3 DE OCTUBRE 2011

TEXT 1

Legal move to ban iPods from streets

Inglés

The modern condition of "iPod oblivion", which reduces people with little white headphones stuffed into their ears to a zombie-like state, could become an offence in New York.

Alarmed by a surge of deaths in the city caused by iPod wearers inadvertently stepping into oncoming traffic, a New York senator is introducing legislation this week that would make it an offence, punishable by a€100 fine, to use any electronic device while crossing a street.

Cark Kruger, a senator for Brooklyn, wants the ban proposed in his "distracted walking" bill to be extended to mobile phones, handheld emailing devices such as Blackberries and video games.

So far, the legislation is only proposed for larger cities in the state, including New York City. The offence, which would apply to walking, jogging and cycling would involve a criminal court summons. The offenders would have to appear in court to pay the fine rather than simply posting it.

Mr Kruger said he knew of three iPod-related traffic deaths in Manhattan and Brooklyn since September. He added: "We have a major public safety crisis. If you're so involved in your electronic device that you can't see or hear a car coming, this is indicative of a larger problem that requires some sort of enforcement beyond the application of common sense," He urged iPod users to limit their activities to parks.

(Adapted from 7he Daily Telegraph, 9 February 2007)

A) Answer these questions from the text in your own words. (No points will be given for answers copied from the text.) 1. What is this New York Senator's proposal? 2. What is the punishment he proposes?

3. Why does the Senator think this measure is necessary?

B) Explain the meaning of the following words or expressions from the text.

1, offence 2, ban 3. so far

C) Composition:

Write a 120 word composition on the following topic: How do electronic devices affect your daily life? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of modern electronic devices. Legal move to ban iPods from streets

The modern condition of "iPod oblivion", which reduces people with little white headphones stuffed into their ears to a zombie-like state, could become an offence in New York.

Alarmed by a surge of deaths in the city caused by iPod wearers inadvertently stepping into oncoming traffic, a New York senator is introducing legislation this week that would make it an offence, punishable by a€100 fine, to use any electronic device while crossing a street.

Cark Kruger, a senator for Brooklyn, wants the ban proposed in his "distracted walking" bill to be extended to mobile phones, handheld emailing devices such as Blackberries and video games.

So far, the legislation is only proposed for larger cities in the state, including New York City. The offence, which would apply to walking, jogging and cycling would involve a criminal court summons. The offenders would have to appear in court to pay the fine rather than simply posting it.

Mr Kruger said he knew of three iPod-related traffic deaths in Manhattan and Brooklyn since September. He added: "We have a major public safety crisis. If you're so involved in your electronic device that you can't see or hear a car coming, this is indicative of a larger problem that requires some sort of enforcement beyond the application of common sense," He urged iPod users to limit their activities to parks.

(Adapted from 7he Daily Telegraph, 9 February 2007)

A) Answer these questions from the text in your own words. (No points will be given for answers copied from the text.) 1. What is this New York Senator's proposal? 2. What is the punishment he proposes?

3. Why does the Senator think this measure is necessary?

B) Explain the meaning of the following words or expressions from the text.

1, offence 2, ban 3. so far

C) Composition:

Write a 120 word composition on the following topic: How do electronic devices affect your daily life? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of modern electronic devices.

TEXT 2

Youngsters weighing in

A British born "armour-plated'' rhino calf and a 170-pound baby elephant took their first steps in public at Whipsade Zoo yesterday.

The zoo officially welcomed its latest arrivals, an endangered Asían rhino and an Asían elephant calf, both born last month to parents at the Bedfordshire park.

Neither of the newly-arrived females have yet been named. The rhino calf was bom early on New Year's Eve 2006 to mother Behan, while the elephant calf arrived late on 19 January to mum Kaylee.

The new addition is Kaylee's second. The Asían one-horned rhino calf, with her distinctive "armour-plated" skin, is the first such rhino to have been born at Whipsnade for 17 years.

Senior curator John Ellis said: "We are delighted with the birth of our Asían rhino calf, and because it is Behan's tirst calf, it represents a new bloodline and is a very important addition to the European Endangered Species Programme. "The safe birth of the Asían elephant calf is a tribute to the keeping staff at the elephant house. The females calf represents another important addition to our herd of these endangered and beautifiil animals."

A) Answer these questions from the text in your own words. (No points will be given for answers copied from the text.)

1. What name did thcy givc to the animals? 2. How many "armour-plated" rhinos have been born at Whipsade until now? 3. How does John Ellis feel? Why?

B) Explain the meaning of the following words or expressions from the text.

1. took their first steps 2. endangered 3. keeping staff

C) Composition:

Write a 120-word composition on the following topic: What species are endangered in your country and why? What would you do to solve the problem?