My self-introduction.

This essay is about the self-introduction of me, narrated from a third person view.

Waving his hands, shaking his body and following the rhythm. It was a dance by group of children during a graduation ceremony in a kindergarten. There were 6 of them, 5 girls and he was the only boy. He didn’t feel awkward or embarrassed being surrounded by girls and even dancing with them! His name is Tor Jiajun. That was 12 years ago back then when he was just a 6-year-old kid who knows nothing about boy-and-girl stuff.

When he was a kid, he had an ambition that was to become a businessman because to him, there were only 2 known professions, businessman and teacher. And he thought that all teachers must be woman, so he chose businessman instead. As he grows up, he likes to think and imagine all kinds of stuff. He enjoys letting his imagination runs wild. He joins drawing class during primary school age and finally develops his skills in arts. He is obsessed with computer games like other child did and even dreams of becoming a game designer. In the end, he decides to become an architect as he grows older and learns more about the reality.

Perhaps born with an extra portion of humour in his brain cells, he likes to tell jokes around with his friends. In addition, he likes to make fun of people and of course is willing be teased back. He just couldn’t stand a tongue-tied conversation. Everyone loves to have fun, including him. He loves being in merry crowds that he always hosts parties, gatherings during special occasions like birthdays, Chinese New Year and New Year’s Eve. No man is perfect. He has a striking weakness, a mind that is rather easily influenced by others. Whenever his decision or idea is objected by others, he will start to doubt his own judgment and most of the time will affect his final decision. He is now working hard to overcome this problem though.

To him, sports are a must. He strongly believes that a healthy mind comes with a healthy body. Jogging, cycling and futsal are his favourites . However, he loves futsal the most since it will not only give him a chance to sweat like mad but also meet up with his friends. Besides that, he enjoyed listening to music and he prefers sentimental songs because they would ease his mind after a long day of hectic work. Last but not least, he likes to blog and he thinks that one should write down joyful moments and not sorrow times. So instead of blogging about life’s a misery like what many other people did, he prefers to look at the brighter side of life itself.

He now has a big challenge to deal with. It is a test of intelligence, endurance and discipline. He is so fortunate that he receives an oversea scholarship to further his studies to Australia given that he passed this test. However, life is full of tests itself, there are uncountable challenges awaiting him in the future. Despite all the obstacles, he promised that he would appreciate this very opportunity and work hard to achieve his goal - to become a successful architect.

Tor Jiajun.

Working Retired

There are only a few magic numbers in American civic life.You can vote(and get drafted)at age 18.You can drink at 21.You can become president at 35.You can retire at 65.
But on that last one-do Americans really want to?Now that so many Americans are living healthfully until 85,fewer and fewer actually retire at 65.Today there are 5 million people 65 or older in the U.S. labor force,almost twice what there were in the early 1980s.And that number is about to explode.
Some people are working past 65 because they have to:Health care costs are rising,and Social Security payments-at an average of about $1,000 a month-don't cover what they used to.But the bigger trend in Senior Work is the fact that Americans love -and now that we're living longer,we want to work longer too.We just can't get enough.My friend and mentor Harold Burson,the co-founder of the global PR firm Burson Marsteller,where I am CEO,just turned 86,and comes to work every day,bursting with ideas.
On average,Americans work over 1,800 hours per year,substantially more than most workers around the world.Although we get fewer vacation days per year than other Western countries(13 days,compared to 28 in the UK,and 37 in France),we let more than twice as many go unused.And really,what's a vacation to us these days without our BlackBerry?In 2006,almost a quarter of us (23%) checked our work e-mail and voice mail while away-up from just 16% in 2005.A lot of us love to work.
In fact,the impulse to work is so basic that the Fourth Commandment is to take off one day a week.Not working for a day is right up there with not murdering,not committing adultery,and not stealing.We tend to assume that most people want off-waiting all week for the Friday afternoon whistle so they can stream out of work.To be sure,many jobs are terrible-even life-threatening-and people reasonably can't wait to get home.But as work overall has become more managerial,consulting,and software-oriented-and as manufacturing jobs have been on the decline-a lot of people have changed their attitude toward work,and the number of workaholics has skyrocketed.How many times have you heard the old saying that no one ever lay on his deathbed wishing he had spent more time at the office?And yet,a lot of people are doing just that.The sandwich generation is going to be in for a shock when they call their 70-year old parents at the office and find they are just too busy to babysit their grandkids.
Add to America's general obsession with work the fact that it is now the baby boomer generation who is nearing 65,and it becomes clear that the traditional idea of "retirement"-with its gold watch,rocking chair,and golf course-is just about ready for retirement itself.
Boomers reinvented youth in the 1960s and economic success in the 1980s;they are not to do their senior years by someone else's formula.According to a 2005 survey by Merrill Lynch,more than 3 in 4 boomers say they have no intention of seeking a traditional retirement.Rather they look ahead to their 20 more years (when Social Security was created in 1935,a 65 year old could expect just 13 more years)_and they say Bring It On.Some want to keep their health insurance,or have enough funds for the extra years-but more of the boomers surveyed said they wanted to keep working in order to stay mentally and physically active and to stay connected to people.


"Microtrends-the small forces behind tomorrow's big changes" Mark J. Penn (2007)Hachette Book Group

Questions

1. What do the magic numbers of 18,21,35 and 65 represent in American civic life?
The magic numbers above stand for the age level whereby Americans gained a certain special right. Americans are eligible to vote at 18, drink at 21, campaign for president at 35 and retired at 65.

2. Why do some people work past 65?
Some people work past 65 because they have to: The increasing in health care costs and social security payments don't actually cover what they used to. But the bigger trend in Senior Work is the fact that Americans love working and because our life expectancy is on the rise, we tend to prolong our working life.

3. What does the phrase " bursting with ideas"when he comes to work at the age of 86 implies about Mr. Harold Burson?
As we grew older, we gained more valuable experience from our work. The snowballing knowledge granted us a wider horizon on developing new ideas.

4. Give examples to show that American employees are workaholics by choice?
On average,Americans work over 1,800 hours per year,substantially more than most workers around the world.Although they get fewer vacation days per year than other Western countries(13 days,compared to 28 in the UK,and 37 in France),they let more than twice as many go unused. In 2006,almost a quarter of Americans (23%) checked their work e-mail and voice mail while away-up from just 16% in 2005.

5.What is the tone of the writer when he mentions that "not working for a day is right up there with not murdering,not committing adultery and not stealing"?
Writer describes in a serious manner when it comes to taking a day off. He matches this action with the other Commandments.

6. What example is given to show that the grandparents of the present generation do not fit with the traditional stereotypical image of grandparents in the past?
The sandwich generation is going to be in for a shock when they call their 70-year old parents at the office and find they are just too busy to babysit their grandkids.

7.Explain in your own words the sentence"it becomes clear that the traditional idea of "retirement"-with its gold watch,rocking chair,and golf course-is just about ready for retirement itself."
The relaxing life that one will lead when one comes across the age of retirement is gradually been replaced by work.

Classifying Thinkers

-Last edited on 2nd January 2010 at 4pm.

We don't really know how to define intelligence. However, this does not discourage some people from categorizing others according to their intelligence or lack of it. In his essay, "Thinking as a hobby," author William S. Golding does exactly this. Golding divides people into three categories: grade-three thinkers, grade-two thinkers, and grade-one thinkers.

According to Golding, 90 percent of the population represents the largest category, called grade-three thinkers. These people are docile. They follow orders and they obey other people's wishes. They never learn to think for themselves and cannot distinguish truth from lies. A dictator could take control of them and make them do whatever he wanted, as if they were sheep. The resulting mob would be brutal and ugly.

Grade-two thinkers, Golding's second category, are less likely to be influenced by a dictator. These grade-two thinkers, who make up 9 percent of the population, see corruption in the world. For example, grade-two thinkers may question the honesty of religion or political institutions,but they fail to find new ideals to believe in.

The remaining 1 percent of the population are what Golding calls grade-one thinkers. They not only see corruption, but they also know how to seek truth. Their lives are defined by beauty, wisdom and knowledge. Such thinkers are creative and imaginative geniuses, like Mozart, Michelangelo, and Einstein, who opened new worlds in music, art and science.

One wonders in which category Golding would place himself. Surely not among the "sheep"! Golding may prefer to believe that intelligence prevents people in the top tenth percentile of the population from following political dictators, but the number of doctors, teachers, lawyers, and writers in many countries who were willing supporters of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao shows that this belief is incorrect. In fact, sometimes the common sense and compassion of the ordinary man is all that stands between civilization and barbarism. As one of the so-called sheep, I say bah to Mr. Golding!


Answer the Questions:

1. Circle the thesis statement. How does Golding classify people?

Thesis statement is : In his essay, "Thinking as a hobby" author William S. Golding does exactly this.
Golding classify people into three categories: grade-three thinkers, grade-two thinkers and grade-one thinkers.


2. Underline the topic sentence of each body paragraph.

i)According to Golding, 90 percent of the population represents the largest category, called grade three thinker.

ii)Grade-two thinkers, Golding's second category, are less likely to be influenced by a dictator.

iii)The remaining 1 percent of the population are what GOlding calss grade-one thinkers.


3. How does the author describe 90 percents of the population? The remaining 9 percent? The final 1 percent?

The author explains that 90 percents of the population are submissive, obey orders blindly and never think for themselves. The remaining 9 percent, however could notice corruption in the world but never try to seek new believes. The last 1 percent are those who could spot corruption and able to find truth.


4. Underline the examples used in the third body paragraph to describe "Grade-one thinkers."

Mozart, Michelangelo and Einstein.


5. What is the writer's opinion of Golding's essay? In which paragraph do you find this opinion?

Writer finds that Golding's point of view is denied by the current situation in the world. In fifth paragraph.


6. What support (facts, examples) are used in the conclusion to argue the writer's point of view?

....but the number of doctors, teachers, lawyers, and writers in many countries who were willing supporter of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao shows that this belief is incorrect.

Phrasal verb

Phrasal verb

verb + preposition/s
eg. : run down
run out of
run into

1. Guess who I ran [into] at the club!
2.She's always running [down] her husband.
3.I need to go to the market.I've run [out] of oil,meat and rice.

Put in a suitable preposition in each space.

1. Hundreds of people turned [up] in the rain to see the celebrity.
2.Most of my time is taken [up] with answering the phone.
3.Don't be put [off] by the price,a cool $ 20,000.
4.Something funny is going [on].
5.I think she made [up] the whole story!
6.Not many people turned [up] for the last lecture.
7.Don't worry,you can count [on] me.

Word collocation

A collocation is two or more words which often go together.

Natural English Unnatural English

fast food quick food

a quick shower a fast shower

(Tip:when you learn a new word,write down other words that collocate with it)

Eg.: make + the bed/ time/breakfast/friends/fun/a joke/money


Exercise

Both options make sense.Underline the one which forms a common collocation

1. Many small houses and huts were (flooded away/washed away) when the river bursts its banks.

2.Poor farming methods are responsible for soil (devaluation/erosion )in many areas of Saharan African.

3.During the earthquake,many people were( buried/covered )alive.

4.The forest fire left a wide area of the mountainside blackened and (ablaze/smouldering).

5.Villagers are hoping for rain this month after nearly a year of (dry weather/drought.)

6. Before the hurricane struck,many people were (evacuated/shifted) to higher ground.

7.Thousands of children in the famine-stricken area are suffering from (malnutrition/undernourishment).

10.Heavy snow has fallen in the mountains and many villages have been (blocked out/cut off) for the past two days.

11.The Aids (epidemic/plague) is having serious effects in some countries.

12.Many small islands in the Indian Ocean are threatened by rising sea (waters/levels).

Loony Teens

What does the cartoon have to say about teenagers and their lives?

1. How does the teenager feel about exam tension?

He feels confident for the final since he had made a proper preparation. However, after he receives the exam paper and glances part of the questions, his mind becomes blank (his brain jumps out from his head). This shows that his preparation before the exam gone with tension dominates his mind.


2. In what way there is a communication gap between teenager and his parents?

Perhaps it is because the difference between the school life of a teenager and that of his parents many years back then. My dad used to tell me about the his school life when he was a teenager, every day he would spend his time playing with friends and chit-chatting in school and every day was a different story to begin with. Unlike youngster these days, every day they have to cope with tons of homework and exams. Their school life was like a routine as been mentioned by the mother of the teenager. That is why the teenager asked back his dad, "How was blinking/digesting/breathing/chewing/swallowing?" (routine done by human body)


3. What point is the teenager trying to get across to his father in this cartoon?

In my opinion, he is trying to say that the internet is often down and his father did nothing to fix it. His father seems to ignore the problem every time he reports it to him. So, perhaps he needs to think of many different ways in order to persuade his father to fix the internet.


4. In what way does the father understand his son well?

He realizes that the school life his son is having now is so much different compared to his many years ago. He is aware of the dullness and boredom of his son's school time, fully occupied by homework and exams.

Create your own slogan/tag line for the advertisement.

Refer to here.




I hope I fulfilled the task. =)