The English Circle (July 2021)

The English

e l c r Ci Issue 0110 · July 2021 · HK $39

BOOK REVIEW Paddington WORD GAMES & IQ CHALLENGE INSIDE!

STEM EDUCATION The Naked Egg

Contents

13 11 5 13 The Young Scientist The Water Cycle

STEM Education The Naked Egg Experiment

Book Review Paddington

World History

The Ancient Greek Olympics

15 7 9 17 19 Famous People The Wright Brothers

Things Around Us Pasta

Save Our Planet Deforestation

Wonderful Wildlife The Cheetah

Kids' Newsroom

The Young Traveller The Great Pyramid of Giza

The

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Story Time

The Sky is Falling

Word Games Musical Instruments

English

Circle Issue 0110 July 2021 Editorial Director Joe Leung Chief Editor Alison Fung Printer Charter Craft Holdings Ltd. Publisher Channel I Publications Ltd. 16A, Prosperous Commercial Building, 54 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Tel (852) 2330 1512 Fax (852) 2312 7688

Poetry

The Swing

Proverbs

Email info@englishchannel.com.hk Website www.englishchannel.com.hk

JOURNALS IN THIS SERIES:

IQ Challenge Answer Page Word Bank

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THE YOUNG SCIENTIST

The Water Cycle

We all know that water is essential to life. But

did you know that the total amount of water on the earth remains constantly the same. Water exists in three variable (可變的) states: liquid, gas, and solid. The continuous circulation (循 環) of water in the air, on land, and under the ground in these three different states is called the water cycle.

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Evaporation When water in rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans is heated by the sun, it turns into gas, or vapour ( 蒸氣 ) . This process is called evaporation (蒸發).

THE YOUNG SCIENTIST

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Condensation When water vapour in the atmosphere (大氣) cools, or when the air can no longer hold the amount of water vapour it contains, the water returns to a liquid state and falls as precipitation (降水), such as rain and snow. This process is called condensation (凝結).

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Precipitation Most of the rain that falls onto the surface of the earth flows off land into rivers and seas. Some is returned to the atmosphere by evaporation while some sinks into the soil and becomes underground water.

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STEM EDUCATION

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The

Naked Egg

Experiment

Have you ever heard of the naked egg? A

naked egg is an egg without shell (殼). The most interesting thing about a naked egg is that it bounces (彈跳) if it hits a flat surface.

Let’s transform (轉變) an ordinary egg into a naked egg!

Things You Need: an egg a jar some vinegar (醋)

STEM EDUCATION

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Steps: 1.

Place the egg in the jar.

2.

Fill the jar with vinegar.

Do you see the bubbles on the eggshell? This is the acid (酸) in the vinegar reacting with the calcium carbonate (碳酸鈣) in the shell.

This reaction produces a gas called carbon dioxide (二氧化碳).

3. Put the jar in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

4.

Pour away the vinegar and add vinegar to the jar again.

5. Put the jar in the refrigerator for another 24 hours.

6. Rinse the naked egg gently with water.

Note that the eggshell is totally dissolved (溶解) in the vinegar, and the egg is covered in a thin membrane (薄膜).

Observation: What does the naked egg feel like? Can light pass through it? You can also try bouncing the egg and see how high it can bounce!

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WORLD HISTORY

The Ancient Greek Olympics The Olympic Games have always fascinated (吸引) a lot of people.

Did you know when and where the Olympics originated (起源)?

The first Olympics Games were held in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC. During that time, there was only one competition: a running race. In fact, running was the only event for the first 13 Olympic Games. Gradually, other sports, such as wrestling (摔跤), discus throw (擲鐵 餅), and chariot racing (雙輪馬車賽) were added.

WORLD HISTORY

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The Ancient Greek Olympics were both a sports event and a religious festival in honour of Zeus, the King of the Gods. Duration the Games, fighting between warring (交戰的) city-states was forbidden (禁止).

The Ancient Greek Olympics were open to all Greek-speaking citizens from any city-state. However, only men were allowed to enter the competitions. The winner of each event was awarded a palm frond (棕櫚葉) and a wreath (花環) made with olive leaves.

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FAMOUS PEOPLE

Wilbur and Orville

Wright

Famously known as the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville

Wright, were pioneers (先驅) in aviation (航空). They realized man’s dream of flying by inventing the world’s first airplane.

Born in 1867, Wilbur was four years older than his brother Orville. The two brothers grew up in Indiana and Ohio, U.S. As small boys, they were already interested in flying and making things. They built kites and made toy helicopters (直升機) that flew using rubber bands.

In 1892, the brothers opened a bicycle shop and sold the bikes they made by themselves.

“It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skills.”

— Wilbur Wright

FAMOUS PEOPLE

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In their spare time, they studied aeronautics (航空學) and worked on the development of an airplane.

In 1903, the Wrights successfully built an airplane with an engine. The engine was used to power two propellers (螺旋 槳). They tested their plane in Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk.

On December 17, 1903, Orville made the world’s first flight in the airplane. He flew 37 metres in 12 seconds. Later that day, Wilbur flew 260 metres in 59 seconds.

The Wright Brothers continued to improve the airplane they had invented. Two years later, the plane could stay in the air for an amazing 40 minutes.

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The

WONDERFUL WILDLIFE

CHEETAH The cheetah is a member of the cat family. With a body built for speed, it is the fastest animal on land. An adult cheetah can sprint (衝刺) at speeds of over 100 kilometres per hour.

A cheetah has a small round head and a long tail. It has a slender body that is covered in yellowish fur and dotted with small black spots.

WONDERFUL WILDLIFE

Cheetahs are not easy to sight (發現) in the wild because they blend in very well with the surroundings.

Most cheetahs live in northern and eastern Africa, with a small number living in Iran. They live in a variety of habitats ( 棲息地), including savannahs (稀 樹草原), grasslands and woodlands. In the wild, cheetahs have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.

Cheetahs are increasingly threatened by loss of habitat and illegal (非法的) hunting. Over the past 10 years, the population of cheetahs has greatly dwindled (減小). Zoologists (動物學家) estimate that there are fewer than 7,500 cheetahs living in the wild today.

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BOOK REVIEW

Paddington is probably the most famous bear in the world. He is the main character (主角) in a children’s book series of the same name by British author Michael Bond. The first book, which is titled A Bear Called Paddington, was published in the UK in October 1958.

BOOK REVIEW

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Bond said that a teddy bear sitting on a shelf in a store near Paddington Station in London had inspired (賦予靈感) him to create the story. The books follow the adventures of a bear who has come to England from Peru.

The Paddington Bear book series consists of a total of 28 books. The last book, titled Paddington at St. Paul’s, was released in 2018 to mark the 60th anniversary of the series.

The Paddington books are extremely popular with children.

They have been translated (翻譯) into 30 languages and have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. Many of the stories have been adapted (改編) for television and the big screen (電影).

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THINGS AROUND US

FETTUCCINE 意大利寬麵條

RAVIOLI 義大利雲吞

SPAGHETTI 意大利麵

FUSILLI 螺旋通心粉

THINGS AROUND US

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PENNE 長通心粉

CONCHIGLIE 貝殼粉

ROTELLE 車輪麵

FARFALLE 蝴蝶粉

MACARONI 通心粉

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SAVE OUR PLANET

The Harmful Effects of

Deforestation Did you know that there were once many more trees than there are today on the ear th? For the past centur y, people have been cutting down trees in huge quantities ( 大量 ) to make room for farms and cities. Many forests have been so heavily logged ( 砍伐 ) that they are now in danger of disappearing.

Trees are ver y useful to us. They provide us with fresh air by producing oxygen and absorbing ( 吸收 ) carbon dioxide. Tree roots stabilize ( 穩定 ) the soil and bind it together, and thus prevent soil erosion ( 水土流失 ).

SAVE OUR PLANET

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Today, over 280,000 square kilometres of forest land disappear throughout the world ever y year.

Deforestation ( 森林砍伐 ) has serious ef fects on the environment. It leads to erosion, flooding, global warming, and loss of habitat for many animals and plants.

It is impor tant that governments make ever y ef fort ( 努力 ) to prevent fur ther destruction of our green forests. More than half of our forests are already gone. At the present rate of global deforestation, there will be only few trees lef t in the world by 2060.

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July 2021

KIDS' NEWSROOM

Circle News

NASA sent baby squid to space On June 24, NASA sent 128 baby

bobtail squids to the International Space Station. The squid will be used in experiments (實驗) to find out the effects of spaceflight on animals.

Squids were chosen because they have an immune system (免疫系 統) that is similar to that of humans.

2.5 billion T. rexes walked the earth

According to a new study, it is estimated that about 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rexes lived on the earth about 70 million years ago. These dinosaurs roamed (漫遊) the earth for 1.2 million to 3.6 million years. At any one time, there may have been about 20,000 T. rexes on our planet.

KIDS' NEWSROOM

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Circle News

July 2021

A new holiday in the United States The U.S. government has created a new federal holiday, which is officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day. The word “Juneteenth” is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”. It marks the day in 1865 when slavery (奴隸 制) ended in the United States.

Sniffer Dogs Help Stop COVID-19

Researchers have recently found that some dogs can be trained to sniff out (嗅出) people who are infected (感染) with COVID-19.

Tests are now being done in a number of countries, including Thailand, France, and the UK. In the future, sniffer dogs may be used to find people who are carrying the virus.

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THE YOUNG TRAVELLER

The Great Pyramid of Giza One of the Seven Wonders of the

World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest pyramid in Egypt. It is located on a rocky plateau (高原) on the west bank of the Nile River near Giza.

The grand (宏偉) pyramid covers an area of around 52,610 square metres and was built with over 2.3 million stone blocks that were transported from more than 800 kilometres away.

THE YOUNG TRAVELLER

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It took over 20 years for more than 20,000 workers to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. Construction of the pyramid is believed to complete in 2570 BC. Standing 146.5 metres tall, it remained the tallest structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

There are two chambers (房間) inside the pyramid: the King’s Chamber and the Queen’s Chamber. There is also a passageway called the Grand Gallery, and an unfinished chamber underground.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb (陵 墓) for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh (法老 王) Khufu. It is believed that the pyramid was filled with buried treasure (寶藏). However, many of the precious (珍貴的) items have been stolen through the centuries.

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STORY TIME

The Sky is Falling It was a hot summer day and the farm animals were taking a

rest after their lunch. The cow was taking a nap (小睡) in the shade of an apple tree. Suddenly, a big apple fell and hit her on the head.

“Ouch!” exclaimed the cow. “What hit me?”

Just at that moment, another apple fell and hit the cow on the head again.

“Ouch!” exclaimed the cow. “Help! Help! The sky is falling!”

The frightened cow ran as fast as she could for shelter (躲 避處). As she was running past the stable (馬廄), the horse asked, “What’s going on?”

The cow answered, “The sky is falling! Look at the two bumps (腫塊) on my head!”

The horse could clearly see two red bumps on the cow’s head, so he believed the sky was falling. Together, the cow and the horse ran for shelter, both yelling, “The sky is falling!”

STORY TIME

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As the two animals were running past the barn (穀倉), the cock asked, “What’s happening?”

The horse answered, “The sky is falling! Look at the two bumps on the cow’s head!”

The cock saw the two bumps and believed the sky was falling. Soon, the pig, the lamb, and the duck joined in the run.

They were all yelling, “The sky is falling!”

As they were running past the farmhouse, the farmer asked, “What’s going on?”

The cow answered, “The sky is falling and it hit my head twice!

Look at the two bumps on my head!”

The farmer went up to the cow and knocked the cow on the head with a big potato. “Ouch!” exclaimed the cow. A third bump appeared on the cow’s head.

“The sky is not falling,” said the farmer. “Do not spread false (假) news (消息) on my farm!”

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WORD GAMES

MUSICAL

INSTRUMENTS 3

1 2 6 5 4

8 7

WORD GAMES

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9

1

5 9

8

2

6

3 10

7 10

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POETRY

The Swing

By Robert Louis Stevenson How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, River and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside-Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown-Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!

PROVERB

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Rome wasn’t built in a day. 偉業非一日之功。

When in Rome do as the Romans do. 入國問禁，入境隨俗。

All roads lead to Rome. 條條大路通羅馬。

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IQ CHALLENGE

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WHAT IS THE NAME? John’s mother has five children. The first is named Jack, the second is named Jill, the third is named Jane, and the fourth is named Joan.

What is the name of the fifth child?

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ANSWER PAGE

WORD BANK

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Word Bank variable 可變的 circulation 循環 vapour 蒸氣 evaporation 蒸發 atmosphere 大氣 precipitation 降水 condensation 凝結 shell 殼 bounce 彈跳 transform 轉變 vinegar 醋 acid 酸 dissolve 溶解 membrane 薄膜

fascinate 吸引 originate 起源 wrestling 摔跤 discus throw 擲鐵餅 warring 交戰的 forbid 禁止 palm frond 棕櫚葉 wreath 花環 pioneer 先驅 aviation 航空 helicopter 直升機 aeronautics 航空學 propeller 螺旋槳 dwindle 減小

inspire 賦予靈感 translate 翻譯 adapt 改編 big screen 電影 log 砍伐 stabilize 穩定 soil erosion 水土流失 deforestation 森林砍伐 effort 努力 experiment 實驗 immune system 免疫系統 infect 感染 slavery 奴隸制 roam 漫遊

IQ Challenge

Crossword Puzzle Solution: 1. xylophone 2. trumpet 3. tambourine 4. saxophone 5. triangle

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S T R I A N G L

X Y 8

O T R U M P E H

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Solution: John 4

L 2

T

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V

X A

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H

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O N

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E 7

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JOURNALS IN THIS SERIES:

H P I A N O

T A M B O U R I N E N O

6. violin 7. guitar 8. piano 9. harp 10. drum

plateau 高原 grand 宏偉 chamber 房間 tomb 陵墓 pharaoh 法老王 treasure 寶藏 precious 珍貴的 nap 小睡 shelter 躲避處 stable 馬廄 bump 腫塊 barn 穀倉 false 假 news 消息

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G U I T A R N U M

For enquiries, please call 2330 1512

For enquiries, please call 2330 1512