Man’s “entire life” for sale on eBay

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	strange	a.	offers
2	whole	b.	curious
3.	attached	c.	plan
4.	fresh start	d.	prepared
5.	bids	e.	connected
6.	great	f.	unfilled
7.	willing	g.	entire
8.	potential	h.	fantastic
9.	intend	i.	new beginning
10.	available	j.	possible

People have sold many strange things on the Internet auction site eBay, but never a whole life - until now. Ian Usher, a 44-year-old British man is selling his “entire life”. This includes his three-bedroom house in Perth, Australia and all its contents, his job, hobbies, and even his friends. Mr Usher said: "Everything that I have - the furniture in the house - all has memories attached to it. It's time to [say out with] the old, and in with the new.” He explained he wanted to make a “clean break” and make a “fresh start” after splitting up with his wife. The bidding opened on June 22nd and within five hours, he had attracted 70 bids. The highest offer was just over $625,000, which is more than the half-a-million dollars he wanted. There is no telling how much the final offer will be when bidding closes on June 29th.


Friends of Mr Jones thought the auction was a great idea. They are all willing to be introduced to the highest bidder as a potential new friend. Joy Jones, who co-owns a store in Perth where Ian used to work, said: "When Ian came up with this idea, because we had seen him go through a break-up of marriage and pain and bits and pieces, I thought it was really exciting. We thought, why not give it a go?" Ian can’t wait for the sale of his life. He said: "I intend to walk out of my front door with my wallet in one pocket and my passport in the other, nothing else at all.” He has no idea what the future has in store for him. "My current thoughts are to…head to the airport and ask…where the next flight with an available seat goes to, and to get on that and see where life takes me from there," he said.

COMPREHENSION

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	A man is selling everything he has, including his friends, on eBay.	T / F
b.	He wants to start a new life after his marriage ended.	T / F
c.	The man is disappointed with the latest offer from an eBay bidder.	T / F
d.	The bidding will be open until the end of the year.	T / F
e.	The man’s friends thought he was mad and tried to talk him out of it.	T / F
f.	The man’s ex-employer told him to give up and go.	T / F
g.	The man has no idea where his life will take him next.	T / F
h.	The man will go to the airport and let fate decide where he’ll fly to.	T / F

PC keyboards dirtier than toilet seats

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	discovered	a.	lab
2	laboratory	b.	stomach
3.	disgusting	c.	sick
4.	symptoms	d.	nasty
5.	tummy	e.	questioned
6.	interviewed	f.	greasy
7.	dirt	g.	found
8.	builds up	h.	filth
9.	oily	i.	collects
10.	ill	j.	signs

A British computer magazine has discovered our computer keyboards could be bad for our health. “Which? Computing” asked a laboratory to check 30 keyboards in its London office for bacteria. The results were shocking, and disgusting. The lab scientists said five of the keyboards they tested put people at risk of illness. One keyboard contained 150 times more bacteria than health officials say is safe. Its test results showed it was five times dirtier than a toilet seat. The researchers said the germs they found could easily cause symptoms similar to food poisoning, such as diarrhoea and upset stomachs. They named these illnesses “QWERTY tummy,” after the first six letters on the keyboard. The magazine recommended people clean their keyboards regularly to stay healthy and avoid stomach bugs.


The magazine said almost half the people they interviewed cleaned their keyboard less than once a month. Ten percent of people said they never cleaned it. Editor, Sarah Kidner, warned: “Most people don't give much thought to the [dirt] that builds up on their PC….But if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet.” The main causes of germs and bacteria are crumbs and other small pieces of food that drop onto the keys while workers eat at their desks. Oily fingers from eating potato chips and fries also attract bacteria. Joanne Baxter, a secretary from West London, said she was shocked at this news. “I had no idea that my keyboard could make me ill. I’m afraid to find out what nasty things there are hiding under my keys.” she said.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Computer keyboards can be unhygienic and make us ill.	T / F
b.	Toilet seats are 150 times more hygienic than the average keyboard.	T / F
c.	Many germs found on keyboards can cause food poisoning.	T / F
d.	Typing QWERTY (the first six keyboard letters) helps keep germs away.	T / F
e.	Around fifty per cent of people clean their keyboards each month.	T / F
f.	An editor said eating your lunch in the toilet is safer than at your desk.	T / F
g.	Eating fries while using a keyboard can attract bacteria and germs.	T / F
h.	A secretary couldn’t wait to find the bacteria hiding in her keyboard.	T / F

Museum of Laziness opens in Colombia

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	entirely	a.	dramatic change
2	dedicated	b.	relaxing
3.	lounge	c.	devoted
4.	bottoms	d.	foe
5.	coincidence	e.	totally
6.	revolution	f.	let
7.	enemy	g.	backsides
8.	allow	h.	laze
9.	chilling out	i.	suggested
10.	implied	j.	accident

A new museum entirely dedicated to laziness has opened in Colombia’s capital, Bogota. But, you have to hurry if you want to see the exhibits and find out about being lazy because the exhibition lasts for only one week. The unusual show has displays that include a whole range of sofas, beds, hammocks, futons and anything that lets you take the weight off your feet. There are also plenty of televisions for visiting couch potatoes to watch while they lounge around in the museum. The museum’s opening so soon after the holiday season is no coincidence. The idea is for people to think about laziness, and perhaps change their behaviour and lifestyle throughout the rest of the year. It is a hands on, or we should say bottoms on, way of making us think about laziness in our high-speed, fast-paced societies.


The museum’s curator Marcela Arrieta said she wanted people to have a rethink about laziness and decide whether it really is a bad thing. She told the Associated Press news agency: "We always think about laziness as an enemy of work.” Ms Arrieta may not be leading a revolution for a shorter working week, but she could have a point in that we might just be designed to need more down time than our jobs allow us. Avoiding the pressures and stresses of work and chilling out more may even make us healthier and live longer. Arrieta explained that the exhibition aims to “make people think about the social issues implied in taking a nap, in being jobless or in feeling that maybe we are wasting time.” Try out her advice for yourself; take the weight off your feet, put your feet up, and think about being lazy.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Museum workers in Colombia are the laziest people in the world.	T / F
b.	The museum exhibits include beds and sofas that you can try out.	T / F
c.	There are plenty of potato products on sale to make you lazier.	T / F
d.	By chance, the museum opened at the end of the holiday season.	T / F
e.	The museum wants people to think more about laziness.	T / F
f.	The museum curator said laziness is always a bad thing.	T / F
g.	It may be that being lazy might actually make us live longer.	T / F
h.	The article ends by telling us to sit down, relax and think.	T / F

Divided-at-birth twins marry each other

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	sibling	a.	bamboozlement
2	invalid	b.	giver
3.	donor	c.	names
4.	conception	d.	conspiring
5.	identities	e.	worthless
6.	pressing	f.	lies
7.	colluding	g.	insemination
8.	deception	h.	certain
9.	falsifies	i.	a brother or sister
10.	inevitable	j.	pushing

A twin brother and sister who were separated at birth and later married each other without knowing they were siblings have had their marriage ended. The British courts decided the marriage was invalid because of their strong blood relationship. This tragic and unfortunate case happened because the pair were adopted by different sets of parents and their birth certificates did not identify their biological parents. Britain’s Lord Alton immediately used the story to push for a law that allows children conceived via donor insemination to be told about the method of their conception. It is not thought, however, that the British brother and sister were conceived through a donor. Their identities and details of their relationship and marriage, including how long they were married, have been kept secret.


Lord Alton is pressing for a change in the law to make more information about parents available on birth certificates. He says people also have a right to know how they were conceived: "The state is colluding in a deception. We are opening the door to more cases like this one. One of the most fundamental things of all is to know who you are. The issue here is about human rights. A birth certificate that omits any mention of your true origin falsifies your history in a very significant way," he said. He lamented the situation of the brother and sister whose marriage ended in such sadness, saying: "[They] met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction, and the judge had to deal with the consequences of the marriage that they entered into and all the issues of their separation."

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Twin siblings separated at birth married each other.	T / F
b.	A British court has annulled the marriage.	T / F
c.	The siblings’ birth certificates showed they were related.	T / F
d.	The British court said the couple had been married for two years.	T / F
e.	A British Lord said people need to know about their conception.	T / F
f.	The Lord accused the British government of lying.	T / F
g.	The Lord said many people do not know who they are.	T / F
h.	The judge felt sorry for the couple whose marriage was annulled.	T / F

Computers 'to match man by 2029'

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	leading	a.	speed
2	predicted	b.	point out
3.	within	c.	future
4.	upcoming	d.	developer
5.	extension	e.	top
6.	identify	f.	specialists
7.	experts	g.	forecast
8.	pioneer	h.	inside
9.	pace	i.	sci-fi
10.	science fiction	j.	addition

A leading US scientist has predicted that computers will be as intelligent as humans by 2029. Futurologist Dr Ray Kurzweil told the American Association for the Advancement of Science that in the near future, machine intelligence will overtake the power of the human brain. He said that within two decades computers will be able to think quicker than humans. Dr Kurzweil painted a picture of us having tiny robots called nanobots implanted in our brain to boost our intelligence and health. He told reporters that these microscopic nanobots would work with our brains to make us think faster and give us more powerful memories. Kurzweil explained that we are already “a human machine civilization” and that the upcoming technology “will be a further extension of that."


Dr Kurzweil was one of 18 top intellectuals asked by the US National Academy of Engineering to identify our greatest technological challenges. Other experts included Google founder Larry Page and the human genome pioneer Dr Craig Venter. Kurzweil has a very impressive background in science and innovation. He was an innovator in various fields of computing, including the technology behind CDs. He also pioneered automatic speech recognition by machines. He predicts the pace of new inventions will increase greatly from now, saying: "…the next half century will see 32 times more technical progress than the past half century." This means scenes from science fiction movies, like Blade Runner, The Terminator and I Robot, will become more and more a part of our everyday lives.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Computers will match men and women in perfect marriages.	T / F
b.	Machines will be more intelligent than humans within two decades.	T / F
c.	A leading scientist likes painting pictures using very small robots.	T / F
d.	The scientist suggested that machines inside us is natural progress.	T / F
e.	A US organization asked scientists for 18 21st-Century challenges.	T / F
f.	The scientist in the article has no background in computing.	T / F
g.	Technology developments will increase by 50 times in 32 years.	T / F
h.	Things we see in sci-fi movies will become commonplace in reality.	T / F

Afternoon naps increase risk of stroke

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	nap	a.	changed
2	elderly	b.	clearly
3.	regularly	c.	circumstances
4.	physicians	d.	earlier
5.	evaluation	e.	doctors
6.	situations	f.	conclusions
7.	previously	g.	frequently
8.	adjusted	h.	shut-eye
9.	obviously	i.	examination
10.	findings	j.	aged

People used to believe that taking an afternoon nap was good for their health. However, according to a new report, daytime dozing may actually harm our health, especially in the elderly. A team of American researchers told the recent International Stroke Conference that older people who regularly napped were more likely to suffer a stroke. Their research showed that “some dozing” increased the risk of a stroke by up to 2.6 times, compared with those who never took naps. “Significant dozing” meant the risk was 4.5 times higher. The researchers said that the habit of napping may be an early warning sign of a future stroke. The team leader, Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala advised doctors to keep a check on older people who often dozed off. She said: “If patients are moderately or significantly dozing, physicians need to think about sending them for further evaluation."

In the two-and-a-half-year study, the team asked 2,000 people how often they dozed off in different situations. These included while watching TV, sitting and chatting to someone, relaxing after lunch, and stopping in traffic while driving. All the participants were aged 40 or above and none had previously suffered a stroke. The team’s findings were adjusted to take into account traditional stroke risk factors, such as age, race, gender, education, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and levels of exercise. Dr Boden-Albala suggested we need to question what is healthiest for us, saying “sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke". She added this was important to ask because other studies show that people do not get enough sleep, which makes them constantly tired. The study’s findings may not be comfortable reading for those in countries where siestas are common.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Dozing off in the afternoon could be dangerous to teenagers.	T / F
b.	People who sometimes napped didn’t increase their risk of a stroke.	T / F
c.	Heavy dozers were 4.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke.	T / F
d.	A researcher suggested doctors should ask about sleeping habits.	T / F
e.	A study into dozing off and strokes took two-and-a-half years.	T / F
f.	Everyone in the study was over 50 years old.	T / F
g.	The study considered things like age, sex and physical activity.	T / F
h.	The study is welcome news for people who like having a siesta.	T / F

Flip-flops could be bad for our health

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	according to	a.	change
2	trigger	b.	arm or leg
3.	alter	c.	grasped
4.	gait	d.	remained
5.	stayed put	e.	step
6.	limb	f.	result in
7.	stride	g.	in the opinion of
8.	gripped	h.	increased
9.	lead to	i.	walk
10.	multiplied	j.	cause

Flip-flops, the slip-on, slip-off footwear most of us wear to the beach, may be bad for our health. This is according to a study carried out by the American College of Sports Medicine. The report showed that walking in flip-flops can trigger aches and pains all over the body, not just make our feet sore. It goes so far as to say that flip-flops are the most damaging type of shoes for our health, even worse than high heels. Report author Justin Shroyer stated: “We found that when people walk in flip-flops, they alter their gait, which can result in problems and pain from the foot up into the hips and lower back.” He explained that people changed their walking style because they were "very concerned about stubbing their toes" and wanted to make sure the flip-flop stayed put on the foot and did not go flying off.

The flip-flop research involved 39 male and female graduates. They were videoed while walking in flip-flops and in athletic shoes. The researchers compared the length of people’s stride and limb angles when people wore the different footwear. They discovered that flip-flop wearers took shorter steps, gripped more with their toes and moved their ankles in a wider angle. All of these changes to our walking style cause unnatural shocks to our joints. This can create stresses which can lead to serious injury if they are repeated over a long period of time. Estimates are that the average person takes 15,000 steps each day. Even small, unnatural changes to a healthy walking style can be multiplied thousands of times if we wear flip-flops all day. The researchers advised wearing flip-flops for short periods of time only.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	The rubber from flip-flops could give us blood poisoning.	T / F
b.	Research shows flip-flops can cause aches and pains all over our body.	T / F
c.	A study said high heels are the footwear that damages our feet most.	T / F
d.	People change their walking style to stop flip-flops from flying off.	T / F
e.	Flip-flops researchers videoed the walking style of 39 athletes.	T / F
f.	People who wear flip-flops generally take shorter strides.	T / F
g.	On average, we take somewhere in the region of 15,000 steps a day.	T / F
h.	Researchers recommended a global ban on the wearing of flip-flops.	T / F

Fisherman hero swims 10 hours to shore

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	hailed	a.	fishing boat
2	trawler	b.	willpower
3.	choice	c.	stamina
4.	feat	d.	nightmare
5.	endurance	e.	called
6.	called off	f.	signs
7.	evidence	g.	fatigue
8.	ordeal	h.	effort
9.	exhaustion	i.	stopped
10.	determination	j.	option

An Australian fisherman has been hailed a national hero after he swam for 10 hours in shark-infested waters to help his colleagues. Michael Williams, 39, amazed rescue workers and emergency services after his marathon 12-kilometre swim off the coast of New South Wales. His shrimp trawler hit a coral reef and sank very quickly. There was no time to radio for help so Williams and the two other fishermen on the boat had no choice but to jump into the sea. The three men became separated in the dark and Williams decided to swim to the shore. His feat of endurance amazed rescue workers and the fishing community. His efforts meant he was able to save one of his two crew mates. A rescue helicopter pulled John Jarrett, 41, from the ocean soon after Williams raised the alarm.


Emergency services called off the search for the third man, the boat’s captain, Charlie Picton. Police said evidence suggested he had drowned. Police officers described the survival of Williams and Jarrett as nothing short of “miraculous”. A search and rescue specialist, Steve Willis, said very few people could survive such an ordeal. He told reporters: "The expected survival time for most people in those conditions would be a few hours.” Williams is making a full recovery in hospital, suffering from cuts and bruises, exhaustion and sunburn. Jarrett is also doing well after being severely dehydrated. He never doubted his survival, telling the media: "I've got a determination like no other person…I wasn't going to die out there, no way." He did add that he would never go to sea again.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	An Australian fisherman has broken a marathon swimming record.	T / F
b.	The fisherman’s boat sank in shark-infested waters.	T / F
c.	The fisherman radioed for help before he jumped into the sea.	T / F
d.	The fisherman’s heroism saved the life of one of his colleagues.	T / F
e.	The police described the fisherman’s survival as being a miracle.	T / F
f.	The fisherman is not making such a speedy recovery in hospital.	T / F
g.	Another fisherman was suffering from a lack of water.	T / F
h.	The other fisherman is looking forward to going to sea again.	T / F

Top spam e-mail sender stays in prison

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	mass	a.	reversed
2	originally	b.	fools
3.	overturned	c.	wealth
4.	clogs	d.	large-scale
5.	prosperity	e.	imitation
6.	aliases	f.	initially
7.	fake	g.	forecast
8.	anonymously	h.	blocks
9.	predict	i.	false names
10.	tricks	j.	secretly

An American court has sent a strong warning to anyone who sends spam e-mail. Virginia judges decided that one of the world’s top e-mail spammers, Jeremy Jaynes, must stay in prison. He was originally jailed for nine years in 2004 for mass distribution of junk e-mail. He appealed against the decision and was trying to get his prison sentence overturned, saying that sending bulk e-mail was not against the law. He tried to argue in court that his rights of free speech meant he could send as many mails as he liked. The judges disagreed in a 4-3 decision against him. Virginia’s state attorney Bob McDonnell said: "This is a historic victory in the fight against online crime." He added: "Spam not only clogs e-mail inboxes and destroys productivity, it also defrauds citizens and threatens the online revolution that is so critical to…economic prosperity."

Jaynes was thought to be one of the top ten spammers in the world before the police caught him. He used aliases and false Internet addresses to mail out millions of junk mails. Investigators said he sent as many as ten million mails a day, which earned him up to $750,000 a month. Many of these mails were for fake goods and services. The court ruled that Jaynes was sending out false information and this was not protected under America’s laws of free speech. Jaynes’ lawyer said the court’s decision was dangerous as it meant anyone who sent out bulk mail anonymously could now be arrested. Although keeping Jaynes in prison is good news in the fight against cyber-crime, there are thousands more like him. Experts predict that up to 90 percent of the world’s e-mail is junk. Spam also tricks people into giving personal information like bank and credit card details to the spammers.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	A US court ruled a big-time e-mail spammer must stay in jail.	T / F
b.	The spammer will be released from prison in 2013.	T / F
c.	Forty three judges decided to keep the spammer in prison.	T / F
d.	Spam mail has a negative effect on the economy.	T / F
e.	The spammer used his own name in all of the mails he sent.	T / F
f.	The spammer sent as many as 10,000,000 mails every day.	T / F
g.	It could be that up to 90 per cent of all e-mails is spam.	T / F
h.	Spammers never try to get personal information and bank details.	T / F

New body scanners see through clothes

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	searched	a.	hiding
2	mainly	b.	reach
3.	concealing	c.	touching
4.	devices	d.	created
5.	patting	e.	freedoms
6.	raised	f.	frisked
7.	liberties	g.	machines
8.	safeguards	h.	appeal
9.	temptation	i.	precautions
10.	end up on	j.	largely

Travellers at two US airports will soon be searched by new high-tech scanners. International airports in Los Angeles and New York have installed digital body scanners that can ‘see through’ clothing. The new machines will mainly search for weapons and explosives. They use the very latest technology, called millimeter wave imaging. Radio waves create a 3-D image of someone’s body to see if they are concealing anything dangerous. Government officials say the new equipment will make air travel safer. A spokesperson said: “Imaging devices are not a brand new security tool, but they are a brand new security tool for airports.” There are plans to install the devices in another 30 airports across the country. An official promised that passengers will prefer the scanner to a security guard patting their body.


The new technology has raised questions by privacy groups, who believe the scanning process is too detailed. They say the device can see too much of the naked body. A civil liberties spokesman said it was the same as a virtual strip search. He warned: “We need to make sure there are good safeguards. The temptation is great not to follow procedures when a celebrity or someone well-known is involved.” One female passenger at LA airport suggested that only female operators should be allowed to scan female passengers. She said she was highly embarrassed to see a male official looking at the digital image of her body. She was also worried the scanned images could end up on the Internet. It seems it’s only a matter of time, however, before the machines replace metal detectors.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	All international airports will soon have high-tech body scanners.	T / F
b.	The main purpose of the scanners is to prevent terrorist attacks.	T / F
c.	The scanners are a brand new tool for the global security industry.	T / F
d.	An official said people will prefer metal detectors to the body scanner.	T / F
e.	Civil liberties groups are concerned about people’s privacy.	T / F
f.	A civil libertarian said a full strip search was preferable to the scanner.	T / F
g.	The civil libertarian was worried about celebrities and famous people.	T / F
h.	A passenger wondered whether body images would be posted online.	T / F

Parents tried to sell baby on eBay

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	tried	a.	presently
2	care	b.	trading
3.	looking into	c.	accepted
4.	trafficking	d.	found
5.	tracked down	e.	investigating
6.	currently	f.	things
7.	fitness	g.	attempted
8.	admitted	h.	stupid
9.	stuff	i.	safekeeping
10.	ridiculous	j.	suitability

Police in Germany have arrested the parents of a seven-month-old baby boy after they tried to sell him on the Internet auction site eBay. The baby, named Merlin, is now in the care of the local government while police investigate his parents’ actions. The couple said they offered their son for sale on eBay “as a joke”. Unfortunately for them, the police failed to see the funny side and are now looking into whether the couple could be guilty of child trafficking. The infant’s 23-year-old mother told Germany’s Bild newspaper: "It was only a joke. I just wanted to see if someone would make an offer." The baby was advertised at a starting price of one euro ($1.60) but no one placed any bids in the two hours the ad was online. German Internet users alerted the police, who tracked down the parents with the help of eBay officials.


The woman is currently undergoing tests on her fitness to be a mother. She said she posted her son online because he had become too noisy. The ad read: “Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 70cm long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller.” The title of the post was, “Baby - Pick up in Person Only”. The mother has admitted her stunt was in very poor taste, telling the newspaper: “I would never give up my beloved Merlin.” She fully understands the seriousness of her ‘joke’ and why people do not see it as a laughing matter. “They've taken my son and I've got to take some psychiatric tests next week,” she said. Barbara Schmitt, a cybercrime expert, said: “I have seen the Internet used for all kinds of bad stuff, but trying to auction a baby has to be the most ridiculous.”

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	A couple tried to sell their seven-month-old baby on eBay.	T / F
b.	When the police found out, they thought it was very funny.	T / F
c.	The parents put a starting price of $1,000,000 for the baby.	T / F
d.	The baby’s older brother told police about the eBay sale.	T / F
e.	The mother is having tests to see if she is good at sports.	T / F
f.	The mother said she tried to sell her baby because it was too noisy.	T / F
g.	The mother has to undergo psychiatric testing in a week’s time.	T / F
h.	An internet crime specialist thought the sale was ridiculous.	T / F

Scientists find gene that erases memories

BEFORE READING 

FEELINGS:Rank me!! Put the feelings you would like to erase from your memory:

• fear   • stress   • embarrassment   • sadness

• pain   • hate   • jealousy   • anger

1. SYNONYM MATCH:Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	traumatic	a.	frightened
2	benefit	b.	locate
3.	erase	c.	shocking
4.	replace	d.	have
5.	suffer from	e.	good
6.	tests	f.	amazed
7.	afraid	g.	swap
8.	positive	h.	experiments
9.	surprised	i.	help
10.	find	j.	delete

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the gene that could help people forget traumatic experiences. They say the research could benefit people with painful memories. Soldiers, crime victims and people who survived natural disasters are some of the people this research could help. Many of these people suffer from very bad stress because of their memories. It is an illness called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The scientists found the memory gene in mice. They hope that one day they can erase painful memories in humans. They think they can replace upsetting memories with more positive thoughts and feelings. This would help millions of people who suffer from PTSD.


The head researcher, Li-Huei Tsai, did many tests to make mice forget their fear. Scientists put the mice into a cage and gave them a small electric shock. After many shocks, the mice became afraid of the cage. They were stressed when they saw it. Once the mice had "cage shock," the scientists put the mice in the cage again but didn't give them an electric shock. After a period of time, the mice no longer feared the cage. Positive feelings replaced their stress and fear. The scientists looked at the brain activity when the mice were afraid and when they were not afraid. They were surprised to find the gene that replaced old memories with new ones. They will now try to find this gene in humans.

COMPREHENSION

1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Scientists have found the gene in human brains to erase memories.	T / F
b.	Scientists say their research could help people who are very stressed.	T / F
c.	Many people suffer from an illness called PDST.	T / F
d.	Scientists think they can replace bad memories with good ones.	T / F
e.	Researchers gave mice electric shocks to make them afraid.	T / F
f.	Mice became stressed about and afraid of a cage.	T / F
g.	The mice never lost their fear of the cage.	T / F
h.	Scientists said they will never find the gene in human brains.	T / F

Saudi women campaign for the right to drive

In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new campaign has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan, who's set things in motion with a simple message saying that Saudi women will express their feelings about driving on October the 26th.

She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masseto drive on that day. She says the campaign's meant to be agrassroots movement open to all Saudis - men as well as women - to show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign have already been posted. Well-known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while videos of women driving will be posted when they emerge.

Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other rights, such as freedom from what many see asoppressive male guardianship. They argue that there's an ironyin the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on male drivers, thereby spending large amounts of time with a man outside their family. In other circumstances, this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.

Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it wouldviolate that deeply traditional code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening their line on women driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were arrested or lost their jobs for taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing more than that.


Summary:
Saudi women activists have launched a new campaign for the right to drive. Women aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, although there's no formal law banning them.

Difficulty words:
1. pervasive - noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread

2. activist - person who takes part in activities that hope to achieve political or social change

3. set things in motion - started

4. en masse - together as a group

5. grassroots - ordinary people in a group or country, not its leaders

6. backing - support

7. oppressive - unfair or cruel

8. guardianship - legal control and responsibility

PlayStations banned in UK jails

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	heads	a.	heart of the matter
2	banned	b.	act
3.	behave	c.	miserable
4.	suicide	d.	stopped
5.	depressed	e.	anger
6.	sparked	f.	peace
7.	uproar	g.	bosses
8.	order	h.	summarized
9.	summed up	i.	killing oneself
10.	bottom line	j.	started

The heads of British prisons have banned prisoners from playing computer games that have an adult rating. Under new rules, prison authorities have also decided not to buy any more games or games consoles for prisoners. However, they are allowing prisoners who behave well to buy their own PlayStations or xBoxes. Prisons can also allow prisoners at risk of suicide to play games to keep them occupied. The new crackdown on the games culture in prisons is because of a fear that many games make prisoners more violent. The Prison Service has called an end to its PlayStation Project, where games consoles were given to highly dangerous prisoners. The reason for introducing prison gaming was to stop prisoners from getting too depressed.

The British government sparked anger last year when it admitted to spending $20,000 on games and equipment for prisoners to use in their cells. There was public uproar when a convicted killer was photographed with a PlayStation in May. A leading prison reformer, Geoff Dobson, said games did serve a useful purpose to keep order in prisons. “We should not forget the usefulness of these games to prison officers…keeping order in overcrowded prisons,” he said. Dobson added that because of overcrowding, prisoners were spending more time in their cells doing nothing and becoming more frustrated. He summed up the problem, saying: "The bottom line is access to computer games is no substitute for [useful] activity like work or education classes.”

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	British prisoners can no longer play adult-rated games on PlayStations.	T / F
b.	Prisons will stop buying PlayStation consoles and games for prisoners.	T / F
c.	Prisoners are no longer allowed to buy PlayStations while in prison.	T / F
d.	Prisons introduced PlayStations to stop prisoners getting bored.	T / F
e.	The British government spent $200,000 on PlayStations last year.	T / F
f.	A prison reformer said PlayStations help keep the peace in prisons.	T / F
g.	There are not too many prisoners in British prison cells.	T / F
h.	The reformer said education classes are better than PlayStations.	T / F

Australia mayor seeks ‘ugly’ women

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	remote	a.	hurt
2	outrage	b.	press
3.	offended	c.	furious
4.	proposed	d.	swears
5.	proceed	e.	isolated
6.	up in arms	f.	fury
7.	offensive	g.	romancing
8.	wining and dining	h.	go
9.	insists	i.	suggested
10.	media	j.	insulting

The mayor of a remote Australian town has caused outrage among women across Australia. John Molony, the mayor of Mt. Isa, a mining town in the Australian Outback, has offended women by making sexist comments. He called on women who were “ugly ducklings” to come to his town to make its male citizens happy. Mt. Isa has a population of almost 25,000 and men outnumber women by a ratio of five to one. Mr. Molony proposed making the numbers more equal by saying: “If there are five [men] to every girl, we should find out where there are beauty-disadvantaged women and ask them to proceed to Mount Isa.” He stated that “not so attractive” women were happy in his town because of a recent or upcoming date.


Many of Mt. Isa’s female residents are up in arms at their mayor’s comments. Patricia O’Callaghan from the Chamber of Commerce said Molony’s remarks were offensive and that "there are a lot of women who are furious”. Many women have hit back. Healthcare worker Catherine Willett said: "To be honest, there just aren't top quality men here….They are too busy drinking beer to notice the women and all they do is whistle or yell as you go past.” Anna Warrick, an occupational therapist, added: "The guys don't make much of an effort with the girls. There isn't much wining and dining going on.” Molony has refused to apologize, saying his comments were “twisted and warped” by the media. He insists he respects women.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	An Australian mayor wants to meet and date women who aren’t pretty.	T / F
b.	The mayor’s comments have upset many women in his town.	T / F
c.	There are five times more women than men in the mayor’s town.	T / F
d.	The mayor suggested women come to his town to find a boyfriend.	T / F
e.	Several women hit the mayor on his back.	T / F
f.	One woman said the town’s men were too interested in beer.	T / F
g.	A female resident said the town’s men rarely wined and dined women.	T / F
h.	The mayor has apologized for his comments.	T / F

Rwanda - world’s first women-led country

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	huge	a.	terrible
2	tragic	b.	undeveloped
3.	coalition	c.	tired
4.	encouraged	d.	pay tribute to
5.	fed up	e.	alliance
6.	praise	f.	brought up to date
7.	strengthen	g.	enormous
8.	pride	h.	supported
9.	enlightened	i.	joy
10.	backward	j.	toughen

Rwanda will soon become the first country in the world where female politicians outnumber male politicians. The small central African country has made huge progress since its tragic genocide in the 1990s. It can now proudly call itself a beacon of sexual equality. The ruling party coalition won 78% of seats in the election. Women took at least 44 out of a total of the 80 seats. Women may still win another three undecided seats. The head of the country’s election commission stated: “It's clear women representatives will be more than 50 per cent." Since the genocide, the government has encouraged women into politics. Many in Rwanda say the election results show that people are fed up with male-dominated politics. They say women will bring freshness and change to the nation.


Women’s groups were quick to praise the government of President Paul Kagame for promoting such a strong gender equality programme. A female voter told the BBC’s Focus on Africa show that the new political landscape would help strengthen her country. She explained: "Men, especially in our culture, used to think that women are there to be in the house, cook food, look after the children... but the real problems of a family are known by a woman and when they do it, they help a country to get much better." A local newspaper editor told the Voice of America website of his new pride in his country: “We have really been the first…where the women have broken the glass ceiling…now it's like we are enlightened. We are no longer in this backward sort of thinking,” he said.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	There will soon be more female than male politicians in Rwanda.	T / F
b.	Rwanda suffered a terrible genocide earlier in this decade.	T / F
c.	Women took 47 out of 80 seats in the recent election.	T / F
d.	A lot of people in Rwanda became tired of male politicians.	T / F
e.	Women’s groups said the equality was just cosmetic and not real.	T / F
f.	A woman voter said women leaders would make her country stronger.	T / F
g.	A newspaper editor said women had smashed a lot of windows.	T / F
h.	The editor suggested Rwanda could now start thinking positively.	T / F

Confidence in Chinese milk turns sour

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	confidence	a.	toxic
2	tainted	b.	basic
3.	infants	c.	trust
4.	poisonous	d.	lethal
5.	deadly	e.	safety measure
6.	checks	f.	responded
7.	rectify	g.	examinations
8.	fundamental	h.	damaged
9.	reacted	i.	correct
10.	precaution	j.	young children

Chinese consumers are losing confidence in their country’s dairy industry after the latest tainted milk products scandal. Almost 6,500 babies and children have become ill and four have died. Several hundred infants now have extreme kidney failure. Many parents are furious and upset that their young children need operations to remove stones from their kidneys. The reason for this tragedy is milk powder makers adding a poisonous plastic compound to their products. The country’s biggest dairy company, the Sanlu Group, admitted finding the deadly melamine chemical in its baby powder. Melamine increases the level of protein in milk. The same chemical has also been found in liquid milk. Supermarkets are clearing their shelves of domestic milk products.


The Chinese government has ordered emergency checks on all dairy products. It found ten per cent of the items it tested contained melamine. Officials have promised consumers that they will punish those responsible for the scandal. China’s news agency Xinhua reported: "Local authorities should rectify the dairy industry so as to bring a fundamental change to the dairy market and products." The crisis has spread beyond China’s borders, with Malaysia, Singapore and Japan banning Chinese milk imports. Starbucks coffee chain in China has reacted quickly. Hundreds of its coffee shops have stopped serving drinks with milk, which is affecting its business. A company spokesman said this was a precaution “due to the serious nature” of the situation.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Chinese milk is going bad very quickly because of global warming.	T / F
b.	Nearly 6,500 children died because of milk products in China.	T / F
c.	Many children need operations after the milk damaged their kidneys.	T / F
d.	Supermarkets are emptying their stores of Chinese milk products.	T / F
e.	China’s government hasn’t started testing milk products yet.	T / F
f.	Chinese authorities said it will punish all wrongdoers in the crisis.	T / F
g.	The milk scandal has so far stayed within China’s borders.	T / F
h.	Starbucks coffee shops in China continue to sell coffee with milk.	T / F