DRIVE 4/2014

APRIL 2014

MAGA ZINE FOR S TUDENTS OF ENGLISH / LE VEL A 2– B1

pis Časo ušené dnod ve zje ličtině ang

THROUGH YOUR ENGLISH

SHERLOCK HOLMES

The timeless detective

CZECH EASTER

Easter photostory

TRAVELLING

9 771805 898000

04

DUBEN/APRIL 2014

Cena 45 Kč / Předplatné od 25 Kč

Inline skating tips

GOODBYE ALLERGIES! Let‘s enjoy spring

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 Readers, “April showers bring May flowers,” an old English proverb says. But April also brings pollen, which lots of people are allergic to. Our April issue brings you advice on how to fight allergies and enjoy the spring, an April Fools’ Day prank, some information about Easter, and much more. We’ve hidden some Easter eggs in this month’s issue. Find them all and enter our Egg Hunt competition on page 18!

Mgr. Pavla Štanclová

Mgr. Gabriela Sýkorová

Mgr. Gabriela Sýkorová, Editorial Director (left) Mgr. Pavla Štanclová, Managing Director (right)

Our motto for April:

Spring is nature‘s way of saying, “Let‘s party!”

Robin Williams

DON ‘ T MISS IN THIS ISSUE : QUIZ

C U LT U R E

T R U E S TO RY

8

10

18

April Fools‘ Pickup

New and Dynamic

American Easter Quiz

Get inspiration for April Fools’ Day.

Read about Sherlock Holmes – past and present.

Learn about Easter in America and enter our Egg Hunt competition.

Časopis Drive vychází měsíčně září–červen.

Pro předplatitele v Česku cena od 25 Kč/ks, na Slovensku od € 1/ks.

Více informací a objednávky: www.drive.gradus.cz telefonicky: +420 608 539 129 e-mailem: objednavky.drive@gradus.cz K zakoupení v prodejnách PNS a Oxford Bookshop: Praha, Plzeň, Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava.

Web task This icon means extra exercises on our website www.drive.gradus.cz.

Listening web task This icon means extra listening exercises on our website.

p. 5 CR 150, 155, 158 & 112, EU 112, USA 911 p. 8 They planted 5 trees in his car. p. 11 1. clever/smart/intelligent, 2. impossible, 3. to hate, 4. quicker/faster, 5. enemy p. 18 1a, 2c, 3b, 4a, 5b, 6c

Cvičení k článkům, videa a poslechy najdete na www.drive.gradus.cz.

Solutions

www.drive.gradus.cz

DIFFICULTY

OPINION POLL

Are You Allergic To Anything?

It's allergy season again. More and more people complain they have allergic reactions to all sorts of things. We asked our readers about their experiences with allergies.

Thomas, 16

I have an allergic reaction to something every June, but I don't know what it is. It's probably pollen1 from flowers. It's everywhere and it can really spoil the summer. My eyes are itchy2, I have trouble breathing 3, I get a runny nose and I sneeze4 all the time. But I don't take antihistamines.

Chris, 17

Johnny, 17

Last month I was tested for allergies at hospital.

The doctor put some allergens (pollen, mould5, dust mites6, …) on my skin and then made a little scratch7. It was disgusting and really itchy! But no allergy was detected! I'm only allergic to lazy8 men and their excuses9.

I'm allergic to dust mites and feathers. When I was younger, I went to a training camp. We slept in a very dusty place, and there were only feather blankets. I had a really bad time! My eyes were red and watery and all my friends laughed at me. They said I was crying for my mum…

Discuss

Mariana, 15

I'm not allergic to anything, but my little brother Daniel is allergic to peanuts. If he eats a peanut, he gets a swollen10 mouth and can't breathe.

It's dangerous.

Perhaps I am allergic to something: our dog. He smells awful and he is very annoying 11.

Are you allergic to anything? Do you know anybody who has an allergy?

Martin, 16

I don't have any allergies, but I feel sorry for people who do – it must be awful. They have runny noses, skin rashes12, red eyes and sore throats. Some of my schoolmates have allergies: some get hay fever and some are allergic to some kinds of food. I know a girl who is allergic to cats and sunshine.

Task

Look on the Internet and make sentences with the following words: allergy, allergen, allergist, allergic, allergology

VOCABULARY

pollen [ˈpɒlən] - pyl itchy [ˈɪtʃɪ] – svědící 3 to breathe [briːð] – dýchat 4 to sneeze [sniːz] – kýchat 5 mould [məʊld] – plíseň 6 dust mite [dʌstˈ maɪt ] – prachový roztoč 7 scratch [skrætʃ] – škrábnutí 8 lazy [ˈleɪzɪ] – líný 9 excuse [ɪkˈskjuːs] – výmluva 10 swollen [ˈswəʊlən] – opuchlý 11 annoying [əˈnɔɪɪŋ] – otravný 12 rash [ræʃ] – vyrážka 1 2

Hey, dust mite, what are you doing tonight?

I'm throwing a party.

We're having skin flakes.

drive / April 2014 | 3

H E A LTH

DIFFICULTY

THE BATTLE OF SPRING

Itchy & Scratchy No, we aren't going to write about The Simpsons cat and mouse cartoon. This time it's about itchy eyes and a scratchy throat – typical symptoms of allergies. / AUBURN SCALLON (USA) Most people are happy when the dark winter days are over and we start to see signs that spring is coming. But for people with allergies, spring can be really uncomfortable.

What are you allergic to?

There are many different types of allergies. Some people are allergic to foods, such as nuts, strawberries or dairy* products. Other people are allergic to dogs, cats, and other animals with fur. One of the most common allergies is called “hay fever1” or “seasonal allergies” and is usually caused by pollen2 from plants, flowers and trees.

Allergies can also be caused by mold3 or dust4.

4 | Health

What do allergies feel like?

People who suffer from** allergies have many different symptoms. Allergic reactions can be mild, or they can be severe5. Mild reactions feel similar to having a cold. The most common signs are red, watery eyes, a sore throat or a rash6. A runny or a stuffy nose and sneezing7 are also typical symptoms for seasonal allergies.

Severe reactions are very dangerous, and they can cause death. They are called “anaphylaxis” and include difficulty breathing and swallowing8; swelling 9 of the lips, tongue, and throat and other parts of body, or loss of consciousness. The reactions come a few minutes after contact with the allergen. Immediately call a medical emergency10 number if you see a person with a severe allergic reaction!

What are allergies?

Medicine in the pocket People with asthma, allergies to bee stings, or other strong allergic reactions should always carry medicine with them.

Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions. They happen when the body tries to protect itself from allergens – things that are normal for most people; like flowers or dogs. The immune system of an allergic people tries to fight the allergen, similar to when it fights an illness. The body produces a chemical called histamine. Histamine then acts on the nose, eyes, lungs11, etc. and causes all of the allergy symptoms.

Vacuum your dog People who are allergic to animals sometimes vacuum their dog's fur. They do it to reduce allergens in the air. The dog in the picture seems to enjoy it.

Why do people get allergies?

One thing that doctors and scientists know is that you are more likely to have allergies if your mom and dad have them. If one parent has allergies, you have about a 33% chance of getting them, too. If both parents have allergies, your chances are even higher – around 70%.

Photo: Dyson Groom tool – www.dyson.com

Friendly flowers Is your girlfriend allergic to flowers? Buy her a cactus.

There are also theories that allergies are becoming more common because our lives are too clean. To train the immunity, some doctors recommend that children should be outside and even dirty, but only when they are healthy. Other doctors say children can develop an allergy if they are ill when they first experience something (mold, dust, etc.) and their body isn't strong enough to fight it normally.

Discuss

Do you have any allergies? What are you allergic to? How do you treat your allergies?

Doctors don't know exactly why some people get allergies, but research is getting better every year. Until then, there are things people with allergies can do to live more comfortably.

Task

Call 911 or 112?

What number do you call for emergencies in the Czech Republic? Is it the same in the EU and USA? Solution on page 2.

To feel better Many people buy medicine (antihistamine) from a drugstore*** or pharmacy. This is easy and usually not too expensive, but some of them can make you feel tired. For severe allergies, injections can be given by a doctor every month. There is no guaranteed cure for allergies, so prevention is often the best defense12.

LANGUAGE NOTE * dairy products – milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter, etc. ** to suffer from – to experience something bad *** drugstore (Am.) – chemist (Br.) **** allergy-free – without allergies

Prevention tips for allergic people 1. Stay away from whatever you are allergic to.

2. Keep your house very clean and without dust.

3. Keep windows closed in spring to keep pollen out.

4. Keep bathrooms dry to prevent mold.

Building tolerance Some people prefer natural methods. You can buy bee pollen in many health food stores. It gives your body a small amount of the allergen, so the body can learn to fight it naturally. Eating local honey can also have a similar effect. Even positive thinking is a popular way to become allergy-free****!

Web task

VOCABULARY

hay-fever [heɪˈfiːvə] – senná rýma pollen [ˈpɒlən] – pyl 3 mold (Am. E.) [məʊld] – plíseň 4 dust [dʌst] – prach 5 severe [sɪˈvɪə] – vážný, těžký 6 rash [ræʃ] – vyrážka 7 to sneeze [sniːz] – kýchat 8 to swallow [ˈswɒləʊ] – polykat 9 to swell [swel] – napuchnout 10 emergency [ɪˈmɜːdʒənsɪ] – pohotovost 11 lungs [lʌŋs] – plíce 12 defence [dɪˈfens] – obrana 1 2

drive / April 2014 | 5

ECONOMY

DIFFICULTY

Nuclear Power WHAT ARE THE REAL COSTS? On April 26th, 1986, an explosion and fire released radiation into the atmosphere above the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant in today's Ukraine. The accident killed 31 people and many more died later. Others are now seriously ill. In March 2011, there was another accident in a nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan.

Why do we keep risking our lives?

ALASTAIR S. EDWARDS (UK) In debates about nuclear power plants, we consider1 potential risks and economic benefits. To discuss the economics, we have to calculate the costs of electricity.

Capital costs These include2 site* preparation and construction of the large reactors.

Plant operating3 costs These include fuel (uranium, plutonium), operation and maintenance4, and nuclear waste disposal5.

External costs

Discuss

This is what the plant operators have to pay to society, for example, payments for emissions into the atmosphere. As nuclear power plants are emission-free, i.e. they don't pollute the environment6 directly, there are no such payments. Therefore nuclear power plant operators have an advantage over electricity producers using fossil fuels7.

Final costs The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in its 2010 study considered all the costs above and compared8 the cost of electricity produced using different fuels. The table below shows that the cost of electricity generated by nuclear power in Europe is comparable*** to that produced using coal.

However, the price of electricity is not the only factor. Each country has chosen a different programme. China is expanding its nuclear programme, but Germany is planning to close its plants. Nuclear power is still, after more than 60 years, one of the most debated sources of electricity.

What are renewable and non-renewable energy resources?

LANGUAGE NOTE * site – the place where something will be built ** N/A – not available *** comparable – you can compare it with something, similar

VOCABULARY

to consider [kənˈsɪdə] – vzít v potaz, zvažovat 2 to include [ɪnˈkluːd] – zahrnovat, obsahovat 3 to operate [ˈɒpəˌreɪt] – provozovat 4 maintenance [ˈmeɪntɪnəns] – údržba 5 waste disposal [weɪst dɪˈspəʊzəl] – likvidace odpadu 6 to pollute the environment [pəˈluːt ðɪ ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt] – znečistit prostředí 7 fossil fuel [ˈfɒsəl fjʊəl] – fosilní palivo 8 to compare [kəmˈpeə] – porovnat 9 average [ˈævrɪdʒ] – průměrný 10 renewable resource [rɪˈnjuːəbəl rɪ ˈzɔːs] – obnovitelný zdroj 1

Average9 Costs of Electricity in Europe and China in US cents/kWh Non-renewable resources10

Renewable resources

Nuclear

Coal (both black and brown)

Hydro-electric

Onshore wind

Solar

Europe

5.0–13.7

6.8–14.3

7.4–45.9

9.0–23.0

28.0–61.6

China

3.0–5.5

N/A* *

1.2–5.2

5.1–12.6

12.3–28.3

Figures taken from Projected Costs of generating Electricity, OECD 2010.

6 | Economy

Web task