The time goes so fast.
I could not believe that we finished the course. Anyway, I learned many things this quarter, including writing and reading skills.
Thus, I wish everyone a great break. Hope that everyone in my class can graduate ESL program as soon as possible next quarters.
If you want to add my blog, please visit at http://360.yahoo.com/quynhchi0907
(You can use English there)
Did dams play a role in China's deadly quake?
Author: Barbara Demick
Date: 05/30/2008. (Seattle Times-Nation and World)
Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004447106_chinadams30.html
SUMMARY:
The earthquake May 12 as a huge disaster made people think about more cautious approach. China has many dams; at the present, so many near the epicenter in Sichuan province has been a huge problem. After two weeks of downplaying the complication, the Water Resources Ministry has admitted 69 reservoirs and dams were on the verge of collapse, while nearly 3,000 were damaged. The threat of flash floods has forced tens of thousands of traumatized quake survivors to relocate.
China's $30 billion Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric-power project that is nearly complete. In 2003, Sichuan province's environmentalists stopped a project in Dujiangyan because it would destroy a 2,000-year-old irrigation system that is a World Heritage Site. Especially, the Zipingpu Dam, they could not block and the area's Taipingyi and Tongzhong dams also were seriously damaged. Thus, did dams crack during the quake and it is a serious threat with people.
MY OPINION:
At the present, China has a big problem with dams. I think this problem is not only in China, but also in the world, humans destroyed nature and all disaster as the revenge from nature to people. People need to have method to protect nature, also prevent floods, quake, etc…Man must conquer nature but it does not mean that man destroys nature. For best thing, man should learn experiences from all things what happened as a lesson; man and nature need to be moderate, not too drastic…our life and nature are friend!!! Do not destroy to each other…
VOCABULARY:
1/ declare (v): to state officially and publicly that something is happening or that something is true
2/ reservoir (n): a special lake where water is stored to be used by people in a city
3/ agenda (n): a list of the subjects to be discussed at a meeting
4/ unscathed (adj): not hurt by a bad or dangerous situation
5/ seismologist (n): the scientific study of earthquakes
6/ magnitude (n): how large or important something is
Title of Book: HARRY POTTER
Pages in the book 341. I am now on page 181. I read 20 pages this week.
I understand about 90% of what I read
1/ Write a final summary that tells the main ideas of this book.
The whole story mentions all things happen at Hogwarts School when Harry is the second year student. The classes are always continued normally but in fact, many attacks at Hogwarts School throughout semester made people feel so bad and they did not know the reason. Till the day, students and teachers start afraid of everything and they suspected each other to think about the culprit behind the attacks. Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to find clues by creating “Polyjuice Potion” which is the potion that able to change the appearance like the person we want to. Unluckily, at that time, Harry had injury when playing Quidditch and he had to stay at hospital wing for a long time. Colin- a student at Hogwats who very like Harry, he wanted to go there to visit Harry and he was attacked (…)
2/ If someone wants to know something about my novel, I will choose details that I think it is very interesting to tell. For example, the exciting details such as Harry and Ron drove a car to go to school on chapter 5; Harry hears murmurs on chapter 7, the Writing on the wall on chapter 9, etc. The title of this book “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, it makes people have to be excited to find what the secret is. I recommend everyone read this book; besides reading details, learning new vocabulary and writing skills from this book is also a good thing. J.K.Rowling was written Harry Potter in a magic world, so everyone, especially for children always feels curious to read continuously. Enjoy Harry Potter!!!
3/ Vocabulary
1/ to lumber (v): to move in a slow, awkward way, usually because you are heavy
2/ mayhem (n): an extremely confused situation in which people are very frightened or excited
3/ combative (adj): ready to fight or argue
4/ gesture (n): a movement of your head, arm, or hand to express your feelings
5/ flustered (adj): feeling nervous and confused
6/ comeuppance (n): a punishment or something had that happens to you that you deserve
7/ froth (n): a lot of bubbles formed on top of a liquid
8/ resplendent (adj): very beautiful in appearance, in a way that looks expensive
9/ insane (adj): completely stupid or crazy, often in a way that is dangerous
10/ to pelt (v): to attack someone by throwing a lot of things at him/her
11/ flux (n): be in (a state of) flux to be changing a lot so that you cannot be sure what will happen
Author: Jennifer Sullivan
Date: 05/05/2008. (Seattle Times-Local News)
Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004392562_coldcase05m.html
SUMMARY
Patrick Cress – 13 year-old disappeared on April 30, 1983 and Patrick Cress’ remains were found in a watery ditch near Totem Lake on May 18, 1983. His slaying was unsolved. Dick Cress-Patrick’s father, he hopes to find clues from Patrick’s friends in the swap stories about work, family after 20 years since graduating from Juanita High School this summer.
Patrick stayed at his friend’s house on April 29, 1983. The couples were supposed to meet Patrick at a Safeway store in Juanita and he was never showed up. After Patrick was dead, his father suffered emotionally, struggled to pay bills and lost his job. He hired private investigators but he didn’t have any clues.
But Mellis, the third investigator to be assigned Patrick's case said an important thing that other teens who lived in the neighborhood talked about his being killed before his body had been found. He’s hopefully to find suspects.
MY OPINION
It was very horrible when a boy 13 years old was killed. Although I am not in the same case with his family, I regret him. At that time, He was just a kid and too young. He also had many chance in this life but he could not do anything because of death. Furthermore, his parents were so upset since he was dead. I think that his parents confronted crisis emotionally too much. His mother died in 1993 without ever knowing who killed their son. Till now, His father always wants to know why his son died.
I wonder why this life has many sad stories like that. They are innocent but they have to confront and endure many unlucky things.
I hope that Patrick’s father can find clues soon! He will receive helps from a lot of people. Moreover, I also wish this world will not exist sad stories like Patrick’s case.
VOCABULARY
1/ ditch (n): a long narrow hole in the ground for water to flow through, usually at the side of a field, road, etc
2/ sheriff (n): a chief police officer in a county who is elected
3/ cusp (n): on/at the cusp at the time when a situation or state is going to change
4/ trauma (n): a state of extreme shock that is caused by a very bad or frightening experience, or the experience itself
5/ resemble (v): to look like, or be similar to, someone or something
6/ hefty (adj): big, heavy, or strong
7/ feminine (adj): having qualities that are considered to be typical of women
