Civil War Continues in Syria

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

1. rock (v.) [rok] – to shake something violently

Example:  The volcano was rocked by explosions.

2. rebel (n.) [reb-uhl] – a person or a group who fights authority

Example: Rebels refuse to follow government laws.

3. civil war (n.) [siv-uhl][wawr] – a war between people within the same country

Example: Citizens are disunited during a civil war.

4. oust (v.) [oust] – to force someone out of position

Example: Soldiers want to oust the current president.

5. civilian (n.) [si-vil-yuhn] – a non-military person

Example: Civilians are not allowed to enter the military headquarters.

Article
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Hour-long gunfires and bomb explosions have rocked Syria in the last few weeks of March, as government and rebel armies continue to fight in a bloody civil war. The civil war began in 2011, with people in Syria forming groups to oust president Bashar al-Assad from position. The al-Assad family has been in power in the country for over forty years. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC), an activist group against the government, has been reporting about clashes in different cities through web sites like Facebook. Most of the fights have been between government troops and a rebel group called the Free Syrian Army. According to the United Nations, more than 8,000 people across the country, most of which are civilians, have died because of the conflicts. The number includes people who have died from two recent car bombings, one on March 17 in the city of Damascus and another on March 18 in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. Syria’s government-controlled TV station reported that the bombings last March 19 were “terrorist” actions of rebels. However, Ammar al-Wawi, captain of the Free Syrian Army, said the army did not cause the explosions. He says the government is trying to make other countries believe that rebels are causing the attacks, when in truth the government is the one killing innocent people. Reports say the government has started killing civilians in order to take down more people who are against al-Assad. For months, human rights groups around the world have been calling on the government to end the violence.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         How can a government maintain peace in the country?

·         What do you think is the main reason for lack of peace in some countries?

Discussion B

·         Would you say the conflict in Syria matters to the rest of the world? Why or why not?

·         How important is it for us to understand the conflicts in other countries?

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US Government Questions High eBook Prices

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

1. publisher (n.) [puhb-li-sher] – a person or a group that makes books, magazines and other print materials

Example:  Kodansha Limited is one of the largest publishers in Japan.

2. conspire (v.)  [kuhn-spahyuhr] – to secretly plan with others to do something bad

Example:  The thieves conspired to steal the king’s treasure.

3. wholesale (adj.) [hohl-seyl] – involving the selling of large amounts of products to businesses rather than individual customers.

Example:  Factories in China sell wholesale toys to stores all over the world.

4.  retailer (n.) [ree-teyl ; ri-teyl] – a person or a group that sells products directly to individual customers

Example:  The new perfume can be bought from most perfume retailers across the country.

5. free market (n.) [free][mahr-kit] – an economic system in which prices are determined by business competition and not the government  
Example:   In a free market, prices change based on the number of competing businesses.

Article
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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) plans to take legal action against Apple and five major publishers who are said to have conspired to increase eBook prices. In the publishing industry, prices of books are normally decided through a wholesale business model. Using this model, publishers sell books to retailers at a cheaper, wholesale price. Retailers can then sell the books at any price to customers. But when Apple joined the eBook market through its iPad and iBookstore, publishers started following Apple’s “agency business model” for eBooks. The agency model lets publishers decide what price customers pay for eBooks. Through this scheme, publishers get 70% of money from sales, while retailers like Apple get 30%. Publishers really like this model, as it lets them earn more money than with wholesale. But according to reports, Apple and the five publishers made an agreement, wherein the publishers must stop selling eBooks at wholesale or at cheaper prices to other retailers. Amazon, an online store popular for selling eBooks at low prices, has since been forced to use the agency model and sell eBooks at high prices. Many consumers are unhappy with the price changes, with some eBooks having become more expensive than their paper versions. The agency business model is not illegal, but the DoJ says the publishers and Apple may have all decided to raise prices together. This goes against US laws that promote and support free market competition. The companies and the DoJ are currently in talks to resolve the issue.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you think eBooks can someday replace traditional books?

·         What are the advantages and disadvantages of using eBooks instead of printed books?

Discussion B

·         How does competition help businesses?

·         In your country, would you say there is a healthy competition of businesses? Why or why not?

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Sports-Related Head Injury in Teens Not Only Caused by Football

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

1. injury (n.) [in-juh-ree] – damage or harm suffered by a person

Example: The doctor treated the injuries of the player who broke his wrist.

2. proportion (n.) [pruh-pawr-shuhn, -pohr-] – a part of a whole

Example: The highest proportion of the family’s budget goes to educational expenses.

3. vigilant (adj.) [vij-uh-luhnt] – watchful for any danger

Example: Doctors must always be vigilant against new diseases.

4. concussion (n.) [kuhn-kuhsh-uhn] – an injury in the brain that is caused by a strong impact in the head

Example:  Players who hit each other’s head may suffer concussions.

5. syndrome (n.) [sin-drohm, -druhm] – a sickness characterized by proven signs and symptoms

Example: Loss of appetite may indicate malabsorption syndrome, or the inability to absorb food.

Article
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A study in US shows that football may not be the only sport that causes head injuries among high school athletes. The research that came out in the American Journal of Sports Medicine says that almost half of reported concussions occurred in girls’ soccer and basketball, boy’s wrestling, ice hockey and lacrosse. Unlike football, these sports do not involve full body contact. Girls’ soccer accounts for 8% of the total cases, while girls’ basketball and boys’ wrestling takes 6% each. Boys’ ice hockey, on the other hand, caused fewer head injuries, but 22% of all ice hockey injuries are concussions, the highest proportion among all other sports. Another significant finding reveals that girls have 70% more cases of head injuries than boys. This may be attributed to weaker neck strength in girls, says Christy Collins, a senior research associate at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Lead researcher Natalie McIlvain added that head injuries also happen even in non-contact sports, such as softball, gymnastics, cheerleading and swimming. In recent years, cases of concussion in US have increased as more people get involved in contact sports and more athletes train at a young age. In addition, doctors are becoming more vigilant in diagnosing such injuries. To ensure the safety of students, doctors are advised to withhold patients from playing until they are completely healed. This prevents the risk of "second-impact syndrome” in which patients suffering another head blow, experience much severe damages, such as bleeding inside the skull.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you think that injuries are a natural part of sports? Why or why not?

·         Can you think of ways to prevent or lessen the number of sports-related injuries?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think some people play risky sports despite the dangers?

·         On the other hand, what hinders others from playing sports?

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Chinese TV Says McDonald’s and Carrefour Sold Unsafe Food

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

1. expiration (n.) [ek-spuh-rey-shuhn] – the time when something ends

Example:  He can no longer eat the food after its expiration date.

2. label (n.) [ley-buhl] – something (usually paper) placed on an item that shows the item’s name, brand and/or information

Example:  The Italian wine’s label said the wine was produced in 2005.

3. free-range (adj.) [free-reynj] – free to move around

Example:  Free-rangeanimals seem to have less stress than animals that live in tight cages.

4.  investigate (v.) [in-ves-ti-geyt] – to learn information about something

Example:  School officials will investigate how students got copies of the exams.

5. isolated (adj.) [ahy-suh-ley-tid, is-uh-] – only happening once

Example:  The poor service at the restaurant last night was an isolated problem.


Article
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China Central Television, a government-run TV station, recently reported that a McDonald’s restaurant and a Carrefour store in China sold chicken products that were past their expiration dates. According to McDonald’s food safety rules, food that has not been sold 30 minutes after it was cooked should be thrown away. However, the Chinese TV report said that a McDonald’s restaurant in Beijing sold chicken wings that had been out for 90 minutes. Employees at a Carrefour supermarket in Zhengzhou, on the other hand, reportedly changed the expiration dates of some raw chicken packs. They were also accused of changing product labels to sell regular chicken as more expensive free-range chicken. Both companies have posted apologies to consumers on their Chinese websites. US-based McDonald’s said it will seriously investigate what it calls an isolated case. Paris-based Carrefour said it will work with Chinese authorities to learn what happened in the Zhengzhou store. The French chain also said it will make sure employees undergo better training. The reports add to the country’s growing concern for food safety. China has already been dealing with a number of food safety scandals including reports about deadly baby milk formula, pork containing dangerous chemicals and re-used restaurant cooking oil.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         How do you think McDonald’s will be affected by this incident?

·         How do you think this kind of incident affects consumers?

Discussion B

·         How do you make sure that the food you eat is safe?

·         What can the government do to keep food safe?

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UK Politicians Want to Change Special Education

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

1. parliament (n.) [pahr-luh-muhnt or, sometimes, pahrl-yuh-] – a group of representatives who create laws

Example:  The parliament recently passed the law on divorce.

2. special needs (n.) [spesh-uhl][needz] – mental, emotional, physical or behavioral problems of a person addressed through a specific method of teaching and support

Example: Students who are too aggressive may have special needs. 

3. post- (prefix) [pohst] – added before a word to mean “after”

Example:   Post-teen students include those aged between 19 and 25.

4. inconsistent (adj.) [in-kuhn-sis-tuhnt] – not having the same quality or quantity

Example: The rule is inconsistent because it does not apply to everyone. 

5. accountable (adj.) [uh-koun-tuh-buhl] –  held responsible for something or someone

Example:   Government should be accountable to its citizens from whom it gets taxes.

Article
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Members of the United Kingdom Parliament are determined to improve education for people with special needs. After discovering that 1/3 (one-third) of eighteen-year-olds with special needs have no access to proper education or job opportunities, the Commons Public Accounts Committee decided that the current special education system must be changed. Presently, the UK government has two special education plans: a plan for children below 16 years old and another plan for those aged 16 to 25. However, the post-16 plan is highly unorganized. From 2009 to 2010, the government provided the post-16 age group £640 million for special education but students did not get equal access to services.  Members of parliament believe this is due to the inconsistent quality of government services in different parts of the country. Furthermore, almost three-fourths (3/4) of local government agencies are not able to give enough information about colleges that offer special education. Families also do not know what services are available for their children with special needs. Most of them lose hope in receiving government support. Mark Lever, CEO of the National Autistic Society, expressed disappointment at the current system, saying that many young people with special needs would have jobs if the government would just help them. Parliament is now proposing a single education and health care plan for people with special needs which will last from their birth until they turn 25. This would be the UK’s biggest reform program on special education in 30 years, and should make local governments more accountable.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Should the government be accountable for children with special needs? Why or why not?

·         In your country, would you say the government is considerate of its citizens who are handicapped or less privileged? Please explain further.

Discussion B

·         What difficulties can a person with special need face in the workplace?

·         How can the government help him or her overcome these difficulties?

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China Faces Complaints for Restriction of Rare Earths

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

1. restriction (n.) [ri-strik-shuhn] –  a rule that controls or limit something

Example:   Use of fossil fuel should have restrictions to protect the environment.

2. element (n.) [el-uh-muhnt] – in Chemistry, a basic substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances

Example: Hydrogen is the first element because it is composed of one atom.

3. obtain (v.) [uhb-teyn] – to get or gain something with a certain amount of effort

Example:  Certain ingredients are expensive because they are hard to obtain.

4. mining (n.) [mahy-ning] – the process of getting minerals or precious rocks in the earth by digging deep through the ground.

Example:  Gold and other precious metals are obtained through mining.

5. in favor of (idiom) [in][fey-ver][uhv, ov; unstressed uhv or, especially before consonants, uh] –   to choose something over another

Example:  The judge ruled in favor of the victim.

Article
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The United States (US), European Union (EU) and Japan have jointly complained to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about China’s restriction on rare earth exports. Rare earths are elements that are difficult to obtain but are needed to manufacture electronic items such as television screens, camera lenses, smartphones, hybrid cars and renewable energy devices. Currently, China produces 95% of the world’s rare earth exports. But China has recently placed limits on exporting these materials causing concern for other countries. The US, EU and Japan say the limited supply has resulted in higher prices. US trade representatives argue that foreign industries will not be able to compete with China’s industries if China controls the price of rare earth exports. In a press conference, US president Barrack Obama said that such unfair practices break international trade agreements. China’s defense is that it has established restrictions to avoid further environmental damage caused by too much mining of rare earths. The Ministry’s spokesperson, Liu Weimin, also said that the country’s recent policies are within WTO rules. In an earlier case, WTO ruled in favor of the EU after it complained of China’s illegal restriction on materials like magnesium and zinc. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht says that China has not yet lifted the illegal restrictions, and the EU must again challenge China’s policies in order for EU businesses to gain access to materials. China will likely receive penalties if the WTO rules in favor of Japan, the US and the EU.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you think it was fair for China to limit the exports of rare earth metal? Why or why not?

·         What could be the impact of US, EU and Japan’s complaints against China? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         How is a country’s economy related to its environment?

·         Do you think protection of the environment hurts the economy? Please explain your answer.

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