JANUARY 2014
MAGA ZINE FOR S TUDENTS OF ENGLISH / LE VEL A 2– B1
pis Časo ušené dnod ve zje ličtině ang
THROUGH YOUR ENGLISH
BITCOIN
Powerful digital currency
GAME OF THRONES Season 4 starts soon
AUSTRALIA DAY
9 771805 898000
01
LEDEN/JANUARY 2014
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Not just fireworks
SNOWBOARDING OR SKIING? Interview with Ester Ledecká
MAGA ZINE FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH / LE VEL A2– B1
T H R O U G H
Y O U R
E N G L I S H
Dear reader! It’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions. Here’s our tip: Getting better at English. But reading an English magazine isn’t enough! To help you, there are recordings, videos, grammar exercises and great ways to learn cool vocabulary on our website at www.drive.gradus.cz. Good luck!
Mgr. Pavla Štanclová ředitelka redakce
Mgr. Gabriela Sýkorová šéfredaktorka
Mgr. Gabriela Sýkorová, šéfredaktorka (vlevo) Mgr. Pavla Štanclová, ředitelka redakce (vpravo)
Ha ppy New Year 2014! DON ’ T MISS IN THIS ISSUE :
So Many Countries, So Many Customs How to be polite abroad.
12 Game of Thrones Enter into the dark world of fantasy.
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Web task This icon means extra exercises on our website www.drive.gradus.cz.
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Solutions
Read our guide and start mining digital currency.
10
p. 18 1c, 2b, 3a, 4b, 5a, 6c, 7a, 8c
How to Mine Bitcoins
C U LT U R E
SOCIET Y
T EC H N O LO G Y
7
DIFFICULTY
OPINION POLL
Happy New Year!
January is the time to make your New Year's resolutions1. What do you think? Are you going to make any for 2014? Thomas, 16
Mariana, 15
I don't make New Year's resolutions and neither does my family. We are so good we don't need to change anything. Just kidding! We should all make a resolution to do something nice for other people and to help people in need*. And I think I will date2 more models. That's a good one!
I don't often make New Year's resolutions, because it's hard to keep them. But if I think about it, I could make some realistic ones: in 2014 I will do better at school and I will try hard not to drive any more of my teachers crazy**. I will grow my hair long and in winter I will wear a woolly hat to make my mum happy.
Chris, 16
Martin, 16
My parents make New Year's resolutions, but they don't keep them for long; they always break them. I don't normally make any, but I have made a few for 2014. I will study hard, I will be nicer to my little sister and I will listen to my mother. And I will have less Facebook time. I hope I'll be able to keep these resolutions for a week at least 3…
In my family we always make New Year's resolutions. Our resolutions for 2014 are simple: my mum will plan a new kitchen. My dad will help her. I won't start smoking, because it's disgusting. These resolutions are simple and I really think we'll keep them.
Johnny, 17
I have never made a resolution, but it's a good idea to start. In 2014 I will exercise more to stop my back hurting. I will find happiness in my life and I will try to think positively. I believe I will be able*** to keep these resolutions with the help of my family and friends.
LANGUAGE NOTE * to be in need – to be poor ** to drive somebody crazy – to make somebody upset or angry *** to be able to – can
USEFUL E XPRESSIONS to make a resolution – to make a promise to break a resolution – not to keep the promise to keep a resolution – to do what was promised
Discuss
VOCABULARY
resolution [ˌrezəˈluːʃən] – předsevzetí
1
to date [deɪt] – chodit s někým, randit 3 at least [ætˈ liːst] – přinejmenším/alespoň 2
What resolutions will you make for 2014?
drive / January 2014 | 3
H E A LTH
DIFFICULTY
STOP
Before You Start TEEN SMOKING: A EUROPEAN PROBLEM European countries make anti-smoking laws. Everybody knows about the health risks of smoking, but the figures1 from many European studies show something's not working! ALASTAIR EDWARDS (UK)
Alarming numbers The latest study by the European School Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) in 2011 monitored smoking in 36 European countries. According to the study, the only countries where the number of teen smokers is getting lower are Norway and Ireland. More often the numbers are the same or they are on the rise*. In the UK, about 21% of teenagers smoke, but in the Czech Republic it's about 24%. Moreover, smoking among girls is now higher than among adolescent boys.
Is smoking cool? Many young people find smoking cool and sexy. All the arguments about cancer2, asthma, impotence and wrinkled3 dry skin sound boring when repeated again and again. Teenagers don't believe this will ever happen to them. Don't they care about their future at all?
World Health Organisation (WHO) experts say that an hour-long shisha session is the same as smoking about 150 cigarettes!
Once you start, it's hard to stop Teen smokers say they aren't addicted5 to tobacco. They say that smoking is just their choice for the moment, not an addiction. Unfortunately, this isn't always true. Teens become addicted to tobacco quickly, even with relatively low doses6 of nicotine. And one day these smoking teenagers will become smoking adults. The statistics say that nine out of ten adult smokers started to smoke as teenagers. Once you are hooked**, it's hard to quit.
Is smoking a shisha less harmful? Smoking a shisha (water pipe) is also popular among teenagers. Although the smoke is cooled in water, it contains 4 carcinogens and nicotine. Smokers inhale a lot of chemicals, and they inhale them deeply. 4 | Health
Today
In 40 years
1234
Good reasons to quit Here are some reasons to quit – or not start – smoking:
Worldwide: • About 1.3 billion people smoke. • About 5.4 million people die of smoking-related illnesses every year. • About 13,400 people die of smoking every day. • About 560 people die of smoking every hour.
1 Smoking is very bad for your health, whether you
2
3
4
5
Smoking in numbers
are a teen or not. Tobacco contains over 4000 poisonous chemicals, and the younger you start, the more damage they will do to your body. If you don't smoke, you will have greater stamina7 and breathe much better. You can take sport more seriously. You will save a lot of money – smoking is a very expensive habit. The average smoker smokes about 15 cigarettes a day and spends about GBP 30.70 per week (in the UK), and about CZK 394 in the Czech Republic. That makes over CZK 20,000 per year. You will look better. Smokers often have yellow finger tips and wrinkles in their skin. Moreover, smokers have bad breath and yellow teeth. And chewing gum doesn't help! Most people prefer kissing non-smokers. You will feel free. Non-smokers don't have to carry a lighter and a pack of cigarettes on them all the time.
Bruce Willis refused to smoke in the new “Die Hard” movie because he didn’t want children to think it was cool. He said in an interview: "It's just a nasty habit. I didn't want to feel responsible for any kid smoking to try to look cool because he thought I looked cool doing it.”
If you don't smoke, you'll be more fit, richer, smell better and look better – and everyone will want to kiss you all the time!
Task Name some film/book characters who smoke. Are they the good ones or the bad ones?
Nobody wants to kiss me ...
Banning smoking in restaurants – are you for or against? Smokers say that it's up to them whether they want to harm their health or not. It's their choice. But their unhealthy smoke turns other people into passive smokers.
Be cool without cigarettes Tobacco advertisements8 were made illegal some years ago. Smoking in restaurants and some other public places has been banned9, too. Warnings and sometimes pictures are printed on packets of cigarettes. What else should be done? Well, prevention is up to us. We should set a good example by not smoking. Teenagers are much more likely to start smoking if their parents, brothers or sisters and friends smoke. Still puffing? Still setting a bad example to others? Shame! Prevention needs action. Think of your future. And of other people's futures, too. Web task
Discuss
LANGUAGE NOTE * on the rise – growing ** hooked – addicted
VOCABULARY
figure [ˈfɪgər] – číslo, údaj cancer [ˈkænsə] – rakovina 3 wrinkled [ˈrɪŋkəl] – vrásčitý 4 to contain [kənˈteɪn] – obsahovat 5 addicted [əˈdɪktɪd] – závislý 6 dose [dəʊs] – dávka 7 stamina [ˈstæmɪnə] – výdrž, vytrvalost 8 advertisment [ædˈvətɪzment] – reklama 9 to ban [bæn] – zakázat 1 2
drive / January 2014 | 5
ECONOMY
DIFFICULTY
BITCOINS Are the Banks Going to Close Down? We live in the Internet era: we read e-books, watch e-televisions and buy things in e-shops. No wonder we can also pay by electronic money. Are traditional banks in danger? ALASTAIR S. EDWARDS (UK) There are several digital currencies1, but the one most talked about is the Bitcoin. More and more businesses, including restaurants and universities, are accepting payments in Bitcoins. More and more countries have Bitcoin cash machines where people can exchange Bitcoins for cash or vice versa*. It's high time to take Bitcoins seriously.
Bitcoin exchange There is one more way of getting bitcoins – you can buy them. There are several Bitcoin Exchanges6 (e.g. Bitstamp, BTCChina, Mt. Gox) where you can buy Bitcoins for about 30 different currencies. Trading Bitcoins can be thrilling – look how the price of a Bitcoin has changed in the last 12 months. Price of 1 Bitcoin in 2013 (USD)
Bitcoin mining Bitcoin is a form of digital currency. It isn't printed2 on paper like euros or pounds. Bitcoins are produced by a community of people that anyone can join3. These people then offer part of their computer power to solve4 mathematical problems. When the problem is solved, people get their Bitcoins. This way of getting Bitcoins is called mining5. The rules that make Bitcoins work say that only 21 million Bitcoins can ever be mined.
What makes the Bitcoin currency unique? I t's decentralised – no authority can change the value7. It's quick and easy to set up8 a Bitcoin account9. It's fast – it takes a few minutes to transfer your payment. It's cheap – transaction fees10 are generally zero, or less than 1 US cent.
JAN
FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
You can exchange your Bitcoins for your local currency at Bitcoin machines. There are Bitcoin machines in about twenty cities around the world. A Bitcoin machine was also installed in Bratislava in November 2013.
6 | Economy
AUG
SEP OCT NOV DEC
LANGUAGE NOTE * vice versa – opposite way
VOCABULARY Did you know?
JUL
1,300 1,200 1,100 1,000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0
1 2 3 4 5
currency [ˈkʌrənsɪ] – měna to print [prɪnt] – tisknout
to join [dʒɔɪn] – připojit se to solve [sɒlv] – řešit
mining [ˈmaɪnɪŋ] – těžba
Bitcoin Exchange [ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ] – Bitcoinová burza 7 value [ˈvæljuː] – hodnota 8 to set up [set ʌp] – založit 9 account [əˈkaʊnt] – účet 10 fee [fiː] – poplatek 6
Listening web task
Web task