ENGLISH WORK – TEXTOS PARA O 3º “COL
4º BIMESTRE – 2013
WHY ZEBRAS HAVE STRIPES
Scientists claim to have solved the mystery of why zebras have their characteristic Black and White stripes. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology showed that the striped pattern made the animals much less attractive to insects.
There have been many theories to explain the zebra´s unmistakable stripes. Scientists have suggested that each zebra has a unique pattern that lets other animals recognize it. Or that the mass of black and white in a vast herd provides confusing camouflage that puts off predators.
But this team set out to test exactly what effect the stripes had on a zebra´s most irritating and ubiquitous enemy – the blood-sucking horsefly.
As part of their experiment the team put sticky horse models – one white, one black and one zebra-striped – into a fly-infested field. When they collected the flies that had landed and stuck to each of the models, they found that the model zebra attracted by far the fewest flies.
The researchers think that zebras had a black-coated ancestor, which envolved its white stripes in an evolutionary arms race, with an insect that´s become the biting, disease-carrying scourge of most horse herds.
(Victoria Gill)
PARALYSED MAN TAKES HOPEFUL FIRST STEPS
A medical breakthrough has given hope to millions of people who are unable to walk. Doctors pioneered a special procedure that electrically stimulated the spine of ex-athlete Rob Summers. Mr Summers, 25, was paralysed below the chest in a hit-and-run car accident in 2006. Professor Susan Harkema, of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center
It opens a huge opportunity to improve the daily functioning of individuals but we have a long road ahead.” She said this is “going to have a major impact” on people with disabilities.
The treatment is called epidural stimulation. It has taken over three decades of research to get to this stage. The process works when electrical signals go round the brain to tell the spinal cord what to do. The signals allow the limbs to function independently of the brain. Mr Summers said the treatment has been life-changing.
“This procedure has completely changed my life. For someone who for four years was unable to even move a toe, to have the freedom and ability to stand on my own is the most amazing feeling,” he said. He added: “My sense of wellbeing has changed. My physique and muscle tone have improved greatly. Most people don’t even believe I’m paralysed.” Five other patients are also taking part in the trial.
(breakingnewsenglish)
RENT – A-FRIEND AGENCIES GROWING IN JAPAN
There are many new ways of making friends in today´s world. The best known of these is meeting new pals online. The Japanese are doing things a little differently. There is a growth in rent-a-friend agencies. The only cath is that is that the friends you meet will not become your true friends. You simply rent one when you need one for a specific occasion. The friends for rent are profissional fakers. They will pretend to be anyone you want them to be. They serve a very useful purposes in Japan
Britain´s Guardian newspaper reports on Ryuichi Ichinokawa, the owner of the “ I want to cheer” agencie. He has been the best man at weedings, making jokes about happy couples he did know, and acted as the uncle of sutdents at school sports days. The Guardian says: “he dutifully cheered them on, recorded theirefforts on his video camera and joined in the adult-and-child races.” Ichinokawa charges just orver $150 as a rental charge, but says there are extra fees for singing at a karaoke party or making a speed at a wedding. Ryuich says he plans everything in dentail so he doesn´t embarrass his client. He boats: “In three and a half years I´ve never once in been caught out.
(breakingnewsenglish)
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