CORINTHIANS BEATS CHELSEA 1-0 IN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FINAL

YOKOHAMA — Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero scored in the 69th minute Sunday to give Corinthians a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup.

After the Brazilian team withstood steady pressure from Chelsea, Paulinho broke into the box and laid it off to Danilo, whose shot deflected off a defender before Guerrero stole in to head the looping ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Copa Libertadores champions joined Barcelona as the only teams to win the tournament twice, after their first title in 2000.

The loss adds to the recent disappointments for Chelsea, which this month became the first defending champion to be eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League.

Chelsea was reduced to 10 men when Gary Cahill was given a straight red card for a rough challenge on Emerson in the final minute of regulation. Fernando Torres headed in a goal in injury time but was ruled offside.

The huge turnout of Corinthians fans among the sellout crowd of 68,725 created a Sao Paulo-like atmosphere at Nissan Stadium, the best ever for a Club World Cup match held in Japan.

Adapted from japantoday.com 

CORRUPTION IN BRAZIL - A BLOW AGAINST IMPUNITY

Brazil's mensalão trial has brought many historic moments and last month saw one more: an impeccably well-connected politician getting such a long prison sentence that even the best lawyer will struggle to save him from doing time. On November 12th José Dirceu, who served as chief of staff for former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from 2003 to 2005, was sentenced to ten years and ten months in jail for his part in the huge vote-buying scheme. Two other prominent members of the Workers' Party (PT) also received stiff sentences: Delubio Soares, its former treasurer, got eight years and 11 months in prison, and José Genoino, its former president, six years and 11 months.

It sometimes appears that the Brazilian criminal-justice system locks people up on a whim. Half the prison population has either not yet been tried or is awaiting a final verdict, and much of the other half committed non-violent property or drugs crimes. But for those with resources, it allows huge scope for delay, leeway on sentencing and almost unlimited appeals. The three men, along with the other 22 who have been found guilty of crimes such as money-laundering, corruption, embezzlement and misuse of public money, benefited from a rule known as "privileged forum" which says that top politicians can only be tried for crimes in higher courts. In this case, the Supreme Court, which normally deals with constitutional, not criminal matters, had to decide to take the case. That meant that though the scandal surfaced in 2005, the trial only started this year, in August.

Even now that the men are sentenced, there is more for their lawyers to do. Only long sentences definitely mean a spell under a "closed" regime—that is, one where the convict must stay during the day as well the night. For shorter ones, he can ask to be sentenced to an "open" regime. Anyone without a fancy lawyer probably won't even get to make the argument; anyone with one will almost certainly see it succeed. But a convict definitively sentenced to more than eight years must spend at least the first 18 months in a closed regime.

It is true that public pressure has probably played a part in toughening the Supreme Court's sinews (I don't say that’s a bad thing). And Brazil certainly does have some feisty anti-PT media outlets. But the accusation of anti-government bias is a bit rich, considering that Lula appointed quite a chunk of the current Supreme Court—including Joaquim Barbosa, who has consistently taken the hardest line against the mensaleiros.

In the weeks running up to the trial I asked dozens of people—pretty much everyone I talked to on any subject, and including people who were both violently pro- and anti-PT—what they thought it would bring. Quite a few were sure that legal manoeuvrings would somehow derail it; more thought that all the defendants would get off, independent of the rights and wrongs of the matter. A few people thought there might be jail sentences for peripheral characters. Not a single person thought that one of the political masterminds could possibly end up in jail. That the Supreme Court has overturned this glum certainty is surely a cause for celebration.

From The Economist – Adapted by Milton França

TESTING YOUR ENGLISH

JOHN LENNON – A DREAMER

In 1969 many people were shocked to open their newspapers and see photographs of the Beatle, John Lennon, and his new Japanese wife, Yoko Ono, sitting naked in bed in their hotel room in the Amsterdam Hilton as a protest for peace. Lennon, the writer of songs like All you need is Love and Give peace a chance, put into words the hopes of many young people for a new and better world. A world of freedom and peace, without wars, religion, governments and even countries. John Lennon had become more and more interested in these ideas in the late 1960s. In 1968 he traveled to India with the other Beatles to study meditation with the Maharishi and in the same year he returned a special award from the British Queen, as a protest against Britain’s part in the wars in Nigeria and Vietnam.

In 1971 he wrote perhaps his most famous song. Imagine, which expresses his ideas of the perfect world. It is particularly tragic that a man ________ believed so strongly in peace was to die so violently, less than ten years later (1980), when he was killed in front of the building where he lived in New York by a crazy fan, Mark Chapman.

1. What is incorrect according to the text?

a) John Lennon took some photographs naked with his spouse in a hotel room.

b) John Lennon and Yoko Ono had no clothes in the photos.

c) They were arrested when the photos were taken.

d) People were shocked with what they did.

e) They wanted to protest against wars in the world.

2. Which pronoun completes the blank in the in the last paragraph of the text?

a) which                                                                   

b) what

c) whose                                                                  

d) where

e) who

3. A ‘writer of songs’ is known as a _________________ .

a) lyrics                                                                    

b) songist

c) lyricist                                                                 

d) singer

e) singwriter

4. ‘John Lennon was killed by Mark Chapman’ is an example of passive voice. The active voice for the sentence is:

a) Mark Chapman killed John Lennon.                

b) Mark Chapman has killed John Lennon.

c) Mark Chapman kills John Lennon.                  

d) Mark Chapman is killing John Lennon.

e) Mark Chapman was kill John Lennon.

5. An award is a ____________ .

a) price                                                                       

b) protest

c) prize                                                                       

d) song

e) monarch

6. When people saw ___________ photos in the papers they got shocked.

a) his                                                                         

b) its

c) her                                                                         

d) your

e) their

7. In the text ‘in the same year’ refers to _____________ .

a) 1971                                                                        

b) 1969

c) 1980                                                                        

d) 1968

e) 1960

8. Based on the picture, choose the correct alternative:

a) The cockroaches love to smell cigarette ends.

b) The cockroaches sometimes smoke the cigarette ends on the floor.

c) The cockroaches are becoming sick because of cigarette ends.

d) The cockroaches don´t get a disease due to cigarette ends.

e) The cockroaches throw cigarette ends on the floor.

9. The word ‘cockroach’ forms the plural with ES. Which of these words forms the plural in a different way?

a) witch                                                                     
b) epoch

c) inch                                                                       
d) church

e) clutch

10. ‘Don´t throw’ is an example of:

a) verb in the simple present, negative form.           
b) infinitive

c) imperative                                                           
d) past participle

e) simple past, negative form.

11. ‘To throw’ is an example of  _____________verb.

a) irregular                                                              
b) regular

c) auxiliary                                                            
d) phrasal

e) modal

12. The past tense of to throw is ______________ .

a) throwed                                                             
b) threw

c) through                                                              
d) thrown

e) thought

13. What do we conclude about the sign above?

a) If it there´s a fire use water or the elevator.       
b) If there´s a fire, you can use anything.

c) If there´s a fire don´t use anything, but water. 
d) If a fire occurs wait for a few minutes.

e) In case of fire buy some water immediately.

14. In British English, the word for ‘elevator’ is:

a) lift                                          d) leather

b) ladder                                   e) wood

c) scalator

THREE IDIOMS WITH BIRD

1. birdbrain – a person regarded as silly or stupid

2. to have a bird´s eye view – an elevated view of an object from above, with a perspective as if the observer were a bird.

3. a little bird told me – I was informed by a private or secret source

* 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.

Orlando, Brazil
I believe a lot in God and I always try to be a nice person and I don´t say or do bad things to anyone. For this reason, some people think I am a birdbrain. But since I know that all we do, come back to us, I know I have a bird´s eye view. You may be asking how does he know these things? A little bird told me that.

Louie, Belgium
A little bird told me that i have won the lotto. I hope it is true otherwise he is a birdbrain.

Fredrick S. Jarboe, Liberia
one of my workmate is a birdbrain, who always says things above my imagination. I am thinking of ways to undrestand him.I will used my birds eye view and reasons to discouver him.

Nidal, Kuwait
Thank you for the idioms because they are the most difficult in learning English . Our world's disaster is that it is ruled by birdbrain who unfortunately do not have a bird's eye view . No wonder , a little bird told me .

Ai Li, Malaysia
i have a neighbour who is birdbrains and she has some kind of strange behavior. she doesn't like to talk to people. she likes to be alone and be quiet.During weekend, she likes climbing up hill to have a bird's eye views which makes her feels relax. A little bird told me that she has another strange behavior, to clean bathroom every day to make sure it;s clean all the time. that's her way of indulging herself.weird, doesn't she?

Vidyasekaran, India
Recently one of my friend shared his experience after relocating to work at his indian office from USA. The very first day after he reported to the office he couldn't stand to see those whom he thought as having a birdbrain are now considered as leaders. After gaining critical approvals from clients over the years, he feel like fittering away his repuration on hearing a little bird say that the company doesn't like people returning from onsite.

Hiroki, Japan
"A little bird told me an important information about some leaders of any countries. They always tell their people to try to keep safety about their life and global environment. But actually they always waste any resources for their life. I guess they might be birdbrain."Thank you very much for the interesting programme. Now I've studying English, so it's useful in this site. I expect the next one.

Alessandro, Brazil
A Little Bird told me that having an eagle's eye view is much better than having a bird's eye view.

Dasha, Ukraine
I'm Dasha from Ukraine..I'm going to be an English translator so, I'm so interested in English idioms! A little bird told me about your wonderful lessons and I've decided to come here... I hope that I'm not too birdbrain and I'll understand everything here...

Yenpham, Vietnam
A little bird told me that he has a bird's eye view, and as such he must know who a birdbrain is.

Gang, Taiwan
If I have a bird's eye view of humankind, a little bird should tell that I have a birdbrain.

Giovanni, Brazil
We have many birdbrain's referee in Brazil!

Jose Luis, Puebla, Mexico
A little bird told me about, and I thought; I don't want to be a birdbrain and must improve my English, then I said I'll have a bird's eye view searching on the web for this site.

Darek, Poland
We have many birdbrains in Poland, especially the members of our government are birdbrains;-) Greetings!

Guthemberg, Brazil
Yes, I've known many birdbrainds in my life. However, a little bird told me that I must be quite peaceful with them. Being peaceful and as comprehensible as possible is the best way to deal with them.

Yo, Japan
In Japan, most of politicians are birdbrain.

Jasmine
Do you know who is that boy sitting besides Chloe?Well, he is Brian and he is a very nice guy who is kind, knowledgeable and have a bird's eye view on everything.Oh, really? I thought he had a bird brain when he was in primary school..Well, I think he changes a lot after studying in the university. And you know what? He and Chole just start going out last month.Wow.. how do you know?A little bird told me.

Jasmine, Taiwan
sorry,I forgot to write the name of my country...I hope I am not a birdbrain as making this mistake..

Adapted from www.bbc.co.uk

BRAZILIANS SINGING IN ENGLISH

In the 1970´s there were lots of Brazilian singers who sang in English. Their songs were the international soundtracks of the soap operas in Brazil at that time. Fábio Júnior was one of them with the name Mark Davis and  he made a lot of success with songs like Don´t let me cry and  I want to be free again.

Here are other videos from other Brazilians who sang in English in the seventies: Michael Sullivan, Terry Winter, Dave Mclean, Steve Mclean, Crystian, Morris Albert (with the song Feelings he became famous in many different countries, even in the United States), Trepidants (a band from Pernambuco) and Os Pholhas.

TESTING YOUR ENGLISH - 10 IDIOMS

1. Daddy paid a lot of money for that TV set. He ____________________

a) paid an arm and a leg.                                   d) paid a low price.

b) paid the eyes of the face.                             e) paid the hands and the arms.

c) paid the hair of his head.

 2. What is the girl on the right doing?

a) She is holding candle.                                      d) She is crashing a party.

b) She is footing the bill.                                    e) She is playing gooseberry.

c) She is beating about the bush.

3. That company has had a lot of profit since its foundation. It´s always been in the _____

a) black                                                           d) red

b) blue                                                            e) green

c) white

4. Rick Martin decided to reveal his sexual preference a few years ago. He ______________

a) was in the pink                                            d) smelled a rat

b) hit the road                                                e) took French leave

c) got out of the closet

5. What do you call this in English?

a) game of the guys                                         d) noughts and crosses

b) game of the old                                           e) game of crosses

c) X´s and zeros

6. This store is never closed. It´s open _______________

a) in the clock.                                               d) 24/7

b) near the clock.                                           e) around the time.

c) around the watch.

7. My sister is used to eating very little. She ____________________

a) eats like a horse.                                       d) eats like a pig.

b) eats like a pigeon.                                      e) eats like a bird.

c) eats like a chicken.

8. Mike sleeps too much. This means that he sleeps _______________

a) like a stone.                                             d) like a tree.

b) like a boy.                                                e) like a frog.

c) like a log.

9. Which of these idioms means “have an alcoholic drink as a way of getting rid of a hangover, that is, the unpleasant effects of having drunk too much alcohol the night before”?

a) see a man about a dog.                                d) powder one´s nose.

b) have a hair of the dog.                               e) paint the town red

c) drink like a fish.

 10. What is the president of Brazil doing in the picture above?

a) She is taking a nap.                                        d) She is feeling blue.

b) She is tying the knot.                                     e) She is flipping the bird.

c) She is playing hooky.

BRAZILIAN JOURNALIST DÉCIO SÁ ASSASSINATED

Brazilian political journalist and blogger Décio Sá was shot and killed Monday night in the city of Sao Luis in northeastern Brazil, according to news reports. The journalist was sitting in a bar waiting for a friend when an unidentified man entered, walked to the bathroom, and shot Sá six times before fleeing the scene with a motorcyclist who was waiting outside.

Décio Sá, 42, wrote about politics for 17 years for the local newspaper O Estado do Maranhão and on his personal blog, Blog do Décio, which was one of the most widely read in the state, press reports said. Sá's blog was known for critical reporting on politicians and corruption, according to Cezar Scanssette, a journalist with O Estado do Maranhão. Due to the nature of his reporting, the journalist had "many enemies," Scanssette told CPJ. Scanssette said he was not aware of Sá receiving any threats.

Investigators told reporters that the murder was a contract killing carried out by "professionals" who had most likely mapped out the journalist's daily routine. Police said they would be looking into Sá's blog as a possible motive for the murder.

"We are deeply saddened by the killing of Décio Sá," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior Americas program coordinator. "Brazil is leading the region in journalists murders this year, a terrible record compounded by a pattern of impunity. Brazilian authorities must fully investigate this crime, determine the motive, and prosecute those responsible."

The day of his death, Sá wrote on his blog about the trial of gunmen implicated in a murder that was allegedly ordered by a local businessman from a political family. Officials also told reporters they would investigate whether the killing was linked to another case Sá reported, in which a local politician was implicated in a prostitution ring and the murder of a university student.

José Sarney, president of the Brazilian Senate and whose family owns the O Estado do Maranhão, called the crime "an attack on democracy." Sá is survived by his wife, who is pregnant, and an eight-year-old daughter.

In February, two Brazilian journalists were murdered in one week. No one has been arrested in either case. Brazil appeared for the second consecutive year on CPJ's Impunity Index.  Last week CPJ wrote to President Dilma Rousseff to express concern about this record and other recent actions taken by the Brazilian government that contradict the president's expressed commitment to guarantee freedom of expression and make human rights a priority.

                                                                 from www.cpj.org on April 24, 2012

XANDRIA´S BIOGRAPHY - WITH EXERCISES

Xandria is a __1___ symphonic metal band, formed around the year 2000 __2__ Germany, but it's difficult to say exactly when they became the band they are today. Xandria is ____3____ of five members: Marco (Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals), Lisa (Vocals), Philip (Guitars), Roland (Bass) and Gerit (Drums).

The band was ____4____ by Marco, __5__ had the idea of a band with a dreamy and sensual sound that could still rock, almost in a heavy metal sense. But most important to him was the need for good songs. Many bands (in the scene that Xandria is supposedly included in) have a good atmospheric sound, but no real idea or melody that sticks in your head, which is where they go wrong. Xandria is set on ____6____ this problem. 

Artists such as Pink Floyd, Abba, Metallica and Black Sabbath are just some of the bands that Marco was influenced by. After ____7____ the aforementioned artists, Marco found bands such as Paradise Lost, Anathema, The Gathering, Lake of Tears, and most importantly Tiamat (which were called Gothic Metal, even though their influences went far beyond just gothic, or just metal) that seemed to capture the same sound he was into. Marco has said that in 1994, Tiamat's album "Wildhoney" is what first brought on the idea of Xandria. 

In the late 90's, influences such as Marilyn Manson, Type-O-Negative, Madonna and HIM were creating a sensual sound that eventually would turn into a dark-rocking modern Electronica approach, and this sound was ___8___ added to the list of things Marco wished to create. It ___8___ led to the idea of a male/female combination on vocals.

From 1994 to 1997, a band was brought on with Marco in it, but broke up soon thereafter when no specific direction for the band was formed. With songs from ___9___ period of time (along with some new ones), Marco set off to find new band members in 1999, after two years of learning about songwriting and song arrangement. A new band was finally formed, one that looked as if it may actually have a future in music. That band? Xandria. 

Lisa Middelhauve is no longer Xandria's singer. She has ___10___ the band citing personal reasons and discomfort at being the band's front woman. Nowadays, the band has a new vocalist: Manuela Kraller.

* Choose the correct words to complete the gaps in the lyrics above:

1. a) Germany                                    d) Germans

    b) German                                      e) Germanical

    c) German´s

2. a) in                                                d) on

    b) at                                               e) from

    c) to

3. a) make up                                    d) made up

    b) making up                                 e) makes up

    c) maked up

4. a) founds                                        d) finded

    b) founded                                      e) to found

    c) finding

5. a) whom                                        d) which

    b) what                                         e) who

    c) where     

6. a) fix                                              d) fixed

    b) to fix                                         e) fixes

    c) fixing

7. a) hearing                                     d) to hear

    b) hears                                        e) heared

    c) heard

8. a) neither                                     d) too

    b) as well                                     e) also

    c) either

9. a) this                                          d) that

    b) these                                       e) this is

    c) those

10. a) leave                                    d) leaving

      b) to leave                                e) leaves

      c) left

If you don´t know the band, take a look at these videos:

And the previous song with the new vocalist:

Biography adapted from: www.sing365.com, by Milton França