Lesson 9-1

What is one of the most famous paintings in the world? P

If you guessed the Mona Lisa, you're right! It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. P

However, he was not only a painter but also an inventor and scientist. P

Leonardo was born in 1452 in Vinci, Italy. P

When he was 14 years old, he began to learn from one of the most successful artists of his day, P

and he soon became a skilled painter. P

Leonardo's painting of The Last Supper and drawing of the Vitruvian Man are still famous because they look so real. P

Leonardo wasn't just an artist; he was a talented inventor as well. P

During his life, he had many ideas for new inventions. P

One thing that fascinated Leonardo was flying. P

In his notebooks, he wrote down ideas for building flying machines, including a helicopter. P

He also wrote down plans for making a parachute and shoes that could walk on water. P

Most of his ideas were quite extraordinary! P

Another of Leonardo's great abilities was studying science. P

He did it by observing nature very carefully and taking notes. P

He was interested in studying many different things, like the stars, water, the human body, and more. P

He even researched how fossils formed! P

Surprisingly, Leonardo actually wrote some of his notes backwards because he didn't want anyone to steal his ideas. P

You can only read them with a mirror! Leonardo da Vinci was a true "Renaissance man. P

"This term refers to a person who is able to do many things well. P

However, Leonardo da Vinci didn't just do things well; he did them magnificently. P

Therefore, he is remembered as one of the greatest geniuses of all time! P

Lesson 9-2

The bat cracks. The ball soars into the stands. The crowd goes wild. P

It's Game 6 of the 1971 World Series, and Roberto Clemente just hit a home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates. P

It's easy to see why this baseball legend is known as "The Great One." P

Roberto Clemente's childhood was focused on work, family, and baseball. P

He was the youngest of seven children, and his family was poor. P

Clemente worked to earn money, but he always found time for his favorite sport-baseball. P

He made it all the way to the Major League because of his talent and effort. P

As one of the first professional Hispanic baseball players, Clemente had a successful career from the 1950s to the 1970s. P

During that time, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award P

and was an All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates 12 times. P

He even made his 3,000th major league hit in 1972. P

With his amazing talent, he helped his team win the World Series twice. P

Off the field, Clemente supported others whenever he could. P

He sponsored baseball clinics and provided baseball equipment and basic supplies to poor neighborhoods. P

Besides helping his neighbors, he even volunteered overseas. P

In 1972, he took a flight to Nicaragua to give aid packages to the victims of a severe earthquake. P

Unfortunately, the plane crashed because of mechanical problems, killing everyone on board. P

Even after his death, Clemente continues to be an inspiration to people around the world. P

In his honor, the Roberto Clemente Award is presented each year to a player who contributes to his community as well as his team. P

Lesson 9-3

Most people enjoy eating chocolate, but have you ever thought about where it comes from? P

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. These beans are mostly grown on small farms. P

Cocoa farmers work hard to provide big companies with the beans they need to make chocolate. P

Unfortunately, many cocoa farmers are not paid fairly. P

They cannot choose the price of their beans. P

Instead, the big companies make this decision. P

These companies generally care more about their profits than the well-being of their farmers. P

So the farmers are unable to earn enough money. P

Consequently, their children cannot go to school and must work on their parents' cocoa farms. P

What's more, since the price of cocoa beans is so low, farmers must grow more of them. P

Cocoa trees grow best in forests. P

But farmers cut down the forests to expand their farmland and plant more cocoa trees. P

Their trees are unhealthy because of this. P

So the farmers use pesticides and fertilizers to make them grow better. P

Unfortunately, water and soil are polluted by these chemicals. P

Many people were worried about farmers of cocoa and other crops. P

So they got together and started the fair trade movement. P

Its goal is to make sure that farmers get paid enough for their crops to continue farming and supporting their families. P

Due to this movement, many farmers and their communities now lead better lives. P

Fair trade also allows them to grow their crops without harming the environment. P

There are still many companies that pay unfair prices, but you can help change this. P

Chocolate and other products made with fair trade ingredients are marked with a special label that says "fair trade. P

"Look for it the next time you go shopping. P

If everyone buys fair trade products, companies will get the message! P

Lesson 9-4

"Grrrr!" My stomach is growling. My friends and I are too weak to play. P

There are a bunch of students lying on the gym floor because they have no energy to move. P

"Food," they murmur weakly. "Give us food." P

I don't know how much longer I can go without food. I look around me. P

Some students look tired and some are holding their stomachs. Every one looks hungry. P

The clock says noon, and I wonder what other people around the world are eating for lunch. P

I can't stop thinking about sandwiches, soup and other delicious, sweet-smelling food. P

There are even images of hamburgers and fries dancing in my head. P

I slowly lie down. Maybe if I sleep, I will not be hungry. Suddenly, I hear a whistle! P

"OK, students! Time for lunch!" says Mr.Johnson, our principal. P

I look at the clock, and it is 1:30. Slowly, everyone around me comes alive as they stand up. P

We have been participating in the 30 Hour Famine and have not eaten for over a day! P

The 30 Hour Famine is a program in which students around the world take part in raising money for starving children. P

I am proud that our school is helping other less fortunate children. P

Slowly, everyone gets up. We are all smiling weakly. However, it is a bittersweet moment. P

Although we can all go home and eat a big lunch, there are still millions of hungry children in the world. P

Lesson 9-5

Everybody knows the fairy tale of Cinderella. P

However, did you know that many cultures have similar Cinderella stories? P

One of the oldest Cinderella stories is from ancient Egypt and is about a servant girl named Rhodopis. P

She was from Greece and looked different, so the other servants teased her. P

One day, Rhodopis was forced to stay home and wash clothes while everybody else was at a party at the Pharaoh's palace. P

Suddenly, an eagle came, took her sandal, and dropped it in front of the Pharaoh. P

He thought it had come from the gods, so he decided to marry its owner. P

All the women in Egypt tried the sandal on, but it only fit Rhodopis. P

She married the Pharaoh and lived happily ever after as queen of Egypt. P

Similar stories also appear in China. One is about a girl named Ye Xian. P

She was more beautiful than her stepsister, so her stepmother treated her badly. P

She even killed Ye Xian's only friend, a fish with golden eyes. P

Now all Ye Xian had were the fish's magic bones. P

One day, her stepmother and stepsister went to a spring festival without her. P

The magic bones helped Ye Xian go as well by making her a beautiful dress and tiny golden slippers. P

But at the festival, she lost one of the slippers. P

Later, the king found it and succeeded in finding her with it. P

When he saw the beautiful Ye Xian, he fell in love and married her. P

There are many more Cinderella stories. P

Almost all of them are about a kind girl who is treated badly but lives happily ever after in the end. P

Do you know any other Cinderella stories? P

Lesson 9-6

On the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival is held in China. P

One of China's biggest holidays, P

the Dragon Boat Festival is a time for driving away evil spirits so people can live healthy and peaceful lives. P

The story behind this festival involves an official named Qu Yuan. P

Qu was a minister in the state of Chu. P

When he opposed the king's decision to become allies with the state of Qin, he was sent out of Chu. P

Later, when Qin captured the Chu capital, Qu fell into despair and drowned himself in the Miluo River. P

The local people got into their boats and raced to try to save him. P

When Qu's body could not be found, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river, P

hoping that the fish would eat them instead of Qu's body. P

Today, Qu Yuan's story is remembered in two ways at the Dragon Boat Festival. P

First, there are dragon boat races in which teams row dragon-shaped boats and try to reach the finish line first. P

One of the team members beats a drum to help the others row together at the same time. P

Also, delicious rice dumplings called "zong zi" are prepared using sticky rice. P

Each region in China has its own special type of zong zi, P

but they are most commonly shaped like a pyramid or a triangle. P

The lively and colorful Dragon Boat Festival is a favorite of the Chinese and of visitors to their country. P

It also serves as a link between the past and the present of their great culture. P

Lesson 9-7

There are many types of buildings: office buildings, museums, hotels, and houses. P

Buildings are often designed only to be functional, so sometimes they are not pleasing to the eye. P

However, the buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), an American architect, are functional, beautiful, and quite unique. P

Unlike other architects, Wright wanted to make buildings that were a natural part of their surroundings. P

He called this new idea "organic architecture. P

"He was inspired by the environment, so he came up with ways to use it in his designs or even the buildings themselves! P

For instance, he used lots of natural colors and wide, open spaces. P

Wright built lots of homes in this style, like the Winslow House near Chicago. P

Its earth-toned brick walls and low, wide roof blend well with the flat land. P

Wright's Fallingwater house is another example of organic architecture. P

It is built on a piece of solid rock over a waterfall. P

There are huge glass windows that look down on the falling water. P

Its appearance is both natural and beautiful. P

Additionally, Wright included nature in other buildings than houses, like the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. P

Its roof has many pieces of glass that let in lots of light. It looks like a spider web. P

The museum also has one long ramp winding down instead of separate floors. P

That makes it look kind of like a spiral shell. P

Now, it is considered one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture. P

Frank Lloyd Wright is regarded as America's greatest architect. P

His unique vision of combining functionality with naturalness continues to influence architecture to this day. P

Lesson 9-8

A long time ago in Paris, there lived a young woman named Christine who dreamed of becoming an opera singer. P

She lived with her father, who told her stories about an angel of music. P

When her father got sick, he told her that he would send the angel of music to care for her. P

After her father died, Christine joined the Paris Opera House ballet choir. P

There she heard a voice that sounded as beautiful as an angel. P

The voice began to teach her how to sing. P

Christine thought this was the angel of music, but it was the voice of the Phantom of the Opera. P

The Phantom lived alone in the sewers beneath the Paris Opera House. P

Although he sang beautifully, he always wore a mask because his face was disfigured. P

When Christine became a famous opera singer, many people came to admire her, P

including a certain handsome young man named Raoul. P

He was Christine's childhood boyfriend, and soon he and Christine fell in love. P

When the Phantom learned of this, he became very jealous. P

He kidnapped them and threatened to kill Raoul. Christine was very afraid. P

She promised the Phantom that she would marry him if he let Raoul go. P

When the Phantom agreed, she took off his mask and kissed him. P

No one had ever kissed the Phantom before because of his face. P

Suddenly, he became very upset since he realized that Christine was sacrificing herself and that he had treated her and Raoul terribly. P

He cried out in pain and then disappeared forever, leaving them free to love each other. P

Lesson 9-9

Would you switch off all your lights if someone asked you to? That's what many people do every year during Earth Hour. P

Earth Hour is an event where people unite to help save the earth. P

They do this by turning off any unnecessary lights and electrical devices. P

The first Earth Hour happened in 2007. P

Concerns about global warming were growing, so two million people participated in a demonstration in Sydney, Australia. P

By turning off their lights for an hour, they saved the city 10% of its hourly electricity. P

Other cities took the opportunity to join in 2008, and even more joined in 2009. P

That year, Earth Hour was officially set from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March. P

By 2014, over 7,000 cities in 162 countries on all seven continents were participating. P

During Earth Hour, many people turn off the lights in their homes and businesses. P

People then do many activities that do not need electricity, like having campfires or parties lit by candles. P

Many governments also support Earth Hour by turning off the lights on famous monuments. P

Among these are the Colosseum in Rome, Buckingham Palace in London, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, P

the Empire State Building in New York City, and the Sydney Opera House. P

Earth Hour only lasts for one hour, but it teaches us lessons that we can use to protect the earth all year round. P

For example, it helps people understand global warming and think about how to stop it. P

This March, why don't you participate in Earth Hour and put these lessons into practice? P

Lesson 9-10

Every year, people throw away millions of tons of garbage. P

Where does all this garbage go? It usually goes into landfills or is burned, which is harmful to the environment. P

But we can help if we remember the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. P

Reducing means using fewer resources in our daily lives. P

Instead of taking a car when going to a nearby place, try walking or cycling. P

You can also avoid buying things with lots of packaging and save water by turning the sink faucet all the way off. P

Reducing can be hard sometimes, but it is truly worth doing because it saves the environment. P

Another way to help the environment is to reuse things. P

For example, we can use washable cups and cloth napkins instead of paper products. P

We can use rechargeable batteries, too. P

Unlike regular batteries, they can be reused many times before they need to be thrown away. P

Reusing can also mean giving away or donating something you don't use or like anymore. P

That way, it can be used once more by someone else who needs it. P

Finally, recycling makes old materials into new products. P

Instead of burying or burning garbage, you can help make it into something useful. P

All you need to do is sort waste material by type and put them into the proper recycling bins. P

It is an easy thing everyone can do! Waste management is important. P

If we reduce, reuse, and recycle the products we use every day, we will create less trash. P

This is the best way to protect the environment. Please, play your part! P

Lesson 9-11

Do you know the most beautiful avenue or street in the world? The French believe it is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. P

The Avenue des Champs-Elysees, a very old and beautiful street, attracts people for various reasons. P

First, the Avenue des Champs-Elysees is a tourist attraction. P

Every year, millions of people from around the world visit this avenue because of its grand old buildings, palaces, and theaters. P

Also, at the end of the street is the Arc de Triomphe, P

a very famous arch built for the purpose of remembering the soldiers who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. P

The Avenue des Champs-Elysees is also very famous for its shopping and dining. P

It is home to many famous brands, so customers can find fashionable clothes, cosmetics, perfumes, and more. P

In between shopping trips, they can visit fancy restaurants and try delicious, wonderfully cooked food. P

Finally, the Avenue des Champs-Elysees is used for special occasions such as parades on important holidays and sporting events. P

For example, the final stage of the Tour de France finishes on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. P

This is one of the few times the avenue is without traffic, and people line the streets to cheer the cyclists. P

As you can see, this very old and famous street in Paris has many charms that attract a lot of people. P

If you ever go to Paris, don't forget to visit the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. P

Lesson 9-12

The van drove down the mine's narrow, winding passage. P

The trip took much too long. We finally got to the cave's entrance. P

We wore gloves, boots, helmets, and headlights. P

In addition, we needed special gear to keep our bodies cool: P

vests with ice packs and masks that cooled the air we breathed in. P

At last, we entered the Cave of Crystals. P

It was first discovered accidentally by miners in Mexico. P

It has over 170 of the largest crystals in the world. P

The tallest one is more than 11 meters high and weighs over 55 tons! P

The huge crystals looked like something from an alien planet. P

Everything in the cave was beautiful. P

Unfortunately, I started to feel overheated after a while. P

This was because of the heat that came from the magma below the cave. P

Over thousands of years, it helped change the cave's minerals and water into its magnificent crystals. P

The time inside the cave was too short! After 20 minutes, it was time to leave. P

Visitors can only stay about 20 minutes because of the extreme heat. P

However, most people in the world have never seen these amazing crystals at all, so I am one of the luckiest people alive. P

I removed my heavy gear outside and took a long drink. P

Cold water never tasted that good. P

As we drove away, I thought about the giant crystals sparkling in the light. P

Walking among them was like a dream. P

I have traveled to many caves in my life, but this one was definitely the most fantastic one I have ever seen. P

Lesson 9-13

Almost everybody loves pizza. P

It is a very simple yet delicious type of food, and now it is famous all over the world. P

But where is pizza from originally? P

Most people think pizza is from Italy, but this is not true. P

It is even older than ancient Rome. P

In fact, the ancient Greeks made the first kind of pizza. P

They baked flat, round bread with other ingredients on top. P

Sometimes, only olive oil and spices were put on top of the bread. P

At other times, herbs and fruit were used as toppings. P

Can you imagine an orange or apple pizza? P

Today's pizza is very different from those first pizzas. P

Modern pizza was invented by an Italian baker named Raffaele Esposito. P

He was from Naples, Italy. P

He put cheese and tomato sauce on top of flat, round bread, which he baked in a brick oven. P

Later, he added different types of toppings like garlic, meat, and tomatoes. Modern pizza was born! P

Nowadays, you can enjoy pizza almost anywhere in the world with many different kinds of toppings. P

That is because Italian immigrants made pizza popular in the U.S. after World War II. P

Their pizza was fast and cheap, something everyone could eat. P

From the U.S. , pizza spread everywhere else, and now it is really an international food. P

Thank goodness for that baker from Naples, Raffaele Esposito. P

Lesson 9-14

Modern bicycles are amazing machines. P

Some even cost as much as a car! Today's bicycles are very different from the first bicycles, though. P

They have improved greatly since their beginning. P

The first two-wheeled bicycle, the hobbyhorse, was invented in 1818 by Karl Drais. P

It could change directions easily. P

However, it had no pedals, so Drais had to push the ground with his feet to make it go forward. P

Then in 1839, a Scottish blacksmith named Kirkpatrick Macmillan added foot pedals to supply power to the back wheel. P

This is considered to be the first modern bicycle because the rider didn't have to touch the ground to power it. P

The bicycle became popular after a French carriage maker named Pierre Michaux improved it in 1863. P

He made the pedals directly power the front wheel, which required it to be quite large. P

However, its iron frame and tires made it very painful to ride, so it was nicknamed the "boneshaker." P

In the 1870s, the high-wheel bicycle was developed. P

It had an even larger front wheel, a smaller rear wheel, and a lighter frame, making it fast but dangerous. P

In the 1880s, bicycles became safer and more comfortable. P

In 1885, John Kemp Starley invented the Rover. P

It was much safer thanks to its handlebar grips and smaller, equally sized wheels. P

In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop used a garden hose filled with air as a tire. P

This made riding the bicycle more pleasant. P

By the early 20th century, people were using bicycles for both transportation and recreation. P

Bicycles remain popular today. P

And thanks to all these developments, riding a bicycle is now both comfortable and fun. P

Lesson 9-15

If you enjoy the sweet taste of Popsicles, you probably eat them on hot summer days. P

Who would have guessed that this cool invention was made entirely by accident? P

That's right, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson was just lucky when he made the first Popsicle. P

On a cold night in 1905, Epperson was making himself a soda drink. P

He did it by combining powdered soda mix and water. P

But after mixing them together, he accidentally left the cup outside. P

The next morning, the mixture was frozen with Epperson's wooden stirring stick inside. P

That stick became the perfect handle for the icy treat. P

Epperson called his creation "Epperson Icicles," or "Epsicles." P

He knew that others would love them as much as he did. P

That summer, he made a lot of Epsicles, stored them in an icebox, and sold them to his friends and neighbors. P

When he was older, Epperson wanted to introduce Epsicles to more people. P

First, he served them at a large party. P

Then in 1923, he started selling them at a park in California for five cents each. P

Soon after, the name "Popsicle" started being used thanks to his children, who liked to call them "Pop's 'sicles." P

In 1925, Epperson partnered with a company that helped him sell his invention nationwide. P

The Popsicle has continued to change over time. P

Now we can eat all kinds of frozen desserts using sticks as handles. P

With all these flavors and shapes, this classic treat is sure to stick around for a long time. P

Lesson 9-16

Demeter was the goddess of grain. She went around the world and touched all the earth's seeds. P

Soon, they grew into fruit, vegetables, and grains. P

It was always summer on the earth. Demeter had a daughter named Persephone. P

Everyone loved Persephone because she was kind and had a wonderful smile. P

One day, Persephone went up a hill to pick flowers. P

She didn't know that Hades, the king of the underworld, was watching her. P

Suddenly, the earth opened up, and Hades pulled Persephone into his chariot. P

He kidnapped her and took her to the underworld to make her his queen. P

That evening, Demeter waited and waited for Persephone. P

When Persephone didn't come home, Demeter went to find her. P

Eventually, she met Helios, the god of the sun, who told her that Hades had kidnapped Persephone. P

Demeter was so sad and angry that she didn't allow anything to grow. P

Soon all of humankind was starving, but Demeter refused to help. P

Zeus, the king of the gods, was worried because people blamed him. P

As king, he ordered Hades to return Persephone. However, there was one problem. P

While Persephone was in the underworld, she ate some fruit seeds. P

That meant that she belonged to Hades. To save her, Zeus made a plan. P

For nine months of the year, Persephone would live with her mother. P

But since she had eaten three seeds, she would stay with Hades for the other three months. P

During those three months, Demeter is sad and doesn't allow anything to grow. That is why we have winter. P

Lesson 9-17

Have you ever seen a thunderstorm? What can you observe during it? P

A bright flash lights the dark sky. Just a few seconds later, you hear a thunder clap. P

Actually, lightning and thunder always go together, even if you do not see the lightning flash. P

But why do they travel together? Lightning causes thunder. P

When lightning comes down from the sky, the air becomes very hot, five times hotter than the sun. P

The sudden change in temperature causes the air to suddenly change size as well. P

It expands but cools down right away and becomes small again. P

This change in size is what causes loud sound waves of thunder! P

Although thunder and lightning actually happen at the same time, we see the lightning first because light travels faster than sound. P

Light travels extremely fast at about 300,000,000 meters per second. P

So when lightning strikes, we see light immediately. P

However, sound travels at about 340 meters per second. P

Therefore, it takes a while for us to hear thunder. P

From the time gap between lightning and thunder, we can find out how far away the thunderstorm is. P

After you see the lightning, count how many seconds it takes for you to hear the thunder. P

Then, divide that number by three because it takes about three seconds for sound to travel a kilometer. P

So if you count 15 seconds, the thunderstorm is around five kilometers away from where you are. P

Lesson 9-18

The god Thor was a hero long before he appeared in comic books. P

Hundreds of years ago, Norse myths told of him as the god of thunder and the sky. P

The Norse believed that thunder was the sound of Thor fighting with giants and that lightning burst from his mighty hammer. P

Thor was also known for his heroic character. P

According to myths, he was powerful and brave, and he had a strong will to protect the world from danger. P

Although he was normally friendly, he had a hot temper, so he was always the quickest to attack. P

With his deadly weapons, Thor was unstoppable against his enemies, the frost giants. P

He rode a chariot pulled by two enormous goats. P

He also wore iron gloves and a belt that doubled his strength. P

However, his most powerful weapon was his magical hammer, P

which would return to him like a boomerang after being thrown. P

It also had the power to revive the dead. P

This hammer played a central role in many of the tales surrounding Thor. P

In one story, Thor discovered that the king of the giants had stolen his hammer. P

The king only agreed to return it if Thor brought him the goddess of love to be his bride. P

When the goddess refused, Thor dressed up as a bride instead. P

Once the hammer was placed on Thor's lap as an act of blessing, he revealed himself and destroyed the giants. P

With his many exciting adventures, it is no surprise that Thor is still well known today. P

He is even honored in our calendar since "Thursday" comes from "Thor's Day." P

As a protector of the people, Thor was greatly admired and will surely be remembered for years to come. P

Lesson 9-19

Imagine riding a bicycle almost every day for 23 days, about 3,500 kilometers total. P

Welcome to the Tour de France, the world's most famous bicycle race. P

It is probably the hardest sporting event in the world. P

It is like running a marathon several times a week for three weeks. P

The race circles France and often goes through other countries as well. P

For example, it sometimes enters Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands. P

In the past, it has even been in Ireland and Great Britain. P

Some parts of the race pass through very steep, high mountains, including the Alps. P

The Tour de France is different from other races. P

Other races finish quickly, but the Tour de France is a stage race that lasts for 23 days. P

There are 21 stages in this race. P

A stage is a section, or part, of the race, and the riders finish one stage every day. P

Because the race is so difficult, they have two rest days as well. P

That is why the Tour de France is 23 days long. P

Every day there is a winner of that day's stage. P

If a rider is wearing a yellow jersey, it means that he is the overall race leader. P

After the race is finished, each rider's time is recorded for all the stages. P

The rider with the shortest total time is the winner of the Tour de France. P

Lesson 9-20

Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A., December 13, 1891. P

Our Canadian PE teacher, James Naismith, made us play a new game today. P

He said he invented an indoor sport because it was too cold to go outside. P

It is unlike any other sport I know. Each game has two halves of 15 minutes each. P

To play, you pass a soccer ball to your teammates with your hands, but you can't kick or run with the ball. P

Then, to score a point, you throw the ball into one of two peach baskets. P

Mr.Naismith hung them 10 feet above the gym floor. P

Every time someone scores a basket, someone has to climb up on a ladder and get the ball. P

This makes "basketball" very slow. P

Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A., December 8, 2014 P

Today, Mr.Powell, the gym teacher, had us play basketball instead of soccer since it was raining. P

I had never played basketball before, so I had to learn how. P

First, I learned that each game has four 10-minute quarters. P

To play, you bounce a basketball up and down while you run. That is called "dribbling." P

You can also use your hands to pass it to your teammates, but you can't kick it at all. P

To score two points, you throw the basketball through one of the 10-foot-high metal hoops with a net. P

As soon as someone scores, the other team grabs the ball, and everyone runs to the other side of the court. P

Basketball is a really fast game! P

Lesson 9-21

Swinging by a thread, Spider-Man patrols the streets of New York. P

Mutant X-Men use their special powers to fight against evil. P

All ofthese characters were created by Stan Lee, a person who has led a truly remarkable life. P

Lee was greatly influenced by his childhood years. P

Born in New YorkCity in 1922, he lived through the Great Depression. P

Since this was such a difficult time, he used his imagination to escape reality. P

For example, he would pretend his bicycle had been transformed into a spaceship, P

and he would go on adventure after adventure. P

The people around Lee soon began to recognize his creativity and imagination. P

When he was only 15, he entered a newspaper essay contestcalled "The Biggest News of the Week." P

He impressed the newspapereditor and was encouraged to keep writing. P

After high school, he got ajob at a comic book company, and he became the editor of it when he wasonly 19 years old. P

By the late 1950s, though, he was becoming unhappy with his career. P

He even considered quitting altogether. P

His life changed dramatically when publisher Martin Goodman askedhim to create a completely new superhero team in the 1960s. P

Lee took this opportunity and came up with a brand-new superhero creation-the Fantastic Four. P

Lee's superheroes were different from typical superheroes in those days. P

They were not perfect, and they sometimes failed likenormal people. P

Because people could easily relate to Lee's superheroes,they loved them. P

Lee's creations, which include the X-Men, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, have remained popular P

and are now greatly successful in the movie industry. P

They have even broken all-time box office records, making Lee a distinguished Hollywood icon. P

Lesson 9-22

When a tiny seed is planted, it can grow to be a towering tree. P

Hope was the seed Wangari Maathai planted, and what sprang from it was big enough to change the world. P

Wangari Maathai grew up in Kenya. P

Luckily, she had an opportunity to get an education even though it was not encouraged for girls at that time. P

She was intelligent and studied hard through adulthood, P

eventually becoming the first woman in East and Central Africa to complete a Ph.D. P

Maathai worked tirelessly to help the environment and rural populations in Kenya. P

These efforts started after she became aware that forests were being cut down for farming. P

This damaged the environment and affected the lives of the people who depended on it, so Maathai took action. P

She founded an organization called the Green Belt Movement, which taught rural people, P

mainly women, how to plant and care for trees. P

This helped restore the balance of nature and gave the planters a chance to earn a small income. P

Over the years, the group planted over30 million trees, P

and people worldwide started planting trees based on Maathai's ideas. P

However, the environment was not the only thing to benefit from Maathai's hard work. P

She developed programs to teach women leadership and life skills. P

She also believed that government officials should work for the people, not themselves. P

This led her to encourage others to vote and get involved in politics. P

Later, she was even elected to Parliament herself. P

Maathai spent a lifetime conserving the environment and helping the poor, for which she was respected worldwide. P

In 2004, she even received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts. P

Although she died of cancer in 2011, her legacy lives on through the organization she started. P

Lesson 9-23

When you look at a city skyline at night, you can see millions of electric lights brightening the sky. P

Artificial lights at night may be a gorgeous sight, but they also cause a serious environmental problem called light pollution. P

Light pollution is harmful to humans, animals, and plants. P

Studies have shown that light pollution makes people feel tired and can cause headaches. P

That's because it affects the body's production of a hormone called melatonin, which regulates the sleep cycle. P

The body produces melatonin when it is dark. P

But even a little light around one's bed at night can lessen its production. P

Melatonin also helps the body fight off some diseases. P

Therefore, light pollution can make it harder for you to stay healthy. P

Too much nighttime light also has a serious effect on animals and plants. P

In particular, it affects migrating birds, which use the stars as a map when flying south for winter. P

When they reach cities, lighting from tall buildings can confuse them, P

causing them to circle around until they are too exhausted to keep flying. P

Light pollution also damages trees. P

Many trees shed their leaves to conserve energy during winter months. P

They determine when to start doing so based on the amount of day light. P

But nighttime light makes it harder for them to detect the shorter days of fall, and they hold onto their leaves longer. P

As a result, they end up wasting energy, which can shorten their lifespan. P

As you see, beautiful city lights can put our wildlife as well as our own health in danger. P

So always make sure to turn off any unnecessary lights. P

By making simple changes, we can all do our part to reduce light pollution. P

Lesson 9-24

My name is Diego Silva, and I'm from Curitiba, Brazil. I'm really glad to be your pen pal. P

I'm interested in learning about your city and telling you about mine. P

Curitiba is the largest city in southern Brazil, but despite its size it has very little air pollution. P

One reason for this is that it has more than a thousand public green spaces. P

It also has car-free zones downtown, encouraging 85 percent of people to use buses for transportation instead. P

Last, Curitiba mainly uses hydropower, reducing the pollution coming from burning fossil fuels. P

The city also keeps itself clean by giving out bus tickets and food to people in return for their trash. P

For kids like me, they give toys and chocolate instead. P

In this way, about 70 percent of the city's garbage gets recycled. P

I'm proud to live in a city that cares about the environment. P

I hope you'll be able to visit it in person someday. P

I was excited to get your email and read all about your wonderful city! P

My city is Freiburg, in southwest Germany. Just like Curitiba, Freiburg has a lot of green spaces. P

In fact, 40 percent of the city is covered in forest. We also have car-free zones downtown. P

However, it sounds like our transportation is different from yours. P

Most people here ride bicycles and trams, or they just walk. P

While your city exchanges trash for useful goods, mine encourages recycling and passes out free trash bags. P

Unlike Curitiba, Freiburg reduces pollution mainly by using solar power. P

We even have the world's first football stadium with its own solar panels! P

Even though we live indifferent places, our cities have a lot of similarities, don't you think? P

Lesson 9-25

You are dreaming of flying in an old fighter plane when a horrible sound wakes you. P

Bzzz! Oh, no! You're not a pilot, but you are being attacked. P

You get up, turn on the lights, and try to kill the mosquito before it can drink your blood. P

Many people love summer, but they hate mosquitoes. P

People don't like mosquitoes because they bite and leave itchy, red bumps. P

But did you know that it is only female mosquitoes that bite? P

While male mosquitoes drink nectar, the sweet liquid inside flowers, female mosquitoes need protein to make eggs. P

And since blood contains a lot of protein, female mosquitoes bite humans and animals to drink their blood. P

Female mosquitoes can easily get a lot of blood because of the shape of their mouths and special saliva. P

Their mouths are long, thin, and needle-like. As a result, they can penetrate the skin very well. P

And their saliva makes the wound continue to bleed. P

So, they spit into the wound in order to get as much blood as they need. P

This saliva is also the reason why your skin swells up and itches after you are bitten. P

Clearly, female mosquitoes are experts at drawing blood. P

But how do they locate their prey in the first place? P

They can easily find people to bite thanks to their special senses. P

First, they have sensors that can detect carbon dioxide. P

Since humans give off carbon dioxide when they breathe, they are easily detected by female mosquitoes. P

Female mosquitoes can also detect heat, so warm-blooded animals are easy targets because their bodies produce heat. P

For these reasons, female mosquitoes are great hunters that are able to find their prey without difficulty, P

even when it is completely dark! P

Lesson 9-26

Usually, animals and insects eat plants, but sometimes the opposite happens. P

There are plants that eat animals, especially insects. P

These carnivorous or meat-eating plants use two methods to catch their prey. P

Some plants capture insects by waiting motionlessly. P

These are passive carnivorous plants, and one example of them is the cobra lily. P

Insects come to the cobra lily because of its sweet-smelling nectar. P

After an insect enters its tube-like leaves, it becomes lost inside. P

This is because the leaves are very thin. P

They let the light shine in from everywhere, so the insect cannot find the exit. P

It gets confused and keeps flying toward the light. Soon, it becomes tired from trying to escape. P

It then falls into the pool of juices at the bottom of the plant and gets digested. P

Other carnivorous plants are active. That is, they move to catch insects. P

The most famous of these is the Venus flytrap. P

It keeps its mouth-shaped leaves wide open and attracts insects with delicious-smelling nectar. P

As soon as an insect touches special hairs on its leaves, it closes them very quickly! P

Then, the insect is trapped inside the leaves and is broken down by juices, which come out of the leaves. P

Why do these plants eat insects? P

They normally grow in places where the soil is poor, so they have to feed on meat to get enough nutrients. P

Though they might seem scary or unpleasant, meat-eating is just their way to survive. P

Lesson 9-27

Can you imagine a place with more than 2,000 arches made of red sandstone? P

This place is Arches National Park, located in southeastern Utah. P

These miracles of nature were formed by erosion over millions of years. P

Anyone would be amazed by the beauty of this red rock wonderland. P

Throughout the park, visitors are surrounded by natural sculptures. P

Landscape Arch stretches 93.3meters and is the longest arch in North America. P

Another giant is Double Arch, the tallest arch in the park at 34 meters above the ground. P

Although both of these are beautiful, the most amazing arch in the park is Delicate Arch. P

You really must see it for yourself to appreciate it. P

While at Arches National Park, there are a number of activities to enjoy. P

You can ride bikes or do some rock climbing. P

However, hiking is the best way to explore what the park has to offer. P

There are a variety of trails you can take on your own. P

And for some areas with no trails, you can join a group led by a ranger. P

To enjoy the park safely, visitors should be sure to wear proper clothing and footwear P

as well as protect themselves from the sun. P

Also, everyone must follow the park's rules to keep it in good condition. P

Scratching or drawing on the rocks is prohibited. P

In addition, visitors may not walk on the arches since they could damage them or injure themselves. P

Whether you like spending every moment outdoors or simply want to relax in gorgeous surroundings, P

you will love Arches National Park. P

It's the perfect place to take a break from your busy life and see the peaceful beauty of nature. P

Lesson 9-28

I have just returned from a field trip to the Churaumi Aquarium, located in Okinawa, Japan. P

I could tell why it is named "Churaumi," which means "beautiful ocean" in Japanese. P

It is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world. P

The best part of the Churaumi Aquarium is the Kuroshio Sea, which is the world's largest fish tank. P

It is 10 meters deep, 35 meters wide,27 meters long and holds 7,500 tons of water. P

That's as much water as three Olympic-sized swimming pools. P

It also features the world's largest glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters, with a thickness of60 centimeters. P

Viewing the fish through this window is an awesome experience. P

The Kuroshio Sea only contains fish that live in the ocean around Okinawa. P

There are about 70 different types of fish in the tank, such as tuna and even giant manta rays. P

However, the most interesting fish in this tank is the whale shark. P

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, and they can grow to be 12 meters long. P

There are only three aquariums in the world that are large enough to have whale sharks, and the Kuroshio Sea has three! P

Everyone should visit the Churaumi Aquarium at least once in their life. P

The Kuroshio Sea is the perfect place to view sea life that lives around Japan. P

If you experience it, you will want to go back again and again! P

Lesson 9-29

Did you know more than half of your body is made up of water? There is water in every cell in your body. P

Your heart is almost 80 percent water, your skin and muscles are about 70 percent water, and your blood is nearly 83 percent water. P

Although your body is made up of so much water, it cannot store it all for very long. P

Rather, you lose water every second. P

Even when you breathe, you lose a small amount. P

Because of this, it is always important to replace the lost water. P

Doctors recommend that adults drink between eight and ten glasses of fresh water every day. P

Drinking plenty of water has great benefits. P

Because it stops you from overeating, it can help you lose weight. P

It also helps prevent dry skin since water helps keep your skin cells healthy. P

Water even helps to increase brain function. P

Your brain is about75 percent water, so it needs lots of water to think quickly and clearly. P

People who do not like drinking water can get it from sources such as milk and juice instead. P

You can even get water from food. P

In fact, food provides about 20 percent of your body's water each day. P

Of course, some foods provide more water than others. P

Nuts hardly contain any of it, but many fruits and vegetables, like watermelons and cucumbers, have a high water content. P

Having enough water in your body is important for you to stay fit. P

Make sure to drink enough water each day and have plenty of fruits and vegetables. P

This will keep you in great shape! P

Lesson 9-30

Do you sleep with your smart phone next to your bed? P

Do you feel anxious when you can't use your smart phone? P

Do you repeatedly check your smart phone for no reason? P

If you answered "yes" to all three of these questions, you might be suffering from a smart phone addiction. P

Smart phones are like small computers that can be carried anywhere. P

This makes it easier for people to spend long periods of time on the Internet, P

checking their social network pages or just surfing from site to site. P

Because of this, more and more people are becoming addicted to the Internet and to their smart phones. P

Smartphone addicts use their smart phones too much. This can cause serious problems. P

Using a smart phone sends large amounts of information to the brain at rapid speeds. P

Over time, the left side of the brain becomes over developed, leaving the right side underdeveloped. P

As a result, people have a hard time concentrating and remembering things. P

There are other problems as well. Smartphone addicts constantly stare at a small screen. P

Consequently, they suffer from poor vision and dry eyes. P

They also hold their heads at an unnatural angle while looking down at the screen. P

This puts pressure on the spine, which can lead to neck and back pain. P

Finally, the light from the screen at night affects the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that controls the sleep cycle. P

This can cause insomnia or low-quality sleep. P

If you are experiencing any of these problems, you need to find a way to break the addiction. P

The simplest method is to limit the amount of time you use your smart phone each day. P

It may be difficult at first, but it will gradually get easier and easier. P

Lesson 9-31

In 1925, the small Alaskan city of Nome was fighting a deadly disease. P

However, freezing weather prevented ships and airplanes from delivering medicine to it. P

The only hope was the region's traditional mode of transportation: dog sleds. P

Twenty dog sled drivers, known as" mushers," P

and 150 dogs made the journey along more than 1,000 kilometers of the Iditarod Trail in just five-and-a-half days. P

Their bravery saved thousands of lives and was praised by the American media. P

Forty years later, people decided to organize a dog sled race to honor this famous event. P

However, the organizers also had another reason. P

With the rise of airplanes and snowmobiles, dog sleds were disappearing from Alaska. P

They hoped the race would bring back interest in dog sledding. P

They also wanted to help preserve the Iditarod Trail, which was being used less and less. P

Short races took place in 1967 and 1969, and in 1973 the first full-length race was run. P

Today, the Iditarod Race covers about 1,600 kilometers from Anchorage to Nome. P

It takes 9 to 15 days to complete. P

The teams, which are made up of a single musher and 12 to 16 dogs, P

must journey over mountains, through forests, and across frozen rivers. P

They must also battle freezing temperatures and powerful winds that blow snow everywhere. P

There are more than 20 checkpoints along the way where they can pick up food P

and have the dogs checked by an animal doctor. P

Because the race is so difficult, many teams consider it a victory simply to finish. P

The Iditarod Race has become Alaska's most famous sporting event. P

Each year, it receives attention from all around the world, bringing pride to Alaskans everywhere. P

It has also achieved its goal of keeping the tradition of dog sledding alive. P

Lesson 9-32

During summer vacation, my sister and I took a canoe and kayak paddling course. P

Our first lesson began with learning about how these boats were originally made. P

Native tribes in North America made canoes from hollowed-out tree trunks, P

whereas those in the Arctic region used whale bones covered in animal skin to make kayaks. P

We also learned how the boats' origins affected their design. P

Unlike canoes, which are open and uncovered, kayaks are enclosed to keep water from flowing in. P

These kayaks are made for paddlers to sit on the bottom of the boat, stretching their legs out under the covering. P

In contrast, canoe paddlers sit on a seat or kneel down. P

Next, we learned how the boats are used. P

Being lightweight, both are ideal for rivers, lakes, and shallow water. P

Similarly, they are both used for activities like fishing, camping, and exploring nature. P

However, they can also have different purposes. P

The stability of canoes makes them better for carrying supplies. P

On the other hand, the sleek design of kayaks makes them better for fast travel. P

When we got into the boats, I chose a kayak and my sister took a canoe. P

Both are moved by paddling, but they have different paddles and paddling styles. P

My sister used a single-bladed canoe paddle that needed one hand on top and the other near the blade. P

However, I had a double-bladed kayak paddle, so I kept both of my hands near the center of the pole. P

I was surprised by how much there was to learn about the two boats, and I had fun comparing them. P

Now I am looking forward to my next paddling lesson so that I can ride in the kayak again or maybe even tryout the canoe. P

Lesson 9-33

The lights dim, and the audience grows quiet. P

Suddenly acrobats in colorful costumes drop from the ceiling on bungee cords, bouncing and flying across the stage. P

Others slide up and down poles or leap from swing to swing. P

The audience cheers! What is this? It's a performance of Cirque du Soleil! P

Cirque du Soleil, which is French for "circus of the sun," was started by a pair of Canadian street performers in 1984. P

At first the shows were simple, with performers juggling, walking on stilts, and eating fire. P

Soon, however, the performances began to change, becoming more varied and developing unique features. P

Today Cirque du Soleil is completely different from a traditional circus. P

For one thing, there are no animals. All of the performers are people. P

Along with acrobats, there are funny clowns and amazing gymnasts. P

Also, all of the performances are based on interesting stories. P

These stories are told with music and visual effects rather than spoken words. P

Over the years, Cirque du Soleil has created a wide variety of shows, each with a different theme. P

One show is centered around a huge swimming pool, while another features a fight between good and evil. P

Some other shows are influenced by different cultures, including French, Chinese, and African ones. P

There are even shows that feature modern music, such as the songs of Michael Jackson! P

Cirque du Soleil shows have been enjoyed by about 150 million people in 300 different cities over the past 30 years. P

Because of their unique style and unforgettable performances, P

it is likely that they will continue to thrill audiences for many years to come. P

Lesson 9-34

An orchestra is playing. P

But before the performance ends, the musicians stop and begin to depart the stage. P

It may sound strange, but they are just performing the "Farewell" Symphony by Franz Joseph Haydn. P

The story behind this unusual piece of music begins in 1772, P

when Haydn was the personal composer and orchestra conductor of the wealthy and powerful Esterhazy family. P

He and his musicians lived close by the family's palace in a town near Vienna, Austria. P

However, once Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy's summer palace was built in Hungary, P

he made Haydn and his orchestra accompany him on his trips there, leaving their families behind. P

This wasn't a serious problem at first since they never stayed for very long. P

But that summer, Prince Nicolaus decided to extend his stay at the summer palace. P

As time went on, many of the musicians began to miss their families. P

Because they were afraid to complain to the prince directly, they turned to Haydn for help. P

Like the members of his orchestra, Haydn did not want to upset the prince. P

So after thinking carefully, he came up with a clever plan. P

One day, Haydn announced the performance of his latest symphony. P

Toward the end of the concert, the orchestra's music slowed down. P

Then several musicians did something surprising. P

First, they stopped playing. Soon afterward, they blew out their candles, got up, and left. P

This continued until the stage was nearly empty. P

Finally, Prince Nicolaus understood what Haydn was trying to tell him. P

The next day, the musicians were allowed to return home. P

Sometimes music celebrates an event; other times it expresses an emotion. P

And as Haydn proved, sometimes it can be used to send a message. P

Lesson 9-35

What does a totem pole have in common with a history book? P

It can tell the story of a group's culture, family relationships, and important events. P

Totem poles are sculptures made from tree trunks, and their carvings are symbolic. P

These poles were used by the native peoples living in the Pacific Northwest of North America to record information. P

The most common figures on totem poles are animals, which represent events or characters in a story. P

They each have a special meaning, and strict rules are followed when making them. P

For example, the eagle is a symbol of strength and leadership. It is always shown with a curved beak. P

The raven, carved with a straight beak, is sneaky and loves to play tricks. P

Beavers were considered the enemies of humans, so they have large front teeth. P

In the past, there were several different types of totem poles serving a variety of purposes. P

The house frontal pole was the most highly decorated type. P

It stood outside a home's main entrance and showed the personal history of the family or clan living there. P

The memorial pole was built to honor a person who had died. P

Another type of totem pole was the shame pole. P

Its purpose was to embarrass someone who had done something wrong. P

It was removed after the person had resolved the situation. P

With their beautiful images and rich history, totem poles serve as are minder of the past. P

However, they will also play a part in our future. P

Today, traditional artists are creating new totem poles to share their cultural pride and clan connections. P

Lesson 9-36

Long ago, a Native American chief named Gray Eagle had all of the earth's light. P

But Gray Eagle was very greedy, so instead of sharing it with the rest of the world, he kept it hidden in his cabin. P

One day the trickster bird Raven was flying around, bumping into trees and mountains because he couldn't see clearly. P

Each time he hit something, he grew more annoyed. P

Deciding that something had to bed one about the situation, he made a plan to steal the light. P

While Gray Eagle's daughter was passing by a river one day, P

Raven magically turned himself into a tiny leaf and made her very thirsty. P

She took a drink from the river and accidentally drank Raven as well. P

Soon he was born as a baby boy. P

Gray Eagle and his daughter both loved the child, but he constantly cried. P

"What does this baby want?" they asked each other. P

They tried many things to get Raven to stop crying, but nothing worked. P

Then Raven reached for the box that held the light. P

At first, the old man grabbed his precious box back, but each time he tried to take it, Raven would cry more and more loudly. P

Finally, Gray Eagle took pity on Raven and let him play with the box. P

When no one was looking, Raven turned himself back into a bird and flew away with the box and the light in it. P

He allowed the light to escape into the sky, where it became the sun. P

Suddenly, the world was filled with bright light. P

Gray Eagle got angry because Raven had tricked him, but it was too late. P

Everyone on earth was glad that they had the light for the first time. P

Lesson 9-37

Did you know the cosmetics industry has a very long history? P

The ancient Egyptians used makeup as far back as 4000 B.C. P

In ancient Egypt, cosmetics were not just for women: men wore makeup, as did children and the elderly. P

They used makeup both for practical reasons and for decoration. P

One of the practical uses of makeup was eye protection. P

Egypt is in a very hot and dry part of the world where the sun can be blinding. P

To protect their eyes from the sun, the Egyptians put a paste around their eyelids P

that was similar to the black paint American football players put under their eyes. P

Cosmetics also helped the Egyptians keep their skin healthy. P

Because of the hot sun and dry winds, their skin would often get very dry. P

The Egyptians applied facial cosmetics made of oils and herbs. P

These cosmetics prevented their skin from drying out. P

They also had a pleasant cooling effect, which was refreshing in the hot weather. P

In addition to using cosmetics for practical benefits, the Egyptians applied them for decoration. P

At the time, most people considered eye makeup to be very attractive. P

They outlined their eyes in black or gray. P

A line drawn from the corner of the eye toward the hairline was thought to be very stylish. P

During this time, many Egyptian women had small makeup boxes that they would carry around with them. P

This meant they could fix their makeup while they were outside, just like many women do today. P

The practice of using cosmetics for both beauty and practical purposes P

originates from the wisdom and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians. P

Although cosmetics are used differently today, a lot remains unchanged. P

Lesson 9-38

There are some actions that cannot be reversed. P

Once you do them, you can no longer change your mind. P

Taking this type of action is sometimes referred to as "crossing the Rubicon." P

There is a story behind this phrase. P

It began during the first century B.C. when the Roman Republic was rapidly expanding. P

A young Roman general named Julius Caesar conquered the area now known as France and became the region's governor. P

After that, he battled and defeated various local tribes. P

This made him a hero back in Rome. P

Unfortunately, the Roman Senate and Pompey, one of the leaders of Rome, P

began to fear Caesar's growing popularity and power. P

In 50 B.C., they ordered Caesar to return to Rome, P

leaving his army north of the Rubicon River, which marked the northern frontier of Rome. P

Caesar sent a message explaining that he wanted peace, but he was declared an enemy of Rome. P

Later, in 49 B.C., Caesar was in the northern Italian city of Ravenna with his army. P

He had to decide whether or not to obey the Senate's orders. P

After carefully considering the situation, he marched with his army to the edge of the river. P

Making his decision, he said, "The die is cast," and crossed the Rubicon with his soldiers. P

This led to a Roman civil war. P

By 45 B.C., Caesar had defeated all of his opponents and taken control of Rome. P

Although he was killed after only one year in power, he made many important changes to Roman law during his short rule. P

Today, Caesar is remembered as one of the world's greatest generals and the man who changed Rome forever. P

In fact, the entire history of Europe may have been very different if he had not crossed the Rubicon. P

Lesson 9-39

Most great inventions start as a brilliant idea. P

However, it takes years of hard work to transform that idea into reality. P

The microwave, on the other hand, was the result of a lucky accident. P

It all began with the magnetron. P

Invented in 1920, this device produced tiny electromagnetic waves, known as "microwave energy," P

and was part of radar systems used during World War II. P

After the war ended, companies began searching for ways to improve the magnetron. P

One of these companies was an American weapons and electronics manufacturer called Raytheon. P

Percy Spencer worked for Raytheon. P

One day after standing in front of a magnetron, he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. P

Spencer began conducting tests with other types of food. P

First, he placed some unpopped popcorn in front of the magnetron. P

It quickly puffed up. P

Next, he tried an egg, which exploded in the face of one of his colleagues! P

Spencer realized that this strange behavior was due to microwave energy. P

His next step was to build a metal box from which microwave energy could not escape. P

When food was placed inside the box, it heated up at an incredible rate. P

This simple box was the world's first microwave oven, or "microwave" for short. P

Raytheon soon began to develop commercial microwaves. P

The first, introduced in 1947, was so large and expensive that it didn't sell well. P

By 1967, however, microwaves had improved, becoming much smaller and cheaper. P

Finally, in 1975, they exceeded gas ranges in sales for the first time. P

Today there are few kitchens that are not equipped with a microwave. P

Lesson 9-40

Peacocks are famous for the charming pattern on their tails. P

Sometimes, it looks like they have a bunch of eyes watching you. P

The ancient Greeks had a story about why peacocks have these eyes. P

It all began with the jealousy of Hera, the queen of the gods. P

She would spy on her husband Zeus because he fell in love with other women easily. P

One day, Zeus was talking to a beautiful maiden named Io under a cover of clouds. P

When Hera came looking for Zeus, he quickly changed Io into a cow to avoid angering her. P

Nevertheless, Hera knew that Io was not really a cow because she was too beautiful. P

Even as a cow, she had creamy white skin and bright, blue eyes. P

Therefore, Hera asked Zeus to give her the cow as a gift. P

Of course, Zeus could not refuse his wife. P

Hera did not want Zeus to change Io back into a beautiful maiden, P

so she told her servant Argus to watch Io day and night. P

Argus was a giant with 100 eyes that took turns sleeping, making it impossible for Io to escape. P

Zeus felt guilty because it was his fault that Io was now a cow. P

Thus, he sent Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to bring Io back. P

Hermes was a clever god, so he began to play lullabies on his pipe. P

Soon, the eyes of Argus began to close one by one. P

When they were all closed, Hermes killed him and set Io free. P

When Hera found out what had happened, she was both furious and sad. P

To remember Argus, she put every one of his eyes onto the tail of her favorite pet, the peacock. P

Today, we can see them when peacocks spread their gorgeous tails. P

Lesson 9-41

When he was only 17, Steve Jobs dropped out of college. P

His parents could not afford the tuition, and he wasn't sure that college could help him figure out what to do with his life. P

It was very difficult for him at first. P

However, by following his curiosity and intuition, he eventually became one of the most successful people in the world. P

In the mid-1970s, Jobs started building computers in his parents' garage with a friend. P

To sell their machines, they started a company named Apple Computer Inc. in 1977. P

They worked hard and made a personal computer called the Apple II. P

With its great success, they became millionaires in just a few years. P

As Apple grew, Jobs hired the president of PepsiCo, John Sculley, to help run the company. P

However, Jobs and Sculley disagreed a lot with each other. P

After many fights, Jobs was removed from his main role at Apple, causing him to resign later in 1985. P

Within a year of leaving Apple, Jobs started two other computer companies. P

The first one, called NeXT, mostly built innovative computers for university science labs. P

The other one, Pixar, made high-end graphics computers at first. P

Later, it used computer animation to make lots of famous movies, like Toy Story. P

NeXT had some failures, but it did well enough that Apple decided to buy it for $429 million in 1996. P

At the same time, they rehired Jobs as a consultant, and in 2000, he became the CEO of Apple. P

Once Jobs was back at Apple, he brought new ideas and designs for the company's products. P

Over the next decade, Apple made the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and more, all of which were extremely successful. P

This was largely due to Jobs's brilliant vision and charismatic leadership. P

Thanks to him, Apple became one of the most important companies in the world. P

Throughout his life, Steve Jobs turned difficulties into opportunities. P

Although he passed away in 2011, his story still inspires people to follow their passions and never give up. P

Lesson 9-42

Born in 1897, Amelia Earhart was a very special girl. P

She enjoyed climbing trees and hunting, P

and she was deeply interested in women who succeeded in fields traditionally controlled by men. P

In 1920, she took her first plane ride at an air show. P

After that, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. P

She started taking flying lessons and saved up money to buy her own airplane. P

In 1922, she flew higher than any woman had before. P

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became famous as the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. P

The next year, Earhart was invited to join a team of three people in a flight across the Atlantic. P

Although she described herself as a mere passenger, P

she became famous as the first woman to make a flight across the Atlantic and even wrote a book about her experience. P

But she wasn't satisfied. P

Five years after Lindbergh's feat, Earhart became the first woman and the second person to fly solo across the Atlantic. P

This brought her even greater fame. P

She received a medal from the president, wrote another book, and became a role model for women everywhere. P

In 1937 just before her 40th birthday, Earhart decided to take on a final challenge- P

she would become the first woman to fly around the entire world. P

After her first attempt at the 29,000-mile journey failed, she tried again. P

Tragically, with just 7,000 miles left to go over the Pacific Ocean, her plane disappeared in bad weather. P

Despite an extensive search, she was never found. P

Today, Earhart is remembered as a pioneer of both flight and equal opportunities for women. P

In a final letter to her husband, she wrote, "Women must try to do things as men have tried. P

When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. P

Lesson 9-43

Waterfalls are among nature's most spectacular wonders. P

This is certainly true of Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls, two of the largest waterfalls in the world. P

Both are located on the border between two countries, P

Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Southwest Africa and Niagara Falls between Canada and the USA. P

Every day, people gather at both falls to watch tons of water rushing noisily over the edge. P

Victoria Falls is the larger of the two. It is 1.7 kilometers wide and 108 meters tall. P

The largest section of Niagara Falls is only 1.2 kilometers wide and 51 meters tall. P

However, more than twice the amount of water flows over Niagara Falls. P

There, 2,407 cubic meters of water flow over the edge each second. P

At Victoria Falls, meanwhile, only 1,088 cubic meters flow per second. P

Although Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls are both huge waterfalls, they were formed in very different ways. P

Niagara Falls was made when the Ice Age ended thousands of years ago and all the ice melted. P

It made huge lakes and the Niagara River, which wore down the land and eventually made Niagara Falls. P

In contrast, Victoria Falls was created after lava from volcanic eruptions cooled into many layers and developed cracks. P

Water began to flow through these cracks, forming the Zambezi River and later on Victoria Falls. P

Both Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls are popular tourist attractions and parks. P

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Victoria Falls, while millions visit Niagara Falls. P

The parks around the falls limit land development, preserving their natural beauty and rare animals. P

Thanks to such conservation efforts, future generations will also be able to experience the falls. P

Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls truly are mighty wonders of nature. P

Other waterfalls are pretty to look at, but most of them simply cannot compare in terms of size. P

That is why people will always be impressed with Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls. P

Lesson 9-44

It was early morning, and the sun was not even up yet. P

My friends and I, tired but excited, boarded a colorful hot air balloon. P

As the sun rose over the horizon, we were floating above Cappadocia, Turkey. P

The ground below us must have been the strangest place on earth. P

Cappadocia's moon-like landscape was absolutely fascinating! P

It was formed by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. P

After that, wind and water erosion shaped it into valleys and cones of rock called "fairy chimneys." P

In addition, people carved caves into these rock formations, P

which also contribute to the region's bizarre but fantastic scenery. P

After the hot air balloon ride, we took a sightseeing tour. P

We started in the Pasabag Valley, where you can find Cappadocia's most impressive collection of fairy chimneys. P

There were different types of fairy chimneys that looked like mushrooms or asparagus. P

After that, we visited Uchisar Castle, the highest point in Cappadocia. P

The castle's exterior was unattractive since it looked like a mass of rocks rather than a man-made castle. P

However, the view from it was incredible. P

Climbing the staircases to reach the top wasn't easy, but it was definitely worth doing. P

After a lunch break, we visited Derinkuyu. P

It has the deepest underground city in Turkey. P

This city reaches about 85 meters deep and could hold up to 20,000 people in its multiple levels long ago. P

We had fun exploring the rooms, which were used as schools, churches, and even stables. P

There were also tunnels to let in air and huge, rounded stones that acted as doors. P

Sightseeing is an exhausting experience! P

We were happy to head back to our hotel, which was another amazing sight itself. P

It was built in a cave that had rooms carved right out of the stone. P

In the hotel, any guest would feel like a cave dweller thousands of years ago. P

I fell asleep thinking of my day full of wonder, excitement, and memorable experiences! P

Lesson 9-45

Held annually from July 11 to July 13 in Ulaanbaatar, the Naadam Festival is the biggest event in Mongolia. P

About 100,000 people gather in the capital city's largest stadium to watch events that have changed little since the 12th century. P

The festival features wrestling, horse racing, and archery, P

all of which are skills that helped Genghis Khan and his army create one of the world's greatest empires. P

During the first two days of the national holiday, there are several horse races of varying length. P

The length of the race depends on the horses' age. P

For example, two-year-old horses run 16 kilometers, and seven-year-old horses run 30 kilometers. P

Children between 5 and 13 years old are chosen to be jockeys because of their small size. P

Both men and women can compete in the archery competition. P

The men shoot from 75 meters and the women from 60 meters. P

In teams of 10, competitors aim at small leather targets that are stacked up together. P

The winning team is the one with the most combined number of hits, P

and each person on it earns the title of "national marksman" or "national markswoman." P

The highlight of the Naadam Festival is the wrestling competition. Only men are allowed to compete. P

At the start of the competition, the field is full of 512 men. P

There are no weight classes as in other forms of wrestling, so smaller wrestlers must sometimes compete against men who are much larger. P

The objective is to push one's opponent off balance. P

Whenever any part of a fighter's body touches the ground, the match ends and the winner goes on to the next round. P

Wrestlers with five wins are called "falcons," and after seven wins they are known as "elephants." P

The matches continue until there are only two men left. P

The winner of the entire tournament is declared a "lion." P

As Mongolia becomes more modern, people are forgetting about their traditions. P

However, Naadam remains important to all Mongolians because it reminds them of the skills of the great warriors of the past. P

Lesson 9-46

A broken mirror will bring you seven years of bad luck, but a four-leaf clover will bring you good luck. P

Do you believe these to be true? Such unusual beliefs about luck are called superstitions. P

Although superstitions may seem silly, some continue to influence our behavior. P

Many superstitions about bad luck exist. P

Some people believe that a black cat brings bad luck. P

This superstition started in Europe during the Middle Ages. P

In those days, people thought witches could turn themselves into black cats and wander around causing trouble at night. P

People were very scared of witches, so they always tried to avoid black cats. P

Broken mirrors are also considered to be unlucky. P

In the old days, people thought that the image in a mirror was their soul. P

Therefore, breaking a mirror was harmful to the soul and brought seven years of bad luck. P

Fortunately, however, there are also many superstitions about good luck. P

One of these is the practice of crossing your fingers. P

A long time ago, people thought that good spirits lived at the point where two lines crossed. P

Therefore, it was believed that making a cross with your fingers would help make a wish come true. P

A four-leaf clover is also a famous symbol of good luck. P

Long ago, people believed that this kind of clover could protect humans from evil spells. P

According to one story, Napoleon Bonaparte once found a four-leaf clover and bent down to pick it. P

At that exact moment, a bullet just missed his head. P

After that, finding a four-leaf clover was considered to bring good luck. P

Even in our modern scientific age, many people still believe in superstitions. P

Most of us still fear breaking a mirror or cross our fingers to bring good luck. P

Such superstitions are part of our culture and are interesting reminders of our history. P

Lesson 9-47

The Rubik's Cube is well known for its difficulty, and trying to solve it can be both enjoyable and frustrating. P

This famous toy has a puzzling history, partly because it wasn't made to be a toy at first. P

The following events helped it become the popular toy that it is today. P

It started in 1974, when Hungarian architect Erno Rubik wanted to show how blocks could move in the form of a cube. P

He marked each side with different colors and moved the blocks around. P

Surprisingly, he couldn't get the colors back to their original positions again. P

After trying for about a month, he finally found a solution and realized the cube's potential as a toy puzzle. P

By 1977, it was being sold in toy stores across Budapest under the name "Magic Cube." P

The toy had many stops on its way to becoming a worldwide hit. P

First, businessman Tibor Laczi was fascinated by the sight of the cube and asked Rubik for permission to sell it overseas. P

Then in 1979, Laczi took it to a toy fair in Germany. P

There he met toy specialist Tom Kremer, who was equally amazed by the toy puzzle. P

Later, Kremer set up a deal for a toy company to sell it internationally. P

With its global debut in 1980, the toy was newly renamed "the Rubik's Cube." P

The Rubik's Cube was a great hit during the 1980s. P

What's more, the first ever "speed cubing" event was held in 1982. P

It was a competition in which participants tried to solve the cube in the shortest time. P

These competitions attracted lots of fans and helped maintain the toy's popularity. P

Over 350 million Rubik's Cubes have been sold to date, making it the best-selling toy in history. P

Amazingly, about one in seven people have played with a Rubik's Cube. P

With its challenge and enjoyment, this toy will surely continue to attract generations to come. P

Lesson 9-48

There once lived two brothers, one very rich and the other so poor he could not feed his family. P

One day, the poor man went to ask his brother for some food. P

But his greedy, rich brother only gave him a cow's hoof. P

On his way home, the poor brother met a goblin. P

The goblin had not eaten meat in 30 years and offered the poor man his most valuable possession for the hoof. P

The man had heard that goblins have lots of treasure, so he agreed. P

Expecting gold or jewels, he was surprised when the goblin took out an old millstone. P

But the goblin told him that it was a magic millstone that could make whatever he desired. P

He only had to touch it and say "Grind, my millstone." P

To make it stop, he just had to say, "Enough, my millstone!" P

When the poor man got back home, he took the millstone and said, "Grind, my millstone. P

Make us some food!" The millstone started grinding all sorts of wonderful food. P

It wasn't long before the rich brother heard that his poor brother had gotten rich. P

After he saw the millstone making whatever they wanted, he begged his brother to sell it to him. P

Eventually, the poor man agreed to lend it to him for a day. P

He told his brother how to start the millstone, but before he could explain how to stop it, the rich man hurried away. P

The next morning, the rich brother took the millstone out in a boat. P

On the ocean, he saw fishermen salting their fish. P

He realized he could grind salt and sell it to them. P

He touched the millstone and said, "Grind, my millstone. P

Give me some salt!" Salt began pouring from it. Very soon, the boat started filling up. P

The greedy man yelled, "Stop!" but he didn't know the exact words to stop the millstone. P

Not long after, the boat sank to the bottom of the sea. P

They say the stone is still turning, and that is why seawater is salty! P

Lesson 9-49

Anyone who has watched puppies and kittens knows how they love to play. P

In fact, playful behavior appears among the young of many wild animals. P

While it might look like it is simply for fun, playing is actually a matter of life and death. P

It gives young animals the chance to practice skills that they need to survive. P

Since they all need different survival skills, they play in different ways. P

To begin with, there are noticeable differences between the play behavior of predators and prey. P

For instance, the play of young predators like lion cubs looks like fighting since it includes attacking the tails of adult lions. P

The cubs bite the tails and shake their heads violently back and forth. P

In contrast, young deer run about wildly, jumping and twisting in the air. P

Both types of young animals are practicing essential survival skills. P

When young predators play in this way, P

they are practicing skills like biting and chasing that they will one day need to hunt and kill prey. P

However, by learning to run and make sudden leaps, young prey animals are improving their ability to run away. P

Making such movements will later help them to escape from predators and reach safety. P

In addition, there are strong differences between the play behavior of young males and young females in many species. P

Males often play more aggressively. Japanese macaque monkeys display this difference. P

While the young females play gently and clean each other, the young males mostly wrestle, jump from tree to tree, and chase each other. P

That is because as adults they will need to defend their areas and compete with each other for mates. P

In this way, playing can help both male and female young animals adapt to their social roles and survive as adults. P

Considering that every animal in an area is competing against every other animal, surviving can be difficult. P

That is why playing to learn survival skills is so important. P

By playing, young animals learn how to react in different situations and, ultimately, stay alive. P

Lesson 9-50

Have you ever seen an otter or a beaver? If you have, they may have seemed quite similar at first glance. P

But if you take a closer look, you can see the many differences between these two unique animals. P

Otters and beavers both have thick, waterproof fur and webbed feet, but there are also some physical differences between them. P

Otters have sharp teeth for biting and holding onto prey. P

Beavers, on the other hand, have large front teeth that are used to cut down trees. P

Also, otters have long, thin tails like cats, whereas beavers have wide, flat tails shaped like paddles. P

Furthermore, otters have slim bodies, while beavers have bodies that are round and heavy. P

Both otters and beavers are mammals that live in and around water, but they have different diets and live in different types of homes. P

Otters catch fish and crabs for food, while beavers get their food mostly by gathering roots, leaves, and bark. P

Otters usually live in burrows that they dig near streams. P

In contrast, beavers build dams to create small ponds. P

Then they construct their homes out of branches and mud in the middle of these ponds. P

Otters and beavers are excellent swimmers capable of staying underwater for several minutes at a time. P

Both swim with their ears and noses closed and use clear eyelids that they can see through. P

They also share the tendency to sleep during the day and move around at night, P

and both animals communicate by barking, hissing, and growling. P

Otters use these sounds to warn others of danger, but beavers send warnings by slapping their tails on the water. P

Despite their similarities, otters and beavers are not related to each other. P

They are simply two different animals that have adapted to their environments in similar ways. P

Lesson 9-51

Pyramids are some of the most interesting and mysterious structures that ancient cultures left us. P

A few of the largest can be found in Egypt and Mexico. P

The ancient Aztec and Egyptian cultures in these places put a lot of effort into building pyramids, P

but they did it for very different purposes. P

Both the Aztec and Egyptian pyramids are considered marvels of human construction because they were very difficult to build. P

They were made of huge, heavy, limestone blocks that had to be lifted and carried without modern technology. P

All of this took years of careful planning and the work of thousands of laborers, engineers, and artisans of both cultures. P

The Egyptians built four-sided pyramids with pointed tops to help the spirits of their god-kings, the pharaohs, live in peace forever. P

To make this happen, they preserved the pharaoh as a mummy and put him in a small room. P

It was filled with things the pharaoh needed in the afterlife, like clothing, furniture, gold, and jewelry. P

The pyramid also contained narrow passages leading to dead ends and empty rooms. P

The most likely explanation for these is that the builders wanted to confuse thieves that broke into the pyramid. P

Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, the Aztec pyramids in Mexico were built with stairs leading up to flat tops. P

Aztec priests performed special religious ceremonies on them in front of large crowds. P

They would offer animal and human sacrifices to the gods P

because the Aztecs believed that their gods needed blood to survive and maintain the world. P

If these rituals were not performed, the balance of the world would be upset, causing the Aztecs' crops to die and the world to end. P

Although the ancient Egyptian and Aztec pyramids had very different purposes, they are both incredible structures. P

It's no wonder that they are still some of the greatest monuments in Egypt and Mexico. P

Lesson 9-52

We docked in Naples last Wednesday. I wish you could be here with me. P

You would absolutely love Italy. P

Randolph and I have already started our work in Pompeii with Prof. Valeria. P

It's such an honor to be learning from such a brilliant archaeologist. P

Yesterday, we began excavating a large room near the center of the dig site. P

The whole area was filled with thick, hardened gray ash and lava. P

When Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., this ash came out of it and swept over the whole city, completely covering it. P

It's a lot of work to dig through it all. P

As we got near the floor, we noticed some strange holes in the ground. P

Sometimes, air gets trapped and forms holes in the ash and lava rocks. P

However, these holes were much larger than any other holes we'd seen before, P

so we called the professor over to have a look. P

She started talking very quickly in Italian to one of her assistants. P

After a while, they brought over some big buckets of white plaster, P

which they poured into the holes until they were completely full. P

We were told to wait a day for them to harden. P

Today, Prof. Valeria told us to clear the ash away from the hardened plaster. P

Soon, we realized that the holes had not just been air holes. P

The plaster had formed the shapes of a man and a child sleeping next to the wall. P

Prof. Valeria explained to us that the lava and ash had completely covered many people in Pompeii before hardening. P

Their bodies then either burned away in the severe heat or rotted away over a long period of time, leaving only their shapes behind. P

As you know, I've spent many years studying archaeology. P

I've dug up bones and tools, and I've discovered pottery and weapons. P

But I've never been able to see the shapes of ancient people preserved this well. P

It's an amazing experience. I wish you could come and see it for yourself. P

Lesson 9-53

The French artist Jean-Fran?ois Millet is well known for portraying peasants and scenes from rural life. P

He once wrote of his work, P

"As I have never seen anything but fields since I was born, I try to say as best I can what I saw and felt when I was at work." P

This can clearly be seen in The Angelus, a painting he completed in 1859. P

You may not recognize its title, but you have probably seen a picture of The Angelus. P

The word "Angelus" actually refers to a Catholic prayer. P

Traditionally, church bells would ring three times a day, encouraging people to stop their work and say a prayer. P

Millet said that when he worked in the fields with his family as a child, P

his grandmother always made everyone stop and say the Angelus prayer at the sound of the bells. P

It was this memory that inspired his painting. P

In The Angelus, a peasant couple is seen praying in a field at sunset. P

Their heads are bowed, and the man holds his cap in his hands while the woman's hands are clasped together. P

There is a basket of potatoes at the woman's feet, a handcart behind her, and a pitchfork stuck into the earth beside the man. P

In the distance, you can see a flock of birds and the steeple of a church. P

Overall, the image expresses a feeling of peace. P

Unfortunately for Millet, The Angelus didn't attract very much attention when he completed it. P

He ended up selling it for a small amount of money before his death. P

A decade later, though, the price of the painting started to increase considerably. P

After passing through the hands of several different owners, it was eventually owned by the state of France. P

Today, it hangs in the Mus?e d'Orsay in Paris. P

It remains one of the most famous 19th century French paintings, and it is admired by visitors from all over the world. P

Lesson 9-54

There are many dance styles, and the differences between them are often subtle, making them easily confused with one another. P

For instance, the waltz and the tango are popular dances that are similar, but they also have distinct features that make them unique. P

By comparing these dances, you can get a clear picture of which one is best for you. P

The waltz involves two dancers who usually stay in a closed position. P

This romantic dance is known for its smooth, graceful style. P

It follows music with a steady, slow-paced rhythm. P

In counts of three, the dancers repeat the rising and falling movement of stepping, sliding, and stepping again. P

Like the waltz, the tango is also a two-person dance mainly done in a closed position. P

However, this dance style is distinguished by its intense and dramatic manner. P

The dancers make quick head and foot movements according to the changes in the music. P

Tango music can become slower in places but is generally fast paced. P

When comparing the waltz and the tango to find which one suits you better, their speed is an important factor to consider. P

If you like a slow, relaxing dance, the waltz might be the right fit. P

On the other hand, if energetic music is what you love, the tango might be a better option. P

You should also take into consideration the difficulty of learning each dance P

since the waltz is easier for beginners, while the tango can be more challenging. P

Whichever dance you choose, you will have great social opportunities since both the waltz and the tango are designed to be done with a partner. P

You can go dancing and enjoy the music while showing off your best moves. P

I hope this information will help you choose a dance that fits your personality and style. P

Now there's just one question to answer: may I have this dance? P

Lesson 9-55

You may have heard the story of Peter Rabbit, the playful rabbit who dared to go into Mr. McGregor's garden. P

Managing to escape from Mr. McGregor safely, Peter Rabbit was certainly very eager to do what he wanted to do. P

So was Beatrix Potter, who wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many other stories. P

Throughout her childhood, Potter was a passionate reader who loved nature, animals, and art. P

She and her brother, Bertram, raised a collection of animals including frogs, mice, and rabbits. P

Potter spent hours observing and sketching them. P

These animals also played central roles in the fantasy world she created. P

As an adult, Potter continued her storytelling. P

She entertained her friends and family with drawings and stories she sent by mail. P

In fact, this is how Peter Rabbit was born. P

Potter first told the tale of the naughty rabbit in a letter to her former nanny, Annie Moore. P

She thought Moore's son would enjoy it. P

Moore later encouraged Potter to develop the story into a book. P

Potter worked hard to turn her hobbies of drawing and writing into a career. P

After many failed attempts, she finally found a publisher for The Tale of Peter Rabbit. P

The book was an instant hit, and the publishing house was eager to print more of Potter's work. P

She went on to publish 23 books, all of which featured animal characters and countryside settings. P

Potter's books are still as popular today as they were back then. P

Each new generation discovers the charm and wonder of her beautifully drawn characters and creative stories. P

This is all thanks to the passion she had for her work, which shines through in everything she wrote. P

Can you imagine how surprised she would be to see how much people love her work today? P

Lesson 9-56

It is rare to meet truly special people. P

There are few who are generous, humble, and make a true difference in the world. P

I once had the good fortune to meet such a person. P

About forty years ago, I was hiking in a part of the Alps not visited by many tourists. P

There was a very hot, dry wind blowing. I was getting thirsty and had run out of water. P

In the distance, I saw a tiny village and thought I could refill my water bottle there. P

But when I got closer, I found that the place was abandoned. P

The well was dry, as was the nearby stream. P

All of the houses and the small church were falling apart. P

I continued walking for hours, and there was nothing but dry grass. P

All the trees were gone, and there was no sign of life. P

Just when I was about to give up and turn back, I noticed something in the distance. P

As I approached, I realized it was a shepherd looking after his sheep. P

I asked him for some water, and he gave me some of his. P

In one hand was a long, thin stick, and in his other was a small bag. P

As we talked, the shepherd kept piercing the ground with the stick, reaching into his bag, and planting something in the hole. P

I asked him what he was doing. He told me that every day he planted 100 acorns. P

I thought it was strange. After talking a while, we headed in different ways. P

Many years later, I happened to visit the same area again. P

This time, I hardly recognized the place. P

The whole area was full of thousands of oak trees and seemed to have come back to life. P

There was even water flowing in the brook with plants on either side. P

People were living in the village. Thanks to the shepherd, life was restored. P

Lesson 9-57

Until 2006, Pluto was the ninth planet from the Sun, but not anymore! P

What happened? Did it disappear or explode? P

No, Pluto is still on the edge of our solar system, but it is no longer considered a real planet. P

In 1930, an American astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh found Pluto. P

It became the ninth planet in our solar system, but there were doubts about it right away. P

Astronomers noticed that its small size and strange orbit made it different from the other planets. P

Their doubts grew even bigger when some objects similar to Pluto were discovered. P

In 1992, the astronomer David Jewitt discovered a band of over 1,000 objects made of rock and ice P

moving around the Sun just beyond the orbit of Neptune. P

They became known as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), and some even had sizes and orbits that were similar to Pluto's. P

Then in 2005, a new object was discovered farther out than Pluto. P

It was called Eris, and astronomers found out that this object is actually made of the same rock-and-ice mixture as Pluto. P

In addition, it is actually larger and 27 percent more massive. P

All these discoveries made astronomers question whether Pluto is a planet or not. P

To solve this problem, they held a conference. P

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) came up with three standards that an object must meet in order to be called a planet. P

First, it must orbit around the Sun. Second, it must be round or nearly round. P

And third, there must be no objects with similar sizes and characteristics in its orbit. P

Pluto only meets the first two standards, P

so the astronomers made a new term, "dwarf planet," for Pluto and other objects of its kind. P

The IAU's decision to call Pluto a dwarf planet remains an issue. P

However, future discoveries may help settle this argument once and for all. P

Until then, Pluto will remain a fascinating topic of study, regardless of its official status. P

Lesson 9-58

Imagine people living in an entire world contained inside a large structure. P

But it's not the future, and they're not astronauts on a distant planet. P

In 1991, this actually happened in a place called Biosphere 2. P

Biosphere 2 was built in Arizona as an experiment. P

Scientists wondered how humans would survive if the Earth were destroyed. P

They thought people might be able to travel to other planets and live on them. P

However, these planets would likely have harsher environments than Earth, P

so people would have to live in special structures with their own Earth-like ecosystems. P

In order to find out if this were possible, the scientists tried building one on Earth. P

Made of glass and steel, Biosphere 2 covers nearly 140,000 square feet and contains seven different zones. P

They are a rainforest, an ocean, a desert, a marsh, a savannah, farmland, and a human habitat. P

Eight people lived inside it from 1991 to 1993, with over 3,000 plants and animals. P

These people had to survive without any help or supplies from the outside world. P

The experiment, however, did not go as planned due to some problems. P

First of all, microbes in the soil absorbed more oxygen than expected. P

Consequently, there was less oxygen for the people to breathe. P

This caused them to have fatigue, sleeplessness, and breathing difficulties. P

Another problem was caused by carbon dioxide. P

Due to its high level in the air, certain plants that were intended to absorb it grew incredibly fast P

and began to take over the farmland made for growing food crops. P

As a result, there was a food shortage. P

Also, because Biosphere 2's climate was warm, P

unwanted insects such as ants and cockroaches thrived, while beneficial ones such as bees quickly died out. P

Many plant species couldn't reproduce without the help of these insects, so they eventually died out as well. P

Despite the challenges, Biosphere 2 taught us many things. P

Most importantly, it taught us that living without the Earth's ecosystem would be very difficult. P

That should remind everyone how important it is to protect our home planet. P

Lesson 9-59

Despite being the most powerful predators in the Arctic, polar bears are facing a great danger. P

As rising temperatures cause ice to melt, they are losing their homes. P

But they are not the only living things endangered by climate change. P

In fact, the Earth's entire ecosystem is at risk. P

Alaskan forests, for example, have an insect called the bark beetle. P

Its reproduction cycle usually takes two years, P

but higher temperatures can shorten it, allowing the bark beetle to reproduce more quickly. P

As summers have gotten warmer and warmer, the bark beetle population has increased sharply. P

As a result, millions of acres of trees in Alaska have been destroyed by bark beetles. P

Sea turtles are also being threatened. P

These ocean creatures lay their eggs on beaches, P

but ocean levels are rising because warmer temperatures are melting the polar ice. P

Consequently, many beaches are shrinking, making it difficult for sea turtles to find a place for their nests. P

Rising temperatures also have a more direct influence on sea turtles. P

As it becomes warmer, more females and fewer males are born, resulting in unbalanced numbers of the sexes. P

This is because a nest's temperature determines the sex of its baby sea turtles. P

These problems could soon lead to a serious drop in the sea turtle population. P

Finally, climate change is killing coral. P

Coral provides a home for algae, which is a mass of plant-like organisms that give it its bright colors. P

This algae shares the food it produces with the coral. P

But when water temperatures rise, the coral becomes stressed, so it rejects the algae. P

This causes the coral to turn white and die since it no longer has enough food to survive. P

Then its death endangers the many creatures that depend on it. P

Humans are also a part of the Earth's ecosystem. P

To protect not only animal species but also ourselves, we must make a greater effort to slow climate change. P

Lesson 9-60

I am a resident of New City and have lived here for my entire life. P

New City is a great place to live, but there is one problem that needs to be fixed. P

Because the city is so crowded, there is little room for parks and gardens. P

To deal with this issue, I'd like to propose an innovative solution. P

To be a better place to live in, New City should create green roofs. P

Green roofs are rooftops where people can grow grass, flowers, vegetables, and even trees. P

Here are some of their benefits. First of all, green roofs help people. P

They give residents a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature by creating green spaces in the middle of cities. P

Their gardens can also produce fresh vegetables for people to eat. P

Above all, they are one of the most effective ways to build strong communities in a city. P

When people have a local place to gather, they have more chances to get to know their neighbors better. P

Besides, their kids can play together in a safe place. Green roofs benefit the environment as well. P

One way they do this is by reducing the amount of energy used in their buildings. P

They absorb the heat of the sun in summer and keep heat from escaping in winter. P

Their plants also help keep the air clean by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. P

Finally, green roofs provide a safe, clean home for the birds, insects, and other animals that live in cities. P

Since this will strengthen the local ecosystems in the long run, P

it is one of the most important reasons why we need green roofs. P

These are the reasons why I think the city council should build lots of green roofs in New City. P

This project is the easiest way to help the environment and make people happier in our city. P

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope you seriously consider my suggestion. P