Form 3 Term 1 Week 2

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Form 3 Term 1 Week 2

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13 Talking about yourself

Exercises
13.1 Match the words on the left with their opposites on the right.
1. altruistic stingy generous

2. diligent 3. methodical 4. obliging 5. quick-tempered 6. sensitive 7. stingy 8. stubborn

thick-skinned unsystematic unhelpful flexible selfish placid lazy

13.2 Think of a friend and find their animal in the chart. Give examples of why you think each characteristic is appropriate or not.
Example: My friend is a rooster. I think he is industrious because he worked very hard
to find a lot of information for a research project he had to complete in college. I dont think he is shrewd because someone tricked him into investing in a non-existent company.

1. 2.

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13.3 Arrange all the adjectives and descriptive phrases from A into three columns under the following headings:
describe me might describe me does not describe me

13.4 Which people does the speaker have a positive opinion of and which a negative one?
Let me tell you about my new colleagues. Pat, my boss, seems very astute and witty. I find her deputy Vince, a bit parsimonious and work-obsessed. I share an office with Diane whos a bit sullen and mulish. I also do a lot of work with Sam whos very tolerant and generous.

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Positive opinion

Negative opinion

ASTROLOGY
WHAT type of person am I? What does the future hold for me? In search for answers millions throughout history have turned to astrology. What is meant by this term? The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia defines (describes) astrology as a study 5that assumes (supposes) that the heavenly bodies [sun, moon, stars and planets] exert (exercises), according to their relative positions at certain times, a direct influence upon human life and destiny (fate). Why do people pursue (follow) astrology? Young men and women with romantic intentions often compare horoscopes to see if they are right for each other. 10Many seek by astrology to know what financial moves to make and when. In Asia, marriage and burial dates are often determined by astrology. Is Astrology Scientific? In ancient times the earth was thought to be the centre of the universe. Because the earth makes one full rotation on its axis every twenty-four hours, to one 15standing upon the earth it seems that the sun, moon and stars revolve (circle) around the earth. Ancient astrologers concluded that these heavenly movements had some special significance (meaning, implication) for man. They noted twelve particular star groups or constellations (groups of stars) to which they gave names of persons 20and of animals, such as Leo (for lion), Taurus (for bull) and Aries (for ram).

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The assumed circular path through which these stars and planets seem to travel came to be called the zodiac, meaning [circle] of animals. Concerning the zodiac, The World Book Encyclopedia comments: From the earliest times, men have divided the zodiac into 12 equal parts of 30 25each. These parts are called the Signs of the Zodiac. About 2,000 years ago, each sign received the name of the constellation that occupied its position. Astrologers claim that at the exact moment of birth a person is especially affected by the constellation in which the sun appears and also by the one rising at the time on the eastern horizon at the place of his birth; and that the positions of the 30planets can affect the individual favorably or unfavorably. A chart, showing these positions is called a horoscope. Supposedly, radiations (energy) from these heavenly bodies strike the newborn infants cells, causing hereditary (genetic) changes that determine what type of person he will be. Is this really true? University of Arizona astronomer Dr. Bart J. Bok says, No. He stated: 35
Studies of the stars and planets have shown that the amounts of radiation from these bodies that are received on earth are exceedingly (very, very) small and that any gravitational effects are so slight as to be negligible in comparison with those from nearby objects.

Characteristics and Origin of Astrology 40If you were to look into the history of astrology, what would you learn? Where and how did it originate? INDIA: The overwhelming majority in India today still believe that stars and planets rule their entire lives. Many believe that some planets are male, others are female, and still others are bisexual (both male and female). 45
Indian astrologers divide a zone of the starry heavens into the 12 signs of the zodiac of 30 degrees each. Each sign is subdivided into two equal parts of 15 degrees, thus making 24 divisions in the heavens. Each division is called an hora, the Greek word for hour. These horas are ruled alternatively by the sun and the moon, depending on whether the zodiacal sign is odd or even. Since the sun is male his influence is masculine and cruel, and because the moon is female her control is feminine and mild.

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WESTERN: Perhaps Western astrology is different. Note what the Encyclopaedia Britannica says about the origin of Western and Indian astrology:
Greek astrology was transmitted to India in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Both Indian and Western astrology were influenced by Greek astrology.

Form 3 Term 1 Week 2 55BABYLONIA (Modern Iran & Iraq):

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Professor Morris Jastrow declares: The history of astrology can now be traced back to the earliest phases of Babylonian history. There is strong evidence that the zodiac was formed at Babylon about 2100 B.C.

What purpose did astrology serve at its beginning? In Babylonia the sun, moon 60and planets were said to be the homes of the Babylonian gods and were named after them. The priests believed that a correct interpretation of the movements of these bodies would reveal what the gods were about to do. Thus, astrology was religious from its beginning. We now refer to these planets by their Roman names, but the Romans simply 65translated them from their Babylonian equivalents (equals, corresponding). Thus the planet of Ishtar, the goddess of love, became Venus, and the god Marduk was changed to Jupiter. Of course, devotees (follower) of astrology today do not say that the planets are dwelling places of ancient gods. But, what essential (basic) difference is there 70between believing that planetary gods or planetary forces govern human affairs?

Astrology Comprehension Questions

1. What is astrology? 2. Why do people pursue astrology? 3. What does the word zodiac mean? 4. Explain how the Zodiac is divided 5. How do astrologers explain the relationship between a person and his/her horoscope? 6. Where does astrology originate from? 7. What relationship does Babylonian astrology have with religion?

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8. What do you conclude about ancient and modern astrology?

Homework
Write a short passage, about 150 words, explaining step-by-step how the zodiac came into existence; its relationship to the constellations and the power you feel it exerts in peoples lives today.