Study Says Food and Alcohol Addiction Are the Same

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. addiction (n.) [uh-dik-shuhn]  –the condition of being abnormally (usually compulsively) dependent on something

Example: She deals with her food addiction by consulting a nutritionist.

2. obese (adj.) [oh-bees] – excessively overweight

Example: Doctors say that obese children are prone to heart disease.  

   

3. symptom (n.) [simp-tuhm]  – a sign or evidence that something exists

Example: Headaches in one area of the head is one symptom of migraine.

4. depression (n.) [dih-presh-uhn]  – the condition of being sad and inactive

Example: Depression makes some people want to eat a lot.

5. ferment (v.) [v. fer-ment] – to produce something by using agents such as a yeast, bacteria, mold, or enzymes

Example: Fermenting grapes produces red wine.

Article

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A recent study in Toronto shows that food and alcohol addiction are not much different.

Conducted by psychologist Caroline Davis of York University, the study involved 72 people aged 25 to 45who are all considered obese.

In order to find out if they are addicted to food, they were asked to answer a test that was initially used to distinguish people addicted to drugs or alcohol. . The test focuses on seven symptoms present in people with addiction. Refusing to go out with friends because of one's addiction is an example of such symptoms.

Results revealed that 18 out of the 72 participants cannot quit excessive eating. Their addiction to food, Davis observed, greatly affects their behavior. One participant refuses to invite friends over so they would not discover that her house is filled with bottles of soda and boxes of pizza. Davis added that most food addicts have psychological issues like depression. They also show symptoms of hyperactivity.

One explanation as to why some people become addicted to food comes from studies done on animals. The studies prove that foods high in sugar and fat have the same effect on the brain as alcohol made from fermented sugar.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         What do you think are the effects of food addiction to a person’s health?

·         How do you think people can avoid food addiction?

Discussion B

·         Do you know anyone who eats a lot to feel happy?

·         What do you usually do when you are sad?

Banning Incandescent Bulbs, Is it Necessary?

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. ban (v.) [ban] – to stop (or not allow) something or someone, especially by law

Example: Minors are banned from buying cigarettes and alcohol.

2. incandescent (adj.) [in-kuhn-des-uhnt] – producing light by the use of heat

Example: Manufacturers are designing incandescent light bulbs that consume less energy.  

   

3. coal-fired (adj.) [kohl] [fahyuhrd] – heated by burning coal

Example: Smoke produced from coal-fired power plants cause harm to people’s health.

4. interfere (v.) [in-ter-feer]  – to get involved in something (usually to change or stop an action)

Example: The boss had to interfere to stop the argument between his employees.

5. compelling (adj.) [kuhm-pel-ing] – requiring immediate action or attention

Example: Global warming is not a compelling issue for some people.

Article

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Activists and politicians in the US are protesting against a bill that plans to ban incandescent bulbs by 2020. The bill, approved by President Bush in 2007, requires incandescent bulbs to be more efficient starting 2012.

Supporters of the bill claim that using incandescent bulbs costs more because they consume more power. With fluorescent bulbs, Americans can save $12 billion in a year, equivalent to $85 a year for every house.

In addition, supporters say the bill can help save the environment. If fewer people use incandescent bulbs, there will be no need to build additional coal-fired power plants to supply power to these bulbs. Power plants are known to emit gases that contribute to global warming.  

However, critics of this bill argue that people should be allowed to buy whatever they choose, without the government setting laws that interfere with people’s decisions.

They also think the environment reasons are not compelling enough, as most of them do not believe in global warming. These critics claim that, on the contrary, fluorescent bulbs pose more harm to people because of the bulbs’ poisonous mercury content.

Politicians supporting the bill defend that negotiations with light bulb manufacturers are on-going in order to lessen the content of mercury. 

They also deny the total ban on incandescent bulbs. The bill simply requires more efficient ones. This means that by 2020, incandescent bulbs will still be available but will be much more expensive. Furthermore, other alternatives are also available, such as LED and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you use incandescent light bulbs?

·         Can you think of other possible advantages and disadvantages of using incandescent light bulbs?

Discussion B

·         What do you think is the real cause of global warming?

·         Do you think people should be alarmed about global warming?

New Car Engine for F1 Car Race

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. cylinder (n.) [sil-in-der] – a part of the car engine in which air and gas are pushed in

Example: Most car engines have more than one cylinder.

2. protest (v.) [v. pruh-test, proh-test]  – to express disapproval of something (or someone)

Example: The employees were protesting about the new company rule.

   

3. compromise (n.) [kom-pruh-mahyz]  – an agreement to settle the differences

Example: The couple wanted two different car models. As a compromise, they decided to buy a car recommended by the salesman.

4. efficient (adj.) [ih-fish-uhnt] – able to function effectively (without wasting time, effort, or expense)

Example: Car manufacturers are now starting to make environment-friendly engines that are as efficient as regular engines.   

5. dull (adj.) [duhl] – uninteresting (or causing boredom)

Example: The scenes in the movie were a bit dull.

Article

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Formula 1 (F1) management has decided to change the engine requirements in the popular car race by the year 2014. Instead of using a 1.6 liter engine with four cylinders, F1 management decided to introduce a 6-cylinder 1.6 liter engine.

With this new engine, race cars will burn less fuel without decreasing the power needed to run the race course. In addition, the engine will be equipped with environment-friendly technology that uses a combination of fuel and stored energy.

This decision was done for two main reasons. One involves the disagreement between Renault and Ferrari, two of the major participants in the race. Renault wanted to use the proposed 4-cylinder engine that Ferrari strongly protested.

Unlike Renault, which plans to change its car engines to smaller ones, Ferrari would not be able to use the proposed engines. As a compromise, F1 management decided to use a larger engine that is as efficient as the 4-cylinder engine.

The second reason concerns the public image of the F1 race as a big waste of valuable oil. Many sponsors of F1 do not want to be associated with this bad image, so F1 management decided to use environment-friendly engines to attract more sponsors. 

Originally, F1 management did not want to change the existing 2.5 litre engine with 8 cylinders. Doing so will make the race dull because smaller engines produce less noise. Organizers also say that boring races would lead to a drop in audience attendance, their main source of income.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Are car races common or popular in your country? Explain your answer.

·         What do you think makes car racing interesting?

Discussion B

·         Are environment-friendly cars (electronic, bio-diesel, etc.) common in your country?

·         Have you considered buying an environment-friendly car? Explain your answer.

New Law Allows Disclosure of Students’ Confidential Records

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. detailed (adj.) [dih-teyld, dee-teyld] – complete and full

Example:  The sales agent gave us a detailed info about their new product.

2. stab (v.) [stab] – to wound (someone) with the use of a pointed weapon

Example: His hands was stabbed by the thief while he was trying to get back his bag.    

3. legislation (n.) [lej-is-ley-shuhn] – law to be passed; a rule

Example: Our city strictly implements legislations related to smoking ban.

4. juvenile (n.) [joo-vuh-nl, -nahyl – young person ; someone who is not fully mature

Example: As a psychologist, Ms. Richards helps parents deal with juvenile problems.

5. biased (adj.) [bahy-uhst]  – favoring one side over another; unfair

Example: Some employees complain because of the company management’s biased treatment.

Article

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Texas lawmakers might soon pass a law that would disclose confidential criminal records of students to their teachers.

The existing law already provides schools basic information on students. However, the new law aims to give teachers access to a more detailed record of the students.

Lawmakers proposed the law after a high school student stabbed his teacher to death in 2009. According to Representative Jerry Madden from Dallas, the new law will protect the teachers.

Texas teacher groups gave their strong support to the new law. Grace Mueller, an officer of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, said that teachers would feel safe and be better equipped to deal with violent students if they knew their students’ criminal histories.

Under the new legislation, law enforcement agencies have the duty to give schools all important information about offenses committed by students, including notices of their arrests.

However, experts on juvenile justice worry because schools and teachers might give biased treatment to students with criminal records which may prevent these students from leading normal student lives. 

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         What information do you think is important for schools to know?

·         What type of information should remain private? Explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         How else do you think schools can protect their teachers from violent acts?

·         Do you think schools should not accept students with criminal records? Explain your answer.

iPhone Users Make Money From Gigs

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. out and about (idiom) [out] [and; unstressed uhnd] [uh-bout] – regularly going out of the house to work or do something else outside

Example: As news reporter, Ana is always out and about for the latest news and updates.  

2. gig (n.) [gig] – booking or engagement to do or perform something usually for a fee

Example: The manager gave some extra gigs to his employees for extra income. 

3. background check (n.) [bak-ground] [chek] – gathering and collecting important personal records of an individual  (e.g. criminal, commercial and financial records)

Example: Banks grant loan applications to individuals after making a background check.

4. outsource (v.) [out-sawrs, ‐sohrs] – the process wherein one company hires the services of another company to perform tasks for it

Example: Big companies in the Middle East usually outsource majority of their workforce.

5. GPS (n., acronym) [jee] [pee] [es] – Global Positioning Service

Example: Tourists can easily track locations by using GPS.

Article

Read the text below.

A new company in California called Gigwalk lets people earn money when they are out and about.

The company employs iPhone users, called “Gigwalkers”, who get paid by doing some gigs while on their way to work. These gigs may include trying out a new iPhone application, taking a picture of a menu for an online restaurant guide, or visiting a wireless store for a mobile phone company.  As of this time, there are already thousands of gigwalkers in several cities in the United States.

Co-founder and CEO of Gigwalk Ariel Seidman developed the company’s software with former co-workers Matt Crampton and David Watanabe, both of whom used to work with him in Yahoo. According to Seidman, many companies spend much time and money gathering information from distant areas. He said that it is practical to make use of the services of iPhone users who are already in those locations.

iPhone users become part of Gigwalk when they download a certain application, register with the company and pass a background check. Gigwalk then uses iPhone users’ GPS locations and home addresses to give out gigs that are near their locations. Gigwalkers only have a limited time to finish a task once accepted. If they succeed, they will receive payment through PayPal.

Gigs come from clients who specify the tasks they would like to outsource. MenuPages, an online restaurant guide, pays Gigwalk to get updated information from different restaurants across the city. According to Tom Bohan, a director of MenuPages, Gigwalk finishes tasks much faster than workers they temporarily hire.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         What are the usual part-time jobs that people have?

·         What are the advantages and disadvantages of having part-time work? How about full-time work?

Discussion B

·         What tasks do you think can be outsourced by companies?

·         What are the advantages of outsourcing tasks?

Sulphur Emissions May Stop Global Warming

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. emission (n.) [ih-mish-uhn] – a substance released (usually to the air)

Example: Carbon dioxide emissions from cars add up to air pollution.

2. reflect (v.) [ri-flekt]  – to throw or bend back (like light) from a surface

Example: White clothing has a cooling effect because it reflects sunlight.  

   

3. cancel out (v.) [kan-suhl] [out] – stop the effect of something

Example: Lessening CO2 emission will cancel out global warming.

4. culprit (n.) [kuhl-prit] – a person responsible for something wrong or unpleasant

Example: Humankind is the main culprit for global warming because of the excessive C02 emissions they have created.

5. shoot up (phrasal verb) [shoot] [uhp] – to increase in amount

Example: The sulphur emissions from Asian countries shoot up due to human coal-fuel industries.

Article

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Sulphur emissions in Asia caused global warming to stop between 1998 and 2008, according to researchers from US and Finland.

Data show that global temperature stopped increasing within this period mainly because the amount of sulphur emission in Asia increased significantly. This increase resulted from industries burning coal as fuel.

Sulphur in the atmosphere is known to have a cooling effect. It allows water vapor to form in the air which then reflects the sunlight back into outer space.

Despite the increase of carbon emission in that period, temperatures remained cool because the sulphur cancelled out the heat. As such, researchers conclude that the sun may have played a more significant role in global warming. However, the sun’s heat was low according to records.

Based on this conclusion, doubts have arisen on whether human activities cause global warming. UN experts, though, are 90% certain that humankind is the main culprit in this global problem.

Regardless whether nature or humans cause the earth to heat up, researchers are more concerned with the long-term situation. Sulphur may temporarily keep temperatures low, but as soon as Asians decide to clean up their air, temperatures will surely shoot up. Researchers say cutting down carbon emission will solve the problem more effectively.      

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Can you give examples of human activities that contribute to global warming?

·         What other factors contribute to global warming besides human activities?

Discussion B

·         Do you think global warming is natural?

·         What are the effects of global warming to human beings?