Friday 18 March 2016

Green for St Patrick?


Green was not the first color associated with St. Patrick, so just how did green come to represent this holiday?

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Who is Caroline Herschel? The Cinderella tale of a pioneering female astronomer

Caroline Herschel Google Doodle
Click on the image to discover her life


In 1828 the Royal Astronomical Society awarded its gold medal to Caroline Herschel, the first woman to receive the prize. It wouldn't be awarded to another woman until 1996.
Herschel was also the first woman to be paid for her contribution to science for the discovery of six new comets.

On what would be her 266th birthday, Herschel has been honoured with a Google Doodle. The Doodle shows Herschel searching the skies for comets through her telescope. 

Go on reading with The Telegraph and learn about other British woman who pioneered in science and maths.

Some more information in the NASA webpage. 

Wednesday 9 March 2016

London Facts


Click on the image to 
discover amazing facts about this topic, 
all of them are well verified and sourced, you can follow the link 
at the bottom, leftmost part of the screen


Wednesday 2 March 2016

Learning with BBC News


Republicans against Guantanamo closure
Plastic found in Mars bars
Gorilla born at UK zoo

The republicans who control the US Congress have come outstrongly against President Obama’s latest plan to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. The latest proposal would transfer some detainees overseas, others to prisons in the United States. The president has described keeping Guantanamo open as contrary to American values.
The US-based chocolate maker Mars says it’s recalling millions of chocolate bars from 55 countries because bits of plastic have been found in one of its products. In a statement the company said it sincerely apologised to its customers.
A gorilla has been born at a British zoo after a very rare emergencycaesarean. The operation was performed by a consultant from the local maternity hospital in Bristol when the mother became unwell.

Vocabulary
have come out: have stated publicly, have declared
recalling (here): asking consumers to return a faulty product
caesarean: operation in which a baby is born by cutting open the mother's womb

Exercise
Use one of the words or phrases from Lingohack to complete each of these sentences. Note that you may have to change the form of a word or phrase to complete the sentence correctly.

1. The local population __________ in support of the plans for a new park. 
2. The birth was delayed and the doctor decided that a __________ was the best option to save both mother and baby. 
3. German carmaker Volkswagen has been ordered by US regulators __________ half a million cars because of software that disguises emission levels.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

English Facts


Click on the image to 
discover amazing facts about this topic, 
all of them are well verified and sourced, you can follow the link 
at the bottom, leftmost part of the screen