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Reading Homework

1. Levi's Blue Jeans

Vocabulary

emigrate- (v) to move permanently from one's country to another.

dry goods- (n) clothing, fabric, and other items to sell

miner- (n) a person who searches for gold, diamonds, etc.

durable- (adj) last a long time

fabric- (n) material for clothing, curtains, etc.

tailor- (n) a person who sews clothing

rivet- (n) (v) a metal piece that holds 2 thing together. (You can see the metal on Levi's jeans)

patent- (n) (v) an inventor's right to be the only one making or selling a product

think it over- (v) think about it, decide

Do you enjoy wearing Levi's blue jeans? Blue jeans have become popular all over the world, but do you know how they got started? Read on to find out...

Levi Strauss was born in Germany in the mid 1800's and emigrated to the United States as a young man. He lived in New York City and learned the dry-goods business for several years. In 1853 he took his knowledge and his dreams to San Francisco (California., USA.) His dream to succeed came true over the next 20 years as he became a very successful businessman.

Many of Levi Strauss' customers were cowboys and miners. They needed clothing that was strong and durable. Strauss found a special fabric from France that was comfortable and lasted a long time. It was called "serge de Nimes," which was later shortened to the word denim.

Another man named Jacob Davis bought large amounts of the denim fabric from Levi Strauss. He was a tailor who made pants for hard-working men. One of his customers was continually tearing the pockets off his pants. So Jacob Davis decided to put rivets on certain parts of the pants to make them stronger. The customer loved the new pants so much that he told all his friends, and soon Jacob Davis was busy making lots of pants with rivets.

Jacob Davis soon realized that using rivets was a great business idea, and he didn't want anybody to steal that idea. He decided that he would need to get a patent. But being a poor tailor, he didn't have enough money to pay for the patent. After thinking it over, he went to the businessman Levi Strauss and told him his idea. He said, "If you agree to pay for the patent, we will share the profits from the riveted pants." Levi Strauss did agree, and the new riveted pant business was called Levi Strauss and Company. Today Levi's jeans are more popular than ever, and Levi's name continues to live on.

Check Your Understanding

True or False. Check your answers below.

1. Levi Strauss was born in 1853.

True

False

2. Levi Strauss wanted to become a great businessman.

True

False

3. Levi Strauss sewed pants in his business.

True

False

4. Jacob Davis sewed pants in his business.

True

False

5. Jacob David used denim to make pants.

True

False

6. Jacob Davis put rivets in pants because they looked good.

True

False

7. Levi Strauss didn't want to pay for Jacob Davis' patent.

True

False

8. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis became business partners.

True

False

2. Summer Solstice

Vocabulary

[pic] solstice /'sol stis/- the 2 times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the earth's equator

[pic] equator /'ee kway dr/- the imaginary (not real) line the divides earth into 2 parts

[pic]hemisphere /'hem is feer/- hemi means to divide into two, sphere means a round object like the earth. Hemisphere means one half of the circle. The northern hemisphere means above the equator or (middle) of the earth.

[pic]ancient /'ayn shent/- very old

[pic]come to pass- happen

June 21st (or 22nd) is the summer solstice for the northern hemisphere*. Solstice in Latin means "sun standing still." On that day it seems like the sun is standing still because there is more daylight than on any other day. It is the first day of summer and a special day for many groups of people.

Many ancient cultures had ceremonies on solstice. They celebrated light and fire. Many people also thought it was a time for love and growth. Nowadays many places around the world have parades or parties.

The great English writer, William Shakespeare, said** whatever you dream on this night will come to pass. Have great dreams on June 21! And if you are in the northern hemisphere, enjoy the longest day of the year.

* Summer solstice is on December 21 (or 22nd) in the southern hemisphere. June 21 (or 22nd) is the southern hemisphere's Winter solstice.

** in his play A Midsummer's Night Dream

Check Your Understanding

True or False. Check your answers below.

1. Solstice means that it looks like the sun doesn't move.

True

False

2. Summer solstice is on July 21.

True

False

3. Many ancient people celebrated summer solstice with fire.

True

False

4. Nowadays no one celebrates solstice.

True

False

5. Shakespeare said whatever you dream about on June 21 will happen.

True

False

3. Friendship

Vocabulary

[pic] spouse- husband or wife

[pic] bond- connection, something that makes two things stick together

[pic]twin spirit- someone very similar to you

[pic]stranger- someone you don't know at all

[pic]acquaintance- someone you don't know very well

[pic]right away- immediately

[pic]in common- things that you like or dislike are the same

Reading

Quotes about friendship:

Friendship is one mind in two bodies.

Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

Some friends come into our lives for just a short time. Others come and stay forever. Think about your closest friends. How long have you known each other? Some people say that their spouse or family member is their best friend. Others say they have known their closest friends for many years. And some great friends haven't known each other all that long, but knew right away that there was a connection, or bond, between them. Could it be that there is a twin spirit out there for each of us?

What turns a stranger or acquaintance into a friend? Do you know right away if you are going to like someone? Some people think that any stranger can become a friend if they spend enough time together. That may be true for some people. But one thing most of us agree on is that true friendships seem to happen when people have something in common. Perhaps we see a part of ourselves in our friends. Maybe seeing the good in them helps us to see the good in us as well.

Check Your Understanding

True or False.

According to the article...

1. Your husband or wife cannot be your best friend.

True

False

2. Many friends feel a connection when they first meet.

True

False

3. Every person definitely has a twin spirit.

True

False

4. A stranger is the same as an acquaintance.

True

False

5. A stranger is the same as a friend.

True

False

6. Most friends have similar likes and dislikes.

True

False

4. English as an International Language

Vocabulary

[pic]to spread- to go everywhere

[pic]in common- the same

[pic]communicate- talk

[pic]complicated- difficult

[pic]artificial- not real

Reading

About one hundred years ago many educated people learned and spoke French when they met people from other countries. Today most people speak English when they meet foreigners. It has become the new international language. There are more people who speak English as a second language than people who speak English as a first language. Why is this?

There are many reasons why English has become so popular. One of them is that English has become the language of business. Another important reason is that popular American culture (like movies, music, and McDonald's) has quickly spread throughout the world. It has brought its language with it.

Is it good that English has spread to all parts of the world so quickly? I don't know. It's important to have a language that the people of the earth have in common. Our world has become very global and we need to communicate with one another. On the other hand, English is a fairly complicated language to learn and it brings its culture with it. Do we really need that?

Scientists have already tried to create an artificial language that isn't too difficult and doesn't include any one group's culture. It is called Esperanto. But it hasn't become popular. But maybe the popularity of English won't last that long either. Who knows? There are more people in the world who speak Chinese than any other language. Maybe someday Chinese will be the new international language.

Questions

1. What was the world language 100 years ago?

2. Which group is larger- people who speak English as a first language or people who speak English as a second language?

3. What are two reasons English has become an international language today?

4. What are two reasons English isn't a good international language?

5. What is Esperanto?

What might the future international language be?

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or UK, is in Western Europe. It comprises the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland), together with many smaller islands.

The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N (the Shetland Islands reach to nearly 61°N), and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The Royal Greenwich Observatory, near London, is the defining point of the Prime Meridian. The United Kingdom has a total area of approximately 245,000 km².

The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and comes within 35 km (22 miles) of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel.

Northern Ireland shares a 360 km international land boundary with the Republic of Ireland. The Channel Tunnel ("Chunnel"), bored beneath the English Channel, now links the UK with France.

Answer the questions

1. Where is The UK?

2. What does it comprise?

3. How many km² does it have?

4. What does it link The UK with France?

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