Hi 5 Graciousness,
Choose any newspaper articles to read during the holidays. If it is hardcopy newspaper, please quote the headlines as well as the date of the article.
If you can find the article online (for instance, BBC, Straits Times etc) then do cut and paste the URL here.
If you have no English newspaper, then just do a summary of the Chinese newspaper.
In your newspaper review, include the following:
1) Your comments/viewpoints
2) 5 vocabulary words/phrases that you have learnt
Thank you.
Rgds,
Spoilt Recorder
Headline: Scramble to contain oil spill after ships collide
ReplyDeleteFrom: The Today Paper, Wednesday May 26
My comments/viewpoints: I hope that the oil will evaporate and the clean-up efforts led by the MPA will be done soon before any creatures from the ocean and marine life die because of this pollution of the sea.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that I have learnt:
-wafted to shore
-plankton boom
-skimmers
-should the need arise
-salvage
Headlines: Oil spill off Changi coast
ReplyDeleteDate:26 May(Wednesday)
I hope that they will conduct a group to clear the oil that leaked out from the vessels as soon as possible.
5 good phrases that I have learnt:
fretted
dispatched
prevailing
skimmed
dispersant
URL:http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100603/tap-skorea-nkorea-military-un-disarm-2a5be5e.html
ReplyDeleteHeadline:Korean war 'may break out at any moment'
War is a very tragic and avoidable thing. In these past few years, few tiny wars have been breaking out. Now, the two Koreas are planning to start a war. World War 1 and 2 were bad enough and took many lives. Now this war may turn out to be World War 3. This war may affect our daily lives and take more lives even outside of the two Koreas. I hope that this war will never even start, as the dropping of a nuclear bomb may be the worst thing ever since the atomic bomb.
Five good words that I learnt:
aggression
reprisals
tenuous
alleged
armistice
Cheong Wei Soon
ReplyDeleteURL:http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/06/03/sezairi-i-want-to-crack-the-u-s-market/
Headline: Sezairi:I want to crack the U.S. market
Sezairi is a popular person and I think he will succeed in cracking the U.S. market. He wants to start a carreer in New York City.
Five good words/phrases that I have learnt:
reality
far-fetched
restrict
has the chops to crack
superiors
URL:http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100603/tap-lifestyle-singapore-charity-religion-06f3cb7.html
ReplyDeleteHeadline:Funeral director undertakes free burials for good karma
Date:Thursday, June 3
I think that being an undertaker was not a bad thing in fact it is a meaningful thing.Undertaker can help the destitute and the poor people in the community which is good for karma.An untaker also help any religion, any nationality as long as it has life.After reading this article, i think that we should not discriminate the people that work as undertakers.
5 good words/phrases
-hearse
-replied with a wan smile
-embalming
-stout, clean-shaven man
-destitute
Headline:NKF short of money and nurses
ReplyDeleteFrom:The Straits Times,Saturday June 5 2010
My comments/viewpoints:
The number of patients are rising and the cost of funding raising are decreasing, so I think people shoulde donate to NKF.The patients should also pay for the blood tests.
Furthermore, the number of qualified nurses are dwindling, and it is essential that more replace them. Hence, I feel that more nursing training courses should be open to train people.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that you have learnt:
1)renew our efforts
2)sudsidising
3)causing their blood pressure to shoot through the roof
4)inexorably
5)to dig into its reserves
Headline:Indian film 3 Idiots sweeps Bollywood awards
ReplyDeleteURL:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/10247729.stm
The comedy 3 Idiots won 16 out of 27 awards, including best director and best film. During their ceremony, Bollywood stars protested against the treatment of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, which caused the death of many civilians. I think they should "change" the government and we can also donate to them.
5 words/phrases I've learnt:
1)caste
2)overshadowed
3)conflict
4)boycott
5)controversy
The Sunday Times, 6 June 2010 Home Page 12
ReplyDeleteHeadline: S.Korean, US mull ways to punish North
I think that instead of war breaking out, we should have peace. If the North Korea really did sank the South Korean warship, they should own up and not hide it. But if they really did not do it, they should find proof and prove their innocence, and the US and South Korea should not suspect them anymore. I do not want World War 3 to happen because it will cause distrust among all the people, even after the war.
5 good phrases/words that I learnt:
-sanction
-abdication
-pariah
-corvette
-suppress
The Straits Times, Monday, 7 June 2010
ReplyDeleteHeadline: Tougher now for litterbugs to escape
I think that NEA (National Environment Agency) had done a good job by making it tougher now for litterbugs to escape. I think they had put in a lot of effort to punish these litterbugs by making them sweep the streets and pay $5,000 if they have been caught littering repeatedly. First-time offenders might be fined $300 which I think it may be quite a lot.
5 good phrases/words that I learnt:
-embarked
-prowling
-inveterate
-deterrent
-exacerbated
Headline: Want to save the world? Forgo meat
ReplyDeleteFrom: The Today Paper, June 5-6, 2010
My comments/view points: I think that we should not kill meat for food. Vegan diet is very important to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate changes.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that i have learnt:
-agriculture
-biomass
-emissions
-phosphorus
-invasive
Headline:Hostels-Schooling for life or path to sloth?
ReplyDeleteDate:7 June 2010
My Comments/My Viewpoints:
I think that students should be encouraged to stay in hostels as it will teach them to be more independant and mature. They will need to take care f themselves and be responsible for their chores and learn how to prepare their own meals. It will also teach them to not take things for granted.
5 Vocabulary Words/Phrases that I learnt:
-Conducive
-Revenue
-First-hand experience
-Incentive
-Foster camaraderie
Headline : Hostess at 14, Mamasan at 19
ReplyDeleteFrom : The New Paper on Sunday - May 9 2010
My viewpoints :
I think that women should not 'sell their bodies' to men just to make a living. They should get a proper and decent job instead. At their young age, they should be in school studying. I do not think that the Singapore government should allow women to 'sell their bodies' to men and should not allow mamasans and hostesses, creating many social problems.
5 Vocabulary Words/ phrases that I have learnt :
- sleaze
- qualms
- moonlighting
- revelry
- freelance
Headline: More tourists arriving after opening of IRs, despite the hiccups
ReplyDeleteURL:http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100608-0000048/More-tourists-arriving-after-opening-of-IRs,-despite-the-hiccups
My comments/viewpoints:
I think Singapore has developed well into a popular country. Singapore should continue to improve so more tourist can come to visit Singapore nand see how wonderful Singapore is.
5 Vocabulary Words/Phrases that I learnt:
-Business has spiked
-Billing
-Despite the hiccups
-Debut
-Put up a tough fight
June 7 2010
ReplyDeleteSwiss monitoring graffiti case
Oliver Fricker (above) will appear for a second time in court on June 21 on charges of trespassing in a metro depot and vandalising a train, for which he could be jailed, fined and whipped with a wooden cane. -- PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM
SINGAPORE - THE Swiss embassy said on Monday it plans to observe the court case of a citizen facing prison and caning for allegedly spray-painting graffiti on a Singapore metro train.
Business consultant Oliver Fricker, 32, will appear for a second time in court on June 21 on charges of trespassing in a metro depot and vandalising a train, for which he could be jailed, fined and whipped with a wooden cane.
Peter Zimmerli, counsellor and deputy head of mission, told AFP the embassy would inform Fricker's family of the case, help him find a lawyer and visit him. 'Also, it is possible that this embassy attends court hearings as an observer,' the diplomat said. 'We do not, however, pay bails for our fellow citizens or interfere actively in a running law case.'
A judge has impounded Fricker's passport and set bail at S$100,000, rejecting bis plea for a lower amount because prosecutors consider him a flight risk. Zimmerli declined to confirm whether Fricker's family would be flying to Singapore.
The court was told during the first session on Saturday that Fricker was with a Briton identified as Lloyd Dane Alexander when he broke into the depot, a restricted zone surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire. Sources familiar with the case told AFP that Alexander was in Singapore on a tourist visa and left before a police report was filed on May 19.
The Straits Times newspaper reported Monday that Fricker and Alexander spray-painted the words 'McKoy Banos' on one side of a train - believed to be the signature of two shadowy graffiti artists who have left similar marks on trains around the world. The train has been scrubbed clean but the clip taken by a commuter can still be viewed on YouTube. -- AFP
Comment: I think that what Mr Oliver Fricker has done is a real offence. It is a case of property defacing and damage committed in a foreign country. Graffiti might be acceptable in other western countries but not in Singapore. What I do not understand is that even after Michael Faye’s case, foreigners still vandalise property and get the same amount of negative feedback from the western public on YouTube, Yahoo and other internet sites.
New or hard words: metro depot, visa, shadowy, bail, flight risk
Headline: Ti-i-i-ime is on my side ... or is it?
ReplyDeleteURL: http://www.todayonline.com/Kids/EDC100531-0000016/Ti-i-i-ime-is-on-my-side-,,,-or-is-it?
My Comments/viewpoints:
I think that adult's workload is too heavy until they have very little time to spend with their family. Maybe the workload should cut down and the government should create more Family Days or let the businessmens and workers off earlier to spend time with their families. Just like the article says, Love is spelled as Time to children. Working for money is important, but spending time with our families is also very important too.
5 good words/phrases I have learnt:
Guilt trip
Conundrum
Press Junket
Vouch
Prefecture
Grace
Headline: Brain damage to baby: Woman sues hospital
ReplyDeleteFrom: The Strait Times, 8 June 10
By: K.C. Vijayan
Comments:
I think doctors and nurses should be more clear when they explain something to their patients, to avoid misunderstandings. The woman should also be more attentive and although the baby has died, she should not push the blame all to the doctors and nurses. When giving birth, I think both the doctors and the woman should be cooperative. The doctors should give clear and firm instructions and reassure the woman, while the woman must try her best and pay attention to what the doctors are saying while deliverng her baby.
5 Good words/phrases:
1)adequately
2)rupture
3)spasms
4)dithered
5)disputing
Headline: MRT Vandalism: 2nd suspect may be in HK
ReplyDeleteFrom: The Straits Time, HOME, page B1
Date : Tuesday, 8 June 2010
By Sujin Thomas
Your comments/viewpoints:
I learnt to consider the consequences before doing anything. The Land Transport Authority
(LTA)'s security is very low. Report says that it will at least take half an hour to graffiti that piece of work on the train. In that half an hour, they were not caught.
I think they should increase their security in Changi depot. If they don't, these situation might continue.
The two individuals should use their talent in another way.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that you have learnt:
~Diplomatic - relating to , or involving diplomacy or diplomats
~Alleged - To assert to be true; Affirm
~Breach - A gap
~Extradition - Legal surrender of a fugitive to the jurisdiction of another state, country, or government for trial
~Extradited - To give up or deliver a fugitive to the legal jurisdiction of another government or authority.
Headline:World Cup Journalists Robbed
ReplyDeleteURL:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_538258.html
My comments:
I think robbing is a serious offend and everyone incuding us should look after our belongings. It may never happen to us but it may be very sudden and in a flash, your valuables are gone.We should always be prepared and try not to flash your money and valuables all at one go.
5 words/phrases:
-made off
-consulate
-issued a warning
-refain from
-lodge
-
Headline:World's first multi-storey driving circuit opens in Woodlands
ReplyDeleteURL:http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20100610-221257.html
Comments: I think that this is good for would-be drivers as they are able to drive around in a large, multi-storey circuit, compared to driving on a highway, and probably getting stuck in a traffic jam, just to pass a test. This also shows how technology has improved, allowing drivers to drive confidently alone, without an instructor by his/her side.
5 New words that I learnt:
1.offing: soon to come
2.prerequisite: required or necessary as a prior condition
3.relay: a combination of a receiver and transmitter designed to receive radio signals and retransmit them, in order to extend their range
4.implementation: carry out
5.comprehensive: marked by or showing extensive understanding
Headline : Singapore's Worst Litterbugs
ReplyDeleteFrom : Home, Part C, The Strait Times
My View points : There are getting more and more litterbugs here in Singapore. Until now, I still do not understand why litterbugs cannot just hold on thier rubbish for a while more until they find a rubbish bin to throw their rubbish inside. I think that these people are very irresponsible.
5 new words:
1) slapped with fines
2) exception
3) prowling
4) corrective
5) enforcement
By Amresh Gunusingham
From Joshua Tan Yong Hao
Headline:Teen pleads guilty to assaulting schoolboys
ReplyDeleteFrom:The Straits Times,Saturday 12 June 2010
My comments/viewpoints:I think that punching people is wrong. People should not get agitated and resort to fighting as it can only resort to injuries or maybe even death. That is an unpleasant sight if someone has bruises and scars all over them.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that i have learnt:
Fracas:disorderly disturbance or fight
Ill-tempered:bad or irritable
Marred:deface or scar
Nasal:pertaining to the nose
Probation:the state or period of such testing or trial.
headline: City Harvest pastor spotted
ReplyDeletedate: 13 June 2010
URL:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_539688.html
Story: HE CAME quietly and left swiftly.
City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee was spotted at the 3.30pm service yesterday at its Jurong West premises.
It was the 46-year-old's first known public appearance since he was thrust into the spotlight two weeks ago. He was called up to help with police investigations into the alleged misuse of church funds.
Another 16 people linked to the church were also called up.
Yesterday, Mr Kong again made the news, this time for plagiarism. A Straits Times report said a blogger here had spotted passages in a Christian book written by Mr Kong that were similar to those in Leadership Bible, penned by three Americans. Mr Kong also updated his website with material from the book.
In a note on his website last Monday, he said: 'We could have been more careful to credit any source of inspiration used.'
Comments: I think as a pastor, he should not commit such crimes by misusing church funds of plagiarism. In my opinion ,he should deserve to be a pastor.
5 words/phrases I've learnt:
1.thrust into spotlight
2. thrust - shove
3. alleged - doubtful
4. use "penned" instead of "wrote"
5. credit any source of inspiration used
HEADLINE: City Harvest founder now accused of plagiarism
ReplyDeleteFROM: The Straits Times Saturday, June 12 2010
MY COMMENTS:
I think the pastor's act of committing plagiarism is severely wrong. Pastor Kong, the founder of City Harvest, used material from the Leadership Bible, which was written by three Americans. I am sure that those three Americans had put in hard work and time into writing that book, yet it was so easy for Pastor Kong to just copy and paste what they wrote into his own
website. In my opinion, if Pastor Kong wrote his own things, he would save himself from alot of trouble, although he would have to put in time and hard work to write it. He would also feel proud of what he wrote, rather than feel guilty of committing plagiarism.
5 GOOD WORDS/PHRASES:
- alleged
- attributes
- citation
- legally sophisticated
- apostles
By Yip Sue Min
Headline:Kidnap claims worry expats
ReplyDeleteFrom:June 11, 2010 Friday Straits Times
Comments:Kidnapping people is wrong. The woman tried to coax the boy to leave with her, but was warned off by the maid.I think the maid is very brave.I think the children's mother should be more alert.
5 GOOD WORDS/PHRASES
-expatriate
-outlandish
-alleged
-consternation
-censorship.
Zixin
Headline: Trapped man tries to sever his own arm
ReplyDeleteFrom:The Straits Times 12 June 2010 (Saturday)
My Comments: I think that Mr Metz should be very careful in future because his hand already has an infection and may need to be chopped off since he has already started amputating his hand. Mr Metz should ask a friend to live with him after the incident.
5 GOOD WORDS/PHRASES
-amputation
-gangrenous
-prosthetic
-evoked
-rappelled
World Cup 2010: Capello ponders England changes
ReplyDeleteURL : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8743560.stm
On: Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Comment : We should never give up even if we do lose , if in that case just get up and keep moving . no one should ever give up as there is always a second chance for u to prevail .
5 good words / phrases :
-mainstay
-wasted a golden opportunity
-favoured
-unimpressive
-dismissive
Headline:Man wrongly jailed after Northants Police 'mistakes'
ReplyDeleteDate:17 June 2010
From:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/10343403.stm
Comment:I think that the police should be more careful,as the man was wrongly jailed for 3 years and 4 months.I feel sorry for the man.If I was wrongly jailed like that,I would be really angry.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that I have learnt:
-allegations
-discrepancies
-conviction
-overturned
-indecently
From:The Straits Times
ReplyDeleteHeadlines:Start them young on no-littering habit
Date:10/06/2010
I strongly agree with the sentence, “Start them young on no-littering habit.” We should educate our next generation that it is wrong to litter, at a tender age as it is easier to correct the misbehaviour when they are younger as they are more obedient and less rebellious, then to wait till they are much other as the habit would have become deep-rooted (根深蒂固). Parents must make their children pick up the rubbish whenever they litter and explain that consequences of littering, such as polluting or marring the beauty of the environment.
I had heard from my mother that in Japan, the train passengers are allowed to eat and drink in the train. One may expect the carriages to be very filthy. On the contrary, the train was speck and span although there were no rubbish bins sighted within the train. Apparently, the children were educated from young not to litter and that had notion had been ingrained and became part of their habit.
My mother too, had been educating me on this issue and she continues to remind me if I accidentally littered. I would willingly pick up the litter without any resentment. Any form of moral and ethical education should start young when children are more receptive.
5 New Words/Phrases
-enforcement
-eliminate
-desired
-dearth
-imparts
From: Straits Times
ReplyDeleteDate: 22 June 2010
Headlines: MRT graffiti case put off till Thursday
I feel that what Fricker and Lloyd did was completely unforgivable, as when the video of the train was posted on YouTube, everybody would know that Singapore’s train deports are not safely protected. I hope that Singapore tighten up security at the train deports. I feel that they should confess and they may get a lighter punishment.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that you have learnt:
-Warrant
-Subordinate
-In a bid to
-Scrum
-Ensued
Newspaper Review 1:
ReplyDelete21 June 2010 (Monday)
From: The Straits Times (Home)
Headline: From jailbird to superhero, for the sake of his children.
Comment: I feel that all the "jailbirds" can be really good people as long as they make an effort to turn over a new leaf. Take Mr Osman as an example, being in the jail cell for 5 and a half year was a great wake-up call for him, to take good care of his family which he had never thought for them despite being jailed for more than once. I really hope that all the "jailbirds" will turn over a new leaf and know that all the love ones really care for them and all the more they should not let them disappointed. It is never a good feeling to be a "jailbird" or a love one of a "jailbird".
5 vocabulary words/phrases that i have learnt
~ To underscore the impact
~ Stigmatised
~ Inculcate
~ Speaking terms
~ So stiff it acted as
Bernice's newspaper review
From:Straits Times
ReplyDeleteDate:16 June
URL:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_541306.html
Headline:Student faces life for murder
Comments:I feel that Blazej Kot the student who killed his wife should not be guilty of killing his wife as he is suffering from mental disorder which made him think that his wife is a imposter.If I were one of the juries,I would not consider him guilty.
5 vocabulary words/phrases that i have learnt:
1)postdoctoral researcher
2)fatally
3)slashing
4)doctoral student
5)jury
From: Straits Times
ReplyDeleteDate: June 24, 2010
Headlines:Rise in millionaires here
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_544850.html
Comments:
I feel that there are lots of millionaires these
few years was beacause of the economy rising. However, I think that being a millionaire is quite difficult when there is an economic crisis and especially when you need 1 million USD of net assets to qualify as a millionaire. I think that being a millionaire is not much important when you have a stable job and income as investingg your money in stocks, share and others have risks.
There is no good vocabulary.
From: The Straits Times
ReplyDeleteDate: June 24, 2010
Headlines: Kyrgyz prepares referendum
URL:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_546293.html
I am glad that all that killing and violence in the Uzbek-Kyrgyz nation of Kyrgyzstan will stop for a day due to polls. However, I think that this inter-ethnic war between the Kyrgyz and the Uzbeks CAN be prevented. As everyone knows, war is bad as it can cause unnecessary deaths and boycotting of nations. So, if everyone knows that, then why can't the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz get along? Why, in the first place, do they want to wage a war just because of their ethnic groups? Neighbours are supposed to be friends, so can't the two groups get along? I mean, you do not see any big difference that discriminates the Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz, right? So I hope that there would not be any more racial riots in the future.
5 good words:
1. Referendum: a direct vote of the electorate on a question of importance
2. Constitution: principles on which the state is governed
3. Resurgence: a rising again to vigour
4. Curfew: a law which states that people must stay in their houses after a specific time at night
5. Interim: temporary or provisional
Newspaper Review 1:
ReplyDeleteTitle:Need a new iPhone? I'll take 4, please.
Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/SME%2BSpotlight/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_546003.html
Comments:I think that young people are wasting too much money on electronic gadgets like the i-phone. I also think that they are too spendthrift as other people are worring about their food and here they are spending money on enjoyment.
5 vocabulary words/phrases:
congestion
latter
high-definition
rimmed
gigabytes
On behalf of Kenneth Hong
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteURL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10415150.stm
ReplyDeleteHeadline: Italians stage general strike against austerity
My comments/viewpoints: I understand the Italians’ feelings but I think they
should not go on strike as they will affect innocent people who had done nothing
wrong. On the other hand, I think the Italian government should stop their austerity
measures as they are adding too much pressure on the Italian people. A small
thing that the government does may cause a huge reaction from the people. It just
goes to show that the government is far from mighty without the peoples’ support.
Five new words I learnt: austerity, coalition, demonstrations, affiliated, amid
On behalf of Li Zhi Jian
Shocked by pigeon culling Then stop feeding them.
ReplyDeleteFrom Today Newspaper
Tan Yang Rui said,
According to this report ,pigeonswere being culled and poisoned due to psittacosis,a bacterial infection of the lungs. therewere also complains about bird droppings.Therefore it will also concern humans about the health hazards .In my opinion,we can put the birds on other island but will die due to scarity of food.
5 new words:
congregate
pathology
refrain
roosting
humane