Easter Island

Easter Island got its name from a Dutchman, Jacob Roggeveen. He arrived on this volcanic island in 1722. Easter Island is in the South Pacific Ocean, about 3,700 kilometres west of Chile. The name of the island was Rapa Nui, but Roggeveen decided to call it Easter Island, because he arrived there on Easter Day.

There isn't much information about the islanders. People think that they first came to the island around 400 AD. Today, there are about 2,500 people. They speak Spanish or a type of Polynesian language.

Easter Island is famous for its giant statues, which are called Moai. There are about 600 of them on the coast of the island. People carved these statues from volcanic stone. Their eyes are pieces of coral. Most of them are between 3 and 12 metres high and some of them weigh more than 50 tons. Some archaeologists believe that people built the Moai as images of gods or ancestors.

There are also thousands of rock carvings of a bird-man on Easter Island. According to legend, the ancient islanders used to have competitions once a year. Men used to swim to an island nearby and bring back an egg from a special bird there. There were many sharks in the sea so this was very dangerous. The winner was the "Birdman" for that year and people think that the carvings were to honour these winners.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

Scotland Yard

In 1829, the British established the first Metropolitan Police Force in England. Two policemen (commissioners), Colonel Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne, had the job of organising this foce. They set up an office in a private house at 4 Whitehall Place. At the back of the house, there was a courtyard, and they used this courtyard as a police station. Here the Metropolitan Police became known as Scotland Yard.

There are two stories of how Scotland Yard got its name. The first says that the house once belonged to the Kings of Scotland. When they or their ambassadors were in London, they stayed here. They called it "Scotland", so the courtyard was called Scotland Yard. The second story states that one of the streets at the back of the house had the words "Scotland Yard" in its name. This is because a Scot owned that land in the Middles Ages.

When most people talk about Scotland Yard, they mean the London branch of the police. This is actually called the Criminal Investigation Department. Scotland Yard is well known all over the world. It is famous for its ability to solve the most puzzling crimes.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

The Monarchy and Parliament in Great Britain

MONARCHY

Queen Elizabeth II's full title is "Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". She is also "Head of the Commonwealth", a group of independent countries, such as Australia, Pakistan, India and Canada. These countries were once part of the British Empire.

The Queen is Head of State, but her power is limited. She makes a speech at the beginning of each year when Parliament begins a new session, announcing what the government will do. However, she does not write this speech.

PARLIAMENT

The government in Britain sits in the Houses of Parliament in London. There are two parts to the British Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There are 650 members of the House of Commons. They are called MPs (Members of Parliament). The British people elect them every five years. The political party with the largest number of MPs forms the government and its leader becomes prime minister.

The House of Lords has got approximately 500 members. Unlike the MPs, they have inherited their titles (Baron or Baroness) for their lifetime.

In a few years' time, the House of Lords might not exist. Some people in Britain believe the monarchy should be abolished and only elected representatives should govern the country.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

A World of Mystery

 On the morning of April 15, 1912, the Titanic, the largest ocean liner of its time, hit an iceberg and sank. One thousand five hundred and two people died. After the disaster, investigators learnt of at least 20 cases of people having premonitions about the event. Some passengers boarded the ship, then changed their minds and cancelled their tickets. Perhaps the oddest thing, however, was a book, Futility, written 14 years earlier about a huge ship called the 'Titan'. It also sank after hitting an iceberg.

On October 20, 1978, a young pilot flying to Australia radioed his base in Melbourne. He told them about a strange craft flying around his plane. He said it was a long, fast-moving object with four bright lights. Twelve minutes after this report, the plane disappeared.

UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) sightings are very common. Some people believe that they are spaceships from other planets. They believe that they contain aliens coming to Earth to study and learn about humans.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, in the South of England, has been a mystery for centuries.

Nobody knows who built this huge circle of stones. Some people say the legendary wizard Merlin created the stone circle at the time of King Arthur. Others think aliens built it.

In addition, no one knows why the circle was built. Some scientists think the stones helped people watch the movements of the sun, moon and stars. But no one knows for sure. Unless someone finds scientific proof, these questions will remain unanswered.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

Superstitions

1. You'll have good luck if you eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve.
2. When you spill salt, you must throw some over your shoulder.
3. If you walk under a ladder, you'll have bad luck.
4. If you break a mirror, you'll have seven years of bad luck.
5. Avoid black cats ─ they bring bad luck.
6. If there are thirteen people sitting at the table, there will be bad luck.
7. You shouldn't travel or get married on a Tuesday.
8. If you touch something made of wood, your good luck will continue.
9. If you open an umbrella in the house, you'll have bad luck.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

Oscars

The biggest event of the year in the film industry is the Oscar ceremony. This takes place every year in Hollywood. All famous film stars hope they will win the Oscar for Best Actor or Best Actress. Previous winners are Russell Crowe for his part in the film Gladiator and Halle Berry for her part in Monster's Ball.

Directors and writers also hope they will win the highest award ─ the Oscar for Best Picture (as "films" are sometimes called in America) or Best Screenplay. Recent winners are Ron Howard for directing the film A Beautiful Mind and Akiva Goldman for writing the screenplay of the same film.

It is difficult for "foreign" films to win Oscars, because they are not in English. But there is a special Oscar for the Best Foreign Film. No Man's Land was the Best Foreign Film in 2002.

Oscars are not the only prizes that actors, actresses and directors can win. In Britain, there are the BAFTAs (British Academy for Film and Television Arts) in April every year. In Germany, there is the Berlin Film Festival and in France, there is the Cannes Film Festival. In Madrid, Spain, the annual Goya Film Awards take place in March. Every year, there is also a film festival in Venice, Italy. Here the prizes are not Oscars but Lions.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

Global Pizza

So you thought the hamburger was the world's most popular fast food? After all, McDonald's Golden Arches span the globe. But no, there is another truly universal fast food, the ultimate fast food. It's easy to make, easy to serve, much more varied than the hamburger, can be eaten with the hands, and it's delivered to your front door or served in fancy restaurants. It's been one of America's favourite foods for over 50 years. It is, of course, the pizza.

A brief history of pizza

It's kind of silly to talk about the moment when pizza was 'invented'. It gradually evolved over the years, but one thing's for certain ─ it's been around for a very long time. The idea of using pieces of flat, round bread as plates came from the Greeks. They called them 'plakuntos' and ate them with various simple toppings such as oil, garlic, onions, and herbs. The Romans enjoyed eating something similar and called it 'picea'. By about 1000 A.D. in the city of Naples, 'picea' had become 'pizza' and people were experimenting with more toppings: cheese, ham, anchovies, and finally the tomato, brought to Italy from Mexico and Peru in the sixteenth century. Naples became the pizza capital of the world. In 1889, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita heard about pizza and asked to try it. They invited pizza maker, Raffaele Esposito, to make it for them. He decided to make the pizza like the Italian flag, so he used red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil leaves. The Queen loved it and the new pizza was named 'Pizza Margherita' in her honour.

Pizza migrated to America with the Italians at the end of the nineteenth century. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in 1905 at 53½ Spring Street, New York City, by Gennaro Lombardi. But the popularity of pizza really exploded when American soldiers returned from Italy after World War II and raved about 'that great Italian dish'. Americans are now the greatest producers and consumers of pizza in the world.

Pizza Trivia

1. Americans eat 350 slices of pizza per second.
2. There are 61,269 pizzerias in the United States.
3. Pizza is a $30 billion per year industry.
4. October is national pizza month in the United States.
5. The world's first pizzeria, the Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, which opened in Naples in 1830, is still there.
6. Pizza Hut has over 12,000 restaurants and takeaway outlets in over 90 countries.
7. In America, pepperoni is the favourite topping. Anchovies is the least favourite.
8. In Japan, eel and squid are favourites. In Russia it's red herring, salmon, and onions.
9. In Brazil, they like green peas on their pizza. In Australia the favourites are shrimp and pineapple.
10. The French love bacon and crème fraîche on theirs. The English love tuna and sweetcorn.

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (the NEW edition)

Year: 2003
Author: Connie Odone

Telling tales: The Tale of Gluskap and the Baby

Gluskap the warrior was very pleased with himself because he had fought and won so many battles. He boasted to a woman: 'Nobody can beat me!'

'Really?' said the woman. 'I know someone who can beat you. His name is Wasis.' Gluskap had never heard of Wasis. He inmediately wanted to meet him and fight him. So he was taken to the woman's village. The woman pointed to a baby who was sitting and sucking a piece of sugar on the floor of a teepee.

'There,' she said. 'That is Wasis. He is little, but he is very strong.' Gluskap laughed and went up to the baby. 'I am Gluskap. Fight me!' he shouted. Little Wasis looked at him for a moment, then he opened his mouth. 'Waaah! Waaah!' he screamed. Gluskap had never heard such a terrible noise. He danced a war dance and sang some war songs. Wasis screamed louder. 'Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!' Gluskap covered his ears and ran out of the teepee. After he had run a few miles, he stopped and listened. The baby was still screaming. Gluskap the fearless was terrified. He ran on and was never seen again in the woman's village.

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (the NEW edition)

Year: 2003

A famous Italian actor: Roberto Benigni

Life is Beautiful

"I love acting. For me it is pure fun," says Roberto Benigni, three time Oscar winner for the film Life is Beautiful. The Italian actor was very happy when he received the awards. He was also very humble. While he was collecting his third award of the evening, he said, "How can I thank you for this? I've used up all my English with the other two."

Born in 1952 to a poor family, Benigni grew up in a small Tuscan village, Vergaio. Roberto was already writing his own material when he first started to act. He got some comic film roles with great directors like Fellini and Bertolucci, and became famous. He lives in Rome with his wife, Nicoletta Braschi. Film critics say he is a master of spontaneous performance — he shows us a new way of seeing reality.

Benigni's film Life is Beautiful took America by storm; the title became a slogan for all kinds of people. It is the story of a miraculous survival in a Nazi concentration camp. Some love the film and see it as a message of joy in the middle of tragedy. Some hate it and say it ignores the reality of life in those camps.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

The History of Amusement Parks

 The amusement park industry started in medieval Europe with pleasure gardens. These gardens were outside the big cities and had live entertainment, dancing, games, fireworks and a few rides. These gardens were very popular until the 1700s, but the political difficulties of that time caused them to close.

In the late 1800s, the industry moved to America. At the time, people in many cities used electric trolley cars for transport. The trolley companies wanted more people to use their cars at the weekend, so they built amusement parks at the end of the lines. Even though they were simple parks with picnic areas, restaurants, games and only a few rides, people loved them.

Then in 1893, things changed. The World's Fair opened in Chicago. The fair introduced the Ferris Wheel and other popular rides and was an amazing success.

From then on the amusement park industry grew. As the industry grew, there were more kinds of rides. They became scarier and more daring! By 1919, there were over 1500 amusement parks in America. Today, millions of people all over the world enjoy amusement parks.

Level: Beginner

Book: Changes for ESO 4

Year: 2002

A Penguin Joke!

One day a man and his wife were walking down the street when they came across a penguin.

'Oh!' exclaimed the man. 'What a surprise! What shall we do with it?'
'I know,' said his wife. 'We'll ask a policeman.'
So they found a policeman and explained what had happened.
'Mmm,' said the policeman, 'I think the best thing is to take it to the zoo.'
'What a good idea!' said the woman. 'We'll go there straight away.'

The next morning the policeman was walking down the same street when he saw the couple again with the penguin. 'I thought I told you to take that penguin to the zoo,' the policeman said.
'Well, we did,' said the man. 'We took it to the zoo and we all had a really good time. So this afternoon we're taking it to the cinema, and this evening we're going to have a meal in a fish restaurant.'

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (English Course)

Year: 1996

A World Guide to Good Manners

How not to behave badly abroad 

 

Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global village, but how well do we know and understand each other? Here is a simple test. Imagine you have arranged a meeting at four o'clock. What time should you expect your foreign business colleagues to arrive? If they're German, they'll be bang on time. If they're American, they'll probably be 15 minutes early. If they're British, they'll be 15 minutes late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians.

When the European Community began to increase in size, several guidebooks appeared giving advice on international etiquette. At first many people thought this was a joke, especially the British, who seemed to assume that the widespread understanding of their language meant a corresponding understanding of English customs. Very soon they had to change their ideas, as they realized that they had a lot to learn about how to behave with their foreign business friends.

For example:

• The British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters with a drink during the meal; the Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a time to relax and get to know one another, and they rarely drink at lunchtime.
• The Germans like to talk business before dinner; the French like to eat first and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything.
• Taking off your jacket and rolling up your sleeves is a sign of getting down to work in Britain and Holland, but in Germany people regard it as taking it easy.
• American executives sometimes signal their feeling of ease and importance in their offices by putting their feet on the desk whilst on the telephone. In Japan, people would be shocked. Showing the soles of your feet is the height of bad manners. It is a social insult only exceeded by blowing your nose in public.

The Japanese have perhaps the strictest rules of social and business behaviour. Seniority is very important, and a younger man should never be sent to complete a business deal with an older Japanese man. The Japanese business card almost needs a rulebook of its own. You must exchange business cards inmediately on meeting because it is essential to establish everyone's status and position.

When it is handed to a person in a superior position, it must be given and received with both hands, and you must take time to read it carefully, and not just put it in your pocket! Also the bow is a very important part of greeting someone. You should not expect the Japanese to shake hands. Bowing the head is mark of respect and the first bow of the day should be lower than when you meet thereafter.

The Americans sometimes find it difficult to accept the more formal Japanese manners. They prefer to be casual and more informal, as illustrated by the universal 'Have a nice day!' American waiters have a non-word imperative 'Enjoy!' The British, of course, are cool and reserved. The great topic of conversation between strangers in Britain is the weather — unemotional and impersonal. In America, the main topic between strangers is the search to find a geographical link. 'Oh, really?' You live in Ohio? I had an uncle who once worked there.'

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'

 

Here are some final tips for travellers:

• In France you shouldn't sit down in a café until you've shaken hands with everyone you know.
• In Afghanistan you should spend at least five minutes saying hello.
• In Pakistan you mustn't wink. It is offensive.
• In the Middle East you must never use the left hand for greeting, eating, drinking, or smoking. Also, you should take care not to admire anything in your hosts' home. They will feel they have to give it to you.
• In Russia you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think you are unfriendly.
• In Thailand you should clasp your hands together and lower your head and your eyes when you greet someone.
• In America you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as possible. You shouldn't try to have a conversation until it is eaten.

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (English Course)

Year: 1996

Author: Norman Ramshaw

The River Amazon

The River Amazon rises in the Andes in Peru, only 120 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean 4,000 miles away on the other side of the continent. Its mouth is 200 miles wide.

The Amazon is probably not the longest river in the world, but it contains by far the largest volume of water. From its mouth flows one fifth of all the river water on Earth — as much water in one day as flows from the mouth of the Thames in one year.

After the Amazon, the river with the largest volume of water is the Congo. But both of the main tributaries of the Amazon, the Negro and the Madeira, contain more water than the Congo.

The Amazon flows through the largest forest in the world. This forest covers an area ten times the size of France. It is 100 million years old, ten thousand times older than the temperate forests of Europe and North America.

Level: Beginner

Book: English First Book

Year: 1970

Jokes: The sun or/and the moon

The sun or the moon

Two men were going home from a bar at night. They were both drunk.
They sat down under a tree and the first man said, 'Excuse me, is that the sun or the moon?'
The second man , 'I'm sorry, I can't tell you. I'm a stranger here.'

The sun and the moon

Two men were talking about the sun and the moon.
The first man said, 'In my opinion the sun is better than the moon because it gives a stronger light.'
The second man said, 'I don't agree. In my opinion the moon is better than the sun, because the sun shines only during the day when it's light, but the moon shines at night when it's dark.'

Level: Beginner

Book: English First Book

Year: 1970

The first voyage round the world

In September 1519 the Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan sailed from Spain with five ships. He was working not for the King of Portugal but for the King of Spain, who hoped to find a route to the Pacific Ocean from the South Atlantic.

First he sailed across the Atlantic to the north-east coast of Brazil. Then he turned south and for many months tried to find a passage to the Pacific. During the winter he waited in Patagonia, then in September 1520 he finally discovered a passage around the southern coast of the continent to the Pacific. This passage is now called the Straits of Magellan.

Magellan's voyage through the stratis lasted thirty-eight days. After this he sailed north for 1,000 miles along the coast of South America, then he turned west and sailed for three months across the ocean. On March 6th, 1521 after a very hard voyage he arrived in Guam. He never returned to Europe but died on April 27th, 1521 during a small native war in the Philippines.

Only one of his ships finally returned to Spain — the "Victoria", wich arrived home on September 8th, 1522. Of the 280 men who sailed from Spain in 1519 only 35 returned. The Basque seaman, Sebastian del Cano, sailed the "Victoria" home after Magellan died.

Level: Beginner

Book: English First Book

Year: 1970

How does your garden grow? 'La Favorita': the name says it all

The Spanish call it 'La Favorita', 'Cedrón de Monte' and 'Chaparro Blanco', English common names include Bee Brush (or Bush), White Brush, Privet Lippia and Jazminillo. The botanical name for this aromatic shrub is Aloysia gratissima and it is part of the Verbenaceae family of which their are around 35 species. The other well known Aloysia is Acitrodora or Lemon verbena.

It is native to Southern Texas and Northern Mexico and was introduced to Europe by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 17th century.

The Aloysia is named after Maria Luisa of Parma, eldest daughter of King Louis XV and wife of King Charles IV of Spain. She was notorious for her many male admirers (although she was corpulent and had no teeth) and was rumoured to have murdered her daughter-in-law by giving her poison although the cause of her death was more likely to have been tuberculosis.

However, the plant that bears her name is poisonous only to horses, mules and donkeys; has teeth, well the ends of the branches are very sharp; and grows to a good size, about 2.5 metres tall by about 1.5 metres wide. It is very attractive to bees and butterflies.

Once mature it forms a loose, rounded shape but can be trimmed regularly to make a hedge or grown up a wall. Aloysia adapts to most types of soil, it is drought resistant once established and resistant to cold. The branches, if left to get long, are quite brittle and will need some protection in strong winds.

It is semi-evergreen perennial and has dark green leaves sprouting from squarish, grey stems. The flowers form on racemes and have a strong vanilla scent. The flowering season is very long, from March into November, and after rain the shrub will bloom even more profusely. It likes situations with full sun but will tolerate some shade.

Propagation is by seed, allow seed pods to dry on the plant and then split open the pods and keep to sow in the spring. Cuttings can also be taken in the spring or early summer.

Aloysia gratissima was used traditionally in an infusion for treating headaches, bronchitis and nervous system disorders such as depression. In Mexico the essential oils are used to make a perfume and in Brazil the leaves are made into a tea to treat digestive and respiratory illnesses.

Source: Sur in English

Date: March 2nd to 8th 2012
Author: Denise Bush

Web: www.surinenglish.com

Personal safety

Safety Measures:

• Keep your belongings in sight.
• Keep hold of your handbag and protect your wallet on public transport and in crowded areas (street markets, performances, etc.).
• Take care of your camera or video camera in recreational areas.
• Only take your essentials when you go to the beach or go to the swimming pool.
• If you are using a vehicle, lock all valuables away and keep them out of sight.
• As far as possible, avoid isolated or badly lit places.
• Beware of suspicious offers of 'help' ('help' relating to problems with your car, stains on your clothes, etc.). Thieves know how to use clever tricks in order to rob you.
• Do not take part in gambling or buy 'bargains' in the street. It will nearly always be a confidence trick or a swindle.

At your hotel or private accomodation:

• Do not leave keys, money, or other valuables lying around to be seen. Make use of a safe.
• In communal areas (reception, restaurants, swimming pools) take care of your luggage and personal belongings (handbags, cameras, etc.).

If you are a victim of crime, ask for help by calling the Civil Guard on 062 or report it by phone on 902 102 112 *(several languages are spoken)*

Source: Mijas Semanal in English

Date: Friday 23rd of March 2012

Web: www.mijassemanal.eu

To Australia and back in a Mini

In 1964 John Pollard bought a new car. It was a Mini, and it cost just £505. 205,000 miles later he is still driving it. Mr Pollard, 59, said: 'I bought the car when I was a student. I wanted to travel. In 1966 I drove to Moscow, Finland, and the Arctic Circle. I married in 1967 and then my wife and I drove the Mini to Australia via India. I found a job in Sydney, and we stayed in Australia for 30 years. We used the Mini all the time. Last month we came back to England to visit our families and of course, we came in the Mini. We drove via Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Tibet and China, Mongolia, and Russia.'

Mr and Mrs Pollard love their old Mini and don't want to sell it and buy a new one. 'Next month we're returning to Australia but we are not driving, we are travelling by plane. The Mini is travelling by ship. We decided to give it a rest for the return journey because it is very old and tired.'

Level: Beginner

Book: New Headway

Year: 2000

Telling tales: The Farmer and his Sons

There was once an old, dying farmer. Before he died he wanted to teach his three sons how to be good farmers. So he called them to him and said, 'My boys, before I die I want you to know that there is a great treasure buried in the vineyard. Promise me that you will look for it when I am dead.'

The sons promised and they began looking for the treasure. They worked very hard in the hot sun. In their minds they pictured boxes of gold coins, diamond necklaces and other such things. But they found not a single penny. They were very upset. But then the grapes started to appear on the vines and their grapes were the biggest and best in the neighbourhood, and they sold them for a lot of money.

Now they understood and they lived happily and wealthily ever after.

The moral of this story is: 'Hard work brings...'

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (English Course)

Year: 1996

Telling tales: The Bald Knight

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a knight who, as he grew older, lost all his hair. He became as bald as an egg. He didn't want anyone to see his bald head, so he bought a beautiful, black, curly wig.

One day some lords and ladies from the castle invited him to go hunting with them, so of course he put on his beautiful wig. 'How handsome I look!' he though to himself. Then he set off happily for the forest.

However, a terrible thing happened. His wig caught on a branch and fell off in full view of everyone. How they all laughed at him! At first the poor knight felt very foolish but then he saw the funny side of the situation, and he started laughing, too.

The knight never wore his wig again.

The moral of this story is: 'When people laugh at us, it is best to...'

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (English Course)

Year: 1996

The Internet

Its history

The Internet started in the 1960s. The United States Department of Defense started it because they wanted a computer network to help the American military. In the 1970s scientists worked on it. Then in the 1980s telephone companies made it possible to communicate on the computer network in many more countries. An international computer language was born, and the Net went worldwide.

 What can it do?

You can use the Internet for many things. You can buy a car or a house; you can book a holiday; you can watch a video; you can read an Australian newspaper or a Japanese magazine; you can buy books and CDs from North and South America; you can play chess with a partner in Moscow; or you can just chat to people from all over the world. The list is endless!

Level: Beginner

Book: New Headway

Year: 2000

American Diners

Diners are traditional fast food restaurants in the USA and cultural icons. Some are more than 100 years old!

In the 1950s, diners became famous around the world in American films and TV shows. Many diners continue to have retro 1950s designs, with bright colours and neon lights.

Diners serve simple, cheap food, like hamburgers and sandwiches. Americans go to diners not only to eat, but also to relax and meet friends.

• American singer Suzanne Vega wrote 'Tom's Diner' in a New York diner in 1984.
• It was the world's first MP3 song.

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010

Sports around the world

UK

Football is the most popular spectator sport in the UK. The best English teams play in the Premier League. Some teams from Wales can also compete in the English leagues, but teams from Scotland and Northern Ireland play in separate leagues. Teams in the English leagues can also compete for the FA Cup. It's the oldest football competition in the world.

Teams that often win the Premier League are Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

USA

The most popular spectator sport in the USA is American football. The most important match is the Superbowl. About 90 million Americans watch it on TV on Superbowl Sunday. Famous stars like Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake sing at the Superbowl.

People in the USA eat about 5 millon kilos of crisps and 3.6 million kilos of guacamole on Superbowl Sunday!

Canada

Ice hockey is Canada's most popular spectator sport. It's a national passion! The most important competition is the Stanley Cup. Hockey teams from the USA can also compete. Lots of Canadians play hockey or go ice skating in their free time too. There are about 100 ice rinks in the city of Toronto!

About 500,000 Canadians are in hockey teams.

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010

Cool Sports!

Capoeira

Capoeira is a very popular sport in Brazil. It's a combination of dance, acrobatics and martial arts. In capoeira, everyone sings or plays music in a big circle. Then people take turns dancing together in pairs.

 

Ultimate

Ultimate is a team sport from the USA. It's similar to football, but you play it with a plastic disc. It's a fast sport because the players have only got ten seconds to throw the disc. People sometimes play this sport indoors.

 

Sepak takraw

Sepak takraw is a popular team sport in many parts of Asia. It's a combination of volleyball and football. The players hit a small ball over a net. They can use their heads, legs and feet, but they can't use their hands.

It's important to be safe when you do sport:

1. Protect yourself. Wear the right protective equipment.
2. Warm up first. Do some easy exercises to get started.
3. Drink water. Your body needs water. It keeps you cool.
4. Be careful. Play in safe areas. Don't play in the street.

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010

Take it away!

When people don't want to cook a meal, they often order takeaway food. There are lots of options, like hamburgers, pizza or Chinese food. In the UK, Indian curry is very popular. But the most traditional British takeaway meal is fried fish and potatoes, the famous 'fish and chips'.

There are about 11,000 fish and chip shops, or 'chippies', in the UK. The shops serve about 250 million portions of fish and chips every year. And to make those meals they use 60,000 tonnes of fish and 500,000 tonnes of potatoes. Many fish and chip shops serve other types of fast food too, like chicken, sausages or hot dogs. There's something for everyone!

Traditionally, British people put salt and vinegar on their chips. But these days, some people prefer other toppings, like ketchup, mayonnaise or curry sauce. Lots of people also eat fish and chips with soft peas, called 'mushy peas'.

Fast food is often fatty food. How much fat is there in these takeaway meals?

• A serving of fish and chips: 20.6 grams
• Two slices of pizza: 23 grams
• A cheeseburger and chips: 40 grams
• A doner kebab: 42.4 grams

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010

In search of good English food

How come it is so difficult to find English food in England? In Greece you eat Greek food, in France French food, in Italy Italian food, but in England, in any High Street in the land, it is easier to find Indian and Chinese restaurants than English ones. In London you can eat Thai, Portuguese, Turkish, Lebanese, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Swiss, Swedish, Spanish, and Italian — but where are the English restaurants?

It is not only restaurants that foreign dishes are replacing traditional British food. In every supermarket, sales of pasta, pizza and poppadoms are booming. Why has this happened? What is wrong with the cooks of Britain that they prefer cooking pasta to potatoes? Why do the British choose to eat lasagne instead of shepherd's pie? Why do they now like cooking in wine and olive oil? But perhaps it is a good thing. After all, this is the end of the 20th century and we can get ingredients from all over the world in just a few hours. Anyway, wasn't English food always disgusting and tasteless? Wasn't it always boiled to death and swimming in fat? The answer to these questions is a resounding 'No', but to understand this, we have to go back to before World War II.

The British have in fact always imported food from abroad. From the time of the Roman invasion foreign trade was a major influence on British cooking. English kitchens, like the English language, absorbed ingredients from all over the world — chickens, rabbits, apples, and tea. All of these and more were successfully incorporated into British dishes. Another important influence on British cooking was of course the weather. The good old British rain gives us rich soil and green grass, and means that we are able to produce some of the finest varieties of meat, fruit and vegetables, which don't need fancy sauces or complicated recipes to disguise their taste.

However, World War II changed everything. Wartime women had to forget 600 years of British cooking, learn to do without foreign imports, and ration their use of home-grown food. The Ministry of Food pusblished cheap, boring recipes. The joke of the war was a dish called Woolton Pie (named after the Minister for Food!). This consisted of a mixture of boiled vegetables covered in white sauce with mashed potato on the top. Britain never managed to recover from the wartime attitude to food. We were left with a loss of confidence in our cooking skills and after years of Ministry recipes we began to believe that British food was boring, and we searched the world for sophisticated, new dishes which gave hope of a better future. The British people became tourists at their own dining tables and in the restaurants of their land! This is a tragedy! Surely food is as much a part of our culture as our landscape, our language, and our literature. Nowadays, cooking British food is like speaking a dead language. It is almost as bizarre as having a conversation in Anglo-Saxon English!

However, there is still one small ray of hope. British pubs are often the best places to eat well and cheaply in Britain, and they also increasingly try to serve tasty British food. Can we recommend to you our two favourite places to eat in Britain? The Shepherd's Inn in Melmerby, Cumbria, and the Dolphin Inn in Kingston, Devon. Their steak and mushroom pie, Lancashire hotpot, and bread and butter pudding are three of the gastronomic wonders of the world!

Quotations about English food:

'It takes some skill to spoil a breakfast — even the English can't do it!'

J K Galbraith, economist

'On the Continent people have good food; in England people have good table manners.'
George Mikes, writer and humorist

'If the English can survive their food, they can survive anything!'
George Bernard Shaw, writer

'Even today, well-brought up English girls are taught to boil all vegetables for at least a month and a half, just in case one of the dinner guests comes without his teeth!'
Calvin Trillin, American writer

'English cooking? You just put things into boiling water and then take them out again after a long while!'
An anonymous French chef

Level: Intermediate

Book: New Headway (English Course)

Year: 1996

Authors: Verona Paul and Jason Winner 

How to have a good time in... Sydney

Sydney has everything you want in a city. It's beautiful, it has old and new buildings, there are fantastic beaches, and the food is delicious.

The best times to visit are spring and autumn. In summer it is very hot. 

There are cheap hotels in King's Cross. A room is about $50 a night. There are internacional hotels in the centre. Here a room is about $150 a night.

Sydney has theatres and cinemas, and of course, the Opera House. The best shops are in Pitt Street.

Go to the harbour. There are beaches, walks, parks, and cafés and, of course, the wonderful bridge.

Sydney has the famous Bondi Beach. People go swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and sailing.

For night-life, there are clubs and bars in Oxford Street.

There are restaurants from every country — Italian, Turkish, Lebanese, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Australians eat a lot of seafood — it's very fresh!

There are fast trains and slow buses. The best way to see Sydney is by ferry.

Level: Beginner

Book: New Headway

Year: 2000