Hundreds of Pigs Stolen From Animal Farms in the US

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. pilfer (v.) [pil-fer] – to steal in small quantities

Example: The official kept on pilfering the public funds until it amounted to a huge sum.

2. isolated (adj.) [ahy-suh-ley-tid, is-uh-] – being alone or separated from persons or other things

Example: Being isolated from modern civilization, the remote village maintained their ancient traditions.

  

3. automated (adj.) [aw-tuh-meyt]  – controlled or driven by machines

Example: Automated factories do not require much manual labor.

4. keep track (idiom) [keep] [trak] – to be aware or to be kept informed

Example: He arrived late because he was not able to keep track of the time

5. slaughterhouse (n.) [slaw-ter-hous] – a place where animals are butchered for food

Example: Slaughterhouses should be kept clean for health purposes.

Article

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Hundreds of pigs at farms in Minnesota and Iowa were pilfered late September. Authorities believe the "hognappers" are familiar with the hog-raising business. One of the farms belongs to Ryan Bode and his family who raise a total of 4,000 hogs in one of their facilities. Bode's staff noticed, after doing an inventory, that 150 hogs were missing, a number worth $30,000. According to Investigator Marc Chadderdon, several factors work in the hognappers' favor. First, hognappers strike farms in isolated areas where their vehicles get hidden by tall corn fields, making them hardly noticeable. Second, the largely automated farm needs fewer people on the site. This leaves security quite loose. In addition, large operations with large numbers of animals make it hard to keep track of every animal. Third, the pigs had no identifying marks. Bode says putting earmarks or tattoos on each pig is additional work and that they had no reason to do in the first place. For pigs to be accepted at slaughterhouses, the seller must have paperwork. Chadderdon and Bode therefore contend that the hognappers are well-connected in the livestock raising business. Everyone involved in the transactions have to know each other. While investigations are ongoing, Chadderdon advises pork producers to increase security by adding alarms, cameras, and motion-sensing detectors. Moreover, farmers are advised to regularly count their animals and check their facilities.

                                          

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         What are the security measures done by animal farms in your country?

·         If you had a farm, what security measures would you adopt?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think theft occurs?

·         How do you think can theft be prevented?

TV Remote Control Programmed to Mute Unwanted News

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. tweak (v.) – to adjust or change

Example: The programmer tweaked the design of the company’s website to make it more appealing.

2. encrypt (v.) – to put or convert ordinary language into a coded version

Example: The teacher encrypted the answers into riddles.

  

3. closed captioning (n.) – putting a caption according to the TVs audio

Example: Closed captioning is used by people who have poor hearing.

4. recurrent (adj.) – happening repeatedly

Example: Storms and floods are recurrent these past months in Asia.

5. real-time (adj.) – pertains to programs that update or process information at the same time they receive it

Example: Programmers devised real-time computing programs on the internet.

Article

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A TV remote control that can mute unwanted news or information was featured in an inventor’s fair in New York last September 17 and 18. Matt Richardson, a video producer for Make Magazine, created the invention by tweaking the design of his remote control. He worked on it for a week, spending $70 on the materials he needed. The remote control is basically made up of Arduino, a computer hardware that can be coded into any program. Richardson fused several Arduino boards and added the infrared LED light found in remote controls. He then encrypted instructions that will interact with the TV’s closed captioning system. The do-it-yourself device can be modified to auto-mute the TV according to a person’s preference of words. Upon encountering such words, the TV will be silenced for 30 seconds. If the word is recurrent, it will keep on muting the TV. Fed up with news about celebrities and politicians, Richardson uses the remote to listen or watch only the information he is interested in. Readers of Richardson’s blog suggested coding words that become popular on Twitter or Google. Another reader suggested using the remote control to mute all commercials. The gadget needs a little polishing, though. Some words are missed because the closed captions on TVs are not always in real-time.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Do you think the auto-muting remote control is essential? Why or why not?

·         If you were to invent something, what would it be?

Discussion B

·         What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching the TV?

·         Would you prefer watching the TV on your free time? If not, what would you do instead?

Golf Caddies Do More Than Just Carrying Bags

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. confidant (n.) [kon-fi-dant] – a person with whom important matters are discussed

Example: Her best friend was her confidant.

2. intricacy (n.) [in-tri-kuh-see] – the character or state of being complex or difficult to understand

Example: The intricacies of the gown’s design received much praise from the experts.

  

3. twist (n.) [twist] – an unexpected change in something

Example: He almost lost because of twists in between the games.

4. lucrative (adj.) [loo-kruh-tiv]  – profitable or moneymaking

Example: Working as a performing artist is very lucrative.

5. discreet (adj.) [dih-skreet]  – careful to avoid social embarrassment by keeping one’s silence

Example: It was difficult to know more about her personality because she was so discreet.

Article

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Golf caddies do more than carry bags for golf players. How they fulfill their roles as friend, confidant, and adviser may determine a player’s victory. The best caddies possess a serious familiarity with the intricacies of golf, including the twists and tricks of the game. They help golfers strategize by predicting weather conditions or sizing the golf course. Caddies play different roles when dealing with a player under pressure. When the golfer becomes emotional, the caddy acts as mind reader and psychologist, helping the player get through the competition. Knowing the right time and place to give the right advice can secure a good employment for caddies in their lucrative career. One success story is that of Dave Renwick's, caddy to Australian golfer Steve Elkington. Elkington was so impressed with Renwick that he gave the caddy all his winnings during the 1995 PGA Championship. While, famous golfer Nick Faldo's female caddy Fanny Sunesson holds true to an old caddies’ saying, “show up, keep up and shut up.” Sunesson was known to be well-organized and disciplined. She also remained discreet and refused to give interviews to the media while she worked with Faldo. Her voice was unheard until she demanded hush from the audience at a tournament. Caddies may not hit the shots, but they play a vital role in the golfer's decision-making process and keep them grounded when emotion can so easily challenge their focus and damage their performance.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

  

Discussion A

·         Do you think being a golf caddy is easy? Why or why not?

·         Do you think golf caddies deserve another title? What do you think it should be?

Discussion B

·         What other careers in sports can one pursue other than being an athlete?

·         What do you think is best thing about being in the sports industry?

Fake Illness, An Excuse To Be Absent From Work

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. alibi (n.) [al-uh-bahy] – an excuse or reason

Example: The student has an alibi for being late to school.

2. sham (adj.) [sham] – fake; not true

Example: The worker always uses a sham excuse for not submitting papers on time.

  

3. attribute (v.) [v. uh-trib-yoot; n. a-truh-byoot] – to relate to a particular reason or cause

Example: Global warming is mainly attributed to pollution.

4. mingle (v.) [ming-guhl] – to join other people, usually for a social activity

Example: I usually mingle with my high school friends when I’m free from work.

5. compensate (v.) [kom-puhn-seyt] – to make up or pay for something lost or spent

Example: The store gave a discount to compensate for the broken product the customer bought from them.

Article

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Many Chinese and Indian workers call in sick fromwork to get some time off according to a recent online survey. The survey, commissioned by the employee management company Kronos, included 9,500 respondents from different countries. China ranked first in the survey with 71% of its total respondents saying that they had pretended to be sick to get a break from work. Ranking second was India with 62%. With only 16% of respondents admitting that they had used the same alibi, France took the last spot while Mexico ranked close to it with 38%. On the other hand, half of the workers in United States and Canada had also used the sham sickness reason. Australia and Britain were in between with 53% and 41% respectively. Aside from being sick, other reasons for being absent used by the respondents were sick children and insufficient sick leave. When asked what they do during absences, most said they stay home, watch television or sleep. However, Indians and Mexicans use their time to go out and mingle with other people. Joyce Malorey, who spearheaded the survey, explained that these results can be attributed to the number of paid leaves and holidays in each country. She mentioned how in China and India, employees are allowed only 10 and 12 days annual leaves respectively. Both countries compose 2 of the 3 countries with the lowest number of leaves for employees. In contrast, France, who ranked last, has the highest number of annual leaves. The same respondents also came up with some solutions to the problem. Majority suggested more flexible work hours to improve the situation; almost half of Chinese workers recommended more days off. In addition, French workers said they choose to have days off during Fridays, and compensate for their absence on another day of the week.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         What would be the advantages and disadvantages of paying workers on days off?

·         If you were a boss in a company, would you give payments for days off?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think employees lie just to get a day off from work?

·         How do you think can employers make sure their employees tell them the truth?

Zoo Animals Suffer Amid the Conflict in Libya

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. abandon (v.) [uh-ban-duhn] – to leave someone or something behind

Example: The animals started dying when they were abandoned by their owners.

2. undernourished (adj.) [uhn-der-nur-isht, -nuhr-] – lacking enough nutrients for good health

Example: Feeding program helps undernourished children in poor communities.

3. enclosure (n.) [en-kloh-zher] –an area of land surrounded by a fence, wall, or other boundary

Example: The large enclosure prevents big animals from escaping.

4. amid (prep.) [uh-mid] – while something is happening; used to indicate the circumstances or events accompanying something

Example: Peter managed to attend school this morning amid the strong typhoon.

5. languish (v.) [lang-gwish] – to suffer  as a result of being deprived of something

Example: The poet languished for years because of his frustrations in love.

Article

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The recent war in Libya left animals in Tripoli Zoo abandoned without food and water. Nic Robertson, a CNN Senior International Correspondent, found many neglected and undernourished animals at Tripoli Zoo struggling inside their cages. Tigers, lions, giant tortoises, hippos, hyenas, bears, monkeys, deer, emus and other animal species had been in enclosures with nothing to eat or drink. From Robertson’s observation, the tiger’s skinny back thighs and the loose skin hanging on its bones showed how thin the animals had become. During the visit of CNN in August, the zookeeper arrived in the abandoned zoo and explained that the animals had been in this condition for seven days amid the conflict in Tripoli. Nobody could tell the CNN Team how often the animals were fed and how much food was given to them. There was not even any veterinarian to look after their needs. Meat eaters, like tigers and lions, got only half of the amount of food they needed while all the animals languished from a very limited supply of water. In Libya’s hot temperature, animals would continue to suffer if deprived of water. Fortunately, by the end of August, ten zoo employees out of the 200 returned to feed all the animals.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Should the government limit the number of animals that a zoo should keep? Why or why not?

·         Do you think that animals in zoos get the right kind of care that they should have?

Discussion B

·         Do you think animals kept in zoos should be rescued in time of war?

·         Do you agree that animals should have rights?

Gender Equality Promotes Economic Development

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. hamper (v.) [ham-per] – to restrict or block the progress of somebody or something

Example: Lack of Vitamin C hampers good brain function in babies.

2. productivity (n.) [proh-duhk-tiv-i-tee, prod-uhk‐] – the rate of producing goods or services

Example: The CEO believes productivity will increase if there is work focus.

3. prospects (n.) [pros-pekts]  – possibilities of succeeding in the future

Example: ABC Company offers good promotion prospects to excellent supervisors.

4. disparities (n.) [dih-spar-i-tees] – lack of equality between people or things

Example: Ms. Smith noticed the huge disparity between her total sales computations from that of the other accountant in their department.

5. prohibited (adj.) [proh-hib-ited]  – describes something that is not allowed

Example: Prohibited drugs cannot be sold in drug stores.

Article

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Giving more opportunities for women to be evenly matched with men may boost economic growth, according to a recent report by World Bank. The World Development Report 2012 stated that providing better working and livelihood conditions for women could increase productivity and expand development prospects. On the contrary, gender inequality and the lack of opportunities hamper economic growth.  World Bank pointed out that in recent years gender gap has already decreased, specifically in education. The disparities between boys and girls attending schools have decreased, if not ended. This means that more women now have access to education. However, in many countries, females continue to suffer discrimination in areas like health and employment. Certain jobs remain prohibited to women, while female mortality remains high in developing countries because of poor health service, diseases like AIDS, and a preference for sons. World Bank president Robert Zoellick said the Bank has been finding ways to bridge this gap. In the past five years, it has provided $65 billion to support women’s education, health and employment. World Bank believes countries should address this problem as well for them to reap the economic benefits. Allowing women to have better opportunities would make them equal with men in terms of productivity. Eventually, this will result in a boost in the total output of each worker. According to Justin Lin, World Bank’s chief economist, limiting opportunities for women to succeed in a globalized economy is not only wrong but also economically harmful.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Do employed women in your country occupy high positions in their companies?

·         Do you think women should be given a chance to have these positions? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         Does your government provide support to women especially working mothers?

·         In your country, whose decision is usually followed in the household? Is it the father’s or the mother’s? Why do you think so?

New Law Bans Saggy Pants in Schools

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. comply (v.) [kuhm-plahy] – to obey rules, demands, or requests

Example: He complied when he was asked to leave.

2. lobby (v.) [lob-ee] – to urge the approval of a bill or a law

Example: Majority of the senators lobbied for a revised health care law.

  

3. enact (v.) [en-akt] – to make a bill or other legislation officially become part of the law

Example: The congress has enacted a new tax law.

4. subject (v.) [n., adj. suhb-jikt; v. suhb-jekt] – to bring under a rule, control or authority

Example: The best soldiers were subjected to discipline.

5. attire (n.) [uh-tahyuhr] – clothes for a special purpose

Example: The guests looked very dashing in their formal attire.

Article

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A lawmaker from Florida handed out leather belts to students returning to school last August to help them comply with a new law against wearing saggy pants in campus. For six years, Democratic State Senator Gary Siplin of Orlando lobbied for the so-called Pull Your Pants Up law before it was finally enacted last spring. Aside from saggy pants, the law also bans shirts exposing girls’ stomachs. The law subjects violators to up to three days of suspension from school and up to 30 days suspension from extracurricular activities. This fashion trend involves wearing pants so low that the underwear is exposed. It is strongly influenced by prison attire and rap and hip-hop music. Because of this style’s association to some minority groups in the US, Senator Siplin had to battle out objections from the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. These organizations contend that the law violates personal freedom and targets minority students from other races. In defense, Senator Siplin explained that dressing professionally influences children to set higher goals, such as attending college. He added that walking down the street showing one's behind is uncivilized and turns off potential employers Students had mixed reactions to the law. Some also saw wearing saggy pants as unattractive and a negative influence to younger children. Others argued that the government should stay out of students’ fashion choices since they come to school to study, not to dress up.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Do you think the type of clothes that a person wears reveal his/her character? Explain your answer.

·         What do you think about the way young people today dress up?

Discussion B

·         What makes an attire inappropriate?

·         What types of clothes do you NOT see yourself wearing? Are there any types of clothes that you wish to wear but you could not?

Stone Tools Found in Kenya

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. sophisticated (adj.) [suh-fis-ti-key-tid] – advanced or complex yet refined

Example: To avoid flooding, the city built a very sophisticated sewage system.

2. unearth (v.) [uhn-urth] – to get something by digging up 

Example: The anthropologists unearthed insect fossils from the mountain.

  

3. forethought (n.) [fawr-thawt, fohr-] – a thinking of something beforehand

Example: She gave it a lot of forethought before arriving at a final decision.

4. counterpart (n.) [koun-ter-pahrt] – something that is identical to another, especially in terms of function

Example: Learning a foreign language in the company is necessary to be able to talk comfortably with foreign counterparts.

5. predecessor (n.) [pred-uh-ses-er, pred-uh-ses-er or, especially Brit., pree-duh-ses-er] – something replaced by something else

Example: The new manager is more competitive than his predecessor.

Article

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Sophisticated stone tools believed to be made by direct ancestors of modern humans have been unearthed near Lake Turkana in Kenya.  These tools are bigger and heavier compared to its earlier counterparts. The tools, found at Kokiselei archaeological site in Nachukui, Kenya, are shaped like teardrops and have distinct chiseled edges. Scientists claim they were hand-axes used for many purposes, ranging from chopping wood to cutting meat. Based on their design, anthropologists categorize the tools under "Acheulian technology". The sophisticated design of these Acheulian hand-axes indicates forethought in designing. Particular types of rocks also had to be carefully selected in order to make them. Because of these factors, experts suspect that they belong to the primitive human called Homo erectus. Compared to its predecessor, the Homo habilis, Homo erectus had a bigger brain, was smarter and had more skills using their hands. Another factor that led scientists to this conclusion involves the tools’ age. Data showed that the tools are about 1.76 million years old and 350,000 years older than other Acheulian tools found. This date reveals that the tools were made during the age when the human species Homo erectus lived. Homo erectus originated from Africa and then spread throughout Asia before going extinct 70,000 years ago. Experts suspect that they were the direct ancestors of modern humans -- the Homo sapiens.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         What do you think makes humans different from other animals?

·         Do you think humans are the superior species? Explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         What do you think about the theory that humans evolved from apes?

·         What does your country’s traditional culture or religion say about how humans came to be?

Starvation During Childhood May Cause Heart Disease in Later Life

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

1. deprived (adj.) [dih-prahyvd] – lacking important things such as food, shelter, education, etc.

Example: Many children are deprived due to poverty.

2. famine (n.) [fam-in] – a severe shortage of food

Example: Famine is usually a result of crop failure or overpopulation.

3. susceptible (adj.) [suh-sep-tuh-buhl] – easily affected (by something)

Additional Question: Are you susceptible to any sickness?

4. dietitian (n.) [dahy-i-tish-uhn] – a specialist in the study of nutrition

Example: It is important to have dietitians in hospitals.

5. detrimental (adj.) [de-truh-men-tl] – causing damage

Example: Smoking is detrimental to our health.

Article

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People deprived of food during childhood are more likely to have heart disease after 50 years, researchers say. The results come from a study on children who suffered starvation in Netherlands during the World War II. Researchers from Holland followed up Dutch women who were aged 10-17 when famine struck the region towards the end of the war. The famine resulted from a combination of ruined crops, winter, and the war itself. Thousands of people were killed at that time. Based on the study on children who survived that famine, researchers found that those who had a daily consumption of only 400 to 800 calories during childhood and early adolescence are 27% more susceptible to heart diseases upon aging. However, according to Victoria Taylor, a senior heart health dietitian for the British Heart Foundation, the mechanism in the body which triggers the development of heart disease is still uncertain. Nonetheless, even if famine has not been experienced in the UK recently, the results of the study cannot be ignored. The study shows how malnutrition among children and young people may affect their heart condition in later years. This implies a good reason to make sure that children and young people are provided with a healthy diet to prevent the detrimental effects of malnutrition in their future heart health, Taylor suggests.

Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

·         Is child malnutrition an issue in your country?

·         How do you think can we prevent malnutrition?

Discussion B

·         What countries do you think suffer from famine?

·         What do you think can people or the government do to address this problem?