Mysterious space object could be monitoring us

Scientists believe there is a possibility that aliens are listening to us on Earth. Astronomers from a program called Breakthrough
Listen are excited about a giant, mysterious space object that has passed close to our planet. Breakthrough Listen scientists
search for evidence of civilizations beyond Earth. The scientists work at the University of Hawaii. They described the object as an
800-meter-long, 80-meter-wide, cigar-shaped rock. Some scientists believe the rock has too many straight lines on it for it to be
formed naturally. This suggests it could have been designed by some form of extra-terrestrial life. The scientists have dubbed
the rock Oumuamua, which means 'first messenger' in the Hawaiian language.

The astronomers first spotted Oumuamua in October. It was travelling at great speed through the solar system and passed Earth
at about 85 times the distance to the Moon. This is just a hair's breadth relative to the vast expanses of the universe.
Oumuamua is the first object spotted in the solar system that appears to originate from another star system. The astronomers
say its high speed of over 300,000 kph suggests it is outside the gravitational pull of the Sun and is instead travelling on its own
path that originated in another galaxy. The scientists said it was highly unlikely that Oumuamua was a sign that aliens exist, but
the huge rock and its journey was a unique event that possibly offered new secrets.

COMPREHENSION

1. What is the name of the program the scientists are on?

2. What are the astronomers searching for?
3. How wide is the rock from space?
4. What did scientists say the rock contains too many of?
5. What does 'Oumuamua' mean?
6. When did astronomers first spot the rock?
7. How many times the distance to the Moon was the rock to Earth?
8. How fast was Oumuamua travelling?
9. What is Oumuamua not travelling under the gravitational pull of?
10. What did scientists say Oumuamua might offer?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'space'?
2. What do you think of astronomy?
3. What would you think if aliens are listening to us?
4. How much is today's life like science fiction?
5. Do you hope this mysterious rock is from aliens?
6. What kind of civilizations might exist in space?
7. What would you want to know from an alien?
8. How would you feel about aliens arriving on Earth?
9. What might extra-terrestrial life look like?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'object'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. Who should aliens talk to first if they came to Earth?
13. Would aliens be friends or enemies to people on Earth?
14. What would you do if you found an alien in your bathroom?
15. Will wars in space happen one day?
16. How would you feel about visiting an alien civilization?
17. What secrets could the rock have?
New plants can produce light in the dark

Scientists have created plants that glow in the dark. They are hoping to produce plants that can light up our
lives. The scientists are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA. They hope their discovery
could lead to plant lights replacing electric lights. One day, even light that trees produce could replace street
lights. Professor Michael Strano, lead author of the research, explained that his team wants to create
sustainable light sources and help the environment. He said: "The vision is to make a plant that will function as
a desk lamp - a lamp that you don't have to plug in. The light is ultimately powered by the energy metabolism
of the plant itself."

The researchers got the idea for their lighting plants from fireflies. They looked at the substance in fireflies that
makes them glow. They created nanoparticles that contain the substance. They then put the nanoparticles into
plant leaves to make them glow. The scientists were able to make plants that glowed for nearly four hours. The
research team has tested the substance on salad leaves, including spinach and watercress. Professor Strano
said: "Our target is to perform one treatment, when the plant is a seedling or a mature plant, and have it last for
the lifetime of the plant." He thinks plant lights will be a part of our life in the future. He said: "We think this is an
idea whose time has come."

COMPREHENSION

1. Where did the article say the plants glowed?

2. What do the scientists say plant lights could replace?
3. What could replace street lights one day?
4. What electrical appliance that needs plugging in might plants replace?
5. What is the light in the plants powered by?
6. Where did the scientists get the idea of their plant lights from?
7. Which part of the plants glow?
8. How long did the scientists make plants glow for?
9. What two salad vegetables did scientists do tests on?
10. What did a scientist say plants will be a part of in the future?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'plant'?
2. What are your favourite plants?
3. How useful would plants that light up be?
4. What other things could scientists get plants to do?
5. How dangerous is it to change nature?
6. What would streets lit up by trees be like?
7. How much could these plants help the environment?
8. Would you like a light plant on your desk?
9. How would you turn the lights on plants on and off?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'light'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. What do you think of fireflies?
13. What other animal abilities could scientists put into plants?
14. How dangerous would it be to eat leaves that light up?
15. If all plants lit up, how would the world be different?
16. What would owls think if all trees lit up?
17. If grass, trees and crops lit up, would we lose the dark?
You are what you eat, say scientists

Scientists have cast new light on the effects our diet has on our mental health. Researchers say what we eat
affects and alters our brain chemistry up until the age of 30. They say this explains why older adults are more
emotionally stable and resilient than under-30s. The research was conducted by a team led by Lina Begdache,
a professor of health and wellness studies. Researchers said that while the link between our diet and diabetes,
heart disease and obesity is well established, there is a paucity of research on the influence our dietary intake
has on mental health. The researchers also suggested that mental well-being stimulated healthy eating,
healthy practices, and exercising.

The research was carried out via an anonymous internet-based survey. It was sent through social media
platforms to different professional and social group networks. Professor Begdache found that adults under 30
who ate fast food more than three times a week scored higher on levels of mental distress, anxiety and
depression. She said that for adults over 30, the study found that eating less carbohydrates and more fruit
reduced anxiety and depression. Begdache pointed to research showing how a Mediterranean diet was as
good for our brain as for our body. She said: "It has all the components that are important for the healthy
structure of the brain."

COMPREHENSION

1. What have researchers cast on the effects of our diet on mental health?
2. Who did the article say was more emotionally stable and resilient?
3. What is Lina Begdache a professor of besides health?
4. What did the professor say about the link between diet and obesity?
5. What did the researchers say stimulated healthy practices?
6. How was the survey conducted?
7. How often did adults eat fast food to increase levels of mental distress?
8. What did over-30s eat less of to reduce depression?
9. What diet did the professor suggest eating?
10. What is a diet mentioned in the article important for?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'diet'?
2. How healthy is your diet?
3. Do you eat any food to keep your brain healthy?
4. What do you know about the brain?
5. Are the under-30s less emotionally stable than the over-30s?
6. How does lots of cola and coffee affect our brain and mood?
7. Why is their so little research on diet and mental health?
8. Do mentally-well people have healthier lives?
9. Will you change what you eat from now on?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'health'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. Are you what you eat?
13. What do you eat that might affect your mental health?
14. How might fast food affect out mental well-being?
15. What could you eat less or more of to reduce depression?
16. What do you know about the Mediterranean diet?
17. What kind of diet is best for our mental health?
'Selfieccino' is the new art in making coffee

A cafe in London has started a personalized way of making coffee. It is a new form of barista art called the
"selfieccino". A barista is someone who makes the coffee, lattes and frappuccinos in coffee shops. They used
to draw chocolate hearts, flowers and swirls in the white froth of the coffee. However, they have now taken that
to a new level. They can now put a picture of a customer's face in the white frothy coffee topping. This means
coffee lovers can sip on a cup of coffee with their own self-portrait in it. The cafe is called the Tea Terrace. It is
located in one of London's top shopping areas, Oxford Street. The cafe sold over 400 of the personalized
drinks within days of starting the service earlier this week.

Baristas make use of technology to put the portraits of people on top of the coffee. Customers send a picture of
their face on an online messaging app. The barista then uses a machine called a "Cino" to change the picture
into an image on the white froth using different food colourings. The whole process takes about four minutes
and costs $7.50 for the selfie in the coffee. The owner of the cafe, Ehab Salem Shouly, explained why he
started the selfieccino service. He said: "It's not enough any more to just deliver great food and great service.
It's got to be Instagram worthy." People want to take photos of everything they do and post their images on
social media.

COMPREHENSION

1. In which world city is the cafe making the selfieccinos?

2. What did baristas used to draw besides hearts and swirls?
3. What part of the coffee did the article say was white?
4. Who did the article say can take a sip of coffee with their portrait on it?
5. How many personalized drinks did the cafe sell earlier in the week?
6. What did baristas use to help draw the pictures?
7. How do customers send a picture of their face to the cafe?
8. What do the baristas use to add colour to the selfieccino pictures?
9. How long does it take to put the picture on the coffee?
10. What did the article say people wanted to take photos of?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'selfie'?
2. What do you think of coffee?
3. How important are cafes to you?
4. What does a barista do every day?
5. Do you like pictures in your coffee?
6. What would you think of your portrait being in your drink?
7. Would you like to visit the cafe?
8. What kind of people will buy selfieccinos?
9. What would you think of a T-shirt with your face on it?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'coffee'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. What do you think of coffee shops?
13. Where would you like to see a photo of your face?
14. What do you think of the $7.50 price of the selfieccino?
15. Why do people want to put everything in their life online?
16. Why do you post things online
17. How important is social media to you?
Singing in groups could make you happier

Researchers have found that singing in groups could have positive effects on reducing anxiety and depression.
The research is from the University of East Anglia in the UK, in collaboration with a community singing group
called Sing Your Heart Out. A research team conducted the study to examine how singing with other people
affects mental health. Researchers followed a group of participants who attended free weekly singing
workshops for six months. They discovered that singing in groups was an essential part in helping people
recover from mental illness. In addition, it helped people feel valued, enhanced their mood and increased their
confidence, social skills and feeling of well-being.

Lead researcher, professor Tom Shakespeare, said: "We found that singing as part of a group contributes to
people's recovery from mental health problems." He added that: "All of the participants we spoke to reported
positive effects on their mental health as a direct result of taking part in the singing workshops. For some, it
represented one component of a wider programme of support. For others, it stood out as key to their recovery
or maintenance of health." Professor Shakespeare explained: "We heard the participants calling the initiative a
life saver and that it saved their sanity." He said: "The key thing for everyone was that the Sing Your Heart Out
model induced fun and happiness."

COMREHENSION

1. What two mental health conditions could singing in groups reduce?

2. What kind of group did a university collaborate with?
3. How much did the weekly singing workshops cost?
4. For how long did people attend the workshops?
5. What did the article say the singing workshops enhanced?
6. Who is Tom Shakespeare?
7. How many of the participants reported positive effects?
8. Where were the workshops a component of in some people's recovery?
9. What were the workshops a key to for some participants?
10. What two things did the Sing Your Heart Out model induce?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sing'?
2. What do you think of singing?
3. What do you think of your singing voice?
4. What do you think of karaoke?
5. How does singing make you feel?
6. Where and when do you sing?
7. What do you think of the community singing group?
8. How might singing improve our mental health?
9. Who is your favourite singer, and why?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'song'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. How much do you like singing?
13. How does singing change your mood?
14. Why do we sing?
15. When might singing make you unhappy?
16. Would you like to be lead singer in a band?
17. What kinds of songs do you like to sing?
Too much gaming is mental health issue

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too much gaming is officially a mental health problem.
The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition on its official list of diseases. The list is
called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder happens when people
cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests in life. The WHO says this must
happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder
will insist on gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have suffered "negative consequences"
from gaming too much.

The WHO said doctors should be aware that addiction to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's
health because it has "serious" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video games
don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain
circumstances, overuse can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not
be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared an addiction to gaming to coffee
addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world are hooked on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but
only rarely does this cause more trouble than its worth."

COMPREHENSION

1. Which organization said gaming addiction was a disease?

2. What kind of list did an organization put gaming addiction on?
3. What must gaming become more important than for it to be a disorder?
4. How long must someone have a gaming problem for if it is a disorder?
5. What will someone with gaming disorder insist on doing?
6. Who should be aware of the dangers of an addiction to gaming?
7. What kind of effects did a spokesman say overuse could lead to?
8. What did psychiatrist Allen Frances compare a gaming addiction to?
9. How many people around the word are hooked on coffee?
10. How often did the psychologist say caffeine addiction caused trouble?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'gaming'?
2. What do you think of gaming?
3. How useful is gaming?
4. Why do people get addicted to gaming?
5. What's your favorite game, and why?
6. Do you think too much gaming is a disease?
7. Why can't some people stop gaming?
8. Is gaming a waste of time?
9. What 'negative consequences' might there be from gaming too much?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'addiction'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. How dangerous could gaming be?
13. How similar are addictions to coffee and addictions to gaming?
14. Are you addicted to anything?
15. How can we help people who are addicted to gaming?
16. Have you ever been hooked on something?
17. How would you feel about being hooked on a game?
Certain smells take you back to your childhood

Scientists have found out why certain smells recall feelings of nostalgia and can recall distant memories. The
scientists say an area of the brain is responsible for assigning memories to smells and for storing them for decades.
The area can instantly recall the memories with great clarity years later if a person encounters the smell again.
Christina Strauch, from the Ruhr University in Germany, said smells are stored in the olfactory brain. The word
olfactory means anything related to the sense of smell. She said: "It is known that the piriform cortex is able to
temporarily store olfactory memories. We wanted to know if that applies to long-term memories as well."

There are a multitude of scents that can transport us back to our childhood. Smells from cookies baking in the oven or
the perfume of an elderly aunt can bring back surprising recollections of growing up. Professor Strauch said certain
scents can take you away to another point in time. Strauch said some odours can make you wish you were actually
back in a certain point of time, or make you want to escape. She said it depends on whether or not the smell has a
positive or negative association. Aromatherapists partly depend on this for their patients. Smells can even encourage
you to buy things in stores. Many stores introduce fragrances to shoppers to evoke nostalgic memories to buy things
they loved years ago.

COMPREHENSION

1. What kind of feelings did the article say smells could recall?
2. For how long could the brain store memories associated with smells?
3. What part of the brain did the researchers look at regarding smells?
4. For how long can the piriform cortex store memories of smell?
5. What kind of memories did a researcher say she wanted to know about?
6. Where did the article say smells could transport us back to?
7. Whose perfume did the article say could remind us of growing up?
8. What did the article say some smells make you want to do?
9. Who relies on smells for their patients?
10. Who do stores introduce fragrances to?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'smell'?
2. What are your favourite smells, and why?
3. What do you think of perfume?
4. What smells can you recollect from your childhood?
5. How often do you get nostalgic about the past?
6. What smells can you remember of your elementary school?
7. Why is the sense of smell important?
8. Do you have a good memory?
9. What's your earliest memory?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'memory'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. Which is better - the smell of baking bread or brewing coffee?
13. What's the worst smell in the world?
14. Which is worse – body odour or bad breath?
15. What point in time would you like to go back to?
16. What do you think of aromatherapy?
17. What smell would people associate with you?
2017 was UK's greenest energy year ever

The United Kingdom is doing a lot to increase its use of renewable energy. It is moving away from fossil fuels
and making more use of green energies, such as wind power, nuclear power and solar energy. New figures
from the UK's electricity provider show that the UK had its greenest year ever in 2017 for electricity production.
It even had its first coal-free day for over 150 years. The UK broke 13 clean energy records in 2017. In June,
wind, nuclear and solar power produced more electricity than gas and coal combined. It was the first time this
has ever happened. The UK's power system is now the fourth cleanest in Europe and the seventh cleanest in
the world.

The United Kingdom has been trying to reduce the amount of coal it uses. Coal now supplies less than 7 per
cent of the UK's electricity. A spokesman said it must now try to use less gas to make sure it meets its target
for greenhouse gas emissions. The UK currently uses too much gas. The conservation charity World Wildlife
Fund said it was pleased that the UK is moving towards greener energy. It said: "We have never been cleaner
or greener, and we are on [target] for an even better year in 2018." It added: "Climate change is wreaking
havoc on our nature and wildlife, but we are at last facing up to the challenge. We are turning our backs on
polluting fossil fuels and embracing a new, clean future."

COMPREHENSION

1. What is the UK doing a lot to increase its use of?

2. In how long did the UK have its first coal-free day?
3. How many clean energy records did the UK break in 2017?
4. What did green energies produce more electricity than in June 2017?
5. What position is the UK in the world's cleanest power systems?
6. How much of the UK electricity supply comes from coal?
7. What target does the UK want to meet?
8. What charity was pleased with the UK's move towards green energy?
9. What year did the charity say would be better?
10. What did the charity say the UK is turning its back on?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'green'?
2. What renewables does your country use?
3. Why do we need to use more renewable energy?
4. How green is your lifestyle?
5. What do you know about solar power?
6. What do you think about nuclear power?
7. How important is electricity?
8. How much do you worry about pollution?
9. What things are adding to climate change?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'energy'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. What is wrong with fossil fuels?
13. What do you know about wind power?
14. What do you know about the World Wildlife Fund?
15. What do you do to conserve energy and water?
16. What is climate change doing to our nature and wildlife?
17. When will we be using only renewable energy?
2018 to be a great year

The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months. This is according
to a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked pertinent questions
about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead. A resounding 100 per cent of
survey participants responded positively. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their
personal lives and in terms of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were of the
opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened
by the responses and wished everyone good fortune.

The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the fate of the Earth.
An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry out their New Year resolutions. In
particular, people were determined to get in shape, stop procrastinating, save money, and improve their
English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast food and chocolate, and
make sure their homes are always very, very tidy. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018.
They thought there would be fewer wars, less pollution and an increase in goodwill shown to the less fortunate.
Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness and prosperity.

COMPREHENSION

1. What did the news service BNE carry out?

2. What percent of people responded positively to a survey?
3. What kind of issues did the people say 2018 would be wonderful for?
4. What did the survey participants say 2018 would be better than?
5. What did a BNE spokesman wish everyone?
6. What did participants ask questions on the fate of?
7. How many people were convinced they would carry out their resolutions?
8. What did many people say they wanted to stop doing?
9. What did many people resolve to keep tidy?
10. What did people think would be shown more of to the less fortunate?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'year'?
2. How do you feel about 2018?
3. What are you optimistic and pessimistic about regarding 2018?
4. What do you think 2018 will be like for you?
5. What do you think 2018 will be like for the world?
6. What did you think of the year 2017?
7. What do you hope will happen in 2018?
8. What bad things might happen in 2018?
9. What has been the best year of your life, and why?
10. What do you think of when you hear the year '2018'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. What New Year resolutions do you have?
13. How much of a procrastinator are you?
14. What will you do to improve your English ability this year?
15. How possible is it for you to use your smartphone less this year?
16. What are your thoughts on the number of wars in 2018?
17. What will lead to more love in the world?
Hong Kong's poor live in homes smaller than prison cells

A new study shows that some poor people in Hong Kong live in tiny homes. Residents from a housing alliance
found that 204 families in their area live in homes that are smaller than prison cells. The families live in the
Kwai Chung area of Hong Kong. The average living space per person was just 4.6 square meters. This is
roughly the size of three toilet cubicles, or about half the size of a car parking space. The average size of a
prison cell for Hong Kong's maximum security prisoners is about 50 per cent bigger than the size of the Kwai
Chung homes. A 2016 government report stated that over 65 per cent of Hong Kong families live in homes that
range between 7 and 14 square meters.

Hong Kong has one of the world's most expensive housing markets. Britain's 'Guardian' newspaper said an
average resident would have to save for more than 18 years in order to pay for a tiny home. A member of the
Kwai Chung housing alliance told reporters about how unhappy people are about living in such a small home.
He said: "It is completely unacceptable and inhumane that the living area for people is the same as for
prisoners in such a prosperous city like Hong Kong." Another resident said she could only afford a tiny room for
her husband and six-year-old son. The room has a bunk bed, a closet and a small folding table. She said: "The
bathroom is so small we have to sit sideways to go to the toilet."

COMPREHENSION

1. How small did the first sentence say people's homes were?
2. How big was the average living space per person for the tiny homes?
3. How big are the rooms compared to a parking space?
4. How much bigger are maximum-security prison cells?
5. What percent of Hong Kong families live in homes of up to 14 sq meters?
6. How long does someone have to save to buy a home in Hong Kong?
7. What kind of city did a housing alliance member call Hong Kong?
8. Who lived with a woman in a tiny room?
9. What kind of bed was in a woman's room?
10. How does a lady have to sit on the toilet?

DISCUSSION

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'living'?
2. How much space do you need in your house?
3. What things must you have in your room?
4. Why are rooms and houses in Hong Kong so small?
5. How would a tiny living space make you feel?
6. Should Hong Kong make its prison cells smaller?
7. What do you know about Hong Kong?
8. What would you do with a bigger living space?
9. What advice do you have for those living in small rooms?
10. What do you think of when you hear the word 'space'?
11. What do you think about what you read?
12. How much space do you have in your house?
13. What is the good thing about a big living space?
14. Is it better to buy or rent a house?
15. How can prison cells be bigger rooms in houses?
16. What good things are there about tiny rooms?
17. How would you survive in a really tiny room?