FIRST A, B, C

INVISIBLE HELMET FOR CICLISTS INVENTED

Two Swedish design students have invented a totally new kind of bicycle helmet. People are saying it's invisible because you cannot see it on a cyclist's head. The "invisible" helmet is really a kind of airbag. It is inside a large collar. People wear it around their neck like a scarf. When the cyclist falls off his/her bike, the collar quickly fills with gas and an airbag surrounds the head. The two students, Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin, wanted to change the way people cycle. They said: "Bicycle helmets have always been the same. They're so bulky, like a hard mushroom on your head." They called their new invention the Hövding. The pair said it looks so fashionable that "people would be happy to wear it".

The inventors started research and development on the Hövding in 2005. They examined thousands of cycling accidents. They wanted to find out how to make the safest helmet. They then teamed up with a Swedish airbag company called Alva. Today, the Hövding company has a staff of 17 employees. They hope their helmet will change how people all over the world cycle. In their video, Haupt and Alstin said: "Cars are so yesterday. Bikes are the future." They also said their invention would make them millionaires. People can only buy the Hövding helmet online in Europe. It sells for around $530. The company did not say when it would be available in the rest of the world.

ACTIVITIES

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

a.	The two inventors of the helmet are from Norway.	T / F
b.	The helmet is really a collar with an airbag inside it.	T / F
c.	When a cyclist falls off his/her bike, he/she quickly fills with air.	T / F
d.	The new helmet was designed to look like a bulky mushroom.	T / F
e.	The inventors started work on their helmet more than five years ago.	T / F
f.	The two women teamed up with a cycling goods company.	T / F
g.	The women believe they will become millionaires from their helmet.	T / F
h.	People in Europe can buy the helmet today, but not those in the USA.	T / F

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

1.	invented	a.	collaborated
2	quickly	b.	big
3.	surrounds	c.	on sale
4.	bulky	d.	created
5.	fashionable	e.	workers
6.	examined	f.	stylish
7.	teamed up	g.	speedily
8.	employees	h.	looked at
9.	buy	i.	encircles
10.	available	j.	purchase

Read more: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1311/131114-hovding.html#ixzz2klD0ihag

SECOND C, D, F

FACEBOOK SELFIES CAN HARM RELATIONSHIPS

A study from the U.K. indicates that people who post too many "selfies" (photos of themselves) on Facebook and similar social networks risk damaging their real-life relationships. Wikipedia says a selfie is "a genre of self-portrait photograph…typically taken either with a camera held at arm's length or in a mirror." The report, from Birmingham University, analysed the impact of these photos on the relationships of 508 participants. The study found that excessive photo sharing and sharing certain types of photos makes almost everyone like you less. Head researcher Dr David Houghton said: "People, other than very close friends and relatives, don't seem to relate well to those who constantly share photos of themselves."

Wikipedia explains the rise in popularity of selfies. It says: "In December 2012, Time magazine noted that selfie was among its top 10 buzzwords of 2012." Celebrities such as singers Rihanna and Justin Bieber are famous for uploading hundreds of pics of themselves. Many people who post selfies will be surprised, perhaps shocked, by the Birmingham research. Wikipedia explains: "The appeal of selfies comes from…the control they give self-photographers over how they present themselves. Many selfies are intended to present a flattering image of the person, especially to friends whom the photographer expects to be supportive. The research may suggest the exact opposite is true.

ACTIVITIES

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

a.	An American study looked at the phenomena of selfies posted online.	T / F
b.	A study says posting selfies on Facebook does no harm.	T / F
c.	Researchers looked at the relationships of 508 people.	T / F
d.	The study suggested close friends are OK with looking at selfies.	T / F
e.	"Selfie" was Time magazine's word of the year in 2012.	T / F
f.	The research won't surprise people who upload lots of selfies.	T / F
g.	People like selfies because they can control how they look in the photo.	T / F
h.	People think others will like the photos of themselves they upload.	T / F

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

1.	study	a.	attraction
2	risk	b.	too much
3.	genre	c.	always
4.	excessive	d.	meant
5.	constantly	e.	jeopardize
6.	rise	f.	report
7.	appeal	g.	encouraging
8.	intended	h.	complimentary
9.	flattering	i.	category
10.	supportive	j.	increase

Read more: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1308/130818-selfies.html#ixzz2klC3fN1b

SONG SECOND AND FIRST

YOU´RE BEAUTIFUL

S E C O N D R E A D I N G

SCIENTISTS FIND GENE THAT ERASES MEMORIES

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the gene that could
help people forget traumatic experiences. They say the research could benefit people with painful
memories. Soldiers, crime victims and people who survived natural disasters are some of the
people this research could help. Many of these people suffer from very bad stress because
of their memories. It is an illness called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The scientists
found the memory gene in mice. They hope that one day they can erase painful memories
in humans. They think they can replace upsetting memories with more positive thoughts and
feelings. This would help millions of people who suffer from PTSD.

The head researcher, Li-Huei Tsai, did many tests to make mice forget their fear. Scientists
 put the mice into a cage and gave them a small electric shock. After many shocks, the 
mice became afraid of the cage. They were stressed when they saw it. Once the mice had 
"cage shock," the scientists put the mice in the cage again but didn't give them an electric
shock. After a period of time, the mice no longer feared the cage. Positive feelings 
replaced their stress and fear. The scientists looked at the brain activity when the mice 
were afraid and when they were not afraid. They were surprised to find the gene that
replaced old memories with new ones. They will now try to find this gene in humans.

                            A C T I V I T I E S

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

a.	Scientists have found the gene in human brains to erase memories.	T / F
b.	Scientists say their research could help people who are very stressed.	T / F
c.	Many people suffer from an illness called PDST.	T / F
d.	Scientists think they can replace bad memories with good ones.	T / F
e.	Researchers gave mice electric shocks to make them afraid.	T / F
f.	Mice became stressed about and afraid of a cage.	T / F
g.	The mice never lost their fear of the cage.	T / F
h.	Scientists said they will never find the gene in human brains.	T / F

 READ MORE 
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1309/130925-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html