Author Archive: admin

Barbie at 58: a few facts about the symbolic doll

2017年4月10日

entertainment

  Pre-reading questions: How long do you know Barbie? What are the things you can say about Barbie?   Barbie is the iconic plastic doll that most girls grown up with all over the world. Mattel introduced Barbie on March 9, 1959 at New York Toy Fair. Mattel also stated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold in 150 countries. Barbie has become a cultural icon over the years having appeared in books, paintings, and even renamed in a section of Times Square in New York for a week. As Barbie celebrates her 58th birthday, the iconic doll received lots of criticism because of her unbelievable body shape….
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Intermediate

Barbie at 58: a few facts about the symbolic doll

2017年4月10日

entertainment

Pre-reading questions: What kind of toys do you have? Have you ever seen a Barbie-doll? Barbara Millicent Roberts, also known as Barbie, is a brand of doll representing a slim, shapely young woman, especially one with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. The symbolic doll made by the American toy company named as Mattel made its first public appearance on March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair in New York. In addition to that, Barbie celebrated her 58th birthday last Match 9, 2017 and over the years, the doll has become a cultural image even though some people do not agree with her unrealistic figures. Vocabulary: symbolic…
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Beginner

Software can identify skin cancer

2017年4月10日

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you know what skin cancer is? How do you take care of your skin? Do you wear sunblock? An image-scanning device was invented at Stanford University. It can identify skin cancers exactly like what doctors do. The team who created the software used an algorithm to train a computer to develop artificial intelligence to detect skin cancer. For the training, the team used 130,000 photos of different skin diseases. The system has a record of 2,032 different types of skin diseases. Using the pictures in the system, the device can check if a skin condition is cancerous or not. Vocabulary: invent [verb] – to make something new;…
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Beginner

Refugees may attend London university for free

2017年4月10日

Education - E

  The University of East London provides opportunities by offering free college education to refugees who fled the war in the Middle East. Through the Open Learning Initiative (OLIve) pioneered by the University of East London, students may attend up to full degree in college and even seminars and workshops which are vital in applying for a job. The OLIve program has different phases. First, it will run a short program which is good for 40 students in April 2017. The second phase will set a ten-month program in September. Several universities in Europe collaborated to make OLIve happen. The University of East London in the UK, the University of…
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Expert

Refugees may attend London university for free

2017年4月10日

Education - I

  Pre-reading questions: Do you want to study abroad? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?   The University of East London provides opportunities by offering free college education to refugees of Middle East. The short course offered is called as the Open Learning Initiative (OLIve). It offers seminars and workshops which are vital in applying for a job. Several universities in Europe such as University of East London, University of Vienna, and the Central European University collaborate for OLIve to transpire. These universities have similar courses and are in the process of developing guidelines on how to do the short course.   Vocabulary: refugee…
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Intermediate

Refugees may attend London university for free

2017年4月10日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: In your opinion, how important is college education? Do you want to study abroad? The University of East London provides opportunities to refugees in the Middle East by making college education accessible. Using the short course known as Open Learning Initiative or OLIve, students may attend up to full degree in college as well as attend seminars and workshops that are useful in applying for a job. Vocabulary: opportunity [noun] – a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something accessible [adjective] – able to reach or enter refugees [noun] – a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or…
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Beginner

Set a fixed budget for buying clothes

2017年4月10日

Lifestyle

Many people would support the assertion that social networking sites and other media like health and beauty magazines have produced a culture where people think that happiness and success can be found in material objects, like gadgets and clothes. In other words, materialism is now more alive than ever, and people don’t even try to hide nor deny it. People love shopping so much that an item bought gives a consumer instant gratification. This feeling is intensified as one gets to buy more clothes at more affordable prices. This behavior produces a kind of people that always wants more for less, without regard to actual need. Much worse, this leads…
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Expert