Milton França´s blog

THREE IDIOMS WITH "LEG"

2012-02-03T16:43:00.000-03:00

- pulling your leg – making a joke by tricking another person

- It cost an arm and a leg – it cost a lot of money

- You haven´t got a leg to stand on – you’re in a situation where you can’t prove something / you have no chance of success

* People from different parts of the world wrote sentences using these three idioms. As they are learners of English, we can notice spelling and grammar mistakes in some of them.

Thu Ha, vietnam
I told my parents that I'll study abroad, they were surprised: "That can't be. It cost an arm and a leg. We cannot afford it." They were even more surprised when I said " I am not pulling your leg. I've got a scholarship. I have got a leg to stand on."

Vallin, Brazil
When my daughter was born, everything I’ve bought to look after her, it cost an arm and leg.

Lenka, the Czech republic
I bought a Swiss watch yesterday. It cost me an arm and a leg. Now, I've just found out it's a knock-off. Oh boy, I was ripped off then! Did it really happen? No, I am only pulling your leg.

Su Kyung, Korea
Last week, I told my friend that I got the first place in my class and my friend told me to buy her a meal as I got the first place. I quickly told her that I was just pulling her leg as I knew that it would cost me an arm and a leg to buy a meal for her. However, as my friend wanted to eat something delicious, she told me that I didn't have a leg to stand on.

Shah, Pakistan
Yesterday, I told my friend on phone I have fallen seriously ill and treatment will cost me an arm and a leg and when he asked in which hospital I am I told him I was just pulling his leg.

Asifa, Pakistan
Yesterday I told my friend that I will buy a precious necklace for her but it will really cost an arm and leg for me.

Luis, Colombia (Studying in London)
The London life cost me an arm and a leg.

Maher, Syria
My Dear Father support me buying a new home, so I have to return his money back to him, so that will cost me arm and a leg

Sandra, Hong Kong
My darling bought me a diamond ring. It cost an arm and a leg.

Annistein, China
What shall I say, that it cost me an arm and a leg just to buy a birthday present for my sister? But it's true, as you can see, I have emptied my purse to buy her a Teddy Bear.

Marlen, Cuba
I tell everybody that I am on a diet. That’s a lie, because I eat a lot. I`ve never paid an arm and a leg for nothing. sometimes my son tell me lies, but I can`t punish him because I haven`t had a leg to stand on.

Ferial, USA
most of the time I pull my friends leg because I have a big sense of humor

Rajesch, Germany
My boss told me that the repair of his car cost him an arm and a leg. But he didn't show me the bill. I understand, he's just pulling my leg.

Silva, Albania
I did pull my sister’s leg when I told her I was going to marry and give up my school. I've paid an arm and a leg for my vacation house by the sea.

Neda, Iran
Today in Iran new couples can easily buy a new house.you should be so naive to believe it. I was just pulling your leg.it cost an arm and a leg for new couples to buy a house.

Niraj Pandey, Nepal
Last year when I decided to finance my studies selling the gold medals, which I acheived for my remarkable academic performance over the five years in my college.That was the moment i think i had paid an arm and leg for my higher studies.

Ama Helal, Egypt
When I was young, I fooled my friend into believing that I was part of the scouts team, but I was just trying to pull her leg. Two years ago, I had to undergo some serious surgery and it was too expensive that it cost my parents an arm and a leg. These days I try to convince the court of my plea. Yet, I haven't got a leg to stand on and my solicitor advises me to collect more evidence.

Liang, China
Sometimes, I try to pull someone's leg because I think I can bring laugh to him or her.

Fatiha, Algeria
Last year I made a journey with my friends to a seaside town. In that time I didn't imagine that it will cost me an arm and a leg. Thank god i had money for that i borrow my friend money to go with us but she didn't give it back to me. She told me that i haven't got a land to stand on but then she laughed and said I am pulling your leg sweety.

Polina, Russia
I paied an arm and a leg for my first mobile phone. It kosted 40 000 rubles.

Paola, Italy
I really don't think he is going to Costa Smeralda on holiday. In my opinion, he is pulling our legs as usual. It will cost him an arm and a leg to spend his holidays there and I'm not sure he can afford that... And how about his wife? I saw her yesterday evening and she didn't say nothing about it... What is more she is bound to give birth to their baby one of these days, so he hasn't a leg to stand on. He just loves telling lies to make other people jealous.....

Anna, Poland
hello,I paid an arm and a leg for my first guitar. Actually I couldn't play guitar well but I bought myself very expensive one. Once I told my friends how much I spent on it, they thougt I was pulling their legs.

Adapted from www.bbc.co.uk

AN ENGLISH TEST - IF SUDESTE - MG / 2012.1

2012-02-03T16:13:00.000-03:00

Text 1: Johnny Depp the Pirate

Johnny Depp is a wonderfully versatile actor. He can play serious roles, but his comic talent is particularly evident in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He is Jack Sparrow, a character whose mannerisms and style of speech are based on those of the Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards. Depp is American, but his British accent is perfect!

Such is the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that a fourth film, On Stranger Tides, was released. But Depp admits that initially he had reservations about the idea of doing a fourth Pirates movie.

Speak Up magazine - Issue 288, August 2011.

1. According to the text, Johnny Depp’s character in the film is:

a) a pirate who is finishing his second film.

b) a Rolling Stone guitarist playing a comic role.

c) a pirate with a lot of comic mannerisms.

d) a versatile actor playing a serious role.

e) Keith Richards, an American guitarist.

2. In line 6, the pronoun he refers to:

a) the Pirates of the Caribbean.

b) Stranger Tides.

c) the fourth film.

d) Depp.

e) the success.

3. In the sentence “he can play serious roles” (line 1). The modal verb can expresses the idea of:

a) suggestion.

b) permission.

c) obligation.

d) prohibition.

e) ability.

Text 2: Interview with David Crystal by Jack Scholes

JS: Why has English become a global language?

DC: A language becomes international or global for one reason only – the power of the people who speak it. But of course ‘power’ means different things at different times. In the case of English, the language has spread as a result of a combination of political/military power (the British Empire), scientific/ technological power (the Industrial Revolution), economic power (pounds, and later dollars), and cultural power (broadcasting, travel, films, pop songs, internet…).

JS: What are some of the most important consequences of the fact that English is now a

global language with more non-native speakers than native speakers using it?

DC: Language has no existence apart from the people who speak it. It exists to express their world and their vision of it. Any language which comes to be used globally has to adapt to allow this to happen, in the form of new words, idioms, patterns of discourse, pronunciations and so on. New varieties of English (‘new Englishes’) is the inevitable result.

SCHOLES, Jack. Interview with David Crystal. In: New Routes, São Paulo: Disal

4. According to David Crystal, English has become a global language because of:

a) a combination of political, scientific, economic and cultural power.

b) different things at different times.

c) a combination of international languages.

d) the spread of English courses.

e) the British Empire and the American money.

5. Match the words in column 1 according to their meanings in column 2, then choose the CORRECT alternative:

I. reason (line 2) ( ) permit

II. allow (line 12) ( ) occur

III. spread (line 4) ( ) motive

IV. happen (line 12) ( ) disseminate

a) II, IV, I, III

b) IV, I, III, II

c) I, II, III, IV

d) II, IV, III, I

e) III, IV, II, I

6. By reading the interview we can infer all the following statements, EXCEPT:

a) a language expresses the world and the vision of the people who speak it.

b) a language adapts itself to different speakers.

c) songs, films, internet are some of the reasons English has become globally used.

d) there are more non-native speakers than native speakers using English.

e) people and language are separated in their existence.

ANDERSON SILVA - AN MMA STAR

2012-02-03T15:06:00.000-03:00

Anderson Silva (nicknamed The Spider) was born on April 14, 1975 in Curitiba, Brazil.

According to an article in Fight! Magazine, Anderson’s poor mother left him and his older brother with her sister’s family in Curitiba, Brazil when he was only four years old. Silva’s aunt and uncle, therefore, found themselves supporting five children on a police officer’s salary.

His family was unable to afford expensive lessons in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at that time. “When I started out, Jiu-Jitsu was really an elite thing in Brazil, and there was some prejudice towards poorer kids, so I had to learn things on my own,” he told Fight! Magazine. “Some of my neighbors started doing Jiu-Jitsu, so I started watching it, and then started rolling with them. It wasn’t organized training, but it was better than nothing.”

Despite this, Anderson's supportive family did find the money to pay for Tae Kwon Do lessons (age 12). He then moved onto Capoeira before settling on Muay Thai by the age of 16.

Though Anderson Silva indicates that he lost his first bout to Fabricio Marango, this fight does not appear on his official record. Officially, Silva lost his first bout to Luiz Azeredo in a Meca World Vale Tudo event by decision. In his next fight within the same organization, he knocked out Jose Barreto after only 1:06 had gone by in the initial round.

Anderson joined Brazil’s famed Chute Box Academy, the training camp that Wanderlei Silva, amongst many others, had once been a part of. Chute Box had simply been impressed with his raw talent. Along with this, he developed a reasonable ground game while with them and continued on the course to becoming one of the most feared strikers in the game.

Anderson´s MMA career took a nice turn when he won nine straight fights between 2000-03. Along the way, he defeated the well-respected Hayato Sakurai by decision to become the Shooto Middleweight Champion.

He went a mediocre 3-2 while fighting for the PRIDE Fighting Championships. Along the way in 2003, he and Chute Box parted ways over a bitter money argument. Later, Silva heard that Chute Box ordered PRIDE to refrain from giving him any fights or they would pull superstar Wanderlei Silva from their roster. That’s when Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira offered a friendly hand to train with him.

To say that a new and improved Anderson Silva came to the UFC on June 28, 2006, is an understatement. Anderson Silva simply destroyed Chris Leben, a tough fighter, in his UFC debut after only 49 seconds by way of knockout. Then he blew former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin out of the water with his dangerous Muay Thai clinch after only 2:59 had gone by. Next up, he fought his way back from near defeat against Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace Travis Lutter, only to end up submitting him. An MMA star was born.

UNITOPIA - A GREAT BAND FROM AUSTRALIA

2012-01-27T18:21:00.001-03:00

The word unitopia means living together as one in a place of ideal perfection especially in law, government and social conditions.

Unitopia are one of Australian´s most exciting progressive rock bands. Based in Adelaide, they began their successful career in 2005 with the release of the CD More than a dream. They say that their music is dedicated to a hurting world and they truly believe that world peace and the love of all mankind are attained goals.

Unitopia is a musical adventure comprising the vocal and song writing skills of Mark Trueack, the production, song writing, keyboard & vocal skills of Sean Timms, the guitar & vocal prowess of Matt Williams, the bass and vocal talents of Shireen Khemlani, the combined drum / percussion batteries of Monty Ruggiero and Tim Irrgang and the remarkable multi-instrumentalism of Mike Stewart.

Unitopia endeavors to draw from the heart and soul of the listener, thought provoking topics such as environmental awareness, political and social upheaval, media misrepresentation, the hectic pace of life and human relationships in a positive and uplifting light. Using a progressive rock framework as a basis for Sean and Mark’s compositions, the pair quickly established a great writing rapport, extending the style to include elements of world, classical, heavy rock and dance.

Unitopia began when a mutual friend introduced Mark Trueack and Sean Timms after realizing the two had similar musical tastes. In late 1996, the duo began work on a track which was to become "Take Good Care" and a songwriting partnership developed that led to the band's debut album More Than a Dream, which included contributions from conductor/arranger Timothy Sexton and the Adelaide Art Orchestra, Pat Schirippa, Constantine Delo, Bradley Polain and Ian 'Polly' Politis.

Two of their songs that I like very much (among others) are Tesla and Nothing lasts forever:

1 - “Tesla” takes its name from Nikola Tesla, the Croatian inventor who is credited with inventing “Artificial Intelligence”. A very complex man who had trouble relating to people, preferring the company of pigeons. Tela´s history can be mirrored in modern life, with the diminishing of human contact in a world of unlimited wonder and technological advancements. Obsessively compulsive, reclusive and self-alienating, he shut himself off from the rest of the world at times, but was also widely known for his showmanship, presenting his innovations and demonstrations almost like a magician.

Here is the lyrics:

“Like a flash of lightning, in an instant the truth was revealed.” (Nikola Tesla – 1856-1943)

Born at the stroke of midnight
Darkness was filling the skies
Thunder and lightning
The cry of a child
The birth of a mind that would rise

Son of a man of faith he’d find
Blessed with enquiring mind
Troubled and tested
Obsessive, compulsive
Numbers divided by three of a kind

Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light

Baubles and jewels, repulsive and crude
Fear of the others unclean
Childhood remembered
Balanced and centered
Order from chaos precisely pursued

Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colourful beams of light

Alternating currents and radio waves
Father of the art of Telautomatics
Unusual signals, abnormal life
The ranting and raving of a brilliant fanatic

Machinery driven by a power obtained
From any point in the universe
Fluorescent light globes and cosmic rays
Now let me present to you ‘The Egg of Columbus’

Like a beggar clothed in purple, that people take for king
Are all the theories and formulae, the downward spiraling
Fascinates and dazzles, causing all to go blind
With underlying errors, but a trick of the mind

Confusing metaphysics with pursuit of the truth
Clawing at the rubble for the fountain of youth
Alternating, compensating, re-create the soul
Madman, revolutionary, all parts of the whole

We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole

Showmanship and magic tricks, conjuring the dream
Unending thirst for knowledge carries us downstream
Alienating, complicating, with no self control
All for one and none for all, all parts of the whole

We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole

Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light

Where’s the ghost in the machine?
Where’s the life blood for the dream?
Have we missed the opportunity to live forever?
In the next ten thousand years
Will we sow and reap with tears?
Does it matter that we reach each new endeavour?

2 - “Nothing lasts forever” is Unitopia´s tribute to “the boys from Liverpool” (The Beatles). It is a song that asks the question: “Were things better before all of this wonderful technology and progress came along?”

And here is the lyrics:

We’re really making up for the dark ages
In today’s enlightened times
Everything running at the speed of light
No time for close contact…no time.

Five hundred years with barely a thought
Labeled a heretic, burned at the stake
Constant derision, judgment and fear
How far have we really come? What difference does it make?

Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever

Avatars won’t hide the scars deep inside
They’re just a cry from the heart
Gentle tears and countless years are wasted…wasted…wasted.
When your life is falling apart

Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever

Nothing…nothing lasts forever

THE MAN WITH NO FACE

2011-12-22T08:33:00.002-03:00

A victim of horrific facial disfigurement - known as "the man with no face" – has been given new hope by the advancement of medical science.
Jose Mestre, from Lisbon, Portugal, has been losing his face to a huge growth for the past 35 years, distorting it out of all recognition - and it's still growing.

One of the pictures above shows Jose aged 14 when the tumor was still small and as he is now.

The tumor on 51-year-old Jose's face is a collection of blood vessels that have expanded, producing a raised red area on the skin.

Jose was born with a strawberry-coloured birthmark on his upper lip. At puberty it began growing, eventually smothering his lips, nose and one of his eyes. Now it is 33cm long and weighs 3kg.
But Jose's religious faith - as a Jehovah's Witness he refuses to accept a blood transfusion - has prevented him from having surgery to remove the growth.
Jose's rare condition was the subject of a Discovery Channel TV documentary 'The Man With No Face', part of the 'My Shocking Story' series.
It reveals how top medical experts in London have now held out hope of helping Jose, a well-known figure around the streets of Lisbon.
A leading British surgeon has offered to treat Jose using ultrasound waves to coagulate the blood before the operation.
This should remove the risk of heavy bleeding - satisfying his religious beliefs about blood transfusions in the process.
Discovery Channel said: "Surrounded by a loving family, it seems incredible that he has not been treated and his face was allowed to grow so big. However, through years of medical misinformation, some misdiagnosis, lack of finances, and reluctance to undergo treatment due to religious beliefs, the growth has continued to obliterate his face."
In this journey of a lifetime he travels by train, via Paris, to Britain, to meet the top experts in London. He goes through a series of tests, consultations, and meets other patients with a similar affliction. In London he also spends time with his sister Guida and the rest of his family, enjoys being a tourist in London, while making the biggest decision of his life.

Above: Jose Mestre and his sister Guida in London.

Jose's dream is to live a long and normal life. Following the showing of the Discovery documentary he continues to adhere to his 'no blood transfusion' religious principles. But he has agreed to go back to the London hospital in 2008, when doctors hope to carry out specialist surgery to begin removing parts of his tumor, without the need for blood transfusions.

Adapted from: thatsweird.net

UEMA 2012 - A VERY EASY TEST

2011-11-23T07:33:00.002-03:00

Not far from the tree

By Mariana de Viveiros

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So, the son of a circus performer is likely to be also an artist himself. 12-year-old Matheus Felipe Jesus Silva was born in the circus. That is, ever since he was a baby, he’s lived in a trailer (a mobile home pulled by a car or a truck). His mother is a ballet dancer at CircoSpacial, where Matheus himself is also a performer since the age of 3.
He started doing presentations with clowns and nowadays he is a trapeze artist (just like his dad, who works in Europe), equilibrist and acrobat.
As the circus travels all over Brazil, Matheus changes schools very often. He studies in the morning, has rehearsals in the afternoon and, at weekends, he performs in the circus ring.
He says that this routine doesn’t disturb his studies and he wants to graduate in Physical Education. “But I want to work in the circus forever.” On account of the mobility of his life and his outgoing nature, Matheus makes new friends wherever he goes and keeps in touch with them through the internet. “Kids think that I have a peculiar way of life and come to the circus to watch my show,” he adds.
On his days off, he likes to go to the movies, to the mall and to shows. Read on to see his favorite film, book, CD and website.
Revista TAM Kids, julho/agosto 2011.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE TEXT
1. One may say that Matheus
a) spends most of his time watching films and reading books.
b) will become the owner of the circus in a vey short future.
c) has vowed to act just like his father.
d) has no longer the wish of working as a circus performer in the future.
e) is an easy-going guy and gets acquainted well with others.

2. Which means of communication does Matheus usually use to get in touch with his pals?
a) Mail.
b) Phone.
c) Internet.
d) Post-office.
e) Letters.

3. How long has Matheus been working at the CircoSpacial?
a) For 9 years.
b) For 3 years.
c) For 12 years.
d) Since he was born.
e) Since his mother has delivered him.

4. One can relate ...”mobility of his life...” to the words
a) clowns and kids.
b) trucks and trailers.
c) circus and ballet dancers.
d) cars and lack of routine.
e) movies and new friends.

5. Which option pictures Matheus’ leisure?
a) mall x dancing.
b) presentation x studies.
c) sports x internet.
d) movies x shows.
e) book x circus ring.

6. What does Matheus’ father do for a living?
a) An acrobat.
b) An equilibrist.
c) A trapeze artist.
d) A clown.
e) A trailer driver.

7. The proverb “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” is equivalent in Portuguese to option
a) “O que não é visto, não é lembrado”.
b) “Pau que nasce torto, morre torto”.
c) “Elecaiu de maduro”.
d) “Quem nasce para maçã, nunca chega a uva”.
e) “Filho de peixe, peixinho é” .

8. The morphological function of the word “studies” as in
I-“He studies in the morning”
II-“...this routine doesn’t disturb his studies...”
is, respectively,
a) adverb/verb.
b) noun/verb.
c) adjective/adverb.
d) verb/noun.
e) adverb/noun.

NEM WAS FINALLY ARRESTED! WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?

2011-11-14T09:42:00.001-03:00

On November 10th, Rio police arrested Antonio Francisco Bomfim Lopes, alias Nem, the drug lord of Rocinha, the city's biggest slum as they get ready to take control of the area from drug traffickers, in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
Wednesday at dawn, about 50 men from the military police's Special Forces blocked a road leading to the Rocinha slum, controlled by drug traffickers for 30 years, to search all incoming vehicles.
All in preparation for pacification operation expected this coming weekend. Two other drug traffickers were also arrested: "Peixe" and "Coelho," the latter being the right-hand man of Nem.
Built on a steep hillside overlooking the "Marvelous City" and located between two wealthy neighborhoods, Rocinha is home to 150,000 people and is a drug trafficking bastion. Police said Rocinha will become the 19th favela to be ridden of traffickers who have been in control for the past 30 years.
Since 2008, authorities in Rio, which has one of the highest murder rates in the country, have been in a race to restore security in the city before the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics which Brazil will host.
Local press reports and some residents said police were expected to make their move Sunday. Their aim, according to the newspaper O Dia, was to "snuff out drug trafficking" before the assault by security forces backed by commandos and naval armored vehicles.
In another sign that the police assault was imminent, local drug baron Nem, on Sunday gave a farewell party and imposed a curfew on Rocinha.
Police had offered a 2,900-dollar-reward for information leading to the capture of Nem, who reportedly had to be treated at a local health clinic after he drank liquor mixed with ecstasy at Sunday's farewell party.
Endemic and chronic urban violence has long sullied the image of Rio, where more than 1.5 million people (a third of the city's population) live in 1,000 slums spread throughout the city.
But what the Brazilian population really wants is the answer for the following question: When will the corrupt policemen be arrested?

Vocabulary:
alias – vulgo
slum – favela
dawn – madrugada
the latter – o segundo (dentre dois elementos citados)
the right-hand man – o braço direito (homem de confiança)
steep hillside – encosta íngreme
wealthy neighborhooods – bairros ricos
bastion – baluarte, fortaleza
aim – objetivo
snuff out – extinguir
assault – ataque
farewell - despedida
curfew – toque de recolher
sullied – manchou, manchado (a imagem)
spread – espalhadas
throughout – por todo (a)

MATISYAHU

2011-11-03T07:36:00.002-03:00

Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Jewish reggae musician. He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and grew up in White Plains, New York. When he was in high school he returned to religious observance following a trip to Israel. Upon his return to the U.S., he left school and starting reggae and hip-hop. When he was 19, he moved to New York and enrolled in university at the New School for Social Research and also started attending a synagogue regularly. After meeting with a rabbi, he also decided to change his name to Matisyahu. Since then he divides his time between studying in a yeshiva and performing in New York clubs.

Matisyahu's music, which is a mix of influences ranging from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach to Bob Marley, can be described as Hasidic reggae that deals mainly with faith in God and brotherhood among people (a characteristic in reggae music of all kinds). Matisyahu frequently deals in his songs with the personal change he underwent and his life as a religious Jew in a modern society.

Here is one of his songs:

And here is the lyrics:

One Day

Sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
and pray

Don't take me soon
cause I'm here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
So my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because

All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play
one day

It's not about
win or loose
because we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pain
keep on moving though the water's staging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play

one day
one day this all will change
treat poeple the same
stop with the violence
down the the pain
one day we'll all be free

and proud to be
under the same
singing songs of freedom

one day
all my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
and our children will play

one day
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

Here´s another great song: King without a crown

WEIRD LAWS

2011-10-24T00:40:00.000-03:00

The law system in the world dates back to ancient Egypt, in 300 BC. In earlier times, the word of the king/ruler was considered as law. Today, laws are formed after a number of discussions and public opinion surveys, and are lengthy procedures. Even then, we come across some strange laws and rules that leave us quite surprised and bemused. Here are some of them:

1. In Kentucky, US, every citizen is required by law to take a bath at least once a year.

2. In Saudi Arabia, a woman reportedly may divorce her husband if he does not keep her supplied with coffee.

3. In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.

4. Until the 1960's men with long hair were not allowed to enter Disneyland.

5. Tipping at a restaurant in Iceland is considered an insult.

6. The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

7. Moscow weathermen can be fined for inaccurate weather forecasting!

8. It is illegal to own a red car in Shanghai, China.

9. It is illegal to purchase or consume Jack Daniel's Whiskey in the town in which it is produced!

10. It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if her name is Mary.

11. In West Virginia if you run over an animal, you can legally take it home and cook it for dinner!

12. In Singapore, it is illegal to sell or own chewing gum.

13. In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad.

14. In France, it is legal to marry a dead person!

15. In Cleveland, Ohio it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license.

16. In Bangladesh, kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals!

17. In ancient England a person could not have sex unless s/he had consent of the King.

18. In 1659, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts.

19. Dueling is legal in Paraguay, as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

20. According to U.S. laws, a beer commercial can never show a person actually drinking beer.

CHINGLISH - ENGLISH (BADLY) SPOKEN IN CHINA

2011-10-21T11:27:00.001-03:00

With so many English-speaking tourists and businessmen traveling to China nowadays, the Chinese have to translate their signs to help visitors. However, sometimes the message gets lost and the results can be very amusing. Take a look at these signs:

STEVE JOBS, APPLE VISIONARY, DIES AGED 56

2011-10-12T18:01:00.000-03:00

Steve Jobs made technology fun. The co-founder of Apple died on October 5, 2011 at the age of fifty-six. Mr Jobs had announced he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004 and fought for all these years against it (He had a liver transplant five years later). Mourners gathered outside his house in Palo Alto, California, and Apple stores around the world.

Tim Bajarin is president of Creative Strategies, said: "If you actually look at a tech leader, they’re really happy if they have one hit in their life. Steve Jobs has the Apple II, the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and Pixar.”

Steve Jobs was a college dropout. He was adopted by a machinist and his wife, an accountant. They supported his early interest in electronics.

He and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer - now just called Apple - in 1976. They stayed at the company until 1985. That year, Steve Wozniak returned to college and Steve Jobs left in a dispute with the chief executive.

Mr. Jobs then formed his own company, called NeXT Computer. He rejoined Apple in 1997 after it bought NeXT. He helped remake Apple from a business that was in bad shape then to one of the most valuable companies in the world today.

Steve Wozniak, Apple´s co-founder, remembered his longtime friend as a "great visionary and leader" and a "marketing genius."

President Obama said in a statement: "By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," said Mr. Obama."

David Carroll is a professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City. He says Steve Jobs not only revolutionized technology, he also revolutionized American business. He sais: “The fact that he was able to redesign American commerce top to bottom and across is really stunning. He probably will be considered an industrial giant on the scale of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, so one of the great of all time.”

Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple's chief executive in August 2011 because of his health.

Apple's new chief, Tim Cook, will also have to deal with the new Kindle Fire tablet computer from Amazon.com. It costs less than half as much as an iPad but also does less.

TESTING YOUR ENGLISH

2011-10-04T12:21:00.005-03:00

YOUR SONG

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

By Bernie Taupin (lyrics) and Elton John (music)

1. Which alternative is false?

The author of the song says that his feelings _____________________ .

a) are noticed very easily

b) are difficult for him to disguise

c) aren´t hidden easily

d) are shown to everybody

e) are never noticed by anyone

2. In “My gift is my song and this one's for you”, the word ONE is being used to replace:

a) song

b) this

c) gift

d) my

e) first

3. What did the author do to show his love?

a) He became a sculptor

b) He bought a big house

c) He sat on the roof

d) He wrote a song

e) He became a traveler

4. “I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses they've got me quite cross”

How many verbs are there in the sentences above?

a) one

b) two

c) three

d) four

e) Five

5. What is the meaning of “.... put down in words”?

a) to write

b) to read

c) to spell

d) to sing

e) to speak

6. In “Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen”, the relative pronoun was omitted. The ommision can also occur in one of these sentences about Rock in Rio 2011.

a) Elton John was one of the artists who sang in Rock in Rio on September 23, 2011.

b) The band that ended the second night was Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

c) Tico Santa Cruz was an artist who spoke about the corrupt politicians in Brazil during the show of his band.

d) Mariana Aydar was the singer that Snow Patrol invited to sing with them.

e) Coldplay was the band which followed Maroon 5 on October 1, 2011.

QUESTIONS BASED ON CARTOONS AND PHOTOS:

7. In the cartoon above, the fish is lying in a hammock and the mother:

a) preferred a bed.

b) told it not to sleep there.

c) thought it was a fishing net.

d) did not say anything.

e) was not worried at first.

8. “I don´t care...” is the same as _____________ .

a) I don´t like

b) I don´t want

c) I don´t take care.

d) I don´t think

e) I don´t mind

9. In the santence above, charms is a false cognate because it means amuletos. Which alternative has words that are NOT false cognates?

a) actually – physician

b) exit – expert

c) attend - pretend

d) consider – vomit

e) data – beef

10. The little girl wants to ________________ her brother.

a) help

b) give a Christmas present to

c) get rid of

d) see Santa Claus with

e) be with

11. The relative pronoun who could be replaced by ________.

a) which

b) that

c) whose

d) whom

e) why

12. The personal pronoun him refers to ______________.

a) the girl

b) Santa Claus

c) the boy

d) the tree

e) the shirt

13. What does the father mean by saying that?

a) His son will never get married.

b) His son will not give anything with his ex-wife.

c) His son´s ex-wife will be the owner of all that.

d) His son´s ex-wife won´t have anything from him.

e) His son and his son´s wife will work together.

14. On the billboard, someone wrote “neds to come out of the closet”. The correct form is “needs to come out of the closet”. What does the expression come out of the closet mean?

a) to leave the bedroom

b) to go out somewhere

c) to show his/her homosexuality publicly

d) to hide his/her homosexuality

e) to be a bisexual

15. The words beverages and pregnancy mean ________ and ________.

a) bêbados – grávidas

b) bêbados – gravidez

c) bebidas – gravidez

d) bebidas – grávida

e) beber - engravidar

16. According to the sign above, people must:

a) not drink that water because there´s crap in it.

b) drink the water because the fish drink it too.

c) not drink the water although it´s not contaminated.

d) not wash their hands with that water because it´s not clean.

e) drink it because it´s good for them.

17. In the picture above, Smudge was trying to fly a __________ .

a) rope

b) line

c) pipe

d) parrot

e) kite

18. Tailor is a person ________________________________ .

a) whose occupation is sailing or navigation

b) employed by the post office to deliver mail

c) collects trash for removal in a truck

d) responsible for finding homeless dogs

e) whose occupation is the making, mending or altering of clothes

19. When the man says “but I did”, the auxilary did is being used to replace _____________ .

a) send

b) sent

c) sends

d) will send

e) would send

20. How come is used as a pronoun. It´s the same as _______ .

a) What

b) Why

c) Who

d) Where

e) When

PS - For the answer key, doubts or comments about the questions you can use the blog or email me at miltonfranca2010@hotmail.com

THREE EXPRESSIONS WITH BEANS

2011-09-27T12:58:00.002-03:00

I haven't got a bean – I don´t have any money at all

To be full of beans – to be energetic, lively, in high spirits

To spill the beans – to reveal a secret prematurely

* People from different parts of the world wrote sentences using these three idioms. As they are learners of English, we can notice spelling and grammar mistakes in some of them.

Carina, Uruguay
Oh dear I haven't got a bean! Ask your father please! Every weekend my son gets up full of beans and wake me up!

Hana, Korea

I'm full of beans whenever i hang out with my mates. but at work, well, tons of work sometimes make me a bit down.
Lan, Viet Nam
Every morning, when I wake up, I am full of beans. I think, I can do every thing without being tired. But now, I can not get another my English couses in a language centre any more because I have not got a Beans.
Lovell, China
When I take part in the meeting, I feel I'm full of beans.You should be careful when someone spill the beans on you, because that's maybe just a rumor.If I want not to buy something for my wife, I will say "I haven't got abean.
Joong , Vietnam
Hello , everybody , I've learnt 3 idioms . Now I haven't got a bean but I'm full of beans .
Bea, Colombia
I am full of beans soon after I have drank a cup of Colombian Coffee. I want to spill the beans with all people about of it. Nonetheless here in Belgium the Colombian coffee is very expensive and when I am not working I haven't got a bean for buy it. .
Victoria, Colombia
What if I spill the beans with you now that I'm in the middle of my undergrade at university?, I want to work because I haven't got a bean, because I have a lot of beans to do my things on my own. Wish me luck
Ion, Colombia
A secret: I`m full of beans when I take a shower and eat fish, especially at night but, sometimes, I haven`t got any bean to buy fish.
Fulbio, Colombia
i`m not full of beans when i have to use the computers because i don`t like them, besides i haven`t got a bean becase they cost me a lot, on the other hand for my work i can`t spill the beans because my clients get angry.
Debora, New York
Its a awfull time to spill the beans of my life, but I must do it...I haven't got a bean for the past four months because I cannot find a job, so I'm studying days and nights to improve my English to be able to find a job...sometimes I study full of beans.
Lee, China
I am full of beans at night to learn english. But I can not spill beans to my girl friend because she do not want me stay up to night.
Carla, Peru
Although it's past midnight and I have to work tomorrow at 7 in the morning I'm full of beans because I love my job...I work in a school with primary level...and my children are lovely!!!....but I also work in the evenings otherwise i wouldn't have a bean to do one of my favourite hobbies.....go dancing!!!.....
Sergio, Venezuela
When I am full of beans, I need to spent a lot of money shopping at the mall, but I always haven't got a bean for that, but if I spill the beans to my friends, they will give me a bean of money AND I am ready to....
Tracy, China
I like these three idioms. This make me feel full of beans.
Bean, Vietnam
I feel very blue today because the weather in my place is not good for health. But another day I am full of beans to study English and chatting. I have not got a bean because I have just given my good position up, refuse a offer of a new job. I have never let spill the beans.
Min, Korea
When I was young, I used to spend money eating something with my frinds on my way home. One day I hadn't got a bean, becase of spending all my money buying cookies. So I had to walk to my home an hour from my school.
Agnes, Poland
I'm going to be full of beans tonight, couse I will go to the party :)
Rose, South Korea
My mum is my best friend.I can even spill the beans to my mum.
Arturo, Mexico
Well, actually, I am not full of beans mostly becuase I have to work ten hours at day and then, after work just I want to get home and rest for the rest of the day, but I really would like to have a lot of energy and do many things that I can't do right now.
Hajra, Pakistan
Some people are really lively and full of beans.I dont know about myself,I won't spill the beans.
Orhan,Turkey
Nowadays I haven't got a bean because of not having a job.When i find a job i am sure i'll be full of beans. Unfortunately I haven't got a bean to go and study in England even though I m full of beans!!!
Ana Paula, Brazil
I've been full of beans because the Sao Paulo International Films Festival has started. So many good films to see, and so little money to spend on it. Well, you can guess that by the end of the festival I haven't got a bean in my pocket, but I was happy because at least I could watch the films that I was eager to see.
Alfonso, Spain
Hi teacher:I am not full of beans to learn English but I want to learn English. I need to motivate myself.Do you have any advace?
Victoria, Mexico
The night before the release of the last book from the harry Potter series I was full of beans. I just couldn't wait till the moment I could get the book and find out if my theories about Harry and his friends. Unfortunately, many people in the web spilled the beans about the end of the book. That was terrible!
Burma
I was full of beans before going to the supermarket for shopping. But, after being in the crowded shops for one hour, I got exhausted and to spill the beans to you, I haven't had a bean left in my purse.
Vidyasekaran, India
My Life is full of ups and downs. when i feel financially safe I seem to be full of beans. On the other hand i feel very much depressed if i haven't got a bean.
Katarina, Ukraine
I have been looking for a wedding ring for my boyfriend nearly for a month and I was really full of beans being busy with this not easy work. Two days ago I showed the ring to my granny and asked her not to spill the beans about it. Today I came to a jewelry to buy that beautiful ring and found that I hadn't got a bean. The only person who could help me was my old but the best granny in all the world. And she did it!
Miss B, Tunisia
I want to spill the beans: whenever I am full of beans, I want to go shopping.Consequently, I won't have a bean even to drink a coffee!!
Rissgita, Indonesia
I start working at 7 a.m . During the day ,I'm full of beans to accomplished my job promptly.My wife told me that she hadn't got a bean for dinner...so I spilled the bean to my friend to lend me some money
Oriana, Italy
Every time I go out I'm looking for the cheaper food to eat,the cheaper dress to wear ,the cheaper place to go to dance to...I always think to myself I haven't got a bean!!!The only thing that can make me laugh and smile,when I stay at home in the week-end, is spilling the beans about what happened to my little sister,who is very funny at any rates.Then,when she discovers that I told something funny about her to the other members of my family, she has a sudden rush of anger towards me...Luckily she's an 8-year-old girl,and she can't hurt me that much,anyway I have to admit she's really full of beans when she beats me!!!
Nadda Chitchulanon, Thailand
I have been taking a nap for three hours today,I'm full of beans! I can work in the garage for the rest of the day.
Anna Pham, Vietnam
I am a student so I haven't got a bean. However, I am full of beans to study. Spill the beans that "practice makes perfect"
Niema, Libya
I had long day at university today ,I was full of beans at the start of the day ,at 1pm I decided to buy some thing to eat because i was hungry but i found that I have not got bean!!! I forgot my money at home.

Adapted from www.bbc.co.uk by Milton França

A 90-year-old Brazilian man fathers 50 children

2011-09-21T15:41:00.000-03:00

Luiz Costa de Oliveira, a retired farm worker, had 17 children with his first wife before she died. He then remarried to Maria Francisca da Silva, 64, with whom he had another 17 children. But during the course of his second marriage he also had a long affair with his wife’s sister Ozelita Francisca da Silva, 58, who gave birth to 15 of his children.

He even had a fling with his mother-in-law Francisca Maria da Silva, 89, which also resulted in a child. "The best thing God made in the world was women," said Mr Oliveira, who lives in Campo Grande in the northern state of Rio Grande do Norte. “I could even have other children and not know it because I always liked to go out with women.”

“I don’t know all the names, but I know that I have many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren scattered around,” he added.

Mr Oliveira’s second wife and sister-in-law said that his secret was that he was always kind to women. Some of his children died during their poverty-stricken childhood. But he can now boast more than 100 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Many still live in three houses near to Luiz's.

The OAP, who hasn't smoked or touched alcohol for 40 years, admitted he doesn't know the name of all his clan. He still remembers working hard on the land by day and racking up conquests by night. ''I hardly make love anymore these days, even though I'm in good health. But I still remember how wonderful it is to be in bed with a woman.'

Second wife Maria Francisca added: 'Luiz's only hobby was making love’.

Adapted from www.telegaraph.co.uk and www.dailymail.co.uk by Milton França

401K, 24/7 AND OTHER IDIOMS WITH NUMBERS

2011-09-09T20:11:00.004-03:00

In the previous text, you can see the idiom 401K in the sentence: “We have no health insurance. We have no 401K. We have no retirement fund. We have nothing after 9/11.”

What does the idiomatic expression 401K mean?

It´s a method by which the workers in a company can save money for their retirement by having an amount of money saved from their paychecks over a long period of time.

Here are other idioms with numbers in English:

all-in-one - combined, all the necessary features of something in one unit

all in one breath - spoken rapidly while one is very excited

all in one piece - safely, without damage

as busy as a one-armed paperhanger - very busy

as phony as a three-dollar Bill - phony, false, not genuine

at sixes and sevens - in a state of confusion

at the eleventh hour - at the last possible moment

back to square one - back to where one started

by the dozens - many, by a large number

catch-22 - a situation in which whatever decision is made the outcome will have negative consequences, a basically no-win situation

catch forty winks - to take a nap, to get some sleep

divide (something) fifty-fifty - to divide something into two equal parts

dressed to the nines - to be dressed in one's best clothes

feel like a million bucks/dollars - to feel great, to feel well and healthy

get the third degree - to be questioned in great detail about something

Give me five! - Hit me with your hand to show that you are happy about something.

in one ear and out the other - ignored, not listened to or not heard

in two minds about (something) - to be undecided about something

It/that makes two of us. - The same thing is true for me.

kill two birds with one stone - to achieve two objectives with one effort or action

know a trick or two - to know a special way to deal with a problem

like two peas in a pod - very close or intimate, very similar

nine times out of ten - almost always

nine-to-five job - a routine job in an office that involves standard office hours (usually 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM)

on all fours - on one's hands and knees

on cloud nine - very happy about something

once in a while - occasionally, infrequently

one at a time - individually

one for the road - one last drink (usually of alcohol) before one leaves for home

a one-night stand – a date that lasts only one night

six feet under - dead and buried

six of one and half a dozen of the other - there is little difference between two things or situations

three R's - the three basic skills in school - reading, (w)riting, (a)rithmetic

three sheets to the wind - drunk

two heads are better than one - two people working together can achieve better results than one person working alone

two-time (someone) - to cheat on one's partner by seeing someone else

two's company, three's a crowd - two people (usually a couple on a date) are happier when nobody else is around

twenty-four seven (24/7) – open all the time, twenty-four hours a day

Ten years after September 11 attacks, how life has changed

2011-09-09T10:55:00.002-03:00

Almost three 3,000 people were killed in the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Early that morning, terrorists hijacked four passenger airplanes. Two planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City. Another hit the Pentagon building, just across the river from Washington, D.C. Passengers on the fourth plane are said to have fought the hijackers. Their plane crashed on a field in western Pennsylvania.

The victims were from the United States and many other nations. It was the worst terrorist attack in American history. But for many people, the event does not feel like history. Today, we hear some of the ways the 9/11 attacks changed lives around the world.

The attack on the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers not only destroyed those buildings, it changed the personality of the surrounding neighborhood. In the past ten years, the area has moved away from its business centered past to a family friendly area now called the Diaper District.

Stephanie Hryckowian is the daughter of a Ukrainian immigrant who owned the Beekman Deli. The family business served office workers from the Twin Towers for twenty-five years. Then, the 9/11 attacks changed her life forever. She remembers her reaction to the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden: “When the president said they got Osama, I sat there crying, because I was so happy.”

Nearby is one of the office buildings formerly served by the Beekman Deli. Like many older buildings in Lower Manhattan, its businesses left after the September 11 attacks. It was then developed into housing. Lower Manhattan is now home to fifty-six thousand people. That is more than two times the number it had ten years ago.

Real estate agent Luis Vazquez is among the newcomers. He says: “Today, the Financial District has the highest concentration of households with children in the city."

There are so many families in Manhattan´s Financial District that The New York Times newspaper has called the area the Diaper District. It is not uncommon to see mothers pushing baby strollers down the side streets.

Jocelyn Zoland is a mother. She saw one of the planes strike the World Trade Center. She says: “It’s nice to see that in the shadow of that there are all these children and there are all these activities, and it has become a wonderful destination. We’ll see if things change though.”

Ms. Zoland says that change could include millions of visitors to the area with the completion of a nine eleven museum at Ground Zero. In addition, tens of thousands of office workers will occupy Freedom Tower, a skyscraper being built to replace the Twin Towers.

Many other businesses are still closed. Stephanie Hryckowian says what did not disappear was the Deli’s responsibility to pay taxes and make rent payments through 2004. That cost her 500,000 dollars in savings. She now rents out her home and lives with family members.“We have no health insurance. We have no 401K. We have no retirement fund. We have nothing after 9/11.”

The United States answered the 9/11 attacks with a war against terror. First it sent troops to Afghanistan after the country’s Taliban government refused to expel al-Qaida leaders. Then, United States forces went to Iraq. The American-led invasion led to the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The American collective sense of security changed after the 9/11 attacks. Many Americans now feel vulnerable, not only to more attacks but also to new measures designed to prevent terrorism.

Travelers have faced increased security at airports over the past ten years. Some measures are still being questioned, but traveler Bob Dubois believes they are necessary: “I think it’s something that we need in this day and economy as it is right now with what’s going on. You never know what’s going to happen and the people that are out there, and I think that we need to do this.”

Civil rights activists took legal action against the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this year for reportedly using informants to monitor Muslims. FBI officials would not comment. But officials say they take action only when they suspect criminal behavior.

Ahilan Arulanantham of the American Civil Liberties Union says the FBI’s methods are too invasive. He says the nation’s founding fathers wanted to guarantee basic rights.

Steven Martinez works for the FBI office in Los Angeles. He says the United States still supports the goal of an open society, but the risk of terrorism is real: “If we want to maintain that sense of freedom, we’re always going to have vulnerabilities in places where people gather – theme parks, movie theaters, shopping malls. Those present opportunities for our adversaries and those are very, very difficult to secure.”

www.adapted from voanews.com by Milton França

GISELE BUNDCHEN

2011-09-01T13:21:00.001-03:00

… And God Created Gisele

How does the world’s most successful supermodel—darling of the cameras, advertisers, and tabloids, and worth an estimated $150 million—make her life even more fabulous? By marrying star quarterback Tom Brady, then setting her sights on a higher consciousness. As Gisele Bündchen embarks on her next chapter, the exuberant 28-year-old beauty tells about her secret engagement, the shock of finding out Brady’s ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his baby, and how they’re working out the bi-coastal routine of a new family.

Bounding down the stairs of her Greenwich Village town house to greet a visitor, Gisele Bündchen commands the shock value of a close encounter with a giraffe: you can hardly believe an earthly creature is built this way.

Everything about her is so elongated and slender—those impossibly attenuated limbs! the swanlike neck!—that she seems almost preposterous, like a cartoon figure. Nearly six feet tall by the age of 13, she spent her childhood being teased by classmates who called her Olive Oyl.

But Popeye’s rail-thin girlfriend never tantalized anyone with the luscious curves that catapulted Gisele to stardom in her late teens, replacing the pale, wasted “heroin chic” of that era with “the return of the sexy model.” Since then, the tanned, athletic Brazilian beach babe who seemed born to wear a bikini has become the world’s most successful supermodel, amassing a fortune estimated at $150 million; last year alone, according to Forbes, Gisele earned $35 million. The 16th-richest woman in the entertainment industry, she has been featured on more magazine covers than any other model and has appeared as the face of more than 20 brands internationally, with current contracts including Dior, Versace, Max Factor, Ebel watches, and the Dolce & Gabbana fragrance The One.

At 28, Gisele has already spent 14 years in front of the cameras, not to mention in the gossip columns—and now she’s begun a whole new chapter of her life. On February 26, seven days after our cover was shot, she married New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in a private twilight ceremony at a Catholic church in Santa Monica that was followed by a small gathering at the couple’s home in Brentwood. But Gisele, who once described her ideal wedding as “a simple ceremony,” always knew she didn’t want an enormous extravaganza. “I don’t like parties. I prefer something more intimate, just for the closest people.”

Since Gisele Bundchen became a mother, the Top model has been outspoken when expressing her feelings about motherhood and life. In a recent interview for a recent issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, Gisele talked about the importance of breastfeeding in the first months of a child’s life. Now, Gisele writes first-hand on the impact caused by the comment.

My intention in making a comment about the importance of breastfeeding has nothing to do with the law. It comes from my passion and beliefs about children. Becoming a new mom has brought a lot of questions, I feel like I am in a constant search for answers on what might be the best for my child. It’s unfortunate that in an interview sometimes things can seem so black and white. I am sure if I would just be sitting talking about my experiences with other mothers, we would just be sharing opinions. I understand that everyone has their own experience and opinions and I am not here to judge. I believe that bringing a life into this world is the single most important thing a person can undertake and it can also be the most challenging. I think as mothers we are all just trying our best.

Agree says:

I totally agree with Gisele. I can see the difference between my younger brother and myself. My younger brother was breastfed till he was 2 (which is the recommended length of time) and I was breastfed for about 4 months. I can clearly see the difference this has on our immune systems as my brother is very seldom sick, whereas I get sick very quickly. I would recommend that mothers breastfeed for as long as they can, up to 2 years. I know that some women can’t, due to complications or milk drying up, but if you are by the means, please do breastfeed, its the best gift you can give your child.

Roxane says:

Thank you for making a strong statement in support of breastfeeding. OK, maybe it was not perfectly politically correct but you weren’t wrong. Formula should NOT be about choice. It should be about helping the few babies to survive that truly need it. Breastfeeding has so many benefits for both mother and child that the true scandal is that companies have been allowed to devalue it and market this as some sort of lifestyle choice. It is a travesty. Keep advocating for breastfeeding please. And women who think another woman should not voice an opinion just because she is beautiful are misogynists of the highest order.

Sarah Keith says:

Thank you for your comments Gisele! I appreciate your passion and concern. I believe that the culture of breastfeeding and maternal support around the neonatal time in this country is a very big problem for parents, and I hope that culture will change soon. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that this country has such high rates of anxiety/depression/mental illness AND very little support for breastfeeding and quality maternity/paternity leave for bonding with children…. I’m glad you spoke out and I’m sorry that the haters out there are upset with you for voicing your opinion. I hope we can find a way for mothers to feel good about both working AND parenting, and not feel like they have to choose one or the other– or feel like they aren’t “feminists” if they chose parenting.

Jeannette says:

I praise you for speaking out. Im 28 yrs. old, I have three girls. I wasn’t able to breastfeed my first born for that long. I breastfeed my second baby for eighteen months, and im still feeding my nine month old baby. I have notice the difference between my oldest who wasn’t breastfeed and the ones who where. Coming from a hispanic background I was always told since a child the importance of breastfeeding. My sister is in the army (reserves), and when she leaves for her training I breastfeed her baby girl since they are the same age. Im very happy for you and congratulation on your baby. I wish you both very good health and happiness. Hope you continue breastfeeding for a while, its a great experience!!!!!

Beth says:

I understand exactly what was trying to be said and agree that Breastfeeding is really important and I think it was a shame that the comment was twisted in such a way that an apology was felt to be needed. However I think why a number of people were upset was because some people cannot breast feed. I have a medical condition which meant that I never produced enough milk for my Son. It was heart breaking feeling that I couldn’t give him what I knew was best for him, and made me feel like a failure as a mother. What was worse were the people who told me I should breast feed exclusively and that I was a bad mother because I didn’t. It got so bad that I ended up telling a health care professional that she didn’t know what she was talking about. If I didn’t give my son formula he would die as my milk had dried up. There are a lot of vulnerable women out there in the same position who need support. I think this is probably why it has become such an explosive issue.

Christine says:

Breastmilk is made of NUTRIENTS
Formula of INGREDIENTS
They will never be the same.
You are just stating FACT.
Fact should not make so many people upset.
It is simply the truth.

Adapted from www.blog.giselebundchen.com.br by Milton França

AFTER FOREVER - A BAND FROM HOLLAND

2011-08-21T21:51:00.001-03:00

(Floor Jansen)

After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences, relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009 it was announced that they had disbanded.

After Forever was originally assembled in 1995 under the name Apocalypse, playing music most oriented towards death metal. With the joining of vocalist Floor Jansen in 1997, their style shifted slightly to a more symphonic metal sound in order to give emphasis to her voice. Their line-up at this point comprised Floor Jansen, Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans, Luuk van Gerven, Jack Driessen and Joep Beckers.

In 1999 the band begun composing songs of their own and recorded two demos - entitled Ephemeral and Wings Of Illusion - which eventually drew the attention of the Transmission Records label, with whom the band signed a contract.

Their debut album Prison Of Desire was recorded in 2000, featuring the guest appearance of Sharon den Adel. The album obtained impressive success in Europe. In the end of that year, drummer Andr? Borgman and keyboardist Lando van Gils joined the band, replacing Joep Beckers and Jack Driessen.

(After Forever)

In 2001, the album Decipher was released. Floor Jansen was invited to guest sing in Ayreon, one of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's projects. In 2002 Mark Jansen was fired from After Forever and subsequently assembled the band Epica, being replaced by Bas Maas. In 2003, After Forever released the EP and DVD Exordium.

In 2004, the concept album Invisible Circles was released. In this album, After Forever introduced progressive metal elements to their music. The album reached 26th place in the Dutch Top 100 musical chart. Lando van Gils also left the band and was replaced by Joost van den Broek in the same year.

In early September 2005, the band released their fourth album Remagine This album is available in two versions, an SACD (super audio compact disc) with three bonus songs and as a special edition with a DVD. The DVD contains a photo gallery and a 'making of' documentary.

On March 3, 2006, the band left the Transmission Records label, due to the scarce promotion that the label was providing. By October of the same year After Forever had signed to Nuclear Blast Records.

In the end of 2006 the band recorded their 1st album on the Nuclear Blast label, self titled After Forever, it features guest appearances from Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters and Doro Pesch. Videos of the recording sessions are available for download on the band website. The album was released in April 23, 2007.

In January 2008, After Forever announced on their website that the band would be taking a break of at least a year. In an interview with Ragnar radio, Floor said the band would get together early 2009 to discuss After Forever's future. On February 5th 2009 , After Forever announced that they decided to quit. They realized that they did not feel the energy towards the band anymore.

Nowadays, Floor Jansen is the vocalist of a new band called ReVamp.

Take a look at these two videos (I hope you like them):

Adapted from www.lyricsfreak.com by Milton França

THREE EXPRESSIONS WITH 'DOG'

2011-08-03T08:10:00.000-03:00

1. To be in the dog house - means that someone is angry about something you did (or didn't do).

2. The hair of the dog (that bit you) - an alcoholic drink taken to make you feel better after drinking too much alcohol the night before

3. To make a dog's dinner of something - to make a real mess of something, to do something badly.

People from different parts of the world gave examples of these three expressions. Take a look and try to find spelling or/and grammar mistakes in some of them:

Viviane, France
My sister was 2 hours late to the lunch at my parent's house last Sunday. Now she's in the dog house with then. She told them it was because she had went out on saturday and drank too much. She woke up very late on Sunday and she needed the hair of the dog to recover from her hangover. Sometimes she makes a dog's dinner of her life.

Mehmet Yildiz, Gaziantep, Turkey
looking back on the past,I really had been in the dog house for I was extremely hungover and had the hair of the dog and womited all over the carpets on the ground in a newly-gotten friend's house.I mean it was a nice beginning for making a new friend.Because I made dog dinners of everything.

Gurg, Iceland
hello.. once I dropt a glas on the floor: and week later I dropt a disk on the floor then I was in the dogs house!

Hiroki, Japan
We have some proverbs about alcohol all over the world. One of famous proverbs makes us encourage to drink too much."Good wine makes good blood"We exactly know we can use alcohol as medicines and we had better to have the hair of the dog when we want to drink.But actually I sometime drink too much without any sickness.Anyway I like to drink but I really don't like to go somewhere as I'm in the dog house if I miss any transports because I have too much drinking.

El�n Hulda, Iceland
Hello... Once I was playing in my garden with my friend and we were playing football and I was going to runto the ball and kick it wery wery hard but my friend camed runing to me an instead to kick the ball I kicked her leg and it broke and then I was in the dog house and I was so sorry that I kicked here I started to drink and I drank a lot of alcahole and the day after I wanted the hairof the dog...

Svanur, Iceland
Hello... once I was playing foodball and my friend Hilmar was a idiot and took ball of me. I started to kick him and he started to crying and I walked home an then I was in the dog house

Vidyasekaran, India
Our teacher was in the dog house when One of my friend proved him wrong in the class room. This incident occured when we were studying our Engineering final year course. The teacher couldnot tolerate this and had too much of alcohol and the next day he vomited in his car and made a dogs dinner of something a hair of a dog would have probably helped avoid this incident.

Bb, Mongolia
its very embarrasing to tell about this story to the public, 7 months ago, that was previous day of the examination, i thought i was ready to pass the exam easily and with my some friends i drank several bottle of beers, subseqeuntly i woked up in my friends house without any memory, and then i realized that i played hookey for my exam, finally that semester i was in the dog house, pssss

Dolphin,China
Sarah never get drunk, so she never need the hair of the dog. However, she made a dogs dinner of the final exam last week. That's because she went to the wrong place. She blamed the dog days of summer. And I only hope that she wouldn't be in the dog house when her father found it out.

Ana Paula, Brazil
I'm in the dog house now. I overslept last night and lost my friend's party. Anyway, I tried to talk to her today, and explain what had happened, but she didn't want to hear me and I think I should wait more to give the reason why I miss her party. I've just made a dog?s dinner of everthing!

Tatiana, Russia
Mum asked me to iron dad's shirt for an urgent appointment and I made a dog's dinner out of it, I ended up in the dog house for burning it a bit. After that I decided to relax a bit and woke up with a terrible hangover, I guess the best remedy would have been the hair of the dog

Neelam, Nepal
I remember those day of my schools, when i used to draw my teachers's cartoon on my desk. My friends used to like it but one day one of my teacher catched me while making his funny picture on my copy. Then I was in the dog house on my school life.

Rosa, Italy
Three weeks ago I went home in the South of Italy for my Summer vacation and because of the traffic on the roads I reached home with 4 hours of delay... and my trip lasted 15 hours! So the traffic makes a dogs dinner of my trip towards Summer holidays...

Hung Hung, Taiwan
Last week ,I thought,I like to be in thedog house because I forgot the time to meet my friends at coffee shope so thatmade them to wait for me for a long time.later,they phoned me to go there to meet them ,when I went to there ,I sawmy friends face are not good that day ,after the meeting finished , I also feltbad for a while ,I think ,next time ,Ido not do again.

Felipe Cardemil, Chile
I was in a concert last night, It was awesome, after that meand my friendswent to a bar, we were drinking beerand listening to rock and roll all night. The morning after I woke up terrible thirsty and I said "I need the hair of the dog urgently"

Betzabe, Chile
Mmm, yes..."the hair of the dog" hahaha, I remember something about my uncle. When my uncle was 17 years old, was the best student of the high school, but once he was to a party the night before 18th september's parade(in chile). So, the next day he needed the hair of the dog, and the most terrible was that he wanted dissapear in that moment, and suddenly a teacher said him that he had to stay in front of all the students carring the flag. It Really was terrible for him, because he almost couldn't walk and he had to walk in front of the mayor. It was very embarrasing for him, and the next day he was in the dog house. Then the headmaster suspended him for many days. hahaha for it was funny but for him it was terrible, hahaha.

Karen, Chile.
Last week I forgot something very important!!!...I forgot my father`s birthday and I was in the doghouse but my mother did not forget it and she decided to do a wonderfull cake, but when she was preparing it she made a dogs dinner of it because the cake was not so good... I'm sorry daddy!

Agueda, Chile
I was in the dog house last term..I did not passed a course and My parentes wanted kill me... it was awful

Astrid, Chile
When I was fourteen I went to a party without permission, So my father came and pulled my hair. Then I was really in the dog house.

Silvana, Chile
A long time ago when we were children, a classmate of mine was in the dog house because she had stolen 5 thousand pesos from proffesor's bag...for a couple of weeks she was really unpopular.

Adapted from bbc.co.uk

TESTING YOUR ENGLISH

2011-07-26T23:05:00.002-03:00

Milton Hatoum is a Brazilian writer, award winning author of Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) and Cinzas do Norte (Ashes from the North). He was born in Manaus in 1952, lived in Brasilia and also in Spain, France and in the US. He has lived in São Paulo since 1999. His new novel, Órfãos do Eldorado (Eldorado Orphans) will be released in a few months. Here is an interview with him:

1. Which was your best trip ever?

The trip that I took with my father to Lebanon, in July 1992. He had not seen his Lebanese family for over 30 years. Visiting Lebanon and meeting dozens of relatives was a very emotional experience.

2. Which is your dream trip?

I dream of going to Kashmir and some parts of India. I also would like to visit several African countries.

3. In what country would you like to live?

Well, I have already lived in three countries and eight different cities. At the moment I want to stay around here. But when I think of Provence or Tuscany, I feel like spending some time in France and Italy.

4. What do you most admire about a person?

His or her character. What elevates or demeans a human being is not religion, gender, color, ethnicity – none of these. It´s the character.

5. What do you most hate in a person?

I think and arrogant person looks ridiculous. I hate meanness, deceit, dishonest people.

6. Would you be happy without friends?

I would be very unhappy without them.

7. What animal would you like to be?

The very same one I was destined to be. Our fate is to be human.

8. What do you do when you have nothing to do?

I get bored when I don´t do anything. Right now, after finishing a novel I always have a book to read, or reread.

9. Who is your favorite film director?

I love Rossellini, Visconti and the directors of Italian neo-realism.

10. What character would you like to be?

It´s hard to say... I would be a terrible actor. But all the characters in my novels have a little of me in them.

1. Qual (is) informação (ões) abaixo sobre Milton Hatoum está (ao) correta (s)?

I – Viveu em diferentes países e cidades e pretende conhecer lugares na Índia e na África.

II – Destacou a viagem ao Líbano, com seu pai, há 30 anos, como uma das mais marcantes de sua vida.

III – Elegeu Provença ou Toscana para fixar residência.

a) apenas a I d) apenas I e II

b) apenas a II e) nenhuma

c) apenas a III

2. De acordo com a entrevista, Milton Hatoum:

I – é um renomado escritor, que recebeu premiação recentemente pela novela Dois Irmãos.

II – costuma reler suas obras quando está com tempo livre.

III – reconhece características pessoais nos personagens que cria.

Está (ao) correta (s):

a) apenas a I d) apenas I e II

b) apenas a II e) todas

c) apenas a III

3. According to the text, Milton Hatoum:

a) has visited Lebanon many times since July 1992.

b) wants to visit many countries of another continent.

c) would like to be another animal, not a human being.

d) lived in eight cities in the same country.

e) doesn´t give much importance to friendship.

4. False Cognates are words in English which are similar to the ones in Portuguese but with a different meaning. Which word from the text is a false cognate?

a) favorite d) novel

b) experience e) arrogant

c) visit

5. Regular verbs are the ones that have the suffix ED in the past and past participle and irregular verbs don´t have that suffix. Which verb from the text is irregular?

a) to like d) to live

b) to admire e) to feel

c) to stay

6. How come is an interrogative pronoun which is a synonym of why. The question above using why is:

a) Why only he gets a discount? d) Why does only he get a discount?

b) Why did only he get a discount? e) Why is only he get a discount?

c) Why gets only he a discount?

7. In the picture we can see a barber cutting Jimmy Five´s hair and three guys sitting down.

Based on it, choose the incorrect option:

a) There is a guy complaining because he´s going to pay more money than Jimmy Five to

have his hair cut.

b) Jimmy Five will get a discount probably because he doesn´t have much hair.

c) The barber is using a pair of scissors to cut Jimmy Five´s hair.

d) There is a mirror behind the barber and his client.

e) The three guys seem to be very satisfied with that situation.

8. Mark the option with the name of an object that we cannot see in the picture:

a) drawer d) boot

b) belt e) comb

c) wallet

LAST HARRY POTTER FILM SUCCESS

2011-07-26T22:33:00.000-03:00

The last Harry Potter film has been incredibly successful around the world.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 has shattered box office records in the UK and Ireland with an opening weekend of £23 million.

The final adventure of the film series based on the books by J.K. Rowling opened on Friday with fans across the country queuing for hours to be among the first to see the film.

In the US in its first weekend it is estimated to have grossed more than $168m.

It's already the most successful movie franchise in history, but a decade after the young wizard's first film debut, the final chapter 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II' has broken box-office records.

In the US alone the finale of the eight-film series is estimated to have brought in over $168.5m in its opening weekend, ten million dollars more than the previous record set by the 2008 Batman film 'The Dark Knight.'

The film, which has featured the same lead actors throughout, also became the highest-earning movie on its opening day. Its distributor, Warner Brothers, said the last Harry Potter instalment broke international records as well with highest-ever weekend figures in the UK and Australia.

Hollywood-watchers are estimating the film is on track to break a rare barrier to become a billion-dollar movie.
Alastair Leithead, from Los Angeles, with adaptations.

VOCABULARY:

movie franchise - a series of films produced by the same company with the same characters

first film debut - first appearance on film (Harry Potter had previously appeared in books)

has broken box-office records - has made more money from people going to see the film than any previous film

the finale of - the last in a series

brought in - made an amount of money

distributor - the company that arranges for films to be shown in cinemas

instalment - one of a series, episode

Hollywood-watchers - people in the media who are interested in what is happening in the movie-making industry

on track to - looks like it will

a rare barrier - a limit that is not often reached

AMY WINEHOUSE FOUND DEAD

2011-07-24T21:50:00.000-03:00

Singer Amy Winehouse, infamous for erratic public behavior, arrests and drug problems, was found dead at her apartment in London Saturday, police and her publicist confirmed. She was 27.

Her death came less than two months after her latest release from a rehabilitation program and weeks following a disastrous performance where she was booed off a Belgrade, Serbia, stage by disappointed fans.

Winehouse died at the same age as four other music legends. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison each died of drug overdoses when they were 27. Kurt Cobain was 27 when he committed suicide, soon after his release from rehab.

London Police Superintendent Raj Kohli said at this "early stage" of the investigation the death remained "unexplained."

"I am aware of reports suggesting this death is the result of a suspected drugs overdose, but I would like to re-emphasise that no post-mortem examination has yet taken place and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death," Kohli said.

Police were called to her Camden Square apartment just after 4 p.m. Saturday in response to report of "a woman found deceased," he said.st

Amy

"On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene," he said. She was later identified as Winehouse.

Winehouse spokesman Chris Goodman confirmed her death for CNN Saturday.

"Everyone who is involved with Amy is shocked and devastated," Goodman said. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends. The family will issue a statement when ready."

The "Rehab" singer had a history of battling drugs and alcohol and recently left a British rehab program that a representative said was intended to prepare her for scheduled European concerts.

But she cut short the European concert tour last month following a concert in Belgrade, where she staggered around the stage and stumbled through several songs.

Audience members booed Winehouse off the stage that night just a few songs into the concert, the first of the tour.

Winehouse spokeswoman Tracey Miller told CNN at the time that the singer "agreed with management that she cannot perform to the best of her ability and will return home."

"Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen," representative Chris Goodman said in a statement in May.

A new, but almost identical, similar statement appeared on her website Saturday, saying "Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances." None of her representatives immediately responded to CNN requests for comment.

Winehouse's soulful, throaty vocals brought the British musician stardom in 2007, but her off-stage life gained her notoriety. The lyrics of her songs, especially the hit "Rehab," chronicled her troubled life. The song, in which she sang "They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no," helped form the public's view of Winehouse.

"I don't care enough about what people think of me to conform to anything," she said in a 2007 CNN interview.Fans r

Winehouse, born in London in 1983, became a picture of a tattooed teenage rebel after she was expelled from a prestigious performing arts school.

Her first album, "Frank," debuted in 2003, when the singer-songwriter was 19.

International success came with her 2007 album "Back To Black," which included the single "Rehab." She dominated the 2008 Grammys, winning five awards that night and delivering, via satellite from London, a strong performance of "Rehab."

Winehouse's volatile marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil took a toll on the singer's career. The couple divorced in 2009 after a stormy two years filled by drug addiction and arrests.

Winehouse's parents went public with their efforts to help their daughter, telling the London Telegraph in 2009 that she was on the road to recovery.

"A gradual recovery, which is good," Winehouse's father, Mitch, told the Telegraph. "With slight backward steps -- not drug backward steps, more drink backward steps if you follow my drift. I think that will be the pattern of recovery."

Her father got word of his daughter's death Saturday while in New York preparing for a Monday night show with his band at the Blue Note club, his publicist said. He immediately canceled the performance and caught a flight back to London, the publicist said.

The organization that awards the Grammys issued a statement Saturday calling Winehouse "a dynamic performer and musician who seamlessly blended rock, jazz, pop, and soul and created a sound all her own."

"Her rich, soulful and unique voice reflected her honest songwriting and earned her a devoted fan following, critical acclaim, and the genuine respect and admiration of her musical peers," the Recording Academy statement said. "She will forever be remembered for her immense talent, and her music will live on for generations to come. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time."

From www.cnn.com

THE LOGICAL SONG

2011-07-19T10:40:00.000-03:00

The logical song is unique. I don´t know any other song in English with more adjectives than this one. Believe it or not, it has twenty-three adjectives and three adverbs. It was originally recorded by the British band Supertramp in 1979. And here it´s played by Roger Hodgson (ex-member and principal lyricist of the band) with an orchestra.

Listen to the song and then complete with the adjectives and adverbs missing in its lyrics. If you have any difficulty, take a look at the two lists:

When I was _________
It seemed that life was so ___________
A miracle, oh it was _________, ___________
And all the birds in the trees
Well they'd be singing so ___________
Oh _________, oh __________ watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be ___________
__________, oh __________, ____________
And they showed me a world
Where I could be so __________
Oh _________, oh __________, _____________

There are times when all the world's __________
The questions run too _________
For such a __________ man
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds __________
But please tell me who I am

Now watch what you say
Or they'll be calling you a __________
A ___________, oh ___________, _____________
Oh won't you sign up your name
We'd like to feel you're
__________, __________, oh ___________, a vegetable

At night when all the world's _________
The questions run so ________
For such a ___________ man
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds __________
But please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am, who I am

ADJECTIVES:

practical simple young acceptable deep

asleep responsible wonderful magical absurd

criminal radical intellectual beautiful logical

sensible clinical liberal dependable respectable

cynical fanatical presentable

ADVERBS:

joyfully playfully happily

WATER EXPRESSIONS

2011-07-14T18:53:00.004-03:00

Expressions with water are very common in the English language, many of them having unpleasant meanings:

The expression ”to be in hot water” is one of them. It is an old expression. “Hot water” was used many years ago to mean being in trouble. One story says it got that meaning from the custom of throwing extremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle.

That no longer happens. But we still get in hot water. When we are in hot water, we are in trouble. It can be any kind of trouble - serious or not so serious. A person who breaks a law can be in hot water with the police. A young boy can be in hot water with his mother, if he walks in the house with dirty shoes.

Being in “deep water” is almost the same as being in hot water. When you are in deep water, you are in a difficult position. Imagine a person who cannot swim being thrown in water over his head.

You are in deep water when you are facing a problem that you do not have the ability to solve. The problem is too deep. You can be in deep water, for example, if you invest in stocks without knowing anything about the stock market.

“To keep your head above water” is a colorful expression that means staying out of debt. A company seeks to keep its head above water during economic hard times. A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job.

“Water over the dam” is another expression about a past event. It is something that is finished. It cannot be changed. The expression comes from the idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot be brought back again.

When a friend is troubled by a mistake she has made, you might tell her to forget about it. You say it is water over the dam.

Another common expression, “to hold water,” is about the strength or weakness of an idea or opinion that you may be arguing about. It probably comes from a way of testing the condition of a container. If it can hold water, it is strong and has no holes in it.

If your argument can hold water, it is strong and does not have any holes. If it does not hold water, then it is weak and not worth debating.

“Throwing cold water” also is an expression that deals with ideas or proposals. It means to not like an idea. For example, you want to buy a new car because the old one has some problems. But your wife “throws cold water” on the idea because she says a new car costs too much.

From www.voanews.com – Adapted by Milton França

EASY ENGLISH

2011-07-03T23:27:00.001-03:00

For more than fifteen years it was available all over Brazil my first book called "Inglês no Vestibular". As the vestibular was practically extinguished, I´ve decided not to use that name anymore.
In September 2010 I finished writing a new book and decided to call it EASY ENGLISH, due to the fact that it is explained in an easy and very understandable way. It is much more complete than the previous one, with more chapters, texts and exercises in almost 400 pages.
This year it is being used only in São Luis, in 2012 in the whole state and afterwards in all the states of Brazil.
If you know the book already, I would like you to use this space here for your comments so that we can improve it more and more.
Milton França

ARE ANIMALS GETTING FATTER?

2011-07-03T19:07:00.001-03:00

Like many people, animals are getting fatter. At least, that is the finding of a report published in the British press.

Weight gain is often blamed on too much fatty food and too little exercise. But Professor Allison and his research team say there may be reasons other than these traditional ones.

The researchers studied body weight changes in more than 20,000 animals. The animals came from 24 populations of eight different species, or groups, across North America.

“Each animal was said to be in early middle age for its species. Yann Klimentidis worked on the study with David Allison. Mr. Klimentidis said they considered animals with at least two body weight measurements in the past 60 years. At least one measurement was made in the last half of the twentieth century. One exception was non-laboratory rats. Their body weight was first measured in 1948.

The study involved creatures as different as large animals in research centers and rats living free around Baltimore, Maryland. All the animals demonstrated major gains in average body weight over ten-year periods.

For example, chimpanzees in captivity showed a 33% increase in weight each decade. Laboratory marmosets increased weight at a rate of 9% over a ten-year period.

Laboratory mice became fatter at a rate of 10%. And laboratory rats increased at a 3% rate.

The study also showed that pet animals are fatter. The average house cat weighed almost 10% more each decade. Dogs’ weight increased at a rate of 3%.”

A virus called AD36 could be involved in the gain. Its presence has been connected to obesity in adults. And the team says changes in time spent in light or dark environments influence eating habits.

David Allison says earlier studies found that light differences may be part of the reason for fatter animals. For example, one kind of animal – the lemming – experiences body weight changes at different times of the year.

“We know that light affects weight gain in species like lemmings that gain or lose a great deal of weight in different times of the year, when there is much sunlight versus little sunlight. That is the natural thing for them. So our brains are responsive to light and in ways that may relate to body weight.”

David Allison says changes in environmental temperature affect weight in both people and animals. The body produces more energy to keep itself warm in the cold. But it produces less energy to cool itself in heat.

“That all other things being equal, if you put a warm-blooded species like humans or mice or dogs into a colder environment, then they will need to expend more energy to maintain their body temperature. And so, being in a cold environment increases energy expenditure, and if you eat the exact same amount, will lead to lesser body weight. Being in a warmer environment, up to a point, will lead to decreased energy expenditure, and therefore, at the same amount of food intake, weight gain.”

Yann Klimentidis says knowing causes of weight gain in animals may help researchers as they deal with overweight human beings.

VOCABULARY:

at least – pelo menos finding – descoberta

British press – imprensa britânica weight – peso

blamed on – atribuído a research team – equipe de pesquisa

measurements – medidas century – século

creatures – criaturas average - média

captivity – cativeiro increase – aumento, aumentar

marmosets – saguis (macacos pequenos) mice - ratos

environments – ambientes lemming – lemingue

a great deal of – muito brains – cérebros

both …. and… - tanto …. quanto to cool – esfriar

expenditure – gasto lesser – menor

therefore – portanto intake – ingestão

to deal with – lidar com

1. In the beginning, the text says that “like many people, animals are getting fatter”. This means that the article is about:

a) people losing weight d) people dying

b) animals getting heavier e) animals losing weight

c) animals getting sick

2. Which of the following is not a possible cause of weight gain in animals?

a) the virus called AD36

b) amount of time spent in light and dark environments

c) environmental temperature

d) fast food (hamburger, French fries, etc)

e) none of the answers above

3. According to the article, why is understanding weight gain in animals important?

a) It will make the animals happier.

b) It will give us information about diseases.

c) It´s interesting, but not important.

d) It may help researchers deal with overweight people.

e) It will make us fatter.

4. “Fatter” is in the comparative of superiority. Which of these words is not in the comparative?

a) slower d) heavier

b) sinner e) thicker

c) thinner

5. “Mice” is the plural of mouse. It is an example of irregular plural. Which noun also forms its plural in an irregular way?

a) goose d) marmoset

b) lemming e) monkey

c) brain

6. Which of these words from the text is NOT in the plural?

a) changes d) studies

b) says e) reasons

c) creatures

Original text by www.voanews.com with adaptations by Milton França