ENGLISH II

Reading Section (Units 5- 6)

1. Weekend Stories
These people are talking about their activities during the weekend. Read their stories and answer the questions (Activity 9)

WEEKEND STORIES

KELLY I had a great weekend. I went to my best friend HELENS wedding. She got married at home. All her friends and family went. She looked fantastic! She wore a beautiful dress. After the ceremony, her parents served a wonderful meal. Im really happy for her. And I really like her husband! ANITA I went to Easter Island with a group from the university. We stayed with families that live on the island. We studied the stone statues, and the cave paintings. I really learned a lot. Im tired but I loved every minute of my trip.

ERIN I had an interesting weekend. I went camping for the first time. My friends took me. We left on Saturday and drove to the campsite. First, we put up the tent. Then we built a fire, cooked dinner, and told stories. We got up early on Sunday and went fishing. I caught a fish! I didnt really like camping, but I learned a lot.

ROBERT LUIS I had an awful weekend. My friends and I went to a rock concert. I had a terrible time! It took three hours to drive there. I didnt like the music at all! And after the concert ended, our car broke down! I called my parents, and they came for us. We finally got home at ten this morning. I am so tired! I relaxed a lot. I spent my whole weekend at a spa. I exercised, did yoga, meditated, and ate vegetarian food. I also went swimming. Now I feel very well rested. Its fantastic! KEVIN I went with my family to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We camped outside for ten days. Then we took boats to the Arctic Ocean. I saw a lot of wildlife, including some caribou. Now, we are planning to go to the Amazonas.

READING SECTION (Unit 3)

2. GLOBAL WARMING MAP: GREENHOUSE EFFECTS

Unfortunately global warming is well under way. Here are some telltale signs.

Carbon dioxide and other gases from the burning of fossil fuels collect in the atmosphere and act like the glass walls of a greenhouse, trapping heat on the earth's surface. Scientists predict that the planet's average temperature could rise as much as 6.3 degrees F (3.5 degrees C) over the next century, and we are already seeing heat waves, melting polar ice and rising seas.

Local impact remains unpredictable: some areas could suffer stronger storms and other places severe drought. Seven environmental groups -Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, World Resources Institute and World Wildlife Fund- have put together a world map showing "early-warning signs" of global warming.

Reviewed by a team of scientists, the signs fall into two categories: direct manifestations of warming, called fingerprints, and events that could become more frequent and widespread with climate change, which are labeled harbingers. Here's an advance look at the highlights of the map:

READING SECTION (Unit 9)

3. CHANGING LIFESTYLES
The past couple of decades have seen the rise of a class of professionals in their 20s and 30s who typically have high disposable responsibilities. incomes and few

The rise of women in paid employment and the corresponding increase in disposable income has fuelled the increase in alcohol consumption. Young women those without family responsibilities- seem best able to fund the habit.

The tendency towards "extended youth" people putting off marriage and children may well have contributed towards the trend of higher consumption of alcohol, among both women and men.