Bike Sharing System Improves Health and Solves Traffic Problems

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. congestion (n.) [kuhn-jes-chuhn] – overcrowding in an area making movement difficult and slow

Example: I arrived late for the meeting because of traffic congestion along Rose Avenue. 

2. epidemiology (n.) [ep-i-dee-mee-ol-uh-jee] – the scientific study of the causes and process of transmitting diseases among people in a certain population

Example: We invited one representative from St. Ann Hospital Department of Epidemiology to give us a lecture on influenza.

3. scheme (n.) [skeem] – a systematic plan of action or arrangement usually applied to solve problems

Example: The new incentive scheme implemented by the company encourages employees to work better.

4. launch (v.) [lawnch] – to start something new; to begin to carry out  a carefully planned activity

Example: Michelle is going to launch her new hair product this Saturday in time for the town festival.

5. persuade (v.) [per-sweyd] – to make somebody believe or do something by giving good reasons

Example: My friend persuaded me to go to the gym on weekends because she noticed that I have gained weight.

Article

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Bicycling is becoming popular in cities around the world. Studies show that it does not only solve traffic congestion but it also improves health.

Researchers from the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona found that Barcelona's biking scheme, known as “bicing,” has reduced tons of carbon dioxide pollution and saved a number of lives each year.

Bicing, introduced in March 2007, lets people share bicycles that they can use for short trips around the city. A similar scheme called “Boris Bikes” was also launched in London a year ago by its Mayor, Boris Johnson.  

According to David Rojas- Rueda, who led the research team in Barcelona, bike sharing systems improve public health by promoting physical activity. Consequently, government expenses for health services are lessened.

Results from the research showed that a total of 12.28 deaths are avoided every year because of increased physical activity among people. There is also an estimated loss of over 9 million kg or 9,000 tons of carbon emission per year. This amount is equivalent to flying 1,800 individuals to Sydney back to London.

Based on the study, the researchers are hoping to persuade other cities to implement bike sharing systems to improve people’s health.

Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that adults should exercise at least 150 minutes a week by cycling to work every day or walking five times a week and for at least 30 minutes each time. 

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Is your country experiencing traffic congestion? What do you think are the causes of these?

·         What are other solutions to traffic problems?

Discussion B

·         Are there community bicycle programs in your country where people could rent bicycles?

·         How should the government encourage people to use bicycles more often?

Mobile App Helps Find Missing Children

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. descriptive (adj.) [dih-skrip-tiv] – something that serves to describe something based on detailed facts

Example: He gave me a very descriptive story about his vacation.

2. access (v.) [ak-ses] – to make something available for use or contact or get from a storage device (as of information on a computer)

Example: Registration is required in order to access the website.

3. shortcut (n.) [shawrt-kuht] – a shorter or faster way to accomplish something

Example: Taking the shortcut saves time and energy.

4. transmit (v.) [trans-mit, tranz-] – to send or transfer from one person, place or thing to another

Example: Viruses can be transmitted through the air.

5. hesitant (adj.) [hez-i-tuhnt] – undecided or doubtful

Example: The company is hesitant about hiring inexperienced applicants.

Article

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The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation  (FBI) has released its first mobile application that can help parents report their missing children.

The mobile application, called Child ID, allows parents to organize individual profiles of their children and include descriptive details in each profile, such as photos, height and weight. Parents can quickly access this information and use it as reference when they file a report to the police in emergencies.

The application also has shortcut buttons designed to easily transmit this information over the Internet. It features buttons which direct parents to emergency hotline 911 or the national missing children hotline.

For those hesitant about posting their family's private information, FBI explains that this information is transmitted to the FBI only when the reports are filed. The photos and other information are stored in the mobile device’s memory and not collected by the FBI.

Child ID is the FBI's first mobile application. It can be downloaded for free by iPhone and iPod Touch users. FBI plans to release other versions of Child ID for other phones.

Aside from the FBI, other U.S. government agencies have also released mobile device applications for Apple users. The Internal Revenue Service, the Office of Personnel Management, the State Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the White House all have applications listed in the U.S. government website. 

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Is it necessary for government agencies to spend money on technology? Explain your answer.

·         What other technological innovations do you think should be used by the government?

Discussion B

·         What mobile applications do you think are unnecessary? Explain your answer.

·         If you were to come up with a mobile application, what would it be? Why?

No Fingerprints Due To Genetic Changes

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. fingerprint (n.) [fing-ger-print] - unique curved lines at the end of the finger that can be used to identify somebody

Example: Two policemen got fingerprints that may help identify the store robbers.

2. fetus (n.) [fee-tuhs] – unborn young or offspring

Example: According to studies, a fetus inside the mother’s womb can already hear sounds.

3. gene (n.) [jeen] – basic unit in human biology that transfers characteristics or traits from one generation to the next, e.g., parents to children)

Example: Many experts say that a person’s intellect is passed on by his or her parents through the genes.

4. mutation (n.) [myoo-tey-shuhn] – the act or process of being changed or altered

Example: The pupa exposed to chemicals had physical mutations.  

5. immigration (n.) [im-i-grey-shuhn] – the act of transferring to a new country in order to stay there permanently

Example: My Japanese friend is completing the documents necessary for her immigration to the United States.  

Article

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Fingerprint patterns are used to identify a person’s identity. In fact, as early as 24 weeks inside a mother’s womb, a fetus has already developed unique fingerprints. Generally, no two people have the same fingerprints.

However, some people do not develop dermatoglyphs or fingerprint patterns. This condition is called adermatoglyphia .

Researchers from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel have recently discovered why this phenomenon occurs. Headed by Dr. Eli Sprecher, the team made a test on a Swiss family affected by adermatoglyphia. The study involved comparing the genes of the nine family members without fingerprints to the seven family members with prints.

Results revealed that a gene mutation may be the cause of missing fingerprints. It was found that people who have adermatoglyphia have shorter versions of the gene called SMARDCAD1. This gene regulates other genes related to body development.

Not having fingerprints may have negative effects. People with adermatoglyphia may find it difficult to travel to other countries that require fingerprint recording. Because of this, adermatoglyphia is sometimes called “immigration delay disease.”

People with adermatoglyphia also suffer from skin blistering, facial tumors and lack of sweat glands in the palm. Researchers are still investigating the reasons for these additional disorders.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         What would you do if you didn't have fingerprints?

·         What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of not having fingerprints?

Discussion B

·         What types of genetic disorders are common in your country?

·         What types of illnesses run through your family?

Lifelong Ban for Football Match-Fixers

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. match-fixing (n.) [mach-fik-sing] – in sports, this happens when the results of the game have already been set before the game

Example: Gamblers often take advantage of match-fixing during competitions to make sure that they win the bet.

2. alleged (adj.) [uh-lejd or uh-lej-id] – suspected or believed to be something

Example: The alleged murderer was sent to court.

   

3. admit (v.) [ad-mit] – to confess or state a fact about oneself to be true

Example: The suspect admitted his guilt to the crime.

4. bribe (n.) [brahyb] – any valuable thing that is given to persuade someone to do something

Example: The children were given candy as a bribe to be good.

5. scandal (n.) [skan-dl] – public embarrassment  which may lead to damage of (someone’s) reputation

Example: The politician was removed from his position after being involved in a corruption scandal.

Article

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A lifelong ban awaits football players and administrators found guilty of match-fixing, says Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president Sepp Blatter during his visit in Harare, Zimbabwe.

FIFA is currently conducting investigations on the alleged incident of match-fixing reported by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA). According to the report, Zimbabwean player Method Mwanjali admitted to being one of the five players who accepted bribes to lose their match against Thailand and Syria in 2009. The incident led to the firing of ZIFA's president in October 2010.

In an effort to clear up the issue, Blatter met with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the country's other football administrators. Blatter says that FIFA is working with government authorities to avoid the same scandal from happening again.

Blatter assures that once the investigations are completed, those found guilty will not go unpunished. They will never be allowed to play football again

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Why do you think match-fixing in sports games exists?

·         How would you feel if you find out that the match of your favorite sports team was fixed?

Discussion B

·         What other kinds of sports news do you think are important aside from game results?

·         Why do you think discussing sports is interesting?

Too Much Sitting Increases Health Risks

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. diabetes (n.) [dahy-uh-bee-tis] – a disease caused by high sugar level in the blood

Example: My mother’s friend has been suffering from diabetes since she was 22 years old.

2. drawback (n.) [draw-bak] – disadvantage or inconvenience of something

Example: The drawback of the new company policy is that it doesn’t offer discounted prices to loyal customers.

3. idle (adj.) [ahyd-l] – not working or doing something; not in use

Example: My nephews were left idle in the house yesterday when their parents went to the grocery.

4. sedentary (adj.) [sed-n-ter-ee] – requiring a sitting position

Example: Office work is usually sedentary.

5. self-esteem (n.) [self-i-steem] – feeling of self- respect and personal worth

Example: Positive comments from our manager increase our self-esteem.

Article

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Research reveals that spending too much time sitting down can be dangerous. This increases the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and death from other causes.

According to Mark Tremblay, director at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, being healthy requires people to not just increase physical activity but to decrease inactivity as well. 

 One of the drawbacks of sitting down is that the body burns only a few calories. Sitting also makes it easier for us to eat than when we are doing physical activities. Frank Booth, a professor at the University of Missouri -Columbia, said that when the muscles are idle after a meal, they do not take up enough sugar from the blood. As a result, most of the sugar stays in the blood, which may lead to diabetes.

A sedentary lifestyle also has negative effects on mental health. In a related study, active children have higher self- esteem and better performance in school compared to less active children. Other researches have also connected inactivity to adult depression.

However, some activities done while sitting may lessen harmful effects. Tremblay suggests that challenging mental activities, even if done while sitting down, reduce the chance of eating because the hands are kept busy. To avoid the risks from too much sitting, experts advise people to reduce their chair time and stand up at least once every 15 minutes or so. 

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Do you often stand up and walk while you are at home or in the workplace?

·         How often do you think should people exercise or engage in physical activities?

Discussion B

·         What are the types of jobs common in your country?

·         What type of jobs do you think are not sedentary?

Internet Misspellings Cost Millions to Companies

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. credibility (n.) [kred-uh-bil-i-tee] –the ability to make people believe or trust

Example: Many clients seek the assistance of Mr. Smith because of his good reputation and credibility as a lawyer.

2. spam (n.) [spam] – an unwanted e-mail message, often a commercial advertisement

Example: I was surprised to see a hundred of spam mails in my company email account this morning.

3. lenient (adj.) [leen-yuhnt] – showing tolerance in dealing with misbehavior; not harsh and strict

Example: My aunt is quite lenient in dealing with her kids especially the younger ones.

4. school-leaver (n.) [skool-leev-ver] – in British English this means young people who have just left school because they have completed their time there or finished a certain course

Example: Call center companies in our country offer employment to school-leavers who are at least 18 years old.

5. literacy (n.) [lit-er-uh-see] – the ability to read and write competently or good enough

Example: The government offers literacy training to poor children.

Article

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An analysis of internet business sales reveals that poor spelling may cost millions to a company. 

Charles Duncombe an online businessman who runs travel, mobile phones and clothing websites, says that 99% of internet selling is done mainly through written communication. As such, spelling mistakes matter because they affect the credibility of a website.  Consumers, who are already concerned about spam and other illegal online businesses, may be turned off by poor spelling, slashing a company’s sales in half.

A director of the Oxford Internet Institute said that consumers tend to be lenient on spelling and grammar errors on websites like Facebook, but not on errors on commercial web pages. 

The problem results from employees with poor writing skills. Duncombe says employers encounter difficulty recruiting staff who can spell correctly. In fact, many employment applications from university and school leavers contain grammatical and spelling mistakes.

According to the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI), a non-profit business organization in the UK, 42% of employers are not contented with the basic reading and writing skills of school and college leavers. Because of that, many employers are investing in literacy review lessons to improve staff performance.

James Fothergill, CBI's head of education and skills, thinks this is a serious problem and the government must make efforts to improve the basic literacy and numeracy skills of all school and college leavers.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         How do you think can online companies avoid misspellings?

·         What are other disadvantages of misspellings online?

Discussion B

·         How can companies improve their employees’ literacy?

·         Do companies in your country offer trainings for employees’ development?

South Korea Finds Solutions to Internet Addiction

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. neurologist (n.) [noo-rol-uh-jist] – a brain doctor; one who specializes in the treatment of the nervous system to which the brain belongs

Example: Neurologists say that the brain is one of the most powerful organs in our body.

2. hook (v.) [hook] – to attract somebody’s attention and interest

Example: I got so hooked with reading the novel because of its inspiring story. 

3. entice (v.) [en-tahys] – to attract or tempt

Example: The sales officer enticed his customers to buy the new product by giving discounts.

4. illusion (n.) [ih-loo-zhuhn] – false idea; the ability of appearances to deceive the mind and senses

Example: The magician's illusion was so convincing that everyone really believed it was true.

5. parliament (n.) [pahr-luh-muhnt] – a legislative body; a government body that makes and passes laws

Example: Many people admired the parliament for creating a better environmental law.

Article

Read the text below.

Internet addiction is one of the serious problems in South Korea.  Cases of internet addiction among young people have alarmed families and even politicians.

To help cure the addiction, Dr. Lee Jae-won, a neurologist at Gongu National Hospital, opened a brain clinic that uses brain scans to assist patients. According to him, if the situation already affects the brain’s function, medical treatment would be beneficial.

Jong-So, a teenager and a patient of Dr. Lee, used to play online games all night without sleep or breaks. Jong-So said that he got so hooked with playing because he found it difficult to adapt to the real world. Fortunately, he and his family have seen positive results from the therapy after spending two months at Dr. Lee’s clinic.

Dr. Lee also mentioned two types of internet addicts: shy people who want to keep their true identities in the cyber world and those who are enticed by visual graphics and illusions of having power.

To prevent players from becoming addicted, Dr. Lee recommends that people limit their internet gaming. With this intention, the South Korean parliament has passed what is known as “Cinderella Law,” which prohibits teenagers from playing games after midnight.

However, Dr. Lee believes that games are not the only cause of the addiction.  According to him, Korean parents and the competitive education system push children too much, forcing them to find escape online.

For Dr. Lee, controlling internet addiction concerns not only doctors and politicians, but everybody.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

 Discussion A

·         What kind of online games may be played by children?

·         How should parents discipline their children on the use of the internet?

Discussion B

·         What do you think are most people addicted to?

Is there a way to prevent or cure addiction? Explain your answer.