Week 16

1. Conversation

Do you make friends easily?

Have you made any friends over the Internet?

How often do you write to them?

Have you ever met them in person?

Can you describe one of your closest friends.

What do you usually do with your friends?

What is the longest friendship that you have had?

What factors may result in the breakdown of a good friendship?

Do you have any childhood friendships that are still strong today? Tell us about them.

Do you have any long distance friends?

How do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends?

How often do you see your long-distance friends?

Do you think it is a good idea to borrow money from a friend? Why or why not?

Has a friend ever let you down?

How are your friendships different now than they were when you were a child?

How do you maintain a good friendship?

How do you make new friends?

How many people do you consider your "best friends?"

Do you have any friends from a different generation than you? Describe one.

There is a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend."

How can you be a good friend?

What is a friend?

What is a best friend?

What makes friends different from family?

What qualities do you think are important in a friend?

What things should friends never do?

Why do you like your best friend?

What are some things you like about your best friend?

Where is a good place to meet new friends?

Where is a good place to meet a new boyfriend/girlfriend?

Do you think it is possible to have a best friend of the opposite sex without becoming a girlfriend or boyfriend?

Do you think it would be possible for you still be friends with an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?

There is a proverb that says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Do you agree?

Do you believe that there is an end to any true friendships?

Do you believe your parents should be your friends?

What do you do if you receive a friend's call but you forgot his/her name?

Friendship is the most important relationship. Do you agree? Why? Why not?

What do you like best about your best friend(s)?

What are some ways your best friend has influenced your life in a positive way?

How close do you get to your friends?

Why do you need a friend?

What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?

Do you trust all of your friends? Why?

What is the best time for making new friends?

What was your best friendship?

Are you still friends with him or her?

What life lessons did you learn from this relationship?

What qualities do you appreciate in your friends? What makes someone special or best friend?

Why are friendships important for you? Do you still maintain friendships from the past?

How long have you known your best friend? Where did you meet and what did you have in common?

What are some good opportunities to meet new people?

How can you get to better know a person?

What is the relationship between love and friendship?

Who is the most interesting person you have ever met?

Do you think famous people are happier than ordinary people? Why?

What type of people do you get along with best?

What quality do you admire most in people and which one do you find the most objectionable?

What behavior of others hurts you most? When you have upset someone by your actions, what do you try to do?

What do you consider to be your good and bad qualities?

What qualities help you to have good relationships with others?

What traits or actions make an interpersonal conflict worse?

Are relationships among people better or worse than a few years ago? Why? Give some examples.

Do you think that dysfunctional family life contributes to worsening relationships in society?

Is getting along with others a natural ability from birth or does it have to be learnt?

How important is forgiveness in human relationships?

What are friends for?

Can you be friends with your student if you are a teacher?

To what extent can you be friends with your child?

What was your best friendship? Are you still friends with him or her? What life lessons did you learn from this relationship?

Do you tell your best friend everything?

Do you have a close group of friends?

What do you usually do together

Is it easy for you to make friends?

Talk about friends you've made in this country.

Are you good friends with your family members?

Do you fight with your friends?

How often do you talk with your friends?

What is the difference between friendship and 'kinship' (blood relatives)?

Do you have different groups of friends who never meet one another?

Are you a different 'self' with each group?

Do you think these groups would get along if you

introduced them to one another?

Would you want these friends to mix, or do you get something different from each set of relationships?

There is a saying that "to lose a friend you need to start sharing a flat with him/her". Do you agree? Why/Why not?

What would you do if your best friend asked you out on a date?

Do you think you can find eternal friendships through the internet?

Speeches
Wed 10-12: 208 (do over)
3-5: 32, 10, 23, 05, 48, 51, 21, 51, 18, 36, 33, 47, 46, 25, 13, 24, 04, 07


3. lecture COOL

Week 15: income and wealth taxes

1. Friday 8-10 presentation Prehistoric Taiwan

2.
Speeches
Wed 10-12: 0744236, 231, 248, 208
3-5: 01,  03,  26 , 48

Fri 8-10: 17, 04 22, 11, 34, 23
10-12: 126, 213, 106, 135

3. Reading

Answer in your own words, with your partner. You can use a translation program to understand if you need to.

https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=649


1. According to the article, is Taiwan's government rich or poor? Why?

2. According to the article, what is the effect of cutting wealth and capital taxes on the economy?

3. According to the article, why is land such a good investment?

4. According to the article, which policies made Taiwan's government so poor?

5. According to the article, at what time did tax revenues start to fall? Why?

6. Describe the level of tax on capital gains in Taiwan.


======================

Conversation

Do you believe in ghosts?

Do you believe that dead people come back to life as ghosts?

Would you talk to a ghost?

Do you know any good stories about ghosts?

Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?

Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen a ghost?)

If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you believe him/her? Why/Why not?

What is the scariest ghost story you know?

Is there an area where you live (park, house, etc.) that is known to be haunted?

If so, what is the story or legend that makes people believe this area is haunted? Have you ever visited this place?

Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been to one?

Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them sometimes?

Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit"? If so, how?

If you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?

How do you know if a ghost is near you?

If you don't believe in ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?

If you don't believe in ghost, why don't you believe?

If you don't believe in ghost, and you actually have seen one, what were your reactions?

Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?

If you were a ghost, who or what would you haunt?

Why do people say they see ghosts even though they sometimes do not?

Do you put any faith in the modern day ghost hunters?

Can you recall any strange or unexplained events in your life?

Do you believe your ancestors are watching you?

What do you think about the images movies give us about aliens?

Would you spend the night in a place where people say that there are ghosts?

Would you spend the night in a very old uninhabited house, church school that was known to have ghosts?

Have you seen a ghost? What kind of ghost? Did you get to talk with the ghost?

Would you be scared if a ghost talked to you?

Do you think we can feel if a ghost is nearby us by the changes in the weather?

What reasons might ghosts haunt?

Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?(like a grandparent or other relative)

Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?

Do you walk under ladders?

What are some superstitions in your country?

What are some things that are considered unlucky?

What are some things that are considered lucky?

What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your country?

A four-leaf clover is often considered lucky. What are some other things which are considered lucky.

Do you have a lucky number?

What are some superstitions in the United States? Canada? Australia, England? Your country?

Have you ever gone to a psychic?

If so, what were you told?

Did you believe it?

Why do some people consult psychics before doing important things?

Do you know anyone that has ever been to a psychic?

Why do some people need fortunetellers?

How do people predict the future in your country?

Do you think that dreams come true?

Do you think that dreams can help us solve our problems?

Have you ever had a dream that come true?

Have you ever had a dream that later came true?

Do you think that some people can predict the future?

What is your blood type?

Do you believe that you can tell a lot about a person from his/her blood type?

Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?

Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, and physic powers growing because belief in religion is dying?

Do you believe in horoscopes?

Do you read your horoscope? If so, do you believe it?

What is your star sign?

Do you believe the predictions contained within your horoscope?

Are horoscopes important?

Do you read your horoscope often? Does it come true?

Does your star sign describe your personality traits well?

Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain?

Do you believe that there are many things in our universe that cannot be explained? Give examples.

Do you believe that you are from another planet?

Do you believe you have supernatural powers there?

Have you ever tried to contact another planet?

Did you succeed?

ESP

Do you believe in ESP?

How can a person know what kind of ESP abilities he/she has?

What do you think are some ways of developing these abilities?

UFOs

Do you believe that UFOs exist? / Do you believe in UFOs?

Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a UFO?

Have you ever seen a UFO?

Do you know anyone who says that they have?

If you saw a UFO but were alone and had no proof would you tell anyone? Who?

Do you think that UFOs from other planets visit Earth?

What would you do if you were taken aboard a UFO?

Do you believe there is life on other planets?

Have you ever seen an E.T.?

Do you know anyone who says that they have?

Aliens

Do you believe in aliens?

Do you think that you are an alien?

Do you think aliens are monsters?

If you saw an alien what do you would do?

Have you ever seen an alien?

Has anyone ever told you that he or she has seen an alien?

Do you believe in reincarnation?

Have you ever felt that you knew someone the first time you met them?

Have you ever visited a foreign country or city for the first time and found that you knew exactly where things were?

Have you ever looked in the mirror and 'seen' a different face?

What do you think a spirit would look like?

Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because the belief in religion is dying?

Are you afraid of spirits?

Do you believe in angels?

Do you believe in witches why or why not.

Do you believe in astrology? What is your astrological sign?

Do you believe in coincidences? Why or why not?

Do you believe in God? Why or why not?

Do you believe in life after death?

Do you believe in vampires? (Do you believe that vampires exist?)

Do you believe in zombies? (Do you believe that zombies exist?)

In many countries people believe in ghosts, spirits and dragons. Is this true in your country, and why do you think these beliefs are so common?

What is the most frightening things that has ever happened to you?

What is the most frightening experience you have had?

Have you ever been in a cemetery at night? Why? Or why not? Would you go?

Where do you think dead people go?

Do you believe that people who were bad alive pay their bad behavior by staying here?

Do you think heaven exist?

Do you think hell exist?

Do you think that spirits who appear to people are good or bad?

Have you ever been contacted an angel? What did it tell you?

Have you been involved in a miracle? What was it about?

Do you get scared by horror stories?

Do you believe that when you get a chill down your back its a rabbit running over a grave

Is belief in UFOs, Aliens, Physic powers, etc, growing because belief in religion is dying?

Do you think that a supernatural creature can be caught by someone?

Where is the scariest place in your country? Why?

Do you believe your ancestors are watching you?

What's the spookiest thing that has ever happened to you?

Do you believe in witches and the practice of witchcraft?

Week 14: presentations, quiz, conversation, reading on NBA

1. Quiz
2. Finish Presentations
3. Set up Week 15 speeches



4. Conversation


Who do you think is the most beautiful person in your country?
Who do you think is the most beautiful person alive today?
Who was the most beautiful person in history?
Who is the most attractive in your family?
Does beauty affect one's success in life?
Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent?
Is it better to be physically attractive or wealthy?
Is beauty related to power?
Can you think of anyone who is in a position of power that is not physically attractive?
Do people spend too much time and money on beauty?
How much time should be spent on making yourself look better each day?
Who would you say is beautiful that others maybe wouldn't?
Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks?
If so what is the minimum age when someone should have plastic surgery?
How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
What is the most popular feature for plastic surgery?
Do you think self-esteem affects beauty?
Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
Would you ever have plastic surgery?
If so, what would you change?
How important is beauty in your daily life?
Have you ever noticed anyone ever feeling pressured to be more beautiful?
What do you think of the proverb, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"
Do you have any proverbs or idioms from your country that relate to beauty? (think: white skin, 9....)
What are some beauty tips that you could share?
Do you think people with many tattoos can be beautiful?
How many tattoos are too many?
Would you ever get a tattoo?
Do you have a tattoo?
Do you think people with many piercings can be beautiful?
What kind of body piercing, if any, do you feel are acceptable?
What kind of piercing, if any, do you feel are unacceptable?
What personality trait is the most important for inner beauty?
How do you define beauty, using your own words?
Would you ever date someone who was not conventionally attractive?
What makes one person more attractive than another?
Do you think people from different countries than you see attractive the same way?
Is there someone famous that is considered beautiful, that you think is not beautiful?
Are beauty pageants good or bad?
Do you think one gender or group worries more about beauty than another?
Would you want your children to be beautiful or talented?
What are some of the drawbacks of being beautiful?
What do you think of celebrities who get plastic surgery?
Do you think it's necessary to have plastic surgery if you are famous in order to be successful?
Do you think skin color affects whether a person is regarded as beautiful or not?
Do you think that fairer skin makes you more beautiful?
What are some advantages of being beautiful?
What makes someone beautiful in your country?
What differs between that idea and the American idea of beauty?
What do you think "beauty is skin deep" means?

How many different adjectives can you think of to describe a beautiful woman or a handsome man

5. Reading

With...

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read

Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read

We've obtained a copy of Tim Donaghy's book, Blowing the Whistle, which claims to expose the NBA's "culture of fraud"

On his fellow referees:

Dick Bavetta

….Crawford wanted the game over quickly so he could kick back, relax, and have a beer; [Dick Bavetta] wanted it to keep going so he could hear his name on TV. He actually paid an American Airlines employee to watch all the games he worked and write down everything the TV commentators said about him. No matter how late the game was over, he'd wake her up for a full report. He loved the attention.

That very first time Jack and I bet on an NBA game, Dick was on the court. The team we picked lost the game, but it covered the large point spread and that's how we won the money. Because of who was playing that night, I had some idea of who might win the game, but that's not why I was confident enough to pick the other team. The real reason I picked the losing team was that I was just about certain they would cover the spread, no matter how badly they played. That is where Dick Bavetta comes into the picture.

From my earliest involvement with Bavetta, I learned that he likes to keep games close, and that when a team gets down by double-digit points, he helps the players save face. He accomplishes this mercy by quietly, and frequently, blowing the whistle on the team that's having the better night. Team fouls suddenly become one-sided between the contestants, and the score begins to get closer. That's the way Dick Bavetta referees a game — and everyone in the league knew it.

Fellow referee Danny Crawford attended Michael Jordan's Flight School Camp years ago and later told me that he had long conversations with other referees and NBA players about how Bavetta propped up weak teams. Danny told me that Jordan himself said that everyone in the league knew that Bavetta cheated in games and that the players and coaches just hoped he would be cheating for them on game night. Cheating? That's a very strong word to use in any sentence that includes the name Dick Bavetta. Is the conscious act of helping a team crawl back into a contest "cheating"? The religion of referees from high school to the NBA is "call them like you see them." Of course, that's a lot different than purposely calling more fouls against one team. Did Bavetta have a hidden agenda? Or was he a “company man”, making sure the NBA and its fans got a competitive game when he was on the court?

Studying under Dick Bavetta for 13 years was like getting a PhD in advanced game manipulation. He knew how to control a game better than any referee in the league. He also knew how to take hints from the NBA front office and extend a playoff series or, worse yet, change the results of that series.

The 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings presents a clear example of game and series manipulation. As the teams prepared for Game 6 at the Staples Center, Sacramento had a 3–2 lead in the series. The referees assigned to work Game 6 were Dick Bavetta, Bob Delaney, and Ted Bernhardt. As soon as the referees for the game were chosen, the rest of us knew immediately that there would be a Game 7. A long series was good for the league, good for the TV networks, and good for the game. Oh, and one more thing: it was great for the big-market, full of stars, Los Angeles Lakers.

In the pre-game meeting before Game 6, the league office told us that certain calls — calls that would have benefitted the Lakers — were being missed by the referees. This was the type of not-so-subtle information that I and other referees had to interpret. After receiving the message, Bavetta openly talked about the fact that the league wanted a Game 7.

"If we give the benefit of the calls to the team that's down in the series, nobody's going to complain. The series will be even at three each, and then the better team can win Game 7," Bavetta stated.

As history shows, Sacramento lost Game 6 in a crazy come-from-behind game that saw the Lakers repeatedly sent to the foul line by the referees. For other NBA referees watching the game on television, it was a shameful performance by Bavetta's refereeing crew, one of the most poorly refereed games of all time.

The 2002 series certainly wasn't the first or last time Bavetta influenced an important game. He also worked Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers. The Lakers were down by 13 at the start of the fourth quarter when Bavetta went to work. The Lakers outscored Portland 31–13 in the fourth quarter and went on to win the game and the series. It certainly didn't hurt the Lakers that they got to shoot 37 free throws compared to a paltry 16 for the Trail Blazers.

Two weeks before the 2003–04 season ended, Bavetta and I were assigned to referee a game in Oakland. That afternoon before the tip-off, we were discussing a game on our schedule. It was the last regular-season game we were scheduled to work, Denver against San Antonio. Denver had lost a game a few weeks prior because of a mistake made by the referees, a loss that could be the difference between them making or missing the playoffs. Bavetta told me Denver needed the win and that it would look bad for the staff and the league if the Nuggets missed the playoffs by one game. There were still a few games left on the schedule before the end of the season, and the standings could change. But on that day in Oakland, Bavetta looked at me and casually stated, "Denver will win if they need the game. That's why I'm on it."

I was thinking, How is Denver going to win on the road in San Antonio? At the time, the Spurs were arguably the best team in the league. Bavetta answered my question before it was asked.

"Duncan will be on the bench with three fouls within the first five minutes of the game," he calmly stated.

Bavetta went on to inform me that it wasn't the first time the NBA assigned him to a game for a specific purpose. He cited examples, including the 1993 playoff series when he put New Jersey guard Drazen Petrovic on the bench with quick fouls to help Cleveland beat the Nets. He also spoke openly about the 2002 Los Angeles–Sacramento series and called himself the NBA's "go-to guy."

As it turned out, Denver didn't need the win after all; they locked up a spot in the playoffs before they got to San Antonio. Instead, it was the Spurs that ended up needing the win to have the division title, and Bavetta generously helped. In our pregame meeting, he talked about how important the game was to San Antonio and how meaningless it was to Denver, and that San Antonio was going to get the benefit of the calls that night. Armed with this inside information, I called Jack Concannon before the game and told him to bet the Spurs.

To no surprise, we won big. San Antonio blew Denver out of the building that evening, winning by 26 points. When Jack called me the following morning, he expressed amazement at the way an NBA game could be manipulated. Scary, yes; amazing, no. That's how the game is played in the National Basketball Association.

Tommy Nunez

My favorite Tommy Nunez story is from the 2007 playoffs when the San Antonio Spurs were able to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Of course, what many fans didn't know was that Phoenix had someone working against them. Nunez was the referee group supervisor for that playoff series, and he definitely had an interest.

Nunez loved the Hispanic community in San Antonio and had a lot of friends there. He had been a referee for 30 years and loved to travel; in fact, he said that the whole reason he had become a referee supervisor was to get out of the house. So Nunez wanted to come back to San Antonio for the conference finals. Plus, he, like many other referees, disliked Suns owner Robert Sarver for the way he treated officials. Both of these things influenced him when he prepared the referees for the games in the staff meetings. I remember laughing with him and saying, "You would love to keep coming back here." He was pointing out everything that Phoenix was able to do without being punished and never once told us to look at San Antonio. Nunez should have a championship ring on his finger.

Derrick Stafford and Jess Kersey

Of course, Stafford had some friends in the league, too. I worked a Knicks game in Madison Square Garden with him on February 26, 2007. New York shot an astounding 39 free throws that night to Miami's eight. It seemed like Stafford was working for the Knicks, calling fouls on Miami like crazy. Isaiah Thomas was coaching the Knicks, and after New York's four-point victory, a guy from the Knicks came to our locker room looking for Stafford, who was in the shower. He told us that Thomas sent him to retrieve Stafford's home address; apparently, Stafford had asked the coach before the game for some autographed sneakers and jerseys for his kids. Suddenly, it all made sense.

Referee Jess Kersey was another one of Isaiah Thomas' guys. They'd talk openly on the phone as if they had known each other since childhood. Thomas even told Kersey that he was pushing to get Ronnie Nunn removed from the supervisor's job so that Kersey and Dick Bavetta could become supervisors. This sort of thing happened all the time, and I kept waiting for a Knicks game when Stafford, Bavetta, and Kersey were working together. It was like knowing the winning lottery numbers before the drawing!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++===========+++++++++++++++++++

From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_NBA_betting_scandal

Sports gambling expert R. J. Bell, president of sports betting information site Pregame.com, tracked every game Donaghy worked from 2003 to 2007. He discovered that during the two seasons investigated by the NBA, the teams involved scored more points than expected by the Las Vegas sports books 57 percent of the time. In the previous two seasons, this only happened 44 percent of the time. According to Bell, the odds of such a discrepancy are 1 in 1,000, and there was "a 99.9 percent chance that these results would not have happened without an outside factor." He also found 10 straight games in 2007 in which Donaghy worked the game that the point spread moved 1.5 points or more before the tip — an indication that big money had been wagered on the game. The big money won every time —another indication that "something (was) going on". However, Bell suggested that there was no way anyone who wasn't in on the fix could have known that something was amiss about Donaghy's actions during a game; he said it would have been another year at the earliest before anyone could have caught on.^[23]

Handicapper Brandon Lang told ESPN that it is fairly easy for a crooked sports official to fix a game, despite Stern's insistence that Donaghy was a "rogue official". According to Lang, an official can directly influence the outcome of a game 75 percent of the time if he has money on the game. For instance, Lang said that a crooked NBA referee can fix the total score by calling enough fouls to get both teams in the bonus. When a game is being fixed, Lang said, the officials should be the prime suspects because the players are making too much money to risk their future. Lang also believed a bookie connected to the mafia turned Donaghy in to the FBI.^[24]

As a result of the betting scandal, Stern revised the guidelines on the behavior of NBA referees during the Board of Governors' meeting in 2007. Despite the labor agreement for referees, which restricted them from participating in almost all forms of gambling, it was revealed that about half of the NBA's officials had made bets in casinos, albeit not with sportsbooks. In addition, all referees had admitted to engaging in some form of gambling. Stern stated that "[the] ban on gambling is absolute, and in my view it is too absolute, too harsh and was not particularly well-enforced over the years". The gambling rules were revised to allow referees to engage in several forms of betting—though not on sports. There were several other referee-related rule changes made: the announcement of referees of a game was moved from 90 minutes before tip-off to the morning of the game, to reduce the value of the information to gamblers; referees received more in-season training and counseling on gambling; more thorough background checks were carried out; the league declared its intention to analyze the statistical relationship between NBA games and referees' gambling patterns for those games; and the interactions between referees and NBA teams were made easier and more formal.^[25]

Week 13: Presentations (note homework!)

1. Presentations




2. Homework: pp96-105

Week 12: Land Policy & PPT prep

1. Quiz


2. Conversation

1.         Are you a happy person? How do you know you are a happy person?

2.         What is happiness for you?

3.         Do you think that happiness lies within you? Or does it depend upon other people and external things?

4.         Can money buy happiness?

5.         Is happiness a state of mind? Or is it something you feel with your body?

6.         What makes you feel happy?

7.         What are the three most important things for you to be happy?

8.         Is happiness relative, that is, does it have a different meaning for each person?

9.         Are single people happy? Or married?

10.    Would you be happier with a soul mate or single?

11.    Does having an animal/pet make you happy?

12.    What is the effect that animals/pets have on people to make them feel happy?

13.    What makes you happy?

14.    When was the happiest time of your childhood?

15.    Can you be happy if you are rich?

16.    Can you be happy if you are poor?

17.    How can you become happy again when you are sad?

18.    Is happiness a goal? Or a process?

19.    How often do you feel really happy?

20.    Are the people in your country generally very happy?

21.    What makes you unhappy?

22.    What's the most miserable you've been?

23.    How happy are you compared with your friends?

24.    Do you wake up happy every morning?

25.    Do you agree that older people are less happy?

26.    What is there to be happy about in the world today?

27.    What affects your levels of happiness?

28.    Does your happiness change during different times of the day, week, month or year?

29.    What is or was the happiest time of your life?

30.    Do you need money to be happy?

31.    What do you think of the idea of a government Happiness Minister who is responsible for the happiness of the population?

32.    Do you think some nations are happier than others?

33.    What is missing in your life that would make you very happy?

34.    Why are teenagers some of the happiest people in the world?

35.    What was the happiest time in your entire life?

36.    Do you feel that you have to work hard and be miserable now in order to be happy later?

3. speeches
wed 10-12:  247, 103, 213, 224
wed 3-5:  52, 09, 40, 12, 15, 02

Fri  8-10: nobody

4. Reading


ANSWER IN A SENTENCE OR TWO. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=18

1. What is the problem described in the article?

2. Why are so many illegal factories renting land zoned for agriculture?

3. Land use has a typical pattern of evolution, according to the article. What is it?

4. Why is there so much unused land in government industrial districts?

5. How can a tax help solve this problem?

Week 11: Popular Music

1. Conversation. Midterms will be returned to you in Week 12

• Describe a mistake or something you should not have done since being in university.
• What celebrations/festivals/events do you enjoy the most? Why?
• What's the best advice you would tell a brother/sister or friend who is now entering college?
• What's the best excuse you've heard or given for missing a class?
• How has your life changed since beginning college?
• How much note taking do you do in most of your classes?
• How often do you reread or organize your notes from a professor's lecture?
• What are some advantages in studying with sophomore/junior/senior students/friends or with older students?
• If you wanted to, when could you fit in more study time?
• What do you fear most about next semester's classes?
• What was your biggest fear before you began your freshman year of college?
• How much of the course material is covered by the professors in your classes?
• During classes, do you like working in student groups or working alone? Why?
• What are some advantages of studying alone? Disadvantages?
• What are some advantages of studying in groups? Disadvantages?
• Do you prefer to study with friends/classmates or to study alone?
• Do you have easy access to your professors outside of class?
• How often do you read ahead for your classes?
• What can/do you do if you fall behind in your classes?
• What do you plan to do during the summer vacation?
• What's your biggest motivation for your university life?
• What can you do if you don't like your roommates?
• Are the counselors at school helpful?
• What's your favorite spot on campus?
• What's your favorite way to take a 'short' break from studying at night?
• What do you miss most about your home and your hometown?
• What's your best memory? What's your worst memory?
• Are you a member of any student organization?
• What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
• If you were not attending college now, what would you be doing? Where? Why?
• What are some qualities of a good student?
• What are some qualities of a good teacher?
• How do you travel to your classes everyday?
• What advantages are there to home schooling?
• How can classes or classrooms be improved?
  • What would be the effect?
• If you became president of your university, what changes would you make? Why?
• If you became president of your university, which rule would you abolish (cancel)?
• What is the biggest difficulty in being a college student?
• Why is a college education important?
• What does a college education provide?
• How much is tuition do you pay?
• What kinds of scholarships are there for students at your school?
• What must you do to receive a college diploma?
• Where is the best place for you to study? Why?
• How many hours do you spend on homework or studying each night?
• What do you do on campus when you're not studying?
• Which class or subject is most important for your future job?
• What is your favorite class or subject? Why?
• How can a student receive a scholarship?
• How many back-to-back classes do you have?
• What is a disadvantage of back-to-back classes?
• Why are you attending college?
• After your grade point average (GPA), what is the 2nd most important thing in college?
• Do most of your professors or instructors take attendance? Why?
• How often do your professors let class out early?
• Which do you prefer more, morning or afternoon classes? Why?
• What time does your first class begin tomorrow?
• The cost of university education is becoming very expensive in many countries.
• How can we make the cost of education more affordable to the general public?

2. Reading

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/tragic-decline-music-literacy-and-quality

The Tragic Decline of Music Literacy (and Quality)

Jon Henschen | August 16, 2018

Throughout grade school and high school, I was fortunate to participate in quality music programs. Our high school had a top Illinois state jazz band; I also participated in symphonic band, which gave me a greater appreciation for classical music. It wasn’t enough to just read music. You would need to sight read, meaning you are given a difficult piece of music to play "cold", without any prior practice. Sight reading would quickly reveal how good you were. In college I continued in a jazz band and also took a music theory class. The experience gave me the ability to visualize music (If you play by ear only, you will never have that same depth of understanding music).

Both jazz and classical art forms require not only music literacy, but for the musician to be really good in technical proficiency, tonal quality, and creativity, especially in jazz. Jazz masters like John Coltrane would practice six to nine hours a day, often cutting his practice only because his lower lip would be bleeding from the friction caused by his mouth piece against his gums and teeth. His ability to compose and create new styles and directions for jazz was legendary. With few exceptions such as Wes Montgomery or Chet Baker, if you couldn’t read music, you couldn’t play jazz. In the case of classical music, if you can’t read music you can’t play in an orchestra or symphonic band. Over the last 20 years, musical foundations like reading and composing music are disappearing with the percentage of people that can read music notation proficiently down to 11 percent, according to some surveys.

Two primary sources for learning to read music are school programs and at home piano lessons. Public school music programs have been in decline since the 1980's, often with school administrations blaming budget cuts or needing to spend money on competing extracurricular programs. Prior to the 1980’s, it was common for homes to have a piano with children taking piano lessons. Even home architecture incorporated what was referred to as a “piano window” in the living room which was positioned above an upright piano to help illuminate the music. Stores dedicated to selling pianos are dwindling across the country as fewer people take up the instrument. In 1909, piano sales were at their peak when more than 364,500 were sold, but sales have plunged to between 30,000 and 40,000 annually in the US. Demand for youth sports competes with music studies, but also, fewer parents are requiring youngsters to take lessons as part of their upbringing.

Besides the decline of music literacy and participation, there has also been a decline in the quality of music which has been proven scientifically by Joan Serra, a postdoctoral scholar at the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute of the Spanish National Research Council in Barcelona. Joan and his colleagues looked at 500,000 pieces of music between 1955-2010, running songs through a complex set of algorithms examining three aspects of those songs:

1. Timbre- sound color, texture and tone quality

2. Pitch- harmonic content of the piece, including its chords, melody, and tonal arrangements

3. Loudness- volume variance adding richness and depth

The results of the study revealed that timbral variety went down over time, meaning songs are becoming more homogeneous. Translation: most pop music now sounds the same. Timbral quality peaked in the 60's and has since dropped steadily with less diversity of instruments and recording techniques. Today’s pop music is largely the same with a combination of keyboard, drum machine, and computer software greatly diminishing the creativity and originality. Pitch content has also decreased, with the number of chords and different melodies declining as musicians today are less adventurous in moving from one chord or note to another, instead following the paths of other musicians. Loudness was found to have increased by about one decibel every eight years. Music loudness has been manipulated by the use of compression. Compression boosts the volume of the quietest parts of the song so they match the loudest parts, reducing dynamic range. With everything now loud, it gives music a muddled sound, as everything has less punch and vibrancy due to compression.

In an interview, Billy Joel was asked what has made him a famous musician. He responded his ability to read and compose music made him unique in the music industry, which as he explained, was troubling for the industry when being musically literate makes you stand out. An astonishing amount of today’s popular music is written by two people: Lukasz Gottwald of the United States and Max Martin from Sweden, who are both responsible for dozens of songs in the top 100 charts. You can credit Max and Dr. Luke for most the hits of these stars:

Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Jessie J., KE$HA, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Maroon 5, Taio Cruz, Ellie Goulding, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Nick Minaj, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, Usher, Adam Lambert, Justin Bieber, Domino, Pink, Pitbull, One Direction, Flo Rida, Paris Hilton, The Veronicas, R. Kelly, Zebrahead

With only two people writing much of what we hear, is it any wonder music sounds the same, using the same effects?

Lyric Intelligence was also studied by Joan Serra over the last 10 years using several metrics such as “Flesch Kincaid Readability Index,” which reflects how difficult a piece of text is to understand and the quality of the writing. Results showed lyric intelligence has dropped by a full grade with lyrics getting shorter, tending to repeat the same words more often. Artists that write all of their own songs are very rare today. When artists like Taylor Swift claim they write their own music, it is partially true. She writes her own lyrics about her latest boyfriend breakup, but she cannot read music and lacks the ability to compose what she plays (Don’t attack me Taylor Swift Fans!).

Music electronics are another aspect of musical decline as the many untalented people we hear on the radio can’t live without autotune. Autotune artificially stretches or slurs sounds in order to get it closer to center pitch. Many of today’s pop musicians and rappers could not survive without autotune, which has become a sort of musical "training wheels". But unlike a five-year-old riding a bike, they never take the training wheels off to mature into a better musician. 

Today’s music is designed to sell, not inspire. Today’s artist is often more concerned with producing something familiar to mass audience, increasing the likelihood of commercial success (this is encouraged by music industry execs, who are notoriously risk-averse).

In the mid-1970's, most American high schools had a choir, orchestra, symphonic band, jazz band, and music appreciation classes. Many of today’s schools limit you to a music appreciation class because it is the cheapest option. D.A. Russell wrote in the Huffington Post in an article titled, “Cancelling High School Elective, Arts and Music—So Many Reasons—So Many Lies” that music, arts and electives teachers have to face the constant threat of eliminating their courses. The worst part is knowing that cancellation is almost always based on two lies by school administrators: 1) Cancellation is a funding issue (the big lie); 2) music and the arts are too expensive (the little lie).

The truth: Elective class periods have been replaced by standardized test preparation. Administrators focus primarily on protecting their positions and the school’s status by concentrating classes on passing the tests, rather than by helping teachers be freed up from micromanaging mandates so those same teachers can teach again in their classrooms, making test preparation classes unnecessary.

What can be done? First, musical literacy should be taught in our nation’s school systems. In addition, parents should encourage their children to play an instrument because it has been proven to help in brain synapse connections, learning discipline, work ethic, and working within a team. While contact sports like football are proven brain damagers, music participation is a brain enhancer.

++++

Questions for answering in pairs. Answer in complete sentences, not single words

1. According to the article, how are today's musicians different from musicians in the past? Give two ways.

2. Modern pop music is different from music in the 60s. Give two important ways it is different.

3. Which two composers write large amounts of today's pop music?

4. What is music literacy? What has happened to music literacy over time? Why has it changed?

5. What was the most common musical instrument in American homes a century ago?

6. What has happened to the words in popular music over time?

7. Look at question 2. Why have these changes occurred?

3. Organize speeches for week 12/PPT work time

4. Homework: textbook pp 75-81 on gifted-ness

Week 10: midterms

Good luck all!

Week 9: Review...

1. Quiz



2. Conversation

• Have you ever appreciated a sunset?
  • Were you alone or with someone special?
• Have you ever been a guest at a surprise party?
  • Has anyone ever thrown a surprise party for you?
• Have you ever been in a fist fight?
• Have you ever been on TV?
• Have you ever been to a theatre? (Also spelling "theater.")
• Have you ever broken a bone?
• Have you ever broken up with someone?
• Have you ever called your boyfriend or girlfriend by the wrong name?
• Have you ever called your girlfriend/boyfriend "Honey?"
• Have you ever changed your appearance a lot in a short time? (For example, hair style, hair color or weight)
• Have you ever cheated on an exam?
• Have you ever cried in public and embarrassed yourself?
  • Have you ever cried for no reason and felt good because of it?
• Have you ever dated someone from another race, culture or religion?
  • Have you ever dated someone who didn't like you?
  • Have you ever dated a relative by accident?
• Have you ever done something silly that you wish you had not done?
• Have you ever driven a sports car?
  • Have you ever driven a truck?
• Have you ever eaten in a restaurant and realized you have no money with you?
• Have you ever finished eating in a restaurant, and you realized you forgot your wallet?
• Have you ever eaten something that you thought you wouldn't like, but found out that you actually liked it?
• Have you ever eaten frog legs?
  • Have you ever eaten horse meat?
  • Have you ever eaten French food? (Substitute other countries' food, too.)
• Have you ever fallen asleep and forgotten where you were?
• Have you ever fallen asleep while taking a bath?
• Have you ever fallen down the stairs?
• Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?
• Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others.
• Have you ever forgotten your mother's birthday?
  • Father's?
  • Girlfriend's?
  • Boyfriend's?
  • Husband's?
  • Wife's?
• Have you ever given a false excuse to get out of something you didn't want to do? If so, tell us about it.
• Have you ever given a ring (or other jewelry) to your girlfriend/boyfriend?
• Have you ever gone mountain climbing?
• Have you ever gone skiing?
• Have you ever gone surfing?
• Have you ever dreamt of a ghost being in your bedroom and then waking up and finding yourself looking around for the ghost?
• Have you ever gone to greet a friend or family member then noticed it was someone else?
• Have you ever gotten sunburnt at the tanning saloon and gone back the next day?
• Have you ever had a Deja Vu experience?
• Have you ever made cheesecake?
  • Have you ever made Chinese food?
  • Have you ever roasted a turkey?
  • Have you ever baked bread?
• Have you ever met a celebrity?
• Have you ever played a joke on one of your teachers?
  • How about one of your classmates?
• Have you ever raised your hand to answer a question, then forgot what you were going to say?
• Have you ever received a present that you really hated?
  • What was it?
  • Why did you hate it?
  • Who gave it to you?
• Have you ever regretted saying I love you?
• Have you ever ridden a horse?
• Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?
• Have you ever said yes when you meant no?
  If so, tell us about it.
• Have you ever slept in a cave?
• Have you ever slept in a tent?
• Have you ever swum in the ocean?
• Have you ever talked to a famous person?
  • Who was the person?
  • How long did you talk?
  • What did you talk about?
• Have you ever thought of something funny and started laughing out loud in the presence of others?
• Have you ever told a big lie to someone you love?
• Have you ever tried in-line skating?
• Have you ever tried riding a skateboard?
• Have you ever guessed someone's age wrong (younger or older)? How did the person respond?
• Have you ever been in the shower when there was an earthquake?
• Have you ever ripped off your pants while dancing?
• Have you ever kissed somebody by mistake?
• Have you ever laughed until tears came from your eyes?
• Have you ever fallen asleep while talking on the phone?
• Have you ever sprained your ankle/wrist? How did it happen?
• Have you ever written an article for a newspaper?
  • If so, when was it and what was the article about?
• Have you ever seen a car accident?
• Have you ever called your school's principal?
• Have you ever received more than 10 cards on Valentines day?
• Have you ever been on the radio or television?
• Have you ever ridden on an ostrich? A camel? A cow?
• Have you ever shaken hands with a monkey?
• Have you ever received a love letter?
• Have you ever seen a tornado?
• Have you ever had an electricity blackout while taking a shower?
• Have you ever picked you're nose in public?
• Have you ever been on the radio? T.V?
• Have you ever ridden on an ostrich?
• Have you ever milked a cow?
• Have you ever built an igloo?
• Have you ever tried any extreme sports?
• Have you ever shot a gun at a tree or a target?
• Have you ever played an instrument in public?
• Have you ever sung in public?
• Have you ever talked "baby-talk" to your pet?
• Have you ever given special nicknames to your pet that were completely different than their first given name?
• Have you ever kept special treats for your pet?
• Have you ever kept a special blanket or bed for your pet to sleep on?
• Have you ever let your pet sleep in or on your bed with you?
• Have you ever hitchhiked?
• Have you ever fainted?
• Have you ever been mugged?
• Have you ever played in a movie?
• Have you ever called a female teacher "mum" by mistake?
• Have you ever wanted to eat toothpaste?
• Have you ever been to a funeral?
• Have you ever been to a wedding? whose was it? Did the bride wear a white dress or a traditional clothing?
• Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?
• Have you ever made somebody cry?
• Have you ever seen your mother / your father cry?
• Have you ever fired a gun?
• Have you ever been inside a police car?
• Have you ever had to dial 911/111/119... (emergency services)?
• Have you ever fainted in a public place?
• Have you ever wondered why Asians can't speak English?
• Have you ever walked into a window because it was just that clean?
• Have you ever met someone who has six fingers?
• Have you ever cook for more than 20 people?
• Have you ever traveled without paying for the ticket?
• Have you ever sung in public?
• Have you ever been outside your comfort zone?
  • How did you feel?
  • What is your comfort zone?
  • When do you feel the most comfortable?
• Have you ever walked into a lamppost?
• Have you ever wondered why some people want to be alone but never seem to be lonely? Why do you think this is so?
• Have you ever tried to eat food without first spitting out your chewing gum?
• Have you ever saved a piece of chewed chewing gum and started chewing it again later?
• Have you ever called a 'he' she or a 'she' a 'he?' What was the response?
• Have you ever called a women sir or a Man "ma'am?"
• Have you ever asked a woman when she was "due" and she wasn't even pregnant?

3. Speeches
Wed:
10-12: 129, 148, 207, 140


Friday
10:-12 224 (do over)

4. Reading

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening
By Robert Frost (1922)

Whose woods these are I think I know. 
His house is in the village though; 
He will not see me stopping here 
To watch his woods fill up with snow. 

My little horse must think it queer 
To stop without a farmhouse near 
Between the woods and frozen lake 
The darkest evening of the year. 

He gives his harness bells a shake 
To ask if there is some mistake. 
The only other sound’s the sweep 
Of easy wind and downy flake. 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, 
But I have promises to keep, 
And miles to go before I sleep, 
And miles to go before I sleep.

5. Review for midterm next week