◎〝 Global Warming 〞◎

Global Warming

Causes of Climate change
What is Climate Change?

..What Causes Climate Change?

….What is the impact of Climate Change?

……Why should I care?

These are some of the questions regularly heard around the world. The first one and most certainly the last one are relatively straightforward to answer. What the causes are is now fairly clear for everyone to see. The issue of how extensive the impact will be and over what timeframe is the subject of heated debate!

WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE?
The Earth’s climate is an incredibly complex system, thus it is not easy to be 100% precise over the exact causes and level of impact of differing factors on climate change. However what is clear is that climate change is taking place, there is strong scientific evidence to prove this. The two fundamental causes of this change are naturally occurring change and human causes. Expert opinion is clear that whilst human causes may not be the sole cause, they are certainly a major contributory factor.

* Human Causes:
Scientific opinion across the world agrees that the largest single cause of climate change is the increased levels of greenhouse gases; specifically Carbon Dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere. The greatest cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil etc.) used to generate power, specifically electricity. Electricity and power are used in large scale industrial production, but is also used on a day by day basis by all of us in our normal daily lives; the heating and lighting in our homes, the planes, trains and cars we travel in, the technology and gadgets from televisions to computers etc, all use power and often continue to use more than is necessary when left switched on / on standby.

* Natural Causes:
There is evidence that the earth’s climate changes naturally over long periods of time. Historically we have all read about the Ice Age 10,000 years ago in history books. It seems that this was part of a pattern of fundamental changes to our climate over very long periods of time and that the current climatic changes are part of this pattern. However scientific opinion suggests that any change that may be due to natural causes is being accelerated by human causes.

Solutions :
Climate change through global warming can be tackled ‘globally’ and ‘locally’.
These actions are aimed at slowing climate change and to ultimately stabilise it.

International actions:
Global strategies already in place due to International Conventions:

●Kyoto Protocol which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions: unfortunately not all countries have agreed with the targets that have been set.

●Montreal Protocol which aims to stop the use of CFCs and find suitable ‘environmentally’ friendly substitutes.

Other global strategies to slow climate change:

●Reduce deforestation: forests absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.

●Afforestation: plant trees to absorb carbon dioxide.

●Reduce methane emissions: some areas are easier to tackle than others such as methane from land-fill sites and leakage from gas pipelines and mining.

●Increase energy saving and conservation in homes and industry.

●Greater use of renewable sources of energy supply.

◎ My favorite cell-phone : LG Shine ◎

LG - Shine

LG Electronics today announced the UK launch of LG Shine (model: KE970), the latest handset in its premium Black Label series of mobile phones. LG announced the LG Shine last October which is a followup to the LG Chocolate.

Shine is a full-metal bodied slider phone offering mobile users the best of both worlds with amazing looks and a high technical specification including expandable memory (MicroSD card) and an auto focus camera by Schneider Kreuznach.

When closed, Shine has a reflective 2.2” screen. Slide open the super-thin brushed metal body and the ‘magic mirror’ full color screen comes to life, while Shine’s keys are bathed in a cool blue light. Access to Shine’s menu system is by an easy-to-use multi-function scroll key.

Also, Shine's equipped with a comprehensive media player with multi-codec support (MP3, WAV and ACC++) and real spectrum display. Shine supports GPRS and EDGE network compatibility, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Already available in Korea, Shine has sold more than 180,000 since November 2006, with more than 3,500 units a day still being sold! LG expects the same level of excitement and sales in the UK following a high profile launch campaign fronted by world famous illusionist David Blaine.

Available from most major mobile retailers from 7th February Shine is likely to be from free on selected contract. See individual operators for tariff details.

◎ Teddy Bear ◎















History of the Teddy Bear

The teddy bear as we know them today are very similar to their forefathers. As the story goes, President Theodore Roosevelt, while on a hunting trip in 1902, was given the opportunity to shoot a bear which had been lassoed and tied to a tree. He considered this most unsportsmanlike and refused. On the front page of the Washington Post, Clifford Berryman who was the editorial cartoonist for the newspaper, illistrated his version of the event. The event caught the attention of Mr. Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn, New York shop keeper. His wife had made two toy bears and they were on display in their store window. Mr. Michtom sought and received permission from then President to call the stuffed toys "Teddy's Bears". It should also be recognized that at while Teddy Bear was being born in the United States, he had also been conceived in Germany. The Steiff Company of Giengen produced its first jointed bear during the same period and introduced them at the 1903 Leipzig Fair, where it is said an American buyer saw them and ordered several thousand for shipment to the United States. The birth of this wonderful companion seems insignificant compared to the years of pleasure it has brought to millions of people over the years.


Over time, bears have been made from every type of fabric imaginable. Felt, real fur, wool, silk and satin to name a few. Bears can be bought in every shape, size and color thinkable from a variance of retail outlets. These lovable, cuddly creatures can also be easily made.


Commonly, today's bears are made from synthetic fur and with the selections available, why not? There are basic supplies used to create these treasures that can be found around the home. Patterns available to make bears are, generally speaking, fairly simple and straight forward. Be prepared to devote time to complete these cherrished friends. Heirlooms made with love and tenderness evolve over time, not overnight. The primary ingredient, patience!


The character that emerges while giving birth to this project may look like others that have been made; however, like every hand made item, no two are ever idendical. This, added to the fact that bears really do have a mind of their own and no matter how hard you try, no two will be alike! To encourage the individuality in each bear even further, dress them. Some will look great with wire rimmed glasses perched on their nose or atop their heads. Add a satchels, a hat, some clothing or a big bow and see them transform into yet another personality.


These cuddly friends make awesome listeners and best friends; however, in making them, there is a need to ensure the safety of all those who will come in contact with them. Using common sense and good judgement is a necessity, especially if making the bear for a child.

◎ Websites recommanded for learning English grammar ◎

Grammar Exercises - Learning English
(Complete and detailed explanation and exercises. I've done the grammae exercises such as " Adjectives/Adverbs ", please refer to the questions.)

Adjective or adverb?

Fill in the words in brackets as adjective or adverb like in the example.
Example:
Peter works ____________ (slow).
Answer : Peter works slowly.

1. He ____ (quick) reads the book.
2. Mandy is a ____ (pretty) girl.
3. The class is ____ (terrible) loud today.
4. Max is a ____ (good) singer.

5. You can ____ (easy) open this tin.
6. It's a ____ (terrible) day today.

7. She sings the song ____ (good).
8. He is a ____ (careful) driver.
9. He drives the car ____ (careful).
10. The dog barks ____ (loud).


You answered 9 task(s) out of 10 correctly. That's 90%.
Your details:

3. The class is terribly (terrible) loud today.
3.1. Your answer was wrong.
Your answer : terrible
Correct answer : The class is terribly loud today.
Comment : Use the adverb, because it stands before the adjective 'loud'.

◎ Websites recommanded for learning English grammar ◎

Business English Grammar Exercises
(Great resource for business english and TOEIC preparation. I've done the " Business English Vocabulary Lessons ".)

What word goes best with these verbs?
1. book
a) a factory
b) a deal
c) a room (correct)
d) a business

2. set up
a) a room
b) a customer
c) a book
d) a meeting (correct)

3. make
a) competition
b) a book
c) a room
d) a deal (correct)

4. open
a) a market
b) a competitor
c) a manager
d) a new branch (correct)

5. break into
a) a market (correct)
b) a competition
c) a deal
d) a TV show

6. face
a) a room
b) competition (correct)
c) a factory
d) love

◎ Websites recommanded for learning English grammar ◎

Grammar for English Language Learners
(Graded web links for English learners. I've done the basic grammar activities. )
You can go there through this course :
Grammar Aactivities -> Basic ->
Self-Study Grammar Quizzes
(Collected by Internet TESL Journal: Articles; Cloze; Conjunctions; Dialogs; Plurals; Prepositions; Pronouns; Sentence Structure; Tag Questions; Verbs; Correct Sequence; Word Choice; Other Quizzes.)

Articles
● Difficult : Health Clubs (Colleen Weldele)
Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. Are you shopping for ___ health club to join so you can get in shape?
a. a (answer)
b. an
c. the
d. no article is needed

2. Shop wisely! You could end up choosing ___ wrong club and losing more money than pounds.
a. a
b. an
c. the (answer)
d. no article is needed

3. You may find out too late that ___ health clubs aren't for you.
a. a
b. an
c. the
d. no article is needed (answer)

4. ___ San Diego fitness experts recommend thoroughly checking out several health clubs before you join one.
a. a
b. an
c. the
d. no article is needed (answer)

5. First, know what you want and need in ___ fitness facility, and don't pay for what you'll never use.
a. a (answer)
b. an
c. the
d. no article is needed

◎ Recommended Web Resources for Listening ◎
Recommended Web Resources for Listening:

CNN SF Learning Resources
(Intermediate to higher intermediate levels: Abundant news stories for you to read, listen to, and do exercises to polish your English. The original version covers more stories.)

English Listening Language Lab Online
(Basic to Intermediate levels : Instant listening quizzes with interviews, talks, and conversations.)

Interactive Listening Activities
(Step by step listening activities which may facilitate strategic listening. However, the titles are really limited.)

◎ News Related English Learning
-- CNN Student News ◎

Title 2 : Audubon: Common backyard birds becoming less common

Story Highlights
• 20 common birds have lost more than half their populations in the past 40 years
• Birds in decline: Northern bobwhite, field sparrow and boreal chickadee
• Factors: Agriculture, habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, global warming
• Health of a bird population often a harbinger of health of other wildlife, humans

(CNN) -- Some of the most common birds seen and heard in American back yards are becoming a less frequent sight and sound in much of the United States, according to a study released by the National Audubon Society.
Twenty common birds -- including the northern bobwhite, the field sparrow and the boreal chickadee -- have lost more than half their populations in the past 40 years, according to the society's research.
"These populations are not yet on the endangered species list, but it is noteworthy, and we need to take steps to protect their habitat," said Carol Browner, Audubon chair and former Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
And like the proverbial canary in the coal mine, the health of a region's bird population is often a harbinger of the health of other wildlife and of human populations as well.
"The focus isn't really on what's happening to these 20 birds, but what's happening to their environment," said Greg Butcher, the society's conservation director.
The researchers say many factors play into the decline in bird numbers, including intensification of agriculture, other loss of habitat, pesticides, invasive species, and global warming.
Scott Weidensaul, an author and expert on bird migration, said he remembers waking up to whistles of bobwhite quail, and falling asleep listening to whippoorwills.
"Today you can't find a bobwhite in Pennsylvania, and hearing a whippoorwill is a red letter day," he said at an Audubon news conference Thursday morning.
The report shows the current northern bobwhite quail population is 5.5 million, down from 31 million in 1967. That's a decline of 82 percent in the past four decades. There are currently about 1.2 million whippoorwills now, down from 2.8 million 40 years ago, a 57 percent decline.
The Audubon Society created its list of "common birds in decline" by analyzing annual sighting data from the Audubon Society's century-old Christmas Bird Count program, and results of the annual Breeding Bird Survey conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The data will also be submitted for scientific peer review.
Changes in farming practices have created distress for some bird species. Some farmers are now using land once set aside for conservation to plant more corn for use as ethanol. And the disappearance of smaller family farms in favor of larger corporate farms has led to the disappearance of hedgerows -- fences of trees or bushes that reduce erosion and lessen the force of the wind on crops, and at the same time serve as protection and nesting areas for many grassland birds.
Other farms have simply disappeared and been replaced by housing and commercial development, further reducing bird habitat.
The Audubon Society, incorporated in 1905, lists five priorities for Congress to consider to slow the decline of these bird species: reduce global warming, support wetlands, fund ecosystem restoration, ensure biofuels are eco-friendly, and improve conservation programs in the next farm bill.
While federal legislation is an important part of protecting bird habitat, Butcher said individuals can also make a dramatic impact on bird health.
"You don't have to have a lot of land, just a corner of your back yard for native plants," he said.
The berries on native dogwoods, for example, provide a food source for migratory birds. And he suggested that bird lovers not cut down flowers in the fall, instead leaving them up as groundcover for birds in the winter and as a source of seeds. Introducing just a few native plants to perfectly manicured, sterile back yards can make a huge difference, Butcher said.
Other household names on the list of diminishing bird populations are the common tern, ruffed grouse, common grackle and rufous hummingbird.

◎ News Related English Learning
-- CNN Student News ◎

Title 1: 10 killed as bombs target buses









MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) -- Suspected Islamic militants with ties to Jemaah Islamiah are believed to be behind attacks on commuter buses in the southern Philippines which killed 10 people, an army spokesman says
Bomb experts have helped gather evidence to determine the type and make of a crude bomb that ripped through a packed bus near Davao city on the southern island of Mindanao on Friday, killing 10 people and wounding 18.
Just half an hour before, a bomb went off in another bus at a terminal in Cotabato City, also on Mindanao. There were no casualties because all the commuters had left the bus before the blast.
Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for an army unit based in Davao City, said a rogue faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was believed to be responsible, based on witness descriptions of two men who left a backpack on the bus and got off.
"This group is also believed to be engaged in extortion activities," Cabangbang told reporters. "The money they collect is used in their terrorist activities, buying materials to build bombs."
The main faction of the MILF is holding peace talks with the government but renegade members are believed to be linked to the Jemaah Islamiah network and continuing their fight for an Islamic nation in the southern Philippines.
Cabangbang said U.S. bomb experts would help confirm the identity of the group making the bombs, comparing samples taken from blast sites with a database.
Security forces have tightened measures to guard bus terminals in the south, fielding plainclothes police officers on board about 200 commuter buses on Mindanao and setting up more checkpoints to restrict movements of potential bombers.

◎Summary :

◎ Reading - Comprehension ◎

Title 2 : 〝FINDING A JOB 〞

Score Sheet Test ans6 : results for 1959006 - 張心慈 - Peggy
You scored 13 out of 16

Question Answer Submit Score
correct answer : my answer : score
1 . a : a : 1
2 . c : c : 1
3 . d : d : 1
4 . a : c : 0
5 . b : b : 1
6 . c : c : 1
7 . c : c : 1
8 . c : c : 1
9 . a : a : 1
10 .c : d : 0
11 .b : c : 0
12 .c : c : 1
13 .a : a : 1
14 .d : d : 1
15 .c : c : 1
16 .a : a : 1

Summary :

Most careers organizations highlight three stages for graduates to follow in the process of securing a suitable career: recognizing abilities, matching these to available vacancies and presenting them well to prospective employers. Good personal presentation is essential in the search for a good career. Dressing suitably and arriving for the interview on time are also obviously important. There will always be good career opportunities for people with ability, skills and determination; the secret to securing a good job is to be one of them.

◎ Reading - Comprehension ◎

Title 1 : 〝BALLADEER MADONNA〞

Score Sheet
Test ans6 : results for 1959006 - 張心慈 - Peggy
You scored 12 out of 16

Question Answer Submit Score
correct answer : my answer : score
1 . a : a : 1
2 . b : b : 1
3 . c : c : 1
4 . c : d : 0
5 . b : b : 1
6 . d : b : 0
7 . b : b : 1
8 . d : d : 1
9 . c : c : 1
10 .a : a : 1
11 .c : c : 1
12 .c : c : 1
13 .c : c : 1
14 .b : a : 0
15 .c : c : 1
16 .a : d : 0

Summary :

If artists fail to recreate their persona - chameleon-like, over and over again - they risk facing accusations of dullness; that they are not fashionable. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in the female ranks. It is not sufficient for an artist to be beautiful and sexy. These characteristics too must be changed often, and remodelled to avoid being bogged down by a stereotype.

◎ Exercise on Preposition from VLC ◎

1. He refused to comment on the problem.

2. What is the reason for Hong Kong's air pollution?

3. Can we meet to discuss about the policy changes?

4. Graduates should consider on their career goals.

5. They were asked to participate to the interviews.
Explanation: 'participate' collocates with 'in'

6. Obviously you need to adapt for changing circumstances.
Explanation: 'adapt' collocates with 'to'

7. Applicants who filled for the questionnaire were then chosen randomly.
Explanation: 'fill' collocates with 'out'

8. This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction on the lack of training.
Explanation: 'dissatisfaction' collocates with 'with'

9. What are the main differences between US English and the English spoken
in the UK?

10. Some authorities are now claiming that chocolate may be good to you in
moderate quantities.
Explanation: ' be good' collocates with 'for' with this meaning

11. The USA made a formal complaint about that country's environmental policy.

12. Pay attention to that company's press releases. They may be looking for
new employees soon.

13. The cleaners demanded about a pay rise because of the recent rise in prices.
Explanation: 'demanded' does not collocate with 'for'

14. People can use credit cards to pay for goods on the web.

15. If on line learning can be developed, it seems to me that education will be more effective than in the past.

16. Education on the internet can save a lot of resources.

17. At my point of view, I do not think the government should censor the Internet.
Explanation: 'from' is a left collocate with 'point of view'

18. All Hong Kong people were concerned on the recent economic crisis.
Explanation: 'concerned' collocates with 'about'

19. In some universities more than 2000 students are enrolled by the same
course.
Explanation: 'enroll' collocates with 'on' or 'in'

20. They want to get a job at the earliest possible opportunity.

21. This implies that the present situation in Hong Kong does not allow graduates to get their first preference jobs easily.

22. Because of the economic downturn, students tended to apply for more jobs than last year.

23. Concerning for job seeking skills, the findings presented in Table 5 show that one-third of the subjects felt they needed more help in their interview techniques.
Explanation: 'concerning' does not collocate with 'about'

24. 24% of the subjects claimed that they needed to help on English speaking skills.
Explanation: 'help' collocates with 'with'

25. This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction about the lack of training.
Explanation: 'dissatisfaction' collocates with 'with'

◎ biz magazine -- TOEIC test ◎

Grade :
listenling : reading : total
317 : 198 = 515

Comment :
I think the biz magazine is quite good because its concludes toeic test.
We are not only read the useful English in books but also do the practice. The test is very similar with the Toeic Test. So we can predict what kinds of questions they prefer use. Therefore, a magazine has the toeic test that is a good idea for all readers.

◎ Reading Strategy ◎

1. Think-Alouds a procedure in which students or teachers simply think out loud as they work through a procedure.

2. Previewing a strategy to motivate students to read.

3. Self-Questioning is technique in which students generate story-specific questions about the impor tant elements of a text as they read in order to better integrate prior knowledge with the text and the reading context.

==================================================================

1. Visualizing the process of forming appropriate mental pictures based on a text to assist under standing.

2. Retelling
Oral-To-Oral Retelling: The student listens to a selection and retells it orally. This approach may be most appropriate with fables or folktales