English
A compilation of newsTicker
articles and exercises
October 2007
CONTENTS
PEOPLE AND BEARS ........................................................ 3
ROLLING STONES ........................................................... 5
LIVERPOOL CULTURE YEAR .............................................. 7
TWO-HEADED TURTLE..................................................... 9
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON ................................................. 11
'INDIANA JONES' THEFT ................................................ 13
MARION JONES ............................................................ 15
CRUISE FILM ............................................................... 19
IMMIGRATION STATUS.................................................. 21
U.S. BOOK TOUR .......................................................... 23
HOLIDAY GIFTS............................................................ 25
IRAQ FILM EDIT ........................................................... 27
U.S. SCHOOLS ............................................................. 29
NY POLICE................................................................... 31
newsLetter - 2
10/01/2007
PEOPLE AND BEARS
Clashing in U.S. West
Black bears are causing an
uproar as they get braver
in their search for food.
Wildlife managers in the
western United States are
seeing
more
bears
venturing out to peoplepopulated areas scrounging
for food.
Bears are
entering garages, breaking into cars and walking into
homes and restaurants, hoping to find a meal. These
roaming bears are either captured and relocated, or
killed.
American black bears live in forests, weigh between 150
and 500 pounds and have a range of about 250 square
miles. After the bears finish hibernating in spring, they
spend their time foraging for food, sometimes 20 hours a
day, until fall. Because of late freezes, drought and tree
infestations, their natural food sources of bugs and
berries have been greatly diminished, causing them to
search for food elsewhere.
newsLetter - 3
EXERCISE
Read the
activities.
article
and
complete
the
following
1. What is hibernation? Why do bears hibernate?
What other animals hibernate?
2. What would you do if you came face to face with
a bear?
3. Now find out what you SHOULD do if you
encounter a bear? What can you do to protect
yourself?
newsLetter - 4
10/02/2007
ROLLING STONES
Satisfaction with Guinness
The Rolling Stones have just topped
the charts as the most successful
music tour in the world in the latest
Guinness Book of World Records.
The ageing rockers' "A Bigger Bang Tour" grossed $437
million, which earned them the new record. Madonna
made Guinness's new edition for her 60-show
"Confessions" tour, which pulled in about $200 million,
earning her a cool $3 million for each concert.
Other records still hold true. Bing Crosby's recording of
"White Christmas," released in 1942, is still the biggest
selling single with over 50 million copies sold.
In Hollywood, Samuel L. Jackson is the winner of the
highest-grossing actor award with his 75 movies earning
$7.84 billion worldwide. "Casino Royale" earned the title
of the most successful Bond film when it took in over
$587 million.
newsLetter - 5
EXERCISE
Read the article once and try to complete the
following statements in your own words.
1. Madonna earned ..... for each concert during
her....
2.
.....recorded
song.....in.......
the
famous
Christmas
3. Samuel L. Jackson received the award for......
4. The most successful James Bond movie is
called......and it made......worldwide.
5. The Stones received the ....... award.
newsLetter - 6
10/04/2007
LIVERPOOL CULTURE YEAR
McCartney and Starr
Paul McCartney and Ringo
Starr will pay tribute to their
native city of Liverpool when
it becomes the Capital of
Culture in 2008.
In
a
video
message,
McCartney said he was very
excited about the upcoming events happening in
Liverpool. The former Beatle will give a concert for
30,000 at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium on
June 1.
On Jan. 12, Starr, along with Eurythmics' Dave Stewart
and the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra, will kick-off the
opening celebrations with "Liverpool The Musical," a
tribute to the city's musical heritage.
Simon Rattle, conductor and native of Liverpool, will lead
the Berlin and Liverpool Philharmonics in a round of
concerts featuring hundreds of bands from all over the
world.
newsLetter - 7
EXERCISE
Read the
activities.
article
and
complete
the
following
1. Find out 5 interesting facts about Liverpool and
share them with the class.
2. Every year there are two cities that are dubbed
the Capital of Culture. What is the name of the
other city to hold this honor?
3. Describe why your city should become the next
Capital of Culture. What is attractive about your
city? What does it have to offer?
newsLetter - 8
10/05/2007
TWO-HEADED TURTLE
Twin birth on display
An aquarium store owner has
just added a two-headed
turtle to his collection. The
rare turtle is an example of a
conjoined-twin birth.
Jay Jacoby, manager at Big
Al's
Aquarium
Supercenter
in
East
Norriton,
Pennsylvania, said the owner acquired the turtle from a
collector in Florida. Jacoby explained that the turtle
would probably have died in the wild because it swims
awkwardly, making it an easy target for its predators.
The turtle, still to be named, is a red-eared slider. Its
two heads stick out from each end of its shell. It has a
set of front feet on each end, one set of back feet and
one tail. The turtle is two months old and has a lifespan
of 15 to 20 years.
newsLetter - 9
EXERCISE
Read the
activities.
article
and
complete
the
following
1. Define "conjoined-twin".
2. What disadvantages would the turtle face if it
was left in the wild?
3. In your own words, describe what the turtle
looks like.
4. What do you know or what have you learned
about red-eared slider turtles?
newsLetter - 10
10/08/2007
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
Follows footsteps in space
Richard Garriott will have the
opportunity to follow in his
father's
footsteps
when
he
travels to the International
Space Station in October 2008.
Garriot's father and former NASA astronaut Owen Garriot
went on two spaceflights and spent two months on
Skylab, the first American space station. The younger
Garriot spent his childhood surrounded by astronauts
and engineers in the neighbourhood where his family
lived in the Houston area near NASA. He has always
wanted to travel to space and he will get the chance with
the Virginia-based firm Space Adventures company in
Vienna.
Garriot, co-founder of NCsoft Corp, the largest online
game developer and publisher in the world, will pay $30
million to make his dream come true.
newsLetter - 11
EXERCISE
Read the article and answer the
statements with either True or False.
false statements true.
following
Make all
1. Richard Garriot was a former astronaut.
2. Richard's father spent a couple of months at the
International Space Station.
3. Richard can't afford a trip to space.
4. Richard grew up with astronauts living nearby.
5. Skylab will be the next super space station.
newsLetter - 12
10/10/2007
'INDIANA JONES' THEFT
Suspect charged
A man was arrested for stealing
computers, photographs and documents
from Stephen Spielberg's "Indiana
Jones" movie.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
alleged culprit in a sting operation in West
when officers posed as interested buyers of
material. The man had advertised the goods
entertainment-gossip Web sites, which tipped
as to how to get a hold of the missing items.
caught the
Hollywood
the stolen
on various
off officers
The theft, which took place at Spielberg's production
office at Universal Pictures, was reported to the sheriff's
department on September 24.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, is
currently being held on "parole hold".
The officers
believe others may be involved and want more time to
investigate the matter further.
newsLetter - 13
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. How would the theft affect the new "Indiana
Jones" movie? Explain.
2. How did the police catch the thief?
3. Why do you think the police are waiting to
release the suspect's name? How will it help them
with their investigation?
4. What was your favorite "Indiana Jones" movie
and why? Do you have any idea of what the next
movie's adventure will be about?
newsLetter - 14
10/12/2007
MARION JONES
Returns Olympic medals
Sprinter Marion Jones returned
the five medals she won at the
2000
Olympic
Games
in
Sydney, Australia.
Seven years ago, Jones took
home three gold medals and
two bronzes. But after years of denial, Jones came
forward and admitted that she had taken steroids to
prepare herself for the Games.
After contacting her attorney Henry Dieppe, Jones
confessed to the U.S. Olympic Committee. The OC
Chairman Peter Ueberroth told Jones to return the
medals, and that the International Olympic Committee
would begin the process that could end in her being
stripped of the medals.
One anonymous source said that Jones had apologized
to her competitors and hoped that the record books
would be changed to show the other athletes'
achievements.
newsLetter - 15
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. List the medals and races Jones won at the 2000
Olympics.
2. Why do you think Jones came forward and
confessed?
3. Why are athletes not allowed to use steroids?
Explain.
newsLetter - 16
10/15/2007
PUMPKIN
SCARCITY
Scares up big prices
This year's pumpkin harvest has been hurt by drought
and excessive heat and as a result has driven up the
prices for the fruit. Halloween and the U.S. Thanksgiving
holiday won't be affected as long as consumers don't
mind paying a bit more than last year.
Extreme dryness hit much of the northern United States
this summer, reducing the harvest in the top four
pumpkin-producing states: New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Illinois. Some of the farms experienced a 30
percent loss this year. The type of pumpkin hardest hit
was the Jack-o'-lantern variety, good for carving but not
the best for baking.
In general, the U.S. pumpkin prices have increased by
about 10 cents per pound compared to the usual annual
increase of 2 to 3 percent.
newsLetter - 17
EXERCISE
Read the
activities.
article
and
complete
the
following
1. If you were going to make a decorative
Halloween pumpkin which variety would you
choose and why?
2. Find three foods that you can make with
pumpkin. Choose one recipe and explain how you
prepare the pumpkin for your culinary creation.
3. Are foods with pumpkin typical where you live?
How much does a pumpkin cost? Where can you
buy them? Where do they come from?
newsLetter - 18
10/16/2007
CRUISE FILM
Footage spoiled in German lab
Important footage from the World War
II thriller "Valkyrie" has been damaged
at a German film processing laboratory.
Director Bryan Singer and producer
United Artists spent months trying to get permission
from German authorities to shoot at the Bendler-Block in
Berlin, where conspirators planned to assassinate Hitler
and where they eventually ended up being executed.
Even though damage to the footage was not extensive,
parts of the scene must be re-shot.
Tom Cruise stars in "Valkyrie" as Hitler's would-be
assassin Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg. "Valkyrie" has
been controversial in Germany, with several politicians
and some members of the von Stauffenberg family
attacking the film.
Most of the criticism is due to
Cruise's association with Scientology, which is viewed as
a cult in Germany.
newsLetter - 19
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. What is the definition of a cult?
2. What is Scientology? What does it mean?
3. What are Scientology's basic principles?
4. Compare your religion and Scientology. How are
they similar and how are they different?
newsLetter - 20
10/18/2007
IMMIGRATION
STATUS
Landlords prohibited to probe
California
Governor
Arnold
Schwarzenneger recently signed a
law that prohibits landlords from
asking potential tenants about their
immigration status.
Communities nationwide have tried
to curb illegal immigration by imposing penalties on
property owners and businesses that rent to or employ
illegal immigrants. The new law prevents cities from
punishing landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.
Many landlords are relieved that they don't have to be
immigration cops.
Immigrant-advocacy organizations said that rules
requiring landlords to investigate their tenants'
backgrounds or immigration status would violate their
privacy rights and the authority of the federal
government.
Other city and state officials, who are trying to protect
legal residents and their budgets, oppose the law saying
that it makes it more difficult to curb illegal immigration.
newsLetter - 21
EXERCISE
Read the article once and try to complete the
following statements in your own words.
1. Many communities
immigration by....
tried
to
control
illegal
2. The new law states......
3. Landlords are reassured by the law because.....
4. Groups who oppose the new law say....
newsLetter - 22
10/22/2007
U.S. BOOK TOUR
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has
begun her first U.S. book tour in
seven years with a visit to Los
Angeles.
Rowling began her tour seated on a
huge red and gold throne in the
Kodak Theater, and read a chapter of
the final book in her boy wizard series "Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows". The 42-year-old writer answered
questions from L.A. students then rolled up her sleeves
and got down to work: signing over 1,600 books.
With the final Potter book under her belt and no more
deadlines to meet, Rowling feels that she is on vacation.
Her favourite part of being a world-renowned writer is to
work directly with her readers.
Rowling has other readings and book signings scheduled
for New Orleans and New York.
newsLetter - 23
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. Have you seen the Harry Potter movies or read
the books? Which one is your favorite and why?
2. Who is your favorite character? Who is your
least favorite? Explain.
3. What was the most exciting or scary scene from
the movie? Describe it.
4. Do you think Rowling will write another book in
the series? Explain.
newsLetter - 24
10/23/2007
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Americans want computers
Never mind peace and happiness,
most American adults would
prefer to unwrap a computer this
Christmas.
In a survey conducted by the
Consumer Electronics Association
(CEA), results showed that the
top 5 gifts on adults' holiday wish
lists are, computers, peace and
happiness, a big-screen television,
clothes and money.
Teenagers
had their own wish lists as well, which included clothes,
MP3 players, video games, computers and cell phones.
CEA's economist said that consumer electronics would be
the most popular item in retail sales this year and
account for 22 percent of all gifts. The association
expects a record $22 billion will be spent on personal
electronic gadgets.
The survey consisted of telephone interviews of 1,003
adults and 501 teens aged 12 to 17.
newsLetter - 25
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
1. Describe the gift-giving
Christmas in your home.
the
following
traditions
during
2. What was the best gift you have ever received
and why? How did you react when you saw it?
3. Name the top five things on your holiday wish
list. How do they compare with the teenagers' list
in the article?
newsLetter - 26
10/25/2007
IRAQ FILM EDIT
De Palma disturbed
Director Brian De Palma is angry
about the censorship of his new
film that deals with corporate
America's effect on the war in
Iraq.
"Redacted" is based on the true story of how a group of
U.S. soldiers killed a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and members
of her family. The shocking images have upset many
conservative American commentators.
The title for De Palma's film comes from his view that
news coverage about the war has been incomplete. He
said that it was ironic that his documentary-style film
has been censored.
Distributor Magnolia Studios has ordered that the
deceased Iraqis' faces in the photographs be blacked out
in the film. Despite De Palma's outrage, Magnolia's
president decided to edit the pictures in order to avoid
future lawsuits by family members.
newsLetter - 27
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. What is being censored and why?
2. Why do you think Brian De Palma is upset?
3. Regarding this film, what seems to be more
important than the truth?
newsLetter - 28
10/26/2007
U.S. SCHOOLS
Less junk food available
U.S. schools are getting better at
providing
healthier
foods
for
children, but many schools don't
offer enough physical education
classes.
A report conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention tracked health policy changes in
schools from 2000-2006.
The report showed
encouraging progress, but there is still a lot of work to
be done.
The report showed that 19 percent of schools sold
French fries in 2006, compared to 40 percent in 2000.
More schools now offer salads, low-fat yogurts and lowfat snacks like pretzels and baked chips.
Physical education is another concern. Only 4 percent of
elementary schools, 8 percent of middle schools and 2
percent of high schools provide gym classes every day
all year round for all ages.
newsLetter - 29
EXERCISE
Listen to the article and answer each statement
with either True or False. Make each false
statement true.
1. All schools provide physical education classes on
a daily basis.
2. Schools are not allowed to sell junk food.
3. Healthier foods are becoming more available in
school.
4. French fries are considered as a healthy food.
5. Many schools do not offer alternative healthy
snacks.
newsLetter - 30
10/29/2007
NY POLICE
Recruits needed
The
New
York
Police
Department is trying to lure
new recruits with an offer to
partially pay off college loans
for anyone who joins the force
for five years.
Ray Kelly, New York's Police Commissioner, said the
police force needed over 2000 new officers, and the city
was hoping to boost their numbers with enticements of
up to $15,000 towards college debts.
The force began to have problems drawing in new
officers when the 2005 budget cuts reduced the starting
salaries from $40,000 to $25,100 per year. The extra
money from the cuts was used to pay for increases for
veteran policemen.
In addition to fewer officers and lower salaries,
policemen have the added responsibilities of protecting
the city against terrorist attacks.
newsLetter - 31
EXERCISE
Read the
questions.
article
and
answer
the
following
1. Why is there such a shortage of police officers in
New York City?
2. What is the department doing to bring in more
recruits?
3. What caused the huge pay cuts?
4. How are the police officers' salaries like where
you live? Are there enough officers? Do many
people aspire to be officers? Explain.
newsLetter - 32