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

Week 8 Groundhog Review

1. INTERVIEW/DIALOGUE

• What is your all-time favorite movie?
• What is your favorite movie?
• Are there any kinds of movies you dislike?
  • If so, what kinds?
  • Why do you dislike them?
• Do you like to watch horror movies?
• Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction movies?
• Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?
• Have you ever seen the same movie more than once?
  • If yes, name it (or them).
• Have you ever seen ___? (Insert the name of a movie.)
• How often do you go to movies?
• How often do you rent videos?
• If a book has been made into a movie, which do you prefer to do first, see the movie or read the book? Why?
• What is the best movie you have ever seen?
  • Who was in it?
  • Why did you like it?
  • Who was the director?
• What is the scariest movies you have ever seen?
  • What's the funniest?
  • What's the most romantic?
• What is the worst movie you've ever seen?
• What was the last movie you saw?
  • Was it good?
  • Who did you see it with?
• Which do you like better, action movies or comedy movies?
• What movie star would you most like to meet?
• Who is your favorite actor or actress?
• What do you think of reality shows?
• Do you think that films can be educational?
• Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?
• Who's your favorite director?
• How much does it cost to see a movie in Taiwan?
• What's one of your favorite movies?
  • What kind of movie is it?
  • Who's in it?
  • Who directed it?
  • Why do you like it?
  • When did it come out?
  • Where was it filmed?
  • How many times have you seen it?
  • Would you recommend it? Why?
• Do you think movies have been developing technology or technology has been developing movies?
• Are addicted to watching movies?
• Do you think action movies are bad for children?
• Which do you prefer, to watch movies or to read books?
• How much money do you spend when you go to movies?
• What do you prefer, animated movies or real movies?
• What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
• Do you think historical movies are educational?
• Do you like documentaries?
• Who is your favorite movie hero?
• What do you think about comic book movies?
• Can you remember the name of the first movie you saw that made you cry?
• What is your favorite classic movie?
• Do you ever download movies?
• Do you like foreign films that are dubbed in your mother tongue or do you like watching the film in its original form?
• Do you think there should be more movies made in your country?
• What is something that you have never seen happen in a movie?
• What things happen too often in movies?
• What is the name of a boring movie you have seen. Is there a way to make it better?
• Which two movie stars would you like to have for your parents?
• If a movie star wanted to marry you, would you divorce your spouse?
• If you could be a movie bad guy, which one would you be?
• Which famous person would you like to have for a best friend?
• How often would you go to the movie theater if you always had free tickets?
• Which actor or actress would be you in a movie about your life?
• Do you want your children to be actors or actresses?
• Do you think there is too much nudity in movies, or not enough?
• Do you think there is too much violence in movies? Does it affect children?
• Would you rather be in a movie, or be given $500.000?
• Would you like to be in a television drama?
• What kind of character would you like to play in a television drama?
• Would you be willing to be on a TV show in only your underwear
• If someone were to make a movie about your life, what would you
• want included? Include AT LEAST three points !
• Have you ever fallen asleep in the middle of a film? Why?
• Do you remember which one it was?
• Do you choose a film for the plot/story or the actors?
• Do you usually choose which films to watch?

2. speeches
wed week7
10-12: B0744104 (late), 106, 237, 107, 127 (over), 143 (over), 138 (over)
3-5: 049, 57, 20, 30


Friday
8-10: 45, 35, 19, 20, 05 (late x2)
10-12: 112, 116, 221, 138

3. Groundhog Day. Make groups of 4 people discuss and answer the questions, on a piece of paper, in English.

1. Groundhog Day is a hero movie. Identify

a) the hero
b) the teacher/mentor
c) the cave of death and rebirth
d) the threshold between the two worlds


2. Groundhog Day is a movie with many Buddhist ideas. Give three examples of Buddhist ideas in the movie.


3. The groundhog is an important character in the movie. Phil and the Groundhog even have the same name.

a) look up the name Phil. What does it mean?
b) what do you think the groundhog means in the movie? Give evidence from the movie for your argument.


4. Today's story

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


Who is talking in the story?

Who are they talking about?

What decision do they make at the end? Why?

     THEY ARE MADE OUT OF MEAT

     "They're made out of meat."

     "Meat?"

     "Meat. They're made out of meat."

     "Meat?"

     "There's no doubt about it. We picked up several from different parts of the planet, took them aboard our recon vessels, and probed them all the way through. They're completely meat."

     "That's impossible. What about the radio signals? The messages to the stars?"

     "They use the radio waves to talk, but the signals don't come from them. The signals come from machines."

     "So who made the machines? That's who we want to contact."

     "They made the machines. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Meat made the machines."

     "That's ridiculous. How can meat make a machine? You're asking me to believe in sentient meat."

     "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. These creatures are the only sentient race in that sector and they're made out of meat."

     "Maybe they're like the orfolei. You know, a carbon-based intelligence that goes through a meat stage."

     "Nope. They're born meat and they die meat. We studied them for several of their life spans, which didn't take long. Do you have any idea what's the life span of meat?"

     "Spare me. Okay, maybe they're only part meat. You know, like the weddilei. A meat head with an electron plasma brain inside."

     "Nope. We thought of that, since they do have meat heads, like the weddilei. But I told you, we probed them. They're meat all the way through."

     "No brain?"

     "Oh, there's a brain all right. It's just that the brain is made out of meat! That's what I've been trying to tell you."

     "So ... what does the thinking?"

     "You're not understanding, are you? You're refusing to deal with what I'm telling you. The brain does the thinking. The meat."

     "Thinking meat! You're asking me to believe in thinking meat!"

     "Yes, thinking meat! Conscious meat! Loving meat. Dreaming meat. The meat is the whole deal! Are you beginning to get the picture or do I have to start all over?"

     "Omigod. You're serious then. They're made out of meat."

     "Thank you. Finally. Yes. They are indeed made out of meat. And they've been trying to get in touch with us for almost a hundred of their years."

     "Omigod. So what does this meat have in mind?"

     "First it wants to talk to us. Then I imagine it wants to explore the Universe, contact other sentiences, swap ideas and information. The usual."

     "We're supposed to talk to meat."

     "That's the idea. That's the message they're sending out by radio. 'Hello. Anyone out there. Anybody home.' That sort of thing."

     "They actually do talk, then. They use words, ideas, concepts?"

     "Oh, yes. Except they do it with meat."

     "I thought you just told me they used radio."

     "They do, but what do you think is on the radio? Meat sounds. You know how when you slap or flap meat, it makes a noise? They talk by flapping their meat at each other. They can even sing by squirting air through their meat."

     "Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much. So what do you advise?"

     "Officially or unofficially?"

     "Both."

     "Officially, we are required to contact, welcome and log in any and all sentient races or multibeings in this quadrant of the Universe, without prejudice, fear or favor. Unofficially, I advise that we erase the records and forget the whole thing."

     "I was hoping you would say that."

     "It seems harsh, but there is a limit. Do we really want to make contact with meat?"

     "I agree one hundred percent. What's there to say? 'Hello, meat. How's it going?' But will this work? How many planets are we dealing with here?"

     "Just one. They can travel to other planets in special meat containers, but they can't live on them. And being meat, they can only travel through C space. Which limits them to the speed of light and makes the possibility of their ever making contact pretty slim. Infinitesimal, in fact."

     "So we just pretend there's no one home in the Universe."

     "That's it."

     "Cruel. But you said it yourself, who wants to meet meat? And the ones who have been aboard our vessels, the ones you probed? You're sure they won't remember?"

     "They'll be considered crackpots if they do. We went into their heads and smoothed out their meat so that we're just a dream to them."

     "A dream to meat! How strangely appropriate, that we should be meat's dream."

     "And we marked the entire sector unoccupied."

     "Good. Agreed, officially and unofficially. Case closed. Any others? Anyone interesting on that side of the galaxy?"

     "Yes, a rather shy but sweet hydrogen core cluster intelligence in a class nine star in G445 zone. Was in contact two galactic rotations ago, wants to be friendly again."

     "They always come around."

     "And why not? Imagine how unbearably, how unutterably cold the Universe would be if one were all alone ..."

Vocabulary
 vessel
sector
cruel
spare me
flapping
probe
unbearable
ridiculous


5. Homework pp 49-59. Reading on Tablet computers



=================================================
WEDNESDAY ONLY WEEK 7

+++++++++++++++++++++

1. Summarize the main idea of this article in one sentence.
2. What was the purpose of Mars' spending so much money on research about chocolate?
3. What organization did Mars establish to promote its scientific research?
4. The Cochrane Review of chocolate research concluded that researchers funded by companies tended to do what?
5. Name three bad effects of industry-sponsored research
6. How does the media treat research on the health effect of chocolate?
7. Is chocolate good for your health? What products does chocolate contain that are bad for you?
8. Are there really super-foods? What is the key to a healthy diet, according to the writer?

READING:

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2017/10/18/15995478/chocolate-health-benefits-heart-disease?__twitter_impression=true


Vocabulary
health food
ethical
yield
shift
transform
cynical
epidemic
mainstream