portfolio - reading articles

Name: Bui Bich PhuongClass: E2

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI

University of languages and international

studies

Faculty of English Languages and Teacher

Education

Fast Tract Division

READING PORTFOLIO

Student: Bui Bich PhuongClass: 11E2

Hanoi, 2012

Table of contentsWe

ekTopic Tittle Source

READING PORTFOLIO


2 Literature Mart Twain webside3 Nutrition Diet and nutrion for women webside

4 Physiology Do Teens Need Less Shut-Eye than We Think?

TIME magazine

5 Fashion Paris Fashion Week: Roland Mouret autumn/winter 2012

FASTION magazine

6 Psychology Three Things That Maintain Anxiety

Psychologytoday

magazine7 Science

GSR: How Do You Know You're Right?

FORENSICmagazine

9 Business Recipe for a Successful Business:

Growing success

TIME Magazine

10 Neuroscience

Scientists Uncover Clue to Preventing, and Possibly Reversing, Rare Childhood Genetic Disease

SCIENCEDAILY

magazine

11 Oceanograghy

Widespread AdaptabilityCoral Reefs May Be Able to

Adapt to Climate Change With Help from Algae

SCIENCEDAIL

Y Magazine:

12 Engineering Brian’s bridges BOOK “Don’t throw this away! The civil engineering life”

13 Dedicine Discovery Provide Blueprint for New Drugs That Can Inhibit

Hepatitis C Virut

SCIENCEDAILY

magazine

14 Marketing Marketing in china FINANCE Magazine

WEEK 2- LITERATURE

READING PORTFOLIO


Mark Twain Source: www.the famouspeople.com/profiles/mark-twain.

Famous as Author and Humorist

Born on 30 November 1835 in Florida, Missouri

Died on 21 April 1910

Nationality United States

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was

an American author, essayist, lecturer and humorist who wrote a series of

famous books including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of

Tom Sawyer. Mark's first important work, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of

Calaveras County was first published in the New York Saturday Press and

became a bestseller within a short span of time. He also wrote a series of

travelogues including the bestselling The Innocents Abroad- that came in 1869-

and notable short stories such as Advice for Little Girls and The Celebrated

Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County which earned him the worldwide fame and

appreciation as a writer. Most of all, the author is known for his notable and

insightful satires that gained him reverence from both critics as well as his

contemporaries who call him the 'father of the English literature'.

Childhood & Early Life

Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 in Florida,

Missouri in the United States. He was the sixth of seven children of his father, a

country merchant John Marshall Clemens and mother Jane Lampton Clemens

and only three of his siblings could survive into their adulthood. At age four, Mark

along with his family, moved to a port town Hannibal, situated on the bank of

world’s second largest river Mississippi.

Mark’s father John Clemens died of pneumonia in 1847, and the family was

left in financial upheaval. An eleven year old Mark took a job of typesetter in

1851, to aid the family during its hard pressed finance and began contributing

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articles and humorous sketches for the Hannibal Journal a newspaper run by his

brother Orion. At age 18, Mark twain left this job and became a printer in New

York City.

As a child, Mark Twain received no formal schooling, but a keen learner, he

widened his circle of knowledge by finding information in public libraries. It was

his traveling to New Orleans in 1857, that he grew immensely fascinated with the

steamboats and became an apprentice cub river pilot, earning his license in

1858. While working as a successful river pilot, he developed a huge attachment

for the river, which would become a subject of his books in later life. He lost his

brother Henry in 1858, who was also working with him on the boat.

Travels and Early Career

With the outbreak of Civil War in 1861, route on the Mississippi was blocked

and he had to move to the silver mining town of the Carson City with his brother

Orion. They traveled to the Rocky Mountains and many places including the

Mormon community in Salt Lake City and ending at the silver mining town of

Virginia City, Nevada. Here Mark experimented with the work of mining but failed

miserably and finally got a job at a Virginia City newspaper, the Territorial

Enterprise. In year 1863, Mark wrote the first humorous account of his travel.

Mark next journeyed to San Francisco, where he began to work as a journalist

and lecturer. In 1867, he traveled to Europe and the Middle East and wrote a

collection of travel letters in 1869, which became known as The Innocents

Abroad. He wrote some notable short stories during this period including Advice

for Little Girls and The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County.

Mark Twain as a Writer

Twain as a writer initiated with humorous and light verse but embarked on

more serious and harsh subjects in his later career. His one of the important

works in this category was Huckleberry Finn, which combined humor and social

criticism. Aside from this, he wrote several travelogues and lectures. A Tramp

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Abroad(1880), his first travelogue and a satirical account of his travels to

Germany, Italy and the Alps, was a sequel to his early work Innocent abroad and

was next followed by The Prince and the Pauper in 1882. Mark wrote his first

important work, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County In year 1865,

which was first published in the New York Saturday Press and became a

bestseller within a short span of time. Yet many of his work were suppressed,

censored or banned in America for various reasons. In 1888, Mark Twain was

awarded the Master of Art degree from Yale University.

Later Life

Towards the end of his life, Mark Twain traveled and lectured actively. During

this period he lost money in many bad investment schemes like mining and

printing machines thus acquiring a huge debt. In 1895, he set off on a world tour

to Australia, Canada, India and New Zealand and only returned when he was

able to pay off the debt. Though he suffered from many losses in his personal

life, he never lost his sense of humor and talent as a writer. Meanwhile, he had

written the famous series Tom Sawyer Abroad in 1894 followed by Tom Sawyer,

Detective in 1896. Mark suffered from yet another emotional set back when his

daughter Susy died of meningitis in 1896. Olivia’s death in 1904 and Jean’s

death in 1909 further deepened his pain and left him in the depth of despair.

In 1901, Yale University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for

his literary efforts and he received the same award from Oxford University in

1907. The same year, he published two books- A Horse’s Tale and Christian

Science. Now a celebrated novelist and much more admired author, he enjoyed

a huge section of followers and wrote around thirty books, essays and short

stories. He was also a guest of the then American president Theodore Roosevelt

at the White House. After the death of his wife and daughter Susy, Mark moved

to his home in Redding, Connecticut in 1908.

Death

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Mark Twain died of a heart attack on 21 April 1910 in Redding in Connecticut

and now rests at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, New York, where his wife

and other children were buried. He was survived by his daughter Clara.

*****

I. The reflection on the article

This article is very excellent, I think, because the writer shows quite enough

interesting and exact information about one of the famous authour on literature - Mark

Twain: his life from the childhood to adutlhood until death, his career, his family and his

achievements. The article’s instruction is very clear with 5 main ideas: Childhood &

Early Life, Travels and Early Career,Mark Twain as a Writer, Later Life , Death.

The reporter gives quite many examples to make clear the achievements of Mark

Twain. He makes reader feel so interested and attracted in the article. Moreover, he

presents information very clear that helps readers can understand and reach the main

content of each paragraph as well as the whole article. He uses a large range of

vocabulary and sentence structure. I can learn so much from his idiosyncrasy, for

instane how to present information about a famous person and how to make impression

on reader.

II. Vocabulary and structure:

1. pen name (n): a name used by a writer instead of their real name.

ex. he’s better known by his pen-name Mark Twain

2. bestseller(n): a product, usually a book, which is bought by large number

of people.

ex. it has been on the New York Times best-seller list for thirty-seven weeks.

3. notable (adj): deserving to be noticed or to receive attention; important

ex. with a few noable exceptions, everyone gave something.

4. be known for sth (n): be famous for sth

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insightful (adj): showing a clear understanding of a person or situation.

ex. one particular author seems to be more insightful than the rest.

5. satire(n): a way of criticizing a person, an idea or an institution in which

you use humour to show their faults or weaknessesl a piece of writing that uses

this type of criticism.

ex. the novel is stinging satire on American politic.

6. comtemporary (adj): belong to the same time

ex. we have no comtemporary account of the battle.

7. merchant (n): a person who beys or sells goods in large quantities,

especially one who imports and exports goods/ a person who likes a particular

activity.

ex. - he is a speed merchant

- Venice was once a city of rich merchants.

8. port town (n): a town with a harbour, especially one where ships load and

unload goods.

ex. He lived in a port town.

9. pneumonia (n): a serious illness affecting one or both lungs that makes

breathing difficult.

ex. He died of pneumonia.

10. be left in financial upheaval ( mất khả năng tài chính): a big change in

finance that causes a lot of confusion, worry and problem.

ex. after his father had died, his family was left in finacial upheaval.

11. immensely (= extremly, very much) fascinated (= very interested)

ex. I’ve always been immensely fascinated by his ideas.

12. apprentice (n): a young person who works for an employer for a fixed

period of time in order to learn the particular skills needed in their job.

(v): to make sth an apprentice.

ex. has was apprenticed to his uncle as a carpenter.

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13. travelogue (n): a movie/ film, broadcast or piece if writing about travel.

ex. he has just published a travelogue

14. censor (v): to remove the parts of a book, film/ movie. etc. that are

considered to be offensive, immoral or a political threat.

ex. the news reports had been heavily censored.

15. sequel (n): a book. film/ movie, play, etc. that continues the story of an

earlier one.

ex. A sequel to the hit movie “ Madagascar” will be published next time.

16. to died of sth = died because of (a reason)

17. meningitis (n): a serious disease in which the tissues surrounding the

brain become infected and swollen, causing severe headache, fever ad

sometimes death.

ex. his is suffering from viral meningitis.

18. despair (n): the feeling of having lost all hope.

idom: be the depair of sb: yo make sb worried or unhappy, because they can

not help.

ex. my handwriting was the despair of my teachers

19. embarked on/ upon sth: to start to do sth new or difficult

ex. she is about to embark on a diplomatic career.

WEEK 3 - NUTRITION

Diet and nutrion for womenSource:

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_women_nutrition.htm

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_women_nutrition.htm


Tip 1: Eat to control cravings and boost energy

Your diet has a major effect on your food cravings, your stress levels, and your

energy throughout the day. By making smart food choices and developing

healthy eating habits, you’ll find it much easier to stay slim, control cravings, and

feel energetic all day long.

Eat breakfast. Get your metabolism going in the morning by eating a

healthy breakfast. Studies show that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less

than those who skip it. A solid breakfast provides energy for the day.

Eat regularly. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so

aim to eat something at least every 3-4 hours. Support your body’s natural cycle of energy by

eating a substantial breakfast, a nutritious lunch, a snack around 2 pm (to compensate for the

body’s natural low point that occurs around 3 each afternoon), and a light early dinner.

Cut the junk. The ups and downs that

come with eating sugary snacks and simple

carbohydrates cause extreme swings in energy

level and mood. Cutting out these foods can be

tough, but if you can resist for several days,

your cravings will subside.

Focus on complex carbohydrates.

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such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain

breads, and bananas boost your “feel-good” serotonin levels without a crash.

They also provide plenty of fiber, so you feel full much longer.

Tip 2: Get plenty of good carbs

You may think that they key to losing weight or avoiding weight gain is cutting

out carbohydrates. But carbs, like fats, are a vital part of a healthy diet. They give

you the fuel you need to get through your day, fight fatigue, and stay feeling full.

The key is to choose

Complex carbohydrates—the “good carbs”—have not been stripped of their

fiber and nutrients. Because they’re rich in fiber, they keep you full longer and

help with weight control. Good sources of complex carbs include whole grains

such as whole grain brown rice, stone ground whole wheat, millet, or quinoa, as

well as beans, other legumes, fruit, and vegetables.

Simple carbohydrates—the “bad carbs”—have been stripped of their fiber and

many of their nutrients. Simple carbs lead to a dramatic spike in your blood

sugar, followed by a rapid crash. These carbs are much less efficient at filling

you up and keeping you energized. Simple carbs include white flour, white rice,

and sugary foods.

Complex carbohydrates:

Leave you full and satisfied

Are packed with nutrients

Provide long-lasting energy

Simple carbohydrates:

Leave you hungry for more

Are mostly empty calories

Provide only short-lived energy

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Tip 3: Don’t cut out the fat!

Many women have been led to believe that dietary fat is unhealthy and will

contribute to weight gain. But fats are a necessary part of a healthy diet. What

really matters are the types of fat you eat.

Women need healthy fats in their diet to look and feel great

Healthy fats boost your brain power and mood. Fats are essential to

healthy brain function. They put you in a good mood and keep you mentally

sharp.

Healthy fats promote healthy pregnancies. When you’re pregnant, both

you and your growing baby need healthy fat to feel your best. Fat is especially

important to your baby’s developing brain and nervous system.

Healthy fats contribute to lifelong beauty. Fats are essential for vibrant,

glowing skin, hair, and nails. A lack of healthy fats in your diet can lead to dull,

flaky skin, brittle nails, and dry or easily-damaged hair.

Healthy fats help control cravings. Because fat is so dense in calories, a

little goes a long way in making you feel full. Small amounts of good fats like nuts

or seeds make great satisfying snacks.

Fats lower the glycemic index of foods, easing the spike in blood sugar

that results from eating carbohydrates.

You need fat in order to absorb certain vitamins. Many important

vitamins—including vitamins A, D, E, and K—are fat-soluble, meaning you need

fat in your system in order to absorb them.

*****


This article provides us with useful advices about diet and nutrition for women

which help them keep the fit and have a perfect body. This article talk about the

tips of diet anf nutrition for women.

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- Tip 1: eat to control cravings and boost energy.

- Tip 2: eat plenty of good crads

- Tip 3: don’t cut to fat

To make each tip clearer, he gives some supporting ideas and examples. After

reading this article, I get more knowledge and know how to keep fit in right way

and what a food nutrion is . I realise that I have had incorrect opinion about diet

nutrion. I think, like me, many people, especially women feel interested in it

because of its value.

Bases on the article, you can see that the writer has a clear range of

knowledge about nutrition

II. Vocabulary

1. metabolism (n) : a chemical processes in living things that change food,

etc. into energy and meterials growth ( sư trao đôi chất)

ex: The body’s metabolism is slowed down by extreme cold.

2. serotonin (n): a chemical in the brain that affects how messages are sent

from the brain to the body, and also affects how a person feel. ( C12H22N20).

3. fiber (n): the part of food that help to keep a person heathy by keeping the

bowels working and moving other food quickly through the body

ex: Dried fruits are especially high in fiber.

4. quinoa : a South American plant, grown for its seeds, uses as food and to

make alcoholic drinks, the seeds of the quinoa plant.

ex. Quinoa is a plant that are growth a lots in Andes area.

5. craving (n):a strong desire for sth

ex: He has a craving to see the world.

*****

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WEEK 4 - PHYSIOLOGY

Do Teens Need Less Shut-Eye than We Think?- By Alexandra Sifferlin -

Source: TIME magazine,

Date: Feb 21th 2012

Between extracurricular activities, homework and late-night Facebooking,

many teens aren’t catching the nightly sleep’s hours they need. Or are they?

Although national guidelines recommend that teens get at least 8.5 hours of

sleep a night — a bar that few teens actually meet — a new study suggests that

they may not require as much shut-eye as we thought, at least not if performance

on standardized tests is any measure.

In their report published in the current issue

of the Eastern Economics Journal, researchers

from Brigham Young University analyzed a

nationally representative sample of 1,724

students and compared the amount of sleep

they reported getting to their standardized test

scores. Sixteen-year-olds scored best on only

7 hours of sleep a night, it turns out. For 12-

year-olds, the optimal amount of sleep was

slightly over 8 hours, and for 10-year-olds it

was about 9 hours.

“If your kid’s not getting nine hours of sleep, maybe you don’t have to worry so

much,” study author and Brigham Young University economist Mark Showalter

told MSNBC, especially if he’s not actually sleep deprived.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/17/10436995-how-much-sleep-do-teens-really-need-maybe-less-than-you-think

http://www.palgrave-journals.com/eej/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/eej201133a.html#bib4

http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.htm

http://healthland.time.com/author/asifferlin/


MORE: 10 Risky Behaviors More Common in Sleepy Teens

So where does the nine-hours standard come from? The researchers believe

the current sleep recommendations date back to a 1970s Stanford University

study of teens and their sleep patterns. In that study, teens were brought to a lab

a few days a year for three years and told to sleep as long as they wanted. But,

of course, how much teens want to sleep and how much they need to sleep are

two different things.

“We couldn’t find much scientific empirical backing for the common

recommendations,” Showalter told MSNBC. His findings fall in line with a

separate study published in Pediatrics last week that looked more than 100 years

of reported sleep duration in kids. That study concluded that no matter how much

sleep kids have historically gotten, it was always assumed that they weren’t

getting enough. The study also found that sleep recommendations have always

been pretty subjective.

Healthland’s Bonnie Rochman reported:

In reality, there is almost no evidence about how much sleep kids truly need to

function their best. “We think for no particularly good reason that kids need more

sleep than they’re getting,” says [senior author Tim Olds, a professor of health

sciences at the University of South Australia in Adelaide]. “Every so often a group

of blokes get together and say, What do you recommend, boys? Should we push

it up to 9 hours, 15 minutes? It really is like that, honestly. It’s an arbitrary public-

health line in the sand that people draw.”

MORE: A History of Kids and Sleep: Why They Never Get Enough

That being said, it’s entirely likely that teens aren’t getting enough sleep — it’s

just that there isn’t good scientific evidence of that. But while chronic lack of

sleep has been tied to many ill health effects, including increased risks of

depression and weight gain, it looks like getting less than a full 9 hours shouldn’t

hinder test scores. No more excuses, teens.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/13/a-history-of-kids-and-sleep-its-never-enough/

http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/13/a-history-of-kids-and-sleep-its-never-enough/

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/17/10436995-how-much-sleep-do-teens-really-need-maybe-less-than-you-think

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7403744?dopt=Abstract&holding=npg

http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/29/10-risky-behaviors-more-common-in-sleepy-teens/



Nowadays, most of teens don’t spend enough time on sleeping, although they

know it’s useful for their health . This article gives us much useful information

about sleep. For instance, Chronic lack of sleep has been tied to many ill health

effects. It helps us know more about importance of getting enough sleep that is

very neccesary for teens. After reading this article, I see that it’s necessary for

myself to spend at least a half of hour sleeping in the noon as well as sleeping

gets enough 8 hours per day to good for my health. The reporter persuades

reader with many examples, evidences ( particular figures, quotations),

especially, quotation the ideas opinion of both researchers, scientists and

teens. However, I think the main ideas of this article are not very clear which

make reader feel confused to realize main content of each part.

II. Vocabulary and sentence structure

1. extracurricular (adj): not part of the usual course of work or studies

at a school or college.

Ex. Schools and colleges often hold extracutticular activities to help students

enlarge their knowledge.

2. shut-eye (n): sleep ( imformal)

Ex: According to reporter, teens may not require as much shut-eye as we

thought.

3. standardized (v): to make objects or activities of the same type

have the same features or qualities, to make sth standard.

Ex: Teacher should give students standardized lesson to make them better.

4. optimal = optimum (adj): the best possible, producing the best

possible result.

Ex: we aim for optimal efficiency in all our operations.

5. bloke = man (n)

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Ex: He seems like a nice bloke.

6. chronic (Adj): having had a disease for a long time

7. duration (n): the length of time that sth lasts or continues

Ex: His house was used as a hospital for the duration of the war.

8. arbitrary (adj): (of an action, decision, etc): not seeming to be

based on reason, system or plan and sometimes seeming unfair.

Ex: The choice of players for the team seemed to be completely arbitrary.

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WEEK 5 - FASHION

Paris Fashion Week: Roland Mouret autumn/winter 2012

- Lisa Armstrong -

Source: FASHION magazine

Date: March 2nd 2012

Mouret debuted his first line of shoes at his Paris Fashion Week show today.

In order to qualify as a global fashion brand, a label

must sell more than clothes. Accessories are a given.

After more than ten years in the business, Roland

Mouret, the British based designer who brought us the

Galaxy and Moon dresses, as worn by every celebrity

from Rachel Weisz and Keira Knightley to Cameron

Diaz, revealed his own world of shoes in Paris today.

"I know how to drape fabric but I had to learn a

whole new subject in the form of engineering," said

Mouret backstage.

"One of the hardest things is finding good factories. The best are in Italy and

France, but often working at full capacity for big names".

Mouret's shoes are being manufactured by Robert Clergerie, a middling

sized French shoe label that enjoyed considerable success in the 1980s doing

masculine-styled shoes for women, but which waned recently, as shoes became

higher and sexier.

Earlier this year Clergerie announced its new designer: Roland Mouret. His

first collection for the brand, with a strong 1940s feel, but with contemporary

proportions (i.e. lots of height) will arrive in stores in late summer. The

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http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/lisa-armstrong/


partnership also enables him finally to have a separate shoe collection, under his

own name - also high, also with (concealed) platforms, and with a heel shape

and last that spell out the initial R when viewed from the side.

But can an ingenue bring anything new to footwear?

"Comfort," he retorts, "It's to do with balance, the angle of the last - not just the

heel. I've spent a lot of time listening to what women want," he says, "and they're

not giving up on heels any time soon. But they're tired of suffering".

The other step towards brandifation is to hire a lavish venue - and

transform it. Mouret did that too as he clad the ornately gilded walls of the Hotel

Intercontinental's ballroom with rough wooden planks.

"It's supposed to evoke what you do to a precious building when you want to

protect it in a war,' he explained.

If it looked more like a Club Med ski chalet , that suited the first few outfits

perfectly, since they featured faint tracings of reindeer or fawn prints and came in

an icy blue shade which could have been Wallis Simpson blue, but which Mouret

said was Dior blue (don't say he's auditioning for that job too).

Mouret's silhouette has loosened considerably since the suction-packed

hourglass of the Galaxy and Moon, but it's still tailored and intensely feminine,

with loving attention paid to a woman's rear. "You have to be really confident

about your tush to wear that", observed one front rower as a Dior blue dress, with

a zip right up the back, sashayed past. Either that or invest in Spanx.

*****


Roland Mouret, the British based designer who brought us the Galaxy and

Moon dresses, debuted his first line of shoes at his Paris Fashion Week show.

The article talk about Mouret’s shoes, its history and features. This article gives

reader more information about designer Mouret and his shoes label in New York

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fashion week. After reading this artcle, I get more interesting information about

fashion in the world which I have seemed to care of before. I think, readers,

especially women will feel so interested in this article because it mentions about

fashion which is a popular and interesting topic. However, I don’t like it so miuch

because the writer’s expression is not very good, it’s not have clear ideas. There

fore, it’s hard for me to find the main ideas of each paragraph.


1. manufactured (v) : to make goods in large quatities, using machinery

ex: this company manufactures the equipments use to make contact lenses.

2. brand (n): a type of product made by a particular company.

Ex. Which brand of toothpaste do you use?

3. drape (v) to cover or decorate sth/sb with metarial/

4. fabric (n): a material made by weaving wool, cotton. Silk,etc, used for

making curtain, clothes, etc. and for covering furniture.

Ex. Some silk fabric will drape beautifully.

5. masculine (adj): having qualities or appearance considered to be typical

of men, connected with or like men

ex. He was handsome, strong and very masculine.

6. contemporary (Adj): belonging to the same time.

Ex. He was contemporary with the dramatist Congreve

7. proportion (n): the relationship of one thing to another in size, amount,

etc.

ex.

8. platform (n): the flat surface raised above the level of ground or floor,

used by public speakers or performers so that the audiences can see them.

Ex. Coming onto the platform now is tonight’s conductor, Bich Phuong

9. initial (adj): happen at the beginning, first.

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Ex. In the initial stage (= at the beginning) of the campaign

10. retort (v): to reply quickly to a comment, in an angry, offended or

humorous way.

Ex. Sam retorted that it’s my fault as much as his.

11. ingenue (v): an innocent young woman, especially in a film or play.

Ex. Can an ingenue bring anything new to footwear?

12. gilded (adj): cover with a thin layer or gold or gold paint

ex. He bought a gilded picture frame.

13. lavish (adj): large in amount, impressive, usually costing a lot of money.

Ex. They live in a lavish lifestyle.

14. venue (n): a place where people meet for an organized event, for

example, a concert, sporting event or conference.

Ex. The band will be playing in 20 different venues in UK

15. fawn (adj) : light yellowish-brown in color.

Ex. Chicken’s feather is fawn.

16. silhouette (n): a shape of a person’s body or of an object

ex. The dress is fitted to give you a fattering silhouette.

17. intense (adj): having or showing very strong feeling.

Ex. She is intense about everything.

18. arrive in stores: phân phôi đên cac cưa hàng

ex. Pizza is arrives in stores in my town from factory.

19. evoke (adj): bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind.

Ex. This song evoked the memories of her youngth.

20. sashay: to walk in a very confident but relaxed way , especially in order to

be noticed.

Ex. I watched her as she sashayed across the room.

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WEEK 6 – PSYCHOLOGYSimple strategies for handling anxiety and stress

Source: Psychologytoday Magazine

Date: March 19, 2012

Three Things That Maintain Anxiety- Patrick B. McGrath, Ph.D.-

How many times have you had the same conversation with someone over and

over again, and then became frustrated again and again because they did not

follow your advice? I hear about this happening all of the time actually. I hear

about it from therapists that I train who tell me how frustrating it is to work with

anxious patients.

Now, I will agree that it can be frustrating to work with some anxious patients,

but it does not have to be. In fact, some of the best therapy in the world was

designed to treat anxiety disorders. So, treating stressed and anxious people is

not all that difficult if you know what you are doing.

So, I am going to let you all in on a little secret - I am going to tell you what to

do to overcome your stress and anxiety. It is just a few simple steps and you will

be able to make great strides in helping yourself to overcome your fears. And, if

you need any extra help from a therapist, that is fine too, as I will also tell you

where to find good help.

Instead of talking about what is stressful or what is leading you to feel anxious,

you would be better off stopping these three behaviors:

1. Avoidance: If you avoid what it is you fear, you will teach yourself that

the only way to be safe is to avoid what you fear. This is a recipe for disaster,

because you will just avoid more and more things over time instead of learning

how to handle what it is that bothers you.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/fear

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/stress

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapy

http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/patrick-b-mcgrath-phd


2. Reassurance Seeking: If all you do is ask everyone you know if

everything will be OK, you will never learn how to handle things on your own.

This is also a tricky scheme, because if someone tells you that everything will be

OK, and then it turns out not to be, you can blame them for it not turning out well

because they lied to you and told you that everything will be OK.

3. Distraction: If you do have to face whatever it is you fear and you

distract yourself from it, then you never actually learn how to handle it and you

maintain your fear and convince yourself that the only reason you are safe is

because of the distraction that you did.

These three things are actually called safety seeking behaviors, and they are

all performed in order to feel good right now instead of feeling good later on. That

may sound like a good thing, but it really is a very poor way of coping because

people soon become so reliant on these coping strategies that they live only to

feel good in the moment and do not do what they need to do to be well in the

long run. In future posts we will break the safety seeking behaviors down more in

depth and talk about how to overcome them.

If you are in need of help with stress, or are seeing someone and do not feel

that you are making progress, I suggest looking at the "Find A Therapist".

***

I. The inflection on the article:

This article discusses about the simple strategies for handling anxiety and

stress. Writter didn’t directly tell about how to handle, on the other hand, he

pointed three wrong behaviors of almost people, these are avoidance,

reassurance seeking and distraction. With each behavior, he gives interesting

supporting ideas. From those points, he advices readers should avoid those

things. According to me, this article is a good one. I enjoy the way that reporter

shows his ideas which is quite clearly and makes article be coherent. However,

READING PORTFOLIO


the range of vocabulary is not very varied. I think it would be better if writer chose

words more careful to make it more interesting.

II. Vocabulary and structure

1. therapy = psychotherapy (n): the treatment of metal illness by discussing

sb’s problem with them rather than by giving them some drugs.

The treatment of a physical proplem or an illness.

Ex. I went to therapy because my doctor suggested it.

2. Reassurance (n): the fact of giving advices or helps that takes away a

person’s fears or doubts

Ex. Teenagers need love, encouragement and reassurance from their parents.

3. recipe for sth: a method or an idea that seems likely to have a particular

result.

Ex. What is her recipe for success.

His plan are a recipe for disaster.

4. seek (v): to look for sth/sb/ try to obtain or achieve sth.

Ex. People who are unemployed and actively seeking work.

5. reliant (adj): needing sth/ sb in order to survice, be successful, etc.

Ex. The survice has become heavily reliant on government supports

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapy


WEEK 7 – SCIENCE

Issac NewtonSource: http://www.universetoday.com/82052/issac-newton-inventions/

Sir Issac Newton is best know for his laws of motion. Many people’s

knowledge of his scientific contributions stops there. Issac Newtons inventions

contributed a great deal to our current understanding of subjects from optics to

theology and how early scientists were able to view their world.

Sir Issac Newton

In mathematics Issac Newton inventions

included laying the ground work for

differential and integral calculus. His work

was based on his insight that the integration

of a function is merely the inverse procedure

to differentiating it. Taking differentiation as

the basic operation, he produced simple

analytical methods that unified many

separate techniques previously developed to

solve apparently unrelated problems such

as finding areas, tangents, the lengths of

curves and the maxima and minima of

functions.

Issac Newton inventions in mechanics and gravitation were summarized the

Principia. His discoveries in terrestrial and celestial mechanics showed how

universal gravitation provided an explanation of falling bodies on Earth and of the

motions of planets, comets, and other bodies in the heavens. He explained a

wide range of then unrelated phenomena: the eccentric orbits of comets, the

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.universetoday.com/92022/earths-other-moons/

http://www.universetoday.com/87065/astronomy-without-a-telescope-big-rips-and-little-rips/

http://www.universetoday.com/82052/issac-newton-inventions/


tides and their variations, the precession of the Earth’s axis, and motion of the

Moon as perturbed by the gravity of the Sun. This work includes Newton’s three

famous laws of motion, fluid motion, and an explanation of Kepler’s laws of

planetary motion.

Issac Newton inventions in optics included his observation that white light

could be separated by a prism into a spectrum of different colors, each

characterized by a unique refractivity. He proposed the corpuscular theory of

light. He was the first person to understand the rainbow. He was the first person

to use a curved mirror in a telescope to prevent light form being broken up into

unwanted colors.

Isaac Newton inventions and contributions to science were many and varied.

They covered revolutionary ideas and practical inventions. His works in physics,

mathematics and astronomy are still important today. His contributions in any

one of these fields would have made him famous; taken as a whole, they make

him truly outstanding.

.***

I. The reflection on the article:

Here’s an article about Issac Newton – one of the most famous scientists in

the world, who had contributed variety of inventions to science fields such as

mathematics, physics and astronomy. The article introduces achievements which

Newton attemted and their significances to science and life. They help people

totally sees the world, explains strange phenomenons which no one could do

before. According to me, this is a good article because it provide reader with total

knowledge about Newton’s inventions. That shows large knowledge, especially

on science field. I like the way which writter presents his ideas, they are quite

unity and make paragraphs coherent. What’s more, range of vocabulary and

structures are varied so that make article be more interesting.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.universetoday.com/57051/newtons-laws-of-motion/

http://www.universetoday.com/18043/distance-to-the-sun/



1. theology (n): study of religion and beliefs

2. tangent (n): a straigh line that touches the outside of a curve but not cross

it.

Ex. The distance between the centre of a curve and its tangent is as far as its

radius.

3. terrestrial (adj): connected with the planet Earth.

Ex. Terrestrial life is very varied.

4.celestial (adj): of the sky or of heaven.

Ex. The Sun, Moon and stars are celestial.

5.crepuscular (adj): related to the period of the evening when the sun had

just gone down but there is still some light in the sky

ex. I like crepuscular time

6. telescope (n): a piece of equipment shaped like a tube that you look

through to make objects that are far away appear larger and nearer.

Ex. We can look at the stars through the telescope.

7. the eccentric orbits of comets

8. tide (n): a regular of rise or fall in the level of the sea, caused by the full of

the Sun and the Moon; the flow of water that happens as the sea rises and falls.

Ex. Is the tides coming in or going out?

9.perturb (v): to make an obstacle with motion of an object.

Ex. Moon as perturbed by the gravity of the Sun

10. spectrum (n): a range of sound waves or several other types of waves.

Ex. Red and violet are at opposite ends of the spectrum

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.universetoday.com/18043/distance-to-the-sun/


GSR: How Do You Know You're Right?

- By Timothy J. Drake, Ph.D. -

Magazine: Forensic

Date: October 18, 2011

Using integrated SEM-EDX technology to provide automatic, rapid, and

validated results.

As the volume of cases grows and forensic crime labs’ budgets shrink, lab

operations management, technicians, and litigators are all looking for answers

related to gunshot residue (GSR) detection, identification, and characterization.

Lab operations need high throughput solutions that require little oversight or

expertise, yet maintain a high degree of reliability. Lab technicians need easy to

use platforms that generate accurate results and reporting that provides

information and knowledge, not reams of data. And, above all, litigators need

validation of that reporting and those results to give them the confidence they

need to go to court and to ensure that those results will stand up under cross

examination at trial. Integrated scanning electronmicroscopes with energy X-ray

dispersive Spectrometers (SEM-EDX) offer platforms that not only provide GSR

results, but further validate those results through a series of checks and

balances; offering the answer that all three audiences are looking for.

SEM Technology and GSR

SEM-EDX systems are commonly used for imaging comparison and X-ray

microanalysis of trace evidence samples including tool marks, ink, paper, fibers,

hair, and paint coatings. Back in the late 60s forensic laboratories in London

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.forensicmag.com/authors/5393


started to use Scanning ElectronMicroscopes (SEM) for the manual detection

and analysis of Gun Shot Residue particles on a routine basis.

Forty years later, SEMs are still

used in laboratories worldwide for the

detection of GSR particles.

Technological advances, including

the integration of Energy Dispersive

Spectrometers for elemental analysis

(EDX) and a software platform for

automated detection, relocation,

confirmation, and reporting, have

made this the go-to technology for

EDX analysis and imaging of

samples collected from suspect

shooters.

Typically,GSR particles (Figure 1) are composed of lead (Pb), barium(Ba), and

antimony (Sb), and commonly range in size from0.5 to 10microns.They have

varying morphologies and surface textures, but the vast majority are generally

spherical in shape. Ammunition can also be manufactured without lead. Lead-

free ammunition is becoming more prevalent as manufacturers use lead-free or

low-lead propellants to avoid the toxicity of lead .Aluminum(Al) and strontium(Sr)

are often used in lead free cartridges. In addition, Sintox® GSR particles are

characterized by spheroidal particles mainly consisting of titanium(Ti) and zinc

(Zn).

READING PORTFOLIO


I. The inflection on the article

Based on the tittle, reader can see that this article points that Using integrated

SEM-EDX technology is helpful for forensic science, provide automatic, rapid,

and validated results. After reading it, I know more terms of science as well as

enlarge the range of vocabulary and get more knowledge about them. However,

the writer uses so many vocabularies and term of science so it is quite difficult to

understand or event thought I look for new words in dictionary and know the

definition of them as well, I seem to no see what the meaning of whole sentence

is in the first time to read. So I had to spend more time reading and

understanding.

II. Vocabulary and sentence structures

1. litigate (v): to take a claim or disagreement to court.

Litigator : a person who litigate

Ex. Litigate in two different european countries.

2. Residue (n): is a small amount of something that is left behind. (noun)

Ex. When you peel off a tag but there is some sticky stuff left, the sticky stuff is

an example ofresidue.

3. Reliability (n): Variant of reliable that can be relied on; dependable;

trustworthy

Ex. The reliability of these results has been questioned.

4. Validation (n): Variant of validate

1. to make binding under the law; give legal force to; declare legally

valid

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.yourdictionary.com/validate

http://www.yourdictionary.com/reliable


2. to prove to be valid; confirm the validity of; verify

Ex. They didn’t receive any validation of court.

5. reams of sth (n): a large quantities of sth

Ex. He writes reams in the essay.

6. dispersive (adj): describes something that spreads or scatters.

Ex. An example of dispersive equipment is a device used for spreading seeds

in a garden.

7. Spectrometer (n): an instrument used for measuring spectral

wavelengths

Ex. Spectrometer for the detection and quantification of trace compounds in

exhaled breath in real time

8. platforms: a raised horizontal surface of wood, stone, or metal; specif.,

1. a raised stage or flooring beside railroad tracks or

the like

2. a raised flooring or stage for performers,

speakers, etc.

a statement of principles and policies, esp. of a political party

Ex. It aims to tackle the needs of the uk's science, engineering and technology

industry and to create a unified platform and voice.

9. trial (n): a formal examination of evidence in court by judge and often a jury,

to decide if sb accused of a crime guilty or not.

Ex. He is on trial for murder.

10. morphology (n): Morphology refers to the study of how animals and

plants are formed.

Ex. In order to determine the surface morphology and orientation texture of

the films, scanning electron microscopy, sem, was performed.

11. spherical (adj): shaped like spheres

Ex. The eye is a roughly spherical organ built a bit like a football.

READING PORTFOLIO


12. Ammunition (n): is something that you can use against another person to

get him or her to do something for you or to do what you want.

Ex. An example of ammunition is when you know your little brother snuck in

late and you threaten to tell on him if he doesn't make you breakfast.

13. prevalent (adj): ~ among sb / ~ in sb/sth : that exists or is very common

at a particular time or in a particular place.

Ex. The concentration on bebop did seem disproportionately prevalent in all

forms of education, however.

14. toxicity of lead (n): The quality or condition of being toxic/ The degree to

which a substance is toxic.

Ex. Minor toxicities of this drug include nausea and vomitting.

15. propellants (n): a thing or substance that probels sth, for example the

fuel that fires a rocket.

Ex. Until solid propellants were developed for such big rockets, this was a

universal problem.

16. shrink (v): to become or to make sth smaller in size or amount

Ex. The market for their products is shrinking

READING PORTFOLIO


WEEK 9- BUSINESSRecipe for a Successful Business:

Growing success Magazine: TIME

Date:: December 3, 2007

For many entrepreneurs, starting a business is the culmination of many

years of dreaming and planning. So it is understood that every small business

owner wants their business to flourish and be productive - and that is the reason

that they usually concentrate on growth.

But what many small business owners forget is that the recipe for creating a

successful business is a gradual process in which each stage needs to be

crossed before reaching the next one.

Think Differently

As a small business owner, your main ambition is to grow your company. So,

you want to usher in momentum - and to bring in this momentum into your

business, you need to think differently. You might be chasing success, but what

you may be forgetting is that it is the small successes in between that make way

for larger ones.

Having said that, it is better to redirect your energies towards smaller

successes that will not only move your business ahead, but will motivate you at

the same time.

Believe and Concentrate

READING PORTFOLIO


As an entrepreneur, the success of your business depends largely on you.

That's why you need to learn to have a solid belief in the opportunity that you

have taken to start your business and in your industry as well. Your small

business is only going to work for you if you are ambitious enough to take charge

of your destiny.

You should not look at your business as just another activity. You should also

take it more seriously than a hobby, or a project that you have taken on as a trial

to see if it will work.

Treat your business as your full-time job where failure isn't an option. Really

concentrate on making it successful.

Have a Viable Business Plan

You can start your business on the path to success by creating a business

plan. You should meticulously create a business plan that explains the objectives

of your business, the tactics that you are going to use, the formulas that you want

to apply, the targets that you want to achieve and the monetary figure that you

desire to earn.

All these points should be stated clearly and you should put in your best efforts

to achieve them.

Ingredients of a Business Plan

Your business plan should have a professional summary that will define your

target market. It should include the legal details of your business, which is your

contact address and description of your business - whether it is a partnership,

corporation or some other form. You should also mention in the plan how you are

going to meet your targets and how you are going to beat the competition in the

market.

You should also include a thorough market analysis in your business plan.

This shows that you have studied the market carefully before getting into the

business. Here, you can mention the present trends in your industry and what the

READING PORTFOLIO


demand is for your products and services. Then you can include the prices of

your competitors and how your prices will compete with them.

An important part of your business plan is the financial section, in which you

note the personal funds you have, the capital that you need and how you plan to

repay your debts, if you have any. The financial section should also include your

balance sheet, financial worksheet, and annual income.

Another important aspect of your business that needs to be mentioned in the

business plan is your team - you as the owner, and any partners or associates

that you have and their credentials.

Growing a successful business takes time, hard work and dedication. If you

believe in yourself and the business from the beginning, you will be successful in

short order.

*****


The topic of article mentions the proplem that many people care of: how to be

successful. In the article, reporter supports 4 main tips to be successful in

business, including: Think Differently, Believe and Concentrate, Ingredients of a

Business Plan, Have a Viable Business Plan. These are useful advices for

people who want to be successful in business but don’t know how to do.

According to him, to success, it’s essensial to have goal and a particular plan that

how you get the target. When reading this article, I feel very interested in the

recipes which reporter supported, especially the forth tip: ingrediences in you

business plan which inclues a professional summary that will define your target

market, a thorough market analysis in your business plan, the financial section ,

your team. I also like the way that he shows the ideas is quite clear. Sentence

structures, range of vocabulary are quite good. Thanks to this article, I know

more about recipes to be successful. It may be helpful and essencial for me in

the future.

READING PORTFOLIO


II. Vocabulary and sentence structures

1. entrepreneur (n): a person who makes money by starting or running

businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks!

Ex. A creative entreprenur, he was continually dreaming up new projects

2. culmination (n): the highest point or end of sth, usually happening after a

long time.

Ex. A decision will be taken at the culmination of the research.

3. to usher in sth: to be the beginning of sht or to make sth new begin

Ex. The change of management ushered in fresh ideas or policies.

4. momentum (n): the ability to keep increasing or developing

ex. The campaign for change now has considerable momentum.

5. chase (v): to try to achieve sth like work or success.

Ex. Too many people are chasing too few jobs nowadays.

6. destiny (n): what happen to sh or what ill happen in the future, can not

change or avoid.

Ex. You can not change your destiny.

7. meticulous (adj): paying carefully attention to every detail.

~ in sth/ ~ doing sth / ~ about sth

Ex. She is meticulous about her appearance beforeg going out.

8. monetary (adj): connected with money , especially all the money in the

country.

Ex. The sculptures were of little monetary value.

9. credentials (n): (~ as/ for sb): the qualities, the training or experience that

make you suitable to do sth / a document such as letters prove you that you

are who claim to you and can therefore be trusted

ex. He has all the credentials for the job.

READING PORTFOLIO


10. flourish (adj): to develop quickly and be successful or common

Ex. There was a flourishing black market.

WEEK 10: NEUROSCIENCE

Scientists Uncover Clue to Preventing, and Possibly Reversing,

Rare Childhood Genetic DiseaseMagazine: SCIENCEDAILY

Published: April 1st , 2012

Scientists think they have found a way to prevent and possibly reverse the

most debilitating symptoms of a rare, progressive childhood degenerative

disease that leaves children with slurred speech, unable to walk, and in a

wheelchair before they reach adolescence.

In the April 1 online edition of Nature

Medicine, Karl Herrup, chair of the

Department of Cell Biology and

Neuroscience in the School of Arts and

Sciences provides new information on

why this genetic disease attacks the

cerebellum -- a part of the brain that

controls movement coordination,

equilibrium, and muscle tone -- and

other regions of the brain.

Using mouse and human brain

tissue studies, Herrup and his

colleagues at Rutgers found that in the

Karl Herrup, chair of Cell Biology

and Neuroscience at Rutgers

University. (Credit: Nick Romanenko)

READING PORTFOLIO


brain tissue of young adults who died from axtaxia-telangiectasia, or A-T

disease, a protein known as HDAC4 was in the wrong place. HDAC4 is known to

regulate bone and muscle development, but it is also found in the nerve cells of

the brain

The protein that is defective in A-T, they discovered, plays a critical role in

keeping HDAC4 from ending up in the nucleus of the nerve cell instead of in the

cytoplasm where it belongs. In a properly working nerve cell, the HDAC4 in the

cytoplasm helps to prevent nerve cell degeneration; however, in the brain tissue

of young adults who had died from A-T disease, the protein was in the nucleus

where it attacked the histones -- the small proteins that coat and protect the

DNA.

"What we have found is a double-edged sword," said Herrup. "While the

HDAC4 protein protected a neuron's function when it was in the cytoplasm, it was

lethal in the nucleus."

To prove this point, Rutgers scientists analyzed mice, genetically engineered

with the defective protein found in children with A-T, as well as wild mice. The

animals were tested on a rotating rod to measure their motor coordination. While

the normal mice were able to stay on the rod without any problems for five to six

minutes, the mutant mice fell off within 15 to 20 seconds.

After being treated with trichostation A (TSA), a chemical compound that

inhibits the ability of HDAC4 to modify proteins, they found that the mutant mice

were able to stay on the rotating rod without falling off -- almost as long as the

normal mice.

Although the behavioral symptoms and brain cell loss in the engineered mice

are not as severe as in humans, all of the biochemical signs of cell stress were

reversed and the motor skills improved dramatically in the mice treated with TSA.

This outcome proves that brain cell function could be restored, Herrup said.

READING PORTFOLIO


"The caveat here is that we have fixed a mouse brain with less devastation

and fewer problems than seen in a child with A-T disease," said Herrup. "But

what this mouse data says is that we can take existing cells that are on their way

to death and restore their function."

Neurological degeneration is not the only life-threatening effect associated with

this genetic disease. A-T disease -- which occurs in an estimated 1 in 40,000

births -- causes the immune system to break down and leaves children extremely

susceptible to cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. There is no known cure

and most die in their teens or early 20s. According to the AT Children's Project,

many of those who die at a young age might not have been properly diagnosed,

which may, in fact, make the disease even more common.

Herrup says although this discovery does not address all of the related

medical conditions associated with the disease, saving existing brain cells even

those that are close to death -- and restoring life-altering neurological functions

would make a tremendous improvement in the lives of these children.

"We can never replace cells that are lost," said Herrup. "But what these mouse

studies indicate is that we can take the cells that remain in the brains of these

children and make them work better. This could improve the quality of life for

these kids by unimaginable amounts."

Additionally, Herrup says, the research might provide insight into other

neurodegenerative diseases. "If this is found to be true, then the work we've

done on this rare disease of childhood may have a much wider application in

helping to treat other diseases of the nervous system, even those that affect the

elderly, like Alzheimer's," he said.

*****


READING PORTFOLIO


This article talks about NEUROSCIENCE that is a new item in Science. It’s

clear with 3 main ideas in the title: Scientists Uncover Clue to Preventing,

Possibly Reversing, and Rare Childhood Genetic Disease.

In this article, reporter uses many technical terms in neuroscience so that it’s

quite difficult to understand clearly the content of the article. He shows a large

knowledge, widen range of vocabulary. To explain and make clearly topic, the

writer gives supportings as well as particular examples and quotes the idea of

some scientists. I think this is a good article. Based on it, people can get more

information and knowledge about the new topic of science field. After reading

this article, I enlarge my knowledge about Neuroscience that I never care of

before. Beside, I’ve learnt a lot of good new words in the field of neuroscience.

II. Vocabulary and sentence structure:

1. debilitating (adj): making sb’s body or mind weaker.

Ex. She found the heat debilitating.

2. symptom (n) : a sigh that sth exists, especially sth bad

ex. If symptom persists, consult your doctor.

3. rare (Adj) : existing in small numbers, therefore valuable or interesting

ex. This pieces is extremely rare.

4. degenerative (adj): (of an illness) : getting or likely to get worse as time

passes

ex. The degenerative diseases such as arthritis

5. slurry (n): a thick liquid consisting of water mixed with animal waste, coal

dust or clay.

Ex.

6. adolescence (n): the time in na person’s life when she or he develops

from a child into an adult.

READING PORTFOLIO


Ex. Adolesence brights about major changes in a young person’s body.

7. equilibrium (n): a state of balance, especially between opposing forces or

influences.

Ex. He can’t maintain enough equilibrium to rade a bike

8. plays a critical role in doing

9. nucleus (n): a central part of some cells.

10. nerve (n): any of a long thread that can be carry messages between brain

and parts of the body (dây thần kinh)

- nerve cell: Tê bào thần kinh

ex. At the last minute she almost lost her nerve

11. cytoplasm (n): all the living material in a cell, not including nucleus.

Ex. Tê bào chất

12. histone : 1 loại protein có trong chất tê bào

13. double-edged sword

14. lethal (adj): causing or able to cause o lot of harm or damage.

Ex. He has been sentenced to death by lethal injection.

15. rotating rod

16. caveat (n): a waring that particular things need to be considered before

sth can be done.

Ex. Any dicussion of legal action must be preceded by a caveat on costs.

17. devastation (n): great instruction or damage, especially over a wide area.

Ex. The bomb caused widespread devastation.

18. immune (adj): ~ to sth: that can not catch or be affected by a particular

disease or illness.

Ex. Adults are often immune to German measles

19. susceptible (adj): ~ to sb/sth : very likely to be influenced, harmed or

affected by sth/sb

ex. Some of these plants are more susceptible to frost damage than others

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20. leukaemia (n): a serious disease in which too many white blood cells are

produced, causing weakness, and sometimes death.

- Bệnh bạch hầu

Ex. Leukaemia is one of the most serious diseases.

21. lymphoma (n): cancer of the lymph nodes

- ung thư hệ bạch huyêt

ex. She diesd because of lymphoma

22. tremendous (Adj): very great/ extremely good

ex. It was a tremendous experience.

23. neuroscience (n): a science that deal with the structure and function of

the brain and nervous system.

- Khoa hoc nghiên cứu về hệ thần kinh.

24. neurodegenerative (Adj): ảnh hưởng xấu đên hệ thành kinh.

Ex. I think that accident will be neurodegenerative.

READING PORTFOLIO


WEEK 11: OCEANOGRAPHY

Widespread Adaptability

Coral Reefs May Be Able to Adapt to Climate

Change With Help from AlgaeMagazine: Science Daily

Date: Aprial. 11, 2012

A new study by scientists at the University of Miami's Rosenstial School of

Marine & Atmospheric Science suggests that many species of reef-building

corals may be able to adapt to warming waters by relying on their closest aquatic

partners - algae. The corals' ability to host a variety of algal types, each with

different sensitivities to environmental stress, could offer a much-needed lifeline

in the face of global climate change.

Using a highly sensitive genetic technique,

Ph.D. student Rachel Silverstein analyzed 39

coral species from DNA collected in the Indo-

Pacific and Caribbean collected over the last 15

years. Most of these species had not previously

been thought capable of hosting more than one

type of the single-celled symbiotic algae, called

zooxanthellae, which live inside the coral and

help to supply them with energy.A new study suggests that many

species of reef-building corals may

be able to adapt to warming waters

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Silverstein's results revealed that at least one

colony of all 39 species tested had at least two

varieties of algae, including one thought to be

by relying on their closest aquatic

partners – algae.

heat tolerant. Over half of the species were found to associate with all four of

the major types of algae found in corals.

"This study shows that more coral species are able to host multiple algal

symbionts than we previously thought," said Andrew Baker, associate professor

at UM's Rosenstiel School and co-author of the study. "The fact that they all

seem to be capable of hosting symbionts that might help them survive warmer

temperatures suggests they have hidden potential that was once thought to be

confined to just a few special species."

More than 10 years ago, Baker was one of the first scientists to suggest that

the ability of corals to associate with diverse algal symbionts may be one

mechanism by which they are able to rapidly respond to environmental changes,

such as increased ocean temperatures due to climate change.

"Although our study shows that different coral species do tend to have

preferences in their algal partners, the fact that these preferences are not

absolutely rigid means that we cannot ignore the possibility that most corals

might change partners in response to environmental changes in the future," said

Silverstein.

Globally, reefs have lost more than 70 percent of their corals as a result of

pollution, disease, overfishing, and climate change. Increased temperatures

cause coral "bleaching," in which corals expel their algal partners, turn pale, and

often die. However, some symbionts can resist bleaching in warmer waters and

may help the corals survive during stress. The ability to host multiple symbionts

may help save coral reefs from future losses during expected ocean

temperatures increases of 2-4 degrees Celsius (3-7 degrees Fahrenheit) by

2100.

READING PORTFOLIO


"These new findings should encourage us to find better ways to protect coral

reef ecosystems from overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, and buy us

some time to avoid the worst climate change scenarios," said Baker, who is also

a research associate of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York.

The study was published in the online edition of the journal Proceedings of the

Royal Society B. Adrienne Correa, a former UM Rosenstiel School student of

Baker's and a current postdoc at Oregon State University, is a co-author on the

study, as well. The U.S. National Science Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation

Society, the Lenfest Ocean Program and Pew Fellows Program in Marine

Conservation funded the study.

*****


The article reports a new study by scientists at the University of Miami's

Rosenstial School of Marine & Atmospheric Science about coral reef. Based on

the result of study, the writer provides reader with useful information about this

special kind of animal. I can learn more about the corals' ability to host a variety

of algal types and more coral species are able to host multiple algal symbiont

than we previously thought. Additionally, The status of coral caused of pollution

and increasing of temperature. From that, it’s necessary to protect them.

Reporter supports ideas with opinion of researchers so that it makes article be

clear and belief. Not only help us enlarge knowledge and open the mind, this

article but also teach us how to present a topic, make it clear and help reader

understand. I can also learn many vocabularies that related to Oceanography.

However, I think it will be better if reporter makes main ideas more clear by

putting topic sentences is the first sentence of paragraph.

II. Vocabulary & Sentence Structure:

READING PORTFOLIO


1. Coral reef (n) : a long line of a hard substance that is red, pink or white in

colour, and that forms on the bottom of the sea from the bones of very small

creatures. ( rặng san hô )

Ex. Halong bay is famous for colourful coral reef.

2. algae (n): very simple plants that have no real leaves, stems, roots, and

that grow in or near water. (tảo)

Algal (adj) + only before noun

Ex. Algae is the simplest plant.

3. Zooxanthellae: tảo cộng sinh, vàng lục

4. single-celled (adj): only one cell – the smallest unit of living matter that

can exist on its own. (đơn bào)

ex. Algae is a single-celled plant.

5. hosting symbiont (n): an animal or a plant on which another animal or

plant lives and feed. ( vật chủ)

symbiont / symbiosis (n) : the relationshio between two different living

creatures that live close together and depend on each other in particular ways,

each getting particular benefits from the other. (sinh vật cộng sinh)

Ex.The birds live in symbiosis with the cattle, pichking insects fromm their skin

to eat.

6. to associate with sth/ sb: to make a connection between people or things

in your mind. ( lien kêt)

Ex. I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood.

7. multiple (adj): many in number, involving many different people or

things. (nhiều)

Ex. This study shows that more coral species are able to host multiple algal

symbionts than we previously thought

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8. mechanism (n): a system of parts in a living thing that together perform a

particular function

Ex. The body das defence mechanism against many diseases.

9. Rigid (adj): difficult to change

Ex. They offer rigid principle.

10. Ignore (v) : to pay no attention to sth

Ex. I made a suggestion but they chose to ignore it, as a result their campaing

was collapsed.

11. Overfishing (n): a process of taking so many fish from the sea, a river,

etc. that the number of fish in it becomes very low. (sư khai thac, đanh cạn ca)

Ex. A shortage of tuna, caused of overfishing.

12. Bleach (v): to become white or pale by a chemical process or by the

effect of light from the sun; to make sth white or pale in this way. ( tẩy trắng)

Ex. His hair was bleached by the sun.

13. Pale (adj): light in color; containing a lot of white; having skin that is almost

white because of illness; strongly emotion, etc.( tai nhợt, xanh xao)

Ex. You look pale. Are you OK?

14. expel (~ sth from sth) (v): to force air or water out of a part of the body or

from a container ( tông ra)

ex. Try to expel water from the belly.

15. Ecosystem (n): all the plants and living creatures in a particular area

considered in relation to their physical environment . ( Hệ sinh thai)

Ex. Islands often support delicate ecosystems that evolved without any need

for defence.

READING PORTFOLIO


WEEK 12 – ENGINEERING

Genetic EngineeringHow to Use Light to Control the Brain

- By Stephen Dougherty -

Magazine: Scientific American

Date: March 27, 2012

LIGHT: Scientists can use light to switch on a neuron Image: iStock / kertlis

In the film Amèlie, the main character is a young eccentric woman who

attempts to change the lives of those around her for the better. One day Amèlie

finds an old rusty tin box of childhood mementoes in her apartment, hidden by a

boy decades earlier. After tracking down Bretodeau, the owner, she lures him to

a phone booth where he discovers the box. Upon opening the box and seeing a

few marbles, a sudden flash of vivid images come flooding into his mind. Next

thing you know, Bretodeau is transported to a time when he was in the

schoolyard scrambling to stuff his pockets with hundreds of marbles while a

teacher is yelling at him to hurry up.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.scientificamerican.com/author.cfm?id=3279


We have all experienced this: a

seemingly insignificant trigger, a scent, a

song, or an old photograph transports us

to another time and place. Now a group of

neuroscientists have investigated the

fascinating question: Can a few neurons

trigger a full memory?

In a new study, published in Nature, a group of researchers from MIT showed

for the first time that it is possible to activate a memory on demand, by

stimulating only a few neurons with light, using a technique known as

optogenetics. Optogenetics is a powerful technology that enables researchers to

control genetically modified neurons with a brief pulse of light.

To artificially turn on a memory, researchers first set out to identify the neurons

that are activated when a mouse is making a new memory. To accomplish this,

they focused on a part of the brain called the hippocampus, known for its role in

learning and memory, especially for discriminating places. Then they inserted a

gene that codes for a light-sensitive protein into hippocampal neurons, enabling

them to use light to control the neurons.

With the light-sensitive proteins in place, the researchers gave the mouse a

new memory. They put the animal in an environment where it received a mild

foot shock, eliciting the normal fear behavior in mice: freezing in place. The

mouse learned to associate a particular environment with the shock.

Next, the researchers attempted to answer the big question: Could they

artificially activate the fear memory? They directed light on the hippocampus,

activating a portion of the neurons involved in the memory, and the animals

showed a clear freezing response. Stimulating the neurons appears to have

triggered the entire memory.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.scientificamerican.com/topic.cfm?id=animals

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vnfv/ncurrent/full/nature11028.html


The researchers performed several key tests to confirm that it was really the

original memory recalled. They tested mice with the same light-sensitive protein

but without the shock; they tested mice without the light-sensitive protein; and

they tested mice in a different environment not associated with fear. None of

these tests yielded the freezing response, reinforcing the conclusion that the

pulse of light indeed activated the old fear memory.

In 2010, optogenetics was named the scientific Method of the Year by the

journal Nature Methods. The technology was introduced in 2004 by a research

group at Stanford University led by Karl Deisseroth, a collaborator on this

research. The critical advantage that optogenetics provides over traditional

neuroscience techniques, like electrical stimulation or chemical agents, is speed

and precision. Electrical stimulation and chemicals can only be used to alter

neural activity in nonspecific ways and without precise timing. Light stimulation

enables control over a small subset of neurons on a millisecond time scale.

Over the last several years, optogenetics has provided powerful insights into

the neural underpinnings of brain disorders like depression, Parkinson’s disease,

anxiety, and schizophrenia. Now, in the context of memory research, this study

shows that it is possible to artificially stimulate a few neurons to activate an old

memory, controlling an animals’ behavior without any sensory input. This is

significant because it provides a new approach to understand how complex

memories are formed in the first place.

Lest ye worry about implanted memories and mind control, this technology is

still a long way from reaching any human brains. Nevertheless, the first small

steps towards the clinical application of optogenetics have already begun. A

group at Brown University, for example, is working on a wireless optical electrode

that can deliver light to neurons in the human brain. Who knows, someday,

instead of new technology enabling us to erase memories a la Eternal Sunshine

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.scientificamerican.com/topic.cfm?id=depression

http://www.stanford.edu/group/dlab/about_pi.html

http://blogs.nature.com/grrlscientist/2011/01/04/optogenetics-nature-methods-2010-method-of-the-year


of the Spotless Mind, we may actually undergo memory enhancement therapy

with a brief session under the lights.

*****


This article shows many information about genetic engineering – one of new

engineering fields. Based on many studies in renown universities and groups ,

reporter provides interesting knowledge as scientific researchers. He uses a wide

range of scientific terms that make readers feel difficult to understand. To make

it clear, he presents a new study, published in Nature, a group of researchers

from MIT. For example, reader can know more about optogenetics is a powerful

technology that enables researchers to control genetically modified neurons with

a brief pulse of light. I’m interested in this article, not only because of its content,

but also manner of expessing of the writer. It’s really impressive. In addition,

introduction part is quite attracting and interesting. What’s more, the article gives

me a lot of good new words in the field of engineering

II. Vocabulary & Sentence Structure

1. eccentric (adj): considered by other people to be strange or

unusual.

ex. The old lady was getting very eccentric.

2. to lures sb to sth: to persuade or trick sb to go somewhere or to do sth

by promising them a reward.

Ex. The woman that had lured him to his death.

3. to come flooding into/ in sth: to arrive or go mind in a large number.

Ex. Telephone calls came flooding in from all over the country.

READING PORTFOLIO

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vnfv/ncurrent/full/nature11028.html


4. to yell at sb to do sth: to shout loudly, for example, when you’re angry,

excited, frighten or in pain.

Ex. She yelled at the child to get down from the wall.

5. marble (n): a small ball of colored glass that children roll along a ground

in a game.

Ex. Three boys are playing marbles.

6. scent (n): the pleasant smell that sth has (flower, perfume, etc.).

Ex. The air is filled with the scent of wild flowers.

7. fascinating (adj): extremely interesting and attractive.

Ex. The end of this story makes fascinating reading.

8. optogenetic: is a powerful technology that enables researchers to control

genetically modified neurons with a brief pulse of light.

9. pulse of light : a single short increase in the amount of light produced by

a machine.

Ex. The pulse of light is influent to control the brain.

10. To artificially turn on a memory: created by people, not happening

naturally, not real

11. hippocampus: (n): either of the two areas of the brain thought to be the

centre of emotion or memory. ( đồi hải mã – thuộc não bộ)

12. discriminating (adj): able to judge the good quality of sth. (sang suôt, có

nhận thức đúng đắn)

Ex. They are very discriminating about what restaurants they go to.

You should be discriminating about the order to do the project.

13. to elicit sth from sb: to get information or a reaction from sb, often with

difficulty.

Ex. The police could elicit evidence from him.

14. to reinforce sth (v): to make a feeling, an idea, a theory, etc. stronger.

Ex. The experience reinforced my sense of loss.

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15. a collaborator on sth: a person who works with another person to create

or produce sth suck as book.

Ex. I need a good collaborator on this project.

16. precision (n): a quality of being exact, accurate, or careful.

Ex. You can choose your target with grater precision.

17. underpin (v): support or form the basic of an argument , a claim, etc.

ex. This report was inderpinned

18. schizophrenia (n): a metal illness in which a person becomes unable to

link thought, emotion, and behavior (chứng phân liệt tâm thần)

ex. His grandfather has been had the schizophenia.

19. sensory (adj): connected with your physical senses.

Ex. Nose is one of five sensory organs on the body.

20. to enhance sth (v): to increase or further improve the good quality, value

or status of sb/ sth.

Ex. The images should be enhanced using digital technology.

*****

Brian’s bridgesSource: BOOK “Don’t throw this away! The civil engineering life”

- By Brian Brenner-

It appeared that I was a budding engineer, so my mother wrote to the

governor and got tickets to the opening ceremony of the Verrazano Bridge. A big

crowd gathered at the Staten Island toll plaza on a bright and sunny November

day for long speeches and pontification. Most of the participants didn’t have

much to do with the bridge’s design and construction, other than to show up for

the dedication. Robert Moses, the chairman of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel

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Authority, pointed to the chief engineer, Othmar Amman, but didn’t mention him

by name. This was as close as the speakers got to acknowledging the engineers,

since Amman himself was not invited to the podium. I still have the Opening Day

brochure and commemorative stamps in my bridge scrapbook. My mother wrote

on the front of the scrapbook, “Brian’s bridges.”

A great bridge is the product of the imagination and sweat of hundreds of

people. Maybe this is why a bridge is not easily identified with individuals and

why a bridge’s creation and birth seem anonymous. Very few of the structures

are named in honor of the people who created them. In fact, most bridge names

honor people who had nothing to do with the work. In the case of the Verrazano

Bridge, naming the structure after its creators would have required a very long

name. Society expects that engineers and constructors will fade into the

background, like the bridges. The builders can be proud of their creations but

must be satisfied that the symbolic act of naming, the official recognition of the

creation, will be transferred to someone else.

In March 2003, my father visited Boston. It was a warm afternoon after a

long, bitter winter. We went to visit the Zakim Bridge, just days before the first

part of its staged opening. The Zakim Bridge stood tall and sleek in the middle of

dowdy, old downtown Boston. Hundreds of thousands had watched the structure

appear from nothing, with its futuristic concrete pylons and slender cables strung

to the deck one piece at a time. Upon completion, the structure quickly became

an infrastructure icon for the city, with its image appearing on bank

advertisements, at the beginning of newscasts, and in dozens of unrelated

publications. On the fourth of July, the blue tower lights were supplemented by a

red glow at night, so with the white cables, the bridge was patriotic, a giant cable-

stayed American flag.

We stood by the bridge. I had little direct involvement with this bridge design,

but I said to my father:

READING PORTFOLIO


“What do you think of my bridge, Dad?”

“Nice job,” he replied.

*****


This is a part of a story I read. The authour talks true story that he known.

This passage tells about a Bridge – called Zakim. The Zakim Bridge stood tall

and sleek in the middle of dowdy, old downtown Boston. It is a great bridge is the

product of the imagination and sweat of hundreds of people I can get some

interesting and useful information of the Zakim Bridge: its structure, its history,

ect. If having free time, I suggest you enjoying it.

II. Vocabulary and structures:

.

1. pontificate: to give your opinions about something in a way that shows that

you think you are right.

Ex: She is good at pontificating.

2. dedication: a ceremony that is held to show that a building or an object

has a special purpose or is special to the memory of a particular person.

Ex: They are preparing for the dedication.

3. podium: a small platform that a person stands on when giving a speech or

conducting an orchestra.

4. bugging: beginning to develop or become successful.

Ex: The budding young star is now hot property in Hollywood

5. commemorative: intended to help people remember and respect an

important person or event in the past.

Ex: A commemorative plaque on the bridge records the name of the engineer.

READING PORTFOLIO


6. scrapbook: a book with empty pages where you can stick pictures,

newspaper articles, etc..

Ex: He bought a scrapbook to his son as a birthday present.

7. anonymous: with a name that is not known or that is not made public.

Ex: The money was donated by a local businessman who wishes to remain

anonymous.

8. to fade into something: to disappear gradually.

Ex: Spring was fading into summer.

9. bitter: (of weather conditions) extremely cold and unpleasant.

Ex: It's really bitter out today.

10. sleek: smooth and shiny.

Ex: She has got sleek black hair.

11. dowdy: dull or boring and not attractive.

Ex: The dress seems to be dowdy.

12. futuristic: extremely modern and unusual in appearance, as if belonging

to a future time.

Ex: My house has a futuristic design.

13. concrete: building material that is made by mixing together cement, sand,

small stones and water.

Ex: The pathway is formed from large pebbles set in concrete.

14. pylon: a tall metal structure that is used for carrying electricity wires high

above the ground.

Ex: There are too many pylons here.

15. deck: a wooden floor that is built outside the back of a house where you

can sit and relax.

Ex. After dinner, We sat out on the deck to relax.

READING PORTFOLIO


16. infrastructure: the basic systems and services that are necessary for a

country or an organization to run smoothly, for example buildings, transport and

water and power supplies.

17. glow: a dull steady light, especially from a fire that has stopped producing

flames.

Ex: There was no light except for the occasional glow of a cigarette.

18. patriotic: having or expressing a great love of your country.

Ex: He really was a patriotic man.

WEEK 13 – MEDICINE

Discovery Provides Blueprint for New Drugs That Can Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus

Magazine: ScienceDaily

Date: Mar. 19th, 2012

ScienceDaily (Mar. 19, 2012) — Chemists at the University of California, San

Diego have produced the first high resolution structure of a molecule that when

attached to the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus prevents it from

reproducing.

READING PORTFOLIO


Hepatitis C is a chronic infectious disease that affects some 170 million people

worldwide and causes chronic liver disease and liver cancer. According to the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis C now kills more

Americans each year than HIV.

The structure of the molecule, which was published in a paper in this week's

early online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences, provides a detailed blueprint for the design of drugs that can inhibit the replication of

the hepatitis C virus, which proliferates by hijacking the cellular machinery in humans to

manufacture duplicate viral particles..

Finding a way to stop that process

could effectively treat viral infections

of hepatitis C, for which no vaccine is

currently available. But until now

scientists have identified few

inhibiting compounds that directly act

on the virus's ribonucleic acid (RNA)

genome -- the organism's full

complement of genetic material.

"This lack of detailed information

on how inhibitors lock onto the viral

genome target has hampered the

development of better drugs," said

Thomas Hermann, an associate

professor of chemistry and

biochemistry at UC San Diego who

headed the research team, which

also included scientists from San

Diego State University.

The molecule prompts the Hepatitis

C’s viral RNA to open up a portion of its

hinge-like structure and encapsulate the

inhibitor like a perfectly fit glove. (Credit:

Image courtesy of University of California

- San Diego)

READING PORTFOLIO


The team detailed the structure of a molecule that induces the viral RNA to

open up a portion of its hinge-like structure and encapsulate the inhibitor like a

perfectly fit glove, blocking the ability of the hepatitis C virus to replicate.

The molecule is from a class of compounds called benzimidazoles, known to

stop the production of viral proteins in infected human cells. Its three-dimensional

atomic structure was determined by X-ray crystallography, a method of mapping

the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a

crystal and causes the beam of light to spread. The angles and intensities of the

light beams allowed the scientists to calculate the structure of the viral RNA-

inhibitor complex.

"This structure will guide approaches to rationally design better drug

candidates and improve the known benzimidazole inhibitors," said Hermann.

"Also, the crystal structure demonstrates that the binding pocket for the inhibitors

in the hepatitis C virus RNA resembles drug-binding pockets in proteins. This is

important to help overcome the notion that RNA targets are so unlike traditional

protein targets that drug discovery approaches with small molecule inhibitors are

difficult to achieve for RNA."

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and National

Science Foundation.

*****


After reading tittle of this article, reader can see the main idea: Discovery Provides

Blueprint for New Drugs That Can Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus

It’s quite difficult to understand the content of this article because it talks about

a new field relating to science so using to many scientic terms as well as range of

new words is quite hard to know axactly what the meaning is. However, it’s clear

that the article provides reader with new knowledge which is attractive at people

READING PORTFOLIO


who is interested in science. It mentions about finding a way to stop that process

could effectively treat viral infections of hepatitis C.


1. hepatitis (n): a serious disease of the liver. There are three main form:

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C

ex. have you had your hepatitis C vacination?

2. chronic (adj): having had a disease for a long time / that’s difficult to cure

or get rid of

ex. a chronic shortage of housing in rural area

3. infectious (adj): an infectious disease canr be passed easily from one

person to another, especially through the air they breathe.

ex. Flu is highly infectious

4. blueprint for sth (n): a plan which shows what can be achieved and how

it can be achieved

ex. a blueprint for privatization of health care.

5. replication (n): the act of copying sth axactly.

Ex. He made a replication of my homeword.

6. proliferate (v): to increase rapidly in number or amount.

ex. Book anf articles on the subject have proliferate over the last year.

7. hijack sth (v): to use violence or threats to control of a vehicle, especially

a plane, in order to force it to travel to a different place or to demand sth from a

government.

ex. the plane was hijacked by two armed men a a flight from London to Rome

8. cellular (adj): connected with or consisting of the cell of plants or animals.

ex. cellular structure.

9. duplicate (v): to make an axactly copy of sth

ex. please keep the duplicate form and send us the original.

READING PORTFOLIO


10. hamper (v): to prevent sb from easily doing or achieving sth.

ex. our efforts were severely hampered by a lack of money.

11. encapsulate sth in sth (v): to express the most important parts of sth in a

new words, a small space or a single object.

ex. the peom encapsulates many of the central themes of her writing.

12. hinge- like (n): like a piece of metal. plastic,etc.on which a door, lid or

gate moves freely as it opens or closes

13. crystallography (n): the branch of science that deals with crystals.

crystal (n): a small piece of a substance with many even sides, that is formed

naturally when the substance become solid

14. beam (n): a lline of light, electric waves or particles.

ex. the car’s headlights were on full beam.

WEEK 14 - MARKETING

Marketing in China

Source: Finance Magazine

Firsty with many types of products, the largest producers are Chinese firms

who to already won large parts of the market. Indeed, man old Chinese

companies such as TongRenTang, a pharmaceutical company which dates back

to 1669, are now enjoying a renewed popurlarity. Secondly, any company which

tries to move into a foreign market needs to study the situation and culture pf that

country. This is certainly the case with China. Many international companies go

into tha market with their usual range of products but they find that as they are,

the products do not sell. Ikea, the Swedish furniture gianr, opend in Beijing in

READING PORTFOLIO


1999 nut not many people bought the furniture. It seemed too expensive for

Chinese customers and possibly did not appeal to Chinese taste.

Pricing is not the only issue. Companies slao need to consider what ideas

customers from a different culture might have about their product; what

marketing expects call ‘product positioning’. De Beers, the diamond company.

Provide an interesting example of this, in the West, diamonds are a symbol of

romantic live and appear on Wedding rings. However the idea of romance is

different in Asia and do De Beers decided to present diamonds as a symbol of

harmony and a lasting relationship ratherthan love. Their Chinese TC ads

showed a husband giving his wife a diamond at their wedding anf then moved

forward in time to show the following years of a long, nappy marriage. “Harmony”

or lack or conflict ( he is in Chinese) is a very important value in Chinese culture

and De Beers were very successful in using this idea to market their product.

Branding is very important in China. Chinese society traditionally has many

levels and the possession of a particular brand can show your place within

society. However as in any country, companies need to take advice on what their

brand name sounds like in Chinese, or if people can pronounce it. Sometimes a

successful brad name can be created by slightly changing rhe original name to

Chinese. Gillette razors, for example, use the Chinese name “Jilie”. “Ji” in

Chinese means “ lucky”. Chinese companies trying to export their products, of

course, have to think about this too. The Chinese refrigerator Haier; has not been

very successful globally, part, it seems because Westerners find the name

difficult to pronounce.

In a country where the writing system is based on symtols, it is especially

impoertant to have a memorable logo. A logo with a picture like Shell or Apple is

likely to be more effective than one which consists of Western letters like BR

Companies aso need to be aware of the popular ideas about some colors. Red,

for example, is traditionally a lucky color, while white is the color of death and is

READING PORTFOLIO


traditionally seen as unlucky. Blue and yellow used together can slao suggest

death, so this combination is best avoided on logos. This is because at a

traditional funeral, a gift of money was often but in a yellow envelope with a blue

stripe.

There are also popuar ideas relating to numbers, just as, for example, the

number 13 is thought unlucky in some Western countries. Four is considered

unlucky in China as it sounds likes the word for “ death”. Eight, on the other

hand, is a lucky number. When the Japanese department store Yaohan opened

in Beijing, the person selling the pens pit a price of 88,888 yuan on one

expensive gold pen. This was a joke of course, but it made a wonderful talking

point for the customers.

*****


I’m very interested in this essay, because of not only its content but also

the writer’s literary style. It talks about Marketing which is a popular problem

nowadays, especially, in Chinese – one of the countries has a lot of strongly

development in the world. He presents useful and interesting information relating

to marketing as well as how to market well. He gives clear points which helps

reader easier catch main idea of each paragraph. I can learn from it that how to

be successful in business, how to make a renewed brand, how to design a

memorable logo and what should we do and avoid when making a logo. What’s

more, in the essay, he shows a large range of vocabularies and sentence

structures; however, writing is clear so make reader have no difficulties to see. I

like the way that he choice words, it’s good.


1. pharmacuetical (adj): connected with making and selling drugs and

medicines.

READING PORTFOLIO


Ex. This company created a new pharmacuetical product.

3. harmony (n): a state of peaceful existence and agreement

Ex. The need to me in harmony with our environment

4. be successful in doing sth: achieving your aimes or what was intended in

a particular field.

5. brand: (n): a type of product make by a particular company.

Ex. Which brand of toothpaste do you use?

You pay less for the srote brand

6. possession (n): the state of having or owing sth.

Ex. He manucript is just one of the treasurein their possession

7. memorable (adj): special, good or unusual and therefore worth

remembering or easy ro remember.

Ex. It was a truly memorsble experience.

8. to win large parts of the market

Ex. His company has just public a stock, it win large parts of the market now.

Reading ReportIn the second semester, I’ve learn futher reading skills and do exersice relate

to more new topics. It is clear that the program in this term is more difficult than

the first one, both skills and topics. For portfolio, I have to find essays or article

from different sources, especilly, in newspaper or magazine. This work took me a

long time to do, because I wonder which magazine is useful and related to the

topic.

Reading skill II provides me with many chances to read different reading

genres belong to different topics of their interest. Different reading strategies and

sub-skills are alsoo weekly introduced to students together with various exercises

that will help me practice. I can enlarge the knowledge about many fields that I’ve

never been care of before. Futhermore, the carefully-planned assignments

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including group assignment and the individual one, I can improve other skills, not

only reading skill, but skills of using tech. Moreover, I improve range of

vocabbulary, espcially, fashcard activity. During process of the cource, I also

had chances to revise the strategies and sub-skills to be sure that they have

thoroughly understood what I have learnt before moving to the new one. It’s

activity of revision. I think this is a usefull activity for student to help us review

reading skills which we learnt. However, groupwork of 5 may be makes us meet

a little difficulty in singleness of mind between each other.

Finishing the first year, in short, I learnt a lot of useful things. My reading skills

has been improved, my range of words is also more widen.

I hope that in the next year, I can improve more and more to become a better

learner.

I am grateful to you for your teaching us during the first year in this university!

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