de Chalma?
a. by bus
b. by car
c. on foot
6) What do the majordomos do?
a. cook the food for La Rejunta
b. grow food for La Rejunta
c. organise La Rejunta
7) According to the article, which statement is true?
a. Not many people want to be majordomos.
b. People wait a long time to be majordomos.
c. Virginia Meza Torres has been a majordomo for 14 years.
8) According to the third paragraph, which sentence is true?
a. All the food for the meal is from the local area.
b. It takes a week to organise La Rejunta.
c. The majordomos do everything themselves.
9) Fermin ...
a. cooks the tamales.
b. counts the amount of food.
 c. tells the volunteers what to do.
10) According to the last paragraph, the important thing about family meals is ...
a. being together.
b. the cook.
c. the food.

B. Vocabularies

Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 Choosing a musical instrument

Many people would like to learn how to play a musical instrument, but they are put off by one big
problem: what to play? Here are a few questions to help you decide.

What kind of music do you like?

Many instruments are versatile, but some are more
suited to certain types of music. Although there is
some classical repertoire for the saxophone, for
example, people associate it more with jazz, and it is
not a permanent feature of many orchestras. Some
instruments may lend themselves better than others to
the music you like, so consider this before you start.

Do you want to play with other people?

Think about your long-term future as a musician. If you want to play with other people, what sort of
instrument would be most practical? The initial attraction of playing a dazzling solo instrument like
trumpet, violin, flute or lead guitar might fade when you realise how many other people are
competing with you to get the main part with the same instrument! If you want to play rock music,
there will always be a demand for bass players or drummers, and if you fancy being part of an
orchestra, the bassoon is a great bet to make sure you are always needed.

Where are you going to practise?

Many people live in flats and practising the drums, for example, will drive your neighbours crazy.
Think about where and when you are going to practise, as well as the patience of the people you live
with or near. Electric versions of instruments like the piano, drums, guitar and even violin give you
the option of playing into the night using headphones, while your housemates sleep in peace.
Alternatively, you may need to consider going to a school or a community centre to practise.

How much money can you spend?

This is quite a big factor. A lot of instruments can be purchased in different price ranges, for example,
guitars. But this doesn’t alter the fact that many, such as the piano, are always pretty expensive. If
you can’t afford your chosen instrument, will you be able to borrow someone else’s or hire one?

Are there any physical limitations?

If you’re small and don’t like lifting heavy objects, you won’t want to carry around a double bass.
Apart from that, use your common sense, and don’t let your perceived physical shortcomings put you
off. Who says small skinny people can’t play the tuba? It’s true that some wind instruments require a
lot of lung power but with the right coaching, everyone can develop the right technique.
Still not sure?
Talk to people you know who already play instruments. They might even let you try theirs. It’s also a
good idea to find an experienced music teacher, preferably one who plays a few different
instruments, who can give you some advice and push you in the right direction.

If you find an instrument you love and that suits your needs, you’ll find the time spent choosing was
well worth it. Good luck with making your choice!

Answer the question

A. Multiple choice
1. Many people think about learning a musical instrument but don't because …
a. they haven’t got enough time to practise.
b. they don’t know which instrument to choose.
c. they can’t afford a musical instrument.
d. they think it will be too difficult.
2. If you play the saxophone, …
a. you can’t play classical music.
b. there might be fewer opportunities to play classical music.
c. you can easily play in an orchestra.
d. you should only play jazz.
3. Playing a popular solo instrument …
a. is the best way to get into a band.
b. is only for people who are really confident.
c. means you will always perform on your own.
d. can be a drawback if you want to play with others.
4. Electric instruments …
a. are too noisy if you live too close to other people.
b. can’t be played at night.
c. are best for public performances.
d. are a good idea to avoid disturbing other people.
5. Guitars …
a. are normally relatively cheap.
b. are only for buyers with big budgets.
c. start quite cheap and go up to very expensive.
d. are worth paying more money for.
6. Before choosing an instrument you should …
a. consider the size and weight of the instrument.
b. avoid wind instruments if you are small and slim.
c. reflect on your physical limitations.
 d. make sure you have the correct technique.

7. An experienced music teacher can …

a. tell you if you have the ability to learn a particular instrument.
b. lend you their instruments to try.
c. give you valuable guidance.
d. demonstrate the different instruments for you.
8. The best summary of the author's attitude is …
a. don't worry, just go for it!
b. playing an instrument is not for everyone.
c. you can always change your mind.
d. considering your choice of instrument will pay off in the future.

B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 The Positive Effects on Children of Owning a Dog

Brendan's best friend is Tip. Tip and Brendan are inseparable. They teach
each other things and they look after each other. Tip has helped Brendan
become more responsible, more caring, and a better friend. Brendan is a
nine-year-old boy, and Tip is a ten-year-old dog. Brendan and Tip are an
example of how owning a dog can have a positive effect on a child's
development. Having a dog develops a child's sense of responsibility,
broadens his capacity for empathy, and teaches the nature of friendship.

Having a dog helps a child learn how to act responsibly. As a dog owner, the
child must take care of the animal's daily needs. The dog must be fed and exercised every day. A dog
is completely dependent on its owner for all its needs, including the need for good health and a safe
environment. Therefore, being responsible for a dog also means taking care of the dog so that it
stays healthy. Furthermore, the owner must take responsibility for the safety of the dog and the
safety of the people it comes into contact with. If the child forgets any of these duties and
responsibilities, or ignores any of the dog's needs, the dog will suffer. This teaches the child that his
responsibility to the dog is more important than his desire to play with his toys, talk on the phone, or
watch TV. This is true not only for the care of a dog, but also for the care of oneself, another person,
or one's job. Learning how to take responsibility for the health and welfare of a dog leads to learning
how to take responsibility for oneself.

Another lesson that a child can learn from having a dog is how to be empathetic. Empathy is the
ability to put oneself in another person's, or in this case another creature's, situation and imagine
that person's or creature's feelings or problems. A dog cannot express itself with speech, so its owner
must learn how to interpret its behaviour. The child must learn to understand what the dog's
behaviour means. Is the dog frightened, aggressive, or sick? The child needs to understand what is
going on in the dog's mind. Understanding a situation from the dog's perspective helps the child
understand why the dog is behaving in a certain way and what the dog needs. The result of learning
to read a dog's behaviour is that the child develops empathy. By learning how to empathize with a
dog, the child also learns how to empathize with other people. This leads to the child becoming a
more considerate and caring person.

Being considerate and caring are important characteristics in a good friend. One of the most
significant benefits of owning a dog is the example of true friendship that a dog provides. A dog gives
unconditional love` to its owner. A dog will not stop loving its owner because of a little anger,
indifference, or neglect. The dog will wait patiently for its owner to pat its head and say a few kind
words. This acceptance of the negative qualities and appreciation for the positive qualities of its
owner provide a wonderful model of how to be a good friend. A child soon realizes that his dog will
always listen to him, will always be ready to play with him, will always protect him, and will always
forgive him. A child who has learned to be even half as good a friend to others as his dog is to him
will have learned one of the most valuable lessons in life.

These are some of the most important lessons a child will ever learn. The benefits of owning a dog
will last the child's entire lifetime. The understanding and appreciation of responsibility, empathy,
and friendship that a child develops from the experience of having a dog will help him or her grow
into a reliable, caring, and mature adult.

Answer the question

A. Multiple choice

1. The dog's name is _ ______ _.

a. Tip
b. Brendan
c. Brennan
d. Kip

2. Which of the following have a positive effect on a child's development?

a. feeling responsible
b. feeling empathy
c. building friendships
d. all of the above

3. A child learns how to be responsible for a dog by ________ _.

a. taking care of the dog's daily needs

b. taking away a safe environment
c. feeding the dog weekly
d. becoming dependent on the dog

4. Learning how to care for a dog can help children _____ _.

a. to take of themselves
b. to choose the dog over playing
c. to get welfare
d. to ignore the dog's needs

5. Children can learn how to ________ _.

a. understand the dog's needs

b. only care about themselves, and not others
c. get rid of the dog they don't want to take care of it
d. be irresponsible

6. The dog's owner must interpret which of the following from their dog's behaviour?

a. fear
b. happiness
 c. illness
d. all of the above

7. Which of the following is a positive result of learning how to interpret a dog's behaviour?

a. becoming selfish
b. becoming empathetic
c. becoming arrogant
d. being thoughtless

8. What kind of love does a dog provide?

a. shallow
b. one-sided
c. conditional
d. unconditional

9. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of a child owning a dog?

a. companionship
b. reliability
c. friendship
d. neglect

10. In what ways is a dog loyal?

a. It is able to tolerate the negative qualities of humans

b. It will protect people.
e. It neglects its owner.
h. It offers unconditional love.

B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 Are zoos a good thing?

Zoos are hugely popular attractions

for adults and children alike. But
are they actually a good thing?

Critics of zoos would argue that

animals often suffer physically and
mentally by being enclosed. Even
the best artificial environments
cannot come close to matching the
space, diversity, and freedom that
animals have in their natural
habitats. This deprivation causes
many zoo animals to become
stressed or mentally ill. Capturing
animals in the wild also causes much suffering by splitting up families. Some zoos make animals
behave unnaturally: for example, marine parks often force dolphins and whales to perform tricks.
These mammals may die decades earlier than their wild relatives, and some even try to commit
suicide.

On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos have the potential to educate the
public about conservation issues and inspire people to protect animals and their habitats. Some zoos
provide a safe environment for animals which have been mistreated in circuses, or pets which have
been abandoned. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like animal behaviour and how
to treat illnesses.

One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding
programmes, particularly for endangered species. In the wild, some of the rarest species have
difficulty in finding mates and breeding, and they might also be threatened by poachers, loss of their
habitat and predators. A good zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a secure
environment. In addition, as numbers of some wild species drop, there is an increased danger of
populations becoming too genetically similar. Breeding programmes provide a safeguard: zoo-bred
animals can be released into the wild to increase genetic diversity.

However, opponents of zoos say that the vast majority of captive breeding programmes do not
release animals back into the wild. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to
circuses or hunting ranches in the US or South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of
money for the chance to kill an animal in a fenced enclosure. Often, these animals are familiar with
humans and have very little chance of escaping.
So, are zoos good for animals or not? Perhaps it all depends on how well individual zoos are
managed, and the benefits of zoos can surely outweigh their harmful effects. However, it is
understandable that many people believe imprisoning animals for any reason is simply wrong.

Answer the question

A. True or false

Modern zoos can offer animals a living environment that is as good as their natura
1. True False
habitats.
One of the reasons zoo animals become distressed is because they are separated
from their families. True False
2.
Dolphins and whales usually live longer in zoos than in the wild. True False
3.
People who have visited zoos are more likely to support animal conservation
4. True False
and protection.
5. Zoos protect animals from being used for scientific research. True False

6. Endangered animals kept in zoos are less likely to meet a mate and breed. True False

7. In their natural habitats, animals suffer problems related to human activity. True False
8. Endangered species often lack genetic diversity in their population. True False
Zoos promote genetic diversity by breeding animals and then releasing them
9. back into the wild. True False

B. Short answer
Why the author thinks that zoos are generally a good thing?
1.
......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

What are the drawbacks of zoo?

2.
......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................
C. Vocabularies
Complete the gaps with a word from the box.

Habitat Suicide tricks illnesses

Mate Wild environment species

1. Even the best artificial environments cannot come close to an animal's natural ………………
2. Whales and dolphins in zoos are often made to perform …………………
3. Distressed and depressed zoo animals sometimes try to commit ………………
4. Zoos can provide a safe ………………………..for animals that have been mistreated or abandoned.
5. Zoos carry out important research into how to treat …………………….
6. International breeding programmes are particularly important for endangered…………………..
7. In the wild, some of the rarest species have difficulty finding a………………………..
8. One criticism of breeding programmes is that they do not always release animals back into the……….
 The Four Seasons

The four seasons are spring, summer, fall, and winter, and
although various areas of the United States experience
drastically different weather during these times, all
portions of the country recognize the seasons; winter in
California may bring heat, and winter in New York may
bring blizzards, but both periods are nevertheless winter.

Following winter, spring begins on 20 March and ends on

either 20 June or 21 June, in the United States (this date
may vary slightly from year to year and hemisphere to
hemisphere). For most, spring is a time of "thawing," when the cold and snow of the winter are
replaced by sunshine, reasonable temperatures, green grass, and more. It is also the season wherein
previously dormant bees and butterflies reemerge, and when birds become more active.

Summer follows spring and spans from about 21 June to 22 September, in America. Summer is the
warmest, the longest, and (arguably) the liveliest of the four seasons; students from kindergarten to
college are given two or so summer months off from class, and to be sure, there are more young
individuals out and about during this season than any other. It's not uncommon to see shorts, t-shirts,
and sunglasses worn by those who're soaking up the summer's hot sun, and to stay cool, many
individuals crank the air conditioning, take a dip in a swimming pool, and/or explore the
ever-comforting ocean waves.

Autumn (or fall), more than being a simple precursor to winter, is one of the most beautiful and
exciting seasons. Spanning from 22 September to 21 December(technically, that is; snow will begin to fall
long before this latter date, in most parts of the country, leading many to classify the period as winter) in
the US, autumn is characterized by falling leaves, Halloween (on 31 October), and Thanksgiving.
During fall, traditional farmers harvest their produce, and the aforementioned falling leaves change to
gorgeous orange, red, and yellow colors; these colors are generally associated with autumn itself, in
turn.

Inthe US, winter spans from 21 December to 20 March, and is, as one would expect, the coldest of the
four seasons. In the eastern, northern, and central portions of the country, winter snowfall can be
considerable; inthe western and southern portions of the country, winter snowfall is highly unlikely, but
temperatures nevertheless drop from their usual. Winter is most widely known for its snow and the
Christmas holiday, butitalso boasts New Year's Eve(on December 31, inrecognition of the start of anew
year) and other special days. Iceskating, sledding, icehockey, and snowball fightsarecommonly enjoyed
winter activities.
Answer the question

A. Multiple choice
1. In America, students are given roughly two months off from school during which season?
a. Spring
b. Summer
c. Autumn
d. Winter
2. Christmas and New Year's Eve take place during which season?
a. Autumn
b. Summer
c. Winter
d. Spring

3. Autumn is characterized by:

a. Thanksgiving
b. Falling leaves
c. Halloween
d. All of theabove

4. Which of the four seasons is the longest?

a. Summer
b. Winter
c. Autumn
d. Spring

5. Which season is thought of by many as a "thaw"?

a. Winter
b. Autumn
c. Spring
d. Summer

B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 The Story of the Aral Sea

April 2010

One Sunday afternoon in Kazakhstan last August, a

group of fishermen met for a celebration. They
were on the shore of the North Aral Sea. They
brought food to eat, and they had races and
throwing contests. Afterwards, they relaxed,
telling stories and singing songs about the Aral Sea
and fishing and how much they loved both of
these things.

Once, the Aral Sea in Central Asia was the fourth

largest lake in the world. However, it has almost disappeared because of irrigation and drought. In
2005, the Kazakh government and the World Bank built a dam that separated the northern and
southern parts of the sea. The northern part of the Aral Sea has started to recover. There are fish in
the water and for the past four years, fishermen have come to celebrate.

Philip Micklin is a scientist who has been studying the sea since the 1980s. ‘Nature can come back.’
he says.

October 2014

Satellite images from this week show that the eastern part of the Aral Sea is completely dry. ‘It is
likely the first time it has completely dried up in 600 years,’ said expert Philip Micklin.

The Aral Sea once had an area of 67,300 square kilometres. Two of Central Asia's biggest rivers, the
Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, flowed into the Sea. This means that it was actually a freshwater lake,
not a seawater lake. But it was so big it was called a sea. The Aral Sea used to be a busy place. Almost
20 percent of the Soviet Union’s fish came from here and 40,000 people used to work near the lake.
As the lake dried up, it separated into different parts. The eastern part nearly dried up in 2009 but it
recovered in 2010 after some rain. Now, it’s completely dry.

June 2015

Yusup Kamalov is a scientist from Uzbekistan. I am standing with him looking at a huge desert.
Except that it’s not like any other desert – fifty years ago the southern shore of the Aral Sea was right
where we stand. Now it is 80 kilometres away to the northwest. We set off to drive to the water. On
the way, we pass oil and natural gas rigs standing on the sand. According to Kamalov, each year there
are a few more. ‘Can you imagine,’ he says, ‘that 40 years ago the water was 30 metres deep right
here.’ We finally arrive at the edge of the lake, which is so salty that no fish can live in it.

‘This is what the end of the world looks like,’ says Kamalov.
Answer the question

A. Multiple choice
1. What period do the three news stories cover?
a. three months
b. three years
c. five years
2. What happened to the Aral Sea over the period of the three news stories?
a. It got bigger.
b. It got smaller.
c. It stayed the same.
3. How many different parts of the Aral Sea do the news stories talk about?
a. two
b. three
c. four
4. According to the first news story, why did the fishermen meet?
a. to do sports
b. to go fishing
c. to have a party
5. According to the first news story, what was one result of building the dam?
a. The northern and southern parts of the Sea joined up.
b. There was more water in the southern part of the Sea.
c. There were more fish in the northern part of the Sea.
6. Which statement is true, according to the second news story?
a. In 2009 there was no water in the eastern Aral Sea.
b. In 2010 there was no water in the eastern Aral Sea.
c. In 2014 there was no water in the eastern Aral Sea.
7. According to the second news story, ...
a. the Aral Sea is really a lake.
b. the water in the Aral Sea was salty.
c. water from the Aral Sea goes into two rivers.
8. According to the second news story, ...
a. the Aral Sea provided food and jobs.
b. there were 40,000 fishermen on the Aral Sea.
c. there’s a lot of activity on the Aral Sea nowadays.
9. According to the third news story, which sentence is true?
a. The area south of the Sea has been a desert for 50 years.
b. The edge of the water has moved 80 kilometres.
c. There’s a road to the edge of the Aral Sea.
10. According to the third news story, ...
a. Kamalov feels positive about the future of the Aral Sea.
 b. the area now produces oil and gas.
c. Kamalov thinks the lake is about 30 metres deep.

B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 A Traditional Wedding

Everybody loves a good wedding and I'm no

exception. I've been to a load of them in my
native Britain and I must say that I usually have a
great time. I've also been to a few abroad,
including the Caribbean and Spain, and most
recently (last week in fact) to one in the
mountains of Sardinia. No two weddings are ever
the same and I really enjoyed this one for one or
two of the differences from those in the UK.

First, the two families spent at least three weeks

before the big day preparing all the food, from
wonderful home-made delicacies to simple traditional breads and pastas. In my experience, in the UK
that onerous task is left to the caterers! In the week leading up to the wedding there is a dinner or
some form of celebration every day - training for the stomach I guess. I know that we have the
traditional Bachelor party and Bachelorette party, but this is more family orientated and certainly a
little less rowdy. This particular ceremony was in a beautiful country church and afterwards the
couple was driven to the reception in a wonderfully decorated classic Fiat 500, which was really
similar to what happens in the UK, even down to the string of tin cans trailing behind the car!

The reception itself was also very similar until I realized that the seven tables in the hall each sat sixty
guests (that's four hundred and twenty, for those of you who didn't study Math), an average number
for Sardinia but would be considered a very large wedding where I'm from.

The wine flowed, as did the chatter - the famous Italian exuberance showing itself to the full. There
were the five or six courses of wonderful food, screaming kids running wild, the ceremonial cutting of
the cake by the bride and groom - but no speeches! Not one. In the UK it's traditional for the father
of the bride to propose a toast, followed by the groom and finishing up with that of the best man. His
is meant to be he highlight of the lunch, dinner, generally having a good laugh at the groom's
expense, but here the groom was spared that particular discomfort.

Instead there was a delightful custom which I'd never seen before, in which six or seven of the male
guests pass round the hall banging trays, drums, pots, pans or basically anything that makes a
horrendous noise, selling pieces of the groom's tie which has been cut into tiny bits. The money
raised is then given to the happy couple to help them set up their new life together. Really nice.
Finally the evening saw a lot of traditional dancing, a little disco dancing and some karaoke. Pretty
much the part I like best, and again I wasn't disappointed. Can't wait for the next one.
Answer the question

A. True or false
Statement True False
1. The writer generally likes weddings.
2. He didn't particularly enjoy the Sardinian one.
3. The families helped the caterers to prepare the food.
4. There is usually a dinner the night before the wedding.
5. The groom meets the bride outside the church.
6. UK wedding receptions are often a lot smaller than Sardinian
ones.
7. The writer found it hard to understand the speeches.
8. The staff of the reception hall cut the cake for the guests.
9. There is an auction to sell the groom's tie.
10. The money from this helps to pay for the reception.

B. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find out word
class, synonym and meaning of those words!
 Stephen Hawking Biography

Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist,

cosmologist, author, and director of research at the Centre for
Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Hawking was born
on January 8, 1942. At an early age, he showed an interest in science and
technology. Although known at school as "Einstein", Hawking was not
initially successful academically. With time, he began to show
considerable aptitude for scientific subjects and decided to read
mathematics at university. Hawking's father advised him to study
medicine, concerned that there were few jobs for mathematics
graduates.

Hawking disease
At university, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (also known as amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis "ALS" or Lou Gehrig's disease.) He fell into a depression – though his doctors advised
that he continue with his studies, he felt there was little point. His disease progressed more slowly
than doctors had predicted. Although Hawking had difficulty walking unsupported, and his speech
was almost unintelligible, an initial diagnosis that he had only two years to live proved unfounded.
With his Doctoral advisor's encouragement, he returned to his work. Hawking started developing a
reputation for brilliance and brashness when he publicly challenged the work of the noted Yorkshire
astronomer, Fred Hoyle, and his student Jayant Narlikar at a lecture in June 1964.

Hawking's work
His scientific work included research on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang
to black holes. He revolutionized the field by being the first to set out a theory of cosmology
explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He was a vigorous
supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Success
Hawking was a fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of
Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the
United States. In 2002, Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
He was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979 and
2009 and achieved commercial success with works of popular science in which he discusses his own
theories and cosmology in general. His book A Brief History of Time appeared on the British Sunday
Times best-seller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.

Death
Hawking's illness gradually paralyzed him over the decades. However, even after the loss of his
speech, he was still able to communicate through a speech-generating device, initially through the
use of a hand-held switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle. He died on 14 March 2018
at the age of 76.
Answer the question

A. True or false
1) Hawking was a brilliant student right from the start. True or False
2) His disease caused him to lose the ability to speak True or False
3) The initial doctors' conclusions about his illness were all true True or False

B. Short answer
1) What is academic background Stephen Hawking? What is his interest?
..............................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
2) What is symptoms of Stephen’s ailment?
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
3) How long is Stephen becoming professor?
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
4) What is title of best seller book written by Stephen?
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
5) how is Stephen to communicate with other people?
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................

C. Vocabularies
Please write down 25 or more vocabulary that you do not know from the passage and find
out word class, synonym and meaning of those words!