Coffee has long been one of the most popular 1 in the world. In 9th century Arabia, it was first recorded 2 people drank coffee. Planting of coffee first 3 in Yemen, in the Middle East, in the 15th century, and it 4 to take coffee plants out of the country. However, plants were eventually smuggled to India and 5 there to Europe. The first coffeehouse in London 6 in the 1680s, and soon they were hundreds all over the city. Coffeehouses were known as 'penny universities'7 you could buy a cup of coffee for only a penny and learn more at the coffeehouse than in class!
In 1690, the Dutch introduced coffee farming to their colonies in Indonesia. Coffee 8 South America several decades later, when the French brought a coffee plant to the island of Martinique. When a rare plant disease destroyed the coffee plantations of Southeast Asia 9 the mid-19th century, Brazil emerged as the world's 10 coffee producer, which it 11 is today. The first automatic coffee 12 machine was produced in France in 1822 and instant coffee was first marketed in 1909.
To give you 13 idea of the popularity of coffee, Starbuck Coffee opened its first store in 1971 and today has over 5,000 locations in more than 20 countries. Why is coffee so popular? People believe that coffee gives you energy so it14 you concentrate on work. It also tastes15, and everyone has his or her favourite type of coffee: cappuccino, espresso, iced, mocha.
Last summer I was a volunteer at a shelter for the homeless, a place for homeless people to sleep at night. I wasn't working that summer and was1only two classes in summer school, so I had some free time.
Three nights a week, I helped in the kitchen of the shelter along with other four volunteers. We planned and2hot meals of vegetables, chicken, fish and fruit for 45 people. The homeless people needed this good food because many of them usually don't eat well. They were very grateful.
I3this volunteer work very much and made4with the four volunteers in the kitchen. One was a very nice elderly housewife, one a movie actor, another a young teacher, and the other a college student, like me.
I talked to a lot of the homeless people at the shelter. Their life stories filled me with sympathy. Some of them had5with alcohol or drugs while others only had bad luck. One woman worked for almost 30 years for a small company, and then she lost her6. She looked for a new job, but couldn't find one, as she was too7. She could do nothing but sell her furniture — sofas, chairs, and tables so that she could pay for her 8.The woman went on job hunting, but she still couldn't find one. She had no money for her9and had to sleep in her car. Then she had to sell her car. Alone, 10, and homeless, she finally came to the shelter.
It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime—my first trip abroad alone, without my parents. I had organised everything myself and I would show them how independent I could be.
I had arranged to stay in a farmhouse outside a village in southern Italy. My schedule said that the plane would arrived in Italy at five o'clock in the afternoon and it was a thirty-minute drive from the airport to the village. I wanted to get to my destination before it got dark, so I could have a drink, watch the sunset and enjoy an evening meal.
The problems began at the airport. My plane was three hours late taking off. I walked around the airport, looked in the shops, and drank coffee in the cafes. I didn't eat anything. That was a mistake! When the plane finally took off, they gave me a cold, tasteless meal which I could not eat.
We arrived in Italy in the early evening and I was feeling lightheaded from the lack of food. The sun was setting as I was collecting my bags! I missed it completely! I went to the desk to find my hire car and that was when I discovered the next problem. The receptionist couldn't find my name in the computer and there were no more cars. There were no buses or trains to the village, and the taxis were in strike.
The receptionist felt sorry for me. She phoned her brother, Alessandro, who agreed to take me to the village. I waited for Alessandro at the front gate and he arrived driving a very old car with smoke pouring out of the engine. We set off. Fifteen minutes later we broke down. I was tired and depressed, and very, very hungry. I began to think my parents were right. Maybe I was too young to travel on my own. Luckily, Alessandro was a mechanic. After an hour, he fixed the car and we started driving again.
It was nearly midnight when we arrived at the farmhouse. A man opened the door and smiled. "Come in," he said. "We have been waiting for you." I sat with a group of the friendliest people I've ever met and had a meal that was absolutely wonderful. And I'm glad to say that the rest of my trip turned out to be exactly the same.
Which are the best cities to shop in? Writer Ellie Clare, has been to five cities around the world to find out. This week she writes about Paris.
I went to Paris in June. It's a lovely city for sightseeing at that time of year, but it's also a great place to find high-quality fashion. I started in the speciality stores and visited all the top names, including Cartier, Chanel and Christian Dior. I've never seen such beautiful things, but they are, of course, very expensive. I bought some perfume and moved on to the huge department stores in Paris. Two of the most famous are Primtemps and Galleries Lafayette and they are definitely good places to visit. One place I found disappointing was the Champ-Elysees, the most famous street in Paris. In the old days, it was a great place for fashion, but now there are too many fast-food restaurants, banks, airline offices, shopping centres and cinemas aimed at tourists. Don't waste your time there!
After the shops I tried the markets. One of the most famous places to find treasures in Paris is the flea market. There are three main flea markets — each selling an unbelievable range of old and second hand goods. They are located around the old gates to the city. I spent hours walking around these fascinating places and while I was there I discovered the meaning of the name 'flea market'. Hundreds of years ago, the royal family gave away their old clothes, which were then sold by people at these markets. But the clothes were full of little insects — fleas of course! One of the stall sellers told me that the best time to find treasures at the market was before the crowds arrived, usually between 5am and 6am. But that was a bit early for me. I was enjoying the Paris night life too much! There are also open-air markets all around the city where you can buy flowers, clothes, pets, food and many other things. And if you want to buy a book, visit the rows of bookstalls along the River Seine. You can find some great bargains there, or you can spend hours just looking.
If you want to buy half of Paris or if you just want to walk around and look, you'll love the experience. Paris is a great place to shop!
Did you know that 7 out of 10 students have cheated at least once in the past year? Did you know that 50 percent of those students have cheated more than twice? This shocking data is from a recent survey of 9,000 U.S. high school students.
Incredibly, teachers may even be encouraging their students to cheat! Last year at a school in Detroit, some teachers were found to have provided their students with answers to statewide standard tests. Students at the school told police that they were promised pizza and money if they cheated on the test. Similar reports at several schools in San Diego country have prompted an investigation by the Education Department. A student at a local high school says she sees students cheating on almost every test, and the teachers don't do anything about it. In response to the claims of school-assisted cheating, the head of the National Association of School Principals said that while cheating should never be accepted, it showed the pressure that schools were under. "Because school funding is now decided by students' test performance, there is incredible pressure on school to raise marks in any way they can."
But schools are not the main problem. Many students claim that they're tempted to cheat because of peer pressure and intense competition to get top grades. Many kids also say that their parents are setting a bad example by cheating on income taxes, lying about age to pay lower admission prices, or cheating their way out of speeding tickets. They are sending a message to their kids that it is okay to cheat and lie.
So, what can be done? In our school's math classes, each student has different problems on their test papers, so it is useless to look at someone else's answers. Teachers could also randomly mix the problems throughout the page. Another solution is for adults to lower their expectations. Chances are that students believe cheating is the only way to meet unreasonably high expectations. Perhaps it is time for parents and teachers to seriously examine whether higher test results are important enough to encourage cheating.
You could say it's the budget traveller's ultimate prize: knowing exactly when to book a flight to get the cheapest fare. But now one flight comparison website, which analysed 7.5 billion airfares on its top 100 routes worldwide, believes it has found the answer.
According to the research by momondo.co.uk, the ideal time to book a flight is 53 days in advance, a move that may save an average of 33% on the normal fare. For example, a flight from London to Lisbon, when booked 52 days in advance, costs on average £209—compared to the average price of £287.
Cheaper fares also depend on the time of the flight. Evening departures between 6pm and midnight are typically cheaper, while Tuesday is generally the cheapest day to fly.
As for the most expensive, fares are at their costliest three days before departure, while Friday is normally the most expensive day to take to the air. It is also suggested that travellers should avoid afternoon flights if they are looking to save money.
"In general, it pays to book flights two months in advance," says Momondo spokesman Lasse Skole Hansen. "We found these trends consistent across the board, so bargain hunters should consider flying at night and on a Tuesday, if they want to save money on their travels."
Momondo's research is consistent with previous studies into the age-old traveller's dilemma of when to book. In January Skyscanner published the results of a three-year study, which found that on average five weeks in advance is the best time to find the cheapest fares.
However, Skyscanner also found this varies according to destinations. The cheapest flights to Greece, for example, were found to be available just three weeks ahead of departure.
The new study by momondo.co.uk coincides with their launch of an interactive tool, Flight Insight, which allows travellers to assess the best time, day and season to travel.
We all believe we listen well and yet many times we feel others are not listening to us. However, listening goes in both directions -- you may believe you are listening well, but how often have you completely forgotten what was said to you?
Make eye contact.
When people talk, they put out visual clues that add to the conversation and meaning of their word.
Stop talking.
You can't listen, talk and at the same time completely receive the meaning of the other person's words.
React without words.
Let the other person know you are listening through physical reactions, such as head nods, smiles, frowns and eye contact.
Behave as an effective listener. The more you continue to behave as a listener, the more you will be an effective listener.
A. Act as a listener.
B. Make eye contact with the person who is talking to you.
C. There are a few ways to become a more effective listener.
D. Wait your turn and take in what has been said to you before you make a reply.
E. These may also help to let the speaker know whether you are fully understanding his words.
Last night I to bed my parents got home.
