Out with the Old, In with the New Year by Levi King

"Three, two, one, Happy New Year!" Most people are familiar with the dropping of the ball of lights in New York City, along with the famous fireworks displays in Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Taipei. But here are a few lesser-known New Year''s Day traditions from around the globe.
In Japan, people send postcards to friends and family. They also fly kites, play games, and read poetry. Some traditions related to Chinese New Year are banging gongs to drive away bad luck and spirits and giving money to children on January 1.
In Spanish-speaking countries around the world, wearing red underwear on New Year''s Day is thought to bring good luck in love. In Ecuador, people burn dummies stuffed with paper and firecrackers to symbolize the death of the old year. In Spain and Mexico, people eat 12 grapes to ensure 12 lucky months.
In Scotland, home of the famous New Year song, "Auld Lang Syne," people bring gifts to neighbors just after midnight. In Denmark, people smash old plates to attract new friends. Dutch people believe that doughnuts are good luck because their ring shape symbolizes a complete year.
Around the world, it''s common practice to give a loved one a kiss at midnight on New Year''s Day. People of many countries also make resolutions, believing that the new year is a good time to leave bad habits behind. Common resolutions include dieting, exercising, or quitting smoking. Throw a party, watch some fireworks, eat a special food, or make a resolution. No matter where you are, there are plenty of great ways to welcome the New Year.

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1. There are different different New Year's Dat traditions from each other countries. In Japen, they send postcards to everyone; in Spanish-speaking countries around the world, they consider that you wear red underwears so that you can meet your soul mate, and so on. It is common that you kiss the person you love at midnight on New Year's day. At the same time, people also make resolutions, believing that it does work.

2.
A. gong
spirit
dummy
Auld Lang Syne
B. be familiar with
along with
be related to
make resolutions
leave ... behind
be derived from

3. I am happy to talk about New Year's Day. Not only how important the festival in Taiwan but also how do we pass the festival. We often take lucky money and set off fireworks. I think it is the most brilliant day when I was a child. Needless to day, my mom will prepare kinds of food to celebrate the special day. For example, because we want to be lucky next year, we often eat fish. Because of the pronunciation.

A Kiss Isn''t Just a Kiss by Marcus Maurice

Kissing is one of human beings'' most frequently misunderstood acts. Particularly when people from different cultures meet, this common action can cause some major embarrassment if done incorrectly. This is because kissing can display levels of respect or emotion that vary from culture to culture.
Kissing is thought to have started when parents chewed up food and then fed the soft remains to a baby or small child. Anthropologists believe that this happened in every culture before baby foods became common in the marketplace.
Kissing friends and family members is called a social kiss and it has many variations. Many adults give a smooch to loved ones, but depending on culture or family, it can be on the lips or on the cheek. In some groups, one or a pair of kisses are given on the cheek as a friendly greeting and may even be shared by those who have just met.
A ceremonial kiss is more formal, and popular in European countries. When leaders of countries or other higher-ups meet, they give a quick peck on both cheeks. This kiss symbolizes the goodwill between the two parties the people are representing. Furthermore, a kiss can be the ultimate expression of romance. Kissing someone we love can be a thrilling way to show our affection. Native Americans believed that exhaling breath into another person would help combine their souls.
Whether social, ceremonial, or romantic, kisses arose people''s desire to join together. The kiss is one of the most popular social practices in the world today. It is safe to say that almost all adults have felt the soft touch of a pair of lips on their own.

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1.
Kissing is a most frequently misunderstood acts because in the different country it means another meanings. In general, kissing often are disigned to show your friendly actions. We think kissing is started by parents who chewed up food to baby or small child. Kissing your friends and family members is a social actions, and kissing also can stand for love.

2.
a.
anthropologist n. 人類學家
smooch n. 親吻
ceremonial a. 禮儀（上）的
b.
vary from...to...　　從……到……有所不同
misunderstand vt. 誤會
share vt. 分享
It is safe to say + that 子句　　說……準不會錯，可以肯定地說……

3.
I choose this artical because we are in a conservative society. So it is too difficult to us to understand why some people will kiss each other when they meet in first sight. I want to let more people realize kissing is a social act, so if a guy want to give you a smooch on the cheek, don't be shame. They have no bed intention, they just show they are friendly. Maybe after people read the artical, they can more active to show their good intentions.

20071108

The "Mozart Effect" ― Fact or Fiction?　by Levi King

Recently, the idea that listening to classical music can increase intelligence, especially in babies, has caught the attention of the media, researchers, and parents around the globe. In the early 1990s, researchers from France and the US published articles that said listening to Mozart for 10 minutes temporarily improved performance on IQ tests and challenging tasks. As a result, the media quickly began reporting on the "Mozart effect."
In 1997, Don Campbell patented the term and published a book about this interesting phenomenon. Campbell claimed that classical music could improve health and memory, counteract mental and physical disorders, and reduce stress and depression. He soon followed with The Mozart Effect for Children, as well as CDs and products for parents of young children. Today, a wide selection of similar products is available, including Baby Mozart and Baby Bach, two bestselling DVDs in the popular Baby Einstein series. There are even music players specially designed for expectant mothers to wear on their tummies. This way, babies can listen to classical music before they''re even born.
However, there is some doubt surrounding the Mozart effect. Parents question whether it is a proven reality or just a fad designed to make money. Frances H. Rauscher, a psychologist and author of one of the original studies, is skeptical. Much of the original research pointed to temporary improvements on specific tasks. She believes these findings have been incorrectly portrayed as a general increase in intelligence. "I don''t think it can hurt," Rauscher said. Yet she added that parents may still want to think twice before spending a fortune trying to make a genius out of their baby.

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1.
In 1997, Don Campbell claimed that classical music benefits people's health and memory, counteract mental and physical disorder, and reduce stress and depression. He specially emphasize that the classical music can increase the babies's intelligence. Some people agree the point, but the other are not.

2.
a.
skeptical
temprarily
b.
conteract
follow with
point to
think twice
bestselling
incorrectly
inspire

3.
Accroding to the artical, we can think the possibility of the point. Can the classical music actually inspire the intelligence? How can you prove that it is not an idea to attract more people to but their products? If it is true, it means we just can use the classical music to let our babies be smrter?

20071026

The Lost Civilization of Yonaguni

Humans have been building for a long time. Structures up to 6,000 years old have been discovered that were built by ancient Egyptians, Indians, Chinese, and Mesopotamians. However, even these very old cultures recorded legends of groups that lived long before. The stories tell of places like Atlantis, Thule, and Mu that suffered terrible disasters and disappeared into the ocean. In modern times, these are commonly thought to be nothing more than folktales. However, a recent discovery is making scientists and historians think again. Off the shore of Yonaguni Island, just 125 kilometers east of Taiwan, divers discovered what appeared to be a huge building underwater. Since the first sighting in 1987, teams of scientists have been back to reexamine the site many times. The structure seems to be about the same size as the Egyptian pyramids but may be nearly 3,500 years older than those famous monuments. This would make it the oldest building on the planet. Other than Yonaguni, as many as four sites have been discovered in the waters around Taiwan that appear man-made. Nothing is known about the civilization that might have built these sites, and scientists are not sure if they are the work of ancient people. More underwater detective work will have to be done before anything is certain. However, as more is learned about these mysterious buildings, we may want to take another look at those old tales of cities vanishing beneath the waves.

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1.

This artical is talking about the civilization in ancient times. Thought we often that they merely are folktales, we have to change our cognizances right now. Because the diver find some structures in the deep water, the structures are more older than the Egyptian pyramids. Not only Yonaguni but other monuments are found. scientists are not sure whether they are the work of ancient people or not. It is worthy to explore.



2.
a.

pyramid

monument

b.

due to

embrace

tell of

discover

disaster

commonly

3.

I pick up the artical as my topic due to my hobby. I like the ancient civilization all tje time. As soon as I know the imformation about the ancient civilization on display, I am certain that I will go. When I browsed the internet, I saw the artical. I immediately decided to copy it to be the next journal. There are so kinds of monuments we had found, but we still can not figuer out how to build. For instance, we all know pyramids, and they are huge. But how can the ancient pelple use their poor knowledge and limited materials to construct the amazing building,we still can find the reason we really trust.

20071018

Small, Smart, and Strong—Ants

by Rachel Black

Man has long considered the ant to be a hardworking, well-organized creature. This social insect lives in an ordered colony that may contain millions of inhabitants. There are currently 11,880 known species of ants in the world, many of which share common characteristics. Ants have three body segments, six legs, and can lift up to 20 times their body weight. A colony of 40,000 of these creatures has the same amount of brain cells has the same amount of brain cells as a single human brain. Don't let their size fool you, though. It is believed that ant brains have the processing power of some of the computers of the early 1980s.

Like humans, ants have specific jobs to do within society. Each colony may have one or more queens whose job is to lay eggs. The sterile worker ants care for the young, hunt for food, and protect the colony from unwanted visitors. This is important because one species might attempt to steal the pupae of another species.

Most humans seem to tolerate ants. However, in 2004, fire ants made their way to Taiwan and many people were fearful of being bitten. After all, the sting of this foreign species could cause a deadly allergic reaction. Nevertheless, ants are usually harmless organisms whose constant activity should motivate us to get off the sofa and work a little harder.

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1.

The article is describing the ants. The ants are considered that they are the most hardworking insects in the word. They are so strong that they can lift up to twenty times their body weight. Like human beings, the ants are well-organized. They always do the jobs which they have to do, and they never forget what they would do. Even though we were attacked in 2004, we still believe they can inspire us to work harder.

2.

a. sterile

pupae

organism

b.

plenty of...

characteristic

attempt to

motivate sb to V

tolerate

3.

I choose the article because I am amazing what the article refers to the ants. Although the ants are so small that we often neglect them, they are so strong that they can raise the heavy things. Did you ever notice one thing that they always take a line? They are seldom chaotic. And we really learn from the little ants, I see the traffic. They have no eyes, but they are always in order. Look at us, we even can not take a line when we want to buy a ticket to watch the movie.

The ants always do their jobs well,and they will not be lazy to work. It is not like people, human beings has the nature of lazy. We often think it doesn't matter how to have a rest.But if you wewe an ant, the idea will not come to your mind in one day. That's why I admire the ants.

20071011

Body Signs




We sometimes need expensive tests to determine our state of health, but often our bodies tell us all we need to know. Growing up, we''re taught which bodily signs are causes for concern. Paying attention to these signs teaches us about what is and isn''t normal for our bodies .
The first signs we learn about are changes in the color, odor, and texture of the stuff that comes out of our bodies, such as urine, feces, and mucus. Although these things might be embarrassing to talk about, they are easily recognizable. For example, healthy mucus in our nose and throat is clear or white. Yellow or green mucus is a sign of bacterial infections. The duration of changes in our bodily functions can also provide a clue about our body''s condition. For example, diarrhea is common, with over 500 causes. But if it happens for days on end, its cause may be serious.
Not all bodily signs are that gross. The skin and eyes taking on a yellow tone can be signs of liver problems. According to Chinese medicine, pimples on one''s forehead are also signs of liver troubles.Red eyes can be a sign of conjunctivitis, also called pink eye. This infection is contagious, so being aware of its signs early benefits everyone.
Beyond illnesses, an unhealthy lifestyle can also cause certain bodily signals. A lack of calcium can result in leg cramps or insomnia. A popular myth says white spots on one''s fingernails are also signs of calcium deficiency. Actually, white spots could just mean you use your hands a lot. A mild infection or allergic reaction to nail polish might also cause white spots. Changes in your body can tell you a lot about how your diet and behavior are affecting you.
Our bodies send out many signs about their health. By learning to read our natural signs, we can decide whether we just need a few days of rest, a lifestyle change, or a trip to the doctor''s office.





by Rebecca Fratzke





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1.
Our bodies send out many signs to warn us of the health. The signs maybe are the color, odor.Many reasons can result in the signs. Beyond illness, an unhealthy lifestyle can cause certain signs.And by learning to reading the signs, we can make a decision whether we should take a day off or go to the hospital.

2.
a.
texture
gross
contagious
insomnia
b.
for example
according to
Contrary to popular myth,
provide a clue about...
take on...
cause for cancern


3.
The reason why I choose the article as my homework is that I want to let more and more people realize how to notice the signs of bodies. Probably we will save our lives by paying attention to the signs.

Actually I have another reason to explain why I choose the artical, because my father has diabetes. It happened the beginning of the year. In the beginning, he felt a little of pain. He thought it didn't matter, because he attributed to his work. He considered that he just took a rest, he would feel better. But it proved that it doesn't work. Finally, he decided to see a doctor. Thanks to go to the hospital early, it didn't become worse. Since our family came though the accident, we pay more attention to the report about health.