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