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apanese people wear normal western clothes like shirts and trousers in ordinary day-to-day life and they look quite suave in their western outfit. The interesting aspect of Japanese clothing which attracts the attention of everyone is their traditional wear. People around the world find their clothing interesting and very unique, due to its entirely different look from clothes of other countries.   

Some of the traditional clothing worn by Japanese people is Kimono, Jonihitoe, Yukata etc. Kimono is the most definitive Japanese clothing, which can be worn by both men and women. The difference between men and women kimonos is that the men kimonos are not very flashy and elaborate and they are just loosely seamed and have narrower sleeves. Women wore dazzling styles of kimonos and they feel pride to possess as it is expensive. It is made up of silk and is available in unique designs, making them different from one another. Kimonos have various parts and each part has a name of its own. This shows that Japanese are very methodical with their clothes also.  Japanese women look charming in kimono but it is difficult to wear as it requires help of another person in wearing this kimono. 

Another traditional clothing of Japanese women is jonihitoe, which is an advanced form of kimono. Jonihitoe is a robe of twelve layers and traditionally it was worn by high born Japanese ladies. This clothing is made of silk and the innermost layer is of the pure white silk. All the other layers drape one after the other over this innermost layer. The outermost layer is designed like a coat and lends the colorful and artistic appeal to the garment. This is a very expensive clothing of Japanese women and is rarelyavailable outside Japan.  

Another clothing of Japanese men and women is Yukata, which is mostly worn by women but sometimes it is worn by men also. Yukata is a thin garment, which is mostly worn in the summer season. It is worn in the kimono style, but it is not as elaborate as the kimono. Literally yukata means bath cloth but this clothing is worn on several occasions and festivals like the firework displays. Yukata is made up of cotton and now it is available in several colors but traditionally it was made up of indigo dyed cotton.

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The Day of The Dead (or El Día de los Muertos) is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November every year in Mexico, the USA and Canada. The Day of the Dead is also sometimes called All Soul's Day.

The Day of the Dead is a lively and happy festival. During the holiday, family members gather together to pray for deceased family and friends, and to remember them.
Mexican traditions connected with the holiday include building elaborately decorated altars or shrines (called offrendas) in homes to honour loved ones who have died, and decorating altars with photographs, skulls made from sugar, scented candles,and offerings of favourite foods and drinks for deceased relatives and friends.

Graves and altars are decorated with orange or yellow marigolds during the festival, as marigolds are thought to attract the souls of the dead. Many people believe that it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living on the Day of The Dead.

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Some of us decided to go to Dublin last weekend. We left Derry at 06.45 a.m. by bus and we arrived in Dublin at 11.00 a.m. We went to a bed & breakfast, which we had looked for previously. It was a cheap hotel.

We wanted to take advantage of our time there, so immediately we decided to go for a walk around Trinity College where the University is placed. Afterwards, we went to visit Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral where we took a lot of photographs.

In the afternoon we visited the famous Temple Bar and we had the opportunity to listen to live music in streets. We also saw some little markets where you could buy second hand books, clothes and several souvenirs.

We returned to the hotel, and after having rested we went out to get to know the Dublin night life. We had some problems getting into some pubs because of a number of reasons: some pubs were packed with people, they did not allow trainers and so on and so forth. However, we think that the main reason was that we were Spanish. We were told that going to Dublin might bedangerous, but we had not any problem regarding this. Since we were tired and we could not get into some pubs, we went to bed early.

The following day, after having lunch in the hotel, some of us went to Old Jameson Distillery where we were told about the process of distilling whiskey and we could try it.

Finally, we took the bus at 6.00 p.m. and we arrived in Derry at 10.00. In general, everybody enjoyed the trip.

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People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many factors to take into consideration. Firstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant when learning a second language.
A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese, for example, because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language. The greater the differences between the second language and our first, the harder it will be for most people to learn. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet.
Some people seem to learn languages readily, while others find it very difficult. Teachers and the circumstances in which the language is learned also play an important role, as well as each learner's motivation for learning. If people learn a language because they need to use it professionally, they often learn it faster than people studying a language that has no direct use in their day to day life.
Apparently, British diplomats and other embassy staff have found that the second hardest language is Japanese, which will probably come as no surprise to many, but the language that they have found to be the most problematic is Hungarian, which has 35 cases (forms of a nouns according to whether it is subject, object, genitive, etc). This does not mean that Hungarian is the hardest language to learn for everyone, but it causes British diplomatic personnel, who are generally used to learning languages, the most difficulty. However, Tabassaran, a Caucasian language has 48 cases, so it might cause more difficulty if British diplomats had to learn it.
Different cultures and individuals from those cultures will find different languages more difficult. In the case of Hungarian for British learners, it is not a question of the writing system, which uses a similar alphabet, but the grammatical complexity, though native speakers of related languages may find it easier, while struggling with languages that the British find relatively easy.
No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that there is one language that is the most difficult language in the world.

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The three "R's" are something you need to remember when it comes to environment service. As well, it is important to understand how improper waste disposal impacts our planet. No, it is not "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic." It actually is Recycle Reuse Reduce and all three are valuable parts to the bigger solution, which begins at home with you.

Once you know the ways to recycle reuse reduce, you will be able do your part to help keep landfills free of recyclable materials and other waste products that could be put to better use.

What Does Recycle Reuse Reduce Mean?

The first "R" relates to recycling. This means utilizing a recycling program from your sanitation department or local environmental services. You can ask them what materials are accepted locally and then get the appropriate recycling containers into which you can place that material for pick-up. Plastics go into one container. Paper goes into another container and glass goes into a separate container. Then all three, along with garbage that cannot be recycled, is picked up by your local sanitation or recycling program. As well, you can recycle your food waste products by starting a compost heap.

In the quest for recycle reuse reduce, reusing is next on the agenda. Try to reuse as many products as possible in your own household. Plastic milk jugs make great pitchers for tea and water. They can also be used as plant holders once you decorate them a bit. On a municipal level, reusing also occurs when recyclables are turned into different products, such as asphalt for paving roads or new notebooks.

The final "R" in the three refers to reducing. This means to reduce the amount of garbage you generate. Try to buy items that are going to last longer so you do not have to buy them as often. Sure, there will be some items that do not have a long shelf life but you can still try to find those items that do. Some packaging contains harsher chemicals than others. It may cost you a dollar or two more but try to go with items that have less packaging.

Just remember to recycle reuse reduce and you will be doing your part, not just for yourself but for future generations. It is remarkably easy to get started and once you have mastered the basics you will be a recycling guru. If you need help getting started or just want more information on how to recycle reuse reduce, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  is a good place to start.

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A newspaper has been defined as a printed material that contains news for the Public. Every newspaper tries to publish its identity and win the loyalties of its readers through the presentation of its material in the shape of stories, cartoon pictures and words. Almost every newspaper lives on criticism and exposure of those who abuse their authority and resort to corruption in many ways.

It is through the newspapers, the policies and action of the Government are conveyed to the people and in turn people give opinion and criticize them. In this way, newspapers are a chain of action and reaction. In a Democracy, the role of press is of great importance as it makes the public aware about important political issues.

They play a positive and constructive role. Certain newspapers indulge themselves in sub-standard journalism and exploit vulnerable people. Instead of harmony and concord, they create disharmony and discord. The newspapers have a noble mission of enlightening people, broadening their views and discouraging communal trends. The newspaper can make and break Governments. In reality, the newspaper is the watchdog of human rights, which we call the fourth Estate in the age of Democracy. It is the pioneer of the underdog and downtrodden. It is one of the strongest pillars of a free nation.

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When Bob Dylan first sang Blowin’ in the Wind in the early 1960s, he probably wasn’t talking about wind power as the answer to the world’s ever-increasing need for electricity and sources of clean, renewable energy. But that is what wind has come to represent for millions of people, who see wind power as a better way to generate electricity than plants fueled by coal, hydro (water) or nuclear power. 
Wind Power starts with the Sun
Wind power is actually a form of solar power, because wind is caused by heat from the sun. Solar radiation heats every part of the Earth’s surface, but not evenly or at the same speed. Different surfaces—sand, water, stone and various types of soil—absorb, retain, reflect and release heat at different rates, and the Earth generally gets warmer during daylight hours and cooler at night. 
As a result, the air above the Earth’s surface also warms and cools at different rates. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure near the Earth’s surface, which draws in cooler air to replace it. That movement of air is what we call wind. 
Wind Power is Versatile
When air moves, causing wind, it has kinetic energy—the energy created whenever mass is in motion. With the right technology, the wind’s kinetic energy can be captured and converted to other forms of energy such as electricity or mechanical power. That’s wind power. 
Just as the earliest windmills in Persia, China and Europe used wind power to pump water or grind grain, today’s utility-connected wind turbines and multi-turbine wind farms use wind power to generate clean, renewable energy to power homes and businesses. 
Wind Power is Clean and Renewable
Wind power should be considered an important component of any long-term energy strategy, because wind power generation uses a natural and virtually inexhaustible source of power—the wind—to produce electricity. That is a stark contrast to traditional power plants that rely on fossil fuels. 
And wind power generation is clean; it doesn’t cause air, soil or water pollution. That’s an important difference between wind power and some other renewable energy sources, such as nuclear power, which produces a vast amount of hard-to-manage waste. 
Wind Power Sometimes Conflicts with Other Priorities
One obstacle to increasing worldwide use of wind power is that wind farms must be located on large tracts of land or along coastlines to capture the greatest wind movement.
Devoting those areas to wind power generation sometimes conflicts with other priorities, such as agriculture, urban development, or waterfront views from expensive homes in prime locations. 
The Future Growth of Wind Power
As the need for clean, renewable energy increases, and the world more urgently seeks alternatives to finite supplies of oil, coal and natural gas, priorities will change. 
And as the cost of wind power continues to decline, due to technology improvements and better generation techniques, wind power will become increasingly feasible as a major source of electricity and mechanical power. 

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An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden dislocation of material within the earth's outer layer, or crust. When forces pushing on a mass of rock overcome the friction holding the rock in place and blocks of rock slip against each other an earthquake may occur. Some earthquakes are so slight, and some occur in such remote areas, that they are barely felt. Others are so violent that they cause extensive damage.
Earthquakes are caused by stresses below the earth's outer surface. These stresses usually build up until the rocks fracture along a "fault plane." This causes vibrations, also known as seismic waves. Seismic waves will then travel in all directions from the area of fracture. In large earthquakes seismic waves may be detected over the entire earth. 

Earthquakes can be caused by volcanoes in certain cases. Nuclear explosions under the ground can create waves that are very similar to natural seismic waves. The seismic energy created in an atomic bomb is one hundred-thousandth that of the largest earthquake.
Earthquakes take place or have taken place in all parts of the world. Frequent activity occurs along certain belts. 80% of all seismic energy is generated from a belt that is found at the border of the Pacific Ocean. A great deal of volcanoes is also found there, and volcanoes set off many earthquakes. Japan, the Philippine Islands, New Guinea, and New Zealand are all part of the Pacific belt.

A second seismic belt produces 15% of seismic activity. It goes through southern Asia to the region of the Mediterranean Sea. The final 5% of seismic energy comes from parts of the Arctic, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Antarctica and Australia experiencethe least amount of earthquake activity then any other areas of the world.
Earthquakes produce various damaging effects to the areas they act upon. This includes damage to buildings and in worst cases the loss of human life. The effects of the rumbling produced by earthquakes usually leads to the destruction of structures such as buildings, bridges, and dams. They can also trigger landslides. An example of how an earthquake can lead to even more destruction is the 1959 earthquake near Hebgen, Montana. It caused a land slide that killed several people and blocked the Madison River. Due to the fact that the Madison River was blocked, a lake was created which later flooded the nearby town of Ennis.
Besides producing floods and destroying buildings, earthquakes that take place under the ocean can sometimes cause tsunamis, or tidal waves. Tsunamis are high and long walls of water which travel at a very rapid rate. They are notorious for destroying entire populations and cities near coastlines. In 1896 Sanriku, Japan, with a population of 20,000, suffered such a fate.

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Pre-reading: Answer the following questions

Do people celebrate Valentine’s Day in Vietnam? On what day? What do people do on that day?

Have you ever given a Valentine gift to anyone? If yes, what was the gift?

What kind of romantic gift would you most like to receive?

February 14 is a day for people who have fallen in love. On this day, these men and women give gifts and cards to each other tocelebrate Valentine’s Day.
At first, February 14 was the old Roman festival, Lupercalia. Then, on February 14, 270 A.D., a man named Valentine was killed by the Roman’s because of his Christian beliefs.
Before Valentine was killed, he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and would pass notes to her. His final note read, “From your Valentine.” Later, February 14 became known as Saint Valentine’s Day.
Since then, people in love around the world have given gifts and cards to each other on Saint Valentine’s Day. Gloves, chocolates, and even underwear have all been popular as gifts.
Valentine cards did not become popular until the 1750s. The first Valentine cards were made by hand. People wrote their own words on the cards, usually a kind or funny message. Cards made by machines became more popular around 1850.
Now, every year around February 14, cards and chocolates fill stores around the world, for all the people who have fallen in love.

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Pre-reading: Answer the following questions

1. Do you know anything about Pluto?
2. Is it a planet? Why?

Many people are saying that Pluto is no longer a planet. Are they right? Is Pluto no longer a planet? There's debate in the scientific world about this issue. National Geographic News says that, according to the International Astronomical Union, a full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. Because Pluto doesn't meet these standards, the IAU classifies Pluto as a dwarf planet. 
Not everyone agrees that this is a good way to decide, though. Andy Cheng, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University, says that the new rules aren't clear enough and asks the question "how round is round? ...I'll still continue to maintain that Pluto is a planet," he said. 
Owen Gingerich is an astronomer and historian at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and head of the IAU committee proposing the definition. He favored a special distinction for Pluto. Gingerich supported a proposal to call the big eight planets classical planets—as opposed to just plain "planets"—and Pluto and the others dwarf planets, so there would be two classes of planets. He believes that reclassifying Pluto as a 
dwarf planet is not "sensitive to the historical and cultural role that Pluto has played." 
The argument continues. In the meantime, however, many people are correct—new textbooks will list Pluto as being a dwarf planet. What do you think it is?

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