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Aula #16 - Italian Students to Study Climate Change from 2020

Starting in September 2020, all Italian public school students will have to study climate change. Education minister Lorenzo Fioramonti said they will study about 33 hours of climate change – almost one hour per week of school.

""Citizens of the future need to be ready for the climate emergency,"" Fioramonti's spokesman said. On November 5, more than 11,000 scientists from 153 countries released a study called ""World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency.""

Climate change will be taught in civics classes, where students learn about their responsibilities as citizens. Topics like sustainable development – growing the economy while protecting nature – will also be added to subjects like geography, math, and physics.

In September, Fioramonti encouraged students to take part in protests against climate change instead of going to classes.

He has also said that extra taxes should be added to plane tickets and plastic. Flying produces more carbon dioxide per passenger than other kinds of travel, and some people have begun avoiding taking planes to reduce their effect on the environment.

The UN says that 8 million metric tons of plastic go into our oceans every year – half of it from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The oceans could have more plastic than fish by 2050, and tiny pieces of plastic have even been found in snow in Antarctica.

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Vocabulary

Minister - a senior member of a government

citizen - a person who belongs to a particular country and is allowed to live and work there

responsibility - a duty to deal with, care for, etc. someone or something

encourage - o make someone want to do something; to urge or persuade

protest - the act of saying or showing that you strongly disagree with something

carbon dioxide - a gas that is produced when particular fuels are burnt

Discussion

- Do you think students in your country should learn about climate change in school? Why? Why not? 

- If you had kids, would you encourage them to take part in climate change protests instead of going to classes? Why? Why not? 

- Would you consider giving up flying to reduce your impact on the environment? Why? Why not? 

- In your opinion, is your government doing enough to fight climate change? Please explain your answer.

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Acompanhe o texto dessa aula - Aula #15 - China Bans Eating and Drinking on Subways

Aula #15 - China Bans Eating and Drinking on Subways

China is banning eating, drinking and other impolite behaviors on subways from April 2020.

China Daily reports that the government will also ban standing on seats, playing music on speakers and lying down on the nation's trains. However, young children and people with some medical conditions will still be allowed to eat.

There are 33 cities in China with subways, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Qingdao. This is the first time that the government has made subway rules for the whole country.

Some cities already have their own rules about what people can and can't do on the subway. Beijing banned food and drink on its subways in 2015, and anyone who eats or drinks has to pay 500 yuan (around $70).

Wuhan banned eating and drinking on its subways in 2013. Some local people are still not happy about it, however. Chen Xiang­ru told news website AsiaOne that local people enjoy eating the city's famous hot dry noodles "while walking, riding a bus, taking a taxi or even on boats," and the smell of eating on the subway would not be a problem for her.

However, Zhang Han, a 26-year-old government employee, supports the new rule. She told AsiaOne that because subways are public spaces that don't have very good ventilation, all food should be banned, even if it doesn't smell.

China has 4,600 kilometers of subway, with 669 kilometers in Shanghai, 617 in Beijing and 473 in Guangzhou.

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Vocabulary

subway  - a railway system that runs underground

impolite  - ot having or showing good manners

speaker  - a piece of electrical equipment which produces sound

condition - an illness or medical problem

ventilation - the act of providing fresh air to a building, room, etc.

Discussion

- Is there a subway system in your town or city?

- If so, how often do you use it? If not, do you think there ought to be?

- Are people allowed to eat and drink on public transport in your country?

- Do you see this as a good thing?

- Have you ever sat next to a rude passenger on public transport? If so, please share your story.

- Do you have any complaints about your country's public transport system? Please explain your answer.

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Acompanhe o texto dessa aula - Aula #14 - Toy Sales Up as Americans Stay Home

US toy sales have increased as Americans stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Toy sales in the US rose 16% in the first half of 2020, according to research by The NDP Group. While sales changed little in January and February, they rose 16% in March as Americans started being asked to stay home. Toy sales were up 22% in April, 37% in May and 19% in June compared to the same time in 2019.

It seems the growth has continued. US-based toy company Hasbro, which makes Transformers toys and Monopoly board games, saw a 21% increase in games sales in the third quarter, which ended in September.

Another US-based toy company, Mattel, reported that its third-quarter sales were up 10% — its biggest increase in 10 years. Sales of the company's Barbie dolls were up 29%.

Steve Pasierb, CEO of The Toy Association, told Marketplace there has been "huge growth" in the toy industry at a time when it is normally quiet. Pasierb said that he expects this to continue until Christmas because parents want their children to have "presents under the tree."

Cara Santos Pianesi, who lives in Virginia, told Marketplace that she and her husband usually try not to "spoil" their kids with too many toys during the holidays. But she said they might buy more this year to make their two children happy — and to get them away from their screens.

The NPD Group also said it expects rich families to spend more on toys at Christmas, since they have had to cancel expensive vacations.

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Vocabulary

based - showing the main place or area where someone works, lives, etc.

board game - a game which involves moving objects around a board

quarter - one of four equal parts of something; a period of three months

dolls - a toy that looks like a person or baby

quiet - having very little activity, excitement, etc.

spoil - to give a child everything they want in a way that has a negative effect on them

Discussion

- When do children in your country usually get the most presents?

- Do you do anything special to celebrate Christmas? Why? Why not?

- What was your favorite vacation when you were a kid? Why?

- o you prefer playing board games or video games? Why?

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Bond with Your Cat by Blinking Slowly, Study Says

Blinking slowly can help people bond with cats, according to a study by animal behavior experts at the University of Sussex.

Researchers used two experiments to test the ""cat smile"" theory, which says that narrowing your eyes is equivalent to smiling to a cat.

The study first looked at how 21 cats from 14 homes acted when their owners blinked slowly at them, keeping their eyes closed for more than half a second. Researchers found that a cat was more likely to slow-blink back at their owner when the owner had slow-blinked at them first.

The next part of the study used 24 other cats from eight different homes. A researcher, who was a stranger to the cat, offered their hand to the animal. It was found that when the researcher slow-blinked before offering their hand, the cat was more likely to go to them.

The researchers say this is the first study to look at how slow blinking can be used when cats and humans communicate.

One of the leaders of the research team, Professor Karen McComb, said: ""As someone who has both studied animal behavior and is a cat owner, it's great to be able to show that cats and humans can communicate in this way.""

Cats are the second most popular pet in the world. In 2016, data research company Growth from Knowledge surveyed over 27,000 people in 22 countries, and found that 23% owned a cat and 33% owned a dog. Cats were most popular in Russia, where 57% of people owned one, and least popular in South Korea.

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Vocabulary

bonded - to develop a special relationship with a person or animal

theory - a set of ideas intended to explain something

narrows - to make or become not as wide

equivalent - equal in size, amount, etc. or serving the same purpose as something

acting - to do something or behave in a certain way

Discussion

- What are your thoughts on the findings of this study?

- Have you ever had a cat?

- If so, what was he or she like? If not, why not?

- Do many of your friends and family have pets?

- Would you say that dogs or cats are more popular where you live?

- Why do you think cats and dogs are the most popular pets?

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Acompanhe o texto dessa aula - McDonald's Burger Doesn't Decay After 10 Years

A McDonald's burger and fries bought in Iceland still hasn't decomposed after 10 years. 

The meal was bought just before McDonald's closed its three restaurants in the country. Hjortur Smarason heard that food from McDonald's doesn't decompose and wanted to find out if that was true. He bought his last burger and fries there on October 31, 2009, and they still have not decomposed. 

The meal is kept in a glass case in Snotra House, a hostel in Hella in southern Iceland. People can even watch the burger and fries online. The hostel owner, Siggi Sigurdur, told BBC News, ""It still looks quite good actually."" 

It's a fun thing, of course, but it makes you think about what you are eating. There is no mold, it's only the paper wrapping that looks old."" Smarason first kept the burger and fries in a plastic bag in his garage, but after three years, he gave them to the National Museum of Iceland. The museum later said it could not properly store food, and gave it back. After spending some time in a hostel in Reykjavík, they were moved to Snotra House. 

There may be a good reason as to why the burger and fries have not decomposed. McDonald's has said that when there is not enough moisture in the air, bacteria and mold cannot grow, so food does not decompose. Food scientist Bjorn Adalbjornsson from the University of Iceland confirmed this, adding that without moisture"food will simply dry out.

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Vocabulary

decomposes - to be slowly destroyed by natural chemical processes 

mold - a living thing that grows in wet, warm conditions, especially on food 

wrapping -paper, plastic, etc. used to cover something stored - to keep or collect something for later use 

moisture - very small drops of water in the air, on a surface, or in a substance 

bacteria - extremely small living things, some of which can cause disease

Discussion

- Do you find it surprising that Smarason's McDonald's burger still hasn't decomposed? Why? Why not?  

- How often do you eat at McDonald's? Please explain your answer.  

- Do you like burgers?  - if so, what's the best burger place in your town or city? If not, why not?  

- What are the most popular fast food restaurants where you live?  - How often do you eat there?  

- Have you been to Iceland?  - If so, what parts did you visit? If not, would you like to?

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Acompanhe o texto dessa aula - Feral Peacocks Causing New Zealand's Farmers Problems

Farmers in New Zealand are complaining about a growing number of feral peacocks that are eating the grass and crops they use to feed their animals. 

According to New Zealand Birds Online, some peacocks, which are not native to New Zealand, have become feral after being kept for display and then released. 

They are growing in numbers because their natural predators, like rats, are being hunted as part of a project to make the country free of non-native predators by 2050. 

Grant Adkins, a farmer from Whanganui, said that the birds ""weren't a problem at all"" until there were less predators. He says that the number has increased a lot in the last 12 years, and that there could be thousands of peacocks in his area. In some cases, it has been reported that there have been more than 100 birds in a single field. 

The feral peacocks are mostly found in the upper North Island in places like Auckland and Northland. However, they have been found as far south as Christchurch and Dunedin in the lower South Island. 

Adkins says authorities won't do anything about the problem. Farmers have tried to keep the numbers down by shooting the birds, but Adkins says the peacocks are smart and learn to stay far away once shot at by farmers. 

In June, feral chickens also caused problems in Titirangi, West Auckland. Some people who live in the area said they were unable to sleep because of the noise the chickens were making and also complained because of the mess caused by the animals.

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Vocabulary

feral - (of an animal) wild, especially after being kept in captivity or as a pet native - existing in a place naturally or before others display - to allow someone or something to be free; to allow something to move, flow, etc. freely predators - an animal that kills other animals for food project - a piece of work that has been planned to achieve a particular goal

Discussion

- - Are there any animals that often cause problems where you live? - Do you think you'd enjoy working on a farm? Why? Why not? - What would you say are the benefits of living in a rural area? - Have you ever kept a bird as a pet? - Have you been to New Zealand? - If so, what parts did you visit? If not, would you like to? Is your country home to any unique birds? - What interesting animals can visitors to your country expect to see? - Have you ever come across a wild or dangerous animal? - What parts of the world do you think have the most interesting wildlife?

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Acompanhe o texto dessa aula - Take a Bullet Train from Madrid to Barcelona for Just $6

Spain's national railway company, Renfe, is offering bullet train tickets between Spain's two largest cities, Barcelona and Madrid, for just $6.

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Vocabulary

Range - to vary between two amounts, sizes, etc.

Discussion

- - Is it expensive to travel between cities where you live?

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Healthy Lifestyle While Pregnant Improves Kids' Heart Health

A study from King's College London has found that improving the health of obese pregnant women may lead to better heart health in their children, with health benefits continuing years after birth.

The study, which was published in Pediatric Obesity, looked at 1,555 pregnant women in the UK who were obese. About half of the women went through an eight-week program to improve their diet and exercise habits.

Three years after birth, researchers were able to look at 495 of the children, 241 of whom were born to mothers who had taken part in the eight-week program. The children's obesity levels and their resting pulse rate — their number of heartbeats per minute while resting — were measured at that time.

Researchers found little difference in obesity between children whose mothers had taken the program and those whose mothers had not. However, they found that those whose mothers had taken the program had a resting pulse rate that was five beats per minute slower than children whose mothers had not.

Resting pulse rate is linked to heart health. People with high resting pulse rates may have an increased risk of heart disease and early death.

Although factors like diet and exercise can affect resting pulse rate, the researchers found no connection between the results and the children's diets and activity levels. They concluded that the mothers' antenatal habits could have been the reason for the difference.

It was also found that the mothers who took the eight-week program maintained a healthier diet three years after birth.

""Keeping physically active and maintaining a balanced diet are both important ways of keeping our hearts healthy,"" said Tracy Parker of the British Heart Foundation, a charity that supported the study. ""This research shows that for pregnant women, the benefits don't end there. A healthy diet before, during and after pregnancy can have positive long-term health benefits for both mother and child.""

Researchers plan to follow up with the children when they're 8 to 10 years old to see if the benefits continue.

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Vocabulary

obese - very overweight

pediatric - relating to the area of medicine that deals with children

pulse - the regular beat of blood as it is pushed around the body by the heart

conclude - to decide that something is true using reason

antenatal - relating to or happening during pregnancy

Discussion

- Is obesity a major problem in your country? 

- Why do you think that is? 

- Did you have a healthy diet as a kid? 

- Would you say that you have a balanced diet? Why? Why not?

- Which of your friends or family would you say leads the healthiest lifestyle? 

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103 Hokusai Drawings Found After 70 Years

Drawings from Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai have been found after being lost for more than 70 years. They were made in 1829, around the same time as The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, Hokusai's most famous work.

The 103 drawings are part of The Great Picture Book of Everything, a project that included drawings of people, animals and places from around the world. However, the book was never finished.

It's thought that Hokusai sold the drawings, and art dealers later took them to Paris. They were bought by collector Henri Vever and, several years after Vever's death, bought by another collector in 1948 and kept in a private collection.

The drawings were next seen in Paris in 2019, and they were bought by the British Museum in the summer of 2020. They can now be seen online, and they will be shown at the British Museum in 2021.

Other works from The Great Picture Book of Everything are in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. Experts believe there may also be more Hokusai drawings that haven't been found yet.

Hokusai made about 3,000 color prints and more than 1,000 paintings, and drew pictures for more than 200 books. The British Museum is home to more than 1,000 of Hokusai's works, including an 1831 print of The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.

In recent years, some countries have asked the British Museum to return artifacts that were taken from them in the past. However, Asato Ikeda of New York's Fordham University told Atlas Obscura that there has been debate among experts about where the Hokusai drawings should go, since they were probably sold, not taken, from Japan.

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Vocabulary

dealer - a person who buys and sells goods, or a particular type of product

collector - a person who collects things of a particular type

prints - an image made from pressing a piece of wood or metal with a design onto paper, or from a photograph of a painting

artifacts - an object made by a person, especially a very long time ago

debate - a formal discussion in which different opinions are presented; an argument about a particular topic involving many people

Discussion

- Are you familiar with Hokusai's work? 

- If so, what do you think of it? 

- Do you have a favorite artist? 

- If so, what do you like most about their work? 

- Do you own any works of art? 

- If so, which one's your favorite? If not, would you like to?

-  If you could own any famous work of art, which would you choose and why?

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Robot Dogs Join US Air Force Exercise

Robot dogs have been used by the US Air Force in one of the military's biggest ever high-tech experiments.

The robots took part in a training session between September 1 and September 3 at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. It was part of a larger exercise involving every branch of the US military, including the Coast Guard, across 30 locations between August 31 and September 3.

The Air Force tested the dog-like robots, called Vision 60, in an exercise that simulated landing on a potentially hostile airstrip. The robots were used to identify possible threats while human soldiers stayed close to their aircraft.

They have been created by Ghost Robotics to help with tasks including remote inspection, mapping, communications and security. They can be used on any type of terrain and carry different types of sensors and communications equipment.

""The dogs give us visuals of the area, all while keeping our defenders closer to the aircraft,"" said Master Sergeant Lee Boston.

They are less complex than other walking robots, which Ghost Robotics says makes them both tougher and more agile. The company calls them ""unstoppable.""

The dogs are a part of the US military's Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). The system uses artificial intelligence and rapid data analysis to find and eliminate threats to the military in space and to help locate possible attacks from missiles and other weapons on land.

This isn't the first time robot dogs have been tested by the US military. In 2012 it tested the AlphaDog, developed by Boston Dynamics, which was able to carry up to 180 kilograms and walk 32 kilometers without stopping. However, it was retired at the end of 2015 because it was so loud it was feared that it would give away troop positions.

Industry experts are growing more confident that robot systems will soon be ready to work alongside humans in real operations, taking over dangerous or physically demanding tasks.

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Vocabulary

simulate - to imitate conditions that exist in real life, usually for research

hostile - showing or feeling opposition or aggression; belonging to the military of an enemy

airstrip - a piece of land from which planes can take off and land

terrain - an area of land with regard to its appearance or physical features

agile - able to move quickly and without effort

Discussion

- Have you had a chance to interact with a robot? 

- Are robots or artificial intelligence used in your line of work? 

- What industries do you think will benefit most from the use of robots and artificial intelligence over the next few decades?

-  Do you think you'd enjoy working in robotics? Why? Why not? 

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