August 3, 2011

Special Bag for Safer Flights


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

1. resistant (adj.) [ri-zis-tuhnt] – characterized by or showing capacity to refuse or withstand something
Example: I use my water-resistant watch when I go swimming.  

2. tension (n.) [ten-shuhn]  – the act of stretching something tight
Example: The wires holding the bridge have a lot of tension.
   
3. yarn (n.) [yahrn] – a continuous twisted strand of natural or man-made fibers
Example: Yarn is usually used in weaving, knitting, or other special purposes.

4. violently (adv.) [vahy-uh-luhnt-li] – done or occurred with great force
Example: The car got broken after it hit the post violently.

5. cluster (n.) [kluhs-ter] – a group of the same things or elements gathered; bunch
Example: Clusters of wires are put in the supply room.

Article
Read the text below.

A new kind of bag developed by British researchers can protect airline passengers from bomb explosions.

The bag, called the Fly Bag, is made from soft and flexible material that hardens when suddenly hit by an object.

Researchers from University of Sheffield coated the bag with elastomers, a material resistant to heat and flame. This material acts as a seal that holds in gas even if the bag experiences high levels of tension.

In addition to elastomers, researchers also coated the yarn of the bag’s fabric with shear-thickening fluid (STF). This substance remains fluid under normal circumstances, butut when an object violently hits the substance, its molecules band together to form hydro-clusters which then make the substance temporarily solid.

According to its developers, the bag can be used to protect passengers from bombs hidden inside luggage. They hope to sell the bag to the public within two years.



Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         What are the safety precautions being done by airlines in your country?
·         Do you think airlines/airports in your country are safe? Discuss your answer.

Discussion B

·         Do you think the Fly Bag is a significant invention? Explain your answer.
What important inventions do you think can be made?