Olympic Animals

African elephant for weightlifting

No land animal on Earth can lift as much weight as the African elephant, which can pick up a one-tonne weight with its trunk.

When not showing off their physical prowess, they actually use their versatile trunk, an extension of the upper lip and nose, for communication and handling objects including food.

The African elephant, the world’s largest terrestrial mammal, continues to roam the continent, but remain under threat from poaching and habitat loss. Although poaching elephants for their ivory has declined since a 1989 ivory ban, it remains a widespread problem, particularly in west and central Africa.

As strong as they are, elephants still need additional protection from the illegal ivory trade.

Olympic Animals

Polar bear for swimming

Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can sustain a pace of 10kph (6.2mph) in cold icy waters by using their front paws like oars while their hind legs are held flat like a rudder.

They can swim for several hours at a time over long distances - some have been tracked swimming continuously for 100km (62 miles) - and can stay under water for as long as 2 minutes.

Its Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “sea bear”, reflecting the fact that the species spends much of its life in and around water, and on offshore pack ice where they like to hunt.

Melting sea ice as a result of climate change, however, poses a severe threat to the polar bear’s survival, a threat that it may not be able to swim its way out of so easily.

Scientists believe polar bears may disappear in the wild within 100 years if global warming continues unabated.

Olympic Animals

Leatherback turtle for diving

Scientists have recorded leatherback turtles descending as deep as 1,230m - the deepest dive ever recorded for a reptile.

They are also excellent swimmers, finding their way as far north as Alaska and as far south as Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

Like other marine turtles species, leatherbacks are threatened by poaching for meat and egg collection, marine pollution and being caught accidentally in fishing nets. A combination of these threats has caused the world’s largest marine species to be listed as critically endangered.

The leatherback may have to dive a little deeper to escape detection.

Olympic Animals

Tiger for high jumping

Tigers can leap as high as 5m (16ft) and as far as 9-10m (30-33ft), making them one of the highest jumping mammals.

The tiger, largest of all cats, is one of the most charismatic and evocative species on Earth; it is also one of the most threatened. Only about 4,000 remain in the wild, most in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests stretching from India to south-eastern China and from the Russian Far East to Sumatra, Indonesia.

Poached for its skin and body parts, the world has lost 3 of the 9 tiger subspecies in the past century - the Bali, Caspian and Javan tigers have all become extinct.

Can the remaining subspecies jump away from the brink of extinction?

Olympic Animals

Cheetah

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal, and the most unique and specialized member of the cat family.

Aerodynamically built for speed, it can achieve speeds of up to 112kph (70mph). These nimble cats can make swift, sudden turns in pursuit of prey like gazelle and young wildebeest.

With approximately 10,000 left in the wild, the cheetah is endangered throughout its range in southern and eastern Africa due to habitat loss, reduced prey and poaching.

Will they be fast enough in the race for survival?

Teaching Tips & Ideas

The use of: “To Make and To Do”

e.g. To Make A Purchase – To Do Shopping

The above examples are enough to show you that it is sometimes very hard the use of these two verbs. Sorry but all you have to do is study both verbs and get acquainted with the use of them. Here are some expressions:


Make a check______________________________
Make a difference___________________________
Make a discount____________________________
Make a mess_______________________________
Make a reservation__________________________
Make a bet_________________________________
Make a phone call___________________________
Make a speech_____________________________
Make a question____________________________
Make a compliment_________________________
Make a mistake ____________________________
Make an effort_____________________________
Do a business______________________________
Do a favor_________________________________
Do a good action____________________________
Do a stupid thing____________________________
Do as you like______________________________
That will do________________________________
Do one’s best______________________________
Do good__________________________________
Do justice_________________________________
Do nothing________________________________
Do wrong_________________________________
Do the right thing___________________________


As you can see, it’s not that easy to deal with “Make” and “Do” ! You should go to the Dictionary and discover the meaning of the words and expressions and fill in the blanks. HC

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

MUD PIES

A man pleaded with the psychiatrist,

- "You've got to help me. It's my son."
- "What's the matter?"
- "He's always eating mud pies. I get up in the morning and there he is in the backyard eating mud pies. I come home at lunch and he's eating mud pies. I come home at dinner and there he is in the backyard eating mud pies."

The psychiatrist reassured him,

- "Give the kid a chance. It's all part of growing up. It'll pass."
- "Well, I don't like it, and neither does his wife."

"PUREBRED POLICE DOG $25"

The ad in the local newspaper read: "Purebred Police Dog $25". Thinking that to be a great bargain, Mrs. Freeman ordered the dog to be delivered. The next day a van pulled up and left her the mangiest looking mongrel she had ever seen. In a rage, she telephoned the man who had placed the ad.

- "What do you mean by calling that mangy mutt a purebred police dog?"
- "Don't be deceived by his looks, Ma'am," he replied. "He's in the Secret Service."

WORD OF THE DAY

VEX

Function: verb (with object)

Inflected forms:
vexes; vexed; vexing

Status: old-fashioned

Meaning:
to annoy or worry (someone)
e.g. This problem has vexed researchers for many years.
We were vexed by the delay.

Derived form:
vexing - adjective
Comparative and superlative forms: more vexing; most vexing
e.g. a vexing problem (an irritating/annoying problem)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Benjamin Franklin

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT - NOW AND THEN

The Olympic Spirit celebrates the centennial of the modern Olympic movement, beginning with the very first Olympiad in Athens, Greece in 1896. From their beginnings, in 776 B.C., the Olympic Games have always represented the ultimate in athletic achievement. But for centuries the Olympics have also provided the world with an international stage from which art and culture have been celebrated, peace inspired and political agendas promoted. The Olympic Creed says “The most important thing is not to win but to take part. The essential is not to have conquered, but to have fought well”. Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I abolished the games in 393 A.D. on the grounds that they were losing their true spirit and had been corrupted.

BEIJING 2008

A terrorist attack in a western Chinese province is raising security concerns just a few days before the start of the Olympics. The attack happened on the far side of China, in the Xinjiang region, near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Chinese authorities say it could be timed to the games. Sixteen policemen were killed in the city of Kashgar when two attackers driving a truck drove into a group of police officers who were out doing their morning exercises. The two attackers jumped from the vehicle and threw grenades, which exploded, and also attacked the police officers with knives. The Chinese authorities are calling this a terrorist attack

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

AMIDST - Indica a posição de objetos e pessoas no meio de outros.
Emprega-se também em sentido figurado com substantivos abstratos.
e.g. - We saw her amidst the crowd.
The ship sank amidst the waves.
She found herself amidst the confusion.

AMONG - AMONGST - Entre. Indicam a posição de objetos misturados com outros.
Raras vezes são empregados em sentido figurado.
e.g. - They decided among themselves.
There never ought to be dissentions amongst friends.
I divided my books among them.

AROUND - Ao redor de. Em redor de. Por volta de.
e.g. - She tied a yellow ribbon around the Ole Oak Tree.
We’ll be there around midnight.
Around the world in 80 days.

RULES OF THUMB

The thumb is the short, thick finger on your hand, the one that helps you hold things.

Thumb Nouns

The noun “thumb” is used in a lot of expressions: to give someone the thumbs up/down
(to give someone approval/disapproval)

Thumb is also used as a verb.
e.g. to thumb a ride (informal) to hitchhike; to try to get a ride (lift)by standing on the road sticking out your thumb.

Thumb Idioms
Here are some idioms with thumb. Can you guess their idiomatic meanings by thinking about their literal meanings?

To stick out like a sore thumb:
Betty sticks out like a sore thumb in that yellow dress. Everyone else is wearing blue.
(Betty looks very different from everyone else; she looks a little foolish.)

A green thumb:
He has a green thumb. He is good at making plants grow. Everything in his garden flourishes.

A Rule of Thumb: (a practical rule) “You should pay your best attention to the Tips of Grammar as well as The Rules of Thumb listed in every issue of this BULLETIN”.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

Bad News

Leroy came home from the doctor looking very worried. His wife said,

- "What's the problem?"

He said,

- "The doctor told me I have to take a pill every day for the rest of my life."

- "So what? his wife said. Lots of people have to take a pill every day their whole lives.

He said,

- "I know, but he only gave me four pills!"

Hot Temper

A member of the Senate, known for his hot temper and acid tongue, explodes one day in mid session and begins to shout,

- "Half of this Senate is made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!"

All the other Senators plead to the angry member that he withdraw his statement, or be removed from the remainder of the session. After a long pause, the angry member accepted.

- ”OK" he said, I withdraw what I said.

- “Half of this Senate is NOT made up of cowards and corrupt politicians...


I Lost My Wife

A man approached the very beautiful woman in the large supermarket and asked,

- "You know, I've lost my wife here in the supermarket. Can you talk to me for a couple of minutes?"

- "Why?" she asks.

- "Because every time I talk to a beautiful woman, my wife appears out of nowhere!"

WORD OF THE DAY

AWKWARD

Function: Adjective

Comparative and superlative forms: more awkward; most awkward

Meanings:
1 - a : not graceful : clumsy

e.g. She is awkward at dancing. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. An awkward movement.
The story contained some awkward writing.

1- b Lacking skill
e.g. She is an awkward writer.

2 - Difficult to use or handle
e.g. The machine is very awkward to operate.
An awkward tool. The box isn't heavy, but it has an awkward shape and size. (its shape and size make it difficult to carry)

3 - a Not easy to deal with
e.g. It was an awkward (embarrassing) moment for everyone.
Do you often find yourself in awkward situations?
He was put in the awkward position of having to answer the question.
There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

3 - b Not socially graceful or confident. Uneasy or uncomfortable.
e.g. I feel awkward (about) having to ask you to help.
He feels awkward with/around strangers.

Derived forms:
Awkwardly (adverb)
e.g. The baby was crawling awkwardly on her hands and knees.
He fell and landed awkwardly.
An awkwardly written sentence.

Awkwardness noun
Plural: awkwardnesses
e.g. (noncount) A moment of awkwardness occurred after the introduction.
The awkwardness of the writing
There was an awkwardness between us when we last saw each other.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Nothing is more costly, nothing is more sterile than vengeance."
Winston Churchill

THE FAMOUS SEA CAPTAIN

Once upon a time there was a famous sea captain. This captain was very successful at what he did. For years he guided merchant ships all over the world. Never did stormy seas or pirates get the best of him. He was admired by his crew and fellow captains. However, there was one thing different about this captain. Every morning he went through a strange ritual. He would lock himself in his captain quarters and open a small safe. In the safe was an envelope with a piece of paper inside. He would stare at the paper for a minute, then lock it back up. After that, he would go about his daily duties.

For years this went on, and his crew became very curious with each passing day. Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of that strange envelope. One day the captain died at sea. After laying the captain’s body to rest, into the ocean, the first mate led the entire crew into the captain’s quarters. He opened the safe, got the envelope, opened it and…

The first mate turned pale and showed the paper to the others. Four words were on the paper: “Portside = left. Starboard = right.”

Teaching Tips & Ideas

RULES OF THUMB

Fun and Funny

If you have problems with the words "fun" and "funny," look at these two sentences and see if you can feel the difference:


1. George is so funny. Every time I talk to him he makes me laugh.

2. I really enjoy going to the beach. It's so fun!

Both words here are adjectives. We use "fun" to say that something is enjoyable; we like doing it. We use "funny" to talk about things that make us laugh. Here are some more examples:

Funny

- Larry's joke about the Portuguese student was so funny I almost died laughing.

- Chaplin’s movies are always funny. Everyone in the theater ends up laughing.

- Mary is really funny. She has a great sense of humor, and always makes people laugh.

Fun

- My vacation in Rio was so fun! I went to Copacabana beach and to the Sugar Loaf.

- Jane's a really fun girl. It's always an adventure going out with her.

- Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. It was really fun.

- I don't like going windsurfing. I think going to the movies is much more fun.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

What's Up, Doc?

A woman went to the Community Hospital. After about 15 minutes with one of the new doctors, she went screaming down the hall. Another doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was and she explained.

The second doctor went back to the first and said,

- "What's the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is 63 years old. She has four grown children and seven grandchildren and you told her she was pregnant?"

The new doctor simply smiled and said,

- "I cured her hiccups didn't I”?


At the barber Shop

I was getting my hair cut at a neighborhood shop, and I asked the barber when would be the best time to bring in my two-year-old son.

Without hesitation, the barber answered, "When he's four."


Watch Your Manners

The man was seated in the cafeteria when a woman and her two children sat down nearby and began to eat. Suddenly the man belched.

"Sir," said the woman haughtily, "Are you in the habit of doing that before your children?"

"Well, I'll tell ya, ma'am," he replied. "There ain’t no rules in my house. Sometimes I go first, sometimes they go first."

WORD OF THE DAY

YOU KNOW WHAT

Function: noun (noncount)

Status: informal

Meanings:

1 - You-know-what is used in speech to refer to something that is not named but is known to both the hearer and speaker.

e.g. I’ve hidden the you-know-what in the closet.

2 - You-know-what is used in place of a rude or offensive word in order to express anger or annoyance.

e.g. He's a complete you-know-what. That's a big pile of you-know-what.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King Jr.