[Ayaka Nagaura]

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Trích dẫn

Europeans Must Now Pay to Visit USA

Plans by the United States to charge travellers a $14 fee for an electronic visa to enter the country have angered European countries. American authorities have decided to start charging for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which had been free. Under current rules, American citizens can enter European Union (EU) countries without charge, although some nations may review this. An EU official, Cecilia Malmstrom, said the new requirement is “inconsistent with the commitment of the US to facilitate transatlantic mobility” and will harm America’s tourism industry. Many people feel a $14 charge is peanuts compared with the thousands spent on a vacation.

The ESTA system requires tourists and business people to complete an online application form. There are a series of detailed questions about the potential visitor’s private life and personal history. These include whether the applicant has a communicable disease, a physical or mental disorder or abuses drugs. People also have to answer questions about whether they have criminal records, or have been involved in spying, terrorism or genocide. The charge becomes effective from September 8th. Travel agencies suggest travelers apply for a free ESTA now because it lasts 2 years. Martin Lewis from the MoneySavingExpert.com website advised: "Anyone [thinking of] going to the USA should urgently go and fill in their ESTA right away.”

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Europeans must soon start paying $14 for a visit to the U.S.A.

T / F


b.

American citizens must also pay to enter European Union countries.

T / F


c.

An E.U. official suggested the charge broke American promises.

T / F


d.

Many Europeans said they would pay for the visa using peanuts.

T / F


e.

Europeans visiting the US must fill in a form on the Internet.

T / F


f.

Europeans need to tell US authorities if they are drug abusers.

T / F


g.

The USA hasn't yet put questions about spying on the application form.

T / F


h.

People have another two years before the visa charge takes effect.

T / F
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. fee

2. angered

3. review

4. inconsistent

5. peanuts

6. complete

7. communicable

8. spying

9. effective

10. right away



a. espionage

b. at odds with

c. fill in

d. maddened

e. infectious

f. in force

g. charge

h. immediately

i. change

j. small change

Chủ đề này được biên tập bởi Ayaka Nagaura: 14 Tháng tám 2010 - 07:13 PM

[Ayaka Nagaura]

Girl Guides Want Photo Airbrushing Warning
http://mp3.zing.vn/mp3/nghe-bai-hat/Girl-Guides-Want-Photo-Airbrushing-Warning-Ayaka-Nagaura.IW6BCI7O.html

Trích dẫn

The world’s Girl Guides have spoken out against the fashion magazine industry. They are fed up with the way glossy mags change the faces of models, singers and actresses to make them look more beautiful. They have added their names to a petition to tackle airbrushed images of glamorous celebrities. Girlguiding U.K. wants publishers to be more honest and label photographs that have been altered. Many pictures are changed using computer software like Photoshop. This makes teeth look whiter, eyes brighter, and skin clearer and blemish-free. Young girls want to look like these unrealistic images, which has led to a rise in eating disorders and a lack of confidence. The Guides point to research that shows half of teenage girls worry about their appearance and want cosmetic surgery.

Many high-profile celebrities, including British actress Kate Winslett, have called for the labelling of “touched-up” photos in magazines. Susan Ringwood, the CEO of the eating disorder charity Beat, said: "Young people…tell us that being surrounded everyday by pictures of unnaturally 'perfect' bodies makes their own recovery so much more difficult to achieve." She added: "We know the difference it would make…if [young girls] could be sure which of the images they see are natural and true to life." Lauren Fletcher, an 11-year-old Guide, told reporters that magazines often "really upset" her “because people in magazines are made to look different when that's not really how they look”. She said: “It might make people uncomfortable about themselves. I just think that's unfair.”

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a. Girl Guides want to be told when their photos are airbrushed.

T / F

b. The Guides are going to add their names to a list as a protest.

T / F

c. Guides go to photo shops to get their facial photos altered.

T / F

d. Around 50% of teenage girls in this article want cosmetic surgery.

T / F

e. A British actress thinks “touching-up” photos is a good thing.

T / F

f. A charity boss said “touched-up” photos help girls eat better.

T / F

g. The boss said photos of people as they really are are more helpful.

T / F

h. A girl said airbrushed pics upset her because they aren’t true images.

T / F


2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. spoken out

2. fed up

3. tackle

4. altered

5. blemish

6. disorder

7. perfect

8. recovery

9. achieve

10. unfair
------------------------
a. reach

b. defect

c. mean

d. sort out

e. illness

f. talked openly

g. recuperation

h. faultless

j. tired

j. changed

Chủ đề này được biên tập bởi Ayaka Nagaura: 18 Tháng tám 2010 - 04:38 PM

[White_cloud]

hay

[Ayaka Nagaura]

Homeless Man in Credit Card Honesty

http://mp3.zing.vn/mp3/nghe-bai-hat/Homeless-Man-in-Credit-Card-Honesty-Ayaka-Nagaura.IW6CWIWI.html

Trích dẫn

A homeless man in New York has repaid the trust paid in him by a woman who gave him her credit card. Jay Valentine, 32, was standing on a Manhattan street asking for small change when Merrie Harris, 45, lent him her Platinum AmEx card. Onlookers were shocked to see the woman hand it over and walk off. Valentine said he bought deodorant, body wash, a pack of cigarettes and bottled water, all costing about $25. A short time later, he went back to the restaurant where Ms Harris was eating to return the card to her. For his efforts, he was awarded the title of Most Honest Homeless Man in the City. Valentine also received an offer from a New York-based airline to apply to be a flight attendant and $5,000 from an anonymous Texan.

Ms Harris, an advertising executive, was also applauded for her act of generosity and trust. She told reporters she never doubted Mr Valentine would do anything dishonest with her card, saying: "What he did was no surprise to me.” She asked: “Are we only supposed to trust people we know?” Valentine said he never thought about abusing Harris’ trust in him: "I wasn't tempted at all. She trusted me, and I didn't want to violate that trust," he said. He added: "It sets a good example that people in need – like me - can and should be trusted." What is now in question is the security procedures of the store Valentine shopped in. Staff obviously did not check his signature or look at the photo id on the AmEx card.

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a. A woman lent a homeless man her American Express credit card.

T / F

b. The man bought a few expensive items and then returned the card.

T / F

c. The man received an award for his honesty.

T / F

d. The man got a job offer from an American airline.

T / F

e. The woman was a little suspicious she would never see her card again.

T / F

f. The woman suggested we should trust people more, even strangers.

T / F

g. The man said not all needy people can or should be trusted.

T / F

h. Staff in the shop did not properly check the man’s signature.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. homeless

2. small change

3. onlookers

4. awarded

5. anonymous

6. applauded

7. generosity

8. violate

9. procedures

10. id



a. kindness

b. given

c.nameless

d. identification

e. clapped

f. coins

g. methods

h. passers-by

i. break

j. vagrant

[sama]

Chào pakon,

Sama dự định làm bữa tiệc nhỏ (10ng) ở khu vực gần hồ kỳ hòa, sama hok bit quán nào đc (ăn dc - giá cả fai chăng). a chị e tư vấn giúp sama nha_sama thx nhìu nhìu_