Newsweek to End Its Print Edition

The world-famous current affairs magazine "Newsweek" has announced it will stop printing its publication at the end of the year and will become online-only. The magazine was established in 1933 and has been in print for the past 80 years. However, rising costs of publishing and a fall in the number of advertisers willing to buy space in newspapers and magazines mean a move to a digital version. The number of subscribers has also halved from its 2001 heyday of over 3 million to 1.5 million today. The transition has been in the works for a number of years. In 2010 Newsweek merged with the Internet news site "The Daily Beast" which has over 15 million visitors a month.

The switch to an online-only format is expected to revive Newsweek's fortunes. It was in serious trouble in 2010 when its revenue dropped nearly 40 per cent in two years. It was loaded with debt and its owner, The Washington Post Company, sold the company for just $1.00. The Daily Beast's editor Tina Brown now runs both publications. She said profit had to come before "the romance of print". She told reporters: "We must sustain the journalism that gives the magazine its purpose - and embrace the all-digital future. This decision is not about the quality of the brand or the journalism - that is as powerful as ever. It is about the challenging economics of print publishing and distribution."

 (19th October, 2012)

Question 1. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false.give evidence from the text.

a.         Newsweek has gone out of business and will finish up in December.       

b.         Newsweek's new editor wants to add more romance to the magazine.     

c.         The editor stressed the importance of digital editions of the publication.   

d.         The editor said economics and news distribution weren't a challenge.      

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

             

            a. Which three reasons have Newsweek’s editors had to take this decision?

            b. According to Tina Brown’s words, will the digital version lose quality? 

Question 3. Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:

            a. to join forces (par 1)

            b. to welcome (par.2)

            c. delivery (par.2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Newsweek has moved to a digital version because the costs of publishing have risen and the number of advertisers willing to buy space in newspapers and magazines has fallen.

If the costs of publishing had……………..

b. The switch to an online-only format is expected to revive Newsweek's fortunes.

Editors expect …….

c.“We must sustain the journalism that gives the magazine its purpose - and embrace the all- digital future.”

Tina Brown said ……..

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic

            How important is looking at, reading about, or listening to news to you?

Google doodle celebrates 150 years of the London Underground

Google has celebrated the 150th birthday of the London Underground with a doodle.

The search engine apes the Tube’s famous multi-coloured map to spell out its name, and even uses the real names and colours of Underground lines.

The London Underground opened in 1863, with the first journey taking place between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway, which now forms part of the Circle and District Line.

All seven of the Tube’s original stations are still in use, although only Edgware Road and Baker Street retain their Victoria-era names.

Within a few months of opening, the Tube was regularly carrying 26,000 passengers a day, leading to the development of new lines, such as the Metropolitan District Railway, which had a fierce rivalry with the original Metropolitan Railway.

The two were connected in 1884 by the Inner Circle and a further 263 stations have been added to the London Underground over the last 150 years.

London Underground will recreate the historic first journey on Sunday, with a steam locomotive pulling a restored 1893 carriage along the line.

In 2012, an estimated 3.66 million people used the London Underground every weekday, with 3.23 million travelling at weekends.

Comprehension questions. Are these statements TRUE or FALSE?

1.- Google has created a doodle using the original colours.

2.- The original route is not in use nowadays.

3.- The first stations are no longer in use.

4.- Some stations have not changed their names.

5.- The number of passengers forced the company to open new routes.

6.- There was kind of a competition between lines.

7.- In about twenty years after opening they reorganised the routes.

8.- There will not be any special celebrations of the anniversary.

9.- More people use the Tube at weekends than on weekdays.

Vocabulary. Find words or expressions in the text that mean the same as the following

1.- imitate

2.- keep

3.- cause to happen

4.- act of competing

5.- return to original state

6.- approximate number

Have a look at what people hate about LondonUnderground here

London underground: 150 fastinating facts 

KEY

Comprehension questions

1.-TRUE

2.- FALSE

3.- FALSE

4.- TRUE

5.- TRUE

6.- TRUE

7.- TRUE

8.- FALSE

9.- FALSE

Vocabulary

1.- ape

2.- retain

3.- leading to

4.- rivalry

5.- restored

6.- estimated

Rephrasings 3

Rewrite the following sententes without changing the meaning.

1. You mustn’t smoke in here.

You are ________________________ in here.

2. You failed the exam because you didn’t study.

If you had studied, you ______________ the exam

3. In the past Gerald drove to work, but he doesn’t any more.

Gerald _________________ to work, but he doesn’t any more.

4. We can’t wait to move into our new house.

I am ___________________ into our new house.

5. The last time I saw Audrey was when I was in Italy.

I ____________________ Audrey since I was in Italy.

6. I was never allowed to drink soft drinks when I was young.

They didn’t _________________ soft drinks when I was young.

7. They will promote somebody from the 9th floor.

Somebody ______________ from the 9th floor.

8. My parents let me do what I wanted.

My parents ______________ what I wanted.

9. When did you start working at this bank?

How long ______________ at this bank?

10. Take this medicine and you’ll soon feel better.

If you _______________ soon feel better.

11. I think the best thing you can do is stay in a cheap hotel.

If I ________________ in a cheap hotel

12. Frank once enjoyed boxing, but he doesn’t now.

Frank ___________ boxing, but he doesn’t now.

13. They don’t make Volvos in Norway.

Volvos ___________ in Norway.

14. Last time she smoked was 10 years ago.

Sue ________________ 10 years.

15. "Send this letter for me" John said to me.

John _________________ for him.

KEY

1. not allowed to smoke.
2. wouldn't have failed
3. used to drive
4. looking forward to moving
5. haven't seen
6. let me drink
7. will be promoted
8. let me do
9. have you been working
10. take this medicine, you will
11. were you, I would stay
12. used to enjoy
13. aren't made
14. hasn't smoked for
15. told me to send that letter

SIMPLY WONDERFUL Tim Meyers

Listen to the song and complete the gaps

Verse 1

So _____more, so much more than I was wishing for

Nothing ___, nothing less than perfect _________

Chorus

 _______ simply wonderful

Doo-do-do-doo-doo-do-do

Verse 2

Simple things, simple things in _____come easily

In this great big world we're _____connected

In this great big world

Chorus

Airplanes setting, drifting up into the _______,

Way up _____

Looking down I see insects crawling ________ ,

Buzzing sound

Verse 3

Get away, I need an ________        

To get away

Take it in; the soul is out come on let’s take it in.

Chorus. Complete this line

Every ______________________________________

SIMPLY WONDERFUL

KEY

SIMPLY WONDERFUL    Tim Meyers

Verse 1

So much more, so much more than I was wishing for

Nothing less, nothing less than perfect happiness

Chorus

It's simply wonderful

Doo-do-do-doo-doo-do-do

Doo-do-do-doo-doo-do-do

Verse 2

Simple things, simple things in life com easily

In this great big world we're all connected

In this great big world

Chorus

Airplanes setting, drifting up into the sky,

Way up high

Looking down I see insects crawling round,

Buzzing sound

Verse 3

Get away, I need an island        

To get away

Take it in, the soul is out c'mon lets

Take it in

Newsweek to End Its Print Edition

KEY

Question 1

a. False. “The world-famous current affairs magazine "Newsweek" has announced it will stop printing its publication at the end of the year and will become online-only.”

b. False. “She said profit had to come before "the romance of print".       

c. True. “"We must sustain the journalism that gives the magazine its purpose - and embrace the all-digital future.”

d. False.” It is about the challenging economics of print publishing and distribution."        

                       

Question 2

a. Newsweek’s editors had to make this decision because publishing the magazine has become more expensive and there are fewer brands wanting to advertise in the publication as well as the fact that only half of the people who used to suscribe to the magazine still want to keep their suscription.

b. According to Tina Brown, the quality of the digital version will be as good as the one in the printed version.

Question 3

a. merged / to merge

b. to embrace

c. delivery

                       

Question 4

a. If the costs of publishing hadn’t risen and the number of advertisers willing to buy space in newspapers hadn’t fallen, Newsweek wouldn’t have moved to a digital version.

b. Editors expect that the switch to an online-only format will revive Newsweek’s fortunes.

c. Tina Brown said that they had to sustain the journalism that gave the magazine its purpose – and embrace the all-digital future.

Japanese businessman tries to walk wrong way on escalator

               A man wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase appears unsteady on his feet as he tries to make his way down the escalator at Tottenham Court Road tube station. Bemused commuters try to help the man off but he ignores them and continues to try and walk the wrong way.

            After struggling for two minutes as people push past, he is guided off by a helpful commuter who pushes the emergency stop button and points him in the right direction. The incident was caught on camera last Friday (Nov 9) by Sam Napper, 27, who described the man as a "drunk Japanese businessman".

            Sam, from London, said: "I was making my way home after dinner when we quite literally bumped into this chap on the escalators between the Northern and Central Lines at Tottenham Court Road station.

            "At first I thought he was playing silly buggers with a few of his FX Trader mates but when we saw his dogged stagger and realised he was alone, I thought we were about to witness something truly brilliant. "I had no idea where he came from but I had to hand it to him, the man knew where he was going. One by one, concerned commuters tried to steer him in the right direction, to no avail. Our bespectacled hero just kept walking.

            "Eventually, we let the poor sod out of his hamster wheel-like hell and pushed the emergency stop button. After pausing for a few seconds, he turned around and walked out, as if nothing ever happened, saying nothing, leaving us stunned.”

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a)      Some commuters paid no attention to the man.

b)      Sam Nipper was going back home from work.

c)      Sam Nipper thought it was part of an amazing show.

d)      People were surprised as the man thanked them and left.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

            a)  How did we get to know about this incident?

b)  What happened at the end of the story?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as

            a)   fight (par.2)             b) friend(par.4 )             c)  traveller(par.4 )

           

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

            a)  The man is guided off by a helpful commuter.

A…………………………………

b)  Sam said: "I was making my way home after dinner when we quite literally bumped into this chap on the escalators”

Sam said that …………………………………………………………..

c)   He said nothing, so he left us stunned.

If he..................................................................

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Is it good to always follow the rules?

Eating late at night 'makes you fat'

It is not just what people eat but when that leads to weight gain, evidence suggests.

Mice with a malfunctioning body clock piled on the pounds because they were eating when they should have been asleep, a study suggested.

Even if they consumed no more calories than normal, they still gained more weight.

The findings shed light on the complex causes of obesity in humans, said the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania.

They said the effect in mice was similar to night-eating syndrome in humans, which is associated with obesity.

The results could explain why night shift workers are more likely to suffer obesity and metabolic syndrome, a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Patients with sleep disorders are also at greater risk of developing obesity, while less sleep can lead to weight gain in healthy people.

Georgios Paschos, a research associate involved in the study, said: “A relatively modest shift in food consumption into what is normally the rest period for mice can favour energy storage. Our mice became obese without consuming more calories.”

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) The study suggests that eating light meals at night can put you on weight.

b) Working during the day is less risky for your health.

c) The more healthy people sleep, the more likely they are to put on weight.

d) A small change in eating time habits can be the cause to gain weight.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a)  According to the study, what kind of people are at risk of suffering from obesity?

b)  What are the conclusions of this study?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as

a) put on par.2

b) big par 5

c) change par 6

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) They said the effect in mice was similar to night-eating syndrome in humans

The effect ……………………………………..

b) The results could explain why night shift workers are more likely to suffer obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The results could explain why night shift workers will …………………….

c) Georgios Paschos, a research associate involved in the study, said: “A relatively modest shift in food consumption into what is normally the rest period for mice can favour energy storage. Our mice became obese without consuming more calories.”

Georgios Paschos said …………………………………………….

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Modern lifestyle is making people lose healthy habits. Do you agree?

Your card details “stolen out of thin air”

             Millions of credit and debit card users could be ‘robbed by radiowave’ because of new contactless technology being brought in by banks.

            Almost 20million shoppers are now able to buy goods by simply waving their card in front of a reader at the tills, even if it is still in a wallet or a purse. But industry experts have warned that the information emitted by the cards can be stolen by fraudsters using handheld receptors that cost as little as £7 on the internet.

            It means cardholders, most of whom are given a contactless card automatically when their old one expires, can unknowingly surrender their personal bank details to a thief by simply walking past them in the street. They then have enough information to rack up huge bills at any internet shopping site that does not demand the three-digit security code on the back of the card.

The technology in the card, known as radio frequency identification (RFID), transmits bank details via its own radio signal, and is accepted in many High Street chains, including Co-op, Boots and Pret-a-Manger. It does away with the need for a customer inputting their PIN when buying goods, and was designed to reduce queues at the checkout.

            David Maxwell, a former policeman and director of RFIDprotect, a firm which specialises in protection against card fraud, said: ‘It has been a big problem in America for a while and is getting to be a big problem over here.’

Cards can be protected from RFID skimmers by being wrapped in tin foil or being kept in special foil-lined wallets. Customers should also call their banks as soon as they suspect their card is being used fraudulently.

Ron Delnevo, of independent ATM operator Bank Machine, said: ‘Nobody really wants this technology yet it is being handed down to us by the banking industry. It is putting us all at increased risk of fraud.’

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) Shops need a special device to make new cards work.

b) Users must apply for these cards to their banks.

c) Fraudsters need no extra details to use the cards to purchase things.

d) People are against this type of contactless cards.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a)  How does this new technology work?

b)  What can customers do to protect themselves from fraudsters?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as

a) launch (par. 1)

b) give away (par. 4)

c) finish with (par.4)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) The technology in the card transmits bank details via its own radio signal.

Bank details  ………………………………………..

b) David Maxwell , said: ‘It has been a big problem in America for a while and is getting to be a big problem over here.’

David Maxwell said that …………………………….

c) Cards can be protected from RFID skimmers by being wrapped in tin foil.

If you ………………………………………

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Technology does not always help us in our daily life” Do you agree?

Himal's story

Watch this video and answer the questions below

- See more at: http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=171624#sthash.kVFpauvH.dpuf

1.      How old is Himal?

2.      How many days did he go to school when he was younger?

3.      Does he go to school now?

4.      What time does he get up?

5.      What does he do with the cows?

6.      What does he do in the rooms?

7.      Is it a small house?

8.      What does he read?  

Key

1. He’s 16.

2. He went to school five or six days.

3. No, he doesn’t go to school now.

4. He gets up at 5 in the morning.

5. He takes them out and milks them.

6. He cleans the rooms and sweeps the floors.

7. No, it’s a big house.

8. He reads stories in his book and letters from his family and friends.

Japanese businessman tries to walk wrong way on escalator

Question 1

            a) TRUE “ After struggling for two minutes as people push past”

            b) FALSE “I was making my way home after dinner “

            c) TRUE I knew we were about to witness something truly brilliant”

d) FALSE ...he turned around and walked out, as if nothing ever happened, saying nothing, leaving us stunned.”

Question 2

a)       We got to know about the incident because a young man called San Nipper, who was at the station when it happened, took his camera and photographed what was happening with this man.

b)       Some people failed to help the man out of the escalator in the beginning, but in the end, one of the commuters let the man out of the escalator by pushing the stop button and the  man left the place giving no explanation.

Question 3

a)       struggle

b)       mate

c)       commuter

Question 4

            a) A helpful commuter guides the man.

b) Sam said that he was making his way home after dinner when we quite literally bumped into this chap on the escalators”

c) If he had said something, he wouldn't have left us stunned.

Your card details “stolen out of thin air”

Question 1

a) TRUE “ by simply waving their card in front of a reader at the tills”

b) FALSE “...cardholders, most of whom are given a contactless card automatically when their old one expires”

c) FALSE “They then have enough information to rack up huge bills at any internet shopping site that does not demand the three-digit security code on the back of the card.”

d) TRUE “ Nobody really wants this technology”

Question 2

a) This new technology is a contactless one, which means that you just have to move your card in front of a special device which reads your details so that you can pay for things.

b) Customers can cover their cards with special wallets made of foil-lined or simply wrap them with foil. Moreover, they must call their banks as soon as they feel someone is using their cards dishonestly.

Question 3

a)       bring/brought in

b)       surrender

c)       do away

Question 4

a)       Bank details are transmitted by the technology in the card via its own radio signal.

b)       David Maxwell said that it had been a big problem in America for a while and was getting to be a big problem over there.

c)       If you wrap cards in tin foil, they will be protected from RFID skimmers.